Some times, the stresses of life can seem a bit much. We can get lost in cycles that inevitably draw us from our intended paths. It's always so lovely to just be still and give thanks for life. Somehow, things always seem to come back in focus.
Thanks Sherry for the constant reminder that each day is a gift. So, let's enjoy each day to the fullest, starting today.
*Anthony B: Give Thanks
*Lutan Fyah: Give Thanks for Life
Have a Conscious Friday and a divine weekend.
One Love
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
thinking pink...
During the month of October, Empress Christina of Soul Aperture has invited us to share our pink thoughts every Thursday in honour of those touched by breast cancer. Faith. Hope. Love.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Inspirational Monday: inching along...
Somehow, I have inched my way all the way over to Darcel's blog, Authentically Unique.
For those of you who don't know Darcel, she authors two blogs, Authentically Unique (an unschooling blog) and The Mahogany Way. Darcel's a SAHM, has 2 beautiful girls, Nakiah and Ava, and recently announced that they are expecting baby number 3. The spirit of Sistahhood called unto me when my girl shared that she was going through the early pregnancy challenges.
I thought I'd send her some serious positive vibes through a guest post. Won't you come along with me to pay her a visit? It would mean the world to me. One Love.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Conscious Friday: can't let go...
October is Violence against Women Awareness Month. Earlier this week, hearings were held on Capitol Hill to consider legislation to address violence against women on an international scale. The committee would provide aid through humanitarian relief and grants to local organisations in the affected regions.
Specifically, the Women and Children of Darfur serve as a prime example of this unyielding violence. I am so encouraged by these women and children who despite unspeakably violent circumstances continue to live their lives to the fullest capacity. I pray for them. And I will continue to raise my voice for them. Won't you please join me?
*Women of Darfur: A Tribute
*Mattafix: Living Darfur (Official Music Video)
*For more information, please visit SAVEDARFUR.ORG
*Have a Conscious Friday and a divine weekend.
Specifically, the Women and Children of Darfur serve as a prime example of this unyielding violence. I am so encouraged by these women and children who despite unspeakably violent circumstances continue to live their lives to the fullest capacity. I pray for them. And I will continue to raise my voice for them. Won't you please join me?
*Women of Darfur: A Tribute
*Mattafix: Living Darfur (Official Music Video)
*For more information, please visit SAVEDARFUR.ORG
*Have a Conscious Friday and a divine weekend.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
pink thoughts...
Somehow, in a strange, yet familiar sort of way,
every where I turned, I kept seeing pink.
I am gently reminded that we would have been
laughing and celebrating her birthday this month.
During the month of October, Empress Christina of Soul Aperture has invited us to share our pink thoughts every Thursday in honour of those touched by breast cancer.
every where I turned, I kept seeing pink.
I am gently reminded that we would have been
laughing and celebrating her birthday this month.
During the month of October, Empress Christina of Soul Aperture has invited us to share our pink thoughts every Thursday in honour of those touched by breast cancer.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
african proverb...
to love someone
who does not love you
is like shaking a tree
to make dew drops fall
...ZAIRE
Inspirational Monday: scrap therapy...
There are times when I feel like I am trapped in a vortex.
I just go with the flow and find a way to come back to centre.
Today, I went digging through my fabric stash.
Always love to listen to the humming of my sewing machine.
I picked a few random pieces and made a quilt.
To donate to a children's fundraising auction.
I was feeling pretty random today. Usually am.
Especially when none of my boy toys win the NASCAR race.
Hope it keeps a lucky little one warm this coming winter.
Couldn't have picked a better day to start.
Just in time for the October snow.
Yes, I said snow...and it's still falling.
So, if life throws you scraps, make a quilt.
Kinda like that lemon, lemonade thingie. ;)
One Love.
*Inspirational Monday is hosted by vchelle at Operation You.
*Macro Monday is hosted by Lisa at Lisa's Chaos.
*Monday Memories is hosted by Gayle at Planet M Files.
I just go with the flow and find a way to come back to centre.
Today, I went digging through my fabric stash.
Always love to listen to the humming of my sewing machine.
I picked a few random pieces and made a quilt.
To donate to a children's fundraising auction.
I was feeling pretty random today. Usually am.
Especially when none of my boy toys win the NASCAR race.
Hope it keeps a lucky little one warm this coming winter.
Couldn't have picked a better day to start.
Just in time for the October snow.
Yes, I said snow...and it's still falling.
So, if life throws you scraps, make a quilt.
Kinda like that lemon, lemonade thingie. ;)
One Love.
*Inspirational Monday is hosted by vchelle at Operation You.
*Macro Monday is hosted by Lisa at Lisa's Chaos.
*Monday Memories is hosted by Gayle at Planet M Files.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Conscious Friday: feeling grateful...
some times, i am incredibly overwhelmed
with the unmistakable *feeling of gratefulness*.
grateful for life. grateful for family. grateful for friends.
grateful for job. grateful for shelter. grateful for food.
just grateful for anything. grateful for everything.
grateful to be alive. you feel me?
*Danny Red: Be Grateful
*Sizzla & Luciano: Jah Blessing
*Midnite: Shout That
Have a Conscious Friday and a divine weekend.
with the unmistakable *feeling of gratefulness*.
grateful for life. grateful for family. grateful for friends.
grateful for job. grateful for shelter. grateful for food.
just grateful for anything. grateful for everything.
grateful to be alive. you feel me?
*Danny Red: Be Grateful
*Sizzla & Luciano: Jah Blessing
*Midnite: Shout That
Have a Conscious Friday and a divine weekend.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
pink thoughts...
During the month of October, Empress Christina of Soul Aperture has invited us to share our pink thoughts every Thursday in honour of those touched by breast cancer. yes we can yo!
*(artwork courtesy of my daughter)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Inspirational Monday: keeping my fingers crossed...
Less than a year ago, my very, very close friend, BJ, was diagnosed with cancer. It rocked my spirit to the core. It has been quite a journey through radical medical treatments, and yet the journey continues. I have retreated to prayer, meditation, and simply letting her know that I value her presence in my life. She has one of the most beautiful hearts ever. Always bearing her burdens, without complaint. I am so grateful and honoured that she has invited me to support her throughout this journey. I love her. And each day, I continue to pray for her. Won't you please join me?
BJ learned that she was going to be a first-time great-grandmother shortly before her diagnosis. I immediately offered to make the baby's quilt. We were so excited as we jotted to the quilt shop on lunch breaks to choose fabrics and long-arm quilt designs. I would make the quilt top and she would complete the quilt by handsewing the binding. Always such a lovely touch and perfect way to have her play a part in making her first great-grandchild's heirloom quilt.
This weekend, through tears, I completed my part of this quilt project. It will now go out in the mail to her for completion. Hope it will bring her some good cheer.
*I want to send a special "thank you" to the beautiful Tracy of Pink Purl and my most awesome pen pal from the Gift of Jewels project, Julochka of Moments of Perfect Clarity for awakening the crafter in me. I laid her down for a nap when I picked up my camera. :)
*Inspirational Monday is hosted by vchelle of Operation You.
*Macro Monday is hosted by Lisa of Lisa's Chaos.
*Monday Memories is hosted by Gayle of Planet M Files.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
supply and demand...
The Caribbean is made up of a beautiful series of tropical islands. I grew up there. No matter where I am located physically in this world, for me, the Caribbean is home.
Over the years, its natural beauty has been affected by the arrival of major corporations. Local residents complain but their voices are not heard vis-a-vis the loud shouts and deep pockets of the corporations. One such corporation is Hess Oil on the island of St. Croix.
For most who pump petrol in their cars every day, the process a necessary means to an end. Many are guided, especially in this difficult economy, by the price tag. What becomes an economical deal for some translates into further complications to others, like the locals on the island.
In the still of the night, when darkness is at its strongest, while residents sleep soundly, the flue opens without forewarning. Out of the chimney stack bellows thick, black smoke with the most noxious fumes. Locals who live downwind are startled from their sleep. They jump out of bed and rush to close their windows because fresh air is no longer. Headaches, migraines, sicknesses like cancer develop in their bodies with every breath they take.
Supply and demand. The more petrol pumped at the gas stations, the more oil Hess must refine to keep up with the demand. Deterioration of the quality of life of the locals has become acceptable 'collateral damage'. Although they lift their collective voices to complain to governmental rulers, there has been little to no response.
This is a day in the life of residents on St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands.
*For more information, review this 1999 Washington Post article. Since then, the situation has gotten worse but who will raise their voice to help them?
Over the years, its natural beauty has been affected by the arrival of major corporations. Local residents complain but their voices are not heard vis-a-vis the loud shouts and deep pockets of the corporations. One such corporation is Hess Oil on the island of St. Croix.
For most who pump petrol in their cars every day, the process a necessary means to an end. Many are guided, especially in this difficult economy, by the price tag. What becomes an economical deal for some translates into further complications to others, like the locals on the island.
In the still of the night, when darkness is at its strongest, while residents sleep soundly, the flue opens without forewarning. Out of the chimney stack bellows thick, black smoke with the most noxious fumes. Locals who live downwind are startled from their sleep. They jump out of bed and rush to close their windows because fresh air is no longer. Headaches, migraines, sicknesses like cancer develop in their bodies with every breath they take.
Supply and demand. The more petrol pumped at the gas stations, the more oil Hess must refine to keep up with the demand. Deterioration of the quality of life of the locals has become acceptable 'collateral damage'. Although they lift their collective voices to complain to governmental rulers, there has been little to no response.
This is a day in the life of residents on St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands.
*For more information, review this 1999 Washington Post article. Since then, the situation has gotten worse but who will raise their voice to help them?
Conscious Friday: jammin' wid midnite...
there's a place I love
a place where genius thrives
cozy basements and back rooms
transformed into recording studios
Midnite comes
jam session begins...
hope you enjoy:
*Midnite: The Good Life
*Midnite: Bazra
*Midnite: I Chant
*Have a Conscious Friday and a divine weekend...
a place where genius thrives
cozy basements and back rooms
transformed into recording studios
Midnite comes
jam session begins...
hope you enjoy:
*Midnite: The Good Life
*Midnite: Bazra
*Midnite: I Chant
*Have a Conscious Friday and a divine weekend...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
pink thoughts...
During the month of October, Empress Christina of Soul Aperture has invited us to share our pink thoughts every Thursday in honour of those touched by breast cancer. Prayers. Hope. Love.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
I've been tagged...
I can't see what price they put on me but it betta be expensive. LOL.
Really, quite a while ago I was tagged by Kristin of Hello Sweet World to share 10 things about myself. So, here goes nothing too interesting...which means, you can stop reading right now. ;)
1. I L.O.V.E. JAH, my daughter, hubby, family and friends. I don't use the word "friend" very loosely. Loved ones and time spent together is what life is truly about for me and I cherish those moments as much as I possibly can.
2. I l.o.v.e. BONO, U2, Buju Banton, Midnite and anything Marley. Music is divine. And these ridiculously talented musicians aren't too bad either.
3. I also l.o.v.e. SMOKE (aka Tony Stewart, nascar race car driver), Johnny Depp, Clive Owens, Clark Kent of Smallville (the actor is fine but I love the young superman), and any of the Marley sons. Also great at what they do...yeah, that sounds convincing...and now my imagination has run off again. Oh, the possibilities. So sorry. I digress.
4. I enjoy baking every weekend. My grandmother did it and it's a tradition I try to keep alive. My daughter's friends sent me a message saying that "I'm the best baker, ever!" I am keenly aware that this is just another reverse psychology tactic to get more goodies, but it is still flattering. :)
5. I absolutely enjoy exploring nature, especially with my daughter.
6. I feel others pain and have a need to help others. There go I, but for the grace of JAH. My heart breaks for people who continue to survive in spite of unspeakable human atrocities. I pray for the women and children who live under untenable circumstances in war-torn countries. I would love to live long enough to see life improve for the people of Burma, Darfur, and Tibet. Wouldn't it also be wonderful to eradicate poverty and slavery in all its forms? Yeah, I imagine, pray, and hope.
7. Travelling and sharing the culture of others is fascinating to me. But, I don't like to fly. Makes life interesting.
8. My daughter's former teacher and speech therapist is THE best teacher I have ever met. Since becoming a mother of a school-aged child, I have never seen another teacher direct so much personal attention to the development of children as individuals and not as mere statistics, test-takers, or people needing to be controlled or fixed.
9. My daughter and I created an annual tradition of providing autumn leaves to her old speech therapy class because they are located in a tropical region. Autumn is not a season there. It brings us great joy to hear about how much the children enjoy having a little touch of autumn in their lives.
10. I love water. Let's try to keep it clean. Every man, woman, and child deserves clean water.
And so ends this tag sale.
Really, quite a while ago I was tagged by Kristin of Hello Sweet World to share 10 things about myself. So, here goes nothing too interesting...which means, you can stop reading right now. ;)
1. I L.O.V.E. JAH, my daughter, hubby, family and friends. I don't use the word "friend" very loosely. Loved ones and time spent together is what life is truly about for me and I cherish those moments as much as I possibly can.
2. I l.o.v.e. BONO, U2, Buju Banton, Midnite and anything Marley. Music is divine. And these ridiculously talented musicians aren't too bad either.
3. I also l.o.v.e. SMOKE (aka Tony Stewart, nascar race car driver), Johnny Depp, Clive Owens, Clark Kent of Smallville (the actor is fine but I love the young superman), and any of the Marley sons. Also great at what they do...yeah, that sounds convincing...and now my imagination has run off again. Oh, the possibilities. So sorry. I digress.
4. I enjoy baking every weekend. My grandmother did it and it's a tradition I try to keep alive. My daughter's friends sent me a message saying that "I'm the best baker, ever!" I am keenly aware that this is just another reverse psychology tactic to get more goodies, but it is still flattering. :)
5. I absolutely enjoy exploring nature, especially with my daughter.
6. I feel others pain and have a need to help others. There go I, but for the grace of JAH. My heart breaks for people who continue to survive in spite of unspeakable human atrocities. I pray for the women and children who live under untenable circumstances in war-torn countries. I would love to live long enough to see life improve for the people of Burma, Darfur, and Tibet. Wouldn't it also be wonderful to eradicate poverty and slavery in all its forms? Yeah, I imagine, pray, and hope.
7. Travelling and sharing the culture of others is fascinating to me. But, I don't like to fly. Makes life interesting.
8. My daughter's former teacher and speech therapist is THE best teacher I have ever met. Since becoming a mother of a school-aged child, I have never seen another teacher direct so much personal attention to the development of children as individuals and not as mere statistics, test-takers, or people needing to be controlled or fixed.
9. My daughter and I created an annual tradition of providing autumn leaves to her old speech therapy class because they are located in a tropical region. Autumn is not a season there. It brings us great joy to hear about how much the children enjoy having a little touch of autumn in their lives.
10. I love water. Let's try to keep it clean. Every man, woman, and child deserves clean water.
And so ends this tag sale.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Inspirational Monday: late edition...
take a deep breath
feel the sun shine on your face
smell the warm, moist, salty air
watch as sailboats drift by
listen to the soft waves as they gently wash ashore
exhale
relax
peace.
*Inspirational Monday is hosted by vchelle over at Operation You.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Conscious Friday: sharing a bit of my culture...
each week, i like to share a little music from my culture with you. these are songs that, on any given day, would be playing in our household or at any beach bar on my island. we, west indians, l.o.v.e. our music. so, escape to the caribbean with me, won't you?
*Steel Pulse: Roller Skates
*Barrington Levy: Black Roses
*Aswad: Ethiopian Rhapsody
Have a Conscious Friday and a divine weekend.
*Steel Pulse: Roller Skates
*Barrington Levy: Black Roses
*Aswad: Ethiopian Rhapsody
Have a Conscious Friday and a divine weekend.
pink...
*Empress Christina of Soul Aperture is hosting "pink thoughts" every thursday during the month of october in honour of those touched by breast cancer.
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