It’s the big 30! Yaaaayyy!

Baby Ijeoma

Pearl is 1!

Life is such a blur…

Where did all the years go?!

This is the age my siblings and I referred to as ‘old’ when we were little girls. In some ways, I don’t feel old and in some other ways, I am an old sage, maybe even a wise sage… I miss being young 🙂

I love birthdays. I believe people should be celebrated. If you don’t celebrate a person the whole year, at least do it once; on their birthday.

I would have loved to have a party to mark this ‘coming of age’ but there are too many things going on right now; a 14-day fasting and praying time in my church for Nigeria and the 2015 elections. And instead of a party, my heart finds that I’d rather go sit somewhere quiet and spend some time with Red.

No Wonder She Is Called A Pearl

Adams (Red) is the blessing that God has blessed me with and I thank Him every day for such a wonderful, understanding, loving, compassionate, amazing, mind-blowing man. Ma gahd! Have you read what he writes? The guy is just gifted. See for yourself; Mainstream Mavericks.

Or sample this one Living Ethically

He’s also very talented, he dey draw die!

 You are mine and I am yours.

Red 🙂

 

(I bet you can’t guess how long ago these pictures were taken)

It’s in the teeth and the smile.

 

I hope we all go out to exercise our right to vote whenever we finally have the elections, if we finally have them. Because at this point, only God knows if there’ll actually be an election. It’s just too bad about the PVCs though. Why didn’t INEC start sharing PVCs in January 2014? That would have allowed enough time for issues to be sorted especially about changing polling units across states.

Guys, please don't scoff at people who have contrary political views. Just like you feel you're right, so do the others.

—
Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) February 07, 2015

 

My vote for president is very clear cut; Sai Buhari! My only problem is that I still haven’t decided who to vote for the Lagos gubernatorial elections. I really like Jimi but this PDP son’tin n’ewute m n’obi. Then there’s Ambode who I know nothing about really.

*sigh*

At the #OccupyNaija protests with Biola Adesanya and Joachim MacEbong

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want to write about so many things. I haven’t written in a while so I guess I’m bursting but I need to reign myself in. I want to tell my stories but there’s this battle about what should be told and what should not be told. My fondest life memories are of my life in Kano. There were really terrible times then that formed another part of life but men! my bestest times were in our house in Sabon Gari, eating sand and riding the jangilova. Spring Nursery & Primary School! I had wonderful birthdays in that school. And weekends in Kano Club… Ah! Kano Club was the highlight of my week! We would cry so hard anytime our parents told us we couldn’t go. Their suya and Capri Sonne was legendary.

I’m grateful for a solid foundation. I’m grateful that my parents gave me a good education especially in the beginning. I’m grateful for The Sound of Music, Nursery Rhymes, Robin Hood, My Little Pony, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and the likes.

My godparents. I have no idea where they are and I’d love to find them.

Pearl’s dedication

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allow me introduce you to the bestest siblings ever liveth!

Yes, there was a time in my life when I was taller than Obinna. Hiohiohio

My blood for life.

 

 

 

 

We went through all the ups and downs together and those experiences brought us closer than ever. I can truly say that these precious ones are my true friends. We slept outside one night and even though it was scary, it almost seemed like an adventure. I want to thank you for all you have been to me and all you will be. I don’t get to see you all every day (except that Uju who bullies me every minute) but I hope you know that I love you all with all that I am. You are mine and I am yours.

I just noticed that we always managed to put Obinna in the middle. Well, as the last born and only son, e gats be as e be.

Chidinma, Me, Dumebi (Adaora’s first son), Obinna, Obianuju and Adaora

 

I wrote JAMB 6 times. 6 times, good people of God! That’s one shocker I never expected to happen to an A student like me but na so we see am. I always used to ask God what happened? Where did it all go wrong? Was I being strong-headed or was that the plan all along?

But I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to go to school.

I think this was the day we wrote Math for WAEC. Can you recognise him without the beard & the dreads? That’s Clarence Peters & Nwanneka

I was born into a Christian home but I gave my life to Christ at The Grandslam in Queens College, Yaba. I was a teenager then and I remember how it felt to submit myself to God and make that decision to live by His dictates. It hasn’t been easy; many times I have fallen short, many times I strayed away, many times I have faltered. But through it all, He remains steadfast and true, not wavering with the wind. This life I live, I live because of Him who died and gave His life for me.

I am alive today because of God’s grace. He ALONE has kept me and will keep me. I have seen His hand manifested in my life and circumstances too many times to doubt that He exists.

One time in Kano, when we were all very young, we went shopping with mummy but got trapped in our car; the doors wouldn’t open because the car had started burning. It was a struggle but we got out before the car blew up. It was WONDER-FUL!

I’ve had about 3 motor accidents in my life and one armed robbery incident. The first accident was one night/morning in Kano when we just got home from a vigil in New Gen. I was about 5 or 6 years old, I think. The car dropped us across the road from our gate and while my mother was busy offloading her sleepy girls one by one (I was the first off), I was drowsily making my way across the road to the house, like one drunk with wine.

All I remember even now are the bright headlights and the horn. I woke up in the hospital.

Kano – Daddy, Mummy, Ada in blue, me in pink, Chichi the baby

New Generation Bible Church. It was New Generation Gospel Ministries then. Adaora in blue, me in yellow, Chichi in red, Uju the baby. See my soldier man stance?

One of the other accidents was on a bike; The Okada Accident.

 If it had not been the Lord who was on my side when men and cars/okadas literally came up against me…

The family a few years ago. Don’t laugh or else I will ask you to bring your own.

 

I was in Madonna university for a year. Those were trying times for a spirit like mine…

Madonna University! Ezinne, Chichi, Cynthia, Me & Ada

See how slim I was!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read this please; https://www.facebook.com/joy.bewaji/posts/10205250290632180?pnref=story

So, the boo and I are in a wedding competition and we need your Facebook votes to win. You can read all about it here – My Big Nigerian Wedding Season 2

but please vote here – Adams & Pearl

I’m also humbly asking that you invite your friends and family to vote too. You are allowed to vote once every 24 hours. But like Red and my friend, Biola Adesanya made me realize, that we no win the competition no mean say we no go marry this year. Thank you so much for that, Biola. My focus just focused sharp sharp and perspective realigned.

There are people who carry this competition on their head for me. They have taken ownership of it like it was their own, they give me ideas about how to campaign, they invite all their friends to vote, they recruit their choir members and co-workers to come vote, they share the link every single day on Facebook and twitter… Tolu Akinyemi calls them the Noble Association of Friends, of which he is chief and president. Some people even take the time to call me to tell me we are first or second or that we are losing ground.

If only this was a smiling competition…

I thank you with all my heart, Adams and I say thank you so VERY much! I keep pressing on and campaigning because of you. Well, also because I want an FOC wedding but you get the point 😉

Lol.

 

There are so many people who have touched my life in so many beautiful, wondrous ways. I have always wanted to write about them but I fear I might unknowingly leave out a few names and I don’t want to do that. Starting from Pastor Tunde Bakare and many a member of The Latter Rain Assembly. How do I say thank you, bikonu? I want you to know that I appreciate you very, very much.

 

Thank YOU!

 

Chimamanda Adichie and I

Tolu Ogunlesi and I

 

 

 

 

Seun, Pearl and Edidiong

Ndi colleague

 

 

 

Seun Ajasa & I @ The Banquet

Chichi, our grandma, Rtd. Wing Commander Phoebe Achike and I

 

 This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

IJ – Indescribable Joy personified

 

 

Abu m a fine geh, Chukwu alu ka.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My life and times are in God’s hands… 🙂

A very joyful 30th birthday to me. Ma jaiye ori mi…

🙂 😀