Argh, I've been tagged!

Here are the rules: 1) Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog 2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. 3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. 4) Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I have the secret goal of trying out for Christine's friend in "Phantom of the Opera". She sings "Where in the world have you been hiding......"
2. My grandparents taught school in Samoa in the 60's and I would love to go and teach there too.
3. Someday I want to open a Hot Chocolate bar - with hot chocolates from around the world, plus juices and other interesting drinks that are completely Word of Wisdom friendly.
4. I kissed a stranger in an Italian piazza/square (funny story).
5. I prefer listening to kids stories and songs than popular music. My favorites: "Raspberries" by Jay O'Callahan, and just about anything from Bill Harley (especially "Dad Threw the TV Out the Window").
6. My favorite sports are volleyball and baseball. But, I really don't know a lot about either of them. I used to play baseball with the boys out at recess during 4th grade and I bat left handed even though I'm right handed.
7. I have never taught the same grade two years in a row!!

Hmm, I don't know 7 people with a blog so I will tag who I do know.... thomcarter.com
Lizard Leavitt (I'm the only one who can call her that!), and Maria Stahl.

This is my addition: If you read this leave me a note telling me one or two or ten random things about you that I didn't know!! Thanks.
Smooches,
Karen

A New Beginning

May I say how grateful I am to so many of you for your love, prayers and support through a very difficult period of my life.
Today, I return to being legally single.
I have felt sad and angry but in the end hopeful. Life moves forward whether or not I join in. I choose to join in and enjoy each day of my life. I have felt the absolute love of my Heavenly Father throughout this difficult time. How grateful I am for healing, forgiveness and hope...

At least I got some exercise...

So, I did a stupid thing.  It's debatable whether the stupidity happened last night, today, or continued from yesterday through today.  Here's the scoop: 

Because I didn't have to baby sit last night and could get home while there was still plenty of daylight I planned on cleaning my car after I got home.   I parked it in front of my apt and ran upstairs to take care of a few things.... Well, as it so happens, I never left my apartment again that day.  This morning I get up, get ready, grab all my gear and head outside.  It takes me 10 minutes to walk to the lot where I park my car and as I enter it, I look around and realize - my car is not there.  Then, it dawns on me, I never moved my car from the day before.  This is a bad thing.  In my city there is no overnight parking.  So, I sigh, and start trudging back to my apartment.  I am so sure my car has been towed I stop at the ATM and withdraw the correct amount of cash (at least an arm and probably part of a leg's worth) before turning the corner to my street.  Ahhh, the sun never shone on a more beautiful sight then the dust covered hood of my little Honda.  Whether it was because I still had my Montana plates or the policeman was feeling generous (or tired, the $30 ticket I found on my mirror was time stamped at 5 a.m.) I'll probably never know.  Really, I don't care!  I am just grateful that my little baby didn't get towed!!

Rats, Diet-Coke, and Sushi.

I love FHE (Family Home Evening)!  Especially when it involves comedy and great gospel conversation.  Lucky for me, last night's FHE incapsulated both elements.  Let me just say that printers thrown from second floor balconies do not, I repeat, do not survive.  In fact, they shatter and create quite a mess.  Diet-Coke and Mentos really do cause a volcanic like reaction!  The best part of last nights activities was seeing several rats (yes, the kind with fur and long, scaly tails) slinking along the ground among the leaves around the area of our experimenting.  In case you are wondering, city rats really enjoy lapping up Diet-Coke.  The evening ended with some amazing Sushi from a little place around the corner from my apt.   

In truth the most enjoyable time was spent sitting together with my little FHE family talking about The Family:  A Proclamation to the World.  The proclamation is a statement from the General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints regarding marriage and family and how vital they are to the plan God has for each of His children.  (Here is a link if you would like to read it yourself:  Family Proclamation )  We discussed the proclamation by comparing what it says about family and marriage to what the world says regarding these things.  The differences are great.  I think about my own family and how much I love them and respect them.  Through difficult times we have stuck by each other.  I grew up knowing the principles of chastity and fidelity in marriage.  I was surrounded by a family who valued children and put family first.  I am so grateful for that example.  This Family Proclamation has strengthened my belief in the importance of families and increased my love for my own family.

Introducing.... Sergio!

This is my little friend Sergio!  He has been my companion through thick and thin these past 4 years.  It is so interesting to me how well my Heavenly Father knows who I am and what I need.  From the very big, like breathing, eating, shelter, to the in between, like friends, jobs, to the very small like my little friend Sergio.  I have learned that God loves me and desires my life to be one of joy. And if it is true for me, it is certainly true for the rest of God's children as well (i.e. YOU)!  

Enjoy your Sabbath and the blessings of God in your life.  They are there, look for them.

Howdy!

Well, if you are seeing this, I must have successfully created my blog.  What a day!  I am currently in my school's library watching the kids learn a belly dance - are you jealous or what?!?  My class just got back from a trip to the Science museum - and wow! am I exhausted.