Live Ever After: February 2014

>> Sunday, February 23, 2014

Women's Day

Friday, March 28, 2014

Northern Virgina @ The Mason Inn

As we build the structure of our lives, we create a dynasty that

will leave an impact for our family, friends and community.

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DIVINE DYNASTY

Marriage Retreat

March 14-16, 2014

MARYLAND

"Place me like a seal over your heart,
    like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
    its jealousyunyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
    like a mighty flame".

-SONG OF SONGS 8:6

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A MIGHTY FLAME

Recipe Tips

>> Thursday, February 20, 2014

I wanted to share some very interesting tips for accentuating drinks and food: I've experimented throughout the years and these are some ideas that have stuck with me. They may not all be the healthiest so use in moderation.

1.The best punch is one that has a powdered mix with soda and no water added. (You can drink water after).

2. Once I had no lemon for my tea so I had the great idea of putting one teaspoon of lemonade. (You will not need to add sugar).

3. When living abroad they had no BBQ sauce so I made one of ketchup, mustard and honey to cook and glaze the meat.

4. I will never buy french dressing again as the secret recipe is ........ketchup and mayonnaise. Mix to your own taste.

5. I will never buy tarter sauce again as it is mayonnaise and sweet relish. Mix to your own taste.

6. I learned that lemonade taste great with mint leaves in them. Let it stand for a while to absorb the flavor.

7. I love drinking tea from a clear glass mug with raisins, apples and other fruits on the bottom. (Even a cinnamon stick).

8. Once I ran out of bread for french toast and used the raisin bread that was there. Yum, Yum.

10. I use my own hero Italian bread when it gets hard. I place in a bag and crush it to make bread crumbs for breading chicken breast. Works just the same as store bought and I do not have to throw it away. I tried it with left over bagel but it did not work. It did work with left over croissants.

11. I enjoy drinking egg nogg in cereal for a nice change. You can dilute a little with milk if it is too egg noggie.

12. I love Pina Colada. In blender just mix pineapple juice with coconut water and ice Coconut water has become the new craze for health and hydration. I use coconut water with milk and put in my cereal as well.

13. Make your own Shirley Temples that cost $6 at a bar restaurant. On ice, mix Sprite with the cherry juice/syrup from the cherries in a jar.

14. My island makes great tea from choosing leaves in the backyard. If you can find a store that sells lemon grass, boil it with or without ginger for a refreshing taste. (There are other leaves but not sure what they are in U.S. In my country we call it "Bush Tea").

That's all I can think of for now. Happy cooking or should I say mixing.

I Didn't Know My Own Strenght-Whitney Houston

>> Saturday, February 15, 2014

Power of Perseverance-Part II

>> Thursday, February 13, 2014

Everyone knows this popular verse:

1^st Cor 13 Love always protects always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

From looking back, good really came to me just for preserving. That family member who was negative about my future success, shows regrets for ever treating me so poorly. I was never rude to them and this must have been the sour in their milk. I feel so bad for them, more like pity than anger. For the professor who inadvertently stated I would not make a “fine clinician”, I graduated with a 3.75 GPA regardless of his grade of a “D”. I eventually sought counseling myself after I went through a mild despair for having to leave the job that I loved, settle for a menial job and then be the only student rejected from a program that would change the course of my life. What did I do? The year the program started I paid for the classes offered by the program. Because it just started, the courses were not closed to the student population. The look on the professor's face when they walked in and saw me sitting in the front seat, was priceless. The professor walked to their desk and addressed me by saying, “Well hello”. In my response, “Hello to you too.” After a year of taking courses the student's thought I was one of them, accepted and registered with the program. When they found out I wasn't in the program, a few students started advocating for me. I applied the second year and was excepted. I improved the menial job given to me after the State said I could not keep my former job due to licensure requirements.

Upon leaving to come to Virginia, over the year in a half of looking for work, I was able to start a non-profit even with a few naysayers. The job I prayed for gave me great experience but there was a lot of bias. I was stuck giving 100% with no way to advance compared to other peer members in the agency. Then I had an interview that I wasn't going to attend because it was working for a new private practice that just opened. All I kept hearing was the horrible words from the last interview at that former private practice, “You are not private practice material”. I mean, she would know, right? She would know what it takes and maybe I did not have what it takes. I actually showed up just for the practice of the interview, not expecting them to hire me. Several months later, I was on a forum with the best of the best in my field and there she was; the woman who said I would never work for a private practice because I could not change a light bulb, I mean I was not private practice material. She saw me and my name but I guess did not have the nerve to approach me. All in all I have learned sometimes love and passions have to be redirected. I also learned that sometimes perseverance means “prove them wrong”. But lastly, you will never be disappointed in the long run for persevering and sticking to what you believe to be true and right. There is always a good and sometimes refreshing pay off.

James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Best,

The Advisor, Talker, Sensitive One, Fighter, Extrovert, Believer, Mother, Wife, Perseverer, Ponderer, Survivor, Optimist, Human Being....

Power of Perseverance-Part I

>> Wednesday, February 12, 2014

I have been learning a lot about perseverance. As an attribute love, kindness and giving get a lot of attention. Not many people speak about the attribution of perseverance, as it is also an important construct as the last three. Only now am I realizing how important a trait to persevere.

I had a family member tell me growing up I will never succeed and I will be a nobody compared to his daughter. What did I ever do to them at 12 years old. I once had a professor write an email to my Neropychopharmocology class stating he was not writing to be biased but “these are the results of the grades. All those with A's will make fine clinicians one day”. I got a “D”. In graduate school the program director started the first Accredited Counseling School in the area. Twenty students applied and all were excepted except me, the only one with actual experience. I could only assume it was due to me being the oldest of the group. My job at the time could not keep me in the position without at least an enrollment into a program for future licensure. So I was transferred to a less interesting job.

Four years later, I moved to Virginia leaving the comfort of everything and everyone I knew. It took a year and a half to find a job. During my job interviews one in particular stood out. She read about my situation and appeared nice enough to have me interview at her private practice. The interview appeared to be going well. I spoke to her of my experience in agency work when she said this is not the place for you. I was surprised to say the least and asked her what she meant by the statement. She continued to say in private practice you have to be able to take on independent activities like change a light bulb. In my mind I said “What?” Out loud I stated, “I can change a light bulb and even buy the bulb in order to change it.” Then she said the haunting sentence, which came out of her mouth in slow motion...... “You are not private practice material”. The interview pretty much ended there. I didn't mention all the rejections of love and likes throughout life, relative to everyone else' s experience of rejection. And later, the responsibility of raising children with my best friend.

(TO BE CONTINUED TOMOROW)