There’s a version of wealth I dream about—not wrapped in luxury cars or gated neighborhoods but tucked quietly inside the heart of someone who wants to give without applause.
I don’t want to live among the rich. I don’t want to befriend the elite. I want to remain exactly who I am: someone who wakes up with the singular desire to listen to the cries God has chosen me to hear. I want to be the anonymous presence behind answered prayers—the blessing that leaves no trace but changes lives.
I imagine starting my day with a simple prayer: “God, bring me someone to help.” Then I scroll through the news—not for the drama, but to find the stories. The quiet pain. The overlooked struggle. That’s where my wealth goes. Into light bills paid quietly. Rent covered with no sender name. Groceries on the doorstep with no explanation. Joy delivered by grace, not recognition.
My cover will never be blown because my spirit doesn’t need the spotlight. I want the kind of richness that gives me time to listen, to watch, to discern. Then to act swiftly, silently, intentionally. Because true giving doesn’t need a witness—it just needs a willing heart.
I’m in my late 50s, and meeting a married man—no matter how charming, fine, or seemingly available—is an automatic SKADADDLE!!! He can’t have my number, and I won’t be taking his. That’s not maturity, that’s accountability. And it’s about staying aligned with God’s plan, not getting caught in a trap that promises nothing but heartache.
Too many people try to excuse flirtation as “just talk” or “innocent fun,” but let’s call it what it is: opening the door to destruction. When a married person chooses to flirt, and the other person entertains it—knowing full well what’s at stake—they’re planting seeds of chaos.
That married man has vows he’s already broken by stepping outside emotionally. And the woman engaging with him? She’s not just risking pain; she’s stepping outside of integrity. If God has a purpose for each of us, this kind of distraction can take us way off course. And the further we stray, the more heartbreak follows—not just for the couple, but for the children, the families, and the communities caught in the ripple effect.
When I honor God’s design for relationships, I’m also protecting my peace, my purpose, and my legacy. Entertaining someone else’s spouse brings nothing but confusion to the heart and clutter to the soul. No thanks. Not now, not ever.
So here’s my grown-woman declaration: Married men are off limits. Period. Not because I’m bitter, but because I’m better. Better than drama. Better than lies. Better than settling for borrowed time. And if you’re out here single and waiting for what’s yours—don’t get sidetracked by what’s already spoken for.
At 57, I’ve learned the importance of paying attention—not just to my surroundings, but to my body’s quiet messages. It’s a daily practice of mindfulness, noticing the subtle shifts that tell me when I’ve had too much pop, when a dinner was a little too heavy, or when my legs feel like they need more care and attention. This isn’t about restriction—it’s about restoration.
I’m a foodie. I love hamburgers. Today, I indulged in a Whopper, Pringles, and M&M’s. Not only was it delicious, but it reminded me how good it feels to satisfy a craving. Here’s the kicker—I haven’t had a Whopper at all this year. So today wasn’t about guilt. It was about joy.
But tomorrow? Tomorrow begins a reset. Back to salads, water, and sandwiches. Because I also stepped on the scale yesterday and saw that I’ve lost 7 pounds. That’s no small thing—and it came from tuning in, being aware, and making gentle adjustments. It’s amazing what we learn when we really listen to our bodies and give them what they need.
My strategy for health and well-being is simple: I pay attention. And that awareness gives me power—not just over what I eat, but over how I move, how I rest, and how I thrive.
One of the most important roles we have as parents is to pay attention. Not just to behavior or milestones—but to what genuinely lights up our children’s spirits. I believe that by watching our kids closely in their early years, we begin to uncover the natural gifts God placed inside of them. These moments of curiosity and passion aren’t random—they’re sacred breadcrumbs leading us to their purpose.
If we take the time to notice what they love—whether it’s drawing, storytelling, building things, helping others, or showing compassion—we can begin to nurture those interests with intention. Why wait until they’re adults to start asking “What do you want to do?” why can’t we guide them now toward creating a life rooted in meaning?
When a child loves creating or organizing, we don’t dismiss it—we celebrate it. Because those passions, when watered by a parent’s belief and God’s timing, can blossom into ministries, businesses, or movements that impact generations.
When the day weighs heavy or the night stretches long, I turn to a ritual that never fails me—ice cream.
Chocolate and strawberry. Haagen Daz. Paired with peanuts and fresh bananas. It’s not just dessert—it’s therapy in a bowl. A small act of self-care that says, “I deserve softness.” And when I’m scooping that last bite? It’s not just about taste. It’s about reclaiming joy. So yes, my go-to comfort food is ice cream. And when I eat it, you truly can’t tell me a thing.
If it were up to me, I would want everyone to get along. I think this situation with Tyler Perry and Monique has gone on long enough. I can tell that, in her mind, Monique felt she found the perfect time to bring her case up again about being blacklisted in the industry. I’m starting to think her feelings are hurt. I believe she looked at Tyler in a different light than he realized. For him not to give her the apology she feels she deserves, she just won’t let this go.
From my understanding of the fallout, Monique made Precious with Lee. They finished the movie, and it was supposed to go straight to DVD—not Netflix, not Prime, and not to theaters, but straight to DVD. She agreed to $50,000. The movie was done and ready to be released. Then, Lee showed the movie to Oprah, who loved it and shared it with Tyler, who also loved it. I’m assuming that Lee, Oprah, and Tyler decided in good faith to support the movie and push it so everyone could benefit. Monique would get an Oscar for her performance, more roles, and lots of money. Lee would gain recognition for his work, and everyone involved would see significant advantages.
I’m guessing that after seeing the movie and deciding to promote it, they approached Monique to ask her to do press, which meant supporting the movie through interviews and events. However, what I don’t understand is that, since this movie was originally going straight to DVD, Monique was already done with the commitments she had agreed to. If they now wanted the movie to go straight to theaters, they should have gone back and renegotiated her contract. Everybody knows that if Tyler Perry and Oprah put their names on a project, its success will skyrocket!
I’m sure Monique went to Lee to ask for more money to cover travel expenses and promotional activities, but he said no, despite knowing how profitable the movie could become. That’s a significant issue. Here’s where I start raising my eyebrows: Was Monique pressured by Tyler to do press without being informed of what she was originally paid to do? Did Tyler know her financial arrangement and still expect her to do the press for free? Or did he understand her hesitation, respecting her decision not to spend her own money, and feel that Lee should have covered her expenses? Perhaps he told her to forget about the money and focus on the potential benefits of earning an Oscar. But Tyler Perry, as a billionaire, can’t reasonably expect someone to do something for free under those circumstances. No ma’am.
Bottom line, Monique feelings are hurt. Maybe Tyler should just give her an apology.
I used to want to be a lawyer. I loved to debate, and it was fun arguing for hours. However, I would get mad and soon realize that I felt my way was the only way. It’s not.
Everyone is different. We all have different personalities and experiences. We can’t all come to the same conclusion; it’s impossible. Once I learned that, it became easier to understand people. My personal experiences made my story true.
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What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?
It’s funny because my parents use to always say… “Don’t get old.” I knew that they weren’t saying “die early”, and now that I’m at that age they said it, I knew exactly what they mean. Because these knees are off the hook!!! 😂😂😂😂 Whew Chile!!!
Honestly, I look forward to getting old. I want to see my great nieces and nephews grow up to have families. I want to have my regular debates with my siblings. I want to take care of my mother. I look forward to these things.
One day I was at the red light, on the over pass, on my way to work.
I heard God say.. LaCrease pray RIGHT NOW as if today was your last day living. He said PRAY NOW. At first I thought I was tripping, because it was with urgency and he said before the light turn green. I remember saying.. God right now? He said pray NOW.
I remember saying Lord Thank you for my life, my family that you hand picked for me. Forgive me for all my Sins, known and unknown. I told him that I wanted to LIVE with him forever. Then….. the light turned green and I was about to enter I-94.
As I was driving, I’m thinking okay what is God up too, what is going on? He knows I ask a lot of questions and think a lot. I’m wondering if I was about to die, I didn’t know what was happening, but I PRAYED just as he told me.
I’m driving and JUST LIKE THAT… I started thinking about something else, and forgot all about what God had me to do. Just as I turned the radio on, and continued to drive to work.. all I saw was BRIGHT RED LIGHTS in front of me. People were breaking HARD. I didn’t know what was going on to cause this all of a sudden STOP. The truck in front of me was blocking my view so I had to rely on him when to stop breaking. All of a sudden, he swerved over to the left, and that’s when I was able to see what he was seeing. When he swerved over I was RIGHT THERE about to run in the back of another TRUCK/SUV HARD!!!! When I say HARD… There was NO WAY in this world I would have survived that accident. NO WAY!!!! I WAS DEAD!!!
The truck that swerved over to the left allowed me to see that HE was about to run in the back of another SUV truck. Once I saw what he saw, not only was I BREAKING HARD.. but I didn’t have enough time to stop, so I too had to swerve to the left.. as well. THANK GOD NO OTHER CAR WAS THERE.
I would have DIED.. The impact would have crushed the front end of my car so badly, that it would have blew my chest out. It gave me an instant headache. It never went away that day, and my breaks took a beating.
Inside the mind of cree 