Wednesday, March 24, 2010
God anwsers prayers!
So this week has been absolutely crazy, but the funny thing is it is only Wednesday, who thought I could be this busy, not me!! I have decided that I am not going to run for national office for FFA, I have been praying for many weeks and I know now that God would like me to stay here and put my faith in some other way. I know that I am going to start getting more involved in Christian Challenge(a college Christian group that meets throughout the week), community service because I have missed that part of my life from last year of doing 600 hours at House of Refuge to NO hours like that this year, every time I am offered I never can do any of it. So next year I am going to still participate with FFA at the state level but dedicate next year to serving the LORD, serving others, and focusing on school. My mom, the most amazing woman in the world has been helping me pray and do the pros and cons of both, I think she just wants me to stay so she can't miss me as much, just kidding. I love you MOM, your the best! Psalm 118:8- It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust man. This verse has been with me for the past few weeks and it really has helped me. Today I have accomplished so much, I wrote all of my thank you notes for FFA, went to Santa Rita High School(explain more later), went on a nature hike with Kevin and Ryan in flip-flops to collect desert plants for Ecology, started memorizing my speech for SLC(session theme for June 10-12),and started my American Degree for FFA(highest degree you can receive in FFA-due April 1)! So for Santa Rita, I was given the opportunity to work with this chapter to start them back up with the permanent substitute, she is awesome! She wants the students to have as many opportunities as they can even though the year is almost over, I will be going down there about once a week to do presentations and help them get everything organized. If you couldn't tell I am SUPER excited to be doing this! The rest of the week looks super busy, school tomorrow, Executive meeting for FFA on Friday and award selection day for FFA on Saturday and then a Camp Board Meeting for FFA on Sunday! And sometime, I want to go shopping this weekend to get some Bath & Body smell goods and flip-flops so I can show off my cute toes that I got done with Lauren-which had an amzing time on her mission trip and I am so glad she made it home safely. I am missing my family terribly this week, but it is helping that I have been super busy but I do get to go home tomorrow!! :)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Spring Break 2010!!
I have not posted in a while, it has been a busy couple of weeks. So this one is going to be long! Last week was my first spring break of college and it was amazing. I went with some of the members of my team: Cheyenne, Tricia, Heather, Justin, Brandon, Jared, and Connor. We went to California from Sunday to Sunday, I drove 2,552 miles over the period of 7 days. On Sunday we left at 12 am and drove all night until 2:45 pm when we arrived in Newark, when we got there we all took an hour nap and then went to Pier 39 in San Francisco to go to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company because Jared is obsessed with the movie Forrest Gump and Ghiradelli. We shopped a little that night, but Pier 39 closes early, 9 o'clock. I have decided over the course of the trip, I will never live in a big city, parking is a rip off, 20 bucks for 3 hours-CRAZY!!
Tuesday we went to the beach all day, it was super fun just to hang out and relax after a whole day of driving, that night we went to a Hometown Buffet that had an ICEE machine in it(how cool is that)!! 
The rest of the night we hung out at the hotel and went in the jacuzzi(we spent alot of time in there over the course of the week after all the walking :0)
Wednesday we went to the Muir Woods(smaller version of the redwood forest), parking was crazy and we had to park about 2 miles away, so we decided to go on our own hike first, it was a blast because we could take pictures and spend time with each other going anywhere we wanted, after about 2 hours, we decided to go to the actual park, the trees were HUGE and really pretty. The next day we went to Alcatraz(AWESOME!!!), we took a boat to the island and then we got to tour the jail cells,
the headphone part was the best, it was so interesting to learn about all the stuff that happened there. After that we went to Ghiradellis to get delicious ice cream and walk down through San Francisco, we saw a bunch of cool shops and an awesome break dancing group. 
Friday we went to Yosemite, it was a long 4 hour drive but it was snowy and beautiful up there. We took at 5 mile hike to Mirer Lake and then another mile hike to a beautiful waterfall. 
That night when we drove home we went down a different road then the boys so we got to Olive Garden almost 2 hours before them, the waiters kept wondering if we were just making them up, but eventually they got there for dinner. Our second to last day, Saturday, we went to Monterey Bay, when we got there we went to the aquarium, I felt like I was in Seaworld again(which is my favorite themepark), I think my team was getting bored but I was in heaven and kept looking and reading at everything. 
After that we went to the beach, it was WAY to cold to do anything so we just played in the tide pools playing with the sea urchins and starfish(surprised that there was any)
, then we went to this delicious Mexican restaurant.
While we were waiting I met this little down syndrome boy named Zachary. He was so sweet, and just loved talking, I also talked to his mom for a while, and she gave me her email. Zachary and I took a couple of pictures before we sat down to eat, so I should be getting those in my email soon and I will post them. That night we drove to Simi Valley to get a little closer to home, the next morning we got up went to Hollywood for about twenty minutes and then drove home, we arrived home around 8 pm. It was the best week ever, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go with my team. But I also have some exciting news about this week, I got another $1000 scholarship from Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers!!
Tuesday we went to the beach all day, it was super fun just to hang out and relax after a whole day of driving, that night we went to a Hometown Buffet that had an ICEE machine in it(how cool is that)!! 
The rest of the night we hung out at the hotel and went in the jacuzzi(we spent alot of time in there over the course of the week after all the walking :0)
Wednesday we went to the Muir Woods(smaller version of the redwood forest), parking was crazy and we had to park about 2 miles away, so we decided to go on our own hike first, it was a blast because we could take pictures and spend time with each other going anywhere we wanted, after about 2 hours, we decided to go to the actual park, the trees were HUGE and really pretty. The next day we went to Alcatraz(AWESOME!!!), we took a boat to the island and then we got to tour the jail cells,
the headphone part was the best, it was so interesting to learn about all the stuff that happened there. After that we went to Ghiradellis to get delicious ice cream and walk down through San Francisco, we saw a bunch of cool shops and an awesome break dancing group. 
Friday we went to Yosemite, it was a long 4 hour drive but it was snowy and beautiful up there. We took at 5 mile hike to Mirer Lake and then another mile hike to a beautiful waterfall. 
That night when we drove home we went down a different road then the boys so we got to Olive Garden almost 2 hours before them, the waiters kept wondering if we were just making them up, but eventually they got there for dinner. Our second to last day, Saturday, we went to Monterey Bay, when we got there we went to the aquarium, I felt like I was in Seaworld again(which is my favorite themepark), I think my team was getting bored but I was in heaven and kept looking and reading at everything. 
After that we went to the beach, it was WAY to cold to do anything so we just played in the tide pools playing with the sea urchins and starfish(surprised that there was any)
, then we went to this delicious Mexican restaurant.
While we were waiting I met this little down syndrome boy named Zachary. He was so sweet, and just loved talking, I also talked to his mom for a while, and she gave me her email. Zachary and I took a couple of pictures before we sat down to eat, so I should be getting those in my email soon and I will post them. That night we drove to Simi Valley to get a little closer to home, the next morning we got up went to Hollywood for about twenty minutes and then drove home, we arrived home around 8 pm. It was the best week ever, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go with my team. But I also have some exciting news about this week, I got another $1000 scholarship from Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers!!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The past two weeks!!
The past two weeks have been full of fun and exciting events and this week there is even more. Two weeks ago, aka Valentine's Day weekend, Chris came down to see me all weekend. Friday night, Chris and I made cheeseburgers and oreo balls. Oreo Balls are oreos squished up, mixed with cream cheese, frozen, and covered with milk chocolate. (Cheyenne, Ben, &Kelly helped up make them) Saturday I had a field trip though to the Desert Museum and on a hike with my Ecology class. I thought it was going to be one of the most boring field trips but it turns out I met two wonderful ladies in my class, Emily and Jackie that I spent the whole day with. Sunday Chris and I wanted to have an adventure day so we watched the olympics, went to the rock and mineral show, mall(Tucson mall is expanding alot-bigger then malls in Gilbert) and to a mexican restaurant that was on the show Diners, Drive in's, and Dives. Chris had a carne asada burrito that was GINORMOUS, and I had a bean and cheese burrito that was delicious. But the best part of the weekend was my present(and a SURPRISE at that), I was given the most beautiful promise ring from Christopher, it was made especially for me with a diamond from one of his dads rings. For him, I made him a jar that contained 365 reasons why I loved him in it, he absolutely loved it and could not believe that I came up with all of them. When I started that project, I did not realize how hard it was to make all 365 reasons different. 
On Thursday and Friday I had a trip for FFA called B&I tours. On Thursday we went to the Arizona State Capitol to pass out house plants to all the senators and house of representatives for National FFA Week(Feb 22-27). I also had the opportunity to give the invocation to the Senate, I sat by the Head Hancho of the room(not sure what his name was) but it turns out he was in FFA back in Iowa. Then on Friday we went to Rousseau Farms, a carrot farm, it was the most amazing experince I have ever had, we went through the processing plant to see how they made baby carrots and how they sorted and packaged them all. Then we went out to the carrot field and rode on the digger/harvester that pulled the carrots out of the ground and cut the tops off. After that we went to McElhaney Cattle Company which is a feedlot in Yuma, I have never seen so much cattle in my life, 126,00 head of cattle. After that Ben, Connor, Buddy, Jared, Heather, Cheyenne, and I drove to Safford for team time. We stayed on bens ranch, we toured Safford, Morenci, and Cliffton seeing the mines except it started snowing when we were up there so we didn't exactly see the whole mine. Saturday night we went to a benefit dance in New Mexico for the Mexican Grey wolves because a company is releasing them and they are killing cattle and other animals, in return the ranchers are losing money and cattle. On Sunday morning we left the ranch and headed home, it was a great to be able to finally relax and hang out with the family. We had dinner at Niane and Jasons, mom and Niane made an Italian potatoe pie. It rained all day yesterday in Gilbert so I left early for Tucson and made Taco Soup for the Boys. This week is full of choas which camp planning, ffa proficiency awards, scholarships, chapter visit, floral show, Jerry & Cindy's wedding, and Kyle's birthday party. It is going to be a really busy week!
On Thursday and Friday I had a trip for FFA called B&I tours. On Thursday we went to the Arizona State Capitol to pass out house plants to all the senators and house of representatives for National FFA Week(Feb 22-27). I also had the opportunity to give the invocation to the Senate, I sat by the Head Hancho of the room(not sure what his name was) but it turns out he was in FFA back in Iowa. Then on Friday we went to Rousseau Farms, a carrot farm, it was the most amazing experince I have ever had, we went through the processing plant to see how they made baby carrots and how they sorted and packaged them all. Then we went out to the carrot field and rode on the digger/harvester that pulled the carrots out of the ground and cut the tops off. After that we went to McElhaney Cattle Company which is a feedlot in Yuma, I have never seen so much cattle in my life, 126,00 head of cattle. After that Ben, Connor, Buddy, Jared, Heather, Cheyenne, and I drove to Safford for team time. We stayed on bens ranch, we toured Safford, Morenci, and Cliffton seeing the mines except it started snowing when we were up there so we didn't exactly see the whole mine. Saturday night we went to a benefit dance in New Mexico for the Mexican Grey wolves because a company is releasing them and they are killing cattle and other animals, in return the ranchers are losing money and cattle. On Sunday morning we left the ranch and headed home, it was a great to be able to finally relax and hang out with the family. We had dinner at Niane and Jasons, mom and Niane made an Italian potatoe pie. It rained all day yesterday in Gilbert so I left early for Tucson and made Taco Soup for the Boys. This week is full of choas which camp planning, ffa proficiency awards, scholarships, chapter visit, floral show, Jerry & Cindy's wedding, and Kyle's birthday party. It is going to be a really busy week!Tuesday, February 2, 2010
This Week
This week has been my very first official whole week at the University of Arizona. I have to say it has been a nice change to be down in Tucson and not drove hundreds of miles this week. Though I love state office, a break is nice to take care of school make up work and maintain my relationship with God. On Frida
y, I went to a women's bible study, which was great to connect with other women at the U of A to keep me accountable. That same night I went to Christian Challenge to have a Chocolate Movie night with fondue and watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I met a lot of wondeful people along with the people I already know, I feel like that is a place that God wants me to be. Last weekend was also Kevin's(roommate) birthday, we had a party for him and it was tons of fun with lots of people at our apartment. Chris came down and surprised me, it was wonderful to see him after a week. I also had the surprise of three other state officers from Gilbert-Justin, Brandon, and Jared that came down yesterday to hang out with everyone. School has been wonderful, I was a little nervous about the semester when I started but I love all of my classes and my professors. My favorite class this semester is entomology(the study of insects), my professors make us think and we actually learn from our point of view. I am excited to see what else is in store for me this year. This week for FFA, I have the opportunity to help Highland FFA with 8th grade recruitment on Friday. The next event is Business and Industry Tours and a trip to Morenci, February 17-21st.
y, I went to a women's bible study, which was great to connect with other women at the U of A to keep me accountable. That same night I went to Christian Challenge to have a Chocolate Movie night with fondue and watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I met a lot of wondeful people along with the people I already know, I feel like that is a place that God wants me to be. Last weekend was also Kevin's(roommate) birthday, we had a party for him and it was tons of fun with lots of people at our apartment. Chris came down and surprised me, it was wonderful to see him after a week. I also had the surprise of three other state officers from Gilbert-Justin, Brandon, and Jared that came down yesterday to hang out with everyone. School has been wonderful, I was a little nervous about the semester when I started but I love all of my classes and my professors. My favorite class this semester is entomology(the study of insects), my professors make us think and we actually learn from our point of view. I am excited to see what else is in store for me this year. This week for FFA, I have the opportunity to help Highland FFA with 8th grade recruitment on Friday. The next event is Business and Industry Tours and a trip to Morenci, February 17-21st.
Introduction
The content of this blog will be of my life, Kalea Ann Taylor. I will write about State Officer events for FFA, going to the University of Arizona, my family, and any amazing events that happen.
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