Houston is full of fond memories for me.  I met amazing people and got to have the coolest experiences.  And, of course, the food is AMAZING!  If you’re looking to have a straight up food vacation, go to Houston.  You won’t be disappointed.  One of my favorite memories in Houston involves my friend inviting me to a salsa class. My friend was vibrant and full of life.  She knew I was a square and was determined to show me a good time in the city that had her heart.  So, off to salsa we went.  I had several reservations.  I’m the queen of the introverts.  Not only was this an…

Do you remember your dreams when you wake up in the morning?  I do.  When I was in my twenties, I kept a little notebook beside the bed.  I would write my dreams down in the morning.  Someone had gifted me a book about the meaning of dreams, so I wanted to keep track of what was happening in my dream world. Like most new adventures I delve into, it didn’t last long.  I quickly tired of keeping a record.  I’m sad that I didn’t continue.  Will I start back?  Maybe.  But right now, I’m focused on the dreams that I have when I’m awake. Do you currently have big…

I love pictures. My family knows that, so they’re used to me constantly getting candid shots at events. I spend so much time behind the camera that seeing myself in photos can be jarring. My undergraduate graduation picture is just one such example. Despite my initial reluctance about going to college, I managed to graduate. What a joyous occasion! So, I anxiously awaited my official graduation picture. I wanted to see a visual representation of my achievement. Boy was I disappointed when I saw the picture. I could not get over how fat I was! I turned to Bible Study Mama and exclaimed, “Why didn’t you tell me?!?!” As a…

Yesterday was an eventful day.  Mondays are typically sermon recaps.  And I’ll definitely recap the sermon.  But in the midst of all of my planning, life happened.  It would be foolish to ignore the fact that Kobe Bryant, his thirteen-year-old daughter, and seven other people lost their lives in a helicopter crash.  So unexpected.  Unbelievable.  Heartbreaking. While my day was going along yesterday, his wife got a phone call that I know had the power to take her breath, knock her off her feet, and leave her speechless.  Has anyone else had a perfectly planned day and then life happened?  I’m not one of those people that can say I…

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8 New King James Version Names have so much power.  People are often either ignorant of that fact or don’t put much weight into the concept.  Even though I know names hold power, I went into this Bible Study Girl thing foolishly.  Though I have a heart for Jesus, I didn’t realize just how much my study time with God’s word would be altered.  My study time has increased tenfold.  I went from minimal study to concentrated study.  At least, concentrated for…

Faith without works is DEAD.  That’s not just a catchy opening line.  It has proven time and time again to be true in my life.  Buying my home tested my faith to the core. Being a homeowner was just one of my billion dreams.  I kept putting it off because I wanted to make sure that my credit was superb.  I’m a shopper’s shopper, so I indulged in browsing homes online and in the free real estate magazines around town.  I felt I wasn’t ready financially, but I wanted to at least know what was available. I saw the cutest little town home one day while I was online shopping. …

Well, I took on a new role in life.  I agreed to teach our adult Sunday school class.  Emphasis on the word adult.  Although I previously taught Sunday school to teenagers and young adults, teaching to adults was never on my list of must haves in life. I attend Sunday school regularly because there is just so much that I don’t know.  When our teacher got married and went to find a church home with her husband, we had two choices- join another class or one of us would have to teach.  I championed for others to take the reins.  No one stepped up to the plate.  So, I chose…

What happens to a dream deferred? Langston Hughes During my discussion of my faith walk on the Bible Study Girl podcast, Bible Study Brother brought up the fact that I was one of the speakers at my high school graduation.  I hadn’t thought about that in forever.  When the podcast was over, I tried to remember what my speech was about.  In that moment, I really wished that I had kept it in a folder with a box clearly labeled “Senior Year ’01.” Although I don’t remember the content of the speech, I do know that I used the poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes to structure the speech.  His simple,…

How do you define family?  It’s different for everyone.  The way that our individual families operate help us define normalcy.  It’s only once you get older and more observant that you realize that all families do things in their own way.  Our families have their own cultures and sets of principles that they use to function. Anyone that is close to me knows my family.  That’s the way that I do life.  We see each other often, and there is food involved 99% of the time.  We are loud and opinionated.  And we welcome people into the family with open arms.  (After they complete their initiation….let’s be real…LOL)  Once we…