DAY 10 - THANKSGIVING

My daughter has a 77 average in school right now!!!!! That's a C+ in most school. We are getting closer! LOL

She was failing Math, Spanish, and Chemistry.....as of January. However, as of today, she has an 88 in math, an 80 in spanish, and a 65 in chemistry! (ugh)
But she isn't failing them any more.

Here is the deal:
My daughter has sickle-cell anemia. When she was younger, a baby, she had a silent stroke. We had no idea that she had one until years later when she had an MRI on her brain. She had a little damage to her frontal lobe, but nothing too major. School has been somewhat of a challenge, especially math, because the stroke affected her organization skills. So when she had a bunch of number she had to put in order or remember a formula, she would have trouble. So we put her in tutoring forever, but her grades rarely improved. Then last semester, she was in turoring 3 times a week for these same classes. I did a lil research and found out that she had an admirer! LOL

So needless to say, no more tutoring!

I met with her counselors and told them what I had been doing on my end, and the teachers explained what they had been doing to help her. We came to the conclusion that she is just going to have to work harder to get better grades. This was the origin of my prayer for her, that she is a B student, and I know how to motivate her to become one. I sat her down and explained to her that if she wants anything from me, that she is going to have to show significant improvement in her grades. Not for me, but for her. She is in the 11th grade..the most important school year of her life. I didn't punish her, or beat her up. I just simply said NO to a couple of things, checked up on her more often, and stayed in her ear. I had long talks with her while we drove to doctor's appointments, and to family's house. Just reinforcing that she has to do better. I had her write out what she thinks she can do better personally to improve her grades. If I caught her slipping, i'd put her in rememberance of those things that she wrote. I also had her make a confessions list that she is to recite every morning. One of those confessions is that she is a B student. I also had her memorize a scripture from The Parable of the Fig Tree - MARK 11:12-26

King James Version -MARK 11:24
Jesus said - Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye recieve them, and ye shall have them.

The Amplified Bible Version - MARK 11:24
Jesus said - For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].

Then, to build her confidence up, i'd ask her over and over, "Are you a B student?"
"Are you sure??" Then I'd have her say out loud,"I am a B student!".

Now when I ask her is she a B student, she answers with confidence and without hesitation -"YEP!"

Az is turning 17 this saturday. She wanted to have a party at Dave & Busters. I told her that she can have whatever she wants if her grades improved-SIGNIFICANTLY!
I said she could have a fun filled 17th birthday or the shortest birthday celebration in history, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" She told me that she had been trying to get her grades up, been studying, and she is a B student. So when I got her grades from her teachers today via email, I was very happy to see she made such a great improvement. She hadn't gotten to the B yet, but I can see she is on her way! Her dedication, committment, and diligence needed to be rewarded. So I told her that she can have the party. (I also gave her a little speech about life and adulthood, but thats for another blog).
I am EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU BABY!!!!!!!

I must acknowledge her mom and step mom at this time as well. It's been a group effort. By no means did I want to sound like I was superdad or anything! :O) Thank You ladies for a job well done!

TODAY'S MEDITATION
What have I/we been saying about ourselves? I have been consciously making sure I stay positive with the words coming out of my mouth. I think its imperative to my transformation/journey to remind myself of the good in me, and the greatness before me. If I do slip and say something negative about myself, a situation, or another person, I quickly repent and apologize, cause that's not the real me. I gotta to get this thing right ya'll!
We have what we say, if we believe it.

SONG OF THE DAY
This is one of my daughters favorite songs. It's by Canton Jones - "Kingdom Business".
She is definately handling her business!!!!!! Shoot, I gotta be more like her!

*I'm knocking my prayer list down ya'll!