I thought this was pretty funny....maybe you will too, then again, maybe you won't.  Maybe it's just a "church secretary thing."  

Thanks Pastor Jeff for forwarding this to me!

Click HERE.

(This one has no title...so I'm just giving it one)

"How Jill and Billie Jean Got What They Wanted"  by Evan Gangstad age 9, 3rd grade

Jill and Billie Jean worked at Ace Toy Factory.  Jill had long blond hair.  Billie Jean had curly brown hair.  She also wore earrings.  Jill put a wheel on a red toy car.  Billie put a wheel on a yellow car.  As Jill put a wheel on the car, she wished she could be horseback riding.  As Billie Jean put a wheel on a car, she wished she could be having a "thrilling" moment at the beach.

Jill said, "I wish I could be doing something else besides my job."

Billie Jean said "Like what?"

Jill said, "Horseback riding."

Billie Jean said, "Then you're experiencing the same thing as I am.  I wish I could be at the beach."

Jill said, "Maybe we can get a raise and a couple of weeks off."

So Jill and Billie Jean begged their boss, "Can we get a raise and a couple of weeks off?"

Their boss said, "Sure."  Jill and Billie screamed.

That is how Jill and Billie Jean got what they wanted.

                                       ......oh, if it were just that easy.......

The kids are on Spring Break so we decided to go somewhere and do something.  Let's see, what's in our price range (free) that isn't too far away?  Ah! So, we drive to Lincoln where we first stopped at the Museum of Nebraska History which was very cool (and almost free---suggested donation of $2), but we didn't have enough time there to get to the third floor.   We definitely could have spent more time there.  This usually isn't my 'cup 'o' tea' (museums, that is), but this was about "people" and that I am interested in.

We had to get to the Capitol before the last tour of the day--which is FREE! and anyone can just walk in and start taking pictures. I probably shouldn't say this like online and all, but there was like no, none, nada security check at all to get into this place. When we went to the museum, they made me leave my bag in a locker, but nay, I could carry it wherever I went in the Capitol. It just struck me as odd in this day & age post 9-11, that's all. 

Warning: this post is filled with what might potentially be very boring pictures to anyone but me, but whatever...look at them if you want, don't if you don't want to.  This building is an amazing work of art and arcitecture---pictures just do not do it justice.  And I could have taken about a billion more, but I also knew even as I was snapping away, that pictures of scenery, artwork, sculptures and buildings just don't come out the same as when you were there live and in person.  And of course, I can't remember all the symbolism behind every light fixture, mural or pillar---but there was tons of it throughout.   

Here the kids are standing in front of Abraham Lincoln--who our state capital is named after.  You can't see it, but on the wall behind ole Abe is the Gettysburg Address.

There were murals throughout---each having symbolism representing every little detail of it.

See the circular light fixture (looks like Saturn?)?
It has 48 light bulbs on it, representing the 48 states at the time the capitol was built.

This is the door leading into the East Chamber.  It represents Native American culture & life.  The doors to the West Chamber were open so I didn't get a picture of them.  And we only got to look into the room through glass doors as our Legislature is in session.

FYI:  Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature.  Just in case you're ever on Jeopardy and need to know the answer to that one (seriously, I actually got that one right last week when I was watching Jeopardy!!)

A ceiling shot...

A floor shot....
             mosaics, mosaics everywhere!!!
Thousands upon thousands-- millions --pieces of tile!!

A very bored Gillian....

I didn't add pictures of it, but we could also view out from the top of the capitol and see all of Lincoln and beyond below us (yes, Charlie..including Memorial Stadium!!). It was cold so we went back in and took these pictures (below). The next four pictures are of the central room of the 14th floor.  And I'm just going to copy/paste this because I know I'll mess it up.

The central room of the 14th Floor Observation Level is the Memorial Chamber, it is "dedicated to the forms of heroism called for in the public service and in devotion to humanity". The dignity of the Chamber is derived from the monumental use of black marble--Black Belgian, Italian Porto Oro, and Vermont Verde Antique. The inscription beneath the murals is taken from Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address.

Eight murals representing "heroic enterprises associated with Nebraska history" were added to the Chamber in 1996. The murals were painted by Nebraska artist Stephen Roberts and represent four military themes and four civic themes. The dome quietly represents the evening sky, and the chandelier the stars shining in it.

Again, outside--around the entire building are all the counties in Nebraska--there we are: "Fillmore"

My 'cousin-in-law' Liz works in the capitol on the 13th floor.  We met up with her and my cousin Christopher to eat at Hu Hot where we ate until we were stuffed and had a lot of laughs and very bored kids ("mo-o-o-o-m...can we go yet?"). A quick trip to the mall to basically buy nothing and let the kids go up & down the escalator a few times and we were off to the Haymarket area to have ice cream cones at Ivanna Cone where I had a waffle cone with a double scoop of double dutch chocolate and hazelnut coffee.   

It was a good, good day.

Kids got to wear their jammies to school last Friday. 

They were celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday.

People often ask me, "So, Kari, what's it like living with someone with Asperger's?" 

Ok, so no one really asks me that. But, I read something yesterday that I found very interesting.  Funny how I am still learning about it.  I can only imagine what someone with this disorder goes through on a daily basis trying to make sense of the world around them.  I know things to be true of Keenan and then read more and learn that it has a name or that it's a common 'trait' of Aspies, not just Keenan. 

When Keenan was first evaluated, it was like this HUGE light bulb went on and all the years leading up to diagnosis started making more sense to us.  So, when I read this, yet another light bulb went on for me.

One big challenge for those with high-functioning Asperger’s syndrome, is mindblindness (sometimes called brain blindness).  Mindblindness refers to the inability of people with Asperger’s to understand and empathize with the needs, beliefs, and intentions that drive other people’s behavior, and their own. Without this ability, Aspies cannot make sense of the world.  The world is constantly confusing them, and they go through life making mistakes because nothing makes sense (mindblindness).  Aspies cannot connect their own needs, beliefs, and intentions to experiences and positive or negative consequences, at least not on their own.  Many Aspies are unaware that they even have this problem, even if they know they have Asperger’s!

Huh..."mindblindness"...huh, it has a name.  We know this to be so very true of Keenan and that it was Asperger's, but did I know it had a name? nope.

Other random stuff:

• Misunderstandings can cause a lot of undue hurt & stress. 
• We should guard our words carefully.  Proverbs 15:1.
• I'm amazed how far skunk smell travels.
• No one is too old to learn.
• I can't imagine life without music in it. 
•  I'm truly happy to be married to my best friend.
• I was thinking of all sorts of 'random' things while driving to work this am, but can't think of them now.
• My dog needs a haircut badly.
• It is beautiful at 60 degrees--and it's only 11 am! 
• Thinks it's just a ploy to fool us into thinking that Spring is here...
• I am excited for Daylight Savings simply because it'll be darker in the mornings. 
• That makes my husband chuckle at me.
• I wish mornings started at 9 instead of 7.
• I almost wore flip flops today.
• Wishing I would have.
• I'm grateful for family & friends. (you know who you are!)
• I wish there was no such thing as high blood pressure.
• I am not thrilled about the truck traffic between my home and the ethanol plant on the highway.
• I am NOT looking forward to summer.

I think that's it for now....