About Those Changes (And A New Look)

Whew, this is something I've got to get this off of the chest.

About the changes here at the crib (first you all will see the new look going on here courtesy of Monique Designs)...

You're used to seeing mediocre tutorials, ramblings, half did diy projects.  However I think what has kept some of you here is my voice.  I mean I write like I talk and I'm sure many of you can appreciate my conversation.  If not just keep it to yourself:)

In this post I told you that God was calling me to do something quite different here at the crib.  I'm still not sure where its going but I've been nudged to write this post as I continue to fast and pray my way through this new journey.

You are about to get the truth from my perspective.  God makes each of us uniquely but we are all made in his image.  Knowing this I believe God is a multifaceted God and all of the discord among the body of Christ is really uncalled for.  I'll have to elaborate more about this topic in another post but I just want to set the tone for the new direction you'll experience.  I'll still throw some projects in but this blog is about to be about me and my walk with my homeboy Jesus.

I'll start by giving you a glimpse of my walk with Christ at this point in my life.  Keep in mind, I'm different, sort of ecclectic if I say so myself, but I wanted to share with you how I like to worship.  Get my praise on, this, that, and the other.

The segregation that exists in the body of Christ would have one group of people believing that there is a prope(r) (emphasis on the "r" because Madea says that's the proper way to talk) way to worship.  I don't believe that mess but I won't explain myself at this moment.  I'll just give you some juice to sip on.

I just thought I would share a jam I like to listen to on Pandora.  It's a beat for Jesus so hold off before you start popping butts, getting jiggy, and whatever other stuff that happens on BET and MTV these days:).  Oh and consider the lyrics as well.  Some may not agree but I would rather my daughter listen to this than to listen to some well known rap artist who splew off expletives every other second.

Oh yeah, and with these changes I realize that I may be turning some folks off but I pray that you'll bear with me.  One post may be for you and one post may be for another, who knows. 

Also and let's go ahead and set the tone for those comments.  Got something to get off your chest go ahead, please do.  But let me warn you I do not debate when it comes about spiritual beliefs.  I also don't go around quoting scripture and hitting folks upside with a Bible everytime I see or hear something I don't like.  So with that in mind let's remember that when we comment and keep it peaceful and fun here at the crib.

Linking Up:  Women Living Well

Decisions: Staying or Saying Goodbye

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For the past few weeks I have faced a dilemma, one that has had me on my knees praying nightly seeking only the direction of God.  A dilemma I knew I couldn't solve myself (as if I can really solve anything myself) so I knew that this was something bigger than me.  This was sort of like a tumbling within my spirit and I had to deal with it carefully through prayer.

I couldn't afford to make rash decisions because of my emotions, I truly had to lean on God during this time to give me direction and this eventually led to me sitting here typing these words for you.  I've learned a lot while blogging here at The Scott's Crib but I hadn't learn a more important lesson that God has been trying to teach me for some time now.

See, let me be truly honest with you.  I started blogging because of me.  I wanted to get my shine on, build my blog up, tell you crazy stories, and build my business up at the same time.  Apparently God and I didn't have the same plans.  God clearly put in my heart a discontent towards blogging here at the crib for a while until I could understand a very important lesson.

Everything that I do was never supposed to be about me, it was supposed to be about Him.  I've written a few times about my belief in Christ but unless you dig deep into the blog some of you may not have even known that and that makes me ashamed of myself.

Give me a moment, I am trying to craft this carefully so that I can make my point in one post...

Okay at first I thought that (due to the discontent in my heart) that God may be telling me that my tenure here at The Scott's Crib is up.  But after prayer I knew that I wasn't supposed to give up blogging and maybe it was time to start a different blog with a different direction.

However, this is not the case either.  When God lays on your heart to do something he will tell you when and how to continue but this is when you have to truly trust and believe in Him and seek Him through the process.  We often try to rely on our own goals etc and end up creating our own processes that don't work.

I know from experience that this doesn't work so I am waiting on the Lord for further direction.  He will let me know when and exactly how to continue blogging but I can tell you that it has already been laid out that some changes will be made to the way I blog. 

I don't want to be the average diy and home decor blogger.  I think the one thing that's overwhelming in blog land is that everyone is doing the same thing.  Albeit they have a different voice (sometimes) but most of the time on any given day you are guaranteed to find someone giving away something, talking about the same topics (of recent, teacher appreciation week etc), blog hops, or sponsorships. (Umm and I'm not saying that anything of these are bad or that bloggers who go that route or wrong, just saying that we all have our reasons for blogging)

This isn't the way The Scott's Crib will continue to operate, not with God as the head...

Stay tuned for the changes.  And I completely understand if my follower numbers decrease. I actually won't be surprised or upset because my reason for blogging is totally different now.

Bare with me folks...it's time to be about the business of the Kingdom and less about the business of Latoya.

Inspired: Beauty, Life, and Peace

During my break from blogging I've been breaking with purpose.  Let me update you...

I've felt very uninspired lately.  Sorta like I have just been turning my wheels for no apparent reason.

I get bored easily so I knew that I couldn't continue down this path if I wanted The Scott's Crib to continue.  I decided it was time to do something about everything in my life starting with my spiritual life down  to my physical life.

I've been exploring new blogs with a new perspective.  I have a different need now.  I no longer just have a need to crank out diy projects or scour the thrift stores for the latest cool finds to simply impress myself and my readers.

My new perspective is LIFE and all of the beauty that it has to offer.  I've been doing some things I thought I would never do.  For instance, I've been focused on improving myself for my husband's sake.

My husband takes pride in his appearance.  He neatly presses his clothes and makes sure he is nicely put together before leaving the house.  I on the other hand haven't picked up an iron more than 20 times this year and as long as my face isn't ashy I am happy with leaving the house.

During this time of reflection I realized that my husband deserved more than this.  He should be happy to come out of the house with me on his arm.  Not wishing that I would at least put on earrings and some lip gloss.

I've been getting it together.  I've even been experimenting with make-up.  I know shocker right?  But I've felt better and I am easily finding my rhythm.

I've also been participating in some life coaching.  I won't go into many details but I believe that if you find yourself in a rut like I've been in that Rosetta Thurman definitely has some resources that can help you out.

I have some more work to do but after much prayer I have decided that I will continue blogging at The Scott's Crib.  Will I be on the grind like I was during my first year?  Nope, I already have told you that I don't plan on continuing down that road but I do plan to write as much as I can when I am inspired to do so.

I also have some new projects and a new website that I will be launching soon.  It won't interfere with what I do here at the crib but I have rekindled a passion that I was exploring before I got married and I felt the need to at least ride it out.

So right now I am exploring the peaceful side of life and allowing myself to be inspired by all things regarding Beauty, Life, and Peace.  I am so glad I chose this route. 

Until next time.

A Profound Lesson From My Mother

** This post is dedicated to my loving mother Barbara and my late grandmother Juanita.  I love you both dearly.

Now granted today is 11/14/2011 (the day in which I wrote this post) and I realize that Mother’s Day is more than a few months ahead of me at this given moment but there are times when I have a story to tell and immediately a post starts working its way through me.  I either have a choice, write it down or risk losing the thoughts by waiting for the appropriate time.  I choose to write this one out.

Growing up, being a hardhead and all I wasn’t too apt to take advice or listen to lessons from the women in my life simply because I thought I knew it all.  Fast forward a good 15 some odd years later and I find myself wanting to be more like those women in my life who have proved to be such exempalary role models in my life.  My mother is one of them.  Let me share with you this story.

About  two years ago I made a comment on Facebook that received a rather unnecessary and unwarranted reaction that led to some family drama needless to say.  I was in utter shock and confused by the response given to my comment because it wasn’t written intentionally with any of my family members which were currently on FB in mind.  I reacted.  Good ole Latoya Monique reacted to the situation.  I tried to act in a dignified way but I ended up in the long run making things worst. So without getting much into it there was a falling out. 

I was mad.  I was upset that FB and a relatively simple comment caused a little spat between me and someone that I actually considered myself to get along with very well.  That person stopped speaking to me.  I remember calling my Mama (such a big girl right?)  and fussing and crying over the situation.  She consoled me like only a mother could and told me that it wasn’t my fault.  She also said one statement that has stuck with me every since that day.  She said “I pray that one day you will get to the point where you don’t care what anyone thinks about you.” 

At that moment, I was like hunh?  I thought I didn’t care.  I thought I was big bad Toya who didn’t give a crap what people thought of me.  Obviously I was in denial because if I didn’t care I wouldn’t have let the situation get to me like it did.  Since that day I let those words reverberate in my head.  I tell myself that I am me and the only person who can change me is God.  If there is something wrong that people can’t get with than they have the option not to get with it, know what I’m saying.

So that’s my profound lesson.  I strive to become a better person and my mother is that role model.  Her mother was that role model.  These are two women in my life that I saw unselfishly give to others.  Two women with enough compassion to mend hearts.  If they can do it, so can I!  With all of this being said I encourage you to stop worrying bout other folks.  If someone doesn’t get along with you, then “ahh boo” (as my daughter would say).  This is a lifelong lesson that I will continue to adapt to as each season comes.

Now I ask you today on this very special day, what profound lesson have you learned from your Mothers?

3 Years

3 years ago today I married my best friend.  There are simply no words to describe how happy this man makes me.  Happy Anniversary Babycakes!