On to the next chapter

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Ride or Die...choose wisely

There is something to be said about the mindset of a person with nothing to lose. How do I know? That's where I have been for 2 yrs. I can recognize it in others when they are there. Strange thing is either your actions represent your desire to gain or to lose even more. When at the bottom of a pit, why dig it deeper? Sadly that is the choice many make. I believe this comes from the energy you allow in your space. Take a look around you right now. Who are you hanging with and spending time with? If all hell broke loose in your life, would that person be a voice of encouragement or destruction. It confuses me how people influence others to do the wrong doggone thing. Be careful how you interpret "ride or die". You may very well be entertaining death more than the ride. Vibrate higher.
Smooches and Red rice ♥♥♥

The power of the drip

Sometimes when you see other things constantly and easily gain resources only to be wasted and misused, you begin to question your stamina and your desire to keep marching. It gets discouraging and daily you wonder if this whole thing (relationship, career, parenting, life, etc) is even worth the effort.
It always seems like "ratchet" wins. It feels that way because of our new addiction to instant gratification. Make me a star, a millionaire, a wife/hubby in 1 hr or within a season of tv shows. It all gets immediate attention and it has taken over our good sense.
We struggle to get people to give a damn about our kids' future yet it only takes a moment for a video of a toddler cussin' to go viral. Each time I see nonsense like that, I honestly attempt to put myself in the shoes of the person who documented it for all the world to witness. Ultimately it boils down to one thought. Does this person KNOW they have a different choice they can make? I mean truly...do...they...know? I know there are people who live to keep others down yet in this day and age, it is hard for me to accept that as everyone's crutch anymore. With all the FB certified life coaches and Twitter therapists floating around (that includes me) no one can say they didn't know they had a choice without being a lie! I guess the issue is whether they have given up all hope. That's a dangerous state of mind. Ask me how I know. (We will chit chat a taste about that later).
Hope gets you out of bed when you have every reason to just lay there. Hope is what taps your faith on the shoulder when it gets distracted. Hope makes you think with muscles. Hope is that bubble you are inside of that blocks out the sound of despair, doubt, exhaustion, neglect, loneliness and sabotage. You know it's there and you can see it but you can't hear it nor is it your focus. You are aware of the struggle yet you march on. Hope makes you float on. You float high and sometimes very low but you float! Keep your purpose in your heart and pray often for your hope to stay present...even when it gets low. Just like a faucet that has poor water pressure; there is power in that drip! In due time, that constant trickle of water wears down a rock and can cause a bucket to overflow.
I love the greatness inside of each of us.  My hope is that we all get to experience it for ourselves. How's that for a job description? Leave it to me to have a passion that is not exactly resumè material. How do you work that out on your taxes? *shrugs*  So I continue to go about my journey of being the change we all need to see. There is a HUGE project taking place right at my own front door. It is so huge that it actually makes me a lil bit nervous. Yeah I get nervous! I wouldn't have it any other way. Let's me know I am still alive.
May the support come in so strong that I am rendered speechless...and THAT is hard to do. My hope runneth over.
Smooches & Red Rice

Happy Do Year...again!

It's March. First quarter is a wrap! Tired already? Little discouraged? Praying more intensely? After you say, "Amen" to close the laundry list of requests you just asked for in your prayers, do yourself a favor and do the work to go get it.
It is selfish of us to make demands and then not do our part. It's rude in our everyday relationships with family and friends so just how respectful is it towards God?
It doesn't even require huge physical work. It may be something as small as washing the dishes when you know it is not your turn just to make the atmosphere in a household more loving. We are the ones making small things seem impossible because we want to be "right" or keep score on a game that isn't won with the highest score. We are so extra. Faith is simple and stress free. Our fears and pride make it complex.
Faith may be listed as a noun in the dictionary in order to describe it but in my world, it is also very much a VERB because action is necessary to prove just how much you have and how serious you are with it.
After you have said "Amen", faith it. Get back on track mentally and spiritually. Speak the language of faith. Do! Happy Do Year!

Smooches & red rice!

Goal Nugget

Spider man makes me smile!

A seed sown has been reaped today... TWICE!!
When I collect clothing and hygiene items for projects, I always go through them. I have thrown some stuff away because either it was damaged or in the case of hygiene products, they weren't new.  Some may say something is better than nothing. Well I would rather say something special is better than nothing. When you are on the receiving end, you are already holding on to your dignity with all of your might because you are in a situation where you can't make ends meet or even get close enough to have those ends wave at each other. To be given items that make you feel like you are truly going through a storm does not help your confidence but you battle those prideful feelings and do what you have to do. I keep that battle in mind when collecting and donating. Empathy is a heck of a super power!

Well about a week ago, I had a moment where I shared my frustration for not being able to keep up with my son's growth spurts. I know how to take pant hems out to get a few more inches and another month or so worth of wear. Clearly I knew it was a wrap when his school uniform pants started looking like leggings. I had a few friends reach out to me and asked his size. I have been asked that so many times and had gotten used to looking out for a package that never arrived so I always just answer the question and let the chips fall where they may. Well fast forward and bada boom bada bing!! We've got mail! *in my AOL voice*

Nick got some pants that fiiiiiiit!!Not just pants but some NEW and very gently used jeans, shirts and a cool spiderman pajama set that he is flying around the house in as I type this. *ducking* LOL It's good to see him like that. I have my days when I get a lil ticked with myself about what his memories of his childhood will be. Will he think back with a smile or will he be angry? I pray he remembers the good and the life lessons from the not so good. I also hope he remembers and practices being a good steward towards his fellow man because of his own empathy. Good stuff.

Now if you excuse me we have no school tomorrow because of weather. Sooo that means he gets to chill in his new pajamas as long as he wants to!!
**doing the I got some iiiiice cream dance**

Thank you for helping us!

SMOOCHES & RED RICE♥♥♥

Word on the street

Good morning all!
Thank you for the concern through inboxes and people praying WITH  me and for me on the phone. So there is no confusion, listen and read carefully:
Geechie Gurl Inc staying alive depends solely on whether the FedEx grant is won. I am no longer able to dedicate all my energy and time to the nonprofit without being guaranteed a salary. And YES I do deserve a salary for the work I do.
No grant means no further services will be offered. I have scrubbed toilets and picked  up after "rich folk" here and there to do what I needed to do. I am no stranger to hard work and I do it quite well. I simply choose not to struggle anymore or compete with trivial things/people getting funded yet things of substance go overlooked. Who knew ratchet was the way to go for being able to sustain yourself? Oh well. I would've never imagined having my life being flipped upside down like this for standing up and being an advocate for my students but that is the only way the nonsense at the bottom could fall out. I have no regrets. I showed myself and my son how to go for it! Thanking God for covering us that we only got a small taste of what millions of homeless go through everyday.
So that's the deal. No need to assume or wonder. If we win the grant, then we will see you on the other side! If not, thank you for almost 4 yrs!
Smooches & one last forkful of red rice
♥♥♥