Is it ever too much? personal

May 11, 2016May 11, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

I must admit to you that there are days when I start out to pray and that little impish voice in me will say “but you thanked God for this same thing yesterday, so why should you bother him to thank him all over again?”

….And the wiser one in me tells me that “God is never tired of hearing my voice and that I should never forget that he inhabits my praise,” which I can assure you keeps the impish voice sulking in a dark corner and wondering what wise retort to come up with.

Unfortunately for the imp, it always falls short.

Yesterday was my son’s birthday which was also a school day, even though he’s of the opinion that such an important day should be spent eating cake and making merry – which is not a bad idea, however, we struck a good bargain – that boy can negotiate 😉

A bargain that he’ll go to school for classes as usual and also join his mates for their scheduled outing to Ski-Dubai, with the promise that we would have a birthday dinner in the evening and also take him to the theme park to play during the weekend.

For some reason, I wasn’t comfortable with the school outing and my niggling mind led me to pray with them and talk to him about being careful.

By mid-afternoon, the day was running smoothly until my phone rang and it was the school nurse. I detest getting such calls because it’s never something to jump up and down over.

The lady nearly gave me a heart attack! Her slow narration on how some other boy got a bit rough at play with my son and mistakenly hit him in the eye had me chewing my nails in angst. A riot of emotions ran through me. I felt like having bionic powers and hurtling off to the school to grab my child, but a little voice told me to keep calm and thank God.

In relief, I thanked God, for it could have been worse. Asides from a slight redness and puffiness which had gone down, he’s as beautiful as ever.

Which brings me to this point of my story.

Each new day is a present day, a new beginning and the fact that I thanked God yesterday for Grace, Mercy, Favour and hedge of protection over my family, should not make me not to thank him today and tomorrow and the next…

For we are told that when we commit our ways unto the Lord, our paths are established. There’s nothing like too much praise when it comes to the goodness of God.

I hope that there’s something that you are thankful for today.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

@ithankful 🙂

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Never leave me lonely

With words left unsaid

You walk away into the dark

Like a mist, that melts away.

Family · Personal · Photographs

To my child of promise…

May 10, 2016May 10, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha38 Comments

Your legs are stretching longer

each day extra inches are added

as you gallop out of cradle-hood

into the years of boyhood.

I marvel at the speed of time

so fast, you’ve already turned nine

tears prick my eyes in wistful thoughts

as I go back through the years.

Through the years of your babyhood

holding on to mama’s hands

you are always close

hugging and dogging her footsteps.

You, my greatest cheerleader

my fiercely protective one

my loving support

my son and my friend.

You are always quick to notice my looks

never failing to pay heartwarming compliments

“you look beautiful mama, the bestest mother ever,

I love you to the moon and back always,” and indeed you do.

My Chiemerigo – The Lord has won

you are a beautiful child through and through

a generous, kind soul and considerate one

your earnest eyes are eager to help me

and quick to forgive and apologize

My child of promise

you’ve promised me everything under the Sun

your words “I’ll always take care of you, mama,” which are older than your days, never fails to

make my heart expand in love and

makes me wonder at the wisdom bestowed to such a young one

May the arching rainbows of your life remain vivid and bright

may the Lord’s lamp remain at your feet and direct your steps.

His Grace and Mercy shall never depart from you

as you journey through life, the Lord will uphold you.

He will surround you and will remain your right hand.

To my Child of Promise,

your days are blessed.

Today as you turn nine, I give God all the glory.

Happy birthday my boy.

I love you to the moon and back, if not further.

Love, Mama

Everyday People · Family · Humans · Life

Have a bite…Every day beautiful people #38

May 10, 2016May 10, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha10 Comments

“If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.” BUDDHA

I enjoyed watching the lady take morsels from a tray and give the man standing in front of her whom I presume is her husband and a younger gentleman, possibly her son.

She reminded me of my mother and the lesson that when we share, we always have enough 🙂

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Brand me whole as only you can

That the entire score of me

Knows nothing but the fullness of you.

Family · Guest Posts · Security · Self Help

Let me introduce you to a Soul Sister…LaTasha Robinson.

May 8, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha9 Comments

SAFETY FIRST

Few weeks into blogging, Tasha is among the first beautiful friends I made in this place. In a short blogging time, she became a soul sister.

Always there, supporting, sharing, uplifting to the point that I know if I get the opportunity to be back in the U.S. she’s one lady who I am waiting to meet in flesh.

I admire her down-to-Earth nature, resilience, wisdom and in a business dominated by the opposite sex, I admire her guts and appreciate her friendship.

Thank you, lady T and here’s a single rose of appreciation for you.

Hi, Friends!

My name is Tasha. I am a wife, mother, homeschooler and entrepreneur. I wear many hats, but those four are at the top of the list.

If you’re a parent as well, I know one of the top concerns that you have for your children is for their safety and well-being.

Nothing else trumps that. No amount of money, material things or possessions.

Being the mama bear that I am, I have made it my life’s purpose to not only prepare my children to protect themselves, but to also educate and equip others to do the same through awareness, dialogue and a host of many different self-defense products.

What is self-defense?

Self-defense is the ability to protect yourself from physical harm. Despite what you may think, the best form of self-defense is mental, not physical. Knowing when to remove yourself from a situation or how to de-escalate one is far better than any kick or punch that you may have learned. Hand-to-hand combat or self-defense devices should always be a last resort option.

Why is self-defense important?

Would you wait until you nearly drown before learning to swim? You could, but by then it might be too late.

The same goes for self-defense, if you wait until you’re in a life-threatening situation to realize how important it is, you may not get another chance at it.
The plus side is that you lose absolutely nothing by being prepared to protect yourself.

Why I love what I do.

I am proud of the fact that my products save lives. I can go to sleep every night knowing that I am contributing to society in a positive way. There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in that. Everything that I sell, from Tasers to pepper spray…are all non-lethal. So you too, are able to sleep at night.

Where to buy

My Webstore – http://www.safetyfirstselfdefense.com/

MY BLOG – Hit below the belt…hard

Below is my first Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Dance to your heart’s delight my African child, until echoes of your stamping feet, beating heart; bright eyes, smiling lips; and waving hands, resonates over and over like thunder claps, reverberating throughout the Universe.

Just dance.

Everyday People · Family · Photographs

Future generation…Every day beautiful people # 32

May 2, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha7 Comments

“Parents who wonder where the younger generation is going should remember where it came from.” Sam Ewing

# Cute baby bump 🙂

Family · Guest Posts · Parenting

It was impossible to please mother…Personal recount from Linda of Nutsrok.

April 28, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

This is a post swap between Linda and I. Be sure to visit her end and read my own little naughty side 😉

We get to share a short story of each others childhood escapades.

Now, this is called collaboration and we should do more of such things in this space.

Linda’s one of my favourite bloggers in this space and if you haven’t been to Nutsrok, then you, my friend are so seriously missing out on very good chuckles and charming company.

She always has me in stitches and appreciative of life. Her real-life recounts on her growing up years is worth a movie and I don’t exaggerate.

It was impossible to tell what would land me in trouble when I was a little kid. Mother was impossible to please.

We had a new kitten. I found a kitty surprise in the baby bed and knew for a fact Mother wouldn’t be happy, so I went into the kitchen and got Mother’s salad tongs.

She didn’t use them a lot. I picked up the kitty surprise with the tongs and flushed it down the toilet.

The cat poop had been nice and dry and didn’t leave a mark on the clean sheet. Pleased with myself for being helpful, I tossed the salad tongs in the sink and went on my self-satisfied way, without even bragging on myself.

In a few minutes, Mother called me. I found her examining the tongs, critically, looking and sniffing. “Did you use these tongs?”

Proudly, I answered, “Yes, Ma’am. The cat gee-geed in the baby bed and I cleaned it up for you!” I waited humbly for her praise.

You’d have thought I broke a what-not like I had a few times!

“You cleaned up a cat mess with my kitchen tongs and put them back in the sink. Look at the mess left on here! Do you want that on your food? That’s filthy. I’m going to wear you out!”

She got the fly swat and flapped my bottom three times. I hardly felt it, but I was deeply offended at her ingratitude.

She never caught me cleaning up cat gee-gee again with kitchen tongs or anything else.

Family · Musings · Stream of Consciousness Saturday.

The many sides of Ta,Ta…Streams of consciousness Saturday.

April 23, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha28 Comments

Today’s prompt for streams of consciousness Saturday is ‘ta’ a British slang for thank you which we could use it this way, or find any other word that starts with those two letters.

When we were much younger we used to say ‘ta da’ cheerily as a slang for expressing surprise, see you, there you are and it’s amusing to hear my children using this same slang for the very same expression and I honestly can’t recall teaching them that.

So it does appear that the English slang has passed from one generation to the other.

However, at this point in time as the word ‘ta’ comes to my mind, I am hardly thinking British at that moment. I am thinking in my native Igbo language.

In my language, the word ‘ta‘ is an abbreviated way of saying today, and its long form is ‘ubochi ta‘

Back home it’s used in a lot of proverbs especially by adults who use it to buttress a point.

Ta also refers to a fond way of addressing a little baby by stressing the word ‘ta-ah-ta’ being a shortened form for ‘nwa nta kiri’ meaning small child.

So with that said, I will ask you a question in my language and bid you a good day.

Kedu ka ubochi ta melu? How is your day today?

Ta bu gbo. Which means that the day is still young and you can achieve what you want. There is still time as long as there’s life.

Ka eme sia. See you later.

Family · Lifestyle · Personal · The Great Book Of Lists

Oh My! What A Long List..

April 21, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

Please don’t peek too closely at my long list of groceries but I have a household to nourish you know 😉

For this week’s The great book of lists, our grocery shopping list is the prompting word.

I have a love and hate relationship with shopping, but it’s unavoidable and since I cook virtually every day except on evenings that we eat out thus, my grocery/shopping list is a quite lengthy.

I actually have a typed list on my computer which I print off and take along with me, even though taking the list has never stopped me from buying something that’s not on it, especially if it looks like a good bargain 😉

I have two phases of shopping. Regular shopping marts for everything and a visit to the African store for condiments to make our native soups and delicacies 😉

I always like a full larder and I do bulk shopping twice a month and then pick up fresh goods like vegetables, bread, milk etc as the need arises.

My children accompany me and sometimes Dear Himself can be talked into tagging along when he’s not at work.

My kiddos are learning to sniff out good bargains too which is a mix of joy at their company and exasperation 😉

The list runs from food items in one trolley and other needed household items in another basket.

Meat: We are Carnivores. Sometimes I think I am breeding little Tigers.

Fish: To balance out the meat.

Chicken:

Ham, sausages etc:

Eggs: We ate lots of eggs. Scrambled, poached, boiled, omelette…

Cheese: Yess!!! I love cheese

Beverages. My children like Nesquick or Nestle Milo.

Milk. Everyone takes full cream except me *not that it’s helped much