These pics aren't the greatest but I just had to share. I took these with my camera phone on Sunday morning. A group of children from the church sang a special happy birthday song for Jesus in front of the church ... equipped with party hats and colorful noise makers, it was the cutest thing. Aaaah ... I love kids!

Ain't It Funny ...

I wouldn't necessarily tag today as a bad day. Although a few negative things did take place, I was prepared and faced them head on. I won't get into the details. Suffice it to say that you probably wouldn't blame me if I just shut off my cellphone and all of the lights, crawled into bed and buried myself under the comforters indefinitely (well that's a little dramatic but you get my drift). Funny thing is, as I was driving home from work, I couldn't shake this feeling that everything was going to be just fine.

I'm a praying woman so I prayed. I asked for strength. I asked for the ability to keep it moving forward. And I asked for an expectant heart ... a heart that is optimistic against all odds. I believe my prayers were answered. Believe me, I know that there are people a lot worse off than me. I know that I am fortunate in so many ways. Still there are some things that are lacking in my life ... yet, I know its going to be just fine.

When I got home it seemed like someone had broken into my house and rigged it to remind me just how okay everything is going to be. Of course I don't mean someone broke into my house literally ... but here's what I mean ...

When I got home I went into my bedroom and began sorting things for laundry tomorrow. I pushed the play button on my stereo not knowing which CD was loaded in the disc changer and began pulling my sheets off of the bed. Just as I was about to start thinking negatively the voice of gospel singer, Tamela Mann, told me "I have a feeling that everything's gonna be alright!" I smiled at that.

Then, I went into my closet to search for a specific book that I'd packed up before I moved to this place. And I came across a cassette tape of a woman's conference I had attended several years ago. The title of the tape was "Things Will Work Out." I laughed at that.

I know that things are going to work out in my favor. I am going to stay positive and I'm going to get through this like I've gotten through far worse.

Just thought I'd share.

Be Sweet,
Ebony

BEST DATE EVER!!!!!

Well, its after 4 a.m. and I'm just now getting settled into bed for a few hours before I have to get right back up again. I returned home about an hour and a half ago from the most amazing date I've had in a long time. In fact, I can't remember when I'd ever been on a date this amazing. He didn't do anything super spectacular, it was just a really beautiful evening.

We both love sushi so we agreed to meet up at one of my fave sushi restaurants for dinner and drinks. I ran into a few snags and ended up being an hour and a half late in meeting him. I could tell that he was slightly irritated by my extreme tardiness but I loved how he kept reassuring me that everything was okay and that he wasn't holding it against me. He said, "Ebony, it could have been worse. You could have been speeding down the highway on the way to meet me and gotten in a car accident and killed yourself! Trust me, its okay." I was thankful that he wanted to remain positive rather than dwell on my being late (thank God, because I can't tell you how horrible I felt about it).

The sushi restaurant we were going to is located in a plaza that's full of restaurants, a dance club and a large hotel with restaurants inside of it. So there is plenty to do around this place. When we got to the sushi restaurant we discovered that there would be a forty-five to sixty minute wait for a table! He offered to wait if I wanted to wait since we had both wanted sushi so bad. But he'd waited so patiently for me that I decided we should go somewhere else to eat. I couldn't make him wait to eat any longer. So, we decided to go to a mexican restaurant instead.

The food wasn't all that great but the conversation was wonderful because it was free-flowing and comfortable. It didn't feel like this was our first date. It felt like we were good friends who were evolving into something more. It was like we were in each other's heads the entire conversation ... we have a lot in common and didn't run out of things to talk about at all.

Our conversation went on until we looked up and noticed we were the only ones left in the non-smoking section of the restaurant and we didn't see many people over in the smoking section or at the bar. The restaurant was closing. I was disappointed because I didn't want the date to end but it was getting late and the restaurant was closing ... so ...

Then he said, "So where do you want to go now?" I hadn't thought about that. I only knew that I didn't want the date to end.

We ended up going to a sports bar that wasn't far from the sushi restaurant in the same plaza. There we found a nice quiet corner surrounded by flat screen tv's and talked until the whole place shut down at one o'clock in the morning.

THEEEEEEEEEEEEEN ....

I couldn't remember where I parked so I had to get in his car and drive around looking for it ... (lol ... i know, i know). We found my car, parked next to it and sat in the car and talked for another hour until we both got sleepy and had to end the conversation.

Like I said, nothing spectacular happened ... it was just an amazing date because its been such a long time since I've felt that comfortable with a person ... laughing with him and talking about deep things with him ... it was nice.

Thanks for listening ... this blog was totally random and pointless to you guys probably ... but I just had to gush about my date before I started counting sheep!

*big cheesy grin*

Sneezy

This is what I look like just before I sneeze! LOL ... I took this picture in my car. It was such a cute ugly picture that I just didn't have the heart to delete it. Not all a person's pics have to be good ones, huh?!

Pay It Forward

After the rough week I had, I was very excited to go to church and enjoy being around the good-hearted people I know there. I actually got there an hour early with the intention of taking advantage of the free St. Louis Bread Company coffee and bagels they always provide in the lobby before church starts (those of you not from Missouri, you may know the Bread Co. as Panera). Instead of enjoying the bagels and coffee, however, I ended up going into the auditorium, sitting toward the front and listening to the band as they practiced before service started.

While I sat there I began to reflect on my week, how hard it had been and the things that triggered me being down-in-the-dumps for the entire seven days. I came to the conclusion that there were several things I could have done to prevent feeling the way I was feeling. For example, I could have stayed away from a few of the negative people I came across and I could have chosen not to entertain some really dismal conversations from a few friends. I've come to the realization that I can't help everyone and those that I try to help are going to do what they want to do anyway so why get caught up in their affairs when I have my own to tend to?

Don't get me wrong, I love my friends but sometimes ... psssh! Especially when their mood begins to effect my own ... *rolls eyes*

So anyway ... I saved seats for my family and I and waited for church to start. That first picture you see is a picture of the stage/pulpit. The banner reads "Pay It Forward." Basically, the church members are being encouraged to "pay-it-forward" by being a blessing to others in their everyday life ... not just during the holidays.

The "Pay It Forward" message was very touching to me because I feel my happiest when I'm helping people and making a difference in their life. It'd be so nice if the entire world adhered to such a philosophy. I think that maybe we'd all be a lot happier and the prescribing and sale of various anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medications would decline.

In the lobby of the church is the "Pay It Forward" tree. On each ornament is the name of a family in need. Families from my church have been encouraged to go to the tree, pick a family and bless them with things they need this holiday season. I'm tearing up at the thought because I know that right now there are a lot of families in need. The economy is bad, people are losing their jobs and homes, the children are hungry and cold. So, I think this tree and encouraging people to pay it forward everyday is great and I hope that everyone adheres to it, even when its hard. Because, I know when I'm in need ... I mean in REAL need ... I don't want someone to not help me just because its a little inconvenient for them at the time. That doesn't feel good!

So, I'm going to apply this message to my life ... my everyday. I feel better and happier when I know that my actions have enhanced the day and/or life of another. I work in retail ... its the holiday season ... you can imagine how much practice I'm going to get right? Ha ha ha ...

Don't forget to Pay-it-Forward ... today and always!