Saturday, December 26, 2009

Sabbath Lesson For Me

Well it is the Sabbath after Christmas and of course we had a Christmas themed sermon. I unfortunatly did not focus on it at all. Whenever I am at church and bored or distracted by my surrounding or distracted from my own thoughts I start to read the Bible to bring my mind back into a state of worship in God's Sanctuary. Today was no different. I starting reading in Luke in part directed by the fact that is where the day's text came from however i went pass the Luke 2 Christmas text and went on to read Luke 11:13 which states "if ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your chidren: how much more shall your heavely Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him."

My take away from this text today reminded me of what I put in my Christmas letter. I mentioned not getting the one gift I wanted when in actuality I did get it and have had it a while. I know you are thinking I am talking about the gift of Christ sacrifice on the cross, I realize that and am undoubtedly thankful however that is not what I am talking about. God has given me the gift and just because I was not able to have it on Christmas Day as the world would say I should I had it all the previous 364 give or take a few days of 2009. So weighed properly and in perspective I think I am good, I am great!!!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

My Christmast Letter 2009

This year started off with me attending the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States ---Barrack Obama. I had the honor of attending it with the man that I am now dating whom I will call from this point on Sunflowers per his request to remain anonymous to the world wide web. I was in the throng of thousands of people it was my chance to be a part of an historic moment in American History and Global Politics – I was humbled to be alive to witness this moment, Thank you Father.

Spring came and I ushered in my 33rd birthday at home with mom, Luther, Rodrecus, his fiancĂ©e Katrina and Sunflowers. Oh and Patches, the world’s best cocker spaniel. In the spring I also received acceptance into Morehouse School of Medicine Master of Public Health Program. The day I received the letter I got to share the moment with Sunflowers. We officially started dating in May give or take and Katrina became my sister-in-law as well.

I excitedly went through the summer waiting in expectation for the school year to start. School started in August. I am on the Epidemiology track meaning in one more year I will be an epidemiologist. What is an Epidemiologist? It is and I will soon be a scientist who studies the outbreak, frequency, distribution, and control of communicable diseases. And you know me those studies will be global, preferably on the continent of Africa.

My grandmother died in September. I was thankful to have had the opportunity to see her for her birthday in August and that Sunflowers was able to accompany me. I wanted him to meet her. It meant a lot to me then and even more now that she is gone. She left some pretty intelligent, educated, and respectful children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. May our daily lives speak to the work she put into each of us and may that be her legacy.

God has been awesome to me. He allowed me to gracefully finish my first semester with a 3.6 GPA, maintain my job and keep Sunflowers happily engaged. The last one is kind of a nice bonus. God is pretty cool about giving us not only what we ask for but sometimes just out of His sheer love for us, He gives us what we do not ask for.

It is the week of Christmas. I am not where I had planned to be and it just really hit me that I will not get the only thing I wanted for Christmas. I attempt to comfort myself with knowing that I must be where God would have me to be at this moment and enduring what He knows I can handle. It has taken and will probably continue to take a few (really a lot of bo hooing) tears, mental consultations and letting go to realize that however I am trying. I am thankful for the comfort that God brings and I will be thankful when this time has passed.

Over the course of the year I have had friends and family edit my interest letter for graduate school, reassure me of the calling God has on my life, pray for and with me and to just listen to me. They have all been very precious to me and for that I am thankful. I look forward to a new year of great possibilities, growth in myself spiritually and mentally and the privilege to share it all with people whom I get to share my gift of love to and whom get to share their gift of love to me.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

First Semester at MSM Completed Fall 2009

Well I have officially completed my first semester at Morehouse School of Medicine in the Master's of Public Health Program.

My goal was to get all A's however my report card reflects the following

A Fundamentals of Public Health
A- Epidemiology
A- Chronic Disease Epidemiology
B Statistical Computer Methods

I know you are thinking why not solid A's in the Epi courses since that is my end goal to be an Epidemiologist well what excuses can I give life happened. I am working full time and going to school full time so I find comfort in that. Now as for the B, what can I say I can trully say I did my best. It was very difficult however I do recognize that I need to improve on my SAS and SPSS abilities. I am trying to get a practicum that will focus on that skill development. Stay tuned I should have some info on that in April/May. I am excited about that.

I am now on a break till January 4th. I am trully enjoying it. I am actually have the chance to do a little cleaning and time for just me and Patches. I am taking it all in until then!!!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Sabbath Lesson For Me

Well today I went to Berean and Pastor Byrd spoke and the title of his sermon was "Raising Another Man's Baby." The premise coming from Matthew 1 and the story of Joseph and Mary and Jesus being another man's (God's) baby. He related it back to the point that there are a lot of children that need to be raised. You and I need to do it in an effort to help them become a better person. He brought out a news story of a lady living the American dream (married, 2 1/2 kids and a dog) and how it was taken away when some three young boys less than 17 years old broke into her house killed her husband an violated her daugther and traumatized her. The lady went through the trial and pleaded against the death penalty for these young men and visited them to learn of their story and how one of them was just looking for someone to look up to and how he ended up with the wrong group of people and ended up at her house. And she made the statment in the story if only someone had taken on the responsiblity to raise another man's baby.

I thought the sermone was worthy of note and thus have shared it with you. I pray that I and you take it upon ourselves to guide, direct and love the young people that we come in contact with.