Regina's Family Seasons

Are You On The Mountain Top Or In The Valley??

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:59:00 +0000

Are you on the mountain top or in the valley below?? On the mountain, screaming, dancing, shooting from the rooftops and rejoicing at the top of your lungs ~OR~ in the bottom of the valley learning life lessons, going through drama, feeling as if you have hit rock bottom.
This is the question of the day.
I am most definitely in a valley season. I am being tried in the fire and am walking through the valley of the shadow of death. ~*For me the valley of the shadow of death or the valley of dry bones is Texas*~
But even in the midst of trials and tribulations I know that God has not left nor forsaken me. I am in the midst of one of the hardest times in my life. I was talking to my mom in the car the other day and said, "I do not understand how come people still call or message me asking for scriptures or prayer or inspiration. I am going through so much of my own crap How can I possibly help someone else??" My mom said, "because they see some something in you. You don't waver with the tide, you are sure and steady. Your faith is strong through good times and bad times and they can see the strength in you even when you don't see it your self".
Hmmmm, Could this be true? I guess so, even though I don't feel strong or sure or steady, Hell on some days I don't even feel blessed! I guess it is a good thing my life is not based on feelings huh?
I commented on a friends facebook status that we all go through Mountain and Valley seasons and the key is knowing that God is with us during both. It wasn't until after I wrote that for my friend that I actually looked at it and said to my self wow, that is so true!
I am unemployed, half of Texas has one of my resumes and I spend more time on job sites filling out applications then I spend with my family! Out of all the connections, interviews, and networking I've been involved in over the past 12 months NOT ONE has resulted in employment. I have a daughter about to give birth any day now, two major holidays coming up, my son's birthday coming, my grand-daughter's birthday coming, family coming from out of town for the holidays, all of this before the end of the year and I do not have a dime and of course a load of unpaid bills and creditors calling me nonstop. DAMN!! Could my life get any SHITTIER???
Of course it could.
I could be dead, but I'm not; My children could be dead, but they are not; My daughter could be having her baby in New York hundreds of miles away from me, but she's not she is right here with me getting the love and support she needs; I could be alone and destitute, but I'm not. I am surrounded by family who love me!
So yea, I may be broke, tired and frustrated walking through this long, dark valley BUT I know that I am NOT in this alone! I have family by my side, at times walking with me through this valley. I have friends who are always willing to listen as I shout out in frustration from the bottom of the valley (Thanks, Adrienne, I love you more than you know!). But most of all I have Jesus, who picks me up when I stumble and fall to my knees in this dark valley and who is my life preserver when I feel like I am drowning in the abyss of my own tears. He is the one who whispers to me in the darkness of this valley and lets me know that there is light on the other side.
So yes my faith is strong! Even on my worst days, when I don't feel strong, or feel blessed, I KNOW THAT I AM!! I know that this is but a season and will not last forever. I know that whether in the Valley or on the Mountain top the "SON" will still rise!!
While I am being sustained by God's grace, I have FAITH that I will soon step into a Mountain Top season!

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Halloween By Any Other Name ... Is It The Same?

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Back in 2007 when I first started blogging my second blog post was short and sweet and too the point. It was simply about whether or not Christians should celebrate Halloween. The text of the post is included below:

Halloween ...Yes or No?
Should Christians celebrate Halloween? If you do not celebrate Halloween is it OK to have another celebration on the same night but call it something else? For example on October 31st some churches have a Hallelujah Night, or a Harvest celebration. Does changing the name of your celebration change the impact of Halloween?

So here I am two years later asking the same questions.
If you DO NOT celebrate Halloween, do you think it is okay to have a celebration on the same night but give it a different name? If it is still on Halloween night, what is the significance of changing the name of your celebration? Do you call it a Halloween celebration, Hallelujah celebration or Harvest celebration? Why?

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http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

If You Want Something You've Never Had...

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:51:00 +0000

If you want something you've never had, then you have to do something you've never done! I KNOW you have heard this saying before. Especially some of you Christian folks! This is the war cry or motto that precedes some changes in lifestyle, or attitude or altitude!
Well any of you who know my mother, also know that she has had a van forever. She's had a white van (the ice cream truck), a gray van (the gray lady), and of course the last one, the blue Honda Odyssey van (the space shuttle). Well two weekends ago my mother went to the "Woman Thou Art Loosed" conference and a spiritual breakthrough. The next thing we know, she is taking the van in for an oil change and come back in a CAR! That's right she traded in the van for a CAR!! If you knew my mother you would know how strange this is. She loves vans, or so we thought. But evidently she trying something different. Very Interesting. She said she just wanted to try something different, so she traded the van in. WOW!!
But, we really know she was just tired of all these folks jumping in her van every time it pulled out!!

And Off She Goes!!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Hard Rock Cafe', All Things Are Possible!

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:14:00 +0000

If you are a true follower of my blog, close friend or family member you know that my oldest daughter has been in Le Cordon Bleu culinary school for over a year. She is nearing the end of her time in school and is only a couple of months away from obtaining her Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts! Her school, Le Cordon Bleu Dallas has recently added the Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Management and my daughter is anxiously anticipating entering this program. YES, CHEF!
So, anyway, the Chef-in-Training was down to the wire with finding a location to do her externship. She wanted to do it on a cruise ship but that did not happen. she was frustrated and scared because without that externship she can not graduate, so it was a very tense few weeks for her. HOWEVER, God intervened and and once again proved Himself faithful! Chef-in-Training got her externship and is pretty pleased about it. She is working in the heart of downtown Dallas at the HARD ROCK CAFE'!! Oh Yea and she LOVES IT!! She comes home tired BUT happy. There is the potential that this externship will become a full-time job, so we are praying for that. She has even spotted a few apartment buildings that she is thinking about living in. She is definitely heading for single, city living.

The Chef-in-Training is entertaining the idea of getting an apartment with 2 of her classmates from Le Cordon Bleu. One of her classmates is working with her at The Hard Rock and one is currently externing in Florida. I think they will do great living in the heart of Dallas!

Chef-in-Training & friend after a hard day of work!

I'm excited for the Chef-in-Training. She has come a very long way from the shy, introverted little girl, who dropped out of high school and struggled with her education and herself for years. It is hard as a parent to see your child struggle, and struggle and not be able to help them. But there were hurdles she had to get over on her own (Her & God). And she has done that! A girl who struggled so much with school that she she dropped out, has obtained her GED, is in an accelerated program at one of the premier culinary schools in the country, is anticipating going into a BA program, is planning to open her own culinary business, is looking at apartments in the city of Dallas, but most importantly has let God work on her. she has learned to love herself and value herself the way that God loves her. she is precious in His eyes, my eyes and HER OWN EYES! Life Lesson #1, be the best You that God knows you can be!!
I am blessed to have such a wonderful daughter! She is AWESOME!(...and she can cook!)

If you EVER doubt the power of God come see me, I have a bunch of testimonies to share!!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Wordless Wednesday #44 - Hard Rock!!

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:46:00 +0000

HARD ROCK CAFE'

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http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Soon And Very Soon....

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:56:00 +0000

If you have been following this blog for the past year and a half you know of my total and complete love for my granddaughter "The Little Princess". You should also know that my heart felt trampled and crushed when she moved back to New York. I have not gotten over her being gone but I am dealing with it a little better.
Now my time is being occupied by the upcoming birth of my second grandchild! Yep, If you do not keep up with me on face book then you missed the big news & announcement! I am about to be a GRANDMOTHER! ...Again! Do you have children or grandchildren? If so than you know how expensive baby items are. I will definitely need the services of a quick cash advance loan service! I have never used a loan service before but this baby looks expensive! My middle daughter "The Rebel" is about to give birth to a little baby boy! The baby is due in early November, and I am hoping it is NOT on November 13th!! I already share my birthday with my son, I do not need a grandson sharing the same day as well! I think the best day for this child to be born would be November 3rd because that is "The Rebel's" birthday and now THAT would be poetic justice! This baby will be here Soon, very soon and I need cash now to prepare... and to just SHOP!
So anyway, the mom to be is busy trying to think of names for this bundle of joy she is about to have. She wants the baby's name to have the same initials as her name so she is having a hard time finding things that seem to fit and flow nicely together. I am confident that when the time is right she will have that name ready to roll!!
This grandson of mine is obviously not shy, as evidenced by the ultrasound pictures! He showed more of his private parts then he did his face. He took great joy in showing off his penis and testicles to the world with uninhibited pride!

See what I mean!

So, here we go again with this overwhelming urge to go out and SHOP, SHOP, SHOP!

Pray for me!!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Self Esteem, Your Daughter And Dove.

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:52:00 +0000

Do you use Dove products? I do sometimes but they tend to be a little pricey for me. Did you know that when you buy Dove products a portion of the proceeds go to Dove's self-esteem campaign. I may have to invest a little more money into Dove products because Dove sponsors and supports self-esteem in young girls. If you have daughters then you know how important a good self-esteem is. today's youth suffer from untold bullying, low self esteem, poor self image and unbelievable peer pressure. But have you noticed how much pressure today's youth is under from television and movies and videos? Today's youth, especially girls are pressured to look a certain way in order to be beautiful. If they do not have a strong support system at home they risk falling prey to the media's criteria of beauty. The media tells them what body type and size is acceptable, what shade of skin, what style of hair, type of clothes, etc. If no one is counter-acting the poison the media is feeding them then they will lose themselves and become what the media thinks they should be.
Dove has a self esteem series, a few short films and down-loadable material including discussion guides to help in the effort to make our young ladies value the skin they are in.
Check out Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty online... HERE!

Isn't your daughter worth it??
Mine Is!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Wordless Wednesday #43 - Over Crowded

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:19:00 +0000

I have not done a WORDLESS WEDNESDAY in a while... But I'm back!

OVER-CROWDED...We are losing our Young People...

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http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Old School Friday Has Moved!!

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:34:00 +0000

HELLO FAMILY!!
If you are looking for my Old School Friday post please update your link because Old School Friday has out grown this spot! Old School Friday has moved to Regina's Old School Friday Spot!
So go by and check out some music there!!

Peace & Love!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Do You Use CVS Pharmacy?

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:50:00 +0000

I don't know about you and your preference of drugstores BUT if you happen to be using CVS I hope it treated you a lot better than it treated us. This has got to be the slowest and dumbest drugstore in creation!
My daughter's doctor called a prescription in to CVS for some iron pills. It was not a large order, or a complicated order, just one order of iron pills with 30 pills in the total order. We went to the pharmacy to pick up the pills. We stood online with about 20 other people for 20 minutes! The people behind the counter (and there were 4 of them) were super busy running around, answering the phone, packaging up stuff (I don't know what they were packaging because the line was not moving)! Finally it is our turn we give my daughter's name, insurance, and doctor's name and the chick behind the counter says 15 minutes (mind you the prescription was called in the day BEFORE!) so OK 15 minutes. We stand and wait ... 20 minutes, we sit and wait 10 more minutes... I go out to the car and talk to my mother for another 15-20 minutes...WTH!

While sitting in the car I happen to look up and I see a young Mexican lady come out the store, I don't know why but I watched her walk toward the street and while she is crossing the street my attention is drawn back to the store entrance where a black man and an older white man are standing there talking in a very animated fashion. I look back at the girl, who is now at the middle yellow lines waiting for the on coming traffic to slow. And I'm thinking to myself, huummm, interesting. I look back at the men in the doorway and they are looking both ways and then they run to the edge of the front of the store and are yelling at the girl and motioning for her to come back. In my mind I'm thinking, this chick stole something and I start laughing because no sooner do I complete this thought and the girl hears them yelling to her, she looks back, and then darts across the remaining traffic and runs down the block!! But the hilarious part is that by this time the traffic had stopped and the men COULD HAVE CAUGHT HER! If they had just broke into a sprint or something, because the girl had on FLIP-FLOPS!!! Seriously? How fast can you really run in those things?!? But they just stood there and watched her trot down the street and then they walked back into the store! This all transpired in the space of about 10 minutes and mind you I am STILL sitting in the car waiting for my daughters to come out!
So FINALLY my daughters come out the store and said, "Some chick in flip-flops stole something AND got away down the block!! She probably got tired of waiting in line!!" They said, "we saw her in the cosmetics section and then she came and stood in the pharmacy section and then she walked out the store"!

Ridiculous!! It took about an hour and a half to get 30 pills from the pharmacy. And can I just say these were not loos pills that need to be counted. No, no no! Theses were pills in 3 inch packets, with 10 pills per packet. So the pharmacy people had to count out 3 PACKETS! That's right, 1, 2, 3, Yes Three packets!!!!!! It took almost 2 hours for them to give my daughter 3 packets that were called in the day before! Freaking ridiculous!! My daughter had another doctor visit 2 days later, at which time the doctor gave her a prescription for pre-natal vitamins...OMG! This time I did not go with her to the pharmacy. Her and her cousins went ... she had to go back twice and finally got the vitamins ...THE NEXT DAY!!

Yep, next doctor visit (which happens to be today) we are going to give the doctor the number to the Walgreen's pharmacy. It is further from us but CVS is just ridiculous!!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Old School Friday #84 "Songs To Exercise To...."

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:53:00 +0000

It is Friday again!! THE WEEKEND IS UPON US!!
Time for Old School Friday! The time of the week when I get to roam around the Internet and listen to good music! I LOVE MUSIC!! So Old School Friday is the height of my week. Today's theme is a lesson in movement! What songs make you want to move your body enough to exercise to it!?!
Today's Old School Friday Theme is:

"Songs To Exercise To..."

Ms Grapevine and MsMarvalus have teamed up to create a meme titled Old School Friday. To join in the Old School Friday Fun go HERE for guidelines. Here are the other OSF Participants:

- Electronic Village -Pam - pprscribe -

- Ms Grapevine - Pirouette -Quick - Vérité Parlant

-Marty - irie gal -Mahogany -Hagar's Daughter - Lisa C

- DP - Dallassouth - - The Connoisseur -

- Regina - MsMarvalus - Clnmike - Vivrant Thing

-AJ - Sharon - RevvyRev - Prof. PC - Invisible Woman

-- Cooper - SJP -Bria - BklynQueen 86 - Hey Shae -

- From the Battlefield - Thembi - D Spot - Malcolm -

-Pop Art Diva - Pjazzypar - MsLadyDeborah -

Archie Bell & the Drells - The Tighten Up

Well, it's not Old School but hey when I am in the gym the music that is in rotation on my mp3 the most is the Black Eye Peas!

Black eye peas - hey mama
Uploaded by mira_dyf. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Smash Mouth, All_Star 1999
Uploaded by harrison73. - Explore more music videos.

Happy Friday!!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Take It Off, Take It Off... Take Off The Weight!

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:14:00 +0000

Ahhhhhhh, product advertisement and testing! I Love it. I of course love giving my opinion!!
I was fortunate enough to be picked to try out a product that I have seen on television and in the stores but never picked up. I was one of the few chosen to participate in the "Slimshots" campaign.
I am currently going through a weight gain cycle! For years my weight has gone up and down like a yo-yo. There have been weight loss cycles and weight gain cycles, so as I said I am on a gain cycle. As you get older your body functions differently and I am finding that the weight I put on is getting harder and harder to take off again. Going to the gym and changing your diet are the best ways to loose weight, however sometimes they need assistance. I have tried a multitude of supplements, fat blockers, water pills, appetite suppressants, pills, shakes, counting calories, counting carbs and the list goes on and on. So when the opportunity came up to participate in this SlimShots campaign I was very excited. This may be the only thing on the market that I have not tried.
When I finally received my package in the mail I was excited! Time to begin again and try something new. I joined a gym and but due to financial situations and transportation issues I could not go as regular as I wanted to. HOWEVER, those issues appear to be behind me and I am back on my gym mission so the SlimShot campaign came along at the perfect time!

So, the SlimShot is an appetite controller. It allegedly suppresses hunger for up to 4 hours. It does not contain caffeine or other harmful ingredients that can make you feel edgy, fidgety or shaky like ephedrine. Trust me, I have tried a multitude of diet pills and had all types of feelings from shaky to dizzy. Each shot is only 20 calories and to start you take two shots a day. Slim Shots come in two flavors. Chocolate and Vanilla. The package that I received was the chocolate. This was very disappointing to me because I DO NOT like chocolate! But I decided to go ahead and try it any way, and the flavor was surprisingly very light! There is a very light hint of chocolate flavor, which is not over powering at all. I took the shot right before I ate and did not mix it in my food. I refrigerated it first so that it would not taste like hot chocolate! It was quick, and went down smooth. I do have one complaint and that is that after I took the shot it left a chalky residue on my tongue that I did not like. However after I ate the residue was gone.

Tomorrow I will see how I like it mixed in with my food.
For the first complete day of taking them, I must say it was not bad at all. The chocolate flavor was very light. There was no big pill to stick in your throat requiring 2-3 cups of water to wash it down. There was no jittery after effects. No headaches and crashing. But best of all I did not feel hungry or feel like I was depriving myself of food causing a food overload later on at night!
So there you have it! I give SlimShots a thumbs up!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Old School Friday #83 "A Tribute To The One I'm Missing The Most...."

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:11:00 +0000

Time for Old School Friday! The time of the week when I get to roam around the Internet and listen to good music! I LOVE MUSIC!! So Old School Friday is the height of my week. Today's theme is an interesting one because I did not know who or what to focus on! My first thought on this theme was I am paying tribute to past singers, dead singers, alive singers, people in my family??? There were so many variables! So I decided to do a tribute to the person that I AM MISSING THE MOST RIGHT NOW...
Today's Old School Friday Theme is:

"A Tribute To The One I'm Missing The Most..."

Ms Grapevine and MsMarvalus have teamed up to create a meme titled Old School Friday. To join in the Old School Friday Fun go HERE for guidelines. Here are the other OSF Participants:

- Electronic Village -Pam - pprscribe -

- Ms Grapevine - Pirouette -Quick - Vérité Parlant

-Marty - Kevin - irie gal -Mahogany -Hagar's Daughter - Lisa C

-Chocl8t - DP - Dallassouth - - The Connoisseur -

- Regina - MsMarvalus - Clnmike - Vivrant Thing

-AJ - Sharon - RevvyRev - Prof. PC - Invisible Woman

-- Cooper - SJP -Bria - BklynQueen 86 - Hey Shae -

- From the Battlefield - Thembi - D Spot - Malcolm -

-Pop Art Diva - Pjazzypar - MsLadyDeborah -

We had a morning routine and it included these shows!
The Backyardigans

Dora The Explorer

But by the end of the day she always wanted to hear this...
Move It!

Yep, this shout out is for my Little Princess!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

The Storm Is Over ...... Now What?

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:50:00 +0000

Yesterday was the first day in almost two weeks that was not rainy here in Arlington, Texas. The day was beautiful, cool, and the sun could be seen breaking through the clouds to dry up everything. My sister and I and a few of our children decided to get out and drive around enjoying the day. It was an AWESOME idea! I tried to catch the perfect picture of the clouds parting and the sunlight streaming through.

This picture is not as perfect as actually looking up into the sky but it will have to do!
This one looks as if the clouds are actually trying to escape the presence of the sun"SON"light!

You see when it is dark, cloudy and rainy it is too easy to get comfortable in our own dark dreariness. When it is dark and dreary outside we sometimes tend to let that take over our moods, our atmosphere, and even our thoughts. We become overly tired, complacent, lackadaisical, unmotivated, in essence we become mere shells or shadows of ourselves. Hence the blah feeling and the desire to just sleep when the weather is rainy. Some even hate the rain.

Yet, the rain has a purpose.
The rain washes away the old, it washes away the dirt, it washes away the waste.
The rain waters seeds and nourishes crops to bring forth new harvests.
Storms bring destruction and tear down the old but after the storm passes there is room for the building up of the new.

It often happens that in those dark and dreary times God is talking to us, trying to get our attention, trying to tell us something or trying to teach us something. Unfortunately we have receded so far into our own dark thoughts, dark dreariness, into our own self loathing, self deprivation, self deprecating and self destruction that we can not hear, can not learn and can not receive from God. We are so wrapped up in US and not open to HIM. We are blocking our own blessings, we are self destructing! But then, we blame God.

Are you in a dark rainy season? What is the purpose of this season for your life? Should you be planting, harvesting or threshing? Take some time to figure out what season you are in and what the storms mean for your life.

Leviticus 26:3-5 (New International Version)
(3 )If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, (4) I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. (5) Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.

We need to get happy when a storm is coming because that means that God is communicating something to us. The coming storm could mean that when the storm is over there will either be a harvest OR the soil will be ready for the planting of new crops. The storm could signify a cleansing or the storm could mean a nourishing. A storm can signify many different things for many different people. You need to find out what the storm means for you and your walk of life.

I think for me the storm means a coming harvest. I sure receive and accept this in Jesus Name!
Deuteronomy 28:11-13 (New International Version)
(11) The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.
(12) The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. (13) The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.

Are you stuck in a rainy, dreary season?
What must you do to get out of it?
What does the storm mean for you?

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Old School Friday #82 "Criminal Records..."

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:50:00 +0000

Time for Old School Friday! The time of the week when I get to roam around the Internet and listen to good music! I LOVE MUSIC!! So Old School Friday is the height of my week. Today's theme is an interesting one and it also proved to be more difficult than I thought at first glance! My first thought on this theme was Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" and then I thought about Tupac's "Me & My Girlfriend" (One of my Tupac Favorites!) and then I thought about KRS One's "Criminal Minded". As I watched the fore mentioned videos I thought to myself this theme is way to easy if I uses hip hop music. So I decided to think a little deeper and pull up something different I hope you enjoy my selections!
Today's Old School Friday Theme is:

"Criminal Records..."

Ms Grapevine and MsMarvalus have teamed up to create a meme titled Old School Friday. To join in the Old School Friday Fun go HERE for guidelines. Here are the other OSF Participants:

- Electronic Village -Pam - pprscribe -

- Ms Grapevine - Pirouette -Quick - Vérité Parlant

-Marty - Kevin - irie gal -Mahogany -Hagar's Daughter - Lisa C

-Chocl8t - DP - Dallassouth - - The Connoisseur -

- Regina - MsMarvalus - Clnmike - Vivrant Thing

-AJ - Sharon - RevvyRev - Prof. PC - Invisible Woman

-- Cooper - SJP -Bria - BklynQueen 86 - Hey Shae -

- From the Battlefield - Thembi - D Spot - Malcolm -

-Pop Art Diva - Pjazzypar - MsLadyDeborah -
Chain Gang - Sam Cooke

~and of course this song makes me think of one of my favorite movies "Cadence"~
Chain Gang - Cadence (Movie)

Happy Old School Friday!!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

We The People... Have The Right To What??

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:36:00 +0000

Today, Thursday September 17, 2009 is Constitution Day!
How many of you know what is actually in the Constitution other than "We The People"!

It starts out with...
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

But what comes after that?
People know that they can plead the 5th. They also know that they have the right to bare arms, but do you know all of your other rights. And do you know the proper context of these rights?
You may want to do a little homework and find out EXACTLY what the Constitution of the United States really says.
Go HERE and check it out!

God Bless America!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Day Dreaming, You Should Try It!

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:56:00 +0000

Day dreamin' and I'm thinkin' of you
Day dreamin' and I'm thinkin' of you
Day dreamin' and I'm thinkin' of you
Day dreamin' and I'm thinkin' of you
Look at my heart floating away

Do you remember that song "Day Dreaming" by Aretha Franklin? It is a beautiful song about being in Love and the urgency of love. I LOVE to Daydream! Do you day dream? I think some of people's best and greatest ideas come out of day dreaming.

Some may say daydreaming is a waste of time. I remember when I was a child teachers would yell at me and tell me, "Stop Day Dreaming" or they would say, " You Need To Focus"!

Contrary to popular belief day dreaming is not a waste of time.
It is an exercise in relaxation, meditation, thinking or just "Being"! After a little day dreaming you are alert, energized and ready to accomplish something!

Try it...
Find a nice quite spot.
Prop up some pillows behind your back.
Put your hands behind your head.
Lean back.
(eyes open or closed is up to you).
And just let your mind go.

Do not think about your job or your bills or your problems. Think about good memories, childhood fun, a favorite vacation. Think about ocean waves or a field of wild flowers, or fluffy clouds.
Just breathe and let your mind wander...
Breathe....
Clouds...
Breathe...
Softly lapping waves...
Breathe....

Day dreaming and I'm thinking of you,
Day dreaming and...
I'm...
Thinking...
Of...

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Do You Remember What You Were Doing?

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:33:00 +0000

I can remember the exact moment and what I was doing on the morning of September 11, 2001. I was in the classroom at my job with ABC Head Start in Rochester, New York. My partner Bonnie was reading a story to the class and I was cleaning up the remainder of the breakfast dishes. Another staff member ran in the room and whispered to me that a plane had crashed into one of the Twin towers. I could see and hear others in the building running around trying to find out the details of what was going on. Bonnie and I got the children settled in their play areas and turned on our classroom radio to hear what was going on. While keeping an eye on the children and listening to the news I got tears in my eyes and I scanned the hallways for any available staff member to come into the classroom while I stepped out to make a phone call.

You see, as I listened to the news information about the terrorist attacks on the towers and about New York and D.C. being hit, I became over run with emotions and feelings of dread and impending doom. I was not clear about what was exactly happening but I knew it would forever change the way we see our nation.
The climate at the job became chaotic and oppressive. My head was pounding, my heart was racing and I had no clue if my mother knew what was going on. You see we lived in Upstate, Rochester New York BUT my family moved to Rochester from New York City and we still had plenty of family members and friends there some of which worked or lived in the Manhattan area. So this was a time of high anxiety for me as I worried about family and friends in NYC.
I finally found a staff member who would cover the classroom for me as I ran to the nearest office and used the telephone. I called my mom at her office and told her what I had heard and she had on her radio as well. We quickly compared notes and she said that she had tried but could get no calls through to family in the city. We heard of the city being coated in ash, people jumping from tower windows and others just gone.

The rest of the day passed in a haze. The mood in the school was dark and quiet, even the noise, chatter and laughter of children could not break through the virtual overcast and somber mood in the building. As parents floated in and out of the school to pick up and drop off their kids, they all whispered, "Did you hear what happened?" All we could do was numbly nod our heads.
The world was in shock. How could something like this happen? This is the United States of America, one of the strongest countries in the WORLD!! HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED? We as a country were hurting, suffering, mourning.

We were broken.

My family had no physical casualties. I have a cousin, who at the time worked in the towers but was not at work that day. My family was safe but for thousands of other families this was the most Horrendous and Tragic day in history. Many lost friends, family members and associates. And I think we as Americans collectively lost the sense of safety, the sense of superiority and the sense of being untouchable.

We lost, we lost big...

Many lives were forever changed on September 11, 2001. In Remembrance, We must NEVER forget. I mourn those we lost. I Honor those who served. I pray for those who remain.

GOD BLESS AMERICA...

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Old School Friday #81 "It's All About The Money..."

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:46:00 +0000

"It's All About The Money......"

Ms Grapevine and MsMarvalus have teamed up to create a meme titled Old School Friday. To join in the Old School Friday Fun go HERE for guidelines. Here are the other OSF Participants:

- Electronic Village -Pam - pprscribe -

- Ms Grapevine - Pirouette -Quick - Vérité Parlant

-Marty - Kevin - irie gal -Mahogany -Hagar's Daughter - Lisa C

-Chocl8t - DP - Dallassouth - - The Connoisseur -

- Regina - MsMarvalus - Clnmike - Vivrant Thing

-AJ - Sharon - RevvyRev - Prof. PC - Invisible Woman

-- Cooper - SJP -Bria - BklynQueen 86 - Hey Shae -

- From the Battlefield - Thembi - D Spot - Malcolm -

-Pop Art Diva - Pjazzypar - MsLadyDeborah -

I Love the DIVERSITY found in music! I love many music genres. Take a look...

I Love Musicals... (This is my favorite selection today!!)
Money - Liza Minnelli & Joel Grey

Nothing wrong with a little rock & Hip Hop!
All About The Benjamins (Rock Remix)! - Puff Daddy, Lil Kim, The Lox & Biggie

And of course an Old School classic!
For The Love Of Money - The O'Jays

Happy Old School Friday!!!! Enjoy your weekend!
Peace & Love!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Old School Friday #80 "Songs To Cuddle Up To..."

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:38:00 +0000

Time for Old School Friday! The time of the week when I get to roam around the Internet and listen to good music! I LOVE MUSIC!! So Old School Friday is the height of my week. Today's theme is a mellow one! You need some candle light, some wine and these songs playing low and soft in the background. I am sure that there will be some nice selections today and I bet I even know at least three artists who are sure to make an appearance...
Today's Old School Friday Theme is:

"Songs To Cuddle Up To......"

Ms Grapevine and MsMarvalus have teamed up to create a meme titled Old School Friday. To join in the Old School Friday Fun go HERE for guidelines. Here are the other OSF Participants:

- Electronic Village -Pam - pprscribe -

- Ms Grapevine - Pirouette -Quick - Vérité Parlant

-Marty - Kevin - irie gal -Mahogany -Hagar's Daughter - Lisa C

-Chocl8t - DP - Dallassouth - - The Connoisseur -

- Regina - MsMarvalus - Clnmike - Vivrant Thing

-AJ - Sharon - RevvyRev - Prof. PC - Invisible Woman

-- Cooper - SJP -Bria - BklynQueen 86 - Hey Shae -

- From the Battlefield - Thembi - D Spot - Malcolm -

-Pop Art Diva - Pjazzypar - MsLadyDeborah -

I hopefully found some selections that NO ONE ELSE has posted!!!

With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright

Baby Come Close - Smokey Robinson

And lastly, these smooth brothers!
Cry Together - O'Jays

I had to try real hard not to post Marvin Gaye or Donny & Roberta or Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes or Norman Conners cause Lord knows I sure wanted to!
Have an awesome weekend!!
XOXO

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

My Dirty Little Secret...

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:55:00 +0000

Yep, you read it correctly, I have a dirty little secret. Actually I may have more than one but I am only writing about one of them right now!
I used to hate it,
I used to talk about those who did it,
I have even vowed to never do it,
And then ... I started doing it.
?
?
?
?
FACEBBOOKING!!
Yes, I am officially a social networking , facebooking addict!
There was a time when I was definitely totally against these forms of social networking because I assumed it was primarily for teens/young adults or folks in their 20's-30's. But I am finding that people of all ages are on facebook. And Facebook is exactly what it says, Social Networking. The craze is spreading and you can find all manner of people on Facebook from housewives to politicians.
In the past week I have reconnected with a cousin that I have not spoken to or seen in over 24 years. I have reconnected with 2 childhood friends that I haven't seen since I was 18 years old. I reconnected with a woman whose child I taught in Head Start 7 years ago! I even found a guy who was a love/lust interest a few years ago but needless to say that dude is not added as a friend and is blocked from accessing my page!
But for all intents and purposes I LOVE FACEBOOK!! This is a way for me to keep in touch with friends and family who are not near me. I have family members all spread out across the United States. We are stretched literally from the East coast to the West coast!
With facebook we can stay in touch, share pictures, share accomplishments, share disappointments and just share lives across a distance.

Yep, I am a Facebook Addict!

Do you facebook?

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Old School Friday #79 "Songs That People Would Be Surprised I Know ..."

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:27:00 +0000

Time for Old School Friday! The time of the week when I get to roam around the Internet and listen to good music! I LOVE MUSIC!! So Old School Friday is the height of my week. Today's theme is interesting because I think I have shown my total diversity previously and I don't know what people would be surprised to know I listen to. So, I had to work a little harder for this one! I am surr that my selections will not surprise anyone, it's just another side of Me!!
Today's Old School Friday Theme is:

"Songs That People Would Be Surprised I Know..."

Ms Grapevine and MsMarvalus have teamed up to create a meme titled Old School Friday. To join in the Old School Friday Fun go HERE for guidelines. Here are the other OSF Participants:

- Electronic Village -Pam - pprscribe -

- Ms Grapevine - Pirouette -Quick - Vérité Parlant

-Marty - Kevin - irie gal -Mahogany -Hagar's Daughter - Lisa C

-Chocl8t - DP - Dallassouth - - The Connoisseur -

- Regina - MsMarvalus - Clnmike - Vivrant Thing

-AJ - Sharon - RevvyRev - Prof. PC - Invisible Woman

-- Cooper - SJP -Bria - BklynQueen 86 - Hey Shae -

- From the Battlefield - Thembi - D Spot - Malcolm -

-Pop Art Diva - Pjazzypar - MsLadyDeborah -

When relaxing I like to listen to my classical CD's.
Canon In D Major - (Pachelbel) London Symphony Orchestra

To reminisce about my summers in Ashland, Pennsylvania I play...
Benny and the Jets - Elton John

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

One To Watch: Zack Issacs

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:46:00 +0000

I am loving being on Facebook because that gives me an instant connection to friends new and old as well as helping me to stay connected to some of my favorite bloggers. One such blogger is Zack. I first encountered Zack over a year ago at his former blog "Go Zack". He has since moved on to "Issacs PR Blog". Zack is a promising, young, up & coming, soon to be media mogul from Chicago. A young man who is presently finishing Grad school. Who is not afraid to let God use him, not afraid to take risks and chances and definitely not afraid to voice his opinion via blog posts, ireports or PSA (Public Service Announcements). Zack has had seven of his ireports featured on CNN including one on ending violence on Chicago's city streets. My buddy Zack posted a PSA for College Students and Young Adults that I think EVERYONE should read!
(Re-posted with permission from Zachariah Isaacs)

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
LOVE YOURSELF BEFORE YOU LIKE OTHERS
When I was 21, I went through the worst school year of my life (2005-2006) when I was a senior at UIC. I was dealing with a ton of personal issues, which included: a height complex, a fear of learning to drive, and name-calling by thugs who visited their girlfriends on campus.

I wanted to fit in just to stop being reminded of how much I didn't fit in.

But at 25, I know the secret: I AM THE COOLEST PERSON IN THE ROOM. Folks should be seeking me out, just as much as I'm pretending to seek them out.

But you all still want to fit in. That's why some of you drink, even if you grew up in a house with no access to liquor; That's why you are having sex (unprotected at that) because you don't want your friends to question your sexuality. That's even why some of us cuss when we know much better words in the dictionary which could be even more insulting.

We are afraid to dust our own shoulders off, because we "intern" as professional butt kissers for those who never feel our lips to begin with.

Usually the pretty boy with the good grades, nice clothes, big car, nice job, and great upbringing is the corniest, most insecure dude in the room. He models because he has need for compliments that he didn't earn. He is usually faking his "swag" when he enters the room to mask his own insecurities. He probably just wants women to like him for who he is, instead of what he looks like.

That real popular girl on campus might have leukemia. (True story from my older sister Rosalyn) She probably dresses really nice because of her health problems. That beautiful hair might be a wig; Those beautiful clothes might cover up surgery scars. That's why she misses class so much- she's at doctor's appointments.

Plus, we all have our roles. Find yours. You don't have to be the coolest person on campus. Just strive for being the coolest friend in your inner circle and YOU WILL BE if you have true friends.

Ask God to accept you before others. And Jeremiah 29:11 already tells us that he does.

MUCH LOVE!

There you have it! From the heart, mind and mouth of Zack Issacs! This guy is one to watch and I am proud to know him!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

Someone Must Answer The Call...

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:57:00 +0000

It seems that lately the news is always bad especially when it comes to black youth and young adults. We are hearing about robberies, violence, taser deaths and all manner of other bad news. Today I was happy to see some good news for a change.
Jesse Ray Beard one of the JENA 6 teens who was involved in violence, racial outrage, media spotlight and more is in the news again. This time I can read the story and smile. In the midst of criminal charges and a media blitz attorney Alan Howard gave this young man a much needed esc key!
According to CNN,

Beard, 18, now interns at a New York law firm as he prepares for his senior year next month at Canterbury School, a Connecticut prep academy where Beard is highly regarded among peers and teachers.

Yes, it appears that attorney Alan Howard, with the blessing of the mother of Jesse Beard has taken him not only under his wing but into his home to live. Beard left the racial powder keg of Louisiana and moved to New York with attorney Howard and has gotten a new lease on life. I see a young man (Beard) who needed a change, a man (Howard) who was the vehicle of change, and a mother who sacrificed so that her child could change.
Read the entire story HERE. I"m glad that Beard has been given this opportunity and I hope he makes the best of it. I believe God used this tragedy to give Beard a much needed change in his life. But change does not just happen, we have to be open and receptive to it and that is where Beard's mother made the wise choice of letting change happen for the betterment of her child.
I wish them all well!

~SIDEBAR~

I am sure there is some ignorant, self righteous, black person somewhere who is having a fit right now because a "white man" has stepped in to seemingly "save" the black boy! Well first of all let me say that "GOD" stepped in and used a "willing", "able" and "available" vessel. It does take a village to raise a child and all of the villagers do not always have to be black! I recall seeing a plethora of upwardly mobile, well known, well off, well to do black men in the news, at the rallies and in the papers during the JENA 6 drama and to my knowledge NOT ONE of them made a move like this.
The youth have a need and GOD will use ANY willing vessel that answers the call...

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/

First Day Of School, Now Exhale...

geegeejegar@gmail.com (Regina) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:33:00 +0000

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! I love when Nemo bounces around yelling that to his dad! He is so excited about the new adventures that the day holds for him. Well the summer is over and Today is THAT Day! First day back to school for the Diva and all other Texas youth!
Aaaahhh, I can just hear all the other parents letting out that long sigh of relief! Letting out that deep breath that we have been holding ALL SUMMER LONG! No more do we have to hear, It's too hot, there is nothing to do, can I go to the mall, can I go to the movies, are we going anywhere, and the list of endless summer questions go on and on for two long months! Well at last it is over and the kids are back in school.
Have that extra cup of coffee, actually read the paper and enjoy the quiet for a minute. Take a minute before you start doing all the things you could not do with the kids at home (you know, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning, running around the house naked ... whatever!). Of course we have to prepare for the next round of chatter when they get home : I hate this class, that teacher hates me, can I join this club, can I join that club, you have to sign this form, you have to fill out that form, the kids in my school are stupid, I got a new bestee (kid speak for best friend), I saw that girl from last year (last years bestee) and she got fat over the summer! Yep and so it begins ... the new school year!
For this minute in time my house is quiet. All three of my ladies are gone (2 in school, 1 taking care of pregnant lady business) and I can breathe, think, pray, reflect, and just ... BE!

The DIVA has left the building!!!!!!

Happy First Day Of School!!!!!!

Please visit my other blog:
http://reginathinks.wordpress.com/