Missing You

I've been thinking about doing a post like this for a long time. I just kept thinking it might be more appropriate or memorable if I saved the post for mother's day, or a big event. Or I might be a little scared that if I don't save posts like these for a big or memorable day then I will always post things like what I am about to post. I'm sorry to those who are reading this, I'm sure the ramblings of my brain aren't making much sense.

Dear Mom,

I would like to say that I am missing you today and just for today, but that's not true at all. I miss you every day, today I miss you more than most. I'm not sure why exactly, maybe it's because I have a lot of decisions to make,
or because tomorrow is the first day of April,
or because I was looking at pictures of Hawaii, cute clothes, and fun weddings,
or because I talked to Max on the phone,
or because I heard that Faith Hill song we used to blast in the car,
or because I want to do a fun sewing project,
or because I was going through my phone messages and heard your voice,
or because I just need a mom.
Or maybe it's all those things and they just seemed to pile together today. Anyway I thought you should know that I miss you, I always miss you!


Love you, Kelsey

Lily Yuriko Shimodoi

My Grandmother Shimodoi passed away on March 9th 2010. She was a great woman who loved her family very much.

Just some things I remember about my grandmother

Growing up my grandmother would come visit me and my sisters every year. When she would come she would always buy us candy and let us chew gum! Which was a special treat because we were never allowed to chew gum. Almost every year we would take a trip to California to visit my grandparents. My Grandmother would come with us to Disneyland and chase us around the park.

Because my grandmother was a school teacher for 20+ years she was very concerned with our education. When we came to visit or she came to visit us she would give us extra homework assignments to do. She would sit down with us and help us struggle through new math problems or our big chapter books.

At her house my grandmother has a little lemon tree/bush. The lemons that come from her tree are delicious. When I would visit my grandmother would pick the biggest lemons from her tree and let me make homemade lemonade. I loved her homemade lemonade, there is nothing better!

When my mom was diagnosed with Leukemia my grandparents came out and lived with us for 8 months. My grandmother spent her days cooking, cleaning, and caring for her daughter and grandchildren. I'm sure it was very difficult for her to watch her daughter pass away. I know that they are together again!

My grandmother loved her grandchildren. One of her biggest concerns was that she wouldn't be around to watch the rest of them grow up. She has 7 grandchildren ranging from 20 to 1 ½ years old.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go to my Grandmother's funeral and say goodbye. The funeral was beautiful. It was so interesting to learn more about my grandmother's life during my visit to California. My grandmother sure lived an exciting life! She worked hard and was one of the only members of her family to attend college. She, like me, was a cougar and received a BA in education. She taught school in Hawaii, Japan, and California.

Growing up my grandmother lived in Hawaii. Her parents worked in the pineapple fields and pineapple cannery. Her parents immigrated to Hawaii from Okinawa Japan. My great grandparents were not members of the Church, in fact they didn't even know about Christ. My grandmother and 2 or 3 of her 7 siblings joined the church together. I will forever be grateful for my grandmother's knowledge and testimony of the gospel.

My grandmother was a beloved member of her community, ward, and family. She will be missed, but I'm sure she is happy to be where she is now!

Traveling Mishaps

My family has some pretty great traveling mishaps. We always seem to misplace things, get hurt or sick at the most inconvenient times. Unfortunately these inconvenient times always line up with some big fun trip we have planned.

Example 1:
During one of our extended family ski trips everyone got sick, I mean everyone. I have never seen so many bottles of antibiotic in one house. My little sister at the time was still drinking out of a bottle. I remember her milk was pink because my mom put her antibiotics in with her milk.

Example 2:
During another family ski trip my parents decided to invited,Donny and Paige, some family friends on the trip with us. We arrived in Tahoe a few hours before Donny, Paige and their family had, so we decided to do a little shopping while we waited. While walking down the side walk and window shopping my dad became distracted by a barking dog and walked right into a pole. My sisters and I thought that was hysterical for a few moments, until we realized my dad was actually hurt. Some how my dad hit his head hard enough to get a concussion.

After meeting up with Donny and Paige we drove out to the house we had rented for the week. Donny and Paige had keys to the house. When we went to go unlock the door Donny couldn't find the keys. Luckily Donny is an FBI agent and had all of the tools necessary to just break through the lock.

Later that week while skiing one of the kids, I can't remember which one dislocated their shoulder while skiing.

At the end of the week we were checking into our flight at the airport when my mom notices that our tickets were for Saturday and it was Sunday. We ended up flying stand by and making in home just in time for school on Monday.

Example 3:
During yet another ski trip my cousins and I were racing a scooter around the Hires parking lot. I fell and split my chin open. My grandfather superglued my chin back together. Thank you grandpa for saving me a trip to the ER.

Example 4:
During a trip to Hawaii our car was broken into twice! Luckily they only stole a total of $30, but it was a little upsetting.

Example 5: Every time I fly to Pennsylvania something goes wrong, I miss flights, end up stuck in the airport forever, some crazy weather condition gets me stuck in Chicago.

The latest traveling mishap happened this past weekend. My family was flying to California for a funeral. We finally had all of our tickets, hotel reservations, and rental car reservations figured out. Then the night before the trip my step dad called to tell me he had lost his license. AHHH! We spent the next several hours trying to figure out how on earth he could get on the plane, rent a car, and get a hotel room without a license. Tom, Max, and Kristine ended up missing their flight and flying stand by to California later in the day with Tom's license.

Despite our many mishaps we have fun on our trips. We have learned to expect the unexpected, laugh when everything seems to go wrong and enjoy every bump in our adventures!

Good Bye Provo

Oh, how nice it is to get out of Utah, Provo especially!!
Two weekends ago Ali, Parker and I hopped on a plane (like this one) and flew far far away!

Ok so Colorado is not that far away, but it sure felt like a different world.
Ali and I went to see Mary Poppins in Denver with Ali's mom, dad and sister, Robin. The show was absolutely amazing!! Thank you Sessions family!

We also spent time in Boulder, went shopping, and went out lunch and dinner. The weekend was so fun and such a nice break from school and Provo! I wish I could go back!

Pearl Street

Satie's Photography Blog

My friend Satie is a photographer here in Provo. She has taken some pretty amazing pictures and is now trying to get the word out about her blog. So here it is http://nuelightphoto.blogspot.com