Nov 5
This week’s message from Pastor Joel Osteen,
“God’s plan for our lives isn’t dependent on having to be perfect, never making a mistake or never taking a wrong turn. He has grace for every weakness and mercy for every failure. You may have failed a thousand times, but God has not written you off and canceled your destiny. Your mistakes do not disqualify you from God’s plan for your life. He still has a way to get you to your final destination”
PrintNov 4
When i look at my children, i want to remember everything about them, so that is why i keep this blog going. It is easier to write, take photos, or make home videos as keepsakes. I think when they grow up this will be great to have and pass on to their children. I will want to publish some of my entries into a family memoir to pass on to them. My father used to take pictures of us when we were little, and every christmas he would pay for a photographer to take a family portrait, and i tell you i love looking at those albums.
I don’t know about you, but there are people in my lives are far gone now, that all am left with are their memories, and sometime i sit alone trying to remember their face, and i can’t seem to find it. I never met my great grandfather, but throughout the years i had heard a lot of stories about him from other members of our family. No one ever took a picture of him, so all i know is who they say he looks like. My great grandmother was around and was believed to have lived to over 100 yrs, but also no one ever took a photo of her, now that i think about, i can’t just believe dad never took her photo.
Great grandma loved telling us tales, every night after dinner we would sit around the fire place and listen to her tell us all sorts of stories, and you could tell she enjoyed it too. I am sitting here wishing we had a video camera back then and just tape the whole thing, that would have been a great gift not only to myself, but to our entire family.
Everyone in our lives matters, so try to capture each others memories as much as you can, so when the time comes when they are departed we will have more things to remind us of their lives. All my grandmas are gone now, and all am left with is a memory…i still remember their warmth, their smiles, their caring ways, and their advice, ooh and their cooking! There was just something about grandma’s cooking, no matter how much i had ate, i still asked for more.
My children have yet to meet my mom, their grandmother, and i just can’t wait till they meet both their grandparents. I am excited for them, and when they do, i will make sure i capture all that in print and video for them, so they can always remember.
The holidays are around the corner, and most people give each other a lot of gifts, so i challenge you to find away to get together with your extended family, if you are close by, and get family portraits done, make a home movie, collect photos of your children and other family members taken throughout the year and make a calendar. All this are great memories that one can’t get enough of for years to come.
Goodnight.
PrintNov 3
I remember growing up watching soap operas on TV and see how the characters would be all glammed up, driving nice cars, living in nice houses and i would think to myself, wow life in USA is great. Well, there are people here who live that life of luxury, but just like in any other part of the world, it is just a percentage of the general population that live that good.
Now, for many foreigners in this country, you know trying to explain to people at home that you have your daily struggles here they may not understand. Some would accuse you of having forgotten where you came from, or that you have changed, or some you just don’t want to help the people you left behind anymore. It is hard making some friends and family understand that here the average family end up living paycheck to paycheck. You spend almost everything you earned on bills, school, or other essentials to survive, and when you do save it is only a small fraction of what you earn.
On the other hand, there are people that are in the developing countries like for example African countries that are filthy rich. Some parts of Africa too are very developed, most people spend cash and not live on credit, they own their homes, cars etc, but what is shown on TV here are the areas that are NOT quite developed. They show the wild, dry, famine-stricken places, but this is not all there is of Africa. There are several young entrepreneurs there, educated youth, and growth in foreign business investments. People with mansions of their own, and just doing really great.
So the next time you see a tourist in your African road, don’t just assume they are filthy rich, and when you do hear your neighbor is from Africa, don’t just assume they lived under a tree or beat up mud house either. For the families left behind by loved ones, realize that living abroad is not as easy as what you watch on Tv, people do work hard, or even harder to keep up with the expenses, so be patient with each other.
Really, one doesn’t need to compare Africa and USA to realize life is not a reality Tv show, i guess once put into words it is what it is, heck – just look out your window, you will see what it truly is.
Good night.
PrintNov 2
Ever heard other parents say, having a baby is not hard, raising a baby is? Well whoever is saying this to you is definitely right. People can give you tons of advice on how to raise your child, but the thing is there is no set fomula. For those who claim they have cared for other people’s children, trust me, when it is your own child, somehow it is different. If you are a teenager set to have a child right now, and you may have an option to wait a little longer to have a family ? my advice to you, hold off and think again. The late nights or weekend socials may just put to an end, the moment you have your baby.
So…
I am sure the list can be endless, if you feel you can handle all the above and more, go for it just remember A Baby Changes Everything… but when ready, it is the most wonderful experience. So many great lessons to learn. Every mom or dad has many stories of their own.
Have a great week!
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