BleSsInGs...

Well it has been a long time since I have updated my blog and so many things have happened!!! I am so blessed!

• School has started! It is a brand new semester, a fresh start. New classes, new teachers!
• I found out my foot is broken and I will have surgery on it the Monday before Christmas, but it will be good to have it not hurt anymore!
• I chopped my hair! I cut 6" off of it and I love it-Thanks Lisa for encouraging me! I actually did it while I was in Las Vegas but I was going to take pics and blog all about it... well it didn't get done!!
• I am one of the Relief Society Presidents in my ward! I was super surprised when the bishopric came and asked to talk to me, but they couldn't get to their point fast enough! I know what it is like to receive revelation when you need it! That night the bishopric left me with a list of about 30 callings that I needed to put people in and a photo I.D. list of the girls in the ward (I have the even # apts. in my R.S.). It was the night before classes started and I could not fall asleep! I had names and pictures going through my mind all night long! I was glad I only had one class the next day and that it wasn't until 12:45. The same thing happened the next night. Friday we had a 3.5 hour ward council to discuss the callings for the entire ward! It was crazy! Our bishopric is so cute and wanted to break the stake record of how many people were put into their callings on the first Sunday. The record was 72 I think and we had 86 that first Sunday. I had the opportunity of teaching the first Sunday and was super nervous but I don't have to again until Dec. I have an amazing group of girls that I get to serve and am so excited for the blessings that I will receive this semester! PLUS how much I will grow!!!

DOCTORS

So this 7 week break has been a break to visit the doctor, but not just your normal doctor. I started the break with an appointment with Dr. Biddulph my orthopedic surgeon. The Physical Therapist recommended that I make an appointment and check the plates and screws in my arm. He suggested this because I had been telling him that it felt like my muscle was catching on something, and he guessed it was a screw backing out... eek! Off to Dr. Biddulph's I went! They did x-rays and when he walked in the room he said "My Kara! I am so glad you are here! How are things?" He was so cute and so concerned about what was going on in my life, and it was a genuine concern. After looking at the x-rays, moving my arm around, and feeling the screws he told me that my arm was great. He said that the x-rays "couldn't look better." He thinks that what I have been feeling is just scar tissue bands breaking. YEA!!! A good report!

The next doctor I got to visit was Dr. James (Aunt Sherry and Valerie's recommendation), a Podiatrist. My foot has been bugging me since last September, on the outside of my big toe, where it connects to the main part of my foot. In December when I came home from school I went to Dr. Clinger and had x-rays taken but he said that my foot was fine, that I just walked funny on it. Well since it was still hurting I begged mom to take me to someone! Mom picked up the x-rays from Dr. Clinger's office and we went and visited Dr. James. He walked in the room, looked at my x-rays and said "You have a fractured Tibial Sesamoid." That is one of the bones right under your ball of your foot. Some people have it naturally split in 2, (very rare) but it is a smooth line between not dark and ridged like the x-ray was showing of mine. Also he said that I have a small boney growth on the outside of that area. Remember these x-rays are from last DECEMBER! All I could think was AWESOME! He said that there were two things that we could do and he suggested them in this order 1. a Cortisone shot to relieve the pain and possibly fix the problem, and 2. surgery. We did the shot to start with. Wow, a Cortisone shot hurts bad! I had the shot last Monday, and he said if it was going to work I would notice a difference in the first couple of days to two weeks. Well this has been an interesting week in the life of my foot! The shot helped the pain on the outside of my foot but it shifted to where the break is, shooting into my toe and my arch sometimes. So I have another appointment this Wednesday to discuss surgery. LUCKY!

On a brighter note I move back to school on Labor Day and start on the 10th! I am so excited. This semester I am taking 16 credits and am really excited. I only have 4 books left to get, so far I have only spent $80 so I am hoping that the last major one won't be too expensive, hopefully I can borrow it from someone!

TiE DIe

We had fun Tie Dying one night!! For more info look at Lisa's Blog.

A TrIp tO........

I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Chad and Lisa's for 2 weeks! It was so much fun! Jared went with me for the first week and then I stayed a second after he left. It was so much fun. I loved it being warm, but it caught me off guard every time I went out at night and it was dark for it to still be warm. It was so much fun to be able to hang out with Lisa, Parker, and Julia. I was able to see Chad about once a day and all day on Sundays. I love them so much and miss them already! (sorry the pics aren't in any particular order... I wish it would let me move them!)

The last day Jared was there.... actually right before we took him to the airport. 2 words FROZEN CUSTARD!!!

Thanks for coming with me Jared!

Promise we didn't make her hold them both... Parker wanted to ride with Julia.

At the Strip

Swimming, Swimming, and more SWIMMING!

He is always so happy!

BEST FRIENDS!

What happens when you leave me in the back seat with the kids....

Darn the camera strap is in the way kind-of but this is the best pic! Julia is pulling herself up all of the time! She is so stinkin' cute and is growing up so fast!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I GOT STRAIGHT A's ONCE AGAIN AND HAVE BEEN AWARDED FULL RIDE FOR MY SOPHOMORE YEAR OF COLLEGE!!!! I AM SO EXCITED! I WORKED MY LITTLE PATUTTIE (SP) OFF!!!

SuMmEr FuN!!

I am so excited for this 7 week break! I have a list of things that I want to do, or at least try to do!

• Tie Dye- I haven't done this since the 6th grade at science camp
• Go on a sunrise hike-this one is being planned already, scheduled for Aug. 6!!!
• Go 4 wheeling
• Have a huge water fight
• Visit Chad, Lisa, Parker and Julia- Aug. 7-21
• Run every day
• Go on long bike rides-including tandem
• Clean and de junk my bedroom
• Practice the Piano and learn a new song
• Read "Our Search For Happiness" from the missionary library
• Make a lot of bows and start selling them again
• Make some jewelry
• Mow the lawn
• Make some of the recipes that I did in my foods class for my mom and dad

What do you think? Do you have any other suggestions for me? 3 days left in the semester with 4 finals to go.... then I am off to work on this list!!!

BooKs I'vE reAd lAteLy....

Another semester done? I know right? (Becky, Alicia, Jared, Lisa... you will all appreciate that!) It is crazy to think that I am 1/4 of the way through my college education! This semester flew by! I honestly feel like I was just starting to get the hang of things and now I am done? Wow! I have lots of plans for this 7 week break before I return in Sept. for the start of Fall semester. I am only going to be taking 16 credits in the fall-hopefully it will be a lot less stress even though it is just one credit less. We shall see. I am so excited because in the Fall I am taking my first sewing class up here! I can hardly wait!- wait I can wait because I want to play for 7 weeks!

There have been a ton of things this semester I have learned in nutrition that I will remember!!!

This was a fun class but it required a lot of work! This is the only textbook I have read in its entirety!!!

This was a side required reading for my Pakistan class. It is such a good book! I recommend it!

NOTE: These are not the only books I read this semester, I just forgot to take pictures of the other ones. I also read the Odyssey and then the textbooks for my other classes.

When We ShOulD be GoiNg To BeD...

The other day Ashley, Beth and I went to Wal*Mart. We all ended up getting basketball shorts ($6!) because our apartment gets so warm! Ashley also got some new eye shadow. When we got home Beth went to Harry Potter and Ashley and I should have gone to bed... Instead we she played with our make up since she had just bought her new stuff... we are nerds, we know!

FHE

This week for FHE we went to Big Jud's after our lesson to get food, then we came back to our apartment to eat. Josh was the only one feeling up to a Big Jud, but my onion rings were great! I have been blessed to have such a fun FHE group this semester!

Josh's Big Jud!

Josh-trying to get out of the pic, Rob, Me, Ashley, Beth

Lance (love his face!), Me, Ash

Lance, Beth, Me, Jordyn, Ash

I love this picture... too bad it is blurry but it is totally us!

BisHop'S cAbIn FuN....

This weekend we had our annual 87th ward closing social at the Bishop's Cabin in Island Park. I had never been before and it was so much fun! We went up Friday about 4 and started in on the fun. We played volleyball, went jet skiing, had a slip and slide into the water, went boating, tube-ing, it was a blast! Everyone was super sun burnt afterwards but me! I was a little pink but thanks to my wonderful skin am now just tan! I can't wait until we get to go again next year! (Ash and I are going to try to sneak to up to the one after winter semester too because then they go snowmobiling!)

I decided that I would see how many people I could get if we started taking a picture...

This place is incredible!!! It was so much fun!

PICTURES!!!

Ashley came out in the living room where I was a while ago and said that she wanted someone to go and play in the rain with her... well it stopped raining by the time we got out there so we took these instead!!! SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!!

LiSa wAlKeR BaNkS

PinK sHoeS... seWinG... HaiRbAll... STOP!!!

Today is Lisa's birthday! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful sister (in law but that is just a technicality!)!!!!! Lisa is so amazing! I am so lucky to be not only her sister but her friend! When Lisa and I get together things get a little bit crazy. We make things: a mess, blocks, dresses, caramels, hair bows, a tutu, headbands, sugar cookies, laughter, but best of all memories! I am so lucky that I was able to live close to her last semester, and I miss her everyday this semester when I am thinking about what I need to get done and realize I can't escape by going and seeing her and her beautiful children. Lisa is an amazing mom to Parker and Julia and a wonderful wife to Chad. I am so lucky that she joined our family!

Lisa and I are so much alike sometimes it is crazy! In the picture below, take note of Julia's dress- we made it! When we were at the store, looking for material for a quilt for Julia as I pointed out a fabric she was reaching to grab it because we both thought it was so cute! Well we split up for a while and I saw this material and thought it would be cute to make a dress out of but didn't say anything to her. Later when we walked by it together she picked it up and was like "Wouldn't this be a cute dress?" Well we made four the next day! One for her, one for me, one for Julia, and one for Lilly (her niece).

I am so thankful for all that she does for me and for all that she teaches me! Thanks for everything Lisa! I love you! Happy Birthday!

Thanks for being one of my best friends!

Lisa and her beautiful children!

This is what happens when I leave my camera out and she sees it...

What a fun road trip... :)

We don't care what you think of us.... as long as you love us!

MOM and DAD

31 years ago tomorrow, on June 26, 1978 my parents were married in the Salt Lake City temple. I am so thankful for their decision. I am so blessed to have such great parents who love and support me in all that I do! I am so thankful for them raising me in the gospel and for them strengthening my testimony. I am thankful for my mom because she is a foundation that I can always fall back on. She cheers me up when I am sad, holds me when I cry, and tells me that I am doing great and to keep it up. My mom always calls to check on me and to make sure that I am keeping my stress level down. I am so thankful for her concern for me. I am so thankful for my dad because of his supporting me always. My dad was never the kind of person that told me that he loved me when I was growing up, but when I moved to college he started to call all of the time to check on me, and ended every phone call with "I love you bubsy." When my dad was in a car accident a couple of years ago I was the first person he called, who knows why! I was freaking out! BUT he knew that I would be able to get a hold of my mom and that I would be able to figure things out. I am so thankful for the trust that my parents have in me and have always had in me. I am so thankful for all that my parents do for me and for all that they will do for me! I love you Mom and Dad!!!

On My MinD....

These pictures went all crazy and I can't move them.... but you get the point!

Karissa and Adam

Parker

Julia

Lisa (this is so our personality!)

Chad

Mom and Dad

Grandma

I have had a lot of things on my mind lately as the semester is starting to wrap up (only one or two more tests in all of my classes!). I am so thankful for many things, especially my family:

• My mom: for all that she does for me and for her support and example to me.
• My dad: for his strength to our family and his worthiness to hold the priesthood.
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• Chad: for the great father that he is to his children and his example and help in all that I do.
• Lisa: for the great friend that she is to me and always being willing to listen when I need to talk.
• Karissa: for the laughs and the smile that she always puts on my face when I see her.
• Adam: for giving me a hard time and being willing to cook for me.
• Parker: for the smile he always puts on my face and for loving me so much!
• Julia: for the bright spirit that she is and for what she is growing up to be.
• Grandma: for the laughs and her great love and support for me.

Also to all of my other family... you have been on my mind too lately. Thank you so much for all that you do and for supporting me in my adventures! I am so blessed to have such an amazing family! I love you all!