Kara's Soft Words

I recently lost my aunt- who was an incredibly LOVING woman. She knew how to make everyone (loved ones and strangers) feel special! Through her life and even in her passing, I've gained even more motivation to "Make the Most" out of my life ! And I want to encourage you too. . . Set goals and go after them! Live by faith- not fear! And let the people that you love and care about KNOW exactly how you feel! Tomorrow's not promised to any of us.  Even in her illness, Aunt Mary wanted everyone to know how much she loved them! We'll always love and appreciate her! I was honored when my cousins asked me to write a poem for her service's program. A Niece's Tribute My beautiful Aunt, where do I even begin? Your generous love and support truly knew no end! We felt your love in your embrace and in your gentle hands. It made its way to many cities, states, and foreign lands. We thank you for your words of wisdom - and yes- for your direction.

"You'll do fine! You're ready!" I heard these words and still didn't believe them.  This was about eight years ago- at a summer job. My supervisor was out for the day and she had asked me to fill in for her.  I was honestly terrified. I held (and still hold) her in high regard. She was dedicated, hard-working, and classy- yet firm. People knew not to come to her with foolishness. And if they didn't know, they learned quickly. I knew it was only for a day but I felt as though I had huge shoes to fill! So when she called the office, I tried hard to beg my way out of my assignment. It didn't work (haha). She simply offered me words of encouragement. "Kara- you've got this. You know what to do.  Just work hard and do your best. You'll do fine. You're ready." Thinking about this experience makes me consider our walk with God. There are times when He lays things on our heart. . . or gives us an assignment, if you will. And for w

I absolutely had to get this out! It's kind of crazy to think that I just turned 27 on September 30th! As always, I felt blessed to see another birthday but this year, I felt even more emotional than I usually can be smh. I truly was overwhelmed by love and acts of kindness from friends, family members, coworkers. . . even strangers! Anyway, one of the most profound moments took place during a conversation with my godmother. I was shocked because after texting me that morning, she surprised me with a phone call- soon after the school day ended (I'm an administrative assistant for an independent high school). When she explained why she called, I was literally left in tears! She told me that she was grateful to be able to call and speak to me {especially on my birthday} because she'd recently buried a young cousin. She then described her deceased relative and it sounded as though we lived identical lives! Her father was a pastor. She was extremely involved i

He was into me! And I thought he was fine! Tall, dark, and handsome. I smiled at the thought of him being mine. He was into me! He made me laugh and smile. Felt like I'd known him for years but it was only a short while. He was into me! We would talk for hours! I'd try to hang up the phone but it felt as if he was pulling me with superpowers. He was into me(!) but it was clear to see. . . A relationship with him just could not be. You see. . . I was into him! I mean- I was impressed! Still- something about the situation had me feeling distressed. I was into him(!) but I'd soon have to choose. And my relationship with Jesus was way too much to lose! I was into him! Yet God meant more to me. And I knew- from temptation I needed to flee. As much as I was into him. . . I'd made a vow to maintain my standards. I couldn't and won't abandon them now! Whether you're into him. Or he's into you. Here's some

*I am super late with this post but. . . better late than never ;-)* I really love good food and good music! So I love being able to combine the two- especially if I also have great company! Saturday- August 2nd was no exception!  With the release of their first full-length album, Vertical Current took to the Warmdaddy's stage to celebrate! I was happy to have my girl friend/lil sis there with me! While the members of this exciting band are able to complement one another's strengths, they also bring on guests that seem to add an extra  oomph  to their shows! To start the night off, the audience was introduced to the group-   Ode to Omni !  It was the first time that my friend and I had heard them and we were definitely impressed! Other special guests (who also appear on the album) were Chartel Findlater, Shelia Moser (aka Lee Mo), Rick Tate Jr. and El' Ahmad Barak! Bright Side of Midnight was released on July 29th and it offers 11 tracks of amazing music!

Okay. . . I'm back! I know some of you have been waiting to see what other lessons I'd mention. I don't know if this is what you're expecting but here goes ;-). 1) Trust Your Instincts!  You might think this is common sense [ yeah. . . okay ]. . . but I'm so serious. I can't tell you how many times I've had a feeling about something, didn't listen to it but later wished that I had. *That idea goes for general situations in life but it can definitely apply to relationships as well.* Sometimes a guy doesn't even have to say or do anything in particular but you get a vibe from him that says, "Maybe I should leave this one alone." Listen to it! 2) You don't need to make yourself available or accessible to everyone.  My family and coworkers can tell you that I am generally an immediate response type of girl. Most of them say I'm too nice but I never want people to think that I'm ignoring their messages (unless I really am

AMAZING!!! If I could only use one word to describe last Friday's show with Jeff Murrell & Friends. . . that would be it! I was so excited for this event- partly because of my company ;). My sister and her husband were visiting from Germany! It was my brother-in-law's first trip to Warmdaddy's and the first time that my sister had been back there since they moved out of the country. My aunt/self-proclaimed "big sis" (who also is a singer) joined us. *Right before she moved, my sister and I went to Warmdaddy's for Jeff's Birthday/ Luther Legacy Show !  So the trip to Philly for this show was extra special!* I didn't know exactly what to expect but I knew it would be great! Jeff was joined by Chartel Findlater and Steven Walker on (background) vocals and of course he had the amazing band- Vertical Current playing for him! Friday's show proved that these singers and musicians appreciate a variety of styles and time periods of music and c

What are you doing this weekend? This Friday and Saturday, one of my favorite vocalists will be performing at Warmdaddy’s in Philadelphia! And if you're free, you should make your way there! Who:  Jeff Murrell w/ Chartel (Findlater), Steven Walker and Vertical Current Where:   Warmdaddy’s (1400 S. Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19147) When:   Friday; July 18 th and Saturday; July 19 th (2 sets- 7:30 & 10pm) How can I get there? Call 215-462-2000 or go to www.warmdaddys.com to place your dinner reservations How much does it cost? The cover fee is $15 (take cash!) What should I eat?             The very first time that I visited Warmdaddy’s, I learned exactly why people always talk about the cornbread! Served in a miniature skillet, the moist golden bread is topped with honey and sugar! I really like the Atlantic BBQ Salmon too. Why should I go to this show?              I first heard/saw Jeff Murrell perform in October of 2011 an

On my way to work this morning, this was one of the first messages that I "received."  I was driving down 301- singing along to whatever song I was listening to when I saw a black pickup truck go by. The truck was nice but I was pleasantly surprised to see the license plate. Two words. A simple message. . . with significant meaning. It caused me to reflect on my life.  You may already know. . . I'm a PK (or preacher's/pastor's kid). As I mentioned at a service a few weeks ago, (when I was younger) I used to think that I could automatically "get into Heaven." I guess I figured that since my father was a pastor, my grandmother and other relatives were ministers/pastors and my family was in the church. . . I was good!  I had nothing to worry about as far as salvation-> or so I thought. I am so thankful that my parents set me straight! Rather than simply accepting who God was/is to my loved ones, I was encouraged to experience Him for myself!

According to my father, I have a problem. . . He calls me a concert-holic lol. In actuality, I think I just really enjoy the live music experience. It's one thing to have a CD and listen to your favorite songs but it's a totally different thing to hear the artist and see  and feel the emotion behind the music that they're singing or playing. I LOVE that! If anything- my parents are the ones to blame for my love of music. If you know my family, you already know that many of my relatives are musically-inclined. And my parents first  met in a band when they were in high school ;-). Anyway- lots of times, my friends and family members ask, "How do you know about all these shows/events?!" So I've decided to give y'all the inside scoop haha! I'll let you know what venues I enjoy, tell you about artists to follow and maybe I'll even suggest some decent restaurants (in addition to good music, I love good food). . . with pics and/or video clips fr

I woke up and knew  that I was out of it. I didn't feel like myself. I wasn't angry or upset about anything in particular. . . it was almost a combination of the two. And whatever it was, I didn't like it. Driving to work, I was determined. . . I HAD to turn things around! *Sometimes we choose to be in denial. We don't acknowledge our power. I've heard people say that if you can't change the situation you're in, you still have the ability to decide how you'll react. I decided to be proactive with the belief that my attitude would then change my situation. The first step I took was simply breathing and praying . I needed to have my "woosah" moment ;-). Although God sees and knows all, I understand the power of prayer and decided to take my concerns to Him. Next, I put on encouraging and uplifting music .  When I got to work, I spent some time with coworkers who I knew would have me laughing.  (Proverbs 17:22) My day started to turn

Meeting him was like a breath of fresh air. I hadn't dealt with many guys like him. Most of the time, dudes act like all we (females) wanna hear is, "Hey ma. . . (hey sexy, or what up shorty)" but he simply said, "Hello." He was warm and hilarious- willing to embarrass himself in the grocery store just so he could keep talking to me. Before we went our separate ways, he'd asked me out. Talking to him was easy! If there's one thing that girls love, it's being able to have a great conversation with a guy. He amazed me with his knowledge of statistics and a desire to analyze almost everything. He was easygoing and fun to be around. He really wanted to know about ME- who I was, what I'd studied in college and what interested me. . . And he didn't mind giving out compliments ;-). Our meal together was bittersweet.  Like I said, talking to him was easy. Hours passed during our conversations on the phone and in person. We kept each other l

I can't believe I did it. As much as I've been talking about overcoming fear. . . and replacing it with faith, I let it grip me. To be perfectly honest, these last few months have been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me and I kept thinking that I didn't want that to be reflected in my writing. So I simply stopped blogging for a minute.  Just recently, I guess you could say I came to myself and remembered- everyone experiences a variety of situations in life . We won't be happy every single day but there are always lessons to be learned. In 2 Corinthians 3:2, the Word says, " Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you (The Message)." I don't know about you but I want my letter- my life's story to be one that inspires others.  I know I won't get everything right but I definitely am willing to share the lessons I've learned in hopes of making a difference in someone else's life. (Revelation 12:11-

**This post first appeared in the February 2014 Issue of  Women's Elevation Magazine . Sign up for your free (online) subscription by visiting  www.womenselevationmagazine.com ** Do you love yourself?  I’m not promoting being vain or obsessed with yourself. . . but can you clearly see and appreciate your qualities? Do you recognize your value? I truly believe that a relationship with God can help us to recognize our own worth and establish a healthy sense of love for ourselves. If we care about someone, we’ll most likely cherish and want to protect them. We should be grateful for our lives and desire to make the most of them. Realizing that we have been created in God’s image should remind us that there’s no need to compare ourselves to others. If we focus on the world’s messages, we’ll always be more concerned that there’s someone prettier, smarter or popular instead of the fact the fact that God views us as His masterpiece. How amazing is that? Conside

**This post first appeared in the January 2014 Issue of Women's Elevation Magazine . Sign up for your free (online) subscription by visiting www.womenselevationmagazine.com ** Happy New Year! I hope you’re excited about it!   This time of the year can take on different meanings for different people. Some are anxious to say goodbye to the last 12 months and the events that took place, while others look at it as a time of new beginnings.   I want to encourage you to embrace this time as the start of a new chapter in the story of your life. As you may know, a vital part of the writing process is reviewing your work and making necessary revisions .   We can apply this principle to our lives as well. Are there aspects of your life from the last year that you weren’t happy with? Well here’s something to think about. "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." If you know that something 'didn't work' fo