Church Chat
There is this little church that I past often in my weekly teen chauffeur duties and they have a sign out front that’s right by the main road. The cool thing is that since it’s a busy two way road they make good use of the sign and put different sayings on both the front and back of the sign.For the longest time I just drove past and never noticed and honesty I was driving to fast to read it anyway. But now I always slow down and give it a glance to see what sayings they have up for the week. This week I decided to pull over and a pic of a least one side of the sign. I really liked the saying and I hope you do too. It’s something I always try and remind my children of.
“To Belittle Is To Be Little”
Have a wonderful weekend!
Best,
KwanaGet Thee On Purpose
pur⋅pose :1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
3. determination; resoluteness.
4. the subject in hand; the point at issue.
5. practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.Last night while pulling tear sheets for inspiration on a story I’m working on I came across an article in an old issue of Essence Magazine called Finding The Path to Your Purpose written by Monique Greenwood.It got me thinking a question that I often ask myself. Am I following my purpose? You see I really want to be. Because I believe if I’m not then I’ll never be truly successful or happy. But how do you know if you’re “On Purpose” or how do you stay the course when things are not quite working out or the dream is just not materializing or life just keeps throwing marbles in your path?Well, how do you know? Don’t look to me for the answers I’m asking the questions here today.Ok I’ll give you a few suggestions from the article that I thought were pretty good and lastly one from me that may or may not be total junk. Hey, you can take it or leave it. I’m just me.
1. Put yourself in the picture: imagine yourself in the role you want to be. Sketch out a collage or storyboard. Visualization helps keep us on track
2. Forge full steam ahead even if only for 15 minutes: Don’t wait for Someday. Someday usually never comes. Right? Take it from the great procrastinator.3. Ring up a role model: Surround yourself with a few good people that are true cheerleaders. Or better yet a mentor. Have positive people in your corner. No downers allowed.4. Persist despite the fear: Fear is the great paralyzer and time sucker. Don’t let it stop you from realizing your dreams. Just don’t.5. The last tip from me is live with hope and faith and step out on it because it doesn’t matter how much you hope and dream it all takes work. Hard work to see it all come true. And if it is your true purpose it should come true, eventually, and you will be smiling big when it does. Inside and out.Best,
KwanaNext Stop… Crazy Town
Today is the start of Lent. A time of refection, prayer and sacrifice.
Reflection, introspection, prayer, cool. I can do that all day. But sacrifice? Hold it. Slow it down there a bit, baby. You all know me, I’m pretty faithful, maybe a bit corny for some of you, but, oh well to that. Just this sacrifice thing is a little daunting.Nevertheless, I’ve been thinking long and hard about what would be a true Sacrifice for this Lent season and what would truly help me mind, body and spirit and unfortunately for me I keep coming back to Sugar.I know, I know, it stinks right? Why couldn’t it be something easy like um, water or, um… air? But no. Sugar keeps popping into my head. So I’m going with it and am going to try to seriously eliminate the Sugar and the white products. This here blog might get a little bit scary over the next few weeks. Hold onto your hats!Now back to your normally scheduled programming: Anybody watching The Not So Real Housewives of the NYC? I sure am. Yay to the hot messery. I didn’t realize how much I missed Alex and Simon. Not. But I love it anyways. Love the fast talking New York women. My peeps!
And don’t forget tonight is the season finale for Top Chef. Fingers crossed for Carla!
Best,
KwanaMeditative Work
What’s Jack up to? As I write this Jack is chilling on his perch on the back of the couch. Yep, King of the castle that’s him.Last night as I was watching Survivor the DH confiscated my Laptop to do some work of his own so my fingers were left idle. Oh no, what to do? I looked around and saw my lonely knitting bag on my closet doorknob.
I’m embarrassed to say I have fallen out of the habit of knitting outside of my weekly group. Remember casting on? Well, that darn sock still is not done! Lately, at home it seems that all my time is on the computer, in the kitchen, laundry room, car or nose in a book, thoughts jumping from one task to the next. My mind and body never resting. So much that even when I’m asleep, it’s broken with a mind going at a rate that I can’t shut off. It’s been all work, work, work and I find pleasure for myself slipping lower and lower on my priority list.
It was so enjoyable to pick up my needles and just let the stitches add up. With each wrap of the yarn I found a small bit of tension ease. “In, wrap, slip through, pull off.” “ In, wrap, slip through, pull off.” “ In, wrap, slip through, pull off.” The stitches lining up like little solders and my brain slowly coming to rest. No room for any other thoughts but, “in, wrap, slip through, pull off. “
What sort of meditative work do you do when you need to slow it down?
Best,Kwana15 Happy Birthday Dear Twins!
15 is the magic number, yes it is, it’s the magic number…
Did you know that throughout the bible the number 15 has been thought to symbolize: deliverance, divine grace, restoration, restitution, resurrection and healing? All wonderful thoughts for you my two loves this year.
Here are some examples taken from here.
-The Ark was borne by the Flood fifteen cubits upwards, Genesis 7:20.
-Hezekiah’s reprieve from death was fifteen years, 2 Kings 20:6.
-The Jews were delivered from death under Esther on the fifteenth day of the month (9:18,21). This is specially significant, as we have seen, that their sentence to death was connected with the number thirteen.
-Bethany, where Lazarus was raised, and from whence the Lord ascended, was fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem, John 11:18.
-Paul’s ship anchored safely in fifteen fathoms on the 14th day, after thirteen days of toil and trial, Acts 27:21.
-On the fifteenth day of the first month was the feast of unleavened bread, Leviticus 23:6; and
-On the fifteenth day of the seventh month was the feast of Tabernacles (v 34).Oh, can it really be true, that you two are 15? Nah. It just can’t be. I close my eyes and it was yesterday that I was holding both of you in my one arm and balancing two bottles with my other hand. It felt so overwhelming, but I took solace in thinking that God gave me two arms and two babies for a reason. You know, I can still feel the weight on that arm and smell your sweet smells. It’s so very real, every smile, every tear, every wail. From yesterday, to today, to forever the love never ends.
Love,
MomI Gotta Have Faith
“Faith is stepping out on nothingand landing on something”I heard that years ago when I was in a hotel room in Turkey. It’s one of those messages that came right on time. This was back in the days when I was a designer and I was in Turkey to get samples made to put in our showroom to show buyers the new designs we had for the season.Sidebar: Note to Sheree ATL Housewife. This is how a desiger does it. You watch your garments getting made to make sure they are done right.But I digress. I had never been to Turkey, heck, like Sarah Palin, I had never been out of the country and for this to be my first trip I was pretty scared. See, I was sent all by my lonesome to get the job done and I was not sure I could do it. Plus I had left my twin babies back at home. Eek.I remember being in the hotel room on a Sunday flipping though the TV desperately looking for anything in English when I stumbled across BBC religious broadcasting. I rolled my eyes, but stopped anyway because it was the only thing in English and I was lonely. On the screen was an African preacher and I can’t tell you what he was preaching on or talking about, but I do remember the one line he said that stuck with me all these many years.“Faith is stepping out on nothing and landing on something.”Wham! I was dumbstruck. It was like a light-bulb went off. I felt like finally I got this faith thing. This believing in what you can’t see thing. This believing in yourself, your ideas, your dreams, your hopes for the future, just believing. Faith. Wow.So what brought this on? No, I’m not trying to convert any of you to the: Kwana Faith Believers Church. And really, like always, (I have teens) I’m talking to myself. Tell a friend about this blog, please. But seriously, It was another blog post that I read from a mother who lost her job and she was totally pissed at everything, rightly so. I get that. Cut to me most days. Just give me a reason and watch me go. Picture me with a cigarette and a cosmo and I don’t even smoke.I told her to have faith. Which sounds so lame and corny. Doesn’t it? Then I remembered the saying from all those years ago. I hadn’t thought of it in a long while and I really think I needed to. I think my Faith had been slipping a bit because Faith alone is nothing. Faith needs a partner. Action.So thanks to her for this reminder and I hope in these terribly bleak economic times we all keep up our FAITH. Hey, layaway is back at tons of stores. Yeesh! Way to go out on high Bushie.Best,KwanaPainting: Allegory of the Catholic Faith -Johannes Vermeer (Dutch, 1632–1675)Soundtracks for life
What’s Jack up to? Saturdays mean nothing to Jack when he wants to go out. He’s up early and nudging the DH to go out. He came to my side of the bed and was disappointed when I wouldn’t budge. Sorry, dude I’ve got ten more minutes of sleep in me.
I have to say
I was late to the whole Amy Winehouse party. I didn’t get her album Back to Black until after she won at the Grammy’s. And how ghetto fab was her acceptance speech? “To my Blake-iee In-car-ser-ated!” Oh girl!
That said, boy am I glad I got on wagon. Talk about a well deserved win. I don’t care what Ms. Natalie Cole says. It’s a music award, not a morality award. And besides if I’m not mistaken Ms. Natalie had her fair share of life’s tangles. Pot to kettle….I love the album from start to finish and have a feeling it will be a big influence in what I’m writing next. Something dark, sexy, smokey and a little dirty. Thanks Amy! I’m rooting for you to get it together girl!
Tell us does certain music inspire you to work or live a certain way? What are your soundtracks for life?
Best,
Kwana
