The Good Life

My kids are my world and if I didn't have them, I sure would've become a Cannan Land regular with correct fasting and prayers buuuuutttttttt... One of the reasons I love my church is the fact that there's a provision for 'Children church's where the kids are kept spiritually and intellectually engaged and they worship in their own way(language). Most importantly, it gives parents few hours of relief from parenting to just relax and enjoy the service. This singular reason makes going to church pretty exciting.   However, there some Sundays where the church provides for everyone to worship as a family so the kids are merged the worship with the adults. Today happened to be one of such! The thing is, sometimes you're not pre-informed so, you just get to church to find everyone together. I was all decked up as a Baby girl, with my pretty little gown and my 6 inches, all made up and the plans was to walk like the Queen. Got to church and surprise, it'...

I raced to the kitchen, served myself a good amount of the jollof rice, moved to the sitting room and started eating like it was the last super. To say that everyone at home was shocked that I would agree to eating the jollof was an understatement, talk more of helping myself to a second plate. My people, the hunger was real, the hunger was very sure! After the long and hectic day I had on an empty stomach, I knew I was living by God's grace. I toured the whole town, the neighbouring town as well and almost every street I could think of, searching for an equipment. What a day! I came back home without finding it, was therefore forced to order it online  After exhausting myself body and soul, a ll I wanted was a warm bath, a hot meal and my bed. So getting to the kitchen, the meal wasn't about taste, packaging or my preferences. I just wanted FOOOOOODDDDDDD! Ever been in the situation that you ate something because you were terribly hungry and after you've had yo...

Growing up in the home of a clergyman has allowed me the privilege of seeing alot of finny things people do. Well, this couple came to make their intentions known about getting married. We were all joyful at the beautiful news until as is the practice of the church, they were directed to go do some pre-marital tests and it was discovered they were both AS. This simply meant the church couldn't wed them and conveyed same to them. The couple came at the church with how much they've prayed and fasted, when they saw it didn't work, the resorted to emotional blackmail. Upon seeing that the church was unbending in her stand, the left church, got wedded in another church. It's been a few years down the line and I've lost count of how many times this couple has called my parents to pray over their kids being hospitalized. Yes, you rightly guessed, the two kids they have are both SS. My next door neighbour Gbemi was a beautiful soul. This Lady was everything happ...

I was so excited when I discovered a very good fashion designer lived close to my parents. I had always nursed the desire to learn tailoring but for one reason or the other, majority of which was centred around my kids, I haven't been able to get around chasing it.  Hubby and I decided to go spend some time at my parents and I was pretty excited when Mum introduced me to this neighbour who was a fashion designer. She ticked everything for me. She worked from her house so it was just a stone throw from my house, she was crazy good at the craft so much that she even those for people abroad, and most importantly, I could easily keep an eye on my kids. I happily told hubby about it, and he paid for me to train with her for as long as we'd be at my parents and that's how yours sincerely became an apprentice. This Lady was so nice, up until I made payment and resumed work and then the fangs came out Training was supposed to last 6 months but two weeks in, I was beginn...

So the political unrest - or whaterver-they-call-it-now broke out in Sudan and threw the entire cou try into an u rest of a malevolent and violent nature.   The actual news is that other countries began to airlift their citizens, beginning with USA. then UK and other European countries. Unfortunately, we saw a 'receipt' from Abike Dabiri, the Presidential appointed Person to oversee such matters related to Diasporans and all she could do was pay some millions to Buses to transport Nigerians away from Sudan. One would have thought that having lived in such a place for such a time, she would know better and would eschew all tribal sentiments. Guess what.... wishes are not horses and thoughts may not manifest the same way they are formed. However, I am profoundly glad that it took the owner of Air Peace, A man from SouthEastern Nigeria, the most marginalised region to donate his airplane at no cost to the Federal government to relieve stranded Nigerians and bring them...

' After this prayer and fasting, you're in for an encounter and your life shall not remain the same again' the Pastor screamed into the mic. He screamed and stressed the more on the reason why we should fast and all the countless benefits attached. The fast began in earnest and I plunged in head first without second thoughts. This fast was to end in 20days, Here I was at 10:27am Day 1,staring at the clock and willing it to run faster as I was shaking like a jellyfish.  With the power of the Most High, I clocked 2pm and c elebrated my win. Day 2, day 3, day 4,  By day 5 I was sure I was going to be admitted in the hospital or something. This was supposed 6be a time to fellowship with my maker not expedite my meeting him by dying of hunger. So, I went straight to my refrigerator Fridge na me get Fasting na me start ameve Why let ulcer kill me for my future generations? I decided to put a tweek to it, I decided to do a fruit fast. My brethren, that's how yours ...

Marriage marriage marriage Talks of this topic will never die. There's always someone dishing advice, there's one who's all too eager to jump into the ship, meanwhile another elsewhere is praying and scheming to get out of the ship. After almost playing mediator to a neighbour, I couldn't help but wonder why they're still together. The man in questions came knocking on our door at about 2am several nights ago to see my Dad. After tabling lots of complaints, bottom line was his wife had decided to leave the marriage. Less than 24 hours after talking to my Dad, Mr man had reported to other neighbours, his family members living close by have shown up, and just this afternoon it was people from church.  Guess what? The man going all over the place reporting and making complaints has been nothing but a terrible husband. Has blatantly refused to provide for his young family with a child of less than 1year not for want of money but out of stinginess and wickedn...

'Uncle, growing up, I remember how you showed up for Mum when our Dad died. You were always coming to our house for one thing or the other. You truly 'showed' us that Dad was your younger brother and for everything you did to and for us, I decided I'd return the favour. Now we've all come into a semblance of wealth and power and here's our gift to you. Yes, the key to the family house we were sending you money to build for us' . The more Chude spoke, the redder his uncle, Uncle Bernard turned 'Noooooooo no no, I can't take such gift from you. You sent me money to build a family house for all of you and I did exactly that. I have my bungalow and it's quite comfortable for my family and I' Uncle Bernard said upon recovering from the shock of being gifted the duplex. Of course Chude along his other siblings and those invited for the house warming insisted and  Uncle Bernard was left with no choice but to accept the gift in order not ...

Don't wanna live with it, can't live without it. For some mysterious reason, everything hubby did seemed to be rubbing me off the wrong way. What was more frustrating was that it was clearly obvious hubby was trying to do his best by me but somehow it just seemed not to be working. We kept at it until evening when I was going to shower and found that the 'August visitor ' had showed up.🙄🙄😠😠😠 The 'August visitor ' is such a crazy shadow behind every woman. As a single lady missing an appointment with her is one of your worst nightmare. As a married woman, a visit from her while trying to conceive goes between annoying to  frightening  And as a woman done with childbirth, a visit can lead to premium tear and quarreling However, all things being equal, where there's no visit from  her, could be a call for medical checks. Imagine the joy on the face of a spinster whose visitor has been delayed for a few days, finally getting her visit? How about...

Ever encountered a mechanic at work? How about a bricklayer, engineer, doctor, seamstress, driver, farmer... Anyone who's productive is never seen lazying around Anyone who has burning goals is not caught up with the latest trends or gossips or the million frivolities flying around. Nobody goes into battle looking pretty. No one who is lost in accomplishing his target goes about it crying about his looks Everything about you speaks your goals and dreams From sunrise to sunset. The idle minds on the other hand are all kept With enough time on their hands to dilly-dally. Therefore once you're chasing your dreams some person's begin throwing stones at you, talking about you and more, know you're doing right because people only throw stones at a fruitful tree. Chase your goals, forget the people, the cosmetics and talks. Once your fruits show, your beauty will also show.

' Chioma you're eating from the pot again?' Dad asked. Ohhhhhhh I turned up the innocent, almost teary look and replied 'Yes Sir, I needed to make sure everyone got well served'. Daddy needed to know that his daughter was indeed selfless, kind and genuinely caring. Next day I was digging merrily, my pot of treasure when Dad walked in on me in the kitchen 'stop that' he said and then went ahead to instruct my cousin to scrap the pot and soak it in water while he asked me to come eat with him. Every effort to object fell on deaf ears but if and only if my Dad knows what's been going on since I took over kitchen duties. Secret: I learnt that the bottom pot was always tastier and so, I decided to add my own tweak to it by hiding all the orishirishi I converted for myself on the bottom while I shared the top for everyone. My cousin Sis came into the room, giving me the look of 'Now I know what you've always done'😭   and that was how m...

I see was screaming 'come down!' for the uptenth time today. Infact I just walked to my balcony, with a glass of wine, sat there and just closed my eyes. Whyyyyyyyyy, why why why I kept thinking. If you didn't have them, problem You have them, problem. For God's sake no one told us that raising toddlers was a full time 24/7 job. After the whole drama accompanying pregnancy, the bundle of joy as everyone calls the baby, finally shows up with so much celebration and then the real journey begins Why weren't we told of the sleepless nights accompanying a newborn? One time at the birth of our first son, hubby slept off while driving. Thankfully nothing negative happened. Why didn't they tell us of the emotional ups and downs? Trying to balance every facet of your new life, the drastic shift in priorities... Well it's been a few years down the line and they didn't tell us about the toddlers phase either. The constant screaming, adjudicating, the en...

I was really excited going into marriage and as is the thought of every young bride, I was looking forward to good times with hubby and at least the honeymoon phase would be spent wowing him. And wow him I did. First week in the lovely holy matrimony, it was too much pepper. Bobo displayed real anointing in long suffering. Next we had was the great encounter with lot's wife. The young groom was suffering and smiling. Ohhhhhhhhhh it kept going from one amazing level to another. Few weeks of calm and rightness and then we plunged right into the middle of a burning series. Parboil anything= burning To preheat anything= burning Hubby had to take over the kitchen before we'd find ourselves building a new house for landlord. Thank God for the miracle called microwave. However, this wonderful day, hubby had made beans as per my request and traveled. Unfortunately, it's a down NEPA moment so I had to heat my meal using the gas. Well, let's just say I successfully ru...

When the Holy Bible said a woman can forget her suckling child, it all seemed like letters and didn't carry the weight of reality. However crazy things are happening. Here's another story of a woman who took out a loan from bank and when she couldn't meet up with the deadline for repayment of her debt she took an unimaginable step. The story goes that she left home and didn't return with her 18 months old baby. After her husband questioned her severally and couldn't get any satisfactory answer, he engaged the services of the Nigerian Police and upon interrogation, the woman confessed to having sold off her child for the sum of  #600,000. The adage goes that there's nothing new under the sun but then, where is the hearts of people turning to? What is it turning to? How do you trade your child for money without fear of what the fate of your child would be? What if your child is trafficked? What if your child is sold? What if your child is killed with t...

Makeup done Dressed up, ready to go  Putting finishing touches I packed my hair and used my daughter's hair bun on my hair. My people, na there yawa gas ohhhh My daughter screamed and started crying  This little Madam was crying for her hair bun till we got to church. All thanks to God the kids were whisked away to their own church and I heaved a sigh of  relief. Everything was going on well until my daughter ran and sat on my laps while the church announcement was on going. The children closed from their church early and came looking for their parents. So, here was my Princess. The minute she sat on my lap she screamed 'Mummy give me my hair!' and proceeded to pull the hair bun. Imagine the glances directed my way? The embarrassment and pretence that everything was cool... I'd best leave it to your imagination. This is the second time I'd be 'hairmbarssed' by my kids. It was first my son, now it's my daughter. See why I carry my own hair 80%...

Social media has been going agog with the purported news that Paris Saint-German defender Achraf HAKIMI was taken to court by his wife seeking divorce and half of his assets. However, news making rounds is that he left his wife with nothing as all his assets and properties were long registered in his mother's name. The interesting part however is that so many persons have taken to social media to praise his action. Those who are claiming she's a gold digger, those who claims he had foresight, those who claims his being a Mummy's boy has paid off, those saying wives aren't to be trusted... So many can of worms opening up, like the man above who wrote that statement online. However, he came back to state that his wife was his own next of kin. Why get married to a person you can't be vulnerable with? Someone who you can't entrust with your assets, someone you'd have to be plotting and scheming around. Unless there's a will stating otherwise, the...

I grew up knowing that Mum was the computer/safe box of the house. Nothing gets missing under her watch, and she had a special gift for sniffing out anything missing. My Dad on the other hand would require us picking after him cos he looses everything as he goes and most times comes accusing us to provide his stuffs that he gave to us for keeping. One time Dad wanted going out and claimed he gave his car key to Mum upon his return the previous night. Hmmmmmmm oh how we turned the house upside down! I can vividly remember the labouring, sweating, searching every corner, we even sweep the whole house out just to be sure. Guess where we found the key?  ON THE GOD-DAMNED IGNITIONS! The other day, Dad kept insisting he gave Mum some documents based on the fact that we give Mum all our documents, and anything important as she always knows where to file them. He literally could've sworn he gave it to her if he was asked to. Two days later, Mum found it in his office when she w...

'Ratatata ratatatata, ffffffffffff, shhhhhh, kikiki' Brother Jide was just blasting everywhere. As the prayer Coordinator, we all knew him as a man of fire. As is customary Brother Jide after every prayer session always comes out drenched in sweat as though he was under the rain. Last Sunday after leasing the intercessory session, his white shirt had a new design to it. Brown lines drew maps across his shirt. From the armpit, it spread all the way down. Cleanliness they say, is next to godliness. As you're spiritually conscious, do not neglect your physical appearance. Those inner wears, especially your boxers brother, and that your black bra sister, when last did you wash them? Ok ok, how about your bedspread? And your pillowcase? Your cushions nkor? When last did you sweep under them? Do you have deodorant? Spray? If you can't afford perfume? When last did you shave ohhhhhh? Don't allow your armpit look like an evil forest. Why did you go out without i...

We were all witnesses when Davido dropped his latest album 'Timeless' and like wild fire, his songs on the album has been spreading. Davido is presently a household name, with awards to his name and even international recognition.  However, upon the release of his album, he hasn't relented in promoting it. He even released a promo dance to one of his songs. How about FALZ?  Remember he just did a song 'Mr Yakubu'? And as a form of promotion, he gave people chance to do an open rap verse and the responses have been outrageously high, not to mention other countries have been joining in the challenge. So what's stopping you? You have a business or a talent/skill. What have you been doing to promote it? What strategy have you put in place to bring traffic to your business or create visibility? With the aid of the internet in our dispensation, anything is achievable. Are you just sitted telling yourself 'i'm gifted, I go still blow'. Having th...

Watched the video of the 18 seater bus that caught fire and all it's passengers were burnt beyond recognition in Abia state. How did this happen? A tank driver decided 'why not take the short cut' which meant driving one way, leading to head on collision with the 18 seater bus and everyone died. Laws are what guides us as humans. Where there's law, there's order and a place devoid of law is marked with chaos. Simple and practical road safety rules put in place for our own good, we choose instead to do the opposite. A person will intentionally follow one way and tell you that following the right direction is too far for him. That sharp sharp practice cost over 18 innocent people their lives. Remember the recent story of the bus driver that tried forming fast and furious by driving through a train track even when there was an incoming train? This also cost people their lives. Our actions, directly or indirectly has effect on people around us. Where your ri...

Happy Easter!!!      It was a time for sober reflection all through the week, time to think about  how life has been and is going and the resultant significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and what it means for us all, and for humanity, how his sojourn on earth changed the narrative of history and how our lives have been better for it.                                          However, today’s Easter celebration holds a lot for Nigerians to celebrate. First was the fact that Anthony Joshua won his  match against Jamen Franklin on 1st April, 2023. I recall some persons thought it was an April fool when we posted about his victory because many naysayers never believed he will have such a victory. While we were still celebrating that, we had to look forward with hope that Israel Adesanya will do that which we expect, and what he is k...

I could hear the sizzling sounds, different kinds of shhhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhh, groundnut and red oil, chicken and turkey, different kinds of aroma flying around. Hubby traveled and i wasn't in the mood for any of the cooking dramas so, I quietly went about my humble way. It started to look like Jesus wasn't rising in my own compound so, I decided to give myself the treat of making my hair. Landed in the salon, booked my turn, and waited patiently. 'Aunty no worry, after this person na you' the hairstylist said for the 5th time. She was saying it again for the 8th time when I just walked out. I had it up to here already. Next tomorrow is the day of resurrection and I just couldn't be caught unfresh so, I branched into the nearest salon. It was wonderful to find only a lady who was washing her hair and before you know it, I was being attended to. Decided to make ghana weaving and the journey began. First braid alone i was feeling funny, third braid I began cal...

Today I'm just here to rant oh. How do people live with themselves, carrying on with wickedness and selfishness rooted in them? Yesterday I had an altercation with some men. They parked by both sides of a tiny road (double parking), as such I couldn't drive through, so I signaled to them by pressing my horn at them so they could make room for me to pass but they just looked at me and went back to whatever they were doing. After several minutes of horning without any responses, I helped them block the road properly with my car and went about my business in the market. By the time I returned the road was completely blocked and the men were ranting raving and heaving like dragons 🤷. They finally ended up begging me to move my car. As a road user, do you car about other road users? You drive and park anyhow, you cross the road anyhow... How about others who use things carelessly? Ohhhhh it's government property so I'd use it anyhow. By the time you're done ...

As posted on the social media by his father, a young man died because there were no doctors to attend to him. This was indeed a sad story to read as there have been so many incidencs similar to this. Recently, Uche Rowland the president of the Nigerian Medical Association said that Nigeria has only 24,000 licensed medical practitioners left in the country, and this is less than 10% of the number required for a WHO recommendation. Today, a bill was read for the second time by the Nigerian House of Representatives proposing that locally trained Medical and dental practitioners be prevented from being fully licensed until they've worked in the country for five years and the reason they cited was that it was their way of giving back to the country.   This bill was supported by majority of the lawmakers in session. It's sad to see that instead of finding ways to better the life of these professionals, the lawmakers are instead finding ways to compel them to stay in an en...

Stocked the house, did my best to plan and work within my budget. Hectic day indeed and finally I got home! Took awhile to relax and finally after a few hours I stepped into the kitchen. Turned the knob once, twice, nothing, my cooking gas had finished 😭😭😭. Refilled the gas, fuel in the car had gone low, had to recharge my light😭😭😭. From one thing to another. I just told myself 'i cannot come and go and die and kill myself'. Don't kill yourself oh problems are inexhaustible. Life constantly presents challenges, things will come and go, good and bad.  Spending your time burying yourself in the sand because of problems, refusing to move forward, thinking, thinking and more thinking solves nothing. If we focus our energy into thinking of the problems life presents at every stage , how can we see the good side of life? No matter how bad things are, there'd always be a great sunny side as well. If the season is bad, wait patiently for in awhile, there's...

When it comes to life, my ideologies have always sounded unconventional. I've never seen myself as just growing, doing life, having kids, getting old with grang/great-grand kids and dying to a big bash of a funeral. Oh no no no, don't get me wrong. Will I want to grow into my 80's and more, yes of course if I'm granted the gift but that's not the 'main thing's for me. Living a life that counts, positively impactful and worthwhile, be it long or short, is what I consider the 'main thing'. Imagine my joy and the accompanying tears of the loss the family would be feeling when i watched the video of a child who was being given 'The Honour walk'. An honor walk is a ceremonial event to commemorate a patient whose organs are donated. The event typically takes place as the patient is transported to an operating room or waiting ambulance prior to organ procurement. It is typically held for patients on life support but can also be held for ...

It was a funny thing to come online to find news of a certain lady who created a WhatsApp group and added all of her husband's side chick to it, then proceeded to warm/threaten them to desist from following her man. As you can imagine all the ladies in the group didn't hold their tongues. First, this marriage is a few months old as they just got married in January and as a young couple, one would suppose they'd be in their honeymoon phase where they can't get enough of each other but here she was online trying to wave her magic wand to wade off all the ladies. Secondly I couldn't understand how this woman came about such an idea. If she was so emotionally charged, didn't she have friends around her to dissuade her from carrying out such an act? Then to the main crux of the issue. Let's suppose she only came to the knowledge of his philandering lifestyle after they were married, what should've been her first course of action? RUN! Run to the h...

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm I was watching a cartoon with my kids today and a superhero was assigned to train a Princess in order to protect earth. The superhero never gave the Princess a chance. Always taunted her at every turn, on how she was pampered, had maids at her beck and call and always dressed up fancy.  On and on the superhero trainer went and barely invested her time to actually training the Princess. Well, the time came for the Princess to face the tests that would qualify her as a protector and to the amazement of her trainer, she aced it. Same is applicable to real life scenarios. Ever driven out and someone with a lesser car, tricycle or bike almost bashed you, yet insulted you by calling you blind? Was driving once with hubby, a pedestrian ran in front of our car, yet turned to call hubby ritualist. Ever seen somebody beefing you for being intelligent, buying something,having a happy home, looking good, buying a car, having a job, having a wealthy background or pare...

I heard them running round the house even as their Aunties kept giving them instructions, get them settled enough to be tucked into bed. It went on and on until I was forced to go into the room where all the drama was taking place. The minute the kids saw me, the way they comported themselves in split seconds should be studied. Truth is, kids would keep testing your limits, to see what you accept, tolerate or condemn. They're clean slates so, irrespective of the tears and tantrums they'd throw what is mostly important is getting the kids to know right from wrong. When wrong, they should learn to accept responsibility for their actions, If you choose to discipline them, communicate their offence properly and the punishment you'd apply. Gradually, they'd begin to align with everything you'd love for them to inculcate as their character.  If the kids don't understand why they're being punished then the lessons are completely lost on them. In giving ...