Hope you had an opportuntity to view it . . .

My flyer relating to my soon to be (i.e. within the next 6-12 months) non-profit. I realized that until I officially registered the company, I could lose the name. That would be awful, since I took care in choosing it.

As soon as my org. is official, there will be a post to show it off.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!!!

It has been 2 years since I posted my very first blog entry---today! I had absolutely no idea that is was my anniversary, so I am so unprepared. Since my knitting is somewhere in lala land, I thought I would share some photos that I planned to post later:

Hold on to you weave girls . . . a nor'easter is a comin'!

Did I ever mention that I have a sister (different mom)?

and a brother (same mom)?

A mini reunion at my cousin's wedding; mom (pink), her siblings, the groom (tallest person in the picture) and his dad (mom's brother), mom, brother and sister (she is the one with the jacket on--sixteen people, sixteen and yet with all of that makeup her face screams 25)

we all look a lot better in the light of day . . .

So it's a few tomorrow's later . . .

But I do want to post this next video. This is courtesy "Porter-Moore Family Reunion" which was held this year in NYC, NY.

BTW, it's the only dance I participated in . . . even though I was suffering from a very stomach bug (ugh!). I was determined not to allow my fragile condition (okay, not fragile, but I was suffering something awful--I would share, but I would get waaayyy too many TMI replys!) to put a damper on the vacation. enjoy~

There will be knitting . . .

Just not today. I did not get to go away somewhere special for the summer. Instead, I attended a wedding and a family reunion.

Each had a line dance . . . each had participants of varying ages. Today, it's the wedding. Tomorrow the reunion.

OMG! it's been so long!

Folks, I apologize. I have missed posting and thought that I'd posted at least once a month, but oh, how quickly time flies.

Part of the absence has been an absence of knitting. I injured my wrist somehow (wish I could say how, it is still a mystery to me) and just couldn't knit. Being the person that I am, I procrastinated instead of just seeing a doctor about it. I thought it would go away. Famous last words.

Anywho, it's better and yet, still too much going on and little to no time to post or knit for that matter. I am in the midst of projects:

1. Applying to Graduate School (I got in! yippee!)
2. Home renovations - roof (it is 99.99% done--still need finishing touches, but the most important part, the shingles are only neat and tidy), hardwood floors (two rooms left), tile (doesn't feel like I will see this in 2008, everything is so time consuming), and installation of kitchen cabinets and appliances (oh how I wait for my new stove to be installed!!!)
3. Getting my PMP certification (job related and requested - failure is not an option)
4. income tax preparation - yes, I filed an extension (we won't even go there - and no, I've not been "stimulused" yet) :

This is a snippet of things on my plate. Also, many details on how the house is looking, the school I'm attending, etc. will have to wait. I promise not to take months blogging about them. It's just that I'm due to take my cert. test on Monday and it's Saturday. . .so, I have to run.

My truth in studying:

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all the things that I said to you." (NKJV)

"I agree with Forrest Gump!"

This week on the Today show, there was a segment about these FL teens beating up on another teen (could have been a one-time friend). Personally, I thought it was brutal. This teen will now have to deal with hearing loss in one ear; possible vision loss ( not sure if it's temporary or permanent at this point); and who knows what other injuries she may have to live with when it's all said and done. The segment explained that the young lady blasted these "friends" on Youtube and this was their retribution for the mean remarks. Now, I did not read her remarks, so I cannot comment. However, there is nothing that anyone can say about me (true or false) that would make me want to endanger my own lifestyle (i.e. freedom from prosecution) or anger me that I'd want to go a few rounds with them. Life is entirely too short to waste it on drama. As Forrest Gump said so eloquently, "and that's all I have to say about that."

Award Winning Speaker!

You know, most people would take their 3rd place trophy in defeat and put it in an obscure place and hope that they do better the next time.

Well, not me! I am happy to display my 3rd place trophy. I've come a long way in 3 years. I absolutely disliked speaking in public. I would do anything not to speak in public. It was so obvious, the tremor in my voice. I even believe my face betrayed me.

Today? I am still nervous before a speech. But it is not a reason to not get up and speak. I realize that 9 of 10 speakers still have butterflies, jitters and nervousness before a speech. A wise person once said, "courage is not the absence of fear. It is moving forward in spite of it." I understand that now. Besides, I've also realized what "fear" really is:

F- false
E- evidence
A- appearing
R- real

You may stumble over your words from time to time; you may feel butterfiles in your belly; you may even forget part of your speech; worst of all: your hair (that you paid handsomely for) may fall onto the floor in the middle of your speech, but it is not life-threatening. It is life. And life is meant to be lived. Not tolerated, not survived, not endured. Lived and lived to its fullest. This I work on each day. Living.

So here it is, in all it's glory:


Why the yarn? It is competing with the knitting. There may sometimes be a contest scheduled during my normal knitting night with my friends; it competes with knitting when I have a speech that has to be written for my normal meeting so that I can advance my speaking skills ( I am currently working on my advanced designation). My dream?

1. To become a professional speaker (yes, I want to be paid to speak). This is important to me because I want to use that money to help others. In the right venue, you can make a fair amount of money. I will be able to have wells dug in the countries I visit where I see the need--clean drinking water is something I think many of us take for granted.
2. To win the International world champion of speakers award. It is the highest award that you can win as a speaker in Toastmasters. It means you go to the annual International Convention and you've won numerous other contests to get there (this year it's being held in Calgary, Alberta CANADA). I would absolutely like to take this from dream status to goal status to reality. Hmmm.

The tag line? I've decided in order to become what I want, I should look at myself as I want to be seen by others. Technically, I am an award winning speaker. Now, did I say contest wining? No. So, I haven't lied, now have I? Aaah, that poetic license. Beautiful. It is all about marketing oneself.

Enough dreaming for now. I actually have a very long to-do list today.

More

I found this on a wall in one of the squatter's camps. Across from this was the Zandspruit clinic:
Yes, this is a hair salon. The levels of poverty and prosperity is diverse.
While what you see above is a photo, I did see this in the shanty area, I just didn't get a clean snap.
Here is one of the "declarations" that I mentioned. It reads, "All shal have equal human rights." Amen.

Another look at Africa

This is the caravan of medicines, supplies and clothes that we brought along with us as we try to get through customs without having to pay extra:















Our first day in country was spent taking a day trip to Soweto. We visited several areas, one being this square where this dedication was erected to be a symbol of the new democracy that is South Africa.










Here is one of our in country sponsors, David. He is one of many Americans who've moved to the "New South Africa" to be a part of the change that is occuring. As I got to meet more of these transplants, I realized that if you have something to offer SA in the way of technical abilities or services to equip or benefit the economy, you tend to live much better than you did in the states.




Although we didn't manage to get inside the museum, we took a couple of pictures outside of the Mandela museum. There is a hope that Mandela survives until the World Cup which will be held in SA in 2010. Mandela will be 90 either this year or in 2010 (I forget).









No matter where you may go in this world, in at least one Catholic Church you will find a Mary and Christ child to resemble its congregants











Here is a picture of the group as we were touring the square. I will try to post the other declarations which we were told were comparable to our Declaration of Independence, only it is written in stone. Literally.









I just couldn't resist posting this little man. He reminds me of the joy that you find in many of the people.