missionary Keli

When I was a missionary in Bakersfield ,CA there were two REALLY RUDE male members of the church in our area. We should not have had to deal with ONE but there were TWO in OUR AREA.. they would talk all this junk like
1. " how things were different when THEY were missionaries.. ".. like they were SO MUCH MORE OBEDIENT and HARD-WORKING than ANY of us..
2. that sister missionaries SUCKED.. and were pointless and should not even be out serving because none of us ever "worked"
things like that.. I remember one of them once FOLLOWED us with a BULLHORN saying SISTER MISSIONARIES SUCK!!!!!
one of them lived near us.. and every time he would see us he would accuse us of "not working" or something else lame.. the  other lived by the elders and every time he saw us he would accuse us of "not working" or of "wasting time" or something else like that.
Back then California was doing it's first proposition about the sanctity of marriage... it was before GPS but we had NO PROBLEM finding any members houses..because almost ALL church members had signs in their yards that said "yes on 22" like " oh that must be the house" NOBODY anywhere had ANY signs ANYWHERE that said NO on 22. NOBODY.. crazy how things have changed in almost twelve years.. but back in 2000.. we would SOMETIMES see signs promoting "NO on 22" on a median strip full of weeds .. like someone put the sign up and they were embarrassed so they put it up then ran or something..
so one of those really rude members the one that lived near the Elders was super conservative AND very mean to me.. not a good combination.. he was always talking about gay people in very rude terms.. SO one night at a dinner appointment.. I mentioned to a  member how mean those guys were to us.. this member was like I can't stand that guy either.. so these members helped me make a sign that said "NO ON 22 STOP THE HATE" hahahahahah!!! let me remind you that NOBODY had a NO sign up..and this guy was about as
straight and as republican and as conservative as they come..
THEN my companion and I went to this guys house and hung it on his deck...
yes I know I rock..
my companion would not take a picture of me by it unless I put my name tag in my jacket..but still it was so funny...
......and this is what happens to men that are rude to me.. and crazy.. and conservative and the like...
hahahahhaha!
............the scariest part of this WHOLE story.. both those men WERE MARRIED... and their wives were total introverts and super young and did whatever they said.. super scary...like who marries some jerk like that??

volunteering Keli

The next weekend that I did candlelight tours it was the "civil war period" the civil war is a popular thing around here so there were a LOT more re-enactors and people seemed very excited about this.
During the civil war, the people that lived their were Quakers, the men fled to Alexandria and Washington DC to avoid going to war or to avoid be killed because they were also Northern sympathizers being from New York. They left the women at the house..
one morning Jeb Stuart came by and he asked to be fed. They fed him breakfast and he camped there.. he also left behind some wounded men.
I met my tours on the porch..I led them into the dining room where to "confederate soldiers" were talking and telling the story of when Jeb Stuart was in the area.. they were pretending to be part of Jeb Stuarts men. They told how Jeb Stuart tricked the Yankees by telling them he was going south but really going north.. and how he cut a telegram line. ( a little kid on my tour asked what's a telegram?)
We then went into the parlor where we talked about how people would entertain guests back then we had a man in their playing the fiddle ( my favorite instrument) he talked to the people about music of the time and then played two songs for them.
We then went out into the hall and I talked to them about the lamp that we have out there and how they might have dances there sometimes.
We then went upstairs where in Cornelia's bedroom we had a young girl dressed in period clothing cutting out snowflakes that were going to be on the tree downstairs ( Christmas trees were just coming into vogue) We had a Northern Re-enactor in there talking about how he had been wounded and he was a POW and he was writing letters home to his brother..
The next room had some other young ladies dressed in period clothing and they were singing Christmas carols they sang us a few songs and then I led my tour downstairs where we looked at the tree and I told them it was from "The Victorian era"
each guest could make a cornucopia with paper and put candy on it to hang on their tree.
The guests were then invited to go outside and look in the kitchen and laundry room where their were people in period clothing making food and cleaning up. Their were a lot of confederate soldiers camped on the yard and they stayed in character the whole time. We also had people walking around in period clothing caroling..
We also had a tent set up where you could get hot cider and cookies..
One of the best parts about this tour was that my friend Dawn Roop and her sister-in-law came. They were not on my tour,but I am grateful they came and were able to enjoy themselves.
The next night we had a world war II Christmas but I am not able to report on that because it was Sunday and I did not volunteer.

volunteering Keli

In December 2011, the plantation I volunteer at Sully had candlelight tours. I was able to volunteer at two different nights. The first night that I volunteered at we had candle lights tours for the "federal period" to see what Christmas was like then.
I met people on the front steps and led them into the dining room where we had a lady dressed in period clothing. She talked about how back then they would not so much decorate for Christmas as they would just bring in greens and branches and dried flowers from the gardens and use those to decorate. She was also in the process of decorating with those and making bouquets while she talked. She also pointed out that we have tables set up in that room with replica's of the exact food that Mrs. Lee would have served to people during that time and we know about that stuff from letters.
From that room we went into the parlor where we talked about how this is where you would entertain your guests. We had two ladies in their in period clothing and they were doing silhouette's of each other in the candlelight and she told the people how that was popular in that time and how you could make silhouettes of people to remember them by.
from that room we went into the hall where I talked about how since there was not a fireplace in the hall they did not use it as much but they did use it for dancing .. I taught them how to curtsy and bow..
We then went upstairs to Cornelia's room and we had to people in their in period clothing and they were talking about getting ready for a party and what women would do back then to get ready and what they might wear. This lady also asked the guests to do curtsy's. We then went into another room and we had a reenactor in there pretending that he was a soldier and that he had a ship docked in Alexandria and that he lived in  on the Difficult Run and he talked to them about the time period and sang them some songs from that era. We then walked back downstairs and looked at the tree which was not from that era but from Victorian era.. ( but of course we are not going to take it down and up every time) and each person was able to make a packet of mulling spices that they could put in cider. After their tour they could go check out the kitchen and the laundry room where people were dressed in clothes of the time and making food of the time and also washing out things like they were back then..
In the lawn we had soldier reenactors and other people including people in clothing suitable for that time handing out cider and cookies to the people that came.
I gave three tours and each of them had a LOT of people on them..
I HAD A GREAT TIME!
the next night we did Victorian Christmas candlelight tours. I did not go to that one because it was on Sunday so I am sad that I am not able to report on it.!

Last night for Family Home Evening we had a cocoa bar at Kristen's . When we all had cocoa we went in and went around the room and talked about different Christmas memories.. we had to pick questions out of a box.  I am going to write the questions on here, with permission from Kristen in case anyone wants to steal them. I think they are great questions for this time of year to use with a family or singles or just yourself to write in your journal :)
1. What did you used to do on Christmas Eve as a kid?
2. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?
3. What is your opinion of peppermint ice cream? ( Best thing ever invented, could live without it, deplore it, etc)
4.Unlike the wisemen who went searching, the shepards in the field were taken by surprise by the angel's visit and the Savior's birth. What blessing have you recieved that took you by surprise?
5. What was your favorite toy or gift you received when you were a kid?
6. Tell about a time when you were able to help someone during Christmas time?
7. What is your favorite Christmas-related scripture?
8. What is something you have done this holiday season ( this year) that you have enjoyed?
9.If you had to explain to someone who doesn't know anything about Christianity why Christmas is such a big deal to us, what would you say?
10. Have you spent Christmas somewhere other than home?  Name them all if you can.
11. What is your favorite Christmas song?
12. What are your memories about Santa?
13. Tell us about a Christmas story from your mission ( if you didn't serve a mission, tell a Christmas story from college or another unique chapter of your life.)
14. Name one things are you giving to someone this year.
15. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
16. If you had to choose one person on earth to spend Christmas with, who you choose?
17.If you could pick someone from the real Christmas story that you would like to meet who would it be ( besides Christ Himself)
18.Did you have a favorite ornament?
19.What are you wishing for this year?
20.What is your favorite gift you have been giving?
21. Tell us about Christmas morning at your house growing up?
so I hope that these questions help someone.. I really enjoyed them :)
.............and I want to spend Christmas with George Bailey.. " the richest man in town"  hahahahha :)

spiritual Keli

We had a great lesson in RS on Sunday taught by Patty in my ward.. so good in fact that I want to share some of the stories..
1. we had a lot of daughters home from college.. she talked about how it felt when she came home from college and her mom had the silver teapot and the good china and she felt like a princess..and we should make our daughters feel like princesses.. well I never got to feel like one from my mom.. but MAYBE one day I will have a little girl to make feel like one.
2. she gave us a list of things to DO and things to BE.. which can be found in the last lesson of the gospel essentials manual.. she then told a story about how she was telling her husband about the lesson she was going to give yesterday.. and he shared a story about when James E. Faust came and visited the ward when his grandson was getting the priesthood.. and how he taught a lesson in priesthood about things they need to DO and things they need to BE and it was the same list that is in the gospel essentials manual.. pretty cool huh??
3. She talked to us about how she went and saw something at the Kennedy Center and how they have three restaurants there.. and they are ALL GOOD.. and she is happy at all of them.. but the really fancy one is like the highest degree of the celestial kingdom and what is stopping us from aiming that high.. to not want to be and feel like we deserve to be at the best place that we can be...
4. she then told us a story of gym when she was in school and how someone donated a bunch of gym equipment to her school and the teacher put up this stuff this is what you have to do to get an A a B a C a D or an F..and well she was like I CAN'T DO ANY OF THIS STUFF and aimed for the D. she thinks now why did not TRY for the other ones..??
we all need to work harder and believe in ourselves more that we are all princesses.. that we do belong at the best restaurant.. or the best level of the celestial kingdom and if we try we can get an A in life
for real and for sure :)
thanks Patty for a great lesson!!!
....and if you live in Utah .. just think the Joseph Smith building has three restaraunts too!! :)

field trip

In September 2011, I took Julian to Manassas National Battlefield in Manassas, VA. We went into the visitors center and watched the movie. It was an hour long. Julian was good until almost the end when he got squirmy so I let him down to crawl around. After that we got a jr. ranger booklet and became jr. rangers... We did not have time to go on any hikes that day but we did a lot of the stuff inside.. Julian got sad towards the end.. so we went outside and walked around a little bit.. We will have to go back another day :)

spiritual Keli

I spoke in church last Sunday. I would love to have a link I could put here of my talk or maybe even type it all out BUT to tell you the truth.. I did not write one. I once listened to a "book on tape" from I don't even remember who.. and this guy was like " I don't write a talk. I just jot down a few notes and just let the spirit guide me.." I have always wanted to do that.. but did not really have the nerve.. and felt like there was something I just NEEDED to say.. and I regret thinking .. and doing this.. but sometimes I felt like there was someone I needed to say stuff too.. I know shocker I called people out sometimes in my talks but um yeah.. I have repented.. So when Brother Bennion called and asked me to speak I decided to not write a talk.. at all.. and just go by the spirit.. I was assigned to speak on the atonement. The other speaker was a young married woman Breckin, she like I said is married and has a baby named Cooper. we were also speaking with a missionary that just got home from his mission Josh.
So I am sitting up there and Brother Bennion then announces that when we are done speaking that if Elder Gerard wants to say a few words than he can.. I was like ELDER WHO??? what... Josh was like oh that is a general authority.. he is a member of the 70.. I was like WHAT THE??? there is a member of the 70 here... omgosh.. so I jotted down a COUPLE of thoughts on my program.. with eyeliner.. and I looked up "atonement" in the bible dictionary.. and looked in the book I am reading "the infinate atonement" by Tad Callister.
When it was my turn to talk.. and may I say that this guy Josh's WHOLE extended family must have been there...I talked about how I had told my boss Will that I was going to speak about the atonement. I asked if he knew what that was.. he said um no.. I said that is when Jesus Christ went into the garden of gethesemene and bled from every pore and suffered like no man has every suffered and ultimatly died on the cross .. and had mercy on us so that one day we can return to live with God again"
He said Oh OK..
then that night I asked my friend Beth if she knew what the atonment was.. he said she " had heard of it from me" I told her what it was too.. and she said " I hope that is true..because I have done a lot of bad things.. I said IT IS TRUE!!! .. and we have ALL done a lot of bad things...
I asked the congregation do WE know what the atonement is and do we appreciate it.. ?? I read a paragraph out of the bible dictionary about the atonement and talked about how important it was to apply it in our lives and how we needed to do what we could to recognize what it was and learn about it and BELIEVE IT.. I said that we all had different trials and some peoples trials seem so lame when we hear about them and that people in our ward sometimes say things like "why can't you mid-singles just "get married" it is not rocket science.. or just point out ANY guy to me and say to marry him.. or refine him.. or "why not him" ... I said that we should never belittle someone elses trials and one of my trials is being single and as hard as it is for me to be single .. other people have trials that in their spheres are huge for them. I bore my testimony at the end and said that I had no idea how I ended up speaking at church on the Sunday that a GENERAL AUTHORITY was there.. and not even writing a talk... People later said "that was a good talk Keli.. " I said that was not a talk.. that was just me.. talking..hahahah!
after I spoke Breckin gave a beautiful heart-felt talk on the atonement that really touched me..
Then Josh got up to speak and he said he understood how I felt because he had been home from his mission three days and he was still not married..omgosh.. he said his heart went out to me............................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahah! OMGOSH.. "his heart goes out to me..." good to know.... after that escapade.. Josh gave a great talk about his mission to Ogden, Utah and the surrounding areas..
we had a beautiful harp and flute performance.
Elder Gerard said a few words at the end. He said that he was there on assignment to "follow me around" hahahha.
He talked about how when we pray we also have to make sure that we are studying it out. ...
all in all I think it turned out to be a GREAT sacrament meeting.. and now I guess I can relax and wait another two years until I have to speak again...:)

field trip

In September 2011, The Sound of Music Sing-a-long came to Wolf Trapp in Vienna,VA maybe I should type that again.. I kinda feel like it needs to be in caps.. THE SOUND OF MUSIC SING-A-LONG CAME TO WOLF TRAPP IN VIENNA, VA.. I am SERIOUS.. my boss Julia is obsessed with it too and she asked me to baby-sit for Julian when it came..I said no.. YOU HAVE TO TAKE ME WITH YOU and I will sit with Julian and you guys can sit somewhere else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! omgosh!!! THE SOUND OF MUSIC SING-A-LONG!!!!! I had all these grandiose ideas I did not follow through with like dressing baby Julian and I up.. but we did go.
when we went in they gave us a bag and then later then gave us instructions of things we have to do during the movie like
1. when you see Maria : clap and cheer
2. when you see Gretel : say awwww
3. when you see the Baroness: boo and hiss
4. when you sing "how do you solve a problem like Maria" you had to hold up different things for Maria, like a picture of Maria. a picture of a ghost for the will-in the wisp.. a picture of a clown.. a picture of the word "flibbertigibbit"
5. when Maria asks the Captain for play clothes you hold a piece of fabric up and shake it and say BEHIND YOU!!!! look behind you so she will look at the curtains..
6. we had some of those poppers that we had to pop when the Captain and Maria kiss
7. when we saw Rolf:bark like a dog because his name sounds like a dog.
8. when you saw a Nazi: BOO!!!!! because they are bad..
and of course SING VERY LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!which I did..
Julian liked it for the most part he sat on my lap and said aaaaah.. his version of singing.. and was happy.. he liked all the singing towards the end he really wanted to nurse.. and got sad and some people turned around and gave me dirty looks.. oh well...please..
but the best part of all .. was that while straightening up my bosses place I found the card that he gave her with the tickets in it. .. it said "Somewhere out there is a lady who I think will never be a nun".... awwww .... can I please get a guy THAT nice one day..?? please!!! that will know me that well and get me something THAT cool and GO WITH ME TO IT.. PLEASE!!!

missionary Keli

When I was on my mission in Agoura Hills, CA.There was a member in on of the wards named Brother Sheflo, that I guess went down to LA and bought fake watches and sold them.. I have no idea what he REALLY did for a living but when he got out those fake watches they would fill the dining room table.
I have no idea why but Sister Bodrero and I got really into buying these watches.. they were only between $10 and $30 a piece. I don't know which one of us had MORE watches.. but I know that we both had at LEAST five .. I know that I had
2 fake Tag Heuers (or more I was obsessed with them)
1 fake Cartier
1 fake Rolex
OK so maybe I did not have FIVE but it seemed like a LOT..
He also sold fake expensive pens.(Mt.Blanc)
I had some of those too..
Sister Bodrero and I went over there at the minimum once a week to look at watches or to buy watches or pens of whatever...
We even got the Elders to buy watches.. so all the Elders in our district.. the Newbury Park Stake..and the Spanish speaking Elders in the Thousand Oakes stake.. had a
fake watch and a fake pen.. at least one of each.
I loved these fake watches SO MUCH.. it was so fun to go tracting in swanky Agoura Hills and someone would come to the door and they would say they were not interested and I would be like ....but you have on a Tag Heuer.. I am wearing one too!!! They would be like ok.......but I am still not interested...ahahhahah:)
I remember one time someone said "but yours is fake" I said "well why don't you think that my watch is real?" they said "nothing about it is real"....
I also remember we had a mission leader Brother Sanofsky. His family was so cool. Brother Sanofsky took us out to dinner once and he had on a Tag Heuer.. I was like did you buy that from Brother Sheflo?? he said " um no it is real"..then when he got out a pen to sign the check I said "oh you have a Mount Blanc Pen? Did you get that from Brother Sheflo? " He said no this is real too.. Then I noticed he had on Lucky jeans.. "I said are those real?" He said "yes I paid full price for all this stuff.. but I am starting to wish I had bought it all from Brother Sheflo, because everyone thinks it is fake anyway :)
when I got home
I took those watches to some shady jewerly store in Provo to get the batteries replaced and never got them back.. Oh well I had a lot of fun with them while it lasted:)

random Keli

When I was in jr. high Swatch Watches were SO IN STYLE..and not just one.. you had to have a LOT like TONS.. and wear them all over your wrist.. in lots of pastel colors.. my parents said I did not NEED a bunch of watches in different pastel colors.. what a freakin SHOCK.. who were those other parents buying their kids multiple pastel colored watches..?? One day I remember I arrived at Rocky Run and two popular girls were standing at the entrance and they said that they were in a contest to see " how many watches that each of them could get" they were like GIVE ME YOUR WATCH!!! GIVE IT TO ME!!! and they said that they would "give it back as soon as they were done with their contest".. I did have ONE pastel Swatch watch that I loved with all my young teenage heart.I gave this popular girl my Swatch watch.. and thought OMGOSH a popular girl that has never talked to me is talking to ME.. and "wants to be my friend" I let her use my watch.. when I asked for it back she said.. what watch? I don't have your watch... I felt.. used.. and like um...I said yes you do.. she said no I don't.. I wanted to cry.. instead I said I know that you know about my watch and I want it back.. she said no.. that I never gave her a watch.. I was sad.. and also sad she did not want to be my "friend" I went home and my mom said "WHERE IS YOUR WATCH THAT YOU BEGGED FOR THAT WE SPENT ALL THAT MONEY ON" I told her what happened my mom was mad.. she was like why did you give it to her.. I said because she said she was in a contest and she would give it back.. my mom said.. well.. that was stupid.. and we paid for that and you begged for that watch and you need to  GET IT BACK!!! ...so what is worse my mom or the popular girl being mad..that was a toss-up..  I picked that I would rather the popular girl.. so I went back and told her that I did want my watch and she DID know what I was talking about.. she said no again and played dumb.. I tattled on her and told the principal.. she gave my watch back.. when I think of this experience.. I think of what a low self-esteem I had as a young teen.. and how I yearned to be accepted.. It really made me think.. when you are raising kids..by the time they are in jr. high..you already have had to teach them a lot .. and we also have to teach them how important it is to make good choices and have good self-esteem and know who they are.. and how important they are.. if I could go back now and live that again..then I would say .. "no you can't have my watch~! I don't even KNOW you.. and I don't care about your contest.." because I would be confident in who I am.. and the friends I did have.. that WERE good friends..IDK if I will ever get married and have kids. but I hope that if I have a daughter I can teach her to know herself like this.. and I hope that I can help other young people I come in contact with to believe in themselves..

holiday

In September for labor day I went to my family reunion in Kilmarnock, VA.. soon my friend Echo will put all the pictures on FB and you can check them out.. :)

I drove down there and went to this small branch that I go to every year and sat with my friend Nikki and her family.. I am so grateful for friends and for a worldwide church and for Heavenly Father blessing me with an outgoing personality that no matter where I go I am able to meet people and make friends. It was fast and testimony Sunday it was interesting to hear how all of these people had weathered hurricane Irene and how much more affected by it they were than me.. because they well most of them live RIGHT on the water...after church I drove over to my reunion.. my cousin Mark was directing traffic and said that he was "security" I really enjoyed being there with my family and having fun with them. I went out in a paddle boat with some people.. had a great time talking to people and had fun walking around with the kids.. a big hit of the day were my high heel shoes.. that everyone had fun trying on. 

I am grateful for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I am grateful that I have such a cool family that I am able to see at the reunion at least one time per year...

-- 

volunteering Keli

When I came back from Chicago I thought about how passionate all those people were about their education and I want to get an education.. IDK when or how that is going to happen... because of my lack of credit to GET a loan and my lack of funds.. to pay for school.. so I thought what would I DO if I went to school I thought I would get a degree in


museum management

OR

history- I would like to specilized in history focusing on the American South...

so what can I do now.. so I thought I could volunteer somewhere..so I thought I want to volunteer somewhere where they need help.. so I called Sully Historic property in Chantilly, VA and guess what they REALLY, REALLY needed volunteers so.. it was a perfect fit :) so far I am really happy there :)

random story/field trip

I really like to go to the mall. It is a good place to go and just walk around or sit and read a book.It is also a good place to people watch.. now that the weather is turning bad.. it is even better I can go there and walk around with Julian.. but now I am scared to go to the mall .. scared because I don't want to buy..
1. a flat iron ( I already have one and nothing is wroing with it)
2. a curling iron
3. a fabric aromatic heatpack
4. stuff to make my nails look shiny
5. anything from The Dead Sea..
I am so over people calling to me to curl my hair to feel this or to do that.. like you know what.. I am sorry I DONT have $100 to spend on this stuff FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!I wish that this kind of stuff could be BANNED from the mall like you know what I am at a MALL.. not a BAZAAR.. if your wares are so OUTSTANDING then just sit there and if I WANT TO THEN I WILL COME UP TO YOU AND BUY SOMETHING or ask a question.
and if I DO don't
1. look around like "someone can hear you"
2. say "shh this is only between you and me.. "
3. this deal is only for TODAY RIGHT NOW.. never ever again will there be or has there been a deal THIS GOOD EVER...
4. that I am a FOOL for saying I want to PAY MY BILLS instead of buying your stuff...
5. that your product is the BEST EVER.. wow..
6. or that I am the coolest/prettiest woman you have ever seen... wow..
so yeah those are SOME of my feelings..

crafty Keli

I saw a pin on pinterest where you get a map of the USA and then cut out the states and put magnets on the back of them . I thought HEY I can do that with Julian.. I told his mom and she was a little worried that he would take the magnets off and eat them, so instead I just got a map of the USA that was a little bit bigger than a placemat that you could write on with a whiteboard marker.
I brought it back to Julian's and started filling in the states.. I got
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Florida
Texas
Nevada
Arizona
Colorado
Utah
Idaho
Montana
Wyoming
Washington
Oregon
California
Illinois
Ohio
Pennsylvania
North Dakota
South Dakota
Hawaii
Alaska
West Virgina
Maryland
Delaware
New York
 ..............and that might be the only states I knew for SURE... seriously...omgosh...
my boss said that it was because
" I grew up on the coast" ( Virginia)
She said people that grow up on the coast they don't know the states in the middle...
IN CONTRAST my nephew Mark that is in THIRD GRADE knows every state and every state capital and what state a ton of president's are from...
...........................I guess I really bought that map for myself........................

missionary Keli

When I was a missionary in California.. we had a missionary scripture which was Alma 53:20 "And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for acourage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted."

this caused an UPROAR with me.. like wow REALLY we have HOW many scriptures and President picks one that says MEN.. really like you can't just pick one that is good for either.. so not cool.. like I want to get up at every zone coference and say "and they were all young men" NO NO and NO.. I don't think so .. so I complained about it ... a lot.. and they ignored me.. so I complained MORE... like in front of people and often and said things like THAT IS SEXIST!!! and that is NOT RIGHT!!! they were like "Sister Wright just say it" I said no.. I will not.. because there are a LOT of scriptures out there and he did not have to pick one that only had men.. that is dumb when WE are here too.. dumb.. especially since I baptized WAY more than MOST of those men.. seriously.. ( and that was not prideful AT ALL for me to say that.. not at all) so finally I got to Zone conference and the APs stand up and say we will now recite the mission scripture which per request of Sister Wright has been changed DID I HEAR RIGHT PER REQUEST OF SISTER WRIGHT!!!!! they made us say the same scripture and say "and they were all young MISSIONARIES" .........which of course was MUCH better and SHOULD have been that way in the FIRST PLACE!!! :) Elder Adams said I was "not right" for changing the scriptures.. but what did he know??

missionary Keli

Ok I am going to admit something.. when I was on my mission I was a bit of a HOARDER!!! ... the thing that  I hoarded the most of was clothes.. I don't know what my deal was but I felt like I needed a TON of clothes... OK I better admit something else.. up until recently I have felt the same way.. now I am getting rid of things left and right.. but I am also BUYING more clothes too.. but out with the old in with the new.. right..BUT anyway on my mission I was all the time
going to thrift stores ( only on preperation day OF COURSE)
and if anyone was getting rid of something or left something behind that even SORT of fit me.. then guess what I would take it...
at one point when I was in Simi Valley we had other sisters as roommates and one of the Sister's Sister Child had a talk with me.. about having to many clothes..
I basically told her she was crazy and that I needed ALL THOSE CLOTHES.. ALL OF THEM...Sister Child made me put them all out on the floor and she was like SISTER WRIGHT THIS IS TO MUCH!!!! THIS IS TO MUCH!!!! and I was like NO I AM GOING TO TAKE ALL THIS HOME!!! I NEED ALL THESE CLOTHES!!!!! .... you could not reason with me.. I really, really REALLY THOUGHT I needed ALL THOSE FREAKIN CLOTHES...
............I posted a picture of this on FB.. go there now and look at it and WHAT was up with my hair did I think that color looked cool...
.... and I am holding Elder McCabe's pajama pants.. I WORE THOSE OUT.. I wore those until.. they seriously fell APART.. like I could not even save the fabric I wore them so long after my mission...
I did take most of those clothes home.. and shortly after I realized they were all NERDY and so not KELI.. they were Sister Wright.. but um so not Keli.. so with a LOT of help.. I made them into a quilt..
I have NO FREAKING IDEA where the HECK that quilt is now.. I hope that I find it one day if not.. oh well.. I will always have the memories.:)
I am grateful to Sister Child for trying to talk some sense into me.. all though writing this REALLY scares me that one day I am going to have a daughter.. and she will be hard to reason with over ridiculous things... :)

field trip

In August 2011, my friend Amanda and I went to Monocacy Battlefield near Frederick, MD. We went into a small visitors center and I asked if we could become jr. rangers.. because I feel like when I do stuff like that I learn more.. they said no .. that they had something for adults called THE EXPLORER RANGER!!!! I have not found any other park since that has that.. It took Amanda and I together three or four hours to complete it.. and it was HARD for real..We drove around and did the driving tour. We also spent a lot of time in the visitor center.. They told us that we were only the THIRD AND FOURTH PEOPLE TO COMPLETE this!!!! the other two it took them a DAY AND A HALF!!!! I now have a little medal explorer ranger pin!!! :) the battlefield was beautiful and I had a great time walking around and chatting with Amanda I am really glad I went.

field trip

In August 2011, I took Julian to the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. It is basically the "extra air and space museum" it is free but it cost me about $15 to park.  We went in and I saw that there was a free tour so I went over to that but the guy talked so quiet AND was boring AND said the tour was going to last an hour and a half.. I thought no I am not THIS into airplanes I can go around and look at this place myself.. seriously... So we walked around and looke at all sorts of stuff.. We saw a space shuttle.. and space underwear.. we saw missles.. we saw Ross Perot's helicopter.. we saw airplanes that were in different wars and you could tell.. They had a Transformers display because Transformers part 2 was taped there... They had a video set up where you could watch the part of Transformers that was taped there...They also had the Enola Gay there.. that was really, really neat to see.

field trip

In July 2011, Serena and I took the kids that we nanny for ( Emma age 8 and Julian age 8 months) to White's Ferry in Leesburg, VA. We drove up and payed to take the ferry across the Potomac river with our car.  We got out and walked around on the ferry. Emma loved how she was able to help the man do some of the work on the ferry.
When we got to the other side. We parked and walked around the C & O canal historic park and took pictures. We went to a little eatery and ate some yummy steak and cheese subs and hand cut fries.. We later drove around MD.. stopped at a farmers market.. and stopped different places and took pictures it was a good day. :)

field trip

In July 2011 I took Julian to The Hirshorn in Washington, DC it is an art museum. Julian was good on the metro. When we got there We walked around and the sculpture garden and had a picnic outside. I thought about how wonderful things are beautiful weather...beautiful museum and Julian and me :).
I found out Julian LOVES fountains.. he had so much fun just looking at the fountain and smiling and clapping :).
We went in the museum and had a fun time looking at what goes for "art" Some of this stuff was so wierd.. I kept saying to the guards... "now that is what I call art!" they would laugh under their breath:)  There was one room that was all dark and you were supposed to just go in their and sit in the dark..seriously.. the guards said that they had a really hard time with that room because "you would not believe what people do in there" ...actually I would... they said that when they go in there and tell people that they could not be doing that stuff in there and those people would say they were just "expeirencing art"....strange.. I don't want to experience art in that way.
We went outside and walked around in a sculpture garden. There was a tree out there that was "art" by Yoko Uno there were little tags that you were supposed to write a wish on and hang it on the tree. When the tree was full those wishes would then be sent to Yoko Uno. .....Then she will make them all come true..hahahahahha

field trip

In July 2011, I took my friend Beth's children: Alex, Chris and Dylan to the National Museum of the Native American or whatever it is called in D.C. They were having a festival that day so Alex wanted to go. It was one of the hottest days in 2011. One of those days where you can barely walk because you are pressed back with OPRESSIVE HEAT...
the metro we were on did NOT have AC.. going there OR on the way back.. on the way back we were in rush hour traffic so not ONLY did it not have AC... we had to sit RIGHT beside someone else ..that was also super sweaty..
we walked over to the museum.. and when we were walking up to it we could FEEL the AC coming out of the building it was on that HIGH and THAT STRONG.. it felt like SUCH A RELIEF...!!!! there were booths set up that were selling different native american things.
We sat at one booth and learned how to play a Hawaiin game.. that was fun.
We went in a room and got some free books that they were giving to people that take care of children. I have since read those books.. they are all propaganda.. good propaganda.. because it is all about eating healthy and working out.. but STILL propaganda.. so much so that there is almost no story it is just HEY KIDS EAT HEALTHY AND RUN AROUND MORE!!!!
We sat at one station and made cornhusk dragon flys which is a LOT harder than it looks... or seems.
We went to another station and made little clay pots.
THEN we walked back to the car with TWELVE BOOKS a lesson manual on how to teach the stuff in the books to your kids. SIX clay pots FOUR cornhusk dolls.. and did I say it was HOT!!!! so so so so so so so SO HOT.. OMGOSH it was HOT.. I seriously don't know how we made it BACK to the metro I don't.
THEN I lost the kids in the metro.. and Alex kept calling me and I did not have reception .. and it was SO HOT.. and then we found each other.. and all was well.. in the world..

field trip

Julian and I went to the farmers market in Reston yesterday. it is HUGE.. we had to walk because there were cars almost all the way back to where they live.. which is fine anyway because there is something about walking to a farms market that just makes it so much better right ?? We got down there and here were some of the attractions


1. two old men singing and playing the guitar

2. a group that was playing the bass.. the violin and the guitar and singing .. they have some sort of following because there were people singing righ along with them

3. a girl that was like 10 or so playing the violin on a very very low level.. as in almost painful but not quite...

they all wanted money

I did not give any of them money

there were a lot of booths set up with crafts people made one guy had takedn alcohal bottles and then somehow ran a cord through them and now they were lamps with bulbs and shades... if that was not tempting to buy then IDK what was....there were people that had made bows and purses and all sorts of things.. then I realized that a lot of these people did NOT make ANYTHING they were selling.. they had bought it CHEAP ..WHOLESALE and were then selling it... like I admired this one knit hat and I was like I like this hat and the lady was like it is $15.. I said well it says handmade did you make it she said no someone in India or China made all this stuff ... SOMEONE IN INDIA OR CHINA? um NO THANK YOU!!!! someone that is working a ton of hours a day or a CHILD.. like if I want to buy that stuff then I will go to real store.. I came here to get local STUFF to support local people.. not people that just bought a booth to sell stuff like look I can go online and buy this stuff too...

There was a lady that was selling soap.. my boss said that in his opinion people that make soap are becoming "quite a racket" he said he feels like SO MANY people are making soap these days.. I said did you make this soap.. the lady said not really... well then I am not going to buy it from you cause I am at a FARMERS MARKET... I am here to buy local stuff made by LOCAL people.. not local people that can buy stuff online...

There were some guys selling pickles you KNOW I had to buy some.. I said where do you make these pickles.. they said DC .. I said where at.. they said in our warehouse.. I was like OK... well um DC is local enough for me.. cause I go there like once a week.. and well... I LOVE PICKLES...

I also bought some DELICIOUS hummus from a place called Wisteria Gardens in WV that is certified naturally grown ... and a small business.. it is so good!!! :)

I also talked to a Muslim girl that designs modest clothes.. she has a place in Vienna..I want to buy a couple of dresses from her.. here is the website http://www.modernmary.com/

they had some great donuts for sale too.. 3 tiny donuts for FIVE dollars I also did not buy those cause I ate three off the sample plate..
so that was my time at the farmers market.. I think I will go eat some hummus now!!!! :)



-

field trip

In July 2011, Serena and I took the kids we nanny for Emma (age 8) and Julian ( age 8 months) to The National Zoo in Washington DC. We had a nice drive down there. when I googled the directions I realized that you can hop on the w o& D trail in Reston and then transition into Rock Creek Park and ride all the way to the zoo.. HOW COOL would that be?? It was super hot that day.. so the animals were not doing MUCH if anything at all..we did not see tigers the lions were just lying around looking bored and hot as hell.. They said that the dad lion is seperated right now because they have to many lions and need to get rid of some.. we walked in the heat to see an elephant that we did not see... we saw no giraffes or rhino's or hippo's cause the whole elephant area where those things are is under construction.
We were able to see a panda eating bamboo.. and a panda asleep..
we did not see seals there exhibit is being remodled also
We also saw a gorilla sitting and eating something.
I saw a lot of things I did not like too like lazy kids in strollers.. fat kids in strollers being pushed by fat moms.. I know this is judgemental but I am all about Michelle Obama's lets move campaign.. I don't want lazy kids!!! or fat kids!!! Michelle has an advertizement that comes on where she is like if you want your kids to be active YOU need to be active.. like well point taken Michelle.. I want my kids to be active!! :) but I digress..
We saw an orangatang that climbed out on a wire above us and climbed across then pooped out on the sidewalk where people were standing... a lot of people thought until he pooped he was not real they were like "it that real" like yes he is real! you want to see a fake one head on over to the Natural History museum.. cause they got one there...
We went in a lot of houses.. Julian clapped his hands when we went in them.. he liked the reptile house the best.. I had to lean up to the glass and make Serena take a picture of me pretending to speak parsle tounge to a snake...
it was SUPER HOT we payed to much for food...BUT you know what I am glad we went.. Julian was good all day. it was also free.. what more could I ask for ??

crafty Keli

In July 2011 I made headbands " with" Emily my friends daughter.. I say "with" because Emily is only 2.. one day soon though she will be able to do more and more.. :)

The headbands were that stretchy kind that you can get and I wore it across my forehead.. despite seeing SEVERAL celebrities and lots of people in magazines and blogs doing this.. people acted like I was the ONLY person they had ever seen EVER doing ANYTHING like this.. and thought I was trying to channel the 1920s... also two very strange guys one of whom is 56 told me I looked GREAT!!!! and they loved my headband.. I have since not worn the headband again..

I took a piece of fabric and wound it up then made it into a circle and hot glued it.. I put a feather on Emily's but my feather fell off.. you can check out a picture of Emily's on FB under my mobile uploads.. or if you are friends with my friend Erin Cowles ( Emily's mom) you can check it out on her page.. cause I tagged her...

Yesterday Julian and I drove down to Georgetown to check out the "old stone house" in DC it is the oldest house in DC.. the only way that it got saved was because George Washington and Pierre Lafeyette met at a guy named John Shuters tavern.. John Shuter JR.. lived there and made clocks.. by the time that they realized the mix-up it was already the oldest house in DC.. so they could not tear it down and now it is part of the national park service.. so nothing ever happened there and nobody important lived there it is just the oldest house in DC that is all..we went in and they had no magnets so I bought a Christmas ornament that I can make into a magnet.

You could only tour the kitchen the lady told us about it and we walked around outside in the gardens for a bit.

After that Julian and I walked over to Baked and Wired and I had a raspberry cream cheese brownie..YUM:) It was a good little trip to Georgetown.

field trip

yesterday Julian and I went to Herndon, VA to go check out the museum.. it was not open and it is only open on Sunday which is lame so I wont be going back.. that museum is TOTALLY going to miss out on me and Julian coming there.. and Julian maybe having a melt down and crying while we are there.. here are some other things we did while we were in Herndon

1. walked on the w o and d trail

2. checked out a caboose

3. talked to a hair dresser outside a salon about doing my hair http://www.maudehair.com/Home.aspx this place looks cool.. I think I want to go there.. I talked to Taelor I guess she is new.. so maybe she will be cheaper

4. I went and got a free slice of bread and Great Harvest.. I got pumpkin swirl which was SO GOOD.. and they seemed annoyed I did not buy any.. like well get rid of the sign that says FREE SLICES if you don't want people like me coming in.. really..

5. we went in the closet thrift store.. which was a fiasco.. so many people I was running over peoples feet with Julian stroller.. that is TO MUCH FOR ME...AND some old black guy asked where Julian's socks and shoes were.. I said at home.. it was like 70 degrees outside.. he said "lord have mercy" and walked away....

6. we started on a walking tour of historic Herndon.. which I now want to finish and go to town hall and complain about because it has me backtracking and walking back and forth all over the place.. like um... could these just ALL BE IN ORDER... cause it was EMBARRASING to be walking down or up a street then 5 minutes later .. HI IM BACK!!!!

7. I never realized how many hoarders/hicks/rednecks live in Herndon,VA... like a lot of those old houses look way cool but people have TRASHED the yard by putting so much JUNK in them.. and old cars and old motorcycles and junk sitting around and some had junk all over the porchs and weeds all over the yard..

8. this one house was SO BAD I asked some guys that were hanging out next door if someone really LIVED in it they said yes they are hoarders.. I was like ..wow...

9. that guy gave me his card it said he was a handyman and would do any handyman services OR "anything else I could think of"..... do we even NEED to go there.......................................anything else I can think of... well I can think of a lot...I thought hahahhah what if someone called him about something ridiculous like can you give me a ride to the airport.. if I pay your gas.. hahahahahha

10. I broke out in a sweat backtracking up and down those streets pushing a stroller

11. I REALLY WANT TO GO BACK TOMORROW AND BUY SOME PUMPKIN SWIRL BREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

field trip

In July 2011 when I was recovering from my pnemonia.. I baby-sat for four kids in my ward. Julia, Aiden, Attie and Titus... I took them to a civil war plantation in Fairfax that you can tour.. for free I did not even know there WAS a civil war plantation in Fairfax that you could tour. The kids and I did some history scavenger hunt and the kids each got a free pencil for participating. What was really interesting about this house was that during the civil war it was used as a hospital and I guess the people there got really bored so they wrote their names and drew all over the walls. those drawings are still there and you can see them.. pretty cool.. indeed...

missionary Keli

Today in the scriptures I was reading about the 4 sons of Mosiah and I was remembering on my mission when I was in Bakersfield, CA and how one year we had a Christmas party at the ward and they set up 12 tables.. and then the person in charge went around and said that each table had to think of something to say and we were going to do the 12 days of Christmas.. and all the tables came up with something unique to them.. I remember there was this family that had a young teen girl and she was OBSESSED with obi-wan kenobi.. well she thought she was but in reality she was obsessed with Ewan MacGregor and ..I don't blame her.. I have no idea where this girl is now.. but I can almost guarentee that she also loves Moulin Rouge.. ANYWAY her table with her family said FIVE JEDI KNIGHTS.. and she got up every time and acted like she was swinging a lightsaber...


My table got four and I remember that since we were there and we were missionaries we said "four sons of Mosiah" and I was like wait were there four then our CONVERT Barbara said yes .. Ammon, Omni Aaron and Himner or whatever their names are... I was like how do you know.. and she said because I am reading the BOM!!!!.. that made our hearts SING!!!! like YOU GO GIRL!!!! :)

holiday 4th of July 2011

for the 4th of July 2011.. I just stayed alive.. I was in the hospital with pnemonia and all I can say is I am GLAD and GRATEFUL  my life was spared it must mean I am supposed to be HERE.. :)

In June 2011 I hosted a cookie class at my friend Catherine's in Oakton, VA I invited little kids ages 5 and up. I charged $10 a kid.
We had sugar cookie dough already made. when the kids got there they were able to roll out the dough and cut out the shapes. Then we baked them and the kids frosted and decorated them.
While they were baking the kids played in the slip and slide.
Each kid was able to take home a plate with their name on it and whatever cookies they had not already eaten.
It was an awesome day! I could not have done it without the help of my friends Catherine and Elaine.. they did more than I can ever imagine or THANK for me that day!!! ..esp. cause I was super sick and had no idea I was coming down with pnemonia...:(

The National Archives part 3

http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=3338 hahahhahahahah!

field trip

In June 2011 I babysat for my friend Beth. I took her daughter Alex to work. I was feeling so so so so so SO sick... I brought her sons Chris and Dylan back to her house and we sat on the couch they played computer games checked their fb's...while I was just kind of there... I thought I seriously DON'T FEEL GOOD...but I can't sit here ALL DAY so I got up and we went to the C&O Canal historic park in Maryland. We went in the visitor center and I got booklets for the boys and they became jr. rangers. They also played checkers.. We also hiked to an overlook. I was feeling so sick it was unbelievable.. I can't believe I did all of this with how sick I was.. when we got back to their house. I collapsed on Dylan's bed and told them that they could watch TV or whatever I was that sick.. I stayed there until their dad Eric came and got them.. I was like um.. can you come up here and get them.. I am so sick.. I thought I was just being a wimp.. I had no idea that in a couple days I would be in the hospital..

The National Archives part 2

http://www.wdl.org/static/c/2742/service/02201_2003_001_pr.jpg
this is a letter I saw there that three "Elvis Presley lovers" wrote to President Eisenhower saying they would just about die .. if he made Elvis cut his sideburns to go into the army...

The National Archives

I saw this letter in the National Archives and thought it was funny


2571 Portola Way


Sacramento, Calif.

February 11, 1963



Dear President Kennedy,



I would like to know why, in this age of stress on physical fitness, there are still paunchy teachers around. These teachers are supposed to be good examples to us poor, disgusted kids. We kids do the exercises the teachers tell us, while the teachers stand around talking to other teachers. How are we supposed to believe exercises are worth it if the teachers don't seem to be interested?



I move that a new law be passed that requires teachers to keep themselves in the pink, too. Thank you for your attention and please reply soon.



Sincerely yours,



Richard Millington



P.S. Even some of the Scoutmasters have midriff bulge.



hahhahhahahahahahahahhahahaahhahahah!!!!!!!

My birthday 2011 part 4

My birthday this year was really on a Sunday so I had to do all that stuff on a Sat. On Sunday I went to church in Sunday school we had to say something interesting about ourselves I said that my birthday was the day AFTER Michael Jackson died and the day BEFORE Joseph Smith died... We had to split into small groups and for some reason my group got pre-occupied by looking up things that happened, people that were born and people that died on June 26th.. I have NO IDEA how that started.. or why I let it continue... no idea at all... then we had a potluck...Serena made me cookies. Cherie got me a cake..
Elaine came and brought me two vintage necklaces.
Kelly came and brought me a cool flower arrangement
Rich showed up and wanted Happy Birthday sang to Keli AND Rich.. I said NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you have had a bday party!!!!! you announced it on every form of social media there is.. I NEED HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANG TO JUST KELI!!!! so the ward sang Happy Birthday Keli and then Happy Birthday Rich... after they did that I thought wow.. I am being mean.. but I DONT FEEL GOOD :( after that Rich and Serena came over and we walked around and I was feeling worse and worse.. I had NO IDEA I was coming down with pnemonia....

my birthday part 3 2011

After our tall ship cruise, Danielle and I walked over to The Freemason Abbey Restaurant. We passed a couple of mermaids on the way. Norfolk has mermaid sculptures all over it. We got to the restaurant which has nothing to do with masons or catholics and went inside. During the month of June they had a deal to celebrate their birthday and you could get an appetizer an entree and a dessert for $22 So we each got that. the food there was AMAZING! and we had a GREAT time. Earlier in the day my Aunt Gail had said she wanted to do something for my birthday so she gave me money for Danielle and I to eat there :) great dinner ..great birthday :)I love finding cool places to eat!!  

My birthday 2011 part 2

So after Danielle and I went and toured that historic house. We went to the waterfront in Norfolk and went on a tall ship cruise. I have been wanting to do this.. FOREVER.. I was so happy to do this with Danielle for my b-day. It was a beautiful day and it was just so relaxing sitting on the boat.. and seeing the sights in Portsmouth and Norfolk... So beautiful.. I felt so happy!!!! :) you can check out my pictures from that day on FB :)

So the other night Will did not get home until around 7:45 and then I stood and talked to him and told him about our day. When I went outside ... MY CAR WAS GONE.. I went back upstairs and I was like my car just got towed.. he was like NO IT WAS JUST OUT THERE.. I was like well..now it is not... I thought wow really so in the 15 or so minutes I stood here and talked to Will I got towed.. I thought two trucks did not even START coming around until like midnight ish...but you know where I got that information ....
JUSTIN... and what does he know...but anyway... I DIGRESS...
so Will figured out where my car was it was all the way down in Fairfax like right where Oakton ends and Fairfax begins.. near the Denny's.
We waited for Julia to get home and then Will and I went to get my car.. so we turn onto this road and I see this fence and it was all covered in overgrown weeds and such.. and a small sign said "henry's towing" I said there it is! Will said no that can't be it..but after he had made a couple of U-turns he said well I guess that it IS... So he pulled into a gravel parking area.. he was like this can't be it we are on a gravel road..I did not even know that Fairfax County HAD gravel parking lots...Will was like where is the office.. I said I think it is that trailer.. he said that CANT be it that is a TRAILER.. I said oh no I think that it IS it.. I said that I would get out and check.. Will was like well take your cell phone cause this place looks sketchy.. so I go into this trailer and it is like 100 degrees in there and there is a guy behind this door with a hole cut in it at a really weird angle.. I was like Hello my car got towed.. and this guy was like ....yeah.. and I was like so.... I am here to get it.... he was like yeah... I said so ..what do I do.. He was like go find it.. I said well I see it.. he said well bring me your license and registration .. so I did.. then he said it would be $90 I said.. OK ( even though on the phone they told me it would be $125.. I did not mention that.. I said OK.. So I went back out and told Will and he said I will pay because Julia and I never told you to get a visitor pass. So I said well yeah that trailer is the office and that guy lives in there.. and it is like 100 degrees and he has a refrigerator in there and a plant and crushed pineapple... So Will goes in and says that he is going to pay with his card and the guy told him that he could not pay because he was not the registered owner of the car.. Will was like so what??? and the guy was like how do I know that you wont cancel your transaction the minute that I put it through.. Will was like well how do you know that the registered owner wont do that?? So the guy said he wanted $90 .. So I said I had $100... He was like well I don't have change.. so then he pulls up his pant leg and take this big roll of money out of his SOCK and said all this is 100s.. so I don't have change.. Will was like I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! I don't Believe you have $ 2000 in your SOCK.. the guy was like well I wont show it to you but yes these are all 100s I have no change... he said that I should just pay him the 100 and give him a ten dollar tip... then he laughed to himself...we said NO.. he said that if we did not want to give him a ten dollar tip..then we could order him a pizza...we said NO...
I said you got crushed pineapple right there all you need is a crust and tomato sauce and ham and you got a pizza..He told me that was disgusting and people that put pineapple on pizza "just aint right" He said that we needed to give him a $10 tip or order him a pizza..a kind that he likes.. because he had no change...he also wanted to know why Will and I were in such a good mood and why we were not more mad or more sad.. we said we did not want to go through life like that.. and we wanted to be optimistic...
so I called the number I originally called and they said that he could not give me change because the money was in a safe.. I was like it is not in a safe.. it is in his sock.. they were like no that is not right..they did not believe me.. they told me that I had to go and get change... I said OK..
So Will and I went and got change then I went in and paid him.. Will said I don't even know how to DEAL with people like that.. like I don't even know how to TALK to people like that... When I went back in the guy took my $$ and told me that I was the strangest person he had ever met... I said what about the guy I was with .. he said no he is normal but you are strange.. the strangest person he has ever met..I went and told Will and he said he thinks YOU are strange??? well he is the strangest person I have ever met...
that was just crazy... and I now park in visitor parking...

My Birthday 2011 part 1

For my birthday in 2011, I visited my friend Danielle in VA Beach. I went down on a Friday night. On Sat. We went to Norfolk, VA and went to this historic house http://www.hermitagefoundation.org/index.asp It was only $5 to tour. The people that lived there were really into art and they had everysingle surface of their house carved and decorated. They also had a secret passageways and rooms.. ( who doesn't want those in their house) upstairs they had a small art museum. The tour was only Danielle and I and another couple.
Outside they had beautiful gardens and trails that we spent awhile walking around and looking through and taking pictures. There was also a place to picnic. Danielle said she wanted to bring her BF back there at some point. I hope that she did because it was so pretty. I was not expecting much from this house so I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was and how beautiful the grounds were I am glad that we went.
Check out the pictures in my mobile uploads section on FB!!

field trip

In June 2011 I took Oliver, Fletcher and Desmond to the Museum of Natural History in DC.
We took the metro down and only did one floor. Desmond clapped when we went into the room with all the big dinosaur bones. Fletcher and Oliver were like LOOK AT THAT!!!! and kept pointing things out and talking about all the different animals.
It was  really hot day and it was in June there were a TON of tourist's down there. When I got back to Arlington,I felt like this was a huge accomplishment to take three kids all by myself on the metro to DC and to a museum...even if I did not get any pictures and only did one floor I am still so happy that I did that.

spiritual Keli

In June 2011, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir came to Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA..since that is in my stake, my stake was in charge of helping the VIPs and such I recieved an email that said if I was willing to help people park then I could get a FREE TICKET..
YES PLEASE!!!!
one of my friends said .."but you have to help people park" I said BUT I GET A FREE TICKET!!!
so I dressed in a white shirt and black skirt and black sandles. I took Grace Shamilian a 13 year old in my ward with me so she got a free ticket also.
When we got there, we met with Marcus Faust and a few other mid-singles from the area. Grace and I went down to the road with a placard that said parking and an arrow.. and a list of VIPs in case.. any of them forgot their parking pass.
......I gave my friend Kelly a parking pass...cause she is a VIP IMO....
we later moved farther up and pointed people in the right direction of where they needed to go.
all the mid-single women got VERY EXCITED when they saw SHERI L. DEW...who is the patron saint of mid-single women... I was starstruck.. I did not know what to say like do I say SISTER DEW!!! I AM SINGLE!!!! like OK........
We also saw Senator John Warner who later conducted part of the concert.
When we were done with our duties, we each got a goodie bag with a fan in it..which I promptly broke from fanning myself from the heat SO HARD...
and some treats..which I also ate right then and there...
When we went to our seats we found out we were sitting IN THE FRONT WITH THE VIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! which was an AMAZING EXPERIENCE...!!! we were so close...
.... I took a picture of Sister Dew's head... I was so giddy we were sitting that close to all those VIPs..
hearing the choir sing was BEAUTIFUL and SPIRITUAL!!! I am SO GLAD I HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY and reccommend it to everyone!!!
Alex Boye came out and sang... He has an "Im a Mormon" video.. and he was a GREAT PERFORMER.
I am so grateful for all the talented LDS members in the world that are willing to share their talents with the world!!
the picture above is my friend Amy and I. Several of my friends also went and saw the concert and were able to have this wonderful experience too ..

cooking with Keli and Elaine

In June 2011, Elaine and I got together and made an orange chiffon tube cake with an old tube pan I found in my mom's kitchen. It turned out great. Here is a link to the recipe we used

missionary Keli

I shared this story last week in Relief Society and wanted to share it here also,
we were talking about charity and I shared that it is also important to be able to accept charity and I shared this experience from my mission:
when I got my mission call to Ventura, California. I had NO IDEA about weather there. It was before the internet was that big of a thing ( yes I am THAT old)  so I asked people do I need to pack a coat to go to CA and everyone told me no you don't need to pack a coat..
so I get to my first area Bakersfield, CA and it was cold..cold enough for a coat. I had NO IDEA how I was going to get a coat or who to even ASK for one.. Even though my parents had enough $$ for a coat I did not feel like I could ask them.. So I was just cold. One night my companion Sister Weight and I were at the church and a member said " Sister Wright do you have a coat? I said "no" She said " well will you let me buy you one" I was overwhelmed... that someone would want to be that nice to me. I talked to another member. I said " why would she want to buy me a coat" she does not even know me"  This other member told me, "you need to let her serve you" you are a missionary" she will be blessed from serving you"
the member took Sister Weight and I out and bought us both coats.. I wore that coat the rest of my mission and for awhile after. I felt so much warmth from that coat not just from being warm..but the warmth of love for someone noticing a cold sister missionary and serving her in a time of need.. I hope that I can and will see the needs people have and be able to serve them.

field trip

In June 2011, I took Oliver, Fletcher and Desmond to the C&O Canal historic park in Georgetown. I have been to Georgetown a LOT of times and had no idea this place even EXISTED which makes me feel I admit ..a bit sheepish..
after paying only EIGHTEEN $$ to park ( ridiculous) and walking uphill in the heat with a double stroller..we arrived at the park.
There were people costumed like they would have been when the canal was running. Fletcher was able to sit on a mule. I took a ton of pictures but they are on my camera and I accidently left that at Kevin's.
We got on a canal boat that was hard to get on with a double stroller, since they just had a piece of plywood going down to the boat.
we were on the boat with, some tourists and a group of senior citizens from Lorton,VA.
The tour guide told us stories and historical facts about the boat and the canal..which was actually PULLED BY MULES.. it went about 8 MPH... when the water came down from the lock Fletcher got very scared because he thought that the water was going to come in on us.. He was like I WANT TO GO HOME!!!! ...but he survived..:)
after our boat ride Oliver and Fletcher did a jr. ranger program with my help and got badges.. while I was turned around Fletcher put stamps from the jr. ranger thing ALL over his face and arms and hands and even stomach... hahahhaah...!
The boys got badges and certificates it was a great day :)

milestone

In June 2011, Alexandra Victoria Summers graduated from Potomac Falls High School in Sterling, VA. She is the daughter of one of my BFFs from HS Beth Summers and Beth's ex-husband Eric Gibilaro.
Alex got accepted to Susquhanna University in PA and is now attending there hoping to become an art major. I am so proud of Alex for going to college! :)YOU GO GIRL!!!

church stuff

This week at church in Relief Society we were talking about charity and service and things and I made the comment about how even if we don't have money or time we can serve where we are, just by being ourselves: here is a story I shared, 
While riding the bus home after a long day in Chicago, there was no room to sit.  I started a conversation with some young guys that were starting at the Univsersity of Chicago for their first year, One of them was Persian so Kevin continued talking to him, I saw an available seat and went and sat down.
I was sitting by a young black girl that was texting a guy on the phone.. He was answering her back, then she said " do you want me to come over and spend the night?" and he did not answer her...she then called him and said " did you get my text?" She was like "well what is your answer?" and from the sound of it he just changed the subject and gave her the run around.. She was like "I am on the bus, I need to know so I know what stop to get off on!" then she said " it doesn't matter why I am on the bus, I just did not want to drive today" ..and things like "what does that have to do with me?"
When she hung up I said to her.. " Hey that guy is NOT worth your time...seriously" ...she had tears in her eyes and said..." I know:( but he has been around since 7th grade and now I am 18". I said "well he doesn't have to keep being around"..She said " I know" I said " you are a beautiful amazing woman" you need someone that is going to text you back and give you straight answers and be a real friend to you" I told her that she deserved that in her life..that all women deserve that. she said "do you have a daughter?" I said " no..but I am old enough to be your mom"
She then said "one day..you are going to be a great mom."
                                إن شاء الله
insha'allah- if it is God's will :)

field trip

In June 2011, I took Oliver, Fletcher and Desmond to a civil war site in Arlington... and I forgot the name which gives me a lot of motivation to CATCH UP ON MY STORIES!!!! It was a really peaceful park in Arlington, VA. we walked around and looked at cannons and I read all the signs outloud to the kids... Oliver then asked me a TON of questions about the civil war, battlefields, war, weapons, etc.. and I mean A TON OF QUESTIONS...future historian!!!! This is one of the reason I like taking kids to historic and cultural sites THE NEXT GENERATION MUST BE INTERESTED in the past!!!. on a side note they have a really cool house there that is you can rent out for special occasions. That day it had been rented out for a bridal shower..a drunk lady came out and started talking to me about how I was so lucky to be married with kids... and how I did not have to deal with the drama of bridal showers and those kind of things...I said oh no I am single I am their baby-sitter..she said that was still cool because I was so cool...she then gave me some extra sparkling water from the bridal shower and said she wanted to give it to me so she could "stick it to them" all those stuck up women in the bridal shower since I am not like that .. and just seeing me makes her happy..."
and this is my life... having interesting interchanges with people everywhere I go out and about.. :)

field trip

In June 2011. I took Oliver, Fletcher and Desmond to Clarks Elioak Farm in Ellicot City, MD I have some AMAZING pictures from there but I left my camera in Chicago and the pictures on that. The drive to Ellicot City was not bad and when we passed the temple, I said " see that building?" that is where you get married" Oliver said, even me? I said "sure why not?" we arrived at the farm.
ok backstory ages ago in Ellicot City,MD they had something called the Enchanted Forest but it stopped making money and fell into ruin and closed... apparently now you can sneak into the grounds and take pictures and stuff. Well the city and Clarks Elioak farm got together some money and started moving the stuff that was salvagable over to the farm. It is really cool. We saw things like
the three bears house
Jack and Jill falling down a hill
there was some sort of whale sitting in water and a boat called "little toot"
the old lady that lived in the shoe- that had a part where kids could climb in and go down a slide.
Fletcher fell off it once and skinned his knee...
and many many more nursery rhyme things
we also went on a wagon ride through the forest where we had to find different faces on trees..
and walked through a maze with all sorts of nursery ryhme characters.
They had a cow train that we could get on and go on a little train.. Oliver and Fletcher rode by themselves and I rode with Desmond.
they also had a petting zoo with tons of animals.. at one point there was a little goat and Fletcher was petting him and said ..." does he talk??" ... and this is what happens when kids read a lot of books hahahahha I said IDK why don't you ask him? he said do you talk??? Hello hello do you talk hahahahahh
so cute!
it was a great day! :)

field trip

 In June 2011, I took Oliver, Fletcher and Desmond to the B & O Railroad museum in Baltimore, MD. My GPS on my phone took me through ghetto DC and ghetto Baltimore. I did not even know until that day that Baltimore HAD that big of ghettos...it was crazy..tons of people sitting on stoops...boarded up windows..scary...the gps took me to the B & O RR YARDS not the museum..I then called the museum and it took the elderly lady on the phone awhile to figure out how to get me there..while we were stuck in the ghetto.. I saw people walking up and down the street selling "ice cold water" only $1...I thought wow REALLY? how much money can you POSSIBLY make doing that?? then I thought a LOT more than the people sitting on the stoops.
The museum did not have a TON to look at inside, but the boys still enjoyed it.
We then went outside and rode on a 20 minute train ride on a Marc train. the boys REALLY liked that. we then walked around in the HEAT looking at trains..the boys LOVED doing this..the only bad thing that I can say is that is was SO HOT that day..!!!!