I really enjoyed watching Amanda Gorman, the young poet who spoke at President Biden’s Inauguration. I caught myself wishing that my little girl would one day dream big and then work towards achieving her goals and desires. Go girls, go!!

I really enjoyed watching Amanda Gorman, the young poet who spoke at President Biden’s Inauguration. I caught myself wishing that my little girl would one day dream big and then work towards achieving her goals and desires. Go girls, go!!
Posted in Heart matters, Motherhood/ Parenting
Tagged Amanda Gorman, females, Joe Biden, poets, role model
Here is the blurb:
Now two friends, Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, tell the story of their equally messy and life-affirming Big Friendship in this honest and hilarious book that chronicles their first decade in one another’s lives. As the hosts of the hit podcast Call Your Girlfriend, they’ve become known for frank and intimate conversations. In this book, they bring that energy to their own friendship—its joys and its pitfalls.
An inspiring and entertaining testament to the power of society’s most underappreciated relationship, Big Friendship will invite you to think about how your own bonds are formed, challenged, and preserved. It is a call to value your friendships in all of their complexity. Actively choose them. And, sometimes, fight for them. (less)
I read this book in August and it was amazing so get it. But I don’t want to do a review as much as talk about the one thing it made me think of.
The authors talk about a challenging period in their frendship where they were not getting on and they went for therapy together. Either in the book or in the many podcasts promoting their book I listened to they ask how people resolve conflict in a friendship and the process to get a “friend” therapist a specific type of therapist different from most other relationships.
This made me think of a troubled friendship last year that just fizzled out. We had a misunderstanding – not the first we had in the years of friendship but I suppose we are both moms of little ones now and pressed for time and sleep which probably accelerated it all. And then since then we have just ghosted each other. So this is what the book made me think of:
Having thought that, I think the impasse is a resolution because in the past when I have cared, I have formally spoken about it with a friend so this is an answer of sorts.
How do you resolve conflict in you friendships?
Posted in books, Heart matters
Tagged about me, Aminatou Sow, Ann Friedman, books, Call Your Girlfriend, conflict resolution, female friendship, friendship
And I’ll testify of the battles You’ve won
How You were my portion when there wasn’t enough (That’s right)
And I’ll testify of the seas that we’ve crossed
The waters You parted, the waves that I’ve walked
I am having a tough week and this song has been challenging and speaking to me. Hope you are blessed through it.
There are some things I randomly think of and I am reminded of growing up.
What are some of your own family rituals?
Posted in Heart matters
Tagged family, family rituals, growing up., memories, Nairobi, rituals
Happy Friday also, I am not a Burna Boy fan but this one ….
Talking of love yesterday made me reflect on the type of love I have with my Mr and why it is the perfect love for me/us.
Very early on when we were dating we had a discussion and decided that while we felt we could marry each other we probably needed a longer dating period to confirm this decision. So each year since then, we would discuss whether we were both committed to continuing with each other. Even now on our anniversary dinner, we still ask each other this question as well as reflecting on the past year and dreams for the next.
More than this though was the fact that very early on, he was very clear in his intentions but he also went out of his way to accompany his words with actions. And this meant so much to me especially given the last two people I had liked who couldn’t be bothered with decency. So, our love is thoughtful, not about fireworks but stability – which I have learnt is a value that means so much to me – but it is true to both our characters.
How would you describe your love?
Posted in Heart matters, marriage
Tagged about me, about us, dating, decision making, Heart matters, love, marriage, relationships
I grew up in Church and mostly attended Christian schools right until I completed my Undergraduate studies. So obviously when I started feeling attracted to boys, the Bible somehow also came in.
I am currently doing this study of Philippians with a friend and was reminded of this guy whom I had a crush on and would frequently send him this verse:
I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3
As I have since learnt, it was so out of context but boy did each text message always end in this verse and how thrilled it made me (and I hope him) feel.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
2 Corinthians 13:12
Urgggh to be young and silly again.
Posted in Heart matters, home, life
Tagged active faith, bible verses, faith, love, Philippians, relationships
The lockdown has shown me that there are two types of working people: those with children and those without.
Tweet
I have occasionally thought that of the working parents, some were better than others but today, it hit me as they say in Kiswahili kila mtu apambane na hali yake (each one to contend with their situation / bear their cross). I also read this post that chronicled how some parents are sharing their child care needs – each of us is doing what needs to be done. That is all.
So how are we sharing the responsibilities?
Underscoring all of this is such great privilege that we both kept our jobs and work in fields that allow us to work remotely. Coupled with this is a child who has the beginnings of being resilient and who rolls with the punches given by Mama and Papa.
So how are you coping?
Posted in Heart matters, Motherhood/ Parenting, working
Tagged flexi working, lessons learnt, life lessons, lockdown, Lockdown Joburg, parenthood, parenting, working
Have a lovely Monday and week ahead.
Tagged about, about us, Dorobucci, music, Nigerian Music, OLM, Our Little Miss, Tiwa Savage
Photo by bongkarn thanyakij on Pexels.com
This being Day 8902 of lockdown (not really, it’s Day 54 here) and working remotely as we take care of the 14-month old. I wanted to share the one thing I have learnt about my Mr and new work mate:
He is really passionate about his work. He is genial and well liked and regarded by his workmates. They really respect him too. He is also very serious when at work. Less positively, he hates to do any kind of project admin. Oh and his day involves being in so many meetings / calls.
It’s been interesting to see this side of him as the last time we worked so closely together was back at Varsity.
What have you learnt about yourself or your partner / housemate(s) as you worked from home? If you and your partner regularly work from home, what have you learnt from each other at this time?
Posted in Heart matters, home, life
Tagged about, about us, flexi working, husbands, life lessons, lockdown, relationships, work, working
Photo by Arthur Brognoli on Pexels.com
If I could travel today I would go back to New York, New York ❣️ In addition to Johannesburg, Nairobi and Kampala I am also routing for the city that never sleeps
Where would you go if travel bans were lifted tomorrow.
Posted in Heart matters, home
Tagged city, Johannesburg, Kampala, lockdown, Nairobi, New York, travel, travelling
Photo by Ree on Pexels.com
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
The verses in bold are the ones that are ministering to me in a special way. God is watching out for us and protecting us. He is Sovereign and even the current uncertainty does not diminish His hugeness.
Posted in Heart matters, home, life
Tagged 2020, bible god, Bible Study, bible verses, COVID-19, Johannesburg, lockdown, Lockdown Joburg
In person, these feelings and reflections on the past year are mostly joyful but definitely extremely emotional. I cannot put into words what this year has been like but I would like to try.
Posted in Heart matters, Motherhood/ Parenting
Tagged love, motherhood, mothers love, parenting, pregnancy, relationships
Posted in Heart matters, marriage
Tagged about us, love, relationships, University of the Witwatersrand, Valentines Day, Wits, Witsie4Life
A friend is waiting to have her first baby any time now and a popular blog I read often asks participants what advice they would give a first time mama and only now am I kind of ready to attempt answering that.
Photo by Ree on Pexels.com
Posted in Heart matters, home, life, Motherhood/ Parenting
Tagged advice, babies, bath, birth plan, communication, depression, husbands, motherhood, parenting, partner, post natal depression
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Posted in Heart matters, home, life
Tagged bible god, Bible Study, faith, God, Monday, motivation
Posted in Heart matters, home, life, Motherhood/ Parenting, working
Tagged care work, marriage, motherhood, relationships, unpaid work, wives
Over the holiday I got a bit tired of listening to the same subscribed podcast content so I challenged myself to listen to shows I wouldn’t normally do or I had heard but did not want to commit to full subscription just yet. So here are some of those fantastic episodes.
I know it’s a lot but do yourself a favour and just listen.
Posted in books, design, good, Heart matters, home, life, madness, marriage, Motherhood/ Parenting, school, working
Tagged Becoming, Esther Perel, love, loves, Megxit, Michelle Obama, motherhood, Motherhood Sessions, Podcasts, pregnancy, Radio Diaries, Sunday Listens, Sunday Reads, teenage sex, Womans Hour
At Church we are covering a series on Grace and so far the study has reminded me of two things that I would like to share today.
The definition of grace is “unearned, unmerited and undeserved kindness and favour of God.” Grace is free and has all to do with God and His love for us a sinful, unfaithful and undeserving people.
Sometimes we forget this meaning and so it’s the third thing that we often forget and so I thought it wise to begin there. Now onto the things that I have actually learnt.
I pray that I continue to meditate on these truths always.
Posted in Heart matters, life
Tagged authentic life, Bible, bible god, Bible Study, church, God, Grace, life
Photo by Ree on Pexels.com
I read 38 books in 2018 but with the birth of my daughter I only made it to 21 last year which I am very proud of.
See the full list below.
Key: *** Highly Recommend ** Yeah, why not read it *Nah, only read if you have nothing else (No star) I have no feelings on the book
My book of the year was The Great Believers. This book deals with the burden of being left behind to confront the memories of a sad time. Also, just how far we have come since the first days of the AIDS scourge. Please do yourself a favour and also read it.
Notable mentions were: Home Fire: A Novel and Becoming.
Books I wanted to like but just.did.not: Washington Black
How many books did you get through last year?
Posted in books, Heart matters
Tagged 2019, Becoming, books, Books reading, Cathy Kelly, Home Fire, Kamila Shamsie, Michelle Obama, reading, Rebecca Makkai, Sinead Moriarty, The Believers