Tag: Sunday

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

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.

Love y’all!

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Today’s Hello Sunday is dedicated to my mother. Still can’t believe she’s gone.

After Momma passed, I found a letter she had written to us, her children. That’s what she had written on the envelope, “Children.” It was sealed with an address label from where she lived decades ago. I did not read it then. Decided to wait and open it when all of us were together. When I tell you I felt like I was in a movie! I had been through her things many, many times before and had not seen the letter until I was about to leave town to go help my siblings make her final arrangements. When I tell you the suspense was killing me!

As soon as our last sister arrived–took her hours to get there–we read the letter. It began with, “If you are reading this letter, it means that the inevitable has happened.” Y’all, we laughed. Only she could make something so serious sound like we were on a crime show.

Well, the letter was very direct. She did not sugarcoat anything. She told us about her life as an adult and her desire to be a great mom. Some things she knew she got right while others she really struggled with because she had us at a very young age. (Note– While she was still coherent, we did tell her that she was a great mom and how much we loved and appreciated everything she had done for us.) One of the things that surprised us was the fact that she had been very ill for a long time. None of us knew this. The reason she had written the letter was because she did not believe she had much longer to live. Now, this was written three years post paraplegia. Listen… I’m here to testify and tell you she lived another 21 years! Y’all, the letter was dated September 18, 2001.

When I tell you God is so good and merciful. There’s nothing like His love and grace. It just goes to show you that we cannot put a time limit on life nor can we give up. We may feel down today and believe this just has to be the end of the road; then, end up living decades more.

Today, I am going to let Dorothy have her final say. Below is a copy of one of her newsletters from The Encourager. I tried to find one from May; however, the closest I could find was from April 2003. While reading it, I could see her in her words written about not being able to walk or see well. That was her. She was describing herself.

Be encouraged. God’s got you!♥️

Thanks for reading. Wishing you a wonderful week!

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford
My life.

I do not have much to say this morning. Believe I said it all yesterday. Smile. At the end of the day, I really do trust God. Yes, I get frustrated at times. But who doesn’t? It’s called life.

Here’s the song that is currently on repeat in my mind–Mary J. Blige’s song, My Life. Here are a few of the lyrics.

If you look at my life and see what I’ve seen…

Life can be only what you make it
When you’re feelin down
You should never fake it
Say what’s on your mind
And you’ll find in time
That all the negative energy
It would all cease

And you’ll be at peace with yourself
You won’t really need no one else
Except for the man up above
Because He’ll give you love …
Source: LyricFind

Thanks for reading and have a wonderfully, blessed day!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Today’s blog is dedicated to James Earl Carter, Jr., also known as our former President, Jimmy Carter.♥️

Yesterday, my heart sank as I read the following statement from The Carter Center –

“After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention. He has the full support of his family and his medical team. The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers.”

Why did I immediately want to ask if I could also be by his side. If I could also care for him until he leaves us. Sounds weird, huh?

Y’all, he was my President. My first political memories were during his run for reelection against Ronald Reagan. I was just a little girl when he lost the race and vividly remember myself sitting in front of the tv crying my eyes out. He was my President.

I guess what I loved about him was everything many hated. He was soft spoken. He actually had compassion for humanity and expressed it, which was viewed by some as a sign of weakness. And lastly, he was from the South. I loved his southern drawl.

For me, President Carter represented kindness, hope and the possibility of a beautiful, peaceful and kind world. He was my hero! If you have not read any of my blogs about my favorite childhood song, well, it was, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony).” I am pretty sure it was Coca Cola’s adaptation of the song that I fell in love with, but either way, it became my theme song. I was dead set on making this world a better place.

Side note: Had to add this while I’m thinking about it. I also wanted “Chariots of Fire,” to be played at my wedding. Y’all, what was wrong with me?! Laughing. I was so into my own little world. Guess nothing’s really changed, huh? Smiling

Anyhoo… back to President Carter. I have watched him over the years remain humble and give to those less fortunate. I really wish that I could sit with him just to show my appreciation for everything he’s done and given.

What’s so ironic is, Friday I signed up to volunteer for a local hospice care center. I may not be able to be by his side before he leaves us, but I can be by someone else’s. A piece of his legacy will always live on through me through my service to others.

President Carter is a true servant leader and his presence and impact on the world will be greatly missed.

Sending him and his family prayers and love.♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

News Flash!

Our dreams and goals require that we work for what we want. We must also be patient and trust God’s timing while we work. Eventually, our hard work and dedication will pay off.

Have a blessed Sunday!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. – Psalm 34‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There’s nothing like waking up knowing you’re blessed and loved; knowing there is favor over your life. Believe me, it’s not something I take lightly or for granted. God has been too good to me for me not to continually praise His name or acknowledge His greatness. Yes, I’m blessed. Amen

It’s my prayer that you feel just as blessed and loved; knowing there is so much favor over your life. Wishing you a peaceful Sunday and wonderful week.

Be Blessed

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

When you are given a gift, use it.

Shaun Bradford, Journal Entry– January 8, 2021

As I look back over my life, I have received so many gifts, tangible and intangible. Sadly, I have only used about about 75-80 percent of them properly. With that said, I may not have used them properly at the time I received them – because honestly, I did not know they were gifts – but once I recognized they were gifts, I used them.

As I move into this next year and next decade, I pray that I am more attentive to what I am given. I pray that I am open to receive and properly utilize what I’m given, as well as use them in a timely manner. Moving forward, I cannot and will not allow fear to stop me from embracing what is already mine.

Question – Are you properly utilizing the gifts you have been given, tangible and/or intangible? If not, what’s stopping you?

Thanks for reading! Wishing each and every one of you a wonderful week.

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday: Happy New Year

Shaun Bradford

It’s a New Day
a New Week
a New Month
and a New Year

Ahhh… Can we say, New Beginnings!

Today is literally the perfect day to hit reset. It’s the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. Today, we have the opportunity to start with a clean slate and create anything imaginable.

As you can see, I am really feeling this day. Smile

Year 50 loading……

God is good.

Happy New Year!♥️

Shaun

Life

Merry Christmas

Shaun Bradford

Merry Christmas!!

Today, I am celebrating the birth Jesus Christ and all of my gifts— my two blessings (my babies), my parents, siblings, family, friends and YOU! All of you are priceless and irreplaceable. I pray that your day is as blessed and filled as mine. Love you always!♥️ ~ Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Today’s blog is short but deep. It is a question that just came to mind. A question that I didn’t realize I needed to ask myself. Perhaps it will resonate with you.

Why sink when you can swim?

We must take advantage of the wealth of resources and knowledge God has placed within our reach. They may not resemble things we are used to, comfortable with or what we imagined; however, they are what we need to survive.

You do not have to drown. Swim!

Shaun