My Worst Moments Were / Are Preparing Me for My BEST!

I am sitting at my computer set next to a large window in my room and just thanking God for my life. For all that He has brought me through and that He is doing in me.

After spending some time (recently) reading the pages in the hard copy of my memoir, I realized wow! Yes I definitely went through some things. But all along I knew there was a purpose in it all and that I would come out victorious. Did I know when or the timing? No. Not at all. I only knew i knew.....which I still know :-)

I thought back to the days I was a foster kid myself and how it felt to be living in strange homes only to be ripped away or run away days later. I remember the smells in some of the homes that i personally thought were filthy and in no condition for a child to live in. Now, filthy to me may not be filthy to you. My mother was a clean freak and you could eat off our floors so truthfully I was probably just exaggerating...a bit (lol). I thought back to the locks on the cupboards and the fridge and then of course our bedroom windows. And then i took some time to think of all the beating I took both physically and emotionally from people I thought I loved. I thought of friends I lost. Things I have seen with my innocent (at the time) eyes and the innocence I lost. But through it all, I knew this can't be it. There got to more to this life and why I am here.

If I had never lived in foster care as a young girl, I would not know hands on what it takes to be a loving and caring foster parent. If I was never abused I wouldn't know the signs to look for in abused children and women. I would not know how to mentor abused youth and women. I would not have the compassion I have for the unfortunate. If I was never homeless, I would not know what to say to the homeless when I am out ministering to them with love and care. If I had not been abused in every way by past lovers, I would never know hot to tell a friend she needs to run because I can see the signs! If I had not sold drugs and did other forms of "hustle" I would not value a "real job" or appreciate money. The little I may have. Because for too long I did not care to have a job. I would not know what to say to our youth about why they "need out" and where they will end up. I would feel foolish even mentioning the word "hustle" or "drugs"not knowing exactly what...to say. Our youth today want to know you that you actually know what they are feeling before they even give you the time of day.

If I was not a single mother at the age of 18 what could I possibly say to the young teens who are parenting not one but two sometimes three children. How and why would I encourage them not to have sex at a young age? Just because it's not right or their too young. No, it goes so much deeper then that. If I did not survive a marriage break down I would not see why it is so important to wait on God!

In saying of this. I say this; everything I went through as young girl, teen and adult prepared me for today. For the best days of my life. Everything I am today, everything i do today is a product of my past! I thank God He chose me for this. He knew I could handle it. And He knew I would come out stronger then ever. That it would make me not break me.

Every-time something drastic took place in my life or every-time I somehow got beat down mentally or physically, I got right back up. I have never stayed down for long. Because I have always known who I was and that there was a purpose in it all. Even as a young girl, I knew.

Please know that whatever it is you are going through is preparing you for your BEST! It will pass and you will look back and actually thank God for it. Stop for a minute right now and study the situation you are facing. What is it? What is the lesson you need to get out of this? Why is it so hard? Are you entertaining something that is NOT good for you? If you are, then YOU are the problem. Remember "WE" are the solutions to our problems. All of them! God has given us the choice to make a difference in our situations. I have always chosen to RISE!

I encourage you to see your trials as building blocks to where you are going. Yes you are going somewhere. To a place where you will experience true joy and peace. Take the right exit! Don't look back. Keep walking. Thank God for your worst moments and keep it mov'n!!

Sealed with LOVE

Elizabeth

Being A Foster Carer - Family!

I was doing some research in preperation for the new addition to our family. A beautiful young 15 year old girl. I am excited (as you can tell).

Anyhow, I came across this touching article and decided to share it with you all. Many of you have probably had the desire to foster for quite some time now. Please read this article and decide is fostering is for you.

I will share this; it is by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. No words could describe the feelings I get when I know I have made a positive impact on a child's life. To see the results in "real life" is ...just amazing! For as long as I live, I will be a foster Carer! God willing.

This article was copy and pasted from Canadian Living Magazine

A young girl arrives at your door in the middle of the night with nothing but the clothes on her back. Her hair is matted from not being washed for weeks. All she wants is to feel her mother's arms around her, but her mom is incapable of giving her the care she needs. The child's home has been shattered by abuse and alcoholism, but it's the only home she knows. The girl is holding the hand of a social worker and looking up at you, wide-eyed with fear. You gently reach out to take her hand and welcome her into your home.
As many as 76,000 children like this young girl are in need of foster care in Canada, and child welfare agencies are desperately trying to find homes for them. It isn't always easy to care for foster kids – they may have emotional or behavioural issues due to abuse, poverty and neglect – but the foster parents we spoke to believe caring for these children has made their own lives better.

Glenda Nelles and Rick O'Brien
Snapshot: Glenda Nelles, 48, a former law clerk, and Rick O'Brien, 45, the owner of a distribution company, have three daughters between the ages of 16 and 22 from Glenda's first marriage as well as a biological son, Kyle, 9, and an adopted daughter, Rebecca, 6. They live in Markham, Ont.

Why they foster: When Glenda saw an ad in 1998 in the Toronto Star requesting people to foster infants, she felt the words were speaking directly to her. “One of the happiest times in my life was when my children were little,” she says. Glenda decided to cut back on her hours at work to a part-time position so that she could foster and also be home with her then two-year-old son. Initially Rick was concerned that children coming into their care from abusive backgrounds might not be a good influence on his young son. “When I found out we could put an age limit on the kids we took, I was all for it,” he says. Currently they're fostering three children under four years of age.

The experience: Over the past six years the couple has fostered
20 children, for as little as a few days to as long as 16 months. If they hadn't gone into fostering, they would never have adopted their daughter, Rebecca, who came to them when she was just four days old and couldn't go home because the neglectful situation hadn't changed. “By then she was 18 months old and we were her mommy and daddy,” says Glenda. “After that we agreed we weren't going to adopt anymore, but our kids still want to adopt every baby that comes into our home – they can't understand why we have to let them go,” says Glenda, who tells her kids that it's better for the children to be adopted by other families than remain in foster care.

Greatest joys: “When you work in an office you are lucky if someone tells you once a year that you are doing a good job. When you are fostering, you feel like that every day,” says Glenda. She says the greatest reward is witnessing the change in children who are loved and cared for. “Even though they've had a terrible start in life, it's amazing the strides they can make,” says Glenda. Rick takes to heart that he may be the only loving father figure these kids ever know. “They've been exposed to a lot of the lousy things men can do,” he says. “When they come here they experience the nice things.
The happiest experiences are those where children in their care find a loving permanent home. “We had two babies that were given to us straight from the hospital, and we raised them for more than a year,” says Glenda. “Then they were adopted by families who had no kids – that was the best.”

Challenges: One of the toughest experiences foster parents face is saying goodbye to a child they have bonded with and grown to love as one of their own. After caring for one little girl for
16 months, Glenda was devastated to have to let her go. “She was clutching my shirt, and it was heartbreaking,” she says. She admits it has become easier to say goodbye.
It can also be challenging to deal with the biological parents of children in care, especially when you know how their destructive behaviour has hurt their child. But these kids love their biological parents, and as a foster parent you need to respect that, says Glenda. “No matter what horrible things you know they've done, you have to work to be on good terms with the biological family and never say anything negative about them to their kids.”

Words of wisdom: “Love isn't always enough,” says Glenda. She says it's important to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered by Children's Aid, such as courses in caring for high-risk infants, dealing with developmental issues and responding to signs and symptoms of sexual abuse. “You also need a strong support system, and you have to connect with other foster parents so that you know you aren't alone in dealing with some of the challenges,” says Glenda.


Words from ME!
"Most important thing; is to build trust. Care for these children; genuinely. Be patient. Encourage them. Uplift them. Observe what their gifts are and the areas they can excel and play on that. If I had someone by my side at 12...14 years of age...who took note of what my gifts were, I would be a best selling author today. Or a mighty good lawyer (lol). So today, I am determined to build my children and inspire them to be the best they can be." Elizabeth Correia

I am READY!

I am up getting ready to head out to school and suddenly realized I have not blogged in awhile. I got caught up with the book launch 'planning' and neglected my blog. I am sure you understand.

I have been up late at nights answering calls from friends and acquaintances...even strangers who are reading If You Played In My Playground and let me tell you; I am blown away at the responses and feedback of this book. I had no idea it would have the impact it has had and I had no idea lives would be transformed. I wrote the book for a few reasons and one of them was in hopes that the reader would find some form of healing and faith through my trials and tribulations. However, for some reason I am still shocked at how many have been empowered by "My Story."

The other two reason i wrote the memoir was to release "my secrets" I mean everything we hold back; becomes a secret. Whatever no one knows is a secret. I was tired of the "weight"
I wanted to be set free and let go of the guilt. All my life i had no idea what i would do to get rid of some of the shame and guilt i carried (for too many years). I held secrets only to save those that did me wrong. I told half stories so that "they" didn't look too bad. But, in doing so, i left myself with secrets and shame. "We" are the cause to our shame. Because if something is a secret and no one knows then why are we ashamed? Well, because it's hidden WITHIN us. Therefore the feeling of "shame" is coming from within.

What did i do? I wrote my story. I let it all out on paper. The TRUTH! And as i was writing, the weight began to lift off. The chains were unlocked. I was set free. Free to be. Free to Live. Free to LOVE! The Truth shall indeed set you FREE!

The moment i held my very first book, the tears began to roll down my eyes. Too many years i have been held back from fulfilling my purpose and calling here on earth. There was so much God wanted me to do but He was only giving me a bit at a time. I couldn't understand why i was not moving forward or why i was not a "finisher" I was a great "starter" but i was not able to finish things before i just gave up or moved on to the next thing. Especially concerning my career and education.

Today, i speak freely. I hold nothing back. I say what i need to say with LOVE and i keep it moving. I am free from anger. Bitterness. Sadness and bondage. I have never been so at peace and i have never experienced such inner joy. I am in love with The Truth. My pastor began to speak "truth" into my life (The Kingdom of God- The Word) 5 months ago and so he had already planted the seed. Then i survived a brain surgery (Dec 2011) which took me to another level of "Truth" and now the final conformation (that i must live by truth) was the release of my memoir.

I am ready for the next stage in my life. I have decided to take my book to another level. Some of you are probably guessing what that is. But as you know i do not like to share too much of what i am doing until "it is DONE" (lol) Stay tuned, as i trust i will have great news in the next coming weeks.

The e-book version of the book will be uploaded to my author site www.elizabethcorreia.comin the next couple of weeks (or sooner) we are currently going through corrections in the book to ensure it is ready for.....(can't tell) lol

Have a blessed and prosperous week.

Sealed with Love

Ms.Elizabeth

On My Journey....To Fulfill My Purpose!

On behalf of Elizabeth and the team of people who made the Book Release and Intimate Soiree event possible, we extend our gratitude to everyone who attended. Your generosity and ongoing support toward Elizabeth and her story is helping to deliver a clear message that provides hope, inspiration, healing, forgiveness, motivation, courage, empowerment, self-fulfillment, love, and faith to many individuals who have ever felt alone.

There has been an outpour of positive feedback from those who attended the event, and we are now certain that the message of finding happiness and faith through trials and tribulations was received. The energy that filled the room at The Vue on Thursday, May 31, changed a lot of people. The room filled with tears as Elizabeth’s heart-felt words expressed a painful tragedy that taught many people what it means to have courage and be a survivor. Her community generosity, involvement with the church, entrepreneurial spirit, love for her family and friends, and her enthusiastic personality, has shown how important it is to remain connected to the world around us.

The book, If You Played In My Playground, is going to be re-edited as well as adding a few minor changes to the layout. With some complications that arose in the editing stages, we want to be certain that all required changes are made before launching the book in book stores and online. Understanding the reader’s opinion of the book is an important factor in the future success of Elizabeth’s story. We are currently aware of some mistakes throughout the book; however, we welcome your comments. Please do not be shy in submitting this information as it allows us to verify the content.

Your input can be emailed to melgordon2006@yahoo.ca . Please indicate the chapter and page number along with the error. This has been a new and exciting journey for many of us, and we hope in the final stages of the project to deliver an error free book with a focus on Elizabeth’s empowering message. We know, through her determination, she will share this with the world.

Sincerely,

Melanie Gordon
Public Relations/Communication Specialist
melgordon2006@yahoo.ca
519-590-6436

A Toxic Playground 'This Is My Story'

‘If You Played In My Playground’

Discovering inner peace, uplifting happiness, and life’s true calling, seems like a child’s fairytale. We waste much time riding life’s merry-go-round by seeking what already exists in our hearts because we’ve been wronged somehow, by someone.

Author, mentor, and entrepreneur, Elizabeth Correia, has shown that it takes faith, forgiveness and a courageous spirit to survive a life filled with physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological turmoil. She has overcome many threatening obstacles including a brain tumour surgery in December 2011.

A journey that began with an abusive family living in one of Toronto’s roughest neighborhoods, has taken her from playing in toxic playgrounds and the streets of Toronto to generously providing hope and healing to troubled teens, and Toronto’s homeless.

She courageously shares a painfully and engagingly documented story through her memoir If You Played In My Playground. After years of writing and healing, Elizabeth will launch her book and tell her story to over 200 people at the Book Release & Intimate Soiree event being held at The Vue, located at 195 Galaxy Blvd., Toronto, ON, Thursday May 31st from 6pm to 12pm.

The event will honor some very special young girls who have been sponsored through The Safe Spaces program and have traveled from some of Africa’s most impoverished regions. They will share their testimonies, as well as their experience in Toronto. The event will empower and inspire women to achieve their dreams, while providing a night filled with local entertainment, food, spoken word, and a book signing by Elizabeth. Proceeds from the book sales will be donated to UNIQUE, a program for young teens.
We invite you to purchase tickets to an event that is sure to leave a lasting impression on how you observe yourself and other women.

Join us on May 31st. After all, you deserve it.
Please visit www.devainyou.blogspot.com  and purchase your tickets today via PayPal or by sending a money email transfer to elizabeth@devainyou.com


There are about 10 tickets left :-)

Learn To Live By Faith!

We live by faith, not by sight - 2 Corinthians 5:7

I am about to head out the door for my (late) morning walk. But before i do so, I wanted to share some words from my heart. As it is my heart that's speaking.

Having come from the projects in downtown Toronto, I grew up not having much faith. I guess we can say it all started at home with dad. My trust and faith in people was crushed at an early age. However my Vuvo (grandmother) instilled the word of God in my life so that I may grow up and learn to depend on Gods word for strength, hope and encouragement. Although it took many years for me to "Get It" I got it.

Prior to my brain surgery there were many days I struggled to make ends meet. This has been the story of my life for many years. I chose to sell drugs and hustle for a means of money for most of my teen and early adult years. So obviously God was not going to make it easy. But, I have never gone without a comfortable home / roof over my head, food on the table and descent clothes for us all (my family) to wear. I have for the most part always had a vehicle and my children had everything the "needed" (not wanted). But since the surgery my faith in God has multiplied. Just weeks prior to that day in December (December 26 2011) the Lord led me to an awesome man of God, my Pastor (Bobby Sommers & his wife) who inspired more of Gods faith in me then I have ever had. Ever. Why? Because this time, I was led to The Truth. To love. I have This time I was desperate and hungry.

My prayers are different. More passionate. More fulfilling. And what I pray for comes to pass. Yes. That's right Faith sees ahead as if it were today. It sees the answer in the word of God. I don't and never have prayed for grocery money or money to pay the bills etc I pray and ask God to bless me according to His will. The only way faith comes is by believing, hearing and acting on God's Word. There is no other way for me. I tried it "the world's way" and it doesn't work for me.

I have let go of  IT ALL!! God knows my heart and sees ME! He sees you. So when I pray I give Him all of me and He knows this. I ask Him everyday to mold me...I desire Him as the author of my life. After-all He owns me! He had the power to do what so ever He desired with my life- December 26 2011 He chose to give me my life BACK! Please don't get it twisted GOD ALONE did this.

In the past few months many doors have been opening for me. I do not BOAST about this. I am humbled by this. Truly. Showing off has never been my thing. I am nothing but a speck of dust. I give all the glory to God. Because if i dare step out of line it will all be taken. I have been sending seed-faith gifts into my life, my journey, street ministry, purpose and calling on my life, and I am not asking for the harvest I need. I am EXPECTING IT! It is already done. Period.

Have a prosperous and blessed week.

Sealed with LOVE!

Ms.Liz

Renewing Our Minds....

Good morning ladies, this message is for my ladies. And if you are a man and reading this maybe you can share it with you lovely lady.

As I went on my morning walk this morning God put a message in my heart. I started to think of "what exactly a mindful woman is." It is a great privilege to me to have the opportunity to explore what so many of us women yearn for in our hearts but easily loose sight of  because of how crazy our world can get each day.

As woman we crave a peace of mind, we desire to have an open and peaceful heart. We want a sense of balance and purpose. We want to replace our fear with joy and we are desperate to love ourselves as deeply as we do others. We want to feel fulfilled and know that we matter.

Can transforming our minds to live mindfully grant us all our hearts desires? Well, I believe so. I know that personally I feel a lot more peaceful and balanced since discovering the practice of mindfulness. I am sure my recent brain surgery that nearly took my life came into play here. But I will also give credit to the level of my maturity. Is maturity an "age" thing? No not necessarily. I am just passionate about my commitment to increase mindfulness within me.

Why am I focused on typing this blog this morning? Well, I personally provide a great example of doing too many things at once (especially prior to surgery) and then becoming absentminded. We are busy doing five things while trying to focus on one! Like checking our emails and then suddenly stopping half-way through to wipe down the computer desk, along with the keyboard and then the chair and the screen....all of a sudden we are wiping down the legs of the chair because we are noticing specks of dust everywhere. We totally forgot about the emails we need to send out or return. If this sounds anything like you, then yes this message is for you.

These habits cause us to have restless sleeps at night. We become over-committed and tired, mentally. Resentful with the family and co-workers. We desire to change the world and want to do it five steps at a time instead of ONE. Most of us know that these behaviors result in poor health, damaged relationships, bad choices and negative work environments, to name a few affects.

Awareness is the step in making an empowering change. Having the knowledge and knowing that mindlessness creates stress, we can choose to take on mindfulness. Which takes us in the moment and places us in the reality of now. When we are not living our lives in "the now," there is no place for peace and balance to be rooted from. "Now" is when we can feel that we truly exist.

Why mindfulness......?
Being mindful is truly being alive! Mindfulness allows us to be present to our authentic self.
Mindfulness adds value and meaning to life. Mindfulness brings out the best in us. Mindfulness brings peace and joy.. Mindfulness brings gratitude. Mindfulness helps us to make healthy choices. Mindfulness helps us to love others more deeply but above all it helps us to love ourselves authentically. Mindfulness is being present to here and now. Mindfulness is simplifying your everyday life.

The benefits that come from practicing a mindful living make us as woman; happier from the inside, passionate about our lives, relaxed and fulfilled women.

After taking a Landmark course (again) just weeks after my surgery I was able to come back to the foundation of what I had somewhat lost along the way..after completing my courses there the first time, a year and a half ago, there was a very valuable message my forum leader shared with us; Awareness is the first step for both inner and outer change.

I realized that in order to treat myself with consistent love and compassion, I needed to wake up to what was happening in and around me. I knew that in order for me to do this I needed to begin with awareness. Without awareness my choices are limited and it becomes way to easy to get caught up in old habits over and over again.

Today, I want you to look yourself in the mirror (please do it) and say, " Today I chose to be a mindful woman. I gently and humbly chose to change my attitude and actions towards myself and others that are not loving and appropriate. Today I promise to appreciate the beauty around me and to remember to thank God for it. I promise myself to take moments to stop, look and feel. From this day forward I will celebrate all-of-me in order for me to teach others how to appreciate me. I love myself...I love myself. Today is a new day."


Sealed with LOVE,

Elizabeth Correia

My Sidekick = My Distraction!

Let me tell you about him............
I'm a bit annoyed at my sidekick. Every time i want to be left alone, he bugs me and constantly nags. Always making noises, no matter what time of day it is. He is very demanding and will not take "NO" for an answer. The only way to avoid him is to leave him at home...and when i do that, he sits there alone in the house talking to himself. When i get back in, he just goes on and on babbling away. He stores all he has to say to me in his "mental inbox" and just gives it to me almost all at once upon my arrival.

My sidekick has no life of his own. If i leave him sitting to long without plugging him in for some "luvin" he just dies; mentally. Unable to function. He is of no use at that point. He makes me feel bad when i want to shut him out for the night. Playing mind games all night. Sending me signals...makes me feel as if something bad will happen during the night and i won't know because i've cut him off for the night.

He is never hungry, yet, he insists on sitting at the dinner table with me.

He does not know how to drive, yet, he insists on sitting on my lap while im driving.

He hates the water and claims if he gets wet, he will die, yet, he sits by the tub while i'm showering.

He knows how much my prayer time means to me...yet he sits there quietly shaking his body all over the place crying out for attention while im praying or reading my "Word"

I have told him time and time again how the kids feel about him and don't like when he spends to much time with us, yet somehow he finds his way into our "quiet time"

He is a bother, a nag!

To make matters worse, he makes me pay him for his time. Yes, that's right! Can you believe this. Every month he sends me a bill stating the amount of time i have used him and the cost for his services.
You know things are bad when i can't even sun bath without him wanting to lay on my towel with me. I can't even lay there in peace without him singing in my ear.

Oh and when we are not on talking terms, which is OFTEN, he sends me emails and text ALL DAY!

I have had enough of him! As of this week, these are the rules I'm setting down for him:

Rules!-
- You can NOT eat at the table with me
- You will NOT join me for "family quality time"
- You will stay in the car during church service from now on
- You will remain in the passenger seat or back seat while I'm driving.
- One day a week i will break from you for the day
- You are not welcome to join Captain and i for "reading time"
- I will NOT scream, throw panic attacks or let you get to me NO MORE!

At LAST but not LEAST, you are NOT welcome into my bed. Stay out of my sheets and away from my pillows at night. I'm shutting you out of my life at night starting at 9pm. We are not to communicate with oneanother after that time.

These rules will not be altered or changed for any reason what so ever.

My final words to you are "Look here CELL PHONE get a life of your own!!"

Phhewww...Ok you all, i had to get that off my chest. LOL! I'm sure you all feel the same pain lol. If you do, set down some rules as of today. Enough is enough. This sidekick of mine is a complete bother in my life. I mean he's great for business and all but it comes to a point where him and i go a little over board.

I come from a generation of people who lived off of beepers and home answering machines. I remember a time when i would come home from a full day out and look forward to the red light flashng...because that meant that somebody could not get a hold of me, and missed me so much ...that they left a few messages.

Before texing and cell phone voicemail came out, people still got along just fine without it. They were still successful, families still stayed in touch (if not more) and people still dated. Actually there were probably less headaches in relationships.

Moms, dads, let's let these sidekicks go while we are spending quality time with out little ones. Afterall, in case of an emergency the most important people in your life are with you anyway.
Turning my cell off at night in the past couple days felt so good. I read with Captain (my son) at night, and then he reads to me and then we say our prayers and we are off to sleep. All while the phone was OFF!

We need to bring back some of the old up bringing our parents instilled in us so that our children will be OK. Like no phones at the dinner table, no talking during quiet time; everybody grab a book and read, no yelling and playing while mommy or daddy are on the phone. We all know that times have changed and if these children do not have any sense of value or culture, there is most likely no hope.

I'm sending out my message from now,
"DO NOT DISTURB ME AFTER 9PM OR YOU WILL HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH MY SIDEKICK"

[M.I.] Story...A Toxic Playground of Inspiration and Bravery

Shortly after my surgery i started rethinking my "head shots" and realized that i needed to have a photo-shoot taken  as soon as i was satisfied with my new hair length. Well, emmediately after i began to deeply desire this "new head shot" i received a call from Saunia & Sonia, Founders of www.viixvbymirrorimages.com/ and creators of Mi Sister's Closet' Blog offering a free photo-shoot along with an interview conducted by both of these beautiful (chosen) ladies. Of course, i jumped for joy and got on it! We scheduled the interview and shoot and let me tell you, everything on Gods time. It was absolutely perfect.

"We ALL have a journey! Lets not let our tribulations define who we are! But let the footprints of our journey lead us to Triumph! Look....its not how much further you have to go BUT how far you have come. EVERY step was custom design for YOU!" These were the words they left me with. It is not often in life you come across such amazing authentic and empowering women. Twins, at that. Their passion and compassion for people shouts out through their ART!

We shared the same love for people, faith in our youth, a love for those unfortunate or left behind and the hunger for more of God in "us." Individually. As they shared more about their journey, their eyes lit up in anticipation for seeing Gods plan come to pass in their lives. At times, i wondered how i did not shed a tear or two, knowing i cry for almost everything (lol). 
It was obvious to me that these twin sisters shared a deep bond that began in the womb. They were / are a  breath of fresh air and it was a great privilege for me to have the opportunity to be interviewed and photographed by them.

Every night when i lay down and pray with my Captain (my 4 year old) i ask that God sends beautiful people (inside-out) into our lives and uses us to impact their lives positively with LOVE and UNITY. More and more i can see that God is truly answering my prayers. I made a vow to Him when i survived the surgery, that from that day forth, my life did not belong to me. I gave myself away.....to Him. The great One. He is in control of my life and from what i can see, He is doing a mighty fine job. I thank God, that He chose MI :-) for this journey.

My Story! A Toxic Playground of Inspiration and Bravery 
By, Melanie Gordon (My PR Manager)

Active imaginations of children can have them fearing the boogeyman in the closet, a monster under the bed or a bully at the playground, but for a young girl growing up in an environment of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, Elizabeth Correia’s playground was toxic.

No stranger to obstacles and adversity, Elizabeth’s resilience and courage to survive numerous foster homes, witnessing murder, life on the streets, domestic violence and a twenty year old brain tumor, have led her to many notable achievements. Elizabeth’s enlightening spirit and determination to live life with a purpose shines through with her love for her children, her baby sister, her community and God. Full Article..... Mi Sister's Closet Blog 

Sealed with LOVE!