The Singles Bible

My Bishop has been reading Sister Oaks book "The Single Voice." and swears by it. He loves the book so much he calls it his new bible. Recently I decided to pick it up and read it. Though it is aimed at singles so far I have found it is applicable to everyone. Today I read one quote I loved...
"How do we deal with a circumstance we never bargained for, and worse, that we never prepared for-that seems to affect all members of our family and ever our standing in society? The answer is simple and yet so often so very hard to achieve: By applying the principles of the gospel and knowing we are precious in the eyes of God, we can attain peace and happiness."

What I Have Been Up To

Ok so I got around to posting sooner then I was thinking.

I has been a world wind of a December so far....oh wait thats right we are adults now and can see how busy Christmas time really is.

Unrelated to Christmas...this week I had a tube put in my left ear. I have had ear problems for over 2 1/2 years. The first of the month the ran a test and found my ear can not equalize pressure. They are hoping by putting in a tube this will be solved.


On Thursday my mom, sister and I went to Ballet Wests The Nutcracker. Can I tell you it is much improved. Thank you Adam Sklute! I was in total amazement. Oh yea dinner at the Macaroni Grill was yummmmy.

Of course snow!!! We have been in a snow pattern, can we say a storm every three days. I love it though. My only compliant about snow is driving in it.....but that has been solved with the Train. No more do I have to drive to work in the snow.

I love the snow, how mystical and magical it is. Plus I love playing with Carmel in it, he does not like it much.

So here is the picture of the moon I promised. And by the way the moon was right. It snowed a few days latter. A better weather man then those on TV.
And I watched the Baird's while their parents where in DC. The first day I was there we choose to ride the train to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner.

Greetings to All

I hope you are all having a nice Christmas season. I have not posted much lately. I have been wanting to post with pictures. But do tosome computer problems it may be a few days more. I will post soon.

I am Gratefull For...

I figured I would catch up on my lack of grateful for posts... (I have a problem with it on weekends)
1) A new tube in my ear...hopefully this will do the trick
2) A new computer...mine was as dead as can be
3) SNOW I love it
4) Because of snow...the train

I am Grateful for...

I am grateful for.... Peppermint Stick Ice cream on brownies with hot fudge sauce. Yummmm the best.

The Halo Around the Moon

Tonight was the coolest thing I ever saw. The moon actually had a halo. I did manage to take a picture; I will get it up as soon as I can...maybe tomorrow. But in the mean time enjoy what I found out about it on the web.

A Ring Around The Moon
The ring around the Moon is caused by the refraction of Moonlight (which of course is reflected sunlight) from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. The shape of the ice crystals results in a focusing of the light into a ring. Since the ice crystals typically have the same shape, namely a hexagonal shape, the Moon ring is almost always the same size.
Less typical are the halos that may be produced by different angles in the crystals. They can create halos with an angle of 46 degrees.
Moon Ring Weather Folklore Folklore has it that a ring around the moon signifies bad weather is coming, and in many cases this may be true. So how can rings around the moon be a predictor of weather to come? The ice crystals that cover the halo signify high altitude, thin cirrus clouds that normally precede a warm front by one or two days. Typically, a warm front will be associated with a low pressure system which is commonly referred to as a storm.
It is believed that the number of stars within a moon halo indicate the number days before bad weather will arrive. Give it a try the next time you observe a moon halo.

A stormy weekend is being predicted in Utah....lets see if it happens. (I hope it does)

Ill get my picture up this weekend.

Addresses

So Im a little slow this year...what a surprise. I need all your addresses to send christmas cards.

I am Grateful for...

I am grateful for being the only one at work who is not sick!

I am Grateful for....

I am grateful for Snow....just not cleaning cars off in the morning.

I am Grateful For...

I am Grateful for... the ATONMENT and the changes it can make in our lives and our hearts.

Shopping... A list of 10 Reason to Be Financially Smart

So I learned a fun habit from my room mate in DC....list making.

With the economy (smile it will all work out) and this song I heard on my ipod. I thought of the perfect list. 10 Reasons to Be Financially Smart

1) No Worries
2) When emergencies arise (a dead computer, or car, or who knows what) the decision is easier to make
3) You dont have to write your paychecks off to others
4) Peace of mind (I know a lot like no worries but its the most important)
5) You can occasionally give yourself nice treats
6) You dont stress as much over employment status
7) You are not indebted to others
8) The economy is not as worrisome
9) You are keeping the commandments
10) You will one day have more money

So here is the song. Its called "Shopping" by Barenacked Ladies. If you know me it fits. But I have one word of advice...shopping does not fix anything...haha it can make things worse.

CHORUS:
Well you know that it's going to be alright
I think it's gonna be alright
Everything will always be alright
When we go shopping
Well you know that it's going to be alright
When we go shopping
It's always lalalalala...
Shopping spree begin
It's always lalalalala...
Everybody wins
So shutup
And never stop
Let's shop
Until we drop

CHORUSIt's always lalalalala...
Shopping never end
It's always lalalalala...
Shopping with our friends
Shopping once again
It's always lalalalala... (x4)It's never enough
Until you've got all the stuff
When the going gets rough
Just shop with somebody tough

CHORUS (x2)It's always...When we go shopping (x3)

I am Grateful For

Wonderful Co-Workers!!!

So What Have I Been Up To

I was looking over my blog and realized I havent posted much about my going ons lately....unless what I am grateful for counts for much. :)

Here are a few highlight:
1) I learned how to make my moms yummy homemade roles
2) I hade a great thanksgiving. We went to my aunt Lories this year. It was so much fun to all eat in the same room. To see cousins that are back from missions
3) I finally made it through season one of heros. Now for season two!
4) I hung out with my bros. It was great fun shootgun shotting. Though I felt a little out of place.
5) I got a great deal on new running clothes and shoes...got to love black Friday!!

Well thats just a few. Hope things are going well for each of you.

I will aim to put pictures up soon. Oh that means I would have to take pictures.

Lots of love.

I am Grateful For...

I am greatful for WONDERFUL FRIENDS!!

I am Grateful For

I am grateful for a wonderful dad who can do all my car repairs.....yep I cant change my own headlights.

I am Grateful For

I am grateful for the gospel and the great plan of happiness.

Wonderful Wednesday

So before I start I have to say how much I love doing these "Wonderful Wednesday" posts. As I try to think of something I am truly grateful for, and more then simple things. I find how much my life has been blessed. I find how close the Savior is to me in my life. He is the constant I am then one that decides where our relationship goes.

So my wonderful Wednesday: TIME

As strange as this may seem it sums up what I am grateful for this Wednesday.

Have you ever spent any amount of time and looked at your life? Who you are? Where you came from? Where are you going? What you have learned? Where you are now? If not you need to! I have spent a lot of time doing this as of late and wow its been a journey.

As I have done this I realized how much I have grown where I have come from and where I hope I am going.

Things I have noticed:
A Year Ago: I was hurt, confused, building very high walls and really testing my trust in the Lord and his direction. I was in a state of doing what I knew my Heavenly Father wanted and needed me to do but I had no clue why. I was in an extreme state of simply acting out of blind obedience. I was only making decisions and actions out of love for my Heavenly Father and nothing more. I did not know why I was making these decisions. I did not want to follow or act. I wanted things to be different.

Today: I am still relying on faith. But I can see each and every day why the Lord's direction was best for me. I feel excited about life. I am ready and willingly to trust again. The thought of moving forward doesnt scare me. The future exists me. As a quote I read state: I know that all things will work out for my best. I am ready to take down walls, and am doing so daily. I am excited, hopeful, etc. I am no longer afraid. I feel so at peace that everything is working out how it should.

This is just one example of what time has done. I know it comes from maturity but a lot of changes in me have come from the atonement and the power of love. Time worked on me and through me. It took time to heal wounds and give me the courage to move forward.

I am grateful this Wednesday for TIME

I am Grateful for Peace

I am Grateful for PEACE!!

I am grateful for the feeling of peace I have in my heart. I know that in my heart all things are going to work out for the best. I know the promised blessing is right around the corner.

If you were to ask me the two things I feel in my heart right now I would say hope and peace. Why... well I always try to feel hope its always there. But why the peace. I can explain it exactly all I know is that I feel so peaceful in my heart and so so strongly that what I have been praying for for years is right around the corner. I feel I am closer then I have ever been to getting married. Truth I know its going to happen I feel it and I know. The peace is feeling that what I am doing right now is leading to that promise. It almost feels so close I can touch. I know it may be a few years yet but I feel its coming. I know its happening. I feel peace because the knowledge, faith and hope are there. The promised blessing seems so close I can almost reach out and touch it. My heart is no longer afraid its at peace.

(Oh so I decided that everyday between now and Christmas I am going to post one thing I am thankful for.)

My Birthday Weekend

Last weekend was my birthday, well November 15 to be exact. I have sadly reached the age of 23. As my brother put welcome to being a menis (I know I cant spell) to society. To be honest I love how things are going in my life and would not change a thing. I know things are going just as they should and pray daily that I can continue to do and be where I need to so I can help make my life as God has planned it. Everything will work out just as it should.

So here is how I spent my weekend, or at least highlights.

I LOVE gooey yummy chocolaty food. So my mom made me the yummiest chocolate trifle ever.

Saturday night. My mom, sis and I went on saw Ballet West "The Tempest." Well this was more for my moms birthday. My dad gave her season tickets to the Ballet it just happened to be on my birthday. No complaints there.

I spent Saturday morning at the spa. I had a massage, facial, pedicure and manicure. I got acrylic nails for the first time ever. So far I love them. PS they help with sanding glass.

Friday night I hung out with a bunch of friends. We went and watched the first five episodes of Heroes. Now I just need to finish them.

We also went and had dinner at CPK.

Thanks everyone for making this one of the best birthdays ever.

Wonderful Wednesday

My Wonderful Wednesday is HOPE

“Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”
—Vaclav Havel (b. 1936), poet, playwright, 1st president of Czech Republic

Wonderful Wednesday

Yep I know its a day late.



My Wonderful Wednesday this week is for finaly starting to get over my case of bronchitis!!!



Silly I know but its been a hard two weeks.

Going Private

Hey Friends-

So this week I attended a prevent child abuse conference for work. I attended alot of classes about technology and the use of computers and the internet to stalk people. Its trully scarry what goes on out there. For a while I have been thinking about how to be saffer. One hint please please watch who you and your kids talk to on the internet, what info is given out and personel info, etc.

I have allready had some fun experience with weird people calling me from my Facebook account. That finally lead me to remove all personal contact info from all accounts. Right now I am tempted to change my email, basically have one account for public and one for private. But I havent quite gotten there yet. Ill let you know if I do.

But thanks to Natalie I have decided to take the step I have been thinking about doing for awhile. I am going to be making my blog private. I created them for a few reasons (to stay in touch, have a sorts of journal and a good collection spot for my thoughts).

I will leave my blog public a month or so. Please let me know if you want to be invited.

PS the blog for my craft business and maybe my bro's mission will remain public.

Wonderful Wednesday

Today's Wonderful Wednesday is for simple promptings of the spirit.

This week has been one full of simple promptings and revelations from the spirit.

The first came on Sunday when I had a feeling to read my patriarticle blessing during the sacrament. So I dug it out of its home, probably bad if I had to dig for it in order to read it. As I was reading my blessing I was filled with love and a sense of peace knowing what God had promised me and that all these things are mine to have. What struck my the most though was the last line, the closer. It said something along the lines that these blessings are mine based upon my faith. I thought that was kind of interesting I have heard a lot of people say that their blessing confirm these promised blessings based upon their faithfulness and obedience to the commandments of God. To be truthful I always thought that was what mine said but it simply said the blessings are mine upon my faithfulness. The second revelation came at that time the greatest dreams and desires of my heart are mine to have, in Gods timing, but they are mine-minding that I remain faithful. I thought this was interesting for the greatest thing I struggle with is keeping hope and faith alive. I have always believed that faith=hope=happiness. When ever I remain truly hopeful things have happened. So thats the key.

The third was prompting. I kept getting a prompting to read the entire talk by Elder Holland entitled "He Loved Them Unto the End." So last night I did. Can I tell you it is the best talk ever. A summary of the message is this, through the pain and hardships of Gethsemane Christ never turned his back on what he was sent to do. He continued to love us. He never stooped loving us and he never will.

I am grateful for simple promptings and revelations.

Happy Halloween

Yep I know a few days late but Happy Halloween. This year I decided to go for something new and went all out for Halloween. With the costume that is. I went as a black fairy/Nimph/Butterfly you decide. I went to a party at my friends and then headed down to a party at the Skybox with my sorority and fraternity.

The Year of Kendra

So awhile back I was thinking about what a dear friend mentioned in her testimony. She mentioned how after having a particularly hard year she wanted a turn around, a great year. So she decided to have what she called the year of Katie where she set out to make it the best year yet by setting goals and doing things she had never dreamed of, etc.

Well I loved her idea and decided to do the same. I figured a few months ago to start in November, the month of my birthday so that I can make my 24th year of life the best yet. To do so I looked over my 100 things to do before I die to get some ideas of what I want to set out and do.

A few I have thought of (I figure one a month) are:
- Spend the Day at the Spa
- Get out of debt
- Go to the temple monthly (so this one will be every month I know)
- Start a masters program and/or m0ve out. (These are dependent on each other, I would love to do both)
- Hike Hayden/Pelican Valley in Yellowstone
- Learn Tennis

And much much more!

Wonferful Wednresday

My Wonderful Wednesday post this week takes more writing and explanation then a simple post.

So the last couple of weeks have been kind of hard. As to why any time my ex-boyfriend Jonny contacts me things get kind of hard. I get a little heart broken again and wish that things could have just worked out differently. But Heavenly knows best and let me know there is something better. Well anyhow a few weeks ago he emailed me again. So once again I was feeling a little vulnerable then I found about a few girls in my home ward are getting married, younger then me.

After this I was talking to friends and looking at things going on in life. Well to say the least I just started feeling down and frustrated. I needed someone to talk to that I could be honest with and could understand. But for what ever reason I felt like this support was just non-existent I felt alone. I didnt feel comfortable talking to my girl friends, for what ever reason I didnt quite feel they would get it. (Funny cause as I write this I am thinking of all my wonderful USU roomies that would totally get what I am feeling, they have been there.)

Well yesterday morning I was feeling a little lost and alone. When out of the blue a good guy friend of mine emailed me. And come to find out he was going through the same things and feeling the same way. We emailed back and forth for a few hours.

On my way home from work I decided to walk to the train so I could think. I realizes Roger's email was an answer to my prayers. I realized I am not alone and that God has a plan and design for each of us. Yes some of us wait longer for prayers to be answered and to get married but this is because there are things he wants us to accomplish during this time. He is making something Divine and grand out of each of us and that requires unique timing.

So my Wonderful Wednesday is all about friends who unknowingly answer prayers and Gods love for sending these angels.

Mudbound

I recently finished reading the book Mudbound by Hillary Jordan. As difficult of a read as this book was I still loved it. To read this book you have to have a strong stomach to be able to read books about the treatment of African Americans during the early 1900's.

The book takes place on a small farm on the Mississippi Delta. The book follows the story of the white land owner and several of their tenant farmers, in particular one African American family. The book reveals several individuals and how the handle the cultural norms of Mississippi during the 1940's. We watch the adjustment of a city girl having to adjust to life on a rural farm with very little facilities. A once gentle husband transformed be being a farm owner in the deep south. Two return veterans from WWII, one white and the other African American and their adjustment back to life in the Mississippi delta after spending years in Europe where whites and blacks where thought of as equals. We also watch their struggles from what they witness in the war.

I would highly recommend this book if you are able to stomach the culture of this time frame and the activities of the KKK for this book is not lacking any of it.

TAG...I AM

Thanks Natalie for tagging me. This may be kind of fun. I like things that make me think.

I am...
I am: learning to trust!
I think: all the time. I have to listen to music to stop thinking so I can go to slep. Just listen to the words on focus on them and it works!
I know: God has a plan for each of us...and every thing that happens in life is part of his plan..we can only see a small Part right now.
I want: to own my own business!!!
I have: Run 4 Half Marathons in a year
I dislike: when people try to tell me what is good for me...or that one day you will make an amazing wife and marry and amazing man. Its hard to handle when I want it badly.
I fear: HIGHTS. I can barely even have a piggy backs. I can handle everything else. Well beatles and ants are iffy.
I feel: Comfort and Excitement!
I hear: My ipod and people walking around upstairs.
I smell: Not much I got a stuffy nose! Have for a few weeks.
I crave: Suggar Cookies, Anything with Peanut Butter, Pop Corn, Cheetoos and good Cereal
I cry: when I listen to a good song, good movies or TV shows. Usually when the song or show is about everything working out in someones life.
I usually: check blogs daily. I set at a computure all day long.
I wonder: what it will be like to have my greatest dream fullfilled...and who it will be I marry.
I regret: sin!! That can some it up. And how some relationships end.
I love: The Lord and my family!
I care: about children who suffor from violence and illness, the things they can not control.
I always: eat fiber one for breakfast.
I worry: about what others think of me and that I did not treat everyone I meet right
I am not: Good at any sport that requires arms, well sort of basket ball
I remember: Two things, how it felt to be forgiven and the first time a guy told me he loved me!
I believe: In the atonement and the the love of our Savior
I dance: not much! Sometimes country but I want to dance in the rain!
I sing: In my car to country music
I don’t always: Hang up my clothes
I argue: about politics!!!
I write: in my blog and try to write in my journal regularly. Plus I write our work newsletter!
I win: Ticket to Ride and kind of cant help but glot, oh I do it when ever I win.
I lose: When ever there is a wager. Plus I am not a good loser.
I wish: I could date more
I listen: to Country Music!!! Or anything with a good message to it!
I don't understand: people obsessions with sports teams.
I can usually be found: out running or learning a new craft!
I am scared: that I might have a serious health problem that I ignore cause I can deal with it!
I need: to get back to work!
I am happy: when I'm living the Gospel!!!! Or running or reading!
I tag: Heidi and Heather

Matt Got His Mission Call

My little brother Matt got his mission call today! He is going to Baton Rouge Louisiana! He enters the MTC on January 28th!

Wonderful Wednesday

I was reading my blog and loved an idea of her's, to post a gratitude item once a week. She does it on Tuesday. I thought a great idea I need to do that! So I am going to do a Wonderful Wednesday post, yea I know today is Thursday but I forgot yesterday!

I am grateful for wonderful friends who think of me out of the blue!

Our Family Trip to St. George!

My little bro is headed off and a mission soon. So we decided to have a small family get away before he does. So off to St. George and Zions we went!

Us in the Hidden Garden trail!

My view of Angels Landing. If you know my you know why I didnt make it farther then this. Im way to afraid of heights!

I even went golfing. I was good at driving the cart. My dad and bro did great and I learned how to golf!

When no one would help me off the five foot rock wall they made me climb at a local park in St. George. Yep this was to high of a wall for me to handle!

My grunge day. This was along river trail.

Along the Virgin river. Why we look so mad I dont know, but it was fun!

Self portrait along the way!

The river.

October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

So here is my work plug, as I work for Utah Domestic Violence Coalition.

Domestic Violence is a wide spread issue that effects more people then you know. Victims are often ashamed of the violence and know how to hide it well. They do not always speak up or seek out help. It is our role as community members to help these victims of DV. They can be female, male, rich or poor. Any one can be a victim. If you suspect or know someone is a victim to DV please help them.

So on to my point. October is DV Awareness Month. All around the state of Utah, and where ever you live are several awareness activities. On Saturday I participated in the Davis County Run Against Domestic Violence Awareness Race.....and I won. Yep thats right, I took first out of all the women. Granted it was only a 5k but still I got first.

My Baby Sitting Lessons

So this past week I have been tending my cousins while their parents are one a cruise. Its kind of been interesting and way low key. (Seeing as I am used to tending 7 kids with crazy lives.) So only having three with simple schedules is a breaze.

It seems that every time I tend I learn lessons, or relearn, somet times these lesson are ones about life, the gosple and/or just about child care giving. For example how to handle kids on a rampage, strepp, cracked heads, how to pray, how simple the gosple is and just how to live and love life. These are just a sampling of what I learned of the years. Im telling you when you feel in as a parent when the real ones go out of town you get way more experience then normal babysitting.

The lesson that I learned this time that came directly from babysitting hit me the most. I was helping my cousing work through missing her parents, she was a total mess. We talked for nearly an hour. What touched me was I was trying to help her see how blessed she was to be able to talk to her parent twice a day and email them even though they are on a cruise. I told her that when I tend the Bairds and there parents go on cruises it can be days between calls. The point is I told her to count her blessings, look at what she does have that is going great. I went on to tell that even though things look and seem like they are completly falling apart at this moment put on a smile and a brave face, be like Christ and bare things with patience, look at what you do have not what you dont and most importantly pray- when ever it gets hard. As I told her this it hit me so hard. Here I was teaching a 12 year old how to work through missing her parents when I should have been looking in the mirror and talking to my self. What I was saying to her applies to all of us and all times. It may be as small as a bad day because you burnt dinner to waiting for your hearts desires to be meet. It may be ending a close reltaionship to waiting for a child. It may be dealing with a life long illness to a sudden loss of a loved one. From trival to big we all go through hard moments that get us down. But we have the greatest example at hand, Christ. I thought I need to, we all need to, remind ourselves of this time and time again.

Now to lessons I have learned as bi-products of tending. Ok I have a lot of spare time.

I love the show "What I Like About You." It is way way funny plus its based a lot on real life, or atleast it relates better then most shows can. My cousins and I have had a great time watching it every night after chores and homework are done. I love the show because as the charachters come to make relizations about life, mostly relationships I think to my self wow thats me!

I have also had a ton of time to read. After the go to bed the girls want me up stairs so they can sleep and there is not really a TV up there but in the room and I dont want to keep the girls up so I read. This book is by far one of my favorites. Its not so much a gripping story that fantasy and other books can be. Its more gripping in its real life. I love reading the story of Macy and the self relizations she is having. As the story goes on it keeps getting me to think about my self and my life.

Hmmmmm. Babysitting is a grand adventure, this time an adventure of self.

Im a Believer

I know I have mentioned this before but I love music, especially country and musicals (and on ocasion other songs with good messages.) I love when I find a song that tells it how it is or has a great message.

Lately I have ran across two songs that do just this. One is "I Have a Dream" from Mama Mia. I love that song because of how true it is. Dreams give us something to hold onto and hope for when things get tough and they can and really do see us through. All we have to do is hold and know they will come true.

The second song I ran into the other day when I bought Jimmy Wayne's new CD. Its called a "True Believer" When I heard this song I had to play it time and time again because it fit so perfectly in my life.

To tie the two together so it makes some sense. The biggest dream in my life, with out going into to much detail. Is simply this: I dream each day of finding someone who loves and appreciates me. Some one who when they hold me close I know the world stops, or that at least our love will see us through. Someone who when they look at me I can see how much they treasure me. I dream of oneday finding a man who when ever he thinks of me he stops and thinks to himself wow I am the luckiest. I dream of finding the one who simply treats me right. Where love trully is the center of our relationship and existence. Where nothing else matters but the other one. I also dream of being and giving the same thing in return. (I could go on and on but I think you get the point)

Well sadly this is not what I seem to find all that often. When I was dating Jonny I had parts of it but not the whole thing. I remember at first I thought this will work, but eventually in my heart I knew I was selling out on my dream and I just could not do it. As I prayed to know what was right I just know that my dream would be realized I just had to hold on. I had to keep believing in the dreaming, holding on and hoping. I know I had to let the dream carry me through until I found the one, as hard as it may get. (Allowing dreams to see you through would be the Mama Mia part)

But the song "True Believer" just fit so perfectly. Read the lyrics and you will know why.

Nobody but me to blameFor losing all this love
Hope is the greatest expectation
And I never knew how to give up

Hand full of promises I can’t hold
Old love letters that just lie
You might have tried to break me down
You might have seen me cryI,
I’m not foolish and I’m not blindI
did what I could, I stood in the rain
And I waited for love to be kind
With a heart that didn’t die
It just feels a little deeper
So don’t worry about me
Cause more than anything I am a true believer

I get up every day
I think of you more than I should
I won’t let you disgrace the whole human race
I believe people are goodI,
I just say it was all for the best
I won’t compromise and I won’t close my eyes
And pretend I can live with less
I’ll just say goodbye to the way I thought that we were
I won’t give up on the world

Cause more than anything
I believe in a love bigger than us
I believe it’s so strong that I just gotta trust
I’d give all that I have I believe it so much
I, I believe in something heavenly
With all the mistakes and the pain that love takes
I still believe in what it could be
There’s a Godly sound
Talking to all us sinners

So don’t worry about me ‘cause that’s all that I need
Don’t worry about me ‘cause that’s all that I need
I am a true believer
Nobody but me to blame
For losin’ all this love
Hope is the greatest expectation
And I’ll never learn how to give up

Ill admit the past year I have been alittle afraid of love, more of getting hurt again. But when ever I would/do start to feel down I think about the exact message of this song. True love is out there. What I believe in and seek for is. I just can not settle for less. As a message I learned from What I Like About You (yes I learn from strange places) Its a brave and strong thing to be able to turn from setteling for part of your dream to hope that the whole dream will be fullfiled. Dont settle.

Yes I may have been afraid of getting hurt, and still am and probably always will be. But my dream is out there and its calling me on. Now I have to strive for it.

Where Have I Been Hiding?

Ok I realize I have not updated much lately. The reason why…work. September is our annual conference and it causes life to get a little busy. I decided to give a few highlights of what I have been up to, at least the ones I remember…so I figure that’s what counts.

1) Girls nights. I have been having a ton of fun getting out there and really spending time with my friends, out side of organized activities. I know it sounds silly. But I love my Kendra time so I always have to remember to balance in other activities. Totally flip flopped from others. I think it comes from my natural born talent to keep my self entertained.

2) WORK!!! Ok it doesn’t stick out as a positive but it did consume all my time this month. Last week was our annual conference and it was great. If you can say that. I learned a lot about our role, as a community member to end domestic violence. What stuck out the most was a role to help end all violence against women by helping our brothers, friends, son, husbands, etc. to understand how their actions effect women. To help them see the world women live in. As the presenter asked when was the last time a guy had to think about their safety as they walk through the parking lot to their car at night. We need to help men know the right way to treat women. Help theme see violence is not the answer. Help them to understand provocative comments and actions are not the solution and are not acceptable. (Ok enough with that soap box)

3) My comp day of off work. I took yesterday off of work, do to way to many work hours last week. It was so nice. I spent some well needed time at home and with my little brother. I cant believe Matt picks up his mission papers on Sunday. He is already working on talking me into taking “sick” days to go skiing before he leaves. I so think I will.

4) Stain Glass. I cant go into to many details here but I have finish or nearly finished a few great projects!!!

5) A 3 year olds perspective. I have spent the last couple of Saturdays tending my cousins. Can I tell you life from the eyes of a three year old is hilarious.

5) FALL!!!! Ok I get it, this is not something I have been up to but I love fall. Its my favorite time of year. And its finally here. Sunday I saw my first swirling of leaves in the wind. Oh my heart skipped a beat. Not that I have to much control over this but I am going to do my best to get married in the FALL.

Hunstville Half Marathon

So I completed my fourth Half marathon ever, fourth in a year and the second time of running the Hunstville Half, many different ways to look at it. I finished in 1hr53min48sec!

Running halfs is so much fun. And after running four and running for them for a year I have learned a few things.

Lesson 1: Where shorts that are easier to take off. You will always warm up no matter how cold it is at the start. Well almost ever, if the race is in the summer you will.

Lesson 2: Finish Strong. No matter how hard those 13.1 miles are you can always pull it together!

Lesson 3: GPS watches are a must for training for halfs. No guessing on pace and distance.

Lesson 4: They are a little nerve racking!

Lesson 5: No matter how unperpared you may feel. The adrenalin of the start makes up the difference. Fear not!

Lesson 6: Remember its about the fun! 13.1 miles covers a lot of territory and pretty scenery at that!

Lesson 7: (OK this has to do with this race only) Hold on to your ipod. Its no fun to back track to find it. 13.1 miles is long enough as it is!

Lesson 8: All the pain, blisters, miles logged, strange diets, the time put in, sacrifices made, etc. are all worth it. When you look at what you accomplished!

My Labor Day Weekend

Well summer is now over. Or so they claim after labor day weekend. This weekend it sure was at least. But in my mind summer is over when it stays cool and the leaves begin to change. I love love fall.

This weekend I sent summer out in style, girl style that is.

On Friday night my mom and I had a girls night. The guys were supposed to be camping but canceled so we kicked them out. After work we headed up to Mcgraths Fish house; where I got the yummiest Macadamia Nut Encrusted Mahi Mahi over a pineapple sauce. It was heavenly there are really no words to describe it. After we went shopping at Thai Pan Trading, got Ben and Jerry's Half Bake Twisted, yummm, and watched Meet the Browns. Well I watched it she slept.

On Saturday my mom and I went for our annual trip up to Swiss Days in Midway and bought great jewelry. After we had a yummy artichoke and chicken pizza, yummy corn on the cob and watched the BYU game. I did leave the game early and headed to Brittney's house were we watched chic-flics and cut out her home work project. I have not done home work in years. We did take a short break and caught our friend performing at the Coffee Break on 4th, Roger did a great job.

Sunday we had a family birthday party with yummy home made ice cream. a traditional send off to summer. Thats the one thing I will miss about summer. But bring on fall.

Monday was spent working on stain glass.

Did I mention we had huge thunderstorms and a cold front. Stay away heat I want fall!!!

RUSH Week LDS Style

Have you ever step backed and looked at how peculiar LDS Saints are. Well if you have or havent it is never more clear then if you look at a group all together. We really are kind of strange. This summer I have had several great examples of this.

My favorite though would have to be RUSH week for LDS sororities and fraternities.

As I am sure with all RUSH weeks they are crazy and out of control. Well here is our big difference we are minus beer. Now dont your guard down here you dont need beer to do strange things. We are just as creative.

Our biggest RUSH event is carnival. All of the frats put together an event/activity for all the sororities and those rushing to come and enjoy a laid back night. Each RUSH week on of the frats does a fish pong game. What is is fish pong? Its beer pong minus thebeer. Instead of filling the glasses full of beer they put in a few inches of water and a gold fish. What ever cup your ball lands in you get to drink that gold fish. And nope not the cracker real live gold fish. My friend Adam does it every rush week. I believe this was his 10th time. So to top it off he drank four fish at a time.

Like I said we are particular. Rather then down shots we down fish. Right now I am not sure what is worse. But no fear I didnt do either.

Parable of the Peach Milkshake

I love how parables and gospel/life lessons can come from any where. Today being the fifth Sunday of the month we had our Bishopric Message as a lesson and Bishop Murray did a fabulous job. He taught us what I am going to name the Parable of the Peach Milkshake.

After many years of living in what his wife and him decided was the best ward ever two new families moved into the ward. One family was a prototype LDS family (well behaved children, he worked for the church, saints in every way, etc.). After just a few weeks in the ward the wife got called to be the Young Womens President. But after only nine months in the ward the family left saying the ward was cold, not welcoming and one of the worst they had been in.

The second family was one that was a little less perfect. The children were out of control and the family simply tried to do their best. With in a week or two of being in the ward they invited the Murrays and a few other families over to their house on a Friday evening for Peach Milkshakes. This tradition continued on a regular basis. After a few months this family agreed with the Murray's that this was the best ward there is.

What was the difference. The first family sat and waited for things to happen and in turn lost faity in the ward. The second family proactively sought a solution and to be welcomed in. The sought after an answer to their prayers.

This leads me to a few thoughts I have been having this week. I recently started taking a class on personal revelation. One of the greatest types of revelation we can have is that of conformation and comfort that everything will work out.

The Doctrine and Covenants Chapter 11 has some great insight into personal revelation and how it can help us in times we need comfort and so forth.

D&C 11:11 "For behold it is I that speak behold, I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these works unto thee."

D&C 11:12 "And now , verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good-yeas to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously, and this is my spirit."

D&C 11:14 "And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive."

D&C 11:18 "Keep my commandments; hold your peace; appeal unto my spirit."

D&C 11:19 "...cleave unto me with all your hear...be patient until you shall accomplish it."

D&C 11:26 "...treasure up in your heart until the time which is in my wisdom."

How do Peach Milkshakes and revelation come together. In my mind that is simple. The lesson behind the Peach Milkshakes is not to lay and wait for what you are desiring it is to make a life for your self and work towards it. All the while knowing you are doing the right thing and carry in your heart the comfort of knowing you are doing it. Personal revelation brings us this comfort. As long as we remain close to the Lord, pray, study, keep the commandments and make up a life for ourselves the other pieces will fall into place. As long as we dont sit by and wait for the promise to come they will come. If we place trust in the Lord and seek after his promise by doing we can do it will happen. And in those times when things are tough and we are unsure the revelation of comfort, peace and guidance will come to our hearts for are living worthy of it.

Their Coming Back

This may be a little premature but Im just to excited. They are movoing back. Heidi and Derek are returning. You know the saying distance makes the heart grow founder, well its so so true. Sense Heidi moved out, years and years ago, I have missed her. But it did take for me to grow up, really move to DC and be away from family my self, to see how much I loved her and miss her. The last couple of years I have made a humongouse effort to spend more time with her, even if it means driving to Logan, or worse driving three hours to Idaho Falls all by my self. Im so so glad I did this. Our relationship has grown so much. I still for horrid that for years I was an awful sister.

Well welcome home big sis. I love you tons, oh yea and Derek too. But I am so glad this is going to work out. We can now really work on being close sisters. I propose girls nights and crafting parties.

I love you tons and I am sorry for being such a horrid little sister. Lets commit to being better sisters, after all we are family.

The Shop on Blossom Street

I just completed reading "The Shop on Blossom Street" by Debbie Macomber. (It was so fun to write a book review after reading Breaking Dawn I decided to do it for each book I read.)

The Shop on Blossom Street is a story of 30 year old two time cancer survivor who as an acclamation of life decides to open a knitting shop. In an attempt to build clients Lydia offers a beginners knitting class. The book follows the story of Lydia and her three students: Alix, Carol and Jaquelyn.

As mentioned before Lydia is a cancer survivor trying to reclaim and build a new life for herself. Alix is girl in her early 20's struggling from a abusive upbringing and bouncing back after a life of drugs and violence. Alix chooses to take the class to full fill her court issued community service. Carol is in her late 30's. Her and her husband have been struggling for years to get pregnant. In the story you meet them as they are about to undergo their last attempt and IVF. Carol enrolls in the class in order to acclaim her hope and firm belief that she will become a mother, the classes first project is a baby blanket. Jacquelyn is a wealthy upper class proper women who's marriage is struggling and she her self is struggling to accept her new daughter and their announcement that Jacquelynn will be a grandma. Jacquelynn decided to take the class to show she can be a good grandma.

Over the course of the class these four laddies grow to become close friends as they each struggle with their own lives. While watching these characters progress we learn a few big lessons in life:

- God never gives up on us

- Hold on to your dreams and make them come true no matter how bleak they may seem

- Hope is the key. Hold onto hope and it will all work out

- Above all love always wins and will see you through

Would I recommend this book....Heck ya its the best. I was surprised my self. I usually stick with history books but I loved this one. Its a feel good read. I am currently reading the second one in the series A Good Yarn.

Park City Half Marathon

Yippeee!!! I just completed my 3rd half marathon in a year. I wish I had pictures but I went up by my self. There was a professional photographer so if there are any good pictures Ill post them.

But it was my best race ever!!! I finished the raced in 1 hour 52 minutes and 48 seconds. 6th place in my age group, 36th in womens and 89th overall. Oh yea there where 500 racers in the half!!!!

Top 10 Moments In Life

So I was reading a friends blog and they were talking about one of their top five moments. And that got me thinking. If I had to come up with ten life changing moments, either for what happened or what I learned what would they be. (These are in no order)

1. My afternoon in the Sacred Grove. That summer was a monumental one for me. I was struggling with things from my past I was not happy about and needed the atonement to work and really work. I needed my heart to be healed. The day as I knelt praying I got such an overwhelming feeling of love, forgiveness and acceptance. I knew then that everything was going to be all right.

2. Sunday evening swinging on the swings with my roommate Melissa. I know it sounds silly. But that night we talked about life. I was able to open up that day in away I seldom can. Despite what we talked about Melissa accepted me with love and open arms. I knew then I had a friend for life.

3. Receiving my patriarticle blessing. When I received my blessing I felt the spirit and received such guidance and foresight that my life was changed for ever. I knew then that Heavenly Father knows and loves each of us. Also it was reaching a mark I strived so long and hard for.

4. The night in Murray park with Jonny when he told me he loved me. Yes the relationship may have turned bad but at the moment it was perfect. But at that moment I felt the center of another’s universe. It felt so good to be loved for just who I was.

5. The Sunday afternoon when Melissa and Annette took the time and risk to tell me some things in life I needed to work on. They taught me how to be a true friend and how to care for others more then I care for myself. How to love and care for others from my heart. I am so glad they took the risk to have that conversation- it changed my life.

6. The walk around Heidi’s neighborhood in Idaho Falls. That night we talked of life and its challenges. But as we were talking I had such a reassurance in my heart the every trail and hardship in our lives is meant for own good. “All things to give thee experience.”

7. On one of my first cross country runs when Coach Fletcher took the time to run with me for a few minutes, though at the time one of the slowest on our team. Coach Fletcher told me I had the potential to be a good runner and just to stick with it and it will come. And come it did. But what I learned was to never give up.

8. This is two nights in one. Staying up all nights with Annette after she broke up with her boyfriend and when Annette and Melissa stayed up with me after Jason broke up with me. Those nights we talked and listened to each other. I have never felt such power in friendship and love. But also after my night to be consoled I felt Heavenly Father’s love stronger then I ever had before.
9. Two girls nights out- Ice Cream at Leatherbees and my recent movie night with Brittney. Those nights I came away ecstatic with once again feeling the power of friendship and love. I knew those nights why sisterhood was invented. There is a power that girlfriends possess.

10. Completing my Half Marathons. Each and every time I complete a half I am excited when I look at what I just did. I put my body through the challenge and beating of a 13.1 mile run. But in the end I know it was what I did.

11. Many more good days to come……..

I Have a Dream

SOPHIE:
I have a dream
A song to sing
To help me cope
With anything
If you see the wonder
Of a fairy tale
You can take the future
Even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream
I have a dream

COMPANY:
I have a dream
A fantasy
To help me through
Reality
And my destination
Makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness
Still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream
I have a dream
I'll cross the stream

SOPHIE:
I have a dream
I'll cross the stream
I have a dream

Women of God

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity."- Margaret D. Nadauld, "The Joy of Womanhood," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 14

Prayers for the Rogers Family

Annette, Jeremy and Cambrie-

This post is to let you know I am praying for you. I hope Cambrie gets better and that this was indeed a one time occurence. Keep us updated as you have a chance.

Lots of Love,
Kendra

New Adventures for Kendra

What have I been up to lately? Ill give you a hint..it has a lot of water involved. ....... In case you cant guese, which you probably can or cant that depends. I have been playing in lots and lots of water and in many forms too.

For starters I have been looking for more forms of exercise. I love running but I have found that if I limit my running to four good hard runs, one long, a week and cross train two day and take Sunday off I race a lot better. Plus my motiviation stays higher.

So form of Water #1- I have taken up lap swimming. Ok Ill be honest I am taking it up. Right now I am taking Adult swimming lessons, they teach proper swimming technics to train for lap swimming, triathalons, etc. A triatholon well maybe some day. Well see how the swimming goes and then work on biking.

Form of water #2. Last weekend my ward took a trip to Flaming Gorge. My idea of a trip. We boated, played on the beach, camped, played games etc. But what I loved about it. I never had to change from a swimsuit, pjs and lounge clothes. Perfect!! And I got the closest to getting up on water skiing ever. I made it up but then my ski went out from under me. I have decided though my idea of boating/water fun is waverunners/jet skies, tubbing and being the flag girl.

Form of water #3. Thunder storms. While in Flaming Gorge we got bombarded with thunderstorms. They rolled in every afternoon and lasted for hours. And yes we had to evacuate the lake a lot. Question of the day... What makes a great shelter from the rain. Answer: A bowery covered in little holes.

Hmm a thought as I end this entry. What is the safest way to survive a thunderstorm on a lake? Well we tried both ways, boating though it and evacuating the lake. Im still here and unharmed so I think both work.

Breaking Dawn- What I Thought

***Spoilers Ahead****

So I finished Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn this weekend and here is what I thought. Sorry its kind of long. I could go on longer. I think AP English, and years of prep through honors english and way to much reading, have caused me to be able to give long winded critigues. And yes this is how I read all books- even picture books just to a lessor level.

1) We all knew that Bella and Edward where going to get married. I was nervous leading up to the book that there would be a lot of Jake drama leading to the wedding or that Bella would continue on her feeling horrible and depressed about hurting both Edward and Jacob by falling in love with them both. You recall the end of Eclipse. I was sick of that and am glad it wasn’t there. Bella seemed totally in love with the wedding, Edward and surprise surprise she actually saw she was pretty.

2) The pregnancy- Ill admit I saw it coming. Stephenie is to happy ending and all that for Bella not to experience every normal human experience before coming a vampire.

3) Imprinting- Don’t like it one bit. I was ok with it until Quill imprinted on Clair it bothered me enough in New Moon but to have him be playing with Clair and in helping raise her just to well you know marry her seemed wrong. And I was extremely turned off by Jacob imprinting on Reneseme from the beginning. I really hate the imprinting idea, my only huge turn off in the book Jacob needed to imprint on some one more like him and his own age not a baby half-human half vampire

4) Edward and Bella love scenes- Hate to admit this one they didn’t not bother me that much. They where married, tastefully down. And to copy a defense that JK Rowling gave about her books growing darker. She pointed out that she was following the development of the characters. As they grew older the grew more aware of things. Same with Stephenie Meyer with Edward and Bella, they where growing older, you can say, and advancing to other stages of life. It was only natural character and plot development. And with rearguards to it being graphic for young readers- read adult fiction and you will get a whole different perspective. It was truly done with class.

5) Jacob Black – He still bothers me but not as bad. He really made me mad and pretty much like him after the scene he pulled at the wedding. But when he came to Edwards rescue during Bella’s pregnancy, left the pack to protect Bella and the baby and latter promised Bella to protect Reneseme if the Volutori confrontation ended in a fight did bring him back to a better light. But he has a lot more proving himself to do before he is my favorite person. He has major maturity issues.

6) Bella becoming a vampire- Well we know it would happen but honestly I did not picture it happening this way. I am glad that it happened the way Edward wanted, sort of, he never wanted Bella to give up her life to become a vampire and she way dying when he transformed her. The scene when he was transforming her showed his love and devotion to her. He wanted nothing more then to have her. His love for her was pure and unselfish he wanted only what was best for her.

7) The Ultimate Question- Should there be more books: NOPE. I agree with Stephenie and her Good Morning America interview the series needs to end. I think she is out of ideas, even to continue with Jacob and Reneseme’s story. I think any new story line would be to much of a twist or remake of what has already happened. I mean she could continue on but it would begin to feel like an over down story. She tied if off well and that’s where it needs to end. But it would be great to tell the same story from Edwards view or even Jacobs. But the story needed to come to an end. Create a new story and new characters for us.

My over all impressions. A little to lovey dovey and perfect for me. I love the conflict in the other books when Edward has to save Bella’s life it shows his devotion to her. My hope was the wedding, and Bella’s transformation would have been the wrap of the whole series, at the end with an epilogue of them having a child, but the body would be planning the wedding and the conflict- a little of Edward saving Bella. I agree the conflict was to simple and easy. It did teach a good lesson the bullies never win.

I did love the book and will re-read it again. But not for awhile. I would recommend it but with caution to young readers- for blood, the delivery was kind of graphic and sex scenes. I agree with Kristina Baird the whole series needs to be a little censured for young readers.

My Washington DC Trip "The Final Day"

I guess the day had to come when I came home from DC. But my last day was great fun. I got up early packed and headed out for one last day of adventure. First I went to the National Zoo. I love it however I sware they do not have lions and tigger though they hava a cage for them. I have gone to the zoo probably 10 times or more now, I ran through it a lot when I lived there, and have yet to see a tiger or a lion. I am convinced that sometimes zoo have a cage and sign but no animal- but they make you think they do. I did see lots of fun animals.

Here is the cool orangotan. He kept giving me the funniest looks.

The cute baby panda having breakfast, though dinner in China.

Papa panda going to bed, they keep him in a seperate cage then the babies.

And my favorite part of the zoo. The chetas. Every morning when I ran outside I would run and strectch in front of their cage then head out. They are so so beautifull. If I could I would have either a Cheta or a lepord for a pet.

Arent they so pretty.

The Smithsonian Castle, very beautifull garderns.

For my Sunday fun I chose to visit the Seckler, Freer and African Art Galleries. I could only get pictures at I believe the Freer gallery as the other would not allow photos. The Seckler was all asian arts. The Freer was middle eastern and eastern hemispher art, Chinese, Japenes, Korean, Middle East, etc. And the African Art Meseum was just that African Art-very pretty ivory carvings.

Above and bellow are pictures of the Peacock room at the Freer gallery. The most beautifull room I have ever been in. And if you couldnt guess is was all peacocks.

Well my trip could not come to end just yet. After these galleries I visted the Cafeteria of the National Gallery for lunch and gellato. If I had time I would have seen some art. And to top off my wonderfull vacation my last DC wish came true. I got caught in a huge thunder storm.

Thanks Maggie and Annette for a wonderfull vacation.