I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked that question. But now that I’ve had time to actually think about it, here’s my answer.

But before I begin let me just say the constitution granted us freedom of religion. So therefore I am not judging anyone based on their beliefs. I’m just telling you what works for me.

Also I am not a religious person, Spiritual yes, but to me being religious is like being perfect. So before I begin my reasons for going to church I wanted to clarify those things.

You see as a child my mother would wake my sister and I up every Sunday to go to church. In fact sometimes she had to beat me with a broom just to get me out of bed. I never understood why church was so important to my mother until I became an adult.

When I finally moved away for college I was glad that I didn’t have my mother bugging me about going to church every Sunday, but that soon changed.

My first semester at University of Buffalo, my soul didn’t feel right. All the morals my mother taught me disappeared until I met a friend who told me and I quote “Sharia you need Jesus”

As funny as that sounds, she was right. I knew every time I went to church I wanted to do right! I wanted to make God proud of me. But when I stopped going I stopped caring how God felt. Since then I started going to church with my friend almost every Sunday and I was right back on track until I moved to Washington DC.

In DC there are hundreds of churches, and finding the right one was hard to do, so I stopped going. Once again I was back to square one. I was partying and doing things I knew God would not be proud of. After each sinful act I would feel lost, hurt, and afraid. I didn’t like that feeling so I decided to visit several churches until I found one that suited me.

I’ve been on this same pattern for years. But now I know I cannot live without church.

Some of you may ask “Sharia why do you have to go to church, why can’t you worship at home?” Well here’s my answer, going to church isn’t just about learning how to follow Christ, to me it’s also about fellowship. At church I’ve met so many people who helped me change my life. People who help me pay for college and find a job, people who helped my family during tough times, people who prayed for my safety and cared for me. And when you have that kind of love you don’t want to walk away from it. I don’t get that same feeling at home while watching other pastors on TV.

The reason why I’m blogging about this today is because I’ve missed church for the past three weeks due to reasons beyond my control. And once again I’m having that sense of lost, hurt and fear.

But I’ll be ok, I know I have a lot of people praying and caring for me.

But now on the days where I know I can go, I go. And this time around my mother doesn’t have to yell and scream for me to wake up. I have my heavenly Father to do that instead because He knows just how important it is for me to be there.

That’s my answer.

If there was a Sharia Law in the United States Constitution it would say…

1. Everyone will work 2 days and have a 5 day weekend.
2. 8 hour lunch breaks for everyone.
3. July 13, will become a national holiday.
4. Free cornbread for everyone (here’s to you Matt)
5. Robitussin would be the only medication.
6. No guns allowed only hugs.
7. Everyone must own a bottle of hot sauce (preferably Steck Sauce) – and eat fried chicken once a week.
8. Work out on Sundays.

That’s my law!! Do you like it?

Hi guys, I wanted to take this time to introduce you to my adopted daughter Lil Julie. The name Lil Julie comes from my favorite actress of all times Julie Andrews. Julie is about 10 years old, but she’s really small for her age. Lil Julie really likes to come to work with me, actually we work really well together. She’s a hard worker, and she always does a terrific job to make my stories more interesting. I took Julie to Washington DC for the inauguration, I also took her to L.A., during the American Idol result show.

Here’s the sad news.. The reason why I’m talking about Julie is because she’s not doing so well. Julie sprained her left arm the other day, and now she’s going to have to have surgery. The doctors say she’ll be just fine, but still I just want Julie to be healthy.

Here’s Lil Julie, isn’t she adorable????

Here’s Lil Julie… we fell asleep after a long day at work.

Here’s Lil Julie and I working in DC..

Here’s Lil Julie’s brother Bobby J

I highly recommend the movie King’s Speech. The movie was great. I really enjoyed the story of King George VI. It’s very inspirational and I learned a lot about the British Monarchy. I can fully understand why the movie won an Oscar. So if you’re looking for something to watch this weekend, watch the King’s Speech.

Recently I blogged about why I still like Lebron James. Granted, I think he’s a wonderful player and he deserves the best. But recently I spoke to a wise woman who explained to me why I should root for the Mavs instead of the Heat.

This woman, who’s also from Cleveland, said to me, “Sharia imagined if you were married to Lebron James and with all your flaws he left you for a model,” When this woman told me that, I first looked at her as if she were crazy. But then she continued, “Now as you look at Lebron James with this new model, he seems happy but you’re still hurt. Well “Cleveland” was Lebron’s ex-wife, and now he’s happily married to that model (Miami). He’s doing really well in Miami, and Cleveland is still suffering because he left.”

As crazy as this statement may sound, it actually made sense to me. I remember a few years ago when Cleveland was so excited about the NBA Finals. I never seen my hometown so happy. Strangers were hugging each other, Cleveland had a good time. The day LBJ left us, it really hurt. It hurt so bad I cried. Not only was it because one of the greatest players was leaving home, but because I knew things would never be the same in Cleveland.

It took me a while to get over Lebron’s departure. And at one point I decided to cheer for the Heat, but when this wise woman compared LBJ departure to a divorce marriage, that made me think. I would be hurt if my husband left me for a model, because it would make me feel like a failure. In essence I’m still hurt about LBJ. Dirk didn’t leave his team for a model. He stuck by his team (wife) for 13 years. He is a loyal player and I wish he and his family the best. So GO MAVS!!

I’m still not burning my JERSEY!!!

Never judge a book by its cover

This statement, I believe, is absolutely true. You see a few weeks ago I spotted this woman hitting herself while driving. I took a double look asking myself why is this woman slapping her face, hitting her arms and hitting her back repeatedly. I quickly drove past her car because I didn’t want the interesting woman to hit mine.

A few weeks later, while driving, I found a hand size mosquito inside my car. I couldn’t pull over because I was on the highway. I prayed constantly that the mosquito wouldn’t move off the dashboard. But the mosquito sense my fear and began to fly near my face. While screaming, I started hitting my face, my back and my arms. I didn’t know where that mosquito went and I was afraid it was going to bite me. Other drivers who passed me looked at me as if I was crazy! I still don’t know where that mosquito is. I hope it’s dead. But the next time I see someone slapping themselves in their car I won’t judge them and look at them as if they’re crazy. I’ll just think oh there must be an insect inside..

Why must the world hate Lebron James? Granted what he did to Cleveland was absolutely wrong, but let it go, move on. He wants to win a championship so what’s wrong with that? I feel Lebron has went from being the most treasured basketball player to the most hated of all times. I believe some people hate him just to hate him, and most of these people aren’t even from Cleveland. This is a job, Lebron has the right to choose what he wants to do with his life just like everyone else. He’s a very talented basketball player with one goal on his mind “To Win”.. As I said before what he did to Cleveland was wrong. It hurt me tremendously, but I wish him all the best. To me he will always be a part of the “Land” and it feels good just to have someone that great to come from Northeast Ohio.. GO HEAT!!

I love the color of trees. Sometimes when I’m driving I see green trees, asparagus trees, army green trees, bright green trees, camouflage trees, cyan trees, electric green trees, emerald green trees, fern green trees, green yellow trees, honeydew trees, india green trees, jungle green trees, lime trees, midnight green trees, olive green trees, tea green trees, spring green trees and the list goes on. I really like the color of trees, and get this Green isn’t my favorite color.

This weekend I’ve decided to write my will. I wrote my will because when I leave this earth I don’t want anyone fighting over my belongings. I don’t plan to leave this world anytime soon, but just in case I do, all my loved ones will get something from me. Lately I’ve been hearing how families are battling with each other after someone dies because there’s no will. I really don’t have that much and I plan to change the will once a year. I advise you do the same thing before it’s too late.

Peace…

I like all kinds of music, but my favorite is Old school Jazz. For some reason I enjoy listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and others.

In my younger years, I’ve listened to hip hop and rap, but those songs really don’t do it for me anymore. I wonder if it’s because I’m getting older.

But listening to Jazz makes me think about D.C. When I lived there for 8 years that’s all I would hear, and now I’ve grown to love it.

Hopefully my feelings for Jazz will never change.