Warm Women's Words - BYU Women's Conference (April 29-30, 2010)

Thursday I met up with my friend Susie Summers, and two of her friends (Becky and Desirae) with whom I am now friends. Friday I met up with Lisa (Wakefield) Weaver -- unfortunately we didn't snap any photos on Friday. BUMMER, Lisa! But I loved spending time with you!

Becky, Desirae, Kath, Susie

TOP TEN

10. Susie’s unquenchable excitement just to be on the BYU campus; taunting poor Becky with cakes and goodies before her run (sorry Becky); and training Desirae on the fundamentals of Women's Conference, and making her a packing list.

9. Being able to meet new friends, and reconnect with old friends.

8. TRYING to get everyone to sing with us while we made princess wands.

7. Our nummy buffet dinner. And brownies.

6. Running all over creation trying to find a “back way” into some of the classes... and then ending up in the ballroom anyway.

5. Smelling those blasted almonds.

4. How many times did we hear the word, “distractions”?

3. Kleenex. Kleenex. And more Kleenex.

2. FUDGE at the bookstore! (“Captain Fudge Pants.” Thanks a LOT Susie. not)

and finally...

1. The concert. And unashamedly running after (and eventually tackling) Michael McLean afterwards - photo evidence follows... sort of.

Kath, Susie, Michael, Becky
(Des was our photographer. Camera didn't have time to focus! LOL)

KATH'S NOTES & QUOTES

(I have 26 pages, so these are just a few highlights):

Be a lioness at the gate of your home. - Sister Julie B. Beck

“Just to BE is a blessing; just to LIVE is holy.”

The scriptures are a handbook on FAMILY.

Pray to love what the Lord loves.

Happiness and joy were the final outcome…

“There is no greater blessing than children.” – President Hinckley

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Trust in the Lord.

Doubt and fear are opposed to FAITH.

A violin can only make music when the strings are
S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D.

Am I willing to throw out anything in my life that would vex the Spirit?

SHOW UP for what life has to offer. People who do this are intensely alive.

If you bring forth what is in you, what is in you will save you. If you do not bring forth what is in you, what is in you will destroy you.

God loves mothers and prompts us to rescue our children when it is His will.

Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his personality. By his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize his potential.

All of us excel at SOMEthing; but together we are a “Perfect 10!”

The Internet is a tool, but it is aptly called the “web.”

“A distraction doesn’t have to be evil to be a distraction.”

And my favorite tidbit: “What Matters Most Lasts Longest” – Elder Ballard

Yay for Yoga

Well - I've finally done it. I've tried yoga. And whaddya know? I like it! I've been trying to do whatever I can to help me snap out of this winter depression, so I've been working out, trying to get the rest I need, and taking little bits of time just for Kathy. I have wanted to try yoga for a couple of years, but I have never known where to start. I do know that I am not the most flexible person on the face of the planet, so I was concerned about making a fool of myself, but I held my own, surprisingly. Mind you, I am in a beginning class, but it's still a step in the right direction. Within a few weeks I should be able to do this:

NOT!!!

For now, I'm afraid I'll stick with not falling over with BOTH feet on the ground.

Happy Yoga-ing.

Perfectly Puzzling Pastime

Check out this cool website I found! (Click on the puzzle below.) I have been in a puzzle mood lately, so I was browsing the Internet for some fun puzzles, and I came across this site. You can select all different types of cuts, quantities of pieces, and photos. You can even upload one of your own digital photos and make it into a puzzle. Preaty neato-petito. Have fun!

(I did this one in 4:43 my first time. 48 pieces. Classic cut. How fast can you do it --- your first time?)

Geography Guessing Game

Any of you who claim to know me well are very aware of my, ahem, shall we say... less-than-stellar knowledge in the area of geography. I’m great with directions and finding addresses, but I’m talking about the actual location of the states on a map. I remember when I used to cut hair being terrified when clients would bring up geographically related items such as, "I used to live in [insert name of state here]." I would quickly change the subject because I had no IDEA where that state was (east, west, north, or south) so I had nothing to say or ask. Or whenever I play Pictionary I (and my teammates if they know of my "challenge") PRAY that I don't have to draw a state. It has always been a really touchy (and embarassing) subject for me. I take that back. Not always. In school I did well with geography. I loved learning all about maps and always passed my tests, but somehow over the years I have forgotten where things are. Well – thanks to a 12-step program (kidding) and the help of my friend Ginger (who happens to also teach 4th grade), I just may be on the road to recovery for good. Ginger had Rylan and me over to her home last week to show us her “technique” for learning the states. It took us about an hour and a half to go through her story of “MIMAL,” the man in the map and his adventures. We used markers to draw pictures within the states, and she gave us devices to help us remember shapes, etc. Rylan and I have since been quizzing each other in the car or whenever we’ve had a few minutes. Last night I wanted to see how many states I could correctly label on a blank map without the help of my cheat sheet. I thought for sure I would miss several of them, but I was able to label all 50! Rylan was right there watching me without saying a word, so I have an eye witness for those of you who can’t believe it. (Not that I blame you. I couldn’t either!) I did it! I did it!

Low. Then Light. Then Life!

It's for real. This stuff you hear about the Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) is all true.

I've known this for years - subconsciously I think - but I've known it. How? Because I experience it every year. Every winter I feel like I go into a sort of... hibernation and my light ALMOST goes out. When Spring finally rolls around I feel like I come to life again. This year, it has really taken its toll on me and I hit rock bottom - without even realizing what was going on. Things that normally would have been small seemed like mountains. I felt hopeless, like I was in a downward spiral, and there would be no getting out. All I wanted to do was go home and go to bed after work. I cried every day (not that that is ALL that unusual for me -- to which those who know me best will testify). My point is, I didn't feel like my normal happy, positive, take-on-the-world self. On top of that, it was CHRISTMAS when we're all supposed to be happy. Yah - I went through the motions. I did my shopping and put up my tree. I wrapped gifts and delivered treats to my neighbors. But I was not happy. Every day I would drive to work (in the dark), sit in my office (without a window and real sunlight), then drive home (again, in the dark).

Thankfully, I have a great friend who suggested I try light therapy. You can read all about this on the Internet. I found several varieties of lights online, and was lucky enough to purchase a brand new top-of-the-line light from someone on KSL.com. This lady's husband has been using one for several years, and swears by it. She said they both realize when winter rolls around that he begins to drag and isn't himself, so they get out his light and he starts using it. She had one exactly like the one he was using, but it had been unopened -- still brand new, in the box for quite a bit less than retail. I did some research online about that light, and bought it that very day (December 23, to be exact) and it has made a world of difference. I crave that time in the mornings when I am near my light (believe it or not, it's called a "Happy Light"). It simulates actual sunlight. It just feels good to be around.

I am starting to come around and feel a little bit more like myself day by day. I feel like I HAVE feeling again. I'm no longer numb. I am so grateful to understand this about myself, and to have something I can DO about it. For this reason, I have exploited this not-so-comfortable fact about myself. In hopes that maybe it will help someone out there in cyber blog world who might be experiencing the same thing. When I read through the symptoms it was as if I had written them myself...

Do You Have the Winter Blues?
If you experience two or more of these symptoms each year in the fall and into the spring you may suffer from the winter blues:

Increased feelings of lethargy
Difficulty waking up in the mornings as the days get shorter
Difficulty concentrating and thinking creatively in comparison to the summer months
Incorrectly blaming oneself for things that go wrong
Difficulty performing tasks that normally seem to be easy/enjoyable

If you think this sounds like depression, you are right. SAD is a form of depression, but it is caused by the reduction of daylight during the winter months. And even if you are inside in artificial light most of the day, you can still suffer from a lack of daylight. Mental health professionals diagnose a person as having SAD if they have these symptoms for two consecutive winters, and do not have the symptoms in the spring and summer.

So - I am going to try to continue to do the things that will help me feel better. I can't wait to be able to get out and walk again in the mornings. That is healing time for me, inside and out. And now, maybe I have more of an understanding why. I need light. Plain and simple. This also explains why I love San Diego so much.

To all of you who have wondered where "their Kathy" went... I'm coming back. Thank you for putting up with me.

Happy (Hectic) Holidays!

This has got to be one of the most hectic Christmas seasons ever. Okay, it probably isn’t, actually. But it still feels like it. Between work, homework, church callings, chores, cooking, shopping, wrapping, parties, snow shoveling, and relationships (which should be the most important thing)… it’s a bear. BUT every once in a while I stop for a moment and think of the Savior and feel immense appreciation for His compassion, for His patience with me, and for the opportunity for growth (no matter how much I kick and scream along the way). I’ll be the first to admit I need to focus on Him way more often because when I do – it is a moment filled with peace. Just one moment. But – oh – what a glorious moment!

Here are some of our memories from this year…

Back in November of 2008 the company I have worked for since 1990 (DataChem Laboratories) was sold to ALS Laboratory Group. To say that the buyout caused a ripple in my life would be a massive understatement. I felt like the bottom had just fallen out of my world. Several of my very closest friends were … ahem … let go, one of whom was my boss Ken Olson. Thankfully, Ken and I still keep in touch regularly and will be friends regardless of our “job situations.” I am grateful to him for his belief in me and his support (in many different capacities) of my family and me over these many years. Things at the office have settled down somewhat and I have found myself in a different position doing different tasks, but for now I am grateful to have a job (and the modest income that comes with it).

Rylan is now 13 years old and attending his first year of middle school (7th grade). He is loving it. Well – loving everything about it except for Science and ‘running the mile’ in gym. The coolest things about middle school – according to Rylan – are having a locker and not having to sit in one class all day long. He has made some new friends, and is getting very good grades.

He started taking piano lessons this year. He has had fun with some of his recent Christmas pieces and loves to memorize them. Once he has them down we get to hear them over and over (and over) again. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am proud of him. He is a great kid, and I am so blessed to have him in my life.

He is also serving as the 2nd Counselor in his Deacon’s Quorum. He is a kind young man who is always concerned about the feelings of others. I am constantly amazed by his goodness and his willingness to do the right thing. I’m not saying he doesn’t have moments of “13.” He does. But for the most part, he is awesome.

We tried to have a dog this year. Did that work out? Not s’much. Moving right along…

We did have a hamster named Champ. He was an awesome little (BIG) hamster. Unfortunately we sold him because we got the aforementioned dog. (I had to use a big word there to give my friend – an attorney – something entertaining to read.) Champ loved to walk around in his little exercise ball and cruise in his hamster wheel in the middle of the night.

In September Rylan and I took a quick trip to San Diego just to sneak away from it all (see blog and photos below). It wasn’t a long vacation, but we had an awesome time together. Rylan pretty much lived in the ocean 24/7 (other than eating and sleeping). He had so much fun with a boogie board I picked up for him at one of the little beach shops on the boardwalk. I relaxed on the beach, collected sea shells, and shopped at one of my favorite stores on Coronado Island. We ate clam chowder every chance we got and loved every minute. Before we knew it, we were back home again, but those are memories we’ll have forever. I’m glad we did it.

In November I hit the big 4-1. What a depressing number. Just kidding. It’s all right. I don’t FEEL like I’m 41. At least not most of the time. There are days. But age is just a number, right? At least that’s what “they” keep telling me.

We wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year! Thank you for your friendship.

Love,
Kathy and Rylan

Dig these Dancing Dudes!

Elf Yourself! Check out Rylan and his buddy Bryan starring in their very own jig.

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/P51ycxWUmqzmpkA9IpfY