Update!!!

Here a few new things in my life:

• I'm going to Wash U in two weeks for a Newly Admitted Students weekend.
  
• I am moving to Orem, Ut the first week of May.
• I am going to be living with a wonderful family and I'm so excited!
• I will GREATLY miss Boston and all it has to offer!
• I will most likely be working at a RTC in Provo, UT
• I am looking to buy a car in the Provo/Orem area (any ideas??)
• After a fun filled summer in Ut...I will head to St. Louis, MO to start Grad School
• My MSW program starts August 27, 2008 ( it's a 2 year program)
  

Technology Trouble!

Hello to all!

I have had some major disconnect problems that have kept me from the outside world. This broke down and I sent it in to get fixed--but it was going to cost me too much so I had them send it back. Now I get to buy a new one!

Then this stopped working so I got this. After only 1 day it also stopped working so then I got this and I love it!

Yikes! So have a little patience with me as I figure things out! Thanks

ABC's of Me

A- Attached or single: single as ever!
B- Best Friend: mom
C-Cake or Pie: jellybeans
D- Day of Choice: Sunday
E- Essential Item: chapstick
F- Favorite Color: purple
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: neither
I- Indulgence(s): TV on DVD
J- January or July: January of course!
K- favorite k name- Kylee
L-Life is incomplete without: Family
M- Mission Date: 2001-2002
N- Number of Siblings: 7
O- Oranges or Apples: Oranges
P- Phobias or Fears: Ambulances
Q- Quote(s): --"...Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answers..."Rainer Marie Rilke (Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 4)
R- Reason to Smile: Boston
S- Season: Spring
T-Tag Three: I hate tag games.
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I love trees, bridges, and swinging on swings!
V-Violins or Violas-Do people even really know the difference? Violins
W- Worst Habit: not doing my hair
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: X-rays
Y- Year that means the most to you: 1999-My life changed forever
Z- Zodiac: Capricorn

After way too many tags I decided to do one. I don't think you will learn anything new about me but maybe...

"...help thou mine unbelief"

This my 400th post! I figure I ought to post something meaningful:

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life (see Matthew 10:39)." ~Ezra Taft Benson~

I believe this quote and it is certainly true about my life!

Grad School for MSW

I have great news!

I got accepted to Washington University in St. Louis! Yes friends...WASHU!! This is in Missouri in case any of you need to brush up on your geography (people keep telling me it's rainy in Washington--ha ha). I got into the school of Social Work to get my Masters starting in Fall of 2008! I am very excited and I feel very blessed to be able to attend such a fantastic school. Although I've never been to St. Louis I'm sure I will love it and my mom's side of the family is from Missouri--so it's sort of like I'll be going home!


This is the George Warren Brown School of Social Work on Campus.

La Dolce Vita!

My "Make it Happen" Trip of a Lifetime

Italy
February 16-23, 2008

This is my tour director, Annarita, and she was great! Every three words she said, "Alora (sort of like "okay" or "well" in English) and so that word became addicting. She ran the show but in every city we had incredible local tour guides.

VENICE (Venecia)

The Gondola ride , of course... I had the Opera singer & Accordion player in my gondola!


St. Mark's Basilica


People keep asking me if I tried the Italian Gelato. Here's my answer:

• Day 1- Hazelnut (Mi Favorito!!)
  
• Day 2- Mint Chocolate
  
• Day 3- Carmel
  
• Day 4- 1/2 Pistachio & 1/2 Nutella
  
• Day 5- Coconut
  
• Day 6- 1/2 Strawberry Fruit Sorbet & 1/2 Cocoa Chocolate
  

TUSCANY

Tuscany was beautiful! We stopped for lunch at this Frattoria (Family Farm) where they specialize in making Wine and Olive Oil.

PISA

As you can see I had a lot of fun in Pisa!

FLORENCE (Firenze)

I am standing on the Ponte De Vecchio Bridge and this became one of my favorite places in all of Italy. I love bridges and this one had a great view of Florence and was covered in little shops. I think discovering unknown spots and places was on of my favorite things on the trip overall!


The Duomo. This HUGE Cathedral took 400 years to complete. You can walk up the 463 stairs of the bell tower for an excellent view of Florence.


This is the view of Florence with the Duomo in the background from Michelangelo's Square. There is a copy of "David" in the square. Later I got to see the original.

ASSISI

This was a quick stop along the way to Roma--the St. Francis Basilica.

ROME (Roma)

I love the Pantheon. There is this huge open circle in the middle of the Dome the allows the sun (or rain) to stream inside. Also if you want to wait 5 years, and you have 273 euros, then you can get married inside.


The Coliseum at night! This was around the corner from my hotel.


I made it to the Piazza De Spagna, The Spanish Steps, a dream come true! For those of you who have known me for a few years knows I have wanted to sit on the Spanish steps--they had become the symbol of my goal of getting to Italy! It felt so great to sit there and realize I had made one of my life goals come true!

Italy

Here I go! I'm on my way to Italy today! I'm making one of dreams/goals come true! Pictures will be coming when I get back. Thank you if you were a part of making this happen for me!

The Big Apple

I found myself with time to spare and decided to join my friend, Alice, in NYC for the a few days. Alice, who works for E & Y, was already there on business so it was perfect timing to hang out. It was great to just get away from everything and walk around NYC. During the days I was at my leisure and then at nights Alice and I played.

It was great to meet up with old friends, take in some entertainment, and overall just get away!

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday night (I arrived earlier in the day courtesy of the Lucky Star (say the L like an R), bus. That night the lovely Sara Borg, now native New Yorker, took us down to a great part of Manhattan known as "Hell's Kitchen". This was my first time there but it seemed like a great place to find good food. I spotted a Lime (I love all things lime) and asked about this cute little place.

I can't even tell you how great the food was here! This is a must eat place if you are in NYC! The empanadas were fantastic and I had quite possibly the best quesadilla I have ever had! As good as the food was it was great to see, catch up, and spend a bit of time with Sarah!

THURSDAY

I wasn't planning on going to see a show this time around but I just can't help it. I know I won't be living on the East much longer and I will kick myself for not taking advantage of seeing all the shows I could. So I need to see at least one show every time I'm in NYC. It just so happen that Marry Poppins was the show of choice. The tickets were affordable and I really wanted to see this great show. I loved this movie as a kid! So I got Alice & I tickets and we were off.

I have to admit that the first act wasn't what I was expecting but I moved to a way better seat for the second act and the show came to life for me. Among the highlights was Bert tap dancing on the walls and ceiling (and singing upside down) and Marry Poppins flying with her umbrella right in front of me ( I swear I could almost reach out and touch her). I just love musical theater!

FRIDAY

The WTC Path Station is the temporary place to read about the events of 9/11/01. This is where you can read about updates on how the rebuilding is going, what it will look like, and so forth.


This is a part of what the Memorial Park will look like. The two fountains you can see above will be where the two towers fell and they are currently rebuilding the other buildings. There will be a very large museum and visitors center and also a new Port Authority and something to do with MTA. It looks like it will be absolutely beautiful!

This is at the site where the WTC towers crumbled. It explains briefly the time line of what and how things happened on that day. The pictures are vivid and powerful--I almost didn't take pictures-it felt like a hallowed place.

This is the Visitor Center on Liberty Street (oh the irony) for all things related to the tragedy of September 11, 2001. I stood outside for what seemed like forever debating on whether I should go inside or not. It was the same kind of debate I had with myself when I was asked if I wanted to go tour the Katrina wreckage sites in New Orleans. I don't about you but I get a little bothered by people trying to turn a penny by hashing out and through real people's tragedies. At the same time I'm just as curious as the next person (if not more since I was serving a full time mission during September 11 and didn't experience it like the rest of the world) to know how people are surviving and their sad stories.

In the end I decided not to go inside and opted to come back sometime once the memorial park is here and take some time to reflect. It was the same in New Orleans I opted out of the tour that would have taken me through people's actual yards and torn down houses and just went to a nearby art exhibit that showed pictures of the before and after pictures of Katrina.

I think just being in New Orleans when the Super Dome was reopened( to see how much the people there wanted to rebuild their lives), being at the Ground Zero site, and sensing a small part of the change that was wrought in those places was enough for me. In both situations my heart hurts still for those whose lives were caught up in the waves and wreckage of unplanned and unprepared for catastrophes.

Thank goodness that I believe in God that knows and sees all and can heal every heart and mend every sorrow!

On My Way

I'm on My Way! I'm finally going to make it happen! I'll be leaving for an 8 Day adventure to Italy on Saturday! I have wanted to do this for 5+ years now. I just never seemed to have the time, money, or find people to go with me. So I just decided to do it-make it happen! I will be with an English tour that stops in Venice, Florence, Rome, and a few other places along the way (Pisa).

As the song says, "Left my troubles all behind me..." That's what I'm going to do!

This is performed by Broadway Boys!

Rock the Vote

I just voted. I am very aware that the very short walk around the corner of my house to the nearby grade school where I cast my vote was anything but simple. True, it didn't take much for me, I registered to vote, I walked around the corner, I got a ballot, filled in my bubble, and walked away. It wasn't always that easy and it certainly wasn't always this way.

This year I decided that I would do something different as far as my awareness in politics. I decided that I would become much more aware of the issues, of what people were talking and debating about, but more importantly how I feel about certain topics. In the past I was more likely to just walk away from any political debate than argue my opinion. I think it was more because I didn't know my opinion than that I didn't like politics. And so with my Make it Happen motto in mind I decided I would change that. I would get involved, I would study the issues, and I would cast my vote!

I was amazed at what a sense of accomplishment this vote has become for me personally. As I was voting I couldn't help but be grateful for the Susan B. Anthony's of the world and for all the women who wouldn't give up their right to have a say in the world that surrounded them. I am very grateful for my right to vote and for the 19th Amendment!

And so in little ol' Watertown, MA I cast my vote for President, I raised my voice, I have become a part of the Democracy, the voice of the people, and I am forever indebted and grateful for all those who came before me that allowed me to have this opportunity!

Today I rocked the vote!

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:

• January
• February
• March
• April, April, April
  
• May
• June, June, Joan (ha ha just had to!)
  
• July, July, July, July
  
• August
• September, September
• October, November, December
• October
• November
• December, December
  

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!

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!

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).

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...)