KATY HALL

Sometimes I Wish I Were Asian

2011-12-08T17:22:00.001-07:00

So there are 3 biggies on my list to date someone. They aren't a big deal. Nobody should say I am being too picky. They are
1. I have to be attracted to them.
2. They have to be HOT....on the gospel.
3. Our personalities have to go well together. (I don't want to be with a dud.)

So in essence, isn't that what most people are looking for? Hopefully. But I always find men with 2 of the 3. Different combinations but nonetheless only two ever are met. Well the other day I had some down time. (Which doesn't happen to often) Well guess what I pondered about! Asians! They all look the same. So I was thinking how simple it would be in the dating world in Asia. You never have to worry about attraction. They all look the same to me, so I would only need to fine someone who met the other two requirements. Number 3 would always be met. There is my rant. It's probably why they are so smart. They have so much more time for learning when they don't have to figure out the dating world as much. Nice. Sometimes I wish I had it that easy and were Asian!

Mustaches

2011-11-12T22:26:00.002-07:00

So being as I am on Pinterest and also do my fair share of being in lots of different stores around here. I am just kind of wondering.....What the heck is up with the mustache craze?? Here are a few pics I have found that is proof that it really is a "craze."

Let's start off with a few mustache phrases.

Now onto mustache items. I think mustaches are rather creepy and

certainly wouldn't want to cuddle with a creepstache pillow.

...or have a little sip of your beverage of choice from a mustache glass?

...or have mustache nail art?

....or a mustache necklace?

...or the best one yet. A mustache headboard? CreepO

But this is the picture that takes the cake.

Because 1 mustache isn't enough! :)

Reasons Why I Can't Believe That I am Still Single

2011-11-04T21:43:00.001-06:00

#4 - Whenever I try to be Molly or crafty I seriously fail. I feel like these represent my skills in comparison to my peers.

In seriousness this is probably only a slight exaggeration. But it's how I feel for sure. HA! I will just continue with the things I am good at such as Extractions, making people laugh and......well things that don't take coordination. :)

Reasons Why I Can't Believe That I Am Still Single

2011-09-18T22:01:00.001-06:00

#3 - I accidentally abused my take-home-for-the-weekend baby in home-ec class.

SUSHI

2011-08-31T17:25:00.001-06:00

So a year or so ago I tried Sushi for the first time. Ordered a roll and disliked it. Had some of my sisters roll and thought it was ok. But I was kind of turned off by it. Then last week someone at work had some and offered some to me. I liked it.....a lot. So when the opportunity to go with Reese and some friends to all you can eat Sushi I was willing but hestitant. So I waited till they got their rolls. Did some sampling and then ordered my own. I don't remember what was in it, but it was DELICIOUS! I am sold. I even tried the one with fish eggs on top. Snap, crackle, pop, I wasn't a huge fan, but all in all it was a great experience, and I am looking forward with great anticipation for another trip. :)

I Want One!

2011-08-10T21:28:00.002-06:00

Saw this guy cruisin' down the street on our way back from a fireside. I told Reese to stop so we could take a picture. She was a little worried about it. Dunno why, it's not like he was going to come running after us. I wish I could be this creative! :)

Reasons Why I Can't Believe That I Am Still Single

2011-08-03T22:13:00.003-06:00

#2 - I can secretly belly dance.

Dandelions

2011-08-01T17:50:00.000-06:00

At work some of my little kiddos love to pick Dandelions and bring them to me. I always act super excited to receive it and they always run back to bring me another one. It has reminded me of this quote by Neal A. Maxwell.

"Our perfect Father does not expect us to be perfect children yet. He had only one such Child. Meanwhile, therefore, sometimes with smudges on our cheeks, dirt on our hands, and shoes untied, stammering but smiling we present God with a dandelion - as if it were an orchid or a rose! If for now the dandelion is the best we have to offer, He receives it, knowing what we may later place on the altar. It is good to remember how young we are spiritually."

Reasons Why I Can't Believe That I Am Still Single

2011-07-27T19:55:00.001-06:00

#1 - Today I stuffed a whole cupcake in my mouth all at once...... 3 times.

Why I Always Put My Face On

2011-07-26T21:33:00.000-06:00

One night over a bonfire I was relating to my group of friends why I am rarely seen without makeup. Whenever I have gone out without my face people have always asked me if I was really tired. That is sorta rude. When people appear tired, they are pretty much looking like poo. So if no makeup=tired and tired=poo. Then no makeup=poo. Get my math. However my friend Brandon being the witty gem that he is chimes in. Katy I think you are looking very well rested. *Elbow nudge* Thank you Brandon! I now know why I like to keep you around.

P.S. Brandon, I still remember the night you made our "head heart" secret sign into an emoticon. (:<3 We were texting each other in the same dark room while suffering through a horribly boring movie.

Two Sesame Streets and a Mr. Rogers

2011-07-23T10:43:00.001-06:00

It drives me nuts when I have no concept of what time it is. So when working with two year olds I often feel bad when they have no concept of time. I often try to explain it to them in a way that their little minds can comprehend it. "Mommy will be here in 10 minutes and that is a short time." "We are going to go outside, eat lunch, and then it will be rest time and you can have your blanky." All of this reminds me of when I was little and had no perception of time. My family would often take long road trips to Utah and I remember asking my dad the infamous question of, "When are we gonna get there?" Instead of just responding with an hour and a half or 2 hours he would say, "Two Sesame Streets and a Mr. Rogers." Now that was a way I could understand better. My dad is pretty stinkin' cute.

Leagues

2011-07-20T20:04:00.000-06:00

I have had a lengthy conversation with a friend about leagues in dating. She even wrote me a 5 page paper on why she believes that leagues don't exist. This is my opinion.

Leagues exist! But because of some people's own perceptions of themselves the leagues get skewed.

One-Eyed Bob

2011-07-16T20:39:00.001-06:00

So I have some great friends who have introduced me to the great sport of fishing. I had some reservations at the beginning but have decided that I LOVE it. Super relaxing to just sit and soak up a few rays while chatting with friends. So today we went to Lost creek and the fish weren't biting at all. My friend Kathy was the only one to get a bite. She reeled it in but it escaped right before she got it to shore. When she glanced at the hook a few minutes later this is what she saw.....

Poor fish!! I felt super bad! Somewhere in that lake is a fish without his eye. Maybe he will become the famous fish in the lake that the little fishies run away from, and tell their friends that they saw One-Eyed Bob. Makes me sad. I heart the little fish that lost his eye today. Maybe deep down I don't have the heart to be a fisherman.

Charlie Brown = Me

2011-07-05T22:23:00.001-06:00

This is me! Isn't Charlie Brown known for his persistence in things that he obviously sucks at. Well I am Charlie Brown when it comes to dating. I try to be persistent and I don't have a lack of dates. But the problem is that I suck at them. I suck at dating. I recently went on a date that I was excited about and....... I killed it. On dates I am a bundle of nervous Katy energy that presents itself in the worst state of awkwardness ever. I have no chance in the dating world, and the worst part about it is that I ruin it. Nobody to blame but myself. I just find myself yet again hitting myself over the head and saying just like Charlie Brown, "I've killed it. Oh! Everything I touch gets ruined."

Socially Optimal, It Never Happens

2011-07-03T20:52:00.001-06:00

This is SOOOOO true. Self Explanatory!

Gotta Just Laugh

2011-04-28T13:38:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I laugh when things are funny. Sometimes I laugh when things aren't funny. Sometimes I laugh when things are funny, but continue to laugh when nobody else things it's funny anymore. Sometimes hours, days, weeks, and sometimes even years after it's occurance. Sometimes when I laugh I seriously can't stop for awhile afterwards. Some people would call this a problem. I say it's better than not laughing at all. :D

It Must Be Spring

2011-04-27T18:42:00.000-06:00

So the other day at work two of my little 2 year old kiddos got into a little quarrel. I told them to apologize to each other, and they both apologized. So I turned my head away and the next thing I hear is "A kiss?" and I turn around and see this.

Evidently they both come from families where a peck on the lips between family is a go. Super cute though. I thought is was absolutely precious. So then today we brought a bunch of flowers into the room for them to play with since we have a spring theme in our room. Well I turned around and I see the same little boy with a outstretched hand giving the same little girl one of the flowers. She accepts it and says thank you, and he runs away with a huge grin. All I think is it must be spring!

Wedding Cards

2011-04-08T16:33:00.005-06:00

So about a year or so ago one of my good friends was getting married. I couldn't make it to the reception so I decided to send her a card. I went to the card section of the store and passed the Birthday, Anniversary, Get Well Soon, and Sad Day Your Pet Died sections and came to the wedding card section. Well the only cards I could find were these flowery mumbo jumbo cards that had me cringing.

There's something about you two that says "forever." - - - - ACK!

Here's wishing each new day finds your hearts closer, your lives fuller, your love deeper. - - - - Here's wishing there was some money in the card to make it worth the time.

Love is like a rose, the joy of all the earth. May your love continue to blossom every day. - - - Corny, stupid and dumb! Incorrect statement!

With your marriage, two have now become one - How One-derful! - - - YACK!

In your smiles, all the warmth and fun, all the gentleness and joy of a cherished friendship. In your hearts, all the closeness and care, all the tenderness and devotion of a lifetime romance. In your marriage, all the harmony and hope, all the power and promise of a love that grows ever stronger and more beautiful with the passing years. - - - -Bet you didn't even get all the way through that one. ;)

.....and last but not least.

May you always drink together from the source of love, which is a mighty spring forever pouring itself out for you. - - - The insides of my stomach are pouring out on me as I read this.

After seeing what my options were I turned around and left the store. Sorry Cheena for never getting a card from me, but I just couldn't fathom the idea of sending something like that. It's not me. Maybe my feelings are such because I have never been in love. My best friend Janet told me one time that when I fall in love I will lap the sap up like milk. BLAH! I guess I just need a card that says "Out of the 100 cards I read this is the only one that didn't make me want to stab my eyes out. Congrats." DONE!

It's Not Even Allowed in my House

2011-03-25T11:41:00.000-06:00

I HATE this movie.

....and here's why.
I will be the first to admit that I don't have the patience of Job. I don't even have the patience of most of the people around me. When I just want to get something done, and things keep happening to deter me from my goal, I get super frustrated. The dreams that I dread at night are the ones that are exactly that. Times when I keep trying to get somewhere and I can't. Things just keep happening to prevent it. This is the plot of this movie, and it gives me the worst anxiety ever. I can't even handle it. I just want to kick the TV when I watch it. Super annoying. So I saw this movie in passing when I was on my Netflix website and it caused me to have nightmares. The kind where you wake up and you are still emotionally involved and it affects your morning. To start the day frustrated is not the way I would choose to start my day. So, it's not even allowed in my house.

Getting Shredded

2011-03-11T11:57:00.001-07:00

I have lost track of when I started but I think it's been a couple of weeks that I have been back doing this

I really loved it and this is the 3rd time I have started it. I did it at other times in my life where I just found myself too busy to keep up. But I have dedicated myself again. I started off the first week just doing it in my living room. But I have since moved up to my room. In my room is a nice full length mirror. I can't help but check out my nice calves in it as I get shredded. Keeps me even more motivated to keep going. As soon as the weather is better I am going to go back to running. <3 Can't wait.

Grinching

2011-03-10T12:43:00.002-07:00

So I would have to say that I like to compare myself to this guy.

No I am not mean and grumpy, but I have to admit that he cleaned house pretty well. That is what I do. I have had many past roommates leave things in the house when they move out cause they just don't feel like moving it. "Ah I will just leave the Christmas tree here I don't feel like taking it down. You can have it." Or, "I don't feel like going through all my food, so you can just have it." Well for sure I take full advantage. I take their stuff that they are too "busy" to deal with. At the end of semesters in college I went from apartment to apartment amongst my ward and asked them for the food and cleaning supplies they didn't want. When I move I take every single screw and bolt. I like to call this "grinching." Recently at the ward campout they were giving out the extra food, and I took full advantage. Nobody else wanted it, so I took it. "How much cheese do you want?" "All of it." I grinched the food there, and I didn't leave a crumb for a mouse. :)

(This is not to say that I am a pack rat. I really only own things that I need or want and usually go through my stuff and DI it. But I don't just leave things because I don't want to take the effort to take it.)

Awaiting

2011-03-09T12:41:00.001-07:00

So a little over a year ago one of my guy friends took me on a date. Before the date we had really only interacted in a group social setting. Evidently after the date he told me that I wasn't at all what he had assumed. Whether it was all good or all bad, or a bit of both, I am interested to know. He told me he would write a little blog post about it or something. But he still hasn't done it. I am still anxiously awaiting it. I think that it's always important to know how you come off to other people and how people really view you. Can't wait to read it. :) (The intent of this post is to get him motivated to do it.)

Sweet Relief

2011-03-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

The past few years whenever I have been rejected by a boy. The feeling that I have is mostly that of absolute relief. Now I don't know if it's just the natural feeling that comes about when it just wasn't right? Or maybe it's just the spirit manifesting itself to me in comfort. Or maybe it is just the near escape of a relationship, which is the thing that I fear the most in the world. Or maybe it's the combination of all 3. Either way, I feel awesome today. :) Sweet relief.

A Recent Purchase

2011-03-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

Recently I bought these

Someone always compliments me on my Converse shoes and thinks they are super stylish. I don't think they are stylish, but I do kinda think that you need to have a certain personality to really be able to pull it off. Usually I don't let anything dictate what I wear. But when it comes to Converse shoes, I don't think just anyone can wear them. :)

My Christmas Post.....Finally

2011-02-18T17:27:00.000-07:00

So this year for Christmas I never really have any expectations. It is always a surprise what I get! But I never ask for anything and therefore I never really know what I am going to get. This last year my dad really hit the hammer on the head. I LOVED my gift. He got me this.

A 19" Marble Christus. Super nice. It's a great thing to have in the house. But what my dad doesn't know is how much I relate the Christus to him. When we would visit my grandparents in Utah when I was younger my dad would always take us to see the Christus on Temple Square. Next to shopping with my mom and Grandma it was my most favorite thing to do. I found it enchanting as a little kid walking up the circular ramp with all the stars and planets surrounding me. I remember one specific time when my dad didn't take us. Evidently, we didn't have the time. But I remember being super sad that we didn't get to go, but being too shy to tell him I really wanted to go. So thanks dad for the great Christmas present. The Christus statue has always been something I have loved. You were definitely inspired to get it for me. :)

Not a Snoozer

2011-02-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

I guess I want to have a brag post. I would have to say that this is quite an accomplishment but on the other hand maybe just more stupidity that has won me a little respect. Up to this point in my life have NEVER hit this button........

..........

............

..............

This is not to say that I am a morning person. I am not. I guess I can be whatever I need to be. Mornings are great just like staying up late at night. However, I don't think anyone even told me what a snooze button was until I got to college. Waking up every morning at 5 am for seminary was rather easy. I just put my alarm clock on the other side of the room. So when the annoying beep started blaring at 5 am I had to get out of my bed to turn it off. That was my trick. College, I just cared too much about grades and getting to class that I never used it. Now I just have the self-discipline to get my hiney out of bed when it's time to. So there is my story. At the age of 26 I have never hit the snooze button. :)

Cereal

2011-01-31T11:38:00.000-07:00

Cereal! Cereal! Cereal! I LOVE cereal! I am kind of a carb addict! I could eat cereal all day every day. It's so hard for me to put the time and effort into cooking and preparing other foods, when I really would just rather settle down with a big bowl of cereal. I'm trying to expand my horizon with different recipes. But always seem to find myself finding the easy way out and pouring a big bowl of cereal in the end. What am I to do??

Resolutions

2011-01-07T12:42:00.001-07:00

Well it's the start of the New Year and I believe that I should write out my New Years resolutions. Most of these are things that I have recently gotten in the habit of and want to continue throughout the New Year and others are ones I want to do better and ones I just want to start up anew. :)

Spiritual:
Read my Scriptures everyday
Read the Sunday School and Relief Society lessons
Read the Book of Mormon again

Physical:
Run a 10k
Eat healthier

Personal:
Write a missionary every Sunday

So we will see which ones I will actually stick to. But most of them are ones that I have already started and it has been going super well, so none of these are out of reach. So excited to get started!

Bad Reads

2010-12-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

I have really been struggling with finding good books to read. There are so many out there, so where are all the good ones??? I find myself getting 1/3 of the way into a book and end up ditching it. When I find myself finding no emotional attachment to any of the characters and don't care how it ends, I ditch it.

The Road - ditched
The Red Tent- ditched
The Kite Runner - ditched half way through
Inkheart - finished but struggled a little
Inkdeath- ditched
The Good Thief - ditched
3 Cups of Tea - finished (but barely)
Harry Potter- devoured (multiple times)
Lord of the Rings - devoured
The Hobbit - ditched
A Walk to Remember - ditched
Catch 22 - ditched
The Scarlet Letter - Devoured
The Count of Monte Cristo - Devoured
To Kill a Mockingbird- Devoured
Twilight-Devoured the 1st one, finished the 2nd and 3rd, ditched the 4th.
The Hunger Games - Devoured all 3
Tuesdays with Morrie - Ditched
The 5 people you meet in Heaven - STRUGGLED
The Glass Castle - Devoured
Alice in Wonderland - OK
The Curious Case of the Dog in the Nighttime - barely finished

The books I tend to soak up are my nonfictional church writings. But I really do like fiction when I do find a book that I like. It's just that I have a really hard time finding one, and I feel like I waste more time in starting stupid ones then I do really immersed in a good book. Wish I knew it was good before I picked it up. So if anyone has any good book suggestions. I am obviously willing to try. :)

Road Trip Fun!!

2010-12-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

Well in just a short hour my sister and I will be hitting the road for our 11 hour trek home to Nebraska. Road trips are always fun, but there is one thing that bugs. When people try to pass other cars but aren't even going close to the speed limit or even going that much faster than the vehicle they are trying to pass. Here is a picture I took of my GPS when I was getting "Mexican roadblocked." As you can see I was stuck behind a car going 56 trying to pass a semi who was probably going 57 or 58, when the speed limit was 75. Gotta love good drivers. :)

Tis the Season of Cheer, Joy and Service

2010-12-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

Tis the season! I know that I go out of my way all year to help others in need, but aren't we all a little extra sensitive to it during the Christmas season. Maybe I am assuming too much of people. Seems to me like my neighbors in my duplex haven't quite caught the Christmas spirit yet, as you can see....

I love having charitable neighbors! Seems to me like it would take more effort when shoveling to make sure he doesn't cross the line onto "our side" of the steps. HAHAHA! Well thanks for scraping it off, now we just use "your side" of the steps now.

EGG NOG

2010-12-16T22:29:00.000-07:00

So for years I have disliked Egg Nog, and every year I try it again thinking everyone else likes it, so I have to like it, right? But every year I have dumped it down the sink. So this year I did my traditional pour me a little and remind myself again why I don't like it, but this time, for some odd reason, I drank the whole glass, and found myself asking for more. WHAT??!!?! So how does one go from hating something for 26 years to craving it? I haven't a clue. Anyway, here's to Egg Nog, you have won me over. Too bad you only come once a year. :)

Where to start?

2010-12-13T13:42:00.002-07:00

Work, develop a good work ethic, increase temple attendance, go to church, scripture study - try to do an hour every day, meaningful pray - twice a day, keep a personal journal, attend institute, have FHE every week, magnify your calling, attend your meetings, visit teach, allow time to be visit taught, allow time to be home taught, write missionaries, do your family history, attend firesides, stay fit and healthy, do your missionary work, fellowship, find a spouse, go on dates, develop your talents, share your talents, visit the sick and afflicted, cultivate the friendships you already have, be supportive of activities, find opportunities to serve, do something for yourself, keep a clean house, make and keep a budget, get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, stay up to date on politics and world news, find time for quiet reflection and solitude, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE.

TACKY!

2010-12-07T12:15:00.003-07:00

How does a pig have anything to do with Christmas???

Another Pooticular Event

2010-12-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

Why is it always me??? Why oh why oh why?? Dude!!! What is it about me and stepping in poo. I think I step in poo more in a month then everyone else does in a lifetime. Reese and I went on a walk up the mountain and I stepped in poo. I went to a rake and run with the ward and stepped in poo, and then today at work I freakin' stepped in poo. ACK! So here's the story:

I am over the 2 year olds and we all know that that is the year where they start their potty training. So when ever I change their diapers I just have them sit on the potty to get in the habit. Well this one girl that I have has been staying dry all week and will go on the potty everytime I put her on. So yesterday I told her mom that she should start potty training at home and put her in underwear. Well today was the first day for her in underwear and she did great ALL day until.... she told me she needed to go poo so I told her to go in a start and I was going to follow 3 seconds behind. Well I swung open the little gate and stepped in a HUGE pile of poo. This girl must have been saving up for a few days. So with my foot smeared in poo I stand there thinking about what my next move should be, I look up and guess who is walking into the room. The mom of the girl whose poo I am standing in. YIKES! Thank goodness it was a Friday and it was the end of the day. I am sure there will be another poo story to follow soon. It will be called "A Series of Pooticular Events." HAHA!

A POO-ticular Event

2010-11-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

So today was the ward rake and run. It was a good time. But there happened to be a little incident that always seems to happen to me. I guess I just never look were I'm walking because I stepped right into a huge pile of poo. All the people around me could smell it immediately. So I found a stick to try and dig it out of my shoe. But it still smelt BAD! So I put my shoes in a black bag and tossed them in the back of the truck. After the next house was done I went to get back in the truck and noticed my shoes were gone. I looked everywhere as the truck pulled away. I had lost my pooey shoes. :( So the remainder of the night I continued to rake and pick up leaves in just my stocking feet. After we were done we drove back to the house and we found my shoes in the bottom of a bag of leaves. SOMEBODY would have had to of got the bag out of the truck, unknotted it, disregarded the pungent smell, and filled it with leaves. Good thing I was just laughing the whole time. Unfortunate events like that always seem to happen to me. I just "come what may and love it." Pooey shoes or non pooey shoes, life is good. :)

Couch to 5K

2010-10-21T21:44:00.001-06:00

I am lacing up and hitting the pavement.....and I have been for the last 6 weeks. Today I finished day 2 of week 6 of the "Couch to 5k" running program. It's a 9 week program that gradually helps non-athletic people (me) get out and start running and complete a 5k. I am now 2/3rds of the way through the program and I can't believe how great I am doing. Didn't think I had it in me to ever be really athletic. But it works. I am starting to dislike my non-running days now. Reese is doing it with me and rockin' it too. Stay tuned for our 5k updates!!

Wedding Bells

2010-10-08T17:29:00.001-06:00

So last night I was thinking about how in the gospel they always tell you that if you are making a decision between A and B that you shouldn't just sit and wait for an answer you should just start running with one of them and see if the spirit confirms it. So taking this principle of the gospel I thought to myself what if I just started planning my wedding right now. I will start running with it, and the Lord will provide. Just a thought. Maybe it will work? :s

Friends

2010-09-28T09:40:00.000-06:00

Can I just write I quick blog on how great my friends are. I was presented with 4 of THE most amazing girls ever a few months after my mom passed away. We roomed together for a few years in college and they are my BEST friends. We have been through so much together and I can't think of anyone else I would rather have in my life outside of my family. THEY LOVE ME ENTIRELY!

There was a time when I was struggling internally with lots of things and stopped talking to one for a few years. As I found myself and began to love myself I was able to reach out to her again. Can I hazard to guess that if it were any other person they would have turned their back on me long ago? Can I hazard to guess that any other person would have moved on and decided I was a lost cause? But that is not what my friend did. After 3 long years she stood with open arms to receive me back in our friendship. She told me that she had never stopped praying for me, and loving me. Truly there are not many people I know who would do that. She is such an amazing Christ like example to me of love!

Lately I have been thinking a lot about what really makes a good friend. I think it's great to do things for each other and enjoy each other's company, but I think a true friendship must run much deeper. A true friendship is one where we are striving together to be better people. Where when we are with each other the Spirit is present and we are prodding each other on in righteous endeavors. When I am with them, I can feel like I can do and be anything. Friendships that will last eternally. My family and my friends are the 2 things in this life that I can never be thankful enough for. The 2 biggest blessings that the Lord has ever bestowed upon me, and 2 of the things I can say that I will be eternally grateful for.

6 years

2010-09-16T23:00:00.000-06:00

So it has been 6 years now. In my reflection this last week I have thought a lot about my mom and some of the things that she was most looking forward to in her life. On multiple occasions (this just proves how excited she was) she would state, "I CANNOT wait to find out who you marry?" This was never said in a tone of mere curiosity, but a tone that meant. Who the heck is the Lord going to pull out of a hat that could take you on?? But I know she was so excited about it. :)

I know that she was also super excited to be a grandparent. She would talk all the time about "spoiling her granchildren dirty rotten," and giving them "everything their little hearts desired", so they would be rotten when I came to pick them up. :) She was so excited to see all her children get married, and go through the temple.

When these thoughts first came to my head it made me sad that she had died before any of her children were married, before any of her children were endowed, and before she ever had the chance to be a grandma.

However, my Heavenly Father knew of my worries, and in a blessing I received He told me that my mother already knew how my life would turn out and she was SO excited for me. She already knows whom I will marry, and that she already knows who my children will be. She has already been shown that her children will be ok, and not just ok, but happy.

I also know that my mother was with each of us as the first 3 of her children have gone through the temple, and will also be with Jarom as he goes later this year. She will be there in spirit! Of this I KNOW. I hope that she is looking down and is proud of us and of me. She has such a better watch over me now, and I am grateful for that. LOVE YOU MOM!

R.I.P. Pedro Tortilla

2010-08-13T21:25:00.001-06:00

So a few months ago I was chatting with my father on my cellyphono and he says in passing, "Oh yeah, I don't think I've seen your cat in the last few months. I am guessin' he's dead." WHAT??? My Perdro Tortilla is dead? Gone? After like 11 years of sharing my Spanish fried rice with him? I was so sad. But how can you really grieve when he's been gone already for months. My heart hurt that I was never able to make it to a house where I could keep him. He had to die alone, outside, in the cold Nebraska winter.

My cat is amazing. He was the first born of his litter, and when he was born tail first, I knew he had to be mine. Since he was the first we started to call him "Uno." When mom......and dad consented to let me keep him I decided to keep it Spanish and called him Pedro. Then I would call him "Perdro my little Tortilla." Somehow "Tortilla" just stuck, and that was his name. Well until my dad called him by his Jewish name "Peter Flatbread" or Mom would call him "Tortellini." However whenever I needed him I would just go out and call his name and he would come bounding in from the field. He hearted me so much. Even after I left for college and would be gone for a year at a time, he would still recognize my voice and maul me to death whenever I would visit home. Now he is gone, and my heart is sad. I hope that he never thought I had neglected him or didn't love him anymore. So! Here's to you Pedro Tortilla Chiquita Maria, for being such a good sport. My mommy will for sure take good care of you till I see you again. Love you!

All Molly and Junk

2010-07-08T18:27:00.001-06:00

So during my unemployed days I ran into a super cute pattern for a "Messenger Bag." Not having sewn in years I was a little bit nervous to take it on, but as I started sewing I found that I couldn't stop. With every step the bag got more and more cute. Being too excited to sleep until I saw the finished product I stayed up till 2:00 in the morning finishing it. Here it is.

When I find employment I've decided that I would like to make one more in a different color. I am absolutely in love with it. It was everything I was looking for. Who knew I had so much "Molly" in me?

A Katy Moment

2010-06-28T18:52:00.000-06:00

Yeah! You already know where I am going with this, huh?

So......this last summer my friends and I spent a fun-filled day in Yellowstone. We had a great day, and just as we were heading home to catch the women's conference and chocolate fest, a fire sprung up blocking the South exit. Construction had the west exit closed and we didn't want to go east. So that left our only other option as north, clear up to Montana and then cutting back down through Bozeman. What would have been a 2 hour trip back turned into 6. We missed the women's conference but the theme of the trip ended up being "come what may, and love it." We enjoyed every second of our detour. So in Bozeman we decided to stop for some sustenance and gas. A couple of the girls ran in and I was bored in the back seat. So I grabbed Kristen's binoculars on the seat and started to jest about the lack of hot boys in Bozeman. Just then a boy about my age started walking into the store. So I start using the binoculars. Well I zoomed in and was checking him out. Foot to....head. When I zoned back up at the face I realized he was staring right back at me, and he wasn't smiling. OOPS! Forgot the windows weren't tinted. HAHA! I always get myself into trouble. So as a going away present when i moved they bought me my own set of SUPER nice binoculars.......to make my awkward moments more convenient I guess. :)

A New Resolve

2010-06-24T17:03:00.000-06:00

My former Branch President, President Simpson is one of the men that I have grown to admire most in my life. He was my Branch President when I lived in Idaho Falls. I remember sitting in meetings in the morning talking about each and every person in the branch and how we can help them reach their potential. He was all about concern for the one. When speaking with others he would always encourage us to inquire not just how they are doing, but how they're REALLY doing. In doing this people would begin to pour out their hearts to me, and I became the person that many people would confide in. Lots car talks would happen after FHE and other activities. I loved being the person that people would confide in.

I remember whenever I would venture into President Simpson's office for anything, I would always come out feeling like a million bucks. He was so sincere in his compliments and I knew he meant each and every one of them. He would just smile at me with his piercing blue eyes (which always made me feel like he could see into my soul) and say, "Katy, you are the best of the best."

In February I moved down to Utah, when President Simpson was saying his goodbyes to me. He said some pretty amazing things to me that I will never forget. He told me of something that I had taught him and how much it meant to him. It was a little bit awkward standing there, while one of the most amazing men I knew was pouring his heart out to me about how I had taught HIM something. It was a great moment in my life, and I am still blown away by all the great things he sees in me. They were always things that I really needed to hear at the time.

So my new resolve is to be kind to EVERYONE. There have definitely been people who have been rude to me or who haven't treated me the best, but I realize that I can be the better person. I can always be nice. That was the motto my mother always encouraged me to live by. Who doesn't perform better in a spirit of encouragement then they would in a spirit of criticism? I have seen this with my own calling. I'm definitely not the best person for it, but last week, while I was beating myself up about it, someone stopped me in the hall and told me how great of a job I was doing. I don't think he knows how much that comment meant to me. I felt like I had just been recharged to be able to keep going. Also, to all my other great friends who have been helping me and encouraging me despite my lack of know how and skills. THANKS! I guess the point of this blog is just to say, let's look for the positive in others, and let them know about it. Who knows how much one sincere compliment can go? Most of the time we never will.

♫Oh, Who are the People in your Neighborhood?♫

2010-06-10T22:13:00.002-06:00

♫ Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? Oh a pervert is a person in MY neighborhood! They're the people that I meet when I'm walking down the street. They're the people that I meet each day! ♫ -Reese

So I went to go eat my lunch in the park today and read a book. As I sat down and made myself comfortable, I saw this scary Mexican man about my age walking by. A few minutes later I glance up and he is sitting close by. I continue to read, and he approaches me about the time. I tell him the time and continue to read my book. The next thing I know he is laying right next to me and asking me about about my work phone and if I worked for 911? YIKES! I sat up and he sits up too and tells me I look a lot like his ex. I was done right about then, and started packing up my stuff. I told him I was on my lunch and had to get back to work. He then started yelling at me that I didn't need to leave and that he wanted me to stay. I didn't look back. I just kept walking. PERVERT! What a creepstache nasty rat. He gave me the sickest feeling inside! I just wanted to go home and shower his sleaze away. So I found the closest LDS church building and spent the rest of my lunch hour there. Thank goodness for those places that we can find that feel safe in a world with so many sickos!

Game Over

2010-06-06T17:53:00.002-06:00

So (I have no clue how this got started) but my friend Andrea and I had this joke about Todd Kunz, the local Channel 3 news anchor. So we started playing "Spot Todd Kunz." We would text each other whenever we saw him driving around town. Idaho Falls is fairly small so this was easy to do. However, we made the rule that if you spot him in the Temple (he was LDS) that you win forever. (Just like if you spell Chuck Norris in Scrabble. You win forever) Anyway, neither of us have yet. However, I would like to call the game off because now that I am no longer in Idaho Falls I don't have the same chances of spotting him. It's only fair that a truce be called. However, I will forever miss the excitement of spotting his little gold Maxima and earning another tally. :)

Thought Blurb

2010-04-22T21:59:00.003-06:00

So I have been thinking a lot lately about the influence of others and more importantly the influence that I can have on others. I guess I am 100% confident that the people that enter my life everyday have a reason for being there. Our lives have crossed for a reason. So as I go about my day I will keep in mind that there is a reason, and to then treat each person accordingly. Maybe my sole job is just to make them laugh. I absolutely love the people in my life. I am so grateful for the support I get from them and for the array of personalities that surrounds me each day that enables me to be fulfilled on so many different levels. How grateful I am for my ministering angels on this side.

Pet Peeve

2010-03-30T23:25:00.000-06:00

So since I have moved down to the 801 there has been a couple instances that made me super sad. I don't understand how people can be so narrow-minded sometimes. Two different times people have asked me where I was from. I responded with Idaho Falls, and expressed how much I loved it. Their reaction was less than satisfactory. First of all how dare anyone put down something that I hold so close to my heart. AND how dare anyone put down something that they don't have any clue about. Idaho Falls is just a town, but I believe that the people make the town. The 2.5 years that I spent there was full of irreplaceable memories and most importantly people. So if you make fun of Idaho Falls you are making fun of the people that make up that town. My friends that I hold very close to my heart. I just wish people would think twice before making rude comments and making me sad.

Worst Song Ever Written

2010-03-15T22:31:00.001-06:00

Ok so let's start by saying that I am a very visual person. So when songs come on I visualize them in my mind a lot of the time. So the song "Summer Nights" really gets under my skin. Why? Cause it has the worst lyrics ever. The tune is fairly catchy, but the lyrics are just so badly written I just want to crawl in a ball and hide in a corner in embarrassment for the group that sings it. First of all when they use the generalization of "everybody's feeling sexy" it makes me sick inside. It makes me think of very unattractive creep-o's trying to look sexy and hit on girls. Yikes!!! Anyway, the remainder of the lyrics are just unbearable and my friends love to text me excerpts of this song when they hear it just to make me laugh. Maybe someone can release a better song for this upcoming summer season so we don't have to listen to "Summer Nights" all the days.

O'Hillary

2010-03-05T08:52:00.001-07:00

Ok I am not one to post stupid stuff like this. But when I saw this I couldn't stop laughing! This is freaking nasty. I am just going to leave it at that.

My Mad Cooking Skills

2010-02-28T23:05:00.003-07:00

It was never easy growing up with parents and an older sister who loved and excelled at cooking. As reputations became established my sister was the culinary genius and I was the one who couldn't boil water. When I did attempt I was teased mercilessly(all in good fun of course) and was never able to develop any kind of confidence in my cooking abilities. For a mutual activity all the girls were asked to make a soup for a dinner. Mine wasn't even touched. I was crushed and vowed I would never cook for anyone ever again. This vow was kept for 7 years, until my calling forced me to make a cheesecake for a Relief Society dinner. Agonizing and with limited time on my hands and a date the night of the party I stayed up the night before making the cheesecakes. I had my sister take them to the party. Nobody touched them. I was crushed once again.

However, I feel like the time has come and the time is now, that I must start developing my cooking confidence. The weird thing is is that I don't think I'm a bad cook at all. Everything I have attempted has come out really good. I just won't cook for others. If there is any chance of them not liking it, I know it will crush my confidence for years to come. So I have to be very careful with who will benefit from my mad cooking skills. But the time has come that I need to start cooking for myself more, and developing my cooking confidence.

Who Thinks of That??!?!?

2010-02-24T11:01:00.001-07:00

So years back I stumbled upon this weird statistic from the United Health Foundation. Anyway over the years I have shared this stat with people and they never seem to believe me. Well I took a picture of it to prove to you that it's legit.

So who the heck even decided to run this study and what was the situation and circumstances that led them to question how your hearing is affected in the buff. I am a little scared to delve too far into my imagination to understand. But I still wonder if I am a part of the "most" in this stat? Something to ponder on for the remainder of the week.

The Power of the Tie

2010-02-23T10:29:00.001-07:00

So I have to admit that I have a bit of a tie fetish. I am not scared to admit to this. A few weeks ago I was giving a talk in church and the boys had a hold of this information and were constantly adjusting their ties. Sorry boys but the spirit was stronger than my hormones at that point in time. Anyway, the other girls laugh at me when i talk about how sexy it is when a guy loosens his tie. I can hardly handle myself. So it surprised me a little to see this display in the mall just before V-day.

Some sexy attire for your man for V-day includes flannel pajama pants, and wait!!!! What's that? a TIE!!! Yes please! So maybe I am not alone in my thinking.

Extraction Good Times

2010-02-22T11:23:00.001-07:00

So I decided to work on some extractions today. I received a batch from Hawaii and it was crazy to see some of the names I had to decipher. Here are a few:

Kaihelaninuikawaapaokanihoalani
Kailimahunailekuhaupioikainuawaokamehameha
Lonomakaihonuahuihuipaipukukunaokamahina
Laninuiahilapalapailunaliloloa
Okiokuokapelakapukakaeopeleikalanikealii
Liillii

Anyway, there are tons more that were super long!!! Holy Moly! Do you know how long it would take to learn how to say your name. I only pray that they had a nickname of some sort. And I thought the Russian names were bad.

Agency to Choose the BEST

2010-02-21T17:29:00.003-07:00

Today in church we talked about agency and how we are able to choose between good and evil. As the discussion wore on I was thinking about how we also have the ability to choose between something that is good and something that is the BEST for us.

I have been tossed about quite a bit in my life but I have always known where I am supposed to be and when I am to be there. The Lord had inspired me to act and do things that would provide the BEST learning experiences and the BEST blessings. I just needed to have the faith to do it. Recently he allowed me to choose whether to move to Utah. I was given a blessing that stated that I would be blessed for whatever decision I made. Yes, the Lord wouldn't stop blessing me if I didn't move, but by doing what I felt inspired to do, I am now in a position to receive the blessings that are BEST for me. The other faith defining feats were smaller in comparison to the one I just made but had prepared my faith so that I would have enough to do it.

One of my friends who I would say is a faithful member of the church was confronted with a situation. She decided to choose the opposite of what she felt inspired to do. I often think about what amazing blessings she is missing out on based on that decision. Yes, she still has a good life, but does she have the BEST one that she could possibly have? I know that when we do what we are inspired to do, that the blessings will be poured out on us. And who wouldn't choose that? I would, and I have!

Your Friendly Neighborhood WalMart.

2010-02-08T22:18:00.001-07:00

My sister wrote this but I was there too, and didn't want to write this all out separately. So I am posting her post. Enjoy!

After FHE tonight we stopped by the Wal-Mart to pick up a few things. The first sign that this was going to be a good night happened when we were walking in past the cash registers and Lolly decided that it would be a good time to "adjust" things. So I yell at her and say "Woman you have to keep those things hid, the Wal-Mart employees are enjoying a free show!" The Wal-Mart employee, Ray, then says "thanks we really appreciate it." So Lolly turns bright red and we take off to another part of the store.

That is when we run into our new friend Kenny Rogers. Yes that is his real name. He was there to buy, as Kenny Rogers calls them, nanners. Anyway, Lolly starts putting her food into his cart and I ask her if she plans on going home with Mr. Rogers. He laughs and says he is sure he will hear her around.

We walked ALL OVER the place tonight because no one knew what they wanted. So we were once again passing the cash registers and one of the cashiers was standing there trying to wave us over and Lolly tells him that she loves him and we will be back to visit him after we finish our shopping. I flashed him the heart sign and he turned bright red.

So we are all checked out and leaving the store and we are passing the deli and the lady is packing everything up in bags so I made Lolly ask if it was discounted. When she said yes it was half off I went and grabbed a bag of Wal-Mart chicken and a bag of Jalapeno Poppers. Dude Wal-Mart Boneless wings are SOOO good! The new check out guy doesn't take the 50% off and so I tell him and he re-rings it up half price. Problem is he never voided the old stuff so he sends me off to customer service to get a refund for my Wal-Mart chicken. Don't worry about how while we are leaving the register Katy flashes Geoff, the cashier, her bedroom eyes and he turns BRIGHT red!

All three of us head over there and who is at customer service? Ray! When we walk in to customer service he says, "We were just talking about you!" So I'm trying to get my refund and Lolly is battering the customer service guy with questions about what ALL of Wal-Mart now knows about her. He gives out no information though and we turn to leave and Katy says that she just really wants to see Ray again and don't worry he came around the corner right then. He points at Katy and says she is trouble, and I say "but it isn't her that you got to know intimately" and he yells "Nope that was the girl in the middle!"

Thanks, girl in the middle. That Wal-Mart is still talking about us for sure.

Sad days!

2010-02-08T11:17:00.001-07:00

It's been a harder transition than I thought it was going to be. It is really depressing to have nothing to do all day. When I have lived the last 2.5 years of my life NEVER having down time. Leaving the house at 9:00 in the morning and then getting home at 11:00 at night was the life that I loved. I loved my active and always going lifestyle. I miss that more than anything else. Church I have to admit was a struggle for me. I feel so out of place. I am so used to walking in the door and being able to go up to anyone and sit next to them, and know that they love me. Everyone was my friend and I loved being part of a branch with so many amazing and loving people. I know it's nobody else's problem but my own and that I need to be the one getting out of my comfort zone and making friends. I am happy just extremely bored and discouraged. However, I know it will take time. So the two things I am to focus on is getting a job and some friends. In 6 weeks I am supposed to be able to name 2 reasons on why I moved down here. The 6 week countdown has begun. I know things will work out! After all, the future is only as bright as our faith. Thanks President Monson for that quote! I believe it!

The Cable Guy!

2010-02-02T17:23:00.001-07:00

So I was going to try and idle the rest of my week away here in Idaho Falls, but I have to be back down in Utah Wednesday for when the cable guy comes. I don't know if anything could ever top the last experience we had with one. Last time the cable guy came we were making small talk and told him that we were 2 sisters living together. Well he then walks into my room to install an extra box. (Somehow it was cheaper if we got 2 boxes even though we never used the extra one.) Anyway, he was in my room with Reese, and I am out in the living room when I hear him ask Reese if that was her little boy's room?? I just about died laughing. Then I hear her say, "yeah it is." I couldn't handle it anymore! I ran into my sister's room and closed the door and was laughing so hard into the pillow I was crying. Reese comes in to scold me and tell me that she didn't want me to leave her out there alone with him, but I refused to come out. I knew I couldn't maintain my composure. Props to Reese on being able to not laugh. One of the many instances of not being able to control my laughter at the most inopportune times. I am excited for the stories tomorrow's cable guy will bring!!!

The Currant Bush

2010-01-27T18:13:00.002-07:00

So my visiting teacher Monday (not knowing that I was moving at the time) presented me with this story. TOTALLY inspired to share this with me. It is the story of the currant bush by Hugh B. Brown.

He states: "I had purchased a farm. It was run-down. I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants. I was raised on a fruit farm in Salt Lake before we went to Canada, and I knew what ought to happen to that currant bush. So I got some pruning shears and I cut it down, and pruned it, and clipped it back until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps. It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. And I thought I heard it say this: “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.” That’s what I thought I heard the currant bush say, and I thought it so much that I answered. I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’ ”

I feel like I am the currant bush right now. I feel like I am asking my Heavenly Father why. How could you make me move to Utah? I am making so much of myself here in Idaho Falls. I have grown so much and I have so many friends. I want to make my life in Idaho Falls like my other friends are, but now you want me to move?

But I have the faith that my Heavenly Father is my gardener and that His plan for me is not like that of my friends. He wants me to be KATY HALL! He has a separate plan for me. And even though I feel like I am being cut down to an ugly old stump and having everything taken away from me. I know that some day later in life when I am so happy down in Utah, I will be able to look to the Heavens, and like the currant bush say, "Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you Mr. Gardener!"

Days 7-11

2010-01-25T21:52:00.004-07:00

Day 7: We had our branch dinner and I didn't leave the chrurch until after 10. We served the branch Craigo's and did a little flirting. It was a good time. I have always looked forward to our monthly dinners.

Day 8: We threw a surprise Birthday Party for our friend Kimball. Not much scandal there.....

Day 9: Last evening of Institute. I also did something kind of extreme for me. I cut my hair!! Eeek!! I was so super scared. But I think I absolutely LOVE it.

Day 10: Friday night was our huge POD activity. We played broom hockey on the ice and enjoyed each other's company. Afterwards we watched a movie.

Day 11: GROUP DATE!!!! It was so super fun. We had to set out and take pictures around town and get items that started with every letter of the alphabet. After we got home we made Rice Krispie sculptures.

Here is our finished product. We are all making "K's" in sign language because most of our names start with "K." But one of my fingers is behind the radar tower and so it looks like I am making a bad gesture, but I swear I'm not!

This is a picture from the scavenger hunt. This is "B" for butt's (cigarette butts that is.)

....and I just had throw this one in cause I can't get over how mischievous Brandon looks in it!

SQUIRREL!

Another Awkward Moment in the Life of Katy Hall

2010-01-21T22:31:00.001-07:00

ummmm.....well pretty much I needed to take a break from preparing my talk. I am SUPER hardcore about giving good talks and so I work on them for hours! I am dying, and I need a break, even though I really don't have the time to be blogging. I remembered this funny SCANDALOUS story and had to post it.

So a few months ago the company I work for was freaking out cause we were preparing to get audited. I told them that there was nothing to worry about and that I had everything under control. I told them that I was just going to wear my little black dress for them, and that we would for sure come out with flying colors. So the therapist starts practicing "bend and snap" with me. Hilarious! It is so funny when a guy does it! Anyway....

I got home and put my Facebook status as thus: Katy Hall is going to wear her little black dress for the auditors tomorrow. A few hours later I get a comment from my friend Chris that said, "I will be there tomorrow! Not for the little black dress but for the audit! I am the auditor." He wasn't kidding.

The next day I show up to work and Chris is talking to my supervisor. I try to sneak by, but he happens to shout down the hall. "HEY! Where's the little black dress?" I about died. Anyway, the rest of the staff thought it was pretty funny.....only after we passed the audit. Another awkward moment for me. But come on, out of my 400 friends on Facebook, what would have been the chances that my friend was the auditor?? It's a small world, and as I like to make it, an oh so awkward world as well. :)

One Particular Movie

2010-01-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

I have decided to wrap up my days of fun in just a few more blog posts. In the meantime I thought of this funny story from when I was younger.

When I was 8 years old I went to the movies with my friend for her birthday. During the movie there was a scene that made me believe that I was FOR SURE in a rated R film. I remember burrying my head during the scene and vowing to never tell my parents that I had seen it. I carried the guilt around with me for years. I remember trying not to cry in Primary class when the teacher spoke to the class about not watching bad movies. I just wanted to be good and obedient, and I had messed up. I hid this "sin" from my family for years and years. Not really remembering the scene anymore but just remembering that it was a BAD movie. Well when I was about 14 my sister came home from a friends house raving about some movie they had watched. Come to find out she had watched the movie I had deemed "bad." After talking with her about the movie I realized that it was only rated PG and that it wasn't bad at all.

It was this movie..............

...............

................

The scene where one of the boys tries to kiss the lifeguard at the pool, was the part I thought was super bad. Oh the innocence I possessed as a child, and the guilt that tormented me for years because I watched this movie will not soon be forgotten.

Day 6: PFHE

2010-01-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

So tonight I was finally able to go on a PFHE with Matthew K. HA! The best ever, he shows up in a minivan. Everyone knows that I adore when men drive minivans, so he thought he would be clever and show up in one. Hilarious! It was a great PFHE, and we got to know each other a lot better. It makes me appreciate all my amazing friends here. I can't imagine life being any better in Utah than it is here! LOVE my friends and all our inside jokes.

Day 5: Settlers and Ticket to Ride

2010-01-17T23:01:00.001-07:00

Traditionally we always have a game night on Sunday nights. Just keeping up the tradition. We played Settlers and Ticket to Ride.

So Brandon had some milk from Reed's dairy that comes in this cute little container.

I thought it was so super adorable, and reminded me of the bottles of milk from the 50's that were delivered to your doorstep. As I passed my cup over to Brad to pour me some milk. Brandon suggests that Brad could be my milkman, and then Brad responds, "Yeah I'll deliver." Yes please, Mr. Milkman!

What a great way to wrap up my stay in Idaho Falls! Another scandalous night of games!

Day 4: Lava and Papusas!

2010-01-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

So Saturday Sara and Brandon and I went to lunch to get papusa's at this new El Salvadorian restaurant here in Idaho Falls. One of my favorite things! Plus I got out of that restaurant only paying $3.71. Then we headed down with a HUGE group of us down to lava hot springs. Truly the place of good times. It was a great night, and I had a blast hanging out with all my friends and realizing just how blessed I am.

Day 3: Cafe Rio and Smoothie Night!

2010-01-16T10:18:00.002-07:00

So for the Friday night of mayhem we decided to get some people together to go to Cafe Rio. Love that place. Then afterwards we made some smoothies with the berries that were part of my inheritance. HA! The package said 1998 on it. Well we haven't had any adverse affects yet.

Day 2: Oops! How Did That Happen??

2010-01-14T23:13:00.001-07:00

So today was solely dedicated to getting a "particular" boy to ask me on a date. My friends love the antics between us and have been after him to ask me out. And since he has publicly announced his secret intentions with me by photoshopping himself into this picture of me.....

....I thought it perfectly reasonable to secure a date with him. Evidently I underestimated my

own tactics and was unintentionally asked on TWO dates.....I think.

My oh my! Mission accomplished, and mischief managed!

18 Days of Non-Stop Fun!

2010-01-13T21:10:00.003-07:00

I love my friends!!

So tonight Kristen suggested to me that I should plan a special event for every day until I leave on the 30th. I want to hit up all of my favorite things about the area. So we made a calendar and filled it up with things we are going to do. 30 minutes later i was dashing out out of the house to start my first night of fun.

The HOT TUB!

One of my favorite spots to sit and relax and swap gossip. There has been many a nights of scandal there. Who can pass up soaking in a hot tub and having hot tub talk? Love it!

I will be sure to give you a play by play for the next 17 days. Oh man, I am so excited to do this!! But oh how I am going to miss it here. My friends are so amazing and supportive! I couldn't be more blessed.

STAY TUNED!!!

The Positives

2010-01-10T17:34:00.022-07:00

I get to have my BFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF back again - my sister.

I will be a mile away from Lagoon. For sure I'll be purchasing a season pass.

I will live closer to my best friend in high school, Breanna. We can hang out all the days.

I will be changing pastures, and getting to know lots of new people. What a great opportunity.

I will be closer to my extended family and will finally get to know my cousins and aunts and uncles better. YAY for family!

I will be in Utah and there will be more to do, such as fun concerts and other funtivities.

I will have more time on my hands to do things I want to do, and further develop my talents.

I won't have to come home 3 times a week reeking of cigarettes.

Even with this huge list I made, it's still SO super hard to leave all my friends here. The only way I would possibly be making this move is if it were right, and so I know it is. I look at it this way. I can either move and be sad, or move and be happy. Either way I am moving, and so I choose to be happy. My roommate Deatra told me that she would bet that in 6 weeks I would be able to name 2 reasons on why I was supposed to move down. So stay tuned, in 2 months I shall be posting an update on that. :)

The Next Stage

2010-01-07T21:18:00.078-07:00

I have been writing and rewriting this many times to get it to say exactly what I want it to say, without making it seem too light, and also remaining positive.

So here is the update on the life of Katy. I am moving to Utah....and soon. I started receiving small impressions to move back in October. Then as I started to pray and fast about it the impressions came stronger and more often. I made my decision, received a blessing and have been waiting for the right timing and for some doors to open in securing a job.

I will more than likely be working the same job with my sister, working for my stepmom's dad. They are just waiting for a position for me, and then I am gone. I am not quite sure when this will be but I am guessing around the end of January to middle of February. Emily Richards will be taking my spot in my house.

This decision would NEVER be one I would choose for myself. I 100% believe that the Lord's hand is in this. This is not to say that it will be easy for me. Being out of my comfort zone has always been a struggle for me, and I know that this move will not happen without some hard times and adjustments. However, I know that the Lord has some great things in store for me. I just have to trust in Him, and I do. That is why I am following through with this great leap of faith.

I will miss you all more than you will ever know. Your friendships have been irreplaceable, and have helped mold me into who I am today. I will not leave Idaho Falls in the same state that I arrived. You have all made deep impressions upon me, and I shall take with me the souvenirs of unforgettable memories! And as the sun sets for me in Idaho Falls, I know that I shall be waking up to a bright new morning in Utah. The next stage of my life is upon me, and I am so excited for it! :)

I HEART YOU ALL, ALL THE DAYS!!!

Things I Heart to Do

2010-01-06T23:38:00.001-07:00

( I was tagged by Rachelle)

This is something I have always struggled with. When I am not working I am usually being social. Being a people pleaser I usually like to do what the rest of the group wants to do. So recently my friend asked me what I liked to do, and it struck me cause I had a hard time thinking of anything. So this is a great thing for me to ponder and to blog about. Here goes.....

1.) I like to blog. The talent of writing runs in the family. My mom was great at writing and it's a passion my younger brother has picked up as well. I like putting my random thoughts out into cyber space, and sharing them with anyone who just may stumble upon them.

2.) I enjoy listening to my music. I am passionate about the music I like and I love to listen to it. I almost always have it playing whenever I am alone. If there isn't a someone to keep me company then my music sure will.

3.) I enjoy taking walks. A nice walk seems to help clear my head and just enjoy nature and the smell of the fresh air.

4.) I love to go to Barnes and Noble and just browse the books. It's just so quiet and relaxing. Love it.

5.) I love to talk (You all knew this one was coming) But seriously. Do you ever really HAVE To be doing something. Some of the best times have been sitting and talking with my friends. Great thoughts and laughs are exchanged and relationships strengthened.

6.) I LOVE theme parks. I love the thrill only when it is deemed safe. If it's not then I avoid thrills like the plague. Can't handle high risk behavior. But theme parks are great.

7.) I love road trips and traveling. I love going to places I have never been before, and seeing the parts of the world that is home to so many others.

8.) I LOVE hugs!!! I used to not like them so much, but then I met two of my bestest friends and they hugged everyone in sight. "Hey, aren't you in my class?" *hug* "I think I have seen you before....did you work at WalMart?" *hug* Living with this for 2 years we kind of reached a happy medium. Now I love hugs from my friends!!! Love, love, love them.

9.) I love to read books on the studies of human behavior. I love to read up on how to read people and how to interact better with people. I don't always 100% live what I read but it's fun to study up on. Human behavior is fascinating to me.

10.) I just love to be with the people that I love. How much better is life when we are surrounded and engulfed by warm smiles and hugs from people that only have our best interest in mind. I am so blessed for the friends that I have. My cup (for sure) runneth over.

Brand Spanking New Year!

2010-01-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

So here are my New Year's resolutions.

1. To STOP biting my freaking nails. I bite the sides of them until they bleed. I actually already started working on this one and I bought this special lotion to help me. So far they are looking fantab. I just need to keep it up.

2. Reprioritize. I need to balance my time better. How is it that I leave for work at 9:00 and don't get home till midnight most nights. I think that it is time to organize my time better, and develop some more of my talents. There is much to do and to work on.

3. To continue to work on the process of getting into better shape. So far Jillian has been kicking my trash, but I am still at level 2. I need to be more consistent. I have been slacking since Christmas break. Uh oh! Time to find motivation again.

I figure that these are good ones to actually list. For sure I will continue to work on just being a better person in general. I often wonder what the new year will bring? What happy times and what trials will present themselves? My thoughts at times can be overwhelming. However, I just keep living one day at a time, and have faith that things will always just work out. Happy New Year!!!

Truman Madsen

2009-12-31T17:22:00.000-07:00

Truman Madsen, a great church scholar died back in May. I have to say that I have heard the man speak and have personally held a rather interesting conversation with him about 2 years before he died. I took a class from his daughter at BYU-Idaho and while my friends and I were at Walmart gift shopping, I ran into my teacher and Truman Madsen (he was in town and had just given the BYU- Idaho devotional a few hours before.) I striked up a conversation with his daughter, and noticed that Truman had a band-aid on his forehead. Remembering that he didn't have it there a few hours before during the devotional I asked him if someone wasn't too keen on what he had to say and jumped him afterward. He laughed and said that that wasn't the case and that he had just bumped his noggin. We laughed some more, and then they asked us what we were shopping for as they eyed our gifts. My roommate (obviously not thinking) blurts out bridal shower gifts. Truman eyes our whipped cream and chocolate syrup in our hands and then.....awkward silence. My friend not being able to handle the awkward vibes busts out "we're baking a cake." The conversation couldn't be saved. We all started laughing and peaced out. How is it that the only time I meet a venerable church scholar, he catches me doing something scandalous. My reputation probably won't be saved any time soon.

Future

2009-12-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

At times when I look out at the future, I can only see as far as tomorrow. But I know that as I put my trust in my Heavenly Father, tomorrow is as far as I ever need to see.

Spoiled

2009-12-24T00:37:00.001-07:00

As I reflect on this year, I can't help but feel spoiled. How do I have the most amazing family ever, everyone faithful and stalwarts in the gospel. How do I live in the best town with the best people. Everywhere I go I run into people I love. How do I have THE most amazing branch family. People whom I love and would do anything for. I have so so so so (can I emphasize this enough) many amazing friends. I have an amazing supportive ward back in Nebraska who continue to love me even though I left long ago. I have wonderful roommates, and a great house to live in. I have an amazing job where people love me, and I feel comfortable and confident there. I have an amazing calling with an amazing committee. I have been able to keep up my goals this year. I was blessed enough to have the opportunity to go through the temple this year with my sister. I was able to visit Brazil, and experience the place where my brother served, and I have been given great guidance for the next segment of my life.

The heavens have surely poured down on me this year. I am excited to see what will present itself this next year. :)

Katyisms

2009-12-20T23:20:00.001-07:00

So my friend Brandon told me I should blog about my Katyisms.

PFHE: "Potential Family, Home Evening" This is where you go on a date instead of going to FHE. One of my friends signature moves.

Friendship timeout: This is when you are in trouble and the friendship needs a break. :)

NCF: Non committal flirting, cause who doesn't like to flirt a little.

Brown Pants Day: This means its just one of those days when the hormones make a person do and say things that aren't in their best interest. (Coined this cause guys are so hot in brown pin striped dress pants.)

This I say is True: This is the phrase used to keep people honest.

Run Block: This is either when you are blocking to keep the creepy guy away from your friend. Or when the creepy guy is keeping someone's crush away from them.

Squish: Crushes are bad! You always get your heart hurt. Squish is the next best thing and a whole lot more easy on the heart.

Hot on the gospel: This is used when talking about quality boys who LOVE the gospel.

Andrea

2009-12-17T19:35:00.002-07:00

Dedicated to one of my BFF's Andrea!!! :) It's her birthday and I want her to know why she is in this limited group.

Andrea is one of the best listeners EVER, and remembers everything I tell her. She loves to hear all my crazy stories, and is always eager to hear more. Andrea always finds time for me even though she has work, a calling and a husband that occupy her time. When we hang out we always seem to spend the day laughing until we cry and having great in depth conversations. She always seems to bring out the best of both sides of me. Andrea was there through all the boy drama, and helped convince me that a certain boy just wasn't good enough for me. Andrea is constantly building me up(maybe a little too high) and has helped me to realize my talents and see myself the way that others see me.

I don't know what I would have done for the past 2 years without her. She has influenced my life in a big way, and I can't let her birthday pass without letting her know how much I appreciate her and why my Heavenly Father has put her in my life. For sure she is one of my ministering angels on this side. She is an amazing person and her friendship has been irreplaceable.

Happy Birthday Andrea!!!! I heart you ALL THE DAYS!!!

It's About Time I Blogged About Brazil

2009-12-16T10:03:00.001-07:00

MY BROTHER JAKE IS HOME!!!!

I finally got around to uploading my pictures on my computer and blogging about this. Last month I had the opportunity to travel with my dad and Melane down to Brazil to be there when Jake finished up his mission. It was an amazing trip. So many crazy adventures including an encounter with a crazy man on the metro, getting lost and ending up on the freeway, accidentally attending a 4 star restaurant, doing a session in the Sao Paulo temple, getting hit on by cute brazilian boys, and a perpetually clogged toilet. It was an unforgettable adventure. However, the best part would have to be seeing my brother again (so I was no longer the 3rd wheel) and being able to meet his missionary companions and the areas where he served. Welcome home little brother!! It's so great to have you back.

My Fabulous Calling

2009-12-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

So today I find myself at home till 2:00. This is what happens when you work with people who are more on the irresponsible side. However, it gives me time to get things done. PHEW! So nice to have some free time. I have been thinking a lot about the things that have helped me grow in the past year. Certainly the people in my life (my ministering angels) have helped me grow in so many ways. However the one I would like to talk about mainly in this blog is my calling.

I used to say that the two worst callings that they could give me were Sunday School teacher and Activities Co-chair. Activities Co-chair is one of the biggest callings in the branch. It involves planning an activity every Tuesday night, planning firesides and combined single's branch activities. Well I was presented with the potential to be called as a Sunday School teacher. (This was not an official call. Just a we are thinking of doing this.) I freaked out!!! So then a week later they extended the official call to be Activities Co-chair. Oh how my Heavenly Father has a sense of humor. When they extended the call I felt nothing but peace. I gladly accepted it, and things have gone amazingly well. I have to give a lot of the credit to the other co-chair and to our committee who is always willing to help. I have been able to do so much more than I ever thought I could. I have grown so much, I am amazed at what I can do with the strength of my Heavenly Father and with the sustaining power of my amazing branch. I am truly grateful for my calling, even though at times I still have to do things that scare me to death, they are becoming easier. I know that the Lord has been able to sustain me above my talents in this call, and I am so grateful for Him.

Quick Blurb

2009-12-11T14:08:00.002-07:00

Just a quick blurb on something I have been pondering on and have received my own personal answer for. Can the Spirit dwell with a person when they are (by no choice of their own) in an environment where the Spirit can't dwell?

I have thought about this question as 3 days a week for the past 2 years, I have entered a house that is so vile and wicked that the Spirit could never reside within its walls. However, I believe that as I work within the recesses of that abominable house, that I have had the Spirit with me every step of the way. For I have received many answers to the silent prayers I have said in behalf of the kids there.

I believe that even in that dark and dreary house that I can still be guided by the Spirit. I also believe that the Lord's spirit is with the children also. In my opinion those children could not be the resilient and strong children they are today if the Lord was not strengthening them every minute of every day.

I am so deeply grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and that I am able to be comforted and led by it even in the worst of circumstances. I am also grateful for the spirit of the Lord and how he can help and strengthen each and every one of his children.

My Heart Hurts....A Lot

2009-12-10T17:48:00.004-07:00

My heart broke a million times over today. Another social worker's day in hell.

Why do parents think that emotionally abusing their kids is acceptable? Why do some parents think that to get their children to behave they have to scream every obscenity known to mankind at their children? Why do parents think that having their children undergo "bootcamp" is the way to get them to behave? Why do parents think that slaving their children away doing every kind of chore they can think of until Christmas, will give their children the desire to be well behaved? Why do parents think that giving children impossible tasks like doing 20 pushups in a row, and then using corporal punishment on them if they can't do it is a way to get them to obey? Why do parents think that it's ok to spank their children into submission and spanking them harder if they cry will help their children make better choices? I just can't even begin to fathom this mentality.

How can these precious children be treated like garbage. My heart absolutely aches. This blog doesn't even begin to express the situation. All I could do today was to provide some emotional support to the children, and say a silent prayer in my heart on their behalf, that somehow the Lord might be with them and strengthen them to endure their absolutely heartbreaking life.

The Christmas Season

2009-12-08T14:43:00.006-07:00

My heart is truly bursting at the seams this Christmas season. I just can't get enough of everything Christmas. It seems like the spirit just encompasses me every minute of every day as everything around me reminds me of my Savior.

Reflecting on the Christmas story, I think that the Christ child deserved so much more than to start his life in a stable wrapped in rags. He is a King. However, to provide us with THE MOST perfect example the Savior was born into the most humblest of circumstances. He led a life of complete and perfect service. He is my exemplar, and the more I study his life and ministry the more in awe I am of his complete and perfect compassion.

....and as I hustle and bustle from store to store trying to find the perfect gifts for the people I love the most, I can't help being humbled by the reason for the season. The Savior entered this life for ME to give me the ULTIMATE gift of eternal life. Nothing has or ever will compare to that everlasting gift. How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son, and for my Savior's atoning sacrifice. Words could never describe the utmost gratitude that I hold for Him. I love Him SO very much.

Stepping It Up

2009-12-06T22:12:00.005-07:00

Recently I heard the quote "A way to a man's heart is through his stomach." It got me thinking that this quote may be true, but I would like to dare, and make an amendment. I would have to say that "A way to a man's heart is through his senses." Let me explain.

Sight: Girls need to look attractive. At times I hear girl's complain that guys aren't asking them out, when they wear zero make-up and wear frumpy clothes. I am not saying we need to be high maintenance or wear expensive clothes. But we should try to look nice. A huge thing we can do to improve our appearances is to smile. How much more attractive is a person who is always smiling and happy?

Hearing: Guys like to have their confidence built (or egos stroked if you will). They also love to make their partners happy. So praise them and tell them that they are amazing and that you had a great time. (Don't say things that are insincere, but look for the positive and tell them.) It builds them up and makes them feel like what they are doing is worth it. Also always try to be positive and to speak well of others. Negative people are never fun to be around.

Taste: This is where your Molly skills needs to be put to work. Bust out some amazing cinnamon rolls. I have recently learned that the scent of cinnamon will create romantic inclinations in men.

Scent: Smell good ladies. A few spritzes of perfume before you leave the house will definitely put you up a few notches.

Touch: YES PLEASE!!!! Guys like to be touched. A little hand on the shoulder really let's a man know that you are interested. Being a good kisser probably wouldn't hurt either. (Not that I would have any clue about this one, but one doesn't need to be experienced to be knowledgeable.) :)

I hope this isn't taken as nonsensical advice from a 25 year old girl who has never had a boyfriend. I am by no means an expert at these. Around guys I like I am often seen stumbling over words or knocking things off tables. However, being single at the age of 25, I think, has helped me to better perfect my knowledge of this topic. Take it for what it's worth.

David Archuleta Sighted at the Temple

2009-12-03T22:42:00.003-07:00

I saw David Archuleta in the temple tonight. I was coming out of doing confirmations and I stopped to grab my baptism names and the temple lady was giving a young man his baptism clothes. I looked up at the young man, and I kept looking. I was thinking holy crud that looks just like David Archuleta, but I was not convinced. He was looking nervous and totally had all of David's mannerisms. So I looked down at the sign in role and there on the paper was written "Brother Archuleta." Then as he walked away the temple lady must have seen me making a face, and she said "It's really him." Of all places to see him! I saw him multiple times after that, and made eye contact numerous times. We decided to respect him, and to not talk to him or make a big deal of it. How amazing is it that he has the opportunity to go to the temple wherever he is touring to seek the solace and the sweet spirit that is there.

25 Random Things About Me

2009-12-03T22:28:00.002-07:00

25 Random things about me. ( I only did this cause I was tired of getting tagged all the days on facebook)

1. I can't sleep without a blanket. Even in the hot summer nights. I have to have something covering me.
2. I have always been good with money, and graduated from college debt free, and I still have never had debt.
3. I haven't owned a pink or purple article of clothing since I was in elementary school.
4. I have freckles on the back of my left hand, but not on the back of my right.
5. I had braces for 4 years.
6. I am a very territorial person, and have never let people borrow my clothes.
7. I abhor onions, but I love green onions.
8. When i was little, a greater percentage of my face was covered in freckles than wasn't.
9. I dislike candy unless it has chocolate in it. I dislike skittles, starbursts, gummies, suckers (except the chocolate tootsie pop) etc.
10. There are 2 smells that always make me nauseous, popcorn and BO, My stomach can't handle either of them. (and if you were wondering, I dislike popcorn.)
11. I LOVE mexican food, and could eat it everyday for the rest of my life.
12. I am obsessed with little brown children. Can't get enough of them and their huge chocolate cow eyes! Adorable!
13. Spiders don't scare me at all, but mice freak me out. I am petrified of them in all forms, and if I see one I could climb a pole.
14. I love to travel and see places I have never been before.
15. I love music, and always have it playing wherever I go.
16. For some reason I share my most personal thoughts in the dark, when nobody in a million years could pull it out of me in the light of day.
17. I sleep with my stuffed animal "Yuffy" I just never broke the habit I guess, and I have tried and it just feels weird. It is definitely a sensory comfort thing. I am not afraid to admit this one either.
18. I am a people person, and I LOVE meeting new people and am intrigued by their life stories.
19. I love humor and harassing people. And I love getting teased in return. If you aren't making fun of me, I don't feel loved!
20. My first car's name was Al Qaeda. Pronounced (Al kade a) cause I bought her on September 11, 2001.
21. I am really a Red Headed Step Child!
22. I went on a 2 year boy fast where I decided that I wasn't going to "crush" on boys anymore.
23. I have only been to the doctors 9 times in my entire 24 years of existence.
24. I was painfully shy and wouldn't talk much outside of my family, until I was about 13 or 14 years old. Now people probably wish I would stop talking....
25. I love to laugh! I laugh when I am stressed and it is how I have been able to be happy even when life's storms hit. After all life is too hard not to be able to laugh your way through it.

Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words

2009-11-08T15:15:00.005-07:00

So I have always lived by my motto that I wouldn't say anything about a person that I wouldn't say to their face. Too many times I have come up short on this and I am rededicating myself today to do better. I felt inspired to do this after a certain experience in church today. So in Sunday School the teacher asked people to raise their hand if they wanted to go on a mission when they are older with their spouse. A certain young man raised his hand whom I have judged to probably not getting married in this life. Not because nobody would want to marry him but because he scoffs at people whom I think he would be lucky to get. Anyway, he is a VERY awkward young man both socially and physically. After he raised his hand I leaned over to my friend and acknowledged to him that this awkward young man had raised his hand. My friend couldn't stop laughing. He then told me that it was a really mean comment even if it was funny. He knew exactly what I was implying. I am a mean person and I need to be better. Thank you friend(who will go unnamed) for helping me to be a better person!! We are all in this life together and if we aren't supporting each other than we are only hindering ourselves and the church itself. For people can always do more under a voice of encouragement and love than they ever could under a voice of criticism.

A Little Bitter

2009-11-07T10:22:00.004-07:00

Can I write a bitter post? A few months back I was talking to one of my friend's mothers. She told me that single people are really selfish. My first reaction was to get defensive and then as I thought about it I really do agree with her. Since I have been in single's branches I have also come to the conclusion that we are very selfish. We have activities every Tuesday night. Some weeks we have service and other weeks we provide a dinner or fun activity. How many people show up to the dinners? 50-60 people. How many people show up for service? 10. Where did the other 40-50 go? Then there are the excuses....I have been busy, I have things to get done. Funny how those "things" only pop up on the service activity days.

Since I have been in the single's branch, my sister and I have always been the only people that show up every week to help clean the church when our branch is assigned a month to do it. So it would be us two and some weeks one other person would show up. Today I was the only one to show up to clean. Luckily a dad and his little boy were there and they felt bad enough for me that they offered to help. I am so grateful for him and his precious little boy.

In my life I know that by serving my Father in Heaven, whom I love so much, is the only way to get the best blessings. I will be blessed in much better ways than i could ever provide for myself. So throughout my life I will show up to not only the dinner and fun activities but also to the service activities and I will always be there when I can to clean the church.

My "List"

2009-11-05T22:04:00.005-07:00

So I have had a lot of these on my mind the last little while so I decided to compose a list of things that I think are HOT in boys.

1. When they are doing church duties, such as blessing the sacrament, home teaching, or bearing their testimony. There is nothing more hot than a boy that is HOT on the gospel.
2. When boys wear a suit and tie. The tie is just so hot and can be used to pull them closer. ;)
3. MINIVANS! This is hot because it is a bold statement that says that he is willing to forfeit all his coolness points to provide the maximum amount of comfort for his family, because he hearts them so much.
4. When a guy says my name. Instead of just making a statement like, "I think you did awesome," they say, "Katy, I think you did awesome." The use of my name makes me melt, and I guarantee you that I notice it. It doesn't matter who it is. I notice.
5. Brown dress pants with pin stripes. This is HOT!
6. When guys remember the details about you.
7. LIPS!! I am a lip freak. Lips can make or break a guy. Everything can be hot, but if they have bad lips it is a no go. Lips need to be the right size, proportioned, and the right color, and texture (not dry and weird).
8. I like it when they need a LITTLE help with their style. Dressing somewhat bad is like a neon sign that says, "I need YOUR help."
9. I like nerds. When they start talking in computer jargon, I can't help but wish they were whispering those nerdy sweet nothings in my ear. Talk C++ to me baby!
10. It is a turn on when they are good drivers. This means that they can chauffeur my babies around safely, and I don't need to worry. When a guy drives badly it is such a unattractive trait.
11. When guys do the small things. Like opening my door, carrying something for me, or walking me to my car. This shows great respect, and it's so dang HOT!
12. I think it's hot when a guy busts out and wears his glasses every once in awhile. If he wears them all the time, it isn't as attractive. It's just when he doesn't usually wear them and then busts them out every so often.
13. I love it when they are the type of guy that makes me feel safe and secure. They make me feel like they are in control and are capable of taking care of anything that might present itself. I just love that feeling. About 1/3 of the boys I meet make me feel this way. It isn't a rare quality but it's an essential quality.

Some of these are very unique to me. So don't think that in any way that these are what all girls want, or even the majority. It is just some things that I love about boys.

Jillian Michaels Kicked My Trash

2009-11-05T12:36:00.003-07:00

So I am sick of still having the need to lose more weight. I need to lose 20 more pounds to be at the right weight for me. I just haven't been motivated to go to the gym lately, so my friend Kristen suggested we start this.

The first 3 days I got my trash kicked. Today was day 4 and I am starting to feel the muscle and my endurance increase. Hopefully I will be able to keep it up. I am planning on doing this everyday (except Sunday of course) until I go to Brazil, then starting back up again when I come back. I will keep you updated at how I am doing. I need all the encouragement I can get. :)

Secret Boyfriend #16

2009-10-31T16:02:00.002-06:00

So my count of "secret" boyfriends is up to 16 now. So today at the gas station Reese and I were purchasing our purchases and Reese was talking about her "bank" boyfriend. The gas station dude tuned in, and inquired about her "bank" boyfriend. I then proceeded to tell him that every girl needs a bank boyfriend and that I myself had a "Ririe" boyfriend, and that I was really moving up in the world. He then asked Reese and I if we needed a gas station boyfriend. Done and done we replied. #16. That's how it's done.
We then crossed the street to talk to our friend Chaun who works at the Bike Shop. He informed me that our gas station boyfriend also drives a blue corvette. Yes please!!! Too bad he isn't hot on the gospel. I guess I know where I am taking all my business from now on.....gas station business that is. ;)

A Rap About Me!

2009-10-29T13:36:00.003-06:00

So a a guy that I met just a month ago here in the Single's Branch decided to make up a rap about me. It really fits me perfectly, and I was dying when i read it. Hope you enjoy it!

My name's Katy Hall
and I have lots of spunk.
I heart dorky guys and all that junk.

I heart every boy,
I heart them all the days.
How do I heart them?
Let me count the ways...

When boys teach Sunday School,
I must confess,
I hunger and thirst,
but not after righteousness.

I don't know why my life's so complicated,
it's just so hard when you're sexually frustrated!

My hair is red it attracts the guys,
especially my little Brandon Pie...

One day I'll have my chance,
to get me some brown pants!

That Mathew K. is really fine,
Someday I'll be Mrs. Kline!

-Johnathan Whiting

Some of you might not get the joke about brown pants. So just ignore that verse. From what I hear there is still more to come.

Crazy Lady at the DMV

2009-10-07T17:11:00.003-06:00

So last week I stopped by the DMV to get my Idaho drivers license. While I was waiting in line this crazy lady approaches the desk. The best way to describe her is that she is the female version of Willie Nelson. Anyway, she states that she wants to renew her license and the DMV lady tells her that her license has been expired since 2005. The crazy lady then states very rudely that she got an extension on it, and that her card had been stolen. Well she didn't have any other updated license so the DMV lady gets on the phone to figure out if her "extension" is in the computer system. While the cop is on the phone the crazy lady starts demanding to have her ID back. When the cop ignored her, she then rudely says, "Are you gonna make me reach for it?" She continues to be ignored, and the cop gets off the phone and tells her that all her extensions she filed were rejected because she didn't pass her eye exam. The crazy lady then starts carrying on about how she had gotten pepper spray in her eyes and that is the reason on why she had failed all her eye exams. She then yells at the cop again that she wants her ID back and the cop tells her she can't have it back and that she can't be driving anymore until she comes back and takes both the written and skills test. The crazy lady then exits mumbling and cursing at the cop. I am on the other side of the room just dying laughing. It was quite the experience.

The next day I had to stop by the DMV with a friend and I asked the cop lady if the crazy lady from the day before had returned. She just started laughing and and we shared a good laugh about her. Sometimes other peoples problems just bring humor to my life. Maybe its a sin to get a kick out of another's misfortune, but ultimately it made my day. :)

The Thing That Makes Me Laugh the Most

2009-09-04T22:37:00.004-06:00

So I hope this post isn't too inappropriate for some of you. Here it goes. So there is one thing that makes me laugh above anything else in the world, and that is passing gas. I have a problem that if I hear somebody pass gas in a public setting i lose it, and there is absolutely no way that I can stop from laughing, and then actually stop laughing after I have started. I know it is ridiculous. I am like a preteen boy when it comes to flatulence. It's just one of those things that you think about and think, "sick who does that?" I mean it is just so disgusting, but the fact is is that everyone does it. Which is sorta hard to believe with certain people. But anyway back to my story. So today during this church luncheon I went to, the speaker is talking and just wrapping up his talk and is at the spiritual climax and then all of a sudden from the back of the room someone just lets loose. It was so loud. Well I am sitting in the front row and I just lose it. My eyes were watering cause I was laughing so hard and I couldn't repress it. So I was laughing about it for the rest of the day. So I am with a client at the bookstore and he asks me why I am so giggly today. So I break down and tell him the story. He thought it was funny and had a big grin on his face. So we were laughing about it and we decided to read this book....

YES!!! Walter the Farting Dog. It was a perfect fit for the situation and for my day. I couldn't stop laughing and had to stop between sentences to catch my breath. So about an hour later I am still giggling about it and my client asks me what I am laughing about. I tell him nothing, and then he says, "that dude still?" I break down again and start laughing, and then I explain to him that it's ok to think I am weird. He then replies, "I don't think you are weird, just goofy." I think that is the best compliment I have received in the longest time. So there ya go. Straight from the mouth of an 8 year old boy. I am NOT weird, just goofy.

The River

2009-08-09T18:45:00.005-06:00

I really like the lyrics of this song by Garth Brooks

You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores.

I always had dreams and plans back in high school. My dreams were that I wanted to go to school out in Utah and major in Social Work and get married and have a family. Now, life has happened and things just didn't turn out the way I had planned. Granted, it is important to set goals and work at achieving them cause God never takes away our agency. But sometimes he does inspire us and direct us in the places that he deems would be the best for us. Sometimes we make plans and they happen, like me becoming a social worker. However, sometimes our plans are directed in another way, like in me attending school at BYUI instead of Utah State. And sometimes our goals are postponed like me being married and starting a family. Having to be a vessel that must follow where the river flows is a frustrating task at times. But the song continues to say:

There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all.

I know this. I know that if I put my trust in him that things will work out for the best. He is the perfect Captain. He will never let us sink if we are willing to trust in Him and allow Him to help us.

Patience

2009-08-04T20:28:00.003-06:00

I know that patience is a virtue, but this happens to be something that I really struggle with. Growing up I was always the one telling people to "hurry up" and "let's go." You know when life presents you with a change, and you know its going to happen, and you just have to wait? That is how I feel now. I hate knowing that I am going to move and be in my old branch but having to wait for it to happen. This is small in comparison with other things I have had to wait for. It seems like the Lord has really been trying my patience lately. To wait for almost a year for one particular thing sounds like a real trial in patience, but then to have that particular event never come to pass is the ultimate try of my patience. I wish that I had just developed this virtue on my own. If I had I may have spared myself a year of waiting in vain for something that would never happen.

Sacrifice

2009-07-26T20:37:00.002-06:00

Last week in institute we talked about sacrifice and why it is such an important principle of the gospel. I remember the teacher telling us that when we sacrifice something, the Lord is then bound to bless us, he has to. Many people don't sacrifice because they don't want to give up something they want. But in reality we are giving up something good for something even better. We just need to have that faith in the Lord that the things he gives us will be so much better than anything we could ever provide for ourselves.

Life right now has its rough paths and unknowns, and the Lord has really been trying my patience in a lot of things, however, I know that the more time I give to the Lord and the more effort I put forth for Him, the better my life will ultimately be.

Coconut M&M's

2009-07-21T16:06:00.002-06:00

So i guess I have inherited a few things from my mother. The characteristic of making friends wherever i go is one of them. So recently M&M has come out with a limited time coconut flavored M&M, which I fell in love with. So everyday I stop into the Tesoro to get a beverage for the day, and I made friends with a guy that works there. I told him a few weeks ago that I loved them, and I was super sad they were only limited time. So then a few weeks past and they didn't have any and I just thought that they were done with them. So yesterday I told him i was sad that they didn't have them anymore. The worker than replied that he was going to go tell his boss right then that they needed to order some more in. I then returned today and grabbed a chocolate bar and went to check out. The guy at the counter told me to put it back and then pointed to the display of coconut M&M's and then told me that he had his boss order them right away for me. I was so excited. How nice is he to go through the trouble to make sure I had my fix. I love it when people take the time to treat you like a person instead of just another customer. :)

Life Decisions

2009-07-16T16:55:00.003-06:00

I haven't blogged in forever, and maybe after reading this post you will realize why i haven't for awhile. Life has been all over the place. But this much I know. That throughout my whole life I have always been guided by the spirit in my decisions. I knew when I was supposed to move to Idaho Falls, I knew that I was supposed to live with my sister, even though at the time, things weren't working out for her to be able to do it. But did it all eventually work out? Of course it did, because the Lord wanted it. I know that the things that the Lord wants to have happen, will happen, even if we don't see how they ever could. It is one thing I have prided myself in throughout my life; recognizing the spirit and how it speaks to me. It never leaves a question in my head, even when there are a zillion options. To me, there only ever seems to be one, and it is the one I take.

Recently my sister has been feeling like she needs to move to Utah. Before she even brought it up I knew that something felt off and that things weren't supposed to continue as they were. She presented me with the option of considering going with her. I thought it out, and prayed about it. For that following week, my emotions were very near the surface, and all I could feel was this overwhelming love for Idaho Falls and my friends here. No mistake, this was the voice of the spirit whom I have become so familiar with throughout my life. I recognized it as that, and prayed no more on the subject. I am staying. I will miss my sister, but I feel like this is what is best for both of us, and if Utah is where the Lord wants her I won't ever try to stand in her way. I told my sister that I didn't know where I was going to live or what would happen, but if its meant to be, it would all work out in the end. I have that faith, and now I face the unknown of housing and roommate situations, but I KNOW it will all work out, cause it always has in the past. :)

Oh How the Times Have Changed

2009-05-27T09:34:00.003-06:00

So I was working on Extractions or Indexing as they now call them. Where you transfer marriage certificates and Census records to computer. So I started working on Marriage records and one of the questions on the marriage certificate is: "Is he an imbecile, feeble minded, idiotic, insane, or under guardianship as a person of unsound mind? WOW! I couldn't stop laughing!!! All of these terms are very much socially unacceptable and very derogatory to refer to someone as. Our society has definitely changed a ton in the last 100 years. I am glad I didn't live in that time period, I am sure I would have had to write "yes" for possibly being insane. LOL!

Bark Odds

2009-05-05T21:14:00.003-06:00

So today I received a text from my sister. Thinking nothing of it I opened the text and read it. This is what it said, "Bark Odds called me. Die if call you." With the name "Bark Odds" and the word "die" leaping from the page I almost had a mini panic attack. It literally made my skin crawl. So I text her back, "who is Bark Odds?" Turns out she was trying to text me, "carl never called me, did he call you?" Here it was an innocent text about precious Carl, and I thought it was some weirdo stalker man with a creepstache who was calling and harassing members of my family, and the only way to escape him was to DIE!!! Lesson learned is to spell check your texts before you send them.