OKay so I am a really really BIG scaredy cat! So imagine moi' (Insert Shani) as the Coolest Awesomest Youth Leaders Wife... who wanted to have a super cool Halloween party for our Special (not your average uh short bus people) Youth... :) ...... Well my sweet dear hubby loves to do things on a Grand scale... so my have a couple games and do a fun Laboratory of sorts has turned into a full blown scheme... of a section of the Family Center being used as a Haunted House of Sorts (NO blood or gore) just good old fun.... (which really isnt that scary well until you turn off the lights and use the strobe lights... complete with a crazy Cat.... no I mean spider lady! Now you have to know.... I never watched scary movie when I was growing up... I couldnt even watch scooby-doo.... and Yes I do thank my parents for being "over protective" (if you want to call it that) So the normal "scary" stuff doesnt scare me.... but when Bryan (God love his soul) starts running through the dark screaming like a girl and banging a pan with something metal... well I dont care who you are youse gonna be scared!!! LOL And of course my ever seriousness, and fear of uh haunted houses (due to my experiance last year... which I will blog about this weekend sometime) and of course fear of being kicked off the YC.... I made sure (of course knowing my hunny would have already okayed it with pastor... but well me being the ever protective wife... had to you know make sure for myself that we were all good.... Oh yes! It was all good... Meanwhile... finding out my one year weilding a chain saw for the spooky hayride that they take every year pastor loves stuff like this... Just nothing bloody or anything like that... Gee thanks.... uh... thought I had a comrade in my cause to stop the scary stuff! lol LOL okay okay so its not that bad... Hmmmm well Im excited about the party tonight.... So I will have to blog after and tell more about whats the weirdness going on... LOL Until after the party.... Buh Bye! ~~~~ HeLp~~~~~~ gulp ....... lol

Kubarikiwa

"Blessings on You"

Apartment Therapy Color Contest 2009

Thank you Peggy at Creative Influences for posting this on your blog! ... I love it!

I totally signed up at voted!

I never knew about this until now. So all you guys that visit my page check this out! This is something I could only dream of doing in our apartment... so Im totally living through these finalists. I especially love Kristen's Castleberry Hill Loft! Go and check them out, then come back and tell me which ones you loved! Happy Voting!

Here are some pictures from Kristen's

I really hope she wins!

I love the style with the modern and the antique... the colors of course are simply gorgeous!

Kubarikiwa
"Blessings on You"

Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.
~Mother Teresa

To me this would make an impact on someones life that you come in contact with. So many people around us are lonely, angry, hurt, despairing, discouraged.... on the verge of giving up... what would a kind word, a smile or a kind deed do for someone who is in a situation like this? I will tell you that more times than not, it could turn there world upside down! Have you made an Impact on someone today? The day isn't over yet...

I will leave you with this word ~ Jesus loves you and he wants so much to bless your life more than he has ever before. Live for him with all that you have see what he will do for you!

So I cant help it, I'm a sappy sentimentalist!

I love you my darling husband.

I truly believe that everyone comes into your life for a reason, season, or a lifetime. Then there are those who are all three. It is nice to have those kind. My momma always taught us girls that most of the time in your life the only best friends you will ever have is your family, so make sure you are and stay close to them, and sometimes in your life you are blessed beyond measure to find those friends aka. Comrade in arms... your soul sista or brotha who not everyone is fortunate to find. I thank Jesus for all my friends that have entered into my life whether we may talk on a regular basis, or if we just know that the other is there if we need them... and somehow that is just enough.

I have this friend whom with I have shared so much with that somehow throughout the times we have lost that camaraderie to some extent... Not sure how or why... but if anyone who is anyone knows me (lol) knows that I love fiercely and I don't like to let go.

• Im a petter
• Im a doter
• Im a romantic
• and Im sometimes silly
• I love to laugh, smile, and have alot of fun

I don't always like to share my friends with everyone else... whenever its my time with them... ... and I have been faulted for taking life to seriously, and being uptight and snobby... but however I have been portrayed... nothing else stands as sure as ..... I love my friends.. I seriously love this friend that I am referring to. Not sure what is going on or what will come of it... but I know that I have and will continue to find what was lost there.

How funny that Jesus loves each and every One of us the same.... and EVEN all the more... He loves us with a Jealous love! He wants us and just us... Not us and our cell phones, or us and our books, or us and our TVs, computers, etc... He wants us! He wants all of us! Not half of us... I know sometimes I will be talking to my husband and saying something that I think is important or just something in passing, and if he is preoccupied he doesn't hear me...

Are we doing that to Jesus?

He wants to be our best friend.

I know I can honestly say that He is my Bestest Best Friend. But that doesn't mean I have not failed to be his best friend in the past... I know I have. But I had to learn, and to come to the end of my road (so to speak) ~ that He is the only one that will still stand there when all the others walk out... WHY???

Because he is God and because He is perfect and He wants us to trust Him and talk to him about us, and our problems, and lean on him... He wants YOU and me.

Our earthly friends may forsake us, and we may them... (we hope not, nor would we intentionally) but we are human... we are not perfect... BUT we have a perfect God!

If I cannot be myself with someone... I can be myself with HIM... because He knows me inside and out... and no matter what you do, say, think, or how you do these things... he doesn't get up and walk away, He doesn't get mad, or say HUH , He doesn't look at you not knowing what to say.

He always knows what to say... He knows our frame! He made us! So will you pinky promise???

Kubarikiwa
"Blessings on You"

Sweet temptation? How gazing at cake helps you lose weight
Yah Right???? Come on are they SERIOUS??!!!
Have your cake... and avoid it: HAHAThe sight of treats encourages healthy eating
Women who want to lose weight can have their cake – as long as they don’t eat it, scientists believe. Are these the same guys that don't believe in God , and therefore don't believe in the devil ~ so really "temptation" from whom???
A study found that showing weight-conscious women pictures of sweet treats strengthens their resolve to eat healthily. The finding suggests that glossy adverts designed to make cakes, chocolate and desserts irresistible may actually have the opposite effect. It also means that the secret to losing weight could be as simple as decorating your fridge door with pictures of forbidden tasty treats. What? Like a goal??? Im thinking (decorate the fridge with umm like a vacation place, a bathing suit you want to get into and so on..) Dutch psychologists asked 54 female students to look at a picture of either a slice of chocolate cake or a flower under the guise of a memory test. okay, so they asked 54 female students who are either super skinny, or have just eaten, or perhaps... do not like or cannot have chocolate... (but what about all the other delectable treats out there???) and show them a pic of either a slice of cake or a FLOWER??? where is the comparison???? Im totally not going to be eating a flower anytime soon... (just sayin)
The Utrecht University researchers then questioned the students about any plans to eat more healthily before offering them a choice between a chocolate or oatmeal cookie. Women shown the cake picture made healthy eating a higher priority than those shown the flower. They are confusing the poor girls... They were also significantly more likely to pick the healthier option of the oatmeal cookie, New Scientist reports. Researcher Floor Kroese said feelings of guilt may help strengthen resolve against temptation. Like it did with EVE??? oh yeah I forgot we are dealing with "scientists" She said: ‘Food temptations do not always trigger indulgence. ‘It seems that seeing a food temptation reminded people of their goal to watch their weight and helped them act accordingly.’ hmmm so they they eat it but dont indulge in "binging on the chocolate" i see She said that sticking pictures of tempting foods on the fridge door may help to bring weight-watching goals to mind.But pictures pinned up should be of the dieter’s favourite forbidden treat, as anything less could backfire and lead to a raid on the biscuit tin. Ya think??? Ayelet Fishbach, a professor of behavioural studies at the University of Chicago, agreed that looking at pictures of cakes and other sweet treats could benefit slimmers. <--- is that a name for the skinny people who binge on shaved ice??? YUMM! ‘In moderation, this positive impact of food temptations will overcome the negative impact – the urge to indulge,’ she said. Previous research has suggested that it is possible to eat chocolate and lose weight, as long as it is early in the day. Uhhh Double Entrandre??? Women who ate a big breakfast, complete with a generous slab of chocolate, lost more weight than those who started the day with a small breakfast. Hmmm?? Welll maybe because they #1 were skinny to begin with, #2 were bulimic, #3 didnt eat anything else that day and exercised until they dropped (they didnt mention how much they lost in comparison, #4 Had super high metabolisms, or # 5 Was totally all sugar free... hmm just a thought They were also less likely to pile the pounds back on. The researchers said starting the day with a sweet treat could curb later cravings for calorie-rich foods. Or like most of us.... make us hungry for more... Now pass me a piece of that chocolate cake... since it will help me loose weight... (its still the morning, part of my breakfast... right??? ) Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-1207164/Sweet-temptation-Study-reveals-pictures-cakes-chocolate-actually-make-women-eat-healthily.html#ixzz0UUHoiRHx



My original post today was going to be... AHHHH I cant stop eating sweets! HELP! but this was too funny... so honestly right now... I do not want any sweets... but hey that could change at anytime... Pray people PRAY for me!!! :)

Kubarikiwa
"Blessings on You"

Hey girlies! Check out the New fall fashion trends on Apostolic Girl! http://apostolicgirl.com/wear/

Kubarikiwa

"Blessings on You"

I love these things, as a little girl I would beg daddy to pick me up so I could look through it and see the vast area before me. When I got older and even now I get giddy with excitement to see what beauty I will behold when I glance through it... I remember one of our many times in Chattanooga we would go to Lookout Mountain and just have a family day, and walk around the old battlefield and just have a good day... we would always make our way to the lookout point and although it boasts of seeing 7 states... I don't know if I ever really did... I would go bouncing up and sometimes I would let my sisters go first... but I would always try to get my chance in first... and when It would be overcast or foggy or rainy... you couldn't see much of anything, but well just Tennessee... so much for 7 states on those days! Sometimes I would keep looking and looking just to see if something would become clear... and it never did... but then those times when it was clear and beautiful... you could see for miles and miles each way.. it was beautiful! Now I don't know if I ever really saw the 7 states.. but I would like to think so... that I was standing in a place that was perfect to view the very 7 it promised!

I was thinking on vision today.. well this is just one thing among many that have been on my mind lately... and I feel like lately that my vision in blurry... on a spiritual level... I haven't lost my vision, for If I did I wouldn't be here... but I know I am not the only one who at one time or another and for whatever reason... our vision is out of focus... It doesn't mean that you have taken your eyes off of your goal it just means that there is an obstruction of some sort in your way. It is dangerous to have your vision obstructed... for when you have your vision obstructed you can have an accident, carnal or spiritual... we know that if you obstruct the vision of someone driving it could cause a bad accident, or walking... they could trip and fall or walk into something etc, and the Bible says that without a vision the people perish... you can also become discouraged, hopeless, sad, frantic, worried, complacent, judgemental, etc... I got to thinking about Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6:17

~ And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. His servant couldn't see what Elisha could see... He was fearful and afraid, because his vision was limited to what was right in front of him... Horses, chariots, and a great host... but because of the overwhelming senses of what was going on... he couldn't see beyond it.. He didn't have the strength he needed to look beyond.. But there was a man of God who took time to pray for his servant so that God would open his eyes. Will you take time to be the one that will pray for ( stand in the gap) for your friend? For your fellow brother or sister?

I remember when my family would go to Lookout Mtn and sometimes when I would help my sisters who were very small at the time... to see through the (high powered binoculars) I would either hold them to help them see or we would share it and I would look through it with one of my eyes and then they would with one also so we both could see it at the same time. Mind you this didn't happen alot... because we wanted our own turn, as kids normally do.. :o)

You never know what your brother and sister may be going through... you may always see them with a smile and friendly handshake or hug, or you may see them angry or sad... but before jumping to a conclusion... carefully consider through prayer the situation.. and pray for them.

In Isaiah 41:6 it says They helped everyone his neighbor; and everyone said to his brother, Be of good courage.... and then skipping down to vrs 20 we see that after the encouragement came from people... God then spoke a word of courage, hope, love and peace to them, and told what he would do for them vrs 20~ That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

Where one was discouraged and couldn't see beyond the right here and now, their brother/sister stepped in, and then God stepped in... and opened their spiritual eyes...

Is God waiting on you to do your part?

Do you know someone hurting or despairing? Do you have a word of comfort or courage you can give someone? If you do... please do it!

When people are in this state.. they are crying out inside for just something they can grasp or hold onto... Everyone at one time or another will experience this... and when you do you want someone to be there with a word...

One of my favorite scriptures is in Habakkuk 2:3 it says ~

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come it will not tarry...

but the scripture right before that says in vrs 2 ~ And the Lord answered me , and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon the tables, that he may run that readeth it.

When God gives you a vision... remember it... write to down literally! When you get discouraged go back to that.... read it again.. find strength. Pray with someone. and remember that the vision that God has given to you... He has an appointed time for you to see it fully come to pass... and just because it doesn't happen in our time it will happen..God has NOT forgot about you or what He said to you. Keep living, serving, waiting on him... and it will come.. Ask Jesus to open your spiritual eyes, to see what He sees and not what you see! He will do it..... Ask him to pick you up and hold you so you can see through the spiritual binoculars he has focused on your life!

~ Shani