I'm back

It's been a little while since I've been on the blog. Here's a quick update on life......

SMOKING STATUS
Still a non-smoker. It's been a month now since I've quit smoking. It's been a stuggle at times, but I think your prayers are working because everytime I think about a cigarette, I think about my cousin.

COUSIN
My cousin is still in the hospital. She has had several biopsies and she has cancer in her lungs, lymph nodes (neck and chest), stomach, and small intenstines. She has been moved from a regular room to ICU and remains in the hospital. Her breathing is very bad and she remains on oxygen full time now. She is unable to speak now because she has this oxygen tube in her throat/neck area.

NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS
I will be on vacation from work next week. YEAH!!!!!! I really need a break right now. I don't plan on doing anything exciting, I just need some relax time with my family. The book is still coming along. I've almost finished my 2nd story.

I want to share something with you. I am on the Tyler Perry email list and I got the following email that I want to share. I know that I'm guilty of complaining about life and situations, so if you are too, I hope that this email will bring some perspective into your life. It did mine. Take care.........Jenni

Tyler Perry Email
This morning I awoke and was so frustrated about all of the stuff that
I'm dealing with in trying to get this studio open. I was about to
open my mouth and start complaining when I remembered something that
happened to me about a year ago.

I was walking to my car when this woman who appeared to be homeless
started walking towards me. I'm ashamed to say this but I thought, "I
don't feel like being hustled today." Then I got quickly convicted. I
felt guilty so I started digging in my pocket for some money. As she
got closer I noticed that she had the kindest eyes that I had ever
seen. As I was reaching into my pocket she started to speak. I
thought, "Here goes the sales pitch". She said "Excuse me sir, I need
some shoes. Can you help me?" My eyes filled with water because I
remember being out on the streets and having only one pair of run over
shoes. I was taken aback for a second.

I took her inside the studio and had my wardrobe people find shoes in
her size. As she put the shoes on she started crying, praising God and
thanking Jesus, and saying, "My feet are off the ground! My feet are
off the ground!" Several of the wardrobe people started crying. I was
crying. But I never forgot those word. "My feet are off the ground!"

I thought, "Wow! All she wanted was some shoes." She quickly
disappeared and never asked me for a dime. I realized that I still had
the money in my hand so I went out looking for her. She was gone just
that quick so I looked all around the neighborhood for her. I found
her standing on a corner looking down at her shoes, still crying. I
was so touched. I asked her how she had gotten homeless. She told me
that she had AIDS and that she was waiting to get into a shelter. She
said that her family had turned their backs on her and that she had no
place to go, but she knew that God would make a way for her. I said to
myself, "He just did." Her faith and her praise moved me.

I took her to a nearby hotel and put her up until she was able to get
on her feet. I had someone that worked for me to check on her from
time to time and to make sure that she had food and clothes. After
about a month or so we lost touch, but I never forgot her.

This past summer I was shooting "Daddy's Little Girls" and this woman
walks up to me smiling. I didn't recognize her face, but her eyes were
familiar. She had on a really nice dress and her hair was done. It
was her! She told me that the little help that I had given her had
changed her life. She was in a house now and doing very well.

I said all of that to say this. After I met this woman, every time I
think about complaining and mumbling I remember, "My feet are off the
ground!"

I wanted to share this with you just to let you know that when I say
that I am thankful for you, I mean it. And when I say that you are a
blessing to me, I mean it. We take so much for granted sometimes that
I just wanted all of you to know that I am grateful to God for you
everyday. Thank you for being in my life.

TP

I've quit smoking......again (part 2)

I'm not a religious person, but I consider myself to be spritual so I feel that what I'm about to tell you is a direct sign from God.

About 10 minutes after I posted the orginal 'I've quit smoking' blog, I got a phone call from back home. It seems I have a 39 year old cousin who is in the hospital. My cousin has smoked for a very long time and she is in the hospital because she can't breathe on her own. She also has swollen lymph nodes throughout her chest. She is going into surgery for a biopsy on Monday.

I went to see her today and I could not believe what kind of shape she is in. She has to take breathing treatments every 4 hours and she is on oxygen full time. If you're reading this, please say a prayer for Melissa and her family. By the way, she quit smoking 2 weeks ago, the same day that I did.

I've quit smoking........again

Well, it's been a little over 2 weeks since I quit smoking. My all time record of not smoking has been 6 weeks. Only 4 more to go before I reach that plateau. I sure hope the Nicorette lozenges work this time.

For you non-smokers out there, I know that you may wonder, 'How does anyone pick up this nasty habit?'. For me, I was 18 and a senior in high school. Back then, I remember that we had a smoke area for students. I started by just hanging out there with my friends, the next thing you know, I'm puffing right along with them. That was 19 years ago.

I consider myself to be a pretty strong willed person and for someone like me to allow a habit like this to consume so much of my time, energy, and money, I know it's crazy. That's my logical side speaking, but my physical and emotional side screams 'I WANT A CIGARETTE!!!!'. I kind of understand how a drug addict feels when they don't get their 'fix'. Nicotine has been my emotional crutch for such a long time.

If you're reading this, please say a little prayer for me as I could use all the help I can get right now. :)