Atkin's Around the World

Right now my family is spread out....far.

Angie and Evan are happily married, in a new house, with a little dog and Baby Aria on the way :) They live in Virginia, angie works (She just got registered in the state of virginia!), and evan serves our Country as a soldier in the army, which requires LOTS of traveling. He is currently in Colorado, while angie is stuck at home with the dog, the baby and the big giant house.

Shalana and Emily are at home in Utah, with mom and dad. Shalana and Emily are seniors in high school, just going to their Senior Homecoming (they are beautiful and I love them), they work, they play, and they are just trying to become people that they want to become. I know how hard it is to be in high school and have all sorts of pressure on you from the world around you, and I am so proud of how these two handle themselves.

My parents are both working harder than ever, and I am so thankful for all that they do for me. They put me through school, they work, and they still have time to be my therapist when I call late at night. I have been blessed with the most amazing parents in the world, and I wouldn't be here without them. They never cease to support me in everything I do, they constantly make sure that I know that they love me.

I got to skype with my family today and yes, we are dysfunctional, full of chaos, but no one ever doubts that we love each other. We got to see my sisters newly decorated house and all the halloween pinterest ideas she has, her growing tummy, i got to see my dogs, my family, and i got to laugh, joke, dance, show them my house, my bike, and how i live. but most of all i just got to be with my family for awhile.

I am so thankful for there support. They never stop worrying about me, my mom thinks i'm going to die out here on this island. They never stop making me laugh. And even though we are far apart, we are closer than ever. We miss each other, but we are all where we are supposed to be!

One Family. 4 States. Together...Forever.

Don't tell my mom...but I swam with sharks.

Playing a college sport takes up most of your time. Therefore, last year we didn't get he opportunity to do a lot of the island things. This year, we got here early, and decided to try to do a few of the things we've been wanting them to do. One of the things we have been waiting to do is chinaman's hat. That would be this.

It's basically a mountain that you can swim/walk out to when the tide is low. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get to. The first time we went, we went with my cousin and it was a super nice day, no waves, the tide was low so most of the time we could walk. We only got a few cuts and bruises from the reef dropping off in random areas. We climed the mountain, with little trouble (even though i was dying because I haven't exercised since shoulder surgery), but once we got to the top it was the most amazing thing. We watched the clouds move, and we truly got the sense for how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place. On top of the mountain I felt so small, and I felt so lucky for the opportunity I have to be in Hawaii.

We started like this...

A few days later, me and tiffanee feeling adventurous decided to go again. It had been raining, but had cleared up. Wewere kind of hesitant but of course stupid us we decided to go. It took us forever to get out because the waves were pretty bad, and the tide was high so we had to swim with our boogie boards. Once on the island, it was muddy and slippery. Yet, after a lot of hesitation, hard work, sweat, and yelling, we got to the top. We spent lots of time up there waving to the people below, and crying to the thought of having to climb back down. Needless to say, a muddy steep mountain, rain, and shoes with no traction...I almost fell off a cliff.. but I caught myself, with my newly repaired shoulder. It was either fall off a cliff, or catch myself with my weak, nonexistant shoulder,i got a hurt arm and got a few scrapes...and a very angry kayla later, I got to the bottom.
At this point, it had started to look like it would start storming again... the waves were worse, and every time we tried to swim it felt like we were moving backwards.
It resulted in this

Don't let tiffanee's smile fool you.. we were not happy campers. We decided not to ever be spontaneous again. We also found out later that there was a shark alert and we could have been eaten alive. But don't worry mom... I only broke my shoulder in the process.

oh college students... we are so smart.

I live quite a rough life.

I am thankful for the opportunity I have to live in such an amazing place.. I spend my time with amazing people doing amazing things. I spend my days in flip flops, i travel by bike, the beach is a 3 minute walk from my front door, and the rainstorms put me to sleep at night, yes, it's a rough life.

Free from the Dorms....Hallelujia.

Here's my home in Laie, Hawaii....in picture mode.

<br><br>

Gotta support my best friend in St. Louis :)

I am becoming wife material....kind of.

I don't know how I got the best roommates in all of the land, but I feel pretty blessed :)

The best dang missionary from across the pond

This boy.. is my everything.

He is serving in the London England Mission. And yes, he is an amazing missionary.

Our relationship has only gotten so much stronger since he's gone. I know that with the gospel as the foundation of our relationship, that we can do everything we possibly want or desire.

I am so thankful for the strength that he is for me, even from across the pond! He is always here for me, no matter what it is. He has gone through so much in the last 6 months, yet he is so positive. He shows me how I need to be through trials. He knows life shouldn't be easy, because it was never easy for the Lord.

THis boy challenges me and makes me better. He brings me closer to the lord, and his testimony makes mine stronger. He does his job so amazingly well, and I know he and I are exactly where we need to be. He is there, and I am here. and 2 years is so worth the eternity that we have the opportunity to have together.

He never fails to show me he loves me.. he does things like this..

He works so hard. He has built such amazing relationships with the people there and I am thankful for them, they take care of him :) He is an amazing missionary, and I know that there are people in London who have been waiting there whole lives for him. I believe in the work, and I know that he is exactly where he needs to be, and I know that the road he took to get there was meant to teach him and help him be the missionary he is today.

And the best part of it all, he has an amazing family that is my biggest support system. I think my family loves them more than they love me.. regardless, I am so thankful for our families and all they do for us.

the bird family :)

the best grandpa ever

my lover boy

mama harris! :) aka dixie normous

my favorite couple, haha poor lisa.

I'm Kayla, and I'm in 14th grade

College is a struggle...

Okay, it's not that bad, but sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it.

I like to sit in class and dream about what I would do if I wasn't in class. Probably save the world by jumping off buildings, not caring what angle and speed the wind is going or the location of the sun. Or maybe I would try my luck at sitting on a corner with a cardboard sign getting stared at and getting change and big macs thrown at me in pity.

I have decided that college is a lot easier when you study something that you actually enjoy. Social work is something that I didn't even know existed, but through taking classes, and my patriarchal blessing I know it's something that I'm supposed to do.

I've always been the person who stresses myself out, and doesn't let anything out. Well, in social worker I have learned that that is not okay. I am forced to talk about what I am feeling, and I have to be open about everything. Because how can I expect a client to if I don't? The best way to help yourself is help others...that's what I've learned so far, in the short week at school. Help yourself, spend your time thinking about others, don't judge them, and believe in them, because it takes faith and trust to tell someone what you're going through. Being involved in a career that's all about helping people is something that I will always be thankful for, because it has made me better. If you're in college, do something you love!

On top of college, we have softball. Softball at 5:30 in the morning, 9:00 at night, study hall for 2 hours, practice, weights... so much and it makes my head spin haha. It's amazing, we have new coaches, new players, and new beginnings for us all, and I am on the bench waiting for my shoulder to be healed. It's pretty hard watching everyone playing the game you love while you physically cannot be on the field.

If I have learned anything in college it's that I need to trust in the Lord with everything I have. Trials come because we need to be better. Challenges come because he knows we can handle them. And Everything has a reason and purpose. I believe that the Lord knows the end, while I can only see the right now. I have to trust in him to guide me through this year, even if I feel like I can't get through it right now. I am so thankful for the amazing friends I have and the roommates I have and the people who have become my family out here on this tiny island. Without them, I would probably die! April 2014...come faster!!!

I'm still alive..

I know, I know. I am not a blogger, nor a journal writer, nor an avid share your feelings enthusiast.. But sometimes, most of the time, writing is the only thing I can do that involves emotional honesty..or lack there of. Thanks to a family who keeps bugging me to update my blog... or again, lack there of... here we are.


There's been a lot of changes in my life lately.. growin up and all. Working full time in the summer, having a relationship over letters, getting shoulder surgery, and living on an island in the middle of the ocean. Some good, some not so good. But that's life right?


This post will not be organized, as if any of my other one's were.. but it's a post, and I guess that's a start.


Now that every girl in Utah Valley can go back to having a life on Monday nights, I feel the need to declare my position in this epic battle against class and humor (Jef obviously)and... well, i didn't really get anything from Arie besides his not so modest approach on swapping spit. But anyways... I do gladly, proudly, and loudly etch my name on the top of the Team Jef with One F roster.. all day, everyday. Don't pretend your heart doesn't melt at the site of that oh so "how does he even pull that off, give me some of that life saving, water making, sweet talking" hair of his. He's hansome, charming, saves the lives of people in Africa, and puts on pink goggles to impress Ricki...stop he's perfect. All you Arie lovers out there..it's fine, tryouts are already closed for Team Jef with one F.


Devcon Security, the new place I call home.. my home away from home..kinda. I work, lots of cubicles, ugly walls, extension cords, and head sets... lots of annoying reps, stupid techs, and deaf customers.. but the pays good, and they hire just for summers looks like it's a win-win situation!


For those of you who know me, I am quite possibly more obsessed with babies than anyone else.... in a not so pedophileish way. I love babies, love their clothes, their hair, everything about them. A few days after I got shoulder surgery, still drugged, and not feeling too good, I get a call from my sister Angie to come downstairs. Line along the counter top were four bags. My first thought (it must have been the perocet intuition that was taking over my blood stream) Heck yeah She's havin a baby! She kept trying to lie to shalana and I until the parentals came home, but we both knew the truth.. She was with child.. pregnent.. her eggo.. was most definitely preggo. and I was more excited than my drug induced, pale skin, messy hair, broken shouldered body could show. I am going to be an Aunt.. Thata boy evan. Saving the world, and still has time to give me a nephew. Yes, it's a nephew. I don't care how many more weeks there are until she gets to find out the sex, it's a nephew. And I am going to love him very very much! Welcome to the family, the Yankee fan base just keeps on growing! I'm going to be an aunt! The coolest most unresponsible, don't care about the rules kind of gauradian... i guess right beside his own father. These 9 months couldn't go any slower!


On a more serious note.. this summer has been the summer of realization for me. Things keep happening in the lives of those around me to help me realize just how fortunate I am. I am thankful for the family that i have, and the fact that they put up with me, even when they have every right not to. I am so thankful for a home that is filled with love (most of the time) and the gospel. I am thankful for parents who would never leave my side and who would support me in any situation, big or small. I don't always understand why things happen, I think that's my stubborn attitude coming through... but i've come to realize this summer that sometimes there just aren't the answers we want to hear, or have the right to hear for that matter. Sometimes things happen, to teach us, or the people around us something. I am thankful for a forgiving Father in Heaven who is willing to forgive me for my shortcomings time and time again, even when I am too ignorant to realize what a blessing that is. I am thankful for the people who lift me up and make me better. I am have come to realize that in these times having people around you to make you better is a rarity, and i am thankful to have that advantage, and blessing in my life every single day.


Oh summer 2012.. You're doing just fine.. minus the shoulder surgery and all.