Its that most wonderful....well you know the rest

wow I believe I am a little Scrooge this year. I live in Los Angeles but really was trying to go back East for the holiday but instead I will have another green Christmas this year. Maybe I'll just look to the mountains and admire the snow that way.

An old high school friend posted pics on Facebook of her in Switzerland right now..the photos were breathtaking and looked like most Christmas cards we send out!

Family and friends that's what truly matters this time of year. As we approach the end of the year I always wax nostalgic and think of the good times and prepare for what's ahead. So many things flood my thoughts from setting goals, preparing for marriage, (even though the beau is taking his time :) and enjoying my life. I have a good life.

Soon I will have more than enough work flooding my world as I gather my thoughts and put things in motion.

Time to get moving. Enjoy, celebrate. Be brave.

Giving

I recently read an article on volunteering for the homeless shelter and they wanted everyone to sign up. I thought about how the homeless are not just homeless at Christmas and remembered how inundated the shelter was when I was homeless with people coming to assist at the holiday. I remembered as I've volunteered at various charities throughout the year that this season is of course the busiest. How great would it be if we could all take time in the off season to be a blessing and to look beyond our own space and think of others; not just at Thanksgiving or Christmas but set aside time once a month to do something that stretches us.

An area that God deals with me specifically is in the area of sowing my time. I give clothes, money freely but time is the area where I am stingy! :) So now the stretching for me is in the one area I hold most dear and that's my time. So I make it a priority to sow into others that precious commodity and learn that truly isn't all about me and my agenda for life; but want God wants for me and how a simple gesture or kind word can truly change the course of someone's day or even the course of their life.

I challenge you to do the same a month or two months from now,when the holiday is over to remember the Los Angeles Mission, or any homeless shelter or the Los Angeles Food Bank and support them with your time. My personal fave is the Reading to Kids program too. Nothing is more grand than the written word. As a writer and lover of words, reading is one of my favorite pasttimes plus I love reading in front of kids and seeing the illumination or anticipation of what's to come on their faces.

Have a great day and let someone else see the Jesus in you. Smile, be kind, share Him today. :)

Changes

Inevitably in life we have a tendency to gravitate to that which we know and love. Anything that is contrary to that we fight and run from. I took a seminar once and it stated that 80 percent of people resist change. Then I read a quote that stated the only constant in life is …..what for it….CHANGE! So therein lies the quandary of sorts. How do you find the balance?

I sing in a Women’s choir at church and when they announced that our Minister of Music would be stepping down to operate in other functions at the church I wasn’t thrilled. Since then my need and desire has lessened to sing. I don’t know the new leaders, haven’t heard anything negative, just ughhhh another change. I’m over it. Plus I no longer have a vehicle and I loathe relying on others to get around. So I am benched, by choice, for now.

Did I mention I am not a fan of change. Its an interesting tidbit, because I’ve done so much of it in my past. I was born in Detroit, grew up in Syracuse then went to college in Virginia and now reside in Los Angeles. (I recently became a first time Auntie so chances are I will end up moving again to be closer to my nephew…unless I can convince my brother to come to the City of Angels. Working on the latter.) Seeing photos of this little guy being born is amazing! Never knew love like this before. A love that makes you want to be a better person knowing that this little person will rely on you for so much. I’ve seen my brother exhibit that kind of love towards his son and it has rubbed off on me. I have a newfound “why” to do all I can to ensure my nephew’s life works.

Maybe change isn’t so bad after all. Ummm we’ll see.

Ciao!

YNOTU

There are so many times things happen and the first thing we ask is why me!? Although the question is a rhetorical one we do still look for the answer. If we believe that all happen to us are meant to hurt us, then perhaps the experience arrives as a reminder that some things, if looked at with the right perception can really be viewed as a blessing in disguise.

To be continued....part one

Each time..,..

I come here I realize that I need to be here more. I have a very bad of habit of starting things and not finishing them. I have several books, scripts, short stories, songs that I need to write and/or finish. I enjoy sharing my thoughts through this blog but need to do it daily as opposed to weekly!

I miss the connection I use to have with writing. I am allowing my life to become inundated with mundane details and not doing what comes very naturally. So this is my effort to get back in line.

Happy Monday and remember that only what you believe will manifest.

Lift off!

Good Morning all!

Lovin life and feelin free! With the passing of R&B icon Vesta Williams it gave me a time to reflect and a heavy heart initially, but the Bible states to every thing there is a season. (ecclesiastes 3-1)
She was such a great talent and will be sorely missed. The goal for all of us should be to utilize the gifts and talents given to us for the world to enjoy and she did precisely that.

I have a few things that are paramount in my mind concerning my dreams/goals and gifts/talents. The one thing I know I will be doing until I'm in heaven is writing and making music. As far back as I can remember those have always been the two constants in my life. I played clarinet for eleven years, piano for five, and have been keeping a journal since I was ten.

I recently was given a guitar and will begin lessons soon! Although I confess I miss playing the clarinet and believe I will be picking that back up soon. Music is a universal language and I love it!

Its time for lift off! That's one of the latest songs I love by Jayz, Kanye West and Beyonce :)
Be free folks

peace&blessings
V

Glad to be free to be me

Life in all its splendor and multiple intricacies and layers upon layers of ..well life! The saying when one door closes another opens is true but there is no time stamp on when the other door will open. I have found through my faith and belief that what you put in the earth will return back to you rings loudly true. If you put positive affirmations and not allow negative energy to overwhelm the good will indeed outweigh the bad.

The power of one is real. One positive thought. One positive word of encouragement to someone who is having a tough day. One smile to a complete stranger to show the love of Christ as he has shown to us. Just one. Take one day at a time. Make small sure steps to a large future.

The time is now. Don't sacrifice all the great things God has planned (for those who believe) because the journey is arduously long and magnificiently tiresome at times. You will win. I will win. One step at a time.

It will happen.
So glad to be me.
Very glad to be free.
Free to be me...