Life's Poetry News 6th Edition

6th Edition, Winter Quarterly

December, 2015

Life’s Poetry News “The challenges and journeys through life help form and compose who we are” Life’s Poetry Pg. 11

Q U A R T E R L Y N E W S L E T T E R S P E C I A L S E A S O N E D I T I O N INSIDE THIS EDITION _________

Doreen Harrison

Introduction Vanessa Wheatle Doreen Harrison Poetry By Mya Special Thanks Contributors Life’s Poetry _________

Vanessa Wheatle

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Let your journey be an inspiration to others —Life’s Poetry

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I n s p i r a t i o n a l WELCOME! Life’s

Poetry News is a quarterly newsletter, which showcases inspirational individuals within our community. Inside this edition Vanessa Wheatle

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and Doreen Harrison both share their journey through faith of how they overcame obstacles in life and pursued their dreams. This will empower and inspire you.

“Showing ambition when obstacles arise on difficult missions, that’s a tremendous decision.” Josephine Casey, Author of Life’s Poetry Pg. 12

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Writes from the heart...

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Feel Inspired!

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This is your time Just Shine!

Vanessa Wheatle is not a stranger when it comes to feeling isolated and abandoned with nowhere to call home. From a young and tender age she was a minister in music at the Toronto Perth Seventh Day Adventist church, where she got her first start. Her voice touched the hearts of souls and lifted the spirit of many peoples’ lives around the world. While reaching a plateau in her destiny the pressures of life took a toll on her. She became pregnant out of wedlock and felt she had no choice but to leave her Christian home. She started a new life on her own and faced many struggles. As she reminisces, she smiles in gratitude for all the times God saved her from death and prison.

Years ago, the moment of truth hit her that Jesus Christ is the only way. She put away the lavish lifestyle and surrendered her life to God.

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People thought her life was destroyed but her “mess has now turned into a life-changing message”. Her favorite Bible scripture is Psalm 91. Nothing is more important than having a divine connection through an intimate, genuine relationship with God. For many years she has dedicated her time to “nurturing and mentoring others”, at nursing homes, shelters, church organizations, jails and penitentiaries.

In 2014, she was chosen among many as Black Canadian Queen of Mississauga as an honourable role model to women.

For all her work and achievements, she has greatly impacted individuals around the world. For this, she was chosen as “100 women to Watch in CANADA”, in 2015.

She released an EP called “Butterfly” which features three beautiful songs. Butterfly, Thank you Lord and You’re the One. Also, she has created three of her own Perfume Oils Line.

In Spring 2015, she graduated from the Greater Works Bible Program as Valedictorian of her class. She is an ordained Pastor and has recently started her own church, which offers healing, restoration and deliverance. She believes the greatest investment is time supporting and embracing others, for it offers the best dividends. Although she lives a busy life, she is able to balance by abiding in the presence of God. Her future aspirations are to partner with orphanages around the world and to create and develop programs to aid in their future.

She is leaving a legacy for her three beautiful children as they too share a ministry alongside her.

A True Example Of Living A Victorious Life

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Writes from the heart...

My name is Doreen Harrison. I was born in Jamaica and raised by my grandmother. I was a gifted child. I could read fluently at age five and had a photographic memory. This gift got me in a lot of trouble as I was labelled a nuisance in most of my classes. I was yelled at and put out of the class so many times that I began to buy into the theory that I was every name they called me.

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By the time I got to my second year in high school, I had started to slack off on my work and played more than I should have. I finished high school and had a teenage pregnancy.

I was talked about, I was told I would not amount to anything and was basically thrown away by family and friends. By the age of 22, I had three children and no career. I worked in the hotel for a few years but felt unfulfilled. At age 28 I migrated to Canada and left the children with my husband. While here going through the immigration process, my middle child passed away. Grief stricken, I lost all hope and decided to give up and go back home. I was convinced by family to stay here and fight. I was so badly depressed and hopeless but I pushed myself to do what I could.

In 1997, I went back to school and did a 2 year course in Business Management. I graduated with honours but quickly realized that I really did not love the office.

Food was my passion. I went back to Culinary School and

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started a course to become an Executive Chef. 2 years into the course I realized that it was a male dominated industry, and moreover, the fact that I was black became a huge roadblock. The placements I needed to get my Red Seal and write my exams to move forward became unlikely. After the last failure to attain the position to work with a chef so I could write the exam, I gave up. I decided to start my own restaurant and grow to the place where I could hire an executive chef and be able to write my exam.

I opened Spicy Cocina on December 7, 2014 and am in the process of moving forward to my goal of writing my Exam.

I have surpassed the expectations of many abusive and negative people in my life and have hit some hard places but have not given up. I had a goal; I had to change course but through perseverance I am able to say I am well on my way to achieving my goal. I have yet to get a bad review on the food that I create, and I am still creating new recipes.

Never give up on your dream.

Immigration told me that I would go on welfare because I dared to tell them I wanted to own my business and be my own boss.

I believed in myself and my dream so much that the name of my restaurant was the name of my email address at age fifteen. I had used this name as an email address for many years until now, where it is used where it belongs: On the front of my business. Never give up on your dream no matter what others say. Keep working towards your goal.

Doreen

Spicy Cocina Family Resturant and CafĂŠ 5 McMurchy Ave. Brampton ON

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Finding the Champion Within

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I found a champion within me Within you and within God Why we ask When someone makes you feel bad Never give up Find the courage within you Stay strong and believe in yourself A person who fights for their rights Who stands up for their rights A person who should conquer their fears Even through the tears To show that you are a champion A champion of God By: Mya

The Holiday

A new season is coming People are going and staying People are coming to be with their families As you dance to the Christmas song And tell stories and sit by your tree You feel happy, joyful and calm Sitting right there looking at people singing And inside you feel the presence of joy and happiness Then you see your mom and the rest of your family And you know you will have the best Christmas ever.

By: Mya

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SPECIAL THANKS A very special thanks to Minister Vanessa Wheatle and Owner of Spicy Cocina, Doreen Harrison for sharing their faith-based journey life experiences.

We kindly thank them for their words of encouragement and inspiration.

CONTRIBUTORS Danielle Sawh

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This is your time Just Shine!

Josephine Casey, Founder and Creator of Life’s Poetry News

Josephine Casey is the author of Life’s Poetry, which is a collection of poems written by her that expresses freedom of speech in everyday challenges through life’s journey. It is a balance of our emotions and a combination of inspirational messages throughout the good and bad times. Life’s Poetry is realistic and portrays our human nature in what we feel and do. For all readers who experience life’s struggles, this collection will inspire you. Life’s Poetry is available at: Kobobooks.com, Knowledge Bookstore, Amazon.com, Accents Bookstore, barnesandnoble.com, and the Gospel Café.

Life’s Poetry @Lifes_Poetry @lifespoetry

For Inquires or further information please contact: Josephine Casey josephines.poetry@gmail.com Tel: 416-668-4511