2/22/08

Cayden



My angel baby continues to shine. Just a little over 3 years ago Craig and I sat under a freeway underpass with the knowledge that we would soon be parents again. We were filled with so much emotion and to be honest not all of it was good. We sat under that underpass in silence for about an hour within many thoughts swirling through our minds. When we drove away we went home and slept, for hours and we knew that Cayden would soon be here.



It's funny, we call him the lottery baby because we've been winning since he got here. When it seems there has been no way, God has made a way. Not just in the last 3 years but it seems our faith has been tested so much more, in life, love, family, work and just the world. Not to mention a championship basketball and football team, but of course we have to include the players in that one as well :-).




From day one Cayden has had to fight, he was unexpected and tiny, he had severe eczema, psorasis, his skin disorder was so bad his skin was filled with sores constantly and his hair fell out almost completely. He was so itchy that he cried almost non-stop for the first few months. When we finally found relief for him he became the most perfect baby. Slept in his own bed, ate whatever was offered and just laid low. Recently his snoring increased and we took to calling him Darth Vader because we usually had to turn up the tv or radio to hear over his breathing. His snores could be heard from inside his room all the way down into the kitchen and God forbid he fell asleep in the car, we had to shout to hear each other. When the snoring combined with sleep apenea which stopped him from breathing several times a night the doctor decided to remove his tonsils and adnoids this past Tuesday. Cayden did fine, he is recovery well and home with daddy on vacation this week. He feels really good when his pain medication kicks in and he has eaten about 2 boxes of popsicles. Thank you to my friends and family who supplied the prayers for a safe surgery and speedy recovery. The Lord is good!

2/13/08

Some ahseN info...

1. What was the last important thing you were late for?
Incoming Freshman Night - I hate being late and had to walk through a gymnasium full of people.


2. What did you make for dinner last night?
Spaghetti with meatsauce, salad, garlic bread (white noodles for CJ)


3. What (or who!) is the most frequent cause of your lateness?
Craig, Craig and Craig...he is late for EVERYTHING!


4. Which of your close friends or relatives can you expect almost always to be inconveniently late?
My mother and my sister Tamara...always late


5. What’s most likely to cause you to stay up too late before bed?
a really good or very stupid reality show (Bad Girls Club, Flavor of love), http://www.friday5.org/?p=87

2/12/08

My Daddy



Today is a special day. It is the birthday of the man who has been there since the beginning for me. My first crush, my role model, the most intelligent man I know on this entire planet. I remember as a little girl my daddy, a navy man, would go away on duty for months at a time and I could always count on him to bring me something special when he came home. My favorite present was a metal (maybe aluminum) ferris wheel with a music box inside. The wheel turned and I'd fill up the seats with paper people and lay in my bedroom floor and play with it for hours. Christmas was always fun in my house. My daddy and his buddies would slave away all evening in that garage putting together all the wonderful gifts my mom bought and do their best to work in silence, drink their beer and figure out the directions to that pink barbie house. Somewhere around my tween (between, 10-13 years old) years my daddy was filled with the gift of the holy spirit. When he became a man of God he inhaled it fully, dove into it with every part of his body and drank the word of the Lord. I'd come home from school and he would be surrounded by books, different versions of the bible, tapes, articles. On his head would be headphones listening to a message while in his hand was a notepad and pen taking notes. My daddy, a quiet man, until you land on a subject that he knows about. I always have adored that about him. If he doesn't know, he simply remains quiet, with that thoughtful look on his face, as if he is analyzing every word you are saying. Deciphering it for later so that he can go back and study and make sure that what you said was accurate. My daddy, the person who had confidence in me. He didn't protect me from the world. He's known me all along. He knew that he couldn't save me from my mistakes but instead has always been there to help pick me up when I fell and he knew I'd land on my feet. The kindness in his eyes has cannot be mistaken yet his sense of humor will literally make you fall down on the floor with laughter. Not everyone knows that side. Only us special people. I am so honored to have been chosen to have this wonderful man as my daddy. There is nothing in this world more special than having a daddy who has always come through, never let me down, will go to the ends of the earth for his grandchildren. Love you daddy and Happy Birthday!

2/11/08

Michelle Obama...Powerful Beyond Measure


This week, I had the pleasure of conversation with three of my very intelligent, very enlightened girlfriends. It was really more of a friendly debate, two against two - two arguing that Senator Obama is electable and worthy of the presidency, and two arguing that the Hillary is the better candidate. I'm fairly certain I don't have to tell you which side I fell on (silly grin). The real fireworks started when one of the ladies remarked that one of the 'real' reasons she didn't want to see the Senator elected is because 'they gon' kill him, and I just couldn't stand to see that!' ggrrrr. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I've heard that from black women and a few men. Obviously, in light of our history in this country and what our ancestors had to endure at the hands of racists, their concerns are understandable; I've allowed myself to think the same thoughts at times, and undoubtedly, Michelle Obama has had the thought run through her mind a time or two. Ironically, the very next day after my conversation with my colleagues, I stumbled upon a video on you that says it better than I ever could - watch it for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZPm0jyBeEU. An amazing coincidence? Maybe not. Maybe the Lord God at work. Out of Michelle Obama's own mouth - she refuses to allow thoughts of losing her husband sway her from doing what she knows in her heart is best for the country. She gave her blessing to the Senator to throw his hat in the ring for the presidency because as she put it, she was 'tired of living in fear'. There is no better way to say it - my job is done here, except to say that we could and should learn a lot from this strong black woman. It is so easy for us in our lives in general to let fear prevent us from taking the steps to do more, be more, and give more. Michelle Obama is making the ultimate sacrifice of her time, her family's quality of life, and yes, her peace of mind, in light of the fact that there is a very real danger that some lunatic will try and hurt her husband. But as I watched her in this video, I saw visions of Coretta Scott-King, Winnie Mandella, and a host of other remarkable black women around the world who knew with out doubt, even if not without fear, that the cause to which their husbands were called was greater than that fear, greater than their hopes, and greater even than their simple dreams of a long life with their spouses. And because she has given so much to the cause of moving this nation in a better direction, it means that no matter what happens this next election year, Michelle Obama is my hero for life, and another shining example for the young black women in this nation to live by. So to my friends I say, suggesting that we should allow fear to prevent us from doing everything in our power to elect Senator Obama, is like saying that we would some how undo the entire civil rights movement itself if we could only get Martin Luther King Jr. back. The idea is ludicrous and counter-productive; I don't believe either man would even entertain the thought, neither would their wives. So as black women, it is time for us to beat down our fears like they owe us child support, and wrap ourselves in the hope of a better future for our families, our communities, and our nation. It's the only way that change will come, and isn't that what it's all about?

2/6/08

Work to do

Evidently I've missed something in our parental training in regards to "respecting the game" of basketball. Respect period. It looks as if I will have to start from the drawing board. This is a work in progress once the kids get to 14 years old. I don't remember having this problem until this year and it sickens me for my children to be disrespectful even if they don't like a ref's call. Last night was not our night. The school team played a team that shouldn't have been anywhere near us score-wise but or defense was lazy, passes were poor and our guards (jalen and jordan) left ALOT to be desired. In fact, my opinion is that they stunk up the place. We worked from behin a little in the first half and the other team actually got excited. They hit jumpers, threes and had lots of steal. Granted I'd never seen referrees this bad since, last weekend :-). The other team was allowed to travel most of the game, double dribble, carry and such. Jalen started it off with telling the ref that his man was traveling. The referrees reply was "dont talk to me, it wasn't a travel". Jalen's response "yes, he's traveling" the ref stopped the game and told the coach tell his player not to talk to him. Next came a flurry of uncalled fouls, pushes, trips from the other team followed by Jordan yelling "that's a ____ foul" to the ref. He "T'd" him up. I was so upset with him (my son) that I watched the rest of the game with disgust. I nor anyone else knew what was said. In fact I had to ask after the game but I knew "something" was said that warranted a test. After the game I made them both go shake hands and apologize to the referee after the game. I made sure to discuss it with them on the way home but also made sure they knew why...and IF it happened again basketball wouldn't be an option.

2/5/08

Our Deepest Fear - Thanks Daddy


Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?"Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in all of us, in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

from "Return to Love" by Marianne Williamson _____________________________________________________
My daddy refers to this poem on his blog. I smile everytime I read it because I think about the children in the movie about Marva Collins quoting it at the end. The poem is so inspirational that it should make anyone read it stand up with pride. It gives me strength sometimes when I feel to weak to speak. My hope is that my own children will know they are POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE! As an adult today I still find myself squashing down so that I will not make others feel inferior. "It's okay that you make me feel this way...as long as you don't". Rather than speak up for myself, I instead say "that's okay" and shrink away. I will not allow this to be "okay" for my own children as I am a work in progress and day to day continue to work on it myself. Often times I've allowed others to say what they want to me but instead have held my tongue so as not to "hurt" their feelings. The logic? None. Where it comes from? I don't know. I'm a work in progress. I'm determined that going forward I will not spare ones feelings who continue to step on mine, or save my anger for someone else and later take it out on my family because I was too cowardly to speak my own mind to someone else. I've vowed to teach "mine", that sometimes, more than not, they must speak up for themselves. If they don't...no one else will.
Powerful beyond measure. My daddy has this as poem on his blog front page. It is a poem by Marianne W. I smile everytime I read it because I think about the children in the movie about Marva Collins quoting it at the end. The poem is so inspirational that it should make anyone read it stand up with pride. It gives me strength sometimes when I feel to weak to speak. My hope is that my own children will know they are POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE! As an adult today I still find myself squashing down so that I will not make other's feel inferior.

Super Tuesday


I arose this morning with my first thoughts being, thank you Lord for another day, my second thought being, GO Barack. Today is your day. Today is the day that our ancestors who bled, fought, and died are looking down on us today watching to see if we ride for our own rendezvous with destiny. Not only should you go ride today and vote, hit up family members and friends to make it happen for this man. Time for a CHANGE!

2/4/08

Maria Endorses Obama

California First Lady Maria Shriver was the surprise guest this weekend at the Oprah Winfrey/Caroline Kennedy/ Michelle Obama UCLA rally. She came out officially to endorse Barack Obama. When I saw this on the news my mouth dropped open! You go mama!!!! She said she was standing not because she was cousins with Caroline Kennedy or because she she was friends with Oprah. She said if Barack were a state he'd be California! Her husband officially announced his endorsement of John McCain last week...as I knew he would. My husband and I don't always agree on everything but this is the height of different sides now isn't it. I believe that Maria has shown courage and judgement. She is absluetly correct (IMHO) regarding her endorsement and it underlines that "something is happening here!". I love that the Schwarzenegger household's ideology that it consists of a husband and a wife who think for themselves, regardless of stereotypes or party affliliation. Maria is not just "Arnold's wife". She is a journalist, a mother, the First lady of California and a proud Democrat who happens to be intelligent, independent-minded and yes...a Kennedy. The momentum continues to build. If Barack can carry California, I think he will be our nominee. His inspiration is astonishing. Only one mention of "Clinton" in my thoughts for today. Yesterday during a speech at a black church he said "All my life I wanted to vote for a woman, all my life I wanted to vote for an african american, God answered my prayers" Amen....tomorrow's decision is important. Please remember to take part. Your vote does count.