Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Wordless Wednesday-December 7, 2016


 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 👑🙏🏽❤️️

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Wordless Wednesday-November 23, 2016

 

Have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving!
Happy Heavenly Birthday to my dad, Gerald William Cole, Sr. ( Nov. 23, 1944-May 13, 2005)   You are missed! 

In Diva Love & Gratitude,

Pam 👑🙏🏽😘

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Wordless Wednesday-November 16, 2016

 

In Diva Love, 

Pam 👑🙏🏽😘

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Take it Seriously, Tuesday-November 8, 2016

 

As an American, you have a responsibility. Please exercise your right. You must vote. Trust God. Trust the process. Please don't be a one issue voter. And by the way, if you are against abortion but support the death penalty, you are confused. Both are life issues...I'm just saying. Don't be a hypocrite. Don't be a party supporter without really seeing what all the candidates are trying to offer. If Christianity is your guiding force, the God I serve is a God of love and peace. America is at a crossroads. The political process has been made a mockery of. This election cycle has brought out some of the most bigoted racist behavior ever seen. The recovery will be lengthy. It will be difficult because America has a real problem trying to resolve race issues. Thank goodness, God still reigns and sits on the throne. Nothing about this has surprised Him. As a people, my hope is that we remain prayerful and not put our hope in man or leaders, but God. God bless each of you and the America we live in. 

In Diva Love and prayer, 

Pamela 🙏🏽👑

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Sunday, October 2, 2016

The Hottest (Free) Ticket in Town

Last Saturday afternoon, the eagerly anticipated Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened its doors. The dedication/Grand opening was televised nationally and everybody who was anybody made the trek to Washington, D.C. to be a part of  the festivities. Excitement had been brewing for months. The three day event consisted of concerts, parties, and food. How fitting that the 19th Museum, celebrating the history and culture of our people but still reflective of America's story, would open under the first African American President's watch. 

Due to the sheer popularity of the new museum, tickets must largely be obtained online through the museum's website www.nmaahc.si.edu.  You may request a maximum of six tickets.  Each day, a few tickets are also released at museum. I suspect the popularity will not wear of for quite some time. My own tickets are for late December. Last night, I was able to visit the museum because my cousin graciously blessed me with her extra tickets. The museum is beautifully situated with the Washington Monument as a backdrop. It looked magnificent on this pretty Autumn evening.

Once we cleared security, we tried to come up with a game plan for perusing the building. That was no small feat. There were excited people everywhere. I must confess we saw none of the lower floors dedicated to the era of slavery.  There was an hour wait to begin at the lower concourse.  We started at the top and worked our way down. Listen, if you plan to visit, make it a two day visit. There are over 36,000 artifacts housed in this one-of-a-kind building. It took years to amass such a vast array of artifacts. 

You will be amazed by most everything housed here. There is a World War II plane that had been piloted by Tuskegee airmen. Chuck Berry's Cadillac is in pristine condition.Many were in awe over the Mother Ship which sits right next to a  George Clinton's original outfit.Emmett Till's casket  is there. I enjoyed seeing the African American Medal  of Honor recipients. I could go on  and on. There is section dedicated  to the Divine Nine Greek organizations. There are several small theaters and a host of sections that could easily be missed if you don't peek into every nook and cranny. The Oprah Winfrey Theater can seat 350 people. There is a cafe which celebrates the uniqueness of our cuisine by region. You can eat ox tails, gumbo, catfish, fried chicken, Brunswick or Son of a Gun stew and a host of other cherished food items. There was a gift shop but that line was an hour wait too. I  can tell you that it is not a small selection of things  for sale. The shop is huge. There are a ton of interactive sections to the museum. You can learn to step with Step Africa. You can explore things by region and simulate driving the Green Mile. All of your senses will be stimulated. 

To say that you will be blown away  by what you see, is probably an understatement. Lonnie Bunch, the director of the museum, should be quite proud of the museum from the magnificent building, to the donors who gave generously, to the vast collection of artifacts housed within the gorgeous facility. I am  already excited that I can return easily and often.  You will need multiple visits to see, enjoy, and experience everything, especially with the huge crowds that have chosen to descend upon the museum in its first few months. I'm glad I live close enough to be able to plan to do that. You should plan to see it for yourself. It is truly worth a trip. Your heart will swell with pride and joy. It's been a long time coming. Our story deserves to be told and showcased especially since our children keep getting a watered down version of our real history and seem to be losing pride in the accomplishments of the generations that came, fought, and struggled before us. 

In Diva Love,  

Pam



 

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Wordless Wednesday-September 28, 2016

 

In Diva Love, 

Pam 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Wordless Wednesday-September 21, 2016

 

In Diva Love,

Pam 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Who Am I??? #1

In life, we are often asked to explain who we are. I suspect that question is asked of us almost as often as we are asked our name. If you are anything like me, I bet the answer changes within the context of  who is doing the asking, as well as where you are emotionally, at that moment. On Saturday, I was once again asked that very question.  It got me thinking  about how often the answer changes  and differs from day to  day and moment by moment. Another reason this question is appealing to me, is because I find a number of close friends struggling to define exactly who they are at this juncture of life. It never hurts to evaluate  or re-evaluate who you are at any period of time. So I decided that I'm going to post my response to the  question of my identity  at random times when I'm asked and look at how my answer changes and evolves(hopefully). I will clue you in on what's happening so that you too can understand or see what contributed to that day's response. 

On Saturday, I was asked and here is how I responded:  I am a child of God who strives to do better and be better in every one of my individual roles-mother, daughter, sister,friend, etc.  I am in a state of embracing the season that I'm in and navigating the intricacies that this season brings. I love to laugh and encourage, as well as engage in meaningful conversations and activities. 

It  was a short and simple response. It was the first  day of a Women's Bible Study and our study involves discovering ones identity and purpose in Christ. It  was a response that we could share or keep to  ourselves. And it led me to a personal challenge for my blog. So here it is and here I am. It is a vehicle for me to post a tad more regularly and look  at who I choose to putout there on any particular day at any particular moment. Hopefully, you will enjoy my journey enough to explore who you are on a regular but ever-changing basis. Till next time, peace and blessings!

In Diva Love,

Pam

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Wordless Wednesday-September 7, 2016

 

In Diva Love,

Pam 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

New Orleans or Bust?

Last year I wasn't able to take a trip, much to my dismay. That hadn't been the case in years. This year I made it happen with two of my best friends. We spent five days in New Orleans and we had a fabulous time. If you haven't been there, I encourage you to see this city filled with all sorts of things to do. 

We did a swamp tour and learned more about alligators than we ever expected. Fascinating creatures several of whom we got to see up close. We also saw the area Swamp People is filmed in. We had a snowball. We had beignets. The three of us might be the only people on the planet who were unimpressed. And yes, they were from Cafe Du Monde. We visited the 9th ward and checked out the 9th Ward Living Museum. Talk about a sobering experience. This was it. The information gleaned there made me disappointed to be an American. We have so far to go. Can you believe only one school has been rebuilt since Hurricane Katrina? Unacceptable! 

We visited Jackson Square as well as the French Market. We met local artist too. Check out Frenchy's studio if you can. Music, of course, was everywhere.  We found that we enjoyed our experience better on Frenchmen Street than on Bourbon Street. It was a bit quieter and less touristy. We missed out on seeing a wedding or funeral. We also didn't make it to the McKenna African American Museum. We breezed through the Music Legends Museum. You can sit and have a drink there. 

Being the well round women that we are we tried to balance entertainment and education on this trip. I think we accomplished that. Not only did we learn a ton at the Mardi Gras museum but we also toured the Whitney Plantation. There is a wealth of information there and again we were reminded that America's history is not great and again we left the experience with a sense of heaviness. We also appreciate that God saw fit for none of us to be born during slavery. Oh and the "Big House" wasn't that impressive or big. LOL. 

No trip would be complete without discussing food, especially in New Orleans. We indulged in our fair share of seafood, shrimp and grits, and gumbo. We had hurricanes and a sazerac. We had lunch at one of Emeril's restaurants. The food was good but it wasn't our best meal there. While touring residential areas and looking a huge but beautiful homes in the Market street area, we found a gem of a restaurant called the Superior Grill and oyster house. That meal was simply awesome. Another great dining experience was had at Jacques Imo's. You can find Frenchy's art studio down the street. What we liked better than beignets were the buttermilk drops from the buttermilk drop bakery. Yum! Grilled oysters are good and I certainly don't love raw oysters. We had breakfast at a neighborhood café called Surrey's. It was excellent and they sell New Orleans inspired art right of the walls. Best bananas foster French toast ever and I'm not a huge French toast fan. 

We decided we could probably return to the area and have a completely different experience because there is a ton of things to do and see. It is definitely a great place to people watch. We got in as much as we wanted to. The folks there are extremely hometown proud. I don't think I realized the number of institutions of higher learning that were there. The fleur de lis is everywhere. Not necessarily a symbol to be proud of once you know it's history. 😳. You can eat and drink pretty much any and everywhere. Every place boasts the best creole/gumbo experience. When you visit don't be afraid to go off the beaten path...there are many gems to be found. I'm sure there's no place quite like New Orleans, Louisiana. I gotta go plan my next trip.  Till then.....peace!

 

In Diva Love, 
Pam 😊

Wordless Wednesday-August 3, 2016

 

In Diva Love,

Pam ☺️

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Thursday, June 2, 2016

48 is Fabulous

In a few hours, I will be a Fabulous 48 years young. As usual, I've looked back over the past year, and I can't do anything but praise God. I'm so thankful for His Presence in my life. This year had its ups and downs, heartaches, losses, wins, and most important,  lessons with blessings. I haven't always been faithful but God has. I'm grateful for every ache and pain as well as every trial. Those things remind me that I'm here and He still has a destiny for me to fulfill. The year has also reminded me to evaluate my audience. Playtime is over and when you have real life issues, you need real friends-the ones that dig deep, challenge, convict and pray on your behalf.  There were some days, the only place I could turn was to Jesus. Now that is a reality check we all need. 

I'm looking ahead to what this year will bring. I'm up for the mountaintop experiences and will pray that I have the fortitude for those that send me into the valley. So many times This year I've asked God why He trusts me with so much but this year, I'm going to leave that question behind and trust the process. Whatever He has for me, is mine. No matter how difficult things seem, I know He's there and He's equipping me for something. 

The 40s are liberating in many ways. I love me more than ever-yes, flaws and all. I'm unapologetic about staying true to my values. I'm happy to remind you that I and you are a continuous work in progress. At this point, the opinion of others is pretty much irrelevant. Some friends are closer than family-so no, blood isn't always thicker than water. Some people's seasons simply end. Drama should be saved for anyone but me. I need to see a whole lot of places, so my passport must be renewed. Praying God sends some interesting men my way or opens my mind to dating in this day and age. I am comfortable in my skin...and following God's plan for my life. Embracing the life that I'm living right now even though it may not be the life I imagined. All that being said..in the words of my earthly father, "Life to the fullest, no regrets!" Happy Fabulous 48th Birthday to me! 
 

In Diva Love,

Pam 😊🎂🎈

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Sunday, May 1, 2016

My Loss, Heaven's Gain

I write this post with a heavy heart.  My words will probably not adequately convey exactly what I want to, nor will they express all the emotions that I am feeling-and I am feeling some kind of way. Still in the throes of trying to understand why my favorite artist, Prince was gone, I had to put those thoughts to rest and focus on someone much more tangible and important in my world. On Friday, April 29th, I had to deal with the very real loss of an individual who touched most every aspect of my life, being given her angel wings and taking her eternal rest. That person is my Grandmother, Leola Brown, who is known as Nanno to me and her other grand and great-grandchildren.
                                       
This loss can be summed up in so many ways, but I am going to count myself lucky to have had her for just shy of 48 years. Nanno almost made it to her 102nd birthday, which would have been celebrated in the best month of the year--June. June happens to be my birth month too.  I am happy to say that when our family comes together to say our final farewells, it will not be the first time she will be given her accolades. She has always been highly respected and celebrated among her family.  We each have been given both private and very public opportunities to express to her how loved, cherished and important she was to us.

After losing her husband of 52 years and all five of her siblings, Nanno was the matriarch of our family.  Not the ruling with an iron fist type of matriarch but a woman with a quiet observant nature who hated conflict. She was purposefully wise and full of strength and fortitude. She was comfortable in her skin and equally comfortable with her choices, even if you weren't in agreement with her decision. Once her mind was made up, you could pretty much save your arguments and pleas, the decision was pretty much final.

For most of my childhood and adolescent life, I had the fortune(although as a child, I don't think I viewed it this way) to grow up living right next door to my grandparents. I could just skip through my front or back yard and be at their house in seconds. Didn't like what my mom cooked, could look down into her kitchen to see if it would be better to eat over there. Could hear her and my grandfather every time they went in or out. Could catch a ride, could beg for money, and could sneak and use the phone when punished. Her basement was made for partying and gathering. Let's just say my sister-cousin Tracy and I made sure to utilize that in our teen years as well as our early adult years. What happened in the basement stayed in the basement.Like most grandparents, they spoiled us more than our parents. 
                                       
What I'll miss most especially as an adult who moved away from Cleveland were the times I could come home and roll in through her back door and have moments to myself. Those were the priceless conversations and moments to cherish. I gleaned so much wisdom from those interactions. I could see the pride that she had in our family's history and her desire to share that. I know that she truly believed and embraced the Lord's commandment to "honor your father and mother that your days may be prolonged in the Land which your Lord your God gives you. " (Exodus 20:12 NASB). Since I was a first hand witness of how she cared for her own mom in her later years, I take the charge to honor your parents quite seriously. I feel assured that my own mom will be around for quite a while for this same reason. As Nanno did before her, with her mother, Carrie Chappell, My mom handled her business very well when it came to Nanno. Not out of a sense of obligation but out of sheer respect for her as a mom and person. 

Those conversations were special because you never knew what Nanno had on her mind or what she might say. I learned a lot about trusting God and praying. I know I had a praying grandmother (insert Helen Baylor's voice here). I didn't grow up in a family who showed a great deal of affection or who verbalized their love for you. Do not interpret this as I grew up in a loveless family.  I certainly didn't. I grew up in a family where it should be assumed and assured by the sacrifices and hard work to make things happen that you were loved and cared for. But it was in these private conversations that Nanno expressed that she was proud of the person I'd become as well as in the way I went about it. These moments are where you heard the things you needed to encourage you and let you know that she noticed they way you lived your life and that she was totally aware of your heart. Her discernment skills were truly on point. I never heard Nanno verbalize an "I love you" until I was well into adulthood. Imagine my shock the first time she said it, but oh to know the joy and pleasure of that moment. It did not validate me, it let me know that each day is new and God still changes people and calls them to be more and more like Him. 


This  post could go on forever because there are a zillion things I can remember, cherish, and share about Nanno. I am tearing up now so I'm going to end with this. I am going to really miss Nanno. She was a rock. She was a pillar of strength and a pillar of the community. She was a mom, a grandmother, a great-grandma, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a Christian, a gardener, lover of yellow and Dancing with the Stars. She liked baseball and listening to the radio. She was an excellent fried chicken/fish, peach cobbler, biscuits, and macaroni and cheese cook. She hated to argue and was loyal. She quietly made things happen. She had high standards. She was dignified. She couldn't handle pain. She didn't drive but got wherever she wanted to go. She was giving and loving. She was wise. She was my favorite person. 
                                       
Her passing leaves a huge hole in my heart. I've never really done life without her. I'll miss her watchful eye and wise thoughts. I'll miss sitting down at her kitchen table to discuss what she's seen and observed in her life. A lot happens in a century. She experienced or witnessed the Great Depression, several wars, copious presidents, world tragedies, Jim Crow, South to North  migration, lots of births, deaths, marriages and divorces, space travel, so many inventions, technology, the election of Our first African-American president, assassinations of historical greats and the list goes on and on. 

As she entered the heavenly gates, not only was she welcomed into the arms of a Loving Jesus who could say nothing less than "well done my good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share Your Master's happiness." (Matthew 25:23 NIV), I stand assured she was greeted by countless loved ones who'd gone before. And the Angels rejoiced.

We too rejoice at the mark and legacy she left our family. We also mourn because a part of our hearts has received her eternal rest and reward and will no longer be here on earth with us. To be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord. Nanno, I love you and you will always hold a very special place in my heart. Leola Brown you are no longer an earthly angel, you are now a heavenly angel and I hope to feel your presence daily as you watch over and guide us from above.

Tearfully submitted 
In Diva love,

Pam 😘

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

And Still I Rise

It's been quite a while since my last post and life has been moving right along at a frightening pace. Through it all, not only can I say that I am still here but also that God remains faithful to His promises. Each day has it own unique challenges but even better than that, each day has its share of blessings and surprises. So far I'm enjoying 2016 and  the mountains have outnumbered the valleys. I am delighted to report that I don't look like what I've been through. Some changes are truly blessings in disguise. I can say that because I'm happier now than I've been in along time and I didn't realize how much peace had been missing from my life.

The first quarter of the year is over-time flies when you aren't stressed the heck out. My new normal is agreeing with me.  God knew and ordained every moment. Trusting that His plan is good although painful is much harder to accept. You find yourself at a crossroads wondering how is this going to perfect me and mold me into a more Christ-like individual. Then one day you wake up and realize you have made it though the trials  and storms and you are no worse off  but you've gained a wealth of knowledge and your faith is stronger than ever. The Bible tells us that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus and that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. I can tell you that both of those verses anchored me through tough times. Your sustaining verses may differ but make sure you have a Word to anchor you and keep you in the difficult moments. It makes a world of difference to have something to hold onto.  

I obviously haven't done well posting.I can't believe my last post was in December. I apologize. I will try to do better.  My mind is moving in a million directions but I am constantly asking the Lord for wisdom.  I am contemplating some serious changes but I want it to be His will, not mine. My contemplation will probably become a future post. As I continue to rise from some tests, I just want encourage anyone who supports me by reading my posts, that you too will rise from the mess of your circumstances. Trust God and trust the process, even if it's painful. Accept help and support along the way. Pray specifically and often. You too, will rise. Be blessed and be a blessing.

Perhaps this song will help, Andra Day is doing the damn thing in this song:               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNKu1uNBVkU


In Diva Love,


Pam