"I trust and surrender to the process"

I have been participating in a 40-day meditation with strangers.

A friend of mine introduced me to the group on fb and it has been a pretty great experience for me. It's short and succinct, but has been pretty powerful.

Today, as I recited the healing affirmations that come at the end of the roughly 15 minute daily practice, a few lines stood out to me that I decided to make a mantra:

"I patiently await for what is mine. My destiny is already written.

I trust and surrender to the process. Divine loving hands move all".

Thanks Luz! Such perfect and timely words.

Iron chef and the Butterfly Sticker!

The dissertation process can feel very isolating. Most days it's just you and that dreaded paper, so you get excited for opportunities to spend time with actual people.

Tonight, I had dinner with my neighbor and her friends in celebration of her last day on her board of ed job and the beginning of her full time private practice.

About 12 of us gathered for the festivities. The theme of the night was: Iron Chef. We each brought a vegetarian dish that would compete for the title of best dish of the night.

When I learned of the competition a few weeks back, I planned wisely to prepare a pretty simple dish that I've been perfecting over the past two years: zucchini-squash casserole. I learned about this meal at a barbecue hosted by my cohort mate. She too is a self-proclaimed non-chef who happened to make this very tasty vegetable concoction, so this gave me confidence that I could brave the recipe on my own.

Since that day, I believe I've prepared this dish about 5 times for myself and others. And, hey, all of us survived!

Long story short, when I found out about the need to bring a dish for tonight's party, I decided on ole' faithful…and it paid off. Let's just say, this non-chef, doc student came home with the coveted butterfly sticker prize! I must say, I am extremely proud!

Beyond my winnings, tonight was just a really good time. I actually let go of my inner awkward black girl and ended up having a great time with complete strangers. It was pretty cool.

That is all.

Nite sawse!

Prom Night.

I remember them being born. I remember having the responsibility of babysitting the two of them and praying to God that we would have a cry-free and limited pamper changing evening. I remember them being tiny enough to sit in little car seats on the table when they were lounging around the house.

I would like to believe that these memories were from a time much more recent than they actually are. But the truth is, those two little ones are now near-six-foot (you read that correctly), fourteen year-old teenagers.

On Tuesday, I took an early morning bus to NY to join the rest of the adults in the Henderson clan in the ritual of getting the girls ready for prom. After a few hours of getting pampered with hair, nails, and makeup, these extremely gorgeous not-so-little-anymore girls walked out the door to the chariot that whisked them away to their dance.

I was exhausted from a 5:30am wake up and a near five hour bus ride, but I would NOT have missed any of that day for the world…or for school or dissertation writing.

As I stared in awe at my nieces, it really hit me that time definitely does not stand still. I'm so proud of who they are becoming.

Next stop…8th grade graduation, then, first day of high school.

Lord, help me.