Wednesday, December 13, 2017

What Are You Reading?


It’s December, and in most places around the country, it’s cold outside, so why not get comfortable, light some candles; if you like background noise while you read, play some soft music.  But if you’re like me, all you want is to be able to concentrate on the novel or whatever you’re reading in a quiet place.  Whatever your preference create the perfect reading ambience. 

I’m reading Gabrielle Union’s  We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True.  Fortunately for me she created the ambience for me, because I’m lost in these pages. By the time I look up from 50 pages, the candle I lit earlier is about to burn out.  It’s just that good.

Gabrielle Union gets real about everything in her book from being called the “N” word at a young age, to losing her virginity.    If you haven’t purchased this book, or rented it from the library do so, and in the words of Tami Roman “Get Into It!”

So that’s what I’m reading, tell me what you’re reading.  Let me know how you like to read, and what’s your atmosphere like when your words come to life from the pages.

 Photo from The Reading Agency



Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Minimalist in the Making.

Do this for me if you will.  Imagine a world within your home that is 100% decluttered.  

I’ll wait, because I’m sure for some, like me that sentence causes one to ponder, cogitate on, chew on, dwell on and even dream on.  A house that is 100% tidy and not overcrowded with unnecessary items is doable beyond measure.  How do I know?  I’ve just completed the #minsgame, and I let go of 460+/- items from my home within one month.  I’d like to share my journey with you. 

What is it to be a minimalist?  For the past five years I’ve been looking for a type of freedom; to be able to live with fewer material possessions, to not be bound to material things.  Six years ago a friend of mine had a blog.  He started writing about a world that would change and force every citizen into a space of unfamiliarity, a hostile takeover where people would have to learn to live off of nothing.   He asked me and several others to write a piece for the ongoing saga, and I did.  Mine was about minimalism; in fact my piece was called the Minimalist.  I’d never read or wrote anything on minimalism, but the words flowed like liquid and the story was amazing.  It was one of those “I wrote this?” moments.  I was impressed with what poured from me through writing, and it caused me to look deeper at what I’d written to see if I could live like that now without the fiction part making me live that way.  After tampering with my writers mind, a fiction became a fantasy which became a reality.

Am I the minimalist that doesn’t own a car, am I the nomad who has no permanent home?  Nope. But let me tell you what I was, so you can understand the type of minimalist I am.  I was the compulsive person who would buy on a whim, not giving careful thought or planning.  I had irresistible, compulsive desires to have things I’d never owned before.  Not necessarily huge things, it could be something as small as a kitchen gadget, or something as large as a new car. I’d figure out a way to get it.  Where did that leave me?  Broke, afraid, feeling helpless, guilty and ashamed when I couldn’t meet the rent obligation.

Please don’t misunderstand me, there’s nothing wrong with the person who owns material possessions.  However for me, I was giving a different meaning to the things I owned, and because of the turmoil it caused me I was forsaking the things that really brought me peace; my creative passions like writing, reading, learning, sewing, cooking, scrapbooking.  Being a minimalist helps me make more conscious decisions about what I choose to do with my money; it frees me to use my time wisely, it gives me the freedom to choose what surrounds me.  I live in the moment more.  I can pursue my passions. I can focus on me as an entire creative being.  I see more of me daily, as I am now focused on experiencing real freedom to grow into the woman with purpose and power versus the woman bound with limitations.

In my daily life, if I purchase a piece of clothing, once I am home before it goes in my closet a piece comes out and is donated.  I do not purchase anything, until what I have is gone. I am a huge recycler; everything goes to the recycling center to possibly be re-purposed.  

After my participation in the #minsgame, including my daughter and granddaughter’s things, there are 33 pieces of furniture currently in my home.  I’m positive within the next year, it will be tremendously less; got something new coming down the pike in 2018. I’m conscience about the 33 pieces because when it’s time to make a move, it should be quick and efficient.

I’ve started a new minimalism challenge for the month of December, called #monthofminimal.  It’s a 30-day checklist.  Looks like fun, however I will say if you’re an experienced minimalist, you’ve more than likely done all 30 of the tasks!  It is a great introduction to minimalism though; for me a minimalist in the making, I’m going to do it anyway.  Can’t hurt.  Mins away!

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Hair Buzz

Everybody’s buzzin about Sanaa Lathan's beautifully shaven head/ big chop in preparation for her role in the upcoming Netflix adaption of Nappily Ever After.  Isn’t she gorgeous! 

courtesy of Google

Ladies we are not our hair.  So many times we get obsessed over hair styles and how to do them to make them look like the YouTube clips, or we become hair product junkies and we have more hair products on the shelves than we do grocery in the pantry.  It’s not that serious, IT’S REALLY NOT THAT SERIOUS.   

I’ve gotten questions from people about what products I use, how do I get my hair to do this or that. Now I’ve watched my share of YouTube videos, and I love em!  However at the end of the day my mission is and has always been, get the most, for the cheapest. Get the most benefits for my mane without breaking my pocket.  I did the big chop two years ago.  I’ve never been a product junkie, I’m somewhat of a minimalist in my hair care products, and I concentrate more on the daily hair care routine; in doing so I have come to find five products that work together well and that I use:  

· Shea Moisture’s Raw Shea & Capuacu Frizz Defense Shampoo and Conditioner,
· Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave in Conditioner,
· Shea Moisture 100% pure Jamaican Black Castor Oil, 
· Eco Styler Black Castor & Flaxseed Oil Styling Gel, 
· Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Frizz-Free Curl Mousse

That’s it.  These are the only products you’ll find in my cabinets, my stash.  These products for me moisturize, fight frizz, and structure my curl pattern.  What I’ve found as with anything, we have to be consistent in the routine, get to know your hair, become real acquainted with your strands.  For instance, when the seasons change, get a different moisturizer (use up the one you have first! LOL) and the results will be fab.  Be Happy Nappily!





Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Gone Conspiracy Theory Wild


Hi Huns!  We’ve all heard of conspiracy theories and wondered whether or not there was any truth to them eh?  I can’t be the only one who reads this stuff... Can I?  Any who, jump on the bandwagon and read some of these; some are funny, some are downright ridiculous, and some will make you go hmm. 

First of all what is a conspiracy theory?  A conspiracy theory is a belief that some covert but influential organization is responsible for a circumstance or event, and explanation of an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy without warrant.  So why am I writing about these?  Because my loves sometimes I catch myself staring at the ceiling at night time and counting sheep doesn’t do it for me as quick as it does for my two year old granddaughter who’s snoring happily in the next room.  So yes, these help me tumble off the deep end into a pool of sleep until my weak bladder wakes me and shuffles me down the hall to the restroom.  Okay that’s an over share, however here are a couple of interesting conspiracy theories I’ve read about.

The New Coke.  I’m always reading about food and drinks, always, and this one was very interesting to me. The New Coke was manufactured between 1985 and 2002 remember?  A theory claims that the Coca-Cola Company deliberately changed the formula to an inferior formula with New Coke with the intentions of either driving up demand for the original Coke product or permitting the reintroduction of the original Coke with a new formula using cheaper ingredients.  Supposedly this new formula was preferred in taste tests of nearly 200,000 consumers. The then President of Coca-Cola Donald Keough rebutted this charge saying “The truth is, we’re not that dumb, and we’re not that smart.”   Hmmm.  Well Coca-Cola , the New Coke tasted a lot like the classic Coca-Cola that had been diluted with water, lots of water.  I missed having that noisily release of air from my stomach (burping really loud) after just three, maybe four swigs of the soft drink.  Oh and the burning in my nostrils after the belching, well that’s the southern way!  I was elated to have the original back, so are you sure this wasn’t your plan all along?  Come a little closer…..(whispering)  it worked if it was.  I purchased cases after the classic was reintroduced.  However it still didn’t quite have it’s original “make me burp loud and burn my nostrils” taste.  Hmm.

Paul McCartney is dead.  Yep, how many of us have heard this urban legend?  It says  that Paul McCartney died in a car accident in 1966.  He was supposedly replaced with a look-alike and a sound alike.  The only evidence supporting McCartney’s death are clues found in the Beatles recordings..  People have stated when a song is played backwards, they can hear concealed  lyrics like “Paul is dead, miss him, miss him” and on the cover of the album Abbey Road, because McCartney is the only Beatle barefooted and out of step with the others it is presumed it is not him. Hmm.  I think he’s still here amongst us, but…….

The next time I’m restless and can’t sleep or bored, I’m reading up on the one that’s says the Queen of EVERYTHING, Queen Bey, Ms. Sasha Fierce (Beyoncé Knowles-Carter) is a clone.  Yep, that’s what I’m gonna read.

If you have any theories you’d like to put out here, let er rip Tater Chip!  And share with us.  We’d enjoy a good read.




Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Thankful Tuesday

Wassup Peeps!  Today is Tuesday; thankful Tuesday is what I'm going to call it.  Today I thought sharing the lyrics to Queen Jill Scott's spoken word song Say Thank You would definitely hit the spot....It did for me.  Enjoy.

I used to be stuck
I used to be stuck
How ‘bout you?
Inside a lie
That you know ain’t near
Near the absolute truth
Feel it all in your membranes
And deep in your tissue

But you keep
You keep ignoring the signs
Listening to it happening to you again songs
And put your alarm on
Sleep

Inviting new dumb shit
And more loss of peacefulness
Anybody
Everybody can use a little help sometimes
C’mon you know things ain’t moving right
Ask for correction
Ask for direction
Ask for protection
Since you want to feel like you’re you
Inside
Say thank you

Cause you know your request is filled
You will see
So act accordingly
Live like you believe
And say thank you

Open
Close
Kneel
Stand
Hands
In the air
Head down
Knees on ground
And a silent whisper
Out loud

Somebody say thank you Hey!
You hear that?
Yeah!
Hey!
Thank you thank You!
I wish you would
Just say thank you
Thank you

It’s the only thing

Thank you

Monday, May 8, 2017

Be Happy Today! Giggle Some.


Happy Monday everybody!  I’m one of those people that used to ask “what’s so happy about it? Monday that is?”  Well I’ve changed my demeanor about Mondays.  No Monday blues or feeling sad because I have an entire work day or work week ahead of me, No ma’am.  Instead, I choose to be happy about it; I’m going to be one of those people who scientists say are happy because they choose to make happiness among their top goals in life.   Okay then…. If I have to incorporate change, then why not be humorous about it.

NOW, I’m not saying that I will still be happy by lunch time HOWEVER I’m going to give it a try to at least make it through the morning!  So I thought you could help me do that by allowing me to share just five things (cut me some slack! I gotta start off small) with you that I’m happy for this morning.    Here goes.

1. I woke up this morning with all my abilities intact- I can still curse like a sailor so watch out cause I can happily do it today.  And because of number two below, I remember ALL the curse words from the curse word dictionary.  Plus I learned some new ones.  

2. I didn’t have menopause brain fog- So if you crossed me on yesterday I still want to retaliate this morning because I didn’t forget what you did!  Stop playing with your life like that!
3. Thanks to Netflix I’m all caught up on How to get away with Murder…..WHY WES SHONDA?  Why Wes? Dammit.

4. I know why you threw shade at me!  It’s because you were scared of my light!!  It’s okay, sometimes I’m scared of it too; especially when I wake up in the mornings, and #2 from above applies to the day.  Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “PULL UP”

5. I’ve been told there are benefits to being happy like a better social life, popularity, looking and feeling younger, and so on and so on.  OKAY.  My question is, and it’s all because I’m so happy right now.  Can’t I just have a glass of Gewürztraminer and we call this a day already?  I mean seriously!

See this isn’t working as well as I’d hope.  So in closing my people, in the words of Bobby McFerrin “don’t worry be happy” Just do that.  That on the other hand might work for all of us.  


Monday, April 24, 2017

6 Nuggets for Happiness



HAPPINESS is a mental or emotional state of well-being defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.  -  Wikipedia

Mental or emotional state of well-being.  That seems like a lot to ask for let alone thinking we can obtain in the world we live in today. It’s so chaotic sometimes, and it’s difficult to carve out routes to ensure we have mental or emotional well-being.  I have 6 little nuggets that come to mind right off the bat that help me daily.  It’s a struggle, but it’s doable.  Here they are.

1. Appreciate what God has given.  It makes me happy to know that I am mentally able to appreciate all things that God has given me.  He gives me provisions, hope, security, and dominion.  I am loved by Him.  I am content.  I am extremely blessed.

2. Execute the power of choice.  Didn’t know it was a power?  Let me tell you, oh yes! It is.  The ability I have to choose what gets to me and how I handle it is amazing when I exercise the power I have to choose.  I choose to let go of all the B.S., I choose to keep moving when others say I can’t.  I choose to be happy when others can’t function on a daily basis without having animosity towards me…..I choose to love and pray for them anyway.  Is it sometimes hard?  Yes.  Is it doable?  Yes.  And afterwards it’s a release, and the heaviness of being bound by unforgiveness is no longer mine to carry.

3. Believe in myself.  If I don’t who will?  If I believe, I can achieve.  All I have to do is push myself out of the way and like Nike says, just do it.  My will, determination and the belief in me is more than enough to make all my dreams a reality.

4. Stay positive.  Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  Whatever we dwell on mentally, directs our mindset.  We are what we think.  It’s a choice we can easily make; use the kill switch on the negative and reinforce the positive.

5. Love yourself.  Loving me and all my flaws is a fantastic way to get a head start on learning to love others and accept their flaws.  It’s empowering.  It gives me an appreciation of who I am, and whose I am.  It helps me to forgive so I can heal.  Remember, God is love.  When I think about that alone, and the feeling I get from within, that’s how I want to feel all the time, even in the midst of uncertainty and chaos…I love on me.

6. Be compassionate.  Something has to move us.  Move us to help someone who’s sick, who’s hungry, who’s in trouble, who’s homeless, who needs someone to talk to.  Ask “can I help you”.  I’m not saying jump in with two feet and just put yourself in a situation that could be detrimental and turns out not to be helpful at all but a burden, but I believe God puts nuggets in my path daily, actually hourly where I can help, even if it’s my smile used to brighten someone’s day.

And there you have it, six of my many nuggets to help me navigate the waters in life.  I'm adding to my list daily, but these are a great start to help jump start you.  Enjoy.


Friday, March 17, 2017

Happy Curl Happy Girl

Hi everybody! I  hope you’re having a splendorous day thus far.  Wanted to talk to you about one of the most popular topics around today-black natural hair.  

I remember back in the day when Angela Davis and Pam Grier sported their afros.  I use to think in my little mind “them some bad chics”; even their hair has power!   Even though they sported their fros to reflect the political sentiments of their time, the natural hair movement of today is focused on encouraging women with African ancestry to celebrate, embrace and enjoy the natural characteristics of their kinky, curly, or coily hair texture. 

I recently embarked on the natural hair journey after toying around with the idea for many years.  Some of my excuses for not going natural was “ what happens if I have to go into a meeting, and my hair is not straightened? Or what happens when I work out and I get frizz, and it won’t behave?  How will I tame it?  Will it look to “natural” for a work environment, or the best one, there are limited styles when you have natural hair.”  The real reasons why it took me so long to cross over and ditch the creamy crack (hair relaxer) is because for one, I didn’t want to take time to manage my hair, and two, I’m tender-headed as all get out!  Yup I am.  Unbeknownst to me, my natural state is much easier to manage than natural hair roots with relaxed ends.  

So because I’ve learned a few things in the last 19 months about this natural mane of mine, I thought I would share my top 10 things every naturalista needs!

1. Sulfate and paraben free shampoos and Hydrating Conditioner  – Sulfates and parabens cause frizz beyond belief!  Don’t use em.  They act as fillers in the bottle, don’t need em to fill my hair with frizz.  Hydrating conditioners will give you intense moisture, and manageability.  Kicks the dryness to the curb.
2. Professional hair cutting shears – Now don’t go broke on these.  I found a really inexpensive pair at my local beauty supply.  These you’ll need to keep your hair trimmed to promote healthy hair growth.
3. Denman Brush – The best brush around when delicately handling or forming your curls, coils and twists.
4. Bobby pins – You gotta get up close and personal with your mane, and learn how to do an up-twist or a bun, and these little suckers here are a must.  Conair secure hold  has the best ones!
5. Satin bonnets and pillows - How will you protect that style at night-time?  Cotton wraps drain your hair of moisture, and they break your hair, especially those edges.  Satin helps to keep the frizz away and your hair full of volume while you sleep.
6. Alcohol free gel – No alcohol means no drying out the hair.  Avoid it.  I find that Eco Styler Gel works well for me.  There are hundreds of great gels out there, so don’t stress just relax and find one that suits you.
7. Hair oil- This is used to lubricate the hair shaft, helps to give your hair a nice natural shine, and can relieve dryness.
8. Leave in conditioner-Nourish and moisturize the hair, prevent split ends and breakage-(make sure the first ingredient is water!
9. Curl cream- These will help activate and define your curls.  Like the hair gel, there are so many great curl creams out there.   Take your time and find one that suits you.
10. Hair ties – You want those cute pull back pony tails, so you have to use hair ties that don’t crease, are not too tight, and that won’t damage the hair.  Snapee hair ties are the best.  These snap on the ends to deter hair tangles and breakage.

Hopefully a newbie can take this list and feel somewhat armed for their new natural hair adventure!  If you have tips you can offer, please share.






Friday, March 3, 2017

I Punched Back and Feel Like I Won

Hey guys.  I’ve emerged from deep, deep under the covers where I’ve been buried since Tuesday with guess what?  a cold; honestly it could have been the flu.  In either case I ended up with antibiotics and 500 mg Ibuprofen for my killer body aches and monster headache.

The one thing I wanted to share is the great results I had with doing a detox bath.  I got to a point where the aches subsided and my spirit said “cleanse yourself from these aches; it’s within your reach and means to do so at home.”  Thank God I was obedient, I feel  much better.  Because I’m a newbie to Detox baths of this extent, I went to Youtube and watched a video from FitLifeTV  Yogi Erin Motz had some great ideas and suggestions as well.  
   
What you’ll need:
2 cups of Epsom salt
1 cup of baking soda (yup, pull it out the fridge and put it to work for you)
¼ cup of ginger ( you can use as little or much as you want, depending on your tolerance)
Essential oils: they called for 10 drops of two, Lavender and chamomile.  I only used Lavender oil.  I say it’s your choice.  Different oils have different healing properties, so whichever one suits you, go for it.

Directions:
Shower first.  This bath is for detoxification and relaxation purposes, and to me if you shower first it works better.  Fill your tub with hot water, as hot as you can stand it.  Be careful with this part, because water too hot can cause you become overheated…don’t want that.  Put your ingredients in, stir to help all of them dissolve.  Once it’s full, get in and submerge yourself to your neck.  This video instructs you soak for at least 50 minutes; that’s a long time especially if you are a newbie, so 20 minutes at least is enough to extract toxins, any extra time is when the body will begin to absorb the minerals.  I did 45 minutes, but let me say this, you will sweat your ass off because of the added ginger and it will get hot!

What the bath does:
Epsom Salt and baking soda has sulfate in them; when this is absorbed in the skin, it rids the body of toxins.  The ginger has anti-mucus properties, a natural decongestant and opens the pores.  It also make you sweat, which is good; means your pores are open.  

Afterwards:
At first I felt extremely hot and just wanted to cool off, but as I began to drink PLENTY of water I felt better.  Next time I will drink water before and after, so I can flush out toxins.  I felt a little sick at first when I got out of the tub, so I will definitely modify my next detox bath. Also because my face is where I sweated the most, I immediately did my normal daily face wash routine afterwards, and I could feel the intenseness from the cleanser deep down in my skin, because why? Pores were wide open.

 As with anything, please, please do some research on the ingredients, how they may interact with YOU and if needed consult with your physician before participating in this type of detox, because remember this is a home remedy.  DO NOT do this detox every day; maybe once a week until you can SAFELY make this a part of your personal routine. As I said I will definitely adjust some ingredients, and take some more precautions that I feel suit me.  But in the end, you will punch back at a cold and potentially kick it’s ass like I did. 



Tuesday, February 28, 2017

10 Things you can’t do when rent is due!


Yes, this is me emptying my disturbed psyche.  I follow this comedian LaToya James, Redbone2fly, (@toya_turnup) on Instagram and her hilarious compilations of that time of the month when RENT DUE!

Some may call it mindless entertainment, however we all know there are some out there who seriously contemplate doing other things with money versus paying rent.  So I’ve come up with a list of ten things that absolutely cannot be done when RENT IS DUE!

1. Purchase the bundled deal of Malaysian hair.  No deep wave, no body wave, no straight, no curly, NONE of that.  Rent due

2. Eat steak and shrimp at the most upscale upmarket steak house chain.  You gotta go to Kroger and get some marked down tilapia.  Rent due

3. Get the gel nail manicure from the nail salon.  You gotta get the $8 manicure; actually you can’t get a manicure.  Rent due

4. Ball out in the local strip club.  Sorry, can’t make it rain tonight, gotta put that five hun towards the rent. It’s due

5. Shoe shop.  No sneakers, no sandals, no boots (oh the DSW boot sale), no heels, and no flats.  Not even from the sale section.  BOGO is still off limits; you still gotta buy.  Rent due

6. Be the town’s cake daddy.  Can’t be consumed with that female this week.  You’ve abandoned your friends, and they’re the ones who will help you get back on your feet when you give all the women money without looking for anything in return.  Go home, spend time alone.  Watch t.v.  ALONE.  Rent due

7. Happy Hour.  That’s right.  You can’t do happy hour.  “oh but a glass of wine is usually $8, but during happy hour it's reduced to $5.”  AND? It’s a discount, it’s not free, which takes us back to number 5, you still gotts to pay.  Rent due

8. Go to the movies. $21 dollars in some theaters just for a ticket, without popcorn.  Go to Redbox, rent it for $1.50, or Netflix it for $7 a month.  Watch that sucka all you want.  Sit it down.  Rent due

9. Clubin.  Not tonight.  Tell your home girl go on without you; unless her rent due too, and in that case you both staying in.  Rent due

10. No cruising on the strip.  No driving back and forth on the same street.  You’re adding to the congestion of the area anyway.  You can’t afford to be part of the cruising culture tonight.  You better saved that gas for next week, cause rent due.

Monday, February 27, 2017

Monday’s Acute Nostalgia


Happy Monday!  I’m sitting here  having an afternoon snack, and no lie number 2 from the list below popped in my mind, and I began to laugh at sentiments from the past. I started out with two, and then they kept coming; so being the Diva who journals, I thought why not empty these giggles onto the paper.  Do you remember:

1. When after someone just told another person off really, really good fashion like, and to give your  approval you’d say “Honey Boom!”

2. When you crushed your potato chips up in the bag to make more

3. When we used a small piece of concrete to draw Hopscotch

4. The offensive marble, the one that’s larger than the standard size marble, the “Shooters!”

5. Jackstones, the ones that would injure your mom’s foot if she stepped on it, and caused you to get your ass beat for leaving it on the floor!

6. Penny wheel cookies

7. Harper’s  Five and Dime

8. The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show

9. The 1970’s Coca-Cola vending machine

10.  The Bazooka Joe comic strip found on the inside of individually wrapped pieces of Bazooka   bubblegum

If you remember any or all of the above, welcome into my nostalgic childhood psyche.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Wednesday Word

The Wednesday Word is a blog idea from the blog The Golden Spoons You pick a word as your theme, and you write about it.  I thought hmmm, this could be interesting.   So armed with the idea, I set off for an adventure of finding a word that I’d want to feature today.  

Oenophile.  That’s my Wednesday word.  An oenophile is a connoisseur of wines, a lover of wine. They are people who appreciate or collect wine, especially grape wine from certain regions.  Most oenophiles are hobbyists, or collectors, but every now and then, you might come across some that are professionals like wine merchants, or sommeliers, or one who tastes and grades wines for a living. 

Can I be one?  That person who grades and taste wine for a living? 






Image from The Weekly Wine-Down, Slope Media 

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Thankful Thursday.


Greetings.  I am what the cat dragged in.  Today is Thankful Thursday; eh... a daily blogging prompt used by many bloggers to help them post content that expresses gratitude.  I could go on and on about the many positive impacts of my life and what I’m thankful for, not just on Thursdays but every day. Today I am thankful, but I have a different perspective. My outlook has changed.  However I'm still thankful.

My brother has been on life support for five days now.  He’s fighting, giving all he has.  I’m thankful to God he has something left to fight with.  I’m thankful for all the prayers and all the uplifting emails from friends and friends of friends sending encouragement, and lifting his healing up to the Most High.  I’m thankful, today just happens to be Thursday.  

I’m thankful that he has so many people who love him and think the world of him.  I’m thankful that God knows how much we love him and that we know how much He loves him.  He’s thirty seven years old; I always say he’s just a baby, because he’s thirteen years younger than me.  I’m thankful he’s my baby brother.  I’m thankful for what he is to me.  With all the anguish and despair that’s rattling around me right now because I hate he’s suffering so, I’m thankful that God is still in control of this fight.   Hang in there baby.  I love you so very much.  On this Thursday, I am so thankful for you.

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Testimony Tuesday. I AM.

These things I declare and decree.  I testify to the goodness of my Almighty Creator.  My Father in Heaven.

I am Courageous.  I am Whole.  I am Unstoppable.  I am Confident.  I am Victorious. I am Forgiving.  I am Love.  I am Loved.  I am Grateful.  I am Blessed. I am Authentic.  I am Determined.  I am Generous.  I am Gifted.  I am Strong. I am Kind.  I am Anointed.  I am Highly Favored.  I am Successful.  I am Able.  I am Healed.  I am Powerful.  I am Prosperous.  I am Healthy.  I am Fruitful.  I am Beautiful.  I am Respectful.  I am Respected.  I am Compassionate.  I am Fair.  I am Honest. I am Reliable.  I am Giving.  I am HIS.  I AM.

Sunday, January 1, 2017