Kaylee's Song

Humbled and Happy

2010-05-05T11:10:00.004-06:00

I was able to spend some time with Sara, Chrissy and my dad last night because Dad came up to Salt Lake for a meeting. Sara made a yummy dinner and we sat around and laughed about stupid boys while we ate. Sara had just moved into her new apartment and wanted it blessed by the Priesthood so Dad, of course, stepped in willingly. It was an amazing experience as he exercised that power. It was too special to share, but very powerful. Then we went and wandered walmart... us girls in the girl section and dad in sporting goods. :) We got back and helped Chrissy decide on what to do about her overwhelming semester schedule... especially now that she has been called as the Relief Society President in her ward. She has such a golden heart and longs to do the very best she can... almost to the point of completely wearing herself out. We hugged her and loved her, pick her up, motivated her and shared some more tender and spiritual moments.

I am so incredibly blessed beyond words. I look around me everywhere and there are families being ripped to shreds and suffering in agony as they hold on to what little they have left of 'home'. I am so overwhelmingly humbled to realize how rare a thing I have in my family. I feel so much peace and love; a thick, pure, real and lasting love; a true and eternal love for my family. It's something so deep and strong, that when I really try to comprehend it and think about it, I feel a small and uncontrollable giggle rise from the very depths of my heart and ring out of my voice, accompanied by a tear or two of absolute joy. I start to wonder, "How did this happen? How did my family survive the horrible temptations, enticements and distractions that the world has to offer? How is it that we are the way we are?" But almost without hesitation, the memories come flooding back... Memories of the battles over getting everyone knelt down for family prayer. The eyes that rolled when mom would tell us it was time for scripture study. The unexpected fights that would erupt-- just before a special moment would come along; one that could have kept that good experience from happening, but didn't. These simply vital moments kept us close as a family, no matter how 'painful' and exhausting they were.

I have a testimony of the 'small' things. Pray with your family. Go to church. Share your testimony in the most random of moments. Have family home evening every week. Serve together. Be a real true family and don't be afraid to say 'I love you.' It's THOSE kinds of things that have helped me and my family get where we are. This doesn't do them justices, but I LOVE MY FAMILY. It is this kind of a family that I am going to fight for in my future as well.

New Lesson Learned/Learning

2010-05-03T11:10:00.002-06:00

Church was great yesterday. But the lesson I've learned, or that I'm learning is not one that was learned in one day or during one meeting. Its something I've been slowly realizing and learning throughout the last year or so. I am learning that most of my life really isn't about me. I am learning that most of my life is about how I use it to serve others. Here is my thought process:

We are here to follow the example of Christ, to do our best to be like him so that we can return to live with God. The scriptures say that He and God are one. We know that this refers to them being one in purpose. Soo....

If I need to be like Christ, to be one with Him and God, to have the same purpose (Moses 1:39), I need to know what He was like and how he did it. What was he like?: Selfless. How did he do it?: Service. Done. The end. To obtain the reward I desire: Exaltation, I need to forget about myself. I need to focus on those around me because it is through service to them that I will get what I came here to prove myself worthy to receive.

Of course there are many other dimensions and things that must happen, but all of them seem to maintain a connection with this concept. Correct me if I'm wrong. :)

Thoughts? :)

Hmm...

2010-04-29T14:44:00.003-06:00

Should I chop off my hair? I'm kinda bored with it. Just wanna do something different. What are your thoughts? Maybe more layers? I would love to highlight it but that's too much $$. Hmmm....

I did NOT feel good about my stats test... Pretty sure I'll be retaking it this summer. Good thing Brad will be in that class. He's a great study buddy and an even better friend. That makes things so much easier. But retaking stats will put me at 17 credits for Summer Semester. Whew! It's gonna be intense but way exciting at the same time because that means I'll be graduating in the Spring next year instead of the Fall. Yay!!!

Almost a year!!

2010-04-27T16:19:00.002-06:00

Ha ha! So it looks like it's been a while since I last did anything on this blog. But I thought I'd start to try... again... to do better with it. I was all worried about making sure there were plenty of pictures and such to go on it but I won't worry so much about that as I will just simply updating it.

So... Life is different and a lot has happened within the last year. So if any of you want details you'll have to just ask because I'm going to just start from here on out. Currently I'm in the stress phase of preparing for finals. I have my worst one tomorrow... STATS. Cursed Statistics of Social Research. I have never hated a class with so much of my soul as I do stats. But tomorrow it's the final. I've done so horribly that I just might not pass it and will have to retake it in the summer. However, I am already enrolled in a class with a good teacher and will be taking it with a really good friend of mine. So I am already prepared for the worst. But I'm still crossing my fingers that I will pass and not have to worry about it at all anymore.

I am also on the last few weeks of my calling as Relief Society Secretary. I have mixed feelings about it. It will be really great to have my Sundays back and not have to worry about so much added to my already busy schedule. But then there is the fact that I won't have the opportunity to get to know the girls the way I do now. Well, I will. It will just take a lot more real effort on my part in order to make it happen. I like my calling even though it uses so much time and work. I enjoy caring for the girls on a more personal level.

As far as the dating side of things, I am newly single and ready to get back out there and have some fun, get to know plenty of people, and make more memories. Dating is exhausting. I'm sure ready for my Prince Charming to come riding up on his white horse... Wait... Is there such thing as prince charming anymore?? I'm really beginning to think not. :) Just like there really is no such thing as a perfectly beautiful princess!!

Hi again

2009-05-13T15:54:00.002-06:00

So I'm trying to play tricks on myself and instead of waiting forever to post the new news... I'll post saying that I have new news, just to remind myself to put up the pictures for it. That way I can't wait too long to put up new pics because I've already promised them... For example:

I WENT SKYDIVING!!!! Yep. I jumped out of an airplane last weekend and also went to the Brian Regan concert at Tuachan. It was a crazy fun weekend. I do have pictures but I don't have them uploaded on my computer yet. So I promise I'll post them soon. (See, now I can't wait too long until my next blog or I'll be breaking a promise!!) Wow. I'm a dork.

Also, things have already ended with Jeff and I. Just wasn't meant to work out I guess. So that means back to single life, dealing with weirdos, and awkward dates. Uhhhhgggg. No bueno. But that's life. What can ya do right!? But don't worry. I'm still smiling!! :D

I've been a bum... as usual. :o)

2009-05-04T19:28:00.009-06:00

Okay so I've been a top-of-the-line bum for the last few months and haven't updated my blog. I just have a hard time sitting down and doing it.

My life is still great and I'm happy. I'm working on getting my schedule for fall semester put together and it's kinda stressful since I have to go full time in order for the government to help me out financially; but I have to keep working full time in order to make ends meet. So that limits me to a full schedule of night classes and many of them overlap. Grr. Oh well, I'll figure it out.
As many of you already know, I am officially dating someone. It's been a while since I've dated so this may come as a shock to a few of you. ;o) I had to break a few hearts to make it happen but it happened. He's a wonderful guy named Jeff Kohler and things are going well. Sad to say, I only have one picture of us... I look terrible and he's pulling a really crazy face. So for his sake I won't post it. ;o)
But here are some pictures of what I've been up to. Hope you all enjoy!!

Our little group of St. George girls got together for dinner at Darley's house. It was fun to see everyone and their little families!!
We had a big group of friends com to St. George for a "camping" trip... obviously we weren't roughin' it too hard!! But it was fun and we did spend plenty of time outdoors!! ;)

This was the evil bush that Laura and I fought for 45 min with her little gardening shovel to get out of the ground. As I pulled it out of the ground, Bro. Smith turned the corner and offered the shovel he had in the back of his truck!! Thanks anyway Bro Smith! haha!
These are my babies that took the place of that ugly bush! They are so happy and I am so happy that they are so happy!!! I love white roses!!!
This was in preparation for a Hollywood themed party that I decided to go to at the last minute. I am a back-up dancer for Beyonce and Jessica is Jessica. :) Laura didn't go so she's just Laura too.
Fine. I'll post the nasty picture of Jeff and I. Although it really does resemble the crazy fun relationship we have. We had just gotten done playing that "Rolling Logs" game on the floor where you just roll over each other as you move across the floor... hence the lovely 'do. What a cutie!!

Doot do dooo!

2009-02-03T10:20:00.002-07:00

I'm pretty much just posting because my last post wasn't exactly the most motivating and positive post in the world and I didn't want it to be the most recent thing on my blog!!
So for now I guess I can just do a regular old update. For those who don't know, I will for sure be heading back to school in the fall. Applications are in and getting ready to do the whole loan thing, etc. I'm kinda nervous cuz it's been years since I've gone to school at all, but way excited to actually start doing something with my life. I've been saying I would do it for a while now but now it's actually gonna happen!!
I'm going to get my bachelor's in Human Family Developement in order to do a special program through the state to become a child life specialist. A CLS is someone who does a lot of nurse to patient communications as well as patient education in the hospitals. It's a really wide range of responsibilities. Anything from teaching the child/patient what to expect in a procedure, or educating parents on things that they themselves can do in treatment and care. I will also help the infant unit with babies who are there long term and make sure that they are still learning to develop motor skills and that they don't just lay there all day. I basically take care of the stuff that the nurses simply don't have time to do.
My two roommates are nurses. One works in the infant unit and the other in pediatric intensive care. They both say that they LOVE their CLS's and that she runs herself ragged with all that she has to do to help the kids. I'M SO EXCITED!!! I am going to love it!! Besides, everything I learn is going to help me be a better mom!! :o)
Anyways, that's enough for now. Until next time. Hopefully by next time I'll have some new pictures!! Smiles.

2009-01-21T19:08:00.002-07:00

Sorry no cool pictures this time around. I just need to voice something and kind of process some thoughts with all of you as I go...
I'm kinda irritated and all the anti-Obama-ers out there. Yes, there are a few things about him that make us all give him a shady, doubtful look; but get over it! He's our president now so let's make the best of the situation we are stuck with.
There's a lot coming straight at us from all sides and angles and we need to just stop wasting our time with the complaints and whining and use our time getting ready for what we don't even know is coming.... We just know that something is coming.
The end. I'm gonna go do something to get ready for what I don't know... HA!

New Years!!!

2009-01-08T19:50:00.007-07:00

New Years!!!!! Not really anything exciting. The best part was just looking really hot!!! We went to dinner and party hopped and went back to my house, sat around, and then went to bed. Wow. We are intense!! (kidding) So here are some pics of us looking really hot. I think I gave my number out to three guys!! Ha ha!!! Only have one date from it tho. Oh well. We called ourselves the "Silk Sistas."

2008-12-12T12:27:00.009-07:00

Okay guys so I'm discovering.. as I'm sure most of you have also... how much of a blogger I'm NOT!! So here's the deal. I'll just let you know what's going on and then I'll stick a bunch of pictures on at the end. It's easier that way. ;o)

Life is good. Just doing the same old thing. Really nothing too exciting. Yep, that's it. Now for the pics: (ha ha!)

Thanksgiving. This is us making a "I'm full" face. Naomi came and tolerated our crazy family for the whole weekend!! What a trooper!

This is Pie Night. The day before Thankgiving we (all the ladies of the fam) get together and make a bazillion pies. It's good times. I love this tradition!

Here's me with some of my cousins. I just thought this was a good shot of almost every single toothe in my mouth and the lovely brace stuck to it. I'm so incredibly excited to get these babies off!!!!

We did a big Thanksgiving Dinner here as a stake for a huge group of Burmese Refugees and this is the family we took care of. I lost track of how many times we played tic-tac-toe on the table with crayons and I also discoverd that the cute little one in the front with the striped shirt is named Kleepa (pron: Kaylee-pah!!!!) We bonded.

It felt good to do as little as we did. They were very cute!!

And I can't leave out this cute little body!! I just love this cute little body!!!! And I love how Addy is pulling some kind of face in the background! Such sweetness!!

Where's Waldo????

(Hint: He's on the bottom)

The End

Craziness!!! So much fun!

2008-09-10T21:38:00.002-06:00

After the make-up wore off...

Yep.... I pretty much look wasted on something....

I love this one!!! My sisters do too... Ha!

Sassafrass.......

So I'm a little slow getting my blog updated... as I am with a lot of other things in my life... but we won't go there.

Rachel came up over Labor Day weekend (as many of you already know if you've seen her blog) and we played pretty hard. She seems to bring out the child in us and boy did she this time!!

We started off with just taking crazy pictures with Rachel's friend that was there, then it got to doing the hair all nuts. Then, like any normal girl would do... we had to throw in the make-up turning it into an all-out dress-up party!! We had so much fun making faces and laughing at eachother. I have a really good one of Sara but she would probably kill me in my sleep if I posted it. (still tempted...)

After that got boring, we were still so worked up that we decided to go play in the rain. It was so much fun. We got chewed out by people trying to sleep, we got laughed at by the "mature young adults" in our midst, and we were even joined by some good friends. I love just letting loose of that "mature adult" in me and just making crazy memories that will last me a life time.

Just so you "mature adults" out there know.... you'll never find a good wife that way! Have a little fun for cryin' out loud!!!!! :)

Fun Weekend!!

2008-08-27T21:49:00.002-06:00

Going up....
Now across...
oohp... almost lost it!!....
And... Down the zipline!!!!
Good friends, good hikes, good memories, good weekend!!

We went to Heber Valley camp and did all sorts of stuff. But more than anything we learned how to balance our lives. It takes a lot to be balanced.... A lot!! But I'm working on it. One day at a time. (There are a lot more pictures... maybe I'll post them later when I'm not so tired.)

People can be so rude!!

2008-08-16T18:42:00.002-06:00

Okay, so my old roommate decided to come and get her furniture out of my living room yesterday, that she left until she could get into her other place. No big deal. Knew it was coming. Sooooo, we were in the market for a new dining set and new couches. We looked on KSL.com and on craigslist.com mostly to no avail... until we came across a decent looking couch and loveseat set that were super cheap! We called the lady and she told us she sold them. Bummer. Minutes later, however, she called back saying that the person who was going to buy them was being really flaky and she said she would sell them to us!!! Yay! We went over and looked at them and told her we would take them! We have issues around here as far as larger vehicle goes so we told her we would come get them the next day and she seemed fine with it. THEN... this morning we get a text from her saying that she had sold them to someone else and that they had already come to get them. GRRRR!!!! So rude lady! That's called really bad business management! We did venture out this morning and found a dining set for $50. Wow. Crazy stuff.
I wonder if she even feels bad??! I mean, it was like stealing a lollipop from a baby! Hmf!! Rude!

Hmmm...

2008-08-02T09:24:00.002-06:00

So I didn't really have any new pictures but wanted to post one even though it doesn't really have to do with anything. :) However it does somewhat symbolize how I feel about life at the current moment as far as relationships go. I am also going to choose to not go into more detail than that.
I just wanted any and all friends of Katie Woods to go check out her blog. Never have I met such a creative and talented blogger!! I laugh so much at the amazing adventures and discoveries of that girl. Just go see for yourself!
This week I had my own adventures of the cyber world. My rommie and were up way too late one night and she had the brilliant idea of getting on to a chat room and mess around with those poor souls who feel they may find their true love hidden in the vast openness of the cyber world. (Poor guys!) So immediately we were "approached" by two young men, both from Oregon. They started by asking questions about life: where you from, how old are you, will you marry me... you know... the usual. We answered the two of them in totally different ways. The one liked the crazy high school approach and the other didn't like the confident "popular girl" approach. We bid them both fairwell by wishing them luck in life, love, relatshinships, (and about ten other words) as well as reminding them to put on sunscreen and look both ways before leaving the parking lot because bikers in flourescent spandex tend to fly out of nowhere. I feel like we left on a very positive note.
Our adventures brought back memories of high school when chat rooms were really big (if that doesn't date me...) sitting in Carly's computer room on her mac, chatting up a storm with random strangers and we had a blast!!!! Ahh, sweet memories.

Happy 4th!

2008-07-05T10:19:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I'm a day late. But I just spent a lovely holiday with my family and a cute boy!! :) (I made it to the airport just fine for those that care.) A nice barbeque, games, lots of neighbors and friends, and of course, fireworks.... Fireworks are really nice when you are snuggled up with someone...
Anyway, the point for me posting today was because I was thinking about our country and the true luxuries we enjoy and take for granted every day. Having lived in a 3rd world country, I have seen first hand how blessed we really are. So here's a shout-out to all those service men and women giving up these same luxuries just to protect them for you and I. And to also remember our forefathers who gave up just as much- if not more- for the very same reason. I am grateful. God Bless America.

I hate Driving!

2008-07-03T12:55:00.002-06:00

So it's really interesting how I can totally handle navigating myself around the cities of the Amazon without blinking an eye... Yet I hate traveling to places I don't know. I honestly have a phobia of being in the middle of traffic making people honk at me as I find my way... Although it never has actually happened. Today I am going to the airport to pick up Dallen and I am nervous. I've never driven to the airport before and I don't know what to do once I get there. Yes, my heart is already beating with even the thought of it!! I have asked a number of poeple about how to get there and where to go, I have it mapquested, and I'm still having an anxiety attack over it!! Okay maybe not to that extent.. but I still hate it. I am a small-town girl and always will be. I just hate driving-- end of story.

Really Great News!

2008-06-27T00:10:00.002-06:00

So the other day I was checking my e-mails and I got one from my mission trainer and she sent me the pictures and article for the ground-breaking of the Manaus Temple!!!!! I was so excited that I cried! The people there sacrifice so much to go to the temple. One of my dreams was to have a temple there and now it's coming true. Happy day!!

Another fun tidbit of info is that I am going to have two new roomies by the end of next week! One of my roommates got married and the other decided to take a good opportunity she was offered and off she goes too. But in all reality it's a great thing because I have two really good friends from my ward that are closer to my age that will be movig in with me. I am really excited. We are going to have a blast!! Yay for good changes.

Progress

2008-06-06T15:48:00.003-06:00

Life is good. Today I have the day off and I am just getting random things done around the house.... Kinda boring actually. One thing that I don't think I wrote about was my new calling!! I am the Visiting Teaching Coordinator of my ward now. I actually really like it because it is a lot more involved and it is an excellent way for me to become familiar with the girls in my ward.

One thing I am kinda struggling with is how everyone else seems to be taking off in their lives. I found out that Carly Everett is pregnant with her second!!!! I'm so happy for her. Carly Bingham is expecting. Shay is such a cute pregnant lady don't you think?!!.... and then there's me. Not going to school, not married or close to it... just watching everyone else take off. But if that's what life has to deal me.... SO BE IT!!!!

I AM having fun living up here. I am meeting new friends by the day and enjoying the heck out of it.

I think I'm gonna go make some cookies. : )

Life continues...

2008-05-31T11:11:00.000-06:00

So, not much has happened since I last posted. I did go home over Memorial Day weekend and got to spend time with my amazing family at our annual Jones Family Reunion. It was really enjoyable. The weather was a bit interesting in that it would start to sprinkle and there was a nice chill in the breeze.... then moments later the sun was shining and we were shedding our layers. But all in all it was so good to see my family. It was the first reunion back from the Mission and it felt like I had been gone 5 years instead a year and a half!!

I did it!

2008-04-11T10:26:00.000-06:00

So I've been thinking about making a blog for myself since I seem to be a bit of a world traveler and also have some serious issues with keeping in touch with the people I care the most about.... I know, it's bad. I'm going to therapy don't worry. : )

Right now you find me located in the Salt Lake Valley in lovely Utah. I am currently working as a receptionist at an orthodontist's office and am really liking it. I am also trying to talk myself into going back to school in the fall.... not sure where yet.

I am still working away at setting up Power Training in Brazil. If any of you are wondering what it is, it's a motivational program that I attended and loved. I loved so much that I decided that the brazilian people could really benefit from it. So here I am working on setting up down there. We hope to make it there in August of this year. Any financial donations are absolutley welcome!!! ; )

I got home from serving my mission in Manaus, Brazil in August of last year and loved every moment of it. If anyone wants to pay for my ticket down I'd be more than happy to give you a wonderful tour of the Amazon!!

Well, that's pretty much all that's happening in my life for now. I'll do what I can to keep you all posted....if you so wish. Hugs and loves for all!!!