Dance of Joy

Sorry to all current ward members who may read this....but it was TIME!!!!
This has nothing to do with Whirligigs--but...

I have a new calling!!!!!! Unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy it (stupid germs).

So, here is my celebration:



(Can you tell I'm usually not one of those people who cries cause of change in callings? SERIOUSLY--celebrating!!!!)

Thank you! You may now return to your heat induced comma!

Pictures....So, last year (in October, I believe)...

So, last year (in October, I believe), I went to the KC Union Station with my niece and nephew. My nephew is train crazy, so we had a blast! Here are SOME of the many pictures I took.

Oh, and yes, I do keep up my other 2 blogs better than this one. I just don't link them directly to Fbook any more, mainly cause I've found some wonderful people (whom I love) have a harder time with those blogs (they are more opinionated...this one just shows travels, and obviously, doesn't get updated very often!!!)

Here's the pics:



We first went to the BS Agricultural Museum--where they gave us a train ride. This awesome guy came out to meet us too. My nephew has an interstitial lung disease (the only non-fatal one), so they let us ride alone to avoid germies, which he needs to stay away from!



Checkin' out the chickens and duckies!

Next, we went to downtown KCMO, the Crown Center. The kids got to play in the fountain (it was an immensley warm day!), and we went to this cool Train Restaurant in the Center. The trains deliver your food. The "little man" woke up right in time to tell us "It's a train!". The whole restaurant got a kick out of his gleeful announcements every time a train came out!





C-Anne thoroughly enjoyed her rootbeer float!

Then we went to the Union Station Train Museum. So funny, the train crazed boy was not as keen about getting really up close to the real, big trains!





He really wanted to watch them drive by though! I think we only got to see one. He was kind of disappointed. But, then we went to Science City, the Children's Museum at the Union Center, and had a BLAST!!!





And, this is my favorite picture of the day!



We had a wonderful time. Wish I had time to put up all the pictures. But, I don't.

The next adventure will be to the Kaleidoscope in Jan. Hopefully it will be posted before July :)!!!

So, I'm trying to catch up....let's start with last year!

Here is my Christmas Card. I can't send it to everyone--so I'm posting it here :)

Hello all---

Well, I’ve been trying to figure out how to do the old Christmas Card this year….as I’ve been able to get reconnected with so many old friends and family I don’t get to see very often on:
Fb and B l o g g e r
that I need something that can be versatile. So, here is my attempt at something versatile.

This year my life has consisted of 7 plane rides (14 in all), which is more than I’ve ever made in a year’s time. So, my letter will summarize those trips.

Jan-Jun: I took 2 trips to



for work. I’ve continued a crazy/busy schedule working 2/3 jobs each semester—combining GRA (research assistant), GTA (Teaching assistant), and being a tutor of a little girl with Down Syndrome (the one I do for fun—and to keep me sane, cause she’s a joy to work with!) I traveled to Phoenix for the GRA job—and although, yes, Phoenix is very warm—I must admit I still don’t know how anyone lives there (I love green way too much to “get” it)! But, both trips were good experiences.

Then, in April I attended one of 4 “professional” conferences here:



I quite enjoyed my second visit to Boston. But, decided to not just stop there! I also took the train to:



And spent a joyful day seeing the Manhattan Temple, rushing to General Conference at a church house about 4 blocks away, seeing Ground Zero, having lunch and frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity’s (Yum!!!), spending the afternoon at Central Park, including a fun carriage ride, and seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway. Then, I woke up bright and early to take the train to:



It was my first time to D.C.—and luckily I was able to go right when the Cherry Trees were in bloom! It was beautiful, quite the hike, and I was able to see the Documents in the Document Building before they closed! Then I had dinner at a nice D.C. café, and went to the hotel and CRASHED before waking up bright and early for a flight back home! Whew!

My next fun did not involve a plane ride---rather a trip of all my stuff in a moving van! I moved from an apartment (full of second hand smoke) to a duplex—without second hand smoke and with a garage! I’m enjoying having more room, a full kitchen, and the garage! Two days later I went on vacation---the only one I took this year that did not involve work, visiting family, or a conference! I went on The Longest Yardsale, and went through a bunch of states including: Kentucky, Tennessee (stopped in Chattanooga which was incredibly fun), Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. I also visited down town St. Louis for the first time. I found some great stuff on the Yardsale, and thoroughly enjoyed most of my trip through the south! Here is just one of many pictures from that trip:



This is a picture of the aquarium in Chattanooga on the boat dinner trip I took. Afterward, I played hooky for a day with these 2 (my niece and nephew):



I’ve been able to do that a couple times this year—and with their new little sister! We especially enjoy Cici’s Pizza, Sherridan’s Frozen Custard, and anything involving trains!

In September I took my first trip “up north” to:



I quite enjoyed Milwaukee, and the hotel I got to stay in (I usually go far cheaper, but splurged!) I also had a few extra hours before flying home to attend the Titanic Exhibit at the Milwaukee Museum. Wow! And, the presentation I went for was very successful, which is always nice (as I did go for a conference).

In November I attended a conference here:



Which also was quite fun (although I still don’t understand the insane freeway system in Dallas!) even though I was sick for the conference.

Next, I took a trip here for yet another conference:



(Nashville, TN), and have discovered that Nashville is one of “the” places to be for Christmas! Finally, I will be going here for Christmas:



Whew! That’s a lot of traveling. I have to tell ya’ll, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this year, and all the traveling, but look forward to a couple months next year without a plane trip :)

So that’s about it for my 2008—busy, crazy as usual. Hope this letter finds you all happy and enjoying your Christmas Holidays! Merry Christmas!

Hello little blog....

Well, hello little blog. I'm sorry you've been so neglected lately. I have so much to update. A trip to Milwaukee---one to Dallas---one to Nashville. A great trip on trains and to Union Station with my niece and nephew that was marvelously fun. Even a trip to UT--and then my parents back with me. Fun in down town Independence. What joy! And yet--here I still am not adding much to the blog. I'm sorry about that. It will occur someday.......but just know--much fun has been had!

Where is she???

Well--this whirligig has 2 posts to post---and way to much homework to post them!!!! Soon--hopefully soon!

Special Request!

Hey ya'll out there who regularly read my blog....and have links on your blogs to my blog:

I have a special request.

As the "web" is what it is--I do try to make sure that I am careful.

So, I am requesting that upon your links on your blogs/cites---please refrain from using my full name and my last name on your links.

Please either use just my first name, or my initials.

I hope to do the same for you--so if you'd prefer your name be listed a different way on my blog links, please let me know.

Thanks!

CELEBRATE!!!! GREATER KC AREA TEMPLE!!! WOO HOO!!!

So--I have my hammer. Let's start building!!!!

I have to say...more than once in my life the Lord has let me know---has blessed me with a testimony of new temples to be built. This time....I even received a calling that went along with it. Had no idea it could occur so soon. But let's get a building before anyone or thing can "come against it". Go KC Team!!!