Blogger and Facebook, Connecting the Two Worlds

vs.
Which do you prefer?

Blogger or Facebook?

Tell me why?

I have a Blogger and a Facebook account. To me, they serve as different functions. I LOVE blogging and blog surfing and can get lost in that world for ours at a time far more than Facebook. Blogging is my way of journaling our family activities and happenings in our lives. I like the fact that I can record a lot on any given day since I’m a wordy person and the fact that it’s there to stay for us to look back on year after year. I enjoy how personalized and creative you can get in the blogging world, down to putting music and beautiful backgrounds on your site and the comments people can leave…oh, don’t get me started, I love that too!

Facebook however helps me connect to friends from the past, as well as finding out little snippets of things from people I care about that would otherwise never blog. For instance, it’s the craze right now on Facebook, listing 25 random things about ‘you’. I had been tagged numerous times, which means I was to reply with my own list of twenty five but sat on it for a long time. We’ll I finally made my list. And I thought instead of making it a Facebook exclusive, I’d blend the two worlds together. I’d love to hear your 25 here in my comments if you haven’t sent me yours yet. Come on, give it a try! It’s fun!

25 Random Things About Me

1. I am a night owl! It isn't uncommon for me to head to bed around 1:00 (or later). I love how quiet it is during those late hours. Waking up on the other hand isn't so fun!

2. I sold my car to buy my wedding dress.

3. I think chocolate and peanut butter is the best combination ever!

4. It saddens me when I get a card (birthday, anniversary, etc.) and it’s “just signed”. I love handwritten notes on cards!

5. I do not like seeing men without shirts walking down the street or exercising/jogging. Every time Jon sees a guy doing that, he just starts laughing and nudges me! Baylee’s joined me in the “no shirt” club too. She often says, “Gross mommy, tell him to get dressed!”

6. I’m a book collector. Well, kind of. I have a big pile of books I want to read that I’ve bought. One day, I’ll get to them. I just don’t get it how moms have time!

7. I am totally freaked out over heights! I had a major panic attack in Gammage Theatre a few months back in the 2nd balcony and again in Tempe Center of the Arts when it was time to walk over an indoor bridge with glass on both sides. So sad! I haven’t always been that way…age I guess! I really want to take Baylee to the Grand Canyon next quarter too since she’ll be studying “rocks and minerals” however, I don’t think I can handle the height factor!

8. Another irrational fear I have are those large graded drains on streets and in parking lots. I purposely dodge them by walking over or around them (which Jon and the kids think is totally funny). All four of them, on the other hand, love to stand on any grade they can see and even jump, just to see my reaction. It makes me cringe just thinking about it.

9. Secretly I’d be so happy if I got pregnant again…especially with twins! Jon on the other hand I think would cry! (Baylee would love to have a sister and I'd love to "give" her one...or two.)

10. My daughter’s first name is after my mom’s maiden name/family in honor of them all. Her middle name is after my junior high and high school choir director’s name, Mr. Rose from Westlake Village.

11. I fell in quick sand when I was a little girl. My brother pulled me out. It made the Arizona newspaper too. Too bad we don’t have any copies of the article.

12. Worried that I wouldn’t have enough money if I was a teacher, one night while in college I went to an open audition for the soap opera, One Life to Live. When sitting there, all prepared, God totally convicted me of what I was doing. I ripped up my number and walked out of the ‘hall’.

13. My husband thinks I need to mention that I have all the shelves in my pantry labeled (and many in my refrigerator). I’m not sure why he thinks that’s unusual.

14. My 4th grade teacher told me I was stupid…many, many, many times! Ironically, my first teaching job was as a fourth grade teacher.

15. I love God, my husband, and my kids (in that order) more than anything in the world!

16. Don’t hold it against me…as a teen my dad took me to the Jackson Five concert (you know, when Michael was on the top of the charts for Beat It, Thriller, etc.). At some point in the concert, when it was just “Michael” on stage, I yelled, “I love you Michael!” YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

17. I love being able to help in practical ways like watching friends’ children, setting up memorial displays for funerals, or bringing meals to people in need. That brings me joy, showing love in practical way, no strings attached! “Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

18. Although my dad loves me to pieces, he’s still upset that I changed the spelling of my name from Kimberly to Kymberly. I began writing it that way in junior high and now it’s legal. My mom on the other hand, thinks it’s totally fine!

19. I have not had any caffeine since 1990 (except what’s naturally found in chocolate).

20. I have not eaten any beef since 1988.

21. I love to pray and have seen BIG things happen that didn’t seem possible. “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Luke 18:27

22. I very rarely give up on people…even when hurt by them deeply. I’m a loyal friend and cherish the people God places in my life.

23. I am passionate about family time and having rich family values and traditions. It’s what defines us as a Party of Five.

24. I love blogging (and reading other people’s blogs).

25. I graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. My major is education; minor is theatre, as well as having an emphasis in psychology.

Okay, it's your turn.

Three White, Healthy Smiles

With new dental insurance come new dentists and a first ever for our Owen! Today under Dr. Quackenbush’s care, he had his “teeth counted” and cleaned while in the same examining room as his big brother and sister. I’m in love with a 3 seat room that’s full of a forest motif! Owen did a marvelous job and really enjoyed the special attention (and treasure box choices afterwards). All three kids had a great checkup and cleaning and we really felt comfortable in our new office, Timber Falls Pediatric! Yippee!



(The kids and Kaydon after their early morning, before school cleaning)

Inauguration Day

Today, before school began and over breakfast of blueberries, raspberries, and vanilla yogurt with red, white, and blue sprinkles, the kids and I (along with millions of others) were able to watch Barack Obama change history before our eyes as he became the 44th President of the United States. Writing this, I am still in awe that the very same balcony he stood on to take his oath, using Lincoln’s bible, was built by slaves. Now look how far we’ve come as a nation! What an exciting, emotional time.

Eventually the Baylee and Nathan had to head off to school, so then it was up to Owen and me to set up for our family’s Inauguration Ball, the Kempiak Party of Five style. We set up more patriotic decorations around the house, made cupcakes, got music set, and our bibles and stationary out. Evening came and we all got dressed up and danced the night away (missing daddy since he had to work). Taking breaks from time to time, we focused our energies on other things. We sat down with heart-felt prayers for our new president and his family, “Lord we ask that you protect the Obama family and pour your wisdom and compassion on them all. Guide them, love them, and unite our country. Give President Obama a desire to seek you in all things and to have a humble, servant’s heart. May compassion spill over in everything he does.”

We danced some more then wrote to the “First family,” congratulating them, encouraging them, and thanking them for the next four year commitment they’ve just embarked on. Each kid chose a scripture they thought would encourage the Obama family, it was precious to see what they came up with.

Today, for me, it makes no difference how anyone voted. God in His sovereignty has appointed this day and our new president needs our continued prayers. "This is good, and pleases God our Savior." 1 Timothy 2:1-3.

(I wish I would have kept copies of the goodbye/thank you letters we wrote to former President George W. Bush last week, along with the letters from tonight for our new president.)

Zoo Lights

Talk about a great deal, tonight the Phoenix Zoo hosted a free Zoo Lights excursion so the Keller and Kempiak families joined up to take advantage of the special offer that we’ve never before known about. The kids’ favorite part of the night was the taking giraffe, especially when it named them each by name once they were in front of him! We had a super time together, as always!

An Isaiah Month, I Guess

I’ve been asked what Bible verses I am memorizing this January so I thought I’d share. Again, what a pick is what speaks to my heart and what I am trying to grow in/through.

Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 40:31
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faint.”

He's at it Again!

One season left and the next is already here. Last season Nathan was a “teal” Shark baseball player and this eight-week season, he’s a blue Diamondback with a new coach and new teammates. He really loves the sport and our family has a blast cheering Nathan and his teammates onto personal victory. Way to go ballplayer!

(Nathan with his two coaches, Coach Jarad and Coach Keith.)

He Can Do It!

He made a goal and he reached it! Yes, Nathan told us over Christmas break that he wanted to be able to ride his bike without training wheels before break was over. I enlisted advice from my friend Shannon who found great success from a video she watched, which helped her daughter learn to ride without training wheels in minutes. The theory seemed simple enough. Unsure if it would “work” for us, we gave it a try and whalla, it did. It took about 15 minutes and look at our big six year old…he’s a riding fool! Way to go Nathan, we are so very proud of you! Not only did you work hard and trust your daddy, but more importantly, you made a goal and worked towards it until you accomplished what you wanted to. That’s a lifelong skill!


For those who want to know what we did…without training wheels, Nathan sat on his bike. Jon, behind him kept the bike in one place but leaned it from side to side (in no pattern). Nathan was instructed to move his handle bars in the direction he felt the bike move (move into the “curve”).



Once his brain was really capturing this with ease, Jon then began to move the bike forward with one hand behind. It didn’t take but a minute or so before Jon could run along side of him, hands out cheering Nathan on. Before Jon knew it, Nathan started peddling harder than Jon could keep up and he was off…for good! Amazing times a thousand if you ask me!

A White New Year is Here

Traditionally on New Years Day our family enjoys a good ol’ time having an Arizona Snowball fight. There’s nothing like lunging those white puffs of mush at someone, leaving unmistakable traces of it on their backside clothing! Just days prior when I was putting 5 bags of marshmallows on my shopping list, I said to Jon, “We should include other families sometimes!” For Jon, there’s nothing like the present time so he had me send out an email message to see who could meet us at the park for a flood of white mess and picnic. Two families were able to join us, the Talley’s and Slease’s. We were delighted to see them and introduce to them the art of the game. We really did have a great time pouncing and dodging and hope to one day have a rematch!

(Baylee and Sabrina "sun bathing" and having chat time in the middle of the field.)

(Rick being silly next to the "Stay off fence" sign.)

I Will Try...

I don’t know about you, but I love a new year and all of the hope that it represents. In years past, as a family we each came up with monthly goals/resolutions instead. For us, it gave a shorter focus and made things easier to achieve and observable. But for today, there are a few (resolutions if you want to call them) that will cover my entire year. Then at our family meetings each week, I will still come up with monthly goals for myself as well, while the rest of the Party of Five creates and shares theirs.

So my commitments for myself this year are:

1. I will pray more, including scripture throughout my prayers.
2. I will memorize more scripture. I’ll choose 2 per month that focus on a need I have in learning (not what I need my family to know/learn).
3. I will exercise my "NO" muscle, giving myself limits on things I can do. This will protect our precious family time more. It’s a sensitive area though since I want to be selfless and teach it, however “NO” is still a Biblical thing to say when my main ministry is my family.
4. I will get an exercise routine established again and follow it to my best ability.
5. I will try to tell my husband Jon “I love you,” “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry” right away (he’s a great example in this area).
6. I will read more age appropriate books to Owen. I read with and to the kids daily but our Owen is just used to hearing chapter books and very rarely get’s to see the world of amazing picture books (although we have a thousand here)!
7. I will be outside more. Isn’t that one reason why we live in Arizona? We’ll eat outside, read outside, play outside, (etc.) more often.
8. I will be a good finisher on projects! I’ve started so many but haven’t completed them. Yikes!

Feel free to ask me how I’m doing on them and hold me accountable.
I’m curious if you have any resolutions besides “not having resolutions” for 2009? Please share!

Happy New Year...a Quote to Ponder

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.

Ralph Waldo Emerson