Heavy Heart

I don't really know how to start this post or even what I am trying to say so bare with with me as I try to express my feelings.

Yesterday morning a girl I've known since 6th grade was found dead in her apartment and later the person who admitted to killing her turned out to be another guy I knew in middle school and her foster brother.  This has me just at a loss for words.  Although Rachel and I haven't talked much since high school I can't explain how hurt I am by this.  I sat at work all day and tried not to cry but my heart is heavy.  This was a girl who had a beautiful daughter in 2008 and turned her life around and seemed to be doing so well.  Now there will be a little girl who will grow up and probably won't be able to remember her mother's face or voice and she will never know how it feels have a mother who is always there for you.  Last night I sat and I thought about Rachel's family and her closest friends and how heavy their heart must be especially knowing who did this, and I thought to myself if this had been one of my closest friends or my family, is my faith strong enough for me to leave it alone, and also have I matured enough from who I once was to let the law take it course? 

In October The Lord called my "big sister" Joi Warren home and that was one of the toughest funerals I've dealt with, she did so much for so many people and was always there it's just hard to believe that she is gone and its harder to believe it was truly her time to go.  Joi was amazing that's the only way to describe her!  When I was going through some things at Purdue she was always there for me whether it was to jus tpick me up and hang out or help me with laundry she was always there.  A week after her funeral I was praying before I went to bed and I was asking God for strength to handle problems I was going through and also to handle the grieving of Joy passing and I swear I heard a voice say to me "Craig it will be ok" and I don't know if I wanted it to but it sounded like Joi and after that I felt better.


As a Christian man I know it's not my place to understand God's plan or the reason he does things the way he does, but I struggle with wondering why.  I just pray for the families of Rachel Wurster especially her beautiful daughter and of course the family of Joi Warren both of these families lost amazing people.

RIH Rachel Wurster and RIH Joi Warren

R&B Slow Jam of the day

Here is a song by one of my favorite artists!!

Musiq - Love

Day 26 - Family Picture

Day 26 is a family picture so I will upload all the pics I have of my family

My Mom, Me, and My Grandmother (Dad's mom).  These 2 are so influential in where I am today, and I love them so much!!

me and my dad

 

 

My 2 little brothers and little sister!

My Beautiful grandmother (Mom's mother) in Tennessee

My Grandfather (Mom's Dad) in Tennessee

I also have 2 other brothers, but I don't have pics with them.  I also have a plethora of Aunts and Uncles who mean the world to me and have been there for me through good and bad times!! I have cousins who I would do anything for and I hope they know that. And of course all my brothers from the SQUAD!!!

And last but most certainly not least the love of my life Adriane!!!

R&B Slow Jam of the Day

It's been a long time, but here we go I'm back!!! and for today I am going to go back with some old school classics!!!

Isley brothers - For the love of you





Dramatics - In the Rain




Chi Lites - Have you seen her



Stylistics - Break up to make up



I dont care what anyone says ALL these songs are classics!!!

Day 25 - Ipod Shuffle

put your iPod on shuffle and post the first 10 songs that come up!!! Here we go!

1. T-Pain - Can't Believe It f/ Lil Wayne
2. Joe - Stutter (Remix f/ Mystikal)
3. Lil Wayne - I'm Me
4. Jodeci - What About Us
5. Jay-Z - Blueprint 2
6. Master P - Time to check my crackhouse
7. Lil Wayne - Walk Out
8. Jagged Edge - Let's Get Married
9. Donnie McClurkin - Great is your Mercy
10. Jay - Z - Brooklyn's Finest

Day 24 - Something you have learned

I am skipping day 23 because it asks about Vacation and you already read about me in MIA.

Day 24 something you have learned.

I can honestly say in the past year there has been a lot of things I have learned. 

This football season I learned a valuable lesson that I can't be as trustworthy in people as I have been in the past.  I went to Portage High School to coach this past season and for whatever reason, the administration there was unable to come through on the jobs that they promised me, and because of this I was kind of stuck with a less than desired job and also stuck in a completely new city with no money.  So after this experience I learned I was a lot stronger than I thought and I also learned that I will no very slow to trust things people tell me.

Another thing I learned this past year was how to be thankful and praise the Lord for everything he has done or is doing despite the situation I am in.  This year I find my self being a lot more appreciative of the things I have and no matter how tough things seemed I was able to just say thank you God and I didn't stress as much as I have in the past.  Don't get me wrong things weren't the worst they have ever been for me, but a lot of times things were far from good.  I am just thankful and blessed I am able to look at the things I do have and I am able to be thankful for those.

Day 22 - Favorite City

This is an easy blog. 

My #2 fav city is...

Miami, Florida!!!! I love this place I had a blast on vacation here!!


And my number 1 favorite city in the world is .....

I don't care what anyone says, I love my city!!! I am born and raised in Indianapolis and I am so proud of it!!! If you don't like Indy then oh well I LOVE IT!!!

R&B Slow Jam

Today's slow jam takes us back to the move Player's Club!!!! 

Pressha - Splackavellie

Hope you enjoy this great song! and since this is the last day of the work week I'll give you a BONUS TRACK!!!!

This is an throw back jam for you!!!!

Tony Toni Tone - It Never Rains In Southern California

Hope you enjoy these like I do!!!

Day 21 - Picture of yourself

This a tough one considering I don't have many of just my self

You all have seen this one, but I still love it! Before every game I like to go to my heavenly father in prater.  I never pray that God makes us win the game, I just pray that he gives me the strength and wisdom to coach the best game I can, that he gives my players the wisdom and the strength to play their best game, and finally that he keeps BOTH teams safe from injuries!

This is the day I bought my new car and despite some early issue me and Chrystal are holding tough!!! I am so blessed that I was able to get this car and also blessed that I now have a car I can drive for longer than 5 minutes without smoking and a car with AC and Heat.

R&B Slow Jam of the Day

Here it is my slow jam of the day!!!

Jesse Powell - You




You know this was the cut!!

R&B Jam of the Day

Here it is for everyone who waited!!!

Avant - Making Good Love



I know this song isn't that old, but I love it so I am sharing it with you!!

Day 19 Something you miss

• Playing football - Football saved my life and it gave my life a very special purpose! Football will always be big in my life
• Greg Pope (Lil Boo) - without him there is no telling where I would be in life Lil' Boo was definitely there to look out for me and I still can't believe he is gone
• Joi Warren - You were like my big sis and everyone you met you touched in a special way, I know you are in heaven with God looking down on us and still smiling your special smile!
• High School - The simple things about it! Hanging at Sam's house, no bills, no responsibilities, hanging out with friends, no job!!! We didn't realize how good we had it.
• College - Hanging on campus and people watching, no apparents with Tiff  and Bam  and the rest of the crew!
• 615 - The best apt in Purdue History our parties used to be the ish
• The Squad - we still close but I miss just being able to go and kick it like we used to!!!!
• Indianapolis - I miss being home so much. and people may say whatever they want about it but I love Indianapolis and I don't care if you don't like it!!! I love my CITY!!!

Day 18 - Regrets

This is a tough topic to cover because I try not to regret things I have done in the past and I really just try and learn from them and become a better person.  I think the biggest thing I regret in life is the way I handled my knee injury in high school.  After I tore my meniscus in March, I opted to wait until after track season (June) to have surgery and when i did have surgery and I rushed my rehab and got cleared to play in 3 weeks because I cheated my tests so I could make it back for football team camp.  This was a bad decision because it ultimately affected my career at Purdue and my knee still bothers me today, so if I had the chance I would have done that a lot different!!

Day 17

Something you are looking forward to!

There are many things I'm looking forward to in life like getting married, becoming a (great) father, and finishing school (again).  

the thing I'll focus on here is becoming a head coach.  If you have been reading my blog then you know my love for coaching and my desire to be a head coach.  I just feel like I'm ready to have my own program and do things the way I want to them! I want to make impacts on these kids lives the same way Kevin Wright did for me!  With that said I plan on applying for my first head coaching jobs this spring, the worst thing they can say is NO is I figure why not!  So hopefully something good can shake out!

R&B Jam of the Day

It's FRIDAY!!!! And to celebrate the weekend and my lack of blogging over the weekend, I have 3 yes that's right 3 for you today!!!

New Edition - If It Isn't Love

And for the record that is NOT Jamie Foxx in the video lol!!

Here is another great song! This isn't that old but I am sure you all will feel this 1 like you did when you first heard it (Middle School 4 me)

Donnell Jones - Where I wanna Be
 



And last but most certainly not least, this song I didn't know the meaning of until later in life but I used to sing it like I knew!!!

Silk - Freak Me



Thought I would end with a something a little more "adult" lol hope you like it!!! Please comment!!

Day 16 - Dream House

Well let's start with my basement/man cave the most important part!

OK I just want a bar, huge leather sectional, and a big TV to watch the Colts,Pacers, Purdue, and Florida State on!!!

 Next the Kitchen!! Adriane I both love the dark wood and granite counter tops so this Kitchen would do just fine!!!

So one day I want a 4-5 bedroom 3 - 3.5 bath house with an office a nice yard and a 2 car garage!

R&B Slow Jam of the Day

I have got another classic!!!!

This is the jam!! This will make you want to throw on a pair of boots, take your shirt off and SANG!!!

Jodeci - Come and Talk to Me!!



**BONUS**

This one is for my older crowd!! My Mom loves this song and because she used to ALWAYS listen to it, I started to like it now I love it.  #CLASSIC!!!

Quincy Jones f/ Al B Sure, James Ingram, El Debarge, Barry White - Secret Garden

Day 15 Bible Verse

Day 15 bible verses, I have quite a few that are dear to me so I will share them with you!

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I hold this verse very close to my heart because I feel like with God on my side and in my corner I can accomplish so much!  This verse has helped me through the toughest of times whenever I feel like I am unable to do something I just remember this verse and use it for strength.

Psalms 30:5 - For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

No matter how tough things seem, no matter how hard life is just remember that Joy comes in the morning!! This verse holds a very special place in my heart since the passing of my good friend/older sister Joi Warren.  No matter how sad I am about her not being with us here on earth, I still have her in my heart and with me forever!

Deuteronomy 28:13 - And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them

This verse is very special everyone at New Fellowship Family Church. Mrs Miles taught us this at a young age.  If i trust in the Lord and follow his word he will make me something very special! I truly believe this because I can see the Lord moving me to be head everyday! 

Isiah 54:17 - No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

I love this verse because its the bible's way of dealing with haters!  Anyone who is trying to stop me or is saying bad stuff about me will fail!!! I have the Lord protecting me and there is nothing that they can do stop me! 

These are just a couple of my favorites bible verses that I try to live by!!

R&B Slow Jam of the day!!

I found a GREAT 1 today!!! I never knew this song had a video so thank you youtube for this

Sons of Funk - Pushin' it Inside You

You all remember this song and you all KNOW its the jam!!! 

**Warning this song has led to the conception of KIDS so be careful**

OK on to song #2 this song is only for my people with a little bit of an old soul because it is a classic!!

Isley Bros - Voyage to Atlantis

 This song just grooves!!! So listen and relax and enjoy!!!

Day 14 Pictures you Love

I love this picture because it was the realization of a dream for me and some of my closest friends!  When we came to Warren we got a new coach a man by the name of Kevin Wright (my mentor) and when he came to our middle school to talk about high school football he said his goal is for us to win state.  At this point I thought there was no way we would win state and he must have been confused, but he made us by into it and in his 4th year at Warren and during our senior year we were able to do it.  It may be old but I can say I was a key part in helping my school do something that a lot of other people will never be able to say they could do!

I love this picture because this is me doing something a lot of people never thought I would.  Despite some major issues throughout my life I can confidently say that I am a college graduate and my degree is something NO ONE can ever take from me.  The reason i love this picture is because without these 2 women, my mom on the left and my grandmother on the right, I wouldn't have made it!! I love these 2 and I appreciate all the love and support they gave me over the years!

Last but not least Christmas picture of me and Adriane.  I love this pic because I Love the girl in it! My beautiful girlfriend and my biggest supporter!  She means the world to me and I can't wait until the day I can marry her and be with her forever!

R&B Jam of the Day!

Since I LOVE Old School R&B I think I will share this love with you guys and have my R&B slow Jam of the day!!!

Today since its my first day I'm going to give you 2! 

Lets start with this classic by Brian McKnight - One Last Cry.  This song is deep and also sad!

**WARNING** If you have just gotten out of a relationship male or female this song may make you shed a tear or 2!!

OK Song #2 another classic (I didn't know this song had a video until recently) Shai - And If I Ever!! I Absolutely Love this Song!! We sung it for our senior finales even though we can't sing AT ALL!

So this starts my very own Old School R&B Song of the day!! If you have any suggestions let me know!!

Day 13 Goals

Day 13 Goals

• Grow closer to the Lord
• Become a head football coach
• Become a High School Counselor
• Get Married to Adriane
• Have a family
• Be an AMAZING father
• Get COMPLETELY out of debt (including student loans..)

Day 12 - Beliefs

First off let me say Happy Birthday to me!!!! (well it was yesterday).  But I am so thankful and blessed to see 25 years old.  A friend of mine I grew up with wrote on my FB wall and said 25 is a milestone growing up where we did.  And I thought back over my life and ALLLLLLLLLL the dumb things I have done all the trouble I got into and all the bad situations I have been in and I can truly say It has been nothing but the Grace and Mercy of God that I saw 25 Sunday!!!

Thanks to ALL my friends who wished me a happy birthday it meant the world to me, thanks to everyone who came out with me Thursday in Lafayette and Friday in Indianapolis I had a ball thanks to you guys!  And thank you to my wonderful Girlfriend Adriane for making my birthday weekend Amazing!!!

OK here we go!!

Day 12 - Beliefs!

• I believe that God is my lord and savior and without him I am NOTHING!!
• I believe that Adriane and I will be successful
• I believe that I will be a GREAT head football coach
• I believe that I have an awesome and very supportive family! They are so helpful and so amazing
• I believe that I have the best friends in the world I love all you guys and I'd do anything for you!
• I believe that I can make a difference in a child's life and that's why I want to get into education.
• I believe that everyone in life will change, the key is to change for the better and I KNOW I have changed for the better.
• I believe that you should treat others the way you want to be treated
• I believe that I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength

I believe a lot of things but I can't think of more right now sooooo here you go! 

Day 11 - Favorite TV Shows

Day 11 - Favorite TV Shows

Day 11 is my favorite TV Shows.  I have a lot most of which don't even come on TV anymore!! I'll just put the ones I watched recently.

• Martin
• Jamie Foxx Show
• In Living Color
• Dave Chappelle Show
• Modern Family
• Law and Order SVU
• Pardon the Interruption 
• Sports Center
• Family Guy
• Simpsons
• How to Catch A Predator: Funniest not funny show on TV
• First 48
• My Wife and Kids
• Gangland
• Locked Up

Well this is all I can think of!! 

Day 10

Day 10 - Something you are afraid of

There aren't many things I am afraid of but I will try to think of a few.

1. Spiders - I am the wrong person to call about killing these, they scare the mess out of me and I think all spiders are out to eat me.
2. Failure - I worry sometimes am I pursuing the wrong things in life or am I doing something different than what God has planned.  I also worry if I become a head coach what if I'm not as successful as I would like to be.
3. Semi Trucks - I was driving next to one on the highway and it cut me off and made my car spin out on I-70E.  So now when I'm next to one I get nervous and SPEED past it
4. Being like my father - my biggest fear in life is to be life him.  I have modeled my life to be nothing like him and to be a much better person but they say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree but hopefully his tree is on a hill so I can roll away.

These are the only ones I can really think of, so hope you enjoyed this nice and short blog!

Day 9 - Pics with friends

FRIENDS!!!!! HOW MANY OF US HAVE THEM?? FRIENDS!!!

Day 9 is a picture of your friends well I have a lot of friends so I will be posting a lot of pics and to the friends I don't have pics with I'm sorry but you know I love yall too!!  I'm so blessed to have people around me that I know are friends and I know I can depend on for anything! I love yall

 I'll start with my best friend the love of my life!!!

 The 4 original Squad Members!!!

Dez, CB, and Me NAPTOWN STAND UP!!!

Cheryl Kay!!! My sister!!! and my big homie B Prince!!

 Jeromy and I! Big Shout to him because he gave me my start in coaching.

Vail and I! Repping HOV!!

My BFF Bam Bam!!!

Me Gretch and Bam

A group pic but there's S Squared in the middle!

Me and Jessie!!

The GILB - A-Boogie, Raf, Me, Brandon, Dez, CB, and Chris

This is an old one I just had to find one with Wheat and Chase!

Me and my lil sis Piper!

Another old one of the Squad!!!

 Me and Tiff!!!

Me and Katelyn at her wedding!!! 











These are just a few of the pics I have and they are in no particular order I just got them from FB and put them on!!!

Day 7 and Day 8

Since I didn't blog over the weekend I am going to combine day 7 and day 8 into 1 blog! It's my blog and I could do that!

Day 7 Favorite Movies:

This is a tough one I may just have to name like my top 20 favorite lol and this will be in no particular order:

1. The Wood
2. Friday
3. The Hangover
4. The Matrix Trilogy
5. The Blade Trilogy
6. Remember the Titans
7. Boyz in The Hood
8. Menace II Society
9. Transformers
10. Troy
11. Gladiator
12. Coming to America
13. Harlem Nights
14. ATL
15. The Program
16. Superbad
17. Don't Be A Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood
18. Scary Movie
19. 300
20. Bad Boys 1 and 2

Ok those are just some of my favorites, I love movies so this list could have went on FOREVER!!

Day 8 - A place you have traveled to.

Now I haven't been to many far away exotic places, but I've been around the USA from East Coast to West Coast and to down south, but the best place I visited was definitely South Beach in Miami.  We went there for Spring Break 2008 and it was the time of my life.  So here are a few pics of us in Miami living it up!

Day 6 - A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 6 is a picture of something that makes you happy!  This pic is from my 2nd year of coaching and my first year as a DC, this is truly the time I fell in LOVE with coaching!  These guys busted their butts for me and we had a pretty good defense this year!  I can't wait until I get the chance to DC again and I am so thankful for the opportunity in only my 2nd year of coaching to be able to DC at a 5A school and that I was able to be successful in a few of those games (Zionsville!!)

So this is a picture of one of the many things that makes me happy I could have went with my girlfriend, my friends, or family, but since this is a sports thing I went with sports!


"Being the best that you can be is possible only if your desire to be a champion is greater than your fear of failure."

Day 5 - Your Siblings!

First off let me say it's December my favorite month of the year!!!!  My birthday is in 11 days so I need everyone to start their shopping or you can just give me cash, I also accept Paypal payments!!  December is the best month for birthdays no matter what anyone says! We celebrate Jesus birthday in December and I was born lol so we win!!

OK so day 5 of the challenge is about your siblings.  I am my mom's only son but i Have 4 half brothers and 1 half sister. I'll start with the oldest..

Ryan is my oldest brother (30) and my father's first son.  Ryan and I weren't that close growing up but he still looked out for me, we grew up in the same neighborhood and people knew not to mess with me because he was my brother and because he was deep in the streets.  Now I see Ryan every so often and he is just trying to stay out of trouble and make it.

Cory is behind me in age (21) and my dad's third child.  Cory and I weren't close growing up because of the circumstances.  His mom and my mom don't get along, I won't go to deep into details but if you look at his and I age then you can imagine what happened.  Cory and I have gotten a little closer though over the past few years which is good. He has 2 very beautiful daughters and he is trying to finish school and I hope he can get his life on track and leave his "Goon" ways alone

Cordale (12) is my dad's 4th child and my that's my little homie!!  When I was in middle school my mom and I got into it and she mad me stay with my dad a lot.  While staying with him I got real close to Cordale and to this day I am still his favorite person.  When he was a baby he couldn't call me bro so he just called me Bo Bo and that name has stuck to this day. I'm afraid Cordale isn't getting the guidance he needs and he is suffering for it, he doesn't do well in school but I know he is very smart, just no one is pushing him (thats a whole different blog for a different day).  I thought about letting Cordale come stay with me so I can make sure he is doing what he is supposed to, but I can't handle taking care of a teenager right now (I can barely afford to take care of myself).  I do expect great things for him and I hope he expects the same of himself

DeRon (9) is number #5 of the Henderson's. DeRon is quite possibly one of the funniest children I have ever encountered.  He is not like me in the sense he's not into sports (except Wrestling) but he loves Video Games and loves to read.  He is very smart he just needs someone who has a lot of patience to work with him.  I think DeRon will do quite well in life because he likes school and likes to learn and his curls will get him all the girls when he gets older!!

Shelby (7) is the baby and the only girl and it shows.  Shelby is the princess and no one can tell her any different.  She has a very old soul and she makes me laugh often.  She calls my grandmother every night and has grown up convos with her.  She called me one day and I asked what she was doing and she told me "Oh nothing just relaxing, I had a long day."  What 7 year old you know says things like that.

 Here is a pic of me and my 3 younger siblings!

So that's it those are my siblings!!