Jumping At the Chance

by Kari Diane Pike

When Marsha invited us to participate in this group, I jumped at the chance…without looking where I might land! I saw the opportunity to give my writing a focus, or at least a deadline, and I wanted to become more familiar with navigating cyberspace so that I can keep better tabs on my teens and their own cyber-adventures. (Actually, I have their older siblings and other computer savvy friends look in on my younger kids all the time.) I didn’t stop to consider if I had anything to say that would actually mean anything to anybody!

My name is Kari Diane Pike. Most people just use my first name, but I have a brother named Terry and a Dad who is hard of hearing, so my family often refers to me as Kari Diane. My husband Douglas and I are in our 29^th year of learning and growing together as we raise our 9 children (ages 9 – 28) and enjoy our 8, soon to be 9, grandchildren. I’ve moved 34 times to various places all over the Western United States, provided day care for more than 20 years, sold Pampered Chef and various other home-based products, and stood by hubby while he changed jobs 15+ times. Most recently, I obtained certifications as both a doula and a childbirth educator and I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies. I suppose if I had to come up with something about myself that very few people know, it would be my talent to imitate a hen laying an egg...most likely the result of laying so many eggs myself.

All of these activities have cut into my writing time, but I find that they have also given me a voice. I have a passion for parenting and writing about parenting and if I can get my 14 year old daughter to turn down the volume on her Gilmore Girls rerun, I might even get this blog written! Great episode…but very distracting…Anyway, I look forward to sharing thoughts and ideas about life and the universe, as Marsha put it, and find a place for my voice somewhere out there. Besides, as I sit here in my purple Curves slippers and green fuzzy robe, bed head hair, a red nose and a growing pile of tissues, I can leave you guessing. Is she ill? Is she crying over Amparo’s death in Ride to Raton for the 10^th time? Or is she just glad to finally get the latest wedding done and over? What kind of parent lets a daughter plan a December wedding anyway? This is not a rhetorical question. I am interested in what you think. When a coworker posed that question to Doug, Doug's response was, "You obviously don't have daughters." Ha! The man had only sons.

My goal this year is to do the best I can with what I know, and to continue learning so that I can be better! Of course, I hope to do that without stepping in it too often (thank you, Betsy), or laying too many more of those eggs. I'm praying for soft, clean landings for all of us in 2007!

Kari Diane Pike CBD, CCBE and someday published author!