Full Throttle of Love

This weekend has been an amazing, side splitting, heart-warming and memorable time.  There was nothing like dancing with my cousins while witnessing and celebrating Lisa & Bobby Alford's beautiful and loving wedding ceremony.  We are now joined with the Dunton Family in the form of the bond of love.  NYC just got another layer deeper in family - 1<3.

Then there was the old school style family sleep over - Valarie, my Mom, and Bro chilled with me and I was able to throw down on some of my serious breakfast cooking for them while here.  Well, at least I didn't witness any gagging because of my cooking, so yeah I can count that as a success.  :)

Seeing my Mom and my Uncle Stan just enjoy themselves was priceless.  They were the epitome of love and a true example of what I mean when I say <3 Always & Peace Forever.  Truly a blessed time and a reminder to take the time to have fun with each other, laugh, sing and celebrate.

Then today we had Sunday school at the OHCC with Penny and Amanda and the kids and marching and singing and BELLS - we had BELLS!

Finally, ending the day with a wonderful recital high lighting the talented SI kids and their awesome teacher, Therina Bella - you can truly see the dedication of the kids, parents and teacher - GREAT JOB.  I even got to sing "Stay With Me" and "Yesterday" & performed a duet with Barbara, "Red River Valley”.  Barbara is amazing and I know her open mic session at the end of this month is going be a wonderful blast.

I was able to catch up with a family member & a few friends via phone and text who are going through some things and I am praying that they keep strong and keep in the fight towards happiness.  You sound determined, focused and strong.  God’s got you deep in His holy embrace.  Know that.  Don’t doubt that.

The Blessings of Family and Love – The Blessings of Friends and Love; there is no better testament to the Love that God wants us to have for each other than his children sowing the seeds of love and communion together and deepening the bonds of family and friend relationships.

Here's MY New Motto –

Live Life via the Full Throttle of Love
Show Them Your Love for the Life of You
<3 Always & Peace ∞

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The Gratitude Challenge

For those who don't know, The Gratitude Challenge asks you to Post 3 things you are grateful for 7 days in a row. You then have to nominate 3 people to join you. You then get to share in spreading a peaceful, loving movement across social media. Every positive and good action, regardless of how small, makes a difference.   Just like with the ALS Challenge, I have been nominated a number of times and so I am answering all the challenges given and those to come with this post here. 

I changed things up a bit and selected nominees on day 7 instead of posting their names on Day 1.   Thank you Diane Gjelaj and Princess Laurie Cates for nominating me, 1♥

Day 1:

1. God - for giving me a life to live with talents to share and waking me up everyday to discover new blessings.
2. My mommy and daddy - Yes I still call them that because I will always be their little girl (just like my sister is too and my brother is their little boy) and I will always look up to them as the initiators of my journey of faith and love.
3. I am grateful for Rob Griffin because without him and his love and support we wouldn't have three wonderful children. I am so blessed to have him in my life.

Day 2:

1. I am grateful for the music in my life.  Many times, when I didn’t know how to express what I was feeling inside and/or even know how to define it, music was there to move me to tears, laughter and peace.
2. I am grateful for the musicians in my life.  Mr. Clark, the Choir director at the Berean Baptist church, Gabe Radu, Merris Rowe, Nunzio Nunzio, Therina Bella, Tina Kenny, John Purvis, Pete Cummings, Lynn Ligammari, Donna Singer, Louis Camacho, Emily Bodkin Scaglione, Mary Lee Marson-Aloia, EVERYONE involved with “In the Wings Productions”– so many others, if I’ve missed your name please forgive me it’s not intentional at all.  You have inspired me to learn, breathe, stretch, soar, sing louder and better and that touches me deep into my soul.
   
3. This may sound silly but I’m grateful for Betsy my acoustic guitar.  I don’t play her as often as I should.  But she has brought me up from lows and has placed me on highs that made me realize that there is nothing that I can’t do as long as I give it my attention.

Day 3:

1. Writing.  I think I’m equally gracious for the writing that I do.  It has allowed me to express all that I cannot speak clearly and allows me to dump from my mind all those bright and dark things that happen in my real life and in the fantasies of my Writer’s Realm.
2. My sister and brother.  I mean it goes without saying, but I need to say it more often that I love you so much and I am so proud to call you my siblings.  You both never cease to amaze me with your strength and love.  You’ve been an inspiration to me more than I have shared and more than you know. 
3. My jobs – YES I said it my jobs and the people I have worked and am working for and with.  For sustaining my family and me, for all that they have taught me and was able to teach, the friends I’ve made and the laughter/tears and astonishment we have shared during the 9-5, 6, 7 and 8s.  I am even grateful for those who have made me cry, consider jail and pissed me off so badly that encounters with them ended in vein popping arguments.  From you I learned to center my being into a calmer existence, find my happy place and how to ignore the acts of the Legion of Stupid and the Coven members while smiling (ok grimacing at times but grimacing counts as a smile).

Day 4:

1. I am grateful for my lovely children Robbie, Krissy and Mike – they are both Rob’s and my pride and joy.  I love how you keep me calm, make me crazy and I deeply cherish our shared time together even now that you’re all grown.  You are my treasures, my hearts, my inspiration to keep at it day after day.
2. I am grateful for my church family.  The Oakwood Heights Community Church members have embraced my zaniness, my outspokenness and my loudness for over...wow how many years now?  My church sisters and brothers:  we have spent many years laughing and crying together and I know in my spirit that the Good Lord has put us together so that we can continue to bring His word to others through our works.  I look forward to giving them the same kind of energy again for many years to come; God willing and the creek don't rise.  Sunday school starts tomorrow y'all betta get ready :)  Additionally, I want to thank Rev. Gard Rowe for starting me on this path, to Bruce Hodgeman who also inspired me to speak to the congregation, (I know he's smiling from above RIP) and to Rev. Larry Sallee who along with his lovely wife Deanna keep me in stitches and anxiety with every vacation that they take because I know that I'm one of a few people they will ask to speak on a Sunday while they are away.
3. I am grateful for my family members: the Robertsons, Cates, Griffins (those here and those abroad - who probably are still trying to figure how this caramel colored Griffin fits in), LeGaults, Curleys, Goodmans, Starks, Alfords, Hairstons, and Browns (x2 Dru Brown Griffin's side and Howard Brown's side). If I forgot a branch, then please forgive me but you're included here too.  I know that we all have been or are going through challenges in our lives.  Let us continue to support each other quietly with our prayers, physically with our actions and kindly through support through fellowship when we can. 
4. My gratitude goes to the bone to my body therapy coaches, both virtual and familiar.  To John, Carrie, Deanna, Keith and most deeply, Eddie: Y’all make this Brooklyn Sistah want to be healthy.  Your advice and words of encouragement go a long way in making me get fit, get ready to run and seriously get ready to fight.

Day 5:

1. I am grateful for my writing partners/editors over the past years.  Keith, Tony, Deidre, Carol, Billy and Carla.  Whether we have worked on one project, on several together or hopefully in the future, you keep me inspired, grammatically correct and let me know it’s alright to get frustrated with writing brain-farts!  LOL 
2. To my review team, Deanna, Allen, Kristen, Phil – damn you make a girl feel good and yes you let me know when something sucks.  Thank you
3. I am thankful to my doctor who told me I needed to start taking aspirin and BP and cholesterol meds, because THAT is what made me get back on track with eating cleaner, and working out.

Day 6:

1. My FORMER boss from 12/13 years ago.  I left ASME and went to go work for this Minion of Satan.  Your nasty behavior, degrading commentary and spiteful actions, broke me down to tears almost every day for three months.  But you know what?  THANK YOU.  Because I learned about my inner strength, got a hard grasp on knowing about integrity and got up and met your madness every day any way.  I would not have become soul friends with Eileen Deehan and would not have met some other wonderful people like Kimberly Williams, Darin Lord, Rob Emery and other beautiful people. Your vile behavior taught me to recognize and value my self-worth.  I love what I do.  You made me love it more, especially the moment I stopped working for you and started working for my current job and great bosses like Steve, Dan and Jimmy.
2. I am grateful for my current job, the people who work there, the friends I have made who have become my family in my heart.  Y’all know who you are <3 me some YOU.  Oh and bring blankets on Monday, cuz it's so cold...
3. I am grateful for my mother, Babs; Sandy, my mother in law and Pearl Brame – these three women have each given me a little something to add to my own womanhood that I will cherish to the day that I die.  I cannot even begin to list all the things that they have taught me, how they've made me happy and on a few occasions, so damn mad.  Without all of those things I wouldn't be the strong woman I am today. 

Day 7:

1. My Joshua Tree, Mercury Bar, Tonic, Blind Pig, Harlem Tavern and Heights Tavern Family – OMG the memories, the love, the laughter...  It wasn't until Camaron and Gareth’s wedding that I really was able to pull up all of the memories from over a decade of hanging with you.  You would think I would know how to make a decent drink by now. I don't but I can toss down Jamo with the best of you.  ;)  Seriously, I am thankful to God to have you in my life. I mean it when I say you're my family.
2. Tylenol and Advil – read #1
3. To my girls, Eileen, Kemi, LaShion, Lisa and Chale - words cannot express how much I love you ladies. <3 we'll always be the one and only original and true Jersey Shore Gyals. Oh and refer to #2.
4. Every breath I take, for each one is the start of a new round of blessings.  New chances to love, to cry, to get to know new people and make new friends and strengthen current bonds of camaraderie.  Each breath gives me a chance to say I Love you, I’m sorry, forgive me, you’re forgiven, please stay, go handle your business, let’s sing, let’s dance, let’s write together, let’s hold hands, let’s laugh, cry with me, hold me, love me and let’s pray.

Be grateful for Living the Life of You

<3 Always & Peace ∞
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I nominate Eileen Deehan, Nunzio Nunzio, Joann Crossman