Allow me to introduce myself.

Hello,
I am so glad you stopped by. I want to invite you to share with me as we journey through this trip called life. Like many of you, I have had ups and downs and twists and turns during my life that have all led to a sequence of events that landed me here. Where is here? You might ask.

I am a divorced mother of five sons living in Lancaster, Ca. trying to regain control of a life that has here-to-fore meandered along wistfully. My sons are off making their marks in this world in their own way and I could not be prouder of them.

So you know where I am. Let me tell you a little about the who I am and why. I am a survivor, literally. I was always a very active lady. I mean, I used to run and lift weights back before most black women believed it was cute to sweat. I had dreams of becoming a personal trainer, but I never made a step to pursue that dream.  I also wanted to run a marathon. Through the years, things happened, life happened. As a single parent it was not always easy to maintain a fitness routine. My weight and size would fluctuate over the years., along with my fitness level. Another dream I had carried from the time I was a teenager was to write a book. I actually started that one. In 1998-ish I started writing a novel with the working title Dreams Of Tamar. But, once again, life got in the way and I put my unfinished manuscript aside.

 In  October of 2010 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I went through treatment; chemo, surgery, radiation, the whole nine. All while completing my final year of graduate school. In the Spring of 2012 I broke my right ankle and lost all flexibility (it seemed) in my right foot and ankle. It wasn't until 2014 that I was able to begin running again. Between work and my son's activities, not to mention the added stress of a divorce, it was difficult to maintain a consistent routine. (Oh yes, I got married in 2006 and divorced in 2015.) But I kept at it, sporadically. I even managed to lose weight from 150 down to 118.

In 2015, after the last of my babies had moved out of the house and my divorce was finalized, I packed up my manuscript along with my chihuahua/dachshund/ jackrussel, named Jack and headed out to California. Time for me to follow my dreams. I headed out here holding onto the promise that my ladder days would be greater than my former.

I have been here a little over a year now. I have completed my first novel, Dreams of Tamar and gained 22 pounds during the process.

So what to do now? I have fulfilled one dream. I wrote a book. Now on to the next goal, publishing. I have started working toward another dream, running a marathon. I am far from that at this point. Baby steps right? I joined The Camp Transformation Center and I am now in the fifth week of their six week challenge. I was supposed to lose 20 pounds in six weeks. I'll let you know how that turns out in a week.Meanwhile, I am stronger, healthier and more energetic than I have been in years.  https://www.facebook.com/tamarsdream/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel