Some Adorable Children I Know

You know how every year for Christmas I take pictures of one of my siblings children for their Christmas present? This year was no different. I know, I know, I'm so original :) But I'm pretty sure they enjoyed them. How could you not? These kids are so stinkin' adorable my heart melts into a puddle every time I see their cute faces.

First Sibling Kid Shoot

Second Sibling Kid Shoot

Look Not Behind Thee

I needed something happy and hopeful today. When that happens, I go here and I always find exactly what I need to hear or read or feel. Believe it or not, I am imperfect and make mistakes way too easily. And then, I'm hard on myself, which often leads to unhappiness or dissatisfaction with my current situation. It's the inevitable "funk" that we all go through here and there. The thing I needed now more than ever, was the reminder of how far I've come and a gentle prodding to keep going and not look back on the things I can no longer control...just to move forward and be a little better.

Heartstrings of the Week: A League of Their Own

I could think of so many displeasing words for the male gender right now...but instead, I think I'll share a song...because I KNOW there are those gentlemen out there who actually think thoughts like this...and I'm holding out for one o' them:

(this video is lame, but it's the best one I could find that didn't have bikini-clad women in it, which ruins the cuteness of this song if you ask me... So...)

Ah. Feeling much better.

My apologies to those of my male friends who took the time to read this and are now potentially feeling bad about themselves. You know I love y'all.


Wahoo for dating! "It's de best. I luf eet." Name that movie!

Yeah, I think it's time for a chick flick with the Madre.

Any recommendations?

Call Waiting

One of the great things about Life is that when you get moving Life has no choice but to move with you.

"Whoa-ho-ho, Lindsay Kay! Whippin' out the profound stuff!"

Ok, but seriously. Sometimes Life just seems so stagnant, yes? Oh-ho, yes! You better believe it does! I can personally guarantee that when Life seems to be holding still, there's probably a part of you that is holding still, too...whether or not you'd like to admit it.

We all know what it's like to wait by the mail box or inbox or keep our ear tuned to the vibration of our cellphone, just waiting in anticipation for something, ANYTHING, to happen. But sometimes the thing we overlook the most is our ability to push the send button or stamp the envelope or dial the number ourselves!

Wow, friends! That is my week summed up in a single sentence. Life is for learning, for pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones...in as safe and healthy a way as possible. Don't go diving on any cliffs just to get "outside of your comfort zone"...that's not what I'm getting at!

Now, that's not to say that by standing still the phone will never ring. Heavenly Father lets the phone ring for you every once in a while. I love it when that happens. When answers just come! When friends just know that you needed exactly what they have to offer! A true testament of God's hand our Lives. He is in the details.

But another profound way that God shows His love for us is by letting us work things out for ourselves, rather than catching "the fish" for us. They say that the best things in Life are free...but I'd add that some of the most cherished things in Life are a result of tears, sweat, prayers, and patience.

Don't shun work for fear of sweat,

That's why they invented deodorant.

The Day of Christmas

Twas the day of Christmas and all through the house

Every creature was stirring, including my computer mouse

Three stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Where used to hang nine, so it was looking quite bare

And I in my new jammies was stuffed to the brim

So Dad and I were working it off by belting a hymn

We attempted pirouettes like Nutcracker ballerinas

But just broke out in laughter like a bunch of hyenas

Madre was bustling about in the kitchen

As my new hard drive was loading (the one for which I'd been itchin')

The family was due any moment at the door

My siblings and their spouses and their kids whom I adore

So here I am, preparing for fun

Gonna live up the day, cause I'll be sad when it's done

Just wanted to drop in for a moment and say

I hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas Day!

Jumping Into Rivers

Is it just me or have I not written on here in a while...? Well that's probably because STILL, after 22 and a bit years of life, I have not mastered how to turn the things in my head into the things on paper that you read...you know? Words and such.

See!

Case in point.

My head is spinning with busyness. I don't think I'll be bored for one second during the Christmas break. It seems like I have so much to do. So much I want to do and so much I NEED to do. The brand new year of 2011 will not be without goal setting, that's for sure. There are plenty of stars in the sky that I still haven't reached for... Hoooo boy.

In short, Heavenly Father decided to raise the bar for me...again. I guess I was getting used to jumping that one height for too long...and this time a trampoline isn't going to cut it. Nope, no short cuts. Gotta start jumping to see what new heights I can reach.

This might not make any sense...what can I say? I like to rant ambiguously sometimes...or most of the time. All I can say is, Life without adventures is like a boring little pond that could be a raging river...if it would just move.

As Pocahontas says, "What I love most about rivers is you can't step in the same river twice. The water's always changing, always flowing..."

So I ask Life, "What's around the river bend?"

And Life answers, "Hop in your canoe and I'll show ya!"

Hooo boy, friends. Here we go!

Voile!

Presenting

Lindsay Kay's latest blog design!


BEFORE:

AFTER:

Enjoy!

I know I do :D

The Final

The following may or may not be my status on Facebook right now:

Wish me luck on my FINAL final.

Whoop! Whoop!

P.S. I think I'm going to publish a book of all of my Facebook statuses for my kids to read someday. I think it could be good times.

Talented Friends

This weekend my friend Kristin asked if she could shoot me...

...like with her camera, guys, c'mon. I said "friend" ;)

“PsshhhYEAH!” was pretty much my response.

And I think you can see why.

I think you should go visit my talented friend Kristin Brown

and have her take YOUR picture. Mmmk?

Thanks, Kristin! :D

White Christmas

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

But all I’ve got is lots of rain.

I miss the snowflakes falling

But I don’t miss my brakes stalling

Yet for a white day I won’t complain.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

With every sweater that I’ve got.

So, may some snowfall clear up this haze

And may all your final grades be A’s.

poem by

Hallelujah!

I'm seriously considering busting out a little o' dis right now:

{Brief sidenote: Quite honestly, that is the most beautiful thing ever! To see a bunch of strangers in a shopping mall, possibly having forgotten a bit of the true reason we celebrate the holiday, suddenly unite in praises to Christ the Lord. I love when the song starts playing and people stand up. Did you know that's what you're supposed to do for that song? It's like putting your hand over your heart for the National Anthem...but, arguably, more reverent....because, as you may have heard, this is a song of praise to the King of Kings. This song has always been my favorite part of musical Christmas. Handel was most definitely inspired.}

I can see it now.
7:31 AM
Quiet library.
Students studying for finals.


"HAL-LELU-JAH! HAL-LELU-JAH!..."


That would be AWESOME, right?
Anywho, as you may have guessed from my random inclination to sing the most jubilant song ever...


I'M DONE WITH FINAL PROJECTS!


So...excuse me while I


"HAAAAAAAAAAL-LELU-JAH!"

I Will Suhvive

Yep yep!

Gloria and I are pulling an all-nighter...

...spandex, sequins, roller skates and all

(seriously, who is that lady? And what is she doing?)

I love sleep :( This might be tricky...

Do you think I'll crumble?

Do you think I'll lay down and die?

...It might take all the strength I have not to fall apart, but I'm pretty sure...

I WILL SUHVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!

Ticked Talk

Next time you see me, I might be bald...

Cause, unfortunately, I'm about to pull my hair out!

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!

...final projects.

Memo to you: If your teacher ever tells you to design and build a clock that works...and you happen to be a graphic design major (a senior at that)...just say 

"No!"

Just. Say. No.

Festive Flicks

My family is a movie family. I attribute it to the fact that, raising 9 children, my parent's loved having something inexpensive and fun that we could all do together.


Thus, every year after Thanksgiving we start our tradition of watching one or two Christmas movies per week up until Christmas. It's probably one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Reading Christmas books is another. It's great to see all the different portrayals of the way the Christmas season changes lives for the better. Truly, that is the common theme in all of the movies that we watch: 


Changing unbelief to knowledge and "Bah humbug" to "God bless us." Changing worthlessness to value and broken to whole.


How fitting that the season that celebrates the birth of Christ, by whom we can all be made better, is full of such beautiful stories where this tender transformation takes place. How blessed we are to have a Savior born for us!


So, I decided to share some of my favorite moments (and actors) from my favorite Christmas movies:


The 1994 version of "Miracle on 34th Street": Ah, Richard Attenborough! There has never been a greater Santa Clause...aside from, I imagine, the real one. And, of course, Mara Wilson was probably the cutest little girl ever in her time. What can I say, this whole cast knocks my socks off. What a beautiful movie. If you haven't seen it, you must! It's probably my second favorite Christmas movie ever!



Next, Jim Henson's "The Muppet Christmas Carol": I'd imagine that if you haven't seen this, you're thinking, "Psh, what? Some kid movie?" Uh, no. This is the best version of this story I've ever seen...and I think I've seen about 4 or 5, not including plays. Michael Caine? How can you find a better Scrooge? And I like this music better than the original Christmas Carol. So...watch this one, too, k?



*sigh* I'll bet you were waiting for this one, huh? "It's A Wonderful Life": For those of you who haven't seen this, don't let the fact that "it's old" deter you. It is my all time favorite Christmas movie and has the most wonderful characters and storyline ever. If you don't watch any others, watch this one. It's wonderful :)



And last the best of all the game, this is Dad's favorite movie of all time, "Ben Hur": And this clip is my favorite portrayal of Christ's birth...probably because of the glorious soundtrack behind it, but also cause it's just beautiful.

My goodness, I just love this time of year!

Merry Christmas time, friends! :D

Love

The Game We All Play

I never write about dating on my blog.

Why?

Because a) I save the "personal things" for my journal. And truly, dating is personal. Yes, high school trains us all to believe our dating lives are front-page news and this morning’s announcements and, well, that nothing you tell anyone is sacred once it's crossed the threshold of your lips.

Lame. That is the part of high school that I do not miss.

And, reason b) is because...I try to avoid writing about things that I know nothing about. You're probably laughing, but I'm serious. I've been dating for 7 years and I still don't know what the heck I'm doing. Do any of us? If you say yes you're either married or lying… Just sayin'

Lovely.

So, despite my current...predicament, or whatever you want to call "being single and greatly disliking the single male population in general", I think I'm gonna be ok. I still have faith that there is at least one individual in the midst of the obnoxious lot of them that I would love to spend forever with, and vice-versa...that's the kicker ;) jk

To quote a book we're reading in my design class:

"Is it hard?...Not if you have the right attitudes. It's having the right attitudes that's hard."

Last night, I was crying. I tend to do that when I'm low on sleep and overloaded with stupid projects...or, shall I say, overloaded with unsavory "attitudes" toward my current workload.

...I guess I'm just a girl or something.

Anyway, Madre, being the understanding woman she is, sat down beside me and read me her diary from when she was my age, the part of her "once upon a time" when Dad entered the scene. Now, that didn't necessarily help the "crying factor" of my evening per say, but it sure refreshed my "attitudes" about dating. She read:

"Today, Steve asked me to be his wife..."

And oh yes, I cried. C'mon, it was "The Beginning" of my family. Like I'm pretty sure I watched it happen from "the balcony" and did the same thing. It was beautiful, like a fairytale, but real. As real as the author of this blog... That's me – Lindsay Kay - result of aforementioned fairytale. And that, my friends, is miraculous!

It sure is a shame that dating is so...blah, like 94% of the time, when you consider the beautiful things that eventually come of it. Like families. I sure like those!

I think the reason for that is that we tend to appreciate more the things we've ached for, worked for, cried for, hoped for, prayed for, and just plain waited for. In fact, take a look at the things you treasure most in your life. Did someone just hand them to you? Or are they a result of desire and a lot of hard work and/or time?

Do yourself a favor and go hug 'em.

Just a Little Homework

Homework is threatening to kill me...

{I think I spent 98.4% of my childhood watching Arthur. Ah, who am I kidding? I still do. This "musical" episode is by far my favorite. "Cause I was Jekyll Jekyll Hyde Jekyll Hyde Hyde Jekyll..." Ah. Thanks, Marc Brown!}

I'm just glad my homework doesn't involve too much math.

Hm, suddenly I'm feeling inspired to make a trip to the Pet Store.

Next Friday WILL come...right?