A Christmas Message from Tyler Perry

If you don’t know who Tyler Perry is, he is an African American man who began his life in poverty, was homeless, and has created a huge movie and theatre empire. He is a great role model for all of us.

Hello there,

Merry Christmas to all! Sorry I haven’t written in a while, but these
holidays are tough for me since my mother died last year. But I’m getting
through it. Thank God!

I wanted to write today to ask you a question: If someone said to you, “Go
and get anything that you want free of charge!”, what would it be?

Well, listen to this: Every year I do a lot of Christmas giving to
battered women shelters, feed the hungry organizations, homeless shelters
and so on. Well, this year, Cassi Davis, who runs my foundation, found an
orphanage. I didn’t even know they had orphanages in the US. Anyway, this
place is amazing and these kids’ stories really show you how strong the
human spirit is. They are from the ages of 14 to 18. It is unfortunate,
but as kids get between these ages the probability of them being adopted
is highly unlikely. Hence this great orphanage that houses them until
they’re adults. This place has so much history it should be a movie.

Anyway, I took all of these children to a Target. I gave each one a
shopping cart and told them to go and fill it with whatever they “WANTED”.
Now I thought this would be easy. I had no idea that these kids had a
different idea of wants and needs than most kids in this country. I’m
thinking they are going to go for the video games, toys, make-up and
things that teenagers are into. Well, they didn’t!!

I was shocked because most of them went for cases of water and juice. I
thought, “Water and juice?” Then they went on to undershirts, underwear,
deodorant, soap, etc. You get my point. All the things we take for granted
were huge for them. HUGE!

As they shopped, my staff from the studio escorted them through the store.
A lot of us were tearful watching these kids. They were happy, but so
confused. They couldn’t wrap their brains around being able to have
anything they wanted. How sad is that? They didn’t know that they could
have it all. One child sat in front of two shirts for a long time. One was
10 dollars the other was 30. He was wondering which one to get. It took
one of my folks a long time to explain to him that he can have them both.
After a lot of cajoling and pushing, he finally got it and so did the
other 23 kids. To see their little minds start to believe was a powerful
thing. To go from one level of belief to believing you can have it all in
moments was something to see.

They came to the checkout with their red Target baskets looking like
overloaded Santa sleighs. Boy that did my heart good! I could see my
mother smiling in my mind about this. They were so happy. I wish you could
have seen the joy on these kids faces. It was contagious. I caught it, and
it helped brighten up these rough days for me. It was just wonderful. I
left them on a high BIG TIME! It made me remember to be thankful for the
little things. I hope it does the same for you…

You, too can have it all…

LATER THAT NIGHT!

When I built my house three years ago, I remember having an argument with
my security team because I thought what they were doing was overkill.
After listening to their side, I gave in and let them do what they wanted.
So, on my property there are cameras everywhere, night vision cameras,
sensor lighting, laser sensors, underground laser sensors, a guard dog,
24-hour armed bodyguards and a few other things that I can’t mention. When
it was done, I was thinking, “This is ridiculous, I don’t need all of this
crap!” That was until tonight. Last night I was home in bed on a high from
these kids. At about 3am my phone rings. This special line never rings in
my house, so I knew something was wrong. I answered and I hear this voice
say, “Sir, I need you to be alert. There are three intruders on the
property.” It was my security. I sat straight up thinking, “You have got
to be kidding me!”

The phone rings again a short time later and it was my security team
saying that they had apprehended the intruder and the police were talking
to the person now. When the police asked the person what they were doing,
the answer was they were looking for money. He also recognized this person
from another attempted home invasion down the street from me. CAN YOU
BELIEVE THAT? I was so mad! I have worked my entire life being homeless,
broke, struggling and hungry, but I would never rob anybody. What happened
to making your own way? What happened to honesty and integrity? What
happened to doing the right thing so that God can bless you? Man oh man,
this made me upset!

I will be on the phone with the D.A.’s office and the Chief of Police in a
little bit to make sure that these other people are caught and that all of
them are prosecuted to the fullest. I will give ’till I can’t give
anymore. That’s my heart, but to try and rob, or steal from me! If all
three of them were looking for trouble they found it!

To anyone who may be thinking about doing the wrong thing. To anyone who
may have been in crime, but is trying to go straight–doing the wrong
thing is easy and for cowards! To walk upright when everything is going
wrong is the only true way to success. That takes a real man or woman.
There were many times I could have done the wrong thing–gotten easy
money. But because I chose to do the right thing, God honored that and
blessed me. Choose the blessing and not the curse. It’s for your own good.

Merry Christmas,

Tyler

Christmas Newsletter

                                             

We are planning many very exciting and themed events for the New Year!   So look forward to receiving email invitations for our Clandestine Dinners and Private Exclusive Distinctive Events.   We wish you a love filled, joyous Holiday Season & a very prosperous  & healthy New Year!! AWARD WINNER   Shirley Lang, Owner & Head Chef won the Peoples Choice Award for her Fragrant Moroccan Roast Pork Tenderloin with Fruit Tagine and Amarula Cream Sauce at the Savouries, Sweets & Sips Event.   Thank You Again to my very Supportive Sponsors!   (Please see our Sponsors at the bottom of the page)    Shirley was interviewed by Eric Akis. See the Times Colonist Life Section "Hot Chef" article: http://www.timescolonist.com/life/Long+road+kitchen/3698122/story.html       With the utmost gratitude for your support of Kitchens of Distinction throughout the years, Shirley is offering you 20% off of your Holiday Season catering. Expiration date: January 1, 2011 Savouries, Sweets & Sips! "Shirley, Congratulations on the win last night. Your dish was very delicious! The People’s Choice Award, is an important category in those types of competitions. I told you I felt positive energy around your table last night! Best, Eric Akis" Shirley’s article was published in  ‘Exalt Houston’ (Click the photo to link to the magazine to read the article) Call Shirley to learn more about Sensuous Seductive Cuisine 250-858-7777 Naughty & Nice Show Recipe for Romance & Kitchens of Distinction  raised $600.00 towards ‘Santa’s Sack’ in Sooke   Our Newest Aphrodisiac Recipe:   Chocolate, Chipotle & Maple Syrup Baked Wild Sockeye Salmon   Jason Roudette of Flight Centre Tuscany Village and Shirley Lang of Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering have partnered to offer you exclusive savings on exciting culinary experiences in Morocco and Spain. (Click the photo for more information)      Flight Centre Special – Emporda $5299   Flight Centre Special – Marrakesh $2959     Flight Centre Special – Marrakesh $1969     ‘Savouries, Sweets & Sips Event   Shirley with her team member Sarah   Glowing after the big win! UPCOMING EVENT Red Erotic Book Launch   written by January Rogers Thursday, December 9 · 7:00pm – 9:30pm Open Space Gallery 510 Fort Street *Aphrodisiac hors d’oeuvres by Shirley Lang, Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering *Red Erotic Book Launch is the premier publication by Ojistah Publishing. *An evening of steaming hot poetry, and music by Kristie Lane Sinclair *Cash bar, books and Cd’s for sale *Spoken word poetry and readings     At Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering in Victoria, BC, we specialize in Aboriginal cuisine with a contemporary flair, providing our clients with ‘A Diverse Cultural Culinary Experience’ incorporating flavours from around the world. We are committed to using only the finest, freshest, local organic ingredients whenever possible, combined with love, to create a menu that reflects your specific style and highest of standards. We consult extensively with you to design your catered menu to reflect exactly what you want to present to your very important family and guests.   We cater events of all sizes, providing outstanding flavorful dishes and superior customer service. Depending on the amount of guests, your theme, your budget, your location and your dietary needs and flavour choices, we will guide you regarding the option of service staff, table service or buffet service, rentals, entertainment, full catering prices, etc. Contact Us Today! shirley@kitchensofdistinction.ca 250-858-7777 Our Philosophy:   All of our staff are very passionate about food and are committed to following Shirley’s Cree Nation’s Traditional Cultural practices of preparing food.  None of our staff will begin cooking if their mind and hearts are heavy with any form of negativity. We believe that the energy one carries while preparing food will come through the food to the end product, which is then absorbed by our clients. Therefore, we make sure before any food is prepared, that the energy of those who are cooking is ‘clean, clear and positive’, so that the love and positive energy will come through in our food. Nourishing not only your body but also your spirit.     The True Meaning of Kitchens of Distinction I am always asked, why did I name my catering company Kitchens of Distinction? The dictionary defines the word ‘distinction’ as "excellence that sets someone or something apart from others: a novelist of distinction". I feel that the kitchen is the heart and the soul of any home, any where in the world, in any culture. We share the preparation of food in the kitchen, we share the flavours of the food we lovingly prepare, we share laughter, we share secrets and stories in our kitchens, we share our family and friend time in the kitchen. We bond with one another in the kitchen, it is an intimate safe haven. When you are at a party, where does everyone eventually end up at one point or another? Yes, you guessed it, the kitchen, the one place where everyone is on neutral ground. We are all equals in the kitchen, human, vulnerable, and so authentically magnificent. For me, the kitchen has always been warm, welcoming, comforting, safe. My fondest memories are of days gone by as a child, growing up on a large working farm, watching my mother and grandmother cook wonderful comfort meals using the freshest and finest ingredients of the meats and poultry that we raised ourselves, and produce that we planted, nurtured and harvested throughout the seasons. These are heart warming memories of my mother and grandmother, lovingly taking the time, to teach me to cook, to read recipes, to learn measurements. The kitchen was the place that I learned to never give up, if you make a mistake … it can be corrected or adjusted to create something else, to be resourceful. The kitchen was the place that I learned to try new things without fear, to be confident in my abilities. This location and the teachings that took place there, would one day prove to be where all things fundamentally began in my world. No matter what path I took the kitchen was the space that fed my soul, that calmed my world, and that continued to nurture my gifts, allowing me to succeed in other crafts.  The kitchen is today the place that allows me to share my gifts and my passion for food and everything associated with it.   So when I was deciding on a name for my company, knowing the gifts and skills that I wanted to share with others, I couldn’t help but draw from my life experiences. When I think of catering in my client’s homes, I feel that their kitchens are the "Kitchens of Distinction", excellence that sets them apart from all others, authentic and magnificent. In Unity, Shirley Lang   Kitchens of Distinction Private Catering – 250-858-7777 Owner/Head Chef Shirley Lang       www.kitchensofdistinction.ca   Shirley is a Board member of the BC Restaurant & Food Services Assoc. She is also a Member of:  Canadian Culinary Federation, Victoria Branch  World Association of Chefs Societies  Canadian Restaurant & Food Services Association  Better Business Bureau    In addition, Shirley supports many local charities.