It's Gonna Shine Today!

Finals time... again.

2011-05-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

and I believe they saved the most difficult classes for the last? Two new ones staring me in the face for next week, as I stress out over the final exam for accounting, which never did get along with me very well. :}

Talk about an endless amount of rain!!

Happy birthday to Brandon today, what an amazing young man he is!

Sometimes...

2011-05-10T18:00:00.001-07:00

I wonder if people deliberately do things to hurt others' feelings. Well, I know some people do (they seem to take a special sort of perverse pride at being good at it, as a matter of fact), but other times, I wonder "WHY did he DO THAT???" and I have to swallow extra hard a few extra times, and then just throw it away, hoping I can refocus and regroup.

Then I get angry at myself for allowing someone else to have that power to hurt my feelings still - by now, you'd think I'd be either extremely used to it happening, or extremely good at not letting things they do and/or say bother me anymore.

But it still does, and they still do (some of 'em -- others, I just have learned to expect it by now, and say "yeah, there they go again", and I am able to feel sorry for their smallness.

But - sometimes, another person does/says something which just KNOCKS me for a loop, and it takes awhile to pass it over to the Lord and let Him carry it for me.

I'm still learning...

Then, I am even more grateful for the kindness and goodness of some other really awesome people who are, in my opinion, so much farther along the Path than those others who claim one thing and still inflict pain on others' hearts (and souls, because it really is the soul which is being stomped on, let's face it --- the heart is there to beat the blood through this physical body, but the soul is what keeps it going)~ and I am so pleased with their ability to be kind.

Because sometimes it's more "cool" to be hurtful and/or cruel when someone else is too - go figgure.

Yes, I know there are two "g"s in that last word, it's deliberate. :)

Sometimes~

Elder Zwick???

2011-04-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry, but I had absolutely NO idea who this one was...

So - I googled him!! and found this (yep, I have NO idea how to do the link thing on here, one of those things I'll learn someday~):

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/44501/Ye-are-in-the-hands-of-God.html

People...

2011-04-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

The older I get, the more I will understand one thing:

I DON'T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE.

the skin of my teeth??

2011-04-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

just got my grades (so far) -- it looks like the skin of my teeth is worth .76 -- :)

My grade average so far is 90.76 ------ so I've still got an A in the class!!! I'm hoping this week to make that average go up a little bit further past the 91 point, we'll see...

After last week's midterm, I'm both happy and relieved to have the grade what it is - so far - especially considering the class average for last week is below 60% (60 is flunking, so... the test must have made a lot of them hit the skids for some reason?? I'm sure we'll be hearing plenty about it this week during our live lecture time on Wednesday - *sigh* I'll try to keep my comments to a minimum (I've usually got plenty to say - ha!)

So - I'm up and walking around again - not back up to my "normal" speed, but being up and walking around again PERIOD after last week is a gas!

It was a humdinger of a week. I am extremely grateful for special/wonderful friends who go spend their own money on medicine for you when you're too sick/poor to do it yourself.

Then - the funniest thing is, I had $1.00 in cash when Mondi didn't, so she said she'd pay me back when she saw me at Church -- I laughed (my best) and told her, "Yeah, that's what's going to be at the top of my mind at Church after surviving this week!!!"

*sigh*

Some days I am grateful to carry $1.00 in cash around, period... glad I had it when she needed it~

and this too..

2011-04-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

...shall not last...

except for the moment it seems like it shall.

103 - 101

2011-04-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

I have decided temperatures (fevers) of 103 render a person pretty much USELESS.

for anything.

With fevers of 101, stumbling around and holding onto walls is possible~

So much for studying for a mid-term tomorrow, eh? Sometimes, LIFE is the test...

I'm especially grateful for good friends who "come to call" and don't feel a need to call ahead first -- and for their fathers who can give a Priesthood Blessing when I don't want to call and bother anyone.

"Calling upon the powers of Heaven" -- that should give someone a head's-up they're going to be finally able to do more than stumble around, holding onto the wall the next day, huh?

Even including eating a couple of delicious peanut butter cookies... I love my kids!

accounting...

2011-04-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

is for the BIRDS!!!!!

This is the most boring class -- and I am SOOOOO glad I didn't major in Accounting, ohhhhhhhhhh my gosh.

Numbers...they just SIT there and wait for you to figure out which column(s) to put them into... and if you get the wrong amount, the entire thing is wrong.

I much prefer people who can talk with you...

Oh - I suppose I should make that more explicit: I prefer people who talk NICELY with you.

Yeah. That's the way it is. Kindness will get 1,000 brownie points with me.

Numbers - nothing kind about them at all. Extremely boring.

I can hardly wait for the next class - don't even really care what it is, at this point!

*sigh*

Caydi Belle~

2011-04-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have the world's most adorable granddaughters!! (I'm going to say "grandsons" too, but this post is about Caydi, so I'm going with the female specification... *lol*)

She was asking yesterday if she could come over to Gramma's house (so she could 'finish' the jigsaw puzzle we have going) - I told her to ask Daddy. She asked Daddy, he said, "Ask Mom". *grinning* She ran to the kitchen, asked her Mom the same thing, and Meaghan said, "Possibly". *laughing* (I'm laughing even as I'm writing this).

Caydi stands there with a puzzled look on her face, then asked Meaghan, "What does 'possibly' mean?"

Meaghan answers, "It means 'maybe'".

That wasn't good enough for Caydi, so she came over and asked me, "Gramma, what does 'possibly' mean?"

I grinned, picked her up and gave her a hug, then told her, "It means 'yes', but we don't know what else we have going on, so we need to figure out what day".

She frowned at me with a quizzical look, then put her hands on her hips (hard to do when I'm balancing her), and said, "Gramma, 'YES' means 'yes'!"

then she scrambled down to go take a toy away from Liam (which sent him into screaming until I managed to peel Caydi's hand off the toy and tell her it was his turn to play with it -- Chloe was watching all this, happy that Caydi had basically been told 'no' too, since Chloe had just tried to take the very same toy away from Liam with the same results... I can hardly wait for Levi to get older, then it's going to get to the point where some of the toys will have to be bought in FOUR - what's that, a quad set?

*too much fun these kids are*

"YES means YES". She is such a hoot~!

Mom is having a GREAT time~

2011-04-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

She did it again! Sent down another of Heaven's Best to her family, this time it was a granddaughter, not a great~ *big smile*

I am so happy for Will and Ashley; I also am excited for Riley and Wyatt to have a little sister, but... OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH - if she doesn't get a sister to join her within the next few years, I will feel reallllllly sorry for her. :-P

Went yarn hunting today, until I could drop in my footsteps. I almost found all of the colors I was looking for, except for one (the main color!!!!), so... *sigh* nothing can be easy in my life, it would appear. I'll try again tomorrow after I get off 'work'. (that is the funniest thing, I think, referring to it as 'work', but yesterday, I almost asked to go to a different shift, then I found out later another lady had had a same bad experience just last week, only SHE told me she had wanted to QUIT because of what had happened. I feel this seriously needs to go to the Shift Chairman, before the one woman gets out of hand (not to say she already hasn't!!) - I'm totally used to being people's doormat (it must have been tattooed on my forehead decades ago?), but this other woman who told me she wanted to quit last week because of her bad experience, I wanted to take a shoe to the other woman and smack her upside the head, and tell her, "how DARE you?!"

I don't know... maybe the woman has a personal private agony she's not dealing with very well, but - my goodness, she can learn from me how to leave it at the door and be pleasant to everyone who is *not* responsible for that personal agony.

And for the individual who *is* responsible for that personal agony, it's just something the Lord is going to have to take care of someday; after all, Elder Featherstone just can't be wrong~

I'm learning - two years ago, I would have said "may he rot in Hell someday" - now I am learning to hand it over to the Lord and let Him carry it for me.

Difficult lessons don't come fast, do they, but they do come.................... as my fingers go tappity-tappity-tap here.

So, Mom, good job on getting the newest one down here safely, and I'm sure you're lining up even more to join these~ Will and Ashley, wow, I'm so happy for you!

Snow days...

2011-04-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

...are sometimes good!

This past Sunday, for example - it kept a LOT of people from coming downtown who would have otherwise normally been there (like they were on Saturday, in hoards!) - so we had some pretty awesome seats!

'twas amazing - hearing the Tabernacle Choir sing in person... and getting to go back and forth from watching the screen to the "real thing". The womens' dresses weren't the same shade as they looked, though, they were a very pretty moss turquoise shade (on the screen, they looked darker blue). Also, Adam kinda gave up his "Spoken Word" program to a gal seated to the left of me who was here from Korea - she was writing in her Journal as they were singing, and she and her boyfriend/husband moved forward a few rows when they saw two seats open up there (he had been having to sit behind her). Our ride friend disappeared, which was freaky rude in our opinion... Brandon and his girlfriend opted to walk back to their car after the session was over instead of calling Daniel and asking him where to find him. Adam and I weren't too happy about it either, that's just not mannerly... and I know Daniel's parents, they both would have been appalled if they knew he'd taken off to get a better individual seat (*sigh* when Brandon called him to find out where he was, and D told us he was already seated, the four of us were shocked and "WHAAAAAAAAT????"-ing each other. Turns out we got even better seats anyway, then when the Korean gal and her boyfriend/husband moved down further, the seat was empty the entire time, so... what the hey.)

So - Adam and I had an even better time on our way home, chatting with two of our favorite people, so it all turned out great after all anyway~ (shall I quote Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone from last Easter time?)

So grateful for snow days - they usually aren't met with much appreciation at this time of year, but really, this time, it was all good~

I was especially proud (that's NOT a bad word) of my son for his choosing to stay after Priesthood Meeting Session on Saturday night and help clean it - took three hours, and he had a LONNNNG nap Sunday afternoon, but I'm sure he will remember that experience for the rest of his life on the "good" side. I was really worried when I had to call him past 11 p.m. Saturday and ask him where he was... when he told me, "Mom, I'm in the Conference Center", I acted out well the meaning of the word "askance" (disbelief) and said, "oh SURE". That'll teach me...
and another neat thing: the section we ended up sitting in on Sunday was actually one of the sections he and his friends had cleaned! I love coincidences like that!!

One last time~

2011-03-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

Wow.

Hard to believe it's going to actually be closed, but two years at least -- it's going to be strange having Saturdays available now for other things, and I don't think it's going to be an easy adjustment to make for a lot of the people...

Will miss a lot of them, they have become a close-knit family of sorts - the hugs are definitely going to be missed~

*sigh*

Maybe I'll be able to get some more crocheting done now, or even more study time. GAH

it's about time!

2011-03-21T15:27:00.000-07:00

my assistant dean at school spoke with the I.T. guy, she told him he'd BETTER fix my computer!!!!!!!

So - I took it in to his cubbyhole, and stood there, while waiting for him to fix it (this is the same exact dude who, two months ago, told me there was "nothing I can do about it") - he took out the silver motherboard and put it into a different laptop, and BLAMMO - there was ALL my STUFF on the screen!!!

He wanted to know my password - I DON"T THINK SO - so I typed it in, and found all of my files!!!!

*HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF*

Now, if I'd had this thing working properly over the past two months, I'd NOT be getting a C in this class. *HUGE SIGH* I HATE not being able to do my best... if a C were my best, I'd be good with it, but -- because I've been dealing with the numbskullyness (yes, that is a word, it's in "Kari's Dictionary") of others, I suppose it will have to stand.

Next class, "A" time~

Hopefully I won't have to use the crutches this week, since I can now get online a LOT closer to home, not quite the extended hike it's been over the past two months having to go onto campus to use a computer.

Wouldn't it be grand if all our problems came with "only" a 2-month waiting period?

Yep. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

okay - got that out of my system.

I hate having to breath in other people's nicotine they have all over their clothes - GAGGGGG

Let's see: a happy pleasant Monday to all~ and Wednesday is just around the corner! (I LOVE Wednesdays and Fridays... they have turned into my favorite days of the week now, right up there next to Sundays - which reminds me, I have a talk to get ready for - Julie asked me yesterday if i was ready for next week, and I don't think I've felt like laughing that hard for awhile, so I'm grateful to her! :) I told her I've had a few thoughts go passing through my head, and I actually got some of them written down, but I'm not sure how solid that is, so still have absolutely no idea as to what I'm going to say for 13 minutes - funny thing, she said the same is true for her. She's a doll~ I am SO glad I get her to speak with!

And in between, the Ward choir will sing, so she and I will both be sitting up there with them - it should be fun~ I'll wear my new suit, as a confidence builder.

just deleted a paragraph, I'm proud of myself!

...sigh...

2011-03-17T14:31:00.001-07:00

...that's about it for now...

Weddings/Deaths/Births

2011-03-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

My last posting on here was about a dear friend's nephew's sealing to his bride - my congratulations to both of them for their choice of a terrific mate and partner, it was wonderful to get to share the time with them... I was so happy to see the looks they exchanged with each other, not just the rings - the looks said a lot more than just the rings - and now I notice the looks more.

I am grateful for the invitation to share their day~

Now, I got word that my professor's father passed away last night - just a few weeks before the birth of my professor's first grandchild. Wow~

The circle of life~ (or is the word "cycle"?) It continues...

BLEACK

2011-03-12T12:53:00.001-08:00

Found out last night what a terrible mess a severed radial artery (in the hand) can make....

*sigh*

I hope he'll be alright - the man uses/d his hands a LOT for his job, some kind of engineer taking care of the radio towers. His wife was freaking out worse than he did, but I think I would have done the same thing if I'd been in her position.

Many prayers to them~

How FUN!

2011-03-08T19:34:00.000-08:00

Just came across a real fun fact: I am 14 generations from the man who the State of Delaware was named after!!

Yep - me and about a million other folks, I'm sure (at least!) - but it's still fun, nonetheless~

Another very special weekend...

2011-03-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

so - what is are weekends? Are they like "bookends"?

just a thought.

'twas a very special weekend for many reasons to many people~ I'm grateful to have been there for some of it...

WOW.....

2011-03-02T17:26:00.000-08:00

I've had three "WOW" moments today - two really big ones, and another one which I wouldn't put into the same category, but someone else might. (the green ink is in honor of my first post in March, by the way)

Also, one big huge FRUSTRATING AS HECK moment, which I think I handled pretty good at the time, but about ten minutes later, I was shaking like crazy and thinking I wanted to go rip someone's face off their stupid head.

So. They still have their face, but I let them know I had their full name (I let them know this!??) then I also let them know I had their bosses' name too, so... then I couldn't stop at that point, so had to continue and let them (this 'them' is a SHE) know I was even considering going above her bosses' head too.

So - I was pretty ticked. I seriously need to check into getting my hair dyed red, because I'm SO tired of people thinking I'm a dumb little doormat just because I'm blonde. Okay, just because I have done such a good job at being a dumb little doormat for the first half of my life.... not saying a person can't learn and change and grow and be what they ought to have been if someone had taught them better all those years ago -- I am excited to see that my children might have learned from my mistakes and won't allow such mistakes into their lives by repeating a few of them... putting the hatchet down at the beginning is something I never learned how to do, thus the destruction of other's influence in my life. BUT - good thing we can always learn and change things -- would have been much better if I'd not been taught to be such a doormat in the first place, though, I gotta say~

Yep. Maybe that should be brunette with red highlights.

Back to my original thought: two "WOW" moments -- one at work, and one at home, right in the middle of a prayer.

The one at work, I had to call my brother up and tell him because writing about it in an email just wouldn't have done justice to it somehow, I still cannot get my head around it enough to figure out how to write about it. "Wow #1" will have to suffice for the moment... enter "Wow #2" - I called Mom B. about this one, ran it past her, and asked her what to do with it -- she said to let it go. Sometimes we get answers, but other people still have their agency to mess up.

*sigh*

Don't I know it. I've done that plenty of times myself~ enough to know that when I'm doing what I want to do is the time to seriously STOP and evaluate, because something is probably going to go wrong...

One more question (I generally ask myself questions, "Self", I say, "what about this?" then when I don't trust my answer, I call my sweet advisor and get her input, whose answers I DO trust) -- would be -- why do people pray and ask Heavenly Father for guidance and then go and do what they want to anyway? I mean, what a slap in His face!

*sigh*

Not my call to make, just my choice to not be in that playing field, like I stated a month ago (has it been a month already???). The difficult thing is sticking to my guns - thus the prayer today.

I asked Heavenly Father to bless him (this certain individual who shall remain nameless here), and as soon as the words exited my mouth, the answer came to me, as if someone was standing right beside me, and it was told me,
"He won't let me."

WOW. I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. Thus the call to Mom B.

So grateful for "Wow #1" to hold strong to... perhaps it'll make it easier.

"Good, Better, Best" -

http://lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/good-better-best?lang=eng&query="Good,+Better,+Best"

Okay - so obviously, I have NO idea how to do the "include a link in this blog" thing, so... there I have the link. :)

well, it's gonna be OK

2011-02-24T16:02:00.001-08:00

I only scored an 86% on my final exam for this class -- guess I'll have to be good with that~

Onward to the next one! I have a feeling it's gonna kick my butt - I am NOT good at accounting in-depth, there's just TOO many journals in the special journals section, and too many things to detail (in my opinion).

There's a LOT of reasons I never pursued accounting, the fact is, I find it absolutely boring!

Yep.

True that~ good thing there are lots of people who wouldn't agree with that one, so... I'm best with the piano instead.

:)

another First!

2011-02-23T17:59:00.000-08:00

gave my first tour today, all by myself!!! It was awesome!!!

Also had a huge tour of the building for Emergency Training, she showed me where the main fire extinguishers were located, and also where to put people in wheelchairs in case of a fire.

When she asked me if I wanted to practice putting her on the thingamabob which is supposed to get people down stairs who are incapacitated, I told her, "PASS!" I do not even THINK so.... I'd probably be the one ON the blinkin' thing!

anyway....

Gotta love those floors the elevator stops on and someone very familiar looking gets on and chats -- then after they get off, the brain goes through a huge list of "WHO was that again!?" before giving up. Good thing not everyone wears nametags~

Finals week at school, I think I'm going to have to be good with a C for a passing grade this time - stupid computers at school.

Congratulations to Susan!!!!!

2011-02-22T15:18:00.000-08:00

My little sister Susan became a Grandma today!!!

okay, I know, technically, she did nine months ago, but now she gets to hold him~ Good job, Makayla and Jason! (I still say Jason got the easy part) Welcome to this earthlife, little Alyxander~

crazy busy

2011-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

yes, it has been!

Last Friday, I was on my way home from my morning "work", and I was heading straight to school to get some studying done (this class is kicking my butt, because I can't access the live online sessions, and the links won't open for me when I try to get them after the fact, so... also, I can't do the Excel assignments, since my laptop was fried at Radio Shack last month, and so far, they don't want to do squat about repairing it - so. Yeah.) --

halfway to school, I had something/Someone whisper in my head, "Go home". I argued, of course, reminding myself how I needed to get this classwork done on time this week, especially since I didn't do well on it last week, and it showed up in my to-date grades. BUT - it came again, "Go home". I've noticed the Lord doesn't argue with us when we want to override what He asks of us, He goes ahead and lets us do what we want, then we find out (sometimes) later on how things would have been better if we'd just listened and done in the first place what He had said.

So - I went home.

When I came in the front door, Adam had the video on pause (which is generally the case, the way he watches videos drives me absolutely bonkers!!) - then I noticed the light on in the kitchen and bathrooms!? When I went to investigate, I found him in there with a taped-up hand (the tape was electical tape) - he told me he hadn't been able to find the surgical tape. I noticed too, his right hand was shaking pretty badly, and his face was about as white as this background (the writing background, not my blog background). He wasn't breathing too well, either, so my quick deductions were that he was going into shock for some reason.... taking him into the kitchen, I sat him down on a chair which I had put in front of the now-opened kitchen door, and told him to "breeeeeeeeathe". Then I waited. FINALLY I asked him, "Okay, so what happened?"

He told me.

I wanted to say, "WHAT kind of IDIOTIC thing was THAT to do????????" but refrained. Instead, I said, "Well let me take a look at your hand".

Yeah. I was extremely proud of myself at the point where I was still standing and still calm - outwardly, anyway. Then I told him to stay put.

I went into the frontroom and called Meaghan, asking if she would be able to be here anytime quickly to take her brother to the Emergency Room. She asked what happened, I told her, and she said if I took him down to 9th East and caught the bus, we'd probably be at the hospital sooner than she could even be here.

So we did.

Turns out the hospital isn't on 9th East, but 12th East, so we ended up walking another three blocks. :)

After the next four hours, I decided that I am very anxious to have my schooling finished so I can be friggin' in charge of the hospital -- or at least have some say-so in what happens therein!!! It's terrible when there's a lineup at the check-in window in an Emergency Room, and the medical staff just wanders around, letting the people stay in line without getting someone at the other window to help expedite them all in a much quicker fashion.

*sigh*

Adam ended up getting stitches, which I had a strong feeling he would, which is why I stayed out in the waiting room and let him go back with the nurse by himself.... one of these days, I am REALLY going to have to conquer my phobia of needles (Andrea and Meaghan inherited it too, on a more mild degree, I hope) before I can finish school -- I'm thinking I'll probably flunk phlebotomy and etc., a few times before graduating, those will more than likely be the last two classes I finish!

*bleah*

I asked Meaghan if she'd do my Needle Classes for me - ha!

Seriously need to find a cloning machine within the next year or so.... I don't know how I'm going to pass them otherwise.

I'm glad Adam didn't inherit his mother's needle phobia, but very sorry that Andrea and Meaghan had to.

Saturday was a much more magical day, I must say~

Maybe it would be a tad bit easier if the Holy Ghost used a sledgehammer from time to time to get people's attention instead of just softly whispering. If I'd been on my phone at the time, I would have completely missed that one and gone on to school like I'd planned and then I fear what would have happened at home as a result. Adam handled it pretty well, I think, but I told him he really needs to do something about his every-three years-visit-to-the-Emergency-Room habit.

Happy Valentines' Day -- a couple days later~

2011-02-16T18:51:00.000-08:00

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."

-- Judy Garland

Got this in an email from my oldest brother, and I wanted to keep it for posterity's sake, thought this might be the best place (yeah, so I printed it out too!)...

I know the feeling well, but won't say any names, nor places, dates, or times. :)

Monday, Monday....

2011-02-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

...they just keep coming at us!! I think they're putting on speed lately, though. I can't believe how quickly time is going by!!!!!

Had a very jam-packed week last week, it started and ended well, with some pretty upsetting stuff tossed in there too, just for good measure. I think I handled it pretty well, overall, considering.

Next Monday, I have another appointment with the dentist, with two more to follow. Lacey said the teeth will be ready soon, and it's hard for me to believe that at the end of this month, I'll actually have a "full" smile once again~ haven't had that in HOW many years now???????

-------

change of topic (thus the dotted line): I just want to say how incredible last Wednesday was - I love the poem which was written about it, too, after talking about it with my sister. I think there should be another way to keep our hands clean, other than washing them after days like that~

It's the Big 2-0!!!!

2011-02-05T11:28:00.001-08:00

...for Adam Joseph!!!!

*sigh*

My goodness...

Fridays...

2011-01-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

....lately, I am learning to love them!! (Fridays, that is.)

Here's another one, how fast did this week go by? (an extremely painful one, but fast irregardless). The mouth is still swollen, I have to hold onto both sides of my face in order to smile, but -- it's do-able. I can now swallow without hurting (had chocolate pudding last night for dinner, along with some instant mashed potatoes - they're smoother than the real stuff) - and I didn't have one drop of chicken broth, thank goodness!!) - I no longer look like a squirrel with acorns in the cheeks, just seeds. :}

I'm guessing the bone graft is working, because it hasn't become inflamed yet. *knock on wood* I'm getting more nervous as the days go by, because each one brings me closer to the next appointment in two weeks. *bleah* It's a good thing, but... doctors and I have never gotten along, thus the horrible hives in 6th Grade where they ran every test on me possible (at that time) to see what the rash was all about -- turns out it was my nerves - I was just horribly afraid when I was sick of going to the doctor, so the rash was horrid. Guess I inherited Grandma Wights' gentle nervous system, eh? :)

So - on to finish a last paper for my class - then it should be finished. Next class starts next Monday -- Accounting.

Yay.

Good news is, tomorrow comes before Monday, and tomorrow is going to be an incredibly busy but great day - starts at 5:00 a.m. for me (on a Saturday?????) - have another funeral to help out with, and etc., etc., etc.

another final exam....

2011-01-26T17:52:00.000-08:00

for Operations Management (MAN324, officially)

scored a 97.5% on it -- missed the only question I flat-out guessed on.

Go figger~

p.s.

2011-01-25T12:43:00.000-08:00

once more, Friday can't come soon enough! This time, I won't reschedule, like I did last Friday, although it still turned out well~ :)

:) -- that is the only kind of smiling I can do right now, had a bone graft put into my lower jaw yesterday to make it more stable for more work they're going to be doing, so the smiling is in word/text/symbols or extremely painful at the omemnt.

or moment, whichever comes first.

also had two lower back molars pulled - mouth held open for two hours, with their hands in there (not to mention the tools) - I'm grateful for a wonderful dentist who knows what to do with an extremely scared-to-pieces patient.

Oh - this week, it'll be Saturday, too! wowza.

Gratitude Hits BIG time...

2011-01-25T12:38:00.000-08:00

I am, once more, indeed grateful for the wonderful people Heavenly Father is putting into my life... honestly, I would have appreciated them 30 years ago if that had been possible, but I have such a huger (that's now a word, yes) appreciation for them now than I might have back then if I'd had this all along.

Sorry to say, but - I would really like to think I would have appreciated it all along, yes, but I see SO many people who take it all for granted in their lives.

Something I will never ever do in a million years, or bazillion, for that matter.

Now - my mouth is swollen up, hurting, yucky-looking, but it's "in process", just as I have been, it appears, over the past three years. Gaaaaaaaaaaaah

This "in process" process can be painful, in more ways than one - I'm grateful to know the end result in both~

Happy Tuesday!

It's Friday~

2011-01-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

It came much faster than I thought it would, and actually, yesterday was as enjoyable a day as I had hoped today would be -- lots of wonderful things happened.

Then when I got on facebook this morning, I saw my cousin Jamie's page where she announced the passing of Todd - yesterday. So - while I was having some pretty marvelous things happening, my cousin was crossing over into his Eternity.

Wow. Stunned.

And I left my cellphone down in Lehi, so I of course won't have the chance to call my Aunt Donna until Tom gets the phone back to me tonight... now eight hours seems like a long time.

Now I need to re-focus on what I know. I know Todd is in a most marvelous place, more wonderful than we have words to express here in our mortal language. I miss that place, yet remember being in the areas I was allowed to be in, during those 8 minutes. I know Todd was escorted by his dad, much as I had my mom by my side when I was Over There - she actually pushed me back into here. (funny, guess I'll analyze that more later)

I know Todd is enjoying the peace and gentleness of that world, as compared to the yucky stuff we have to put up with here -- I remember telling Mom I didn't want to come back, but she told me I had to, there was a work for me yet to do... I told her, "Someone else can do it!" She softly chuckled, then said, "I don't think so" - while holding onto my upper arm.... there was also someone standing to the left side of me, someone I know I knew, but I don't recall (now) who it was.

Now - I feel a pang of jealousy, somewhat, at knowing Todd is finished here, he gets to move on and have the greatest experiences - until the day when Christ brings all of them back here, his earthly hurts and pains are done. The trials he went through were not only to test him, but to test his family in how they would respond -- some of them did rather well, some of them didn't.

Family... it's an interesting thing, isn't it?

I was telling Adam about Lorraine at my mom's funeral: how Lorraine had treated my mom abominably for most of her life (I will leave the details off for now, but a sister to my mom Lorraine most definitely was not. She was more of a thorn in my mom's side, a trial to be endured - yet at Mom's funeral, Lorraine was the one in the congregation with the most crocodile tears. (I called them "alligator" tears, but Adam corrected me) I told Adam that when I pass away, I'm giving him the responsibility to make sure there will be nobody at my funeral with those alligator tears - I don't want a bunch of fake mourning going on... if a person can't be genuinely kind to me during my life here, I don't want their pocketful of regrets at my funeral. Either be kind, loving and genuine to me now, or leave me the flip alone after I'm "gone".

People are so stinkin' judgemental: they get to make their own mistakes, but when we make any of our own, they will let us remember that every chance they get for HOW long? Something about a mote in the eye with a beam in their own blinding them.

I'm still working on that forgiving stuff myself - sometimes it doesn't come as easily as Aunt Audrey made me feel it would.

Todd, enjoy being back Home, my cousin. Kudos to finishing your time here~

Friday...

2011-01-18T23:56:00.000-08:00

...won't be able to come soon enough!

Happy...

2011-01-09T16:43:00.000-08:00

2011~

It's only the 9th, but it's been an "interesting" year already...

Got a phone call today, for an hour and a half, was glad I took that call, after I wasn't going to since I didn't recognize the number, but ohhhhh did it turn out well.

There are some really awesome people on this planet, and then there are some less-than-awesome, but it takes all sorts, doesn't it? the 'opposition' thing and all that, it's real.

Been a lot of birthdays this past week, another couple coming up soon for two more precious nieces - happy 11th and 20th to them~

Fred, Nita, and Tommy...

2010-12-15T18:28:00.000-08:00

What to say. I am going to just copy and paste Nita's status from Monday, and let it go at that for now.

Tommy was about 17 months old - give or take a few months. Nita is my Meaghan's age, she and Fred were married two years ago on Black September 5th - so that year, I thanked her for making it a wonderful day for me~ Now, this year, she gets to bury her baby son on my birthday. *sigh*

Our little Tommy passed away last night. He has gone home. He will be missed. We thank all those who have offered support and prayers. Tommy has touched the lives of us all.

Whoa....

2010-12-13T14:36:00.001-08:00

It will never cease to amaze me how some people are so many different people all rolled into one, and depending on where they are, is the basis on what type of person they are going to be.

For instance: when Kevin was at church, he was this very pious person, making others think he's very sincere about the Gospel. However, at home, it was something totally opposite. Even on Sundays, he'd come home and immediately get something to eat, never mind if I had anything to eat or not -- then he'd get the television going with whatever he wanted to watch: it was usually MacGyver - or Sean Connery. Or a golf game. Or whatever. If I asked him what they had discussed in Priesthood meeting, he'd get all snarky with me. What infuriated me was how he wanted to hold my hand if Brother Fetzer was around -- Kevin was bound and determined to impress that man because he (Bro. Fetzer) owns a company which has a board of directors, evidently, and Kevin was hoping to get a spot on there in a couple of years. Hmmm... maybe that's why he bad-mouthed BethAnn's brother to Brother Fetzer?

Another interesting day was when Pete came over to visit, and he talked to Kevin like I was practically non-existent. Pete told his father how his mother (BethAnn) was afraid Kevin was hiding money somewhere, and that's why she didn't want him "coming around". After learning about his Vegas gambling, I think she probably had a good reason to suspect he would do that too.

It was sad, though, how he totally put her down all the time. She's quite pretty, extremely talented, and has a fun sense of humor, but the day I joked around with her at someone's birthday party, BOY, did I get a long-drawn-out lecture from him. And no matter how I wanted, he would never go to a Sunday fireside -- "I did the Church Thing, I don't NEED any more!"

Yeah. So much for his taking the sacrament and promising the Lord to always remember Him and do His will.... guess that meant while Kevin was at church on Sunday for the 3 hours, otherwise, forgetaboutit.

I figured I could deal with that, for a bit, until I learned I couldn't. I could not hack another man who professed to love the Lord and the Gospel, while in reality, he truly didn't. The way I see it is this: if a man can't love Heavenly Father, HOW on earth would the guy be able to love a daughter of Heavenly Father?

I asked Dan quite awhile ago, if he and Barbara ever discussed things, or did they just sit there and do their own thing? Dan told me they talked about anything and everything... something Kevin would never do with me. He was happy to come up to me once and tell me I could sleep with him, but of course, we "wouldn't need to have sex". FREAKOUT TIME #3.

One of the most horrible days with Kevin was the day I took him into the bathroom and asked him to smile at himself in the mirror. He flat-out could NOT. He looked up at the ceiling, at the wall, opened the medicine chest (mirror on front of) and pretended to look for something, and made a wise crack joke at me. I asked him again to look in the mirror, and smile at himself. After getting quite gruff with me, he said, "This is STUPID!" and shoved me out of the way to leave the bathroom and go turn on MacGyver (each episode he has watched at least twenty times by now, I have NO idea why he has to watch it all the time).

Another day which was quite upsetting to me was the first time (there were only 2) he went to the Temple with me -- the first time, he just came to hear me play the organ, and then he was in a huge hurry to leave. *shaking my head* I didn't get it then... the 2nd time he came to the Temple with me, he did an Endowment Session with me, and while we were sitting in the Celestial Room, he wanted to discuss the latest BYU game for crying out loud. I still didn't get it, even then.

He said it made him mad that Adam and I would talk and laugh - that's a horrible thing, isn't it? To actually talk and laugh with your child? Don't know why he was jealous, but it was pretty weird how he was jealous of the dog's attention to me, too. That was back in May when I got Cookie, Adam didn't even come into the picture until July.

And how about the odd behavior at the State Fair???? He wouldn't LET me get a caramel apple, and when I asked for some funnel cakes, he admitted he'd never had any before, then whined and complained for the next ten minutes about how expensive they were! When I saw a unicorn at one of the stands, he refused to "let" me get it, even though it was MY OWN MONEY I was going to spend on it! (I did end up getting the unicorn statue a few days later, when Adam went back to the fair with Meaghan and her family, Caydi spotted the very same unicorn and Adam bought it, telling her how I had wanted to buy the same one!) Oh - and watching the sea lions -- he wouldn't even stand next to me - kept quite a distance in between us, and a man came up and asked if it was okay if he stood there... I told him, Sure, someone might as well~ When Adam came along after buying some ties (Kevin had gone to find him), Adam stood right in front of me, videotaping the sea lions fun behavior, but every time Adam or I would laugh, we'd get a dark look from Kevin, who certainly did not join in our happy fun watching the amazing animals.

The time he called my son an as*hole, that was the time I KNEW I wouldn't be continuing this relationship, even as a friend. What friend would even THINK about calling your child such a vulgar word, let alone someone who claimed to want to marry you and make that child his stepson? I freaked. But the day when Kevin was actually acting as if he was possessed by an evil spirit (his eyes were scary to look at, and the things he was saying were horrible), I told him, "Kevin, there's an evil spirit in this room!" He stared at me, cackled (yeah, it wasn't a normal laugh), and said, "So, Kari, you're saying I'm a devil???" I don't think I grabbed Adam's arm fast enough to get him out of there. The following day, when Elder Scott was talking (this was during General Conference), Kevin walked over and turned the television OFF, and - you got it - put in a cd of MacGyver.

The interesting thing is this: Kevin is now telling people (he told me for the past month) that ADAM was the problem in this relationship!!!!!!

Yes, he really did. - then last week, after my telling him I wasn't interested in going with him to his work's Christmas party, and the week before I had told him no (twice) to a movie and dinner, he texted me something that again, had me freaking out and I had to change my phone number.... which I thought would be the end of things with him, finally.

Not so. I underestimated the Adversary's determination to get to me through people, and it seems as if the Adversary certainly has had a tight hold on Kevin for awhile... the man I knew a year ago certainly hasn't been in evident control for quite some time now. So- the day after I changed my phone number, K texts ADAM'S phone and tells him to have him mom call him. Adam texted back, "Why?" K texted back, "That's between your mom and me". Adam texted back, "you're asking me to have my mom call you, I think i deserve to know what it's about". Kevin actually texted Adam back and told him to go to hell, he could talk to whomever he wanted.

Amazingly sick. Does the word 'obsessed' ring any bells here? Even after I told him he really needed to find another woman who he could possibly build a relationship with that could lead to marriage, because it wasn't happening here, he became more persistent and more determined that yes, it was going to.

The next day, after Adam told Kevin in no uncertain terms to leave us alone, Meaghan got texts from this nutty character.... so, happy 5th Anniversary to her!

Seriously. I honestly feel BethAnn has earned her spot in the Celestial Kingdom if she put up with this crazy controlling selfish behavior for 35 years..... oh! And another thing he does quite well: LIES to the person he claims to love.

I can only imagine the shock BethAnn had when she answered her phone nearly 3 years ago and found out Kevin owed HOW many thousands of dollars on credit card debt he'd gambled away in Las Vegas?? THAT is the true reason behind their divorce -- and he lied to me about that when I asked him a year ago whey they divorced after 35 years -- what story he fed me about that one.

I honestly have to be the world's most gullible person which ever existed: I SO much want to trust and believe in a person - and time and time again, I have learned that I cannot - and how stupid I was to do so. Again.

*sigh*

Yep. Had to call the Bishop and ask him to take this one - it was freaky having someone standing out on my front porch last week (2 nights in a row) - just standing there, peeking in between the blinds. Adam saw the long-sleeves, I heard the person doing a supposed-to-be quiet cough, but it was cold out, and I SO much wanted to take the dog out and have her bite the tar out of the person's legs, but -

I was not sure what I would do if it was Kevin out there, so - just let the dog bark like crazy and the person did leave after about five minutes...

crazzzzzzzy.

It still hurts when I remember him telling me, "I can hardly wait until you graduate, THEN the BIG bucks!!!!!!!"

Wonder if he ever said anything stupid to BethAnn about her father's financial wealth.

Wonder if Adam is correct when he said Kevin was basically after my "big bucks". I suspect Adam was correct, especially after Kevin told me he had planned on MY insurance settlement paying for HIS bankrupcty??? And how about the way I had to find out he owed BethAnn over $4,000.00 in back child support? Not to mention the back alimony which accumulated over the past two years... But - the day he got so angry at me for spending my own paycheck - there's NO figuring that one out.

Wonder why a man who has a bachelor's degree in business management is happy doing a job a high school grad could easily do... Wonder why he never would go to the doctor after I asked him HOW many times to get checked for diabetes???

Wonder if he will ever realize how idiotic he's been. And I'm so tired of mens fake apologies which just pander to what you want to hear, but actually mean nothing at all.

ENUF already

2010-12-02T20:14:00.000-08:00

My feet have had enough show already.

My hands too.

My nose is agreeing...

My elbows are even colder than they'd prefer to be~

I am GRATEFUL for a brother who was smarter than my dorky furnace!! (or maybe that should read "smarter than the furnace's dorky resident"?)

hmmm.. or whatever.

My knees are cold too.

So are my eyeballs.

and my eyebrows are turning white...

Yep I'm avoiding it...

2010-11-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

I suppose it's because when I turn it in, it means another class will officially be over and done with, then I'll just be waiting to see what the final grade is...

Last week's big paper came back graded at 100%!!!! (I wasn't too happy with my big paper the week before that, I only got an 80% on it. *bleah*) So- here I sit, avoiding writing my big final topic paper... I've been doing a lot of researching for it this week, but I have absolutely NO idea how I'm going to put it all together.

Sometimes making sense is not up my alley, rambling and editing are.

Hmmm... Christmas music is so good for the soul! (except for that stupid nonsense they call 'Christmas music' which is just bebopping around, I'll turn that off and put on my own PlayList if they don't stop that!) It's amazing how many of the songs they play are Neil Diamond's -- Adam was laughing yesterday, saying a Jewish person got stinking rich doing Christmas music! I have news for Adam: Neil Diamond was already stinking rich before he did Christmas music! *laughing*

Okay - enough of this procrastination stuff - will just get to it so I can relax after it's done. ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh my

which means more crochet time before the next class hits me on Monday!

Countdown...

2010-11-14T18:43:00.000-08:00

.... is on.

Five more days until Granddaughter #2 is FOUR years old!!!!

Oh yeah, and that will also be Final Exam day in my Economics class - I am going to be SO glad to have this class OVER AND DONE WITH. *bleah*

Caydi Belle~ what a perfect name her parents gave her~

He did it!

2010-11-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

I just need to write how extremely pleased I am for Adam right now -he has worked really hard at getting his high school diploma/G.E.D. - yesterday, he took his last test (they were in different sections) - and last night he found out his passed with even 120 points higher than the limit to pass!

He did it!!!!

Now he's talking about looking into financial aid for college classes.... I like it!!!

OUXCH!!!!

2010-11-07T01:36:00.000-07:00

Who's broken a bone in their hand and still tries to use the blink'in thing?????

Good thing it's my right hand, but I still nee to use it occasionally.

lyeah, this typing even looks blinkin' werids to my tired eyes. but it was a grand day otehr than that!

I got a 95% on my Midterm test!!! YAY!!!!! (I missed the ONE question I flat-out guessed on, I had absolutely NO idea what the question even meant, let alone how to answer it, so... no surprise that I missed it.)

So - that's hhappy stuff =- and Supeir Saturday was Supier Fun! Made some cute things for the grandkids, they will like these! and had a really neat phone visit, as always... and made another List.

which ended up really bothering me...

well, my gosh, this backspaing so I can continuoulsy correct the misspelled words is for the birds.

This hadn needs to get to bed - guess we get an extyra hour in about twenty minutes as we're supose to change the clocks back an hour at 2 a.m.... ha! so - I'm only stayihng up til 1 a.m. tongith/ this morning. I"m glad the ace bandage wasn't hiding too much - it was atually right where I thought it was suppoised to be, will ceasers never wonder!

oh my.

I'm getting older as I sit here and breathe. BUT - Im'; not 98 like Rosie!

96%....

2010-11-04T16:49:00.000-07:00

Professor posted grades from last week's work, I have a 96% so far!!!

(it was a bad week, with Cookie being lost, and a Double-Funeral to attend.... either one of those would have totally and completely messed up my week, but combined, my head is STILL not back to schoolwork, and I'm looking at this week's deadline coming up and biting me in the butt if I don't buckle down and get to it)

Guess I'd better do that - I would really like to be able to get back on here next week and announce my grade average is still around that same number. *sigh*

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ready for the 2-week break we get at Christmastime - the brain just has a difficult time doing this straight-through stuff.

I know - it's supposed to help me graduate earlier, but it's reallllllllllllllly rough on the old brain cells....... which are only getting older.

I am so proud of Meaghan for doing so well at her classes!!!!!

Well, better get to dinner, then back to school. Just had to post this so I can dig up some motivation from somewhere.

Maybe I'll go make some applesauce muffins.

well I was wrong...

2010-11-01T00:36:00.000-07:00

again.

I was wrong this time with something I said in the previous post. The oldest daughter wasn't done getting hurts beyond words to describe: this morning, an aunt called her and gave her a message which the aunt most definitely could have gone the rest of this entire lifetime without having said.

Guess some aunts are that way, but seriously, they should have their tongues cut out for saying some things.

This poor gal was shell-shocked enough today without having to deal with some stupid speaking-without-thinking crap.

maybe she should get used to that at this early stage of her life so it won't seem such a horrible thing when it continues to happen.... sorry she had to find out her aunt is a turd in such a way.

glad Brittany has some wonderful friends....

Heavenly Father - please bless them...

2010-10-30T22:33:00.000-07:00

Three young ladies had to say goodbye to their parents today.... Elisha is 11, Krysta is 15, and Brittany is 18.

Their parents were on the way back from driving their daughter to college down in Arizona, and they hit a storm down by Escalante and... whammed into a semitruck.

Brittany is blaming herself, says if she hadn't had them drive her down there, they wouldn't have been in the accident.

They all three spoke at their parent's funeral today - they took a turn speaking about some of their favorite memories of their Dad and Mom, and I KNOW their parents were standing right next to them as they were speaking at that blessed podium.

I know that kind of strength can come only from Heavenly Father.

If they only had an inkling of how much their lives have changed from here on out... the size of the hole in their heart won't shrink, it only will become more bearable as they get used to walking, breathing, speaking, surviving, without that loved one in their daily life.

The 11-year-old is going to live with her Grandma in California, the 15-year-old is going to live with an Aunt in WVC., and the 18-year-old is returning to her schooling in AZ.

I will pray for them every day, it was amazing to see how the extended family pulled all together and made an incredible pillar of strength for these girls to lean on.

That's what families should be like~

540!

2010-10-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

Adam scored a 540 on his 4th section of the G.E.D. test yesterday! (he got the results back this morning~) He's scheduled for the fifth and final section test next week, which will be the Math section (I think he saved the most difficult one for him for last. Hmmm...)

What a trooper that young man is - he has worked HARD for this High School equivalency test, he will never take his education for granted like so many other people seem to do. He will be finished with the construction trade program in March (it's a year-long deal), and the good news (more!) also is the state has approved the funding for another year of this, so more young people will be able to benefit from it in the future.

I am moving the bookshelf to it's proper place in the frontroom - then I will load it up with some pretty awesome books (they've been sitting in boxes these past two weeks, waiting for a shelf). I have a really neat plant to put on the top shelf -- it's fake, so I won't be able to kill it. *bleah* It's in a basket, looks a great deal like that ivy Mom used to have around the home. So, the frontroom will be looking much more like a frontroom instead of a box storage bin when I'm done here. Yessssss!!!!!!!

VERY SAD

2010-10-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

DAY yesterday was..... today wasn't much better.

I MISS MY COOKIE.

Tomorrow will be...

2010-10-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

Great!!!

I scored a 92% on my Final Exam!!!! It took me over -well, I won't put down here how many hours it took, but I went over it three or four times and checked and double-checked my answers.

Not too bad...

Now I just have a paper I need to get written and turned in before midnight tomorrow - then we'll be onward and upward with Econ221 starting next week!

BLEAHHHHHH (may I say what I think of Econ? I've already had two classes in Econ last year, I hope this is the last one I have to take!)

So - tomorrow is going to be wonderful! I'll be getting up at 5:00 a.m., so I better be getting to bed now'ish. :-)

Almost Finished... with another one!

2010-10-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Class, that is!

MAN444 is almost done for me, I have one more paper to write, and then to tackle the Final Exam. *sigh* I still don't know where the textbook is, it was packed (along with my Radiology textbook) in it's very own box, but... who knows where that is at the moment.

So - better get off here and on to writing! (the paper, that is) I just changed the background of my blog here, I really like this one - it reminds me of a wallpaper my Grandma Wight used to have in one of her bedroom chest of drawers (yes, she had wallpaper lining the back/inside of the dresser drawers, it wasn't the normal dresser drawers deal, but a very old style setup) - anyway, this background reminds me of her.

As does quilting, sewing, baking, doing dishes by hand, (oh! I'm doing a load of socks and underwear in the bathroom tub until I can figure out a better way to do laundry. HAHAHA) - there is a place for a washer and dryer here (the stackable type), but, that's still on my "Gonna Get Someday" list.

:)

OH! Yesterday, I was emailed a list of the remaining classes I have yet to take and when - it goes all the way up to my graduation! BUT - one of the classes they had listed is the one I'm finishing up this week, so I'll be done a month earlier than they plan - unless they left out a class.

I imagine if I find my student handbook, I can double-check against the required class list in there - yeah, if I remember.

anyway - it was grand to see!!

On to my paper-writing... guess I'll turn on the radio to have some Music-to-Think-By~

Dogs and Cats...

2010-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Poor neighbors cats - they had the bejabbers scared out of them this morning when an unknown extremely friendly white furball of a dog came racing down the way and barked his fool head off at them -- good thing they were THIS close to the humongous tree so they could escape the dog by racing up the tree!

Dog's owner had to apologize profusely to the cats' owner -- the woman who yelled at my son last week for same dog scaring same cats.... I told him she was probably a man hater from having rotten men in her life, so anything male is automatically bad in her book.

I'd be wise to adopt the same slogan (except for my sons, of course).

Oh, and nephews. and brothers. and uncles. and a few others who I can think of who are incredibly great people. OTHER than those, EH.

So - had to put the wildly friendly dog into the dog run (Cookie HATES the dog house!!) for awhile to show the neighbor I am - at least trying - to teach this wildly friendly dog some manners!

*sigh*

Cookie whined and whined and whined some more -- but really, he has to learn to get along with the neighbors... even if two of those are cats!

(oh, the white cat's name is "Chloe"! and the striped gold one is "Tiger" - what a gas!!)

Happy Sunday morning~

Something even better than a wonderful email!!

2010-10-16T11:45:00.001-07:00

I figured out what's even better!

A door with the letter "A" hanging on it!! Suh-weeeeeeeeet!!!!!!!

It's a WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!!

2010-10-11T15:50:00.000-07:00

Yes, it IS!!!!!!!!!

YAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am SOOOOOOOO happy!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVEEEE great emails!!!!!!!!!!!

Another Awesome Quote:

2010-10-10T18:42:00.001-07:00

"May the dream of your past be the reality of your future."

I give up.

2010-10-08T00:03:00.000-07:00

I will hopefully receive some better instruction - at least the link was right, but I can't get the link to substitute in the word "here" like everyone else seems to.

Oh well.

Think I'd get used to it by now... that "someday" word was invented with ME in mind

Daisy Mae~

2010-10-08T00:00:00.001-07:00

i will try this again - going back to Brother Law's instruction page, I will see if I kinda figured it out or not?

Sister Daisy Hansen's funeral obituary is

http://www.magicvalley.com/app/obituaries/?type=obit&id=78937html>here.

She was such a giant part of my young life - growing up just would not have been the same without her... Heavenly Father certainly is improving a huge chunk of Heaven lately~ I'm sure Mom is whooping and jumping just getting ready to greet this woman... or maybe Mom has calmed down a tad?

Nah.

Daisy, I love you...

Too much to say...

2010-10-07T23:34:00.000-07:00

talked with my father today, (I'm still on Thursday), and read Daisy Mae's (Hansen) obituary - her funeral will be tomorrow morning, at 11:00 at the Rupert Stake Center.

I think this is the first "major" funeral where I haven't had a phone call from Maryann regarding it first. I hope that she's keeping busy, and I know she'll be there~

my m.s. flared up so bad, I couldn't even stand up well to make a banana cake - and I burned the bejabbers out of the penuche frosting. *sad face* so I used another stick of butter and another cup of brown sugar and tried again - but I forgot to let the cake cool off first, so I frosted it, and came back a little while later and found it had turned MAGICALLY to glaze!

ha~

anyway -it was good. made Shepherd's Pie for dinner - just like Tyler had requested, only a couple months' later... why is there absolutely friggin' NOTHING in this world which goes according to MY time???????

*sigh*

did I get this right?

2010-10-07T23:28:00.001-07:00

this is going to be fun to see if this works http://www.scottlawphotography.com/2010/08/sunset-sunday-28.htmllike it said it was supposed to?

Yes, I do...

2010-10-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

.... know my Heavenly Father loves me...

I am truly grateful for that knowledge, especially today.

I have no idea how I'm going to get through this module taking two classes when I can't even concentrate on ONE, I guess I'm going to be re-doing at least one of 'em.

*sigh*

There's no way I'm going to make it through this without Heaven's help, and some Earthly help tossed in for good measure. I'm incredibly grateful for a wonderful older brother, and for a most loving and kind oldest brother (they are on the same team as the Eldest!)...

really interesting...

2010-09-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

It really is.

Interesting, that is... how some folks think they know so much about a certain subject just because they've tasted the outer edge of it. Seems to me, that to really know how an apple tastes, you have to eat the whole thing, not just sniff the skin or nibble a corner of the stem.

Also, if a person experiences one item in an arena where there are so many different types of such item, what makes them think they know all about such item? Just because they've had 1, they've had it all.... apples are an easy example, so I'm including a picture of a variety of them to help illustrate, but no, I'm not talking about apples in this post - not really.

It really irks and annoys me when a person thinks they're an expert in a certain field without really becoming an expert at it after all - but their thinking they are about covers it for them. Someday when they find out how wrong they are, it'll be an amazing thing for them to see how much they still had to learn about it - if their ego will let them admit it, that is. A person's ego really is an indication of their pride, that is - which we have been told is the main stumbling block since the Adversary pinpoints all of our weaknesses to one main thing: our pride.

Apples. Very interesting - because underneath all that shiny colored outer layer called "skin", is something completely different entirely - the real apple.

Two within two weeks...

2010-09-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

Heaven is a much better place now, it has both Uncle Ron and Uncle Nate rejoining it's ranks.... been a very busy month there, and many people are mourning their Graduation on this side of the Veil, while many are rejoicing on that side of the Veil.

I also had an extra-special experience taking a Family Name through the Temple for the first time ever -- it's always been a great thing, period, but this really 'takes the cake'. Very difficult to explain, but the sister who was helping in the initiatory even felt Maria there, it wasn't only me. The sister stopped, looked at me, then hugged me and thanked me for "letting her" be a part of this special time. whoa.... then, last week, I took Maria's name through the Endowment Session and - the feeling of freedom when I went through the veil was extremely overpowering - it was as if I was feeling what Maria was feeling.

Special times for many people - the work is the same on both sides of the Veil, I have learned. Now I need to do the work for Maria's parents so she can be sealed to them - this is going to be a marvelous Christmas this year, as it is my goal to have these people all sealed to each other at that time.

Maybe I shouldn't write it down, because now there will be roadblock after roadblock set in my way to keep it from happening.

Yeah, what else is new in my life? Roadblocks is what I'm used to - if they weren't there, it wouldn't be my life, now, would it?

Guess I'm just ultra tired... in too many ways... 4:30 comes much too soon, so g'night for now~

Hmmmmm.....

2010-08-16T21:59:00.000-07:00

"How many licks does it take to get to the center of Happyness?"

answer: I don't know. Life sucks".

Okay. That is a new quote I have to add to my page here, sometimes I hear things from someone younger who is a brillliant genius in his own way....

If life hands you lemons, you make lemonade; but if you don't have sugar and water, you're gonna be stuck with foul lemonade".

Okay - that's the quotes for today!

MAJOR BIRTHDAY MONTH!

2010-08-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

August - here we are into another one~

Tyler was a quarter-of-a-century old on Sunday, I made him a birthday pie, but he didn't get it, because his sister was being too big of a turd for us to go down and deliver it. So - he'll get a piece one of these days soon... along with a Shepherd's Pie he asked for.

Meaghan turned 23 yesterday -- that daughter just gets lovelier the older she gets (which I had thought a few years ago would have been an impossibility, but she's doing it!)... she had no birthday party because her hubby had to work, but the birthday present left another lump on my forehead as I bashed into it the other day. :-) She's gonna like it, I think! (the present, not the new lump on my forehead)

Chloe was FIVE last week - manohmighty, she's going to be in Kindergarten this Fall - *shaking my head* When tiny Levi turns 5, Chloe will be 10... and the wheels of time just keep spinning.... too fast, as I get older, they go faster... (one of life's best-kept secrets, along with how magical grandchildren are, another one of life's best-kept secrets!)

Now we have two more weeks until Mark turns 17 - my Gentle Giant Son. He is amazing, in more ways than one. He has the neatest laugh, and his dimple appears when he tries NOT to smile, I have noticed. Adam is looking forward to getting his glasses that day, so he will again be able to see well~

My "little" sister, Connie, is turning 40 today...... wow. I remember the day she joined this family. How does time go zipping by so incredibly fast??

I remember my fortieth year was the absolute worst one up to that point in my life, had no idea it could get any worse at that point, but it did when SJF showed us his shennanigans. I have to thank a certain someone for my having married that particular monsterman, but I know the promise is there that one day, the Lord will make it all right, so I hang tight onto those words, because there are a few things that only He can make whole again... which promise was re-confirmed a couple months ago by another wonderful General Authority with a most special hug and words of wisdom he gave me at that point.

I hope Connie has the most wonderful day and upcoming year~ I know what a great difference a good man can make in one's world, and she has a good one by her side, so... may all her most wonderful dreams come true~

I was able to help in the Relief Society meeting yesterday at a really awesome Care Center - the lesson was Elder Holland's talk on angels in our lives, and I have personally had the experience (Ross was there at the one) of angels assisting us -- and I know a few people who are angels in physical bodies. It was a great morning, spending time with some very special women, and listening to a few of their life stories, I hope I can share the same with a younger woman when I am their age.

.... Hmmmm.....

2010-07-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day - 2010

2010-05-09T22:17:00.000-07:00

Pertttttttty rough day, overall, but I can't say that surprised me going into it.

By the way, I just added a new "button" to my page here - it's not a flashy one, but the solid one with a picture of a cookie (I think?) - to a Jamie's page who has some pretty fabulous recipes on it! Her entry for today involves white chocolate and coconut - caught me drooling there!

I am happy to report we made it through today... kinda touch and go for a bit, but made it we did!

Had a most excellent 3-hour block at church -- there are some wonderful people there! I hope I can be as cool at the age of 90 as Lorele is~

2010-05-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

This song has been going through my head a lot this morning, so I had to look it up and post it here: - this is a lovely version, and yes, there are others (organ solo was one)

25 years ago...

2010-05-04T07:51:00.001-07:00

This was Andrea's 1st birthday - 25 years ago. She changed me from being simply "Karilyn" to being "Mom".

She was the sunshine of my life, my reason to smile, and my joy. Three months after this picture was taken, Tyler was adding even more happiness to my life, but on this date, she was my reason to be. What a tiny baby who would lead 'The Pack' as they would follow each in their time.

I remember the first time I held her, such a tiny bundle of perfection; with so much curiosity flowing from her, wanting to tell me so much, yet not being able to express what she knew. What I knew at that moment could fill an entire volume, and I knew that Heaven was real, that Heavenly Father chooses to share some pretty incredible moments to give us reason to continue on. This baby girl did that for me, and Heavenly Father has taken over that spot in my life as He personally gives me more reasons to continue at this time.

Reasons which go far beyond knee, liver, and kidney injuries.

I love this picture; I love this little girl; and I love the woman she has become, as well as the woman she will yet be.

Thank you, Andrea Lynette, for choosing me to be your mom, all those forevers ago, with so much of forever yet to come.

Happy 26th....

2010-05-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

Journaling Advice from President Hinckley

2010-05-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep a record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh your memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another until they represent a lifetime of special experience."

---- Gordon B. Hinckley, 2006

Happy Tuesday!

2010-04-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy having visits with wonderful people in my life, what a surprise that was!

I have to remember that I am a member of a much larger family than even the one I was born into - it's great being a part of Heavenly Father's family, and having the love He and my Heavenly Mother both have to give me. I know that families really can and will be forever, only if we live for that blessing... I'm grateful for a brother who knows and does the same.

I am most grateful for being able to meet Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone recently, and for the words he shared with me. Truly, the Lord's servants carry His spirit with them.

Happiness is...

2010-04-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

.... a phonecall from a brother in Hawaii -

and I can too spell!!!!!!!!!!!!

so much for elbow bumps - only took me fifteen corrections to get that spelled correctly! hahaha

#71~

2010-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

18 years ago she told me, "Ross is ONE WEEK OLD today!!!!!"

Happy 71, Mom. I miss you more than there are words to express... see you someday soon~

Happiness is...

2010-04-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

... so many things!!!!!!

I just had to say that~ *big smiles*

Why is the Sky So Bright Today???

2010-03-24T20:08:00.000-07:00

..... only becauuuuuse it's Sprinnnnnnnnnggggg!!!!!!!

(Primary song)

I saw a robin and a blue jay today -- I was so excited!! Then when I mentioned it to someone, he had to start in with a big long drawn-out rant about how stupid bluejays are and how they're "junk birds".

I told him "God don't make no junk, and I LIKE bluejays because it means SPRING is NEAR!"

So. there I go. Hoppy Spring~

A Great Thought~

2010-03-07T16:31:00.001-08:00

Here's another good one, especially for today:

Well....

2010-02-25T08:24:00.000-08:00

I seriously cannot imagine my life without him...so, it's "Yes, I will~"

another wish....

2010-02-22T23:31:00.000-08:00

I have to say, I love dancing at wedding receptions with the man I love! I look forward to the day when I'll be able to dance with him, without the leg brace!! (no stumbling or stepping on his toes would be nice too~)

almost 2 a.m.~ ... still considering this Valentine's Day, I'm not done yet!

2010-02-15T00:58:00.000-08:00

WOWZA~

2010-02-13T19:27:00.001-08:00

Got this from a sister...

2010-02-03T04:33:00.001-08:00

Special song for Today...

2010-02-01T13:25:00.000-08:00

It was sent to me in a special email, by the owner of the shoulders this song is talking about... I had to put it on here~

Eleven more months~

2010-01-25T12:24:00.000-08:00

Mom would say...... on the 25th of each month....

..... to be the Lord's "errand runner"....

2010-01-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

What a special message... a 12-year-old can even get it!

For Mom...

2010-01-22T08:29:00.001-08:00

.........again 2

2010-01-20T13:57:00.000-08:00

Guess I need to write a line or two to go with this song, most definitely...

but then, some things go without words, and this might be one of them~

..............again

2010-01-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

Dedicated to a very special man... *grins* He'll know...