I am an African

I am an African
For her blue skies take my breath away
And my hope for the future is bright
I am an African
For her people greet me as family
And teach me the meaning of community
I am an African
For her wildness quenches my spirit
And brings me closer to the source of life

When the music of Africa beats in the wind
My blood pulses to its rhythm
And I become the essence of sound
When the colours of Africa dazzle in the sun
My senses drink in its rainbow
And I become the palette of nature
When the stories of Africa echo round the fire
My feet walk in its pathways
And I become the footprints of history

I am an African
Because she is the cradle of our birth
And nurtures an ancient wisdom
I am an African
Because she lives in the world’s shadow
And bursts with a radiant luminosity
I am an African
Because she is the land of tomorrow
And I recognise her gifts as sacred

Wayne Visser © 2005

Pupils using teaching assistants make less progress

Pupils using teaching assistants make less progress

Reflection on writing an assignment

I am int he process of working through study material and producing an assignment to show my understanding. When I was in high school I got the opportunity to play football/soccer......we got the opportunity to try out different positions in order to find out where we would fit better. Compared to other girls I understood the game very well.....i was physically fit.........but when i got in front of the goal post its as if I just lot the plot even without a goal keeper I still missed........however in defence I was able to get the ball away from oppoents and pass it forward with pretty good skill.......
I feel like I understand the material I am reading but when I start writing my assignment I can see that I missing the goal post.

Why Complaining ISN’T Leading

"If you took one-tenth the energy you put into complaining and applied it to solving the problem, you'd be surprised by how well things can work out… Complaining does not work as a strategy. We all have finite time and energy. Any time we spend whining is unlikely to help us achieve our goals. And it won't make us happier." - Randy Pausch


A problem, a failure or a complaint ....if I recognise anyone of these things then it becomes my responsibility to deal with it.....it could mean changing direction........it could mean set up boundaries........it could mean anaylse and learn then try again........

It definitely doesnt mean give up, give in,ignore and suffer.

Not all of us are called to lead non-profits or form boards, but we are all called to work for solutions. Here are ten ways you can morph from complainer to leader:

1. If you are frustrated by your political leaders, rather than writing an angry status update or linking to some outrageous article, get involved. Volunteer in a campaign, vote in an election, run for office.
2. Read on: Why Complaining ISN’T Leading

Onesie World Record Promo

Onesie World Record PromoPlease press the HD button bottom right of the screen next to the volume to fully enjoy video. Please Help us Break the Guinness World Record for most Onesies worn at one time. April 26, 2015 @ 2:00pm Legenderry Guildhall.
Posted by Roberts Studios on Monday, April 13, 2015

Count it all joy

Stuying the Book of James.......my theme verse for 2015 and new motto is

 As life comes together one puzzle piece at a time I need to remember that there is a big picture.
Not to get lost in details .....every now again again to take a step back and take stock..... and then jump back in to building of the puzzle even if all is still not clear.

Be The Sermon Derry/Londonderry SDA

Through A Spiritual Lense

Through my recent participation in BME photography project in Derry/Londerry I have been inspired to take photographs from various perspectives. I have also started looking at photographs through a view new lenses.

One of the struggles I have when I am at an event that I am involved with is that I find it very difficult to capture the it with a camera in the way I want to remember it. Normally we women are supposed to be very good at multi-tasking.But I find the quality of photographs decrease if I have not prepared approapriately and I am not present in the moment. Maybe this will change when taking photgraphs comes as easy as driving car........maybe then I can present in the event and able to capture it through a lens as well.

In the meantime I have discoverd Visio Divina.......... to continue my photographic journey I planned to explore comtemplative photography (as described here http://www.ttlcommunity.com/#!visio-divina/c8k2) and practice Visio Divina

How to Practice Visio Divina 

Explore the image. 
Look at everything within the frame – objects, patterns, shapes, textures, lines, light, and colors. Look deeper. Where are your eyes drawn? Engage your imagination. What do you see? What do you smell? What relationships do you notice?
Allow the image to lead you into a time of prayer. Silently, offer prayers to God of gratitude, anguish, confession, or praise – whatever you find stirring inside you. Breathe deeply and slowly. Rest in this quiet, being open to God’s presence within you.
If your mind wanders, do not worry, look at the image again, or bring an awareness of the image into your mind. Be gentle with yourself and have no expectations of grand revelations. The point is to practice and to offer quiet time to be attentive to God’s presence.

What do you see? 
Search deeper.
Where do you see God? 
Pray with/over image. 

Invitation to Diversity Drama

My daughter Jeandre' is involved with this project. Exicited to see what they have come with.

Second Photography Assignment

Apparently I forgot all about composition in this assignement and I have to redo it :(

So this week the theme will be out and about and portraits........after that I will be learning to use Photoshop.......lets see how I improve.

Blog for Peace

For more Peace Globes visit : http://mimiwrites.blogspot.co.uk/

Through a Cultural Lens: My Home

In the process of doing a communuty pphotography course organised by NICEM for Black & Ethnic Minorities in the Derry/Londonderry area. This weeks focus is on froming, using light, rules of third etc......
I need to choose 5 photographs to take next week Wednesday .......Decided to print 10 and then I will decide......

 Window View......gift from Patrinne

Table decor .....gift from Lorraine

 Birthday gift from my bestie in New Zealand .....Durban Curry Powder .....smells and taste divine......wonderful to have a bit of my homeland in my Northern Irish kitchen

Walking The Walk – That’s Impressive!

Walking The Walk – That’s Impressive!



I love the the thoughts shared and expressed in this article.



As I continue on my path to healthy lifestyle, I embrace the fact that I am not only making physical changes but emotional, relational, spiritual improvements as well. Though I will never be perfect, I will always strive to walk my talk.

Missing Robert Peterson

This week I have celebrated being married 15 years. When I started dating I was determined that I would not be hurt by a man, As a result I ran a way from relationships as I thought I might get hurt. The second week into my dating relationship with Weiers I was ready to run again ! Robert made me stop, he made me think and encouraged me to talk to Weiers. He took it a step further and create a space in his Mom's home for Weiers and I to eat and talk. Now 16 years and about 9 months later Weiers and I are still talking and working through life together.

I am thankful to God to allowing Robert to be part of my life. The story of above is just one of many ways he was a blessing.

Below Simone, Robert and Lisa

Sleeping over after his 21st birthday party

This is where cooked and served dinner to Weiers and Me 3 years later

A tribute to Robert Petersen from Siyabonga Media on Vimeo.

Blog for Peace by Mimi Lenox

Creator and Founder of BlogBlast4Peace, an online global peace initiative which hosts 176 countries and has been celebrated by thousands of people online, - See more at: http://mimiwrites.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-mimi-lenox.html#sthash.TFEuExbM.dpuf

Mimi Lenox Peace Blogger

Savouring the Moments

Do you sometimes extreme low and high moments in matter of minutes. This past week has been full of both.

After last week's weigh in I just felt like this coming week would be good. Then i got sick and was off work for two days. I thought there goes my good week. The exercise has come to a stand still and I have not slept well. Missing my husband.

It seems like I am allergic to him going away for last few years I gotten sick when he was away ...probably just a co-incidence. 

We went out to celebrate our 15th Anniversary - its only on the 24 September 2014 because his one week work assignment has been extended for another 2 weeks. We shared dessert Oreo Pie.........

Got home today and realised I left important documents at work and I could not go back to get it. Distracted by that i burned the pasta :(.........the first thing that ran through my mind was that after weigh in at Slimming World I am ordering Domino's ...........Then I got my results 4 1/2 pounds loss reaching my 2 1/2 stone award YAY.....no way I am going to ruin that with Takeout........

relishing learning and experiencing  life........

On Sunday in Bull Park learning to shoot hoops

Photography of NI and Ireland Lanndscapes

A collection of photographs taken between 2008 and 2014

Decisions ,challenges and Progress

What a week. I have being try to take small steps to being more organised. Work and school are now in full swing. Being celebrating the success of daugther at school. Recovering from outings and late nights.
I think I have now completed all the paper the for registering to study my Masters in Education.
A great opportunity has presented itself to do a free 12 week photography course. Now the challenge is that I cannot do everything something somewhere has to be given up or reduced.
Listening to an audio book entitled NO MATTER WHAT has helped in making this decision.

Want to say that I am looking for to this school year but it still feels so strange to be starting school in September/October instead of January/February. Its like I now have two starts to the year :).

I am on track for losing 6.35kg/14lb/1 stone by Christmas.

Before: September 2013

At Present: Sptember 2014

Weightloss Journey Update

Its been really busy start to the school and working year. Weddings and Girls night out in between.
My challenge  came the night before weigh-in ..... Dominoes Craving.... part of it was tiredness and emotions....I didn't manage the two bite and throw away principle but I did have 2 slices instead of 4 and only 2 pieces of garlic bread instead of 4.

This past week I lost 0.5 pounds (0.23kg).......its weight in's like this when I am really happy it is in pounds and not kilograms. Increased my exercise and water in take.......
Looking forward to weiging even less next week :)

On Days 15-20 of 100 Days of Weightloss

Days 11-15 of 100 Days of Weightloss Journey

The one thing I have noticed this week is that i really need to slow down and take more notice of what I am eating. I have slow down as soon I became concious of what I was doing and when I had already eaten my meal I waited for a while before deciding to eat or drink anything else.

Days 11-14

So this week I in a sense checking my relationship with food. On Monday night I had a really strong urgh to buy Dominos ....I cold taste the garlic bread..........I delayed ordering and read through my Slimming World book. In the end I decided on making a tuna and mayonaise snackwich instead and really enjoyed it as well.

I think Day 15 is going to really be interesting for me to attempt.

Day 15 First two bites

With any food that you love, eat the first two bites very slowly, noticing details such as

the cinnamon in the apple pie or the soft caramel swirl in the cheesecake. Allow yourself

to completely absorb the texture and flavor of the food. After you finish those two bites,

decide if you truly need more. In most cases, you don’t.