I remember my childhood growing up in Nigeria. We got new clothes and shoes as Christmas drew near, and the new year beckoned. My aunt, who sold imported fabrics, would hand them over to the tailors to make nice clothes for my cousins and me. Other times, we got ready-made dresses. Our Christmas mornings started at my cousin's grandmother's house. We would eat a delicious breakfast, which was usually yam and fish sauce. Jollof rice and chicken was guaranteed in the afternoon. We were treated to cartoons, and I was always excited when family members and friends visited during the day. There was a canopy out downstairs where guests were entertained. My cousin's Uncle J, of blessed memory, would throw me up in the air, and I would laugh with exhilaration. I was a child, but I remember him being very good-looking and personable. In my mind, Uncle J was a fabulous person all around. We would get the handheld fireworks at night and light them. Oh, ...
Hello there!! Happy New Year!!! I say Happy New Year because I've been away from this blog for so long. :-( I can't get past the fact that it was the new year just a few months ago. I remember going to church for the crossover service into the new year. It was my first in-person crossover service in 7 years. If you don't know what a crossover service is, ask any Nigerian. :-) 2023 was a few hours away, and my mind ran over the events in 2022. I thought about my wins, like moving to a new state, settling in, getting a job promotion, etc. I thought about how I got sick and felt like life was leaving me to being well again. People went forward to share their testimonies, and I felt I was supposed to be out there proclaiming God's goodness to me. "I'm sorry, Lord," I muttered. "Thank you for everything." A few hours later, everyone said "Happy New Year" with glee and excitement. "2023... Please be good to me." I th...