I had recently been trying to find an app that pushes bible verses to your phone but I wasn’t quite pleased with what I was seeing in the app store. I can be pretty picky when it comes to aesthetics. Anyway, I was longing for something more than just prayer every morning with my significant other.
Some time last week, I received an “unwanted” package in the mail. I didn’t pay attention to the sender but I definitely noticed it was addressed using my divorced last name. Of course, I was immediately turned off and set the package on the table. Typically, I would have thrown it in the trash but I was impressed to hold onto it.
One day, I got tired of looking at the “unwanted” package that was STILL sitting on my table. I peeled back the plastic covering and saw, “2021 Year of the Bible”. My interest was immediately piqued!
Mind you, I had been looking for Bible verse apps.
As I flipped the book over, the color scheme warmed my soul, I read the title…“words of life”, and said to myself, ”This book is the answer to my prayers! God knew exactly what I needed!”
Across town (most likely on the same day), my significant other also received an “unwanted” package. Now, he is more attentive than I am so HE noticed the sender…Columbia Union Conference. Typically, he too would have thrown the contents in the trash. However, he too was impressed to hold onto it. He kept the “unwanted” package in the plastic covering for a few days, as well. One day he finally decided to check out the contents in the plastic covering. He also received the “words of life” devotional from the Columbia Union Conference. His response to receiving the devotional was different from mine but he still decided to hold onto it.
A little background…
As a couple, we agreed to have dinner and “Wednesday Night Prayer Sessions”. So, January 6th, I arrived at his house, walked upstairs, and placed my things on the barstool. I glanced at the counter and saw the devotional and immediately had to gather my thoughts because I didn’t recall bringing mine. So, I inquired about the devotional and he told me the story above.
For the past few years, I have been anti-religion, anti-prayer, anti-Jesus…just keeping it 100 (but that’s another story). But 2020 taught me that I must rely on GOD not religion.
Growing up Adventist we were taught that during the last days we would be worshipping in our homes because our churches would be closed. HA! We never thought that the churches would be closed due to a pandemic. Columbia Union Conference was proactive by publishing and distributing a timely “unwanted” package has been a blessing to me and my relationship. It is amazing to sit back and contemplate how God is guiding two different people, on opposite ends of the beltway, opposite genders yet are simultaneously experiencing God working in the same manner. God knew before I began my search for the perfect bible app that a tiny “unwanted package” would provide the “extra quality time” that I was longing for. Thank you, Columbia Union Conference for my timely and MUCH NEEDED PACKAGE!
December 26, 2020 was a LONG day! It all began at 2:00am when my daughter and her boyfriend, my son (11), and I jumped into a minivan to head to Tampa. My first born (22) is truly ready to enter adulthood by moving to Tampa with her boyfriend. Exciting!
We jumped on 295 South, Sean (bf) entered their address into my GPS, and it said it would take 12 hours 51 minutes😳but I had been mentally preparing myself for this drive for weeks. The challenge was to complete it ON👏🏽MY👏🏽OWN👏🏽!
Driving in the dark, while everyone else was KNOCKED out was daunting. However, I was prepared with various playlists that I’ve created on Spotify over the years! Jay-Z, Rihanna, Jhene, Big Sean, Drake, and Cardi were just a few of the artists that accompanied me along that drive.
For some strange reason it seemed like the sun didn’t want to rise Saturday morning! During the work week it seems like it’s up and ready to start the day at 5-6 o’clock but not on December 26th. Not when I needed it to come out! I was getting extremely tired and found it VERY necessary to pull over and sleep for at least an hour. Sean offered to drive but I turned him down. This was possibly my last road trip with my baby and I trust ME with my children. So, I slept for about an hour or at least til the sun came up, drank some more coconut RedBull, and got back on the road! It was important to make good time, as the rental needed to be returned by 8pm.
Thankfully we didn’t run into any major traffic and we didn’t have any mechanical difficulties! God is GOOD! We made it to Tampa around 4:30pm with at least 5-6 stops along the way! Not bad at all and I completed the drive SOLO! I knew I could do it.
As I drove through Tarese’s new neighborhood, I began to get teary-eyed. It was hard to believe that my baby was not gonna return home with us after this short vacay was over. I was trying my best to hide my tears as we got closer to their house. I had to use my sleeve to wipe my tears so nobody would notice that I was crying.
We finally got to their house, I backed into the driveway, and tried to maintain my composure. I did pretty well until all of her belongings were out of the van and in the house. I didn’t want to linger around cuz I had another two hour drive to Gainesville to see my cousin. I grabbed my baby, started crying, let her know that I love her very much, and told her I was proud of her! I was excited about her moving out but I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to leave her. We’ve been together for 22 years and now she’s on her own. I can’t wait to see and hear about all of her successes!
Nope…this story isn’t over yet! Desi and I jumped back into the minivan and headed to Tampa International to return the van and get a smaller vehicle for our three day stay in Gainesville. My mind was so wrapped up in missing my baby that I forgot to fill up the tank. Y’all know that car rental companies charge an arm and a leg if they have to fill up the tank. Luckily, the attendant quoted the price for them to fill up the vehicle 😱$46 and then told me that I could take the vehicle back out to fill up. That’s just what I did cuz what do I look like paying $46 for a half tank of gas? Of course, what was supposed to take 10 minutes turned into 30 because I’m not familiar with the area and my GPS loves to update slowly. So yeah, I missed several important turns to get to the gas station that was quoted to be 5 minutes away! Anyway, I filled up the tank and headed back to the airport. Of course, checking back in couldn’t be simple! There were three cars that pulled in ahead of me😩. Those of you that KNOW me know that…”I have no patience and I HATE waiting!” (Jay-Z ~ Big Pimpin’) But I had no choice! Once the attendant finished checking my vehicle BACK in, I asked for directions to the next car rental company.
Maaaannnn, we got to the 4th floor where the car rental companies are located. There were people upon people upon people getting off of the train to get a rental. I panicked cuz as I said before…I have no patience! I began to speed walk through all the people that refused to social distance! We finally found the rental company I used and ran smack dab into another line! At first, I was cool until I noticed there was only ONE agent and five people ahead of me. I quickly had to change my mindset and prepare for the wait, as this was beyond my control! I didn’t even keep track of the wait time because it would have triggered my impatience!
It was FINALLY my turn! I had my license and credit card in hand, gave it right to the agent, but he looked straight in my eyes and said he couldn’t find my name in the system. I couldn’t believe my ears and began to look for the reservation on my phone but before I could pull it up, he found my reservation! I immediately whispered a prayer of thanks. Then he tells me they only have minivans left but could switch me to their sister company for a smaller vehicle. I agreed cuz who wants to fill up a minivan again? NOT I! *HUGE SIGH* The agent then asked me to follow him to a different counter so I could rent the vehicle from their sister company. **SMH…One agent with at least ten customers between two separate counters trying to keep all of his customers happy 🤦🏽♀️ Praise God for helping me maintain my mindset because looking back I’m surprised I didn’t freak out!
Everything worked out, I got the papers for the new vehicle, and we headed to get the keys. We ended up with a janky Nissan Versa but whatever…we have our means of transportation for the next couple of days. Now to get BACK on the road to head to Gainesville. I’m so ready to get in any bed but first food so we aren’t famished on the way. At approximately 8:20pm we got on the road for our 2 hour ride to Gainesville. We arrived at our hotel at 10:01pm, checked into the hotel without a hitch! December 26th was the longest day EVER! And I’d do it again in a heartbeat because…ANYTHING for MY CHILDREN! When they need me I will always be there!
I’m getting teary-eyed as I think about going back home without my baby. I know she will come back to visit but it’s going to be different. It is going to take a lot of getting used to and I know I’m going to get sad for weeks if not months knowing that she no longer lives with us. We are all going to miss her! The only thing that gives me comfort is knowing that she is with a young man that I trust. He’s ALWAYS been a great young man! Anyway, I’m on my way to being an empty nester! Kinda exciting and scary at the same time! I’m nervicited (nervous + excited…yes I created my own compound word) but I can’t wait to see what else God has in store for Tarese. God’s got her!
Desi and I ~ Dec. 27th after getting some much needed rest.
Summer 2020 has almost come to a close. Due to Covid-19, the world has been SHUT DOWN! Maryland has been under quarantine since the beginning of March but the rest of the world went under lockdown mid/end of January. The United States was hit harder than other countries due to negligence but this is not a political blog.
Life as we KNEW it had changed in the blink of an eye and we were due for a much needed quiet but fun getaway. 2020 has been quite stressful, as mentioned above. However, my window was closing due to the beginning of the 20-21 school year…albeit virtual for the first semester.
Soooooo…
The researching began! I started looking at Jamaica, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Aruba. The prices were okay, but for an 11th hour trip…a little on the pricey side. The search continued…Breathless, Secrets you know all the well known resorts. One day I received an email notification to read the reviews on The Reef 28. I immediately clicked on the link and my jaw dropped! This adults only, all inclusive resort with a rooftop also had an infinity pool and two jacuzzis. The price was right with flight, and private transportation included. Now, don’t get all excited the private transportation is just a white van that only has one stop…YOURS! Perks…TRUST!
We flew United from DCA, which had a short layover in Newark, New Jersey. United was really good about sending out documentation that was necessary for the trip, however most of those papers are still in my possession. I would fill out and print everything, just in case! Things are changing day by day and you don’t want to get caught without important documents.
Be mindful…
We are still in a pandemic and there are some people out there that do not like to abide by the rules and guidelines set forth by the CDC, airlines, restaurants etc. There were a few times I had to stick my foot out to the side, give the death stare, and say, “GIVE ME MY 6 FEET!” I had my mask, gloves, face shield, and wipes ready to go. I was prepared!!!
Once we arrived in Cancun, we had to battle the vendors to get to our transportation. Keep your eyes straight until you see your transportation company. Otherwise, you may end up being scammed! We made it to our transportation without any issues, got right into the van, after they sprayed our shoes and bags down with some type of solution, and we were OFF to our hotel.
Rooftop
This boutique hotel is not on the beach but is a short 5 minute drive to The CoCo Reef or a 10-15 minute drive to The Reef Playacar, both sister resorts. The Reef 28 offers shuttle service throughout the day, but we really weren’t trying to be on anyone’s schedule because…vacation! All inclusive visitors are able to visit the other two resorts, participate in activities, eat, and drink any time during their stay. Each resort has a spa. 👇🏽
Hydrotherapy at The Reef 28
FOOD
If you’re a Taurus the most important part of LIFE period is FOOD! Yes, FOOD! The Reef 28 has two restaurants. Veinti8cho, formerly a buffet and the other I don’t recall the cuisine…it was decent but the portions were rather small. However, we happened upon three really great restaurants in Playa del Carmen. The first was La Parrilla, which is on 5th Avenue right across from Forever 21. The second restaurant is Rockas Jamaican Kitchen. It is a very small restaurant but the food is amazing! As I placed and waited for my order, the aroma smelled authentic and I began to wonder how in the world Mexicans were able to season the food like Jamaicans. I was a little confused but intrigued. A few minutes had passed, then this van pulled up, and a tall Jamaican man walked into the restaurant…it all made sense now! Needless to say, the food was OUTSTANDING!
Veinti8cho
Our last dinner in Playa del Carmen was extra special because he wanted to make sure we ate somewhere new. So, we walked down to Ictio, which was no more than a five minute walk. The sun was going down, there was a nice breeze, and we were seated at a table near the road, in this quaint restaurant that certainly didn’t look like much. We placed our orders! I got an appetizer which easily could’ve been my meal…battered fish over cabbage, he ordered octopus (YUCK), and for my entree I ordered the Pesca del dia (catch of the day) red snapper. Of course, I had to have the head removed because my food can’t be staring back at me. NOPE! Due to the pesca del dia being rather popular that day, I had to wait for 30 minutes to get my entree. LINDA LISTEN!!! The aroma of that fish was EVERYTHING but I was full from my appetizer. How could I not eat it, after he planned our last vacay supper? I had to eat it because I am NOT one to waste food…it’s against my religion LOL! I have NEVER tasted any fish made by anyone that tasted that good. I had mine baked with lemon garlic seasoning on top. I didn’t even get a chance to take a picture of it, it was THAT good!!!
comida magníficaPulpofin
5th Avenue
This is where the vultures play! LOL! If you don’t like being bombarded by people trying to get you to spend your money, you may want to avoid this area. However, it is part of the experience. Just keep your eyes straight and have a firm NO resting on your tongue! I highly encourage that you walk down 5th Avenue, as it’s great to be amongst the natives and to see all of the souvenirs they had to offer.
5th Avenue
TEQUILA
If you like Tequila you want to try to find Crema de Almendrado con Tequila. I am not a drinker but let me tell you something…this is the tastiest tequila out there. It is not at all easy to find but if you can find Mom’s jewelry shop (which is to the right as you come out of the hotel, left at the very first street…walk past the building, and you will see two small jewelry stores) they may offer you a taste and then ask to buy a bottle or two! Thank me later!
delicioso
ATMs
The absolute worst thing you can do when you are traveling outside of your country is not have any small bills. Luckily, I went to the ATM at the airport and had a decent amount of money for spending and tips BUT I didn’t get small bills. If you forget to get money before you leave there is only ONE ATM that I suggest you use. You can find these ATMs near the Avis car rental on…I believe it was Constitution (which is parallel to 5th Avenue but the main street). We also found a location that changed out our large bills for smaller ones for free! I however gave the guy a tip just because!
EXCURSIONS
We did not get sucked into the excursion abyss leaving the airport! Nor did we attend the timeshare trap which is offered at EVERY hotel. However, we were approached by a gentlemen on our CoCo Reef beach day…he offered jetskiing, parasailing, and snorkeling. We weren’t prepared to put any money down that day but we surely went back the next day for our adventure!
ParasailingTrue blue
DEALS and DISCOUNTS
If you aren’t afraid to travel, now is the time to look into staying at The Reef 28! This was the best trip EVER! Playa del Carmen is a scale down from Cancun, in that the pace is slower and more family oriented. It was also nice being amongst the natives with no fear!
The Reef 28 is still offering amazing deals so check it out TODAY! The cost was less than $1500 for two adults, all inclusive, flight, transportation to and from the hotel, and insurance. Don’t hesitate and book your next vacation at THE REEF 28! Tell them we sent you. LOL
Mask – a covering for all or part of the face, worn as a disguise, or to amuse or terrify other people.
Growing up my eyes were wide SHUT! They are wide open after tonight! You never truly know what someone is dealing with on the other side of their mask. Many of us wear masks. Some of us wear our masks…to disguise the pain, to avoid the truth, to destroy, to draw in those that we wouldn’t normally attract, for gain, and so much more.
Wearing a mask to hide the pain and truth can weigh on an individual. Removing the mask is not an easy task. After years of hiding behind it, it may be very hard to be vulnerable enough to open up to someone or something that has the potential to hurt you but not the intentions.
February 21st sparked my countdown frenzy thanks to Jhené Aiko announcing that she was releasing her third album entitled Chilombo (her last name). She had JUST released a new single P*$$Y Fairy on January 17, along with a video! P*$$Y Fairy is the New Women’s Anthem!!! Many men are benefitting from P*$$Y Fairy on the daily…TRUST!!!
Not only that, on February 26, she dropped yet another single “Happiness Over Everything” (H.O.E.) featuring Future & Miguel, accompanied by a video.
Jhené DID NOT COME TO PLAY with y’all H.O.E.’s!!!
Cuz, the very next day, we got yet another announcement about The Magic Hour Tour and yours truly couldn’t wait for those presale tickets to DROP!!!
Let me line this up for y’all, she drops an album exactly 2 months before my birthday, announces a tour where she will be in DC 3 days before my birthday, and YOU KNOW I’m going, right?!!!
Jhené isn’t just a musical genius but a mogul!!! I’m so moved by her growth vocally and spiritually. You can sense the growth throughout Chilombo!!! I’m impressed and in tears. I’m so glad that I became a fan years ago cuz to see her on this side of her journey is everything. But more than that, I’m going to meet her three days before my birthday!!! Here’s to maintaining my composure!!!
Make sure you listen to the album! I’ll be back to talk about my favorite songs. I’ve been listening to the album since it dropped at midnight! I’m gonna be hella tired…no I’m not thanks to Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s Avocolada with double energizer 🤷🏽♀️
What do you do it for? What are you running for? What are you running towards? What are you trying to prove? What do you got to lose? What is the path you choose?
~ Ascension by Jhené Aiko
ascension – the act of rising to an important position or a higher level
To ascend one has to come face to face with SELF and life experiences. Life offers many ups and downs. One must open themselves up to reality, in order to deal with what is really causing the pain or anxiety. One has to dig deep, listen to, and focus on one’s self. Dedicating this kind of time and energy to discover and possibly face the hurt again. This process may break you but will be worth it in the end. This journey is not an easy one by any means. This journey is going to require a lot of effort and hard work.
Why would one have to dig in order to ascend? Getting to the root of the problem is what is going to allow the healing process to begin, hence ascension.
Letting go of the past or letting go of things/people that no longer serve you along your journey…must go. Unfortunately, that may mean family members, friendships, significant others, unhealthy thoughts, or anything toxic.
I’ve lost so much in this life that I’ve gotten to a place where I have begun to feel a numbing sensation. In order to ascend I must allow myself to feel the hurt. I’ll allow it! It’s time to ASCEND!
Being a single parent is EXTREMELY hard! Sometimes it is a choice other times…NOT SO MUCH. I’ve been a single mother and it’s not easy. BUT I’ve also had the support of my children’s fathers one way or the other.
I recently saw a meme on either Facebook or Instagram (I can’t remember) and when I saw it the first thing that crossed my mind was, “This is a sad but a true reflection of so many households.” I continued to scroll without liking because although it is a true reflection of MANY households, it is not MY reality, therefore NO LIKE FROM ME!
Before I get to the main reason for waking up in the middle of the night with this darn meme on my mind and the urge to write…I also know women that are living that meme. The meme is a true depiction of their past or current situations; whether the father be ordered to pay child support and doesn’t or the father doesn’t pick up his child when he says he will and disappoints the child time and time again, so much so that the child no longer becomes excited because he/she knows disappointment will follow. A woman in this situation may very well like the meme and has every right to do so, as it is her reality.
BUT, there is gonna be that BITTER BITCH that will tag her “Baby Daddy” on that meme because he has moved on and is no longer with her and she’s in her feelings; she’s trying to drag him because she is miserable with herself; or she’s just trying to get a negative reaction from the father. If this is you, YOU ARE LAME!
Let’s take a look at the definition of absent and absentee parent. ABSENT – (adjective) not present in a place, at an occasion, or as part of something. Hmmmmmmm! ABSENTEE PARENT – is a parent who either wanders in and out of the child’s life, is inconsistent, one who was an active part of their child’s life before abruptly CEASING (putting an end to) contact, or a parent who has never been involved in the life of their child. HMMMMMMMM!
If a father IS in fact not only paying child support but spending time with his child, is he absent? Mind you, absent means not a part of something.
This goes to those women that are gonna screenshot that meme and send it to their child’s ACTIVE father or tag him on FB or IG:
Sis,
If your child’s father is in his/her life, Sis, he is NOT absent. No matter how hard you try to make him look bad, Sis, the man is present! LOL! You are just bitter because he chose to leave, you chased him away, or simply let him go. But also, SIS, you can’t fault a man if you refuse to let him see his child. Stop being CHILDISH and making everything about you, SIS! Your child will be better off if you put your bitter ass feelings to the side and allow that father to step up (if he’s willing) and be a father to his child. There are so many things that we as women cannot show or give our children like their fathers. Little girls need their daddies to teach them how women should be treated. Little boys need their daddies to teach them how to be men…WE CAN’T DO THAT! So, Sis, put on your BIG GIRL PANTIES and let that man be a father to his child and stop trying to guilt trip him because YOU in fact are the guilty party! Guilty of keeping your child away from his/her father. Guilty of holding onto the past. Guilty of manipulation. Guilty of being a selfish, evil, bitter HAG! GET OVER YOURSELF!
My friends and I went to Mary’s Designer Boutique in Annapolis, MD in August 2017. We were so excited about being together and looking for the perfect dress for the bride to be. We walked into the boutique and there was a sign that reads, “I said YES to the Dress”. This made us even more excited and we wiped out our phones and began to snap (Snapchat). We tiptoed toward the dresses and then Mary came over and directed us to our seating area.
This is supposed to be an exciting, fun, and momentous occasion for the bride to be BUT…Mary’s Designer Boutique left much to be desired. Mary, the owner, was very impersonal, inattentive, uninviting, and hurried. Customer service is extremely important to me. My friends and I had a scheduled appointment but felt as if other customers were more important. Mary left our party for another customer and NEVER came back to check on us. She then had her receptionist helping us find dresses etc. The receptionist was CONSTANTLY on her phone. As SOON as she stepped out of the dressing room…ON THE PHONE. She walked over to get another dress and she was hiding between the dresses…ON THE PHONE. THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM! Then Mary told us that every place in the area had the same dresses and we wouldn’t find anything else.
I posted the above on her FB page only to find out that we were not the only people that had a horrible experience at her shop. Another potential client, Haley (whom I’ve gotten permission to use her review) said the following:
I just had the worst dress shopping experience here. They are very pushy and only care about making the sale. Once we walked in they were rude about how many people I had with me, even though I cleared the number with them at first. Mary claims to be a designer with her “originals” however I ran into an old employee of Marys (worked there for a good amount of time) and she said that she doesn’t even make these dresses and Mary is just a scam artist who puts her own tags on designer dresses. She made me feel uncomfortable in the dressing room since she wanted to be in there the whole time and also got mad at me when I couldn’t tell her exactly what I did and didn’t like about each dress. She also told me was last minute on buying a dress… my wedding is almost 10 months out. Needless to say I left in tears. Mary and her employees are unprofessional, rude, and only care about the sale. Avoid at all costs.
There are many more reviews just like the above on Mary’s Facecbook page. It’s sad that someone is running a business in such a manner that turns people away.
We DID find a quaint shop just 10 minutes away (Love and Lace) with SUPERB customer service from the time we set foot in the door. I suggest you pass Mary’s Boutique unless you like unsatisfactory customer service and cold shoulders. Even if the bride had found a dress, it wouldn’t have been purchased from Mary’s Bridal Boutique.
ellesnlife 