Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013)

Asimbonanga

I heard this song for the first time on the radio earlier this year and was totally struck by it. It pushed me to dig into the meaning of the song and I found out that the song, Asimbonanga (Mandela) was written by South African musician, Johnny Clegg. One of many musical homages to Nelson Mandela, it was controversial as it was written and sung in support of Mandela while he was imprisoned.

In fact, Johnny Clegg formed the first integretated rock band in South Africa and was arrested and jailed himself for his collaboration with black musicians. Randy Lewis of the L.A. Times explains, "His elegiac song “Asimbonanga (Mandela),” from his 1987 “Third World Child” album with his band Savuka, mixed English verses with choruses sung in Zulu. It noted that Mandela was nowhere to be seen at that time and also name-checked political prisoners Steven Biko (the subject of Peter Gabriel’s 1980 song “Biko”) Victoria Mxenge and Neil Aggett."

Thankful today for the life and contributions of these social activist as well as the courage and grace God gave to Nelson Mandela. Truly inspired by this man's sacrifice and fight for equality and social justice.

This is a video of Johnny Clegg performing the song and honoring Nelson Mandela.

This is a video is of "Asimbonanga"  as well as "Biko," a song written about Steven Biko, being performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir.

How to Change a Diaper

Connie, a homeschooling mom of 8 blessings, has a delightful and informative blog called Smockity Frocks. Not only do I acquire many useful tips while browsing her blog, but Connie's upbeat persona and sense of humor keeps me laughing out loud while I read.

Because I am currently at home perfecting my newborn mothering skills with baby #4 (and since she's pooping right now as I type this), I decided to watch Connie's tutorial on How to Change a Diaper. Like me, perhaps you've already changed your fair share of diapers. But, you should watch it anyway. Not only does Connie offer some unique tips and a great perspective on diaper changing, but I'll bet she makes you laugh while doing so:)

Got Questions?

Have you any questions about large family living that you would like answered by some seasoned moms? You should check out the "4 moms, 35 kids" series!

Each week, 4 moms with a collective total of 35 children share their knowledge, experience and and helpful tips in maintaining health, order and sanity. There is even one week in which the moms will take a stab at your questions if you leave them in their comments section!

I must say I have been enjoying this series very much. You can click on the button above to read what you have missed and to find out more about future topics in the series.

Things I Learned From My Mom

Mother and Baby
Originally uploaded by Rennett Stowe

With Mother's Day rapidly approaching, many are putting much thought in to ways to honor their mother. With that, it seems that the nature of the holiday forces people to put a little more thought toward why they are honoring their mother's as well.

Like many, my own mom is worthy of her fair share of praise. She has made many sacrifices and put much energy into mothering me. Thus, in honor of her, I thought I would take some time to share some of the most awesome things I have learned from my mother.

Things I Learned from My Mom:

How to Enjoy People- If you know my mom, you know she takes the phrase "people person" to another level. For as far back as I can remember, she has never met a stranger. She has taught me, by example, how to be friendly and genuinely interested in people. She makes even new friends feel like "family."

How to Learn From Mistakes- Even as a child, my mom didn't try to shelter me from harsh realities. If we were broke, she said, "We're broke." If someone was sick, she would say, "So-and-so is very sick." Some may criticize this, saying that children should not have to know the harsh realities of family problems, bills, sickness, etc. However, my mom used tragedy and hard times as "teachable moments" for my brother and I.

She might point out a bad decision that landed us or someone else in a mess and say, "See, this is why you don't want to ____." This taught me how to learn from the mistakes of others before I even crossed that road in my own life.

How to See The Light At The End of The Tunnel- My mom used to always say, "Everything will work out. It always does." Now she wasn't quoting any bible versus behind this statement; however, she did genuinely believe this (or at least she put up a very convincing front for my benefit). Either way, her positive attitude in times of despair worked wonders.

Somehow, her reasoning that things will work out this time, merely because they always seem to work out, made sense to me. If things always work out anyway, why should we worry, right? Now, I know things will work out because of the faithfulness of God. I even have the scriptures to back that up. Still, I know it was my mother who first deposited that seed of faith in me and showed me how to approach life with that kind of attitude.

How to be a Leader- Ah, Junior High, the most dreadful time of a young girl's life. I can't even begin to tell you all the horror stories of pain and rejection I experienced during this time. Nevertheless, it was during this awkward time that my mom gave me this talk almost everyday after school:

"Be a leader, not a follower. So what if the "cool" girls don't want you to sit with them at lunch. They aren't the only people alive. If you stop trying to fit in with them and just do your own thing, you will be better off. Sit by yourself!"

Of course, I didn't think she knew what she was talking about at the time. "Sit by myself?! Are you mad?" Nevertheless, I did eventually take her advice and realized that, in fact, the "cool" girls were not the only people alive.

How to be a Crazed, Floor-Crawling, Picture-Taking, Proud Mama- No matter whether it was a cheerleading competition, a drama club performance, an awards ceremony, a choir concert, etc, there was my mom, front and center, with her camera, embarrassing me to no end.

I'll never forget the very formal choir concert that I sang in, in downtown, Chicago. Frustrated that she couldn't get a shot of the entire choir at the angle she was at, she got down on all fours and crawled around the front row, taking pictures at various angles. I think someone actually turned to me and asked, "Is that your mom down there on the floor?" Oh, the shame!

I don't think I began appreciate her "support" until a friend of mine cried her eyes out at a school event. She had stared at the door waiting for her mother, who never showed. My friend explained to me that her mother stood her up often and was always "too busy" to come to her school events. It was then, that I got a real sense of how fortunate I really was and how my mom's supportive presence was a blessing.

Lord willing, my children will have my mom to thank for all the years of embarrassment they will endure, as I too am now determined to become a crazed, floor-crawling, picture-taking, proud mama!

In The News

They're all in!

If you read this post or even this post, then you know that hubby has been working hard the past four years to make sure that 100% of Urban Prep's seniors are admitted to college.

Well folks, thanks be to God, today we can say: Mission Accomplished!

Needless to say, I am the very proud wife of one hard workin' man (and I'm sure I have the big head, the beaming face, and the poked out chest to prove it;)!

Various city officials and media outlets celebrated the victory today at a school assembly. Find out more in the article below!

Charter school in tough neighborhood gets all its seniors into college

By Duaa Eldeib Tribune staff reporter

1:14 p.m. CST, March 5, 2010

The entire senior class at Chicago's only public all-male, all-African-American high school has been accepted to four-year colleges. At last count, the 107 seniors had earned spots at 72 schools across the nation.

Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Public Schools chief Ron Huberman surprised students at an all-school assembly at Urban Prep Academy for Young Men in Englewood this morning to congratulate them. It's the first graduating class at Urban Prep since it opened its doors in 2006.

Huberman applauded the seniors for making CPS shine.

"All of you in the senior class have shown that what matters is perseverance, what matters is focus, what matters is having a dream and following that dream," Huberman said.

The school enforces a strict uniform of black blazers, khaki pants and red ties -- with one exception. After a student receives the news he was accepted into college, he swaps his red tie for a red and gold one at an assembly.

The last 13 students received their college ties today, to thunderous applause.

Ask Rayvaughn Hines what college he was accepted to and he'll answer with a question.

"Do you want me to name them all?"

For the 18-year-old from Back of the Yards, college was merely a concept--never a goal--growing up. Even within the last three years, he questioned if school, let alone college, was for him. Now, the senior is headed to the prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. next fall.

Hines remembers the moment he put on his red and gold tie.

"I wanted to take my time because I was just so proud of myself," he said. "I wanted everyone to see me put it on."

The achievement might not merit a mayoral visit at one of the city's elite, selective enrollment high schools. But Urban Prep, a charter school that enrolls using a lottery in one of the city's more troubled neighborhoods, faced difficult odds. Only 4 percent of this year's senior class read at grade level as freshmen, according to Tim King, the school's CEO.

"I never had a doubt that we would achieve this goal," King said. "Every single person we hired knew from the day one that this is what we do: We get our kids into college."

College is omnipresent at the school. Before the students begin their freshman year, they take a field trip to Northwestern University. Every student is assigned a college counselor the day he steps foot in the school.

The school offers an extended day--170,000 more minutes over four years compared to its counterparts across the city--and more than double the number of English credits usually needed to graduate.

Even the school's voicemail has a student declaring "I am college bound" before it asks callers to dial an extension.

Normally, it takes senior Jerry Hinds two buses and 45 minutes to get home from school. On Dec. 11, the day University of Illinois at Champaign- Urbana was to post his admission decisions online at 5 p.m., he asked a friend to drive him home.

He went into his bedroom, told his well-wishing mother this was something he had to do alone, closed the door and logged in.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" he remembers screaming. His mother, who didn't dare stray far, burst in and began crying.

That night he made more than 30 phone calls, at times shouting "I got in" on his cell phone and home phone at the same time.

"We're breaking barriers," he said. "And that feels great."

deldeib@tribune.com

Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune

"Building your Life on Christ's Mission"

With all we have going on in our daily lives; work, family, friends, bills, hobbies, cleaning, travel, church, ministries, etc, its easy for us Christians to get a little sidetracked from time to time. This following message preached by my pastor, Bishop D. Rayford Bell, admonishes us to build our life on Christ's mission.

Jesus knew the purpose of his life. He came to seek and save the lost. After he died, rose, and sent back the holy ghost, he charged us to make that mission our own. When Jesus saved us he didn't just save us to go to heaven, but we have recieved the ministry of reconciliation. God has charged all of us to "go ye into all the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy ghost."(Mattew 21:19).

Whenever you need a little reminder of your mission as a Christian, feel free to remind yourself by clicking on this powerful message! I know I will.

I Believe!

clipped from www.cnn.com

Fact Box

The Urban Prep Creed
We believe.
We are the young men of Urban Prep.
We are college bound.
We are exceptional -- not because we say it, but because we work hard at it.
We will not falter in the face of any obstacle placed before us.
We are dedicated, committed and focused.
We never succumb to mediocrity, uncertainty or fear.
We never fail because we never give up.
We make no excuses.
We choose to live honestly, nonviolently and honorably.
We respect ourselves and, in doing so, respect all people.
We have a future for which we are accountable.
We have a responsibility to our families, community and world.
We are our brothers' keepers.
We believe in ourselves.
We believe in each other.
We believe in Urban Prep.
WE BELIEVE.

This is the creed that the young men of Urban Prep, Chicago's first public charter academy for all men, recite together every morning before going off to class. The school was founded in 2002 in response to alarming realities and statistics concerning the state of young black men. Only 1 in 40 black males will finish college, and 50 percent will drop out of high school (CNN). If that wasn't enough, Chicago youth are facing gang and gun violence on a regular basis. Almost 30 Chicago Public School students have been killed by gun violence this year alone. Thus, Urban Prep's mission is to: "produce responsible, nonviolent, college-bound men"(CNN).

"Against all odds: School offers hope, opportunity for young men," is the title of the recent story done by CNN on the school. You can click here to view it.

Urban Prep is located in Englewood, one of Chicago's most violent neighborhoods. Not only did my husband and I attend high school there, but it is where my husband grew up. There has always been alot of talk about how terrible the area has become. Nevertheless, It’s more than refreshing to see people who are now doing more than just talking about the problems, but actually doing something to solve them.

My hubby has served as Urban Prep's Director of College and Community Partnerships since the fall of 2006 (I know...handsome and noble. I told you I had myself a keeper!). Consequently, I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know some of the young men. In addition, I have gotten a chance to witness first hand the way the faculty and staff at Urban Prep genuinely care about the young men. They go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure these young men succeed. I'm sure I am not alone in being proud of the work this school is doing! Go Urban Prep!

Do you believe? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

Bishop Teklemariam Gezahagne

Recently the question was posed to me: "If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be?"

I thought, "Who else? Bishop Teklemariam of course." I figured his life experience would be the closest to Jesus' life as I would get in this day.

Oh, are you not familiar with him?

Bishop Teklemariam has led a revival in Ethiopia in which millions of people have become born again christians, been healed from serious illnesses such as tuberculosis, blind have received their sight, and the dead have been raised to life!.

I have not been the same since reading "Unseen Hands", a book written about his life and the Ethiopian Revival. There is a new book out called, "Acts of God in Ethiopia" you can check it out on amazon. Better yet, if you are in the Chicago area, he has been here visiting and teaching at my church. You're welcome to come tonight to see and hear for yourself!

"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." -1 Corinthians 4:20