Fix it Friday: Coo Baby

Hi y'all,

I'm trying something new here. I'm new in photography and want to learn more. So I'm taking part in a Fix it Friday game, contest.... eerm...what do you call it, when there is no prize to this one??? Anyway, the idea is to fix a photograph by editing it. So here we go. Below is the original picture, but I've already rotated it.

Ain't Cooing baby so cute?

I'm new to photoshop and thrilled by what one can do with photoshop. Awesome photo edit programme. No wonder professionals hail photoshop!

So here is what I did.

I used the healing tool brush to take out the teeny tiny blemishes on Coo Baby's face and sharpened the edges and changed the image to greyscale mode all in PhotoShop, saving it in TIFF.

Then edited the image with soft focus on Google's Picasa and saved it in JPEG. I don't know how to do that on PhotoShop yet. There is something warm, glowy and fluffy about Pisaca's soft focus that I think suits baby images.



Warning, this is just a test! I might take down this post in 3 days or so. I should probably create another blog for photo stuff, if I'm going to be a regular participant in I Heart Faces Contest.

So tell me what you think!



Go see what other ladies and big mamas are doing with Coo Baby's image. Such a cute baby too.

God Bless ya,
Lady Akofa.

Strange sights?

Yo-hooooooo!

Strange sights? New header up. What do you think?

Just trying to spice up this blog a lil'. :)

Have a great weekend!
Lady Akofa.

New life is here!

Hope you all had a lovely Resurrection Weekend? I hope so.

On Easter Monday morning, I was in another room in my house simply relaxing. I looked out to see the nearest mango tree. If you’ve visited me here for a while, you know that I loooove mangoes. Hmmm… Most of the mangoes are still green. We haven’t had rain in a while… I wonder if the late rains have affected the ripening of the mangoes? Oooh, that You’d send us rain today... is it possible, Papa God? I’d love to smell rain soon. Probably not to disrupt those out there picnicking, but how about rain tonight, Papa God? Missy’s heartfelt thoughts.

And you know what happened? Within 3-4 hours of such thoughts, clouds started forming, and my, it rained heavily, with strong winds. I was pleasantly surprised. Co-incidence? I don’t know. Weather forecasts are quite unreliable in my country and I rarely watch television or listen to radio, these days. I’d like to think that it was a Spirit-led prayer. God knew He was going to send rain, but He wanted me to share in the delights of the rainfall!

So while it’s spring for the Northern-most hemisphere of the earth, rainy season begins… our own special kind of spring in the equatorial/tropical lands. Flowers are blooming, seeds are germinating, what was then almost lifeless, without hope is now budding, fresh and tender. New life is here!

Aaah… see what He says:

"Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone," Zechariah 10:1 (NIV).

Indeed, new life is here… in Christ Jesus.

May He bring life to that which is lifeless in your life,
Akofa.

Shortcuts = Bumpy rides: A humorous look at commercial transport in Ghana

Call it comical, hilarious, cynical, what have you. But there is a unique side to being able to take 'intolerables' as light stuff. I know, such things won't be tolerated in European or North American countries for the most part. But I live in a different world! : )

In Ghana, Trotro (commercial bus) drivers love shortcuts. At the slightest sign of traffic ahead on main roads, they branch (off) to the nearest shortcut. While most shortcut routes are not illegal, they are often un-tarred, flood-eroded, dusty and pot-holed.

The ride gets bumpy, with bodies swaying and heads bobbing up and down as the driver dodges potholes and takes sharps turns along eroded roads. Often my bag is covered with a layer of dust resulting from tires digging up layers of dust as they attempt to speed up the street as the driver steps hard on the accelerator. Can you imagine the dusty plight of those pedestrians walking along this route as well? Cough, cough… clear throat… Aaaachuuuuw!

In my opinion, shortcuts are rather longer than sticking to the main route. Why? The driver spends all his time dodging potholes, swinging here and there the delusion that as long as the vehicle is moving, the destination draws nearer. Not always so.

And doesn’t it make sense to be gentle with your vehicle, especially when it’s not a Land Cruiser? It’s no wonder trotros are in constant need of repairs. I’ve been in moving trotros where doors suddenly fell off and we had to stop so that the driver’s mate will pick the door up. And I’ve been in trotros with inappropriate, lightly-stuffed cushions, where metal stuck out and tear at my clothes. Oh yes, my one new trousers and several skirts have been subject to clothing-unfriendly seats. There have been trotros with lopsided seats: either you sit 45 degrees backwards and not the proper upright 90 degrees or you sit with your butt going 45 degrees on the chair. How is that for unbalanced seating?

The sad thing is that trotro and taxi drivers are unlikely to read this. The drivers mates? Nada. They are on the road right now. But I’m sure some of you own taxis and trotros. Could you ensure that your vehicle is road-worthy, people-friendly and clothes-friendly? Maybe you’d find that the frequent wear and tear and constant visits to the mechanic is the fruit of bumpy, pot-holed rides.


Till I buy my own car, more pressing need to get it soon, it’s gonna be the bouncy trotro ride, taxi ride or the frequently borrowed car from my parents.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After sharing this piece on facebook with a few friends, one reminded me of another type of trotro and we call it, Bone shaker. That's the point! Your whole body including your bones shake when you ride in one! Hehehe!

Ghanaweb has a hilarious photo story on the use of trotros.

"It's a wonderful world!"
Lady Akofa.

Sun Up. Sun Down.

Sun Up. Sun Down. Every. Single. Day. Ever faithful. Ever Sure. HE is.

And I'm ever grateful for the anchor I have in God. So a new chapter begins for me.

A new decade. And I'm extremely excited about the future. Just as nobody knew in 2000 that nine years later the world would be facing a worldwide economic crisis, I don't know what will be tomorrow. But I'm not worried nor anxious.

HE is my Father, my Refuge, my Strength, my Provider, my Friend, my Deliverer, my Healer my All in All. HE simply IS. As sure as the sun rises each morning and sets each evening, I'm sure that my Papa God will take care of me and won't fail me.

This is my confession on this blessed day as I turn a year older.

And I'm extremely grateful for my family, friends and loved ones who have walked with me in this journey so far.

Anybody celebrating his/her birthday today or this month, April? Happy birthday to you too!

God RICHLY bless you,
Akofa.

Of Names, Kingdoms and Enuchs

Following my quiet moments with God in His Word and in prayer, on my mother’s birthday almost 2 years ago, these were some of my journal thoughts that blessed morning. I have added a few my thoughts as I have pondered these truths over time, so this is loooooong! Beware!

I’ve been fascinated recently by the concept and practice of naming buildings, places and streets after people, whether living or dead. I think it’s fascinating to have a street named after oneself. If you do name something after me that would be splendid! Give me a Big SMILE there. : )

In my new neighbourhood, most or probably all of our streets have been named after the earliest settlers or influential people who were instrumental in developing the neighbourhood. I had a brief encounter with one of the earliest neighbourhood settlers about 2 months ago. This old man said that he knew my parents very well and I was just as curious as to how and why I had never met him before. So I asked his name, and he proudly stated his name and then it hit me. “Oh, Sir! That’s the name of the street by your house!” So I went home was told that he practically got the neighbourhood landowners and builders together so that facilities like water, electricity and roads could be provided. Aah……

Anyhoo, so these people’s names will be remembered as long as the streets or buildings exist or are functional. Future generations will come and see names engraved on a wall plaque, a signpost or on a memorial and ask, “Who is/was this man/woman? Why was this place named after him/her?” and that will lead to storytelling time about the contributions the person made to society.

But… this is not forever. You ask me why? A building can be destroyed by fire, flood, an earthquake, war or some other disaster. People can desert a town or render a building or street non-functional. It has happened countless times before. I always marvel at the pre-colonial great empires such as Songhai, Mali and Ghana of the Saharan desert and the Babylon Empire of biblical times. What about the 7 churches in Revelations in the Bible? What has become of them today? Dead. You only read about them in history books, like the one my dad had me read about Sundiata and the Mali Empire. As a kid, I was so fascinated by Sundiata’s rise from a helpless boy to a brave warrior.

But at the last day, names, heroes and kingdoms wouldn’t matter anymore, because earthly memorials will be permanently destroyed to make way for the new heaven and earth that will be forever and ever. The Heroes of heroes, Jesus Christ will be our principal focus, passion and worship.

It’s astonishing that God promises a category of people, eunuchs, an everlasting name, a memorial within His temple. Hear the Word of the LORD, as the Old Testament prophets would say:

4 “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me
and hold fast to my covenant-
5 to them I will give within my temple
and its wall
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
That will not be cut off. ”
Isaiah 56:4-5 (NIV)

I believe this promise is not for now and here only, but particularly for everlasting heaven. Can you imagine God setting up an eternal memorial in heaven just for you? Now when the body of Christ gathers and people ask about such and such memorial, wouldn’t it be amazing to hear your name among the honoured people?

And why would this name be better than sons and daughters? I must say that I find it almost impossible to comprehend fully. One of the privileges of procreation is the gift of passing on the family name to the next generation. Unfortunately, eunuchs don’t have that privilege of passing on the family name because they’ve renounced marriage and thus child bearing for the sake of the Gospel.

But God is saying no, no… this is not the end of you. Don’t say, “I’m only a dry tree,” Isaiah 56:3. I’ll give you a name better than sons and daughters.

In heaven, our earthly names really wouldn’t matter because God is going to give us new names! And eunuchs get everlasting memorials to go with it! Even with all this, the most important Name is HIS. And I want to know that Name that is Above All names.

How infinite is the wisdom of God!

Originally written on November 21, 2007,
but revised over several months!

God bless ya,
Lady Akofa.




Rurgh!

Above is a restaurant decor. I was quite amused when I saw it and remembered these words:

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5: 14-16

I used to play Cedarmont Kids DVD songs for my lil' nephew almost every evening when he was with us. One of the songs he loved was Let it shine.

Stanza 2 of the song goes like this:

Hide it under bushel
No! I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under bushel
No! I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under bushel
No! I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

But the energetic toddler would stump his feet and emphatically roar, "Rurgh!" like a lil' lion whenever "No!" was to be sung, hehehe! And his roar has always reminded me of lil' Simba of Walt Disney's The Lion King.

Hide your light under a bushel?

Rurgh!
Join me!

Lady Akofa. :)

Can words describe this flower?

Most days, there is a burning itch to write and I thump away on computers.
Of course I love writing!

There are other days when words just don't quite fit.

But that's the beauty of it all...

Not everything can be described in words, you know?

There is more to this flower than pink petals bathing in the sun.

What a joy to observe the works of His hands

and praise the Indescribable God who created it all!

God bless ya,
Lady Akofa.





Wildly Curious too? You betta read now!

I’m gonna re-post a question asked by Latukane last December in one of my comment sessions here. I'm sure readers of this blog may try to reconcile what I post with links on my side bar. For a very long time, I had no listings of ‘fave’ webs or blogs on my side bar. Yet, I took the plunge one day. Resulting from that simple act, Latukane asks a question. Please see our correspondence below:


Hello Lady Akofa,

I am wildly curious here. With reference to your blogs of interest and their themes, do you also desire to be a stay at home wife and mom as well as homeschool, should the Lord bless you with marriage?

Thanks, Latukane in AFRICA.
December 2, 2008 8:04 AM


ladyakofa said...
Hi Latukane,

I'm drawn to these blogs because of what they teach about BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD, not necessarily the stay at home mom or daughter, homeschool themes.

In my opinion, being a stay at home mom or homeschooling doesn't make a person more godly than another who works outside the home and sends her kids to school. It's just a matter of choice, conviction and how you chose to glorify God within those choices and His leading.

Now, to answer your question... To be a wife and mom, yes. To homeschool or stay at home... that's a decision my future husband & I will have to make, should I be blessed with this opportunity.

Living on the African continent, the practice of marriage and motherhood is remotely different from the blogs I've linked to and I'm quite aware of this. :) Realistically, I'm not seeking that my future family life will look like the writers linked to... far from it. I just haven't found any African, Christian blog that is REGULARLY updated and that primarily deals with the topic of biblical womanhood yet.

If you have any suggestions for great Christian, African blogs on godly womanhood, I'll love to have links to them and check them out. Thanks!
December 2, 2008 12:00 PM

Anonymous said...
Greetings Lady Akofa, Latukane over here. Thank you for your gracious reply.

I understand about there being a dearth of any African links with the theme of Biblical Womanhood. It is good to know that you are willing to discuss certain subjects with your (Lord-willing) future husband.

I know that things are somewhat different on the African Continent, yet, I have real faith in the Lord that any cultural difference can be bridged as long as God's standards as revealed in the Word are adhered to.

Personally, I have convictions in the direction of homeschooling as well as being a stay at home Mom, because FOR ME, that is God's revelation. I too do not for a moment believe that working outside of the home and sending children to school is a sin, I mean after all, that would mean I was raised in sin and my mother has sinned irrevocably through all my years of life!

For interests sake, it was KCM ministries through the BVOV magazine that 'discipled' me in being rooted in the Christian faith. I had no one ecxept the Holy Spirit, the Bible and that Magazine.

The only possible links I can think of are 'The Reformation Society' and 'Africa Christian Action'. Googling these titles should provide a link.

Thank you once again, for your reply.
December 3, 2008 6:36 AM

ladyakofa said...
My pleasure, Latukane and thanks for your recommendations. I'll google them and see.

Lady Akofa.:)

I did google the recommended phrases and found some interesting webs, but I think they are a bit context limiting to some extent.

So I'm on a life-long search for more of who God wants me to be: A woman of God, living by Grace, enjoying the richness of life that comes from a growing relationship with Him through Christ Jesus.

Have a bliss-FULL, rest-FULL weekend,
Akofa.





Ask Me Anything: Moi

Ok, I'm back. I'm alive and kicking! My work trip was the most fabulous ever. I met some fantastic people in "!ncredible India" as we learnt, shared and had fun together.

But where did you go? I hope I haven't been abandoned? Ooooh, but I missed you!

Just to make amends, here is a picture I took of the sunrise at our top floor dinning area. I just looooove nature images. Makes me feel closer to the One who created it all. Click the image to view a larger size.

So here we go with my "Ask Anything" answers as promised. Stephanie at Thirsty Soul asked 3 questions and I'm gonna answer all 3. So here are my responses:

1. What is your favourite meal?

Hmmm... urm, when somebody starts with, "Hmmm," you know there is a bit of cracking brains, right? A simple thing as your favourite meal? Well... I tell you, what used to be my favourite at 8 years was different from what used to be when I was a teenager and now. So let's just say that my favourite food changes every decade, on the average. And since, I'll soon be turning into a new decade age-wise I'm likely to tell you something else in 10, 20 years. So for now, my favourite meals (I just can't choose one!) are foods that I don't often eat at home by relish them with great delight when I have the opportunity to eat them. And finally, they are: Waakye (rice and beans cooked together usually with tomato sauce), pizza and McDonalds' Big Mac. Yum, yum!

2. What is your Spiritual Gift?

Teaching the Bible, leading Bible studies, that I know for sure. If I've been functioning in other spiritual gifts, I've possibly have taken them as natural gifts or as skills developed over time. But I believe God uses all that He's given, spiritual and natural for His glory.

3. What are you talented at?

Creative writing, journaling... urm, is blogging a talent too?

Drawing smileys :) and making homemade birthday cards. I used to do quite often for my friends and family as a kid and teenager. I hardly bought cards. I should revive this!

Organizing things, administrative stuff and cleaning. Yeah, you saw that right... I love to clean, especially when the gusto power ticks in. Right now, I'm thinking about my messy office which terribly needs a bit of a clean up.

So there we go!

Hope y'all have a lovely, supa-dupa week!
Lady Akofa.