Merry Christmas!

Best e-mail I've got this holiday season:

With days before Christmas REMEMBER:
Jesus is Better than Santa
Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says "You better not cry"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.
Santa's little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas 2009
And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year.

Happy Holidays

It took me three tries to sign on to this blog. Forgot my user name and password. Pathetic. I've been away much longer than I anticipated. Blame Facebook! I was addicted for a minute. I think I might still be addicted . . .jury is still out. But anyway, I was reading over some of my older posts on this blog and got a little tickled. So, I was inspired to add a new post. Not sure how many more will follow but I just thought I'd start. . .

A LOT has happened since April and the arrival of The Princess. First of all, you might want to sit down for this one- can you believe she is already EIGHT MONTHS OLD?! I can't! And to whoever thought I was announcing another pregnancy: BITE ME! Ha ha! See I haven't lost my sense of humour.

Anyway, life has changed DRASTICALLY, I swear I blink and the days just keep passing sometimes without my active participation. My son is now in kindergarten, I'm back to working full time, finished a semester of school and the ICING on the Sock It To Me cake that is my life- is that my dear husband got a quasi-promotion at work that requires him to be out of town three days a week every other week. So on those weeks I refer to myself as a single, married mother. I don't think he likes the terminology but if the shoe fits. . .it gets extremely overwhelming sometimes and my biggest fear is that life is rushing by so fast that I'm not giving "enough" to my kids. Everything is such a damn routine. Homework, dinner, bath, story, bed time. Repeat. Agh! I hate it. I am thisclose to biting the bullet and just becoming a stay at home mom. They still make Spam, right? Ooh, with Ramen noodles. Yum.

So, I'm back for a minute to wish everyone in the blogosphere a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a safe, healthy, prosperous New Year. Live, laugh and love life! And come back. . .I might start kicking it here again. I have so much more material now ;-).

The Genius and The Princess in the photo after take 57. . .not bad.

PEACE!
MzM

Sing Sing Celebrate

Keep the dream alive! I LOVE this song/video!! One of my favorite to commemorate the King Holiday! I remember having this blonde hair spray/dye that I put in the front of my hair like Stacey Lattisaw! Ha ha! Not only is the song poignant but looking at all those old school artists takes me waaay back! Whodini, Fat Boys, New Edition, Stacey Lattisaw, Melle Mel, EL DEBARGE (OMG! I had the biggest crush on him!), JT Taylor, Stephanie Mills and of course the incomparable Whitney Houston. ENJOY!

Happy New Year

Why does today seem like Sunday?? I guess because I have to go to work tomorrow. Me and my two favorite guys spent a quiet evening at home last night watching the spectacular fireworks display our neighbors put on every year at New Years and Fourth of July. We feasted on chips , cheese, boneless BBQ wings and pizza. Then at midnight my husband poured a glass of Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice for my son & I while he toasted with champagne. It was the perfect evening.

We slept until 10:00 this morning, then my husband got up and fixed us breakfast. I put on a roast and plan on topping the meal off with potatoes, black eyed peas, greens and cornbread. Maybe that's why it seems like Sunday- Soul Food Sunday to be exact. It's days like this that I think God has blessed me over-abundantly. I am EXTREMELY thankful although I know at times I am undeserving.

I usually don't make New Year's resolutions. . .but I do set goals. As a New Year begins I am mainly focused on ONE thing: having a HEALTHY baby in April. But aside from that there are some things I need to accomplish this year:

1. Keep pushing forward with school even if I take one class a semester
2. Get rid of the disgusting carpet in our bedroom
3. Get a new car (it's been WONDERFUL not having a car note for 10 years but the gig is up- we need more space)
4. Take my son on one last trip before school starts. . .I am dumbfounded that this kid starts kindergarten in the fall!
5. Get my children baptized!

Other than that I am going to TRY TRY to watch my language since my husband says I curse three times as much as I did when he first met me. . .wonder why?!?!

Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Year and that 2009 brings you everything you wish for and more!!!

(The picture is of TheGenius getting his shave on Christmas morning.)

Post Holiday Greetings

Ho, ho, hum. . . . Well, another Christmas bites the dust! The madness and the mayhem was over within a matter of hours. I enjoyed this Christmas and tried to take it easy because, God-willing, next year I will have TWO children at Christmas- AGH! So, I enjoyed just having to focus on one child and play one game of pretend instead of being stretched between two children and feeling like I'm not devoting an equal amount of time.

Now that the holidays are about over I am starting to focus on how my life is about to drastically change in FOURTEEN short weeks! And I doubt seriously that I will even have time to take a breath. . .in addition to New Year's, my husband is running the Houston-Chevron marathon in January, hubby's birthday (along with 2 nieces, my moms, & only aunt birthdays) is in February, my son's b-day is in March and then BAM! Baby girl is due in April. OMG! People have been asking me about names. . .I am sooooo far away from thinking about names it's not even funny. I think I'll probably get it together after my son's b-day (March 2nd) maybe. . .I really need to FOCUS! I tell you what I am looking forward to the MOST (besides having a healthy baby) is taking THREE MONTHS off after my delivery!!! I am exhausted!!! Okay, I'm getting tired just thinking about it. . .

Instead I'll share my favorite story from Christmas. Christmas Eve to be exact. My son, got a ridiculous amount of STUFF from my family (as usual) and as he was opening his presents I was taking them and hiding them in the closet- because we open family presents at midnight and afterwards he needs to go to bed so Santa can make an appearance. One of the presents he received was a Batman shaving kit. It came with all the fake razors and a small can of foam a.k.a shaving cream.

After my family packed up and left (around 12:45am) I told my son it was time to go to sleep so that Santa could stop by and he started to have a MELT DOWN!!!! He had big crocodile tears and he was saying, "But I have to do something first," And I'm like- WHAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE TO DO AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING?!?! He started stuttering and blubbering that he: NEEDED TO SHAVE!!!!!! Bwahahahahahaha! He was sooooooo serious and looking so pitiful but I bust out laughing!!!! My husband didn't find it as hilarious. He told him he could shave in the morning and proceeded to march him upstairs. In less than three seconds he was out cold. He didn't wake up the next morning until almost 9:00!!! After he checked out what Santa left for him, he ran back upstairs to SHAVE!!! (I'll post pictures later).

I was still beyond exhausted so after playing one round of Power Rangers I went back to sleep. As I was nodding off that movie, A Christmas Story was on t.v. When I woke up it was still on so I thought I had only slept about twenty minutes- turns out the show was on a continuous 24 hour Christmas marathon loop and I had almost slept through it TWICE.

Now, I'm back at work still a little out of it. . .good thing Christmas only comes once a year because if it was more than once a year, I'd be celebrating Hanukkah!

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas!!! I wish you much peace, love and exponential blessings for 2009!!!!

Little White Men

As I was pulling decorations from the Christmas crates I noticed that I have unconsciously started a collection of ceramic snowmen!! Aw, I'm either getting anal or old (perhaps both). Actually I think it stems more from me not wanting to buy Caucasian Santa's- I have one black Santa but he was hard to come by. . .anyway, in an effort to keep it merry and bright I've started this collection that I actually think is kinda cool.

My son probably won't appreciate this treasure after I go to the great beyond but I'm sure my baby girl will. . .unless she's like my mom and my sister who don't have a sentimental bone in their bodies!

Anyway, I'm still freakin' out because there are only 16 days until Christmas and I still have over half of my family to buy for. . .I would just get everyone a gift card but my family is so anti-gift cards. They prefer ripping open presents and pretending to be excited and then calling each other behind your back and saying, "what in the hell, why would he give me that ugly ass scarf," Ha ha! 'Tis the season!

Like Butta

Today I am taking a break from my hormone fueled rantings about marriage and focusing on the holiday season. After all 'tis the season to be jolly fa la la la fu- WTF?! Is it really 0nly 20 days until Christmas?!?!?

Okay, I am so not ready and this is so NOT like me. . .but I'm nothing like myself lately anyway so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I went out last weekend (not on Black Friday) to try and do a little shopping and ended up buying a few decorations and a gift for myself. They have this bath robe at Bath & Body Works. . .OMG!!. . .it is soooooooo soft and cuddly! I imagine that's what clouds might feel like. . .before you fall through them and come crashing to the Earth- but I digress, the robe is like butta! I LOVE IT! And I scored such a deal. It was on sale in the store for $29.99 and I had a coupon to get $10 off any item so I got this delicious robe for $19.99! The best $20 I've spent all year!

If you need a new robe or you want to give one as a gift you've got to check it out! It comes in it's own over sized box and a variety of colors. All you have to do is wrap it! Happy shopping!

Stars & Stripes

Well, 4th of July in H-Town is off to a great start. . .it's raining and the wind is blowing pretty hard. But unless it's a hurricane I doubt that will stop our neighbors from engaging in their annual fireworks competition. They buy crazy amounts of fireworks and set up in the cul-del-sac and try to out do each other. My family and I pull out our lawn chairs and watch from the driveway. Good thing about this rain is the dampness will hopefully prevent the grass from catching on fire (again) or the roof.

Speaking of 4th of July, I've been thinking about how everyone (namely the media) has been questioning Senator and Mrs. Obama's patriotism. I personally don't know too many black people who are "patriotic" but that doesn't mean we don't love this country just the same. Despite the fact that American soil is stained with the blood of our ancestors and they toiled (and died) in slavery to build most of this country. We may be bitter. A tad angry that racism STILL exists and that we always have to be twice as good as our white counterparts. Nonetheless we are still proud Americans. Just because we don't have an American flag in our yard or we don't put our hands over our heart during the national anthem doesn't mean we are anti-American.

Think about your extended family- you know how everybody has that drunk uncle who you can't control and he embarrasses the hell out of you? But at the end of the day he's still fam and you love him anyway and if anybody tried to hurt him you might let his drunk ass take a few blows but in the end you'd step in if he's totally getting his ass kicked. That's how I like to think of the relationship black people have with America.

Afterall, when the United States won it's independence slavery still existed for almost a hundred years following the country being "set free". Yep, black folks aren't necessarily the most "patriotic" but we are here, this is our country and we ain't going NO WHERE. Now if Senator Obama wins the White House in November maybe you'll see a lot more flags in our yards.

Now if you'll please rise. . .

Happy Father's Day

Often the contributions father’s make to their children’s lives go unnoticed and uncelebrated. Instead of receiving accolades they receive criticisms. We hear stories about “dead beat” dads all the time who fail to pay child support or father’s who choose not to have any contact with their children. Even worse are stories about father’s abusing and in some extreme cases killing their children. But I am willing to bet the moon (if I owned it) that the number of active, involved, loving, caring father’s far exceed the number of bad father’s we hear about so often.

Studies have shown when children grow up with a father who plays an active role in their lives, they are more confident and have better relationships with their peers. No matter what type of relationship the parents have it should never affect how either interacts with their children because children need the love, affection and attention of both parents.

As someone who grew up in a single parent household raised by a single mother and little contact with my father, I am ECSTATIC that my son has the benefit of his father being active in his life daily. My husband is a wonderful father and this Father’s Day I want to let him know how much he is loved and appreciated. What I love most about his relationship with my son is:

**He can be gentle or stern when he is doling out discipline, depending on what our son needs
**He’s teaching our son to respect and protect me
**He plays with our son and is genuinely engaged
**He reads to our son and changes character voices
**He is able to laugh at himself and it’s okay if our son is amused too
**He’s is always encouraging our son to try his best
**He loves our son unconditionally

And as a result of this dynamic relationship my son thinks his Dad is cooler than Superman. Happy Father’s Day MO!!!

Unconditional Love

I reached out to about twenty mothers and asked the question: what do you love about being a mother? The challenge however was to answer with only a word or sentence and as difficult as the task was- because every mother could probably write a BOOK on the things they love- I did have ten mothers reply with what they loved about being a mother.

Not a big surprise that most of the answers were exactly the same and the one thing that resonated with the majority: unconditional love. Unconditional love in its truest form only exists between a mother and her child. All either has to do is simply exist and the amount love given and received is infinite. Regardless to the disappointments that are sure to come along there is no breaking that bond. I don't care what kind of mood I'm in when my son says, "Mama, I love you more than the whole world and all the planets and the aliens in the sky," my heart swells because I know he REALLY means it! I don't think I've ever hand anyone love me that much. . . .maybe except my own mom. ;-)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU PHENOMENAL MAMAS!

Happy Easter

Took a photo collage of some things around the house. . .a bouquet of flowers on the table, the "Easter basket" I use as decoration (it's for EVERYONE in the house- no individual baskets here), and a picture of The Genius when he was about 13 months old with the Easter Bunny.

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