Posts in Life Diary

2020; Our return to the blogosphere

Dear Mentee Life Diary 3 Comments

Guys…I was waiting for 2020. Waiting for it. We’re in 2020. It’s been great so far, yes. One reason why I was waiting for 2020 was so I could pick up blogging again. Here I am though, super reluctant to post.

Why? There’s some desire to only put out content that very obviously teaches or exhorts because of the increasing number of blog readers I have. This desire is stalling my blog updates in the anticipated 2020 (Zaza and I used to tag 2020 because with law school ending, there was going to be time to focus on other assignments). 

However, resuming from my writing (not just blogging) hiatus needs some warm-up and the best warm-up is just to journal and keep journalling. Journalling tends to be gisting.

So guys.. Let’s gist

Wait a bit. In further support of my stance to chill-blog is this post, I refer you to a post I uploaded some two years ago where I encouraged (lifestyle) bloggers to feel free to blog their shopping list one day and ‘change the world’ in a blog post the next.

Now, our gists.

I saw a writing sometime recently that says “Kindness is doing to each person, some good each day“. That breaks it down some bunkers, doesn’t it? So kindness is more remarkable in my daily affairs when I do good to someone’s life. When I perform an act, I know what it is and I’m grateful for it. It was kindness when I informed and even helped register my classmates who had the same reg problems I had on a certain portal for final university clearance. It was kindness when I shared gems of wisdom to some of my best girls still in school at a cafe during our short meet up. Kindness, when my sister and i first had some girl talk involving planning various dinner gowns, and when we had spiritual and life building talk. It was kindness (or was it) when I had fun taking pictures with some of my friends (and when I took a pose which embarrasses and crashes my gentle girl credibility). Just add some good.

Ahah…in reference to the crashing of my gentle girl credibility. I did the pose. I really wasn’t doing it. I was joking with my girls and telling them on a light note that we’re conservative and boring with photo styles unlike the many poses we see online. Then I did the stoop, as an example, joking. Or so I thought, until the pictures were presented and we discovered my zealous sister had caught me on camera . My girls weren’t having it. They  got the picture with great joy and strength. Sighs.

Explaining here how there are so many poses we see online
Here’s how its done. And baam, photographer stores it for life.

In other news…I was at a wedding today. It was a double-wedding relating to a set of twins I love from university fellowship. We had to live in the same hostel at some point in university and we had a great time in fellowship.

It was a mini reunion for some of my friends from differing years back. 

With some friends I got to squeeze in some picture with
Sister D

This gets me to one of the gems I shared on friday – (especially if you’re still in university) Know that some of your best friends in life will be those you get in your ‘humble’ state. Without airs of achievements but preferably in the toils of service towards God and plainly desiring him. They’re some of the best friends you’ll ever have; without any fear of betrayal and with confidence that they can correct you at all times no matter what height you reach in life.

Another gem a university student may love to learn is this – invest. Invest in people. Give. Give your time and energy and money. Teach and pray for others in campus fellowship (and beyond). Don’t serve in fellowship half-heartedly. People never ever forget those that poured into them. Its moulding time.

That’s about all the gist I have for now dear people. In clearer terms, I’m back from law school and I got welcomed with imported goodies to munch on.

I also got back to my alma matter to finalize what I didn’t get to before going to law school. In the weeks to come, I’d be resuming my service year and taking on other projects.

I gave a compressed 2019 recap here, if you care for such. Much love and light.

To growth, beauty and confidence to blog again.

Debby.

2019 Highlights

Life Diary

The first half of 2018 and the second half of 2018 feel lifetimes apart. I couldn’t imagine that January and December were of the same year if it wasn’t for this recap.

Now, the above is exactly the opening paragraph used on a blog I discovered last year.

Same blog inspired me to write my yearly recap in a monthly fashion and not in a manner I was previously inclined to.( www.brunchataudreys.com )


Isn’t it then interesting that her opening paragraph works for me as well. In experience, January 2019 was a world away from December 2019.

In December, I contemplated changing my mind on the pattern for the recap. I couldn’t envision giving the impression that my year was only a series of events in each month. My year was explosive. I learnt a lot spiritually. I learnt soft skills. These above mentioned things aren’t captured in this physical itinerary blog post. I doubt it really can, so let’s keep up with this pattern then

I hope you’re ready for this loooong post.

January

I started off the year at home, precisely at TKP retreat, as I have done almost all my life.
One recurring wish in January was that I would have to stop explaining to everyone ‘what I was doing at the moment’. Those two split seconds after I exchange greetings with a person (often older), and they, being somewhat sure I wasn’t working yet, and equally sure there’s been some time since I got admission into university, asked that question. Harmless enough, I still wasn’t a fan of the question. It made me desire to quit student life quickly despite still having law school ahead. Another greeting I was met with every time was ‘how’s school?’. I was synonymous with school, they almost didn’t expect that one could be apart from school. I don’t know which greetings was better.
The month was spent at TKP office doing missionary work, spent working on my final year thesis, spent with my family.

February

The early part of February was spent in the same manner, while the rest of it was spent at school. I hurried to complete my Final year thesis because final exams were at the door. I couldn’t wave off my desire to have my project work perfect.
I had a few responsibilities to tie up in different quarters – clubs, units and societies I belonged to. And my exams came head on.

March

March was spent writing my exams, and meeting law school application requirements. There was some lapse in my faculty’s communication to my classmates and I, so we had to complete our applications in such a rush, as the Law school deadline stared us in the face.
My final year thesis was finally completed, approved by my supervisor, and submitted. I spent some part of the month literally running around for my fellowship’s FYB(Final Year Brethren) team.

April

April was spent in the realization that law school was really here, I spent it catching up with a few friends. We had some FYB programs and yours truly was sourcing for funds for our final activities (I was assistant general secretary for my FYB). I have this audio recording on my phone which was made on the eve of my company law exam. It had been a Wednesday i.e weekly fellowship day and I had exerted myself to get funds for the dinner we were to have, my emotions were scattered and as I tried to have a revision discussion with one of my friends at night, I just couldn’t concentrate. So in my recording that night, I narrated the event to myself and then sang a certain song. Read my video hack post here to know more.

To round up the FYB activities was our commissioning service and dinner. At the dinner, I won best dressed female which I was running away from! Guess where I came in second? Cool, Calm and Collected award. And this was the award I didn’t mind bagging. My opinion was that FYB stress had me running about like adiye to ko somi, so why would I win CCC? Lol.
I spent the rest of the month going through the hassles of medical tests for law school. I spent it expecting to resume at law school.

There was also the graduation program for Law students in my school.

May

May? May was spent still waiting to resume law school. May was spent befuddled sometimes. In the dark parts, I was unhappy with some of my relationships and I couldn’t tell them why. I wrote and addressed letters to two people, but tore them right back. I spent it afraid of messing up future relationships through my flaws. Then in the lighter part of May, I spent it still seeing my flaws, but drawing nearer to Jesus for his perfection to rub off on me.
I concluded May resuming at the Nigerian law school.

June

June was spent integrating into the law school life. Meeting new friends, worshipping at Clasfon. Laughing with friends, taking pictures, soaking in God’s presence in Clasfon meetings.

July

My externship program started and having finally looked through the pros and cons of having the experience in Abuja, Lagos or Ilorin, Lagos won. I was adjusting to Magistrate Davies court style, adjusting to Lagos’ danfo buses and navigating it’s roads. The month faded into reading of law school books and taking pictures of the court room cause list so I would try to tie up the cases later on – such annoying task.

August

In August I thought what’er betide me at this law chamber. The first firm I was posted to, I found it unsuited to match the externship goals (hear, hear law students) and reported back to law school. My second posting was to a great firm. Two days in, and I was surprised at how many lawyers I had met. Some of whom became my friends.
I had strict hours unlike that which some other firms prescribed for externs. I had my fun and comfort learning there.
Lagos traffic shifted into a greater intensity and was coupled with the scarcity of busses, guys I’m still unnerved thinking of some of that Lagos situationship. Uploading on this blog hit a low, mostly due to no ability to leverage on my inspirations.

With some friends after our first UI group discussion at law school; posing with one of the many wall arts at my externship law firm; my externship magistrate courtroom; One of the friends I first connected deeply with in law school; goofing after our first UI discussion; with a friend at our lawschool welcome cocktail; eating at the cafeteria in my externship law firm; On my way to the firm; First week in law school

September

September caught me still at at the law firm.
My birthday on the 2nd, sneaked up on me and left me humbled and honoured, altogether.
Soon enough, I was waving goodbye to the people at the firm. I somewhat dreaded school even though for the longest time I had hoped for resumption. I found the reason to be the practice of law. No matter what I said on the extremely tiring days, law spoke my language and I enjoyed the summer affair.

               October

I was quickly inducted back into the law school system. I began to anticipate my elder sister’s wedding. I travelled for my sister’s wedding and had a world of experience (a part of which I shared about here). I got back to school and slept in class on my first day back, dozed in class on the second day. Soon enough though, I was re-settled in the system and I no longer dozed. The relief.

My sister’s wedding

November

November caught me solving past questions and discovering my shortcomings in my preparation for exams. Truth dawned on all, well, almost all. Exams were right around the corner. I was having some great time fellowshiping with the people of God at Clasfon. Finally, I had a pressure cooker mock trials. Pressure cooker because the preparation was for a really short time;and despite the names on paper, we were short of hands to get in the dirt. I was prosecution counsel and not defence, that meant more hardwork – we (Three prosecutors) created plenty detailed exhibits, prepped our own witnesses, and then got to the actual lawyers job. Pressure cooker. It wasn’t a levelled playing field at the end of the day, notwithstanding, the lessons I learnt were the real deal.

December

Whooo. All my life actions here were primarily tied to reading law school texts and anticipating the freedom in late January. It was spent growing in faith and reading for exams. With exams at full speed, my unit in Clasfon, the Prayer team still took time out for an exclusive in-house retreat for three days. Clasfon NLS Abuja 2019 and Clasfon prayer team was the best part of my law school experience.

Harmattan season in Bwari Abuja hit hard this month. My lovely paternal grandmother was buried this month but I didn’t get to attend – law school exams. Law school reading was the reason this blog was also on a hiatus. It was interesting the reformation that had happened to my thinking while at the law school. It was interesting how I started the year disliking two questions and where I had come to by December.

December then winded up with my exams on the eve. With my praise unleashed. And with my lessons cherished.

I hope 2019 was an amazing one for you. Even if it wasn’t, call it amazing. Name your years. Name 2020. I already called 2020 what it would be while in 2019 and it cannot be anything short of that.

I hope this blog blesses you exceedingly this year.

Love and light,

Debby

Pictures and gists from my Sisters Wedding last weekend

Life Diary 17 Comments

What I Miss: My Blog as it was last year. I miss writing articles like Hello strong Friend, book reviews like Born a Crime. Law has taken me on a different course. I still spend much time blogging, but they’re mostly getting the technical bits down and having it published properly. The time of spending days writing a single post have been on hold. I miss them.

Anyway, today is not for reminiscing. Today is for…(drum roll)… my sister. Okay, last week was for my sister. October 19. Today is for you all who want to know about my sister.

No, not really.

Today is for those who want to know about my sister’s wedding. Today is for you.

You know already that my post is coloured from my perspective (which tends to be painfully limited when I’m not wearing my glasses, of which I didn’t, last weekend). Lets go then.

What were my highlights?

Dancing

I’m sure you’re happy to see dancing gets its own respected position in this post.

Did I dig the dance? Absolutely not. I’m still Debby.

When I first knew it had happened and there was no hiding place: During the dance to the signing of the marriage registry.

The joke at home had been that I will only dig the dance when the bride does, in other that the attention is on the bride and not on my feeble attempts. Guys, man proposes, God disposes. Hmm.

Dancing into the reception hall: Chai.

Here’s a funny incidence at the reception- the width between the couple’s chair and mine on stage, was a little distance . So when we settled in, I was facing the world alone (the couple had each other). The couple had to step down to dance with parents at a point, best man was downstairs receiving instructions. I couldn’t sit on stage alone so I started dancing alone on stage for a long time in front of everyone (awkward limbs movement). I didn’t feel hugely embarassed but amused, until I told my mum and sisters later and they were laughing. Mum said I could’ve come down the stage. Then it occurred to me, Debs, you could’ve sat with friends for that period! Face palm. But then what’s life, if we don’t get to embarrass ourselves every once in a while.

Take it people – that’s how I dance. No body coordination.

The message at the engagement

The cordiality and sweet, simple fun at the engagement was a delight.

The decor did not dissapoint. What’s more? I had never expected a sermon like that at an engagement ceremony. It felt like Jesus’ address on that final day of the feast.

True, Deep and Quietly Loud. It was such a blessing that daddy has ordered that the message be packaged separately too by the videographers.

The Worship Night

My sister had said pretty early that she’ll love to have a worship night (i think her phrase was ‘praise night’) on Friday after the engagement ceremony. She had said no instruments, just our singing. I didn’t agree. Psalm 150:3 says to praise God with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. I arranged for how a keyboard and guitar would be present.

The bulk of those available at the worship night were those with whom we had enjoyed fellowship together at our undergraduate days on campus: differing years of graduation and from different ends of Nigeria, we gathered again and praised the Lord. For me, the song underlying my heart was a Yoruba song saying “I’ll be praising you all my life”. Wherever I am, whenever it is, I’ll be caught praising God with his own people.

There was also a personalized song from the Groom to the bride after the worship session. So beautiful.

The Bridal Shower

We planned a surprise bridal shower in one week several kilometres away from the destination.

I was delighted to know the friends I could count on, and the beauty of it all. I planned certain events and games that didn’t go on, but it was all for good.

The bride’s statement at the shower that Her groom was one who always did what was right by and for her, and she had to be cautious to not take that for granted struck me. I think same goes for us and Christ.

Meeting Taiwo

Yes, Dorcas’ friend Taiwo, is a good Christian and I’m glad to have met her this period. Its an highlight o, because I hope to always leave an impression of Christ-likeness everywhere everywhere I go .

The little bride

She was well-behaved for the most part o. I really liked having her beside me. Esther (my younger sister) had the honour of managing her too.

Now, sitting in the front pew in church, I fed this baby her rice twice. On the second occasion, she gazed expectantly at her meat, so while the sermon progressed, I valiantly attempted cutting beef with a spoon (I had a poker face on).

It failed despite my steady attempts. I did the next best thing, I used my hand. Yes, right there. The meat did not yield. At a cross road, I decided to cut short the baby’s meat expectation and save my dignity. The possible accidents that the peppered meat could have caused till today, know no bounds. Whew.

The Fan experience

Do you experientially know what what it means to fan a bride during thanksgiving?

She’s in a big white dress that makes her perspire, people are dancing around her, she is dancing continuously for thirty minutes and I am there using a fancy hand fan to do what only an industrial fan should do, while I dance too.

It shouldn’t be made a way of life.

When I ran

Twice. At the church. Sighs.

First off, my dress had a train. Consequently, I was overtly saddled with picking up the bride’s train and not forgetting mine. I could’ve tripped on mine and fallen if I ignored it.

So I ran with my train. Dear D, I’m pretty glad at the miracle of it all.

I ran the first time to call the chairpersons for the day who were at the end of my church’s large compound. The bride wanted them to join in taking pictures. I managed this inspite of the crowd happily greeting me, it was like dodging bullets.

I ran the second time after I very conveniently packed the bride’s dress train into into the car and closed the door for her on her way to the reception from church. Sitting pretty in my daddy’s car, happy to have a breather, he hollered “Are you not supposed to be in Dorcas’ car? Who will help her with dress when she gets there?” So I raced after a moving car – my train cautiously following me.

Question Pre-emption : No, I didn’t ask for a train behind my dress. No, I didn’t try on my dress until two days prior.

People ought to have training manual on what it takes to be a chief bridesmaid. I told Dorcas I wouldn’t do it for someone that’s not my best friend.

After all these escapades sha, how do I know I did well and didn’t enter the couple’s book of “people to be mindful of against subsequent events”? The groom has taken to calling me “the best of the best ladies”. That’s good, innit? Together, they also made a mushy phone call to me. Couple affairs. Dear Lord.

Do I feel I didn’t get sufficient time to appropriately greet friends that came? yes

Did I feel an obligation to call everyone one by one, apologize for not having plenty time with them, and thank them profusely for coming too? Yes

Did I, by the following day, call some who travelled, to ask about their journeys? yes

Does this make me feel like the assistant bride? Yes!

Finally, am I ready to honour all those saying to me “you’re up next”? Hehehe. This answer requires it’s own blog post.

Those that asked for gists, I hope you’re satisfied.

Vote of Thanks: I appreciate the love shown to the bride, groom, and assistant bride this period. Let me join the yoruba tribe in saying “tie na a de o” “a ba eyin naa see nkan ayo”.

The experience was a lot more than I recounted here, for lack of space and time. The pictures aren’t satisfactory to me either, but “done is better than perfect”. Hopefully I’ll upgrade the pictures when I get other professional pictures.

In all, a ceremony lasts a few hours but the impact of a home built on the rock of Christ lasts a last time. Thanks for reading.

I considered not putting up this post because:

1) I do not yet have the professional pictures I was hoping to have and use along side, and

2) Today is a prayer conference in my NLS fellowship and we’re all praying ‘fire’. How can I while praying fire, write about a wedding?

But none of those excuses prevailed and so I hope you’ve considered this post worth the while.

With great love, I say see you here with a new post in two weeks. Pending the time, brush through my archives for other posts.

Light, Weddings and dancing,

Debby.

2019 Life Update (3)

Life Diary 2 Comments

It was last week I last published a post here. Wednesday night. I did essentially no publicity for it, just put it on the blog.

It was something I had written on my way back from work.

Guess who’s writing another post on a Wednesday night back from work.

I’m pretty tired. Pretty, being that I’m too tired to describe how tired I am. I’m physically tired. Yesterday, I was very strong. I got home feeling like I could conquer the world, it was surprising.

Today, I had to run around a bit in my law firm. I have lots of pending tasks. And what bugs me… What really bugs me right now is that I’m unable to properly read my emails.

Guys, I read my emails. I unclogged recently, unsubscribing from newsletters I do not need. So virtually every email I get now needs to be read, but I do not read them. I have so many important links I’m not clicking, so many good newsletters I’m not reading. It bugs me.

I cannot even bring myself to click them this week, because of the huge amount of things I need to read this week in order for life to be balanced again.

What of next week? I’ve got a lot to fill in my law school log book. This week, meaning tomorrow and Friday, I have to find a way to register my business name at CAC because I’m leaving Lagos this weekend and the extra 28 days for me to forfeit my payment and the processes so far are already counting.

I’m still reading for law school despite everything.

Nevertheless, guess what I just saw: My Gratitude journal affirmation:

 

With Love,

Present day Debby to Future Debby.

2019 Life Update (2)

Life Diary Uncategorized 2 Comments

There are days when I remind myself that calmness is the way.

There are days I remind myself that poetry is my language, and that I can never, even if I try, escape solitude.

Living outside of home in the busy city of Lagos and hitching bus rides from the mainland to the island daily has left little to imagine, literary-wise.

I haven’t been motivated to document, I haven’t been inclined to create.
But I did travel home for a short while, and I enjoyed the familiarity of my family’s language, the shared laughter, the exquisite family altar.

Reading good poetry and writing in the space of my travel home, I was conscious of the fact that I’m slowly finding my way back to the heart of literature.
My love for law is unquestionable, but you can well question my love for a hectic and pensive life.

While I’ll love to practice, I would also love to dictate my hours. To study my bible, comparing translations with translations and journalling my findings. In the midst of which I’ll like to roll on the ground in worship. And no, Saturdays only won’t cut it.

While I’ll love to exercise my legal skills and contribute to the world of finance, I can tell you without a fee that I’ll like to read Wole Soyinka and Tiwalade and follow Rudy Francisco again. I’ll love to hold the pages of a book with a child and read to them, unrushed. I’ll love to imagine, and to create.

Law, literature. Where do you intersect? Where do you come alive?

But erhm…the part of that intense literature appears to suit the year 2020 better, or what do fellow students of the Nigerian law school say?

What do you think?

Love from this end,

Debby

Baby Blogger Steps; Taking new strides after a crisis

Life Diary 10 Comments

Hey guys. Greetings from this end. I agree its been a while. Regards, and feel free to chat me up using my Contact page. You can also reply newsletters when I send them. 💜

There are fail-days. I go through them. I got extremely tired and had no desire to touch my blog this past weekend.

I had had a draft post I was to edit and put up on Saturday. It had also been a couple of busy days leading up to that moment, so I didn’t get to check up on the post.

Saturday morning; I got a devastating email from Mailchimp – my newsletter service provider. Very very devastating news. My account was suspended as soon I clicked “send newsletter”. My very first newsletter!

An account I constantly created for over a month – through the poor network, lack of professional skill, mega data expenditure, and so much time! My entire account was suspended just like that, and without using it once after set-up.
Boy, was I frustrated. I tried pushing that aside. I thought ‘let me atleast edit the blog post for today’. It was then that I found out the post was still too raw and I was in no mood to create a masterpiece. I just shut it all down.
I thought to myself that I may as well space out this blogging thing for a while.

But, I’ve since had time to get my energy back particularly since I got a personal message from a blog reader today thanking me for my consistency and how my last post blessed his life. Ah well. I’m back to this place. We will work the newsletter again, amen?

Like a person who had an accident, I’m here planning to take baby steps again after my blogging crises. Baby blogging steps today means simply writing as I want to – reminding myself that I do not need to be pressured on any front. I am growing and being. I am simply content being here this Sunday evening, 18:29pm in front of my laptop while a message plays aloud on my phone and birds tweet outside my window.
Today, I just want to put up some pictures on my blog and have fun while doing it. Its delightful being a baby blogger, yeah?

While I’m baby-blogging, I want to encourage you to “baby-do” whatever big thing is crashing right in front of you. Just take the baby steps at it, do the basics. Sometimes its enough.

Not everyday a masterpiece, sometimes just paint, write, be.

A/N: So this post is coming up many months after the crisis. Said crisis occurred at the end of January this year. I think I’m sharing this today because you need to baby-do whatever big thing is crashing right in front of you. But do not stop.

Being an adult requires doing lots of things, and sometimes doing them alone. It can be wearying, and while its not wearying to me right now, I want to tell whoever its wearying to right now, “take baby-steps”.

A baby doesn’t stop walking because he falls. Interestingly, the parents are amused with the baby’s bounce and fall, as its a harbinger of good news, our child is developing.

Sweet child, your father says your occasional fall shows you’re developing. Relax, and live in stride.

Your fellow baby sister,

Debby.

How I Use My Gratitude Journal

Educative Life Diary 17 Comments

Hello people. I had this post written a few months ago, and I’m finally glad to publish it.

I believe I’ll be doing something good for someone by teaching them how to really see the benefits in everything that comes their way.

You need a gratitude journal.

You can have this in any form but I do have a sustainable system (after other failed attempts over the years).

My foolproof system comes in form of a phone application. Its available on for download on every phone store. Gratitude App.

My entries each day range from little things like being grateful for the succulent chicken I ate, the scent coming from my air freshener, to great things like friends who help reset my brain.

I think I’d be adding a little flavour to this post by pasting some of my gratitude entries here. Some are very personal so I willingly skipped out on them, while randomly picking others.

Lets take the above as an example. The day before had been a great day for gratitude, but that following afternoon, after waking up from my vigil rest, I was sore and averagely without gratitude entries. But like David (1Samuel 30:6), Debby encouraged herself in the lord. Sometimes, its sufficient to thank God for the good days that make you contrast the bad days as bad. Its sufficient to thank God for the joy of the previous day leading to the current day’s weariness. That’s what I did above.

February 11

Today’s an interesting holiday, yeah?
After spending some 6hours straight up working on my project and feeling afloat, I had a shower, drank Milo drink while I ate my jollof spaghetti and settled don’t to watch ‘Princess Switch’. Of course it was the best comedy for the occasion.
Such an holiday!

And today’s my mum’s birthday! And Naija’s presidential election. Sure grateful for these little benefits.

February 24

I’m grateful for the weather. It has finally drizzled here in IB. Oh the joy. Just the pleasure of working on my laptop on my bed near this window!

I’m also grateful for a new Sunday in IVCU.

February 28

What am I grateful for? The joy of blogging and reading blogs. I love my community.

One of my greatest joys in blogging is reaching people all over the world:
New Zealand, Thailand, Philippines, Madagascar, Belarus, Chile, UAE, Serbia, Vietnam, Italy, Nicaragua.
I imagine what rich lives they have in the ends of the earth yet reading this blog. Wawu!

March 12

I’m grateful that my exams are well spaced even though I consider them too well spaced for me to be serious.
I’m grateful for the serenity that is Imoran’s courtyard.
I am grateful that I do have a blog.
I’m also grateful and scared that it appears Qservers is working and I may move my site!

On the day above, I had spent my day studying so when it was time to enter in my journal, I didn’t have spectacular events to enter in. That’s what this journal does: it forces me to take stock and give thanks. I look around me and appreciate something. The courtyard of the library where I used to read was very beautiful so I noted that down.

My exams were well-spaced and afforded me luxury – couldn’t take that for granted. I discovered a new hosting platform for my blog too.

Random but good things.

March 14

I’m grateful that I have in abundance. I am grateful just for my clothes, for my wardrobe that is full of beautiful colours and designers. Thank you Jesus! Thank you for blessing me materially.

See this? How many times have you taken time out ‘mid-life’ to just thank God you have colourful clothes? Without them, you’d still be indebted to God, right? So what extra privilege you have to possess them. My gratitude journal helps me pick out things I daily see and just reflect on how I’m blessed to have them.

March 26

Praise the lord! Praise the lord! Praise praise praise praise praise the lorddddd! Halleluyah.
‘Eyin oluwa logo, Ogo’!

Why so happy you may ask. Simple answer – its the joy of the lord. I’ve been in worship mood o, Yoruba worship mood.
In remembering the little things, I thank God for his way of quickening my spirit to learn to obey when he speaks, my laptop did ‘erekere’ but God took control and I got my assignment out. Also my blog is working!

April 01

I am grateful for the opportunity to play the guitar not minding how tiring it was, ugh!! My fingers.

April 02

I thank God for time well spent with a darling friend, X.
I thank God for coldstone icecream
I’m grateful for a beautiful face.

April 10

I am grateful for my blog – the work it gives me and the love I have for it.
I am grateful for other christian bloggers who are sticking it out there.

April 05

Its like I totally stopped giving thanks. I’m grateful for the dinner rehearsal we had this evening. I’m grateful for the opportunity to pitch in to help.

Precious people, this entry above for example wouldn’t have been an item of gratitude but for the fact that I’ve learnt to examine my days for them. So rather than look at how some people neglected the express instruction given them and made things two times tougher, I looked at the good side of being granted an opportunity by God to pitch in. I could as well have had nothing to do with the task, but I did, and that’s worthy of gratitude.

April 16

I’m grateful for the beautiful light bulb in the dinning area. It delights me.

Yep. We thank God for light bulbs in this part of my world.

April 17

I thank God blood was not drawn from my arteries today

This is an interesting but embarrassing story so I will not share it.

But its worth thanking God for. Imagine if it had been the contrary. See? this thanksgiving journal helps insert humour at the end of my day, before sleep.

April 20

I am happy that I found Emmanuelpresents (Onimisi) blog.
I am grateful for a beautiful family and the joy of a quiet Saturday.

Thank God for discoveries. Thank him for the people around you.

April 21

Grateful for a place to call my church.
Grateful that Christ died for me and the world and we can celebrate him today.
Grateful that God is on the throne.

April 23

I’m grateful to the people who though, don’t like it so much, make out time and effort to work in teaching hospitals. Its way soo much work.

As a general rule, I dislike hospitals. I even always prayed that I wouldn’t marry a medical doctor (yep, big secret). My default attitude towards hospitals was to squeeze my face. But in reflecting on April 23, this year, I truly discovered that some of the people working there may really not like the smell either, they may not like being around sick and depressed people, but they’re doing it for good, nothing personal. Wow. (Now medical doctors are attractive. Such good heart! Okay, this is a joke). The point is that I got to make a new discovery, change my pattern of thinking and give thanks.

April 26

Grateful for the opportunity to buy what I need for law school.
Grateful for the opportunity to be a daughter to a powerful minister and be able to follow him on ministrations.

December 18, 2018

I am grateful for the ‘adimole’ I made today. It brings out my ‘Abike’ face.

Novmber 29, 2018

Ah. Today has been a precious day. I’ve smiled and frowned. I frowned at the realization that I’ve lost so much on my laptop with the spoilt hard disk.

I’ve smiled at the realization that God mercifully helped me save some work. It could’ve been worse. I’ve smiled at the realization that I’ve got God on my side. I am blessed.

I finally decided on writing this blog post the day I got a different type of compliment from a friend.

A strong love language for me is words of affirmation and I’m learning I have to give it to myself by myself too.

I have struggled in the past year and a half with varying thoughts about myself. Nothing too drastic but I didn’t always believe in myself or appreciate myself so much. I felt I was failing at some things and was quite average overall.

But with my gratitude journal, today, I do get to thank God for a long list of things that I believe about myself. Things that I actually do recognize substantially in myself, so I remind myself. And if for nothing else but this, this gratitude journal is fulfilling. (P.S: This is a proven way to battle Impostor syndrome which I wrote on here).

But then, there are more reasons why this gratitude journal has been good.

One of my pastimes is to scroll through previous entries and just laugh in contentment at funny entries, while my heart soars in gratitude to God for the people I meet and the things I see around.

You can also send a few people gratitude entries which pertains to them. E.g Grateful for a peaceful walk with XX. Grateful for my friendship with YY which brings a smile to my face. Thankful for the time of prayer which I had with GG after that insightful conversation. I smiled today because of the impact I get to have in OO’s life. Forward it to XX, YY, GG and OO.

This app has a backup feature so entries are saved to your google drive. It also has the provision for setting three reminders during the day for you to write. I hope you have fun using it, and you sharpen your gratitude culture. Have a blast reading some of my entries:

I really hope you get round to leveraging the benefits of daily gratitude. It makes your prayers richer.

Comments on any of my featured entries? Do you have other gratitude structures? Pray tell.

As always, your favourite girl,

Debby.

My Playing Small Does Not Serve The World || + NLS Dinner Pictures

Educative Life Diary 7 Comments

I hope to share more stories about myself. I hope to make you read relatable entries about my weaknesses and strengths. While I wait for the presence of mind and resources to write on these as well as I’ll love to, I try to chip in bits and pieces.

Tonight, when I type this, is June 18, 2019. I had my first term dinner tonight at the Nigerian Law school, Bwari campus, Abuja this evening. I decided to fill in my gratitude journal (which I’ll share all about in another blog post). After doing so, I started to read some old entries. Then I stumbled across this saved write-up which I was grateful for some weeks back, and which I’m still grateful for today. I heard it first in the movie, Akeelah and the bee. I must’ve seen that movie for the first time at around age 13. Here’s the quote written by Marianne Williamson which I’ll love to share with you:

“OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS NOT THAT WE ARE INADEQUATE. OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS THAT WE ARE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE. IT IS OUR LIGHT, NOT OUR DARKNESS THAT MOST FRIGHTENS US. WE ASK OURSELVES, WHO AM I TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS, TALENTED, FABULOUS? ACTUALLY, WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE? YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. YOUR PLAYING SMALL DOES NOT SERVE THE WORLD. THERE IS NOTHING ENLIGHTENED ABOUT SHRINKING SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WON’T FEEL INSECURE AROUND YOU. WE ARE ALL MEANT TO SHINE, AS CHILDREN DO. WE WERE BORN TO MAKE MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US. IT’S NOT JUST IN SOME OF US; IT’S IN EVERYONE. AND AS WE LET OUR OWN LIGHT SHINE, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHER PEOPLE PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME. AS WE ARE LIBERATED FROM OUR OWN FEAR, OUR PRESENCE AUTOMATICALLY LIBERATES OTHERS.”

Its a most beautiful quote. Today, I’m grateful that I am liberated to shine, unhindered. Unbothered by popular opinion, I can stand up to my own beliefs and smile for the camera.


Today, I do not ask myself who am I to be brilliant, talented, gorgeous and fabulous. Actually, who am I not to be? I am brilliant, talented, gorgeous and fabulous. I’ll even add that I am an embodiment of uncommon class. And more importantly, I radiate the glory of God.

But this wasn’t always so. I once asked myself all these questions. Sometimes, I still act in ways that show that these questions are still under the surface. Not withstanding, its all getting better. I’m getting better.

In this spirit of joy, here are few pictures from my first term dinner at the Nigerian law school.

A recurring thought to me from this dinner is the issue of fitting in. I believe a part of refusing to play small is refusing to struggle to be seen or to make a point. In your extreme quietness, you’re making enough point. And in your extreme fireworks state, you’re making enough point. Do not tilt to any side to gain the approval of men. Rather, tilt upwards to better yourself.

And I leave you with another quote, however by an unknown writer:

I AM A PERSON. I AM NOT A MACHINE, SPREADSHEET, AGENDA OR RÉSUMÉ. I HAVE A HEARTBEAT, SKIN, SCARS AND A SOUL. MY WORTH ISN’T CALCULATED IN EFFICIENCIES, RESULTS OR LADDERS CLIMBED. I AM NOT THE SUM OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS — OR THE SUM OF MY MISTAKES. I AM NOT MY AMBITION, ENERGY LEVEL, APPROVAL RATING, MASS APPEAL OR WORTH TO THE COMPANY STORE. I AM NOT AN A-PLUS OR D-MINUS. I AM NOT A MESS OR A MISCALCULATION. I AM NOT A MISTAKE. RATHER, I AM A MIRACLE. AND SO ARE YOU. BECAUSE I AM A PERSON, MADE OF LOVE IN THE HANDS OF GOD. I WILL BE A PERSON TODAY. I WILL BE ME. I WILL RESIST THE URGE TO BELIEVE I’VE GOT TO FIGHT FOR MY PIECE; GOD SAYS THERE’S MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GO AROUND. I WILL SEE THE BEST IN OTHERS AND RECOGNIZE THE BEST IN MYSELF. I WILL REACH FOR VIRTUE MORE THAN TROPHIES, DIGNITY MORE THAN STARDOM. I WILL CHOOSE ENCOURAGEMENT OVER ENVY. I WILL REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE. I WILL STAND TALL ON THE INSIDE, EVEN IF I’M FEELING WEAK ON THE OUTSIDE. I AM A PERSON, A CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM, WHERE THERE IS UNENDING GRACE FOR ME. BECAUSE I AM A PERSON, AND I BELONG TO JESUS

I hope as I let my light shine continually on this blog, I’m freeing you up to do the same. I hope I give you permission to live your truth today and always.

THERE IS NOTHING ENLIGHTENED ABOUT SHRINKING SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WON’T FEEL INSECURE AROUND YOU. WE ARE ALL MEANT TO SHINE, AS CHILDREN DO. WE WERE BORN TO MAKE MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US…

AND AS WE LET OUR OWN LIGHT SHINE, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHER PEOPLE PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME

If you need to be liberated from any of these questions too, go on ahead and while you’re in the process, celebrate yourself.

Shining as always, Debby.

Life Update 2019 (1)

Life Diary 19 Comments

Today

Hello gorgeous people. This is the third attempt to write this post – thank God this one is a success. I’ve decided to include my earlier attempts as they bear on all I’m discussing today.

Hey guysss. A life update post is due, yes?

Where do I start from? I’ve had an absolute back-breaking week. But its been a delightful week, all the same. I’m almost through with undergraduate studies. Exams are done and dusted, my project submitted today. All that’s left is to have the finalist send-forth program in my faculty, the send-forth in my fellowship too. Every other thing is by the way. Are you aware that I’ll be proceeding to law school this April? No, of course you aren’t. Well, I’m going. That one is a whole long story on its own!

Argh, I’m failing at this life update thing. Where do I even start to write from?

Now I know what to type unlike what I wrote yesterday. I’m not very fine. I’m not. I’m mentally spaced out. I had a scare this exam period with one of my courses – jurisprudence and legal theory. A real scare that kept me thinking I may have a carryover course for the first time ever, which means an extra year. An extra year when I ought to be at law school. An extra year which will depress me and shatter my esteem. So I prayed and confessed God’s word and was assured of his plan for me, especially seeing as I read for the exam, other things simply went wrong.

I’ve had to read so much for my exams, work on my project and plan the externalities involved with it, work on an assignment, justle re-establishing this blog along side, and carried on my head a responsibility at fellowship which felt like it was otherwise crashing at that time.

I’m not so fine mentally. Some days, I feel like my literal heart is heavy. At the risk of appalling everyone, I wonder if I have a rising blood pressure.

Yet in the midst of all this (in a week and a half), I’ve worshipped God and enjoyed beautiful times with him. But at other times, my heart is heavy. It is. I’ve panicked. Panicked about law school and if I was getting anything right, wondered if I was going to be late for my application.

I don’t know, but I don’t like having an heavy heart. I don’t like not being a free-spirited adult. I don’t want to be light and free simply because I’m not thinking of some stuff. I want to be able to think of all I need to and still be light. I don’t want to jettison anything to the corner of my mind like it isn’t real so I’ll have peace. I just don’t want to. I believe in having peace in spite.

Today

This past week I did all the running around under the sun that comes with completing my final year project. I completed my final year exams. I had major stress over completing my law school application in two days to meet the deadline. There was also the general trepidation of law school and the rush attached to the April batch.

In retrospect, I’m just a stickler for perfection; which is good once I can cast aside the worries that come with it. Till today while I type, a number of my classmates are still not through with the law school application or their projects. For everything we’ve had to do, out of 150+ students, I was always in the first seven to submit on the first day required and to do it thoroughly(by myself). So why fret, young lady? Oh young lady.

This leads me to remember an interesting passage in an even more interesting translation:

Phillipians 4:4-7

Always be filled with joy in the lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy. Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon.

Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have.

And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings.

His peace can do far better than our human minds.

The last two paragraphs always do the wonder. Peace can stand like a guard over my heart. Peace isn’t passive and negligible, its a warrior (just like TY Bello and Sinach sang here). I get to have this peace simply because I belong to Christ. Thoughts and feelings have no chance before my skillful guard.

This applies to you too, my friend.

Onto other things, do you remember last year I mentioned that I wasn’t sure how blogging would go this year. Everyone says law school is a jealous lover, it wants all your attention. But I’ll be sure to come around as often as I can, even if its just to give you life update posts. I miss writing other posts. Please pray for me. Also subscribe to my newsletter because that is the only sure way of keeping in touch with me. Social media will fail.

Its good to write on here again, are you happy to hear from me too? It’ll be good to read something about your own life update too in the comment box.

Tell me, what do you also think of the new blog layout? If you need someone to fix you up with something similar, I have just the right contact.

Till next week Saturday (or so soon before),

Love and grace,

Debby.

My take on House Chores

Life Diary The Christian Faith 7 Comments

Hello!
Story, story? Story. Once upon a time, there lived a boy called David and he was a shepherd. One sunny day, his father sent him to enquire about his brothers’ welfare. Here’s what happened:

Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded the supplies and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle position, shouting their war cry. Israel and the philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. As he was talking with them, Goliath the philistines champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it.

1 Samuel 17:17-23
A/N: This post was written some many weeks back but its ever relevant:
SINCE I got home a while back, I’ve been pressed with a few house chores – nothing too much really, but things that haven’t gone down well with me.

WHY?

I had a wrong mindset. I had gotten so consumed in the fast-paced, so-called ‘result driven’ world that I subconsciously put a price on everything. If it wasn’t going to add to my knowledge base, better my spiritual life or yield me money, it was pointless.
But that is far from the truth.
What happened to the scripture that says whatsoever presents itself for you to do, do it with all your might, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or skill in the grave where you’re going. Ecclesiastes 9:10.
What of 1Corinthians 10:31?
God makes our meek character through things like this. I’ll be honest to say I’ve had amazing moments doing the dishes at home – times when I heard God review my life and actions, times when I worshipped and prayed. And even if none of these, like I stated, just learning meekness is sufficient.
ON SUNDAY, we had an extraordinarily long bible-passage reading in church – as I joked, it was almost longer than the sermon which came up later.
One of the passages read was the story of David’s meeting with Goliath – 1 Samuel 17. The Lord gave me a simple lesson right in the church – you can find your life’s vision while running an errand!
In the midst of house chores, you can fulfill divine mission. If you’ve listened to great men, you’ll reckon a number of them talk of finding their big calling in the middle of service to God and/or man.
David was so diligent with his errand that he got someone else to handle the cattle he shepherded while he went away to obey papa. At his brothers’ camp, he gave the supplies to the supplies keeper (might’ve paid for that) and ran to say hello to his brothers.
He didn’t say, “Well I’ve taken the supplies over, they’ll meet it when they get back“. He was so diligent with it all. If you’re like I was two weeks ago, thinking everything should literally add to you (even when sacrificing and helping), it’s not called being a goal-getter, it’s a ME-mentality disorder (selfishness).

“You can find your life’s vision while running an errand!”

You can find God in the middle of your mega errands. Tell me, what has been your experience running errands? Or are you one of the infinitely lucky ones who live life without house-chores?
P.S: If you’re unfamiliar with the rest of David’s interesting story (the life vision he got while running his errand), run a google search of 1Samuel 17 or get in touch with me.

Much love,
Debby.