First Week

Emily has mad skills at juggling! [This is what we do late at night instead of sleeping!]

Samantha [Texas], Emily [Utah], Ashley [Utah], Me

I am done with the first week of the semester! Technically it wasn't a full week because we didn't have school last Monday, but I had class today so it works out! My classes should be good and I can't wait until I feel like I am more in the swing of things. Last week was a rough one because of all of the classes starting so it will be nice as they each start to go at their own pace because I think I can only read 200 textbook pages a week once!

I was also privileged to receive a calling this past week! This semester I am one of the FHE coordinators. The guy that is with me, Steven, I have actually known since my first semester up here and he is so fun. We had our first Ward Council last Thursday and on Sunday the majority of the ward was put into their callings. For my calling we organized the FHE groups (possible future eternal companions), and called FHE mom and dads.

Steven and I decided to do a semester long contest with games from the new TV show 'Minute to Win it.' We picked 6 games to give them so the groups know what to practice throughout the semester and then at our closing social at the Bishop's cabin we are going to do a big competition. Tonight for our opening social we did the game Junk in the Trunk. It was so funny! The bishopric did it first, it was great. 8 ping pong balls in a tissue box attached to a belt on your back and you have to shake it to get them out! It was so funny! It was also a great ice breaker for the start of the semester!

I definitely feel like I hit the ground running this semester with classes, as well as actually running. Ashley and I went out the other day and I was so impressed at how much of my endurance I already have back! I am excited for this semester and know it is going to be so much fun!

Enjoy the Journey.

PraYer

On Sunday in Relief Society and in the fireside that I went to that night they talked about prayer. I was so thankful for this reminder to do better in saying my prayers. I am so thankful for prayer and know that it works! I know that my prayers are heard and that Heavenly Father DOES answer prayers, when you need them the most, not when you THINK you need them most. I am so thankful for the change of pace in my life lately. I almost tripped up as things started to change, but now I am back with it and am so thankful!

Yesterday I was able to spend the day in service for my roommate Ashley [Bedke-new Ashley]'s grandparents. We washed windows (inside and out) and raked the lawn. It was so beautiful outside and my skin is already showing signs of the the sunshine! :) Today I start training for the 10K in September. Hopefully my foot will keep up with my mind! Ashley is going to be training with me and I am thankful for that. I only have 2 classes today + devotional, but have only had one so far, and it will be a good class! I am excited for the new semester and all that it will bring!

ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

The Beginning...

I am all moved in and back at school! It is crazy that my break is over and I am sure that the 7 week break will be here again before I know it! :) Semester 4! I can't believe after this semester I will be a 'junior.' Life goes fast.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

INTERNSHIP...

COMPLETE!!!

The Book of Mormon

Jared and I have been reading The Book of Mormon since the 5 of March and as of today I am on page 512 of 531. I am so thankful for this chance I have had to read it again! It has been a huge blessing at this point in my life to remember the simple things and where I am grounded. We will both finish up this weekend and then write our testimony in the back and give the copy we have been reading to each other when we say our "see you later" not the "g" word. :) It has been an incredible experience and I challenge everyone who reads this to get a new copy and start fresh- especially if it has been a while!

Conference

He really did listen, he was so tired after lunch so he was "resting his eyes" :)

We got tickets to the Saturday afternoon session of conference and I loved it! During the other sessions we were at Jared's aunt's house. It was such a fun weekend and I loved every minute!

Monroe

Jared and I headed to Utah last Wednesday to visit some of his family/friends before he leaves. We had so much fun! I am so thankful to his aunts Julie and Jill opening their home to me. They are so wonderful! His grandpa Jones was in the hospital in Provo so Wednesday night after going to dinner with Jordan and Cahlin we went for a visit. We ended up staying and playing a game with them and had fun keeping them company.

On Friday we went with Jordan and Cahlin to his grandparent's house (his grandpa was released on Thursday) to see his grandparents again and his great-grandparents who came up from Redding, CA. (His grandpa Jones took more pictures but I won't get them for a while so when I get those I will post them.)

Cahlin was so afraid of the cows but she is so cute!

The lovely flower Jared painted on the shed.

Jordan and Cahlin

Cahlin, Jordan, Jared and I :) It was a fun car ride!

12.25

THAT'S how many hours I have left before my internship is COMPLETE. That's correct, my 160 hours are almost done! Then I won't have to worry about the assignments that go with it, but will just get to decorate cool cakes!

A few side notes: I am so excited to go to conference this weekend! We are going to try to get into the Saturday morning session is what Jared told me today. TWO WEEKS from today Jared will be on a plane on his way to BRAZIL. That is strange to think about! THREE WEEKS from Friday and I will be back at school ready to start a new semester! Everything is going to be different and I am so excited!

Happiness

Recently I was cleaning off a jump drive and found most of the pictures that I had from high school. They made me smile a lot, so I thought I would share some of them. ENJOY!

CleaninG

Jared is in California this week with his family on vacation so I am helping mom clean. It has been very productive so far! I am so proud of her for how much she has trashed or sent to D.I. In the process I have been gathering my stuff for school. I already have all of the food packed that I will need for the entire semester probably-3 boxes! It is nice to have food storage! :)

Also I am running in the Spud Run this year. Lisa is amazing and has motivated me to become a runner. She says she didn't like running at first but now-obviously she loves it. I want to LOVE it. I have a couple of roommates who are going to train with me... 5 K for sure but I am hoping for the 10 K. I think we can do it. We have a training schedule that we are going to use. Anyways... anyone from the Martineau bunch going to run with me that will be here? Or anyone random that reads this and I don't know besides the Martineaus?

ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!

p.s. I only have 30 more hours of cakes to do! That is 3 more weeks. It is bitter-sweet really. Also Jared and I are heading to Utah next Wednesday to visit family/friends before he goes and also go to conference. I will definitely be taking lots of pictures and will post them when we get back!

I will admit...

that I am OCD. I realize this completely. I cannot stand when things get crazy messy and are a disaster. I like for things to be clean. I especially like for the bathroom to be clean (the sink, the tub, toilet,etc.). Sometimes my bedroom gets kind of messy when I am crazy busy, but then I clean it and in the process get rid of stuff because then I feel better. I love the feeling of filling a bag of trash or a bag for D.I. because then that means that it isn't in my room anymore!

I also really enjoy cleaning. I like to see the expressions on people's faces when I help them dejunk/clean and then they look around and realize how much better they feel. The feeling of having a clean house/apartment is wonderful!

So I have a few tips:

• If you don't use it in a 6 mo. period-throw it out
• If you haven't worn during the season it is to be worn it-get rid of it
• Place a measuring cup of water in the microwave for 3-5 minutes, then wipe everything out.
• Try to re-use things if you can. (I took my old down east shirts and made them into a skirt.)
• Wash/soak dishes as soon after use as possible because they will be easier to clean
• Simplify your life, don't be afraid to say no
• Keep a to do list, shopping list, any kind of list you need and cross things off once you get them done!
• Save money for a rainy day.

All of these things we already know but I was just thinking about the importance of all of them. We should simplify our lives and realize what is important to us and what isn't. Make time for laughter, pictures, and time to relax.

Enjoy the journey.

Dear People...

DISCLAIMER: This post is not describing anyone that I am related to or any friends that would be reading this- I PROMISE!

Dear People,

As I couldn't fall asleep for what seemed like FOREVER I was thinking about you, and you inspired me to do a new blog post.

Love,

Kara

Dear Anyone who Cares about ME,

If I ever get to the point where I quit doing my hair, or even care what I look like, please slap me. It drives me crazy when I look at people who I can tell don't care about their appearance at all. I just wish they had some of the drive that I do. I guess I am blessed that way. Promise me that if I-for some strange reason- get to that point in my life you will tell me to wake up and 1. do my hair, 2. do my make up, 3. care what I look like.

Thank you,

Kara

p.s. No pictures were posted to protect the 'guilty'

Henderson, Island Park, Cakes

I have decided that my life is a series of late nights. Between Jared, my internship and just not being tired I am often up late. Jared and I were able to go to Henderson and see Chad, Lisa, Parker and Julia. We love them! Julia and Jared are best friends, she always was happy if he was holding her or she would climb up on him and just lay there. Parker was a pirate most of the time, or he was a cowboy. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! They took us to the best place called DONUTS! Two words: apple fritter! So delicious! Lisa has most of the pictures on her computer because we used her camera most of the time but I am going to put on a few from mine. We went hiking at Red Rock Canyon and had so much fun! We also found this seasonal waterfall that was way cool! It was incredible to see the water but also the ice because the water was so cold!









The next weekend after we got home I went with Jared's family to Island Park to go snow mobiling! I love going with him and always have so much fun! This time I learned how to get myself unstuck (most of the time) and got to drive by myself for a bit. Jordan (Jared's brother ) came for the weekend and brought his girlfriend Cahlin. She is so cute! Julisa, Cahlin and I were all in one room,and Friday night stayed up until 4 a.m. talking. It was crazy but very productive! :)




This week I had over 20 hours worth of cakes. We did her neice's wedding cake and it was beautiful. If this cake was for a real client it would have ran about $2000. INSANE!!! It was huge and so heavy. We sculpted the people on the top even! I only have to get 11 hours a week for the next 4 weeks to get all of my hours before I am done with my internship!





I also registered for classes this week! I will be taking:
-Family Foundations
-Money Management
-Meal Management
-Education Psychology
-Natural Disasters
-Fashion Merchandising (1st block)
-Fundamentals of Fashion Design (2nd block

PICS!!!

I honestly have no idea what order these pictures are in!!! Sorry! Most of them are random ones from Grandma's birthday! (Aunt Sandee will kill me if she sees that picture..... )

On. My. Mind.

I have a lot on my mind lately! I am so busy with my internship, substituting, working for Debbie-or should I say should be working for Debbie, and doing stuff with Jared.

SUBBING: I have subbed 11 of the last 13 school days! I didn't think I was going to be this busy but apparently it is going around that I am a good sub-that makes me feel good!!!

INTERNSHIP: I am loving it still! It just doesn't seem like I will ever get my 160 hours sometimes. As of right now I have 77.75 hours which is 48.59% (yes I count ever .25 of the hour- I HAVE TO!!) But it is going good! I just made Grandma's and Jared's birthday cakes, ALL BY MYSELF!!! (pics above, my blog posting is strange and messes everything up sometimes)

WORKING FOR DEBBIE: Like I said lack there of- I haven't been lately! I have been busy and have pushed that to the bottom of the list... it needs to be moved back up again, I love working for her!

BOW MAKING: Alicia asked me to make some bows for her girls hair a while back and then I forgot. But I have been working on them the days that I have off and will finish up that package tomorrow for those blondes!! Also dad took the ones I had made to work today and made me $30. I think this is a good side job and love that I can do it whenever I want! He is taking it again tomorrow, but after today my stock is kinda low... good thing I have tomorrow off!

JARED: I like this boy. He has just under 2 months before he goes and we are thankful that he did have so long before he left-most days! We both wished he could have left earlier, but it is nice to be able to do fun things together! Last night we bought a half gallon of cookie dough ice cream,ate about 1/2 of it but in the process took out all of the cookie dough; then we baked it! DON'T tell me you have never wanted to try it- I think the thought crosses every body's mind at one point or another. Well we did it. It worked but really the cookie had no flavor. NOTE TO SELF: the cookie dough is much better just in the ice cream. But hey, we tried! I also got to go snowmobiling with him and his family on Saturday for his birthday! We just went to wolverine but we had so much fun! I was sore afterwards, I was not meant to sit behind him! I loved it though! I am going with his family the first weekend in March to Island Park too!!!

LAS VEGAS: HERE WE COME!!! Jared and I leave on Sunday to go and see Chad, Lisa, Parker and Julia!!! We are so excited! Lisa and I already have things planned for the different days! I just hope Julia gets feeling better before we get there! We are so excited this time (we went in Aug) Chad is on break so we will get to spend time with him too!