Bachelorette Guide To...

Singleness can be amazing! I believe single women are some of the most incredible people on the planet. And it’s my heart’s desire to let all the other single bachelorettes out there know how important, valued, and appreciated they are. I know the upcoming holiday season can be challenging for some singles struggling with whatever season they happen to find themselves in, and I want any of ya’ll reading to know...

You don’t have to feel lonely this holiday season. You have permission to have fun.
You’re not obligated to see or be around anyone (family or any toxic friends included) who make you feel bad or uncomfortable or stressed.
You don’t need to use dating apps to meet guys. Don’t force things. Be pursued. And remember, great dates don’t always make for the best long-term partners or future spouses.
You don’t have to compromise or lower your standards.
You don’t have to engage guys you have zero interest in.
You don’t need to listen to unsolicited advice from meddling family members, friends, or anyone else.
You don’t need to feel ashamed, lonely, embarrassed, disappointed, or insecure about your singleness.

You can simply be who you are while you prep for where you’re going.

This is a time when you can deepen your relationship with God. You can stack and save and spend your money as you please. You can educate yourself. Earn a degree. And then another one if you want to. You can build a great career. You can switch up your career too if you’d like. You can donate some of your time to a good cause. You can start house hunting for your very own bachelorette pad. You can travel and see more of this world. You can focus on yourself completely without interference from a partner or parenting a child (for those of you who don’t have a child or children.) And you can decide what you want to do with your life. Make the most of this time. You are massively blessed.

I’ve got your back. I’m cheering you on. You matter. And when I refer to single women, I will often use the word “bachelorette” because it sounds fierce. It is fierce. You know ya’ll are fierce too, right? I wish every single woman an overflow of incredible and abundant blessings this holiday season and all the seasons to come. You absolutely deserve it.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit – Romans 15:13

P.S. – I’m working on some new content especially for all you bachelorettes. I got ya’ll :)

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

Thoughts From a Black Educator: Qualified, Credentialed, and Constantly Undermined

I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...

The Day I Made A Will

When I was a teenager, I remember writing a list of my greatest fears. One of the things I listed was death. Looking back, it was an interesting item to list because inevitably, death is something each of us will face at some point in our lives. Even though it’s no longer a fear of mine, I understand why and how it’s not a comfortable thing for everyone to navigate. But regardless, this past summer I completed a detailed will. I signed it, had witnesses sign it, and got it notarized. As I was getting everything done, one of the witnesses looked at me and said, “You know, it’s just that you’re so young…” I’ve learned that death doesn’t care how young or how old you are. You can be five, fifteen, thirty, or fifty, and it’s still something that happens. Completing my will wasn’t scary. It gave me peace of mind having documentation in place stating my detailed directives and requests. A year ago, I had one of my kidneys removed. It was a surgery that came with risks that were presented cle...

Making Waves