Thursday, December 31, 2015

Watch Night



The following information was actually written as an essay by Charyn D. Sutton, The Onyx Group, in December 2000 and revised in August 2004. The essay appears here in its entirety...

If you grew up in a black community in the United States, you have probably heard of "Watch Night" Services, the gathering of the faithful in church on New Year's Eve. The service usually begins anywhere from 7:00pm-10:00pm and ends at 12:00 midnight with the entrance of the New Year. Some folks come to church first, before going out to celebrate. For others, church is the only New Year's Eve destination.

Like many others, I always assumed that Watch Night was a fairly standard Christian religious service, made a bit more Afrocentric because that's what happens when elements of Christianity become linked with the black church. And yes, there is a history of Watch Night Services in the Methodist tradition.

Still, it seemed that most white Christians did not include Watch Night Services on their calendars, but focused instead on Christmas Eve programs. In fact, there were instances where clergy in mainline denominations wondered aloud about the propriety of linking religious services with a secular holiday like New Year's Eve.

However, in doing some research, I discovered there are two essential reasons for the importance of New Year's Eve services in African American congregations. Many of the Watch Night Services in black communities that we celebrate today can be traced back to gatherings held on December 31, 1862, also known as "Freedom's Eve."

On that night, Americans of African descent came together in churches, gathering places, and private homes throughout the nation, anxiously awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had become law. Then, at the stroke of midnight, it was January 1, 1863 and according to President Abraham Lincoln's promise, all slaves in the Confederate States were legally free. People remained in churches and other gathering places, eagerly awaiting word that Emancipation had been declared. When the actual news of freedom was received later that day, there were prayers, shouts of joy, and songs of praise as people fell to their knees and thanked God.

But even before 1862 and the possibility of a Presidential Emancipation, African people had gathered on New Year's Eve on plantations across the South. That is because many owners of enslaved Africans tallied up their business accounts on the first day of each new year. Human property was sold along with land, furnishings, and livestock to satisfy debts. Families and friends were separated. Often they never saw each other again in this earthly world. Thus, coming together on December 31 might be the last time for enslaved and free Africans to be together with loved ones.

Black folks in North America have gathered annually on New Year's Eve since the earliest days, praising God for bringing us safely through another year and praying for the future. Certainly, those traditional gatherings were made even more poignant by the events of 1863 which brought freedom to the slaves and the Year of Jubilee.

Many generations have passed since that time and most of us were never taught the significance of gathering on New Year's Eve. Yet, our traditions and faith still bring us together at the end of every year to celebrate once again, "how we got over."

Please pass this information on to your family and friends so that they will know the true history behind the tradition we call "Watch Night".

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Stellar Performance By The Queen of Soul



Aretha Franklin, sang 'Natural Woman' and played the piano as a tribute to Carole King at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors For The Performing Arts. Carole was one of the five honorees, and she penned the song that Aretha recorded back in 1967. President Obama wiped away tears, Carole was beside herself with joy, and 'The Queen' brought the house down! If you missed this performance, you're in for a treat. Other honorees this year are George Lucas, Rita Moreno, Seriji Ozawa, and Cicely Tyson. Congratulations to all of them!

Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas & God Bless!



From The Lady (Bug) of the Household


Thursday, December 24, 2015

Our Little Christmas Tree...



It's enclosed in a glass lantern and we love it!


Friday, December 18, 2015

Friday, December 11, 2015

William Penn Inn-Gwynedd, PA




Me and the hubby recently had the pleasure of participating in a Christmas dinner party that was held at this establishment. Every Thursday evening, the inn has a Seafood & Dinner Buffet in Penn's Tavern. The place is absolutely gorgeous during the holiday season and the food is excellent. If you're looking for a really nice place to have a dinner party or special celebration, click on the image and text link underneath to visit the website for more information.


Thursday, November 26, 2015

From This Household To Yours...



Best wishes from The Lady (Bug)!


Monday, November 23, 2015

Monday, November 16, 2015

Greetings From NYC...





Farewell Visit to Toys-R-Us Times Square
Store closing December 30, 2015
Thanks for the memories!


Saturday, November 14, 2015

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Happy Veteran's Day!

THANKS TO ALL VETS FOR YOUR SERVICE!


Enjoying a #FreeMealForVets @ California Pizza Kitchen


Celebrating 22 years of USAF service with my favorite Vet!


Thursday, November 5, 2015

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween!


 My Little Rabbit @ Linvilla Orchards on 10/30/15


My Captain America, Zombie Girl, and Little Princess on 10/31/15


Monday, October 26, 2015

⏰ Quality Time w/ The Grands



Our youngest granddaughter was hangin' out with us Saturday.



Our grandson had a sleepover with us Saturday-Sunday.



He built a K'Nex Chopper-Truck Combo, Flagpole, and Paddle Boat!


Monday, October 19, 2015

Motivational Poster of the Day



First Lady Michelle Obama & President Barack Obama


Friday, October 16, 2015

Halloween Fun For The Kiddies!




Kids 10 years old and younger and their caregivers are invited to this event @ Smith Playground & Playhouse on Saturday, October 24th, 10:00am-12:00pm. Click on the image or text link underneath for more information and online registration. First come, first serve. #HealthyHalloween #SmithPlayground


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Quote of the Day...




Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

A Long Overdue Tribute to Nina Simone







On July 30th of this year, Lauryn Hill was the musical guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and she performed 'Feeling Good' by Nina Simone. She delivered a stellar rendition of the classic song to promote the album 'Nina Revisited: A Tribute to Nina Simone'. The album was released on July 10th of this year, and here's a photo of the front and back covers detailing the other artists and songs. Check it out and please support this musical effort. You can get it at Amazon or your preferred source for music downloads. And, if you missed Lauryn's performance, you can still see it on The Tonight Show website!


Sunday, October 11, 2015

20 Years Later: Black Men Are Still Marching...









It's interesting to note that these photos only represent unarmed black men who were killed by the police under questionable circumstances. It doesn't include unarmed black men like Jordan Davis, Trayvon Martin, and countless others who were killed by private citizens under questionable circumstances. And, let's not stop there. These things are also happening to black females. Just SMH... #BlackLivesMatter #HandsUpDontShoot #ICantBreathe #ThisMustStop


Saturday, October 10, 2015

Dateline: The Cosby Accusers Speak




Well, all I can say is my heart is broken and I'm so disappointed in Bill Cosby. I'm also threw with his real-life wife, Camille, who chooses to believe that ALL of these women 'consented' to taking drugs and having sex with her husband. She also said that a wife needs to 'let her husband do what he needs to do', meaning what? A wife can stand by her husband without condoning what he does, especially when it comes to rape. Frankly, I don't know how the two of them can sleep at night because they have daughters. And, regarding his ex-TV wife, Phylicia Rashad--she needs to put a bridle on her harsh tongue, take a seat, and just be thankful this didn't happen to her.

The Bible says pride goeth before the fall. But, it also says that we have to forgive Bill if we want forgiveness ourselves. And, even though that seems like a very 'tall order' right now, it's not impossible. So Bill, God help you if all of this is true, and may He have mercy on your soul. And yes, even in spite of your obvious 'arrogance' getting in the way. But, just remember that God hears all, knows all, and sees all even when we can't... and for that reason, these women (and who knows how many more) can rest easy because He's got this situation under control for His divine purpose.


Friday, October 9, 2015

To My Father...



HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY DADDY
He would have been 79 years old today.
I still miss him very much. Love never dies...


Thursday, October 8, 2015

Senior Citizens Rule!



A lawyer and a senior citizen are sitting next to each other on a long flight. The lawyer is thinking that seniors are so dumb that he could put one over on them very easily. So, the lawyer asks if the senior would like to play a fun game. The senior is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to catch a few winks.

The lawyer persists, saying that the game is a lot of fun. "Oh, come on. I’ll ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me only $5. Then, you ask me a question and if I don't know the answer, I’ll pay you $500," the lawyer said. This catches the senior's attention and to keep the lawyer quiet, he agrees to play the game. The lawyer asks the first question: "What's the distance from the Earth to the Moon?" The senior doesn't say a word and reaches into his pocket, pulls out a $5 bill, and hands it to the lawyer.

Now, it's the senior's turn to ask a question: "What goes up a hill with three legs and come down with four legs?" The lawyer uses his laptop to search all of the references he could find on the internet. He even sends emails to all of his smart friends, but to no avail. After an hour of searching for the answer, he finally gives up. He wakes the senior up and hands him $500. The senior pockets the $500 and goes back to sleep.

The lawyer is now going nuts not knowing the answer. So, he wakes the senior up and asks, "Well, what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four legs?" The senior reaches into his pocket, hands the lawyer another $5 bill, and goes back to sleep! LOL!


Wednesday, October 7, 2015

A Message For Sandra Bullock...




Well, all I can say is welcome to the club, Sandra... there's always room for 'one more' in the black struggle for basic human dignity and rights. And BTW, I’m a big fan and I remember when you adopted your son. I even know his name, Louis Bardo Bullock, and he's absolutely adorable.

But (with all due respect), I must say that the notion of "being in a bubble with him, even if you could" is not the answer, and (quite frankly) only lends credence to the belief that #WhitePrivilege will somehow save him from what he actually is... a black male child growing up in a hostile racist country. Now, YOU will know first-hand what it's like to be the mother of a black son in America... and, what you decide to do with that knowledge can make all the difference. Make sure you educate yourself regarding all of the things you will need to tell him before he walks out the front door of your home on his own in a few more years, because the 'unspoken rules' of survival are much different for him than they are for you.

It won't be easy, living from day-to-day with the knowledge that your son could actually lose his life because of trivial things like—any move he makes (or doesn't make) being viewed as 'threatening' while black, being at the wrong place at the wrong time while black, daring to question unfair treatment while black, defending himself while black, driving while black, listening to music while black, playing outside while black, running while black, seeking help after a car accident while black, staring at someone while black, shopping while black, visiting property after buying it while black, walking down the street while black, wearing a hoodie while black, and the list goes on and on.

And, the worst part of all is getting other people to actually 'believe and hear' that your concerns and fears for him are legitimate and relevant. And, even worst still... trying to get people to understand that these kinds of things shouldn't happen to him 'just because' he's black and somehow deserves it—because THEY believe it's acceptable and normal treatment for someone they don’t think of as a human being. And, if you try to get justice for him in a court of law, HE will be put on trial rather than the person who decides his life is not worth anything and therefore, expendable.

So, Sandra… brace yourself for one of the most difficult struggles you will ever face as a mother in this country. I don’t know if you're a religious woman who is 'grounded and rooted' in faith, but you need to put on the 'full armor of God' and draw your strength from Him because you will need it. Then, put your son in His capable hands, keep him there, and NEVER stop praying for him. And finally, I hope you will forget 'the bubble' and help us make America a better place for our sons and black people in general, because #BlackLivesMatter.


Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Well, What Have We Here?



Pope Francis: Kim Davis Is A Liar and I Don't Support Her Bigotry

Now, here's a little something that might make you go, hmmm...
Perhaps, Kim's visit with The Pope didn't go as well as previously reported.


Thursday, October 1, 2015

It's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month



SGK is celebrating those who are #MoreThanPink, the heroes in our communities and in our lives that have supported us, loved us, fundraised or done something above and beyond to help end breast cancer. Maybe your hero is the man or woman in your life who has or is currently fighting breast cancer. SGK wants you to honor the #MoreThanPink hero or heroes in your life by customizing your Facebook profile picture with this frame. Click on the image or text link underneath to generate yours so you can use it during the month of October. If you're interested in participating in a SGK Race For The Cure event near you, use this link to visit the website for more information and registration.


Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Lost & Found: My Liddle Kiddle!



I had the only black 'Lucky Locket Kiddle' when I was little.
I lost it when the chain broke in 1968 and I found it on Ebay in 2015!
Now, I can pass it on as a keepsake to my granddaughters when they're older.


Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Finally... A Politician Who Actually Gets BLM!




Sen. Warren (D-MA) made an indelible impression on me at the last Democratic National Convention in 2012. Remember that one and all the crazy 'off the wall' stuff Clint Eastwood was saying? Elizabeth is a 'former Republican-turned Democrat' (1996-present). I have a cousin who lives in Boston and he said she represents their state well and fights for them in Congress. Whoever gets the Democratic nodd for president after the primary elections, I hope they will consider her as their running mate for Vice President. She actually UNDERSTANDS ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬. YGG!


Monday, September 28, 2015

Sunday, September 27, 2015

⏰ Quality Time w/ The Grands





Our oldest and youngest grands had a sleepover with us this weekend!


Saturday, September 26, 2015

World Meeting of Families / Pope Francis Arrives in Philly / Aretha Franklin to Sing for The Pope



Well, this Baptist is enjoying the Papal visit, as well as the sights and sounds of the World Meeting of Families from the comfort of my home via CNN. From what I can see, Pope Francis is a gracious and humble servant of God, and governs himself accordingly with all people, Catholic or otherwise. Most of his speeches are filled with things that have been said many times before by others, but often falls on 'deaf ears' when it comes to some of our government and political leaders. I hope they will choose to listen to 'someone' before it's too late. I'm also sensing a feeling of goodwill and peace in the 'City of Brotherly Love' this weekend. Perhaps, we need to close roads, slow down, take some time off, and reflect on what's really important a little more often.

And finally, I hear the 'Queen of Soul', Aretha Franklin, will be performing for Pope Francis later today, in addition to giving him a gift of sermons penned by her father, The Late Rev. C. L. Franklin. I'm very familiar with her father's sermons because my own father had a collection of them on vinyl, which he used to listen to all the time. May God continue to bless and strengthen all of our families in the days to come. Carry on and I will pray for you Pope Francis...


Thursday, September 24, 2015



Watch your step!


This household is protected by Ladybug Home Security.







As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord...


Christian Internet Code of Ethics

As a Christian who is active on the internet,
I hold myself to certain standards of conduct:

  • I guard my online relationships.
  • I am careful to visit websites that do not compromise my life in Christ.
  • I take care that my written communications reflect Christ in my life.
  • I guard my time to assure that my time online is kept in proper balance with the rest of my life.
Visit the home page to view a more detailed version:

The Nazarene Network @ NazNet.com





April is World Autism Awareness Month!




On Newsstands Now... Get copies while supplies last!




Now Playing... The Booga Wooga on YouTube!




Proud member of OSP Group on Facebook!




Follow The Lady (Bug) on Good Reads!




Follow The Lady (Bug) on Pinterest!




Thank you President Obama for 8 great years!




Household Humor, Rules, and Membership











Deviant Art: "Cho & The Ladybug" By Cypherx





Virgo Rules in This Household!