I was going through my saved emails and found this email that I sent out to a bunch of friends years ago. It is a short history of my life since High School.
I'll start my story with, I did graduate from High School, that was also the same year that my Father retired from the US Air Force after 20 years. It also became the end of my travels although I didn't know it at the time. After High school we moved to the Shenandoah Valley, VA. To the college town of Harrisonburg, (JMU). I tried my hand at the Veterinarian Technology (Vet Nursing school basically) program at BRCC. I found out that I really didn't want to knuckle and study at the time and quit after 1 semester. I was thinking I would go back later, Heavenly Father had other plans for me, I didn't know at the time that I would never be able to work in the field of animals again. I have a child that is allergic to animals, but more about her later. After College I went to work for Lowe's Home Center's, and left the valley for a few years to live closer to my Grandparents, actually lived with them for a while. During the 1st couple of months I was very rebellious and didn't go to church and was even a little on the bad side. I eventually went back to church and after about 2 years in Elizabeth City, NC I decided to go back to the Valley with my family. But not before I had meet and become Friends with a girl that I knew during 4th and 5th grade. She and I have remained friends since. I was still working for Lowe's during all this time, luckily they where continuing to open new stores and I was able to transfer and work my way up in Management. About 1 year after returning to the Valley I met my Future husband Lyston (Sounds like Listen but with the "T" sound) we dated for a while. It took him longer to realized that I was the love of his life, I knew after the 1st date. But on March 2, 1995 while we where on vacation together visiting family in NC, he proposed during a trip to visit the Cape Hatteras lighthouses (before it was moved). Well I have jumped ahead so let me back up a little. The 1st Sunday that Lyston was at church I was not there because I was working, when I got home my Mother told me that there was someone new at church and he had a "Cute Butt", her words honest. So the next Sunday I go and meet him I thought not bad. He asked to sit with me, we were sitting behind my parents when I hear my dad lean over and ask mom "Whose the big gorilla sitting with Kasandra" I thought I would just die but Lyston said he didn't hear him, but it has become the family joke now.
We where married August 5, 1995, in the Washington DC, LDS Temple. A little over 2 years later our beautiful Elisabeth Victoria was born, on Halloween. I didn't want a Halloween baby but once they start you really can't stop them. She was and still is a goblin, her favorite color is orange. Then in March 2001 we added Evelyn Lee, she is the total opposite of her sister, she is the angel of the family. Lyston and I have had our ups and downs, there have even been weeks that I have not spoken to him for days at a time but that is just the wonderful joys of married life. The best thing we ever did was go to marriage counseling, it has help us so much.
Other notes on my Family; my Mother and Father decided after 36 years together to divorce, but don't feel sorry for me as they are Best Friends or more like a Brother/ Sister relationship now and I wish that it had happened before so I could see that my parents did and do care about each other. Mom still lives in the valley with in 20 minutes drive of us. Dad now lives near Nags Head, NC, so we get to take free family vacations there every summer. Dad just lost his home to a gas explosion so he is in the processes of deciding what he wants to do now.
My litttle sister Christina is still single she lives in the valley with her crazy dog Bodhi. She is a Retired (Medically) LPN, she worked in Hospital, for an Oral Surgeon and lastly for a Pediatrics office. She now does computer graphics and photography.
My little bother Benjamin (Ben) is a Master Mechanic for VW and lives about 30 minutes from us also. He is married to his High School Sweetheart, they where married in October of 2009. She works in Hospital as a Nuclear Medicine Tech. in Radiology.
My life has been full and I would not change a thing. There have been many ups and downs and I know that there will be many more to come, but that is a shortened version.
Tell me what has happened since I last saw you if you will.
your Friend
Kasandra Williams Barker
18 March 2011
17 March 2011
Spring, Green and Dad
If you have known me for very long you will know that I Love, LOVE, LOVE winter. So with that being said, I'm glad that spring is in the air. Today in the one day when I love the fact that I have maybe 1 drop of Irish in me, and that I can let me red hair down. I wore a big green leprechaun hat to school today and you would not believe the kids I was asked are you a Leprechaun? Do you know any Leprechauns? Is there a Leprechaun in your hat? and Where's your pot of gold? but I loved every minute of it.
I also have noticed that with all the rain we have had that a lot of the ponds and streams around here are filling up. I drive past 11 ponds on my Bus route every day and the last year or so has been very depressing because all the pounds where very low or some where even dry. But as of this last rain I'm glad to say that they all look almost full and that the birds and wildlife are coming back to them with the warm weather. I like to watch the animals wake up and return to their homes when spring comes, that is my favorite part about it, I hate the fact that at the end of spring comes summer and the HOT.
A quick update on my Dad this is from an email that my sister sent me about 2 days ago... "The plastic surgeon yesterday and was given a "clean bill of health", he was impressed with how well the burns were doing, but upset the hospital didn't call him when dad was in the er. He was on call that night. they also didn't send dad home with instructions on how to care for the burns, so the dr is going to lodge a formal complaint. He ordered new glasses today, and they should be in in a week. He sounded upbeat until he mentioned meeting with the landlords and still having a big decision to make. (He still is undecided on what to do) But other then that he sounded good, said he went to the trailer on Monday and went through stuff for about 20 minutes before feeling really tired and sick."
If you can add him to your prayer I would be grateful and if you have already been praying for him Thank you and could you add that the Lord help him make the right decision for HIM!
I also have noticed that with all the rain we have had that a lot of the ponds and streams around here are filling up. I drive past 11 ponds on my Bus route every day and the last year or so has been very depressing because all the pounds where very low or some where even dry. But as of this last rain I'm glad to say that they all look almost full and that the birds and wildlife are coming back to them with the warm weather. I like to watch the animals wake up and return to their homes when spring comes, that is my favorite part about it, I hate the fact that at the end of spring comes summer and the HOT.
A quick update on my Dad this is from an email that my sister sent me about 2 days ago... "The plastic surgeon yesterday and was given a "clean bill of health", he was impressed with how well the burns were doing, but upset the hospital didn't call him when dad was in the er. He was on call that night. they also didn't send dad home with instructions on how to care for the burns, so the dr is going to lodge a formal complaint. He ordered new glasses today, and they should be in in a week. He sounded upbeat until he mentioned meeting with the landlords and still having a big decision to make. (He still is undecided on what to do) But other then that he sounded good, said he went to the trailer on Monday and went through stuff for about 20 minutes before feeling really tired and sick."
If you can add him to your prayer I would be grateful and if you have already been praying for him Thank you and could you add that the Lord help him make the right decision for HIM!
11 March 2011
Colonel Bogey March, Preformed by the Pride of Montevideo 7th & 8th Grade band. this was a pre-Festival concert that they gave Wednesday night. They went to Festival this morning and got Superiors in all the graded categories, this the highest marks that are given. I think their name says it all they are the PRIDE of their school.
06 March 2011
Dad exploded
It has been a while since I posted anything real on here. This week has been very interesting. Friday March 25 at about 5pm my Father's Trailer exploded, caused by a gas leak. He was at the center of the explosion when it happened, but Luckily he basically walked out. He was able to get to his front porch where a Neighbor/Hero was trying to get the porch door open they worked together and got dad out and away from the fire. He lives only 1 block from the VFD actually I could probably hit the building with a baseball if I tried. So they where on the scene right away and the EMS took him to OBX Hospital, he has 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his hands, face and abdomen, But no lung damage or blindness. The Fire destroyed his home and almost nothing survived. The only things that didn't burn in some way where his Scriptures, and his Temple clothing. He is staying at his Baby brothers beach rental until he decides what he is going to do.
This is the second time in 2 years that Heavenly Father has saved my Dad's life. I'm very great full for His hands in my life. My girls believe that the ghost that lived with Granddaddy are the ones that saved him. All I know is that he has some very wonderful guardian angels.
If you want to Help please just say a Prayer to Heavenly Father and ask him to Bless my dad to heal quickly, then call up your Dad or your Mother or someone in your Family that you have not spoken too lately and tell them how much you love them because you never know when Heavenly Father will call them home.
Never Been there or done that and don't want a repeat.
This is the second time in 2 years that Heavenly Father has saved my Dad's life. I'm very great full for His hands in my life. My girls believe that the ghost that lived with Granddaddy are the ones that saved him. All I know is that he has some very wonderful guardian angels.
If you want to Help please just say a Prayer to Heavenly Father and ask him to Bless my dad to heal quickly, then call up your Dad or your Mother or someone in your Family that you have not spoken too lately and tell them how much you love them because you never know when Heavenly Father will call them home.
Never Been there or done that and don't want a repeat.
04 February 2011
27 January 2011
Snow Bus
If you know me then you know that I drive a big yellow school bus, and it is my Favorite job.
But I have to say to those people that think that the schools close for no reason, You are wrong. When I drive a bus load of kids I am responsible for their lives, that is 60+ lives plus mine. I was not trained on how to drive a BIG bus in the snow or on ice. I know that in some places where they get more snow yearly than we do they do train their drivers on snow course. If that was available here I would do it only if I was paid better. I care for each of the kids on my bus and I want them to be safe and get to and from school safely. But I don't have an aide nor am I paid well enough to risk my life or the lives of my kids to get them to school when the roads are covered in snow and ice. Just because the road outside your house and the main road that you drive to and from work are OK or in great shape does not mean that every road in the county that the school buses go on are in great shape. Believe me we the teachers and staff of the school system don't want to lose our Spring Break or have to go to school longer into the summer either. But we want the kids to be safe.
Because Heaven forbid if a school bus was in an accident because of weather, there would be parents lining up and knock on there lawyers doors to see if they could sue the school division and the bus driver. I don't want that.
So next time schools are closed because of snow on a day when you think they should be open just thank your Father in Heaven that the person in charge cares enough to keep your child safe, and enjoy the time you have to get to know your child better you can learn a lot from them.
But I have to say to those people that think that the schools close for no reason, You are wrong. When I drive a bus load of kids I am responsible for their lives, that is 60+ lives plus mine. I was not trained on how to drive a BIG bus in the snow or on ice. I know that in some places where they get more snow yearly than we do they do train their drivers on snow course. If that was available here I would do it only if I was paid better. I care for each of the kids on my bus and I want them to be safe and get to and from school safely. But I don't have an aide nor am I paid well enough to risk my life or the lives of my kids to get them to school when the roads are covered in snow and ice. Just because the road outside your house and the main road that you drive to and from work are OK or in great shape does not mean that every road in the county that the school buses go on are in great shape. Believe me we the teachers and staff of the school system don't want to lose our Spring Break or have to go to school longer into the summer either. But we want the kids to be safe.
Because Heaven forbid if a school bus was in an accident because of weather, there would be parents lining up and knock on there lawyers doors to see if they could sue the school division and the bus driver. I don't want that.
So next time schools are closed because of snow on a day when you think they should be open just thank your Father in Heaven that the person in charge cares enough to keep your child safe, and enjoy the time you have to get to know your child better you can learn a lot from them.
Peanut Butter Allergies
I couple of Weeks ago a friend of mine posted on Facebook the Following
"What can we do to keep kids safe from food allergies? I'm post this for a friend. Still trying to figure out how to keep peanut butter out of schools, I mean geez, can't the kids eat something else for lunch? they can eat a jar of it when they get HOME. why risk a childs life over a pb & J.... seriously?! what if peanut butter didn't exist? what would you pack your kid then? literal food for thought....hmmmm."
Well it really bothered me because I HAVE a Child with Food Allergies and I'm sorry I don't think you need to remove PB from Schools you teach your child to stay away from it. If we had to remove every allergy from schools then what would the point of going to school be. Here is a list of Common food Allergies: Peanut, Tree Nuts (All other nuts), Wheat, Milk, eggs, Soy, fish, then don't forget the child that is allergic to Insect bites are you going to tell them they can't ever go out side. Then there are kids that are allergic to Dust, Mold, soaps, Smoke etc. We can't take everything out of the schools, you have to Teach the Child when they are young to be careful of what they eat, if you don't know don't bite. We need to teach awareness, in fact I just spoke with our School Nurse today and she is going to be teaching all of the students in one Kindergarten class about there friend that has a Peanut allergy.
I realize that Peanuts also can have an airborne reaction but Banning them from school is not the answer, I don't know what is. I know that some schools have already banned them. I have to watch and so does my child what she eats at school there have been a few occasions where they gave her something that had Nuts in it but she read the package and didn't eat it.
Someone posted to the comment that they had been threatened by a co-worker by having PB placed on all of the door knobs. To me this is a threat against your live and should be reported to the police.
My post to that was "If an angry child wants to hurt you they can still bring it in, My Child has a Life threatening allergy to TREE NUTS, she carries an Epi-pen at all times. My child can't even touch a leaf from a nut tree, but I don't tell her she can't go hiking or playing in the woods. Allergies are around everywhere and I have seen people with allergies to animals react to someone that has a pet at home and that person comes to Wal-mart and the pet hair gets in the air around the person who is allergic, now do we need to tell Wal-mart that they can't let people in that have pets."
I realize that not everyone is going to agree with me on this but I had to get it off my chest it has been bugging me for a few weeks.
"What can we do to keep kids safe from food allergies? I'm post this for a friend. Still trying to figure out how to keep peanut butter out of schools, I mean geez, can't the kids eat something else for lunch? they can eat a jar of it when they get HOME. why risk a childs life over a pb & J.... seriously?! what if peanut butter didn't exist? what would you pack your kid then? literal food for thought....hmmmm."
Well it really bothered me because I HAVE a Child with Food Allergies and I'm sorry I don't think you need to remove PB from Schools you teach your child to stay away from it. If we had to remove every allergy from schools then what would the point of going to school be. Here is a list of Common food Allergies: Peanut, Tree Nuts (All other nuts), Wheat, Milk, eggs, Soy, fish, then don't forget the child that is allergic to Insect bites are you going to tell them they can't ever go out side. Then there are kids that are allergic to Dust, Mold, soaps, Smoke etc. We can't take everything out of the schools, you have to Teach the Child when they are young to be careful of what they eat, if you don't know don't bite. We need to teach awareness, in fact I just spoke with our School Nurse today and she is going to be teaching all of the students in one Kindergarten class about there friend that has a Peanut allergy.
I realize that Peanuts also can have an airborne reaction but Banning them from school is not the answer, I don't know what is. I know that some schools have already banned them. I have to watch and so does my child what she eats at school there have been a few occasions where they gave her something that had Nuts in it but she read the package and didn't eat it.
Someone posted to the comment that they had been threatened by a co-worker by having PB placed on all of the door knobs. To me this is a threat against your live and should be reported to the police.
My post to that was "If an angry child wants to hurt you they can still bring it in, My Child has a Life threatening allergy to TREE NUTS, she carries an Epi-pen at all times. My child can't even touch a leaf from a nut tree, but I don't tell her she can't go hiking or playing in the woods. Allergies are around everywhere and I have seen people with allergies to animals react to someone that has a pet at home and that person comes to Wal-mart and the pet hair gets in the air around the person who is allergic, now do we need to tell Wal-mart that they can't let people in that have pets."
I realize that not everyone is going to agree with me on this but I had to get it off my chest it has been bugging me for a few weeks.
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