Goodbyes

Columbia, MO has been my home now for 4 years and 4 months, there is only 1 other place that I have lived that long continuously in my entire life and that is Cypress, TX. I guess what also contributed to the whole thing is that my parents moved from my Cypress home to Plantersville, TX about 9 months after I moved here and so I go home to my parents but not to my old home any longer. So, consequently Columbia has in many ways become home to me. But like Rob tells me continually home is where my heart is and my heart is always with me. :) I have learned to love Columbia, the small town feel in an OK size place, the good access to two good size cities, Kansas City and St. Louis - both only 2 hours away. I have loved going to the St. Louis temple and visiting Nauvoo as often as possible but it isn't any of the places, building or shops that I will miss it is the people I have fallen in love with.
As most know I grew up moving a lot and I liked it for the most part - still get that itch to move every two years or so and have done my fair share of moving since graduating from HS (about 10 or 11 moves) but it is always the people that draw me in. I will miss the great people of Columbia. I have worked with some of the most Christ-like and loving people I can even imagine. They have taught me so much about what it means to be true disciples of Christ and how to walk in His ways. I have been blessed to make amazing friends and strengthen friendships that already existed that will continue for years to come. Those friendships and the things I have learned from them are worth more than all the degrees I could ever get. I have served in the best ward I have ever attended as an adult. I know you really aren't supposed to say things like that but it is true. I sat today, a little emotional, as I looked around at all of the great families that have shaped my life for good. The amazing moms and grandmas that are so incredibly patient and loving to their children and I just hope and pray that I can be like that. I think about the amazing sisters I had a privilege of serving in primary and YW with and their amazing talents, testimonies and abilities and wonder why I was so blessed to be in such an amazing ward for such a long time.
Today was my last day but lucky for me I get to take with me all that I learned, felt, observed, and experienced within the last 4 years as my testimony has been largely enriched. My next ward has so much to live up to :) but I am so grateful for a church that is the same everywhere, because the gospel is true and I know that to be true.

Defense Date

Today I made it offical - I will be defending my dissertation on July 13th at 1:30 PM. A part of me can't wait and a part of me realizes how much work there is before that time! So I am off to do more reorganization!

Email

This is the email I just sent out:

Hello Committee! It has been over a year since we last met. Since that time we have lost Michael Lambert and have gained Dr. Tina Bloom, School of Nursing. Welcome Tina!

At this point I would love to see what everyone's schedules are like for the week of July 12th for my dissertation defense. Linda will be need to be skyped in because she has taken a new position in Virginia so we will need to take that into consideration as well.

If you haven't heard I am getting married on June 19th so you will have my dissertation to you before that date for review. In order for me to meet graduate school cut-off dates for August graduation, I must have my final papers to the graduate school by July 23rd. So, Jean felt the week of the 12th would work well. Please let me know what works best for you.

Thanks for your support,
Kathie

Stake Conference with Elder Scott

We have been greatly blessed in our stake these last two days. In the scriptures the prophets often say that there are things that could not be written, Rob and I have recently discussed that this might be because sometimes there are not words for the way(s)that one feels the Spirit. That is how I have felt this weekend so I will do my best to give you some highlights of the doctrine taught and the impressions I received.
First off, our Stake President, Elder Reall of the Seventy, was released (what an incredible, loving and wonderful teacher of the gospel). Our Stake YM President was called to be the new Stake President, President Houseman, my old Bishop, President Mingus, and a current Bishop, President Lambson. They will do a great job.
So what I learned - Saturday night.
*to remember to share the gospel through how I live
*that we have to constantly restrengthen our testimonies and ourselves - we must nurture and replenish or our seeds will no longer grow
*not to spend time with things of little worth - that is different for us all
*to make sure that what I am doing in life is not diverting me from the things that are most important in life
*how important trust is - in ourselves, those we love and in the Savior
*how important it is to teach our children about the temple - to point them there
*to teach about modesty, moral values, covenants and the value of attending the temple to our children so they will want to go someday
*the covenants we make in the temple are eternal and binding - we can lose them through disobedience but why would we chose that if we understand the plan - justice allows for us to have whatever we earn here on earth
*the atonement is very real and allows for all of our fears, sorrows, insecurities, and of course repentance that we all need
*that studying the scriptures - really feasting upon the word allows us to grow closer to our Savior
* that I need to evaluate my study habits and that through the scriptures I can receive the answers I need
* how incredibly important the influence of good parents are in the home
*that our Savior lives, He loves us and leads this Church
*that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and restored this amazing gospel

Temple Patrons Fund

During Stake Conference the Elder Lawrence of the Second Quorum of the Seventy was visiting and speaking and spoke of the Temple Patrons Fund. I had never heard of it before but it sounds wonderful. In essence it gives those that will not ever be able to afford to travel to a temple to go for themselves with assistance from all of us! Of course there are things the saints have to do to help - they have to committ to going (set a date) and make a significant contribution (of their income). Elder Lawrence was mission president in Siberia and the nearest temple was in Sweeden. It took at least a year of planning, 42 hours of travel there and then at least that much back. The cheapest the church could manage the trip was $500 of which only 1-2% of the saints could afford. This program is for first time goers only - taking out their own endowment (could be their only time to go in their life). It allows them to experience those temple blessings. Like the Prepetual Education Fund this is a Fund you can donate to on your tithing slip - just write in TPAF under other. I think it is incredible and had never heard of it before. Here is a link to the information on the church website.

Elizabeth, Eliza, Zaba

Elizabeth Jayne already has many different names.  I call her Eliza, Rob calls her Zaba, and the kids usually call her Elizabeth.

I wanted to get a picture of her this weekend but she was tired and her eye is a little guppy and it was late by the time we got to it so I got one good one where she didn't move. 

We are going to make an announcement of her birth - even have a picture of a live stork to put on it (from our recent trip to the zoo) but wanted to know which of these three you would use.  It is the same picture just with different tints or whatever used.

Picture A

Picture B

Picture C

I think she is beautiful, Rob thinks she still looks like an alien.  She is lying on a very soft blanket that Aunt Asia made for us and sent all the way from Germany - I think she likes it.  If she doesn't Rob and I love it.

So give me your votes - which one should we use?

The Weekend

This last weekend Rob and most of the kids headed to Kansas to get Elizabeth. We decided that we would meet up in St. Louis and go to the zoo, have lunch, etc. The kids wanted a picture of everything we saw (thank goodness for digital cameras) but I spare you that.






After feeding the kids and getting them to the Blacks for a movie and bed (Thanks again Denise and Jason) Rob and I worked on an electronic version of a wedding invitation. We are sending out annoucements with a picture of the family after the wedding but I wanted something to send out now. It took a while but looks nice.

Saturday, Katie stayed with me and hung out while Rob was in KS. She had her first sewing lesson, she has been begging me to teach her since Christmas. She did a great job and it was a learning experience for me as well, I have never taught a 10 year old how to sew before. Had to really think through some things as I was talking with her or as we came upon problems. But in the end she did a great job and it looks really cute on her.

Sunday Rob drove back and we walked to the park, had dinner and relaxed a bit before they needed to head back to Herrin. It was a nice weekend.