Results of Mrs. Martin's Dream Theme

Hi, Y’all!

 

Well, I’m back, and y’all have waited long enough, so let’s get right on down to the nitty gritty.

 

As you may remember from yesterday evening’s blog post, I talked about how Mrs. Martin came up with an idea for a “dream theme,” but she put me in charge of the whole assignment. Now, check this out: Usually, I’m full of ideas and brainstorms, but believe it or not, I was up until eleven o’clock last night, and my mind was absolutely blank—I mean, I ain’t have not nann one idea. I felt so ashamed of myself that I didn’t know what to do.

 

Well, it goes without saying, but the “Dream Theme” was a major success today!

 

After we said our morning prayer and had our greetings and salutations, Mrs. Martin let the kiddies know that I would be teaching for the entire day. As I walked up to the front of the classroom, the little kiddies gave me a sweet applause… and from out the corner of my eye, I saw some half sheets of blank green paper and a small box. Just like that, I received a miraculous idea! Instantly, I handed out the half sheets of paper and asked the little ones if they remembered what we talked about yesterday. When they all said yes, I instructed them to write down their names and what they wanted to be when they grew up, then put their paper in the box when they were done. After the last child placed his paper in the box, I let the kiddies know that we were going to pretend that I was a talk show host and Mrs. Martin would be the camera crew. I promised the little ones that I would interview each and every last one of them, even if we had to use the whole school day to do so.

 

As Mrs. Martin looked on, I pulled a name out of the box and called the chosen child up to the front so I could “interview” them on what they wanted to be when they grew up. All thirty-five darlings interviewed very well, but I gotta be a little partial right here—I got excited when I interviewed Max, mainly because I remember his answer about how he wanted to be rich… and incidentally, Max was the last child (save the best for last indeed). Well, Max explained that he wanted to be rich because his mom’s favorite song is “I Wanna Be Rich” by Calloway, and his mom sings the song so much that he made up in his mind to save all his money when he grew up, just so he can split it with his family.

 

Bless his little heart—I promise y’all that Max is gonna see to it that his dream comes true!

 

Well, with ten minutes left in the school day, my project was complete, and I turned the class back over to Mrs. Martin, who asked the little ones to give me another round of applause. I couldn’t help it—I started blushing, and then I did a bit of a curtsy. Afterwards, Mrs. Martin let the little ones know that their dreams would indeed come true, so long as they keep the faith and hold on.

 

After the dismissal bell rang, Mrs. Martin and I both wished the little ones well, and then she turned right to me and gave me a big hug for a job well done. I thanked Mrs. Martin for the compliment, but I also let her know that I literally thought of that idea at the eleventh hour. She looked at me and said, “But the bottom line is, Dearie, that you persevered to the very end, and that’s what being a real teacher is all about. I could tell that you didn’t have anything planned until you saw that stack of paper, but you played it off so well—you were quick on your feet and you didn’t miss a beat. Plus, you proved to yourself that you definitely have what it takes to be a kindergarten teacher. Kudos to you, my dear.”

 

Okay, y’all—do I really need any more affirmation and confirmation? I mean, it’s all but etched in stone… hahahaha! But seriously, that was really sweet of Mrs. Martin to say.

 

Until next time, y’all take care.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Kids STILL Say The Darnedest Things!

Hi, Everybody!

I believe it was the late Art Linkletter who reminded us that kids say the darnedest things. Well, after what I experienced today during Dave Five of my internship at Carter Elementary, I can say in great faith that Mr. Linkletter’s statement still rings true today.

So, it was lunchtime, and I was sitting by myself, watching the little ones play jump rope, hopscotch, kickball—the things that I used to do when I was a little one… hahahaha! Anyway, my mind drifted to my peeps back at Rust, and I began to smile. I had just bitten into my sandwich when this one little fella came over and sat right next to me.

“Hi, Miss Natasha,” he said with a great big smile. “I’m gonna sit right next to you, because I don’t want you to be sad.”

I chuckled a little bit, then I said, “Well, don’t worry, little buddy—I am not sad. If anything, I’m just thinking about my friends back in Mississippi. I’m kinda wondering what they’re doing right now.”

“Well, I bet you anything that they’re thinking about you too, Miss Natasha,” he said. “And they probably miss you, too. I mean, what’s not to like about you? You’re nice, you’re fun, and you’re cute!”

This little guy really touched my heart.

“Awwwwwwwww—thank you,” I said with a smile.

The little fella smiled back, and then he gave me an innocent little kiss on the cheek.

At that moment, I got tickled in my spirit, because I could clearly see my girl Ruby’s facial expressions crossed my mind. I t was then that I started thinking about what she would say: “Ooooh, Girl—you got the fellas goin’ crazy over you!” And then my other girl Azalea would be like: “Girl, you might wanna watch that little fella—he’s already startin’ off as a heartbreaker!”

In all seriousness, though, it was very sweet of the little guy to cheer me up like he did… well, all things considered, anyway. Again, I was merely thinking about my peeps back at Rust, and apparently this little guy could tell that something was wrong, otherwise he wouldn’t have sat down and had lunch with me.

Then again, maybe his modus operandi was to give me a kiss on the cheek.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

The Vipress Is Back, Y'all!

Hi, Everyone!

Some of you may be wondering about the backstory behind the title of today’s blog post—well, allow me to explain.

Yesterday evening, I had a deep phone conversation with my Auntie Cherri, and I was telling her that fellow Rustite and aspiring teacher Craig Dixon asked me to be his Valentine. She asked me if I accepted, to which I affirmed that I did so, but rather reluctantly. Well, Auntie Cherri told me that I did the right thing by accepting Craig’s sweet little request. She said that by accepting Craig’s invitation to be his Valentine, I showed that I am allowing my emotional scars to heal. She also said something that I hope she puts in her upcoming book:

“Tasha, I’m gonna tell you just like I tell Vanessa—the most dangerous woman in the world is one who knows her worth.”

As soon as Auntie Cherri told me that, I got to thinking about my blog post from just this past Thursday. There’s a gospel song that talks about how you sometimes need to encourage yourself. Well, if y’all remember, I started to regain my confidence once I remembered that I am Natasha Renee Stewart—Mom’s little Smurfette, Dad’s little Honey Bee, Gramma Jewel’s little Bright Eyes, and one-third of the Tripod. I am also four feet eleven inches tall, with dark brown hair, gorgeous brown eyes, a beautiful smile that would make Mona Lisa a touch envious, and a figure that puts an hourglass to shame!

Okay, that may be overembellishing a little bit, and I may be tooting my own horn, but let’s face it: I know my worth as a woman, and I should never forget that. Besides, Auntie Cherri told me about a song from the late great Luther Vandross called “Too Far Down.” I looked that song up on YouTube this morning, and after listening to it, I feel so much better. To summarize the song, the message is simply this: It’s okay to be sad and it’s okay to cry, but don’t be so down in the dumps to where you’ve hit the point of no return.

Well, y’all—I’ll be damned before I get depressed and fall too far down. As long as I’ve got my family and friends, and of course with God on my side, I’ll make it.

I now close today’s blog post with the last few lines of that encouraging song by Luther Vandross:

Pick yourself up—if you’re lost, you’ll be found,

But if you don’t care, you’re just too far down.

I know you feel so left out, pushed around,

But nevertheless, don’t go too far down.

Y’all have a great day, and I’ll holla tomorrow.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Helping Heal Theo's Wounds

Good Monday Afternoon, Everybody!

All things considered, it was great to be back in the salt mines today. And check this out, y’all: The madness ain’t over yet—my midterms are coming up literally next Tuesday, and that means that I’ve got some super-duper studying to do. It’s all good, though, because this all that I live for right now. My mom and dad once told me that, until I go out in the real world, my schoolwork is my job, and my grades are my paycheck.

Sounds simple enough, don’t it? Hahaha!

Well, y’all, as is evident by the title of today’s blog post, I’ve got an update on my homey Neo Theo, and it’s good news, too: It all started when I was heading to my Intro to Humanities class this morning. On my way to class, I heard Theo call out: “Hey, Vipress—wait up, tho!”

Needless to say, I was thrilled to hear the enthusiasm return in his voice. If I may quote WWE commentator Michael Cole: “Vintage Neo Theo!” Hahahahaha!

Anyway, as we walked to class, Theo reiterated to me that he sincerely apologized for his attitude over the past couple days; he stated that he just didn’t know how to handle a girl breaking his heart, and he had to isolate himself from me and Ruby on account of  he didn’t want to take his frustrations out on us. Well, I let Theo know that, while his decision was somewhat selfish, I totally understood.

Theo then went on to tell me that he was emotionally confused; he had made his mind up that he didn’t want to be a fool again, yet he admitted that he still kinda had feelings for Olivia.

Now, y’all—when Theo told me that, I instantly got sick to my stomach, but being a true friend, I let him bare his soul, and I let him know that it was okay for him to feel that way. I also reiterated to him that any real woman would be thanking The Lord Up Above for a sweet guy like him. “Do you realize, Theo, that you are a rare breed?” I said to him. “You don’t need no two-bit tramp-ass slut like Olivia; you’ve got too much class than that. And just in case you need to know how sweet of a guy you really are, let me show you.”

And I simply gave Theo a kiss on the cheek, to which he just gave me a big ol’ wide grin!

Well, it goes without saying, but I think Theo’s healing up nicely.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Counter for the Sophomore Jinx

Hey, Y’all!

So, this evening in the cafeteria, I had a real deep conversation with my peeps Ruby and Theo. The topic for discussion was something known as a sophomore jinx. As usual, Theo and Ruby talked at length about the term while I listened intently. I didn’t join in on the conversation until I had done my research, so while Ruby and Theo chatted it up, I decided to go ahead and look up that all-too-familiar term on my laptop. I received one definition from Wikipedia, which stated that a sophomore jinx is also known as a “sophomore slump.” No matter the term that one uses, they both refer to an instance in which a second effort fails to live up to the standards of the first effort. Some examples of a sophomore jinx refer to the best of athletes, singers, and television shows, but y’all could only imagine my surprise when I learned that a sophomore jinx is also used to describe the lack of enthusiasm from high school and/or college students.

Well, after having done my research, I finally weighed in on the conversation… and come to think of it, I remember posting a blog sometime last year in which I questioned if I could top my very own success. Of course, when I posted that particular blog, I was talking about a class that I absolutely loved. Well, here we are now—same question, different scenario. I talked to Ruby and Theo at length about my fear of suffering from the sophomore jinx. My freshman year far exceeded my own expectations, let alone the expectations of my family. I told Ruby and Theo that I have set such high standards for myself that I just refuse to be a victim of the sophomore jinx.

And then it hit me!

As I was talking, I could hear the song “Trust Me” by Richard Smallwood playing through my mind. While I meditated on that song, Ruby reminded me of a blog that I had post around this time last year, simply entitled “I Trust Him!” She then reminded me of how I listen to “Trust Me” at least once a day, and four times on Sunday. It was then that I thought about the most profound words to that song:

“I am that I am. I have all power.

I will deliver, if you will only trust me.

Trust me—trust me!”

Thank God for the constant reminders that He is always with me. It’s always reassuring to know that He will never leave me, and that He will fight all my battles, so long as I trust Him.

And then, too, when you’re a true child of God, there ain’t no such thing as a sophomore jinx. Besides, every one of us has a season, so that so-called slump could be a time to rest and rejuvenate myself.

Well, y’all—I had better close this here post, but as always, I thank y’all for tuning in and listening to a sista. Until tomorrow, y’all take care, and remember: Trust Him!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Inspirational & Motivational

Oh, wow—it is October 1, isn’t it?

Well, with that said: Happy Tuesday, Y’all!

So, yesterday evening in my Foundations of Education class, my professor gave us an assignment to think about one elementary school teacher that made a positive impact on our lives. Well, naturally this was an easy assignment for me, seeing as how I had received the sweetest inspirational letter from one Mrs. Ingrid Martin. Throughout the remainder of the class, our professor had us stand up and announce who we chose and why. Now, here’s the amazing part: Although I was listening attentively to my fellow classmates hype up their respective inspirational teachers, I was trying to put together my speech about Mrs. Martin—I had only written down that Mrs. Martin was the absolute bestest. Well, about seven classmates in, the professor called on the eighth person to come up… and that eighth person was yours truly.

Well, seeing as how I didn’t have a whole lot to go on, I just picked up my lackluster notes and the letter from Mrs. Martin, and I walked up to the front of the class. I first apologized for not being as prepared as I should have been, and the next thing I knew, the words started to flow perfectly. I simply talked about how my first day in kindergarten, I automatically grew to like Mrs. Martin because she had that genuine caring spirit. I began to talk about how Mrs. Martin was in the midst of celebrating her 25^th year of teaching kindergarten, and she celebrated her anniversary with us—I remember the chocolate cake and chocolate chip ice cream very well. Anyway, I concluded my speech with how Mrs. Martin and I still keep in touch, and I had the letter to prove it. I only read the closing remarks from Mrs. Martin’s letter, and once I was done with my impromptu speech, I received an unexpected ovation.

After class ended, Craig—my special admirer (y’all remember him)—walked me to my dorm and told me that I pulled off quite an amazing feat in class. “I like how you just started talking from your heart, considering that you really didn’t know what you were gonna say,” he stated. “You’re gonna be a great teacher, Natasha—and I mean that.”

I thanked Craig with a kiss on the cheek, and he simply grinned uncontrollably, squeezed my hand, and left.

So, yeah—I had a great day in class yesterday evening, but I guess it can be said that Craig had an excellent closing of his evening. By the way: I have yet to respond to his sweet little note that he gave me last week, but I’m not gonna leave him hangin’. Be it by letter or by face-to-face encounter, I’ll holla at him sometime this week.

Until tomorrow, y’all take care, and have a good rest-of-the-day.

Smooches,

Natasha

That Extra Encouragement from Mrs. Martin, Tho!

Happy Monday, Everyone!

I tell y’all—I feel so damn good right now because I just received a letter from one Mrs. Ingrid Martin!

I know that I’ve talked about her several times in a few of my blog posts—Mrs. Martin was my kindergarten teacher back home, and she was the absolute bestest! I think I told y’all that I wrote a letter to her a couple of weeks ago. Well, imagine my surprise when I read her reply this afternoon and I discovered that she is still teaching kindergarteners; as a matter of fact, this may be her last year teaching. But anyway, in her reply to me, she immediately and emphatically pointed out that she “could never forget little Natasha Renee.” She also said that she couldn’t take all the credit in being the absolute bestest on account of I and my fellow kindergarten classmates helped her to become the absolute bestest.

Mrs. Martin’s letter further stated that she had entered her 25^th year of teaching when I was in her class, and it was indeed a silver anniversary moment for her. I was also shocked to read that out of everyone in my kindergarten class, I was the only one who cared enough to write her and see how she was doing. The letter went on to say: “When I saw your name on the envelope, my heart leapt for joy—I was that excited! By the way, your other teachers are a little jealous because I’ve got a letter, but I told them to get over it… hahahahaha!”

Finally, Mrs. Martin closed her reply with these words:

“Natasha, I want you to know how proud I am—excuse me—how thrilled and overjoyed I am that you are following your dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher. I am especially proud to learn that you are academically climbing that ladder. Just remember this, Sweetheart: Dreams do come true, but in His Perfect Timing, and trust me when I tell you—His timing is always perfect. So, I close this letter by saying: Keep up the good work, and most of all, remember to trust in The Lord, because He’s got your back. Oh, and you can write and/call me anytime. Take care, and love you lots.”

Y’all, I am just teary-eyed right about now, and not just because I received a reply from Mrs. Martin, but mainly because she basically said that she’s one of my biggest supporters. Y’all already know what I’m gonna do—I’m gonna have to write her back… heck, I’ve got to write her back anyway on account of I want her to be there when I graduate from Rust.

Well, y’all—that’s it for today. I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Heavenly Motivation

Thanks for the endorsement, Grampa Clark!

Oh, wow, y’all—I just woke up from the most beautiful dream!

Check this out: Last night, I had this dream that I was enrolled in a class called “Torch Passing 101.” Now, given my reputation up here at Rust, I take my classes seriously, so that being said, I was ten minutes early for the class. Well, once the bell rang, I walked inside the classroom and found a seat with ease, given that I was earlier than normal.

And that’s when it hit me—there were no other students in this class!

As I questioned where everyone would be, a bright light shone from Heaven, and “Power of Love/Love Power” by Luther Vandross played through an intercom system. I sang along to the tune, just as my Grampa Clark suddenly appeared before my very eyes. He still looked the same as I remembered him, except his salt-and-pepper hair and mustache were a silver white. He still had his gold-framed glasses, his favorite navy blue slacks, and grey Fisk University sweatshirt. With a click of his fingers, the Luther Vandross song ended, yet he continued to sing the ending of the song on account of that was always his favorite.

I tell y’all—I was so excited to see my Grampa Clark that I hopped out of my seat and ran towards him. However, with a loving smile, he held up his hand and pointed to my seat, making mention that it was “not time for that just yet.”

At the risk of boring you all with long, in-depth details (besides, I’ve got a personal journal for that), I’ll just say that my Grampa Clark was an excellent teacher. No disrespect at all to my instructors here at Rust, but in this beautiful dream, my Grampa Clark taught me lessons that I will forever hold in my heart. He basically sat me down and told me how proud he was of me; he also mentioned how he’s been cheering me on from his heavenly front row seat, as I displayed my gifts and talents to the Cradle Roll class at my church.

Simply put, Grampa Clark said that I was born to teach, and that there will indeed come a day where I will step onto familiar schoolgrounds and shape so many young little lives that they’ll have no choice but to create a Kindergarten Teacher Hall of Fame and select me as the first inductee.

If y’all don’t mind my saying, that is one damn good endorsement.

Finally, the time came to where the bell rang and class was over. Before I left out of the classroom, Grampa Clark said that he had another gift for me. I walked up to him, and he picked me up as easily as he did when I was two years old. There we were, sharing a great big ol’ hug—and when I woke up, I felt a kiss upon my cheek.

And how apropos that today marks 17 years that Grampa Clark transitioned to Heaven. It’s kinda funny how things happen like that, but I’ll say this: If I ever needed any other kind of motivation to continue to pursue my dream, then that visit with my Grampa Clark more than did the job!

Well, I guess I had better close this blog post and get on with my day. Let me give y’all a heads-up, though: Y’all ain’t gonna hear from me until Tuesday—it is a three-day weekend, don’tcha know! So, with that said, I’ll holla at y’all in about three days. Until then, y’all take care, and may God continue to bless and keep each and every last one-a-y’all. Smooches!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Sweet Gift from My Cradle Roll Class

Look at the sweet card that the Cradle Roll class made for me!

Hi, Everyone!

I just received the sweetest, most inspiring card from Mrs. Helmsley and the Cradle Roll class at my church. Let’s just say that they have given me more than enough encouragement and motivation to pursue my dream.

The main part of the card has a picture of an eagle flying above the clouds, and below the eagle is an inscription: “God Bless You, Miss Natasha—Go Get ‘Em!” And then, Mrs. Helmsley and the little kiddies, as well as Pastor & Mrs. Clark, signed it.

I tell y’all—it’s a wonderful feeling to be loved, honored, admired, and respected.

Like I just mentioned earlier on: This is more than enough added incentive for me to keep on keepin’ on! And y’all already know that I’m gonna send a thank-you card to Pastor & Mrs. Clark, as well as to Mrs. Helmsley and my little kiddies. I am just bustin’ all over, even more so than I am when I’m around Ray Hernandez… and speaking of Ray, I had better send him a letter also; after all, it’s been a little over a week now, and I did promise that I would write him once I get fully situated. But back to the lecture at hand: I am very appreciative to my Cradle Roll class for thinking about little old me—I feel so special right now!

And I just thought about something else: My Uncle Anthony is an Eighth Grade teacher! I don’t know why I didn’t think about that, but it’s a well-known fact. Uncle Anthony has been teaching Eighth Graders for almost twenty years now. I could’ve easily used him for one of my compositions in my Grammar & Composition classes last year; he surely could have told me what it’s like to be a teacher, albeit he teaches junior high school students, but yet and still, Uncle Anthony did get his degree in Elementary Education. Well, I’ve got a feeling that I’m gonna have to write a paper about my Uncle Anthony for my Foundations of Education class sometime soon—I really wouldn’t put it past my professor.

Well, that concludes today’s blog post. I had better get going, but before I do, I want to leave you all with this one final thought: It has been said that whenever someone thinks about you in their own special way, that means that you have touched their life. Judging by this beautiful card from Mrs. Helmsley and the Cradle Roll class, I must have touched their lives.

Until next time, y’all be good.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

The Extra Motivation To Pursue My Dream

Hey, Y’all!

Isn’t this a beautiful picture? This is the Sapp Elementary Faculty, taken in the 1990-91 school year—and yes, that’s my Grampa Clark over there on the back row, left side.

Y’all ain’t gonna believe how I stumbled across this gem of a photo: You see, I was working on the introduction of my home movie project, and I needed some old photos to make the perfect opening credits. I remembered that my mom had at least three or four photo albums in her closet, so I decided to look through them. Well, I barely opened up the first photo album, let alone picked it up, and a photo fell out—it just so happened to be the one that I posted in today’s blog. I can tell in this photo that Grampa Clark and the Sapp Faculty had a lotta fun together. Heck, I know they had a lotta fun together; if we could just go back to Mr. Arthur’s retirement party about two weeks ago… it was just a wonderful sight. Not only did each and every colleague show up to give mad support (both past and present), but no one would let a conversation slide by without talking about Grampa Clark’s legacy and how much he meant to the school as a whole.

This photo has given me the extra motivation to pursue my dream. I know there may be times where I may feel disappointed and down, but I’ll just look at that photo of my Grampa Clark and his second family, and I’ll get the encouragement that I’m looking for. And perhaps one day, when The Lord deems it so, I’ll grace the schoolgrounds of Sapp Elementary and make my mark in the lives of those little ones. I can picture it so vividly, y’all: It’s my very first day of teaching kindergarten, and I have on my schoolmarm dress and one of my Gramma Jewel’s sweaters—hell, I’ll probably have a pair of her glasses, too (hahahaha). But anyway, I’m teaching my little kiddies all about love, caring, and sharing, and above all else, I’m definitely gonna tell ‘em about The Lord. Y’all oughta know me by now—this Christian life is a part of me, so I’ve got to tell these little kiddies about how Jesus loves the little children. And I’m quite certain that I’m gonna win some awards like my Grampa Clark and Mr. D, but the biggest reward of them all will come from the heart of a little child when they say: “Miss Stewart, you are the bestest teacher in the whole wide world.”

That will be bigger and better than any physical award, and at the same time, I would still like a physical award—hey, I’m just sayin’!

Well, that’s gonna be it for me today, y’all. Let me get up here and look through the rest of these photo albums, and then get started on my opening credits for my home movie. That’s so ironic that I didn’t come up with any ideas for opening credits until now. It’s funny how you don’t think of certain stuff until later. Oh, well—the bottom line is that I thought about it, so let’s get to it!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Enlightenment

Photo Credit: http://www.antonfernando.com

Hi, Everyone!

Even at the tender age of 19, there is absolutely nothing like enlightenment.

It’s no secret that I am a sheltered child. I stand on record that my mom and dad did their absolute damnedest to protect me from all kinds of evil. Heck, I will also go on record and say that the “sweet, little innocent” act is the real me. You may call me naïve or oblivious—and you might be right—but one thing is certain: I am not ignorant to the crap that is going on in this world.

Yes, I freely admit that life has removed some of my innocence—and I’m not afraid to further admit that it’s really scaring me.

You know, we’re now living in a time where there is so much evil and hatred running seemingly roughshod that it’s difficult to discern who is sincere and who isn’t. And check this out: It’s bad enough that this world has gone to hell in a handbasket—killings at schools, movie theaters, buses, and just yesterday, the tragedy at Boston marathon. With so much going on, it got me to thinking about what my Auntie Gladys said this weekend: “Jesus is a closer to comin’ back now than He was ten minutes ago.”

And then yesterday evening, I found comfort in reading the Bible!

I was always taught at an early age that The Lord answers all of our questions in His Word, and with that said, I was compelled to read II Timothy 3 in its entirety. In this particular chapter, Timothy was having the same worries and concerns as I am. Well, Paul wrote a letter of comfort to Timothy. To paraphrase the chapter, Paul basically said, “Timothy, I went through the very hell that you’re going through—and guess what: Moses went through it long before I did. But I don’t want you to give up, Timothy—hang on in there and remember what I taught you: Trust in The Lord and keep His Word in your heart. I don’t care what everybody else is doing—you just keep on serving The Lord and continue to bless His Holy Name.”

Well, after reading II Timothy 3, I felt so much better; as a matter of fact, I shared it with Ruby and Theo. Imagine my surprise when they both told me that they sometimes feel like odd ducks. Theo emphatically made it clear: “I’m so glad to learn that I’m not the only one.”

In closing this blog, I want to encourage each and every one of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to hang on in there and keep the faith. Yes, we are living in perilous times, and it doesn’t look like it’s gonna get better, but nevertheless, I want y’all to remember these five words:

KEEP ON, IN SPITE OF!!!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Letter from Pastor & Mrs. Clark

Hi, Everyone!

So, yesterday I received a letter from my pastor and first lady back home… I know y’all thought I was gonna say Ray—gotcha, didn’t I?

But anyway, check out what my pastor and first lady had to say to me:

Dearest Natasha:

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please forgive the late response to your letter, which we received in September, but we want you to know that we love you very much, and we are proud of you. Incidentally, the St. Matthew Baptist Church Family sends you their love as well.

We are thrilled that you are enjoying your adventures in your collegiate journey, albeit in another state. Your mother and father have explained to us that you have experienced more than your share of homesickness, but remember to keep the faith, because The Lord is on your side, just as He was with Abraham. If you recall, The Lord told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, and Abraham stepped out on faith to do so. Now granted, you don’t have any children to sacrifice, but you did step out on faith when you accepted admission to Rust College. Just remember that The Lord rewards those who exercise their faith.

Having said that, we cannot wait to see you in December, if only for a little while, but until then, you just hang on in there, study hard, and above all else, trust in The Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, for they that wait upon The Lord shall renew their strength.

May The Lord continue to bless and keep you.

Warmest Regards,

Jerome & Aretha Clark
Pastor & First Lady, St. Matthew Baptist Church

Well, y’all—after receiving such a sweet and encouraging letter from my pastor, all I have to say is: I feel like goin’ on!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

I Trust Him!

Hi, Everyone!

I’m still on the grind, y’all!

I’ve been studying since nine o’clock this morning (Mississippi time, of course). I only took a break on account of it’s almost lunchtime. I’ll be back on it at around 1:30 p.m. CST, but afterward I’m taking another break just to give my mind a rest, so to speak. I think I’ll walk around the track for about an hour and recite what I’ve learned.

You know, as I was studying for my African Diaspora final, I started thinking about that song “Trust Me” by Richard Smallwood. The lyrics to that song are so powerful and motivating, and considering my college life in another state, that song has become my personal testimony. Whenever I listen to “Trust Me,” I just imagine that God is constantly reminding me to trust Him in every aspect of my life. Coincidentally enough, that was the last song that my church sang for our summer musical, hours before I left for Rust. That song has stuck with me since then, and every now and again, I catch myself singing that very song. I guess you can say that it has indeed become my personal testimony.

Well, I had better get back to studying… actually, I better take my walk around the track to clear my mind (for lack of a better term), and then get back to hittin’ the books. I’m pretty much done studying for African Diaspora—I’m gonna challenge myself to study that doggone College Algebra, and then I’ll study for my obvious favorite: Grammar & Composition.

With that said, I leave you with the most profound words to that Richard Smallwood song that I love so much:

“I am that I am.

I have all power.

I will deliver,

If you will only trust me.

Trust me—trust me!”

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Well-Wishes from Cali

Hi, Everyone!

So, I’m sitting in my dorm room, finally finding time to read all of the cards and well-wishes from my family and friends. These are but a few of them:

“Hey, Natasha! We are so proud of you. Continue to rise above the stars and sparkle.”

—The Douglas Family.

“Natasha Renee, we are so proud of you. You just keep on doin’ the damn thing!”

—The Fraziers: Chuck, Gina, and Kevin

“Congratulations and best wishes on your college freshman year. Just remember: You’ve got more back-up than reverse all the way out here in Cali.”

—Frank & Clara Roberts

“Dear Cousin Tasha, they saved the best for last. You’re the last one in our generation to attend college, but you’re the first one in over 50 years to attend Rust—that in itself speaks volumes. Go get ‘em, Girlie, and remember: No pressure!”

—Cousin Candace

“Best wishes and remember that God is on your side.”

—The Takashis

“As you embark on this journey, remember who you are and whose you are. Never forget that The Lord is on your side, and He will always be there. Just trust in Him and depend on Him, and He will guide you safely on your academic journey.”

—Pastor & Mrs. Richardson, and the First Baptist Church Family

“Little Miss Natasha Stewart, on behalf of the St. Matthew Baptist Church, we wish you nothing but the best in your new journey. Study hard, have fun, and most importantly, trust in The Lord.”

—Pastor & First Lady Clark

“May The Good Lord continue to bless and keep you on this new chapter in your life.”

—Clarence & Mavis Burkalter

“Go get ‘em, Girl! You already know that your Gramma Jewel is proud of you, but guess what—so am I. May you receive all the knowledge that you can obtain, and may you also be fed spiritually; after all, you are in the Bible Belt.

—Mother Thelma J. Davis

It goes without saying, but I have a lot of thank-you cards to make.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha