Real Love

Hi, Everyone!

So, I’m listening to this song from my mom’s favorite singer, Lisa Stansfield—I may have taken my mom’s Lisa Stansfield CD with me to Rust, and she actually knew about it… hahaha! Anyway, Track #10 on Lisa Stansfield’s “Real Love” CD has the following lyrics:

“Real Love, where do you come from? Real Love, lead the way.”

As I was listening to that song, I automatically thought about my sweetie pie back in L.A., and I thought very hard about the words that Miss Stansfield was singing. It is a well-known fact that real love is tried and true. According to what I’ve read in I Corinthians 13:4, love is patient and kind; it is neither jealous nor boastful.

Okay, so in essence, Real Love comes from up above!

I understand that and I believe it wholeheartedly. I guess my true question is: How do I know if I’m really in love with Ray? I mean, I don’t hear any bell chimes or birds chirping when I see him. Granted, everytime I receive a letter from him, my heart skips a beat and I start blushing, but how do I know that it’s not a crush? I guess that’s why I’m scared to say those three words to him. Heck, for all I know, Ray could be feeling the same way about me. You know, it’s one thing to fall in love, and it’s a wonderful feeling to be in love, however, it’s a whole horse of another color when you actually love someone.

Let’s face it: I can say in great faith that I really do love my mom, my dad, my Auntie Cheryl, my Uncle Alex, my Gramma Jewel—hell, everyone in my family, and that includes my honorary sister Rebecca! I love my pastor and first lady, and I love my friends Ruby and Theo. However, when it comes to Ray… I mean, I like him and I want to get to know him better, but at the moment I think I’m just in love with him. I reckon Ray and I will have to talk about this when I come home for the summer.

Until then, I have to say like Lisa Stansfield: “Real Love, where do you come from? Real Love, lead the way.”

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Love Is Definitely In The Air!

Hi, Everyone—and Happy Valentine’s Day!

So, I just came back from the post office. I received my Valentine gift from Ray… he really is a sweetie pie!

Ray gave me a plush Share Bear Care Bear, peanut butter cookies, and not just one, but a dozen lavender roses. He also wrote me this really sweet letter:

My Dearest Natasha:

I tried to come up with the perfect inscription, but I can only speak from the heart. I wish I could spend this day with you, just to see that beautiful smile on your lovely face, but since I can’t hold you, I can dream about you. I know this much is true—Natasha, I’m in love with you. Until we meet again, I want you to have a very Happy Valentine’s Day.

Lotsa Love,

Ray

And I want to go ahead and state for the record: I have not yet stopped blushing!

I should also point out that Theo gave me and Ruby our own personalized Valentine card and some chocolate; he said that we were his very special Valentines. Well, Ruby and I thought that was really sweet of Theo, but imagine his surprise when we gave him a Valentine card and a kiss on the cheek—Theo was in Heaven yet again. And the icing on the cake for Theo: Olivia, his special admirer, gave him a Valentine candy gram and a kiss above his left eye. Trust me when I tell y’all—that girl’s fawnin’ over Theo!

Overall, it was a great Valentine’s Day for Ruby and Theo… and for little ol’ me! I’m probably gonna hear it all over the campus for the next couple of days, but it’s gonna be worth it.

By the way, I should be hearing from Ray within the next week about his Valentine gift from me.

Until tomorrow, I hope y’all have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

One Excited Little Smurfette

Hi, Everyone!

Before I begin today’s blog, I have a special announcement: Mom, Dad, Gramma Jewel, Becky, and Mother Davis made it back home safely. I talked to Dad just last night—Mom had just gone to bed, and she was doin’ some kinda snorin’! Anyway, Dad said that Cousin Candace was gonna pick them all up from the airport, but her car couldn’t fit everybody. Fortunately, Gramma Jewel had her next door neighbor Mr. D on standby, so it all worked out.

Well, we have officially one more day until Valentine’s Day, and y’all already know—you’re lookin’ at one excited little Smurfette! I am really looking forward to what Ray got for me… and I want to state for the record that I am very easy to please. I’m not one of those materialistic, high-strung, spoiled brats—I am very appreciative of any gift, and to be honest, no one has to break the bank to impress me. I do realize that it really is the thought that counts, so with that said, I am already grateful for the gift that Ray has given me. As I may have mentioned in a previous blog, he intentionally gave me an easy clue that he’s giving me a lavender rose, but as for the rest of my gift… well, this bright-eyed girl is mystified.

By the way, I want to publicly thank Mr. and Mrs. Hudspeth for allowing me to use their oven this past weekend. They said that I put plenty of imagination into the Valentine brownies that I made for Ray. As a matter of fact, Mr. Hudspeth went on record and said: “Natasha, if this fella back in L.A. don’t scoop you up soon, then Mrs. H and I are gonna have to take a special trip just to straighten him up.”

Awwwwwwwww—that’s sweet of Mr. Hudspeth to say, but he doesn’t have to worry. Ray wouldn’t be going to all the trouble of making me feel special if he didn’t really like me.

Okay, y’all—it’s almost time for me to go to my Geometry & Trig class. I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow, but until then, keep your girl lifted up in prayer.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Continuation of My Natural High

Hi, Everyone!

I am still like, super-duper excited!

Notwithstanding that Valentine’s Day is a mere two days away, I have not come down from my natural high, which came as a result of this past weekend. Once again, I thank and praise God for such a wonderful family. Now, I realize that not everyone could come out from Cali—and I completely and fully understand that you had previous engagements (i.e., you gotta work and you gotta eat)—but I do appreciate the phone calls, the song dedications, and the well-wishes. I also want my Cali family to know that Miss Rebecca Ann Morgan and Mrs. Thelma Jean Davis were quite the ambassadors of Cali.

Overall, it was a beautiful birthday weekend, and y’all already know that I will forever cherish these precious memories in my heart… and that bananarama birthday cake was freakin’ delicious! My family knows what I love!

Well, my fam should be in the air flyin’ back to Cali right about now. They stopped by to visit me this morning before my Geometry & Trig class, and they continued to keep me encouraged. Side Note: Rebecca is thinking about attending Rust College. She said that she has heard so much about it that she’s seriously considering admission. I told her to let me know and I’ll get the paperwork for her. Oh, by the way: Rebecca also thinks that Theo is cute! I told her that she should holla at him, but she was actin’ all everything. Check this out, though: She got him a Valentine card and asked me to give it to him as soon as I see him.

Wow—Theo’s got two not-so-secret admirers… some of us ain’t able!

It looks like I had better close today’s blog, but I’ll be back tomorrow with another gooden. Until then, y’all take care.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Three Days Until My Heart Truly Flutters!

Hi, Everyone!

After such a beautiful birthday weekend surprise from my family and friends, it’s time to get back on it. According to my calendar, we are just three days away until Valentine’s Day. I’m really excited, because instead of mailing off Ray’s special gift, I simply put Mom and Dad in charge of it. They promised me that they would send it off in the mail first thing Monday morning. If my calculations are correct, Ray should receive his gift on or before this Thursday. Likewise, according to the small print that he left in my birthday card, I should be on the lookout for a large package on exactly the 14^th.

The excitement builds and the tension mounds. I already know that Ray got me a lavender rose—according to a clue that he gave me a couple of weeks ago—but I’ve got to wonder: Just what else did he get me?

Once again, my mind is off to the races… but I’m just gonna have to wait until Thursday.

Incidentally, Theo has taken it upon himself to be my co-Valentine buddy. He says that Ruby and I shouldn’t be alone on such a day that is reserved for love and togetherness, so he will make “the ultimate sacrifice” and accompany us, especially seeing as how he himself is single. Ruby and I teased Theo that he just wants to relive another Three’s Company fantasy, to which he said, “And you said all that to say what?”

Valentine’s Day 2013 looks like it’s gonna be some kinda interesting, but I must say that it really is sweet of Theo to think of me and Ruby as such. To be honest, I never really participated in the festivities when I was in high school, and this was even before I knew that Ray liked me. Nonetheless, this will be my first official Valentine’s Day celebration, albeit in another state.

Well, I guess I’m gonna have to cut it short today, but I shall definitely holla at y’all on tomorrow. Until then, take care and be good.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Happy #19 To Me!

Hi, Everyone!

Today’s blog is a very special Sunday Edition, and I promise you—it’s truly a gooden!

As you know, today is my 19^th birthday—yes, I am officially one day older and perhaps a little bit wiser. I admit that I was feeling a little sad on account of I was away from my family, but I was in for a big surprise when I came home from church this afternoon. And check this out: Ruby knew all about it!

So, I was chillin’ in the cafeteria with Ruby and Theo, thanking them for the wonderful pre-birthday celebration that they gave me on yesterday. All of a sudden, Ruby looked up and nodded, then she told me to close my eyes. When I asked her why, she just told me to trust her. I went along with the ordeal and closed my eyes. About a minute later, I heard what I perceived as a harmonious choir singing “Happy Birthday” to me. When I opened my eyes… Heaven help me—it was Mom & Dad, Rebecca, Great Aunt Reesie, Cousin Jade, Cousin Erica, Great Aunt Donna, Gramma Jewel’s best friend Mother Thelma Davis, and Gramma Jewel herself!

I don’t know if I pointed this out or not, but I’m a bit of a crybaby, so needless to say, I had tears of joy upon seeing my family. I’m tellin’ y’all—Niagara Falls had nothin’ on me.

Overall, seeing my family was the greatest birthday present that I could ever receive. I guess having Ray to come along would have been the icing on the cake, pardon the pun. Oh, and speaking of Ray, he gave me a birthday present via my mom and dad—it was a sweet card and a ladybug clip for my hair. He also wrote me a note which simply read: “February 14—get ready!”

Oh, I’m blushing again!

Anyway, I will never forget my 19^th birthday, especially when I know that there are people in my life who really and truly care about me. Of course, I have to give all thanks, praises, glory, and credit to where it is most certainly due: Thank You, Lord, allowing me to see another birthday. Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with such a wonderful family. Thank You, Lord, for making me feel special.

Now, if y’all will excuse me, I think I’m gonna have another piece of birthday cake!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Harriette Fields—In Memoriam




Me and Mrs. Fields on Sunday, December 30, 2012.

Hi, Everyone!

As promised, today’s blog post is dedicated to the memory of my beloved church member, Mrs. Harriette Fields. Her homegoing celebration is going on as we speak, and since I cannot be there in person, I have decided to write my own personal tribute to her. I hope y’all like today’s blog.

On Monday, February 4, 2013, The Lord took one good look at Mrs. Harriette Fields’ file and reviewed her 89 years on this earth. After a very in-depth evaluation, He saw in His infinite wisdom to reward Mrs. Fields with the greatest promotion out of this world—literally. No doubt that when she woke up and saw that she was in paradise, she shouted all over Heaven.

Mrs. Fields was one of the dearest, sweetest ladies that anyone could meet. She was always positive and upbeat, even when her husband passed away in 2003. Her warm smile and gentle heart was a very uncanny resemblance to that of my Gramma Jewel’s. I once told Mrs. Fields that she may have been a carbon copy of my Gramma Jewel, except she was a few inches taller, had fewer strands of grey in her hair, and she only wore glasses for reading. However, that sweet, inviting personality could not be missed. With a big smile, Mrs. Fields said: “Well, Tasha, your Gramma Jewel could very well be my long lost twin sister.”

Though I was very young when I met Mrs. Fields, I can tell you that she was a very loyal and faithful member of the St. Matthew Baptist Church family. There were three things about her that remained constant: She loved The Lord, she loved her family, and she loved life. There was also a running joke in our church family that Mrs. Fields’ résumé was almost as long as the book of Psalms on account of she was very active in our church. I remember when Pastor Clark told her that, to which she responded: “Correction, my love—my résumé will only be as long as Psalms 119.”

My last memory of Mrs. Fields was on Sunday, December 30, 2012. She gave me a monetary gift and some good advice on living life. Since her departure, I appreciate her advice more than I do the monetary present. I still remember the last thing she said to me: “Keep up the good work and stick it out to the very, very end. I love you, Dearie.”

Mrs. Fields, thanks for being part of my life, if only for a short while. I wanted to reserve a seat for you at my upcoming graduation in three years, but it looks like The Lord has provided you with the best seat in the house. Until we meet again, say hello to my Grampa Clark when you see him. I love you!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha