My Princess is finally here!

On Thursday, January 14^th, I finally got to meet my Baby Shrimp, my Little Cupcake, my Princess.  

Zendaya Isabell  made her grand entrance at 6:34 PM and weighed 6lbs, 15oz.

She’s the most beautiful human being I have ever laid eyes on.

She’s simply perfect.

 She has changed my world.

She has changed who I am.

She has changed how I think.

There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for her.

There are no words to describe the love I have for her.

I’m looking forward to raising her and spending every second with her.

The meaning of Zendaya is “to give thanks”. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for her. 

I consider myself blessed that He chose me to be her Mommy.

Feel free to share this post on your favourite Social Media Networks.

When you get a chance, please visit my friend Tyrone’s blog. His posts are insightful and very thought provoking. See his blog here.

Thanks for reading and keep smiling :)

Memories of my Grandmother

Sunday, October 25^th marked eight years since my Grandmother passed away. To date, she still remains the most influential woman in my life.

Here are some of my fondest memories of our time spent together:

I remember spending countless weekends with my Grandmother anytime my parents needed a break from me. I would watch her cook and bake. We would sing and take long walks. We always ended our day with a word of prayer.

I remember one time when my Grandmother must have been cooking fried fish and the entire apartment was full of smoke. We went outside and sat on the grass in the front of her building and talked for hours.

I remember when my Grandmother showed us a different way to cook hot dog wieners. She would fry them for us instead of boiling them.

I remember a time when my Grandmother was spending a few months with us after the birth of my last sister. We got into an argument and I made the mistake of talking back to her. All she said to me was, “Wait until your Father gets home”. I think you can guess what happened to me when my Dad got home.  I never made the mistake of talking back to my Grandmother again.

I remember  spending a week with my Grandmother and her telling me that we were going to Sal’s on Saturday morning. I assumed Sal was a friend of hers. Sal’s happened to be a grocery store nearby.

I remember giving my Grandmother a tambourine for her 90^th Birthday. During my stay with her, she played that instrument while singing some of her favourite church songs.

I remember my last moments with my Grandmother while she was in the hospital. I sang “clap your tiny hands” to her. It was one of her favourite children’s songs that she loved to sing to us. It hurt watching her trying to sing and clap along with me but I was so happy that she was still able to respond. Before I left, I read her a few scripture verses.

Other than these memories, my Grandmother was a woman of faith. She loved God with all of her heart. She shared the Gospel with everyone she met. She wanted nothing more than to see her entire family serve Christ.

As much as I miss her, I know that she’s enjoying her time in Heaven with her Creator. She lived 92 years on this earth and her legacy continues to live on.

Grandma, some sweet day we will meet again.

I love you and see you soon!

What are some of your fondest memories of a loved one that has passed away?

Feel free to share this post on your favourite Social Media Networks.


When you get a chance, please visit my friend Tyrone’s blog. His posts are insightful and very thought provoking. See his blog here.


Thanks for reading and keep smiling :) 

These Three Words

Trayvon Martin. Dead at age 17.

Mike Brown. Dead at age 18.

Eric Garner. Dead at age 43.

Sandra Bland. Dead at age 28.

Four individuals who never thought their lives would end so soon.

Four individuals who made plans for tomorrow but their tomorrow never came.

Four individuals who never got to say good-bye to the ones they loved.

Once upon a time we believed that death was only for the elderly. That is no longer the case and has never been the case.

As I read more and more about these high profile police brutality cases and hear about the deaths of loved ones and acquaintances, the more I realize that death is a respecter of no man.

Growing up, my Mom always told me to never be afraid to say these three words:

I am sorry.

I forgive you.

I love you.

If you knew that you weren’t guaranteed tomorrow, how many of you would apologize to those you’ve wronged?

If you knew that you weren’t guaranteed tomorrow, how many of you would tell your enemies that you forgive them?

If you knew that you weren’t guaranteed tomorrow, how many of you would call your family and friends and tell them how much you love them?

Don’t allow pride, grudges or malice stop you from making your wrongs right.

Do what you can today because you don't know what tomorrow holds.

Feel free to share this post on your favourite Social Media Networks.

When you get a chance, please visit my friend Tyrone’s blog. His posts are insightful and very thought provoking. See his blog here.

Thanks for reading and keep smiling :) 

My Dad is a Survivor

Dear Daddy,

This past weekend, I asked our family and friends to use one word to describe you and explain why they chose that word. I chose Survivor. Here’s why.

In May of 2000, you had the biggest scare of your life. You were diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer. 

When you told us, I thought you were joking.

I was confused. You were the healthiest person I knew. You exercised on a regular. You ate right. You took care of yourself. I couldn’t understand why God would allow this to happen to you.

Every night that you spent lying in that hospital bed, I lay in yours begging God to spare your life.

Prior to your diagnosis, we didn’t have much of a relationship. We barely exchanged words to one another other than “Good Morning” and “Good Evening”. If you survived this hurdle, I knew this couldn’t continue. Things would have to change.

I remember visiting you in the hospital and couldn’t help but cry. You had lost so much weight. You were so weak. I wanted nothing more than to see you get better.

I’ll never forget the dream you shared with us while you were in the hospital. In your dream, you had the choice to either choose life or death – you chose life. God granted your request and fifteen years later, you're cancer free!

During the past fifteen years, we have become the bestest of friends. You have stuck by me during the most difficult seasons of my life. You are the first person I call when I have a decision to make. You showed me that you are never too old to try something new. You taught me to never give up.

Thank you for raising me to be the woman I am today. Many of the things I have accomplished thus far is because of you.

As we celebrated your 65^th Birthday this past weekend, I was awe as I listened to those who paid tribute to you. The amount of lives you have impacted in 65 years is out of this world!

Daddy, thank you for being a Godly example of what a Man, Father and Friend should be. May God continue to bless you with good health and allow you to see many more birthdays.

Love Always,

Monique

What word would you use to describe your Dad and why?

Feel to share this post on your favourite Social Media Networks.

Thanks for reading and keep smiling :) 

A tribute to my Mommy

Recently a friend of mine asked me what my dream job would be. My reply was “to be a stay at home Mother just like my Mommy”.

I can’t think of another job that could be more rewarding than raising my children. Being there for all of their firsts.  Attending their class trips. Having them come home to a hot lunch. Being their personal taxi driver and driving them to all of their activities.

No words or gifts will ever be enough to tell my Mommy thanks for all she has done and is still doing for my siblings and I.

After my brother was born, she quit her job to become a stay at home Mom.

She was always on the go driving us to our piano lessons, swimming lessons, basketball practices, art classes and gymnastic classes. 

She attended all of our school plays and graduations.

She read to us and taught us how to read.

 She helped us with our homework.

She baked for our school bake sales.

Every Summer she helped us learn our times tables.

We made plenty of trips to Ontario Place and the CNE during the Summer months.

Every time she went out, she always brought us back a treat or two (Mmm Muffins and McDonald’s apple pie were my favourite!).  

My Mommy wanted nothing more than to see us happy. She always had our best interests at heart. She always put our needs before her own. She always had our back no matter what. There’s nothing my Mommy wouldn’t have done for us. We were her world, her everything!

What are some of your fondest memories of your Mother?

Feel free to share this post on your favourite Social Media Networks.

Thanks for reading and keep smiling :)