KIGATSUKU

Thursday, January 31, 2008

2 Year Anniversary!

~January 31, 2008~

Happy Birthday Blog

It's amazing all that has happened in my life since my first day in Boston until now! Last year on my 1 year Blog anniversary I summed up a great year and following that year was another fantastic year.

As for how I did this year according to this quote last year,

"I will go to Italy, I am determined to do the Lord's will, and I will be happy doing whatever it is I'm doing. I will laugh, I will love, and I will make sure everyone around me knows I love life. I will do all this and more... here's to one more fantastic year!"

I didn't actually make it to Italy in 2007 but I made all the arraignments, paid for it, and planned it all in 2007 (though technically I will be going in 16 days and that is 2008)! So Close enough.
Who knew that I would start teaching early morning seminary this school year. Though it is difficult some mornings (okay who am I kidding every morning) to get up--my students and teaching the Old Testament has been and continues to be my saving grace!
As for the happy part, I'd say that there's been some rough patches but all in all I love my life!
I laughed a lot, loved a lot, hope people know I love them, and truly took advantage of being single and living in Boston!

Many more of my friends got married, many more had kids, I started and finished a wonderful job, and I learned a whole lot about myself this past year. Here are just a few highlights of my 2nd year having this blog:

And so it has been another memory filled, exhaustingly exciting, and fully lived year! I look forward to some stability this next year, to buying a car, spending Christmas in Ghana, falling in love, making more dreams come true, and diligently building the kingdom!

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Vermont

Julie, Me, Marie, & Preston decided to head for Burlington, VT for the MLK extended weekend. It was fun to get away, to relax, to see some of the sights, and to get to know our Vermont friends better!

It was so much fun to hang out with Marie & Preston for the weekend!

There his is, Danny Parsons, the host himself.

Breakfast was great! Julie also made us all a great Taco Soup dinner on Sunday night with Texas Sheet cake for dessert and it was delicious! Let's just say that I didn't stick to my diet at all this weekend.

Some of my favorite memories of this weekend was when Marie & Julie started jamming (& dancing) improve.

YUMMY!!

This was a "moooooving" tour.

The gang super excited to watch the history of Ben & Jerry. Come to find out they are just 2 "real guys".

Can you find Marie & Kylee??

Cider House (this is where we had some sweet Cabot cheese and chocolate)

Julie & Teddy at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory

Kylee & Teddy

The view from the back of the house (this is a terrible picture because It was too cold to go outside to take the picture.

Tiffany & Matt chillin'

This is what we did most the time; played games and just hung out. (David came to chill w/ us)

We went to lunch at Applebee's (close to Matt's school). I got a steal on black boots (70% off)

The ride home was a lot of girl talk and relationship chat--Preston could barely stand it.

All in all it was a great get away! Thanks Dr.'s & friends for making our visit to VT so much fun!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Nothing has really changed...

When spending a lot of time with kids you realize that even though we get older we really don't grow up in some ways. Things haven't changed so much since when we were kids--just the way we do it.

Today H and I were playing in the guestroom/playroom. I played toy cars with him for a bit but had decided to multitask so I brought the laundry that needed to be folded into the room and went to work. After a few minutes H had pulled a piece off his toy car land and wanted me to fix it. I did, played with him for a bit, then went back to work. It didn't take him long to realize that if he continued to "break" his toy and ask me to "fix" it then he would get my attention. It was quite comical and then it hit me.

Are we really that different?? Not really. It seems to me that we are all trying to get someone's attention--some are able to do it in a postive way--others not so much. We are just trying to be notice, to be touched, to have someone matter or to matter to someone. I am amazed the lengths that some people will go to get that attention,

Well I"m still learning how to grow up--as for H and I --I put down the laundry and we played a mean game of cars crashing, going to car wash, getting gas, and so forth. True to life once I gave him the attention he wanted it didn't take long for him to be bored with me (ha ha).

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The New Job...

Some people have been asking about my new job so I thought it was time to let you all know how things are going. First of all thank you to everyone who prayed for me, sent me ideas for jobs, and just supported me. I actually didn't miss one day of work. I left my old job on a Friday and started my new job on Monday. Nothing less than a miracle!

I am what is called a Mother's Helper or Personal Assistant (Most commonly known as a nanny). I'm not exactly a nanny because my boss stays at home with the kids (she's currently pregnant and due in April.

My boss and family decided that they needed some help with the house, the kids, driving the kids, etc. So I pretty much do whatever is needed. In order to do this (they live in Weston about 20 minutes away from Watertown) they gave me a car to use ( such a huge blessing)! I love the freedom that my new car gives me-woot woot!

My boss has 3 kids: G (6), Ge (5), & H (2). I mostly take care of Hand drive G & Ge all over town (swimming lessons, ballet lessons, school, play dates, ice skating lessons, etc.) We have fun rocking out to all sorts of crazy music in the car.

I love my job, it pays well, It's very low stress, I get to play with kids, I'm not sitting on my butt all day, I get to have a car, and I love working for this family! So all in all I very happy with my new job. I plan to work for the Whites until I head to Grad School this summer (stay tuned...)

Monday, January 07, 2008

The Famdamly

the Sisters

That's more like it!

the Tvetan-Shields-Strayer Family

This pictures says it all...

Thanks Janice for the pictures!
Location: Lodi, CA
not pictured:Grant Marcus Shields (We all miss you!)

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Yuuki

Happy New Year!

With the new year comes a new blog title (like the 2 previous years) and just to mix it up a new blog template also. I have chosen Yuuki as this year's blog title. Here is what it means:
the Japanese word for courage is: 勇気 (yuuki)

The first character has the meaning 'brave' and the second is 'spirit'. I should think leaving off the second character would be fine unless you were using it in an actual Japanese sentence (in which case you'd likely be representing the word yuuki and so would need both)...

...according to Jim Breen's WWWJDIC 勇 (yuu) can stand alone as a noun, meaning "bravery; courage; heroism"...

Monday, December 31, 2007

2007

Some of the happenings in my life (not particular order) in 2007:

I had 5 roommates
2 of those roommates got married (since I've moved to Boston I've had 4 roommates get married, 1 roommate work on the Mitt Romney Campaign, and 1 roommate go on a mission)
My sister Danielle got married and I gained a new Brother-in-Law, Kevin Tvetan
I worked 3 different full time jobs
I got a car
I applied to multiple Grad Schools
I started teaching early morning seminary
I've had 2 church callings
I taught a 6 week beginning ASL class
I directed a musical fireside, "Come Unto Christ"
I managed to stay in my house but I changed rooms
I continued to figure out my life
I enjoyed Boston to the utmost
I didn't date enough but I made lots of wonderful friends
I made (booked the tour) a dream come true...almost (Italy in February)
I ate too much food, didn't play enough piano, and didn't get married (ha ha)
But BYU did great in both football & basketball, the Red Sox won the World Series, and the Pats & Celts are doing well
I loved a lot, I lived life, I made lots of new friends, said goodbye to old friends, explored New England, went to lots of dances, had a great time at the Education Conference, and have even been able to use my ASL interpreting skills
Saw Natalie's hair change from Blonde to Red
Spend New Year's Eve with my BFF (Michael Sackett) in NYC
I organized a huge appreciation event for AFC
Got to see Dad run the Boston Marathon
Went surfing
Read a lot of great books
Fell out of a canoe--fully clothed
Saw Nickel Creek perform in Boston live
Went to a few Red Sox games
I had toe surgery
I climbed a very very tall tree
I learned how Violin's are made
People that visited me: Joey & Savannah, Sarah, Annalee, and Mom & Dad
States I went to: UT, AZ, CA, ME, NY, NH, and VT

2007 was a great year for me and I'm looking forward to 2008!

Family Time---Christmas Time

I had a great time with my family and friends over the Christmas Break! It's always good to refocus, relax, and be with the people who love you whether you are your best self or your worst!

This is just a part of my extended Shields Family!

Here we are at the new Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni Center. Go BYU! We are all Alums!

The married couples wearing their new Christmas attire

Alexa dancing with the snowman

Chels & mike

The 5 sisters

Mom and her sister Kris

Mom with the girls

Clay, Kaitlin, and Alexa

My uncle just breed his pure bred German Shepherd Husky, Kayla, and she had 4 of the cutest puppied ever. We had a great time playing with the puppies.

I can't believe how tall Scott & Eric Sackett have gotten!

Mike & Me (no, I'm not hurting him)

Some how between the last time I saw her and now Megan Sackett grew taller than me!

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Randoms

So here's some random information for you all:

The girl I visit teach has two of her designs on Kleenex boxes.
I am very sore from shoveling heavy wet snow.
I look good as a Christmas Tree!
I got a new job and I love it!
My Seminary class is going well (although we are all ready for a break from these early mornings).
I'm trying to decided if I should feel bad that I didn't send out a Christmas "Update" when my friends send me Christmas cards and letters with pictures of their beautiful kids or if I should just be glad that I'm still on their list.
I'm going to Italy in February and making a dream come true!
I've almost read every Jodi Picoult novel.
As of December 30th I will have a car.
I seem to have lost my Epi-Pen---have any of you seen it?

Well I'm off tomorrow to see my family, My 10 aunts and 9 uncles, my 55 + cousins, and a whole lot of friends I haven't seen in a long time. Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Winter Wonderland

Well it's officially winter here in Boston!

Natalie & I decided to get all bundled up and shovel some snow (quite a feat). We only had 1 shovel so I ventured across the street to the neighbors to borrow a shovel and met my 89 year-0ld (ish) neighbor, Helen. I'm sure I scared her to death in my dark get up covered from head to toe and asked her if I could borrow a shovel and that I would shovel her stairs and walkway for her. She was shocked. About 5 min. later she arrived at the door with shovel in hand saying, "I'm sorry I'm not a spry as I use to be...Come back tomorrow and I will give you a present." (How cute is that!) I told her not to worry about it being it would take me just a few minutes to clear her walk way. She asked if I were new and I was a bit embarrassed to say I had lived across the street from her for almost 2 years now. She smiled and said, "Well I don't get out much" putting the blame on herself. I told her I'd come by again and I'm actually looking forward to it. I can't believe in all this time I have never met most of my neighbors.

So Nat and I shoveled away and had a great time I might add. It's been a long time since I was outside really shoveling loads of snow. I kind of liked it and I'm loving the Winter Wonderland!

10---11---12

So here's what I've been doing for the past 3 months:

In October (10)

A few of us decided to got to the "Greatest Show on Earth"

The Elephants were my favorite part of the show ( and the white Siberian Tigers)

This trick was pretty mind boggling. They got 7 motorcycles going in this little metal round cage at one point! It was amazing!

In October we had a regional Education Conference where Elder Holland came out here to speak. There were great teachers, speakers, and events that brought single adults from all over the East coast together. I had a great time and was able to meet Elder and Sister Holland and talk to them for a few minutes. It was truly an incredible experience. Here are more pictures from the Conference taken by Timothy Connor.

Ben & I enjoy hot chocolate during the opening night festivities.

De Ette & Seth

Timothy & I before the big Black & White Ball at the State Capital

Ty(Texas) & Lisa(DC) came out for the Education Conference and stayed with me

Elder Holland spoke from the heart and was very candid!

We all had a great time at the dance!

Halloween

I was a flapper. I thought this was a great and easy costume. I wore this on Halloween day to my seminary class. My students were a bit surprised (I think they thought I was dressed like a hooker). When I asked any of them if they knew what I was no one knew. When I told them I was a flapper from the 20's they still had no idea what a flapper was. I was a bit embaressed and took off my wig and boa to teach the lesson that morning. Ha Ha

Julie & Natalie turning into cats.

In November (11)

Natalie's family came to town and you know that means getting all the friends together. Usually this means that I can convince Julie to share her talents (after much begging). Thanks Ju!

The Winter Gala

Danny came down from Vermont to hang out with the Boston Crew and attended the Gala with us. Earlier that day Danny and I checked out the Old North Bridge and the Minute Man Museum and sights.
This dance was more fun than any of us anticipated!

I love these ladies!

Chris & Katasha

Julie & Kylee

Thanksgiving Dinner

Esther was kind and invited me and many others to join her a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. I got to meet new friends and eat wonderful food! Thanks Esther!

Esther & Kylee

In December (12)

The girls down the street and my apartment decided to have a little Holiday Dinner. It was great to get all gathered together. It turned out fantastic!

As part of the festivities that was Natalie's Birthday 14 of us ladies decided to go to the "Urban Nutcracker". We had a great time and the day just got better with the Relief Society Christmas Concert later that night and then of course Natalie's Birthday Bash!