BREAKING BARRIERS....DOING THE UNEXPECTED...THE POWER OF A DREAM

HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE AMERICA!!!!!!!.....MY GREAT GRANDMA VOTED YESTURDAY AT 102 YEARS OLD AND SHE HAS LIVED THROUGH SO MANY ERAS IN HER LIFETIME....SO IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 13 HOURS SINCE OBAMA WAS DECLARED THE PRESIDENT ELECT..ANNOUNCED AT 11 PM LAST NIGHT....IT CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE THAT I WILL REMEMBER FOREVER...STUDENTS HERE AT THE AUG WERE OUTSIDE CUTTING FLIPS, LOTTING, HUGGING, CRYING, DANCING, AND SINGING...IT WAS LIKE A NY BLOCK PARTY OUT THERE BUT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL THOUGH. WE PRAYED TOGETHER AND SANG AMAZING GRACE...TODAY AT NOON WE MET UNDER THE FLAG AND SANG THE NEGRO NATIONAL ANTHEM AND WAS LED IN PRAYER BY JOHNNY GARNER...JOYNNY THEN GAVE A BRIEF INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE MENTIONING THAT WE HAVE AS A PEOPLE ACHIEVED SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WANTING FOR SO LONG AND THAT NOW THE CHANGE HAS TO BEGIN WITHIN OURSELVES...PREACH JOHNNY!!! SO ROBERT KENNEDY SPOKE WHAT IS SAID TO BE A PHROPHETIC WORD ABOUT THIS HISTORY MAKING EVENT: BACK IN 1968 STATING THAT "IN THE NEXT 40 YEARS A NEGRO CAN ACHEIVE THE SAME POSITION AS MY BROTHER (JFK) HAS ...WE ARE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO..." MUCH LOVE AND MUCH PRAYER IS NEEDED THAT AMERICA WILL TURN BACK TO THE GOD OF THE BIBLE AND STOP TRYING TO CREATE A GODLESS LIFE...... PICS OF THE ELECTION DAY AND OTHER ST. AUG EVENTS WILL BE POSTED ON MY FACEBOOK AND MYSPACE PAGE GO CHECK IT OUT....GOD'S BLESSINGS TO YOU!!!

OUT OF MANY, WE ARE ONE

Experience This Trade

One day, two years ago, I decided that it was too much to carry...It weighed too much and I refused to tote that unneccessary baggage around, that hinderance that kept me from giving Him my all. When that severe pain struck my heart like no other at that moment I knew I had to talk to that man that could give me a fair trade. Like an SUV today, It was costing me too much and it had to go!

This pain....

*Crepted in so unexpected, at the stage of innonence, and made my heart its home

*Walked with me throughout my day and slept with me at night

*Talked to me whispering words of Hatred into my ears

*Led Me into some dark places that I never imagined myself being and simply could not stay

*Held my hand as I crossed the street and did not help look both ways

*Fed me the most disgusting dishes one could prepare

*Ate with me each day never displaying table manners

*Bathed with me but was unabled to be washed away by the flowing water from the shower head

This Pain that I carried was one that was unbearable...Yet it prepared me for the greatest trade I have yet to encounter thus Far

I met a man who traded me JOY for my Pain

This Joy.....

*Was given to me therefore it can not be taken away by no one who walks the earth

*Is my new dedicated walking partner

* Speaks hope into my situation and encouraging words to my Soul

* Leads me into great places and His Presence

*Holds my hand when everything seems to be failing and when things appear to be going well

*Eats with me and has all the manners in the world even passes the salt(lol)

* Will never be cleansed from my being *Is my Strength

This Joy is that which I was given from God himself and I plan to let it stay with me until the End....The Greatest Trade Ever...Trade in Joy for Your Pain....Be Blesses and Stay With God

Celebrating Life on 911

While this is a day that we all take to remember the lives that were all affect by the World Trade Bombings 7 years ago, this day has been a cherished day before the Attacks took place. My Great Grandmother better known as Nana has celebrated her 102 years of life this year, and my God is she blessed. She is not criple, blind, or unable to do for herself. The 1925 Fayetteville State Graduate now resides in South Carolina with her granddaughter, Sunday Frank(my mom) and is sharp as ever. Nana holds her tongue for no one and has to know what is going on at all times(nosey) While speaking to her on the phone she expressed how much she missed me and was of course wondering if I was okay away at school. She misses me but when I'm there she tells me-LOL....She's a piece of work. But on the serious side, she has lived through many significant eras of this world that she rarely speaks of but I think she has her own personal reasons why.

I Will Forever Love and Cherish, Rev. Dr. Dorothy Roper- My Nana--Happy Birthday!!!!

CFO: The Believer's Lounge Is Right On Point

Last Night(Monday) was my first night attending The Believer's Lounge hosted buy non other than The Christian Fellowship Organization better known as CFO here at the Aug. We started off by attempting to play what was intended to be an ice breaker, A game called "Big Booty" and No in no way was it provocative and or degrading. But anyway with the official opening, prayer was led by an Alumnus Omar Wiggan, the program's Prayer Coordinator, and the session began. Viewing an interesting film Why God Made Me...opened the door for Regional Coordinator for Black Campus Ministries, Mr. Fred Williams, to begin the discussion, "Real Talk: Discussion About Real Pressures that College Students Face"...Would love to tell you more but then you won't come out. But ill give you a brief schedule of some of the general activities that CFO does and come and visit...it will make a difference.

Every Monday 7:30pm-9:00 pm- Believer's Lounge Goold Hall Room 202

Every Wednesday- Noon Day Prayer held in the Chapel

The President, Gisel will be willing to help those who are in need of finding a church home of finding the one most suitable for you There are also vacant positions waiting for a dedicated and humble worker to do the job

....Come out, Fellowship, and Be Blessed....Can't Wait To See Ya There

Always Remember CFO's Vision Statement:

Don't Settle....Transform Your Life, Renew Your Campus, Change your World!! Romans 12: 1-2

****When The Past Meets The Present****

When you hope that the encounter will be refreshing and your mind is simply inquistive and is longing to find out how life has treated another or how they have treated life. To only see that once again, you have came in contact with one who is caught up . One who thinks that you are worthless and just like others Not realizing that you have turned out to be what they are not used to A Lady of Standard and Worth, that you are truly one of a kind...and That You Have Evolved into True Treasure ! They will know soon....You will show them.....When the Past Meets the Present

Are You Ready St. Aug.??? Mommy's Little Girl Departs

So the Lovely Lady has spent weeks anticipating her departure to the capitol city, The City of Oaks, Raleigh, NC and now the time has come and oh so fast. Looking forward to life on campus this year and looking to maintain that perfect GPA I am leaving and ill come back again..The summer time was the best ever. I got a chance to work for The University of South Carolina with the greatest kids and staff and I got to visit my Home and my old steppin ground.... BROOKLYN!!!!! At St. Aug., I plan to take advantage of the great opportunities that I will encounter. As a rising sophomore, I'm majoring in Mass Communications(with a concentration in public relations) and Sociology. Yup ill be out in three years with two B.A's. Not sure where to after that but hopefully a great job offer will be awaiting me completion and maybe even a hubby(lol- not a necessity but it would be nice). I have time to think about the next move but until then, I'll do my best, hold my head up and always keep God first. Thankful that I have made it through thus far I cant let anyone or anything stop me now...McFadden and White Head sang it best"Ain't no stopping us now, We're on the Move(yeah-ee a yeah-ee a)!!!!

The Verse Continues:

There've been so many things that have held us down But now it looks like things are finally comin' around, yeah I know we've got a long long way to go, yeah And where we'll end up I don't know But we won't let nothing hold us back We gonna get ourselves together We gonna polish up our act, yeah And if you've ever been held down before I know that you refuse to be held down any more, yeah yeah Don't you let nothing, nothing Nothing stand in your ..................

Although the Classic Disco hit was released in 1979(may I mention nine years before I was born) and written for a different era it still holds a great significance...To anyone is striving and longing to accomplish their goals...go for it......Dream Big and Aim High....If I can do it so can you!!! Oh and This is Not the end...The Lovely Lady says her life is to be continued........

Much Love!!!!!!

The Features of This Lovely Lady

A Lady....... once she is found, has so much to offer and she would wait for the one love to come a long that will be able to accept all that she is and love her forever. Here is a brief description of this Lovely Lady that is oh so beautiful and possesses such talent and worth.

The Lady:

A HEART that longed to be mended, placed within a BODY that has felt tremendous pain and a MIND that could never understand why things seem to work out the same, EYES that see so much in the lives around her and try to use her HANDS to work hard enough to make a difference.

So with this HEART of hers that will recover, a BODY desiring to regain strength, a MIND that will fight to overcome the wars on its battlefield she promises to keep her EYES open to notice what passes by and what stays near. This woman has LEGS that she plans to use to STAND with her head held high despite what surrounds her and ARMS will be open to comfort those with whom she crosses paths. Her SMILE she will allow you to see when you make her laugh and bring joy to her life. Her FACE, you will see in your mind when you think of beauty. Her EAR, she will let you whisper in to tell your deep darkest secrets to never be heard by another. Her HIPS, she will use to bump someone out of your space. Her LAP, she will allow you sit if you're in a tight place. Her LOVE, is so true and sincere. Her MOUTH she will gladly use to call you Dear! Her LIPS, you could feel so soft and smooth. Her LOOKS in a time of displeasure would convince you to move! Her FEET, will be ready to walk a mile and more to get the job done.

But her SOUL can only belong to ONE.

This Lady is no fictional character in a novel, trust me, she exist and is truly all that I have described to you...A Lovely Lady awaits her King..Whether he comes or not she will always serve The King.

Frustration, Frustration, and More Frustration....(TGIO)Thank God It's Over

The day I left home to embark upon a new life and to continue my college career wasn't so bad... The next day though was a completely different story. I put in eight hours...just like most professionals do on their jobs. By no means was it fun at all. Going from one line to the next and having to stand in the same line three times was Riduculous and Out Of Control! First to Financial Aid, then to the registration process. Lines were from one building to the next and it was dumb hot outside or blazing hot. People tryna hold a spot for their friends and hommies tryna jump the line....Then getting in the building eventually sitting in a row of seats as you slid down when someone was assisted. Man, if I would have slid down one more time, I would have been on the floor....... the lack of staff and information was driving everyone CRAZY!!! The Aug has got to step their game up a notch for the upcoming semester... Being on list 5 in the financial Aid Office when at 12pm they are only on list 2 is not so comforting but some have no choice unless they camped out in front of Delany the night before waiting to be the first on the list.Boy oh boy I know I wasn't the only one who was frustrated but THANK GOD ITS OVER!!!!!!!

Brooklyn Baby Back Home

Yup, Your Girl Maine......The Brooklyn Native........ FINALLY went back home during the 4th of July.....for a visit on vacation from life in the country. A week full of reunions, bonding, and developing new friendships was sooo much fun! I was able to see people that I have not seen in ages. Trying to do something diferent this visit around I actually tried to plan my trip full of museums and other cool sites but I did not follow that schedule at all. Mainly because of lack of detailed planning and a tad bit of laziness. I needed to prepare myself for those train rides back and forth to the city. It is not something that I would want to do everyday but to those who have to I commend you. Now most of you reading this already knows that I have lived in BK for 16 years of my life and have had to take public transportation to get to school, church or even to a friends house but it is something else. I hit up a few cool spots: ESPN lounge, Stir It Up- a great spot for some Carribbean Cuisine- Thanks Coconut!!!!! And the list it goes on.... I saw so many people that I love and miss: My brothers, My Dad, Coconut, My Baby Girl Naiya and My BFF Tee, Sophia- Loved her company and hospitality, Donald and the Crew on Strauss, The good old church folks down at Monk's Memorial, Freewill, and Full Effect.

The hood was still looking the same... Crime, Drugs and more and more churches and Bodegas. Jeff Ave. was dead as usual, The Latinos were still blasting their music in the corner store, and of Course the people were still RUDE!! What can I say I live in a different culture and the south has taught the City Girl a little manners but when was in NY I can't say that I was the kindest but a change took place.

A Late Women's History Month Tribute: The Determination of a Woman

The Willlingness to go beyond the barriers set before her

The Hope that one day her dreams will become her reality; despite the negativity she encounters

The Passion to influence change in her society and not just taking whatever is given

The Love that covers a multitude of faults

The Courage to put herself in harms way for the sake of her family

The Fight to be who she is and to never back down to even the tallest giant she faces

The Determination of a woman is strong, she is passionate, she loves, and she fights

She keeps moving and does not plan to stop until it is night

The Determination this woman has she will instill in her daughters and her sons

She knows that she possesses a great gift; she shines brighter than the sun!

******

My Reflections

While writing this piece I was not really thinking about myself or any of the women around me but simply trying to create a piece to meet the deadline of my school's newsletter. Helping out with the newsletter I try to stay informed and to make sure that I acknowledge those who deserve or have earned the right to be honored, a woman is definitely the perfect candidate. After reading this and letting others review it before it was published, I began to see why the words came to me so easily. Not only do I see myself in this poem (as I strive to make things happen for me) but I see another very special lady in my life. I didn't ask but I know she doesn't mind but this poem reminds me of Ms. Brenda Brown, my Southern Mom and a cherished being. She will be in an upcoming featured article that I am working on about The Ups and Downs of a Southern Life. Stay tuned and I'll write soon. Peace and Love To All!!!