More Than A Number

114. 

This is more than an arbitrary number.

This is the number that did it for me.

This is the number that ends my silence.

This is the number that should end yours as well.

This is the number that should make our President pay attention to this epidemic.

This is the number that should make every African-American get up and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

This is the number that is probably an under-exaggeration, because there were deaths that probably WENT UNREPORTED.

This is the number that cannot be argued.

This is the number that others can't dismiss anymore.

This is the number that politicians cringe at, because their jobs may be on the line for it.

This is the number that law enforcement agencies see EVERY DAY, and yet the number continues to GROW.

This is the number that history should look back on and say, "this was when they said 'enough is enough already'."

It's more than a number...it is an indictment to our country's "bury your head in the sand" syndrome...ignore the problem, and maybe it'll go away...it's not MY problem...it doesn't affect ME personally...why should I care...

STOP. RIGHT. THERE.

ENOUGH.

114 of my brothers were killed from behind the guns and badges of so-called "peace officers".  That number should make you UNCOMFORTABLE.

#ijs  #nojusticenopeace

From Becoming to Being A Godly Woman

Okay, so the first picture happened on Independence Day... just a partial explanation as to why I've been AWOL.   It was time for a new car - if y'all woulda seen what I was driving BEFORE??? Wooooo!  

Ain't she beautiful??  Just in time for my birthday....

It feels like this has been my year of transition and transformation.  I can't say that I understand all the changes, but they have been for my BETTER.  I thank God for them.

So now, I'm wondering where else He's gonna make some changes.  I know there are some internal things that are changing.  And I'm writing and praying so that I can get a better handle on them.  It's GROWTH.  And I thank God for that as well.

There's a couple or five other things I'd like to get done...and those will be revealed as they happen. They are, for me, a reminder that HE is in charge of the changes being made.  I want to move from becoming to BEING.

So when I saw the second image on Pinterest, it made sense for today. 

I can be NOTHING without HIM. 

But in HIM, I live, move and have my BEING!

Let the transformation continue.

#IJS

Silence

I was in my room this morning, laying in bed, enjoying the quiet.

My TV was in power down mode, and my phone was charging.

I realized, I have my TV on in the background, just for sound.  I rarely watch it, unless there's a show that I want to watch.  Other than that - background noise.

My phone charges, and I catch up with social media, news, etc., but it's background lighting.

Sometimes it's in the silence where I can let go and reflect on yesterday, find out where my mind is today, and plan for tomorrow (Lord willing).  It is where I find peace - and pursue it.

Silence can be as loud as a buzzsaw; yet in the stillness and quiet, I can hear God whispering to my soul.

It is where I meditate, think on higher things, and allow baser things to be released.  It is where I achieve my highest sense of being.  

So, bye bye 'book, toodle-lo Twitter, ta-ta TV, and  I'll catch u later Instragram... time for a return to silence.

(maybe I can finally type out this book! IJS)

Back On My Grind

Been gone for a minute, now I'm back again...(Awesome lyrics, btw)

I've had the BUSIEST month:

*Teaching like a madwoman at church
*Running to and from meetings for Sorority Fundraiser during the past 3 weeks
*Created a souvenir booklet for said fundraiser (soooo glad that's done)
*THE ACTUAL FUNDRAISER!! (glad it's over)
*Father's Day (never a chore, but with all the running...)
*Pricing mailout for work - very INVOLVED
*Took work home to catch up
*Babysitting on off days (the little critter is getting BIG!)
*Trying to catch a spare minute to BREATHE!!

And the month isn't done....

But it's been busy enough to keep me from writing...and I GOTTA get back to it.  My accountability partner is chomping on the bit, as he has stepped his game ALLTHEWAYUP (gotta catch up to my oneie).  To him, I say WATCH. YOUR. BACK. SIR.

I think that I'm getting ready for some changes.  Good ones.  I welcome them into my life.

Busy, Busy, Busy....

Sorry, haven't had time to write, but hopefully, by the end of this month, that will change.

Meanwhile, here is where I find myself today: ever had a dream that seemed so real that when you were jolted awake by the REALNESS of it,  you couldn't go back to sleep?

Happened to me.  Wonder if there are some things I need to get ready for?

Monday....sigh

Yes, it has returned again....

My weekend was HOT!  and not in the good way, either.

On a van that broke down, had to wait for an hour for a ride...sweated half to death.

Attend two church services yesterday, and BOTH air conditioning systems were broken...in Florida...where the average temp yesterday was around 85 degrees.

So, my weekend was long, hot, and tiring.

And now I'm back to Monday.

I need a weekend from my weekend.

Getting Seasoned (short one today)

I love older people.  They have the best stories.

I wanna get to that age where, when I reminisce about some of the things I used to do, I leave young people in awe.  "Dang, you used to do that?"

But it means, once again, gotta take of myself.  Doctor's office again.  Sigh...

But I'm happy that I did.  May have averted a problem before it became one.  I am doing what is necessary to prevent it from going any further, thereby avoiding the "terminal" diagnosis.

All in an effort to make it to 100.  (Yes, I plan on being here for a century.)

Gotta make more changes.

But it's part of the seasoning process....so Imma marinate over here and do this for me and my 3 babies (1 niece, 2 nephews).

So I can tell them stories of survival, of peace, of hardwork, of happiness and joy, hard times and tears, but most of all: how I LIVED.