Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays! I hope you had a really special time with your family this season. I really love this time of year. So many great moments....I loved watching my daughter get so excited about all the things that happen during this time of year. The young, innocent, joyful feeling children experience. It reminded me of when I was her age. :) One of the things we did this Christmas was make a homemade gingerbread house. I had to include this pic!

I look forward to the New Year and blogging more!
Wishing you all a safe and blessed New Year!!

Dr. Nina

Fall, Family, and Fathers

Recently, I wrote an article about fathers and their role in a child's life. I wanted to share it with all of you!

Fall, Family, and Fathers
Fall is a perfect time of year for family outings. There are so many great activities offered in the community. The children are excited too, because of the fun things they get to do with mom and dad. They have a chance to spend time with not only mom but dad too.

The father’s role in a child’s life is so important. A recent study reviewed 24 research studies in the past 20 years. They found a child that has an active and regular engagement with their father, or a father figure, influences them in the following ways:

1. less likely to smoke
2. less likely to get into trouble with police/reduce criminal behavior
3. less likely to drop out of school
4. achieve better levels of education
5. develop good friends with children of both sexes
6. have enhanced cognitive skills: intelligence (found to score higher on measures of verbal and mathematical ability), reasoning, and language development
7. feel loved, allowing for healthy self esteem
8. have a sense of security (physical and emotional) = TRUST
9. have emotional support which has been found to help children empathize better with others, better social skills

The studies consistently show that the earlier a father is involved, the better it will be for the child long term. Also, regular and consistent involvement plays a key role in a child’s development.

I encourage all fathers not to doubt their influence and abilities. It’s okay if you make mistakes. You learn by doing. Create rituals with your child. Think of things you can do with your child that will become predictable and reassuring. For example: walking your child to the bus stop, playing a particular game. At times, you may need to be creative, especially if you work long hours or travel. Find ways that your child can be involved. Take your child with you to do errands. Get their input when you can and show them things that you are doing. For example: If you need to get air in your tire, show them how to do it. It’s about exploring and learning together and answering all of their many questions. This is when the bond is strengthened.

My dad passed away six years ago but I can still hear his voice, his messages…”You can do it.” “Go for it!” “I believe in you.” What an impact he made in my life. If it weren't for the role he played in my life, I may not have had the confidence to accomplish many of my goals.

This article is to encourage you to continue doing all that you do. You are making a difference in your child’s life. Embrace the moments and remember the role you play matters and makes an impact.

Proverbs 2:6 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

God Bless our Dads,
Dr. Nina

Kids calendars and charts!

Now that school has begun for children it's especially important for children to get on a routine and have good structure in the home. This will help reduce stress which is good for everybody!

My daughter is in school a couple days a week and also in dance, and gymnastics. I want her to know what she is doing each day so I am posting a calendar on the refrigerator that will let her know this! I will use stickers and notes so that she knows what to expect.

I found a website that has some great calendars and other interesting and helpful charts for children. I found a chart on "feelings" that I wanted to share with you.

It's often so difficult for kids to explain how they are feeling but looking at pictures can help. Here's a link to the feeling chart:
http://www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com/feeling%20chart%20pdf/feeling%20chart2.pdf

Here's also a link to the main website: www.freeprintablebehaviorcharts.com

Wishing you much parenting success this new school year!
Dr. Nina

Dance Class

This past week, I took my daughter to dance class. I was running about 5 minutes late so when we arrived the class had begun and the girls were in a circle.

My daughter is somewhat shy and is much more comfortable when she is one of the first to arrive and then adjust to other kids coming in the room. So when she saw everyeone in a circle she was hesitant about going in the room. My mother was with me and told Jazzlynn that she has something for her that she can bring with her into dance class. My mother pulled out a small cross from her purse and gave it to her. It evidently was exactly what she needed. She took it from my mother and walked confidently into dance class! :)

She's learned that Jesus keeps her safe and protects her and this cross reminded her of that! So cute...such a tender moment that I wanted to share with all of you!

Dr. Nina

Have you ever had to call 911? I did this weekend!

This past Friday, I was home alone with my daughter. My husband was gone for the night and would be back Saturday. Well at 3:30am my house alarm makes an abnormal sound. I enter my code and it stops but the sound is still on the other side of the house so I enter the code over there too. The keypad shows the fire light and service light on. I thought "It's a malfunction" and I get ready to go back to sleep. Then...suddenly my house alarm is activated again without me doing anything! Okay- so would you be scared? Because I was!

I called 911 and I stayed on the phone with the operator until the police arrived. The operator notified the fire department too since the fire indicator light was on even though my "service" light was on too. I was okay with this since I was scared. Thank goodness my daughter was next to me in bed. It was good to know she was safe.

The policeman arrived and checked the house. He was really nice and I felt safer. The firemen arrived but they did not come in since they found out that the "service" light was on and it was an alarm issue.

I called the alarm company that night too. Needlesstosay, this entire experience was overwhelming and I didn't fall asleep until 6:00am. My daughter was fine with the experience and had no idea what was going on except that the policeman came to our house to make sure everyone was okay and safe....and then she went back to sleep!

She had no idea how worried I was because I played the "calm Mommy role" which can be challenging to do in a situation like this. I am glad it's in the past and I hope I never have to experience this again!

I am so thankful for all the people out there that watch over us and risk their lives for us everyday. God Bless them for their passion and willingness to help all of us.

This moment was a great reminder...

Dr. Nina

Big Brothers Big Sisters

I used to be a Big Sister to a little Boy from Big Brothers Big Sisters. However, once I had my daugther I didn't have the time to continue doing this. My little and I have recently reconnected. We had lunch this past Friday and he's doing good. I hope I can continue to check in with him and guide him if he needs some help.

There are so many children on the waiting list at Big Brothers Big Sisters. In Texas, the waiting list for boys is longer then for girls and I believe this is true on a national level as well.

If you have time and feel led to mentor a little boy or girl, I encourage you to make the phone call to BBBS! It will be a great experience!

Dr. Nina

Cooking with your Kids!

I have to admit I think I do a good job baking with Jazzlynn...it's fun and the cookies, cupcakes, etc. are always good to eat! However, I haven't been as good in the cooking department. I decided I needed to put more emphasize on this and I knew she would enjoy it!

So, I gathered all of my kids cook books that I have, which would be four, and let my daugther pick out her dinner for the night. I also placed them on a shelf where she can reach them any time!

I went to the store today to get all the ingredients with cookbook in hand! :) I counseled tonight so my husband made the special dinner with her. She had fun making it and eating it! This picture is what she made, "Spanish Tortilla".

I know kids are definitely more interested in trying new things when they play a role in it. So if you want your child to try new things, I encourage you to get them involved! It does make a difference.

Have a great week!

God Bless,
Dr. Nina

Embracing Today....

I am reading a book by Luci Swindoll called, "Doing Life Differently" The Art of Living with Imagination. In it, she shared something she read in a Dear Abby Column written by a 14 year old named Jason Lehman. It is quite profound and I wanted to share it with all of you!



Present Tense
It was spring, but it was summer I wanted,
The warm days, and the great outdoors.
It was summer, but it was fall I wanted,
The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.
It was fall, but it was winter I wanted,
The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.
It was winter, but it was spring I wanted,
The warmth and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted,
The freedom and respect.
I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted,
To be mature, and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted,
The youth and the free spirit.
I was retired, but it was middle-age I wanted,
The presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over, and I never got what I wanted.

Wow- right?! What a reminder to live in the present, to treat today as a gift and embrace whatever comes our way.

May God Bless you and show you the way!
Dr. Nina

The power of your thoughts....

I have been working with people struggling with emotional issues; such as anxiety and depression. One effective way to help them is to challenge their cognitive distortions. If they can recognize their distorted thoughts and challenge them with a positive thought, they can change how they feel.

Our thoughts control our feelings and our feelings control our behavior. Though it seems simple, it can take time to change the way the brain thinks. However, if a person is committed and works hard at acknowledging them and challenging them, they can experience a whole new outlook on life.

Below are 10 cognitive distortions that Dr. David Burns categorizes. Can you relate? If so, challenge yourself for change!

Dr. Nina

1. All-or-nothing thinking: You look at things in absolute, black-and-white categories.

2. Overgeneralization: You view a negative event as a never-ending pattern of defeat.

3. Mental filter: You dwell on the negatives and ignore the positives.

4. Discounting the positives: You insist that your accomplishments or positive qualities “don’t count.”

5. Jumping to conclusions: (A) Mind reading – you assume that people are reacting negatively to you when there’s no definite evidence for this; (B) Fortune-telling – You arbitrarily predict that things will turn out badly.

6. Magnification or minimization: You blow things way up out of proportion or you shrink their importance inappropriately.

7. Emotional reasoning: You reason from how you feel: “I feel like an idiot, so I really must be one.” Or “I don’t feel like doing this, so I’ll put it off.”

8. “Should statements”: You criticize yourself or other people with “shoulds” or “shouldn’ts.” “Musts,” “oughts,” and “have tos” are similar offenders.

9. Labeling: You identify with your shortcomings. Instead of saying “I made a mistake," you tell yourself, “I’m a jerk,” or “a fool,” or “a loser.”

10. Personalization and blame: You blame yourself for something you weren’t entirely responsible for, or you blame other people and overlook ways that your own attitudes and behaviour might contribute to a problem.

How much TV is okay for your child to watch?

How much TV is too much? How do we control this with our children? These are some good questions. There are some mothers that believe in NO TV and others that may enjoy having the TV on all day. I personally think there are some great programs and DVD's that can teach children about life whether it be educational or emotional development. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV for children two and under because this is a pivotal time for their social, emotional, and cognitive development. If your child is over age 2, experts recommend no more than 1 to 2 hours of TV a day.

Recent Statistics: TV viewing among kids is at an eight-year high. On average, children ages 2-5 spend 32 hours a week in front of a TV—watching television, DVDs, DVR and videos, and using a game console. Kids ages 6-11 spend about 28 hours a week in front of the TV. The vast majority of this viewing (97%) is of live TV.

My daughter was recently at someone's house where the girls were playing a game while watching TV in her bedroom. This obviously took away from their social interaction and the joy of playing the game. It's a media world that surrounds us. Though there are some great advantages, there can be some great disadvantages if we don't monitor their use with our children.

Dr. Nina

The Dr. Nina Show - TV Pilot!

I taped my TV Talk Show Pilot and it's currently getting pitched to networks. It's an extremely competitive area so we will see what happens. I know whatever happens, I will continue to do what I love...educate and inspire others! Here is the TV Pilot/Sizzle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZH6ADoGw60

Thanks for your support!
Dr. Nina

Balancing Family and Life

Today has been a busy day for me! I taped "Top Docs of DFW" and then counseled in the evening. I enjoy doing both so it definitely doesn't seem like work. It was nice to have my husband home to watch our daughter. She got to have Daddy time, which is always good!

It can be tough to find balance. It's different for everybody. As long as you have peace about where you are and what you are doing and your children are happy, then this is a good sign that you are balancing everything well! :)

I always monitor my daughter's attitude and behavior and this helps me know how we're doing as parents! Wishing you peace and balance in your family!

Dr. Nina

Talking to your Children about Sexual Abuse

This past weekend I attended a sexual abuse training. One of the things emphasized is the importance of educating our public. As parents, we all need to have a talk with our children so that they are not victimized.

Statistics: Currently, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. 30 to 40% of children are abused by family members.As many as 60% are abused by people the family trust- abusers frequently try to form a trusting relationship with parents. In 90% of sexual abuse cases the children and the child's family know and trust the abuser.

Educate yourself and your family and friends. Download The 7 Steps from Protecting our Children from Sexual Abuse. Click here: http://www.d2l.org/atf/cf/%7B64AF78C4-5EB8-45AA-BC28-F7EE2B581919%7D/7%20Steps%20to%20Protecting%20Our%20Children.pdf

Dr. Nina

I FINISHED!

This post is a follow up from my previous post!

I wanted to let you know that though I wasn't 100% prepared, I finished the TWU Pioneer power sprint! I am always inspired by the many athletes at these types of events and they're ALL ages. I met a father and son, 2 young girls who were 14, and another guy that started doing races and triathlons at age 46! It's amazing what you can do when you have the belief and desire! The TWU sprint is a great sprint triathlon for those of you interested in doing your first one.

My time was the same from last year; 1 hour and 40 minutes. My run was slow so I am going to work on this part!

What are your fitness goals for the rest of the year? It's never too late!

Dr. Nina

Not Prepared for Race Day!

Okay, so I am participating in a sprint Triathlon this Sunday. This is the shortest distance triathlon and any of you reading this could train and do this too! :)

Anyway, so I went for a 3-mile speed run this evening to help with my time for the race. Unfortunately, I wasn't very speedy! I also was tired towards the end sloowwing way down. I averaged under a 10 minute mile and anyone who is a runner knows this is not very good! :( Oh well...we will see how I do this Sunday.

The Triathlon is a 300 meter pool swim, 16 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run. You are probably thinking how I am going to be able to do this if I am tired after running 3 miles? Good question. I have trained though so I am going to make the excuse it was an off day for me and just too hot! I will post how I do on Sunday afternoon!

All the best to you, your health and family!

Dr. Nina :)

Christmas Cookies in July? Say it isn't so! :)

My daughter loves to bake as many children love to do. Today she wanted to make sugar cookies! We have a big container of cut outs that she wanted to use that contained letters, numbers, pumpkins, Xmas trees, snowmen, planes, and more! Needless to say, we had an assortment of cookies.

As you know, with sugar cookie dough, cutouts, sprinkles, etc. it gets quite messy! I don't know if she will ever remember today when she made holiday cookies in July but this is what I do know. I know that she will take her feelings of joy and laughter with her. Her self-esteem was boosted by the things she did; mixing and rolling the dough, doing the cut outs, and taking the baked cookies off the pan with a spatula. The internal joy and satisfaction she experienced when she decorated the cookies and how happy she was with the end result! :)

As our kids explore and discover, the more we embrace it and let them experience every part of it, the more empowered and excited they will be with whatever they do next!

This is truly the joy of parenting!

Dr. Nina

Do you have a shy child?

You may wonder if your child is normal if they are shy and don't engage right away. There are some kids who are very comfortable in new situations but many children need time to warm up to their environment and you can't force them or rush them.

Imagine going to a party where you don't know anyone. How do you feel? What do you need to do to get comfortable? Your child is the same way however they may need Mom or Dad by their side as they warm up to their new environment.

My daughter is shy. She started a princess camp yesterday and my husband had to stay with her for awhile before she got comfortable. Today I dropped her off and she didn't need mommy to stay. She felt secure and confident and this is our goal as parents. Give them time, reassure them, and love them and your shy child will be OK! :)

Have any other questions about shy children or another concern about your child, please post it here and I'll answer them!

Dr. Nina

Oh no! My TONE!

The other day I was rushing to leave our house. It seems as a mother I am always running behind somewhere! :) I was in my closet gathering some clothes to take with us on our trip to Mimi's house. My daugther was standing in front of the closet door guarding it from the dogs. Then I said to her with a hurridly voice, "Jazzy come on lets go, lets go..." Though I wasn't yelling my tone wasn't Mommy's happy calm tone. My daughter started to get upset and I had to stop what I was doing to hug her, tell her I love her, and apologize for my tone.

It was a reminder to me the importance of our tone when we are around our children. Our tone effects our children. Though they may not always verbalize it, they feel it. We are their role models and how we express and manage our emotions is important for them to observe.

Also, reassuring her of my love for her is expressing that my love is unconditional. Children are so impressionable and they need to feel that unconditional love from Mommy and Daddy. This is a big part of building their self esteem, which I know we all want to do!

So, watch your tone...I know I AM! :)

Dr. Nina

The BIG fall!

Well, it was my first time to experience my daughter having a bad fall. We had just finished a library activity and went to the bathroom. Unfortunately while in the bathroom, she tripped over my foot and fell flat on her face. She attempted to catch herself with her hands but it didn't prevent her tooth from cutting her bottom lip.

There was a lot of blood and I went through many wet paper towels before getting her into the car and rushing her to Urgent Care just in case she needed stitches. During this time, I had to remain calm though inside I was worried and anxious. It's a difficult role to play!

She didn't need stitches thank goodness! However, she did have a big bottom lip and we stopped at the store for popsicles and a surprise since it was quite overwhelming for her. I learned a lot from this experience. Do your best to remain calm so that they don't feel as overwhelmed. Also, reassure them that Doctors are nice people and they are there to help you.

The next day we drew a picture of her experience at the Doctors. She drew Mommy and herself sad but the Doctor as a nice and happy man. This is good for her to see this image just in case she ever needs to go again! Hopefully not but she is still just a toddler!

Dr. Nina

Mommy's Trip

Well, it's always nice to take some time out to refresh and renew your spirit and it's always great if you can join other Mommy's as you do this! This past weekend I went on a weekend girls trip with friends from high school. It's so nice to reconnect and talk about life today...married and with children. At times we were those girls in high school mentally and then at times we were these mature adults with serious and deep conversations. It was so much fun!

Now that I am back, I hope to be posting more about motherhood, parenting, and life!

God Bless,
Dr. Nina

Happy Mother's Day to you!

As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s a great time to reflect on motherhood and what it all means. If you research the definition of “motherhood”, you will find definitions such as: 1. the state of being a mother or 2. the qualities or spirit of a mother. I think these definitions need more detail.

Here is Dr. Nina’s definition of motherhood: “A mother is someone who gives of herself unconditionally, on call to her children 24/7, sacrifices whatever is necessary for her children, loves them unconditionally even when it’s not always felt back, a personal assistant to her children when they forget their lunch, soccer shoes, money, and other school related things, an on call school project assistant for any size projects due at any time, an at-home counselor and educator, and finally a spiritual leader and role model! In addition to her motherhood duties, she also is a full time cook, housekeeper, driver, and operations manager of her household.”

I think this is a much better definition, don’t you? Mothering is hard work and is also very rewarding. It can be difficult to measure if we are doing enough for our children since we don’t have a formal evaluation as we would if we worked in the corporate world. I know there are Mother’s that take on bigger roles because they may think they are not doing enough or want to do what other Mother’s are doing. It’s so important not to compare ourselves to others.

I think all of us are unique and all of us want the best for our children. There is no perfect Mother. We will all make mistakes. At times we will wish we could have done something differently or handled something better but at the end of the day what matters most is our unconditional love for our children. If your child knows that they are loved and accepted by you, then you are doing a great job! Jesus wants children to feel His love through their mothers.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13: 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails….and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'

I think all Mother’s are incredible and I admire and respect each one of you. I hope each of you enjoy and celebrate this special day! Today is your day to feel appreciated and be showered with love by your family.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Dr. Nina

Balancing Life as a Mom

It's challenging trying to find balance in your life as a Mother. I know my life isn't balanced when I am not at peace. When I begin to feel overwhelmed or frazzled, I make a list of the things I need to do and the things I don't need to do right away. This always helps. I also look at what things I can take off my plate or postpone for a later date. I think, as a mother, it's easy to go, go, go all of the time!

We often forget to take those "time outs" for ourselves or stop to wonder why we are feeling overwhelmed. I share this with all of you because I recently had to make my list! The biggest thing I am doing right now is shooting my first TV Talk show Pilot, "Dr. Nina". I plan to submit the pilot to networks this spring! I will keep you posted with updates. I am very excited about this and the possibilities!

Wishing you much balance and peace in your life!

Dr. Nina

Top Docs of DFW taping today!

It was a busy day for me today. I dropped my daughter off at her Montesorri this morning and went to tape "Top Docs of DFW". I enjoy hosting this show. If you want to learn more about it, please visit: www.topdocsofdfw.com. After we taped, I went to pick up my daugther and made it just in time! :)

She was a ball of energy and ready to play, play, play! I wish I could remember that stage of my life...it really is the best time. The biggest concern for her is "what will I do and play with today?!"

Dr. Nina

A Day at the Zoo!

I met my friend and her daughter at the zoo today. It was more crowded then I had anticipated. We still had a great time but I must admit, I was exhausted by the end of the day and I only have 1 child. :) I admire so many Mom's that have 2,3, or even 4 children and take all of them out to different events. I assume you adjust but I wonder as we try for number 2 if it will be that easy! I just wanted to applaud all you Mom's that get out there and just "do it"!

Dr. Nina

Mentors

I had to share with you all that I lost a mentor of mine this past December. Her words of encouragement and wisdom still ring in my ears. I am so thankful that Dr. Barbara Brunworth was a part of my life. She was an inspiration to many people, including myself and will always be missed.

I also just found out today that someone I admired and respected on the radio, Tom Dooley, passed away this past fall. I had no idea. I just remembered what an encourager he was as I listened to him early in the morning when I would get ready for work. I still remember the joy and happiness in his voice...how he reminded me to be thankful for today, to let go of negativity, forgive those who hurt you, pray for those around you. I was fortunate to hear him speak and meet him. He was just a happy, uplifting person doing God's work. I know he is missed by many as well.

As I reflect on the mentors that have been a part of my life, I am reminded again to not only be thankful for today but to reach out and let others know how important they are in my life.

I love the quote, "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why we call it 'The Present'" — Eleanor Roosevelt

I just wanted to share that... :)

Dr. Nina

Validate, validate, validate!

Today I was playing with my daughter on the family room floor. She was a little tired but overall doing okay. She began looking at an "American Girl" magazine, which always has cute things in it. She then says to me, "I want to look at another magazine like this one." I said, "Sorry dear, we don't have another one." She then repeats her request and I repeat my response. Needlesstosay, she was getting more frustrated and my response was not helping.

I was forgetting what she needed and that was validation! Dr. Nina wasn't validating that she was upset becuase she wanted to look at another magazine like the one she had.

Then I said to her, "You really want another magazine like this one...right." "Uh-huh" she said. Then I said, "It makes you sad because you don't have another one like this and that makes me sad too because I wish I had one to give you." She say's, "uh-huh or um-hmm..." and her frustration has now dissipated and she is now climbing on my back! :)

I share this story because it's sometimes difficult to stop and think about what our kids are feeling. We are just responding as we would with adults. Kids need more from us. They need us to help them through their feelings and label the emotions they are experiencing. You will be amazed and how they respond!

All the best,
Dr. Nina

Update on Book - Need your input

Hi Everyone,

We are currently putting our book together for teens about sexual abuse. We would like to incorporate statements from other sexual abuse survivors in our book. If you would like us to email you with a question we may have, please email me at drninalpc@aol.com. We appreciate your support.

Thanks so much!

Dr. Nina

Book on Sexual Abuse for Teenagers

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to let you know that I will be collaborating with a friend on a book for teenagers who have been sexually abused. Please keep this project in your prayers. We are very excited and passionate about doing this. My friend is a sexual abuse survivor. We will keep you posted on the progress.

To learn more about sexual abuse and be an advocate to stop it, visit: www.onewithcourage.org

Thank you for supporting this important cause.

Dr. Nina

Cabin fever anyone?

It's been very cold and icy in TX, which is preventing many of us from getting outdoors like myself! I am home with my toddler trying to be as creative as possible with different activities we can do. However, her favorite thing to do is play house, which is fine but I am the one who does all the talking as she watches and laughs! It's quite entertaining for her as I reenact things that happen between her and I. :)

I hope you are enjoying this time with your child and/or teen. Though you may be struggling with cabin fever, it's a great time to reconnect and do creative things with your family indoors!

Please feel free to post any stories that would inspire us!

Dr. Nina

Taking Breaks for Yourself

Today was a busy day with my little girl. It was too beautiful not to be outside shopping, walking, and playing, which is what we did! By the time we got home, I needed my rest and she needed hers. I find that if I don't take breaks for myself that it won't be beneficial for me or my daughter.

Today's society is all about go, go, go! Sometimes, it's hard to take our own personal breaks but it's important to find that time and commit to resting physically and mentally. If you are finding yourself always stressed and overwhelmed, then it's time to stop and reflect on all that you are doing. Find things that you can take off your plate so that you are not feeling overwhelmed.

God wants us to enjoy today and have peace and joy in all we do. At times, this can be challenging but I find the more I practice appreciating the moment, the easier it gets!

Dr. Nina

Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Women's Conference coming soon to DFW!

Hi Everyone,

One of the things I am working on is a women's conference with my church called, "Heart to Heart". It's for women of all ages and children are welcome too! There will be a morning craft that will support a couple of local nonprofits. In addition, we will have a fabulous speaker, Carmen Studer, who is a movie producer for One Heart Film, mother and an advocate for at risk youth. To learn more and register visit: www.whiteschapelumc.org - White's Chapel Methodist Church in Southlake, TX.

On another note, I am working on another possible TV project and I will get back with you soon with more details once I have them!

I hope this New Year is inspiring you as it is myself. It's such a great time to reflect and set new goals!

God Bless,
Dr. Nina

New Year, New Ideas

Hi Everyone,

I love the New Year because it's a great time to reflect on what you've done and what you plan to do next. It can be a really exciting and motivating time for all of us. I am thinking of my next step in my life...what would be exciting for me to do?

This past year has been quite an interesting year for me. What I value most is being a mother to my daughter. I stepped back from some things I had been doing; running a ministry and serving as a vice chair on a nonprofit were the big ones for me to end.

I have been praying and thinking about where I want to go next in my life. What will the title of my next chapter read in my LIFE book? What will the title of your chapter read? Please post your own ideas and dreams in the New Year! I would love to hear them!

Dr. Nina