WE THE PEOPLE

Greetings to all!!! I pray the day is treating you well. America......we did it again!! How beautiful it is to live in a country and be able to speak and be heard. Once again, we the people exercised our right to vote and voted for the person we best believe will lead this country in the direction it should go. I am thankful that I have the opportunity, the freedom, the choice to vote. Many before me fought and died for this very cause and yesterday I made them proud. Politics and religion are two topics that split a nation. Regardless of your views, feelings, political side or religious beliefs, you should be grateful that you are able to express yourself without punishment. I pray for our great nation. I pray that GOD's will is done in this land and that his grace and favor rest upon OUR President. Whether you like it or not, he is OUR PRESIDENT. I rejoice in the beauty of this land and the freedoms we have. I pray that we continue to prosper and become a stronger, united country. GOD bless America!!! GOD bless Barack Obama!!! Love you all!!!

Growing Older....If Only We Are Lucky Enough

Greetings to all!! I pray the day is treating you well. I am learning more and more how precious but also temporary life is. With a recent birthday celebration and the recent loss of someone very dear, I count my blessings with a full, joyous heart that I am lucky enough to grow older. We live in a time when many people do not want to "tell" their age or "look" their age. Don't get me wrong.....I am all for healthy living and maintaining a youthful appearance. Understand however that a youthful appearance resonates within and shines throughout. I see many with nips and tucks, injections, fillers, lifts and restructuring. Why? To look like someone you are not? To look like a younger version of yourself because you don't want your true age to show? Well, if GOD blesses me with another year of life then I chose to wear my badges of honor with great pride. How wonderful would be at 90 years old to look back on my life and share my memories. To remember when my perky breast were a true eye catcher and acknowledge after months of breast feeding and age they are now lucky enough to rest on my stomach!! The laugh lines I have from happy memories because I smiled so much in my life my joy is permanently etched on my face. The wrinkles in my forehead from the years of stress my teenage son caused and the years of worry after he left the house and started his own independent life. The dark circles (I conveniently hide with make-up) that appeared after sleepless nights and sorrow from lost of those I loved. My gray hair that is a symbol of wisdom and strength. I am 39 years young and honestly I look in the mirror and sometime ask..."Who are you?" I see the changes in my face and body and realize I am "getting older". It's okay with me though....I can't wait to see what my 40's will bring....50's....60's, etc. I do sigh a little when I look back on those younger years (I am NOT old....I'm just saying....the past is always the younger years). I am thankful I did live and am living my life to the fullest. With the same breath I am excited about the Wonder Woman I continue to become. In all that I do, I am TRUE to myself and do it with ultimate style and grace. After all, getting older is the answer to getting younger. Wait and see, GOD willing the 90 year old me will be front and center at New York Fashion Week, drinking mimosas on the beach in Brazil and will be known as the Coolest Grandma around!!!! Love you all!!

Mission Statement

Greetings to all!!! I pray the day is treating you well. If there is one constant factor in life, that constant factor is CHANGE. I am learning to be a camilion and not necessarily give in and adapt to my surroundings but understand and accept that in life you must learn to adapt. Those adaptations can be driven by financial changes....more money or less, restructuring at work....promotion or demotion..new boss, family changes.....addition to the family or loss of a loved one. Whatever the circumstance we have to "adapt" in order to survive or we become a victim of our circumstance. My "adaptation" or better yet evolution has lead me to where I am today. I plan to share my experiences with you and the experiences of others to hopefully open your eyes, ears and heart so you may see, hear and feel something new and true leading to a better you. I welcome your feedback....the good, the bad, and the ugly. Without it I can't grow and neither can you. During the course of this journey you will be introduced to someone dear to me as she brings a very candid, honest conversation to you via her blog shreerose.tumblr.com. We will also welcome you into our world via our on-line commentary (coming soon) and ask that you welcome us in yours. Blogging has been therapeutic for me and thank you for allowing me to share. As we continue on this journey together I look forward to all that is coming our way. Thank you and love you all!!!

What is your reality?

Greetings to all!!! I pray the day is treating you well. It has been a while since my last post so forgive my tardiness. My question for today is......"What is your reality"? I spent a wonderful evening Saturday night with my nephews. One of them told me I have a hard time separating my image from my reality. When he said it, it truly struck a cord and was right on honest. I feel we all have an "image" of ourselves, something we have created and try to live up to. We also have an image that was created via our circumstances......our role in society, our life. My "image" as a child was that of a Senators daughter. The daughter of a man that in my mind was instrumental in spearheading change in this city and state. My parents created an image.....an expectation of who we were as a family and individuals. The "image" was one that included our personality, our position in life......the "social" standing we felt we held. What happens when the "image" that was created was destroyed? What happens when the individuals left to deal with a new reality struggle with maintaining the image that was created for them? My other nephew is very inquisitive about the family "secrets". The truth that lies behind the greatness of a man that he knew as a Grandfather and a family lifestyle he has learned about through the stories of the children who lived it. I find myself a bit perplexed by the statement I can't separate image from reality and it has opened up questions and truths in my mind. What is your image? What is your reality? What world was created for you that you now fight to maintain or was created for you but lost and you struggle to bring it back? I know who I am and what I stand for. I know what my reality is and value the life I have been given. My image and my reality are for me to create......as is yours. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and thus is reality. Create your own and let YOUR image be YOUR truth. Love you all!!!

Life is for LIVING!

Greetings to all!!! I pray the day is treating you well. I must say...I realize every day more and more that life is for LIVING!!! I mean truly living...not simply existing. I am so grateful that my mind is right and I understand the value in taking time out and appreciating every moment. I enjoy the sun...the clouds...the grass. I enjoy my child...his laugh...his smile. I value and treasure my family...my friends...my love. I don't let one day slip through my fingers. Life is for LIVING!!! Are you living? Are you enjoying the simple pleasures? Are you making the most out of every opportunity you have? We are all on a daily grind, a hustle to make a dollar. We want more, reach for more, work for more. We spend our days fighting for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Well my friends....your pot of gold is within your reach. You have to see it in order to seize it. See it....SEIZE it....and LIVE YOUR LIFE!!! Love you all!!

Dream Catcher

Greetings to all!!! I pray the day is treating you well. I can't believe how much time has already passed us by? It seems like yesterday we were just celebrating the New Year....now it is time to Spring Forward! I must say I am more determined than ever to make this year and every one after the best it can possibly be. There are so many things out there for us to capture. Dreams, goals, desires of the heart....all of it is there but only there for those who are willing to reach out and grab it. I believe I have discovered my purpose and within that a desire in my heart has been unleashed and ready to tackle the world and take everyone along with me for the ride. What is your purpose? What is your desire? Whatever it is go catch it, live it, love it, embrace it. May GOD's will be done in your life and I pray that each of you RUN not walk and catch your dreams!!! Love you all!!!

2012-Okay, here we go!!!

Greetings to all!!! I pray 2011 was all you hoped it would be and if not, well let's try again in 2012. I am not going to send one of those cliche emails about setting goals, what you can accomplish, being all you can be, yada-yada-yada. Instead, this blog post is about simply giving it the old college try. If I honestly asked you what resolution you made in January 2011 that you kept until December 31, 2011 what would your answer be? I know mine-I half way fulfilled my resolutions and stopped somewhere around ummmm January 24th!! So in 2012 let's not make a bunch of promises we can't keep. Start off with something small-one thing, and commit to it for a week. Then after you do that, add another week or something different. Baby steps provide us the confidence we need to take ourselves and our commitments to the next level. Okay...I am putting it out there-Resolution #1-Finish Rich Dad Poor Dad by January 13th. If I can't finish a book in a week and a half (I am already on Chapter 4) then shame on me. My bookcase is full of books I have partially read so one by one I will get through as many as I can. Comment back and let me know what your baby step is. Together we can make this year a very successful one. I'm in, are you? Love you all!!!!