The Writeventures of Emaleecious

Now that the kids are gone, it is time to snooze a little and catch my breath. I must recoup and restrategize my day. I have three emails to send before noon, I need to schedule appointments at the hospital, I need to prepare lunch before they return, I have to publish the blog post, and then network with my new contacts on LinkedIn. Speaking of LinkedIn, I need to take that certification before the week is over. I have to... is that a sock under the sofa? Why is that book on the coffee table? I must refold the throw and place it nicely. The dishes won't take themselves off the table; I'd better get to it, now that the kids are gone.  Now that the kids are gone for a few hours, I want to snooze and catch up on social media, reach out to my friends and family, and be social. I want to hang out virtually, or get lost shopping online. Now that the kids are gone, I want to watch all those movies saved in my playlist or listen to unhinged podcasts. I want to get lost in my Spotify p...

 Welcome to this new series, where I will be sharing my food with you!  It is no secret that my phone memory is loaded with pictures of food - food I cooked, or bought - and did absolutely nothing with. A few months ago, I stumbled on an X post asking people to share their monthly dump (JPEGs), but make it food. I gladly added a few of mine. Someone asked if I had a food blog, and I said no, but it got me thinking. I have always wanted to have a food blog but did not think I had the time. Truth is, I still don't have the time, but sometimes, you just have to make it happen, especially if it is important to you. So, here is my attempt at doing just that! I am so glad to share this here with you, and I hope it turns out even better than I imagine it. For this first post, it's not a full meal - it is more of a snack that I totally enjoyed. Guacamole is something I will always love, and it is surprising that this is my first attempt at making it.  Without missing a beat, let’...

 Hey everyone! How have you been? It’s been a while, right? I hope you’re doing okay and enjoying whatever season you’re in right now. In the spirit of accountability, the last time I posted here was in August. I should have shown up more often, but life was life-ing. I moved states, went back to school, and basically started my life all over again. Was it hard? Yes. Did I want to do hard things? No. Would I do it again? I really don’t know! Change is never easy, even when you’re prepared. But I’m learning, again, to take each day as it comes. In the midst of it all, I’ve been busy turning Chenu and Ladi’s story into a novel and working on another short story, among other random writerly adventures. Today, I’m here to ask a few questions, encourage you, and cheer you on - so let’s get into it. Does this ever happen to you? You’re just minding your business, going through your day, and suddenly you discover something about yourself that shocks you. Last week, Tony and I were talkin...

I turned 41 this week, and my heart is full of gratitude. God has done so much for me, and it would be foolish not to acknowledge it. Now, I’m not here to list out everything- not because I don’t want to, but because I know some people are still in the waiting room, trusting God for their own testimonies. Instead, I just want to share this as encouragement. As I reflected on my journey from 40 to 41, I almost found myself pouting, asking God why it felt like He made me “start over.” From my perspective, it was as if He hit the refresh button on my life, and I’m still trying to understand why. I’m no longer fighting it, though (oh, I did, I'd ugly cry and throw Christian adult tantrums, kind of reminds me now of Jonah, lol) - now I simply want to understand what His plans are for me. Image created using ChatGPT But as I reviewed the year, the things God did, and the things He didn’t, the Holy Spirit whispered to me: “ Are you really sure God hasn’t been good to you? From where I sta...

Hey! How’s it going with you? What have you been up to this past week? Yesterday, it hit me  - I’m getting older. No jokes. It wasn’t one of those “fall-out-of-the-sky” realizations. No, this message has been dropping little hints here and there for a while. But yesterday, the memo came in bold, underlined, and stamped URGENT . On my 40th birthday, people kept telling me things like, “Welcome to 40, things will be different.” And I’d laugh and say, “My case is different.” Well… my case is different, alright! I now lean on the mercies of God daily, because why am I suddenly more tired than usual? A creak here, a groan there, and a quick massage later, I’m realizing I can’t do as much in one day as I used to without needing a recovery plan. Anyway, back to the gist! We were expecting a guest, and the menu was spaghetti and meatballs ( o fe je spaghetti? ) with puff-puff for dessert. Easy, right? That’s what I thought. I’ve made meatballs from scratch plenty of times  - no big...

My people! How are you doing? It feels like I haven’t been here in a while - and it’s only been three weeks! But a million things can happen in three weeks, I tell you. My life lately? Picture a roller coaster… with a wrecking ball swinging at random. But through it all, God’s got me! That savage wrecking ball has swung more than once, but with God’s help, I’ve dodged every single blow. Hallelujah! Image created using ChatGPT So tell me -  how’s it going with you? Did you finally do that thing you’ve been planning? Did the big job or promotion come through? Have you had any wins worth celebrating lately? Or has it been more about artful dodging on your part? If so, here’s a thought: you didn’t take any hits — and that’s still a win! Over the last three months, I’ve been doing my #60Seconds videos. I had no idea the same advice I was giving to others would come back to challenge me directly. Thankfully, I wasn’t saying anything unrealistic. The past few weeks have forced me to r...

Making a choice under pressure is a whole deal. It’s not just about choosing between Option A and Option B - it’s about weighing your past, your future, your fears, and your hopes all at once. And let’s be real, it is exhausting! Recently, I’ve been stuck in that space  -  caught between two seemingly good choices, trying to figure out which one makes the most sense. I’ve gone over both options again and again. I’ve done the math: short-term costs, long-term gains, time investments, and emotional weight. I’ve journaled, prayed, asked for advice… and somehow ended right back at square one. Even now, I’m still undecided. Designed by Tehila Both options have their appeal. Both come with trade-offs. And the more I try to analyze, the more overwhelmed I feel. It’s like solving a puzzle where both answers look right, but you can only choose one. How do I just pick one? What makes you choose one path over another? Is it logic? Gut instinct? Faith? Pressure? Timing? I’ve been thinking...

One of the hardest things I’ve had to do recently is keep smiling. Life hasn’t been easy, and some days have felt heavy. But even in the middle of it all, I’ve found reasons to smile. I’m not ignoring the reality around me, I call it ‘ostriching,’ but I promise that’s not what I’m doing. I just know that my problems don’t get to steal my joy. And truthfully, holding on to that smile has taken work. Serious work. From the start, I had to surrender my worries to God. I had to name my stressors and create distance from them. I leaned on my accountability partners- a wise, steady friend (Mrs. I), and an incredible community (The SABI CORE). I built routines that helped me stay grounded. I rediscovered myself, rebuilt my mindset, and slowly let go of fear. I can’t share the full story yet, because I know this isn’t the end. But I’ve learned some deep truths along the way, and I think you should know them: Nothing lasts forever. Storms come, but they pass. Embrace each season for what it ...

  “Ladi, odi ne?” “Have I offended you in any way?” Chenu’s voice was low and soft, but his eyes held concern. “Your eyes are guarded, and your hackles are up. I could almost swear you growled at me this morning.” He stepped into the kitchen, his tone a mixture of confusion and worry. “My love, did I do something wrong?” Chenu wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her to his chest. She froze. “No,” Ladi mumbled, trying to shrug him off, but he held her firmly, his grip tender yet insistent. “Then why have you been building walls around yourself this past week?” Chenu’s voice softened as he spoke, his fingers gently stroking her back. “At first, I thought you were tired, but I watched you smile at everyone else, and when I approached you... the smile vanished. My love, tell me what I’ve done. I promised myself I’d never be the cause of your sadness. Please, tell me.” His voice cracked with sincerity. “Tell me, and I’ll apologize at once and try to make it right. Anything you w...