MONA'S PRINCE TRIBUTE

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

Today's Mona Girl Blog, just like the title says, is ALLLL 'bout Mona's Tribute to PRINCE. Prince Rogers Nelson!

I only need to hear Purple Rain on the radio, my iPod, Pandora, etc. and I am IMMEDIATELY back with my god sister Kelli at Town & Country Movie Theatre in South Bend, IN watching and crying to the movie Purple Rain.  And then, for the rest of the night playing the soundtrack Purple Rain over and over and over on my record player. And then continuing the homage to Purple Rain with Kell the next day at Potawatomi Pool!! #GreatGreatGreatMemories!!!

Or hearing KISS and my memory immediately taking me back to my First Kiss - Whewee! We'll keep his name in the vault (smile).

Or dancing to 1999 with my girls LeAnna, Kim and Ann at JoAnn Brines School of Dance!

Or in College (shout out to Lake Forest College) playing (I mean BLASSSSSTING) The Beautiful Ones.....When Doves Cry.....*Baby, I'ma STAR**.......I Would Die For You (and doing the hand signals...Member?!?) from my dorm room in Nollen Hall....Remember Leslie, Aline and Sheryl???

Or post college, dancing the night away in Chicago with  my roommates Leslie and Bev to I wanna Be Your Lover......Let's Go Crazy...Erotic City....at Mr. Rosa's Bar, Coconuts Night Club and too many after hours spots to even mention!!

And as I got older (and still), I began to truly respect and be in awe of Prince and his Blessed Gifts....always showcasing his beyond belief Talents with pure, deep, sometimes quirky lyrics along with his skills on the piano and guitar in songs like Dreamin' About U.......Visions....I'll Always Love You (Prince on Guitar with the "94 East" Band).....How Come U Dont Call Me Anymore.......Starfish and Coffee...I Wish U Heaven......One Nite Alone.....Adore....and YESSS.....Controversy :)

And last but Not Least.......one of THE BEST surprises of my life (up to this point), was back in 2004. A guy I was dating SURPRISED me with tickets to see Prince......who was in Indianapolis for ONE Monday Night performance and MONA WAS BLESSED TO BE IN THE HOUSE!! The Concert was off the hook and what made it a truly surreal experience.........during Intermission, when Prince and his Band were scheduled to take a break.....as most folks were out in the lobby hitting the bathrooms and concessions........**PRINCE**...BY HIMSELF...WITH JUST HIS ACOUSTIC GUITAR.... RETURNED TO THE STAGE!! Thank God I didn't have to pee!!

(Rinse & Repeat).....Just **PRINCE** and his acoustic guitar, sitting in the center of the stage on a swivel bar stool, dimly lit by one spot light.......like I was in his living room, chillin with him.  And Loves, did he perform......DID HE PERFORM!!!! #JustTooMuch!! 

Prince was an Artistic Master, an Anointed Artist who Blessed and Graced this Earth with his Powerful Presence.......you could NOT listen to his songs or watch him perform and NOT be affected, drawn in by his music. Prince's Music CHANGED You!! And Prince CHANGED the Music Industry with his rebel character, consuming personality and Wisdom.  He was a VISIONARY who paved the way for many of today's artists to have their own record labels and have autonomy from the Corporate Music Studios.

I read an Awesome and very Moving Tribute/Testimony penned by Rembert Browne on how Prince touched his Soul....A MUST READ: Earth Was Lucky to Get 57 Years of Prince (LOVE the Title)!

In his writing, there is a quote by Rembert that touched My Soul, a quote I will treasure, remember, and post whereva I can.....it hit right at the Core of the True Essence of Prince....WHO He Really was and Will continue to be in our Hearts: 

"Prince stripped us down to our core his entire career.  Much like his voice, his guitar playing, and his style, he was unmatched when it came to expressing vulnerability, showing us all how to risk it all and lay it on the line.  And it wasn't always comfortable.  Prince's way of always being Prince was often met with confusion, and occasionally it wasn't accepted, but looking back, it was always necessary." - Robert Browne

Oh Yeah!! That's WHY, I Love, LOVE Me some Prince....he boldly and authentically crossed ALL social, economic and gender barriers and color lines......he deeply touched lives ALL over the world........when he spoke, folks listened!  WE ALL COULD RELATE!! HE BROUGHT A PEACEFUL REBEL SPIRIT INTO OUR LIVES!! HE MOTIVATED US!! HE CHANGED US!! HE MADE US COMFORTABLE IN OUR OWN SKIN!!

Thank YOU Prince!! THANK YOU PRINCE!! Much LOVE Star!!

"Every day I feel is a blessing from God.  And I consider it a new beginning.  Yeah, everything is beautiful." - Prince

Continued Success & Blessings!





P.S. My Metsies =  #LGM #HaveBIGFun!

 

BE A RAINBOW.........BE A BLESSING!!

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

YESSSSS! Me Excited to share!! Thanks Holy Spirit!!

Today's Mona Girl Blog is Wisdom, Honesty, TRUTH and Love from the One and Only....The Queen......Lady Maya Angelou.  I received this Powerful 1.45 second video from a dear friend....Thanks Charlie Murphy!!  And BOY, what Life Lessons she shares in less than 2 MINUTES.

It's about being a Rainbow in Someone's Cloud........about being a Bright Light in Darkness! And Loves, don't you agree that our World needs MORE Light than Darkness.....that We as a People (Black, White, Yellow, Brown, Pink with White Polka-dots) are desperately Searching and in Need of Love, Kindness and Compassion from each other......

Well, as she ALWAYS did (and continues to do), Lady Maya puts it in simple, Easy to Run With language.......

Enjoy the Video and when you're done viewing.....ask Yourself........Whose Rainbow am I in Someone Else's Cloud?

Mets Gushing Moment:
I know...I **KNOW** it's only April.....it's early, but My Lord....Do You SEE what I SEE?!?

My Metsies Men are.....how you say ON FIRE....MUY CALIENTE!! Their Love and Compassion for the Game....and their Genuine Respect for Each Other shows in each Pitch, each At Bat, each AMAZING PLAY!! SHINE STARS SHINE!! #HaveBigFun!!

I am on the edge of my seat..with all Mets Fans....taking it ALL in and Smiling BIG :)

Continued Success & Blessings!!

One.....Two....Three......#RidingShotGun!

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

Welllll......today, Holy Spirit has me sharing with you Not One....Not Two....but Three Little Gems that have been Riding Shotgun with Mona over the last few days...weeks.........

I so LOVE how Our Heavenly Father will pick a Theme of sorts and then continue to plant seeds of CONFIRMATION via devotional messages I read, Scriptures He brings to my mind, conversations with folks I know, nuggets I hear from folks I don't know, songs on the radio, commercials on TV, bill board signs...etc.  It's so AMAZING when you are "keen on hearing HIM", He truly Shows Up and Speaks Up :)

So I Pray you enjoy these Three little Gems.......I hope they inspire You, encourage You, ignite Your Soul and give You CONFIRMATIONS like they did Me.  Remember, God will use any means necessary to Speak to Us......after all, He used a Donkey in the Bible to relay an important Message.....Balaam and His Donkey

Gem #1:
"This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.  He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss.  They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back.  He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right.  He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way.  His wounds became your healing.  You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going.  Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls." (1 Peter 2:24, MSG)

Family, when I read this Scripture (and the Message version Does Not Play), it made me literally fall to my knees in Gratitude and Thanksgiving for what Our Saviour Jesus did for US!! I felt overwhelmed and consumed with Guilt and Humility.  Every bit of arrogance and pride in my body immediately left.  How dare I complain, how dare I hold private pity parties, How DARE I!! After ALL Our Loving Saviour DID for US! Gem #1 was a Gut Check, a Reminder......a Wake Up Call for Me to NEVER, EVER, EVER Forget how Blessed We are........and the Mighty, Mighty PRICE Jesus Paid In Full on the Cross!! After ALL He's Done for US and How Much **HE LOVES US**.....How can we NOT Run to Our Loving Lord......and ask Him to Lead, Guide and be a Major Part of our Lives?!?

Gem #2A:
"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.  We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us." - Wilma Rudolph

Gem #2B:
"God can do anything, you know -- far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!  He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." (Ephesians 3:20-21, MSG)

Loves, when I read this Quote...backed up and **CONFIRMED** by Our Father God's Promise in His Word......Whewee!! I was sooo Inspired!!  I was Pumped UP!! I was Walking on Cloud Nine!! The Quote and the Scripture combined to give me a Double Shot of "Yeah, I Can Really DO This." So I clicked my heels together three times and off I went...........

Gem #3:
Family, as you know by now.....I LOVE Music........all types.....and there's NOTHING like hearing God's Angels share their talents...their Blessed Gifts of Song. I was BLESSED (Thank You Monica!!) to hear Wess sing this Song **Live** a couple weeks ago in Atlanta.  Check out Wess Morgan, singing for Our Father's Glory, in his song: You Paid It All.  Oh Yesss!! You betta sing that Song Wess!!!  As I always say when I share a Video with You.......head phones on/ear buds in.......Max Volume!! Enjoy!!

Well Loves. I encourage You to Pack, Take and Make these Three Little Gems Yours...let them Ride Shotgun with You now over the next few days, weeks, etc.  Let them feed Your Soul with Inspiration and Encouragement as We continue to Walk Out....as We continue to DO Life together.  And in return, I would LOVE if you would share with Me some of the Gems Our Lord's placed/planted in Your Hearts....it's ALL about Sharing and Love.  I've got plenty of room for some more Gems to Ride Shotgun with Me so please share below..........it will Bless Your Heart and Mine :)




Mets Gushing Moment:
All I have this week for My Mighty Mets Men is this Powerful Quote:

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career.  I've lost almost 300 games.  26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.  I've failed over and over and over again in my life.  And that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

Nuff Said My Warriors! Have Big Fun!!  #IBELIEVE!! #BackToWinItAll!! 

Oh....and ONE last thing....SHUT UP HATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!


P.S. Here's a little Ole School reminder of WHO YOU ARE!!

Continued Success and Blessings!

From Worrier...........to WARRIOR!!!! #That'sYOU!!

Happy Blessed Wednesday Family,

Lots going on in Mona World But I am so BLESSED that each Wednesday, Holy Spirit "hits pause" and downloads something to my Heart......brings a Word to my email box.........that speaks to US :)

Today, I'm sharing a Word of Encouragement from The Daily Word. I was introduced to Unity's Daily Word when my Mother gave me a gift subscription my freshman year in college....and I've been hooked (a DAILY) reader ever since!! Thanks Mommy!!

If you want to subscribe to receive the online Daily Word messages each day, give a gift subscription, order the Daily Word via snail mail......check out The Daily Word website at:The Daily Word. AND if you want to receive The Daily Word with Mona's two cents, shoot me an email at wincty@aol.com and I will gladly add you to my Daily Word  E-Family.  

Sooooo, back to today's Message.  When I read it this morning, I immediately thought about some of the Prayer Requests I've received over the last few weeks and knew it was a Right On Time WORD for Us today!!

Family, please take this Message to Heart....let it BLESS You and bring PEACE to Your Soul.....and let's Walk It Out together..............Love you LOVES!!


Each day, whether we are aware of it or not, we make a choice that directly affects our happiness quotient. We can choose to allow worry and stress to take control or we can live in faith, allowing God’s presence to guide us. 

There is no situation that worry will alter. Worrying does not remove future challenges—it merely drains us of our inner peace today.



When we live a life of faith, we live in “the now,” accepting every moment as a sacred, precious gift, which in turn allows joy, peace, and happiness to fill our thoughts.

Then how do we get to that point? We do so by using prayer and meditation to move from worrier to warrior—ready to live courageously and confidently. To help you live in the now, try using this simple Five-Step Prayer Process from Unity:

1. Relax
Close your eyes. Relax, breathe deeply, and let go of outer concerns.

2. Concentrate
Quiet your mind. Begin to focus your thoughts on the spirit of God within you.

3. Meditate
With an open mind and a receptive heart, feel the peace of God’s presence. “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10)

4. Embrace the Silence
In the silence of your soul, know that you are one with God. Allow this realization to permeate your being.

5. Give Thanks

So why worry? Life is moving forward and so should we. The answer to today’s peace is the same as it will be tomorrow and the next day and the next: a greater connection with the Divine Presence within that moves in us, through us, and as us.

In oneness,

Your friends in Daily Word



Continued Success & Blessings!!


Mets Gushing Moment.....
WOW!! WOW!! WOWZA Noah!!!!!! #ThorShining! #LGM! #MeXcited!!