Wow, it’s May, and the irises are starting to bloom. As I sit on the piano bench, looking out the window in my living room and begin to practice, I ponder over memories of my mother. You know I’m not a child prodigy on the piano. I didn’t start playing at age five, nor did I begin performing concerts at age 7. My mother always wanted me to have a piano, not even really knowing if I could actually play or not. She always wanted me to be the best at everything. I don’t know if she secretly wanted to play piano, but the goal was to one day have a piano, and I took hold of that. She attended San Francisco State and studied music for two years. The joy of music rubbed off on me, and I didn’t have a clue.
As I started my sophomore year of college, I decided to take a private course in beginning piano. At this point, I didn’t have a piano of my own, nor had I ever played before. I went to a private Catholic college, and my instructor was a nun whose specialty was classical music. I could only practice at the East Building in the piano study rooms while I was on campus. I didn’t stay in a dorm for a variety of reasons. I would catch the bus with my Dad being my chaperone and come to school early to practice before my 9 am class. I was a very protected and sheltered only child, so you read that correctly. My Dad would ride the bus to me to college before he went to work. Without a piano, I could go through the first semester and perform a recital at the conclusion.
That next semester, my parents purchased me a piano at a great deal, and I still play on that same piano today. I enjoy learning new pieces. Right now, I am taking a course in piano to sharpen those skills. My mother and father always wanted the best for me and would do whatever they could to help me pursue my goals. I’m their only child, and as I shed tears, I love them so much.
Am I a concert pianist? No, but I enjoy playing. Every time I sit down and play, I am humbled and grateful for their love and overflowing generosity. Even after all these years, it has not been easy to share memories of my mother and father. I would not want to go to church because people would say Happy Mothers Day to me, not knowing whether my mother is on earth or actually a mother myself. I have grown to nod when people say Happy Mothers Day and smile, which is really okay. I remember saying to my friends that Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are hard for me to talk about because they are both in heaven. I realize I have to change my mindset because if I don’t talk about the love they had for me, no one will ever know.
I miss my mother, grandmother, and father, but I know they are with the Lord, and they are forever in my heart. My family is not big, but they were family. The treasure of the beautiful times with my parents is fond jewels to hold on to.
Whether you are a mother, a step-mother, an aunt, a father-mother, a fur-mom, an influence, or however you may have positively impacted a child’s life, I say Happy Mothers Day to you! You do not have to conceive a child to be a motherly influence.
Today we celebrate and honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and how his legacy is relevant today. We as Americans are so divided and unity is needed now more than ever.
What we need now is love. Love, you say? Yes, we need to show love because so much hate is being driven through social media. Do we bury our heads in the sand like nothing is happening? No, but we cannot filter in the garbage in day in and day out without getting depressed, complacent and overwhelmed. Is all social media bad? No, but we really have to be selective of what we see and hear.
What do you think Martin Luther King would say today? Would he still think there’s a dream?
MLK in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963. The purpose of the march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans.
The reflection we see in the mirror is where it starts. What are we doing for ourselves to make that change. No matter how big or small, what are we doing to make a difference?
Right now some people are traveling but many are not, take a look at the 360 view of the Martin Luther King memorial in Washington, DC. Give us your thoughts of what you are feeling as you watch.
As a people we don’t run from a challenge we get energize and fight for love in the trenches. I think having a life of meaning we come keep Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream alive in each of us. You may disagree with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech but I say how can you disagree with loving one another no matter what our differences.
As a part of our church my hubby and I are going through 21-days of prayer and fasting and we are on day 8, and it’s amazing how you can see more clearly and a time to reflect and see what really matters.
How’s your mind doing these days? The world is full of so much noise that it can leave the strongest person weak. I found that I was looking at the news on my phone twice a day to see what was going on and that was too much for me. I looked over at my Joyce Meyer calendar and it says:
The Life-Changing Word
“You can begin to change things in your life if you will take the Word of God and start to speak it over your life.”
Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain. Be Lifted and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be dome for him. Mark 11:23 Amplified
Words change everything and it takes a fight to say something positive. However, it can be done. It takes just as long to same something positive than to say something negative.
Are Your Words Infertile?
Barren souls, Barren ground where growth is unseen and never sees rain. Words can be infertile because there’s no growth. Negative words produce a negative outcome so if you feel you’re slipping into this infertile ground it’s time for you to grab God’s hand to pull you out of the quicksand. I have felt this way and I think at one time or another we have all, but we can’t stay there. I don’t have it all together so I must say I am writing this for me as well.
Four-way to Fertile Words
1. Who are you hanging around and what are they saying. Do their words build you up or tear you down?
2. Get into the word of God. I can tell when I am not in the word as much as I should be. Things start getting to me that didn’t when I was in that deep relationship with God. Time to start diving in and to stay there.
3. Help others
4. Daily affirmations can be encouraging scriptures that relate to what you are going through and great quotes. No limit to speaking the word of God out loud.
Pep Talk by Terri Savelle Foy is a great book and she includes several examples of daily affirmations that you can say or start making up your own.
Here’s a video by Terri Savelle Foy about positive affirmations and how important building yourself up matters.
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Make sure that today your words that you plant with your mouth are fertile; and that they produce good fruit.
Today is Guiseppe (Seppe) the beagle’s birthday, he turns two today!
Seppe
Seppe is spunky, feisty, and will talk back to you. Woof, woof, woof! He has a ton of energy and will nudge you or bite you to take him outside or to play with him or to feed him. It may be midnight and you think that he is tuckered out, but he is ready to play more and will not let you rest until he is done playing.
During this time of working from home, my hubby and I have gotten to know more of his personality, his mannerisms, and his gestures. Over the last year and especially since we have been home with him and Vinny, we have seen his personality develop more and found out what he really is like. He loves to play with us, with his rubber toys and sticks in the back yard. He will run full force, whether in the house or in the backyard until he is ready to go to bed. Non-stop energy! He has two speeds, full-speed ahead and asleep.
Every dog has a different attitude and Seppe is off the charts. Even at two years old, he is still in training. He can be very sweet and loving, but then be fussy with you the next minute because he wants to go outside to tinkle. We are continuing to work on the different training commands, especially the ‘come’ command. He is easily distracted because he is a beagle, but he’s learning and making some progress.
Seppe loves food and would eat all day and night if you let him. He’s a part of our family and he brings loads of energy and fun. His three words are fun, party hard, play hard.
a rare moment when Seppe is taking it easy!
Seppe has his own Instagram page, be sure to follow him for more beagle fun!
My Pastor, David Blunt of Church on the Rock in Missouri, shared some powerful words on Facebook that I wanted to re-share. People of color, including me, are angry, frustrated, exhausted, and hurting.
Repost from @davidmblunt
It’s troubling to see how life can be undervalued due to the color of people’s skin. For years we’ve seen life taken away from young black men and women for just the color of their skin.
Enough is enough. We need change. As Christ-followers we are to love our neighbor. There is so much that needs to be done and we can start by:
1. Praying – Pray for God to forgive our sins and heal our land.
2. Recognize – Recognize the pain African Americans face daily in this land we call “the land of the free”. The life of African Americans must and should be respected.
3. Examine – Examine our own hearts. Do I have any bias toward someone who is different from me? Do I see every life, every person as a brother or a sister?
We are hopeful that we are in the right position in our hearts for change. God be with us.
Pastor Blunt shares some very healing to the soul words straight from the word of God. If ever our nation needed the church it’s right now. Please watch the video below.
Repost from @davidmblunt •Today I want to share five things that can help us make a difference right now.
Racism is evil and will always be evil. We need to do everything within our power to end it.
Wisdom For Thought We have to do our part as an individual and as a community, it will not get any better until we educate and grow. All of us.
I hear people say all lives matter, however, how do all lives matter if black people’s lives don’t?
I have been really battling with myself on what to say and what can I do. I am frustrated with thinking we are constantly going around and around in circles and saddened by Police taking another person of color’s life.
We have to make a change!
It saddens me that in response to George Floyd’s murder more violence has occurred. David Dorn, a person of color, a retired police captain of 38 years, was shot and killed by a looter in a Saint Louis pawn shop. His killer, also a person of color has not been found yet.
David Dorn, Retired Police Captain
I stand with the peaceful protestors who are marching online and in the streets for better laws in states to protect Black Americans. Black lives Do Matter and the only way to show that is to speak up and be heard.
We have to make a change.
I stand yelling with a humble cry for ways to educate and make a positive change.
George Floyd
I know many of you have signed the petitions that brought the three police officers to face charges with Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. It’s not over so we have to continue to pray and stand strong.
We also have to take a stand for Breonna Taylor whose birthday is today, she would have been 27 years old.
“Breonna Taylor was an award-winning EMT and model citizen. She loved her family and community. She worked at two hospitals as an essential worker during the pandemic.
One month ago, a division of the Louisville Police Department performed an illegal, unannounced drug raid on her home. Not a single officer announced themselves before ramming down her door and firing 22 shots, shooting Breonna 8 times, killing her.
Not only were the police at the WRONG HOUSE, but the man they were looking for had already been arrested earlier that day.”
The officers have not been fired, arrested, or charged with any crime.
Please sign the petition at Change.org calling for justice. I found out about this on Katy Perry’s Facebook page. She’s right it takes two minutes or less. #JusticeforBreonna #HappyBirthdayBreonna
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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