Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Race In America
Do you understand All Lives Matter will NEVER be a true statement until
Black Lives Matter too, and we're a L-O-N-G way from that being the reality?
Black Lives Matter too, and we're a L-O-N-G way from that being the reality?
Monday, June 29, 2020
COVID-19: Carnival Cruise
We can't wait! Me and the hubby are going on this cruise with our daughter and family! Maybe we will be safe from Coronavirus by then. Wait... What? This date is not going to work for us. We will be 109 years old. Oh, nevermind! LOL!
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Saturday, June 27, 2020
🥋 #GreenBeltBound
"A BLACK BELT IS A WHITE BELT THAT NEVER QUITS"
AmeriKick-Andorra finally reopened the studio for in-person classes on Monday 06/22 with masks, smaller class sizes, and a lot of social distancing changes in place—including parents cannot sit in the studio to watch the classes right now. ZOOM is okay, but physically being there is always better. They will continue to offer online classes for those who are not ready to come back just yet, but my grandson was ready to get back in the studio and Pop-Pop was ready to take him there. Lord, please keep my grandson and hubby healthy and safe as the journey back to normal continues!
Friday, June 26, 2020
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Yo, Philly!
Unless you have a good reason to be setting off firecrackers every night, and I can't imagine what that reason would be, please be considerate of others who are trying to relax and sleep. You also need to think about the elderly who are suffering from Alzheimer's and Dementia, and don't forget those who served in the military (to protect your freedom to be extremely inconsiderate) and have PTSD. It's upsetting to some pets as well. It's going on all over the city and enough is enough. Give it a rest and find something else to do with yourself!
Monday, June 22, 2020
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Saturday, June 20, 2020
😇 Stepfathers Are A Blessing From God
He goes to work each day, stays all day long.
He comes home each night, looking tired and beat.
He sits down at the dinner table, and has a bite to eat.
Never a frown, always a smile,
when he says to me, how's my child.
I've been studying hard, all day in school.
tryin' to understand the golden rule.
I think I'll color this man father.
I think I'll color him love.
I'm gonna color him father.
I think I'll color the man love, yes I will.
He says, education is the thing if you wanna compete,
because without it son, life ain't very sweet.
I love this man and I don't know why,
except I'll need his strength, till the day that I die.
My mother loves him and I can tell,
by the way she looks at him, when he holds my little sister Nell.
I heard her say just the other day,
that if it hadn't been for him, she wouldn't have found her way.
My real old man, he got killed in the war,
and she knows she and seven kids, couldn't of gotten very far.
She said she thought that she could never love again,
And then there he stood, with that big wide grin.
He married my mother and he took us in,
and now we belong to the man with that big wide grin.
I think I'll color this man father.
I think I'll color him love.
I'm gonna color him father.
I'm gonna color him love.
He comes home each night, looking tired and beat.
He sits down at the dinner table, and has a bite to eat.
Never a frown, always a smile,
when he says to me, how's my child.
I've been studying hard, all day in school.
tryin' to understand the golden rule.
I think I'll color this man father.
I think I'll color him love.
I'm gonna color him father.
I think I'll color the man love, yes I will.
He says, education is the thing if you wanna compete,
because without it son, life ain't very sweet.
I love this man and I don't know why,
except I'll need his strength, till the day that I die.
My mother loves him and I can tell,
by the way she looks at him, when he holds my little sister Nell.
I heard her say just the other day,
that if it hadn't been for him, she wouldn't have found her way.
My real old man, he got killed in the war,
and she knows she and seven kids, couldn't of gotten very far.
She said she thought that she could never love again,
And then there he stood, with that big wide grin.
He married my mother and he took us in,
and now we belong to the man with that big wide grin.
I think I'll color this man father.
I think I'll color him love.
I'm gonna color him father.
I'm gonna color him love.
Footnote: In 1969, this song ranked #2 on the R&B charts and #7 on Billboard's Hot 100; the composer, Richard L. Spencer, won a Grammy Award for Best R&B song in 1970. Click on the record label for a link to YouTube and listen to this classic gem, the only one of its kind, which pays tribute to all of the stepfathers holdin' it down out there. And, always remember, as my pastor so eloquently pointed out in a sermon once... Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was actually raised by a man who played the role of a stepfather and his name was Joseph. So, never underestimate the importance of the part you play in God's divine plan. You are loved and appreciated much more than you know. May God continue to bless all of you!
Friday, June 19, 2020
Black History Matters All Day, Every Day
We celebrate our total emancipation and freedom from slavery on on this day. It was June 19, 1865 (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was in effect) when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, TX with news that the Civil War had ended and the enslaved were now free. The celebration carries the connotation that until we’re all free, none of us are free!
Click on the image to learn more about the history and worldwide celebration of Juneteenth. Under normal circumstances, the text link under the image can be used for information about public celebrations in Philly--but, all festivities have been cancelled this year because of COVID-19. Please don't let that stop you from celebrating in your own private way and God willing, we'll be together again in 2021!
Click on the image to learn more about the history and worldwide celebration of Juneteenth. Under normal circumstances, the text link under the image can be used for information about public celebrations in Philly--but, all festivities have been cancelled this year because of COVID-19. Please don't let that stop you from celebrating in your own private way and God willing, we'll be together again in 2021!
Thursday, June 18, 2020
⏳ #TBT Vintage Style
This is one of my favorite pics with the grands, having lunch @ California Pizza Kitchen after church on Sunday, December 3, 2017 during a sleepover weekend!
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
The Virtual Picnic of the Year
Mark you calendar, save the date, set
your alarm, pass it on, and spread the word!
Monday, June 15, 2020
Race Relations 101
I remember watching this episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood. I took it for granted that he was just being his usual kind self and I didn't realize the deeper implications behind the gesture at the time. But, if we had more people in the world like Fred Rogers, it would be a much better place. Thank you for addressing the issue of race and leaving all of us with this thought... "Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people." R.I.P. Mr. Rogers.
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Saturday, June 13, 2020
😍 Surprise Treat!
This homemade corn, crab legs, sausage, and shrimp is compliments of my daughter. There were actually 4 crab leg clusters and more sausage and shrimp, but I was so excited I started eating first and then decided to take this pic. Thank you, daughter dear!
Black Lives Matter: The "Inappropriate" Manifesto By Dr. Carolyn L. Gordon
Dear America:
When we served you as slaves, you abused us, starved us, sold us, and called us lazy. You treated us inappropriately.
When we ran away, you came and captured us, cutting off life and limb. You treated us inappropriately.
When we were emancipated, you put on sheets and raided our homes, raped us, and lynched us. You treated us inappropriately.
When we separated ourselves, grew and became our own thriving communities of Atlanta, Colfax, Mound Bouyou, Rosewood, and Tulsa, as a nation you sanctioned the bombing of our communities, the burning of our homes and businesses, the brutalizing of our men, and the blocking of us on every turn. You treated us inappropriately.
When we sat down you told us, no demanded us, to stand up by dragging us off the buses, off the streets, and out of our homes. You treated us inappropriately.
When we marched peacefully and unarmed, you sent out the National Guard, the fire hoses, and the dogs. You bombed our churches and assassinated our leaders. You treated us inappropriately.
When we wore afros, dashikis, and our natural hair, you fired us, derided us, and called us names for not emulating your standards of beauty. You treated us inappropriately.
When we kneeled, you didn't address the issue. You simply rewrote the narrative, called us unpatriotic, and demanded we stand. You treated us inappropriately.
With each demonstration against your racism and malfeasance, you have labeled our actions, inappropriate.
But, in all the years of our fighting, protesting, and rebelling, you have never once acknowledged or changed YOUR inappropriate behavior.
Now, here we are... again. You kill us and then think you have the right to tell us how to respond to the pain.
After doing everything possible to be freed, you need to understand that even a trapped animal will chew off its foot to save its life, and not a single animal who understands will call it inappropriate.
So, in final desperation, we protest, loot, and burn down the village to be freed from your racist abuse. And, your response is to call out the military, not to protect us or our communities, but to protect your racism from our inappropriateness in responding to it.
Please know this: Until YOU appropriately surrender and give up your racism and racist behaviors, we will continue to protest and be appropriately, inappropriate.
When we served you as slaves, you abused us, starved us, sold us, and called us lazy. You treated us inappropriately.
When we ran away, you came and captured us, cutting off life and limb. You treated us inappropriately.
When we were emancipated, you put on sheets and raided our homes, raped us, and lynched us. You treated us inappropriately.
When we separated ourselves, grew and became our own thriving communities of Atlanta, Colfax, Mound Bouyou, Rosewood, and Tulsa, as a nation you sanctioned the bombing of our communities, the burning of our homes and businesses, the brutalizing of our men, and the blocking of us on every turn. You treated us inappropriately.
When we sat down you told us, no demanded us, to stand up by dragging us off the buses, off the streets, and out of our homes. You treated us inappropriately.
When we marched peacefully and unarmed, you sent out the National Guard, the fire hoses, and the dogs. You bombed our churches and assassinated our leaders. You treated us inappropriately.
When we wore afros, dashikis, and our natural hair, you fired us, derided us, and called us names for not emulating your standards of beauty. You treated us inappropriately.
When we kneeled, you didn't address the issue. You simply rewrote the narrative, called us unpatriotic, and demanded we stand. You treated us inappropriately.
With each demonstration against your racism and malfeasance, you have labeled our actions, inappropriate.
But, in all the years of our fighting, protesting, and rebelling, you have never once acknowledged or changed YOUR inappropriate behavior.
Now, here we are... again. You kill us and then think you have the right to tell us how to respond to the pain.
After doing everything possible to be freed, you need to understand that even a trapped animal will chew off its foot to save its life, and not a single animal who understands will call it inappropriate.
So, in final desperation, we protest, loot, and burn down the village to be freed from your racist abuse. And, your response is to call out the military, not to protect us or our communities, but to protect your racism from our inappropriateness in responding to it.
Please know this: Until YOU appropriately surrender and give up your racism and racist behaviors, we will continue to protest and be appropriately, inappropriate.
Friday, June 12, 2020
#8YearsDown 👨🏿🎓 #4Years2Go 🎓 #ClassOf2024
Congratulations to my grandson and all the other graduates of the 8th Grade Class of 2020! He received 4 awards today for attendance, computer, reading, and being a student at his school for 9 years (K-8). Awesome job and I'm so proud of you! I pray that God will continue to bless and cover you during your high school years as well. I know He didn't bring you this far on your educational journey to leave you now, and you can do anything you have a mind to with His help. Grammy loves you, but God loves you more!
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
💜 #ILoveSomeoneWithDementia
Where Is MY Mom? A Simple Prayer!
Copyright © 2020 Written by Rosalyn L. Martin
Monday, June 8, 2020
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Knowledge Is Power
Are you unknowingly supporting the re-election of #45 by patronizing companies that donate money to his campaign? Check out the following list and if so, you may want to think twice before giving them you hard-earned money going forward if you're serious about getting him out of the White House. Yes, it will hurt to give up some of these (Ouch!), but it's for the greater good of our country and worth the sacrifice. They are: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Equinox, Estee Lauder, Formula One, LL Bean, Marvel Entertainment, Molson Coors Brewing Company, Momofuku, New Balance, Snapchat, SoulCycle, Taco Bell, Uline, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Wendy's and World Wrestling Entertainment. Please copy, paste, and share this post to spread the word so others can do the same!
Friday, June 5, 2020
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Monday, June 1, 2020
Truth Crushed to Earth Will Rise Again
I am no expert, but I would have to say with Dr. Michael Baden on the case revealing his findings, it looks like the Minneapolis Police Department is in deep doo-doo. Further, when this case goes to trial, they better be able to prove they didn't try to cover up a homocide by releasing information that George Floyd's "significant underlying health conditions" caused his death. I never believed that manure from the door and it makes you wonder how many other cases involving the police and murdered unarmed black people in Minneapolis was covered up with the same or similar misinformation. The poop has hit the fan now, but this whole thing was stinking before this happened!