Illustrious Warrior

I found myself doing some research into the meaning on names a few months ago; and came to an enlightening truth about names and character. It was amazing how many names truly described different individuals. The one I found to be the most suiting was that of my husband and son. Herbert. Herbert means "illustrious warrior". And anyone who knows Herbert Jr. or the III (also known as Trey Boogie), knows that there truly is a warrior in each of them.

Illustriuos Warrior. It just sounds rich and powerful. And that's what my little boy is. He exudes such depth of character and personality (stutters and all); and he's a warrior all the way. Even at his birth, doctors and family members commented on how big his chest was for a newborn..... I think it was bigger than his dad's that day. Both with their chests puckered out with pride at their introduction. Herbert to Herbert; warrior to warrior.......illustrious in all their glory.

Sista Cousins

These are my girls. They are my family. They are my sista cousins. Sista cousins was birthed when I moved from Chicago back to California. My aunt and uncle graciously took me and my 2 year old daughter into their home to love, to live, and to grow. I don't even think we had a verbal timeframe for this to take place, it was just an open invitation. This invitation included living with my two cousins Antracia and Bobbi. As I settled into this pivital point in my life, my cousins became more like sisters than cousins. Calling them my cousins just didn't do justice to who they were in my life; and as not to infringe on the sisterhood that they held together......they became my sista-cousins. They shared everything with me......and just like sisters they fussed when it wasn't returned quite right :). During this time I spent a lot of time with my cousin Tiffany, who really helped me in regards to being a single parent. She paved some paths that I may not have walked had her footprints not been there.

I appreciate these girls for allowing me to be me ( watching Portrait videos, eating the last PopTart). I was never a guest...I was their sista-cousin. We've been through stealing the family car, fainting, enduring my daughter while on a Benadryl high, and much more.

One very special day was the day they accepted my request to be my wedding party. No request was too much, and they helped make a special day a spectacular day.

This is a shout out to my sista- cousins.....Thanks for being all that I could hope for in a sister and more than I could ever ask of a cousin.

Wee Hours

It's in the wee hours of the morning that God speaks to me. Not in a loud voice; it's usually gentle and sweet.

And no we are not limited to that time alone, but it's most precious, free from kids and the cares of home.

Sometimes I kneel and pray silently; other times I stand with arms lifted knowing I have the victory.

There are those times that He sends me to different rooms of my home; making sure that I take the Holy Spririt along.

To forcefully drive out the enemy; I tell him in Jesus' name he must flee.



It's in the wee hours of the morning that I share my inner dreams. He always reminds me that He has plans for me and will make a means.

Plans to prosper me and give a hope and a future. Teaching me to search the scriptures; being not just a reader but also a doer.

A doer of His will, in the wee hours of the morning I will be.

Ever giving Him the praise and glory, from now into enternity.

For He saved me from myself, that sinful nature within.

Gave me Jesus for a savior, even made me an heir with Him.



So if the wee hours of the morning is what He requires of me, wee hours of the morning so shall it be.

A Covenant Friend

I often tell my children that if they find "one" true friend in their lifetime they will have found a treasure. And I found such a treasure in my friend Timeko. In fact being best friends just wasn't enough for us; at age 18 we entered into a covenant to be friends forever. We vowed that nothing would sever what we had discovered that God had given us. We had each chosen friends on our own accords before, and without failure (ours or theirs) those relationships faded away. But this was different. It was like God had placed us in each others lives for something more than just talking on the phone or going to the mall; we prayed for one another, we cried together, we dipped into each other's parfaits at KFC. We had something very special; and not just to us but to God as well. He knew what we would need in our futures. He knew the paths that we would cross ,and how we would be able to share with the other when their journey too found them there. A covenent friend....this treasure I've found, no one can take her place.

Power of Love

When you really love someone you want them to know the truth. If that means telling them they have lipstick on their teeth or even having to go as far as telling them that their breath stinks. When there is real love there, you don't mind telling them what others would not dare. Love is a powerful feeling and emotion; and when put into action it can be insermountable.



Well I guess that means I love you, because I have somethings to tell you.



Jesus Christ loves you and has a wonderful plan for you life. God sent His only Son (Jesus Christ) to earth to die for our sins. Through confessing with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord", and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead we are saved. Saved from a life (present and future) separated from God.



It's just that simple.



The truth usually is.



So know that this is your day......you don't have to live life without Christ.....choose Him today and come to know the power of the love He has for you.

Marriage Mantle

I've been thinking a lot about what happened when I took my husband's last name. Last names are a pretty current notion; for previously men and women were known only by their their father or by the town they were from (biblically speaking). Along with changing times has also come a change in how we are recognized. It is said that in marriage the man places his "mantle" over his new bride and takes her unto his bossom. So I started thinking, what does that really mean. He is responsible for me spiritually, emotionally, and physically. But it is a little more than that. The word "mantle" means: Something that covers, envelops, or conceals. Yes, that's what it is....he is my covering (he covers me in prayer), he envelops me in his loving arms of protection (and what lovely arms they are), and he conceals all of my flaws (no one knows all of the things that I have put that man through). That is what makes me Simone Lane.

And under that mantle I plan to create a legacy that proves worthy of such a mantle. I will be a wife of noble character. His name shall be respected among his peers. If this sounds familiar is taking from Proverbs 31. You see just as he has a responsibility in placing his mantle over me (to love me as Christ loved the church)..... I have a responsibility to submit to his mantle (as unto Christ)......and then we have a marriage mantle.....more than just an exchange of names. Just as we share names, we share a covenant and a commitment to share in this life all that God will allow us to encounter. God has blessed me to be Simone, wife of Herbert Lane Jr, son of Herbert Lane Sr of Benicia, CA. This is my marriage mantle.

A servant's place.....

I think a lot of Christians believe that serving the Lord is "doing" something in the ministry on a Sunday morning. My pastor preached last year about how you know when you are serving. He said, "You know when you are serving, when people treat you like a servant." This message came to my rememberance on yesterday after my girls group. I love working with young girls, helping them to know that they have a purpose in the Lord and helping them to tap into that purpose. Well, when I started the group I was just planning to stand on the outskirts and coordinate (or supervise). You know how we like to do. Well God saw fit to make me not only a coordinator, but also a group leader (shout out to my Super "Stars"), and I am the car service for a few of the girls to get to the group each week. Yesterday I was a little tired, very hungry, and slightly PMSing. After having to take girls to opposite sides of town, I was discussing with myself that I was not going to do that anymore, that if it was important to their parents (who usually answer the door when the girls get home) they would find a way to pick the girls up themselves ......oh I went on and on.....THEN, the Lord reminded of a time when my Pastor, head of our body, was also the youth pastor, and also found a way to pick up and drop off my daughter so that she could go to youth each week. I dropped my head in humble quietness to the Lord's prompting. What if he had not found her important enough to make that added effort, where would she be today? So blinking back tears I asked the Lord to forgive me for my ungratefulness for being treated like a servant......I had already been taught what to expect, but I only want the glamour of serving God. So here I stand a servant of God, serving His people in any way that He sees fit. Will you serve?

I can't do it all....but I can complete one thing at a time!

I have started an Empowerment / Accountability / Mentoring meeting this year. I had a lot of things from the last few years that I have not addressed that have gotten out of control. I need to take command of my life. I have a list of affirmations, from my list of life's pursuits, that encourage and affirm that I can do all the things that I desire to do. This list is quite long; and on the heels of my 2nd meeting for the year I found that I had not done many of the affirmations on a consistent basis. I was almost of the verge of doubting that I could do it at all when a voice popped into my head that "I don't have to do it all at once.....I can take and complete one item at a time.....just so that they all get completed."


So I am rejoicing in the small successes on today. The success of attending my second meeting, the success of verbally saying some things that have laid hidden in my heart. I am learning to start this process with baby steps, but it works because I have done more in these two month than I did all last year.


I believe that when you are pouring out ( Girl's Groups, raising children, caretaking of a loved one) you also need to be poured into. That is what this group is doing for me. I hope that everyone can tap into somethings that uplifts, empowers, holds accountable, and mentors them.