Yayyyyyyy I just put up a new layout and I’m happy with it. Color scheme is similar to before so it was pretty smooth updating. I was inspired by that Itunes Commercial with Coldplay. I love that commercial. Very stunning work.

My niece is also here from out of town and I’m so excited to have her here. I dont feel like posting pictures now but I will as the week goes on. I want to take her to the beach. She is the most precious and beautiful little person I’ve seen.

In other news, if you havent noticed, I changed the quote in my side panel to:

When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly. -Edward Teller

I really like this quote. Some people may take it mistakenly and think the author is saying that because of faith it HAS to work out. But again its all in how a person looks at the situation. In the end faith is not just believing something will go exactly how you want, its just believing that whatever happens it was meant for good. There are a lot of things in this life I wanted to go a certain way but thank God it didn’t. There have been a lot of times when I did not know how I was going to make good of a situation but good did come of it.

Its about your attitude. We can only control so much in this life so we have to make what we can of it. Try your best to take something positive from EVERY situation no matter how big, small, good, or horrible it may be. Make use of it all.

I think that is how some people are able to work their way from so far below. Its not easy but they had to come to a point in their life where they decided to make the best of each and ever situation. That is truly taken advantage of what life has to offer. If its just a little experience or a big change in yourself, whatever it may be, its another step closer to becoming the person you want to be.

I’m not always good with words and I hope I was able to express this the way I would have liked. In either event please feel free to tell me what you get from it. I always appreciate different viewpoints.

Thats all for tonight. I’m tired and I have a long weekend ahead of me in South Beach. I’ll have a lot to talk about when I come back. YAY!

Someone posted this on a messageboard and it really touched me. I hope you all are blessed by it as well

Just look at you with your pretty self. You are so beautiful!!
Not only are you beautiful, but you have the nerve to be talented and
gifted by God.
Hold your head up girl and know that you are loved and appreciated.
Don’t give the enemy any place to cause you to have low self-esteem or
doubt. You are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made.
This is your year to decree it and speak it! This is the year of new
beginnings. So, get your step on girl!!
God is faithful to perform all that He has promised to you!
Be confident in Him and His word. The words you speak from your mouth
determine your outcome. Why not speak good and positive things over your
life girl? You are not defeated but rather you are more than a
conqueror. You have been through a lot in your life and look at you now,
just as pretty and as strong as ever!
Oh, how blessed you are! Look what God has done throughout your life
and look where He has brought you from. Begin to bless God and praise
Him for all that He has done in your life, and for making you so
beautiful!
He had you in His precious hands all the time. Your life is
orchestrated by Him. He knows you and what is best for you. Believe
that He has even greater things in store for you and your family. Girl,
get over the silly stuff and grab hold of faith. Seek God as never
before. Sure, times are hard but God is good. Learn to love who He has
made you. There is no one like you!!
Enjoy Jesus and enjoy life girl!
This was written especially for you (with your beautiful self)
~Author Unknown~

What if you slept? And what if, in your sleep, you dreamed?
And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven
and there plucked an strange and beautiful flower?
And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand?
Ah, what then?

-Samuel Taylor Coleridge

First of all I want to say that I truly and highly appreciate all the feedback I have received on the first quotations post. I havent been able to do it daily as I planned to but at least I got the chance to read all of your responses. I saw the quote above today and I was just going to skip on by it but I kept reading it again. I think its a beautiful quote and also inspiring. I always encourage people to follow their dreams b/c I was always raised to follow mine. I’m so thankful for my family always being supportive of what I wanted to do, even if they did not understand.

I look at people, for example, like Oprah (who is a inspiration to me). I may not always agree with what she does or says but one thing I do admire about her is the hard work she put in to get where she is today. I think we take for granted her image and who she is NOW and forget who she USED to be. Her success wasnt given to her on a silver platter. Not only did she have to deal with discrimination as a woman, she had to deal with it as a black woman. Especially in the times she grew up in so I highly commend her.

Thats what having dreams is all about, its daring to not only visualize and see yourself in a place, but its daring to to reach out and bring a piece of that dream into the real word and run with it. It may sound easier said than done but anything in life worth having is worth working for. It doest matter how you get to the finish line, how many detours you may have to take, the only thing that matters is that you get there.

What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it.

-Alexander Graham Bell

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As for me and what I’ve been up to lately. Not much really. I’m still in process of finding a job. My church offered me a job and I agreed to take it but they have yet to tell me when I start so until then I’m still on the lookout. My credit is getting better so I can make sure my money is secure for me to begin school again in the fall. I met a guy who I’m really feeling as well. I met a guy who I’m really feelin as well. I dont think I have ever crushed this hard before in my life. Its not even his looks that get me. I’ve noticed him plenty of times before, but after meeting him I just knew then I wanted to know more about him so I’ve been tryin to move in on him slowly lol.

Oh and I tried curling my hair for Sunday, and I did some curling as well this week:

(Proof of Life photo lol)

I also found a good deal on a 35mm Canon wit 2 lenses and a flash for only 180 so I cant wait to meet up with the guy so I can get it.

I think thats all I have for today. Expect a new layout soon cuz I’m definitely workin on it ;). Be blessed!

How do I change?
If I feel depressed I will sing.
If I feel sad I will laugh.
If I feel ill I will double my labour.
If I feel fear I will plunge ahead.
If I feel inferior I will wear new garments.
If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice.
If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come.
If I feel incompetent I will think of past success.
If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals.
Today I will be the master of my emotions.

-Og Mandino, “The Greatest Salesman in the World”

I have decided from now on I will blog daily with an inspirational quote. I really find myself motivated by these quotes and I believe its important that we meditate on them, memorize them, and internalize them.

This quote by Og Mandino has really touched me today. I read a list of his quotes and I just find myself loving this man. He is so positive and uplifting in his way of thinking its remarkable. I believe it is truly important that we check our attitudes in any and every situation. The way we view ourselves really affects how we may view other people. Our beliefs in ourself fuels our belief in others. Our love for ourselves makes our love for others stronger.

So today I ask you to reflect on this quote. I’d even suggest writing it down or printing it out and leaving it somewhere visible, even if it’s just for today. It’ll bless you I promise! With that said I’ll leave one more Og Mandino quote for you guys:

Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. ONLY GOD CAN SHAPE A FLOWER, BUT ANY FOOLISH CHILD CAN PULL IT TO PIECES.

-Og Mandino

Goodness I have been a busy little bee lately. For the past few weeks I’ve been promising myself I’d blog and I just always ended up finding something else to do. Pardon me if this post ends up too long. Quite a few things have gone on in the past few weeks.

I’ve been making some real positive changes in my life and right now I”m pretty darn happy Few weeks ago we had revival at my church and I really just felt a release and a peace like I’ve havent felt in a long time. I gave my life to Christ at 14. For a couple years I was really on track but then towards my Jr/Sr. year of high school I began to drift. When I went off to college I had really just put God on the backburner and even since I had been home I hadn’t really got back into the full swing of things. That revival really sparked something in me and I’m so happy to have been a part of it. I most likely wouldnt have even been there if they hadnt allowed me to be photographer. I may/may not add some pix to the photography section. Most likely I’ll post them to Flickr. There were two speakers, David George and Ziggy Sanchez. Ziggy was especially a blessing. He just has a very wonderful spirit, is also a great speaker. He was very funny. I was literally there every single night lol. So were many others.

During that time me and my BFF had a little falling out. I havent talked to her since that time. She had been offended a couple times at the church. The first time I was kinda questioning the actions but then after I thought about it I realized that the church wasnt in the wrong. First time she got offended was when the nursery asked her to take my godson out of the nursery that night. He’s always thrown up a lot but considering there were other children they probably didnt know if anything was wrong and wanted to play it safe. Also in the church there are four sections of seating. The front sections there are no children allowed. Also if you have a baby they usually try to seat you near the back to the outside so if you have to take your child out no one else is disturbed. Of course my godson was a little rowdy that night and instead of her taking him out herself she let it get to the point where people were turning around and the usher asked her to take him into the lobby (where they actually have flatscreens so you can still enjoy the service). She was really bothered by it and I just chose to not say anything. The next day my uncle asked me to talk to her about it so I told him I would, cuz he didnt want her to be offended (he was one of the ushers that night). Before that I had talked to a friend of mine who I call “Fat man”. She had already talked to him about the situation. Of course he told her she was wrong b/c they were only doing their job by making sure that people didnt get disturbed during the service. She told him she didnt want to talk about it. Then proceeded to ask him about what she should do about a. Of course by the time she described the details of why this friend should be jealous he could tell she was talking about me. Of course he told me (him and I are friends, she just kinda talked to him a couple times b/c she wanted someone to talk to beside me and he was happy to chat with her). On top of that when I tried to call her and talk about the situation she told me that my opinion didnt matter and that she had already resolved everything in her mind. (Mind you this was before I even got the chance to get started on it). I was hurt by it b/c I’m her BFF. She definitely hasnt been the perfect friend, neither have I but I have to hear her opinion even if its not asked for. Some things she has said have sometimes been down right negative. So for her to 1. think I”m jealous, and 2. tell me my opinion dont matter is a big slap in the face to me. Makes me feel like she been around here fakin all this time. Why would you hang with someone you think is so jealous of you? And the worst part is that I am FARRR from jealous. She dont have anything that I want which further lets me know that her mind aint even in the right place regarding me. I dont need the negativity. Too many things goin on that I”m tryin to get right for me to even deal with her negativity so we havent talked. I may send her a mother’s day card or something. I still love her. I miss my godson most of all and I will definitely be gettin him a gift for his 1st birthday. I’m still kinda hurt by it but I’m livin’. I just wish it didnt have to be like this. I guess you can say I’m being stubborn cuz I’m definitely not finna go beg nobody for friendship so I’m just givin her space. Iono its whatever at this point.

OMG as of late this has been a real issue for me. This topic was inspired by a friend of mine going through a funky situation with the mother of his child. They broke up a couple of years back and since then its always been drama. According to his side of the story, she is taking on an emotional roller coaster ride. Their not together but yet she still feels the need to worry about who he is talking to. Their still not together but yet she continues to judge him on past mistakes, which she has also made. THEIR STILL NOT TOGETHER but yet she has not allowed him to see his child. In all this I say, what about the children?

Now I know there are two sides to every story so do not get me wrong here. This post is not meant to put her in a negative light. If anything they both should be ashamed. It is as if this relationship that is no longer there is more important than the welfare of the child. If a man is not abusing his child, and is a relatively trustworthy man when it comes to his child, why can he NOT be a father to that child. No matter how bad he hurt mama, if the kids welfare isnt at stake in his custody, that should have nothing to do with the child’s relationship to the father. There are a lot of single mom’s out there and a woman should be thankful to have a man that is at least trying to half way do right. EVEN IF ITS NOT THE BEST, its something. I’m not saying applaud a dude for doing something he should be doing in the first damn place *which is a whole other topic within itself* But at least try to be positive and realize that it could be a lot worst. I have friends and family members with men that straight up fell off the face of the earth when they found out they were going to be fathers. No where to be found. So whyyyyy oh why would you dare stand in the way of a man who is at least trying to do right by his child.

What happens then is this child develops false resentment towards their father. The man will always be looked at as the bad guy. I dont think a man should ever give up or just drop all his responsibilities. Even if the mother wont let him see her at least communicate even if its sending presents and letters through the mail. Let the child know you do care. But by not allowing him to operate as a father in his full capacity you’re not helping the situation, you’re making it worst. My own father wasnt there for me, and although I may not have been abandoned, even though he was in a very tough situation I was never taught to think negatively of my father. Even my brother father wasnt there, but we never heard my mother speak ill of him. We were allowed to see and form our own opinions.

Its just annoying to me because its not the first time I’ve heard of this. Its selfish to use a child as a shield in your emotional battles. To make it worst many of us know what its like to grow up without a father and still have the nerve to go do these type of things.

In the end its not the child’s fault so they shouldnt be punished for your lack of responsibility. You knew who you were laying down with. Even if you didn’t, thats your fault. EVERYBODY is a potential baby-mama/baby-daddy so next time you open your legs, or pull out your magic stick, *especially without protection* then make sure you willing to take the responsibility for what comes after.

Before I catch any slack, ya’ll right. I dont have children and I just may be shootin’ for a fairy tale but these are my thoughts on these issues. If you’re in this current situation, male or female, please by all means let us know how you feel.