Budding...

Happy Easter everyone :)!

So happy He's alive!

I'm alive!

...His munchkins can testify that nothing else matters :)!

Several songs on replay... United Pursuit's Hidden and Travis Greene's Made a way top the list at the moment.

"...I trust your heart and your intentions. Trust you completely! I'm listening intently..."

"Now we're here! Looking  back on where we come from.

Because of you and nothing we've got
To deserve the love and mercy you've shown..."

Truest Love 

You alone understand...

Thank you!!!

(Let's pretend I've been away for only a minute *winks*)

Sincerely,

Cee

He smells bad *covers eyes*

I could smell him literally as soon as I stepped into my street. I was so certain he had paid us another visit and it left a pungent distaste on my lips. 

No one really understood why I put up with his crap or deep down they did! He provided an essential service. Plus a gal can't be too picky especially as every Aunt reminded me that his specie is limited and 'all the same'.

I hate the fact that he can be smart a times and guess my needs accurately although always with an ulterior motive... Like a few months back when he bought a letter box for me and had it put in my front yard. Thoughtful you might say but not so as he had gotten tired of me denying receipt of his 'love letters' every month - bills!

Sigh! At the moment I'm walking briskly to my house, willing myself to forget him and not let his stench ruin my happy mood. For what can I do? The Lawma waste van would soon be back to collect my trash and everyone else.

Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You glad. Psalm 45:8

With love,

Cee

Book shy or is it blog shy?

I'm officially Book shy! If you know me well you'll know I'm an unrepentant reader and my case got worse when I joined The Book Fountain Tea party because every month I get a free book once I attend the book club meeting but that's a story for another day.

I blame this "sudden" book shyness on all of you! If it's not the lady in the bus beside me craning her neck to see what I'm reading or the guys at work who won't let me be because of the titles of my books! Una what should man pikin do? Seriously considering wrapping my books #secondary school style ;)!

Anyways in other news... Guess who's birthday is around the corner? As in 3 days time! He has brought me from a mighty long way!

As I celebrate, it's a 3-in-1 something cos I'm celebrating...

1. My Life! 

As in... I recently read a story on Bella Naija about a lady born on the same day as Yours truly and it's caused me to reflect inwards. Plus some other mushy stuff!

2. My Work! I'm grateful for the wonderful job I get to do every morning plus all the volunteer work I'm privileged to be part of. 

3. My Professional Certification! So, part of the reason I've been MIA was exams. According to a friend of mine, after uni any exams u read for is like 'Adult Education' literally! (Check Out: Mind your Language TV series to understand my friend's Point )

I'm grateful that I passed in one seating and it's finally off my to do list.

#GratefulHeart

with love,

Cee

Blog Anniversary??

Should I throw a virtual party? or do a giveaway to celebrate this special milestone? Well! Lemme confess... I honestly don't know the date I started this blog and ain't nobody got time to check my dashboard to find out the day I created the blog or at least check to see the date of when I posted my first blogpost. Oh well! A blog I follow celebrated her 5th blog anniversary in Oriental hotel in a big way yesterday... (Would update this post with her blog link and a link for pictures later).

I think I started blogging in 2011 so I'm about four years into this! Omg! If only I was serious o! Who knows what my account balance would have been *winks* 

This is just me musing out loud... Lol! Hope you enjoy this new week especially Friday's public holiday that's if you work with Lagos State Government!!! Nobody really gets why we have "so many" public holidays but if you've done the Lagos commute to work everyday of the month you definitely need a day off as a reward :)! For the first time I miss working in the government school as a Corper because Friday would have been a laid-back home-chilling day! Oh well!




P.S: This post was written on Monday and I still dunno how I forgot to post it then *scratches head* Would be back soon with more gist :)...


With Love,
Cee

Village matters

Hi people, so this post has been in my head, heart and mind for over a week. The good news is that It finally found its way to the blog ;) 

I went to a village in Epe area of Lagos as part of the World Malaria day campaign with Slum2school. I learnt some things that day...

1. Contentment: there will always be a village with more amenities and people than yours so calm down enjoys yours.

2. The people in the village rarely fall sick contrary to popular belief especially when you see the conditions in which they live in. Our guide/ interpreter for that day attributes this fact to all the fresh foods they eat. 

See my village native beans... Not the usual bland brown. Lol

And my personal stash of eastern Mangoes... Remember how I was wishing someone would travel eastward and buy it for me? I got my desire *whoop whoop* (ermm I have actually finished it sef)

"...who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:5 (NIV)

With Love,

Cee

So I finally joined yesterday...

Don't laugh or say anything smart! 

It started with a conversation with a friend about another and now I'm here. Still testing the mic. There are only three things that could possibly go wrong:

1. I'll hate it and delete the account

2. I'll become an addict... obsessed over people's lives (or worse self obsessed!!) and forget to come to Blogsville or

3. I'll treat it like my Facebook (a 'former' friend that I know exists but can't be bothered to share updates of my life with).

I'm hopeful that None of these will occur especially option #2!!!

Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. (Jhn14:27)

Love always,

Cee

The New Nigeria!

I'm not all mouth and no action... I have voted :) !!! 

Of late I have had cause to pray the national prayer as in really pray it and not just mumble over as I used to do in school those days...

O God of creation

Direct our noble course

Guide our leaders right

Help our youths the truth to know

With love and honesty to grow

And living just and true

Great lofty heights attain 

To build a nation where peace & justice shall reign

Behold a New Nigeria!!!

One With only the right people who are in God's plan voted into office...

(P.s: T'notes bloggers chat goes live today 😉 and Duru is predicted to be the first to be unmasked! Lol! )

Monsters

Wondering what that is? 😛 well that's one of the projects my art kids made. Paper Monsters! 

So my question today is simple. Have you ever felt like you have one of those inside you making you do ignorable things? At least it's easier to blame them than yourself. I ask because that's how I feel. Oh well I'm gaining control over them. I can't be falling God's hands like this. 

Do you remember the old movie Monsters in-law? I haff begun praying for my Mother in-law. No monsters allowed!

My mom is a funny person, the other day my boo (I.e my grandma) did something can't really remember the details but she reported her daughter and I to my dad who always supports and takes her side.

My mom just turned to me and said if the reverse was the case someone would say "ahh can you imagine what my mother in law did but this is my mom doing this and I'm smiling about it". What I got from that day is simple; by God's grace, I'm gonna treat and cherish mine like my own mother and just overlook stuff. I know it's easier said than done but I have G.O.D in the mix so He'll help me.

 I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. (Romans 7:15 NLT)

(Oh btw I'm enjoying blogging with my new phone 😀😁😊)

Love,

Cee

Fear of the Unknown

What's it about the unknown that drives we 'human beans' crazy??! The human mind knows how to cook up worst possible scenarios and oh boy the stories and tales of other people just helps to cement the fear in our hearts. I remember a lady saying that she got married to her husband while in university cause there was no guarantee that when she was done/ready that someone would be there if she looked over her shoulders. A friend of my aunt told me recently that she got a job a few weeks to the end of Nysc and  that she left her PPA cause there was no guarantee that she would have a job waiting afterwards so she never got her certificate. For these two I think it worked out well Buh it's often not the case. What "crazy" thing have you done cause you were scared to dare believe? 

In other news, mangoes are out!! Whoop whoop! I need someone to travel to eastern Nigeria and bring me some fresh and juicy ones! #Excited much

"I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mk 9:24b)

Like that father of the child, I too sometimes struggle with unbelief so I'm crying out for help. I choose to dare believe all He has promised me :)! 

#off to go cook me some lovely pasta (even if I have to say so myself). Might edit this post later with pictures of my meal *winks*

With love,

Cee

UP NEPA!

So after three days of No electricity... PHCN (or Nepa as we know it) has relented and given us light. Whoop whoop! I'm so happy to for the peace and quietness as a result of all the generators being switched off. This is my first blog post of the year. Just like Nepa I have been taking my time to do the needful :(.

So I'm not going to blame my absence on the new year festivities or my trip to see my god daughter in Abuja or even the fact my router got angry and stopped working so I had to replace it. I won't even dare say it was because someone was lazy and had been procrastinating (mind you I started typing this two days ago). No I shan't because nothing cuts it.

Plus Its February... the love month :). Love gives nothing but itself and that includes excuses.
Cheers to Love and all it brings with it.
Thanks for forgiving me :)

and S/o to The blogger police + Toin for having faith and leaving messages *winks*

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

(Romans 12:9)

With Love,

Cee

14for14: Minding my business

"Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength..."Isaiah 30:15 (NLT)

Yesterday while talking to my Godmom, she mentioned the verse above and I wanna adopt it too as my motto for 2015. I wanna be quiet. Less talk. Less 'gra-gra'. Less waka dugbe. Less nkwali (work no pay). in short Mind my own business. I want to minimize activity and maximize effect/impact. I wanna prioritize more effectively. Say no more often. Enter rest about alot of things and cease worrying.

This is my last 'official' 14 for 14 post. I think I am supposed to write a concluding synopsis of sorts after this. Anyway doing this challenge was great, Some months it was an easy breeze while some months it took Gods grace and plenty hounding from Duru y'all to get me to post a.k.a last minute posts. It taught me a thing or two about sticking through and determination. Salute to Ms. JB for initiating it. I'm so behind in my blog rounds.

When I chose "Love, Life, Learning and Relationships" as what this series was gonna focus on, I really didn't know what I was going to write on. To write on only one of them felt like a restraining order and I couldn't do that. I dunno If I covered any of them well sef. Being as I only know things in part and I can't categorically say somethings only for MY OGA AT THE TOP to say another thing entirely, i had to be mute.

In this 2014, I have known what it means to love and be loved (Lemme chip in here that I am now sumbori's godmom. She's soo adorable.), I have lived, laughed harder, danced more than I have ever done before. I have gone outside my comfort zones to do more. Life has been beautiful. We had art class fun day on the 23rd and we really had fun :)! I also got involved with Slum2school this year and its been amazing. How can I forget my Nysc. This service year has been good. A respite of sorts. Teaching has its perks a.k.a flexibility. I'm not so excited about some of the grades I recorded after marking their scripts. Some Scripts made me blush while some almost made me doubt my teaching methodologies. 

Oh boi! I have learn't plenty things o! Both material (visible) and immaterial. I attended a few courses and acquired some skills +grammar (serenre) too. I haven't been as consistent in blogging as I should have and I know. Relationships have blossomed and some have died a natural death. Funny things have happened and more will happen. Some people keep 'hoping' against reality *yimu*.

 2014 is a year to remember! I grew up in more ways than I knew possible. I'm not there yet but I am striving ... 2015 shall be greater! Heaven on Earth! IJN

P.S: I'm a bit off the social media & Instant messaging grid atm. My phone just stopped coming on and I understand the message it is telling me...  ;)

Sincerely,

Cee

Merry Christmas Blogville!

Christmas is finally here! Merry Christmas everyone :)!

Hopefully all the vacationers heading outta town have left and the roads will finally be free n'all.
May this season bring all you hoped for and more.
I know what I want for Christmas and I'm still very hopeful o! Christmas aint over till I win *smiles*
My Grand-aunty is of the opinion that the smell of new paint is part of the celebration. Lol! Do you agree?
This year we are hosting some family members so that means plenty cooking and washing plates merriment and rejoicing.. You are invited :)
Wishing you guys an awesome celebration and a fab new year.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

Lots of L<3ve,

Cee

P.S: would be back soon with my two concluding 14for14 posts! What a journey :)!

14for14: MY WORLD

So It's November already and Christmas is 6 Thursdays away *inserts dancing* !

Not only that my service year is gradually coming to an end...

Today was a teaching free day! Continuous Assessment Test day!!

I also conducted the United Nations My World Survey TODAY for the kids in my school and I got all kitted up in my NYSC regalia to do it.

It was fun and involved plenty pushing, shoving and excitement.

Most of the Kids voted for Affordable and Nutritious food + Good Education among other things :)

(For more info on the survey, check http://vote.myworld2015.org/)

Towards the end of the year, is always birthdays and celebrations galore for me. Saturday is my grandma's birthday! Whoop whoop! I have classes that day but hope to be back in time to "play" with her...She's a wonderful sumbori :)!

Funny how while talking with a friend a few days ago we both said simultaneously that we hated the question "what do you like to do for fun?"

It sounds so regular and innocent that I'm sure you are wondering whats the big deal? right?

Well five things are wrong with it

1. Its over-used! I can't count how often I have been asked that in the past few weeks.

2.  Its a trick! The guys claim to wanna get to "know" you *yimu* Na lie!

3. Its a kind of personality test or some sort of "judge of character". Someone once told me I'm a selfish person since all the things I like doing are 'solo' - reading, writing, solving puzzles and doodling. Imagine the nerve!

4. There's an underlying message. (go figure it out :p)

5. Its Banal

Now its my turn... what do you guys do for fun??! That is asides blogging and blog stalking ;)!

(actually joking 'seriously' Lol! )

Oh before I forget Tomorrow is The Young and Confused bloggers Birthday! Whoop! Whoop! Lemme tell you a secret... I posted early this month because of a bargain we made. Lol! Expecting my delivery oo and Duru remember to inbox me the number to call tomorrow :)!

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 12:2 The Message (MSG)

14for14: Writing on the wall

Ever wondered about the early man and what they did for fun? Well today I taught my class about Cave art and how cave men used to draw and paint on cave walls. As you might have guessed the class was hilarious! Someone even asked me why couldn't the men just draw on paper like normal people. Lol! It reminded me of my childhood and my fave past time.

I won't pretend and say I was a docile child. Infact I was often the opposite. My parents had a standing order with the painters beacause of us. We loved to write, draw, scribble, doodle in fact we did anything and everything on the walls in our home. At a point they had to paint parts of the house textured paint and glossy paint in an attempt to deter us. It didn't work though. My brothers and I were determined to live our marks and tell the wall world we were here (We still are).

*In Beyonce's voice*
I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time
Know there was something that, and something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets,
Leave something to remember, so they won't forget

I was here
I lived, I loved
I was here
I did, I've done, everything that (He) wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was here

Truly, after all has been said and done that's what really matters... What mark would I leave on the wall of life? Would my Creator say Well done? This is what I'm learning and striving to do. Won't lie its not a piece of cake! (In pidgin.. pesin wey neva chop belleful u com dey ask am to remain for im pikin) God dey!

This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. 1 John 2:17 (NLT)

Sincerely,

Cee

It's my MOMMA'S day

*covers eyes* I just want to say its my Mom's birthday today and I'm dancing.... Would be back Asap with a proper blog post and my 14for14 post. @John: Keep Calm the Madam shall be back after this commercial break *winks*

\

to buy a cake or not? If I do.... Guess who'll end up eating 80% of it??!

"In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”

(Proverbs 31: 19-29, NIV)

She's THAT KIND of a Woman!! See my post here

Sincerely,

Cee

14FOR14: 5 things I'm loving lately

September has been quite wonderful and FULL of activities for me. I've had this post in my head for about 2 weeks now just didn't get round to typing it till now...

This post was inspired by a post I read a while ago on Cassandra's blog here on the things she was loving lately too. So here are my 5


 1. Marc Jacobs Lola

 I got this perfume as a birthday gift and I'm so loving it right now :)!

2. My Hair

I finally got round to doing straw curls. Wondering what that is? Well its the reason why straws are finding themselves roped into ladies hair drama. My brother says he doesn't get why the ladies at work are doing it and now his sister too has joined 'em. *yimu*. I'm enjoying the bouncy curls and how my hair is off my neck. At the same time... its been raining a lot of late so I don't know how long I'll be able to pull it off :(

Although mine involved me getting into a dryer...lol

3. My Love letters... Can't explain it but the things I had been reading in THE BOOK of late have been very personal and mind blowing. *lovestruck* He just knows how to make me blush n'all.

4. My "Jimmy choo's"- Lool! I'm kidding buh I'm loving my new gym shoes :)! I love looking at them when I  work out. So I guess they are secretly a motivating factor for me to stay fit. Don't judge me :p

Last but not the least

5. I really didn't want to fall any one's hand so I'll live up to my reputation of being a foodie (according to two of my blog readers)..... GRILLED GIZZARD & SNAILS. 

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Luke 10:27 (NIV)

Sincerely,

Cee

My birthday :)

My cakes 2 of 3 :)! the chocolate one was a birthday gift from Decake Shoppe!

So I had planned on putting up a post on my birthday (two days ago) but things happened... and I didn't. I know you guys still love and won't begrudge me

I went on a Beach getaway a.k.a boat cruise to Takwa bay with a few friends. I had so much fun and got  a new respect for footballers oo! So we kicked the ball around for less than thirty minutes and went for recess by the water (we never finished the game. lol!)

Our makeshift  goal post :)!

See I've got my eyes on the ball... Don't just ask me what I did when I got the ball though :p

oh there were some 'kids' (lil goats) and dogs in attendance..

See me lifting my hands to heaven in gratitude! God has been too faithful :)!

Thank you for all the love, kind words and blogsville friendships that add spice to my life.

I'm grateful for you guys :*! You Rock!!!

Oh! Teach us to live well!

Teach us to live wisely and well!

Come back, God—how long do we have to wait?—

and treat your servants with kindness for a change.

Surprise us with love at daybreak;

then we’ll skip and dance all the day long.

Make up for the bad times with some good times;

we've seen enough evil to last a lifetime.

Let your servants see what you’re best at—

the ways you rule and bless your children.

And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us,

confirming the work that we do.

Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!

Psalm 90:12-17 The Message (MSG)

Update: Remember the Blogsville Pay it Forward I posted about early this year (Check here)? Ermm... so far I have given 3 of them their gifts! Yay 2 more to go :)! 

Sincerely, 

Cee

NOT talking about it

This is a short post on why I am not writing about Ebola. I had intended writing a funny post about how the new disease had affected my immediate family and environment. I would have written about my youngest brother's sudden love for bitter kola and my mom's suya microwaving skills or the fact that my brother's office bought cartonssss of hand sanitizers and gave all their staff. I would have also mentioned the 6am call I received informing me to add plenty salt to my water when bathing (apparently most people got 3am calls so I'm grateful for my sleep that was unperturbed).

There is usually a thin line between information and misinformation.

I'm glad of the recent news that there are Ebola survivors and at the same time I'm very sad about those that had to die from misinformation...SALT OVERDOSE!!!

It was funny before but it isn't any longer...

We shouldn't as Nigerians allow fear be our driving force! 

Lets equip ourselves with the Right Information! 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:13

Sincerely,

Cee

14for14: last minute

The school where I am currently serving closed for the summer last Friday. Yay!! So I'm supposed to start chilling right? Well not exactly. My work just began and it has nothing to do with marking scripts and compiling results. I volunteer with an organisation every August to help disadvantaged students in developing their literacy and numeracy skills. This is my fourth or fifth year doing it and as a rule each year can only get better... So work dey but God is as always more than faithful :)!

There was a valedictory event of some sorts for the outgoing JSS 3 students on Thursday and the following are some of the things I learnt from the event:

1. It doesn't take plenty people to plan a successful event. I'm of the opinion that only the principal and her secretary planned the whole thing. I stand to be corrected but most of the staff were surprised by a lot stuff including the yearbook given to the outgoing pupils.

2. Students can undergo a complete 360 degree change when the music is turned on. I wish I could show you guys what I'm talking about. The dance moves were unbelievable! I really wish they could transfer a fraction of their enthusiasm to their studies. There are still a handful that have difficulty in reading and calculating basic sums.

The "he-pop dancers"lol!

3. The school photographer makes money!

4. It's the same set of students that get all the prizes. Its usually the first position in the class that gets the well behaved prize or the neatest student prize. Makes me wonder if intelligence is really linked to neatness and behavior...

5. Students are quite observant once it involves food or money! I gave out my food pack to a student who had been following me around that day and you can guess what happened next... Also the Vice principal sprayed some dancers money and that was how the next set of dancers danced until they got their share too.

Lol! July is almost over and I have succeeded in doing another Last minute 14for14 blog post! Next month I plan on breaking the trend :)

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13(KJV)

Sincerely,

Cee