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“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) 

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Happy Geek Day!

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1) 

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“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) 

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“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

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“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

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Went To The Park

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“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)  

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Went To FAMU's Homecoming Parade

Laila Took This Picture of The Band

They're coming Closer


Why do my kids look like they're scared of the camera?

Dad & Daughter Look On

Then the kids got bored of all the bands, and decided to have their own fun by running to and from a door. I don't know, I'm not a kid.

Then other kids thought that would be fun too, and joined them. Go figure.

Zachary then decides to walk his dads press pass.

He wants to make sure it never needs walking again!

Then Mr & Ms. FAMU & Their Court come around and break down.

Yup... it's broken!

And off they go in those Stiletto's.



Laila Helps Mommy Cook

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“I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

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Another Beautiful Day!

Last night in church, my pastor talked about the keys to negotiating. Wow, what valuable information it was! He talked about the book of Joshua where Rahab hides the two spies and then puts in her request for them to save her family. He broke down how her negotiating skills played a role and how we need to learn to negotiate, especially when God tells us that something is ours. He used some examples on getting a job and a better salary offer… I’ll be sure to use that on him. LOL.

Okay, so it’s 11:30 am and I haven’t heard back from my Toyota friend in O-town on an OTD price. I’m going to give him until 2:30 then I’m calling him J. I have a strange anxiousness about this. I don’t know why, because I know I’ll have the 10K to put down and I know that he’ll offer me a fair price, and I also know that regardless, I need a minivan. I guess the idea of having a new vehicle after 11 years is exciting! That’s it. I’ll get back to you with a price.
Oh did I tell you that after emptying out me and my kids piggy banks, we have a final count of $1100!

4:30 pm Update: I spoke with my guy at Toyota. He's going to give me an XLE limted with Package#3 (highest package on the Limited) for $37K. With their $600 dealer fee (or what they call the service & handling fee) plus $200 tag fee and tax, my final price is $40,126.11. Okay... I don't know about you, but $40K for a minivan, I would typically say "Heck No," but for some really strange reason, I feel okay with it. Like... do I have a total concept of what 40,000 dollars is? Or is it that I'm really okay with this?

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“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:12)

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“Write It Down.”

Okay… I felt this was going to happen, so when I prayed on it, the Lord told me to “write it down.” I’m certain I’m writing this down to benefit me and those that read it. So anyway, back to the neighbor borrowing our truck and not putting gas in it. The husband of the neighbor came over yesterday and gave us a new tent. My husband was saying that it was a blessing because he was going to have to buy one anyway, so this came right on time. I knew with all my heart that this was God blessing us for me not saying anything from my mouth. After all, I was one of the people in the church when God was telling Pastor that He was trying to bless people for the past two years and we have been cursing our blessings with the words that were coming out of our mouths. God told me to instead write it down, say nothing, and wait.

I have been thinking for a few months of all the blessings that people have been missing out on because their mouth, faith and actions have aborted God’s plan for them. I was listening to Tony Evans yesterday and he said “wouldn’t it be interesting that if when we dies, God showed us not the tape of our lives, but a tape of the life we could have lived if we listened to God.” That’s where I’m at in my life right now. Not trying to live the ‘good life’ but trying to live the “God life.’

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“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

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“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)

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My Problem With People

Retro Thought --- A few weeks back, we had a party for Zach who was turning two, so I invited the children that were his age over to the house along with his cousins. My husband feels bad that the neighbors (big kids) next door and the neighbors across the street were not invited, so he goes and tells their parents that if they want, they can bring the kids over. So the neighbor across the street sends their two kids (by themselves) and the neighbor next door sends their four kids (by themselves). The kids come, stay for a few hours, eat, drink, and are merry. We send the kids home, and not one parent came to thank us for inviting them. I just think something is wrong there. If you, as a parent, send your child to someone else's house where they are being watched, fed and having fun; as a parent, you should be thankful enough to thank the people of that house >>that was less that you had to do with your kids for those few hours. Where's the parental etiquette? I don't know, am I being unrealistic?

So anyway, one of my neighbors car wouldn't start this morning; so being that my husband has his mother's car who is recovering from surgery, he offers to let them drive his truck. The neighbor returns the truck after a full workday of dropping off & picking up the kids to/from school and working; and brings me the keys and tells me that they didn't have time to get gas and to tell my husband to come over to get the gas money. What is that about? How don't you have time to get gas when your only transportation is our truck, and now you're home for the day? And why won't you just hand me the gas money along with the keys? What does my husband look like going to your house to ask for gas money? That's strange to me. Where's the thankful neighbor etiquette?

When you use someone's vehicle, you are supposed to put some gas in it at the very time you have it, whether by cash, debit or credit, but by no means are you to return it 'less than.' That gives people the impression like you feel like they "owe you something" and you're "not as thankful" as your mouth is saying you are.

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“The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.” (Psalm 25:14-15)

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God Plants Desires In You

You can begin to feel when God is preparing to take you to the next level in your life, because He places His desires in you. Perfect Example: I am beginning to have the desire to do lite travelling (perhaps once quarterly), and I'm desiring to talk to people (groups and one-to-one).

Subject Changed...

Last night Laila helped me to make "Loaded Spaghetti." That's when the sauce is the meal! It was fabulous!

Thank you Laila!

Thank you Lord for bringing my husband back home safely from the Million More Movement. He went there to cover a story for the newspaper.

Oh, the kids were off from school Friday (Teacher’s Workday). It was ‘wild’ from 9am to noon, and ‘very peaceful’ from 12:01 pm to 3pm!!! This picture will give you an idea why!!!!



After their nap, we went to visit a friend, Mrs. Margaret. Here's the pic.

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“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

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“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

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There's a Strange Peace...

About this whole Sienna buying thing... or am I just feeling a little too spiritual? It feels like I'm playing chess with someone and we're both great competitors and I can make a few moves to keep the game going, but just then God strikes confusion on both of us and makes moves for me to win the game. Whatever... it's that feeling.

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“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.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

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“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:20-21)

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Went To A Toyota Dealer

So I’ve been doing all of this negotiating over the phone and over the Internet with Southeast Toyota Dealerships and I haven’t even gone to the local dealership. Mainly because I figured we are not in a metropolitan city and they are not getting the deals that others are getting. So I decided to go to the local dealership to pick out my exterior color (between the salsa red and the white). Of course they don’t have any 2006s on the lot, but I see a white 2005 and it looks good enough. For kicks I test-drive it and go inside to negotiate. I talk to the salesman and tell him what I’ve been doing and that I have plans to purchase in Orlando unless they can match or beat it. He gets a sales manager, (John B.) and of course he tells me that he would like me to buy from him and he’ll match the lowest price I can get. Huuumm… he even wrote it on the invoice “I’ll beat their deal -JB”. He said all I have to do is get a ‘Buyers Order’ signed by a manager (not some salesman ß his exact words) and he’ll beat it. Hey…. So here I go.

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“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” (Psalm 62:1)

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“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:20-21)

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Laila Made A Carrot Cake!

Last night Laila & I made a carrot cake... it was the best carrot cake I ever made! It was so light and fluffy and deeeee-licious! Mostly due to all the TLC that went into making it. Laila was such a joy in the kitchen, she helped me crush the walnuts, shred the carrots, mix the cake batter and even made the cream cheese frosting :) She enjoyed it just as much as I did. BTW, this was her first time helping her mommy in the kitchen :) But it won't be her last.

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“It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” (Deuteronomy 13:4)

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That was the wrong package

Okay, so the guy from Florida calls me and says that he misquoted me the for the XLE Limited Package 3, the $33,605 for the Package 2... which means no navigational system. I don't need one, but I sure want one. I believe the actual price he said was $36,900... So I'm going to go back to the XLE package 8. This is what the TMV report shows:


The best price I got for it was $33,300. So we'll see what I can get it for.

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“I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.” (Isaiah 43:11-12)

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When am I going to share my minivan hunting story?

I had been actively emailing dealers from the tri-state areas to see what’s the best deal I can get. If you have a chance, please check out this Edmunds forum, it’s the best. So in Georgia, I found a guy who is pretty competitive with his prices. At the time I was looking for a 2006 Toyota Sienna XLE, package 8 which comes with all the bells and whistles of the DVD & Navigation system, sun/moonroof, heated passenger’s seat, 4 disc in-dash player, 2 wireless headphones, etc). Well all of this was for $33,300. The guy even included ToyoGuard Plus & mats (is TG a big deal?). What's ToyoGuard? Well now, I’ve contacted a guy my sister used to date in Florida and he offered me the top of the line XLE Limited package 3 for $33,600 (plus TTL). Now I’m not sure if that’s an out-the-door price or what, but when I contacted the other dealers I was negotiating with, it got really ugly. One guy in Miami was yelling at me. What’s that about?

Anyway...
I did my homework is this is what I found that the same vehicle is going for:


Now... let's just look at the invoice side and deduct the Destination Charge, then we are left with $35,485. That's where I'm negotitating from! The XLE Limited is $6K higher than the XLE, so to only pay $1K more is a great deal! I attempted to tell my husband all of this stuff and he just said that I was speaking Chinese to him. He said that I was a good enough negotiator that he trusts my final decision. Awww, that's so great. Now that I think about it, I should have negotiated for his truck in 2000 when he bought it. I thank God it's finally paid for, as of last month! Whew-whooo.

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“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1)

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Happy Birthday Hubby

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“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6) 

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Morning BreakThrough

This morning as I was praying, I received my breakthrough. I received the finalized answer from God in which I had been asking Him what was going on in my Spirit that needed to be addressed.

He answered.

Just as He had been for the past few years. The only difference is that I was seeking the answer with a listening ear.

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3)

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I watched Rome on HBO last night. Whenver I watch this show, I am more enlightened of how the Greeks worshipped idols. If I were God, I'd be upset too! The Greeks sure did spend a lot of time praying and making offerings to them.

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“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)

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“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12) 

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