Carrie Lea

Most of the country is experiencing cooler temperatures, shorter days and pumpkin-spiced everything. Beautiful leaves clutter the ground and new fall fashions have arrived at your favorite retailers. Fall is here, folks and I’m happy about it!   Fall is my favorite time of the year, mainly for the clothing. Sweaters, boots and tights fill up my closets, keeping me warm, cozy and covered. Yep- covered. Unlike summer, fall wardrobe keeps me…

Imagine walking along a dirt road on a journey of justification when a flash of light comes from the heavens and scares you and your companions. You drop to your knees and cover your head in fear of what might befall you. As you quiver on the ground, with your eyes squeezed shut and shaken to your core, you hear…

Have you ever had a new, unexpected experience and thought to yourself, I need more of this in my life!? Or whispered to yourself, I don’t know what I’m doing here but it just feels right!? Well, after doing a mental check-in as we near the end of the year, I realize how I’ve had more of these moments than…

Part 3 Cheynie debated about the surgery for days. She wasn’t sure she wanted to deal with the risks associated with going under the knife but she knew she couldn’t continue in her current cycle of severe discomfort. Her sister sat with her and helped her research the procedure and create a list of pros and cons so she felt…

Part 2 After scouring the internet for information, Cheynie learned it is estimated that 70-80% of women will develop fibroids in their lifetime—however, not everyone will develop symptoms or require treatment. She concluded not everyone was experiencing the pain that now held her hostage on a monthly basis. She spent more and more nights like this one where she shifted…

Part 1 Cheynie rolled over and let out a guttural groan. The new position was no better. She tried to curl her knees up to her chest. Then she tried to lay on her stomach with the pillow stuffed under her torso. The pain persisted. She checked her phone and the screen read 3:02 a.m. She had to be up…

I love Saturday mornings. There is nothing like sleeping in on a Saturday morning with no appointments, no deadlines and no particular place to be. These are the mornings that I like to make me a sweet cup of coffee, sit down with my Bible and journal and just commune with God. I position myself to receive a word from…

Welp. Here we go again. I know what this is. I wasn’t expecting it so soon. Dang homie. I have gone another year without a real date. Shocker, right? Not really. I’ve been through this before. (Remember my two-year period with no date, no kiss, no nothing?). While I don’t prefer these moments, it is what it is. I’ve surrendered…

The sand ran through my toes as I stepped off my beachfront patio to make my way to our complimentary cabana. The breeze of the ocean weaved itself through my braids, making me forget the drip of the humidity that fogged up my sunglasses when I left my room. I was in Tulum, Mexico and ready to take in every…

(Read Part 2 here) Part 3 The alarm clock read 3:15 a.m. Sharon had been lying in bed since midnight and no matter how much she tried, she could not fall asleep. Jerell had called her back repeatedly but she didn’t answer. She turned off her phone to keep herself from being tempted to answer his call. She needed to…