Starting 2012 Right!

Happy New Year! I am excited about 2012. Why? Because I believe I am going to live more of my purpose in life and discover more of what that purpose is. The best thing about it is I get to live 2012 with wisdom gained from previous years. I discovered a long time ago that difficult circumstances, challenges, and situations are my greatest lessons in life; while difficult to embrace at times, they can sometimes be just what you need to propel you into your future.

I have also discovered that living out your purpose also needs some purposeful steps as well. We should always be looking to increase our knowledge, skills and abilities. Whatever you desire to
accomplish learn how to accomplish it. Take a class, get a degree, be mentored by someone or whatever you need to achieve success, do it. I am taking some purposeful steps this year and cannot wait to blog about how they have helped me.

I am excited to blog this year because I know I am going to have some fantastic successes from my entire family to write about. :-D

Make it a fabulous New Year!

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People Helping People

I just came back from the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and African American Credit Union Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) conferences; these are two of the best conferences in the credit union movement. However, in this blog I am going to talk primarily about the AACUC and what I experienced during that conference. Before I begin I want to remind and tell others for the first time of the credit union movement's "social purpose". . The Credit Union National Association's (CUNA) website states that credit unions have the following "Social Purpose: Credit unions exist to help people, not make a profit. Our goal is to serve all of our members well, including those of modest means - every member counts. Our members are fiercely loyal for this reason. They know their credit union will be there for them in bad times, as well as good. The same people-first philosophy causes credit unions and our employees to get involved in community charitable activities and worthwhile causes." (CUNA.ORG) In my opinion, this is the AACUC's approach to every challenge or situation put in front of them "PEOPLE FIRST".

"The AACUC was created to support programs that offer benefits for African-American and African descent credit union professionals and volunteers, credit unions, and credit union vendor partners. The goals and objectives include expanding the interest and increasing the numbers of minorities in the credit union movement; increasing outreach of the credit union movement in African countries and in the United States through credit union mentoring; providing scholarship programs and educational opportunities to credit union professionals and volunteers towards professional development and advancement; and most importantly enhancing internship and scholarship programs for African-American and African descent college students in pursuit of financial services careers to introduce them to and encourage them to seek employment within the credit union movement." (AACUC.ORG)

I can say there is follow-through with this statement from their website. I have greatly benefited from the support of the AACUC, by way of scholarships for Ivy League graduate education, mentorship, correction and encouragement. In my opinion, the AACUC exemplifies the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People"; in addition to helping individuals they are making an impact on a global level. Whether they are partnering with WOCCU, digging in to help other credit unions to continue to support their communities or helping someone like me progress in their career; the AACUC is constantly helping people.

The AACUC chose New Orleans to be the host city for this year's annual conference; almost six years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the Levies. I am glad that they did and I can say I saw firsthand that New Orleans is an amazing demonstration of "People Helping People". I was impressed with the people of New Orleans, despite what had occurred six years earlier there was still such a zeal for life and community. I am sure there are many others demonstrating the social purpose of "People helping People but there is one credit union that I want to talk about specifically because I had an opportunity to visit their shop and see firsthand the difference they are making in the community. Hope Enterprise Corporation and Hope Credit Union are poster organizations for "People Helping People". Hope Federal Credit Union was started in 1995 by a community church in Mississippi; like many not for profits, Hope fell upon difficult times a few years after their beginnings and reached out to the AACUC for their mentorship and expertise. The AACUC's Leaders answered the call and helped them to develop a plan to overcome their challenges; today, Hope Credit Union is one of the fastest growing credit unions and not only serves communities in Mississippi, but also Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana. Hope's expansion into Louisiana has become crucial because of the devastation that hit the gulf coast of Mississippi and New Orleans in August 2005. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Hope Credit Union was the only financial institution that opened immediately in Central City. Since, the devastation of the storm and the aftermath that followed, Hope Credit Union has played an integral part of the rebuilding of New Orleans, Mississippi Gulf Coast and other communities. Hope has created programs such as the following:

• Affordable Housing Programs to rebuild the areas devastated by Katrina
  
• Partnership with Goldman Sachs to bring back small businesses and bolster small business growth in New Orleans
  
• Foreclosure mitigation for areas impacted by Katrina and the downturn of the economy
  
• And the list goes on…
  

As I stated in the beginning of this blog, I attended the WOCCU Conference as well. There I heard how countries such as Africa, Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland and many more were overcoming dire obstacles to bring services to their communities. In some areas of the world there are people literally risking their lives to ensure that members of their communities are provided financial literacy and are given give what we consider a basic right, a checking and savings account. Now, that I am back at my credit union in Seattle, I am so jazzed about all of the possibilities to help our members. Every community has their challenges but I can say that I probably won't end up needing a body guard because I want everyone to have a savings account, I can say we have resources and I we haven't been hit by a natural disaster in recent years. There are people all over this world making it happen for their members under all of those circumstances, so there are NO EXCUSES, help someone today. Personally and professionally, I am in the "People Helping People" business.





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Why I Walk for Lupus

In 1974, my mother was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by acute and chronic inflammation of various tissues of the body. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. (medicinenet.com) The most common forms of lupus are discoid and SLE both forms occur more often in women than men; with the largest demographic of lupus patients being African-American women.



The moment my mom was diagnosed it turned our lives upside down. When my mother received her diagnosis; I was only five years old, my brother was 18 months and my sister was a newborn. A few months later we were sent to live with relatives because my mother was hospitalized for several months and unable to care for us; I believe we were sent to live with my mother's sister in Maryland, this was one of many times that we would have to leave our home due to my mom's illness. We were often on our own or split up amongst relatives whenever my mom would have a flare. I had to learn to be responsible and care for others at a very young age; being the oldest of the three children, responsibility was not much of an option.



You see, even when my mom was home, she was often not able to care for herself or us; due to affects of the disease and more often because of the side-effects from her prescribed medications. Lupus was not well known and there were not any drugs specifically to treat lupus; patients were left with drugs that had horrible side-effects, drugs such as prednisone (a steroid), plaquenil and sometimes even chemotherapy. The plaquenil caused severe nightmares, my mother would cry out nightly in her sleep. Imagine being a young child being woken most nights by this, and feeling like it was your responsibility to make sure everything was ok. The prednisone caused weight gain, extreme mood swings and finally heart damage. My mother passed away from a massive heart attack six months after her 50th birthday.



I do not regret the difficulty I had growing up; in fact I don't see how I could be the person I am today without the lessons of strength, perseverance and faith that I had to learn at age too young to do most things. :-) However, I would not wish that lack of a childhood on anyone. Lupus can slowly destroy a person's body and leave unforgettable emotional scars on their loved ones. I believe the journey I experienced as a child is so I can help others today; my hope is that no other lupus patient has to endure what my mother endured for 27 years of her life and no other little girl (or boy) has to carry the burdens of an adult as I did. 



There is good news today, as I stated before the only options for treatment were prednisone and drugs used to treat other diseases, but today after more than 50 years the FDA approved a drug specifically to treat lupus, Benlysta. This is definitely a step in the right direction for all lupus patients, and all the people who love and support them. While this is fabulous news, we have more to do. The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is at the forefront of research and services for lupus patients and their families, and there are walks called "Walk for Lupus Now" all over the country helping fund the LFA's efforts.

I walk for lupus in memory of my mother Gloria (Glo) Brown and my family members who are still battling lupus today. Join me by "Walking for Lupus Now", donating or by joining my fundraising team; it is easy, just click on the link below and look for Team "Glo". https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=470305&supId=324074019

Thank you for your support,

Toni

Reference Materials:
http://www.medicinenet.com/systemic_lupus/article.htm
http://www.lupuspnw.org
http://lupus.org


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Location:Seattle Area

Decisions and Opportunities; Opportunities and Decisions

It has been almost a year since I blogged last! So sorry, I have been very busy with family, work and CEO School. CEO School is a fantastic opportunity that came out of nowhere and something that I thought would never be an opportunity for me. I am a Human Resources (HR) person, my education and experience has always been about the people and never really geared towards running the business, I do have an MBA but it is with an emphasis in HR, and let us just say growing up people did not necessarily see me as executive of any type let alone a CEO. Therefore, I automatically dismissed the idea of even applying for a scholarship to attend this program when I first heard about it. Almost missing out on this opportunity made me re-think how I approach decisions and opportunities in my life.

Why the title "Decisions and Opportunities; Opportunities and Decisions" you may ask, because an opportunity often begins with making a bold
decision. Good/positive decisions and opportunities are all around us. The truth of the matter many are not looking for either. Most are expecting opportunity to come screaming after them, rather than recognizing that an opportunity specifically designed for them just quietly walked by in the form of an opportunity to make a bold
decision. In the CEO School opportunity, I almost made the decision not to take advantage of the opportunity because it was outside of my comfort zone and it did not fit the picture others had painted for me. The truth of the matter there are several ways you can miss the opportunity to make bold decisions.

We miss those opportunities to make bold decisions in a variety of ways, such as
looking at the lives of others rather than looking for the opportunities in our own lives. One of life's greatest lessons for me was when I discovered there was a destiny specifically designed for me. Let me tell you, there is so much joy and freedom when you realize that you do not have to live another's destiny. I do understand we all stumble across a life that looks very appealing to us; however, were we often go wrong is that we try to imitate that life. Individuals, who imitate, miss so much because they never encounter the beautiful plan (those opportunities to make bold decisions) for their own lives. Trying to live the plan of others is so difficult and not designed to be fulfilling in the least bit, in fact, it is very defeating.

There is another type of failure that happens in the pursuit of one's destiny, stagnant thinking. Often people refuse to think differently, they bought completely the lies told to them by others during the course of their lives. They often buy the negative report of the news and the negativity that they may have witnessed around them. They care more about impressing others rather than working the plan carefully orchestrated for them. One of the greatest things I have found out about the plan for my life, is I have the opportunity (bold decisions) to take the talents that I have been given, and impact someone else's life in a positive way. You know what; Toni had to learn that the plan for her life is not entirely about her; I had to learn to check the ego at the door. Go figure!

Things are often not perfect; I have lived a very imperfect life but still I am blessed. Often people let their mistakes define their future in a negative way. Mistakes are just what they are, mistakes. Webster's defines mistakes as "to blunder in choice"; that says it all, just make a different choice the next time. Now, realizing that sometimes those blunders come with consequences and sometimes those consequences are severe, however, it does not mean life is over. Many times these blunders are valuable lessons and while sometimes the consequences are uncomfortable, they are often key to getting you on the right path. I wish I could say I knew every detail of my life, the truth is I don't, but I will continue to seek wisdom, and most importantly continue to work the plan that was designed for me. Most importantly, I will continue to make BOLD DECISIONS.

I am Blessed!

I am blessed! For someone reason I feel the need to say it this way; I am "Blessed not perfect". I have lived a very imperfect life but still I am blessed. Often people let their mistakes define their future. Mistakes are just what they are mistakes. Webster's defines mistakes as "to blunder in choice"; that says to me, just make a different choice next time. Now, I know that sometimes those blunders' come with consequences, and sometimes those consequences are severe but it does not mean life is over. Many times the blunders are valuable lessons and while they are uncomfortable, they are often key to getting you on the right path.

This Christmas season let's recognize that we are blessed, learn from our mistakes and make the New Year fantastic! Start by helping out a great cause The Royal Project by purchasing a 2010 calendar.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act Includes Increases for Programs Advocated by the LFA

FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act Includes Increases for Programs Advocated by the LFA

March 11, 2009
article by Lupus Foundation of America (Reference Below)

The United States Senate today passed appropriations legislation which funds much of the federal government through the end of September. The bill provides $4 million to support the National Lupus Patient Registry, as part of a broader national epidemiological study on lupus, and $1 million for a national health provider education program to improve early diagnosis and treatment of lupus and reduce health disparities. The legislation also includes nearly $1 billion more for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest single source for funding for biomedical research on lupus.

Under the legislation, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will receive an additional $1 million to further expand the National Lupus Patient Registry (NLPR). In 2003, the CDC received $1 million to establish lupus registries in Georgia and Michigan. LFA has advocated expanding the program to include additional sites in other parts of the U.S. to ensure the study includes all forms of lupus and all populations affected by lupus, particularly African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans who are disproportionately at-risk for lupus. Thanks to all of the hard work of LFA advocates, last year Congress tripled funding for the registry. The registry will receive another substantial increase in funding for 2009.

The legislation, named the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 1105), also provides funds to conduct a national health provider education program on lupus. Congress provided $1 million for this program, to be operated jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Office on Women’s Health, and the U.S Surgeon General. The education program addresses a key goal for the LFA’s advocacy efforts to improve early diagnosis and treatment of lupus. According to a LFA survey, more than half of the people with lupus reported they suffered symptoms of the disease for four or more years and visited three or more doctors before obtaining a diagnosis of lupus.

LFA officials also express appreciation to Congress for their steadfast support of the National Institutes of Health. Research supported by the NIH is a critical component of efforts to find the causes of lupus and development safer, more tolerable and effective treatments for the disease.
Senate passage of the 2009 appropriations legislation follows the LFA’s Eleventh Annual Advocacy Day when advocates from across the nation gathered in Washington, D.C. Advocates met with Members of Congress or staff members on March 3, 2009 and shared the message that federal funding for lupus research in 2010 must be expanded.

Reference: http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_empty.aspx?articleid=2395&zoneid=99

I am Not That Deep!

Today, I heard a preacher say, he is just not that deep, and it reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend. The friend and I were talking about life and she had it all figured out and I remember saying to her, WOW; I am just not that deep. I admit I can sometimes say deep things but most of the time that is by total accident. ;-)

What did I mean by that? I think I meant I am just living life, I am most definitely trying to do the right things but I must admit I sometimes fall short, and I am sure glad mercies are new every morning. I have always been intense and some have even said intimidating. The intensity comes from having to make adult decisions and deal with very adult situations at way too young of an age. However, I think the intensity was also from trying to figure out who I was going to be or what I was going to do when others were saying not so kind things. The intimidation, well not to sound sarcastic but I somewhat think, that is the issue of the person feeling intimated (sorry).

OK so, with all that being said; I am happy to say that at the moment I get what I am suppose to do and I like who I am! So this year in my journey, I discovered and I admit it was probably in a moment when I was trying to be all super spiritual (oh yeah we all have those moments), I figured out that I am just not that deep (cracking up).

OK, here is what I have figured out:

• I found a career that I am good at, but it is only a small part of whom I am.
• I love video games! Ha, this may be a larger part of me.
• I love being a mom and I think I have the neatness kids.
• I love to help people.
• Finally, I want to make a positive difference.

For me I learned I could accomplish those things through my relationship with Christ. That relationship has taught me not to judge, to be giving, to be forgiving and at peace. Here is the cool part; if I can, not judge, if I can, be at peace, if I am forgiving and if I continue to live to give; then I can accomplish my list above. PRETTY COOL!

Now for my most important lesson, God made me smart, bold, intense, purposeful, and ME, and you know what, I LOVE IT! Live the life you were born to live and LOVE IT!

Stay Blessed,

Toni

Someone You Know Has Lupus

Zero in fifty. Thursday, November 20, 1958 marked an unfortunate anniversary. It was 50 years ago the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last approved a drug to specifically treat lupus. Those drugs are:

· Aspirin
· Plaquenil
· Prednisone

Below is some devastating data regarding side effects that lupus patients face. Please help us find medicines that can give lupus patients a better quality of life. Click on the link to see how you can help. http://www.firstgiving.com/giftofloveforlupuscure

Plaquenil side effects
Side effects of treatment for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis may include:

Abdominal cramps, abnormal eye pigmentation, acne, anemia, bleaching of hair, blind spots, blisters in mouth and eyes, blood disorders.

Blurred vision, convulsions, decreased vision, diarrhea, difficulty focusing the eyes
Diminished reflexes, dizziness, emotional changes, excessive coloring of the skin, eye muscle paralysis, "foggy vision," halos around lights, headache
Hearing loss
Heart problems
Hives, involuntary eyeball movement, irritability, itching, light flashes and streaks, light intolerance
Liver problems or failure
Loss of hair, loss or lack of appetite
Muscle paralysis, muscle weakness and wasting, nausea,
Nervousness, nightmares, psoriasis (dry, scaly, red skin patches), reading difficulties, ringing in the ears, skin eruptions, skin inflammation and scaling, skin rash, vertigo, vomiting, weariness, weight loss

Prednisone side effects

Problems with your vision;
Swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;
Severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions);
Coughing up blood
Pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate)
Low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); ordangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Obama Sworn In as 44th President

Barack Obama Sworn In as 44th President

New First Couple Celebrates

Perfection

I was thinking about 2008 this week, as it is coming to end very soon! First, I thought about all the blessings of the year and felt extremely thankful! I then wondered, what lessons have learned this year…

The first thing that came to mind was being “real”! After graduating from graduate school earlier this year, I suddenly had time to pay attention. I suddenly noticed the flaws in my own life as well as the flaws that others were trying to hide. One of the reasons, I started blogging was because I wanted to be real; I wanted to put it all out there. I did not want to hide anything. Now do not get me wrong, I so understand the concept of speaking, walking and living by faith; it is how I live my life. However, some have lost the ability to be real along the way; living by faith has somehow become living or shall I say, appearing to live a perfected life. Again, do not get me wrong, we all crave perfection but most of us get it, that's not a possibility. I feel sad for people who spend most of their lives trying to create this perfect life, friends and family, not a flaw to be seen. How sad, it is such wasted energy living that way and so unnecessary because the price has already been paid for those imperfections that many are trying to hide.

We all know there was only one perfect being and that was Christ. His crucifixion allowed us to be able to live our flawed lives knowing that grace and mercy waits at the end of our mistakes. I am not saying we should willfully do wrong things because we already know we have forgiveness. I am saying sometimes we mess up, sometimes we make wrong choices and sometimes we just have dark seasons, and at the end of those, we have our Fathers forgiveness.

This year I have learned, I am flawed; I make mistakes and MOST OF ALL, MY LIFE IS NOT PERFECT! In this revelation, Christmas means even more to me. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Someone you know has lupus…

http://www.lupuspnw.org/

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) market research data estimates 1.4 to 2 million Americans suffer from lupus, or one out of every 185: “more people,” it calculates, “than AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia and cystic fibrosis combined.” Lupus more often affects women who are black, American Indian, Asian or Hispanic than women who are white. Lupus also affects children and older people. Lupus can affect more than one family member, but there are no studies showing that lupus is an inherited disease.

Basically, lupus is the body’s immune system gone haywire: this disease-fighting system has lost the ability to tell the difference between foreign invaders, such as viruses and hazardous bacteria, and the body’s own cells and tissues. The antibodies meant to protect the body now attack it. Sun exposure is known to trigger disease activity, with symptoms including joint pain or swelling, fever, fatigue, skin rash, anemia, chest pains and a rash on any part of the body, most likely over the nose and cheek area in the shape of a butterfly. Lupus is also a rheumatic (arthritic) disease, and can affect the joints, muscles, skin, kidneys, nervous system, lungs and heart. The cause of lupus is unknown.

In the 1950s, a diagnosis of SLE meant a 50 percent possibility of death within 5 years. Today, there are more sensitive diagnostic tests and better treatments, which yield a 97 percent chance longer life span for someone with the disease. However, there is still no cure or specific treatment for lupus. Thursday, November 20, 2008 marked an unfortunate anniversary. It was 50 years ago the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last approved a drug to specifically treat lupus. It is heartbreaking to hear from those who have had hip replacements at an early age, men and women who have been forced to stop working, teens who are fearful they will have no future because of lupus, and women who are afraid they cannot have families.

Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with the struggles of lupus. My mother was diagnosed with lupus when I was 5 years old and lost her battle at the young age of 50. I am dedicated to helping others not suffer the way my mother suffered as well as helping families who are impacted by their love ones battle with lupus deal with the ups and the downs of the disease. I am currently Board President for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the LFA. The Pacific Northwest Chapter serves Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The LFA is on the front lines of this effort to advance the science and medicine of lupus and to bring down the barriers that have impeded progress in lupus research. With the help of donors, researchers, and friends in Congress, the LFA is making advances toward safer, more tolerable, and effective treatments.

If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me or if you would like to donate towards the LFA’s efforts please go to http://www.lupuspnw.org/.

Sources quoted in this blog: http://www.allaboutblackhealth.com/lupus_in_black_women.htm; http://www.lupus.org/newsite/pages/zero-in-50.html; http://www.newarkmetro.rutgers.edu/reports/display.php?id=84

A Different Me...

Life takes you through difficulties; it brings joy and sometimes-great sadness, but it is all to take you on a journey that many call destiny. Many remember the difficult times in their lives with great heartache and deep pain, not realizing that the pain they are remembering was to help them grow and mature.

I have many things in my life that I know I would not have achieve if it was not for the most difficult moments in my life. The pain was to help me be strong and accept challenges to come. The moments of poor decisions were to help me make better decisions later. Your greatest pains could be your greatest accomplishments.

Do you ever have times like this? Times when you want to experience something familiar, and then you try and travel roads already travelled. I mean things like hang out with people from past periods in your life or do things that you use to. It seems like whenever I have tried to do that the acts seems so foreign, even if I have done it many times in the past. I believe in those moments, I am supposed to be experiencing something new, something different.

That leads me to the title; today I think I am a different me. I have tried things I have never tried. I have done things that I thought I would never do. I have achieved things I never thought I would. Finally, I have loved as if I never knew I could. In order for me to achieve those things, I just mentioned I had to leave things in the past, and embrace that my deepest pains have created a different and better me…

NBC: Obama elected 44th president

NBC: Obama elected 44th president

Illinois senator to become first African-American executive in U.S. history.

Tuesday, November, 4, 2008

A couple of things make this election life changing. The first being, eight years ago people all over the United States, particularly many Christians got behind a man because they believed he believed the same things they did. Eight years later, this country has suffered greatly for the decision to elect that individual as president. Therefore, I ask should beliefs be the only qualifications, for the highest position in the United States. In my opinion, no it takes far more than beliefs. The last president lacked many skills; he lacked the ability to make sound decisions, he lacked the ability to hire the right people and lastly he lacked the ability to see beyond his own needs. While I respect Senator McCain's war record, I think he lacks the same skills as the current president. The ability to make sound decisions, Sarah Palin, really he chose Sarah Palin. The ability to hire the right people is a skill that he lacks; whether you love or hate Senator McCain he ran a poor campaign and that reflects on his ability to hire the right people. He has an inability to see beyond his own needs, Senator McCain cannot see beyond his own desire to become president, so much so he will pull any gimmick. He has “Joe the Plumber” campaigning on his behalf because he thinks he is the everyday middle class. I do not think so, let us just say I cannot relate to Joe the Plumber and I consider myself very middle class.

Second aspect that makes this election life changing, Senator Obama is the American dream. He did not come from privilege and he worked for all that he has and so did his wife. They grew up with the same issues as many of us and he is smart. When he speaks, he makes sense. He truly can relate to what we are experiencing and he gives us hope. Senator McCain is more of the same, family connections and a lack of qualifications.

It is an amazing time and it is sad that so many Americans cannot look at the facts and make a sound decision but instead they have resorted in spreading so many lies and untruths.

November 5, 2008 is going to be an incredible day...

Normal......

I think all my life; I have been searching for normal. The funny thing about that is my life has been anything but normal, and even funnier for someone who craves normal, I have pretty much taken it all in stride. I remember feeling very different at young age, not in an abnormal way but in a way that spoke of purpose.

What is normal? Webster says it is according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, or principle. As a teen, I would party with my friends and then stay up the rest of the night reading a book. I wanted to appear like everyone else, which was the partying because that is what teens do. Family life proved to be anything but normal so I tried to control what I could. Some things I could make look very normal like being the typical teenager, college student and young adult. I partied but got good grades and I always had a plan, a plan no one else knew.

After college and during my stint in the military, I finally settled down, I still kept trying to be normal. When I joined my church 10 years ago, I was having babies and most of the women I met were in the same situation, we all were homemakers. I pretended homemaking was to be my life forever but deep down inside I had a plan to return to work as soon as I put my youngest children in school. I never said a word because it would have appeared not normal for my particular group of friends.

It took me a while but realized, I am made in His image and He has many images. I still do not know what normal is but I am starting to love that am not!

Sex

Who would have thought, that teenage sex would be staring us in the face during the presidential election? We have a 17-year-old pregnant girl (the daughter of the Republican VP candidate) and the alleged father a self described 18-year-old red neck planning to marry. Yes, I keep asking myself is this for real?

I cannot imagine ever requiring my 17-year-old daughter to get married. My daughter at 17, a wife and mother, it would make me incredibly sad! The sad part of this and any situation like it is the child is going to have bare the brunt of the two of them trying to grow up way too soon. I am the product of teenagers forced into marriage and I was never allowed to forget it. I was the reason that both of their lives should have been so different. I had a front row seat to their immature decisions and discussions.

I believe, the Palin's have the many problems that we all face, I just do not agree with how they choose to handle them. I do think, like many people, they have made sex this naughty thing. We all know that when you make something naughty it becomes even more desirable. I think people also make sex the only means to communicate love, leaving teenagers to believe it has to be the next step in the whirlwind of emotions that they may be feeling at the time.

I do not know why the Palin girl decided to have sex at 17 but one thing is for sure she is going to need her mom more than ever...

Are You Living or Existing...

Last night, a friend and I saw the new Tyler Perry movie, The Family that Preys, a must see movie. There was a phrase in the movie that asked the question "Are you living or just existing?” I went wow! Am I, living or just existing?

Before the movie, at dinner we were talking about how people live to put on shows. They want everyone to believe their lives are perfect, that they have no problems. They carefully orchestrate their lives, so that it shows perfection, not a flaw in sight. They have to be careful not to show any emotions, they have to be careful not to show their sadness as well as hide any pain very carefully. To me, that is just existing and not living at all.

Unfortunately, the people we were talking about are Christians. They think that they are helping people, really, they do, and they have the best intentions at heart. They think that people will see their imagine and want Christ but I think 99% of the time people think those people are special and they will never be able to achieve that. What people want to see is "everyday folk" working through the problems of life with the Word of God. People are not looking for an imagine; they are looking for solutions to their reality...

Therefore, I ask you... ARE YOU LIVING OR JUST EXISTING!

Trying To Relax

What does that mean? I am just trying to relax... I have a friend that says that to me all the time. And when I ask how, they never know how to answer me. Well, I want to relax too but I am not always sure how to accomplish that. So.... I have decided to start with, what is the best decision for me in the moment. Well what does that mean?

You see, one of my issues is I give away of myself way too freely, I do not charge enough. I normally think of everyone else and never consider my own needs. Then after a while, I feel stressed and up tight, not at all relaxed. To remedy this problem, I have committed to stop, think and consider before I make a decision to come to any one's rescue. I must think, is helping this person right now, the best choice for me. I have committed to, before I choose to eat something, stay up late or make any decision; I will ask, is this, the best choice for me.

Now, this is very scary to me because most of my life, the people surrounding me, often made choices that were in their best interest, not necessarily mine. My fear has always been that I would become an extremely selfish person. So, my task, find the balance. To find that sweet spot where I can be the giving me, while taking care of myself at the same time.

Wish me luck...

What Kind of Day Is It?

What kind of day is it for you? Really, what do you see?

I was born in 1969, after President Kennedy and Dr. King were assassinated. Oh, but I must have heard dozens of stories of what the presence of those two brought to this country. I remember my grandfather told me that he for the first time felt that there was going to be a country where 'blacks" did not have to fight for basic necessities or they could feel safe (feel safe). I remember being a little girl looking into my grandfather's eyes trying to catch the excitement he must have felt during those times. As I watched the Democratic Convention last week, I think I caught a glimpse of that hope, my grandfather spoke of. I think I have always been searching for that excitement, that opportunity to make a difference, that chance to be different. I think my life successes have been because of that hope my grandfather felt and was willing to share with me. Oh, do I wish he was here today, I wish he could experience the excitement that is upon us today.

Regardless of your political affiliation, you saw a couple that did not have all the advantages in life; choose to make something of their life and the lives of others. You saw a women support her husband and a husband appreciate it. You saw two children without a care in the world because their parents love each other, love them and this country. You saw the state of this country, a country that needs change.

Mr. Biden is the picture perfect view of a loving and supportive father, grandfather and husband. We saw an elder statesman in Joe Biden, as we should have seen in the Rev. Jessie Jackson. Early in the presidential election, Mr. Biden also ran for that top seat but now with grace and pride he is running for vice president. Mr. Biden has been on this earth longer, in the Senate longer and probably has had more life experiences than Mr. Obama, but yet in his wisdom he sees that the much younger Obama is the right leader for this country.

We see a country ready to elect a man regardless of his color and an elder willing to say someone younger may have the answer. One day, my grandchildren will look into my eyes hoping to catch my excitement, just as I looked into my grandfather’s eyes almost 30 years ago. It is a beautiful day.

Michelle Obama!!!!!

I do not know about you but I am sitting here on the side of my bed in awe. In awe of possibilities, in awe of hope, in awe of change and in awe with what my contribution will be to this planet.

So often, we get buried in the sea of our hurts. And I tell you, I have experienced my share of hurt and pain; so intense that I thought survival was an impossibility. However, tonight I heard a women speak about family, hope and change with some of the same baggage that I carry. I saw a woman speak with passion not looking for applause, not looking to be the first anything but looking to make a difference. I saw a woman speak, whose words brought tears not only to my eyes but also the eyes of my teenage children.

I go to bed tonight energized, confident of my struggles and assured of my future.