Kara's Fantabulous Quest....

Reminiscence

2011-08-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Pandora today and I found a song for me.... One of my favorites from years ago! Enjoy!

You could be happy and I won't know
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go

And all the things that I wished I had not said
Are played in loops 'till it's madness in my head

Is it too late to remind you how we were
But not our last days of silence, screaming, blur

Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door

You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far

Somehow everything I own smells of you
And for the tiniest moment it's all not true

Do the things that you always wanted to
Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do

More than anything I want to see you, girl
Take a glorious bite out of the whole world

500 points if you can name the artist :)

New Blog!

2011-03-01T11:43:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

Anyone?

I have a new blog! I know I know, I may update this one every now and then, but I am pretty excited about the new one! Check it out!

FreshCleanBloomers

Enjoy! It is fantanbulous!

KB

Enough Said.

2010-11-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy9r6H-czWA

Friday

2010-10-14T23:38:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, I am going to walk into work and the security guard is going to say "Welcome to Friday!" like he does every Friday, and it will make me so happy. I love Friday's. I was born on a Friday, my favorite Christmas memory was on a Friday, and.....well mostly, my birthday was on a Friday. But I now have an even better reason to love Friday

I am going to get married on a Friday.

Why? Because Friday is derived from the German "day of Frige" or the day of the Love Goddess, Kara... I mean Venus! (This of course I learned from Wikipedia and I wouldn't be surprised to find out it was wrong.)

And Because I love Fridays.

Thank goodness!

Starting Over.

2010-09-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

I feel so much hope.

I love being busy :) It makes me feel so important. Does everyone feel this way? or is this something that is just relevant to my personality?

It takes so much energy to be positive. But I think it is like exercising. If you can manage to spend the energy for a short while, you are rewarded with double the energy! But just like exercise, the reward is not something that can be bought.

I am so excited about this Christmas Choir that my friends and I work on.

Apparently I have skin that mosquitoes love. Go figure.

Oh, and by the way, I love ZB :)

Excedrin

2010-09-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

It is so sad, but I have to admit that I have only survived this week because of copious doses of Excedrin. Though, I should admit that "copious" in Kara's dictionary actually means "to take the actual recomemded dosage on the back of the bottle."

I have pretty much had a constant headache, as a result of tension and lack of sleep. Though I will admit that for once, it is NOT a result of dehydration. Right now I feel like buzzzing around in small circles from the caffiene in my system. I am struggling to calmly sit at a desk and work. Though I am sure that my coworkers would love to see me running in tiny circles, sometimes office life is just not exciting enough.

The truth about today is that I have not found what I was looking for this week. I dont know the answers to my questions. I am still trying to decide what to do.

Is it wrong that we tell our sons and daughters stories of Princesses, Love, Happiness and Romance when most of them wont find it? Is it wrong to dream for something perfect? Or does it only cause dissapointment? How can we get what we want, if we dont dream for what we want? We have to dream! We have to believe that we can get it! BUT how can we be happy if all we do is dream for things we can't have?

I dont understnad.

Thank Goodness Excedrin

Kara Joy

Seeing who I am.

2010-09-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day. It really was. But I need serious scriptures tonight for strength, and peace of mind. I wish I had time to run, I think it would help.

It must be that I am a woman, but I feel like a million bucks, and I feel like bawling. I think (because I am SO tired!!!!) the first feeling lasted me all day, but now I will succumb to the second.

Kara

Joy and Black Holes

2010-09-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

I exercised twice today. Everyone has got to find their own methods of survival.

There was a moment today when I felt happier than I have felt in a while. You know that feeling when you are so excited you feel like you are about to burst? I was afraid to breathe to deep or I might blow into a million pieces. Sometimes I feel life in me, and I was to scream for JOY! I wonder that I could ever dare feel sad when I have been given so much. But then, I remember those moments. The ones that come to you when you are alone. Where a pit starts to form in your chest. It might be fear, uncertainty, pain, anger, regret, or loneliness. This "black hole" (for lack of a better description, 'cause I would rather not dwell on this feeling long enough to figure our a good description) sucks the life right out of me. I think at those moments there is only one successful source of comfort. Heavenly Father. Ironic that those are the hardest moments to reach out to Him.

I really have been blessed a lot recently. I have been given exactly what I needed to survive. I have also been given exactly what I needed to be allowed the circumstances to think and have appropriate alone time without distractions. I am grateful.

Tomorrow I am going to focus on being happy for others. I am too jealous, and underneath I do know that I am happy for them, it is just time to show it.

kp1

"Much Prayer and Fasting"

2010-09-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

All bloggers have one thing in common. They all believe that they have something to share with some portion of the world. I think this must be true about myself. I have something to share with the world! For example; I exist as a contradiction. I am responsible and spontaneous and analytical but pathetically emotional, and my life makes perfect sense but I can't seem to make heads or tails of it. I believe that we (if you are human, and reading this post that means you) always more alike that we are different, and so I have to conclude that there are others out there also battling with the contradictions of their lives.

My life took a very interesting turn yesterday. I choose this totally emotionless word "interesting" to describe it because that is the goal of this week. I choose to not let my ecstatic emotions such as fear, happiness, depression, excitement, and passion make my decisions for me. Yesterday I found out just how alone I am. These shocking moments of my life come in cyclic patterns, it might be pride, or money, or dramma. Apparently it is time for me to remember loneliness.

As I ate my lunch, alone, today I realized that true faith lasts for about 15 mins for me. I can be thinking or praying or reading my scriptures and for 15 mins I feel the peace and reassurance that I recognize so well after all these years. However that leaves me to the rest of my day as fear slowly creeps in on me. I suppose it is easier to just say that there is a lot more I am trying to say than I am actually managing. To sum it up: I have confidence in the results of the next week.

Alma 17:3

Kara

2010-09-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

2010-09-11T18:23:00.000-07:00

I kinda lost the "umph" that I needed to post anything for a while. The problem is that I have forgotten the purpose of this blog. This blog was designed to describe my adventures and the quest in becoming.....something, or anything. In a more simplified version, it was to let my friends and family know what I was doing :) It really has become a place where I put out into the world the thoughts that I struggle to put out there on my own. Though I haven't lost sight completely, I usually post about lessons I have learned or struggles that I need to overcome, the purpose has been lost nonetheless.

I am SO blessed! Right now, I live with three fantastic roommates, and my cousins cat. I recently got a job, which is such a blessing, and a funny story! I work Processesing wafers in a FAB, and it is so much fun. I feel so blessed to have gotten this job!

The cat and I? well, we fight a lot. But I love him to pieces. The problem is that we disagree on too many things. Like whether or not my arm is a good chew toy, or which bowl of food is his the 1) yucky brown hard stuff, or the 2) soft chicken mixed with cream of chicken and rice. Obviously, the chicken. Though overall I love having the company. He talks to me, and sleeps with me and I don't feel as lonely as I have been.

My job? It is so nice to earn money. I feel much more secure than I have in months, or even years. Even still I feel so guilty every time I buy something. This can't be healthy. SO! I made a list of all the things that I am going to want in my home someday. Nice things that I may not be able to afford as a new family. Every time I buy one, I get so excited! I just bought an IRON, a rowenta so that it will last forever.

I have every reason in the world to be happy. I am not trying to be selfish, just grateful. SO many blessings.

Gratitude.

2010-08-18T22:49:00.000-07:00

Gratitude is an amazing virtue. The sad thing about virtues is that the words are far too often overused. This results in a "glance over" of some of life's most important lessons. Gratitude is one of them. Here are some simple principles related to gratitude.

1- Grateful hearts are happy hearts. Taking a moment to be grateful for your blessings makes you happy.

2- Gratitude keeps you humble. Usually humility is seen as a weakness. But humility is the antithesis of arrogance, and pride. Humility doesn't mean "poor." In fact, humility is what brings our lives and the lives of others into perspective. The richest man in the world could be humble and greater because of it, when he is grateful.

3- Gratitude is the key to effective prayers. Never forget that.

Kara

Beauty.

2010-08-05T22:46:00.001-07:00

I saw the beautiful thing again today. Why does it insist on following me?

Recent Insights

2010-08-05T09:35:00.001-07:00

I have made a few realizations about myself.

1) I always assume that people are thinking the worst of me. Always. How awful is that? Who wants to go around always on the defensive and protective, and hurt? I really think my life would be much better if I could learn to change this habit.

At first, I thought this was an “it takes one to know one” sort of situation. Perhaps I thought others were thinking badly of me, because I was thinking badly of them. But I have been listening to my thoughts a lot, and I really don’t believe that I do that. I think 9.46 times out of 10 I give people the benefit of the doubt. I am sure this must be a self-esteem issue.

2) I am looking for an answer I am not going to find. I feel frustrated, like I am hitting the same problem over and over again. It is kind of like the car troubles Zach was having. No matter how many different things I try to fix, it is still not giving me the results I want. It is frustrating, and draining. It is time for me to make the answer for myself, and start looking for new questions.

And yet…..here I am…..still……

3) I hate looking at beautiful things I can’t have. This is not a good thing. The reason I hate seeing it, is because I am jealous. Not "angry jealous" but "sorry for myself jealous" I should learn to be happy for others, and I really feel like I usually can be, but I think I could do better. If I could learn to rejoice for the successes and beauty of others lives I would be happier, more grateful and more appreciative for what it is that I have.

But I have to admit…. I saw something so beautiful two days ago. It makes me heartsick to think I won’t have it. I can’t stop thinking about it!

4) I am pretty sure that the florescent lights at work are sucking the life out of me. Not really sure what to do about that. Good thing I spend most of my time in the FAB where curiosity and learning restore the life. I love my job!

I am glad to finally post this. I have had it waiting for quite some time.

kp

Feelings.....

2010-08-01T01:34:00.000-07:00

Emotions drive me crazy. Today was a bizarre day. I feel like I spent the majority of the day serving and working. In other words, I tried yesterday and today to be particularly accommodating and helpful, and do what I should. However, I had these bursts of impatience. I am not sure where they came from! I am somewhat worried about it. I did not feel myself. All I want is to be happy....... I suppose....it could be anger. I feel a little bit of anger, and I feel like it is coming out on everyone else........nah.......

This week has taught me a lot. If you are not moving forward, you are most definitely moving backward. There is no stand still. This is why daily habits are so important. (Scriptures, prayer, cleaning, all of them) Also, it seems that I need to be reminded every other day, Where is my focus? It is eternal? Is is short lived? Where am I looking at the "grand scheme of things." Somehow it seems that I am always looking as just the next day. Not even to the next week......

Also, I learned about taxes. I don't even want to talk about it.

I also know, after this week, some things in my life HAVE to change. Change is hard to believe in... I think that more often than not, it seems like change does not even exsist. Sometimes big things happen and it feels like nothing will ever be the same, and somehow.... it is! But I cant live like this, and I am going to work on a couple small habits, with a little faith, and hope...... and that is it.

p

Growing up......

2010-07-16T15:29:00.001-07:00

I started a new job this week! I am so glad that it is Friday! My feet hurt so bad, and I am so tired! But I LOVE IT! I really don’t have a clue how that happened! As a Process Engineer for EVGroup (a Semiconductor Manufacturer) I will spend most of my day in a clean room, possessing wafers. I get the opportunity to travel and I work with great people. So far the work seems to be reasonable, and the time passes really quickly because I am so busy with my hands! I am incredibly happy to be part of this organization.

I hope that I can go to work with this attitude every day. I had a friend once, who never complained about going to work, because she loved it! I have never forgotten what an amazing attitude that was, and because she worked at Target, I doubt it was the company that made it that way, but her own choices!

Still haven’t gotten my paycheck yet though……sure looking forward to that……

Joy!!!!

Storybooks

2010-07-10T00:03:00.000-07:00

I met an Australian couple on a cruise, and the wife called cheesy novels "chewing gum for the mind." I was reading some of this chewing gum and realized something.

I wish my life was a storybook.

Decisions made in storybooks are so much easier than our decisions. Don't people realize that? Should the brother risk his life to fight in the war? YES! what a noble cause! What a hero he will surely be! Should the girl break up with her jerk of a boyfriend? Yes! Who could possibly love such an awful person! Should the main character risk loosing everything for a lover? YES! dont they realize how rare true love is?

But life is not like that.

Decisions are much harder.

The brother leaves behind a broken mother and father, and broken dreams, and comes home broken.
The girl's boyfriend is really a true sweetheart, who can just be a little nearsighted and impatient at times, and his heart is left broken.
The true love is simply infatuation. It dies quickly.

This is why life is NOT like the stories I read.

k

Relativity.....

2010-07-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

Today as the hours were slowly, and yet not so slowly, creeping away from me; I was thinking about the relativity of time. It is amazing how when you are in an unpleasant situation time can screech on forever!

For example: when you are waiting. Waiting is perhaps one of the most unpleasant situations of life. Not horrific or unbearable but truly, gruelingly, achingly, agonizingly, second after second after second after second......unbearable. Hence my avid hate of bus stops, boring classes, and winter break.

Though on the other hand, those moments that are most important to us seem to slip from our fingers. It seems that we spend more time remembering and looking forward to these moments than we actually spend in those moments. Though it may be possible that this is only because the time passes so quickly.

Here is what I am realizing. Sometimes, we want to have an effect on the passage of time. We find small ways to accomplish this; movies, sleeping, breathing slowly, and hobbies. Though I am beginning to believe that time is always traveling fast. Always. What changes is our own grasp on the time. How well we are taking advantage of the time that we are given.

My time should be more valuable to me. My grasp on time changes when my perspective changes from past, present, and future. My goal is to be more effective, and efficient.

Kara

Prisms, and Women.

2010-06-25T05:34:00.000-07:00

I discovered something today:

I have been graciously given the chance to come to Washington D.C. for a women's conference. While I have been here, I have been analyzing my outlook on women, particularly myself.

After a very enjoyable experience in the Air and Space Museum. I found myself standing in the line of a gift shop to buy a prism. You have each seen one before, a simple glass triangle that splits white light into its many colors. They really are beautiful objects, and so scientifically fasinating.

This prism perfectly describs my personallity. I enjoy science and math, and I have joy in my technical degree. I am very proud to be an Engineer, and I really believe that it is a part of my personality. Yet, I still love beautiful things. I love the science for its beauty! I love to get all dressed up, and spend hours decorating a room in a house!

This is why I believe to Organizations such as the Network of Enlightened Women. NeW provides an amazing support for conservative culture, and the attitude that feminism should have.

http://www.enlightenedwomen.org/blog/

I got my frist blog posting on that blog, and I am very proud of it! Check it out!

Kara

Sweet Moments.

2010-06-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

Life can be SO hard! Sometimes it is almost impossible to see beyond your own nose. But I am sure it is not supposed to be this way.

I have to say that I often feel like I have more hard days that fantastic days. But today, I realize that these sweet moments are so sweet.

JOY!

Blessings!

2010-06-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

I needed to be reminded this week, that someone is taking care of me. Sometimes it is SO easy to forget, and so I wanted to remind all my readers that you aren't alone. Really, you aren't! I thought I was, but someone is watching out for all my needs and blessing me, I just have to sincerely ask. Which, I think is a fair agreement, I can do that :)

Kara Joy!

me

2010-06-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

This is me
the day after yesterday
Now I know,
that I am failing
This is me
Wanting healing, wanting peace
This is not
Who I was meant to be!

I might be wrong,
I might be right,
One thing's for certain
I'm sick of running,
Running
Running

kp

Bad Day.

2010-06-10T01:58:00.000-07:00

I once found out that there were people who actually read this blog. I was really nervous, because I have this bad habit of only posting when I am depressed. I promised myself that wouldn't happen anymore. My blog was a place for happiness and success in my quest! But I find the need tonight to break that rule. I hope my post does not scare anyone, these are the thoughts of a broken heart, but a healing one.

Days like these are the obstacles in the quest. Sometimes, we want to disappear. Sometimes we wish it was all over. Sometimes we want to pretend it away, or ignore it. Sometimes, our minds wander the darkest of pathways. We have to acknowledge that we all cry, and scream, we all wish and wait for things to be better. We all hope, not matter how small, we pray for the daylight.

This is part of life. Given, not to make us bitter, but to make us better. I suppose we must each learn for ourselves the silver lining, or the other door, everyone tells me is open.

I suppose in the end, we all find our own special way to crawl back to our holes, to try and nurture the wounds. Only some of us are lions.......

I wish I was a lion.

As such, I am not a lion, so I crawl back into my hole.

k

What I Want (Tangent)

2010-06-09T00:26:00.000-07:00

Today, all I could think about was food..... Here is what I want

Wienerschnizle cheese poppers
Ihop pankcakes, cream cheese and strowberries
ANY HUGE chimichanga, every type of salsa
Rubios fish tacos, with LOTS of lemon
Blizzard, french silk, please!
Snickerdoodles, and milk
Old Chicago Pizza, peperoni, why ruin a good thing? extra sauce please!
Hot Dogs, with relish and mustard (which is wierd, becaue i usually prefer hamburgers)
Grilled Cheese, perhaps a tuna melt, if you dont mind

It is amazing how you appreciate what you dont have.......

Hungry Kara

What I want: Part 2

2010-06-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

#1 I have been thinking about friends a lot. I like friends. I like to be surrounded by people all the time. I think what I really want is two or three close "couple" friends. I like the idea of have a girl friend, who's husband/significant other is a great friend of my husband/significant other...... A couple who is in a similar place in life, one we see often, and enjoy. Kinda like the movies, but life is never the movies. Nonetheless it is something I want.

#2 I want a job. I do feel that this might be too General. One problem I have is that I have a hard time defining what I want here. But that is the point of this blog post! So here we go!
-Well paying!
-I want the job for experience, so I can relate to other workers.
-I seem to have an affinity to environmental topics, Water purification, alternate fuels, pollution. Not sure why, but I have enjoyed the topics when they come up in school.
-I love the idea of lab work and research. It is learning! It may be tedious and repetitive, but I love it!
-I like process design
-I like working with people
-I want to stay in Phoenix
-I am a hard worker, and I am willing to work hard and put forth the work needed, but I would prefer not to work ridiculous hours, as I don't want to get burnt out

#3 CAR! I think I want an SUV.....which surprises me. More on this when I figure it out better.

Kara

What I want: Part I

2010-06-06T01:36:00.000-07:00

There are a couple things it is REALLY easy to say I want.

#1 I want quads

I think that when my family is out quadding, we bond better than we ever do. We are all happy, because we are having fun, and thrilled to be outdoors. We all get along together and we create memories that last forever. Every time I go way too crazy on an ATV, I feel a thrill, and I feel freedom, and I think I actually know what life is about. I think it is a fantastic habit for a family!

#2 I want a piano, and to teach all my kids to be musically talented

Playing the piano is the number 1 way to "unstressify" me. I NEED it, more than I can explain!

#3 I want to get married!

This is actually quite an accomplishment! I think I often rejected a home life, because I was scared of being trapped, and bored. But I think that I can have everything I want, while making my goal to be a mother in Israel my number one priority!

So these are the easy ones! Though I have to say, that number 3 was not easy to come by, and I only believe it about 87%, the resit is faith!

I have discovered something this week...... Cooking makes me happy! Literally, it doesn't take as long as I thought it did, and I can make and entire batch of cookies, and not eat a SINGLE COOKIE, and I am so happy that I have made others happy by making them!!!!! I have literally made several meals, and not eaten a single bite, and I get a huge amount of joy from it! Cooking makes me happy! As such, this new discovery brings a whole new list of wants!

#1 Fully stocked Pantry,

All the herbs, and seasonings you can thing of from cinnamon to curry!
Pots, and pans GALORE! Everything, mixing bowls, rolling pins, measuring, and a MIXER!

#2 GOOD (easy, practical, yummy) cookbooks!

#3 People, to feed!

I have a small cookbook, full of family favorites, my goal for the summer, is to cook EVERYTHING in the cook book. Though it is slightly unrealistic, (58 recipes) I think, like Julia and Julia is sounds really fun! I am glad to discover something else that makes me happy!

Joy!

Hope.....

2010-05-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

I am sure any of my female friends, will find this absolutely entertaining.

I want a man who's kind and understanding. Is that too much to ask of a millionaire? ~Zsa Zsa Gabor

Women are never disarmed by compliments; men always are. ~Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband, 1899

If men can run the world, why can't they stop wearing neckties? How intelligent is it to start the day by tying a little noose around your neck? ~Linda Ellerbee

There are much easier things in life than finding a good man. Nailing Jell-O to a tree, for instance. ~Author Unknown

If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle. ~Rita Mae Bro

I got all these from this website......enjoy! http://www.quotegarden.com/men.html

Now to today's blog....I once heard a quote Twain I believe (but i couldn't find it on google) So i repeat it the best that I can "I can show any man in the world how to get what he wants, you show me a man who knows what he wants...." This is how I feel.....recently I complain a lot because I don't feel like my life has turned out to be what I want......But let me make a VERY important point. I HAVE gotten everything I KNEW I wanted. For example:

I wanted to go to England....I went

I wanted to graduate college....I did!

I wanted a full ride scholarship.....it was, and my car, and gas, and rent, and books and England!

I wanted to move out before I married.....I like out of my parents home now

I wanted to buy my own car......500 VWJ!

I wanted to graduate High School with Honors......for anyone who knows me.....

Do I need to go on?

The problem is, sometimes all we know is what we DON'T want! but this isn't good enough! There could be millions of things we don't want. we HAVE to know exactly WHAT we want.

Today I feel more hopeful than I have in a long time. I really believe if I can decide what it is that I want, I will get it! Haven't I already proved this to myself? How did I forget that? Are you ready to decide what it is that makes you happy?

Here is the goal for the summer......To develop exactly what it is I want. I don't think it needs to be detailed, or have many things on it. Just the few joys that make me happy. Every time I post, for the next few posts, I think this will be the theme......

I have absolutely no doubt that one bad day, could make me forget this......So today, I will go as far as I can on this feeling, and we will see where it ends up! One thing I know for sure is I want to be happy, and I think this will Help!

Kara

Greedy Moment

2010-05-23T23:29:00.000-07:00

I am feeling incredibly greedy/needy tonight. I decided to write myself a Christmas list of sorts. Mostly to sort my thoughs, and find some sort of conclusion. So, for your enjoyment, my wants....

1. I want to get married.
2. I want to go on a trip to California
3. I want to go on a cruise.
4. I want new clothes, specifically several summer skirts
5. I want about 5 new paris of flip flops,
6. I want to loose 10 lbs.
7. I want to be HAPPY every DAY!!!!!
8. I want a new car
9. I want all my dreams to come true including
- A happy marriage
- Meaningful vocation
- Extesive travel, and exposure to culture
10. I want a job.

I am sure I could go forever........

KP

2010-05-17T21:18:00.001-07:00

Graduation!

I wasn't sure that I would get to walk this semester in graduation. Some complications with my credits, and other misunderstandings, but then about a week before graduation, I found out that I COULD walk with all my freinds. I called my mom right away. She was so excited I had to send out about 60 graduation annoucements! I had so much fun. I really think that I will miss all my freinds at school, people that I never see in a social scene, but I saw more than my freinds.........I am so gratuful I got to be with my freinds at graduation. I am so glad that I have SO much family that supports me. Now.....I need a job.

yay!

Death and Life

2010-05-13T02:08:00.001-07:00

It's official. We are never who we thought we would grow up to be. The sooner we accept this, the happier we are.

However controversial this statement, I declare my freedom of speech with it.

Kara

...

2010-04-27T12:44:00.001-07:00

What The Heck.

Childhood Battles.

2010-04-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

Life is Hard.

Capital H.

"that we might have Joy" ??????

I get this feeling sometimes. I feel confused. I don't know what the problems is, dispite the solution. I am trying to justify something I am not sure I was doing wrong, did I feel it was wrong only becasue outside influences, or because of an honest belief? Am I causing this confusing dispite my best ability correct it? why are we all going in circles?

It took the Isrealites 40 years to walk a distance that should have taken months. It took Nephi eight years to travel a distance that should have taken about 1/3 of a year. What is the point? Where they going in circles to? They all still got there, but why do we hold ourselves back? Why do we do this to ourselves?

I wont.

I am trying.

I am going to listen with "ears that hear, and hearts that feel."

The amazing thing about what I am trying to say, is that usually this situation knocks my life out for days, but I feel much more motivated than usual to do all that I can do. This comes from supportive freinds who TRUELY want what is best for me. Meaning, they try to make me more Christ-like, and better.? It is really true I have such amzing friends?

Joy.

.

Significant Other....

2010-03-31T12:29:00.000-07:00

This morning I received a text message that said " Good Morning my dear sleepy pantelones!" Hahahahaha, I have to admit that it's " Just another normal thing I've come to expect." Everyday I get little treasures delivered to me by this modern means of communication. All the way from "shnookums" to "baby doll." Now, as masculine as men can be, I am not sure how the boyfriend will take to reading this in such a public place, but for all those girls out there, I am the luckiest girl alive.

I am so glad to be alive. Today, I have found plenty of things to complain about. But that is a mistake, sure I was late to class,and I am unprepared for all my tests coming up, and I am way behind on my job search, and all those lovely worries, but I am HEALTHY! and I have a BOY that LOVES me! I have food at home, and a part time JOB that I love! The sun is shining, and it is april and it is NOT hot outside yet! Seriously! I am on a path to having the life I have always wanted, and why do I complain as much as i do? I wish that I could just learn from my past mistakes, and be so glad that my life it is the way it is. I spend way too much time being disappointed in the past and future, what about today?

Seriously! TODAY I will become a much more grateful person. This is the day.

Kara

Happyness.

2010-03-17T02:25:00.000-07:00

Wisdom is only appreicated, by an anxious listener.
Mistakes are only regreted when unhappy.

A voice is meant to be heard.

Yet more often than not....

Wisdom falls short to pride.

Mistakes are meant to be made.

Voices clash together.

And as such......

Wisdom is lost to ages.

Happiness is lost to implulse.

Voises are lost in the noise.

Songs of my Life

2010-03-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

I've been poisen
I've been rain
I've been fooled
Again
I've seen ashes
Shine like chrome
Someday I'll see
Home

Lyrics to possibly my very most favorite song in the whole world. Here are a few more, for your entertianment. Guess what song, and typing the lyrics in google IS IN FACT cheating, so don't even think about it. 1 point each, 10 points for the one at the top.

[1]
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you loose something you can't replace
When you love something and it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Lights will guid you home....

[2]
Hey! Wait! Knock me down, and I'll get up again.
Oh! Pain! A remedy that can erase your sting.
I'll keep holding, and I'll keep trying,
I feel this fight, it is slowly dying now but I feel
Painless

[3]
Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I'll show you what I can be
Say it for me
Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me

[4]
Waking up is the hardest part
You roll outta bed and down on your knees
And for the moment you can hardly breathe
Wondering was she really here?
Is she standing in my room?
No she's not, 'cause she's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone....

[5]
I'm so alive
I'm so enlightened
I can barely survive
A night in my mind
I've got a plan
I'm gonna find out just how boring I am
And have a good time.

That's probably enough. I think most of them are pretty hard, but who knows! maybe you are pretty amazing?

Kara joy

STREEEEESSSSS!

2010-02-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

I had a very interesting experience on Friday...... I had this rather large project for my Senior Design class. We were instructed to improve the CO2 emissions for any AZ power plant. I worked at a pace, that I thought was appropriate, however I still ended up with way too much work to finish it in time. Therefore, Thursday night, I began what I KNEW was going to be an all-nighter. As i worked, I got progressively more tired, til finally, I decided to make myself a pizza to help me stay awake, and as I put it in, I reasoned that with the timer, I could lie down for just a few mins...... 5 hours later, I woke up to one of the most horrible realities. I cried so hard. I wrote down what was the worst report of my life, and had my boyfriend drive me to school so I could continue to write.

Here is where it gets interesting. I start to get all the important stuff down, and I am thinking "I might finish, I won't pass but I might finish" which is what is important, because in this class, she lets you do a rewrite, as long as you finish, and turn in the first copy! Then, of course, the printer wont work. Literally. I see TWO other people come in and print out there stuff..... and mine wont print. Once again, I am crying.....begging, please! print please!

I ended up turning in half the report in, and I was SOBBING when i sat in my seat. All my friends were looking, but I could barely stifle my sobs as I tried to be busy with my backpack! I am not even sure why I cried! I get a rewrite!

My friend Meg told me, to not be so hard on myself, and recognize that this was not me, and I didn't usually let this happen. She also gave me some great advise for my rewrite!

My boyfriend listened to my sob story on the way home, then said "That's enough" and through on a couple of my favorite songs, and danced the most amazing dance of his life. I was cured by the time we got home. What an amazing guy.

The point is.....w o w...... WOW!

The end!

2010-01-25T16:15:00.000-08:00

These aren'ts original, i only wish i could write like this :D

Swallow your pride
Make way for the new bride
Holding your tongue
When they call another winner
Oh there is more to this life
Hey Mr. Golden Deal
Tell me how does she feel
She's like the wind
That boy couldn't sail
He says I've washed these decks for years
I've carried those pails
And oh there is more to this life
Hey Mr. Golden Deal
Tell me how does she feel
Does she hold you in the night
Does she tell you everything's gonna be alright
Hey Mr. Golden Deal
How does she feel
Captain oh my captain
Steer the first mate true
The men they sing a song of fear
Ghosts of ships who failed before
And the captain he is laughing
You can't control the sea
She will always do as she pleases
It's her nature to be free
And oh there is more to this life
Hey Mr. Golden Deal
Tell me how does she feel
Do you hold her in the night
Do you tell her everything's gonna be alright
Hey Mr. Golden Deal
I know how you feel
Oh, I knowOh, I know
Hey Mr. Golden Deal
How does she feel

The question I am asking (though of course i blieve I know the asnwer) is who is she? and Who is Mr. Golden Deal?

Last First Day

2010-01-20T21:21:00.000-08:00

School has started, this is my last official semester of school! What will I do with myself. I have to say that i never really got the chance to recouperate this winter. I overheard a conversation of bored boys complaining that the holiday was too short, and I almost smacked them...... Maybe if I just pretend school away....... it will never catch up to me? Then I start thinking about what i DO want, and I realise i don't want to be sitting at home all day, so i might as well go to school..... I guess.

When, and why?

2010-01-15T22:35:00.000-08:00

It is surprising, the realization I have been making the last few days. It's like I have been here before, but I can't remember when, or why. I find that I can discover a solution, but I am unable to believe that is really the solution, because it has a tendency to change in a split second. My view on life is as sporadic as a teenager's mood swings. Maybe that's my problem...... See? I don't even make sense now. I wish I could force myself to think more ...... clearly. But it all clearly comes down to the fact, that "I am not who I thought I was."

Don't worry, this is not really meant to make sense. If it did, I would be even more worried. I wish I had more confidence in my own judgment, and decisions. But even though I worry that I have grown up to be different than the person that I thought I was, the interesting thing is that, that might be a good thing.

Kara Joy

Figuring "it" out

2009-11-22T22:57:00.000-08:00

"I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit."
Richard G. Scott, October 2009.

I have known this for a while, but sometimes I thought I believed it as an excuse for why I felt so far away. But I felt today, so distinctly, that this was what was being required of me. I am suddenly not so alone. I believe learning to following the spirit is not a "one time" learn, I think it is a growing experience as Elder Scott describes.

Kara Joy

Cheerfulness

2009-11-09T20:48:00.000-08:00

Next most important goal:

Learn to be happy/grateful/cheerful.

I think I need to train my mind to be always looking for things to be happy about. a l w a y s.

Kara

Thinking

2009-11-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

My mom gave me flowers the other day, because I needed them.

One of the most beautiful red ones, was wilted over, and dying. I felt really sad. I have a really hard time throwing flowers away. I remember kind of proping it up with the other flowers around it, trying to save it for one maybe two days. But it came back! It's alaive and stiff, and happy! This makes me think of freinds, and family, and survival.

Kara

Life and Death

2009-11-07T01:48:00.001-08:00

It's official. We are never who we thought we would grow up to be. The sooner we accept this, the happier we are.

However controversial this statement, I declare my freedom of speech with it.

Kara

Miracle?

2009-10-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

Today, a very important person told me that he had something he had been thinking about, and wanted to tell me.

Below :

"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other."

The amazing thing is that he gave me this quote one day after I posted last.
What are the chances?

The other amazing thing, that that both of us say Charity from totally different perspectives, same subjecct!

Kara

Chain of Charity

2009-10-18T01:23:00.001-07:00

I think that all my readers should know that 50% of the time I am updating a post, I think that I am deep. And the other 50% of the time, I think I am interesting. It is much more likely that I am neither. This is why I have this blog, so that I can believe that my readers (which there are none) find me both deep, and interesting.

Words are difficult. We attempt to use them to communicate what our souls are reaching out to be understood. I have never found words to be difficult. I always knew that I stumbled when trying to explain the deepest meaning of my soul, but truthfully, I am discovering that I have almost no ability to speak. I once thought I could explain anything, just give me enough time, but can you believe that the more you get to know someone, the harder it gets to connect. Before you make judgments of that statement, hear this! It is ONLY because you begin to express sections of your being that even you have not fully explored. You begin to portray yourself from the inside out!, and you find yourself shocked at what was on the inside (mainly the bloody guts, of course).

But now, I have to literally contradict something I just said in the previous paragraph. The more you get to know someone, the more you connect. Verbal Communication is literally about 457% percent more efficient than any other form of thought! Just think! What happens when you unite yourself with someone, so determined to understand you? You begin to expresses yourself verbally, and it might sound like gibberish, but eventually you come to sensible conclusions that normally would have taken weeks, or years, or never at all!

What's the point? Relationships are necessary for real progression!

What's the problem? How often are relationships such, that one is completely concern with understanding the other? But rather, people seek to be understood! Not to understand! Believe me, I am no saint of this subject, and I would challenge any person who says they are perfect at this.

My real point is, I have a lot to learn. "Need I say more?" Such is Kara's Quest. Make it better, learn more, Live a higher way. Care more to understand, not to be understood. Care more about someone important, and to start an important chain of Charity that will continue forever! Who's with me?

Kara Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy Joy

drama drama drama......

2009-08-06T00:38:00.001-07:00

Tonight, I am staying up late downstairs on the couch, angry..... About a subject with significant worth... Sometimes, you can tell, when your argument has lost the majority vote, and you have to give up your vision. It can be hard letting go of a dream, and sometimes as humans, we can be somewhat stubborn. For example, when you want your bed on the north side of the room, but your sister/roommate wants it on the south........ Clearly, the room functions better with the bed on the north side, but your sister (and your mother) argue that there is more privacy when the bed is on the south. BUT isn't that what the door is for? Or perhaps I have mistaken the purpose of the giant piece of wood hinged into the wall, which happens to block the view of the goings-on in the rest of the house.....ANYWAY! To have an idea is a basic human right, and to have it respectfully acknowledged is deserved. However! to sneak around and change the bed to the south side, when the you are not home has put me in such a state of distress!

Blah, blah, blah. This is the family drama that occurs here in my house. To which, I am sure by morning, I will have overcome, and "chillaxed" as my sister might say... nonetheless! May it be a lesson to ALL my readers, the bed CLEARLY belongs on the north side....

Kara

Excitment

2009-06-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

I am going to CA on Thursday..... I am excited.

The End!

Kara Joy

Mistakes......

2009-05-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

I actually had a request to update my blog! Hence.....the new update.

I am in Utah on a much less exciting adventure than my one to England. I basically came to satisfy my need to be a part of Salt Lake City. I have been spending all my time with old friends, and got to go to my best friends wedding reception (where I caught her bouquet, and I am thrilled about the possibility of what that might mean), and wandering around from friend to friend, and doing a LOT of thinking.

Most interesting, is that I have been spending most of my time, with my friend Brooke Walters, who was my very best friend in the whole world......in 4th grade! I haven't seen her in 12 years, and I found her on facebook, and she invited me to stay with her!

Brooke and I were talking about our agency. Sometimes it is SO hard to make a decisions, because what we want is to follow the will of Heavenly Father, however we don't always know exactly what that is. We just want to scream......just TELL me what to do! I will obey! I want to just use my agency to give up my agency in pure obedience! This way of life would be so much easier than worrying about mistakes that we might be making.... However, life is NOT that way, why is that? In fact, this idea of using our agency to give up our agency, is very similar to a plan I have heard before, and I KNOW was rejected!

Making mistakes is how we learn. I can see that you might read that and say "duh!" But i want you to think about it. Mistakes are actually a beautiful thing. My Organic Chemistry professor used to teach us over and over, that he can give us the answer to a problem and we can say "oh! I would have gotten that answer" but 90% of the time we do not know the subject, until we have done it on our own. Most likely done similar problems (especially retro synthesis) over and over and over, before we get the right answer to prove that we know.

In other words. It is one thing to study principles, and theology, and rhetorical, abstract ideas. It is another to practice them. This is why our life is the way it is! We have to make mistakes to be perfected, so we can learn the ways of perfection. I worry for hours and hours about the consequences of making a mistake, but what I need to remember is that "If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. "(Hunter)

Anyway..... Updates on everything else. Not really much..... I haven't been working, not in school.... and boys :D well.....I don't really ever talk about them on the blog anyway. Though, on a side note, I have developed this wonderful attraction to mushrooms. A certain mushroom to be exact ;)

Sorry for the really long blog update. I do try to keep them short. I guess sometimes i just have a lot to say!

Summer Excitment

2009-05-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

Summer is here! I have NO idea what my grades were, I am way too scared to look. but I am D O N E ! This is a big deal, My junior year is behind me, and I can move forward. I have my regrets, and my sucesses, and I have learned enough to keep me going through one more year. The question is: What do I do differently? 1) remember that the first midterm really DOES effect your grade. 2) smiling is the ONLY way to go, complaining really gets you no where, just smile and get to work 3)Where are you going? is that where you want to be headed? huh kara? where? 4) Burn out is REAL, don't let it happen. Take breaks, good ones, but don't let them get to your head.

Work : Good, I love my students. I love to teach piano.....I might do it for the rest of my life as a hobby, I wish i was taking lessons myself.

Oh, and this is SO unbelieiveable, but my freind Leslie called me up the other day, and said "kara! my family is going on a cruise, but my brother can't go, would you like to come?" Here's me "YES!!!!!!" :D I can't believe it, I feel SO blessed, and I can't wait to go. I really feel so lucky, like I won something. Anyway, it's hot, and all the fungi have withered away (if you get my meaning :D) so here is the plan for this summer.

These are my summer goals. These are the "have to's." I have been feeling a need to be really busy recently. Busy with things I always complain I can't do. I hope I can find the 1)money, 2) time and 3)freinds that will do them with me.....hence why I put them here for EVERYONE to see. What do you think?

1.Learn three new songs on the Guitar
a. Finish writing my own song
b. Two by different artists
2. See 5 new places…
a. Utah,
b. Seattle
c. North Montana
d. California :D San Diego, or others….
e. Angel’s Landing (oh please, oh please, oh please)
3. Hike Timpanogos (Boo ya!)
4. Make 30 new friends
a. Already started, Steve, Chad, Alisha, Emily….that’s an easy one :D
5. See some Indian ruins.
6. Read 4 books, legit ones not children’s stories.
7. Get a tan…..healthy one. Just enough that people don’t look at me and think “look dead body!”
a. Go swimming everyday
b. Outdoor activities
8. Exercise, I don’t care if it is hot, I never get to feel healthy, and I am so excited to feel better.
9. Get good grades in my online classes.

Here is a list of the FUN things I would like to do, but I don't have to (though some are a lot more important than others)

1. Lagoon
2. Go to the beach, learn to surf…..
3. Find my way to Boston , or Washington DC
4. Quadding…..3 times
5. ONE boating trip (tubing, in particular, or I’d like to learn to wakeboard)
6. See Erin, from England.
7. Watch lots and lots and lots of movies.
8. Mountain Biking
9. See Brandee and Jamie at least once.
10. Buy a summer dress and wear it

Anyway......So here is YOUR job as a reader. You have to ask me, EVERYTIME you see me, if I am fullfilling these goals. It helps to think someone might be checking to see how well I am doing.
Wish me Luck!

This is your life......are you who you want to be?

2009-05-07T00:13:00.000-07:00

Um......switchfoot is my favorite :D *sigh* good song, good times.

I am not up to much (again) finals are insane and I barely made it through today, so I am feeling really grateful at the moment......trying hard not to think about tomorrow quite yet..... Anyway, here's a thought that has been dying to come out....

Last general conference Elder David A. Bednar suggested a comparison to the creation of the earth, to prayer. I had to read his argument a few times, before I felt I really understood. Just as a reminder, though I would hope that you would read it for yourself, He explains that “[the Lord God, created all things… spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth] (Moses 3:4–5)… meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day.”

We have the power every day, to create our day. Now obviously, we are given the agency to do our will, and to put into motion the activities of our everyday life. But how often do we succumb to our own excuses, not enough money, not enough time, I am not that kind of person, I am trying my hardest, I just got so angry……

But I am talking more than just the daily struggle. I mean to suggest that we can create our environment, our opportunities, or even our personalities. Maybe I should say especially our personalities, I get so scared that I might be stuck with the habits, and character traits I have been taught, it gives me hope to think I might use this tool in overcoming natural tendencies. However I can see this being a very debatable subject, because sometimes it is hard to accept that we have to power to be happy, and we are choosing to be unhappy. It is much easier to believe that Life just handed us a bad hand. I don’t mean to minimize the pain of any suffering person. I just want to express my excitement and hope with rediscovering this tool this week.

I believe what I am talking about is what some call “the Secret” but I have decided that in Truth, prayer plays a crucial part in creating. When we have sufficiently grown so that we can have the faith it takes to rely on Heavenly Father’s will, and trust and believe. When we include Him so entirely in our lives that we are spiritually counseling, and creating every detail of our lives here, we will be to the point where prayer is being used as it should be. No more victimization, only a deep belief in what “I can” and what “He can.” More than belief an actual knowledge that it works, which was a result faith, and the proof that will follow.

This is my act of faith, small as it may be. I believe this, and it is my goal to put it into action. Hence my brand new prayer rock, to remind me how important my morning prayers really are….

Kara Joy :D

Rhetorical---->

2009-04-27T23:43:00.000-07:00

I have decided that ASU could throw ANYTHING......and I really mean it, ANYTHING, and I wouldn't even flinch.....just "ok.......how?" I suppose that is a good thing, when I read that, but I mean to show the numbness my life has accepted. I am so burnt out, it is time for the semester to end. This is the last full week of school, and I am SO happy about that, I can barely wait for summer!

I figure, this is the biggest reason I am in Chemical Engineering. I need to learn how to face these hard things, and continue onwards, and upwards. I have learned so many good principles that keep me from procrastination, and everyday I somehow find the strength, and the courage to face a new level of work. I suppose maybe this makes it sound worse than it is. I know so many people doing so much more than me, but I have to say, that this is more than I, have ever done. For this reason, I feel proud!

I am taking myself on a quest, that somewhat relates to my last post, but it is too hard to explain how. I have so many questions, questions that need answers. I am tired of the majority of my questions being rhetorical, they want answers, and somehow..... I will find them. Let the fantabulous quest begin :D

Kara Joy

PS Fungi, are FANTASTIC!

Cheese, Cheese, Cheese :D

2009-04-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered that there is at least one person who sometimes looks at my blog. I think I am ok with that :D but I deffinatly changed my attitude about what I put on here in my last blog post, and so I it makes me nervous to be so serious for fear that it will not be taken the way I want :S. Anyway, this post really is about an update into my life.

I am still in school, at it is SO hard. I think being a Junior in Chemical Engineering, is finally catching up to me. I most deffinatly spend way too much time at home doing homework, and WAY not enough time playing with my inner child, and my friends!!!! I try to explain sometimes what the homework is like, but usually people don't believe me! They think I am exaggerating (which i guess I might a little, but not much i swear) so I shall not attempt, let's just be satisfied with "it's hard!"

Boys, boys, boys.......needs I say more? Honestly and truthfully, this ONE subject I hate putting in public......Therefore.....you are going to have to ask me personally there, and I might not even answer then, because half the time i'm not even sure what is going on!

Work? I still teach piano. My number of students has been reduced to 14, which i like a lot more than 20. I think 20 is to many for my situation in life right now.

"And.....that's it!"

Now for the cheese......brace your self! I made the most beautiful discovery this week. Something I wish i could share with Binx, though I doubt he would listen. In fact, it is something I wish I could share with you, but I don't know how! The last few weeks I have been feeling burdened, and facing Life has been getting harder and harder every day. I made it worse, by trying to understand what was making me this way, and when I had no good excuse for feeling down.....I would get more angry/mad/frustrated and thus more "burdened" because I HAD no good reason, so why was I mopping in the first place? It occurred to me, that I lack a huge amount of self trust. I don't trust myself to make decisions that will make me happy, and I don't trust myself to choose what emotions I want to feel. I don't trust myself to find the answers to questions......

Needless to say....I am trusting now. I am trying to care if I make a mistake, because I am trusting to believe that I can find a way to eternal happiness. And most importantly, I am happier than I have been in weeks..... More importantly, Matt 11:28-30......an absolute classic, and a lifeline in every way.....

Kara

Long Time, No See.

2009-03-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hiya!

I have been thinking recently.........A Dangerous Pastime, I know :D I haven't really been up to much since I last wrote. Which is maybe relative. It would be better for me to say, I haven't been up to exciting things like I used to when I was living in England. But I have been very busy! School has been requiring a new level of focus, and responsibility from me, and I have to remind myself everyday that is it is there to make me better, not bitter.

I also discovered, that perhaps life does not have to be feast, or famine. It might be that way because we make mistakes, and predict it will do that, but maybe it doesn't HAVE to be that way. Sometimes I wish I were older, so that my discoveries had more weight, and I felt more confidence in the things i have learned.

I am SO grateful for what I have learned this last semester and a half, despite my worries about their validity. I feel that my capacity to achieve has doubled, and my own self reliability is more trustworthy. Though i have no cool stories except for the minor success at school, and the "Fungi" stories. Who knows, maybe that is about to change?!?!?

Kara Joy!

A long, long way from Miami to L.A.

2008-09-07T21:27:00.000-07:00

Heeeeelllllooooooo!!!!

I am sorry for my very long absence from the blog! It is kinda sad, but I have a hard time posting now, because my life isn't nearly as exciting. But the last few days I have felt SO much more alive and happy than I have in a while! I am doing school, and teaching 14 piano students, and I am SO busy, but nothing exciting is happening.

However, I did figure out that I have more friends at ASU than I thought I had! which is kind of a happy thing! Go figure, I have friends to sit, and walk with all the sudden, and I really like it! I have a new phone now, and I would love for people to call me, as I feel like a complete social hermit, and several of my friends proved it to me last night, and it is SO true!

I have a new goal though, I was driving to my family reunion (that's where the mud pictures below , are from) and I passed by these Cliff dwellings, and I wanted to stop and see them SO bad. I am going to go to the cliff dwelling this weekend or nest, anyone coming?

Kara

I Love This BLOG!

2008-06-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

Hello! I am in such a Wonderful mood right now. I officially have ONE week until I go home, and though I am completely heartbroken to leave my friends, and the beautiful country, and the wonderful adventure this has been, (oh, and the 65 degree weather!) I can't WAIT to get home! I am completely ecstatic because my mom is coming to see me, and we are going to spend the afternoon in London!

As I am sitting my room this evening, completely suffering because of hayfever, dieing to see my mom, relieved that I am almost done, happy to be going home, and thinking about my friends....something occurred to me.......I love this blog! Seriously? I don't know how it occurred to me, but it did! I am always thinking about this blog.... "ooo, I should put that on there" or "oh! I hope they read my blog!" This may be hard to believe, because I hardly ever update it, and because of the ever present spelling and grammatical mistakes, but it is true!

(Be ready for one cheesy moment! Just for you! )

So this is a thank you to you, dear reader. Thank you, for coming on this adventure with me, and thank you for your support, and your comments, and thank you for most of all, for being interested in me enough, to read the blog!

It is my intention, to keep the blog once I am home. Life will still be an adventure for me, I am sure of it. Whose life really isn't an adventure?

So, now that I am almost done, I feel that it would be appropriate to list some of the things I have learned here. First of all, though we may be across different cultures and believes, we are always more similar than we are different, sometimes, it just take a bit to find the similarities! Second, humility is strength, especially when it seems to be a weakness. Third, though Europe seems daunting, if you stick to crowded, well lit areas, you are always bound to find someone who will help, and they will probably speak English too :D Fourth, scary things, are fun....in the end, (this probably doesn't include traumatic things). Fifth, and the last, for now, because I could go on for quite a while....Facebook, isn't such a bad thing after all, right now I count it as a blessing, because I will be able to keep in touch with my friends here in England in the future years :D

For those of you in England, thanks for your friendship, thanks for sharing your country with me! and for those of you in America? see you soon!

Kara

The Land of the Little People!

2008-06-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

For Erin, Lisa, and I, London and Paris were not enough! Along with cities such as Warwick, Worcester, Preston, Stratford-Upon-Avon (Shakespeare's birth/death place), and Cadbury World, we adventured to Ireland! My flatmates Olivia and Catherine came with us, and the five of us had an absolute blast!

Olivia's family is from Cork, and on the advise of friends we decided to not see Dublin and head towards Cork. we also wanted to see some of the beach, and so we spent a day in a little town called Kinsale. Kinsale was by far our favorite, and most of us agree that we wish we had spent a little more time there. The city is made of little winding streets with the cutest shops and pubs. We got to see some very beautiful scenery of the seaside, where old forts still stand, against the natural Greens and Blues of Kinsale.

It was fun traveling in such a large group. We had lots of fun times, and there was always something random happening, like trying to fit in the baskets that were underneath our beds in our hostel in Cork. :D

I think I do want to come back to Ireland someday, but like Italy, I would rather visit the small, quiet towns, rather than the big noisy ones :) Maybe we were lucky, but I really believe the Irish seaside to be some of the best!

Kara

A Tale of Two Cities!

2008-06-14T02:47:00.000-07:00

My friends Erin and Lisa came to see me here in England!!!! We have done so many things this last two weeks. London, Paris, Church History sights, the Temple, Ireland, Warwick, and Stratford-Upon-Avon! and I have written a thing about it up here! Ah! I suppose there is nothing better, than to start at the beginning.

London and Paris!

We left for Paris on the train (that goes underneath the Channel) at 5:25 AM! Really the only reason we did London, was because we had to stay the night there. Though, we enjoyed the day, seeing the main sights of London, such as the London Bridge (which actually is NOT the pretty one, that is the "Tower Bridge") and Wicked! We left for the train station at 4:20 AM! it was the most Insane weekend, because we got no sleep, then crashed and got like 14 hours of sleep, and then got no sleep, and then crashed again, when we got home!

In Paris, we went on a free walking tour, and learned a lot about Notre Dame, The Piazza D'Republic (it has a different name now, which I can't remember) and Eiffel Tower, the French statue of Liberty, and all those other important things you see when you go to Paris.

My favorite things are the things I listed above. Did you know, that the Eiffel Tower sparkles at night? I mean it! there are all these little white lights that just SPARKLE! It is the most incredible thing.

It was really good to travel with friends that I knew really well. We laughed really hard all weekend, and the last two weeks have passed really fast because of that and all the sudden, I am coming home in two weeks today!

Today, we are going to find something new, though we havn't decided what yet, So I suppose the rest will just have to come up later, but be sure to check!

Kara

Lickey Hills with the Flatmates!

2008-06-12T03:15:00.000-07:00

Hello!!! Today I am in such a good mood. I am coming home in two and a half weeks and nothing could be better for me.....anyway more about that later. Here is an update on my adventure!

In the end of May-ish, George, Olivia, and I went to the Lickey Hills to find the Bluebells! and we did! We spent the majority of the day walking there because, the train station was quite a way, but it was beautiful day, with good company, and fun people! I always go crazy about the English country-side, and besides people, it is probably the thing I am going to miss the most. It is so green! but as an Irish man told me once "It should be green, they wash it four times a day!"

There is one more photo that I have to add, and I hope that I won't get in too much trouble :D but near the end of the day, we were getting into a very random mood, I am sure it had something to do with the ice cream we were eating, and how tired we were BUT George, and Olivia, made some amazing attempts to fly! Here they are!

Some day, when I have photoshop, and I know how to work it, there wil be amazing photos.

I also got to go see Darcy's house! From Pride and Prejudice! (With Amanda, Sam, and Cally) It was a good afternoon out. It isn't nearly as big as it looks, still big....just not as big. THEN when we went home, we all had a BBQ, and those were some of the most amazing burgers that I have had in a long time.

Lastly (for this post of course) Erin, Kim and I had a fun Kite flying day. Honestly, the kites never worked, and we were all very bummed about it. I put pictures on here of the highest we ever got the kite, and yes....that is the highest that Kim ever managed, about a foot of the ground.

There is SO much more hopefully coming in the next few days. Luckily for me, my friends Erin and Lisa came to visit me here, and they have been keeping me very busy!

Kara

ITALY!!!!

2008-05-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

This was by far, my biggest trip yet, I went to Italy for TWO weeks! It was absolutely fantastic! Pam, took me with her, I felt so lucky to be traveling with her, she planned the whole thing, and she speaks fluent Italian, and had many friends for us to visit, and stay with! The basic outline of the trip was....

Ragusa
Taormina
Naples
Pompeii
Rome

Florence

Venice

Brescia
Como

Switzerland

Milan

Ragusa! Pam served here on her mission. It is little really tiny little city, built in the hills of Sicily. It looked completely different than I thought Italy would look! I really fell in love with it. I am so determined to come back someday, I even got a card for a really pretty hotel there! You can sort of see the city behind our heads in the photo of me and Pam. I had massive allergy issues while I was there, but I was SO excited about being in a new place, that I just kept going and going along with Pam! Something else I really enjoyed seeing were these stairs I have heard Pam talk about for years! She used to tell us stories of needing to hike these stairs every day. There are SO many of them, they just keep going and going and going! Oh! and I got several Real Italian meals! that, was awesome! three cheers for good food!

We only briefly stopped in Taormina, and we only stayed the night in Naples (though we did take to morning to walk around and see it) so then on to Pompeii, an ancient Roman city, that has been preserved because of a massive Volcano eruption!!!! We got to see, perfect roads, mosaics, buildings, public toilets and much more! however, this definitely wasn't the end of the Roman ruins we saw while in Italy!

ROME! Is exactly what I thought Italy would look like, and SO different than Sicily, it is not hard to see why I was so surprised at what Sicily looked like! Rome, was beautiful, and I got to see things I have dreams for YEARS about seeing, but it was too chaotic for my taste! Here are photos of me at the Trevi Fountain, we are throwing our coins in, to insure our return to Rome again someday! Also, the Mouth of Truth from Roman Holiday! For those of you who havn't seen it, it is supposed to bite your hand off, if you are a liar! oops!

The COLOSSEUM!, I was So excited to see it, you can tell I am going a little crazy in the photo there I was absolutely ecstatic, that is, until we were told that we don't get the Student discount, because we aren't member of the EU!!! We were upset about that for a full 10 minuets!!!!

oh! and we almost got robbed in Rome! but that is a story to be told in person, so be sure to ask me about it ;)

:D we went to the top of that Dome, you see in the Basilica there, and it was SO packed at the top (I included a picture, that is the one with all the people in it), we couldn't move for almost 1/2 an hour! It was frustrating! but, obviously we made it down because then it was off to....

Florence, and Venice kinda seem really similar to me in my mind.... Though TOTALLY different, I loved both. Venice is for sure my favorite city on the main land. The city is totally pedestrianized, you aren't even allowed to have bikes there! but really, with the number of bridges you have to cross over to get anywhere any form of transportation except walking, isn't very practical! We did do a gondola ride, which cost almost 100 dollars! I found the city just as Romantic as it is made to seem in the movies :) I had no Idiea that it was as bautiful as it was though. I felt like there was something pretty to take a picture of around EVERY corner! I couldn't put the camera away, as a result, everywhere I went I was blatantly screaming "I am a tourist!!!" with how many pictures I took! Venice is a lot like a maze, because maps were almost useless, because it took you too long to figure out WHERE you were, before you could finally decide which way to go! Seriously? you could have some sort of MASSIVE hide and seek game there, it was fantastic! In this picture I am feeding the pigeons! How fun is that? I really got a kick out of that, and it was only a Euro!

Next was Bresica! Then Como, where George Clooney lives! and no, we didn't see him, but we heard about him, and saw picture of him everywhere! Como, was very relaxing, just what we needs after way too much walking, and stress in too little of a time..... Como, sits right on the edge of Lake Como, and everything about it, is idealistic.... we actually drove into Switzerland for an afternoon, to see one of Pam's Friends! I got to see the Alps! They are the BEST mountains I have seen, since the last time I was in Salt Lake!

It was then off to home! well, sort of... On the way back, I got to see both sides of the English Chanel from the Plane window, which probably shouldn't have made me as excited as it did.... :D, but oh well!

So, there is Italy in a nutshell! Isn't it obvious that there is so much more I haven't told? I wish I could add about 5 times the pictures as well!

Until next time!

March and April......oops :D

2008-05-08T16:22:00.001-07:00

Hi my many (or not so many) family, friends, and fans......

So here is the idea for today's post. It has been MUCH too long since I updated, and I personally feel that I have a very good excuse..... :D but I am going to write a sentence about everyplace I have gone to since Wales, and then add just a few pictures..... sorry for the lack in updates.

My friend took me to see the "Monkey Forest" a sort of smallish zoo, that focused on a certain breed of monkey. It was amazing, there were monkeys everywhere and they would come adn sit down next to you, or walk along the path with you!!!
I then went to London, for one day to see Wicked with my friend Pam again. Wicked was fantastic, and London was beautiful, I really do love that city, even through the grime.....

Belgium was my next stop, random I know...My friend Lizzie, offered to take us (me and Kim) with her, as her dad was driving there to do business. I loved it, we got to take a ferry across the Chanel, an experience I didn't think I would get!!! Beautiful city, My favorite was the battlegrounds we visited, Ypres, and Waterloo!!!!!

Then to York for Easter! Sam invited me there way back in the beginning.... It snowed on Easter day! we were all positive that Mother Nature forgot WHICH holiday it was! Mistook it for Christmas, oh well close enough :). York is beautiful, and I now know exactly why Sam is so in love with that city. With it's Roman walls, the Shambles, and the Minster.... I was very pleased with our visit.

After that, my very good friend Matt came to see me, and we went to Warwick Castle! I quite enjoyed that, but even more, I liked Warwick city center, very "traditional" English, It is kinda what you imagine England to be like, even when you know in the back of you head that it MUST be more modern......oh, I am probably being confusing now.....

Then Bath!!! I just finished reading Persuasion, and we stayed in the White Hart Inn, that is mentioned in that book! How COOL is that?!?!? Bath, was gorgeous! I love that little city, My favorite was one night, we went looking for a place to see the lights from above (Bath is in a valley of sorts) and we found this little staircase leading to the PERFECT viewing place, all the churches all lit up and all the twinkling light.... it was to die for... Oh, and we also say Stonehenge while in Bath! Cool!!!!

Then London again, to show it to Matt, we also went and saw Le Mis! awesome!

After all that, I finally went home to recover! hahaha, but only for 3 days, and I was off to London AGAIN! I spent a week there with Pam, and then she and I went to ITALY!!!!!

OK, this is already a ridiculously long post, and Italy deserves SO much more time! I just might need to come back!!! dare I say it? I promise that it will be up in the next few days! Please check again soon!

Until Next Time, and more detail then, I promise!

I love to hear from ANYONE! after all this craziness, my life has taken a somewhat boring spell, so I am all up for writing emails to people!

Kara

Oh, Dang........

2008-03-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

Hiya!

I feel like it has been SO long since I have updated, because I am feeling very behind on everything that I have done since Wales.... I just wanted to post a little thing as an overview of it all. After Wales, I went with Kim to the Monkey Forest, near Stoke-On-Trent, then I went to London and saw Wicked, and then to Belgium to buy the chocolate, and then York for Easter and the to Warwick Castle, and LASTLY Bath, with a Mountain Man (yeah go ask the priest at the Roman Baths) . In other words.... I am going crazy here, but having fun doing it. A freind of mine, asked me if I was really going to school here, and I am starting to wonder the same thing..... shoot :)

Kara

My Room!

2008-03-06T20:06:00.000-08:00

I have had several requests to show an update on my room. I have been working very hard on it. I hated it so much when I first moved in, I had no choice except to improve it. There was a poster fair at Uni, and I have been collecting things from all my trips ever since. My mom also sent my some things to help me with my situation..... I have to admit that I really love my room now, and I am glad to spend my time here. I have also included pictures of the kitchen, and the view from my window! And for you connivance I put an older picture of my room, so you can better see what it is that I have done!

Wales!!!

2008-03-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

It is amazing to me the amount of pictures I allow myself to take. I get my camera out for 2 seconds, and the next thing you know I have taken 20 pictures! I have finally taken the time to sort my pictures into neat little files that make it really easy to find anyone picture that I am looking for, but it also overwhelms me to think that someday someone might want to hear about my England trip, and I will have to pick out just a few to show them. In the 2 months that I have been here, I have already taken more than 1000 pictures!!

This last weekend I went to Wales! My Friend Lizzie took me home with here for "Mum's Day." I am not sure why, but Mother's day is cecelebrated much earlier here, than it is in the US. I have a really cute picture here of Lizzie, she and I got to know each other really well, and I am SO glad that I got the chance.

My favorite activities were, the castle, the Museum of Welsh Life, and the Sea. I have gotten a lot more patient with the blogger, if you can't tell that I have added loads more pictures to this post, for your enjoyment of course. Caerphilly Castle, is one of the biggest castles in Wales, and I feel that it is beautifully preserved (not that I am an expert.) A lot of the castle is closed off to tourists, but we did get the chance to wander up one tower, and around the gates, and into the Great Hall. I have a picture here, where I am proving that I am Royalty...... The fireplaces in every room were HUGE!!! I couldn't believe the size of it, Santa Clause wouldn't need any of his magic to fit his entire sleigh in those fireplaces (though maybe not the chimney). I also really liked the windy staircases, I could never walk up and down those in a gown, but then again, castles really weren't places for ladies were they?

Then we saw this giant outdoor museum called the “Museum of Welsh life.” It was beautiful, basically houses from all around the country were taken apart brick by brick, and then were rebuilt all near each other, and restored to their original state, and supplied with furniture from the time period. I thought it was SO amazing to see these house that were HUNDREDS of year old, and the contents to match. I could go on and on for every about the school house, and this one red house, and the toll house(you had to pay tolls to walk on the roads, I have me looking a the toll sign, in a picture here), and the blacksmith, and the tannery, and pottery, just everything. The whole place was HUGE! I will expand on two of the things though. First of all, they took a block of miners lodging, (a row of two room room houses all built next to each other) and decorated each to a different time period, so you could see what they looked like from the day it was built until what it looked like right before they moved the buildings to the museum. I have some great pictures, I liked seeing how the houses changed through time, because they cover quite a large gap of time, like 200 years!!! The first has no indoor plumbing, and a large fireplace, while the last has a TV, and a bathtub! Secondly, the Manor house! That was neat. The man who owned it donated it to the “Welsh People” and all the land around it, and that is was is now used for the Museum. It wasn’t as big as I always imagine manor houses, but it was beautiful, and exciting to see, and imagine!!! The photo through the archway, was Lizzie's mom being "creative." I thought it was a beautiful photo. I also have a picture of SOME of the gardens. The entire garden was absolutely HUGE! but this one part made me feel like I was walking through Pride and Prejudice, and Much Ado About Nothing, and Everafter, all at once.
Lastly, the Sea! I have never seen a greyer scene in my whole life! And I guess I should be careful how I say that, because I am sure that it sounds almost like an insult! But I really don't mean it that way, it just WAS grey! Everything was! the sky, the sea, the sand, It was amazing. Here in this photo, I am trying to be as grey as the scene, hence the sad look on my face :)

I am very grateful to Lizzie on this trip, she made sure that I got into some of my own photos sometimes, which was very nice, I seem to get so caught behind the camera sometimes.

So there is Wales in a nutshell! I hope it wasn't too overwhelming!

London!

2008-02-15T16:16:00.000-08:00

LONDON! Oh, I Loved London. I finally got to see all the sights I have seen in History books since I was little! I stayed with Pam, and she took me to some of her favorite places in London. The first was Notting Hill, and we got to see the famous Portabella Market, and the Travel Bookshop (yes, the one from the movie... :) ) Next was Camden Market, (all decorated in it's very punk-ish style) and then Primrose Hill, where you can see the city from above! Afterwards we made our way to King's Cross Station, where THERE ARE ONLY 8 PLATFORMS!!!!!!! (yes, it's true, there is no 9 3/4) Oh my goodness! Then finally to Big Ben (which is much shorter than the pictures make it look) and Parliament, and Westminster abbey, and Buckingham palace, ending with the London Tower. It felt very weird to be seeing these places, it almost feels like you are just staring at a giant picture, because I couldn't believe I was actually there, so I have this picture of me hugging the Palace gates, to try and make them feel more real...it kinda worked I guess.... ;-).

On the first night I got to London, Pam and her roommate(Angie) took me out to dinner, on this street where there were quite a few Indian Restaurants all in a row (English eat a lot of Indian), and because they were all so close to each other, each restaurant would have a guy standing out in front trying to persuade you to come into their restaurant. It was amazing, they would all lower the price of things on their menu, and offer free bottles of wine. Sometimes you would get 2 or 3 of them all trying to out-do the man next to him. We eventually bargained 30 % off, free appetizers, and free drinks! It was cheapest sit down meal I have done since I got here!

The London Tower Bridge was one of my favorite parts. We went on Sunday, and because we were planning on going to church later, I was forced to walk around in those highly impractical high heels I am wearing there! (they just happen to be the ONLY Sunday shoes I brought, what was I thinking!???)

I can't wait to go back to London, and I will go at the first chance I get!!!! Which may be soon, Pam and I are planning a trip to see Wicked. Can you believe it? Wicked in LONDON!

I miss everyone at home so much, and I hope you all remember my birthday coming up very soon! ;)

Finland

2008-02-07T15:31:00.000-08:00

HEY! (Hello in Finnish!) I am back from Finland! I LOVE Finland, and the very first things I have to say is, if you ever go to Finland, just skip Helsinki, and go to Tampere. Here are some pictures of Tampere, which was our (Kim and I) favorite city. Tampere is beautiful, and very clean, and everywhere we went we felt so safe. There is a lake, and a river, and wonderful churches to see on every other block and some very pretty random buildings, and parks. Here are a few pictures here.

I learned a little bit of Finnish, I am practically fluent. For example, "kitos" is "thank you", and "hey" is "hello" AND "goodbye" and anything that starts with "ava-" is most likely talking about some sort of opening, like a door, or a window.....and that is about it!!!! :) Like I said, I have learned loads!

It was cool to have everyone driving on the correct side of the road. I don't think I am going to have any trouble adjusting when I get home again.... :)

Kim is SO amazing, we really got to know each other really well on this trip. Here we are kissing the most amazing snowman named Eric. He wanted to come home with us, but just like Frosty, we told him it would be better if he traveled to the Lapland (where the Finns claim Santa lives) where the snow never melts!

My all time favorite part was defiantly the Temple in Helsinki. It was very hard for us to find, and took us a couple hours! It was frustrating because the farther away you get from the city the less you find people who speak English, and we knew what bus (or train) we could take to get to the Temple, but we couldn't figure out which direction to go! finally we just got on bus number 270, and decided that we would ride the entire loop around until we found it, and we were hoping/praying that you could see the temple from the road. Probably one of the scariest things I have ever done. Sitting on that bus, wondering if we would end up lost in some foreign country. Then all the sudden Kim says "Kara! there is it!" and sure enough! there is Moroni poking up above the trees! We sat in the front porch of the temple (because it was closed) for a while, and read the Ensign. Afterward we ran into some Couple Missionaries from UTAH! (where else are they going to be from I know, but STILL) It was AMAZING to run into some Americans, who lived 30 mins from my old house, on the other side of the world! My biggest regret from this trip is not staying and talking to these missionaries for hours!

Here is my advise to any travelers to Finland, go into Helsinki, and then go to the main train station, get on bus 270, and get off when you see Moroni, then when you are done there, go BACK to the train station, and get a train to Tampere, and enjoy your vacation in Tampere. You won't regret it, it will be a fantastic vacation (but check the weather first, as I am sure you wouldn't want to come when it is 30 below!) Especially if you can manage to get a tent and go spend some time next to a lake somewhere! The few lakes I saw were beautiful, and when I go back someday, I want to spend I few days just floating in the middle of a Finnish lake, breathing, thinking, and relaxing.

Quick Hello

2008-02-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

Hey!!!! from FINLAND!!! I only have few mins, it's the middle of the night in my Hostle, and I was waiting for my email account to load, and I thought I should post a random hello from a random country! Hello! I will update on my trip asap!

Friends and FUN

2008-01-26T15:35:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I really love this blog! Whenever I go anywhere I will take a picture and think "oh! that would be a good one to add to my blog!" Thank you to everyone who actually reads it!

So the biggest question I have gotten since I last posted is "who is Sam?" Sam is the most amazing girl who saved my life when I first got here, and I really hope that we get to be really good Friends while I am here. She showed me how to use the buses, and she has shown me this city, and she helped me to buy some essentials i needed, like plates and cups , and food...you know. I will be grateful to her for the rest of my life. She has been the friend i so desperately needed when I first got here. Here is a picture of us when we are driving up to the temple. That things that Sam is feeding me is a famous Cadbury's Creme Egg, and they are SO AMAZING!!!! All of the chocolate is, I don't even know why Americans bother trying to make chocolate, because it's "rubbish" compared to the English stuff, let alone other European chocolate.

The Sun has been coming out recently, something that it hasn't done in quite a while. I have really learned how much I love cloudless days. I think that it is hard to know, when you live in the "Valley of the Sun" but being away has remind me that I do like them just as much as I love rainy days. Anyway here is a great picture I took at sunset in my school.

This next picture I like because it showed what I was talking about with the Old and New being built right next to each other in the city. This church is the oldest building in Birmingham, parts of it were built in the late 1200's!!!! and the big weird shaped building is Selfridges, a HUGE department-like-store-thingSarah is the one who showed me this part of town, she showed me all the shopping. It was so fun I bought a hat and two scarfs ( and other stuff but that's not important). I hate hats and scarfs, but I am learning to like them here! in fact, I LOVE my hat and scarfs. I am sure that you will get to see them in future pictures. Sarah is SO much fun, and I am sure that you will get to see a picture of her soon.

This next picture is one of my FAVORITE activities so far.....

I know that it is blurry, and hard to see anything at all, but it is ok. i think that it is the story that is cooler. This is at the top of a hill, and it is called "Fourstone." It is a lot like Stonehenge. I didn't know this, but apparently all over England there are little "stonehenges." In other words, huge stones, or wood stuck in the ground on end, usually in a circle. I always thought that stonehenge was unique, but it's not!!!! So here you can see me trying to push over this stone that I has been in the ground like that for hundreds of years! We went for FHE. It was me, Kim, Lizzy, Pete, and Gordon. Here is a better picture of some of the group (and my hat!). This is Lizzy, Kara, Pete, and Kim (Gordon has not gotten there yet at this point in the Evening). I really enjoyed that night. The hills in England are really different than Arizona, even though it was the middle of the night, I felt like I was in some Jane Austine film. I hope that I can get pictures of it in the day.

Oh bother! I have SO many pictures I want to put up here, I am feeling a little overwhelmed, I guess that I has better stop for now. But I have done some other activities, like Cannon Hill Park with Kim, and Pete and Kim and I took a trip to "Wilkinson's" which is this store that sells household supplies for cheap. I bought a pillow, which was good, because mine was no good. Today, I didn't have anything to do, and i swore that I would never spend a Saturday here at the dorm so I went into town, and made some discoveries, My favorite was this art gallery/museum. I felt so inspired with life when I was in there.

So, I still need e-mails/letters/packages/phone calls/ ANYTHING! :) and please leave comments! I really like those!

And, just so you have something to look forward too, in my next post I am going to be putting picture of my MUCH improved room, and my flat, and my flatmmates....yay!

The Floozy, Birmingham and the Temple

2008-01-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

Sam has taken me into town again! I once again found so many new things down there! Most particularly, I wanted to to show off some pictures of the canals, and this statue, that I will explain in a minuet, and Lastly a picture of the streets in the "City Centre."

This picture here, is a picture of a naked woman in a fountain. I realize that I have done something somewhat controversial here, and I have drawn clothes on her, but I really wanted my blog to be rated G! Anyway, the reason I have posted this is because Sam has explained to me that this statue is commonly known as "the floozy in the jacuzzi!" I absolutely LOVED that I thought it was SO funny! And NO ONE is to make fun of the purple and blue blobs known as a t-shirt and shorts!!!!

This is the Preston England temple, we got to go and see on Saturday, It is SO beautiful, I really loved it. I feel so much better after visiting the temple, and spending quite a bit of the day thinking and praying. I also got to see a little bit of the country on my drive up, England has these beautiful swooping hills all covered in green, even in the middle of the winter. I can't wait to see this place int he spring, and the summer! This was a very fun day!

Walking Through Birmingham

2008-01-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this city! It is so amazing to walk down the streets and see the old and new standing right next to each other. Which happens a lot in the "downtown" area of Birmingham. I have never seen anything like the little shops that line some of the streets. I have seen a butcher shop, and a sweet shop, and millions of others! Anyway here are some pictures of the streets near to my campus. (first two pictures) and the last picture is a canal near campus. Just so you know this city has more canals that Venice! Today I went on a walk with my roommates, and they showed me all around the campus, I feel like i really belong to the University now, becuase I know how to get places.

The next few pictures are the campus here. I am quite obsessed with the clock tower,I thinks it's really the most beautiful feature of the campus. I really enjoy walking around here. The sidewalks are ALWAYS wet, but it is not always raining. It is interesting, it takes forever for anything to dry here. When I get out of the shower, my hair takes twice as long to dry and my pants are never dry at the bottoms, from walking around and so on. I also bought a new coat that I am SO excited about, so I think it is worth mentioning. I think that I may post a picture of me wearing my coat, just because it makes me so happy! Not only that, but I have learned the bus system! I am officially at the stage of taking buses all by myself!

Any-who, tonight is my first night of Institue, and i really don't want to be late!

Meh, It's England!

2008-01-05T16:04:00.000-08:00

Hello, I am here in England now!!!

This is my room, I know it's tiny, and somewhat sad looking, and I am paying way too much for it BUT!!! see that big empty board back there? I want you all to send me pictures, and letters, and fun things to fill that up with! If you need my address, you can either call me, e-mail me, or a member of my family to get it. Aunt Laura, any ideas on decorating?

I am sorry that I have not e-mailed those of you who have e-mailed me, I should get to that very soon, but I have been having a very rough few days. I appreciate all the prayers that have been sent in my direction, I have really needed them.

I have been learning lots of new words like "plaster" which is a band aid, and mayonnaise is pronounced "MAY-O-neys," and so on and so forth.

Please continue to e-mail me, I love hearing from everyone

OH!!! GET SKYPE!!!!! it's free, and amazing!

Kara

2008-01-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

Hi again! Just experimenting with the blog, thought I would add a picture!

AH! I am going to England

2008-01-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

So, this is the night before I begin my adventure to England! This semester I am going to study abroad, by way of an exchange program. I can't wait! I have been packing all day, and finally tomorrow morning I am going to get onto the plane! This has been an interesting semester, I have worked very hard to earn the money to go, and I am very happy to finally get to go. I just want to say thank you to all who have helped me to get there. Very specifically to certain Aunts Uncles, and other family members (I think you know who you are) that have helped me quite a bit. Please believe me when I say this would not be possible without your help, thank you thank you thank you.

I just want to announce that I have, in fact, managed to fit all my belongings into one suitcase, and one small duffel, despite my parents and friends telling me over and over that it was not possible.

Well, wish me luck!