**Get into your car between 11pm and 4am,wind down the windows, drive slow, get Frou Frou, The Calling, James Morrison or whoever you're 'feeling' on the stereo and let everything you see become your muse.
Everyday we make decisions; some good, some bad. Some days we get almost everything right, other days we get it all wrong. But like the street lights in the rearview mirror, the moment has passed and the deed is done. So the best thing to do is look ahead through the windshield because we'll see more streetlights on an even bigger road.
Everyday, we make mistakes but the starless skies are like our tomorrows, the starless skies are like our fresh starts, the starless skies are like the new mercies of God every morning. If you get it right the second time, celebrate. If you don't get it right, still celebrate. The fact that you know you didn't get it right is the first step to getting it right.
A late night drive like reality may not always be happiness, inspiration and bright lights, once in a while, you'll have to park by the road, wind up (for security) and cry your heart out. But when you're done, wind those windows back down so the fresh air can blow away your hurt as you continue on your journey.
If you've never done this before i beg you to try it some night. Feel the magic. Experience the beauty. Stop for a moment and take it all in.
The road, street signs and streetlights may be man-made but they were inspired by God and a starless sky is one of the most refreshing things to gaze at. The beauty you see may look the same every night but it feels different every single night.
Thank God for sight, thank God for beauty and above all, thank God for a sound mind.
Yup, we can see this! Yup, she and the picture are beautiful. But no, Wandoo's mind isn't always sound! Lmho *snort*
I love how all the constellations are named after Greek heroes
It reminds me that even the immortals, they have vices too
I love around 5am when all the lights dim
After the sexy ones have become middle aged in their 12 hour lifespans
When the glitter fades and rests more like sad stars than gold leaf
I love naked, white sheets, how they work like paint thinner to remove last nights fresco
How they dry you off after soaking in a tub of room temperature lovers
I love the cab rides you take back into yourself
Away from the still beautiful people who are all elsewhere
Doing impossibly beautiful things
When you arrive home, you will greet the mirror like a criminal in a line up
With premeditated sins, armed with brass knuckles and all the good intentions
Buried far beneath the rap sheet
I planned to be a sinner tonight
Could have been something else
But looked way too good in my red dress to be anything Christian
I was talking to 3 different men in 5 different languages
I was twisting a blunt straw into page 47 of the kama sutra
I was dancing in an attempt to melt the belts off every man in the room
But I heard the truth that night!
A Turk, speaking Spanish, didn't know me from Adam said
"Tú creas en Dios pero tu haces malas cosas”
'You believe in God, but you do bad things'
Suddenly, I realized I was in a place where all they play is house music
But can’t say I really felt at home
In a barely audible, barely recognizable zone
Between having a good time and simply wasting it
I was a glutton with a grin, drinking warm gin, knowing no one’s name
but somehow I was everyone’s friend
I was standing in stilettos that made me six feet tall
but still felt small
I was messing up the shoes I paid too much for and still hurt to walk in
Talk about conviction!
Truth is, nobody believes me when I say I’m a virgin
Truth is, the bible didn't see the inside of my face for a week while i was on vacation
Truth is, I’m not innocent
I’m just an abstinent fireplace that doesn’t wanna feel the fire kindles between her legs anymore
So don’t mind the ashes, they’re just evidence of how brightly I can glow
And I wanna glow hard, like one dim star
On an otherwise starless night
That shines just to prove its fidelity
I know what you must think of me,
“What hypocrisy!”
But I don’t wanna enter prayer reeking of my addiction, stinking of cologne
I don’t want God to smell another man on me
Mistaking ménage à trois for the Trinity
So thank God the stars don’t judge us for what we do beneath them
Thank God the stars don't see the evil we commit under their names
Thank God for the silence, for the dimness, for nights spent alone,
Thank God for friends who know more than just your bra strap
And thank God for cab rides home
'Cause tonight, I'm gonna strip the spotlight
Tonight, I'm gonna turn off Frank Ocean
Tonight, I'm gonna take off the stilettos
I'm gonna take off the tourquoise rings
I'm gonna take off the lip gloss
And i'm gonna sleep naked
Not trying to be sexy just trying to be me, a girl
With a shaved head and with eyes deep enough to stand in
With convictions strong enough to stand on
I'm finding the mercy of God right where i'm standing and
It's binding, it's blinding, it's forgiveness
But most of all,
It's mine!
So tonight, I'm gonna sit out on the fire escape and
I'm gonna sit there eating an apple and
I'm gonna nickname the view "Eden" and
I'm gonna look up at those tragic stars
With their pagan hearts full of mourning and i'm gonna say
"What a fall? But what light, what impossible light?"
*Cab rides and the morning after by Alysa Harris.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity... Psalm 32 :1-2a
Here is a video of her performance and the link ( http://youtu.be/JQHdECyAKIk ) if you can't see it on your phone. Stay blessed!
How una dey? Hmmmm... that's how i decided to meet and spend a couple of days with Gbemisoke in Houston o, turns out i've been on a dulling p all this while. As soon as i got there, babe didn't even let me get into the house, she asked me to follow her to go get us ogi and akara for breakfast. I was like "Ehn? Ogi and akara ke?" I kukuma flew into the car with my kpakrikpa to see for myself.
The name of the store 'Onola Imports African Foods' didn't really trip me, these are what got me rolling with laughter and joy
No comment
Do you see the mortar? lmho!
There was "salad cream", ribena, cheese balls, custard and stuff you only find in naija. You should have seen me running around, touching things and smiling like a bush girl. I was sooo happy. We were a little too late for the akara so we just went home and made breakfast but the fact that i was in a place where naija goodies were accessible kept me excited.
Next, we took the kids to IKEA for a radio disney abi na disney radio show, how we ended up eatinglickingchopping consuming frozen yogurt in the rain is a hilarious tale for another day.
On Sunday, we went to Redeemed for service. Aondo wam man terlem e! Chai! Women were in iro and buba, others had on onigogoro that were reaching for the skies and the ushers had on long skirts and those ridiculously wide hats you only see in (naija) churches. I was almost in tears mehn, i felt so at home and super excited. Like i said on twitter, Gbemi was the first Nigerian i had seen in 6 months and so was the number of black people at RCCG that day and i just couldn't stop smiling and staring.
Anyway, after service, an old friend took me out for naija lunch. I had one correct nkwobi like that ehn? Kai! To make matters better, he took us to an aboki's place for koda and kaza (kidney and chicken) to go and then dropped me off at Gbemi's. You should have seen her reaction what she saw the arrangee, lmho, all plans for dinner were cancelled. My guy woman commot ijebu garri and sugar sharp-sharp, it was the most hilarious thing
Forget the koda for a quick sec, do u see
the sewing machine? Ehen! It is not for
decoration, 'come an sow clot'
My baybeee... Biko, turn ya neck!
chop chop! See as she set mouth
My daughters' husbands *cough*
My latest stash from Gbemi :D
I had a blast mehn, the 4hr road-trip was totally worth it and though my arms still hurt, my heart is still smiling. Gbemi is an amazing woman of God and I absolutely love her (and her family). I have signed the papers and adopted myself into her family whether she likes it or yes cos this is one is a keeper. May the Lord bless and keep you babe, thank you so much for having me over
P.S
I had plans to move to Houston but i think i'll just make it my safe haven, a little home away from home where i can run to whenever i need to refresh my mind and soul. Did i mention we had pepperish fish pie, puff puff, fried yam with akara and plantain for breakfast the day i left? Dey there!
P.P.S
Dis naija chidren dat sombody whee born in yankee dat whee come an start teaching dia parents how to speak English ehn, hia!
My friend: ....... EnglAnd...
His son: It's not EnglAnd daddy, it's EnglEnd! Why do you say it like that?!
Me: *side eye*
****
Gbemi: Don't step into the wota!
Nathan: Woter? Woter? Wader rather!
Me: *side eye*
God bless you guys and have a great day everyone :*
I wrote this piece to be my after life post. I was going to leave it in my drafts, give my cousin my blogger password and have it posted after i passed on (that's if i died before her). But as i wrote, i wondered how many people needed to read this TODAY and it just didn't feel like one i should leave in my drafts 'till the right time' like the others.
Secondly, a couple of bloggers have disappeared and we don't know for sure if they just got tired of blogging or are dead so i beg you guys to let us know if you decide to stop blogging and/or write a letter from beyond and have someone publish it after you've passed. I know say una blood dey hot for dis dormot so you don't have to agree with me or do it o, i just think that people who think they are dying leave no holds barred and good or bad that's the kind of thing people who don't think they are dying need to read. This will still be my letter from beyond by the way, just wanted to share.
***
If you're reading this then it means i am dead. Yes, dead and gone like old Roger! Seriously though, I obviously don't know how i died but my sincere prayer is that i'm in heaven sitting beside my Daddy. See, you are still alive! Forget what the world will think of you and give your life to Christ. Life is too short to be messing around, trying to please people. If you're not sure that there is a God out there then i beg you to err on the right side, give your life anyway ('cause what do you have to lose afterall) and see for yourself why the gospel has survived after 2,000 years of persecution.
Forgive your family and friends, love them, with all your heart! Preach the gospel as if the world is ending tomorrow because it just might and above all, love God. Love God with emotions and actions so strong you can't describe, love God as if not loving Him will be the death of you, love God with every inch of your being, every breath, every move, every word, love God! Love Him, praise Him, give Him everything then sit back and watch Him work wonders.
Being a christian is not beans, don't expect a smooth ride 'just because' you've given your life to Christ. Only expect that no matter how hard it gets you will be blessed with peace so deep it will leave your jaw on the ground. The kind of peace that makes you smile from within and say "na God", that peace that populates heaven and depopulates hell. Psalm 37:25 Hebrews 13:5 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said "I will never leave you nor forsake you"
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love;
Where injury, pardon;
Where doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy!
O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life!
Imagine taking a child for a shot at the hospital, whether you are one of the parents or not it definately means that there is some sort of relationship and a certain level of trust between you two. There is a quick second alot of people never think much of when the kid gets poked with the needle, especially if the child is less than 2 years old, but this second holds the truth to reality and most of what life is truly about. That horrible second when the needle gets in and the child looks at you with shock as if to say "how could you do this to me?" before screaming out in pain, a scream that should by all the laws of physics shatter window panes, and all you want to do is not just hug them but make them understand that the shots are necessary for growth and protection from diseases.
Many times, life feels like getting a(n unnecessary) shot and most times we get mad at God because the pain and struggles we go through make no sense at all. But if you listen closely, if you go back to that second and see the hurt in the adult's eye as the kid screams out in then pain then you'll hear God say something along the lines of "though you may not understand today, tomorrow, next year or ever, I want you to know that i let you go through certain things to help you grow... because i love you". Jeremiah 29:11-12 For i know the thoughts that i think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me and I will listen to you.
There are no words good enough to comfort someone who is mourning but then again, when God takes people away from us it's possible that it has nothing to do with us but that their time was just up. And if that is the case then be assured more than ever that the God who is watching you go through this pain WILL take care of you, He will heal your heart and provide for you. Joshua 1:9 'Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God IS with you wherever you go' and whatever you go through.
God bless you.
Ps.
Meet my future husband Mali Music *cheesy smile* and (try to ignore his awesomeness but) listen to the lyrics. Pay close attetion to 1:59-259, especially from 2:33. I love you!
If you can't see the video on your phone try the direct link http://t.co/udY4lZBk
'One man in a thousand will stick closer than a brother and it is worthwile seeking him half your days if you find him before the other'
Chiki, my darlyn, my blood!
This cousin has stuck closer than the proverbial friend who sticks closer than a brother. I love you babe, thank you for listening, caring and always being there for me. I pray for you everyday and cherish every moment we spend together, doing the right things and (almost) getting into trouble. You are my cousin, my sister and cho boki u shima shima. Happy Valentine's day in advance love, may the love and fear of the Lord forever grow in your heart and may you find love, peace and contentment as you follow Him.
*******
Town Hall Meeting!
Una weldone o... After all the querries i've recieved it's obvious that the footnote about the comments wasn't good enough so here's the reason why i disabled comments on this blog.
I am not a very good person! I am self-righteous, proud and sometimes put so much focus on the little things that i forget about the bigger picture. I get mad at people who don't drop comments on my blog after i've dropped atleast 3 on their's.
When people comment on how much they loved a post or how much it moved them, i carry it on my head and run with it to Kilimanjaro when even i know that i'm not a good writer and the only reason people are getting blessed is because i am inspired by the Word through personal experiences.
With the comment box on, I find myself hoping every email notification on my phone is from blogger. It is distracting, immature and stupid!
I am not spiritually strong enough to handle comments and that's why i took them down. I will visit your blogs, keep supporting, encouraging and showing you love and only pray that you keep getting blessed as you read from me.
I also pray you stay strong enough to keep the communication and fellowships alive in your comment boxes, I just need a long minute to get my act right. Again, my email address is dooshima2002@yahoo.com and twitter handle is @doshiX, holla whenever you need to talk, pray or just gist. You are my precious and i'll be there for you
Jest keeding, jeeest keeding...
Seriously though, hola if you need anything. God bless you guys so much, thank you for the love and support you've shown over the past year. I value, appreciate our relationships and love you guys with all my heart.
Hey, remember when i told you guys about the trip to Jerusalem where i fell and broke my tooth here? The same trip where our bus driver kept "flinging" his cigarette butts here? Well, a year or 2 before i left, my grandmum also went on pilgrimage and everything about that trip caused laughter for days.
First off, a couple of days before she left, most of us were chilling at my uncle's when someone was sent to get her. We burst out in laughter when we opened the trunk to get her luggage. Mama has more fancy luggage than anyone i know but for some old woman reason she chose an ugly, dirty, scruffy looking bag and filled it with some old, old wrappers and a pair of slippers. That sight was classic. Anyway, after we (the young kids) gave them (the adults aka my mum and her siblings) trouble for expecting her to know what to pack, they decided to take her back to the village, grab better clothes and appropriate shoes and all that wahala.
When mama came back, Lord have mercy, everything was a reminder of the wonders of the white man's land and it always started with "hm! uwuh! do you know that bla bla bla bla?" It was the funniest thing ever and she didn't even care that we were laughing, she'ld say what was on her mind and waka pass.
Anyway, in the midst of all the hilarity, one day she looked at us and went "Hm! All my life i've been in church and read the Bible but never did i imagine that any of that happened on earth. I thought it all happened in the heavens and everyone in the bible was a spirit of sorts but to see everything with my eyes, to touch and feel it means so much more to me. God is really real." The house went mute. It still brings a tear to my eye thinking about it. Mama made sure we were all raised with the fear of God, she lives by the Word and is in Church more than anyone i know but somehow she got her facts mixed up, somehow, there was uncertainty but somehow, she kept pressing on and leading her family towards God.
All i'm trying to say is, in your walk with God you don't need to be certain about everything, just keep holding on because no matter what and no matter how long it takes, the all knowing, ominiscient God will give you clarity and direct your path.
1 John 3:19-20, Deut 31:6
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Be of good courage and do not fear... for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
God bless you!
*I'm sorry i disabled my comments, I'll keep reading and commenting on your blogs, please keep coming back here too. If you need to get in-touch with me for anything at all my email (dooshima2002@yahoo.com) and twitter handle (@doshiX) are on the right side of the blog, hola whenever! :*
