It's Not Safe To Go To Florida!

As for me and my house, we're not going there until the unjustisfied murders of African Americans stop. This is a state that takes pride in shooting first and asking questions later!

Happy Birthday, Emmett

R.I.P. Emmett Louis Till (July 25, 1941-August 28, 1955)

"Two months ago, I had a nice apartment in Chicago. I had a good job. I had a son. When something happened to Negroes in the South I said, 'That's their business, not mine.' Now, I know how wrong I was. The murder of my son has shown me that what happens to any of us, anywhere in the world, had better be the business of us all!" - Mamie Till, mother of Emmett Till

Emmett was murdered at the young age of 14 years old in the state of Mississippi in 1955. His mother decided to have an open-casket funeral for him because she wanted the world to know and see what was done to her son. Today would have been his 72nd birthday.

It's 2013 and the hearts of African American mothers are still breaking everyday over the senseless and unjustified murders of their sons. Letting it go is out of the question.

Support The Trayvon Martin Foundation

Click on the image or this text link to visit the website

Mission: The Trayvon Martin Foundation was established by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin in March 2012 as a not-for-profit organization, under the auspices of the Miami Foundation. The Foundation’s purpose is to create awareness of how violent crime impacts the families of the victims, and to provide support and advocacy for those families, in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin. The scope of the Foundation’s mission is to advocate that crime victims and their families not be ignored in the discussions about violent crime; to increase public awareness of all forms of racial, ethnic, and gender profiling; educate youth on conflict resolution techniques; and to reduce the incidences where confrontations between strangers turn deadly.

Use this text link to "Like" The Trayvon Martin Foundation on Facebook

Meuse Family Reunion 2013

Greetings from Washington, DC!

Friday, July 12th - Sunday, July 14th

The Shooting of Trayvon Martin

Regarding the George Zimmerman verdict, the media can also count me among those who were completely dumbfounded about it. At this moment, my heart is aching for Trayvon Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, and the only things I have to offer them in the way of comfort are The Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. And, Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

Our laws mean nothing if they are enforced one way for some and another way for others. When will America see the inequity in how our laws are being enforced? The time for living in a bubble, fog, state of denial, vacuum, and under a rock are over. There's no safe place to hide and run from this either. History has taught us that the tide of injustice will always make a 360-degree turn and start heading back toward you one day if something isn't done to stop it. A house divided cannot stand, so we need to work together until EVERYONE receives equal treatment under the law.

So, continue to R.I.P. Trayvon because your work here is done, but please know that many prayers are going up for your family and friends at this time. God called you home for a reason, but He also left behind a nation of many people who have more work to do if we are really serious about not tolerating this type of injustice any longer. Now that the trial is over and the "Not Guilty" verdict is in, are you willing to do whatever it takes to respond to the call that God has placed on your heart today?

And, to all the folks out there who just want everyone to "get over it" (the verdict), let me remind you of something. The racial tension in this country is at an all-time high and has been ever since Barack Obama became president in 2008. There are many people who still haven't been able to "get over it" (his presidency) and he's in his second term of office. As a result, incidents of white-on-black crime and run-ins with white law enforcement have escalated to an alarming rate. Oh, and let's not forget about the in-your-face and overt racism coming from the internet, news correspondents, social media, television, and last but certainly not least, politicians who are coming up with new ways every day to stand in the way of our economic and educational growth. What happened to post-racial America? Grow-up, people! It's 2013, not 1813!

In my mind, the level of racial hatred and intolerance that I've seen since 2008 played a HUGE part in "setting the stage" for this tragedy and other racially-motivated attrocities committed against Black Americans during President Obama's administration. And, there are several cases and trials "stacking up" to prove it. Just keep your eyes on the news in the months to come. Trayvon Martin was only the beginning. The flood gates are about to open regarding several other incidents that some of you may not even know about right now. So, before you throw that "get over it" stone you have in your hand, take a good long look in the mirror. If the shoe I described fits you, put it on, wear it, and recognize the part YOU played in all of this too, because you couldn't handle having a Black president.

Heads Up & Next Up: The Shooting of Jordan Russell Davis--a 17 year old black male who was killed on November 22, 2012 in Jacksonville, FL by Michael Dunn, a 45 year old white male. Dunn has been charged with first-degree murder. Just in case you didn't know or forgot about this one, click on the image for details. See you in court!

Happy Independence Day!

From The Lady (Bug) of the Household

Old School Concert: Be There or Be Square!

Click on the image for more information and online ticket purchase!

"WaWa Welcome America" Starts Today!

Click on the image to visit the WaWa Welcome America website
for all the festivities planned from July 1st-7th to celebrate our independence!

"Cho & The Ladybug"

Fantasy Digital Painting By Cypherx

Sunday Rest!

Chillin' outside of "Green Eggs (and Ham)" in
North Philly/Northern Liberties on a Sunday afternoon!

😇 Stepfathers Are A Blessing From God

"Color Him Father" Performed By The Winstons

There's a man at my house, he's so big and strong.
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.

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 image or text link underneath to 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!

Happy Heavenly Father's Day Dad

Roosevelt Williams
October 9, 1936 - May 2, 2002

I thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday, and days before that too.
I think of you in silence, I often speak your name.
All I have are memories, and your picture in a frame.

In life I loved you dearly, in death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place, that no one could ever fill.
It broke my heart to lose you, but you didn't go alone.
For part of me went with you, the day God took you home.

No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye.
You were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.
A million times I needed you, a million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died.

Gone yet not forgotten, although we are apart,
your spirit lives within me, forever in my heart.
Nothing can ever take away, the love a heart holds dear.
Fond memories linger every day, remembrance keeps you near.

A gift for such a little while, your loss just seems so wrong.
You should not have left before us, it’s with loved ones you belong.
Your memory is my keepsake, with which I’ll never part.
God has you in His keeping, I have you in my heart.

If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane,
I’d walk right up to heaven, and bring you home again.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

On Newsstands Now!

Article written by The Ladybug of the Household 

Click on the newspaper for a larger view to read on Pinterest 

Use the link below to create your own funny newspaper article w/ photo! 

http://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/newspaper-generator.html

24 Years Ago Today...

Two hearts became one!