What about your friends? Part 1

I've had this post on my mind for a minute now. I've learned a lot about friends and frienships over the years. I know what it takes to be a good friend, how to be one and how to rid yourself of those who aren't truly your friend. I've been thinking about this a lot lately because so many things have been going on in my life. I've seen and heard somethings that really made me say hmmm. Especially now that I am reconnecting with some friends from my past. Anyway some who I love sent me this email the other day and it talked about friends. It made me think long and hard so I wanted to share it with you. I will post more about friends in part 2 of this. Q

The Company You Keep

It is better to be alone than in the wrong company. Tell me who your
best friends are, and I will tell you who you are. If you run with
wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles,
you will learn how to soar to great heights. A mirror reflects a mans
face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he
chooses. The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those
with whom you closely associate for the good and the bad. The less you
associate with some people, the more your life will improve.

Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your
mediocrity.An important attribute in successful people is their
impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you
grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want
you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that
don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch
your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will
eventually decrease you.

Consider This:
Never receive counsel from unproductive people.Never discuss your
problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because
those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not
everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the
worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.
Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere. With some people you spend
an evening: with others you invest it.Be careful where you stop to
inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who
fortifies his life with the right friendships.

Happy moments, Praise God
Difficult moments, Seek God
Quiet moments, Worship God
Painful moments, Trust God
Every moment, Thank God

If you see people without a smile today, give them one of yours.
Choose to rise...Don't settle...and go for your dreams!!!
And most of all let God lead you in everything you do.

"Do not ask God to order your footsteps, if you are not willing to move
your feet."

"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he
will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties."
Sir Francis Bacon

No more fros for me

On Father's Day I decided to rock my fro. I washed my hair while it was in braids and took my time combing each one out while applying some Miss Jessie's. My hair was big and beautiful. So off I went to put my little scarf on and it just flopped. Like Reggie Miller against the Knicks, it flopped. I was hurt and crushed. So I played around, messed with my hair and scarf and rocked a puff instead. I guess I should be happy that my hair is so long that I can't rock it the way I want but I was still sad. I can still wear one when I do a wash and go, I just can't fluff it out. Anyway, here is how I wore it on Sunday. Q

Congratulations to the Celtics

Yes I am a Knicks fan at heart but I have so much respect for Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers. I was in tears right along with them. They deserve it. Congrats to the Celtics, the city of Boston and their fans!!!! Q

New hair products and a review

One of the wonderful members from a board I am apart of sent me a private message one day. She was also my secret Santa this past Christmas and she gave me some wonderful gifts. Anyway she told me that she just recently created some hair products and wanted me to try them on the girls' hair. I said sure and I felt so honored. First let me say how shocked I was because she sent me full sized bottles of almost her entire line.

First the name of the line is Jasmine's Bath and Beauty Products. I received 5 products total. They were the shampoo, moisturizing conditioner, detangling leave in spray, the cream rinse and the coconut conditioning masque. I used everything except for the masque on the girls. Why? Because I am saving that for me and what. So anyway here is the info.

Shampoo- First a little goes a long way. It lathers extremely well. What I loved about it is the way it made their hair feel. It felt clean but not stripped. It was conditioned but it wasn't sticky. I can't explain it because no shampoo has ever done that. Their hair was soft just from using it.

Super moisturizing conditioner- It was creamy but not to thick. It did not leave the hair heavy and coated and rinsed out well.

Cream Rinse- it was thicker than the conditioner- I put it on the girls' hair and did the steam treatment. This is really a keeper for Destiny because her hair gets super dry but after rinsing, it was soft and moisturized.

Detangling Leave In Spray- I don't even want to tell yall about this because I know it is going to be out of stock soon. When I first saw it in the bottle, I was shocked because it is thick and it is in a spray bottle. That tells me that she didn't just put a lot of water and crap in it but quality ingredients. Seriously it doesn't just wet the hair, it coats it. It doesn't leave it heavy but silky so when you comb or brush, it just glides. When it first goes on, it feels a little greasy but as you work it in it is not greasy at all. Can I say I love this stuff?!!!! Yup it is right up there with my beloved Pantene hair mask. Seriously words cannot describe it at all. It is that good!!! Yup it helped with Bria. Yall know how I've been struggling with her hair and man, the tangles didn't stand a chance.

I already know the masque will be the bomb so I don't even need to try it to write about it. Let me also say she was also nice enough to send the girls some of her homemade lip balm and a shampoo bar for me!!! So there you have it. Yall know how serious I am about my hair and my kids' hair and these products are the truth. You get what you pay for and they are worth every dime. I will take some pics of the girls' hair tomorrow so you can see just how healthy and moisturized it looks.

Thank you D for allowing me to try your products. You have a brand new customer for life. Don't forget me when you hit the big time and go on Oprah!!! Q

Happy Father's Day

To all the Fathers out there, I hope you enjoy your day. As usual my girls went above and beyond. They gave their dad lots of handmade gifts. They even made him a crown that says, "#1 Dad" and a scepter to go with it. Here is a pic:


Destiny and Bria made personal cards and here are some pics.
This one is Bria's


On the inside it reads, "Dad you make the garden grow. We as your seeds, are your children. Water us with things we need to know and we will grow just like you."

This is Destiny's card:


It says, "Happy Father's Day. I am going to like you today!"

Gotta love the kids. Q

Old friends new relationships

Today I took the day off to take care of some things around the house. I had the opportunity to reconnect with some old friends on a website for people who attended my high school. By the end of the day, I had spoken with 3 friends from high school. It was nice to hear from them and to just catch. We talked a little about high school but mainly about our current lives. Just like everyone else, they've had some ups and downs but everyone was doing well and enjoying life. It was really great speaking with them and we promised to keep in touch. I am looking forward to the future and seeing where our friendship will go. I thank God that time and distance allowed each of us to mature and grow and being able to finally connect at just the right time to be a part of each other lives. Once again it is a testimony of how God works in mysterious ways. I wasn't expecting any of this today but it made my day off even more wonderful!!! Q

Chocolate craving!!!

I was craving these the other night and I made them. Yes they were good and my chocolate craving has been satisfied. Q

Hair growth update

As part of my 12 week mission, I also got serious about growing my hair. I've dabbled with some growth aides and I think it is working. I started around the end of April and was at 9.5 inches. As you can see, I am now at 10.5. So I am finally averaging about an inch a month!! Q

How I outsmarted the devil

This is a post I've wanted to make for awhile but put off. Then today someone posted this on a message board I frequent:
SO and I just hit a rough patch following a heart to heart convo we had. I called a former boss (male, that I'm really close with) and he was giving me great advice and when he mentioned "I know you love him more than life itself so it's going to be hard...." I didn't stop him but I was thinking WOW people say that all the time but do they really mean it? I'm not sure if "i love anyone more than life".... I love my existence it's all I know....how can I put someone above that? I'm assuming if you love someone more than life itself that you are willing to lay down to let the other have life? My dad use to say that when we were kids...but is this the extent of it...can you really love your lover more than your own life? I
know Jesus gave his only son that we could all have life so it's correct to assume this is the way we suppose to love/live?

Thoughts?

Anyone who knows me knows I hate phrases like he/she completes me, I am nothing without him/her, he/she is my world, I can't imagine living without him/her. I have said before and I believe with every fiber of my being that words have power. You see I believe that statements like that are too powerful to be spoken lightly. Because if you say it often enough, you will believe it, live it and they will be true.

You see the devil uses phrases like that to hold people hostage. Some people give the devil way too much credit. He is not omniscient and only knows what we give him. He knows from our actions. He knows from our WORDS. When he knows how we feel about ourselves, or someone, or something he uses that against us. In the case of the phrases above, especially concerning relationships, he does one of several things. He will 1)Keep that person in your life so they will continue to be your focus. You will love and adore this person. Put all of your faith and trust in them therefore putting in the place of God. 2)He will allow the other person to see this so they will use it to control you. You will be used, taken advantage of and blame God. You will either stay and be miserable or leave and be bitter and angry at God. 3)He will take that person from you which will crush you. You will be so lost and so damaged and will began to blame God.

This is what I posted to the young lady: There is nothing wrong with loving your spouse/SO but they are human. I don't put 100% trust, love and faith in anyone but God. Not even my kids. Yes I do love them to death meaning until I die and will do just about anything for them. But my love for them pales in comparison to the love I have for the one who gave me life.

I outsmarted the devil because I understand the power of my words. I am careful about the words I speak. I am careful about how I prioritize the people and things in my life. GOD is always first. He is my first love, my true love, and he is the only one I need to live. He is the one I can't imagine my life without. He is my world, my everything. I can say that because the devil can't touch Him. God is not only all knowing but he is also all powerful. He is not man and cannot lie. He will never leave me or forsake me. He has the final say about my future. He says in His word, "I am the Lord your God. I am a jealous God. Thou shall have no other gods before me."

We make little g.o.d.s out of too many things with our words. He is simply not talking about a being. He is talking about anything that takes the place of God in our lives. It could be your job, it could be the internet, it could be your spouse, your kids anything that you allow to be your god. Always put God first. Outsmart the devil by making God your main focus. Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; The first step to be saved is confessing with your MOUTH with WORDS!!!

Start by beginning everyday by acknowledging Him first and thanking Him with your mouth. Your words can be used against you. So choose your words carefully and outsmart the devil!!! Q

A proud day for America

I honestly can't put my feelings into words. So instead I will simply say Congratulations Senator Obama!!!! Q

Song and video I am loving right now

I had the opportunity to meet Neyo last year after seeing him in concert. I have a lot of respect for the way he handled himself. I was super excited to hear that he was releasing another album this year and the title suits him well. After the "Go On Girl" video, I was hesitant but he didn't disappoint. I love the black and white look of the video. His dancers are on point as usual and his dancing is elaborate but smooth at the same time. Oh and the fact that he is paying homage to MJ just makes me love it even more. Q

Healthy hair tips

I pretty much have the hair thing down as you can see. I rarely have issues with my hair and it grows pretty quickly. It is also super thick and healthy. Here is some info I feel are essential to having beautiful, long, thick and healthy natural hair.

First I think you need to invest in quality tools. I only use bone combs, a natural boar bristle brush, denman brush, satin scarves/bonnets or pillowcases, vitamin c shower filter, micro fiber hair towels, and a pair of good hair cutting scissors. These items are a little pricey but it is worth it.

Next you need to find what works for your hair. I have tried everything but my staple lines are Envia, Sauve and Pantene. I also have organic coconut oil and castor oil. Don't be afraid to try stuff you think may not work. Buy sample or travel sizes and see how your hair responds.

Once you have a regimen down, you need to baby your hair. I take my time detangling with my bone comb and then follow with a denman to get rid of the shed hair. I wash my hair in 4 sections and apply coconut oil or castor oil to my ends. My regimen changes slightly with the weather.

Right now I am washing or co-washing, every other day. Once a month I use a clarifying shampoo and do a deep condition. If I see any serious split ends, I trim them with my scissors. When I do press my hair, I use my maxi-glide and I never get it super straight. I leave that up to my beautician and I get that done every six months along with a trim.

Pay attention to your hair and treat it accordingly. When my hair is dry, I step up the moisture by either co washing more often or spraying on a mix of distilled water and fermodyl 619 daily. If my ends are brittle, I may sure to seal them with an oil. I also massage my scalp with a little bit of castor oil or coconut oil.

If you are dealing with 2 textures and transitioning, you need to take extra care especially when combing. Detangle while wet with a lot of conditioner. Gradually trim off the relaxed ends. Play around with hairstyles like braid outs or put your hair in neat buns. Use some oil, a brush, and a scarf to smooth down the edges.

Lastly, baby your hair from the inside out. Drink lots of water. Take quality vitamins and minerals. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. You can also take MSM, biotin, flaxseed oil, or a vitamin for hair.

I hope this helps someone and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Happy Hair Growing!!!! Q

My hair journey

So a young lady sent me an email about my hair and I told her to give me a ring so I could give her the info. I haven't heard from her so I will just put the info on here. I am getting older and these kids kill my brain cells so excuse me if I forget some stuff.

In October of 2001 my family and I arrived in Albuquerque, NM. I was relaxed at the time. My hair wasn't thriving. The weather here was really dry and I just couldn't take it. Plus I hadn't found a beautician that I trusted yet. By November, I decided to go natural. At the time, the plan was to eventually transition back to being relaxed. My hair was about mid back length at the time. Here is a pic that was taken during Thanksgiving of 2001.


In January of 2002, I decided to take another step towards being natural. I cut my hair to a chin length bob. I had about 3 months worth of new growth. I wore that for a hot minute and then decided to use braids to complete my transition. I wore braids pretty much that entire year. My youngest daughter was born that year so I was able to get some really good growth. Here is a pic taken at a bridal shower right after the cut.


In April of 2003, I was at a military school in Mississippi. I had my youngest with me and discovered she had lice. I know, just ew. In a fit of panic, I decided to treat myself just in case and cut my remaining relaxer off. I was able to put my hair in a ponytail and did my first set of twists. I pretty much didn't know how to handle being natural and just nurtured my hair the best I could.

In 2004 while searching for an old website, I stumbled across another hair forum. I joined and really got excited about having natural hair. The site had women of all hair types, textures and lengths. That same year I played around with hair color and my hair once again hit brastrap length.
Here are some pics from that time:



Later that year, I got bored with the length and cut it. Here is a press I had done after the cut:



I pretty much grew it out wearing twists and braid outs. I began to wash my hair more often and making sure it was moisturized. Here are some twists from that time:


On October 1, 2005 I went to the hairdresser with long natural hair and left with a short afro. I had never had it like that before and figured it was now or never. My beautician hesitated but finally did what I'd asked. I don't have any pics but I had to renew my license around that time so here is a pic of that:


My hair didn't take too well to the cut and grew like a weed. My little fro wasn't cute so back in braids I went. For the next 2 years I wore extension twists, twists with my own hair and just played with different styles. I did a lot of wash and go's and babied my hair. Every 6 months, I would get it pressed and trimmed. I get about an inch trimmed each time. I got it pressed for Easter in April of 2007 and realized how much my hair had grown. Here is a pic:


I continued with my same regimen until October of 2007 when I discovered, I was brastrap length again. Here is a pic:


That is my hair journey. My next post will provide tips and tricks I feel are essential to healthy hair. Q

Ask God

Yesterday my Pastor spoke at an ordination service. His topic was the title of this post. I decided to blog about it because I think it is key to serving the Lord. He spoke from 1 Samuel 23 in which David had to defend Keilah against the Philistines. In 3 instances, David was faced with a decision. Instead of listening to those around him for guidance, David inquired of the Lord. David asked God.

I remember when I finally stepped into my calling as a minister. I struggled because I had read and heard that women should not be ministers. Although I knew God called me, I was worried about others and began to question my calling. I remember going to my Pastor about it. He gave me some info to research the historical aspects of things, some scriptural references and his own views on the situation. Finally he looked at me and said, "Q, all of this stuff will help you. But honestly you really only need to ask one person." Then he pointed upward. Later I heeded his words and asked God. God said to me, "I called YOU." That was all I needed to hear.

I have the utmost respect for those in leadership positions in the church. God has placed them there to lead His people and to help us. But I also understand that they are still men and women. They are flawed just like I am. And unlike God, they don't know everything. It is important for us to not get caught up in others so much that we forget who we serve. Sometimes God has something just for you that others won't understand. Even so called Christians will talk about you and look at you sideways when you are doing something they don't understand. But if you ask God and He is guiding you, what they say shouldn't matter.

We need to stop looking down on our brothers and sisters because they don't dress the way we think they should, don't praise the way we think, or don't serve God on a day we think it should be done. We focus and battle each other on so much stuff all for the sake of being right. I am not saying we shouldn't discuss things and work stuff out. But God is a God of order. Most importantly, He is God. He wants His will to be done. We are here to lead others to Him. To bless others. To help others.

Ask God about how YOU should live your life. Ask God about how YOU should serve Him. When God answers, because he will, then you do what the Lord says and forget about everyone else. Let them talk. Let them shake their heads. Let them look down on you. You do what the Lord told you to do.

A few years ago, I stumbled across something that I thought would make my husband and I a lot of money. I look, I researched, we prayed and finally we asked God. We got the release to go ahead. At first, things were going great but then later not so much. Once again we asked God and we didn't get the release to walk away. By this time, folks were looking at us like we were crazy and began to question whether God was telling us to proceed. After awhile, we finally got the release to move on after asking God and we did. Now to others, it looked like we failed. To them they think we were not following God's word. We kind of knew how Job felt during that time. It was hard, and it was frustrating. But what they don't know is the blessings and the lessons we got out of the situation. We were able to bless people. We were able to meet people we would not have otherwise met. We learned so much about trusting God in spite of others. We learned to just lean on God and allow Him to guide us. That situation opened so many doors for us. Because of our obedience when it would have been so easy to walk away, God has blessed us all the more. We look back and smile even though there are some who still question us. We have peace because we know before we did anything, we ASKED GOD!!!! Ask God, He will answer you. Q

Lemon Icing Recipe

Someone asked me for the recipe for the lemon icing I used on the Sour Cream Pound Cake . It is real simple and I sometimes add food coloring to make it bright yellow.
2 cups of confectioner's sugar
4-6 T of lemon juice (amount depends on consistency)
Whisk until smooth.

I am going to buy a new digital camera soon so I promise to put up more pics and recipes. Thanks to everyone who read and post comments. Love ya. Q

My new baby is here!!!!

I know you are probably saying, "so what, you got a new hair dryer." But sadly, you are wrong. What you are looking at is my new hair steamer. I decided to name her April after my friend who told me about them. What's so special about a steamer? Well it adds moisture of course, helps with deep conditioning and is excellent with the detangling. It doesn't dry your hair, instead it infuses it with moisture and whatever conditioner you use along with it. For me it is essential living in a dry climate. But it is good for anyone because you use pure water in it so your hair is not steamed with hard water, chlorine or any other chemicals. I can't wait to use it on Wednesday!!! I plan on doing weekly steam treatments. Take care Q

Oh if you want to buy it, you can check it out here. Yes that is the price including shipping. Q

I've got good news!!!

When I was offered my current position, I struggled because I had to choose between the job and school. I chose the job of course. I figured I could take another route to school. After trying to do the online thing, and doing some other stuff I got discouraged. I really wanted to go to the original school. The school was perfect.
1)The degree program is in something I love.
2)The school was close to home.
3)The cost was great and with tuition assistance and my GI Bill, I would make money.
4)I would finish my degree in a year.
5)The classes were on Saturday and Sunday but only about I would only be in class for 18 weekends out of the year.

Well after much prayer, working my behind off, and getting favor, I will be able to do both. I was able to work it out so I can still work and go to school. Yes the weekends I have classes will have me up super early and working late but it is all worth it. By the end of June next year, I will have my Bachelor's!!!!!

It may not seem like a big deal but this is a dream of mine that is coming true. I have had so many setbacks since I began this journey back in 1995. Life sent a lot of things my way and I had to put it on hold so many times. But now it seems like now the time is just right. Everything is in order and I know this is only the beginning. Although I didn't know it, God had it all planned out and it worked out perfectly. Plus when it is all said and done, He will get the glory. God is good!!! Thank you to everyone who prayed for and encouraged me. Q

I got my behind kicked yesterday!!!!

I was all set to go yesterday. I left work a little after 5 pm. The class started at 5:30 and I arrived around 5:15. Another class was finishing up and they were on the floor working their abs and stretching. The female manager, Noelle greeted me and got me signed in. Her husband Reece, whom I had spoken too on the phone came over and gave me some info. He took me over to the bags and told me where to stand and gave me some practice gloves. He was also going to be the instructor for the hour.

The class was made up of mostly women. In the workout area, there is a large padded area without about 50 large bags hanging down. To the right is an actual boxing ring and on the left is the cardio equipment, bathroom, shower and weights. We start warming up and so far so good. He then tells us to partner up. There is a lady next to me and it was her first class as well. She was so nervous that she kept punching my hands a little too hard during one routine. Then he switched to having us do combinations on the bag. He came around and corrected our form and would also put on gear and let folks spar with him.

The next combo involved kicks. We were about 15 minutes into the actual workout and I was already sweating. Even if we weren't punching or kicking, he had us squatting or working our arms. We did some more combos involving the knees and elbows. Next we hit the floor. Using the bag by putting our feet under it, we did sit ups followed by jabs to the bag. That went on for what seemed like forever then we got back up. More combos, then squats, and I kind of blacked out!!!

Finally we were on the floor and I was happy. That only last about a minute as soon as we started the ab workout. He worked every single part of the abs doing different types of exercises. Even though it was hard, I liked it because he stressed the importance of form versus reps. After about 10 minutes of what seemed like an hour, we began to stretch. I have never been so happy to stretch before in my life!!!

I guzzled my water down like I was a slave in the southern heat and headed to the counter. Reece smiled and asked me how it was and I could only nod my head. Noelle smiled. Then he asked if I want to join today or at another time. I told him my body was saying no but my mind said yes. I stood there with legs wobbling, and my hands shaking while trying to fill out the info. I was already feeling the workout.

I cooked in the morning but I was so hungry and so beat, I swung by McDonalds and got a chicken sandwich meal. I got home and hit the couch trying to finish my food. It was a struggle just to bring the food up to my mouth. After sitting and trying to get my body to move, I headed to my bedroom. I hit the shower and just laid on the bed while the t.v. watched me. I went to bed early because I didn't even watch the season finale of Medium. I don't even remember Thomas coming to bed. This morning I am sore. I feel it in my legs, my back, my stomach and my arms. So for $59 a month, I know I am getting my money's worth. I plan on going back on Thursday after work. Y'all pray for me!!! Q

12 week update

Well I have good news and bad news. The good news is, I am doing great. I am trying out this new gym today. It focuses on boxing and kickboxing. It's also located right down the street from my job. When I leave work, I can head there, and then straight home and have my workout out of the way. They allow you to take a free class and I am going today after work. We will use real boxing gloves, and bags. The classes burn 800-1000 calories an hour. They promise I will be sore after the first class. It also has weight equipment and exercise machines that I can use anytime during gym hours. My goal is to take a class at least 3 times a week and continue the Body For Life weight workouts the other 3 days.

Now the bad news is not really that bad. Thomas has to go to NCO academy in June for 6 weeks. So if you do the math, that would run right into our anniversary week. So we have to push it back. We will still probably do something on July 9th but we won't be able to get away until August. It kind of works out great because we decided to go to Vegas!!! I will be there July 31st to August 3rd for a convention. So he is just going to fly in and we will stay until my birthday on the 8th. We are going to fly my mom in so she can hang with her grandkids for that week.

All in all, I guess I can't complain. I still plan on taking family pics and I will probably schedule a picture day soon to put even more pressure on. Thanks to everyone for encouraging me by commenting, shooting me an email, or giving me a ring. It really means a lot knowing I have some support as I reach my goals. Love ya. Q

Lazy hair days

This is how I rock my hair when I am lazy. To achieve this bun, I have to trick my hair. You see my hair is super thick and I have to trick it into being tame!!! So what I did was wash, and condition my hair in sections. I de-tangled, applied castor oil to my hair, and put it in about 12-15 braids. I let it dry overnight. The next day, I used my fingers to take the braids out applying a little more castor oil to my edges. After they were out, I brushed my hair back, put in a ponytail holder, braided the ends, and tuck it under the holder. If you look close, you can see waves. That is not my texture but the remnants of the braids.

To maintain, I take the braid out daily, apply more oil to the ends, re braid, re-tuck and put on a satin scarf and then a satin bonnet. In the a.m. my hair is smooth, neat, and protected. Take care Q

Lord and Savior Part 2

Everyone is okay with Jesus being their savior. Let's look at what I found shall we. A savior saves, rescues, and delivers. We love that part of Jesus. In fact when we become one of His followers, we say we are saved. We are okay when we want Jesus to forgive our sins. We are okay with the Jesus that delivers us from evil. We are okay with the Jesus that died on the cross for us. Who took being spat on, made fun off, who was laughed at, who was beaten and bruised. Most of our prayers involves asking God for something. We want to be healed, restored, set free, saved. Folks have no problem hearing about the goodness of God and all the blessings He gives but the Lord part is overlooked.

You see Jesus has to be your Lord AND Savior. You can't have one without the other. If you look at the definitions for Lord and for Savior, Jesus is listed under both. When He died on the cross He purchased our lives. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. There goes that word Lord again. We deserved death. That was supposed to be our payment for our sins. But Jesus wrote the debt off and now we are workers for Him.

Now lets look at Lord.
A person who has authority- we gave Jesus authority over our lives when we accepted Him. Satan had us as soon as we sinned and we were owned by him. The only thing to pay it off was death. Jesus fulfilled it with His death because He was without sin and yet died.
A master, a king- Revelation 6:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
You see we serve the King. We are here not for ourselves but to do His will. The Lord part is hard because we are stubborn. Our flesh doesn't want to serve anyone or anything but itself. But understand if you don't serve the Lord, you will serve someone, and you may not like the other option. See we have a King that is not like most Kings. Our King gives us free will to serve Him our not. But there will be consequences for not following the rules of the King. What kind of King would he be if he allowed everyone to do what they please and still get the reward of eternal life in heaven? Who in their right mind would follow a King with no backbone?

We serve a King who went beyond just ruling on high and looking low. He decided to come from heaven, wrap himself in flesh, and die just for us. He didn't just speak about doing something, he did it. He didn't send an angel, John, or Moses, or Elijah. He did it himself. He was and is the ultimate example for us to follow. We don't fight the battles alone. We don't have to worry about the war because we win. If we just hold on and do what we are told, victory is ours.

So what does this mean? It means that serving God won't always be easy. Yes He loves us. Yes He will heal us. Yes He will save us. But their is another side to the coin so flip it over. The Lord part means we will sometimes have to go places, and do things we don't like. That means we may have to make certain sacrifices like fasting. That also means that we must always be prepared for battle. We must be armed with the Word of God in order to overcome the traps that are set for us. We must take up our cross daily and make sure God is always first. We must sometimes put off or set aside things we want for ourselves in order to do God's will. It sounds hard and it sounds unfair but the reward in the end far outweighs what you will have to give up now.

If you have accepted Christ, you have accepted Him as Lord and Savior. If He is not your Lord he cannot be your Savior. He cannot give you the blessings of His child if you are not obedient to Him as your Lord. Don't let your flesh and the devil trick you into disobeying God. 2 Chronicles 24:20 (b portion) Why do you disobey the Lord's commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.

We serve a God of Love. We serve an awesome God. But understand He is still God. He is still the King and we wants willing workers who will serve and obey Him. These posts have made me look at myself and examine areas where I have not been obedient to God. I have become a little selfish and try to put off the things that are pleasing to Him. I am going to make a conscious effort to do God's will no matter the cost. Doing otherwise is not worth it to me. Most people greatest fear is losing their husband, their wife, or their kids. Mine is not hearing "well done" when I see the Lord. So choose ye today who you will serve. Q

Luke 6:46-49 "Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?
I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and put them into practice.
He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Serving God has it's rewards that no one else can give!!!! Q

Lord and Savior Part 1

For the past 2 weeks I've been talking on the phone almost daily to my new friend April. We started talking because of our common interest in hair. From there we realized how much we had in common. For one, she is a Christian like I am. She also loves to talk about the Lord just as much as I do. I can't tell you how blessed I've been to speak with her on the phone. One night we talked for over 3 hours straight!!!

The other night during our conversation about God, she said something that was so profound. She said, "some people have accepted Jesus as their Savior but not as their Lord." That was like an ah ha moment for me. I even discussed it with Thomas. Today when I taught Sunday school, I used her statement while talking about priorities. I've been thinking about it every day since then and decided to blog about it.

I went to dictionary.com and found a couple of definitions for Savior. Here are some of them:
a person who saves, rescues, or delivers
a title of God, esp. of Christ
A person who rescues another from harm, danger, or loss
In Christian sense, translation of Gk. soter "savior." Replaced O.E. hælend "healer."
Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins. --Matt. i. 21


Here are some definitions for the word Lord:
a person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler
A man of renowned power or authority.
Archaic The male head of a household
Christianity Jesus.
A king.

I will blog and elaborate further with my next post. Q

Sunday's dinner

This is what I made for dinner on Sunday. It was citrus glazed chicken, garlic mashed potatoes and spinach. This was Bria's plate, she let me take a picture. Q

Tonight's dinner

I usually don't put more than one carb in a meal but tonight I just had a taste for them. So I made Korean Barbecued Beef and pasta salad.
Here is the recipe for the Korean Barbecued Beef, modified and made healthier by me of course:
1 pound of beef boneless top or sirloin steak (I used sirloin)
1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
1 T of sugar
1 T of sesame or vegetable oil
1/4 tsp pepper
1 green pepper chopped
3/4 tsp of crushed garlic in a jar or 2 cloves of garlic

Trim fat from steak and cut in 1/8 inch slices or cubes. Mix remaining ingredients, and stir in beef until well coated. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. The original says to drain the beef but I like to cook it in the marinade. Heat wok (what I used) or 10 inch skillet over medium heat until hot. Add beef and green pepper and stir fry 2-3 minutes until brown.

This recipe also works well with chicken!!! Q

Sour Cream Pound Cake

I fell in love with this cake years ago when my aunt used to make it. I got the recipe from her one day and I almost fell out. It had a bunch of sugar and a pound of butter. Even though I don't make it that often, I still wanted to make it a little healthier. After experimenting, I came up with a recipe that works great. You can substitute the vanilla extract for any flavor to give the cake a different taste. If you don't have or forget the sour cream, you can use a cup of buttermilk. I make my own buttermilk by adding 1-2 T of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of whole or 2 % milk. The one in the pic above is lemon flavored with lemon frosting. Enjoy. Q

3/4 pound (3 sticks of butter)
2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups all-purpose flour
6 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the sour cream and mix until incorporated. Sift the baking soda and flour together. Add to the creamed mixture alternating with eggs, beating each egg 1 at a time. Add the vanilla and pour the mixture into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes.

Someone asked me for the recipe for the lemon icing I used on the Sour Cream Pound Cake . It is real simple and I sometimes add food coloring to make it bright yellow.
2 cups of confectioner's sugar
4-6 T of lemon juice (amount depends on consistency)
Whisk until smooth.

No more babies!!!!

The other night we received a call from a friend of ours. She had to go into work early on Saturday and wanted to know if Thomas would watch her kids for her. She has 2 girls. One is about 2 years old the other is a couple of months old probably about 4 or 5.

Whenever people see me out with the girls, I always hear, "wow you have 3 girls!" In my mind I am thinking, "yes genius." Then about 90% of the time, that is followed by, "so are you going to try for a boy?" See those are fighting words for real. It annoys me even more when it's someone who doesn't have kids or only has one. I usually say something smart like, "well when you get up to 3, let me know and then maybe we can try for the 4th together."

Seriously people think we are really pressed about not having a boy. Listen would having a boy be great? Yes I would love to not have to worry about doing a bunch of hair, buying dresses, shoes, sandals, sneakers, skirts, tops, pants, jean, barettes and the list of 50-11 things I have to get for a girl. But you know that wasn't in God's plan. Just like baseball, 3 strikes and your out so our baby making days are over.

My youngest is 5 and will be attending Kindergarten this year. Although she can be a brat, I am loving where we are right now. She knows how to put her clothes on, brush her teeth, tie her shoes, wash her face, take a bath etc. There is very little I have to do for her. Why would I want to go back and start over with diapers, wipes, diaper bags, bottles, late night feedings, dressing them, bathing etc? No way no how.

So this morning I decided to go into work later so I could help Thomas get settled with the 2 kids of my friend. It was so weird making a bottle and shuffling through that diaper bag. The baby is teething too so she was a little irritable as well. As cute as she is, I don't have baby fever. I am happy for anyone who is a new mom, expecting, trying to get pregnant and all but as for me and mine, we don't want anymore babies!!! Besides, yall know I don't like kids. Q

Lemon Cream Squares

I got this recipe from the food network and decided to make it for dessert tonight. The recipe calls for a box cake and those of you who know me, know I don't do box cakes. I used my basic cake recipe instead. I will post both in case you prefer to use the box.

For Lemon Layer:
1 (18.25 oz) box lemon cake mix
1 stick of butter, softened
1 egg
In a large mixing bowl, beat on lo speed mix, butter, and egg until combined and smooth. Press evenly into prepared pan.

This is what I used instead:
1 stick of butter, softened
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups of sifted self-rising flour
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract
Cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and cream well for 6-8 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add lemon extract and continue to beat until just mixed. Pour into 9 by 13-inch foil pan that has been sprayed with Baker's Joy. I picked up the pan and let it drop on the counter a couple of times to even it out and get out any air pockets.

For Top Layer:
16 oz of cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 (3- ounce) box lemon gelatin
2 eggs
In a medium mixing bowl, beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add eggs and beat until smooth.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread cream cheese mix over cake layer. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until cake barely starts to pull away from sides. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

As you can see, some of the cake layer came up and around the cream cheese layer. It was crispy on top and moist on the inside. Don't worry I am limiting myself to only one piece because I am focused on eating right. I just wanted to treat my family to something different. Enjoy!!! Q

Apple crisp

I very rarely cook this but I love it because it is quick, easy, and delicious. Plus I always have the ingredients on hand. My mom used to make this all the time when I was growing up so eating it always reminds me of her. It is extra delish with a side of ice cream. Sometimes I kick it up with my cream cheese frosting mixed in but most of the time, I stick to the basic recipe. Here it is. Enjoy!!! Q

Ingredients:
4 medium tart cooking apples or whatever you have. Sliced about 4 cups. (You can even use peaches.)
2/3 cup of packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of all purpose or self rising flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup stick margarin or butter, softened. (I use smart balance spread.)
3/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg.

Heat over to 375.
Grease bottom and sides of square pan.
Arrange apples in pan. (I use a potato peeling to peel my apples then a corer that use just push down on and the cut the individual slices from there.)
Mix remaining ingredients well and sprinkle over the apple. Make sure to fill in any spots.
Bake about 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and apples are tender. Serve warm and if you like, with ice cream.

My macaroni and cheese tutorial

I realized I've been slacking on adding my food recipes and tutorials on this site so I decided to get on my job. Thank you Chardai for bringing it to my attention. Oh and I don't use butter in mine. I do use 2% velveeta and low fat cheese and milk. It still tastes great but is low in fat.
Ingredients:
1 16 box of macaroni noodles
2 oz of sharp cheddar shredded
2 oz of mozarella shredded
2 oz of mild cheddar
2 oz of colby and monterey jack cheese
Some extra shredded cheese for top
8 oz of velveeta cut into cubes
16 oz of milk
2 eggs beaten
1 T of salt
1 tsp of pepper
Some seasoned salt for the top
A greased pan

Here is a pic of everything shredded, measured and set aside.



Boil and drain macaroni and return to pan on low heat.



Add milk, eggs, all of the cheese except the extra, salt, and pepper. Mix until the velveeta chunks are almost melted about 3-5 mins.


Set oven to 350 degrees. Pour mix in greased pan and place in oven. Sprinkle top with extra shredded cheese and seasoned salt.


Bake for 30 minutes or until it bubbles. Here is the final result. Q

Hair update

Since my 12 week mission includes my hair, I decided to post a little update.

This first pic was taken in January and is my starting point. As you can see, my hair is about 8-8.5 inches on the shirt.


These 2 pics was taken last week. My hair is about 9-9.5 inches on the shirt. My goal for the next 12 weeks is to gain at least 3 or more inches. I plan on doing it by daily or every other day washing, scalp massages, and growth aids. I hope to get cornrow extenstions next week to make care for it easier. I will update monthly. Q

Until then, you only know what you think you know

"Until you know my joy, know my pain, and know my struggle...."
That quote and the title of this post is from a song titled "Until" by Raheem Devaughn. I remember the first time I heard that song. I was on my way home from work and was stuck in traffic. It moved me so much that I was in tears driving home. I can relate to it on so many levels.

A lot of the people who know me now, think I am blessed. They are right. Thomas is a wonderful husband, friend, and father. The girls are smart, beautiful, and absolute joys. We have a great house, great jobs, a wonderful church family and all the things one could ever ask for. But all of this came with a cost.

Thomas and I were raised by single mothers. We saw them work their behinds off and struggle. I grew up in one of the toughest places in New York. I saw and experienced things most people older than me could never imagine. But we made a conscious decision to move beyond that. We worked and struggled and fought so our kids can have a better life. So they won't go through the things we went through. To make sure history didn't repeat itself and to be a blessing to others.

When I hear songs like "Until" for a moment I am sad, have a good cry, and reflect on the past. Now I don't believe in dwelling in the past and having an eternal pity party. The past is the past. It's already happen. All the tears, all the screams, all the anger in the world won't change a darn thing that already happened. I could have either continued to feel sorry for myself and do nothing with my life, or dig myself out of the dirt, wash myself off and strive to and eventually do better. I chose the latter. I know I have succeeded when I look at my husband, when I see my kids, when I walk around cleaning up and picking up toys in this beautiful 2100 sf house. I know all the things in my past that was done to stifle me, to kill me, to destroy me, only made me more determined.

All of what I have came with a cost. Anything worth having does. Eternal salvation through Jesus cost Him His life. I said all of this to say, don't just look on the surface and make assumptions about a person's life. Don't be so quick to dismiss someone because it appears as if they have it all. You don't know what they've overcome. You don't know the struggles they've dealt with. You don't know about the nights they may have cried and wanted to give up but didn't. You don't know what it took, what it cost them to be where they are. Until you know what a person has been through, "you only know what you think you know." Q

April 13, 2008 to July 5, 2008

I am on a 12 week mission. At first I wasn't going to put it out there but doing so makes me accountable. For 12 weeks I am committed to making lasting changes in my life. There are a lot of things I have been putting off, and I've decided to stop making excuses and to start making things happen. July 5th, the end of the 12 weeks is 4 days before our 10 year anniversary.

Here are my goals for the next 12 weeks:
1) I plan on for the last time doing Body for Life in order to get to my goal size of 8.
2) I want to finish my training for a 5K and be registered to run one before the year is out.
3) I plan on taking the steps necessary to move forward with being ordained.
4) The family and I will take family pictures finally.
5) I want to finally make waist length with my hair.

There is more involved in those 4 things that are a little personal but just pray for me. I have so much going on but like my Pastor always says, "it's not going to get easier, I am going to have to get stronger." Q

A Change is in the air

The other morning I woke up and I immediately thought of a lot of the folks I come in contact with via the internet and in real life. I knew that a change was in the air. So many of you have a lot of hopes, dreams and aspirations. You've been waiting, planning, and praying. I just want you to know, it is on the way.

Anything worth having is worth working for. It won't be easy. You will have to work harder, pray harder, try harder, do more, sleep a little less, study a little more, cry a little but it is YOURS. Do all you can to make your dreams come true, to be who you want to be, and meet all of your goals. This is your year. Grab hold of your destiny, stay focused, and know that failure is not an option.

God is already opening doors for dh and I and we are about to do big things!!! I know He is no respector of persons so what He does for us, He will do for you too. The number 8 signifies change. My birthday happens to fall on 08/08/08 this year. I have already begun to take some major steps to making my dreams come true. It is going to be a long and hard road but it will be worth it. This year will be the turning point in my life and the life of so many people. The world and the people in it are starting to open their eyes and grab hold of what God has in store.

Change is in the air people. Embrace it, enjoy it, master it, use it to your advantage. I look forward to hearing great things!!!! Q

Phrases I hate

Today I was visiting the wedding registry page of a friend of mine. I began to look at some other pages and just got irked. *WARNING* I'm about to say some stuff that you may not agree with which is cool. Just understand these are MY thoughts and MY opinions, AIGHT!!!

Now I understand that I am reading way too much into things but I believe words have power. That is why I am careful about what I say. Actually I will elaborate more on my next post. So anyway here are some phrases that really bother me:

1. "I am nothing without him/her"- Oh really. So you mean you were just a blob sitting around until this person came along and molded you and made you. I don't think so. I was a wonderful person before I met dh and I am a wonderful person now. I am a child of the most high so not only am I something already, I am royalty.

2. "If I were to ever lose him/her, I think I would die"- Sigh. Well just die then because tomorrow is not promised to anyone. In the blink of an eye, someone you love can be gone and you will be left behind. You will still have a life to live. Don't get me wrong, I will be hurt if God forbid I lose Thomas but I still have 3 little people and a life of my own that I need to continue to give my all to.

3. "He/she completes me"- So were you a half person, 1/4 or 3/4 of a person before they came along. So if they leave does a part of you leave also. Will just walk around as part of a person until someone else comes along. When you die, will your obituary say "here lies part of so and so"?

There are a couple more like, "you are my world, my sun, my everything. I am who I am because you came into my life." Blah, blah, blah!!!! Seriously, I know I am being a little over the top but there are folks who believe this deep down inside. Their world revolves around someone, finding someone, trying to keep that someone, worrying about that someone when God should be the center. God is the only person who will never leave you or forsake you. He made you. He loves you unconditionally. For all of those who are thinking about getting married, start it off right by making sure God is the head. If you do that, you will be blessed. Q

Getting some stuff off my chest

Before I began, let me just say this is my blog. I am going to post MY opinions, and MY views on subjects. You don't have to like it, you don't have to agree, you don't have to read it. Please don't go there with me, I am not in the mood!!!


Yesterday I was cooking and watching Oprah. Salma Hayek was on and she was talking about her life. The subject switched to marriage and suddenly I added her to the list of dumb celebrities in my book. I am sick and tired of people simply saying marriage is a piece of paper. I am pissed when I hear them say they are more committed in their relationship than they are in a marriage. I am sick of hearing folks say they were married x amount of times before and it didn't work so they don't feel the need to anymore.

Marriage is not just a peice of paper.
Marriage is deeper than just being in a relationship.
Marriage is ordained by GOD.
There are blessings you receive from being married that you won't get while just shacking up.
There is favor that is place upon your life when you decide to get married.
Marriage is not a walk in the park.
It takes two people to make it work.
It takes dealing with the good and bad and knowing because of the legal and spiritual ramifications, you can't just walk away so easily like you can when you are just in a relationship.
Marriage is about two souls coming together as one.
A marriage is on a whole nother level (yeah I said it like that) than a regular relationship. There is no comparison, EVER!!!!

Please stop putting marriage on the level of just a piece of paper because it is more than that. Anyone can be in a relationship for 10 years but it takes more to stay married for that amount of time. If you were married before and it didn't work, then maybe it was just you. Maybe you picked the wrong person to marry. Maybe you gave up too easily. Maybe you didn't put enough into it. A marriage is what you make it. You can be married and have passion. You can be married and still be in love with your spouse. You can be married and do all the exciting things you did as a couple. You will get out of it, what you put into it. Just man up and woman up and say you are not ready for marriage. Leave the lame azz excuses for someone else because I am sick of hearing it!!! Q

Road tripping

I remember being a little girl living in New York. My family would load up the station wagon and head to South Carolina every summer. After awhile, I knew the stops and sites and knew when we were getting closer to our destination. Once we got older, the trips stopped and we took the plane instead.

In 1997 a friend named Fabien asked if I wanted to ride with him and a friend of his to New York. Fabien was from New Jersey and his friend was going home with him for Christmas. At the time we were all stationed at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. I went along because I wanted to see my family and because Fabien and I were cool. Surprisingly, his friend was really cool too. We talked the entire drive there and back and really got to know each other. That trip changed my life and we are still close to this day.

When Thomas and I first got married, we would take the plane everywhere. I loved and hated it. It was great to get to places quickly but we had an unfortunate incident with being delayed when Bria was just a baby. We stuck it out a few years later when Destiny was born. Then one day we decided to go visit my mom 3 hours away in South Carolina and drove. It was on from there.

Most people assume we drive because it is cheaper. Although that plays a small part in it, that isn't the real reason. Thomas and I are extremely blessed. We have the means to fly anywhere at anytime. But for us, the road trips was a time for us to bond as a family. When the kids are sleep and it is just us and the road, we get to talk and just be. You can't do that on a plane because there are too many other people and distractions.

I remember one of my recent trips with my friend Veronica. We went to a concert in Arizona, about 7 hours away. Although the show was great, it was the time we spent talking and sharing during that drive that really shaped our friendship. Those hours allowed us to be open and honest and our friendship grew because of it.

Now that the kids are older, we have decided to cut back on the road trips. This year will probably be the last year of us being on the road like we usually do. From now on we are going to fly and just rent a vehicle at our destination. This year will also mark the first time Thomas and I will celebrate our anniversary away from the kids. Just like when I was younger, I hope my kids have fond memories of visiting the various states we've seen road tripping.

Oh and that friend I got to know in 1997 is still with me. His name is Thomas!!! Q

Congratulations Technical Sergeant Meyers

Today we celebrated Thomas being promoted to the rank of E-6. I am so proud of him!!!\

Here he is with the girls.


This is Thomas and Kim. Kim is a wonderful friend of the family and she helped me pin him on. Q

Dreams

I remember hearing when I was younger, "dreams are visions of reality." Well after last night's dream I believe that to be true. I was driving to the airport and got out. I was dressed looking cute yet comfortable. As I was walking toward my gate, I spoted 3 guys I knew from high school. Back then they hung out together and here they were. One in particular was my first love. His eyes got big and he smiled and said hello. He had that look as if to say, "she still looks good." I went up to him and said "congratulations." He said "thank you" and went on his way.

I got to my gate and my flight was delayed. I decided to walk around the airport. I spotted some more people I went to school with. Then as I was walking back to my gate, someone called out my name. I turned to see another ex of mine. He had a big smile and we met each other with a big hug. He chatted briefly about what was going on in our lives and then I boarded my plane.

In reality, my first love is engaged to get married. When I found out, I was very happy. I was friends with the girl he is marrying and I want nothing but the best for them. She and I recently reconnected via facebook. The second ex of mine we were always great friends. So much so that we broke up because we realized we were better off as friends rather than trying to date. We kept in contact even after high school. He attended a well known school for football and played in the NFL for awhile. I heard he had gotten married and in the dream he was excited about the prospect of his wife giving birth to their first child.

I woke up this morning happy. Happy to know 2 people who have a special place in my life are happy. I am blessed beyond belief and I want the same for them. I know some people would scratch their heads as to why I would dream about two men from previous relationships. But to me it is testimony to how mature I am and how far God has brought me. I have no ill will or lingering feelings for either of them. I appreciate them and the role they played in my life back in high school. I am happy to see how they have matured into wonderful, successful, black men. So today because of my dream, I said prayer for them and their families. I prayed for their marriages, their children, their spouses, and for God to continue to bless them. I do look forward to seeing them again one day and greeting them with a smile just like I did in my dream. Q

Daily devotion day 2

Scripture Reading: Job 28:12-22
Key Verse: Job 28:12 "But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?

We all seek and search for wisdom. The true wisdom is that only God can give. In our search for truth and wisdom, let us seek the Lord all the more. He knows all and sees all. Be wise enough to in trust the Lord. Q

Reading On:
Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 9:10
James 1:5,6
Proverbs 8:18-21

Knowledge is horizontal.
Wisdom is vertical
it comes down from above. Billy Graham

Daily devotional reading

I decided to dust off one of my books and use it to help me get all the more closer to the Lord. The name of the book is, "15 Minutes of Peace With God" by Emilie Barnes. I've read it several times in the past but decided to start again.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:35-38
Key Verse: Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Jesus loves and cares for us all. He has compassion for us and understands the trials and tribulations we face. He came so that we may live. He died so we may live. Let us also be mindful of others and have compassion for them. Instead of looking down on people, let us lift them up. Instead of tearing each other down, let us encourage one another. Speak words of love. Show acts of love. Love others with the love of Christ.

Father God I ask that you bless my heart and mind Lord. Create in me a new heart and renew a right spirit within me. Let me not judge, degrade, or belittle my brothers and sisters. Give me a kind word to speak to them. Give me a spirit of compassion to go out show love to a dying world. In your name I pray. Amen Q

"Should we feel at times disheartened and discouraged, a simple movement of heart toward God will renew our power. Whatever He demands of us, He will give us at the moment the strength and the courage that we need." - Francois de La Mothe-Fenelon

I love my life

Yesterday, I made the decision that today we would do something as a family. After seeing the cast on Oprah and watching the previews, I picked up some tickets for Horton Hears a Who. I decided to get them for the 7:15 showing. I loved seeing the smiles and hearing the cheers from my girls when I told them what we were doing. They were so giddy as we drove up to the theater. The giggled and squirmed in their seats while watching the previews for the other kiddie movies that will be coming out. Finally, when the movie started, they had the biggest grins. I sat and watched as their eyes got big, the giggled, twisted and clapped. Kaliyah was sitting next to me and she leaned over, gave me a kiss, and told me she loved me.

I found myself getting into the movie even sitting up a couple of times. It was nice to see so many other families there enjoying the show. The movie was a little over an hour long but I know next time to not sit next to Kaliyah. She gets antsy when she has to sit for an extended period.

As we left the theater, I watched the girls run to the van still giddy and excited while talking about the movie. When we got home, they thanked me, told me I was the best mom and got ready for the tub. Even now while they are still in the tub, they are laughing and talking about the movie and characters.

I may not have a lot of money, designer clothes, or a fancy job but I love my life. I love my husband who sat through the movie and stayed awake. I love my kids and seeing how happy they were. I love knowing I have 4 people in my life who love me no matter what. It is easy to forget how blessed I am with all the things we have going on. But today reminded me of how great my life is. I honestly can't complain. Q

Farewell to The Wire

Farewell to The Wire
Current mood: awake

Last night I watched the series finale of The Wire. It is one of the best shows I have ever seen. It touched me in ways no other show ever has or probably ever will. After Season 3, I wondered how they would be able to carry on. The main characters were dead or in jail and I figured it was all over. But they surprised me yet again in Season 4. The new breed of characters especially the young boys touched my heart and soul.

I have been very emotional this past week leading up to the finale. The show brought up so many memories and emotions. Things from my past came to the surface and I was forced to deal with some realities. First I realized how blessed I am to have made it out of the projects in NYC. The characters on the show are people I knew, people I grew up with except their names were different and the setting was Brooklyn instead of Baltimore.

Second, I feel an overwhelming since of sadness and guilt. Although I was able to make it out, there are others who didn't. They are still there, stuck in the mess, or they ended up dead or on drugs. So while most people can just go on with their lives, people are living The Wire everyday. What was it about me that allowed me to escape? Why was I able to climb out of the ashes and not be a lifelong victim? I mourn for all those who are stuck and have no hope. For those who don't know they too can have a better life.

Lastly, I am encouraged, hopeful and determined. I know that it is up to me to help make a difference. I know I can't save everyone but I will do my darndest to be a blessing to someone else. It is my mission to get out of my nice, comfy, safe world and step out on faith and do what God has called me to do. I vow to do all I can to help this generation be better, do better, live better. I won't stand my the side, shake my head and say "that's not my problem." Instead of talking about it, I plan on being about it.

Thank you to all the writers, producers, directors, actors, and everyone who worked on The Wire. Thank you for bringing such a wonderful show to HBO and touching my soul in a special way. RIP The Wire. Q