Check out this review of Anybody’s Daughter (Angela Evans #2)

Here is a review by Pamela: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1351083438
for “Anybody’s Daughter” .

Oprah’s Interview with Bobbi Kristina and Family

Bobbi Kristina Brown has passed away at the tender age of 22. She died Sunday evening, July 26, 2015. Today I am re-posting a review of Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Bobbi Kristina in 2012. It was Bobbi Kris’ first public interview after losing her mother, Whitney Houston. In the light of the devastating news about Bobbi Kris, I wanted to share again the interview that showed that Bobbie Kris, despite still grieving her mom, was hopeful and seemed to have a future. Oh how we were all pulling for her that night.

Oprah Winfrey interviews Bobbi Kristina for first time after Whitney Houston’s Death. (Photo Credit: OWN/Oprah Winfrey Network)

I just watched Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Bobbi Kristina Brown (Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s daughter), Gary Houston (Whitney’s brother), and Pat Houston (Whitney’s sister-in-law). It was a very emotional program. I went into it with a sense of apprehension mixed with “I can’t miss this”. I must say that I was very relieved with the outcome. Here’s why.

I remember seeing Diane Sawyer’s interview with Whitney a number of years ago, and although Diane asked the pertinent questions, it got a little combative. With Bobbi Kristina having just lost her mother, I wanted to hear from her, but I also felt a bit protective at the thought of this teenager being thrown to the wolves with pointed questions raining down upon her like jabs in a boxing ring. I needn’t have worried.Oprah to the rescue.

I can’t think of a better person than Oprah to have conducted this interview. Oprah welcomed Bobbi Kristina with arms outstretched, and simply held her for several moments. You could see that she put Bobbi Kristina at ease. Oprah led Bobbi through favorite memories of her mom. She asked touching questions such as “what will you miss most about your mom?”, and “what was your last day like with your mother?”.

I was so happy to hear Bobbi say that, though it was difficult, looking back she sees that her mother was preparing her for the day Bobbi would be thrust into the spotlight. And she felt that Whitney’s spirit was still with her saying “keep moving on. I’ve got you”. Bobbi said she has her up times and times when it hits her hard, but that she’s taking it one day at a time. Overall Bobbi came across as a very composed young lady, dealing admirably with the loss of a mother she so clearly loved and cherished. I believe Whitney would have been very proud of her.

Pat Houston struck me as someone who loved Whitney very much, enough to dare to stand up to her in a world of yes men. She spoke honestly of Whitney’s problems, but said that Whitney was dealing with her issues and, towards the end of her life, was turning things around for the better. She shared that Whitney was last at their home on New Year’s Day. She said she’d never seen Whitney so happy as she was when they played a rousing game of bingo down in the basement. She described Whitney as laughing the whole time and thoroughly enjoying her time with the family.

Pat went on to poignantly describe her last moments seeing Whitney when, despite the authorities trying to force her out of the hotel room, she was unable to leave her friend Whitney alone. She stayed until the EMTs had exhausted all rescue efforts and covered Whitney’s face before they carried her body out. Pat said that in the end she feels that Whitney’s downfall was looking for love in all the wrong places. Whitney was human just like the rest of us. I must add that very few of us have not been in that same predicament at one time or the other.

Gary Houston was clearly a big brother in tremendous grief. When Oprah asked him about Bobby and Whitney, it was very interesting to hear Gary say that he loved Bobby and thought he was a great guy. He said, in effect, that Bobby and Whitney were very much in love, and were both great people. It’s just that apparently they weren’t good together. He couldn’t place the blame on either party. I thought this was an incredibly fair and objective statement considering how Bobby is routinely maligned by much of the press.

Gary said that the only people who really know what goes on in a marriage are the two people in that marriage. He did touch on the fact that he felt very violated by the fact that someone among the close family and friends invited to the viewing at the funeral home would have taken a picture of Whitney in her casket and leaked it to the media. He called the act “wicked” and I totally agree.

Oprah said that she’d spoken to Whitney’s mother Cissy Houston the day before the interview and offered her the chance to speak if she wished. Cissy said that she just wasn’t ready to speak yet, and understandably so. Gary said that his mother had told him several times that Whitney’s voice was a vessel for her gift from God and that they wouldn’t have Whitney with them for long. He said that though Cissy had mentioned this several times, Whitney’s death still devastated her. Oprah said that when she asked Cissy how she was doing, Cissy said “some days I’m not doing”. My prayers go out to Cissy and the family.

Though many of us are still reeling from the unexpected loss of Whitney Houston, I have to commend Oprah for the compassionate manner in which she conducted this interview, even shedding tears when witnessing the family’s grief in telling their story. Oprah Winfrey handled this interview in a classy, dignified and respectful manner. And in this sometimes sordid, cut-throat tabloid world, it was, quite frankly, a refreshing and hopeful change. Well done Oprah. Rest in peace Whitney Houston. Thank you for sharing yourself and your incredible voice with the world. Yours was truly “The Voice”.

May We Please Speak with the Lady of the House: How is Camille Cosby?

What lies behind the smile? Let’s hope it is not fear. (Photo Credit: pubsub.com)

You can’t help but feel sorry for Camille Cosby. She is the beautiful, and apparently long-suffering wife of comedic legend Bill Cosby. For awhile it seemed as if she had it all. She wasn’t one of those people who jump on the bandwagon of an already shining star.  She married Cosby long before his career reached the stellar heights of “The Cosby Show”. She was there from the beginning. They had five wonderful children together and seemed, to the casual observer, to be a loving and close-knit family. It’s wonderful to be lavished with gifts such as new bracelets, necklaces or rings; But Cosby flew to the top of gift-giving husbands when he brought his wife an honest-to-goodness jet. Many of my girlfriends and I wanted to be her. But oh we had no idea what we were wishing for.

Cosby has been embroiled for the last few years in tales of his questionable sexual conduct. The problem is that these encounters were not with his wife, but allegedly, with a host of other women. Everyone loves the song “Stand by your Man”, and no one has the right to tell someone how to handle their marriage, but Camille seems to be handling this situation, and Cosby, with exceptionally gentle kid gloves. We don’t know how she has been responding to the situation behind closed doors, but her interviews bespeak a woman who is cool, calm and accepting.

Whatever is going on at home, not everyone is built to handle disappointment well. People and organizations left and right are fighting to have Cosby’s accolades rescinded. There have been talks of removing his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Disney is even considering removing a bronze bust of him from their theme park. A man can become moody is he loses a regular 9-to-5 job, so it has to be  much worse to see your public image bursting like the bubbles in the plastic that you wrap valuables in. And who is usually home to bear the brunt of a disgraced husband’s frustrations? Yes, the wife. Let’s pray Camille will be okay.

 

The Official State Greeting Finally Rings True: It’s a great day in South Carolina

Like the old song says, “What a Difference a Day Makes”. Here in Columbia, SC, despite expected high temperatures of 100 degrees, there seems to be a welcoming breeze in the air. People are walking around with shoulders thrown back and heads held high, proud to no longer be the laughing stock of the nation, nay the world. They’re smiling and nodding at people they meet on the sidewalks as if to say, “we did it!” People are pulling out the South Carolina t-shirts and bumper stickers, and once again displaying a sense of pride in this great state. Why the sudden change in attitude? Well at the heart of the matter was a taunting banner that mocked passersby daily. You can read all about it for yourselves right here.

 
Sadly it took the evil massacre of nine people as they worshiped in church to once again thrust the matter into the limelight. And thankfully the deaths of those precious souls were not in vain. Their deaths were the catalyst for something that thousands marching over the years could not accomplish. The South Carolina Senate as a whole is to be commended. They immediately got to the crux of the matter and surprised everyone with the quickness of their decision to have the offending banner removed from the state house grounds. The members of the House of Representatives battled it out, and after over 13 hours of merry-go-round tit-for-tat antics, they finally cast their collective vote to remove that banner. There were several standouts in the House debates, and I would daresay they were a big part of getting the matter resolved:

Best “Had it up to Here” Speech Ever!

Representative Jenny Anderson Horne
In the true rebel spirit, tempered with compassion, Horne broke it down to where
It was cystal clear. She challenged her colleagues to either put up or shut up with the war cry,
“You either care, or you don’t care!”
(Video Credit: YouTube)

Best “I Withdraw my Amendment Speech”

Representative Rick Quinn
His recalling of his own amendment opened the
door to the first glimpse of hope in the
13-hour debate.
(Photo Credit: Quinn’s Twitter Page)

Best “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” Spirit

Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter

In the face of ridiculous and pointless objections,
she refused to give up hope. She kept the group focused,
took every opportunity to call for a vote for a bill
to be passed removing that banner from the
state house grounds.
(photo credit: Cobb-Hunter’s Twitter Page)

July 4th Reflections on the Confederate Flag

It has been several years, and I plan to re-post this every year until we are free from that flag. Thank you.

Pamela Kay Noble Brown

July 4th stands for freedom and independence.  Upon reflection, those who favor the Confederate flag flying on the State Capitol grounds of Columbia, South Carolina, do have this right.  But why in the name of compassion and empathy would they want to?

The Confederate Flag is a banner that yet waves over the State Capitol grounds of Columbia, South Carolina.  It has been waving since 1962. It is time that the proud citizens of Columbia, South Carolina, take down the Confederate Flag.  Columbia’s city slogan is “Famously Hot”.  South Carolinians should be hot about this embarrassment hanging over our city.

Many people in favor of keeping this flag flying argue that it is a part of history, and as such, should not be forgotten, or removed.  This, however, is a part of history that is nothing to be proud of. Many of the Confederate Soldiers fought for the cause of…

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My Stomach Sank Just A Little

Pamela Kay Noble Brown

Update:  On Friday, June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex unions are now to be recognized as legal marriages in all 50 states. This original blog below expressed my thoughts three years ago when it was up to individual states to decide the legality of it all. It even more so reflects my feelings now that it has become the law of the land, and I feel compelled to post it again. Thank you.

“My stomach sank just a little”. These were the words spoken by a pastor Wednesday evening after President Barack Obama infamously became the first sitting American President to support same-sex marriage. I have to admit that these words also come very close to describing the tightening feeling knotted in my own gut the moment I heard the President’s interview. I’ll tell you why.

Every since I first heard of Barack Obama, I…

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No matter how hot it is, you’ll never catch me without my _______________

Whew, the heat. Ahem. Let me try to start over to see if I can chat with you dear readers this afternoon without my keyboard melting beneath my very hands. Chances are if you reside in the southeastern part of the United States, you are in the midst of a heatwave. In South Carolina we have spent the last four or five days with the temperatures climbing up to 100 degrees during the afternoons. Most people are waiting until nightfall to go run their errands, but last night it was still 97 degrees as late as 9:30 p.m., so what’s a body to do? The funny thing is that there are some things we just will not sacrifice to keep ourselves cool.

Photo Credit: brookelicious.deviantart.com

Case in point, everyone knows that heat plus humid equals hair that is a mess. Even as I walk around with a cup in hand to catch the sweat as it drips off of my face, you will not see me without a hairhat. What’s a hairhat? Well I’m glad you asked. It is my fond term for wigs, weaves or any other thing that doesn’t grow out of your scalp, but does serve to make you feel well put together when you leave the house. They’re hot and miserable, but look oh so cute. 

Photo Credit: laremihandmade.blogspot.com

Another thing we will not sacrifice is some sort of a sleeve once our upper arms have reached a certain level of elasticity or, shall we say, lack thereof. Sundresses abound and it is hard in this season of the year to find something with a little material. No one would dream of wearing long sleeves in this heat. Why that would be practically suicidal. And that’s why I and other women are forever grateful to the sainted person who invented the shrug. These marvels usually extend to just above the waist and offer coverage to the arms without being too hot. For the summer you can find them in flimsy gauzy materials that let the breeze in, while at the same time making your shoulder/upper arm area look great.

What is that one thing you won’t go outside without, no matter how hot it is?

Cheers to a fabulously hot spring and summer.  Do stay safe and I would be remiss if I didn’t remind us all to check on our elderly friends and family to make sure they have air conditioners or fans.

What does basketball have to do with second chances?

Why people are fascinated by LeBron James. (Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com)

I know it ain’t over until the fat lady sings. She’s probably just warming up, but LeBron James has got to be feeling pretty good right about now. The NBA Finals aren’t over, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are holding it out over the Golden State Warriors, 2-1 in the series. All three games have been won by less than ten points, indicative of the thrilling nail-biting competitions these games have been.

 
Since my all-time favorite player is Magic Johnson and he hasn’t played in a while, it has been a long time since I regularly followed professional basketball. But there’s just something quite compelling about James. Whether foolhardy, cocky or simply drained from playing on a losing team, James left the Cavaliers in 2010. He left blazes behind, but it wasn’t a blaze of glory. People were actually burning photos of him and his jerseys all over town due to the abrupt and seemingly cold-hearted way he left.

 
He surfed on over to Miami amidst dreams of a “super team” comprised of James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Like many of the best laid plans this mighty threesome didn’t quite live up to all of the hype. Then James came back to Cleveland. Many fans still held a grudge over the fact that he’d left them in the first place. But the majority was just glad to have him back no matter how it happened. And then they started winning, and suddenly they are in the playoffs.

 
If the truth be told, I think the appeal of James’ journey goes far beyond sports. It reminds us all of that secret (or maybe not so secret) stupid decision we once made that we would give half of what we own to be granted a do over for, because we know it would have changed the trajectory of our lives. For many of us it may not seem like it’s possible to take a mulligan. However, when we see James getting his second chance with the Cavaliers, we can’t help but cheer to the top of our lungs because one day it just might be us getting that second chance in life. I thank you.

Don’t get married until you read this; it could change your life

This is the easy part. Your life growing together in Christ is where the work really begins. (Photo Credit: en.wikipedia.org)

Hi friends. Catch your breath and pull up a chair. Believe me when I tell you I just read one of the best articles on marriage I have ever read. I told my friend that first shared it on Facebook, that I feel it should be required reading for everyone before they walk down the aisle. A lot of it should be common sense, but I guess it’s just so easy to get caught up in the blissful feelings of love and forget about mundane things like common sense. So I am sharing the entire article with the disclaimer that full credit for the authorship and ownership (and all rights included therein)  of this article that appeared on boundless.org belongs to author Felicia Alvarez. And now without further ado, I bring to you this game changer in the litanies on marriage.

Your Future Marriage is Bigger Than You

When you first meet Ryan and Cyndi Livingston, you are immediately drawn in by their smiles and genuineness. They truly care about everyone. At church picnics, while everyone else is comfortably sitting with their group of friends, they spot the not-so-popular or new people who are by themselves and go chat with them. They are a young couple with three beautiful little girls, but you can tell that while they love each other and their children deeply, their main passion is Jesus. Their passion for Christ overflows into a sincere love for others.

I had the privilege of interacting with them multiple times each week at church functions, and every time I was blown away by how they served the Lord together. One evening in particular, as I watched this couple pray together with an elderly lady from our church, it dawned on me: This is how marriage should be.

Marriage should be about serving the Lord — about reaching people with the Gospel and impacting the world for Christ.

Yet we forget that simple truth so easily. We think life and relationships are about us and our happiness. But in reality, our future marriage is part of a bigger picture. Not only does it affect us as individuals, it affects our children, our family, our church, our community, our world, and it even affects eternity.

Start With the Right Outlook

I had always known that marriage was about Christ and His kingdom, but I had lost sight of it in my search for a spouse. I had forgotten that I wasn’t just looking for a roommate, a financial partner, a lover, or a father for my future children; I was looking for someone with whom I could build a godly legacy.

It saddened me that I had failed to apply this concept. In the past, I would date someone who was cute, had a good job, and went to church on Sunday — but his influence didn’t make me more like Jesus. Even though I knew he was pulling me away from Christ, I was so desperate for a boyfriend I would stay in the relationship.

Sound familiar?

Unfortunately, I’ve met many Christian girls who have also done this. Let’s face it: The pickings are slim, so we are happy to accept anyone who goes to church (even if it’s just once a month) and treats us semi-decently. It’s so easy to excuse the truth — that he isn’t the person God intended for you — because we want companionship, we want marriage. But a poor marriage could actually hinder you from doing all God has for you to do.

The Bible doesn’t say, “It is God’s will that you should be married.” Instead, 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” Therefore, God’s will for all His children, whether married or unmarried, is sanctification.

Your future spouse will be the primary influence of your spiritual life, so choose carefully. We must remember that marriage will not only affect our children and community spiritually, but it will also significantly impact our own spiritual growth for better or for worse.

How to Find a Legacy Man, and Does He Even Exist?

At this point, you’re probably thinking that the odds of finding a godly legacy man are as likely as finding a leprechaun. Let me assure you: Godly men do exist. However, sometimes we don’t see them because we’re not focused on the right things.

Timothy Keller in his book The Meaning of Marriage shares some wisdom from his wife, Kathy:

Most people, when they are looking for a spouse, are looking for a finished statue when they should be looking for a wonderful block of marble. Not so that you can create the kind of person you want, but rather because you see what kind of person Jesus is making…. When looking for a marriage partner, each must be able to look inside the other and see what God is doing and be excited about being part of the process of liberating the emerging ‘new you.’

Bottom line: Don’t look for perfection, but do look for evidence of godly growth.

I’ve listed below some questions that, when answered humbly and honestly, may help guide you as you seek who the Lord has for you.

1. Does he love Christ the most?

If he loves Christ the most, you can be sure that love will extend into how he treats you and others around him. You will see godly fruit of “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” in his everyday life (Galatians 5:22-23).

Fruit is the evidence of God working in a person’s life. If a man is growing in Christ, you can rest assured that he will lead with love, and you can confidently trust him with your life and future.

2. Does he encourage you to become more like Jesus?

In Sacred Marriage, author Gary Thomas writes, “We must not enter marriage predominately to be fulfilled, emotionally satisfied, or romantically charged, but rather to become more like Jesus Christ.”

Our goal should be to be with someone who spurs us on in our Christian walk and whom we can likewise encourage. This encouragement comes from his living out his faith by talking to you about what the Lord is doing in his life and praying and studying God’s Word with you.

3. Does he love you as Christ loved the church?

Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” If he loves you as Christ loves the church, he will love you sacrificially and strive to put you first in his life before hobbies, friends and work.

4. Can you serve the Lord with him?

Our purpose in marriage is to multiply the kingdom of God, and that doesn’t just mean by having lots of kids. It also means by reaching the world for Christ. If you and your boyfriend are currently serving the Lord together, that is exactly how it should be.

My Story

I did not ignore these questions when I first met my husband, Tim. I took a different approach than I had in previous relationships by centering the relationship on the Lord rather than my own needs or wants. I asked myself, “Does this relationship have the potential for godly growth?” and “Based off what I know about this man, could I see myself serving the Lord with him for years to come?” The answer was “yes,” so we continued to seek the Lord together as a couple.

In previous relationships, guys had told me all the right things, but they never lived out their words. I then realized that it’s not so much about hearing the right answers as it is seeing the right answers.

The reason I trusted Tim to be my husband was because I had not just heard, but experienced each one of the answers. I had witnessed his leadership and servant heart on a daily basis. Tim led me to the Lord and made me a better, godlier person. Because I had seen the fruit of godly leadership, I had a peace that I had never before experienced in a relationship. The Lord affirmed in my heart that Tim was the one with whom I would build, by the grace of God, a Christ-centered legacy.

Summing It Up

A godly legacy is not built on shared hobbies, but on a shared pursuit of Christ. Marriage is bigger than us — it’s about more than satisfying our wants and needs.

From experience, I know it’s easy to get caught up in a consumer or holier-than-thou mentality when looking for a legacy, so be careful. Remember, you are not just looking out for your best interest, but also for his. You should want him to find someone with whom he can also serve the Lord. In fact, if it’s a wrong relationship, acting in his best interest might mean breaking up with him in a loving and gracious way.

You will never find perfection, but with the Lord’s guidance, you can find someone with whom to build a godly legacy. So date with that heavenly mind, and know that your marriage today will influence the generations of tomorrow.

Hats off to Ma and Pa West; family values winning out

So far, so good. The Wests seem to be winning. (Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com)

It seems that several sources, including the NY Daily News, are reporting that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are expecting another baby. Unconfirmed rumor has it that the couple may even be expecting twins. And honestly, if it is true, most of us have to admit to a bit of surprise at this growing family.

 
They always seemed like an unlikely pair even when they were just dating. He just seemed so hyper and manic, given to outbursts at the most inappropriate times. And she appeared to be a groupie whose fame was predicated on homemade videos of the impolite kind. But lo and behold, they met and fell in love, and by all accounts seem to be loving and wonderful parents to their baby girl named after compass points. Well her daddy’s last name is West, so an argument could be made for giving her the first name North.

 
So though I may have been a little skeptical at the beginning, I must say I am really starting to enjoy watching this family expand. And I’ll tell you why, although I’m sure it won’t be popular in this age of everything goes. The fact is I love that Kim is having all these kids with her…wait for it…husband. What a novel concept right?

 
I actually stopped watching “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” because it seemed like almost every nine months we were force fed a pregnant Kourtney happily counting up reasons not to get married, but, instead, to keep procreating. Not the best message to be sending out to the impressionable young ladies watching the show. But now with the Wests doing their own thing, I think they might have a viable chance at a spinoff. I would definitely watch. Life is so funny, huh? What with the Daddy Jenner news, who would have thought Kanye and Kim would be some of the more traditional members of the family? You just never know.