A Student for Life

My other blog

2010-10-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been having trouble with people being able to see my other blog so for now I took it off being private and will work with to see what the problems is. The url for that blog is robandkathie.blogspot.com or it is a linked under The Ricks Family Blog in my favorite blogs on the side.

Still Here and Kicking

2010-10-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

Well, just in case you were wondering if I am still alive I am. We have been busy and someday when I have a couple of hours I will edit and post pictures from our honeymoon and wedding. But for now I am living, just busy.

Job News
We have been greatly blessed. Rob started a job as a campus analyst for Lonestar College last Monday. So far so good. He is in charge of a campus about 25 minutes from here - which in Houston is an awesome commute.

Me - I hope to start a job on the 18th of Oct. I am waiting on the offical offer from HR and they said it should be the first of this week. It is as a research coordinator with the University of Texas, School of Public Health. I will be running a study and assisting with another - both deal with cancer prevention through screenings and vaccinations. I am excited even though it will change our almost developed normal again but it will all work out. My biggest struggle is putting Marlissa and Elizabeth in a daycare I trust to love and care for them. I know it will be fine but my heart hurts a little when I think about it.

Family News
We are settling into what we think is normal life with two parents and 5 kiddos. Over all things are going well - there are adjustments but there are always adjustments and Rob and I are continually amazed at how much the Lord blesses us each day. We have a great ward, good friends, a lovely home to live in, supportive and loving family and 5 great kiddos. We are richly blessed.

Fun
We have been able to do some fun things, like parties, going to the beach, etc. We love having a great park down the street from us. We enjoy it a lot and the kids love to be able to ride their bikes around and play with friends. This weekend we enjoyed amazing weather by taking walks, playing at my parents farm and watching General Conference. Rob and I were able to go to the temple on Friday night and it was wonderful. What a great weekend it was.

Short News Update

2010-07-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

Dissertation Update:
If you haven't heard - on Tuesday I had my dissertation defense and I passed. I made the corrections and now am waiting the feedback from my advisor. Should know something on Monday.

Moving Update:
Rob, I and the babies traveled to Atlanta last weekend to find a place to live. A long story short we felt that Atlanta was not where the Lord wanted us right now, as we looked I became more nervous and anxious and there was absolutely no peace. So, we talked about things we discussed moving into my parents rental home (which is where I lived in HS). Their renters broke their lease and moved out 2 weeks before Rob and I got married so it was empty, plenty big (much bigger than what we were looking at), and a home I love. So we called my parents and talked to them and they agreed to us renting the house! Yeah for having wonderful parents! So, after my defense we packed and then yesterday we packed the truck, cleaned the apartment and drove the truck to Herrin. We got here about 4:20am - the babies slept the entire time but did sleep in some so we got about 4 hours. We will be moving to Houston this weekend so we are trying to finish everything up here in Herrin. Lucky for the kids school doesn't start till August 23rd!

More updates to come on this and the other blog but we need to get settled first so please be patient.

The Other Blog

2010-07-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a little bit of confusion on the invite that I was suggesting for the other blog. It's address is http://robandkathie.blogspot.com/. For most people that may want to read I have already put their email addresses into the system and then all you will need to is go to the blog and enter your email address and password and it will let you in.

Hope to see you there!

I got married

2010-06-29T18:09:00.001-07:00

On June 19th, 2010 I got married!

It was a wonderful day and it has been great ever since.

I hope that marriage is this natuaral and easy for everyone.

I am still waiting on the wedding pictures and will post some as soon as I can.

I will be posting pictures of the beautiful areas the we traveled to on our honeymoon soon.

I have started a new blog for the Ricks Family. I have made it private, so if you want access to it and haven't recieved an invite then please leave me a comment letting me know.

Girls Night Out

2010-06-29T18:06:00.001-07:00

The Wednesday before we got married we had girls night out, a family tradition when ever we are all together. We decided that we would go and eat and then attend a temple session. It was a fun night - Beth, Dallas, Shelly, Cyndi, Donna, Mama and I ate yummy Italian food and then headed over to the temple. We had a great server, he put up with all of our silliness and our constant need for water, bread and whatever else. He even sang me a "marriage" song - "here comes the bride, all dressed in white..." The temple was nice and peaceful - the perfect thing for a hectic and emotional week.

Family

2010-06-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

I have been home since Sunday and it has been wonderfully relaxing. I have gotten two massages to help with my neck and back, worked on my dissertation, sewed, hung out and eaten yummy food. I get married in a week and a day! Rob and family will be here on Sunday and I am very excited. Next week will be a whirlwind I suspect but a good one at that. I am very excited to start my new life with Rob and the kids and just in case you were wondering - no, I am not nervous, have cold feet or anything else. I am happliy anticipating being sealed for eternity next Saturday to the man I love and who has become my best friend. The next weeks and months will be crazy full of things (travel, moving, defending my dissertation, family reunions, getting jobs hopefully) and there is such an incredible peace about it all that I am truely feeling blessed.

I like this quote - I pray daily that I will know how to be the mother and wife that Rob and the kids need. Lucky for me I have great examples all around me of those roles, people who are willing to talk and give advice and I am very grateful.
"Our most important and powerful assignments are in the family. They are important because the family has the opportunity at the start of a child's life to put feet firmly on the path home. Parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles are made more powerful guides and rescuers by the bonds of love that are the very nature of a family."
Henry B. Eyring, "Help Them on Their Way Home," Ensign, May 2010, 23

I hope you are all well. I look forward to seeing you all in the coming months.

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-06-04T15:31:00.001-07:00

This Memorial Day weekend I spent with Rob and the kids. It was a filled weekend but it was good. Rob and I meet up on Friday at the temple where we did the temple work for Aunt Verda and Uncle Clyde (brother and sister). It was a great day in the temple and we got to seal them to their parents after the session.

Sister Bartholomew, Denise Black's mom, made this beautiful blessing dress for Elizabeth. Unfortunately our baby was born big and just keeps on growing. We tried on the dress this weekend and it barely covered her belly, but it is beautiful. So I got some pictures to show everyone.

Saturday we worked on the house getting it ready to sell, went to the parade, and then went to the park and had a picnic and then hung out and watched movies. Sunday we to church, made fruit turnovers from scratch and just relaxed.

Marlissa trying on a hat

Monday we were invited by Rob's brother, David and his wife Stephanie to a BBQ at their home in St. Louis. It was nice to finally meet them and we all had a good time, ate yummy food and just hung out with cousins and new friends.

Marlissa had a ENT appointment in St. Louis on Wed. so we decided to stay the night or rather nights. We got two rooms at a hotel and divided up (the girls versus the boys). Tuesday we went to the zoo, it is really very pretty, and had a great time swimming in the hotel pool and eating pizza in our room.

Can you find the Rhino in the picture above?

Wed. Rob and Marlissa went off to the doctors appointment and the rest of us went and had a yummy breakfast at Waffle House and then off to the Science Center. By that time we all were hungry again and tired and ate yummy Chinese and drove on home.

Making an arch - Sammy

Finding the best foundation for an earthquake.

Looking a cool back-lit map.

She doesn't like her picture taken at all - can't you tell?

Sunday I leave for TX. I am still working on the last bit of editing for my dissertation but it is coming along and in 15 days I get married. Lots of changes for everyone - we are still working hard at finding jobs and hope and pray that we will hear something soon.

Goodbyes

2010-05-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-19T16:03:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-04T18:02:00.001-07:00

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

2010-05-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

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.

David Glenn Leavitt

2010-04-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

Today, my nephew, David Glenn Leavitt, turned 8 and was baptized. It is pretty neat to be batized on your birthday and David is a pretty awesome kid. He was so excited to get baptized that he literally jumped into the font ready. After he was baptized and received the Holy Ghost he was just a beaming little boy! So cute. After the batism we had some refreshments there at the church (great job Donna) and just hung out and had some fun. It was well worth the visit.

Brad and David

David with his cake

David and Joy

Lessons Learned While Gardening

2010-04-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I flew home for my nephew, David, baptism today. This morning we did a bunch of yard work. So as most know there is a lot of be learned in the process of growing plants and caring for a yard. So here are some of the things we learned.

Mandy pointed out that grass have really deep roots and are hard to pull up but weeds pull out really easy. So we talked about how if we create deep roots in our lives with the gospel (read the scriptures, pray, go to church) then we too will have deep roots and a solid foundation.

Nathan was bringing the wheel barrow over to help haul away some trimmings and hit a rut, the path he had chosen was one of the lowest in the yard and he couldn't get the wheel barrow up and over without help. As my mom walked over she said "If you had stayed on higher ground this probably wouldn't have happened." How right she is! As we chose the higher ground we are more able to create those deep roots we all need.

When I was wedding I kept coming across weds that were growing among the rocks placed as the barrier of the flower bed. These weds are the nasty, spiky kind that hurt your hand as you pull them out. And just as the Savior taught they were incredibly easy to pull from the rocks. Where you chose to grow makes all the difference!

Finally, I think that process of planting a simple seed and watching it grow into a great plant that gives me yummy vegetables is its own kind of miracle. I think that is one of the many ways that the Lord allows us to participate in the work of creation and teaches us patience and care.

A Conversation Among Men and Photos

2010-04-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

Today is Jason Black's birthday and so I went and watched the 4 big kids so that Denise and Jason and Gilead could go on a date. Happy Birthday Jason, hope 34 treats you well! While watching the boys I overheard some very interesting conversations between Ephraim (6) and Simeon (4). They went like this:

S: When I grow up I am going to be a MAN!
E: Well, that is a lot of work you know to be a good man, like Daddy and President Reall.
S: What kind of work?
E: I don't know but it takes a lot of time at church!

As a side note Jason is the secretary to our Stake President who was just sustained as a General Authority on Saturday during conference and the boys sometimes get to accompany their dad after church on Sunday to the Stake offices while Pres. has his interviews. E. is right is does take a lot of work to become a good man or woman!

Minutes later in the conversation I hear:

S: I am not a mammal.
E: Yes, you are!
S: No
E: Mammals have hair and we have hair, mammals feed their babies milk and mommy feeds Gilead milk - see we are mammals.

I would appreciate that kind of logical when I defend my dissertation - she said she would do XXXX and she did XXX - she passes - yeah Kathie!

S: Do you think that yellow butterfly has a mommy?
E: I don't know, why?
S: Because mommy's take care of us and feed us and love us

Thought Denise and all other mothers might want to hear that - Mommy's are really important!

Here are the covenanted pictures of Elizabeth Jayne - I have not seen her and did not take these photos but she just looks huge. Marlissa wasn't pleased with the invasion of another baby into her life last night and wouldn't look at her - in the picture below she is a least facing her. Could be a long couple of months at the beginning of this!

Elizabeth in all her 10 pound glory - she just looks so huge!

Rob, Marlissa and Elizabeth - not sure why Rob is looking down.

Caleb, Katie, Marlissa, Elizabeth, Grandma Sarah and Sammy

Easter Weekend

2010-04-04T12:35:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone! We started the day off we a nice surprise! Elizabeth Jayne Ricks was born this morning just after 8am. She weighed in at 10 lb 1 oz and 20 1/2 inches longs. She is just about 8 pounds lighter than her sister Marlissa who is 14 months older! No pictures yet but as soon I get some/take some I will post them.

Friday I traveled to St. Louis to go to the temple and then came to Herrin where I picked up Katie and we went and had some bonding time. We got her a dress and a hair cut.

Saturday we watched conference and ate some yummy snacks. I found a recipe for this popcorn cake and it was really yummy and for all of those Ball's out there - this is a pretty perfect snack.

Here is the recipe:

Popcorn Surprise Cake

Ingredients:

12 cups popped popcorn

Peanuts (as many as you like)

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons butter

One 10 ½ oz bag miniature marshmallows

1 teaspoon vanilla

M&M’s (as many as you like)

Butter the angel food cake pan and spatula. Put the popcorn and peanuts in the mixing bowl. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat, stir in marshmallows, continue stirring until melted, pour over popcorn and peanuts and stir. Mix in M&Ms and press mixture into buttered cake pan. Push down mixture until even. Let the cake rest at least 1 hour before unmolding.

Conference has been wonderful so far. I have loved so many of the talks and the kids have done well with their conference packets and drawing. Lucky for us Marlissa has chosen the conference times to sleep through mainly so we haven't even had to entertain a baby!

Last night while Rob was at Priesthood Session the kids and I dyed Easter eggs. It went pretty well except for one of the dye color tubes split over sending blue dye across the table and the kids - so after cleaning that up we again dyed eggs and placed stickers on their "faces". I think it was fun! :)

Easter - this morning I came over and saw what the Easter Bunny had left the kids - candy, a book and some needy t-shirts for this spring weather. I decided to make butterscotch sticky buns for breakfast and we made the dough yesterday with the bread maker so Rob added blue food coloring just for fun.

So we had lots of hard boiled eggs, bacon and blue sticky buns after some chocolate of course!

I hope that you all enjoyed conference and had a wonder Easter as we did.

Passover

2010-04-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

So today, Thursday, is the day that the Savior would have celebrated Passover - so why did I celebrate it on Tuesday? Well, Passover does not always actually align with Easter, I think I mentioned that in the last blog, and this week it was amazing to celebrate it with my friends on the same week. My friends, the Blacks, will be celebrating it tonight in lu of the Last Supper. As I was reading about the Last Supper this morning I was reminded of the Saviors gentle spirit. He never forces anyone into doing anything and uses love and long-suffering to lead, as well as a host of other talents and skills He has I hope some day to be able to be more like him.

As we read and remembered the blessings and miracles that occured at the Lord's hand with the Israelites I am always impressed by their determination.

In Luke we read about the Last Supper and the Savior washing the feet of His disciples and the symbolism for us all that the master is no greater than the servant. This year I have been continually reminded this year of agency and how important that is in the Lord plan. It often seems really hard to watch someone make choices that I know will bring them sadness and grief or to think that I am right and that the other person is wrong. Yet, what a beautiful part of the plan it is that we get to make a new choice each day to repent and come back to the Savior or turn away with our actions and decisions. I hope over time that I can overcome my weaknesses and be better at continually making the right choices in every aspect of my daily life.

Repentance/Atonement

2010-03-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

With Easter approaching and General Conference I have side stepped my regular scripture study and instead have been concentrating on the last week of the Saviors life and articles about the Atonement. Last night (Tuesday) I celebrated passover with my Jewish friends and again was reminded of the great symbolism. It is always a great experience but this year I knew it would most likely be my last with Alison, unless by some stroke of fate we end up living near each other again, so it was extra special. I don't have the pictures from Alison's camera yet but I will post them later in their own post.

It is cool that Passover and Easter are on the same week this year, sometimes it works that way but most years it hasn't. As I have been reading in the New Testament about the Saviors last weeks I have gained a even stronger appreciation for all that happened that week - the accusations, the parables, the Last Supper, Palm Sunday, etc.

In the Ensign this month there is a talk by Elder Oaks about the Atonement and Faith, here is a link to read it if you want.

I thought I would share a couple of quotes that were really good. He states: "We cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord's will in the Lord's timing. As a result, no matter how strong our faith is, it cannot produce a result contrary to the will of Him in whom we have faith. Remember that when your prayers do not seem to be answered in the way or at the time you desire. The exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is always subject to the order of heaven, to the goodness and will and wisdom and timing of the Lord. When we have that kind of faith and trust in the Lord, we have true security and serenity in our lives."

I really liked this analogy - he is talking about why it is important that we suffer when we repent.
" Why is it necessary for us to suffer on the way to repentance for serious transgressions? We tend to think of the results of repentance as simply cleansing us from sin, but that is an incomplete view of the matter. A person who sins is like a tree that bends easily in the wind. On a windy and rainy day, the tree bends so deeply against the ground that the leaves become soiled with mud, like sin, If we focus only on cleaning the leaves, the weakness in the tree that allowed it to bed and soil its leaves may remain. Similarly, a person who is merely sorry to be soiled by sin will sin again in the next high wind. The susceptibility to repetition continues until the tree has been strengthened. " It seems that with those sins that I easily seem to repeat it is because of this - I just haven't ever thought about it like this. True change and repentance takes time and effort - something that seems to be overlooked in lessons about how to repent.

He says " I conclude with a message of hope that is true for all but especially needed by those who think that repentance is too hard. Repentance is a continuing process needed by all because 'all have sinned, and com e short of the glory of God'. Repentance is possible, and then forgiveness is certain."

I am grateful for repentance - because I am so far from perfect. I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ and the opportunity we have to celebrate his Life and Resurection this Sunday while listening to the modern day leaders instruct us.

The Lord is in the Details

2010-03-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

As I was sitting in my boring class today I thought a yummy smoothie would be perfect. So as I drove home I was hoping that I had some frozen strawberries and raspberries and some juice. And yeah for me I did - it was so yummy too - frozen raspberries, frozen strawberries, the last bit of strawberry sorbet, and pomegranate juice - oh so read and delicious!

So with my dissertation I have been struggling with the discussion section - I have written and rewritten that part over and over and nothing. Nothing at all that makes sense and that I like. So, I have been praying and praying that I would be lead to know what direction to go in. I kept having this feeling to read this book, well the last thing I really wanted to do was read another book. Yet, in the end I gave in and read the book or part of it anyway. As a result I completely changed the way I am looking at my dissertation and have more reading to do. But I have a better sense of what to do and am actually excited to write it. Weird thing for me!

In other news we have a firm date for the wedding! It is June 19th at 1pm. Talking with the temple and setting the time made everything seem much more real and exciting.

Engagement Pictures

2010-03-17T09:59:00.001-07:00

Well, I promised that I would upload a couple of my favorite poses from the engagement session the other day. There were a lot (257) and Rob and I both liked about 20 or so. Certainly not going to upload them all - the new picture banner for the blog is a favorite of mine.

The one above was not my favorite but many other people, including Rob, like it.

Rob is not a fan of the angle on this but I think it is a good visual reminder for me that when things are hard that you just walk hand in hand together through it.

As you can probably tell I like black and white photos the best but thought I would throw in a couple that were color.

What do you guys think? Which ones should I print and frame? How many?

Always Changing

2010-03-13T18:56:00.000-08:00

I was told that I hadn't updated this in a while so here goes nothing. Last weekend Rob and his lovely children came to Columbia just to see me. They stayed at my friends the Blacks house, thank you so much, and we all had a good time. Friday we had Shakespeare Pizza, it is a favorite in town and then played games and then went off to bed. Saturday at 8am Rob and I had engagement pictures taken - don't have them yet but will post my favorite ones when I get them. It was a chilly morning so a bit cold to be taking pictures but it worked out and we got back to the Blacks about 10 to get the kids.
For the rest of the day we went and looked at houses, ate lunch and then played at the park and then went and test drove a big van (12 passenger) - no we do not need that many seats now nor will we in the future but we will need something bigger than the minivan. That night the Blacks graciously feed the kids dinner, made smores with them and then watched a movie, while Rob and I went on a date all by ourselves.
Sunday, Brother Black had a 7 am meeting so I was at the Blacks house at 7am. We hung out, the kids ate breakfast and then we all went to church for choir practice. Rob was lucky because our stake had some remodeling going on that involved our ward so with all the "emotion" fewer people made the connection that Rob was my fiance and thus less people introduced themselves.

This week has been a productive one for me - starting to feel more and more like myself everyday. I am to the point in my dissertation that I really only have about 6-10 more pages to write and then a lot of editing to do. So, the hope is to have the draft to my advisor by Wednesday. I would really like to defend by the beginning of June but we will see how fast Jean is.

In my personal reading I have begun reading the conference talks again and there are several that really drew me in this last reading. I love Elder Bednar's talk about being more diligent and concerned at home - that there are the three main things we should focus on. 1 - expressing love and showing it, 2 - bearing our testimony to our family and living it, and 3 - being consistent. Maybe it is the fact that very soon I will be a mother or maybe it is that I need to work on these things regardless but I am grateful that the Spirit is there to bear witness of the importance of these things in my life. I also really like Elder Osguthorpe's talk about teaching. Being a teacher in profession and then at church it hit me strong the pure application the principles he taught have in my every day life. I love the girls I teach at church and always hope that they leave knowing that I have a testimony of those principles and that the Spirit has borne witness to them of the importance of them. I will miss them when I leave.

Tonight our YW and RS put on Women at the Well. It was beautifully done and inspiring. I love the music and the sisters and our girls did an amazing job - a favorite part for me was the great slide show of the pictures of the Saviors life which accompanied each song. Those pictures drew me in, strengthened my testimony and my resolve as I listened to the amazing music. I know how much strength and power music has but I am continually amazed anyway and then being such a visual learner having the pictures there as well was incredible. I am grateful for such a loving and kind Savior.

Communication is a funny thing. Cyndi and I were talking this afternoon, always a great time, about how amazing it is the differences between how men and women communicate. Sometimes I am in utter awe that anything in way of understanding passes between the two sexes, but I am so grateful for the growing that it allows us all to do when we get it right. When as we put the other person first we are able to better see the person how our Heavenly Father sees them and in essence put aside the natural man - one of selfishness and love the person even more.

Talking/Typing

2010-03-01T21:35:00.000-08:00

Since Friday I have had some stomach bug where frequent trips to the bathroom were very much a necessity, so not a terrible amount of other work has gotten done around here. Saturday I did manage to grade all my students papers and today I did my laundry, well it is waiting for me to fold - well technically still waiting in the dryer. So, what did I do with my day you ask between trips to the bathroom and feeling incredibly hungry but being scared to eat? Well, lucky for me Rob was sick too. No, I did not share this with him even though he tried to say I did - it is hard to share germs over the Internet. So, after I read my scriptures and turned on my Internet Rob popped up on skype - what a nice surprise, most days we don't get to talk until much later and I like "spending time" with him during the day so I was thrilled (it may not have come across that way seeing how I felt but I was).

So from 9:59 to 3:00 we talked. What do you talk about for that long? Well, life, love and happiness. Well, I really don't know so I looked back. We talked about my scripture reading, being sick (took the stage a lot since I was still running back and forth), my lovely students, cancelling class because of said bathroom problem, jobs, the future, houses, how much we want to spend on a house, marriage licenses, Shelly, my YW and the lesson yesterday, you get the idea. We talked and talked and I loved it. I need days like this from time to time and was grateful he wanted to talk with me too.

I was thinking about life a year ago - it was crazy - I was getting approval to do my dissertation research, doing interviews, taking 3 classes for my MPH program, started two internships and was working full-time. I had so much energy too - I guess you find the energy to do the things you need to do. Today - all I have is 2 classes, I teach 4 classes, trying to be motivated to finish my dissertation and plan a wedding. Why can't I get more done I wonder? I have so much less - well I have much less structure too. Never realized, well probably did but not to this extent, that I really need more structure in my life. This semester has been crazy and I keep thinking I will find my groove and figure stuff out - haven't yet. Barely keep up with my 120 students, two classes I am not fond of, and want to give up on my dissertation every day I sit down to work on it.

I am a list person - I write lists, I add to my lists the things I have already done so that I can mark them off, then I take great pleasure in marking things off. So, when I write on my list "write my dissertation" it just doesn't work - I have tried to break it down to "write up theme one" and well it doesn't help it still feel like there is a ton to do. Someday soon I will just write the darn thing and be done with my draft and give it to my lovely advisor to mark up and slaughter.

So back to talking - Rob and I talked again tonight - what about now you ask after all that during the day? Stuff - the kids, life, surgeries, money, birthday parties, we read Alma Ch 17 and talked about how gruesome the story of Ammon cutting off the arms is, etc. So, now I need to do better talking to other people too - my older sister said so and she is always right so I will try and do better. I am sorry if I am neglecting you.

Random Thoughts

2010-02-24T12:13:00.000-08:00

My mind is constantly thinking about something - I am sure yours is the same - and often for me they are really random thoughts. So I thought I would share some of those with you today. The cartoon below is from a friends blog. I was thinking about weight loss - an interesting and frustrating subject all in and of itself. For years my body refused to respond to diets, exercise, or any other measure and then when I started a medication in October I started losing weight. Certainly not complaining but along with it I have no appetite (something that seems to bother others more than myself). So I have lost weight and wonder if it will stay off or find itself back to my butt, hips, and stomach area but for now I am enjoying clothes that are less tight.

My good friend Kim is currently doing a Fulbright in Honduras. She is working with the libraries (not completely certain what it is that she is doing right now) but knowing Kim she is doing an amazing job at it. In a recent email she mentioned that a year ago when we would sit and talk about conference talks after dinner for FHE that she didn't know that opportunity and her move to Australia existed and I didn't know that a Robert Ricks did. How our lives changed so quickly. Now, a year later she has moved and lived in Australia and then to Honduras and I am graduating soon and getting married. It is so interesting where the Lord puts us.
One of Shelly's last blog entries was about being prepared or the parable of the Ten Virgins. She was talking about how her preparation, which I can say was immense, helped pull her through the last year with Bella. I think that her ability to study and live the gospel has proven over and over that if we are prepared we shall not fear - at least the end result. I was thinking about that parable within my life and have wondered from time to time what more I can do to keep a even balance within my life - the spiritual, physical, academic, professional, and interpersonal aspects sometimes get very fuzzy and often I wonder if I am doing all I can to live the gospel in a way that will center and anchor me. This I have been thinking about a lot lately - I am going to join the "real world" soon as some people might call it - that of being a wife and mother and instead of gently easeing into it is not so gentle. Don't misunderstand - I am super excited and love the kids, Rob, and the life we will make together I just wonder how to find that balance. After being single for so long and only having me to deal with I sometimes wonder about how well I will do at balancing all the roles. I watched my mom growing up, she made everything look easy, I have watched my sisters and they seem the same so why is it not as easy for me? Anyway, just thought I would share my random thoughts for the day with all of you.

State Park Lookout

2010-02-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

I know the order of these last few posts aren't right but so goes life. While in Herrin and after the castle park, see posts below Rob took us to a State Park (can't remember the name) and we climbed the water tower lookout and could see for miles. It was really very cool.

Looking straight down:

A Trip to Herrin

2010-02-23T11:14:00.001-08:00

Well this past weekend I went up to St. Louis to the temple and then meet up with Rob for lunch (he had a really big test and couldn't make the temple). We had a really fun weekend, we watched movies, went to the park, ate yummy food, went to church, Rob laid tile in his bathroom and we just had a nice weekend.

I cut Marlissa's hair for the first time this weekend. She was not particularly happy or wanted it cut but it happened anyway. The before shots:

After

The Castle Park

2010-02-23T10:10:00.000-08:00

Rob took us to a great little private park, the kids call it the castle park, it was created by a family after the untimely death of their young adult son.

Writing

2010-02-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

This cartoon really explains my feelings about writing lately.

I have come to almost hate writing lately. I am working on my dissertation and trying to write up an academic paper from my time at one of my internships and boy I am not enjoying it at all. There are days that I have a clear mind and things sorta flow, not like before when I could actually sit down and just write, but better than other days recently. But I am truly grateful for those days that I can write.
Academic Journal Paper
As I stare at all of this data and wonder how to make sense of what we did, how we interpret it, and then put it into 14-20 pages I am a bit overwhelmed. I could probably talk about the many results we had for a good 10 pages, so again writing less is much more difficult. So, like I have been told many times I am just writing a draft and then we will work from there.
Dissertation
Well, the dissertation is another story all together - I actually want to work on it more than this other paper - now you are sensing how much I don't want to work on the journal article if I want to work on my dissertation. I have many friendly reminders from people that love me that it is Feb. and I should be almost done - wish I was. I am making progress - just need more of those days when my mind is clear and I feel like myself and can remember why I chose this topic and that I actually like it and everything. :) Which has become harder to remember with every week that passes. I am trying to be defended by the time I get married so that should be interesting to say the least. I am hoping that it comes together soon.

Prayer

2010-02-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

“I give counsel to husbands and wives. Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make your companion’s joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion.”
Henry B. Eyring, “Our Perfect Example,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 71

I don't have a husband yet, but I do know that this works for all of us. As we pray to understand and love those around us, our family, friends and those with whom we have a harder time with the Lord will bless us to see them in His eyes - not ours. I have put this to the test many times in the past and never been disappointed in the results - the Lord wants us to love one another, serve one another and help lift each other - but often I have found that I have to be humble enough to ask to be able to do that as effectively as I would like.

These Lists Make Me Laugh

2010-02-03T08:16:00.000-08:00

I am in my last full semester of school - which is a really good thing considering how trunky I am at this point in the game. Not particularly motivated to do anything relating to school but lots of pressure anyway. So one of my classes, which I suppose I should have taken last year but had too many courses and things already, is very basic and very boring for me. It is in my public health program. We are talking about vulnerable populations and public health and the like. Reading books like At Risk in America by Lu Ann Aday - interesting in its own way if you want to sit and read (which back to the no motivation thing - yeah really don't want to sit and read it). Anyway, it is an online class (which I hate) and so I was working through the lesson and came across these two lists which made me start laughing.

Ten Tips for Better Health from the Chief Medical Officer of Britain:
1. Don't smoke. If you can, stop. If you can't, cut down
2. Follow a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables
3. Keep physically active
4. Manage stress by, for example, talking things through and making time to relax.
5. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation
6. Cover up in the sun and protect children from sunburn
7. Practise safer sex.
8. Take up cancer screening opportunities
9. Be safe on the roads: follow the Highway Code.
10. Learn the First Aid ABC: airways, breathing, circulation

Ten tips for Staying Healthy from the Townsend Centre for International Poverty Research University of Bristol, England.
1. Don't be poor. If you can't avoid poverty altogether, try not to be poor for long.
2. Don't have poor parents
3. Own a car.
4. Don't work in a stressful, low paid manual job.
5. Don't live in damp, low-quality housing
6. Be able to go on foreign holiday and sunbathe.
7. Practice not losing your job and don't become unemployed.
8. Take up all the benefits to which you are entitled if you are unemployed, retired, or sick or disabled.
9. Don't live next to a busy major road or near a polluting factory.
10. Learn how to fill in the complex housing benefit/asylum application forms before you become homeless and destitute.

I particulary like the second list that says don't be poor - well then, I will keep that in mind and remember never again to be poor. :) The rest of the second list is just as exciting as #1 - gotta work for that public health department - all the PCness and everything! :) Anyway, I realized I hadn't posted in a while and thought I would post about this and then not feel as bad.

I did go to IL this weekend and had a great time spending it with Rob and his kids. Church is always entertaining in his ward and Sunday was no dofferent. It seems that the ward members either are thrilled I am there or give me really nasty looks because I am not Emily (is what I am assuming). Anyway, the church is still true and life is good.

My Trip to AZ

2010-01-21T21:55:00.001-08:00

Last weekend I took a fast and fun trip to see my sister in AZ. I flew on Friday and got there just in time to pick up Andrew from school and Jeremy from work. Then we went and ate some yummy Mexican food. Later we played the Wii till way to late. The first thing the boys wanted to do was teach me how Mario Cart worked - they taught me but I never actually got to play - just watched those cute boys!

Jacob was showing me how to steer the cart - that was his job in the teaching process.

Michael took me around and showed me everything - it was really cute.

Andrew got the dinosaur above for Christmas but Michael is really the one that loves it - later he told me "I like that" and pointed to it.

On Friday night Andrew had a parade to start out the soccer tournament that happened that weekend in Tucson. Andrew and his team marched in it - this is the 20th year and they made a big deal of it.

Waiting for the parade to begin.

After the parade the boys went down one of those huge blow up slides shaped like a shark.

Saturday we lounged around, went to the LDS book store and then Cyndi, Andrew and I volunteered at the tournament. We had a good time but Andrew was a little bored to say the least.

Sunday was a beautiful AZ day with "cold" weather - it was 60. After church Cyndi, I, and the boys went on a 1.5 hour walk through the neighborhood and near by park.

Following the leader.

We came across this huge tree that had fallen and this little house someone had spent too much time building - the boys had a grand time.

Later we played with play-do (well really the boys and Jeremy did).

Isn't he beautiful?

Monday was the dress shopping day in Phoenix so we got up and drove there, had lunch with Emily and Lynne and kids and then they headed off to Emily's house and us to shopping. If you made it this far I am rewarding you with the answer to the question of which dress I chose - that would be dress B.

Tuesday I had to go back home, the morning was spent packing, taking some clothes to a store, eating out and then picking up Jacob from pre-school. He was very excited that I came to get him - he is so cute! Then we went and played at a near by park and finally went and got Andrew from school and headed to the airport. I was worried about my dress and security, where to put it on the plane, etc. It all worked out and our plane was only delayed by 2 hours in Denver getting me home about 2:15am on Wednesday morning. Thankfully Rob called about 1:30am when I was in serious need of sleep and talked to me until I got home - very grateful! It was a great trip but over way too soon! I already miss my sweet boys and Cyndi!

I Bought A Wedding Dress

2010-01-18T19:19:00.001-08:00

So if putting a ring on my finger didn't make this whole thing feel very official than buying a wedding dress definitely did. Lynn and Emily Selim, my brother-in-laws mom and sister were gracious enough to watch Cyndi's boys while we went and tried on wedding dresses. Boy were we grateful we didn't have a 7, 4, and 2 year old boy with us while doing this. I swear it takes 10 minutes to put on the dresses - if that short of period and many of the dresses were lace up the back so it took even longer. All together I think I tried on 12 dresses in 2 hours - not too bad considering. I bought the third dress in the line of dresses in the end but tried on all of them and then went back and tried on my favorite again to make sure it really was my favorite. Cyndi teared up when I put on the dress and it was the only one I felt completely comfortable and beautiful in. Later I put my hair up and I will wear it that way at the wedding. They gave us a great deal and so I ended up getting a veil and headband/tiara thingy as well. It is not the veil you see in the pictures.

So I decided to make is fun and somewhat like House Hunters since we were dress hunters. So, here are the dresses, poor Cyndi was trying to figure out my camera in the process, I didn't take a picture with all of them but you get the idea. Almost all of the dresses were too big somewhere, I felt like I was falling out of or needed some serious inches in order to fit - so just keep that in mind as you look at the pictures. Dress D I was just trying to keep on so my arm is behind me holding it it place.

So do you think it is Dress A.

Dress B

Dress C

Dress D

Please leave your votes on which one you think that I chose.

Whats in a Name?

2010-01-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ok - so I want to know how all of my friends/family went about deciding if they should change their last name when they got married. I am sure for some of you it wasn't even much of a thought because that is what you do when you get married but did anyone else struggle with this? I am having a hard time deciding what to do. Academically (because of publications and continuity) I need to stay Katharine Ann Ball but otherwise I can be Katharine Ann Ball Ricks or Katharine Ann Ricks or whatever. Anyone else find this a hard decision or is just me? The ironic part is that for most of my life I tried to figure out a way to get rid of Ball but now I want to hold tight to it - am I just being stubborn?

Also, what is your favorite way to spell Elizabeth?

Love

2010-01-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

The Security of Feeling Love

"The relationship between love and appropriate action is demonstrated repeatedly in the scriptures and is highlighted by the Savior's instruction to His Apostles: 'If ye love me, keep my commandments' (John 14:15). Just as our love of and for the Lord is evidenced by walking ever in His ways (see Deuteronomy 19:9), so our love for spouse, parents, and children is reflected most powerfully in our thoughts, our words, and our deeds (see Mosiah 4:30)."Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent, or a child is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains faith in God. Such love is a source of strength and casts our fear (see 1 John 4:18). Such love is the desire of every human soul."We can become more diligent and concerned at home as we express love—and consistently show it."
David A. Bednar, "More Diligent and Concerned at Home," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 18

I loved this talk about how we should treat those we love by Elder Bednar. If you don't remember it go back and find it it is well worth your time. As I think about the different types of love and how we show those and as I talkw ith my Laurels about love and what it means at 16 I am always drawn back to a professor I had at BYU. Dr. Scorsby,(I think that is how you spell it), who taught lanugage development, talked about how he would listen to his teen daughters talk about how they love a certain song, love ice cream, love that shirt and am in love with a certain boy. He felt that the word is overused or misused often - especially if we are talking about the love of the Lord and how much we love a certain kind of food or similar comparisons. He created in his family different words for love, I can't remember what they are becuase it was almost 14 years ago but I remember agreeing with the idea that often times we seem to lose meaning of the deepth of the love we are expressing with just the word love. I do love Indian food and I love to go camping, especially with friends and family, but that is very different from my love for the Lord, my family or Rob. Just thought I would give you something to think about today. What do you guys think - what words best describe these different ways we "love" things?

Planning

2010-01-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

I need to journal somewhere and this is the only place I do so if you want read on - I can't promise that it is a work of art but just the feelings of a newly engaged, truly in love girl.
Anyone that really knows me well knows that I am a planner - it a Ball trait. We all need to know 5 years in advance (just kidding) what we will be doing, where we will live and what our lives will be like. Well it really doesn't work because nothing is that stable and the Lord has a way of changing all of our plans. If you had asked me last year or even 6 months ago what I would be doing in June of this year I would have said graduating and finding a job. Today my answer includes those things and getting married to a wonderful man and becoming the mother of 5 small children.
Throughout the last few years I have been very busy and juggled many responsibilities and all along I had this feeling that the Lord was preparing me for something - I just wasn't certain what it was. Being a Mormon woman I was hoping that it included a loving husband and a houseful of kids - little did I know that I was going to get just that. As I sat in the temple today I thought of all the many ways in which the Lord has blessed me in my life. In my PB I am told that I would marry at the appropriate time in my life, funny how it is also one of the most stressful. I can't say how incredibly blessed and grateful I feel for personal revelation and the opportunity to know that the choices I am making are not only mine but that the Lord has lead me here and blessed me with this relationship and these children. How incredibly reassuring that is to me.
As I think about the plans for the future that I had created for the single me and the reality of plans that now include a husband and children I am amazed at how much more fulfilling those plans fill. In all of my years of education I have never once thought that working would ever be more important to me than raising a family and now I am faced with the need to work (I need to pay off my student loans) and the opportunity to use all of my knowledge and skills that I have be developing for the past 10 years. I am blessed with a incredibly supportive and loving fiance that wants me to use the many abilities I have developed and I am grateful for the chance to continue working (something that I secretly love doing - I am related to my workaholic father).
I guess the point of my ramblings is that even with all of the planning and thinking I am most grateful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost that speaks to both my mind and heart allowing me to know that the decisions I am making are right.

Service

2010-01-08T07:05:00.001-08:00

"The Savior taught His disciples, 'For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it' (Luke 9:24)."I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives."
Thomas S. Monson, "What Have I Done for Someone Today?" Ensign, Nov. 2009, 85

I am so grateful for a living prophet that lives these words in his every action. What an amazing example we all have of charity, love and kindness in President Thomas S. Monson.

Leavitt Family Photo Shoot

2010-01-06T07:53:00.001-08:00

Monday I was able to drive down to Sugarland with Nathan and take pictures of my sister and her family. We had a lot of fun and then sat around after dinner doing what - talking about wedding plans of course! Here are some of my favorites. Family Photos first:

I told Donna and Brad that they had to act like they liked each other for these. :)

The Kids - Victoria wasn't especially in the mood for pictures but the older three did great!

Victoria- she loves to swing:

David - such a cute boy!

Katherine - my beautiful niece

Cameron - our smarty pants!

The three big kids:

Sisters

Brothers

News

2010-01-05T11:21:00.001-08:00

Well, to start off with I really hate being a girl sometimes. I hate that my emotions are directly tied to conversations and that I am not able to put my stresses into neat little boxes, pack them away, and then bring them out when I want to worry about that specific thing. Instead all my worries, fears, excitement, joy, happiness, and sadness all run together sometimes into one massive mess - at least it is right now. I don't know too many girls that haven't at least felt this way some - others are better at balancing things than others. I usually feel that I am alright at that balance but being tired, stressed, and happy all at once has not lead to the most balanced emotional state ever.

So, a week or so in review - that is the 28th-yesterday.

On the 28th Rob and his four children, Katie, Caleb, Samuel and Marlissa drove into town to stay with us. We ate dinner, had a fun FHE, and then the kids went to bed.

On the 29th we all played most of the day, my dad came home from Dallas early because there was supposed to be a bad ice storm and got to meet Rob and his kids. Later that night Rob and I got engaged. We don't have any pictures of that night or really any of us together last week but this is one Rob took about a month ago. No, definite date but I will keep people posted as we get closer - most likely some time in June.

On the 30th Jason and the girls, Donna and Brad and their kids, and Beth and Dallas came over to meet Rob and to hang out and eat some yummy food.

On the 31st Mama had to go to get an MRI done so Rob and I took the kids and Nathan and Mandy to the "tire park" in Tomball. We had a good time playing on all of the equipment and Rob was nice enough to play tag with the kids for some time and they loved it. Marlissa and I hung out and watched.

Nathan

Samuel

Mandy and Katie

Marlissa

Caleb

Caleb and Katie

On the 1st of January Rob and I went over to meet Shelly and Bella, see the Houston temple, I took him to see our old home on Golden Rainbow, and then to Target. It was nice to spend some time together with only one child, Marlissa, who accompanied us. :) That was also the last night that Rob was here and I was very sad to think about him leaving.

The 2nd dawned early, 5 AM in fact because Mandy had a high fever and was in a lot of pain. We caught Rob as he was getting the kids in the car and he was able to help give Mandy a blessing. Since then Mandy has been in the hospital, Nathan and I went and visited on Sunday evening and then Nathan and I went to Sugarland to take pictures of the Leavitt family last night. I am still working on those pictures and so I will post some when I am done.

So there - more than anyone needed or wanted to know about my week but it was a great week and I wanted to blog to be sure I remember all that happened.

Nice Quote

2010-01-04T07:51:00.001-08:00

“We have a duty to secure the physical safety and well-being of our children. However, some parents place undue priority on temporal and material possessions. Some are far less diligent in their efforts to immerse their children in the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Joseph Fielding Smith, Take Heed to Yourselves! comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. [1971], 221). Remember that having religious observance in the home is as important as providing food, clothing, and shelter. Parents can also help children discover and develop their talents. We are responsible for the talents we have received. Children who are not taught that they are accountable for their time and talents are increasingly subject to the foolishness and unrighteousness that are so pervasive in the world (see Mark 7:20-23).
Quentin L. Cook, “Stewardship—a Sacred Trust,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 93

Mandy Girl

2010-01-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

Well it has been an eventful week, which I will blog about later but for now I just wanted everyone to know that Mandy and Mama are headed to the hospital. Mama spiked a temperature last night/this morning (5:30am) and was complaining that her leg hurt a lot. We got her a blessing, some mortin and then she slept for a little longer. Mama emailed the doctor and he wanted them to come in and get checked out so they are on the way to Texas Children's right now. If you could keep her in your prayers that would be wonderful. I will let you know what happens as time passes.

Christmas Morning

2009-12-26T12:59:00.001-08:00

Christmas morning is fun always fun. Mandy and Nathan woke us up early and we unwrapped presents. It was early enough that when I got back to bed it was before 7:30 am.

Nathan got what he wanted a Nitendo DS (I think) some small game thingy (you can tell I care a lot) from Santa and Mandy got a horse stable and horses from Santa. They both got fun gifts from Mama and Daddy and have been spending many hours playing with them.

Just as an aside I made a bunch of Christmas bags to "wrap" the presents in this year and boy was it nice on the wrapping end and on the clean up - yeah for being able to sew!

Christmas Eve

2009-12-26T12:44:00.001-08:00

Each year we have Christmas Eve together (this year is was smaller than usual :( because of Cyndi, Asia and Bob's family's absence), but we still had a great time. We met at the Turpin's and had delicious food, great entertainment, presents and a movie. Beth and Dallas joined us so it was perfect. I hope that every family has such as great time as we do!

Bella

Beth and Lizzy

Katherine and Victoria

Beth and most of the kids dancing to "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" - Aunt Beth is great for making it fun for all the kids.

David is so sweet with Joy!

On to the entertainment for the evening - in every sense of the word. Mama, Daddy, Beth, Mandy and Nathan and I sang and played the bells or piano (Nathan) to Jingle Bells as our "talent". It was a sad little production but we had fun!

Mandy then played "Jolly Ole Saint Nicholas" and we all sang along - pretty good for a 6 year old!

Then it was the Leavitt's turn and Katherine read to us the story of the candy cane and what it represents.

Then the Turpins took their turn - they did 4 things really. A puppet show, Jessi read a story and then we sang "Away in a Manager" and then we snuggled in for "Prep and Landing" a 25 minute Christmas story about getting ready for Christmas and believing - it was really cute. Since we had it at the Turpin's we got to have Bella there too - we are lucky!

Here are some just random pictures from the night.

Joy loves Uncle Brad and while we were watching the movie she was insistent that he read to her. It was very cute!

Making Gingerbread Houses

2009-12-25T12:54:00.001-08:00

As with tradition we made gingerbread houses. Mandy and Nathan did a great job. Here are some pictures of the construction and finished product.

Turpin Girls Photo Shoot

2009-12-25T11:58:00.001-08:00

I wanted to take some pictures of the girls to get more exposure and different looks so I dragged the Turpin girls (minus Bella) to a near by park and took a bunch of pictures. Here are some of my favorites of my beautiful nieces.

Joy Turpin

2009-12-25T10:44:00.001-08:00

Joy is such a beautiful child and did such a great job of being photographed when I was working with her. She loves her mommy so much and that comes out so much in some of these photos (Shelly was standing behind me as she walked toward me in many of them) that I had to do a post just of her.

Callings

2009-12-14T06:32:00.000-08:00

When I was studying Preach My Gospel this morning I came across a couple things I thought I would share - now for those that think this only has to do with missionary work they are wrong! :) It is a great source of study and has so many resouces put together in one place - it is an amazing resource.

On page 11 it says:
"When you have done your very best, you may still experience disappointment, but you will not be disappointed in yourself. You can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit work through you."

Later on the page it tells us to remember among other things:
* Your calling gives you authority; keeping your covenants gives you power.
* You are successful when you are obedient, live righteously, and do your best in helping others live the gospel.

In Helaman 10:3-5 - it talks about Nephi and how he was called to preach and the wonderful job he has done - this is the part that struck me this morning. Verse 5 - And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrart to my will."

Wow to have the Lord have such faith in you. As I thought about the context and content I thought about my own calling and callings I have had in the past. How the Lord truely qualifies those He calls, that he places the right person in the calling at the right time but it is not our calling that makes it work but our being obedient, living righteously, doing our best, and keeping our covenants that allows the windows of heaven to open with inspiration and love for those whom we serve. Some mornings my scripture study is just words passing in front of my eyes other times if I am in tune the Spirit is able to bring things to my remembrance and teach me what I need to know. I hope that as you serve the Lord that you feel that same presence and that in so doing you are able to strenthen your own testimony of this great work - regardless if you lead the ward or lead the nursery you are doing God work.

Christmas Letter

2009-12-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to send out Christmas letters - yet in the rush of my season (called the end of a semester) I haven't had time to mail out cards to those I love. So, I will put it here for all those admiring fans of mine. :)

Contemplating on the many changes and learning experiences I have had this year I ultimately am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has sustained me through the longest and busiest year of my life - thus far! In January I started a new full-time job, a new degree and wrote my dissertation proposal. I knew going into a second Masters degree while trying to complete my PhD would be rough but I wasn't prepared for the endless hours of work, internships, studying, and tiredness that followed. But before I go any further I would also like to say how inspired and wonderful the public health degree has been for me. For those who don't know this degree was one in which the I had continual promptings to pursue and then when I got offered my full-time job early last November I quickly applied to the degree here, after acceptance to one of the best programs in the country in Texas. It didn't take long to get the acceptance letter gratefully and what amazing faculty, staff and students are in the program. I am so very grateful for this experience.

In January my family was blessed with a beautiful addition to our family Arabella Michele Hope Turpin (Shelly's family) through adoption. She has many medical problems and their family has experienced many many challenges but she is a wonderful gift to our family.

Because of the newness of my position with the university I was "stuck" in MO for 6 months. It was a nice six months but it felt like forever when I was told I had no vacation and could only take 2 personal days in 6 months. Thankfully, in July our family welcomed Gideon James Lowe (Asia's family) to our family and I was able to travel home for his blessing, meet Arabella, and to see my wonderful family for little while, just in time for Gideon and his family to leave us for Germany! (Looks like they are having a great time!)

Thinking about what I want to say next makes my life sound very dull and boring. I took classes in the summer and fall and participated in two separate public health internships (April-November) one at the local level and one at the State level (360 hours in total), had my dissertation approved, collected data, analyzed data, and am in the process of writing it up, and taught a new class. Boy I feel tired just thinking about it - sure glad it is over with.

After over 2 and half years as the primary secretary (under two awesome presidents) I was released, became the nursery leader to 10 babies from 18 months to 22 months for about 3 months and then was called into Young Woman. I teach the Laurels - what an amazingly interesting calling. The girls are sweet, cute and so hungry to date (not completely sure why sometimes). So I get to hang out with a bunch of giggly girls on Wed. nights, teach on Sunday, go to firesides and talk for a long time to very confused girls about what the true reason for dating, sex, and love(I keep telling them they should find someone that has had more luck in this area but the insist on talking with me - go figure). But I love it and I love them!

This year I have been blessed with developing many friendships with people that I really wanted to get to know better, the Lord has softened my heart to understand and love people more as He would, and have felt truly blessed to have friends here in Columbia that put up with my company and even seem to like it! :) For my family here in Columbia we welcomed Gilead Emmanuel Black on November 25, I was privileged to be the "babysitter" for their other 4 wonderful boys! To add to the complicated mess you have read about thus far I was blessed to meet and begin a relationship with someone who truly has become one of my best friends. I am grateful for that blessing in my life.

As I look back on this year I am overcome with all the blessings I have been given, the family I have here in Columbia, how my testimony of the gospel and Savior has been strengthened through trials and frequent trips to the temple. I am so thankful for a whole season that we get to celebrate the life and purpose of our Savior Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that for each of you that the spirit of Christmas touches your life and stays throughout the year adding that extra measure of joy and peace that only He can offer.
Merry Christmas!

I love you all!

Love

2009-12-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

"Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 21

Gilead E. Black Photo Shoot

2009-11-30T20:11:00.001-08:00

So this little guy always has a very serious look on face so tonight it was hard to catch anything but that, regardless he is darn cute.

Gilead Emmanuel Black

2009-11-25T20:14:00.001-08:00

Denise Black had her baby today, mom and baby are doing well.

He of course if beautiful and perfect, born around 5 PM, was 7 pounds 13 oz.

Here are the pictures:

Reverence Invites Revelation

2009-11-23T06:31:00.000-08:00

“I remember a talk that President Boyd K. Packer gave in conference almost 20 years ago entitled “Reverence Invites Revelation” (see Ensign, Nov. 1991, 21–23). That phrase has remained in my heart all these years. It reminds me that we must create in our hearts, our homes, and our meetings places of reverence that will invite the Spirit to comfort, guide, teach, and testify. Because when the Spirit testifies to each of us that God is our Father and Jesus Christ is our Savor, it is that revelation that will invite true reverence born of love and profound respect.”
Margaret S. Lifferth, “Respect and Reverence,” Ensign, May 2009, 12

Topics: Reverence, Spirituality

Powder Valley

2009-11-23T06:07:00.001-08:00

On Saturday after a morning session at the temple I went with a friend and his kids to the Powder Valley Nature Conservation. It is a beautiful place one that must be amazing in the midst of fall color. There is a small museum there that has displays about nature, wildlife, the water system, etc. and then there are nature trails. We took two of the trails - one was 1 1/5 miles and the other a 1/3 if I recall. We all seemed to have fun walking up and down the small hills and taking turns taking lots of pictures. Some of those pictures made it into my post on nature. Looking at them most of them are hard to tell who took them so I will not take credit for any of them in particular. It was very peaceful and relaxed, definitely a place to go back to in the spring to see the new growth and green leaves. We saw several sets of deer that were pretty tame, very used to humans. Later we went on a "adventure" with the GPS to find Baskin Robins and after passing it and turning around we found it hidden in a nook of a strip mall. It was a fun day. I hurried home and listen to the adult session of conference which was amazing. It was a very good day.

Caleb and Samuel looking at a display about the birds in the area.

Marlissa in front of the bee hive

Katie checking out the Habitat game

The beginning of the first trail

I am Thankful for my Sisters

2009-11-22T21:04:00.001-08:00

I have been blessed with many wonderful sisters who are not only sisters but also some my closest friends. I am thankful for their examples, their sacrifices, their prayers in my behave, their ability to make me feel loved, wanted, cared about and needed.

I am Thankful for Nature

2009-11-22T20:09:00.001-08:00

Most anyone that knows me well knows that I love nature. I love being in it and taking pictures of it. I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who has blessed us with so much beauty within the world. Here are some pictures that I have taken lately or last summer.

I am Thankful for Teachers/being a Teacher

2009-11-18T19:23:00.000-08:00

Throughout my life I have been blessed with great and amazing teachers - starting with my mom who have inspired me and encouraged me through life. I was not a little girl that was dying to teach, that was Shelly. I was not one that ever thought of becoming a professor or even teaching at church. That sounded like work for other people smarter and more dedicated than me. But I have found as I was inspired and encouraged that I love to teach. I love to watch as others learn - anything from their ABCs to the the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of my most favorite callings have been teaching - Relief SOciety (4 yrs), primary and now Young Woman.

It is nice that now as an adult I have the opportunity to give back and maybe inspire and encourage the girls and students that I work with. There is just something very freeing about sharing my knowledge and beliefs with others and I am grateful for whatever talent that I have in the area.

I am Thankful that we can all Create

2009-11-14T15:02:00.000-08:00

Elder Uchtdorf gave an amazing talk about creating and that within each of us is a desire and ability to create. There is a Mormon Messaage made from that talk here that if you haven't seen please take the time to watch. Creating is a beautiful thing - from a simple child's picture to a child itself what an incredible gift we have been given.
My newest creation is this
but I am so thankful for the ability to express myself through the things I make, decorate or otherwise create, what an awesome gift.

Great Quote

2009-11-13T06:23:00.001-08:00

“Live the gospel as conspicuously as you can. Keep the covenants your children know you have made. Give priesthood blessings. And bear your testimony! Don’t just assume your children will somehow get the drift of your beliefs on their own. The prophet Nephi said near the end of his life that they had written their record of Christ and preserved their convictions regarding His gospel in order ‘to persuade our children … that our children may know … [and believe] the right way’( 2 Ne. 25:23, 26, 28; emphasis added).”
Jeffrey R. Holland, “A Prayer for the Children,” Liahona, May 2003, 86–87

I am Thankful for the Scriptures

2009-11-12T19:51:00.000-08:00

I am so very thankful for the scriptures. I am thankful for the guidance that the scriptures bring into my life. I am grateful for the peace I feel as I read the Book of Mormon and how I feel so close to the Lord as I read it. I think of all the answers I have received through reading and am so very thankful. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE SCRIPTURES!

Veterans Day in St. Louis

2009-11-11T19:27:00.001-08:00

Today is Veterans Day and my nephew, Andrew, birthday. Happy Birthday Andrew! And thanks to all those who have served, are serving or have a desire to serve this great nation.

I spent the day in St. Louis with a friend. We went to the Science Center and the park near the temple and then I attended the temple. It was a fun day, I am tired but it was good!

Here are some pictures:

I am Thankful for the Blessing of Communication

2009-11-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

My whole life I have talked and talked, mainly to my friends and family but I like to talk and sometimes it even comes in handy. I like to be able to communicate how I am feeling effectivly and recently that seems to be working with family and friends. I am grateful and thankful for those who talk with me, counsel me, and generally are just willing to listen to me prattle on. What would this world be without that?

I am Thankful for the Prophet

2009-11-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

We have a living prophet. He cmmunicates with Heavely Father and Jesus Christ and through that we are bleesed to know the will and driection of the Lord. I am so very Thankful for his guidance and love. What an amazing example of service, love, dedication, sacrifice and testimony.

I am Thankful for my Bishopric

2009-11-10T20:04:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for my Bishopric. What amazing men they are. Bishop James is one of the most compassionate and loving men I know. He has been my home teacher for a long time and he is the best one I have ever had. Brother Allen is so service oriented and loves everyone. He makes church fun for all of the youth and they love him and admire him for that. Brother Schramm also so service oriented and loving towards all the children in the ward. I am thankful for their examples, dedication, sacrifice and the sacrifice their families make.

I am Thankful for Music

2009-11-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

I love music, well I love pretty and peaceful music. I love the power that music has in bringing in the Spirit, how it can calm a situation, how it can bring peace and joy. I am of course a little picky in what I listen to but I just love beautiful music and am very thankful for the hymns especially. My friend Denise was telling me how much she loves Thanksgiving hymns, me too and Christmas music/hymns are on the top of the list as well. Today I am thankful for music.

I am Thankful for Time

2009-11-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

Everyone seems to be really busy these days - lots of crazy schedules for families and less time to do the things that matter most. Some days I feel like I have no time, this semester has been the busiest of my life and I have survived but most weeks feel like months so I have had to learn to use my time very wisely. And surprisingly it hasn't been half bad. I have found that when I make the time for scripture study, prayer, learning, friendship, FHE, service everything else works itself out.
Time is one of the only truly selfless thing I have to give sometimes and I am glad that I am learning, all be it slowly, how to give the time that everyone needs to them.
I am thankful for the gift of time.

I am Thankful for Baptism

2009-11-07T21:26:00.000-08:00

A little update first: Josiah is doing very well, incredibly so actually. He went home the day after his fall. Just wanted make sure everyone knew so they can stop asking. :)

Today I went to Kiersten Rule's baptism, she is the grandduaghter of Brother and Sister Steed who live in Houston. Her mom, Amy was 12 when I meet her, such a sweet girl and now woman. The baptism went well and just got me thinking about all of the baptisms I have been to in my life. My own in Singapore, I remember cold water - that is about it. And then more family and fiends than I can count. It is always a wonderful day accompained by a wonderful Spirit. I am grateful and thankful to know of the narrow gate that leads us back to our Heavenly Father. Thankful for the covenants I made and the ones the Lord made with me. Grateful for the sacrament so I can be just as clean and pure as Kiersten again each and every week.

I am thankful for a ward family

2009-11-05T12:48:00.000-08:00

Recently my friends, The Blacks, 2 year old son, Josiah, took a fall from the deck of one of the families in our ward. He fell 9 feet and hit his head on the last wooden step. Scary situation yet, the Lord put into place all the people that needed to be there to help Denise deal with the injury, take care of her other children, and get a priesthood blessing within minutes. Christy, a nurse, was there to help and stay with Denise in the hospital until Jason could come. Dan was close and came and adminstered a blessing within minutes and provided needed medical advice. Kera swooped up the other 3 kids and took them to her home with her 5 kids. So many people pitched in with cell phones, snacks and other help that allowed Denise and Jason to concentrate on Josiah. Our good bishop was there to help just at the right time with transfering to the PICU and providing addtional support. I know how much Jason and Denise appriciated the help and love shown and it just reminded me of the amazing blessing our ward is in my life.
True they weren't serving me but Josiah is as close to as a nephew as you can get and what amazing examples that others set in helping, caring, loving and serving at a moments notice.
The Savior taught that when "When you do it unto the least of these you do it unto me." What a wonderful thing to see that in action and know that we can truly care for one another and feed His sheep in times of need.

I am thankful for Young Woman

2009-11-05T12:31:00.000-08:00

When I was in YW's as a girl I enjoyed the leaders, activities, spirit, opportunities for growth both in leadership and goal setting and achieving but now as a teacher I see it differently. The YW Theme:
We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.
We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things,
and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live
the Young Women values, which are:
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works
Integrity and
Virtue.
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values,
we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants,
receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

The theme and ideas in it has blessed my life in so many ways - reminding me of who I am, God's plan for me and what I should be doing to work on myself. At 17 I recived the YW recognition and now as a leader I am working on it again. What a fabulous program.

Last night our ward had YW in Excellence and the girls did a great job singing, presenting their projects and being good examples of how to work on something of worth and finish it. I am grateful for the program then and now and for my chance to be a part of it.

I am Thankful for Temples

2009-11-03T16:01:00.000-08:00

I love to see the temple, I am going inside some day...

I love the temple, I love going to the temple, I love the peace I feel there, how close I feel to God when I am there, how quickly it seems I get answers to prayers there, the joy of learning there, that family are eternal becuase of covenants there, that I can serve and be served there....

It is one of my favorite places on earth.

I am thankful for the fall

2009-11-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

Fall might be my favorite part of the year. I love how the air becomes cooler, the leaves begin to change into beautiful colors, there is general conference, and school starts. I love the newness and excitement of a new school year even if I am not the one going to school - I love hte excitement about learning. The decorations are awesome and can be beautiful and it begins the holiday season and my birthday.

Free LDS Books

2009-11-02T10:31:00.000-08:00

My mom sent me this email and thought I would share it with whomever reads my blog that didn't already recieve it. I just saved the books onto a jump drive so I have them for the future.

"As part of his doctoral studies, John Hilton III is "studying what happens when books are made available for free." He worked with "Deseret Book and they have made 8 of their books available for free." They can all be downloaded at http://deseretbook.com/free. Several of the books are ones you might be interested in. The books are:

1. Please Pass the Scripture (by me).
2. What I Wish I Would Have Known When I Was Single (by John Bytheway).
3. Women at the Well (by Richard and Jeni Holzapfel).
4. Digging Deeper (by Robert Eaton).
5. 10 Secrets Wise Parents Know (by Brent Top and Bruce Chadwick).
6. Growing Up: Gospel Answers About Maturation and Sex (by Brad Wilcox).
7. Saving Kristen (by Jack Weyland). (fiction)
8. The Hidden Path (by C.B. Andersen). (fiction)

If nothing else, I recommend that you go download them all and save them for future reference as they will only be available online for free for a short time.

"Could you forward this information on to others who might be interested? I want to help share these great, free resources with as many people as possible. Some of the books help you get more out of the scriptures. Others are good for parenting. Some are just plain fun. Go check out http://deseretbook.com/free. I hope you like the books!"

The Thanksgiving Countdown Begins

2009-11-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

Last year I posted about the things I was thankful for in the last week or so before Thanksgiving. This year I am going to chose 1 thing a day and talk about that. Today it is my family - I am going to name just one or two things I am thankful for each one.
Mama - her unfailing support and love
Daddy - his hard work and love
Shelly - her amazing example of sacrifice and faith
Jason - his devotion to his family
Becca - her love of music and her service to her family
Sammi (my twin) - her love of sharing the gospel and serving
Jessi - her sweet nature and compassion
Lizzy - her fun nature and ability to make everyone laugh
Joy - that she emulates her name incredibly well
Bella - for teaching me about how to fight for what we want (in her case life)
Donna - that she chose to be my sister and friend
Brad - his amazingly patience with his family and others
Cameron - his desire and ability to learn
Katherine - her great example of love and serving
David - his sweetness towards his sister
Victoria - her laugh and devotion to her mother
Bob - his devotion to family and desire to "do it right"
Laura - her honesty
Ethan - his excitment at simple things like stickers
Bethany - her smile and girliness (in a sea of boys)
Thomas - his fun nature and helping hand to his Daddy
Christopher - his cute little face that looks so much like his Daddy
Cyndi - her ability to make everyone feel like they are the most important person
Jeremy - his devotion to his dreams and hard work to make them happen
Andrew - for his wonderful hugs (I miss them)
Jacob - his fiery little personaility
Michael - for showing us that the Lord has a plan for us all
Asia - (my other twin) her love for and devotion to her children
Ben - his willingness to share his knowledge
Aurora - for loving me because I look like her mom :)
Gideon - for helping Asia feel complete
Nathan - his solid testimony of the gospel and service to others
Mandy - for her great example of hard work since she has broken her leg and her natural love for art
My family is the best part of me. They keep me grounded, help me, love me, support me, are great examples to me. We are all very different but what an amazing gift to be able to have all of them in my life. I AM THANKFUL FOR MY ETERNAL FAMILY!

My Life's Update

2009-10-25T11:08:00.001-07:00

    Well, it has been a little while since I updated this thing. I have been really busy and now am sick which has blessed me with time to update my blog. Last weekend I went home mainly for Nathan's baptism but it was great to get away and see Shelly and her family and Donna and her family (minus Brad and David) while I was there.
    The trip started with me getting to the airport and there not being a ticket for me. Well, I didn't panic completely just got on the phone with my wonderful Dad and then talked with Continental. It worked out in the end that the situation was better and I still got home, just a few hours later than expected. Mama, Mandy and Nathan came and got me from the airport and we had some yummy lunch and then were off to buy Birthday/Christmas presents for the Turpin girls. We later got to visit Bella and Shelly of course and I got to hold Bella for the first time! I was very excited! This pictures I stole from Shelly's blog - is not particularly good of me but you get the idea. That was a sweet part of the visit. Now our Bella is back in the hospital and hopefully we will be able to figure out what is wrong now. Please keep her in your prayers. You can follow her progress on her blog. Friday we went to the auction there in town - that was the first time that I had ever gone. Nathan kept asking me why I was bidding - mainly because I didn't need the junk or had no need for the really expensive collectible's they were selling. We did end up with a few things for the farm and something for Mandy.
     Mandy - she was being a scientist all weekend. Well she was seeing how much water changes the feel and texture of baby powder. Every time I would go to her room (where I was sleeping) she would be doing this little experiment. So, I asked her what her hypothesis was and her quizzical look was priceless. I then explained and we talked about it and I didn't think much about it. Later, after I had left Mandy told my mom that she was going to be a scientist like me and maybe she would have to move to Missouri. That she would have to learn a lot so she would write papers and teach like me. Well, if imitation is the highest form of flattery than I should be very flattered. She is a great kid - very funny. Never really thought of myself as a scientist though.

Saturday morning Nathan had a little league game in the morning so I got to see him play. He was pretty distracted being that he was getting baptized in a few hours and was nervous but he played hard and his team won.
The baptism, well we thought it was all planned out and organized but that will teach us I guess. On Saturday afternoon the Bishop in the other ward in the building called to say that there were two baptisms scheduled for the same time and would it be OK to have them together. We said yes and adjusted talks and things to include this other child. When we got to the church it was a bit crazy but eventually we got started and everything was going well until Nathan and my Dad got into the water. Then Nathan got really scared/nervous and started crying. Eventually my Dad got him calmed down and he was baptized. When he came out of the water he was completely freaked out (Nathan is a little scared of the water). We thought that all the talking, practicing, preparation was enough but I guess we were wrong. Well, I gave the last talk and then we finished and headed home.

The cousins loved playing together, we ate and celebrated! It was fun. All of the Turpins, minus Bella goose, were there and and Shelly, Becca, Sammi, Jessi, and Lizzy sang a song the baptism. It was a good day. I hope Nathan remembers the good parts!
I didn't take my camera and used Mama's so I don't have the pictures yet that I took before but I stole this from Shelly's blog. Nathan in white - can't wait till he is the one baptizing on a mission.

Like most weeks this semester the week felt more like a month and I have been trying like crazy to recover from being gone - so worth it just lots of work still to do!

I am continuing to work on job applications and wow that takes some time. I am sure that something must come from all of this!

Temple/The Park

2009-10-04T17:43:00.001-07:00

While at the temple we decided to "touch" the temple as President Monson suggested. The top one is of the big boys touching the temple and the bottom one is of Josiah looking up at Moroni.

Playing at the park near the temple.

How to Go Down the Slide as a Two Year Old

2009-10-04T17:34:00.001-07:00

By Josiah Black

First you get into the slide area and point at Mommy!

Next you walk down the slide while the adults tell you "Please sit down on the slide!"

Third, you sit/fall down and squeal with delight.

Finally, you somehow flip over on the ride down and land on your head and then jump up and do it again!

Fall at the Temple

2009-10-04T17:11:00.001-07:00

The temple experience in pictures!

I love this quote - so much like President Hinckley

2009-09-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

"When our people first arrived in this valley 155 years ago, they saw with prophetic vision a great future. But I sometimes wonder if they really sensed the magnitude of that dream as it would unfold."The headquarters of the Church are in this city which recently hosted the 19th Winter Olympics. We made a deliberate decision that we would not use this as a time or place to proselytize, but we were confident that out of this significant event would come a wonderful thing for the Church. The great buildings which we have here—the Temple, the Tabernacle, this magnificent Conference Center, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Family History facilities, the Church Administration Building, the Church Office Building, our Welfare facilities, together with scores of chapels in this valley—could not be overlooked by those who walked the streets of this and neighboring cities. As Mike Wallace once remarked to me, 'These structures all denote something solid.'"And beyond this, we had total confidence in our people, many thousands of them, who would serve as volunteers in this great undertaking. They would be dependable; they would be pleasant; they would be knowledgeable; they would be accommodating. The unique and distinctive capacity of our people in speaking the languages of the world would prove to be a tremendous asset beyond anything to be found elsewhere."Well, it all worked out."
Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Church Goes Forward," Ensign, May 2002, 4–5

Counting my many blessings

2009-09-27T11:42:00.001-07:00

I would feel very ungrateful if I didn't recognize the great many blessings I have in my life and since I didn't take the time to bare my testimony in church today, this is just as good a spot. In my last post I talked about losing my job - well shortly after I sorted things out and I know have a couple forms of income - may not be as much or the way I had planned (I know I should never plan)but I will make it just fine. I am very very grateful for that. I have begun to see the good things that will come from this change in much stronger light than last week and again I am grateful for those people who helped me see that, even if you didn't realize it.
Some of the things I am grateful for:
My testimony of a loving and caring Heavenly Father that loves me and shows me in the small and simple things of my life.
A Savior who died for me and for you.
Repentance and Forgiveness
Prayer and the amazing ability to communicate with our maker, the peace, comfort, joy, answers and power that it brings
The scriptures that speak to me
A living Prophet, knowing that there is a prophet of the restoration
Peace, Comfort, Joy
The Holy Ghost
Tithing
The power of fasting - I have been taught this over and over
A job/jobs
Incredible friends that remind me constantly of how to live my life through their examples of goodness, faith, forgiveness and love
A awesome family who support me even when I am not supporting myself enough
The ability to think through problems (not claiming I am smart, just grateful for that ability to see problems from many different angles)
Teaching and how much I learn because of it
Support
Great Music

The beauty of this world Talents
Sweet babies that remind me of the innocence and sweetness that the Lord would have us show/be
My calling

Blessings

2009-09-27T11:25:00.025-07:00

I would feel very ungrateful if I didn't recognize the great many blessings I have in my life and since I didn't take the time to bare my testimony in church today, this is just as good a spot. In my last post I talked about losing my job - well shortly after I sorted things out and I know have a couple forms of income - may not be as much or the way I had planned (I know I should never plan)but I will make it just fine. I am very very grateful for that. I have begun to see the good things that will come from this change in much strogner light than last week and again I am grateful for those people who helped me see that, even if you didn't realize it.
Some of the things I am grateful for:
My testimony of a loving and caring Heavenly Father that loves me and shows me in the small and simple things of my life.
A Savior who died for me and for you.
Repentance and Forgiveness
Prayer and the amazing ability to communicate with our maker, the peace, comfort, joy, answers and power that it brings
The scriptures that speak to me
A living Prophet, knowing that there is a prophet of the restoration
Peace, Comfort, Joy
The Holy Ghost
Tithing
The power of fasting - I have been taught this over and over
A job/jobs
Incredible friends that remind me constatnly of how to live my life through their examples of goodness, faith, forgiveness and love
A awesome family who support me even when I am not supporting myself enough
The ability to think through problems (not claiming I am smart, just grateful for that ability to see problems from many different angles)
Teaching and how much I learn because of it
Support
Great Music
Sweet babies that remind me of the innocence and sweetness that the Lord would have us show/be
My calling

Changes

2009-09-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

Well, this life is all about changes - some good, some nuetral, some not as good but all changes non the less. On Friday I found out that I will not have a job come January. The project is going much faster than expected and there is no reason to keep me on after that time period. I wasn't completely surprised so that was good. I immediately put out some feelers for jobs and it looks like I will be able to teach 4 classes in the Spring for MACC and I am still looking for some other random job to make up the difference in pay. I am hoping that I will be able to find something fairly quickly.

The good things about this change:
* no figuring out what to do at work when the actual work part is done and we still have 20 hours left in the week
* more time to work on my dissertation, classes, etc
* time to go and interview for jobs if I need to do that
* longer time at home at Christmas :)

The bad:
not as much money
a more random work schedule
no help with tuition

So it seems the good out weigh the bad - just wish money didn't play such a large factor in my life!

Another Change - I am getting older this week. I feel very blessed with loving friends and family who have asked about celebrating with me! I feel very loved. This birthday is only reminding me that I need to get out of school already! I am feeling a bit trunky in school at this moment - only in thought becuase my classes keep me too bust for it to be in action!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Monday Quote and Birthdays

2009-09-08T05:32:00.000-07:00

“With all the differences in our lives, we have at least one challenge in common. We all must deal with adversity. . . . It is in the nature of our being human that comfort gives way to distress, periods of good health come to an end, and misfortunes arrive. . . . The arrival of suffering or the loss of material security can bring fear and sometimes even anger. . . . “The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of [Heavenly Father and the Savior’s] infinite love. God gave us the gift of living in mortality so that we could be prepared to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life.”
Henry B. Eyring, “Adversity,” Ensign, May 2009, 23

This week we have 3 Birthdays in my Family!

Happy Birthday Christopher who is one now (7th), Cameron will be 11 (9th) and Mandy will be 6 (11th)! What a great week!

Fall, School and Question

2009-09-06T15:09:00.001-07:00

Well school is off to a roaring start - I have taught three times and attended class two weeks (MACC starts a week earlier than MU). Things are feeling much more doable of course I haven't gotten anything to grade or any huge project due right this second so we will see but I am optimistic that things will turn out well. And as my BYU bishop used to say "This too will pass even if you don't" - nice sense of humor and great support! :)

Fall here is beginning - the days are getting cooler and I have seen a tree or two changing its colors. It is apple picking time, applesauce making time, canning time, etc. I love this time of year and all that it brings. Which leads me to my decorating for the season - really I guess for September because in October I will add in Halloween stuff and November Thanksgiving will take its place. My goal this year is to dwindle down the decorations I have since I will be moving. Sadly, decorations take up closet space because I have no storage or garage - something I will be looking for in my next abode. Regardless I have too many and so I will be giving some away after each season - it won't be too hard because my tastes have changed over time so that will help.

Here are some pictures of what I have done for September.

As some of you know I gave away my TV in December and have gone without since - honestly there are only a few times I have missed it. In Dec. my friends helped me move my armoire to my craft room for material - I love it there - so much more room and I can see almost all of my material. So here is the question - does anyone know how I can add another shelf to this (see picture below) so that I can see all of my material. Consider this - I am not a carpenter nor do I have any carpenter tools so it would have to be something simple or something I could ask a friend to help me with. If anyone has any suggestions please let me.

Teaching

2009-08-28T08:42:00.001-07:00

Every day we teach someone something sometimes it is explicit or maybe not sometimes intentional or maybe not.

On Sundays right now I teach 10 18m-2's that wiggle around, climb on me and the furniture, turn the lights off and on, can easily recognize a picture of the modern day prophet, the Savior, and the Prophet Joseph Smith. There is singing, standing up and down, pointing to a bunch of pictures and sometimes in there they learn something - at least I hope so. Becca and I repeat all of our lessons twice in a row and you would never guess, it is like they are learning it for the first time every time. They are super cute, fun and sometimes even cuddly.

Then on Thursday nights I teach for the community college here. I walk the 5 minutes from my office in the School of Nursing to the old engineering building and teach for 3 hours straight. At first I thought I was nuts, that I have too many things this semester to do and when am I going to find the time to plan my lessons anyway? But it is nights like last night that make all the difference in teaching. I was able to get them to work together, learn together, discuss and hopefully begin to think more about the things we talked about. It was a good night which left me energized instead of tired - that is what I love about teaching. It is awesome to watch others get things, explore idea and see what they are thinking in that brain of theirs. It was fun. The more I teach the more I like to teach in community colleges. The classes are small, the kids down to earth and want to be there. So it is all conducive to great class discussions and fun activities that are not possible with 80-100 kids.
Anyway just thought I would tell you about my good teaching night - they don't all go that way and so I have to remember the ones that do.

In other news: the classes are going to be alright. I think that once I get over the shock of going and working so hard then it will be fine. I just keep telling myself that I just have to get through the next couple of months. I still would love for anyone to be my secretary and find jobs for me to apply for. Just think if you are the secretary you can find jobs near you!

How I feel today about my Dissertation

2009-08-25T18:28:00.001-07:00

I would just love if someone could tell me what the middle part is - the "miracle" part and then I could sit down and write it.
In the 2 days of the semester so far I feel overwhelmed with all that I need to do. At work we are starting yet another project and so that is taking more time than usual and so that is hard. It just means I have to figure out the "then a miracle occurs" part of the semester and my dissertation and all will be well in Zion!

Recent Project Updates

2009-08-23T18:31:00.001-07:00

Project #1

Someone asked me what my next quilt was like and here it is in all of it's glory! I know the first one is a bad picture - kinda blurry but that is alright it will keep you guessing. Probably will take awhile before you see another shot because school starts tomorrow and I have to finish up any Christmas presents first.

These materials need to still be cut - around 400 squares from the top one - now you see why it might take a while!

Project #2

Christmas present bags - I finished about 50 some of these. They are all different sizes and fabrics. They will be used instead of wrapping paper at my parents home this year and for years to come. The reason is because I got very tired of wrapping presents this past Christmas. There are a lot of people in our family and everyone has presents under the tree and days went by with me wrapping so after Christmas I went to JoAnn's and bought a bunch of material with Mandy and Nathan (Mama and Daddy were in Amarillo) and now they are done! I hope to only wrap a bare minimum amount this year and buy more material after Christmas to make more for the next year.

Project #3

This is a Christmas present for some little boys I am related to. It will be fun I hope. Can't say too much more or I will give it away!

Update

2009-08-19T07:10:00.001-07:00

I was told that I needed to update my blog. So here goes. I finished up transcribing, coding and yesterday meet with my advisor about themes and have most of those ironed out. I can start writing now - just not completely sure what to say and how to say it so that should be easy. My advisor is going to send me an example of what she is looking for - in the past almost 2 years of comps and proposals and such this is the first example I will have seen! I hope that it helps give me an idea of what I need to be writing. Don't get me wrong I do have ideas I just want to do it right hte first time not the 25th. So I am right on with my goals. Now the next big deadline is December 20th - I want to be pretty much there with the writing so that I can turn it over to my committee in Jan.

Last Friday I met up with a friend and we went to the temple and dinner. It was a nice session and enjoyable evening. Didn't take any pictures sorry.

I start teaching tomorrow and I am currently working on lectures/lessons. I hate that I have to lecture the very first day but to get through the book I can't lose the first 3 hours because I just want to give them the syllabus and leave. That is the hard part of night classes because you have to move forward so you don't miss out on all of the time that they would have had if it was a day class.

I have the flu - don't know if it is H1N1 or not but it is yucky and thus making all of the things above harder to do. I don't want to teach at all tomorrow if I still feel like this so I am hoping it goes away very soon. I have been sleeping a lot and that helps some.

I have seen 2 of the 3 syllabi I have this semester for classes and they are going to be more work and reading than I hoped but I guess that is what I get for wanting to learn more. :)

I think that is about it - life is good, I am enjoying my time even if it is busy and I have the flu.

Newest Quilt

2009-08-09T15:28:00.001-07:00

Nothing too exciting happening in my life this week. I am getting closer to my goal of having all of my interviews transcribed - only 3 left. Hooray and then the hard work begins. I start teaching again on August 20th - only 1 class this semester but it is a new course and I need to make some lectures for it, but I am excited to get started.

I am taking 3 courses this semester and finishing up my internships - hopefully very soon!

I finished another quilt top - haven't had it quilted yet - need more money first. Here are a couple of pictures.

Also I finally joined the modern day and bought a camera for my computer so I can now skype. I hate how I look on the camera - tired and colorless but that is ok. Let me know if you ever want to have a free video conversation.

Lovely Nauvoo - Pioneer Past Times

2009-08-04T18:40:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I went to Nauvoo with Kim, the Blacks and the Schramms. We left about 7:45 on Friday morning and drove down, we found our campsite, set up our tents and then went down to save seats for the pageant and play in Pioneer Pastimes.

The Schramm's all dressed up.

Mallory and Hayden

A old fashioned game of stick pull

And Jaron wins!!!

Cute Aubrey

Stilt walking

Riding the wooden horsee

Josiah trying his hand

There is such thing as a free ride!

All I want is some water!

A Australia bound, stilt walking professor! We will miss you Kim!

The Rest of Nauvoo

2009-08-04T18:24:00.001-07:00

I wasn't as good after Pioneer Pastimes with taking pictures but we went on a Ox-drawn wagon ride, Denise, Kim and I attended the temple, we ate some yummy food, watched the pageant, slept, got rained on, learned about shoe making, brick making, wagon and blacksmithing, watched a wonderful movie about Joseph and the Saints and then headed home.

It was a wonderful two days and a very needed break for me. I always love Nauvoo but there was a special peace there this time for me. I felt the Lord so close so many times, I am so very grateful. I love that place so much.

Here are some more fun pictures.

Hayden trying to escape.

Cute Mallory

We thought Chandler was going to cry when she had to take the dress off - I will be making them one soon.

Ephraim waiting for the wagon.

The Elder told Jaron, Simeon and Chandler since they were in the front that they had to watch out for bears and Indians. Chandlers asked if that happened often and the poor Elder replied every once in a while. This was Chandlers face following that comment.

Pre-pageant I took just a few photos - here is Josiah.

Bowling anyone?

Gideon's Blessing

2009-07-22T18:17:00.001-07:00

My week at home ended with a beautiful baby blessing. All of Ben's family and most of ours (minus Bob and Laura and kids) were able to attend and some choice friends. We ate really yummy food and adored our newest family member. It was very special and even more so since that is the last time I will see them in person for a while because Asia and Ben are moving to Germany in September and have the nerve of taking Aurora and Gideon with them! :) We will miss them terribly but are so glad that they get to live as a family.

Aurora, Ben, Asia and Gideon

Aurora

Father and Son

Mother and Son

Katherine holding Gideon

The Leavitt's visit the Farm

2009-07-22T18:09:00.001-07:00

On Friday afternoon Donna, Brad and kids came to the farm to visit. It was nice and relaxing. We had yummy food, feed the cows, hung out on the hammock, rescheduled cows, ate lots of dessert, visited and watched a beautiful sunset.

The kids in the back getting ready to feed the cows

Cowgirl Katherine

Cameron feeding the cows

The back pond

David

Cyndi, Jeremy, & Michael

Katherine chasing after Victoria

Donna and Victoria

Mandy being silly

The Ocean and Aquarium

2009-07-22T18:00:00.001-07:00

After NASA we drove the rest of the way to Galveston. The next day we went to beach with the Turpins, Lowes, and Selims. We had a lot of fun. Later Mama and Mandy joined us for the Aquarium.

Andrew, Michael, and Jacob

Some of the kids in the distance

Michael loved the water

Gideon

Sam and Gideon

A cool starfish

Sammi being a fish

Nathan and Jessi having fun together

The Selim's checking out the pigeons

Becca is taller than all of them!

In a shark cage - we should lock them up and maybe they will stop growing up so fast!

Aurora

NASA

2009-07-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday we went down to NASA. It was a really hot day so being inside was great! I hadn't been there for a long time so it was really cool to go back and see things and see some things I hadn't ever seen. The boys loved it!

Jacob

Mandy

Jacob and Nathan

The Boys and Cyndi

The in-door shuttle for training

These are some of the trees that were planted in memory of those lost in space shuttle accidents.

Baby Gideon's Photo Shot

2009-07-12T20:03:00.001-07:00

After church I headed over to Asia's to take some pictures of her beautiful baby.

The Farm

2009-07-11T21:19:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures I took.

Feeding the Cows

2009-07-11T21:09:00.001-07:00

My dad has been working hard to fatten up our cows and get them ready to be butchered. So we went out and feed the cows with the kids - they loved it. Mandy loved being wheeled out and being part of things. Later the kids plated a game on the tramp and Mandy watched from the side, she was just happy be part of everything. Here are a bunch of pictures, enjoy!

Jacob

Mandy

Andrew

My mom

Our newest baby - Greta

Daisy

Forest Park and St. Louis Temple

2009-07-08T18:14:00.001-07:00

A couple of weekends ago when Kim and I went to see the MOTAB we took some pictures, like I mentioned, and I finally got around to playing with them and putting them on here.

Kim decided that we needed to follow the prophets advice and touch the temple - so here I am touching the temple. Next is of some of the beautiful flowers at the temple.

The rest are of Forest Park in downtown St. Louis. The whole area reminds me a lot of the downtown Houston museum district. Forest Park has a zoo, a park, botanical gardens and museums - it was beautiful.

July 4th Celebrations

2009-07-05T18:34:00.001-07:00

Well, as you can see I did have an enjoyable afternoon at the baptism. In the morning I did an interview for work with a great couple. After the baptism I went over to the Blacks and we had a very yummy dinner to celebrate both Jaron and the 4th of July. We had BBQ chicken, potato salad, macaroni salad, tons of fresh vegetables (some from the garden), baked beans, watermelon, and it went on. Most of us ended up with two paper plates because there was just too much good things to chose from and not enough room - you can never complain about that. Denise did a great job with everything and no one went away hungry - more like stuffed. Another family from the ward the Slade's came over and we did fireworks and ate some yummy cake and ice cream. From the pictures you can tell the boys like it a lot!

It was a great day! I am so grateful for this country, the men and woman who have fought and died for it, the founding fathers whose wisdom was beyond their years, for the freedoms we have and the ones I cherish. I love this country and just pray that we all may keep her strong.

Baptisms on Independence Day

2009-07-05T18:26:00.001-07:00

Our ward had two young men, who had recently turned 8, get baptized on Independence Day. What a great day for a baptism. How better to celebrate the religious freedoms we have and our God given right to choose.

This is Jaron (son) and Jason Black. I didn't end up with a picture of Daniel.

I love Jaron - he is a wonderful kid, much smarter than me and he is 8. He is always kind and was so prepared to be baptized and is a great example to all his little brothers and to me.