Crazy for Christ

As I was driving along to work one morning... I saw this...

I looked over to my passenger seat and noticed that my camera was hanging out of my purse... Without a second thought I grabbed the camera and proceeded to chase this truck as if I were a member of the paparazzi...

I was so captivated by this painting and when I got close enough to the read the words; I just rejoiced. They read: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

I know that I may have looked a little crazy riding down the road chasing this truck trying to get a photo to share with you guys in bloggyland... but if I must be called {crazy}.... I would much rather be Crazy for Christ!

Don't Count Me Out....

Do you have the new Marvin Sapp cd, "Here I Am?" Oh my.... it is such a blessing!!! If you do not have it, I would encourge you to go and grab a copy today...

Although the most popular song on this cd is "The Best in Me," my favorite track happens to be #8, "Don't Count Me Out." I just love the lyrics. He is a very annointed writer, psalmist, artist, and most of all Man of God!

If you are looking for a cd that is uplifting and that will nuture your mind, body and soul... this is the one... it will minister to you right where you are today...in your car, in your home, in your office... this is {such as time} as this type music...

Go out and grab a copy and leave me some feedback :).....

Until next time,

Don't Count Me Out!

Reaching {Out} to the Community: Ministering Outside of the 4 Walls

As I sit here typing this entry, I am propping my eyelids open with some twigs (LOL). Not really... But I have been working off of less than 5 hours of sleep and loads of positive energy! Simply put, my spirit is just overwhelmed with joy and excitement.

Why?

Because tomorrow, my church is hosting it's first outreach for 2010 and I am excited about all that God has done and all that He is doing.


The general itinerary for NBM Outreach is as follows:

• Opening and Welcome


• Prayer


• Praise Dance


• Rap


• Step


• Praise Dance


• Play, “Once My World Ended, My Life Began”


• Altar Call


• Closing Remarks


• Benediction


• Lunch Will Be Served

The reason that I said that it was a general itinerary is that we will defeinitely allow time for the Holy Spirit to move as He pleases to minister to the people. If you read the program carefully, you will notice that there is not a quote "sermon." Instead, the Holy Spirit promoted our pastor to task us with the challenge of writing and creating a skit that will address issues with teenage suicide, premarital sex, single parenting, child molestation, poor grades in school, low self esteem, insecuirty, rejection, poverty, gossip, back-biting, lies, slander, sexually transmitted diseases, and all of many issues that teens face on a daily basis.

It is my belief that this play will minister to the children and parents alike. Not only will it minister to them, but it will allow them to identify with the various scenerios within the skit and to find solutions to their problems by choosing to end their world (way of living and thinking) and to begin their lives for Christ.

So as we break out our of four walls to "reach" out to the community; please pray for God's peace, purpose and power to manifest in our lives and the lives of those connected to us...

God Bless!

M'Shonta

Hollywood Glam: "The Long Overdue Birthday Recaps"

Warning: This post is long and pic heavy, but I promise you this is the brief version!!!!

I promised you months and months ago that I would recap my Hollywood Glam themed 30th birthday party... Just a couple of days ago 2.22.2010 to be exact; it dawned on me that I have been 30 for two whole months and I have yet to recap my party as I promised.

In between all the pageant training, coaching and judging all while holding down a full-time job and volunteering in the ministry... Somehow I have shamelessly failed the test of time... However, I must admit that it has been time well spent.

I orginally planned to recap my birthday detail by detail, but at this point I don't think that it will serve much of a purpose... So I have made the decision to share with you the "Highlights of Hollywood Glam."

I kicked off the day with hair and make-up at Demi-House Salon in Huntsville. Unfortunately, I did not get a before pic of my hair, but I did manage to get a before of my face. Not too shabby... the hair really helps :)!

In between hair and makeup, I made a last minute dash to Bebe's still on the quest to find the perfect purple birthday dress. Yes... the day of my party... And yes... it HAD TO BE PURPLE... My colors were purple, black, silver and white. I already had several at home (7 to be exact), but none of them tickled my fancy like this one... Perfect... And best of all it was on the sale rack!!! Cha Ching! There is nothing like the {perfect} dress for the {perfect} price!

I darted out the door after hair and make-up and headed to my official 30th birthday photo shoot. Side note: the only {new} outfit that I wore for my official photoshoot was the purple dress that I purchased for the party...everything else of oomc {out of my closet}. Even the yellow dress, I bought it after prom season last year for less than $30.00. Here a few shots from the photo shoot. I will not bore you with them...

I am an extrememly proud aunt... and this picture made me just that much more proud to be the aunt of this blossoming beauty. She could not withstand all lights and cameras... she had to get in on the action... {Tear jerking moment: A little diva in the making... I am so proud)!

Next off to the birthday party...

Shortly after I concluded my photoshoot, Mr. Falsetto arrived and wisked me off to the party. We entered the room and I walked the {red carpet} jigging to "Make this a Night to Remember." {singing} I'm gonna make this a night to re-mem-ber....

Next, I glanced at all the beautiful decor done by Something Ele'gant Events and Florals and I smiled within... I was delighted! Mr. Falsetto did well in setting the tone for such a glamourous event! {I hate that I did not get better/more pics of all the decor...it was beautiful)!

After a brief introduction by Mr. Falsetto I proceeded to greet all my guest personally and take a moment for photo opps. Yeah, true Hollywood Glam style. Here are a few of my favo shots of the night:

The Family

Tish and I



Mr. Falsetto and I

Dad and I

The food was delish and my birthday cake was beautiful and truly fit for a "queen." However, Mr. Falsetto put the "icing on the cake" when he sung happy birthday to me....truly making it a night to remember...

After the food, cake, and gift opening... We played an orginial game created by {yours truly}entitled "Hollywood Glam Movie Trivia." It was a hit!!! The only pic that I have of the game cards is the one that she is holding in her hand in the picture below... Can you see it? Ummm... Maybe I will recap that one later along with my "Hollywood Walk of Fame" inspired guestbook in which guest signed their autographs on stars as they arrived at the party. It was also a hit because everyone was a star!!!! Oh yeah and the invites... I will have to do a recap on all paper goods!

And after all the formalities we danced the night away....

What a night to remember.... It was true Hollywood Glam.

"Glamour is something you can't bear to be without once you're used to it."

~Author Unknown

What a {Love} Day

I must say that this {Love} Day was the best day ever! I.mean.the.very. best! Let's recap... shall we?

I took off work on Friday... I decided that after all of holiday hoopla and the very busy pageant season that I needed to take a {me} day. So I took a {me} day and journeyed to Huntsville to indulge myself in some {super} star treatment at a day spa. Hmmmmm! Just pure goodness!

• Manicure (check)


• Facial (check)


• Pedicure (double check) I needed to winterize my feet :)!


• Hair (check) (I wanted it cut, but that did not work out... Looong story)!

After finishing up a long day of unsuccessful sale shopping I decided to journey back home... Mr. Falsetto instructed me to be back in town by 6:00 p.m. (I have been known to take several extended trips in the past... What can I say? The sales and Thai food were both very good). But this time that was not the case so I headed back towards Florence around 4:00 p.m.

On the way back I got a call from someone needing me to stop by and look at something... Ah man! I told him that I would be back by 6:o0; so I did the right thing and gave him a call and he assured me that it was okay :)! Great... So I stopped by her place and got so excited and caught up in the moment that I lost track of time.... ten minutes until seven my phone rang.... Oops what time is it?

Mr. Falsetto: You lied to me!

Me: How?

Mr. Falsetto: You told me that you would be home by 7:00 p.m. You lied!

Me: Uummm, baby I am sorry! I didn't lie, I will be there in 5 minutes (and I zoomed out the door and into the car). Five minutes later I arrived at my place and Mr. Falsetto met me outside.

Mr. Falsetto: How long will it take you to get dressed? We are supposed to be at dinner at 8:00 p.m.

Me: (Grabbing a pair a jeans by the loop out of a shopping bag) Ummm! Not long I promise. (I proceeded to climb the stairs)

Mr. Falsetto: How long again???

Me: 30 minutes... My hair and everything is already done... I just need to freshen up and change clothes.

Mr. Falsetto: Yeah right!!! That will be a miracle! ( I am notorious for taking too long to get dressed for a date)

Me: (walking into the cracked door) Oh my God!!!!

Mr. Falsetto: Yes, we are having dinner in tonight. I had your favorite Italian restaurant to cater it! Your favorite dish is Stuffed Chicken Marsala right?

Me (trembling with excitement): Yes! Yes, it is !

Mr. Falsetto: I thought so... Have a seat... (He proceeded to pull out the chair for me to be seated and I sat there staring at the beauty that surrounded me). Wanna see?

Is it 2010 Already???? Where has the time gone???

i can not believe that it is January already. i had so many plans for this ole' blog of mine...

• i planned to post a recap of 2009 like the ones seen on two of my favo blogs: From Marriage to Motherhood (formerly An Atlanta Bride) and Adrienne's Little World. {Yeah it is 2010 already... i will just count that one as a missed opportunity}


• i planned to do a step by step post of the planning of my 30th birthday. {This never happened; but maybe the recaps will suffice}



• i planned to take photos by the Christmas tree with my goddaughter Diamond, but this did not happen because we ran out of time. The second year in a row!!! {My Christmas tree is now in storage, but i will solve this issue next year! These photos will be taken as soon as my tree goes up... huuuummmph! LOL!}



• i planned to recap all the events that "Visuality" planned in December. {Again I ran out of time and even forgot to take pictures. Now that was a mess because it was in my opinion some my best work..}
  
• i planned to.....
  
• and to.....
  

There were so many things that i wanted to do in 2009, but it just did not happen. i guess what took precedence were my plans to spend the remainder of my year enjoying my friends, family and loved ones... and i did just that.

So to 2009, farewell.... what a year it was! i laughed, i cried, i built, i destoyed, i learned, i forgot, i moved on, i stayed, i saw, i was blind, i mourned, i danced, i won and i lost...but most of all i grew!!!! i want to continue this growth so in 2010, i don't plan to but i will live out Jeremiah 29:11 to the fullest:

" 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)

If nothing else in 2009... i learned one very valuable lesson... God plans for your life are always in your best interest!

So in 2010, i challenge you to live out Jeremiah 29:11 in your life and do so on purpose!

Preparing for the Party of the Year...

Just to give you a little update... I will be taking a mini hiatus from the ole' bloggy blog for the next few days... I am having to spend every.free.moment. that I have planning for my 30th birthday party. Not to worry... When I returned I promise to post full picture heavy, detailed recaps as the paparazzi will be in attendance...

Until next time!!!!