2008 Goals

For 2007, my goals for the year were:

* work out more – even if it’s nothing but a brisk 15 minute walk (this didn't happen)
* remember to take my iron pills daily (this didn't happen)
* manage my money more efficiently (Yeah! I did it)
* save money (could have but had no extra money to put into savings)
* spend more time with my girls (I did it)
* find small, different things to do with my husband (I did it)
* write something every day (didn't happen)
* give more of my time to God (did it, need to do more)
* have more patience (this comes and goes)
* be happy with who I am (I am)

For 2008, I have some of these same goals because they continue from year to year.

* continue to make God first in my life
* make quality time for me and my husband
* continue to spend time with my girls
* eat healthy and exercise
* write and complete Christian fiction novel
* continue to manage my money more efficiently
* save money
* enroll in school
* participate in business workshops
* be happy with who I am

50 Million Pound Challenge

50 Million Pound Challenge

Ever heard of it? I had been hearing about it on a local radio station. I finally remembered it and visited the website. It's very interesting and out of everyone who is trackng their progress, they've reached over 1 million pounds lost.

I signed up so that I could take part and track my progress also. My start date is January 1, 2008. What better time to start a lifestyle change than the first day of a new year.

The new year will bring great things, I can feel it.

So, if you too want to take part in the 50 million pound challenge, visit the website and sign up.

New England Patriots 16-0 Season

I can't believe this. The New England Patriots have ended the 2007 football season 16-0. With me being a huge Indianapolis Colts fan, this just isn't acceptable to me.

Just when I thought that the New York Giants would be able to pull it off and beat the team that no one else had been able to defeat the whole season, Tom Brady and the Patriots go up 38-28 with two minutes left in the game and that's when I knew that there would be no hope this year. Even thought the Giants did score again, it wasn't enough as they lost to the Patriots 38-35.

Now, I'm hoping that some one (Indianapolis Colts in particular) will beat the Patriots in the playoffs.

Looks like we'll all have to wait until Feb. 3, 2008 to find out who will be the winner of Super Bowl XLII.

1st To Die - James Patterson

1st To Die by James Patterson

This is only my second James Patterson book. The first one was Mary, Mary and it was pretty good also.

In 1st To Die there were twists and turns throughout the book. It seemed that by chapter 86 they had found the killer but I knew that they couldn’t have because there were still over 20 more chapters of the book left. So I had to keep on going just to find out who the killer really was.

I can’t wait to listen to 2nd Chance. It’s next on my list of audiobooks.

Fantasy Football

I played fantasy football in two different leagues this year. Last year was my first year playing. I’m the commissioner of both of the team, “Fam” and “Newbie”.

The Newbie league was not very competitive this year. I think people were excited in the beginning but as the season went on, people stopped managing their teams. My husband and I were the only ones managing our teams. And I had two teams in this one league. Of course, no one else in the league knows that I have two teams. But both of my teams are 1st and 2nd place.

The Fam league was very competitive. It is me, my husband, and his brothers, sister, and sister-in-law. They are a bunch. But it was a lot of fun to play with them. Our sister-in-law changed players so much that she has been nicknamed “The Fantasy Ho”. Her husband managed his team very well, he’s in first place right now. My husband is second and I’m third.

We’ll know in two weeks who the winners are for both teams. I hope it’s ME!!!
There’s nothing I will get for being the winner but the satisfaction of being a woman winning fantasy football.

Come back in two weeks to see who won.

I Am Legend

I Am Legend

I went to go see this movie last night. It turned out to be nothing like I expected but that was okay because the movie was really good. Will Smith did an excellent job.

The best advice I can give to anyone that goes to see this movie is to make sure you breathe. I found myself holding my breath throughout the movie because of the anticipation of what would happen next. And every time, I found myself jumping out of my seat.



My husband held on to my hand and laughed at me ever time I jumped. I admit, it was funny but I’ve never watched a movie that had me doing that through the whole movie.


Good movie and a must see.

God said No!

God said No!

I asked Got to take away my habit.
God said No!
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said No!
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said No!
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said No!
I give you blessings; happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said No!
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said No!
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said No!
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me.
God said Ahhh, finally you have the idea.

"To the world you might be one person,
But to one person you just might be the world"

"May the Lord Bless you and keep you,
May the Lord Make his face shine upon you,
And give you Peace......Forever"

"Good friends are like stars... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Why Did You Make Me Black, Lord?

Why Did You Make Me Black, Lord ?

Why did you make me black?

Why did you make someone the world would hold back?

Black is the color of dirty clothes,of grimy hands and feet.

Black is the color of darkness, of tired beaten streets.

Why did you give me thick lips,a broad nose and kinky hair?

Why did you create someone who receives the hated stare?

Black is the color of the bruised eye
when someone gets hurt.
Black is the color of darkness,
Black is the color of dirt.

Why is my bone structure so thick,
my hips and cheeks so high?
Why are my eyes brown,
and not the color of the sky?

Why do people think I'm useless?
How come I feel so used?
Why do people see my skin
and think I should be abused?

Lord, I just don't understand.
What is it about my skin?
Why is it some people want to hate me
and not know the person within?

Black is what people are "Labeled"
when others want to keep them away.
Black is the color of shadows cast.
Black is the end of the day.

Lord you know my own people mistreat me,
and you know this just ain't right.
They don't like my hair, they don't like my skin,
as they say I'm too dark or too light!

Lord, don't you think it's time to make a change?
Why don't you redo creation and make everyone the same?


GOD's Reply:

Why did I make you black?

I made you in the color of coal
from which beautiful diamonds are formed.
I made you in the color of oil,
the black gold which keeps people warm.

Your color is the same as the rich dark soil
that grows the food you need.
Your color is the same as the black stallion and panther,
Oh what majestic creatures indeed!

All colors of the heavenly rainbow
can be found through out every nation.
When all these colors are blended,
you become my greatest creation!

Your hair is the texture of lamb's wool,
such a beautiful creature is he.
I am the shepherd who watches them,
I will ALWAYS watch over thee!

You are the color of the midnight sky,
I put star glitter in your eyes.
There's a beautiful smile hidden behind your pain,
that's why your cheeks are so high!

You are the color of dark clouds
from the hurricanes I create in September.
I made your lips so full and thick,
so when you kiss...they will remember!

Your stature is strong, your bone structure thick
to withstand the burden of time.
The reflection you see in the mirror,that image that looks back,
that is MINE!

So get off your knees, look in the mirror
and tell me what you see?
I didn't make you in the image of darkness,

I made you in the image of ME!

Tryin' To Sleep In The Bed You Made - Virgnia DeBerry & Donna Grant

Tryin' To Sleep In The Bed You Made by Virgnia DeBerry & Donna Grant

This story is about two friends that grew up together and then lost contact with each other. Their lives took turns that they hadn’t planned on but eventually, they found each other.
Gale was the prissy girl who seemed to get her way on everything. She was spoiled and everything was always about her. Patricia didn’t have what Gale had but was glad that Gale was her friend. But Patricia soon realized that Gale was all about herself.

Gale married Ramsey Hilliard and they had a daughter, Vanessa. Ramsey seemed like a good guy and he probably was but that demon, Gambling, took over his life and he staged his own suicide so that he could remain in hiding from being in so much debt from gambling. This left Gale and Vanessa with nothing and they ended up in a shelter where Patricia came back in contact with Gale.

Patricia found out who her father was and he didn’t want to have anything to do with her. Patricia was also doing really well at her job but from no where, she was let go and since her job was her life, she didn’t know what else to do. Marcus Carter, a childhood friend came back into Patricia’s life and they ended up getting married.

It took me a while to get through listening to this book but it was pretty good.

3 stars out of 5

Happily Never After - T. Wendy Williams

Happily Never After by T. Wendy Williams

This book was nothing like I thought it would be.

It seemed like the book took place maybe in the 60's but you really couldn't tell except for the mention every now and then about the coloreds only seating area in a restaurant and the mention of marching in DC with Martin Luther King.

Granted, Dorothy was going through hell with David and the way he was treating her but I really couldn't feel her pain. I was only reading about it. There was a lot of telling instead of showing.

It was really hard to get wrapped up in the lives of these characters while reading this book. It just didn't come to life for me.

2 stars out of 5

Beauty and the Beast - Deatri King-Bey

Beauty and the Beast by Deatri King-Bey

This book was actually pretty good. It is definitely a love story in my opinion.
Nefertiti was attacked in her home and Butch (the guy who attacked her) sliced her up pretty bad. Bruce, long time friend of Nefertiti, did his own investigating to find out who attached his “beauty”. The two stopped holding back their feelings for each other and eventually got married.
There wasn’t really too much of a surprise anywhere in the story. You already who attacked Nefertiti, you know who was responsible and what they were really after. You already know that Bruce knows what happens also. It was also obvious that Roy had issues and that he was up to no good also.
But like I said, it was pretty good and I really enjoyed reading it.

3.5 stars out of 5

The First Lady - Carl Weber

The First Lady by Carl Weber

This book really started off slow for me and took me longer than usual to finish. The characters were really boring to me and didn't have much going on.

Bishop TK Wilson (Thomas Kelly) is a recent widow. He's the pastor of First Jamaican and after his wife, Charlene, has been dead for six months, the women of the church think it's time for TK to find another first lady.

There are four women in the running: (1) Marlene - his daughter's mother, (2) Lisa Mae - an ex-first lady, (3) Savannah - daughter of one of the deacons, and (4) Monique - the woman classified as the church slut.

The book goes on about these four women trying to catch the attention of TK and ends with TK choosing with his heart and not what the members think it should be. TK marries Monique.

3.5 stars out of 5.

Choices Men Make - Dwayne S. Joseph

Choices Men Make by Dwayne S. Joseph

About three men and the struggles they go through with their women.

Vic, a white boy, is married to Julie, a white girl. Vic isn't in love with Julie and no longer wants to be with her. He's always been in love with black women. He was raised by a black woman and was around black people. The only reason Vic married Julie was because she was pregnant and he wanted to do the right thing. Vic left Julie and met Latrice, a woman at his job. He and Latrice start takling and eventually get married and have three boys.

Roy is a car salesman who is married to Stacey. They have two girls. When Vic leaves Julie, Stacey gets really upset and takes it out on Roy. Roy tries to tell her that it is none of their business about what happened between Vic and Julie. Stacey's obsession about what happened pus a strain on Roy and Stacey's marriage. Turns out that Stacey wasn't really in love with Roy and married him because he had proposed to her in front of his family and she really liked his family. They eventually get a divorce and have joint custody of their girls.

Colin is the player out of the three men. He's with a different woman all the time until Vic sets him up with a blind date with Latrice's white friend Emily. Colin is upset at first when he finds out that Emily is white. He's never dated a white woman before and had never planned on doing so. But he and Emily end up having a good time and start talking. They end up dating and eventually they get married and have a baby.

3.5 stars out of 5

Forgivin' Ain't Forgettin' - Mata Elliott

Forgivin' Ain't Forgettin' by Mata Elliott

Story about two people that had some forgiving to do towards people that had changed their lives forever. But with the help of god, they are able to forgive and move on with their life.

I didn't like the way the book ended. It left me hanging. Did Trevor and Cassidy adopt Herbie? Did they have any kids together?

Trevor lost his wife to a drunk driver accident. He was left with two girls, Brittney and Brandi. the three of them were staying with Odessa. She was an elderly lady that went to the same church as them. Trevor had set his kitchen on fire accidently and Odessa offered her house to the family.

Cassidy was the niece of Odessa. Odessa had raised Cassidy. When Cassidy arrived home from a time out of town, she found Trevor and the girls staying there. She did not like Trevor at first but he frew on her.

Together, they come to realize their love for each other and get married.

4 stars out of 5.

Last Bride Standing - Patricia Anne Phillips

Last Bride Standing by Patricia Anne Phillips

Wanda Gray is a journalist who works for the LA Times. She's married to Steven. Wanda gets an assignment in Kenya for three weeks. On her flight from London to Africa the plane crashes. Wanda's body is found on a ranch. She is taken to a hospital where she stays for several weeks. Wanda can't remember who she is so she's given the name Orchid.

Back at home in LA, Wanda is believed to be dead. Steven had been sleeping with Wanda's best friend, Marie. When Wanda was believed to be dead, Marie thought that she would be able to marry Steven but Steven had other things in mind.

While Orchid is in Africa, she falls in love with Ahmed and falls in love with life on a ranch in Africa. When Wanda remembers who she is, she flies back to the states. While there, Wanda can only think about Ahmed and then she finds out she's pregnant with Ahmed's baby.

I enjoyed the parts about Wanda in Africa but hated reading about what Steven was doing.

4 stars out of 5.

The Shirt Off His Back - Parry "EbonySatin" Brown

The Shirt off His Back by Parry "EbonySatin" Brown

Terry is the father of twin girls, Arianna and Alisa. Their mother, Catherine, was in college and didn't want to let children get in the way of her career so she gave full custody to Terry.

Terry has been dating Jackie for four years and is going to marry her. Jackie has twins, boy and girl.

Roland, Terry's best friend, starts liking Mercedes, Jackie's best friend and they start dating.

Catherine wants to be president of her company, so she decides to get custody of her girls to get that to happen. She tries to buy the girls off and make every body else's life miserable.

In the end, everything turns out the way it should.

4.5 stars out of 5.