40 line, 3 word update each... just trrrry to interpret : )

**SAMPLE**
Life is a highway baby... I think I drove 40 hours in two weeks... (later update, later 80 hours in 6 weeks... who loves road trips?! : )


**FULL SCOOP** 
I am taking off to DC soon... here is 40 line, 3 word update each of my recent adventures I made... have fun trying to interpret!! : )

1. Heidi C-section TODAY!!
2. School lunch grandkids
3. Swam with grandkids
4. Ate yummy salsa
5. Saw Mom NM
6. Played catch grandkids
7. Cleaned prego's house
8. Ate at Chilis
9. Got temp-job call
10. Bob wants me (temp-job guy)
11. Crazy decisions DC
12. Need be there
13. Temp no go (see above)
14. Motivation to go
15. Interview when arrive
16. Microsoft skills tests
17. Other networking plans
18. Pack up go
19. Drive drive drive
20. Love phone GPS
21. Loved MCDs StrawberryLemonadeFreeze
22. Saw "don't pick up hitchhikers near correctional facility" sign
23. Saw suspicous hitchikers : )
24. Called PoPo justincase : )
25. LOVED driving scenery
26. Listened to books
27. LOVED St. Louis & Elk City, OK : )
28. Enjoyed state stereotypes
29. Ohio -- tired, Erin (friend/neighbor)
30. Scared Dad TV : )
31. Harry Potter Erin
32. LOVED home ward
33. Sister/Fam visit M-day
34. 4 yr. old Niece say, "I can't keep up with you and David" ha! : ) (or something like that, also asked why I wasn't married : )
35. Watched "Waiting for Superman" again (and y'all should too!)
36. Cheap Massage, Erin
37. PF Changs, Erin
38. FHE with Dad
39. Email catch-up
40. Musana Conf. call

Bonus: This, now SLEEP!!!! : )

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years ago... 17... again...?

**SAMPLE**

17 again… However you feel about the movie… this is in honor of/dedicated to my “Second Helping” ; )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNqwRL4Ir8o …enjoy!

**FULL SCOOP**

Ever thought about where you were exactly a year ago? Or 2, or 3? So, it’s not quite to the day… : ) but I’m a pretty reflective person… okay, I’m really reflective… I’m reflective in regards to both the future and past. I have been known to make 5 year plans… with details for where I would be every season with a plan B, C and occasionally a D with a disclaimer to each of those that includes my “open to revisions/flexibility factors” – Meaning, though I like having a plan, I love NOT having a plan almost just as much… I just like to know my options : ) (I mean, as a veteran girl scout, it’s my duty to be prepared). (We’ll save my planning methods though for another day… that can get pretty involved… : )

Moral of the story… as much as I consider the future, I frequently consider the past… the past little while I have been reflecting on where I was a year ago, and consequently the year before, the one before that, etc. etc.

The following are the results (according to the general Summer/Fall period of the year):

1 year ago (2008)

· Mid-Summer: Turned 21!! Was an Especially for Youth counselor in Ohio (Kirtland, special edition – SO neat : ) Then a family “reunion” – immediate family and some extended came to visit and we all stayed at this 4-H camp… together, so great, got to sing camp songs for our lunch with a 100 sweaty pre-teen 4-H’ers : ) And sister nearly got married! They mutually called it off about 2 hrs before… so brave! She is now happily married to a different man who adores her… : ) Shortly after went to one of my best friends’ wedding in UT – growing up is hard to do… but exciting too – all in all, LOVED IT! : )

· End of Summer: Attended another one of my best of friends’ wedding (best wedding reception I’ve gone to!) and visited some other friends in CA, and again, bittersweet :)

· Very end of Summer: Started packing and headed to DC for a semester long internship with the Washington Seminar – to quote one of my friends, she called it her “BEST DECISION” : )

2 years ago (2007)

• Mid-Summer: Spent my birthday and the 4^th of July in Philly (and was recorded in the Guinness book of world records for participating in the largest salsa dancing party!) and went to Maine with my parents ($13 one-way flights!!)… gotta love the east coast!
• End of Summer: Finished up doing a few EFYs at BYU-Idaho (aka – Heaven on earth : ) and loved every minute! First time back on campus since the previous fall – also bittersweet…
• Very end of Summer: Family reunion in Idaho, hiked Mt. Timpanogos (wahoo!), settled into my first BYU apartment with one of my very best friends (we always planned on living together since we were little… years later, still worked out!) and got ready for my first semester as a new transfer student! (Reason I transferred? That whole prayer thing… just felt right : )

3 years ago (2006)

· Mid-Summer: Was at BYU-Idaho – loving summer semester, going to a little nearby lake in between classes, working my little heart out doing Women’s Events and going to Bear World!! : ) (fabulous nearby Idaho attraction) And went to my family’s “Mountain Man Rendezvous” aka family gathering where we camp, hike, shoot guns, throw knives and tomahawks and pretend we our mountain men, cute isn’t it? : )

· End of Summer: Campaigned for Student Body Office… and rocked it! ; ) j/k I had an AMAZING campaign team and circle of supportive friends… wouldn’t have been able to do it without them…!! (and a whole lot of sweat and tears and everyone working their little hearts out -- but for reals… I have been truly blessed with wonderful associations and friends… I love you! : )

· Very end of Summer: Went home for a whirlwind “break” and headed straight back to school to begin preparations for a busy semester, kicking it off with New Student Orientation… always great.

4 years ago (2005)

· Mid-Summer: Spent my birthday and the 4^th of July in DC and road tripped with my sister to Houston and back (she was moving) stopped in New Orleans (pre-Katrina) and had our car broken into within about 10 minutes of parking it… not gonna lie… I’m still a little bitter… j/k… kind of : )

· End of Summer: Went to an activist camp of which I was one of about 2 republicans with 40 democrats : ) and learned the art of activism!! Then came home and went sky-diving with another best friend and friend’s brother – you'd be surprised, not too bad, it really is much more fun than scary - for reals! (just do it, you know you want to!! : )

· Very end of Summer: Got ready for my first semester of college! Packed my goodies, had my parents drop me off, went to New Student Orientation and met my roommates who I soon came to love again, as some of the best of friends – BYUI – Another BEST decision.

And here it is…!

5 years ago (2004)

· Mid-Summer: Ha ha, most summers would have been conditioning for soccer!! (took a break my Jr. and Sr. to focus on other activities : ) Headed to Switzerland to visit my sister living there… gotta love having family live in cool places!

· End of Summer: Came back and gave blood to celebrate finally being of “legal age” to give : ) *See Second Helping below… Then just had family visit and enjoyed bonding!

· Very end of Summer: Showed our horse for my last time showing horses in our county fair… sad day… but good times : ) Wrapped up summer and began my senior year with our football team winning a game when the previous year our soccer team had more points than they did... per game… (soccer, best game: 18 goals – football, best game: 14 points…) anyway, it was an exciting start to a fabulous fall!

And THAT was a whirlwind blast of my past 5 years...! (well, at least of the summer times : )

Much love, K*

YOUR TURN/READER THOUGHTS: Where were you 5 years ago? And/or where were you/what were you doing when you were 17?

**SECOND HELPING**

Snippet from my blog entry as a 17 yr. old about turning 17… (and a little about dating, ha ha... : ) get ready…! (funny how people change… even funnier is how they don’t ; )

“…After buying a CD just to listen to the one sweet 16 song on it the night before I turned 17... I tried to think of what I could look forward to, because 18 is cool because... you are like, an adult, yet still a teenager, so you are kind of in two stages of your life at once... just kind of an interesting concept I think : ). Anywho (and you can vote and such!! Good times!) So one might think okay, just another year of more great dates right? Well, since we all know the record from last year, pfff, forget that one, who needs those anyway right? I actually I am kind of glad because... well around times when I actually need one... like prom and homecoming... (or rather would like one: ) it is always exciting to see how close I can get to the dance while still not having one : ) he he... Anywho, I have accepted that fact and am happy about my present state : ) so moving on. What is exciting about 17? Um, as I mentioned earlier... most people would say... "Now you can watch R movies!! Wahoo!” {But} since I have chosen not to do that... I needed to find some other fun way to celebrate my 17ness!

“So I thought about it... and realized that every time I have heard about a blood drive they always say you have to be 17 and over some weight, (the weight I got covered baby! But the age was always a different story : ) and not that I love pain or anything, but giving blood is healthy for you and... saves lives!! I mean seriously, who doesn't like the feeling of being needed? Right?! It is wonderful to think that because I gave my blood and one hour of my life... someone can live the rest of theirs. Amazing isn't it? Anyway, so I read about an upcoming blood drive, the first I have heard of since my birthday and just decided I had to go! Also, since Labor Day is coming up this weekend, it is even more in need, because sadly, there will most likely be accidents and people who need it, so of course, all of the more reason! Anyway, It was such a great experience!!

“Since I have been young, I have had to go to the doctors for various health reasons and have had to had many shots and blood samples taken at different times, so I am somewhat used to the process, but it still gets me everytime! I usually am not too nervous about it, but when it is just about time, I just get so giggly! I usually don't get that nervous about much really, but when I am either really happy, really tired, or scared nervous, I giggle like crazy. Those of you who have been there during my giggly times... I am sure can agree : ) It is awful though when I can't stop, I love to laugh, but... oh man, sometimes I just giggle so much, I realize how stupid I must look and giggle more! So it is fun and a good giggle, because I would rather giggle than cry, but goodness, I am sure I seem like a fool, but at least I am enjoying myself! : )

“Anywho... so when they did it I kept giggling, but they were all so nice and friendly so it wasn't too bad : ). Thankfully they were just like, if only everyone laughed instead of cried, we would have a great time! Anyway, throughout the hour, we had plenty of good times. But it was funny because towards the end I kind of started to feel whoozy and voices started to get quieter and echo-ish and I was feeling kind of light headed, so I decided maybe I should tell them and did and immediately these 2 guys hopped up and layed my chair down propped my feet and brought a cool wash cloth the second I opened my mouth! Dang, if only I had service like that anytime I wanted ice cream! So yeah, it was fabulous and I am so glad I did it. A small contribution I know, but it was I think of the most fulfilling things I could do to celebrate my 17ness : ).

Anywho... I had a great week! That's about it! : ) eh heh heh, not much really as you can tell from what I wrote... j/k! : ) -- loves! - K*”

Koh Samed... aka... Paradise...

**SAMPLE**

Need a break?? Go visit Thailand! http://www.tourismthailand.org/


**FULL SCOOP**


The following are videos from our adventure to the Koh Samed... aka... the beach!! : )

1. Ride to the hotel after we arrived to the Island on a ferry...!



2. My new friend teaching me how to do these fire/twirly ball things : )



3. One of our favorite "Thai" teachers giving us a lesson on to identify a "handsome" Thai boy ; )



4. Natalie and I saw flames from the other end of the beach... this is what we found : ) (and yes, his abs are as defined as they look...: )



5. So our family had a mo-ped growing up, but I've always wanted to drive somewhere crazy, and with Becky being the next most experienced with having ridden a dirt bike once, the other gals never... they were great to humor me and we all had a blast!!



6. More fun on the scooters, Natalie's turn to drive...! After a near death experience, things went pretty smoothly : )



7. Exploring the beach...



8. Last night at the beach, good-bye fire dancing boys!


More to come...! : )

Much love, K*

YOUR TURN/READER THOUGHTS: Do you have a favorite beach or beach memory?