15th-20th more and more thanks!

15th- I am thankful for the chance that I have to clog.  One of my dreams was to become a river dancer and travel the world.  I didn't quite fulfill that dream, but becoming a dance instructor is the next best thing.  I am thankful for my class and the opportunity I have to dance every week.

16th-Oh how I love my car.  I am soo so thankful for my nice Malibu that I get to hop into to drive to work, or the store, or the post office.  Especially when it's crummy weather outside.  I love my car and am thankful for it.

17th-Saturdays....who couldn't love them!!! Thankful doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about my Saturdays that are spent with my husband.  They are a day of accomplishment that I get to enjoy with my best friend.

18th-We went to Park Valley for my cousins homecoming and it made me realize how thankful I am for my extended family.  They are so supportive in anything that I do and am grateful for the connection that I have with all of them.  Family truly is a wonderful thing that I am truly grateful for.

19th-I mentioned extended family, but I am also thankful for my immediate family.  Although we may not have it all together most of the time, I still love them.  Family is key, and I sure love mine.

20th- My house...although a ton of work lies ahead with us finishing our upstairs, I am soo grateful for a roof over my head and a warm place to stay.  Town life may not be as fun as I'd like, but I love our house and am grateful for it.

One friend who changed my life forever.

14th- I am grateful for the impact that Corian Thacker has made in my life.

"A best friend is like a 4-leaf clover...hard to find, and lucky to have."
Cori Thacker is definitely my 4-leaf clover.  I'm going to take a step back in time to the first encounter I had of this amazing girl.

Flashback to September 2008

Moving to college was a HUGE deal in my book.  I basically thought I was moving away from home, never to return.  Turns out Rexburg, Idaho is a lot closer to home than I thought.  But that is besides the point.  I got moved in to my apartment, knew none of my roomates, and was a little worried I would get stuck with some city slicker prissy girl, that had never heard of a dirt road.  The first day was weird, meeting the new roomates, but I hobbled around on my crutches with a smile on face trying to make good first impressions on everyone.  It took me a while to get a good read on all of the girls, but I quickly discovered that Cori Thacker was a lot like me.

One day she left her ipod laying on the coffee table, so me being the curious one I am plugged it in to get a feel of what she was like.  I thought it was cool that this girl liked every single song that I did...a range of rock to country and some odd stuff in between.  She had great taste, just like me.  She walked into the living room, sat down on the couch next to me, gave me a curious look, farted, and started to laugh.  Shocked and speechless, I instantly busted up laughing.  Farts make me laugh, what can I say.  From that moment on, Cor and I were like two peas in a pod.  I became good friends with all of my roomates, but none had the special connection that I had with Cor.  She was the sister I never had...my better half.  Everyone loved Cori, and her laugh was contagious.  I never once caught her in a bad mood, and if I did, it didn't last for long.

Late night dance parties, hitting a snow drift on our way to early morning class, rolling out of bed and making it to class in 10 min, homework, clothes, more dances, introducing me to Montana, giving me a second family, getting the 4-wheeler stuck, teaching me to laugh, and fart, and always wanting me to be better, Cori Thacker changed my life.  Shoot, if it wasn't for Cori, I probably never would have married my eternal companion.  It was her encouragement that got the ball rolling for Casey and I.

It has been tough seeing her leave and do the Lords work, when I had planned to go on a mission as well, but the Lord had a different plan for me.  I miss her like crazy, and can't wait for her to get back to the states.  I love you Cori Thacker, and your amazing family that welcomed me in with open arms.  Lori and Kip are amazing people and will always hold a special place in my heart.  I am so so sooooo thankful for my best friend.  Thanks Cori, for always being there for me.
CORKEE FOREVER!
Love your sis,
Keely

Catching up on Thanks!

10th- I"m thankful for my High School friends that I still keep in touch with.  Went to cattle country and talked for a few hours with Jen, and it was great!  I have found that friendships are just like marriage.  It takes work on both sides, and it's great to know I have friends that are willing to meet me halfway.  That's what makes it work!  So thanks Jen!

11th-I am grateful for my husbands willingness to work.  Our crazy upstairs neighbors moved out, so Casey and I spent the day cleaning, and by cleaning, we tackled the first layer of dirt, in, on, and around the cupboards.  It's going to be a lot of work, but I can't wait to get things torn out, painted, and FINISHED!!!  Stay tuned the next few months...there will be plenty of before and after pictures to keep you entertained.

12th-I am not going to go into detail on this post, because I would regret it later, but I am grateful for Mr. Olsen.  Now I'm sure I confused the heck out of you, in thinking that I'm grateful for my chiropractor, but I'll just say that Mr. Olsen is taking care of a small problem that we have encountered.  Thank you thank you thank you for helping us!!!!

13th-So those of you that know my dad....well, none of you know my dad like I do, but lets just say that he has a funny sense of humor that shines at times when I want to murder him.  He can make you laugh after the fact, but in the moment...he needs to work on it.  To make me feel better though, him and my mom got Casey and I tickets to the Bar-J Wranglers next month.  Were excited about that, so thanks dad, for letting that bright sense of humor shine at the wrong time.  I am soo so grateful for my dad, however difficult he may be some times.

The 9th...

9th-I am grateful for flowers!  I had the chance to make a cool arrangement today for my aunt's wedding anniversary, and I absolutely LOVED how it turned out.  I know the picture is awful quality, but try to squint your way through to the original thing.  Flowers make me happy, even when I'm not the one receiving them.  This one is short and sweet, but that's all I have for now.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Our neighbors are moving out!

The 8th- I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so THANKFUL that our trashy, rude, inconsiderate, loud, obnoxious, lying neighbors are moving out today. (Trust me...that's putting it nicely.)

For those of you that know me, I am a pretty nice and patient person when it comes to people. However, if any of you ran into me these past few months, I may have seemed a little up tight and on edge.  My patience cup has been overflowing since the first week these people moved in, so this may help explain my situation.

I am not going to go into depth on this because I know my blood pressure will sky rocket, but here is a list of things that happened, just so I can look back on this in 30 years and think, "OMG, I can't believe that we put up with that and dealt with it for 2 1/2 months.  Casey, we were crazy!"

Used all of my laundry soap.   Snapped my lily stems in my flower bed and trampled a few other flowers.  Garbage garbage and more garbage thrown all over the yard.  Painted the door frame with red paint.  Kept locking us out of the garage to do our laundry, so I made Casey take the doorknob off.  (Lock me out now b******!)  Blasted their circus music.  Taped up our light poles with royal blue tape.  The contract said absolutely NO PETS.  Yup, they got a dog, and a pigeon.  Constantly had to clean up water that leaked down through the floor boards.  They moved another family in with them.  Obviously Case and I didn't get a hot shower.  They screamed, cursed, and yelled...every day.

So here it is, the 8th of November and I am so so oh so thankful to have our neighbors moving out.  It's going to be a great day!  Oh it's going to be a GLORIOUS day!!!  Happy 8th everyone.  Keep being thankful!

If none of this made any sense at all, Casey and I live downstairs and the neighbors were upstairs in our duplex.

The 7th...

7th-I am grateful for....
                                                                                              ...WORK OUTS!!!

You probably think I'm crazy, but working out is amazing.  I signed Casey and I up at club Elite yesterday, and last night we went for a quick 30 minutes.  I know it was short, but I haven't lifted weights or ran since I lived in Rexburg, and Casey hasn't seen a gym since his mission.  So needless to say we took it a little slow.  As Bob Wiley (Bill Murray) would say..." ...baby step onto the elevator... baby step into the elevator... I'm *in* the elevator." Were taking this on with baby steps.  

To add to my excitement of joining a gym, I got a steal of a deal yesterday while purchasing gym shorts, because we all know that you have to buy the right gear in order to look legit while working out.  You don't want to be the goofy kid with the super short shorts that ride up in your crotch when you run with the shirt that shows all of your sweat stains.  You have to keep it professional at the gym.  I'm sure it says this in some book somewhere, but anywho.....back to the shorts.  My experience went something like this.

Went to Wal-Mart.   Walked in the door.    Stopped.    Turned around.    Walked back out.  Got in the car and drove across the street to JC PENNYS.   Kicked myself for waisting time at the trashiest store in Burley.   Walked into Penny's.    Went to the discount rack.   I'm cheap.  Found nothing on the discount rack.  Took a moment to convince myself that I am worth spending more than $5 on myself.   Hesitantly walked over to the (Nice clothes section).    Picked up some spandex pants.    Looked at the price tag on the spandex pants.   Put the spandex pants back.  Debated with myself for ten minutes.   Finally picked up the pants, grabbed a shirt, and briskly walked to the mens section.  Found some Nike shorts.  Looked at the price tag.  Told myself my husband is worth it, and made it to the  checkout stand.  Women's spandex capris $20.   Women's mesh breathable top $14.  Men's NIKE basketball shorts.....$0.25.   Keely's jaw hitting the floor...priceless.  I then kicked myself again for not picking up the entire rack of shorts.  Stupid me.  How the heck was I to know the price would have been marked wrong and I would be able to purchase Nike basketball shorts for 25 cents!?  

I silently thanked the girl, or guy that had marked the price wrong in the system as I walked out of the store beaming that I had just received a 99.9% discount.  First one of my life, and I must say, it felt amazing.  I hope everyone of you get the chance to experience what I just did.  

So far, our journey of exercising has been off to a great start.  I just hope I can shed the extra 30 lbs that marriage has given me.  So wish me luck.  Casey and I are both going to need it.  Happy 7th of November!!

  This was taken while we were dating.  This is both of our goal weight right here so pray for us ;) 

WE CAN DO IT!!!!

8 months rolled into one...

So........a gazillion things have happened since my last post 8 MONTHS AGO!!!!!!!  I am going to sum it up as best I can.  It's long, so bear with me...

April- got sick on my birthday.  Turned 22 woo!

May- killed noxious weeds OH and celebrated Casey and I's 1st YEAR OF MARRIAGE! We had planned to go 4-wheeling up through the city of rocks and over into Goose Creek and Oakley.  What we didn't plan for was snow....and wind....and rain.  So I spent the day upset, sitting at my parents house.  It wasn't as bad as it sounds, and looking back now can laugh about our big plans that didn't happen.  I love you Casey.  One year down, and forever to go! Marriage is the best thing that ever happened to me.  I don't deserve Casey Richman, but am soo soo glad he picked me to marry him.

 


June- killed more noxious weeds

July- killed more and more noxious weeds.  With all of my thinking time, I decided to open up my own business!! Keely Richman Photography! keelyrichmanphotography.com (go check it out, and then call me to schedule pictures!)  Case got the 4th off so we spent it on the river with family.  It was a great day.

August- lets just say the whole month revolves around the County Fair!! My second home for the week.  Stayed busy with fair stuff, found out my aunt April is PREGNANT!! Celebrated Casey's 26th birthday! Bought him a DeWalt circular saw that he wanted, and went on a road trip to celebrate.  Drove to Cor De Lane and back.  Left Friday night, and got home Sunday night.  Quick trip but LOADS of fun!  (We also discovered that it is much cheaper to fly to vegas and spend 4 nights than it is to drive 2,000 miles and sleep in random hotels. Take note.)

September- work ended spraying weeds, and I started online classes.  I also started teaching clogging lessons in Almo.  Tons of fun, but I have definitely stayed busy. Oh ya...and I started working at Mary Lou's Flower Cart.  I almost forgot.

October- had our annual conference weekend family reunion.  We spent 4 days up by Alturas Lake camping.  Before we left however...Casey's pickup broke down, and our garage door fell off the rollers and landed on our car.  Lots of money later, we have a new garage door (automatic) super nice, a spiffy looking scratchless and dentless car, and Casey's pickup works.  Yay!! It was one crappy day, but thanks to our awesome family, they got us through and we had a great weekend camping.  Halloween was celebrated with friends and scary movies at our place.

And here we are....NOVEMBER!
I wanted to do the 30 days of thanks, so I figured I had better update everyone, and myself on what has been going on in my life up to this point.  I'm a few days late on this, but here it goes....

1st- I am thankful for my husband, Casey H. Richman, my lover, my best friend, my eternal companion, my therapist, my Mr. fix it man, my everything.  Without you, I am nothing, and am soo very grateful to have you forever.

2nd- I am thankful for my job at the flower shop.  My employees are super nice, and I don't look at it as a job, it's more like a hobby that I get paid for.  So thank you Leroy and Jonni for hiring me to work for you!

3rd- I am so thankful for SATURDAYS!! My hubby got the day off so we spent the day being productive.  We scraped the paint off the garage and repainted and cleaned.  Saturday's are amazing when I get to spend them with my best friend.

4th- I am grateful for fish tacos.  If it wasn't for my parents calling us last minute Sunday to come visit, I wouldn't have enjoyed tacos, or my parents good company.  It was a great day Sunday afternoon.  Thanks Mom.

5th- I am grateful for my camera.  As I sat and edited pictures yesterday, I thought how wonderful my life is.  I get to take photo's for different people and capture exciting memories for them.  Thank you camera for helping me see the world differently and all the beauty that it holds.

6th- I am grateful for fall mornings.  I love the cool weather, which means it's hot cocoa season.  Guess what I did?  I had a cup of hot chocolate for breakfast and it was wonderful!!! You should all do the same.

I know this post is REALLLLLLLLY Long, but I hope you made it through to the end.  I am so blessed, and grateful for all I have.  I hope you can all say the same.  Happy November!