reminders

hello, my child!

just here to remind you that you've sort of lost focus over the past few weeks. you've kind of forgotten that you have a purpose in life and the things you have been concerning yourself lately really have nothing to do with what I want you to do. yes, I know you are human and not perfect. but I still demand your praise, prayer, time, obedience and sacrifice.

yes, I know the deepest desire of your heart has not yet been granted. but what about what I need from you? remember when I said to seek Me first? remember that I said that all other things shall be added? that includes what you've been asking Me for. I hear you and I've not forgotten about you. please don't forget about Me.

remember how you've asked that I grant a way to draw you closer to Me? just like in times past, you've been answered. so don't back down from this challenge I presented your way. I PROMISE you'll be blessed by it. this is just a reminder that I still seek intimacy with you, precious one. I want that deeper relationship with you. I want to know that you'll not forget me when I do grant your inner most prayer.

I know what you want, my child. I also know better what you need, when you need it. don't be discouraged. don't give up your dream because it has yet come to pass. spend some time with Me. it's all I'm asking of you right now. really spend some quality time getting to know Me right now.

remember I'm the same one who gave life, who spins the universe and created the heavens and earth. I AM the grantor of things impossible and the Shepherd of Peace. I AM love and grace. I remind you to call out unto Me for I want to show you great and mighty things. seek MY face for you already have My hand.

I just wanted to remind you that I love you and I am watching over you day and night. I want to remind you that I need you as much as you need me. will you yield and earnestly give your will to Me? I want a sincere yes. all I ask of you is pour some of the energy you've spent in worrying about certain things into developing a better relationship with Me.

you're on the very edge of your breakthrough. but you have to trust and believe in Me enough to know that I won't lead you astray. have I ever forsaken you? remember how My grace and mercy that I've blessed you with over the years. just last month. just last week. just tonight. this is a reminder that I AM the same today, yesterday and forever more. I do not change.

I just wanted to tell you that. just in case you thought I was not listening. everything has a purpose and meaning. it will reveal itself in due time. just trust Me and know that I AM. I love you and wait patiently for you.

be blessed.

excerpt from the book of drenie

a little friday morning banter. enjoy:

rw: what cracketh?

drenie:
22 Mine poster design for a Bar event.
23 On this day, it is due before the hour of three.
24 At that hour I shall bring it forth to the printing company.
25 And they shall print it with haste, thus sayeth my print order.
26 The clients shall look upon it, and say “it is good, for the designer rocketh much”

happy friday everyone. be blessed.

wal-mart is beautiful

i have not been to wal-mart in a very very long time. about 3 or 4 weeks. to the avid wal-mart supporter, that is an excruciatingly long time. so, saturday i went in there 'cause i could not find the storage bins that i could one, afford to buy and two, find a style that would suit what i'm trying to do.

so. when all else fails... you go to wal-mart. you can find just about EVERYTHING there. your world of need in one gigantic place. anyways, i already ready know where i need to go 'cause i've memorized exactly where everything is in the store. and beauty of the wal-mart system is that the layout is exactly the same no matter what store location you travel to. need shampoo and lotion? enter the left side of the store, turn left personal hygiene and cosmetics is there on your right. need fabric and crafts? walk straight ahead pass electronics and jewelry. that section's in the back to your right.

so i've mapped out my floor plan. i need baskets. that's in the home decor section next to fabrics. well, at first i drive up and the grey facade that has been the staple of any wal-mart store for years and years has been changed. wow. it's now a nice mixture of earth tone browns. i go in the store, and boy am i in for a surprise.

everything's warm colored and very soothing. they've changed EVERYTHING! the lighting, signage, the music, even the employees' uniforms. the clothing section had hard wood floors. i feel like i've just stepped into a giant mall of elegance and convenience. i found myself walking every aisle because first i didn't know where everything was (they changed the layout a little, too) and just taking note of all the changes they made. this is a perfect example of how design truly meets modernism.

now do we really need hardwood floors in wal-mart? no, but it makes you feel so at home that you wander around some more and then eventually pick up stuff you don't need to buy. the atmosphere is so warm and cozy, you just can't help yourself. and after an hour of oohing and aaahing, i finally found the affordable canvas baskets i've been searching for. $8.88 each!

bravo interior designers! bravo! now... if they can fix imbalance in the customer to number of open cashiers ratio, we'll be in perfect wal-mart utopia. target, you're not the only ones whose home is inviting and stylish anymore!

be cozy. be blessed.

ego boost for thursday morning

ok. i'll make this quick since i'm at work. i was driving, listening to the steve harvey morning show. if you haven't heard him, he's wonderful, as is tom joyner. but anyway, they were discussing the shortage of good men, excuse me, good black men for us sistahs. a lady wrote in and talked about how she's a good person, divorced, no babies and wondering where all the good men are. of course, special guest george wallace asks if she's... well... not attractive. "'cause that could be part of why she's not with someone. there's more to that story than what she's telling."

i know this sounds cruel, but you had to have heard it in order to find it really funny. they eventually turned it serious and talked about how there really are some good men and women out there who are looked over 'cause of their looks or what have you. but my point is, i'm laughing at the jokes but inside i'm wondering "am i unattractive." now i know this to be an bold untruth. i'm quite attractive, beautiful to be frank. i come from gorgeous people. my parents are awesomely beautiful.

but every now and again, i wonder "am i ugly?" every person (especially girls) wonders this from time to time. if you say you haven't, you're lying. so i have to make a pit stop to the grocery store. running an errand for a coworker. he needs icecream for our office birthday party. i get to the dairy aisle and am looking for the plain vanilla. i pass an employee restocking the frozen desserts freezer and i say good morning and how ya doin'. i'm southern, we speak to everyone we pass or at least smile. anyway he replies with his answer and asks the same. i say good and keep on movin'. but as i'm walking away, i hear him mutter under is breath "good jesus" in a "lord, have mercy she's hot" tone.

now, i'm not one for seeking compliments from another person. i'm usually the one passing them out. but i've gotta tell ya' that shot my ego way beyond space. especially since my hair needs retouching and i'm not wearing any make-up today. usually don't wear make anyway, but that's not the point. guess my question has been answered. and it's a big fat no!

be beautiful. be blessed.

go to bed

so i realized today that i am not built for staying up 'til 1:30a.m. and then getting up at 6a.m to get ready for work. ok. i really got up at 8:15. amazingly i still made it to work at at 9. i'm so good at getting ready fast.

anyway i'm sluggish and not feeling myself. i for the life of me, i can't figure out why. then i dawns on me... duh your were up 'til 1. why? working on a freakin' freelance project. i told myself that i'd never stay so late that i can't function the next morning. but i procrastinated and other stuff came up and i didn't get it done 'til then. boo.

so this also forces me to think about what it is i want out my freelance venture. what am i willing to sacrifice for a few measely bucks? so i'll be thinking about restructuring so things better suit me and my needs, my patience and time. well it's 11p, now. i'd better go to bed so i can function like a human being tomorrow.

be sweet. be kind. be blessed.

waiting for his answer

so recently i decided to "put myself" in the way of my blessing. my destiny. i, after countless battles with myself, put myself on one of those matching sites. this one comes highly recommended by countless people. i've even been to a wedding where the bride and groom's uniting was a result of said site.

i visit, i fill out the free profile. i wait almost a year and a half and some $$$ later to make my site active. now what i like about this site is that they force you to really think about what's important to you. what your "must haves" and "can't stands" are. the profile really gets to the core of you and they take it a step further and tell you (based on your profile) who you would most likely be comfortable/compatible with. and dang it, if they didn't hit the nail on the head about me and what i'd like/tolerate in a partner. sweet.

now what happens is that once you've uploaded all this up close and personal information (and don't forget pre pay), the search is begun immediately. you choose how far and wide to make the search. i'm not one who'd do well with a really long distance thing so my search is at least in my region. i can decide later if it's worth it to travel wherever. but first let's meet. so, the search is on and two days later... NO MATCHES! it's only the first week so i hold out hope.

the next week a match is sent. i read the profile, sounds cool and i initiate contact. and can you believe it? i make the first move. nervous as can be, but he may be just as nervous as i am. we're both in the same situation. a week later... no word. the status says waiting for his answers. i can only come to the conclusion that he either is already communicating with another match or isn't interested in responding to my message. starting to think money, time and nerves wasted...

the next week ANOTHER match! are you meaning to tell me that there is more than one person out there who's as anal and slightly ocd like me? swank! at this point it's been two weeks sent i sent a message to #1, so i put him on hold. and initiate contact with #2. still nervous and at this point a little anxious. i'm starting to wonder if this is even worth doing. but i can't obtain that which i am not willing to go after. so it's now almost a week later and what is the status with #2? you've guess it "waiting for his answer." that's right. that makes two people who have not responded to me. am i inadvertently sending signals of desperation 'cause i initiate the conversation? should i have waited to see if the matches contact me first?

am i hurt? nah. a little disappointed? sure. losing hope? maybe. i have to remember that great love and friendships aren't found and built overnight. rome wasn't built in a day. so i'll not put #2 on hold just yet, but come this weekend, i'll not come to expect any hopeful emails on other matches found. perhaps if they send me a #3, i'll let him initiate the communication process first. i'll let him wait for my answers. ha!

i know i'm standing on the edge of greatness. and i can't shake the feeling that something unusual but good is going to take place. my imagination gets the better of me from time to time, but this premonition is strong. i don't want to say just yet for fear of jinxing whatever it is. i feel like i'm going to have to make a tough decision, but the outcome will be well worth the agonizing over it. what i'll do and continue to do is pray and seek God about it. i'll be waiting for His answer.

be patient. be encouraged. be blessed.