Tag: Celebrations

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Today’s featured blogs are:

The Nether World

My comments for this short story:

Phew! A rapid firecracker of a story. In minutes things can change swiftly and even dangerously.

Me, target audience, you of course

I love, love this Onetas’ list for writing to her target audience.  Made me smile and pepped up my morning. Take a read.

Tracy K Smith is the new poet laureate

Articles like this give me hope.

Farah Saleh

A new blog I started following and I’ve already seen inspiring posts. Check it out. 10 ways to have a better conversation.

I’m having a private party to celebrate the woman I’ve become

I’m not sure that I’ve read a more appealing post on turning 40. There’s everything to like about it. Step in and wish Chanty a happy birthday and huge welcome to adulthood 😉

Do step in, explore these blogs and show some love.

Do you want more eyes on your words?’

Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.

Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.

Thank you for your understanding and regards.

‘Remember, we create a cohesive community when we come together.

Gratitude

Mixed Feelings… personal

jacquelineobyikocha41 Comments

Often, getting older can be viewed with a mixed feeling of excitement and dismay. For the younger person, they feel that they are getting closer to independence while the older person sometimes wishes time could slow down a notch.Birthday_cake[1]

Having two of my favourite men (husband and one of my boys) celebrate their birthdays this week is a lot to be thankful for, asides from all the sweet consumptions that accompanies birthday celebrations, I am reminded of the countless blessings that my life has been decorated with. We are well. We have shelter and food. We have hope. We have a bright future. That is more than enough.

My son is fast galloping into a grown man and these days when I look at his tall, 6ft plus big frame, I remember my cute, itty-bitty baby boy with a head full of hair and shiny eyes. A boy who clung to me as a lifeline and laughed at my little jokes and play with him. Now he has his own ideas and jokes, independent in many ways and we are going through teenage ups and downs which I must confess baffles me at times.

Sometimes, the song “wish we could turn back time to the good old days,” hums in my head but I realize also that I wouldn’t have it any different than I do right now. Would I want my child to remain forever a child and not grow older? NO! This is the cycle of life and I am grateful to be a partaker as well as the parent of this beautiful child.

There are times I ask myself where time ran off to when I look at my darling Himself and realize that we’ve been married now for two months shy of 16 years and I realize that I’ve been awesomely blessed even when I didn’t know it. We are all aging with grace and maturing like fine wine and I am thankful 🙂

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

P.S: There are several gratitude/thankful platforms in the blogosphere that you can tune into and get your ithankful going on. I can’t express in words the enormity of Joy and fulfilment that comes from having a heart of gratitude. Please check out Maria’s blog, Colline’s blog and Bernadette’s for thankful/gratitude challenges.

InLinkz

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.

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‘A Richly Layered and Passionate Read.’ Jan Cliff

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works, you can fuel my creativity with a cup of coffee or a slice of cake😉

Devotions · Family · Gratitude · Love · Personal story

To The Daughter Of My Heart… personal

jacquelineobyikocha47 Comments
Wearing a crown painstakingly made by my younger brother :)
Wearing a crown painstakingly made by my younger brother 🙂

My dearest darling daughter,

I watch in awe as you edge on the cusp of teenage-hood, so fast, so soon, since it seems just like yesterday that your cute, squiggly and warm self was handed into my arms and you truly became mine.

I still relive your valiant struggle to surmount all the challenges faced by a tiny preemie and as I look at you today, my tall elegant child, it is in amazement of God’s goodness and grace over your life.

Daughter mine, my gentle unassuming child, in my minds eyes, I remember your tiny arms outstretched to me so many times as you uttered, ”carry mama” always a toddling step behind my feet.

Now, look at you! My beautiful budding young child, full of her own dreams and aspirations and bright as the morning star.1449293617280[1]

The love that I have for you cannot be expressed fully with words and my heart burgeons with so much delight with The Heavens for allowing you to be mine.

I say this so that you may always know, that even if you look back tomorrow and I am no where to be found, that I love you to the ends of time.

That I love you unconditionally and irrevocably.

Know that as your wings grow and are stretching to fly, that I pray for you today and always.

I pray that your star will always shine as bright as The Heavens created it to be.

I pray that you will soar like an Eagle and that wisdom will always follow you.

I pray that deep peace that flows like the oceans of time will always be your portion and the flow of your joy shall be like a river.

I pray that the generosity and compassion of your heart will continually expand.

I pray that abundant Grace will be your daily cloak, that favour will be your portion and that the Mercy of God will never depart from you.

I pray that your courage will be boundless as you grow into a confident, strong lady, filled with faith, hope and love.

I pray deeply that life will treat you well.  Be blessed. Be happy. Be well.

Happy 12th my precious girl Nnenna, Adaobi, Christine, Mmesomachukwu.

You truly decorate my life and my heart.1449293417812[1]

I love you loads and loads.

Mummy.

Dubai · Uncategorized

44 and Going Strong…

jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

1449243578992[1]

The past few days have been filled with lovely fun to-do’s.

It’s UAE’s (United Arab Emirates ) 44th National Day which is celebrated on the 2nd December of each year and several days following.

This is to mark their formal nationalization from a British Protectorate to the unification of  their Seven Emirates which consists of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain.

Very grand celebrations are held across the country to mark the event. They don’t do things in half measures!

There are several activities going on all over the Emirates to mark this auspicious event. Fireworks, Car Rallies and Dance Shows etc.

People are dressed up in apparels sporting the UAE national flag colours, homes, work places,  cars and streets are all flying the flag to celebrate this big day with joy and happiness.1449243683713[1]

Heritage Villages are set up all over the emirates in order to celebrate this event traditionally. Holidays are given from the National Day until two days later. Air Shows are conducted on Abu Dhabi and Ajman Corniche while Military Processions are held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition for the Rulers of the Emirates, Members of the Federal National Exhibition and the Emir Citizens.

For a Nation which started out as an utter dessert, they have not done badly, as a matter of fact, they have done a fantastic job of things and yet their push and progress is relentless.

Having meandered from Abu Dhabi; the sedate big brother in the house, to living in Dubai; the bold, glitzy and glamorous brother, to Sharjah, Ajman and Ras al-Khaimah; the rest of the crew, it’s a World of so many differences and textures.

It has been a beautiful day filled with camaraderie. People from all walks of life and 100 Nationalities are milling about in the city of glitz and glam.

I have seen more smiles in the past 2 days than in the 4 months that I have been here.

I even met a gorgeous looking lady from Mongolia and a couple from Tajikistan..Didn’t expect that and it took my brain a while to zero into Tajikistan on the globe.

Here are a few snippets of what I caught.

I hope they work. They were a bit finicky earlier.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Dubai · Family · Gratitude · Inspiration - Motivation · Love

….And We Get To Rest.

jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

Oh Yes! In the presence of the Lord,Each day
I will bring my gift,
In thanksgiving and joy,
There is joy in my heart,
It is flowing like a river,
And I will praise the Lord,
In Thanksgiving and Joy.

For today’s gratitude challenge, I am thankful that I don’t have to jump out of bed early for a couple of days and rush around like a headless chicken, to ensure that the children are ready for school.

It’s National Day celebration over here, so we get today and tomorrow off school which spills right into the weekend. Yes!!!

I am thankful for the season that we are in. I feel the joy in the air. Even in this city that is Muslim dominated, there is so much liberalism at this point.

Christmas decorations are popping up at the malls and Christmas tunes float in the air from several shops. It’s amazing and I am thankful that we are in a city that is tolerant of other peoples’ religion.

I am quite sure that you have something to be thankful for today.

Blessed Love.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

“If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness, it will change your life mightily.” – Gerald Good.

 

 

Family · Life · Love

We Gyrate Till Day Break!…

jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

Naija party

Most Nigerians I know love to have a good party or what we Lasgidi people (I was once a Lagos babe, so I am always a Lagos babe) call Owambe, where you will wiggle your waist to vibrant music till the wee hours of the morning.

The social scenery is such a robust one with all manners of lavish events going on every weekend from child dedication, to birthday party, weddings (always tops the list) anniversaries, burial ceremonies and so on.

We do not do these things in half measures and even a man whose pockets are to let by society standards, will still manage to put something together that will bring his neighours gathering.

If I were to put an owambe together for my closest one, my husband or my mother, out of all the countries that I have visited, I would still choose to have my party in Naija. We know how to rock it well!

Our parties are never small, so we generously prepare for lots of guests (even uninvited ones who will tag along).

You need a large enough space to accommodate all and sundry that will gather to celebrate with you.

Our parties are most times preceded with a church thanksgiving depending on the occasion, before everybody convenes at the party venue.

Of course, the Dee-Jay would have the music on a spin with a good mix that will bring most people to their feet and in between dancing, small chops, drinks, party favours are handed out.

We also sew elaborate or buy very glamourous outfits to suit these occasions and the jolliness is usually infectious.

We never bother with RSVP because we always make sure that Rice and Stew is Very Plenty! (Just spoke it with my pidgin accent on my mind)

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Quick Glossary for words that you may not know:

Lasigidi – A nickname for the city of Lagos state, Nigeria.

Owambe – A Yoruba word which means ”it (party) is happening here.”

Naija: Naija is another name for Nigeria, the patriotic name for Nigerians to show their strength and smartness.

Image courtesy: Nairaland.

The Daily Post prompt RSVP

Plan the ultimate celebration for the person you’re closest to, and tell us about it. Where is it? Who’s there? What’s served? What happens?

Devotions · Family · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love · Personal story · Poetry/Poems · Weave that Dream

15 Years Later…

jacquelineobyikocha103 Comments

wedding photo

When we met for the first time, the universe did not shift on its axis!

It was not love at first sight for me, but probably for you.

My love at first sight was cradled in my young arms and we were cooing at each other; my dear friends first daughter and cute as a button too.

In you stepped that very first time and that image of me cuddling up a baby struck your eyes and stuck in your heart.

You chose there and then that I would be yours to have and to hold.

I gave you my cold shoulder, but you warmed me with your heat.

I had no plans for such distraction, my career laurels beckoned silently.

But, fate had its plans, and I am glad it did.

You systematically wooed and broke down all my walls,

Every fence erected, you climbed over and crawled into my heart.

You brought laughter to my lips,

A twinkle in my eyes,

And more joy into my life,

The butterflies came,

And you gave me such bliss.

Now and again, you make as mad as a hatter,

But your love cocoons me all over.

Its 15 years to the letter today,

The very day I said, I do, I do,

It always feels like a birthday,

With lots of unwrapping to do.

My dear darling husband, you decorate my life,

With my heart filled with love,

I do, I do, I do, again and again.

To infinity and beyond.

For today’s gratitude challenge, I am grateful to God for walking with me through this fifteen years of married life.

His abundance of grace, peace, love, mercy, joy has endured in our lives. Indeed, I am blessed.

Won’t you join Colline’s gratitude challenge? There is always something to be thankful for.

Kind regards,

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha