The Celebration of Life is Approaching

A reason to celebrate life? A reason to come together to say - this thing called life is by far more special than one could ever imagine.

Well, this weekend awaits us. I'm packing my bags and dubbing it a getaway. forty five minutes south-east of Boston to Providence, Rhode Island. To celebrate the life of my dearest friend, LaRessa J. Seastrunk. It is my honor to have been called and invited to join in on her special day, as the Mistress of her Ceremony of this life, Now. We are going to celebrate starting with Friday night a surprise .... adventure, then dinner at McCormick and Schmick's, then a sleepover at the Biltmore Hotel. To join on Saturday for a special ceremony "The Celebration of Life" her attributes, positive ray of energy, her smile in spite of the pain she faces - nonetheless her inspiring others.
Second time Breast Cancer survivor is one of my sincerest reasons to appreciate and celebrate life.

Like Fire

I stand here today a new creature. But the most interesting part about this whole process is one needs time alone to channel and concentrate wholly. Like fire I am warmed by his love. Like fire I am purged from inequities. Though I feel alone, it is what I need most for God to shape me , mold me, guide me, focused and fine-tuned me. Fire is good and I like this fire.

Breath in, Breath out and appreciate while doing it

In simple obedience to the One who gave His life so that we might live eternally, we should desire to abandon all we know for the unknown of giving our lives away for Him. Not just feeding the hungry, but entering into their hunger with them. Not just clothing them, but experiencing what it is like to want for basic necessities. Not just appeasing our conscience by writing a check, but by actually entering into their reality, a reality that needs to see Jesus.

-Steven Curtis Chapman

What amazes me about this thing we call life is the mere opportunity that we gain, starting with the first breath we take in the morning, to simply breath. That deep breath we take in - inhaling in and out is a gift that many of us innately do without thought - nonetheless it took the thought of God sending his only begotten son to die on the cross for our very sins, so that we may be have life -- and life abundantly... moreover the chance to live this life and touch other with a hand of concern, of love, of understanding.

In may of this year, a close friend of mine was diagnosed with STAGE four breast cancer. Not only was this news devastating, but at the age of 29,she has now been stricken with this disease twice. Amazingly, this second-time breast cancer survivor has the resilience of true believer - her spirit is amazing, moving and warm, so much so that it has changed my perspective in life, to the point where I too consider it a blessing to be typing right now, to be living and of course breathing. I consider every single move that I make on a daily basis, how my hands move according to the signals sent to my brain via my nervous system - to write, cook, scratch and touch.


to be continued...

A retrospective glance into my life

This Sunday marked a cleansing of my soul.

to be cont...

Praise God

I have learned that the most powerful weapon we can use against the enemy is our ability to praise the Lord at all times. It is in the very name of Jesus, that the enemy has no choose but to flee. Through the pain, the strain, confusion, anger, fear and hurt. Praise God. For in the end - he will make your enemies your foot stools.

Our faith is his amazment

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move.
Matthew 17:20

I am learning to practice this thing called Faith - step by step. Little by little. I am learning to walk in patience, in grace and by faith. After all, the word of God confirms that it takes the faith as small as a mustard seed to channel God's power, and get his attention to act on our behalf.

Walking in Faith. In spite of what comes my way, amazing God.

After an amazing Woman's Conference: Restoring the Queen Within

Words of gratitude
Sis Sharon,

What an occasion.

Words can't express my gratitude for having the honor to participate, let alone attend. Laverne Brennon was moved, my friend Krystel also. Keith really enjoyed every aspect of the conference. God moved. I am still in the spirit from the encounter of the Woman's Conference. Sis Sharon, I need you to know that you are a star so bright - bringing the light of God to others. May he continue to bless you and absolutely everything you place your hand on, mind, spirit and soul. Can't wait to hear details re: the youth explosion. Keith, would be honored to do anything in Jesus's name. Oh, by the way he is a lyricist. Amazing gift from God.
Dad is excellent, Glory be to God for answering our prayers: That prayer you send, wiped any attacks from the pits of hell away. God showed the favor you prayed about. Thank you so much. He has a few more court dates, and some things he has to take care of, but God'd favor released him on that day. Blessings. I knew form the first day, I met you you were a special child of God - such a beautiful influence. Can't wait to spend some quality time in all aspects.

PS: A vision of a gospel cruise, with woman of God just came to mind. I'd love to converse with you in detail about that, pray about it and maybe collobrate on this in the future. In addition to so much more. Thx for those lovely words; meant so much.

Love you Sharon.

Sasha

Where you find your strength ....

How are you???

I start Chemo today so pray with me all through out the day! I miss SMEC! I want to be able to shout and cut up without worrying about anything! I want to dance all around and not care if anything falls out or off! lol

Its amazing how life can through us such a curve ball! My little leg pain caused all of this! I thank God it could have been so much worse for me! I miss my sis. Sasha! I miss everything about you, your smile, warmth, and personality. Don't change! I really need for you to stay encouraged, determined, and TOUGH!!!!! lol Shake off the haters...all around! Draw near to RED! You need his spirit all around right about now! It may seem like too much at times...but remember it may not be good to us but its good for us! Let him love you in his way SASHA!!!!

Love ya,
--
LaRessa J. Seastrunk, BSW, MSW Candidate
A Candle loses Nothing When it Lights Another Candle."

Words written after her diagnosis.

Peace

2 Chronicles 20:15 "..Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Grace ~ Peace

Eva B: Where Consignment meets Boutique and Owner Brings Chic

Eva B--Best Consignment Shop in the City 07/27/2007 Posted by loveconquers

Last winter after being introduced to Eva B Consignment--I took the liberty to shop away--at what I like to call my favorite one-stop shopping consignment in the world. Eva B Consignment is very unique place to shop, for the woman who is looking to stand out in the most unique way. What makes this place so different, rich and unique, is the style that she brings to her establishment. Exotic, competitive, rich in color style and fit, is the best way I can describe some of the items that she hand picks--and consigns. If you have not had the opportunity to stop by and check out this store--take the time, you will not be dissipointed. Her friendly and welcoming nature will lure you in and the quality of her clothing, accessories and high-end shoes, sandals, beautiful vintage jewerly, designer dresses, that feel as if they were tailored to fit your body...will keep you coming back for more and more like me. Frequent customer.

Pros: Vibrant, Amazing Merchandise to choose from, Owner Engaging

Cons: For the Quailty of her Merchendise, a larger space would do
Eva B
603 Centre St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: (617) 971-0013
Website: http://www.evabconsignment.com/

Visit Boston City Search to review and write reviews

http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/44684115/jamaica_plain_ma/eva_b.html

Boutique Metamorphasis

Today was a wonderful day, for many reasons:

One. I had an opportunity of seeing a dear friend - whom I have not seen in a long time. And dually while visiting, I was treated as a valued customer - pampered at her chic consignment and growing boutique with the most elite shopping experience alive, an experience that is always liberating.

After 7 months - she desired as, to catch up and connect. So today, not having much on my plate to consume, I decided to drop in and surprise her in a way she would indeed remember. I find that the the shop houses so many great moments for the two of us, moments of connecting both emotionally and spiritually, moments of sharing laughter and tears. After thinking, I noticed the time.

It was almost six o' clock, I thought to myself: "I don't want to just show up and risk the chance of missing her," so I called. I called and posed as a customer; it was the first reasonable thing that came to mind. So i did. I called and asked, "what time do you close?" Her reply was, "I close at 6p."
Considering it was 6p at that very moment, I asked squeaky voiced as I held the tip of my nose shut, "Is there was any way you could remain open until I make it in ... I shared fairy tale of how I was in a few days ago and saw a few really nice pieces, I desired to purchase and would definitely ... before I could finish she said, "Can you get here in thirty minutes?" I said yes, yes of course, maybe fifteen." She said, "Come, I'll be here."

Much like Eva, the kind of woman who's consideration for others surpasses any one's I've ever seen; one who seeks to give her customers a full 360 shopping experience, adding fashionably sound, genuine advice, a personal sense of flair and assistance. I was not surprised, but I will say I was eager to get there.

Twenty minutes later, I arrived. I walked through the door and she froze. her mouth dropped. She smiled. "Sasha ... " she uttered as she shook her head. I closed the door gently and said, "I guess I am going to have to make a great big purchase, considering you stayed open for me." As it dawned on her that I was in fact the "customer" who called requesting for her to stay open a tad bit longer, she whimsically stated, "You ... " with a contorted facial expression that read, I am going to get you.
I smiled with a I'm here face.
Excited I made it. Excited she stayed. I love Eva. I love her drive, her yielding personality; she's so warm and creative; so crafty and business oriented.

The greatest consignment/boutique store owner I've met, ever.

To give you a picture, I'll say this: Our night began at 6:32 p. It ended roughly two hours later at 8:32p. Primarily because I had a business call to return. Other than that I would have still been in the shop, conversing and shopping, enjoying Italian pastries and feeding her poodle, Gucci dogie treats. Stopping by Eva B, never fails to inspire me - at this time in my life, this visit took me to the a new dimension: a Boutique Metamorphosis I like to call it. I say that because my experience visiting the shop causes on different levels an involving conspicuous similar to the biological process where an animal undergoes a relatively abrupt change, developing and structuring into a woman ... I have and am growing.

The handpicked pieces that I got that evening ... I am so proud of. It's like a treat one is given when they least expect it. Treats filled my bag to the brim.

And I left Eva B with of host of internal inspiration as well. The decor: It was my pleasure to witness the construction of this beautiful shop of hers. Perfect paint lining the walls, assorted with welcoming hues of pink and green, full-length, small sized, metallic, mirrors strategic placed around the shop. New Pieces: Vintage dresses and skirts sectionalized; designer jeans - brand new, capri, wool, cargo and pants in every style imaginable, Bell-bottoms trousers, satin, sleek skinny legged pants -- Shoes: pointy- toed and stylishess sandals, for every occasion. Racks of sweaters jeans and other items marked down - to nearly free.

For me, Eva's meticulous presentation of the multidimensional array of jewelry she sells from fresh water pearls to Judith Jack marcasites - the multitude of signature pieces she hand picks and consigns from customers and, now adding to that list boutiques alike are breathtaking.

The rave and rant for me has much to do with the amazing pieces that I always, find without looking. I mean, it does help to have such a talented buyer such as Eva, as not only the owner of this shop, but also a friend, who knows my style as well as her merchandise - and together combines the two: a fashionista in eyes. Because of her, I stop, shop, converse, connect and metamorphosing in one stop at Eva B's Consignment Shop.
A Blessing it is.

Letters to Shea

Shea!

Woke up at 7 a. Just knew I was going to talk to you.

after an hour of working diligently to connect via skype - having missplaced my credit card, searching for that. Was in the trash outside. lol. Girl, I got through and heard the gentleman at the front desk three times, As I was screaming Shea Rose, please. He kept repeating the welcome to the hotel address. Then it dawned on me, as you said I need a head set. "Good job Sash," I thought. Consistent, I reached back and grabbed head phones of Soliny's and again I could hear the gentleman, but he couldn't hear me. Boooooo! The great news is I have the account activated and money available to talk, just didn't work out for today.

I have the day off and am heading to NYC with Jessica and her husband. Just knew I'd hear your voice this morning 10:16 a - here anyway, so much so, I even tried calling you from my cellular phone. Certainly looking forward to the opportunity to hear your lovely voice, Shea, as soon as I step foot back into Broad Street, it's on lady! You and me - Skypin it.

Love you so ... My prayers of peace, tranquility, love and new revelations are with you.

Freedom

Your Presence

Much like the presence of God,

In your presence I have found peace –

The [very] peace that passeth all understanding

A peace I've dreamed of, which is certain and warm and sincere.

Where radiant energy lives and livens my spirit,

Where exposure is used for healing, to develop and to hone my inner woman.

Your presence, this peace, is unparallel to anything I have ever experienced on earth.

Creating an overwhelming synergy – lifting my heart's desires

And making me whole. To God be the Glory.

The truth in your presence is free, reality is harmonic, visions come alive, and senses are awakened.

It is in your presence much like our Father's – where I am blessed and free

And truly desire to be.

Inspiration at its best

I often find that inspiration, like many life connecting and life changing situations, can come from so many diverse arenas of life. Today I found inspiration on Oprah Winfrey's website via an article by Lisa Schneider on Julia Cameron's: Are You Listening to the Great Creator? In so many ways this inspired me, beyond measure. Article Below:

Since the publication in 1992 of Julia Cameron's creativity handbook The Artist's Way, it has sold more than 2 million copies and inspired people from all walks of life to explore their artistic abilities. Her follow-up book, Walking in This World, offers 12 more weeks of creative how-tos. In addition to teaching workshops and public speaking, Julia is also a poet, playwright, fiction writer, essayist, and journalist. She spoke with Beliefnet about the connections between spirituality and the creative process.

What is the relationship between creativity and faith?

Art used to be made in the name of faith. We made cathedrals, we made stained-glass windows, we made murals. When Michelangelo was flat on his back in the Sistine Chapel, he was in service to something larger and greater than himself. And so artists have always talked about the inner connection to a larger something, and sometimes we call it the muse. But what we are actually talking about is that any time that you are engaged in a creative act, you are engaged in a spiritual act. And that's probably the single most important sentence: Any time we're engaged in a creative act, we're engaged with an inherently spiritual act.

Faith is almost the bottom line of creativity; it requires a leap of faith any time we undertake a creative endeavor, whether this is going to the easel, or the page, or onto the stage—or for that matter, in a homelier way, picking out the right fabric for the kitchen curtains, which is also a creative act. You have to muster a certain amount of belief that you're not making a mistake and you're not a fool. And this means you have to have faith.
Is it faith in yourself, or something else, like a higher power?

Well, I think when you have faith in yourself you are simultaneously having faith in a greater power. If we are all part of an interactive connected universe, which is what I believe, then as we listen to the still, small voice—which is another way of saying the intuition, the hunch, the leading, which are all things that artists must pay close attention to—we are in effect listening to the Great Creator.

We can believe we are being self-reliant and independent, and yet there is still clearly an overarching destiny, a Great Maker. So when we say we have faith in ourselves, we cannot really separate the small self from the large self.

You say that making art is not an act of the mind or the intellect, but of the heart and the soul.

Yes, and I want to be clear about that. We have a culture that is very competitive and also very product-oriented. And artists live within this culture, so there is a tendency to advise artists to think about shrewd career moves and consider the odds and pursue an artistic unfolding much the way someone would climb a corporate ladder.

However, the reality is that, again, if we are living in an interactive and essentially a benevolent universe—and that in itself is a leap of faith for a lot of people—then it comes back down to the idea that every time we make a piece of art, we are in fact having a spiritual experience.

I think creativity is just part of our spiritual DNA, in one form or another. Artists talk about it a lot of different ways. But, essentially, when you're really in the moment of making something—whether you're singing or in acting or painting or writing—you have an experience of something moving through you. And people have that when they get involved with sewing an apron or making curtains or writing a letter. It's that funny sense of altered time—and that's a spiritual experience, although people don't often think of it that way. You know when someone will say, "I looked up, and three hours had gone by." That's because they were absorbed in the now. All spiritual practices talk about getting absorbed in the now.

Walking in This World makes the case that beyond the heart and the soul, the body is also intimately involved in the creative process. How?

When we walk, things tend to become clear to us. You know, a lot of us intuitively know this, like if we have a relationship that's not working very well, we'll go out for a long walk on it. And we'll think, "Oh, we're being so moody," but we may come back saying, "I should stay in it or I have to break up." We automatically access our bodies just from instinct. This is also why if somebody has a trauma, bodywork is often used to release grief.

What I'm hoping to do is to get people to integrate their body into their spiritual practice and into their art. And many times in creative situations, your stomach will start to go crazy, and it'll be, "Don't trust this producer," "This agent isn't right for you." Your body is the first line of defense signaling danger, and so creative people really need to learn to listen to their bodies because often their heads are slower to catch on to something suddenly wrong. We tend to want to lead with our heads. We tend to say, "That's not rational." And actually our intuition—which we access often through walking—our intuition is our early warning system.

As far as doing something physical—can it be anything, or is there something about walking that particularly refreshes your soul?

I think walking is a spiritual practice, an ancient spiritual practice for a good reason. There is something about walking that really integrates the body and heart and psyche. I experience sort of a physical shift when I walk. I can literally feel it in sort of the back of my brain at the top of my head. It's as though I go out on a walk worried, and somewhere, maybe 20 minutes into it, I suddenly am in the moment. And I'm not saying that skating or roller-skating or running don't work, but I think that Aborigines and Native Americans go on walkabouts and vision quests for a reason. And also walking is easy—you don't need any special stuff. Anybody can do it, you can do it anyplace, you could do it in the center of Manhattan, you can do it in Los Angeles—although people stare at you when you don't drive your car. You can do it in New Mexico, you can do it Chicago, you can do it in Des Moines.

You say were called to this teaching. Do you ever feel as if you've started a new religion?

I probably started an old religion more than anything. People will come up to me and say, "The Artist's Way is a Sufi book," or "The Artist's Way is a Buddhist book," or "The Artist's Way is a creative spirituality book or science of mind book." It seems to connect to a great many spiritual pursuits. And I think that's because if you get the barnacles off, most spiritual traditions teach pretty much the same thing. So I think that since art is a spiritual path, and it can be pursued within any number of religions, The Artist's Way is complementary to other religions.

Personally, I think of myself as a working artist. I worry if my plays are going to get done this year, if I'm rewriting my novel. I am very careful that although I do teach, I've spent an equal amount or a greater amount of my time actually making things. So I feel like I've largely dodged the silver bullet of gurudom.

There are also many artists who would never talk about art in spiritual terms at all. And yet they would be having the experience and learning the spiritual lessons exactly the same as a spiritual path, but they would never put it in those terms. I've been a writer for 35 years. This has taught me patience. God knows this has taught me humility. God knows it has taught me to enjoy inspiration and conscious contact when I feel it. These are all the same things that a monk would tell you. If you meet somebody who has done one thing long enough, they've always learned a lot. Someone who's been a baker for 35 years has learned the same lessons as a painter who has learned the same lessons as a monk.

These Times

These Times mark without pretense and uncertainly some of the most gratifying moments of my life, without the red carpet and the bright lights - I stand in an absolutely holy place, one in which I am grateful to have had held for me, as I stumbled, prepared, decided at time to decline from taking a stand - standing in a position so declared. I can say that these times are the very times I have been waiting for, for sometime now. It is a time that has been appointed by the one and only true living God, a time my eyes can see clearly the greater love that he has for me, so much so that he sent his son on the cross to die for my sins, what greater love is there? A love so great that he has walked with me on so many lonely nights, when I felt like giving up he finished the fight, letting me know that the battle is not mine to conquer. Stand still my child - stand still in these times, I'm learning to do just that.