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.