Town Meeting Continuation

I'm going to the town meeting tomorrow, yahoo. My division approved it for me to go. I'll take my camera and get some good pictures, hopefully.

We are having spiriti week at work so I am hoping that I can wear to the meeting what we are wearing as a team for team choice day and spirit week.

See ya on TV hopefully, that'll be awesome.

Karen

Town Hall Meeting

Colleagues,
We are excited and honored to invite our Phoenix-based employees to participate in a town-hall meeting with the Honorable John McCain, United States Senator. Both Chas and I have had the opportunity to spend time with Senator McCain, and he continues to be a strong supporter of proprietary education.
We would like you to have that same opportunity, and Senator McCain graciously accepted our invitation to come and speak with you about issues facing our industry, our Country, and the world. We encourage you to join our host, Joe D’Amico and members of our staff at 2pm this Wednesday October 27th at the Downtown Sheraton (Transportation will be provided).
Very best regards,

Greg Cappelli, Co-CEO
Chas Edelstein, Co-CEO
Joe D’Amico, President and COO

I'll be attending this town hall meeting via my employer. I'm sooooo excited and when it is all said and done, I'll try to post pictures if I am allowed to take any.

Karen

Now Let Us Rejoice

I get these awesome, sweet daily gems and today it is the following:

"We were singing a great song as the intermediate hymn, 'Now Let Us Rejoice,' written by W. W. Phelps (Hymns, no. 3). That was written following an incident in Independence, Missouri, where Brother Phelps was the editor of a little newspaper. He had a printing press, and the people who were unfriendly towards the Church decided to do away with it, and the mob broke in and burned the building and destroyed the printing press. They burned some 200 homes of the Saints in showing their displeasure over the people following this movement. In that despair W. W. Phelps wrote those words, 'Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation. No longer as strangers on earth need we roam,' bringing hope to the people and encouragement. With hope that those things will happen in our lives, we move on because of the truthfulness of what we are attempting to do."

David B. Haight, "Prophets Are Inspired," Ensign, Nov. 1996, 14

I know that this is to be true. We have trials in our lives and forget that Heavenly Fathers hands are in ALL things. Be strong, carry on and remember that through HOPE and faith, we'll be carried out of the trials that we thing are hideous and never going to end.

Sleepless Days

I can't seem to get up in the mornings and its crazy. I am feeling kind of tired and I'm weak some days so I just stay in bed until Kale is seriously jumping all over me to let him out. I do get up in the mornings and open the door and let him out but he won't go. He just stands there or eventually lays down and just hangs out and it isn't until he seriously has to go to the bathroom when he starts jumping all over the bed and throwing his ball around. I know he is throwing it around because I can hear it bouncing on the floor and the patter of his paws running after it.

I have gotten to work this week as late at 8:30 and for me, that sucks. I'm used to being here at 6. I'm going to go do the blood work that needs to be done and I have an appt with the Arizona Cancer Center again this next week, soooo, we'll see what they say.

I have an appt with the Spinal Dr again and also with the Podiatrist again to figure out what the heck is going on. I know that I have arthritis and I'm OK w/ that but dang it, to have both killing me where I can hardly walk or run, come on now.

Which brings me to my next area. I can't do the marathon training running until the Dr's say what I can and cannot do. I'm out of commission for at least another week. I can walk and I do that with Kale but for now, the running is on hold.

The weather is fabulous. I turned off the AC back in September and just leave the doors and windows open so when I come home the temp is perfecto! It has rained and it has been fabulous. Kale won't walk on the grass though so when he goes to do his doodies, he tippy toes on and tippy toes off. Then he takes off and runs down the sidewalk because his paws are now wet and he is trying to make them dry. It is hilarious!

I had a Pampered Chef party last week and my sweet neighbors came and it was hilarious. Everyone had a great time. I am having a PartyLite Party this Saturday and can't wait. I love that stuff and I need some new candles because Nathan left all my candles out in 100 degree weather and now these candles are nothing. What an idiot, who leaves the candles outside and doesn't say, "oh, I'm sorry, lets take those and put them inside so they don't melt." Oh well, don't even let me get started on more.

I think another reason that I am late to work too is that I am doing my own personal reading in the morning in the BOM and then I'll read a little bit of my lesson for Primary. I actually like it that way because then it is fresh in my mind during the day and I can remember the actual lesson.

I've been taking the train to work and it has been AWESOME! I drive half way and take the train the other half. Its great. I bought, To The Rescue about President Thomas S Monson and I read it on the train to and from work. I have laughed, I have cried, I have felt compassion for others around me, I have charity for those who need the Savior and I am getting all of this out of his book. Its wonderful. I think that when I'm done I'll go back and read Pres. Hinkley bio since I haven't done that.

My 2nd masters is due to begin mid November so I need to get ready for that too. I have looked over the readings for the first class and am a little bit afraid of it simple because it is something totally new to me yet not foreign. I'm excited at the same time and am soooo willing to learn something new. The program is Masters of Arts in Education/Adult Education Training. I'll be walking again in July 2012. Yahoo! Far, but not to far away. I'm going to throw myself a HUGE graduation/birthday party. I won't yet be 40 but who cares, nobody needs to know. I might even buy myself the Mercedes that I want. Oh yeah!!

I'm done with lunch so I need to get to work. I'll write more later.

Karen

New Family Member

Well, I wasn't expecting a new addition to the family until Halloween but since this is Gods work, he came about 10 days early. I have a new nephew born to Steven and Janell this morning, 1 hr after she arrived at the hospital in Vancouver, WA. Kona Scott Kamalolo Nihipali 6 lbs, 5 oz and 19" long.

I don't have pictures since my family is digitally impaired so I'll post them later.

Yahoo. He belongs to a brother Aukai and sister, Kali'i.

Sweetness!

Karen

Change

Ever gone anywhere and didn't know what to expect and listen to speakers and feel like they were talking directly to you? Ever been touched by the spirit and taught so effectively that if you do anything wrong from that point on, you'll wish you'd die right then and there?

Ever been humbled and taught so much that whatever has happened in your life up to that point is gone and will never bother you again? Ever had the atonement work through the Savior and have you blessed right away and taught right away that you are a child of God?

I attended Time Out For Women this weekend and am just getting home. I learned a few things over the weekend, not in any specific order.

Not only members of the church have promptings of the spirit to teach, edify and uplift and I love them for following those sweet promptings to teach me.

Doctrine & Covenants 52:16, He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite,whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances.

Even though I have gone through trials, issues and have been alone, betrayed, neglected, sad, frustrated, hated and despised, my Savior has been there and KNOWS exactly what these feelings are like and knows EXACTLY what to do and how to comfort me.

S-Succor
A-Atone
V-Virtuous
I-Infinite
O-Offerer
R-Resurrecter

I have the ability to change my attitude from Poor Me to Wow, What a Hopeful Me. From this day forward I am setting a goal for myself that if I ever feel bad for myself again, I owe myself $1 to the bank which cannot and will NOT be spent which means, no shopping, no movies, no frozen yogurt or treats!

There are angels that are around me, helping me, guiding me and pushing me along the path that Heavenly Father has created for me. There are pumps and uphill battles along the way which hurt, cause traction, crying, frustration and soreness. Sheri Dew said on Friday evening that there is nothing wrong with an emotional reaction to the trials in ones life. Wow, really? It's OK to cry, get totally irritated, yell and then drop to my knees pleading for help, peace and long suffering.

I know that Jesus Christ is Hopeful for me so that I'll be better and do better and do my best. I don't have to do it all in one day NOR do I have to kill myself.

How often do I feel broken? How often do I remember that the Atonement works for me as well as the next son and daughter of God and that is an awesome thought and reminder. The Savior will heal me when my heart is broken. The Lord will speak to me through personal revelation, through prophets, through scriptures, through service to others, through neighbors, through talks of church leaders and through babes.

Do I want to do good? Do I see things as Jesus sees does? How do I measure my progress? Do I use the world to do it by measuring my weight, the size of my shoes, the amount of $$ I make, the house that I live in. Does the Savior measure me by how I live my life or where I live my life and who I touch, serve and love? July Beck Spring 2010 Conf Talk and Elder Oaks Conf Talk Fall 2000.

What am I doing to be a holy woman? Here is the challenge: For 3 days, pick 1 activity during that day and ask yourself, what would a Holy Woman do during this activity, what is the outcome, what did you do, what did you learn and how do you feel now?

Who have I influenced for the Good or Bad? Who has influenced me? Do I need to repent for something that was done or not done?

Doubt not, fear not.

I'm grateful that I was counted worthy to be a pioneer. Not in the literal scents, but in a personal scents. I have had my trials, issues, challenges, illnesses and stresses just as much as a pioneer has that I could deal with. I am a pioneer in my own life. I have had to do things in this life that will leave a legacy. I have had to do things in this life that will edify others and have done things in this life that are shameful.

Those that spoke this weekend for me to learn, to be edified and to be changed are in order:

Virginia Hinckley Pearce

Dallyn Vail Bayles, who is a performer with Phantom, who performed at least 3-4 times throughout the night.

Wendy Watson Nelson, wife to Elder Russell M Nelson

Sheri Dew, need we say who this is

Deann Flynn, TV Host and hilarious

Mercy River, trio music group who broke away from Jenny Phillips. They performed at least 4-5 times throughout the day.

Brad Wilcox, awesome. Love myself, I am the one making choices and through the Savior, I'll make it.

Mariama Kallon, who said to watch the movie, Blood Diamond and you'll know the entire store except for her conversion. Served her mission on Temple Square. Her story is awesome and can be found on a DVD provided ONLY by TOFW.

Amanda Dickson, who is not a member but brought the spirit with her and testified of loving LOVE.

Merrillee Boyack, Cancer survivor

This has been my weekend. Edified and uplifted is EXACTLY how I feel.

Love the Gospel and Love the LORD.

Family Court Case Update

From what I can gather on the website for Family Court Cases, Nathan has begun the paperwork again because I didn't respond to his first attempt to end the marriage, well; I did, but it was returned to me because I paid to much in the court fees and the court system didn't want to write a refund check so they just mailed the forms back to me. So, instead, I'm just letting it go and having him pay all of the fees for this dissolution and letting him take care of it all since this was a decision that he made and something that kicked me in the gut. He has not contacted me and I'm grateful for that because I know that I would be rude and mean and that I would probably say some hateful things, so instead I'm taking it out on running with the dog. I have been prompted by the spirit to just let Nathan go through this and spend all of his time and money and effort and for me to not bother with it. This was a choice that he made and so therefore, he is going to pay for it all. I'm just giving everyone the heads up that I think that it'll be within the next 30 days that everything will be settled because it is 61 days from the date that I received the original paperwork. I just happened to see on the open court case site that he began his 2nd portion. This type of information is open to the public. May Heavenly Father bless him with peace and may I continue to grow and follow the Savior. Am I crying, yes but am I totally flustered, no and do I feel alone, absolutely not. Heavenly Father has given me so much from when this all began that all I can do is be grateful for it all and move on. The atonement is real and it works when one is in tune with the promptings of the spirit and trying to follow the commandments.

Case Information Update

This kicked me in the gut today and at the same time, I'm totally OK with it. Nathan, may you be at peace with whatever it is you think you have to do or are getting out of this entire thing. I am clueless and the more I'm clueless, the better. I have no judgement on you, that comes from above and wow, may you be at peace.

Case Information
Case Number:
S-0200-DO-201000869
Title:
In Re the Marriage of: NATHAN
Category:
Civil
Court:
Cochise County Superior
Filing Date:
09/08/2010
Judge:
CHARLES A. IRWIN
Disposition Date:
KAREN L WICKE RESPONDENT - RT1
Date of Birth: 07/1973
NATHANIEL A WICKE PETITIONER - PE1
Date of Birth: 10/1973
Case Activity
Date
Description
Party
10/04/2010
APPLICATION: FOR DEFAULT
PE1
10/04/2010
AFFIDAVIT: AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING
RT1
09/08/2010
SUMMONS: SUMMONS
PE1
09/08/2010
INJUNCTION: Preliminary Injunction
PE1
09/08/2010
Petition: Dissolution of Marriage
PE1
09/08/2010
MISCELLANEOUS: SENSITIVE DATA SHEET
PE1

Even more pictures still...

Me again at the park during lunch. We are on our way back to the conference center for the afternoon session.
Yeah, who do you see in this pic...sweetness!


Everyone, if you can see them, it was dark and they are dark, so its like adding black on black or rather brown on brown =D

Melissa Harris Mendji and Me...sweet...it was awesome to be able to see her again.

Yahoo, there is more

Isn't this one cute. I love it. Everyone looks so peaceful and edified. This is between Sunday morning and afternoon sessions. This is at the Brigham Young Park on the Southeast corner.
Sharon and I at dinner at the Olive Garden =D...poor girl was sooooooo tired and her ankle was totally gross.

So sweet, Tiffany and I waiting for Melissa for the Sunday morning session of GC.

Me and my new boots that I specifically bought for GC. This was the first time wearing them and my legs were sweating something terrible because it was 85 degrees and HOT.

Finally, I found

more pictures. Here are a few more from General Conference. Yahoo!

This was taken after the Sunday Afternoon Session on our way down.
This is the sign for Iosepa, it was a wonderful place.

Waiting for Sharon and our entrance to Olive Garden where everyone was falling asleep inside the restaurant in their food because they were sooooooooo stinkin' tired. Cute picture though despite that everyone was up for almost 24 hrs at this point and totally excited that they had just arrived to UT.

This is everyone trying to pretend that they weren't tired. We all were sooooooo sleepy.

Enjoy.

Karen

Holidays

I love Holidays. I like to decorate for them all, I enjoy the festivities of them all and think that most of them are just flat out hilarious!

It is hilarious to watch grown ups dress up in provocative and unrealistic things and to watch sweet little kids to wear awesome super hero and princess costumes. I remember having an awesome time as kids dressing up as cowboys and Indians using paper bags and feathers and having white sheets for ghosts. That saved tons of money =D

OK, and the best one yet was to see Santa Claus at the elementary school, oh wait, dang it, was that really him or was it my imagination on December 1st, even though he drops of presents on the 25th.

The other hilarious and most awesome one is Easter. Who dresses up as a bunny and runs around with kids and chases them as they pick up eggs either real ones or ones that are full of candy.

Another awesome one I LOVE is the 4th of July. I think that others will beg to differ. I am partial to this holiday because it doubles up for me as a birthday. I want it to be a birthday and not a freakin' party for the entire neighborhood and the nation. I want a party just for me on that date with cake and ice cream and presents. For as old as I am, I want it, want it, want it and who knows if it is ever going to happen. If I want fireworks, I'll go and do it myself, but if I want to do something for my birthday that is different then the rest of the nation, dang it, I want to do it.

This last year, I had to make my own dinner because 1, I volunteered and I didn't mind and 2 nobody else would have been able to do it. I made my own Chinese food and it was the bomb and everyone who ate it can say that it was and did say so. I bought myself my own birthday present because nobody even cared that it was the birthday for little ole me and then I used the item once and when I went to Cedar City last week, I gave it to my cousin because I figured she'd use it way more than me and I bought myself a better one.

On a more serious note, Spring and Winter are the most important times of the year though. These are the times that we remember the birth of the Savior and his death and Resurrection. The star, the manger, the cross and the garden are all awesome, infinite items that we need to keep in the back of our heads as we remember symbols and the reason for his life and for his infinite love for each one of us. If he had not been born, we would not be and if he had not died and resurrected, we would not be able to return to a loving Heavenly Father. Through him, we are and by him, we will be.

For the next month at church I'm going to teach my class I am a Child of God in Spanish. I think that they'd love that and I'm going to see if we can get them to sing it in Sacrament Meeting and bring the spirit in to the meeting. I know that they'll do a fantastic job.

OMG...I can't help it, I'm dying!

Fatal overdose in Detroit!

This came from Kenji via email...Horrible, Just Horrible =D

I'm cracking up!!!

Hilarious

Aunt Kelly sent this to me. I have been cracking up since I've read through it.

#2 of #3

Husband Store

A store that sells new husbands has opened in New York City , where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:
You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!
So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs
She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:
Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.
'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.'
So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:
Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.
'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.
She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.
'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!'
Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:
Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.
She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:
Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.
PLEASE NOTE:
To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.
The first floor has wives that love sex.
The second floor has wives that love sex and have money and like beer
The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.

get ready to laugh

I'm going to post 3 of the most hilarious things that I've read all week. Get ready to laugh and if you have to go to the bathroom, I suggest that you do it now.

This is 1 of 3

Woman mistakenly glues eye shut


PHOENIX - A Valley woman made a big mistake when reaching for her eye drops.
Irmgerd Holm told 3TV she was only doing what she does every night:
"I see the bottle on my bar in the bedroom and I grabbed it and as I was putting the drop in I realized it was Super Glue."
She said it burned and her eyes were glued "instantly."
The station reports Holm's attempts to wash it off were unsuccessful and she ended up at a hospital where doctors cut her eye.
She told the station that doctors told her she's not alone in the mistake she made.
"Well, apparently, I'm not the only one who this is happening to."
Holm says with her eyesight issues, she's not surprised she made the mistake.

Dining Room

I finally did it. I finally am going to suck up $100 and buy a table and chairs, which, oh wait, I did =D.

I bought a table and matching chairs from a lady in Tempe. They look and feel like new. She kept great care of it.

She was so nice that when I told her what happened she dropped $5, oooooh, doesn't sound like a lot but it is when she offers to deliver it too and that saves me stress and time and money. She brought it to the house for me and my home teacher and his son came over at 8 PM to help me put it in the house. They rock too.

Yahoo!

My house is complete, well almost. I might buy a twin bed and put it in the guest room. For now, that room is naked and it'll stay like that until I feel like filling it up.

My little house is more complete and I'm so grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to keep me grounded and helps me out in every way possible. Everything that I have has been because of them and their mercy toward me. Sometimes I wonder why and sometimes I want to grab them and hug them and since I can't physically do it I try to embrace others by visiting them, being kind to people and ideas and things. I care for Kale even more and try to do as much as I can for the sisters I visit teach and the kids I have in primary. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior.

My brand new bed...oh yeah...I sleep like a black bear in hibernation, its great!

A chair and the dining room table

The living room from the dining room

OOOOOOH, the table and chairs (and the dog food in the bottom left corner)

Barely Awake

I can barely keep my eyes open today. Yesterday was terrible too so I left work early because I couldn't stand it anymore. It was a good thing that I did too because the rain was horrific. It was so terrible that it took 40 minutes to get home and when I got there the garage wouldn't open so I was a little freaked out and then I remembered that I had left the patio door open so that the cooler air could get in the house and so I was able to get in. When I entered the entire place didn't have electricity. Everything had been off and the little ole lady who lives next door had come over to tell me that there hadn't been electricity since about 2 pm. I ran to the fridge and to my comfort, all of my ice cream and water was still cold so it forced me to drink a bottle of water and eat an ice cream sandwich, ohhhh sooooo sad ;o)

She, the neighbor Marilyn had told me to come over 1 hr after the electricity kicks on because she was trying to make an apply crisp and wanted to share it with me.....so, I did. We visited for about an hour and then I could hear Kale barking his head off so I went home and took him for a walk. She was kind and looks great for being 85. She can live an easy 10 years more. She is in great health and looks about 65.

It rained all night and the rain during the day was sooo intense that all one could see was a thick cloud of grey.

When I left for work this morning there were 4 accidents in which my traffic was affected. I left at 7:11 and I logged in at work at 8:35. What the heck? Yes, it did take me that long to get to work and because of the rain and the sleep deprivation that I have from my trip, I will NOT be staying a full day at work today either. I wanna go home and just rest. Poor Kale just wants to play so I'll sit on the floor and play with him this afternoon too.

I haven't done any running since the Friday morning of my trip so I really need to get on the move and go. When I go home today, I'll quickly change clothes and take Kale out. He will be very tired by the time we're done and so will I.

I will also be preparing my primary lesson about worshiping Heavenly Father and remembering that He gives us everything and that because of him we have all that we do have and to make sure that we don't honor a rock or any other physical or temporal thing because that doesn't bring us happiness and that God can take it away if he chooses to. I have learned that he will bless me based on what I decide to do with what he has already given to me.

I have conference recorded and I noticed today that they are available to listen to via MP3, it is great that technology is on top of things. I also ordered the Ensign finally. I can really write all of my feelings and notes all over it.

I am still looking to buy a kitchen table and chairs. I need one really bad. I have even considered a card table and chairs and can't find one cheap enough. I figure that if I am going to spend over $100 on a card table, I might as well buy a real kitchen table and chairs for another $100, duh, it just makes sense.

It is almost 10:30 and I'm at work, so I better do that.

The Gospel brings joy and peace, I'm grateful for the Savior, my Heavenly Father, the sweet promptings of the Holy Ghost, my dog, Kale, my family and my friends.

Karen

Awesome Trip

I had a fantastic trip. I spent time with the Nihipali (Abraham and Jacob) and Sam-Yiou Family from Hawaii along with Tiffany Harrison, John and Sarah Belnap, Kelly and Paul King and kids, Melissa Mendji (Harris) and Marcela, Jeff & Sophia B and oh yeah, Stassy, the other cousin from the Parker side, sorry girl.

Below are a few pictures.

This picture is on the 14 going to Cedar City from Kanab. What a beautiful place. There were ducks playing in the water so I had to stop and take a few pictures.
Tiffany and Karen at the Conference Center on the Southwest corner at the fountain before the Sunday morning session.

The family at the Olive Garden for dinner on Friday night 09/30

Sarah, Karen and Jon. The Belnaps who live in St George, came all the way over to Cedar City to see me. They are fabulous and awesome friends. I miss them.

We had a fabulous time enjoying one anothers company, attending conference and running all around Jacobs mission there in SLC, seeing the home of Elizabeth Smart, the girl that was abducted from her house in the avenues, attending General Conference Saturday morning, Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. We went to Iosepa which is the location where the Hawaiian saints had settled between 1889-1917 to help build the kingdom and the Salt Lake Temple and then they left to go home when they found out that a temple was built in Laie. It was awesome and yet soooo sad because you learn about how they were treated so unjustly and unkind yet they grew and persevered through those years of trials and joys.

We went shopping, we laughed, we cried, we almost died and were soooo in ahhh with the Bonneville Salt Flats and the Salt Lake. The kids really liked that. Their poor health though went under attack because of the dryness of the air and weather compared to home. I even got a sore throat.

I was able to have dinner with John and Sarah one night and then have dinner with Marcela and Jeff another.

My time there was fabulous.