Auntie Katie

Just a couple of pictures of sweet baby Jonah being kissed to death by his favorite aunt. Auntie Katie always knows how to get him to zonk. I am either a very good sunngle-to-sleeper (that's an official term. . .) or either very boring. Lets go with the first option. He is such a little angel! And probably the cuddliest (is that even a word?) baby in the world.

Don't Judge Me.

So don't worry. I'm not engaged. Or married. Nor do I have a boyfriend. But who really needs a reason to take pictures in a wedding dress? I sure don't. These were actually taken for two portfolios: My friend Sarah's photography business and my bestie Emerald's hair stylist portfolio. Those two are fabulous.

A Traveling Day

So in honor of finals being over, I made this post a bright and happy PURPLE, as you can see. So it's been well over a month. How does that happen? I used to pray (literally PRAY) that the time could just please please please go a little bit faster. Just a hare. Now I can't keep track of where it's gone! Anywho. . .

Today I traveled. . .

Really Long Blurb #1
I finally got to the airport after ending up somewhere near bountiful (when you take the freeway from 400 north, you can't keep going north. It is already past the exit you want, just an FYI). Since I had just taken my last final, all of the stress had magically left my body in a state of bliss and content. It didn't matter that I missed my exit or that it was FREEZING outside or that I had to go through the entire parking garage only to find I couldn't park there. Check in was quick and easy and I didn't leave anything in my car. Check. Security lines were short. Check Check. Since I was in such a wonderful mood, I somehow got a little sentimental/emotinal about life in general and the billions of people we just pass by while living it. I was in line for security, and was noticing how adorable this young (or so I thought) girl was in front of me. She was the trendy/emo kind. You know. Skinny jeans that looked perfect on her skinny legs. Shoes your mother owned when you were born that just happened to look dashing on her. A cute black cardigansweartthingIcan'thinkofanamefor. Even her little braided rose headband screamed "i'm cute and innocent! Smile at me!" So I did. She glanced at me. I had literally just opened my mouth to compliment her on how darling she looked when it happened. A panicked, worried expression washed suddenly over her face as she realized she was missing something that was apparently extremely vital. How do I know this? The not so innocent girl uttered (or rather, hissed) a word that shall we say was less than dignified. Not classy. Not cute. Not innocent at all. I think my face was probably all smooshed and twisted in a strange way in surprise. Good thing she was too busy being crude to notice me.

Really Long Blurb #2
Then as I was sitting at the terminal waiting for my plane to arrive, I started to notice all of the different people sitting around me, sharing the same space for just a brief moment. I started to have some . . . gooshy? . . . thoughts, which were probably due the the Rachel Yamagata playing on my ipod. Nonetheless, I wondered about those people. The girl with the old, tapered jeans from 1984 who looked like she had never seen a brush in her life. She was smiling and laughing with her friend who seemed so opposit from her. They laughed light heartedly as they snapped shots of themselves with their camera, tilting their faces and pursing their lips with each new click. I wondered what is would be like the be the girl who sat accross from me, with her camo hat and her longboard glued to her foot. Behind her light, optimistic eyes there seemed a story of stress, emotion, longing. Then a very large but kind looking man asked if he could sit next to me in the only open seat. Of course, I whole heartedly encouraged him to sit down, flashing him an encouraging smile. Encouraging for what reason? I don't know. He just seemed unsure. Then about twenty minutes later a small boy came out, escorted by a flight attendant. He shuffled awkwardly toward the man, head down and hands in his pockets. The man bounded over to the boy with a grin as wide as. . . someone really happy. As the two embraced, something between them tugged at my heart strings that made me actually tear up. In the middle of the Salt Lake Airport. Then I got on the plane and this really friendly boy wouldn't stop talking to me. He was nice. So I ate my Ms. Vicky's Salt N Vinegar chips just in case he got a little too friendly.

Sorry these were so long! But hey. It's my blog. :)

Feeling Like I Want to Be a Writer

An anxious feeling starts to churn deep in the pit of my internal reservoir, rising up to the surface, ready to burst forth with creativity. Some genius of which I am yet unaware yearns to be harbored within the pages of some great work, a work that some ordinary and yet all too extraordinary individual will connect with. To inspire, to encourage, to harvest the raw emotions of this fragile human existence which we call life. This is my ambition.

A little bored in biology last week. . . this is what my thoughts wandered to. Sometimes I want to spend the rest of my life sticking people with needles and setting broken bones, but then every so often I think I could enjoy a life of writing strange little blurbs like this one that no one would ever read, but I would feel better having gotten that strange urge out of my system and out into the world. or at least my own piece of paper.

A Little Similarity?

So I was looking through some recent pictures of myself, and I couldn't help but think of this picture when I saw some of the pics. Yes, I stole this picture from another blog (thanks Sarah) to illustrate the fact that it's no wonder why Gideon and I (and all of the other medleys I know for that matter) manage to have a ridiculous amount of fun together. Both slightly nerdy, a little rowdy, and definitely both love to dance. I thought the comparison was pretty funny.

I Want to Fall in Love with a VAMPIRE.

To everyone who has yet to read the most amazing books on the face of the planet: Do it now. The TWILIGHT series, by Stephenie Meyer, are seriously the best books I've ever read. I know what you're thinking. "The Vampire book? Sounds retarded. Stupid. Won't read it. Nope. Don't wanna. You can't make me. NO." But come on, just give in the the hype that is going on all around you and pick up the book that will soon take over your life. I read the second book in about 2 days, I couldn't put it down. I actually lost 3 pounds reading this book! I didn't stop to eat, sleep, (barely stopped to work. . . I read every spare moment at my job, much to the disapproval of my co-workers.) Vampire love story you say? Yes. Cheesy? No. Yes, a vampire love story does sound somewhat juvenile, but it truly is presented in such a unique and beautiful way that you find yourself wishing it could be your life. Not because your real life is empty or lonely of unsatisfying- none of that. Simply because you will get drawn into the outstanding character development and the beautiful world that is Stephenie Meyer's amazing novel. The first book is called TWILIGHT, and the second is NEW MOON. (Yes, I totally put on the fake tattoos that come with the second one -but so did 4 other grown women with me. . . it helps to justify.) The third book, ECLIPSE, is being released on AUGUST 7TH. A couple of us girls are going to the release party at Border's and are getting the book at 12:01 a.m. Sick? No. Unhealthy obsession? No. Completely entrapped in the most amazing fictional piece of literature I have ever picked up? Yes. Read the books. Do it. All of my married friends have made their husbands read the books so that they can discuss it together. All I can say is it's a good thing I don't have a husband. . . .

This is the author, Stephenie Meyer. Sheer brilliance.

Reflections

For those who are unaware, I work at a Dialysis center. . . which is basically a temporary/long term deal. See, the only way you stop coming to dialysis treatments is to get a new kidney, or the other option. . . you die. We see our patients 4 hours a day, 3 days a week. That a lot of hours together with someone. When I first started working there about 6 months ago I honestly didn't think I would see very much death or that I would build such strong and close relationships with my patients. But as I have spent more and more time there, it has been amazing the events that have taken place. Over the past 2 or 3 months, we have lost about 11 or 12 + patients. Some went unexpectedly while others, it was a long time coming. Still, I was not prepared for the depth of emotions that come when you watch someone's existence slip into that strange sphere of time and space that you know to be our eternal place in the universe. This past Friday, one of my dearest patients with whom I was particularly close, passed away. He decided to stop coming in for treatments (which we call "signing off") and enjoy his remaining days pain free at home with his family. This man was one of the sweetest, dearest human beings I have ever known. He was always in ill health, and yet he was one of the most optimistic, happiest patients I've encountered. He would bring his family in and introduce me to them as his friend, Katie. Not his dialysis technician, not his caregiver, but his friend. As I read about his astounding life in his obituary today, so many small, inconsequential moments kept flooding into my brain like water running over the edge of the bathtub. A tiny touch on the hand, the way his face would light up when I saw him, his cute little cane, a simple thank you that was so sincere and heartfelt you just wanted to break all professionalism and hug the sweet little old man. I guess the point of this long, somewhat scattered mass of words is that life is amazing, and the only thing important in it is the relationships that we have, the lives we enrich. I don't remember what clothes he wore, I don't know what kind of car he drove. I remember the way his spirit touched mine and those small moments of two kind hearts connecting in service, in charity. I love my line of work. To be able to be with someone through a painful ordeal and to have the opportunity to make it just a little less terrible, to bring a smile where there once was a grimace of pain and fear, is the greatest joy I have ever known. Never underestimate the power of kindness and giving of ones self.

Perfect Day

American Fork Canyon. So Beautiful.

We had to crawl on all fours to get around
the hillside, which was pure dirt.

The roomies: Emerald, Me, Marjie

It takes a buff woman to hike Stuart Falls.

Saturday was the perfect day. First of all, I haven't had a Saturday off from work in who knows how long. So sleeping in until 11:00 was simply amazing. Especially because normally I am awake by 4:30 ready for work. Guh. It was a productive day and also a super fun day. Perfect. I got my car washed. . . and vacuumed out inside. (which I had to do because there were 5 whole blades of grass on the mats. . . now that I've bought my own car I suddenly understand why my Dad always bugged me to keep the car clean! Sorry Dad!) Then I went for a scooter ride and ended up rolling down a hill for about an hour-which may sound lame but was actually incredibly fun! It's surprisingly relaxing to pretend like you're five years old again. Then was the best part. . . My roommate and her boyfriend and I and some other friends all hiked to Stuart Falls in American Fork Canyon. So fun!! It was a perfectly warm summer day, and as we hiked up the not-too-steep-trail, surrounded by aspen's, evergreens, ferns, and lots of beautiful flowers, it was so nice to enjoy nature. We finally reached the falls, which were BEAUTIFUL. In spite of being covered with dirt, having extremely bad hat hair, a few bugs in my hair and being a little overly sun kissed, it was one of the most fun things I've done thus far in Provo. Gotta love summer.

One Year Ago . . .

Hooray for a new computer! I finally got it set up thanks to my brother who is slightly more electronically inclined than myself. Thanks Alex!

One year ago, Caitlin and I were roommates in University Villa just south of BYU campus. She and Zach were engaged and Caitlin and I survived on corn dogs and the Wendy's dollar menu. (Some things never change . . . ) It's crazy how fast time goes! Now, Zach and Caitlin have been married almost a year and they are expecting a little baby boy in October. Everything in my life has changed completely, too much to list it all on a blog. The point is, things change and it's crazy how fast it goes sometimes. It's amazing how life never turns out the way you expect. . . it somehow manages to be better than you'd hoped. Anyways this is somewhat of an abstract thought but I guess I have just been pondering about how truly wonderful life is. These pictures capture last summer all in one brief moment.

It's Poetry

I found this picture the other day and it made me feel a little sentimental. Slightly cheesy to put on a blog, but what the heck. How many people are really going to read this anyways, right? Well today I went to Barnes and Noble (the best place on earth. . . I am like a kid in a candy store in that place), and I bought The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson and happened to stumble upon a poem that I thought went oh so well with this picture. So here you go. And again, I apologize if this caused anyone a slight spell of nausea.



If you were coming in the fall,
I'd brush the summer by
With half a smile and half a spurn,
As housewives do a fly.



If I could see you in a year,
I'd wind the months in balls,
And put them each in separate drawers,
Until their time befalls.



If only centuries delayed,
I'd count them on my hand,
Subtracting till my fingers dropped
Into Van Diemen's land.



If certain, when this life was out,
That yours and mine should be,
I'd toss it yonder like a rind,
And taste eternity.



But now, all ignorant of the length
Of time's uncertain wing,
It goads me, like the goblin bee,
That will not state its sting.

-Emily Dickinson

Thoughts on Food

So it's about one a.m. I am starving to death I think. Kind of funny how when you're away from home at college, you budget out money every month for food and you go grocery shopping at walmart and smith's so you don't have to eat out all of the time, and yet somehow you end up sitting staring into the fridge and all of the cupboards are open and you still haven't found anything to eat. Isn't it strange how you go back to the fridge time and time again, like you just expect a beautiful plate of leftovers or a really yummy sandwich to just pop onto the shelf? I wish I was at home and my mom would make me a grilled cheese cut nicely in half and bake me some cookies (real ones; not the frozen kind that are pretty good, but just not the same)Figures that the only thing I can think of to blog is about food or the lack thereof. Something better coming soon, I promise. . .

Violins and Nostalgia

This is a picture of my cousin's kids that I took last spring.

So this weekend I went home to visit the family in AZ. I forgot how fun and interesting family wards can be! The first funny thing I saw was a cute little blonde boy sitting on the other end of our pew. All of a sudden he looks at his mom and shouts, laughing,

"Mommy, your toes tickle me!"
"What honey?" (as she tries to make him whisper.)
"You're toes tickle me mommy. They tickle me!"

I got to help my mom in primary and be in charge of the Sunbeams. Little kids are so adorable! I love the cute little fluffy dresses and the teeny tiny ties that you don't have to tie and little loafers. It's all just so cute, it makes you want to talk in the high pitched voice and squeeze everything. So the lesson in sharing time was about sin and repentance. When the question was posed, "what is sin?" one little sunbeam with bouncy red curls and a daisy covered dress raised her hand and tried not to leap out of her seat as she shouted "I know I know!"

"Ok honey, what is sin?"
"Sin. . . it's a kind of violin, right? Ya. It's a kind of violin!"

I tried to hold it in but little bursts of laughter kept creeping out. That just got me thinking about how simple life is when you're little. Remember the days when your biggest worries were which barbie you were going to play with, or what flavor of teddy grahams you should pick for a snack? I love how amazing and beautiful and thoughtful and kind and gentle little children are. We all need to be a little more like them.