The Backstory….

The gif above is what all the people I’m about to name kept telling me, and why Rosie’s Heart is officially launched today! God never intended for us to do life alone, and I am forever grateful that He placed certain people in my life in different seasons to remind me of that. This post gives honor to them.

I first gave my life to Christ on August 9, 2009. I think I would’ve been a bit more stubborn and held off even longer if it weren’t for Stephen Portis. He was my Youth leader who really helped me to see that being a Christian could be fun. Most times it was just the two of us in class, and he could’ve cancelled the classes altogether, but he didn’t. He poured into me as if the room was full. Because of his diligence, I see now that if Rosie’s Heart only impacts the life of “one” person, it won’t be in vain. Thank you!

Fast forward to June of 2013 when I asked for prayer at an event held my Torrie Chatman. She put her hand on my belly and prophesied that I had a purpose in my belly that needed to come forth. From then on, she began to pour into me and continued to speak life over me. When I wanted to run away from ministry, she allowed her spiritual mom, Mama Tanya, to help counsel me. In one of our interactions Mama Tanya said that she saw me as a butterfly and in my wings were 5 different colors. She had me to research the meanings and importance of the butterfly. Well almost 7 years later (completion, maybe? lol), the baby is birthed and those 5 colors are now represented by the programs that Rosie’s Heart will produce. Thank you!

Continuing down the line, I relocated to Arizona of all places (smh!). I knew God had a purpose for it, but I never thought it would be so significant. At a time when I started to lose faith in the church, I gained a church family there that will forever hold a special place in my heart (you know who you are). I can truly say that under the leadership of Pastors Damion and Crystal Washington, my faith in the church was restored. They helped me to see love in action because they both practice what they preach (literally and figuratively, lol). I was pushed out of my comfort zone in several ways under their care, and I am truly grateful for it. Thank you!

Presently, I am proud to be a member of Thrive Zone church under the leadership of Pastor Denise Williams. Pastor Denise has lovingly forced me into the purpose and calling of God on my life. If I’m honest, Rosie’s Heart might have been delayed another 7 years without her and my Thrive Zone family (all of you are awesome!) praying for me and nudging me to get it done. Thank you!

I know many people who say that they only have a few friends. I have honestly been blessed with many throughout different seasons of my life. To all you (you know who you are) that have allowed me to cry and/or vent to you, to those that have prayed for me, to those that opened their homes to me, that forced me out of my bed when I wanted to isolate, to those that encouraged me when I wanted to quit and reminded me of my dreams when I wanted to forget, I wish I had time to list you all by name. You all are the reason that I love the phrase “friends are the family you choose”. From Jacksonville to Birmingham to Phoenix, to Montana to Maryland to Texas and even here in Atlanta, I want to say Thank you!

To my sister (Ty), my niece (Nijelle), my brothers (Terry, LV, and Jeff), and my adoptive mothers (Veronica and Wendy) who have supported me in various ways, Thank you!

They say you save the best for last…. and honestly, they really are the best. Roosevelt and Harriett Norman, my wonderful parents, have supported me since the beginning. Both of them have encouraged me to follow my dreams since I was a baby, and allowed me the freedoms to do so unapologetically. In my failures, in my obstacles, even in my depression, they supported me and let me find my way. They were, and are, always my #1 supporters and for that I say, THANK YOU!