September 30, 2009, Washington, DC~

Howdy!  Blondelle Hawkins here!  Thought an update was in order, so here goes!

I am still working at Cracker Barrel; worked there now for over a year.  It doesn't pay much; however, sometimes the tips are killa!  I can pull in roughly $120-150 on a good weekend; oftentimes, though, I am lucky if I pull in $80 on a weekday.  Still, having extra money to pay my bills is nothing but God's provision, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Yesterday I was off.  Spent a good part of it visiting my best little cousin's grave.  She was murdered earlier this year, back in February.  LaShundra Michaels was only eighteen years old; too da** young!  I still miss her like crazy; she and I loved each other like sisters.  We were tight!  I cleared the weeds/grass surrounding her headstone, and watered the flowers blooming there; I also brought her a new stuffed pink teddybear to replace the old, mildewy blue one that had been sittin' there since last Easter.

I also talked to her and to God; it was just the three of us.  I cried, I wailed, I prayed; I still sometimes wonder why she had to leave so soon; LaShundra had her whole life ahead of her!!

Also found out that Shatikah, my cousin in Virginia, has stage-3 lung cancer--and she never even smoked!!  They don't hold out much hope for her.  Shatikah Davis is only sixteen; way too young to be going through something this horrific!  I can imagine her whole family is devastated; I know I am!  She's in the hospital now undergoing treatment; I pray nothing but a miracle for Shatikah!

I also lost an uncle, uncle Popeye, to cancer.  That was back in July.  He was my daddy's oldest brother; they called him Popeye because he had one eye.  He lost it in a hunting accident; someone shot him in the face.  He ended up losing his eye.  I miss him; he was so full of love and fun; he had a deep hunger for the Lord and was a fine Christian man.

Between all of that tragedy, I am still trying to move on with my own life.  Working, trying to pay the bills on time.  Not easy, but as I said earlier, God does provide for His children; all they have to do is ask and believe.

Remember last time when I wrote that I said I was going on to AGT?  Well, at the last minute, something happened, and I couldn't go.  I was devastated.  I was looking forward to trying to make something out of myself, so I could lift my family out of this financial nightmare we still face.  We live in a poor neighborhood, where walking outside is like taking your life into your own hands; it's not safe to be out after dark. 

Turns out some chicken farmer from Kentucky won the million dollars.  I was so disappointed; so many worthy acts didn't make it.

Don't know if I will try out next year. 

One bright spot, though:  this Sunday, one of our own is coming to my church for a special appearance.  Kaitlyn Maher, who was on last season, is going to be singing during the offeratory.  She is only five years old; yet she has the voice of an angel.  God's gifted her with an incredible talent at such a young age.  I know I will enjoy that; I just love her so much!  Success hasn't gone to her head; she still remains the sweet, loving child I remember from when she first burst onto the scene!

I'd love to see that litltle boy, David Militello, one day:  he is ten, older than Kaitlyn, but his story is nowhere less amazing.  He has a form of autism; he didn't speak until he was three years old.  How he started talking was by singing; that opened up a whole new world for him.  Like Kaitlyn, he travels the country, sharing his gift.  He is a fine, upstanding little Christian who is bringing his talent to others, and inspiring other people, both disabled and non-disabled, with his gift. 

David was on AGT, too, about the same time as Kaitlyn; they've since become fast friends.  They remain friends to this day.

It'd be cool if he came to our church.  I just love him as much as I do Kaitlyn!!

With all the badness in today's world, we need more inspiring kid heroes for our youth; Kaitlyn Maher and David Militello are perfect little ambassadors of God's grace in our world!  I pray nothing but God's provision and blessings upon these two special little angels and their families!

Fall has definitely come to Washington DC:  the days are getting shorter, the trees are just starting to change color, and the nights are cool, crisp.  I am glad; after the long, hot, stormy summer we had, I'm ready for a break in the weather!  Just a few weeks back, we had a tornado come through here; nothing bad, but there ws some damage up the street from us, plus I heard the roar of the thing above the wailing sirens.  (Don't have a basement; had to hide in my bathtub downstairs.  Talk about scary!!)

We also lost power for two days, but thank God it came back on!

For two days I lived on pork and beans from a can, peaches, and leftover hotdogs.  I also had bottled water to drink.  Not real nutritious, but hey, at least I had something to eat during the two days we were without power!  At least I didn't starve!

Well, I am going to go.  Have to get ready for work; work today from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.; hopefully it will be a good day for me in terms of tips.  I hope so!  I can always use the extra cash!  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Blondelle Hawkins saying so long!  God bless!

~Love, Blondelle, your friend in Washington, D.C.