Tag: relationships

hope

Lord, Guide Me

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

Ten years ago, I ended my journal entry with, “Lord, please guide me.”

Ten years ago, my entire world changed. During the final days of March 2015, I experienced my greatest heartbreak but also my greatest relief. My ex-husband had finally moved out. That was the relief. However, the greatest heartbreak came from those I always thought would have my back but instead turned their backs on me.

Y’all, it’s been a very long ten years. Not only did I have to rebuild a life for me and my two (my hearts and rocks!), but I had to rebuild relationships. I’m not going to go into details, but just know that when I say I made it, believe me—I MADE IT!!!

I am forever indebted to God. I know I wouldn’t be here had it not been for Him. I am so grateful for His love, mercy, grace, kindness, patience and GUIDANCE. I asked for His guidance, and He answered.

Today, I’m celebrating.

Yes, I’m celebrating!

I made it!!🎉

Thank you so much for your love and continued support. I pray you have a beautifully, blessed day!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

I Love You

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

On March 28, 2019, I began my journal entry with—

“Note to future LaShaundrea: I love you.”

Can’t help but cry.

Shaun… LaShaundrea, I love YOU! I love you for life. I love the little girl, teenager, young adult, and now seasoned adult you’ve become, and the wise elder you will be. Yes, I love ALL of YOU.

Many thanks to my past self for leaving that message for me. I have a notification on my phone set at different times throughout the day that says, “Smile. I love you.” I set them to remind me to smile and know I am loved. Well, now it’s just something that pops up and I swipe away. However, seeing this today means so much more. I needed to see it today.

Thank you, past Shaun, for sending love to me today, of all days. Smiling while crying. The fact that I didn’t send it to future Shaun, but to future LaShaundrea is mind blowing. Although we’re the same person, we are not the same. LaShaundrea needs the love today.

Y’all, welcome to my world, where I leave messages for my future self.

I love my life. I used to wonder, and still do at times, why God created me the way He did. I believe the answer is because He loves me, and He loves what He created.

I love you!♥️

Shaun/LaShaundrea

Baby LaShaundrea.🥰
hope

Treasure Your Gifts

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

Treasure your gifts. Not gifts, as in talents, but the gifts—the people—God has placed in your life. They are irreplaceable and one of a kind. Whether for a season or a lifetime, God placed them in your life for a specific purpose that only they can fulfill. Never take them for granted. Life is much too short and precious not to treasure them.

As I mentioned last night, I was with my two hearts (daughter, 30, and son, 21). Words can’t even begin to describe the way I feel about them. As a child, I always longed to feel loved unconditionally and accepted for me. One of the things we talked about last night was me always dancing to the beat of my own drum. I never quite fit in, even when it came to my own family. I thought and moved differently. Not so differently that I didn’t blend in, but different enough to know I didn’t fit. Well, here I am 30 years later with two adult children, and I finally feel the love and acceptance I longed for. They’re not cookie cutters of me. As we often joke, we couldn’t be more different, but we’re so much alike. All three of us dance to our own beat, and we don’t judge. We embrace each other’s uniqueness.

Y’all, they are my gifts.🥰🥰

This was taken in January during my daughter’s 30th birthday weekend.

On another note—I know I never mentioned anything else about celebrating the 30–year breakthrough or rebirth I was experiencing leading up to my daughter’s birthday. I intentionally stopped celebrating when I noticed she had made her celebration mine. I explained to her that I had already lived and celebrated my 30th; the weekend and occasion were all hers. And we celebrated her! Yes, her birthday felt like a great release for me. I finally felt free to release myself from being a mother, provider, and caregiver to being me—a woman taking care of me.🦋

I pray you are treasuring your gifts. Also remember this too—something that took me far too long to realize—YOU are also a gift. Yes…YOU!

Have a beautifully, blessed day.♥️

I love you always,

Shaun

hope

Hanging With My Two

Shaun Bradford

Hanging with my two tonight. Y’all, we have discussed everything under the sun in only a few hours, and we’re still talking. I can’t say it enough, I just love them so much. They keep me smiling, laughing, and feeling loved. My heart and soul are full.🥰

Beyond Blessed.♥️

#Motherhood

hope

Just Start

Shaun Bradford

Be careful not to let the intimidation of starting stop you from moving. Just start where you are and with what you have, even if it’s only with a pen and a piece of paper. Whatever ideas God has given you, get them out of your head and put them into action. All it takes is you making that first step. Now, it won’t look like anything you’ve imagined, but eventually it will. Just get started!

I love you to infinity and beyond.♥️

Shaun

hope

Think and Speak Abundance

Shaun Bradford

As I mentioned two years ago, everyone deserves an abundant life. We must be intentional about thinking and speaking abundance over every aspect of our lives. We must think and speak:

Love

Peace

Happiness

Joy

Wellness

and

Prosperity

Abundance is not only reserved for the privileged but for us as well.

Think abundance.

Speak abundance.

See abundance!♥️

I love you abundantly! Smile☺️

Shaun

hope

Release Control

Shaun Bradford
March 2022

It’s true. Life is so much better when we allow God to lead.

Release control and allow Him to lead.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Forty-Nine Years Of Friendship And Love

Shaun Bradford
💗Shaun and Shawn💗

My first besties (besides my sister).

My sister-friend.

My family.

Shawn and I have been friends since we were toddlers, almost five decades! She exemplifies the unconditional love and harmony I desire to see in the world. Y’all, Shawn is love.

Last night, we spent a few hours together. We hadn’t seen each other in almost two years, but it felt like we’d never been apart. I am so grateful and blessed that God placed us together.

Forever Shaun and Shawn.♥️♥️

**Here’s a small glimpse of God’s awesomeness in our relationship.

As you can see, we share the same first name. I was born in Mississippi. She was born in Chicago. Our mothers were never friends. We met through our grandparents. Here’s where the awesomeness comes in. Shawn was born between my sister and me—four months after me and almost a year before my sister. Well…guess what?! They share the same middle name. Shawn’s is Evette and my sister’s is Yvette. Again, our moms weren’t friends and didn’t even live in the same city. Y’all, we were destined to be together—a divine connection.☺️

I can’t say it enough, I love the way God loves me. I am truly blessed!🥰

hope

We Are LOVE

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

Although today’s the last day of Love Month, it’s not the last day to love and be loved. Love is an everyday occurrence. We wake up and fall asleep to love. It’s in our hearts and souls. Its warmth and joy radiate from us daily. It’s who we are.

We are LOVE.♥️

I love you to the moon, stars, and other galaxies and back!

Shaun

Always love and give unconditionally.
hope

Cherish Your Time With Loved Ones

Shaun Bradford

This memory is so fitting for how I have been feeling the last few days—from what would’ve been my mom’s 67th birthday this past Friday to my daughter leaving today—I must be intentional about cherishing the time I spend with those I love.

Be sure to do the same.

Love you!♥️

Shaun

♥️