Record Keeping, Scripture Reading, and Picture Taking

Sweeeeeet Readers! 

• I opened up my journal last night...and was baffled, amazed, disappointed, saddened, and extremely regretful that I hadn't written in my journal for an entire YEAR. Literally. It's been 13 months now I think. As I hinted at in my last post - this has been the year that I have faced the most trials and had the most new and growing experiences OF MY ENTIRE LIFE and I wrote down nothing. As we can see here -- this blog has been pretty empty as well. So... what we are left with is I have NO WRITTEN RECORD/WISDOM TO PASS ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION/TO MYSELF WHEN HARD TIMES ARRIVE AGAIN. What the heck amiright?
• So I'm repenting (in part) of my lack of recording keeping and will try to do more on here at the very least. I'm a little overwhelmed about doing it in my journal? Where to start? What to write? There is sooooooooooo much to say and so little hand muscle with which to say it.
• In Institute last week we read passages from the last week of the Savior's life. I chose to read Thursday, because Thursday has ALWAYS been my favorite day of the week. What a blessing. Part of Jesus's last Thursday is recorded in John 14. If you ever, EVER feel that you just can't seem to feel God's love for you for one reason or another. Check out that chapter. It is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I have never felt so clearly Jesus's love in writing as I did when I read that. 

• Pictures from my Mom's visit - that lady came and we conquered Houston. Tip for myself and all others hosting family in an exotic city (hahahaha) - don't stress about the sight seeing. It's more about the being together than the adventure. I failed at that this time -- but it did make for some good times regardless. 

Beach Babes:

Pi(e) Day Babes:

Park Babes:

Rodeo Babes:

Beatle's Babe

Sharing Our Experiences

"When I was a young man, I served as counselor to a wise district president in the Church. He tried to teach me. One of the things I remember wondering about was this advice he gave: 'When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.'" - Henry B. Eyring

Life is hard. I'm sure this is a lesson that will continue to get more apparent the longer I live, but I've been learning it a lot recently it seems.  Life is hard because of the things we choose and life is hard because of the things we don't choose.  

I haven't figured out all the whats, hows, and whys - far from it in fact -- but I wanted to remember for myself a lesson I've been learning.  My "multitude of trails" has been going for quite awhile, but I'm working on getting through them and I'm learning lots along the way.  

It has just been recently that I've started talking more about the things I'm facing with my sweet friends and family. It has been in my willingness to talk about my own hard things that I've been able to hear about the hard things that the people around me are facing. 

I don't know why but for some reason talking to people about their own hard things makes life a little easier for me. Maybe it's the idea that I'm not that abnormal - or that other people are getting through things similar or most times harder things than me - and they are doing just fine. 

It's also so interesting how when you are willing to open your life - and allow other people to open theirs - how your circle or love and support can grow.   People are always checking up on me and loving me and hugging.  I know so many people have prayed for me and about me and have been prompted to help me over the last few months.  I also know that as people open up to me the things that they are going through - I've had the chance to pray for them as well. And the opportunity to pray for others helps me to look beyond myself. 

I just hope I remember that life can be easier when we share our burdens. I don't mean that you should tell everyone everything (hence me not spilling my life burden with all of you here), but don't forget to reach out and reach back when help is there.

I Lost My Car

The title of this post might be more accurate if I said: "My Car was Viciously Stolen From Me" but that seemed too long. Either way you say it though: the fact remains - my car is no longer in my possession. It was the weirdest thing in the world. I woke up that morning doing really great! I was really on top of things - I remembered some random things I wanted to take to work, I was up early enough to take the trash out to the curb, and I was all set to be ON TIME FOR WORK. I walked outside and didn't see my car. I walked further outside to see if I had just parked it in a new place... Nope... Then I called my mom... I think I said something like "Mom I can't find my car..." as if I had just misplaced it or something. Then I called the tow-company that patrols my complex, my mom, the police, my mom, my insurance company, then my mom, and then my mom again, and again, and again.

FAQs: (by insurance and people curious in my story):

• What happened to your car? It's gone.
• When did you last see it? 11:30 p.m. on 9/29
• When did you notice it was gone? 7:15 a.m. on 9/30
• Where was it(was it in the ghetto)? It was in the exact some place I have parked it for the last 6 months that I have lived here. 
• Does your complex have cameras? Nope - and no gate either. 
• Did you lock your car? I always lock my car. Always. But I can't remember specifically locking it that night. Hopefully habit took over.
• Did you have anything inside it? My Garmin. My mace. My jumper cables. My Reba McIntire tape. 
• Did you have the keys with you? Yes. All keys I have for that car are in my possession. Dirty rotten scumbags apparently know how to hot-wire a car.

The thing I tried to do right away was look for the blessings in this situation. This is something I think I learned to do the last time I thought I couldn't cope with something hard (my transmission going out a month a go, loosing the keys to someone else's car and my own work keys - if nothing else Houston has taught me to be resilient). I've keeping a mental list, but even though it's been less then a week since the incident the list is already fading from my mind, so I'm recording it here with you now.

BLESSINGS OF HAVING YOUR CAR STOLEN

• Insurance. I can't say this one enough. I'm not all done dealing with them yet, but so far I've been soooooo impressed with Geico. I called them they took all my information - and had a rental that they are paying for already for me to go by the time I got off the phone. I can't get over what an amazing blessing insurance is! I'm soo glad I got it - even though right before my car was stolen I was thinking how maybe I overpaid and maybe I need to adjust my coverage -- never again folks - it's just soooo worth it.
• NOT HAVING MY IDENTITY STOLEN. I've been running after work and one week before my car was stolen I had my social security card AND birth certificate all hidden in my car at a park because I was going to get my passport on my lunch break. I thankfully had all those things removed on the night it was gone. My identity is still in tact! 
• Not having my license stolen! When I go to that park to run - I always hide my license, phone, and wallet in three different places so in case my car is broken into I'll still have at least one part of my life still - smart right?? BUT because the place I had my license is sooo sneaky I had been leaving it in there. Then last week sometime I said to myself (or more likely the Spirit whispered to me)- I should put that back in my wallet and I did! So my license is till with me.
• Answered Prayers/LOVE! I had been thinking this week that I would like to more fully understand the love God has for me. I'd been feeling a little far from Heavenly Father and I prayed for that very thing. Little did I know that that outpouring of love would come because of my car getting stolen. But honestly everyone's kindness and love made what should have been an awful no good horrible terrible day one of the best days I've had in a long time. EVERYBODY WAS SO NICE. Everyone in my family called/texted/prayed and cared about me that day (except Todd of course). It was amazing. I felt soooo blessed to be surrounded by sooo many wonderful people.  I felt soo loved and so taken care of. It was just such a great out-pouring of love that after the initial shock and after I'd done everything I could have done - I was actually feeling really good. I mean there's only so much you can do. The thing happened and then it's over and then you have to move forward. I just got to move forward surrounded by the best people in the world. 
• "I still have my legs!" The day my car was stolen, I was talking to my dad. I wanted to go for a quick run and that's what I said to my dad as I was getting off the phone - I may not have my car, but I can still get around! I'm really glad that I got my car stolen -- while I wasn't anywhere near it -- so that I can continue to be safe and have all my body parts!

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as blessing go, but I wanted to get the major ones down! Since it is Sunday I also wanted to say that I feel that lots of these blessings are related to the tithing. I studied a talk in Institute about a year ago that talked about the compensatory blessings of obedience to different laws. The idea is that you may not be blessed in the way you think (i.e. more money you think you need), but in the ways that the Lord sees fit (i.e. you are able to mange the money you already have).  I feel very blessed in ways that I didn't expect and I feel that the Lord's hand is in those blessings! 

Flash Back Friday Prom

I love my new ward! I loved my time at BYU, but let me tell life outside the bubble has it's perks and one of them is YSA wards that are filled with young professionals instead of students! I have lots of thoughts on why it's better, but I'll save that for another post. One of the downers of this ward though is that there is this idea that dances are for younger YSA wards... but some of us LOVE TO DANCE!!!! So this needed to change. After a lot of "floating" (common Kelli technique: keep talking about an idea casually like it's going to happen until voilà: it's reality!), we finally got the okay to DANCE.

I should also say that I wasn't much involved in the planning of this event. I supported the original idea: flash back Friday prom and created the Facebook event - but after that I checked out of the planning! I was there for every planning meeting mind you - and I did help put up the decorations - but let's be real my sweet roommate had things covered! She didn't even need me!

Anyway --- on the day of the dance I was back on board and super excited! I last minute sent out a "creative" invite to get myself a Prom Date with the help my sweet co-workers at the end of my work day!

Prom?!

He said yes!

I then spent the rest of the afternoon after work getting ready for this prom! So much so that I didn't even eat dinner! How's a girl supposed to dance the night away with out sustenance?! HOW I ASK YOU?! Thankfully my Prom Date was okay with a quick stop at Little Ceasar's! I needed something quality to get me through the big night!

The actual dance consisted of lots of Latin Music - a few country songs - a few pop songs - and plenty of line dances - which is my favorite!!! I love a good line dance! Anytime. Anywhere. No jokes!

You may wonder - Kelli how did you dance to all that Latin music? ...you are a very backwoods American with little Latin persuasion in your life...

JOKES ON Y'ALL! 

I've been learning to dance Latin - which is me meeting some of my life goals (see a modified #14)! And let me tell - Latin dancing is my passion!

The dance was supposed to go to about 11:00 -- in true Latin fashion - it went longer and I was dying of tiredness. Apparently 2 slices of Lil Sleazer's isn't enough to get you through the whole night! But there was a photo booth and a "lounge" for those of us that couldn't last the whole evening!

The Lounge Life

When the dance FINALLY ENDED, we cleaned up real quick and I took the opportunity to take pictures with my dance planning friends! They sure are sweet and I'm lucky I get to hang out with them even when we aren't planning a dance! 

Another Great Brother

50 days before BYU Football (who are thus far undefeated by the way!) BYU started a promotion where they dropped off one box in each of the 50 states. Each box had a bunch of cool BYU stuff in it, but most of the fun was finding the box!!  When BYU came to Texas they dropped not one but 3 boxes - yet somehow they missed Houston -- HOUSTON the fourth largest city in America!! Anyway.. enough BYU fans complained that on Kick-Off Eve BYU stopped by H-Town!! 

I had to drop someone off at the airport, so I was thinking that of course I had no chance to get the box, but traffic was surprisingly not that bad, so on my way back into the city I decided to wait downtown for the Facebook post that would tell me where I needed to be! 

I parked and waited, then I drove around and waited, and then I waited some more. FINALLY THE POST CAME UP. .... 

The flippin' box was at NASA! 

Do y'all know where NASA IS?!? 

Point A: Downtown --> Point B: NASA

I'm torn between wanting Houston to have the pride of having NASA and outrage that BYU would consider something soooooo far away a part of Houston!

My family knew that I had been trying for the box and were appropriately empathetic when I didn't get it! What I didn't know was that I have another amazing brother looking out for me! About a week after my tragic disappointment I received this package:

MY VERY OWN BYU BOX! 

Sweet Ty sent me a package - which if you knew Ty is pretty shocking - not the thoughtful gift and looking out for me part - that's pretty standard Ty -- just the gettin' it together so fast and sending it within a week of my disappointment! What a champ ya know?!

Sweetest brothers a girl could ask for!!

I can't believe I have been blessed with soooooo many thoughtful and kind people in my life. I know for a fact that these brothers of mine (not to mention sisters, brother-in-laws, and parents) are in my life for a very specific reason! I'm so blessed by each of them! How did I get soo lucky?! 

Share Goodness Sunday

Sweet Todd has been gone serving his mission for over a year! Today I was thinking of two moments from the year we were at BYU together that prove he was simply the best!

#1: When I Needed a Blessing. I had been feeling pretty poorly and I was going to have my brothers give me a blessing for my sickness, but by the time they had it together enough to come help their poor ailing sister I was feeling better, but I still needed a blessing for other reasons. Ty made Todd give the blessing (for experience because the boy had just been ordained an Elder and he was about to leave on his mission) and he was so nervous. He didn't even know what to say really, but he gave me a blessing anyway. I can't remember what was said in the blessing, but I do know that I loved him for trying so hard and being able to give me that blessing! It was so sweet of both of my brothers! 

#2: When He Found Me Crying on Campus. I was headed to class from the Tanner Building to the Wilk after an incredibly stressful day of working on getting my future together and Todd was headed home to the dorms. It was a freak accident that we saw each other or rather that he saw me: I had been walking with my hair in front of my face and my head down because I was crying out my stress - Toddy pulled me off to the side of the sidewalk and broadened his shoulders to try and make a psuedo-wall so no one would see his poor sister crying and then he said some encouraging things and gave me a pat on the shoulder and maybe a side-hug? He felt so uncomfortable, but he wanted to make sure I was okay. Sweet Todd. I almost started crying again thinking about how great he was! 

I've been blessed with the best brothers! I'm so glad that Todd decided to take all the sweetness and faith and go to Africa to serve a mission to change the lives of the people that he meets there. It's not everyone that decides to go and it's not everyone that sticks it out when it's hard, but sweet Todd is doing his best to do just that and I'm so proud! 

Summer Days Driftin' Away!

I officially went home to Wyoming to see my Grandma and Grandpa as the Grand Marshals of the Cowley's Day parade! The bonus of this trip was seeing all my babies!! I've already put these pictures all over Facebook, but because they are THAT. CUTE. I'm posting them again!

These sweet babies look like they are parade ready. Which they were for the most part, but they were not ready to be robbed of their candy by some older children who kept running in front of them and taking it. So I had to step in and grab the candy first. YES, I stole from children, but then I gave it back to other children. So.. it's not as awful as it sounds? Right?

These girls had to resort to sneakier methods of getting their candy. We would often see sweet Camilla take off down the street following the trail of candy! It was so funny to see her in her own world collecting tootsie rolls (supervised of course) all up and down the gutter!

The whole crew!

Pig Tails!

The Grand Marshals Themselves:

My sweet grandparents did such a great job as the grand marshals! It was so fun to see them honored in this way. The Cowley's Day parade has always been a part of my life - every summer we'd go up to their house and sit on the curb as the best parade I've ever been to (speaking strictly in candy output) passed on by! To have my family members as part of this and recognized at the program, in the program and throughout the day was so fun! These people are quality! 

Picture with some local Celebs!!

After the parade and the program (pioneer themed speeches/talks and choir music baby), there is a lunch and kids races at the park that is just kitty-corner to the Lewis estate! My sweet Camilla was in a foul mood, but we wanted to see Aubrey and Brynny race, so we stayed.  Dawn eventually had to take Baby Henry home, so I stayed with foul-tempered Camilla. (Side story: someone asked me if Camilla and Brynn were mine. My immediate response: horror and "OH NO! Not at all!") As we waited for the races to start, I let all my sweet niecey's run pieces of pine needles through my hair and over my nails, playing beauty parlor. Our quick game of beauty parlor turned Camilla's attitude right around and she was suddenly willing to race! It was so sweet! All the babies in the race Camilla was in won a dime: She's so proud!

Winner winner!

After our sloppy joe lunch, I EXPERIENCED SUMMER for the first time all summer!  We played badminton and kubb. It was amazing. I love being outside. I love playing games. I love my family. I love babies. I love heat that doesn't oppress you! I love yard games! I just love love loved this day. See how fun it was:

the boys.

A Carefree Camilla! My favorite picture from my trip!

Great moms: Both of them!

It's a keeper!

Another great picture!

More to come...