Now To Decide What to Plant

I came home from school today beat. It hadn't really felt like a weekend and going back to school was not fun. But! I got on some shorts, pulled my hair up, and put on the working gloves. Turns out it's just what I needed.

I cut all the dead flowers off the rose bushes, pulled some weeds, clipped a few haywire branches, started some grass seed growing, *phew*, shoveled/tilled up a whole section of my backyard, and made nice little rows.

It was a lot of work. But so worth it!!

Did I mention I did the whole thing in flipflops?! My grandpa wouldn't be to proud, but what can I say, my feet like to be free. And a little dirt never hurt anyone!

:)

Easter Sunday

Last year I found this skirt and I realllly wanted to make it. I got as far as cutting the material. Well, this year I had a boring day so I decided to whip it up for myself.. and then decided I'd go crazy and make one for Ande too. I would've made Chloe one too but she got impatient with how many times my frazzled brain had to keep measuring her so she decided she didnt want one after all. Besides the fact that Ande's line of flowers go vertical and mine go horizontal, and the fact that it didnt line up perfectly- cutting straight is just so HARD!- they didn't turn out too bad. It was my first sewing project besides pillow cases and an apron :o)

New Calling

About a month ago a member of my bishopric came up to me after sacrament meeting and asked me how comfortable I was with playing hymns. Being the only piano player in the young womens, I play there, play in seminary, and play abundantly at home, so I told him I was pretty confident... I don't know a lot of hymns, but I can play them. He said great! Just curious.
A few weeks later he called me in and asked me if I'd accept the call to be the Ward Pianist.
Hold the phone.
The ward pianist?! Isn't that an old lady job?!
And uhm, crazy scary?!
He said they don't mind that I can't play the organ, just that they need someone to be able to play and they thought I'd be great for the job.
....................................
I said I'd take it, as much as I feel greatly underqualified.
I got a list of the songs for the upcoming week, and imagine my disbelief when all of the songs were songs that I know really well, one of them being I Stand All Amazed, the first hymn I learned. Tell me that isn't Heavenly Father showing me I'll be okay.
When it came time for the opening song, I wasn't even nervous. Usually my hands shake so bad and I can't focus my eyes if I'm reallly nervous, which I should have been. It's the biggest audience times 15 that I've ever played for. Well, I haven't been nervous once. I just know that someone's helping me and that I will have the power to use my talent the way it needs to be used.
When I went in to get my blessing to be set apart I had specific challenges in mind that could come with accepting this call, limits within myself when it comes to the piano. Each of those were addressed in my blessing, even though I had told no one.
I'm overwhelmed with this talent that has been given to me. Sometimes I feel like it's nothing special, I can do no greater than any one else. There's someone out there that can play better than me or hit less mistakes than me. But then I remember how I got my talent. That's a pretty special story. And when these things happen, these "coincidences"... it's clear to me that this is something that I needed to have in my life.
I come from a long line of organists, my mom, my grandma, my great-grandma, I'm sure it goes plenty back. I often hear stories of how many hours upon hours they would sit at a bench playing until their fingers were raw. How amazing they were and just how hard they practiced. Then how much joy they brought to their own houses, as the home was filled with song.
And ya know... I'm kind of excited to join them!:)

My Day??

a) Got the once and for all "let-just-be-friends" talk. Right before school. Lovely.

b) My best friend's friend tried to commit suicide before lunch.

c) I had an important meeting to be to today and our car broke down. No meeting.

d) My grandparents left for Seattle for an indefinite amount of time and I thought I'd see them before they left (when I got home from school). They left shortly before I got home.

e) $60 was stolen from my bank account.

To top it off, I've lost 10 pounds this week because I've just kept forgetting to eat/been too upset to eat. None of my pants will even stay on.

*sigh*

RIP Phone

Once upon a time there was an awesome phone that was taken advantage of. It was purple, with pink buttons and a cute pink case.

I LOVED it!! But I realized this too late....

One unfortunate day, my phone screen decided, "Lets play a trick on Kaitlyn and not work!!"

I could receive calls, texts, whatever, I just couldn't see what the heck was going on on the screen. It was really annoying. Bzzzzzz. Oh gee pal, I know youre texting me, I sure wish I could answer!!

Then comes the insurance company. Sure! We'll replace your phone! For $40!! Oh wait. you want your phone now?? You've been without a phone for two days?? Who cares!! It's a holiday weekend. You're gonna get one on Wednesday (the day is Thursday- a whole week without a phone!? Unheard of!!)

Well.. I was pretty depressed. Super. Then one day I was going home with Brandon. He asked to see my phone. He took it, hit it against his leg as a last resort. and TA-DA! It worked!! Simply magic!! Don't even ask me how. I was so so SO SO happy!! I got to read all my texts... and realized some friends sent me texts just to bug me, the stinkers!!

So I had a phone, but we had already ordered the new one. I figured might as well replace it in case my phone decided to do that again. Well... The phone... yeah... I got the black version. With blue buttons. Do they even know who I am?! BLACK!? And they wanted my old one back. And wouldn't let me request a new one in purple. Ugh. I was not happy.

SO! Since my case was broken and I had a warranty on it, I decided to go into at&t to get it replaced. I go in and the guy says, "Oh. I dont know if we have those kinds of cases anymore. Nope only clear, and it's the last one. You're lucky."

Shoot.

"Oh! Wait! Let me see if other places have any that they could ship to us.... hmm... oh! Looks like you could get a purple one!" (fake happiness for me).

I start to mutter my, "That'd be lovely! Thanks!!!!"

Before I can even get the first syllable in he says,

"oh. just kidding. nope. not happening".

..............................................................

So. I got stuck with an ugly black phone with a clear case that doesnt cover up any of its darkness.

Then.. I discovered this really cool thing.

It's called, cut scrap book paper and put it behind the case to make it a little more pretty.

It's not the same.. but on the bright side it's interchangeable, and that makes the sting a little better.

been a long time,yeah?

Well, life's busy. Life's grand!:) I've been too busy to post, I'm sorry!

Quick Recap?

• Sadies was a blast! None of it really worked out, but my date was the best!:)
• I got my DRIVERS LICENSE! Finally... at 17 ha. I definitely don't recommend waiting a year to get it.
• Christmas was magical this year! Probably the best one ever. Got lots of music books. Kind of weird that I can start getting "grown up" stuff now. Cuz I'm going to be needing it.
• Christmas break was fun, hung out with friends a lot.
• Work is taking up a lot of my time. Not that I'm complaining. It's been really really super duper good. I LOVE my job!
• New Years was fun ;).

Basically I've just been hanging out with friends, going to work, or doing homework. It's pretty great! Being a teenager is fun.

*sigh* I'm going to be 18 this year...

Why Hello

It's just an ordinary day. My friends and I are going to lunch. I look to the right lane and up a few car lengths away and I see the car that always has the sophomore boys doing Chinese fire drills during lunch. I wonder which boy is going to do it today.

Suddenly, something funny about the basketball team is brought up and I've got my head in my knees laughing really hard.

I look up just in time to catch the boy who is running out. He opens the door, flies out of the car and..

His pants fall down!!

And he's wearing NO underwear!!!!!!

Us, the car full of girls, quickly looked away with rosy cheeks.

We couldnt believe it!

Just our luck! That poor guy. But my goodness....

If you're going to a)run out of a car illegally b)wear loose pants c)wear no belt d)have your pants fall off, then please for the sake of all young women, WEAR UNDERWEAR!

I really didn't want to be mooned!

What a day!

What Does This Mean?

(Sorry for the white background... if you know how to help me get rid of it, please share!)

For Child Development we played "The Price Is Right" for baby items that every person typically buys for a newborn (excluding big ticket items). There were things like lotion, body wash, bibs, blankets, an outfit, bottles, formula, you get the point.

So one by one she showed us the twenty items or so and gave us three possible prices. At the end she asked us how many we all got right.

"All those that got at least 3 right raise your hand"

"All those that got at least 4 right"

Slowly the hands went down.

"All those that got at least 8 right"

I was the only hand that went up.

Winner for that round!

Then she asked us to find the total including tax. Your total x 1.0625.. I've got this down!

She then told us the total was $120 and some odd cents.

My total?

$117.65

I think I've spent a little too much time in this aisle ;).

Sadies, Here I Come!

I asked a boy to Sadies two weeks ago, I just haven't gotten around to posting it because I wanted to wait until he answered me back to get it all done in one post!

I put hundreds and hundreds of pennies and candy in a tissue box, then duct taped it shut, then seran wrapped it, and this is the tissue box in a bunch of tissue going into a bigger box to be wrapped up.

I put this on the outside of the box after it was all wrapped up, now I'm kinda

wishing that I would have left it inside the box but oh well!

Out of the hundreds and hundreds of pennies, this is what he had to look for!

He answered me back on Friday. During fourth period I went to class and the teacher gave me a bunch of army men. I asked her what they were for and she said, "I don't know! You'll see!" So the boy next to me played with them, it was kind of funny. Then after school I went to my locker and I saw army people sticking out so I knew what was up. When I opened my locker there were army guys all over and jolly ranchers and a frootie (which my friend ate, I was mad!), and a plunger. Then there was a sign that said, "This doesn't make any sense, but I'd love to go with you!". Then I looked over and saw my friend standing on these little benches we have next to our lockers poking her head out to look. So I laughed and went to the other end of the lockers to peek my head at her and Brandon was back there so I laughed again and went back to my locker and then my friend and him came over to talk about it.

I got it all cleaned up but left a few of the army guys in there, not only for protection but.. they're kinda stuck in the holes of my locker! It was also mildly embarrassing walking through the school with a plunger but oh well!! Memories!

Once Upon A Time, I Fainted

So, with all my frequent fainting, I think that means I should get a fainting couch/chair, right??;) Thanks pinterest!

On Wednesday my teacher in child development decided we were going to watch three live childbirths and a clip of a placenta. No big deal, right? I can just close my eyes! Uhh, wrong!

I watched the first two, a natural and an epidural, because there was no blood. But then she showed us a C-section so I closed my eyes knowing I couldn't handle it. My imagination went wild though and I started feeling a little lightheaded. That's okay though, that happens all the time and I get over it. Then it came time for the placenta. It grossed me out. It was all bloody. I started to feel really warm. I closed my eyes and rested my head for a minute until the clip was done.

Finally we were done talking about it! I had no worries. But I knew something was wrong. Usually once we pass the gross stuff in class my body quickly returns to normal. Well, my body wasn't returning. This fainty feeling happens all the time and I knew something was different. My teacher began talking about trimesters and fontanels. No problem, there's nothing gross about that.

All of the sudden something changed. I felt REALLLY hot. I started getting dizzy. My imagination was going wild. Stop it Kaitlyn! Nothing's going on! She kept talking so I plugged my ears so I couldn't hear her. No blood was even being discussed. Then I closed my eyes, laid down my head, and tried to get this throbbing dizziness out of my head. It kept escalating and I knew I'd be taken over. Finally I let go of my ears for a second. She mentioned the word needles.

I feel a sharp pain. I can't move. My eyes can't open. I feel myself laying on my back and my legs are pinned, it really hurts but I can't do anything about it. For a split second I'm worried that I'm going to be paralyzed. Did I hurt something seriously this time? I finally decided I should just calm myself down and maybe if I fall asleep again, when I wake up the next time I'll be okay. Even though my eyes are already closed, I 'closed' them and went back to unconsciousness. When I wake up again, I can open my eyes. I realize that my legs are pinned up under my desk all twisted, I had fallen over the bar on the desk and onto the floor. I pulled my legs down and realized the administration were in there. They helped me up after a few minutes and one girl yells out, "Oh my goodness she's white!".

Then they walk me to the nurse's office and lay me on a cot. At this point I a pretty confused feeling. One person offered me juice, another water, one asked me if I wanted a go-gurt, and one asked if I had a phone I could call my mom on. All I wanted was a big nap. Finally the principal said, "wait a second, give her a chance to think. ask one at a time!". So we called my mom and first thing he says is, "This is Mr. ____ calling about your daughter Kaitlyn". How scary of a call would that be?! The principal calling on your daughter's cell phone. My poor mom! Good thing he quickly explained it was just fainting. Then she just laughed at me.

So, I ended up staying on the cot for another hour and I got a Go-Gurt, lots of orange juice (that made me feel like throwing up, I finally just dumped it down the sink), popcorn, a water bottle, and jello. The lady offered to let me take all four cups of her jello ha:). I was taken care of!!

Later on these girls tried to tell me what went on. Sometimes I really wish I could be awake for these moments, the panic in everyone haha, that's so mean:). They said when I passed out a girl stood up and said, "Uhh, Mrs. ____, Kaitlyn fell over!". Just that thought makes me laugh so hard, every time!:). Then the teacher kind of paced around the classroom, then bolted out the door. How funny would that have been to see?!

All in all it was interesting. Scary that I couldn't control it this time. And it left me so so weak and tired. And I also was very confused for the rest of the day and the next day. Kind of different side effects. My dad thought I was growing out of it, but I'm fainting more and more. Oh man, my husband's gonna have to put up with a lot!:)

Grades

So I have exciting news, I have A LOT to tell you:). Now if I can find the time ;)

Anyways... Here's one thing. I was so SO excited.. I was FINALLY going to get a 4.0, my first since I was in 8th grade (why is it I get a 4.0 clear through school up until it actually counts?! Dang A-'s). I was telling all of my friends about my soon to be accomplishment On the second to last day of the quarter I go look at my grades...

Seminary 0

Medical Anatamy 96%

Choir 100%

US History 98%

Child Development 99%

Social Dance 100%

AP English 88% (B+)

Pre Calc 96%

My grade dropped ten percent!!! I was SO upset. My personal narrative essay got a big fat F. Good thing I looked at it right before I went to class or seeing the red marks across my essay would have made me cry. I came home and had a come apart. It was just too much, the straw on the camel's back. I didn't understand why my essay got a 70/120. 'Didn't meet requirements.' 'It's a list'. Really?? I sat down and wrote out my feelings.

Well, upon further questioning, my teacher agreed that I could rewrite my essay. Those feelings then became my personal narrative. I was hopeful, but hesitant because I didn't want to get my hopes up to have them crushed again.

Well!!! Today I looked at my grades, and would you like to know what happened?!:)

Seminary 0

Medical Anatamy 96%

Choir 100%

US History 102%

Child Development 105%

Social Dance 100%

AP English 96%

Pre Calc 96%

Not only did I get my AP grade up, I got A+'s in two classes! And 100%'s in two others. I am so SO elated:). AND I only missed ten points on my new essay. That's seriously insane.

I am so so SO blessed.

This is one happy girl right here:)

Seriously, So YUMMY!

Source: food.com via Kaitlyn on Pinterest

My friend found this via pinterest (basically the best site, ever!). It is so so good! All you do is mix up your ingredients in a mug, put it in the microwave for ONE minute, and you've got yourself something delicious! That's my kind of dessert :).

Now time to go run a few miles ;)

Whats Taking My TIme

You guessed it... coupons!

It's become such a hobby I've created a little blog with my cousin to track my adventures and deals we score :).

Check it out if you wish!:)

So, I got a job!

After being 'hired' by Golden Corral for 4 weeks, I'd been getting pretty antsy. Needing to purchase a drivers license, the test to go with it, gas, insurance, eventually a car (why does this have to add up so fast?!), I've been ready to work!

Well, an opportunity came up for me to work for a lady my aunt and uncle work with and let's just say it's the best job!

She has a business she does on the side and it's sew easy ;).

So far my responsibilities have been,

1. Fill out FedEx labels

2. Put stickers on papers

3. Stick zippers in bags

4. Stick labels and barcodes on bags and package

5. Laminate

6. Put together info packets

7. Put together samples of her products

All the while we listen to pandora

Yup pretty easy.

And some days she'll send me home with work or have me sew for her. So it's a job I'll learn good skills with!

On Thursday I worked from 3:45 (left from school straight there) until 7:30 then I babysat until 12. Then Friday I worked 3:45-10:15. Then today I worked 9:30-1. So that's been busy. I feel like I've had no free time. But it's been good for me. And she even paid me today so I can go shopping for Labor Day weekend. How thoughtful!

Yup... I think I'm gonna like this job:)

Houston, we got a problem

I'm obssessed. Weddings. Holy Moley I want to get married so bad.

Remember that little girl I was, oh, even 3 years ago. "I won't WILL NOT get married before I graduate and do all this incredible stuff and I'm at least like, 24".

Mmm yeah. She's sorta disappeared. And I want to get married REALLLLY badly.

Not even for a husband necessarily. I just LOVE weddings. I went to one a few weeks ago and I was just dancing jumping skipping the rest of the day so happy. (sure i already told you:))

Also, I'm taking child development. Usually those classes make you NOT want to have a baby. Yeah, not happening. I want a little one so bad!! We watched a movie about children living in orphanages in Romania. Made me want to go over there RIGHT now and adopt them all. Reminded me of when I was a little girl and my biggest aspiration was to open up an orphanage and care for all the little kids. I wanted to be like, the nice version of Annie, singing included.

Anyways. Don't worry, I won't do anything rash. But if you have a wedding that you need help with,, or know anyone that is in need of service with their wedding ie: setting up, serving food, invitations.. PLEASE let me know!! I would LOVE to do it. It'd be so fun. Or if anyone has a baby I could babysit. I'd even do it for free!! I just need a dose of those things.

I've found healing today

"Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, He sees

us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming"

"For those who are discourage by their circumstances, I make you two promises. Hard as things seem today, they will be better in the next day, as long as you serve the Lord this day. The other promise is as long as you servge Him this day, you will feel His love"

New Name

So, I've turned into a little privacy conservative and knowing that everyone knew my complete full name, kinda freaked me out. And a more creative name has been on my mind, so the change seemed fitting.

The inspiration came from this song.....

okay.. embedding wont work.. anyone know how to fix that?? for now,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_J9kPQ8hwA

It's called KKK Katey, its a war song from World War II and the main part that sticks in my mind is when it goes;

"KKK Kati, beautiful lady, you're the only gggggirl that I adore,

When the mmmoooon shines, Over the cowshed, I'll be waiting at the kkkitchen door"

When I was little, around 4, everyone would sing the chorus of this to me all the time and I'd get so upset, I'd start crying and screaming, yeah, not my proudest moment. But now it's growing on me and I appreciate it, became a little fond memory ;).

Anyways, hence the change!! And I like it :)

Glimpse into my Journal?

I have been really selfish lately. Granted, I’m doing it cuz ‘others are doing it’, but, it gives me no right, makes the situation worse, and doesn’t improve me any. And the situation remains the same, yet, it spirals downward because we live in this twisted vision of everything having to be even. You complain, that merits me a complaint, which merits Bob a complaint, which merits Sally a complaint, which means you get to complain. It’s vicious.

I hate this standstill of stubbornness. “I need to do better.” “Why do I personally need to do better?!” “If only they would change.” “My changing could do amazing works with Heavenly Father’s help.” “I am capable of anything.” “Heavenly Father isn’t listening.” “Heavenly Father is the only one who understands.” “I am progressing.” “I am failing.” I wish that that nudge would come from within and just, TADA!, I’d do better. Unfortunately, that’s not coming.

I wish that I could magically go back to that positive girl that is in there; apparently she’s playing a really good game of hide and go seek.

I wish that I could understand why I’m going through what I’m going through. Who in my family isn’t? I wish that calm collected girl would return and the one who cries a few times a day at just a thought would disappear. At least I’m coming to terms. I’ve had some really awesome experiences the past little while; I just need to remember to be happy! Remember who’s looking out for me. Remember that in time, all things pass. Remember that no one will remember me, or their opinion won’t matter, in even 3 years.

Don't you love pinterest??

Oh, how life changes

So many emotions!! I literally.. cannot.. hold.. STILL!! I'm so happy right now!:)

Today was such a spiritual day... I wish I felt comfortable sharing more. But my testimony has grown so much. It's amazing what giving up a little bit of what you want ends up giving you in return.

I went to a wedding reception on Saturday. Let's just say, that was a pretty dangerous thing for me to do. With my recent obsession with them, it just intensified!! I want to get married SO BAD. Err... I want a wedding, the guy can wait ;). I was literally skipping up and down the roads and twirling, I was so full of happiness. There was a little girl who was untying the bows on the back of chairs and I went and fixed them, it made me so joyful, I think I want to look into a job of helping out caterers, that'd pretty much be perfect!! I'd just be pretty hyper all the time;).

Then after church today I sat down and talked weddings and old love stories with my grandma, I was in HEAVEN! So much fun for me to listen to. I love her so much, and the stories made my heart swell. I love these kinds of things!! Plus I had a homemade ice cream sandwich, yum:D.

I also love making these little creations...

I also got to play piano for an hour, how I love that little (big?) instrument!! It gives peace to my soul. And I sang, even though it hurts!

Oh!! Wanna see what I did? $0.00!! Wahoo!!

Does this make sense to you?? This is just my life lately, weddings, coupons, ice cream.. all I can think about.. and not much other than that..

There's so much trial and hardship going on right now but,

I LOVE LIFE!!:)

15,816

15,816 hours until I graduate... give or take 24... I have a feeling those will fly by

Where does life go??