Life

Hello Sunday

Happy Sunday! I know I have been sharing a lot of Facebook memories lately instead of actually writing. I have exactly one week left in this term. Afterwards, I will begin drawing and sharing new writings again. Until then, please enjoy my memories.

Facebook Memory: November 5, 2022

Today, I encourage you to stay focused on the bigger picture. The goal. The dream. The mission. The purpose.

Gotta stay focused.

I also found this gem from the same day.

It definitely takes a while to build a dream. Seems like I have been building most of my life. My dreams may not have come to fruition yet, but I know they’re coming. I can feel it! I cannot stop working towards them.

It’s reminders like Tyler’s posts; meeting Dr. David Satcher and Chefs Leah Chase and Marcus Samuelsson; seeing Carol Moseley Braun pop up in my Facebook memories; and endless inspirational and motivational YouTube videos from too many people to name, that keep me going. They remind me of my “why”. There is so much more I am meant to do. So many more lives I am meant to touch. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am meant to help those in need. Not on a local, state or national level, but on a global level. Last night I dreamed I was somewhere helping a group of people and I was speaking French. Y’all I have to stay focused and push through this process. I must see this thing through.

Listen, I love y’all! Thank you so much for supporting me and reading my blogs. I really do appreciate you. As I mentioned above, soon I will be back with new content. Praying you have a fabulous Sunday.

Be Blessed!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Didn’t know if I should make this post my Hello Sunday or not, but I guess the title does not matter as much as the message or being obedient. I was about to roll over and go back to sleep when this message kept blaring in my head as if to say this message needs to go out NOW, not later. So I am being obedient.

I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 34:1

Not sure who needed this message but there it is. Always, always, always praise God.

Love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Here’s a great reminder that we must be mindful of the words we speak. Whatever we speak—positive or negative—will become our reality.

Speak life over all aspects of your life.

Be Blessed!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Y’all, let me tell you how MY God works! Listen! I am forever in awe of Him!!! When I tell y’all He loves me!

Okay… so I was just about to share an entirely different Hello Sunday. Had written about a few things that were on my mind. Nothing deep but some self-reflections I was having at the moment. Then, as I was finishing up, I was reminded of one of the gems I found in my Facebook memories this morning. Baby, when I tell you I immediately stopped writing! Here’s the gem I found. Didn’t know I would need this message so soon.

Facebook Memory: October 15, 2018

Good Morning! A friend shared this with me, so I’m sharing it with you. Everyone’s not in your corner. Some people can’t wait to see you fail. But God’s got you!‬

Discernment is so important, as well as listening to that still small voice.

Listen, I was definitely about to share a few of my weaknesses. As the song says, “God blocked it!” Whew!

Y’all, we really have to be careful about what we share and with whom. For years, I have freely shared my stories. I have had one crazily, adventurous life and I love sharing it. With this being said, there are certain parts that I only share with people I feel I can trust, or with those I believe would benefit from those experiences. I mean, other people’s experiences have helped me so why wouldn’t I use mine to help others. Well, I am finally learning to listen to that still small voice. When it says be quiet, I hush.

It wasn’t until recently that I finally realized that people will actually use your weaknesses against you. I know I sound naive but I honestly did not believe this to be true. I thought because I would never use someone’s weaknesses against them, they wouldn’t use mine against me. Again, I am learning.

That’s all for today. So glad God stopped me before I shared my other blog. Again, it wasn’t anything deep but something that did not need to be shared. At least, not at this moment. Wishing you a wonderful, peaceful day.

Be Blessed!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello October! (Hello Sunday)

Hello October!

October means fall is officially here and the holiday season is just around the corner. It also means the end of the year is near. I pray that you have accomplished most of what you set out to accomplish this year or you are a least working on it. Honestly, I am not even sure what I said I would work towards this year. Let me check and see….

I checked. Smiling. Not even sure how it’s happened—this has been one crazy year—but I am doing exactly what I set out to do. The only answer I have is “It’s ALL God!”. When God leads, even when we are not completely focused, He’s focused. He always gets us where we need to be. If you didn’t already know that’s called love, and I am soooo glad He loves me.

I pray everything is working out as you planned. Maybe it doesn’t look exactly like you envisioned; however, when you really look at how things are going, you know it’s actually going as planned. Remember to look beyond the superficial. Yeah… I bet you are right on track.

Wishing you a glorious day! Love you.♥️ ~ Shaun

New day. New week. New month. New beginnings. New blessings.
Life

Hello Sunday

Today makes 50 years 3 months! Yay!!!

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!♥️

Shaun

He was always so dramatic.
The couple!♥️♥️
Life

Hello Sunday

Woke up singing–

Thank You, Lord
Thank You, Lord
Thank You, Lord
I just want to thank
You Lord

You’ve been so good
You’ve been so good
You’ve been so good
I just want to thank
You Lord
Grateful and blessed.

Praying you have a relaxing and peaceful Sunday. Be Blessed!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Hello! Hello! Hello! I pray you are having a wonderful weekend. Here’s today’s message and a few verses from Matthew Chapter 6:

Keep standing. God’s got you!

Matthew 6:30-34 NIV
30. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

31. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

That’s all I have for now. Please enjoy the rest of your day. Love you!♥️

Shaun

Following God’s plan.
Life

Hello Sunday

Today’s a new day and the first day of a new week. Whatever goals we failed to accomplish last week can be accomplished this week. Don’t sweat it!

This week let’s remember to:
– consult God first
– follow His guidance
– give ourselves grace if we falter
keep going

I am a living witness that everything will work out according to God’s plan.

Transparent moment…

I really wanted to end my encouraging words with – “We may not always understand His plans, but know that they will always work out in our favor.” But every time I wrote that or something similar like – “whatever His plans might be” – I would erase it. Didn’t want to taint the encouragement with any notion of unpleasantries. Well… life and God’s plans are not always pleasant. Honestly, sometimes they are downright hard to comprehend and they hurt.

Exactly one year ago, my mom was admitted to the ICU and was in a coma for almost a week. Nothing was the same afterwards. She suffered for months before she passed. Honestly, it’s so hard to see the good in any of it other than our bond became stronger. But why couldn’t it have happened differently? Why couldn’t the same thing have happened while she was better? We could have done so many more things together. UGH!!!

Even though part of me wants to encourage others and myself, the other part of me is sad and hurting at the moment. Y’all, I miss my momma! All I want to do is scream!!!!

Yeah… this is how I’m really feeling today. I do pray that you have a blessed day and an awesome week. Be blessed.♥️

Shaun

P.S. I am going to be okay. I know God’s got me.

I love you, Momma.