14for14: Playing with fire

I love it when my parents, Grandma or Aunts decide to torture my siblings with something they did as a child. There are some classics that I'm saving for my nieces and nephews *winks*. Once the story doesn't involve any of my misdemeanors I am a good sport.

As one of the stories goes, my younger brother at a certain point in his life was fascinated with fire. He wasn't content to just watch from the sidelines. He needed to catch it! My mom being the super woman she is, would always jump over skyscrapers aka tables, rivers (aka puddles from our carelessness) or mountains - (toys strategically positioned on the floor) just to stop him. She used to work herself up trying to keep her baby away from the fire.

Until one faithful day, when she got tired and she let him get as close as his heart desired to the candle...

...as you must have guessed that was his last day near it. He wised up real quick!

Wondering what that has to do with anything? Errm.. the thing is that just like my brother I'm fascinated with  fire but a different kind. The type I know isn't good for me. Don't let your mind run far o!

Its just Sweets!

I dunno why I find it irresistible.

SO the main problem is how to deal with my case.... should I adopt  my Mother's method and leave my self  to indulge in as much sweets, chocolates and confectioneries as my hands can touch until I literally get burnt i.e jedi jedi (I first heard this word in boarding school and it simply means a severe constipation or something like that) and all the other side effects? 

Can a man carry fire in his lap without burning his clothes?

Proverbs 6:27 (GWT)

(victory dance: #team no defaulting! #may! #no slacking! #fresh air)

Sincerely,

Cee

iP.O.P

Has someone ever sent you a message that encapsulated your very thoughts at that time? Well a friend of mine just did. This is what he wrote...

To what purpose is evil?, to what gain is this hate? 

How could thoughts be so lethal?, to what end is this fate?
Has life lost it's value?, is this the end of our universe?
Has blood become worthless?,is living now in reverse? 

There's nowhere to run,  no place to hide

                         Everyone is exposed in this maze so wide                          Tugs from left and right, pressures on every  side        

Can't we all just evade this Boisterous tide?

Uncertainty looms as we walk through the door

Too many Count of losses, we can't take this no more

Look where we are, look what we've become A show of shame..a fate to which we succumb

We live in a country where no one is safe
Where one's desire, is another one's chafe
The night is filled with screams of Violence
While the morning awakes with immortal silence
Defenseless people bombed, a crime heinously conducted
Emotions run deep over hundreds of  girls abducted
Daily the evil extends, the carnage transcends
While our leaders only condemn, But no one contends
To what end is this fate?, everyone wonders
Days go bye and yet the innocent Suffers

The reality of the unknown, still lays wide open like a field 
No one knows the fate of that which is next to be revealed
Each day unfolds, with the fear of what to Behold
With the choice of being afraid or the dare to be Bold
Could this be the way our  world is Designed?
Is this the path that we all must be Aligned?

This was never how It was meant to be
For we all in God's eyes were created to be equal and free
Free to show love, kindness, not with pretension but straight from the heart
But instead we've chosen to misunderstand religion just to tear us apart
In times like this, I can only hope and pray
hoping for the best with each new day
I Pray for peace, peace in our hearts and in our soul
I pray for Nigeria to be at ease and be free from the grip of terror 's control
I Pray for the Government and all the people in authority
Let's do what is right for us all to live in peace and unity
Though now we cry all day and weep all Night
Let our hearts be filled with joy when it's time for Sunlight

I Pray for the Nigerian people, yes the Nigerian people
With no reference to religion or ethnicity but Just cos we're equal
I pray that Christians and Muslims remember that we're first human beings
And learn to live together in peace like real people with feelings
I Pray for all people of the world to live a life of love
Let's learn to live together ,Let heaven smile from above
I pray that we love each other like ourselves
For that's when we can only live a true life of success
I pray for the victims of terror in Nigeria and the world over
May the souls of the departed find peace and let the living remain sober
I pray for an end to these senseless killings and bloodshed 
Let this path of evil end, let this monster be dead 
I pray for the Chibok girls abducted from where they dwell
going through difficult times that's even had to tell
I pray they return to their parents alive and well
let's remain hopeful, everything will be well

This Is my prayer, I PRAY FOR PEACE............
#BringBackOurGirls 
#NigeriansUnite

#THE PREACHER.......

I'm praying on purpose. You Know you want to join me...

#SAYAPRAYER

for Nigeria, Kenya, Africa as a whole and every other part of the world in need of God's intervention

Sincerely,
Cee

14for14: Common Sense Wahala

He says he is stubborn but I say I'm strong willed.

He says he likes me but I say I love me

He thinks I'm a fool to throw it all away but I know I'll be the fool if I stay

The thing is... 

Gone are the days when feelings and emotions were enough to go by.

The world has evolved and I'm learning to grow with it too!

For everywhere I go, I have to carry  these three; my 'Bestie', my brain and "common sense" along

or else

this heart of mine would just put me for wahala!

Guess what else is reiterating the importance of common sense to me? (*side eye* why did you just continue reading without attempting to guess :(! ) Well... its my new Loofah Scrub o!

I was shocked to read the side note at the back just after the instructions on how to use it.

"...As always, use common sense and be gentle with yourself and your body."

Funny right? but nevertheless profound. It really cracked me up. Made me remember primary school days where every reference to 'common sense' had an underlying insult or wise crack. 'Don't you have any common sense?' 'Where is your common sense? (usually followed by the statement 'Use your Initiative')' 'Stop hailing him, its just common sense applied' 'Common sense is obviously not common in your case' 

It appears the only time we are allowed to be 'stupid' and ignore common sense is when it comes to love however it may be temporal.

Anyways I have a question for you?

I soooo love 'em and have been getting a lot of late. Remember I mentioned my valentine one here.
*wide grin* Testimony time *dances forward*

I won a month free of premuim plus on Iroko Tv. I dunno how I got picked, just got a call. Ermm scrap that I think its in conjunction with Swift (the internet provider I use). Not sure if it was a random select or if they were just appreciating faithful customers. Anyways I think it's a great marketing gimmick on IrokoTv's part cos prior to winning this, I never would have thought about subscribing to watch new Nigerian movies online. The truth is that I'm not a Naija movie person except the really good ones cos I have a low tolerance for Iranu a.k.a Banality. But seeing as I cannot let my Awoof go to waste I watched Flower girl yesterday and I plan on seeing Anchor baby when next I'm idle. So fingers crossed on if I'll renew afterwards especially since it is relatively cheap (500 for a month, 1k for 3 months and 2k for a year).

Ciao Amigos!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5 (ESV)

Sincerely,

Cee

To cut the long story... short

Lets divide it into 3 things

#1. Orange Boots!!

So after 20+ years of receiving the white man's formal education (that is minus the years spent in playgroup/preschool), I am now serving my nation! Now you know why I got darker. The sun at the orientation camp was something else. The experience was better than I had anticipated (had heard some really nasty stories o! A friend of mine kept begging me to buy black  nylons for "short putting"). Camp was alright. Still plenty room for improvement. Meet some really amazing people there that I plan on keeping in touch with. Dodged afternoon drills (for info on how to do same like a boss send me a private message *classified info* lol). Sampled a whole lot of crap food at the Maami market and came to the conclusion that every food isn't for this geh. No be by force! You guys already know that I didn't march or join the parade #notmystyle. I surprised myself and joined the drama group (I was behind the scenes though :)!) and represented my platoon in something. Reconnected with some childhood sweethearts (my primary school bestie was my bunk-mate). Anyways that's all on camp gist. Too many things happened. I'm to tired to type and I love you too much so I won't bore you with details.


#2. What do teachers wear nowadays?

So I have been posted to an All girls Junior High School not to far from where I live and I'm teaching Fine art. Pretty Amazing right? God really loves me and works everything out for my good *wide grin*.

Wondering why I am happy about it?
Well, its an ALL GIRLS school... so there will be no cheeky and mischievous boys in my classroom to make me shout. Don't get it wrong, I love boys n'all buh we all know that

 Adolescent male species = T.R.O.U.B.L.E!!

Secondly, Its junior high a.k.a easier work load and you already know how much I love Art (was my best subject back in school) so all round Yaay!!


FYI: I didn't 'work' or influence my posting to the school. Its a public school owned by the State Government so there will be no Ajebo kids bringing birthday cakes *sobs*. So back to my initial question... what do teachers wear nowadays? A friend was teasing me today that the kids will think I am one of them when I enter the class cos I look young. I'm not sure what that means sef? buh it's made me erase all thoughts of being "natural" and weaving my real hair though. lol! What I know is that I do not have  the time or patience for skirt suits which I remember my school teachers used to wear in those days :|


#3. my Blog beefers who camouflage as my friends!

U guys should mind yourselves o! That is how one of them sent me an IM after my last blog post to ask why I have suddenly become very racist and that there is nothing wrong in me becoming black or getting darker! Can you imagine??! When people that love me have been concerned and are offering unsolicited advice on how I should use natural carrot or is it papaya soap, exfoliating scrubs or infact bleaching cream to regain my colour. Although I doubt the bleaching cream advice person loves me sha *side eye*! She is a meanie buh I forgive her but as for those who want me darker God is watching you o!

Then someone said I should consider writing on food only for my 14 for 14 series as most of my posts are on food. *Yimu* They will be pretending as if they don't like food. #Na big lie. 

Lemme just catch the both of you sha!

Now thanks be to God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the aroma of his knowledge by us in every place.

2 Cor 2:14 (AKJV)

 Sincerely,

Cee

Lagos what did i MISS?

It's good to be back home. Missed Blogville especially my blog readers!

I have never really been a fan of tanning (I'm Nigerian so what did you expect??! lol) but I got one involuntarily :'(! I got back several shades darker. I didn't realize how bad it was until a few days ago, while having a conversation on different powder tones, someone said a friend of mine (who is 'black' in my opinion) was lighter than me! Yepa! You can imagine the shock on my face.  I've been consoling myself that my real colour will soon return. Una join me in praying oo!

Would have posted a selfie so you guys could do the judging... but I'm scared as in really scared to do that. I don't wanna be labelled someone with a mental disorder!  Read a funny article about it today... something about the American Psychiatric Association classifying selfies (or the need to take them) as mental disorder. Apparently it's a hoax (a.k.a Na Lie!) you could read Myne's article on it here.

I'll be back with proper gist/blog post soonest. Still catching up on all the things that happened in my absence. Thanks everyone for being patient with me, for checking up on me (I got some lovely emails) and to my dearest new followers. I really appreciate you guys **hugs&kisses**

"You are beautiful in every way, my true love. There is no blemish on you."

SOS 4:7 (GWT)

Sincerely,

Cee

14for14: Mushroom

When I first learn't that mushroom was a fungi, I was in biology class. Ecck! You can imagine my facial expression. For a long while, I couldn't understand why my brothers could dare to eat it and why my dearest aunt was in love with it as she would garnish all her Italian or Chinese inspired meals with them. I could barely put it near my mouth without remembering and imagining the ones I had seen growing on the wooden toilet door in my boarding house dorm. In my mind Mushrooms were in the same category as dirt, molds, irritating and rotten stuff that had no business anywhere near my mouth!

Anyways fast forward to present, for the first time in my life I cooked with mushrooms last night *Whoop!!* I have come a long way o! (Sorry I have no pictures). Wondering what brought about the change? Ermm (Coughs) Well it was my Dad! He came home last week with a big carton of canned mushrooms. Apparently a good salesman or marketer (as we call them in these parts) had whined/cajoled/convinced and not confused him into buying it ;). The guy had gone as far as giving my Dad and his friends a free mushroom dish or sampling). So when I was cooking the family dinner of Mixed vegetable rice, I threw 'caution' to the wind and added mushrooms. At the back of my mind I planned on picking out the ones in mine... buh yours truly there wasn't any need to o! I enjoyed the meal without it and joined everyone in taking a second helping. I'm not sure if I have been converted totally from #teamNoeatingfungi or if I enjoyed it because the mushrooms were sliced and weren't all up in my face.

Wondering how this classifies as a 14 for 14 post? Well I said I would blog about 3L&R here and this here is Life! In life I have learn't to never say never! change is the only thing that's constant. I keep evolving, growing and changing mindsets, views, opinions, relationships etc. If you had told me last year that I would touch a mushroom with a long pole I would have given you some serious Yimu aka I wouldn't have believed you and here I am already thinking of what to cook next with Mushrooms. Lol!

Change has a funny way of making some past opinions seem silly. I can stilll remember when as a little girl i was so sure I was going to end up being a doctor. But guess what? No body had to tell me I wasn't cut out for that job. My reactions and feelings towards blood, injections (which I felt was an excuse to inflict someone in pain with more pain) plus my intense dislike for the horrible smell associated with drugs and hospitals told me otherwise.

So yeah I have added fungi to the list of things I can eat :)! Only God knows what next would cross over from list on Never-ever-eating-that list... hopefully it won't be a reptile or an insect :)!

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." 

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

P.S: I'm going to be away for a bit. In fact, most of this month and I have no Idea how the Internet service will be where I am going to or if my schedule would let me blog. Anyways I plan on doing all my blog stalking with my phone :)!

P.S.S: I dunno whats up with the commenting system o! Abeg who send me message. Trying out a new system. What do you think? Yay? or Nay?

Sincerely,

Cee

Reality Check

Something happen yesterday that made me feel so sad/bad. You remember I complained in my last post HERE  that I have been over looking things of late... Well this was one of those things. I concluded a training program yesterday. The day before we had a group activity we planned on doing and the team leader informed us of the dress code. Dunno how it started sef buh a guy in the team and I got into a "constructive"silly argument not like the one I mentioned HERE. Anyways the argument was on whether Nigeria traditional attire could be classified as Corporate attire and if it would be best suited for the activity in question. Silly right? It seems very irrelevant and pointless now cos we both left holding on to our convictions. We didn't realize the guy at our back was listening and felt inadequate because he didn't have the any 'suitable' attire. To cut the long story short... He didn't show up the next day for the activity. We all missed him and kept asking about him. So the next day, I asked him why he didn't turn up the day before and he told me it was cos he didn't have the so-called dress code. I was mad at myself for arguing and making him feel inadequate without even knowing it and mad at him for keeping quiet... He should have said something! Not let something as flimsy as an attire keep him from coming!

I've learnt my lesson No more pointless arguments and I'm going to constantly remind myself that we are all different (never assume everybody has what I feel is 'common') and since God has NO reservations or clauses for acceptance... who am I too?

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:1 (NIV)

P.S: I've finally added Disqus to my blog to make commenting easier... got some complaints recently about it... not sure if it is better? from the stats it appears worse or is it just me?? Please let me know

Sincerely,

Cee