Click here for COVID19 Announcement Blog Events Join Us Grants & Programs Latest PostsVirtual Holiday PartyNovember 24, 2020Tuesday, December 15th - 7 PM via ZOOM is FREE, must register to attend. Register Here >> First 5 to register will get a prize! Join us from the comfort of your own home. There will be games and prizes. And we will announce the winning bids of our "Tiffany Trees". Wear your Holiday finest, your Holiday PJs or even your Ugly Christmas sweater!!! You can share your holiday decorations, your favorite beverage and/or cookie or snack. If you send us the recipe we will compile them to share with everyone. (email recipes to wrc@frwrc.org) "Tiffany Tree" Legacy Collection - Silent Auction Fundraiser our Virtual Holiday Party, Dec 15. Bid Here - https://www.32auctions.com/FRWRC2020 The Trees are stunning, if you would like to see them in person, please stop by Donahoe's Whimsical Florist to view (205 S Royal Ave, Front Royal, VA). Anyone can view our auction without having an account. However, an account is needed in order to bid. The process is quick and very little information is required as you can see on the Create An Account page. You only need to provide an email and create a password. Requiring an account for bidding makes it easy for auction administrators to identify and communicate with bidders during and after the auction. Winning Bidders will pay FRWRC directly, payments are not set up through the auction site. Elaine Faucher, a long-time member of the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center (FRWRC) and resident of Warren County, has created a unique and beautiful “Tiffany Tree” collection made from vintage jewelry collected from local women. She has donated five of these beautiful trees to the FRWRC to auction off during the holidays to raise money to continue supporting area women with excellent programming and annual grant opportunities. Legacy Collection includes: Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor, Princess Di & Cleopatra Bid Here - https://www.32auctions.com/FRWRC2020... Read more...2021 Dare to Dream AnnouncementNovember 17, 2020Click link to apply online: Online Application Please read Grant Description for more information and eligibility. Applications are accepted from: November 1, 2020 to January 15, 2021 For your convenience, all documents are provided online, click links. 2021 Dare to Dream Grant Application PSA Dare to Dream Description - 2021 Dare to Dream Application - 2021 Dare to Dream Business Plan Outline - 2021 Dare to Dream Flyer - 2021 List of Previous Dare to Dream Recipients - 2020 Dare to Dream Grant Application Before completing the form, read the grant description to make sure you are eligible. In signing the application, you are agreeing to comply with all of the conditions. COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 5 PM, FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021 Applications may be sent by e-mail to wrc@frwrc.org, submitted online by visiting www.frwrc.org/apply or mailed by regular post to the following address: FRWRC Application Committee P.O. Box 1748, Front Royal, VA 22630-0037 If mailed by regular post, contact FRWRC Office to verify that your application was received. Dare to Dream Enrichment Grant Description Purpose: These annual grants provide women with an opportunity to take a bold step forward in their lives or support the momentum if they are already on their way. Past recipients have used their grants to go to school, start a business, purchase computers, create non-profits attend training programs, support certification and other continuing education goals. Eligibility: Women residing in Warren County, Virginia and ages 18 years and older are eligible for funding through this grant. Applicants may not be enrolled in high school. Applicants may re-apply annually including previous recipients of grants. Review Criteria: Applications will be reviewed on the merit of the project or activity description. Grant review criteria may include but are not limited to the following: prior educational and/or work experience, letters of recommendation from others who have knowledge of the applicant's capabilities, additional biographical information, other life and work experiences, volunteer work, and financial need. The grant selection committee may also consider the applicant's motivation, character and/or ability. Applicants must complete all sections of the application and submit the Dare to Dream Grant application between November 1, 2020 and January 15, 2021. Personal interviews will be conducted for all finalists for the grant as part of the review process. The grant committee will review the proposal and notify the applicant if funding has been awarded in March 2021. A follow-up evaluation is also part of the grant requirements. The project must be started and the grant money requested by November 30, 2021 Application Deadline: Applications are accepted from November 1, 2020 to January 15, 2021 Applications are mailed to FRWRC, PO Box 1748, Front Royal, VA 22630; emailed to wrc@frwrc.org or submitted online by visiting www.frwrc.org/apply and must be postmarked by 5 PM on Friday, January 15, 2021. Applications are reviewed and the recipients will be announced in March 2021. Grant money will be available as of March 2021 If you need assistance completing the application, contact FRWRC at (540) 636-7007. Amount of Assistance: Dare to Dream applicants may request up to $1,000 through this grant. One $1,500 Elaine Bromfield Memorial Scholarship for education is awarded each year. Note: Grant money is not presented directly to the recipient. Payments are mailed directly to the training program, school, or the appropriate vender. Grant money cannot be used for expenses incurred before March 2021.... Read more...Tiffany Trees – Legacy Collection FundraiserNovember 16, 2020ONLINE Silent Auction from November 1 to December 15 CLICK HERE TO VIEW & PLACE YOUR BID* Local Woman Creates Beautiful Christmas Trees from Vintage Jewelry to Support Grants for Local Women Elaine Faucher, a long-time member of the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center (FRWRC) and resident of Warren County, has created a unique and beautiful “Tiffany Tree” collection made from vintage jewelry collected from local women. She has donated five of these beautiful trees to the FRWRC to auction off during the holidays to raise money to continue supporting area women with excellent programming and annual grant opportunities. Like many organizations, the FRWRC has had to cancel its regular fundraising events due to COVID 19. But the organization continues to provide excellent programming and grant opportunities for women who are seeking connection and help, now, more than ever. Cleopatra Tiffany Tree Cleopatra – (Born 69 B.C.) This tree topper is evocative of her reign and style; it was my first thought as I created this collection. Green rhinestones, glass beads and gold make up the tree. View Video - https://youtu.be/RMyK6Yac-tY Marilyn Tiffany Tree “Marilyn” Monroe – (Born in 1926) – This creation is reminiscent of the 1920’s. The glitzy rhinestone era of costume jewelry - the Roaring 20’s. Pieces of sea glass, blue stones, and silver embellish this collection which is enhanced by a tiny glass beaded garland. View Video - https://youtu.be/scbbEd6WgN8 Jackie Tiffany Tree “Jackie” Kennedy (Born 1929) Gold, Ivory and White – represents her understated elegance and sophisticated style. This tree is a collection of pearls and bold earrings, topped with a stunning rhinestone pin. It is completed with a delicate gold and pearl garland. View Video - https://youtu.be/2fD2qVRJG6w Liz Tiffany Tree “Liz” Taylor – (Born in 1933) This was my first tree, started with my initial collection of jewelry and which inspired all the trees that followed. This collection represents the 1930’s and beyond and the woman who had an audacious passion for big, bold jewelry. View Video - https://youtu.be/3XL9IlDK5yU Princess Di Tiffany Tree “Princess Di” (Born 1961). The topper is reminiscent of a crown. The collection is composed of silver and pink rhinestones, porcelain and pearls, and evokes her iconic grace and elegance. View Video https://youtu.be/_iQUeSIjENw Elaine’s “Tiffany Tree” Legacy Collection Elaine’s “Tiffany Tree” Legacy Collection was inspired by the wonderful quality collection of vintage jewelry evoking past times, places and beautiful iconic women. We think the donation of these gorgeous handmade jewelry trees named after glamorous women of our past and created by a local woman to help support other women would make a heartwarming holiday story and also help support the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center Online Auction Fundraiser. Elaine Faucher has a long history as a flower farmer, wedding & special event floral designer in Great Falls, VA. She has been featured in national magazines and publications over the years. She now turns her talent towards her own personal gardens and in turn to the community around her. She donates flowers, arrangements and host garden tours. “The amazing pieces of jewelry on these trees was donated by women from their private collections, many of which were handed down from mothers, grandmothers, aunts, the greats and all the beloved women in their lives,” Elaine says. No Need to Scroll to the top - CLICK HERE TO VIEW & PLACE YOUR BID* *Note: Anyone can view our auction without having an account. However, an account is needed in order to bid. First click the link to place a bid; that will take you to our online auction. The process to create an account is quick and very little information is required as you can see on the Create An Account page. You only need to provide an email and create a password. Requiring an account for bidding makes it easy for auction administrators to identify and communicate with bidders during and after the auction. Winning Bidders will pay FRWRC directly, payments are not set up through the auction site.... Read more...2020 November Book CommentaryNovember 15, 2020Donated Book - Now available at Samuels Public Library Front Royal Women's Resource Center and Royal Oak Bookshop co-sponsor donations to Samuels Public Library that are by or about women. Nan Hathaway, Book Donation Sponsor & Coordinator, chooses our books each year. Thank you Nan! We highlight one of these books every third week each month. Our 2020 Book Reviews and Commentaries are provided by JoEllen McNeal. Thank you JoEllen! The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America By Margaret O’Mara “How an otherwise unexceptional swath of suburbia came to rule the world is the central question animating The Code….” -The New York Times Book Review “Few people had heard of “Silicon Valley” and the electronic firms that clustered there when a trade-paper journalist decided to give it that snappy nickname in early 1971. America’s centers of manufacturing, of finance, and of politics were three thousand miles distant on the opposite coast. Boston outranked Northern California in money raised, markets ruled and media attention attracted.” So begins The Code, the definitive chronical of how one small group of people, in one particular place, changed everything for the rest of us. Margaret O’Mara, one of the most significant historians of the American-led digital revolution, has produced the definitive history of Silicon Valley for our time. In The Code, she tells a story of mavericks and visionaries, but also of powerful institutions creating the framework for innovation, from the Pentagon to Stanford University. The transformation of big tech into the engine room of the American economy and the center of so many of our hopes and dreams - and increasingly, our nightmares- can be understood, in O’Mara’s competent hands, as the story of one California valley. As her majestic history makes clear, its fate is the fate of us all. In The Code, Margaret O’Mara, a historian at the University of Washington, distills volumes of monographs and biographies, newspaper articles and trade-industry publications, unpublished company materials and transcripts that she gleaned from various university archives into a fast paced narrative. Utilizing personal interviews and collections of oral histories, O’Mara enlivens the book with the reflections and stories of dozens of participants who played roles in the Valley early on. The Code is a wise chronicle of the growth and deployment of power and is especially clear in tracking the Valley’s evolving relationship to Washington D.C. By taking the long view, Ms. O’Mara provides us with the ability to see the root of contemporary problems created by Silicon Valley’s rise, such as for-profit companies like Facebook compiling vast digital storehouses of personal information, or the freedom in the internet era being used to spread hatred and disinformation. Even for self-professed non-techies, The Code, is a fascinating read. “Three billion smartphones, two billion social media users, two trillion-dollar companies, San Francisco’s tallest skyscraper, Seattle’s biggest employer, the four most expensive corporate campuses on the planet, the richest people in the history of humanity, the combined valuations of tech’s so-called big Five (Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google/Alphabet, and Microsoft) totaling more than the entire economy of the United Kingdom” – this is the world in which we live in the second decade of the twenty-first century. A must read for anyone interested in how a one-horse town birthed a revolution that has shifted the course of civilization. Margaret O’Mara, Ph.D., is the Howard &Francis Keller Endowed Professor of History at the University of Washington and a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times. The Code was named a Best Book of 2019 by the Financial Times and Publishers Weekly.... Read more...2020 Members Annual MeetingNovember 14, 2020Thursday, November 19 at 7 PM Virtual Event via Zoom - you must be a member & register in order to attend. Come hear a summary of FRWRC activities and efforts in 2020 and discuss future plans for 2021! In addition, there will be a vote: Addendum Proposal: To freeze all officer and board member terms until Nov. 2021. Any questions, please Email - wrc@frwrc.org or call the office 540-636-7007 Register Here >>... Read more...Center Stage 2020October 19, 2020About FRWRC Center Stage: View Video Front Royal Women's Resource Center Announces new networking series: CENTER STAGE (launches on Tuesdays) Get ready for an exciting video series that will help local women share their message. New book? Hosting a special event? Do you provide a new service? We can help you SHARE the news! Call the FRWRC (540) 636-7007 to get on the schedule. Your host Jen Avery is ready to get some momentum going! "Welcome to Center Stage...it's your time to shine." #centerstage #frwrc Mary Cook & microWave Project with Art Nest View Video Welcome to FRWRC Center Stage with guest Mary Cook, owner of microWave project with home base studio at the Art Nest. Learn about the Who, What, Why of microWave project and Where to find local art either at a microWave project pop-ups, the Art Nest, or maybe an art kit to go. Mary is determined to make art accessible and affordable. Upcoming event with "I Want Candy" for the holidays. Be sure to watch for updates on Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/microWaveproject Mary Cook microWave project https://www.microwaveproject.com #FRWRC #CenterStage #womenempoweringwomen Front Royal Women's Resource Center is featuring a new series called Center Stage. This is a chance for women in our community to share information about business, causes, events that are special to them. Host Jen Avery makes it fun, easy, and "empowering." Contact the FRWRC for more information. Are you a member of the FRWRC? Consider membership too! Front Royal Women's Resource Center"Empowering Women to Change Their World"FRWRC.org About Front Royal Women's Resource Center: FRWRC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1996 to provide a support network for women in Warren County. Through monthly networking meetings, yearly grant presentations, special events, email connections and program activities, we have forged a link between women in our community. www.frwrc.org www.facebook.com/FRWRC www.twitter.com/FRWRC (540) 636-7007 Toni Sauder & Bad Ass Pickles View Video Welcome to FRWRC Center Stage with Toni Sauder & Bad Ass Pickles. You are in for a treat! Watch this episode to learn the Who, What, Why, and Where behind Bad Ass Pickles. So many flavors to choose, from Bread & Butter to lots of HEATS of Dill, oh my! Follow Bad Ass Pickles online: Facebook www.facebook.com/picklesass Website: www.badasspickles.net. Easy to place orders! Perfect for football season...just sayin! Find Bad Ass Pickles in person: 21 Main St - Sat Mornings from 8am-12noon Warrenton's Farmers Market The Plains - Sun Mornings from 10am - 2pm Archwood Green Barns Farmers' Market Watch website for info on what Brewery Bad Ass Pickles might be visiting. The Women of C & C Frozen Treats View Video The Front Royal Women's Resource Center is proud to present FRWRC Center Stage super special episode featuring The Women of C & C Frozen Treats! Have you ever wondered about the C & C in the name of this Main Street hotspot? Well, watch this episode and learn! You get to actually meet C & C. First time one of these lovely C's has ever visited Front Royal! This is a must watch episode! Be sure to SHARE this post. PS...the sun is sneaking out...better go visit C & C Frozen Treats for a little "memory of a spoon!" C & C Frozen Treats 409 E Main Street, Front Royal VA 540.450.7939 Home made Italian Ice and Ice Cream Making Memories on a Spoon Open Daily 10am - 8pm and late Fri & Sat night until 9pm Downtown Market with Teresa Henry and Cynthia Smithlin View Video Meet Teresa Henry and Cynthia Smithlin, owners of Downtown Market. With a lot of hard work and family team effort, these two women have created a dream come true for many of our local arts and small business owners. Teresa and Cynthia have a size range of space available to fit everyone's needs. They LOVE to watch artisans grow! Watch this episode to learn the Who, What, Why behind the Downtown Market and hear about what kind of dedication it takes from these two women to keep the momentum going! Downtown Market Art Walk Shop Local Weekend Main Street ART WALK: Teresa and Cynthia have worked along side others on Main Street to put together the Main Street Art Walk, August 29th (RAIN DATE Sept 5). This special event is an effort to follow social distancing guidelines and safety regulations for Covid-19, while bringing a little activity to Main Street highlighting our amazing LOCAL talent! Teresa Henry of Strokes of Creativity Cynthia Smithlin of Bright New Image Vinyls & Antiques Michelle Smeltzer, Warren County Community Liaison View Video Welcome to the FRWRC CENTER STAGE featuring Warren County Community Liaison, Michelle Smeltzer. Watch this video to learn all about Who, What, Why, and Where behind this amazing APP Michelle has created. The APP will help our entire community locate valuable resources about our public schools, fire stations, location of Blessing Boxes, St. Luke, CCAP, where to find a donated meal for dinner, and so much more! Michelle will take us on a tour! Special thanks to the Rotary Club of Warren County and to our local Social Services Department for helping fund this useful tool. GET the APP by going to your app store on your device and typing in: WARREN COUNTY VA RESOURCES Michelle Smeltzer, Warren County Community Liaison https://www.facebook.com/wccommunityl... Warren County Community Liaison FRWRC-Front Royal Women's Resource Center #CenterStage #WomenEmpoweringWomen Dr. Sherri Yoder View Video Welcome to the first FRWRC CENTER STAGE featuring Dr. Sherri and her newest book Breakup Breakthroughs! Watch this video to learn all about Who, What, Why, and Where behind the book and what Dr. Sherri has to offer as a "Thought World Expert!" Dr. Sherri - Thriving Expert, Podcast Host, Thought Coach, Writer Get YOUR copy of Dr. Sherri's latest book, Breakup Breakthroughs right here!! https://www.amazon.com/Breakup-Breakt... https://thrivingthoughts.podbean.com/ https://m.facebook.com/Dr.SherriYoder/ Instagram: @dr.sherrispeaks Podcast on iTunes & Spotify (Thriving Thoughts with Dr. Sherri) DrSherriSpeaks@gmail.com 540-535-5783 (Direct Mobile) BE DELIBERATE. LOOK RECKLESS... Read more...2020 October Book CommentaryOctober 13, 2020Donated Book - Now available at Samuels Public Library Front Royal Women's Resource Center and Royal Oak Bookshop co-sponsor donations to Samuels Public Library that are by or about women. Nan Hathaway, Book Donation Sponsor & Coordinator, chooses our books each year. Thank you Nan! We highlight one of these books every third week each month. Our 2020 Book Reviews and Commentaries are provided by JoEllen McNeal. Thank you JoEllen! Great Second Acts: In Praise of Older Women By Marlene Wagman-Geller These bold women are proof that the rest of your life can be the best of your life. -Louise Harmon, author of Happiness A to Z Anthony said of Cleopatra, “Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.” Shakespeare’s sentiment can be applied to the amazing women in Marlene Warman Geller’s book, Great Second Acts, who refused to be defined by the dates on their birth certificates. Their lives serve as testimony that one can be feisty after fifty and to those who think otherwise, in the words of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “I dissent.” Here are profiled twenty-eight bold women who refused to go gently into their twilight years. Discover how Chef Julia Child changed the way America ate, what inspired Mother Teresa to serve, and how Rita Moreno transformed from penniless immigrant to queen of the silver screen. Great Second Acts presents a fascinating collection of biographical vignettes of dozens of ladies of a certain age who marched to their own drum beat and left an indelible imprint in the fields of art, politics, science, mathematics, media, literature, activism and education. From actresses to writers to business women, these exceptional individuals prove that women can achieve anything regardless of their age. Older women do not need rocking chairs – they rock. Marlene Wagman-Geller received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from New York University and her teaching credentials from the University of Toronto and San Diego State University. Currently, she taches high school English in National City, California. Reviews from her first three books have appeared in the New York Timesand dozens of newspapers such as The Denver Post, the Huffington Post, and the Chicago Tribune.... Read more...Voices of Valley WomenOctober 5, 2020Samantha Barber Reaching Out Now President & Founder, Samantha Barber, has chosen to share a deeply personal story in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We hope that her story will help others find the courage to change their circumstances and live freely. “In honor of those who have been deeply wounded by Domestic Violence today, and during this month I share a piece of my story over the next 4 Mondays, I speak out to bring awareness to the Silent Killer- known as Domestic Violence.” Samantha Barber- Wife, Mom, Daughter, Friend & President Reaching Out Now, Inc. Today I share my heart with you October 27, 2020 Part 4 of 4 reachingoutnow.org/fight/ FIGHT “And I’ll rise up, I’ll rise like the day“ You woke up today; your night was a fight. The last thing you want to do is get up and start fighting again. You want to give in – you’re okay with settling and getting counted out. You will do anything for the fight to end. Everything in you is telling you to give up. It’s not worth the fight. You say maybe, just maybe… if you stop fighting to be seen… if you stop fighting to be heard… if you stop fighting to prove that you’re worth more than this… things will get better, and he or she will change. I know that you know, just like I knew, things will only get worse. Domestic Violence Awareness Month may end in just a few days, but your life continues, and so does the fight for your freedom. This may be my last tribute, but it won’t be the last time you hear my voice. You see, in my eyes, you’re worth fighting for, but I need you to see it too. You may say, “Samantha, you’re free, these words are easy for you to write. You don’t know this fight.” But I do. I’m in the wrestling ring with you, praying for you, advocating for you, and calling out the strength in you. A force that demands the pain to end, to raise your voice and cast aside fear, to be seen as the treasure you were created to be, to be loved unconditionally. Today, I am speaking directly to your circumstance. I’m speaking directly to the insanity surrounding you. I’m asking you to look at yourself in the mirror, and say to yourself, “my life is My Life, and I Am Enough, and NOW I’m championing you to FIGHT to live FREE”. In the middle of the mess, the battle seems never-ending. In the middle of the rage, you feel unshakable fear. In the middle of the doubt, you feel like you’re losing, and life seems out of control and overwhelming. I understand the battle you’re in but let me encourage you that the war can be won, and there is an evident battle for your life. I’ve shared much with you over the past three weeks, and through this I can affirm that you will win because I did. There wasn’t a magic pill to fix me. There wasn’t another dimension that removed me from my pain. But there was and is God who reached down and whispered, “If you trust me, I will fight for you,” but I had to make the ultimate choice. Like you, I had to choose if I would stay in that dark place and stop fighting for my children and myself, or choose to look at life and believe that there must be better for us. Don’t settle for surrender. You have what it takes to overcome. One of my favorite songs is Rise Up by Andra Day: You’re broken down and tired Of living life on a merry go round And you can’t find the fighter But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out And move mountains, we gonna walk it out… And I’ll rise up, I’ll rise like the day I’ll rise up I’ll rise unafraid I’ll rise up, And I’ll do it a thousand times again And I’ll rise up…In spite of the ache, I’ll rise up And I’ll do it a thousand times again For you For you, I rise up. A dear friend said to me recently, It’s not only my pain; it’s the pain. All of us go through different levels of pain and in different seasons of life. And yes, life is more than a song, and your life is more than the pain. With the little that strength that you have or none the less, will you rise up. God will rise up on you. Those around you will rise up with you. In closing, know I am and will never disregard your pain. You don’t have to live as a statistic: bruised, broken, hopeless, rejected. I rose up to write to you today, to infuse hope for you to share your voice tomorrow. YOU WIN – RISE-UP #mylifeisMyLife – Samantha N. Barber October 19, 2020 Part 3 of 4 reachingoutnow.org/the-battle-of-the-mind/ “Like me you will have to fight, you will have to work through the disappointment and setbacks that lie ahead… I know where you are, I know the emotional roller coaster you’re on. I know your struggle; I see the fight you are in, and my message to you is “the battle is already won”, but you have to choose to say the affirmed statement, ‘I Am Enough’.” #MyLifeisMyLife.” – Samantha The Battle of the Mind “am I enough? I AM ENOUGH!” Can you relate to these statements? In life, we sometimes compare ourselves to those around us who appear to have it all together. We measure where we are in life compared to where others seem to be. When we feel as though we don’t measure up due to life’s challenges and circumstances, we begin to change our statement of affirmation from “I Am Enough!” to a question… “am I enough?” For years, I asked the question?????? am (i) enough? I felt like I never measured up. I felt like I was never good enough. I felt empty and lost, as I looked through the lens of those around me who seemed more accomplished. Constantly replaying my relationships filled with abuse and heartbreaks. I felt incapable of desiring any good for my life; after living through my suicide attempt, I began to look at life with zero emotions. This was the most challenging time and the most painful period in my life. Living with the raw emotions of no self-worth can plummet your life to the point where you believe the lie that you’re not good enough, you will never be enough, and that you deserve nothing good. I felt like I was digging myself deeper and deeper in a pit with no way out; that was when I began to realize I had to decide what I wanted for my life and my daughter’s future. In the darkest of times, God was with me just as He’s with you. I had to accept and receive His love. I came face to face with my reality. I forced myself to verbalize the question, “Samantha, do you want to be enough? Do you believe who God says that you are?” It was a battle in my mind because I thought, “How I can be enough after all the mistakes that I’ve made? How can I be enough when people that I loved abused and rejected me?” But deep within I was determined to climb out of that pit. I wanted to be free, I wanted to live in the freedom of being me. I wanted to say and know, “I Am Enough.” But it first starts with forgiveness. I had to forgive – forgive myself and those who caused me pain. Forgiving yourself and forgiving those who’ve hurt you is key to your freedom. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you forget, or excuse the wrong that has been done to you. Forgiveness means freedom, it means freeing yourself from the grips of those who’ve hurt you. I haven’t forgotten, I bear the scars, I see them every day but I’ve chosen to use my scars for you. Was it painful? Yes! Would I want to live through that pain again? No! But God has made what I went through worth it because today I can speak to you about pain and I can speak to you about redemption and your freedom. Today as you read this LOVE note from me to you, you may have dug yourself into a pit by your choices or by the decisions of others, but I want you to know that “You are Enough”. Like me you will have to fight, you will have to work through the disappointment and setbacks that lie ahead; I had a therapist and those close to me who understood the depth of my pain, and they spoke life into me. I know where you are, I know the emotional roller coaster you’re on. I know your struggle; I see the fight you are in, and my message to you is “ the battle is already won”, but you have to choose to say the affirmed statement, “I Am Enough”. I’ve been chosen for such a time by God who brought me through to speak to your heart, to speak to your circumstances, to speak to your pain. It’s not easy for me to be this vulnerable to you, but I choose willingly; believing my journey, my words of hope will yield fruit in the right season for you, a sister, a brother, a family member, a friend, a coworker or even a stranger. There is HOPE. Seek a safe haven! Seek Godly counsel! Reach out to a friend that you can trust. Be willing to be vulnerable and let someone know how you’re feeling. Be ready and willing to get support through therapy, begin to search the Bible for scriptures, and meditate on the words that will build you up spiritually and emotionally. The first battle will be in your mind, changing the thoughts of defeat to feelings of hope, you must believe in yourself, and know you have been created for a purpose. Surround yourself with positive individuals, such as a life group at a Church or Community Center advocates who will challenge you and guide you into your journey of freedom and redemption. I can’t promise you that this will be a quick fix to walking away from your painful past, but I do know that as you take one step in front of the other, as you seek support, you will change the question from: “am I enough?” to “I Am Enough!” Living life on purpose #mylifeisMyLife – Samantha N. Barber October 19, 2020 Part 3 of 4 reachingoutnow.org/the-battle-of-the-mind/ “Like me you will have to fight, you will have to work through the disappointment and setbacks that lie ahead… I know where you are, I know the emotional roller coaster you’re on. I know your struggle; I see the fight you are in, and my message to you is “the battle is already won”, but you have to choose to say the affirmed statement, ‘I Am Enough’.” #MyLifeisMyLife.” – Samantha The Battle of the Mind “am I enough? I AM ENOUGH!” Can you relate to these statements? In life, we sometimes compare ourselves to those around us who appear to have it all together. We measure where we are in life compared to where others seem to be. When we feel as though we don’t measure up due to life’s challenges and circumstances, we begin to change our statement of affirmation from “I Am Enough!” to a question… “am I enough?” For years, I asked the question?????? am (i) enough? I felt like I never measured up. I felt like I was never good enough. I felt empty and lost, as I looked through the lens of those around me who seemed more accomplished. Constantly replaying my relationships filled with abuse and heartbreaks. I felt incapable of desiring any good for my life; after living through my suicide attempt, I began to look at life with zero emotions. This was the most challenging time and the most painful period in my life. Living with the raw emotions of no self-worth can plummet your life to the point where you believe the lie that you’re not good enough, you will never be enough, and that you deserve nothing good. I felt like I was digging myself deeper and deeper in a pit with no way out; that was when I began to realize I had to decide what I wanted for my life and my daughter’s future. In the darkest of times, God was with me just as He’s with you. I had to accept and receive His love. I came face to face with my reality. I forced myself to verbalize the question, “Samantha, do you want to be enough? Do you believe who God says that you are?” It was a battle in my mind because I thought, “How I can be enough after all the mistakes that I’ve made? How can I be enough when people that I loved abused and rejected me?” But deep within I was determined to climb out of that pit. I wanted to be free, I wanted to live in the freedom of being me. I wanted to say and know, “I Am Enough.” But it first starts with forgiveness. I had to forgive – forgive myself and those who caused me pain. Forgiving yourself and forgiving those who’ve hurt you is key to your freedom. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you forget, or excuse the wrong that has been done to you. Forgiveness means freedom, it means freeing yourself from the grips of those who’ve hurt you. I haven’t forgotten, I bear the scars, I see them every day but I’ve chosen to use my scars for you. Was it painful? Yes! Would I want to live through that pain again? No! But God has made what I went through worth it because today I can speak to you about pain and I can speak to you about redemption and your freedom. Today as you read this LOVE note from me to you, you may have dug yourself into a pit by your choices or by the decisions of others, but I want you to know that “You are Enough”. Like me you will have to fight, you will have to work through the disappointment and setbacks that lie ahead; I had a therapist and those close to me who understood the depth of my pain, and they spoke life into me. I know where you are, I know the emotional roller coaster you’re on. I know your struggle; I see the fight you are in, and my message to you is “ the battle is already won”, but you have to choose to say the affirmed statement, “I Am Enough”. I’ve been chosen for such a time by God who brought me through to speak to your heart, to speak to your circumstances, to speak to your pain. It’s not easy for me to be this vulnerable to you, but I choose willingly; believing my journey, my words of hope will yield fruit in the right season for you, a sister, a brother, a family member, a friend, a coworker or even a stranger. There is HOPE. Seek a safe haven! Seek Godly counsel! Reach out to a friend that you can trust. Be willing to be vulnerable and let someone know how you’re feeling. Be ready and willing to get support through therapy, begin to search the Bible for scriptures, and meditate on the words that will build you up spiritually and emotionally. The first battle will be in your mind, changing the thoughts of defeat to feelings of hope, you must believe in yourself, and know you have been created for a purpose. Surround yourself with positive individuals, such as a life group at a Church or Community Center advocates who will challenge you and guide you into your journey of freedom and redemption. I can’t promise you that this will be a quick fix to walking away from your painful past, but I do know that as you take one step in front of the other, as you seek support, you will change the question from: “am I enough?” to “I Am Enough!” Living life on purpose #mylifeisMyLife – Samantha N. Barber October 12, 2020 Part 2 of 4 www.reachingoutnow.org/my-life-is-my-life-2/ “For the past 7 plus years, I’ve intentionally suppressed this reality that was my life, only sharing with friends and in environments where I felt safe and comfortable. I can’t be silent anymore. I have an amazing support system- my family and the very few who are in my inner circle. I am so very grateful for that but I’m most grateful for my husband. He’s never left my side, he remained close when I was broken, he remained close when I needed space to heal. He remained close when I trusted no one, He remained close and showed me and our children what true unselfish love looked like. He created a safe space for me to say MyLife’s MyLife.” – Samantha MY LIFE IS MY LIFE “Embrace your experience to empower and engage” Have you ever had a conversation with a child, where you say something that they find overwhelmingly profound? This was how the name of this tribute was created: out of a conversation with my beautiful daughter, who has a powerful and remarkable story of rising about adverse situations of her own. I must admit the love of my life and our children bring out the best and the crazy, silly Caribbean in me. I often give a life lesson, quote, or make a statement that gets their tummies hurting in resounding laughter. I was having my daily conversation with our daughter as she walked across her college campus to class. During our conversation, my life came up as a topic of conversation; my style of clothing, our new home in the valley, and how much she appreciates how her dad takes care of me. As always, in my native dialect, I had a response, and without a beat, my response was, “my life is my life” This started a hilarious round of laughter between both of us. She then said, “Mom, you are golden, that one’s for the books, can I have it tattooed on my arm?” I said, “Girl bye!” That morning’s conversation led me into a time of meditating on the fact that my life is truly my life: the good, the bad, the hurt, the pain, and everything in between. For some, me included, conversations are most often easier to verbalize than having to write out your thoughts and feelings. It is common to be asked to tell someone about yourself. More often than not, that person only desires to hear about the good things, and we in return only care to mention and tell about the good things that have and are happening in our lives. So, let’s examine the meaning of the statement, “My life is my life!”. For the past eight years or so, I had grown silent and made a conscious effort to not openly share the whole reality that was my life, only sharing with friends who knew of my past and in environments where I felt safe and comfortable. I can’t be silent anymore, last week’s writing was not easy to document, especially knowing that you’re about to share your scars with people you are not familiar with. But, I am so blessed to have an amazing support system- my family and the few who are in my inner circle. I am so very grateful for them but I’m most grateful for my husband. God gave me the gift of my husband when I saw everything in the world dark and useless. He’s never left my side, he remained close when I was broken, he remained close when I needed space to heal and he didn’t try to “fix me.” He remained close when I trusted no one. He remained close and showed me and our children what true unselfish love looked like. He created a safe space for me to say my life is my life. If we are honest with ourselves, we want to keep the dark things of our lives hidden, pushed deep down in our memory bank. We never find it good or necessary to embrace the messy part of our lives which is ultimately and can become a message of hope to some who are broken and need to know that they are not alone. As I look at my life, I see that God would not have allowed the mess I’ve been through if he didn’t plan to use it as part of my purposed-message. A message purpose to help, a message purpose that can be impactful in the lives of others. I see “my life is my life” as a movement to embrace, empower, and engage every aspect of your life for “GOOD”. The good which is your life’s story which will become HIStory that He, the Almighty God uses to touch those lives that you come in contact with at any given moment; may it be one, tens, hundreds, or thousands. EMBRACE the life that you have been dealt with/blessed with. Use your life’s experiences to EMPOWER and use the wisdom you have learned through these life’s circumstances to ENGAGE the next time someone asks you, “tell me about yourself”. This month is domestic violence awareness month and so many are broken and hurt and are desperate for support. I count myself as a survivor, an advocate to lift up and support. I’ve been beaten – I’ve been raped – I’ve been bruised – I’ve been broken! But with great adversity and a fight to be better for myself and my children I’ve taken back my life and have Embraced, Empowered, and Engaged. Many times, although at times reluctantly, when I’m asked “tell me about yourself” I tell my story. Today, I count my life as that of a Phoenix, I was buried in the ashes of pain, hurt and rejection, yet I rise. Today you can rise, and you can rise stronger! A tribute to those who are victims of domestic violence, there is a better life for you! A tribute to those who were victims of domestic violence, keep pressing forward! A tribute to those who we’ve lost at the hands of a domestic violence abuser. May you forever be remembered! – Samantha N. Barber October 4, 2020 Part 1 of 4 www.reachingoutnow.org/mirror-mirror/ “I often wondered if someday I would have the courage to step out into the unfamiliar and raise my voice for HOPE. To not cowardly keep silent, to not allow shame to grip my soul. To speak out loudly- to be a voice for the voiceless. I wonder no more, so I share with you the mess that has become my message. Yes, I’m Living proof; proof that you can rise from the dark place of Domestic Violence. -Samantha Mirror Mirror “A Victim… Raised up to be a Victor” Who am I? was the question my face mustered the courage to finally look at myself in the mirror, and ask, “Why am I enduring this abuse? Why am I being victimized by someone who is supposed to cherish me?” The response from within suggested my identity was my age. I heard, “you are thirteen, you are sixteen, you are twenty-one, you are twenty-five, you are thirty.” The deeper, knowing, inner voice responded “No, who am I?” From a source beyond myself came the declaration, “You are a girl, you are a woman, you are a student, you are successful, you are beautiful, you are loved!” “Don’t you see?” I responded to the God-voice inside of me, and I answered, “No, I don’t see anything; I don’t see what you see!” When I looked at my face, when I had the courage to glance at my mirror, I saw nothing that my “God voice” had declared me to be. Instead, I saw fear, hurt, regret, and no hope for an improved future outlook on life. The quagmire of my downward spiral began when I was thirteen—when I left the only world I knew in the Caribbean, to be with my mom and my brother in the Mainland United States. I was happy, yet at the same time, afraid, of all I would encounter: meeting new friends, adjusting to the new place, and different culture, I now called home. By the grace of God and His unseen hand upon me, I persevered. I graduated from high school at 15, and anticipated a bright future, but disappointment lurked around the corner. At 16, my self-worth and sense of reality was shaken and undermined, when I was raped by someone I trusted. The experience left me bruised physically, mentally and emotionally—but camouflaged the scars because I was well known in our community, and I had an image to protect with my cool friends. At 16, I began to learn the art of “faking it.” I lost the truth of real living. Being beaten by the one who betrayed me also became part of the destructive ritual that had become my “norm” — my reality. At 21, the torrential downpour of abuse continued. I feared for my life–more than once, death was a breath away. Though I lived through rape, a loveless marriage and eventually found the courage to divorce the abuser I had married, I really didn’t want to live anymore. Thoughts of suicide plagued my mind. But God sustained me through the support of my brother and family. Because I saw His love through them, I stood firm and held tightly to hope. At 25, I wasn’t alone anymore I had a baby daughter in my arms, I introduced her as my miracle, she was the reason I was alive. Without my daughter I had no reason to hold to life. I had other purpose to live, but she was my reason to be on this earth. I purposed in my heart she was not going to become like me. She was not going to become a prey to the wickedness of the world. She would be shielded behind the fortress of my love. She was my miracle. She was not just the miracle that had given purpose to my life, she was a literal miracle. I had been told that I could not have children. And although she was conceived in the worst times, although her life began in a home where verbal and mental abuse were a daily routine, the miracle of her life turned my eyes to the Author of life. From her conception I had to fight for both our lives and was willing to give up mine for hers, but I praise the Christ I did not know then that His hand of protection was upon me – and upon my precious baby girl. Depression lurked deep within me and it resurfaced with a vengeance soon after her birth. Because I felt unworthy to be the mother of this beautiful angel, I attempted suicide; but again, I lived and dedicated my life to fighting for her—though I believed in the depth of my despair that my dreams were over, I persevered to give her the life I never had, a home with both parents— I persevered and stayed. At thirty, my mirror followed me to a new place, a newly built home. I again found myself pregnant, with my son, and though I rejoiced in his impending birth I was still totally broken within. Again, I had to fight; I had to fight for his life, fight through three surgeries, bed rest for 8 months. I prayed, asking God, please save his life, give me “my Samuel,” give me my “ask of God.” God gave me a second chance at motherhood. It was a chance to correct my past failure and to be strong for my daughter and strong for my son. Given I was still the victim of domestic verbal and mental abuse, I was faced with the question, “do I stay or do I go?” I found the question hard to answer as I considered that the children were being provided everything, they needed and I considered, moreover, “should I continue to abandon my self-worth in order to give my children the life they deserved; after all, he is abusing me not them” … so, I thought. Yet, I had begun to admit to myself that I had allowed him to break my spirit; I was unable to get beyond his painful words; and I was lost from the emotional pain. Finally, I concluded, “I have no money, I have given up my job to be at home with my children, I have nowhere to turn, and no way out;” so I stayed! Three more years, I stayed… But then FREEDOM, I had to stop lying to myself, I had to stop hurting my children, they were beginning to see how broken our home was, they saw my tears, they asked why didn’t daddy come home. I saw fear and confusion in their eyes. I had to choose freedom… freedom for US, body and soul, but not without a price. On that that day when I closed the door to the past, I had to come face-to-face with the accurate reflection of myself the mirror. I had to face the truth of my brokenness, I had to heal. I knew that I could not overcome this onslaught of pain that had befallen me on my own—I had to seek help, I had to find myself and my purpose. I had to forgive myself, and I had to become transparent and bare my soul before I could honestly live free for me and my children. Healing from abuse starts from within. While outer scars heal by nature, inner healing only takes place when we allow God to come into our turmoil and healing us from the inside out. Then by His mercy and grace, minute by minute, hour by hour, I began to stand, not as a victim of abuse but as a victor who has overcome abuse by the grace and the love of an unconditional loving God. So here I am, standing as living proof that by God’s amazing love, freedom is possible and we can be free. Though the storms of life continued, though the Road to Freedom was not easy, though the journey was arduous, I cannot deny the wonder of God’s loving hand upon my life that has brought me from a pit of pain and misery to a pinnacle of His grace and goodness. I’m amazed that I’m still here, but I know that I stand because the God who fashioned heaven and earth, the God who causes light to prevail over darkness, the God who bids us choose life over death, had a plan for my life that went far beyond what that little girl from the Caribbean could have ever imagined. In an abusive relationship, your heart, your mind, your life are stripped from you. Every day is a battle to survive, fighting for your life, to breathe, to live, to see another day. You adapt to your abuser’s needs, all at the expense of losing yourself, your mind, your will to live free—losing your will to live free from fear. My desire is for you to be free, free from the pain of your past, from the pain of your present. From my heart, I know where you’ve been; I know where you are. For over 19 years of my life, I was abused, came close to death by one’s hands. I’ve been beaten, raped, pushed aside, suffered through pain, agony, and through it all, I live to say I survived. I want you to live!!! Be silent no more! You can rebuild, repair, and restore your life. Every place in your life that feels broken can be fixed. There is no miracle drug to fix your pain, but there is a MIRACLE WORKING GOD who can free you, who can heal your pain. I cried out to God in despair and desperation. I went to His word and found scriptures that spoke to my situation. Today is not your end; it is your beginning! This is your time to heal, to forgive, and to allow God to repair your brokenness. Today is the end of your confusion, your anxiety, your fear, and it is the beginning of your newness in Christ! It is your beginning of transition from despair into HOPE. You may have questions, why me? Why is this happening to me? Why do I have to go through this storm? Why do I stay? Very real questions and questions I asked myself many times. And when you are free, you will discover that these questions no longer require answers because the “new you” has traveled the Road to Freedom far beyond your former residence in the Pit of Despair. What did I do to overcome? Honestly, I felt like I didn’t have the strength to go on and many times I wanted to give up, I said: “What’s the use in trying?” It took coming to a place of realization that my pain could be dissolved by the hand of God who gave me clarity of mind and love within my heart, Jesus, in His power and in His love will enable you to overcome just as He empowered me to overcome. He is no respecter of persons! He will deliver you as He delivered me! Restoration didn’t happen overnight, I messed up, I regressed, I doubted, I made mistakes–repeatedly. But day by day, grace by grace, I regained my strength, I regained my mind, I regained my self-worth, God restored me, and I recovered my will to live. YOU too can look in the MIRROR at your true reflection and recover your purpose, find hope and your will to LIVE. Jesus loves you. Jesus died for you. Jesus died to set you free from sin and destruction. Don’t turn your back on His amazing gift. – Samantha N. Barber If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are many organizations who can provide help in the DMV area: http://phoenix-project.org/contact-phoenix-project/ https://thelaurelcenter.org/ https://www.thehotline.org/ https://www.centerforabusedpersonscharlescounty.org/ https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline... Read more...Women In Networking – Oct 28October 5, 2020FREE EVENT *THIS WILL BE A ZOOM MEETING - MUST REGISTER - CLICK HERE “More than just another networking group”. FRWRC WIN is open to all the women in our community. It was founded on the concept of women lifting each other up, through meaningful connections, opportunities to learn from one another and shared interests. We hope you will join us. Guest Speaker: Arline Link, The Kiln Doctor, Inc Topic: Explore Art & Clay Wednesday, Oct 28 12 Noon to 1:00 PM via Zoom... Read more...WomanGathering – October 2020October 4, 2020FACEBOOK LIVE ONLY Free Event WomanGatherings are informational and inspirational evenings intended to nurture the womanspirit in each of us. Thursday, October Time: 6:00 – 6:30 PM. Guest: Pat Wirth, Executive Director, Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association Host: Eka Kapiotis Videographer: Jen Avery Topic: The suffrage movement, suffragists and the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial. Website: www.suffragistmemorial.org Twitter: @TPSM2020 Brief Bio: Pat Wirth spent a decade in corporate America and then became an entrepreneur in the Automotive Service industry for 30 years. She served as president of her international trade association and both she and her business were the recipients of numerous environmental and business awards. After she sold her company in September 2013, she followed her heart full-time into the non-profit sector. Pat has worked or volunteered continuously for non-profits since the 1970’s in executive, management, and fundraising positions for professional, trade and charity organizations; she is a certified non-profit consultant. Pat became the Executive Director/CEO of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Association in May 2015. She directs its operations as it strives to fulfill its mission to build a national memorial to commemorate the five million suffragists who fought for more than seven decades to win the vote for American women.... Read more...
