2023 NCAA FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONS

 

DIVISION I

DIVISION II

DIVISION III

CONGRATULATIONS!

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE

I pray that this will be a year where our influence will result in definitive and positive changes in our countries narrative. We can't let those who would hurt us and take away our right to exist win.

2023 NCAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONS

 DIVISION I

                                      NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY WOLFPACK

DIVISION II

DIVISION III

NAIA

                                                              COLLEGE OF IDAHO YOTES

                                                              CONGRATULATIONS!

2023 NCAA MENS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONS

DIVISION I

                                         OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY COWBOYS

DIVISION II

DIVISION III

                                                             POMONA-PITZER SAGEHENS

NAIA

                                                    MILLIGAN UNIVERSITY BUFFALOES

                                                         

                                                        CONGRATULATIONS!

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Write it on your heart that every day is the best in the year.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson,  Philosopher (1803-1882)

2024 PROMISES TO BE AN ACTIVE ONE

This year promises to be an active one. I have already set a few personal goals. Getting a chapbook of poetry published. Making out a will. More recitals. 

This will be an active year on the political front with the national election coming up in November. As a trans person it's a big year as the rights of those in LBGTQ communities are threatened. I may get active in some political campaign.

2023 NCAA SOCCER CHAMPIONS-WOMEN

 DIVISION I

DIVISION II

                                         POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY SEA LIONS

DIVISION III

                                           CALIFORNIA LUTHRAN UNIVERSITY REGALS

NAIA

                              CONGRATULATIONS!

2023 NCAA MENS SOCCER CHAMPIONS

 DIVISION I

DIVISION II

 

                                                        FRANKLIN PIERCE RAVENS

DIVISION III

                                                          ST. OLAF COLLEGE OLES

NAIA

CONGRATULATIONS!

2024

 

SAGE ADVICE

 

GOALS FOR 2024

With 2023 winding down, it's time to think of new 🤔  goals for 2024. I know more reading and writing are in store.  I have a few things in mind, Starting a home business is one. 

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

 

2023 NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

 DIVISION II

DIVISION III

SUNY CORTLAND RED DRAGONS

NAIA

WINTER IS HERE

 

JOURNEY IS THE CLASSROOM

 

Life isn't about the destination, but the journey. 

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.

~Greg Anderson

JOE

Advent is a time of personal reflection. 😌 Where did I improve? What needs working on? Am I grateful. Today, I was thinking about Joe*, a man who once attended our church before moving away. 

Joe was a former weight lifter who was a gentle soul. He shared how God changed him from an angry 😠  person to one with love for all people. He was a spiritual and humble man who was knowledgeable about a number of things.

I miss Joe's gregarious and humble manner who was a gentle presence. I am happy to have known him. 

HOLIDAYS

The holiday season is a joyous time for many folks. For others it is a time of sadness, loneliness, and regret. Some may have lost loved ones. Others are estranged from their families. This is particularly true in the LGBTQ+ community.

I pray that someone will invite you out or spend time with you. This is also a time to be thankful that you made it to this point. Be grateful for what you have. You matter!

WE MOVE FORWARD

No matter what others say or think about transgender people we still keep moving on living our lives.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

 

HAPPENING NOW

 

COMMENTARY

 It has been quite a week, a good one at that. Last Sunday the youth ran the service. Later, the was the annual community Thanksgiving dinner. On Monday, the Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil was held at SAGE. On Thanksgiving Day my wife and I enjoyed a luscious dinner. It is also the beginning of my time for reflection.

There were many moods expressed during the week. Gratitude. Joy. Sadness. Hope. Longing. There is so much to be grateful for. I pray that many folks will come to a relationship with the person whose birth will be celebrated. 

GIVING THANKS

 

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

You can scream, you can holler, you can protest- which are all good things because we have to be heard- but no real, significant changes occur without rolling up your sleeves and getting into a fight.

~Isaac Wright, Jr.

TRANS WEEK

 

A GRATEFUL THANKS

This is the cap I wore to the Veteran's Day parade today. It was good being there to honor the men and women who served. I'm mindful of the LGBTQ+ troops who served though they may have had to suppress their identities.

I was a spectator watching the marching bands, floats, and veterans marching in perfect order. Some folks came up to me and thanked me for my service. They didn't look at me strangely or insult me. They were thankful that I served the country. That's what this day is about. 

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

VETERAN'S DAY

 

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

~Francis of Assisi, Saint (1182-1226)

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE COMING

 

Transgender Day of Remembrance will be here soon. Still working on where it will be held and how we should do it.

I am going to add it to time of reflection (usually from Thanksgiving to New Year's). There's much to reflect on. There's also much to be thankful for.

I WONDER

I wonder if people hate transgender, non-conforming and nonbinary people because we are living our authentic lives.

NEVER

 I will never, ever vote for someone who is anti-LGBTQ+!

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Choose to focus your time, energy and conversation around people who inspire you, support you and help you to grow you into your happiest, strongest, and wisest self. 

~Karen Salmansohn

GRATEFULNESS

 

LGBTQ IN PALESTINE

There are LGBTQ people in Palestine. Many would be killed if they display their affections publicly. When they go into Israel they can live openly. LGBTQ people are hated in Palestine.

GENEVIEVE INTRODUCED

Fifteen years ago, I entered this church for the first time as Genevieve. I stumbled into a mid day service. During the passing of the peace there no disapproving looks and stares. I was treated like another worshipper.

This was quite touching as another hurdle was crossed. God accepted me as I was. This would lead to something good that would happen weeks later. I'm so grateful.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

God cannot give happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

C. S. Lewis, writer (1898-1963)

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

 I would dearly love to have an audience of people who know little or nothing about trans people. It seems this is the populace the anti-LGBTQ haters are targeting.  If I had such a captive audience I would pose two questions:

1. Who knows someone who is transgender and nonbinary? 

2. What do you know about what it is to be transgender?

There is fear and confusion about me and others like me. People fear what they don't know or understand. w want the same thing everyone else. does. We want to live our lives in peace. Recently a cis woman was because the attacker thought she was transgender. 

I live my life openly. I put it that if someone wants to know anything about my being transgender all they need to do is ask. I don't know if I will ever get the opportunity to speak before such an audience. If it does come up I will be ready.   

A REMINDER

Terrorists do not care about the people they hurt. They care more about their ideology. 

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

 

A RISE IN ANTISEMITISM?

With all that is happening in Israel, I wonder if there will be an increased rise in antisemitism here in the US and around the world? I pray not.

BATTLING HEALTH CONCERNS

My spouse and I have had some health concerns. She has shingles, me, colds in my muscles. She was in the hospital for a few days but now is home and mending.

TRANSITIONS

 

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

 

SUBTLE TRANSITION

My friends and I were discussing how we came out. The timing in which we presented ourselves to the world was interesting.

My transition was subtle. It wasn't earth-shattering but time was 👍 right. As time went on I became more comfortable being Genevieve. Some folks come out earlier or later. I was in my mid-fifties. I don't regret being Genevieve. It's one of the best things that has happened to me.

UPDATE ON SEPTEMBER 5th POST

I posted on September 5th that I was going to a radio show on what a true Christian really is. Then illness struck 🤒. Wasn't feeling well for several days (no COVID) I'm better now.

I am doing the show as planned. By Friday I will have a date. Stay tuned.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

 

LIBERTY FOR ALL

I wonder if it's because trans and non-conforming folks choose to live their reality, that society is pushing back. Someone said to me one time that I'm brave. I replied that I was just living my life. 

We want life, liberty, and the pursuit of ☺ happiness as the Declaration of Independence states. This is for all people, regardless of who they are.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Every day, I like to wake up and remind myself to be grateful for the simple things.

~Mirandaa Kerr

THERE WHEN I NEEDED IT

 

I hung out at the LGBT center yesterday. It's one of the few places I'm totally comfortable. It was good being there though I am fighting a cold.

I was reminded of the first time I walked through the door. At the time I was struggling with my gender issues. A year earlier, I said that I would be caught dead in the place. Looking back I'm so happy that it was there when I needed it.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

 

WHAT IS A TRUE CHRISTIAN?

I have an internet radio program titled 'Genevieve's Gems.' I discuss the Bible from a transgender and queer perspective. 

With all the controversy about Christian nationalism (which I detest) and people who call themselves 'Christian', there's much confusion 😕 over what Christianity really is. 

Later this month, I will broadcast over the internet what a true 👍 Christian really is. 👏  I will post a post all the information in a couple of days. 

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Communication is a skill that you can learn. It's ,like riding a bicycle or typing. If you're willing.to work at it,  you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.

-Brian Tracy

LOVE GOD AND PEOPLE

 

A PLACE OF COMMUNITY

I have been part of this site and others for many years. Many things have changed. Thee one constant is that folks want to find a place where they are encouraged and supported. 

More folks are coming out at younger ages. In these turbulent times in our history, people are out there living their reality. This is encouraging. Seventeen years ago, I decided to live my life openly and unashamed. That's what younger folks are doing. They are the future.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Don't go through life, grow through life.

~Eric Butterworth, Educator (1916-2003)

BELATED BIRTHDAY WISH

 

A belated Happy 🎂 Birthday to Stonewall icon Marsha P. Johnson 

(August 24, 1945- July 6, 1992)

MURRAY HILL

Murray Hill is a popular drag king and comedian here in New York City and the world. I first became acquainted with him in the early years of my transition. I saw Murray several years ago at a venue on the west side. He wore a suit in the warm summer afternoon. 

He was being himself which struck me the most. I recently read that he considers himself transgender. He began his career in the waning days of the East Village/ Lower East Side arts scene. Murray is still quite active today.

I know a drag queen whose done drag services at my church. All the nonsense about grooming is both untrue and dangerous. Any 'preacher' who says that trans people are pedophiles and should be killed is a disgrace to God and congregation he/she allegedly represents.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.

~ Norman Cousins, Author (1915-1990)

LOSS

I was informed that one of my Facebook friends has passed away. Last night I was writing a poem about loss.  Haven't finished yet but I will post it when I do.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Anyone who belittles or invalidates your existence isn't worthy of your time.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments. If you don't celebrate those, they can pass you by.

~Alek Wek

SAFE SPACES

There is a need for safe spaces for LGBTQ+ FOLKS. There were once places where like minded people could hang out and be themselves. There was a feeling of community. Many places have/are disappearing. The COVID pandemic did much to  cut folks off from others.

Now with the rash of anti-trans bills being introduced, safe spaces are more important now than ever before. I am encouraged by the young people creating spaces for themselves. They are the future architects of resources that i would like to see and need. As a senior citizen, I would like more places where seniors can gather and enjoy each other's company.

COMMENTARY

 This past Friday, I celebrated my 75th birthday. Three-quarters of a century on this earth. 👏  Life always has surprises and I have had my share. 

I'm looking forward to experiencing new adventures. . My curiosity is still there. Sadly, age is not fondly looked 😕 upon. Some see it as the end of life as we knew it. Yes, I cannot do some things like I used to but I can learn new ones. I do miss racing (health issues) but I walk very day. I'm seeking to invest in a bicycle. 

One thing I have gained is wisdom and insight. I encourage folks who are struggling or need a listening ear. Every day I can do something positive for someone. As I continue on my journey, I will 😉 each moment that I'm in. Stopping and smelling the roses. There are more beginnings I will start and live.

GENEVIEVE'S GEMS

Be curious, not judgmental.

~Walt Whitman, Poet (1819-1892)

MY CONTINUING JOURNEY

Sometimes there is the mistaken notion that all journeys follow the same path. Nothing can be further from the truth. Just like life, our personal journeys can run the gamut.

I mentioned last week that it was my eighteenth year of being Genevieve. I was an adult when I began crossdressing. I proceeded from there to transgenderist to transgender. While I didn't have surgery, I knew without a doubt that I am transgender. 

It is the course that I am running. No one can run it for me. I am discovering more about myself even after all these years.  I can't know what lays ahead but I'm compelled to go.