God showed me that He had a higher plan for me and directed me to New Beginnings: A Home for Mothers.  I have been here for a little over a month and have started parenting classes twice a week, have developed a healthier relationship with God (through church and devotion), and have signed up to attend school to complete my accounting degree starting this summer.  Without the worries of having no roof over my head, I not only have been able to focus on my education goals, but also on my parenting skills, and my health as well.  With no more self-doubt, I am very optimistic about our future!

Allesundrea (Shawna) joined the New Beginnings Family February 2018.  She is expecting a baby boy in May.  She plans on going to school and get her degree in accounting.

Do you ever wonder if you really make a difference?  Those volunteer hours that you put in or that money that you donate to help support New Beginnings, does it really matter?  How can that help possibly make a difference? 

​​It Does!

A resident has graduated from the New Beginnings Program!  It is all because of God's love working through your help and support!  Here is Letisha's story and letter to all of you who have helped her along the way:

​Do your impressions change as you get to know someone?  Most often, it is the second or third interaction that help us form an opinion of who some one is.  I had asked Letisha if her impression of the program at New Beginnings was any different once she started in the program.  She honestly said that nothing had changed and that if anything, it had just gotten better and Nayari said that she started to feel more comfortable with the residents and staff.  Nayari also said that the program got easier as she started getting into it and that New Beginnings isn't just a program, but a family that eats together and talks together also.

​So, when does a good relationship actually start?  It slowly develops over time through trust and commitment.  We all have friends, and even friends that we consider family.  These are the people who will take us through our good days, bad days, and accept and love us as if they were family.  That is our goal with the mothers who come into the New Beginnings' program.  There is a reason why we call it the New Beginnings Family.  Letisha has been here over a year and she has developed a great relationship with New Beginnings.  She has a good relationship with staff and has proved herself as a positive mentor with the other residents.  When I asked her what she thinks of New Beginnings now that she has been here that long and become a Phase 2 resident, she said that it is everything that she wanted and needed and that she "will have something to say if anybody talks bad about New Beginnings."  Nayari, who has been here over two months said that she now thinks "that the staff is very supportive and they push us (in a loving way) to do better in life and get goals completed so we can be set for life, our future, and our kids."

So what drives us?  How do we build that relationship and trust?  Is it our doing?  No!  It is to God's Glory that we help these mothers and their children.  It was He who commanded us in His Word.  "We love because He first loved us." - 1 John 4:19  "Share with the Lord's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality." - Romans 12:13  God also tells us "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2  This is what drives us and through His Grace, we can help these young women grow closer to Him. First impressions sometimes are not always how they initially seem, but overtime can develop into something beyond what we can imagine!

In this blog, our New Beginning’s resident moms, and others, are sharing some of their struggles, joys, and how they balance the realities of motherhood.  This blog is about wanting to give support to you and one another, and learning from each other. As Dr. Benjamin Spock said, “Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.”   

Keeping in mind that it helps to have a sense of humor about the hardest and greatest job in the world, here are some answers to some typical parenting questions. 

​My biggest parenting success:  Giving all the love my children can handle.  Seeing my baby hit those developmental milestones, for example, when my child started walking.  The day I, at the same time, collapsed my stroller, held my baby, and carried a bag of groceries!  The day I ran out of diapers, got inventive, and discovered that using Viva paper towel to diaper my baby, really worked!    
My favorite “me time” indulgences:  Having “shower time” after baby is asleep.  Doing my hair, doing homework, cleaning, talking on the phone, all these daily activities that I use to take for granted, have become indulgences with baby here. 
My best day as a mom: Seeing my baby playing, having fun.  When my child was potty trained.  Giving my child a great Christmas. 
My worst day as a mom:  When my children are sick.  When there is a discipline problem.  Failed naps. Whining. When I can’t seem to get any sleep.
My best moment of the week:  Bed time.  Seeing my baby’s goofy smile really brightens my day.  When my baby holds up her arms so I’ll pick her up. 

​We hope you have been encouraged by this blog, and don’t forget to bestow your stories on others too.  You never know if what you have to say is just what someone needs to hear.  

​Hi!  My name is Letisha Norman and I am a resident at New Beginnings.  I have to say that New Beginnings has really helped me to change my life.  Although I’m not a first-time mother, my children are 15 years apart which left me in a position of really starting over.  And let me tell you: A LOT has changed since I raised my daughter, like laying babies on their backs instead of their stomaches, not giving babies water, and because I had a boy instead of a girl this time, I have to be very mindful of the way I wipe him since he was circumcised.  Obviously he was sore so it took a little longer to change him than it did with my daughter.  Laughing out loud, it’s not fun to get urinated on at 5 a.m. but thats the type of thing you go through when raising kids.   

​New Beginnings helped me to develop those skills that I am taking with me through this journey of raising my beautiful little person.  One way they help is by allowing me to live in a wonderful, safe, Christian-based environment in a home setting with enough room to allow me to be the mother I was 15 years ago, but better, because I’m learning to put God first.  Second, New Beginnings teaches me to brush up on some of my domestic skills.  Every month, we have a themed pot-luck that we all bring a homemade dish to.  We also have an assigned monthly chore and every Saturday, our apartments are checked by staff.  Every week, we have one-on-one Bible Studies and Goal Meetings.  I thank God for New Beginnings for giving me the room to grow as a mother, a person, and someday, by God’s grace, an educated woman since we do have the option of going to school or working on a career path.  That will allow me to live depending on myself and being accountable for the choices I make which works out better when I put God first.  

​“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).  

Letisha joined the New Beginnings Family in January of 2017 and had her son in May 2017.  She is pursuing her education while making God and her children the center of her world.

Have you ever had a morning when you woke up and everything was coming at you like a ball of fire….baby crying, phone ringing, stomach growling, people knocking at the door, or your neighbor's music is too loud. It’s always something. You don't want to get out of bed, take a shower, talk to ANYONE, or even clean. You’d rather live and lay where it’s just messy, thinking your mess is the comfort you need to get through the day. Do you have moments like this? You want to go crawl under a rock and never come out. You want to throw in the towel and say “NOPE” to any and every one that crosses your path. People this is what you call a depressive state of mind. 

But the God I serve did not allow the devil to take over me. He allowed me to get out of that bed and get myself together, take my shower, do my hair, put on lashes (lol), play with my baby, do her hair, and make sure she’s clean and looking cute. This year (2017) I want to be better, happier, and more loving. I feel this is my year to get all this junk out of me that's been in me since I was 12 years of age. With God on my side and my New Beginnings family, anything is POSSIBLE!

Shaneka has been a resident at New Beginnings since June of 2015. She is working towards pursuing a degree in nursing. She has always dreamed of working in the healthcare field and is excited that New Beginnings can help her fulfill her dream. She enjoys spending time with her beautiful baby girl, Kiarra. ​

Sometimes I wonder how I came this far and how I manage with both my kids. To tell you the truth, sometimes it gets hard but I’ve learned that nothing is impossible, especially when it comes from God. With Him, everything is possible! When I had my second baby, I didn’t know how I was going to do this but honestly it just came naturally for me to manage both of my kids. Coming to New Beginnings really changed everything and made me look at my situation so differently. Truthfully, it helped my faith grow more and more. It is just amazing how God did all this. Wow, God is really good! I thank Him for bringing me here. I have learned and I am still learning more and more day by day. I am not going to give up because New Beginnings hasn’t given up on me even when they should have. 

I really do love the women at New Beginnings. They truly show what love and family are all about. They care, they’re very supportive, and they teach you more about God so your faith can grow more with Christ. When you need a shoulder or someone to talk to, they are here and they will cry with you. Amazing! These women care and the love and compassion they have shows that they definitely love their jobs, our kids, and us.

​This little girl brings happiness to my life. God knew just want to do for my life and it was Kiarra. So excited to see what God has for us this year.

​Strategy #1:   Use school time wisely. 
If you have free time during school, use that time to try and get some homework done or even study for an upcoming test.

​These things may or may not work for you but it wouldn’t hurt to try.
Good luck!

Meosha is a former resident here at New Beginnings.  She joined our family in January of 2016.  She has a beautiful little girl for whom she is striving to make a better life for.