And then there are those points when it all becomes a bit much and you must simply stop, and listen inward.
Over the next few days I will minimize my communication and just be still and prepared for God to speak to me. My choice to continue to blog as one of my few means of communication is to have another means to chart the lessons and experiences that transpire during this time as an important part of my life and Phd experience.
My prayer is for clarity, covering, and confident strength to move forward in the direction that God reveals in all areas of my life.
Today's lessons:
Tune in to the peace around you
Be still and know God is God
Release your guard
Anticipate God's best in all things and you'll begin to stop bracing for the worst in all things
There's no right or wrong, just choice
Monday, September 26, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
And the Party Continues!
Today after my Stats class I enjoyed a really wonderful surprise birthday lunch organized by my classmates. In the student lounge, my friends and staff from the department gathered to celebrate me turning 30. In the midst of everything that everyone has going on, they thought it not robbery to show their love. I was deeply touched and humbled. Besides developing a new love for Papa John's vegetarian pizza and homemade hummus, this celebration really made me feel like I have family in my home away from home.
This party made my week and topped off the weekend of festivities I enjoyed starting on my actual birthday. On that Friday I began the day at a symposium on children and youth in New York City (yes, I got my birthday nerd on). Besides gaining some good information and contacts, I got to see once again how small the world really is. There were several people I met with connections to Howard, including a former professor and a colleague of my independent study advisor, one person there from my undergrad, another Social Worker whose name I recognized from my classmate's independent study, and a family friend who shared stories of hanging with my relatives back in the day. After the symposium I enjoyed lunch and a neighborhood stroll with Lawrence, and then my traditional family birthday party. The following night I celebrated with family and friends over a birthday dinner in the city, and on Sunday my siblings and I celebrated the 60th birthday of the most important woman in our lives, our Mama! We played Taboo, learned the Wobble dance, and really had a great time honoring the woman who helped make it so that we could be here.
30 has been moving along pretty fast. It's been filled with great celebrations and fun, but also has already meant for taking some serious time to reflect and ground myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. I'm still working on this latter part. In the meantime, I want to give many thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate, to my parents who helped make it possible to have a birthday to celebrate, and above all to the Creator for continuing to grow, birth, and bless me each milli-second for the past 30 years, and for those to come. I'm working on making my every day a party, celebrating and making good use of this gift of my life!
This party made my week and topped off the weekend of festivities I enjoyed starting on my actual birthday. On that Friday I began the day at a symposium on children and youth in New York City (yes, I got my birthday nerd on). Besides gaining some good information and contacts, I got to see once again how small the world really is. There were several people I met with connections to Howard, including a former professor and a colleague of my independent study advisor, one person there from my undergrad, another Social Worker whose name I recognized from my classmate's independent study, and a family friend who shared stories of hanging with my relatives back in the day. After the symposium I enjoyed lunch and a neighborhood stroll with Lawrence, and then my traditional family birthday party. The following night I celebrated with family and friends over a birthday dinner in the city, and on Sunday my siblings and I celebrated the 60th birthday of the most important woman in our lives, our Mama! We played Taboo, learned the Wobble dance, and really had a great time honoring the woman who helped make it so that we could be here.
30 has been moving along pretty fast. It's been filled with great celebrations and fun, but also has already meant for taking some serious time to reflect and ground myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. I'm still working on this latter part. In the meantime, I want to give many thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate, to my parents who helped make it possible to have a birthday to celebrate, and above all to the Creator for continuing to grow, birth, and bless me each milli-second for the past 30 years, and for those to come. I'm working on making my every day a party, celebrating and making good use of this gift of my life!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Countdown to a new decade!
It's really just hitting me. In a matter of minutes I will leave my twenties behind and begin the third decade of me. Wow! 30! I must say that lately I'd been too busy with school etc. to really soak it all in, but it's real now! I know many before me have been down this road, and would probably laugh at me for making such a big deal, but all of a sudden it feels like a lot to take in. I was on the bus today overwhelming myself with self-talk; "first there's 30 and then 40s coming fast behind that...". And then in the midst of my rant I got a text from a classmate that helped me adjust my focus. What a tremendous blessing has come in the form of this life, my life.
Many often suggest that we should cherish our every moment because tomorrow's not promised. As I reflect, I thank God for my near 30 years of tomorrows. I pray that so far I've been able to use my existence to reflect God's love. On the dawn of this new decade I truly give thanks, thanks to the Mama and Daddy who created me, and to every single person who has shared some part of this journey with me thus far.
At this moment, 10 minutes from the big day, I welcome all that God has in store. I create continued happiness, love, peace, abundance, and joy! I choose, right now, to live, not just like tomorrow is not promised, but like this moment,right now,is another precious opportunity to birth some aspect of myself that never existed before. What a gift; each second, I am born! God, thank you for creating a space for me to be here, for this past thirty years, and for all of those that are to come.
Many often suggest that we should cherish our every moment because tomorrow's not promised. As I reflect, I thank God for my near 30 years of tomorrows. I pray that so far I've been able to use my existence to reflect God's love. On the dawn of this new decade I truly give thanks, thanks to the Mama and Daddy who created me, and to every single person who has shared some part of this journey with me thus far.
At this moment, 10 minutes from the big day, I welcome all that God has in store. I create continued happiness, love, peace, abundance, and joy! I choose, right now, to live, not just like tomorrow is not promised, but like this moment,right now,is another precious opportunity to birth some aspect of myself that never existed before. What a gift; each second, I am born! God, thank you for creating a space for me to be here, for this past thirty years, and for all of those that are to come.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
10 + 2 = 475
The other day I was going through some email, and decided to open an email that was seconds away from being discarded. Towards the end of the message, I discovered an advertisement for an opportunity to volunteer. I decided to seize opportunity number 3 for Be A Blessing month.
This evening, I had the opportunity to join about 10 other volunteers at the 16th Street J (Jewish Community Center) to prepare meals that would be picked up by organizations that provide food to those in need. The leader of the group was a woman with a vision of providing healthy and delicious meals in support of the statewide initiatives serving this population. For about two hours, we chopped fruits and vegetables that were bought and donated by local stores and farmers markets. In the end, we prepared a fruit salad, tossed salad with garden grown vegetables, and a tomato and basil vinaigrette salad, ultimately producing enough food to feed 475 people.
I've just returned home, and am quite exhausted from the long school day and evening activities, but I definitely wanted to document this evening. In such a little bit of time I was able to do something meaningful. I'm definitely looking forward to going back and finding some other opportunities to be a contribution.
But for now, Nite Nite.
This evening, I had the opportunity to join about 10 other volunteers at the 16th Street J (Jewish Community Center) to prepare meals that would be picked up by organizations that provide food to those in need. The leader of the group was a woman with a vision of providing healthy and delicious meals in support of the statewide initiatives serving this population. For about two hours, we chopped fruits and vegetables that were bought and donated by local stores and farmers markets. In the end, we prepared a fruit salad, tossed salad with garden grown vegetables, and a tomato and basil vinaigrette salad, ultimately producing enough food to feed 475 people.
I've just returned home, and am quite exhausted from the long school day and evening activities, but I definitely wanted to document this evening. In such a little bit of time I was able to do something meaningful. I'm definitely looking forward to going back and finding some other opportunities to be a contribution.
But for now, Nite Nite.
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