Book of the Month

When I made a commitment to read 13 books between now and November 2012, what I was really trying to do was make myself to someone Mrs. Babes the followers of my blog.  You see, I have been a member of Nairobi Book Club since its inception in 2008 and I only remember completing 5 of the 40 or so books that we have read.  This, if I may say so myself, is despicable, and the reason why reading 13 books is a goal for my last year as a youngin. 🙂

This month’s book was Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza.  I’m not a fan of autobiographies, but I enjoyed this one.  It didn’t have too much suspense, but whenever she threw it into her story, she did it well.  It is a gruelling tale, and for me, a stark reality check about the power of words.

Our discussion was held in Westlands on Friday and I was lost for a good 40 minutes.  At one point, I called the hostess almost in tears about the fact that I couldn’t figure out maps, instructions or directions!  However, I did make it to her house and I enjoyed the meal, the camaraderie and the discussion.

I thank God for:

1. My Sports Car, My Vitz, Steph
2. Fuel
3. Getting lost on a rainy night and celebrating God’s faithfulness thereafter.

I had this CD in my car, but this song was not playing.  If it had been, I know I would have been less frustrated.  Love the video, love the drums, and luuuuurv the lyrics:

 

Happy Monday, Everybody!

Life’s Journey

My Dear Readers

The 100 posts are still going to happen before 1st November 2012.  Don’t you worry.  My father’s name translates to ‘Tortoise’ so I’m sure you’ll understand my speed.

These last few weeks have been difficult for a lot of people I know.  In the past week alone, 4 of my friends have had to bury their loved ones.  One will bury her father tomorrow and one of my aunts will bury her son next week.  In the course of writing this post, I have learnt that another friend has lost his mum.

I am always lost for what to say when someone I know is grieving, but I have found comfort in the words, “We are praying”, “God is on the throne” or “May God’s grace and peace be yours”.  Comfort because of my certainty that my utterances are true – and that God Almighty will see them through.

Life is fickle, often snuffed out without warning or without prior preparation.  However, I pray that whenever I hear mounds of earth thud softly on a casket, whenever those thuds fade into the finality of a filled grave, I will have the grace to thank God for the gift of life.  Mine and the departed soul’s.

And I pray that I will have the grace to Praise Him In The Storm.  And to tell my story.

Ciiku Mrs. Babes, thank you for this song.

God bless and keep you all.

To Teal, Pistachio and Gerberas

Q:  Two things that you love about her
A:  She is kind and considerate

Q:  Two things that you love about him
A:  He is kind and considerate

23 days ago, when asked this question, they responded with the same words. with almost the same words.  She also knew that THAT would be his answer to that question – that he loved her because she was is kind and considerate.  They had dated for four years.  They had known each other for longer.  And so the stories went … from three o’clock one sunny Saturday afternoon, to eight o’clock that evening.

2 days ago, this story continued to unfold when a beautiful bride smiled her way down the aisle.  In equal and opposite fashion, he smiled back, obviously spellbound by this ravishing beauty who would become his wife. For years he had waited.  Four years he had worked.  For four years, he had wooed her with his quiet authority, his big heart and the fact that his friendship was unassuming and unpretentious.

As J* once said (in not quite the same words), you can judge the character of a man by the number of men he can convince to wear pink gerberas.  There were four of them – and each of them wore that pink gerbera with pride.

Mr and Mrs Rob, I could have asked for no better way to spend my Saturday.  Thank you for inviting me to work with your team, and for daring to dream for me.  Mrs. Rob, you are now officially family and I thank God for the before – when we set our own foundation of friendship.  For the now, when you grow into the wife that my cousin always dreamed you would be.  And for the tomorrow – when your dreams blossom into things that are bigger and better than yourselves.

God sets the lonely in families, and I’m glad that in His wisdom, He set you two together.  As you set off on this new journey, may you find reasons to celebrate each sunrise and time to welcome each sunset.  May the days you spend together grow into years, and years into decades.

Mr and Mrs Rob, the last six months have taught me many things – including the meanings of the words teal, pistachio and gerberas.  I look forward to many more lessons, and to many more reasons to celebrate style, and colour and friendship!

Happy honeymooning!

Love and best wishes always
Wa Makeri

Top 30 Under 30

Hey Everyone!  Someone!  Anyone out there!

It’s great to be back on the blogosphere and I hope I’m now here to stay.  Over the last few months, I have been inspired to blog by my good friend Mrs Babes whose energy and consistency is amazing.  I got the idea for this post from her, and I hope that as she celebrates her success on 7th September 2012, I will be able to celebrate mine on 1st November 2012.

The accomplishment of each of these targets is going not going to be easy.  In addition to the fact that I cannot run to save my life, I have more than six degrees of separation between at least two people on this list.  That said, a little (or a lot of) ambition never killed anyone.  I don’t think I’m going to be the first.

Here goes! (The list is not in any particular order)

1. Have a conversation with Hon. Raphael Tuju
2. Be a pro-bono news anchor on KTN, NTV or Citizen (9 o’clock news)
3. Run the Maasai Mara Marathon
4. Learn how to make chapatis
5. Speak at a school speech and prize giving day
6. Become a professional MC
7. Have at least 100 posts on this blog
8. Spend less than 50% of my income for at least three months
9. Find 1 girl to mentor
10. Let my family know that I love them
11. Get my niece’s ears pierced
12. Spend a weekend at my paternal grandmother’s house
13. Spend a weekend at my maternal grandmother’s house
14. Travel with my family
15. Celebrate my parents’ 30th wedding anniversary
16. Have a conversation with Mr. Mugo Kibati
17. Be a lecturer at a local university
18. Start (re)taking the CFA examinations or enrol for a PhD
19. Write my will
20. Learn how to bake
21. Read the Bible from cover to cover (without skipping Numbers)
22. Get baptised
23. Find a Bible study
24. Become a regular contributor to a published magazine
25. Appear as a guest on a TV talk show
26. Knit one item using a pattern
27. Read one book a month
28. Say “I love you because …” everyday
29. Make five people laugh everyday
30. Pay one compliment everyday