Film Producer DeVon Franklin is Back on Social Media After Divorce from Meagan Good, Releases New Audiobook ‘It Takes a Woman’

Hello World,

Sadly, at the end of last year, film producer DeVon Franklin and actress Meagan Good announced they were divorcing after nine years of marriage. Shortly afterward, DeVon announced that he was taking a break from social media which I can appreciate. As is said in the Bible, there is a time for everything under the sun, and sometimes we need to retreat and rejuvenate so that we can return. And it seems that DeVon has done just that! On April 13, DeVon’s birthday, he posted a picture of himself with the words “Love Wins” tattooed on one arm and “Live Free” tattooed on the other. Pretty drastic to have those words tattooed, but my healing doesn’t look like your healing and vice versa.

Below is his post about his social media break…

It looks like he is taking a break from dating as well because it appears that he celebrated his birthday with his dudes. If that’s true, that is wise because it takes time to unpack what happened to dissolve a romantic relationship much less a marriage. When I was dating, after a relationship ended, I took six months to just be…

Check out pictures of DeVon and his dudes below…He looks happy and refreshed…

And not only has he returned to social media, DeVon has released a new audiobook “It Takes A Woman,” which features his mother, Paulette, as well as his great aunts: Aunt Nuna, Aunt Ida, Aunt Enis, Aunt Donna and Aunt Sondra. I imagine in the last few months, he has spent a lot of time with them discussing what happened in this marriage. If you’re smart, you consult with the elders of your family especially in times of distress. Here’s his social media post about “It Takes a Woman” below…

I have something special for you today…a new audiobook from Audible! IT TAKES A WOMAN!
Part of my journey of healing has been working on this audiobook. I put my heart and soul into this and I can’t wait for you to hear it!
My mother, Paulette and great aunts: Aunt Nuna, Aunt Ida, Aunt Enis, Aunt Donna and Aunt Sondra have made such an impact in my life when they stepped in to raise me and my brothers after my father died, and TODAY, I’m so grateful I get to share their wisdom and voices with you.
In this audiobook you can hear, first hand, GENERATIONS of wisdom! You not only hear my voice, but the voices of my great aunts and my mother.
I didn’t want the voices of our women to get lost in the sands of time.
If it wasn’t for the women that raised me I don’t know where I’d be! 🙏🏽 Can you relate?
From tragedy to triumph, for the first time I tell my family story. It will make you laugh, maybe cry but I hope it will uplift your soul.
I know you’ve heard the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child,” I also say, IT TAKES A WOMAN, and that’s why it’s the title of my new Audible Original.
START LISTENING RIGHT NOW to #ITTAKESAWOMAN on Audible at https://adbl.co/ittakesawoman (and please let me know what you think)

I wish both DeVon and Meagan well as they navigate their new lives…

Aside: I actually interviewed DeVon back in the day! Check out that interview HERE.

Any thoughts?

 

 

 

I Was Pregnant: The Reason Why I Blogged Irregularly After August 2021…

Hello World,

Back in September, I posted this editor’s note at the beginning of my blog post Is Gospel Singer Kelly Price Missing Or Not? Lawyer Says ‘No’ While Sister Says ‘Yes’ Plus Secret Marriage Details…See below…

Let me start with the obvious: I know your girl has been gone a minute…like over a month. I’m not going to go into a long explanation, but I will say that I’m going through a life change that warrants a rearranging of sorts. This life change does include getting back into blogging, but it may or may not be regular depending on a host of factors. But I do hope you can rock with me nevertheless…And at the right time, I will share more my dear readers…I promise…

Well, the right time has come: In the beginning of August 2021, I learned I was pregnant after years of undergoing fertility treatment. At the end of August 2021, I learned that I was pregnant with twins which was crazy because that was not a part of the plan…at least my plan…!! And on “Twos”day,  February 22, 2022, I gave birth to my identical twin girls Michaela, 4 pounds 2 ounces, and Mattison, 3 pounds 14 ounces, at 4:42 and 4:44 p.m. at 33 weeks plus three days pregnant. In fact, had my pregnancy continued to full term, I would given birth to the twins on Friday, April 8 so it’s fitting that I chose today to tell y’all what’s been going on with me and why I’ve been neglecting my humble corner of Al Gore’s Internet…

I tried blogging regularly, but each time I tried, I just didn’t have the energy to sustain my efforts which perplexed me because I’ve been  blogging since September 2008, when I wrote my first blog post…However, last week, it occurred to me why I just didn’t have the energy for it: All of my creative energies were devoted to creating my twins…And a lot of energy was required as I endured morning sickness which truly happened any time of the day, and as my pregnancy progressed, it was even triggered by showering. Yes, I allowed myself to get a bit funky to avoid being in the shower. LOL! I had food aversions and cravings. There were headaches. And a general feeling of malaise most of the time. Lower back pain some of the time. Heartburn from the pit of hell. (I learned that heartburn means that hair is being created. My girls have to thank me one day for being born with plenty of hair!) Many nights I had to sleep sitting up so the acid reflux wouldn’t be as bad. Lots of swelling, particularly from the waist down — so much so that  I was only able to wear one pair of my shoes, sneakers, and by wear, I mean jamming my feet into them and leaving the laces pretty much undone. And by January, my blood pressure started fluctuating. By February, those blood pressure fluctuations turned into severe preeclampsia and there was concern about my platelet levels. And that led to an emergency C-section on the perfect day to have twins!!

Let me take a moment to shout out the entire Labor & Delivery Team at Piedmont Hospital Atlanta where I gave birth to my twins girls. In fact, it was ladies night (really ladies afternoon) as not one man except for Handsome Hubby from my Ob-Gyn, to my anesthesiologist, to the nurses (and there were at least 15 or so women there as each baby was assigned a team) was in the room where my main doc, who also has my same name although spelled Jacqui, delivered the twins. Additionally, as it was a high-risk pregnancy due to my age (48) and the fact that I was pregnant with twins, I have to thank Georgia Perinatal Consultants because their care also contributed to the healthy delivery of the M&M twins (our nickname for the girls).

My mother told me that once I would delivered by twins, I would forget all that I went through in order to give birth to them. My mother is right about most things, but I didn’t forget. However, I will say this: It was worth it. My handsome hubby and I ABSOLUTELY ADORE our twin girls. Right now, my handsome hubby and I are feeding them every three hours so we sleep when we can which is not a lot, but we are enjoying getting to know our twins especially since they spent three weeks in the NICU before they were released! Since they are preemies, according to our pediatrician’s advice, we are slowly introducing them to the outside world. And since you are my dear readers, I am introducing you to the M&M Twins. See a few pics from our journey below…

Just a few days before we celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary, we discovered we were pregnant! This is us hiking on the grounds of Montaluce Winery & Restaurant in Dahlonega, Georgia where we celebrated our anniversary. I’m working on getting back into those shorts now. While I can slide them up my hips, I cannot zip them up yet, but in time, I hope to do so 🙂

By Thanksgiving, I looked pregnant and I felt it was the right time to announce my pregnancy…Praise God from whom all blessings flow…

My favorite photo from my maternity shoot in February. It’s amazing what hair and makeup and a darn good photographer will do…Thanks to my hair stylist Venet Charles, my makeup artist Ashley Means and James Hill Photography!!! I had no idea that just a couple of weeks or so later, I would be giving birth although I absolutely felt ready to pop at that moment…

The M&M Twins stayed here during the first week on this earth. Those are their two beds. They were eventually elevated to their own private room as they progressed…

This is Handsome Hubby holding them for the first time…I hated seeing them hooked up to various monitors, but such is the path of preemies…

We took this picture of them shortly after they arrived home…No wires!!! Praise God!!!

This is just a few days ago on April 1. I imagined they had the below conversation…

Mattison: Sister, what you think about slap-gate?
Michaela: Zzzzzzzz
Hello April 👋…The deadline for slap-gate discussions has now passed…😁😆🤣… #MandMTwinsChronicles

Handsome Hubby and I feel as if we entered into our personal Promised Land…

So…regarding blogging…I’m back…I’m literally brimming with creative energy now that my body is my own again…However, for the time being, my time is not my own (these twins and their feedings own it)…so dear readers…I’m asking and praying that again you will still rock with me as I try to get on my regular blogging schedule (Sundays and Wednesdays and sometimes more and sometimes less) because I LOVE blogging the cross section of faith, relationships and pop culture!!!

And so there you have it…The Reason Why I Blogged Irregularly After August 2021…

Ain’t God Good?! Won’t He Do It?!

This Bible verse comes to mind this morning as I blog:

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,  to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

And if you please, please pray for the twins…

Any thoughts?

 

Tamela Mann Releases New Christmas Single ‘What Christmas Really Means’ From Her New Movie ‘Soul Santa’

Hello World,

Award-Winning Artist, Accomplished Actress, Songwriter, Producer, and Businesswoman, Tamela Mann released her first-ever Christmas single, “What Christmas Really Means,” on Friday, November 26, to all digital platforms. The single is from her new movie, Soul Santa, which also stars Tamela’s husband, NAACP Image Award-Winning Actor/Comedian David Mann. Soul Santa, executive produced by Tamela, David, who was also the music supervisor on the film, Brainstorm Media, and Reuben Cannon Entertainment, is directed by Terri Vaughn and now playing on the BET Network and BET+.

Tamela Mann makes millions laugh on the big and small screen while enjoying a unique personal double blessing. The high-spirited, multi-talented singer and actress, who plays an executive for a struggling shopping mall where Santa Claus is the disguise of a businessman in trouble with the mob’s money — was also able to work on set every day with husband, David Mann. And even as she has entertained audiences with her acting over the years, Tamela has never strayed far from her first love of singing. When given the opportunity to co-write and perform the film’s featured Christmas song, she was honored to make the contribution of “What Christmas Really Means.”

“I’m so excited to share my first Christmas single because this is a very special season for me,” says Tamela. “For many it’s the most wonderful time of the year, while for others it can be a challenging time. My hope is that this song encourages people to reach out to friends and family and enjoy being together this year.”

Tamela has always created art that encourages people and draws them closer to the Lord. Her hit-laden music career includes such memorable songs as “Change Me,” “God Provides” and the unforgettable, Platinum-selling classic, “Take Me to the King.” Tamela has earned numerous accolades. In addition to scoring a Grammy®, she is also a BET Award® winner, Billboard® Music Award winner, Gospel Music Stellar® Award winner and multiple NAACP® Image Award and GMA Dove® Award recipient.

Watch the Soul Santa trailer which features Tamela’s new single, “What Christmas Really Means” below…

Facebook: @DavidTamelaMann

Instagram: @DavidandTamela

Twitter: @DavidandTamela 

YouTube: @MannTV

Any thoughts?