Grandma's Hands

My Grandmother, Annie Lizzie Hazel (left) sisters Hattie (center) Luala (right)

My Grandmother, Annie Lizzie Hazel was an incredible woman. I know most people think that their grandmothers are great, and I am no exception. Her story has been one of the most powerful influences in my life.

She was from South Carolina originally but came to settle in Augusta Georgia, where she married, gave birth, and raised my mother and her four siblings. Her husband went on to glory one day after suffering a heat stroke while working in their fields. But she had five children to take care of so she did the only thing that she could, she went to work.

 My Grandmother's life wasn't easy, which was the norm at that time. With a fifth-grade education, she did what they called back then "days work", now we call them housekeepers. She also worked as a cook in a restaurant in Augusta. Yes, yes, yes, my Grandmother could cook! She gave love through her food.

For Good - A Love Letter

I have no idea what has come over me the last few days, but it started with me listening to the song For Good, from the Broadway Musical Wicked. This song is one of the few in the world that can bring me to tears every single time, and for good reason.

For Good, was the song that my twin sons, my eldest children sang at their high school graduation. If I had the words to describe to you what it felt like to see my first babies stand there and sing so beautifully. I knew from my own life experiences that their lives were about to change and this was their love letter to all of us proud parents.

So the other day as I fired up my iTunes and put the song on a loop, with tears in my eyes I started thinking of so many people that have come and gone in my life. These same people have affected my life in one way or another. Some of my relationships with these people were brief, some are ongoing. Some of my experiences with them have been so very good, and some have produced incredibly painful times...but the beautiful part of it is that all of them have changed me for good.

Everything is Political....And I Hate It. (My Personal Commentary)

I will tell you this right up front, I hate politics.

There was a professor that I had during my first two years of college, He taught Afro American Studies courses, and I was a freshman that decided to take his class called The Black Man. I be honest, I took the class because I heard it was full of really intelligent hot guys! I had no idea that would actually learn more about myself and the world that I lived in as an African American that I did in his courses. I would dare to say that He was one of the most influential teachers of my young adult life.

With that being said, one of the pieces of wisdom that he gave us is that "EVERYTHING is political". Relationships, the work place, even church! But to me the worst is the politics of our country and the world. It brings out the worst in people, not the best.

This year 2016, I can honestly say that I have never been as afraid of the outcomes of the Presidential elections as I am now. As an African American, I know all that my people have had to endure since our introduction to this country, the country that we now call home. even though we are so far removed from the slavery era, it seems that we as an American people have so far to go.

As I watch the debates, the news footage, I see the release of the bitterness, hatred and racism that has been lurking under the skin of some of America. I see politician play up the fears and anxieties of the people, people of all backgrounds. I just don't understand. Haven't we suffered enough as people, as a country? Why are we still trying to tear each other apart?

It's My Life And I'm Going To Live It! My Mantra For 2016

It's the beginning of 2016 and this year, I decided to do things a little bit differently than in years past. Yeah, yeah, in the past I had done the same thing a millions of other people. I made "New Years Resolutions". I've even gone so far as to purchase a journal for my resolutions so I could chronicle my progress as I went along.  And again like millions of other people by month three most of my resolutions has fallen by the wayside.

This year I decided that I was simply going to focus on becoming the best me that I can. As a single working mother of four, I have always put others before myself, my job, my children. Now that they are just about all adults, I can finally take time for me, time to fill up that which I have let go empty for far too long. Now this doesn't mean that I'm going to take on the mantle of "Dead Beat Mom", far from it.

I've been told by other women in the past, "If you don't take the time to take care of yourself and your needs, how are you going to continue to pour into others?" Or like they say on the airlines, " In the event of an emergency please place your oxygen mask on yourself first before assisting someone else." It's just starting to sink in, that all of this is true.

So where to begin? Spirit first, mind second, and body third.

I need to spend more time with God. I pray daily, and I study the word, but not as much as I should. I want to actively seek a closer relationship with God, to earnestly seek His face in all that I do, and to let Him lead me on the path that He has for me. My Mom has this saying, "Let the dead bury the dead." Let the past stay in the past, there are people that really should have been let go a long time ago.