Thursday, April 2, 2009

Your order is coming right up....



Since I'm still in the answered prayer mood, let's talk a little more about it. I was thinking about how when I was little I used to ask my parents for something and they assured that I would get it. When I didn't get it that VERY moment, I lost it. And me badgering them about it didn't make them move any quicker. Whether it was a trip to McDonald's or to Disney World, they gave it to me when they saw fit, in their timing.

Same thing with the big homie G-O-D ( ok, that was lame, I know.. lol) . He already knows that we want this, we would love to have this, we need this. That's not important to Him. Calm, down. He is certainly concerned about us being supplied for. What I am saying is that God is concerned first and foremost about our relationship with Him. He wants to be assured that we love Him enough to know that whatever we have need of will be taken care of. "Things" mean nothing, "we" mean everything.


I have caught myself so many times praying for the same thing or throwing a spiritual tantrum about the same ol' same ol'. I can literally hear God saying, " My child, if you could just see what I see. If you could just see what next week, next month, or next year holds." You have to be able to hear His voice and accept His answer. Whether it is him telling you to leave the only man you've ever loved for the one He has for you to fulfill your purpose with, or to leave a high paying jop to go work for the church, or to go on a fast the day you get a coupon book for the local buffet. You have to be willing to accept what God says and what he allows.

I recently ordered a pizza and God spoke to me saying, "The same way you just ordered, I've heard your cries and supplication, your order is coming right up." And a light bulb came on. It was a "WOW" moment for me. When you order a pizza and they tell you your order will be ready in 30-45 minutes. You're supposed to just wait for the doorbell to ring right? No, you and your smart self decide to speed things up. lol. So, instead of waiting the allotted time, you decide to call again to place the same order repeatedly. The operator is like, "Ummm, didn't you just call? You're order is in route, just wait." It's common sense to wait right? Of course it is.


That's the same thing with prayer. You don't have to keep calling to place your order with God. First of all, he already knows your order when you call. Kinda how Pizza Hut knows you like a pan pizza with light sauce, heavy cheese, lots of veggies and NO MEAT! lol. (Ok, maybe that's just for me?!? lol) But really, God knows what you can bear, what you can handle, what you are equipped for. He takes all that into account when you place your "order". Sometimes we "order"the wrong things, but God knows just what is right for us.


So when you place our "order" next time with God, just wait. That's it. He will deliver. He always does. Your order is coming right up.......


~Fly Orderer

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Be careful what you pray for.....

......you might just get it...


In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice. In the morning I lay my requests
before you and wait in expectation.(Psalm 5:3 NIV)

Well, I'm back in full effect now. So, I was in the airport a few weeks ago and I got the lovely news that my flight would be delayed for 6 hours!! Whaaaaaaaaaaat the heck! (I really wanted to say "hell", wait I said it..lol) Anywhoo, I was super pissed! I was like, "what exactly am I supposed to do for 6 hours dude??!". And for an overactive bunny like myself, I knew this was another test from the "big guy". So, I'm sitting there at the 1.4 hour mark about to pull out the hair I did have and I'm like, "God, can you pleeeeeeeeease send me somebody to talk to. And make him cute?! " lol. And guess what? He came. And we talked for the remainder of our layover. And he was seated next to me on the plane. The rest is history, been the "boo" since! lol.. Talk about a quickly answered prayer. God is awesome.


That's the thing with God. He hears all of our requests, our pleas, and our cries. No matter how minuscule or monumental they are. He hears them all and takes them all into consideration. He answers them in His timing and in His will. No matter what. Sometimes, we just so happen to line up on the same timetable and when that happens, it's magical! lol. It really is.


God's grace and mercy are simply magnificent. When I experience His swift works, I'm in amazement. There is nothing like seeing God working in your life, right before your eyes. There have been times I was in the parking lot of Target and been like, "Lord I need a parking spot", and one opens up immediately. And even when I asked God for a new career, a new car, and even a new man, God has moved within His plan for me. And when I look back down that tunnel called progression or read the pages of my life, I see that He has been in control the entire time.


Even in the heartaches, the pain, the disappointments, the misunderstandings, the misdirections, He's taken an account for it all. When I pray, I know that God has my best interest in mind. He created me and knows what I am equipped for. No sense in me praying to win the lotto when I won't even balance my check book. Or pray for a man (husband), when I'm not ready to share my bed or my Honey Smacks. lol. It's really that simple.


There are so many stories that I could share that could show you how God has done a quick work and even how He has taken His time. It seems that we all can. The one thing that we must all share in common is expectation.

Just know that when you pray.....you might just get it ...
~Fly Prayer.....


Tuesday, March 31, 2009

How to jump out, when you've jumped in head first!



Ok, it's been a minute. After you read this, you will know why. lol.


So, you meet a new guy, he's darn near perfect, you have a great time with him, you have a zillion things in common, and you're like, "This is it!". For 3-4 weeks, you're non-stop with this guy, you've learned more about him than you know about yourself, you spend every free moment with him, he's your quintessential BFF and boo. You have those future talks about marriage, kids, life after being single all that blah,blah stuff and you're like, "is he trying to get serious????" lol. A million questions are running through your head. You like him, but do you like him,like him? Does he like you like that? You freakin' panic... but then it happens! You're like, "WAIT!!!", it's moving waaaaaaaaay too fast. lol.


You try to slow it up without halting it, you monitor every word so it's not too "binding". Meaning, you don't know if you're ready to make him "the one", but you don't want to go through the hassle of filling that void again. You want to see him everyday, but you don't want to seem too pressed. It starts to get rather complicated mentally, and you are wrecking your brain trying to decide how to address it.


So, obviously I've dealt with this in the past and it was interesting to say the least. I liked this guy, he loved God, was totally great on paper, great skin, cutie pie, all that. We saw each other 23 hours of the day, literally! lol. It was cool until we both started getting those commitment jitters where we knew that was the natural next step, but both weren't willing to take that deep plunge just yet due to past hurts and complications. So what's next? We like each other, but not enough to be totally exclusive, but best believe I would have an attitude with someone else.


My question is, how do you slow down without coming to a halt? You see I'm all over the place with this blog because I've experienced it in the past and kinda, sorta dealing with it now (I hope he's not on here...lol)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

New Music Tuesday...




"...it's Keri baaaaaaby...."


Keri Hilson's album comes out today and I am pretty excited for her. She's been in the game for a minute! She's super talented and seems humble overall. I am going to actually buy her album.. lol. If you want to here samples of it, go to Amazon.com. It has the typical electric Timbaland sound. I likes!


Here is the track listing:

1. Intro

2. Turnin Me On ft. Lil Wayne

3. Get Your Money Up ft. Keyshia Cole & Trina

4. Return The Favor ft. Timbaland

5. Knock You Down ft. Neyo & Kanye

6. Slow Dance

7. Make Love

8. Intuition

9. How Does It Feel

10. Hey Girl ft. T-Pain & Lil Jon

11. Alienated

12. Tell Him the Truth

13. Change Me ft. Akon

14. Energy

15. Where Did He Go


The video for "Knock U Down" w.Kanye and Ne-Yo










My favorite songs of hers are High Heels and Superhuman w.Chris Brown












Friday, March 20, 2009

Neffie: Yup, preggers again....

You gotta love the whole Keyshia Cole clan. They could careless about what everyone thinks, and it's freakin' hilarious!

Here's what she had to say via Necole Bitchie and Sister 2 Sister :

Keyshia Cole’s sister Neffe, born Nefferteria Pugh, confirmed exclusively to S2S that she is preggers again! The co-star of BET’s “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is” sat down with our founder and publisher, Jamie Foster Brown, in her Atlanta home. Neffe, long with her new man, rapper Soullow (pronounced so-lo), gave us the scoop on the unexpected pregnancy.

“I’m pregnant and I got an attitude with him and don’t want him to f***ing touch me right now—or ever,” Neffe told Jamie. “Because I—was not supposed to happen this way. Now I’m trying to figure this s**t out, ’cause I just had Jaylen.”

The happy couple (yes, they were very lovey-dovey before this announcement) was a little confused about the details. Neffe didn’t know how far along in the pregnancy she was, although Soullow said “about three” months. He also quickly said, “It’s good,” referring to the upcoming baby, but admitted, “We really try to protect ourselves. It just happened.”

Regardless of how it happened, Neffe says that she’s a good mama. “I love children,” she said. “If you notice, I have six of them upstairs!” The new baby will be the couple’s first together and the fifth for Neffe.


Here is Neffie and "Soulow" addressing the sudden expansion of their family.




And here is Frankie being Frankie:

Loving Flaws and All........

Don't get so caught up in what you feel you don't have that you overlook
what you do have.
~ Me


Ok, I have been guilty of this time and time again. But have you ever woke up one morning and realized that you had a HUGE zit on your face? Yeah, you have. You pick at it, you put astringent on it, you look at your compact all day. Complete "stress mode". Now mind you, you just got your eyebrows down, your hair looks great, and you have on some great new pumps, but you are so focused on this awful zit, that you can't even recognize your own fabulosity. So throughout the day, you are convinced that everyone is staring at this zit and you are having a complete mental breakdown. So one of your cute co-workers comes up to you and says, "Hey, you look nice today," and gives you his winning smile. Instead of you saying "thank you", you're like, "With this huge zit, I know you can't be talking to me." He simply replies, " I didn't even notice that, and I still can barely see it."

You see, that's how God is. He sees us in all our greatness and glory. He doesn't see our minor flaws and sins, He sees the purpose He has placed in us and all the wonderful things that He has in store. We get so caught up in our sins and our past, that we feel God can't use us or make us great even in our lowest moment. But guess what? He can. There are so many great men and women in the Bible that were used as vessels for the Kingdom of God. Now, these men and women were not always kings, queens, and high priests. They were those who fell from glory, those who lacked confidence in themselves and their gifts, and even those who lived lives of sin. God was still able to use them.
The difference between 2 sinners is the one that decides to ask for forgiveness and leave it with God and the other one asks for forgiveness, but carries the burden of guilt. We have to understand that God loves us and can use us no matter what our circumstances or transgressions have been. That's the beauty of having a relationship with God. He will bring the best out of you and help you realize your full potential.
Yeah, I had a zit recently, but I kept it moving. The moment I forgot about it, it was like I wasn't there. I met all kind of people. (Not just cute guys... lol) But really, people are attracted to confidence and greatness. Regardless of how I started that morning, I made it my business to pull it together and enjoy my day. That made all the difference in the world.

So, no matter what flaw you feel you may possess, love yourself in spite of. Whether it be as minuscule as a zit, or as monumental as a handicapped, your are fearfully and wonderfully made. And nothing else matters.
Love yourself.... with the "flaws and all"....
~Flyly, fearfully, and wonderfully made...

Monday, March 16, 2009

Kelis: Feeling Blue?

I saw this pic and had to post it, what is up with Kelis? Lord, this little baby is gonna come out with a kaleidoscope for hair. lol.... She kinda, sorta looks cute, but the verdict is still out on this....

Enjoy!

~Flyness

The Rundown...

Ok everyone, I am back.... Gotta catch you all up..

On little ol' me:
  • Church was outstanding~! I still have my crush on PJ. Worship was incredible and the word was filling. Bishop Morton talked about Hosea and the unfinished (half baked) cake and how we as saints need to be fully converted and "cooked" on the inside and out!
  • Got J. Holiday new CD- it's growing on me, not necessarily a classic, but good nonetheless
  • Dream's CD is, ummmmmm, "aight", I have to listen to it more
  • Has anyone heard of Terrell Carter? He's been in Tyler Perry's Movie/Plays. He's on India's new CD too. Look him up, create voice, great lyrics!
  • I recorded a song with a friend of mine and it's incredible! I might actually have a future in singing and writing! I really just want to be behind the scenes.
  • Went to Miami with my girls and I realized that I'm over the club scene and travelling with no purpose. I love my girls and line sisters, but it's time for more "boo" trips and less "girls" trips.. lol
  • My flight was delayed for 8hrs because of "high winds". Stuck in the Ft. Lauderdale airport, but, guess what, I was stuck with a guy!!!!!! Turns out, we know ALL of the same people, have a lot in common, and guess what our seat assignments were on the plane? Yup, next to each other. I don't know what God is doing, but I think I like it....lol
  • I attended "Abstinence Day on the Hill" in Washington, D.C. with 5 of my students. It was a mess. Please remind me why I work with kids and sex. Hard job, but somebody's gotta do it. The day went splendid! We got a 45 minute meeting with Congressman John Lewis and he thought our kids were outstanding. Now we have tickled his fancy and he's thinking about supporting abstinence funding. Favor ain't fair y'all!! lol
  • I got 2 new pair of kicks: Lime green, high top pumas, and some high top, pink and green Adidas! If you know me, I was totally not into sneakers like this. I moved to the A, started working with these kids and it was a wrap! lol
  • Speaking of Pink and Green, it's been almost 5yrs since I became an AKA! Remarkable!!
  • Soooooooooooo proud of little my sis!
  • Lost a few more pounds, but now I need more jeans
  • Target came out with a new line of HUGE jewelry, that I am anxiously awaiting to be marked down. lol
  • Got ANOTHER Blackberry!
  • Decided to go natural. Pray for my roots and this weather everyone!!!
  • I confirmed my appointment with Miya Bailey... look him up everyone~!
  • Oh... The new guy I met..... he's great! Details to come (fingers crossed!!!!)
  • Yup.....Going on another fast until Easter. So much clarity and direction needed!

Ok, that's enough about me....


In Hollyweird:



  • Chris and Rhianna.... puke! They make me sick. Meanwhile, we are holding a candlelight vigil in her honor and this heifer is somewhere "booed" up with her "attacker". I'm over the whole situation. Good luck with that boo!

  • Kanye is parading around with a stripper/prostitute/lesbian. The boy is so lost. She looks great in high fashion stuff, but can she honestly raise a family 'Ye? I'm just saying. I pray for his strength. His mom died right before my grandmother did. I mourned for him. He's been all over the place since then. Poor fella is a mess!

  • Bebe Winans "allegedly" assaulted his ex-wife. He was married? Who knew. God forgive me, but he has been a little light in the behind lfor a minute!! lol

  • Christina Milian and The Dream... who cares...

  • The brawl at the America's Next Top Model? For real? All those heifers in heels running, I'm sure that footage is priceless. lol

  • Can't wait to hear Keri Hilson's new album

  • Anyone watch The Game on Friday? I am so tired of Derwin doing what the hell he wants. Melanie deserves so much more. Granted he is fine, it is getting to be a bit much with all the baby mama drama!

I think that's it for now.....


Let me get busy with these posts, wait, I do have to work y'all... oh well.... lol

Thursday, March 12, 2009

I'm back.... Forgive me>>>

Hello all,

I have been sooooooooooooooooo busy lately, forgive me. From travelling with my girls, to going to Washington to fight for abstinence funding, I'm beat!

More info and updates to come...

Thanks for being patient with me..

~Fly World Changer!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Chris and Rih: Back on and poppin' .....




(Photos via theYBF.com..one of my FAV sites! )


See, that's why we can't get all emotional with folks in their roller coaster rides called relationships. Again, I have no words for it, but I somehow knew it. Chris and Rihanna are back on and popping. She claims she's still madly in love with him and he has never stopped loving her. It's obvious that the whole "skull crashing" is nothing new for these 2.


They were having ubber fun in the sun in Miami, like the rest of the world wasn't grieving for Rihanna. Ain't this a slap in the face? I'm over it. Whatever!!

~Flyly out of it!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

It's Just Me and You......


Have you ever found yourself in a place where you feel so alone, that you don't know what you are going to do? You're in a place that may be unfamiliar, but you've accepted that this is where you are supposed to be. This is place, that is not necessarily sad, but eriely quiet. It remains quiet, but then you begin to hear and feel something. It is the presence of God.


Now, you know you can feel all alone and be in a room full of people. You can feel all alone with a loving family. You can feel all alone even when you are successful and accomplished. Even with all the things you ever dreamed off. God can still isolate you so He can speak to you and make you better.


That's an indescrible feeling. I have often been in this place and I know that it is necessary for growth. There have been moments in my life where I have questioned my place in life and God has been right there. Many times, God wants us to be at a place where He is our only companion and place of refuge. If you ever find yourself in this isolated place, rejoice because God is about to do a great work. The road to this place may not be easy, but you have to have comfort in knowing the God is truly a redeemer. Nothing He does is by mistake or coincidence.


It is funny how we look back at our lives and begin to see how God has worked out certain situations that we thought we would have never gotten out of. It almost reads like a story book. That's how we should look at out lives and tough situations. Just like when a plot thickens in a book or a movie and a resolution soon follows. God said it plain as day in Jeremiah 29:11, 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. It is not like God to lie and it is not certainly like God to let you suffer. It is the "meantime" that's always difficult, but you must be encouraged to know that things will get better. No matter what "right now" looks now, tomorrow is promised to be better!




Now remember, God is truly a selfish god. So when God blesses us with out heart's desires, i.e. car, husband, job, family, money, we cannot begin to worship these things, but give reverence to Him. God loves for us to be grateful for what we have and know that He will be there no matter what! Hebrews 13:5 says, Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, "I will never leave you or abandon you." He loves to be worshipped and praised, so we are mandated to do so.


In this time of isolation, look at it as a spiritual cocoon or incubator. Become better, stronger, and wiser. This may turn out to be the best time of your life. You will discover how much you should love yourself and more importantly, how much God loves you !



~Flyly separated

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

What are you looking at?


Have you been somewhere and notice someone staring at you for no reason at all? The "attitude" in you wants to be like "what are you looking at?" What you may not know is that you might actually be witnessing to a person.
Ok, let me explain. If a person looks at you, what do they see? Happiness, sadness, laughter, joy, peace, beauty, fierceness, or even God? Everyday, we encounter a myriad of people and we take our spirit with us. What our mouth doesn't say, our gestures, heart, and spirit does.


I've been notorious of saying, "Dude, what is it? What are you looking at?" and catch a complete attitude, but God corrected me. He told me clear as day that I was what someone needed. I'm usually pretty "glammed" when I come to work, so one day I decided to go completely natural, no eyeshadow, no blush, and a flat wrap. One of my co-workers was like, "Girl, what happened, you ok". I was like, "yeah, what's the big deal?". She went on to say that I reminded me of her mother that was always dolled up and well put together. Her mother passed away years ago.


Now you see, little did I know that seeing me all dolled up made an impact. That happens to each and everyone of us day to day. We have to be confident in who we are regardless of what others may so. The very thing that someone may deem as a flaw, might be the most beautiful and precious trait.

We should be aware of the subliminal messages that omit each day because we could truly be a blessing in disguise for others. A person could be hopeless, but sees that we are encouraging and filled with faith, and they may walk away feeling empowered. A person may have low self esteem, but sees our quiet beauty and our fashion sense and walk away feeling fabulous. A person may be lacking in the relationship department and see you with your boo or BFF and they feel encouraged knowing that God has someone from them. They may not know Christ, but they see how diligent you are in your works, and see Christ right here on Earth.

You see, sometimes, it's not about the big things that you can do to make an impact, it's the little things. Opening a door, paying someone's parking meter, bringing an extra sandwich for someone at work, or even helping someone up when they fall. You might be the God they need to see for the day.


When they say God is omnipresent, that doesn't necessarily mean He roaming the earth like a dinosaur. He's in me and you. It is ever so important that we know this because it will totally transform the way we think about ourselves and our interactions with others.

So today, instead of wondering why someone is looking at you, wonder what they are seeing. You might be the difference they need to go on.


Be blessed and know that you are the one that God will use today!


~Looking Flyly Blessed




Monday, February 23, 2009

Movie Review: Madea Goes to Jail

Yes, I went to see it, on opening night at a predominately Black theater. lol. You know the real comedy was going on in the audience. Between the church folk, the new parents, those "booed" up, and even those on the late night creep, we all joined together to support good ol' Tyler Perry!


Now, at first, I was like, I really hope this is better than Meet The Browns and Daddy's Little Girls. I am an avid Tyler supporter, but those 2 were not that great. Boy was I wrong. I think America was having Madea withdrawals over the past few films, but honey, Tyler gave us all an overdose of our favorite 6'5 matriarch in drag! lol.


The film was centered around Madea and her wildly lovable behavior. She reminds everyone of someone in their family, church, or community. I swear, she gave a gut busting performance at every turn!


My favoirte comedic scene was when Madea decided to leave the house on a suspended license and head to Kmart. Madea is riding through the parking lot and this quirky white lady in a little red sports car decides to zoom in front of Madea to get a parking spot. You know Madea went off right?! Madea tells the lady she is going to move her car and low and behold, she does. With a forklift! lol. Too hilarious. Consequently, the lady's husband was a police officer and they go to Madea's house to take her tail BACK to jail, where she is sentenced by Judge Mathis! She didn't go to jail without a fight, literally. She gave those officers a run for their money. All 6'5 of her (him) in a house dress rumbling and tumbling was too funny!



The concurrent storyline features a young buddy Assistant District Attorney, Derek Luke who is engaged to this Mulatto chick. I didn't bother to look up her name because I didn't like the way she did Derek ( Yea, I am totally biased! lol). He runs into an old childhood friend, Keisha Knight Pulliam, who is now living on the streets and turning tricks. This storyline of redemption turns into a lightweight love story, so you know I was all in! lol. I love the on screen chemistry they had, it was so believable. Keisha truly tried to break out of the Rudy Huxtable that we all knew. But she still rocked a remarkable white smile and gorgeous locks. (Couldn't help but to throw that in) .

Then Madea gooooooooooes to jail, hence the title. This is where the 2 story lines collide. Of course, Madea and Keisha were in the same area in jail. Madea becomes her surrogate guardian, keeping folks off of her and make a cute comical pair.


My absolute favorite part of the film was the scene where Derek Luke broke down. I won't give it all away, but that chocolate delight all emotional did something to me. (Not like that y'all..lol) To see a Black man show such intensity with his emotion was absolutely breathtaking. He did that!

Overall, the movie was chicken soup for the soul. More like mac-n-cheese, cabbage, and fried chicken for the soul. lol. It was filled with a gamut of emotion and certainly was worth seeing on opening night. I would recommend this movie to anyone that is down and needs a good laugh. You will literally laugh out loud.

Go support Tyler, you will just love it!



~ Fly laughter....

Fly Guy: Derek Luke




Now, I have always been a fan of Antwone Fisher, but baby, let me tell you, that Derek Luke did his thang in Madea Goes to Jail. In the midst of the riotus humor, Luke brought a true sense of unconditonal love to the screen.


I just wanted to take this moment to focus on the great talent of Mr.Luke. Now, the thing I love about Derek Luke, is that he was discovered while working at the Studio Emporium gift shop on the Sony studio lot. Now if that isn't a testament of God finding you right where you are! You have to be at a place where God can use you. No matter what, you must be obedient! And not only this, he actually replaced Wesley Snipes in Miracle at St.Anna because Snipes had all those tax issues. Another testament of how God will have folks put OUT of place to put you IN place!


His rather brief bio, as provided by Wikipedia is as follows:


  • Luke was born in Jersey City, NJ , the son of pianist Marjorie Dixon and Guyanese native Maurice Luke, a former actor.

  • He has two brothers, Daniel and Maurice.

  • He is a graduate of Snyder High School in Jersey City, New Jersey.

  • Luke married singer- actor Sophia Adella Hernandez in 1998 ( I know, such heartbreak! lol)

  • Luke was discovered while working at the Studio Emporium gift shop on the Sony studio lot and given the Fisher role

  • Luke played one of the four male leads in Spike Lee's 2008 war film, Miracle at St.Anna replacing Wesley Snipes who had to leave the film due to his highly-publicized tax problems (Won't God do it)

  • He plays Alicia Keys' love interest in her new video Teenage Love Affair

  • Luke played Sean Combs alongside Jamal 'Gravy' Woolard as The Notorious B.I.G. and Angela Bassett as Voletta Wallace in the 2009 film Notorious.

For no other reason, I celebrate this Fly Guy for his ordered footsteps!!!



~I Heart Fly Guys!

Fly Guy : Tyler Perry



Tyler Perry has done it! “Madea Goes to Jail” was the number 1 film in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend, opening with $41.1 million in sales. Now tell me God ain't GOOOOOOD! lol...


Now, being a member of his same church, Changing a Generation, formally known as Greater St.Stephens, where Bishop Paul S. Morton is the pastor, I have seen Mr. Perry on several occasions. In the time that I have been in his presence, he seemed to have truly been in the midst of battle. Whether it has been internally or with the people around him. Regardless of what he was wrestling with, he made it a point to never stop writing and dreaming. He is truly an example of God's faithfulness! When he spoke at the church, he literally broke down in front of all the people, telling of how all he has is God. His childhood was not the best, his family life wasn't conducive to growth, and he thought his life didn't have much hope. Ohhhhh, but GOD knew! He spoke of a time where he once was so broken and so lost, he didn't know how he was going to make it out. He sought God's face and listened to His words.


No matter how many obstacles he was faced with, he was determined to believe the promises that God revealed to him. Whenever there was a closed door or a "no", he worked even harder. His perseverance and faith have catapulted him to a place where very few African Americans have been, at the top! Not only is he at the top, but he has done so without the help of a lot of people. Now don't get me wrong, he has his select few that he professionally sticks with, but he has had to deal with so many "nay-sayers" that is a miracle that he is still standing.


Seeing Mr. Perry's success shows me that God can and will always be faithful to those that believe. In the midst of a storm, believe. When people tell you no, believe. When you have been denied, believe. When all odds are against you, believe.


And this weekend, enough folks believed in Mr. Perry and gave him double for his trouble. "Madea Goes to Jail,” , is his fourth to debut at first place in the box office and his biggest opening weekend ($41 million!) . In 2005, he made $21.9 million during the opening weekend with “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”. Now tell me God wasn't showing off! In total, he has grossed $320.3 million with Lion Gates Films. Not to mention how much his plays have grossed!


Now if Mr. Perry had not of pushed forward and believed in what God told him, he would not of been able to bless so many others with his messages of faith, family, hope, and belief. There are many critics that may not think his plays/movies are that great, but it is indeed a ministry. And when God places a ministry in a man, then He will make provisions for it. No matter what Mr. Perry faced, he has triumphed and showed that God can make anyone who believes VICTORIOUS!


I can't say it enough how God is! Ok, let me go type up this movie review so you all can go see it! lol


~Fly Adoration

Saturday, February 21, 2009

A Virtuous Woman


Proverbs 31:10-31 (King James Version)
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.



When I look at Michelle Obama and other great women like my mother, I truly see what a Virtuous Woman should encompass. Loyalty, honesty, hard working, loving, nurturing, frugal, innovative, inspiring, thoughtful, insightful...you name it ! You see, the term "virtuous" is from a noun meaning strength, efficiency, ability. This is the type of woman you want in your corner. lol... A virtuous woman has strength of character as well as moral strength and firmness. She is a rare and Godly jewel that simply has no price.


Now, there are so many different ways to discuss such a great woman, but I want to focus on the importance of being a virtuous woman as a whole and then a virtuous woman for 1 Godly man. In life, we have always dreamt (most of us) of our prince charming sweeping us off our feet and living in our house with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids. That's great and all, but somewhere along the lines, we lose focus. We are so caught up in wanting this great man, we don't focus on just us becoming great. I just finished reading this POWERFUL book about Ruth ( The Romance of Redemption by Diana Hagee) and home girl broke it down. We HAVE to trust God with who our mate is to be. There is no other way around it. True indeed, we all have our "types", but at the end of the day, if its not a God thing, then it doesn't matter.


Could you imagine being on a game show and being given the opportunity to pick a prize out of just 2 boxes. Both boxes are wrapped differently, each unique in a certain way. 1 box is nicer than the other, but something in you is telling you, you need to pick that box. The box that's not so extravagant. It's like you hear a small still voice saying, " Box 2, pick it, just Trust me", and you do. Before the game show host reveals to you what's in the box you chose, you get to see what was in the other box. Box #1 has a great career, job, and even a house! So you are like "MAN! I shoulda picked that box!" But you keep believing God that you made the right decision. And then the game show host reveals Box #2, your choice. Your stomach is rumbling and your heart is racing, you're hoping this is it! So your box's content is revealed and it's simply a golden key. So now you're like, "God, you play to much!", but then the back drop changes and it reveals 3 large golden doors. The nameplates on each door reads Love, Wealth, and Joy. Guess what, they key opens ALL those doors and more!


God is saying, if you trust me and read my word, I will give you the key that unlocks any door. No matter what your heart's desires are, if they are in my will, they shall be done. That is how I see it with life and in love, no matter what the circumstances may look like and no matter what people may say to come against what God has promised, it has to work out!


So, you must trust God that you are a virtuous woman and always conduct yourself as such. A virtuous woman must understand that she must be paired with a Godly man in order to fulfill her destiny. She must not fraternize with just any type of man. She knows that she is a priceless asset and must understand her worth. A virtuous woman trusts God to send her a Godly man. Not just any man, one that has been hand picked and carved by God himself.

In your life, strive to be all you can be, but above all be virtuous, that is who you were destined to be anyway. Each day is a journey. Take your time, learn all you can, and dream!

Forget fabulousity, I want virtuosity!

Ok....that's all..... lol . I will probably add more to this later :-)

~Virturously Fly.........


Friday, February 20, 2009

Chris Did This? Say it ain't so.......

I really have no words for this. It is just too early in the morning to get in to it. I will say this, we need to pray. Like, for real. This is just too much! This looks like a picture from the morgue and it is very, very saddening. Look at this girl's face. This is unbelievable!
We have to learn to control ourselves no matter what! It doesn't matter who started this argument, but this is what the results look like. I mean, was it that serious? And you know they are saying she is still texting and calling him. Now they are going to turn into Romeo and Juliet on us. I really, really pray that they don't anything crazy. I am not going to even write what I am thinking because there is power of life and death in the tongue and I am not going to give the enemy any room.
This is young love at its best, gone totally wrong. Rhianna took a bit of a turn when she started to do all that dark music and wearing dominatrix outfits. It was like a spirit began to take life in her. And you know when you have sex with someone, you take on their spirit as well. (I will definitely post a blog on this later) Lord, this is a mess.
Overall, I just pray that they learn from this season and that it passes over them. God is a God of more chances that we can think of. But it is from the point of forgiveness that we must move forward.
Didn't I say I wasn't going to get into this... lol..
Talk to you all later..
~In Fly Prayer

Use your gifts wisely....




Using your gifts really should be added as a commandment...lol. Each and everyone of us has a unique gift. You may not know it or understand it, but you do. And every gift is unique to every person. Look at the entertainment world. All the actors, singers, song writers, rappers, dancers, etc. If all of our gifts their gifts were identical, then there would be no award shows, no record sales, none of the that. Everyone has their own way of using their gift to the best of their ability.


It is important to use our gifts. Not to make ourselves to look better but to glorify God and direct people to the kingdom. It is important, that is why God gave us different abilities to do things. You never know who you may be attracting to Him. God knew that when He created us. He knew the journey that we would once take, the people we would once meet, and the challenges that we might face. And he also knew he had to equip us with a gift that would prepare us for it all.


Some people may be blessed with more than one gift. That doesn't make them any better or worse, it simply means increased responsibility and more possibilities for growth. Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift makes room for him And brings him before great men." This means no matter what God has blessed you with, no matter where you go, it will be your key to making it to the next level.


Usage of gifts opens up doors to favor, prosperity, and deliverance. So today, find your gift(s). No matter what your area (or areas) of expertise may be, trust that God is going to propel you to the next level. You have to be prepared for it through a prayerful life and confidence in God. Once you surrender to your calling and who you are to be, there is nothing that you cannot have.


~Flyly Blessed and Gifted

Thursday, February 19, 2009

In the meantime.....


Me: Soooooo God, I have prayed, cried, made a dream book, wrote a song, met with a prayer group, what do I do in the meantime while I
am waiting on my breakthrough?
God: You wait.
Me: Whaaaaaaaaaat? That's it? Just wait?
God: Yes, wait.
Yup, that's what He said. Just wait... That's the interesting thing about praying and getting them answered. God wants us to know that He is the author and the finisher of our faith. He has the ultimate say in all matters. Regardless of what it is.
So in the meantime, we need to understand what the may journey bring us. New friends, new experiences, learning something new, ministering to others, you just never know .The meantime is the most important part, not necessarily the journey.
When training for the marathon, you're not practicing for the actual finish line, you are training for every step that you take to get to the finish line. That's the same thing with God and this thing called faith. Preparation is necessary for success in anything. The only instruction manual that is provided for life is the bible and faith is mentioned:
422 in the NIV
378 in the American Standard
227 in The Message
509 in the Amplified
336 in the King James
474 in the English Standard.
625 in the Contemporary English
379 in the New King James
347 in the American Standard
460 in Today's New International Version

Now, I think that's saying A LOT. Faith is probably one of the most important aspects of your relationship with God, other than Love of course. So during your "meantimes" of life, understand that it is all apart of the plan. Just when you thought God forgot about you, your prayers, and your struggles, he shows right up and blesses you!

~In Fly Meantime..

Read these scriptures:

Eccl. 9.11 ...... that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Psa. 27.14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
Psa. 37.9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Honeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, I messed around and googled the recipe for Red Lobster's Shrimp Scampi recipe and I found it! I swear, Google is worth its weight in gold. lol. I googled the recipe and found soooooo many alternatives. You can actually go on to Red Lobster's website and get ALL of their recipes. Like FOR REAL! Try it! I promise!

Yuuuuuuuuuuummy!!!

http://www.redlobster.com/kitchen/

Here is The Shrimp Scampi Recipe:
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 Pound Medium Shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 Tbsp Pure Olive Oil (not extra virgin)
2 Tbsp Finely Chopped Garlic (you may used pre-chopped from the produce section of your grocery store)
1½ Cups White Wine (a nice Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay will work well)
½ Fresh Lemon (juice only)
1 Tsp Italian Seasoning Blend
½ Cup Butter (softened)
1 Tbsp Fresh Parsley (chopped fine)
To taste Salt and Pepper
½ Cup Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese (if desired as garnish)


Method:
1. Heat heavy bottom skillet and add olive oil, do not allow oil to smoke.
Add shrimp and cook until tender and no longer translucent
2. Remove shrimp from pan and reduce heat slightly.
Add garlic and cook 2-3 minutes.
Be careful not to brown garlic as this will produce a slightly bitter flavor.
When garlic is cooked, add white wine.
3. Squeeze juice from lemon in pan, and reduce wine by half.
After it is reduced, add Italian seasoning blend
4. Reduce heat to low, and slowly add butter, 1 Tbsp at a time. The butter should slowly melt into the sauce and create a nice creamy texture. If the pan is too hot the butter will separate
5. Once butter is fully incorporated, add shrimp back into sauce, add parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
6. Serve with garnish of fresh cheese if desired. Scampi is great accompanied by fresh pasta

Here are some other great shrimp recipes:

Shrimp Salsa
Ingredients:
1 cup Cooked Diced Shrimp
2 each Tomatoes, Diced
1 each Jalepeno, Small Diced
2 TBSP Red Onion, Diced
1 TBSP Cilantro, Chopped Fne
½ tsp Salt
Pinch Black Pepper


Shrimp Gumbo
Serves 10to12
Shrimp Gumbo Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups melted butter
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups chopped onions, cut into 3/8" pieces
1 cup chopped green peppers, cut into 3/8" pieces
1 cup chopped celery, cut into 3/8" pieces
1 lb. Andouille sausage, cut into 1/2" pieces
1/2 lb. Tasso smoked meat, cut into 1/2" pieces
1 tbsp. paprika
3 tbsp. "Emeril's Bayou Blast" seasoning
2 tsp. gumbo file, ground
1 tsp. ground Ancho pepper (optional for extra heat)
10 cups cold chicken stock or broth
2 tbsp. brown sugar
2 bay leaves
1/2 lb. shrimp, cleaned and peeled with tails removed
Salt and Pepper to taste
Shrimp Gumbo Preparation:
Combine the melted butter and flour in a large heavy pot, stirring constantly over media heat. Cook until the roux is a dark, chocolate brown color (about 20 to 25 minutes).
Add the chopped onions, green peppers, celery, Andouille sausage and Tasso smoked meat. Cook, stirring continuously, until the vegetables are very soft (about 8 to 10 minutes).
Add the paprika, the "Emeril's Bayou Blast" and the gumbo file. If you want a spicier dish, add the Ancho pepper. Cook for about 1-2 minutes.
Add the cold chicken stock or broth. Stir until the roux mixture and the broth are well combined.
Add the bay leaves and the brown sugar, bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
Add shrimp to the soup approximately 15 to 20 minutes prior to serving (size of the shrimp will determine how long they need to cook). Add salt and pepper to taste.



Maple-Glazed Salmon and Shrimp
Serves 4
Fresh salmon and shrimp basted in a sweet maple cherry glaze.


Ingredients:
4 ea. 5-6 oz. salmon fillet
24 ea. 26-30 count peeled shrimp
4 ea. bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 10-15 minutes)
Olive oil
Sea salt (to taste)
Black pepper (to taste)
1 C. dried cherry and maple glaze
Sweet Maple and Dried Cherry Glaze:
2 C. real maple syrup
3 Tbsp. soy sauce (light if available)
½ C. water
¼ C. chopped dried tart cherries
½ ea. fresh lemon
½ C. white sugar


Sweet Maple and Dried Cherry Glaze:
Combine syrup, soy sauce, water and cherries in small sauce pot over medium heat.
Squeeze juice from half lemon in mixture and stir well.
Once mixture is heated, begin adding ¼ cup of sugar and stir until complete dissolved. Taste glaze for sweetness. As different maple syrups will have different levels of sweetness, it might be necessary to add additional sugar.
Once glaze is sweet enough, remove from heat and refrigerate. When completely cool, cover and store chilled.
Use at room temperature as glaze for grilled fresh fish.


Preparation:
After soaking the skewers, slide 6 shrimp onto each skewer, leaving room on either end. Brush both sides with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Brush salmon with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper as well.
Place salmon on grill skin side up. Grill approximately 5 minutes, then carefully flip on grill. Baste with maple cherry glaze, and continue to cook approximately 5-10 more minutes.
When salmon has cooked approximately 5 minutes, place shrimp skewer on grill and cook 2-3 minutes per side, basting with maple cherry glaze once per side.
Place salmon on plate, top with shrimp skewer, and top with remaining maple cherry glaze. Garnish with fresh grilled asparagus.


Maui Luau Shrimp & Salmon
Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 each 5–6 oz. skinned salmon fillet
24 each 26–30 count peeled shrimp
4 each Bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 10–15 minutes)
8 each Fresh pineapple half moons (super sweet variety)
Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Sweet chili sauce (choose your favorite brand, but make sure it is sweet)


Note:
Sweet chili sauce is usually found in the Asian specialties section of your local market. It should not be confused with the thicker tomato version of chili sauce


Preparation:
Brush both sides of salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
After soaking the skewers, slide 6 shrimp onto each skewer, leaving room on either end. Brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Cut the fresh pineapple into slices approximately half inch in diameter and then cut in half. Brush both sides with olive oil.
On a medium heated grill, place the salmon flesh side down. Grill approximately 6–7 minutes per side or until the fish reaches 150 degrees.
Grill shrimp approximately 3–4 minutes per side or until 150 degrees.
Grill pineapple for 2–3 minutes per side or until there is good carmelization.
Brush all items generously with the sweet chili sauce.
To serve, place the pineapple at the top of each plate and crisscross. Top the pineapple with a scoop of your favorite rice. Crisscross the salmon and the shrimp skewer on top of the rice. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with your favorite vegetable.


Wine Pairing:
A Riesling would be a great accompaniment to this entree. If you prefer a cocktail, a Pina Colada would be a nice match because its cool sweetness balances the spiciness of the dish.

Stay motivated!


"Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that
fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly."

-Stephen R. Covey


I like this quote. It really encompasses what motivation is all about. It starts with self. We often times set out to do great things and really go at it hard in the very beginning and then we get to a point where the fire kind of dies out. We eventually reignite the flame, but it doesn't always stay at the same level. Why does this happen?

There could be several reasons that we get off track or lose that fire. It could be self, our circumstances, life, other people, work, weather, a myriad of reasons. But know that you always have back up. A generator. Extra help. We have God. No matter what we think may experience or how we get off course, we can always trust God to help us reignite the flame.


If you're like me, this is an area that I have to really pray about. I start off strong, highly motivated, then I reach an invisible brick wall. Its crazy.. lol.. You're desired results could be a new relationship, a car, a new house, having a baby, starting a new career, stating a new hobby, travelling, facing a fear, meeting new people, sticking to a diet or weight loss plan. I could be just about anything. It is easy to lost your momentum when you are living life day to day. You have to find ways to get your vision re-energized and remember your desired results.


Here are some good ways to stay motivated:
  1. Pray, pray, pray
  2. Write your vision and make it plain
  3. Keep a list of your desired results visible in various different locations
  4. Surround yourself with motivated people
  5. Create a dream/ motivation board to look at daily
  6. Try to find people that you know or celebrities that have already accomplished your goal
  7. Don't let an obstacle stand in your way
  8. Create a motivation playlist/cd that helps you remember your purpose
  9. Always think about your desired results

I hope this helps you a little. Believe it or not, this blog has truly, truly be a motivational tool for me. I have always been an advid writer and dreamer, but I easily get taken off course for so many reasons. But because I have set out to make this blog an extension of myself, I have handled it with excellence. I have tried to apply that to all the areas of my life. And guess what? I think it's working yall! lol ..

~Flyly motivated

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Busy in Purpose...


I was in a staff meeting today and I looked at the date. I was like, where has the month of February gone???! It seems like I was JUST sitting in New Year's service at church and now we are dern near celebrating St.Patrick's Day. This is crazy! And I hear God say, "Time flies when you are busy in purpose."


That totally caught me off guard, but that is what God wants us to do. We are to live each day on purpose and in purpose. Now, don't get me wrong there will be days where you wish tomorrow would just hurry up and come, but we have to make an effort to get all the life out of each day. Whether we know exactly what we want to be or where we want to go, we need to constantly move forward. If we fall, keep it moving. It we stumble, keep it moving. If we feel hesitant, keep it moving.


When we are busy in purpose, small things that get us off track have no room for center stage. They are merely moments for growth and learning, but they should only energize our purpose and propel us to the next realm of excellence. Now, I am a living witness that disappointment can get the best of a person. But I have come to realize they are nothing less than distraction. Some things are so trivial in retrospect. Just when you think you're doing so great, the enemy finds the simplest thing to get you off track. It is in this moment you pray for guidance.


Distractions, obstacles, and adversity are good signs that you are on a verge of a breakthrough or in a pivotal moment in your journey. Learn from them and keep moving towards the assigned mark. God said in His word that there would be ups and downs. He's already prepared us for such. He has also promised us peace and prosperity, so it all comes hand in hand.


So no matter how life may seems to be flying by, just stay busy in purpose and each day will count more than the day before.


~Fly Busy Body

Monday, February 16, 2009

God Knows the Bigger Picture




Often times, God reveals to us our purpose through snapshots and glimpses, and reveals it over time. In doing so, He wants us to know that there is a "bigger picture". The crazy thing is, we want to see more. But only time will reveal that to us.


In the meantime, we get caught up in obstacles and stumbling blocks along the way that begin to cloud our vision. We lose site of what God showed us. We can't look at our current snap shot and think it's the final picture, because it's not. Everything we experience in our lives is a part of our fabric. Whether these experiences are ones that we choose to forget or cherish forever, they make us who we are.


In our quest to find purpose and walk in it, don't focus too much on trying to figure out tomorrow until we have mastered today. I say this because we miss a lot of great opportunities to grow, love, and to become a better person.


Ultimately, God knows the bigger picture. So continue to cherish the "snap shots" of your destiny that God revelas and strive towards who you are to be!


~Fly Expectations

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Nas and Kelis: It's a Boy





Well, the preggers bug seems to be going around pretty swiftly (drink bottled water everyone! lol) ... Nas has been blogging to the world that he and Kelis are expecting their first child, a BOY! You know he is too hype. Kelis is probably already stirring a concoction of hot pink hair dye to color the poor little boy's hair....lol.. This is going to be a mess. But they did it all in the confines of marriage, so it's a beautiful thing nonetheless

While this is their first child together, Nas has a 14-year-old daughter named Destiny with author and music executive Carmen Bryan. He did a pretty good job of not having a whole bunch of little ones running around.


Here is a snippet of his blog from the web



“I’m sure that y’all heard K is expecting. The Internet seems to be more excited
than I am. It’s crazy! I got too much to think about, and I didn’t wanna leave
all my fans out the loop,” the Queens MC wrote in a blog entry on Global Grind. “But I wanted to let ya’ll know from me personally that I’m having my first SON!!!!!”


~ Flyness and Blessings

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy V-Day: 10 Fun Ways to Say I Love You

Here's a cute article that I found....

Creative Valentine's Day Gifts
10 Fun Ways to Say I Love You
© Erica Arnold
Jan 6, 2009

Valentine's Day Gift Crafts

Coupon book: An oldy but a goody. Who can say how long the coupon book has been around, but it needs an upgrade. Gone are the days of the “take out the trash” coupon or “do the dishes” coupon. Now it’s time for “a back rub after a long day’s work” or “win the next disagreement.” No matter how nice or naughty the coupons they are sure to be greatly appreciated.


Love letters/poem: Send a love letter or poem from a famous author every day starting February 1, then on Valentine’s Day present an original love letter or poem. Use nice stationary and after Valentine’s Day get the pages bound together so it can be a keepsake.


Go somewhere fun like an ice skating rink or a great museum and then at the end of the night give a gift to commemorate the event. The gift can be something made or bought from a gift shop.


Make a scrapbook page with pictures of a special event or fun day from the past and frame it.
Valentine's Day Gifts that Last All Day


Cater to you: Set up the whole day to cater to the other person. TiVo or DVR their favorite shows, cook their favorite meals, run a bath and give them a massage. Be sure they don’t lift a finger for their special day.


Spa day: Buy bath salts, or milk bath, candles, massage oil, pedicure products, etc., from the drug store and set up a spa at home. Invite the lucky lady or guy over and pamper them.
Valentine's Day Gifts for Couples to Enjoy Together


Make chocolate candy together: An Occasional Chocolate has everything needed to make delectable chocolates similar to those found in stores at home for less. After the candy is made enjoy it together.


Take a couple’s cooking class: Local community colleges, culinary schools, and even some grocery stores have cooking classes. FYI, these classes fill up fast.


Give a nice bottle of alcohol and enjoy it that night over a great meal.


Weekend get-a-way to a bed and breakfast: Plan a “get-a-way” to a bed and breakfast. Bed and breakfasts offer a different experience than a hotel room and aren’t very far away. Many times they offer home cooked or gourmet meals and are located in areas where there are lots of things to do.

History of V-Day!




Every year we celebrate Valentine’s Day without knowing the true, ture history of it. Here is some research that I gathered about this lovely February 14th holiday…

Give love on this day ~!

~Fly Lover

Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is an occasion celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.


The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models. The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th-century America was a harbinger of the future commercialization of holidays in the United States.


The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend in average twice as much money as women

Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree just wasn't fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine's actions he had him put to death. Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first 'valentine' himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it 'Your Valentine', words still used on cards today.


Perhaps we'll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure...February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating clear back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentines ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent.


Another valentine gentleman you may be wondering about is Cupid (Latin cupido, "desire"). In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. Cupid is often said to be a mischievous boy who goes around wounding both gods and humans with his arrows, causing them to fall in love.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Sometimes I Wish I Could See What He Sees


Have you have wondered why God loves us so much? What He wants us to do? What He sees for our future? Well, I have. Often times I sit back and wonder, "Lord, what is it that you see in me?". I'm not perfect, I don't always do what I should, I don't know if I am where I want you to be. All of these thoughts go through my mind. But just as clear as day, God says, " I see Me in you." Even when you think you're not doing what you should, or who I want you to be, it's ok. You have been created in my image. So when I see you, I see Me.


No matter how life seems to take you off course or through ups and downs, God says, look for me. Even when you have had the worst day ever. God says, "Look for me". When you're let down, when you're heart is broken, when you don't know what to do, God says, "Look for me". He says, " I am the way, the truth ,and the light. "


I really wasn't going to post anything today because I was feeling a little less than fabulous, but somehow, I always find my healing through ministering to other people. Then I log off and read it myself. lol. I know, I know, kinda silly. But that's how God is. He created us, let us have free will in the earth, and He left it up to us to find our way back. That's how good God is. He knows that we may fall short, He knows that we may have disappointing moments, but He reminds us, that He's in charge.


So, in my "less than fab" state, I still know that ultimately God has the first and the last say in any situation. Nothing is ever too big or too small for Him. Take it to the altar and leave it there.


~Flyness and Blessings...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Definition of love?

There are so many definitions of love, that we could probably have a separate dictionary for it. I think love has different definitions for different people. To me, love is unconditional, relentless, sometimes renders you powerless, encompassing and empowering at the same time, it transcends you to the heavenlies when its pure, it makes you look into someone eyes and know that everything is okay, its an unspoken language that is shared between kindred spirits and souls, a language that only 2 hearts understand, a longing to make everything ok, one's ability to make another feel appreciated. Love is when you're gone for days on end, and when you return, it never feels like you were ever gone. To love is to feel right at home in another person's soul. It's a spiritual longing to make someone else whole. Above all, to feel loved, is to feel heaven on earth.




Above all, to feel loved, is to feel heaven on earth.



The bible says love is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps
no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will
cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge,
it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I
reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to
face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully
known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the
greatest of these is love."



Sonnet XLIII, from the Portuguese. Elizabeth Barrett Browning - 1806-1861

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints, -I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.



No matter what definition, poem, song, story, movie, or novel that has been written, love is determined by how you use it and how it uses you... Man, love is something else.... Ok, your turn.... What is love?

~ Loving Flyness

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

He heals me through our Chocolate High

India.Arie.... Testimony Vol. 2: Love & Politics


Maaaaaan, i'm high. (Not like that you herb loving folk..lol)>I'm talking about my favorite songs on India Arie's new CD. I can't stop listening to Chocolate High and He Heals me.


In Chocolate High, she's featuring her former boo, Musiq, and they are equating love with being high on sweetness. It is beautiful and cute at the same time. I just love it. It has a sense of sensuality just the same. It is evident that India has found love again, or is pretty darn close to it.


Now, "He Heals Me", has to be one of the most profound songs I've heard in a while. She truly, truly captured what I am experiencing and what I have experienced. In this song, she is singing to a guy that is both her friend and her lover. He loves her for who she truly is, regardless of her mistake, secrets, and flaws. Homegirl WOOOOOOOOOOORKED it on this song. I bought the CD last night and fell asleep to it, so I was determined to listen to it today. I messed around and put it in on the way to work and I was in pure tears by the time I hit I-20. This song, this song, this song...... it is so beautiful. Truly. Makes you remember the 1st time you fell for that unexpected lover. What I loved about this song is that this man she sings about is someone who added to her life, who she was to be. This was not sexual, but spiritual. She says he's healed her insides. He listens to her music, and listens to her heart. Ohhh man! I'm bout to tear up again. She finally says she doesn't care whether he's there for a season, a lifetime, forever or just a year, she's just enjoying the moment that she is in.He's a beautiful man, but most of all, a beautiful friend! You have to go listen, download, buy, this song! For real!


I think the beauty of this song, is the journey of love, not just the destination. All the steps that lead to it. We often miss the journey, by being too focused on what's ahead. We have to take the time to look beside us to capture the person that we are sharing it with. Love is a beautiful thing. And it's nothing like beautiful that captures all these emotions...
Oh, the rest of the CD is pretty good too. But honestly, I love this song and the interludes the best..lol.

I think I'm ready to embrace my healing, I hope he knows it......


...my iPod remains on repeat...


~Music Makes Me Flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy