tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38911473902267206302024-03-05T21:58:20.279-08:00The Brooklyn Chronicles, Inc.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-17346550694943585162014-03-27T15:55:00.001-07:002014-03-27T15:55:24.777-07:00Your Baggage Really is OK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaRx_QaHPPneV6ALu_AWEoBiwBEVPEOXY3XqqfK-VkZUFzmAj1KCOHdyvHytOgwFybWIUCYdd5cSwOXvCHXeIErl-d1Xhc7jK2tbL1bCZ0nogfmxHw6KLrN2hdohbQXJHV9dhASbwMhLZ/s1600/More+Baggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaRx_QaHPPneV6ALu_AWEoBiwBEVPEOXY3XqqfK-VkZUFzmAj1KCOHdyvHytOgwFybWIUCYdd5cSwOXvCHXeIErl-d1Xhc7jK2tbL1bCZ0nogfmxHw6KLrN2hdohbQXJHV9dhASbwMhLZ/s1600/More+Baggage.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">As
spring enters with its spirit of renewal, my heart is with Single Moms. I
recently set off to see Tyler Perry’s newest masterpiece in theaters now, “The Single
Moms Club”. I was so touched! This
movie was such a classic depiction of the real life of the single-mother of
today. We all have baggage! Single-moms aren't the exclusive owners of the complicated stuff that weighs so many of us down. <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In general,</span> singles will enter into new relationships this season that won't have
the opportunity to get started or to flourish properly. Individually, we need
to take a serious look at the baggage we’re carrying. We might even have
some unclaimed baggage that we don’t even want to think about touching. If
you’re reading this and you are over the age of 30 and single, the odds are
that you will be bringing some level of baggage into any new relationship that you
start. It's quite possible that in addition to children; you may also have
student loans, been divorced, have a baby daddy or maybe even a couple of baby daddies (as
in my case). You might already have a poor credit score, you may have had a try at unsuccessful home-ownership or a vehicle loan,
have pets (not everyone likes them lol), or maybe you're still trying to hang
onto childhood dreams that you never fully had the chance to fulfill when you
were still in your 20's. With all of that said, these things can cause
serious strain on dating and on any new relationship.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">My
advice isn't centered on the baggage itself because there isn't a single thing
that we can do about that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the most
part, it is what it is! I also think that it's important for me to say that I
still firmly believe in the art of true love and genuine soul connection. When
those two factors interact, there isn't a flaw or any messy baggage that a man
can't handle as a means to being with you. I also believe that "special person", you're waiting to meet will take you
by the hand and actually help you to neatly arrange your mess. On the flip side of things, we
are all responsible adults individually and we are obligated to have our
affairs in order when decide to begin dating seriously. We're living in a world that sustains itself on facts as it should. That grey-shaded area is quickly tossed to the
wind or overlooked mainly because it shouts imperfection and taint. People are hungry to
look perfect on paper in today’s world and by all means if that’s what you strive
for then go for it! This is why I believe the divorce rate in our country is so
high. When our partner’s fall short of our expectations for who they "should be",versus who they "actually", are we discover that they don’t quite measure up. Divorce
is a quick fix and many people use it as an easy out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know about you but I personally have
never measured up to any level of perfection. I could be the spokeswoman for that grey-shaded/over-looked area.
I have a heart muscle that pumps the purest kind of love and paper doesn’t seem to do
any justice for that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We miss out, when
we don't take the time to look beneath what’s on the surface. The rarest forms of diamonds
are found deep in landmines under the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Metaphor’s don’t help much in dating so let's realistically fix what we
can and depend on God for the rest!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ1M_HcTr0yApSwMz7Kjcb4i3nQzzTZFbfZ7U4EsyOsawWRW3WGQXZ12Iuj093KjUaZepaT6BTnbrlLLjW2uxgCmZwPB8pJturL6NDX7o3juF04jLwgaC453I9zIV611OIHo0yBaK8qPZ/s1600/Baggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ1M_HcTr0yApSwMz7Kjcb4i3nQzzTZFbfZ7U4EsyOsawWRW3WGQXZ12Iuj093KjUaZepaT6BTnbrlLLjW2uxgCmZwPB8pJturL6NDX7o3juF04jLwgaC453I9zIV611OIHo0yBaK8qPZ/s1600/Baggage.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Here are a few common yet essential tips to
ensure sure that your bags are neatly packed. I also want to approach the touchy
subject of unclaimed baggage which can include, resentment, anger, and bitterness
that can stem from childhood or past failed relationships. Either way, I'll
keep the subject matter light so that we can have fun with it throughout. I don't
know about you but when I'm traveling, I happen to be ridiculously meticulous about how I
pack my suitcase lol. I rely heavily on plastic freezer bags (I literally separate
my outfits with them). I iron articles of clothing and I make sure that my
toiletries are neatly tucked away. When I reach my travel destination, I'm
relieved at how organized my things are and how easy it is to unpack them. This helps me to sort
quickly through what needs to be hung, laid-out, or put away in drawers. Any good
man that meets a good woman doesn't deserve to have to sort through piles and piles of past
mess before getting to the true essence of who that woman actually is. Not too mention, it's rare that anyone will wait around for you while you're cleaning YOUR house. Cleaning saves
time period (even when we’re cleaning emotionally). Unclaimed baggage is
usually emotional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the anger,
disappointment, past hurt, guilt and resentment that we leave untouched simply because it's easier to leave it that way. When
we get over a situation we tend to just sweep the underlying emotions under the
rug and try to quickly move on. As these emotions stay untouched they
linger and they can show up unexpectedly and without any warning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These often uncomfortable emotions need to be addressed so that the healing process can
begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What better time to unpack
unclaimed baggage then when you’re still single and have plenty of time on your hands?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can address it, deal with it, confront anyone that might need to be
confronted, and you can do it all on your own time without inconveniencing anyone else.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjJ4hDDoz8pEZziuMkKcKPxxMNvhPQNotmgr4Jr7fG9OkKPrhq2C95LQF6lHZOmCtV986GKLm-mt4uZdFEvfpHHr-4bIMCDpiIHPj-kYXH4HPLyDo_QhgXo6Li4lN7nRXBz_PHKlrX1nn/s1600/baggage.jpg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you're reading this and you haven't spoken to
that one particular family member for years, please allow this to be that you
needed to call them. If you and an old friend have fallen out don't let
another day go by without apologizing to that person. By no means, do you
have to allow them back into your world but you do need to apologize.
Forgiveness heals both the offender and the victim. It allows fresh air
to fill an enclosed space. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">If you're reading this and you
don't have a passport I want you to apply for one today! If you don't have a
driver's license get one! You might be saying, "I don't have any money to
travel", or "I don't have a car". What I'm here to tell you
today is this: The man of your dreams may walk into your life tomorrow and
say, "Let's have our first date in Paris, France", but you won't be
able to go because you've neglected to apply for and have a passport sitting in
your sock drawer. He also might be filled with compassion at the thought of you
and your children waiting at a bus stop in the cold. He might say, "Babe,
I have my old car sitting in my driveway and I'd like you and the kids to use
it". You CAN'T use it because you don't drive! Do you see where I'm trying
to go here? There is something beyond blissful about spontaneity that can lead
to abundance. Listen, we have to show-up for life even when life isn’t giving
us a real reason to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is how we
attract more of what we want and less of what we don’t!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9CwhG5IV4bbsBeUumMLZyrJeEkQirPa3vLyfa_kL0xjEIjSR11omNFOnEHbK9gfOWXdGa-qv7fIzSJI0t47kFshe9FLE2DEDQNwjW_kRquDc4rMohRj7e0RKYQNaVErlq_j1JVPBljs0/s1600/emotionalbaggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9CwhG5IV4bbsBeUumMLZyrJeEkQirPa3vLyfa_kL0xjEIjSR11omNFOnEHbK9gfOWXdGa-qv7fIzSJI0t47kFshe9FLE2DEDQNwjW_kRquDc4rMohRj7e0RKYQNaVErlq_j1JVPBljs0/s1600/emotionalbaggage.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">The ultimate bottom line is that our baggage does not prevent us from being all of the other things that make us great women! Beauty, intelligence, good manners, great work ethic, class, nurturing and mothering skills all make women unique and appealing in their own special way. For those of you that may be coming out of a marriage, I would just encourage you to have your divorce finalized before adding anyone else to the mix. If the divorce is messy then legal separation papers would come before deciding to date again. It will be difficult for your new beau to explain to his family members that his fabulous new girlfriend is married. DON'T DO IT! Saying that you're simply, "Divorced with children", is much easier. Heading back to the dating scene is going to be like seeking new employment except for the fact that your résumé will be personal versus professional. Before you begin, I would even play around with generating a personal résumé at home just to see what you look like on paper to yourself. If you're able to identify anything that you don't like or you see any red flags, fix it! Write down your hobbies, your personal interest, the last place you've traveled to, etc. You might even discover things that you didn't even realize that you missed about yourself! You may discover that there are things you want to do independently before you begin dating again. Your personal résumé should speak volume about the woman you are and the direction you're moving toward. It should say, "I am a woman of great character and I do not have time for playing games". Cleaning house will rid you of lots of dead weight! Dead weight that you have probably been unnecessarily carrying around for years. I promise this will be a refreshing task that will have you excited about dating again. By taking just a little time to get real with yourself, you will offer healing, self-love and forgiveness for what you might have failed at in the past. More than likely I think you'll find men that you would have dated years ago are no longer in your league. If by chance you encounter a man that doesn't seem to be interested in what you have to offer just keep in mind that he's probably offering himself to another woman lol! Keep it moving and just try again! The journey is ultimately about healing. There's no better time to make room for LOVE!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrdoKOseBUJUUr-2McQqSlxDgI7eKrmYyHf_fdLv7JUo19X92CnBRBZLtx9yX3Okdi5ViflPJAJos7tCqnW2R2j4EQtdatSmQnB-Xb2kkxWGUC870C0Q7ujdT4_SN1f5OwJNlfozNmo3k/s1600/neatly+packed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrdoKOseBUJUUr-2McQqSlxDgI7eKrmYyHf_fdLv7JUo19X92CnBRBZLtx9yX3Okdi5ViflPJAJos7tCqnW2R2j4EQtdatSmQnB-Xb2kkxWGUC870C0Q7ujdT4_SN1f5OwJNlfozNmo3k/s1600/neatly+packed.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Wishing you Blessings and Success with Love this Spring!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Much Luv,</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-67025359237609652302014-01-15T10:48:00.000-08:002015-08-21T07:04:39.730-07:00The Chopping Block <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6o-UVjI8jOJMXt8dy0NN7Gsa9JM2gzqkGfRJBscldGQCC1j2VMGVxp-2mcC17S2yYlLKghN22aHEvXEzrwqQv6fzQPsTCR2krxd81Iap8oNpNx0e5Y8fZIXyPKP_60HWw7DfwH6ZOerA/s1600/Surgery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6o-UVjI8jOJMXt8dy0NN7Gsa9JM2gzqkGfRJBscldGQCC1j2VMGVxp-2mcC17S2yYlLKghN22aHEvXEzrwqQv6fzQPsTCR2krxd81Iap8oNpNx0e5Y8fZIXyPKP_60HWw7DfwH6ZOerA/s1600/Surgery.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This article is not
for the squeamish. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As of late, I’ve been
working on an article called, "The Girl I Used to Hate". It's a pretty
funny fitness article that circulates some of the feelings we women have toward
one another at the gym. The article highlights the amazing physical change that
my body has gone through since writing my, “Fall Fitness Challenge”, back in
September. As I was writing and organizing
the photography for this new article a shift occurred within me; a shift that
immediately grieved my heart. I was
listening to Beyonce’s song called, “Pretty Hurts”, off of her new self-titled
album and I was inspired. It took months before I began to see any physical
change to my body in the gym and there were many instances that I wanted to
give up. I quickly learned that the difference between winners and losers is
simply that winners never quit! The only
problem with this was some days I wondered what exactly was I even striving
for…Perfection? I thought, “Perhaps”? But what was perfection to me? Was it an
image that the world gave me? Was it a celebrity body or face that walks around
with a glam team? If you’ve had the pleasure of listening to the song that I
mentioned then you already know that Beyonce sums up perfection as the disease
of a nation. We can’t fix things that
need to be fixed within the realm of our souls.
January is a time of year that many women will be sitting at home or in
their offices considering whether or not they’ll be using their tax-refunds toward
plastic surgery. This pierces my heart deeply and maybe because I’ve never had
plastic surgery it’s very unfair for me to comment or to even write this. Womanhood
is a sisterhood that obligates us to encourage, uplift, and support one another.
If we spent more time helping one another to be happy within our flaws we’d
move so much further in sisterhood. I’m
writing this article because I want to remind women that our flaws tell the
story of where we’ve been. Some of the places we’ve been haven’t been pretty
but our flaws reflect that we’ve survived. I also want to say that in the past I’ve worn hair
weaves and I’ve tanned my skin to have a glow that wasn’t naturally there. I know how much pressure this world places on
us to be what it considers to be pretty. I’m even bothered at times when I see y
stretch marks or my laugh lines but self-acceptance is a huge step toward
self-love. I encourage you to comment if anything I say in this article goes
against what your experience with plastic surgery was like. I want this to be
an article of healing not of judgment. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-tzsuOiQGnaRY1KhEw_nY3GjF0q5PzO7yiKJ6M0odO2fxt2poOHCv7p5-gTCvfzBMcbzxNuWYEQS617zpN59U7ULD1Z7cBbedwuLPmd0udbP8rwKmJBOZ-qMwRJq-uU06U4BfYg6MsWV/s1600/Tummy+Tuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-tzsuOiQGnaRY1KhEw_nY3GjF0q5PzO7yiKJ6M0odO2fxt2poOHCv7p5-gTCvfzBMcbzxNuWYEQS617zpN59U7ULD1Z7cBbedwuLPmd0udbP8rwKmJBOZ-qMwRJq-uU06U4BfYg6MsWV/s320/Tummy+Tuck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Many of us will hit
what I refer to as the chopping block this winter. It will be a quicker fix than any healthy
diet and/or exercise can offer. South Beach bodies at the snap of a six-week
healing period finger. My heart is so heavy
because we’re living in a world that moves faster than we’re able to keep up
with. Although plastic surgery offers super fast, “Hourglass figure”, results
what we don’t hear much of is how dismembered it leaves a woman’s physical body
post surgery. A body that was once intact even with its excess fat and muffin
top. I have been privileged to see some
of these awful scars behind the scenes from close friends that have decided to
take the plastic surgery plunge. Butcher shops are all that comes to mind when
I’m forced to look. Painful scars in exchange for tiny bikinis on exotic
islands. What has our world come to? How
much does pretty cost? What the hell even constitutes pretty anyway? This week
I was looking at my naked body in the mirror and I was literally ashamed of how
overly critical I was of myself. Let me
just say this, I’ve worked hard to have the body that I have today and in its
naturalness it is scared with stretch marks, dimples and unsightly fat in
storage places that I haven’t been able to work off at the gym. When I’m being
this critical I realize quickly that I’ve allowed public images to suggest what
my naked body should look like to me. Bigger is always seemingly better in some
areas while thinner is the way to go in others; When you lose as much weight as
I have all of the good bigger gets a lot smaller. My breasts are ridiculously smaller, my back
has lost almost 8 inches and my butt is this tiny mold of what it used to be
years ago. Some days, I don’t even know what I’m looking for in the mirror
because in many instances we will never meet anyone else’s standards of what
beauty consists of other than our own. I wonder, “Dear Jesus, what has this
world done to us”? Biogel butt injections, aggressive liposuction, tummy tucks,
smart lipo, breasts implants and Brazilian butt lifts are just some of the
procedures plastic surgeons will be charging patients for this season.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjyz4tgtQou4ncMJ_c1yzYIGZM4nmtNOB91DasnSZddQNxg1nG7aFTzMhj4LN5Nil-0yoCkjOJuHs8hZwB_arXOSZAscI8J9teCKcCsRppFM3G4kjQ9DMaM1asCf6aCd4Z_zRY416n6L-/s1600/Butt+lift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjyz4tgtQou4ncMJ_c1yzYIGZM4nmtNOB91DasnSZddQNxg1nG7aFTzMhj4LN5Nil-0yoCkjOJuHs8hZwB_arXOSZAscI8J9teCKcCsRppFM3G4kjQ9DMaM1asCf6aCd4Z_zRY416n6L-/s320/Butt+lift.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">May you’re reading
this right now and you are all too familiar with the pictures here because at
some point you’ve already been on the chopping block. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I want to give you the biggest hug and tell
you how pretty you are. O</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ur souls are what need
to have the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">se intense</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> procedures not our bodies. I’m sure deep down you know that you
were absolutely perfect before ever undergoing the procedure.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Plastic surgery does nothing for what we can’t
see. I want to encourage you never to go back!</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Not because I can make you look perfect but because I want you to let me
convince you that perfection is just an illusion. The pain you feel when the
scars are still there won’t go away by simply having another procedure.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I haven’t met an ugly person in my life other
than the way they behaved. </span>We have to heal what’s going on inside before
we can fix anything outside. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I want to
specifically blame someone for this but who can I blame? We sign-up for the procedures
and we pay for them. We feel like the tiny
waistlines and bigger busts and butts equate happiness but is this ever the
case? Can undergoing such major surgical
procedures heal our unhappy hearts? Is there a medium or even a healthy balance
between what the world suggests and what we want? If the scars are only
something that we can see when we’re alone wouldn’t that prove that we butcher
our bodies for the outside world? Parents, our daughters need to know how
infallibly gorgeous they are. They need to hear this every single day! When you
think they don’t need to hear it, I promise you that they do. Someone in school
may have told them something contrary to what you’ve been telling them all
along. A boy may have rejected them because their curves don’t make them skinny
enough. Men, you should be telling your women how beautiful they are every
single day. Our souls are so broken and in so much pain. Facial fillers and
botox injections will never be able to fix that. I once looked at aging as a
gift and a blessing from God. I felt like a long life indicated that God was
showing you favor. Now, aging seems like a horrific occurrence that indicates the
withering away of something dying {isn’t dying a significant part of the life
that we’re living}. From magazines to infomercials the fountain of youth seems
impossible to get away from. I fight against this by sharing any horror stories
that I come across just so that the women in my life will be aware that not
every procedure goes according to a doctor’s plan. We all heal differently,
scar differently and respond to medications differently. There is a huge risk in having these
procedures that simply isn’t discussed enough. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4Z0i9mt94-0A5sVQiS0cExL4hxlPq_KAfA-Iu-4MS3_neOM2G08JqcJkcYmqGcGwYCv8yipzsNtIwyVuhLeXpReK6rWqWt4MotAJTpOGEb9miaM899cMO2Vhm7rH4E6DLgbCvQWrav39/s1600/Pretty++Hurts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK4Z0i9mt94-0A5sVQiS0cExL4hxlPq_KAfA-Iu-4MS3_neOM2G08JqcJkcYmqGcGwYCv8yipzsNtIwyVuhLeXpReK6rWqWt4MotAJTpOGEb9miaM899cMO2Vhm7rH4E6DLgbCvQWrav39/s1600/Pretty++Hurts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
</div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Today, God asked me
to remind you of how much he loves you just the way that you are. He asked me to remind you that he is invested
in your soul and not in the outer casing of it. Spend your hard-earned money
this season on something else. Invest in
piece of jewelry, that new car that you’ve been eying or on that
spectacular vacation. </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Much Luv,</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-75478736950530163572013-12-31T10:13:00.003-08:002013-12-31T10:13:44.060-08:00I Am The Widow<i>This poem is dedicated
to Kimberly Richardson. Kimberly is the President of, “Widows of Opportunity”,
in Columbia, South Carolina. After
losing her own husband she has become a blessing to many other widows in her community,
around the country and even around the world.
My heart is moved by her organization and I hope that your heart will be
equally as moved. Please check out Kimberly
and her organization at </i><i><a href="http://www.widowsofopportunity.com/">www.widowsofopportunity.com</a></i><br />
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>I Am The Widow</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrfdcmo8Sex-xjMOrjDaXsU1_ZXQGb3um9oIU-ie8Po0gNH3eBryDxcIOV6qkzm80QqFC53vRILSv_rn4XtFswY1JqD6IIi33krrEjomOfy3T9arlEBmdaPGivn5fDCjoP0sgC9mfzTgN/s1600/Widow+Eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrfdcmo8Sex-xjMOrjDaXsU1_ZXQGb3um9oIU-ie8Po0gNH3eBryDxcIOV6qkzm80QqFC53vRILSv_rn4XtFswY1JqD6IIi33krrEjomOfy3T9arlEBmdaPGivn5fDCjoP0sgC9mfzTgN/s1600/Widow+Eye.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I am the Widow</div>
</div>
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I go back to Black</div>
</div>
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Unfortunately, my Husband won’t be coming back</div>
</div>
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James 1:27 says, care is on the way from Heaven</div>
</div>
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My bills are long, now that my man is gone</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
My children’s laughter is fading faster and faster</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9UTEC6NHJSQ3di4Bm_Sa6tp_jfnvrrw3UbSNVLj3rLq63wlBFEFuEVHN8QV89Y5vVizmJi9AhfHVpoGwL1m_PTpo3sLgkgvxPHE4eIVQzYnmy7hBP0rITR_M0jqZQWroHE9Wh2B45roL/s1600/Widow+Words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9UTEC6NHJSQ3di4Bm_Sa6tp_jfnvrrw3UbSNVLj3rLq63wlBFEFuEVHN8QV89Y5vVizmJi9AhfHVpoGwL1m_PTpo3sLgkgvxPHE4eIVQzYnmy7hBP0rITR_M0jqZQWroHE9Wh2B45roL/s320/Widow+Words.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Who knows what to do with his clothes?</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
They say, “Girl, you have got to let go!”</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
But I don’t want to let go, because I’m just not ready</div>
</div>
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The vows at the church said, “For better or worse”.</div>
</div>
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How come no one said, “It might be cut short and just end”.</div>
</div>
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The will of the Father can cut like a knife</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOHH2-SKBE4MifntOv381yAlU9w6fy2dDKRGhY231xgA97zQPVTzq-QoJ6PlSKUYOVOFhOkWebwiWOpqMUt2e0GY7XEuTNXGOGeCfav6xCP454dd_pOjEmHZ2NR1Vc6eVGr5VpUiGqpmn/s1600/Widow+Heart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOHH2-SKBE4MifntOv381yAlU9w6fy2dDKRGhY231xgA97zQPVTzq-QoJ6PlSKUYOVOFhOkWebwiWOpqMUt2e0GY7XEuTNXGOGeCfav6xCP454dd_pOjEmHZ2NR1Vc6eVGr5VpUiGqpmn/s1600/Widow+Heart.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Tomorrow might be better right?</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I hear his voice in my head and that makes me smile</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
He says, “Baby, these ribs are like wood to a fire”</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I’ll never have the chance to cook for him again</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
So all I do now is reach for my pen</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I speak to my diary that never talks back</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
For, I am the widow and I go back to Black </div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p>Much Luv,</o:p> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-37134115939494789432013-12-30T05:34:00.003-08:002013-12-30T05:36:29.328-08:00She Speaks<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She
Speaks</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbwiiBKiyxoAWQiFMSY6s7o-b97XwOJXAQymS6f3PaeRmsRBCewJl6b10GqjUiVOM6fcuhkF5U6X-T7H8CDkkY2uZmf_rx8nf8TbM4tFJ1G_7wKVMYdthMqrrt2IsSWpjp0F3luZAKMBN/s1600/She+Speaks+Attitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbwiiBKiyxoAWQiFMSY6s7o-b97XwOJXAQymS6f3PaeRmsRBCewJl6b10GqjUiVOM6fcuhkF5U6X-T7H8CDkkY2uZmf_rx8nf8TbM4tFJ1G_7wKVMYdthMqrrt2IsSWpjp0F3luZAKMBN/s320/She+Speaks+Attitude.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sitting here
thinking about all the red flags you said went up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My flags were
always white<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Loving you
caused me so much pain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Apologies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today I just
feel meh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Meh in the way
that I lost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was chasing
you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You were chasing
her<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She was chasing
you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But when I
turned around, I realized that no one was chasing me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkT2RzveSrRszn-etms8WqAPmFDKcKmSICtR-VojK_kgmKESLyPsLhK2Qlpc7pGGtCQPbuXgJLzVq5deZ6co-xRq7lPJkLeP2lDKdbP0op-wjFV3XZZ5V3vTYn5Cg4l_8IJ6Q5E5mHGgM/s1600/Silhouette-Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkT2RzveSrRszn-etms8WqAPmFDKcKmSICtR-VojK_kgmKESLyPsLhK2Qlpc7pGGtCQPbuXgJLzVq5deZ6co-xRq7lPJkLeP2lDKdbP0op-wjFV3XZZ5V3vTYn5Cg4l_8IJ6Q5E5mHGgM/s320/Silhouette-Lady.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From cereal to
heartache <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Scattered pieces
to dry tear ducts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Promises of
unbroken friendship <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lies of
undeniable hatred<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The thin lines<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There’s a win to
every lose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Lessons were
worth the pain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Joy always outweighed
the Rain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m still crazy
and you’re still out of your mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The irony of my
all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAqc6UlBuxIzWiIiUqiyfrOUYmp8shWgzcuPDtHRsI-Ep6loOglGECGF6QmCXuxv1xSEocAGEfiD9zuIBLOH42kCoOAm9gGIH5UcU1MlvtsmZJrmUyaL2nZSrrAzmpjaI58SHcN7JZe2d/s1600/She+is+Speaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAqc6UlBuxIzWiIiUqiyfrOUYmp8shWgzcuPDtHRsI-Ep6loOglGECGF6QmCXuxv1xSEocAGEfiD9zuIBLOH42kCoOAm9gGIH5UcU1MlvtsmZJrmUyaL2nZSrrAzmpjaI58SHcN7JZe2d/s320/She+is+Speaking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No part for me
in, “Moody’s Mood for Love”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Can you really
lose what you never had?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Best thing…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bright Lights
only know light, even when it’s dark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I release you
from my heart in love & light <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The key to my
heart wasn’t in your locket<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For now, I’ll
put it back in my safe box for safe keeping<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wish you
lifelong happiness <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A new white
chapter is beginning for you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mine is still
unwritten<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgZxvyn3KifYZiHWpAe1EqK3168qOxEhfWfmzueE2Gw9WkMsTceNvjFpRH9dZ36rOe7-Yh7HRmz9bc6NT7CGzweWzI_r9DdnFINALRsjj-Zro9FNBWrkX60M20epNXbfqtMbp88SAVNvH/s1600/Gone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgZxvyn3KifYZiHWpAe1EqK3168qOxEhfWfmzueE2Gw9WkMsTceNvjFpRH9dZ36rOe7-Yh7HRmz9bc6NT7CGzweWzI_r9DdnFINALRsjj-Zro9FNBWrkX60M20epNXbfqtMbp88SAVNvH/s320/Gone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Much Luv, <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-48617202237457412412013-12-14T09:12:00.001-08:002013-12-14T09:14:06.606-08:00I Gave You All My Ugly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN4MvqoaLEHuoEboUaII7Mhmgs4L_YqnFmqzMjAwq9Q-YF0k-1Y3D7Bk8iA3ZVE8ktV6OYBFIdG2dROmFsty6eY6LCz8qoJqEXLMAeVK3aDpUvFEy-HhTyT2aJaXcwKqrYPxSOoKAx-08/s1600/Flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN4MvqoaLEHuoEboUaII7Mhmgs4L_YqnFmqzMjAwq9Q-YF0k-1Y3D7Bk8iA3ZVE8ktV6OYBFIdG2dROmFsty6eY6LCz8qoJqEXLMAeVK3aDpUvFEy-HhTyT2aJaXcwKqrYPxSOoKAx-08/s1600/Flames.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Two years ago, I gave
you all my ugly</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
You gave me all your
ugly too</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I wasted all my
pretty</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I wanted to heal you
in the place where you stored past hurt</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
But I was too broken
to be of any help</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Where do broken
hearts go?</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
To Heaven or Hell</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
If they walk around
wounded they go where I did</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I burned in the
Flames</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Then someone called
my name</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I looked back because
I thought it was you</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The light was so
bright that I couldn’t make out the face</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He stepped out boldly</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
His robe was so white
that I had to turn away</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
That’s when he
grabbed me and wiped all the soot away</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
When he opened his
arms, doves flew out all sorts of ways</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He gave me hug and
walked me to the table</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He knew me by my name</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He said, “All your
ugly has passed away”.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
At the table he showed
me a mirror </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
At first I saw your
face</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He told me that I was
looking for a Savior but that you were not the Way</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I couldn’t be with
you because he hadn’t worked on me</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And then I looked
again but this time I saw Me </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I violated your trust
but it allowed me to regain His</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He taught me a new obedience
and I instantly felt like a kid</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
His love for me
extends from His Kingdom to my world</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
As the soot began to
fade I saw my pretty face</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
As the King ate a
meal with me he explained that my brokenness was gone</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And that the memories
we created were sort of like a Love Song</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He said that because
neither of us was ready in his eyes we’re still together apart</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
In all our mess and
chaos, only He could offer us a new start</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I told him that you’ve
moved on to a girl with style and grace</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He said, “My child,
the only thing I want you to focus on is that your ugliness has been erased”.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I’m so blessed</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
That’s all that I
could manage to say</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He saved me before
death entrapped me</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Proverbs 31</i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
White Candle</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9S68ziA52J8VIxzaS_QV2votmTebUx2msN3Ge4d0D80lWCS775pFs4lE6oW-UYYTE8WwcWs85hDgFsfgTfdYyuNWeMnBX3H7AXxb34rPuLAe3j4qk5oqg8OGWx50-wfwH8fP6U7MiGVVV/s1600/White+Candle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9S68ziA52J8VIxzaS_QV2votmTebUx2msN3Ge4d0D80lWCS775pFs4lE6oW-UYYTE8WwcWs85hDgFsfgTfdYyuNWeMnBX3H7AXxb34rPuLAe3j4qk5oqg8OGWx50-wfwH8fP6U7MiGVVV/s1600/White+Candle.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The pages opened and
he showed me</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I heard the faint
sound of a guitar playing behind and a lovely melody in the wind</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Her Husband can
trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
She brings him good,
not harm, all the days of her life”. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
With soot on my hands
and face</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I finally understood
my Light & His Grace</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He Saved Me at that
moment </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Right there, with all
my soot from the flames, he showed me one page</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He walked me back to
my world and said</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“My Promises are true”
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Love will be a
Battle”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“I Love Your Husband
more than you do”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Your union will
survive because it is my Will for both of you”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>1 Corinthians 13</i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Love never gives up,
never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I’m not the one that
he believes in</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I’m trying to let him
go, trying to turn the page</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
His Happiness means
the world to me even though he might not think so</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Do broken hearts make
their way back?</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Revelation 3</i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“I know all the
things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
You have little
strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me”.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He gave me another
hug with his glorious white rob on </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
He never seemed
worried or concerned about all the soot that I had on</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmcoxJgeOIA3rxdITDd9Wxa2jnu5UwNvuwjiWCBd4vHmnSR2R0WxRuGD5a0Nj3DAkfVbwBZa-q0ExIj40997rfbPmDlukRQV5c5u4v7wyTsAmH0SJdqpswVEDyIVvQBXERRjXWHZyetJO/s1600/Broken+Gift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmcoxJgeOIA3rxdITDd9Wxa2jnu5UwNvuwjiWCBd4vHmnSR2R0WxRuGD5a0Nj3DAkfVbwBZa-q0ExIj40997rfbPmDlukRQV5c5u4v7wyTsAmH0SJdqpswVEDyIVvQBXERRjXWHZyetJO/s1600/Broken+Gift.jpg" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
In His silence, I knew
that I would see Him again</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
When He calls me back
Home to Heaven</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
For now, I’ll return
to my world but this time without my ugly</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Praise the Lord</i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><b> </b></o:p><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-81820873178405134202013-11-13T07:56:00.001-08:002013-11-13T08:12:06.870-08:00The Wind Blows Differently Here<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Many times our stories
won’t be told until we’ve left the earth. Nevertheless, every story is worth
telling. This is the history of the neighborhood that I was raised in. R.I.P.
Crystal Sweet, may you always be the angel that watches over your daughter. I’m
sorry that we lost you. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The wind is stale and harshly cruel here. It has a personality of nothingness and it
finds oneness with darkness. It blows with ferocity at times and its occupants
can become just as angry as it. Every now and again there’s a gentle hint of
laced marijuana blowing in its harshness; just enough to make you want to gag
if you don’t find that type of aroma pleasing. God left this place a long time
ago and now the only thing that remains here are the countless scaffoldings and
the angry men. The angry men were
cheated out of life and some might even think that they were cursed to remain
here within these four corners forever. They inherited the four corners
debt-free when their parents bought into the bargain of its cheap rent and free
utilities. To their parent’s credit,
this was once a quite lovely place to raise a family. It was once filled with the laughter of happy
children playing. Budding green trees and grasses once grew here too! The squirrels weren’t as aggressive back then
as the ones I see here today. These
squirrels today should be fitted for motorcycle jackets and smoke
cigarettes. This place was once filled
with neighbors that actually cared enough to never mind their own business. Minding
one’s own business back then might mean that someone’s child could be lost or even
worse, hurt. Everyone looked out for everyone back then. That was always an
unspoken rule here. We were all as tight knit as a cable sweater. Those were
the days that someone shouted, “Barbara, does your Mutha know you outside?” A
follow-up telephone call was made to my mother just in case I might be lying in
saying that I had permission to be outside. If I didn’t have permission, I
guarantee you that in less than 5 minutes my mother was downstairs in her large
bifocal glasses searching for me. I felt so well-protected here at one time
that it makes me cringe as I look around today. The wind blows differently
here. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m deep in thought now and I’m thinking of the culprit and
then it finally comes to me. Something terrible happened here in the late 1980’s.
Crack-cocaine entered our dynamic and a
neighborhood that once blossomed with enough was now quickly turning into a
place of lack, destitute, despair and hardship. Some of our beloved neighbors
were now running amuck selling their VCR’s, and gold jewelry in exchange for
crack. Their faces were barely
recognizable at times as crack began to suck them dry of any signs of
life. Every man here now was out for
himself. Sons turned on their mother’s
and spouses began having love affairs with the tiny white rocks. Children lost their parents in the chaos too. Small
residue filled red and white empty crack vials began turning up all over our
once clean neighborhood streets. Poverty and police sirens blow in the wind
here now. The good ones weren’t spared
either. Some good sons became
drug-dealers and some smart daughters became trophy girlfriends for the big
time dealers that weren’t even from the neighborhood. If crack bypassed your household completely,
then you were blessed to escape Satan’s wrath. Many children were robbed of their youth
during those years as the wind just continued to blow with its fury and destroy
everything in its path. Some were
committed to a life of crime that only guaranteed one of two outcomes; death or
prison. Some gave birth to babies while
they were still babies themselves. This
one-way ticket to hell wasn’t what any of us had signed up for during the
young, peaceful and hope-filled years. Crack
was like the onset of a terrible earthquake. A nightmarish tornado and there
really was no place like home. No one had ample time to prepare for the hit. We had big dreams and aspirations before the
crack came. We claimed the cars we would
have when we grew up and we played manhunt in the street without fear. The experiment we were in was unknown to us
and unfortunately it ate some of us alive. Many of us became dry leaves blowing
in the wind. In 1990, I pleaded with the
YMCA to keep funding, “The Fresh Air Fund Summer Camp” a summer camp program that
would invite inner city children to attend sleep-away camp for free for
two-weeks. In my essay, I explained that
sleep-away camp would serve as an outlet of freedom for our innocence; freedom
from drugs, drug-dealers, rising crime and fear. My essay won 1<sup>st</sup> place and The New
York Times, covered the story. It wasn’t
enough to save me from the neighborhood. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Where are you God, It’s me Barbara”. “This isn’t what I wanted or expected for my
life”. “I’m smarter than this; I can see
above all the destitute here”. God
didn’t hear me back then or maybe I couldn’t hear God because the haze that
surrounded Satan’s playground was thick. Some of us made it out but we’re scarred with
the kind of trust issues that will last us a lifetime. Let’s fast-forward 19
years or so; the fierce wind is still blowing. You see where the wind blows
differently you can leave but the wind has a way of trailing you. Someone you know is always still in the wind
and you will always hope and pray the best for them from a distance. You pray
that they get out because this place isn’t safe for anyone. I can
remember a day that the wind bought the rain with it. It’s the end of May, in 2011,
and I’m lying in bed in my quiet Queens neighborhood when I receive a very
disturbing early morning telephone call. The caller is frantic when she says,
“B, two people were murdered last night behind my building. I have to get out
of here!” The caller advised me that I
knew all of the victims involved; a third victim was fighting for his life in
critical condition. I couldn’t wrap my
mind around what she was saying and I couldn’t picture any of the victims. There
was a very long silence after learning that one of the victims was a young
mother. I wasn’t used to that. I wasn’t
prepared to hear that a young female became a casualty of a war that was
underway for nearly 20 years. I selfishly thought, “Thank God I don’t live
there anymore”, but that was cowardly. The caller was so shaken because as if
to add insult to injury, she was at a local restaurant just hours before and
the young woman was also there…alive and enjoying her life. 22 year-old Crystal Sweet was murdered
outside of her family’s apartment window within the confines of the four
corners. Her daughter was instantly robbed
of her right to have a mother by the neighborhood where the wind blows
differently. Crystal Sweet was a
drug-dealer’s girlfriend and she was me just 19 years later. In an Epicenter of opportunity like NYC, a
melting pot where dreams are stirred and structured, it saddens me to think
that there are still tiny little pockets of neighborhoods in areas where the
spirit of success and wealth don’t ever blow their wind. Young men have no vision here because this
wind has blown the vibrant colors of life away from them. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOcqeOrhZfvcOtnSoduybaKsfI0U1x51Ei2DBdkejdPPwee6DxCUSmpH_N-j4o0RDY66SZOLhw2WrkUWzjrpJO_e_Qe8IX-3yafuG7_3Bd7eju-cc4tmKD3xp1k9OJIE8EXuqK5RNkEuy/s1600/crystalorange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOcqeOrhZfvcOtnSoduybaKsfI0U1x51Ei2DBdkejdPPwee6DxCUSmpH_N-j4o0RDY66SZOLhw2WrkUWzjrpJO_e_Qe8IX-3yafuG7_3Bd7eju-cc4tmKD3xp1k9OJIE8EXuqK5RNkEuy/s320/crystalorange.jpg" width="116" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The wind blows
differently here…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>James 1:19-21 “Understand
this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to
speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger*does not produce the righteousness*
God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly
accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save
your souls.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>It seems like we don’t
even care…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Much Luv</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-53865652154488049022013-10-30T05:57:00.001-07:002013-11-11T12:13:10.364-08:00I Fell Asleep in Heaven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgnsbr0dNQXvyCG3OXKJrAr-MnX966zAZa6ZHjbW_4QZYXZowx3PZw_fNL0LBV_6fNuCR9LhTTtrG9E3UP-FC0gO1BhrwdP0ccerzcxtpF1B0ug9tD75qbhSguXLuK87MvtvUe-ZPd8Wq/s1600/Falling+Asleep+in+Heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgnsbr0dNQXvyCG3OXKJrAr-MnX966zAZa6ZHjbW_4QZYXZowx3PZw_fNL0LBV_6fNuCR9LhTTtrG9E3UP-FC0gO1BhrwdP0ccerzcxtpF1B0ug9tD75qbhSguXLuK87MvtvUe-ZPd8Wq/s320/Falling+Asleep+in+Heaven.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I felt completely in
my element as I maneuvered through this place quickly; as if I had spent a
lifetime here. I can remember passing out flower petals by the handfuls to little
children that were so happy to see me coming. I knew all of these children very
well. Their little faces bought me so
much joy. Some would run up and smile while others just wanted to touch the
tips of my fingers. One child found so
much joy in simply resting his tiny hand on my cheek as I knelt down to give him a handful of
petals. The children would throw the
petals in the air while singing, laughing and dancing with one another. On this day I moved with an unusual haste. I had a meeting scheduled with Jesus in the
quiet garden. Jesus spent a lot of time
alone in the quiet garden and none of us bothered him when he was there. An Angel summoned me earlier this day and
advised me that the Lord needed to speak with me. I knew Jesus very well and I was eager to
hear what he had to say. He was my Heavenly Father but he was also my best friend. I could talk to him about anything and his
caring advice was always perfectly on time. Everyone here was Jesus’ best friend and he
always made time for all of us; especially when we were heavily burdened and in
need of counsel. He started our discussion by commending me on my work here in
heaven. I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> help but to notice
the glass coffin lying on top of a beautiful pedestal in the middle of the
garden. It had this magnificent glow to it and inside I could see that the
linens and pillow were made of silk in a pearl like color. In this place called
Heaven we don’t have any fear or anxiety because we trust the Lord for
everything. I was an eager spirit and
Jesus always commended me for my naturally inquisitive ways. I had a fascination with the brilliant colors
of the flowers and I also shared this same fascination with the colors of the
birds and how they soared in the wind. I
would wear my clothing drapery light and flowing to my ankles. I always
selected the whitest of whites although we could also wear pearl and ivory. I
was eager to hear what the Lord had called me to do today. Like a soldier of war I was ready to serve in
any way that he needed me to. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgImOwTKuL-Xau8twkihAXfFW_H6cEb78TbWKv_CUfWcXhSlsolQphTq8owMUkqDI54xZFhkd-yDRRXkWHAek8othGyO1m0Hwz-bkYJjp1O6ibMul6F9cT7sBpCo7h5M6cMoGbyO8TK9kl/s1600/Petals+in+the+wind.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgImOwTKuL-Xau8twkihAXfFW_H6cEb78TbWKv_CUfWcXhSlsolQphTq8owMUkqDI54xZFhkd-yDRRXkWHAek8othGyO1m0Hwz-bkYJjp1O6ibMul6F9cT7sBpCo7h5M6cMoGbyO8TK9kl/s320/Petals+in+the+wind.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I thought
that Jesus might want me to spend more time with the children. I had the
feeling that he would want me to take them out into the valley and read to them
more. I enjoyed reading to the children.
I was rather surprised when Jesus said
that I had done everything that he needed me to do in Heaven. He knew that I
was eager to dream about Earth as I had heard some of the elders discussing
their Earth dreams amongst each other. “Oh how delightful”, I blurted out and
Jesus’ face became instantly grieved. He
said, “My child they will reject your spirit in your Earth dream”. “Your spirit is much like mine and they
prefer the darkness there”. The darkness
was only something I had heard the elders discussing. I knew it </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> pleasant like the flowers
but I still said, “Jesus, the elders come back and say that what they loved
most on their Earth dream was their children”.
They explained to me that they had children that specifically belonged just
to them. I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> completely
understand that because I loved all the children here in Heaven the exact same
and I knew that they all loved me with the same heart. Jesus said, “You will
have 3 children on your Earth dream to care for”. “Wonderful”, I said, as my
heart instantly warmed up with love for them.
“Your love for them will make it difficult for you to wake up but you
will have to leave them and come back home to your work here”, Jesus said. “Yes Father”, I understand. I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> want to come back from my Earth
dream old like the elders because I knew the children of Heaven depended on my
spirit. Jesus </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> typically call anyone my age to have an Earth dream
because the elders would say, “they just </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">weren't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> ready”. The elders never discussed the darkness of the
Earth dream because they would say, “It’s too painful to talk about”. A very old elder once said to me that Earth
was a wild and dirty place and she begged me to ask Jesus to never let me have
the dream because she said I was, “too pure”, and “too beautiful”. I still wanted to go. I heard stories of love, and joy and of
communion with others that filled me with happiness. There was a connection
that the elders made there that they could simply never forget and I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> want them to. I knew Jesus was
mistreated during his Earth dream and he had the holes in his hands and his
feet that showed it. Because I never
experienced anything but peace, joy, love and cleanliness I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> imagine
violence or crime or any of those words that the elders used to describe their
Earth dreams. I began to pray for an Earth dream each night before I closed my
eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcNjFkD-rV3qm8Qj-m_U_fJEzjr_vjxcV1ajE99ph6ypn6nGoeLlvT-Nrm1IHqDDu_34pnJnc50FI-wQZeuv4Mx86rcQWxjaat09-77j7C4MrvarU5CMKmYaWAZm0q8yfGowWzG3-rnEO/s1600/Earth+dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcNjFkD-rV3qm8Qj-m_U_fJEzjr_vjxcV1ajE99ph6ypn6nGoeLlvT-Nrm1IHqDDu_34pnJnc50FI-wQZeuv4Mx86rcQWxjaat09-77j7C4MrvarU5CMKmYaWAZm0q8yfGowWzG3-rnEO/s1600/Earth+dream.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This is why
I was in the quiet garden with Jesus today.
He said, “I hear your prayers child but my heart grieves to let you
enter the Earth dream”. I said, “Father, I promise I will be ok”. I promised to be a good person and a good,
“mother”, the words the elders used to describe people that had children
specifically assigned to their care. Jesus said, “I know and that is why I have
chosen to let you go now, but I must warn you that you won’t come back here the
same”. “Oh thank you Father and I
promise I will come back the same”, was all that I could muster up to say. I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> get to tell my friends in Heaven
that I was going but I knew like the elders before me that I would be back. I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> think that Jesus would let me sleep long enough to become old. Some of
the elders were old and very shaken-up when they returned as if it were more of
a nightmare. Jesus would send me to sit
with them and to say caring words to them until they remembered that they were
back home and no longer asleep and in the dream. I had a lot of work to do in
Heaven with the children so I knew I couldn’t be in my dream for long. “Oh
finally, an Earth dream”, is what I thought to myself as Jesus walked with me
over to the glass coffin. Jesus
explained that I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">wouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> remember Heaven in the dream and that when I did it
would be nearing the time for me to return home. He said that he would watch
over me every step of the way because I was his child and he cared for me
deeply. He warned me of the temptations
that Satan would throw my way and he explained that my love for the 3 children
would make me want to stay in my Earth dream forever. Jesus said, “I will be here when you wake up
and I will be the one to help you to ease the pain of the separation from them”.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNDa8ZTbzNkDZnn7kaqVdYtQ78VmJzyK967pfe_88PW9T071qP57pyKLptGiWVpgWpMYrXeWPcNvsHwXx0k1ld-T7oyI4T4WeV35PAWeyP7vLrxHpicGYmhqPw57Fql0ihqkfzorFgg5C/s1600/Heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNDa8ZTbzNkDZnn7kaqVdYtQ78VmJzyK967pfe_88PW9T071qP57pyKLptGiWVpgWpMYrXeWPcNvsHwXx0k1ld-T7oyI4T4WeV35PAWeyP7vLrxHpicGYmhqPw57Fql0ihqkfzorFgg5C/s320/Heaven.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">They will never forget you and I promise that
when they wake up from their own Earth dream I will reunite the 4 of you here. You have done great work here in Heaven and
this will be my reward to you. He also said that each of them would keep a tiny
piece of me that would carry them through their own Earth dreams and I thought
that was splendid. I smiled big because I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> imagine loving anyone the
way that I loved Jesus. My heart always sang his praises. Now, I was even more
eager to fall asleep. Jesus held my hand and assisted me into the glass
coffin. The linen felt like I was lying
on a cloud. I was honestly sleepy from
walking in the valley all day and passing out flower petals. Jesus could feel
my fatigue. My cheek gently touched the silk pillow and I looked at Jesus with
my big eyes and said, “Thank you Father”, and he responded, “Sleep my child and
have your Earth dream”. “I will be here,
right by your side to greet you when you wake up”, and as fast as he said those
words I briefly remember thinking that having a love connection during my Earth
dream would be so sweet; I closed my eyes and fell fast asleep.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1
Thessalonians 5:5-6 “For you are all children of the light of the day; we don’t
belong to darkness and night. So be on
your guard, not asleep like the others”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Much Luv,</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-31229697807369355332013-10-07T12:27:00.005-07:002013-10-07T21:27:25.671-07:00Fall Dating Sense<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKORO-pWzIX4I5Rn5wMoOG4lANBBh-lKoNsR-JxvGT3LLZ6IsVxpGqxiOcaVJpWnfETgOn6jjFiNcgImLdIrbF-ikgJoSpgEvpCNf45Je_DwHA1L8zQRkBexMyA-X4-rvOh34-0N2qRkU8/s1600/Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKORO-pWzIX4I5Rn5wMoOG4lANBBh-lKoNsR-JxvGT3LLZ6IsVxpGqxiOcaVJpWnfETgOn6jjFiNcgImLdIrbF-ikgJoSpgEvpCNf45Je_DwHA1L8zQRkBexMyA-X4-rvOh34-0N2qRkU8/s1600/Fall.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, it’s been a while since you’ve been back on the dating
scene and you find yourself single and ready to mingle!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dating is healthy and it’s extremely enjoyable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think fall is an awesome time of year to
fall in love, hehe. It’s also a fabulous time to get back onto the scene if
you’ve been laying low for awhile. Summer’s officially over and the bikinis are
well tucked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When someone
approaches you now, you know it’s not because more than half of your body is
exposed and oiled down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Covered up in
denim, scarves and riding boots; it’s nice to know that someone is approaching
you on a more wholesome and genuine level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How do you get back on the scene when you’ve taking some time off? I
suggest that you be sensible and open-minded about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fall is a great time of year to get dressed
early on a Saturday morning and head out to a museum or an art gallery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in New York City, we have so many
weekend activities to choose from. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
also a ton of things to do right here in Brooklyn! If you get the sense that
someone’s admiring you from afar never be afraid to smile, wave or say, “Hey”.
In all honesty, what do you have to lose? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOTHING! I would encourage staying out of the
bars and lounges unless you’re just out with your girls or your guy friends for
a fun night out with no intentions set on meeting anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What keeps me from meeting people in places
like this, is the fear that it’ll be used against me down the road with a
partner saying something like, “You met me in the bar, now you don’t like that
I’m there every weekend?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll pass on
that lol. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suggest putting some effort
into dating and even into, “By chance”, encounters by being smart about them.
What are you looking for in an ideal partner? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We put so much effort into where we’ll go to
school, our careers, who we select to watch our children, and yet when it comes
to relationships we leave everything to fate and wing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to be clear on what you’re looking
for before getting back out there. You can save yourself valuable time by just
putting pen to paper and jotting down a few things you want and maybe even a
few that you absolutely know that you don’t want.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifUsDbLeQ-lGsWjAnEAwMcA-Ycxyz2g1HqXUxDvn2RJiSL0owvdTrI3VUN5q6Ul_AXL8BuUGmwCe-91D139L91ZyVDo6l52IYPAvF8po9z1zyGE9ln2Y4YhotysHC2FiAu08R98n_yrXl/s1600/Love+fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifUsDbLeQ-lGsWjAnEAwMcA-Ycxyz2g1HqXUxDvn2RJiSL0owvdTrI3VUN5q6Ul_AXL8BuUGmwCe-91D139L91ZyVDo6l52IYPAvF8po9z1zyGE9ln2Y4YhotysHC2FiAu08R98n_yrXl/s1600/Love+fall.jpg" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, now what if you’re not even remotely spontaneous enough
to hop on the train, venture out and be open to a random encounter? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean let’s face it; many of us are a little
uptight (I damn sure know that I am).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
we weren’t, there might be more of those random encounters of strangers having
coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re not the spontaneous
type you might want to spend your Saturday morning exploring the ins and outs
of online dating, (while watching a romantic comedy dvd to help loosen you up).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This organized style of dating gives you
somewhat of a prescreening advantage before actually going out with someone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I personally like that but it does come with a
fee. The more you’re willing to invest, the more you get out of the filtering,
messaging, control, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you‘re a visual person, stimulated by physical
looks or a by a person’s career background, you can surf until you find
precisely what interest you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been
curious about online dating for a long time now but I’m also trying to let go
of that controlling side that I recognize in myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll typically do a free-trial run which
allows you to view profiles but I never fully take the plunge by signing up and
releasing my credit card information. I’m definitely giving it serious
consideration this fall. Being safe is what matters most when it comes to any
type of dating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching television
shows like MTV’s, “Catfish”, has opened my eyes to see that not everyone out
there is completely truthful when it comes to uploading their online profiles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still a very old-fashion kind of girl in
the sense that I would rather meet a guy through my own circle of friends or in
a setting that provides a little bit more information than, “Hello, My Name is…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have my spiritual beliefs as well and in my
heart I believe that none of us are going to meet that perfect stranger, in
that perfectly strange setting, at that perfectly strange moment, until God is
ready to intervene on our behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
meantime, staying engaged, having fun and learning the most you can about YOU,
is what’s most important until that time finally arrives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dating can help you tremendously with that. You
can learn a lot about what you want and what you don’t want from a relationship
while you’re dating and that’s a really good thing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Listening to the opposite sex and getting a feel for how
they view your gender is equally as important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a woman, I’m always eager to hear how men feel about being in
committed relationships that involve traditional courtship, God and possibly
marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure men are interested in
hearing women’s views and values on much of the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a writer, I’m always interested to hear
how both genders approach and view dating. One thing I’ve learned from
conducting interviews is the importance of laying your cards on the table
quickly. For example, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal that you’re
abstaining from sex, or that you have 12 children will never happen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be completely honest about this even if you
have to say it before ever meeting up with someone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have lost nothing if they make the choice
to never meet with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve taken
control and actually filtered what you didn’t need right from the jump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people nowadays view dating as a casual
sexual relationship that involves having no strings attached. Although that may
be so far on the other end of the spectrum from what dating means to you, it’s
very important that your intentions and reasons for dating are voiced and
understood at, “Hello”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will avoid
any misunderstandings or hard feelings later down the road. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t make any apologies for who you are or
for what your belief system contains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just be fair to whomever you are involved with so that they have a
choice when it comes to whether or not they choose to be involved with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dating very well could lead to finding your
life partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keeping that in mind at
all times will help you to cherish that person even in the early stages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have fun, be honest and under no
circumstances do you ever, ever, ever compromise your sense of self. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a cozy time of year to have a Pumpkin
Spice Latte and get to know someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be
fearless in your fall dating </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-23050848122495883332013-09-30T08:54:00.002-07:002013-09-30T08:56:58.996-07:00Kissing Dairy Goodbye<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you’re anything like me, then you have grown up loving
and enjoying an array of dairy products. From gallons of whole cows’ milk and
cheese, to butter, yogurt, sour cream and ice cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These products are high in fat and they’re
extremely hard for us to digest. Learning how difficult it is for the human
digestive tract to digest dairy has made me rethink this classic food product
in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keeping my cheese or keeping
my expanding midsection at 36, has become a very real question for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My taste buds are beginning to come very secondary
to my heart-health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I didn’t
prepare for was how difficult walking away from these products would actually
be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it, we’re told that
yogurt, cottage cheese, and cheese sticks are excellent low-calorie snack
options when trying to maintain a healthy diet. Add those I listed, plus my
morning cup of coffee with half-and-half and my morning bowl of cereal with
milk and by midday, my diet mostly consisted of dairy products. My body
virtually struggles for the remainder of the day trying to break what I’ve
digested down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my previous article, I
discussed our intimacy with our favorite foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have this passionate love affair with foods and with desserts so much
so that giving them up can be worse than breaking up with a beau.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I started this challenge, I had to
identify how many of my favorite dishes and vegetarian meals actually
incorporated dairy and I was nearly floored when I realized that there was
nearly nothing in my diet that didn’t consist of it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was extremely eye-opening for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately wondered how I was going to
clean this up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever dreaded
cleaning your closet? Well this was how I was feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fall is an extraordinary time of year that
makes me feel fearless!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My openness to
try new things during this particular time of year never ceases to amaze
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the cool crisp air in the
wind, I feel motivated and encouraged to change with the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vibrant colors of the leaves inspire me
and I know that I can push myself outside of my own comfort zone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I initially started
by being aware at all times of what I was eating or drinking. As a vegetarian I
was very use to doing this anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
swapped out dairy in the places that I found it easiest like Silk Milk for cow
milk, Earth Balance for butter, and veggie cheese for whole cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds easy so far right? Not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly realized that my morning coffee on
the go wasn’t as easy as it once was; if I was unable to drink my coffee black
(which I wasn’t), I had to leave Dunkin Donuts behind and make the switch to
Starbucks that at least conveniently serves vanilla soy milk and makes
delicious soy latte’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, when I
have time I make my coffee at home but that isn’t always an option. My newest
challenge was kicking my ass, because some days I just didn’t want soy milk or
veggie cheese or Earth Balance for butter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some days I just wanted what I was habitually accustomed to eating and
drinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s where your self-discipline
must kick in. I will be brutally honest with you in this, we can train
ourselves to get used to anything as long as we have the willingness to work
through the resistance and the power to quiet our minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first two-weeks without dairy I realized
that I would have to go the fight in very small intervals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t always have the willpower to pass up
a cannoli dessert or a piece of spinach lasagna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even my favorite salads were garnished with
cheese shavings or feta crumbles. I initially couldn’t believe from breakfast
to dinner how many dishes used dairy products. At one point I even considered
the fact that I was ok with my expanding waistline and maybe dairy wasn’t so
bad but WAIT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was taking a daily CLA
supplement, which goes deep into the body’s stored fat pockets and flushes them
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What in the world would make me
take this supplement only to be reloading those same fat pockets with dairy
products that my body was unable to digest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The numbers wouldn’t add up mentally so each time I fell I just got
right back up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I slipped up on a
Saturday and ate a slice of cheese, by Sunday I was back on my, “No Dairy
Bandwagon”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The faster you regain your
focus, the more control you’ll have over the change. You must be reading this
thinking, “What a vicious cycle this is”, and I have to tell you it really
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never thought that what I ate
would take so much consideration and effort on my behalf, but we all know that
nothing worth having comes easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re
taught to watch portion size and to eat lots of dark green leafy vegetables but
when do you really hear people say, “Dairy doesn’t digest well, it keeps you bloated
and your stomach will continue expanding if you keep eating it”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a more positive note, I did start to hear,
“Your skin is glowing”, “You look amazing”, and these were the compliments that
assured me that I had to keep fighting my addiction against dairy products. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We are what we eat” and this statement is so
underrated here in the United States. The beauty of our bodies is that they
tend to work with us. When we move it moves yet, when I’m doing too much of
anything, I either suffer the consequences or reap the benefits. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, if I successfully make it 5-10
days without dairy and then decide to indulge, guess what happens next?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My stomach is typically unsettled for days
which is an instant indication that my body handling the shift in diet well.
The discomfort I feel reminds me that the indulgence wasn’t worth it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, what’s been working best for me is an increase in
both fresh vegetables and fresh fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is such a variation of both in the market today that it would be
impossible for one to get bored or to be limited in options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel less guilt, when I snack on fruits
rather than the traditional dairy options that I was once loved. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ladies, if you struggle with cellulite you
will especially want to stay away from dairy even in your morning cup of coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A licensed-esthetician recently explained to
me that it’s not the coffee we drink that contributes to our cellulite but what
we put in the coffee, (milk & sugar).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She also advised me never to eat ice cream or pastries, EVER! For help
with unsightly cellulite, (if you are serious about changing your diet), I
recommend VelaShape massage treatments; again only if you’re serious about changing
your diet (If you’re going to eat the same, and have these massage treatments which
gently reduce the appearance of cellulite on the top surface of the skin by
heating it and smoothing it out you will definitely be wasting your money). If
I wasn’t seeing the results on my own skin, I might be willing to argue with the
esthetician but seemingly she is absolutely right. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will all of these tips work out perfectly all of
the time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course they won’t, yet I
imagine that these small intervals of trial and error are far better than never
having tried at all. It’s all about implementing valuable substitutions. Starting
with the little things like waking up the water in your home with a twist of
lime, mint, and cucumbers (altogether in a pitcher) and gradually working your
way up to bigger changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drink this
every morning before doing anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
a natural way to detoxify.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would also
suggest drinking one glass of this right before going to bed. I’ve also
replaced my regular carbs with slow carbs like quinoa, and brown rice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I go gluten-free whenever I can and when I
just can’t resist a craving for something like eggplant parmigiana, I make it
myself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This way I have total control
over what goes into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of using
eggs to coat the eggplant I use Original Silk Milk, and instead of my once beloved
mozzarella cheese I use, “Trader Joe’s Vegan Mozzarella Style Shreds”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find beauty in all of the dietary options I
have and I hope you will too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My advice
for someone just starting out would be to pack your own snacks and meals for
the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lunch bags have become so
trendy these days that carrying one around actually makes you look smart not
cheap lol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By having your snacks and
meals pre-packed you will completely bypass the root of evil/tasteful
temptation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wishing you all success with
this Fall Fitness Challenge Series, and if you need any assistance please don’t
hesitate to reach out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God Bless You
All.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span></div>
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-71377430043912602572013-09-17T09:23:00.000-07:002013-09-17T09:46:51.108-07:00Fall Fitness Focus for the Family <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week, I challenged adults to consider making healthier
food choices. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A challenge that
incorporates motivation, discipline and exercise even as chilly fall weather begins
to settle in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I left out of that article
were our children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether you are a parent
or you spend loads of time entertaining your nieces, nephews, cousins or
younger siblings; if you’ve committed to a more health conscious lifestyle than
you are obligated to take them along for the ride. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind
the eyes of my little guy, {pictured above}, are the eyes of the future
generations of my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When these
eyes stare back at me I know that they trust me for everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very pleased to say that my 3 children
all practice a vegetarian lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
middle child started the journey for all of us and gradually we each adapted at
our own pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love for the
entire world to consider a plant-based diet, but obviously I know that just won’t
happen. What I want you to know is that this journey has never been easy and
temptation is at every turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Childhood
is where all of our habitual eating habits begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether those habits are good or bad, they
began when we were children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had someone come to me 5 years-ago to pitch a
vegetarian lifestyle to me, I would have looked at them like they were
nuts!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was trained to believe that I needed meat
and dairy in order to survive. Secondly, I believed that I loved these foods.
Cheese was like a glorious experience for me that felt like a warm and passionate
embrace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have this intimacy with the foods
that we enjoy and whether we intend to or not we pass that onto our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with this intimate relationship
is that we tend to adore the richest, fattiest and most unhealthy foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
beauty of personal growth is that as we learn, we teach the generations after
us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to school is in full-effect around
the country and I wonder how much thought you put into what your child will eat
daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My best advice is to have a
pre-planned menu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor planning whether it’s
for breakfast, packed school lunches or dinner will result in a drive-thru run
to Burger King or McDonald’s and our children don’t need the sodium in the food
or the sugar in the beverages. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My son Jessiah and I typically always discuss what’s going
to be on the menu a day in advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
breakfast during the week, he has a choice of wholesome cereal and almond milk,
whole fruit or a fruit and veggie smoothie infused with nuts for added energy
which is great when we’re in a rush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jessiah, is a 11 years-old now and he loves cereal by a company that has
been around for years and is ironically called, “Barbara’s”, </span><a href="http://barbaras.com/about-barbaras/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://barbaras.com/about-barbaras/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I’ve been discovering across the board
is that many parents don’t find that a vegetarian lifestyle offers enough
alternatives for their child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to
come up with as many variations as I can because my son is a very picky eater
with a long list of food allergies. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weekends, are obviously a lot easier to
manage because there aren’t any time constraints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same child that once loved tasty turkey
bacon for breakfast has learned to love veggie bacon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His favorite veggie bacon on the market is
MorningStar Farms </span><a href="https://www.morningstarfarms.com/products/breakfast/veggie-bacon-strips?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=morningstar%20farms%20bacon&utm_content=Bacon_Broad&utm_campaign=Intention_Products&gclid=COG88pPN0rkCFe1DMgod41MAUg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.morningstarfarms.com/products/breakfast/veggie-bacon-strips?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=morningstar%20farms%20bacon&utm_content=Bacon_Broad&utm_campaign=Intention_Products&gclid=COG88pPN0rkCFe1DMgod41MAUg</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
This veggie bacon is a little higher in sodium than I would like but I serve it
to him with pancakes that are loaded with fresh blueberries for a healthy balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His weekday, “on-the-go, morning smoothie is
a joy for me to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He likes spinach,
bananas, apples, blueberries, strawberries, cucumbers and almonds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a nutribullet at home will help you to
whip up a smoothie for your child in less than 3 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sugar, juice, or added sweetener, just
water and the ingredients that I listed above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you don’t have a nutribullet at home you can take a moment to look at
what they have to offer and see if this system is something for you </span><a href="http://www.nutribullet.com/site/index?gclid=CJDW5r7P0rkCFepFMgodhSkA6g"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.nutribullet.com/site/index?gclid=CJDW5r7P0rkCFepFMgodhSkA6g</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
I never have to trick Jessiah when it comes to using our nutribullet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He likes being involved in what we chop up in
the kitchen and blend in the system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Breakfast on the run used to include a croissant from Starbucks which is
loaded butter, fat and calories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he’d
hop out of the car to head into school last year, I’d find myself finishing his
half-eaten pastry which had the type of calories that I absolutely didn’t need.
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we eat healthy we inspire our children to do the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t blame anyone but
ourselves for taking them into fast food restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no proven nutrients in fast food
and we aren’t doing our children any favors by feeding it to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Realistically, we will all find ourselves in
situations where we just can’t make it home at a decent time to cook a good
meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On those days, Jessiah and I pop
into Boston Market {a meat-lover’s haven}, and we as vegetarian’s order what’s
called a, “sides-sampler plate”, which allows us to pick 3 of their fresh
vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their veggies include the likes
of, garlic or creamed spinach, mixed veggies, string beans, and fresh corn. An
added treat is that each plate comes with 1 small piece of sweet cornbread that
Jessiah simply loves!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I give him bottled
water for a drink versus the fountain sodas and juices that are offered by the,
“not so fast food”, chain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every now and
again I also let him have lemonade because I do realize that he’s still a kid.
Overtime, his cravings that were once for chips, unhealthy snacks and food have
completely changed for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night,
he suggested that we have brown rice with broccoli and zucchini for dinner tonight.
A huge misconception that parents and adults alike have is that grains and
vegetables can’t fill us up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything
is possible but it starts with us and it takes discipline and strength. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While some of us were privileged enough to
grow up in homes that ate healthy, many of us weren’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The changes in our home start with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can break the chains of diabetes, heart-disease,
and stroke by changing ordinary food choices into extraordinary intellectual
decisions that are heart healthy. It won’t happen overnight but what really
does?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My same child that was on a
crusade against veggies now realizes that there should always be something
green on his plate because his mother and father have taken the time to teach
him that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As your little ones embrace being
back to school please encourage them to make healthy food choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leading by example today will help our future
generation embrace a healthier and fit-conscious tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Challenge yourselves this fall and keep in
mind that by adding your children to the challenge will also help you to attain
your fitness goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Much Luv,</span></span></div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-88011080740096369252013-09-13T09:30:00.001-07:002013-09-13T09:31:29.568-07:00Fall Fitness Challenge<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How bad do you want it? Good health, great skin, a more toned physique? How much work are you willing to put in to get it? The things we ingest speak volume in regard to how we view,
love, and care for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have
very little regard for this area of their lives and I too once participated in
that same level of ignorance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
childhood, most of us have been introduced to the likes of fast food, dairy
products and in some cases junk food by the truckloads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retraining my mind over the past two-years to
eliminate my cravings for these particular foods and to embrace a vegetarian
lifestyle has been difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
eagerness to learn about my new diet of plant-based, well-harvested and organically
grown products has helped me tremendously with this transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staying out of my former hot spots like McDonald’s,
Applebees, TGIF’s and Chili’s has also proven to be quite beneficial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I began eating differently, I realized
that most of my favorite restaurants served up food that was loaded with
sodium, cheese, and pork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were
some of the things that were bloating me, causing acne breakouts on my skin and
assisting my body to store unneeded fat in places that I definitely didn’t want
it. A few of these restaurants also serve alcohol for an additional amount of added
calories. My vegetarian lifestyle has now begun to manifest itself in my newfound
muscle tone and body structure which continues to surprise me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank God for wisdom and discernment; this
former glutton has been set free. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love
the saying, “When you know better, you do better”, and the reflection in my
mirror is a much healthier woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
to consciously make decisions throughout my day which constitute what will and
will not go into my mouth. From alcohol to cigarettes what we allow into our
system will ultimately determine what is going on inside of our bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How we feel, how our spirit feels and how we
view life can all be transformed by the things that we eat and in some cases
drink. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greasy foods that are loaded with
fat and sodium weigh us down and can play a tremendous role in daily fatigue. The
more fatigue we feel, the less capable we are of any type of exercise. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alcohol can lead to depression and addiction,
cigarette smoke and drug use can lead to the malfunction of precious life
organs, suffocating them of oxygen and resulting in death or life-threatening
diseases. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fruits, vegetables and organic teas can make us feel light
and airy throughout the course of our day which can increase our desire for
increased mobility. During the summer months I find that more of us are prone
to opt for refreshing salads, healthy fruit smoothies and water but what
happens as fall rapidly approaches and the weather changes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many of us, still opt for the crispy
garden salad versus a fast burger and fries in a to-go bag?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A colder season can force us to lean on
hotter food choices and can also encourage our desire to stay indoors. In some
instances, the sadness of seeing the summer go can cause a natural reaction of
introversion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a week ago, it dawned on me that many of
us will stop whatever exercise and outdoor activities we had in place during
the summer months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us will get
back to the television remotes or our favorite indoor activity and we’ll begin
layering the clothes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if, you had a
spectacular vacation planned in the Bahamas set for December 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could your body really afford to wait until
New Year’s Eve to get back into your rusty gym membership resolution? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the mentality I’d like to see you
adapt for fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brooklyn has a ton of
outdoor landscapes that are beautiful to speed walk or even jog along side of
like the, Brooklyn Bridge Park where I took these photos and the Belt Parkway
are two of my favorites. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be childlike,
and pretend that the vacation of your life is right around the next corner even
if you don’t realistically have the funds to plan one! Most importantly, let’s
not give up on moving our bodies!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
let garden salads flail in the wind just because there isn’t warm summer sun to
enjoy them with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Challenge
yourself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Challenge your body to come along
for the ride. Don’t pack your bikinis away with the intention of not seeing
them until next June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if, you just
ate salads, fresh fruits, raw vegetables and you sipped on organic teas that
felt more comforting to your soul than a warm chocolate cookie? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would your New Year’s resolution be this
year if that’s how you spent the fall? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would crave more healthy, more exercise
and more nutrition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would all make
sense!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might even spill into other
areas of your life you’re your personal relationships. One positive action
attracts another. That is the beauty of God’s wisdom; when you can separate
yourself from conditions that have become habitually negative for your life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can free yourself from all the chains that
are weighing you down and start fresh; knowing that it’s never too late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might sound trivial to compare what’s
going into your mouth with what’s going on with your soul but I’m sure that
you’ll be able to see the correlation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In order to win and to truly have the victory you need to be good to your body. Be careful what you eat, who and what you let enter your temple, and what stress you do and don't take on. All of these things will be contributing factors to your levels of peace or misery. When you set your standards higher than you can actually reach, you'll always win and you'll more than likely exceed any expectations that you've placed on yourself.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, as I say goodbye to my favorite time of year I want
to encourage you to come up with the sun every morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breathe, and go out into the crispy air
before it gets too cold to be out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Connect with your workout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Connect
with the location of your workout. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brooklyn has great beaches and when I head
over to a local favorite of mine actually called, “Manhattan Beach”, I love to just
run on the sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running on the sand
feels similar to wearing ankle weights and offers a fair amount of resistance
for muscle toning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fully take my
surroundings in and I use this time to pray as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Psalms 23:2, there’s a passage that says,
“He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exercise is the perfect time to connect and
really talk with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible says
that Jesus used to go out into the wilderness to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind, the sun, the water, the sand, the
trees, the birds, the sky, will all help you to connect with your own inner
peace. I never feel closer to God more than I do when I’m outside and fully
submerged in nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gratitude engulfs
me when I’m outside; the full realization of a new day, a new opportunity and
another 24-hour chance at life; all because my Heavenly Father keeps choosing
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So with an incorporation of mind, body
and soul connectivity you too can implement a system that works to improve your
overall quality of life. From workout clothing that makes you feel empowered to
supplements and ideas that will help you to get rid of stubborn fat that seems
to never go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be sharing my
thoughts and my insight throughout this fall season that will enlighten you and
have you proudly jamming at your next New Year’s Eve celebration!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more sulking and hiding in another
resolution of guilt and shame resulting from overeating, bad food choices, and
lack of mobility and prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s
move!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s Breathe! Let’s
Exercise!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s Connect!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s Live! And most importantly.. Let’s Talk
About It…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span> </div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-41471281663328746452013-08-07T14:02:00.002-07:002013-08-07T14:02:19.586-07:00The Queen of Wishful Thinking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What would you name her? I
chose the title name because it seemed appropriate and heartfelt. She
reminds me so much of myself and that's why the sight of her stopped me
dead in my tracks. From her build to the details of her hair; she has a
hard exterior, yet you can almost get a sense of how fragile she is on the
inside. She seems somewhat burdened by worry or maybe just the weight of
the world yet there is such vulnerability in seeing her down on one bended
knee. Many of you may already know her history and where she resides. For
those of you that don't, she is placed behind the first gate of the 10-bedroom Italian
palazzo-style mansion once occupied by the famous Italian fashion designer
Gianni Versace. I took this picture a little less than two-weeks ago when I was
in Miami on business. The guards at the property were gracious enough to open
the main gate for me as they noticed that I was peering around like a total creep
to get a glimpse of this statue. I was so intrigued through the gate that you
can only imagine how in awe of this woman statue I was when they opened the
gate and let me inside. “Stunning”, was what my mouth said but there was so
much more to be said about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
the beauty of art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One’s perception is
theirs and theirs alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have
paid money to see more of this exquisite home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The guards weren’t able to touch my camera so I wasn’t able to take a
picture next to the statue because I was alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her pose was so interesting because one can go many different directions
with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagined a woman just wanting
peace and tranquility; just wanting to shut things off if that makes any sense?
The world can become so painfully noisy at times that even thinking or
remaining focused become difficult. Living in New York City can further
maximize that level of difficulty. Finding a decent level of peace and tranquility
here can be a daunting task. Anything that provokes this much thought in me is
worth further exploration.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So now I found myself behind the
front gate of the mansion that I sat in front of my television watching in
horror as its owner lie dead on the very steps that I just walked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt horrible for Versace on that day back
in July of 1997. I felt as if he had so much more to offer the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was one of those crushing blows that you
feel even when you don‘t know the person that passed away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He died early in the morning although certain
reports say he died at night; I remember watching the news coverage like it was
yesterday. It seemed like he walked out of his home to get his morning paper and
coffee with such enthusiasm and life. There’s a bit of irony to the fact that
I’m here in South Beach in July. In some spiritual way I’m very moved by this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking up the stairs to the gate is
something I feel like I must do respectfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The spirit of this man is still here at this home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not in a hovering way just in the sense that
he must have found great peace living here in this beautiful home on Ocean
Drive. This home is like the best of both worlds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get this Italian extravagance here in
Florida. The guards are so kind to me that this also feels slightly eerie to
me. The connection I’ve made with the spirit makes me feel like the spirit has
urged these strangers to open the gates and allow me in to satisfy my
curiosity. If you’ve ever been to this property which is currently listed at
$125,000,000, it isn’t some type of museum for onlookers although many tourists
that are familiar with the story do stop at the front and look in awe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some take pictures; some just stare at the
steps maybe thinking back to that dreadful day that Versace was murdered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve actually heard that the property is currently
facing bankruptcy and I can’t understand for the life of me why the city wouldn’t
just turn it into a museum. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In many ways, I feel like a museum
might bring Versace and his family great peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m sure he was immensely proud of the brilliance of this home and a
museum would seem like a celebration of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh what I’d give to ask him what the statue I’m standing in front of
means today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d probably have a
fabulously detailed answer that would blow my mind and leave me with my mouth
hanging open but for now I’ll have to come up with my own analogy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today she will be the Queen of Wishful
Thinking. She is hopeful and strong but every now and again she needs to turn
the world off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She walks in faith, but
the noise of the world tends to drown her spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She appears flawless on the outside but she
struggles with the state of the world and with the adversity it throws her way
on the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stays in harmful
situations longer than she should and she often loves those who don’t reciprocate
the feeling genuinely in return. She is unique and she is so different that she
is extraordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She fears God and she
longs for the day that he will call her home to her original state of being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She appreciates every second of life here on
earth and she adores those that are in her life more than they will ever be
able to comprehend. I can almost lose myself in thinking of this statue. So
much so that I wish I could take her with me and find a home big enough to keep
her in my living room (I so mean this), lol. What would this statue represent
for you? If my vision does nothing for you, please share your commentary
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to read your
analogies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until we meet again…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Much Luv<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-27779570680937022012013-07-28T06:32:00.001-07:002013-08-01T08:12:07.917-07:00Lights, Camera, Action!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVsd_gCipFsqIw26v5DTP2iOQM4lxA71Z2fTc3PltQmLvRbMM-w_UGQ2xb0jx4SpIBHEuKsCSoLtlA8eA1VMqrtrgfQ23QYoTo8xjIvgkJyqmIYNqMjfL8-3QbC0guut6r0ZZqGlhIqxT/s1600/IMG_0598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVsd_gCipFsqIw26v5DTP2iOQM4lxA71Z2fTc3PltQmLvRbMM-w_UGQ2xb0jx4SpIBHEuKsCSoLtlA8eA1VMqrtrgfQ23QYoTo8xjIvgkJyqmIYNqMjfL8-3QbC0guut6r0ZZqGlhIqxT/s320/IMG_0598.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
My 36<sup>th</sup> Birthday was 3 days ago. Inching up until the days
before my birthday I began to get this overwhelming feeling that my life would
begin at 36. Filled with constant emotion throughout the past few months I
began to take note that my steps were being ordered spiritually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blueprint was never precise yet it was
impossible for me to ignore the stir of change upon and around me. This energy
was separate from me yet together with me. There’s an inner spiritual reward
one feels when they begin to acknowledge a positive shift of change within
their own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing where I’ve come
from and seeing where I am today brings me to a place of immense inner
peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so nurturing and kind-hearted
to the woman that I’ve become. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now do
nearly everything within my own space and timeframe. Peace and stillness are
utterly delightful in my new world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
world waits for me to move in its time yet I continue to wait patiently on the
nudging that I’ve come to trust so deeply. Like so many of you I too struggle
with the fear of rejection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working
through that fear until the point of elimination is crucial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times, I meet people that don’t like me
at, “Hello”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My energy is that of a deep
presence that is grounded in integrity and love yet some continue to mistake that
for arrogance and self-motive. I made a very particular birthday wish this year
and when I was done I chuckled while thinking to myself, “Wouldn’t it be great
to find the type of Love that sticks around even during the rough patches?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the interim, I’ve stepped all the way up
to the plate of life and I’m ready to swing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not just any type of swing but a full swing that connects and causes the
ball to fly way out of the park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
will think this reality came way too late in life for me but I chuckle at that
as well while I think, “Hey, better late than never”. Showing up for my own
show is different than any other show that I’ve attended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My script is still unwritten but I know that
I have to be present and on set daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every morning that I open my eyes it seems as if the world has become
just that much clearer to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
insight, my approach, my tolerance, and my openness to change have all
increased for the better and decreased wherever necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daily to-do list is in hand even though I
have the power to toss it if and when needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Life is overwhelming in a good way at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ignoring perceptions that don’t add value to
my life and moving toward my greater goal to incorporate and uplift the lives
of others in every single thing that I do is the only thing that motivates me
now. <o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
This positive change that has arisen within has helped me to develop a total
mind, body and soul sense of consciousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Summer is my favorite time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I feel closest to nature and more importantly to my Source during this
time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s during this period of
time that I seem to be the most creative and I get the most done. It could have
something to do with this being the time of year that I came into the world but
nevertheless this time of year is always a starting point for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you achieve this level of consciousness
that I’m moving into; life becomes less and less about you and increasingly
more about others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life becomes a
connected source of goodness, wholeness, love and oneness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving my time and my energy to someone in
need causes the ultimate level of satisfaction for my soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keeping myself well-aligned with God, nature,
good health and well-being continue to lead me into full consciousness. I have
high regard as to what goes in and out of my body at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Practicing a life of vegetarianism, celibacy
and well-roundedness make me feel clean and whole. I feel completely loved and
accepted by God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve ascended into new
consciousness that doesn’t permit me to think or to act the way that I once did
years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so in love with the human
being that I see looking back at me in the mirror. I believe that God has
always intended for it to be the way it is right now at this very moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is so sweet nowadays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without any haste in my system I sometimes
wonder if he plans to connect me with a man that will honor and love me exactly
as I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beauty of it all is that
either way I have so much joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
studying the words of the Bible in Proverbs 31; not just for the characteristics
of a noble wife but also for its warnings against alcohol for leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything in life must have balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too much of anything in one regard or another
will lead to demise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Humbly, I move
forward knowing that, “To those that much is given, much is expected”, and this
brings me to think of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You, the
person that’s sitting at your computer screen reading this article at this
second on the clock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What gets the
camera rolling in your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What steps
are you moving toward to leave yourself in this world far after you’re dead and
gone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this concept even something that
you think of, or do you live day by day just chasing your next paycheck?<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
I would like to encourage you to do something different today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put on your Sunday’s BEST! Walk out of your
house today with a new attitude and with an entirely different pep in your step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do something that you’ve never done before; by
doing so you will achieve results that you’ve never achieved. Believe in
yourself enough that it attracts others to do the very same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only foolish idea is the one that you
keep hidden and don’t share with the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you write, then write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
sew, then sew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you exercise, then
train, but get out there today and do something!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be sure that whatever you do comes deep down
from the best place that’s in your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s the place that dreams are made of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the place that will lead you to your fantastic
destiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let anything or even more
importantly anyone discourage you from your dreams because your dreams are a
blessing from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Move forward in light
and in truth and you will never be led astray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you’re reading this and you’re suffering with depression, anxiety,
worry or fear about what your next step will be; then please email me and together
we can figure it out (<a href="mailto:thebchronicles@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">thebchronicles@gmail.com</span></a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re stuck in a dead-end job or
relationship and you’re too afraid to move toward the door then let’s talk
about it…<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
Wherever you find yourself today just be sure to keep moving toward the
stars! The sky’s the limit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
separates you from the crowd is taking one baby step forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m rooting for you! Lights, Camera, Action,
You’re on!<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
Much Luv<br />
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-36200003971413330772013-07-14T04:50:00.001-07:002013-07-14T18:40:58.254-07:00Not Guilty<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB81qxLnpzIN3fMav4DCP3U6Rc0MZW6dhMZwBgTRHZ7peiDzX7DKranQEc9aqyxwrpzPeLx09-e-RLlJoQKzjD8xwtSEPMU0aVyYCB37wctKrOo509vMGnYSnYTHzlsBU8csF6zq0ei_SO/s1600/IMG_20130713_00224228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB81qxLnpzIN3fMav4DCP3U6Rc0MZW6dhMZwBgTRHZ7peiDzX7DKranQEc9aqyxwrpzPeLx09-e-RLlJoQKzjD8xwtSEPMU0aVyYCB37wctKrOo509vMGnYSnYTHzlsBU8csF6zq0ei_SO/s320/IMG_20130713_00224228.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I heard a single gunshot in my sleep this morning that woke
me up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t nervous or frightened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just couldn’t determine if it was real or
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s quite possible that it was a figment
of my own sleepy imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided
to get out of bed and check on my three children. After seeing that the house
was still, I found myself in route to retrieve my laptop. It’s time to speak…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went to bed shortly after midnight and the only image in
my mind was Trayvon Martin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My 11
year-old son Jessiah asked me to explain, “Ma, how come George Zimmerman isn’t
going to jail for killing Trayvon Martin”? That was the exact question and this
was my response, “Jessiah, I have no words right now that can explain that to
you because I myself do not understand”. My Faith in God above is what keeps me
focused this morning as I will continue to remain in silence to some extent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My emotions led me to write one Facebook
status last night and I won’t allow myself to make any others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll refrain from doing so because I’m
mindful that these can be the contributing factors for igniting anger; even
anger within myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My 15 year-old
niece Sina was reading her Kindle device when the verdict dropped last night
and she said, “Titi, when it’s your time to die, it’s your time to die, and it
was Trayvon’s time to die”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted so
badly to resonate with that yet my flesh struggled and I wasn’t able to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mind takes me to this dreadful place over
and over again; the idea of sending my son off to a store and the more dreadful
thought that he could ever be targeted in the 21<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> Century because
of the color of his skin. I think of those final moments of fear that Trayvon
must have experienced. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The condition of
having Brown skin in America is something that none of my White friends will
ever be able to comprehend in this lifetime and I will never fully be able to
explain it to any of them. God will have the final say because his will is
always done for the greater good of the Kingdom of Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t intend to confuse and/or hurt
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He teaches us through different acts
and situations even when these things involve immense trauma or pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine that Tracy Martin is in great pain this
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine that the wound she
has been trying to heal for nearly two years has been reopened and someone has
just poured salt on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A day may come
when she and George Zimmerman are on the same checkout line at Walmart because
our judicial system didn’t feel like he killed her innocent son. America
condemns us but the Lord our God redeems us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I could hug her today I would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hug would be heartfelt and in no way
would I suggest to her that I know what her pain is like or what she’s going
through because I don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be heading
to Florida in a few days and my emotions are somewhat mixed regarding
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of me is dying to get there
to see how people are responding to the verdict. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My prayers are that the races will united and
that people off all races will see the injustice and understand our anger. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve already heard people reminding us of how
we kill ourselves all the time and are questioning why we’re so upset about
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ignorance is bliss. Yes, Black
people kill each other every single day and here is my open letter to any White
person that wants to know why we’re so upset about this:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear White America:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You hated us before we
ever hated ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You taught our
ancestors that we weren’t good enough to eat with you, to drink your water, to
date your daughters or your sons and that we were worthless enough to not even
have the privilege to enter spaces through the same entrance as you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our ancestors begged us to rise but we didn’t
understand how to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told us we could
be the change in the segregation and then Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us
that he had a dream for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loved
White people and people of color just the same and saw that we could be united
in the country that stands on the basis of this premise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hatred drowned the love and then we begin
to see color within ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We threw
shade on the lighter shades of brown because we believed that their root wasn’t
deep enough in its blackness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hate
ourselves because you hated us first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
hate ourselves because you made us believe that we were inferior to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hate ourselves because you took the beauty
out of Black for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You said the kinks
of our hair and the size of our hips were wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You told us we were dirty and that we
resembled monkeys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You forgot to point
the finger at yourselves when you resembled pink pigs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You assassinated all attributes of our
character and then you said, “Look at them, they’re so angry”, but still our
ancestors told us to ignore your insults and to rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We understand the root of our hatred for one
another and when we kill each other trust and believe me we mourn. You kill us
with malice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We kill each other in
ignorance and self-hatred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You hated us
before we ever hated ourselves and therefore I blame you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the ability to be all you are and
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in fear of you because we
know that you can diminish our future with one stomp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are so intelligent and charismatic and
even at the ivy-league level we try our best to show you that you don’t intimidate
us but you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re at our schools,
our professional offices, at the court buildings trying our cases. We want so
badly to love you but we know that your hatred for us runs deeper than anything
that we can fix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While our ancestors
told us to rise, your ancestors reminded you that we were to be hated,
oppressed, accused, and beat down and slandered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We love you but you will never love us back
so we do what our ancestors taught us to do and we continue to rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The higher we go the more you feel like you
need to remind us of our place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
the help and that is how you see us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
ignore you but you remind us. We are the Black butterflies that our ancestors
told us to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want so badly to lift
each other up but you taught us not to trust even ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God grieves when he sees what you have done
to us but he knows that ultimately we are stronger than you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows that you would have never been able
to endure our conditions and he gave them to us to carry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To those that much is given, much is
expected”. He knows how special we are and each time we love one another
instead of hate ourselves like you taught us to do; he smiles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve started to embrace our hair, and love the
utter beauty of our skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve started
to open companies and hire our own the way that you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve started to hire you to clean our houses
and we’ve started to rise the way that we were taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a long way to go and by no means will
we ever accept you killing us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You did
that already and quite frankly we won’t tolerate any more of your malice toward
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You hated us before we ever hated
ourselves and still we rise!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">***tears fill my eyes and I have decided to end with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my Brown people please stay up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always hear the words of those before us and
please allow them to penetrate your heart. Don’t let their struggle for us be
in vain. Be strong and very courageous for the Lord our God is with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can only kill our spirit if we let them.
We will prosper and we will grow but this is our condition and we have to
acknowledge it and be aware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the name
of Jesus Christ, stay blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span></div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-37537380750878493632013-06-16T10:15:00.000-07:002013-06-16T10:16:45.446-07:00Pretty Boy with the House In Virginia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeO1yoVV9kN_nw599qON9dwj9MonC8DteYWBpWq1ELyO5KjYVM89Oyk4w4o4pr4Lbj9OrKwm4fNdUGz3oPri7tdnoPamm7-bTooS4Dwd-fRsmEbAGi-Aja_iFPumjMGtaAIEoR3TDX7mm/s1600/FacebookHomescreenImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeO1yoVV9kN_nw599qON9dwj9MonC8DteYWBpWq1ELyO5KjYVM89Oyk4w4o4pr4Lbj9OrKwm4fNdUGz3oPri7tdnoPamm7-bTooS4Dwd-fRsmEbAGi-Aja_iFPumjMGtaAIEoR3TDX7mm/s320/FacebookHomescreenImage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The best interviews are
the ones that you walk away from feeling like you’ve truly connected with the
person that you were interviewing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can have an agenda but never be afraid to let the Spirit take over and lead the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday was an afternoon filled
with laughter, tears and real connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a day that brought me closer to another human being in a way that my
interview questions never could have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
I hope that you'll enjoy this very personal </span>glimpse of my interview with a young and talented
author from Brooklyn that isn’t afraid to be candid when sharing his naked
truth. After reading his book, “Pretty Boy with the House in Virginia”, available
at, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Boy-House-Virginia-ebook/dp/B009QDV6NW"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Boy-House-Virginia-ebook/dp/B009QDV6NW</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
you will be forever changed. This raw and gritty story is emotionally charged and filled with the type of loss that many of us will never experience in one lifetime. Readers will get the real scoop on down-low homosexuality and they'll get to see what HIV looks like in 2013. After reading this book you'll see that no one is immune from contracting this virus, not even wives that are faithfully waiting at home for their husbands. B. Styliz Ortiz has changed the face of HIV as we once knew it to be or at least what we thought we knew. I strongly encourage you to get this jaw-dropping book and to let me know what you think after reading it. B has become and HIV activist and a role model for his peers and for Brooklyn youth. He is encouraging those with the virus to be honest and to share their status with their partners rather than recklessly continuing to spread the disease. </span></i><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After canceling and rescheduling our interview several times; my nerves are completely shot as I'm pulling up to author B. Styliz Ortiz's home. I'm trying to remember how important it is to breathe as I see him eagerly waiting outside to greet me. His dynamic smile is something that I find myself fixated on. He's so humble and he surprises me by bearing gifts and a hug. I smile and nervously accept the package but I wait until much later to look inside. I feel like I know this young man and as far as physical features are concerned he can easily pass for my little brother. B has a doctor's appointment later in the afternoon on this day but he has graciously pushes the time back so that we have a sufficient amount of time to talk. We pick a restaurant in Park Slope with outside seating and we are both delighted that it isn't raining at this moment. (NYC has received record amounts of rain this month). As we're seated I thank him for pushing his appointment time back and I innocently ask him how he finds a balance between his career and his illness thinking that his appointment has to do with his HIV. B explains that he has a non-cancerous mass that has been growing in his left leg since childhood. He has a vascular specialist and he's scheduled for surgery to remove this mass in early August. Needless to say, I was completely blown away. I'm the type of person that complains when I don't have enough money to purchase my morning cup of coffee and I can't completely wrap my hands around how this man is so genuinely happy and how he continues to smile as he's explaining this upcoming surgical procedure to me. He goes on to explain that the only reason he's really dreading the surgery is because it will leave him wheelchair-bound for the duration of 8-weeks. He explains how a recent career day discussion at a local middle school in Brooklyn has left him understanding the great need for HIV awareness within our community and how important it is for him to keep talking to the youth. Once again, I'm floored because nothing that comes out of his mouth is about him. It's all about educating others so that they don't end up in a situation like his yet if they do he'd just like them to know that they're not alone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God is talking to me during this interview and I'm truly realizing how many of my own blessings that I continue to take for granted; from having good health to still having my family members here in the world. B is teaching me through his words how precious the gifts of life and good health really are. B fills me in on the numerous projects that he's currently working on and his days are filled to the max. He's already writing his 2nd book which is a tell-all about being a gay male dating with HIV. B has also recently wrapped up filming of a documentary that can be viewed on You Tube at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGNjRQFFgFo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGNjRQFFgFo</a> which chronicles his life with HIV, what he's gone through leading up to his diagnosis and the journey after. B lets me know that he's taking really great care of himself these days. He takes 1 medication daily and he is currently asymptomatic which means that he has no HIV symptoms. He's completely involved in his healthcare and after 5 minutes of conversation with him anyone would pick-up on that. From knowing his viral load counts to meeting with his therapist when he needs to release anger and/or resentment he's on it. B is fluent in medical terminology with both his HIV and with the mass that is growing inside of his leg. Listening to him makes me feel as if I'm sitting with a young doctor. I look at him so strangely because his age doesn't suit his level of maturity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">B was diagnosed with HIV just 3 years after his mother's untimely death from cervical cancer. The same year that he was diagnosed with the virus his father committed suicide for his own personal reasons. He chuckles as he tells me what his diagnosis day was like. He says, "It was this same damn leg that brought me to the doctor's office in the first place". He suggested that his doctor test him for HIV while testing his leg for cancer because it had been a few months since his last HIV test. B's face begins to change a bit as he reenacts what the doctor said to him on that grim day, "I have good news and I have bad news". B says he had a bit of an incline as to what the doctor was going to say because he kept calling for his HIV results which were inconclusive for weeks. His immune system was so strong that testing could barely pick up an accurate result. He had to undergo extensive western blot testing in order to determine whether or not he was positive for the virus. B remembers the entire ordeal being awful and scary. The good news was that the mass in his leg was cancer free. The bad news was that he had HIV. His doctor has been treating B's leg since childhood and he asked him the one routine question that would provide the most important answer to a betrayal that B was unaware that he was in, "Does your partner know that he has the virus?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">B was devastated. He knew
that he had been on a path of destruction after his mother's death but now he
had a boyfriend that he was caring for and living in his home. Was it
possible that his boyfriend knew that he had the unthinkable and passed it on?
B admits that he did suspect his boyfriend at the time of cheating on him. He confronted his boyfriend who later revealed that he was HIV+ and he also
revealed that he chose to keep his status a secret because he was angry. B felt
as if he was going to die. He tells me that he immediately felt like he was
going to, "look" like he had HIV and he didn't want that. He also
felt like living with the virus would be an impossible feat. From reading B's
book I got a sense of the deep connection he shared with his mother. I asked him how much
more difficult being diagnosed with her being gone from the world was? He immediately lights up when he tells me,
"I was her right hand". B kept a major secret regarding his mother's diagnosis from his family members and explains how difficult that was for him because he's generally so transparent with everyone. His mother had cervical cancer but led family members to believe that she had breast cancer. We talk a little about how she never stayed in any relationship for too long including with his father and his twin brothers father.
He believes that in many ways his own approach to relationships stems from what he has learned from her. B smiles with that priceless smile that he owns when he tells me that his mom was a, "diva"! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">He goes on to tell me how embarrassed she was when she began to lose her hair as a result of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The cancer was so aggressive and it began to take over her entire body, he explains. I can see how much he resents what cancer did to his mother. Throughout the entire ordeal he never lost his optimism that she would beat the cancer and live. His mother was 36 at the time of her death (my age now), and hearing him speak about how he clung to her during her last days is making me intensely emotional. Between visits at the hospital, school and caring for his 4 year-old twin brothers at the time, B held it all down. Making Lipton soup dinners when his grandmother wasn't available to cook for them takes B back to a memory that is still fresh in his mind. "One day my grandmother was over cooking for us and she pulled me to the side". She said, "Papi, Mami probably won't make it". B regrets his actions now but says that he immediately told his grandmother to leave their home. He was in disbelief that she would say such a thing although he too began seeing his mother's body withering away in her hospital bed. He refused to speak to his grandmother for weeks but as reality began to set in, he knew that he needed to have a discussion with his mother. He said, "Mami, if you do leave this world I promise that I will finish high school, go to Virginia State University, and make something of my life". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">B tells me that his family began to realize that being at the hospital was causing him to miss way too much school. They advised him to return to school assuring him that they would take over the shift he kept by his mother's bedside. The following day while he was at school on February 9, 2006, at 2:36 p.m. he received a phone call on his cell that he was unable to answer. He would later learn after going to drop off his mother's income tax forms that the missed call was the one call in life that he wasn't ready for. B's mother passed away that afternoon at exactly 2:36 when his Aunt attempted to call him. The one day that he wasn't by her side, and she was probably able to do so peacefully because her oldest son wasn't there to witness the pain of watching her go. I'm sure that she was holding on for him. He tells me that the blow of the news immediately left him feeling alone. He explains how he knew that he had the support of his family but that without her in the world he felt terribly alone. After learning all that he had been through I was so touched. B reminds me so much of myself when I started to write my blog 3 years ago. I was holding on to years of hurt and pain and many people found my early writings too raw and too emotional. I decided to share that with him and I also decided to go against my better judgment and give him a word of advice that I believe will serve him well in the future. As I sit across from him I encourage B to embrace who he is right now, today, at this very moment. I can see his nerves in some of his online interviews but what I see more is his humble and blessed spirit. I tell him to take whatever advice from others that he feels pertains to him yet to immediately toss what doesn't. I give him a brief overview of how I've grown as a writer in such a short amount of time and smiling I let him know that he too will grow. I encourage him to be easy on himself during the hard times. I don't have to tell him to seek our Heavenly Father because I can see clearly that he already does that. His motto is this, "I walk by faith and not by sight", and his belief in God adorns his face with the smile that he wears. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I walked into this interview expecting to learn more about this author. I walked away from this interview with a little brother. All the Glory and Praise in that goes to God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope you'll take the time to read this very unique and personal book by B. Styliz Ortiz. Fairytales, castles and prince charmings are a very far reality for many of us. </span></div>
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Much Luv,<br />
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/bcsig2copy-1.png" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-49962683026486213662013-05-29T07:25:00.003-07:002013-11-12T07:26:06.451-08:00Time-Out For Tricia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0ew3ixAz4aP3WU57-_4ul32gQAMUi25xCx9e86s5d2D9rfficqwYwiYzYL1shrshyW2ohIelcyVwPzUuSOQeVJ-0fzBuZytO8EhWYOH430IeOaM6cLNxfpflP5qWLgNAK8QuBKhFv83-/s1600/Tricia+Moses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0ew3ixAz4aP3WU57-_4ul32gQAMUi25xCx9e86s5d2D9rfficqwYwiYzYL1shrshyW2ohIelcyVwPzUuSOQeVJ-0fzBuZytO8EhWYOH430IeOaM6cLNxfpflP5qWLgNAK8QuBKhFv83-/s320/Tricia+Moses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On May 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, 2013, I did something quite out of
the ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up in the middle of
the night somewhere around 1:26 a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
urging that felt like the Holy Spirit, I began to search Facebook. This was out of the ordinary
for me because when I wake up in the middle of the night I typically pray. I rarely ever
spend time checking out social media because my brain isn't fully functioning yet. I wasn't particularly looking for one thing or another but it wasn't long before I came across an
extraordinary young woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> My news feed led me to one of my best childhood friend's timeline. She</span> had the woman’s story on her page and with curiosity I began to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To know my childhood friend Mary, is to know her heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her parents named her perfectly. The woman’s story posted on her page was linked to a
fundraiser. The woman, Tricia Moses was diagnosed with a disease that was unfamiliar to anything
that I’d ever heard of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intrigued, mostly by this
woman’s glow and natural beauty I continued to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> From her picture alone you could almost pick up on the true godliness of her spirit. </span> What I learned
was that Tricia Moses was a beautiful elementary school teacher from Brooklyn,
New York. She was diagnosed with Scleroderma, the sister disease of Lupus an autoimmune disease.
As I continued reading I learned that Tricia's lungs were virtually turning to
stone inside of her body and that she was in very urgent need of a lung transplant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fundraising link for Tricia, </span><a href="https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/tm82/breatheasyfortricia"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/tm82/breatheasyfortricia</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
explained that she would need to temporarily relocate to a global medical center here in the US in order to have this life-saving
procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oddly enough, I felt like I needed to know
more. I needed to understand how something like this could even happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The woman in the picture looked so healthy to me. I wondered if she was born with this disease or if it was something that she just developed. </span>Instead of just pulling out my debit card,
donating and closing my computer; I did the unthinkable and “friend requested”, her on Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I that the only person that
could offer the answers I was in search of was Tricia. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The question was, would she even discuss the very personal circumstances of her disease with me? Well, n</span>ot only did she accept my friend request but
we began to chat in the wee hours of the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tricia Moses was a gem that night and within minutes I felt like she was one of my oldest girlfriend's.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is by far one of the sweetest and most humble human
being's that I have ever spoken to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To date, Tricia along with the help of, “Give Forward”, (</span><a href="http://www.giveforward.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.giveforward.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">), has raised 56% of
her $10,000 goal for assistance. This money will help with both her lung transplant and aftercare expenses. This fundraiser will
continue until July 21, 2013. No longer able to continue working for the NYC Department
of Education where she has been employed for over 13 years Tricia is preparing
for a short-term move to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This</span> is required by the medical staff at UPMC-The
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center {</span><a href="http://www.upmc.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.upmc.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">}. All lung patient candidates must be living within close proximity to the hospital. I immediately knew that I had to spring into action quickly if I wanted to be any help to this family.
I scheduled a phone interview with Tricia for the next day. I could have kept her on the line for hours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked her
everything that I could possibly think of. I had to keep in mind that we were strangers and I didn't want to be awkwardly invasive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the beauty and the
simplicity of my Creator. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have this silent loving
understanding that we are all truly brothers and sisters in His love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tricia has experienced things in this lifetime
that an ordinary person would have never been able to cope. She is extraordinary and filled with spirit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned during our phone conversation that
in 2005, the love of her life was killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As she moved forward from that heart-wrenching loss and pain she focused
on being a loving teacher to her 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> Grade students at P.S. 233.
As life went on, Tricia began to experience some uncommon medical issues. Just
shy of 33 years-old, this normally healthy and energetic school teacher developed an
itchy rash that was treated by her doctor with topical cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This</span> rash was the onsite of her current
condition but as with many medical conditions in the United States she was misdiagnosed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In addition to the rash </span>Tricia also developed a persistent cough. This cough also went misdiagnosed and she was treated for asthma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was released from the hospital with an
albuterol pump for pulmonary relief. She has actually never suffered with asthma a day in her life. It wasn't until Tricia became
pregnant that her actual condition would truly reveal itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a long night of constant violent
coughing, Tricia had a miscarriage in her bathroom at home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She immediately contacted her GYN who wanted
to run some tests on the loss fetus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> With no time to deal with the loss of her pregnancy; </span>Tricia was referred to a
pulmonologist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A shocking discovery was
made from the test results conducted on the fetus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would turn out to be the beginning of Tricia’s own lifesaving
journey. The unborn baby that lost its life would save its mother's. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tricia was diagnosed with Scleroderma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The medical definition of Scleroderma is as
follows: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Scleroderma is a
connective tissue disease that involves changes in the skin, blood vessels,
muscles, and internal organs. It is a type of autoimmune disorder, a condition
that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body
tissue</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">”.</span></i></b>
The fate of this diagnosis would mean the very rapid onset of Tricia losing the
normal functionality of her lungs as her body was tricked into believing that they were an enemy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Slowly, Tricia would be robbed of her ability to breathe on her own. </span>In addition to struggling for air, she
suffers from painful joint arthritis, loss of appetite and excessive weight gain
from the daily consumption of steroids. Steroids also play a part in altering
Tricia’s moods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has her good days
and she has her bad days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Oh how </span>this
makes me think of the ways that we take our lives for granted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ability to hop
in and out of the shower at our own leisure has been taken from Tricia who is
now totally co-dependent on her oxygen tanks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would think that bitterness and anger would have settled into her existence
yet the moment that my phone rang all I heard was hope in her voice. I heard this precious and youthful,
life-filled voice on the other line. Tricia Moses is an Angel
living here on earth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tricia will be
receiving her transplant this fall. UPMC, the hospital performing the procedure is a nonprofit global healthcare
system. They are internationally renowned for performing life-saving organ transplants. No one in NYC was willing to take the risk of performing this surgery that Tricia so vitally needs to save her life. The
Simmons Center, {within UPMC}, is specifically geared toward Interstitial
Lung Disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The center provides
patients and their families with informative support groups which Tricia and her mom have had the pleasure of attending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These IPF-(Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis)
support groups educate patients and their families on the transplant journey. It connects families with candidates that are in similar if not the same predicament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tricia is fully aware of what
is at stake and her unbreakable Faith in God is moving her full speed ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Simmons Center staff has taken the time to
let her know the odds of her upcoming surgery and the odds of her life without
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are at all as touched by Tricia’s unexpected life-changing
journey then I ask that you please donate to her cause. The smallest donation will leave your imprint on changing someone's life. Her story can become any
of our own realities in the blink of an eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My heart goes out to Tricia so much so that it was extremely difficult for me to write her story. I hope that my empathy and love for her will be reflected in my words. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Tricia</span> and I, are nearly the same age so this
really hit close to home for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her love for
her mother and for her twin sister Natasha Moses touches me even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Her selflessness is beyond admirable. </span>Her mother, a beautiful woman in her 70’s has
been by her daughter’s side since Tricia’s ordeal began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Natasha {her twin}, </span>is taking this extremely hard
as we could only expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning
I opened my Bible to the Book of Joshua and I'd like to say this to Tricia:</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joshua 1:9<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my
command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord
your God is with you wherever you go”.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
You will win this fight! You will teach the world about Scleroderma!<br />
<br />
Much Luv,<br />
<br />
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-6870066669820522722013-05-16T08:58:00.000-07:002013-05-16T09:26:23.937-07:00The Ugly Truth About Abortion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGhx42FvejkHuXw-MMSjtuwGRVr7YmwVZOh_zcWPJj31bnTSP5bCAp5gSABoDqvqX1uoxjSW-c1Dxbks0kDraX2sTvEHCa0Ea7i94dSoejZokkAPqTYV_rIk7i_iS8_jb71It135UX4-Y/s1600/Fetus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGhx42FvejkHuXw-MMSjtuwGRVr7YmwVZOh_zcWPJj31bnTSP5bCAp5gSABoDqvqX1uoxjSW-c1Dxbks0kDraX2sTvEHCa0Ea7i94dSoejZokkAPqTYV_rIk7i_iS8_jb71It135UX4-Y/s320/Fetus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was Pro-Life until I was 28 years-old and found myself in
an entangled web of hypocrisy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never
passed judgment on anyone that was Pro-Choice, yet using abortion as a method of
birth-control was something that made me cringe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During my time in college, I took a very
interesting philosophy class that further opened my eyes to the truths
surrounding certain types of abortions being performed right here in the United
States of America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Partial abortion was
something that I ignorantly knew nothing of before taking the course. My Dear
Lord, what I learned was absolutely disturbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My professor at the time was very passionate
about the course work and he provided some of the most gruesome images with
supporting documentation available to support this unethical practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can remember thinking, “How can any woman
kill the life that is growing inside of her in such a horrific way?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my eyes, it was murder plain and simple. Snipping
the spinal cord of a fetus at the neck seemed illogical and cruel. Of course at
the time I was a mother of 3 healthy children and I had never come face to face with
abortion or miscarriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every now and
then I might get the occasional confession of a friend that had gone through
either of the two ordeals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As many of
you know, Kermit Gosnell was found guilty earlier this week on numerous counts
of murder and manslaughter in connection with his “chop shop”, style abortion
clinic in Pennsylvania. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please take a
moment to read this article posted by the Huffington Post yesterday: </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/05/13/kermit-gosnell-guilty-verdict_n_3268021.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/05/13/kermit-gosnell-guilty-verdict_n_3268021.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
I was quite dismayed when I found out that I was pregnant with what would have been
my fourth child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was fresh out of a
very long-term relationship with my son’s father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was reckless and on the rebound and to add to the mess that I was
creating I was now pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I confirmed
my suspicions and was 4-6 weeks along in gestation as described to me by the
tech performing my ultrasound at the abortion clinic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dismay and profound sadness was the
feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tech didn’t want me to look
but I refused to turn away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The precious
sight of the tiny little dark spot growing inside of my stomach was impossible for
me to ignore. The inappropriate comment made by that same tech made everything that
followed awful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abortion clinics are
like desensitized butcher shops where one goes to have meat chopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “This is your first abortion honey,
it won’t be your last”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I instantly
corrected her and snapped back with, “Oh yes, this will be my last”. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The well-known abortion clinic that I went to in Queens was
disgusting to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only because of the
atmosphere per se, which was banquet-style torn pleather seating
and writing on the walls. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just had a
very dark underlying feeling overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The only spiritual light I could sense was from the religious spectators
chanting outside for me not to go inside. God is not inside of abortion clinics
and I will stand firmly by that statement. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God and the Spirit are in the womb of the
woman carrying new-life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an
overwhelming feeling of spiritual warmness a woman can feel when she is
pregnant. If, of course she’s willing to be still enough to be aware of it. Although, the
tech said I was only 4-6 weeks along my entire body felt filled with
pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wept uncontrollably that
day as I was whisked from one phase of the process to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final phase being the fatal one; at that
point I was told to undress and to slip into a gown that was provided by the staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My girlfriend that accompanied me that day just
kept encouraging me not to “think”, about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, the life growing inside of me was all that I could think
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said a prayer while I changed
into my gown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a typical prayer.
Nothing rehearsed or memorized from a scripture verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that moment I had a simultaneous
silent discussion with God and the new life that was trying so desperately to just continue
growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The spirit of that life felt
male to me and right inside of the clinic’s gym-styled locker room I named that
spirit Joshua.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I apologized for sending
him back to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For not trusting God
enough to know that I would have been able to care for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the shame that I felt in my heart for
carelessly putting myself in a worldly situation to even let something like
conception occur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let Joshua know that
he was no less loved than my other 3 children and that my decision to give him
back to my Creator was not an easy one for me to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked my elders since passed on to please
care for him and I closed the prayer by asking for everyone's forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With uncontrollable crying and shaking I took
my place in the next room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A male
anesthesiologist touched my shoulder and said, “This must be your first time,
everything will be alright”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last
thing I can remember was how much emotional pain I was in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard the same anesthesiologist telling the
doctor that it was my first time and by then my legs were high in the air and I was
losing consciousness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I won’t walk anyone through the next steps at the
clinic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll fast-forward to how I felt
laying in my bed that night at home. The warmth, the fire, and the spiritual
fullness that I felt prior to the abortion were gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt an extreme emptiness, I felt sorrow, I
felt dark and I felt cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I let Satan
win that one and I was deeply ashamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called
the "would-be",father and let him know that there was no trace of pregnancy inside
of me and he was disappointed to say the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never
included him in any of the events that had taken place earlier that day and
that was just wrong. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abortion isn’t over
once the procedure has been completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
personally grieved the loss of that new life that was growing inside of me for
a very long time. I contemplated suicide for the first time in my life and I
don’t think anyone in my family understood why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was very disappointed with what I had done. Abortion was a very emotional journey for me
that I didn’t have the heart to discuss with anyone but God. Years later while
riding on a NYC train, I learned there is a website dedicated to helping women
that suffer from PASS or Post Abortion Stress Syndrome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more information, please go to </span><a href="http://www.afterabortion.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.afterabortion.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Of course, there
are many women living in our culture that appear unaffected by abortion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us have brought into the political
view of a woman’s "right" to choose and we have lost sight of some of the gruesome and
careless practices that are taking place around us and in our country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babies are such precious bundles of joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where you see no way you must know that God
will make a way and I encourage you to email me if you are struggling or need
help with an unexpected or unwanted pregnancy. By clicking the envelope on the
left hand side of this page; you will be taken directly to my email box. I
intentionally began this relationship series with, “After the Booty Call”,
because I wanted to use it as an opener for other avenues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HIV, STD’s, unwanted pregnancy, shame, hurt
and lies are all things that can directly result from having sex with someone
that you are not in a committed relationship with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This issues are tough enough for couples but imagine the thought of having to deal with these things alone.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*It was so ironic to me that Kelly Rowland released her new single this week called, "Dirty Laundry". Although the song doesn't represent this specific issue. It does discuss the importance of letting things go and being honest. We can cover things up and we can hide behind our shades but that doesnt make the hurt go away. It just encourages more hurt to develop. I hope my own naked truth will help a young woman that needs to hear it right at this very moment. Things may not be well with your circumstances, but they can be well with your soul. God Bless You All.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span></div>
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-83777275704785418682013-05-12T05:27:00.001-07:002013-05-12T05:27:17.190-07:00Young Motherhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6AIg0Pxbh4jCcWlt57k1qVvPd8xoifwXo5orAzr88s-BR1mUZt3xyhOImIv9rwK1WZ2YXEAglFdN4EBXMoz25ElkUqu95blVhVeRM6ILKPQ2DugHFV-s0eE9LkRtCZcCQFjehNakvh5A/s1600/Mommy+%2526+her+lil+ones.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6AIg0Pxbh4jCcWlt57k1qVvPd8xoifwXo5orAzr88s-BR1mUZt3xyhOImIv9rwK1WZ2YXEAglFdN4EBXMoz25ElkUqu95blVhVeRM6ILKPQ2DugHFV-s0eE9LkRtCZcCQFjehNakvh5A/s320/Mommy+%2526+her+lil+ones.bmp" width="241" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I woke up on this beautiful Mother’s Day morning and I
decided to discuss what the essence of motherhood has been like for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, I’d like to say that I have the utmost
respect for all of the mothers of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The mothers of the world are the nurturers, the supporters and the light
givers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pass the torch. Whether
you’ve birthed a child, adopted a child, donated your time as a mother-figure
to a child, supported a child, encouraged a child, or work with children, you
will want to read this post. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my journey,
I’ve been blessed to experience the inexplicable joy of motherhood and of childbirth
three times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By no means do I feel like
I have any particular expertise in this field but I will say that I’ve always
tried my best to rear three joyful children that know God’s love for them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I am quite familiar with is young
motherhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen reality TV distort
the nature of it for personal gain with shows like Teen Mom; so I decided to
share what this experience has been like for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can vividly remember thinking moments after
my oldest daughter’s birth, “What am I going to write on?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t keeping a journal at that time
because I was being physically abused by her father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly began pulling pages out of a
parenting magazine and tried my best to jot down all of my thoughts on any free
space that I could find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, I’m
almost scared to ask my mother for those early writings because I know they’ll
be so painful for me to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can tell
you this; I have never seen anything so humanly perfect before the day that my
daughter entered the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had the
cutest hands and feet that I had ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She clung to me as if her life depended on it and I realized that she
was just as acquainted with me, as I was with her, from the 9-month journey
that we had just come off of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love never
made as much sense to me as it did when I first laid eyes on that child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I could feel the love in my heart
that I had for Jesus, yet this was very different. This was like that love
magnified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, this was my
Creator’s love for me cradled in the blessing lying in the crease of my arm.
Tears would stream frequently when I came close to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would never pick her up unless the nurse at
the hospital handed her to me because I too was still just a child myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was 16 years-old when Mercedes made her
grand entrance into the world and I was no longer responsible for only myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did I have a plan?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not even the slightest. People were extremely critical of my age at that
time and of course looking back now I know why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was still in high school, I didn’t have a steady job, and I didn’t
have a remote clue of how I was going to provide for this child. There was no
fluffy bank account stashed, I didn’t have a baby shower to receive any gifts
and I definitely didn’t know how this child would get into college. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I probably should have been walking around
feeling some intense level of guilt and shame while I was pregnant but I
didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew in my heart that my child
was supposed to be here and that I was chosen by God to bring her into the
world. I felt filled with a spiritual blessing yet my reality was quite dark. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her father was a local drug-dealer in my
neighborhood so buying pampers and baby formula were no big feat for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a thinker on the other hand. I was a
writer and quite frankly I knew I should have been preparing for doom but I was
at extreme peace. Being in an abusive relationship with such a controlling man
left me with very limited access to outside resources; most controlling
individuals want the person they’re controlling to be completely codependent on
them and only them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alternative schools
for pregnant teens and young adults like, “The Door”, in NYC would have gladly
added me and Mercedes to their enrollment list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I took their pre-college assessment exam with a friend and I passed with
flying colors. Only problem was, my abuser wouldn’t “allow”, me to attend
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My new job according to him was
to, “tend” to my daughter. A young mother has to have a vision of what’s at the
end of the platform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she doesn’t,
she’ll simply tank and tanking was not an option for me. I was filled with the
Spirit and it was that same Spirit that never left my side. I lived with my
abuser who was gone for the better part of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raising my little girl each and every day
gave me joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plugging into her made the
harsh reality of my life easier to accept. Every now and then a trusted friend
would come by just to make sure that I was still alive. They know who they are
and up until today that sentiment still warms my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nurturing is instinctual and spirit guided. I
didn’t have my mother or my father on standby for when I needed to run errands,
get money or go to school. My mother resented my decision to have my child and
in her anger she withdrew her support. It was my daughter and me, day in and
day out and I think by the time she turned about three, I was her hero. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God Blessed me with two daughters between the years 1993 and
1994.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The physical endurance it took to
raise my two precious little girls at the very same time is still something I
can’t quite put into words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I write
and edit this publication I keep choking on my tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty ponytails, well-balanced dinners and
bath time were mandatory parts of my mommy job that came with no wages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My pay came from hugs, kisses and really big
smiles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My abuser was locked in prison
by early 1995 and my mommy became a sole-proprietorship that lasted until their
adult years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of love and a very
well-paying hospital job helped my daughters and me to stay afloat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love and dependence that the three of us
had for one another is what makes them being away at college so difficult for
me today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Private school, trial and
error, lots of episodes of Barney, and divine favor shown to us by our Heavenly
Creator is what ultimately carried us through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The highest reward in all of it for me has been earning the respect of two
young women old enough to be my younger sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching them fearlessly aim for their dreams
while manifesting their own destinies has been an added bonus. My youngest daughter Portia told me just last week that I'm still her hero. My journey was
different from an older more established woman’s journey of motherhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should it be embraced differently?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t really think so. I tend to view it
this way, “We all have different paths”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children make their entrance into the world
in God’s time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mothers that are
handpicked for this precious position can find a blessing in answering the
call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mothers of any age need
encouragement and support from everyone around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dealing with toddlers throwing food in your
face and smelly diapers is a really tough gig whether your 17 or 40. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Young motherhood requires even more support as
they try so desperately to raise themselves while they continue raising their
children and make the sacrifice of giving up young life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was blessed to have a lot of babysitting
years under my belt before my girls arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I began helping my grandmother to care for my younger cousins when I was
just 8. I know that gave me a loving head start for what was just around the
corner for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times, that’s how God
works.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A very unexpected miracle arrived in the form of a son later
in my 20’s. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His name is Jessiah and his light is brilliant.
I’d somehow resonated to the fact that it would always just be me and my girls.
I had a very difficult pregnancy with him yet a voice let me know one day while
I was sitting on the train that he would be alright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never wanted anything more than for him to
arrive into the world and to be ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
stay in the hospital was longer than mine and initially that was a crushing
blow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God showed up in the form of a
very gentle pediatrician that said to me, “God didn’t make any mistakes with
your baby”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Mother’s Day feels
extra special to me and for a change I’ve slowed down enough to take it all
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the pictures, all of the
school-made mommy cards, and all of the text messages I get these days; makes
every tear, every difficult time, worth it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Motherhood is an extraordinary relationship
that we have here on earth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the one
role that is always underappreciated. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world says, “Go be independent”, “Go be
liberated”, “Go be skinny”, “Go get botox”, “Chase Hollywood dreams”, but it
never says, “Go and be a Mom”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Motherhood is a sacred calling. Motherhood is selfless and it comes with
chores and nurturing that will far exceed a child turning 18 years of age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 127:3-5,
has such beautiful commentary regarding young parenthood and children, “Children
are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young
man are like arrows in a warrior’s hand. How joyful is the man whose quiver is
full of them!” In a world that has learned to use abortion as a form of birth
control I love the challenge of this verse. Mothers that celebrate their
children will raise children that celebrate their mothers. I encourage you to celebrate
the mothers in your life today! Some of us have more than one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lift them up in prayer, and let God know how
much it means to you to have them in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If your mother or your grandmother has already traveled back to heaven,
please let God know how grateful you are for the precious time that you were
blessed to have spent with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
memories of a mother’s love will live in her children eyes forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God Bless all of the Mothers of the World
today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span></div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-13427865499067521952013-05-08T11:47:00.000-07:002013-05-08T11:47:08.276-07:00The Lure of Temptation<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last month I had the opportunity to watch Tyler Perry’s
latest film entitled,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “Temptation:
Confessions of a Marriage Counselor”. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hesitated on giving early commentary on the
film mainly because I wanted to give late movie goers a chance to get out and
see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always been one to greatly appreciate
a film that forces me to think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked
away from this film stumped (in a good way), for a number of reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched the film with my young adult
daughters and it instantly sparked interaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I appreciate the way that Tyler Perry is always ready to delve head
first into those societal issues that many of us would like to turn a blind eye
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Temptation is a word that we can
explore here for hours on end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s that
distracted place that a person in a committed relationship allows themselves to
go. It’s definitely not a realm support by our Higher Power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Temptation can be the onset of complete and
total destruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Distractions within a
relationship are born from many things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The relationship may have fizzled out due to the high demands of
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be the need for one person
in the relationship to fill a void and in doing so they choose a negative way
to act that out. Some partners feel as if constant communication is too much of
a task and they shy away from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Isolation is the complete opposite of oneness in a relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s oneness that a couple needs to move
forward collectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Couples can argue
over the silliest of things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
we’re all created differently and clearly raised differently, we all have
different ways of communicating and dealing with conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us our confrontational while others
run from conflict at all costs and in turn sweep things under the rug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door that leads to temptation opens the
minute that we stop talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
stop talking, we stop communicating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This works the same way in regard to our relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible makes numerous mentions surrounding
temptation. Any Christian practicing a faithful walk with God knows that there
is a daily deliverance that we need in order to stay away from it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Matthew 6:13, the Bible says, “And don’t
let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Perry’s film, he builds upon a concept that I too have
always believed in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Experts in any area
gain their expertise through the practice of real life experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who have applied-knowledge tend to excel
and at times even have an advantage over those that have only had the
opportunity to study the practiced material in textbooks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This idea is seen in the film with Jurnee
Smollet’s character, “Judith”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judith is
a marriage counselor in the film and ultimately she gets a little too close to
one of her company’s clients<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s eager
to jumpstart her career with the wealth of knowledge that she accumulated
obtaining her Master’s Degree in Counseling. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a Christian woman that is herself married
in the film, she feels highly prepared to open her own practice and to give the
world her all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The adversity she
constantly faces in the film is coming to terms with the reality of her simple
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young couple are in their mid-twenties
she and her husband Brice played by Lance Gross, are just barely making ends
meet. Her headstrong, moralistic stance is strong early in the film as she refuses
to adhere to the modern chic/sexy dress code of the matchmaking office she’s
employed at. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a woman with a vision
fresh out of graduate school who wants to counsel couples and help them to stay
married. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds simple enough right?
Hmmmm, the plot is well set because we see that Judith is feeling underappreciated
by her young husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s early in his
career as a pharmacist and in many ways he’s just trying to establish himself as
a man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can feel the genuine love he
has for his wife who was also his childhood sweetheart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brice can’t afford fancy nights out for his
wife, he forgets her birthday and he has this innocent way of diminishing her
dreams without meaning to do so. The story takes a dark turn when Judith is given
an assignment at the office that forces her to work very closely with “Harley”,
played by Robbie Jones a very famous, young billionaire entrepreneur in the
film. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Harley is overly charming and extremely vocal in expressing
how much he admires a woman of Judith’s caliber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He plays up the victim role in his past
relationship which he claims as being the reason why he’s still single.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harley in essence is the boyfriend that every
woman wants. He’s attentive, encouraging and supportive of future
endeavors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He makes being in a relationship
what it should; an exercised team effort. Their forbidden romance spirals out
of control quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like many that fall
into the lure and then later the trap of temptation, things get rather messy.
Harley goes from charming and having sincere admiration to an aggressive pursuer
whose only mission is to remind Judith of what her husband <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doesn’t</i> do for her. The biblical theme of Adam and Eve began
running through my mind; as I closed my eyes still hopeful that Judith would stay
strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor, poor Judith, she gives in
to all of her tempter’s whispers for control and she soon finds out that he isn’t
who he originally presented to be. Brice begins to catch wind of the affair as
does Judith’s mother who is a Christian pastor in the film (played by Ella
Joyce).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We watch in awe as Judith begins
to lose herself. She changes her style of dress, the way she wears her hair, begins
abusing alcohol and cocaine and as if most disheartening she begins sleeping
with Harley. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s this underlying
theme of, “Is the grass really greener on the other side”, we soon see that clearly
that it isn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perry shows us that it’s
a small world and many things really do come to light full circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brice happens to be working with a new staff
member at the pharmacy that’s on the run from her abusive boyfriend that recently
infected her with HIV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I need to say
anymore?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Judith ultimately becomes a seasoned marriage counselor
because she can now relate to some of the real issues that married folks
struggle with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the films end, she is
somewhat crippled after a monstrosity of a beating inflicted by Harley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is HIV positive and she is very divorced from
Brice who remarries and has a child with his new wife. Brice does not contract
the virus. This is the unfortunate reality of how destructive the path of
temptation is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shocking blow of
Harley, Judith, and Brandy’s character all having HIV is a very hard pill to
swallow, while still indulging in buttered movie popcorn. The twist nearly blew
me away! I love that Perry made the consequences so extreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in a risk taking world that I
constantly see downplaying the harsh reality of real consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s love and protection can be absent when
our obedience to him is equally as absent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People are constantly targeting what they want, exercising their power
to obtain their target, and in return they are ending up with a heap of things
that they don’t want including STI’s and lots of unnecessary drama. Married
couples are falling victim to distraction and in some cases even boredom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The numbers of new HIV cases in New York City
alone is shocking; in Brooklyn, New York they’re astronomical. With rates so
high, I guarantee you that each and every one of us knows a person living with the
virus; whether or not they’ve disclosed their status to us or not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay safe, stay protected and if you are in a
marriage please don’t ever stop communicating with your spouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The minute the talking stops, the connection
stops, and temptation might just be lurking around every corner. God Bless you
all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span></span></div>
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<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-55453120526513041892013-05-03T14:30:00.000-07:002013-05-06T11:26:27.351-07:00When It All Goes Left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's pretty rare that a Hollywood story grabs my attention the way that the
Kordell Stewart “divorce-filing scandal”, from his seemingly lovely wife Porsha
D. Stewart has. I typically leave this type of blogging to the Hollywood Gossip
Blogger's because there are more than enough of these types of stories
published around the world. This touched my heart though because there is
something so innocently genuine about Mrs. Porsha. I definitely had to offer my
commentary on this one. Since the top of 2013, I've been taking some time out
to focus spiritually and I’ve been on a television fast. I honestly missed the
majority of the Atlanta Housewives 5th Season on Bravo. I did by far see enough
interaction between Mr. Stewart and his wife to develop an opinion of the pair’s
union. I think it's important to say that I think Kordell is a really good guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he has very traditional values in
regard to what the role of being a good wife consists of. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world of reality TV is still somewhat of a
blunder for me. I enjoy it at times but my approach to it is simple, detox
entertainment when I'm looking to just kick my feet up on the sofa and relax.
On the flipside, I have found that it can be infectiously poisonous to our
generation. I've even noticed that there are groups/clubs of women watching the
shows together and in some ways mocking the lifestyles of the characters.
Living beyond our means and failing to appreciate where we are currently at in
our lives can be dangerous. Porsha Stewart touched me differently than any of
the other characters that I've seen thus far on any of the current shows out. Porsha
never took me as anything other than what the show title indicates that it
represents an, "Atlanta Housewife". She was Southern, well-poised,
polite, filled with class, with just enough feistiness in her to let you know
that she's nobody's punk. This young woman has natural innocence to her that I
rarely see today. She also displays and earnestness to be a great wife and a step-mom
to Kordell’s child. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really like that!
Whether burning food in the kitchen or trying to coordinate matching outfits
for a night out with her hubby, Mrs. Porsha always puts in what seems like
extreme effort for her man.<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
The first time I observed Kordell with his wife I remember sensing or
slightly thinking that there was some level of insecurity exhibited on his
behalf. Having a flawlessly beautiful wife has to be a difficult endeavor for
any man. It was one of the early episodes when she was having a fundraiser for
her Grandfather's foundation and she introduces Kenya Moore as Miss America
versus Miss USA. He kissed his wife sweetly and seemed really enamored by her.
That event if everyone remembers was ladies only. A red flag went up
immediately with the thought of that concept because the fundraiser would have
grossed more revenue had it been co-ed. Why would a husband encourage his wife
to have a female-only event? He even made a comment like, “That’s how I like
it”. Control issues, low self-esteem and things of that nature crossed my mind
but he still just seemed very sweet to me. Controlling men are often difficult
to read. They are the men that believe that women have a traditional role to
stay in the home and to be the sole caregivers to their children. In a world
filled with strong women leaders that are caring for children and still
pursuing their own passions Kordell's outlook was a bit much for viewers. It
came across as old-school/out-dated. What I think we also got to witness as
viewers was that Porsha may not have known exactly how deeply-rooted his
traditional beliefs were until she stepped onto the RHOA platform. To be fair,
the couple has only been married just shy of two years and there is a
significant age difference of nearly 10 years between the two. There's a very
interesting twist to this story though and I think it's one that we will find
more and more talked about in our culture. Before I could finish writing this post
I had to reach out to my cousin Mark. He is the Biggest and I mean the Biggest
Pittsburg Steelers Fan that I know! Here's where it all goes left...<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
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In 1997, Kordell Stewart called a meeting with his at the time teammates to
address rumors that were beginning to surface that the star quarterback might
be gay. Kordell was seen frequenting a local park during that time that was
known as a local hangout for gay men. I started to wonder if Kordell was really
just suffering miserably in his marriage because he was suppressing his natural
desire for men. By no means am I suggesting that he didn’t just file for
divorce because he didn’t like the direction that his spouse was moving with
the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Porsha Stewart found out that
her husband filed for divorce via Twitter and I thought that was such a
low-blow. Living in the same home he never had the audacity to have the
discussion with his wife personally. I asked my cousin Mark, “What were your
feelings when the stories began circulating that the star quarterback might be gay?”
His response was quite simple and just his own honest opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to continue writing this article because
a light bulb of curiosity went off in my head. This Monday April 29, 2013, NBA
player Jason Collins became the 1<sup>st</sup> athlete in the association to
announce that he is openly and actively gay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I thought, “BINGO!” The story broke just 3 days after I started writing
this post and I thought, “Wow, what a coincidence”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched video interviews on the internet
with Jason’s ex-fiancée who spent 8 years of her life devoted to him. A
compellingly understanding woman, Carolyn Moos stated that she didn’t have the slightest
idea that Jason was gay. She went on to say that society needs to take a look
at how it treats people and players. She points out the lack of support society
offers when it comes to homosexuality. Commendably, she went on to say that she
is happy for Jason and that he in turn deserves happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
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Luckily, Jason has received an outpour of support from the media, his team
members, family and friends including unexpected support and encouragement from
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Carolyn was deeply saddened in
2009 when Jason unexpectedly called off their engagement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hurt that she reports she is still
struggling with till this day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
happening in the world that we live in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Have we become so disgustingly judgmental that gay men feel like they
have to hide within the walls of heterosexual marriage? Is this the only way
they feel like they will be accepted? How many children are being born into
homes with gay fathers that are pretending to be straight for the sake of
acceptance? I do hope that this isn’t the case with Porsha and
Kordell,Stewart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the event that it is,
I pray that he too find the courage to live in his own skin. I believe that
Jason Collins has opened the door for other gay men that are struggling with
the fear of coming out and disclosing their sexual preference. It’s only in our
personal truth that we find healing and comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to stop pointing fingers when we
encounter what is unnatural for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are all brothers and sisters and we need to support one another accordingly. Life
is difficult enough without having to be what we aren’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll continue to bring stories like this to
you throughout this relationship series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Later this month I’ll be interviewing author, B Styliz Ortiz
(www.bstylizortiz.com), who wrote the book, “Pretty Boy with the House in
Virginia”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be uncovering his
personal experiences with stories just like these; stories that involve men
that are in heterosexual relationships but are secretly (unknowingly to their
spouses) homosexual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll be discussing
the dangers that some of these relationships can involve; the hurt and
rejection that they can cause and how some folks end up being exposed to or
even contracting HIV-(the “House in Virginia”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This series is going to be an awesome journey of eye-opening
knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s Go!<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
Much Luv,<br />
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-33459258420666433252013-04-30T07:53:00.003-07:002013-05-06T11:30:32.122-07:00Introducing My Spring Relationship Series Kick-Off
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm so excited to launch my new relationship series!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
spring relationship series will include a little bit of everything for
everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've been studying some of the
most intense relationships over the past year (including my own failed attempt),
and some of what I've learned has been shocking!!! My firmest and most concrete
understanding of all that I’ve learned is this: God is Love! He wants what is
best for each of us in every single situation and it’s really just that
simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When something doesn’t feel
right instinctually, 9 out of 10 God isn’t involved in it at all. Our culture
has seemingly fallen asleep and in its slumber has found ways to shut out God’s
Love and even worse to ignore it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
discovered that for most people it’s easier to fall victim to our more natural sinful nature
then to put in the hard work and effort that it takes to do what’s right.
Building character submerged in integrity in a world that’s built on lies isn’t
always an easy feat. Across the board I’m finding that relationships that are
built on the Word of God, in Honor, in Truth, in Commitment, in Loyalty and in Love are the
ones that have the most endurance and the greatest chance of survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All relationships in general require an
unbelievable amount of physical and mental patience and perseverance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living with and adjusting to your mate’s personality,
beliefs, customs and character traits, won’t be easy all of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be impossible for anyone to think
that marriage is some sort of constant joy ride on the back of a truck filled
with haystacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The couples that learn to lean on God’s
understanding versus their own understanding will always have an advantage to
overcome the adversity of normal bickering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These couples are
enlightened with the knowledge to understand that only God’s unfailing Love can
sustain their union. A minister from California, Patricia Ashley, puts it this
way, “God Loves your mate more than you do”. “God will work it out.” These
principles can apply to singles that are looking for love as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Singles need to be aware that even in times of
loneliness, despair, and struggle; God is preparing someone special to love,
care and to protect your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
careful observation these are some of the conclusions that I’ve come to but
it’s taken me some time. For some additional guidance with this I advise both men and women to read Ephesians 5 in the Bible, which offers a spiritual guide to relationships. I found additional support for healthy relationships in the Book of Titus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I think
you’ll find most interesting is the wealth of information that I’ve collected on a whole for this series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to have conversations that were
extremely uncomfortable, listen to music that makes me cringe and really try to
get to the root of what is tearing us away from finding spiritual long-lasting Love in a very cold and evil world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instagram, Reality Television, Facebook,
Online-Dating sites, Over-zealous rappers (degrading women in every sense of
the word), Women compromising their morals with jobs that are defiling, are just some of the outlets to name a few that are actively working
against our favor. Let’s take this journey together so that I can fully dissect
everything that I encountered carefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ‘m
hoping that once we get through the mud we can start working on the solutions
to some of what I see as being our biggest issues in a divorce centered
culture. Spring is a season of cleansing and renewal and I've always felt that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that by bringing some of these issues
to the forefront we can move forward in positive unison. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our culture is still harboring harsh opinions about
homosexuality. I've discovered how this is backfiring and spilling over into some of our seemingly heterosexual relationships. Men that are uncomfortable with fully coming out of
the closet are actually getting involved with heterosexual women and in some
instances even marrying and having babies with these women. This down-low lifestyle is being used as a means to cover-up
their gay reality and is a major contributing factor in spreading STI's. This month I'll be interviewing Author B. Styliz Ortiz who wrote the book, "Pretty Boy With The House in Virginia". This writer from Brooklyn, speaks candidly in his book about struggling with HIV and the dangers of promiscuity. B. Styliz Ortiz also has a blogsite that you can read on wordpress, at: <a href="http://prettyboywithhiv.wordpress.com/">http://prettyboywithhiv.wordpress.com</a>. Before ever learning of B's story on Twitter I was learning much of this little dirty secret world from my own friends and it was quite shocking to me! Awareness is my biggest, biggest goal for Summer 2013 and I can't emphasize that enough. The culture that we live in today focuses so much on
oneness and independence that it's easy to lose sight on the importance of Love and interdependence
in the midst of it all. Singer Pink has this great song out now featuring Nate Ruess called, "Just Give Me a Reason", and it offers so much hope for couples that have hit that ugly brick wall that seems so impossible to climb over. This is the Hope that so many of us have lost in our loves and this season I pray earnestly that we get it back! Every relationship isn't meant to be left flat or to just walk away from. Some relationships are truly Blessings from God that we just have to work through a tiny bit. When the name of another person is written on your heart, why just walk away? We can learn to love again if we just realize that, "We're not broken, just bent". I'm so optimistic this season and I so want to be here every step of the way to answer your questions and to offer you the best possible advice I can. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I promise in the midst of this series I will post a live video message for my readers. I'll check to see where we're at with the series and you'll get a little inside view of my life as a writer. I'm excited to begin this journey with you! I decided to start the series with, "After The Booty Call", which is already posted. I want to bring light to the darkest areas first so that we can shift into the light of healthy love. I'm excited!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let's Talk About It...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
Much Luv,</div>
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-91653544027776363312013-04-28T09:26:00.001-07:002013-05-13T05:39:42.879-07:00After The Booty Call<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBObHnUHU7jIPBUf0J7HmcfkUkxosP-vzDkqUKfSQnZIVauB2YHukcxboVWEifyxOB-U0cSYRE-ddiJ6fkKvv7mSsYWHFwSYor87jfsfNTmADhXTv6vzvYhFFJzyPE6j2s14K-s0T2BIw/s1600/Booty+Call.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBObHnUHU7jIPBUf0J7HmcfkUkxosP-vzDkqUKfSQnZIVauB2YHukcxboVWEifyxOB-U0cSYRE-ddiJ6fkKvv7mSsYWHFwSYor87jfsfNTmADhXTv6vzvYhFFJzyPE6j2s14K-s0T2BIw/s320/Booty+Call.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This Spring I’d
like to kick off a new relationship series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I want to touch upon the good, the bad, and whatever else is in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been a while since I’ve done this and my
intuition tells me that now is the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Many readers have been here since I've started this crazy journey that I call my life nearly 3 years ago. For that I'm humbly grateful and I have to truly send all of you my sincerest thanks. I've been very open with these pages and that will never change about me. Through my ups and my downs, my highs and my lows, you have been here and that amazes me. It's been an uphill battle filled with lots of growing pains, lots of tears, lots of shame and learning, yet lots of joy & plenty of God's Love. The positive feedback that I receive from the majority of you is what always keeps me coming back. </span>I’d like
to give way to this new series and extend my hand to those that need it the most. What
I want all of you to know before we begin is that any relationship that isn’t
deeply rooted in the Love of God is destined for disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For my Ladies, this Spring I want to encourage
you to have standards, set limits and know your boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even more so, I
want to encourage you to have high standards; the type of standards that demand
a man’s respect and don’t give way to the social media traps that society has set us up for. Fellas, I challenge you to find that amazing woman that makes you want to give her your absolute best! A Lady that makes giving her your best the most amazing feeling ever! I'm gonna dig really deep with this one. Some of the content will be uncomfortable but we'll work through it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I decided to
write this post in an attempt to reach out to my young sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not insinuating that my older sisters aren’t
still struggling with this one but I realize its way harder to teach an old dog
new tricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me start out by saying
that my booty call days are long behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When God’s Grace touches the heart of a woman there’s an amazing
transformation that begins to take place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sinful nature is avoided at all costs and God’s Love replaces
self-hatred. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Situations that I would have
compromised my soul for are no longer nor will they ever be options for my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a vision earlier today and I
remembered my own booty call days and the emptiness that always followed
immediately after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was definitely
instant gratification that came from being in the company of and held by a man
for one-night, a few weeks or in some instances a few months but the scars of
emptiness left behind with these temporary relationships was never worth the
pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking back I can remember
waiting anxiously for that after phone call or text message. Just something to
wash away the shame and feeling of guilt that lingered that following day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Realizing that I was sleeping with someone
that refused to make a monogamous commitment to me as if I was on probation and
they had to observe if I was worth the price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Looking back I wish I had just one positively strong female in my life
that would have said, “Baby, you are not a loaner vehicle to be driven around
until this man decides if he wants to keep you or not”. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being a writer
gives me the opportunity to speak to so many women from so many different
backgrounds. I get to hear their perspective of what a booty call is to them.
It saddens me that across the board many women often try to sell me on the convenience
of these short-term rendezvous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s
convenient for me because I’m not looking for anything serious at this time.”
is what I hear the most. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My thoughts are always like, “Huh, what in the
hell is convenient about letting a man into your personal space, to defile your
body, and then leave you emotionally malnourished with inconsistent
communication, which often times is initiated at his leisure?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My last booty call was the worse and was the
“eye-opener”, or so to speak for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
young man was very much my junior in age and he had this youthful spontaneous
energy that one just doesn’t have when one is a responsible adult holding down
a home, a car, bills and most importantly children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admired his carefree way of being and his
ability to completely abandon any emotional attachment to our situation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one particular evening we broke the entire
frame of my bed and I remember thinking, “This is ridiculous, and this needs to
end”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the type of intimate and physical
relationship that I’d want to have with my future husband not a man that’s
leaving me completely unsatisfied emotionally when he walks out the door.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why would I
compromise my standards?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why was I ok
with doing what everyone else around me was doing? Women tend to be nurturing
and caring beings by birthright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll
see one of our best girlfriend’s about to hit a brick wall and instead of
slapping her with a dose of tough love reality we’ll play the devil’s advocate
and say things like, “Girl, you have that young man sprung”, or even more
dreadful, “Girl you still got it!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
make matters even worse, we’ll pick-up the phone shortly after and tell another
girlfriend how stupid we think the first girlfriend is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Foolish encouraging words of self-destruction
circulate around our friendships that aren’t submerged in truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, I’ve learned to become my own
best-friend in these instances and I found a lovely 25 year-old young lady to
introduce to that particular young man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I removed myself completely from the situation because in addition to
selling myself out, I was also defiling my temple; the beautiful body that God
has given me to share with a man that I’m fully committed to in God’s image of
Love. The Bible sums it up very nicely in 2 Timothy 2:22 “Run from anything
that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness,
love and peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this new age
of Instagram and Facebook, I see how easy social media steers my young sisters
toward soul-selling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We take pictures of
our every movement throughout the course of our day and in most instances we
get feedback from men that are attracted to the physical assets we readily put
on display.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many, “likes” a young
woman gets in an hour begins to become her validation of self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many men will want to link up with her
based solely on her publically displayed sex appeal, image (or lack thereof), and
the idea that her Instagram Love doesn’t cost a damn thing. This is where some
of the most un-meaningful relationships will begin. We have set new lows for
women in our society; talk of God and of the church becomes that of the radical
Christian that no one wants to be associated with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s way easier to do what everyone else is
doing and continue selling out the one person that you need to rely on the
most...yourself. One young lady in her late 20’s recently told me that her
boyfriend, (whom she met on Instagram) actually “deserved” some sex from her after
sending her flowers multiple times and taking her out on occasion. This is the
mentally that we buy into when we refuse to pull out our pencil and paper and
really reevaluate what our relationship goals are. In a society that is ravaged
with the virus HIV how we’re not asking for a person status at the top of our
goal list is simply absurd to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If the
long-term goal is marriage or let’s say that the short-term goal is simply a
committed relationship then I can promise you booty calls are not going to
bring you any closer to either of the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having sexual intercourse with a man is like allowing him an up-close
and personal communion with your soul. Spirit to spirit contact is what leaves
a woman feeling so empty after a booty call encounter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The emptiness comes from the intertwinement
of the two souls. We’re spiritual beings before anything else. Young men have
become so desensitized to sex with young women that many times there is zero
regard for any type of on-going communication after the initial encounter unless
of course, it involves more sex. My analogy for this is just a sleeping
subconscious that allows both parties to forget the true nature of what we were
created as humans to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were created
to love one another. The sleepy state-of-mind that many of us are in prevents
us from igniting that flame of God that lives right inside of our inner
core.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really need to start paving the
pavement more often. I need to come up with a questionnaire for young couples
that are participating in these non-contractual and dangerous sexcapades. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re unhealthy, unsafe, and in many cases
they’re the root to why many of us have so many trust issues to begin with. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, if you
find yourself wondering what the next step is after the booty call. Then my
advice to you would be to take matters into your own hands and make the next
step. Ask God for the guidance that only he can offer and tell the young man
that you’re involved with that you mistakenly lowered your standards but that
moving forward you won’t be able to continue on that road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may have to simply sacrifice having
anything with him altogether but I promise you that in the long-run nothing
will feel better than having respect for yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s start spring off with the fresh renewal
of Life that it represents. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep God’s
Love first and you’ll always remember that His Love is all you need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In times of loneliness, trust, lean on and
talk to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that God wants you
to have all the wonderful things that this life has to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That includes a loving Husband to “protect”, “provide”
and “profess” (Steve Harvey’s 3 P’s theory), his love for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wishing you
colorful and passionate Love built on God’s rock this season!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Love you all and want the absolute best for
each and every one of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s move
toward love, marriage, family and stability. Let’s refrain from participating
in booty calls. A season of building up versus spreading apart and tearing down! Let's go Ladies...R-E-S-P-E-C-T!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-14561318738845806182013-04-22T06:26:00.001-07:002013-05-06T11:38:56.798-07:00222 And Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyS30n__jBIqnHNoKzQvPiC41h5DQdqx9krwsIlqPUnuyvUDbDcMaCACKc__Io70gTJVJsxhitbXUKYDBvQUi4atznHzcVZ0mMOw8prxcy61MdIEAkNolMgWxq-BnL2meMiYtoCwviID9/s1600/SAM_1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyS30n__jBIqnHNoKzQvPiC41h5DQdqx9krwsIlqPUnuyvUDbDcMaCACKc__Io70gTJVJsxhitbXUKYDBvQUi4atznHzcVZ0mMOw8prxcy61MdIEAkNolMgWxq-BnL2meMiYtoCwviID9/s320/SAM_1085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For at least 5 years now, I can trace the trailing of the
number 222 in my life. As peculiar as it may sound at first, this number has a
way of following me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see it at the
most random times on some of the most random things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times, it’s the time on a digital clock
or on my cell phone, but it’s also been the price that I pay for a particular
item at a store, an address, the numbers on a license plate or as seen in the
picture above, the time to return on a parking meter ticket. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a number that speaks to me so much so that
I mentioned it to my Aunt one day. I was trying to figure out if there was any type
of family linage to the number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought
I came close, when I realized that both my cousin and my grandfather died on
the 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> day of a month but more recently I came up with a much
better understanding. I was blessed when a friend was honest in sharing his similar
peculiar occurrences with the number 444. He did some internet research and
came up with a way better explanation than I had for my number sequence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always associated numbers with the Bible
and therefore numbers have a very spiritual significance to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when my friend mentioned that he had discovered
that 444 was actually his Angel Number I was profoundly intrigued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He directed me to a blog that he discovered
in connection with his number sequence. I was able to read all about the
significance of his numbers and how they apply to his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to delve further and investigate my
own number and I plugged in 222 to the site search engine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>222, has felt like it belongs to me since it
has been with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a personal
attachment that I am unable to quite explain with words to this number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When something personal is going on in my
life and I see those three 2’s pop up, I know that there’s something I should
or shouldn’t do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost as if the
numbers are trying to tell me something or even possibly confirm or deny
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this has ever happened to
you then please continue reading because you too may discover the meaning of a
number sequence in your life. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The blog I was led to belongs to a woman by the name of
Joanne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The site, called Joanne’s Sacred
Scribes can be found right here on Blogspot at: </span><a href="http://www.sacredscribesangelnumbers.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.sacredscribesangelnumbers.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
From the moment I logged onto her blog to read about my friend’s numbers I knew
there was something very legitimately spiritual about the explanation in bold print
before my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, I
couldn’t relate to his numbers but as I continued to read I was very eager to
see how my own numbers would be defined. I had previously heard of spirit
guides and I believe very much in guardian angels so the text was nothing that
I struggled with on a spiritual level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Realistically, I would imagine that the Loving God that I serve
“appoints” a guide or an angel to protect me and to help me along on my
journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is difficult in so many
ways and many times we don’t know which way to turn when we are faced with one
particular situation or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I didn’t
realize was that these guardian angels and/or spiritual guides could reach us
in such a prominent way with such purposeful intent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joanne’s detailed explanations immediately
reminded me of the prophet Daniel in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the Book of Daniel, he was often called upon to interpret visions and
dreams for King Nebuchadnezzar. He was able to do so in such a detailed way
that none of the fortune tellers, astrologers or magicians could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joanne’s writing in all of its simplicity
seemed to be deeply rooted and touched by God. I was in awe as I read how
precise her explanation of my number sequence seemed in parallel to all areas
of my life. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this past year I’ve learned so much about the power of
prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also learned so much about
the power of believing in those prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most people lose their belief in their petitions before God can ever
answer them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be the first to admit
that I don’t pray with the type of fervor that the Bible speaks of. That type
of fervor that gets answers from God and waits on guidance from the Holy
Spirit. When we listen to God’s Word; God listens to our petitions in
return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Book of 1 John 3:22 says
this regarding prayer, (NLT), “<span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">22 </span></sup>And we will
receive from Him whatever we ask because we obey Him and do the things that
please Him”. There’s a dual partnership between the petitioner and God in regard
to prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One that requires the
petitioner to uphold the Word of God and to walk in a way that is pleasing to
our Heavenly Father. What stood out most to me when I read Joanne’s blog was
her mention that my petitions were being heard yet patience was being required
on my behalf by my Angels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was so
deep for me and something I very much needed to hear as I continue to grow in
my relationship of Faith and Hope with God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often pray for things with haste and when I
don’t see a quick remedy I move on and start praying for something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I completely let go of the importance of the
original petition and that’s why hence it’s never answered. To read that my
petitions were being heard was so awesome to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The life that I have imagined for myself as a
successful writer has never withered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Writing from my heart motivated by the Spirit of God that lives inside
of me has always been my hope. I’ve never doubted that he hears me yet reading
it bought about additional reassurance that felt really good. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bold light, and a life directed by God’s
Grace, is what many of us are searching and longing for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My biggest desire through my work and my writing
is to please God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing more
important to me during my journey here...nothing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to encourage, uplift and motivate my
readers to live their best lives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want
to be of service to each of you, yet I need my Creator to look down and to be
pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people are surprised when
I tell them that I’m born in the 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> month, of 1977, and that the
numbers of the day in which I was born the 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, equal 7 if added
like this, (2 + 5 =7). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve heard people
say the number 7777, will equal great miracles in a person’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I intend to do my part and be adherent those
miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this very moment without
anything concrete to support my theory, I know that my writing and the words of
The B.C. Chronicles will extend throughout the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that children will be touched by my
work although I am not exactly sure how. A day will come when I will pass out
colorful writing journals and pens to small children. I will encourage them to
write whatever comes to their innocent minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They can write about their best day at school or at home, their favorite
teacher or pet or about what they want to be when they grow up. My motivation
will be that they never stop writing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The free-spirits of this world need
encouragement to share their talents. I believe the world is truly a better
place with those unique and talented individuals that may not have always fit
in, made friends easily, or that were never really accepted by the majority. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To know that each of us have Angels in our
corner that want us to succeed, to be fruitful and that want to help guide us
keenly from the spiritual realm is awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If only one of my readers connect with this
post and get to find the meaning of a number sequence that has been following
them; I will be immensely happy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
share our truth with one another we grow as human beings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some, this concept will be difficult to
grasp because it doesn’t fall under the school of logic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never did too well in that school </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wishing you Blessings, Love, Hope and Peace
as always; God Bless you all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span></span></div>
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-81756474916256383742013-03-19T09:26:00.002-07:002013-05-07T06:17:09.780-07:00The Power of Love<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In order for one to write about the sweetness of Love, one
has to truly believe in the power of it. The Power of Love is magnetic and I believe in
it strongly! The Bible explains it this way in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “Three
things will last forever-faith, hope and love-and the greatest of these is
love”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s an electricity that one
feels instantaneously the moment that their feelings of love or attraction are
reciprocated by the one that they want in return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the Power of Love. The Bible goes on
to explain that, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance” 1 Corinthians 13:7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn’t it be so sweet if marriages in
America were built on this verse? There is something so powerful in the word
endurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Permanence” and “duration”
are some of the words that Webster’s Dictionary uses to define endurance. Imagine
if we lived in a world where people would fight for their Love instead of
against one another. I think the Power of Love directly coincides with the
Power of Forgiveness. I pray that my next encounter with love will be my last.
I promise to Love, Honor and Cherish every moment of it. I’m excited for it
even though it hasn’t happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
the Power of Hope. In the interim, I practice faithfully loving God. Our
relationship has gotten so much deeper than ever before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waking up daily for prayer, and morning
devotionals have helped me to delve into a much better understanding of how our
Heavenly Creator operates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is Love
and all he wants from his children is love in return. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My time spent with God has made me realize my dependency on
His love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similar to being in a
relationship with a man, parent or with one of my children I never want to be
without God’s Love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a single or a
married person takes the time to firmly root their relationship with God; that
borne fruit can be counterproductive in one’s other relationships. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where the Grace of God takes us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t the concept simply magnificent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve totally conditioned myself to understand
that without my Creator’s Love in my life I will fail miserably at trying to extend
my Love to a life partner or to anyone else for that matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patience and Love completely coincide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve learned through years of impatience how
important it is to actually have patience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When entering a relationship with a patient ear you can listen even more
intently. One of my biggest weaknesses is my inability to listen effectively;
people that talk a great deal typically suffer with this as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
walked away from my last relationship not knowing anything of real significance
about the person that I thought I wanted to marry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other than reading about his personality in
the results of a popular on-line exam; I didn’t know anything concrete,
significant or really personal about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ultimately, I walked away feeling empty and very embarrassed by
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With every experience we have the
opportunity to learn something about ourselves and to do better in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Power of Love will defy any human odds over the outcome.
The Bible says this in Mark 10:9, “Therefore what God has joined together, let
no one separate”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By couples taking the
time out to really listen to one another; they have a strong chance of avoiding
any miscommunication that could later lead to hard feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Defining the relationship constantly is also
key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have questions for your
significant other just ask them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within the
first year of marriage or any serious new relationship I would advise the
couple to hibernate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this hibernation
period the couple should have the opportunity to acclimate to one another’s
needs, wants, ideas and desires for their relationship. The Power of their Love
will have a real chance to flourish because outside influences will be kept at
bay. Having the chance to figure out what they both want without the judgment,
advice or opinions of friends and family members can create a strong foundation
between the couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By no means, am I
suggesting cutting friends and family off during this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all wear different hats with our relatives
and friends than we do in our relationship. If someone you’re considering getting
deeply involved with says to you, “My mother is my best friend”. I would have
to question where do you fit into that relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there even room for you to be a part of
that friendship? We have a responsibility to actively hear what people say when
they say it, and even more importantly to accept it rather than to think that
we can change it later on down the line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can’t just fill-in the missing blanks or make things up as we go
along. We can’t interpret things the way we “think” they should be or make
assumptions on our partners’ behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
example, I couldn’t expect that person to ever make me his best friend if he
was acknowledging that the position was already filled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now had he said something more hopeful to me
like, “My Mother is my best friend yet I would love for the woman in my life to
eventually fill that space?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might
have visualized the statement with an idea that implicated a long-term commitment.
As I mentioned earlier, the Love seed needs to be watered constantly in order to
grow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In conclusion, with long-temperance and a still spirit we
can learn to be way more accepting of everything that God gives us. That
includes the good, the bad, and the ugly. In God’s time, He will introduce you
to the one that he has handpicked, reared and guided directly to you and for
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That blissful moment will be
impactful and your intuition will awaken you to realize that you don’t want to
spend another living day without that special person. Embrace, give thanks and
cherish every single moment of your Love for the Blessing that it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always believing and knowing that its powerful
force will never die when it’s true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Come rain or shine the two of you will grow closer and closer to one another
with each passing day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love holds no
records and if you focus on planning your marriage versus your wedding day
things will always remain solid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Relationships are easy to walk away from but very hard to endure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person that God has picked for you will
never walk away from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will be tested
with temptation as we all are but they will never find it easier to take refuge
in another because you will mean that much to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t that sound sweet? </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m praying that the renewal of spring 2013 brings fresh and
fragrant Love to each of your lives; May God Bless You all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span></div>
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891147390226720630.post-47933439230401093402013-03-16T17:02:00.000-07:002013-03-16T17:02:28.956-07:00So Many Failed Attempts<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Someone asked me the other day, “BC, how’s your relationship
with your Dad?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt this immediate sadness
come over me as I carefully thought of my answer. Before I could speak it, my
heart was warmed with the feeling of holding his strong hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Pops” has always meant the world to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My protector, my provider and the first man I
ever loved and trusted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could it be
that so many years have gone by without us speaking or writing one another?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Déjà vu flooded my mind, as I remembered Pops
and I going to visit his father in the hospital while he was on his death
bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pops didn’t want him to die and he
had not made peace with him in this life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All I could remember him saying was that they never got along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pops and I on the other hand were like two
peas in a pod. We were both Leo’s (me in July him in August), we were both the
center of attention in our worlds and I could never imagine us being
inseparable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How someone could be asking
me about him in 2013 and I not have something positive to say like, “My
relationship with my Dad is perfect!” “My Father is so proud of the woman that
I have become.” I thought, “Oh Heavenly Father, what have I done? How in the
world could I be so cold to the one man that has always given me the softest
part of his heart?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagined my sit
down in Heaven with Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
could see Jesus saying, “My child you were told to Honor your mother and father”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a disappointing response I would have to
offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I haven’t spoken to my Dad in
years?”; “Oh My God, Why BC?” the next question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To avoid further embarrassing myself I just
said, “We had a fallen out”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The actual
answer should have been, “I didn’t get my way, and I stopped contacting him”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What an evil person I must be to do such a thing. My father
told me, “No”, at the one time in my life that I needed a, “Yes”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My father never knew what I was going through
behind the scenes because I’m very careful at protecting the feelings of the
people that I care about the most. I was facing rejection and heartache by my youngest
child’s father like I had never experienced thus far in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had I been younger and hurt I would have just
run to my Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would have picked me
up and carried me to comfort like he always did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God Blessed me immensely with the father that
he chose for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t tell you how
accident prone I was as a child (I’m still an accident prone adult as well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pops was just always there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He bandaged my cuts and bruises, pulled my
hair away from my face when I had to vomit and always, always, always tucked me
in at night with the big kisses that only he could provide. The scent of his
Jovan Musk is something that I will die with embedded in my senses. How could I
expect him to know that I was hurt or that I needed him if I wasn’t willing to
share what I was going through at the time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pops had other children and they shared everything with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I being an isolated only child didn’t really
understand how to do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fondest
memory of him is that he never stopped listening to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone that knows a writer, knows that we
talk about everything and we can go on and on with great detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can captivate a moment with our words and
make you feel like you were there. His long fingers and 6’2”, stature always
made me feel safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad would have
gone to the ends of the earth for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
biggest fear in life is that the next time I lay eyes on him will be the same
way it was when we went to that hospital to see his Dad; “Father God, why is
life so immensely complicated?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I looked for my Dad in every relationship that I ever had.
One failed attempt after another, and I don’t know if I should be happy or
embarrassed to say that no one quite measured up to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dad is that awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hands-on man that can paint, cook, clean, fix
things, care and provide for his children and still manage to extend his hand
to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t make them like him
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always knew that he would
walk me down the aisle when I got married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also knew that he would have, “the talk”, with whomever I married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that my Father was not pleased that I
had children out of wedlock, yet and still he supported me regardless. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Father believed in my ability when I
stopped believing in myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m what
you call flighty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the going gets
tough I run to avoid life’s issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
hurt my father many times by this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never
opening up and never being able to truly lean on him the way I did as a
child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say the way to a person’s
heart is food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Father always made it
his business to feed me and to feed me well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Holding my hand, listening to me, explaining how important the Chicago
Bulls and Michael Jordan were are things that my Pops did for me. I can think
back to a particular summer day when my sweet tooth was fully charged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ate so much junk that day and my Dad said, “Bobbi,
you are going to get sick”, but like a glutton I just kept going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dad had a waterbed back then and when I
finally settled down to watch TV…oh my, was I sick and I mean really sick. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Dad took care of me without ever feeling
the need to say, “I told you so”, and that is the type of relationship I’ve
searched for as an adult. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I did come close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know that for certain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my
relationship with Citrus, I can honestly say that even his voice reminded me of
my father in his younger days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
character, long fingers, love of basketball and stature were also a huge
contribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Failed attempts at Love
are like tripping and falling in the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s painful, but it’s also terribly embarrassing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfailing Love is so hard to come by in a
world that is cultivated by logic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is no space for logic in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most
analytical thinkers will still only feel love with their heart muscles. Love is
simply a feeling, but it’s everything. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love needs more love to grow, the way a plant
needs water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every attempt at love isn’t
going to be successful attempt and that’s why it’s an attempt. It’s very important
to walk away from each attempt with more wisdom than you walked in with to
begin with. Love can be so bittersweet at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love is the most special and intimate feeling
we can have here on earth. The best advice that I can offer my readers on
failed attempts at Love is consciousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many fall into the trap of wanting to fill the void of being alone. Take
the, “lonely time”, to study what you could have done better, what you’ve
learned and more importantly what you want for the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always live in the moment and acknowledge
every sensation of your pain. It’s ok to be hurt because hurt feelings are an
affirmation that you loved hard.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe in loving hard and I also believe that love holds
no records.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wronged doings will always
be forgiven in a love that’s for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Love never gives up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
enduring, unfailing and absolutely unending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Love is sweet, and it’s so very kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s gentle, humble, righteous and unconditional. My Father taught me
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in my wrongs, his Love never
faltered or died. I walked away from my Father’s love and I will have to live
with that for a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has anyone
ever asked you what your relationship with your Father was like ladies? Fellas,
how is your relationship with your Mom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The answer to these questions will be a major contributing factor as far
as what you will and won’t accept in a relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want you to also keep firmly implanted in
your mind that what and who is for you will be just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is God’s Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What God brings together, no man can
separate. You won’t have to sell yourself or make someone see what they can’t
naturally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If for some reason, they don’t
see you, then that just means it’s time for you to move onto the person that
will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can still love them and want
what is best for them yet you owe it to yourself to keep moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times, I long to be that small child
that waited and depended on my Father for everything; as we’d cruise in his
Blue Mercury, Topaz listening to Luther Vandross I knew that we would always be
one in each other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, today
that just isn’t the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today our
relationship is non-existent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to
be the adult-child and leave him responsible to look for me versus me having to
continually find him</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That probably isn’t going to happen and such
is life. They say that a girl has to kiss many frogs before finding her true
Prince Charming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let your heart be open
and full at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One person’s trash
will always be another person’s treasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stay strong and keep your Faith in the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God Bless You All.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Special thanks to Mrs.
Beyonce Knowles-Carter. After watching her HBO Documentary, “Life is but A
Dream”, I realized how fragile I too felt because of my non-existent yet quite
fixable relationship with my Dad. Thank God for my Blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The B.C. Chronicles is where I talk out loud.
When I don’t have answers I still find refuge here on these pages that belong
to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much Luv,</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r208/jennisajoy/OUAB/bcsigcopy.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0