I'm Free...Happy Independence Day 2012!!

As I think about what Independence Day means to me, I can't help but think of all the nostalgic type memories that come to mind: fireworks, BBQ, family, summer, fun in the sun, American flags, being thankful of what war vets and present soldiers have done and are doing for us.  But in the back of my mind (and it probably should be in the forefront) I can't help but think of what Christ has done to keep me from sin, from the legalistic law, and free from death and evil...

And for these reasons I am grateful and is why I CELEBRATE my independence day.

 "Christ has set us free to live a free life. 

So take your stand! 

Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you." 

Galatians 5:1

P.S. Party on and everybody tell me how your BBQ was!!

#nojudgingfattymcfatty

Linked up to:

Red, White & You FollowFest July 4, 2012

BeYouTiFul (Beautiful) Tuesday

Happy BeYouTiFul  Tuesday, Blessings!!

There are many blogs that focus on beauty as its main focus and  that's awesome!!...
I need a little bit of help myself in that department sometimes...

But isn't funny that with ALLLLLLLLL the beauty magazines, websites, blogs, entertainment shows...etc. that are made available and are consumed that women, of all ages and ethnicities,  still suffer a great deal from the lack of self esteem?

I know there are days when I can look amazing!!...not to toot my own horn AT ALL, but only because of tons of complements I may have gotten that day, and none of it  can even matter because of the pre-negative thoughts I already have stored up within me...you know those days, right??

So, BeYouTiFul Tuesdays will be dedicated to affirming our natural born beauty and our God-given attributes that make up our beauty inside and out. This will be an outlet to encourage and inspire girls and women to love who they are no matter what the media may be feeding us...

There are two stories to everything...
you have to make the decision to choose which story you're gonna believe...

...'cause whether you believe it or not...your views on what is beautiful, YES...YOUR'S...are somehow in some shape or form,
somewhat based off what society has implied that it is...

BeYouTiFul Tuesday is here to reformat our programming...and the only way to do that is to do that is to reboot OUR  system and start over...with a perhaps a brand new program.

Let's begin with the TRUTH?...you ask what is true??...

Let's start with this today:

[Photo Source]

Be Blessed, my BeYouTiFul Blessings <3

My Life in Pics

The past two weeks have been CA-RAAAAAZY!  I feel like I've been running non-stop.  Two weeks ago was vacation bible school (VBS) so the B-Boys and I were at the church all week from 7pm to 9pm.  What was totally unexpected for us was that My Babe (Jarrett/JayBee, my hubby) surprised us by showing up there every night. Since he normally works long days it was such a treat for all of us to have him there with us...**BROWNIE POINTS for JayBee**...WHOOT WHOOT!!

This past week was even more hectic...This week was also our youth ministry's Annual Youth Lectureship..the theme was STAND - Stay True and Never Deviate. The lectureship ran from Wednesday to Saturday, with a last minute lock-in thrown together for our in-house youth...

Handbills

Light Of Life Drama Group

Cross Worship Activity - Cast All Your Cares

Youth silhouettes...I'm the one kicking my foot back...no judging,

On top of VBS and the lectureship, I had to fit time and activities in for the B-Boys.

So we went to library and the park on the day I had my very own personal nanny to help me along the day.

We also managed to make it to the HOT zoo...Man, it was HOT like a freakin' mug!!...

But still uber fun for the B-Boys.

Yesterday I realized that I wasn't the only one totally pooped...

When I pulled up into the church parking lot and parked this is what I found to my surprise...

So....
How To Get a TKO (Total Knock Out) Out of Your Kids:

1.  No Naps during the day.
2.  Only since its the summer, let them stay up a little past their normal bed time (not too much cause you still mos-def need your time to yourself).
3. Get lots of outdoor playtime...that sun gets them good!
4.  Allow them to wake up at the crack of dawn.
5. DO NOT...I repeat...I DO NOT play their favorite songs, radio or Pandora station in the car...totally listen to what you want to hear.
6.  Throw them in car for a nice car ride.

And TAAA-DAAA!!!....TKO!!!!

Now just pray you don't have to immediately get out of the car (like I had to for church...LOL!!) and pack some things for you to get into: books, magazines, snacks, water, laptop, work...and park somewhere nice and quiet, with a beautiful scenery...and notice how at peace and accomplished you'll feel.

Linked up to:
Phone Photo Fun Mondays
Meet Up Mondays
Miscellany Monday
Make My Morning Blog Hop

Hopping on the Linky Party Train

Aloha Friday!!...I just hopped on the Linky Party train...I did two last week for the first time and I absolutely LOVED it!...the attention my blog received and my few new "BLESSINGS" have gotten me super geeked to hop on a few more linkies. I think what I'm most excited about are all the new "BLOGGIES" (blog buddies) I will soon meet...I super stoked about the whole online blogging community...I admire the sense of family and support fellow bloggers have for another and I want to be a part of the positive and optimistic movement.

So, I stumbled across a rather cool chick named Nicole at Local Sugar Hawaii who's hosting the Aloha Friday Hop...and I'm spreading the word...
1. Cause its just fun!!
2. Who doesn't like making new friends?
3. Who doesn't want more readers?!?


So why don't you join in on the Friday goodness and hop on over with me...

My Personal Nanny

MAN!!!...I really don't know what to do with my life right now...I'm at the park as I'm blogging with ALL THREE B-BOYS...and NOT watching them...(kind of).  The paranoid (Mary's Kids instinct = worried about every little thing) part of me is still looking up every five seconds to secretly keep eye on them.

I have my friend's 12 year old daughter with me for the day and its been HEAVEN...I now know how all the celebs with personal assistants, house keepers, and nannies feel like.  Its a little bit of peace throughout the hectic, chaotic day.


Who knows WHAT I could actually get done in a day with her by my side everyday this summer?!?!?


Well, instead of getting depressed about what my life without Yasmine will look like tomorrow...lemme hurry up and get off this thing to enjoy what I have today.

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Yes, it is 10 minutes before midnight...SUE ME!...but you CANNOT say that I didn't post a Wednesday W.O.W. for you...this was another good thought that came from my Mary Kay hotline call today...MAN!!!...Thoughts are powerful...its kinda scary to think that your destiny can be controlled by your very own thoughts...and at the same time, kinda liberating too...and yet, also confusing if God already had my life's blueprint in the palm of his hand.


Thoughts? 

MONday Make My Morning Blog Hop

Happy MONday, Blessings!!!


Yes...I said Blessings...You know how people have "tweeps", followers, or friends on various social networks, well I JUST decided, at the THIS very moment in time, that my followers, readers, supporters will be my "Blessings"...because it is TRULY a blessing when you gain a new new reader or follower...its shows that they like you...your views...your opinions...your silly stories...whatever it may be that you blog about...and you must admit...it feels good, doesn't it...like a little blessing.

ANYWHOO...I just found a Blog Hop that I want to pass on for those looking to meet to Bloggies (my name for Blog Buddies) and network.  Its the Make My Morning Blog Hop Hosted by three wonderful divas: Jeannette of The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug, Lisa of Mompreneur Mogul and Jen of Life With Levi! I'd love for you to join me...come on!...what are you waiting on???

This morning's question is: WHAT MAKES YOUR MORNING?

For me an awesome morning would be waking up restful...FULLY RESTED...not drowsy nor lacking energy, meaning my butt had to be in bed by a decent hour the night before...I love...LOVE...L-O-V-E!....the idea of chillin on the couch, in the backyard, or even in the car parked with my coffee and catching up on my blog threads and Twitter timeline...AFTER all the kids have been dropped off to day care and school and baby is knocked out sleep for his morning nap...

Okay...enough about my morning...what makes yours??