I am going to Africa this summer!!!

Late last year, I made a personal declaration that I would take two weeks out of every year to help someone –somewhere around the world who is less fortunate than I am. I have most humbly adapted the statement “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required” as one of my personal life philosophies! To this end, I have been given an opportunity to go to Mozambique this summer with a team of 12 people from the Greater Allen Cathedral of the New York (www.allencathedral.org). We will spend our time at Iris Ministries (irismin.org), an orphanage that serves as home to over 400 children from infants to 18 years old. Iris is a safe haven where the children are able to go to school, be taken care of, and know that they are loved.

To say that I am excited about this trip is an understatement!!!! I am anxious and excited all at once! I need to start preparing! I have to get shots--oye, but that will not deter me! I also had to get additional passport pages becasue you have to have 6 blank pages in your passport to go to Africa and I did not have any :-)! What I am learning is that I not only have to prepare physically, but mentally as well! The mental portions is a little hard because requires that I slow down and get centered! Slowing down is proving to be a challenge as I have a lot of "iron in the stove" at the moment! I am pressing and straining towards that goal...

much love

Tash

"You don't become what you are--you become what you believe"

This was a quote from Oprah's show yesterday! The show was about children/people being ashamed of the way they look--some segments were too much for me to watch! Oprah put fort a challenge to all young girls for the next 365 days--it's called O Girl ,O Beautiful--The Revolution! for more info--click:http://www2.oprah.com/presents/2007/girl/girl_main.jhtml


If this quote, "you don't become what you are --you become what you believe", is true--then the question I am posing is: What do you belive about yourself?

In thinking about your WHOLE-SELF (mind, body and spirit), what is it that you believe about your body?, What do you believe about your looks? What do your believe about your intelligence?



What do you believe about the person that God created you to be? Do you believe God's hype (that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, that you are made in his image, that you are perfect just the way you are!) or your own? Do you even know what you believe about yourself?



What is the context of your belief about yourself --Societal Context or your Creator's?? If you are not sure, then maybe you too should join the O Girl, O Beautiful--The Revolution!
Just a thought…


Until later...

Tash

Family Addition

Hey,

Check out some pick of my nephews--Kai (6 yrs) and Chad (7months). Chad joined our family in October of last year..he is such a joy to be around--always smiling! Kai is such a good big brother!! I have a new niece, Brianna, who joined our family in February..I will be sharing her photos shortly. I am about to pressure my sister into sending me some :-)! Look out world--here they come!

Catch you later...

I am Back!!!!

I have not posted any info in more than a year--WOW!!! Time is moving fast!!!


Well a friend of mine, LaTrese, is the inspiration for my return! I have so enjoyed reading her blog that I have decided to get back in the game... So here I am..

I have so much to share--new addition to my family, upcoming trips that I am planning, books I want to write, people I want to meet, places I want to be, etc....!!! The BIG question is--- where do I start???


I am pressing for time at the moment, but wanted to be sure to post something today so I think that I will start with a quote that I received yesterday from a friend--thanks G!


"Every time you suppress some part of yourself or allow others to play you small, you are in essence ignoring the owner's manual your creator gave you and destroying your design.” ---Oprah Winfrey

My response to her was: AMEN!!!

My thoughts around this quote is that I don't so much give others opportunity to play me small, but I do suppress myself by not doing what I know that I am created to do ( hence—destroying my owners manual)!! I get so busy with my day-to-day that I am not working on the things that I KNOW are aligned with my creator's plan for me! I got REDIRECTED by this quote... I hope you will too!

Until later...
Tash

It's March already--Can you believe it????

Well my trip to Jamaica went well.. I spent half of my vacation at a nice hotel just sleeping... my brother, Warner, said that I paid a lot of money to just sleep and I say YES and I will do it again :-)! I got so much rest!! It was wonderful.. I stayed in Ocho Rios at the Jamaica Grand hotel ! I spent most of my time, reading, eating and sleeping..it was heavenly! I took one day trip to Dunns River Falls and am happy to say that I climbed all 930 feet of the fall.... can you say scary..I felt very pround of myself when I completed! I started out the climb with 6 other people and only two of us finished--YEAH FOR ME!! I will share some photos...

I spent the other half of my trip in Kingston with my Grandfather and some friends! Thats was fun.. not a lot of rest, but fun non the less..

It's March and I am excited because spring is around the corner! I am going to a woman's retreat at the end of the Month in philly and I can't wait! I am also planning a trip to the Bahamas in May--YEAH.. It's all about paying good money to sleep on a beach :-)... Have more to share, but I have to run...

Happy New Year

I LOVE ..LOVE..LOVE the new year... It's as if I give myself permission to be/do anything--YEAH! I have lots of plans for 2006... It's going to be all about personal development and travel... Leaving for Jamaica on Feb. 11th and will have lots to share when I get back.....So stay tuned!! Don't blink--cause if you do... you might miss it..what's the it that I am speaking of???? Natasha in 2006!!!!!!!! :-)

What I am up to..

Well I can’t believe that the summer is almost over--I HATE IT!

My plan is to enjoy every moment of it!

Here's what I am up to these days...

The Book...
I am currently reading: Dreams from my father--Barack Obama and must say that it is changing my Life... Not in SIGNIFICANT ways--but important ways none the less! My change is happening on the inside... I am taking a journey to my past, present and future in a thoughtful and constructive way.. A lot of reflection... some closures... Barack has written a riveting memoir! I can't tell you how many times I have paused while reading it--to reflect on my own journey...Really POWERFUL stuff!!

Reading the Word...
I have been spending considerable time reading/Studying God's word in an effort to take my “personal walk” with God to a new level! Between reading, young adult's bible study and Sunday service I am gaining a lot of knowledge --It's been VERY rewarding. I am feeling prepared to go on the road and be about my Father's business!

Running...
I started running earlier this summer and was up to four miles per day, but fell of the "trail” for a few weeks--I have DECIDED to start again...

Trips...
I have a couple of trips on the radar that I am excited about

Turks and Caicos at the end of September-- I am going with the sisters, brother in law and a few friends.. I can't wait.. will definitely share some photos when I get back!

Jamaica in December (if I can find reasonable hotel accommodations). Christmas is high season for most Caribbean countries, so the hotels charge "an arm and a leg" only because they know that people will pay them--oye!

Africa in February-- I am currently planning a trip with a Friend to go to Cape Town and Johannesburg early next year and I am excited because I have never been to that region before! And we will be staying with her friends--which mean that I will not be getting the "tourist version” of Africa- yeah baby--that’s was I’m talking about :-)….

See you soon....

Pics from Trip to New York

Ok.. I know that I promised that I would upload photos from the family New York visit, But I am sad to say that I only have one photo to share--camera issues!!! Secretly, that is just an excuse.. I HATED ALL THE PHOTOS—too fat, wrong outfit, wrong pose, etc….. :-(!!!!

I promise to "suck it in” and smile more for the next event..... so hold tight more photos is on the way……
In the mean time, enjoy this photo of Nick and Kai... We took the Kids to Great Adventure--hurricane Harbor and we all had a Blast.... This photo was taken on our way into the park!

I had so much fun that I am hoping to take another visit before the summer is over! Wanna come?

Stay Tuned... for pic of recent family trip to New York!

Some other photos from our Jamaica trip....

Another view from my balcony! God this was a GREAT vacation... why am I not there now--oye!
The view from the balcony in my room at sunset..right before we when out to party :-).....
Sisters!
Look in the eyes and in the hands... No explanation needed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a Family Affair....

Here's a glimps into the my world and see the folks that I call family! I love em to "death"! We took these photos on our last family vacation to Jamaica!

Ok..What do you notice immediately--other than the fact that we are all beautiful people :-)? We are all sporting some gorgeous tans.... this was day 7 of a 9 day trip... Let me introduce you to the family--starting from back left: Warner (brother in law--who is married to Racquel), Racquel (sis), Colin (brother-in-law--married to Nadine), Antoinette (sis--aka Anto), Tony (stepfather), Toni-Gaye (sis--aka TG), Nadine (sis), Doreen (mom), Me (Natasha). Front Left: Krystal (niece--belonging to Nadine & Colin), Kai (Nephew--belonging to Racquel & Warner), Donald (papa) and Nicholas(nephew--belonging to Nadine& CB)... We stayed at Sunset Beach & resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Why the pressure???

Elliot boy,

I must say that I am feeling enormous pressure from you to update my blog...what if I have nothing to say at this time? :-)... Just kidding.... visit me blog in an hour kiddo....

NDM

The Cousins!

Krystal, Nicholas & Kai in Jamaica
(we just added pixs to this blog for the first time! yeah!!!!!!!)

OH MY GOSH I HAVE A BLOG!

Hi
this is Bixby and I just helped Tasha build her blog.
Now she is going to put pixs up and leave notes for her friends and family to
read and look at. Woooo Hooooo!

Viva La Blogging!

xo
Bixby "Blog Master Jam" Elliot