Habri Gana? Whatta Gwaan? What's New?

If you celebrate Kwanzaa and are asked, "Habari Gana?" between December 26th and January 1st, the answer would be the Nguzo or principle for that day.

Nguzo Saba - The Seven Priciples
(En – GOO – Zoh Sah – BAH)

UMOJA (oo-MOE-jah) Unity (Dec 26)

KUJICHAGULIA (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) Self-Determination (Dec 27)

UJIMA (oo-JEE-man) Collective Work & Responsibility (Dec 28)

UJAMAA (oo-JAH-mah) Cooperative Economics (Dec 29)

NIA (nee-AH) Purpose (Dec 30)

KUUMBA (koo-OOM-bah) Creativity (Dec 31)

IMANI (ee-MAH-nee) Faith (Jan1)

December 26, 1966, heralded the inaugural celebration of Kwanzaa, an African-American/Pan-African cultural celebration.

Kwanzaa, which means first fruits in Swahili, was established by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies at California State University in Long Beach. Dr. Karnega holds a Ph.D. from United States International University, San Diego and one from University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

I had the privilege to hear Dr. Karenga speak at a local high school in Florida in the early '90s. He was eloquent, enthusiastic, imformative and motivating. I was only able to take the two youngest kids as the oldest was here in Jamaica at the time. I am grateful for that opportunity.

HAPPY KWANZAA

Why We Celebrate Christmas

Please don't let the hustle and bustle of shopping, eating, gift-giving, traveling, drinking and partying make you forget the reason we celebrate Christmas. It is the celebration of the birth of our crucified and resurrected Saviour, Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks to Jah for the gift of Jesus' blameless life!

I am lifting each of you in prayer, asking Jah to open your eyes to the truth of our world. May 2009 find you inspired to uplift yourself, your family, your community and our world.

Blessed Love to anyone who has stopped by for a holiday visit. Please stop by again soon.

Bountiful Basket

While recovering, I find myself struggling to remain in a positive frame of mind.

If not careful, while confined to the wheelchair, I tend to create lists of "what I can't do" or "what I miss". (showers, swimming in the ocean, dancing, standing face-to-face with my husband, working out with him in our gym, driving, walking from room to room in the house, I could go on and on)

Instead of whining, I am going to say Thank You, Jah, for bountiful blessings. We had the JA$750,000 required for the surgery and post-op care. I was lead to a doctor who sucessfully reconstructed my ankle. I am healing without major complications. I have received cards, calls, prayers, white light healing love, visits, e-mails and this bountiful basket of tangerines to remind me how very loved I am.

My husband has been magnificent thru this entire challenge. Not only has he cared for me in every way, but has done it with an amazing spirit of love. No bad face, no rolling of the eyes, no teet' kissin', not a sign of reluctance or repulsion. Once again, he's proven himself to be a KEEPER.

As I trod this path of recovery, let me remember to give I-tinual thanks to Jah, who blesses me in such abundance and who walks by my side.

Tough Love VS Spanking Children

UPDATE:
SEVERAL NASTY COMMENTS HAVE BEEN LEFT ACCUSING ME OF CONDONING CHILD ABUSE. (BECAUSE THEY WERE LACED WITH FILTH, I DELETED THEM.) I DO NOT ENDORSE FEAR AS A METHOD OF DISCIPLINE. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO EDIT THIS POST TO TELL PEOPLE IT IS INTENDED AS SARCASM!!!

This thought provoking advice was sent to me from America.

While conditions in Jamaica may not lend themselves to an exact application of the recommendation, it does provide food for thought. Especially after an encounter with some pickney dem (children) who have never been introduced to any likkle bit of brought-upsy. (manners)

Consider this:

"Most of the American populace thinks that it is improper to spank children. I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.'

One method that I have found to be very effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk. Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, video games, computer, IPod, etc. Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together. Eye to eye contact helps a lot, too.

I've included a photo of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique yourself."

I am interested in a poll of my readers. After considering the technique outlined, would you recommend the tough love approach or an old fashioned spanking?

Stumbling Around

Since coming home from surgery, I have not been able to sit upright for long periods of time. The blood pools in my foot and makes the ankle throb. I can use the laptop while reclining, but haven't figured out how to bead in a reclining posistion. YET.

So, I have just been stumbling around. For those of you just being introduced to StumbleUpon, it is a way outline your interests and then have websites, videos and graphics brought to you. You can give them a thumbs up if you like what you see, or a thumbs down if you don't want to see any more like it.

FAIR WARNING! IT CAN BECOME ADDICTIVE!

Find Something

Friends of Jamaica

The hummingbird graphic in the left column was painted by my dear friend, Leslie.

She is a long-time friend of Jamaica and has touched the lives of many Jamaicans firsthand. On her blog, Flowers of Life, she has asked her readers to put this fund raising graphic on their blogs for the next few weeks.

For you, Sistren Leslie, and all you do to increase the goodness in our I-niverse, I give thanks.

One Week Post-Op

Jah is good to me. He has brought me thru another trial, standing by my side and holding my hand in His.

Surgery was last Tuesday and it was just a bit more extreme than expected.

I ended up with ten screws in my ankle instead of the 7 to 8 they had originally anticipated. If you look at the diagram you will see what I was told would be done.

In addition to the screws you see there, they added a second cancellous screw and then had to place a stabalizing screw that went from the front to the back of my ankle.

I have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to check the multiple incision sites for inflammation before they put on a fiberglass cast that will be on for 5-6 weeks.

I still feel weak after only an hour or so, but I think it may be due to the painkillers I have been taking. Getting my strength and stamina back is a high priority for me now.

Thank you seems so inadequate for all the love, prayers, e-mails, and calls I have gotten from you. Each of you, in your own way, has helped me during this challenge. I will be forever grateful for each of you.