On the eve of Christmas eve...our little family present

It was one of those windy, old country roads that got lost over the past 60 yrs. You know, the kind that has ancient scraggly, trash trees hovering over the edge of the road. With branches all gnarled as if arthritis has overtaken their limbs. And as I moved along from one corner to the next on the road, dark shadows followed me, with little lighted lines every so often where a weed got through the black top.

I was nerve wracked. The last 2 hours I had hastily zoomed down our little home on the mountain, through the endless freeway construction from our county into the next. Where, I soon discovered that I was to be greeted by more local, city construction. And finally a turn off of State street and onto that back street that would take me to meet him.

I had sincerely been contemplating this idea for a while. And when Seingine had been in hospital for such a long time, (2 weeks) or what seemed like forever to a mother wanting her "baby" home, I knew when I saw Singe hobbling around like a hunched-over, old man that it was exactly the right thing to pull off for a Christmas surprise, on the eve of Christmas eve.

When I pulled into the parking lot, which really wasn't more then one of those graveled side of the road rectangle boxes, I was a little taken back by the small, slightly dilapidated, gray cinder- block building. "Okay", I thought, "this is a place of rescue." "It's a little sketchy looking, but I'm here to just get the boy and get out." "It's just a temporary place for him." But I was also being to question whether finding him so easily and quickly, had been a little bit to good to be true.

As I walked in the old, aluminum screen door, I knew to watch out for the back swing, since that was the same old type of screen door I had at an old 1950's rental home a few years back. And I felt nervous, I really did....this had all transpired the night before. I knew what I wanted, but I wasn't sure if I would find it when I first started looking on the internet. But within a few minutes of searching I had found this place and I had found him. However, it had been late into the night and there was nothing I could do to get more information on him and to be quite honest with you, I kinda put it on the back burner until I got a bee in my bonnet and did something about it. And you know how that goes, when you get that burst of energy to get something done, you go get it done.

It took a couple minutes for the girl, in her early twenties, to come back to the make shift of sorts desk. The ceiling was really low and it had a wet dog smell about the place. I introduced myself because when I called her a few hours back, she knew to expect me. It was strange, I don't know why but I guess I was having one of those "I'm really a mother, doing motherly things" realization at that moment. The girl moved to a back door and I followed her outside to a narrow concrete slab that ran parallel to another smaller building, while its path moved along to the side of the two structures as well. Again, she opened another door, even smaller this time and I followed her it mimicking ducking into a cave with the low ceiling as it was. And so here we were to meet for the first time.

Unfortunately, yet fortunately, a family had asked for their child's family birthday party to be held in the small building earlier in the day, and so the tenants now, were not completely in a socializing mood. But, right in front of my eyes, there was my boy....at least I kept hoping he was mine.

Writings of self-seeding, freely....Cheers!

Okay, let's face it, I do think I am fairly creative person. So, with that in mind, I will admit that I don't really think my so called blog is necessarily ever going to be a consistent genre of posts. Without looking up what modern day dictionary definitions might register blogging as, I'm just going to re-baptize mine as a modern day, technologically powered journal of writings that I come up with.

...hmm, makes me wonder how Mark Twain would have functioned in our time of history. Or even more, would he have been Mark Twain, maybe Sam Clemmons would have been enough of a name and no "pen name" would have evolved.

I've been pestering my dad to write a fictional book for years and years and years. You see the man has a brilliant mind, is an expert in his field and when it comes to writing, technically, he does quite well. And he's written and had published 3 or 4 books and many articles in his career, so he's no stranger to writing. But, the guy is a medieval history professor, so all of his writings are technical, and non-fiction about historical figures or happenings. So that kinda means he lacks a little bit in the creativity department in his writings. And so when I pester him about writing of medieval historical figure into a fictional setting, he says he would love to and then tells me I should do it because he lacks the creative background. And then I chide myself that I should take advantage of his knowledge and do it...but I don't. But I will...someday...but someday better come soon or I know I'll regret it.

So to avoid regretting anything that comes into my brain, I need to start writing more. And I know that my mind can pull up a story for almost anything if I let it. When I was little, I figured out that I could write stories, and I did write several. I also acted out stories with my dolls, stuffed animals or barbies. I read stuff...what does that mean, I don't know...I just like to read whatever really. And I kick myself when I think of how many different ideas of come into my mind and I haven't written them down or the same of a word or saying or comment that sparked the start of a path of words to somewhere...anyway, I came up with a couple new stories last week that I plan to move forward with, that I shared with my dad.

He listened. My dad usually listens, but he is an academic, and so at times he can be intimidating in his reactions..his silence. Yes the saying that "silence is deafening" does ring true with him when I am wanting..no craving, some kind of response from him. Heh, to my surprise he responded with, "Katherine, you need to make sure you write these things down and that you carry a booklet around with you always to write down these ideas you come up with". Wham, bam! Hit me like a ton of rocks..well okay maybe a non-crushing type of rock so as to do no physical damage, but anyway it was finally a psychological stroke of acceptance to my little girl ego. My father, whom I have put on an academia pedestal pretty much my whole life, was seemingly giving me approval ...even more so, he was encouraging my thought process.

So here it goes. Here is my rock-garden of whatever catches my attention. A place where these seeds planted deep, being watered, splitting open, starting to grow with their little roots digging down further into the ground and their foliage popping up towards the light and warmth of the sun, will keep growing and developing into something only Katherine could grow.

I can't remember how to do this anymore!

Oh my..it has been a long while since I did this and blame Facebook! ha ha just kidding

I really forgot about my blog.

Well, Kim reminded me today that I had not blogged for a long while. Wow. So I should probably take a few days and summarize what has happened since May. Not that I have an interesting life, but since this is a blog for posterity sake, here goes.

We finished last school year. All three of us, barely. Yes, Connor received a not totally unexpected lovely letter from his principle letting him know that next year might need a definate new strategy of Connor's part. Love that Connor. Luckily, Connor started changing some of his tune by allowing his love for camping and Scouts to re-emerge into his world.

Sean got a school award for being in the top 10% in the nation in his grade for the national math testing. Way to go my little math wizard! I had no idea that we had started a math obsessed child when we played math games in the car...everything is somehow an equation for Seing. Plus, Sean's spring soccer team played awesome together so his coach decided to invite the team to join an indoor summer soccer league.

And I got to start the summer out being unemployed and yet somewhat hopeful after completing my first year in the new construction management program at U.V.U. I had no idea what was in store for all of us.....especially me.

My boring and elaborate telling of my tale from today.

Oh my Goodness sake.

I really need to get a digi camera so in the future I would be able to use it for proof of places of interest as well as reference in writing the scenes that I experienced. Obviously that way they are vivid in a readers mind with small details that are important but easily forgotten if you don't have someway to permanently save them. My loss. When I was a teen to young adult, I used to never leave without my 35 mm SLR because I knew that if a perfect shot presented itself, I would never get it back if I wasn't prepared.

So with that in mind I have to make do with what I am able to remember in my non-photographic memory. I drove out to the Utah Ashgrove Cement plant today. I got out on my day trip later than I had wanted to by about an hour. It was around 12, noon. I was heading south from UVU towards Nephi and then west on state road 128. Today was really beautiful and I love driving with the wind in my hair, fast, music playing, on roads that are surrounded by ever changing sceneries of endless nature and so that is exactly what I did today. That was it....I was soaking up the setting and it was quite uneventful.

However, just because it was uneventful does not mean it did not bring out a certain sense of adventure in me. I was alone. No kids nagging or fighting in the background. No phones or computers to overtake my focus. I was even fabricating ideas in my nervous mind on how to get my boys out here by ourselves for a camping trip. I say nervous mind, because I over think being alone too much and then scare myself at times when I take the boys by myself places that are unfamiliar. I just need to learn jujitsu or some other Marshal art form, then I wouldn't be such a chicken.

Since the road seemed to show no signs of ending anywhere and literally, no signs of any significant help either as to when or where this plant was, I did wonder if somewhere I might have missed some other turn. But no, just as I was carving the car through another turn, BAM!..there it was right in front of my face. It was gigantic and it looked like a castle gone "communism architecture bad" in its ugliest form. Even better, remember the crude cities in the Lord of the Rings III where Frodo has to sneak among them without "the Eye" seeing him. That was what this plant could have fallen from the pages of, but luckily there were no scary, seething trolls lurking about it.

I got a first rate tour of this interesting production plant. I got to walk up next to a huge long tube that inside of it burned rocks at the unbelievable degree of 2500 Fahrenheit. Though it was slightly breezy outside, standing next to the heat that the pipe gave off was unbearably hot and I would not stay next to it for long. My guide, the plants production engineer, explained to me that police departments from across Utah Valley actually come down there and bring sensitive documents etc. to be incinerated there because of the heat they are able to produce.

After the tour I was ready to head home and take up the roll of mom again. So I was off and enjoying my car ride once again.

Then without blinking, there it was BANG, PLANK, PUT, PUT, PUT...stop. Right in the line of my tires approach a big ole brown rock sat on the freeway. I saw it and there was no time to move my car fast enough. Though I tried to swerve, the rock blew my front passenger tire and lucky for me I didn't hit another passing car. I was able to get to the side of the freeway and as luck would have it, I had just passed the Spanish Fork exit and was now on the side of the freeway entrance lane.

But sometimes however stupid a decision it may be, your will to survive overtakes anything else that might pop into your mind in similar situations to this one. There I was alone, several miles from the next off ramp, turned the wrong way from the previous exit, without a cell phone since I have been without one now for a year and in no mood to get out of my car and try to hail someone over to help me. So instead I started to drive slowly on a popped tire, with a bent rim that was doomed to a worse fate because of my persistent desire to keep driving toward some kind of eventual help.

I saw the sign for the next exit, which posted 5 more miles. "You've got to be joking!" But up ahead I could also see that the emergency outside lane was being cut off because construction barrels were aligned along the roads edge. Ugh!, another obstacle. "Ah come on already. Enough is enough." As I approached this area, there was a hill and I knew there was no way to go around the barrels and up it without getting thrown out into ongoing traffic. I scanned beyond the barrels and noticed that although no construction equipment was moving, I did see several regular pick up trucks parked behind some concrete barriers. So I made a quick decision to turn off through the barrels and head toward those trucks in hope that I would find some construction person to help me.

And with some definite luck from above, three guys were walking towards me. When the first guy was within shouting distance, I asked him if he would let me use his cell phone. He said "yes", but I realized quickly that I had no clue who I would call to "rescue" me. So I asked him if he knew how to change a tire and he said yes and I asked him if he would be able to help me. He politely let me know that he couldn't do it because he was late for something else already. But the two guys behind him heard my plea and offered to do it for me, unfortunately the former guy stated that they didn't have time 'cause they were riding with him.

Brilliantly one of the two guys who offered to help asked me for a trade. If I could give them a ride into downtown Provo to their employers office, then they could stay and change my tire. It may sound naive and dangerous in idea, but the guy that offered the solution also chimed in that if I didn't feel comfortable with that idea, that I should not feel obligated to do it. However, since I had approached them and the first guy who had driven them was still there and involved in our conversation (because he too needed to know their plans, so if to drive them back to the office or not) I felt comfortable in the situation and I didn't worry that there would be any trouble if I drove them back to their employers office. So they helped me greatly by quickly changing my tire and then they humbly accepted my apologies for my garbage strewn indoor car decor and we were off to get them where they needed to be.


And in retelling this, I have to relay to you what my instructor/professor told me in an email today after hearing from me on my trip because the trip was for his class. My professor is definitely one of my most favorite people in the world. I am his T/A this semester. He listens to all my war stories and is full of wisdom and knowledge whenever I ask him for advise. So this is what he replied
"Katherine, Glad you enjoyed the tour. You sometimes have the worst luck, but I am still praying for you. Things are funny sometimes, but costly. ....Good luck. Jim".

So with a noble and good man like him praying for me and other friends who have seen me through a challenging school year with their thoughts, prayers and actions, even though the mire may be constant in my life right now, I've got lots of blessings overpowering the adversity and guiding me through it all. And to top it off with a little whip cream and cherry, I most definitely am glad for the humor I do see in all my day to day quirky adventures in this, the"this-is-the-life-Miss-Katie-Marie" for you and your crew. Ha, ha, ha...what a day.

my own little world

As a teen most likely sensing the loss of friends due to moving, college, jobs, missions or just changing opportunites, I used to think of how fun it would be one day to have a little town of friends. Obviously it was a comfort thing...fear..a psychosis set up from past experiences. But even still how almost magical would it be to make your own living creation.

Here are a few things I would do: I am drawn in this scenario to a small, snow drenched village. Soft powery snow that gently cuddles the streets...yet mild temperature, not bitter cold.

In this town everyone would be able to do jobs they enjoyed, of their picking of course. So my guess is based on the surroundings, a lot of people would be working from their homes so the atmosphere would be one where friends would be found quite often enjoying themselves outside.

To be continued>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

GO JEN GO!!!!!!

Ride Hard!

You are so awesome!!! ...and you're gonna kick some...____! (take a wild guess)

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/solvang09/jpixton

Inspired words for thought

"It is so hard when sincere prayer about something we desire very much is not answered the way we want. It is especially difficult when the Lord answers no to that which is worthy and would give us great joy and happiness. Whether it be overcoming illness or loneliness, recovery of a wayward child, coping with a handicap, or seeking continuing life for a dear one who is slipping away, it seems so reasonable and so consistent with our happiness to have a favorable answer. It is hard to understand why our exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not bring the desired result."No one wants adversity. Trials, disappointments, sadness, and heartache come to us from two basically different sources. Those who transgress the laws of God will always have those challenges. The other reason for adversity is to accomplish the Lord's own purposes in our life that we may receive the refinement that comes from testing. It is vitally important for each of us to identify from which of these two sources come our trials and challenges, for the corrective action is very different."Richard G. Scott, "Trust in the Lord," Ensign, Nov. 1995,

new story in motion

So there I was standing in que, in the near-ending drizzle of rain, aloof to much of the somewhat muffled background on goings, of yells and the constant buzzing of chattering fans mouths. I wanted to be here, yet sometimes the rain just permiates through one's body and it sends me into a status of melancholy. But yes, I did want to be here. It was a match that I was looking foward to with much anticipation and it was bound to be a well fought dueling.


Moved to works in writing blog.

...The Sweetest Thing

Dear Seingine,

who would have known when Connorack named you 'Racket' as a baby-nickname, because you cried so much, that you would instead grow into the sweetest, calmest, California-laid-back, peacemaker, perfectionist, always-ready-to-strip-down-to-your-skivies-once-you-walk-in-the-door kind-of-a-guy that you are today.

You are the jam in our peanut butter sandwich and connorack and I wouldn't be the same with out you. Hope you love being nine. Happy Birthday sweets! And I think it was great that you picked out the Hamburger birthday cake..it was truly unique, just like you.

Love you...love you too,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10!

architecture on my mind

Oh man oh man, my brain is all over architecture, pulling it apart and putting it back together to make sense and so forth. My neighbor lives in a 100 year old house with add on's. We helped her tear apart her yucky flooring and 60's thin, tacky wall paneling tonight. I want to tear down the whole house and start over. There are some houses that have had too much done to them them they've lost the integrity to the original idea of the house and/or they just never made sense in the beginning at all.

With architecture in mind, I move to the new Draper, Utah, LDS temple. We've purposely driven from Alpine over the new mountain pass into the top south mountain of Draper to watch the construction and final stages of this new temple over the last year. It's an alpine drive most definately. I love where it sits nestled in the depths of the mountains in this area of Draper. So last saturday it was really fun being there with my sis and her fam, and my little fam, as well as having the presence of my dad and my mom came too in our tour of the new temple. Ironically the weather was a beautiful fog, but it kept us from seeing the outside of the temple to its maximum potential.

The Celestial room was magnificent with the dome a simple yet richly detailed piece and the gold lined walls and the crystal chandeliers equal to any of the most ornate rooms I've seen in my European travels to grand palaces and stately homes. Yet in the Sealing room where a sweet couple around my age explained to the kids and others present, about what the idea of a sealing meant to them in their lives, you could definately feel the presence of the spiritual nature of this temple creation. To be fair, the rest of the temple was lovely in its decor, a lot of art deco, which I love but is similar to other temples that have been built in the last 15 years, specifically the A.F. and Bountiful temples, so was somewhat uneventful. However, the afore mentioned rooms were what made the viewing of the structure for me, and in my weird mind of configuring architectural placement, where the temple was built made sense. It is close to the "heavens" and circling around in the sky's are the beauty of the birds and hidden in the surrounding hills are the innocence of deer as they make their way in and about the hillside terrain they add presense of nature in God's circle of life.

In no way do I want to sound as if I take having the significance and beauty of an LDS temple around our everyday scenery for granted. I have an artists eye, and therefore I critique. The Temple is a work of art to me as well as a spiritual tribute to our Father in Heaven and his work here on earth for all of us. It signify's the beauty of our lives and what we can accomplish only through our gratitude to all that he has given us.

work in progress- start of 2nd short story

It was a drab, grayish cover in the sky sneaking up on the afternoon, as I drove up to the parking lot of the elementary school. It gave off a feeling of being boxed into a plastic container that is just about to have its lid put on. As the car started to slow down and inch along in speed, Christian jumped out of the car as he had come to do lately since watching an old episode of 'Starsky and Hutch' from cable. I tried to catch him with a stern disapproving comment but he was off and nearly out of visibility before I could even stumble through a few noise making words.

There I sat, transfixed on where I was, yes it was a parking lot but it was the prequil to where I had been over the last 6 years. I had made brief encounters to this same parking lot 6 years earlier when Christian had been the one to go to this school by himself, where now it was his brother Patrick who had brought us here...to this point of surreality exposed. It was that moment of vulnerability that creates a dejai vu in ones life.

And in a moment my thoughts were interrupted in the distance by the faint carrying of voices in the cold, and slightly threatening sky. One voice, then two and as a third voice emerged a trio of kids arrived in full view, carrying on in conversation in a playful yet dedicated manner. And soon to follow was the onslaught of more elementary school children. All alert, some with an immediate agenda to possibly get home fast, others atune to their social surroundings and who were locked into the intensity of it all.

In the midst of the group Christian stood out, obviously because he did not look the part of an elementary child and of course lagging not too far behind was Patrick and another boy who appeared to be playfully hopping, then skipping and then too, was conversing with Patrick. As they got closer to the car, perpendicular to all were large mounds of snow piled up high against a new chain-linked fence that separated the grassy play area of the school yard from the small U-shaped parking lot. All at once Christian seemed to be verbally startled by the young boy who had been dilly- dallying along with Patrick. He seemed to take it in stride as just the rantings of a little boy who wanted to make his presence know and was fishing for where the boundaries lay around the "older" kid. Plus the kid probably was the youngest in a family where making himself stand out by taking potshots, was in fact, the only way to be heard.

Christian with easy strides, glidded over to the car door and entered without comment. As I looked at him to make my previously unheard mumblings restated, my mind stopped short and I just thanked him instead for fetching his younger brother for me. As I turned to then acknowledge what I assumed was the approach of Patrick towards our car , my eye caught sight of Patrick and his friend instead fixed and attentively gazing at that long mound of snow before them. Besides being high, round and somewhat packed against the fence, it also ran the length of the fence all the way to the entrance of the parking lot. The boys looked at each other, and Seans friend said a quick word, which drew a smile and a quick kick of his boot through the snow from Sean as the other boy began to climb excitedly up the mound of snow. Sean quickly realized that he too was not going to be left behind and he set off to catch up with his friend.

As I watched through my car window at the scene taking place, I realized that what appeared to me to be a big, plowed mound of slightly dirty snow was in fact something far more revered and adventureous in the eyes of my son and his friend. For them it was an unspoken knowledge, where there was to be no misinterpretations: That snow was there to be conquered! They saw an endless mountain of white and they knew their duty to it and themselves and no one would stand in their way, especially that nagging noise in the background of what was in fact my voice trying to break a small crack into the shut-off left side of my childs brain.

serious creative-writing blog

"...when silently listening to the half-crackle, half-drizzle connection of rain in its moderate rush to fall in the dark, outside my main front window, if conjurs up flashes of memories. Memories are a powerful hand on our mind. They grasp our feelings, and shake them in so many different manners." By katie marie

Here's a little exerpt. I should sit her and do more but i'm going to bed.
Here's the idea: I think it would be fun to become involved in some kind of creative writing blog of short stories.
If anybody is interested, let me know. If not I will do one and bravely open up some of my stories for critique, thoughts etc. I had to drop my creative writing class and who knows, maybe this will be better.

wii wii does that? Ru CPR certified? and Barbie and THE BIRDS

Poor poor pooch! Like I said in my previous post, I really like Seingines DS dogs! They only require battery revival, not mouth-to-mouth revival. Besides I don't think I could share an ice-cream cone or smooch another dog the way I used to with Crackers as a kid. He even looked cute in Mag's bathing suit when we let him try it on...dad never really thought a girls swimsuit looked that cute on Crackers?

This one is funny too, especially since I luv alfred hitchcock, a cool, old, ever-so-slightly morbid, odd duck and i luved and stil luv Barbie dolls. Yeah, Barbie probably destroyed a majority of young girls self-worth in the united states and who really wants to have to get specialty fit tops due to cosmetic surgery after obsessing on her curves, but dang I still really like Barbies. Besides, Jim used to come into my room as a kid, which was loaded down with barbie dolls and barbie houses, and beat my dolls up with his GI Joe guys and make my girls into covert operation type chicks. So my girls were kind of tough in their ultra perfection. Plus, I made tons of clothes which fanned my love of fashion and I also created some cool barbie characters, like Annie Lenox barbie after I cut of Barbies blond hair to a shaped, girlie, spikey, flat-top and dyed her hair reddish/orange. (on the Barbie doll link, just fill out the log-in pg. for the springfld news..really easy and fast, then you'll get to see the Barbie page) And honestly, who wouldn't love to be Tippy Hedron, with the hair and the cute, retro traveling suit for a day, minus the birds, cause most of us already have kids clinging to our clothes, so we don't really need the birds!!

a babbling brook 2009

I seriously never even thought that my kid would out do me in the length of time he takes in having a shower. Well he does.

New semester for everyone. Yeah!

My big broder has introduced me officially to Facebook. Too funny. I'm kind of bummed out on finding out who's no longer on my "team" anymore. politics aside...people be people.

Ainsley is 1 yrs old this week! She is an adorable squirt.

Seingine has 6 dogs now on DS..and they are the sweetest, cutest, nicest smelling dogs i've ever had contact with, well except for dear old Crackers. (he's hanging out w. grandma p. on the other side)

i actually got a 'B' in Autocad last semester, my hardest class. I can now design everybody's home but just be ready for mid century modern remade or juxtaposed genres.

i have seriously been trying to downld micrsft office 2007 since july. i still can't figure it all out.

I am glad we are who we are and where we are in life! So I'm for adventures in moderation, and instead, onward and upward with harmony, growth and bubble baths a plenty!

Merry Christmas

It's always fun to run into or get in touch with old "characters" from ones past. Blogging was honestly something I had no knowledge about nor would have cared about, until a year ago when the sis-in-law, of a guy I was friends with, introduced me to this pop culture phenom. She showed me her blog and some others, and so I used her blog as a go-to, to check out others blogs. Wow! .... and then an idea! ...but how long it did take me from one link to another, to see if there might be someone I knew somehow from the past. Voila! I found Kristen via the cousin of the before mentioned sis-in-law. That was fun contacting Kristen and catching up on her vibrant collage of noteworthy life adventures. Kristen, who by the time we made it to high school had fallen into the WHERE HAVE THEY GONE category of people who you go to school with for years and then when summers faded away, and school starts again, their gone too! ...and when you've noticed their absense, ya kinda wondered what exciting place did they get to run away to, 'cuz you're stuck in class next to the smelly guy at math period.

So again, link to link checking some more, I had one person in my mind and I kept searching. Then I found a common blog that so many seem to read. I found my next door neighbors blog, her friends blog, this and that blog, my old gymnastic instructors daughter's blog and so forth. Wow, this blog world was a ride down memory lane..though we moved away from the real Memory lane in Holiday in '01. (ha ha) I saw her name, and I swear I checked it and it wasn't her. But "goofer" that I am,(heh I'm loaded down with too much info 'cuz of school and mommy dome), I really must not have actually looked at the name link as I thought I had. And to add insult to my distractability, she has an uncommon name, so that gave me a huge chance that if her name was on someone's name list, that it would be her. Plus one always runs a good bet of having that 6 degree of separation due to the small circles of the "mormon" world. I noticed that Kristen lived in the northwest part of the world, and again knowing how small "mormon" circles are, I asked her if she knew Vanessa. Yep, she did. My friend Vanessa. Vanessa and I were always trying to cause mischief @ university and when she took off on a mission, she used to love it when I would call her in the middle of the night (right!-ha ha) "Hi Vanessa". "KATHERINE!!!!"

So the world just got a little smaller and we get to exchange Christmas cards again! Yipee, since the last card I sent came back. So kudos to Karen for introductions to her blogging list. Which begat my blog entrance, which begat my introduction to Andrea's cute blog and her list(V. and Andrea know each other too). From which begat Kristen's, to where that blog begat my finding someone else's pedestal blog and begat the last piece of the puzzle, a significant find, my friend Vanessa. It's Christmas time, so the biblical timeline seems applicable

Now on to my next reflection. For years I have thought about getting in contact with those who had been highly influencial on me as a youngster...whether it be school, extra-curricular etc. I wanted to write them a letter letting them know. I think it is important to let people know that you appreciate what they did for you in your life. I ran into my old English teacher@ the gym a few years ago, Mrs Bester, I told her. My conversations with V. thus far have hopefully been a reality of what our friendship meant to me and hopefully will continue to get stronger and expand over the years even while our fam's right now are priorities.

Then there was Shayne. She was my gymnastic coach. I saw her several times a week for 4 to 5 years. She was perfect to me, inside and out. She was fun to be around and she would take us on little excursions from time to time. (I get to claim that I rode around w. her in S. Young's old jalopy of a car, before he was famous and made millions) She introduced all of us young girls to the world of fantasy, whimsical weddings when she had hers up at Sundance, with la creme de la creme of society, it seemed. Plus, I will spit on my hand and swear on my grandma's dead dogs grave, that she liked our small group of gymnasts the best of any she had. If any female "mentor" left a positive influence on my youth, it was her. And most of all, she was just plain kind to me. Well, in finding her relative, I was able to find out how to contact her. So this holiday season I intend to send her an "appreciation card" as such, letting her know her impact.

I look at what an incredibly warm and wonderful ward I live in now, and the potential of mentors to my own sons. I hope that they too, will look back someday and want to let someone who has played a positive role in their youth, know what they did for them. I am grateful for this time of year, where one takes extra pause of oneself through others.

Their is nothing like seeing our nation's tradition, of decorating for Christmas, as one drive's through the snow from house to house, street to street, city to town, town to city and then lastly from town to your town, to your street and then pulling up to your own winter wonderland creation. In a pondering manner, I'm allowed into the scene: a blinking of color here, at this home. A bright swag of crisp, clear icicle lights, at that home. The moon balmily overhead, a touch of soft snowy flakes and the sight of our own towns herd of (rein)deer moving absentmindedly, through the calm, deserted streets of our quaint picture-book, alpine town.

I am so grateful for my challenges and successes, the growth that it's given me and for the opportunity I am granted in raising two beautiful human beings (lady killers that they think they are too). This is the time of Christ, of past miracles and modern accomplishments. To all my friends and family, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See ya in 2009!

So, I took this test for my construction class. You choose 'Emotional Intelligence' test after you register. I was interested in seeing the results and I was glad I was what I was at. I think always trying to improve yourself (internally is the most important) is a necessity in life, as well as, an exciting adventure.

I just found out the London Royal Ballet is going to be performing @ the Y in February '09.

a Christmas chorus concert rundown

good job connorack man! I know it was hard singing in front of so many people but you fared it well. My favorite song was the last one with the colored flashlites. Seing and I laughed so hard, 'cuz we knew that the slow- to- catch- up red lite was yours. Shay and Amanda thought you looked handsome, and Amanda even commented on how your grumpy face let us know how much you wanted to be there. But alas, it is done and you will not get that "F" you felt doomed to get. So don't fret over your clumpy shoes you wore instead of your dress shoes as they accentuated your nice new slacks and your stylin' tie. You were one of many jewels in that crown of other 7th grader boys, who probably didn't want to be seen dressed up by girls from the school either. But again I am proud of you for going with the flow and doing it, even if, perhaps it was more mouth movement than actual vocal participation! Well done my boy.

Last class, of the last day, of the last part, of the semester!

SWOT....this is the last of it and I think I am on to the beginning of the rest of my life that will feed my passion and give me satisfaction in my professional life! It is such a great, peaceful yet exhuberant feeling to connect and make the right fit. Just like a good pair of driving gloves as one's tightly turning a corner in a pretty black Porsche. Here's to looking towards the future and seeing light at the end of the tunnel!