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Hello Kat Fans! I subscribe to the lovely Mandisa's blog and she mentions Katharine's wedding (see bold paragraph below). I posted the whole blog because some of you may be interested in what Mandisa's been up to. I totally had a feeling she sang when I read there was a Gospel choir - go Kat, she went all out for her wedding! May God bless their marriage!
Monday, February 04, 2008
WinterJam, Weddings, and Current mood: loved Category: Blogging
What's up everybody! Whew! There has been so much going on lately...I feel like I have a lot to catch you up on! First of all, I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed meeting so many of you at Winter Jam! It has been a blast! I have had so much fun hanging with New Song, Skillet, Barlow Girl, Mercy Me, Group 1 Crew, and Pure NRG. Most of all, I have enjoyed being able to personally thank so many of you that I have met during intermission. We posted a few pictures on my website (www.mandisaofficial.com) and I am becoming quite "edubacated" on my Mac laptop so I have taped a few videos too...I just haven't quite learned how to post those yet so be patient with me. They'll come soon...I promise. In the meantime, let me know what you want to see from the tour. Do you guys have any questions or deep longings for information on tour life? I'd be happy to answer anything you wanna know. You know me, honest to a fault...so let me have it! Cool thing happened on the trip from Winter Jam in Little Rock to Los Angeles. Guess who was on my plane? Chilli from TLC and actor James Marsden (you know him from The Notebook, Hairspray, X-Men...) It was kinda cool seeing them in person. I didn't introduce myself. I know people consider me to be a "celebrity", but I still kinda freak out when I see what I consider to be a "real celebrity" (hehehe )! So, I can finally talk about the reason I was on my way to LA (and sorry to those of you I missed at Winter Jam in Birmingham...I had a good reason). Many of you have already heard or read on the internet that a friend of mine got married Saturday. That's right. I'd like to introduce you to Mrs. Nicholas Constantine Cokas...better known to most of you as Katharine McPhee. It was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever been to. I want to respect their privacy though so I'll be brief and just tell you that I adore Nick. He is a very godly man (with an infectious smile ). I was honored to sing during the ceremony and it was great being able to share such an important part of Kat's life. Be sure to check out next week's edition of People magazine. They were the only publication granted exclusive access to the wedding. Funny thing happened on my way home from the wedding. It seems that all of my flights this weekend were celebrity central. Guess who I FINALLY met on the airplane from LA back home? RUBEN!!! ( LOL) Honestly, it was so surreal. For those of you who do not know the history, I have had a pretty big crush on Mr. Studdard ever since seeing him on season 2 of American Idol (and isn't it cool being able to relive that on American Idol Rewind?) Many of you remember that I even dedicated "If I Were Your Woman" to Ruben during the American Idols Live Tour. Well that prompted a surprise phone call from the Velvet Teddy Bear to yours truly while the tour was still going on. We traded voicemail messages but never actually met...until Sunday! Guys! I was so nervous! We spoke very briefly on the plane and then a little more once we landed in Atlanta but I had another flight to catch to Nashville so our time was limited. Will I hear from him again? Who knows... I will say this. This whole weekend has got me thinking a lot about my "super single status". Mind if I vent??? I woke up Sunday morning to a sermon on TV by Creflo Dollar. Guess what it was titled? "Choosing a Mate"! I've never actually watched an entire sermon of Pastor Dollar, but the title got my attention. When I got home Sunday night, I caught up on a few missed episodes of Oprah, including Friday's show with Katherine Heigl and "America's Toughest Matchmaker". Katherine was promoting her new movie "27 Dresses" (which I plan to see tomorrow). Funny thing is, guess who her co-star is? JAMES MARSDEN(did you catch that? If not, re-read above)!!! Isn't that weird! Honestly, I felt like God was shoving in my face the fact that I was single...and 31. With Creflo's sermon, Oprah's show, meeting Ruben, Kat's wedding, James Marsden, the tough talking matchmaker (who was letting me have it!!!), and Valentine's Day looming in the midst , I thought hmmmm...maybe God is speaking (sorry, I had to say it...shameless album plug ). So this is what I have determined. I'm gonna keep it real...if you had told me 10 years ago that I would be 31 years old and single, I would've told you that you have lost your mind and need to go find it before you come to me spouting vicious lies! But now that I am here, I can say that I am very content with my "super single status". Why? Because I can't imagine doing what I am doing now with a husband. I'm not saying it could not have happened, I'm just saying that for me, that was not God's plan. And I have found that His plan is always so much better than my own. Now don't get me wrong...I still long for my "big, Black, Born-again believer, with the bald head, and the goatee" (don't worry, it's just my wish list...the third item is the only requirement...). But I have found that what God has said is true. I love how the Message translation of the Bible puts 1 Corinthians 7:17 "And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life." AMEN!!! I could not have said it any better! A little further down Paul explains that the single woman is free to spend all of her energy focusing on pleasing the Lord and becoming a whole and holy instrument of God. I don't believe the old adage that says that marriage is two halves becoming a whole. I believe it is two wholes becoming a whole. I am not incomplete because I don't have a husband. As a matter of fact, if I look to a man (or anyone or anything else) to complete me, that is idolatry and I will always be searching for what can only be found in the Lord. Jesus completes me, and as I focus on becoming who He has called me to be, He will bring the man into my life that He has chosen for me. Until that time, I will enjoy the journey He has me on...what a ride! To all of my single brothers and sisters out there, let's seek God first, and trust that He will add everything else in it's due time (Matthew 6:33). He knows what He's doing. He is preparing us...and He is preparing your mate. Are ya with me??? ....stepping off of the soapbox... Okay, I'm off to watch "American Gladiators" (is it me, or is that the best new show on TV?...love it!) Oh! That reminds me! I've not written about Idol this season. There's a reason for that. Yes, I have been watching...just not with as much enthusiasm as in previous years. These first few weeks of auditions are not nearly as enjoyable to me as they used to be. It often causes me to pause my Tivo and pray for the dejected hopefuls. While I am thankful the judges are not as brutal as last year, I'm just ready to get to the Hollywood rounds. I'll return to my regular blogging routine then...promise. Can't wait to hear from you all about it. Last thing, for those of you going to Winter Jam this week in Augusta, Jacksonville, and Mobile, I'm sorry I'll miss you. You are sure to have an amazing time! Echoing Angels are filling in for me and they are great. I'll be at Women of Faith in San Antonio (which will be so much fun! ), but I'll make it up to you! Okay guys, hit me up with any questions or comments! Peace! ....and Happy Valentine's Day......Just kiddin'! Disa P.S. Check out my boy Matthew West's latest CD! He is the writer who penned "Only the World", "(Never Gonna) Steal My Joy", "Voice of a Savior", "Christmas Makes Me Cry", and "The Right Thing". He is one of my favorite writers...and he can sing too!...it's really not fair!
Hi Co, Good post. Thanks! Nick is a godly man! Long live the Cokases!!
Note: Mandisa, you're my girl too! Believe it or not, I voted for 3 contestants in 2006 -- Kat, Mandisa and Elliott -- on 2 cell phones, and ended up with a hefty bill, but I didn't mind it at all. I was awfully distraught when Mandisa was removed early on. But all the way to the top 3, I voted for Kat and Elliott, then only for Kat in the finals. That year was nerve wrecking.
I'm proud that Mandisa sang at Kat's wedding, and Elliott made a duet with Kat. It gives me chills.