Gracias! Gracias! Gracias!

So I lived to see December 31st 2013 yeah? And lived to write this much anticipated post?
Yay! Words cannot express what I feel, Oghene Doh!!!
I am grateful Baba, for your love,for life, I lost no one close to me and yes, they are all alive to read this post.
Oh,Lord You are a good God!

WARNING- this post will be a long one accompanied with pictures, but some of you are featured therein so PLEASE just read and go along with the flow…I wouldn’t say that 2013 was a year that went smoothly without hitches but 2013 was a good year,yeah,it was a good year indeed.
2013 gave me supposedly impossible situations turned into awesome testimonies.
In 2013,I graduated from the university,with my LLB degree and with the highest grade my alumni offers (no its not first class,they are harsh like that)
That’s normal,yes? But no,I graduated with a grade my dean said with A’s in all my courses,It would be impossible but God showed that nothing is impossible with Him.
In 2013 I also began my BL programme at the Nigerian Law School.

Yay!!! My parents re-married after 14years of being apart (this one,I don’t even have words to express how I feel)
My elder brother got a job just by God’s favor(they said they just liked his works)-no expense paid to man.
My younger sister gained admission into University-no expense paid to man also,the one in whose hands the heart of a king lies worked on their behalf…

So yes,2013 taught me to FAITH IT. I learnt to believe it when God says trust me.
I learnt to trust God so bad that I could literally feel what I prayed for come to life before it did. ie,those testimonies up there and others.
I also learnt that God makes all things beautiful in His time and 14years or more is no barrier when God shows up.

And oh, I also started my weightloss regime and lost about 18kg? Or 17kg?(I’on know again, Christmas spoilt it small) but I am thankful!

This post won’t be complete without appreciating all who were amazing in my life this year and I really don’t know how to fit this into one blog post but I’ll try.
The Okoro Family, to my dad, you’ve been my biggest fan,the number one magical person who believes that I MUST suceed, Mumsi,hmmm,with all my forming,I really appreciate you.God bless you all, that’s all I will say.

Raymond Okoro- I don’t even know where to start. You’ve been the wind beneath my wings more times than I can count. Remember when I wanted to give up on my 2:1? You told me “you can do it,you can” Remember when I wanted to start loosing the weight, when people said I couldn’t,you said I can.
You’ve been there,spurring me on whenever I needed it.

What can one not do when you have a brother that says the above to you anytime you are discouraged? And follows through in his belief in you, like, his words aren’t just for mouth,he sincerely believes that you can do it all.
Ray,you believe in me even more than I believe in myself.
God bless you bro. Much love.

Barrister Jasmine Toristeju Oki, I don’t even know how to start. You were the one God used to raise me up at a time when I thought I was nothing and no one. God used you to give me hope and help me start up again.
I will never forget your words to me on that night 2years ago. You said, “Frances,you are an intelligent and beautiful girl,men will kneel to beg for your hands in marriage”
You reminded me of the Frances you know, you asked me where is that Frances and for every time it seems like I have forgotten that Frances, I remember that night. Your words have guided and continue to guide me through.

Words can’t express my gratitude to you, God bless you and bless your future oga,he is one lucky man. May God continue to enlarge your coast and use you to touch lives,amen.

Mojaye Lilian ‘lilysparrows’- it took me 5years + going to lawschool in a different place from you to realize that apart from Ray,you are my bestie.
You’ve seen me at my worst,you’ve seen the Frances from when she was a baby in Christ, with a life filled with mistakes strewn all around, but you never faltered in your love for me. You were never shaken in your belief that I was something. If there’s anyone I know I can run to for words of encouragement,that will be there for me when I need a hug anytime,its you.

I am so sorry,it took me this long to realize this but that’s what I love about you, you will always be there. You are one person that will never withold compliments like other girls do,you are confident in yourself enough to let another shine. Thank you for being there through all these years,I love you,like I so love you,thank you.
And if “the one” tarries,we must spend our birthdays in Ghana or anywhere, just travel and revel in single girls things this 2014 after bar exams. God knows we’ll deserve the treat by then.
Cheers to a great 2014 and beyond together *hugs*

Queeneth Epiah- kai! You are one person I know that your hubby will be blessed to have. I nor do virtous woman reach you. Me and my jaga jaga way of doing things, I look at you and I am simply inspired to prepare well for “the one”. Thank you for being there in 2013, for all questions answered when I knocked on your door, for help rendered selflessly…you are a beautiful lady through and through,within and without. Let’s do this again in 2014 yeah?

Odebala Kesiena- one lady with God’s wisdom living in her. So many of your words sank into me and grew good seeds in 2013. Your love for God spurred mine too.kai! The amount of virtous women that surrounds me eh,nor be here o. Thank you dear,thak you for being there.

Sandra Ovwasa,wow! Girl,you are one amazing specie of a lady! Brimming with purpose and dreams I know you will fulfill. You are also one lady confident enough to let those around you shine and shine I have in your friendship this year.
You’ve been a great supporter of me and all my mine,you were there from the onset of this blog,I re-read my first posts and saw so many mistakes but you read those,commented and still urged me to keep up the good work?
Girl,God bless you for me. We’ll meet at again in Abuja come November for our call to bar yeah? Amen.

Buchi Osasa, you are one person that even without you knowing,the stregnth you found in yourself in 2013,reminded me of my purpose in life again. It reminded me of how awesome God had and has been to me. All those talks we had? You thought I was inspiring you? Ah,I was being inspired from you too. Thank you for being a part of my life in 2013, you are a great lady,going places,we’ll meet at the top.

Ogaga Joan, I rode on your motivation in 2013 before I found some within myself.
Yes,you were my junior in secondary school, but you are golden,wise beyond your years,one of the virtous women I know that will go places soon and very soon.
Thank you for being there in 2013.thank you for the smiles shared,the laughter exchanged,the inspiration passed.thank you.

Onwah Oghenetega,my SP in secondary school that year.you may not remember,but you forced me to be a bell ringer then and that started the Asst Senior Prefect thing for me.
I wondered what you saw in me then and I still wonder because you’ll always say “I am proud of you”, always spurring me on to do more,always clicking on my links and reading my posts on my blog,even when I think its not good enough, you always say “Frances,I am proud of you” and by God’s grace,I will indeed give you something to be proud of.
God bless you Tega and did I mention she’s a wonderful daughter of zion too?

In 2013 I started my blog or scratch that this wonderful friend of mine, Adesanya Oluseyi started up my blog for me.
Seyi, you’ve known me since I was that starry eyed 16year old with innocence written on my face. And from that time till now, you are still one person that I can call out of the blue and I know that you will help with whatever I need. Forget the fact that you see me like a superwoman that doesn’t need people o,I do need some people,and you are one of them.
Thank you for believing in me, you are one of those magical friends that actually believe I can touch the sky.

Thanks love, onto more years together yeah?
And come oh, you’ll make good on your promise to take me out when I get to Lag in celebration of 7years going of friendship ooo! Nor forget…

Daniel Fumnanya Nwabuzor, the only guy I miss right now. You were my president in NIFES Oleh Campus then and oh,I remember the arguments we always had,hehe.
But through it all,you are one person that has always believed in me. Right from 100Level when I had no inkling of who I was,you had always said-“Frances,you haven’t shown us all of you yet,you are still hiding some talent inside”
I will never forget you cuz you knew me and believed in me when it seemed like I had nothing to offer to the world and in 2013,you’ve still continued to see that light In me.
When I wanted to give up on my 2:1 dis year,you said, “you can’t give up now,I believe you’ll get it”
Your belief strengthened my faith and I when I did get that 2:1, your happiness was even more than my own. You are a true friend-a brother even. Thank you for being such a blessing in 2013.

Nwose Onome, “Okosisi 1 of Anaku”- thank you, for your kind words, encouragements, constructive critique and suggestions on how I can do better, for acting as my conscience for me to do my personal Bible study sometimes…
And if all men get God for mind, working to please Him as you do,the world for better. Thanks dear for being there in 2013.

E…E..Mrs Olojo, where do I start from? You are one of the awesome people I had no idea I would meet from the blogosphere.
Like seriously,people like you are still on earth? I draw inspiration to be more with our ‘sugar daddy’ from you, the feeling that I am not doing enough and should get into the word deeper. And God used your words to dispel crazy thoughts from me too.you’ve been a blessing to my life in 2013,unto greater blessings in 2014.God bless you E,you and all yours.

Ah Lizzie! Elizabeth Ezekiel! The blogosphere brought me you too,and its being amazing with you since then. Your words are always filled with wisdom for a fractured heart anyday,and all our yabbing and friendship is proof of the fact that one can indeed meet gems in the E’world.

Inthe of www.inthemidstofher.com ,oh,thank you for being there.for all the times when I knew the answers but wanted reassurances,you never called me a dummy,you never ran out of patience with me.infact I read one of my messages to you again and I was exasperated with the questions I asked,I mean,one could see that I knew the answers but for when I wanted a second voice,you never turned me away.I was blessed by all your writings on your blog,gave me hope that yes,God can grant me a blissful home and a man after his heart,not my heart.thank u inthe,thank you.

FGS! Chioma Chuka- spoke to you via blog things on christmas day. And I’ve been on blog rolls on your really addictive blog since then.
I also checked you out on facebook (I swear I am not stalking you) but what I got from what I saw from it all is that you are an inspiration, I must be like you when/ while I am growing up. For the wisdom I gleaned from your writings, I say thank you. Better things in 2014 yeah?

I don’t think that I should end this without acknowledging you.
Digbori Efe,though we drifted cuz of NLS lagos wahala or something(you nor try o) but you also made 2013 wonderful for me.I remember you stayed in school even after we graduated just to attend my birthday party at my house.

Yes,you also had a jealous kinda love for me that could only come when you treasure someone,never wanting them to be hurt,and with all your superwoman thingy,I know you are soft where it matters.thanks for being there in 2013 dear,let’s work past this small break in our friendship and make 2014 better yeah?

Anita “Anniberry” Tuesday, you are one person I admire. You’ve got passion for Christ, wisdom in your words and willigness to learn and let God lead. You’ve said you are inspired from me many times, but that’s funny because its the other way round, I am inspired by you.

God bless u for making 2013 an awesome year for me and you are one gift NIFES gave to me that I’ll cherish forever.

Odunsi Abinusola, I only just met you in NLS this year but you’ve been all of amazing, if we all had friends like you, life would be tres nice.

To you and Tracy, my second set of roomates,I say thank you. Going to call to bar together is a deal yeah?

This list is inexhaustible…
Ebakivie Stanley, Edje Helen, Ologe Aaron…

Nwuli Barbara, Ovweriavwose Sheila, Obiageli-“law girl”, Nancy Onwah,
Akaighe Diamond…

Okujaye Martha, Okogba Onome, Roturi Eguono, Tosin of Chavivas, Hannah, Ujesta, Uchenna, Eniola Prentice, 1-the one, Miss Toin, Eloxie, Mrs Jolomi, Mrs Nellie Agbugo, Charles Williams, Emmytim, Mr Giovanni, Ebison Moses, Animam lace, Emuowho Uzi, Dafiode Anita, Mrs Bibi, Anita Kotor, Roturi Eguono, Anene Angela, Princewill, Oghenero Ezaza…

Ishokare Catherine, Katherine Adika, Progress, Ifeanyi Romeo, David, Joe, Onome, Jessica Williams, Faith Oluwashina, Bakwunye David, Mary, Harriet, Ruth, All students of NLS Lagos, my fellow Christ Advocates (Redeem-The King’s Court) NLS Lagos excos…

There maybe many more persons that may not be mentioned in this post, there’s only so much this post can take, but here’s saying thank you, thank you to everyone that made 2013 great for me.

My beautiful father, oh my Baba has been all of awesome this year.
Our relationship was rocky at times in the course of the year but your love still remained, your grace was ever true. I couldn’t have made it without you Lord. This is to officially say thank You, thank You Baba,Oghene Doh!!!

And this post is not in any way saying that 2013 went without hitches but I am choosing to end this year on a note of gratitude to God for life, I am focusing on my blessings, for miracles gotten, for friendships, for milestones surpassed, for achievements gotten…
After all, one thing 2013 taught me was the fact that I am only xx years old and God’s still got lot more in store for me,
God’s got the rest being sorted out.
There’s more coming in 2014 and beyond.

Now unto more glorious things in 2014 for us all,amen!
Happy New Year in advance dearies!
Cheers to a mega blessed new year!

One more thank you,(yeah,I saved the best for last) to my chief commander in charge of most of these pictures, Anita Dafiode, I salute you!

Gracias! Gracias! Gracias!