The Pocket Inn

Food Services

2011-05-05T17:20:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me know that I despise Costco with everything inside of me. Is it the plethora of great deals that bother me? No. Is it the humongous carts that they force you to use? No. Is it the samples they older gentleman in tiny aprons are constantly offering you? Absolutely not. It’s the people. It’s the people that walk around Costco just to walk around Costco. Not really looking for anything…just browsing. When I do anything involving food I am on a mission and all I want is to get in and out of there as quickly as possible but my task is made so difficult by the browsers. Yikes.

There is however some redeeming things about Costco…#1. The Hot Dogs #2. The Churros. Bryson knows that I have a seriously weakness for both of these items and so when he forces me to go to Costco with him he usually rewards me for good behavior with one or both of those heaven sent items.

So a month ago Bryson and I went to Costco. There was Bryson, attempting to enjoy this tender little outing. He was strolling along with a song in his heart. Looking at the reasonably priced 80 packs of deodorant and the massive television sets. Enter me. I felt like the chunky adorable child from “UP” that was being dragged by the house…need a visual?

So there I was complaining my way through Costco when suddenly I saw Bryson mutter one of those delicious words from his mouth “CHURRO”. Score. I was instantly perky, helping him finding ingredients like a maniac in attempts to get to the snack stand quicker. I went from being dragged by the house to this...

Twenty minutes pass.

There we are at the Churro stand, groceries in hand, paid for, I am ready to get the hell out of there. I got Bryson and I each an enormous twisty stick of goodness and we started heading for the car. Then instantly this inner dialogue takes place in my head…

Oh crap…does Bryson realize that we are going to have to eat these in his car?
He must realize that…right? Yeah…

I refuse to hold this delicious churro until I get home. I need it right now.

Enter me trying to sneak into the front seat…

Bryson: “Uhm Katie…”

Crap! I’ve been caught.

Katie: “Yeah what’s up?”

Bryson: “………just………just be careful not to get crumbs everywhere”

Katie: “I am ALWAYS careful. Please.”

I plop myself down in the front seat, Bryson follows suit and grabs his churro. Now let me be honest…I have never seen a human eat something as messy as a churro in a more delicate and clean way…I just sat there amazed as his salivated lips wrapped around the churro as to not let one crumb of delicious cinnamon sugar escape.

Then it was my turn….you can do this Katie.

CRUNCH. Cinnamon Sugar literally explodes in the car…

Enter Bryson’s face…I am pretty sure that it was something that looked exactly like this…

He tried so hard to maintain his composure and sat stunned in pure amazement and silence as I devoured the first half of my churro .

Finally he cracked…

Bryson: “Uhm are you serious right now?”

Katie: (cinnamon sugar encrusted lips) “What?”

Bryson: “I have never seen anyone eat a churro as messy as you in my entire life…and there are crumbs literally everywhere”

Katie: “No way! Absolutely not, there are just crumbs on my dress”

Bryson: “Katie…..no. This is ridiculous. Do you know why my car is never dirty? Do you know why crumbs bother me?” (Enter 10 minutes of this conversation about such topics)

Katie: “I am sorry but I love churros and I did not know that there was a correct way to enjoy them…what are you going to do when our kids want to eat happy meals in the back seat?”

Bryson: “Okay first of all they will not eat happy meals in the back and second……..just be so careful to flick the crumbs out of the car when you get out and not into the car”

Katie: “Well let me just say this…when our kids are in sports and I am running them to and fro I will give them happy meals to eat in the back! And secondly I will be careful with the crumbs…why? Because I care and because I love you! (enter snotty face)”

So I hopped out, flicked my crumbs into the air and wouldn’t you know it….crumbs on the floor of his car.

Oops.

Sometime I am a child but he loves me anyways.

I hope you enjoyed your stay, it’s good to have you with us, even if it’s just for the day.

Special Occasion...

2011-04-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

Ladies, Gentleman, and Distinguished Guests…may I present to you one of my little sister, Hannah.

She is one of the most amazing people that you will ever know.

She is so stunningly beautiful. She has a heart of gold. She is the most caring individual that I have every known. She is loving. She is fun to be around. She is hilarious. She is in tune with the Spirit. She is happy and positive. She is insightful and wise beyond her years. She is smart and sassy. She is full of life and is always up for an adventure. She is extremely empathetic. She is the most innately nurturing soul that I have ever met. She is inquisitive. She is patient. She is fantastic. I simply cannot say enough good things about her and I count myself both blessed and lucky to be her sister every single day.

Well this past Saturday Hannah went to her first High School Prom!

This is Hannah and her boyfriend Abe…

They are adorable together. He is such a nice person and genuinely loves to be around my sister, thinks that she is beautiful and appreciates all of the things that we love about her.

Enter Saturday Morning. Hannah was more excited than I have ever seen another person. It was the cutest thing in the world. So my amazing sister Sara spent the entire afternoon curling and teasing and primping Hannah so that she would feel as beautiful as she had dreamed about looking. My sister Sara is amazing. Extremely talented, beautiful, smart, wonderful, etc. Want proof? Well here it comes…

After hair and makeup my grandma, mom, sister, and I all went and helped her put on her dress and shoes…

And she was ready…

Add a gold masquerade mask for effect, as it was the theme of the night, and poof…

Abe literally made a little gasp noise when she came down the stairs…

A few family pictures…..

One corsage…

And one boutonniere later…..

They were off to the Prom…

Then my sister and I sat and sulked about how jealous we were that she got to go to Prom…Don’t they have a married people prom?

I hope you enjoyed your stay, it’s good to have you with us, even if it’s just for the day.

Staff Led Extra Curricular Activities

2011-04-09T01:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever played the game “Would You Rather…”? Well little known fact about me, it is one of my favorite games and in my opinion one of the most fabulous games ever created. I constantly find myself thinking of new ones, really tricky and twisted ones that are so incredibly difficult that an individual could not possible decipher which option would be worse. Forcing them to quickly weigh their options and spit out an answer that’s hard for them to say let alone fathom. Obviously one would never find themselves having to choose between stabbing themselves in the eye with a fork or cutting their own thumb off with a butter knife…nonetheless I am outrageously intrigued with their answer. I feel like the way that a person answers tells a lot about their personality, the way that they handle pain, and what they value in life.

So late one night I decided to call Bryson into our office for a rousing impromptu game of “Would You Rather”. He finally consented, after first cooking himself a gourmet snack. Everyone needs a gourmet snack at 2:30am right? I was seated in our office chair, he was sitting on the floor beneath me. I pulled up the list of 100 would you rather questions. I instructed him to ask me the first 50 and then I would ask him the second set of 50. And so it begins…

Bryson: “Would you rather get a knee in the face or be head butted?”

Katie: “Easy Knee in the face”

Bryson: “Would you rather have x-ray vision or bionic hearing?”

Katie: “Bionic Hearing”

Bryson: “Would you rather eat a hand full of hair or lick three public telephones?”

Katie: “Lick three telephones”

And that’s how it went for 50 questions….smooth sailing. Quick answers. All 50 questions, with clarification or time for shock and awe depending on my answer, took a grand total of 15 minutes. Then it was my turn to ask Bryson…

Katie: “Okay here we go just give me the first answer that comes…”

Katie: ”Would you rather make headlines for saving someone’s life or win the Pulitzer Prize?”

Bryson: “………………………………uhm I would do both. I’d save someone’s life and then write a book about it”

Katie: “…no sweetie you can’t do that you have to choose one, just one...”

Bryson: “Well if I can do both then I would…”

Katie: “Let’s just try a new question, more basic not as much of a thinker…would you rather be 3 feet tall or 8 feet tall?”

Bryson: “Am I athletic?”

Katie: “What? Bryson I have no idea….what?”

Bryson: “Well that makes a difference because if I’m an athletic 8 foot tall person, hell yeah I would be in the NBA so I would chose that”

Katie: “Fine you can be athletic…next question…basic….would you rather pick black or white?”

Bryson: “would I rather pick what in black or white?”

Katie: “the color, like just the color”

Bryson: “What shades are we talking about here….?”

Katie: “…………….and I am going to bed now. I love you, ponder that tonight.”

And you know what guests and visitors….he did. I awoke in the morning and was enjoying my usual bowl of cereal, had completely forgotten about the game, when suddenly Bryson enters, perfect little kink in his morning hair, deep voice, and a pillow crease on his cheek and the following conversation takes place…

Bryson: “Black”

Katie: “What?”

Bryson: “My answer….black or white….I chose black”

Katie: “Why did you choose black?”

Bryson: “Because remember that black suit that I have with the pin stripes….it is so sick”.

Katie: “……………”

And that sweet tender response taught me three things: 1. He never stops thinking about dress clothes 2. To be wise when playing would you rather with him and 3. That he always listens to me and never ceases to provide me with thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and humor.

I hope you enjoyed your stay, it’s good to have you with us, even if it’s just for the day.

In Room Entertainment: Part Two

2011-04-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

So a few days ago I reported on the saga between Bryson, Wall Street, our death ray television, and his obsession with dress clothes. This is the latest entry:

Three Weeks Before the incident…the following conversation takes place:

Our friend Corey: “One time I watched all three of the Lord of the Rings movies in one day”

Bryson: “That is like my dream day”

Katie: “…………….” “………….what?”

Bryson: “Yeah that would be awesome”

Katie: “Bryson…no.”

Bryson: “Come on, that would be epic”

Katie: “Bryson that sounds like the worst day of life”

Bryson: “No way!”

Present Day: 10:30pm. I was simply exhausted from a jam packed day. So exhausted in fact that at 10:30pm I laid my little head down on my pillow and was out. I mean really, I was peacefully dreaming one of my cinematic, complete with music might I add, dreams. Enter 3:00am…Enter Bryson...Enter death ray television…Enter a blaring epic battle over middle earth. That’s right ladies and gentleman, distinguished guests, and visitors…Bryson was watching the Lord of the Rings….for the third, yes the third night in a row, he was trying to make his dream day come true during the course of three nights. The following conversation takes place.

Katie: “Bryson…..”

Bryson: “Katie, don’t worry about it just go back to bed”

Katie: “Bryson tell me that you are not watching the Lord of the Rings again, it is literally blinding and quite frankly outrageously distracting to have the battle for middle earth happening at my feet”

Bryson: “………………………”

Katie: “….and with subtitles…what is the point of having the subtitles on?”

Bryson: “What? Just roll over and go back to sleep”

Katie: “Seriously, why in the world at 3:00am are you watching this movie with subtitles?”

Bryson: “I like detail and to know exactly what is going on”

Katie: “Bryson let me break this down for you, a little hobbit get a magical ring, a wizard guides them on their journey, they meet a little ugly creature that tries to jack the ring, they walk through a desert, fight grips of people, they get to the volcano, throw the ring in and poof that’s the movie”

Bryson: “I am insulted by your description, that is ridiculous”

Katie: “What could I have possibly missed?”

Bryson: “Uhm the deeper rooted meaning behind it about being small but being able to accomplish great things like that part when …. (enter multiple examples of small hobbits doing epic things). See! Oh and like your favorite movies teach such awesome things…”

Katie: “Take it back!”

Bryson: “No way, like Meet Joe Black… death comes, falls in love, and then dips”

Katie: “I am offended by your arrogance sir”

Bryson: “Well I am offended by your stinky breath”

Katie: (slightly enraged) “I’m doing a liver and kidney detox you brat! Whatever watch your movie. I forgive you for that hurtful comment. Goodnight.”

Bryson: “……………..(long silent pause) Okay, goodnight”

And just like that, just like that I was defeated! In my own home, and in my own bed no less. He knew that the epic battle was practically real life, due to the enormity of our television, and that I couldn’t sleep and he knew that my breath may have not been pleasant because of my detox, but he also knows that when I am tired I am way too lazy to do anything about any of it. He was like a child who out smarts his parents by utilizing silence.

Bryson 2 Katie 0. And so the epic battle continues...

I hope you enjoyed your stay, it’s good to have you with us, even if it’s just for the day.

In Room Entertainment...

2011-03-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

So a few months ago Bryson and I moved back to the great state of Arizona. We packed away all of our belonging, barring some clothes, DVD’s, and kitchen stuff…you know the essentials. The rest we safely packed away into a storage unit. So one day I tenderly say to Bryson “Will you please run to the storage unit and grab my medical records” he replies with “yeah sure” so imagine my surprise when I get home to find that in lieu of medical records he has decided to bring home our giant living room T.V., which he has set up in our bedroom on our dresser. Enter shock. I feel like the T.V. is this big compared to me:

The following conversation goes down:

Katie: “Uhm wow, that is…huge. What in the world did you bring that home for?”

Bryson: “Well I don’t want it to just sit there and plus we can watch movies and stuff”.

I laughed to myself and thought, what the heck I like movies as much as the next person right? Wrong. Enter part two of the story…

So I am lying in bed, peacefully drifting off to sleep, ready to start one of my phenomenal dreams when all of the sudden I feel the gleaming light of what looks like a semi truck come into my vision. I roll over to find that the precious little television set on….blaring its white death lights into my room. The following conversation goes down:

Katie: “Bryson…no”

Bryson: “What?”

Katie: “What? What do you mean what? That T.V. is mind bogglingly bright”

Bryson: “Oh Katie, no way just close your eyes, you won’t even notice it”

Katie: “I won’t notice it? That thing is massive and is burning as bright as the sun”

So I roll over, eventually fall asleep, and that is my life every single night since this blessed little piece of technology found itself on our dresser. Enter part three of the story…

So after a month of this bright T.V. nonsense my brain adapted and I have been fortunate enough to sleep through it. However the other night I was perplexed by what I saw. It was approx 2:00am, I roll over to quench my crazy thirst for water, and out of the corner of my eye I see Bryson…standing 2 inches from the T.V. The following conversation ensues:

Katie: “What in the hell…”

Bryson: “Don’t worry about it just go back to bed”

Katie: “Go back to bed? What are you doing?”

Bryson: (long pause) “Watching Wall Street”

Katie: “Uhm okay I can see that, that is no mystery to me, however the weird part and call me crazy, is that you are standing 2 inches from the T.V. oh and that you have watched wall street the last three nights in a row”

Bryson: “Oh…yeah I’m just trying to look at the dress clothes”

Katie: “…………………………………..”

Bryson: “What? They have the sickest dress clothes…”

Katie: “haha….. Just come to bed”

Bryson: “I can’t, I have to see this tie (enter him pushing pause and then play 100 times)”

And that my friends was my evening. I spent it alone in bed while my husband scouted dress clothes from a movie, on our giant T.V. that projects images as bright as the sun’s rays. In Wall Street Money Never Sleeps....and apparently neither does Bryson...or me for that matter.

Classic and completely perfect and cute.

I hope you enjoyed your stay. It’s good to have you with us, even if it’s just for the day.

Back in Business

2011-03-12T18:36:00.000-08:00

A long hiatus was needed for some serious remodeling. Here is an extremely brief recap what you missed during the remodel…

This girl…

1. Had a perfect life changing experience
2. Celebrated the return of Justin Nelson from his mission and shortly thereafter, his marriage to Tiffani Nelson
3. Celebrated Christmas with a family trip to Disneyland
4. Moved back to Phoenix, Arizona
5. Fell in love with B.A.D. Bingo and Justin Bieber

This guy…

1. Interviewed with some big investment banking firms in New York City (fingers crossed for the awaited outcome)
2. Learned to master the art of Asian Pork Buns and navigating around the sketchy markets in which the ingredients are found
3. Got some new suits
4. Graduated from BYU and began studying for the dreaded GMAT exam
5. Fell in love with Duck Fat and re fell in love with the Lord of the Rings movies

In other news…I have deemed this year “The Year of the Craft”. I have been crafting like crazy! Nothing like my glam friend Catlin Nord and her ridiculously amazing projects, which can be seen at catlinnord.blogspot.com but nonetheless I am attempting to make 1 creation per week. So far I love the results! Pictures to come…

In embarrassing/amazing news…

I love awkward moments. More than I can possibly express. I love them so much that sometimes I become the subject of them. I have to accept this reality and know that it is for my own good. One such awkward moment occurred the other day at work. The following details my saga:

Today I began my workday at 9:00am sharp. The sky was blue, my computer was high functioning and I had a cold cherry coke zero in hand. I was extremely focused today, processing more leads than you would believe. I was feeling on top of the world. Enter 2:30pm. My meetings come to an end and my productivity takes a slight dive. I got up, stretched my legs, found my head phones, and proceeded to have an intense jam session. For 3 full hours I listened to the dazzling delights of Usher, James Taylor, R Kelly, Third Eye Blind, and the always awesome Justin Bieber. For those 3 hours I was at my desk jamming in silence. And then something happened that there are almost no words for…

You know when you are in your car, belting a catchy tune at the top of your lungs, unaware of anyone in neighboring cars that might be glancing your direction? Well this happened to me…at work. Let me further explain. 5:30pm…the jam was “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz…the setting was in my cubicle, in the center of the office, at work. I am singing along in my head to this catchy tune when all of the sudden I hear myself sing…out loud…”I’m wearing all my favorite brands, brands, brands, brands”….I stopped dead in my tracks…I started breathing heavily…I looked down, closed my eyes and prayed that when I looked up, no one would be looking at me…one…two…three…15 people standing up at their own cubicles looking at me…laughing and smiling. How do I recover smoothly from this flub?

“Ha…Taio Cruz…he will get ya…” (insert subtle awkward laugh) Great…I’m that girl in the office.

I hope you enjoyed your stay. It’s good to have you with us, even if it’s just for the day.

The Rescuers...

2010-06-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

Did anyone see The Rescuers?

Long story short…two mice, united by membership in a rescuers society, team up to save a human girl from the clutches on an evil woman and her sketchy alligator. The important thing the note about this classic movie is the devotion that the society has to its members. The leaders of the society love the detectives, who come from all over the world, which is so far fetched but that's another story...

About a month ago Bryson and I encountered our first mouse. Thanks to my husband’s fearless courage, strategic planning, and clever crafting we were able to dispose of the mouse. It was quite a traumatic and emotional experience for me and I vowed that if I saw one more mouse I would move, if only temporarily to the hotel around the corner from my house. Lo and behold a month later my worst nightmare came true. Late one evening I slipped into my bed, exhausted from the day, curled up with my favorite blanket and pillow and drifted soundly to sleep. Bryson worked intensely on his homework for a few more hours until he finally decided it was time for bed. I felt him sit on the side of the bed ready to slip in between the sheets when suddenly everything stopped and I heard Bryson jump up. I shot out of bed only to hear the most horrible phrase “There is a mouse…and it’s bigger than the one before”. I momentarily freaked out but knew that I had to attempt to fall back asleep because of work the next morning. I was paranoid that the mouse would somehow escape Bryson and climb onto my bed, and as a result my uneasiness caused me to open my eyes every five minutes. This is the sequence of what I saw:

1:00am- Bryson crouching down silently calling the mouse

1:05am- Bryson opening my closet to scope out every crevasse of our bedroom

1:10am- Bryson entering our room with a bag of mouse traps, jar of peanut butter, block of cheese, knife, and paper plate

1:15am- Bryson intensely crafting approximately 20 mouse traps to place around our house

1:20am- Bryson carefully setting the traps

Ten minutes later Bryson climbs into bed and the following conversation follows:

K: Bryson did you get the mouse?

B: No, but I set 20 traps, we will have him in the morning

K: Bryson how can you honestly sleep tonight knowing that a mouse is roaming our house

B: Katie I can sleep because I have placed a very aromatic cheese in the traps that will attract the mice and kill them

K: what?

B: just don’t worry it is under control

K: Okay I trust you but I am going to be so mad if I see that thing in the morning roaming free

B: You won’t, if anything you will see him in a trap

K: Okay, I trust you.

Sure enough the next morning I awake to find a huge disgusting, dark brown mouse in a trap in Bryson’s closet. I freaked out, Bryson disposed of the mouse, and we were off to our daily destinations.

Later that evening Bryson and I were down in our basement doing laundry when suddenly we hear little noises within our wall. The following conversation took place:

B: Shh, listen, do you hear that?

K: Bryson what is that?

B: Shh, I think it’s a mouse or some mice

K: mice like plural? Like a family?

B: No not a family just a few mice, like baby mice

K: Bryson babies have parents so that makes a family

B: Shh, let me just find them…

(5 minutes of listening and looking)

B: We are good, I think that they are in the wall

K.: the wall…we are screwed, they are going to rise up and attack us for killing their friends

It was then that I realized what was happening and how our situation fit perfectly with The Rescuers. We killed the two lead mice and the rest of the society was coming after us to punish us for killing their best detectives. Shoot.

Instead of moving to the hotel around the corner I told Bryson that I would stick with him and help him fight off the mob of mice coming after us. I love my husband and his clever strategic brilliance. The 20 traps are still set and I have been proactive about looking for their points of entry. They will not win this war…

Daughter of God

2010-04-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

I love the reality that I am a daughter of God.

Peace

2010-04-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

What brings you peace?

Cinderella and her mice

2010-02-11T22:07:00.000-08:00

I love the beloved tale of Cinderella. I love the evil step-sisters saga, the charming prince, the fabulous glass slippers, and even (although I can’t believe that I am saying this) the sweet mice that loved and helped Cinderella to achieve her dreams. I always thought to myself “I wish that I had a herd of mice that could fancy a dress for me to wear, help me do chores, or summon help when I am in danger"

What was I thinking?

Last night Bryson and I returned to our home at approximately 10:30pm, exhausted from the day and ready to crawl into our snuggly bed. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I see a flash of furry darkness. Naturally my James Bond instincts kicked in as I shot up on the bed to assess the situation. I shouted my sightings to Bryson who responded “Are you sure that you didn’t see a shadow?” If I saw a shadow then this thing is Peter Pan. “No I am positive that I did not see a shadow”. “Was it a spider?” “If it was a spider then it was the fastest and largest tarantula in the world.” Bryson entered the bedroom…cautious…cautious…and then suddenly he saw it too, a flash of brown speed…a mouse…a huge fat mouse…a disgusting huge fat mouse…in my house. I hopped up on our dresser, sitting Indian style, and crying as the following events ensued:

Bryson crafted a device and a strategic plan and was ready to tackle the sicky rodent.

Bryson used our food saver box to trap the sucker in the bathroom

He could run (abnormally fast mind you) but he could not hide

Out of nowhere the little guy darted out of our bathroom, shot under our bed and ended up in my craft/shoe room

Using more food saver boxes and my very cute cushion top footrest Bryson managed to trap the creature under the water jug device

In the mean time I am crying, on the phone with my dad, my sister is laughing at me in the background of the phone call, and I am still sitting on top of the dresser. Finally at 11:30pm, mouse still under the jug, Bryson instructs me to run to Wal-Mart to buy a mouse trap. Still crying and still on the phone with my dad I hop in the car, sprint to Wal-Mart, buy 30 mouse traps, some ice cream (to make Bryson feel better), salt and vinegar chips (to make me feel better), and I was back at the house in a flash.

My dad provided me with a great pep talk that mice do not eat humans, nibble humans, crawl onto beds, or nest in one’s shoes. Bryson consoled me and my tears began to disappear…

He is my hero...

The moral of the story is that I hate the mice in Cinderella, I bet that Cinderella was annoyed by them, I bet that they scared her at times and that maybe…just maybe…she cried for an hour over them and poured out her soul to the lady at the local market (a.k.a. Wal-Mart) while she was buying items to kill them…just maybe.

So help the next mouse that enters my house.

40 things about me...

2010-02-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

I am currently obsessed with popsicles and pure cranberry juice
I love our new treadmill and will stay on it for hours solely because it has a kickin iPod adapter and built in speakers
I love hosting parties and frequently fantasize over different ways that I can arrange my dining room table
I am sort of kind of, but definitely in big way obsessed with the bachelor/bachelorette
I invest every ounce of myself into the people around me, I have found this to be both a strength and a weakness
I don’t like animals…at all
My sisters are the funniest people that I know, hands down
I love random awkward moments and feel that I am frequently blessed with them because of how much I appreciate them
I love fine food more than anything but can’t pass a Taco Bell without thinking of a Crunch Wrap Supreme or a McDonalds without thinking of a McRib
I use the word “sicky” constantly, it derives from my mother’s use of the word when I was in elementary school
I hate female drama and avoid it at all costs
I can be out the door for work in 3 minutes flat
I can’t go to a movie theatre without popcorn no matter how full I am
I have a keen eye for a good looking dress shirt, tie, and suit thanks to my husband
I can catch, clean, and cook most fish by myself
I was kicked out of Westminster Abbey in London when I was in high school
I am super paranoid about scary things happening to me
I am one of the most animated people on the earth
I would rather wear 4 ½ inch heels than anything else
I love beets
I am super emotional, it is a fact. I cry at everything…commercials, movies, songs, thoughts that I have, the amount of love that I feel…literally everything could make me cry.
I once wanted to know whether or not a liquid ice mint really had liquid in it and popped it into my eye…while driving…ouch.
I love and appreciate unique quirks that people possess…it’s part of what makes them special.
I have a passion for listening to random strangers’ life story
When I was little my sisters and I used to make home movies that were newscasts…I was always the weather girl by choice
I love sending cards to people that I love
I am a really good secret keeper
I love to tell stories
I have a deeply rooted passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ
I once thought that the Chandler rapist was in my house…so scary
I always check expiration dates
I watch Forensic Files, Top Chef, and The Office like nobody’s business
I love calla lilies, they brighten up my life
I love to fill out forms
I never really watched cartoons as a child
I love things that are homemade more than anything else
I always say “Bless you” when someone sneezes…even a stranger in passing
I love to make spreadsheets
I would one day love to own a collection of my favorite paintings
I love when Bryson winks at me, it reminds me of us in high school. He means everything to me. He is the love of my forever.

Reach Out

2010-01-26T18:55:00.000-08:00

God has not called us to see through each other, but to see each other through. ~Author Unknown

How often do we stop to think about the needs of another? How often do we listen to the Spirit to reveal to us the name of someone who could benefit from a call, a visit, or simply a hug? Are we so consumed in our daily tasks that we cannot recognize those who may be struggling around us?
I have pondered these questions often throughout my life. When I pass a homeless man on the street do I give a thought to his needs? To his dire situation? Or do I turn my head because I am too busy or because I think I know him? My mother once taught me a beautiful lesson. I was twelve and she and I were on a mother daughter date, just the two of us, to a baseball game. As we approached the stadium my mother noticed a homeless man walking back and forth on the sidewalk across the street. I continued walking passed only to notice that my mother had stopped, was reaching into her purse, and digging out all of the change that she could find. I heard her apologize to the man for not having more, touch his shoulder, and say “God bless you”. As we walked away my mother didn’t say a word, the act was so innate within her. I was so touched not only by her generosity towards another but by the pure love that she showed a stranger in need. Perhaps the touch on the shoulder and the simple phrase “God bless you” would have been enough to sustain the man and provide him with a sense of hope. I think of this experience often and try to emulate my mother’s Christlike example. On another occasion my father taught me a beautiful lesson about compassion and Christlike love. I remember being a small child, eight years old maybe, and a family in our ward was struggling financially. My father, not being a member of the church, became aware of this need through my mother and he decided to act. Without hesitation he jumped up, put me in the car, and drove to the grocery store. We then spent the next hour or so running through the grocery store filling a few carts with what we thought that they might need. My dad put so much thought and effort into the grocery list, I was so impressed. The woman cried as we brought the groceries into her house, hugged us, and we left. My dad didn’t say anything on the way home which provided me with the chance to learn a lesson. My parents are beautiful people who have taught me a great deal from small and simple acts of kindness.

I have given a lot of thought to my life lately and to the struggles that I have faced, the friends who have pushed me through, and the miracles that have been wrought as a result of faith from others. I am deeply grateful for the people in my life who have showered me with love and thoughtfulness, who have reached out to me in my time of need or in my quite time of suffering. I am thankful for those friends that I have that are so in tune with the spirit that everything else falls into place. I am thankful to those strangers who have reached out to me when the stress of life is obviously worn on my face.

A beautiful family suffered a tragic loss this past week. Their son, a small six year old boy, was killed after stormy waters swept him from the arms of his father. The story and information about how you can donate to their cause can be found at the link below:

http://www.azfamily.com/home/Father-of-boy-swept-away-by-floodwater-talks-to-3TV-82556602.html

In these difficult financial times we might not be able to give any money but we can always give our thoughts, prayers, and hearts.

We can do no great things, only small things with great love. ~Mother Teresa

2010-01-03T20:41:00.000-08:00

The Pocket Inn is expanding. Please see and follow...

http://greattasteisacquirednotbought.blogspot.com

2009-11-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

On October 22, 2009 and on October 30, 2009 two of the most treasured women in my life experienced true bliss. The type of bliss that can only be experienced when marrying your soul mate, your partner, the love of your life.

Kellie and Scotty

Truly a match made in heaven. Practically perfect in every way. My mother was a stunningly beautiful bride and her husband was a perfect match to her loveliness. The day could not have been more wonderful. One of my favorite moments of the evening came from my little brother. My mom had asked Bryson to say the blessing over the food. Just before he was about to begin my brother looked up and shouted “Hey, can I say the prayer?” To the shock and awe of sixty people Bryson hoisted my brother up on his shoulders as he offered the most innocent, heartfelt, beautiful prayer. I was so touched by his goodness. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Tamra and Eric

After having lived with Tamra for two years I knew that her wedding would be a beautifully emotional event. We have shared so much together. Many laughs, tears, experiences, and life lessons. She looked so stunning on her wedding day. To watch her marry her sweetheart for time and all eternity in the temple was so amazing. The happiness on her face as she looked at Eric was indescribable. Eric and Tamra are a perfect match. He understands her and she understands him. They make each other blissfully happy, they make each other laugh, support each other, encourage each other, and love one another in such a wonderful way. I could not be happier that they found one another. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Love is a perfect melody of everything good. Love is binding strength in another. Love is eternal. I am blessed beyond belief to be married to my love for time and all eternity.

“I don't know if life is greater than death. But love was more than either.”

2009-10-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

How does one come to acquire a dear friend?

Two weekends ago I traveled back to Phoenix. Upon arriving at the airport I promptly got in line…number 57 group A. 56 people ahead of me stepped onto the plane and found their seats. In stepping on to the plane and rounding the corner I noticed a woman three rows back on the right hand side, sitting by herself reading what I later found out was a book about Israel. I kindly asked if I could join her row to which she replied “sure”, but not in that sweet grandmother way, it was more of a cold tone. I took my seat and positioned my items under the seat in front of me. Within ten short minutes we were off the ground. A minute or so after take off I glanced over at her book, not out of nosiness but rather out of interest, and asked “what do you think of your book?” We then spent the next fifteen minutes talking about the wonders of Israel. After that her tone did change into the sweet grandmother tone that I had hoped for all along.

We continued on to discuss our travels, our husbands, our jobs, and our home towns, never missing a single beat. About forty-five minutes into the flight she started to tell me about her children. She expressed the deep love that she felt for her son and then for her daughter. I inquired about her son and learned all about what he does, why his wife doesn’t want to have children, and what a wonderful uncle he is. The conversation then shifted to her daughter. I looked into the eyes of this woman as they began to fill with tears. A moment of silence passed and this sixty-two year old woman grabbed my hand and proceeded to tell me the story of her daughter. Her daughter had passed away four years earlier from a brain tumor leaving a little four year old girl behind. Tears streamed from her face as she expressed her deeply rooted sadness and as she discussed her daughter’s life, the moments before her death, and the funeral. I was overwhelmed by her struggle and felt strongly that I needed to bear my testimony of life after this life and the promise of forever families. We cried together for the next five minutes in expressing our different beliefs and in bearing our souls to one another. This woman is a phenomenal person, a wonderful wife, a beautiful mother, and an exceptional grandmother.

I got off the plane, still talking with her until we reached the baggage claim area in Phoenix. She then stopped me, gave me a hug, and whispered in my ear “you are my dear friend.”

A letter to Fern...

2009-09-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Fern,

Why did you save Wilber? Don’t get me wrong I love pigs as much as the next person and I admire your kind heart and your bravery in standing up to your father in this effort but why? I have always believed that your love affair with this beloved pig was darling and that Charlotte (the talented, darling spider who tirelessly helped Wilber mind you) died because of her large birth load. The fluidity that once existed in this charming tale has suddenly become a mangled mess. What is the real reason for Charlotte’s death?

Yesterday I was diagnosed with…the swine flu. I never thought that it was possible. My days, that were once spent being productive are now spent curled up in a blanket, popping pain medication, and sipping on a day old Jamba Juice. Connection to Charlotte’s death…I think yes.

This letter is to serve as nothing more than a warning. Look out Fern.

-Katie

2009-08-29T23:28:00.000-07:00

The Story of the Pocket Inn…

My favorite spot to be… is in Bryson’s pocket. For those of you unaware of where the
“pocket” is located please see the picture to the left…

Please be advised that this picture is deceiving. Although I am holding a knife to the said “pocket” it is undoubtedly my favorite place to be.

One night Bryson and I are lying in bed (roughly 3am) when I am suddenly overcome with the need to snuggle in his pocket. I nudged him, expecting him to roll over and pull me into my favorite spot. Much to my dismay he rolled over and unconsciously said “the pocket inn is closed for renovations”.

Needless to say I was unpleased by this news and further proceeded to take what I felt was rightfully mine. I protested with “I demand to speak to the manager” to which he replied “the manager is unavailable come back tomorrow”.

Shocking blow.

Upon recounting this little saga to Bryson the next morning, he commented that he barely remembered the conversation he just remembers sweating from the lack of fan in our bedroom.

For those of you who know us well…Bryson is a polar bear. Our house is never above 70 degrees (even in the winter) and while I am shivering in my fluffy socks and multiple blankets, while sipping my hot coco, he is lounging on his side of the bed without sheets, cold glass of sparkling cider in hand. Thus presents my need for time in his pocket.

This story has become the topic of many conversations and the foundation of much laughter.

And this is the story of the pocket inn.