Re-introducting myself/Welcoming myself back

Where do I begin...
I guess it would make sense to start at the beginning, but the beginning would focus too much on the past, rather the immediacy of the present. With that resolved, I will start at the present.

Change has been the name of the game for the past 11 months. Not only change, but in some ways complete overhaul.
I switched careers for a while. I left full-time finance to purse non-profit work. This is the most rewarding, however the hardest work (other than my current relationship) that I have done is non-profit work.
The King's Daughters, Inc, my mission and focus took center stage for a year. Now, I have to work on the next steps to make TKD, it's best. In addition, I began working for a very elite non-profit.
Working in non-profit has been an interesting learning curve mentally and emotionally. It has also helped me realize certain steps on my path of life: some sensible, some backwards, but they all count.
I want TKD to be a worldwide movement. As such, I need to do some more work on myself. That has led me back to media and working to build my ever growing media career.

In the past five years living in NYC, I have enjoyed singing on stages for 50 to 5,000 people, recorded in basement recording studios and participated in sessions at Chung King studios. I have appeared on MTV, had TKD appear on BET, been featured as a spokesperson, news host, been published as a writer for a national publication and the list goes on! I have been shown so much favor since manuevering this complex city. However, I have learned that everything I set out to do when moving to NYC is not nearly as important as the person I would become.
I have become a well rounded, mature, self aware, woman who genuinally loves people. I am not without my flaws, hang-ups and inconsistencies, but I am better today than I was five years ago. I've grown up a lot.
Where am I?

Spiritually: I am building on the foundation started years ago. I am discovering God in a new way everyday. He is not to be put neatly in the box most spiritual people like to keep Him in for our comfort. He's beyond our conceptual finite minds. As such, I am following Jesus to a daily relationship with God and all it's splendor.
Mentally: I am intrigued by all the chaos of this world. Some call it signs of the times. Whatever you call it, the atmosphere, the envoirnment, the world as we knew is shifting gears and will most likely never be the same. The Bible descibes many of the events taking place and their increased frequency as signs of Jesus' return growing near. The state of our world calls me to spend more time praying for others and petitioning God for greater revelation as to how to overcome.
Physically: I want to be in better shape! I just turned 28 with the realization that I actually have to work to stay in shape. LOL! That sounds crazy, but when you have never had to work to do this, to me it is crazy. Those pesky 5 or 10 unwanted pounds seem to stick around a lot longer. I have been working with a dynamic trainer that I hope to begin training with her regularly. Hopefully she will help me to kick these pounds to the curb!
Emotionally: I'm in a great place. I have greater control over my erratic emotions, however I am not without them. I have embraced that I do have emotions (this took a long time). They are not all bad, they are sensors that help me locate myself. Sometimes, I am way off base and sometimes, I am discovering. For sure I am ever evolving.
Financially: I have learned how to budget a lot and a little. I don't have all the money I want, but I have learned to live with what I have and make it work. My debt has decreased greatly and that is not all due to my doing, but financially, I'm in a good place and getting better.

Continuing with the question where I am...
Drum roll...roll...roll...roll...!
I'm engaged to be married!! Whew! I can exhale, now that I got that out. In February 2010, Richard Albert Pope III asked me to marry him and I said yes. He surprised me at my job on 2/1/2010 and proposed marriage. I no longer have to whisper to myself that I am engaged. It has sunk in and the lovely symbol he gave me is a constant reminder=)
RP3 (as I call him) and I have an interesting story. It is a story of divine intervention, blessing and favor. I will let him come back and tell the story as his version is better, but for now I will say, he and I began courting in July 2009. We let our parents (who introduced us) know our courtship status in person Sept 2009. In Dec 2009, Richard asked my father for permission to marry me and my father gave his blessing. In Jan 2010 Richard and began ring shopping. On Feb 1, 2010, he enlisted the help of my friends to help execute his surprise proposal at my job. Since our meeting, we have travelled the entire tri-state area and more: NY, NJ, CT, PA, MA, RI, MD, FL, AZ. Our relationship has been a wonderful adventure with it's ups and downs, but the discovery of one another, of ourselves and the ability to love beyond our personal limits has been liberating. It is true, "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." I feel free.
We are getting married in January 2011.

I also attend a new church. First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem. I have always been civically involved on the local level. It's interesting that it took me 5 years, to become a member of a local church. All things are purposeful for it's season. In this new season, FCBC is purposeful.

Personally, I feel that I am coming into a more accepted, true self. Professionally, I am working on becoming what I believe: a media personality with the ability to own and operate media and financial empires. TEAM RADIKL in the building!!!

Today, I am Connecticut based and headed to the beach w/my lover.

More to come...

Kristen (The King's DaughterBillionairessKL in RADIKL)

Comfort Zone

This song from Marvin Sapp's (my favorite Gospel artist) latest album, "Here I Am," best describes where I am and how I feel right now, this year.

I'm coming out of my comfort zone
Some of the places in my life that's comfortable
God is challenging me
Trust and believe
For to go where I've not gone
I must do what I've not done

So I am coming out of my comfort zone
Tho it may cost me some friends
I'll walk alone
God is challenging me
To Trust and believe
For to go where I've not gone
I must do what I've not done

God is calling me
(to walk into my destiny)
God is challenging me
(to go where I've not been)
God is proving me
(and for the rest of my life, I'll say yes)
Yes yes yes!

I'm coming out of my comfort zone
I'm being stretched to place where I've never known
God is challenging me
To trust and believe
For to go where I've not gone
I must do what I've not done

God is calling me
(to walk into my destiny)
God is challenging me
(to go where I've not been)
God is proving me
(and for the rest of my life, I'll say yes)
Yes yes yes!

I'm coming out
Into my destiny
I'm coming out
And for the rest of my life my answer will be yes
Yes, yes, yes

I'm coming out
Into my destiny
I'm coming out
And for the rest of my life it will be yes
Yes yes yes

Yes to your will
I'm coming out
Yes to your way
I'm coming out
Yes Lord
I'm coming out
Each and every day
Yes

I'm coming out (2x)

I'm coming out of my comfort zone
I'm being stretched to a place I've never known
God is challenging me
Trust and believe

"My Heart No Longer Skips A Beat"

When you walk in a room
When I hear your voice
When I hear your name
I no longer feel the same

Constantly hearing your name
The sweating of my palms
The song on repeat
All cease to move me

…And my heart no longer skips a beat

I used to hold my breath when you walked in a room
Butterflies in my stomach when I saw you
Dreamt about your face
in my sleep

...And now my heart no longer skips a beat.

Choking back the tears
Thinking about what went wrong
I played it over and over again
A broken record like us

…But my heart no longer skips a beat

The sun has set
On this saga, this tale, this drama that failed.
I draw the line in the sand
I make no unnecessary demands.
You go your way and I go mine.
And this time I wont press rewind.

Fast forward to the next chapter
The story gets better after this
Now, I can put this behind...me.

...Since my heart no longer skips a beat.

Co-Written by Candice Lenoir

The Power of Relationships - Part III (A peek into my future)

This summer I have learned a valuable lesson; never to think that God has done all that He is going to do or capable of doing because therein sets limits. He is always ready to outdo His last exploit and take you higher than before when we believe and trust Him. We just have to be open to receive! You can say that my arms are wide open. This testimony is really a continuation of "The Power of Relationships - Part II" because it took place the following day.

Toya Beasley is the host of 98.7 KissFM - Kiss Inspirations morning show. She and I had plans to meet for the first time face to face during her show at the radio station. After a night and into the morning of slumber partying, eating junk food and laughing hysterically, I had to prepare myself with three hours of sleep to meet Ms. Beasley about The King's Daughters, Inc. I made my way to the station for what I thought would be a simple, "Hi, how are you? This is what I do." As always my BIG GOD had other BIG PLANS in store.

Within about ten minutes of being in the station, Toya had me on the radio talking about TKD. For the rest of her show she introduced me as her special guest. Talk about the favor of God. I was able to introduce my baby, my God-seed to 2 million people several times. It was such a humbling experience, simply because I never saw the opportunity coming.

Toya has a big heart to give and help anyone she can. She is committed to using the platform that God has given her to bless others and bless God! That's everyone's call; to use the gifts, the talents, the access we are given to make God's plans big, big enough to touch all people.

The favor continues...

Tune into Kiss Inspirations on 98.7 Kiss FM at 5am featuring Toya Beasley.

Be Blessed!
Billionairess
Word of the Day: 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Make Me Over - Tonex

Verse 1
You know my other side
I can no longer hide
Let you down so many times
Sin freshly crucifies

Thought that I had a plan
Had it all figured out
But the more that you tried
To be by my side
The more I put you out

Chorus
Lord make me over (3x's)
Make me over again (4x's)

Verse 2
Time after time I failed you
Pierced your side when they already nailed you
Jesus heal my open wounds
I just want to be more like you

Father I let you down
What's not like you just take it out
Reconcile me Jesus
I just want to please you
Wash me and make me whole

Chorus
Lord make me over (3x's)
Make me over again (4x's)

Ending:
Make me over again Lord
Cause I'm tired of my evil ways
And I want to make a change
Make me over Lord

Chorus
Lord make me over (3x's)
Make me over again (until end)

The Power of Relationships Part II (A peek into my future)

I declare that the floodgates of favor are open and as such…the story continues. Coming off of the heels of a successful King’s Daughters experience: Infectious Fire, some of the girls and I decided to have a slumber party. Not a big deal…but we had purpose, which is our lifestyle since we rarely do erroneous activities just to do them.

Our purpose for this slumber party was to create vision boards (inspired by our contagious guest speaker of Infectious Fire Life Coach and TV personality Dee Marshall – http://www.goraisethebar.com/ and founder of Raise the Bar Young Savvy).

However, we chose to set a standard not to slumber in our current circumstances and situations by sow a seed into our prosperous futures. With that in mind we decided to slumber at a New York Hotel. I emailed a family friend of mine and told him of our plans and without delay he booked us a room at the FABULOUS Millennium UN PLAZA Hotel in the center of New York City http://www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumunplazanewyork/rooms/2-BedroomSuite.html.

When we arrived at the hotel, our reservation was noted that it came from a top level executive and the favor began to flood. Within five minutes of checking we were upgraded twice to a two bedroom suite, complete with two bathrooms, a kitchen and full living room. To top it off we had a panoramic view of the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building and East River in NYC from the 33rd floor. We were on top of the world!

All of the normal al-a-carte services were complimentary. Our room normally that normally cost $1200.00 a night cost 10% of that. A better title for this entry is…”This is How We Roll.” :-)

My heart’s desire and I’m sure yours is as well is to be able to pick up the phone, write and email, send a text and get my needs and wants met. We are each other’s bridge to the other side. I’m training myself to look for the needs of others and meet them or at least be open enough to ask what the need is and meet it. I hope to help you one day!

God Bless!
Billionairess
Verse of the Day: Luke 14:28

The Power of Relationships (A peek into my future)

I recently finished reading the Tipping Point, a great book that I highly recommend (thanks Diondra). The beginning of the book talks about “The Law of the Few: Connectors, Mavens and Salesman.” I—am a Connecter. Very naturally…that’s me. It felt so good to read this book and ingest examples provided by Malcolm Gladwell that were completely real world to me. It all made sense; why I do some of the things I do, and say some of the things I say.

Anyway, getting to the point of connections. I had to attend a friend’s wedding this past weekend here in NYC. The wedding, the bride, the day and all who attended were beautiful. J I waited until the last minute to decide on an outfit to wear just to find that I didn’t really have anything to wear. I know…I know…the woman obsessed with a dress didn’t have anything to wear. Well, I didn’t. Not to a garden wedding at 7pm.

My sister sent me a cute summer dress for my birthday that didn’t fit me quite right from my second favorite retailer, BCBG Max Azria. I went to exchange the dress, hoping to find something to wear to the wedding. Nothing. I was down to four days left and not much more time to shop. Plus, I was probably still going to need shoes!

I prayed, God, what to do? I need a dress and my budget doesn’t really allow for much right now. Without delay, I got my divine answer. “Ask the owners at Bebenoir (my favorite boutique) to loan you a dress.” Loan me a dress? That directive was way beyond me. Simply, because I rarely ask to borrow anything. But I was being told to ask a retailer to borrow a dress.

I called Fatimah, the co-owner of Bebenoir. “I need a huge favor. I have a wedding to attend on Saturday (it’s Wednesday) and I don’t have the budget for a new dress. Do you all loan out your dresses?” She said, “No, not really. Let me ask Ibrahima (the other owner) what he thinks. In the meantime, come by the shop and I will pull a couple of dress for you to try on.”

Hopeful, I rush uptown to Bebenoir and try on about six dress. To my chagrin, none of them work. “Did you try on this one?” Fatimah hands me a dress. I passed right over it without giving it a second look. I try the dress on. It’s perfect! We both share the joy of the moment. Without giving it a second thought, Fatimah wraps up the dress, puts in a bag, and doesn’t require me to sign anything. I assured her that I would bring the dress back the following week. Wow…

I’m ecstatic! The power of relationships had hit me rock hard. I had been a faithful and loyal customer of Bebenoir since they opened late 2007. Also, in my Connector way, I always found a way to plug the store to a curious lady inquiring about my bracelet or purse that came from the gem of a boutique. I had been sowing seeds into their establishment all along and was now reaping the benefits!

The next day, I received a text message from Fatimah. “Ibrahima wants you to keep the dress. Congrats!” WHAT!! My favorite boutique took a chance and not only loaned their first dress but was giving it to me???

All this because of an established relationship and following the leading of the Holy Spirit…

It also confirmed that this may have been my first complimentary dressing, but it certainly will not be my last. Don’t underestimate the power of relationships!

Blessed! (to be a blessing J)

Billionairess

Verse for the Day: Genesis 12:2