AfricanKelli

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Do you ever have those moments of clarity when you realize you’re hopelessly flawed? It’s like the blue screen of death for a computer, but it’s your life. And you’ve got to drag yourself through therapy, the self-help section, or a great dive bar to get over the initial shock and reboot into repair mode.

I was that kid who cried at the end of the school year because I was going to miss my teacher over the summer. Same goes for any sort of change in regards to coaches. I loved my swim coaches. When one became pregnant and could no longer cheer my chubby little speedo’ed ass down the lane for two hours each afternoon, I was distraught. How could she leave? When my minister was reassigned to another church my freshman year of high school, I apparently wrote him a note saying I’d be in his congregation again one day. His wife recently found it and we chuckled at the sentimentality. I drive 40 miles each Sunday to be in fellowship with him.

This characteristic is mostly a good one. I’m a committed friend; I don’t just want to know how you are feeling, I want to know why you are feeling this way. I get invested easily. Ask Salty Senor — his family sweetly jokes that I’m his life coach. This is great for those who want an over-the-top friend or girlfriend, and horrific when they just want someone with a normal interest level. When I decide to give, I give everything I’ve got.

On the flip side, this leaves me raw when someone overnight decides to walk away — whether it is a best friend, a boyfriend, a family member. There are times when this has happened and I felt wronged. Anger let me easily walk the other direction too; there is simply nothing left to say.

That list is short and not so sweet.

The other — of those who I still care for but am not in communication — is much larger. These names make my head hurt and I find myself bummed out at the strangest of times.

I love to love. It stinks when it doesn’t jive. This is especially a bad combo for a self-described Type A girl who likes things just so. Then again, maybe it is better to miss those who were once in our life than to not feel anything at all.

~K

Remember that begonia my grandma gave me? The one her father gave her mother when they were dating that some how still exists today? My clipping last six months or so before I managed to nuke it. My mom’s? Now a bush on their patio.

My mom can make just about anything thrive and grow. She’s the type to find a $.75 plant on the clearance rack at the grocery store and turn it into a state fair winning hybrid. Seriously. Her garden is so pretty, especially this time of year. She’s got a dozen different plants blooming, not to mention the variety of houseplants I found her watering and coddling.

She is very nurturing, including the love she shows for The Favorite Child.
Exhibit A:

Dharma, the family pooch, has her own wall quilt/hanging. I have to say, it is pretty cute. I love the batiks and the fact my mom added little “D” dog tags.

Dharma does a LOT of howling, so this is pretty appropriate.

And if I haven’t mentioned, my mom is a quilting machine.

These are a few of the hundred-plus quilts she just has hanging around their house. She is always working on at least two quilts and now seems to find time to help her girlfriends with their projects too.

I am not sure what it is about applique, but I love how delicate this quilt is. I’ve admired it for years and have a feeling it is soon coming my way. Yahoo! I had plans of hijacking her serger and canning supplies, but alas — they would not fit in my luggage. Instead I just dropped lots of hints about how nice it would be to have some canning supplies. And a serger.

Subtle, I know.

~K

Yep. Hook ‘em horns crosses and tie-dyed T-shirts (not to mention the “back door friends” sign — what?), but not a beefy Mateo in sight.

~K

“If you do a good job for others, you heal yourself at the same time,
because a dose of joy is a spiritual cure. It transcends all barriers.”
– Ed Sullivan

Three new vision journals for Madison, Katie and Maria — girlfriends who are working toward big goals in life. (Junior high! High school cheer!! Citizenship!) Making these last night felt as good as a long, hard run after a week of no exercise. I’ve got to make more time to be creative, even when busy. I’m not honoring myself otherwise. Sharing the vision journal idea has been so satisfying. I’m so glad so many of you have received yours in the mail or created one on your own! Luke 11:9-12 gives me extra skip in my step when doing this kind of internal housekeeping.

Cheers,
Kelli

Live in Phoenix and love ice cream? Me too. If you are in the neighborhood, consider a new shop that my friends just opened: Sweet Republic. They are an incredible duo with an even sweeter love story. You can read the details, or just swing through for a scoop and ask them about it. They specialize in odd flavors, including bacon. Adam, did you read that? Ice cream AND bacon. It might be your version of heaven.

Phoenicians itching for something cultural and fabulous to do this weekend should consider the Eye Lounge downtown on Friday. Sam — you writing this down? As our resident weekend activity coordinator for sweet things to do in central Phoenix, this certainly needs to be added to the agenda. My friend Eliza is opening her new exhibit of photographs and they are stunning. You won’t regret stopping in to see her great work. And when in the neighborhood, Conspire Coffee Shop has a rad collection of vintage T-shirts.

Have a scoop and get the scoop for me. I’m off to the Lone Star state for some family time.

Yip-e-i-o-kyay!
~K