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M Simone Boyd

Waiting

Closing & Opening

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The wedding took place almost two weeks ago now. And, I have been thinking…how am I going to end this blog? Its kinda sad to sit here and think about it. I mean 28 plus days went by REALLY fast and I feel like I’ve grown closer to you, God, and even myself. Writing helped me to organize my thoughts, admit what I was feeling, and seek your help and advice. But, alas I knew it wouldn’t go on for forever.

So, as I bring this blog to a close a new phase is opening.

 

As many of you know, I’ve been wanting to write for a loooong time. But, I never had the courage, subject matter, or discipline to do it. I was inspired to sit down and write by The Intervention and a really special guy. Now, that I am beginning this writing journey I don’t want to quit.

 

You see, long-term I want to be a writer and a mother. I think being a writer will give me the flexibility to be at home with my brewd and still contribute to the household. Additionally, I think it would allow me the flexibility to travel etc.
A dear friend and one of my running buddies suggested that I enter the Life Lessons Essay contest. The deadline is September 24th and I am going to give it a shot. But, I will need your help dear ones. So, please continue to send me your kind thoughts, wisdom, and kicks in the butt when I need them:-)

 

So, for right now the rest is still unwritten.

Love, Simone

My New Sister

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Howdy Folks, My heart is SOOOOO full right now! Two days ago my brother got married and I got a new sister. She is beautiful, and funny, and kind, and loving, and content, and she has eye lashes that touch her eyebrows (which I am slightly jealous of) and her family is just as awesome. It was such a joyous weekend…that even the hiccups i.e. a missing groomsman and my parents being late to the rehearsal dinner they were hosting turned out to be just that…hiccups.

This is a bad picture, but I wanted you to see the back of her dress.

Amazing!

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So, I had my hair tamed/straightened today. I have a big curly afro on most days, but I decided to straighten it for the Big Day. I was walking down the street toward work and I saw one of my colleagues.

He stops in the middle of the sidewalk and smiles. “Simone,” he says ” you look AMAZING… you should try to look like that all the time.”

Gee Whiz….was that a compliment!?

Admittedly, I don’t invest a lot of time in how I look. I think make-up is great, but personally I’d rather sleep the extra ten minutes. I like my hair straight too, but its toooooo time consuming to maintain that hairstyle. But, I try not to look like a bum…most days:-)

Secretly, I just hope whatever dude God has for me will think the Simone…that’s plain… loves to wear t-shirts n’ blue jeans…has crazy hair.. and wears no make-up is amazing.

5 Days and counting

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The BIG day is almost here! Only 5 more days until Isaac gets married. I’m almost ready too. I had my dress fitted this weekend. I got smashing earrings at a fire-sale price this weekend. And, I gave myself a facial this weekend. Now, all I need is a manicure, pedicure, and my hair tamed.

Hmmm…what else?

Maybe a necklace if I can find a nice one on sale, but I plan to give my brother and Rebeka the perfect wedding gift…cash. So, I can’t spend a lot of money.

I have to say writing this blog and reading your responses and experiences has been good for me. Y’all have been so supportive and have offered so much wisdom and encouragement. Keep it coming! I don’t have the anxiety that I had 23 days ago about facing my friends and family and I’m armed with some responses to the question “When are you getting married?” Here’s a few:

1. I plan to remain wild and single.

2. I’m taking my time, but only start worrying if I haven’t found someone in 60 years or so.

3. It’s a mystery.

4. 17 days from now (insert sarcasm).

5. It could be a while. God is preparing someone really special.

The Kirk Klan

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 Allow me to introduce my family. You’ve already heard about my mother, my brother that’s getting married, and the baby boy, Issachar. I have pretty good stories on each and every family member, but I’m going to go for simple descriptions of what they are doing right now and save all the stories for another entry. 

 

My dad, Onnie, runs a non-profit for boys from single-parent homes.

 

Miriam (red turtle neck) plays basketball, the trumpet and is as tall as me…but she is only 14.

 

Micheala is 17, a senior in high school, runs track, and plays the piano occasionaly.

 

Immanuel (red shirt far left) is 19, an engineering major, and plans to walk on to his Division I basketball team this semester. He’s pretty good too…so I think he is a shoe-in.

 

Isaac you know…is getting married.

 

Israel 23 (red shirt back row) is going to graduate school in the fall, helps my dad during the summer, and would describe me as a tight-wad.

 

Isaiah 21 (red jacket) plays basketball, LOVES to dance and will be a senior in the fall.

 

 

RSVP'ing

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I finally accepted the fact that I was not going to have a date to take to the wedding. I RSVPed this past weekend…exactly, 18 days late. I held off filling out the dreaded “number of guests” section on the response card for as long as I could.

I think part of me was just hoping that some knight in shining armour would appear within that small window of opportunity. Hope springs eternal!

Conversation A; Conversation B

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I’m pretty shy. Wait, I know what you are thinking. “Simone, you are the farthest thing from shy.” But in actuality, I am shy…when it comes to guys that I think I might like. I have a bad habit of ignoring them. I get all nervous, and can’t think straight, and can’t make coherent sentences. In other words, I lose all sense of normalcy. So, I resort to ignoring them in an effort to keep from saying anything stupid.

There are three simple things that I look for in a guy. But, they sure are hard to come by!
1. Tall
2. Loves Jesus
3. Volunteers
Number 1 is somewhat negotiable, but 2 and 3 most certainly are not. Of course, he has to be honest, hard working, love his family, etc. etc. but those are all things that I expect.

Here is a typical conversation that I might have with a guy that I have no interest in what so ever.

Conversation A
Simone: Good Morning, Titus! How are you?
Guy A: Good, Simone, how are you?

Simone: Well, thank you. Did you have a good weekend?
Guy A: I did, buy I didn’t do much watched the game, hung out with some friends, and went running. That’s about it.

Simone: Sounds like you had a good weekend! I went running too, but the heat made it pretty tough. I’m going to try and run earlier next weekend. Are you training for anything?
Guy A: Yes, the Marine Corp Marathon. I’ve run it a couple of years in a row.

Simone: Whoa! That’s awesome. I dream about doing a marathon one day, but I’m not there yet. Congratulations on setting that tremendous physical goal, Titus. It was good to talk to you. Have a good day!
Guy A: You too, Simone. See you later.

Now, for the conversation with the guy that I think I might like…but I have no idea because I’ve never had a decent conversation with him.

Conversation B

Guy B: Hi Simone! How are you?
Simone: Well, thank you.

Guy B: Did you have a good weekend?
Simone: Yes, thank you

Guy B: Oh, what did you do?
Simone: Nothing much, just hung around

Guy B: Well, that sounds nice. Have a good day, Simone
Simone: Thanks.

Why on Earth do I do this? If I could only get myself to have Conversation A with Guy B.

Tax Help

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Yehuda Fishkind, a Certified Financial Analyst, came to my job last year to conduct a Financial Planning Seminar for new hires. At the beginning of the seminar, he explained that he was Jewish and that he was here to talk to us about money…so we should listen up. No argument on my part. After several intense hours of pouring over different retirement plans we took a break for lunch.

So, I seized the opportunity to get some one-on-one coaching for my tax situation. You see, I’ve lived in both Tennessee and Texas where the folks down there have the good sense not to have a state income tax. And, I never realized before what a difference not having a state income tax can make to the take home pay. I explained all this to Yehuda.

Yehuda: Are you investing the maximum pre-tax amount in your 401K?
Simone: Yes

Yehuda: Are you taking the deductions for your student loan interest?
Simone: Yes

Yehuda: Do you contribute to the Health Savings Account?
Simone: Yep

Yehuda: Hmmmm, You should get married.

I can’t remember how I responded to that, but I do remember thinking “Seriously, is that the best advice you can give me?”

The Good Life

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I have a pretty awesome life! I’m not bragging, but sometimes I just sit and think…could it really get any better? Let me tell you about the last 27 hours.

I had both a brilliant and productive day at work yesterday. We are working on this project that I am less than enthusiastic about, and I’ve had a bad attitude about it for several weeks. But, my attitude is looking up. A dear friend and colleague gave me a dose of reality that I needed and I am really trying to do my best without complaining. There are enough complainers in the world already. And I appreciate the courage it took for my colleague to speak up.

I went to lunch with 7 of my colleagues that I really like, and even though I was coordinating and it was a disorganized disaster, and the place we planned to go was too busy, and we went to another place, and we couldn’t sit together. They were cool! No one complained. And, I am SO grateful.

And then, I ordered pizza for my friends that were coming to hang out. The pizza guy beat me home…and he waited on me to get back even though I had already paid and tipped him online.

And then my friends came over and we just chatted and hung out. Then we went to the roof, and hung out with my neighbors, former neighbors, and prospective neighbors and that was fun too! I stayed up until 1:30 a.m. ,which is like a record for me (I typically go to bed between 8:30-9:30), and then I made the long commute home down the steps.

This morning my church did a food sharing program for people in the community. After that, I went running with my dear friend that I met in a Pilates class a couple of years ago. And, on the way in I saw another neighbor that gave me some tips on what to focus on while running. In a matter of 27 hours, I got to hang out with 25 people that I like. And, the weekend isn’t even half over!

You see, this is why I am content.

I do want to be a wife, one day. I do want to be a mother, one day. I do want to be a writer, one day. But I am REALLY enjoying today.

Allison, a dear friend, passed along these thoughts to me that she read in a column about embracing the waiting times. The column explained that these are the moments when we are waiting for our lives to align with our expectations. For example, waiting to be accepted into grad school, waiting for a better career, waiting for a spouse, waiting for a kid, etc. The waiting times are not so bad, because we can use our time to indulge in our interest and develop as a person.

So, I encourage you (not to get all preachy) embrace the waiting time!

PS: Forgive me for not posting yesterday (I’m trying to update Monday-Friday), but I was enjoying my waiting time:-)