Life is Like Music with Poetry as Lyrics

The original piece is by Lorna Darden. I loved it so much, I tweaked it a little to define who I am. Enjoy! 

I am a God-Fearing Woman, I am strong, beautiful, unique, a fighter and survivor. Irresistible, seductive, sexy, and voluptuous. 

I am driven to stand on my own two feet and depend on Two. God and Me

I’m bad and loving it. Looking good like a woman should, I stand out like a skyscraper and stand strong like a house build with bricks.

I get a kick out of challenges, nothing holds me down. I’m always ready for the next round. 

I am defined by my mind not my beauty. One look in my eyes and you are mesmerize by my strength, my dedication and strive to survive.

I’m a proud lover and achiever letting no one astray me from my ambition. I’m more sensitive then the opposite sex, but I fight my battles and have won many wars. I hold it down like no other, playing a positive role in young peoples lives. Molding them into their best physically and morally and I must say I look pretty good doing it.

Woman to Woman we go through a lot struggling to be treated as equal in society and in relationships. We love hard with disregard of how we are sometimes treated. We deserve the best and never the less we will always be Queens of our throne. 

I am proud of my womanhood, I am proud of who I am. Independent, strong willed, provider, nurturing and flamboyant of my style. 

Loving who I am every part of me, I’m not perfected but I am a site to see.

I am Dreana. Now the next question is…Who are you? 

Now that gets 3 sNaPz

I pray that I will live to see 70. This God fearing woman is absolutely amazing. She took me in when I was 12 years of age and has been taking care of me since. She made sure I had a roof over my head and food to eat and just like all grandparents she has a kind heart. She does anything and everything for people without hesitation. A year ago, she retired from the United States Post office after 47 years I believe. I thought she would never retire. She was such a hard worker, which shows where I get it.  I wish the day can hurry up and come so I can take care of her. I do not ask her for anything now because although she is retired she still has bills to pay and still taking care of 3/6 kids. Yes…all grown.  She has done enough for me so now I am trying to take over the wheel. Despite the differences we had, my granny is my EVERYTHING. My mother and my father and I would not change the way things went nor would I change the way things are now. She has helped me become who I am today and I will continue to make her proud.

Now That Gets 3 sNaPz

Happy 70^th Birthday Mommie. I Love You.

Woke up at 9:00 a.m., went to work at 10:30 a.m., got off at 6 p.m., went to my other job at 7 p.m., worked until 11 p.m., went to Wal Mart to get toiletries, home now, going to eat some pizza that I just put in the oven that smells oh so delicious, study for a quiz tomorrow, pray, take a nap, wake up around 5 a.m. or 6 a.m., pray, start my 8 page paper that’s due Friday, and finally study for a final I have Wednesday. Go to work after and do it all over again. My granny says I’m a busy little woman. Key words: Busy….. Woman…. ::))

Now that gets 3 sNaPz

The other day, I told myself that I couldn’t take it anymore, 
then remembered, 4 years ago, I said those exact words before. 
It’s just the process of closing old doors, putting your foot in the next, 
and getting use to new floors that is difficult to me…see, 
now that I’ve opened this new door, I know there are certain things I must do.
I have to let go of the negativity and not be the company of misery, 
I have to stay in reality, remembering this world is full
of stupidity, which makes it clear to see that some things aren’t meant to be,
and that right there makes me grow spiritually and emotionally. 
Take a walk with me… 
Throughout my life, there were times I didn’t feel were right, 
when the people close to me shined darkness on my light, 
making it hard for me to fight back, couldn’t stay on track, 
because it was going this way and that way…and that way and this way, 
didn’t know what to say, so I decided to just pray….
Yes just pray….
I remembered the first night I knelt down on my knees, 
I put my hands together like this, I was crying so hard that I couldn’t breath,
but the feeling I felt when I prayed THEN….Now makes sense, 
and now instead of arguing and fighting back, praying was my defense, 
Hey, I know that’s got to be good, just look at my accomplishments!
All of the negative vibes around me, and somehow
I had the strength to put it all behind me.
Hell, I could’ve been gave up, threw up the finger like 
“HEY I DON’T GIVE A FUCK”, 
But I put it all behind me, 
Take a walk with me…
I am the first to go to college, aren’t you proud? 
I did the complete opposite of what they said I would do, and that’s follow the crowd, 
and you think I would at least get a pat on my back, 
A hug, some kind of love, hell maybe a handclap, 
but instead, they said that it was just a matter of time, ‘till the end of my line, 
Trying to get in my mind, saying soon I’ll be just like them, 
But you know what I did, 
I extended their mind, to see my extended line, that has a goal…a purpose, 
I didn’t care what they said, because the Man that I worship, told me
that I would never have a closed curtain!
And my own sister… she is jealous of me, for what reason, I don’t know. 
So much anger built up from my dad, she can’t let none of it go! 
I guess the things that I am doing now, she wanted to do as well, 
But the street life made her life a fast life, 
3 times got knocked up, now all she do is roll up!
Getting high is her escape from all the pain and dried up tears, 
didn’t fight like me, didn’t know she can make it through all these years. 
I lost friends, family, and so much more in life, but I still moved on, 
It’s like I was left at the alter, but I still remained strong, 
Listening to the same song that brings my spirit home…
“I’m getting higher, closer to my dreams……….I’m getting higher, I can almost reach”,
it’s more where this came from, just know that it’s not the end, 
Sorry, I didn’t mean to tell my business, 
but my feelings only blend through the pen
Come take this walk with me…

This summer is, without doubt, a season for me. I am literally drained physically, mentally, and emotionally. I have cried and prayed over and over and it went to the point where I wanted to give up…. again. But I had to remember and tell myself that I can do everything through Him who gives me Strength (Philippians 4:13). This is just one of the many test that God has placed upon me. I mean, it could be worse and I’ve been through worse, so why is this so hard for me? Why does it hurt? 2 of the many questions I have. Working 2 jobs and taking 2 classes over the summer is not as easy as I thought it would be. And it wouldn’t have been this bad if I did not pick up a 2^nd job, but the funds were low and I do not get much help financially. So my day consists of me waking up and leaving every morning to not see my apartment until late that night between11 p.m - 3 a.m depending on if I have to stay on campus to do some work. The maximum amount of hours I sleep is 4-5 hours, if that. So sometimes I think I am overworking myself. I put too much on my plate without letting my brain rest. JaNeé, a good friend of mine who is like a sister now, talked with me and mentioned that it would not be normal if I did not put much on my plate and it is no reason to change now because it is a lifestyle that I have come accustomed to. She pointed out to me that it hasn’t failed me yet but only made me able to handle things better. After she told me this, I realized that she was right. When I was 16, I got my first job. That following summer, I worked 2 jobs and it has been a continuous routine since then. So my questions are: what is making the situation different now? Why does it all seem new to me?

No matter how many unanswered questions I have, all I can say is THANK YOU JESUS! Every time I look back on all the stuff I been through, cried through and prayed through, I know it was only Him that could have brought me through it. Just when I was about to fall or give up, He came. I do not know why I always have worries about things such as money. I sit and stress on how I will get it when on April of 2010 my balance on my tuition was $9,876. I did not have an idea on how I was going to get the money nor did I have a way or plan on a way to get it. A month later, May 6, 2010 at 4:32 p.m. to be exact, my tuition read $0.00. I should not be here, where I am today, if it hadn’t been for Him. This road includes pain and in order for my faith to grow, I need rain even when in pours. Jesus makes me stronger and it is apart of His plan. We worry and cry all the time, but we have to remember that we are blessed. Things I tell myself: Some people cannot be as busy as you are Dreana. Here you are with 2 jobs and people cannot even find 1. You are struggling to pay rent but you have a roof over your head and a place to sleep. Be grateful.

Sometimes I feel it is God talking through me. So I am not talking to myself, it is Him.

A prayer that I prayed last night:

Dear Lord of grace and mercy, 
Gives me the strength to move on and the courage to let go. The strength to follow Your Will and courage to forgive and ask Your Mercy. Give me the strength, O Lord Jesus, to feel Your pain and 
the courage to follow Your ways. The strength to conquer, the strength to stand alone, and the courage to trust in You. Give me the strength of being loved and courage to love. Only with Your Divine Grace and Mercy, dear God, can I take the courage to rise up and live JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU.

Amen.

I hope you love to read books as much as I do. This book is one of my favorites. Harriet Jacobs, the first African American woman known to have authored a slave narrative in the United States, was born into slavery in North Carolina. As a child, she was unaware that she was a slave because her parents were allowed to live together even though they had different masters. Since she became aware that she was a slave, her commitment to obtain freedom and happiness was rather a dreaming soon to be reality. What she had to experience was relatively extreme, but her determination did not deter her from succeeding. This Autobiography is an important literary and primary source for readers to grasp the many issues of slavery, in particular the female slave narrative. The autobiography was more than trying to create sympathy for her dilemma, but she sought to win respect and admiration of her readers for the courage with which she prevented abuse and acquired independence. I believe her description of hiding in the attic for 7 years, her emphasis on family life values, and her account of the difficulties of fugitive slaves in the North separate this book from other slave narratives.

The photo above gives the reader an idea of what Harriet Jacobs lived in for 7 years just to escape from slavery. If you have not read this narrative, I strongly recommend that you do. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is an amazing story that is an intriguing and informative look through slavery. It opens a door into the mind of a slave in the eighteen hundreds. To me, it was hard to bear this painful knowledge, but I know that other readers and myself came out at the end of Jacob’s story with a better understanding of the difficulties African Americans had to face before they were finally liberated and accepted into the community. Although Harriet Jacobs was a slave in body, she was a master of literature, and this is why her tale has lived on, and will undoubtedly continue to do so for many more.

Now that gets 3 sNaPz

Before I continue the monthly Divas, I would like to give my readers the REAL meaning of one. The term started around the late 1800’ and was used to describe:

1.     A Prima Donna (leading female singer in Opera) or;

2.     A glamorous and successful female performer

The term started to expand in the new century and now there are many different meanings of a Diva.

My definition:

1.     A woman who is a role model to other young women that carries herself in an appropriate manner

2.     A woman who has an optimistic image

3.     A woman that respects herself as a human being.

These are the reasons I classify myself as a Diva. You will see the women I post have these aspects. Since I did not have many to look up to when I was younger, a lot of these women had a big role in my life and they still do now.

Who do you think should be the Diva of August?

Starting off the monthly Divas will HAVE to be the Queen of Soul herself, Ms. Aretha Franklin. This woman has so much class! And her voice tops everything off. They say numbers do not lie so here is a breakdown: 18 Grammys, 2 honorary Grammys, 20 number 1. singles on the Billboard R&B Charts and since 1961, the Diva herself attained 45 “top 40” hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Shall I continue??

She was honored with the President Medal of Freedom in 2005 and was thee first woman…thee FIRST, to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I learned this my first year in College when I took a Jazz, Pop, and Rock class. She, without doubt, deserved it. Her style was so versatile and flexible. We are talking about Soul, Jazz, Rock and Roll, Blues, R&B, Pop, Classical, and Gospel. Tell me an artist today who has this combination. Don’t worry…I will wait.

The information that I provided you with comes from the Internet and books that I have read. I do much research on people like Ms. Franklin because I truly admire her as a woman and an artist. And for a person to be a Diva, it is only right I know the previous ones before me.

Now that gets 3 sNaPz

Today has been a long day, but I can say the best part of it was seeing and trying new things in Columbia. Thanks to an old professor, she has helped me see what Columbia has to offer. I mean, it is still boring, but having Lollicup for the first time and browsing the stores down Ninth Street was actually enjoyable. One of the stores I window shopped at was Mustard Seed Fair Trade. If you are in the Columbia Area, you definitely need to check this store out. It is located downtown. 25 S. Ninth Street. The purpose of this nonprofit organization is to engage the community in the practices of fair trade. The store promotes artisans and farmers living in developing countries through the selling of their goods. So all the money that is made, it is given back to these countries. Another wonderful thing is that the people in the Columbia area volunteer to work in this store to help alleviate poverty in those nations. The selections are pretty amazing as well. You will see things like sandals, candles, cards, chocolate, purses, bracelets, and more. ALL HAND MADE! So if you like creative, artistic, and unique stuff, you would love Mustard Seed Fair Trade. The mission, vision, and values by themselves show how flawless this business is.

Now that gets 3 sNaPz

Check it out here: www.mustardseedfairtrade.org

Father, I ask you to bless whoever is reading this right now! Lord, show them a new revelation of Your love and power. I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubting, release a renewed confidence in Your ability to work through them. Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, patience, & strength as they learn submission to Your leading. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over their lives. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders, and friends to support, and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the demonic around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. 

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen! 

I love to encourage myself so sometimes I look in the mirror and say, “I’m stronger, I’m wiser, I am better, SO much better. When I look back over what YOU brought me through, I realize I made it, because I had you to hold on to. But I NEVER would have made it…I NEVER COULD have made it without you Jesus. Who would have known, besides you, that I would be where I am today? Who would have known that I would make it to my 3^rd year in college…besides you? It is truly a blessing.”

So with that being said, the purpose of this blog is to inspire everyone but most of all;

1.   Our Youth

2.   Our Future

3.   Our Women

If I made it this far, I know other individuals can too. God has given me the opportunity to be a blessing to others and I will take advantage of that. Prayer, determination, motivation, support, and me to give you that little push should do the trick. I hope you enjoy reading my posts. But most of all I hope you get inspired by them as well. I plan to talk about a variety of things. Feel free to comment and don’t forget your snapz. 

As always…. 3 sNaPz