2019 trials and tribulation
-
“Recovery Week 7: Ready or Not, I’m Going Back to the Classroom”
At 7 weeks post shoulder surgery, Andrea shares her latest progress, pain management with natural remedies, and returning to the classroom while preparing for another surgery. Healing continues—one day, one choice, one step at a time. Recovery Week 7: Ready or Not—Here I Come! Well, ready or not, school starts Monday…And that means:Back to the Continue reading
-
“I Declare War: A Spiritual Wake-Up Call to Fight the Inner Battle”
The Christian life is not a playground—it’s a battleground. In this soul-stirring devotional, Andrea Poyotte declares war on everything holding her back. It’s time to confront the struggle within and rise in God’s strength. I / De / Clare / War Good Morning and Happy Sabbath.I can never begin my day without a devotional—it is Continue reading
-
“Love Your Enemies: The Peaceful Power of Letting Go”
What if loving your enemies was more than a suggestion—it was a command that frees your soul? I reflects on Matthew 5:44 and why I chooses peace over retaliation, even when it hurts. Love Your Enemies To be honest, I don’t think I have enemies.At least, not in the way the world defines them.Because to Continue reading
-
“I Am My Own #WCW: A Woman Crush Wednesday Celebration of Survival and Strength”
From surviving Sickle Cell and a coma to achieving a master’s degree and touching lives with her smile—Andrea shares why she’s her own Woman Crush Wednesday, living proof that faith, fire, and fight still win. I Am My Own #WCW Woman Crush Wednesday—better known as #WCW—is usually for tagging women we find inspiring, beautiful, or Continue reading
-
“Are You a ‘Me First’ Person? Living Out Philippians 2”
What does it look like to truly live like Jesus—putting others first in a “me first” world? Here’s a grace-filled challenge inspired by Philippians 2:3–5 and a reminder to choose humility every single day. Are You a “Me First” Person? We live in a world that rewards selfish ambition, self-promotion, and “me first” attitudes.But Scripture Continue reading
-
“Shoulder Replacement Recovery: Weeks 5–6, Muscle Pain, and Learning to Slow Down”
At six weeks post shoulder replacement, I’m still in pain, still pushing through physical therapy, and now preparing for a second surgery—my hip replacement. Here’s what recovery looks like when life refuses to pause. Weeks 5 & 6: Recovery, Real Talk, and Pain Management Let me start by saying:I wanted to write this last week—week Continue reading
-
“How Are You Doing? The Question We Ask, But Rarely Mean”
“How are you doing?” is a question we hear daily—but do people really care? Here’s a reflection on chronic illness, invisible struggles, and what that common question truly means for those living with lifelong conditions. How Are You Doing? It’s one of the most common greetings in the world.Right after “Hello,” we say:“How are you Continue reading
-
“Fascination with the Body: My Sickle Cell Journey and Discovering Avascular Necrosis”
Living with Sickle Cell Disease has shown me how remarkable the human body is—and how faith, persistence, and the right questions uncovered years of hidden damage. Here’s my AVN timeline and what I’ve learned about pain, patience, and healing. Introduction: The Body Is a Fascinating Map Part 1: The Start of the Pain – 2016–2017 Continue reading
-
Bring Life into Alignment
A steel beam has integrity when its purpose, its design, its manufacture, and its use are aligned. Said another way, to have integrity, a beam must be designed and manufactured for a specific purpose—and it must actually be used toward that purpose. We can count on a beam like that, even to bear a heavy and important Continue reading
-
Going through hell
Devotional: Going Through Hell We all know what it feels like to be in the thick of it— It’s that “I just don’t know what to do” feeling.But deep down, we actually do know.We know to turn to God.We know to pray, to lean, to trust.It’s just hard to remember that when the fire feels Continue reading
-
Recovery week 4“Week 4 Shoulder Replacement Recovery: Pain, Progress, and a Bun Goal”Recovery week 4
Four weeks after shoulder replacement surgery, I’m off narcotics, gaining strength, and starting to see real progress. Here’s what recovery looks like—plus a few reflections on shared pain and support from unexpected places. Recovery Week 4: From Pain to Progress Finally!These last three days have been the best I’ve felt since surgery. 🙌🏽 Sure, there’s Continue reading
-
“You Are Enough: What God Taught Me About Love, Timing, and Being Whole”
After years of heartbreak, comparison, and timelines I built on my own, I finally accepted that I am enough. Here’s how God reminded me of my worth and shifted my view on love, timing, and relationships. You Are Enough My story is made of broken pieces and bad choices—but also of major comebacks, soul peace, Continue reading
-
“You’re Built for Opposition: Why God Doesn’t Always Remove the Battle”
Sometimes God doesn’t remove the struggle because He’s training you through it. You were built for spiritual battles, not to run from them. Here’s how to see your opposition with kingdom eyes. You’re Built for Opposition Ever found yourself in the middle of something tough—Crying out to God for rescue…And all you hear is silence? Continue reading
-
“Unlimited Access: What My Niece’s Data Plan Taught Me About the Power of Prayer”
After gifting my niece an unlimited phone plan, I realized how often we misuse what’s freely given—except when it comes to prayer. Here’s how that moment became a life lesson about God’s unlimited grace and communication. Unlimited… But Misunderstood For her 14th birthday, my mom and I gave my niece a phone and added her Continue reading
-
“The Power of Transparency: Why I Choose to Be Honest in a World That Pretends”
In a world that rewards filters, performance, and perfection, I’ve chosen a different path—honest transparency. Here’s why I believe in being real, even when it’s uncomfortable, and what Scripture teaches about trusting and forgiving. What Does It Really Mean to Be Transparent? By definition, transparency means not hiding or concealing anything—being honest, vulnerable, and open.A Continue reading
About Me
I LIVE LOVE LAUGH LEARN – the only way I know how to survive this life! I am a free-spirited, independent, or uninhibited person. I began this blogging journey years ago for sharing my thoughts on everyday life. Since then, so much has happened including me being in a coma because of Sickle Cell with brain damage and extreme trials in life. I am still struggling, but I feel someone can be motivated through my journey, thoughts, feelings, and life.