tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87886588915634105402024-02-19T07:08:35.037-08:00Oriana leeETCETERA, ETCETERAOriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.comBlogger452125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-56442455111112142172013-09-24T15:43:00.001-07:002013-09-24T15:43:25.907-07:00Cooking With Kush (S1E1)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UQmbj-a6B6E" width="480"></iframe><br />
True Skool Akademy has produced two aspiring chefs to date. Not sure what it is beyond the home climate that promotes cooking as a subject that has led us to teach it to the degree of proficiency and mastery, far beyond traditional public school culinary programs. Out of 16 years of homeschooling, has come what has come to be known the "unschooling" method, which allows for each child to basically guide their own educational destiny, with little more than quality supervision and direction from the educator. This direction comes in the form of making all and any resources available to the student in order for them to reach full competency in the particular subject-area. This is the very best part of my life. Absolutely!Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-61528724440335370592013-09-11T13:58:00.001-07:002013-09-11T13:58:12.333-07:00True Skool Akademy Car Giveaway (We Have Our Hands Full)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/lZ5t0wqb_Z0" width="459"></iframe>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-3884164518476490422013-06-19T05:25:00.001-07:002013-06-19T05:25:31.398-07:00E.S.H.E. Alliance: Parenting Tips - One<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jVo2oZ1ZQ18" width="480"></iframe>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-15449746923131679342013-06-16T09:31:00.000-07:002013-06-16T10:06:41.790-07:00LOVE ALWAYS...MOM<br />
Give thanks my children and others recognize the effort eye put forth in making sure my children are whole in spite of their Father's absence. Honestly, eye do not put myself on a pedestal simply because he has chosen a hands off approach to parenting, but it is what it is. By default eye hold it down, over-compensate, and over-function, it's certainly not my chosen path. Healthiness IS my chosen path, so it must happen at all costs.<br />
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Eye do what eye do because my commitment has ALWAYS been to "do my best, be my best, give my best, and live my best" to and for my seeds. "One monkey don't stop no show", so his choices do not excuse me from my purpose - and eye know this. With that said, eye want to make it clear that my role is not that of Mom and Dad, as many suggest, rather just being the dopest kind of Umi that ever existed. Don't know how to be a Father, and don't wanna be (stand at a urinal, no thank you...lol)...but a purposed, called, dedicated, original, unique, sharp-skilled and hard loving Mami...aww, sooky sooky, I AM!!!<br />
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Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-12943221369256786452013-06-07T15:24:00.001-07:002013-06-07T15:29:57.477-07:00Salute - Nikki Giovanni<br />
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<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular; font-size: 20pt;">Stuck on Passion Felt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">(Taken from </span><span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">Something To Cope (page 91)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">Ms. Nikki pleasures me to a point</span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">sharp enough to pare ecstasy from semantics, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">her candor takes sure advantage of my nature </span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">morning in/time again</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">Ms. Nikki makes me know how to love</span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">a woman though it shole makes me mad uneasy </span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">the way she touches my soft spot with her tongue </span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">black feeling/black judgment</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">Eye fancy us sparkin’ to the art itself & ego-trippin’ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">long & hard/eye pause to nibble the form of her </span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">lexis from my kisser savoring the deep violet -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">the iris inhales a delectable vision</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">Eye imagine sharing & musing </span><span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">about current events </span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">& all we see hidden on the backside of the bush </span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">fiery as the cig' that she drags right before reading </span><br />
<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">in the cloud/she exhales sacred edibles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: FilosofiaRegular;">-Oriana Lee</span></div>
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Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-6421104470349879622013-01-08T06:25:00.001-08:002013-01-08T06:25:24.064-08:00AMERIGO FLOW<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w1ED1dvBBnI" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Second single from the album, Coming Back A Champion (2013)<br />
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Produced by CrazyLazy Dave (Dirty Cabin)<br />
Directed by Oriana Lee (Writehanded)<br />
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Scripture:<br />
1 Timothy 6:10 (New International Version)<br />
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.<br />
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Verse:<br />
Take cover droppin' thinkbombs with a classic touch/<br />
passin' fashion passion blowin' all the cash up/<br />
canadian bacon american blue cheese/<br />
smell the sea breeze leakin' from the brain freeze/<br />
getta better cheddar amerigo mash up/<br />
taste foul but still smilin' all the while we cracking up/<br />
massa got the whole world sick/<br />
pickin' at the Jackson wounds then rubbin' in the Michael Vicks/<br />
grace sufficient for the thorns in our flesh/<br />
nevertheless, we restin' on a bed of distress/<br />
turn my back on the crowd in Miles posture/<br />
ain't nobody out there but posers and hawkers/<br />
but well, the hey, fall off the pup/<br />
foot back in the stirrup, leg over for the giddy up/<br />
touring heaven on a supernatural plane/<br />
90 minutes on horizon, a life full of earthly gain/<br />
spillin' wisdom from my tongue as songs of solomon/<br />
daughter of zion claiming unity and freedom/<br />
treat yourself don't cheat yourself/<br />
what we chasin' is paper, never mind the vapors/<br />
mostly rock the hard locs today I sport the curly girly/<br />
shirley had a temple but her fence wasn't pearly/<br />
winning paul's races always run in asics basics/<br />
multitaskin', lastin' action, fluid fast like lasix/<br />
early to rise early to grind/<br />
exercise my body then stretch my holy mind/<br />
spend time in meditation, praise and relation/<br />
devotion is the potion that oils my locomotion/<br />
prophets see ahead so for free I drive a kia/<br />
when funds are like tortillas I say tres ave marias/<br />
come now missy hillie need to foot a bill or two/<br />
with the cash in my stash need the ebt for food/<br />
poetic freestyle, pile words a mile high/<br />
club swag swig schwag advertise like fruit flies/<br />
dance a natural rhythmism for the kids provisions/<br />
light a pose strike a match burn night oil decisions/<br />
that's where the bulk of income's coming from/<br />
fill my inbox with money opps just to close on one/<br />
put worldly matters first can only make it worse/<br />
hilariously delirious materials made for sirius<br />
Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-34659390487367747082012-12-08T09:01:00.001-08:002012-12-08T09:02:06.709-08:00THAT'S A (W)RAP<div>
This is the first video from the forthcoming, Coming Back A Champion. Zeke (LMBOChannel) is making his directoral debut - two cuts, that's it! We decided to intentionally make it raw home video style as to present me real & true to our lifestyle. </div>
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Check it out, like it, share it!!!</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swkg-EqxLZQ"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Swkg-EqxLZQ" width="560"></iframe></a><br />
<br />Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-63304112210128898562012-11-15T13:15:00.000-08:002012-11-15T13:16:24.141-08:00THE NEW SINGLE!!!<br />
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THAT'S A (W)RAP<br />
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Produced by Premo D'Anger (FreeSol)<br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F63410838&show_artwork=true" width="100%"></iframe>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-91305685888093279772012-11-11T22:40:00.001-08:002012-11-11T22:48:45.687-08:00NATURE OF MY NOMENCLATURE<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;"><sp></sp></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;">1) Oriana is ALWAYS spelled with one "n". This NEVER changes....EVER. If you get confused, just remember that "anna" is pronounced ann-uh, while "ana" is ah-na...the latter is accurate in my case...full pronunciation, Or-e-ah-na.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;">2) Lee is not my surname, rather what we call a "middle name", but what I simply use as my other name. Oriana + Lee are the two name</span><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 17.999998092651367px;">s specifically given to me by my grandmother, Oriana dually meaning "golden one" and "joy", while Lee means "poet" and was my grandfather's first name. Obviously, my Granny was very in tune when she choose my names. ;-)</span></span><br />
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3) I have not publically carried a slave name since 1994, though I am legally registered by my married name (Farrell). I am not a slave, so why would I use the erroneous name given to my ancestors by a slave master...this is my own personal perspective. Until I learn more definitively about my heritage, I will refrain from adopting any other surname, and will actually be legally changing my name to just "Oriana Lee" in the coming months.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kapeesh?</span></div>
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Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-84335218625535724332012-10-14T11:58:00.000-07:002012-10-14T12:32:41.384-07:00THAT'S A (W)RAP<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">drinker's intuition<span class="s1">, </span>sobriety heck of a higher me</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">gotta new habit<span class="s1">, </span>now I'm a high-dollar water fanatic</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.finewaters.com/bottled_water/france/perrier.asp">French Perrier</a>, <a href="http://www.sanpellegrino.com/int/en/default.aspx">San Pelligrino</a> from Italian springs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">favor <a href="http://www.fijiwater.com/">Fiji,</a> at the club I toast <a href="http://www.blingh2o.com/">Bling</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">when the fat lady sing <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DS01121/">diabetes</a> it's over</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">when the skinny girl liver hurt nothing but <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cirrhosis/DS00373/">cirrhosis</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">more plain and simple than a pimple on a dimple</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11%3A15-19&version=NIV">clean up my act fast as priests in the temple</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-pro1.htm">proof in the pudding</a><span class="s1">, </span>gimme a heaping scoop</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1&version=NIV">Word</a> in the kitchen is <a href="http://www.hebrewisraelites.org/hebrewism.htm">He brew</a> the truth</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">mad in love like <a href="http://www.kierrasheard.me/">Kiki</a> crazy<span class="s1">, </span>assured</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">never scared<span class="s1">, <a href="http://bible.cc/1_john/4-18.htm"><span class="s2">perfect love, fear unheard</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">groove with joy<span class="s1">, </span>give glory in advance</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">to the illest<span class="s1"> </span>with the realest <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-boying">b-boy</a> stance</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">sovereign & supreme<span class="s1">, </span>King of Kings<span class="s1">, <a href="http://www.myredeemerlives.com/namesofgod/el-elyon.html"><span class="s2">Most High</span></a></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.parentcompany.com/awareness_of_god/nog6.htm">El Shaddai</a>,<span class="s1"> </span>author of your journey<span class="s1"> </span>and maker of mine</span></div>
Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-21260600220474413572012-09-10T16:27:00.001-07:002012-09-10T16:27:15.326-07:00Twirl and Taste: Elton John and Justin Timberlake share the stage with PREMO, but not his mom's Pecan Blondieseye get to work with the absolute best people in this music business...support my producer! check it...<br />
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<a href="http://www.twirlandtaste.com/2012/09/elton-john-and-justin-timberlake-share.html?m=1">Twirl and Taste: Elton John and Justin Timberlake share the stage with PREMO, but not his mom's Pecan Blondies</a>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-42662947340739681472012-06-24T15:01:00.001-07:002012-06-24T15:01:37.095-07:00WHAT ALL YOUNG LADIES SHOULD HAVE AT THE TOP OF THEIR "LIST"<a href="http://www.xxxchurch.com/women/what-all-young-ladies-should-have-at-the-top-of-their-list.html">What All Young Ladies Should Have at the Top of Their "List"</a>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-3246823458717073762012-04-02T10:19:00.001-07:002012-06-24T14:54:50.321-07:00MARRIED...BUT CELIBATEThanks to Shellie Warren & XXXChurch.com for the opportunity to contribute this piece. My prayer is that it helps someone...<br />
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<a href="http://www.xxxchurch.com/women/marriedbut-celibate.html">Married...But Celibate</a>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-36473377518412188872012-02-14T06:56:00.006-08:002012-02-14T09:44:01.477-08:00NIPPY NEWS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumi-F1xUirnFwHf8OGW9M3IbSg-a736w6EUGmaifQYXj6pdLl36RyvQ2Z-x78GXyr7Asw1lXCFnfculRO4EXGWFb8Eo1PPS-NhK1pDw1UpIv-MBzD62o5g2DA0bLvlct8GmoeP3s4mGrR/s1600/Photo+on+2-14-12+at+7.46+AM.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumi-F1xUirnFwHf8OGW9M3IbSg-a736w6EUGmaifQYXj6pdLl36RyvQ2Z-x78GXyr7Asw1lXCFnfculRO4EXGWFb8Eo1PPS-NhK1pDw1UpIv-MBzD62o5g2DA0bLvlct8GmoeP3s4mGrR/s320/Photo+on+2-14-12+at+7.46+AM.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709013992012281282" /></a><br />three days after the transitioning of <span style="font-style:italic;">whitney houston</span>, the mere thought of it burns as intensely as it did on saturday evening when the first facebook update scrolled up the screen of my mac pro. the heartache...the heartbreak comes from deep within a place that always hoped she would come back a champion. she was sure to pull a george foreman before it was all over & at least <span style="font-style:italic;">sparkle</span> once more; that's how eye envisioned it just days earlier as my daughter & i comparatively discussed whitney & dianna ross in the very context of what they will continue to mean to generations yet to come.<br /><br />she was so many things, to so many people: daughter, mother, sister, aunt, godmother, friend, vocalist, actress, and so much more...a beacon of light shining in so many places <span style="font-style:italic;">all at once.</span> it is evident from the various testimonies from her family and friends that she was well aware of the <span style="font-style:italic;">greatest love of all</span> & did her best to display that love to them. <br /><br />ultimately, that's what this life is all about. how. we. love. she may have not always made the best decisions; none of us do. she may have not always been in pleasant spirit; none of us are. she may have caused her fair share of hurt and pain to the people she loved the most; all of us have or will...eventually.<br /><br />to hear loved ones speak of how spiritual she was exposes the roots of her very nature - spiritual, here on earth having a natural experience...a temporary experience, from which we all benefit. because of that spiritual connection, i feel like i lost someone i knew. she was like me or any of my girls, living a very real life in a very major way. yeah, she was on another level, but it's all relative...famous people are still just people. being in the industry numbs the star appeal once you start seeing celebrities in their own element & realizing that they too put their pants on one leg at a time. with whitney, it was beyond the star appeal for me, there was a like-spiritedness to which i & so many other around the world could relate.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />the blessing in all of this has been the opportunity to celebrate her life both face-to-face & virtually with so many of those 'others'.<br /><br />this last footage of her singing with kelly price has to be one of the most beautiful displays of love i have ever seen one sister express to another. so intimate. so genuine. sure, whitney's singing voice could be criticized, but that moment was so much bigger than her voice. eye believe that the most high was using that opportunity to remind us that ultimately & in the end, what matters most, is how we love.<br /><br />period.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_abxJNPzZZY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-51089770218751090612011-12-18T10:12:00.000-08:002012-06-24T14:55:26.553-07:00MAC MAMABesides the library, the MAC store is my favorite place to spend my free time. Currently posting from one of their iPads. I set all of the iPad screens to my website (orianalee.com) so that anyone who looks at it sees me first...Lol Baby hacker...Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-58850190187914546102011-10-05T21:46:00.000-07:002011-10-05T21:46:43.950-07:00Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com<a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html#.To0ypJSGi5c.blogger">Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com</a>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-79564813086953737842011-08-01T13:13:00.000-07:002011-08-01T13:36:19.799-07:00LIVE IN CONCERT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB4SMnmWHxB3MOW6K0e7yRb-ksQlTic4ImyqHvnDKwhDdlNlw0E03RRJRNCwnIuiiAVVH0CkD47zYJAAfr2qjaglgfYrenUfB-2snhEcARsU_JjhYMARihZOmWGtdfAIgr8cfkDZGMgy2/s1600/080111153007.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB4SMnmWHxB3MOW6K0e7yRb-ksQlTic4ImyqHvnDKwhDdlNlw0E03RRJRNCwnIuiiAVVH0CkD47zYJAAfr2qjaglgfYrenUfB-2snhEcARsU_JjhYMARihZOmWGtdfAIgr8cfkDZGMgy2/s320/080111153007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635988466319194802" /></a><br />The band had been introduced, and the final bow had been taken, yet even after Sade Adu & her 9-piece touring bunch had left the stage, the house lights in the FedEx Forum had not come up. As if that wasn't an obvious sign that the show wasn't over (imagine the lawsuits that could come from releasing thousands of patrons into the darkness), rows began to flock for the stairs & exit signs, apparently unaware of "encore etiquette". I felt for those who were about to miss out on the big finale due to their haste, because as a seasoned concert-goer, I knew what it was, so I waited with baited eardrums, like my life depended on it. After about 5 minutes of screams & cheers, she reappeared in a sleek red nightgown, as the music of <i>Cherish the Day</i> quickly filled the air. I was in sensory overload at this point, and was floored that I hadn't even missed that jam in the main line-up. It was the perfect ending, to the perfect show, as she stood on top of a skyscraper prop that rose about 10 feet from the floor, smoothly singing Memphis a midnight lullaby. She was so great o stage that I almost forgot the show started half an hour late. Once she opened with <i>Soldier of Love</i>, I was on the front lines (or at least on the front of my seat) for the duration.<br /><br />That was pretty much how the whole show went, one surprise stage screen after another; one wardrobe change after another (thinking there were 5-7); one hit after another. What can I really say about Sade's performance other than it was a phenomenal show! I previously heard a few personal opinions from attendees in other cities about how remarkable her performance was, but it was truly something to be experienced. That's exactly what it was: <b> The Sade Experience</b>. The only thing that I would have requested if I had the chance would have been for her to play the guitar live. Other than that, I'm satisfied beyond measure.<br /><br />And guess what? Someone loved you enough to upload the encore to youtube, so now you can share it with me! I literally screamed when I found this! HAHAHAHA! My kids came running to my aid thinking something was wrong. Not this time though, I was screaming because finding this means things are just TOO right! <br /><br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/670UAke6iuk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-13605980484636693062011-07-26T09:24:00.000-07:002011-07-26T09:31:12.320-07:00SABBATH TEACHING (PART TWO)As I was reading Psalm 119:35 (directed from my Jesus Calling devotional), I started thinking about the "commands" of YHWH. I went on to read the whole 119th chapter, and I was reminded about how our obedience is centered around the laws, decrees and commands of GOD, which led me to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). I began to meditate on how keeping the Sabbath is such a tough law to keep in our society, but it was revealed to me that it is most important to keep as ones who call ourselves "holy", as the scripture says it is the day that the LORD blessed and made holy. Seems the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me a lot on this issue lately (see my last post), and again, the LORD has instructed me to share it with the masses.<br /><br /> Just as I would encourage you not to lie, steal or commit adultery, I'm encouraging you to pray about how valuing this commandment along with the others might further bless your life. Not only is it important, but lawful to "keep it Holy", meaning, refraining from work on that day and focusing only on rest and worship. It is evident how our GOD loves us tremendously to build us in a break (you know you need one), so we have to be sure we don't let the world take it from us, and that we especially don't take it from ourselves. If we continue to allow the world to dictate to us how we are to honor GOD, we will never receive all of the riches that have been promised to those who obey (Deuternomy 5:29; 6:17-19; 11:13-15). I do not want to be in the wilderness forever, I want to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land. Don't you?<br /><br />Beyond The Ten Commandments, the following scriptures are the root sources of the Sabbath law:<br />Exodus 31:12-18<br />Exodus 35:1-3<br /><br />Here's a link to a kids magazine that I love to use to teach kids about the Sabbath. As believers, we are to be like little children (Matthew 18:3), so I believe that we too can benefit from this information - it's simple and concise, with lots of scriptures to help us understand that it's all throughout the "Good Book":<br /><br /><a href=http://visionary4kids.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/sabbath.pdf>SABBATH FACTS & FUN</a><br /><br />KEY VERSES:<br />“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2)<br /><br />“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)<br /><br />“He said to them, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-17546012472793427792011-05-28T06:40:00.000-07:002011-05-28T07:24:42.742-07:00SHABBAT SHALOM"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."-Exodus 20:8-11<br /><sp><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT-kO7i6YiAaU5jU-tV0m6H4_HSALfwEP9baUF4g1_m8M4o5ySsJmHE0CXneSHFyxd_uaqgTYmGRZuN33tfSLxpXFgsVF54je6HhuEESZ_R0t0AQdbM8jGt_H3Pnx0EioNf1nJwFn59tU/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 62px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT-kO7i6YiAaU5jU-tV0m6H4_HSALfwEP9baUF4g1_m8M4o5ySsJmHE0CXneSHFyxd_uaqgTYmGRZuN33tfSLxpXFgsVF54je6HhuEESZ_R0t0AQdbM8jGt_H3Pnx0EioNf1nJwFn59tU/s320/images.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611768563754126466" /></a>Of all of the ten commandments, the passage on the sabbath is by far the longest and most detailed in explanation. So why is it the one that we revere the least?<br /><sp><br />Culturally, because of the way we structure our "work week", we casually recognize Monday as the first day of the week. Because we live in a capitalistic society, everything we do is centered around capital and earnings, as with how we structure our week. And even before the United States of America existed as the nation it is today, there was a historical shift which caused Saturday to become socially replaced as the sabbath. Around 200 A.D., Roman Catholics suggested that Sunday be kept to honor the resurrection. So until about 300 A.D., believers kept both Saturday sabbath and Sunday simultaneously. Because Sunday was also a day of sun worship among the pagan Romans (hence the name Sun Day), and was highly regarded throughout the city, Roman Christians began to favor the united front of worship on Sunday. By the 4th century, Sunday was the standard day for worship among Western believers, which eventually permeated the rituals of the traditional Eastern worshippers .<br /><sp><br />This information isn't hidden, it's quite obvious and readily available actually. Check your local library, or a variety or credible internet sources. Neither is it foreign to us that Sunday is the first day of the week. Look at any calendar and you'll notice that Sunday is the first day of the week listed. When we, as children (and even our children today) learned the days of the week in kindergarten it was even taught in song and rhyme with Sunday always as the first day. Here's a popular example:<br /><sp><br /><iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/941e6RnP4EQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><sp><br />Because our rest and worship is embedded in a state of sin in that we are being disobedient to the specific commands of YHWH, we are not benefitting from the power of the holy day. I'm not saying that the Most High does not show up in the midst of Sunday worship, for we know that the Word says, "where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them (Matthew 18:22)", but in gathering on the chosen holy day, we activate power and blessings that can be released only on that day. I know I want the full promise, don't you?<br /><sp><br />Many try to justify by saying that as long as they keep "a" sabbath, they believe that YHWH is pleased, so they keep a Sunday sabbath because that's what everyone else does, or they keep an "off-day" sabbath, meaning they consider the day they are off from work as their sabbath. But the YHWH wants me to remind you that your obedience is more valued than your sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Others say that because it was under the old testament law, then it is dead since Jesus came to fulfill the law. It's important to note that there was not just a single old testament law, rather three different types of laws: moral, ceremonial, and civil. <br /><sp><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwmr13hZpABB-E80KN_RRsRGM3cNdnTdH6M5oml3NqkjUA0_3Tw3i3RKvngHIs7f7WdTAG71-COHd0bMZ-I0H6lgOwpct4RSBex_isdYUtwFp6twCshBXWqfPAdQT-9rHnMZgopnGo0nQ/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 78px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwmr13hZpABB-E80KN_RRsRGM3cNdnTdH6M5oml3NqkjUA0_3Tw3i3RKvngHIs7f7WdTAG71-COHd0bMZ-I0H6lgOwpct4RSBex_isdYUtwFp6twCshBXWqfPAdQT-9rHnMZgopnGo0nQ/s320/images.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611767146248151186" /> </a>Yashua (Jesus) came to remove the ceremonial and sacrificial laws that brought about curses (often death) upon those who didn't honor them. He is the lamb sacrifice who shed blood that we might no longer perform those types of rituals. However, because he came to redeem us from the "curse of the law", does not excuse us from the moral portion of the law (Galatians 3:13). The Mosiac law given to show us a moral standard applies today, just as much as it did then, only we tend to negate the laws that have been culturally omitted. Because we are no longer under a particular law, does not mean we are without law. But above all, as believers have been sternly warned against allowing the world to dictate our behavior. Can you imagine how choosing to be obedient to this the same way we we are to killing, stealing and tithing might change the face of our nation and ultimately the Christian face of the world?<br /><sp><br />The LORD wants you to know the value in the sabbath for your own benefit. We treat it as a handicap and even sometimes a curse, but it's a gift to us so that we not only have a day where we share in focused relationship with the Creator, but a day for us to focus on our own health and wellness so that we don't become stressed, overwhelmed, and run-down with life. This does not mean that we cannot worship or rest on other days, but it must be in addition to what we were commanded. I rest and worship on Saturday, but also worship on Sunday. Sunday is my own personal sacrificial way of giving back to YHWH my first-fruits, since it is the first day of the week. But I had to come out from under the spell of the Sunday worship cultural standard and become obedient to the sabbath commandment before I could add that additionally. <br /><sp><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvTlGzcQSzghU18ejVR4vPm7h9njHxH-74uLfNqwa9qv8mkitE22f54M9qOt3KlJwon977-SrjYiojdmgbdtT4oazSF1ptRBsNi_m239deMZhB3abYmycwSpBMNdsEE1Yc9XXqTUvcLHO/s1600/bible.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvTlGzcQSzghU18ejVR4vPm7h9njHxH-74uLfNqwa9qv8mkitE22f54M9qOt3KlJwon977-SrjYiojdmgbdtT4oazSF1ptRBsNi_m239deMZhB3abYmycwSpBMNdsEE1Yc9XXqTUvcLHO/s320/bible.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611768197841114130" /></a> We say we follow (Yahshua) Jesus, and there are numerous scriptures that identify him as having kept the sabbath holy. Yes, he was questioned by the Pharisees about his lack of strict regiment in that he did service work on the sabbath, but he kept it nonetheless. When we serve on the sabbath as opposed to working, we are within the boundaries that the Messiah set for us. It's only if we are not keeping the sabbath at all that we are being disobedient to both what the Lord modeled, as well as what YHWH commanded.<br /><sp><br />I don't want to come across preachy, because I am not a preacher, but the Most High ordered me to deliver this teaching word to you today, so out of obedience, I must oblige. Don't get mad; and if you don't agree, exercise the freewill to do what you believe is right for you. Above all, pray about the matter so that you may hear from YHWH directly. <br /><br />I hate to fuss, so this doesn't make me happy to step on the toes of so many people that I truly love and respect. Fact is though, because I love you, I must tell you not what you want to hear, rather what you need to hear. Trust, this is a word for me just as much as for you.<br /><br />*<i>FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH AFRICAN-RELATED STUDY ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, RESEARCH THE 42 PRINCIPLES OF MA'AT</i>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-2492512086183754642011-05-24T12:42:00.001-07:002012-06-24T14:55:37.785-07:00DAYLITEFREE DOWNLOAD
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<a href="http://soundcloud.com/orianalee/daylite">Daylite</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/orianalee">orianalee</a>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-60595496263326209192011-05-08T12:33:00.001-07:002011-05-08T19:48:54.430-07:00MORE & MOOR POETRY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZZZdiFPv_bMypse79Gu8v4DY3YtoQl5N02WNCdcJCk1Nl0RgDKmlyyrgwvALQ_yJs8hIz60JTXAhSNvf12zObF2oIikDvGflPbswWnKIf_pN_DGNaY4JFNjipzbvD0XPqqgu-ne8kAqR/s1600/10994u-aawwithbasket.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZZZdiFPv_bMypse79Gu8v4DY3YtoQl5N02WNCdcJCk1Nl0RgDKmlyyrgwvALQ_yJs8hIz60JTXAhSNvf12zObF2oIikDvGflPbswWnKIf_pN_DGNaY4JFNjipzbvD0XPqqgu-ne8kAqR/s320/10994u-aawwithbasket.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604540764191009090" /></a><br /><br />For Mother's Day, I was granted the opportunity to do one of the only things I love almost as much as parenting, and that's being artistic. I was asked to perform, "A Negro Mother" by Langston Hughes and jumped at the chance. Even though I prefer to perform my own material, I can see where I am being humbled by reciting others' work, taking the emphasis off of me & teaching me to focus more on The Most High & how I'm being used for divine purpose. I am walking in my season & accepting all that comes my way, continuing to sharpen my tools for even greater works. For those of you who have asked for the lyrics to the poem, here goes: <br /><br /><br /><b>The Negro Mother</b><br /><i>by Langston Hughes</i><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqiWJBBrbHGcRwkoftgs6DJj3uVYEQ5FAyC2A-42LIo4s_gJ2hvWqfP9aOB-CNOOBgEYLF0nI04kcEYsnU7eQYZim5kjfpbVsU8aL6U8tiMktSbvcPfXEiuvBQMHqKrEI0SbkoCbF5RsQ/s1600/AAA_taylpren_0003.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqiWJBBrbHGcRwkoftgs6DJj3uVYEQ5FAyC2A-42LIo4s_gJ2hvWqfP9aOB-CNOOBgEYLF0nI04kcEYsnU7eQYZim5kjfpbVsU8aL6U8tiMktSbvcPfXEiuvBQMHqKrEI0SbkoCbF5RsQ/s320/AAA_taylpren_0003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604540757902626562" /></a><br /><br />Children, I come back today <br />To tell you a story of the long dark way <br />That I had to climb, that I had to know <br />In order that the race might live and grow. <br />Look at my face - dark as the night - <br />Yet shining like the sun with love's true light. <br />I am the dark girl who crossed the red sea <br />Carrying in my body the seed of the free. <br />I am the woman who worked in the field <br />Bringing the cotton and the corn to yield. <br />I am the one who labored as a slave, <br />Beaten and mistreated for the work that I gave - <br />Children sold away from me, I'm husband sold, too. <br />No safety , no love, no respect was I due.<br /><br />Three hundred years in the deepest South: <br />But God put a song and a prayer in my mouth . <br />God put a dream like steel in my soul. <br />Now, through my children, I'm reaching the goal. <br /><br />Now, through my children, young and free, <br />I realized the blessing deed to me. <br />I couldn't read then. I couldn't write. <br />I had nothing, back there in the night. <br />Sometimes, the valley was filled with tears, <br />But I kept trudging on through the lonely years. <br />Sometimes, the road was hot with the sun, <br />But I had to keep on till my work was done: <br />I had to keep on! No stopping for me - <br />I was the seed of the coming Free. <br />I nourished the dream that nothing could smother <br />Deep in my breast - the Negro mother. <br />I had only hope then , but now through you, <br />Dark ones of today, my dreams must come true: <br />All you dark children in the world out there, <br />Remember my sweat, my pain, my despair. <br />Remember my years, heavy with sorrow -<br />And make of those years a torch for tomorrow. <br />Make of my pass a road to the light <br />Out of the darkness, the ignorance, the night. <br />Lift high my banner out of the dust. <br />Stand like free men supporting my trust. <br />Believe in the right, let none push you back. <br />Remember the whip and the slaver's track. <br />Remember how the strong in struggle and strife <br />Still bar you the way, and deny you life - <br />But march ever forward, breaking down bars. <br />Look ever upward at the sun and the stars. <br />Oh, my dark children, may my dreams and my prayers <br />Impel you forever up the great stairs -<br />For I will be with you till no white brother <br />Dares keep down the children of the Negro Mother.<br /><br /><i>Here's a summary as taken from enotes.com:</i><br />“The Negro Mother” is the title poem in the collection of poetry that Hughes wrote to reach the masses of black people. The twenty-page book and the poem were such an instant success that Hughes told his friend Carl Van Vechten that in Birmingham, Alabama, the book “sold like reefers on 131st Street.”<br /><br />The voice in the poem is that of the black mothers through the ages. In the opening line, the narrator addresses her children. In the narrative that follows, “the Negro mother” depicts the capture and hardship of black slaves and speaks of the will to endure that kept them going. The voice of the Negro mother urges the children to transform the future so that they may live in dignity and freedom from white oppression.<br /><br />The poem, often referred to as a heritage poem, is highly lyrical, employing both a regular rhyme scheme (couplets) and meter. It was Hughes's intention, he said, that the poems be pleasant to recite and easy to remember. “The Negro Mother” and the success of the volume show how keenly in tune Hughes was with his audience."Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-72349508338416239082011-04-21T13:39:00.000-07:002011-04-21T14:26:36.683-07:00DEAR GRACE, LETTERS TO A SINGLE PARENT-WRITTEN REVIEWAs a single-parent, I have to admit that I'm kind of biased to literature that reflects my own life story. Even still, certain material can be inspiring whether reflective or one's lifestyle or not. A couple weekends ago, I sat down with a book that a friend insisted I read, and in less than 2 hours, I had practically inhaled it. Was I ever glad that she shared it with me...talk about inspiring...<br /><sp><br /><a href="http://www.prlog.org/11155254-dear-grace-letters-to-single-parent.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.prlog.org/11155254-dear-grace-letters-to-single-parent.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><br /><i>Dear Grace, Letters to a Single Parent</i> by Temiika D. Gipson, tells the story of a single mother's journey to Christ, written through a series of letters addressed to a woman named Grace. It is a quick read, not only because it's a mild 70 pages, but because the story is so engaging that it's a one-sitter. The author's testimony regarding the challenges she has faced as a wife, woman, daughter, and single-mother universally crosses color, class, and faith boundaries. <div><br /></div><div>While written from a Christian perspective and heavily cloaked in religious verbage and theology, most single-mothers from any walk of life will be able to see themselves in this story from one perspective or another. The material shared in the 7 letters depicts a real, raw, and relevant account of the author's circumstances of the 10 year span covered. Just enough details about varying events are offered to paint a clear picture of each particular situation, while not so much as to distract you from the author's overarching theme of God having the power to bring us through any situation, and ultimately for our good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Each chapter begins with a poem, and concludes with a set of questions designed to prompt more thought about one's own beliefs and values. As a book including poetry, autobiographical accounts and single-mother self-help book all in one, the author has marked little traveled territory genre-wise and sets new and unique standards in the world of self-publishing. In my opinion, that's exactly what self-publishing is all about.</div><div><br /></div><div>The poem, chapter, and questions could have flowed together more smoothly in the layout, but the overall attempt at this content design style is one to be applauded. As for the testimony itself - empowering, inspirational and motivating! A few more details about specific situations would have painted a more concrete picture in a few of the letters, but that the book is written as letters and not a straight-ahead autobiography, makes this point moot.</div><div><br /></div><div>For the single-parent looking for light at the end of the tunnel, this is a work that will serve as a reminder that everything happens for a reason and that "trouble don't last always". From a religious standpoint, it stands as a reminder that God will never leave or forsake you. Any way you slice it, the work stands to enhance your perspective on life as a single-parent. Kudos to the author for this valiant effort and courageous offering. Finding this book won't be a problem either, as it is widely available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dear-Grace-Letters-Single-Parent/dp/057806944X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303420027&sr=1-1"></a></div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dear-Grace-Letters-Single-Parent/dp/057806944X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303420027&sr=1-1"></a><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dear-Grace-Letters-Single-Parent/dp/057806944X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1303420027&sr=1-1">amazon (paperback & Kindle)</a>, as well as from other major book retailers. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Learn more about <a href="http://www.temiikagipson.org/">the author and her endeavors</a></div></div></div>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-2309132604888981472011-04-21T11:47:00.000-07:002011-04-21T13:39:14.742-07:00DEAR GRACE, LETTERS TO A SINGLE PARENT VLOG<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cpH3QPm4B9M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-69392371147940666832011-04-14T05:10:00.000-07:002011-04-14T05:13:14.550-07:00MORE & MORE LOVE...<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/13187817?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/13187817">Welcome from Gary</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2744129">Dr. Gary Chapman</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>For more on The 5 Love Languages check out <a href=http://www.5lovelanguages.com/>THE WEBSITE</a>...very comprehensive & tricked out with free downlaoadable resources for professionals, such a counselors, pastors, and marriage educators. As a Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student, I was tickled to find free goodies that I can incorporate into my actual counseling, like: <br /><br />-an informative <a href=http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/building-relationships-dr/id286366613>Podcast</a><br /><br />-<a href=http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/> Assessments</a> for the various love languages and appropriate relationships that allow you to learn your own love language<br /><br />Now, don't just take my word for it...check out the DVD Promotional Video that allows you to hear about the gist of the book straight from the horses mouth<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/10809768?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/10809768">The 5 Love Languages™ DVD Promo (DPTV)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user2744129">Dr. Gary Chapman</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788658891563410540.post-57934943947412323802011-04-13T21:42:00.000-07:002011-04-13T21:49:50.063-07:00ARE YOU SPEAKING THE RIGHT LOVE LANGUAGE?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.5lovelanguages.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/5LL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 360px;" src="http://www.5lovelanguages.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/5LL.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p>Written by renowned marriage and family therapy counselor, Dr. Gary Chapman, <i>The 5 Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts </i> offers an ideology that teaches 5 fundamental ways to express love in marriage and other significant relationships. The ideology stresses that people express their love for one another in various ways and that to identify them is to open the door to healthy communication. Taught from a Christian perspective and written primarily to help couples improve their marriages, the focus of the book is on loving more effectively, which can apply to any relationship. Chapman has discovered that we each have a primary love language, and often communicate our love to others from the perspective of how we prefer to be shown love. Loving from our own perspective contributes to dysfunction in the relationship because we are ignoring the love language of the spouse, or loved one, which is most likely different from our own. As a result of not loving one another according to the primary love language of each individual, our “love tank” runs empty, and this is what contributes to the discourse in our marriages and other close relationships.<br /><p>Using a communication model, Chapman has termed the 5 love languages: words of affirmation, receiving gifts, acts of service, quality time, and physical touch. Words of affirmation concentrates on using words to affirm the other person, which will in turn increase their self- image and confidence. Receiving gifts is a universal act across all cultures that expresses to a person that they are valued and being thought about. Acts of service requires doing something considerate for a spouse or loved one that requires an investment of time and thought that will lead to that person feeling special. Quality time involves giving one’s spouse or loved one their undivided attention in order to show them how important they are to be with. Physical touch means giving physical attention, such as hugs and kisses, back rubs, massages, outside of sexual activity in order to awaken the love within one’s spouse or loved one. Often, an individual communicates using more than one of these love languages, however, Chapman resolves that there is always one dominate to the others.<br /><p>According to Chapman, just as with spoken languages, each love language has a variety of dialects, meaning there are specific things that one can do that may speak to a spouse or family member more than another. Chapman believes that learning our spouses or family members love language will change the climate in the house and promote a more loving environment all around. Citing the divorce rates as 40% of first marriages ending in divorce; 65% of second; and 70% of third, Chapman makes a great case for why loving better might save more marriages.<br /><p>Chapman’s ideology works from the assumption that all marital problems stem from a lack of speaking the effective love language, when in many cases there are more severe problems contributing to the marital breakdown. The model does not consider deeper issues like drug and/or alcohol problems or personality conditions that might prevent the spouse from being consistent with the love language behavior. That one’s love tank needs constant filling by our spouse reflects a more serious problem and Chapman’s ideology negates this core issue. There is a root “why” question that needs to be understood before one can effectively address the “how” question that will move a relationship in the area to be permanently healed in that area. A love deficit is typically indictive of a basic need not being met early in life. In order to change this within an individual needs more cognitive restructuring as to the individual core beliefs need to be addressed or the spouse is likely to run the risk of falling back on their old behavior.<br /><p>Considering this is written from a Christian angle, my thinking is that Chapman would point out that only a relationship with Christ can truly fill our love tanks. While unconditional love from our spouse communicated in our primary love language will make our marriages more healthy, no one person can make us happier people - only we can accomplish that through our own submission to the joy from a life in Christ. Chapman points out that we spend a lot of time loving for ourselves when we should be loving for others, yet encourages a self-centered approach to giving love in order to get the love that we need. <br /><p>From a self-help perspective, I think that Chapman does a great job showing the importance of recognizing that we do not all communicate the same in love and that we should be both conscious and considerate of that in our relationships. On the other hand, because family is the the core relationship in our world, I believe that in order to reverse the divorce rate, we need to investigate the deeper human issues that are affecting us individually before we can expect a simple model to revolutionize the way we love and communicate. All in all, it is a great read and a basic step that could help any couple or individual toward developing a healthier relationship.Oriana leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10020255917529784383noreply@blogger.com0