It’s been a trying moment and I am trying hard not to scream…

April 27, 2016February 2, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

It’s been a blog challenging, two days to say the least and definitely not amusing.

Having my blog harassed by malicious attempts or whatever, is not something I anticipated dealing with this week and for some good moments, I’ve been made to question and ask what if?

What if I woke up and my almost 1,200 posts have gone poof into thin air?

How will I take it?

I believe I will be hopping mad! I believe all my righteous indignation juices will overflow zealously and my write mode will go into overdrive.

So, after all, said and done and while WP happiness engineers are trying to restore my happy blog to robust health, I am thankful for friends who were concerned enough to reach out and send messages notifying me of the anomaly.

They didn’t run off scared throwing me to the dogs. Now that is called friendship.

I am thankful that I am not yet screaming myself blue in the face and throwing colourful strings of curses. Phew!! It felt good to say that.

It’s all good. I’ll just take a chill and have some cardamon tea while it takes whenever to get things back to square zero.

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

A Season and Friends like this…

April 20, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha13 Comments

I love the blooming flowers and the cheery mood on people’s faces. There’s something very pretty about this season, even if we are all sneezing in my house at this point in time.

I appreciate that it’s not yet baking hot which is a condition synonymous to the Middle East and as such, I am still taking advantage of the airiness of the outdoors and spending as much time as I can before it all changes.

I am quite thankful for the connections that I have made in this space.

Some bloggers have extended their hands of fellowship way beyond my expectations this past week in their show of kindness to me.

To you dear Dehan Taylor and Tasha , I say thank you.

Both of you might not see what you’ve done as much, but it means a lot to me.

I sincerely appreciate your care and can only leave this word of blessing for you, ‘as you show love to those around you, you pave way to your own greatness.‘

I hope that you are thankful for something today. You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

Family · Gratitude

Killing The Fat…

April 6, 2016January 31, 2017 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Virtue the say lies in the mean. In lay man’s term, I should exercise my laziness virtue in moderation.

I have been absolutely so laid back with my workouts and relaxing far too much to be of productive use to anyone except maybe by talking their ears off.

I am grateful for the rest time. Truly, I appreciate these moments of exhaling in-between hectic periods and I am not being mealy-mouthed about this opportunity, especially knowing that the good slice of indulgence will be over next week.

However, today my body got tired of me and begged me to take it for some concerted exercise.

My pillow gave a good fight but lost the battle of the senses.

I am happy and thankful that I got off my backside and got some sweating in. I killed some fat today!

I could practically feel the endorphins and dopamine galloping all the way to my brain in utmost pleasure. Ah! Quelle bliss.

My appreciation goes to all those who took out the time to take a peek at my book cover to help me make a decision.

Nothing prepared me for the fact that choosing a cover could be a pressure. A detail that I had been ignorant of. Ignorance indeed is bliss but can cost you some good sleep. It’s a good pressure and I am happy to be in such a position. I pray that my body will keep winning over the pillow so that I can murder some fat 😉

A heart that knows thanks for friends is a heart that will know many delights. Who or what gives you the delight to be thankful this day?

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

Fiction · Personal · Poetry/Poems

Dear Husband Of Mine… personal

April 3, 2016April 3, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha49 Comments

Sometimes, I keep quiet
Searching for the words
To say that I love you.

Sometimes, my heart combusts
With the fullness
Of knowing you.

Sometimes, I doubt if word’s
Can really say
What I feel for you.

These times,
I utter words of thanks
To God who brought you to me.

Sometimes, I love you
Seems to be so small
A word for what you mean to me.

You mean the World
And so much beyond
My husband. You are a good man.

This time
I can’t keep quiet
But shout it from the rooftops.

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Devotions · Gratitude · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love

I am grateful and blessed to have you as my friend…

January 13, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha47 Comments

Life brings friends our way who turn out to become our families in almost every sense of the word and I am particularly grateful for such a friend as my dear good friend Mrs. Ekaete Augustine-Edet.

We have journeyed together from our days as single ladies working at the French Embassy, Lagos Nigeria almost two decades ago, to today as mothers and wives and she has remained such a steadfast friend, sister and motivator.

She is one of the driving forces behind my starting my blog, because she believes in me and my writing skills. She kept asking me when I would start my blog, until I got started.

She is there anytime I call with a need or something on my mind. I had reason to make such a call and as usual she selflessly gave of herself, her time and her pocket.

I thank God for a friend like you and really don’t have much words to appreciate your kindness.

On another hand, I have been blessed with running into interesting characters since last week.

Two lovely neighbourhood dogs, Lola and Cookie and Meow, The cat seem to have adopted me for reasons best known to them, though I do stop to say hello to the cute dogs when I am taking my walk and they are out and about.

Meow is a lone ranger, but always appears by the chair where I sit sometimes to watch the World go by and he rubs himself on my pants legs seeking attention.

I am more a dog person and not particularly a cat person but strangely, this would be the third encounter where different neighbourhood felines come up to say hello.

Since I don’t know much about felines, maybe those who do can tell me what this indicates.

I am grateful for little meaningless moments like this. They end up meaning a lot when we appreciate them and each moment that I spend in a state of gratitude, the phrase that the best things in life are for free couldn’t be more true than it is.

There is so much to be thankful for. Just look around and you will see.

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

Regards and blessings

Devotions · Family · Gratitude · Hope · Life · Quotes For You

It’s Never Too Little…

December 9, 2015December 10, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

My heart is glad for the pretty things that surround me in this environment. The flowers are blooming all over the place and the birds are flocking all around.

For the simple things of life, like a warm bowl of chilli and vegetable soup brewed in my kitchen, for the crispy cool Sahara air; even though we are all sneezing and coughing, I give thanks.

Above all things today, I am so grateful that we were able to find Prednisolone at 3am this morning, when my young boy woke up with sudden bad allergic reaction and a swollen face.

We used all the normal stuff for him, but to no avail.

He is allergic to certain environmental factors and it occurs more with weather changes like Summer with all the pollen or the dusty Winter air in this climes.

I did not want to use EpiPen which I keep for only extreme reactions.

Mercifully, the allergic reaction has been arrested and we have every cause to smile.

For what are you thankful today? ”Remember that feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward.

Would you like to join Colline’s gratitude challenge? Just click on the link and join the party.

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

15 Years Later…

November 11, 2015November 11, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha103 Comments

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,

A link to my neighbours/Community · Blog Awards · Blogging · Gratitude · Inspiration - Motivation

Awesome Commendations…

November 8, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha51 Comments

Sometimes, saying thank you may sound so trite and flippant in the face of such warmth and fellowship.

It may sound surprising, but I always feel humbled when I see the hands of fellowship extended, the encouragement received and the respect accorded within this commendable, intelligent community of humans.

Inherently, a lot of people are wonderful and if half the positive fellowship, vibes, hugs, motivation and care that are expressed within the blogging space are experienced in the real World, it would be less acrimonious as it is currently.

This week and several weeks in a row, so many of you put smiles on my face in different manners, some went out of their ways to nominate me for an award, to do a blog review for my blog and to extend their warmth.

I say thank you, ‘dalu, imela’ in my native language because it strikes a deep cord inside me.

Thank you for the generosity of your hearts. Thank you for the gift of your time. Thank you for your outstretched arms of fellowship. Thank you for supporting me in this space. It is heartwarming.

Jason, The opinionated man at Harsh Reality , I thank you for a delightful review that tickled me pink 🙂

Maria Holm, I thank you for the lovely synopsis and celebration in your post.

Ngobesing Romanus of Success Inspirer, a big thank for the invitation to the interview challenge.

Joanne Bretzer at Velissima, I appreciate your nomination for Blogger Recognition Award.

Sunesiss of Atomic Words , Joan of Marlton Trainer, Voyager of Freedom and Diana of Toast and Tea together, thank you all for the Sunshine Blogger Award.

Thank you to Vibrant of Blabberwockying , Stephanie Cardozo, Vincent Wambua , Smiling away allergies,Obscurasomnia, and Keeping up appearances for, The Liebster Award. You guys are great 🙂

Africa Bohemian at Tribe 53 thank you for the Infinity Dreams Award.

A big thank you for One Lovely Blog Award and The Versatile Blogger Awards to Anand of Blabberwockying

For the beautiful Respect Award, I thank you Anand with all humility. A lovely new bling for my blog 🙂

Susan, I appreciate the double nominations of One Lovely Blog Award and Blogger Recognition Award.

Kay Morris and Psychochromatic Inception, thank you for the nomination for One Lovely Blog Award. You guys rock 🙂

“You all, are huge sources of inspiration, encouragement and beautiful souls.” I appreciate the affiliation.

To quickly answer a few of the questions picked from the different bloggers:

Do I aspire to be published. I respond with a big affirmative YES! One day soon 🙂

What do I enjoy most about blogging. The networking and warmth makes it worthwhile.

Do I believe in miracles? Very much so! Why do I believe in it? I see myself as a miracle each day.

A great writer is a great reader, do I agree? Yes of course! You have to nourish your mind through the words of other great artists.

How do I cope with the writers block. I dance. I sleep. I relax and read. I brainstorm it out.

If someone had to think about something that reminds them of you what would it be? That she is one lovely soul.

What language would I like to learn? Spanish and Arabic.

Cats or Dogs? Dogs any day.

Hardest sin to avoid? The unwitting spirit of envy that sometimes steals in when unwatched.

Love is? Love is a committed choice, day after day.

Knowing the amount of hours that goes into doing these posts I am truly at loss at who to nominate.

Kind regards and blessed love.

The Beautiful Commendations

Devotions · Family · Hope · Life · Little rants · Social Issues

How Can I Repay You?…

October 28, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha37 Comments

Today’s Gratitude challenge on Colline’s blog meets my heart filled with a lot of appreciation.

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?
I will raise a cup of Salvation, I will call on the Lord’s name!
My times are in your hands and you are my God!
Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil!
Unto you O’Lord, I give my all!

I am thankful that I am seated here right now talking to you and not at the hospital nursing broken bones or one of my young.

Yesterday evening, as I went for a walk with the children, we had just turned round the bend onto the zebra crossing which is a few meters from the house, when a Mercedes sports with it’s open roof came barreling round the bend. It appeared as if it even accelerated as it bore down on us. We barely managed to jump out of harms way by the whiskers of our teeth!

Luckily, I was clutching my youngest son’s hand as we dove for safety because he tends to lag behind. A lady with her child in the stroller, tripped over her Abaya as she also hurried along and fell in the process; luckily she wasn’t hurt and the baby didn’t tumble, except for her startled nerves and a small scrape. Zooming around in snazzy cars with a load of impatience seems to be the bane over here.

I will try not to exaggerate here, but as I shouted angry expletives, the fine lady driver stuck out her lacquered finger in an effing sign at us and zoomed along.

It was truly a struggle to stop the stream of swear words that were bubbling up to my lips and I am not sure if I would have stopped myself if not for my children. I try not to scandalize their senses.

Do I have a reason to be grateful or what? So many ugly scenarios had painted a picture in my head.

Thank God that Mercy said NO!

A heart filled with Gratitude, O’Lord.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Blog Awards · Blogging · Inspiration - Motivation

These Blings Of Mine…

October 11, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha47 Comments

The Laurels are multiplying by the day and it is really time that I attend to them.

My sincere apologies to my dear good blogging neighbours who have nominated me for these 15 awards for my delay in responding.

I appreciate each of you individually and collectively as a community of encouraging, motivating, inspiring, fun loving and wise people.

I may not have met any of you in the flesh, but to a large extent, your words do speak for who you are and I would like to refer to y’all as those that I call ”FINE GENTRY.”

Due to the fact that it would be inundating to take these nominations one by one and my desire not to drive my friends batty with spurious award posts, I will have to break so many rules and merge these laurels of mine into one fine post.

Please stay seated whilst I give my speech 😉

First and foremost, I would like to thank the following awesome bloggers who nominated me for:

Blogger Recognition Award

For this nomination, I thank the following bloggers enlisted below:

 Cathy Lynn Brooks, Carol of Designing Life,KAT BLOGS Spontaneous Whimsy, Pancake Bunnykins

Creative Blogger Award

For this nomination, I thank the following bloggers enlisted below:

I care, U care, Velissima, Theshivasponder

Versatile Blogger

For this nomination, I thank I care, U care  .

Sunshine Blogger Award

For this nomination, I thank:Anand of Blabberwockying

Infinity Dreams Award

For this nomination, I thank I care, U care  .

Leibster Award

For this nomination, I thank the following bloggers enlisted below:

Wife who writes, EttaD Keeping up appearances,

Premio Dardos Award

For this nomination, I thank I care, U care  .

The Rules of Engagement:

Select other blogs you want to give the award to.
You cannot nominate yourself or the person who has nominated you.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give a piece of advice or two to new bloggers.
Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Attach the award to the post (right click and save, then upload).
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them.
Provide a link to the award post you created.

Questions:

A brief about my blog.

Answer: I started my blog precisely on the 6th of May, 2015. My synopsis for starting this blog are: to meet other people who can enrich my mind through their stories and posts. An avenue to share my stories and thoughts and also as a medium of honing my writing skills, whilst developing the discipline of writing everyday.

A piece of advise to new bloggers.

Answer: My advise to new bloggers (I am still one by the way) is to write from within; from their hearts and not an attempt to be a copy of another blogger. That is unsustainable and would probably end up being disappointing. Keep your eyes away from the statistics at the onset. It is worse than watching paint dry. Write your post, then go out and engage with other bloggers. Visit other blogs and generally mingle. Attend as many blogging courses as time permits you. Don’t be a stranger!

Five facts about myself:

Answer:

I speak French and I love children’s coloured books (yes I said it! I think I am still a child at heart.
This may not make sense, but I sincerely believe that all things work together for my own good – even the bad experiences, even when I don’t see the sense in them. I know that God knows!
I am not yet a published author, but hope to be one in the near future.
I love to dance and yes, I am probably one of those that you have to peel off the dance floor of a party. As long as the DJ is playing the right tunes, I am hopping to it 😉
I used to model as a teenager and in my early twenties and sometimes, I wonder how different or the same my life would have been if I had continued modelling.

What do you like most about the present situation?

Answer: The fact that I am writing consistently these days. That I am at peace with myself.

Which is your best memory?

Answer: I hardly ever think of things as the best, because I always feel that something better might turn around the corner, but I think so far, my childhood days are my best memories.

Do you feel you are at peace with yourself?

Answer: I think I answered in the first question before getting here. Yes indeed, I am at peace with myself.

Who is your guide, guru or counselor?

Answer: I have no human that fills that category. My Bible serves as my spiritual guide. My mother and husband serve as my human counselors and then I read a ton of books written by renowned motivators and counselors.

What makes you feel very good?

Answer: I try not to base my feeling good on the conditions of anything because life as we know it can get very sporadic, but I feel good when I set out to achieve something and succeed in doing so, even if they are menial, daily tasks.

Which quality or habit in your life do you like the most about yourself?

Answer: For quality I would say my empathetic and resilient spirit and for habit, I think my reading habits.

Who are your source of inspiration?

Answer: The word of God and my mother again. This is because she is one of the most generous humans I have ever met. Her faith in God always appears as solid as a rock in my eyes (maybe, she might have her doubts, but she never voices them). I don’t know if it means that I am not ambitious enough, but other people’s wealth does not really inspire me. What inspires me is how much they have positively impacted the lives of those around them.

What is the role of gratitude in your life?

Answer: In everything, I always try to give thanks. Gratitude turns what we have into enough and more. A grateful heart knows a lot of happiness.

Has blogging enriched your life? How?

Answer: Yes, in so many ways it has enriched my life. My blogging path has crossed those of other people who I may never have been opportune to meet. It serves as a personal source of accountability because it has kept my mind focused on writing.