The World As I See It.

Veterans' (Poppy) Day

2011-11-09T15:41:00.001-07:00

At 0500 Z the morning of 11 Nov 1918, an armistice was signed in a private railway car in the Compiegne Forest, by General de Division Ferdinand Foch (for the Allies, General de Division is his rank, 'Supreme Allied Commander, Marshall of France' is an award) and Herr Matthias Erzberger (for Germany, he was a politician). The armistice ended fighting on the Western Front and with it, WWI. Fighting ceased six hours after the agreement was signed, hence the "11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" marks the end of the war and is now observed as Remembrance Day in most of the British Commonwealth, but also as Poppy Day, Armistice Day, and Veterans Day. World War I was formally ended by the Treaty of Versailles, 28 Jun. 1919. Gen Foch advocated the very harsh terms imposed in the Armistice and Treaty in an effort to make Germany unable to attack France "ever again". After the treaty was signed, Foch (who was described as having "the most original and subtle mind in the French Army") is said to have remarked after the Treaty of Versailles, "This is not a peace. It is an armistice for 20 years". That same day, Charles I of Austria, who was also Charles IV of Hungary (what was formerly known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire) "renounced participation" in state affairs but did not abdicate. Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany (who had "unconditionally" supported whatever the Austro-Hungarians wanted to do) had abdicated the day before.

Because the United States entered the war late, and did not contribute the massive numbers of ground troops generated by the 5 major powers (Central Powers = Germany & Austria-Hungary, Allies = England/Commonwealth & France plus the US & others later on), and the Russians (nominally Allies, but kinda separate) WW I casualties in the US were not felt as keenly as was the case in Europe. Military deaths totaled about 9.7M (Allies-3.9M, Central-4.0M, Russians 1.8M) with an additional 6.8M civilian casualties, mostly from starvation. Furthermore, note that the great majority of military casualties came from the male, 17-30 age group, so there was no baby boom following WW I. Despite the fact that WW II killed more than 6x the number of WW I, if you go up to the Tooele Cemetery you will see that the monument contains nearly as many name for WW I as for WW II.

Some examples of combat losses

Battle of the Somne, 1st of Jul to 13th of Nov 1916: 624,000 casualties Allied Powers and 595,0000 casualties Central Powers. The English alone lost 58,000 on the first day, with roughly 1/3 killed outright. The opening day of the battle on 1 July 1916 was the single, highest one-day combat loss in the history of the British Army. Because of the composition of the British Army, at this point a (regional) volunteer force with many battalions comprising men from specific local areas, these losses had a profound social impact and have given the battle a lasting cultural legacy in Britain. The casualties also had a tremendous social impact on the Dominion of Newfoundland, as a large percentage of the Newfoundland men that had volunteered to serve were lost that first day.

Gallipoli, 15 Dec 1915: ~250,000 casualties on each side (UK and Turks). That's a total of half a million men.

1st Ypres, 19th of Oct to the 22nd of Nov 1914: ~135000 casualties on each side, 15-20% outright dead. In German, "Kindermord bei Ypern" = "Massacre of the Innocents of Ypres" due to the large % of recruits and reservists in that battle.

2nd Ypres, 22nd of Apr to 25th of May 1915: ~70,000 Allies, ~35,000 Central

During the Second Battle of Ypres a Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2 May, 1915 by an exploding shell. His friend, a Canadian military doctor Major John McCrae, was asked to conduct the burial service owing to the chaplain being called away on duty elsewhere. It is believed that later that evening John began the draft for his famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Hence the British observance of Remembrance or Poppy Day.

Remembering 04Jun2011

2011-08-04T08:41:00.004-06:00

I know it may be crazy and overly sentimental but that is me, maybe I really am a true sap at heart.

Here is some of what I read to my sweetheart at our ring ceremony:

James,

These hands that hold yours on our wedding day, the day when we promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever, these are the hands of your best friend, full of love for you. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together we build our future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countlesstimes wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold our children. These are the hands that will help you to hold our family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

I love my darling husband and am so thankful to our Father in Heaven for all of the tears, all of the heartache all of the love and all of the joy that has brought me to be James' wife.

Please go and share your love with someone today!

Me and My Dad

2011-06-23T14:12:00.003-06:00

Me and My Daddio, walking towards my future with James. It is truely amazing how most of the good qualities I have found in James, I already knew about because my dad showed them to me all my life. He is a great man and a wonderful father. He has taught me so much about the love of Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of the Atonement. Now I have a wonderful husband who continues to teach me and show me what real love means, what being an eternal companion is all about!

More Wedding Pictures

2011-06-22T11:11:00.002-06:00

Married

2011-06-22T08:59:00.005-06:00

On 04June 2011 I was sealed to the most beautiful man ever! James and I have been right for each other from the start. I never knew he was really out there, someone who could really love me for me, really laugh at what i think is funny and smile and be happy with me. He exemplifies everything that I have ever wanted and most importantly everything that Heavenly Father has wanted for me.

So here goes girls.. Don't EVER settle. I am 36 years old and have never been married. I always thought that I needed to change my corkieness or that I needed to be better. Ok, sure, there are things in my life that I have worked really hard on but I did't have to change, just refine some of my weaknesses. Through the power of the atonement, I have been able to make weak things strong. So the take home is, work on yourself, refine yourself but love yourself for you are the way Heavenly Father made you and he has someone out there for you, for EACH of you. Don't give up, don't loose Faith in yourself or in Heavenly Father. Pray for your Eternal Companion and don't ever give up or settle for less!

Ok I'll get off my soap box now...

It was such a glorious event! Thank you to EVERYONE!

Wedding Prep

2011-04-24T20:16:00.004-06:00

Wedding Plans are in full swing! I have not put any pictures of my ring out there for anyone to see yet, so here you go. I don't know if you can see it really well but I love it! When we went "jewlery" shopping, James and the sales clerk kept pointing out all of these rings that ere just way too big! When I spotted this one, the sparkle caught my eye! It came with a matching wedding band so how perfect could it be. Know, I worry because we all know just how destracted I become with shiny things and wow does this sparkle! I love it. Sometimes when I am at work, like ifI am lecturing infront of my students, I will catch a glymps of the shiny thing on my finger and it just makes me smile so much. I love James. He was so sweet with his perposal. He took me to the spot where we had our first date and got down on one knee and said all this mushy romantic stuff and then he pulled out the ring, and remember i get destracted by shiny things. So after he put it on my finger and stood up, I put my hands on the side of his head and said"wait, James, I want to make sure, I did say yes, right? Cause I say YES! YES! YES!" it was a bit funny!

The dress, ok, come on girls we all try to deny it but when we are getting married, after we have found the perfect man, it is ALL ABOUT THE DRESS! Here is a little shot of my dress. This was the second time I tried it on. When I put it on for the first time, it felt so right, so like me! I have to have a little bit here and there altered but not much, mostly in the shoulders! I did go and try on other dresses but did not feel the same, so I went back to Kathleen's Bridal (funny right, kathleens's see it is perfect) tried it on again and I almost felt as good in it as on my first date with James when he gave me this look across the table and I totally melted! Oh yeah June 4th bring it on!

We willbe sealed in the Bountiful temple on June 4th! I am so EXCITED! We are having a ring ceremony and a reception in Tooele the same day.

I am so grateful to have found James! I know that Heavenly Fathers has much bigger and better plans for each of us then we have for ourselves. HE really KNOWS each of us BETTER then we know ourselves. He gives us what we need at exactly the time we need it. I spent so may hours on my knees in prayer with my Father in heaven, crying out to him for my eternal companion. In those times of sorrow, I was ALWAYS comforted but the ache for my love never left. I am so amazed and humbled by the love Heavenly Father has for each of His children!

This new phase in my life is going to be terrific! I am so thankful for all of my family and friends that are able to fly so far to come and join James and I in such a celebration! I also am so grateful to all who cannot come in person but send their prayers and love! I really feel all of the out pouring of prayer for my union with James.

Thank you All

2011-01-10T12:02:00.008-07:00

Catch up:

I have been so busy. If that an excuse for not writing for almost a year? Ok, maybe not! Life is good! Since March, I have had lots to do and talk about .....where to begin?...

So In early spring, I did some PR work at the motor raceway in Tooele. I know some of you would be saying"that Kathleen she is so good, always helping" Well truth be told, I found out that James ( he is the one running from the camera, on the right) was going to be there too and I have had a crush on him for about six months before and hadn't had the guts to talk to him.

So I did talk to him during our hours at the booth and WOW, i made a total fool of myself. (I'm sure you are all thinking"whats new about that". So I got his number and called him. I asked him if he would be my "desicnated Mormon" and escort me to a choir concert on temple square. Thankfully he agreed. If you ask him to tell the story, it will be a little different! He says that he constantly was inviting me to go to church with him. Which is totally true but I don't think he really understood the ramifications of being a single guy bringing a "new girl' to church!

I have also been working ALOT! I have traveled to Indiana and to Nebraska during the heat of summer!

But I have also been able to have alot of fun too! James and I got to see my fav family! We had such a good time on pioneer day! it was so special to be able to see Jed play the organ in the conference center!

The holidays were wonderful! James and I went back to Virginia and got to see mostly all of the family for thanksgiving. Christmas was very nice and simple we stayed at home and made our first Christmas Goose! Yeah I know I helped cook a goose with the bones still in!

All and all life is good, I can't complain! I sure hope everyone is enjoying the beginings of 2011!

Ma's House

2010-03-01T09:37:00.003-07:00

Remember all of the Bird houses and bird feeders..... Oh and the flowers and trees!

I wonder what the record is for the number of people we could fit on the lawn glider?

Here is the side veiw, Such an inviting porch! I sure loved sitting out inthe yeard with all the children playing, just chatting or listening to the birds!

This house has been home to so many for a lot of years. This house and the fantastic person who lived in it are both physically gone now, but will always be remembered as the rock in our family. It is now our responsibilities to make all of our homes a rock for all to enter and feel the love of Jesus Christ. We all have our faults and weaknesses but when we add the love of our Father in Heaven and the Strength of our family, we are a fortress to be reckoned with! I love each and every one of my family members, EVERYONE brings something to strengthen our love and commitment to each other and to bettering the world!

One special sweet soul, my Ma!

2009-11-15T09:08:00.007-07:00

This is my "Ma". She is actually a lot of people's " Ma". My Ma passed away this last week. I have no doubt that the love, care, friendship, service, and strong hold that she gave each of us here on earth, she is giving to all the people she has so dearly missed and those she will get to know now that she has moved on. I have such fond memories of my Ma, just sitting and talking with her was always a treat! She gave the best hugs! Made the best biscuits and shared the love of Christ with everyone.

Here she is with one of my great aunts, sure had a good time that visit. Do you see that smile on her face, I can only imagine how big of a smile she has now. Some people think it is selfish for me to miss her, but isn't there a difference in missing her and wanting her here. She has moved on to grow and progress further in her relationship with our Father in Heaven. I will forever be grateful for the time we had together on this earth and I look forward to seeing her again when it is my turn to pass on. I love my Heavenly Father for allowing such a strong soul to be on this earth for so long, she lived a very good 91years! The greatest gift she ever gave me was teaching me that the Love of Christ is for everyone no matter what you have done, there is healing in His Arms, through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can all repent and be healed, permanently. I love you Ma!

In Loving Memory

2009-08-15T10:55:00.002-06:00

Oh to my Pig:
Well it is the end of a great era, Curly my beloved pig is no more, he has finally made it to stuff animal heaven, maybe he and my dog are now reunited, she sure did love trying to chew him up!!! He was the last in a long line of pigs, there was mamma and baby ham, there was snot nose, gosh so many pigs!!! Now Robious and River can fight over him!

He was a great pig!

I'll miss that not so curly tail!

Some of the Beauty in Utah

2009-08-10T08:23:00.006-06:00

I am loving my time here in Utah.

I have really been enjoying the weather in Utah. Check out these pictures. There is little commentary but the pictures need no intro, it is almost majestic!

It may get warm a couple of days but the evenings are so cool and the sun shines for so long! It has given me lots of opportunities to gallivant around and have some fun!

This is at the beginning of this way easy(1.5mile) hike to Donut falls. It was so green and beautiful. I went with two of my new girlfriends (Allison times 2), and we had a really enjoyable walk to the falls. We found a really cute circle of trees just tucked off from the trail. We had a nice time. Once we reached the falls, we got to run and jump and play! Let me tell you I was very glad I wore my Teva's because my feel got wet! And that water was so cold. There really is a difference in the temperature when it is snow run off, WOW,it was cold water!

I had a wonderful time. I have missed being outdoors. I am glad I can have such adventures while I am in Utah. I'm not sure where I will end up next so I am enjoying my time while i am here.

Eight Years Ago, Today!

2009-08-05T22:08:00.008-06:00

There will not be any fancy pictures and words will probably be spelled wrong but I would be very ungrateful if I let this day pass by with out writing a few words.
On Aug 5th 2001, I was confirmed a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has been one amazing Journey that I know will never end! I have travelled through dark and low valleys and have climbed high on the mountain tops. I am so grateful to my two missionaries who were obedient enough to follow a prompting from Heavenly Father to knock on my door. I hope I never forget the amazing wonder of that first meeting. I was reading a book and there was a knock at my door, I would not have normally answered it as it was dark outside, but I got up and looked out the door and saw this brilliant light around these two young men. I was so taken by the peace I felt before I even opened the door that I had decided "Whatever they were selling, I needed it!" Little did I know just how true that thought was, granted they were not selling anything but offering me the sweet peace and comfort that comes from knowing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.
It did not take me long to want to be baptized. I took the missionary discussions and was fortunate enough to have a missionary couple (the Gurrs) to help me with all of my questions as they lived in the apartment below me. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It contains the FULLNESS of God's teachings and HIS message of HOPE, of PEACE, of LOVE that HE offers to everyone living or dead! He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! HE is the Alpha and Omega. I love the Lord.
I am especially grateful for all those who have helped me along the way, who have been a strength too me, who have been there every step of the way. Heavenly Father really knows each of us individually. He knows exactly what we need and is always their for us! I thank Him for giving me such great family and friends. I know that He is not finished with me yet, I must endure it well to the end. I am glad that enduring it well involves so many wonderful people to meet and to love along the way. Thank you to everyone who has helped me. Thank You to our Father in Heaven for sending us his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who suffered for each of us in the garden of Gethsemane and through his Infinite Atonement we can all return to live with our Father in Heaven someday!

Can't Get Enough

2009-07-27T21:19:00.003-06:00

I just had to post more pics of my fav family:.... Kenton is such a special boy! He amazes me with most of the things he thinks about!

McKay is full of life! I love seeing the world through his eyes!

Jed is a really good daddy! He amazes me with the patience and love he shows his family all the time, no matter the situation! He has a very deep devotion to his family!

You just gotta love those smiles! Lynette is very lucky to be able to see those smiles everyday!

Holiday with Friends!

2009-07-13T14:25:00.017-06:00

I went to Az the other week. I had the best time ever. How could I not, I got to see the best family in the world!! It had been almost a full year and gosh I was having withdraws. My 11 hour drive began way too early but hours later I was rewarded with a majestic sunrise.
I am not sure really how long the drive was, I stopped a couple times for gas, for the potty and for pictures.

There was this rest area that was really nice. The bathrooms were clean and there was this way cool purple cactus. out front.
Once I finally arrived in Phoenix, I met my favorite family at this kids museum. We had a fantastic time. There was this entire Legos land! There was this really big castle that had a thrown you could sit on and all these places to build your own lego creations. It was great fun watching Kenton and McKay and little Ellyeen play with the blocks. I did observe that all of the pink"girl" blocks were designed to make castles and princess stuff. Whats up with that?

Once we had all the fun we could, we headed back to Melissa's house. They have such a lovely home, so warm and inviting. I instantly felt at home, which is hard for me to do. We had so much fun. Kenton showed me how to play the Wii. Mckay and I played cars a lot and went swimming. Ellyeen let me hold her, eventually. I think the first time was pure desperation, she was on the floor bored of entertaining herself and I was better than the floor.
She eventually warmed up to me and everyone else. It was very nice to meet her, she is a beautiful little girl with a nice personality, she seems to really take everything in and just absorbs it all! See how interested in those sunglasses she is! Wow, just look at her, she is a cutie!

We had such a fabulous time, I LOVED, LOVED! every minute of my time. I sure am glad to have true friends.

Here are just some of my Fav Pics!

Hope everyone enjoys theses as much as me! Lynette Thanks for letting me share in some of your family vacation!

Midvale City Fire

2009-06-21T10:29:00.011-06:00

I went with my two Allison's yesterday to the Midvale firestation. It was a blast! We had so much fun! Dave and Paul showed us around. We got to sit in the fire truck and the fire engine. They told me the difference something about one has a ladder and the other does not but I cannot remember which it is. Does the fire Engine have the ladder and the Fire Truck doesn't. Gosh I should pay more attention. I was so distracted by all of the new and shiny things I could look at!

They have a really nice fire house. Each person has their oun room!I always thought they shared a big room with lots of bunk beds and stuff! Their kitchen was really big with three refridgerators! I wonder how often the fridges are cleaned out. Maybe with so many mouths to feed left overs don't stay long! Just a thought.

Ok, I got side tracked, back to the tour. We then got to go in the abulance. This is Paul's home. In this picture, Allison is telling them about this really cool way of de-germing their rig. See the glazed over looks, that is what happens when Doctor Allison get very scientific in her explanations! She is one smart cookie! I didn'tstay in there long, it kinda freaked me out, you know there has been bodily fluids all over that space....yuck.... i kept my hands to myself and then washed and sanitized on the way out! Ok so after we played around, we got to try on the suits and all of the gear, it sure was heavy but so much fun! We had some time to just sit and talk with them. It amazes me that such ordinary people can do such extrodinary things. They save lives all the time. It is no big deal to them, it is just what they do! WOW!

So here is a short sideways video of me at the station. Thanks guys for all that you do. You truly are amazing! As we were leaving they got a call and had to go save more lives, one call at a time!

Fathers

2009-06-21T10:18:00.003-06:00

Today is Father's Day!. I am so grateful for my "fathers". When I was young, I would always tell my mom happy father's day because I figured since she was raising us all by herself that she deserved the credit for bother Mother's and Father's Day, after all she had to fill both roles for a very longtime. Then when I was 13, I "got my dad". That is how I have always put it, God gave me a dad. I finally had one, I had waited and waited FOR EVER (it seemed) to get one. I do love my Daddio so very much he is such a special person!. For the last three years, I have actually though about my biological father on this day too. I think this is the first year that I am truly appreciative of him and his role in my life. As I grow older, I am learning how to have a relationship with him. He is a nice man and has been a wonderful and deep love for his family. There is great healing power in forgiveness. Which brings me to my Father in Heaven, the One True Father I have had all the days of my life. He is the ultimate Father! How important it is to have a Father who loves each and every one of us, even after all we do..... So to all you dads out there whether you are new or old, I solute you. If you ever need guidance, you only need to look to the Ultimate example, our Father in Heaven!

Saturday Adventures

2009-06-03T12:18:00.006-06:00

I have been trying to find new and inexpensive ways to be more active. After all, I am in Utah with all of the Sun and Wonderful Climate. I should be outside more. I figure with the Sun shinning by 6am and not ending until 9pm, I should not waste my days in doors. So, I decided a couple weeks ago that Saturday would no longer be house cleaning and movie watching day. I know don't get all sad on me, remember, I still have Fridays off from work. So, now Saturdays are "get your butt moving day". The first Saturday adventure was rock climbing. It was fun, met some nice people, the views were so brilliant. After that I decided to do something for my furry friends. I did a Strut your mutt walk to support humane societies throughout Utah. It was great fun. I have to say though all of the dogs were well behaved but well, with dogs comes dog poo and the walk didn't start until 9:30am so it got hot and all of the poo .... well you smell the picture....
Ok so if you are looking at the dog picture ans thinking "Gosh Kathleen looks so amazing walking all of those dogs", that is not me, I only walked one dog and she was all I needed besides, I don't wear heals for a dog walk. I have also gone for long walks with my camera up the canyon. I will post some pictures soon. It amazes me that there really is still snow on the mountain tops not much but still... SNOW in JUNE? go figure. This weekend, I have signed up to go to girls camp to clean it and get it ready for the girls to have an enjoyable time. I gotta say, this get up and move Saturday thing isn't bad. I am meeting new people and may make a friend or two. So what are you all doing with your free time? How much fun are you having?

Spring Cleaning

2009-05-19T16:42:00.008-06:00

I love spring time. All of the wonderful colors and smells. When I think of spring I like to thing about new beginnings. Everything seems to just come alive. During the spring what do we do, we spring clean our houses but do we spring clean our souls? How can we spring clean our soul? I think we need to take inventory of ourselves. Are we right with Heavenly Father? Are we doing the things He needs us to do? I can see things that I do that are right and things that are wrong. For me it very rarely is the BIG things in life, it is in the little day to day things that I need to focus on doing for my Father in Heaven. In taking inventory, I have come up with a list of actions I need to take or not take in order to be more on the straight and narrow path that leads back to my Heavenly Father. When I look at my list it seems long and a daunting task but I have come up with an idea, I am just doing one thing at a time. The scriptures tell us that we cannot walk faster than we can run and that there is order to all things. Same with my list, it will not be an overnight big WOW change like when I was baptised, well wait, it could be......... Anyway that must be something for me to ponder and pray about even more. Right now just know that I have made my list there by taking stock of me, the me I currently am, and the me Heavenly Father knows I can be. A word of caution at this point because we tend to be our worst judge and we need to look at ourselves exactly as Jesus would. That might be hard but here is how I did it, now I don't have all of the answers but I made my list and then I prayed about my list and asked Heavenly Father if it was true and if I did a fair job of self inventory. Now I can make little steps day by day to improve my walk with Christ. Like a rose bush, you don't get beautiful roses as soon as you plant the thing. No way, it takes time and diligent care to be given such beautiful works of art. We are the same, it takes a little watering and nourishing from the scriptures every day to help us grow, it takes time on our knees in humble prayer morning and night to prune the rough edges and the heal the broken pieces. Even if your rose's have been neglected, they can come back to bloom so wonderfully as can each and every one of us! Hang in everyone and try to enjoy the journey, I sure am trying!!

Friends

2009-04-20T07:22:00.004-06:00

Once you make a true friend, they are you friend for life, no matter the time or distance. The last time I saw Lydia and her family, the children were so little. See just how little, This is a picture from one of my favorite days in Motown. The
weather was nice and the company was even nicer.

Now if we skip ahead a little bit, Amelia is now two and talking like a champ! Jacob is one and walking and singing ( jabbering) all the time!

These two kids are so cool! Amelia really loves her little brother. She shares her princess dolls with him and he shares his juice with her. You can tell that they really love each other very much. They should with their mom and dad who give them such a fantastic example of love to go by! Amelia has gotten good at blessing her food, she is a terrific little girl. I am so thankful that I have friends in the Gospel all over. I love them so very much!

Is This for Real?

2009-04-18T11:04:00.005-06:00

Ok so Just a warning before one continues to read, I am a bit worked up about this topic, but am trying to keep the right attitude. Before i moved into this house that I am renting, I had a couple of pictures to go by and a good reference. Here is one such picture,cute right.

So I pay my rent, even paid for a month that I was still in WV to "hold" the place. I'm told that the house is older and that the range is a double oven but the bigger oven does not work. Hey no big deal, I am only one person and can use the small oven. Upon arrival, I find out that not all four of the burners work, Again whats the big deal as long as I have one of each sizes, I can work it out, after all,I am only one person and can cook one meal for the entire week. Long story short, only the two small burned work and one of them the coils only heat up on part of it. So, I have needed a new oven and stove before I moved into this place. Let me remember, when did I move in? The last weekend in September, that would be what, seven months ago, hmm..... Well I got so excited after months of asking and anticipating, imagine my surprise when I am told that on the 20th of this month I would be getting my "new" oven. My thoughts are of course over joyed, filling with all of the food I can prepare and thinking gosh I should just have a party and invite everyone to EAT! FUN! RIGHT? Noe imagine again me being filled with even more joy when I get this call Wednesday asking if the range can be installed on Friday, Sure i say, I'm a little busy and don't know if I can have all of the cabinets emptied by then but they say "no problem, we can empty them, we will be out of town and want you to have it." SAWEET is what I am thinking... Until....

SERIOUSLY!?

So let me put this picture into perspective. This new oven is in front of the old one, blocking the cabinets, gee what could be in there? Hmmm, baking dishes, hand mixer, all of my cereal is in the top cabinets. I've heard it said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Hmmm, what do I climb up to the cabinet and straddle the new and old range to get it at 4:30AM? Ok I have digressed too far. This range is almost in the middle of the kitchen? Is that practical? So I'm think gosh what is up? Maybe they got called out for something way important, maybe they left me a message or will be back tomorrow. I'll be giving them a call. I am finding that Tooele has it's own time frame, you see I am still negotiating with my Bishop as to who my home teachers are since I have never seen them. but that is a story for another day. What do you guys think? Am I being ungrateful? After all I do have a "new" range?

Where Does the time go?

2009-04-11T16:55:00.005-06:00

I have such good ideas and intentions when it comes to blogging. It seems like all I have been able to do is work work work. Here is a sample of some handy work.

Ok so it hasn't been all work and no play.

But seriously things have been CRAZY. I am writing this because I need a little break from studying about toxic industrial chemical spills. I think my brain is mush! Oh well enough of a break, no rest for me. I hope everyone has ahappy Easter. After church I am having a group of friends over, I am making pot roast with EXTRA carrots!

18th Aniversary

2009-03-09T06:32:00.005-06:00

Today is my mom and dad's 18th wedding anniversary. Ok so for all of you doing the math right now, they were married when I was 16. If my memory serves me right, they have known each other for almost 25 years.

As a "kid" I always knew they would eventually get married. I never had another thought about it, that was just the way life was to be, when two people love and admire each other as much as they do, in my mind it was only natural for them to get married. I guess they thought differently. They had this crazy idea that they would stay together until i left for college and then "go their separate ways", AS IF......

Today they are more in love than ever, just look at then, dear, and yes dear..... crazy kids! I love them both so dearly and wouldn't have it any other way!!! Mom and Dad Happy Anniversary!!! Here's to MANY MORE!!

My Daddio

2009-03-08T08:31:00.004-06:00

The other day I was talking to my dad about my blog. He made the comment that he has never been mentioned. My first response was,"some memories are too precious to share.." He said, " nice try daughter but that only gets you one point out of the hole you still have 99 to go." My dad is one amazing guy. I know I am very lucky to be able to say that, not everyone can. And knowing my dad the way I do, he would not want me to ramble on about him and all the great things he does, because there really is truth in what I said, some memories are to precious to talk about. I know that none of us are perfect, we are all here on this earth to be tried and tested and to prove ourselves worthy. We are only worthy through the atonement of Jesus Christ. He suffered all of our sins, all of our disappointments and short comings in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He bled from every pore FOR US, then he was crucified and died FOR US, then He ascended into heaven where he sits on the right hand of God. This is the message my dad wants everyone to know and to accept into their hearts. One last thought, growing up my dad always introduced me to people as "his Pride and Joy", I know that is exactly the way our Heavenly Father would introduce each one of us.

Snowy Morning

2009-03-07T08:25:00.005-07:00

I woke up this morning to the wonders of winter weather. This is one of the trees in my front yard. I love the way it looks in the snow, it is so brilliant. I love how peaceful the world (well my Small portion) looks all blanketed in the snow. It truly amazes me every time it snows.

One would think that after awhile of seeing all of the "white Stuff" that I would loose interest. It never stops to amaze me just how beautiful a snow covered tree is.... I really love the snow, the noises of all the cars becomes muffled by the snow on the roads. As I am typing this, the sun is starting to shine so brightly, the reflection is brilliant.

What Have You Been Reading?

2009-03-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

The BBC believes most people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here.

Instructions:
1) Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read.

2) Tally your total at the bottom.
Here's the list:

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (X)
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (X)

3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (X)

4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (X)

5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (X)

6 The Bible (X)

7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (X)

8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (X)

9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens (X)

11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott (X)

12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hy

13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller (X)

14 Complete Works of Shakespeare

15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (X)

17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk

18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (X)

19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

20 Middlemarch - George Eliot

21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell

22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (X)

23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens (X)

24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (X)

26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (X)

29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (X)

30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame (X)

31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis (X)
34 Emma - Jane Austen (X)

35 Persuasion - Jane Austen (X)

36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (X)

37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (X)

40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne (X)

41 Animal Farm - George Orwell

42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (X)

43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving

45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery (X)

47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding (X)

50 Atonement - Ian McEwan

51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel

52 Dune - Frank Herbert (X)

53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (X)

55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (X)

58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (X)

59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck (X)

62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt

64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (X)

66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac (X)

67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding

69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie

70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville

71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens (X)

72 Dracula - Bram Stoker

73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett (X)

74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson

75 Ulysses - James Joyce (X)

76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome

78 Germinal - Emile Zola

79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray

80 Possession - AS Byatt

81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (X)

82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker (X)

84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White (X)

88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom (X)

89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad (X)

92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery (X)

93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks

94 Watership Down - Richard Adams

95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute

97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas

98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare (X)

99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

I have read 45 of these books. Ever wonder well who made the list and why are these books deemed so important? I would like to add one of my own favorites to the list.

101 The Book of Mormon
102 Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance -Robert M. Pirsig

OK so I couldn't just stop at one...

I love to read! I didn't feel that way as a child but some time after college I realized that I missed reading but I really didn't know what to read. It was the first time i didn't have to read for school and I thought to myself "Kathy, what do you like to read, not what do you have to read." That is when I found the wonder of books. After reading this list, I think I am off to the library!

Happy Reading Everyone!

How is a Hero Made?

2009-03-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

I was just thinking about my brothers. I have the best big brothers in the world. Even as a small baby they protected me, just look at their adorable faces!!! My brothers are my hero's, I always wanted to be just like them. I would try to do everything just the way they did. I think in the picture they must be about three years old because we are two and a half years apart. They even look related in this picture, as we grew up, their physical appearance s grew more and more different. I am really glad I have Jimm and John for brothers, they are still my hero's. How is a hero made, for me it is one small act of love and kindness at a time....

2009-02-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

This week I have been in Washington State for work. It has given me time to hang with new coworkers and to learn more about my job. So I have been thinking lately "Gosh, Wow, I have a way cool job!" How did I get here? If you would have asked me five or even two years ago if I would ever have this experience, I would never have known. I am able to work with some really amazing people, they make me laugh, they make me think, they are way cool. I really hope that everyone can find the simple joy in a job well done. What ever your chosen profession, we all have to work in this life, we decide whether we cut corners and do as little as possible or if we dive in head first and do all that we can do. Sometimes we can feel like we are not doing enough and sometimes that might be true but for most of us, we do all that we can. I love that I have a fantastic job where I know that I make a difference. We all can make a difference.

Summer Time PLEASE!

2009-02-22T07:00:00.001-07:00

Oh to be on the beach again.... I am remembering warmer climates today. When I look at this picture I am reminded that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of our lives, we may have a small idea of the plan but he sees the bigger picture. I would have never imagined that I could love two girls as much as i love these two sweet souls. The KAN with a heart around it is our initials together because with the support of good friends we can do anything. I would add a "S" and make it KANS to include my Susan. She is on amazing Chicka! It is one of those tender mercies from the Lord all of the people that come in and out of our lives and touch our hearts. i really believe that more people would be able to touch our hearts if we would just open the gate a little wider. There is always room for more love in our lives.

Do we all have to grow up?

2009-02-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

My brother John, just sent me this picture of my nephew. He is on his way to his first military Ball, with a date. I bet he is glad John didn't send me a picture of him with her. Gosh he sure is growing up so fast. It seems like just yesterday he was this little baby sleeping in his crib, now look at him, so handsome. He is so tall too! Gosh don't you wish you could just hold them a little longer. My little Blakiepoo is ...well....he is getting OLD? Right now I am thinking the Lost Boys had it right, so , OK they did not have a mother but they didn't have to grow up.....

Where is everyone headed?

2009-02-21T07:49:00.001-07:00

I am fascinated by these steps.... What do they lead too? Where do they go? Does one walk up them or down to get to the final destination? The only way to find out is to take one step at a time and see what happens. Some of the steps are broken and have big cracks in them, making it treacherous to take that step. Life is a lot like that. We are given steps along the way that can lead us up, down, sideways, and I do believe in circles. If we know what our destination should be, that can help us to make the correct choices to reach our goal. Where do the steps of life you are on right know lead you?.........

Stowe Vermont

2009-02-01T16:58:00.001-07:00

This Tress just looked so nice, it was so quiet and peaceful there. Great place for a vacation.

This is my little room, there were bigger ones but I liked my little one.

I Just gotback From Stowe, Vermont. It was such a glorious place. I stayed in the Von Trapp Family Lodge. The inn was run by Maria Von trapp for many years. There was a tragic fire in 1980, they lost the entire inn but the yrebuilt it even better, lost was so many artifacts but I like the new place. So if you are ever in Stowe VT stay at the inn, you can even rent entire cabins. The thing about thetown is it pretty much shuts down at 6pm i think they say the sidewalks are rolled up, is that the right expresion? Maybe? Well i loved it andi had one of the best dishes fo shepards pie ever at this place called the Shed. Way good with vermont white chedder cheese baked on top. It may not seem like I was there for work but I was and even work was more enjoyable being there. We got 18 inches of snow in one day, it was way cool.

ME and MY MOM

2009-01-12T09:59:00.001-07:00

We had so much fun. We went to music and the Spoken Word. And my mom, she is terrific, she transformed my house into a home. She decorated for the Holidays, and organized my kitchen well, she really organized the entire house.

The Christmas tree is in the Conference center, it is just lovely.

We Toured temple square. We went to Antelope Island and got some good pictures. it is this Island in the middle of the Salt lake. There are lots of buffalo just hanging out, it is so neat!

My Mom Came for Thanksgiving. We sure are cute!!! I love my mom, she is one of the best persons I know. Look at how beautiful my mom is....... She is one amazing woman!

Tooele, UT in Winter

2009-01-12T09:54:00.002-07:00

The Snow is so Different Here. Can snow be Dry?

This Is Tooele In the Winter Time. the Christmas Tree is in the square. It is a lovely place to be. I am really enjoying my time here.

Tooele Town Square Christmas Tree.

2009-01-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Still walking around on Christmas evening. I hoped to hear Christmas Carols so I sung them myself.

2009-01-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

This was just so beautiful. I was walking around my neighborhood on Christmas evening in the snow taking pictures and this one is my favorite.