I joined Relay for Life this year January 29, 2010

I have joined in the past, but never really participated. This year I plan to participate. I am doing this in honor of my brother-in-law, Brent, who has recently been diagnosed with brain cancer. He is doing well after two surgeries, but still needs lots of prayers. And my Grandma Mary who has been struggling with cancer for over 4 years.  Thank you!!

Grandma Mary, Grandpa Adolf, and my mom

 

Casey and his family (Lucy, Brent, Brett, Casey, and Lily up front)

 

Dear Friends,

This year, I am helping save lives from cancer by taking part in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, and I’m hoping you will support me.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives people across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event, because cancer never sleeps.

Relay For Life helps raise much-needed funds and awareness to help the American Cancer Society save lives from cancer and create more birthdays.

Please support me in my efforts by visiting my personal web page to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation.

Every donation really does make a difference. I know that times are tighter than normal for many of us, but any amount you can give truly can help save lives.

You see, thanks to your support, the American Cancer Society can:

• Help people stay well by helping them take steps to prevent cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable
• Help people get well by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of their cancer experience
• Find cures by funding groundbreaking research that helps us understand cancer’s causes, determine how best to prevent it, and discover new ways to cure it
• Fight back by working with lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and rally communities worldwide to join the fight

Each of us has our own reasons for caring about the fight against cancer … whatever your reasons, I hope you’ll choose to make a difference by making a donation online to support my efforts. I’m so grateful to have great people like you in my life who want to see an end to cancer in our lifetime. Together we can save lives .

Thank you, and I will keep you updated on my progress.

Karen Hymas

Blast from the Past January 29, 2010

I’m not sure I need to even say anything about the awesome matching outfit I am wearing. I say this however as I am deciding to wear a blue tie-dye shirt to work tomorrow… guess I’ll never grow up — but too bad I don’t have matching shorts!

Another random thought – for some reason I remember this as a dog’s birthday party— not a child’s

Grace! January 27, 2010

Ok — this is the best I can do for video purposes:    Grace

My cute niece January 27, 2010

My niece Grace is absolutely adorable. With her ramen noodle hair, perfect complexion, super tallness, and brains to go with it – what’s not to love? She now has another talent to add to her list.

She’s now a cheerleader for Upward!  Casey and I attended her second basketball game that she cheered at this past week. Here’s a little peek:

Grace leading the way!

I also took a couple great videos — but I can’t figure out how to put them on here (other than pay $60 which is ridiculous)  If you can help – let me know!

Ski Weekend! January 24, 2010

For the MLK Jr. weeked, we decided to head North.  Well, just to Gatlinburg! Stephanie and I found this awesome cabin to rent close to Ober Gatlingburg Mtn skiing. We had a relaxing weekend away from work to read, ski, play Wii, and games.

Skiing was the best!

Yum! Casey made french toast!

Chris on his first run down a ski slope ever!

Stephanie enjoying the wind in her face!

I fell!

Here I am skiing well!

Casey and me after a fun day of skiing- can’t wait to go again!

Stephanie and Chris

Some good reading… January 19, 2010

Naomi beat me to the punch again to recommend books . I have thought about doing this for a while. So here are a few good books I have read lately:

Velva Jean Learns to Drive: By Jennifer Niven. Kirsten mailed me this book – and I loved it. It tells the story of a young girl growing up in the Appalachian Mountains in the 1930s. She is fighting with what girls are and aren’t supposed to do – while her world is being turned upside down by the building of the Appalachian Parkway.

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. A history of England in the twelfth century. It’s got it all – action, love, and God. Coming in at around 1000 pages, it may seem a little daunting – but I finished it in 3 days and couldn’t put it down.  I’m reading the sequel World Without End right now.

Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire more people by S. Truett Cathy. I was skeptical about this book at first, but it turned out to be a great read. Truett Cathy tells the story of his life and the beginning of Chick-fil-a. With a Christian theme throughout, it inspired me to want to inspire others. A great read.

Philippa Gregory is one of my new favorite authors. I have read almost all of her accounts from 14th and 15th century England. It started with The Other Boleyn Girl when Marty lent it to me quite some time ago, but recently I have read 5-6 other novels by her which all were just as good.

I am really enjoying reading all this historical fiction – if you have any other recommendations in that area- please let me know!

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of John J. Harvey by Maira Kallman. A children’s book giving a different view point on 9-11. This is the story of a fireboat built in the 1930s that helped fight the fires after the Twin Towers fell.

Hymas! January 14, 2010

Look at my beautiful new addition to our house! I saw these cool letter/pictures at a craft fair a couple months ago. After I got some Christmas money from Lucy, I knew this was what I wanted. We found it at Halmark – and picked our our letters.  Thanks Lucy! I really appreciate it

Snow in Georgia? January 9, 2010

Doesn’t look like much – but because of the below freezing temperatures- the roads froze! This causes us to have Snow Day yesterday!  You might think I would be very excited to miss school, but unfortuantly yesterday I had tons planned! Now we are going to have to smush it in before MLK.  My thoughts did turn around though, after I was able to wash 4 loads of laundry, go through all of our papers and receipts for taxes, and read 200 pages of Pillars of the Earth by the fire. Yay Snow

Visit to Phoenix January 7, 2010

Right before christmas, Casey and I headed out to Phoenix (valley of the sun) to visit Casey’s Grandparents – Papa and Tex in their Winter Home. We had an awesome time – even though it wasn’t sunny when we got there! We drove straight out to Wickenburg, where Papa and Tex live.

Some highlights of Wickenburg:

• The drive out there through barren Cactus covered mountains and valleys
• the cactuses…they are so odd and every where!
• Seeing Papa and Tex light up at the singing donkey we gave them
• The BEST country fried steak I have ever ever eaten at Bar 7

Cactus on the hike - where we got stuck out in a thunderstorm!

God's Promise it won't ever flood like Noah again

Tex and Casey and the singing donkey!

Eeeeeekkkkkk

We then traveled back to Phoenix. The last day the sun peaked out for a fun hike up Camelback Mtn. This hike – 1.2 miles to the summit was the hardest hike I have ever been on! It was more like rock climbing. But once we got to the summit– it was all worth it.  A beautiful view of Phoenix from all sides and mountains in the distance.

The first of many steep sides

 

Headed up some more rocks

 

Not even breakin' a sweat (haha, just taking a break)

 

Whew- this is awesome

 

At the summit! Someone carried a christmas and decorations all the way up to the top!

 

If only this was your life.

 I can’t wait to continue to go back to Phoenix when Rachel moves there!

Happy New Year! January 5, 2010

I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions — but I have been thinking a lot about them lately.  Here are a couple I thought up in no particular order:

• Stop being a b*tch. I mean, what does that even mean? I guess I mean don’t be so exclusive…however I already broke that one today (Steph and I went out to lunch without the rest of the grade level) But otherwises…just be nicer I guess
• Which leads into my second one – Have some friends…this can be interpreted many ways also — either make friends at work, or be nicer to some ppl at work to be friends…Or call up my old ones! I must admit, I have some pretty great friends…but I don’t always see them or call them - I am such a slug.
• Play my guitar. For real. My parents two years ago bought me a beautiful guitar (I think I blogged about it back in July)… but I still can’t play it! I need some lessons and some motivation.
• Workout more! Volleyball will be starting up soon, but I need to use that Gold’s membership I have. I love their classes…I just need to get there (make sure to leave work earlier!)
• Do well in Graduate School – I am taking one class – I want to really get into it and comprehend and keep the information
• Get a JOB…in the media center. If you can help with this, please let me know how!

That’s all I got. It looks a little daunting after writing it all down!

Leaving you with a  picture of me thinking about my goals atop Camel Back Mtn in Phoenix