Kim's World

Happy Leap Day ! Since this day only comes around once every four years, we should celebrate it somehow. I want to do something fun with my kids, but I am stripped of ideas. Any suggestions?? So, today is the last day of the February photo challenge. I have seen some March photo challenges roaming around. I've decided not to participate. It seems my little ol' camera and a few of my pulled-from-yahoopics-pictures aren't cutting it. Not very exciting to the professionals. Thank you to all the professional photographers who endured my not so creative or talented ideas for the photo challenge. I know your comments weren't directed towards me and I am not offended, but you certainly need to be careful what you say on a social network. I didn't know this was a contest. I thought it was for fun. Oh well, I've been wrong before. My last photo I snagged from online...I'm listening to 104.1 the fish in Portland:

Money, money, money...it comes in...and quickly goes out! This is what my kids think we have: Yeah, I wish, I would have an orchard full!

One of my favorite places to go is the Jelly Belly Factory . My kids love it too. We have such great memories of going there with different friends and family. Here is a picture of when we went with our cousin, Stacie and my niece, Hope. Jelly Bellies aren't my favorite candy but the experience of going to the factory is awesome!  

Oops! I forgot a post! I was supposed to post a "night" picture today, and completely spaced. Do you forgive me? I will post tomorrow. We had a ladies meeting at my house tonight, which by the way, was wonderful. But that was all that was on my mind today besides the awesome anointing we felt in service today. God is so good! So good night, I'll be back tomorrow :)

This is so appropriate! Today is "green" day and it just so happens that green is my favorite color...and...It's my BIRTHDAY!! I am 25, again! HA! Anyhow, moving on...here is my "green" picture for the day. My girls' dresser. I love this dresser. My mom painted this for them and I just think it is so adorable. Didn't she do an awesome job?  Now, there is another birthday today! My dear friend, Dawn Bolding! She and I share a birthday. I miss her very much. She lives in Arizona now, her and her husband have a church down there in Winslow (keep them in your prayers). I went there last summer to see them. It was awesome! I'm actually going to Phoenix here in a month, and she's gonna come down there! I'm so excited! I can't wait!  Dawn and I lived down the road from one another for a few years. Well, four to be exact. For over a year, I would drive down to her house at 5 am, almost every weekday morning, to pray. I can say, this was the m...

So, I spared you from seeing my kids' bathroom cabinet. You can thank me later. No matter how many times it gets "organized" it doesn't last. Here is my cabinet, such as it is:   Ronnie only stores his razor and toothbrush in here. My "stuff" takes up too much room. I'm like my dad, I could have a cosmetic store in my cabinet. Not Ronnie, he has like 4 items. I need a suitcase for all my stuff when we go on vacation. He tosses his in a little cosmetic bag. That's why we get along so well, he gives me space. lol! 

OK, I like shoes. Actually, I love shoes. I love boots. I love flip flops. Those are my two favorites. Then I like ballet flats. But I don't like heels very much. I wear them, they serve a purpose I'm sure (haven't figured out what yet) but they aren't my first choice. I like comfort. And the older I get the more I appreciate it. Here are the shoes I am wearing today:  Cool, huh? Levi took this picture for me this morning. You can see his shadow. It looks like a duck! :)

Work . What do you think when you hear that word? The word work is subjective. It is processed in every person's mind differently. If I were to ask a person, say age 65 or older, they are likely to describe work as physical labor. Those of us who are younger know that work is not always physical labor. So when I describe where I work , some people may say, "that's not work !" Hence the reason work is subjective. It is relative to each person's situation and occupation. For me, I am blessed because my " work ", my first job, is my children. I wouldn't classify it as a job. It is a privilege, a blessing the Lord saw fit to give me. I am thankful. My second "job" for now is school. This is something I chose to do. Primarily because of my first "job". I want to be better for them. I want to show them that no matter how old you are, you still need an education. So here is where I " work ":  And this is what I do:  Fun ...

If I had to choose a favorite photo of myself, it'd probably be from when I was about 2. Or if I was still 16, I would post several favorite pictures! But since I'm neither 2 or 16, I'll just post a picture of me with my favorite people. Does that work?? Sorry, they are a few years old...we seriously need a new family picture!

Before I begin, I just want to say that yesterday marked my 200th post! Anyhow, I thought that was pretty cool! "Handwriting"

I love surprises! Especially, when they involve people. This weekend we were surprised by a visit from our dear friends, the Reighards. Well, they were heading back home from a quiz tournament in Spokane, and sweetly took the time to meet us for lunch/dinner. We go back a ways...in fact, as newlyweds we lived in neighbor apartment complexes then later, after a few children (four for each of us), we were neighbors again on Niemann Ave. What wonderful memories we have! We love the Reighards, and were so thankful they took the time to visit with us! Elle, Delaney and Darilyn Levi, Dallas and Myles (Can you say, "cheesy"?) Denae and Ashley Melissa and I (looks like the wall art is coming out of the side of my head)

Yeah, I know, the list says "something I hate" but hate is too strong of a word to throw out randomly. I try not to use it and encourage my kids to be careful how they use the word hate. Therefore, my picture today is of something I dislike to do:   Yep, you got it! Laundry! Now, I don't mind washing it. But the whole folding it and putting it away, *sigh*, takes forever it seems. Especially, when you have six people changing their clothes every day! But now I've gotten wiser, I've been teaching my children how to fold and put away...it has become one of their chores...and you know what? It hasn't hurt them one bit! :)

Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE coffee. Not just any coffee though. I'm kinda picky. My dear friend, Javawn took care of that with her passion for coffee. And I'm thankful! I'm not a soda drinker or "pop" as they call it up here. Occasionally, I'll have a sprite. I do drink juice and milk but not all day, pretty much water and coffee (in the morning). I do try to limit it to the morning. However, I could drink it later in the day but then about 2 a.m., my eyes pop open and I'm wide awake. Not good when you have to get up at 6 a.m. My owl cup makes it even sweeter!

Time is elusive  Time escapes When we think we've got it under control It moves on Time heals Time mends We say "give it time" and expect that to be enough Not always Time can be a friend Time can be an enemy It is what we choose to do with it Choose wisely ~ K. Marquez

This is such a sad, sad post...:(...I have something new, still in it's box, untouched...AND I'VE HAD IT FOR A MONTH!!! Ergh! I find that very frustrating because I want to open it up, use it and create! Unfortunately, I haven't had time. I am currently in my last two terms of school. Actually, to be more specific, I am in week 6 of 10, in winter term and I only have ONE more term before I graduate! While that is SO exciting, it is also a HUGE time sucker! But here is my "new" toy:       Besides dreaming about being someplace warmer, like Arizona, I've also been dreaming up all kinds of things I want to make my girls. OK, OK, I've also been dreaming about making me some clothes too. In fact, just last night I found a really cool website. Uh huh, I'll be going back! 

That's a phone?? This is the question my kids have asked when they have seen a phone like this:  Yahoo pics We've never had a phone like that in our home. In fact, it has been over two years that we've even had a land line in our house. My kids only know cell phones, really. I was recently at a yard sale and someone was selling a rotary dial phone. I almost bought it. I loved to dial on those phones and listen to the sound as it went back from the top. Then things began to change and they replaced the dial with buttons. How boring! I wonder what my grandmother would think if she saw a cell phone? She'd probably ask the same question my kids did, "that's a phone?"

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! I love Valentine's day! It is one of my favorite holidays. All the heart shaped candy, the little notes of love, hugs and kisses from loved ones, ahh...it is so warm and fuzzy! This morning, I made heart-shaped pancakes. They were much yummier than just plain circle (or lopsided circles in my case) pancakes. We just felt the love pulsating out of them :). Here is Elle's peanut butter pancake: Then my sweet girls made me valentine's while I was getting ready. Here is Ashley's: And here is Elle's (inside and out): Are you wondering what the boys did? Well, they said, "thank you for the pancakes, mom. Love you, um..happy valentine's. Did you get us a valentine's gift?" *sigh* no, I forgot! But I didn't tell them that. I told them it'll be on their beds when they get home. :) Then after I took them to school, I made a dash to Target! And I while there, I spoke with a dear friend, now my Valentine's day ...

Ahh...something blue. Well, the first thing that came to mind was my two blue-eyed babies. Both Levi and Ashley have blue eyes. How? Genetics. Neither Ronnie or I, have blue eyes. His are brown and mine are green. Elle ended up with brown and Myles has green. Here is my "Blue" picture for the day:

Sorry folks, today has been a very long day, and for me it isn't over. I am fixing to get my kiddos in bed and take a math test. I'm really hoping to get to bed soon. So, as far as the "your closet" picture goes, it ain't happenin'. First: I haven't had a chance to take a picture and second: you wouldn't be impressed. It isn't very organized right now. Maybe I should post a picture just to show my imperfect side. Besides, today was a rather emotional, thought-provoking, introspective sort of day. This will likely turn into a blog post when I can weed through the trash and filter through my thoughts on what has been happening lately. My mind is in a muddle. For now, I am trusting in God to help me through this and give me wisdom and understanding.

This is very, very hard! I cannot choose just one thing that makes me happy. First and foremost, knowing I am saved and I am a child of God, makes me very happy. Then the list goes on...my family, my friends, church, the word of God, babies, coffee, chocolate, flowers, animals, little sweet notes from my children, unexpected kisses and hugs from my children, the fact that my husband makes the bed for me every morning, oh man, I could go on and on. So I am just going to post a few pictures of only SOME of the things/people that make me happy. I LOVE MY FAMILY! Being with them makes me the happiest! Babies are wonderful, especially this cute little one! Comedy act in motion! Love these boys! *Sigh* My babies! My whole world! LOVE this man!

OK, so I seriously dislike self-portraits. I usually get a great double-chinned look or up-the-nose shot, which is not impressive at all! So, fortunately for you, I didn't do a self-portrait. We had a field trip today (Myles and I) to a super duper, cool place called, "Biztown". The kids actually "run" the businesses, make money, write checks, conduct interviews, work together as a team and so many more things. It was awesome. I helped at BZTV, the T.V. station. I didn't choose my job, it was given to me. Really, the volunteers were only there to observe and offer support or redirection if needed. (Oh, I did help with the recording equipment). Otherwise, the kids did all the work. They had a business plan, had to create a loan amount and was supposed to create enough revenue in the day to repay the loan. Each child received two checks in the day, had a checkbook, had to make a deposit and a withdrawal. Every business had bills and had to send bills. It wa...

This is the front door of a church in Yuma, AZ that my great-grandma, Oma Ellis, started. This was one of the many works she began. It was amazing to be there where she once preached the gospel. What a legacy!

I live in Portland. It is beautiful. However, we get A LOT of rain this time of year. Well, actually, we get A LOT of rain, period. So I cannot post a picture of the sun today as it is raining. Here is a few pics of where I would like to be right now, where there is A LOT of sun: from first pic to last, Winslow, AZ; Winslow, AZ; Grand Canyon, AZ; Prescott, AZ; Grand Canyon, AZ; Las Vegas, NV.  

When I look at how fast my children grow...this is what I wish I could push: