I know...

...it may sound a little cheesy but I miss Nathan. Actually, that doesn't sound cheesy at all. That is the dang, cold hard truth. He is stuck in Houston for the moment and we are trying to get him back to Phoenix. This standby, buddy pass stuff is for the birds. I don't think I'll do it. I don't have the patience for it. I'd be sick of it already and give in and walk home!

He left Anchorage at 12:40 am Friday night and landed in Seattle yesterday and someone had to go and pick him up and house him to get to Houston this morning. So, technically, he has been waiting to get to Phoenix for 2 days. That sucks. Ka'le is terrible, he has gotten more sappy and is wondering where "papa" is and when a car comes by or my phone rings, he thinks that it is him. If you ask me, that is a pretty smart dog!

I have to work tomorrow and do some last minute running around before my vacation starts this next week so I'm going to be VERY tired!

Other than that...I don't have much more to say. I've been watching CSI season II all week so I'm all CSI'd out!

Have a wonderful Sabbath Day.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope that all of your prayers and wishes are answered this new year.

I have a "family letter" that I typed up a few weeks ago but I don't want to mail it out so I am fighting with myself to figure out of I even want to email it out. If you keep up with the blog, I don't need to send the letter because, technically, everything that is in the letter is here too.

So, I guess I just answered my own concern; I'm not sending it!

Nathan has been in Alaska since Saturday evening and is doing fine. He hurt one of his fingers on his right hand and has gotten the flu while being up there but other than that, he is having a wonderful time.

I worked Monday and Tuesday and had Wednesday and Thursday off...hence, I did what little work I needed to do on Tuesday and left 1 hour early so that I could hit the grocery store so that I could get the little things I needed to make blueberry cheesecake to take the my friend Kathy Turner Davids' home for Christmas Eve dinner. She invited me after learning that I'd be in AZ by myself. I had a great time. They crack me up. Paul her husband is so stinking funny so we had a great time. Nathan would really like them.

I have gone on lots of walks with Ka'le because he has been alone a lot this week. It has rained every day too. He doesn't care to much for that on his paws and it is so stinking funny because he walks funny and then won't pee or go #2. He makes me walk with him and then I get all wet...so, I guess its fair...we are both wet.

I've taken a bath almost every day so I just soak and fall asleep in the tub...kind of funny because I am not one to do that because I used to not fit so now that I figure I fit, I do it! Big people don't belong in the bathtub, they may get stuck!

I made cheesecake (blueberry) yesterday and homemade wheat buttermilk rolls. Both were so yummy. No sugar in each of them.

This morning I woke up to a mariachi band singing and what sounded like 5 girls singing and dancing outside. Guess what time that was? 4:45 am. I was so mad because it took me about another 45 minutes to go back to bed and by that time, I think the cops had come because it was QUIET.

So, at 7:30 this morning Ka'le came to get me to let me know that he needed to go outside, so we took a walk down to the park. When we returned, I read about the birth of the Savior, Luke 2 and Alma 7. When I finished that I looked to see what time the movie was starting, The curious case of Benjamin Button. It was 10:25 so I showered, got dressed, walked Ka'le again and went to the movie. It was almost a 3 hour movie and I had to be at the Phoenix Rescue Mission right afterwards. I left the movie talked to Nathan, called my dad and ran over the the location. I get there, park the car and quickly read through the paperwork and realize that I'm not wearing black pants like the paperwork asked, I have on jeans and a red sweater. I remembered the red but not the black pants. I figure that I have time to go home since the building was so close to my house. The paperwork said to be prompt and on time so I figured I'd make it. I run home, change my pants and run back there and they have already shut the doors. OK...I need to say, I was late! I don't know why they were strict, I just know that it was raining out and that I was late. So, needless to say, I went home and walked some more CSI.

Ka'le and I went back down to the park and ran in to a puppy that was hit by a car because he won't walk on his left hind leg. I actually saw him like that about a month ago and it still looks really painful for him. Ka'le has gotten more sappy lately too. He wants to sit right on my lap, he wants to be right where I am and snuggle with me in the blanket that I'm using.

Hahaha, I was given two gifts from people at work and I guess Santa told them that I don't like to wear shoes and I don't like to wear socks at home without shoes on. Nathan, who have you been talking to? Anyways, I was given a pair of slippers that I was told to keep at work, however, I have been wearing them here at home, so I think I am going to keep them here. I was also given a pair of fluffy socks that have a diamond where the strap is as a button and I was told to wear those at work too. So, I think I'll take the less bulky of the two to work since I take my shoes off at work and if I have to go to the bathroom I can throws those on. I even take my shoes off to walk to the cafe because it feels better and everyone laughs at me. Listen up everyone...not anymore!

I have to work tomorrow, Friday and then on Saturday I am going to the gym in the morning and having lunch with a friend that I used to work with that got pretty ill and Gail Galloway is going to meet us. Both of these ladies are old enough to be my grandmother/mother! I don't care though, they are so stinking funny and so sweet.

Nathan "should" be home Saturday afternoon about 6pm and if not, he'll be stuck in HOU again. As of right now, SEATAC is having great flight weather so we'll see. My dad told me today that the snow is supposed to get worse so I don't know what to believe because if it is going to snow some more, how can there be great flight weather? Oh well...we'll see.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Family

Hi everyone!
I hope that this year has been a wonderful time for everyone where ever you are.

Nathan is in Alaska right now visiting sister #1 with her husband and 5 kids and hanging out with Forrest who lives there and with his other brother Randy and his wife Ashley who are there looking for work as he just finished BYU-Idaho. So, that side of the family is hanging out during this Christmas 2008 season.

All I can say about Nathans trip up is, I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers! My brother Kenji works for Continental Airlines out of Newark, NJ and got Nathan an awesome buddy pass deal that we just couldn't pass up. The going up trip goes like this according to Karen and I'm probably pretty close to Nathans version too, so if you need to please ask him.

Nathan leaves Friday morning about 4:45 am for the airport and meets his other brother, Ben at the airport with the truck so that he can use it to move. I don't get out of bed at all. I didn't need to. I didn't have to be at work until 7!

OK...Nathan is sitting at the PHX airport and he doesn't get on the flight to HOU...I'm at work by the time he calls to tell me, which is fine...the next flight out was 8:15...OK...he gets on...yahoo! He is in HOU and he calls me at least 5 times to let me know that he doesn't see himself getting on a flight to SEATAC. So, in the mean time we are trying to contact a good friend of mine, Candice who lives in Katy however, she isn't answering the phone at home or her cell. We both have left messages and I have called Kenji in the meantime too because he knows people in HOU and I know that he could get a place for Nathan to stay, however, Kenji is working a double shift in NJ and asked if he could call me back (which by the way, he doesn't do, until Saturday afternoon).

OK...in the meantime, I am crying and Nathan is frustrated and it is about 7 PM MST so it is getting late. Oh, let me just tell you this...Nathan said that there were so many people flying standby because of the missed flights, late flights, delayed flights and cancelled flights that he was on the bottom of the totem pole. He has no clothes, no toothbrush, no cell phone cord to charge his phone that is slowly dying.

I told Nathan to give me a few minutes and let me get my head on screwed right and I'd call him back. I said a very quick prayer and jumped online to lds.org. I found that HOU has a ton of stakes and called a cell phone # to a bishop who told me what stake the airport was on. I clicked on that stake and chose the first ward on the screen. Low and behold, a phone for a Sister Stack. I called and cried and explained to her what was happening to Nathan and her husband advised me that he could go and pick him up and let him stay the night and they'd drop him off at the airport Saturday morning to start this flight stuff all over again! To learn more about them, you'll need to ask Nathan. He did tell me that they are awesome and that he was so grateful that I found them for him. I have to publicly express my gratitude for prayer and for Heavenly Father answering such a simple prayer to find a home where he could sleep so that my best friend could make it to Alaska to visit his family!

OK...Nathan is in HOU and calls to let me know that he got on the plane and that he'll call me when he lands in SEATAC. HOURS later, he calls to tell me that the weather is terrible in WA and that there are tons of people waiting to get on planes an that there are cancelled flights all over the place because WA is loaded with snow and terrible weather conditions! I call a friend there and talk to her about taking him for the night just in case he doesn't make it out and she was ready to do it. I told her that if I hear anything from Nathan within the hour that I'd call and let her know...well, I didn't hear anything so I just assumed that he got on the flight to AK, so about 8:20 PM Saturday night, he called and said that he had made it. He was so excited, he had his bags, he charged his phone and he had already called Forrest to have him come and pick him up. It was a complete surprise for everyone else too so I'd like to know how that went down!

I talked to Kenji in the meantime Saturday afternoon and he felt TERRIBLE that Nathan got stuck in HOU until I explained to him what had happened. He was excited to know that he was possibly on is way to AK. The truth was, so was I and I honestly didn't know yet.

I miss Nathan. I have watched 8 episodes of CSI, I have done a load of laundry, I have walked Ka'le at least 6 times around the block, down the block, freezing may I add. Yes, it is freezing. Nathan by the way says to me, "Karen, you'd love it here. The weather is great". I tell him, "really?", in complete doubt and then he laughs and says, "yep, it is 17 degrees and it is wonderful". I would have kicked him in the bottom if he was standing next to me. I told him, "I don't think so, the cold in PHX is enough for me".

Ka'le misses Nathan REALLY bad. If he hears a car or I say "Nathan" or "papa" he runs to the door and wants out to look for Nathan and the car never comes. I don't know how many times I have had to open the door and watch Ka'le stand in the drive way looking for him and him not show up. Ka'le has eaten dinner but not much. I wonder if this silly dog is like this when I am not here!

I went to church this morning and sang in the choir for Christmas and the spirit was just awesome and it really helped me to get ready for a conversation that I would later have with my brother David who was visiting and with a phone conversation that I would later have with my mom about Andrew who is here in AZ.

Which brings me to the next point of my Sabbath Day. I called home to see how everyone was doing and all is well and then my mom asks me if I had heard from Andrew and I told her that I had not. She told me that I needed to Love him and go to him and help him out. I then proceeded to tell her that the Savior knocks on our door and we have to open it and let him in. Which means, that the Savior is doing his job with Andrew at this point and working with him to humble him and that when Andrew is ready and it is supposed to happen, he will call me and ask me for help.

David told me today that he lives in Goodyear with 2 other guys in an apartment and doesn't have a car and lost his weekend job as security. Later my mom mentioned that he just needs to know that he is loved. I know that he does and all Andrew has to do is call me and ask me what I am doing just like he did when he asked me what I was doing for General Conference. He was supposed to come over, but didn't. That isn't his sisters fault, he just didn't come over. I don't know why, I didn't have a phone # to call and ask so I didn't think about it.

I do know that Andrew went to MI to visit with Kenji in November because he sent cute pictures of everyone!

I will say this, change your ways, change your heart and plead with your Heavenly Father and I'll be glad to have one stay in my home paying RENT, own car insurance, paying for the usage of the car and utilities. In fact, if this is sounding right, it is because it probably is. Of course, I'll need to talk to Nathan about it first and if the other party can pay the costs of living here I'm all for it. First and foremost, he'll have to go to the bishop and go to church begin the repentance process. If not, forget it, I won't allow anyone to stay here in that state.

I need to go to bed now, I am going to work 6-3 shift this next week as I have 2 days off because of Christmas.

I love the Lord, I love the truthfulness of the gospel. I know that the LORD takes all trials and tribulations away from all sons and daughters of God as long as we are willing to change and because humble and Christlike. I know that the Savior is real, he loves all of us and suffered for each individual person. I know that when I need the Savior the most, he is always there and I can feel his arms wrapped around me. I know that the Savior is knocking on all of our doors and all we need to do is open that door and when we do, wow, we will feel the sweetness of a loving Heavenly Father.


Love everyone!

Karen

A different time of year

OK, I know that some of you who follow me won't believe me when I tell you that I miss the SNOW. Nathan my obvious better half will laugh at this when he sees that I am writing about missing the cold weather, the snow capped mountains and the beautiful eyes of Gods creation, the animals. This week I'll be working a full week and then Thursday night Nathan has class, I'll go to the gym and then run over to the chapel for enrichment night. They are doing a cookie exchange...I don't think I'll do it because I don't want cookies lingering in my house. I'll go though just so that I can associate with the other sisters since we are in nursery. Saturday I think I'm going to go North for a few hours and walk around with Ka'le...apparently there is snow just NW of Flagstaff. I can't wait...it is going to be so nice. However, the downside to that is that I am going to freeze. I don't have a winter jacket, I don't have gloves and a warm hat, sssoooo, I am going to go up to the snow and tough it out! :o) Oh now...more on that one later.

I have been trying to transfer payroll funds from one bank to another for the past 6 weeks and can I just say that it is ssssssssssooooooooooo annoying! It is confusing, long and a pay. We have been patient and just cry when things are working (well, I cry) and we move what funds we don't have to cover something else and then move it back to cover what we are trying to pay...my gosh, direct deposit is a blessing and a drag when something doesn't go through. Oh well, I am hoping it will all take care of itself by the end of the year...another couple of weeks.

We made cookies the other day that was made with Splenda and Red Wheat Flour. They were pretty good. I was pretty proud of myself to make them. They had chocolate and butterscotch chips and peanut butter. They were pretty good.

I need to get to bed. I have to be at work by 7 so I get up at 5 :o)

I'll write later this week.

Christmas Party

OK, go figure...a bunch of weight loss junkies getting together to have a Christmas party! Sound ironic? It isn't. Did we talk, eat and have a great time? Yes! Was there food you ask? But of course there was! Who has a party and there not have food? We all watched and laughed at each other as we ate different things and tiny amounts of what we did eat. We were all telling each other to not drink anything while we ate so if you were thirsty to drink it first. It was so funny to be each others support on Wednesday night.

I will say that it was a blast. The majority of the people at Leanns home had the surgery and then their significant others were there for "moral" support. It was nice to see people that I can identify with and then be able to talk to them about how I feel and what I'm going through as they are going through it too!

Lenny, the older gentleman to the left has lost 75 pounds since July and is doing well. He eats a lot though, his girlfriend says...she is sitting next to me. She was ratting him out and telling us that he will everything and very quickly. It was so funny. Lori next to me had surgery too and is the head bariatric nurse up at Paradise Valley Hospital. She is awesome and told me that it is perfectly fine to eat CHEESE as long as I don't eat the entire block, which I can do! So, along with Dr. Simon, she says to eat it sparingly!

Here we are again!

I don't look very happy looking at the food. I think I was thinking about what to do and how much to eat. It was pretty close to 7:30 by the time we started to have dinner.

I left the gathering about 8:15. It was sweet and we all had a great time.

Impressions

Earlier I had posted things that we had done this past week. I also wrote that if I feel impressed to write something else I'd jump and do it then.

I am writing now because I just listened to a talk that was given at BYU-Hawaii Thursday, November 04, 2004 Emerge With Your Gifts by Mervlyn Kitashima. She grew up on Kauai and is a graduate from Kamehameha and received the mother of the year award for 2003.

What I was impressed with is what she talked about concerning the Ohia Lehua Blossom. An ohia lehua tree provides rare color on a lava field in Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. Ohio lehua are the most abundant native trees in Hawaii and are among the first life in new lava flows. According to Hawaiian legend, the tree is actually a young warrior. Pele, the goddess of fire, wanted to marry the warrior. When he refused, she turned him into a tree. The other gods weren't able to turn him back, so they turned his true love into the lehua blossom so they could be reunited. It's said that if you pick one of the blossoms, it will rain – the tears of lovers.

OK...it isn't the legend that I want to focus on, it is what Sister Kitashima said about the actual tree. She said that at first, the tree is small, it doesn't grow very big and it has ugly branches and it is straggly and doesn't look appealing. It is not pretty, gnarled and twisted possibly because of the stress and the amount of work it takes to break thru the lava created earth. The blossom is beautiful once it blooms though. The post popular color is RED. There are other colors though such as pink, yellow and gold. Her whole point of this analogy was that look at the beauty from such a distorted tree, look at what it becomes from such a distorted environment and look what beauty God can create when he provides the necessities of life to bloom.

I thought about that scenario this morning as she was speaking and had to go back and listen to it again at least 3-4 times to know that she was talking to me. I was to listen to that talk today so that Karen would remember that she is a daughter of God and that he loves me and that he provided a Savior for me so that I could return home to him again because he doesn't want me to be alone.

The awesome part of this story is, is that my middle name is Leihua. Mine name has the "I" because the flower is included in a Lei. How wonderful it is. I don't think that my grandma even had a clue that this world and name would be so significant to me later on in my life and I'm grateful for my parents who agreed to give me the name.

I love life, I love the Lord. I sound like an idiot when I share my testimony because my Savior means so much to me that I forget where I am, but I don't care. I know how I feel and I know that it means TONS to my Father in Heaven and to my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the atonement and what it has done for me to bring me out of this distorted life and to allow me to blossom. Out of barren and rough ground I can be clean and beautiful. I am humble to say that Heavenly Father has created a beautiful me and I'm grateful to him for that.

Love,

Karen

Early Present...late decor

The infamous Dwarf Washington Orange Tree

Nathan scooping the, ya...crap! He's taking it rather than dishing it...what a great guy!
This is sweet, 9 + pound Samantha. By looking at her, you are looking directly at Amiee!

Good evening,

Its Sunday evening and I'm just beginning my blogging session. We just returned from the Pace family home from watching the First Presidency Devotional 2008. It was very sweet. The theme pretty much was to think of others and act upon the the promptings of the spirit and do something for that other person or family. It was awesome.

We ground some RED Wheat while we were there too just to have it so that we could have something to cook/bake with during the Holidays.

Nathan let me know that one of the few things that he wanted for Christmas was an orange tree. So we researched a few and came upon one from Home Depot. We bought and now we are in the middle of planting it in the God given clay type dirt! So, we have dug a hole, which still needs to be deeper, we went to the dairy on Saturday and scooped up some, well, you know...manure, I would have rather talked to the cows, pet them, hung out with them than scoop crap! It was so funny :o)

We went and picked one up. Its a dwarf Washington Orange Naval Tree. It will be exciting to watch it grow, since it is a slower growing tree. We are going to plant it between the house and the shed since there is plenty of room for it to grow there.

Earlier yesterday I had gone to a Holiday Extravaganza at a friends house in Glendale and it seemed like I was the only one to get orders, which is fine, I was able to submit one from the early party of November, finally! While I was putting my purse in the car, I bent over to put another small bag on the ground and I heard my back pop, I thought, "oh great, again...it is going to hurt for another 2 weeks, just lovely!".

I put it in the car, packed the rest of the stuff, went home, turned around and went and scooped poop...it hurt so bad.

I went to a Partylite Candle party later that evening after scooping poop and helping load it in the truck and bringing it home and getting it in the backyard. We were so tired last night. Oh, and not only that, we watched the movie called Breached...if you haven't seen it...go get it! Its really good. So a little after midnight...I finally ended up in bed, UNTIL...

we heard the pool pump go crazy. It turned on as normal and then all of a sudden it was screaming for help. The hoses are fine, the connection is fine, the filters are fine, something crazy
is happening with the motor. So, tomorrow we need to call the pool people and have them come and take a look at it! It was just so crazy.

Then I finally went to bed!

Today we went to church and it was lovely. The spirit did truly testify to me that Jesus is the Christ and that this special season is the season to celebrate the birth of our Redeemer and that Heavenly Father truly loves me and that I am a daughter of his and he selected me to be here in these later days to be among the great and noble. I don't know why I was chosen and what great and nobleness I have to give to others, but he trusts me and has confidence in me so I'm fine with it!

My very good friend, Amiee Finster had baby #3 on Monday 1 December. That makes girl #2 with Payton in the middle and the only boy and Portia #1 and the oldest. She'll be a great older sister and a wonderful helper to mom and dad. Congrats Max and Amiee!

I also bought 26 books this past week as well to mail to Janell so that she can wrap them up for Aukai and Kali'i for Christmas. I figured that they need something and they'll love them. They are all of the Golden Book collection!

I hurt, I want to go to bed, I'm stuffy because the house we went to to watch the devotional has cats and I'm allergic so my eyes are all stuffy and puffy and my nose is clogged. My throat started to get scratchy so I had to wash my hands a few times and go outside to get a breath of fresh air...we left fairly quickly...needless to say.

Another week down for December! It'll be awesome. When my tree is finally decorated and the house is put together, I'll gladly take pictures and blog them, for now, forget it...I am only 1/4 of the way done! This seems like the year too that I'll be getting rid of stuff that I no longer want to keep. I get that feeling already.

Have a great week, we'll talk again when I fell impressed to post something again by the end of the week.

Karen

Elder Wirthlin Dies, 91

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/background-information/leader-biographies/elder-joseph-b-wirthlin

Elder Wirthlin Died, 91

This link is to his biography.

He died last night after going to sleep.

My prayers are with his family.

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/background-information/leader-biographies/elder-joseph-b-wirthlin

Arizona Thanksgiving

I made this turkey and gravy. It fell right off the bones so I had to put it in the tray right away!

Kale above after having a little bit of turkey

Karen breaking the no white after September rule!

Food that we made and brought for dinner including other things that were waiting to be eaten!! Gobble, gobble!

Nathan grilling his famous Chili cheese and bacon poppers!

Nathans dad, Bob frying the turkey with his brother Ben to the left helping along!

Nathan and his mother, Dot.

Hi everyone...thought that I'd share a few photos of our Thanksgiving down here in Mesa.
I had to wear white so that I'd break the "no white after September rule"...I just did it be comfortable! Yep, my hair is flipped out and dang is it cute like that!

Enjoy...oh by the way, the turkey you see is the one that Karen, yes, oh Karen made for dinner just for Nathan and his parents that you see in the other pictures.

Love,
Karen & Nathan

Oh Boy

Nobody would have guessed this morning when I got up to go to work that Nathans Honda wouldn't work and that in the middle of going to work, it would stop right on the exit that I take to take the back streets to work.
Well, it happened. I take I-10 to I-17 and then I take the 16th St exit and then go to 24th St and then right up to the back side of the buildings because there is NO traffic that way. The worse part of the morning traffic is the exit off 59th Ave to 27th Ave, other than that, it is pretty clean.

I took the exit and then all of a sudden, the car turned off. I only made it off the exit because it rolled until about a car lengths away from the turning light so that I could turn right. Many people just drove by and left me until a gentleman in his truck asked me if I needed help and then he pushed me to the right and on to a side street. I called Nathan and we laughed at the whole thing because it happened to him some time back too while sitting at a light. We are fine, we made it home to and called Abe to have him suggest a car electrician because Nathan is now convinced that it is an electric issue, which I am starting to see that it is true. We have had everything else fixed and not anything electric, so now we are convinced that it is that.

Needless to say, I don't have a way to work today until we know that we can get another car to get me there without it falling apart. Nathan is still not feeling well so he is asleep and if a school calls him today, he'll need to get there :o)


This last week was exciting. I worked about 3-4 hrs of OT so that I could have some mailing money for 2 packages that need to go overseas. Steven is in Iraq and Elizabeth is in Germany and I want to get something off for Christmas for both of them. I'm hoping to continue to do well at work this winter because that will help me make my spring and summer flourish! My prayers are all about success as Nathan is trying to continue school and finish up. One more year to go exactly :o)

I don't have to work Thursday or Friday for Thanksgiving so I'm trying to figure out what I'd like to do on Saturday. Friday I am going to be home most of the day, hoping to take orders for Pampered Chef or I'm done with it. I can't sell something that nobody is interested in. It has been hard the past couple of month and I haven't had a party at all and people haven't been interested in doing a party. I know that the economy is not looking but, but even better to order stuff and cook at home. Restaurants are way over rated anyways and home cooked food is always better. Anyways, I have a all day online/email/phone show going on on Friday so I really don't want to go anywhere as I might miss an order.

Saturday I thought that it would be nice to go to the mountain so that I could touch snow and be done with it for the fall/winter. We'll see...I also think that it would be nice to go in December too. Ka'le liked it last winter when we were up in Show Low and Snowflake.

I hope Nathans sinus' get better before the Holidays because he'll be miserable while his family is here. We're just taking appetizers. Someone at work wants me to make pecan pies for her and she'll pay me to do it :o) She only wants 2 and that is doable so this afternoon I'll go get the pie crusts...I already have everything else to make them. That is an easy service project from me to her. Trish is the lady I work with that wants them and she is so sweet so she deserves them.

We're getting ready to take the car up to Abe, go to Costco and Fry's. They have turkeys on sell for less than $5. We're going to grab one and cook it up and and take it all apart and freeze it.

Have a great week everyone. The Holidays are officially upon us!

Love everyone,

Karen

Karens Day-After-Thanksgiving Day SALE

Shop from your Seat, not your Feet! Call or E-mail your order to me on Friday, November 28, from 8AM-9PM for these incredible discounts:

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From 2:01pm to 9:00 PM – Free Season's Best Cookbook

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Add an additional 10% off if you have a Past-Host Discount from your show over the last 12 months! Peruse our entire Catalog at www.pamperedchef.biz/wickekitchen, then email me or call on 11/26 to SAVE!! Gather orders from friends and SHARE the Savings!

Let our November & December Guest Specials make your Holiday Entertaining a Breeze!!

SPECIALS

November: All Classic (unglazed) stoneware is 20% OFF,

ALSO,

Book a December cooking OR catalog show and get a Free $10 gift toward your choice of any product! AND,

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Ask about our Power Cooking shows where we give you ideas for meals that feed for under $2/serving AND leave you with 2 meals in the freezer to pull out for a busy night at your house. A great show to help make use of our products, saving you money!
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Karen Wicke Independent Pampered Chef Consultantwww.pamperedchef.biz/wickekitchen480-747-4950

General Womans Conference 09/2008

Can anyone guess who this was in September 2006?

Sick week

This week has been fun. Since last Sunday I have been very busy. I have taught 2 evenings this week of ELL to adults. I loved it and was substituting for Tracy Astle, our friend as she was gone for a trip with her grandmother.

Where is my grandma, I wish we'd go on a trip together! That would rock :o)

Anyways, Nathan has been sick since last Sunday. He only worked 1 day this week and that same day he went to class and it about killed him and so he has been trying to rid of the stupid flu/sinus infection that is killing him. This is kind of gross, but get this, you know the flem and crap that is in your throat and when you cough or sneeze and blow your nose it comes out (well, sometimes), get this...it was coming out of his eyes! Yep, it was coming out of the inner corner of his eyes. It was so nasty. All he does it take medicine and sleep, which I am grateful for. I get stuff done when he is in knocked out!

I have worked long hours this week, it seemed like. I am still #1 for the division. I really enjoy what I do. I go to work for my teachers and really enjoy working with them.

I also went to nursery today. Those poor kids. One little girl Madison makes herself physically sick if she doesn't have mom, dad or grandma there with her. She threw up all over me, all over the floor, all over her clothes and there was yeah, well, no change of clothes for herself. I kept telling her that if she throws up she'll have to stay in class with me because she wasn't going to go to mom, dad or grandma. I told her that if she didn't play and be nice and hang out with other kids, she wasn't going to be able to come to nursery anymore. She cried for a little bit and then started to hang out with the other kids. She smelled bad, but I don't care...she was away from her parents! She'll do better from this time forward.

There are new brothers, Seth and Jeffrey that are in the class who are 3 and 2. They fought and cried and threw themselves on the floor the entire time. I seriously wanted to laugh at the entire nursery the whole time I was there because I couldn't believe what they were doing. Seth even nailed me a few times with a fist and boy was he mad. I can understand that though, they are new and in a new class with new kids and teachers and parents are leaving them somewhere new. They just want dad most of the time. Kayden Ramirez is a complete crack up. He wants to be in charge of everything so he pushes other kids around to do it. After he pushes them, you have to tell him to not push or hit and so then he'll walk up to them and give them a kiss or hug. It is so funny because that other kid is like, what the heck you just nailed me and now you're given me loves...whatever and they walk away.

Brin, a husky little girl is so funny. She is a pusher and bully too. She'll kick but when she gets older and then get her butt kicked if she doesn't learn to keep her hands and feet to herself too. She'll realize that there will be bigger kids than her and they'll kick her tail if she touches them...with time, she'll learn.

We played games and danced today in class, so other than the kicking and screaming, it was a great day.

Sacrament meeting was refreshing. The spirit was there as I had prayed for it this morning to help me decide whether or not I needed to take a few online classes to certify to teach middle school here in AZ. I'd like to. I know that the money will change, but that is OK. If I can get the DOE to take away student loans, I'll take the deduction in pay. That'll help! I did feel fine to do it so this week I'll look into taking Structured English Immersion, Arizona History and the US Constitution class along with Introduction to Middle School: Curriculum and Instruction. I know there will be other classes, but these are usually the main ones. I'll know about the others later. These classes I can have done by January if I schedule them right. The Clark Family spoke and they gave wonderful lessons of being selfless and even that even though we try, we can always try harder and then the Lord will bless us more and give us more for just trying.

Well, I need to get ready for bed. I've been going to bed late and I hate it so I need to be ready for bed no later than 9:30 PM.

Have a great day.

Conversion Story

Any how, I had to be ready and have money saved. My bishop, Bishop Thompson said that my parents were very faithful and mailed a check to the ward every month on the same day. He said that it arrived the same day every month. I was so blessed and so where my parents. I had 1/3 of my mission, my parents had another 1/3 and my grandma Nihipali claimed the other 1/3. School was put on hold and FA would be ready for me to return in January 1999.

Kenji came to UT for a few days prior to the MTC so he was already set apart as an Elder and that was awesome so we went to the temple in Logan. That was cool.

Here is a story that one would find awesome, I would think. I was whining to my stake president about not being able to participate in the whole UT pioneer day in July because of being in the MTC and he told me to just clam it or not go. So, as you know, I went. Little did I know again, that through a loving Heavenly Father he allowed ALL missionaries in the MTC sing at the pioneer sesquicentennial celebrationat Cougar Stadium at BYU in Provo. I'll never forget it, we sang Called to Serve. I'll never forget the spirit of faith, hope and love that was there. I'll never forget seeing those in attendance crying and waiving and watching all the missionaries pile in the stadium and sing. I'll never forget the feelings that I had of Love for my Heavenly Father for again hearing my pleads and answering my silly prayers about wanting to participate in the state pioneer day celebration. God, no matter how small or insignificant our wants are, always answers our prayers when he is ready and when we are in need and ready to receive the answers.

OK, this is probably more than what the stake president wanted but it all ties together.

I returned from my mission on a Monday night, Tuesday I moved back in to a rented basement with my friend Amiee, my stuff was brought to me that same afternoon. I had my old job back with Oshmans and school started that next Monday. We went to campus and registered for classes, walked across the street and registered for institute. Again? Yes, again. Why not, I had a testimony of the gospel and my savior and still had plenty of room for growth :o)

I graduated from Weber State in May 2000. I went to Mexico for 2 months and studied with other returned missionaries. I married a non member which was really dumb but I do have to say that again, I grew and new that the gospel meant more to me now then it did ever in my life. I was there for 4 years. I never faulted. I went to the temple, I attended enrichment night, I went to church, I held calligs, I participated in activities and then, the light got brighter that he was just a dud and not only could he not hold a job, he was falling farther into a black hole that I didn't want any part of. I had already been there, why would I go back? See ya, so I left and moved to Mesa, AZ in March 2005. I was seperated in September 2004 and the divorce was final in February 2005. I bought a condo there and 11 months later I sold it and bought a cute little house in Phoenix.

I love my Heavenly Father. I love how he created opportunities for growth and opportunites for me to either learn to follow the Savior or fall off the fence in the other direction. I attended the Glendale Singles Ward in Glenda, AZ from July 2006 to August 2007. I met my dear sweet husband, Nathaniel Wicke there. We come from different ends of the spectrum but we need each other and lean on each other for support and love and to cry on each others shoulders and help lift each other up. We compliment each other and teach each other different things. Wow, do I learn a lot from him. It's amazing :o)

We are currently in the Tolleson Ward in the Phoenix Maricopa West Stake and have the best callings ever - - - Nursery. We love it. These kids are so cute and so sweet and want to be loved and give love. They sing, they laugh, they love, they teach and they are Gods children and I am able to, in Karens words, hang with them an we love it.

Well, this is my conversion story. I hope that it is helpful and that one learns a little bit about me. I am a smartalic and prideful and if I'm right, well, I can still learn something new and apply it to my life now. There is always room for growth.

I exhort everyone and anyone to read the Book of Mormon at least 1 time in their life, follow the invitation of Moroni and ask if the things that you've read are true and if they are...don't faulter and sige!

THE BOOK OF MORMON
ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST
Title Page
Introduction
The Testimony of Three Witnesses
The Testimony of Eight Witnesses
Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith
A Brief Explanation about The Book of Mormon
First Nephi (1 Ne.)
Second Nephi (2 Ne.)
Jacob (Jacob)
Enos (Enos)
Jarom (Jarom)
Omni (Omni)
Words of Mormon (W of M)
Mosiah (Mosiah)
Alma (Alma)
Helaman (Hel.)
Third Nephi (3 Ne.)
Fourth Nephi (4 Ne.)
Mormon (Morm.)
Ether (Ether)
Moroni (Moro.)


God knows EVERY one of his children. I know he knows and loves you. I know that he loves me for as imperfect as I am. I know that he allows the sun to shine on the good and the bad and that rain comes to those who need it and those who don't. I know that Jesus Christ decended to this earth life to experience it and to allow me to return to our father. I know that Jesus lives and that he was born of Mary, appeared to Joseph Smith,Jr and visited the Nephites in the American continent. I know that he knows who I am and that he loves me and wants me back with the father when he deems it necessary. I know that life has its ups and downs and what we do with them will determine what we obtain in life after earth life. I humbly share my life with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Oh, Some of my lifes experiences have been omitted because if the Lord has forgiven me, you don't need to know and I don't need to remember it myself. Don't forget, that the repentance process is a wonderful thing and when the Lord says that he remembers the sin no more, he is serious and doesn't remember it anymore and neither should the person, hense, there are some things that I don't mention here because frankly, I don't remember and don't care to share them :o)

www.lds.org

Conversion Story

We had stake conference a couple of weeks ago and our stake president asked all the adults at the Saturday night session to write their conversion story because not only will our testimonies be strengthened but so will someone elses and someone may gain one. He said to share with family, friends and aquantances. He told us that if we shared our story we'd be blessed and I am in despirate need of blessings and want to feel the spirit in my life so I'm going to do it.

So, here I go. It is a simple testimony. I don't know how else to share it or say it.

I was born in to the covenant to wonderful parents who did their best in 1973. They taught basic gospel principals and taught me right from wrong, however, as a teen ager and in my early 20's I decided that I wanted to do things on my own. Let me back up a little bit. I went to wards where there were very little youth. I skipped the later part of primary and went to young womens because it was just me. I never went to a full week of girls camp because I had other places that I was going to be or doing so I couldn't go the whole time. Could I have made adjustments? You better believe it, but I didn't. Did I enjoy seminary? No, I actually hated it and made it miserable for myself by acting like a complete idiot (that form of sickness is called PRIDE). I grauated from HS and didn't know what to do with my life, so I went to Hawaii (December 1991) and because again of pride, I didn't go to church and I hated it there so once again I made it miserable for myself. I tried to go to activities with the "Y" but at the time, I just didn't fit in so I wasn't invited to a lot of places or activities. Dang, I keep making things worse for myself and nothing was really bad, I just made it that way. What was I thinking? I wasn't really. Nobody was bad to me there, I just didn't do what I was supposed to do so I made it bad on myself.

I returned back to WA and a friend, Genne begged me to go to Ricks (AKA, BYU-Idaho) so I did (January 1993). Again, because I was swaying from one life to another, I didn't like it because I was still trying to find myself. What does that mean anyways? Who knows. Everyone has their own definition. Anyways, I went there for the Winter term and first sport Spring term and went home because frankly, I didn't like it nor did they like me. My grades were terrible and I couldn't do what I wanted (don't worry, nothing bad) or feel or find what I needed. I did go to church there but felt out of place, I felt like a fish out of water as Joseph Smith, Jr said he felt like if he wasn't being persecuted during the early days of the church. Anyways, as you can tell I didn't find myself ;o)

I went back to WA still, not being active (June 1993). I guess I was looking for peace but because I saw the negitive in everything I just couldn't go to church, I tried to be a visiting teacher but what good did that do when I wasn't doing what the messages where saying anyways? What good was my visit when I was so miserable? I did try to go to activities. I did try to have friends, I did try to do good but kept getting swept under the rug and then I'd stay there instead of pleading in humble prayer for help out.

I attended a community college a couple of times in WA but just hated it, I went to the singles ward there and again, I didn't fit in.

One day I asked my mom if she had heard of Weber State University and she thought that she had and I told her that I was going to apply. That was sometime in January (1994). She said that she might have thought that it was in Utah, so we looked at each other and together, thought, nah, you (I) won't go there. Theres no way, you (I) don't even go to church and Utah mormons are well, just so, so, so different. Well I sent the letter asking for information and about a week later I received a huge packet in the mail (this was before internet so don't laugh).

I filled it out and sent it off. To my surprise, I was accepted for the Fall 1994 school year and some of my classes that I'd taken at the community college and at Ricks transfered, not all of course but a good chunk of them :o) I about died because I needed to be there. Little did I know that this was going to be the turning point of my life. Little did I know that the Lord had his hand in ALL of this. So, I guess I can honestly say that this was the beginning of my new life.

I struggled still with going to church and knew that it was the biggest thing with what was happening with my life yet still I CHOSE to not go and if I did it was to go through the motions. I knew that I was missing the peace and the fulfillment of the atonement in my life but didn't know it exactly (I seriously know it now).

I fought with when should I go down there, leave with the family in June and attend the family reunion or wait for until the Fall. It wasn't a hard choice for very long, it took oh, seriously, 8 minutes and 3 phone calls later and I was leaving for Ogden, UT in June. Again, little did I know that the Lord had his hand in this too.

I had a place to stay and was going to find a job after I got there. The job thing didn't turn out but I don't care, FA was in place and school was starting so I just went to school and institute. Ut oh? Did I say institute? Actually, yes. The home that I stayed in didn't allow anyone to stay there if they didn't take an institute class. So, I thought what the heck, why not. I need to make changes in my life anyways so I took a class, then the next day I registered for 3 more. So, I had a full class load across the street at school and 4 institute classes. I lived at the institute building and at campus.

This was my turnin point, in other words, my conversion. I learned here that God was real and that he loved me and that my family as good as I thought they were there were things that I needed to learn and do elsewhere and learn by others. I lived with Lou and Pamela Johnson and their daughter Samantha and their son Steven who had already served a mission and was a social butterfly and who was so awesome. When I first met him I thought, wow, if I could find a husband like him, I'll be a queen and happy all my days. I remember thanking my lucky stars for meeting him because he was just awesome. He was friendly, everyone enjoyed him, he had friends, he worked, he studied hard and he was funny. I remember telling Pam how wonderful it was to have an older brother! All of the Johnson kids were good looking. They had beautiful features and wonderful personalities.

I also learned the role of Jesus Christ. I learned of his role in my life and what I needed to do to have the holy ghost be my constant companion. Remember when I mentioned that I knew that I was missing something in my life and that I needed light in my soul? Well, this is what it was. The knowledge and growing testimony of Jesus Christ and that he loved me no matter what I had gone through in my life he would always be there as long as I lived worthy enough to have him by my side. I have ready my P. blessing many, many times since this new beginning and I have often thought, "duh, Karen, what were you thinking when you were a ki? Why didn't you let the spirit guide you when you needed it most?" Those are questions that only I can answer, or not. So far, not.

I not only attended institute classes but I graduated from institute 3 different times. I took 3-5 classes every term that I took classes across the street at WSU. I worked full time for Oshmans's SuperSports as well. In March 2006, I flew back to WA and, yippy, I took out my endowments in the Seattle Temple! Yep, I changed my life around. I was active at church, I had read the Book of Mormon at least twice already from cover to cover and I had callings in my singles ward and a role with the institute student counsel.

Then in January 1997 I had a terrible feeling one day while sitting in a class, which said, go check on FA. I thought, my gosh, it has been fine up to this point, what could surely be wrong. So, instead of ignoring the feelig, I went and checked, and something had gone wrong. There was some missing paperwork for the winter term. I thought well, instead of playing around with this, I'm going on a mission! Hah, did I just say that. Did I just mention mission. My sister had just left in November 1996 for a mission to Germany and my brother Kenji was getting ready to go in March 1997. What was I going to do and how was I going to pay for it? I had no idea, but, as normal, the Lord was creating a way and making the path as bright as he could. I dropped my classes at WSU and then took 6 institute classes including choir, student counsel and working full time. I went to work and told them what I was doing and that I needed to work as much as I could every day but Sunday and any time and it happened. To make my life story short, I got my papers, I had them turned in with a month of receiving them. I planned along with student counsel and the institute to have President Hinkley speak for a devotional, I sang at General Conference at the April Saturday afternoon session and met many people during that time while in Utah and being a part of the growing church there.

I need to through this in here too...my new awesome sweetheart was serving his mission in the Ogden, UT mission from 1993 to 1995 so ironically, he was there while I was there too. We walked the same streets and went to the same places. It is awesome.

Anyways, the Wednesday after general conference, I received my mission call to Arcadia, California Spanish Speaking. HA, can you believe it? I was to be in the MTC on 09-July 1997. I had 4 months to get everything I needed in line including clothes, shoes, everything. I had to find a place to store all of my stuff for 18 months. A friend of mine said that he had a place for it and that it would be safe there (which it was, some things were missing when I came back but thats ok, I obviously didn't need them).

Lost blog

I know that I blogged the other day and now I look at my site and dang it, its gone.

Oh well, I guess it forces me to do it again and this time make it more meaningful and enlightening (I hope).

If I can remember right, I think that I wrote that Nathan wasn't feeling well but getting better and that he didn't get a chance to go to church because he didn't sleep and that he can't breathe or see as his head is stuffy...no I'm not adding cotton to any part of his face...ears, eyes, nose and mouth. He's my heart now and I don't really know what I'd do without him.

Ironic that I'd say that because this past week, he had a very dear friend pass away and he was only 34 so we have thought a lot about what our lives mean and what we do for each other and what we can still improve on to benefit one another. At least, that is what I have thought a lot about this past week. He asked me last Friday, "what would you say at my funeral? What words would you use to describe me?" I can't remember exactly the word but now that I think of it, I have to say that it probably wasn't the best of choices of words. His vocabulary is so high that I have to now say that I wish I would have used eclectic, which means selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles and/or composed of elements drawn from various sources. His source is his Savior, his redeemer and his Father in Heaven. I love that. I love that this is his true strength. I love the fact that when he speaks of any one of the 12 and their lives and their talks, he can quote them and give the reference to when they spoke and how it helped him and remember it.

I love his facial expressions when he is mad, when he is frustrated, when he wants to bust up laughing and when he does laugh. I love the fact that he makes fun of my lost puppies name, Sweet Pea. Yes, her name was Sweet Pea and when he says it, he just cracks up (Her picture is at the top of the blog).

I love how he reminds me to PLEASE clean off the kitchen counters after I make a mess because frankly it does get pretty disgusting and dirty and if I don't do it, we can get sick, and well, Nathan has the flu...but that doesn't mean that I didn't clean off the counters. I am getting better at it.

I have to admit that I am a better mens shirt ironer!!! I was terrible at the beginning, I'll admit it and am getting better at it.

My Nathan brings a different spirit to our home than I could have ever brought by myself. I have noticed that from the very beginning. Even if either one of us thinks that we are having a bad day...it is still an awesome place to come home to!

I'm still working and producing at work. I've been in the top 5 for the past 3 years and think that I'll be there for a little while longer...at least another year. I've been #1 for the past 8 months and that is kind of getting a little old. I'm doing some new hire training and that is fun. I enjoy that probably the most.

I am substituting a friends English as a Second Language class that is at a chapel up on 48th Ave & Orangewood. That has been a blast. We laugh and talk a lot and share experiences. We go through the book too but not that quickly because the whole idea is to me is to speak and talk and figure out vocally what the heck to say when they need to say it and converse with others. Thats' fun!

I'll take some pictures and post them on the next blog as I will be working with them through the end of this week. Tracy is on a trip and will be back this next weekend.

Well, I need to get some work done...dang it, I'm at work and doing this...slap my hand...NOT...I can be productive and be #1 and do this too...leave me alone!

My brother Steven is in Kuwait and will be there for some time, I guess. Please pray for him and his buddies that he'll be safe and that he knows that he's loved.

Another great week...

Hello world!
This has been an emotional and exciting week. Nathan found out that a wonderful friend passed away up in Alaska from a major heart attack and he was only 34 years old! Can you imagine being so young.
I learned from my bishop today that the Savior embraced him when he crossed through the vail so he is home and happy and still working hard. I didn't even get to meet him but one day when I cross over to the other side, I'll thank him for being a great friend to Nathan and his family.

I worked this week and it was voting week and also taught another week of English as a Second Language! Everything was a blast. I also was able to attend and be a part of a Holiday Bazaar. It was really fun and I'd do it again.

Let me just say this about voting. I don't know much about politics and I frankly rather leave it that way. I do know that I voted (early mail in ballot) and that I did my civic duty. Nathan went and worked the polls and swears that he'll never do it again...it just through his schedule around and he didn't like that. I'll also say that for those who voted, good for you and for those of you who didn't shut your pie hole and deal with it ;o)

I received the first place award from work for my division for being #1 for the past 8 months running. I have worked hard and I have to give all of that recognition to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to work, have the health and strength and courage to do it. There were times during this past year that I just wanted to throw in the towel and give up. I also need to give Nathan my definite better half kudos for putting up with me and allowing me to vent, stress out, work long hours and give in every once in a while. He has been supportive and has been very patient through this year. I'm getting ready to head up another busy year. Right now its slow at work because teachers are teaching and not thinking about their licenses but for some reason, I seem to be keeping busy which is a good thing, don't get me wrong!

I've been able to listen to general conference since about the week after conference ended back in October and I love it. It allows me to feel the spirit and to enjoy God sent words and necessary things for me so that I am happier throughout the days and weeks. I take it to the gym and also to work and where I am throughout the day. Its great...I don't have to engage in worthless worldly conversations! Technology is wonderful.

I also received an awesome email from my brother, Steven who is currently serving in the armed forces, in Kawait...I've posted a part of it below because this is what drives me to do well and to be a good "big sister".

Karen, I don't usually check my email, Nell does. I contact her and I get my info through her. I was just on tonight reading though and saw this email, I don't know what it is about what you type or how you say it, but I definitely need more of it. I'm grateful to have a sister thats been there and is so strong. There are things that only you will know, and know how to deal, I know I can count on my big sis to look after me n my family, as I'm gone. I know you love and support the military whether its right or wrong, I know you support me and my family in anything you can, and I love you for that. I guess... I just needed to put that out there, I don't say it enough, I miss you and I love you for being there for my family and I. Again, I love you and thank you for being there for me and my family- Steven

This really made my week. I think that I read it Saturday afternoon when I needed it the most.

Lets go Arizona Cardinals...they aren't doing to bad and the Suns, well they are doing extremely well too...they could do better...I'm actually talking about losing to Chicago...that was a sad game, other than that...they're great. I am a Seattle Seahawks fan too but dang it, when your team is in last place and not favored to do anything but be a punching bag for the other teams...well, I'll go for the team that is "sort of winning"....not anything like the Tennessee Titans are though. If they go to the superbowl, I'll cheer for them :o)

This next week will be busy too. I have never been so busy in my life until I got married...we are always on the go and always doing something.

Oh, just a little FYI...I made pumpkin cheesecake that was just oh, so yummy and also pumpkin muffins that were just oh so scrumptious! I was so proud of myself that I was able to do it and not kill anyone and have it be eaten all of it.

I am busy at work this week as I am doing new hire training on 3 different days and have my own work that I need to do...I'll be networking too and that makes me excited because I get to meet knew people and obtain referrals from them and give back to them as I am able.

Nathan isn't feeling well as he has a terrible sore throat and a head that feels like someone is beating it with a bat, so I'm keeping on the down low with him this week too...hopefully we don't have to go to the Dr office...he isn't insured yet until January ;oP.

He is enjoying school though, he enjoys his instructors and classmates, he has awesome stories that he tells from what his classmates go through as teaches every day. He is also enjoying his substitute teaching too. He learns something new every day and its awesome to listen to his stories.

I'm tired and just want to relax before I go to bed to get ready for a very busy week.

November

I love November! I love the feeling of Autumn, I love the change in the color of the leaves, trees and shrubs. I love that the sun goes down sooner & that it is a little darker earlier and that the wind is cooler. Well, dang it...I am living in the wrong state. Arizona had Halloween on Friday and it was a whopping 92 degrees. Only 50 kids came by which was disgusting because the year before, there had to have been at least 300 and the year before that, at least 200. I think that it is the economy for 1 and for 2, the freaking' weather. Who wants melted chocolate? Not me...I bought pretzels anyways so my chocolate wasn't melting.We had stake conference this weekend, however we didn't attend ours because it was televised statewide and so we packed up the dog and some clothes and spent the night out at Thomas & Laurels' home to attend conference with them, Ben, Darwin and Collette. It was a blast. We played games afterwards, the majority of them took naps. I read a few books and played with Ka'le. The house is big enough that he could get lost which was a blast because I could hide and he would run around trying to find me...that was fun. Conference was on unity, change and hope. Elder Packard spoke and he wowed me with the spirit and his awesome stories of being a fighter pilot.We were also admonished to write a book about our conversion and what it has done for our lives and what it will do, hopefully for the future. So, for everyone...that is what you're going to get for Christmas, according to mom, we aren't drawing names because nobody has the $$ to do it, which is fine, but everyone knows how to type something and mail it out.I took a couple of pictures and will post them later. My battery died so I couldn't take more! That was sad :o(We have a very busy November! Nathan is working the polls for voting on Tuesday and I am going to work my butt off this week at work so that I can rack up some OT to pay for Christmas (which I am going to try to keep a secret for Nathan...he needs a pair of shoes so I need to make a few extra dollars).I am very tired...I need to get to bed. I have been going to bed pretty late lately and its killing me productively at work! I love the mornings and Nathan is a night person so as mentioned, the nights are killing me...this isn't working out well...but it will.Have a great November.
Oh, b4 I forget please make sure that you vote this week and do it after sincere prayer and heartfelt thought. I don't care about who you vote for, you'll just want to make sure that you make a choice between King Noah or King Benjamin from the Book of Mormon.

Not feeling well

I am not feeling well so I actually took the day off from blogging. I can hardly see the computer screen at work let alone at home...all I have to say is that I'm busy...busy...busy. I have been in nursery for church, I didn't work on Thursday or Friday because I was sicker than dirt...dirt moves and I didn't...I slept a lot on Thursday and Friday and Sunday. Saturday was Super Saturday and was a complete blast.
I have been humbled so I have to say that I am being nicer and the ladies in the ward are not so strange to me anymore!
I think my friend Toni did her triathlon this weekend too. I sure hope it went well. She had been training for that for quite awhile.
Nathan had a softball game and I didn't go because I had a fun Halloween Party Lite Candle Party. We wore costumes and hung out. It was fun! Candy does a great job with the parties!

Gotta go...even though I don't feel well, I'm going to the gym anyways!

Hawaiian Princess: ABC: Extreme Home Makeover

www.pamperedchef.biz/wickekitchen

ABC: Extreme Home Makeover

OK everyone. Anyone ever watched Extreme Home Makeover?
I love this show. Every Sunday evening I try to watch it between 3-4 other Football games, exactly, I don't get the remote...that goes to the boss (so he thinks ;o) )

It is awesome to watch and see that families lives are changed because they decide to make choices to better their lives, their families, their communities and the lives of others.

I guess I have been in a sappy world this past week. I watched Notebook and just lost it! I cried for a good 15 minutes after it finished because I thought of my mom because she will leave this earth life in that state and who knows if my dad will be able to handle that so he might just go right next to her. That will be fine because then I'll know that Heavenly Father loves everyone and didn't want my dad to suffer anymore than needs be (or the rest of us kids for that matter).

I also watched Finding Neverland too and about died watching that when at the end Peter says that life is "magical" because it truly is. It is as long as we make good choices and follow the commandments and do what needs to be done in this life; our life will truly be magical.

I just finished watching Extreme Home Makeover and wow, that was wonderful too because a family almost had to give up their home and their daycare because of Mold and the state wanted to close them down because it was so bad...so, what happens? ABC steps in and gives back and assists them so that they can continue to help others.

Big baby...I guess you can call me that, I don't care. I am in nursery too so that doesn't help. It has been exciting. We play, we learned about animals, trees and that Heavenly Father made them for us so that we could learn and be happy. We danced, we played, we sang songs, we had treats and hung out. Those little kids are so fun, all they want to do is have fun, play, love and be loved. We prayed for the treats and for the lesson.

One thing that won't happen again is that water will NOT be given while they are eating "fishes and crackers". That won't happen again. Duh, we know that kids put food where it shouldn't be and water spills everywhere, the other sister in there with Nathan and I did that and all we did was look at each other in disbelief. We couldn't believe what we were seeing...she has been in there for a while so you'd think that she'd NOT do that. Well, she won't do it again, our our class that is for sure. Any how, it was fun. It is actually awesome to see Nathan in nursery too because the little kids cling to him. Today there were about 5 little tikes hanging on Nathan and it was a crack up because they just wanted to play with him and nobody else.

We went to the temple on Saturday morning and it was BUSY. It always is though, so that is nothing new. It was lovely for me...I learned to forgive those who have chosen to hurt me and to let it go because they will be judged by the Savior and it is my job to love and forgive them.

I've gone to the gym 4 days this last week and just love it. I ran on the tread mill for the 2nd time and ran a 22 minute mile. I have never done that in my life so give me another month and I'll be down to a 15 minute mile...it will be awesome. Lets just say that it should be that good by Thanksgiving.

We voted already. We did it by mail so it was nice to get it all taken care of.

Nathan had another ward softball game last night too. It was fun to go and watch him play. He looks better to me every time I see him and the more I am married to him.

About work now, I was told this last week that I was talked about during the division manager meeting and that I was given a lot of praise for being #1 in the division for the past 5 months! I was humbled and didn't realize that anyone even cared other than my Nathan and my parents! Well, we'll see...I really enjoy what I do and that I work with teachers, administrators, counselors and the such nationally so I don't really want to leave it but I'm always looking for something new and ironically, it hasn't happened yet which in a way, that is a good thing. I am guaranteed a position and I have a job. If I leave and go to another company, who knows, they may lay off and the last to come in will be the first to go.

I need to get some ironing done for Nathan for this week so gotta go. Have a great week.

Busy days lay ahead

This week has been exciting. Last weekend was General Conference and Nathans Birthday party which by the way, was a total success for the entire weekend.

I have started to go back to the gym & just love it. I love the classes and the people and the ability to work out and strengthen back up this flabby midsection:o)

As Nathan has started school again, I have taken the liberty and follow his counsel and leave the house so that it is quiet so that he can study (he needs pure silence and me, well, I needed noise to study...its weird for me to have complete silence), so I have gone shopping with friends and have gone hiking to give that "quiet time".

I am trying to get my sister to fly out for Thanksgiving but I don't think that'll happen, I wish she would though, it would be a ton of fun.

We spent last Sunday at Thomas and Laurel Wicke home in east Mesa for the afternoon session of GC after spending time at Bens for his waffle breakfast, which was a blast. My friend Melanie also joined us out there, that was nice.

We also had breakfast with the Dunn family that is in our ward and watch GC at their home, that was so sweet of them to invite us over. It was awesome too.

I hiked for a couple of hours at Squaw Peak here in Phoenix off highway 51 and Glendale Ave. That was awesome. I took Ka'le & he ran around which was nice. It wore him out which is good and the weather was absolutely perfect, about 75 degrees with a slight breeze. Nathan actually told me to take a sweater which I did, but I left it in the car, the weather was to nice to wear it ;o)

I had an interview for another position at Apollo Group, but like always, didn't get it probably because I am to valuable with my current position, which is fine. The next raise will be a big one! I'm not worried about it. At least I have work, there are those who don't have a job and, well, in this economy, that would suck!

We were asked to be released from our callings and we, Nathan and I were both called to go to NURSERY, yep, that's right, playing with the kid. I am so excited. They are so fun and so cute. Each kid has their own personality and they are just a blast! There are 2 classes of at least 15 kids per class so, imagine, it could be pretty hectic...they were really good though. It'll be fun, no politics, nothing to worry about while we are there because these sweet kids don't give a hoot. They just want to be loved, to give love, to share, to eat treats, take naps and poop (which happened today with 2 kids...it was fun ;o) ).

Well, I need to get things ready for work this week and for the gym. I am going visiting teaching this week too so I need to get that ready too. Our home teacher finally came to visit. That is the 2nd time in 14 months. I haven't had visiting teachers in a year! It sucks, but the loss, well, is really on those who don't come.

Here are a few pictures of Nathans birthday party, Bens waffle fruitology and my hike to Squaw Peak.

Awesome Feelings

Well ladies and gentlemen, after a weekend that we just had what else do I need to say?
I have been completely slammed busy for the past 5 days trying to make sure that I assisted my better half with maintaining sanity and the spirit in our home while he attended class, while he did home work, while I maintained our home and went to the gym, made dinner and kept my sweet boy, Ka'le entertained (playing catch).

Wednesday night, I asked Nathan if he wanted his birthday present early because well, I can't keep a secret (hehehe) and Thursday night he had class and we wouldn't see each other at all that day so he said, "sure, but you know that all I want is a Nathan standard clean home" and I said, "yes, but I had already purchased the present and your response about a clean home comes from every day living, not a birthday present".

So, I told him that it was in the closet and that he could get it out. He had been in the closet at least 50 times in 2 weeks so that was a good place to put it, he wouldn't even have know it was there :o)

A shirt that didn't fit right, a pair of slacks for work that well, were totally not the right size and an avocado peeler (since he can eat those like I can eat cheese...if you know me, you'll know what I'm talkin' about). We chuckled because I didn't get anything right so he went to exchange it :o) I will have to say though, that the prices were right and I got a good deal so he was thrilled about that!

OK...on to Thursday, wow, this was weird...I did see Nathan during the day for lunch. He came to work and we had lunch and then he was off to the temple and to the store in Mesa that is "really" cheap and one can get good deals. The funny thing about it...I said to him, "hey, if you get anything cold, let me know and I'll come and get it and take it home so that it doesn't sit in the car while you are in class". Well, it was 4:00 and I was leaving work and I hadn't heard anything so I figured he was still in the temple so I left...oh, about 15 minutes later he calls and I am 1 exit away from the house and he says, "where are you?", I say, 1 exit from the house". He said, "well I have eggs, chicken and some other stuff". I thought, oh great, it is going to cook in the car and I have a million things to do for the big surprise Friday night, I don't want to go all the way back to his class and pick up the stuff in the car and because I wanted to go and do the Zumba class at the YMCA. Now, I was going to screw up my schedule.

OK...what to do...I got home, changed clothes, played with Ka'le and put him in the car, drove back to SE Phoenix, mind you, we live on the other side of Phoenix...I went back technically, to where I work, through traffic going east...if you live here, you know that it is terrible during rush hour going east on any highway! I stop and grab a sandwich for him at Subway, pick up the groceries from the car and leave...2 minutes later he calls, (I am already assuming that his class had started because it was 6 PM so I don't call to tell him I am there) and said that his instructor is running late I could have called to let him know I was there getting it all.

Once again, Karens assumptions are so the contrary. OK...that is twice so far today that I missed the boat....first the clothes then the food...what next, a warm bath?

Anyways, Ka'le is getting frustrated at this point and he wants out of the car, so by this point, he wants to sit in moms lap while she drives...OH NO, he doesn't. He has done that one time with me and I didn't like it and frankly, neither did he so he had to wait it out and sit in the back seat...once again, we are on our way back to the west valley. Another 30-35 trip! I have missed my Zumba class at this point, oh one thing I did do was put a load of laundry in before I left, so that was smart because it'll be done by the time I get back (yahhhooooo).

I get home, open the groceries and there is a huge back of mushrooms and 3 huge onions. I am thinking to myself, I must of done something really wrong because he bought things that I know nothing about in the kitchen! I laugh because it is funny...he is going to have to cook that on his own.

Anyways, I change out the laundry, play with Ka'le and go to the gym because I want to maintain that constant schedule. I returned and by that point, I was so tired, I couldn't even sit down. You know what I mean?