About Noelle Mena

♫Noelle's Blurb about herself... this page is about me personally--- not about Christian Women Affiliate
Hello! I am writing this as a personal letter to you, not as an article. Nothing fancy here!

In 2007 you could have never convinced me I would be doing what I am doing today. Yet I am thrilled to be here! I am a visionary and love to build from the ground up. I have implemented this in my life since I was just a young teen.  Take Root and Write Publishing LLC was my first online venture and I recently sold it in August of 2010. It was a difficult decision but one I knew I needed to make. I am very excited to now turn my focus online to only Christian Women Affiliate LLC.

I hit my forties a couple of years ago. I have been married to my hubby 20 years! We met and were engaged with in a couple months and then married that same year. We have a son, who is 30, and a daughter who is 16. I homeschool her, we are in our 11th year.

Over the last 24 years, a little history for you!

I have...

(ok stick with me)

• I was a professional singer leading a dance/rock band from age 19-22 sang all around the country in nightclubs and did regular 6 weeks stays in Atlantic City's, Bally's Casino.
  

...God eventually led me home as He showed me He had not given me my voice to be used in that way. He dealt with me and began to make me very uncomfortable on the stage in that way and atmosphere. I am still thankful for that time as I learned a lot and it plays a huge part in who I am today and how I am guiding my daughter who is gifted in singing as well.

• Trained to be a Director of a Daycare Center (after returning from singing professionally- I dived into church and woop woooo -- met my husband through this daycare and our first date was to church!)

• Taught at a Private school for 5 years.

• In our home church for 16 years I was in always very involved in ministry. (we have been at a new church for the last 4 and a half years)

I was the P&W leader for the Youth (middle school) and did a ton a crazy things with the youth as a leader along side the then Pastor Mike Thomforde and TEAM with our group of regular 200 kids! (Please check out his mission ministry here)
http://www.servingourworld.org/

God led me into the position to totally re-organize our ages 2-5 group of kids. I actually wrote a curriculum using that great Toddler's Bible called-- 'will put the name here- must go look it up' :-) I wrote the publisher and they allowed me to write the curriculum as well as gave me permission to make copies of the pictures and cut and laminate to use as visuals for each class. I organized all their P&W to go along with the curriculum. This all took place at a very big church with very big services both in size and LENGTH! SO I had to organize the children's ministry to be more like a Christian Day Care. It was not abnormal for a service to run into 3-4 hours long. Was challenging but very cool when all came together with God's hand! Was a very time consuming but rewarding experience!

• I began Leading P&W for the elementary age ministry and which again averaged about 150 kids at that service. Was awesome- you can't imagine how mighty in God kids can be, till you enter worship with them and see God at work and the Holy Spirit free! When our church at that time merged with FaithWorld, the music style really really changed! If you know Pastor Clint Brown than you know how! Was a huge step out of my comfort zone to move into his style. But God really took hold and I fell in love with using it in P&W, and in my life. I also lead P&W for our Couples ministry.

• I made a huge decision and left the ministry in 2005 due to health reasons. At that time I didn't know what it was but I knew I could not handle the schedule along with homeschooling and teaching outside the home.

• I have homeschooled my daughter for 11 years. I have always literally 'written' the curriculum I would use. CRAZY but true.

I wanted her school work to be totally created to meet her specifically. It helped that I loved the computer way back then! Is so funny looking back and remembering how to just learn to use WORD. Is amazing what I actually could get out of WORD! I will be uploading lots of this stuff I am sure for anyone who wants to use. I have always had her in an 'umbrella' school keeping her records there.
 
I taught at one of her umbrella schools (Champion Preparatory School) while she attended classes from K-2nd grade. (one day a week you go in for classes) Then for her 3rd grade year I taught her class! I had 9 girls in my class and I wrote the curriculum for every subject but MATH- no thanks! Was such a fun, fun year! But tons of work- of course I made it way more difficult than it needed to be! 

Then for 4th and 5th grade 6 of those girls including my girlie had school at MY HOUSE! I taught my own little school for those 2 years. I have a big gameroom upstairs that I moved into the garage and turned the gameroom into a giant classroom! We had a giant square table that was way big enough for each girl to have plenty of room. Big Expo board- wow- is fun to think back! Maybe I will find pics and upload :-)
I taught the girls one full day a week, every subject except, yes, they brought their OWN MATH! I created all their unit studies myself and typed and emailed out their lessons for the rest of the week for all to follow. Had to get everyone up on emailing! Was some serious work! But I loved it!
We did some awesome stuff and was an incredible experience for both me and my girlie. As well as the other girls! Which she is still best friends with to this day and I with their moms.

So- after 2 years of that, as much as I loved it I was busting at the seams! This is at the same time I stepped down from ministry. I was burned out emotionally and physically. I knew there was health issues going on but could not get a handle on what it was.

• I returned to ministry when I heard Linda Werner speak one summer about her new women's ministry called, Legacy Principles.

I knew I wanted to be part of this ministry but God  opened the door for me to do more than partake. I did all the music for the ministry and was on the leadership team.  I was soooo blessed and learned so much form Linda. I stayed for 2 years and then again, stepped away, this time desperate for answers to what was happening to me and my health. Practically no one around me, even family and close friends had a clue of what my daily life had turned into.

You will hear me talk more about the health stuff through the blog I am sure- but in the end I was anemic and diagnosed with Hashimotos, An autoimmune thyroid condition. I was sleeping 11 hours a night and 2 naps during the day- along with a list of symptoms that would overwhelm anyone! This combined with hormones like a my 50year old friends, had me feeling trapped and overwhelmed.
It is shocking when you see and learn about this disease and how it is so easy to get the right test but sooooo many go for years as I did without knowing and struggle beyond measure.

I wrote about it here at Take Root and Write 3 years ago:

Invisible Illness Awareness Week~ Seriously, Can You REALLY not see it?

I felt like I had literally lost a few years of my life. I was just beginning to find my way back when I started Take Root and Write Publishing. Then I decided to Find my way forward....
Finding My Way Forward, By Noelle Mena

I am finding my way back into this path I know I am supposed to walk.
With God's never ending mercy and Grace-
there are no excuses.

Over the past 3 years God has blessed me beyond measure with the women He has connected me with. Christian Women Affiliate is a place where I can grow in sharing with christian women. Helping you to connect, providing you with resources to expand your ministry, business or personal growth. I look forward to open up the Mentoring part of the network soon. I LOVE listening to christian women and helping them find their niche, stretch their reach, and grow in confidence to walk the path He has set before them.

So! You have a little bit of background on me now. Please feel free to email me and ask me anything. I like things out on the table, communication is essential for me!

I Love to hear from you all out there!
Anytime!

Blessings and be Encouraged!

About Founder/CEO Noelle Mena

About Take Root and Write Publishing LLC

Christian Women Affiliate & The CWA Radio Network
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Noelle Mena's Writer's Page at Take Root and Write can be found here.

Note: Take Root and Write changed in huge ways after I sold it. I do have all of our issues from when I owned it.