tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21497959654256681682024-02-01T23:25:18.820-08:00Words are HardUBUNTU~ The belief that we are defined by our compassion and kindness toward others. ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-24480642675261772732016-04-23T22:41:00.002-07:002016-04-23T22:41:18.933-07:00Save the world- or Watch Hallmark?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I have had a lot of time to do some self-reflection lately
and I have realized a major flaw in my makeup. (Okay, if we are talking make-up
I am actually a royal mess) I feel like the only way to describe me is by
quoting my least favorite song from the musical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oklahoma!</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“with me it’s all
or nothing” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I struggle somewhere between wanting to single handedly save
the world or wanting to sit at home by myself and watch hallmark movies. There
is literally nothing in between. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am in a constant state of limbo feeling like I am doing
okay and feeling like I am not doing enough. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This rambling isn’t to say that I have had an amazing epiphany
but to say. Hey guess what world. I haven’t figured it out yet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love living so close to my both of my sisters. I love
being able to have so much time as an aunt. I love being up to my eyeballs in
paint and crafts. I don’t even mind the tantrums that come with the territory.
I also love giving them back at the end of the day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BUT…. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am antsy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, yet again, I find myself willingly accepting life plans
for my next adventure. Starting September 2016. Any ideas? </div>
ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-22517254628387420002015-07-13T00:04:00.000-07:002016-04-23T22:42:53.927-07:00Pita Chips & Hummus<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tonight as I sit eating my favorite snack of pita chips and
hummus, streaming Spotify, and avoiding as much homework as possible, I found
myself thinking- so….. is this it? Is this what life was supposed to be for me
at 27?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So far I have proved to do nothing that I had planned as I
sat in youth group meetings as a teenager. No husband. No kids. No meaningful,
world changing job. No degree.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My mind filled with doubt and self- deprecating thoughts
rather quickly as you can imagine. But then I looked around my dumpy apartment,
glared at my roommates dirty dishes and thought- So, what if this it? Am I
happy? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was relieved, a little shocked even, to realize- Yes, I
am. It’s not the happiness that I was preached or even the happiness I hoped
for as a young woman, but it is my very own quirky kind of happiness. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My journey to adulthood was not what I had in mind. I sat in
young women’s and wanted the same thing every Beehive, Mia-Maid, and Laurel in
the LDS church has ever wanted. I wanted to get out of high school, have an
adventure, fall in love, get married, have children, and find my own personal happily
ever after. I mean I made the marriage time capsules, wrote down children’s
names, and effectively didn’t plan a full-time career like the rest of you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I looked at this list of what I wanted when I was young
and sadly only able to check off just two things I was rather disheartened.(mind
you- one of those easily checked off life goals was graduating high school- not
a big feat) But then I thought. “screw it” ( I know lady like right?) (Sorry Grandma,
I know you are reading this and you would be disappointed in my poor language)
What is it about Mormons that we think we need to fit some crazy cookie cutter
mold? Why is my happiness as an independent young single adult woman somehow
less than the happiness of my married friends? As far as I know we are all
human beings that are created equal as children of God, and thus we all are
searching after the same happiness available in this life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, I am a dang good catch if I do say so myself.(I even
didn’t swear in writing like I did in my head in that statement) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love children. I clean. I sew. I have
MASTERED the chocolate chip cookie. I’m pretty witty. I Love to laugh. I live
the gospel the best I can. What the hell is wrong with me then? (Okay, as I
write this I realize it might just be my language- sorry again grandma!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I quickly made a list answering that question. But, I don’t
think I should air my dirty laundry online. (Oh, maybe that’s it- I do hate
doing laundry) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I formed my internal list of shortcomings I realized that
we have created an awful culture as members of the church that somehow deems
the question of “what is wrong with me” necessary to LDS singles. We have to stop
that. We should not create any type of culture as followers of Christ that
makes others feel like they are not good enough. I cannot recall a single
instance in the life of our Savior that He belittled those around him and made
them feel inferior. Yet, well meaning YSA bishoprics, married friends, parents,
grandparents, and co-workers are all guilty of making us question ourselves due
to our singleness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">*For those
of you reading this that are married please know that I realize your questions
of “are you seeing anyone?” are coming from a place of love. BUT, I assure you
that IF and WHEN I am dating someone I will be more than happy to offer the
information to you when I am ready to- You probably won’t even have to ask. Try
asking about my life plans, my schooling, my friends, heck even my family.
Because we all know that when the answer to your well meant question is “NO” it
makes us both feel awkward. So how about you just continue being the friend,
bishop, or co-worker that you always were and avoid the awkwardness altogether</span>!
</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Somehow in this mostly wonderful LDS culture, a few years
ago, I found myself <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in a place in life where
I all of the sudden had to prove to others that I was happy. It’s like turning
25 immediately put me in the “what will she do if she doesn’t get married?”
group. By the way, whose idea was it to create that group? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To all you wonderers and worriers of my eternal singleness
and subsequent happiness. I have the answer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will do exactly what I would do if I were married.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will live my life searching for and finding happiness in
everyday situations. I will live the gospel. I will attend the temple. I will
do my best to follow the commandments of our Heavenly Father. AND I WILL
CONTINUE TO BE HAPPY. Good enough for you? It is for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being married doesn’t define someone. It doesn’t all the
sudden give them an identity-or at least it shouldn’t. Whether married or
single we are all individuals with feelings and dreams. We all walk separate
paths and we all find our own sense of self. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We each sin in our own way, we repent, we do
better. Salvation is an individual’s job. (Now, this does not mean that I do
not believe in and desire the blessings that come from marriage. I want to be
married in this life. I want to make further covenants in the temple. I want to
raise a family.) But please remember that even if married in this life, we
cannot drag our spouses to heaven- they must also work to follow the path laid
out for us by our Savior. So please do not fret over my eternal welfare. I will
be fine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, I think I am a pretty good person. Yes, there are entire
years of my life that I wish I didn’t experience. Things I would change if I
could. But all my slip-ups, mess-ups, and completely awkward phases made me who
I am- and I wouldn’t change that for anything. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, please do not take that this open discussion of my
inner thoughts as me being happy that I am not married. It means that I am
happy. I just also happen to not be married. Do I want to be married? More than
I could ever express. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to
not be the only one making decisions when it comes to jobs and where I should
go after I graduate. I would love a mans perspective that wasn’t always my dads
( no offense dad but at 27 its weird to always have to call my dad for a
different perspective- but that is not changing anytime soon so its up to you
for now!) I would love to have someone else do the cooking or grocery shopping
every once and a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, for as
much as I love driving I would love someone else to drive on all the road trips
I have found opportunity to take lately. I would love to have a standing date
on a Friday night. <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">And I crave someone
to binge watch NCIS<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with me and discuss
the conundrum of a man that is Leroy gethro gibbs. BUT, I haven’t found someone
that I willing to give up space on the couch for yet. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And as much as I would love to be able to dwell in a
mountain of self pity and carton of ben and jerry’s I try not to because 1- its
pathetic and 2- it doesn’t change anything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The list I created as young woman has taken on different
meaning in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yay I got out of
high school AND then I went on a crazy ride of taking entirely too long to
graduate which I do in july! Yay ! Go me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have had more adventures than I thought I ever would. I
served a mission- something I never thought I would do. I lived in Uganda for
months and had more adventure than you will ever know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have fallen in love. A few times actually…AND…. I have had
that love not work out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I have also fallen in love with groups of people,
cultures, places, food, smells, and sights. No, it’s not your forever sappy
kind of love but man have I learned how to love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I haven’t had children of my own and maybe I never will. But
I have had children come into my life that I would do anything for. I have been
able to hold and soothe a fevered baby. I have helped teach a toddler the
ABC’s. I have talked puberty with preteens. I might not be a mother. But I have
children in my life that I am fiercely protective of and that know exactly how
to bring a smile to my face. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, as far as my own personal happily ever after. I never
was the princess type. Happily ever after is a great sentiment but I fully
expect to have crappy days from here on out. I will have the “woe is me days”.
The “wow this sucks” days. And even the “I cant do it anymore” days. But you
know what – you married people will too! Welcome to life. But remember for all
the days we end saying “another day like that will literally kill me” we will
have days full of green grass and picnics. Our kites will continue to fly.
Dinners will turn out perfectly. Work will be easy. And everyone we meet will
love us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Life is full of all the days. So please enjoy them. Single
or married find your own happiness and remember the words from one of my
favorite Regina Spektor songs, “Love what you have and youll have more love”. </span></div>
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ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-12117926135257040752011-09-17T21:43:00.000-07:002016-04-23T22:52:21.612-07:00Idahizzle<style>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">Well since it is quite apparent that I will <b><i>NOT</i></b> be completely dedicated to this blog thing I am determined to keep it quasi-updated.... so I am writing from the <s>farm </s><b>POTATO</b> land of Idaho. Enjoying a cup-o-Joe…(okay hot cocoa) sitting on my comfy teal comforter with the windy blowing through the window. Get the picture? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">Well its been a week-ish since I got here and I love it! The adventure started with a fanciful packing party of boxes and some rather stuffed suitcases but two boxes and two suitcases better I boarded a plane to Utah. I have decided that traveling has its PROS & CONS! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pros</b></span>: You don’t have to worry about someone else’s schedule, less luggage; a long soak in the bath doesn’t affect anyone else, lots of thinking time with no one else’s opinion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cons</span></b>: Lots of thinking time with no one else’s opinion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">This gosh darn life thing is hard to figure out by yourself. I loved the time I had to myself in the hotel room in Salt Lake City wednesday night! But sometimes not having to make all the decisions for myself sounds mighty appealing. But then I soaked in the tub and didn’t have to worry about the hot water, or taking up the bathroom and I was okay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">Then I took a nice <span style="font-size: large;"><b>L O N G</b></span> shuttle ride to Rexburg 4 </span><span style="font-family: "reprise chords";">½</span><span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";"> hours to be exact… that’s a long time to be on a bus when those blasted butterflies that made a home in my stomach when I was coming home reappeared. BUT a smiling face greeted me. My dear friend Briana Lilly picked me up! Those mission friendships come in handy! Once upon a time we served together in Rockwood and formed a fabulous friendship if I do say so myself (<i>which obviously I do</i>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">I moved into my <span style="font-size: xx-small;">little </span>apartment where I pay exorbitant prices for mediocre living! I am living with 5 other girls: Rhiannon, Karen, Brittany, Jess, Elyse, & Me! 4/6 of us are returned missionaries, which is nice! We are all different but it works (<i>fingers crossed</i>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">Briana and I played for 3 days straight. We chatted in British accents, gallivanted through Rexburg, made numerous Wal-Mart trips ( <i>if I didn’t forget important things each time we went it could have only been one trip but I was a bit mindless in my shopping</i>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">But eventually I settled in and we headed to the temple! <i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GOODNESS GRACIOUS i</span></i>ts great to have a temple within walking distance. Briana and I have made it a weekly occurrence to go. I love the temple! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">Okay, okay, okay, classes started too! This semester I am taking some pretty cool classes; Business statistics, child development, teaching of the living prophets, Humanities I love ‘em all! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">The first Sunday was full of awkward “I am really cool” moments of freshmen showing off. But such is the same every semester. We started a weekly tradition of “cake @ 8” and it was a hit last Sunday! YAY! This week I’m in charge of cooking and in true Katie fashion I don’t want to make a cake so I am making apple dumplings for cake @ 8. Yep. WHY NOT? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">Homework has begun to consume me and I have been reminded how much I don’t love being in school. I love learning and being in class but I HATE homework and I have a TON (<i>or TONNE if I were Ashley mcgale</i>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">I have been able to hang out with many mission friends and it has been so fun! Missions really change ya! It has been fun to get to know people as not missionaries!I made some amazing life long friends in Tennessee and Kentucky. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">Over all life in idahizzle is WONDERFUL. I miss my friends and family in Fresno. I miss the niece and nephews getting older. But I am where I am supposed to be… I HOPE! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "chalkboard bold";">Love you all! </span></div>
ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-49517051139247582692011-08-11T22:50:00.000-07:002016-04-23T22:51:23.995-07:00Look who's back from the dead!<span style="font-family: "arial";">Okay, I guess its not that hard to guess... but IT'S ME! </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I realize that I have been home for oh almost 2 months and haven't written on this here blog BUT...... <span style="font-size: 78%;">(actually i dont have a good reason) </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I am doing it now! </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">So tomorrow will be<span style="font-size: 180%;"> <b>8 WEEKS</b> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">since I have been home! And although I realize my life is not as interesting now as it was when i was living in the back woods of Tennessee and Kentucky I figured I would try and keep updating this vast interweb on the ramblings of not only a former zoo employee but a former sister missionary. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">So back to the beginning... </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">The last day of my mission was filled with great excitement! Sis wood and I drove down from whitley city kentucky to knoxville tennessee... it was a sad drive but i was soooo full of anxiety! </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">we got to transfers and saw a ton of missionaries that i have served with which is always my favorite part of transfers! and this time i wasnt assigned to a companion and it was really weird...i had no new area, no new awkward companion moments, and no more responsibility on my shoulders. IT WAS SUCH A WEIRD FEELING. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I had a great surprise at the meeting... TOMMY came! He brought me a belated birthday gift and came down to say goodbye. there were a few tears shed and lots of love as we said goodbye. but the surprises didnt stop with tommy DON came and he came with a great surprise as well. after the meeting was over and we bore our final testimonies don asked me to come over to him because he had something to show me... he opened his little bill fold and inside was a <b>TEMPLE RECOMMEND! </b>I cant even describe how i felt. yet again i burst into tears! but oh no the people i love couldnt stop there. SANYA ( who recently went through the temple) came from rockwood and brought me a pan of apple dumplings- they are my favorite ya know! okay right now as i am typing my eyes are all watery and I am reliving that wonderful day! i was overcome with the feeling of being loved. But it didnt stop there. SHYLA took some of her favorites out to lunch... and i guess i was one of them! :) sis lilly and i went while the other departing missionaries went off in knoxville. It was a blast to sit with shyla and talk... her and her husband are being sealed next month! i could not have asked for a better day</span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">president griffin made us dinner and then we had another testimony meeting. IT WAS FABULOUS! then us sisters apparently thought sleep was optional and we stayed up entirely too late! we talked and gabbed and worried and cried and laughed and took awful pictures! but it was a blast! there were 7 sisters going home that day so there were lots of different things going on that night.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">but thursday morning came and the butterflies that had made a home in my stomach became more like a swarm of bees... or you know that poem there was an old lady who swallowed a fly and then swallowed all kinds of other animals well i think there was a full grown animal in me thrusday morning. we went to the airport where sister stapleton and i had a delayed flight! shocker.. i have never flown with out something going wrong. we got stuck in denver together ( luckily i wasn t by myself) but eventually my flight home boarded and the pit in my stomach grew. dont get me wrong i was so excited to be coming to see my family but i was leaving my new family. i was going on to a part of life where i have no answers and lots of questions. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">the flight was great i sat next to a woman who had lots of questions about the church! and then the long walk happened. i was so overcome with emotion that i dotn really remember much of it. other than sobbing but nothing really coming as far as tears were concerned i was more just gasping helplessly for breath. awaiting me was a glorious sight! my family! and some dear friends! ( wow with the exclamation points!) </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">after a whirl wind of questions and pictures ( which sorry this doesnt have any on this post see facebook for pics) we went home and then the WORST THING EVER happened.. president witt came to release me. He asked me a few simple questions about my mission and lessons learned and then he asked me to take off my nametag. i felt like my world had just imploded. that tag had been worn everyday of my mission except one when i tried to wear a different tag and i felt weird. that black piece of plastic had been my best friend for 18 months, it had been through rain, snow, humidty, baptisms, anti, tracting and teaching. It had caused numerous conversations and ended many rumors. and he was asking me to never put it on again?!?!?!?!? i had a little break down after he left and went up to my room and cried and prayed and cried and prayed.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">But we all know that i cant remain down for long( or so i like to think) and i realized that just because i was no longer a missionary did not mean that life ended. so downstairs I went. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">the next week was full of shopping ( which was weird) and hanging out with some friends ( which was even weirder) a few awkward "RM" moments but nothing too bad. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">in true mclelland fashion there was another big event on the horizon- you know us we wouldnt want life to be you know average or uneventful and non exciting... MEGAN GOT ENGAGED. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">oh yeah and i met scott her fiance now husband. the house quickly turned into holdaway wedding central with burlap and mason jars everywhere ( okay mainly in moms room but it sounds better to say that it was everywhere) </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I started working for century builders/monte vista homes/the alvarado group... which is all the same company kind of i sit in the same cubicle for all of it and do whatever boss man says... which happens to be dad so its okay. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">In this part of life i decided I HATE WORKING IN AN OFFICE. the zoo was the life for me which yes was an office for most of the time but there were animals and human interaction and did i mention that there were animals? lots of 'em in fact. Here at the alvarado group there are grey cubicles and labels to make. forms to type. folders to assemble.... but dont worry there is no intelligent work needed. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I am more used to social gatherings... all awkwardness is gone.. except when i am the ONLY single one with all my married/dating friends. other than that though its all good. I have realized fresno IS NOT the place for me whatsoever. i love being with family and i love my old friends. BUT i changed alot on my mission like a whole lot and have felt pressure to be what i was before so the winds of idaho were a calling...</span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">BYUI and i will once again reunite in a few weeks and i couldnt be more anxious. i wish i had some grand love story to tell you but not yet... that chapter hasnt been published, shoot it isnt even in rough draft stage. But I am so happy! ive been trying to find the perfect balance of premission katie and mission katie to get this wacked out version of post mission katie. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I have spent many hours on the phone with good friend and trying to not become addicted to the internet so hopefully i can continue that way... i doubt it! </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">but now that this post is entirely too long i bidyou farewell until the next post! </span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">love ya</span>
ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-34664061784872661162009-11-20T17:24:00.000-08:002016-04-23T22:50:39.716-07:00TiCk ToCk.....So apparently Time has gone and grown itself wings because it has been FLYING by. <br />
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I have just two and a half weeks left....I cannot even describe how I am feeling but I will try- Happy, Anxious, nervous, excited, sad, stressed, calm, Giddy, and nostalgic. I think that about covers all bases. </div>
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I am so anxious to be out there doing what I have been preparing for but as I have started to say goodbye to people I have realized how much things will change while I am gone. But I say let the changes begin. </div>
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I am excited to get to go up to utah the day before and spend some time with kristen and jennifer (she was nice enough to take the day off to spend with us ) Other than kris and jen I will be saying farewell here in fresno super early tuesday morning/ monday night. </div>
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For all of you Elvis fans out there I have discovered that I will be serving in the Elvis half of tennessee apparently there are two parts to tennessee the Dolly Parton side and the Elvis side. Although 9 to 5 is one of my FAVORITE movies I am a much bigger fan of Elvis so I am quite happy. :) </div>
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In other news my baby brother turned 10 yesterday- 10? really? I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday I am not okay with this. he did not ask for permission to grow up. I remember thinking I was sooooo cool in school when I had a few friends come over to see him they all loved his orange hair and that he slept in a bassinet ( I never understood their fascination with it but they talked about it for a few weeks later) my how time really does fly. </div>
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As we are coming up on thanksgiving I thought I would let everyone ( ok the few of you that read this) know how grateful I am to live in this Land. While I am not happy with all that goes on in this country I am so blessed to live in a Land that has the freedoms I enjoy everyday. Not to say there are not things that I want to fix and people that I dont agree with in offices important to me but I love this Country. There are a MILLION other things that I am grateful for but thought I would let my patriotic side show through! </div>
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Enjoy the holiday. </div>
ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-74409176623864972922009-09-08T22:17:00.000-07:002016-04-23T22:50:20.989-07:00And in the Big White Envelope............. was my mission call!<br />
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I have been called to serve in the Tennessee Knoxville Mission. I report to the MTC on December 9th!!!! I am sooo excited! </div>
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I will post more details later! I love you all! </div>
ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-91802684851855330492009-08-17T13:26:00.000-07:002016-04-23T22:50:05.022-07:00Mission Papersyep you read the title right..... I TURNED IN MY MISSION PAPERS!!!!!! <br />
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I decided to go on a mission two months ago.... kind of out of the blue.... but it is the best decision I have yet to make in life. I know that I will be called to serve where I am needed but....<br />
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My sister is putting together a guessing map</div>
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<a href="http://calikeough.blogspot.com/2009/08/where-will-katie-be-called-to-serve.html">http://calikeough.blogspot.com/2009/08/where-will-katie-be-called-to-serve.html</a></div>
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if you have a guess let her know or me know I can pass on the guess! </div>
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I know that every missionary says they are willing to go anywhere but really I AM! I know I will go where I will be able to make a difference if I work hard... </div>
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so the countdown to the big white envelope began yesterday :) I now officially vow to hate the mailman until he brings me the envelope.... ok maybe not but I have never been so anxious for a letter before:) </div>
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I LOVE YOU ALL! </div>
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ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-21212516033003458572009-07-07T22:48:00.000-07:002016-04-23T22:49:41.253-07:00Perspective<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Yesterday I had a life changing moments. You know those moments where you realize you have skewed vision of life and then your reality changes from that point on. Yeah -it was one of those...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I was just sitting down to watch a stage production of one of my favorite disney movies beauty and the beast ( dont worry this perspective change has nothing to do with the actual play) I had the privilege of sitting next to a strikingly handsome tall man ( my grandpa) and next to him sat the love of his life and bride of 60 years. I went through the first act of the play not knowing that in a few short moments I would change forever. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">My grandma has been struggling with her loss of hearing for a while but it has become more severe these last couple months. Now, she is one that has always enjoyed music and conversation so this loss has been particularly hard. While I casually watched and enjoyed the music she heard little the actual play and was deeply frustrated once again by the inability to hear as she once had been able to. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">As the second act started I happened to look over at the two. Here were my grandparents who have been a constant in my life sitting in creaky seats with HARD armrests sitting arm in arm like they had been for 60 years. My grandma not hearing half of what was going on and my grandpa just plain happy to be sitting next to her. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I then ignored the play in front of me and watched as she gently changed the position of their arms ( I am telling you those armrests are not much of a "rest" ) as their arms sat casually embraced I had a deeper understanding of what true love is. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Not that I have ever been the kind of girl into fairy tales and knight in shining armor dreams but my idea of love has been strengthened. IT STILL DOES EXIST!!!! It needs no elaborate rights of passage or store bought symbols. People in this world still do love each other. People can still be married to the same person for more than 60 years - in a country where divorce is so readily available there still are those who muddle through the hard stuff together and at the end of the day go to sleep next to the one they love.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , fantasy;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , -webkit-fantasy;">Being an active Young Single Adult in the church I hear so much of the need to be married while my attitude has not always been the best towards every fireside being on marriage I fear my previous position has been changed. And while it is not the path set in front of me right now I am happy for those young couples in my life who have found that person that 60 years from now when they are using oxygen and when mobility does not come as freely as it had before they still are truckin' on through together. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I am grateful for the example of my grandparents and of their faithfulness to the promises they made to each other. with out them our family of 50+ aunts, uncles, and cousins would not be here. So to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Nadean and Leonard Halvorson</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">- Thank you for all you have done in my life and in the life of my family members. </span></div>
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ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-88343262810319211222009-06-09T22:47:00.000-07:002016-04-23T22:48:42.512-07:00Memorial Day 2009<div>
So Last monday ( Memorial Day) we had a family picnic....</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0XK_QLR741K_pOqU9BLFP-T_k897RwDXbEV5jGVrqORP5ihJlDp482lzvzTmPhyphenhypheneFN_jGfrBUBlx48LHuPyLOwWGz3BCCpNvSxtPudjnH1bxUWxPatQg5A8i38FAEiA8Q9SVLO_thOCv/s1600-h/CIMG0328.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343302595044238482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0XK_QLR741K_pOqU9BLFP-T_k897RwDXbEV5jGVrqORP5ihJlDp482lzvzTmPhyphenhypheneFN_jGfrBUBlx48LHuPyLOwWGz3BCCpNvSxtPudjnH1bxUWxPatQg5A8i38FAEiA8Q9SVLO_thOCv/s320/CIMG0328.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Some of us sat and just enjoyed each others company, with our typical family gossip of course but nonetheless we were content to relax<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuZqkqtJGxWPHvgnOSO1J-52iwegGR0MUbT-OJc24Fr6gsnY0fASIi3nKCuqHG1lyP5hyphenhyphenAlae2N3HuV-fTaP5OG33e7Gygs7dhMBMLpkIfWYujUy5kza10UdVhl-7MSCd9pVhyphenhyphenrup_HvF/s1600-h/CIMG0296.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343302592793109698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuZqkqtJGxWPHvgnOSO1J-52iwegGR0MUbT-OJc24Fr6gsnY0fASIi3nKCuqHG1lyP5hyphenhyphenAlae2N3HuV-fTaP5OG33e7Gygs7dhMBMLpkIfWYujUy5kza10UdVhl-7MSCd9pVhyphenhyphenrup_HvF/s320/CIMG0296.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Here is Grandpa just watching in his usual manor... calm, collected, and cool </div>
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But near by all havoc is breaking loose with the Halvorson family<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQ-iw5U5fCyaAZFC03OZ5UTUjD_YwaeU581CULMBtPKaj_OLhgDFK-1p7kZeK0Ui4biP4xyjYieDM6rEAwKsmHcZU5hQkPfrYf-JDitcnPldhC0E8xHUNPLLOHK16yAn39_9cvUkXQ-gA/s1600-h/CIMG0301.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343302034937903986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQ-iw5U5fCyaAZFC03OZ5UTUjD_YwaeU581CULMBtPKaj_OLhgDFK-1p7kZeK0Ui4biP4xyjYieDM6rEAwKsmHcZU5hQkPfrYf-JDitcnPldhC0E8xHUNPLLOHK16yAn39_9cvUkXQ-gA/s320/CIMG0301.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Samuel collected all the small toys and refused to share with any other kids. Since he is a very smart kid he figured out if they are not in the water no one will try and take them so he kept them all in his shirt :) </div>
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and then there is the pool...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuyA3bGn2Gbk0VGZuuY-B89bzspyemU-U9QXmg3c-nIlRCg7ZT7c2b6OPSelxt2xNxvs0_yJ3u_IKRDuj2YxbLQi7z4jlwG5EJUAl6X3DjX3j6cy2VFFcqkxFf8fBDlllsxOZGRHkX616/s1600-h/CIMG0307.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343301737431534274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuyA3bGn2Gbk0VGZuuY-B89bzspyemU-U9QXmg3c-nIlRCg7ZT7c2b6OPSelxt2xNxvs0_yJ3u_IKRDuj2YxbLQi7z4jlwG5EJUAl6X3DjX3j6cy2VFFcqkxFf8fBDlllsxOZGRHkX616/s320/CIMG0307.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcbrm-eWiSbPUovPTYSCC77B_q5p77Awg4Hsokd3BxV-nUFozkSDh6f6yr53tYi86rhNBRWNaMwv4fmGWkkTxrH6I_6X7ndow4RnV6K6sPS_laTd8v3JUcht46Atrbhrfam47qanpIx7M/s1600-h/CIMG0310.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343301458531655682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcbrm-eWiSbPUovPTYSCC77B_q5p77Awg4Hsokd3BxV-nUFozkSDh6f6yr53tYi86rhNBRWNaMwv4fmGWkkTxrH6I_6X7ndow4RnV6K6sPS_laTd8v3JUcht46Atrbhrfam47qanpIx7M/s320/CIMG0310.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>My uncles Erik and Matt got into a bit of a wrestling match<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfNecq87M3ek7XiUVXxVXI-MRnpecFgZNjZezqygWCEDBQfizJobJjfHE_ClKPglrS-YCVQTNbIPRrLE1sPaV_y2Gv25AhrBtlDAeB4qK3UNEVwdCOfr7qAmcXbR4Ik6fRalF2ugYFpbI/s1600-h/CIMG0314.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343301152694686482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfNecq87M3ek7XiUVXxVXI-MRnpecFgZNjZezqygWCEDBQfizJobJjfHE_ClKPglrS-YCVQTNbIPRrLE1sPaV_y2Gv25AhrBtlDAeB4qK3UNEVwdCOfr7qAmcXbR4Ik6fRalF2ugYFpbI/s320/CIMG0314.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ww_s7_kz7tpTbELIZwXb6W1ET9TSosvdxZRnZ41pVbm71ijRK1A4gPttIEWkW7zEaoQBh3Qtq47AbRTxjjJcAqIq4XP3VM2lP1K0KmylHxDZd97uNOVhgQ6FYpVQCBs7H8pjB7E1JMYX/s1600-h/CIMG0315.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343300868265792498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ww_s7_kz7tpTbELIZwXb6W1ET9TSosvdxZRnZ41pVbm71ijRK1A4gPttIEWkW7zEaoQBh3Qtq47AbRTxjjJcAqIq4XP3VM2lP1K0KmylHxDZd97uNOVhgQ6FYpVQCBs7H8pjB7E1JMYX/s320/CIMG0315.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>I cant figure out who is winning<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZP9Ejh0y-E7DzuRm3mCEHJv6dHxwaXqwpitzNFdSeYARzPKyb00-OQRlrOdkr25w3qDyiSFkaP7R_RAX-dXN6hUygkl3dh6Ptbmgpxh_US5St5JpTK92fhqjxyNCRiQfxIB0qEdb1_Hm-/s1600-h/CIMG0325.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343300536175828146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZP9Ejh0y-E7DzuRm3mCEHJv6dHxwaXqwpitzNFdSeYARzPKyb00-OQRlrOdkr25w3qDyiSFkaP7R_RAX-dXN6hUygkl3dh6Ptbmgpxh_US5St5JpTK92fhqjxyNCRiQfxIB0qEdb1_Hm-/s320/CIMG0325.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Mckay and Aaron joined in<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO21-2KQ-dhOkHUdJCYmscXj713GyzTrNYDzYxEVu9Yj-HksRxsMwGUB7HA5UUFM3vvxLREQHSTAxX4m6wmQ6-42D5jrQcOXqwpBuOrkWRGOndDJ5nPu-lNJtTtrepzHGtPAA7wmWjNP8L/s1600-h/CIMG0319.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343300202987150178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO21-2KQ-dhOkHUdJCYmscXj713GyzTrNYDzYxEVu9Yj-HksRxsMwGUB7HA5UUFM3vvxLREQHSTAxX4m6wmQ6-42D5jrQcOXqwpBuOrkWRGOndDJ5nPu-lNJtTtrepzHGtPAA7wmWjNP8L/s320/CIMG0319.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Meanwhile Taylor and Abby sought safety in the corner of the pool discussing oh so important secrets i am sure... if i were in them i would stay there too! </div>
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Heres a video of erik and matt wrestling</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyhB2KIk05Sy_6ELPGXlYsltimRwyANVwxT3Kr9onb_076qVmYeKKZjpWgoKRwaP1krLoZdRgAZhsQ_81TZfQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149795965425668168.post-61461954994532583832009-04-23T22:46:00.000-07:002016-04-23T22:47:34.806-07:00Fun with the cousins!<div>
so since I was 10 or 11 i have always loved playing with my younger cousins, and cousins kids for that matter. the last month or so has given me time to have some amazing times with them, where they didnt have to worry about their parents coming in or being to embarrassed since i quite often make more of a fool of myself than they do.... here is a look at some recent times.</div>
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One night i was babysitting and the boys put on quite the performance for me.... i think they all need to go into performing of some kind they all love to ham it up! they came out three different times with different skits.... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlYwk4efWdshQj6Agbl0T6Rz5gt_g7pitw_dIjNrgNmsck5T-AOtzSuN1_AWjWpWPjOtknMKc6Yr2VkPeGAuPqdb7ffyDPdbzOOfOPaY3L49KYKBsiaVbAR9sVSpx7gKYFEYMXZeWr-uY/s1600-h/CIMG0244.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343246149905308386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlYwk4efWdshQj6Agbl0T6Rz5gt_g7pitw_dIjNrgNmsck5T-AOtzSuN1_AWjWpWPjOtknMKc6Yr2VkPeGAuPqdb7ffyDPdbzOOfOPaY3L49KYKBsiaVbAR9sVSpx7gKYFEYMXZeWr-uY/s320/CIMG0244.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bradley the nerd.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtErFWtzXn2URXno8y16SjmeJeMwsGsgDSEtU_Ufa-IyZq373hbDK1NSWsFlKgVMnD7GwgPtymDSaDmuugdG8L2ZK67eukP_tS-xyvFmOSOJcOsDv8GQIsDYOqxFNFtcZSyN4RCQIqzjy/s1600-h/CIMG0243.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343246148328962258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtErFWtzXn2URXno8y16SjmeJeMwsGsgDSEtU_Ufa-IyZq373hbDK1NSWsFlKgVMnD7GwgPtymDSaDmuugdG8L2ZK67eukP_tS-xyvFmOSOJcOsDv8GQIsDYOqxFNFtcZSyN4RCQIqzjy/s320/CIMG0243.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Joshua the Nerd</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45kks67OAedu3yVM02wcilS9lm4cEoCGnCxeaNhSA0VdxyA1JKFtsvbqESFythjAeF3gilZC1wyguXsCE9IAeGjlBt-LCZvBk7WBdzHT0C5V0aVL2uyyZ_TILaSSvb_zt9QAWx-UTt2vh/s1600-h/CIMG0242.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343246148453083138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45kks67OAedu3yVM02wcilS9lm4cEoCGnCxeaNhSA0VdxyA1JKFtsvbqESFythjAeF3gilZC1wyguXsCE9IAeGjlBt-LCZvBk7WBdzHT0C5V0aVL2uyyZ_TILaSSvb_zt9QAWx-UTt2vh/s320/CIMG0242.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>McKay the Nerd.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qnXK0J8R8pd3GFyVVHqyVJWH3m5F-pLUgjORyhYRmcHgFicuNbBqsvCjtqRkmNM8tNS1IJp8yVClF0r9bUtfaSMZFxP9NjSmKpg5hFoJQAScbcVzYAP0fskcHN8dhmIm5htfE7qtq_D_/s1600-h/CIMG0233.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343246137301713762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qnXK0J8R8pd3GFyVVHqyVJWH3m5F-pLUgjORyhYRmcHgFicuNbBqsvCjtqRkmNM8tNS1IJp8yVClF0r9bUtfaSMZFxP9NjSmKpg5hFoJQAScbcVzYAP0fskcHN8dhmIm5htfE7qtq_D_/s320/CIMG0233.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>This one is Bradley the gansta from their freaks o' nature skit, and my favorite picture of the night, it shows how much fun kids can have when they get to live in the moment! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgylspOz_Tp7J1GTiiXqUnjZ-mw-yDROyN9ovWI5NrcuUmPqKaYS2krM-oJS19iYJdtFdoHS048jAj2pxG0ojV6-x7yPYNt6HNe_8hdrmg7tVuEkTt2m9qsmSaz6_XBGnkY-MKZ8VV9fmB/s1600-h/CIMG0223.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343246131953585794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgylspOz_Tp7J1GTiiXqUnjZ-mw-yDROyN9ovWI5NrcuUmPqKaYS2krM-oJS19iYJdtFdoHS048jAj2pxG0ojV6-x7yPYNt6HNe_8hdrmg7tVuEkTt2m9qsmSaz6_XBGnkY-MKZ8VV9fmB/s320/CIMG0223.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>And this one is to make the mothers of these children worry about them! they came out singing brittany spears, but dont worry at the end of the song they sprayed cologne to make it "MANLY" according to Mckay but i am not sure what about any of this is manly! :) </div>
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And then watching the girls they proved they were not to be left out of the silly times!<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343242510374985426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AlNZ0A17u26_FE31rt3KTQcb7v5smyvr6ktLb2n8kPVF05j5iSzKVHJhfh6ZU1xrnTmN_FMPNOltlqQlyohKVctxs-i_zewYnOSgyDpTcyEfP4pSPf5K2mKigN8AbgpauKsmydwtaGB3/s320/CIMG0189.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343239973750001362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXOJ4cM-o4EHh4FddJIXl66H_baGooqJw06DR4n1nAAPrsb-9vtPvkFN8DHUTbIVTgnie9TCEdJgWlmfq-GF_LMrFuMo5uXxPp3WU42yxMxEhzufJV-HcuYMVdV_A33dXtZFNr5QtPsLZ/s320/CIMG0174.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343242501523684114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlBQS0y4L9DLDFJj2cOl3_X6FMwBUsJrPGeFAPZobORH-GAarVDikFoQVOInN72-I2VMnAT17kJnGgBBQy4QqVpq-4ZiLir87d6Z2DxIu4RVYpgTyl91hCAhi2u1F6npghiKwipSZnczS/s320/CIMG0193.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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the girls and i had some fun in my room on a sunday when it was a little crazy and we needed to escape from the boys... more like i was tired of all the fighting and yelling and crying going on so i took the girls we had our own family get together in my room! </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343240938328156866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTEEHl7ibOLQ1ZvYfOILKbzlhg8Z5mPXxXPeQV89aXWnz-4Uauy8YEcQLF3XT1l27RffZkb_mnnTdjY9Ws-hNwpTGMv8TXqMzSCrG9mUpqiqvzX44nTH-lIOh8IVQoSlWvtgIL_mDph2p/s320/CIMG0187.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />taylor was quite the little camera hog but this was my fav or her!</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343242495079866386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp7JpSpkN3Hxz5D3S7cAGZDxXJsx3R-txxQcw5LZQlOYTPYqwD6Zwz9nT4hhGlQ2JZ27VsgLpILxRtg2bKHgLNEne_j0wRqS-GNhDryenEeUWwgo5fUbyA5dGBQDBZzoLVCmQz56Tnjpq/s320/CIMG0194.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> I both love and hate this picture, Love it cause abby looks beautiful, hate it because she looks beautiful.... i thought i was soo old when taylor and abby were born, they are ten now, i am not ok with that! <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343242509821787650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKopl1NS-VHsaTfAvH3kU3tc3h8NeknMA7f-n23Uthfj1VTMZQ8bJc443TtCI1Vj6M_7q27n_-dK96ueDGW6vIh5ssh6RiicTUQ6W64HN_vkxo92Mg8SjMCYVOAVWOIT6ANaTJCfGcSM-/s320/CIMG0195.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
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She is getting soo big as well... does that mean i am getting old?</div>
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Abby and Taylor were having soooo much fun dancing, lindsey was content to sit on my lap... she joined in the dancing later but this was my fav clip! </div>
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These days i dont get to hang out as much with them so memories like this are what make it worth it! and its blackmail like this against them that should always make me be able to hang being their favorite cousin above their head!!!!muahahahaha </div>
ktlzzmakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398088015563652543noreply@blogger.com0