As Governing Council of DD

This was one of our first gatherings where I was introduced as board president. At the time, I didn’t really know what it meant to be president. Months passed then I realized it meant that Dream Diné would be on my mind and heart everyday. The school becomes a part of you. I think of the children and parents. When I agreed, I didn’t know tears would be shed. Every day prayers goes up for Dream Diné.
So when I accepted the role, I accepted the responsibility. Oh how I love the Creator for this grand opportunity to learn and grow.

Beauty, Beauty, Beauty, and Beauty!

What do I see, I see?

There were times in my life that what I saw created judgments but now it’s not the seen but it’s the unseen. How does one define judging? One of Webster’s definitions is to hold as an opinion. To be honest, I once held lots of opinion about many things but through the years, those opinions became less important.

Three years ago, I heard someone say that when one judges he or she then chooses to be god-like. I was like there is no way on this earth that I want to be such a person. Then I started looking deep within me and said what judgments have I made. I was stunned by what I saw. If appalled is the appropriate word, then let it be so.

This thought ran through my thoughts for months. What was I thinking? What have I become? The more I looked; I started to be disgusted with myself. Then epiphany occurred when I noticed that when I started to judge or making an opinion, I stopped. I would erect my posture and say what am I doing? Is it because I don’t understand? I was surprised how frequently that I was making opinions. It kind of got annoying after awhile when I noticed what I was secretly doing.

I was reading a book called, “The Shack.” It brought this idea back to my forethought about judging. It reminded me of the days when I did. I was disturbed when I realized that a lot of friendships were lost because I judged. I trust those friends will be forgiven. Although family relationships have to understand that members of the family either grow and grow or stay stagnate and therefore cannot hold opinions so tightly. I will save that thought for another time about family.

The lesson to be learned is that judging brings brokenness to a relationship. What I noticed it’s the unseen that captures the heart. Too much emphasize is put on the senses when it’s the unseen that brings energy to our relationships. I could be listening to someone but deep down I could be making judgments of him/her. Personally, I would feel violated if I were ever given the opportunity to know what the other person was thinking while I was speaking. But how often was I doing this in years past?

It is never to late to stop and understand the other person. Now I listen and make an every effort to comprehend what the other person is saying to me. I can look and listen but I now say inside, there must be a reason behind what I just saw or heard. Because I don’t want to be judged in the same degree either, I want equal representation.

This song is dedicated to those friends/family that I prematurely judged or made an opinion.

“Packing up the dreams God planted

In the fertile soil of you

Can't believe the hopes he's granted

Means a chapter in your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong”

By M.W. Smith “Friends”

SR Skatepark

Its been four years that I have been working with the Shiprock Skatepark project. There have been transitional stages to the project. I have seen two presidents and two secretaries. I have even learned how to work with people and be forgiving. There is absolutely nothing that I would do to exchange for these experiences.

I can recall when filling up gas at the Shell gas station next to City Market after coming back from Red Valley. As I was pumping gas, I would see several youth doing tricks with their BMX or skateboard near the gas storage area. Time after time, I would see this and finally I said I must do something about this.

Seems I have been equipped to do this project because I refuse to give up. I have youngsters who have expressed through written documents that they want to see it completed. Every waking moment, I am consistently thinking about how can I get this project moving forward or who can I recruit to come alongside and help the team.

Now, on the fourth year, I truly believe we are about to begin construction. All the right people have came and went when they did. How far we come! What is awesome! We now have a promo video that we collaborated with skaters and can share the vision with others.

This is an ending of several chapters in my adventures with the skatepark. I am now preparing my actions and words for the remaining chapters. Come join me in these adventures, it will really rock your world!

Peace to you,

T

Cousin sister's Wedding

Last Sunday while watching a NFL football game, I received a text that asked me to be my cousin's guest speaker. I gasped! Me? I'm not even married yet.

Up to the wedding, I was tossing ideas of what to say and some thoughts came and went. Some of which, I finally said I must say. A strong relationship with the Creator makes for a strong relationship with your spouse. This truth came through many people who have shared with me.

I have not said yes to the men who have asked me to marry him yet. Marriage is a strong covenant between two people. I want to make sure the one whom I say yes is the one who understands what covenant means.

Before I was to speak, my family says, tell us a joke. I am not much of jokester. So they were telling me jokes in hopes that I would share it. I don't think so! I thought of sharing jokes, but marriage is not a joke. It is a strong commitment that must not be taking lightly.

Later, I asked the bride who wanted me to speak. She said, me! Why me, I asked? She said you are a natural speaker and knew that you would share from your heart.

When all was said and done, the groom came up to me and said, I want a hug. He said, thank you for the speech and prayer. I was honored to have been given the opportunity to share. I love them so much!

Until the next wedding, hehe!!

Serene

This international conference led to a memorable encounter. While in graduate school at Harvard University, I was invited to attend Physiology Association conference in San Diego, California. My academic professor and friend, C. R. Taylor, invited me to attend with him. He also wanted to introduce me to all his international colleagues.

At the time, I was a teaching fellow (TF) in an undergraduate anatomy-physiology course. The week that I was to scheduled to go; I had to work with Richard, research assistant, who taught the same course to make up for my absence. His lab was arranged differentially then Seth and I's.

Richard’s lab was at the end of the week while Seth and I ‘s were at the beginning of the week. This meant Seth and I solved some of technical aspects of the lab assignments and we found for this particular assignment that it was much easier to assign tasks. Rich agreed and assigned tasks for the lab.

Rich had a predetermined way by which students will be assigned to work with him or I. Students had to pick a popsicle stick and these popsicle sticks had either Rich and I’s name at the bottom. Each student picked a Popsicle stick. I was assigned to work with Serene to do the hematocrit of the African goat.

Of all the odds, Serene pulled out my name. The Creator created the moment so Serene and I would become sisters in Christ. In those few hours, we connected as friends. I even believe after that we made arrangements to have a Tex-Mex dinner together afterwards. As I have reflected, it was no coincidence.

The Holy Spirit inspired me to write this poem about friendship learned through my relationship as friends with Serene. This poem was meant to uplift Our Creator and for His glory. True friendship comes when two or more share the love for Christ.

FRIENDSHIP

God is the center of all relationships that are pure,

Pureness comes from one’s joy and honesty,

Prayers of love, encouragement, and vitality in all things,

Encouragement that only friends can give to one another’s mind and soul,

Giving is the main objective and receiving is one’s gift,

Gifts of God’s divine intervention of hope and peace,

Intervention bringeth forth growth and trust,

Themes of ever-lasting trust that cometh from the womb,

Trust obtainth when one gives and one draws close,

Closeness cometh from a person’s clear conscious of spirituality

Dedicated to those who dared to share that is within,

All colors shall be manifested to share ones’ uniqueness under God

Colors of yellow, black, brown, and shades in between

Shades of oneness,

Shades of personality and shades of individuality,

Personality found in all kinship throughout life,

Themes of prosperity and Themes of life,

Life knows that you found that friend through God.

Kavitha

For you see when I was child, I read books about traveling the world and seeing art and music.

A week ago, I spent it with a dear friend who now lives in Atlanta, GA. Kavitha whom I met 5 years ago when she lived in Shiprock, New Mexico. She came into my life when I needed a touch from heaven. We easily gravitated to one another in one meeting and setting. My fondest of memories have been drinking chai tea or eating dinner.

It had been 13 years since I traveled to a city to visit a special friend. This visit with Kavitha was a very special one for me. Several months ago, I was praying and told my Creator that I wanted to travel and he definitely answered my prayer. For I had promised Kavitha before she left that I would visit her while she was in Atlanta.

While I was waiting at the curb of the airport, I cried. I was waiting for her because my flight came in at 10:30pm and she graciously came to pick me up. When she arrived, I opened the door of Cory, I saw the most beautiful woman. At that very moment, I knew it was destiny that brought us back together again!

From that moment on, it seemed as though time had not passed. We reconnected as though we transcended from New Mexico to Atlanta. I was amazed at how our conversations flowed from one topic to another. There were many spouts of laughter and amusement wherever we saw fit.

My most memorable time was in Piedmont Park. We walked the park, and sat at one of the swinging chairs in the park. I looked across from me and saw this young lady who is gifted with many talents. I am very honored that she choses to be friends with me. I am often amazed at the memory that she holds. It is why I'm writing this blog so I wouldn't forget.

Thank you Kavitha! ATL will never ever be the same again because of you... love you so T