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.