Paula Rae

February is a BUSY month for my household. It is the first of our 3 month cycle with my bonus kids. There's lots of movement and adjustments to make... a month of getting back into the swing of things, having now 7 kids in 6 different schools with different schedules keeps my mind moving even in the rare moments when my body is not. So, please forgive me. I've been a bad blogger this month. BUT, I do have a few things to cover in this blog post. Though I've been busy, I've seen Black Panther TWICE so far, so let's discuss! Let's just get Black Panther out of the way. A-MAZING! This movie was MORE than an amazing opportunity to see a film that Ryan Coogler put together for us, FULL of people who look like us and our families, about an African King and STRONG African women...  But it was a great Marvel Movie!!!!!! It also showed us what happens when the father is removed... no, murdered, and his son is left behind to figure out his manhood on his own. Ki

At 19, I stood before some people in a church and took some vows to be a wife. I had NO idea the weight that those vows carried and how I would fail to uphold them... but there I stood, repeating after the pastor that I had requested, in a dress that masked my pregnant belly just right, lying to the people. We've already picked through the foolery that was my first marriage and I thank God that my ex-husband and I were able to forgive each other of the injuries we inflicted upon each other as kids playing house while not realizing that marriage is for grown ups. Our kids have the benefit of us NOT hating each other and having two parents that can sit together along with the other major players in the lives and have discussions concerning them, in peace and love. We are better parents than we were spouses. Going from marriage one  into relationship two, my beau had already told me that he didn't EVER want to be married again. Knowing his truth, I understood and wasn't

                                                                  Before we dive in the our topic, let's recap some of the lessons learned in my first month of blogging: 1. It can be emotionally draining to recap some of the most painful experiences of your life 💔 BUT to learn that you've connected with people and that they are benefiting from you bringing some of your deepest, darkest places being brought to light is a humbling experience. To know that you've helped them to know they are NOT alone makes it all worth it. 2. Freedom. If I tell you my business, guess what? YOU GET IT FROM THE SOURCE! At this point, either you are rolling with me or not. No one can come tell you anything about me that you don't already know and if they do you should feel free to come ask me directly instead of whispering among folks who couldn't answer you anyways. Just remember, it's gossip until it's truth. 3. People might just love you MORE after they g