Making Waves

  Who knew farm life could be so fun? I never thought I’d enjoy spending time with goats, rabbits, kittens, and other animals until I visited Bergey’s Breadbasket in Virginia Beach. A friend and I went to visit Bergey’s one weekend and had a blast chillin’ with different animals on the farm, along with enjoying views of the country road and delicious ice cream available at the farm location. If you’re in the Hampton Roads area, be sure to check out Bergey’s Breadbasket. You’ll enjoy it. Do something fun this weekend and enjoy yourself. TGIF! 

I like life to make sense. I’m a type A personality and will overthink and sometimes overanalyze something to the point of exhaustion. When life doesn’t make sense, I find myself full of unanswered questions and at war with God, myself, and sometimes, other people. I like to know what’s happening and  why . I’m not a fan of unpleasant surprises and I don’t enjoy being caught off guard. In a lot of ways, I like a degree of predictability and knowing what’s going to happen next so I can get in front of whatever lies ahead. Words like  focus ,  plans ,  direction, details , strategy ,  understanding,  and  organization make sense to me. Things like irresponsibility, dysfunction, bad planning, and poor time management annoy me. And when life happens and throws me for a loop, I find myself having to adjust even when it’s uncomfortable and unpleasant. And I don’t like it. Not one bit. I also don’t like living with questions like: Why do bad things happen to good people? Why did my a

When Mary's boyfriend revealed he was gay, it turned her world upside down. She was distraught at first, but later believed she got a sign from Jesus to do what she could to help him. She tenaciously aimed to straighten things out. She did some research, sought counsel from some Christian friends, and decided the only way to fix her relationship was to offer her boyfriend her virginity.  She firmly believed Jesus led her to this decision. But it came with  serious  consequences… Her boyfriend was still gay. When his parents found out, they sent him to a center that  fixed  fallen Christians. When she revealed this news to her friends they didn't take it too well. In fact, like most Christians, they made offensive remarks, distasteful comments, and gossiped about what happened instead of being there for their friend. And on top of everything, Mary later found out she was pregnant. It was her senior year of high school. Her boyfriend was being sent away. And she was

I enjoy expressing myself through writing and letting people get to know me through my work. That said, I thought it’d be fun to share some different things you probably don’t know about me. This is a fun exercise and if you have time, you should make your own list too. Enjoy  J   ·        I was a safety patrol in elementary school. Being an 11-year-old with that kind of power was too cool. Plus, getting a badge, hat, and safety patrol of the month made the job even better.  ·        I have a shoebox full of handwritten letters and keepsake cards from different occasions and seasons of my life. I  love  handwritten letters – they’re so thoughtful. ·       My parents were originally going to name me  Echo . ·       Jim Carrey is my favorite comedian. He’s hilarious!  Dumber & Dumber, The Cable Guy, and  Liar Liar  are some of my favorites.  ·       My favorite flower is the sunflower. ·        I enjoy all kinds of music but I’m really into ‘90s Alternative (Third Ey

Carnivals are a blast! Although, I get more excited about eating cotton candy and funnel cake than actually riding rides. I can’t be the only one who does this, right? This summer a carnival came through my hometown and even though the summer heat was brutal, I pushed through it to take in the sights, sounds, food, and rides. I loved going to carnivals when my brother and I were kids. My parents made sure it was something we got to do together as a family whenever it was in town. Going as an adult was almost as fun as it was back then. Also, consuming unhealthy amounts of cotton candy and funnel cake definitely made for an interesting sugar-induced nap and an awful tummy ache later… clearly, my stomach is nothing like it was when I was a little girl, but regardless, the carnival was still a good time. If and when the carnival comes to your area, you should go. Do something fun this weekend and enjoy yourself. TGIF! 

I’m a believer and major advocate of prayer. When I pray, I pray big and bold. But I’m also mindful to check my motives and think  very  carefully before I ask God for anything more I want to be added to my life because now, I count the cost.  Luke 14:28 reads, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everybody who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’  I believe this scripture goes beyond the surface level of building a tower. In a spiritual sense, “building” can be applied to a number of different things. If more people really understood what came with what they prayed for, they’d be careful about the kind of requests they sent up to God. I’m happy to share what some of my answered requests have brought so that this may enlighten others… Lord, I want a full-time

Gifted. Dedicated. Extraordinary. These are the first words that come to mind when I think about the woman they call Beyoncé. Beyoncé is one of the most legendary performers I’ve ever seen and to see how she continually dominates, impacts, and influences the game in music, movies, clothing, and business shows that women can be as powerful as they want to be. I could go on and on about her legendary status, but in an effort to keep things concise, I’ll move on. One of the things I admire about her most is how she manages her private life and the vulnerability she chooses to share in her work. She’s known to be relatively private when it comes to her family and personal life, but when she dropped  Lemonade  I was blown away and impressed. To see her openly share her heart through her visionary album isn’t something often seen in the music industry – especially from someone who’s selective about what parts to share and not share with the public. Beyoncé is a living legend and I anticipat

"Since you're single and don't have a family or anything going on, I was wondering if you could…"  Take your pick:  A) Babysit my kids.  B) Watch my pets.  C) Work my shift.  D) Run my errands.  E) Lend me some money. Wait, what? Are you freaking kidding me right now?!  A  married acquaintance asked me if I could dedicate my time to her request.  I. Was. Livid. And offended. The rest of the conversation was awkward. She stared at me as I came up with reasons why I was unable to honor her request. My mouth went dry. I was fighting tears of anger while explaining,  Um, I'm not free, but I know some other girlfriends that might be interested.  Granted saying  no  could've easily ended the conversation. Confession: it's still hard for me to tell people no without feeling guilty. The no part is simple, but earning a Ph.D. in How To Say No Without Taking On Guilt and Responsibilities That Are Not Yours To Own is still a process for

One of my earliest and favorite childhood memories is of my elementary school field trip to the Virginia Aquarium. I was amazed by the different sea creatures and sights I saw, as my class and I took a tour of all the aquatic life. I remember getting to pet a starfish and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. As an adult, I took a visit this summer and was even more excited than I was when I was a kid. So much had changed yet felt the same. Life under the sea is incredible! I saw enormous sea turtles, swimming stingrays, a ton of different fish, and more. If you want to take in some cool sights, visiting an aquarium is a nice treat. I can’t wait to visit again soon. Do something fun this weekend and enjoy yourself. TGIF! 

Most Christians are viewed as being judgmental, hypocritical, too political, and anti-homosexual. At least these are some of the bold and fairly accurate opinions expressed in David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons book  UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity...and Why It Matters . When I read this book, I felt like it spoke immensely to my spirit and mind about a lot of what’s wrong with the Christian community and why a lot of people don’t like us. Heck, I don’t like other Christians sometimes and I’m a Christian myself. It’s no secret that the state of “the church” and “Christianity” have morphed into things almost unrecognizable. A lot of what I’ve seen in different Christian communities has become less about modeling Jesus and more about people taking sides, being hypocritical while living closeted lifestyles, spreading hate, and acting downright ignorant. It’s sad, ridiculous and painful. I know this because I’ve lived it.  In different Christian communit

Bold. Innovative. Gifted. These are the first words that come to mind when I think of the man called Kirk Franklin. Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music, so the closest artist I found the most entertaining was Kirk Franklin. He paved the way for a number of crossover gospel artists by doing things Christian artists and churchgoers criticized him for, like collaborating with secular artists, making music church folks could dance to and play at parties, and make it okay for gospel music to be  cool . He’s been in and out of the press and the topic of gossip and controversy in different church communities, but I can’t deny what he’s brought to the gospel music game. He’s inspired and encouraged generations of believers (young and old) and regardless of what anyone says or thinks about him, I’m glad and grateful he shattered glass ceilings on what could be brought to music in Christian and non-Christian environments. If you’ve never heard his work or know who he is, get

She didn’t know me. But she had some things to say that she believed I needed to know:   I know I don’t know you, but I want you to know that God hears you. He’s seen and heard your cries and everything you’ve been praying about. You’ve got a pure heart and God’s had a hedge of protection around you since you were a little girl. He’s known you since you were in your mother’s womb. He kept you safe from some people in your family that saw your beauty inside and out and tried to harm you, but He protected you. You’re in a transition right now. He’s elevating you and because He’s taking you higher, there’ll be people that can’t go with you. You’ve got to be okay with letting people go. You’re going to be someone well-known and much more successful than you are right now. The enemies you had are going to come back to you with apologies. They’ll be your footstools. I also sense you’re someone creative. Be bold in your creativity. You’re shy and have been shy. Be bold. Be like Deborah.

The beach is my happy place. I love the smell of the ocean, sound of the waves and the feeling of sand between my toes during trips to different beaches in my hometown. I’m abundantly grateful to live in an area with multiple beaches nearby. If I ever relocated and started a new life somewhere else, there’d have to be a beach in the area. I know that sounds extreme. But it’s something only beach lovers can understand. Don’t judge. Unfortunately, the combination of rainy weather and ridiculously heated temperatures has put a hindrance on the number of trips I usually make to my destination happy place. But as the sky clears and the summer winds down, prayerfully things will remain clear enough to squeeze some extra trips in. I hope you’re enjoying your own happy places and making time to visit them. And when you visit your happy places, don’t complain or worry about anything or anyone that’s been getting on your nerves or troubling your mind. Just relax, reset and have a good time. D

Last month I went to a comedy club for the first time. It was a blast and I laughed all night long. I’m a big fan of stand-up comedy and had only watched stand-up shows on television, so being able to see a live comedy act was a treat. I was excited but also nervous during my first visit. I’d been warned about some comedy club etiquette before arriving, like how you shouldn’t sit front row at a comedy show to avoid getting clowned by the comedian. Luckily, I wasn’t too close to the stage. The crowd was cool too. And the comedians? Hilarious! I was actually going to back out of going because I’d been given tickets for the show last minute, but I’m glad I didn’t because I would’ve missed a good time. If you’ve never been to a comedy show, I definitely recommend going. It’s a good time. Who couldn’t use a good laugh? The comedy club scene is also a great opportunity to mingle with other singles - if you’re single, of course. My trip to the comedy club has been another wonderful experienc

Dedicated. Soulful. Rockstar. These are the first words that come to mind when I think about the man called John Mayer. I was already familiar with his debut  Room for Squares  but when I was 16, I was obsessed when he released  Continuum . John Mayer spoke to my heart when I listened to his music. I thought he was soulful, gifted, and brilliant at his craft. Although I temporarily boycotted his music for a lengthy season after a memorable and disappointing  Rolling Stone  cover story I learned about, I eventually put it behind me and remained a fan. Despite his personal life, I can appreciate the amazing music he’s made. I really enjoyed his work  Battle Studies,  but to this day  Continuum  remains one of my favorites. It’s awesome from start to finish and worth checking out if you’ve never listened to it before. In fact, get a dose of  Continuum  here . He’s an artist you just can’t get out of your head. And his guitar skills? Legendary. Check him out sometime. 

The moment I entered The Cavalier Hotel, I was enchanted. I felt like I stepped right into F. Scott Fitzgerald's  The Great Gatsby , which is one of my favorite books and possibly one of the most brilliant pieces of literature I’ve ever read. The film adaptations are wonderful too – check out both the Robert Redford version and Leonardo DiCaprio version. Both films are amazing. A friend and I were visiting the hotel for Sunday brunch at   Becca , which was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the chicken and waffles. While we waited for our table we took a tour of the legendary and luxurious hotel, located in Virginia Beach, VA. Construction of the hotel dates back to 1927 and throughout its rich history, The Cavalier had some famous guests like, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and many others come through to visit. Being in the same building that those same guests once stayed was incredible. The hotel's garden, window views, swimming pool, décor, and di

“We’re looking for someone serious. Not someone who’s thinking about being at the beach all day,” he said as he looked me up and down, dismissed my résumé, and sighed heavily.  He really shouldn’t have said that. I was baffled.  Believe it or not, the manager of a company (which I’ll keep confidential for professional purposes) I interviewed for, said those words to me during an interview for an internship opportunity I once desired. You would’ve thought I showed up to that interview in a bikini, flip flops, and sunglasses. I was actually wearing ballet flats, black dress pants, and a blouse equivalent to one of the classy pieces Kerry Washington wore as Olivia Pope on the former ABC hit series  Scandal . I could feel my face sinking and my body tense as I sat through the remainder of the interview. I felt so small and discouraged when I took the elevator ride down and exited the building. I didn’t get the gig but about two years later when a new manager took over, I was invit

You know how some people say they don’t have a type? That’s a lie. We all have types. Some of us are just bold enough to admit it. My type is a guy I can partner with who’s capable of protecting, providing, and leading. And most importantly he  must  be a Christian. Preferably a seasoned and progressive one I’m compatible with, who’s not preachy, prideful, or obnoxious. Notice my “type” isn’t based on physical appearance alone. I can always appreciate an attractive guy but obviously, looks aren’t enough. Yet I find myself in situations at the hands of some well-meaning individuals, who, while trying to be helpful have haphazardly attempted to set me up with guys who didn’t measure up, ultimately making things awkward and uncomfortable for all parties involved. Also, if someone tries to set you up with someone and continually emphasizes that the other person has a “nice personality” be careful. If you get a first and last name, you can always use the power of the internet to check out