And Mountains Shall be Moved!!

I learned a few things... Things that I already knew, but kinda forgot. I learned that God can and will Move Mountains!

On our way back from the Christening of our Friend's Daughter we ran into some major car trouble. When I say major, I aint talking about no flat tire! I'm talking MAJOR car trouble!

We stopped at the gas station to take advantage of some $1.89/gallon gas and we realized that the car was wobbling a bit. With Kyle watching, I drove back and forth in the parking lot, and then Kyle made the Oh S*&t face and told me not to move...

I froze, put the car in park, turned it off and got out to see what was up.

We removed the hubcap to realize that two of the five lugs (the things that hold your tire onto your car) were broken off! COMPLETELY BROKEN.. When I say broken, I mean they fell onto the frigging ground...

Okay, No biggie we can drive slow in the right lane with the hazards on right??? Uh, NO! its raining, its dark and it's cold... and did I mention that we were out in Downingtown PA? (Like 10 miles from DE)

Alright, we're cool (or so we think) we get back in the car and map out our route... We tell each other that if we take it slow (really slow) that we'll be good. And then all of the sudden I hear a sound... It's the windshield wiper.. They're broken too.

Now I'm Panicking

If we could just find some rainx we'll be cool. But did I mention that it's raining HARD?? and its DARK? and its COLD.. oh and that we have KIDS IN THE CAR???

We shut the kids up (yes, we told them to shut up) and we prayed!... now what you have to understand is that Kyle and I are very private with our prayers. We're both the type of people who go into our "prayer closets" alone... but here we were praying out loud asking God for guidance. We asked God to Move Mountains!

So a good 20 minutes have passed and here we are tying twine to the windshield wipers, squirting rainx onto the windshield, and kicking the tire. By now the kids are asleep, and we prayfully venture home...

We leave Downintown at 5:35pm, head onto the PA Turnpike and joke about not driving faster than our Guardian Angels can fly. Along the way we periodically stop to check the tire, look back to check the kids and pull the strings on the windshield wipers... Its funny now, but it wasn't at the time.

We got into Philly at 7:28 pm,and I just wanted to get out and scream. we stop the car, and and we both let out the biggest sigh of relief. I let go of the windshield wiper strings and my hands are shaking.

And that's when the praise started.

Just wanna Praise him, forever and ever, and ever for all he's done for me! Is what pops into my head, and I break out in song, dance and tears...Those who know me well know that I'm not that enthusiastic (at least openly) about too many things, but here I was dancing and singing in our driveway...

So now, almost 3 hours later I am sitting here, waiting to hear the washer ding, listening to my kids complain about being hungry, and all I can do is praise God!

This is why I love my job...

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What happened to tolerance??

Why is it that I am seeing a growing trend of intolerance in small children?

Just yesterday, I had to restrain myself when a kid told Zoe that she was a bad person and that she was going to go to Hell! It was Zoe's turn on the computer and she took a little longer than expected... so he (a boy who would steal your pants if they weren't buttoned, and lies bout EVERYTHING) told my baby that she was going to go to hell... She completely freaked out, unplugged the computer and threw the keyboard, but what amazes me the most is that she was later playing and laughing with this same kid later in the day... talk about forgiveness!

And, today another kid told Zoe that Santa wasn't real, and that her parents dress up as Santa every year. First of all, let me tell you that neither Kyle nor I have ever dressed up as Santa! Secondly let me explain... Zoe wholeheartedly believes in Santa, but she also knows why we celebrate Christmas, and any other holiday or traditions that we celebrate. She believes in the Tooth Fairy, she even believes in Vampires (so do I)...

Long ago before Kyle and I had kids, we decided that we would let our children have an imagination and dreams, we also promised that we would be honest with our kids as well. So when Zoe asks us where babies come from, we give her an age appropriate answer.

But back to the reason I'm posting... Why can't we teach our children tolerance?

Why can't we tell our children that no one is the same, and that people will believe things different than you, they will love, eat, dress, smile differently...this list can go on and on. I am so tired of people telling my kid that if she doesn't read the Quaran she's going to Hell, or if she wears a Halloween Costume she's going to hell... Zoe has accepted Jesus into her life, and tries very hard to follow his teachings... she doesn't lie, she's never stolen, and she's humble.

Kyle and I teach Zoe & Miles to respect and love one another, but most importantly we teach them tolerance. We know that intolerance causes harassment, assaults and ultimately hate. We want our children to embrace different cultures, explore different lands, and learn different languages. Is that so wrong???

Perhaps I'm just too liberal (I've been accused of that), or maybe I just take that whole "do unto others thing a little too serious... but I just don't think that it's my place to judge ANYONE... EVER.

I wanna be there!

Alright, here's the deal... I wanna go to D.C.

I want to be there when Barack Obama takes his oath of office and becomes the Nation's First Black President. I don't have to have seats, heck I'll stand for the entire event if I have to. I don't wanna go to the after parties, or the inauguration balls... I just wanna be there.

The last event that had me this excited was the Million Man March back in 95' , but I was just 14 years old, and my dad (who participated in many civil rights acts in the mid 60's) didn't think that it would be a good idea for me to attend. The Day after (actually a few days later) when the men (my dad, his friends, a few teachers, and some other people we knew) returned with their stories, pictures, and renewed hope I was kinda sad that I wasn't able to participate in what I thought would be the last big event of my lifetime... But that was until November 4th, 2008 when Barack Obama did it again!

I have no idea how I'm gonna get there (yes, I know I'm only 2, maybe 3 hours from D.C.), or what I'm gonna do once I do get there.. But I am going to be there! Kyle wants toi know where we're gonna get tickets from, and my answer is simple" I don't need no tickets!" He asks where we're gonna stay, and my answer is "In the car if I have to". I don't think he understands just how serious this has become to me. Since Barack has become our President Elect, I feel like there is nothing that I can not do... and getting to D.C. is not that hard!

So now, my question to you is where will you be on January 20th 2009?

Yo! Lady.. chill out!

Dear Neighbor...

Do you think you could maybe take a chill pill every once in a while? Aside from the fact that you never speak to us (even though we say hi to you EVERY time we see you) and you never bring up your own trash can, you're as cool as ice when it comes to neighbors. However, you need to seriously take a chill pill.

Every few days I hear you burst into uncontrollable cussing fits...what's up?
Do you need a hug? (well I a'int gonna hug you, but I'll send Kyle over...lol) I mean for real?
What's going on over there?

I know you live alone so you're not yelling at anyone in the house (I hope not). Is it someone on the phone? I never hear your phone ring (row home walls are paper thin sometimes) so you must be calling them... why do you keep calling this person? and better yet what are they saying to you?

You're going at it now! It's kinda funny... scary but funny... Kyle and I get a kick out of it every time. I'm just happy that you do this at night when the kids are in bed...

All I'm saying is this... Lady, please take a chill pill. Please?

No! I really don't know her/him..

Have you ever had someone tell you that you know someone? Someone that you know you don't know?

Yeah me too.. but lately people have been telling me this ALOT!! To the point that its starting to drive me crazy. I mean If I say that I don't know them why continue describing them, telling me that I was in 9th grade with them? I've gotten to the point where I'm now like Oh! Yeah I know them..Knowing darn well I don't.

My favorite is when I say, "well what's their birth name" and people are like.. "I dunno, but they (whoever they are) call him Black!" or "that she's light skinned" And then people have the audacity to get all mad when I'm like nope.. I don't know them...

So please, the next time you think to ask me if I know someone... guess what? I probably don't. Spare yourself the anguish. Unless you have some pictures of this person in 9th grade I won't know them no matter how light, dark, tall, thin, or cute they were... Trust me, I have a hard enough time remembering the people that I actually know.. lol

Don't make me take off this Hat!

Many of you may have on occasion heard me refer to my hat... Let me explain...

My "hat" is sort of an analogy, it symbolized my experience in "Christiandom", which is sorta new. You see, it hasn't been that long ago that I was saved (for the 2nd time), and I often find it a tad bit difficult to deal with situations like a "Christian". I guess I still see some things through "worldly glasses". Now don't get me wrong.. I carry myself with some type of decency, I humble myself, and I try to "meet people where they are", but there have been alot of times within these past few weeks where I just have to take off my hat!

Take for example last Saturday... we stopped at Dunkin' Donuts, while waiting for my cup of coffee I asked the lady at the drive through window if she could throw an old dunkin donuts cup in the trash for me. She gives what appeared to be a genuine smile, and says "sure". She then turns around and starts talking to the other store employees about how if one more customer asks her to throw something in the trash she's gonna throw a cup of coffee in their face... then she turns around hands me my cup of coffee, smiles and tells me to have a nice day.. WHAAAATTT? She's got some nerve... But I remained calm.. I did think about throwing that cup of coffee in HER face parking the car and beating the donuts outta her, but I managed to keep my hat on....

And then today, I'm driving to the post office and I'm almost killed! No exaggeration...I'm driving through Olney Plaza stopping at all the crosswalks doing like 15 mph, when out of nowhere a cop car almost slams into me. I had to slam on my brakes and swerve just to avoid what would've been a very nasty accident. I took a moment to breath, and I realized I was still alive... all good in the hood right?? Not exactly, this cop gets out of his car and is now standing at the driver side window SCREAMING at me... Oh, I tried believe me I did.. but I had to take off my hat...

Later this same evening, Zoe came home with a letter from her school principal requesting our presence at a school meeting TONIGHT to discuss Zoe's excessive absences this school year. Apparently Zoe being out of school with strep throat for 4 days is considered excessive unexcused absences... even when we e-mail, write and bring in notes from her doctor. But Hold the Phone... This letter is dated October 30th... 2 weeks ago! While I was in the process of looking for a safe place to put my hat, I noticed that Kyle's hat was already off! It was gone... crumpled up in a corner somewhere... I had to keep my hat on, and help Kyle find his. Whew!

My Hope has been Renewed!

Thank You Barack Obama for restoring my Hope!

These last 8 years have been rough ... Gas prices through the roof, foreclosed mortgages, failing schools... and the list goes on and on... But you promised us that Change was gonna' come, and you delivered!

Thank you. Thank you for giving my family hope! Thank you for getting Zoe so amped up that she almost cried because she thought that we weren't going to be able to vote! Thank you for getting Miles ecstatic whenever he heard your name. OBAMA!!!

Your resolve was definitely tested. They attacked you with ridiculous claims, but you stood strong. You remained calm. You spoke so eloquently. Thank you.

Thank you for bringing us together as a people at a time where we needed it so much.

Thank you for being a strong black man. Thank you for showing America what we are truly capable of. Thank you for shattering that so called glass ceiling that has held us back for so long. Thank you for giving me tears of Joy! Thank you for making my hands shake (almost uncontrollably) as I pressed that VOTE button! Thank you for restoring my Hope!

And as I sit here waiting for your acceptance speech, I thank you in advance, because I know that whatever you do, and what ever you say it will be great!

Yes you can Barack Obama. Yes You Did!

Lift Every Voice and Sing

Lift every voice and sing,
'Til earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on 'til victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast'ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
'Til now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.