Smoothie Smiles

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I adore SMOOTHIES. And my fresh ones are the best!…to me =). Ever since I changed my diet last year, and hubby got me my Magic Bullet, smoothies have been a regular morning [or anytime] staple for me.

So, the other morning, I’m diligently making my smoothie. Put in the ice, Omega-3 fish oil, fresh strawberries and blueberries, and added my Mango Tango Smoothie base. Sometimes I add vitamin C’s or wheat grass tablets to help my iron. Just a busy little bee, throwing in all the fresh goodness I could find. When…

I look at the Magic Bullet, and my smoothie is checking me out! [*sidebar* Remember the line from The Wiz...Tin Man says, "That beast....He's checkin us out..."...neway, somebody will get it LOL *end sidebar*]. Right there on the side of the cup…A smile!

Now me being a woman of imagination and creativity, you know I had to go with this…create a moment out of thin air….”What’s that? You’re as proud of my progress as I am?”

With three dis-eases diagnosed in one month last year (a sista was falling apart for real…and I’ve never been sickly), something had to change in my mind, body (diet), and spirit. Things have changed, and are changing…for the better. Making my smoothie smile…

Thinking back on those times, I have to pause and put a PRAISE right here. Thank you God! God be adored!….He is my Sun, with healing in His wings…. To this day, I can’t figure out how one doctor could feel the lumps, diagnose breast disease, and a month later, I walk out the office with a clean mammogram [I've got both reports in writing...the before and after will be in the book as a testament to God's healing grace]. One health challenge down, two manifestations to go. This makes my smoothie smile….

You know, it’s actually not the smoothie smiling at all, but it’s a reflection of Me, my discovery and embrace of self, my Love for me. With blueberry eyes and strawberry smiles, I support myself lovingly and say, “I’m so proud of you!…see this thing to the end, girl!” Ashe.Selah

13 Tests of Love in a Real Marriage

There are moments in a marriage when you know, without a doubt, unequivocally, that you are Loved or that you really Love your spouse…

My husband and I are truly human, truly in Love. But there are no fairytales here…no glimpses of perfection…no making this thing look easy. Marriage is work! One of the toughest jobs you’ll ever cherish.

Today is our 13th anniversary!! Woo hoo!! Yeah baby!!. We’ve enjoyed 13 years [dated 3 and a half before we eloped] of good times, rough times, funny times, beautiful times, ugly times, and are STILL learning and growing together in Love.

These are just a few of our Love tests over the years that have tried and refined us…Some are expressions of Love we’ll never forget…most of them we can laugh about now…or they really make us look back and say, “Wow, how did we make it outta that one?”.

Enjoy this little stroll on our memory lane…….You and Me against the world, baby =)!

1. Love is resisting the urge to throw your spouse out of a moving car after the remark, “You’re just like your mother!”
2. Love is submitting to your husband, even when you know things aren’t right, just so God can teach both of you valuable life lessons.
3. Love is doing 70mph in the emergency lane during morning rush hour when your wife is 8cm and ready to push.
4. Love is the peace and tranquility of the sofa, having endured enough of your spouse’s snoring….(or was it just heavy breathing)
5. Love is releasing pride and being able to say “I was wrong” or “I’m sorry” — while the other offers true forgiveness.
6. Love is walking a mile+ at night with 30 grocery bags between us, when we didn’t have a car.
7. Love is riding around town trying to find a clean, unlocked public restroom, when your pregnant wife has to do the #___.
8. Love is creatively scraping up bail money when your spouse is falsely arrested and time is ticking.
9. Love is loosing everything (house, cars, jobs) and, without blame, realizing we have everything if we have each other.
10. Love is cleaning vomit off the walls and toilet, when your spouse takes wheat grass on an empty stomach.
11. Love is trying to teach your wife how to swim, even when she almost drowned you both the last time.
12. Love is being strong and encouraging to your spouse after a 5-car pile up totals the vehicle, back injuries prevent work, and thus the loss of a $350K business contract.
13. Love is being willing to meet your wife again, after 11 years, as God transforms areas in her life you always prayed for.

Which # hits home with you? Or feel free to share your own Love test.. Love expressions……..

Note: The pic is our “family honor” tatoo…

100 Words I Love Right Now – 4/07

Wow, April has really been a month of extremes — the highest highs…the brightest smiles…intense moments filled with the lowest lows. And somehow, things still come out perfect. Like my upcoming anniversary. How beautiful is thirteen years?! That’s time and energy at its best, creating a relationship that lasts…family that’s secure. Thanks God!

Let’s see what we have here for this month….any special thoughts for me (us) as we close out this month? As always, you can play along too!

awake forever move Selah
I am forever awake…now I must move. Selah

book God nerve start
Honor that God-given nerve to start writing a book.

destiny journey power us
The journey to destiny reveals power in us.

believe friend natural smile
A friend’s natural smile is easy to believe.

adore affection anniversary art ashe awake beautiful believe bloom book breathe bright chance change cherish clear closure confident destiny embrace empathy empty end energy enough

excellence family feel fill fix forever forgive friend give God grow healing hear heart honest honor intense intimate journey joy know learn let listen Love

lovely loyal marriage mercy more move music natural need nerve new no now nurture open order over perfect power progress purpose raindrops read real red

reign relationship respect rest reveal selah sister smile somehow start strong think thirteen touch transparent travel try understand us want warm whole willing write yes

I Matter, Too.

It would have been much easier…had I not rocked the boat. Resisted the need to express and explain. I could have gone with the status quo you quoted. I could have kept my feelings and emotions in their place. Right there on the back burner behind yours. That’s where I kept them – til now. On high heat without boil. There was no more water to bubble. Pot scorched dry. But at least I was there? Near. At least you were there. Somewhere. Should that have been enough? Take whatever was given. Accept everything. Expect nothing. Go with the flow of some energy…better than none?

It would have been cool. I could have held my peace. Sucked it up. Valued your wishes above mine. Healed without notification of harm. Had I not realized.

I Matter, too.

Ashe.Selah

Second Chance To-Do List

In life…
a second chance is
that priceless gift
given at the peak of your insolvency.
it eludes your Wish List,
as most times you need it
before you really know it
to be the thing to ask for.

Given
a second chance
at Life
at Love
at Peace within
a time, or two, or three million…
With this gift undeserved, what will I do?

I will
hug harder
cheer louder
give freer
kiss longer
smile brighter
see clearer
laugh happier
do better
eat healthier
think bigger
speak sweeter
open wider
spend wiser
listen closer
forgive faster
play nicer
learn easier
heal steadier
grow stronger
complain fewer
choose smarter
dress cuter
arrive earlier
stand firmer
create greater
delve deeper
sleep sounder
flow surer
limit NEVER
LOVE LOVE LOVE
with all of the above
never fewer
always More.

Copyright © 2007. Ashe.Selah. All rights reserved.

Customer Needs Assistance in Aisle 8

You know…soo many comedic moments can happen at the grocery store. Here I was looking for orange juice, and fell across the lap of laughter…and wallowed there for a moment…

Here’s the recipe for a hearty chuckle at the store…One strong, rugged man, a cell phone, and the aisle for feminine hygeine products LOL!!

OK. So I’m minding my business, picking up juice and meds for my hubby who’s under, and I see this 6′2″, mid-40’s guy on the cell phone about to have a fit. He was so through. Looked like he’d just got off work…still wearing his blue collar threads — and boy was this brother aggravated. He was doing his best to whisper, but I guess his frustrations kept turning up the volume. “I can’t hear you!”….”I said I can’t hear you!” lol. Mind you…it’s raining outside, and I can imagine the woman on the other end not wanting to go out in the elements….trying to explain what she needed…how the package reads, looks… lol.

See, dude didn’t get the memo that cell phone reception in the local Kroger is a little worse than awful. So he kept scanning the shelves, pacing back and forth, scratching his head, and whisper-yelling “I said I can’t hear you!” Super, Medium, Light Days, Stayfree, Always, Playtex, Pantyliners, Wings, Kotex, No Wings, Pads, Tampons, Scented, Unscented…..With mixed emotions, I felt both sorry for him, and was cracking up on the inside LOL! Hey, I’m honest!

As I finally got to the end of the aisle, and out of hearing range, I became so grateful for my hubby, who does the same thing for me, without hesitation. So, to all of you strong, secure men who aren’t afraid of the tampon aisle, I salute you! All jokes aside, we women really do need you in ways you may have never thought about before =)!

A Brush with Ms. Positivity

I’m in the hair salon yesterday, sitting in the waiting area while my stylist finished his McD’s. I was early, so I sat there reading, or rather, listening to my “Caged Bird Sing” by Maya Angelou. [About a quarter of an inch left and I'm done...my second, non-teacher- assigned novel under my belt..lol]

Shortly into a new chapter, a lady, probably in her late 40’s, sits down next to me. We exchange smiles, and I guess she noticed the book and said, “Oh, I’ve read that one about four times now.” This sparks a very cordial conversation. I explained how this was my first read…had never seen the movie..yada yada. She explained how she has four Maya Angelou classics on her shelf…how much her daughter at FAMU loves Maya…yada yada.

I didn’t mention I was writing a book, though I wanted to. Sometimes you don’t have to go into all that detail, right? Out of the blue, she says to me, “Imagine how wonderful it’s going to be when you meet Maya Angelou.” I think for a split second or two, I actually imagined meeting her, and felt the corners of my mouth heading north lol. Maya Angelou is such an awesome writer, she can bring a story to life with words that reach out and grab you. I’m learning so much from this one book…AND my Webster’s dictionary, used when she turns down a street in my vocabulary — and there are no houses or signage *smile*.

I smiled and replied, “Wow, that would be wonderful!” “Well, baby, you’ve got to speak positive, speak those things into being what you want. I’m such a positive person, I have to be careful what I say.” “Yeah, it may happen, right?”, I interject. “No, I KNOW it will happen!”, she says firmly.

While speaking positive in and of itself is not a new concept, having God confirm or ditto what I’ve been purposefully learning, writing songs and blogs about it…Man, that was pretty cool for a complete stranger to mirror me…say back at me what has been in my spirit…even while I’m learning to mature in it.

Our interchange lasted all of 2 minutes. But you better believe, when I meet Maya Angelou….boy, do I have a story to share with her =)!

Racial Prejudice Causes Hearing Loss

In light of all the racial discussions and reflections in the media these days, I thought about one of my own racial episodes from my days in corporate America.

As my SOM states, my background is technology. So, I’m serving as Technical Lead (Internet/Intranet) for an international chemical manufacturer, and my CTO asks me to represent the company, in his stead, at an E-Business Symposium at the Renaissance Waverly. This posh meeting (penthouse level, of course) would be attended by directors, chief technology officers, SVPs, CEOs — it was really an honor to be selected for this opportunity.

I arrive in my best corporate duds, portfolio in tow, fragrant with humble confidence. When I reached the penthouse suite, the pretty blonde receptionist, dressed in a modest skirt and blouse, was busy assisting the gentleman who arrived before me. With his information packet and name badge in hand, she kindly directed him to the private boardroom where the symposium would take place.

I took a moment to leisurely walk around the lovely suite, surrounded by walls of windows that perfectly framed the downtown skyline, perusing business cards and brochures on the tables.

As she returned, her bubbly personality leaped at me – “May I help you?”, she said. “Yes, Hi, I’m here for the E-Business Symposium.” “OhhhKayyy…please have a seat and I’ll be right with you.”

I sat on the champagne chaise lounge, trying wholeheartedly not to show my nervousness in the company of all these big wigs. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass my company and African-American women everywhere lol. Handing me a clipboard with pen attached, “OhhKayyy…here we go…just fill this out and bring it back when you’re done.” And she was off to her desk.

When I finally looked down at the clipboard, I had to catch my jaw from dropping, for fear of bruising it on the floor. I couldn’t believe my eyes, nor stop the loud ringing in my ears. I couldn’t say this out loud….so I thought it with all my might………..”OH NO she didn’t…Give me an application for KITCHEN HELP!!!”

Gathering my senses and emotions, I walked back to her desk and explained my presence, AGAIN! What part of E-Business Symposium did she not understand. Perhaps the color of my skin, blinded her to my professional attire, and busted her eardrums….translating E-Business Symposium to kitchen help.

The Symposium was great, made some excellent biz contacts….But more importantly, I made sure I offered direct eye contact and expressed verbal gratitude [both were sorely lacking at the table] to the Hispanics and African-Americans who so graciously served us all that day……..

Bloom! Where You’re Planted

I was hipped to this saying my final year in college. I think it was HR Development or something to that effect. But as I watched the in-class video of a Senior VP describing how to flourish in any job you’re on, the saying began to resonate in me, not only for my career, but for my life in general.

Everyday is a “blooming” journey. Getting closer to achieving or learninng how to operate in purpose. Everyday is a new day to realize or visualize destiny. We’re always developing. Always growing. Moment by moment…change is happening. Will I embrace change…growth…learning? Am I really ready to Bloom!? In my search for answers deep within…here’s what I found…

When He introduced Himself as Potter, I figured He would use His hands to shape me. Sculpt me. As I danced privately for Him upon the wheel. Or in the fire one. He does….and I do.

Funny, how often those same hands, with soil-filled nails, gently uproot me. Re-pot me. Displace me from the familiar right when I’m settling in. Life bursting with environmental and atmospheric changes. But the mission remains the same…Bloom! where you’re planted.

Sunshine today for my lower, yellow leaves. Rain tomorrow to drench my exposed roots. He’s fond of that quaint spot near hell’s door, but promises my petals won’t scorch. He favors a crisp arctic wind every now and again. Or simply the front porch of someone who needs to feel my beauty.

To be honest, I must admit it. I have had objections to His site selections. You too? And to signal my juvenile displeasure, I’d fold my leaves and petals at my leisure. I’d squeeze the opening of my roots with a Kung-Fu grip, tight as a child’s lips, rejecting the very medicine that will cure what ails them. Only to find in the end — Resistance is futile. The hearty goodness and nutrition I so desperately need lies within the soil below. The miracle food to sustain me for the next relo, test, or place of lessons.

So, I choose now to trust His judgment, and simply be His beautiful flower. That’s my one job. No more moonlighting as His gardening advisor. Flowers don’t gripe about where they grow. They just do. That’s all they know how to do — Bloom! And being under the care of the Most High Loving Potter, I’ve got the best seat in the Universe…no matter what the fertilizer smells like =).

With this sweet surrender, Bloom! will always find me, and reveal in me His splendor…in perfect season.  Ashe.Selah

Road Trip Part I

OK…I’m gonna try to keep this brief.  If you’ve been here before, I can be rather long winded lol…that’s just me =).  Plus, I live on-line…but every now and then, I need to just give it a break.

I’m on Day 4 of an awesome adverture in family road trips.  Ten hour ride to Dallas with music, snacks, portable DVD player, and the best hubby and kids a woman could ask for.

We are having a BLAST!!!  There’s just no other way to put it.  The weather here has been fabulous….blue skies..no clouds.  We’re here visiting one of the Loves of my life…one of my college roommates and her family.  Our husbands are “boys”…they are so much alike it ain’t even funny (yes I said ain’t).  And our kids, who had never met before, are getting along so well.  She has four, I have two.  Needless to say the house is just brimming with Love, laughter, and good times.

 Can’t wait to share more…gotta few new orders to process and then I’m gonna get off this ‘net…thank God for surprise business blessings and for this much needed vacation and getaway…stay tuned…