A Poller Christmas 2007

Another year is almost over and there is sooooo much to be said. How are you and all of your family? Van & I look so forward to receiving your letters, family photos and blessings.

So much has happened since last Christmas and I will try to go slowly through my daily planner. Our lives have changed greatly. Please know that I am not bragging, just want to let you know how good God is and that we trust Him to be Lord over our lives.

WE NOW LIVE IN FLORIDA (address change is at the bottom). The whether here prompts me to know that I am NOT going to hell. The heat and humidity ;( and it is December (winter?). For those of you who have been blessed with Military movers, this move was on us. We used ABF Transport. We pack, they move & store and we unpack. It was very different for us, but thank God we paid attention to the mover’s years before; we also thank Him that we file long form on our income tax. Wow!!

Whatever you do, please keep exercising. Do something if not just walking. I am an advocate for exercise, because the more mature you get, our joints need to be moved or they’ll loose their momentum. Van and my health are excellent. Allow me to go back to the first of the year and give a synopsis of the year in brief:

Rob (Georgia) still single and handsome & Tonya (Florida) are closer to us and doing quite well (Oreo, her dog is still traveling with her).

Pugsley, our dog, is still with us. He made the trip very well.

Van – was working on staff at the church in Clovis, as a man who wore many, many hats doing God’s work. He took a trip to Florida, to visit his parents in June, before joining Rob & me in Atlanta. Van continued to referee basketball in N. M. and W. Tex. and now in Florida. He works for “Publix” (a grocery store chain in Ga. & Fl.) as a computer technician. God has truly showed favor. He has a 2008 Chevy company truck, a company credit card, a laptop, a cell phone, uniforms & benefits. What a mighty God we all serve. What the devil means for evil, God will turn it around for the good and His glory.

Victoria – Is a grant writer for Clovis Christian Schools. It’s a 501C3 school that accepts donations for it’s new facility to open on Jan. 08. She was a Clovis Chamber Board member & an Ambassador, & was on the Cultural Arts Board member at Clovis Community College. The movie “Believe In Me” was filmed in Clovis & released (No, she was not in it – just a little info ). Clovis had a Tornado in March (unusual for that city, only one person lost). Braces were attached to her teeth for her 57th birthday in Mar. Now, she’s promoting her book through Mr. Hubert McCloud (her public relations manager) and working on two other novels along with her myspace audience (see www.victoriapoller.com)

Van & Victoria – was in the third year publishing “A Time To Shop”, a Christian Businessmen’s Directory. We vacationed in Las Vegas for a week @ Planet Hollywood in May. Got a chance to visit Rob in June, and took our second week of vacation on a cruise to Mexico.

Now, for more details about our move to Florida. The opportunity presented itself for Van & I to be close to his parents and our children. We prayed and were directed by the Lord to “Go for it”. We’re living in our 5th wheel and waiting for the Lord to sell our home in Clovis. While we are waiting, we’re also looking for a home here in Fl. It is so well with our souls. We have found a great church and we’re going through classes to understand the directions of this ministry. Well I’m almost out of paper. Please keep in touch and you can reach Van through his myspace. Until then, have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. ;)

“ToTo –Where Are We?”

We’re not in Kansas. This isn’t Germany. We didn’t get dumped off on the docks of Bermuda. Where in the world (or should I say, the USA) have the Poller’s been assigned? Why are we in this new land?

I lived so long in the Mid-West that I had to rediscover myself. I had to get back to my roots and appreciate my heritage. When we moved this last time, it was such a shock to my system; I had to realize that my family was the only ‘black family’ on the block (Oh, my God – I’m Black!). I hadn’t realized that we were the minority in our community. It was never an issue. We (my family) were never treated poorly or made to think that race was ever an issue. We were in a small rural town that was struggling to survive and it really didn’t make any difference what the color of your skin was. Everyone in the community had a common goal to achieve; and that was, “survival”. The Air Force Base was scheduled to close and that may have meant some loss jobs.

When we traveled the globe with the Military – we all had a common goal and that was to survive 20 years and to retire with benefits. Today, one has to worry about staying alive in order to reap a reward.

Each place where my family has been stationed – we endured everything until our next assignment (I thank God that our family has the initiative to speak up [boldness] and speak out when the time presents itself). Things may not be perfect where you’re at; but you need to make the best of it and learn to adapt (be content and not complacent). Usually the place where you are presently at (whether you know it or not) is the best place for you to be.

Living where I am now has proven to be a challenge and an adventure. There are some ‘styles’, ‘trends’, ‘opportunities’, ‘gifts’ & ‘talents’ that I have never seen, or some that I’ve missed seeing in awhile (and let’s not forget those things one can’t acquire in a smaller city). Remember, I told you that I was ‘black’ well; I now have to catch up on my ‘blackness’; integrate where some dare not go (which doesn’t bother me none), and keep from being classified as a ‘sellout’.

The Bishop at the church that my husband and I have started to attend, made mention about some ‘black folks’ who “player-hate” if they find out that some other blacks may want to go to a play or another cultural event. This is no reason to “hate”. You would be surprised at the number of people (black & white) who would rather look down at the ground instead of looking in your eyes & saying, “Good Morning”. Then there are those folks who try to make you think that they are ‘better than you’ (Boogies). They stick their noses in the air and talk down to others. There is also an atmosphere of “The Crab Syndrome”. “If I’m not going to make it – then neither will you”.

I have also noticed a sense of ‘hopelessness’ among all nationalities. Much prayer is still needed for the “South”. Were we placed in this area “For such a time as this”? This is where I’ve landed. It’s the “good” mixed in with the not so good. The faster paced lifestyle with a ‘down-home appeal’. There are some people who do desire to get ahead and these are the people who need to be encouraged and supported in their efforts. My take on the “Crab Mentality” is: “If you don’t want help getting out of the pot, or you want me to cook in the pot with you – Turn Me Loose! I got to go! I’m going to smile and show all of these braces in my mouth every chance I get. That’s my mission right now.

“I’m alright – don’t nobody worry about me…”

Love to you ;)

Ms. “V”
www.victoriapoller.com