Thank God For God

It's Thanksgiving Day in America. As tradition demands, most families - American and otherwise - have spiced and stuffed their turkeys, waiting to bake them as soon as the day breaks. At least, after today, turkeys will stop running around being so nervous - until next year, that is.  But me, I'm not looking forward to the turkey, in spite of the 17-pound one that is currently sitting on the kitchen island. I don't eat turkey. However, this year, I'm especially taking part in the Thanksgiving celebration.

At the beginning of each year, you start off with new resolutions and a renewed sense of hope, hoping that this year will be the year. I did the same thing, too. But from January to October, things just dragged, and most things stayed the same or got worse. According to Folake Taylor in her book, "The Only Way Is Up," (and I'm paraphrasing, I believe), stagnancy in a human being is regression. On that note, I regressed.

Then God looked my way, winked, and said, "Alright child, you've had your hand up for a while. Here's some bread for you." Life got better in many ways, some more quantifiable than others. I don't know what to call it when you wake up each morning suddenly believing (not just thinking) that you will make it, that God is with you, and that things can only get better. It's like you've been injected with faith on steroids. That's how my November has been.

And I was confused about someone, telling myself, in spite of all the spiritual and mental nudges I got, that maybe this person wasn't so bad after all. And then, God said *insert Ebonics*  "Chile! I'ma give you one more sign, and after that, you on your own, gurl!" To which I said (also in Ebonics), "Oh! So that's what you was tryna tell me!" I think God said, "Duh!"

My confidence, creativity, go-getter spirit, and optimism have been turned back on. I never lost my creativity per se, but I lost my go-getter spirit. Some people did not even know that I had it. I was so down last month, not knowing where to go next, or if to even go. As always, I did a terrific job of masking it. But God, the All-Knowing, Omni-Present One, He saw right through me.

For my life, my parents' lives, my friends' lives, my present, my past, and my future, I thank God for God.

Happy Thanksgiving Day.

Vera Ezimora on Facebook ||| Vera Ezimora on Twitter

Who Stole My Jesus?

My mother is a relentless Catholic. So it was no surprise to me when she said insisted that I hang a rosary on the rear-view mirror of my car.  I did it just to make her happy. A couple of months later, I changed my mind and took it off. She came at me with a determination that could not be matched. I don't remember what her reasons were, but all I know is that at the end of her speech tyrade, I hung the pink rosary bank on my rear-view mirror.

It's not as if I had a problem with hanging the rosary on my rear-view mirror. Rather, I felt like my mom was not putting her faith where it needed to be : in Jesus.  But that's a story for another day. The climax here is that I recently noticed something strange. The Jesus that has been hanging on my pink rosary has suddenly vanished.  Yes, vanished!!

Once upon a time, there used to be a Jesus, crucified on a white plastic cross, and hanging at the end of that rosary where there's a loop.  Now, both Jesus and his white cross have vanished. Whatever would have caused this? I know I have my issues, but goodness, I hope I did not make the Jesus that was on the rosary to just walk away.  It's been the strangest thing, I tell you.  

In light of this recent confusion, I am now proposing that the FBI, CIA, and Whatever-The-Nigerian-Ones-Call-Themselves all come together and search for my Jesus. This is an outrage! A girl should not have to drive her car without her hanging Jesus. It's simply unacceptable.  And to make matters worse, the culprit(s) is (are) not asking for a ransom to release my Jesus.  An internal investigation will commence at once.  All readers, bloggers, listeners, twitters, facebookers, friends, family, and lurkers of Vera Ezimora will be considered as primary suspects.  Everyone is advised to not leave town at this time. Leaving town would be a very suspicious move.

Some theories have already been formed as to the whereabouts of the Jesus that once hung on a white plastic cross and dangled from my rear-view mirror:

1.  He got tired of hearing Vera scream, "What the heck is wrong with you?!" at all the drivers on the road.

2.  He got tired of Vera blasting her music and dancing while driving. 

3.  Vera's driving made his life feel endangered.

4.  When Vera rolled her window down, a terrible wind blew, and it blew him off the rosary.

5.  Funmie entered Vera's car, spotted the white crucifix, and stole him while Vera wasn't looking. He has since been living in Funmie's wallet.

6.  An anti-catholic broke into Vera's car and stole the Jesus and his crucifix from the rosary.

7.  The Jesus got tired of hanging from a pink rosary.  Him, pink??? No way!!!

8.  Being suspended from a girl's rear-view mirror was just not his idea of going into the world and spreading the gospel.

9.  After Vera played Yori Yori (by Bracket) over and over --- over, he decided that He couldn't take it anymore.  How can a person play Yori Yori for so long?

10.  Let's face it. He got tired of watching Vera play with her breasts while driving.  It was quite distracting disgusting to say the least.

So, what say you?

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Save The Date --- Not!

I'm an avid billboard reader. I love them. So, it wasn't new or unexpected when I stretched my neck to read the big billboard on Pulaski Highway and Ebenezer Road. After reading the big red font, "Save The Date!" I anticipated that it would be some kind of fun event --- like a romantic cocktail dinner that's open to all. Perhaps, I have been over obsessing over the cocktail dinner I will be attending this weekend.  And I get to bring a date, too. Yes! But I digress.

Instead of a romantic cocktail dinner, the billboard instructed me to save the date of May 21st 2011 because on that day, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ would allegedly be coming back.  That's right. Jesus is coming back on that day. I drove past that billboard several times and read it over and over - not on the same day, of course. Finally, it dawned on me that this billboard is 100% Verastic material.  So, here we are today.

Billboard announcing the alleged date of the return of Christ

The billboard is sponsored by wecanknow.com and according to them, well, we can know --- the day Jesus Christ is returning.  Curious, I visited their website. On there, they cited several passages from the bible like Luke 24:45 "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures," Amos 3:7 "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets," Nehemiah 8:8 "They read from the book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being said," and Daniel 11:33 "Those who are wise will instruct many...," The continuation of this last verse [which was not included on their website] is "...Though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered."  Guess there was no need to complete the verse.

It's simply remarkable how we can all read the bible and interpret it to fit us personally. Sometimes, it's a good thing. Christianity, after all, is a personal race. Other times, it puts our gag reflex in an excited mode.  While the owners of this outlandish belief must have meant their website and billboard for good, I, on the other hand could not help but remember a Nigerian man who - in all seriousness - believed that he did not need to tell his wife about his finances because in Matthew 6:3, it says, "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."  As far as he was concerned, he was obeying the scriptures.  Who cares if the scripture was referring to giving to the needy (not to marital relationships)?  Makes a lot of sense why Hosea 4:6 says "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge."

I don't know it all.  I am not under the illusion that I know even half of it. There are questions I have that I have resolved to not knowing until I meet God.  But this much I know: we cannot know the day Jesus Christ returns. It does state clearly, without riddles or proverbs, without ifs, buts, or maybes in Matthew 24:36-44 that "³⁶"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.   ⁴²"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

My people, shine your eyes.

Oh, Happy Day!!

April fourth = Dad's birthday.

This April 4th period wasn't different from the April 4th period last year.  On Friday, April 2nd, mom and dad argued about dad's birthday.

Mom: Your birthday is even coming up sef.

Dad: Whose birthday?

Mom: Yours

Dad: Oh, yes! It's today

Mom: No, it's on the 4th.

Dad: No, it's today.

Mom: Noooo, your birthday is on the 4th of April.

Dad: Oohhh, you're right.  It's on the 4th oh!

Every year, we go through this.  The man never remembers his birthday.  I'm starting to believe that he doesn't even know how old he is.  How does one forget his own birthday?  Mine is on the 14th of January.  From the 15th of January, I am already planning all the gifts I intend to receive for the next birthday.  This year, I don't have a long post like I did last year. 

Happy birthday, daddy.  I love you more than I can ever tell or show.  I thank God for His obvious hands on your life.  I thank God for preserving you till today, and I pray He continues to preserve you and that He blesses you with health, long life, and prosperity.  Amen.

Happy Easter everyone.  Christ is risen.

Fotunatus Is Totaled

Totaled!

Remember that little accident I had on Sunday morning, the one that gave Fotunatus a dent and caused him to be rushed to the hospital?  Well, that little accident wasn't so little.  My insurance called and gave me the grim news: "Ma'am, unfortunately, due to the extent of the damage of your vehicle, we're gonna have to count it as a total loss."

Wonder where my hubcap flew to.  Mystery.

Up close and personal

Still up close and personal.

Really, really up close and personal.

I did not know how to respond. I just cried silently as the insurance agent spoke.  And this time, it wasn't the puff puffs that I was crying for.  Fotunatus is was is was is a white twelve year old Toyota Corolla.  He never gave me any problem whatsoever.  The last thing that I feel like doing right now is going car-hunting.  I neither have the time, the money, nor the desire to do so.  My insurance is going to give me some money, the amount they have deemed to be the value of the vehicle.  I'd really rather have the vehicle back.

As I type this post now, tears of anguish, anger, and frustration are messing up my otherwise flawless foundation.  But Bro. W, a guy from my church, just called to check up on me.  He didn't see me in church on Tuesday, so he was wondering what happened.  I didn't tell anyone about the accident - even though it happened before church on Sunday, and I still got a ride to church.

Bro. W said I shouldn't worry, that God would never forget His own, that everything happens for a reason, and that at the end of this, His name would be glorified.  He also gave me a proverb. He said my case is like that of a King's palace that gets burnt.  When it gets burnt, people think it's a thing of shame, but what they don't know is that it is a good thing because the burning of the palace would cause it to be rebuilt into a finer, stronger structure.

Very well then.  God, the ball is in Your court.  Do with me and Fotunatus as You please.  Oh, men, I miss Fotunatus.  I cannot believe it's over for us.  I went over there on Friday and took all my things out --- and that includes the puff puff.  I left the air freshener though.  Just because we're parting ways does not mean he should stop smelling good.  For the record, I did not intend to eat the puff puffs.  I was just going to give them to Funmie.  She wouldn't have known how stale they are until she took a bite out of them.

The famous puff puffs!  I don't know what happened.  These puff puffs looked a lot yummier before the accident.  Okay, I guess she would have known they're stale.

I'm done crying.  Operation Find-Serakus has officially begun.  Yeap, Serakus is the next car's name.  Lucky him/her!  I don't even know if Serakus is a male or a female name.

This Is It

For 2009.

This year, like all the ones before it, has been unpredictable.  I want to tell you about how I had good times and bad times, how I went to bed crying and woke up laughing, how I got so frustrated so many times that certain things were not how and where I wanted them, how I sat in my car and cried to myself, and to God, and then, wiped my tears and came inside the house with a counterfeit smile plastered on my face because I did not want mom to be worried.  I want to tell you about how I stayed financially-challenged throughout the entire year, but somehow, I always managed to make it by, and at the end, I even had some change.  But I won't tell you these things.J

Today is the 29th day of December.  In two days, the year will be over.  Still, I am expectant.  There are things I asked begged asked and begged God to do that He has not done, and since, to Him, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day [2 Peter 3:8], I'll keep my hands open for His blessings and favor.

As I reflect on the 116 posts I put up this year - the post you're currently reading makes it 117 - I cannot help but reflect on the state of my mind when I put those posts up.  Here are some of them, in chronological order: I think about my post on February 2nd, the one where I celebrated my blog's anniversary by answering everyone's questions.  And I think of Valentine's Day, a day that started out being as plain as Thursday, a day I planned on staying home and saturating my mind with Nigerian movies that test and insult my intelligence, and a day that ended up being the best Valentine's Day of my life.

And I think about April 1st, and how I blogged about my engagement, the one that never happened.  I enjoyed the comments so much that I almost forgot I was not even engaged.  Sometimes, my ring finger feels empty, as if something is missing.  Strange.  How can it miss what it has never had?  And I think about May 7th, the day I blogged about the shoes that fit.  That was the day Mr. Shoes got his famous name.  I love the name, by the way.  

I think about the launch of my online radio on June 23rd, and I think about the fickleness of my voice and the anxiety of my heart, and I cannot help but smile at the overwhelming support I received that day, and all the days that have followed.  And I think about July 5th, and the emotions with which I blogged about the home-going of Mommy Shoes (Mr. Shoes' mom) who left us on June 20th.  It was with sadness, reluctance, grief, anger, and an understandable but questionable sense of betrayal by God that I put that post up.  

And on October 20th, I blogged about the 17-day fun I had with Mr. Shoes, the private resort he took me to, the Shawarma Pita I tasted for the first time, the almost-revolting tall cup of tea he made me drink because of my cold, and my inability to pass said cold on to him (Oh, I didn't mention this inability in that post).  And finally, on December 4th, I featured a few generous vendors who offered some wonderful discounts on their products.  It was my first time featuring vendors, and by God's grace, I'll do it again.

I apologize for the rather extensive post.  The point of it is to say Thank You.  Thank You for all your love and support, and to show my appreciation, I now present you - yes, you, dear reader - with this certificate of appreciation (click on certificate to magnify it).

***See you in 2010!  Happy New Year!!!***

My Husband Is Pregnant With My Baby

So I was working on my laptop the other day, not paying any particular attention to what was on the television, until I thought I imagined a voice saying, "My husband is pregnant with my baby..." Naturally, that got my attention.

It turned out I had not imagined it. The voice really did say that her husband was pregnant with her baby. The only thing is that the voice belonged to a male. So it was a male then who said, "My husband is pregnant with my baby..." Wait, huh??? You're probably as confused as I was when I was watching it. Let's start from the beginning. Assume that the person who said, "My husband is pregnant with my baby..." is a female - the wife. Yes, I know I'm confusing you, but let's take it from there:

• The female and wife [who said her husband was pregnant] used to be a male, but had been transitioning into a female for the past ten years - hence the female-looking parts and gender role switch.
• The male and husband [who was pregnant] used to be a female, but had been transitioning into a male for the past two and half years - hence the male-looking parts and gender role switch.
• Sooo... the husband in this household actually used to be a woman. And the wife in this household used to be a man. Are you with me thus far? Good.

How then did the husband [who used to be a woman] end up being pregnant??? Well, easy. The woman [who used to be a man] mistakenly got him [her?] pregnant. I say mistakenly because they didn't know it was possible - considering how much hormones they have consumed. The pregnant husband didn't even know that he [she?] was pregnant until seven months into the pregnancy. He just thought he was gaining weight. The couple plans on breast-feeding the baby. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? WHOSE BREASTS??? .... and CAN I WATCH???

I cannot pretend that I understand what it means to be transgendered. From what I have heard and read, I am grateful that I have never had to, do not now, and by God's grace, will not ever have to be confronted with the dilemma of deciding what sex I want to be. I can say, however, that in all things, God must truly take all the Glory. This couple has done almost everything to not be what God made them. I have no right to judge, of course. But it's very interesting that in spite of this, God has made the man do what men do to women when they enter them: get them pregnant. So Who gets the Glory?

This must be God's way of reminding everyone that He is God - the Alpha and the Omega. The Beginning and the End. He that openeth and no one shuteth; He that shuteth, and no one openeth - literally. I've always known that God has an incredible sense of humor. This is just another living proof.

P.S. The husband is now in labor. You should hear him. He sounds just like a woman. I never thought I'd see the day that a man would have labor contractions, breathe through pursed lips, be dilated, push a baby out, and scream 'Oh, God!' the entire time. Oh, that's right. She isn't a man. But don't tell her I said so.

I Love You, Tomorrow

Considering what will be happening tomorrow, I should not even be saying that I love tomorrow. Considering what will be happening tomorrow, I should be dreading it and wishing it will never, ever make it here, but if tomorrow doesn't come, neither will next tomorrow, and all the other days that I hope for.

I liken it to cooking a pot of goat peppersoup from scratch. By scratch, I mean, the goat is still alive. So first, you have to kill the goat, roast it to burn off its fur, cut its meat into pieces, etc, you get the point .... before you actually start cooking. It may be a lot of work, but when you get to the end, the result is pure bliss, no? Of course, by then, you might be too tired too eat, but let's not factor that into this analogy, or it will ruin it for me. Oh, and I realize that the idea of killing and roasting a goat might not be very appealing to vegetarians and the animal whatever-they-call-themselves, but please, I'm Nigerian. We kill and eat goat meat. Deal with it.

My point? I'm not very happy about what will be happening tomorrow. But I know that tomorrow would have to happen in order for all the other plans to also come to pass - all by God's Grace. So I welcome tomorrow with open arms - not because of what she will bring me, but because of what the days after her will bring. Is there anyone else who is not looking forward to tomorrow? Just me then? Okay.

Speaking of tomorrow, Verastically Speakin' will not be airing live this Saturday. I'll be back on the 24th of October 2009 with The Nigerians Did It. We'll be talking about the Sony PS3 commercial (which I have embedded below) and the District 9 movie - which I unfortunately cannot embed, especially if I want to keep Verastically Livin running. You know how it is.

It's Not What It Looks Like

Yes, it's not what it looks like. I can explain. I usually update my blog at about midnight (U.S. Eastern time) because then, it feels like I have updated at the beginning of the day. But it's already past 5pm right now, which means it's also past 10pm GMT and past 10pm Nigerian time. Ah... most of the day is gone already. I know it might look like I did not update this blog early enough, but it's not what it looks like; I can explain. Of course, I can.

You see...

First, I was amazed by this valley of clouds

Then I was mesmerized by this pillar of clouds...

And then ... this mountain of clouds captivated me...

Does anyone else feel like just dropping on these clouds? Sincerely, Tempur-Pedic Bed must have nothing on these clouds' comfort!! I'm now working on how to build vacation homes - or maybe just vacation spaces - on the clouds - where people can just come and well --- vacation. Any architects want to take this project up????

So yes, I was suspended several thousand feet in the air when I took this picture. My camera phone does not do it justice. The clouds, as you can imagine, look way better in person. Wish I could take a little bit back home as souvenir.

As you can clearly see, there is a perfectly legitimate explanation for why this post did not appear earlier.

It's The 3rd Day

It's the third day since I last updated [on the 24th]. According to the unwritten - well, they're written somewhere on the blog, but they're not written on stone ... obviously - rules of Verastically Livin,' I'm due for an update today. Problem is, I'm not quite sure what to blog about.

Perhaps, this qualifies as one of those random posts. Yeah, you know the ones where you start off believing you have nothing to blog about, and then you begin to write about how you have nothing to blog about, only to end up with an entire post about how and why you don't have what to blog about --- but will go ahead and mention a few random thoughts anyway. Yeah, this is one of those.

On that note...

• I bought a water bottle from Wal-Mart that takes 2.2 L of water [which is equal to 8 glasses of water]. We are recommended to drink 8 glasses of water per day, so I figured I'd give it a try. Sooo not easy! Been walking around feeling like water-filled balloons are dancing around in my belly. I'm pretty sure that if you poke my belly with a pin, you'll be able to host a pool party.

• Have you ever felt like so many things are just going on at the same time? Ever knelt down to pray and not even known what to pray for or how to pray for it? Ever wished you could confront God face-to-face and ask Him some personal questions, but then, as quickly as that wish came to you, a thought popped up in the back of your mind, and you say to yourself [or maybe out loud], "God forbid! I don't want to confront Him. I'll die the day I see His face?" No?? Just me then. Okay.

• "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow/ Because He lives, all fear is gone/ For I know .. oh.. oh.. oh.. He holds my future/ And life is worth living just because He lives..." It'd be a lot easier for me to embrace the future if I know what it has in store for me. I sing that song to make myself feel better. And no, I am neither depressed nor contemplating suicide, thank you very much. My confusingly identical twins still have to be invented and born. Am I looking forward to that or what???

• Speaking of the invention of children, I look forward to that. The process of coming up with different ways and styles that are most suitable for the invention of said children has to be pretty darn interesting. [Case in point: I heard that when the woman stays upside down immediately after the act of invention, it better increases the chances of a successful invention]. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, move on. You'll know soon enough.

• Switching to yet another random topic: yesterday on Verastically Speakin' Talk Radio was off the chains...and I'm not just saying that because I'm the host. Oh, what the heck? That is why I'm saying it. But it really was off the chains. This time, I'm serious. Topic was Be Lucrative Or Die Trying. Click HERE to listen. Okechukwu Ofili and Iceberg Slim co-hosted. At the end, we played Iceberg's new song, "Nigerian Girls" featuring Sauce Kid. Good stuff.

• Back to this future thing ... I approach it with some trepidation. I need things to be stable. If you were to ask God what Vera is thinking of Him, He'll say, "She thinks I'm the unstable one, but has she looked at herself lately??? I'm the Unchangeable Changer!"

• Speaking of that name, "Unchangeable Changer" ... for the longest time, I couldn't make sense of it. I thought it was another ludicrous name/phrase Nigerians had come up with. You know how we are. I get it now. He's the God who changes things, but He never changes. Oooohh. Cool beans!!! God is such a cool Man!! [Sorry, I can be slow some times.]

• Next week Saturday, we'll be asking [on Verastically Speakin' Talk Radio] 'Who Is A Submissive Wife???' I'm working on getting a second co-host. In the meantime in between time - gosh, I love saying that - why don't you do help your sister out again? See the poll on the top right sidebar? Yeap, that one. Tell me what you think. When you're done, click HERE to set up you reminder for the show. It's going to be the same time on Saturday, Oct 3rd at 10am U.S EST/3pm GMT. E-mail radio@verastic.com for comments/questions/suggestions.

• Blogger really needs to come up with a way to attach music to a post. They want me to do podcasts and all that ish? Seriously??? I just want to attach an mp3 file! Bear with me. Enjoy this video below. It's not an actual video. It's Iceberg Slim's song. It's the only one I could find on YouTube. Wasn't my favorite choice [seeing as Sauce Kid was spelled as Sauce Ki ...right there in the first two seconds of the video. Driving me nuts, I tell you.], but I had no other option. Does anyone know an easier way to attach songs? I think Wordpress does a better job at this. Come on, Blogger... you're better than this!

... And I thought I had nothing to blog about!JJJ

Shall We Call This An 'Irony' Then?

Some weeks ago, my Pastor preached about the wicked hearts and intentions of men (men meaning human beings). He talked about how you can shake a person's hand and the person will have some kind of charm in the palm of his/her hand. He talked about how imperative it is to always be prayerful - specifically sanctifying everything about us with the Blood of Jesus.

Now, I know this may raise some controversy. Some people might see this as a scare tactic, which I understand, but you have to also consider and understand that "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds..." 2 Cor 10:4 (I'm usually an NIV babe, but for this verse, I like the KJV better).

Pastor made it a point to say, "I am not saying you should not shake anyone's hands..." and for the most part, we all got the point, but I think everyone [that was alert during the service] left thinking, "So this what the world has come to??? I kuku [even/definitely] suspected that that hand shake Obi gave me last week was just too long and warm for comfort. When did we start Geography that we're drawing map like that?"

Or maybe I was the only one thinking that.

The following week, a very smart doctor came to give us some Health Education (my term, not hers or the church's). She talked about how the flu has been going around and all that stuff - something that anyone in America - especially those in the cold regions know. She educated us on the regular flu and the swine flu. And then she stressed the importance of washing our hands and using hand sanitizers.

Here's where it gets tricky. I wash my hands several times a day. I wash my hands so many times that Busola has started calling me obsessive compulsive - which I am not, by the way - and I wash my hands so many times that the palms of my hands are now hard - a damage I do not think I can reconcile. But hand sanitizer?!?!?! I do not do hand sanitizers. They stink. They burn my eyes. (Do they have ammonia in them?) And they make my hands white. So, me, hand sanitizer?!?! Puh-lease!

Alright, fine, I gave in and bought myself a bottle of hand sanitizer - all in the quest to not catch any kind of flu. But in my defense, it is the lavender flavor! I actually went to the baby aisle to get this hand sanitizer. They don't sell it [the lavender flavor] in the regular hand sanitizer aisle. But I digress... After hearing those two speeches (the one about charms and the one about needing to wash your hands always), you can imagine how paranoid I have been.

The hand sanitizer stays in the car. Every time I enter the car, I sanitize my hands and smile because I am confident that come rain, come shine, I will not catch any kind of flu. So why am I sitting on my bed breathing from my mouth with both nostrils completely stuffed??

Oh, yeah, I know why!! They (Pastor & the smart medical doctor) forgot to warn us about seven year olds in second grade who can and will bring the flu home from school. Greeeaaaaattttt. And to think I took so much precaution! Now I'm stuck sipping on a hot cup of Theraflu every 6 hours. I hate Theraflu. Even more, I hate this flavor that's been given to me. Apple & Cinnamon. Seriously?!?! I don't do anything cinnamon.

Aaagghh, flu. I hate you so. I think I need a refund on my hand sanitizer.

P.S. Please check the schedule for upcoming Verastically Speaking shows (on the top left sidebar). It's been a little a lot crazy around here, but it's better now. The show will resume its regular schedule on Saturday, September 26th 2009 @ 10:00 AM EST (3:00 PM GMT). And for all the stalkers lovers of Ekene Agabu... he's back...!!! But don't say I told you so. You never knew Ekene was even here??? Well then.... get acquainted HERE.

P.P.S. The other co-hosts' names will be added as time goes on [before the show]. Don't forget to click on the show title to set up your reminders.

He's Such A Romantic!!!

I might be wrong, but I think that most girls every girl dreams of some form of romance from a man. What one girl considers as romance might not be what the next girl considers as romance. If most girls are like me, then they spend a better part of their day dreaming of romantic fairy tales. What we fail to see is that the thing we're looking for in foreign lands is right at home with us.

And that is how it happened. As far as I am concerned, I have only met one very romantic (thoughtful) human man. Only one other Man supercedes him. And that is God. Even though I laughed about it and always tried to add a little humor to the posts, the fact is that I was quite nervous and afraid about the turn out of the radio show.

In my head, I did everything I could have done. I e-mailed everyone. I facebooked. I twittered (tweeted??). I blogged. And I did the word of mouth, of course. Still, I have never done radio before. I have never taken any class on radio. And talk radio is not like writing or blogging where people cannot hear your nervousness. A "talk" radio will be pretty useless if there is no one there to "talk."

But God, in his awfully romantic nature, came through for me. I don't know why. I am so grateful and pleasantly surprised at the outcome of the radio show. I have no idea how to thank the callers, listeners, downloaders, writers [e-mailers & commenters], and especially, the bloggers.

Tobenna called all the way from Nigeria. Babz and Danny called from U.K. GNG and Ms. O called from Canada. Diamond called from Georgia. No Limit and a bunch of others were in the chatroom giving me a headache with their funny talks. Baroque, Sribbles, Jaycee, My Own Thing, and NaijaDude all helped by sending e-mails and leaving comments on the topic. My friends and acquaintances here in Maryland came through too. Mr. Shoes didn't disappoint me either. He has even become my unpaid manager. He's so sexy when he talks business and statistics. LOL. I've promised to make him custard for payment. The only problem with my payment plan is that he doesn't like custard.

Funmie, my wonderful co-host, she did a fantabulous job. Thanks, Funmie! Mr. Shoes says we work well together. Apparently, we have chemistry. So what do you say we take this to the next level? We open a joint account with your next paycheck? :-)

For the first five minutes of the show, I was crazy nervous. When the countdown began, my heart was thumping. I'm surprised it (the sound) didn't come through on the radio show. My evil cordless phone kept ringing. Do you know that I disconnected the phone AND pulled out its battery? Yet, it kept ringing! Devil... no dey try my patience ooo!

I owe God. I can't ever pay Him, I know. But I just know that I owe Him. He went beyond my expectations. I'd like to take credit for this, but Heaven knows I didn't do it all by myself. I can't take credit for anything @ all. He gave me the brain to think of the concept; He gave me the fingers to type the words for announcements, and He most certainly gave me the mouth to speak on the radio. I'm not sure what part I played in this, if any.

Now, if only every man could be like Him?

P.S. Thanks to all those who left comments on the previous post. Sorry I haven't responded. I'v read them all. I'll respond shortly. I'll put up topics for upcoming shows. E-mail me @ radio@verastic.com if you have any questions/comments/stories/show ideas. As always, the show can be listened to online www.blogtalkradio.com or downloaded for free.

P.P.S. If I give God an e-mail address @ verastic [God@verastic.com or Chineke@verastic.com], do you think He will use it? Or do you think He will crash the entire system?? If He'll use it, then I [as the administrator] can secretly control His account and approve all my prayers ASAP. I might even suspend His account if He doesn't comply with my demands. The power of a website administrator! Good stuff, I tell you. Living life on the fast lane.

P.P.P.S. My last two sentences just confirmed my fear: I need to get a social life.

P.P.P.P.S Goodnight.

If I Could Go Back In Time...

I would. If I could go back in time and undo so many stupid things I did, I would. If I could go back in time, back to when I was innocent and clueless about the sins and wickedness of the world, I would. If I could go back time and take a different path, get to know God sooner, be a lot wiser, I would. But I can't.

So I cannot help but wonder, what would have happened if Eve had not fallen for the devil's antics? What would have happened if the devil never succeeded in fooling Eve? What would have happened if the devil did not succeed in fooling Eve or anyone else? Where would we be today? Would we still be parading the naked in the garden of Eden? Would we still not know the difference between good and bad?

If Eve had not fallen, would the punishment for men and women be non-existent? If Eve had not fallen, men would not have to toil for the upkeep of themselves and their family. Women would not suffer the pain of childbirth. But I also wonder, would there be menstrual cycles, or is that just as a result of Eve's sins? Would there be sex, or is that part of knowing the difference between good and evil. If there is no sex, how would we have children? Oh, yeah... just like the Virgin Mary did. If there is no child birth, how would we give birth? Are we gonna wake up one morning and discover we are now parents?

Without Eve's sin, does that mean there would be no money? After all, [the love of] money is the root of all evil. Without Eve's sin, does that mean there would be no such thing as having a career et al? Why have a career since there is no such thing as money? After all, money is what compels us to have careers. Without the sin of our first parents, there would be no cancer, no HIV, no heart disease, no diabetes, no headaches. Nothing. We'll be perfect. No birth deformities. No broken bones. No unusual genes causing unusual illnesses like down syndrome. No sickle cell anemia.

How would we get married? Would we still court/date? Would there be any such thing as kissing? Would oral sex exist? Fingering? Anal sex? Fetishes? If the sins of our first parents were non-existent, there will be no betrayal. No cheating. No hate. No insecurities. No infidelities. No barreness. No troubles. No enemies. No prejudice.

No hurricanes. No fires. No air crashes. Would we even have air planes? No mudslides. No tsunamis. No hails. No erosions. No volcanos. No tornados. No mistakes. Will we have doctors? If we did, they would never, ever make mistakes. Everyone will be perfect. Everyone will be happy. Perfect. Happy. Perfect. Happy. Perfect. Happy and perfect. We'll spend our days praising God. Singing of His goodness and awesomeness. Adoring Him. Magnifying Him.

Ah, Adam and Eve, una fall my hand oooo! See the kin life I for dey live. I woulda been rolling deep, living the good life, life on the fast lane (with God, of course). Chei. Now, I'm stuck with tryna fight the damn devil everyday. Now I'm stuck with binding and casting, rejecting and refuting, praying and hoping, believing and trusting.

God dey sha.....!!!

Disclaimer: Dear God, this is not an indication that I am craving Heaven right now - at least not the Heaven that is in Heaven. If there is a way for me to experience Heaven while still on earth, then please, Father, bring it on! Yes, yes, I will meet You some day, but not anytime soon. When I'm 114, I'll come meet You. That's what we agreed on, remember?

Feeling A Bit Down

UPDATE: Thank you all for all your wonderful comments, e-mails, and offline messages.  I'm sorry I didn't update yesterday.  I'm feeling a lot better.  Expect my update tomorrow.  Thanks!!!

I know I'm supposed to update today, but I'm not feeling too good.  I'm running a mysterious fever and just generally feeling sick.  Can't explain how I'm feeling.  Mom asked, "How am I supposed to carry someone who has broken hips?  If you don't tell me how you're feeling, I can't help you."  I'll tell her how I'm feeling once I figure it out.  

I'm cold even though it's hot.  Cold goosebumps have nested on my arms, telling me I'm cold.  Yeah, thanks for telling me.  Every deep breath I take, the goosebumps fatten.  They must feed on oxygen.  Or maybe they feed on carbon dioxide.  They fatten when I exhale.  Yeah, definitely carbon dioxide.  I've popped a couple of ibuprofens.  Hope to be better by morning.  Will update in three days.  Hate feeling like this.

Anyone know if goosebumps can be auctioned on Ebay?  Everything sells on Ebay.  When I exhale, my scalp itches. Feels like the hairs on the center of my head are all standing.  They must be congregating, literally having a meeting on my head.  They ought to keep it quiet - or at least limit their movement.

Seriously feel like crying.  Did I mention I hate feeling like this?  Maybe my body is just tired. Mom thinks I've eaten too many peanuts in the last couple of days.  [Funmi brought some Naija peanuts back, and I've been munching away - with soaked garri, of course.  Come to think of it, that's all I've eaten today.  A bowl of garri, peanuts & sugar].  Maybe I've taken in too much sugar recently.  I don't know.  Doubt if it's the peanuts.  They're so pretty.  They have to be innocent.  But sugar is evil.  It tastes so sweet, but one never knows its intention in the body.

I'm asking, praying, and hoping that the long, healing arm of God touches me and cleanses me completely - from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet.  I'll also prefer for the blood of Jesus to replace my blood.  His blood is wayyy cooler.  It heals, protects, and cleanses.  Mine is just blood.  Regular good ol blood.  It's Verastic blood, but blood nonetheless.  I'll be well tomorrow.  I'll be cleansed completely.  It's been written.  So shall it be.  Amen.  I'll feel better tomorrow.

Well, I just wanted to come here and write two lines or so, telling you that I'm down.  So much for being too weak to update.  I think I've just updated.  May the Lord be praised.  So have me in your prayers, please.  Even if you have other things to pray about - which I'm sure you do - just cancel them all and put me first.  No, it's not selfish of me to request that of you.

I'll be back.  Miss me.  Seriously, miss me.  I'll be checking everyone's Verastic Missometer, and God help you if you're not missing me.  Don't be found not missing me.  

Ironic, huh?

Something funny has been happening these days.  I step out of the car, lock it (with the remote), walk toward my destination, and then, suddenly feel like I didn't lock the car.  So I just walk right back to the car to make sure it's locked.  So far, every time I have come back, the car has been locked.  I laugh at myself sometimes.  I wonder why I bother coming back every single time (knowing somewhere in my heart that the car is locked), but it's because I never remember locking it.

On the contrary, some days, I am too sure about locking the car (what's that they say about being too sure again?); I walk to my destination (sometimes my destination is my home; I'm retiring for the night), and I settle down with easeness and calmness.  And confidence.  And assurance.  Because I know I locked the car.

But then I come back to the car later (or in the morning), and I am almost shocked out of my pants.  Except that sometimes I'm not wearing pants (trousers).  Or maybe my pants are too tight, so I can't really be shocked out of them.  But I digress.  My car isn't locked.  It's wide open.  One time, the back passenger window at the right was winded down.  But my car is always safe.  And so is everything in it - not that there is much anyway.  I only have a box of tissue sitting on the front passenger seat.  Sometimes, a few sheets of paper on the back seat.

But I cannot help but wonder, why do I even bother locking this car?  It's evident that I am not the reason why the car has not been broken into.  Someone higher than me has been watching over it.  Locked or unlocked, if someone wanted to, someone would break into it.  But someone has not wanted to.  No one has wanted to.  

So He that watches over me also watches over my property.  He watches over everything that concerns me.  He sees to it that I am well taken care of.  He sees to it that I, his unloyal, unworthy daughter, lack nothing.  And even though I always falter, and I always disappoint him, and I always make mistakes, somehow, he anticipates them because He knows what I will do before I even do them.  He did after all know me before I was. 

My people, this is the year of joy unspeakable.  Make sure nothing stops you from experiencing that God-given joy.

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT an endorsement to leave your car unlocked oooo!  If you do, whatever you see, that one is your own.  Let no one say Vera said....

P.S. Funmi is coming back from Naija today - after one long month.  *sigh*  Thank goodness!  I need someone to say silly things to me.  Hehehehe.  If it seems as if I'm saying Funmi is silly, well.... that's your judgement, not mine.

Faith Without Action Is Dead...

...That is what James 2:17 says: "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

This must be the reason why that Nigerian woman I met at the store bought a pair of shoes she did not need and wrote out a check of hundred dollars.  But of course, she prayed while writing the check: "Oh, God, I don't even have money in my account.  This check will not bounce in Jesus' name.  I cover my account with the blood of Jesus."

Sometimes, I think I have faith, but when I meet people like this woman, I conclude that their faith must be on some kind of steroids.  Standing next to them, my faith is but a mustard seed (maybe smaller) while theirs is a watermelon fruit.  Either that or my Naija folks have just taken that verse in the bible to a whole new level.  Yeap.  They've definitely taken it to a whole new level.  It's only a typical Nigerian that will buy a pair unneeded shoes, write a check from a fallow account, pray against the unavoidable result, and then even plead the blood of Jesus on top of it.  Only a Nigerian.

But I have had my moments of having faith in God (and I continue to have faith in Him).  I woke up this morning thinking about all the times He has been there at the nick of time.  I remember when I applied to a four year college that was an hour away from me - even though I did not have a car, and therefore had no means of getting there.  Mom thought I was crazy.  But I just figured God would do it - like He always does.  That year, school started in January as usual.  By His grace, I bought the car on the 26th of December.

There isn't anytime that I think God is unable to do it for me.  Sometimes, I just find myself wondering if He will.  Why should He?  I am but a sinner.  Everyday, I sin.  Everyday, I beg for forgiveness.  And everyday, I go back and sin again.  I wouldn't do it if I were Him.  I wouldn't hear my prayers if I were Him.  But I am not Him.  I should learn that.  Sometimes, I try to tell Him the best way to perform my miracle for me.  How can I, a mere mortal sinner tell God how to do His job?  Where was I when He was creating the entire world?  Where was I when He was creating me?  I did not tell Him how to make me, and look how I turned: a fine babe - if I do say so myself :-)

So here is to God... I'm looking forward to more miracles.  Awe-inspiring miracles.  Unfathomable miracles.  Breath-taking miracles.  Unbelieveable miracles.  Never before seen or heard miracles.  Divine miracles.  Huge miracles, the kind that will perplex me and leave me at a loss for words.  The type of miracles that will have me scratching my scalp and rumpling my forehead.  The kind of miracle that will have my jaw sitting in the palm of my hand, my mind thinking, 'this can't be real.'  You know what I mean, God.  This is a toast post to that order.  Amen.  And so shall it be.

All Things Are New...

2 Cor 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Lovely readers of Verastically Livin,' please excuse me while I get a lil serious. Yes, I know you're not quite used to this. But contrary to popular belief, Vera can be serious oooo.... ehen. This is a scheduled post. At the time it appears on my blog, I'll be in church, worshipping. What better way to bring in the New Year? Below is my public letter to God. Since everyone is on the internet these days; I figured God must be browsing Verastic.com every now & then, ey? [Yes, I'm still being serious].

*************** Clearing Throat*******************

Dear God,

2008 was something else. Honestly, I still do not know if I should call this a good or a bad year. Most times, it feels lukewarm. The highlight was the day I rededicated my life back to You. I can honestly say that life has not been the same since then. Unfortunately, since my rededication, I have done some things, said some things, and thought some things - all of which I should not have. But I have sought Your face after every fall. And I have hoped and believed that You have forgiven me.

I am sorry, Lord for everything I ever did to hurt Your feelings - and boy, do I have a long list of that. In retrospect, I realize just how very foolish I was. If I could, I would go back in time and undo so many things. Unsay so many words. And unthink so many thoughts. But I cannot. Honestly, what hurts most is the things that I have done. All those times I thought I was smart and grown, I realize now that I was foolish...and a mere baby before You.

I have been waiting anxiously - almost impatiently - for 2008 to end because the thought of it brings so much pain and sadness to my heart. You know these things, Lord. But I am hopeful that 2009 will be better. Ironically, the blessings and prayers I received in 2008 are the reasons I believe that 2009 will be better.

I am grateful for everything You did for me in 2008. For every time You were there to wipe my tears, console me, keep me company, guard me, guide me, listen to me, and even laugh with me, I am grateful. For every time You made a way for me and turned my mountain into an invisible pebble, I am grateful. I am grateful for the births (especially that of Busola's baby, Chidi and my cousin in Nigeria whose name I shamefully do not know), and even though I do not understand why I should be, I am also grateful for the deaths too.

I am grateful for my life. I am grateful for my health. I am grateful that You preserved me. I know that not everyone I started the year with is here today, but You oh God, have preserved me. And I have done nothing to deserve this. I am grateful for the life of the man that I am so in love with - my father. You cleansed him of that liver malfunction, God. When I asked him what would happen if it was not taken care of and he answered - like a true doctor - precisely, concisely, and a little too bluntly, "Ultimately, death," I thought my life was over. But my dad promised he was not going to die; he said he would live for me. I cried to You, and You, oh God restored his life. [Note to Funmi & Busola: Sorry I did not tell you about my dad's condition. It was just too much to talk about.]

I am grateful for my mom's life. Sometimes, I think of all she has gone thru on my behalf and I cannot help but break down and cry. I only hope to one day be able to spoil her the way I know she'd love to be spoilt: by giving her a few grand-children and then sending them all on vacation to Russia, so that I and my hubby can have some free time to frolic in the sun and possibly make some new babies. [Yes, I'm still being serious]. She is the best mother a girl could have ever prayed for. I trust You, Lord. I trust You to give me the opportunity to make her smile a smile that her face cannot contain.

So for 2009, oh God, I take all my troubles and I hand them over to You. Everything that has been troubling me, I hand them to You because I am powerless. My worrying can only get me so far; it has gotten me as far as it can, and it has not gotten me anywhere. By the end of 2009, I will be back here to give the testimony. You know the one, Lord. I thank You in advance for the message I will receive today. I thank You for the blessings, for the favors, and for the new beginning. I thank You in advance for helping me to publish my book in 2009. I thank You in advance for everything. I just thank You, Father. In retrospect, 2008 was a good year. But 2009 will be better. It will be great. Say Amen for me.


Happy New Year everyone!!! May 2009 bring you all of your heart's desires according to God's will. Amen. I'll be back on Sunday, January 4th 2009.

What Shall We Do Today?

***Vera singing...***

Today ohhh, I'll lift up my voice in praise. For I know, You are always there for me. Almighty God, You are my all and all. No matter what they say, when trouble comes my way, I will praise Your name......


Happy Thanksgiving y'll!!! I was gonna title this post, What Are You Thankful For? But then I figured it might be too....errrrr..... expected/regular??? So I fugured, why not start out by singing??

If I were to tell you that I am exactly where I thought I would be @ this point in my life, I would be lying to you. There are lots of things I thought I would have accomplished by now that I am yet to accomplish. There are milestones I swore I would meet by now, but they remain to be done. I thought I would have published my book by now, but obviously, that has not happened. I thought I would at least be in a serious relationship by now, but that isn't happening either.

I know I often blog about the ridiculous men I meet, but those are not the only ones I meet. I don't bother blogging about the ones that seem like potentials...... until the bottom falls out and I realize hell would have to freeze over before I date them. Let's face it: relationships are difficult. For this reason, I intend to make it a little less difficult for myself by first dating the right person. In my XX years on earth, I have learnt a few things: if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's a damn duck. Soooo when a man begins to have questionable behavior, I flee.

So on this 27th day of November 2008, I am thankful to God for numerous things

1. I am thankful, first & foremost for my life and my health
2. I am thankful for my family, especially mom and dad
3. I am thankful for my friends-turned-sisters, Busola & Funmi (they're the best friends a gal could ask for).
4. I am thankful for the unusual happy days I have been having
5. I am thankful for what I have been able to accomplish thus far.
6. I am thankful for the talent God has blessed me with.
7. I am thankful for the countless times He has forgiven me and taken me back
8. I am thankful for His grace, for His love, and for His kindness
9. I am thankful for who I am
10. And lastly, I am thankful for all you wonderful people - bloggers and non-bloggers alike. You all don't know how much your e-mails, phone calls, text messages, and comments mean to me. They encourage me. They make me more determined. They make me not want to disappoint you, and by His grace, I won't. Keep me in your prayers, please.

And I pray to God...... for wisdom. For patience. For strength. For perseverence. For faith. For long life. For health. For prosperity. For uncommon favor. For His grace.

Alright, I'm done being serious. Now, lemme leave you with the text I sent to almost everyone in my phonebook. No1 is safe from my text messages, I tell ya!

"Happy thanksgiving!!! Remember it's only about a month before Christmas. Hope you're saving up for my gift - a 2009 Range Rover. Make sure it's black & semi tinted with leather interior. And of course, with bluetooth and voice activation features. Need my address?"

Have You Heard?

That on Sunday, October 19th 2008, I rededicated my life to Christ? I went to House of Praise's dedication of their new church, and their General Overseer, Pastor Adeboye was there. Boy, am I glad I went! Pastor Adeboye preached about uncommon favor and uncommon success, and he talked about how one will flourish and succeed extraordinarily when God is with him. On the flip side, when God isn't with you...well, you know the rest. One passage from the bible resonated with me. Ps 127:1-2 "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those He loves."

Now, let me explain why I said I rededicated my life to Christ (instead of just saying I dedicated it). It is because I don dedicate my life tire!! Honestly, almost each chance I get, I rededicate my life to Christ. Sometimes, it's face to face (in church, or @ a revival/vigil type thing), sometimes it's while watching a pastor (like Pastor Joel Osteen preaching), sometimes, it's on the radio while listening to 95.1. I think I have even considered doing it after reading a letter from Franklin Graham!! One thing has been constant in all my attempts: I keep going back to the same ol' me.

So why do I keep trying? Twice in my life, I was very serious with God, and honestly, those were the best times of my life. When I was about 13, I gave my life to Christ. I used to attend revivals and everything with my cousin. It was great! I even used to sing some solo songs for them, and they used to praise my voice. By the way, my cousin was in the university then, so this Christian community was pretty much her fellow students, but they were on fire for God. They loved the Man passionately. Anyway, looking back on it now, I see they lied to me! I cannot carry a note to save my life, yet every Friday night, they let me belch out those lyrics with beautiful smiles plastered across their faces. They even talked of me releasing an album. Kai. Those uni students no do me well @ all. I remember one guy (can't remember his name now) who told me God wanted to use me in my generation. I never forgot that. I have often wondered when, where, how, and WHY God will wanna use me.

But then I fell off the wagon. And when I was about 16, I became close to Him again. It was great. I used to read my Bible, pray every night and morning, and it was just great. I don't know what happened, when it happened, or why it happened, but I was right back to square one. Since then, I have been playing catch-me-if-you-can with God, deceiving myself really. I keep going back because I am never truly happy or complete or satisfied when I am not where He is. So I am back again, but this time, with more determination. A lady in church said a good place to start reading the Bible is in the book of John. Phew! I wish someone woulda told me that sooner!! No offense to you, oh dear Father, but that book of Genesis ehn, e get as e be oh. I have read from the book of Genesis to the book of Deuteronomy, and so far, all I remember is that God made the world in seven days, Adam was the first man, Eve was the first woman, and they ate the forbidden fruit. Ko easy @ all to read it.

I started reading the book of John, and the feeling has been different. It was a pleasure reading it. I'm not gonna overwhelm myself. I'm gonna take it one day @ a time. I'm making this public, because when you make such public comittments, it usually makes you less likely or more afraid of breaking them off. Of course, as we have come to find out, this does not apply to marriage. People are usually happier at the time of their divorce than they are at their wedding. On a side note: how come no1 gets cold feet for divorces?? Anyway...

I shouted so many 'Amens' in church that my voice is now suffering a little. Naija people sabi claim blessing oh. Na so so blessing Pastor Adeboye take dey slap our face that day. The thing nyafu nyafu everywhere, but I was not complaining. I kuku claimed them all in Jesus' name. Why shall I shy? I thought Pastor Adeboye would say, "There is a girl in this room who has been dreaming of a black, semi tinted 2010 range rover. The Lord wants you to know that when you go home today, that range rover will be parked outside, waiting for you - all expenses paid!" I for just run go dance naked outside. Ah, I am serving a living God...the God that answereth by black, semi tinted 2010 Range Rovers!!

Needless to say, I didn't get my range rover. My corolla was not mysteriously replaced by a range rover. And no disturbingly handsome man was sitting on my hood waiting for me. However, Ireti did blatantly refuse to follow her family home; she wanted to follow me instead. Could this have been part of the uncommon favor? I said thank you, Jesus, but how I fit manage this kin favor...especially in this time of austerity? Mba o. Na so I just package the girl go give am back to her people. She cried her cute, little eyes out. On a serious note, I really did rededicate my life back to Christ, and I have begged Him to not let me go. I have begged Him to hold me tight because I really, really, really wanna walk this walk with Him.

Now that you're done reading this and congratulating and encouraging me (aka commenting), go over to Standtall's blog, and read my interview. Happy reading!!! And thanks again for the interview, Babe.