This is really long, but hey, I'm o.k. with it:)

Hey guys. I know it's been too long since an update, I shall explain. In a a few words, my life has been in transition. At the start of this...uhh...story you may think "transition? This is worse than transition." But wait, it gets better. On mother's day my mom and i moved out of our house and went to live with my grandparents in Lyons. My parents are going through a divorce. My heart breaks for the sadness of my wonderful dad, and my heart soars for the difference this has made for my mom. I don't know how i can have both of those feelings at the same time, about the same situation, but i do. Sometimes it still hits me like a pile of bricks that my parents aren't together anymore, but i have come to accept this change. I have two wonderful parents. This decision wasn't easy for either of them. This decision doesn't reflect on their ability to love, or be loved or their ability to be great parents. Because they are the greatest parents out there.

So, I live in Lyons now. Lyons is 15 minutes outside of Stayton and Stayton is about 30 minutes from Salem. At first the drive to town seemed like the longest drive to make nearly everyday, but honestly, it's growing on me. I have time to talk to my mom, I can drive in silence and relax or whatever. Now, in Lyons my mom and i live in a fifth wheel. It's like a trailer but i don't like saying that because it's way nicer than that. We both have our own space and we've both got out own responsibilities. I've realized that my mom and i make a really good team. I actually really enjoy living out here. We live by a river, i can here the birds, and the sky is beautiful out here. I feel so blessed to be able to be so near my grandparents. I get to hang out with them whenever i want. I love it.

Now just because i love my new place doesn't mean i don't miss my home in west salem. I do. My dad made sure i still had a room there. He's been so cool about all this. I work for my dad so i get to see him at least 3 days a week, or more. And i can go hang out at his place whenever i feel like it. It's weird to think i could have both of these places to live but still feel like they're both my home.

This whole experience has brought on a lot of change in my self. I am becoming more independent. I have to admit, i get a little embarrassed about that because i mean i am 19 years old, i should be more independent now...right? Well i told my mom how i was feeling about that and she said "Katie, don't be embarrassed. Everyone has their own timeline, and this is yours." I love her. she always has the greatest nuggets of insight. So i'm helping pay for more of my insurance and stuff around the house. I am also FINALLY going to take my drivers test in a couple weeks.

Another thing that's changed is my path at school. I have been saying for a year now that i wanted to be a speech therapist's assistant. I kept telling people what i wanted to do, but i wasn't excited about it. I know that lack of excitement is a dumb reason to change but that isn't the only reason. Whenever i would tell people about the speech therapy thing i always felt a strange feeling like "yep, i'm doing this and it fits but it doesn't feel completely right". So i've been chugging along with prerequisites and such. Then one day my mom says "hey i saw the mac lab with the visual communication students. Have you looked into that?" I told her no. It wasn't realistic to be a graphic design major...was it? I kept telling myself it wouldn't work, until it was finally out of my head. Then about a week and a half ago she mentioned it again, saying there was a big article about the visual communications program in the school newspaper. So i gave in and looked at the website. I spent about an hour and a half on that site just looking at all the possibilities of this program. I felt this sudden and huge need to do this. To research this possibility. To make this possible. I felt like i had this spark in me go off like i had found something great and i needed to tell everyone what i had discovered. I felt like if i didn't pursue this i would regret it for...well probably forever. That's how strongly i feel about this. I think this is where i need to be. I need to be around some cool artsy people, make more friends, experience new things and do my passion; art.

So as of right now in my life, i am working on a portfolio and an essay to turn in with my application to the visual communications program at Chemeketa. As you can probably tell, I am so excited about it.

This summer i have to take a silly reading class so i can apply but i'm ok with it. The class is only two days a week, so i can still have summertime adventures doing art with my friends and going to drive ins and staying up too late and bonfires and s'mores and camp outs. I may be turning 20 this year but i am still gonna be a little childish this summer. I have a long list of crafty fun art projects to do this summer. I probably won't have time to finish them all but i'll make a dent in the list:)

I am really excited about this "transition" stage in my life. It has been a really tough two years but honestly, i feel like i'm coming out of a fog and finding myself on this clear path. The kind of path that has your few close dear friends cheering you on with encouragement and love. I think i have a great thing coming my way. So pray i get in this program because it would enrich my life so so much. I love you guys.