Asia in the Summertime

I like LOVE adventure and find that traveling is my happy place. I feel at peace on an airplane and relish in the quiet time that I have all to myself. This summer I hit a milestone: 20 countries!

Here’s how it began- Back in February I had applied for a teaching opportunity in China through a program at UT. I was accepted in April, flights were booked in May and I left the country in June. When thinking of traveling to China, I knew that I had to capitalize on the opportunity and decided to visit Thailand as well. Then, as though it couldn’t get any better, I was able to book a flight with a long layover in Japan!

My accommodations in each country were great...I ate well and my money went far. I found Japan to be quaint and clean, the people of Thailand were a bit straightforward but friendly once a business deal had been made, and China was (once again) a delight.

After taking a trip, one of my favorite things to do is look back at pictures and videos. For this trip, I made a quick video that sums up my month of travel in under 5 minutes. 

While on the plane for 15 hours from Shanghai to Detroit I started this video recap and love how it turned out. Pictures are coming, I promise!  

The song is called, Colorful World by CeCe Winans

With so much turmoil in the world and hate crimes being committed against Black men, this song has brought me comfort. The Lord knows just what we need and reminds us that He is near, always.

Listen to the lyrics. They're perfect for this video. And a wonderful reminder that "it's a colorful world, a beautiful world that we live in."

Reflections

A Simple Life. 

That's what I like. 

To wake up in the morning with a purpose. 

To conquer "something."

To smile.

I choose to praise Him.

All day long.

While thankful for family.

And the friendliest of friends.

I choose to love.

A Simple Life.

My life.

While I have the mic (ehmm I just gave it to myself) I have a couple things to say. At times I find myself reflecting on life and most times I end up thinking about my family and friends one by one. After hearing from my grandpa this evening, who called for my address so that he can send me Valentine's Day chocolates, he wrapped up the call by saying, "I'm going to go fix myself a sandwich and something to drink (most likely a beer and then scotch) but I wanted to say that I love you." 

I love that sentence. Because it is so him! He eats dinner pretty late and on Sundays my grandma doesn't cook. So he's on his own. He loves his dranks, and that is not a typo. Beer in the evening and scotch for his HBO movies. And the love…well of course I love him too. xoxo

I don't want to forget the "little" things. That's why I'm writing them down. Because they mean a lot to me. I want to remember that at 8:25pm on a Sunday in January 2014 my dear Papa hadn't eaten dinner but didn't hesitate to write down my address, even after I offered to email it to him. 

And I cannot forget that just the other day my grandma called and left a message that was very similar. She was just calling to check up on me and to say that she was thinking about me. How sweet is she? I really do love her. I don't want to forget that she picked up the phone and gave me a call- because I was on her mind. 

And while I'm at it, just last week my other grandma called to thank me for a gift she received from my sister and I a couple weeks earlier. She had opened it and loved it! #winning! And somewhere in that voicemail she said, like she always does, "and that's it…I didn't want anything." Man oh man I wish I would have been able to answer that call to hear her excitement for myself. <--she had a stroke two days later and her speech just isn't the same…yet! Prayers, please xx

I am blessed. 

I think I'll be taking these thoughts to paper (or keyboard) more often. 

Love to all,

Songs: music for the heart and soul

My go-to songs of the moment are the following. As you may know, Gospel music is my favorite. These goodies have hit my fancy and I can see them in an album on repeat in the near future. 

These songs have hit home, provided strength and motivation, and most of all, comforted me in times of need. Click, Watch, Listen, and Enjoy!

Fantasia Barrino - I Believe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gfBMrgBa34&feature=player_detailpage

Yolanda Adams - Never Give Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUXN0KXBunI&feature=player_detailpage

Fantasia Barrino - I'm Here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HIbgFc9TLaY

Ruben Studdard - Flying Without Wings
http://youtu.be/bD4rmB1shsk

Ricky Dillard - God Is Great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V9I6QZVJ0s

I think I can, I think I can...

Spring quarter is half way over. Which means that I am FIVE weeks away from graduating from grad school. 

I can hardly believe how fast times flies (but then I remember each and every day of my hard work, late nights, early mornings, headaches, and sacrifice). 

Today, I celebrate being half way through my last quarter. 

Today, I recharge for the next five weeks ahead. 

1. This is a great quote for me right now. I am strong enough to get through work, school, and life's responsibilities. 

2. I decided to try Track and Field, try driving, try cooking, try working in Athletics, and try going to grad school. These decisions were not an accident. They are well thought out, conscious decisions to try something new. 

3. SO true! I am going after what I want. I like that, "I am stepping forward so that I will not always be in the same place". I am stepping forward.

4. Perseverance - enough said. I haven't had to persevere like this in a long time. My patience has been tested. So has my mental capacity. And my time management skills. As well as my desire to earn this degree. But, I will persevere and produce a great work. 

I am happy, excited, relieved, anxious, nervous, and ready. 

Bring it on, school. 

Happy (Almost) Black History Month!!!

I sure do love the month of February!

It's technically the beginning of the year so I still feel "fresh". 

It's the "month of love" where I get chocolates in the mail from my Grandpa. 

And.... it's Black History Month. 

This year,  Black History Month is extra special for a couple of reasons. 

1. It's the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation

2. It's the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

3. We are celebrating the 2nd term of President Barack Obama

How cool is that, people?!

To ring in Black History Month, I went to a local Worship and Celebration event sponsored by Visions of Hope. My favorite parts were the choir that sang a medley of church songs, a dialogue (mini play)  between President Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas, the teenager who played Amazing Grace on his trumpet!, and an up and coming artist, Troy Anthony, who sang a couple songs about Victory. 

It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, that's for sure. 

It's coming...

Black History Month will be here in 5 days y'all :)

2013 "Resolutions"

I'm not one for resolutions because they usually don't work out 

(and we all know that I'm not the best with disappointment/failure). So, I've created a "Things To Do in 2013" list. My overall goal is to be a better person. I wake up each morning, say a prayer and declare that it will be a great day!

My List
1. Donate Blood. 
Once would be great, but more than once would be awesome! I've been in the country for a full year now and that's the only thing I was waiting for. And besides donating because it's the right thing to do, I need to find out my blood type!
2. Finish my Master's Degree. 
I haven't read this much since...well, since I can remember. I'm on track to finish in June. Pray that I can keep pressing forward and grind it out.
3. Sign up to donate bone marrow.
This has been on my "to-do " list for a couple years now. It might be painful and require a hospital stay, but it's the least that I can do for someone. We're talking life and death.
4. Read my Bible more, like daily.
I love devotionals and Bible Study's but haven't been in one for a few years. I've been thirsting for a good study so my friend and I went to the bookstore to search for a study we would both love. We found How to hear from God by Joyce Meyer and it's already been purchased and shipped. I can't wait to dig in and start our study.
5. Do all of those things (listed below) on a daily basis. My quest is to be a better person. And that's what I'm working on.

So there you have it. My New Year's Resolutions  
"Things To Do in 2013" list. 

P.S. I think I'm doing a great job on these things so far :)