Wordless Wednesday-July 17, 2019

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 🙏🏽💯👑

June’s Golden Celebration

June is and always will be the best month of the year. This past June, God allowed me to see another year of life and I happily celebrated turning 50 in grand style as only a diva like me could. While there is longevity in my family, I don’t take a single day of life for granted. I’ve been through a lot and I’ve learned a lot. I don’t take any experience for granted and I have embraced the lessons. I trust God and continue to pray through everything. I am looking forward to all that life and the next 50 years have to offer. Winning a huge lottery would help to fulfill quite a few of those dreams not only for me but my loved ones as well. I digress. 🤷🏽‍♀️. While my actual birthday was pretty low-key in terms of celebration, it was a good day. I always celebrate the entire month and this year was no exception. So I had a vision for my birthday but obviously I was procrastinations a little to much for my BFFs. They took over the planning and put together a wonderful Boozy Birthday Celebration.We kicked off the weekend with drinks, appetizers, and karaoke. On Saturday, We did a sip and paint and culminated with a nice dinner at the Chart house. We managed to sneak in a photo shoot too. A Sunday brunch culminated a wonderful celebration. I am eternally grateful for the women God has placed in my life to be my best friends. They gave me exactly what I wanted and the people who were meant to celebrate with me were present. Father’s Day weekend caused a few folks to miss due to other obligations but that allowed me to keep celebrating for several more weeks into July.

In addition to me celebrating my birthday, I had the pleasure of having one of my dearest friends spend a weekend with me here in VA. We hit up a winery and got to check out the soft opening of the Alamo Draft house. I love the concept of having drinks and a meal served to you while you watch a movie. I also got to see my niece’s efforts a she was in her first dance recital. It was a real cute rendition of Cinderella. The month concluded with a lovely trip to New Orleans to witness the nuptials of my step-son and his beautiful bride. I hung out with my sister in love and once again ate my way through one of my favorite hot places. I wasn’t trying to be too touristy this time, but if you get an opportunity, I would highly encourage you to visit the World War II Museum. It was a very interactive, well planned museum with lots of information and artifacts. The museum is laid out well and flows beautifully. It was a good one on one with my youngest Thorpette. Can’t believe that kid is going to be a high school senior this Fall. 

If you took the the time to participate in my birthday bash, I appreciate you. I had a blast. I am always grateful for the love and support of my friends and family. June was better than I expected and more than I could wish for. Reflecting on the month and May too, I know that relationships shouldn’t be taken for granted. Love hard on your family and friends and enjoy the moments you get to make memories. I am no longer #flirtingwtih50, I am 50! Fierce and fabulous! I can see their will be changes ahead. With God, I am here for Every. Single. Bit. Of. It.

Cheers 🥂  to 50 Years!!!

In Diva Love,

Pamela 🎂💜👑🥂🍷🙏🏽❤️😘

The Commandments of Pam

We all have a set of rules or core values that we live by, whether spoken or secret. Since the New Year has begun, I’ve been relatively quiet and mostly keeping to myself. Kind of a switch for an extroverted person such as myself. For whatever reason, I am in a very self-reflective mode and doing some serious introspection. I think I live pretty authentically but I want to make sure that I’m putting my best self forward and being the best version of me that I can be. As I grow older my tolerance for BS is extremely low and I really am having a hard time with phony and fake. So it came to me that I have some rules that never change....like God had the Ten Commandments. Here they are, in no particular order, but each one is equally important.

1. Be Pamela-I can’t be anyone but myself...the sum of my successes and failures, my hopes and dreams including the ones that have been deferred. The uniquely blessed, somewhat flawed woman who has become very comfortable in her own skin.

2. Just because someone is treating you poorly, doesn’t mean you have stoop to their level. Karma never arrives when you want her to but she will eventually show up. 

3. Build your tribe well. Choose the people who have a front row set to your life wisely. My core circle of friends is tight, trustworthy, and supportive.

4. Live your truth and reality. Your life and experiences have been crafted for you and the grass isn’t alway greener in someone else’s yard. 

5. Have a belief system. My hope and faith are in the Lord, Jesus Christ. I love a divine appointment where God shows up and shows out unexpectedly. Prayer does change you and the situation.

6. Take time for yourself-indulge in your favorite hobbies-for me it’s reading, traveling, coloring, and wine tasting. Getting by yourself and focusing on things you love takes you away from the noise and distractions of the world.

7. Find at least one positive in each day. Trouble don’t last always and joy does come in the morning. Smiling is free.

8. Follow your intuition and trust your gut. 

9. Things are just things. Don’t let them define you. You can’t take any of it with you when you leave the earth.

10. Choose love. Choose forgiveness. Choose kindness. 

These are my basic principles. I am sure you have your own. Let me know yours. Be a blessing!

In Diva Love,

Pam 👑🙏🏽💜

My #hashtag

It’s the year that most of my closest friends and I

Celebrate our golden birthday. When I look into the mirror, I find it absolutely unbelievable that I’m turning 50. It is what it is and life continues no matter what curves and valleys we face. So it’s definitely real. Thank goodness, Black don’t crack and we all look fantastic for our age. We got them good genes. We have weathered many storms and are still standing. That being said, until June 3rd. My birthday in the best month of the twelve, I created a hashtag to keep the occasion in perspective. I’ll be #flirtingwith50.

Join me as I celebrate the entire year. In fact we got that party started this past weekend. We celebrated my college BFF with a great party. They say fifty is the new forty. Whatever it ts, it’s going to be fabulous for us.  Hers s peak of how cute 50 can be. 

Aging can be priceless. No botox and no medical procedures. 

Here’s my #hastag. Hope you like it:

 Feel free to comment. For now, I’m out! 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑🥂💜

Wordless Wednesday-August 9, 2017

In Diva Love,

Pamela ❤️❤️👑👑

25 Facts About Me....

It's been a while since I've really said anything specific about myself. You get my thoughts and opinions all the time so here's a little something different.Some things you may know because you pay attention, hopefully others will surprise you.

1. I love the Lord and I am a Christian. Without a relationship with Christ, I'd be a huge mess. I am not perfect but my Savior is.

2. I am an extrovert with some introvert tendencies. I love people interaction but I am more than comfortable  being alone. My thoughts and quiet do not scare me.

3. I tend to do the right thing even when I don't  want to. Trust me, I am not a pushover. Right is right and wrong is wrong. God will work it all out in the end.

4.  I love a nice journal. Writing is therapy whether it's shared or not.

5.  My discernment skills are on point. I will peep BS in a heartbeat.

6.  I hate reality TV. There is enough ratchet behavior in the world without television glorifying it.

7.  I am very transparent. Thus, I have very few fake and guarded people in my inner circle.

8. I love to read.  I used to force myself to read any book that I began. Now, If  I am not engaged within the first 50 pages, I'm not wasting my time. There are way too many books out  there to be stuck reading one that doesn't draw me in.

9.  Seafood is the best.....lobster, shrimp, crab legs and scallops....YUM!

10.  My hair has been natural since September 2007 but I absolutely hate doing hair. Thank goodness for protective styles...done  by others. 

11.  Watches and sunglasses are my favorite accessories to buy. I also have a thing for buying make-up.

12.  My preference is white wine and  I like my liquor clear too. Vodka anyone? 

13.  I have several pet peeves but one of the biggest pet peeves is when people initiate plans/activities with you and cancel at the last minute.

14. My definition of fine men can be summed up with Morris Chestnut and Idris Elba.

15.  I miss having a dog. Beagles are my favorite. I  see a pooch in my relocated future.

16. My sports teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Indians and Duke Blue Devils. Honorable mentions go to the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Panthers. No hateration necessary!

17.  I despise putting away laundry and dishes, and I also dislike dusting.

18.  While I love fast cars, I hate  driving.

19.  Friendship  is a serious matter. My girls are ride or die.  I cherish them dearly and most of them are closer  than family. They are the real deal and they make me a better person.

20.  Traveling fills my tank. I love seeing other places and how the people live and of course, this foodie enjoys trying new foods along with relaxing. Puerto Rico is on the agenda for this year.On the travel list,  in no particular order: Aruba, South Africa, Greece, Italy, Thailand, Vancouver, and Hawaii to name a few.

21.Online dating has 0 appeal to me but I sure would like to date some one's son soon. (Deep sigh)

22.  I don't find it cute when children lack manners or are disrespectful. 

23.  Writing is therapy--that's how MissReadDiva was birthed. Coming in 2nd would be music and third would be coloring.

24. Current goals: Less debt, less procrastination, more living life to the fullest-on my own terms.

25.  I love me--perfectly imperfect, occasionally petty, always God-loving and God-fearing individual who is always observing and growing daily. 

I hope you learned something new. Please feel free to comment or ask a question. Peace!

In Diva Love,

Pamela

Wordless Wednesday-March 8, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑❤️

Wordless Wednesday-February 15, 2017

 

In Diva Love, 

Pam 🙌🏽👑💯❤️

Who Am I?-2nd Post

Last night I was speaking to a friend and all throughout the conversation, she kept reminding me who we are as African American mothers, daughters, friends, and workers. It made me realize that it was time to evaluate who I am at this moment. Whenever I write one of these posts, it will be incomplete because we as women wear so many hats. Several posts won't even begin to capture the complete essence of who we are on our best day, let alone our worst. 

I explained to her that while I am transparent, I had held back so much for the past three years in order to protect someone who is far from innocent in shaping the person that I am today. That person doesn't hold any power in my life but they are petty so, as usual I chose to be the bigger person. In making that choice, I didn't have the freedom to express myself completely or freely so my public writing had to take a backseat. 

Today, I am no longer bound or beholden to that limitation. Hopefully it will translate into me writing more here in this outlet, instead of privately in my ever-growing journal collection. With all that being said, I just realized that I am writing this very fitting post on the anniversary of the day my ex-husband asked for a divorce three years ago. 

So who am I today? I am a happily divorced woman who still loves love. I am a mother of two children who make me laugh and scream all in a matter of minutes. I would give my life for both of them. I can't wait to see how they utilize their powers for good and impact the world at large. I am a daughter. My mother is a supportive, emotionally strong woman and even when she doesn't let me get a word in edgewise, I know she loves me unconditionally and would help me in any way she can. I am a sister. I love my siblings wholly and uniquely. We never asked to be blended but we have forged relationships that will stand the test of time. I am a Christian. I love the Lord with my everything. Please don't translate that as I am perfect. I still curse. I still think bad things, I still make mistakes. I serve a perfect Savior, I am not perfect. I am a beautifully flawed woman who wants to be a blessing to others and do better daily. This means I will more than likely choose to be the bigger person even when I don't want to. A couple days ago, my mom reminded me that my grandmother would always say you have to do what's right in your heart even when others don't. Yeah-I am living proof of that especially as these past three years have transpired. I don't say that to pat myself on the back either. It was hard, but I am who I am and I usually do the right thing, even when it hurts. 

On this day three years ago, my world shifted. There was uncertainty in every arena of my existence. Today, I am a survivor.  Oh, I always knew I was strong and resilient but there was hurt, pain, and doubt trying to steal my joy.  I am here to encourage you that on what can seemingly be the worst day of your life, there is a God and there is hope. The days ahead may be dark  and you may not know exactly how you are going to make it. Don't ever give up. I prayed a lot. I took time to sit with the changes. I didn't make any rush decisions, although there was certainly pressure to do so.  Not only was my confidence in the strength and character that I always had, boosted, God provided so many rams in the bush that I had to stop worrying and doubting and continue to be a positive example of His love and character. Tough times show you exactly who you are. You have to be true to yourself because you really don't know who is watching and what impact you will have on them. Go out an figure out who you are. Are you using your powers for good? Be a blessing, no matter what your circumstances. I sure hope that can be said of me. 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela

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

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 😊

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 😊🎂🎈

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

Just the Emotions

In six days, my oldest child will graduate from high school. While she has had Senioritus, pretty much all year, her excitement level has reached a whole new level. For me, it's bittersweet. Since my blog is my therapy, I just need to express the range of emotions that I am feeling today. 

I am proud of the woman she's becoming. I am anticipating the impact that she will have on her piece of the world. I am reluctant to turn my firstborn loose. I have prepared her well but life still has away of issuing out tough experiences. I am happy to see that she is independent, strong, full of passion with just the right amount of cynicism. I am saddened  by how quickly time flies. I am losing a person that I have shaped and molded for the past 17 years, a TV/Netflix watching buddy, an eating/sleeping machine, and an incredible ball of moody/hormonal energy.  This Fall,my house will significantly quieter but as she is learning who she is, I will be learning to define myself  in her absence. Stay tuned for  the progression. It's time to watch the Cavs whip the Warriors. Peace!


In Diva Love,

Pam

Yep, it's Definitely Monday!!

I had a chill but really nice weekend. No stress and no new problems. I Had a nice breakfast with a good friend who always encourages me spiritually. I got a nice unexpected gift from a BFF-can't wait to use it! A massage is definitely in my future.  My son's lacrosse team won their first game of the season. He scored a goal and had several awesome assists. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon considering the crazy weather we've been experiencing here in the DMV. On Sunday, the Word was simple but rich. It was a timeless message that is life applicable. I tried a new recipe and the pickiest eater gave it a thumbs up. With a weekend like that I was ready for the week ahead! Or so I thought!

Monday roared in like it usually does. Not to major on the minor;  but let's just say it hit a real sour note rather quickly. I handled my business, said my piece,and went on about my business. I am so thankful that time, age, and experience have truly mellowed me out. I  am confident, honest, and intolerant of too much BS. I expect people to be responsible and professional in the workplace.  Once I say what I gotta say, I am done. No grudges, no revenge.  That being said, as I type this blog, I feel pretty peaceful. 

I can clearly see that the devil tried to trip me up. Funny, when you put emotion aside, things get real clear real quickly. God has been so ever present in all of my messy situations lately. My love for Him as well as my faith is growing daily. He has me in some difficult places right now but I am realizing that I have some lessons to learn. I am not in control. I need help. I have to learn to ask for it. I have to trust His plan and stop planning my way. Most importantly, not only do I need to pray my way through but I need to praise my way through. Almost everyday in the past seven days I had to listen to songs that strengthened and encouraged me. ( I will share the playlist one day soon). I have to remember to surrender everything to Him. You too can choose to do the same. Yep, it's definitely Monday! I survived and I praise God for the day I had. I am loving the God moments that I've been experiencing. God is never silent, we just have to focus on Him to see His Hand. 

In Diva Love, 

Pam 😃

Lazy Days

Like a lot of the East Coast,we have been out of school more than we have been in school lately. Gotta love cold snowy days. So what does one do? Well if you are me, you read a lot. You watch a lot of movies, and well, you bake. Last week, we only were in school on Friday. If I ever get another job, outside of the school system, I will probably die. I absolutely love my work schedule. Can't beat it. 

That being said, Netflix has become my family's bestest friend. Everyone is watching{catching up on} some series and they watch every free moment they get. I can take it or leave it but given how much time off we've had, I too have gotten in on the action. I love a good show with complex characters, engaging plot, and lack of predictability. I am eagerly awaiting the return of two Netflix series. Orange is the New Black and House of Cards are really good shows. Again, no compensation but check them out. I am a big fan of Kevin Spacey and he is the star of House of Cards. Orange is the New Black grabbed me pretty quick and I am eagerly anticipating new installments.

Yesterday, I was home alone and had nothing else to clean  that I wanted to clean.. I decided to finally watch Fruitvale Station. It is the story of a young African American male, 22 years old who is senselessly killed by rent a cops the subway guards at a subway station on after ringing in the New Year. It left me teary and sad. It left his family and friends shocked and outraged. It left a daughter who was clearly a daddy's girl to be raised by a single mom. It left me again thinking about how quickly life can change. One minute, Oscar was celebrating the New Year with his girlfriend and homies and the next he was fighting for his rights as a man and minutes later, his life. The story is tragic and heartbreaking. Oscar is no angel but neither are most of us. He was flawed but he was a real complex young man who clearly loved his family and friends. Senseless deaths occur everyday all over this country and it really does make my heart ache. Life is full of twists and turns. It's precious. Tell your loved ones you love them.

When I am tired of watching movies and television, I resort to my favorite thing....baking or cooking. With the invention of Pinterest, there are a ton of new things out there to try. If the kitchen is not your area, then you might be inspired by the craft ideas. When all else fails, I love word games. My family will not play Scrabble with me despite the fact that it remains my favorite family board game. Thank goodness, my Iphone allows me to keep my mind productive. I have countless games of Words with Friends and Scramble with Friends going on. I am also addicted to Candy Crush Saga. Last week my daughter introduced me to Quiz up. Needless to say, I can keep myself entertained. I am not a napper so sleep is not high on my priorities. 

Finally, I do try to spend more time developing my relationship with Christ. I am always looking for inspiring devotionals and studies. I have read the Bible from cover to cover on several occasions. Every time, there is something new to discover about God and myself. If you are a Christian, you know that you are always a work in progress and there will always be room for improvement. This year I want my relationship with Christ to be more personal and more dynamic than ever before. I am trying to personalize the scriptures for myself because every promise God made is for me{and you too}. I think our prayers are strengthened when we make God's Word real and personal. I am hoping that as I go through various trials, that I can clearly see God's Hand every step of the way and that I give Him the praise He deserves. I want to be as faithful to Christ as He is to me. I already know that 2014 is going to be a game changer. Only God knows how He has worked it out. I am trusting and believing that Jer. 29:11 is written for me in this season of my life. Peace and blessings!

In Diva Love, 

Pam

Missing In Action

MIA.....yep that is me! But here I is, alive and no worse for the wear. I can't believe it has been almost a year since I posted a blog. In my mind, I've written a thousand posts. Guess what? That's exactly where they have stayed, in my mind. No excuses, no writer's block, and no posts. You know what that means? I haven't been working out all my issues. Remember this blog is therapy for me.

Seriously though, it has been a roller coaster of a year and sometimes you really do have to be still and keep your mouth closed. You have to let God minister to you. So, November is here and it is my favorite time of year. The season of thankfulness. I am back! At least I think I am. I am going to try to post weekly from now till the end of the year. Please note that I said that I will try. My season of crazy is on-going so I make no promises. Know that I have missed writing and I needed to get back to it. One step closer to me being true to ME.  So if you are reading this, I am thankful to you still being out there to share my life experiences and opinions with you. Hugs!

Pam

A Moment of Clarity

Sometimes, I have so much on my mind that I want to share that I shut down and don't share a thing. Other times, I have something very heavy and pressing on my heart but still can't express it tactfully or with out hurting some one's feelings. Again, I don't share.  I have decided that I am going to write more and free myself of having to have a topic simply because it is cathartic for me. The call for me to write is for me, to free my mind, and ease my pain, share some insight, encourage a friend, and to work through my issues. Consider yourself warned, I may only have a sentence or two to share but I am still passionate about food, travel, parenting, marriage, and books. I am still not short on my opinion on a wide range of current and past historical events.  Remember, this is my therapy. While this vehicle is mine, I do want to be sensitive to my family, friends, and readers. That being said, today I just want to encourage anyone reading this and feeling some kinda way.

Life really is a series of ups and downs, many of them out of our control. We can't can't control people, nor can we control circumstances. Sometimes we have to surrender our agendas. Sometimes we have to forgive. At others, we have to forget. And still others, we have to change our minds and our hearts. No matter what you are forced to do, remember, life is simply a journey and God has already written the plan. Psalm 30:5 states, "For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life;  Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning."(NKJV) Morning always comes. With the dawning of a new day, we have the opportunity to see a situation through fresh eyes and begin anew. Don't let anyone steal that from you. Till next time, have a great weekend!

Copyright by Pamela Cole Thorpe on October 22, 2011

Be True To Yourself Tag

How big is your bed? King sized
What are you listening to right now? Nothing
What was the last thing you ate? Lasagna, salad, applesauce
Last person you hugged?  My son
How is the weather right now? Cool night
Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Tracie
What is the first thing you notice in the opposite sex? Eyes and smile
Favourite type of food? Seafood and soul food
Do you want children? I have 2 and I will NOT be having anymore. 
Do you drink? Occasionally
Ever get so drunk you don’t remember the entire night? No
Hair colour? Sandy brown with many grey strands
Eye colour? Hazel
Do you wear contacts/glasses?  Both
Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
Favorite season? Autumn
Have you ever cried over a girl/boy? Yes
Last movie you watched? The Adjustment Bureau
What books are you reading? The Sweetest Thing and Home-Court Advantage
Piercings? Ears
Favorite movie? Love and Basketball, Shawshank Redemption, Brown Sugar
Favorite college football team? Gonna go with the Pittsburgh Panthers
What were you doing before filling this out? Writing a blog
Any pets? Not any more!
Dogs or cats? Dogs
Favorite flower? Calla lillies
Have you ever loved someone? Yes
Who would you like to see right now? Mother and Grandmother
Have you ever fired a gun? Yes
Do you like to travel by plane? Yes
Right-handed or Left-handed? Right-handed.
If you could go to any place right now where would you go? Rio or Aruba
Are you missing someone? Yes
Do you have a tattoo? Nope
Do you still watch cartoons on Saturday mornings? Only if my son forces me to
Are you hiding something from someone? Always got at least one secret
What do you do before you go to bed? Reflect and pray.

Well now, you just learned a little more about wonderful me! Yea you! Good night!

Diva Digression

Yes, this something new. I am calling it "Diva Digression."  This will be the forum I use to vent. I will try to keep these to a minimum but hey, sometimes life hands you lemons and not only do you make lemonade but you might have to pour it in a glass and throw it in some one's face. I hope you like my choice of titles.

Today's rant is on double-minded individuals. The one that has caused this angst is my boss. The reader's Digest short version is this. She is a marketer, not an administrator and therefore my place of work is always in a state of confusion and chaos. She chooses to please her vocal parents and undervalues her dedicated employees. I work at a Montessori school, which I will leave nameless, since I don't know who reads my blog. New employees are thrown into the mix with little or no training and left to learn the ropes on their own or from older employees who had to do the same thing.My boss's gift is doing the opposite of what her employees request or need.

Case and point, my co-worker changed her schedule for the summer with the expectation that she'd return to her old schedule in the Fall. Well her old schedule has been given to the boss's daughter(yes, nepotism is alive and well in America) and she is being forced to reduce her hours and work a different shift. I went in to interview for an office position and was given a position working in the classroom with children. Another employee wanted to work in the classroom and is working in the office. I was always clear that I wanted a part-time schedule between 9:30 AM and 4 PM. I worked Full-time all summer and now I am being told that my request may not be able to be accommodated. In June, I was promised and assured that I would be able to work those hours in the fall.

So what is a girl to do? I am irritated to say the least. Hence this blog. I could go on and on about how poorly things are managed at work but I will not. I need to pursue my passion. My aunt Dorothy will call me and tell me, "Girl, you know you need to write that book so you can become independently wealthy. You know you don't like that job(or them nasty kids) anyway."  Well she is honest and on point. So I am requesting your prayers and encouragement, life is too short to sweat the small stuff. Pray that God will put the exact book on my heart and it will flow out of me. I know I can't write a book unless that happens. When I write a blog, it usually flows out of me with little or no editing. The exception are blogs of a sensitive nature. They too flow but I do revise them so as not to alienate anyone. If that is not His will at this time, I am okay with that. I do need Him to open a door for me though because I have gotten used to the money. Till the next time that I need to digress...Peace and blessings to each of you. Oh and tell a friend to check the blog out! Ciao!!

Copyright August 25, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe