Miss Lily

My beautiful niece, Lillian Wren (Lily) was born October 31, 2011

at 12:15pm.

7lbs. 9oz.

20 1/2 inches long

The most beautiful baby girl I've seen in my life.

A few days later she was adopted by her parents, Mike and Nik, of Minneapolis Minnesota. She is beloved by all who know her and for that I am overwhelmingly grateful.


This is Lily ( in her Christmas pajamas) and her parents on Christmas.



Words cannot describe how much I love little Lily. She will be three months old tomorrow and is growing fast. She is a miracle and a blessing to so many people. I am grateful to have even a small part in her wonderful life.
*Jasmine picked this song to express her sentiments to Lily and I couldn't agree more.

Would You Like Wasabi With That?

After leaving my glamorous day job of inspiring deep connections in the minds of today's youth, I change into all black for my secret spy work. OK, only a little bit kidding. I waitress at the best sushi place in the midwest- Umi Grill and sometimes it feels like I'm a secret agent. For about an hour I get a glimpse into couples, families, business meetings, awkward first dates, and I even see what some people don't remember from their intoxicated evening. No, seriously. From the drinks to the edamame, from the Red Dragon roll to the sauteed seafood, you can learn a lot about someone.

1.) People are crazy. Not just the other people--yeah, you too.

2.) Only a few people are particular about an order due to allergies. Most people are picky because they like bossing someone else around!

3.)Remembering a name, a preference, a previous comment can make all the difference. To most of my customers I'm a stranger that they get to see for less than two hours of their week. Even for the regulars, I'm a stranger. But to have a relative stranger remember and care about who you are...well, it reminds you that you are important.

4.)Few customers notice the little kind things you do for them-i.e. making sure their glass is full, quietly clearing dishes between each course, gauging correctly when they want certain things including the check, bringing dessert for a celebration without being told. Few notice, but I will keep doing it anyway.

5.)Seeing people eat wasabi in scary amounts never fails to amuse me. And the tricks people play on each other to get them to eat lots of wasabi are hilarious.

6.)With the other servers you can choose to be helpful and work together or not, but the choice is yours alone. Everyone else will manage just fine without you, but helping builds something more valuable than a meal.

7.) I was born to serve (and not just raw fish) <3

Adventures of Ms.K

I never expected to change my major from International Relations and Political Science to Biological Sciences Education and English Teaching, but I did. My first week in college I was asked to teach a Sunday school lesson on Helaman's Stripling Warriors (one of my favorites) and from there I was called as a teacher in that ward. One of my favorite callings of all time! I learned different techniques and lesson patterns to more effectively teach and was grateful for the experience. Then, in my next two wards, I received the same calling. Hint. Hint. I really loved preparing each lesson, applying the principles throughout the week, and connecting to the class. When I hit a wall with my previous major, teaching immediately came to mind. But then I wanted to teach everything! But I finally narrowed it down to all the sciences : ) and english.

And while I have a few more requirements before the ink is dry on my teaching certificate, I have been substitute teaching in the local school district. Though being a sub is different from a legitimate teacher I've learned many valuable lessons.
* The teachers who make a real difference are those who listen because
* Students are really seeking somehow who will listen. Listen to their worries and fears, hopes and dreams- listen without trying to be in control. And more often than not, that listening happens in a classroom rather than the counselor's office.
* There is a time for everything, even in Biology and Lit class. A time for laughter and music, a time for quiet studying, a time for disciplining and a time for compassion.
*Students complain to subs all the time- "What's the point of_____? When will I ever use this?" I've learned that as a teacher I want to help them make those connections. Make biology class relate to Shelley's Frankenstein, to their modern art class, and back to European History. I want to help them see that the real education is in connections.
* I learned that as a teacher I could have students at four or five different levels in a class. I've met high school students who can barely read and middle school students who can do calculus in circles around me. There is no uni-level class which is both an obstacle and a challenge to rise to.
* The teacher's lounge is much less cool and mysterious now than when I was a student : (
* School can be a place of wonder and magic- sometimes when you know where to look and sometimes when you learn to create it.
* All class pets should have names, even 6 inch poisonous spiders. It makes it easier to call them when they hide under the desk!!!
* If you are excited and enthusiastic about a topic, it is much easier to interest the students. Just don't go fanatic- then they think I am a hermit scholar who has no social life ( actually not that far from the truth).
* And finally, students think they can shock you by swearing or by telling you outrageous things. The teacher can shock the students by listening, with kindness, with generousity, and by creating an interactive learning environment.

The Bend in the Road

Welcome back! Ok, you probably never went anywhere, but I've been shamefully neglectful. I started half a dozen posts over these past five or six months, but then left them half-finished. But today I have some free time I will use productively (along with the keeping of my resolutions!-going strong still : )



A favorite poem of mine explains some of this time for me:

The Bend in the Road

When we feel we have nothing left to give

And we are sure that the song has ended,

When our day seems over and the shadows fall

And the darkness of night has descended,

Where can we go to find the strength

To valiantly keep on trying?

Where can we find the hand that will dry

The tears that the heart is crying?

There's but one place to go and that is to God,

And dropping all pretence and pride,

We can pour out our problems without restraint

And gain strength with Him at our side.

And together we stand at life's cross roads

And view what we think is the end,

But God has a much bigger vision,

And He tells us it's only a bend.

For the road goes on and is smoother,

And the pause in the song is a rest,

And the part that's unsung and unfinished

Is the sweetest and richest and best.

So rest and relax and grow stronger

Let go and let God share your load.

Your work is not finished or ended

You've just come to a bend in the road.

Helen Steiner Rice

I kept telling myself that I would wait until I knew exactly what I was actually doing, but isn't that a conundrum in itself? You can't always wait to figure out the future--you have to step forward and embrace it. I mentioned last August that I had turned a 180 from the direction I had so carefully planned out for myself, which included BYU, marrying Brother Charming before graduating, and settling down to start a family. Sounded like a good plan right? But the Master Planner had a better one. So I came back to Indiana with my family. I've worked as a waitress and a substitute teacher (both of which will get an exciting post), gained a beautiful neice ( Lily should have her own blog, but I will definitely give her a post), and after much preparation and an abundance of tender mercies, drumroll please......................

SUBMITTED MY MISSION PAPERS!!!!!!!



As much as I love missionary work and have been involved with it my entire life, I was surprised last summer when I felt the prompting to prepare. Yet with a bit more reflection, I can look back and see the host of experiences that have prepared me specifically for this service. So the game plan: catch you up a little on my work of the past few months, post on Lily, and then transition both of us to mission mode, in which I will be posting letters here on this very blog. So hang in here with me! And a beautiful song that Hilary Weeks just released--just for you.