Fun Friday – Be careful what you ask for

Photo Credit: Live Well Bake Often

"To make mistakes is human; to stumble is common place; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity."

                                                                                      - William Arthur Ward

My morning begins with a warm cup of coffee with sweetener and a shot of Hazelnut. As I pulled up to the drive-thru window of my favorite coffee house I noticed a clear container filled with donut holes. Free samples? I didn’t ask.

The next day as my coffee was handed to me, I asked, “are those free samples?”

The cashier looked bewildered, so I pointed to the square container of donut holes. He said, “Oh, those are for dogs.”

I didn’t know what to say next so I smiled and said, “I have a dog at home.”  I’m sure I sounded like a four-year-old. I drove off, hoping the cashier would soon forget that episode. I don’t believe he forgot.

The next day when my coffee was handed to me, I glanced at the container, still filled with donut holes. This time, printed in black marker were the words, “Puppy Treats.”

It was clear to me and anyone else who would ask, the treats at the drive-thru were for dogs.

Be careful what you ask for, it may not be something that is meant for you.

Have you asked for anything lately that resulted in an embarrassing situation?

Wordless Wednesday - Never Too Late

Never Too Late - Elton John (From The Lion King) 

YouTube Video Credit: DisneyMusic VEVO

I don't own the rights to this music

Motivational Monday – Pray without ceasing

Photo Credit:Whatwomenshouldknow.org

Do you give up on something before you put forth the adequate effort? Do you quit after the first or second try? In baseball, it’s 3 strikes before you’re out. In picture book writing the main character encounters a challenge 3 times before the problem is resolved. The Bible says we should forgive a person 70 times 7 (which symbolizes boundlessness). Things take time.

Don’t Quit. Pray without ceasing.

Reflect on a situation where experienced setback, after setback and it didn’t seem like the struggle would end. But you made it through. Nothing is impossible with God.

Don’t Quit.

It was late evening after his high school basketball practice when my son called me and said, “Ma my car broke down again.”

The school was a fifteen-minute drive from our home, down non-lit back roads, past cornfields. I told my son to see if he could get a ride home and we would deal with it the next day. It was November in Michigan, snowy one day, bitter cold and dry the next.

The next morning, I drove my son to school, we had to arrive before 7am because his car was stalled in the bus lane. The car, an old model Buick, was at the edge of a circular drive. The circular drive was too long and curvy for us to push the car forward. We devised a plan.

Coats zipped to the neck and gloves on, we worked our plan. My son got behind the wheel to steer. He put the car in reverse because this was a shorter distance into the parking area.  I pushed from the front of the car. It didn’t budge. Daylight was beginning to break through the charcoal sky. We needed to move the car before the buses began to roll in.

I said, “Lord we need some help.” My son got out of the car and pushed from the front. We had the driver’s side door open. I planted myself in a squat position and pushed/pulled, turned the steering wheel, whatever I could do. We made progress and backed the car up enough to stop at the entrance of the parking area.

We returned the car gear to Neutral. My fingers felt like icicles inside my gloves, but we gained traction. We grunted and we pushed, inch by inch, until we reach a parking space. Slightly crooked, we left the car as it was and locked the doors. Less than five minutes passed as we heard air brakes. The first yellow school bus pulled into the circular drive of the school.

A prayer was answered. My son’s car was away from danger and so were we.

Don’t quit. Pray without ceasing.

You are prosperous, you are triumphant, you are blessed.

Fun Friday – 3 Tips for practicing meditation

Photo Credit: npr.org

A gust of wind slapped against my face as I pulled the hood of my coat tighter. I dashed from my car, through the blanket of darkness into my favorite coffee house. The early risers were beginning to pull into the parking lot, some of them were the ladies from the fitness studio I frequent. The five of us had the day off from work and decide to convene for coffee before heading our separate ways.

We sat around the faux fireplace sipping coffee from ceramic mugs and chatting. We rambled on about healthy eating, our killer workout and our reasons for continuing to show up for killer workouts. Then one woman mentioned practicing meditation for relaxation, and how it helps her in many ways.

“You can download an app for listening to meditations, or go to YouTube,” she said.

The next morning before heading off to the fitness studio, I searched YouTube for a meditation. I clicked on what I thought was the perfect meditation. Only a bedside lamp illuminated the bedroom as I sat crossed leg on the floor. The soft voice began speaking…

“Relax your body, breathe naturally, close your eyes. If you fall asleep it’s okay.”

I popped my eyes open. “No, I don’t want to go to sleep. I just woke up.”

I attempted to refocus as the voice continued to speak in whispers. “Imagine your worries are like stones you’re carrying in a backpack. Take them out one at a time as you relax.”

Again, I lost focus. I had to write down the pearls of wisdom I was hearing. My first round of meditation was an epic fail. As I described my meditation session to a friend she said, “You’re supposed to search for a morning meditation if you’re doing it in the morning.”

“Oh, you didn’t tell me that,” I laughed.

After my initiation to meditation I discovered a few tips about the art of meditation. Here are 3 tips:

1.      sit comfortably

2.      close your eyes (avoid the urge to jump up and begin another task)

3.      breathe naturally

For more techniques and benefits of meditation click here.

When was the last time you practiced meditation?

Wordless Wednesday - Black History Month: A Piece of History - What is the Chitlin' Circuit?

Bobby Rush - Legendary Bluesman, known as the King of the Chitlin' Circuit

Motivational Monday – Black History Month – Who Are the Heroes?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, W.E.B. DuBois, and Maya Angelou, are just some of the well-known African Americans who left their mark in history. What memories or stories in Black History do you share with your children or family?

As you turn the pages of your life what do you see? Who are your heroes? What legacy will you leave? Think about the people who are considered great, successful, leaders. They are ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. You can too.

You are a hero. As you celebrate Black History Month, celebrate your greatness. Here are a few ways you can celebrate:

1.      Read a book by an African American author

2.      Support an African American owned business

3.      Share the history of African American inventors with someone (Garrett Morgan, George Washington Carver, etc.)

Here are a few ways to celebrate who you are:

1.      Share a story of how you overcame an obstacle

2.      Tell about something you are most proud of

3.      What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone about a lesson learned?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, W.E.B. DuBois, and you, are all heroes.

Leave your mark in society or your family.

Fun Friday – Crazy in love

Photo Credit: Bloom Nation

Petals of beauty sprinkle your tabletop - reds, yellows, or pink surround a glass vase. Delicate flowers. Expressions of love. Some people have used the word crazy when talking about love. They use phrases like crazy in love or love will make you do crazy things. What are your views on love?

I recently participated in an event where the theme was love. We were given a question to answer to practice impromptu speaking. Here are a few of the questions/statements for you to ponder:

1.      Is it more important to do what you love or love what you do?

2.      Tell about one activity that you love to do.

3.      When have you worked hard and loved every minute of it?

Choose one of the questions and give your response by submitting a comment. Just for laughs and giggles check out the video below to see what comedian Kevin Bozeman says about being crazy in love.

https://youtu.be/DljuvpFXmxw

Kevin Bozeman

YouTube Video Credit: Dry Bar Comedy

Happy Valentine's Day Wishing you a day filled with love.

Wordless Wednesday - A Valentine's Day Treat - Rasberry Chocolate Bars

A sweet treat for your palate

Photo Credit: The Taste of Home - Chocolate Rasberry Bars

Recipe Here

Motivational Monday – Love is in the air - 7 Ways to express love

Photo Credit: The Chronicle

“Let all that you do be done in love.”  - 1 Corinthians 16:14

Hearts, Valentine’s Day, Roses…February has been called the month of love. All my blog posts this week will focus on some form of Love. There are numerous forms of love – love for the Lord, parent/child love, love of a spouse, pet, and love for family and friends.  

Today let’s look at expressions of love. The way one expresses love is a personal choice, but just for fun below are 7 creative ways to express love.

1.      Be a listening ear – a friend or loved one may find comfort in having someone to listen to how their day went or listen to a struggle their facing.

2.      Cuddle with someone

3.      Listen to soothing music with someone

4.      Visit someone who is ill

5.      Perform a random act of kindness

6.      Give a love coupon – create a specialized coupon; It could be for a romantic lunch, a date to the movies, a foot massage/neck massage (at home). Taylor the couple to the taste of the person you’ll give it to.

7.      Schedule time to love yourself – do something for yourself…guilt free. If you feel like taking a nap in the middle of the day. Take a nap. You decide.

Here’s a challenge for you – every day for the next 7 days, show an expression of love to someone. You can say I love you, express love through action, write a love letter or anything else your creative mind stirs up. However, this expression of love must be expressed to a different person each day.

At the end of this challenge, you will have touched 7 lives in a special way, and you may feel differently as well. Leave a comment about your experience by midnight (EST) on February 17^th and be entered in a drawing for a special gift (mailed to a winner within the US).

Just because I like music, below are two gospel songs related to love, for your listening pleasure.

YouTube Video Credit: Kirk Franklin

YouTube Video Credit: Earllegg423

Words of Wisdom - You're Too Close To Quit

YouTube Video Credit: Ben Lionel