natural.evolution–

It’s time to take a new direction. I don’t know why but this blog is associated with sadness to me. Lots of loss and issues were spewed on here and maybe just maybe that’s why I feel stifiled and like it’s a chore to even be on here. So I’ve decided to move. Take a new direction. Do what I did when I started writing blogs in 2003 and that is to be easy a free with what I do. It should be effortless and not a pain but thats what it’s like when I try to write in here. So I’m off in a new direction… visit me here

I’m still sround… life is just hectic between work and getting ready for my mission trip. Promise I’ll get back in the swing of things soon

http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/kenya-mission-trip-2008

I was over at a great blog I frequent and one of her posts was to write it down make it happen. So that is what this post is for me. Me writing down what I want to to happen and putting it out there to God in a written format (since he already knows my destiny anyway).

I’d love to grow more and develop more character
I’d love to get a job in the next six months that takes me on my way to fulfilling my destiny
I’d love to find a great home that I can call my OWN in the next 9 months
I’d love God to bless me with a special mate
I’d love for God to continue to place friends in my life that will truly keep me accountable
I’d love to get to one of my goal weights in the next six months
I’d love to advance more musically
I’d love God to shower me with more blessings and love and maintain the health and safety of my family

It’s so funny that a few weeks ago I wrote that post about writing your personal MISSION statement. I never came back to write what mine was but one of the things that I had in it was to live without fear and take risks and honestly the next week a great opportunity arose. I wrote about it in my “other” blog. So in case I’m not around here much the next few weeks this is what I’m preparing for

http://browngirltraveling.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/mission-trip-08/

I’m doing this as a start to a meeting for a leadership committee I’m on… thought I’d share. It’s really great to have your own mission statement. I’ll post mine in the next few days

You have a purpose in life,
and you know in your heart what’s important to you
In fact, your mission and values are expressed
In the way you live your life every day.

A mission statement
represents YOUR purpose and values.

If done well, this mission statement will be written
In your heart and mind

Try thinking about three to five aspects of your life that are most important to you, and write a mini mission statement.

Creole in DC blogging for Sephora

Guest Blogger: Monica Mingo’s Five Faves

It’s been over a month. Life has been busy but good. To summarize…
I’ve had the opportunity to sing and work with some grammy nominated and award winning artists
I’m all into school and currently loving the class that I’m taking (on emerging technologies)
Two of my babies (my nephew and niece) graduated from Junior high and elementary school (I feel so old my big baby is going to high school)
My nephew got accepted into one of the top academic high schools in DC and one of the top 50 high schools in the country I’m really beaming
Even though I complain about work I’m working on some MAJOR projects that I’m really greatful for
and most importantly I’m turning 25 27 tomorrow
God has really just been blessing me
and I’m thankful

I’ve been MIA for a little bit
I was out of town celebrating a graduation (yaay to my cousin for getting her master’s)
I’ve been prepping for school and this new lifestyle program I’m participating in… along with regular work crap, freelance work and trying to squeeze a social life in there

I also had some more pause and reflect moments and decided that a relationship with a particular person just wasn’t in the cards
although he looked great on paper and is a really standup guy, in the end his world and my world weren’t going to connect in the way I hoped
and makes no sense IMO forcing something together just because it looks good and others want it to work

I know I’m growing up because my friend was like “do you know what he makes?!?”
I do
and that still has no bearings on me wanting to be with him
because in the end that doesn’t matter

sometimes I reflect on a relationship of the past and think about how my selfishness and insecurities really messed up a good thing…
was he all I wanted in a guy
not completely
but all the things I thought I wanted then are just minor details in the big scheme of things and not what is REALLY important
when I reflect I think wow if I hadn’t have been such a hardass then perhaps…
but one never knows and at this point I guess that ship has sailed
but I’m totally appreciative and thankful for that opportunity because he really helped me set a precedent of how I should be treated and how I REALLY should treat a guy

I feel a little more settled now in a lot of ways
I’m not saying I’m ready to sit down and pop out babies back to back but I think I’m really starting to fully grasp how I’d like for my life to be
I want a well balanced succesful life
Like this whole school thing it’s helping me connect and get an entirely different set of skills
and the degree is outside the tiny box I’ve been in the last four years since I got my master’s
this could take me in a entire other direction in my career and thats what I want to do
this lifestyle program I’m participating in…
I’ve seen it change peoples attitude not only about their health but just living a better wholistic life
I feel like thats an element that is going to make me who I see myself as
I have an entire series of lessons lined up for the summer
I’m getting back on horses again and I’m pulling out the clubs so I can head to the driving range
I’m trying to make a better me
not for anyone else but for me

so much work to do
but it’s nothing I can’t handle

Discovering God’s unique plan for our lives is both humbling and inspiring: humbling because though we are but a drop in the ocean, the Creator of the universe has a plan for our individual lives; and inspiring as that plan becomes revealed and our unique talents and attributes get put to work in carrying it out.

The past week has been busy. I kind of had an epiphany one night that I really needed to stop being so complacent and decide if I was going to really live the life that I want and desire to have. So in the past week I’ve made some major changes. I asked God for assistance and direction in what I need to do. In a span of a week school is paid for, the director of the program I want to do called me yesterday saying she got my info and is excited to have me…. I consolidated some things so that I was able to pay off every credit card which is a miracle in its self… I’ve gotten back into activities I love like community service and sorority/n p h c stuff… and I’m back to running and really trying to get my body how I want it to be.

God is really revealing things to me and showing me changes I need to make and he’s taking away some distractions that I didn’t really realize were effecting my life as much as they do. I’ve had some obstacles and people that have tried to distract me but I’m standing my ground. I’m knocking goals off my list and making strides so that I can be the best Christen and Christian possible.

it’s something that is VERY important to me… Hopefully one day I can make a career completely out of service and giving back. With all that said here is something I’m participating in. If you can give that would be lovely. If not understood.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Mahatma Gandhi

On Saturday, May 3, 2008, I will be volunteering along with 3,000 other Greater DC Cares volunteers as a part of the Greater Washington Region’s largest day of volunteer service — Servathon 2008!

Greater DC Cares volunteers and I will paint, clean, landscape, and revitalize more than 40 schools throughout the Washington DC public school system. In total, we expect to provide over $400,000 worth of services and supplies to these schools in just 5 hours!

Servathon is very much like a walk-a-thon or ride-a-thon. I am raising pledges for every hour that I will be volunteering in support of the incredible work of Greater DC Cares. Whatever you can give will be greatly appreciated and any amount will have a huge impact upon our community.

I would like to ask you to support me in my commitment to Servathon by making a contribution to support the fine work of Greater DC Cares to improve non-profits and schools in the region throughout the year. No donation is too small!

Your support of:

• $10 buys the landscape materials to revitalize the grounds of a high school
• $25 will help paint an elementary school classroom
• $50 will help restock a DC Public School library
• $150 will support a resume development training for students and parents
• $500 contributes to a jungle gym for a new playground
• $1,000 will help build a computer lab for students

Simply follow this link: http://servathon2008.kintera.org/christenm
to make a donation.

You may also make a donation by check. Please make checks payable to Greater DC Cares and mail to the following address:

Greater DC Cares
c/o Servathon Operations Coordinator
1725 I Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006

By making a donation, you make it possible for Greater DC Cares to provide services and programs to volunteers, nonprofits and public schools for free of charge on May 3rd and throughout the rest of the year.

Thanks so much for supporting an event that is extremely important to me. Let’s take action together and support DCPS and Servathon 2008!

Thanks!
Christen