A Well Read Woman is a Dangerous Creature

Well! Dearest blog readers, it's been a ridiculous amount of time since I've updated you! My apologies! Life is certainly taken a turn for the crazier. My typical week goes something like this:

Mon: Get up at 6:30am, get ready, get to work and get off around 6 pm, cook dinner, do homework and my Zumba class at the gym.
Tue: Get up around 5:00 am, get read, leave for school no later than 6:30, drive to Provo, class from 8:00 am-3:00 pm, drive home, homework the rest of the night
Wed:  Get up at 6:30am, get ready, get to work and get off around 6 pm, homework like crazy
Thurs: Get up around 5:00 am, get read, leave for school no later than 6:30, drive to Provo, class from 8:00 am-4:00 pm, drive home, take a breather, Zumba at the gym, homework
Friday: Get up at 6:30am, get ready, get to work and get off around 6 pm, homework, Improv comedy club, BED
Sat: Errands, sleep in a bit, homework homework and more homework, grocery shopping, laundry etc.
Sun: Get up at 6:15 am, get ready, help teach a missionary preparation class, church from 9 am- 12pm, REST <3

So that's my typical week right now! Pretty crazy right? Somehow I've managed to stay afloat, which is mostly due to my absolutely amazing family, who give all the love and support in the world!

Amongst other exciting things, I am applying to a London Study Abroad program this week! So I will keep everyone posted. My projected dates of study would be end of April to beginning of June. The program fulfills a lot of my generals and I'd have the option to choose a History project to work on while I'm there. It's a 7(ish) week program, and if I can afford to do it, I'd like to try and schedule some flights that go through New York on one of my flights, either there or back. So, we'll see! I'm not sure when they are sending out acceptance letters, but I'm sure if I'm meant to go that it will work out :)

I'm following up with a few doctors about my headaches, so there's not much new news to share there yet. They're trying a few new medications that I haven't tried yet, so we'll see how things go. I had a brain MRI a few weeks ago, and it looks like things are normal! So that's the good news. They're still going to keep an eye on a few more worrisome symptoms and see what they can do to figure out what's going on inside my head.

So that's a quick update! I'll have some more exciting things going on over the next few months! I've also gotten plane tickets to go home for Christmas! So that's super exciting! I'm way excited for another trip to Seattle :) Thanks for reading! Love you all :)

-Kendra

Be the Light -Mathew 5:14

Well...dearest blog readers! Life is all kinds of exciting right now! Summer is winding down (can you believe it?!) So people are going back to school, and my school starts next week! Crazy stuff. I am embarrassingly, nerdishly excited for school! I'm taking some exciting classes, and I'm just REALLY excited to get back to learning! I've got four classes (11 credit hours) this semester from 8:00 am to 2:50 pm (with some breaks in between) Tuesdays and Thursdays in Provo. I'll be commuting down those days, meaning I'll leave Salt Lake around 6:30 am! I'll be working in Salt Lake at the bank still, and I'll work Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and every other Saturday. So I'll be staying QUITE busy. I'm a History teaching Major, and an International Strategy and Diplomacy (comparative politics) minor. Somewhere in the midst of that, I'd like to get my Spanish fluency certificate. In the future I'd like to do my MBA in Political Science, and eventually teach AP Government and Politics (U.S and Comparative as a dual class) to Seniors. In the meantime, I'd be content to start teaching with my bachelors in History perhaps at a low-income school, but definitely working with bi-lingual students. I'd also like to add Portuguese into my language repertoire, and I'd like to start picking up some more photography classes.  So needless to say, school is pretty well planned out for the near future :) I will also be applying for a Study abroad program to London for Spring of 2016. So, all things exciting are to come once school starts.

Work is also going quite swimmingly! I'm definitely growing a lot, and I'm just loving being at the bank. I'm excited to keep on there, and hope to keep on there for quite awhile in the future. I get to use my Spanish quite a bit, and even occasionally my Portuguese. I translated a loan closing the other day! Which was pretty darn crazy! haha But I survived, and that was just a great learning experience.

I suppose the other big thing that's gone on is my surviving 21 whole years of life! Whoo! haha Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a huge birthday celebrator. I'm MUCH better at celebrating everyone else's birthday rather than my own. I know...how selflish right?! Well, it was a pretty swell day! My mom surprised me, and flew down from Utah...literally for a day. Mom of the year award for that right?! So I picked her up from the Airport Saturday morning, and we got some breakfast and went and did some shopping! I got some sweet new running shoes, and then we went and got Sushi for lunch. Utah has surprisingly good Sushi for a land-locked state! Then we went and found me a new flat-iron, and got our toes done all nice and pretty! We were both in sore need of a good pedicure. We ended out the day with a delicious family dinner, cooked by the AMAZING Stephanie. Ginger beef and Kale, stir-fry with rosemary sweet potato wedges. We had cake and opened presents and played some cards together, and it was a grand 'ol time! Time with family is my favorite part of Birthdays, so it was pretty sweet to have that, and to have my mom there. We were only missing Aunt Heather and Uncle Ty :/

So those are the big things going on! Life is exciting right now! I've been feeling immensely grateful for where I'm at right now. I feel like I am overly blessed with an amazing family, who also doubles as my best friends, a wonderful job, amazing schooling opportunities, and it's hard to imagine that life gets any better than this. I'm excited to see what this next year has to offer! It should be pretty exciting :) To end out...enjoy some pictures :)

From the present

From the past! 

My co-worker spoil me!! 

Awesome night for some dang funny improv comedy!

Much love, 

Kendra 

"Though she be but little, she is fierce."

Summer plans are wrapping up, students are getting ready to come back to school, and the weather is even beginning to cool down. Can you believe it? Nor can I. However, I can't complain either! Life is good. I've been reaching a point in life where it's all about choices. It would be a lie to say that things weren't occasionally hard, and that it was just a breeze, but I'm learning that our happiness is really a choice. Sometimes we are going to feel inadequate...sometimes we're gonna feel like we're stuck in a meaningless routine, and maybe we get hurt every once in awhile. However, we are ones who can choose to do what we need to do to become adequate, we can choose to push ourselves out of our comfort zones and build our confidence, and we can choose to throw some spontaneity into life and live a little. We can choose to make a life we are happy in. So that's what I'm doing, and I'm loving it! 

So, most people have been curious about school! Which starts crazy soon! September 1st will be my first class down at BYU Provo, and I'm quite excited! I'm signed up for 

1) US History up to 1877

2) American Government and Politics

3) Intro to Psychology 

4) World Religions

So pretty much, I'm WAY excited. They're all classes that I'm interested in, that I'm excited to be taking, and I'm just kind of a nerd...so I'm ridiculously giddy for new notebooks, and schoolwork...it's a wonder I haven't been bullied more in my school career. I'm also just finishing up an online English class that I've been taking over the summer...which, if anyone has heard about my experience, I'm going to be glad once it's over! But I turned in my final paper yesterday, and I was pretty excited about it! Big stress load off my shoulders. 

I'm also still working my 40 hours a week at the bank. I am LOVING it. I'm starting to get in the swing of things there, and I've been working to expand my knowledge of all things bank! Which is great, because I'm learning all kinds of things about finances that I wouldn't have learned anywhere else. Danielle (my cousin, best friend, and pretty much adopted sister) also works as a bank teller, so it's been super fun to compare bank things, and talk about all the things we're learning. 

I keep up with two church callings, and I just love it! I get up early Sundays and help teach a mission preparation class, which is one of the callings I have enjoyed most over the years. They bring such a special spirit with them, and it's just such a privilege to share experiences with them, and be around them, and learn from them. It's definitely the right way to kick off my Sunday. On a ward level, I teach a Sunday school class of 12 and 13 year olds. They are a total riot! Hopefully I'm not too boring a teacher, but I'm sure it's fine, because we love to have treats!

 

Other than that I've just been picking up a few random things here and there. I've been taking a Zumba class at the gym...and if any of you know me at all, you know that I am NOT about dancing haha but it was one of those things I just decided I wanted to take up. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and build some more confidence in myself...and honestly I'm still a little awkward, but! I'm doing it, and getting a little better every time! I've also started knitting again! haha which everyone thinks is super hilarious! But I think it's fun! I'm going to take my practice hats and scarves and make some hobo bags with some food and water and warm things to hand out to the homeless people in the winter! I'm also looking to get involved in a refugee program here in Utah that works with assimilating people into the US when they move here from other countries. I'm also still working towards a study abroad program in London, but maybe in the spring instead of winter. We'll have to just wait and see :) Other than that, my other main goal is to get a handle on my health. We're mainly trying to determine if Gluten is the real problem right now. But we're going to try and get some appointments in with a Neurologist to maybe get some scans and stuff done to make sure everything is alright. So! All exciting things :) Life is good, and I just can't complain!! Well, I'll end with a few pictures!

I also got to welcome home my most incredible Mission President and his wife. They gave WONDERFUL talks, and it was a real treat to catch up with them!

If you come to  my teller station...you WILL be able to find your sucker flavor of choice.... :) 

My Sunday School kids and a little project we did at church not too long ago!

First breadstick for over 3 months!!!

Visits with Shawn (my big unofficially adopted big brother) to Temple Square!

Visits with the most adorable nephew, my sister, and her husband Adam

Third of July Fireworks with my ladies! left to right (Savannah, Danielle...and obviously me!) 

Much love people! 

-Kendra 

 

Home is where the heart is

Well! I suppose this is a little belated, but I've decided to get caught up! At the beginning of July, I decided to take a trip back to Washington! I spent just over a week there, and boy did we pack in a whole lot of fun!! It'll be easiest for me to break down our adventures by day..so here we go!
p.s prepare for pictures!!

Saturday, July 4th:
I flew in around 9am, and had just enough time to stop for Central Market sushi on the way home from the airport before it was time to get home and get ready for people to come over. We probably had about 30 people over to enjoy the lake in our backyard and mom's delicious food! She also just built a fancy new firepit in our backyard, which is super cool! Ashley (my best girlfriend since....forever) came over, and brought her exchange student from Spain, Alaitz . Shawn and his little brother Mathew also popped by with a whole load of illegal fireworks! They thought it would be mighty cool to stick one of their m-500's into a water melon and blow it up in the water.....anyways! We had a real fun night blowing things up, and eating delicious food and catching up!! Only downside was that I caught a pretty nasty cold about a day before I left...but thank heavens for modern-day cold medicine!!

Reunited at long last!! I'm lucky she's my best friend :) 

Mom's midlife crisis....Jake. A prickly Australian walking stick. It's gross.  

About to light up the sky!

Shawn's explosive watermelon!

Cam cam and his sparkler :) 

Mathew and Shawn, prior to the explosion.

My ladies <3

Sunday we relaxed, and then Monday I took a trip out to the doctors, and got some more confused answers about my migraines. So back to the neurologist it is! We also swung through Central Market on our way home to purchase goods to make some homemade Mexican food! Whoo! 

Tuesday we got to do dinner with the Sister Missionaries, and afterwards I went out and grabbed some sushi with on of my best girlfriends from high school, Caitlin. So that was a blast!! She's one of those friends that just never gets old! No matter how much time passes, we just pick up where we left off and have a blast hanging out. 

Wednesday was a special day! Mom and I kicked it off by grabbing some snacks, and heading out to the beach, with our books and to let the boys play out in the sand. Then later that night I got to go out on a ride-along with dad. He recently switched back to k-9 and he and his partner Heiko are working on getting their accreditation, so they're doing a lot of training. Meaning I got to go out and do some tracking with them, and see what Dad does! It was an absolute blast!! I can't believe I haven't ever done that with him before. It definitely increased my respect, admiration, and appreciation for all that our Law Enforcement does for us. Not that I didn't before :p 

Beach babes and books <3

My happy place 

Little baby crab!! Can you see the wolf on his back?!

Quality time with Dad

We ended the week Thursday with a girls trip to Seattle! Nothing better! We had a blast! We rode the ferry over, and headed up to Pikes Place, and then we hit up Red Robin on the pier for lunch, and then wandered in and out of some boardwalk shops afterwards. Then we headed home for a movie night with Grandma and Grandpa, and we watched The Hobbit! (the second one). I was exhausted and still recovering from doing the graveyard shift with dad, but we had a good time anyways. And nothing really beats Grandma's homemade caramel popcorn! 

Pikes Place flowers <3

My ladies <3

Gum wall!!

My skyline <3

My Cam man!

My wacky mom!! :p 

Friday, we headed out to the Olympic Mountains for a hike Duckabush, and we had an absolute blast!! We ended up hiking out to a waterfall, and then around some other trails in the area. IT was a blast. We just love nature! And there is a beauty to Washington that you just don't really find anywhere else. The Pacific Northwest is just a beauty you have to experience at least once! 

Enough said <3

We rounded out the week with a work BBQ for Dad on Saturday and some good old fashioned family time. All in all, it was a wonderful trip home! It's always too short, and I'm always just so homesick for at least a few weeks after I come back. But for right now, I'll be staying here in Utah to finish up school and such. I've got a deep love for Washington and for the time and memories I have with my family there. Until next time! 

-Kendra 

My partner in crime!

We never have a normal family picture. 

My baby girl! 

Cutie pies!

Have Courage and Be Kind

Well! Friends and family! However does time move so swiftly?! It might just be the forty hour a week job...but somehow the days continue to escape me. Life is well here in the great land of North Salt Lake, and assimilation into the non-missionary world continues. I'm still really enjoying my job at the bank, and I'm starting to get the hang of things, and get to know our customers. What I really love about Brighton is that they are a small community bank really focused on their customers. They genuinely care about the people who keep us in business and the people I work with are simply divine! I didn't really imagine myself ever becoming a teller, but I'm loving it!! I'm hoping to stay with them for a long time :)

Online school progresses as well! Turns out my motivation to do school and study is significantly lower when I get to do it all from home, but I'm managing! We're working on argument pieces right now, and we had to pick a topic of research for the entire semester, and I finally settled on the effectiveness of standardized testing! It's made for some interesting research assignments, and I definitely feel like I'm learning a lot! So that's been fun!

Summer is finally becoming summer here in Utah, and a little less bi-polar every day! More consistent sun...and heat! Which is bearable between my being in a freezing bank most of the day, and being able to spend the rest of it in our recently opened pool. I know...it's hard to be away at college :) We have however been enjoying the nice weather by way of hiking as well! It's been fun to get out and explore the great outdoors with my free-time and I never knew there was so much green beauty to be admired here in the great land of Utah!! (See pictures below!!)

Being around my family has also been one of the highlights of being home! It's been so great to visit and keep in touch whenever I want, and everyone is doing really well! My mom, dad, and two little brothers are up in Washington, and doing well! ...for the most part! My mom is about to finish up the year as a 6th grade language arts teacher, though her position is non-continuing, so we will see where the wind blows her next year! Aidan and Cameron are both playing baseball and riding unicycles, so that's pretty exciting! Aidan also just got chosen to start playing the Saxaphone next year, so the band geek in me is pretty excited about that :) Dad has been having the roughest time out of all of us. The week before I came home from my mission, he detached his retina and had to go in for an emergency surgery...and then another....and then another. Then he transferred from detectives back to k-9 and a few days later....detached the other retina and had another surgery there....and another...so pretty much he's been down for the count for quite a bit now, and is ready to be done with this eye surgery business. So keep him in your prayers! We're ready for him to be back up and running. Especially my mom :) As far as my living situation, my most gracious Aunt Heather and Uncle Ty have been letting me stay with them in their home in North Salt Lake, UT. This has been and will be one of the greatest blessings I've received since coming home. It's really saved me and my sanity being able to be here, and be amongst those that I love and who are just a blast to be around! So, I'm wildly grateful for them, and we've been having many an adventure together! 

Other than the normal school, work, and family I've mostly been focused on also getting my health in order. As many of you probably know I've been struggling with chronic migraines off and on for about two or three years now. When I came home from my mission they wanted to try testing out a Gluten Intolerance. So I went off of gluten, and all was going really well!! Until a few weeks ago, when I started getting headaches again. So I'm continuing to stay off the Gluten, in hopes that maybe it's just another set of withdrawal headaches or something. However, in the meantime I've been in with the doctor who is also running a bit of bloodwork, and making sure I'm on the right vitamin supplements etc. So the mystery continues for a little bit, but we're hoping that the gluten thing is at least a step down the right path! 

Well! I think that's all the main things right about now! The future is an open book, so I'm sure I'll have plenty of adventures to come. For now, its time to just have courage and be kind :) 

p.s if you haven't seen Cinderella yet...you must. Immediately. 

Visit out to see Dad for Memorial Day <3

 Danielle and I have been enjoying an improv comedy club downtown on the weekends. It's become our new favorite place!!

 Ta Ta for now! Much love!
-Kendra

Welcome Home Sister Baker!

Dearest friends and family,

Well, I have had several requests for a new blog to be created! So here it is! Happy day! Well a lot has been going on in this little life of mine! All starting with my return home from my mission. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what that means, I served a voluntary mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I spent a year and a half in the great land of New York, working with the Spanish folk (and learning Spanish!)...teaching them about our beliefs, providing community service, and doing the work of the Lord. There are no words to describe the experiences that I had there, and my feelings on the whole event, but it is safe to say that it has changed my life forever, and my gratitude for the privilege and opportunity to serve is without measure. So that is where I have been for the past year and a half. I got back in early April, so since then I have been trying to get settled back into normal non-missionary life! I'll bullet point a few of the highlights and happenings since I've been home:

• A wonderful week and a half long vacation with family here in Utah (minus dad who had to have emergency surgery on his eye for a detached retina) 
• An even more wonderful 3ish week long vacation in Washington with immense amounts of time spent with family, and hiking 
• Aidan (my little brother) was baptized!
• A new job as a Teller with Brighton Bank...whoo hoo!
• Acceptance into Fall semester at BYU (Brigham Young University)
• Summer English writing class at the LDS Business college over summer
• Dad returning back to K-9 duty 
• Immense enjoyment of various movies, and music

So those are some of the bigger things! I'm really excited for this summer! I'll be working full time (40 hours a week) and trying to keep up with my online class at the same time. In the long-term I'm planning to apply to a study abroad program in London for the Winter semester of 2016! So I'm pretty excited about that. All is well here in the life of Kendra! I'll write periodically to keep ya'll informed on the big happenings and some of the little moments :) I love you all!! Adios!