Kate Senior Tribute

 

Kathryn Louise Keeley was born at least a week later than I would have liked her to be, but still two weeks before her due date. 

Mayli and Patty had ruined things for her by being almost three weeks early, and it was very long pregnancy. 

In the middle of it, Paul and Rod had given me a blessing, and I felt very strongly that Rod's first wife, Louise, was there, and that she had been working on the other side of the veil on our behalf. I felt her love for us and her gratitude towards my mom for her service and love for her family. That's how Kate got her middle name.

I regret that we didn't just name her Kate. She's always wished we had. I guess she can always change it if she wants to. 

Each baby was more precious and enjoyable to me, and I just couldn't get enough of little miss Katie. She was a perfect, tiny, beautiful piece of Heaven. Such an unspeakable blessing!

 The nurses at the hospital thought she was adorable and begged me to let them give her a bath. I heard giggling and suddenly there was a little crowd around the sink, as they were watching her luxuriate in her first bath in mortality. She was laying perfectly still, and every time they slowly dragged the warm, wet washcloth across her little head, she'd roll her eyes in exaggerated extasy. Sometimes she'd coo. They played with her for a long time. 

Kate first bath, only a few minutes old 

I remembered these as being Patty,
but they were in Kate's baby book!
 (A more reliable source than my memory.)
She's holding Art's hand in the bottom one.

Kate 1st birthday
Doin' the cake dance 

Sarah, Patty and Katie 

Just two weeks after she turned two years old, Kate got a baby sister named Anna. We thought Anna was going to be a boy, "Baby Jake," and had been calling her that for months. It was so cute, for another couple months after we brought her home, Kate would refer to her as Baby Jake

Kate and Baby Anna one of my favorite pictures 

About the time she was two, Kate started saying the most hilarious things all day long. She'd use really great words whether she understood what they meant or not, and some of the things she said were SO crazy!

She offered to be my "Bathroom Yodeler" so she could come in when I was using the bathroom and trying to be alone in there. She was silly and adorable and thoroughly delightful!

Just before Kate turned three, we moved from Boise, Idaho to Orem, Utah and suddenly there were a lot of little friends in the neighborhood to play with. 

She spent a huge amount of time with Alli and Alex, who both lived in the cul-de-sac, and who came to our little free preschool the next year with a few other kids.

We had adventures at Chuck E Cheese, the Library and the park.

Move from Boise to Orem 

Kate and 2nd cousin at Lagoon 

Patty and Katie 

Patty and Katie 

Field Trip to Crispy Creme

Preschool 

Kate and cousin Emma 

Chuck E Cheese with Alli 

Kate school 

Elementary school was notable for a few reasons:

Kate learned that she was really good at Math and Science, the STEM subjects. She discovered a passion and gift for baseball. She discovered that it was a lot more fun and less drama to hang out with the guys, and most importantly, Kate made a decision to be true to who she is.

She's the only elementary school child that I've ever heard of to craft a personal manifesto, in poetry form, around a duck hat.

My heart could burst for love for this girl! 

First day of school 

The beginning of the bicycle brigade 

Lagoon 

Family reunion 

Piano recital 

Hope of America and bestie Scott

Kate 8

Kate 9

Kate 10

Kate 11

Kate 12

Kate 13

Kate 14

Kate 15

Kate 16

Kate 17

Kate 18

Here's what I collected from teachers and used in the assembly:

Kate has worked with me for the last 4 years. It's been such a delight to have her on the robotics team. She was always one willing to get her hands dirty and do the work. She also stuck true to her own principles and priorities, and made sure she took care of those first, but then was willing to stay late so many times to do what needed to be done. 

Kate Keeley is, at first, one of those people who quietly flies under the radar. She is humble and unassuming, content to observe, listen, and then contribute. Because of that, many people don't notice her right away. But over time, it becomes impossible not to notice her. She simply can’t hide her shine.

Kate is a powerful reminder of what can happen when someone works quietly, diligently, and consistently when nobody is watching. Through that effort, she has become a force for good wherever she goes — at home, at school, on the baseball field, and in her community.