Life.. moves Fast..This year whipped in, made several turns, a sharp left, a quick right, a u-ie a few loopty, loops and here we are at the close…and now I am reflecting on getting another year older { Iam32 years young;) }and I couldn’t possibly write down everything that happened. I think what’s worst is there are moments in this year’s journey that I may have missed…because I was so busy..running through life… there are moments where there should have been a………Pause. Every year God shows up bigger in my life..or rather my faith increases allowing Him to show up greater {be it unto me according to my faith}. However, often times those moments come and I look back and I say wowww..God you showed up..and I reveled in the asking God to show up, but I rushed through the moment of serious Thanksgiving and just marveling at what God has done.. Marveling at how this year was better than the previous, that I witnessed MIRACLES not far away..but UPCLOSE&PERSONAL. I am full of thanksgiving for what God has done don’t get me wrong..but it’s easy to say thank you, and haphazardly not realize that the thank you is routine…someone gives us something… or does something for us… we say “thank you”, but do we say “thank you” ..from the heart.  Several years ago I started saying.. “Thank you ever so much..or Thank you soo much,” Alot of people think its a “quirky” thing that I do, but several years ago..I decided I wanted people to know that I am thankful for what they do for me..and I want to be cautious of when I say it..I mean it. So Thank you ever so much..is not a phrase you can rush..it’s boderline a tongue twister..but it slows you down..and you think about the words..”Thank you ever so much for that water you brought me.” “Thank you ever so much” for holding the door for me..{looking that person in the eye”} So with people I have gotten that down pact for the most part. However, when reflecting through this years journeys how many Thank you God’s did I miss? How many “Thank yous” did I rush through??!?!

I am girl who is blessed more than I can imagine.. not because I have everything, or I am this or that..but because I can go to the Father…and He is there with everything I need. I want to give a great amount of care to the “thank yous” I give the Father that I do the people He created..even more so! It’s easy to get busy doing and not really busy living.. I have done that for years! 2012 is going to be different.. I plan to stop and smell the roses, take in the atmosphere  as the wind breezes by me, as the sun lands on my skin.. I plan to saturate myself in the moment of this adventure I am on. I don’t want the adventure to come and go and me miss the miracles, the loveliness of God changing areas of my life, the bumps and valleys that serve as lessons for the future and the ultimate view from the mountain top when all is said and won…{yep won}. :)

In this upcoming year, 2012: I, Gigi, vow to make a conscious effort to take in the Journey and to make a conscious effort to thank God for every part of the journey…

Here’s to an amazing adventure in 2012 !

♥

Gigi

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! For His mercy endures for ever.- Psalms 106

Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee  the desires of  your heart.” Psalms 37:4 

In the past two months there has been this strange wind of unsolicited advice blowing my way…in regards to well me and meeting, marrying, starting a family sort of thing.  Did I ask for this advice by no means..Did I hold up a sign that said.. “I AM READDY FOR MARRIAGE”?…nope… Did I even say I was ready to think about this sort of thing at this time?.. nope. I mean it’s true I was was engaged..and then well disengaged..this is no BIG secret. It’s one of those things you don’t go through, but what I like to refer to as “Grow through”. And while I’ve grown through it and still have moments of growing…I am cautious, careful, poised…thoughtful of IT all, even more so now than I was before the aforementioned disengagement which if my mother read this ..well..she may sink down in to a slow deep depression as she would think it’s a sign of me never wanting to get married and have kids. Which is not the case..it’s just not well..anyway….

So to this advice I received.. take it or leave it {question mark}?

♥ ChristianSingles.com

While sitting in the ICU commons waiting room..The chaplain who had come to visit and chat with my dad came by the waiting room to say hello to me and my little sister (also single)… {apparently my father was telling him we were not married..maybe he has an angle too..eesh!!} anyway.. he begins to ask me and my little sister why aren’t we married…

Chaplain: Are you picky?

Us collectively: of course, less picky more..umm Monica: selective Me:hmm you met our dad! the paradigm has  been set! Monica: yeah a guy would have to be even 1/2 a good man as that man.. he’s a good man.

Chaplain: How old are you?

Me:31

My sister: {tells her age}

Chaplain: ohhh you know that have that ummm Christiansingles.com…

Me: {silently.. ohh gee} well yeahh they do

Chaplain: you can get on their..maybe meet nice Christian Guy

Me: hmm yess..I don’t think that’s reallly something weeee want to do {said complete with hand gestures and squinty eye}

Chaplain: Well I will be praying..

Me: thanks soo much!

♥ Never give up on love…”My second chance came in my 60’s.”

Okay soooo.. While again in the ICU waiting room I met this stylish darling sophisticated lady who looked  not a day over 50. She began asking me about me my family. She thought I was in college and well super young.. and I told her my 20’s are over. lol. I tell her she looks so amazingly young and she said she is in her prime and that life is blossoming for her even now in her 60’s. She pulls her hand up to show this beautiful princess cut diamon ring with little dainty detailing around the band… and she says “I am even getting married!”   She tells me she has been single fpr 28 years after being married..and well it was not a very good situation at all. she said she didn’t know if she ever wanted to be married again, but she wanted to love herself and love God and if it happened great. 28 years later she is going to be a bride. She has “grown through” and this man she is going to marry has loved her better than any person she has ever known. I smiled at Betty as she spoke like a woman who has lived a lifetime, but didn’t let life make her bitter, but better. She told me..well take your time..but just don’t take too much time because you are afraid..

I think The Sophisticated lady said it all.

♥Match maker, match maker, bring them to church? {said with high pitch squeal at the end}

So this was my mom’s genius idea.. She really wants us girls to meet a guy..correction THE RIGHT GUY, get married and have kids. I believe her preference is girls.. I am sure this has to do with girls being prissy, dainty, some doting all that. Anyway, while in a family convo in our living room I am not sure how we got on this topic.{It’s never one we would bring up on our own} My dad starts saying how he feels sorry for us.. lol Because alot of these young gents have not been taught how to do anything, and they don’t try to learn for themselves. “They don’t even own tools! How does a man not have a wrench”{Lesson #457 from my father: A man must own tools- preferably in a tool box…at minimum the basics} He goes on about how he is praying down heaven and earth because he knows none of us want some dude that’s not got it together Spiritually, Emotionally, Financially {talking savvy not wealth necessarily} Mentally and is not suffering from an idenity crisis. One of my sisters offer up.. “I mean I haven’t even met anyone that’s appealing!” what do you want us to do?!? My mom’s response…I mean we need at least some prospects.. I think we should just invite some eligibles to the church and just have some interviews..”What do you girls think she says?” Girls answer…”We think not” EESH!

♥Location, Location, Location

More advice I  recently received  was from a guy pal.. who I don’t often  get to “gleam” from do to distance, but when I do…well I would say he gives sound advice…he shall remain nameless for this post however. {Protecting the wise and prudent?} Well we are having this conversation about how he tool feels that for us LaBord girls.. there may be a dry well in the city which we live…actually he said dry for most women. I explained to him.. I can see what he is saying….but again..we haven’t found ourselves in a major hurry. He feels however, that he would soon like to take on the title of “Uncle” so in so.. as well we have no Biological brothers.. We sit quietly for all of 9 seconds..and he says.. “I got it!!!” and I say ..”ohh..shoot!..what it is?” He says.. “You should just move.” I say to where.. and he says..”doesn’t matter does it?, just away from where you are.  I thank him for advice..and just encourage him to pray instead of give advice. {smile}.

♥Don’t marry a super older man

This advice was stirred by a conversation with someone well..super close to me.. {like Family ;)} They will also remain nameless for this post. They also felt the need to ask what kind of guys are we girls typically interested in so that they may “keep an eye out” {as if its like shopping for a handbag}. I digress, Monica speaks up and says well Angie(Gigi) likes older guys.. My {family like} person say to me..”What?!?!” I said “Is this surprising where you during the holidays, my ex fiancee was almost 10 years older than me.” She gasped..and grabbed my arm and looked me sqaure in my eyes and said..{in a save me from myself voice}
DON’T do it! You will regret it.” I laugh.. And she says “I am telling you Angela (Gigi) you will regret it.. They don’t like to do anything when they get older…no adventures, no fun.  I tell her I am becomig more open you younger than 10 years..I mean it’s not like its an Iron clad rule I have or anything.. {right?}.  She says.. “Good..because you will be sorry…”  Hmmm.. much to ponder here.

So you see can this advise work for this LaBord girl..or any girl for that matter. I am not sure.. but never- the- less it was amusing to hear what people came up with. :)

  #DearDaughter ~ The Wiser You Become…The Fewer Your Choices. Men. -~Dr. Mike Murdock

♥

Gigi

We live in a world full of things to well suscribe to..The internet has made it possible that you can have a milion things going on from twitter, to facebook, to google + {the new Facebook}, to Mashable to spotify, bloglovin and everyone’s new fave pinterest. You can find anything, subscribe to everything…We get so bogged down with all these things that at some point our inbox is on overload, our Rss feeds are filled with things we haven’t read and probably will never read. I find that sometimes life gets like this at least well for me. In September I do self assessment. See what new things I did and accomplished and the things I didn’t. My victories and then the areas I failed miserably. I don’t assess so I can just go oh.. “good job” or “mmm can do better next time”. This is about change..and becoming a better me, and having a better quality of life..moving forward and not staying in the same old rut.  It’s funny because I feel like all during the year my life was like an RSS feed and I had to subscribed to things that I didn’t need or were not beneficial to me. So in that thought, I made a list of things that were in my Life feed that I am unsubscribing to….

Unsubscribe from Self Doubt and self negation -

Unsubscribe from the feeds of people who try to put out your fire

Unsubscribe from too much filler and not enough substance

Unsubscribe from being sloathful about your dreams (see #1…assess and start there)

Unsubscribe from fear

Unsubscribe from the people, places or things that are not beneficial or healthy for your life-Take charge

Unsubscribe from major unhealthy eating

Unsubscribe from Coffee

Unsubscribe from unprofessional business people

Unsubscribe from netflix  - DONE

Unsubscribe from making unbalanced decisions

Unsubscribe from  not enjoying life.. take more moments to take deep breaths

I think that’s a good start for now..  {sigh} I can see a clearer futyre already :)

♥

Gigi

Matthew 6:27-29

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Do find most comfortable space and mark with bags, books, cooler

Do not put a sign..the goods are enough

Do pack snacks if people haven’t already brought them.

Do not eat snacks in one sitting especially if you will be back and forth to ICU waiting room.

Do eat lots of veggies while away from ICU…enough said.

Do make friends with security gaurds.. offer them a sandwich if they look hungry

Do not talk to old suspect dudes around elevators offering to help you find 4west..Do not make eye contact…I repeat do not make eye contact {unless it is the moog-face stink eye} Do not acknowledge.

Do Keep eyes straight ahead.. {for Monica} you must learn this!:-)

Do make a schedule for buddies or family members who will stay with you..you need a buddy

Do get to know your family more

Do not laugh to hard and choke on your beverage as you listen to one of them tell a story of how he was driving and decided to mix coffee while holding the cup in between his legs and hit a bump..{eeeehhh ehhhh ehhhh.<— that’s the sound he said he made! LOL!! .LOL never gets old LOL!}

Do not stay alone in the ICU waiting room overnight alone..creeeeepppyy

Do sleep in shifts..sleep light..{drink coffee for this effect}

Do not go to the restroom down the hall while buddy is asleep..if they wake up and find you gone…FREEENZYYY

Do be kind to others..Golden rule applies here

Do bring inconspicuous objects that can be used as a weapon if anyone tries to attack you..for example…Large glass supplement bottle..flat iron, hardback book…anything you can use that can go BAM! BAM!!!! BAM!!!! {if you need to}

Do not bring any real weapons…to dangerous..besides you just want to scare and partially mame possible assailant.

Do sleep with expensive belongings under your pillow…only the boldest of crooks would try to lift you up..if they are bold resort to the “Do” about supplement bottle

Do get to know the ICU support team..They will bring you ice..and whatever else you need if they can find it. {Betty you Rock!}

Do take time out to get out of the hospital

Do not allow yourself to become stir crazy..or crazy

Do try the lemon pepper chicken on Wednesdays at the cafe on the (MCGgrounds)

Do not try anything that looks suspect from the cafeteria

Do go to Mcdonald’s first thing in the morning

Do not go at an hour before close…the food is  sometimes served with a quart of bad attitude {smile anyway}

Do not kill the loud mouths who come in three in the morning while you are sleeping

Do try and laugh it off when you find out the next morning that the aforementioed loud mouths were your 2nd cousins who you had never met.. SMH…sheesh!

Do have family/friend time..bring scrabble games and other fun

Do not leave your  ”To be continued…”scrabble game with a buddy who doesn’t know there is a game in progress..CAN YOU SAY start over…SMH {oh Victoria}

Do pray for your loved ones and the others in ICU

Do not ask for their snacks and food..let them offer.. RUDE!

Do Celebratory  group dance when you find out your loved one is leaving ICU!!! 

Do not dance in front of the windows if you have no rythm..{I.E. Monica and my Aunt San}

These Do’s and Don’ts are inspired by actual events that happened during our two week stretch in the ICU..It was the worst of the times…It was the best of times..because we were a band of family and friends together. 

♥

There was a song my sisters and I use to listen to on a tape just before bed.. The Lyrics went….

♫♪♫”Did you ever see an angel, an Angel an Angel? Did you ever see an Angel sees you, they Gaurd and protect you, did you ever see an Angel? Well an Angel sees you.”♫♪♫

As I am sitting here at in Shock Trauma ICU waiting room while my Father {pastor, friend, hero} lies in bed fighting to get stronger  and recover..I think of that song. My father fell 13 feet from a scaffold..stood up and started walking around {with unbenounced to him -8 broken ribs, a cracked sternum, collapsed lungs} He sat down on the grass after having trouble breathing and the ambulance was called. It’s funny how even though I wasn’t there…I see it happening in my minds eye and I see my father falling in slow motion…the sound of air moving swiftly by him, I imagine, him whispering the name by which we can conqueror all..even death…”JESUS!” My father, is a man of faith he knows how to call the name of the Father, and the father hears. I can imagine him thinking of my mom, and me and my sisters, my nephew and how this he has to beat…and then I imagine like a rushing wind a large, massive being, with wings larger than a 747..moving faster than the speed of light and trail of glory flowing behind them. I can see the angel as my fathers lungs collapse {the reason he was saved} blowing breath in his lungs to sustain him..and I see him whispering, unctioning them to call the ambulance. I imagine him standing over my father..ministering to his mind..speaking words of peace…because we are promised peace in the midst of turmoil. I can see this magnificent creature guiding the hands of the EMTS…steady and his presence..my father knows he’s in the father’s hands..and that He HAS given his  Angel charge over him. He has the most strong and peaceful face. His garments are long and regal, it’s not a glow that he has, but again more like a glory….indescribable…no halo like in those pictures portrayed on posters and television shows that diminish the wonder of these magnanamous beings. I can see him holding my fathers hand and letting him know that my mother will be okay. They are rushing him to the emergency room..the wheels of the gurney racing..spinning, churning, spinning, spinning…and everything no longer objects, but time has become but a mixture of  sound and light… I see my mother standing in the room where my father is being worked on…and there he is that peaceful angel..standing by mother his arms around her as he whispers and ministers to her spirit.. “Everything will be okay…Trust in the Father, trust in the father…” My mom is standing stronger than she has ever had to stand…she is praying silently, yet ferverently as the doctors speak to her..the words like a scrabble board over turned..The Angel, his magnificent wings even closed covering the room is interceding with my mother. My father enters in to surgery and the sedation begins to take place, and the Angel remains standing tall like the chief commanding officer himself..unctioning one nurse to speak up about concerns of doing a certain procedure too soon. He is not only present, but aware and alert of every move…every heart beat.  My father is taken to recovery ICU and my immediate family goes in to see him two by two…concerned, yet prayerful..we are a family of faith… I walk in ICU ward with my dad’s older sister…we wash our hands..it’s almost as if time stands still and I prepare myself for what my father a man I have never seen down in my lifetime, will look like…what he will feel like..what will life be the moment I see him. We walk to the the space curtains on each side..I put my head forward first as if to peak in and then the rest of me..thrushed in to the moment. I see my father..and there is he..he looks well not like a man who has had such a traumatic event. He looks like my father..strong and peaceful…Only there are tubes and and tape everywhere and a little paint on his hands from where he was working..and even though my aunt is there…It seems like I am there alone…she in her moment..and me in mine…family. I lay my hand on his..daughter to father…and I say a prayer..and there is a moment of..”Why?” and it was like peace came..and it was over me..and in that moment.. I was just thankful.. thankful my father was alive…thankful he was breathing..Thankful for a healing I knew..I know will come…In that instant..I can imagine in my minds eye…that guardian angel, in all wonder, and glory..a flame of glory looking at me and with one single nod as if to say ”Don’t worry.” I walked out of the doors of the ICU and down the hall and just breathed…..God has sent His angel…just as His Word promises.

“He shall give His angels charge over you. To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up. Lest  you dash your foot against a stone.” 

Psalms 91:11-16

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord. ” He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him will I trust.”

Psalms 91:1-2

So I always think I don’t want to start a blog with things like… ”Someone once said”… or “I once heard  a saying”, but since well..in this case it’s absolutely true and the best way to start this..here goes… 

My Dad once told me “Life comes at you fast, be resilient, flexible, faithful and keep moving”.  My dad to simply say in one word- Wise. After all he is a Pastor, so wise goes along with the territory. At the moment he said these profound words to me..I was in a place of park…parked on well I guess you can say fear, but what in mind seemed like saftey. However,  we call it like we see it…I was parked on fear. I don’t think I realized that is what it was at the time.  I was in a state of bewilderment at life events, stunned and suspended in a moment of time. Almost a year ago this time..I was in in the storm of a lifetime, twirling in my very own life Tsunami. It’s easy to stay in a place even after a storm has come..because it’s familiar…even with devastation and debris…it was what home. You can make the choice to stay and reminisce of what was and what should have been according to you, or you can choose…to keep moving and pursue the a new adventure a new journey, a new life. I think for me I have never been one to want to stay in place of devastation, but at that moment in time, no matter how brief I dangerously skirted the idea of camping out in fear in what was…now my former life.

It’s always great to have those voices that charge you on, challenge you to keep moving.. for me there were so many… I am blessed with amazing friends, wonderful family and thus the two intertwine to make my Framily :-) (a word coined by my dear friend and family The Big Dragon).  The words of my father cut to the core of where I was.. The power and authority behind those words broke the chains that held me tied to the devastation of my past…words do have power. I began to pick myself up, taking only what was necessary, and leaving the rest behind and began to shift gears out of park and begin to navigate through the lanes of life staying the course to my God given destiny.

Don’t get me wrong.. I believe it’s okay to pause and reflect on life…but don’t stay in park. You will miss out on so much being frozen in time. If I stayed in park I imagine what I would have missed out on as I stand on the other side of a Tsunami on my new vast land, with richer soil, greater vision, more beautiful than the previous…sigh..that’s life:-)  So one day perhaps I will past down these words to my kid as they navigate past one of life’s Tsunamis…”Life somes at you fast, so no parking, stay in the right lane..and hold on to Jesus!”

For with out HIM, not even, as great as my earthly father is..I would not be welll…here.

Revolutionary thought #231- Don’t stay in park!

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. ♥ Phillipians 1:6

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ♥ Jeremiah 29:11

♥, G