Still here

Just a quick post to let you (all 3 of you) know that I'm still here. I've just been really busy lately. Also, our laptop died and so it's not as convenient to be on the computer as it used to be. I promise to get caught up later. I have a lot to blog about.

I'm going to make a list to remind me to blog about

1) the pumpkin patch
2) pumpkin carving
3) Halloween party
4) My birthday
5) Primary program

I'm woefully behind in my blog reading but some day I will get caught up.

Have you done any good in the world today

Another great general conference has come and gone. I always feel so blessed to be able to listen to the inspired leaders of our church.

We watched Saturday conference here at home (hooray for BYU TV). This morning we were invited over to the Newberry's again for conference and a wonderful brunch. This is our second time getting to join in their tradition of Sunday Conference Brunch. Lots of great food , great talks and great company.

Several of the talks really spoke to me but my favorite was by President Monson. He talked about service. He talked about a man that would always ask each member of his family nightly what they had done to make someone else's life better that day. He told us of many letters he received in response to his request that people serve each other for his birthday. Some of the examples were so sweet.

It really made me realize how wrapped up I get in my own crazy busy life and how I need to pause the remember what is really important. I am going to start asking myself each day "Have I done any good in the world today?" I hope the answer is always yes.

First day of school and scissors gone bad

Blake started school on the 8th of September. (Yeah, I'm late) He's a big 1st grader now. This is the first time he's gone to school all day. I was worried it might be a bit much for him but he's really loving it.

We were hoping to get his kindergarden teacher Mrs. Bayley because she moved up to 1st grade but he got Mrs. Ahlberg instead. At first I was a little disappointed but after talking to her a few times, I think we are really going to like her. Blake seems to like her a lot. He wasn't disappointed at all.

Sadly, he decided to try out his new scissor skills on his hair. Yep, he took a chunck of his hair out right in the front. I thought we had passed the age where this could happen and that we had dodged this particular typical childhood episode. Apparently he is just a late bloomer.

Oh yeah, did I mention that school pictures will be taken on the 20th? Maybe I should just buzz it.

Takes a lickin and keeps on tickin

It's starting to feel like fall and I'm loving it. The cooler weather makes me think of spice candles, pumpkins, chili, stew, sweaters and all the things I love about fall.

But enough about the weather.

I'm really posting to say that Blake had his follow up with the cardiologist and he passed with flying colors. Everything looks great! He doesn't have to go back for 3 more years. I always hold my breath a little while they are doing the echo-cardiogram and today was no different. So glad that all is well and he doesn't even have that much of a murmur anymore.

Speaking of the word murmur, my son laughs every time someone says this word. This all started when reading scriptures with him one night. We were reading a passage that talked a lot about murmuring and he got the giggles. Now he laughs whenever he hears it and he'll just randomly say "murmur" to make me giggle.

To blog

First of all, thanks to everyone for your input on my last post. I really appreciate it.

I've decided to keep blogging and I'm going to take the advice of a few of you and mush them together. This is my blog. It's for me and my family. I am a big girl and can blog about whatever I like. I don't need to worry about who is or isn't reading it. I've never been that private of a person but I'm sure there are some things that I won't want on the world wide web. For those things, I will use my written journal. It won't be updated as often but at least I'll have a place to put my thoughts down if I don't want the whole world to see.

I like looking back over this blog and seeing the good times and even the bad. I think my child will someday as well. The good, the bad and the ugly. It all makes up this blessed life that we live.

Thanks again, I really do have some great blogging buddies out there and I love ya!

To blog or not to blog...that is the question

When I first started this blog, it was to help me keep some kind of journal of life in the Kelley house. I was very faithful in the beginning and posted several times a week. I have posted a few things here and there that we were purely for having the stories down in writing. But mostly it was just things like vacations, birthdays, milestones in Blake's like, ramblings here and there etc.

Over the last couple of years I have started to taper off in my writing. From several times a week to now it's twice a month if I'm lucky. I am starting to wonder if I am doing it justice. There are only a handful of people that read my blog and most of them I either know if real life or have become close enough to that I have them as Facebook friends (facebook: a whole other story) Anywho, where was I? Oh yes, to blog or not to blog. That is the question. I do have to say that this is the longest I have ever kept any kind of journal at all. On the other hand, I really hesitate in writing some of my true feelings because of the people that I know are reading. So am I giving just a glossed over version of my family and life? I think it would be different if I had family that lived far away and read my blog but I don't and the few that I do keep in touch with, are on Facebook now.

So, do I keep the blog and just keep it like it has been? Do I go private so I can blog about some of my innermost thoughts and know that it's really more of a personal journal? I've heard that some people have both a blog like this and then a private blog where they keep their more private thoughts. If I can't keep up with one blog then I surely can't keep up with 2. I wish I were better about keeping a written journal. I truly do want my posterity to have some kind of history. I would love to have journals written by my parents through the years.

I realize that I'm rambling but hey, it's my blog and I can ramble if I want to right? If some of my family reads this in the future, they should know the real me and the real me...rambles.

Last days of summer

Just home from work and I'm soooooo looking forward to a 5 day weekend. I can't believe that summer is almost at an end. Is it just me or did it go by faster than ever.

For the most part, summer was really hard this year. It started June 6th when my dear friends amazing son died in a car accident. I'm telling you that I blinked and all of June was gone. I've done my best over the months to be there for her. It's so hard to see someone you love in so much pain and you can do nothing to ease it. I mean, there is no fixing that. Sure, time does help a little but there will always be a missing piece. My family has been great. They have supported me when I probably should have been home but was there instead.

How depressing do I sound..sheesh. Don't get me wrong, we have had some fun this summer. We had some great little mini-vacations in August. I love just being with my family no matter where we are but the beach is a nice enhancement for sure.

So now, I have 5 days to get a few things done around the house, have some fun and then it's back to school. I can't believe that Blake will be a 1st grader. He's very excited to go back to school. I think it's mostly because of lunch and recess. He really enjoyed picking out a lunch box and talking about what we'll pack for lunches. Once the newness wears off, we'll see if he's still so excited.

We're talking about going to the Oregon State Fair this weekend. No firm plans but definitely some quality time is in order.