Just some random Year-at-a-close thoughts......

Everything must CHANGE!!

As I sit at my Mother's computer, I can't help but to think back on all of the things that have gone on this year. I have to admit, it has been a bit of a bumpy ride, but a bumpy ride is better than NO RIDE at all. LOL!! Sometimes you just have to laugh and KEEEP ON TRUCKIN'.

My Mother is getting stronger every day and was in much better spirits when I sat with her earlier. I am comfident that she will make a speedy recovery because she is still strong willed and very determined.

On the hair front, I have been so busy, running around in circles, I completely overlooked my own 2 year Lock-a-versary (insert fireworks and fanfare here) which was December 19th. Wow!! What a journey it has been. I have watched my hair morph into what it was truly meant to be. I have combined about 15 of my locks during this 2-year journey and I managed to start a new baby in my temple area on the right side. I have named her Joy and she's resting comfortably among her 420 older siblings. I turned 47 on the 2nd of this month and gave birth to 2 gray hairs. WOO HOO!! It's funny that people think I color my hair because I didn't have any gray hairs until recently.........but to the two rebels that have popped out of no where all I can say is HELLO and WELCOME TO THE FAMILY. LOL!!

I will post pics when I get back home.

On a personal note, it's almost time to bid 2010 a fond farewell as it crosses forever over into the land of memories. I don't believe in making resolutions, but I do believe in making CHANGES. While on my sojourn in Michigan, I started some fresh new crochet projects and used this down time to learn some new stitches, techniques, etc. My ETSY shop will be up and running by Monday and it will serve until I get my webpage operational. 2011 is the year of doing what I enjoy with meditation, thought and PURPOSE instead of only doing what is necessary to survive with very little reward or satisfaction. I don't wish my Mother's fall on anyone, but I thank God for the gift of the down time because it gave me an opportunity to think, observe and treasure. Treasure what you ask? Treasure all of the things my mother taught me. The skill set she nurtured, the strength she gave and her mind boggling wisdom that is sometimes challenged by meds and bad health. I let her life show me ME while she's still here instead of waiting until she was gone and looking at a distorted legacy through tear stained eyes and pain.

Life is a gift, a constantly moving journey through time and space and there is so much to be learned from it. Thank GOD for the lesson......................

Great New Year Everyone!!

Peace!!

Happy Holidays!!

Hey Lovies,

I trust that everyone is enjoying a wonderful holiday season. Mine was filled with much, much love and a little bit of bad news. My mother fell on the 26th at church and broke her leg. Needless to say, all of my holiday cheer completely STOPPED at the moment I received the call from my Dad and I immediately began the process of going to Michigan to see her and help take care of her. At the writing of this post, I am still in Michigan and plan to be here for the next 3 days or so.

Last night, as I french braided my mother's hair, I let myself feel the different textures of her relaxed, broken hair. Admired the swirls of charcoal, silver and white strands throughout and cursed under my breath and the broken patches from years of chemicals, heat and meds. Her thick head full of strong shiny black long hair has changed forever to streaks of silver, and white showing off her stuggles, frustrations and the wisdom she has gathered through the years. Each strand tells its own story of the struggle, OUR struggle, life's struggle, the black thang............

My mother's hair is the statement of a generation that said "we understand what we have to do to be accepted in society and we will do all that we can to make sure our daughters understand too". She taught me to take pride in my bushy hair, tame it, keep it clean and healthy, care for it properly, never be a slave to the beauty shops and most importantly, to look presentable at all times and never (in her own words) go out "lookin bad about the head". Even though her hair has suffered years of abuse and she did her best to educate me the way she had been miseducated I only love and admire her for her strength and efforts. I am her and she is me.......
NOW, I wear my braidlocks with even more pride mostly because society wouldn't let her venture out of the norm even for a minute. She IS my queen!!

Thanks Mama!!!!!

I want to hear from you!!

OK Lovies,

I am very seriously thinking about coloring my locs. Stop in and let me know what you think.

Good Idea?

Bad Idea?

(Keeping in mind that I am strictly a DIY'er) What to use, what NOT to use..........

Your own personal experiences.

Color suggestions.

Anything and everything you have to say on this subject is appreciated. Ya'll know me.....THE DIRECT AND MOST HONEST APPROACH IS WHAT I LIKE.

So, Let me have it!!

Peace Lovies!!!!!!!!!

Stand Your Ground!!

Hey Lovies!! Hope you are all blessed with plenty of love and light!!

Just wanted to tell you a little story to help you along the way - especially those of you who have little ones that are just beginning their educational process.

When our youngest was in the 3rd grade, he decided to act a fool on the bus one day on the way home from school.........Well, the BUSDRIVER, in her infinite wisdom, decided to inform me that he was ADHD. Of course my response was "so, they are giving out degrees in psychology with the bus drivers liscense these days?". Needless to say that conversation ended quickly.

Well what do you know, the following week, I get a note from his counselor stating that it was urgent that we have him tested for ADD and ADHD. You know we refused, right???

Anyhoo, after numerous meetings, phone calls and even a conversation with his speech therapist who said "I think he has a learning disorder and I would like him to take a test for it"....when I agreed to that she quickly added "Oh by the way, we may as well go ahead and test him for ADD and ADHD while we are at it". I did have a concern about his learning abilities, but she must have really thought I was a complete IDIOT. NICE TRY LADY!!!!

The next 3 years were pure HELL. Every time something came up with him, we were treated like ignorant parents who didn't give a damn about their child. It didn't stop until he was in the 6th grade - the elementary school speech therapist contacted his middle school counselor and insisted that they force us to have him tested. Thank God the middle school counselor had spent enough time with him to say without a doubt "I doubt very seriously that he is ADD or ADHD and I don't blame his parents for not having him tested".

My son is now 14 years old, a freshman in high school with a 3.33 GPA. He trotted in the house yesterday with 5 A's on his report card and he is not in ANY remedial classes.

ADD and ADHD are very serious and there are children who are in need of help because of it. However, African American males are being diagnosed with it at alarming rates simply because they may have a slightly different way of learning, may need some more creative stimuli, or easily gets bored which was the case with my son. I encourage you, if your child is having problems and you want to have him/her tested, please do so under the guidance of your own private physician and do not allow the school to just randomly test them. Once the schools start in on an issue like this, there is no stopping it. Also, don't just take anything that is being told to you about your child, educate yourself and stay involved in the process - as a parent you have both responsibilities and RIGHTS.


Peace Lovies!!!!!!

Had to Say Somethin'

Ya'll have known me long enough to know that I had to say something on the recent events surrounding Bishop Eddie Long. While I am not exactly a fan of him or his ministry, my heart bleeds for his family and his followers.

I will not comment on the exact allegations that have been made because THANK GOD I wasn't there to witness any of them. Also, I have lived long enough to know that there are 3 sides to every story: Yours, Mine and THE TRUTH. However, my heart goes out to his family and followers because we live in a society that is very quick to judge and typically accepts whatever story they hear first. I am not speaking personally about anyone or chastising anyone, I'm just talking about the community at large.

These are not the type of allegations you have to have circulating around about you mainly because they have a way of never really going away. Court dates can come and go, but these words will hang over this man and his ministry for a long time, be they true or not....... if you don't believe me, just ask Michael Jackson!!

While I am not necessarily a fan of yours, Bishop Long, I send positive energy and prayers out for you, your family and your flock and yes, your accusers. If these accusations are true, those young men will definitely need some help and counseling, if they are false, then the young men will need the kind of mercy that only God himself can provide.

Peace Lovies!!

Random Update

Well lovies, here are a few random pics of Me Babies. They are 21 months old and are doing well. Even when one of our new puppies gets his little claw stuck in one of them. LOL!! I just finished my latest reti and decided to take some snaps. Not doing to bad in the growth department.

Here are the puppies. Zeus (a 6 year old Shitzu/Bichon) got busy with Atheena (our 1 year old Mini Pinchure/Pug Mix). We thought we had kept them apart but obviously we BLINKED!! Anyhoo, we have found homes for all 4 of them already and will bid them a tearful goodbye in about 2 weeks. From top to bottom, we have Aurora and Artie, Thor is pictured in the middle and last but certainly not least, none other than Apollo (he's a real MESS!). They look cute, but they are some real BOOGERS!!!!!!

New DO

OK, So I actually pulled this DO into place before church. The best thing about locs are, you can really never go wrong....I have never experienced a bad hair day and they always know what they want to do. I couldn't resist having hubby take a picture of it for my blog.

So this is my latest Sunday-go-to-meetin' DO. Tell me what ya think!!

Peace Lovies!!

Reset!!

Well Lovies, I don't know about you but I am TIRED!! It's hot outside, hubby and the kids are downtown at a drum corps competition and I am sitting in the floor of our new home with both doggies sleeping next to me. Are we rich? Yep, rich with the blessings of the Creator!! He has blessed us to move from somewhere we never should have been to what we prayed for, a home that's clean, well cared for, safe and affordable! Don't get me wrong, we made a few bad decisions along the way, which landed us in a place that looked Ok on the outside, but was totally unlivable. But, all in all, we were able to make a home out of it for 3 months until HE saw fit to bring us to a much better place. So, what have we learned from this, don't let mistakes, bad decisions, stress, fear and frustration paralize you. You deserve the best that God has to offer you. Stay focused and don't fall for that lie of "I messed up so I don't deserve any better". That's a Jhedi mind trick!!

The Creator is scattering blessings all around, dont forget to stop and gather a few of your own.

Peace Lovies!!

Whew.....It's Been a LONG Time!

OMG!! I have been away from this blog for a LONG, LONG time. I have been so busy running around in a GIANT circle for the last 3 months - that I haven't paid any attention to my own blog. I am very sorry Lovies!

What have I been doing lately:

1. Chasing after my kids - I swear, they have schedules that are more hectic than mine! Worrying about my middle son who is traveling around the country with his drum corps.

2. Maintaining my godson's locs, my locs, my youngest son's locs and the locs of my oldest son who has taken a vacation from doing his OWN hair (SLACKER - LOL!!)

3. Doing my "Insanity Beachbody" workouts and enjoying dropping a dress size AND wearing clothes that I haven't been able to wear in 2 years. WOO HOO!!

4. Preparing to move again to a bigger and better place by the grace of GOD!!!

5. Singin' and dancin at my church like I am a crazy person, while enjoying grabbing my locks and clipping them up in the back on these hot, hot, hot summer days

I hope all my lovies are doing fine and you haven't been stressed beyond reason like I have. But, all is well.....God is taking care of everything and everyone around me.

The hair is holding up great. Still locking and doing it's thang - and I am letting the process do what it do. I am not fully locked yet but I know that braidlocks take a little longer to lock, so I am just being patient and enjoying the process. Being able to try new hairdo's is my personal favorite. After my workouts, I rinse the sweat out of my locs and let them airdry. I still retighten every 5 weeks and those sessions are going smoothly.

If you've got some thangs going on right now that are really messing with you, just stay focused on your source - honor your creator and receive the blessings as they flow to you.

Peace Lovies!!

Compliments

So, I am driving down the street on my way to dance practice.
My India.Arie playing loudly in the CD player, windows down because it's hot and muggy outside. I just finished Day 3 of my "Insanity" workout and the large cup of ice I was chowing down on was tasting mighty good!!
All of a sudden, my peaceful solitude was interrupted by a voice saying "I really like your hair baby". Now, keep in mind, I was looking a HOT MESS at the time and I was completely caught off guard with a mouth full
of ice. But I managed to just smile and yell "Thank You" out the window and procede through the light.
I don't make it a habit of living my. Life by the compliments of others because people will say ANYTHING, but I have to admit that getting a nice compliment from a handsome young man ain't bad!!

Peace Lovies!!

What's Up??

I am 17 months into my journey. WHEW!! How time flies when you are admiring your lovely hair. HA HA HA!!

It's very hot outside so, now that my hair is longer I am having fun throwing my hair up in a clip in the front, wearing it in a puff, hanging my head out the window of my car and letting the wind blow through it (Now I see how dogs feel - LOL!!).

Needless to say, those hot sweaty summer days do not worry me anymore. I have a DO for anything Mother Earth wants to throw at me.

Hit me back and let me know how goes YOUR journey!!

Cold Rasberry Ice Tea awaits!!

Peace Lovies!!!!!!

A Hot Mess!! The Aftermath

Well Lovies,

We put several unneeded items in storage, threw a lot of things away, cleaned, cleaned and cleaned some more. Lifted those bails and toted those barges (including a very OLD piano) and the move was DONE.

Now I live in the midst of the aftermath, that can only be described as a HOT MESS! Boxes EVERYWHERE - but hubby did manage to put together the new computer desk which helped me create my little corner 'sanctuary' to write. Whew!! My goal for today was to start and make heads or tails out of my living room. Mission accomplished and confirmed when hubby came in from work today and said "This is nice". It's the little things that make all the difference in life.

How's the hair holding up?? Needs to be washed (tomorrow's project) and needs to be retightened, definitely won't get to that until I have brought more order to the chaos that is my house.

I bought some new Ginger Green Tea to try and then it's back to WORK.

Peace Lovies!!

Moving Forward!!

Well Lovies, I have had quite a bit going on lately so let me start from the beginning. As March roared in like a lion we anticipated warmer days, melting snow, wind, rain and everything else the change of seasons have to offer. During that time, hubby and I came to the realization that we were going to have to move. Now, let me just say that I hate moving like God hates SIN. So, having to move and not choosing to move brings a level of stress that you can never quite prepare for.

As March crept on, we reviewed different options and repeatedly came up empty. To make matters worse, we knew that we had until the end of April to relocate while trying to keep our youngest in the same school district...........what a MESS!! In the process of looking, evaluating, searching and packing up everything that we didn't need, a little bit of depression set in when I realized that I wouldn't be able to serve my traditional HUGE Easter Dinner. I smiled and pretended that I was OK with not having all my children sitting around my beautiful table on Easter Sunday eating a carefully planned, prepared and delicious meal.

In order to minimize my ramblings, let me just say that we did find another place to live. Yep, on Easter Sunday, when I was spending my energy putting on a happy face, we stumbled up on the place we are currently moving into.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to give a little comparison shot.


On the left is April 2010 and the pic on the right was taken in August 2009.


Don't be afraid to let go of old things, people and places when life calls for a change.

Peace Lovies!!

15 months and counting

Greetings Lovies!! Now that I got all that crappy stuff removed from my blog, I can return to posting some pics. I am half-way through my 15th month of the lock process. My braid pattern is basically gone but I still have curly-Q's on the ends of my locks. They will close up eventually, I'm not worried or rushing the process.


My retights are done every 5 weeks without fail. If I don't do it that often, then I end up having to do a lot of popping and separating locks-which makes the whole retight process take a lot longer than it should. I had that happen right after Thanksgiving when I was sick for 3 weeks and couldn't retighten my hair on schedule. When I finally felt well enough to do it, it was a MESS!!





Washing is a breeze. The trick for me is to get my scalp scrubbed clean. When you have hair that's relly thick and dense, like mine, you have to work hard on your scalp to make sure it's clean. I am using a black soap that works really well for me.

This pic is of my fresh washed locks.






I have definitely been delivered from being a product junkie. Why, because I finally figured out what works for me and what doesn't. I love my black soap shampoo, my water/rosemary spritz that I use regularly and my 100% pure aloe vera gel that I spread through my locks after a good washing.


Right now I am just focusing on letting them do what they do. They seem to be happy which makes me happy.


Peace Lovies!!!!!!

BEWARE!!!

About two months ago, I made the mistake of adding a Real-Time Hit Counter to my blog. WHAT A HUGE MISTAKE THAT WAS!!!!!! What makes it worse, the counter that I added, was one from Blogger.com - I could see having a problem if I went out and added something from somewhere foreign - but not from our own host.

I found that I couldn't even SEE my own blog for 3 whole days. I could access the dashboard, but whenever I tried to view my blog, I was automatically re-directed to some stupid CRAP! Needless to say, I was totally undone by all this. I spent two hours, reading articles in the help center and removing things from my blog that I actually liked. RRRGGGHHH!!!!!! I may try to add my music back later once I can be sure that it wasn't part of the problem.

Please, please, please, DO NOT add any gadgets (a.k.a fun things) to your blog until the technicians and managers get this problem fixed. Save yourself some hassle. You don't even want to go through what I just went through.

Peace Lovies!!!!!

Just had to share......

This is what happens when you get all my children together, point a camera at them and say "LOOK INTO THE CAMERA AND SMILE KIDS"........................................




Needless to say, they are all CRAZY!!

Peace Lovies!!

Welcome Back - YAY ME!!

Hello Lovies,

I have been on a forced internet hiatus for about a month. Actually, I'm glad for the little break because I was able to spend some time doing things other than checking emails, etc. So let's get down with some updates. I am 15 months into my lock journey and all I can say is "SO FAR SO GOOD". I still get compliments about my locks looking like Sisterlocks - I don't think they do, but other people think so. They are starting to look less like braids and more like locks and have grown out quite a bit. I will post pictures soon - my new puppy chewed up the adapter to my digital camera so I can't upload any pics at the moment. I love my new puppy she's a HOT MESS!!

That's all for now!! Peace and Herbal tea for everyone!! LOL!!

An Addition to the Family

Hello blog-fam. I figured it was about time you met my future daughter-in-law. They got engaged on Christmas morning and are planning to marry after graduate school.



Do I have a problem with the fact that she's white? Nope!! Have I already been tested on the matter? YEP!! How did I respond? I'll tell you:

She spent the holidays with us which meant she participated in our family tradition of getting up early and going to Christmas Morning Service at our church. After service, we opened our Christmas presents and my son popped the big question. Woo Hoo!! Our daughter immediately posted the good news on her facebook page and the phone calls started. Was I surprised by this? Nope!! Everyone at church was all questions and smiles - then 1 week later the comments started (or at least TRIED to start).

One of my dance ministry buddies was the first: "I see ya'll have a white girl in the family now"....then another one saw her opportunity and jumped right in "Yeah, his little girlfriend was all over him at church last week - how ya'll plan to deal with that".

Now, let me just pause for those of you who don't know me that well. I am not, nor have I ever been anti-white. I am, however, and shall remain PRO-BLACK. My husband and I have always encouraged our children to judge people on the content of their character not the color of their skin. Anyone who knows me (or at least claims to know me) is aware of that fact. I have never said to any of my children "Don't bring home a white girl (or white boy). Why? Because I simply don't give a damn!!

OK, back to the story. Here was my response to my two buddies; "First of all, she's not his girlfriend she's his fiance' and Curtis and I are very happy to welcome her into our family. She's a very sweet girl, respectful and really cares for our son and the fact that she's white is obviously more of an issue to YOU than it is to US. So, as you go back and have your individual conversations about MY family, please inform them that I have gone on record having said I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT".

What's the moral to this story? When your children start dating, any responsible parent is going to look at the prospective person and say "Is this person worthy of my child's heart?" We cannot chose who our children fall in love with, although some parents have tried and failed miserably. All we can do is pray, pray, pray and pray some more that they make the right decision for themselves. They will have enough bull sh** to deal with out there in the world, they shouldn't have to deal with it within of their own family. We plan to give them our love and support as they take this journey.

Peace Lovies!!

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!!!!!

This is Black History Month.......time to focus on the accomplishments and sacrifices of our ancestors. Technically, everyday should be Black History Month in our community, but I digress. I have started a personal challenge that I'd like you to participate in. Every day, I am going to learn something new about our people. Everything from food, fashion, education, achievements, writings, arts, you name it, I'm going to learn it.

But more importantly, I am going to sit down with an Elder this month and just listen to her talk. I already know who it will be, and I know I'm in for a time of listening to every story known to man!! Does that bother me? Nope!! Why? Because, one of the main problems within 'our' community is that the young ones don't want to talk to the old ones because they feel that theres nothing to gain from it. Well, my generation is the last link to the Civil Rights Movement, we were not old enough to be a part of it, but we were raised by those who were a part of it. After our generation, the Civil Rights Movement will be nothing more than something in a History Book. So, it's important, at least to me, to learn what I can at the feet of the Elders and be ready to pass that knowledge on.

It's Black History Month!! Don't let it get away from you without taking the time to learn a little sumpin, sumpin.

Peace Lovies!!

Everybody do something..................

We will never know why certain things have to happen. Why a 7.0 earthquake has to hit a nation already severely stricken by poverty. Why children have to die, families have to be separated from each other, can't get help to areas that need it the most, despair, worry, death, you name it Haiti has it right now. What can we do? Donate, donate, donate; pray, pray, pray send your positive energy to Haiti and all the organizations trying desperately to get supplies to those who need them, when you have done all that, do it all over again.

Let's not forget our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Moreover, let this horrific event birth in each of us a sense of urgency to help other impoverished nations. Nobody can do everything, but everybody needs to do something!

Peace Lovies!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful husband in the world!!!!! Even though you are 50 today and trying not to feel 'old', you still make me smile everytime I see you.

Love you BIG DADDY!!