Youth – National Photography Month

I was reading Karen’s blog at Chookooloonks, and she mentioned that May is National Photography Month. She asked that people submit one of their favorite images taken in the last 12 months. So I searched my archives, and came up with this one:

Youth

 

Last summer, my church’s children’s choir took a trip to Hershey, PA to visit Chocolate World.  Whew, THAT was a long day. I took many pictures, but this one stood out to me. Kids are so full of life and energy. You’d never know that it was late in the afternoon, and they’d been up since before 6am, had a long bus ride from Pittsburgh to Hershey, and still had a trip to the zoo ahead.  I was exhausted, but they never seemed to wind down.

Laid Off

I went to work on February 12, and within an hour I was laid off.

I was GLAD.

I won’t talk bad about my former employer. I’ll just say that I was ready to go. I had been praying that God would change that situation, knowing that God doesn’t always answer prayer in the way we expect.  What I would have expected was a new job offer. But when I say I had bee praying ya’ll, that’s exactly what I meant.  I knew that losing my job could be the answer He gave me. So when my supervisor and the HR lady walked in to my office and let me and and my coworker go, I was FINE.  The HR lady kept apologizing, all I really wanted to say was, “You can stop. I’m FINE!”

The best way to describe how I felt (and still feel) is:  FREE!  The job was dead-end, the morale was low, and I just wanted to get out.

So I’m still thanking God for that.

What will I do?  Well, I’m still figuring that out. I’ve been meeting with my life coach for the past two weeks, and I have to say that this couldn’t have happened at a better time in my life.  It’s really helping me, and I’m learning that I frequently undervalue myself, my talents, and my abilities.  I don’t talk myself up, not even to myself.  It’s a cool thing to realize that you have more going for you than you thought.  So I’m working with her, identifying business opportunities for myself, thinking BIG about my future…..

and RESTING.

Yes. Resting.

I have had a job since I was 15 years old.  In 22 days, I will be 42.  A sista is TIRED.

So, I’m collecting unemployment for the first time, going over all of my options, and RESTING.

Only God know what will happen next.  All I know is: I’m EXCITED.

STAY TUNED!!

Curlkit: December 2012

please install flash

Sympathy for a killer

Jovan Belcher, player for the Kansas City Chiefs, killed his girlfriend and himself last week, leaving their infant child an orphan.

This week, all I see are articles trying to place the blame for what he did on alcohol, painkillers, head injuries….on anything but the man himself.

This man was able to learn complex football plays, play the game, live his life, spend the night before the murder with a woman who was not his live-in girlfriend, and folk wanna act like he is somehow not responsible for what he did? SPARE ME. The man pretty much got mad at his girlfriend for taking him to task about his whorish ways and shot her. Then shout himself because he was not man enough to face the consequences of his actions.

Why are people not talking about the young woman who got killed? Oh..some are….blaming HER for getting HERSELF killed. Why is there public sympathy for HIM, but not for HER? Where is the outcry for this child who will grow up without parents?

This world is CRAZY. Lord Jesus, come quickly!

Message to Black Christians

 

I’ve felt this way for YEARS.

Peach-Pineapple-Mango Green Smoothie

This was DELICIOUS. Mangoes are my new favorite fruit. Here’s what I used:

1 cup water
Baby Spinach (use as much as you like)
1 Banana (to make it smooth)
1 Mango
1 Peach (pitted, leave skin on)
1 cup Pineapple
Ice (as much as you like)

1.Put water and spinach in blender. Pack the spinach down. Blend until smooth.
2. Add Banana. Blend until smooth.
3. Add Peach and Mango. Blend until smooth.
4. Add Pineapple. Blend until smooth.
5. Add Ice. Blend until smooth.

Drink up!

If you have a GREAT blender, then you can add everything all at once and blend it up. If you’re working with a $45 Black and Decker like me, then blend after each ingredient.

If you try it, tell me how you like it!

Joshua Ledet – Sound Of A Breaking Heart

Woo….I’ve missed hearing my Josh! He does NOT disappoint.  When’s the album coming out???

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-lUcwOjyEM

Green Smoothies!

I keep seeing bloggers touting green smoothies. Talking about eating raw food. All this health nut stuff. I saw raw food and was like, “Umm…no way. Gimme my steak medium well thank you. I’m not eating rabbit food.” But as I saw the ingredients used in the smoothies, and read about the benefits of them, I decided to give them a try.

I spent time yesterday reading up on the green smoothie here: What to put in it, how to make it, health benefits etc.  Drinking green smoothies ensures that you get the recommended servings of fruits and veggies every day. They’re supposed to contribute to healthier skin, hair growth and sheen, and bright eyes.  In addition, they are a powerful aid to weight loss, as your body gets its nutrients from the fruit and veggies, the fiber makes you feel full longer, so your body doesn’t crave everything in sight.  That would be a BONUS for me.   I decided that I was going to try to make them SOON.

Well…today I had a Macy’s coupon and a new blender was already $20 off. So I paid $23.10 for a blender, went to Wal-mart and stocked up on strawberries, bananas, pineapple…and spinach. My intention was to make one for breakfast tomorrow, but when I have something new, I can’t wait. Mr. Day, one of the twins and his friend all wanted to try it, so I made one this evening.

 

We were kinda suspicious about drinking spinach, but you know what?  I didn’t taste spinach. I tasted strawberries and bananas!  Mr. and the boys liked it.  I was just experimenting today. I didn’t measure anything. I don’t think I ever will.  What I will do is experiment with different ingredients. I’m eyeing up the pineapple for tomorrow….if Mr. Day chops it up for me.  With the Steelers game coming on, I don’t think that’s gonna happen tonight. I’m also going to cut up my fruit tonight and freeze it.  A cold smoothie is better than a warm one…but I’m so giddy, I didn’t even care if it was warm.

I’m going to start drinking these for breakfast, and determine if everything said about theses smoothies is true.

Do YOU drink green smoothies?  What are your favorite combinations?

If I Did Spoken Word, This Is What I Would Say

I Choose Gratefulness

Life over the past month and a half has not been easy.  There have been good days and bad days.  I didn’t like seeing my husband in the hospital.  I don’t like being broke. I don’t like that I had to get a second job.

But you know what?

I can’t dwell on that.  I refuse to live my life angry, bitter, or depressed.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, that’s crazy.

I have the choice of how I’m going to face life, the good and the bad, the highs and the lows.

I choose to think about all the good.  I choose to focus on the things that make me happy.

I choose to be grateful.

I am grateful that I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

I am grateful that He provides what I need, each and every day.

I am grateful that even when I’m momentarily rocked by my circumstances, His Spirit comforts me.

I am grateful that I have a place to live and food to eat.

I may not want to work two jobs, but I’m grateful that the Lord has provided them.

I am grateful that our Primary Care Physician said NO to a heart transplant for my husband.

I am grateful that my husband is still alive, and back to his normal self.

I am grateful that I am healthy and able to work.

I am grateful for our children, who bring joy to our lives.

I am grateful for the supportive network of friends and family that I have, in real life and online.

I am grateful for the people the Lord has moved to help my family financially.

I am grateful, in advance, for those who WILL help us, in any way, shape or form.

I am grateful for my church and my pastor.

I am grateful for the talents the Lord has given me.

 

I’m just grateful!  This is just the beginning of the list.  I’m sure I could sit here all day and list the things that the Lord has provided in my life.  Just thinking about these things lifts my spirits and reminds me that things could ALWAYS be worse, and God is not obligated to do anything for me, but He always does.

And you know, that could be the point to all of the things we’ve been going through. ALL of us need to appreciate what we have and thank God for providing it for us.  Test or not, I AM GRATEFUL.