A simple weed necklace

I bet you are all wondering where I got that wicked awesome necklace I'm wearing.

Welp, it is courtesy of 6 year old Katelin.

In Germany, we would sit in the fields outside our house for HOURS making these.

So, sitting at Rock Canyon a few saturdays ago I picked up some weeds and tried to pull out my childhood skills...low and behold, It worked!

Now it got me thinking,

I swear it was just yesterday I was doing this as a 6 year old.

Do you ever sit back and wonder where did the time go?

Where did childhood, highschool, college, last year, last month even go??

Im watching everyone go these different directions in life and its freeking me out a bit!

Exciting?

Yes.

An adventure?

Yes.

A good thing?

Heck yes.

I just so often think, am I doing what Im supposed to,

am I making the most with what I have been given,

am I doing the most good I possibly can.

Just food for thought.

While I continue to ponder and live my life in a day dream...enjoy this amazing quote

"Face your doubts, master your fears, cast not away your confidence. Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you" ~Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Mother Rene

These three are the products of "Mother Rene"

Whenever my mom says, "Katelin Ellen"

in that tone we all know...

I answer back with, "Mother Rene??"

Hence the name

Anywho I absolutely

LOVE MY MOM

And she is amazing.

Of course I am biased but I do think shes the best mom in the world.
I do hope though that everyone thinks that about their mom.

Everyone deserves to be loved and adored like a mother does.

So my mother is no different. :)

Since she has been a mother for 37 years here are 37 reasons why she is the greatest

1. She is my best friend

2. She is histerical...seriously

3. She does the best impressions/voices

4. She is addicted to Sonic

5. She is my biggest cheerleader

6. She is like the energizer bunny...just goes and goes...and only for the benefit of every other person but herself

7. She loves to shop

8. She loves mexican food

9. She has a beautiful singing voice

10. Kids gravitate to her

11. She works miracles with her students (parents of former students of hers are constantly acting as advocates for her to other parents looking for an amazing teacher)

12. All my friends ADORE her

13. She is the best cook

14. When I come home for a visit she makes me my favorite foods

15. She has the kindest heart

16. She is always saying the best way to make yourself feel better, in any situation, is to go do service for someone else.

17. She is in constant physical pain, yet she is always the last person on her mind (I hate this, but what can you do when your mom is all about others)

18. She can still highkick her forehead

19. She was a pommie in highschool and so was I

20. She has a light about her

21. She makes meals for our neighbors when they have babies, tragedies, etc, and she isnt even in relief society :)

22. She is a relief society sister as heart...haha I had to add it mom!

23. She went to my every concert, recital, performance, competition, game, and everything in between

24. She is genuine and loving to everyone

25. She taught and led by example...and still does

26. She still makes my dad's lunches in the morning and hes 56

27. She used to get up early and make me soup every morning in elementary school because I refused to eat sandwiches

28. She is sarcastic

29. Noone, and I mean NOONE, can make her famous cookies like she can

30. She is extremely creative

31. She loves to make crafts

32. She is supportive of my every decision

33. She taught us to be courteous and caring

34. She cannot stand to have an empty wall in our house, haha anyone who has been in our house knows this one is a concrete fact.

35. She pawned her jewelry for diapers when we were little

36. She is a wonderful wife

37. She constantly tells me I am beautiful and special and that I can make a difference and have an influence..although I always say, "you're just biased you have to say that". She tells me she doesnt have to say anything...and you know what, I believe her.

I love you mom, thank you for sacrificing and caring about each one of us. Thank you for giving me the world and beyond. Thank you for being my mother and for loving each of your children even when I know it couldn't have been easy to. Thank you for being a blessing in my life and for being my best friend.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

You are missed

(warning: cheesy alert)

This is Kylee, my best friend.

She is pretty much the most amazing person ever.

And right now, I miss her a lot.

Ky is currently living the dream in NYC as an intern for NBC.

There is NOTHING this girl can't do or accomplish.

I am so proud of her and excited for her adventures...

but gosh dangit I miss her!

Anywho, I thought Id do a "Kyky tribute" seeing as shes across the country.

This may be boring for most of you but thats OK cuz this is for ky :)

We met sophomore year in highschool playing powder puff football.

hahahahaha quite the experience...but thats another story. I even remember a specific instance first knowing her where she dyed her hair...haha this is so random...but I will never forget a bunch of us running into her at school and Ive never noticed someone so enthusiastic and happy. She had this light radiating from her and I remember thinking, I want to be best friends with her...luckily my wish came true and we have since braved highschool and college together!

Anyways, that summer she invited me to Newport with her family

and the rest is history!

I have now been to newport 5 times with this child and those are some

of the greatest memories I have.

We will soon be going on our third year of living together and I have to say BRAVO to her for putting up with me for all this time because im positive im getting the better deal out of the situation, but im thankful regardless! She is the best roommate to have because she is always so chipper. ALWAYS. When Im having a good day, shes there enjoying it with me, when im having a bad day, shes there to make everything better. Plain and simple she makes it all fun!

Ky is seriously a ray of sunshine! Anyone who has come in contact with her for even a minute knows how true that statement is. This is so cheesy but this quote is perfect for ky: "If I had one gift that I could give you, my friend, it would be the ability to see yourself as others see you, because only then would you know how extremely special you are."~B.A. Billingsly~

I LOVE that!

Ky has this unique ability to make anyone and everyone feel loved, appreciated, and special.

Not many people have that gift, but she is one of them.

She has been there for me in ways not even she can fully understand.

She has sat with me through breakdowns, hardships, excitement, confusion, happiness, and everything in between. I am eternally grateful to her for that!

She is the greatest example of choosing a friend who makes you want to be better...

I love her so much.

I love our wrestling matches,

our shared love of food,

our love of the beach,

our hatred of utah weather,

our random things we do when bored,

braving finals together,

long drives,

our chats,

football games,

and our every memory.

I am grateful for the blessing of having her in my life.

I am so proud of her, and I know she is rocking NYC!

She is the greatest example to me of someone ambitious, hardworking, and who has their priorities in line.

How'd I get so lucky to have her as a best friend, I dont know...but ill take it!

I love you Kylee Celeste and I miss you!!!

Senior

(this was taken on our trip headed to take me to BYU)

On wednesday I took my last final of the semester.

Now that officially makes me a Senior. In COLLEGE.

When the heck did I get this old??

Where has all the time gone that even constitutes me to give myself such a title??

I am slightly freeking out.

Everytime I go home I drive by good 'ol Mountain View and think myself...

the majority of the teens there have NO idea how easy they have it.

No real world worries,

big decisions consist of what to do on friday,

or who's going to ask them to prom.

What I wouldn't give to go back for even just a day...life was so eeeeeasy!

Don't get me wrong I love my life now too.

Also, I am fully aware that I do not have it rough and

I am thankful for my experiences, lessons learned, and friends made.

BUT

sometimes I yearn for it to all stop flying by for just a second...even though I know it won't.

Usually I am one to enjoy each day, but I am always looking to the future.

New goals:

enjoy where I am at RIGHT NOW.

enjoy being 20(almost 21)

enjoy being single

enjoy living away from home

enjoy BYU for one more year

enjoy my friends since pretty soon we'll all be scattered

and just enjoy my life and my amazing blessings...every single second.

For your viewing pleasure I love this quote by Jason Blume:

"Listen to that voice inside you that says you can accomplish anything.

Trust that feeling that tells you you can achieve all that you hope for.

Believe that everything you want is waiting for you.

Hold on to the knowledge that nothing is impossible.

Remember that each person who has ever achieved a goal

started out with only a dream."

Hahaha reliving the glory days. I found this on my dad's computer and started laughing at all of us, youd really have to know each of us to know why its so funny to me. ALSO look at Natlie's face. She is the greatest, such a crack up! I received a text from her this morning and it said, "sitting at my college graduation...!" WEIRD! Im going to miss her this summer when she leaves, but cant wait for a funfilled springtime in provo with her! I love all these girls!

TORO Country

I am a proud TORO, always have been and always will be

BUT

Somehow I thought when I came to BYU I would branch out of toro country

This is not the case

we do it to ourselves ill readily admit...I just find it funny

Im proud to say Im a TORO and love mesatown

I feel blessed to have best friends that I can reminisce about HS with

But I have to say that the following conversation that takes place usually at least once a day is getting a bit old... it goes exactly like this:

New friend: "Nice to meet you Katelin(or add any MVT person), so where are you from?"

Me: "Im from Arizona, how about you?"

New friend: (ignoring my question) "You from Mesa?"

Me: "Yep"

New Friend: "Mountain View?"

Me: "Yep"

New friend: "oooh...figures"

Me: "Yep....."

I kid you not...anyone from MV will tell you they've had this conversation a thousand times with people ranging from utah, cali, washington, florida, new york, etc...it nuts!

I slightly hate this, but I feel good about my ties to Mesa and wouldn't trade them for anything but I do feel just as good about the new friends Ive made as well..here are some of my thoughts..

You know you are a TORO at BYU when:

All 4 of your roommates graudated with you

At age 21 and away to college in another state most of those in attendance to your bday dinner (natalie's)youve known since you were 15..lots even sooner

You have a kickball team named the "MESA COUGS"

You hang out with boys you graudated with everynight...and while helping them plan dates with new girls you remember all the girls they used to like and all their awkward dating stories that happened way back when...I think this is my favorite :)

You walk 1 minute and can be talking to a friend you've known since 6TH GRADE

You hang out with Ben at age 21 and still call him "Benny Boo Boo BooBooBoo" like you used to when you were 14...haha ok maybe this is just me and Jessica that can claim this

You have a flag football team of 16 girls and 12 are from mesa...no joke

Finally: You know you're a TORO when you love Mesa, the people, and the weather...and THATS why your best friends are the same ones youve had forever...because that if all else fails...Mesa and all it has to offer you will never fail...cheesy but true!

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

AMAZING

Sooo last week I headed, reluctantly I might add, to my language impairment class. My teacher, bless his heart, means well, but is a bit on the boring side.

I enjoy the material to an extent, I find it intriguing,

BUT
not the biggest fan of attending the class.

No worries Dad, I do, but its not so fun.

ANYWAYS

While walking to class I remembered something!

We would be having a guest speaker, so when I sat down I became perky and excited

to hear what this nice lady in front me was about to say

And let me tell you, I was NOT dissapointed.

Her name was Sylvia Allen, she is a principle at one of the elementary schools here in the Utah Valley and has also been a teacher and vice principle throughout her working years.

She began by telling us a story...

There once were 2 families, excited and packed to pick up their lives and move to Germany.

There was no real reason for the move, it was a life decision, one they made as a family.

Well, on the plane headed to Germany the two families talked and talked about what their

new lives in Germany were going to be like.

They couldn't wait to immerse themselves in the culture, language, and style of living.

Then...something unexpected happened

The pilot comes over the intercom and said that the plane would need to land in Holland

and that it would never be able to finish its flight to Germany...ever

As you can imagine the families were shocked and upset...but nothing could be done

They would need to accept their new change of direction, or forced to be unhappy forevermore.
One family understood that their fate had changed and Holland would soon have to be considered their home so they tried hard to keep a positive attidtude. Then they landed and saw the amazing fields of flowers, beautiful blue skies, clolors upon colors, and a quaint country that offered its own beauty and culture like that of Germany. They now accepted their new home and went off with excitement about their new life adventure and lived happily ever after

The second family, however, did not have such an attitude. They groaned and compalined about the new change in their life and never accepted this different, yet still wonderful adventure. They saw the beaty but would not acknowledge it, they smelled the flowers but turned up their noses, they were not happy and vowed to never be...all because Holland was not Germany.

What does this teach us??
Life is full of unexpected curcumstances and happenings. Changes in plans, hopes, dreams, situations, and list goes on. It is all about what you make of these changes that makes life beautiful.

She began with this story because she then told us about the moment she found out her son was handicapped...severely. She said, like the families, she had to recognize and accept the "change of direction" she was now face with. She said it was all about the help and support she received that made all the difference.

She then continued on in her lecture to speak about her son and the people that were ADVOCATES for him when she was so emotionally drained to be one herself. Then she talked about the children SHE advocated for, children and families she gave hope to because of her "never-give-up" attitude.

This all my seem pointless, random, or even odd to you, but my point is that this woman reminded me, as I sat in a simple hour and a half class, why I want to be a speech pathologist/teacher. Instead of worrying about my midterms, quizzes, or assignments...stressing about not understanidng something like I think I should, what matters is the difference I get to make.

I want to be an advocate

I want to change a child's life

I want to put a smile on a face that normally doesn't have one

I want to make a difference

I want to be a positive ifluence

I want to show that I care and will work HARD for whomever I am advocating for

I want to give a child a new hope

I want EVERY child to know they are special, unique, loved, royal, and able to accomplish absolutley anything they want to.

I want them to know that being different isn't wrong, its brave

I want to be an ADVOCATE

and I will work everyday to make sure every one of these goals is obtained :) Thank you Sylvia for your inspiration and thank you BYU for finally helping me figure out why im in college!

Orange Blossoms

I AM GOING HOME IN 3 WEEKS! I cannot wait! I was in Ky's room this morning subjecting her to my usual incessant talking and she mentioned that she for sure would be heading to Mesa on March 11th and suggested I come with...so anyone who knows me knows I would jump at the chance to be home, so I quickly checked my planner and good news, all my midterms will be done by then so it took me .2 seconds to say, "KY IM COMING WITH!"

I seriously could not be more excited

Family
Friends

Warmth

Mexican food

My home

My mesa!

and best of all...

ORANGE BLOSSOMS

March is my absolute favorite time of the year

I LOVE having the nice spring weather, sunny skies,

and coming out of my house at night smelling the sweet aroma of the orange blossoms

I think only people from mesa appreciate this piece of heaven

I always tell people up here how much I love march for this very reason

and they always look at me with a smile that says...

"Hmmm you get that much joy out of an orange smell...ya...good for you"

But I dont care, its simply the best and I cannot wait so see you soon Mtown!