Questions's From Yam's Blog Four

Questions's From Yam's Blog Four

What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
This year, I bought a Christmas tree for my house. It was a small, Charlie Brown tree, but a tree nonetheless. I also visited three countries I had never spent any time in.

Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My goals for 2011 were: travel, write, and work on my health.
I traveled this year, and I wrote for my church newsletter and blog. As for my health, I need to make a better effort. My goal for 2012 is to make what I eat count, meaning the food should have some nutritional benefit. Like ice cream has calcium, a Twinkie, well not so much benefit.
Goals for 2012: Travel, publish an anthology for my church, and make what I eat count.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
I type no with trembling fingers. No baby showers this year for me.

Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. Below is a segment from my Editor’s Corner from the July 1 PCC Scroll:

On May 1, the pastor of the church I attended when I was a child passed away. I was able to reconnect with him and his wife a few years ago and thank them for all they did for me and my sisters when we were growing up. On May 14, my grandmother on my dad’s side passed away. Although I didn’t know her that well, it was sad to hear of her passing. She was my last grandparent. On June 7, the aunt of one of my close friends passed away. I spent 2.5 weeks with her during my trip to India. She was such a strong woman, a historian, and a story teller. She and the other ladies I stayed with found a sacred place in my heart.

http://latonja.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-1-2011-pcc-scroll-editors-corner.html

What countries did you visit?
I went to Hong Kong, China, and Macau.

What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
I would like to have more of a dating life.

What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory?
My trip days are always such a huge part of my memory in any given year. Travel is inspiring and changing. I also enjoyed seeing Prince on December 19 with Desiree.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’ve had a goal to increase my “I don’t have a job” emergency fund. I’ve made some serious inroads. For 2011, I decided to not drink any alcohol and I kept that goal. I also had a day of devotion where I read scripture, prayed, and blogged about it. I accomplished that as well.

What was your biggest failure?
That’s an interesting question. One thing I have been working on is not letting anything destroy my internal peace. Despite any chaos and drama, I need to remain centered. I’ve made inroads, but I still find myself being taken in by dumb stuff. Need to keep working on it.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major, just a few colds. My health tends to be good.

What was the best thing you bought?
My ticket to Hong Kong. I have also been trying to revamp my closet so I’ve been going clothes shopping.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
I noticed that a lot of people are trying to accomplish their dreams. I am very proud of those people.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
This is an interesting question. I find it depressing when people just don’t tell the truth. Like, if you tell me you love me, then love me.

Where did most of your money go?
I splurge on travel. Technically, most of my money went on my mortgage.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Travel plans and plots on future travel plans. I was also super excited to see Prince again.

What song/album will always remind you of 2011?
Nothing comes to mind.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? Happier
thinner or fatter? Fatter
richer or poorer? Richer

What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I could afford to do more travel.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
I need to stop reaching out to people who don’t really care about me. I should really focus on those who love me.

How will you be spending New Year's?
Watch Night service at church then home where I will have sparkling cider.

Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Probably my friend Sophia who lives in Florida.

Did you fall in love in 2011?
No, but I developed a crush.

How many one night stands in this last year?
Do people do that? I don’t.

What was your favourite TV programme?
I don’t really watch current shows. I like watching syndicated programs of Seinfeld, The Office, and 30 Rock. I did discovery Grey’s Anatomy via Netflix.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don’t really hate anyone, but there are people who are not healthy to be around.

What was the best book(s) you read?
I keep rereading the same books. I have however rediscovered romance novels. It’s my secret shame.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
I rediscovered Prince.

What did you want and get?
I wanted to travel, and I was able to save enough money to do so. Oh, and my job was upgraded!

What did you want and not get?
Last year this time, I was hoping for Mr. Right to come along. This is kind of a dilemma for me. I am comfortable and happy in my current state. I don’t want someone to come a long just for the sake of having someone. He was to be the right someone.

What were your favorite films of this year?
I must have watched some new films year. I saw Something Borrowed and that was cute. It doesn’t really classify as favorite though.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 37, and I went out to pizza with some of my friends. I also went to other lunches and dinners.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
As I get older, I realize that nothing external can make me satisfied. That has to come from inside. So, I will say appreciate for the blessings in my life.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
I tend to be casual.

What kept you sane?
Writing and my awesome community.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The old favorites are still in play.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Democrats and Republics playing silly, partisan games that do more damage than good.

Who did you miss?
I miss my friends who live far away like Yamini, Mary, and Molly.

Who was the best new person you met?
Do I even meet new people? Well, maybe my crush.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
People show you how they feel. Talk is cheap; it takes money to buy land.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

2011 Letter

2011 was a good year. I can’t remember anything major happening to me. It was more things happening to those around me.

As you know, I have a goal to take one major trip each year. This year, I visited my friend Alice who lives in Hong Kong. We also went to China and Macau. I liked Hong Kong. It was a city with a fast pulse. I particularly liked what I called the real Hong Kong. This is the Hong Kong outside of the tourist area. Macau was awesome. I would actually like spending some time just walking up and down their old roads. They had the best buns, and it made me want to go to Portugal! It had a really good feel to it. I had a small glimpse at China, and I am hungry for me. The greatest part of the trip was being able to hang out with a good friend.

I also traveled to NYC for my job. It was a great trip and my friend Sophia joined me. I was able to see the Spider Man show on Broadway. It was fun to just walk around, and we went to a comedy show that was actually funny.

This year, three great people passed away. It’s weird because on one hand, it seems like a lot of young people are passing away. On the other hand, it seems like a lot of mighty oaks are falling. The pastor from my youth, my grandmother, and my friend Yamini’s Aunt Mani who I spent time with in India all went to the other side.

I am still working for the Port of Seattle. October 1, 2011, marked my 15th anniversary (included my temp time). I am grateful to have a job, and especially grateful that it was upgraded. The first 15 years went by so fast. I assume the next 15 will go by just as quickly. Time is moving!

Church is going well. I am putting the final touches to the first issue of year 11 of our newsletter. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. It continues to be something I enjoy. I know I was called to write, and my skills as an editor are improving. I am also an usher still. I have come a long way from my “mean usher” days. God has been good to me. God has surrounded me with wonderful people. I am truly blessed in this area. God has sent me a lot of love, and I am thankful for it. I am very excited about our plans to publish an anthology next year.

My hair is coming along. January 8 will mark two years of locking.

I have no idea of what 2012 will bring, but I am excited. I think it’s going to be a good year!

I pray that you had a Merry Christmas and will have a Happy New Year!

Week 52

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13

I am so relieved that this has come to an end. It started out good, but became a chore, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a day of devotion.

I am a little tickled because I wanted to use a certain scripture to mark the end of my journey. As it turns out, I had created by own scripture by combining Ecclesiastes 9:11 and Matthew 24:13 to make LTB 1:1, which says,

The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

So, part of my finishing the task was enduring until the end. I honestly wanted to quit much earlier, but it was so important for me to finish the race once I started.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Week 51

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

This weekend, I was thinking how hard it is to date in our society. This is in part due to what I call the three-date rule.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-date_rule

Now, I admit this is not a hard fact. The survey suggests it might even be a four+ date rule. I use it to illustrate how quickly physical intimacy is happening in relationships nowadays.

I told my pastor and his wife on Sunday that it is going to be extremely difficult to find a man who is going to not bolt over the simple fact that I am abstinent (and trying my best to stay that way).

And, I have been thinking. Part of the reason I don’t date is because I really don't think there is a guy out there who is going to want to wait until after marriage before becoming physically intimate. Sadly, I just don’t believe this. I was thinking about this and the fact that I really have stopped believing that there is someone out there for me. I would love to get married and have a family with someone, but my faith is very weak in this area.

Then, I started thinking about how powerful God is. I had to ask myself why I believed He was powerful in all areas except for this very important area of providing a mate for me.

So, for my devotional, I choose a scripture that basically says who God is. He is the Almighty. If I can believe He created the World. If I believe He was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. If I believe He died and rose again. Surely, I can believe that He can provide someone who wants to walk out this part of my faith with me.

It will be short courtship (smile).

I saw this quote on a Facebook page, and it reminded me of my puzzle.

To have integrity means that you don't agree with everyone you meet, nor do you succumb to pressure to be something that is in direct conflict with your core ethics. ~ Byron Pulsifer

This is and will be challenging. Pray for me!

Week 50

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (KJV)

This is week 50. Two more to go after this.

As each year ends, I reflect on how the year went, and I think about my future and my dreams and desires.

Time my friends is moving way too fast. Since my college years, time has zoomed by. As a child, time seemed to move so slowly. I can remember yesterday sitting on the street corner by the house I grew up in wishing for time to move faster so I could leave. Now, I blink and a year is already gone.

One thing I keep close to my heart is that God knows me and that He wants the best for me. Yes, there are things I don’t have that I want, BUT God’s desire for me is to prosper and to have peace and to have hope and to have a good end.

So, I choose Jeremiah 29:11 to meditate on.

There is another scripture that says God won’t hold any good things from me, which is so true. There are too many things I thought I wanted that I am so happy I didn’t get.

So, be in couraged that God wants the best for you! Sometimes, the good things take longer to come. Plus, timing is everything. Some things we haven’t been ready for, until now!

Week 49

On Sunday, my Pastor spoke about forgiveness, and so I decided to use the scripture for my devotional yesterday. He came from the text in Luke 17:1-4, which is below.

“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”

Sometimes without trying, I offend people. Sometimes without trying, people offend me. I try to be laidback and let things roll off of me. Most things won’t matter in a week, a month, and most certainly not in a year.

My goal is to live as peacefully among people as I can. But, not everyone has this goal, especially people whose wounds are still raw or un-dealt with. It’s hard to love people who lash out at you, and it’s hard to want to be around them. However, I’m learning that a soft answer often deflates the rage. If it doesn’t, it’s time to move away. I am not perfect, but it’s never made sense to me to try to fight with a person who is already hurting and damaged. BUT, that doesn’t mean there is a part of me that does wants to lash back. When it comes down to it, I really just don’t see the point. Having grown up in a war zone, I've already seen enough to last me a lifetime.

I was thinking about forgiveness and reactions to the offenses, and I thought about this piece I wrote back probably in 2006. I posted it in 2008, and the link is below. For that entry I used Luke 6:27-38, which talks about offering the other cheek. Not sure if I am there, but certainly willing to give people the benefit of a doubt.

http://latonja.blogspot.com/2008/11/forgiveness.html

When it comes down to it, holding on to bitterness and resentment and anger do more damage to the person holding on to the emotions. Bitterness, resentment, and anger have an impact on our health, and they have an impact on how we treat others, and by others I mean everyone else but the person who made the offense.

Life is too short. Forgive and move on. Easier said than done, but the person they most benefit is you.