21 Days of Praise: Day 5 - The Blessing of Relationships

Today is so perfect. It’s 07/07. Happy perfect Sunday! Welcome to Day 5 of our #21DaysofPraise series. In the spirit of fellowship at church, let’s praise God for the people He has placed in our lives.

Praise for Family and Friends

This picture was taken today. Freshly after church. 🙂

Verses of the Day: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” — (NIV)

I don’t know what my life would have been without the people in it. Life is already hard as it is. No matter how much faith we have, life is hard. We all need trustworthy people to walk by our sides through the ups and downs we face, celebrating our successes, showing compassion for our struggles, and encouraging us to keep going. True friends and supporting family can be hard to find, and if we’re blessed enough to have them, we should cherish and appreciate them as the gifts from God they are.

It is incredibly amazing how God brings people into my life just when I need them. My family and friends are truly one of His greatest gifts. They laugh with me in my joy, comfort me in my sorrow, and walk with me through seasons. Oh, Lord, thank You!

DIARY: Thankful For A Great Support System In My Pregnancy Season

I am deeply thankful and blessed to have this amazing people encourage, uplift and help me get through my first pregnancy phase. God bless you!

My Support System

According to Merriem-Webster dictionary; a support system is a network of people who provide an individual with practical or emotional support.

There's no one word to describe this set of amazing people in my life. . . Family, friends and peers. I guess my support system is the closest thing that can be used.

I just want to thank you. Thank you for everything you have done for me, everything you do for me and everything I'm sure you will do for me in the future. I am extremely blessed to have you in my corner. 

This entry is specifically for those who gave me PRACTICAL and EMOTIONAL support during my pregnancy season. 

Uche (My Husband’s Cousin): Washed my clothes, cleaned the house, cooked and did the dishes for two weeks. She came at short notice. Quite helpful and resourceful.

Diary: My Friend, Caleb Wrote This "Birthday Poem" For Me

Caleb, my good friend sent me this on my birthday. I had planned to share it on the blog but got carried away with life's activities.

From Caleb Ukaonu

The shout of good morning always coming out of Ij airport

Noise maker par excellence
The beauty and brain of Ajaegbu
A friend so tender and caring
My days in UNEC was wonderful cos of you
Such a sweetheart that my heart is already sweet
Amaka....the babe with so much talent and passion for good things

DIARY: Lovely Pictures From My Quarantined 30th Birthday Party

Since the beginning of the year, I've been dreaming of having a BIG 30th birthday party. I dreamt of having a cocktail/dinner party where guests socialize while drinking and eating appetizers and all that good stuff. I also wanted to launch my second book, Twenty Pieces on my 30th birthday.

However, during this time of social distancing, as a result of COVID-19, a lot of adjustments had to be made. So I had a small party in my living room with twelve (12) of my closest pals. It was such an exciting and emotional event altogether. I'm beyond grateful.

My Birthday Party

To make it feel more like a typical birthday party, amongst my twelve-guest invitees, I had a Master of Ceremonies, a Guest Artist, a DJ, a cook, a photographer and balloon-blowers for decorations. It was basically what I would have done on a normal day, but this time, in a smaller way.

I give it God through my husband for making it happen. It was a very memorable one as you may tell from the lovely pictures below. . .

How To Love Your "Enemies"

A good old friend asked me, "is there anybody in your life right now whom you are not in good terms with?", "Nobody" I responded unconvincingly. Then my friend asked again, "are you sure there is n-o-b-o-d-y? How about your colleague, the one you told me about?". "Erm.  .  ." 

Then it dawned on me that I was erring. 

Loving Your Enemies

In this part of the world where I come from, we generally think that "enemies" are our "village people". People who totally mean harm and only wish the worst for us. Lol. Funny but not funny.

On today's article “your enemy” doesn’t just mean the enemy in your village, of course. We’re not talking about witches and wizards or the monitoring spirits (kidding!) . . . we’re talking about real people. So

He Needs Your Love Now, Even If You've Never Met Him (Pray For Your Future Husband)

You don’t become a praying wife and/or mother overnight.

Pray For Your Future Husband

I often pray for my future husband. But sometimes it can be hard to pray for someone you’ve never even met before! So what are you supposed to pray? How can you pray deeper, more meaningful, and powerful prayers for your future man?

When I got this book 'Prayer For Your Future Husband' written by my darling sister and friend, Frances (who is now known as Hephzibah), I immediately knew I was going to take up the challenge. But it lingered.

I finally did it. Fully.

This prayer challenge is near and dear to my heart, and has taught me a lot. I’m thrilled to share it with you! I hope that this will encourage you to pray for your future spouse, or the man that God has already blessed you with.

RELATIONSHIP: How To Turn Strangers To Friends

Several months ago, I told you that one of the odd things I enjoy doing is talking to strangers. Seeing how much I've grown to be open and good with starting a conversation with strangers, I thought 'why not do an article on that?'

It's Love-Wednesday!

How To Talk To Strangers

As they say: "Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet." However, fear, especially unnecessary fear, blocks that opportunity.

If you've always tended to wait until new people start chatting or talking to you, then it may feel overwhelming to reverse that habit.

My goal is to ginger your swagger and help you get some relaxed confidence when starting a conversation with strangers. Leggo!

First things first, I think the best ways to start a conversation with a stranger vary depending on the situation, so we have to treat them separately.



Categories Of Strangers

For the purpose of writing, I like to put strangers into one of three categories, viz:

1. Strangers in public places
2. Strangers in common interest areas
3. Strangers you know, but never met

How Do You Deal With The Fact That Your Close Friend Is Getting Married Before You?

It's Love-Wednesday! I want to share with you these two things that normally help me and banish whatever jealousy if I had any.

Close Friend Gets Married Before You

Watching all your friends get married while you remain single is like watching all your friends graduate from the university when you never had the chance to go.

This is a part of the journey of life.

Since the beginning of time, there has always been one in a group who does something before everyone else and someone who seems to be “left behind,” and it sure does happen.

Yes, this is my story.

I can really understand where you are coming from because I have watched my friends walk down the aisles with their boo's one after the other. I know how it feels when the other friends are getting married and having children, but you are single. Still.

But it's not a competition.

If I had married my previous boyfriend just so I could be married for the sake of getting married, I'd probably be miserable.

Dear Diary, I Am So Happy For Bola Like!

A close friend, bola got married about three weeks ago and is enjoying her honeymoon right now. The next morning after her wedding day, I asked whether sex was sweet. Guess what she said? 😂

Bola Is Married

OMG, it finally happened. Bola is married! Whoa. . . how weird is that to say? I can’t believe one of my personal persons is actually married! We have been talking about relationship and marriage issues ever since we met.

Bola and I have shared a lot together — pain and sadness, business and money, joy and fun.

RELATIONSHIP: Do We Have To Talk To Each Other Everyday?

Hi sweethearts. It's another Love-Wednesday in February. Yay. Do you think that if you are in a serious relationship, you should stay in contact with your partner every day? Let's talk.

Talking Everyday

Relationships are hardwork. So hard, that sometimes we don't know what we are getting into until reality dawns on us. We’re just so excited about this new person, this new prospect, that we just want to jump to the end where everyone is happy and in love.

Abi? Is it not true?

RELATIONSHIP: Should You Wish Your Ex A Happy Birthday?

It's Love-Wednesday! How are you doing today? Everyone gets one birthday a year, wouldn't it be a really nice opportunity to do a nice thing and foster a good relationship? Just asking.

Wishing Your Ex A Happy Birthday

I can understand the urge to say happy birthday to an ex, especially a serious one who you had experienced at least one birthday with. It's a moral quandary!

If you don't say happy birthday, won't they think you're being petty and are secretly wishing they have an unhappy birthday?

But then again, if you do say happy birthday, they might not respond, or worse, they might respond with a cold "Thanks."

RELATIONSHIP: How To Deal With Losing Your Best Friend Because Of Marriage

Hi People! Welcome to another Love-Wednesday! You are aware of my friendship heartbreak earlier this year, yeah? That's done. . . Gone. . .Over! I have stopped looking back, wishing for the things that cannot happen and have accepted reality. I bring you good tidings from the experience.

Dealing With The Loss Of A Best Friend To Someone Else

I brag about having more male friends and shared with you how to maintain the friendship with them here. I fret about having so many boyfriends and mentioned to you how none had proposed marriage to me yet here. I have also nagged about how some of them preferred to have me as a side chick. I probably haven't been doing a great job at selling myself as a wife material, or what do you think?

8 Types Of Friends You Need In Your Life

Hiya! It's Love-Wednesday! Let's talk about friendship today. Shall we?

Friends are essentials to have. It’s not about how many friends you have, it’s about having friends who bring positivity and inspiration into your life. When it comes to friendships, it about quality, not quantity.

Friends You Need In Your Life 

We all need great friends and we all deserve to have people in our lives who  bring out the very best in us.

Many of us have had seasons in our lives where we come across toxic friends who do nothing but drain us, exhaust us, suck the energy out of us and make our lives miserable. These types of friends are the worst, and we are all better off when we cut them out.

RELATIONSHIP: What Do You Do When Someone Lies To You?

I’d just discovered a friend lied to me. It was about something senseless, which only made it worse. As days go by, I wrestled through troubling thoughts. Why would he lie about THAT? Were we ever really friends?

It's Love-Wednesday! Let's talk.

When Your Friend Lied

I tend to totally trust people from the first minute I meet them, meaning that people can only lose my trust. This doesn't mean that anybody I get to know immediately becomes my friend; it simply means that I have no prejudice towards them about the possibility of being friends with them.

So, this article is going to cover both friends, bae's and acquaintances. What we do when we discover that people we trust lied to us?

Dear Diary, All My Friends Are Getting Married Again

Hi Sweethearts! How was your weekend? I was eager to share about how my weekend went with you right after attending another wedding on Saturday but honestly, it's not coming out nice. I have deleted my introductory paragraphs more than twice. Here is what my draft had been like since Sunday until noon today . . .

I'm Not Married Yet

Today I'm like:

I blog blood. I blog tears. And I blog smiles.

Sometimes I wish I could write anonymously. Sometimes I wish I could tell the truth without giving myself away. Sometimes I wish I could be the blogger who only shares with the world about what she wears, what she knows, and what she has come to discover through her journey with God, without necessarily sharing what she genuinely feels in her heart. But, then, if I am that blogger who hides, maybe I wouldn't have counted the third year of being here.

Sometimes I write stuff that makes me cover my face in shame. Sometimes I write things that could make a potential suitor afraid to approach me. Sometimes I think I give myself off away too much. Sometimes I think I should stop sharing personal lessons and stories. But, then, if I do not write the words I am ashamed of, maybe the words I am proud of would never exist.

I rip my heart open and I pour out the words.

Well, this is neither a bloody, nor a teary, nor a happy entry . . .

Dear Diary, Can Me And Me Be Best Friends?

That moment you realize your friends are there to help you but you’re always going to be the one  who makes the hard decisions and deal with their consequences.

Being My Own Best Friend

I’ve spent years trying to win people’s approval and win their hearts. I’ve spent years trying to have as many best friends as I can whether by putting them on a pedestal, putting my life on hold and showing up for them whenever they needed me and trusting them blindly with all my darkest secrets and dreams.

Can My Colleagues And I Be Friends?

Hiya! I like how today's topic merges Love-Wednesday with Career-Wednesday. Nice!

It might be tempting to hang out at the canteen/kitchen half the time and indulge in the latest gists or have a friendly sport fight. But these easy friendships with coworkers must be handled with care.

Should Colleagues Become Friends?

I make friends easily.

I am so good at connecting with people, but the only problem is I am terrible when it comes to staying in touch. The friends who are closest to me right now are the ones who made the effort. And I don't take credit for that.

Friendship Break Up: Give Yourself Time To Heal

A friend suggested I go out to see more movies so I can forget this friend I was grieving over. I agreed. Only to start crying at the scene where a guy was telling a girl he's got her back after saving her from hoodlums. Lol.

Sometimes, these things don't help as much. But we should never stop trying to find healing.

Give Yourself Time To Heal

When you lose a friend, there are no songs, movies or books to help you. You look around and realize your friend is no longer there. Your entire world feels like it’s crashing down around you, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get through it. I know how it feels, I have been there, and did I survive?

DIARY: Yellow! Water Salt Of Brown Weekend!

When someone asks you "how was your weekend?" and you want to describe your weekend in one sentence without leaving any part of the story behind, what would you say? I got an idea; use colours.

Your response will help you discern those who really care whether your weekend went well and those who just ask for the sake of it. Those who care would ask for more details and those who don't care would either smile or shrug.

For those who care, here is the loong gist of last weekend . . .

Yellow-Water-Salt-Brown Weekend 

Yellow! Water Salt of Brown Weekend! appears to me as the best caption for this post. There is so much to tell you, but where/how do I start from? From the moment I left the house on Saturday to the moment I got home, a million events occurred. I might have to break this experience into parts.

Let's start like this:

How To Survive A Friendship Breakup

Maybe you walked away or naturally grew apart, maybe the friendship turned toxic, or maybe a fall-out was involved. No matter the circumstances, a friendship breakup can really take its toll. 

It is harrrrrrd.

6 ways To Survive A Breakup

The most stinging part about losing a friendship is that when it happens, it seems you've lost the person you once were.

Even if the breakup was a long time coming, how do we overcome the immense hurt and loneliness of losing that piece of ourselves?