My New Book this Year!

Reflections on the Eternal Lover-- is finally-- here!!!

It is my first self published book. I started working on it, in February and now it is finally published and ready for readers. It is like a Christmas present in 2011!!

I hope all who read the book will be blessed!

This is my goal for anything that I write and publish. I hope that you enjoy what is inside and give your comments.

Stay warm. =)

Just a note: The book is avaliable on BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com. Check it out soon!

Well, Christmas Must Come and Thanksgiving is done

Thanksgiving is done already. I had fun and had lots of good food. It was great!

I made a new dish called Corn pudding. I recieved the recipe from my mom's really nice coworker. It came out delicious. Then I passed this recipe on to a friend and she loved it too. It is so easy to make and only takes a few ingrediants.

Corn pudding

1 box of Jiffy corn bread mix

8 oz sour cream

1 can cream corn

1 can sweet corn

and 1 stick of butter melted

Just mix all ingrediants with a spoon or whisk, then pour in a pan.

Then place in oven on 350 degrees for like 45 minuets.

Don't cover it just let it rise like a cake and get golden brown. To see if it is ready poke the center with a knife to see if it is firm. Then let it cool and enjoy the delightful taste. Bon appetite!

I suggest you try corn pudding, for Christmas. If you like corn bread and sweet buttery corn you may enjoy this dish tremendously. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I hope you have a great Christmas too. Maybe try the recipe.

Now Christmas is fast approaching. I already bought my tree and I still have yet to decorate it with the lights and ornaments. My family will do this together. I love this holiday and the feelings of joy, family, a new year is approaching. This season is a time for get togethers, more food and of course reflection. This is the time to celebrate Jesus Christ birth, even if it is not necessarily on December 25th.

I sometimes think Christmas is celebrated by everyone but of course they don't. Recently I met an interesting person who was not into Christmas at all because it is believed Santa was too pagan. I never met a person who disliked Santa. I see him as an idea, but not the main reason for Christmas. To me he is just a jolly man that goes with the holiday. But I know the real meaning of Christmas and I respect the other views people have.

But for me this is the time to celebrate my Savior Jesus Christ. Without Jesus where would the world be? Christ came to earth to bring love, peace and hope.

Have a Stressful life?

What do you do when you feel extremely tested by situations? Do you fight it? Do you become embittered and angry by your circumstances. Or do you just run?

Or maybe you panic and flee like there is no tomorrow. What do you run from? People? Places? Things? You don’t understand and you don’t like it, so you fight or run from it. Well here is my advice, don’t run and don’t panic and don’t be angry. Trust in God’s presence with you.

Do you ever feel that your buttons are pressed and you’re being squeezed in the wrong place? We all have that thing that turns us off. For me it is stress. I don’t like to be stressed. I don’t like to be poured into a boiling pot that soon scorches. This is stress: Situational stress, emotional stress, relational stress, work stress. I often feel it in different ways. But in the past whenever I was squeezed to my limit, the inevitable result was fear, anger and fleeing the situation. I know I like to run, I don’t like to feel uncomfortable in conflicts and hardships. But then I was put in a
situation I could not easily flee. And somehow I was surprised by the results. I saw God is good. And I learning that God will work all things out for good even the stress that seems terribly unbearable. God can use anything, he can make the stresses work in your favor and not break you.
I like to think about the biblical character Joseph. He was stuck in some stressful situations. First he had problems with jealousy from his brothers. They sold him into slavery. He was alienated and betrayed by family. Being a slave he could not run. But he could have become angry. He had
family stress and Situational stress. He didn’t get a break later when he was thrown in jail for a couple years either. But God had his plan to turn everything out better in the end. He will put it all together. Joseph stayed cool through it all and trusted God. God was with him there in the stress of life. Especially if you are God’s child, God is for you and not against you. God has done this for me on plenty of past occasions and I have learned from it. I realized I became stronger at the end and I saw God work it out. This was the outcome of God giving me the strength to perseverance. There is something about pushing on in spite it all and trusting God with any horrible circumstances. The sun comes out again.

I encourage you if you are stressed by something, keep pushing through it. In the end you will be happy you did. Don’t run from it but persevere through it. Trust that God works all things for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28)

Why I Give

scripture referance: Give and it will be given to you...For the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38

Healthy Living and Eating

Have you noticed that more and more the campain for healthy eating is bigger today for children, than it was ten years ago? Children are really being encouraged to live healthy lives. Ms. Obama is doing a fine job of making it top on her agenda, I must say. And if you have never seen theses ads just go to the nurses office in a NYC school and or watch the Disney Channel.

But I am convinced that most adults, are not doing half the things we teach children to do. I know I sometimes don't! But I do try... If healthy living is important for children it should be important for adults too.

Children are being encouraged to monitor their time watching television and playing video games. How long have I stayed in one spot with out moving for long times, like when watching televison or on the computer. Children are encouraged to more eat fruit and low fat milk. I sometimes love junk food. They are also encouraged to go outside and play, be active and to excersise 60 minutes a day. I may excersise twice a week, for fourty minutes.

When I look at my habits, I could do better. Smaller portions of desserts, less junk food and more excersise into my schedule- and not just when I feel up to it. It is easy to get so imbalanced with a focus on work, I forget to relax and work out. Working out is a good stress reliever. I have to remind myself to stretch, take a break and go for a walk. I want to stay fit and be healthy. So it starts now.

Just watch Dr. Oz and other Health places. Healthy bodies lead to healthy minds, emotions, and overall longevity of life!! And I am glad to see the promotion all over schools. Healthy children lead to healthy adults. Healthy living is the way of the future and I am reminded of it. I am proud that healthy living is priority for our children. And it should remain priority for adults too. Nothing at all, wrong with that!

= )

Smiling Quotes To Enjoy

Today I was reading one of my favorite inspirational readings online. It is called Lifescript, I've subcribed to it. The author's name is John H. Sklare he's a personal life coach. His words are usually short but are powerful thoughts to think about and they always inspire me. And today I was encouraged to do something very small- Smile. Here are some of the qoutes he shared.


SMILE...

Everytime you smile at someone , it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.- Mother Teresa

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your loooks.- Chales Gordy


I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.- Author unknown

The shortest distance between two people is a smile.- Author Unknown

EVERYONE SMILES IN THE SAME LANGUAGE.- Author Unknown

Smile- it increases your face value.- Author Unknown

psst- I heard it takes less facial muscles to smile than to frown. Hmm. nice. I think I am smiling now, just from reading it. - Christina

My Advice For Life

Here is a list of things I think are good to know for a peaceful life:

Always be prepared
Love life, expect the best and leave the rest
Accept youself, flaws and all
Be thankful for everything
Be nicer to yourself and your enemies
Be committed and devoted to what you do
PRAY
Love God always
Make goals
love everyone
Stay close to family
Try to be as organized as you can
Do the hard stuff first
Be informed
and Be youself!

I hope this helps.

Good Fall Day!

Well it is fall again!

I love the weather in the fall. The air feels fresh and new or maybe it is the coolness. I like the change in the seasons.

I hope everyone had a nice summer. I had relaxing one. I went to the beach, I went to the MOMA museum, I also attened a couple summer gospel concerts. I seen Donald Lawrence in concert and I saw one contestant, Micheal Pugh from BET's Sundays Best. He is a power house. i saw a lot of good gospel singers that come on 1190 am station. That was pretty cool experiance. But they were all in the same place. so I got a good deal.

I even got to see one of the sisters from Mary Mary, Erica, she was praising God and worshiping in the front row.

Oh and on the beach I saw the cutest couple getting their wedding pictures taken on the boardwalk. The bride had a really pretty dress and the groom was so handsome in his tuxedo.

At the MOMA museum I saw some beautiful famous paintings up close, like the ones by Claude Monet. I also saw alot of new original ideas about art. It was interesting what modern art is all about. you have to think outside the box. But I like the building blocks to what art is today. I like the old artist, pointalism, impressionism, cubism.

Things To Do This Summer

When it is summer time, that's the best time to explore new things.

Last week I went and traveled outside my Neighborhood and explored the fruit called a donut peach. It is not round but flatter than a usual peach and shaped like a donut. It was white on the inside and very sweet. It tasted ok, but I would prefer a regular peach.

Then, yesterday my friend introduced me to a roller skating rink in Manhatten that was free. I'm not a casual roller skater. So I decided to give it a try and went roller skating with her. It was fun! I used to roller blade as a kid so I thought it would be similair. But when I got there I had a little trouble getting used to roller skates. I was afraid to fall since they are more slippery to me but after a while I started to get the hang of it. I glided along and did not fall, surprisingly. I had fun skating to the music and relaxing as the wind blew in my face. I guess the memory of roller blading came back and I was a kid again!!

My Spring nature photos 2011

Here are some photos. I like to see the life all in bloom! Trees and flowers are my favorites. I took pictures of these trees and flowers in different neighborhoods in NYC and near my Church in Queens. I think that they are so pretty!

Have a nice day everyone.

Good songs to listen to

I've decided to add a bit more worsip music to my Ipod. If you'd like to join me here is a good list of worship and praise songs to add to your Itunes or Ipod playlist... Here are a couple of classic goodies to listen to when you have time or Check them out at YouTube.

I call you faithful.. By Donnie McClurkin

Praise is what i do... Shekina Glory

Pray... by Cee Cee Winans

Now behold the lamb... Kirk Franklin

The storm is over now... Kirk Franklin and God's Property

Melodies from Heaven... Kirk Franklin

Let Go... Dwayne Woods

We lift our hands in the sanctuary... Kurt Carr

In all that you do let everything bring Glory to God!!

Give it a try and do something new

Give it a try

What’s easy, safe and comfortable…

-is not always the best way to go.

Sometimes there need to be some risk taken,

Reaching beyond our capacity,

Stretching forward to try something new.

It may be the most uncomfortable,

Unwanted and frightening situation,

But if you don’t test the water

You may miss out on so much in life.

You may think it hard and need someone

to root you on, someone to guide you along.

I can’t promise you will find one

But I can say that you have one already,

It is inside of you,

You are your own personal cheerleader.

So go for the dive

And find a new and exciting life waiting.

Poem written 1/3/03

Happy National Poetry Month!

Pretty pictures from Winter gone by...

These are a couple of pictures from this winter 2011 that I took in NYC and some other pictures in my own area on my way through the city. I like lots of pretty trees and snow they are the best!

Some snow ...

As promised a little snow... Have a blessed day!

Favorite flower Daisy

Pink is the color for the Day! Enjoy.
Happy Tuesday!!

Time passes us by...

Hello again!!! It has been a while. I haven't been able to show any new Winter pic's unfortunately. But I promise to give something soon. If not snow then maybe flowers. (smile.) I hope to share my photos with you. Because time is passing by quickly. It is already March and February just flew by.

Grateful List:
I am grateful for this year because a lot has happened. Well actually not much "event wise" but other wise it's been a calm so far. God is good! (All the time)

I have great news. I just saw my great grandmother in NC who turned 92 years old on Monday. God bless her. She drives and is still fairly autonomous. If only we all could be that old and stay so young! She is 90 years young! She's a wonderful women. I am so proud of her. I know that only comes from keeping God first, eating right, staying busy, exercise and healthy living.


Short Book Review:

I have also been reading. I've finished recently Have a little a Faith by Mitch Albom. I had seen the name of the book in a couple of places and I wanted to read it. It is by a best selling author so that explains why it was every where.

And the last book, I read, by Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie) was really good too.

"Have a little faith." The name alone is what interested me. As usual I received a lot of thoughtful insights from it. I really enjoyed how he created such a tangible image of faith through a dying man and an living man. The frame of a dying man was similar to his other book about Morrie but the subject of the book was entirely different.

It is very reflective book on my favorite topic- faith. Through out the book the author is on a discovery of faith from a perspective of observer that leads to participant and believer. In short the book is about the authors encounters during his interviews and the stories he shared. Mitch is asked to do the eulogy of his childhood family's Rabbi. (He is Jewish.) Over a eight year span he forms a new found friendship. One he never expected to have and he learns a lot of new stuff about faith along the way.

Intertwined in the story is another mans story which is equally amazing and so rich. The other man is of another faith (Christian) and race (black) and yet the way Albom juxtaposed the two brought out a deep point. In the process of interviewing this leads to Albom finding a new way to believe in faith.

In this book it shows people putting faith into action for us to see in tangable ways. It inspires me, to continue to put my faith into what I do. There was a part where Mitch the author is asking the rabbi a question about faith and it's impact on life at the very end. He asks the Rabbi this question.

Here is an excerpt from page 44:

I wondered, now that his days were dwindling how important ritual still was.
"vital," he said.
But why? deep inside, you know your convictions.
"Mitch he said, faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how your believe."



That explains everything. I believe that it is of a motto for life .


Updates:
Also in other news: I am working on a book. I don't have a title yet but it is a poetry book. Hopefully you will read it. One I am publishing, which I hope will be an entertaining read and an encouragement to go after your dreams. I have been writing and writing now it's time to compile it and seal it.

Till next time... have a Great Day!!

Snow days

Lots of snow lately. The month of January is like that but I love it. Snow is good. It is pretty. Here are some pictures I took at Central Park last year winter 2010.

Soon, I'll post the snow pics for this winter snow of 2011!! Stay tuned...