Diva Digression-October, 2011

For the first year ever, I chose to give out the candy instead of caravan through the neighborhood with my children on Halloween. Normally, hubby gives out the candy. In our subdivision, Halloween is highly celebrated. I am not a fan, but have given in to the pressure and let my kids participate. Let me issue a short PSA......people please teach your children basic manners. "Please" and "Thank You" are essential to every day living. It really is a simple tenant that should have begun the moment you began to teach your children to talk. If you don't have/use manners, make it a part of your daily living. I mean seriously, rude adults create rude children. Please do this for me! I thank you in advance!

People Pimping the American public........Right now, I am highly irritated that I keep seeing the Madoff family everywhere promoting their book. You may feel wronged by Bernie but have you no compassion for the people he left in financial ruin. You lived high off the hog long enough. We don't care about your story. Right now many people are barely making it and frankly, I don't think they give a damn about your plight. I may be wrong but it is my honest opinion.

Next on the chopping block is Kim Kardashian. You have been married for 72 days and you are filing for divorce. Really? Every time I turn on my television, you are out, without your husband. How can you make a marriage work when you are never together? Oh, I am sorry, you really did it for the financial payoff, didn't you? In this paparazzi driven society, you were well compensated for your wedding photos. I bet you didn't have to shell out a dime for anything because your name alone could get you over(Whew! I am having a Star Jones flashback). So my question is this, will you be returning your gifts? I mean it is only right since you will not be setting up a house and filling it with love and memories.

Finally, I am calling out the NBA athletes. Basketball is one of my favorite sports. Every one of you make more money in a year than many will see in a lifetime. Do you really need 51% of the owners profits? If you got those funds, are you gonna do something to make a difference in the lives of others? Yes, I know some of you do lots of charitable things but you also live extravagant lifestyles. Your love of money seems to be trumping your love of the game. Do you all ever think about the fans? You entertain, you don't teach. In other words, in the grand scheme of things, we can take or leave you. Your impact on the world is not that serious.

That's it for now! The year is winding down. Tomorrow, we enter the season of Thanksgiving. Take a moment each day and list at least 3 things that you are thankful for! You are so blessed and sometimes we are all guilty of forgetting that very fact. Till next time, be a blessing!

Copyright October 31, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

Energy

When you enter a room, you bring a certain kind of energy in with you. That energy is either negative or positive. Guess who controls that energy? You got it! You do! I know we don't consciously think about what we bring into a room as we go through a door, but what if we all paused to think about it. Maybe we could change the energy in a particular place. I could write a whole lot about you being in control and all that jazz but I am more focused on a different idea with the same concept.

Did ever pause to think about the fact that you control the energy that you surround yourself with? I think about it often. It really is true. God knew it because it says in 1 Corinthians 15:33," Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character." (NIV)  So birds of a feather really do flock together. Sometimes, you have to purge people. It is so much easier to purge things, but with people, feelings and emotions get involved.

If you find that you are around a bunch of people who suck your energy, you need to change company. You might need to take a good look in the mirror. We live in a world where people are hooked on electronic devices, not phonics; where fast food reigns supreme; where broken hearts go unmended. The list could go on and on. If your energy is positive, it does impact the people you come into contact with. I say it all the time be a blessing. Lately, I have added, smile. Blessing someone with a smile can do wonders for a soul. You never know whose soul you may touch. So before you walk through that next door, think about what you bring into that space. You can change it up by turning that frown upside down! My name is Pamela, and I approve this message!! LOL! Peace!

Copyright October 26, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

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

Are You Really Mine?

Have you ever looked at your children or the children in your life and wondered where the hell they came from? Well I have been having those moments quite often lately. My children make me scratch my head in wonder. They are opinionated. They are fearless. They have ideas and values that don't line up with what we have taught them. Who are these minis and where did they come from? Are they really mine or did the hospital send me home with the wrong babies?

All I can say is this happens more and more frequently. It makes me shudder and step up my prayer life. I am preparing these children and eventually they are gonna be unleashed on the world. Will they be viable productive contributors to society? It is part of my daily thought life.

The story of the Prodigal Son gives me hope. Right now, I wouldn't classify my children as prodigals but the possibility exists that they could one day fall into this category. Some of the words that escape their lips scare me. Yet, I remain hopeful. Why? Because the Bible tells me so. Proverbs 22:6 states, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (NKJV)

We as parents, aunts, uncles, godparents or grandparents can only impart wisdom and knowledge. We must do it consistently and continuously. Hopefully, when our babies lose their minds, as they inevitably will, they will always be drawn back to the solid lessons and foundation that you have raised them upon. Eventually, they will be productive members of society. You have to do your part and let God handle the rest. After all, it is all His business, not ours. Till next time, smile and bless someone else!!

Copyright October 12, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

Stranger Danger

This past weekend, my husband and I went to Cancun on a more business than pleasure trip. We left our children at home with my mother. In other words, they were in good hands in our absence. It was a brief trip. For some odd reason, I requested prayer from my Bible study Leadership team and my Moms In Touch group. They are prayer warriors but I tend not to make lots of public requests. I asked them to pray for my children's safety and a good time to be had with their grandmother, whom they don't see enough.

Well I thank God that I lifted the requests. On Friday, my son, a 5th grader, was walking to school alone. Our house is less than 500 feet from the school but you have to walk to the end of the street which is a cul-de-sac and then over a hill and you are in the school parking lot. He noticed a car sitting in the cul-de-sac. As he approached, a Caucasian male in his 20s in a bronze car asked him if he needed a ride and told him to get in the car. He said, "No!" and ran away. He immediately went to his teacher and told her what happened. The local police were notified and a report was made. All adults involved made sure my son was okay and commended him for handling the situation properly.

If you know my son, he is very laid back. He is not a fan of too much attention. Needless to say that we have tightened the reins on him and he is not happy. C'est la vie! My point in all of this is that God knew all of of this would occur. The outcome could have been much worse. Don't be afraid to pray nor should you be afraid to ask for prayer. I don't have any problems making prayer requests but I tend to be private and not put too much out there. I don't know why I felt led to make a requests. Well, let's change that. The Holy Spirit prompted me to do it and I was obedient. The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much. (ref. James 5:16, NKJV) God hears and He protects.

Make sure your children know how to handle such occurrences. My son can NEVER walk alone again. He, of course, thinks we are crazy. Gotta love fearless children. Teach your children about being aware of their surroundings and what to do if a stranger approaches them. I commended my son that he ran over the hill to school instead of coming back home. Also, he was praised for having a good description of the person in the car. He does have a cell phone with a locator. He said he felt scared but he knew what to do and he knew he could run fast. Again, childlike naivete. I know God was in the details and I know prayers matter. If you have praying people in your circle, utilize them! Thanking God that my son is safe and also thanking God for His sovereignty.

Copyright October 6, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

Ordered Affairs

Lately I have been giving a lot of thought to having ones affairs in order. I in no way have really done what I feel is necessary in that regard and it is weighing heavily on my heart. It got me to wondering about my family and closest friends. Have you got your affairs in order if something were to happen to you? I feel guilty because I have children and I think it is a disservice not to have my wishes in writing. I know what I want to happen if something happens to me and my hubby but I haven't really shared that info with anyone. You know when you are young, you tend to think that you will live forever. As you mature, you realize that life is short and time is precious.

My brother, like my dad, is clear about his desire to be cremated. My husband has always said that he wants to be cremated and have his ashes thrown into the ocean. Honestly, those discussions used to freak me out. Now, I am okay with it. I understand more fully the desire to be cremated, especially as we move further and further away from our families. I think a lot about being buried in a city and my kids moving away but possibly worrying about visiting our gravesites. Not a great thought and not a stress that I wanna put on them.

My mom lives six hours away. She is even farther from my brother. I worry about her. We haven't really discussed her desires if something should happen. I know where her important papers and stuff are. All her friends are there but her children aren't. So you can see why there is some level of anxiety. These are difficult discussions to have yet they are very necessary. So I am challenging you, if you haven't already done it, to share your desires with your loved ones or put it in writing. Yes, I am going to follow my own advice. Don't forget that you should include things like whether you are an organ donor or what to do if you are in a vegetative state and things of that nature. Yea, I know it is quite a bit to think about. So I am done. Gotta get busy with my paln so no one is burdened trying to figure out my wishes. I know it is kind of depressing but do it! Ciao!!!

Copyright September 22, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

Guest Blog:Gerald Cole

These are Gerald's words from a FB post. Gerald is my younger brother who is never short of opinion. Yea, I guess that runs in the family. These are his words which I did not get permission to use but I am sure he won't mind. He wrote this in response to the state of Georgia's controversial decision to execute Troy Davis despite mounting evidence that could possibly have proven him innocent. Please comment. I'd love to hear your views on the subject.

AmeriKKKa has a deep-rooted history of racism and oppression of people of color in not only this nation but all over the world. It should come as no surprise that the state of Georgia would deny Troy Davis a stay of execution at this late hour. To do so would lift the veil of deceit, corruption, racism and racial prejudice that continues to exist not only in Georgia but all across this great nation we live in. I'm not appalled or shocked. AmeriKKKa has a history of killing our people unjustly through mob violence, lynchings and outright murder and now with the death penalty they do it outwardly and openly with no fear of repercussion. We've marched, wrote letters, emails, sent texts, protested and raised our voices in protests only to fall on the deaf ears of our so-called leaders and representatives in the justice system. Despite the mounting evidence that the police lied, tampered with evidence and used threats and coercison against witnesses in order to wrongly convict Troy Davis, the Supreme Court denied his just due and right to a fair trial in this country.

When I think of all the brave men and women that serve to protect the sovereignty and freedoms we have in America that are really limited at best to some of us due to the color of our skin, yet we sacrifice our lives for the freedom of those abroad to have access to a freedom and democracy we have yet to fully realize for ourselves right here at home, it sickens me. This country is the greatest country on Earth, yet it has so-many "in-house" problems it can't seem to resolve. The race issue is not dead, yet many would like to dismiss blatantly racial issues and say, "Oh, stop playing the race card." Yet, you have psychologist, and criminal profilers claiming that blacks are more likely to commit certain crimes after rehabilitation than other groups, blacks are more prone to commit violent acts than others and then use these prejudiced statements as basis for not only convictions but denials of parole, clemency and other processes that may exonerate not only the wrongly accused but those that have served their time for the crimes that they committed years ago.

Tonight we should all pray and come together for not just understanding but come together as a voice to these so-called politicians that are supposed to represent our interests. We need legislation proposed to end the Death Penalty, impose a real checks and balance of these police stations that doctor up evidence and make unlawful arrests, clean up the corruption within the highest ranks of police departments, eliminate the collusion between defense attornies and district attornies that plea bargain away the lives, hopes and dreams of innocent men and women of ALL RACES across this great nation. Somebody has to be accountable for this injustice, somebody has to be willing to stand up against it...I am. Are you? (Truly Saddened, Gerald Cole)

Copyright September 22, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe