Tag Archives: life

Embracing Positivity After Loss: My Journey

30 Sunday Nov 2025

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So it’s been a while since I’ve had something positive to say! Like my Bigma said, “If you ain’t got nothing good to say, don’t say nothing at all!” I went with the “don’t say nothing at all part”. Why? There was so much grief in my life. As soon as I thought I was back to me, another loss happened. That last one took some of my soul away! Why? It wasn’t just the loss. It was everything that came with it. I had to recover, readjust, realign, and release all those things! I’ve done all of that. Now I can remember who I am. I know whose I am and understand the purpose GOD has for my life. It’s not about dwelling on the negative. It’s about promoting and embracing the positives. This will make me better and everyone linked to me. So I’m back for the better!

I spent the Thanksgiving holiday with my middle son, Tyrell, his wife, Lanie, and my grandbabies, Charlie and Alex. My other Grandbaby, Halana, also came over, and she even cooked some of the food! That’s growing up! Ty was my sous chef, and he learned some of the recipes that were handed down through the generations. Christina was in NJ with her new Fiancé! Oh yeah, a lot has happened since I’ve been gone. She met the love of her life, and he put that ring on it. LOL I’ll write about it soon. RC was working as usual and didn’t make it. But that’s another story for later. What was important was that I was THANKFUL! I was truly happy spending almost 6 days at the house with the grands, and I didn’t even leave! Enjoying genuine love from the seeds that I created. Waking up every morning to Grandmaaaaaa was heart-warming, and I loved every minute of it. There were so many tasks on my list. I needed to do them, but they didn’t get done. I know I’ll be very busy once I’m back in Florida, trying to get caught up!

This is what brought me back to myself! GOD put us here for a reason. We never know what our purpose is, and if we do discover it, that’s a blessing. I’m still not sure about mine. All I know is that I love my kids, my grandkids, and life, and all that it has to offer. Many people I had to cut off in life. They weren’t making life better. Instead, they caused grief and pain. Once you reach a certain age, your circle gets so small that you can count it on one hand. In my life, I have done so much for so many people and never gotten anything in return. Not that I was ever looking for something, but respect, and they don’t even give you that. But I gladly cut off my losses. When someone looks back and sees all the things I’ve done, it feels good. It validates my effort to make their life better. It shows that I did ok. But when I can’t see a thing they provided to my life, it’s a sign. It’s time to move on without them. (Take that as a lesson) It’s okay to walk away from what or who doesn’t deserve you in their life. God will replace them so fast, you won’t even miss them!

This week has shown me an important lesson. Life is to be lived with the most important people in your life. It is to be shared with them too. As I age gracefully, I have no intentions of dealing with anything or anyone that brings stress to my life. Being over 60 means every morning, your cup is full. You drink it till it’s empty. Then you fill it up again tomorrow because you may not have as many tomorrows as you had yesterday! So I fill my cup with love and laughter. It overflows with happiness. I fill it with the people who make my day better than it was yesterday. I’m back to me, and with more of me, I can give more to you! So look for me to spread all this love I still have to the ones that deserve it! Let me enjoy this holiday season with all this love I have to share!

The “Real Mommie Teresa”

Always and Forever

24 Saturday Feb 2024

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Hi, y’all, I know it’s been a while since I’ve blogged, and I feel I have so much to say, that I haven’t said it yet. I looked at my blog, and I could see my life digressed when it actually progressed. It’s almost like I wrote the least when I needed to write the most. I let depression and loneliness manifest inside of me instead of writing and releasing it. My thoughts all lived in my heart and my head, but I didn’t let them escape. Maybe it’s time to let them escape so I can keep life moving forward. When you lose something so close to you, it takes so much out of you. It drains love from the heart, but blood still runs strong through the heart, which reminds you that there’s still so much blood and love left to give. But it also limits who you share it with because you don’t want that pain again, and you have to protect the peace you have at all costs. You get a sense of peace for the loved ones gone, and you have to be careful who you let into your space that can take that peace you found away.

While doing my Saturday morning chores and listening to my old-school music, I now listen more to words, than music, and understand what we missed back in the day by listening, but not really hearing. Always and Forever by Heatwave came on, and I just stopped and listened; these are the lyrics:

Always and forever, each moment with you

It is just like a dream to me that somehow came true

And I know tomorrow will still be the same

‘Cause we’ve got a life of love that won’t ever change and

Everyday, love me your own special way

Melt all my heart away with a smile

Take time to tell me, you really care

And we’ll share tomorrow, together

I’ll always love you forever, forever

There’ll always be sunshine when I look at you

It’s something I can’t explain, just the things that you do

And if you get lonely, phone me and take

A second to give to me that magic you make and

Everyday, love me your own special way

Melt all my heart away with a smile

Take time to tell me, you really care

And we’ll share tomorrow, together

I’ll always love you ever, ever

Always forever love you

Always forever love you

Always forever love you

Always forever love you

This took me backward and forward at the same time. Always and forever is the love I shared with the people closest to me that I lost. Always and forever, they will be with me, the dreams I had with them, and for them will last always and forever. When I always thought tomorrow would be different, I realized tomorrow would be the same because, with a life of love, it won’t ever change. It’ll change because they aren’t there in the flesh, but they are always there in the spirit. There will always be sunshine when I look at you.. and they show themselves in the clouds with the sun. My heart still melts with the smiles they left me, always and forever will be the same. I thank GOD for the signs that HE shows me to make me feel better. I lost, I loved, and I will always love. I have to choose who to give my love to because each loss breaks the heart a little, but the love you put back strengthens it every time. Now it’s funny as I finish this blog, Luther Vandross comes on saying, ‘It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright now.” I take this also as a sign. To get back to blogging and releasing. Someone else needs what I share, they are going through or know what I’ve experienced. Writing makes me happy, so now I focus on happiness and recovery. The mask is slowly coming off and always and forever life improves.

See ya soon,

The Real Mommie Teresa

And Life Goes On..Without Daddy

25 Tuesday Sep 2018

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IMG_0273It’s been a minute since I’ve blogged and a lot of changes have happened in my life.  So many that it’ll take lots of blogs to blog about!! LOL.. Well the most significant change in my life was the loss of my Father.  As you all that follow me know, my Daddy was sick for quite a few years.  He was diabetic, on dialysis, and had congestive heart failure which ultimately lead to his transition on Nov. 3rd of 2017.  That day was one of the most confusing days of my life.  You know we always think we are “prepared” for death, especially when someone is sick, and they have told you that they are ready to go.  Well it’s easier said than done.  I haven’t shared this story, but as a part of my healing, I have to let go of a few things…

That day.. I had been with Daddy at the hospital all week, sleeping on the couch and he was acting out, “as he did” with the nurses. But he was in a different space this time.  He went back to his younger days.  He flirted, he talked junk, he even tried to dance a few times.  And while they call me the “Paparazzi” I was capturing ALL those moments on video, not knowing they would be the last moments of laughter.  Well Daddy ended up getting an infection and I had to sleep in the gown and mask, and all the covering, for his protection.  I did it for one night, and woke up looking like I could peel it off from sweating like crazy in it!! Well the next day, Daddy told me to go to my Son’s house and sleep, and just come back that morning instead of sleeping in that gown.  Crazy how he asked me to leave after I had been there like 5 nights.. Well I left and we got that call about 4am, saying he had went into cardiac arrest during the night, and he was now in ICU and we needed to get there.

Well we got there.. Me, my sister, and the immediate family.  There Doctors words.. I’ll never forget.. “We have 413 patients in this hospital and Mr. Crawford is the sickest one here.  He needs surgery on his heart to survive, but because of all his other chronic health problems, he may not survive the surgery.  You all need to make a decision asap, like before I leave the room whether we do surgery, or we just keep him comfortable.”  And just like that, we had to let go of the man who had taken care of us for all of our lives. We had to keep comfortable the man who raised 4 children after our Mom died and  did what he “knew” how to do.  As a Widowed Dad, he had his challenges, but he did all he knew to do, to make sure we had what we needed.  Then you have these words, keep him comfortable, which means, give him meds and let him die without pain. (in real talk).

That hit us like a ton of bricks in our chest.  We already knew what Daddy told us, and the decision was pretty much already known, but just speaking it was like casting a death sentence we didn’t want to do.  But we had to do it.  Then I spent time with Daddy and let him know we mad the decision.  He wasn’t coherent, but I know he heard me. I had that long talk with him and said my Goodbye before we did anything,  We all had our time with him to say what we needed to say.

Then came the moment… that moment when we all gathered together before they started shutting off the machines.  I told him, how proud we were of him, and how he had been a great Dad, and had raised amazing children, and how much we loved him.  I told him that we would be ok.  All of a sudden, the machines started beeping and making sounds and going crazy!!! I thought the nurses had turned them off, but they said they hadn’t touched the machines.  They said he could hear me and he was releasing his life and that’s what was happening.  Well after we all said our final goodbyes, the Chaplain asked if he could say a prayer, and he said the 23rd Psalm.  I put my hand on Daddy’s heart, and the Chaplain put his hand over my hand. The Chaplain said the 23rd Psalm, and when he finished, I said, may GOD bless your soul Daddy.  Then the nurse walked in immediately and said, his heart just stopped.  And just like that.. HE- WAS- GONE.IMG_0268

The look of peace was on his face, and the breathing machine was still on, so it seemed as if he was still breathing.  He wasn’t cold, but he was peaceful.  He had been so sick and now it was all over.  As I write this and the tears roll, I know that he’s saying it’s ok, because I was tired.  He did what he was sent here to do, and his job was over.

Life is a job.  GOD puts us here for a purpose, and once we fulfill the purpose HE has for us, then HE brings us back to HIM.  No death is easy on who you leave behind, but it’s the ultimate trip for the one who’s leaving.  The way to even feel better is to think of the life they are now living pain-free with the ancestors, who are watching over you, and waiting for you to complete your task and join them.

Welcome back to “my blogs” and thanks for being a part of the “The Real Mommie Teresa”.  There’s so much more to come and so much I have to share. Please stay tuned, and I love you all with all that’s in me, like a real Mommie..

Love and Hugs,

The Real Mommie Teresa

Starting My Business.. And You Can Too!!

25 Tuesday Oct 2016

Posted by in Entrepreneurs, Faith, Jobs, Life, Mothers, Uncategorized, Uplifting

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Hello Everyone,

I thought I’d takg-wagone some time today just to talk about how I started Let’s Go Buy A Car and some of the obstacle of being a Business Owner. I know there are sooo many of you all that want to “quit that job” and have no idea how you can make it without “that job”!  I was there too, for so many years! I’ve always wanted to own a business and work for myself, but FEAR of that “paycheck” kept me from moving forward.   But once I was sick and tired, of being sick and tired of “that job” I realized, I was smart, I was tactful, I had lots of hustle, and I was not AFRAID!  What’s the worst thing that could happen? Failure?  But if I didn’t try, I’d never know if I could do it or not.  I knew that on “that job”, I gave 199% of me, and that was for someone else!  If I could give someone else MY 199%, I could give ME 500%!  And that’s what I did! I was a Mom and raised 3 amazing kids on my own, and no “job” could ever be as challenging as that!  So what did I have to lose?   Make sure you follow and keep up with the blog.  Some of my challenges and rewards could possibly help you “get started” to being your own Boss!

I’ll be giving you all tips on the career path in the blogs. So make sure you follow and keep up. And if you are trying to launch a business, just do it!! Don’t keep waiting! Tomorrow isn’t promised, so don’t die and bury your dream!

More coming….

The Real Mommie Teresa

My Dream Come True

27 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by in Babies, Faith, Uncategorized, Uplifting

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  As a little girl at 13 years old, yes little girl. (Back then 13 you were still a little girl!!) I remember standing over my Mothers white casket, it had glass on top of it, and it showed her whole body. Almost like sleeping beauty. She had on a long white dress, pearl nail polish, and satin white shoes. Her hair was pulled back and her makeup was done flawless by my Aunt Flossie. She didn’t look dead. She looked sleep and she looked so at peace. She was beautiful. Not only was she beautiful dead, she was beautiful alive. She was the prettiest woman I ever knew. The love I had for her was an indescribable love. It was almost like a fairy tale love. You know the love that only comes once in a lifetime?  Well you can imagine how devistated I was when I saw that casket close, and watched them lower it into the ground and cover it with dirt. The absolute worst, most horrific day of my life! The pain was unbearable and I knew I had lost one thing I would never, ever get back in this life!! All I had was memories, and dreams of how we were, and who she was. I had lost my Best Friend! I prayed a lot. I missed all the Mom stuff growing up. I missed the love, the support, the talks, and the just being Mom. All the things I ever dreamed of, I missed.  

Years later after being a Mom of 2 amazing sons, I went to the doctor for a checkup and a refill on my birth control pills. And to my dismay, the doctor said I was pregnant!! Like almost 7 months!! Had no idea! No missed periods, no weight gain, nothing!!!!  I did NOT want anymore children. But now I was expecting a third, and then I found out it was a girl!  What a blessing. God protected that baby to make sure she got here!  Well that little girl was born and she carried a portion of my Mothers name. As a matter of fact, she looked like my Mom. She was perfect!  Then all the love I had inside from a Mother/Daughter prospective flood out into her. I gave her everything I missed with my Mom. She was my daughter, and she was my best friend. 

But not until she grew up, and a day like today, do I really understand who she is. She is my dream, except I’m the Mother and she’s me. She’s the me that wanted to take care of my Mother. She’s the me that was amazing and traveled and told the amazing stories.  She’s the me that sent beautiful gifts, and never let me feel unloved!  She’s giving me what I would have given to my Mom. I understand God’s purpose more today than I did when I was 13. I lost it all! But I was faithful and humble, and He gave it back to me. So God gave me a dream in you Christina. He is in you “Christ-Ina” and I never realized that until today.  I read every page of the book you sent me, and every page brought a joyful tear.  Because it’s so us!! We can see something and immediately laugh because we’re thinking the same thing…I can call you and you’ll be dialing me… I’ll be cramping and call you and you’re cramping..you share all your joys with me and I share mine with you. 

So today, this is for you. You are my Dream. You are the person that completed my life cycle. You are the gift God gave me back for my Mother, and I love you soooooo much. There are not enough words to tell you what you mean to me, and how you healed so much hurt that was in my heart. All I can say is “Christina, thank you for loving me” and “thank you God for loving me enough to make my dreams come true by giving me a chance to really know, A Mother’s Love through a daughter!!

And by all means, I love my boys!! My Men..My protectors!! They are all of that!! They make sure me and Christina are ok all the time and they are also my gifts!! However, this was about a little girl who lost her Mother. 

“Hugs, love & joyful tears”

The Real Mommie Teresa 


 

“Flowers Can’t Bloom in Dead Soil”

22 Sunday Nov 2015

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Dead Soil
Helloo Everyone!!!

I’m back!  And I’m glad to be back. These JOBS(just over broke) will get you into them, and out of yourself.  When you know your passion, it’s what you always come back too, and writing is mine. So I’m back with more stories, more laughs, and more of The Real Mommie Teresa!  I’ll do some catch ups with Teresa blogs also, but today I want to talk about my topic….”Flowers can’t bloom in dead soil.”

I was listening to Periscope yesterday, yes Periscope, I’m on it..@teresacrawford, just in case you want to follow me.  I’ll be doing more of those soon too. 🙂 Well
Ms. LaToyia Jones,(Check her out) was on, and she talked about don’t quit before you start.  Another great topic, but during her discussion,  she made a reference that no flower will bloom if the soil is dead.  That took me to so many different places in life.  It was like I could just see the dead flower limping, and wondering what it would take to bring it back to life.  Then I hear it.. “new soil”.

To the point, when something has expired in your life, then the time is up.  That can be a job, a lover, a husband, a wife,  a car, a house, a friendship, or whatever.  When you’ve done all you can do to make something  work, and it’s not working, then maybe the soil is dead.  When the soil is dead, water doesn’t work, fertilizer doesn’t work, nothing works.  The only thing that will work, is to dump that soil, and replace it with new soil.  So what am I saying?  You already know. Get rid of what’s keeping your flower from blooming. When a beautiful flower is dead, it limps over, the colors fade, the leaves fall off, and the total appearance of the flower has changed.  That means, you look sad, you feel bad, you feel depressed, you’re angry, you don’t want to do anything productive, your spirit is dead.  Is anyone experiencing that?  If you are, then you need to dump that dead soil, and replace it with new, fresh soil!  With new fresh soil, you get revitalized, you get refreshed, your color comes back, you start feeling good about yourself, and you start to bloom!! Once  you start blooming, then you start growing, and you get stronger and more beautiful  That soil that was killing  you, is gone, and the new soil has brought you back to life.

New SoilThat’s life.. don’t let what is not for you keep holding you down. The only way you will flourish, is to not be afraid to make changes in your life.  That decision is NOT easy, but it has to happen.  If you keep doing what you are doing, you’ll keep getting what you are getting.  The only way you will get something different, is to do something different.  If you keep doing the same thing and expect different results, you’ll just see that flower slowing starting to limp and die  So today, replant that flower in some new and improves soil!  Help that flower bloom and blossom!!  Now is your season!!! God will reap your blessing as long as you sow.

A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.  Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprung up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched.  And since they had no root, they withered away.  Other seeds fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked them.  Other seeds fell on good soil, and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears, let him hear.  Matthew 13:3-9

That message just reiterates what I’m saying.  Be careful where you put your soil..the ground also needs to be ready for the soil.

As Always..

Love & Kisses,

The Real Mommie Teresa

The Space Between Then and Now

21 Wednesday Jan 2015

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IMG_4601Today I created this picture with my “artistic” self for the kids. And it’s amazing how you do something then you look back at it and you “see it”. In this picture, it reminded me of the past. It also let me see that the most important part of this picture is the space between the pictures. That space reminds me of the struggles I had being a single parent responsible for the lives of these children. It reminded me of the hard work, the tears, the fears, and the happiness. It reminded me of what it took to get them from ages 1,3 and 5- to ages 26, 28 and 30. 25 Years is in that space!! It brought laughter thinking about the funny things they did and said, and it brought a sense of pride when I think of their accomplishments. The football games, basketball games, cheerleading events, and the house full of kids all the time. The moments in the space between the pictures are the moments that brought them to where they are today.

So today, I say THANK YOU GOD for the space! Today I feel like you took me through all you did so I can look back and say, Wow! As parents, remember these times. Remember that the lives of those kids are in your hands. It’s the greatest feeling in the world to see them grow and achieve their dreams. So live life like it’ll be over tomorrow, laugh like the funny story never ends, and love like you’ll never see anyone tomorrow!

Love & Hugs

“The Real Mommie Teresa”

RE: A Message Today

07 Sunday Dec 2014

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I visited a church here in Charlotte today and the Preacher spoke from Psalm 145.  A song of praise of David. (Ironically my lil Cousin David got baptized in Ga today also, congrats David!!).  Well he talked about a divine comeback.  And I’m just reiterating in short-term what I think we all need to hear.  We all pray, and we ask God for what we want.  We wait to see what God says, but most of the time, we don’t hear the answer because it’s not what we want it to be.  When you pray, and listen, then you can hear where God will lead you, but when you pray, and you think that God is giving you what you want, then you really don’t hear Him, you just assume that He will give you what you pray for.  God sometimes says NO.  When He says no, you don’t hear that.  You go out and make that mistake and then you want forgiveness.

When God leads you to unknown territory, He has a purpose for you.  Even though you may not agree, or you may not know what the outcome will be, He does.  When He removes people, cars, money, jewelry, friends, or anything from your life, He’s getting you ready for what HE has for you.  If God ask you to give up all your riches, would you?  If HE did, it would be because He has something greater for you.  I truly believe that.  God will take ALL you have, break you down to nothing, and test your faith.  If you can worship and praise HIM when you have nothing, then He will give you everything.  I know my faith has been challenged, but I believe in HIM and I know that  where He leads me, I will go.  Once you get that understanding of who HE is, and the true power HE has, then you will understand His word, and His works.

So in closing the Preacher said to say goodbye to all the things that are holding you back from your blessings.  Goodbye bad relationships, goodbye abusive relationships, goodbye to abusive behavior, goodbye to struggling, goodbye to being broke, goodbye to anything causing harm.  And stop introducing yourself as who you used to be, such as, I’m a divorcee, I’m a recovering addict, I’m a felon, I’m a struggle mother.  Introduce yourself as who you are now, not who you used to be.  Let the past be the past.  He brought you through it to make you better, not to relive that situation over and over again.   Just as I needed to hear this and I definitely live by this, I wanted to share it with you all.

So be blessed,

LOVE, HUGS AND KISSES

“The Real Mommie Teresa

The Real Mommie Teresa is back!!!

11 Wednesday Jun 2014

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50th CelebrationHello everyone!! Sorry I’ve been MIA for a minute, but I had to regroup and get this computer back on-line. Blogging on an iPad and iPhone..blah blah.. Well I’m back!!

So what’s new in my life? I’ve reached the Big 50 in my life and it’s amazing so far! I had the most amazing 50th Birthday party in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and 17 of my closest friends and family attended. The trip was not only a party, it was a reflection of life. It was a chance for everyone to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve been through, and possibly, where life will take us.

As a Mother, I’ve had struggles in life, but I never looked at them as struggles, I just did what I needed to do, to make sure my kids had everything they needed. I never looked at it as a burden because it wasn’t, it was survival. Not only did I want them to survive, I wanted them to be better, stronger, wiser. I wanted them to be high achievers, never quitting, and never giving up. I wanted them to always be grounded. Don’t ever think you are above or better than anyone because life can have you on a high, then drop you on your head! And if you fall, the people below will always be there to catch you. But if you get so high and you forget the people beneath you, you will fall and hit concrete! You can only go as high as your support system. So teaching my kids to be humble was always at the forefront of my wishes.

At my dinner, when everyone had a chance to make a toast, and each person made a comment on my life, that’s when you can see your life and God truly gives you a flashback of what you’ve been through and not even realize it. When I hear people say I’ve been their motivation, and their support, it means so much! When my friends say I’ve never let them down, and they inspire to be like me, only makes me a better person. To see my kids so passionate and emotional when talking about their Mother.. Is nothing less than amazing.

So what I realize is for all I’ve been through, I have an amazing life. Not because of what I have, but because of who I have in it. I love the people in my life. If I didn’t have any money, or material things, I know I’d still be happy! Because nothing can mean more to you than having your family and friends surrounding you with love and respect. I know I have changed some lives, and so many people have changed mine. Only for the better.

I know I’m all over the place today, but basically I’m saying.. I thank God for blessing me. I thank God for my children, and my family. I thank God for blessing everyone to go with me to Jamaica, and continue to bless them with His rewards of life. We laughed, we cried, and we bonded in ways unbelievable. We saw God’s beauty, and we appreciated every drop of rain, every ray of sunshine, and every wave of the ocean. As long as I am a daughter of God, I will always give of myself unselfishly, because God will take care of you when you think you have nothing.

Well I’m back y’all, and I’ll be keeping it as real as I can!!

Love & Kisses
The Real Mommie Teresa