https://www.facebook.com/124050654634690/

My Sister's Keeper, 1601 H Street, Suite 102, Bakersfield, CA (2026)

08/23/2026

Now that I have your attention!!😂😂

PLEASE READ!!!!

IMPORTANT information to get your affairs in order.

💰Make sure all bank accounts have direct beneficiaries. The beneficiary need only go to the bank with your death certificate and an ID of their own.

🏡 TOD = Transfer On Death deed if you own a home. Completing this document and filing it with your county saves your heirs THOUSANDS. This document allows you to transfer ownership of your home to your designee. All they need to do is take their ID and your death certificate to the county building and the deed is signed over. Doing this will avoid the home having to go through probate.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Living Will: Allows one to put in writing exactly what you want done in the event you cannot speak for yourself when it comes to healthcare decisions as well as other final decisions.

👩🏽‍⚖️Durable Power of Attorney: Allows one to designate a person to make legal decisions if one is no longer competent to do so.

🏥Power of Attorney for Healthcare: This document allows one to designate someone to make healthcare decisions for their person.

🛍Last Will and Testament: Designates to whom personal belongings will go too.

🪦Funeral Planning Declaration: allows one to say exactly one’s wishes as far as disposition of the body and the services.

If the above documents are done, you can AVOID probate.

If all the above is not done, you have to open an estate account at the bank. All money that doesn’t have direct beneficiaries goes into this account. You have to have an attorney to open the estate account. The attorney also has to publicize your passing in the newspaper or post publication at the county courthouse, to allow anyone to make a claim on your property. - It’s a complete PAIN.

📚 💳Make a list of all banks and account numbers, all investment institutions with account numbers, lists of credit cards, utility accounts, etc. Leave clear instructions as to how and when these things are paid.

Make sure heirs knows where life insurance policies are located. 📂

📝Make 100% sure SOMEONE knows your Apple ID, bank ID account logins and passwords!

🚗 Make sure you have titles for all vehicles, campers, etc!

Set up a TRUST for intended beneficiaries, especially those that are too young, and appoint a trustee of said trust.

MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!! - Talk with those closest to you and make all your wishes KNOWN. Talk to those whom you’ve designated, as well as those close to you whom you did not designate. - Do this to explain why your decisions were made and to avoid any lingering questions or hurt feelings.

⚡️Hope this helps! ⚡️Hope this lights a spark to encourage all your friends and family to take care of these things to make it easier for those we all leave behind!

My hope is that the above list at least helps you start an important conversation with your loved ones...

(REPOST-I DID)

07/08/2026

Take care of you too.

07/08/2026

Conversations with Calandra
“Power on Both Ends”
By Calandra Barrett

I was sitting in the parking lot of Family Dollar the other day, when something caught my attention.
A white Tesla was parked outside with a thick charging cord running from the car to the store. I chuckled. I thought, “Now that’s something. A car that expensive charging at Family Dollar.” Then another thought crossed my mind. That Tesla could stop almost anywhere and recharge, as long as it had the cord it needed to connect to a power source. Then God whispered to my heart…”So can you.”

God created each of us with purpose, authority, and power. From the beginning, He gave mankind dominion over the earth. But He also knew we could never sustain that power on our own. Eventually we’d become weary. Discouraged. Broken. Lost. Empty.
That’s why He made a way for us to reconnect.

As I looked back at that Tesla, something else stood out. It didn’t matter that it was parked at Family Dollar instead of somewhere fancy. POWER IS POWER. The source doesn’t become less powerful because of the location. Immediately I thought about Jesus. God gave His most precious gift, His Son, so we would always have a way back to Him. Jesus became the connection between a holy God and imperfect people.

Jesus is our power cord. When life drains us, we don’t have to stay stranded. We simply pull over and reconnect. That’s why Jesus taught His disciples to pray. Prayer isn’t just a religious ritual, practice, or routine. It’s how we stay connected to our Father.
You can pray in a hospital room or a courtroom. At Walmart or Target. In the White House or the poor house. On an interstate, in an alley, at work, or sitting in your car. It doesn’t matter where you are. If you have Jesus in your heart and a prayer on your lips, you can reconnect to the One who never runs out of power.

Many things promise and attempt to recharge our lives. Money. Success. Relationships. Recognition. They may work for a little while, but eventually every one of those cords will fail. Only one connection never shorts out.
Only one leads directly to the Father. That Connection is Jesus Christ. So wherever life finds you today, don’t leave home without your cord. Stay connected. Even the most valuable thing in the world eventually runs out of power unless it’s connected to the Source. Just in case you missed it…We aren’t the electricity. We’re the Tesla. God is the Source. Jesus is the cord. Prayer is how we plug in.

If you feel like you’ve been trying to operate with a defective power cord and unstable power source let today be the day that you connect to the right cord. Jesus Christ is the cord and our God in Heaven is the only real power source.

Today, allow the Lord to give you the jolt of power you need to walk in your purpose. If you don’t pay your bill City of Union or Broad River Electric are gonna cut your power off…PERIOD. God is not like that, all you have to do is accept Jesus Christ as your Personal Saviour and you immediately power up. All you have to do is stay connected.

Much Love & Many Prayers,
Calandra B.

06/27/2026

⛳ Get Ready for a Spooktacular Day on the Greens! ⛳🎃
Join Black Women Golfers California for our 🎃 Spooktacular Golf Tournament – Swing for Scholarships! Every swing helps create educational opportunities for future leaders through our scholarship program. 💜🏌🏾‍♀️
📅 Monday, October 19, 2026
⏰ Shotgun Starts at 7:00 A.M.
📍 El Dorado Park Golf Course
2400 N. Studebaker Rd.
Long Beach, CA 90815
✨ Here's how you can make a difference:
🏌🏾 Register your foursome and enjoy a day of golf, fun, prizes, raffles, and surprises!
💜 Become a sponsor and showcase your business while supporting education.
🎓 Make a tax-deductible donation to help fund scholarships for deserving students.
🤝 Invite your family, friends, coworkers, and fellow golfers to join the cause!
Every registration, sponsorship, raffle ticket, and donation helps us empower the next generation through education and leadership.
📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer to register or donate.
🌐 blackwomengolferscalifornia.org
Together, we're building sisterhood, strengthening our communities, and changing lives—one swing at a time. 💜⛳
🧡💜⛳

05/31/2026

Conversations with Calandra
“The Longer You Talk… The Longer It Takes”
Calandra Barrett,
Community Columnist

We spend so much time talking about how to stop gun violence, but never call 911 when we hear shots.
We have hundreds of ideas about what the school system should be doing, yet some folks haven’t been to a school board meeting since Reagan left office. We say we want to stop child abuse in our city, but when a child tries to tell us they’re being touched by their uncle, instead of calling Child Protective Services, we call Pastor Joe Blow and ask the church to pray for the “We Hide Everything” family.

Our churches and communities are full of bright ideas and good intentions. But every day, our town gets a little closer to that handbasket headed straight to hell.
At some point, talking has to turn into action. Because the longer we talk, the longer it takes. How many funerals do we have to attend for someone that we all knew was struggling with drugs… before the entire community decides enough is enough?

Now before you get defensive, hear me clearly. I know we all have our own lives, our own responsibilities, our own battles. I understand that. It’s easier to mind your business than to get involved. It’s easier to stay quiet than to risk being wrong. It’s easier to pray about it than to pick up the phone and report it. But silence has a body count. When has “staying out of it” saved a single life.

Let’s talk about our children. We shake our heads at teen pregnancy, but when teenagers try to talk to us before the s*x, before the decisions they leave feeling worse than when they came. Judged. Dismissed. Shut down. And then we act surprised when they stop coming to us altogether. We cannot continue to be the door they’re afraid to knock on, and then complain about what happens behind closed doors.

If we want better for our children, we have to live better in front of them. Not perfectly. But honestly. Consistently. In a way that makes them feel safe enough to ask questions before life makes decisions for them. Oh, and if you’re going to speak on a problem, be part of the solution. If you’re not willing to help fix it, then be quiet about it.
Because helping and gossiping are not the same thing. Helping requires action. Gossip just requires an audience.

If a child tells you they’re being abused, hurt, or mistreated… you listen. You take it seriously. And if it takes calling someone 1,000 times to get that child protected, then you make 1,000 calls. Protecting children is not optional. It’s not somebody else’s job. It’s all of ours.

So before we have another meeting, another conversation, another long discussion about “what needs to be done”. Let’s ask yourself one question: “What have I actually done to help?” Because the longer we talk…the longer it takes.

If this or any of my columns have touched your heart or helped you, I’d love to hear from you. If there are things you want to talk about, let me know that too.
You can email me at [email protected]. You can also send correspondence to: Conversations with Calandra
3545 Whitmire Hwy
Union SC 29379
For speaking engagements, workshops, or prayer you may contact me directly at 864-762-0929. If I’m unable to answer, I will return your call within 24 hours.
Much Love,
Calandra B.

05/04/2026

Week 11 begins 🤍

Let’s start here…
We are not behind.

Life happens.
Energy shifts.
Sometimes we pause, drift, or lose rhythm.

And that’s okay.

This week is not about catching up.
It’s about coming back to yourself — with grace.

Getting back on track looks like:
• starting again without shame
• releasing guilt for what you didn’t do
• taking one small step forward
• choosing yourself… again

We don’t need a perfect restart.
We just need a willing heart and one next step.

Welcome back to you.

05/03/2026

Conversations with Calandra
“In My Storm I Still Showed Up”
By: Calandra M. Barrett

A couple of months ago, I found myself in a storm I didn’t even see it coming. Not the kind you prepare for. Not the kind you can schedule around. Not the kind that anyone tells you is about to take place. It’s the kind that shows up uninvited and they wreaks all types of hell, havoc, and chaos in your already stressed life. Then it demands something from you Emotionally. Physically. Spiritually. My storm stretched me as close to my breaking point as I have ever been.

If I’m totally honest with myself and you, there were moments I didn’t feel strong at all. Moments that I could hardly get out of bed, but I forced myself to because I have responsibilities and people depending on me to show up and handle business. My family, friends, and customers expect me to show up consistently. They couldn’t see the storm that was raging in my life. Nobody saw it but me and God.

I would wake you everyday feeling tired. I felt overwhelmed. I felt anxious. I felt depressed, and scared because I didn’t know what my life would be like on the other side of the storm. I was carrying more than I had the capacity to hold, but without me even realizing it, God kept giving me the strength to withstand. Even when I was too out of it to realize it, He was carrying me. I want you to know that HE IS CARRYING YOU TO.

You have to understand that when you have people depending on you, even in the middle of your storm, you still have to show up. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be present. Not polished. Not at your best. You just have to show up and let God carry you through your storm.

Tomorrow, April 24 at 8:56 AM, will make one year since my daddy, received his ultimate promotion. One year since Arthur L. Barrett Jr. left this side of life and stepped into eternity. If I’m being real… the hardest part of my storm began in February of last year when my daddy and I found out that his time on this side was coming to an end. He told me almost everyday “Calandra, you’re built for this, you have too much of me in you, not to be okay”. It was almost like he was trying to drill it into my head. I just didn’t want him to go. I didn’t want him to be sick anymore, I just knew my life would be changed forever without him.

When he transitioned to be with God, the storm hit me and it hit hard. I had to learn how to keep showing up in a world that no longer had my daddy, my protector, my secret keeper, my prayer partner, and more than anything my best friend. I realized that my life would never be normal again. But I remembered what he told me at a very young age. He said “ walk with and talk to God everyday and sometimes all day. He will never leave you. One day I won’t be here as your daddy, but God will forever be with you as your Father.” In the midst of this storm I’m in, I continue to hold on to his words.

Grief doesn’t knock politely. It shows up in waves. In moments.
In memories that hit you when you least expect it. There are days I keep going simply because I have no other choice. Days I carry my responsibilities while I’m carrying the loss of my daddy at the same time. Trust me it gets heavy.

And truth be told…The rain from the storm hid my tears.People saw me show up, but they didn’t always see what it cost me to be there.

What I’ve come to understand now, with a little distance between me and that season, is this: Showing up in your storm is a different kind of strength. It’s not loud. It’s not always visible.
And it doesn’t always feel powerful, but it is.

My father lived a life that taught me about strength long before I ever needed to define it for myself. Not just in what he said… but in how he showed up.
Consistently. Steadily. With presence that didn’t have to announce itself. Even now, a year later…that example is still carrying me. I don’t have to be at my best to be faithful. I don’t have to have everything figured out to keep moving forward. I just have to show up. Even in my storm, and that’s what I’m encouraging you to do today. Make up in your mind that no matter what, you’re going to show up for God, yourself, and those around you.

So if you’re in a season that feels heavier than you planned…
If you’re carrying something you didn’t ask for…
If you’re doing your best just to keep going…Hear me clearly:
You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful. If you’re still standing…If you’re still moving…If you’re still showing up…You’re stronger than you think.

Storm don’t just test you. Sometimes, they reveal what’s been planted in you all along.
And if you’re still showing up?
That means something strong is still standing.

Don’t give up, show up. Let today be the day you gain all the protection you need. God is watching and waiting patiently for you to allow Him to lead, guide, and direct you through your storm. Today could be your day for salvation and forgiveness. If you don’t know what it means to be saved and have eternal life, give me or another person that knows and servers the Lord a call. I will walk you through the plan of salvation step by step. We can then find a local Bible-teaching, preaching, and living church where you can grow. Don’t let another day go by without Jesus in your life as your personal Savior. Allow Him to carry you through the storms that come up in your life.

Love
Calandra B.
“Built For The Storm”

Intended to encourage and uplift and does not replace professional medical or mental health.

03/26/2026

Thursday Reflection 🤍

Take a moment and pause.

You don’t have to fix everything.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.

This week is about releasing perfection
and allowing yourself to grow… gently.

✨ Today’s reflection:

Where am I giving myself permission to grow without needing to be perfect?

Maybe it looks like:
• trying again without pressure
• showing up imperfectly
• letting go of self-criticism
• honoring progress over perfection

You don’t have to rush your becoming.

You are evolving — and that is enough.

03/24/2026

Week 10 begins 🤍

At this point in the journey, something shifts.

You start to realize…
you were never meant to be perfect.

You were meant to evolve.

Evolving looks like:
• learning without shame
• growing without rushing
• changing without explaining
• trying again without quitting

You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You don’t have to get it right every time.

You just have to keep becoming.

This week, give yourself permission to grow at your own pace.

You are not behind.
You are evolving.

My Sister's Keeper

08/23/2026

07/08/2026

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