Three years ago

Three years ago today, a little boy named Cavion went home to be with the Lord. I think about him often because he would have been 10 this year like Bria. I can't imagine what his parents went through and still go through. My heart aches when I think of him but my soul also smiles because I know he is in a better place. I am so blessed to have met him and I am looking forward to seeing him again. We love you Cavion!!!! Q

This blessed me!!!

The other day I went to Best Buy and picked up Ne-yo's new album. I still buy cds because I like to read the album notes and credits. In his thank yous, he wrote something that really blessed me and I wanted to share it with you guys.

"You know, God puts the power to obtain all we desire within us, it's tapping into that power that proves difficult for most. It requires sacrifice, humility, the ability to look at one's self and see and accept one's flaws and shortcomings. It takes the strength to ask Him for help. You'd be surprised how difficult it is to truly do that.

God I thank You for pain, because it shows us how precious and rare true pleasure is. I thank You for confusion, because it allows us the opportunity to find clarity; frustration, because it allows us room to develop patience; for weakness, because it allows us to become stronger; for ignorance, because it allows us to learn."

I have been going through my own personal transformation. I know God has so many great things in store for me but I won't ever get them if I don't change. It's a hard thing to look at yourself and see your flaws. But I am thankful for each new day that allows me the chance to get it right. I am not perfect and I don't claim to be. I am striving towards it. But each day I get up, it is my prayer that I do what's pleasing in God's sight. Even if I fail, I will continue to try. I've lived without God and I now have Him in my life. And I can honestly say although it is not always easy, I couldn't imagine living my life without Him. Q

My baby got her ears pierced!!!

This weekend we were in El Paso and went to the mall. While shopping for some accessories, I asked Li Li if she wanted to finally get her ears pierced and she agreed. After deciding on her earrings (yall know how she do) we proceeded ahead. Her dad and Bria held her hands as she braced herself. She took the first one like a champ. After the second one, she shed a few tears. Her dad picked her up and she laid her head on his shoulders. She wiped her tears away so she could pick out her lollipop. She even picked out ones for her sister. Here is a pic. Q

I got some bags too

We went to El Paso this weekend and I went inside their Ross and went crazy. Here are some of my purchases. I didn't mean to leave the tag on the first one. Just about all of these were on clearance sale too. I am done for awhile. Next up is clothes for my new body!!! Q

This is a Tommy Hilfiger purse


This is a nine west purse.




I love this XO purse because it goes with some boots I just purchased.



This is another Nine West purse.



I usually don't like a lot of monogram purses but I love this one by Liz Claiborne. Monnie I know you are so proud of me!!! Q

Some more pics of my shoes

So I am keeping a total of 10 pairs of shoes. Here are some up close pics of 7 of them. Q

Just one of those days

If I had a theme song for my day, it would be "Wishful Thinking" by Vivian Green. Yup, just one those days, things don't go your way.....
It started off fine. I went into work to finish up some stuff. I headed home to enjoy the rest of my day and to chill before I went to get my 3rd microdermabrasion treatment. I decided to stop by Target and got some nacho cheese and a drink for lunch. I am driving home just listening to Neyo's new cd. I pull up in the drive way, turn around to grab my drink and realize it's not there. I look back and see it has fallen down and splashed all over the carpet and the seats. I grab a towel and thankfully most of it is on the mat so I take it out to wash it. I watch a little tv and went to lay down.

I ended up sleeping longer than I had plan and my foot was killing me at this time. I get up in enough time to say hi to the fam and then I head out. I get in my van and close the door and hear a thud. I look and see my driver's side window fell down into the door. I try to get it to go up and nothing. Thomas comes out and I tell him what happened and he tells me to take his car because he wanted to change my wipers anyway. I head out. I ended up getting a wax, micro, and a photo rejuvenation facial. I leave still feeling down about my van and thinking about what to do.

I get home and the van is gone. I am on the phone talking with my Pastor when Thomas walked in. I knew something was wrong. He said, "I've got bad news, are you mad?" I told him to go ahead and tell me. Well while trying to get my van in the garage, he scratched the passenger side door, dented it and broke the mirror!!! I wanted to cry so bad just the tears just wouldn't fall.

Times like this, all I can do is pray and thank God in spite of everything. I know a huge blessing must be on the way for me. Tomorrow is a new day. Q

Cuz we country and that's what we do

Growing up, I had a favorite aunt named Sheryl. I am told I favor her a lot. She is beautiful and always had long beautiful hair. One day I was visiting my mom and we were talking about family. The conversation went like this:

Mom: So yeah your aunt Sharon
Me: Sharon? Who's Sharon?
Mom: Sharon Q, you know your aunt Sharon?
Me: No I know (starts naming aunts then gets to Sheryl's name)
Mom: Yeah Sheryl, that's Sharon
Me: : What? Is Sheryl her first name?
Mom: No
Me: Is Sheryl her middle name?
Mom: No
Me: So why do we call her Sheryl? Is she named after someone?
Mom: No
Me: : Mom I am lost please explain why we don't call her Sharon if that's her name
Mom: Her name is Sharon but we call her Sheryl, cuz we country and that's what we do. We muck up folks name and give them one that is easy for us to remember. Sheryl is close enough.
Gotta love family. Q

(Last year's post) September 11, 2001

I remember that day like it was yesterday. The emotions, the memories, the pictures are etched in my mind, my heart, and my spirit. Thomas was on leave as we were preparing to head to our new station in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I decided to continue working at my government job until about a week before our departure. My job allowed us to work a flex schedule and I had taken advantage by going in later than usual. I was excited because they were going to throwing me a going away party during lunch at a local restaurant. I was cute and ready to go.

We were stationed at Robins AFB in Warner Robins, Georgia. As I drove into work listening to the radio, it suddenly went quiet. The dj cut in and stated a plane had just struck a tower at the World Trade Center. My heart sank. About a minute later I arrived at the gate, showed my id card and proceeded to my office going a little over the speed limit. I ran inside and told everyone what I had heard. We all had televisions in our office so everyone stopped what they were doing. My supervisor Rex, my co-worker Lori, and I stood there watching the news. Suddenly we noticed another plane flying nearby and then "Boom" it crashes into the other tower. I lost my footing for a minute and I could hear screams throughout the building. The next few minutes were a blur but I remember hearing the reports about the other two planes.

My commander called us all in for a meeting and we discussed what was going on. I already knew life as I had known would never be the same. I could barely work that day thinking about My City, the city that raised me, the people I loved, and my family and friends that I knew worked in and around that area.

I felt guilt because I never appreciated that I grew up living so close to the towers. I even attended a highschool that was down the street and we would often visit the shopping area that was on the bottom floor during our early dismissal days. September 11, 2001 my prayers go out to each and every person affected by the events of that day. Let us never forget how precious life is. Let us never forget those who lost their lives and those who gave their lives for others. Let us never forget our soldiers who fight and put themselves in harms way to prevent something like that from happening. Let us never forget that although we are free, someone died in order for us to live. Q

When life hands you lemons...

You grate a little of the rind and make a lemon sour cream pound cake

You squeeze a little juice and put it in a cup of hot water and drink it for beautiful skin

Mix it with baking soda and use as a stain remover

Squeeze a couple and make some lemonade

Rub it on your knees and elbows to fade the dark areas

Life is not fair. There are no guarantees. I am living proof of it. I grew up in the projects in NY where there was nothing but mess all around me. But I didn't let the hand that life dealt me get me down. Too many people focus on where they are or what they have instead of where they could be or what they could have. I always knew I would get out. I did everything I could to make sure the life I wanted for myself and my family would be a reality.

Just like a lemon, I took what I had and flipped, cut it, squeezed it and made something better out of what I started with. Was it hard, yes. But you see the journey is just as important as the destination. The journey where you learn the lessons along the way, meet the people you need to meet, and pick up the skills you need to make it in life. There are bumps and bruises along the way but everytime you climb over one obstacle you get stronger and a lot of things become easier.

Who would have thought something so small and cute as a lemon could be so useful yet frustrating at the same time. On the outside it is pretty, yellow an bright. But it is hard to squeeze, and the inside is sour as heck. But with the right tools, the right pressure, and by adding something here and there, your end result can be something better, sweeter, nicer. Just like life.

Each day you wake up is a new day for you to start over. You have a new chance to make the best out of your circumstances. You can choose to fight and live, and push forward to be who you want to be. Or you can just stay where you are, holding a bag of lemons.

I don't care what you have been through in life, nothing is too hard to overcome. You have to want it. You have to fight for it. Don't let your past determine your future. Put God first. Make better choices for yourself. Surround yourself with people who will add to you not take from you. Be the person you want to be.

I always tell people I mentor, it's not how you start but how you finish and I plan on finishing strong. Yup I will finish strong with nice skin, toned knees and elbows, a glass of lemonade and a slice of cake. Yes I will have my cake and eat it too. Q

4 Weeks ago

4 weeks ago I greeted you as you walked into the house. You gave me a big hug and a smile.
Today I only have memories of you.

4 weeks ago I fussed at you for not wearing your seatbelt. You told me not to worry about you dying.
Today those words are all too real.

4 weeks ago you and Thomas went out shopping for kicks.
Today I can only look at those sneakers and not your face.

4 weeks ago you made us breakfast and gave me a big hug and smile before I left.
Today I wish I would have hugged you a little bit longer.

4 weeks ago you were only a phone call away.
Today I can't hear your voice.

4 weeks ago I never imagined you would not be here.
Today the reality is, you are gone from us.

I don't know why you didn't call us. We would have talked with you. We would have tried to help you. I was angry and sad at the same time. I felt like I had failed you. I feel there was something we could have said or done to make this day, these words not even be a reality. This pain is crazy. My head is spinning and I have no more tears. I think about what you must have been thinking and it hurts my heart to the core to know you were alone and I couldn't help you.

It is my prayer that God who is the creator of time was able to freeze it right before you entered into eternity. Right there in that moment He came to you and welcomed you into His arms. I pray you are there, happy, at peace, far away from the worries and the pain that made you go away.

I pray that when the time comes for me to go home to heaven, you will be there to great me, to hug me and give me the same smile you gave, 4 weeks ago.

RIP J

My latest shopping spree

Yesterday I was on the forum just minding my business. All of a sudden a bunch of women threatened me and told me to click on this thread about nine west shoes being on sale. Then later, those same women barged into my home, put a gun to my head and made me order 7 pairs of shoes!!! I mean they are on sale for $30 each. I have a feeling those women may return tonight and make me order a few more. Jesus take the wheel!!!! Here are the ones I purchased so far. Q








Here is the link: sale

My recent purchases

I needed some new bags. I needed some big enough to carry my bible and all my other stuff but I didn't want it to look grandma-ish. I headed to Ross and struck gold. I am not one of those bag chicks but I have gotten a lot of compliments on my new ones so I guess I chose well. Anyway, here they are. Q