23 (like mike)

My 23rd birthday was 6 days ago.

I went to Los Angeles with my boyfriend for the weekend, and although I had fun, it made me think. I'm so ready to move around and promote my company as well as my book but I need to plan things out a little better. I'm starting to work on Dynamic Image's 4th birthday party and I'm real excited about some of the ideas being thrown around. I am also very excited that Ava is on her way to the hands of the manager of Jagged Edge! After having several conversations with them on twitter, they became interested in my work so I sent them a book. Very excited to get some feedback on it from them seeing as most of their music has probably inspired me to write in one way or another.

I realize that God has blessed me so much this past year and not just with big things like graduation and the publication of my first novel, but with little things that we often take for granted. I am in my right mind and all of my limbs have activity and my family has been blessed, even though we are no where near perfect, there are some things in life that just shouldn't matter due to all the blessings we receive. So, I've decided to give 23 random reasons why I thank God, although I know I can give a whole lot more.

23. Both of my great-grandmothers are still living.
22. I have gotten over my father not being around while I was growing up and can actually have a conversation with him.
21. I graduated from SIUE with a 3.3.
20. I have written over 9 novels and 50 poems.
19. I have two very talented writers and two wonderful staff members who inspire me.
18. I can wiggle my toes.
17. I was able to see a beautiful sunset in California.
16. I have a job that allows me to pay my bills and give back and be a blessing.
15. I was born two months premature at 4 pounds.
14. I've been in several car accidents and not seriously injured.
13. My mom and I have been able to take care of ourselves by ourselves.
12. My grandpa was proud of me.
11. I love my church and the things I've learned there.
10. I am able to come up with a poem, story, etc. with just one random thought.
9. A few of my family members have realized God's greatness through some of my actions.
8. My boyfriend was baptized last year.
7. Dynamic Image Publications will be 4 in June.
6. I've sold 131 copies of Ava's Story without any major advertising
5. I've grown a lot from my high school days.
4. I'm saved.
3. I can breathe.
2. God loves me.

And the number one reason I am thankful for God is simply because of who He is.

A Working Movement

poem i wrote last February


Black history,
African- American history
Our ancestors’ struggle through centuries
We have a historyA history that build bridges over any valley,
Tears down all walls and loosens any stronghold
We have a history that crosses barriers,
Blends generations and moves nations

Our history is pain, it is love, its strength and enlightenment
It is, our history
We consume ourselves with
Our history
It engulfs our present and delays our future
we must always remember our history
but we must stop living our history

We must let go of the anguish
Of yesterday and live our present
We are now,
the black future
The African-American future

The end result of our ancestors’ struggle
Our history – no longer a factor but will remain a memory of change
Be our future