Christmas Invitation

Greetings,

The following was sent to by one of my relatives and I enjoyed it and thought that I would share it with my friends and well wishers. Please enjoy and have a wonderful and blessed Christmas with your family. May the peace that passes all understanding rein in your heart and lives this holiday and always. Stay well and take care until next time, Del.

You are cordially invited to

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!!

Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ

Date: Every day. Traditionally, December 25
but He's always around, so the date is flexible...

Time: Whenever you're ready.
(Please don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!)

Place: In your heart.... He'll meet you there.
(You'll hear Him knock.)

Attire: Come as you are... grubbies are okay.
He'll be washing our clothes anyway. He said something about
new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last.

Tickets: Admission is free. He's
already paid for everyone...
(He says you wouldn't have been
able to afford it anyway...
it cost Him everything He had. But
you do need to accept the ticket!!

Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a
far-out drink He calls "Living Water,"
followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world!

Gift Suggestions: ; Your life. He's one of those
people who already has everything else.
(He's very generous in return though.
Just wait until you see what He has for you!)

Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth,
Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness,
Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power,
Eternity in Paradise, Contentment, and much more!
(All "G" rated, so bring your family and friends.)

R.S.V.P. Very Important!
He must know ahead so He can
reserve a spot for you at the table.
Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future
reference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life."

Party being given by His Kids (that's us!!)!
Hope to see you there! For those of you whom I will
see at the party, share this with someone today!

It was His birthday, but I enjoyed the gifts!!!

I recently wrote about people who do not say thank you. Less I fall into that group myself, I am saying thanks to my dear friends for a wonderful weekend.

Recently my friend called to ask what I'll be doing on the weekend of Nov 15. While I knew that is the weekend of my DH's birthday I told her I had no immediate plan. Her response was great how about joining a group of twenty to purchase some discount ticket to a matinées to see "The Marriage Counselor." To which I agreed; fast forward two weeks later when I gave her my payment and mentioned that it's DH's birthday that weekend and I was thinking about dinner after. She said great I'll get you some restaurant suggestions. We did not communicate with each via my work email until the day before the day before the play and I was off from work. I just happened to check my mail from home that morning and there was a message from my friend asking what was my restaurant choice and the arrangement to collect the tickets. I responded to her and saying I have decided to forget about dinner and I'll see her the next day.

We were a little late for the show so at halftime she said did you see my message about dinner after the show? To which I responded and she said "well you better unforget about dinner since I went through the hoops to make reservation at McCormick and Schick. Mind you I already told DH's buddies that we'll stop by after the show.

Fast forward we had a great meal and then the bill. I place my card in the holder and before anyone else could look at it the server took it away and charged it all. For reimbursement the other diners at the table gave me cash and a check which my dear friend coordinated. After leaving the group and I checked the total she had given me the total for the bill and then invited us over for homemade dinner.

Us Redskins people showed up at those Cowboys people home for dinner with a warm sweet potato cake in tow. They made one of the dishes I like very much Jamaican oxtail and red beans and rice. After making another of my concoctions for cold, confirming that she intended to pay for dinner and having some great fellowship we called it a night and sealed a great weekend at the halftime of the game. So to that great group of friends I say many thanks and happy belated birthday my love. In response to my thank you this is her message. "You guys are more than welcome... You both are very special to us and we appreciate the great friendship we share... I truly enjoyed the weekend.
Thank you for making my cold remedy -- I made it into work today because of it, I'm sure... I am feeling much better - which surprises me. My body was not aching when I woke up this morning. So to great friends and beautiful relationships, I say thanks. Take care and stay well, Del.

Thank you Veterans

Greetings,

How are you today? I at home relaxing thanks to the many people who chose to serve their people and country. The formal definition for this day is to honor military veterans, however I would like to extend that further to those people who served and fought for their people in a different way. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that the people who fought and allow people president elect Obama to be is this capacity today deserves to be considered as official veterans. Does it count; there are many families who have lost several relatives in the war so does my point make any sense.

Despite your views I wish to consider them as my veterans as well and to say thanks. Thank you to the many, who has fought, bled and died so that we might our freedom, I say thank you. A special thanks to my friend Nigel who is currently doing a15months tour in Iraq. Also to my friends and relatives have done their tour and remain on reserve, I say thank you. On that note, do you know any one who has experienced post war adversities? The worst I know is of a friend who lost her marriage after her husband returned from the war. Please let me know in what other ways have the wars affected you and yours. God bless and keep all those who continue to serve.

Talking about people how do you deal with someone who is connected but yet not connected if that makes sense? I have a friend who for the life of her cannot get her act together or as her hubby puts it clean up her mess. While being technologically savvy you can never get a hold of her sometimes for hours. Please tell me what suggestions I can make to her or her husband. Here is a scenario, I was leaving work and said to her on the IM am leaving the office, she respond already so I called her on her office phone and told her that I’ll be there to get her so that we can go home together. I arrived at her building at 03:50 called her desk and cell and received her voicemail. With persistence I finally got her at 04:05. Long story short I never picked up the woman until 04:20 and her excuse was, “I do not know where my cell phone is.” Whhhhhhhat, a mother to two who are in daycare and a husband out at work and you do not know where the cell phone is, great. By the way, is that the cell phone that you replaced just two weeks ago, maybe I am tripping but that does not sound cool to me?

As I dropped her off and she said when get home and as soon as I find my phone I’ll call you. Well I waited until 9 and still no call so I did the honor. Helllllllllo, oh hi I am sorry I can in and just got taking care of the kids, bla, bla, bla and then she said I would call you back. Oh, no need to, no I definitely will call you. I am so glad that I did not wait for that call because it’s 10:50 AM and I am still waiting. Please, please, tell me how I should deal with her. Love her to death, but boy oh boy this one kills me and her husband says to her, “you’re a mess.” I do not want to say all of that. So, take care and stay well until next time, Del.

That is President Obama to you!

There is no word to describe what we have witnessed. But I can say that this is a victory not just for black Americans, but this is an American victory. God bless Barack Hussein Obama and God bless the USA. Yes We Can, Yes We have! I am glad that I was blessed to be part of this history. I received this as a text message; Rosa Parks sat so that Martin Luther could walk... Martin walked so Barack Obama could run...Obama won so that our children could fly. Congratulations president BHO, black has never looked so good. Tell me what you think. Take care and stay well, Del.

Do you always remember to say thanks?

I would like to say thanks to the judges at my polling place. Often times they get the wrath and rudeness of unappreciative voters. Having served as a judge before at a general election time I can say that it is really a sacrifice for some people to do that task. They are required to be there one hour before the polls open and remain there until the votes are verified. For most of voting judges that entails standing for the entire day except for half of an hour lunch break and maybe a bathroom break.

I entered the line at my polling place at 3:25 and was out of the voting booth by 4:00. I guess most people did not take any chances and did it this morning at which time I heard the lines were down the streets. So gain thanks for a job well done to those election judges.

Do you always remember to say thanks? No really, do you? I attended many events where gifts and sometimes food were contributed and I did not receive a note of thanks. Am I expecting too much or is that the new norm? Because I usually talk about people who are like that I feel obligated to highlight a thank you know we received recently.

Because of an incident I mentioned recently involving some children I had vow not to attend any more children functions, especially since I have none of my own. However, when the parents of one of our godchildren invited us to their birthday celebration we could not resist. Another time I will tell you why I felt obligated to be there. We showed almost at the end of the party with our gifts, no pans or boxes in tow, ate and left.

Then we received this little card with the words “thank you” outside and a personalized note inside. I felt warm and fuzzy; “God daddy… Auntie Del, thank you so very much for coming to our ‘Funners’ Spiderman/Princess B-day party. Thank you for the wonderful gifts also. Auntie Del my mom has put away my learning laptop. I hope to play with it soon. How far away is Christmas, Auntie? I do enjoy playing with my brother’s speed racer hot wheels though.
Thanks again for celebrating with us. You truly made our special day extra special. We love you very much.” Thanks Ms. J.

Call me corny but that really made my day. You do not know what it may take to make someone’s day, so why not go ahead and be courteous and thankful always. So while you await the results and even after remember to smile and even to the naysayers, go ahead and say thanks. Until next time take care and stay well, Del.

Everywhere else on Monday

How was your weekend? Mine was fabulous because I spent time with the family basking in love and celebration. My DH and I went to the wedding ceremony and celebration of his first niece which was very intimate and beautiful. And if I cared about nothing else, the food mattered to me. Despite being a hotel catered event, I was impressed with the menu which included some jerk, rice and peas. Even though neither of them represent the country we're from, I was still please.
However, the disappoint we shared was about the cake or the lack there of. How could you have a Caribbean wedding and not have black cake? Please tell me if I was expecting too much. But of course you cannot please everyone, so to the bride and groom congratulations. Here are best wishes for a wonderful life together.
From my heart and experience I wish you as much happiness and joy in being married as I have found in mine. There is no secret to what will work magically; however, I do know that once there is respect, communication, sex and trust you can make it work. What do you think? What works for you in your relationship? While on celebrations, congratulations to my friend Selwyn and his wife who recently found out that she's pregnant. Way to go my friend!

While on relationships let me touch on this issue that has been on my mind for the last few weeks. Usually when I attend family functions are I am the person that takes the most photos. I am also usually the one to take the most natural photo that really catches people in their elements. Do you remember the family function I spoke about recently? Well I took some photos as usual and got myself into some good trouble.

I got in trouble because I took the photo of two five years old kids that their parents consider inappropriate. But then again, I did not clarify whether taking the photo or the pose the children had was inappropriate. You see, I went to them and said let’s pose for picture and pose they did. Without full description I will say that the pose were for grown and intimate people. I immediately showed the images to the parents who comment that they know better than to take photos like that since they are relatives.

For me that was finish and as usual I sent out the photos to group a few days later. About a week later I received an email from the girl’s mother with the following: “I finally took a look at the Pictures. I glanced at the pictures of girl and boy that said night and didn't see all of that. Because, I was not looking hard enough. Now, I know you know me by now and I would think that you know boy’s mother too, especially when it comes to our kids. I don't think that those pictures are appropriate. The next time you see such behavior, I think you should stop them and let us know. Now, I can only imagine. I'm speaking for myself. I don't know if boy’s mother has seen the pics since. Now that's up to her. But knowing her I don't think this will fly. Let’s be adults about this, so this will not happen next time.”

With my mature self I did not respond to that email. Reason being is I am of the opinion that me taking those photo was like someone holding a mirror in front of the parents and saying look how much your children know. In addition I feel that even though we are relatives, unless you and I have that can of relationship I will not discipline your child. Please let me know if I am wrong for thinking like that, and what are your feelings about other people disciplining your child. More so, how do you feel about people who do not have children of their own disciplining yours?

Until we pick up this gaff again, take care and stay well. Del

WHAT WILL MATTER

WHAT WILL MATTER
by Michael Josephson

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won’t matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought but what you built,
not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched,
empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew,
but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.
What will matter is not your memories but the memories of those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.

Forgiveness

Sometimes items for my journal are easily decided, other times they are forced upon me by people, places or situations. Today’s topic just came by my love for reading; it was the last item I read before bed last night and the first topic on my way home, in different medias. BTW I know this topic is for myself as well as a few people who are dear to me. So go ahead and “give the gift of non-retaliation, and in that gift you, yourself, receive healing.”

Forgiveness Is Unfair
By Philip Yancey
At its core, forgiveness remains unfair. There is something unjust about a person’s dastardly deeds going unpunished.
Such thoughts nagged at me until one day I came across an admonition from Paul tucked away in Romans 12. Hate evil, be joyful, live in harmony, do not be conceited… Then this verse: “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (v. 19)
Finally I understood: In the final analysis, I am simply trusting that God is a better justice maker than I am. By forgiving, I leave issues of fairness for God to work out. I defer to him the scales of justice.
Wrong does not disappear when I forgive. But it loses its grip on me, and is taken over by God. He knows what to do.

Learning to Forgive
By Lori Erickson
So what can we do when we’re seething with resentment against a domineering spouse or faithless spouse? Firstly realize that forgiveness takes time. For deep hurts, we may need to forgive over and over again. It may feel forced, but as time passes it will become deeper and long lasting. Here are some tips to help you get to a place where genuine forgiveness is possible:
Practice Gratitude. Instead of focusing on how you’ve been wronged, keep reminding yourself of all that you have to be thankful for. Throughout each day, look for reasons to be grateful, from the food on your table to the air that fill your lungs.
Teach your body to relax. Learn a stress-management practice that you can call on when negative thoughts flood your mind or you are hurt by someone’s actions. The key is to calm your emotions and disengage the body’s response to stress
Acknowledge your own faults. It’s a rear person indeed who has never hurt someone else. Don’t judge other people more harshly than you judge yourself.
Rewrite your story. Stop thinking of yourself as a victim. A woman whose husband left her, for example, shouldn’t think of herself as abandoned, but focus on the ways she is courageously creating a new life.
Seek understanding. Think of the one who hurt you as a good person who did something bad, not as a bad person. “Try to see the worth of the person and view them with empathy and compassion,” says Enright.

Relationship Builders
· Why is it hard not to “get back” at your significant other in small ways when her or she has hurt you?
· How can you trust God to handle the situation when others wrong you?