You Think You Know Me...

Now we all know that I have the neighbors (which we will refer to as the "hate"-ors henceforth) who know not a thing about love.

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself." Leviticus 19:18

Lord knows I am faced with daily trials though. I always wonder how different would it be if they knew me even a little. I don't figure myself to be such a bad neighbor. But i guess its not so trendy to get to know your neighbors. And the other question I am sure you all are asking too is, Why do I even care???? Am I one of those people who "need" to be liked? And I wonder who is harmed more from not knowing someone and just making up in your mind who they are, what they stand for, and where they come from. I imagine we are all quite similar in our quests...

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1. I love my house clean. probably make the kids pick up toys 5/6 times a day. Can't even get to sleep at night if I know there is a mess somewhere. And I get mad irritated at the Chef because he could care less. Sometimes so irritated that I often think of boycotting this house! ha ha. I just wanna know does he really not care or is it because he knows I'm gonna do it anyway...hhmm...

2. I replay conversations in my mind often. sometimes because i think of something better to say later. i'm not lightning whitty like that. only when i write because i can edit :)

3. I rarely qualify for Best Mom of the Year, even though I show up at qualifiers often. But sometimes I need a timeout. I want to walk in the house, throw my purse on the floor and my feet up on the couch, turn on the tv and yell out for what i need; food, channel changed, a drink, a back rub.....

4. i love using ... yep, you saw it ... what's know as an ellipsis ... see, its such a good pause. better than a comma. a way to trail off and leave you to your own thoughts....

5. i tend to leave the door open on thoughts. a devils advocate if you will. even though i would never be his advocate, i like to hear all sides of a thought or a believe though, and see what others think or feel. so i notice when i write socially i tend to trail off rather than ! or ? (see #4)

Haiti

On November 9, 1803, The Haitian Revolution was, and still is, the only successful slave revolt in human history. Haiti is the world's oldest black republic and the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States.

On January 12, 2010 Haiti was rocked by the largest earthquake ever recorded in the area. The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 and was centered about 10 miles west of Port-au-Prince. The damage is extensive and devastating. I know an aunt on our extended families side was lost. And I know there are others who still havent been heard from. For the most part, all others are alive! I want to share it because I want my family to be able to look back and remember, "...weeping may endure for a night, but Joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

I am proud to be Haitian. I am saddened by the loss. I am hopeful for the change that will come. I am thankful for the Peace God has given. I am humbled by God's grace. 

I know that God turns all things for good.

And I know, "...you shall remember the LORD your God: for it is he that gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is this day." Deuteronomy 8:18

So there is hope and joy and peace and love and promise for what will come out of this situation. Haitians have always been a resilient people and our light will finally be allowed to shine!

L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE!

The Lesson of Always in Love

I thought this Thanksgiving was gonna be the easiest, most relaxed Thanksgiving of all. We decided to stay local (since most of our family stays at least 40 miles out) and go to our churches Thanksgiving dinner. It was really nice this year. They are so relaxed and they had a movie for the kids and the doors were open to anyone who wanted to come in and eat. We cooked yams and ate all the other goods and had a great start.

We decided to stop by the hubbies moms house and grab a little to eat, let the kids play and just continue our relaxation staycation :) There was a young girl and her daughter who came up and came over to eat. She is someone the mother-in-law knew. The kids all played with the 8 year old and it was fun and easy. Then...

We got asked to give the young girl and her daughter a ride home and she tells us how she still stays with her mom to help take care of her. She is disabled. She also tells us that the lights have been cut off and have been off for 8 days. Its a $1500 bill. Huge mixup it seems. Not enough to make em turn the lights back on though. And come to find out later on, they may be kicked out when the housing they are in finds out they have no electricity. Its a condition to stay in the housing. It brought me to tears.

I have to say that we were discreetly reminded today that no matter how little we think we have, someone, somewhere has less. Our Thanksgiving lesson had been handed to us. And man, it got me thinking. I've been really itching to get out of the neighborhood and apartment we are in now. Feeling incredibly low at times. I have Faith and I tug-of-war with using it to fight the fear I have that we wont ever get up from down here. But truth is, I cant be that low if I can be on here sharing my life and pictures with you.

This is a long one I know....

anyway, all we know is we have to give some way some how to them. We certainly know we would, in our hearts, like to just pay the bill but thats beyond our means. We have had a "situation" of our own with our car and thats not easy to admit cuz you never want your friends and family to know how low you might actually be. Nor do you want anyone to take pity on you. But one thing I know for sure is that God uses you in ways you cant understand.  Its ironic that we still have the car here and for reasons we could not have seen coming,  so offering to drive her downtown in L.A. to help her get in touch with this program who helps pay your utility bill made sense. Its only one of the little things we can do. We are also looking for a battery charged light tomorrow that they can use in the house until that happens.

I encourage you to know that you are right where you need to be in your life. Even if it feels a little tight and its not where you think you should be. Its all for reasons beyond our understanding. sometimes its soooo good and sometimes it feels soooo low. But it is and thats all it can be for the moment. Its temporary. Its seasonal. 

Love requires advanced planning.
God’s plan for life began before the world was made.


Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

All Men?

We talked about how sometimes all of us dont always tell the truth like it really is. we dont all really tell the exact truth about who we are or what happened to us or how we feel. He says we ALL over-exaggerate the truth, especially as men they have a tendency to do this. he told me once how men, even with video proof they would bold face lie and say it wasnt them.

That was a result of a conversation we started on why men say the things they say to other women outside of their relationship. maybe they just disconnect and say "oh yea, i wanna be with you too" or "you know i love you, i'll call you tomorrow" and they arent even aware of what they're saying. He says no...its just to say it. no truth in it. we all do it.

I raise my eyebrow on this one.

So I say this too...the other thing i thought of when he said that was, thats why i write this. to say the things that are truth as they happen to me with no embellishment. none. sometimes you know, i dont think i felt like i should say anything. afraid of judgment and such. i know i am not the only one though. not at all. but it all needs to be said. I mean, can you imagine your life saying all the things you REALLY think inside. I'm not imagining anymore, I'm just speaking the truth and seeing what happens.

I mean, I've had this "8 qualities of wealthy women" posted up in front of me for a year now and i am no more wealthy than i was two years ago. So why is this??? because i havent even gotten past no #1: THOUGHTS CREATE YOUR DESTINY....until almost two months ago. it finally hit me. And so if i continue to dump my thoughts, as is, all truth...then i can create new thoughts that have action. I've touched on this before...anywho, two posts in one tonight.

The late night thinker....