Nyleve’s Haven
I am sitting on the back porch, facing East. It is raining. Jazz is throbbing in my ears. I’m thinking about my favorite place on the planet, Nyleve’s Haven . . . or home. Those who don’t understand and have never been there have tried to turn it into an organization, said it needs to be a nonprofit, made me describe it with fancy words that I will go find and add to this space, later. Right now, I am missing the comfort of home and the love of my children.
All My Children 😂
Whenever I introduced a daughter and was asked, “now, is that your real daughter?” I wanted to scream: “All my children are my real children. God gave them to me and they are REAL!!!” Even now, someone who thinks they know me, will ask when I say that I am staying with my daughter, “Your real daughter?” Why do you care? So let me get this out there and be done with it. I am blessed to have given birth to one amazing human being who I gave my mother’s first name. God so far, has given me more than 100 soul children. The only difference is that I had nine months to prepare for My Joy and her older sister, who shares names with a famous singer, came in a flash – when I handed her my ink pen. If you read this and we meet, I dare you to ask me which is which, especially on a Sunday. 🤨
The Haven is where I loved on my children. Some of them are my daughters, some are my sons, one is my orange soda drinking grandson, some are my grandgoodies, some I call my kidz, some my babies, either way they are my God-given family. Some had keys, some didn’t, either way the door was always open to my children and they knew it. We could always come home. THAT is why I want to go home. Nyleve’s Haven is MY home. In Louisville, Ky, not Paris, Tennessee. The Funeral Home was my parents’ home, the home of my childhood, The Haven is MINE, the home of my adulthood. It is the home of God’s creation through me.
In The Haven Kitchen
The Haven kitchen was where I was me, authentically. Cooking for my family is my true pleasure and joy. I listen to my children, I learn from my children, I love my children as I feed my children in The Haven kitchen. I LOVE TO COOK. I love to watch my family enjoy my cooking. I also loved watching God show all the way out and perform miracles, in my kitchen. You see, I knew how many days I walked into the kitchen with three to five of my children in the living room chilling, laughing and talking, all needing to be fed. I knew that at least one was in my home because they had nowhere else to eat. I remember opening the freezer and seeing one package of chicken.
I remember starting, first in ignorance – then in faith, to prepare a meal and more of my children, just showing up and it appeared that a party started. “Hi momma.” The house filled with young people hugging on me, joy flowing in and out of the kitchen as I cooked. Somehow, some way, by the time I was preparing plates there was enough for all to be fed. Everyone left full. If there was a need, some left with a plate and I and everyone who lived there went to bed with a full stomach. I NEVER had to turn anyone away for lack of food. NOT ONE TIME. God ALWAYS provided. Even when I KNEW there was not enough when I started cooking. I am sitting here crying tears of gratitude now just remembering God’s generosity and grace back then. When I say God is good, this is an example of what I am talking about. I get angry when anyone tells me what My God won’t or can’t do. I have seen God perform miracles!!!! IN MY HOME! IN MY LIFE!!! GOD IS GOOD!
I want to go home and be me!!!