The Central Perspective-10 Years Later

This weekend the EC Central Class of 2001 will hold our 10 year class reunion. And due to circumstances beyond our control, I am unable to end this monumental event and I am sad about it. While I don't have the fondest memories of high school, my senior year is where I began to flourish and realize that life exists outside of high school. My senior year, I served as the editor of the school newspaper. I was instrumental in making sure our school newspaper was a source of fun, information and opinions. So as a tribute to my class I wanted to provide some headlines from over the last 10 years-- Cheers to the Class of 2001!

2001 8/26-R&B Singer Aaliyah killed in plane crash; 9/11- Terrorists strike the World Trade Centers in NY with plane crashes in Penn and VA killing 3,000.

2002 9/11-- 9/11- One Year Later: Now What?; 10/24/ John Muhammad and Lee Malvo AKA Beltway Snipers are captured after a terrifying 3 week shooting spree along I-95. Deaths: Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes.

2003 3/19-War in Iraq begins; 6/4Martha Stewart indicted for obstructing a federal investigation;12/13-Suddam Hussein, former president of Iraq is captured. Deaths: Nell Carter (Actress Gimme a Break); Nina Simone (Songstress); Barry White (Singer); Frank O'Bannon (Former Indiana Governor)

2004 2/1- New England Patriots win the Superbowl (and go to Disney World); 2/4-Facebook was founded in Cambridge, Mass at Harvard U; 2/12 San Francisco issues marriage licenses for same-sex couples; 11/19-Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers engage in a brawl, causing Ron Artest to be suspended for the rest of the season; 12/26- World's largest earthquake hits Southeast Asia killing 186,983. Deaths: 11/13-Ol' Dirty Bastard (Rapper)

2005-- Many of us graduate from College! :) 1/20-George Bush inaugurated into a 2nd presidential term; 4/25 Pope Benedict XVI succeeds; 8/29- Hurricane Katrina hits the Golf (including New Orleans, LA) killing 1836- several still unaccounted for. Deaths: 1/23- Johnny Carson (Late Night Talk Host); 3/22-Clemente Dominguez y Gomez (Spanish spiritual leader); 3/29-Johnny Cochran (Lawyer known for the OJ Simpson Trial); 4/2-Pope John Paul II (Pope of the Roman Catholic Church); 7/1-Luther Vandross (Singer)

2006 (My high school sweetheart and I got married!)-2/19-69 miners are killed following an explosion in Nueva Rosita, Mexico; 11/5 Former Iraq President Suddam Hussein is sentenced to death by handing; Deaths: 1/30- Coretta Scott King (wife of Civil Rights Leader, Martin Luther King, Jr.); 6/23- Aaron Spelling (Creator of Beverly Hills 90210); 12/30-Suddam Hussein

2007 Not much activity in 2007 to report about.. Deaths: 2/8-Anna Nicole Smith (Former Model/Socialite); 3/12 Antonio Ortiz Mena- Mexican Politician; 5/15-Yolanda King (daughter of Martin and Coretta King); 6/14-Ruth Bell Graham (wife of Billy Graham); 12/4- Pimp C (Rapper)

2008 1/2-petroleum (gas) hits $100 a barrel for the first time; 2/3-US Stock Market plunges 3% after inquiry into an economic recession; 2/19-Fidel Castro resigns; 5/3- over 100,000 killed by Cyclone Nargis in Burmar/Myanmar; 8/8-24- Summer Olympics held in Beijing; 11/4 President Barack Obama is elected 44th President of the United States--the first African-American to hold this office. Deaths: 1/22- Heath Ledger (Actor, Brokeback Mountain); 7/22-Estelle Getty (Actress, Golden Girls); 8/9-Bernie Mac (Comedian);

2009 1/20-the First African American President-Barack Obama is inaugurated in Wasthington, DC. 4/24-World Health Organization concerned about influenza traveling from US and Mexico (later known as West Nile Virus); 9/29-30 Earthquake triggers a tsunami near Samoan Islands killing 189 and 1,000 in Indonesia. Deaths: 3/18-Natasha Richardson (Actress/wife of Liam Neeson); 4/25-Bea Arthur (Actress, Golden Girls); 6/25- Farrah Fawcett (Actress- Charlie's Angels)/Michael Jackson (American Pop Star/humanitarian); 7/17- Walter Cronkite (Journalist); 9/14-Patrick Swayze (Actor-Ghost); 11/16-Antonio de Nigris (Mexican Footballer); 12/20-Brittany Murphy (Actress- Clueless)

2010 1/12-7.0 magnitude earthquake hits the island of Haiti killing 230,000; 2/12-28- Winter Olympics are held in Vancouver & Whistler Canada; 2/27-8.8 magnitude earthquake hits Chile, causing a tsunami over the Pacific killing 497; 7/28-Wikileaks releases over 90,000 internal documents concerning the war in Afghanistan; 8/10-World Health Organization declares the H1N1 Influenza pandemic over. 8/5-10/12-69 Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days-- survived and were rescued. Deaths- 1/13-Teddy Pendergrass; 1/27-JD Salinger (Author); 5/9-Lena Horne (Actress/Musician); 5/28-Gary Coleman (Actor-Different Strokes); 6/3-Rue McClanahan (Actress-Golden Girls); 11/29-Leslie Nelson (Actor-Top Gun); 12/26-Teena Marie (Songstress)

2011 (the first half)- 3/11-9.1 magnitude earthquake hits Japan causing a tsunami killing over 15,000 and 8,000 missing; 5/1-Osama Bin Laden-terrorist and mastermind behind 9/11 is killed and buried at sea. 7/21-Space Shuttle Atlantis completes the NASA Space Shuttle program. Deaths: 5/15-Nate Dogg (Rapper); 5/23- Elizabeth Taylor (Actress); 6/23-Peter Faulk (Actor-Colombo); 7/23-Amy Winehouse (Songstress).

Reminiscing,
~Mrs. G

T-E-S-T-imony.com

DISCLAIMER: This post is in no way to show sympathy toward our situation but to testify to the Power of Prayer, Trusting God and understanding struggle is important. Please pray for us--that's all I(we) ask.

Durham has provided many ups and downs, lessons in Faith, strength in our marriage and leaning on the power of God. While it seems like we've had more downs than ups (to me), God has revealed so much to us. I feel like I've cried out for God more than I have in my entire life. Jeremy and I have worked extremely hard at Faith Traveling but I figure in order for me to understand God more, I needed to testify.

In the past year: we've met new friends, explored churches, worked jobs that we both appreciate and hope for better, established various relationships, listened and pleaded with God, found favor with our daycare, had multiple disconnect notices, two eviction notices, two impaired cars, one unhealthy spouse, one exploring toddler, two unemployed mothers, experienced divorces, witnessed births both near and far, skyped with loved ones, prayed for each other, shouted at each other, emailed, facebooked, youtubed and g-chatted blogs, scriptures, resumes, requests, and pictures.

Now--I've shared some of these Gilmore moments with you because the things that seem impossible (no place to live, one car, familial issues) God has provided. He has shown me that our testimony of faith, progress, struggle and favor may help the married couple who wrestle with leaving their family or that being uncomfortable comes with a price but a great reward at the end or that you have to do what you have to do, to grow in Him and most importantly, within yourself.

My hope in this post is to empower you to share your TESTimony or if you don't have a TESTimony, hopefully, our TESTimony will provide you with the skills to endure. I would love to hear your testimonies, so email me at gilmore06@gmail.com or leave them in the comment section. You never know who may be encouraged by what God is doing in your life.

TESTed,
~Mrs.G

Complaining 101

So... it's hard writing a blog. You know why?

Because people hold you ACCOUNTABLE! Yes--that's that ugly 11 letter word that we adults attempt to shy from.

I've blogged about faith and holding on; having a Dora like testimony and thanking God for showing up and showing out.

But-- I find myself complaining every. single. Day. About something. And, it scares me.

I do not like my job.

Our finances are under where they should be.

We've been in school all of our 20's! And will have tons of loans to back.

We're away from family and friends (physically, spiritually and emotionally).

And..the list can go on.

And then I looked in the mirror and I got scared. How can I write about holding on and keeping your faith when I complain about everything? And then God gently reminded me on Friday and said…

But you do have a job (people don't relocate and get a job in 20 days.)

I've supplied all of your needs and even some wants.

And in your 20's--you learned, grew and followed Me. And by your 30's you'll be done with school, debt free. (Hallelujah!)

You are a family.

So--in this lesson of Complaining 101--don't do it. You may soon find that once you begin complaining about what you do have, God finds it hard to bless you with more. (Luke 12:48b).

Lord, please forgive me for not appreciating what You have blessed me with. I apologize that I feel what I have, is not good enough or that I covet my friends because they have newer cars, homes or are close to their families. Create in me a clean and thankful heart. Thank You most of all, for showing me myself and for standing behind, in front, and around me when I forget that I am Your child. I rebuke a negative and complaining spirit and I speak words of life, positivity and thankfulness into my life.
Forgive me Father.

Apologetic,
~Mrs. G

Dora The Explorer

A few years ago, my ship moved to three different states, in a short time. My soror called her, Dora the Explorer. At the time, I thought Dora was a little Hispanic girl who traveled across the globe, just because she could. And then, when Jocelyn became older, she loved Dora.. so like many parents, I, unfortunately, began watching Dora with her. To my surprise, Dora was a little Hispanic girl who was bilingual and used her map, backpack and friend Boots to go on these excursions---getting from point A to C, by way of B.

Last week, as I sat down with Jocelyn and watched Dora, I was amazed at how this fantasy world is actually a metaphor for life.

Like Dora, we all have to get from one destination to another (from career to career, to graduation and even location to location) and we rely on our GPS, friends and family to support us get where we need to be. But how often do we actually explore and tackle the situations that surface in moving from A to C? For instance, Dora and her team, usually have to stop Swiper, solve the Grumpy Ol Troll's riddles and go through some act of nature (like climbing a mountain) to get to C. And while moving from A to B to C-- Dora, with a smile, stops Swiper (he goes away, sometimes coming back); She crosses some bridge with missing pieces--she stops, counts, finds the missing pieces and continues her journey. And when getting to where she needs to go, Dora celebrates! She sings and dances about her journey, names each problem and even mentions Swiper's name! How bold is this little girl?

So, what about you or I?

When we move to from point A to B, do we stop satan and keep going? Or do we internalize him, the problem and allow him to stay put? And when he leaves and comes back, what do we do then? When we've gotten through that hurdle, moving from B to C, do we stop or count the blessings that God has provided us? Even when we won’t stop to solve life's riddles and smile? Do we stop to help others along our journeys? What about when we've finally reached C, do we sing, dance and mention each trial—celebrating what we’ve overcome?

Maybe we should start being more like Dora and move from each point in our journeys with tenacity, strength, a smile and joy.. and moving from A to B to C, can be colorful and filled with more blessings, waiting to be explored.

Exploring,
~Mrs. G


My fellow peeps.. It's been over 2 months since I've blogged.. and I am sooo sorry! Life, finals, a growing toddler, travel and work have kept me extremely busy. But.. I’m back! :)

Strategic Relationships

Jeremy and I are people-people. We like people.. we smile, we laugh, we hug, we greet.. we like people. He likes everybody.. me on the other hand, I have to pray first because I like old friends, comfortable relationships and have gotten to the point where I do not want new friends because they're all over the place.. and not where we are! BUT! Since relocating and having to recreate new friendships, I've noticed that these relationships (whether I try to avoid them or not) are strategic.

For example (I like examples)- when we first got to Durham, I was so lonely!! My sisters (from another mother) called me every day to make sure I was ok. From that, our relationship became more of a support system and they were nurturing throughout the beginning of our D-town journey. (I love you ladies.. so much!)

Then, I got a job (within 20 days--when God shows up, He shows OUT!). At my job, I met a few co-workers, but one became a big brother, who was not only married to one of the best women I have ever met, but introduced us to their church, children and loved on Miss Jocey! They helped make our transition smooth at the job, finding a church, securing a babysitter and provided support and advice for our future and our faith walk. Now, this relationship was not by accident, it was strategic because, once we found more babysitters, doctors, a church, God has uprooted their family to a better opportunity.. Congrats, Gooden’s!

And finally, our Divinity School Family.. Now, this one relationship is definitely.. interesting.

There's a guy in Jeremy's program..let's call him Jeremy 2. Jeremy 2 plays an instrument, preached his first sermon in 2004 and has a wife, who's having a baby, June 30! Still don't get it? Jeremy (G), plays an instrument, preached his first sermon in 2004, has a wife who had a baby, June 29! The similarities in this relationship continue and are not only interesting..but designed by God.

And then there are the Divinity Spouses.. this group of ladies have become a backbone for me, not many of my friends are Pastor's wives in training.. so this common bond has fostered growth, support, studies and awesome learning opportunities. The fact that we're all going through the exact same thing, at the exact time, is not by accident but by God's divine coordination.

While meeting people has been important to me, understanding each relationship has become even more important. I realized, I don't want surface friends. I want relationships that help foster maturity, spiritual growth, laughter and support.

For you, if possible, take the time to evaluate your relationships, rather they be friends, boyfriends/girlfriends; husbands/wives.. if these relationships are not ordained by God, seek help to change that. Having toxic relationships is not helpful to you, your family and most important, the body of Christ.

Relational,
~Mrs. G

Ashley’s B-day Blog- 28 Questions

So, in honor of me turning 28—I have a few questions, I’ve always wanted to know. Maybe, I’m alone in this, but there are some questions that run through my mind, frequently. Now, these questions are not only meant to make you laugh but to think.. :) Here we go!

1. Why is facebook so addictive?
2. Will Mark Zuckerberg and I ever meet?
3. And, what is poking?
4. Do you really know all of your fb friends?
5. Why do people enter Wal-Mart through the exit doors?
6. Are equate products really just as good as the name brand?
7. Why is gas so high!?!
8. Why are grapes so expensive? $1.99lb is a little outrageous! Don’t you think?!
9. Do airlines really have to charge for luggage?
10. Does anybody else think the flight attendant on JetBlue, was right in his actions?
11. Whatever happened to Black Planet?
12. Why are college degrees the cost of a mortgage?
13. Why doesn’t Alzheimer’s disease have a cure?
14. Does anyone else believe in the birth order of siblings, middle child syndrome, only children, etc?
15. What is wrong with counseling?! I really don’t get it.
16. Is anyone still on MySpace?
17. Why aren’t there more hours in a day? Sometimes, these 24 hours are not enough.
18. Why are the Kardashians so popular? Where did they come from?
19. Anyone else notice, how we’re recycling decades? Platform shoes, big hair..just a thought.
20. Can reality TV go away? I know plenty of writers who could probably make a great sitcom?
21. Is it me or does gospel music sound too secular? (Not hating, just asking!)
22. What was communication like before texting?
23. Is George Bush a Muslim?
24. Will the Divine 9, ever stop competing?
25. Am I the only person that loves Youtube, The Young Black and Fabulous and CNN?
26. Is the Wii not one of the greatest inventions ever?
27. Has anyone else unlocked all of the training videos on the MJ Experience?
28. Are children not the best thing ever?

Ok, so I have a few more I’d like to ask.. but I’ll cut them off. Happy birthday to me! I’m blessed and grateful for this day! I have an anointed husband, a brilliant daughter, great family, blessed friends and most importantly, God’s favor.. Happy February 15th, 2011!

Blessed,
~Mrs.G

My Granny, My Blessing

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy New You and all that good stuff! I can NOT believe it has been almost two months since my last post. There has been so much going on, I'd have to blog all day to tell you what was going on..but, like the older saints used to say at my home church, 'Charge it to my head and not my heart!'

Now, if you go back through my blog, you'll read that my granny has Alzheimer's Disease. Over the past two years, the progression of this disease has been extremely rapid. When we first started noticing little odds and ends, my mother, aunt, uncle and myself, thought nothing of it..until she came to help take care of Jocelyn and didn't know that she had three children (she couldn't remember giving birth to my mom). After that, things got extremely difficult and it seemed almost instantly, she went from stage 1 to stage 3-4. (In case you're not familiar with Alzheimer's Disease, follow this link for more information http://www.alz.org/)

As the disease got worse.. so did my granny's actions, vocabulary and of course, memory. She lost a generation of her family. My mother and I are her sisters and she doesn't remember that some of her siblings have passed away (my granny is the oldest of 12!) Her prognosis bothered me slightly until she know longer knew who I was. I was hurt and sad that the person I admired and loved, did not know that I was Ashley, her granddaughter--whom she raised. I tried to let it go and to not think about it.. I kept telling myself that it was the disease.. and I know it is. But, being forgotten, is.. well.. hurtful. I eventually cried and cried and cried.. and I prayed and prayed and prayed.. that my granny would always be, my granny. That I would not let this disease allow me to forget who she was and is to me.. that I would cherish her just the same as I did when she knew me.. the wisdom and kind heart she showed toward others, stays with me.. regardless of her mind.

Last weekend, I was able to go home and while it was soo good to be with my mother, in laws and sisters from other mothers, it was still hard to see my granny. She didn't know totally who I was and I could see in her eyes, she barely knows who anyone is.. it was disheartening. However, at the end of my trip, the somewhat hardest moment came when we put my granny into the Alzheimer's unit of a nursing home. It has been a difficult week because of so many transitions (me returning to Durham sick, Jocelyn sick, work, Jeremy's school work, the Indiana snowstorm) but my mom goes and visits when she can and reassures me that my granny is all good.. having fun and that this will help her, as the Alzheimer's progresses. I wasn't convinced until I talked to her myself and she sounded so peaceful.. that put me at ease. My mom then told me Granny even has a little circle of friends and they get their hair done! Lol.. I can see my granny getting pampered and loving it.. :)

Just wanted to keep you up-to-date on my granny. The aging process is difficult so please continue to pray for my granny and our family.. Thanks for taking this journey with me too.. this has truly helped me, help my family. :)

Joyful for my Granny,

~Mrs. G

(I lovingly borrowed the saying, my granny, my blessing from my best friends, Tennia. Thanks, T! :)