Take What Ya Momma Gave Ya!

A few years back, I was at my parent's house for a visit and I noticed that my Mom had this big ol' stack of towels in the living room. I asked why she had so many and she told me that they were on sale so she bought a bunch. After bringing them home she realized that she had waaay too many. I thought so too.

I told her that if she had the receipt, she should take the extras back. She said no, she didn't want to be bothered with going back.

I offered to return them and she still said no. Just seemed like too much hassle.

Then she told ME to take some of the extras.

I said, thanks, but no thanks, because they were purple and NOTHING in my bathroom (nor my home for that matter) was purple. My color scheme (if we can call it that) is Blue and Brown. Purple just wouldn't go.

After some back and forth, she insisted that I take them, so I agreed and brought five of them home with me.

Fast forward to present day. My Mom is no longer here, but EVERY TIME I look at or use one of those dag-gone purple towels, I think of her. Yes...I'm so glad that I listened.

Who knew then that something as simple as a towel would trigger memories of my Mom.

So in case you're wondering what the lesson of this story is, I'll tell you: ALWAYS take what your Mom wants you to have! Trust me, one day when she's gone, you'll be glad you did.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What has YOUR Mom "urged" you to take that you didn't really want to, but now you're glad you did?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

To the Cornfield!!!

Yesterday I got into a bit of a Facebook tiff with one of my "acquaintances". This woman has got to be one of THE MOST argumentative people on the planet. Yesterday was just one of MANY times that she has challenged something I said because my POSITIVITY goes against her PESSIMISM.

Due the the lack of response that I received from my request on Thursday to help my friend out financially, I posted the following yesterday morning:

"How would you feel if you knew you had the opportunity to help someone out of a very bad situation, yet you chose not to and that person's situation became exponentially worse?
Think about that for a moment and then PLEASE help me help my friend. I wouldn't keep asking if this wasn't important. PLEASE help."

Well...she had to chime in and say that if the situation was going to be "exponentially worse" then it's too late to help anyway, so what's the point. And...WHY would she (or anybody) want to help a stranger...yadda, yadda, yadda. NEGATIVE.

Now for those who know me...I mean REALLY know me, they know that I don't do negativity. There is simply no room for it in my heart, nor on my Facebook page...so I deleted her comment.

Apparently, she was monitoring the post because she then came back and saw that her comments had been deleted, to which she then proceeded to call me a "manipulative piece of work". Why? Because I choose to control MY Facebook page. Call me what you will (I've been called worse), but I don't have to have that mess on my page if I don't want it. It was taking away from the whole point of the post, so it had to go.

She later came back with even MORE negativity and at that point I not only deleted the newest comment, but made it so that she could no longer see the post. I mean REALLY...some people just LOOK for a fight. I don't operate that way. Just as I do not watch horror movies because I believe that we need to control the images that are put in our minds, I also don't let negativity in. If I can control it in any way...it has GOT TO GO!

Yesterday's antics reminded me of the Twilight Zone episode where Anthony sends "bad things" to the cornfield. Man...I sure wish I had a cornfield yesterday!!!

Interestingly, I thought she would have "unfriended" me after yesterday. I thought about "unfriending" her, but then I thought, "Why do that?" I'm gonna keep letting my Light shine, and maybe some of it will seep into her darkness.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: How do YOU deal with negative people in your life?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Money's Too Tight to Mention!!!

This morning I posted the following on Facebook:

"Q: How do you eat a $3500 elephant?
A: 100 $35 bites at a time.
I need help. I wouldn't think of asking ONE person for $3500 but perhaps 99 of you can GIVE (because I am unable to pay it back) $35 each.
Most of you know that I am a VERY private person and wouldn't get to this point of asking for help if I didn't really need it. Some suggested that I pawn some items but I'd have to HAVE something of value in order to pawn it. I don't have any. I live humbly and have very little.
For those who are struggling financially, PLEASE disregard this message. But for those who CAN spare it, YOUR generosity is greatly appreciated.
If you need to know what I need the $ for, it's to help a really good and deserving friend who is simply out of options. Most of you know me well enough to know that if I *could* help on my own, I *would*. Unfortunately, I just can't -- aside from $35 that I *am* able to offer (because I would never ask others to more than I am able to do myself).
Please keep any negative/unhelpful comments to yourselves. I'm sure that many will have unfavourable opinions about this post. I don't need those right now...I just need help for my friend.
Thank you in advance. For those who are able and willing, please message me and I'll give you my info.
1 John 3:17"

I know that seems a bit out of the ordinary, but my friend's situation is EXTRAordinary, and I wasn't gonna sit back and not do anything when I know how greatly HELP is needed.

Unfortunately, but not very surprising...only TWO people responded. Out of 500+ "friends" (I know 500 isn't a lot compared to most, but this isn't a popularity contest...at least not for me), only TWO responded. That prompted me to write the following post, which I've just decided to share here because the same folks who ignored my earlier plea would just ignore this one as well. But, for poops and giggles, here it is:

"Out of 500+ "FB friends", I am sooo thankful for the TWO who took time to even respond to my earlier post about my friend in need. May God bless those two with the best that Heaven has to offer. If folks even knew the HALF of my friend's situation, more would've offered to help. It's pretty DIRE otherwise I wouldn't have taken such a drastic measure. All the time people complain about what's wrong in society. Well...THIS is what's wrong!

*Disappointed, but not surprised.*"

Yep...that sure is what I wanted to post.

So at this point I simply have to trust that all will turn out well for my friend. I wish I could help...really I do, but I just don't understand why it's so difficult for other folks to help. Perhaps if I said that I needed the money for myself, then folks would've stepped up. After all...many did that when I was unemployed with ZERO money coming in. My friends stepped up royally. Sure...I could have said that this time it's for me too...but that's dishonest and the last thing I need are ill-gotten gains.

At this point I will continue to pray for my friend, yet although I know that prayer works, I also know that sometimes there needs to be some action accompanying that prayer. In this case, there needs to be $3500 worth of action.

Anyhoo...Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever had to ask for money from friends and/or family? Notice I didn't say "borrow". I'm talking about money that you needed and KNEW you wouldn't be able to pay back.

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Liar Liar Pants on Fire!

Today, as I do everyday, I was listening to Pandora at work. I love listening to Gospel because it keeps me inspired and lifts my spirit at times when it is oh so very low (as it has been since last Thursday).

I have a number of Gospel artists selected as "stations" and for the past two days I have been listening to the Kim Burrell station. That station plays a lot of what I'm used to and has introduced me to some amazing NEW songs. Not that they've JUST come out, but that I've just never heard before.

One that I have absolutely fallen in love with is "I've Got A Reason" by Dorinda Clark Cole. That song will pull you out of a "pity party" quick, fast, and in a hurry. Love, love, love that song!

Then I heard one by someone named Anaysha. Her song was called "Holy One". As I listened I became so uncomfortable. She kept promising to never let God down, and kept asking Him to give her one more chance. She kept making promise after promise, and I kept thinking to myself, "God is listening to all these promises and He's saying, 'Quit lying!'"

I mean REALLY!

I know that as Christians we are to strive to be the best that we can be for God, and to honor God. Yet at that same time, I (I'll just speak for myself) fall DAILY.

I wake up with good intentions, and ask Him every morning to lead me, guide me, and direct me in the way that I should go. EVERY DAY this is my prayer. And EVERY DAY I seem to veer off course.

Sometimes I end up in situations that I just didn't see coming. Other times, I willingly walk right into them. As a result, I have learned to not make promises to God that I know I can't or won't keep. I just don't do it.

Now I'm sure that there are some "perfect" Christians who "hit the mark" OCCASIONALLY, but this here Christian MISSES it, far more often than I HIT it. To that, I simply thank God for His forgiveness that comes by way of the shed blood of Christ on the cross...and I start all over again each day. Some days He's more pleased with me than others...this I am sure of.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: When was the last time you made a promise to God...and did you keep it?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

One Year Later

And...here we are.

Today marks the last of my "Year of Firsts". This is the 1 yr anniversary (if you will) of my Mom's passing.

What a year it's been.

All in all I think I've handled it well.

I miss going to her home and having her wake up (she slept a LOT), and then make her way into the living room where she'd sit in her favorite chair and chat until she got tired and needed to head back to bed.

I miss the way that she spoiled her "fur-babies". They loved them some her and she love her some them. When she passed, her dog Lazarus fell into a deep depression. I didn't know that dogs had feelings like that...but he did and he missed her terribly. It was so sad for me to see.

I've shed many tears over the past 12 months and only have few regrets.

One...I wish I had saved her last happy birthday voice mail message that she left on July 14 2014. She sang me the birthday song that she sang every year. Without that song my birthday will NEVER be the same.

Two...I wish I had kept her favorite night gown. It had this big dog on the front and she always wore it. In my haste of donating her clothes, I gave that away too. I know good and well that the folks I donated it to probably threw it out. To them I'm sure it just looked old and worn. To me...it had meaning.

My Mom and I were not "best buds", but we were mother and daughter and loved each other as such. By her bedside I told her many times that I loved her, and she told me the same. So in that regard I can truly say that it is well with my soul.

I took today off (as I will probably do EVERY year), and spent some much needed time at "My Place of Peace". Listening to the waves and the wind...sticking my feet in the water and letting it come up to my calves. Picked some lovely shells, and communed with God, my Creator. Told him EVERYTHING that was on my heart. Not just about my Mom, but about EVERYTHING going on in my life. I sang to him, and thanked Him for all that He is to me. I can truly say that today was a good day.

Now I'm off to go buy some flowers and place them by my Mother's urn. I know that she's not there, but it just seems like the right thing to do on this day.

I love my Mom. I miss my Mom. And I know that I will see her again, in the presence of God whenever He chooses to call me home.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: When was the last time YOU went to the beach?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

MyFace

Five days from today will mark the 1 year "anniversary" of my Mom's passing. Anniversary really doesn't seem like the right word, but I imagine it will do for now.

So much has happened and changed in this past year.

In honor of my Mom's memory, I have decided to dedicate this month to her on Facebook, via my profile pics.

I've always changed my profile pic on the following days of each month: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th. Why? Because I get bored looking at the SAME thing ALL the time. So when it comes to my page, I like to "switch it up".

This month, every profile pic will be of my Mom. A couple will have ME in them too (like the current one). In two that I can think of, I am also in the pic, just not seen...unless you look at my Mom's big belly. That's where you'll spot me...just days from being born.

I've always been very particular about my profile pics, and I always make sure that I am in them. I don't do cartoon characters, or quotes, or images that are not MY face. I began that practice when a friend passed away and her profile pic was of her boyfriend. To this day, if you go to her page, there's HIS face.

If something ever happened to me, I'd want people to see MY face as the memory...not something random.

However, there IS an exception. That exception is my Mom. If by chance God calls me home THIS month while my Mom's face is my profile pic, I would be a-ok with that. Heck, I look just like her anyway...most folks wouldn't even know the difference.

Ironically, my Mom wanted nothing to do with social media when she was still living here on earth. I asked her once if she wanted a Facebook page and her response was, "I don't care about MyFace. I don't have any friends, nor anybody I would want to get back in touch with, so there's no point in having a page." Oh, I was so tickled when she called it "MyFace".

I wonder what she'd say if she knew that her face has finally made the pages of Facebook. She'd probably say, "Take my picture down. I don't want some weirdo to see it." Yep, that's probably what she'd say.

Well, that's about it. If you happen to be one of my Facebook friends, I hope you enjoy my profile pics this month...my "Month of Mom".

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's the most unusual profile pic you've ever seen on Facebook?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Because I'm Worth It!

How is it that the time goes by so quickly between my blog posts, yet days at work move like molasses? Can someone please explain that to me?

Well...between my last post and this one I've made some changes. Changes to ME.

Anyone who's seen me lately has clearly noticed how much my weight has BALLOONED. I get it, and I don't get it.

No...I haven't been watching what I eat (like I should), and I haven't been physically active (like I shoould). Yet...I've never diligently watched what I've eaten, nor exercised regularly but since February, I have really packed on the pounds. Good golly Miss Molly!

Finally, I decided that enough is enough. I can not gain another pound...not ONE. And I can not KEEP all these pounds that I have.

So...

Last Monday I started back with logging my food on My Fitness Pal. Good, bad or otherwise...if it goes in my mouth, it goes onto My Fitness Pal. Knowing my body as well as I do though, I know that logging my food simply is not enough. Some folks can lose weight simply by changing what they eat. Not this chick. I've got to MOVE if I want the numbers on the scale to MOVE.

So in order to get myself motivated, I bought a FitBit. I know...they're pricey, but I figured that I was investing in ME...and I am certainly worth such an investment. So it was money well spent.

I got it on Thursday and I'm still learning my way around. The toughest struggle has been with accepting friend requests (for some reason the requests aren't coming through), and in sending friend requests. When I try to send it looks like I am inviting them to TRY FitBit. That's not what I want at all. They already KNOW about it. I just wanna be part of their "fitness network". I'm gonna keep playing around with it until I figure it out.

Good news though is that yesterday I earned my first "Sneakers Badge" for getting in 10,000 steps, and today I am on my way to doing the same. At this moment I am at 9,324 steps. Easy to do on a weekend when I am able to freely move about. Not so easy Monday through Friday when I'm locked in a cubicle. We'll see how it goes though because I am DETERMINED to get fit and get rid of this FAT.

I've visited way too many hospitals in the past year and I've seen a WHOLE LOTTA sick folks. I don't want to be one of them, so I've gotta do all I can to keep myself in tip-top shape. As it is right now, I am not on any medication, and don't want to be...EVER. The best way to make sure that happens is to take care of this body that God blessed me with.

How 'bout you?

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Do you have any fitness devices that help monitor your activity? If so, which one?

Talk to me!

Til next time...