My Good News – Day 6

Hello everyone. Happy belated Father’s Day to all of the fathers reading this blog. Here is my good news/what I am thankful for today (and everyday). This blog is dedicated to the fathers who have had the greatest impact on my life.

1. I spent a wonderful Father’s Day in the presence of my husband and dad.  My dad is always there when I need him, when his grand-children need him, when my friends need him, when my mom (they have ben seperated for 26 years now) needs him, and when my grandma needs him. He is our rock! My husband is truly a blessing and an inspiration. He has been a great father to Saije and father figure to our nieces and nephews. He has been my support base and has provided an invaluable support system for my grandmother. They are truly great men, and I love them dearly.
2. My brother, who is now in the realm of the ancestors, showed me what it means to be a truly wonderful father. He was actively raising two boys on his own. He passed away two years before my daughter was born, and at the time I could not really appreciate how difficult of a task parenting was. Now, as a parent, I appreciate that aspect of him so much more. I am extremely blessed to have had his example grace my adult life. I love you Brian!
3. I have learned to forgive and thus free myself to fully manifest the glory of God within me. Early on in my life, my father’s parenting skills were far from ideal, and there were times when he was not present. There were times when my husband was not present, and it hurt. I don’t understand “why” and, no matter how hard I try, I never will because I do not walk in their shoes. Even if I could understand, it’s irrelevant because that understanding will never change the past. So all I can do is forgive and surrender – surrender myself to the perfect life of God, which is love. God loves me unconditionally. I love my earthly father unconditionally. The vow I made to my husband on our wedding day was, “I promise to love you the way God loves us” (unconditionally). Has it been easy? Not in the moment when I felt like a grievous wrong had been committed against me. However, in the grand scheme of things, living from a place of forgiveness, unconditional love, and thanksgiving for all that is going right in my life is FAR easier than living in fear, anger and hurt. That is my testimony.

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.”

                    Matthew 5:48 NIV

I strive to be the best I can be and I understand that others do the best they can as well. Love can and will transform any circumstance.

So, in honor of this Father’s Day, I honor the men in my life who have been wonderful blessings to me. I thank God for showing me how to love unconditionally (by example), for I am free to give and receive love. I am free to be the divine being God created me to be. I am free to be the wonderfully unique manifestation of God that I am. God dwells in each and every one of us. To love unconditionally is our true nature because God is love, and for that I am eternally thankful!

Happy Father’s Day!

Love,

Taiwo

1 comment June 22, 2009

My Good News – Day 6

As you may know, I love to spread positivity. If you wish to share your good news, please do so by posting a comment. Sharing really does help lift the spirits of others, and when our spirits are lifted, we are healthy, productive, creative, inspiring, caring, loving, wonderful reflections of God. So, here we go …

My good news / what I am thankful for:

1. I finished my music and dance resume. It has only been 23 years in the making (I am super late. I know, I know!). But it is a fabulous representation of me if I do say so myself, and I do. I am pretty darn proud of my work. I amazed myself … really.
2. I solidified the theme for my presentation for next month’s *Friends of Negro Spirituals 6^th Annual Negro Spirituals Heritage Day Award Ceremony. And the topic is (drum roll please): “Coding as a Means of Survival – the Function of New African Spirituals in the Antebellum South”. I am already visualizing a wonderful presentation followed by a glorious performance of my arrangement of “Great Day.” If you will be in the area, you don’t want to miss this event! Last year’s program was inspirational, educational, and entertaining. I am positive that this year’s program will be as well.
3. My nephew Jamil is here visiting from out of town. He has lit up our house with his smile and laughter, and the girls are in 7^th heaven playing with their little cousin and brother.
4. My family adopts and treats all of my friends like family – ALWAYS! It’s a wonderful thing.
5. My grandmother’s good friend routinely takes her on outings so she doesn’t get bored and so we don’t get stressed out worrying about her trying to sneak out of the house and getting lost.
6. I am blessed with a host of family and loved ones (friends) to laugh with, cry with, lean on, depend on, party with, care for and love, and for that I am truly grateful. Remember, love is the greatest gift one can give, so give it freely!

Love,

Taiwo

*The 6^th Annual Negro Spirituals Heritage Day Award Ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2009, from 2:30 to 4:30 pm at the West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline St. Oakland, CA 94607.

Add a comment June 18, 2009

My Good News – Day 5

This is what I am thankful for / my good news for the day…

1. I am currently in a chocolate induced state of euphoria thanks to Trader Joes’ dark chocolate covered Joe Joe’s (dark chocolate covered chocolate sandwich cookies). They are pure heaven! This is a wonderful thing seeing as how my day is centered around house work and errand running. Nothing takes my mind off cleaning floors and toilets like chocolate covered goodness!
2. My baby can tie her shoes! One step closer to independence (for Saije and me)!
3. I had a wonderfully rest-filled and inspiring Sunday.
4. I am feeling inspired, positive and driven. I expect good to come to me, and God has never failed me once. At the least, this day will bring me cleanliness for my house and more organization. At the most, it just might bring me my dream job!
5. I am happy and at peace.

   “A happy person is not a person with a particular set of circumstances. A happy person is a person with a certain attitude.”

• Buddhist quote

   

   

2 comments June 15, 2009

My Good News – Day 4

Once again, here is my good news AKA what I am grateful for:

1. My niece, Yasmene, graduated today from the 5^th grade. She is absolutely beautiful and the sweetest child to be around. She is also a great visual artist. Be on the lookout for her work in the upcoming years! I love when she spends the night because I get a break from the numerous joys of motherhood. I feel blessed to have spent this day with her. I remember my sixth grade graduation and all who were in attendance to support Kehinde and me. Two in particular, my beloved brother Brian and step-mother Elsie, are now in the realm of the ancestors. Thank you to all those who supported me as a child and continues to support me today.
2. Every day, I have an opportunity to express my God-given talents and abilities. I’m feeling inspired! So I write, sing, arrange music, sew, dance, choreograph … The list is endless! Every commute is a praise party with tons of choreography running through my head. I am literally in the car dancing behind the steering wheel!
3. My life experiences have put me on a joyous and inspiring life path. Thank you Mrs. Taylor and all of the members of the PVAMU University Concert Chorale. “I’m so glad I went to PVU …” My time there was truly an inspiration and part of the reason that I am teaching choir and arranging spirituals today!
4. I have an awesome faith community – I have a wonderful network of God-loving people around me of ALL faiths. You inspire me. You keep me grounded. You know that God is God no matter where you worship. Thank you Reverend Eloise and Ms. Jackie Hairston of the East Bay Church of Religious Science. You are truly women who inspire me. Thank you Bibi, my grandmother, who prays faithfully for our family and who helped raise me. Thank you Sister Linda, my God-mother, who prayed with me, every morning, through a tough time in my life and marriage. Thank you to Baba Ifakorede Awoyefa, my father-in-law, who divined my daughter’s middle name and flew to California for her birth. Ms. Saije Orisa-Damilola Awoyefa thinks the world of you. Thank you to the members of my dance company, Lyric Dance Ensemble. You guys are awesome! I know that God brought us all together and I look forward to continuing to inspire people through our liturgical dance ministry. AND …
5. God’s omnipresence in my life renews me EVERYDAY! I know that I am NEVER alone. I know that I am always in the midst of a lesson and a blessing. I know that I am loved, protected, provided and cared for. Thank you. Ase! Amen! And so it is!

Share your comments. What is your good news? Thank you to all who have shared. In the midst of chaos, God’s peace and presence is all around. Claim it and know that it is yours!

Love Taiwo

P.S. I just feel so good now!

3 comments June 11, 2009

My Good News – Day 3

Once again, it is time for my daily dose of good news, so here we go!

1. As always, I am grateful for waking up this morning. Moreover I am grateful for waking up feeling refreshed (this is not always the case)!
2. I am super grateful that I was able to go to bed early last night.
3. I am grateful for my good health.
4. I am grateful for peace of mind, body, and spirit (I am claiming this for myself for ALL the days of my life).
5. I am grateful for my extended family – my wonderful friends!
6. I am grateful for my grandmother who diligently empties and loads the dishwasher everyday! Her contribution really streamlines the process of cooking for 6 people.
7. All of my needs are met – plentifully. That which I desire IS making its way to me. My prayers ARE being answered – even when I don’t see, or misinterpret, evidence of this fact. My faith is unshakable, and I thank God for that. AND …
8. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback on this blog. Thank you to all of you who read it, and thank you to all who post. When reading the blog, if you want to see what others are posting, click the “comments” link at the bottom (left) of each daily blog. I know there is more good news out there. Share yours, and share what you are thankful for. We can all be an inspiration to each other!

1 comment June 10, 2009

My Good News Blog – Day 2

Hello again! Here is what I am thankful for today:

1. Good Health – mentally, physically and spiritually (especially after being ill over the weekend).
2. My students – Today, my last day of teaching a Special Education class full of boys at Elmhurst Middle School, my students actually looked like they’ve been paying attention over the last 6 weeks! In spite of the times when I wanted to cuss them out and leave (but I restrained myself), and when getting them to participate was like pulling teeth with no anesthesia and unsterilized instruments, I was actually proud of them today.
3. My loving husband – who has the patience of a saint with my grandmother. He gives her her insulin (I am too squeamish), and takes her to all of her appointments (God bless him because there are many!). He even listens patiently when she’s talking in circles and we have no idea what she’s talking about. It’s no wonder that she loves him too!
4. My daughter – She asked me to sing her good morning song to her 3 times today, so I did!
5. My sister and niece – I would hear my sister singing the good morning song to her daughter before mine was born.
6. My parents who always support me – My mom who loves this blog; and my dad (who I learned the good morning song from as a child) who brought me the DMV “release of liability” paper work for my former car (Holla!).

Now it’s your turn. What are you thankful for? Don’t be shy. Post a comment so we can all witness our blessings multiply!

2 comments June 9, 2009

My Good News Blog

This blog is all about good news. Too often in this day and age do we hear about bad news. It’s all over television news programs and in newspapers. Constant inundation with that stuff will have you feeling weak, depressed and crazy. Well, I am all about feeling strong, healthy, happy and empowered. This is where I will share my good news, and I invite you to share your own. A friend of mine recently told me I was living in a fantasy world and I had to correct him. I said, “No, I am very grounded in reality. But why focus on the bad when there is so much good to focus on?” Why indeed? That which we focus on becomes our reality. I am creating good in my life. Won’t you join me?

My good news:

1. My baby can read! She just turned four and she can read complete sentences. She is the light of my life!
2. I just got another job teaching voice lessons at a music studio in Livermore, CA.
3. I am being honored by the Friends of Negro Spirituals as one of their 2009 Negro Spirituals Heritage Keepers for my work in arranging, performing and lecturing about African-American Spirituals.

Now for the big one …

1. My car just got repossessed and my faith has not been lessened one bit. I am not mad, sad, stressed out, depressed, angry – nothing. In fact, I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I know, like I know, like I know that I know God is good ALL the time. I know that I am in the midst of a blessing, so I am not stressing. I know that my faith is being tested, and I’m passing this test. I have been through worse, and I am still here, in good health, surrounded by people who love and appreciate me. I am abundantly blessed, and as long as I am still breathing, anything I dream, desire, and focus on can be mine.

Now it’s your turn. What is your good news? What are you thankful for? All of us have something to rejoice in daily. Post your good news and let us all witness our blessings multiply.

May you all be blessed abundantly with God’s perfect peace.

Love Taiwo

2 comments June 8, 2009