Jennifer Hudson on the Oscars Feb 2007

Winner

Here we are world, the next American Idol winner, Lakisha Jones. This girl ROCKS!!!!

Singing Jennifer Hudson's winning song from Dream Girls as good, if not better than Jen, she took the contest by storm. Even Simon said, "I am tempted to say to the other twenty-three contestants to get their airline tickets home. . "

She sings from the depth of a heart that we have never experienced before on AI. With tears streaming our faces, TT and I began dialing to vote for her, but only reached a busy signal.

Her comment, "After years of singing in the church, I may finally get to do what I love", reflects her devotion to Christ ("If I win, I will first thank God Almighty"). In addition, her love for her four year old daughter, whose 4th birthday was tonight and her magnificent, powerful, soul stirring talent catapulted her to the top of the contenders.

I felt for the other girls in the competition. Their faces fell as they witnessed the audience's thundering explosion at the end of Lakisha's compelling performance of "You Will Love Me".

We already do and can't wait to hear more. Sing, beautiful Lakisha, sing on!

Forty-eleven

February 16 was my forty-eleventh birthday!!! I learned to count from 4D. My friends threw me the funnest party. My beloved family, bestest friends, their children and pets! Food, beverages, fire-pit, pinata, gifts. . . what more could I want?

Dot gave me the fabby leather jacket pictured above. I love three-quarter length sleeves and very open necklines on jackets. She is so generous. TT continues to spoil me daily. He gave me a rather unlimited Starbucks card. How FUN will that be?!

Isabella had major eye surgery two weeks ago. (Her second surgery.) She had an ulcer in her eye, so it was emergency surgery (another word for very expensive!!) to save her eye. She has been in a lampshade collar for two weeks.

I hope I am not being foolish. I could not stand her misery any more today. I took the collar off, bathed her, groomed her and got her hair out of her eyes. She is not scratching at her eyes. She seems so happy to be free from her mobile prison.

She is still under two pounds though 15 weeks old. I tried to get her to be still on TT's shoulder for a photos shoot so I could compare her from week 7. I do believe she has grown a good bit.

Sorry to be so busy and such a bad blogger friend. I keep thinking I will get time to visit. . . Oi! 

promises

My friend asked me and TT to be god-parents to her two children B (7 yr old boy) and D (4 yr old girl). She is a new friend, sister to S, who has been a major part of my life for the past year. Sister just moved here in December.

I love her and adore her children. They all love God and are true blue people. I don't want to disappoint them. I have a habit of that. I seem to make promises and then forget I have made them.

Like I have another friend and when she and her son were confirmed, I know he had picked another couple to be his god-parents, but cannot remember if he also had picked us, too. I know we love him dearly.

TT and I got busy with buying a house, remodeling, moving, etc, etc, etc. . . and slowly, we let them drift out of our lives.

Then there are all the kids that used to live next to us in the country. The two older ones call me about twice a year for me to do their hair (at special friend's rate!). I love hearing from them. They don't have a phone at home, no cell phone, no way for me to stay in touch.

The little kids have a more tragic story. Their parents divorced and their mother has been running with an ex-con with a violent record. The kids have lived in about five different places and of course, no phone numbers. Why am I not hunting them down? My own life gets so crowded. What a pathetic excuse.

Then there is my newest child commitment, my god-daughter, child of my best friend from high school. They used to live in England. This fall they moved to North Carolina. How many cards, notes or letters have I sent her? Oi. I am embarrassed.

Now, we do chat on phone every so often. Thankfully, she just got her own email address. I do well with email. She just told me what a good god-mother I am. For what?

So, now, there are two more lives looking to me/us. Right now, I am present with them. How do I know I will do this one differently and stay present?

All I know is this, I am very thankful that God is not as forgetful or preoccuppied as I am, that He never forgets me or forgets His promises to me. I pray He helps me be more like Him.