Have you ever settled because you were too anxious to wait? OR…because you believed that what you were offered was the best you could get? You know– “You better take what you can get.”
Nah! NEVER settle for less than what you desire. Believe me, you’re worth it and more!♥️
Don’t do it!
On another note…
TODAY IS MY BESTIES’ 50TH BIRTHDAY!!!!
Y’all, we have been friends since we were toddlers (2-3 years old). We also share the same name (Shaun & Shawn). How wild is that, especially since I was born in Mississippi and she was born in Chicago. Our mothers were never friends. We met through our grandparents who were neighbors. Most of our lives we lived in different places. I was always between Mississippi and Kansas and she was everywhere—Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and Mississippi. Although we rarely saw each other outside of summer vacations, we kept in touch through letters. I am so grateful and blessed to have her in my life.
Yes y’all, I am SCREAMING right now!!! I had forgotten that I went to see Beyoncé around this same time seven years ago! Talk about a sweet memory! Here’s what I wrote.
Facebook Memory: September 25, 2016
Last night was wonderful! Beyoncé is so humble. Happy I got to experience her brilliance. Because she IS brilliant! Can’t believe it’s been 20 years!! Thanks KiSondrea for my birthday present! You’re the BEST!😘 #FormationWorldTour #NOLA #SLAY
Note: My birthday was in June. The ticket was part of my gifts. I just had to wait until September to get it. And it was definitely worth the wait!
We had so much fun! I was definitely in mommy mode back then. NOT THIS YEAR!!! This church girl about to have some fun! LOL
Just like back then, this concert was one of my birthday gifts. I keep telling y’all I have the best babies in the world. It’s not the gifts they give but how they love me, and love on me. They know me so well! Always respectful, thoughtful, and attentive. I am truly, truly blessed.
Unlike the first two months, this month has not been as revelatory as the first two. I am not going to lie, I felt like I was being ripped apart those first two months. God would reveal areas where I needed to make changes in order to grow and I actually made them. I did not make excuses like I had many times before. No, this time I followed through. And y’all, I am so glad I did. I had no idea how much anxiety and stress was associated with how I had been operating. Now I feel like I am in a better place; a healthier place.
I also started back going to school. It’s a whole other kind of stressor, but I will make it. I am still trying to find a balance between it and life. I do not want to get burned out, nor do I want to be so stressed that I risk my health for a degree. Unlike many of my family members and several of my friends, I have made it to my 50s without hypertension or diabetes and my goal is to keep it this way. So be it if it takes me longer to achieve my goals. Health is truly wealth. I refuse to allow stress to take it.
On a more positive note…
One of my babies is 20 today!!! He stopped by last night after work. Only got to see him for a few minutes before he headed to the dorms, but those few minutes were worth it. I love my baby. Can’t wait to spend the day with him. At least I hope we’re spending the day together. He might have other plans.
Okay… that was about the birthday boy. Now about my princess!
She’s getting married!!!!
Been wanting to write about her engagement since it happened two days ago but had to wait for them to announce it. I cried and screamed—screamed and cried—not screaming now, but I am crying. It was so beautiful. She was absolutely clueless. I had known for months. Keeping it a secret while trying to feel her out about how she truly felt about marriage was one of the hardest things to do. Making sure she didn’t see any of her fiancé’s texts coming through while we were together was also challenging. But now it’s over. She had talked him into going on an adult Disney trip for his birthday. (Before he had always gone with family and never got the full experience.) Little did she know his birthday trip was actually for her. Yes… I am still crying. She deserves the best and I absolutely believe he is it.
They officially met the first day they moved into the dorms in 2013. His cousin was my daughter’s roommate. Just like in the movie Brown Sugar, the bonded over music and have been together ever since. Now they’re literally making music together. He’s her producer. I’m so happy for them and excited to be by her side as she enters another phase of life. She’ll be his wife, but always and forever my baby.
Side note: When I tell you music is powerful! Y’all, it is definitely another love language. Listen, make me a good playlist and I am hooked for life. For real! Laughing. There is just something about music, good music, that takes me to another place. Hence the reason I always have some song playing in my head. It’s like my thoughts come with background music. Crazy, huh?
Anyhoo… cheers to three months on this side of 50. Looking forward to the years to come. I wonder what month #4 will look like. For starters, I am going to see Beyoncé Wednesday!!! If I have nothing else to report about month 4, I can say I attended the Renaissance World Tour! Smiling.
Wishing you an amazingly blessed week. Love you!♥️
I am still celebrating today! Actually, I am celebrating all year long, right?! Smile
As I wanted it to be, yesterday was more of a spiritual celebration (not church like spiritual–I was not dancing in the spirit or anything–Lol). It was more of a calm, peaceful acknowledgement of God’s magnificence. Y’all, I did not make it this far on my own, and I wanted Him to know I know I cannot make it these next 50 plus years without Him. So yesterday I honored Him by staying present and taking in every blessing He had already given me, as well as every blessing throughout the day. Y’all, because of this, I was able to fully enjoy my special moments.
Here’s a recap of my day…
First off, I had absolutely nothing planned for my birthday. As I wrote a few weeks ago, all of my planning stopped when Momma got sick last August. Then after she passed, I didn’t really feel like celebrating. I mean, I wanted to celebrate but not really. It’s hard to explain. Anyway, yesterday went the way it was meant to go. Smiling
– Woke up wanting to see the water so I decided I would head somewhere along the coast. I told my kids they could track me through my location. I didn’t know if once I hit the highway I would end up in New Orleans or Destin, Florida. It was going to be a day trip and I was just going to drive.
– Before I left, my son treated me to breakfast at my favorite local brunch spot. My daughter joined us so she could see me before I left. They allowed me to take a picture with them but made me promise not to post it, and I won’t. However, I will share my selfie.
First day of my 50s. Embracing ALL of me! Especially the hair.♥️
– After breakfast–which was more like brunch because of my late start (I wasn’t rushing)–I hit the highway. I headed south on Highway 59 towards New Orleans (the plan was to either head on down to NOLA or hit I-10 and head east to Florida). Well, I didn’t even make it to I-10. Didn’t even make it out of Hattiesburg before deciding to take Hwy 98 to Mobile; and that was the start of my day trip. I would love to say I made it to Florida and spent the day on the beach, but that didn’t happen. Nope. Before making it out of Mobile, I decided to turn around and head back to Mississippi on I-10. Listen, yesterday was all about going with the flow.
– Once I made it to Pascagoula, I called up one of my childhood friends and visited her. Her late sister was one of my best friends who died about 15 years ago from sickle cell complications. A year ago around this time, their younger brother succumbed to his. And the sister that I visited yesterday has been hospitalized a few times over the last year due to her complications. I was supposed to visit her a few months ago, but didn’t make it down. So yesterday I got to spend time with her and my late friends daughter, my goddaughter, who now has a family of her own. It was so nice visiting with them.
– On my way back home, I stopping and ate at Fridays. Hadn’t been to a Fridays since they closed the one in Hattiesburg years ago. The food was okay; however, cucumber and tomato salad was delicious! I love a good cucumber and tomato salad so I was in heaven.
Delicious salad!
– My next stop was Painting With A Twist. So the reason I turned around in Mobile was because I remembered I had signed up for a painting class that started at 7 PM. I got there minutes before the class started.
Planning to do this more often.
– When I got home, I was greeted with the sounds of Beyoncé singing Church Girl–HA! Don’t judge me, that’s my song! Opened my bedroom door and balloons were everywhere!! Y’all, I screamed and cried. Crying now. I wasn’t expecting anything. Last year my Apple Watch had stopped working. Y’all, I loved my watch. Had had it for years. Then it stopped pairing with my phone. Well, on my bed was this rectangular box. Y’all, I kept screaming, “I know this ain’t what I think it is?!!” And it was. THEN… I went to the bathroom and on my counter was a FENTY box. I screamed again because I had been talking about getting that red FENTY lipstick. My sister had just bought some and FaceTimed me just to show me how gorgeous she looked with it on. I just had to get it and there it was.
It’s not the things that made me happy but my daughter’s thoughtfulness. It feels so good to be loved and seen.♥️
So that was my birthday day. About to head to the coast again. This time to actually see the water.
During yesterday’s undirected trip, I listened to several random podcasts and messages. One after another, the messages hit on areas where I need growth. I needed that uninterrupted time alone. I have work to do. I have a God given purpose to fulfill and I aim to make God proud.
I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day. About to celebrate Day 2 of this Jubilee Year! I will end with this, which is the message God gave me–Stay present and you will stay in peace. He advised me to enjoy and take in all of the goodness surrounding me presently, and He will take care of the rest. And after what I experienced yesterday, I am planning to do just that.
Hey Y’all! I have finally made it to the last day of my 40s!! When I tell you this past decade has been the MOST EVENTFUL decade of my life. Listen, I could produce three or four movies from this decade alone.
Here’s what I have learned–ALWAYS TRUST GOD. That’s it! Trust God! Trust Him and allow Him to lead. When He says, “Let go,” let go! Release it. When He says, “Be still!” You need to be still. Sit down somewhere. When He says, “I got you!” You best believe He’s got you!! Baby, He will move mountains for you!!! Y’all, I could not have made it without Him. Not at all.
I’m not sure where this next decade or 50+ years will take me. Only God knows. I will say I am more prepared and better equipped to face whatever comes next–good or bad–because God has the reins. I will continue to allow Him to lead, and do whatever He asks of me. Other than that, I am looking forward to more experiences that make me smile and feel all loved. Yeah… that’s one of the benefits of allowing Him to lead.
Y’all, God is soooo good. I am definitely blessed. So long 40s!
It’s Shaun’s World 
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