THE SABBATH DAY

JESUS THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DONE

Jesus is what keep me and my family going. Since 2005, my family has been going through so many struggles. It began August of 2005, my father passed on which was a big shock to us. GOD didn't prepare us for that one. As a result, it took my family about a year to get over it. So things started to look okay until 2007, my grandfather had a mild heart attack. For three years, it was a rollercaster ride, because every day there was a different problem. During this time, in 2008 my grandfather's legs were amputated. Meanwhile, I was attending school. I sometimes hated when the phone to ring because I scared my mother would tell me something bad.  By 2009, I graduated from college and my grandfather started to do better, everything was looking okay. Until October, we were again caught by surprise, when we found out that my first cousin was HIV positive. Now that took our family for surprise, because this was something that we didn't want to happen. As a result, we had to deal with my grandfather's sickness as well as my cousin's. But the one thing that stayed the same was we kept GOD first. During the thanksgiving holiday of 2009, was a very depressing time. My family traveled to South Carolina to see my cousin in the hospital. As soon as we walked into his room, we knew it didn't look good at all. It was so hard for me to look at him because, I knew that wasn't my cousin in that bed. After seeing him, I really got on my knees and ask GOD, please don't let him suffer anymore. Meanwhile, my grandfather was in NJ dealing with his sickness. It was just too much to handle. So, but the end of 2009 my cousin took a turn for the worse all his bodly organ shut down. So we prepared ourselves because we knew the end was near. As a result, mom and I went to church to pray the NEW YEAR in and to ask GOD to grant us a good year. However, two days later my cousin died of complications from the AIDS. The year didn't start off right for my family, but we kept the LORD on our side for strength. After laying my cousin to rest, throughout the year everything seemed to be well. I received a full-time position with the government, I moved into my own place, and everything was stable with my grandfather. However, the end of the year would be the last time my family would be together.  October 8 to October 10, it was the weekend of my grandfather's birthday, my mother decided to go to the Borgota Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Mary J. Blige was peforming there and my mother got tickets. So everything seem to be happy and joyful. But when there is happiness there is pain, my grandfather got sick right after the amazing trip. This sick time it was deadly. My grandfather died November 24, 2010. I was sad to see him leave this earth, but I was happy he wasn't suffering any longer, because he suffered for 3 years. Above all, you can see my family and I have gone through struggles, but we keep GOD first.

These are the songs that help me along the way during my family's low times. Hopefully they can help you during you times of sickness, pain, hurt, disappointment, discouragment and loss.

KIRK FRANKLIN & THE FAMILY-LET ME TOUCH YOU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chi4jSdnzy4

WHITNEY HOUSTON-I LOVE THE LORD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcjP4LgW0Rw&feature=related

MARY J. BLIGE-TESTIMONY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4qFQQHyz-A

With Mary J. Blige's "Testimony" you can click on this video and see J-Boogie1 (which is me) under the comments.