Friendship is Timeless and limitedless

The boys and I are on our wonderful Road Trip 2011...We settled in DC a few days ago...We have seen all the major sites of DC that there is to see.  We are actually exhausted of walking....I chose to walk to get some exercise and to help burn some of these calories from all the junk food I've been eating...

Tonight, I had the pleasure of spending time with an old friend, I have not seen him since 1989.  We served in the military together.  He was like a big brother to me.  I looked up to him in many ways.  One thing I remembered and admired about him was/is his close relationship with his son...Everytime you saw him..you saw his son...He was not only in the military, he was our DJ on base.........DJ Bobski.......He would spin the wheels every weekend at the NCO club and we all went there and had a fabulous time (trying to be grown)...He also was our trainer for a minute on the base honor guard, when he left I took over... Ironically, his wife and I shared the same name.  She was a very sweet woman.  She allowed him to be himself....to socialize and spin his records is what I remember of Joyce...RIP...

He was suppose to give me DJ lessons, so I could develop my skills as DJ Jazzy Joyce...LOL...after one lesson he gave up on me...But, tonight he promise to give me those lessons for sure one day...LOL

DJ Bobski..Im glad the social networks has brought us together, once again. As I was driving to my hotel room...tears formed in my eyes....because life is GOOOOOD...It's wonderful to be able to sit down with an ol' friend and go over all the good memories...the crazy adolescent mindsets we had way back then and thank GOD we have grown up. 

I remember him playing a prank on me one night.  I had requested a song and he made this big ol' to do about..."This is going out to my girl......etc, etc..etc."  And you would never guess what song he played for me.."SHE'S A SUPER FREAK...by Rick James"  I almost crawled under the table that night...But, those were the good ol' days...We were young, carefree and thought the world owed us something.....

When I moved from Dallas to Houston, a dear friend said to me something like...I guess Im loosing a friend..I told her, "FRIENDSHIP GOES BEYOND CITY LIMITS AND STATE LINES."  I truly believe that.  The efforts you make to remain in touch with your friends are invaluable.

Although it's been 22 yrs....We still are friends.  Although he had traveled all over the world and has now retired from the military...We still are friends...Although we both have lost spouses, had children...We still are friends...Although time has passed, 22 yrs ...We still are friends..........

The love a friend is nonjudgemental, it's free caring and sound..That's what I feel tonight...
I am forever grateful for experiencing in life true friendship in many forms....

Thanks BOBSKI for being a TRUE FRIEND all these years..
Love,
Joyce H.


Is there someone you need to reach out too...just to say "hello" or "I was thinking about you"...DO IT now..don't put off another minute...If they receive you with open arms then you know they are a TRUE Friend....

True Friendship is timeless and limitedless...Thank GOD for Friends..
I love you all...

Living In BlISS

Monday afternoon, the boys and I embarked on a wonderful ROAD TRIP excursion.  Our first place of settlement is in NEW ORLEANS...I have not been here in many years. I thought this would a great stop for the boys to explore the Cajun Atmosphere. Well, it's been a blast.  We are staying on Canal Street in a premiere hotel (Jamaal wouldn't have it any other way...LOL)  As I look around the lobby, there are people moving about their busy day with much to do.  But, as for us....we are chillin', no where in particular to go..Just Living in BLISS.  We enjoyed a wonderful Cajun cuisine last night at Mr. B's in the French Quarters. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS...

We had a wonderful day yesterday touring the Swamps of New Orleans, taking in the atmosphere, viewing the alligators, turtles, duck weed, Spanish Moss and smelling the aromas of the swamp.  During our chartered bus ride to the site, I was listening to my ipod and the teachings of Wayne Dyer speaking on Living in BLISS....as I mediated and reflected on my pass, present and future, I realized TODAY I am living in Bliss: perfect happiness and great joy...What an awesome place to be....Thank you Father.  Im in Bliss because I have the Favor of GOD on my life, God is with me and He has shown His WORD to be true in my life.  No matter what storms come or blow, I  can stand strong, because my anchor holds THE Solid ROCK...

Living in Bliss is not about material possessions, although it's nice to have nice things and enjoy your surroundings...But, living in BLISS is a conscious decision; it's my state of being: being whole and complete in who I am today, where I am going tomorrow and where I plan to be in the future.  All is well with me and my children and for that I am forever grateful.  As I see the peace and joy on the boys faces, I think wow...GOD is FOREVER GOOD and Faithful...So, when Jamaal is too excited to fall asleep after a long day of site seeing and Christian is smiling bigger than life...these are the precious moments when I realize...happiness is NOW..being together as a family, experiencing new things, enjoying life, sharing and caring for each other...WE ARE LIVING IN BLISS...

Troubles don't last always and though it may appear to be dark there is always light shining behind the clouds.  See the glimmer of hope...there will be brighter days with a promising future for you...I believe 100%. I have experienced it. I am experiencing it.

So, if the storms are blowing in your life today.  Know that they will not blow forever.  The boys and I have made it through a very windy time.  But, today we are living in BLISS...

I encourage you find your BLISS, find your purpose, your peace, your joy...and you too, will be living in BLISS..

Time is Winding UP...45 days to go..

In 45 days, I have to report to medical school...WOW..Time sure is flying by....I guess Im having fun...
I've been extremely busy, getting my house rented and moving. I am so blessed to have that huge hurdle completed and figured out.   I can not believe how much stuff we have.  We gave away half of what was in our closets.  The trash on the curb was embarassing.  WE are so blessed in America.  Our closets and storehouses are overflowing.  How many boxes of cereal do we really need?  Well, for the most part we have consolidated all the things we are taking with us and placed all the things we will leave behind in storage. 

This evening I got registered for my fall classes and started my order for my school supplies and books.  Thus far it is recommeded that we get over 31 items totally close to $1800.00 for the 2011 to 2012 school year...WOW... Im going to get everything.  I want to make sure I have all the proper materials, I need to be successful, especially my first year.  I want to hit the ground running. Some of my class have 4 books required and/or recommended.  WOW...Do I really need all those books?  I should have taken a speed reading class this summer...LOL

Im not sure how I am going to look in scrubs.  So, I think I will go out and buy a pair to see.  I want to be comfortable and stylish all at the same time...Vanity, Vanity....Vanity...LOL  I was shock to see BabyPhat has a line of lab coats.  I have a lab coat from my prereq, but they recommend we get a short one, too.  So, I am going to a local uniform supply and try them on....

I have my son registered for school. He will be attending a private school on campus taught by US certified teachers.  So, Im confident he will have a great school year.  He is already so advanced.  Reading and Math skills on a 4th grade level...So, that is handled. 

Now, I need to register for our health insurance, locate a shipping company and arrange pick up and delivery of all the stuff we are taking with us..Put our cars in storage, Select our housing on July 22nd.....and we are ready to go...



Oh, I almost forgot....The most important....Finalize my financial aid...I have to get on that tomorrow.......

It's funny, I was trying to get all this stuff taken care of in early June and was told Im moving too fast..I am too far ahead of the game..AND NOW I feel rushed.  But, in actuality, it's not a lot more that needs to be done.  Thank GOD...

Time is WINDING UP....Are you ready for your next level? 
I AM...

WOW, ProLife or ProChoice

Last Saturday night, my family and I attending a graduation party for one of my oldest son friends.  Im so proud that my son has been able to choose his friends wisely.  He sits among the best in his high school class.  All of his friends graduated with honors and so did he.  The young man party we attended graduated number 12 out of 658 students.  My son graduated number 91 out of 658, which put him in the top 13% of his class.  This is a great accomplishment within itself. And both of the young men are African American MALES.  Way to go!  That is NEWS WORTHY...

As I was sitting there at the party looking at all the young recent grads laughing and dancing and having a good time, there was one young girl that I truly found remarkable.  She graduated number 7 in their class, she was the drum major of the band, smart, intelligent and with a promising future.  I thought the young lady that was attending the party with her was her sister, but my son told me that, "no, that's her mom."  I thought wow her mom sure looks young.  My son told me her mother gave birth to her at age 16. 

WOW...In today's society when millions of babies are being aborted for all kind of reasons, this young mom saw fit to give birth to her child.  The amazing part about it all is, this baby born out of wedlock had a destiny all her own.  She was destined to be here on earth, to achieve greatness in her studies, to be the drum major in her high school band, to be in THE TOP 1.06% of her class.  This is truly amazing.

I wish this story could be told to all the young women  making life changing decisions concerning there unborn child.  Perhaps, the situation may not be optimal or the way they could have wanted it to be.  But, they are carrying a child of destiny, of hope, with a future.

ProLIFE or ProCHoice....???  Very interesting....Just a thought...

Getting Up to Speed....

Well, today started off very slow..I really wasn't going to do a whole lot.  But, as I began to read other fellow bloggers blogs today.  I realized. I have a lot of thigs to do.  I need to go shopping...LOL..

So, off we went.  First to Garden Ridge to get things like bedding, mattress covers, pillows, water bottles, a sandwich holder, etc.  Since, next year Jamaal will have to take his lunch and moving up to a full size bed.  I'll be moving down from a King size bed to a full size bed.  That's okay though, I'll probably wont be getting much sleep anyway.  I am going to have to master sleeping slouched in a chair.  LOL

Then off to Target.  We were on the hunt a Spiderman lunch box.  Not a one in site.  Not even at Walmart. Wow...We did find some cool Spiderman rain boots.  We had to settle for a How to train your dragon lunch box. We were able to get a snorkling kit, a lot of bug spray, sunblock, speedo water shoes, and a ton of movies...Im on a roll....

Then I came across...Something I've been wanting to get to cut down on utilities...MAJIC JACK...No more monthly phone bills.  It's pretty neat.  You can carry your phone system around with you where ever you go. All you need is your laptop, a phone and internet connection. You get a local phone number.  That is so cool.  It's only $19.95 per year. That's only $1.66 per moth. What a big difference from $35/month, Im paying now.  I should have done this years ago.

Then I came across, a mini webcam..Alright this this great.  Everything all in one store.  I love the USA.  So, my oldest son and I tested it out with Skype and we are LIVE.  Now, we can communicate with him face to face while he is away at college and we are away at med school. 

So, I had a great day of shopping with a purpose.  What a great 4th of July....

Singing in the Rain....

On Saturday, after Jamaal's math lesson and reading about President Barack Obama, I had a great idea for Jamaal, Dinero (our dog) and I to go for a bike ride to the park. We had been in the house all day.  This was the first Saturday, he did not have his tennis lesson.  So, I knew he had a lot of pinned up energy, he needed to get out.  And I could use the walk.  Im thinking It would take us about, 30minutes to get there.  So, I said let's go on an adventure.  Instead of putting his bike in the car and driving to the park, I thought we can ride to the park and perhaps stop along the way and get a cold beverage or two...

Well, we were having a great time half way into the adventure. We took a detour through a wooded area with a trail.  It was cool.  I thought this outdoors experience is getting us acclaimated to our new world coming this fall: The walking, not depending on a car.  Learning to stay active.  Not having a city mind set of we must use a car to get where we want to go.  It was fun...

I noticed the dark clouds forming, but I thought, "It's not going to rain."  So, we kept moving right along.  Im listening to my Ipod and Jamaal is riding his bike, Dinero and sniffing every tree and plant in sight.  Then the heavy winds started.  It's really cooled things off.  This felt great.  As we were approaching the decent to the park, the winds were getting harder.  Okay, now it's time to head home.  Instead of going back the way we came.  I thought we should make a circle and head home.  We were closer to home making the circle than tracing back our steps. 

Then, we felt spinkles of rain falling on us.  Humm, I thought is it going to rain harder? Is it going to stop soon?  Sometimes it might rain just 5 minutes and stop.  The rain began to fall harder.  My sunshades were steaming up until I had no visibility through them.  We were getting wet and the rain was coming down hard.

We managed to make it to an overhang for shelter for a minutes.  But, what is the use of sitting there?  It was raining and it was better for us to be home than stuck under a shelter in the rain.  So, we embarked on making it home.  By this time Jamaal was pushing his bike, Dinero was trying to shake the water off of her body.  I just dealt with the rain.  It actually felt good.

We finally made it to our neighborhood.  Which still was a little hike to get home.  Our subdivision has over 2000 homes...LOL...So, I said let start singing.  Let make this fun.  Dont every kid want to play in the rain.  I remember my mother bought Jamaal some rain boots a few years ago and he could not wait until a rain puddle formed to put on his boots and stomp in the rain.  Well, this was his chance once again.  He was walking in the water splashing around as I song, "Im singing in the rain" and "I saw you and him, walking in the rain.."

 Well, by the time we got home we were soaking wet...LOL...We were singing in the Rain....It was great..

Sometimes, As you set out to start a project or take steps towards your dreams, OBSTACLES get in your way. It may start raining.   If you see the obstacles as road blocks, then you will never get by them or even climb over them.  You have to take what's on the table and use it to your advantage.  How you see the obstacle has a lot to do with how you overcome the obstacle. 

Saturday, I wanted us to have a fun adventure and we did.  It was great.  Cars were passing us by, some were smiling, some were not.  But, we were on our own journey and our planned destination and nothing could stop us, not even the rain. Although I thought the adventure would take us 30min each way...When I got home and stop my heart rate monitored it said, 2hr and some odd minutes. 

Timelines are just that...timelines...they are gauges we used to measure our progress, but when the rain comes and things are not adding up as we thought.  One thing for sure, we must always keep in our sight our ultimate goal.  And today for us, was HOME.....

What's your ultimate goal?
What situation can you turn it around and make it good, make it worth your while?

PS As we were walking we saw a beautiful rainbow in the sky....

What's Pushing YOU????

As you evaluate your desires and dreams, can you honestly live with yourself without pursuing them?  Can you guarantee that as you sit in your rocking chair at age 85, you will have no regrets?  or Will you sing that song, "I wish I would have or always wanted to....(you feel in the blank)"   Well if you can't honestly say, "I attempted (gave a real effort) and did all in this life I set out to achieve.  I ran when others chose to walk.  I walked when others chose to crawl. I left everything out on the field.  The field of LIFE.  Many of us have heard athletes say, I left everything on the field.  Will you be able to say that in 10, 20, 30, or 40 years? 

What's really pushing you?  What's holding you back?  What are you afraid of?  STOP AND THINK...

You deserve all that you desire in this life...So, tell me what's really PUSHING YOU????

When the FORCE WITHIN is STRONGER than the force trying to push you back, you WILL MOVE FORWARD. Im glad to say my inner FORCE is MIGHTIER than mountains and STRONGER than the sea. GOD's over powering love for me is PUSHING ME FORWARD...Selah  by Me

Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.

It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give

other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.

SO, TELL ME WHAT'S PUSHING YOU TOWARDS YOUR DESIRES, TOWARDS YOUR GOD GIVEN GIFTS AND DREAMS.....?








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