Do you love me?

When was the last time you told yourself: I love you? 

No, really. This will be a short little blog...if you're reading this via facebook, twitter or plain ole blogger...leave a comment.

Let your comment be:

I love you, your name. Your name.

ex: I love you, Jara. Jara

the other things i think about

Yes, I think health is attached to all parts of our lives...mind, body and soul. When one of those is out of whack, we are out of whack people and wacky people. You know those people in your lives who seem a little off and they sort of cyclone their mess everywhere? I've been that person before...sometimes I still am.

But I wanted to give you a little glimpse into other things that I am passionate about at this moment.

Circles and what they mean for the hope and future of organizations, our communities and our world
Marriage - K and I celebrated our 8 months of marriage, it's really fun, we are growing a lot
Family - I love my family, they came to visit this week, they recenter me in a way that no one else can.
Garden - I saw our first tomato today...small but it's there
Diversity/Inclusion - This has always been on my heart...let's be real, 100 years ago, what would a black woman be doing...and what would you be doing, let's start this conversation and figure out how to make our communities better places for everyone
Friends - I have been surrounded by amazing friends who are family
Healthy food - honoring the body
Justin Bieber - :)

You all love me.

my hair...my hair....

So, I'm sort of obsessed with touching my hair right now. I haven't cut it yet, but I'm watching it grow into its natural state, a little bit at a time. There are days when I second guess my decision to cut my hair. I rationalize and convince myself that I could do one more relaxer and then tackle my hair the next couple of months.

I rationalize and convince myself of a lot of things...tomorrow i'll write in my journal...tomorrow I'll run a little bit farther. Again, another example of how I don't like to stay in the present. So, today, i'm loving my hair each a little bit more each day. I can't help it, it's a part of me, a part of me that I've never seen before. It's like I'm giving myself a shot at being itself. Gotta love myself today. You, too. Okay?

april 23. 2009

i can't sleep. this day will go down in history in my life. i already wrote about it in my journal. i won't post this blog until tomorrow, friday, april 24.

tonight i went to kenley's house after our board meeting to hang out. i sat on his couch and we talked about our days. i went to a board meeting. he worked.

i noticed his tennis rackets on his other couch.

me: you ready to play tennis?
k: yes. i was practicing.
me: in here?
k: yes.
me: show me.
k: he gets up and shows me his fore/backhand. walks over and hands me a box.
k: i guess i can give this to you now (can't remember)
me: what is this?
k: a ring.
me: opens box. mouth drops open.

we're engaged :). in typical, beautiful and wonderful kenley fashion, he proposed with style. he even switched up the ring. i anticipated a simple gold band, but he had another idea in mind. a vintage ring. it's very kenley. it's very me.

he then eventually went back to swinging his tennis swing.

we had talked about getting engaged for quite awhile. i'm glad we did. i felt i needed to really wrap my head around it. God has taught me and continues to teach me about myself as an individual, a sister, daughter, friend and I know that God will take me to new levels in teaching me about being in a family with another.

kenley is my best friend. he's challenged me and encouraged me and championed me.

i remember when he told me he loved me. he drove up to omaha with me to help me move. we were taking out the trash and he said it was time for me to get in. i said, ugh you don't ever say anything nice to me. and he said, how about i love you.

i said, shut up, no you don't. ha.

he does. :) and i do.