To spend, To enjoy, To have and To hold!!!

I got there late

Wish I had been early

This disrespectful behavior has got to go

But I made it just in time to see the important parts

They got up with slight awkwardness and nerves

All the while looking like they just stepped out of a magazine

They looked deep into each others eyes

And swore to love and cherish each other forever

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She said "your people will be my people"
He said "I have chosen you above all women, to love"

My heart skipped a beat for them

It brought me back to my own special day

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Orange,Rust,Brown,Chocolate,Green

Music,dance,smiles and laughter

Well wishers and on lookers

Seemed the day was charmed from beginning to end

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Rich display of culture,massive head gears

Flashy jewelry, seemingly easy merging of two families

Blessed from God above

Sealed with a kiss as long as they both shall live!!!

I have come to the conclusion that Nigerians are indeed passionate people who go all out when it comes to celebration. I have never met a group of people who enjoy celebrating life like the Nigerians I have been fortunate to know. I always lament over the exorbitant amounts of money Ghanaians spend on funerals and it does make sense that such amounts should be used in the celebration of life as well. Often times, we go through life stressing out over everything and not living like we should to the fullest. Nigerians, do know how to party it up! Talk of opulence! At certain points, I could barely see all the way to the stage because the head gears had taken over but thank God for long range cameras!

I have heard quite a few of my Ghanaian friends speak strongly against being told to go by a certain color code for a wedding or other celebrations. I did not know exactly how I felt about this issue but after seeing how well coordinated and beautiful it turned out, I have concluded that it is not exactly a crime but I understand that it is not a part of our culture. To tell you the truth, I was in awe at how beautiful it all came together.

Some close friends did what they call the ashoebi, however, I opted out because I could not find a tailor within close proximity to sew for me. The families had matching and coordinated fabrics and "geles" too. I could go on for days about the outfits alone! I was made aware by another friend that typically, Yorubas are "booty" dancers! Every dance had a booty move or two in there somewhere. It was quite delightful to watch both young and old shuffling their feet and shaking their behinds to the infectious rhythms.

I have so much to write I'll end here for now...

Frenimies

You meet and through some commonality you become friends

Then you meet at a different time and she/he kind of ignores you

You say hi and they respond with a quick and courteous hello

Then another time they relate to you an experience in their life

And everything feels like the first time you met

"There's two sides to this person", you think
There's days when they are present in their body
There's days when they do not remember you
But that's cool 'cos when they remember, you're still there
And you'll always be that sister, 'cos you really can't choose your family


Backgrounds seem similar
So why can't you relate?
Money ain't a thing and no situation is permanent, my friend
Just remember that no matter what, we both want to please Him
And he only looks at the heart, not what's on the outside


So yeah, you try to put it out of your mind
Maybe you're just being paranoid
Is that smile genuine or not?
Didn't mean to steal your shine, friend
And remember, you're a star all your own...

Far and Near Yet Right Here...

A fellow blogger wants me to write more. That put a smile on my face because often times I have started to blog and just decided to write in my journal instead. I have several blog entries that are unpublished because I thought the content was a bit too personal. I know several of my friends and some of my family read this even though they don't ever want to leave comments! Ha... I know who you are because you always ask me about my entries!Go figure!

Anyways, I was thinking about the many friends I have lost and gained along this narrow highway of life. Sometimes we do not mean to lose touch or ignore the friendship but distance makes it difficult to keep it going. Other times we develop new interests and the old ones are left abandoned. Here is to you, my friend, the one I have neglected to nurture.


Life has a way of passing us by.
And we have a way of forgetting to say "hi."
Not realizing that so much time has passed.
Not knowing when we talked last.
Its been awhile since we've seen each other.
or even talked to one another.

I realize I miss you very much.
and I want to get back in touch.
I hope we don't lose touch again.
For you are a special person, my friend.
I hope that life has been good to you.
And that you've found peace and happiness in all you
do.

I hope you're really doing great things
In your little corner of the world
It's been a while.
God bless and do keep in touch.

Copyright ©2009 Maxine Mosley Totoe

My 26

1. I really enjoy nature…Rainbows, sunshine, changing leaves, beautiful sunsets all make me really emotional.
2. I am very much in love with my husband and I still get butterflies when he kisses me.
3. I miss my family like crazy and sometimes I wonder if we have missed out on growing up together
4. I am very proud of my sisters and love them all very much
5. My mum is an amazing woman who has made a lot of sacrifices in her life for her family
6. My family has never been rich or remotely well off. We have always lived moderately but we all love to look good!
7. My life is a story of God’s grace and abundant love and faithfulness
8. I think about God a lot and my thoughts are usually about God and how I can affect His kingdom
9. I am an extrovert once you get to know me but I can come off a little standoffish and uninteresting when you don’t know me.
10. I love food and I love cooking. My husband is a lucky man!
11. I miss working at the hospital and talking to my patients about their lives
12. I tend to have a little bit of a social anxiety at times. Sometimes, I don’t feel confident at all especially in social situations
13. I have few friends or people I call on a regular basis outside of my family
14. I consider my sisters my very best friends. I never really had a “best friend” before except for Janetta who has always been there for me :)
15. I love singing and worship music is my favorite.
16. I can not stand it when people try too hard to be something they are not.
17. I have never had Mac’N’Cheese
18. Sometimes I don’t know what I am doing in America
19. My dad is one of my favorite persons ever
20. I enjoy my devotions with my hubby
21. It makes me very happy to know that my parents are proud of me even though my accomplishments are not of epic proportions
22. It irks me when people look down on Africans or other ethnic minorities
23. Kind words and even innocent compliments from strangers bring tears to my eyes.
24. I Like shoes…a lot
25. I get a warm fuzzy feeling when someone tells me they are praying for me. It is one of my favorite things ever!
26. I love volunteering. It keeps me humble and grateful