Of Princesses and other things...

I'm going to tell you a story. 

Once upon a time, I had this great idea.  I was going to change the world.  I thought that maybe I'd be a doctor.  I knew that I wasn't going to be a lawyer (my dad had that one covered). There were days when I considered being a writer.  When I started college, I even considered going into accounting (I have no idea why I ever thought that was a good idea).  Oh...and there was that stint where I wanted to be an athletic trainer.  Some days I still kick myself for not following through with that dream.  I still love everything about sports (even if I'm not athletically inclined).  I nearly declared Christian Education as a major, but my Psych 101 prof was pretty dynamic and compelling and I fell in love with psychology.  I decided to major in Psychology, knowing that I would need a Masters degree to do anything with it.  That's when I decided to change the world as a counselor. 

Oh...what was I thinking?!?!? 

I remember praying constantly during my sophomore and junior years when I was making that decision.  I felt God so near at times, and every step seemed to be confirmed by and overwhelming sense of peace and by the affirmation from those who knew me best and prayed for me the most.  I was at peace with counseling.  So...my senior year I applied for grad school and never had a doubt that that was what I was supposed to do and it's what I did.

My major professor told me that I could pretty easily get into a doctoral program out of college if I wanted.  I was terrified of that thought.  Now I wonder.  I look back and am amazed at how incredibly naive and scared I was.  I made safe decisions.  I'm pretty sure I would have done okay as a doctoral student.  I did just fine as a masters student.  I'm glad I didn't go there though.  I probably would have done okay, but I would have been destroyed.  I know that now.  As it was, I was still destroyed.  I just took a different path getting there.

I spent nearly three years working as a therapist at a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility.  It was the hardest thing I've ever done.  I loved those kids...as messed up as they were.  It was a dark time.  I worked too much with little support.  I lived on adrenaline and cortisol...oh and caffeine.  I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders always.  I felt the darkness around me like a blanket.  At times it was suffocating.  And I got to know God in a way that I probably never would have otherwise.  He truly is the LIGHT in the darkness.  I know where my help comes from.  I couldn't have survived without Him and the people He sent to me. 

Despite all of that...the many, many ways that He took care of me, I was on the brink of complete burnout.  So...in July, He reached out His hand and scooped me up out of the pit of despair that I was sinking into.  I don't really advocate for praying that you'll loose your job, but I cannot tell you the relief that I have felt and the many ways that God blessed me despite the loss of my job.  It sucks really.  It's a huge blow to the ego to get laid off.  I miss those kids.  I miss a lot of the people I worked with. 

In the last several months I've been able to do so many things that I never had time for before.  I've been able to get back to a regular exercise routine.  It's been wonderful.  Wherever I land, that will be one of my top priorities.  Daily exercise.  I need to run/walk/life weights.  I've also had opportunities to volunteer with my church and another amazing program called Girls on the Run.  I can't say enough good things about GOTR.  God definitely used that program, the people I worked with, and the girls to bring healing to me.  I can't wait for the next season to begin and hope beyond hope that I'll be able to coach again (pending my next job). 

I've also been able to really reconnect with my KC family.  I get to hang out with Sammy and Duncan nearly every morning.  I get to see Sid and Abbie on a regular basis and have been able to go to KU games with Sid's parents.  That family has blessed me beyond belief.  I am SO thankful for them and how they've adopted me into their family. 

God has also given me an opportunity that I dreamed but never really imagined growing up.  The chance to write and influence girls through imagination and up close, personal encounters with Jesus.  My good friend Kelly and I are writing a curriculum for a Bible Study and outreach event for young girls.  It's called Party Like a Princess.  I'm half-way finished with the Bible study and I'm amazed at what God is teaching ME- things He's been trying to speak into my heart for a long time, but I guess I was too busy to really hear His whispers.  I hope these girls really hear these truths.  In the coming days and weeks, I'll post more about those lessons.  In March, I head to Ohio to the Party.  I'm so excited about it. 

In the meantime, I look for jobs and pray that the Lord will be my courage and help me to not allow fear of the hard stuff to keep me from His blessings, not only for me but for other people.  He's a good God.  I'm walking on with faith.  It's been a wild ride, but there is Joy in the Lord.  Always...

i am not

Long awaited return

It's been a LONG time.  One of my best friends just entered the world of blogging and I got to thinking that somewhere in the craziness that was my life I quit.  Maybe it's time to get started again.  I just need to figure out how to fix the settings on the page...

Stay tuned...

i am not

I've Been Wrong...

So I had this thought sitting in Church yesterday listening to Pastor preach about the pursuit of happiness...I have been so incredibly wrong. My thoughts, my motivations, my actions...I've been wrong. The cognitive therapist in me wants to dig into that (and trust me I have) simply to unpack those core beliefs and dysfunctional thought processes that have led to this epiphany. And then...to discuss how this impacts my present thoughts, actions, and feelings. It's like a domino effect.

I was walking on Saturday evening listening to a podcast of Mosaic in LA. Erwin was speaking on the beatitudes, particularly the one where Jesus says that the pure in heart will see God. To be honest, right now I don't remember a lot of what he said, which is unusual because Erwin's messages tend to sink in and I process them for days. I do remember one line from the talk though. "Jesus doesn't want to make you better; He wants to make you different." And then yesterday in Church it hit me while Pastor Dave was preaching on how we pursue happiness when really we need to pursue God, who will create in us so much more than happiness. I've been wrong. They are right. Jesus wants to make me different. He wants to create something in me that doesn't just make me better or happy but produces something that will actually last. Yet at the same time, He's not about the business of making me miserable or trying to keep me that way.

Since my last post, the hurricane that's been my life hasn't weakened. In fact, if anything the winds near the eye wall are so much stronger. Last week was insane...even more so than normal. I've got kids MELTING DOWN on an hourly basis. I've got parents who are mad that their kids aren't making progress. I don't blame them. They just want a normal, healthy kid. I can't fix everything that wrong; in fact, I CAN'T FIX ANYTHING. Yet in all of this, there's peace. It doesn't make sense. Even when I wanted to call my boss and quit, I didn't want to call my boss and quit- which really doesn't make sense. I am different for having this experience... not just better and certainly not happy. I'm different. I see the world through different eyes. Maybe that's been the point. It's hard. And I'm okay. There's only ONE who could make that happen. There is Peace...when you're in the I AM.

i am not

So I was going to add more pictures from my trip to Seattle. That obviously didn't happen. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this blogging thing. My life is not really all that interesting anyway.

It's been eleven months since I started this job. There are many days that I wonder how I'm going to make it through the next five minutes. I never expected it to be so...hard. I had all these visions for how I thought my life would unfold. There has been nothing that went as I thought...except maybe graduating from college and earning my masters. Boy, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I can remember sitting at Starbucks one January during grad school. I was just about ready to diagnose myself clinically depressed, even though I couldn't technically diagnose anything at the time. In so many ways I was miserable. My faith was beaten down...I remember envisioning pictures of the destruction after a storm like a hurricane or tornado has passed through a town. I felt pretty battered. Somewhere on my computer is the letter I wrote to God on that cold evening. And then He reminded me of the story He told of the wise man and the foolish man- how the wise man built his house on the rock and when the winds and rain came the house stood. I was that person...I realized that the foundation was still there, the structure was still there, but my house needed some major renovations and I couldn't do them myself. I remember thinking that before Jesus started his ministry at the age of 30 that he was a carpenter. Who better than to renovate a beaten down house than a master carpenter?

Now, my carpenter keeps everything in top order- as long as I let Him have complete go of the place. But the thing is, for the last year or so the storm has been pretty constant, and the winds have gotten a lot stronger lately. Work is tough- the rain and winds there never let up. Life is...well...I don't really feel like I have a life outside of that place. And the loneliness has set in...just more wind and rain.

I sat in church this morning in tears as Pastor talked about how powerful the prayers are of those in right standing with God. He reminded us that we don't have to carry all the baggage of life around with us. We can set it at the foot of the cross, and let the one whose yolk is easy, bear the burden for us. Even now as the tears can't seem to be kept at bay, I am reminded that even though the winds are fierce, Jesus is the Master of the winds. I so would have been the disciple that woke Him when he was sleeping in the front of the boat. The forecast seems to be pretty gloomy. More wind and rain. But they say the winds are the most fierce the closer you get to the eye of the storm where there is peace. Jesus promised His peace...maybe all this wind and rain just mean that I'm getting pretty close to Jesus.

i am not

So...it's been awhile...

(there is more where this pic came from, i promise...just not today)

So...

It's been awhile. I know that I haven't posted in...forever. There is a reason, but it's not a very good one. Although, the only stories I've had to tell are about work, and quite frankly, I'm sick to death of work. BUT IT'S THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I DO. So that's why I haven't posted in forever. For the record, here is a breakdown of my year...

January: Work, work, and more work. OH and KU basketball. It was a pretty good month on the basketball front. Work was crazy and I finally moved into my very own office (at work of course).

February: Again...work. This will be a theme. Just want you to know. Nothing exciting in February except that my Jayhawks continued to play very well and wrapped up the Conference Title for the FIFTH year in a row. It was awesome!


March: Work…and basketball. My Hawks ruined my favorite weekend: Conference Tournament Weekend. I took a rare day off to watch basketball...AND my Jayhawks promptly lost their first game. It completely ruined the day for me, so I went to work. It's probably a good thing I did. One of my kids was having a rough day and I was able to work with him/her and help them to calm down. After all was well again, he/she, who is also a KU fan said that they weren't glad the Jayhawks lost and made me have a bad day, but they were glad because I came to work and they needed me. Ah...that kid was successfully discharged home by the end of that month. March Madness began and it was a pretty good time.

April: Work...but no more basketball. And the team that won it all was the WRONG one.

May: Someday maybe I'll be able to say that I LOVE my job. Yeah...that's not going to happen anytime soon. More work...but I really started to take some of my life back. I finally made it back to small group (although I'm pretty sure this happened BEFORE May). It's been an amazing time with new friends. I love my small group and miss them when I can't make it.

So that brings us to June...we're only half-way in and on Monday I marked my ninth month at my current job. I celebrated by taking a mini-vacation and heading to the upper left coast. My gift to myself that day was an iced mocha from a nice little coffee shop in downtown Kirkland, WA and a relaxing hour spent on the lake shore. It was a great day. Speaking of my mini-vacation...there will be more pictures. I promise.


Oh, and Kara...thanks again for letting me crash at your place. It was very needed and much appreciated.

Better go for now. Will post pictures later.

i am not

2009?

It's crazy to think that it's already 2009! Hope everyone's had a Happy New Year so far.

This post will not be long...just wanted to say that I'm still alive and that life has been much better in the last several weeks. I'll post Christmas pictures and stuff later...hopefully it won't be too long. Until then...

KJo

The tough stuff...

Where to start?

Last week was a nightmare. I can't even begin to describe the amount of anxiety, inadequacy, and general lack on knowledge that I felt all week long. There's too much to do, and not enough time. Too many people to deal with... How do I address this issue? What do I say to the parents? Where do I start with the kids? How do I navigate this problem? Do I just dip in a little bit at a time or dive in to the deep stuff? If I dive in, how do I get to the heart of the issue? What is the heart of the issue? In the last several months, I have often wondered what in the world I have gotten myself into. Now, I'm wondering how I'm going to stay in or even if I should?

There was this song we used to sing when I was in high school. It goes something like this, "He never promised that the cross would not get heavy, or the hill would not be hard to climb. He never offered our victories without fighting, but He said help would always come in time. Just remember when you're standing in the valley of decision, and the adversary says give in; just hold on, our Lord will show up and He will take you through the fire again." I feel like I'm standing in that valley...all by myself. Where can I go from here? There's nothing to go to right now. There is this great cry within me to walk away...I can't handle this. All I want is peace...to be free. I want to be able to breathe again. To sleep without the torment. To not wake up in tears. I don't want an ulcer!

Pastor talked about living a life of Thanksgiving...of being Thankful in all circumstances. It's a choice I have to make. Because He didn't promise that this would be easy. In fact, it's the hardest thing I've ever done. Someone once said that which doesn't break you only makes you stronger...or something like that. I'm broken every day, and yet I continue on. I hope I'm becoming stronger, because right now I'm so weak. I pray for peace, for strength, for wisdom. My friends pray for me. So many people storming the gates. And He's here...He has to be. And it's my choice...to be Thankful. Even with tears running down my face...with a knot in the pit of my stomach...the dread of the coming days...

I choose to be Thankful.

I choose to be content in my circumstance. To rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

No matter what tomorrow brings...

i am not

Short Update

I suppose it's about time for a new post. I know I promised an update on how the new job is going. Unfortunately for you...that update is going to have to wait. Know this...it's been a stressful, overwhelming transition and it's by the grace of God alone that I'm making it. I believe that I'm where I'm supposed to be for this moment.

I really will update more later on some of the crazy fun I've had adjusting to this job. For now...I'm exhausted. Until some time in the future...

KJo

DO YOU EVEN LIKE ME?

Have you ever had a day when you just said (or thought), "I wonder if God likes me." My roommate and I were having this conversation the other day. Life has been a little beyond interesting lately and the storms have definitely been beating the you know what out of us. Basically, the fire has been a bit hot, friends. God refines and disciplines in ways that are quite frankly painful sometimes.

Now deep down I know I don't have to wonder if God like me. Of course God LOVES me. I know that...He doesn't have to prove it because He already has. But sometimes as a humanoid living in this fallen world, the questions start to creep in and I find myself looking to the heavens and crying out..."God, do you even like me anymore?"

Well...today was just the opposite. I left work saying..."God must really like me today." Now I know the theology is all wrong...I know that. I'm just saying. And I think God is okay with that...in fact, I think He was probably getting a kick out of it. He's like the parent that just sits back and laughs when the kid finally figures out that what the parent said all along was true. How long ago was it that He sent the message to me to just BE STILL...? Three months...I did okay, except for maybe the last couple of weeks. I have been disciplined...and I come back wondering how I ever could have doubted. He didn't promise me anything. In fact the message was just that...Kayla, I'm not promising you anything except MY presence. I'm here...and it's alright (even if you can't pay your bills right now) I KNOW. Trust ME.

Deep down I knew that no matter what, He is a GREAT God. That's not changed in the last two hours. Just because I woke up with one job this morning and left work with another job to start on Monday, doesn't mean that He liked me any better at two o'clock than He did at six o'clock. I'm just saying...though probably not very well.

So, if you ever wonder if God likes you...I've been there too. But for me today... :) Monday I get to be a therapist again. It'll be tough. In fact, Monday evening I may wonder what I've gotten myself into, but I know that for the next part of my journey, this is my place. I can go back to just being still and letting Him be God...why didn't I just let Him in the first place?

i am not

(KJo)

Time for an update...

Well...it's been a while. I'm sitting on my couch listening to the sound of the rain, which I love. I was reading a really great book, but decided I needed to check my email instead. Then...I decided to check Kara's blog and see what's been going on in Seattle. Finally, I figured that it was probably past time that I update my own. So here it is...

Have I ever mentioned that I love the mountains? No?...well, I do. Since I've been out of a job (more coming on that topic very soon) and my parents decided to go on vacation a month later than normal, I decided I'd go with them. So...the one good thing about being unemployed was my second trip to the mountains this year.
One beautiful day we rented a jeep and drove up the mountain to the beautiful lake in the picture above. Despite my claims that we almost died three times, Klay actually did a very great job driving. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to attempt the hour and a half long drive up that sometimes extremely narrow, sharp-curving, super steep drop-off, rocky road he so expertly drove us up. Kudos to you Bink!
It was so cold when we got to the lake...seriously, we were almost at the top of the stinkin' mountain, but I decided that I actually wanted to make it to the top...or at least attempt to make it to the top. What you can't see in the pictures is just how steep this mountain is. Somehow, I convinced my uncle Wayne and my little brother that we should start hiking up the thing. Klay eventually puttered out on us, but Wayne and I made it over half-way up before realizing that we didn't have enough time to make it to the top. We had to stop every so often to catch our breath and make sure that our hearts didn't beat out of our chests...something about high altitude, I don't know. It was a nice hike though, thanks to the big horned sheep trails. Maybe next year we'll actually make it to the top.

Here's a look at the lake from where we stopped climbing. It looks so little from this vantage point. It was a beautiful view.
So...these pictures are just a few of my favorite river shots. I love the sound of the water rushing down the mountain. My cousin Matt and his wife Emily were able to come out Labor Day weekend and join us. They've got two of the cutest kids on the planet. This picture of Wyatt is my favorite. Nana and Darla were making him laugh and he kept wrinkling his nose. It was way too cute.

It was a great trip to the mountains with the family. I was sure glad to get home though.

So...job news...I've got one. I start this coming Monday at TLC in Olathe. I'll be a Residential Case Specialist at the Residential Treatment Facility for adolescents...hopefully in route to therapist. We'll see. At any rate, it's a job. Praise Jesus! However, it looks like for the time being I will have to get a second job to make ends meet...still working on that one.

Everything else in life is still moving along as it always was. Nothing too excited to report...other than it's football season again. :) Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Not much else happening... I'll be sure to update sometime next week with how the new job starts out. Until then...I'll be enjoying the rain.

KJo

Last day...

So...today was my last day of work. Still no new job. Maybe that will change tomorrow. I'll eventually update and let everyone know. These last several months have definitely been a test of faith and patience and so many other things. I've had to reassess everything I believe about God and why. In many ways I feel as if my faith has been put to the fire. I've been disciplined...and I know I'll come out of this with a refined character...one that hopefully looks a little more like Jesus. More than ever before I'm learning to rest in the shadow of the Almighty...to live in the present and trust the future to the God I know to be true and good. I don't get it...any of it. But then...I don't have to.

So...after four years, today was my last "official" day with the McKnight boys. I'll still be around. That family has become like my own...I don't really expect that to change right now...except I won't see them every day. It was definitely an emotional day for me, so I took the boys to the zoo. I love the zoo and I love taking Duncan there (Sammy too). Since D was little he has loved animals. It's incredible that a three year old could actually tell you the difference between African and Asian elephants...and identify which is which. One of my favorite Duncan memories was when he tried to tell one of the zoo keepers what a certain animal was. I think that was about a year ago. It was such a fun moment. Below are a couple of my favorite pictures of the day. I have so many more, but I don't think I'll share just yet. Here's a look at one of the Ring-tailed Lemurs just hanging out. He looks a little bit sad...just watching life go by. Kind of how I felt today.

Duncan walking a head of me on the way to see the Leopard. He was so excited about his new clothes that his mama sent him from Michigan. A bit big on him, but oh so cute. This kid is one of a kind.

I love this picture. I was walking a head of the boys on the bridge and just turned the camera behind me and snapped. This is what I got. Such a special kid...the King of the Sillies (as Duncan and I like to call him).

So it was an emotional but good day. Praying that tomorrow is another good one...and not nearly as emotional. We'll see. I'll update more later. I've got mountain pictures to post too. Until then...

i am not

Jobs and Mountains

I suppose it's time for an update. So much going on and yet nothing is going at all. The job search continues. My last day with the McKnights is August 13th. I'd really like to have a job lined up before then, but...who knows. I actually have an interview on Friday and am excited and hopeful about the possibility of that. I'd still have to get another part time job so I'm thinking I'll head down to the nearest Starbucks and bug the manager to hire me. I think I'd make a pretty decent Barista...I can control myself enough to not spend my entire paycheck on coffee drinks. I think.

In other news...I'm headed west on Friday to spend a few days in the mountains with Nana and Papa. They were planning on being out there next week and since it's my birthday I begged them to let me come crash their party. I didn't have to beg too much. Traditionally, my family would be leaving on Saturday for a week in Red River, but that's not happening for another month. So I'm really excited about going out to the mountains. I love 'em and can't wait to wake up to the cool, crisp, clean mountain air.

Well...I'm so sleepy. My friends and I went to see The Dark Knight last night. Great movie...but I was up way too late. It's catching up with me right now. So I think I'll sign off for now. I'll post more later on some of the lessons I've been learning through this job search. Or maybe I won't. I don't really have a good record of blog posting lately. So well see. Until then...

i am not

aka KJo

Of jobs and such...

It's time for an update...and of course, I have to add a few pictures because just plain ol' text is boring. So...in honor of Independence Day... This picture was taken after one of the Royals ball games last year, but it's the best fireworks picture I've ever taken...and plain and simple, one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. So...there you have it. I hope everyone had a Happy 4th! I know I did. I definitely enjoyed a much needed day without an interview (I'll explain more later) and simply enjoyed a day of rest and an evening with friends. Several of us went to Theater in the Park at Shawnee Mission Park. We got to see Beauty and the Beast and what turned out to a really great fireworks show. The show was great, even though the Beast was anything but beastly and I fell asleep half-way through the second act. I guess I'm getting old. It was after ten after all. :) Oh well...the fireworks made the night.
Random picture number two: This was taken a couple of weeks ago when my small group went to the Royals game. There were also fireworks that night in what was supposed to be the biggest fireworks display ever at the stadium. It was fun, but I was a little under impressed. Seriously, the 4th was much better. My friend Steph and roommate Jess are the two ladies on either side of me. Even though the Royals lost it was a great night.

Okay...as for the job search...it continues. I did have three interviews last week. The first was a thirty minute phone interview for a counseling position in Leavenworth. It would be quite a little drive, but the money is better than anything else I've seen, and I would be doing therapy. The other interviews were for a position as a probation officer. The first was on Wednesday and was THREE hours long. Yes...I said THREE. It was a panel interview with all the applicants present. It was a little different but I survived. I figure that after that, I can do just about anything. It must have gone alright because I got a call for a second interview the next day. That one only lasted one hour and was with the two supervisors for the positions. I haven't heard anything yet and am really not sure what to think. I can imagine not taking the position if it's offered, but then wouldn't really be disappointed if it's not. We'll see. It's in God's hands. As for the other position...I should hear later this week about the possibility of a second interview. I also just sent in an application to the community college just down the street. It's actually the position I am most interested in. So...I just keep praying and trusting in God.

Well...there's the latest happening of my oh-so-exciting life. No sarcasm there at all...except that it has been more eventful in the last couple of weeks. I will definitely keep you all updated. Until then....

Much love

KJo

New Look

...for the blog that is. And to celebrate...here's a picture of some of the fireworks from after the Royals game on Friday!

More to come later...I still have that trip down memory lane to post. :) Until then...I hope everyone has a GREAT week!

KJo

Coming soon...

...a trip down memory lane...Or several trips.

So...I was browsing through my photos just a little while ago and found some from college graduation. Wow...that's all I can say. Kara, I found a couple of the two of us. :) I'll post a few of those later...when it's not an hour past my bedtime.

But for now, here's one that can serve as a preview of things to come... this is a picture of Jay and me. It would have been taken just a couple of weeks before I started my senior year at MNU. Man, I miss that puppy...but definitely not the hair. Ah...good times.

More coming soon...I promise

KJo

I've been tagged...

So...apparently I've been tagged. Here you go Kara :)

Five things on my to-do list today

1. Work Out
2. Do Laundry
3. Feed the Dogs
4. Go to the store and buy something for the Church picnic tomorrow evening.
5. Whatever I want...

Snacks I enjoy

1. Yogurt
2. Wheat Thins
3. Apples with peanut butter or just plain
4. Starbucks mocha light frapp
5. Strawberries

Things I would do if I were a millionaire

1. Pay off my student loans
2. Go on vacation
3. Buy a house
4. Buy my dad a new car that gets better gas mileage...and me too.
5. Give it away

Places I have lived

1. Elkhart, KS
2. Olathe, KS
3. Overland Park, KS
4. I spent a summer in Ashland, KY...does that count?
5. I've also spent enough time in Red River, NM that that almost counts too.

Bad habits I have

1. Forgetting my clothes in the dyer.
2. Losing my check book.
3. Stacking the mail all over my desk and not dealing with it...except that I do pay my bills on time.
4. Killing plants.
5. Crashing in front of the TV when I have things to do.

Jobs I have held

1. Nanny
2. Office Assistant
3. Tutor for autistic child
4. Office cleaning person
5. Counselor (thought I didn't get a pay check...it was definitley work)

There it is...

KJo

Birthdays, Mother's Day, and David Cook

So...here is what I've been up to lately...hold on because it is so exciting!

Really, there's not a lot to tell, which is pretty much the story of my life right now. But... I've had a good time doing nothing. My roommate Jess celebrated her 26th birthday a couple of weeks ago so several of our friends took her up to the Legends for an evening out. We had a great time watching drunk people try to ride the mechanical bull. Dinner at Johnny Carrino's was great, as always. Here is a picture of Misty, Marcie, and I after dinner. Here's one with the birthday girl, herself. We have a good time. If there's one thing you can count on Jess for, it's a laugh.

Here is a picture of me with my Nana. My brother Kyle decided to surprise my mom for Mother's Day by going to Manhattan this weekend. Nana and Papa decided to go visit as well...and I couldn't be the only one who wasn't there...so I went over yesterday. Mom was surprised...which was the goal.
This one is fun... I've been watching American Idol over the past couple of seasons and this year a Kansas City guy is one of the top contestants. David Cook was in town on Friday and was honored at the Royals game. He threw out the first pitch and later sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." My little brother had called on Wednesday afternoon to see if I wanted to go to the game, so I didn't go because David Cook was there, but it was definitely a plus. He's been my favorite on AI this season.

And since it was Friday night, there were fireworks after the game. These were my favorite shots.

So...there it is folks. There has been virtually no movement on the job front. Oh well...something will come a long soon. Until then...I'll just enjoy the spring weather.

KJo

So...it's been a while. Obviously, my Jayhawks won the NCAA tournament. It was awesome. My roommate and friend and I went to the celebration parade in Lawrence. It was crazy. I don't think I've ever seen that many people in my life. It was a great time though.

In the picture below...Coach and Mrs. Coach Self are riding by. It was nice that a couple of days after the game Coach announced that he'll be staying at Kansas for what I hope is a really long time. This is a picture of my roommate Jess and I at the parade. Marcie used one of the "special features" on her camera to filter out all colors but blue. I'm sure there is a technical term for that but I'm not sure what it is and I really don't care to look it up right now.

So...there it is for now. Nothing really exciting happening. I'll post more later...when I have more energy. We went to the zoo today...good times but a lot of walking. So...anyway, I've got a couple of pictures taken over the last couple of weeks that I'll post. Oh...Kara, we need to talk. I've got a scheme going and...yeah we should really talk.

More later, I promise.

KJo

And then there was ONE!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!

Then there were two...

"There's no place like Kansas."

It all comes down to tonight...I think I might have said that in my last post, but it's really true today. Saturday was awesome...and then it was terrifying...and then it was awesome again. I hope that tonight is just awesome...at least at the end! This is extremely cheesy and you can make fun of me all you want, but I've waited my entire life for a Kansas National Championship. I hope that ends tonight...not for my sake, but because Kansas basketball is the best.

I don't remember the 88 Championship. I was too young to pay attention to what was going on. I remember my parents watching...I remember later raiding my dad's closet for that National Champions t-shirt that he bought. I remember stealing it and wearing it to bed (because I was only six and it was too big to wear anywhere else). I remember the heartbreak of 91...at least I was heartbroken...because that was when I started to care. I'm pretty sure I can tell you who we lost to each year after that...because even though I'm "just" a fan...it matters. The sun doesn't rise and set by the Kansas Jayhawks. My world is not complete when they win. I'm not going to die if they lose. The sun will rise tomorrow morning regardless of what happens tonight. But it would sure be nice if we win!

If you're not a fan or even if you are a fan but are new to the whole thing, you really don't understand. Give it a few years...and you might. Regardless of what happens tonight, this year has been amazing! It's been so much fun watching my good friend come to love my team. It's been a blast introducing all the traditions that make Kansas basketball so special to the people in my world. It's been fun sharing this ride with new and old friends alike...as well as with family. I've said for a long time that one of my favorite subjects in all of the world is Kansas basketball. That's not going to change, no matter what happens tonight. It'll just be a little bit sweeter...hopefully.



Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

KJo