"Organize yourselves"

D & C 88:  Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.

Bret and I have spent the last 9 months living in my parents basement. It was so very gracious and kind of them to let us be "free loaders' while Bret was doing some internships in Salt Lake.  Baby Jack came too while we were living with them and I can't express how wonderful it was to have family so close.  But this weekend we move into our new apartment and I am all giddy! (Almost like I'm nesting again) I'm excited to have our very own space to take care of.  I am determined to make sure that space is tidy.  I have been listening to "The life-changing magic of tidying up" by Marie Kondo.  It is inspiring and I can't wait to get started!

Step one is to Visualize my ideal lifestyle. 
This takes me to a few weeks back when Bret and I took a 5-day road trip around Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.  I actually discovered a lot on that trip.  Yep, surprised me too! (part of that will be in another post).  We had a dear friend hook us up with some deals to stay in a Marriott.  Walking into a Marriott hotel room has got to be one of my top 10 favorite feelings.  Everything is in its place, the desk is organized,  the room is clean, the bed looks crisp.  There is nothing on the counters, table tops or floors. Towels are hanging on the racks.  It's perfectly clean and tidy and I think to myself... "I want to feel like this every time I walk into my room."  Of course then we drop our bags, Diaper bag, cooler, and travel crib for jack and its gone.  The magic only lasts a few seconds.  So I visualize a Marriott hotel suite.  I visualize light colors and a bright home with lots of natural light.  A crisp white Bed Spread. Table tops free of clutter and gathering junk and kitchen counter with succulents growing in beautiful little pots. Crawling into bed at night thinking back on my day and being grateful for all the moments I had with Bret, Jack, family and friends. As opposed to already starting my checklist of things I need to clean up/organize the next day.  I want my home to be a place where it is easy to feel the spirit in.  I want to eat healthy, exercise, and wake up early.  Enjoy meal prep and have the table set before Bret gets home.  Have scripture study and breakfast as a family before anyone goes out the door in the morning and family prayers followed by a group hug at night.  I want my home to be a house of order, a House of God.

I will get good at this!

I KNOW that I am supposed to have a blog but I am so poor at it!  So here's to me trying to get back into it.  My heart is full today, as I have reflected on this beautiful week I have had. I say it a lot and I will say it again, God is good!  I have felt his hand countless times in my week and I am so grateful for his constant care of his children, even when we feel inadequate and undeserving.

1. Monday morning started off with the arrival of beautiful baby girl straight from Heaven. I was crazy and drove down to Layton to meet her and it was well worth the trip.  When I got there Dianna wasn't feeling too hot so I had baby Judith all to myself.  She had just gotten her bath and she was smelling so sweet.  She was perfectly bundled and I was able to hold her in my arms for about 30 minutes.  As I held her I felt heaven in my arms.  What a privilege it is when we get the opportunity to hold such perfect little souls.  Holding her I realized that I was being affected by her goodness, he was healing my heart and changing me.  This little being who was only 2 or 3 hours old was making me a better person.  Thank the heavens above that we get these opportunities to recommit ourselves to Becoming.

2. This GUY!

This Mr. is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me. please don't look too closely at my crazy face but check him out! Holy Cow! Is there anything more endearing than that look on a boys face?  Every girl deserves to feel so completely and utterly loved by someone.  I have no doubts or fears that he cares for me and would do anything for me.  I would do anything for him too.  He is good. Good to the core.  He is kind to everyone.  He trusts in the lord, even when it doesn't seem like the most rational thing to do.  He is a keeper!  So yep, this is happening.

3. Relief Society Conference

The relief society conference was phenomenal.  The words spoken were EXACTLY what I needed to hear.  Once again I felt my soul on fire: I am determined to be better and make improvements that will make me a better Disciple of Christ.  The main message I received from conference is that if we keep our Covenants than we will feel God bless us over and over again. Time and Time again we will find ourselves in awe of his goodness.

10 Reasons to be Happy

1.  The SUN is shinning 

2. Sandal weather is finally here! My Chaco's will never leave my feet again!

3. Books on tape or books on a mobile device?  I have been reading/listening to The Hobbit this week and it has been so fun to escape to another land where I don't have to make tough decisions

4. Roommate impromptu celebrations.  Stabby girl had a killer interview today and she ROCKED it!

5. Stretching.  I. Love. Stretching!  see why on next line

6. Rock climbing, kicks my butt yet I can't help but love it! And I can really see my improvements

7. Running.  I had a killer 2 1/2 mile run today.  I really need to get back into the swing of running. (it's not like I have a half marathon coming up?!) 

8. I am going to Africa! I couldn't be more excited!

9. Sam is coming to Africa with me! Love that girl so much!

10.  General Conference is this weekend! So many questions to be answered.

She can.....

Sometimes while I am at work absolutely FIGHTING to stay awake, I get a wee bit emotional... and weird.
 That is exactly what is happening tonight.  It has been a LONG day with many great and challenging things accomplished. Here is the list of my accomplishments for the day:
1. Got out of BED! ( you have no idea how huge that is!)
2. Shower (another accomplishment you might be surprised at)
3. Got my passport pictures and learned that you  don't smile for them.  (that doesn't look good on anyone)
4. Didn't fall asleep in class
5. Did my Pointless homework assignment
6. Conquered a 5.9- Climb! (Almost with ease!)
7. Then I conquered a 5.9 Climb!
8. I went to class making NO detours ( you have no idea how hard that one was to accomplish, but I did it! And I'll do it again tomorrow.)

So thinking back on my day, and trying to find the courage to face the next handful of months I pictured my life as a movie and I made the poster.  Below are the titles I came up with. In all of these movies I would be playing she... She never gets a real name.  For the purpose of inspiring all girls to face challenges and triumphs with spunk, strength, faith, and class.  (I wish that was how I really handle things)  Thinking of my life in these movies I can envision the person I will become by the end of the summer ( or right before the ending credits.)  I think she will be much better, stronger, inspired, and selfless (at least that is the goal).  Here I go; there is JOY to be found in ALL journeys.

KEEP KIM HOME: Upcoming Events

KEEP KIM HOME: Upcoming Events: Mark your Calendar Folks because Keep Kim Home has a FUNNY fundraiser coming up! The Improv Troupe where nothing less than the fat...

Hair Treatments

I have always known that I have really really really thin hair.  I've just always known that.  My mom has thin hair, and my grandpa started wearing a toupee as soon as he returned home from his mission.  Did you know that the hair jean is passed down from the mothers, father?  Good thing I love my grandpa so darn much, or I would have a hard time forgiving him for what he has done to me!  So, I was never meant to have great hair but, that has never stopped me from trying just about everything to get my hair to grow and thicken.  Here are a few of the remedies I have tried:

1. The Hair Zapper

I will never forget the day my aunt pulled this lil' beauty out of the closet!  Now the above picture is the essential idea of what the "hair zapper" looked like but the one my aunt gave me was probably made in the 80's and it looked more like a glass hand held garden  rake.

  

So here's how it works.  We would plug it in, it would turn red and yellow,\ then it would start shooting off jolts of electricity through to the tips of the comb!  While the electricity is pulsing through I would comb it through my scalp!  It was the strangest feeling on my head!  The best part about the Zapper was how much fun my friends and I had with it, I wonder if that is why we are so weird sometimes!  We thought it was the funnest thing to play with.  Looking back I shouldn't have let them use it  because they already had thick long hair, and I needed to save all the juice for my head!  Needless to say the only thing the "Hair Zapper" did for me was help me make friends.  But I can't help but wonder if Annie would have such thick hair if it wasn't for me and the "hair zapper."

2. Mayonnaise

My senior year I would pull out our huge Costco sized tub of mayo and lather mayo all throughout my hair.  I would then put on a shower cap to trap the nutrients, I actually can't remember why I wore a shower cap but, I do know that it heated up the mayo.  It was so gross!  After a while liquid mayo would be dripping down my face.  Yuck, you would think after spending 45 minutes wiping liquid mayonnaise of my face I would try to find another way to make my hair grow but no!  I did the mayo treatment all the time!

3. The double Pony Tail

 Yep I thought I was being so tricky!  The double ponytail made your hair look longer!  But it didn't make my hair grow, and since my hair was so short you could easily see the two ponytails, but Cami gave it shot!

4.  Biotin

I have also taken biotin supplements but I never saw any improvements.  But man, did I take the pill religiously!  

Now you know the woe's of my thin hair problems!  I think I probably say this to 2 or 3 people a week and I'll tell you too:  When I get to heaven I will have the thickest, healthiest, and longest hair.  My hair will also have a soft natural curl.  That vision I just gave you is why I am trying so hard to CTR!  

Answered prayers

The other day I was talking with a friend, whom I hadn't talked with for a while and he reminded me of an experience I had last year.  I have never written it down and it is definitely one that needs to be remembered.  So here it is!

It was the beginning of the Fall semester 2011.   I just had an amazing summer and was struggling to keep myself motivated in school but I took on 18 credits, worked 10 hours a week and I was feeling SWAMPED!  To top it all off a cute boy was asking me out on dates and I really liked him!  I wanted to spend time with him but, I didn't know where the time was going to come from.  I definitely didn't want that time to take away from my studies, and I was determined to still get good grades and stay up to date with my homework.  But I also really wanted to give this guy a shot.  Sitting in Institute one day (completely thinking about my own things, I couldn't tell you what the lesson was) I became overwhelmed thinking of all the homework I had to get done, work I needed to get to that day, and battling really wanting to make time for this new relationship.  I was feeling very anxious, and I was so nervous that dating this kid would RUIN my GPA.  Immediately the spirit whispered to me, "Cami what is important to you, is important to me." 

Wow!  What a loving Heavenly Father.  Through God nothing is impossible!  That night as I said my prayers I asked for God's help in maintaining my grades that semester. I went through that semester juggling a boyfriend, 18 Credits, and a Job.  It was the hardest and best semester of my life!  So many times I saw the Lord's hand bless my life and guide me.  I am so happy to say that I got a 4.0 that semester!  I know that prayers are answered.  I know that God cares about us personally,  and he is aware of our personal dilemma's.

He lives!

I am back!

Well it is about time I return to the blogging world after a serious sabbatical.  (Ry Ry, my brother, taught me that word it means a rest form work).  I am conflicted as to whether this blog should be a catch up, or if I should just start with what I want to say today.  I figure if anyone was to read this they probably already know me quite well so I am going to skip diving into the past plus, it's time for the future anyway.


In fact that is what I want to tell about my future.  What I want to work towards has been shaped by what I have learned from the past.  Deep right? Ugh too deep, I'll just type.

1.  This summer 2013 Africa meet Cami Larsen!  This girl has wanted to come and serve your beautiful black children since she was 10, and man is she anxious to get there.

2.  This summer 2013 Hawaii meet Cami Larsen!  Cami has been to Hawaii twice and both times has sworn she would come back to live and work there for a summer! Hawaii she is coming back

3.  This summer 2013 Europe meet Cami Larsen!  Cami spent all last summer with Brits, and people who had traveled all around Europe and now she is itching to have an experience there too!

4.  This Summer 2013 Cami needs to work.


But honestly I WILL go to Africa the other places will have to visited later.
I know this ain't much but its a post!  I'm a little rusty.

Bear Lake Impressions

This has been the best summer of my life because I have learned so much!  I've spent the summer in Bear Lake working like a maniac.  I have 2 jobs, and I'm in a play at Pickleville Playhouse.  I work constantly and I sleep hard.  I'm training for the Top Of Utah 1/2 marathon, and I love how healthy I feel.  I was guided to Bear Lake this summer and I know I was sent here for a reason I have learned so much!  The Lord know's me!! So here I go, this summer I learned...

1.  Sometimes lions chase us for a reason and steer us into the path that we need to take.(read The Horse and His Boy)
2. Getting stuck in a bathroom is a small thing... don't stress it!
3. How the wind blows and what winds are best for sailing.
4. We all have righteous desires but, sometimes we are not called.  Just because we are not called does not mean we are not worthy to do them.  It's just not our time yet, and if we are patient with the lord he will give us the chance to serve him.
5. The Gospel blesses our lives, and is a safeguard from SO many worldly afflictions.
6. My parents love me, and everything they ask of me is only for my safety. Even though it was a lot they asked I will never ever second guess them.  They are always right!  
7. How to make a bed with hospital corners, and how to fold towels quite nicely
8. How to DIVE!!!! 
9. how it feels to work all the time and to be exhausted but keep going.
10. Mental math!
11. The Lord knows me and knows what I need in my life, he sent me here to Bear Lake this summer and gave me the best friends I could ask for, Melanie Jordan, and Laycee are amazing! He promises that he will guide us and provide if we just have faith this summer has proved that to me 100 times over.  

Thanks, Gardener, for Cutting Me Down When You did

I am a member of the LDS Church.  This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to sit at the feet of the Lord's  Prophets and Apostles.  I loved learning from their wise counsel and was uplifted in so many ways I encourage everyone to check out these amazing talks at  http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/04?lang=eng.  I was inspired on so many levels and, I want to share one point that Elder D. Todd Christoferson made.  He talked about a Gardener that cuts and trims a Currant Bush.  The Currant Bush said to the Gardner, "How could you do this to me?  I had beautiful leaves and I was going to grow to be so big.  Now I'll be laughed at by the other plants.  How could you harm me so, I thought you were the Gardner?"  The loving Gardner replied, "Dear Currant Bush, I am  the Gardner and you are meant to be a Currant Bush.  Because I have cut you down, someday you will grow big and strong.  And you will turn to me and say, "Thanks, Gardner, for cutting me down when you did."  I love this story because, I have seen our Master Gardner cut bushes down my whole life.  We are those bushes!  We have a wonderful purpose that our Lord has prepared for us, and not all of us are meant to sing, dance, paint, understand hard mathematical problems, Chemistry, or become millionaires.  I realized that we all in some way or another, have a desire for the direction of our lives.  And sometimes our desires do not match what the Lord desires.  And when he cuts us down it's hard but, someday we will realize what his plan is for us, and we will say "Thanks Gardener, for cutting me down when you did."

What's that smell?

This last Friday as I was blow drying the little hair I have on my head, and I sort of had an accident.  Let me explain. As I was taking my round brush to the top of my head I noticed that the air coming out of the dryer was getting painfully hot, so I started holding the cool button, but the temp. did not cool down.  The next thing I know my head is burning and the smoke detector is going off.  I quickly turn off the blow-dryer and start to take the round brush out of my hair, but the brush was not the only thing that came out.  So did my hair!  That hot dryer combined with the tin on my roomate's round brush (she let me use her's because I left mine at home) had fried my hair off!  the singed part of my hair just kept breaking off as I gently pulled my fingers through it. I probably stood in front of the mirror for 10 minutes taking handfuls and handfuls of hair off my head!  I don't have much hair to begin with, so I would just be liking for you to know.. now there is even LESS.  Now when I wash my hair this wafting smell of burned hair engulfs my nose.  I'm not sure if it's real or just my imagination. But I have decided burned hair is the worst smell ever, especially if it's your own!