Kimmie!!! There's so much to say about Kimmie...

Kimberly is a very intelligent and beautiful young woman. I can't remember when Kimmie and I met, but I do remember her being on the scene back in my early days as an LDS with Natalie, and other friends. We've all moved on to different parts of our lives, some of us in different parts of the world. But like all of my LDS friends, Kimmie is one who I love to see when I can.

She's well-read, well-traveled, and spiritual. I love those people who are secure enough within themselves to let you "do you" (and learn the lessons the hard way if need be). She knows a lot about politics, as well as Islamic culture. I had a very informative evening once, listening to her tell us about her stay in Egypt, and about the culture there.

I'm blessed to say that I know a lot of people in the church who have such diverse backgrounds, coupled with a sense of spirituality that keeps them both vitalized and humble.

Here's to you, Kimmie!

0 comments View Entry

Heather started out as a very "thorough" Visiting Teacher (she always managed to find me when I wanted to hide), and in short time became my friend.

During a time in which I had begun to feel disallusioned about the friendships I had forged in the church (I was a sweet spirit until I questioned), Heather proved herself to be my life force, in many ways. She was all that I wanted to be, beautiful, strong, spiritual, intelligent. And she saw these qualities in me when I did not see them in myself.

Heather is the type of friend who, though I do not see her often, I am always assured of her love for me. She is truly my heart. Her example is one I have followed in the past, and would not be ashamed to follow again, because her type of integrity is the type that can fit in anywhere, she is simply stated, a good person.

She is someone who is firm in their convictions, yet compassionate enough to allow others to experince life as only God can lead them. She has in many ways led me through my most difficult spiritual transitions, and with her I never felt ashamed.

Just this past year my Heather married her Michael. Michael rocks by virtue of the fact that he loves Heather, but also because he's an awesome guy. I couldn't think of anyone better for her, and vice versa. I love to see them together, because I know that they are happy. Sadly, I wasn't able to make it to her wedding, but I feel joy when I see them together, because I see two good people getting what they deserve, unconditional love from one another.

To my Heather, thank you for being there for me these past seven years. Thank you for seeking me out when I didn't want to be found, your spirit told you what mine was feeling, and you looked past my shyness. Thank you for being you, that ebullient, exuberant, glittering individual that I have always loved to see and be around. And Michael, thanks for being you, for making my Heather (yes, I claimed her first, but you can have her) happy, and for being the wonderful Christian man that you are. Together the two of you will move mountains, and through you, people will come into this world who will make it a better place by their mere existence, because they learned such behavior from their parents.

1 comments View Entry

Natalie was one of the first people that I became friends with upon joining the church. I was baptized into a fairly large singles ward back in late 2001. Natalie is to me, the epitome of all that an intelligent, strong woman should be. When I hear of people saying that LDS women are brainwashed to stay home and make babies, I think about the LDS women I know.

Nat's a lawyer. She impresses me a great deal. Kind, yet sincere in her convictions, a no-nonsense kind of gal. Very pretty. I think she breaks a lot of stereotypes, because she was born and raised in SLC. She has a younger sister, and is very close to her family.

I believe that Nat and I became acquainted through either Visiting Teaching or those discussions you take after being baptized, you know, the ones (at least for converts) that further educate you on church doctrine and culture. She was friends with another soon to be mutual friend, Tomeka.

The one thing that endeared Natalie to me, is that she, like all my LDS friends, did not abandon me during my time of questioning and spiritual darkness. Perhaps I should just quote something that I wrote for her to be included in a birthday present that she got this year.

0 comments View Entry

I think I've come to figure out part of the reason for unrest in my life at the moment. I'm undergoing a lot of transition, I have a wonderful boyfriend in my life, could potentially be expecting a child. I'm to be married spring of next year (at the latest). I started a new (well, kinda) job, and am moving in a few weeks. I have family drama to deal with, not to mention some health problems. But overall, I feel good.

But I've kind of felt this unrest. As time has passed and my experiences have broadened, I've come to question a lot of the beliefs I've held over the years. I am a fourth-generation Black Jew, my great grandmother having converted just after the Emancipation. Half of my family is Jewish, the other half Christian. I am proud of my roots. The subject of faith has always been prevalent in my life, but as I get older, I guess I kind of want to withdraw for awhile. You could say I'm finding myself.

Still, there was this emptiness.

I used to participate on another board that had Mormonism as its subject, but the atmosphere there grew increasingly negative. There came a point when I realized that I myself was adopting this negativity. Now don't get me wrong, I have both an opinion and a temper, and the combination of the two isn't pretty. I have my moments. But I had to stop and think, what good was I doing by acting this way? Obviously none.

I finally decided to move away when the drama got to be too much. Still, I like talking with other people, I think that dialogue is a wonderful tool of learning. But it's all too easy to get caught up in the nonsense. I did, and it didn't come out well.

I've decided to start a new project, to kind of boost my spirituality. An exercise in gratefulness, of sorts. I've decided that to start my blog, I'm going to write about my LDS friends. After all, this is an LDS board, and I want to celebrate those who are members of this church who have contributed to my life over the past six years. Just thinking about it makes me happy.

1 comments View Entry