Rising Above It: My First Earth Angel

This post is brought to you by the makers of Pine-Sol® Products. I have partnered with them to spread the word about  the ‘When Life Gets Tough, Women Rise Above It’ campaign and sweepstakes. To enter the sweepstakes, visit www.womenRiseAboveIt.com. All opinions and stories are my own.

I lived with this woman until I was 7 years old. After I moved out, I spoke with her on the phone every day through my college years. Every thing I did, I would wonder what would she think. Would she be proud? Would this make her smile? Would she approve? She is my grandmother. My grandmother was my first earth angel.

My grandmother was the baby of 7 children, 5 girls & 2 boys. Her mom died when she was 2 and her father passed away when she was only 4 years old. Her oldest sister who was around 18 at the time raised her along with her children. She was born & raised in Tennessee, but later moved to Michigan where she met my grandfather. After giving birth to my mom (& uncle), things didn’t work out in that relationship and she moved to Chicago (my home). She managed to buy a home and raise her two children without graduating high school or college.

I admire her for many reasons but mainly because she shaped me into the person I am today. I learned many lessons from her, but the biggest ones came from me watching her when she didn’t know I was looking. She keeps a smile on her face, and makes a friend everywhere we go. She is thinker, saver, planner and always willing to help someone. Over the years, she has shown me that love is an action over and over. She is the one person (besides my husband & children) that says, I love you and I believe it is true. She has always wanted the best for me and did whatever was in her power to make that happen including:

• Teaching me how to read & write early, so when I went to kindergarten I was skipped to the first grade.
• Taking me to open up my first checking account and even helped me find my first job.
• Saved for two years (without me knowing) then paid in full for my braces. My teeth were jacked up!
• Financial aid didn’t fully cover my first year, so my granny gave me $1,500 on the spot so I could stay in college.

These are just a few of hundreds of things my grandmother has done for me. When I call her now, as a married woman of 10 years & 3 kids, she still wants to know what I am doing so she can support me. When I hear, “I am so proud of you!”, “If anyone would do it, I knew it would be you!” or “Girl, you never cease to amaze me!”  from the other end of the phone, I still blush at the sound of her approval.  No matter how many books I read and inspiring people I meet along my path, it will always be my grandmother that makes me push myself to the outer limits.

If you have a story of perseverance and would like to share it with other women, this is your chance. You will never know how your story can give someone else hope that they are on the right track or they are not alone. By entering your story, you will also have a chance to win PRIZES, PRIZES, and more PRIZES!

To recognize and celebrate the remarkable women among us, the makers of Pine-Sol® products are teaming up with actress and activist Rosie Perez to launch the ‘When Life Gets Tough, Women Rise Above It’ campaign. From November 1, 2013 through January 31, 2014, women across the country are encouraged to contribute their own stories of triumph to Pine-Sol’s® moving collection of stories by visiting www.womenRiseAboveIt.com.

• Once a week for 12 weeks, Pine-Sol® will award one lucky winner small tokens of appreciation (Flower bouquet + Pine-Sol® coupons)
• Three first prize winners will receive complimentary house cleaning services for a year
• One grand prize winner will be awarded an all-inclusive trip to enjoy a peaceful spa experience at a deluxe hotel.

Have you persevered? Have you overcome? Have you risen above? What challenges have you faced and now on the other side? I invite you to share some of your stories with me & don’t forget to enter the sweepstakes!

Sweepstakes Rules: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States & D.C. 18 years and older. Ends 1/31/14 at 11:59 a.m. PT. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions, visit www.womenriseaboveit.com. Void where prohibited.

Comments

comments