Fun Facts & Favorites

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Name:	Kathy Sue Hyatt	Karla Gordon Trevino	Karen Lynne Hemmes	Kelly Jo Larson	Krystal Lee Gibson	Kendra Jean Sahs
Name:
Nickname:	Kath. My Dad called me "Bones-Jones" growing up because I was so skinny -- My goal as I become more "mature" is to remain worthy of that moniker!	I was born Karla Ann but I don't use my old middle name. I was also called the Brown-eyed sock sucker when I was a baby. It seems that I would pull off one sock and pop it into my mouth. Gross!! Later when we were still in Michigan Kathy called me Ka or Ka-Ka. When we moved to Colorado we found out that Ka-Ka was not a good nickname to have.	Karen! Kathy calls me "K" sometimes.	I don't really have a specific nickname, but in Philly they called me Kell, in Spain they called me Kayee Ho (double l's are not the same in Spanish), and in England they made my name sound royal. I have been called Kelly Jo Jimbob - especially when someone was saying goodnight, KJ, Number 5, and many other names. My favorite so far is mommy.	When I was young, they called me Sweet Krystal. Now, I can't repeat what they call me.	Mommy, Babe, Kendi
Birth order:	First born of all the Gordon offspring	I am the second born with first born tendencies. I would check all the siblings in the middle of the night to make sure they were covered up in the cold Michigan winters.	#3 Youngest of the three oldest girls, and in the middle of the family, so I have some of the birth-order attributes of the first-born, middle-born and baby!	I am the fifth child and fourth daughter. (I suppose that explains why someone would call me number 5.)	6th child, 5th girl - although I try to act like the oldest as often as possible.	The Caboose! The older sibs tell me I wasn’t “planned” (aka not wanted :0)) - lots of money spent on counseling for that one….
Kids:	2 boys and 1 girl. Nathan, Sean & Erin. Daughter-in-laws; Jessica, Janelle and Son-in-law, Eric Snyder	Bethany Gayle and Ryan Thomas. I am also grandmother to Novalei Joy, born in 2002, Landry Hope, born in 2004, and the most recently, Audrey Love, born in September 2006!	Three daughters: Karly Marie Knapp (born in 1978), Dana Louise (born in 1983), and Destiny Lynne (born in 1987.) I have also been blessed with three wonderful sons-in-law, Joshua Adam Knapp, Andrew John Ballentine and Reymond James Mata. My daughters have given me six gorgeous and smart grandchildren, so far: Tyrus, Alexis and Carsten Knapp, Dominque and Josiah Mata, and Dylan Ballentine!	Three girls, Chelsea Taylor, Quincy Alegre, and Sydney Evelyn.	2 boys and a girl - Connor, Kyle & Keefe - you figure out which one is the girl!	Ronen Jacob, born August 22, 2008. Samson Jonathan, born July 4, 2010, died October 23, 2010 (from heart surgery complications).
Job:	Human Resources Professional - currently in "Career Transition"	I worked many years in our family masonry business as an office manager but presently I am working on "Gordon Sister's stuff" and helping Karen with some of her work projects.	Publicity Connections , a publicity consulting firm for the school and library industry. I'm my boss' only employee and have been since 1992. My job is tailor-made for me and I'm able to use both my English and my people skills. Since the summer of 2000, I've enjoyed working from my home office instead of driving during rush hour! I’m also an Independent Director with the awesome kitchen tools company: The Pampered Chef. My third job – and the one that makes me laugh every single day – is to care for Kendra and Eric’s son Ronen Sahs – the same age as my grandson JoJo…	I am a mom and wife and that is my full-time job. On the side, I am the Director of Marketing and Communications for Concordia International School Shanghai where my children attend school. As you might imagine, my office is full of books, gym bags, used lunch paraphernalia and most of it not mine!	Managing an Accounts Payable Department for an energy company.	Proposal writer. Mother. Wife. Sister. Friend.
Parts you sing:	My preference is alto, but I sing tenor a lot and sometimes soprano. While recording "Hope", I got to sing alto on over half of the songs!!	I want to sing the melody all the time because I can sing that with more feeling. I sing tenor a lot on the projects but I certainly don't have the highest tenor type voice.	Mostly Alto, some soprano and, every once in awhile, tenor - if I'm forced to!	I sing low but unfortunately I don't always get what is easy. If I had a choice, I would sing bass since I can reach it and it often requires fewer notes the other parts. I typically sing alto, although I hear tenor in my head. Sometimes Karla assigns me to sing lead/soprano, but I have a very difficult time not individualizing it-you shouldn't do that when you are trying to blend with a group.	Tenor on slow songs, soprano on fast songs, and in studio on "Home", I got to sing alto (that was the easiest song I ever recorded)	Lead (soprano), alto, tenor (under duress)
Musical influences:	1970s - Andre Crouch & Imperials; 1980s - Amy Grant, Russ Taff & Bryan Duncan; 1990s - DC Talk & Bebe & Cece Winans; First decade of the 2000's - Israel Houghton & Martha Munizzi	I cannot hear Andre Crouch without feeling enormous nostalgia. I enjoy gutsy female voices like Nancy Grandquist, Sharon Haygood and Nancy Harmon. Church and/or camp choir music has definitely influenced my entire life.	Andre Crouch, Bryan Duncan, Nancy Grandquist, Karen Carpenter, Michael W. Smith, Johnny Mathis, Celine Dion, Frank Sinatra, my sisters	I love live church music-all kinds. When we were little, I remember visiting many different ethnic churches and I loved the soul music, the sacred music, and especially the choirs who swayed and sang powerfully. And no one can sing old hymns like my mom.	The Gordon Girls original trio from the 60's/70's - just kidding. I adore Bryan Duncan's music. He's so versatile, slightly irreverent, and his range is sing-along-able.	Nancy Grandquist, my sibs, Leon Patillo, Bryan Duncan, Crystal Lewis, Jon Gibson, Walter Hawkins, Andre Crouch
Favorite Musical Styles:	Definitely R&B! Beyond that, I like many styles of music, although classical and opera would be toward the bottom of my list. Any kind of twangy country music doesn't even come close to making my list!	As mentioned above, I like good gospel type choir music. I like most of the new "worship" type CDs out. I like Brentwood Jazz instrumentals and of course any and all of the Gordon Sister's projects.	Almost anything done really well. Gospel, Pop, Big Band, Classical, Country, Ragtime, anything Patriotic	I like classical music probably the best, especially classical Spanish guitars. But since you can't sing very well with classical (unless you like opera), I would say that I like to listen to catchy tunes and lyrics that glorify God or music that is fun, like Silly Songs with Larry. I know all the words : )	R&B hands down. Really, I like about anything that doesn't twang, including classical and opera.	All types of Latino music (except maybe back-in-the-day-Mariachi), lounge jazz (keyboard, upright bass, drums and an excellent vocalist) - I am ALWAYS transported to my happy place when we sing "He's at the Wheel", and classical
Favorite Song:	"Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"	It depends on the mood at the moment however, it would probably have to be "the song" yet to be written.	To sing? "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" To listen to? Michael W. Smith's "Breathe"	"No one ever cared for me like Jesus" - especially when Mom or Dad are singing it.	"He Keeps Me Singing" - It's probably 100 years old, but the lyrics are a perfect fit for the way I feel.	"Lord I’m Amazed by You"
Instrument Played:	I am the keyboard player at our church (it used to be called a Piano!) Growing up, I played the Cornet (trumpet) in the school band.	I played clarinet in Junior High School and the tambourine since being a teenager. I didn't really sit down at the piano until about 10 years ago.	Um, the tambourine? My computer keyboard? The spoons? I played the flute when I was in school, but soon discovered I could make a lot more noise with my voice.	I played the cornet when I was in Jr. High and High School, but is quite a feat to sing and play at the same time, so now I just sing instead.	I play drums and hopefully, I’ll eventually be a "drummer".	Tambourine, my own 10-strings
Favorite Genre to read: (besides the Bible and devotionals, of course!)	Suspense, with a touch of romance =)	I like to read historical novels, political intrigue, suspense, and anything that Kendra recommends. I try to keep up with all the Good Housekeeping, Reader's Digests and Guideposts that Karen passes on to me.	Historical Fiction, Political Thrillers	I like espionage or political thrillers. Cookbooks fascinate me. I also love picture books, especially old ones with the watercolor pictures and very few words-then you have to use your imagination.	Historical fiction, Facebook	Medical thrillers, political intrigue, suspense, anything by Francine Rivers
The Car You Drive:	2008 Hyundai Santa Fe	Actually it's the car we all drive. We travel to most of our concert venues in my '98 Ford Windstar Van.	I drive a cranberry-colored, 7-passenger, extended–length Chevrolet Venture mini-van – even though my kids are grow and I live alone. Surprisingly, it manages to be filled up more often than I expect!	I don't drive in Shanghai, unless you consider a bike driving. However, I love to come home and drive my 2004 seafoam green Volvo S8. It almost makes it worth spending the hot summers in Orlando--winter would be much more civilized in Orlando, but then I have to work.	2002 Chevy Venture (minivan)	2006 Honda Accord
Favorite Hours to Drive:	Right after breakfast, which gives me a chance to get some coffee into my system -- it's tough sometimes as I'm the only sister that drinks coffee	I like to drive when we leave town (about 5:00 or 6:00 PM) and drive until about midnight. If I have to drive in the middle of night I don't want to be driving when the sun comes up. Everyone should be sleeping when the sun comes up!	From the middle of the night until sunrise. It's just me and the moon and the long, empty road...	I prefer to drive very early in the morning when the daylight is starting to creep in and everyone is sleeping and I can enjoy quiet time with myself and God.	late evening until the middle of the night...I hate to drive right after breakfast	First thing in the morning - when I can see really well
Favorite Fruit:	Bing Cherries (yum!), Watermelon	I really like Michigan blueberries and apples. (There is more flavor in one bite of a Michigan apple than a bushel of apples from Colorado.) I like the California strawberries. I have never tasted anything better. And to give Colorado credit, our peaches from the western slope are awesome.	Cherries and really juicy peaches. Yum!	This is very hard-I love hard sour apples right off the tree in the fall. I adore clementines when they are in season. Every berry is my friend, especially raspberries. I dream about good melons in the winter. But I suppose my very favorite would have to be peaches. Not canned or frozen; just fresh in the summer.	Blueberries, cantaloupe and nectarines	Fresh (sweet) pineapple, warm canned peaches, firm green apples
Favorite Vegetable:	Spinach and fried cabbage (both of which I eat by myself as none of the rest of my family will eat them)	Uhhh...I eat them all but nothing really grabs me. I do like garden tomatoes though.	Asparagus – although I adore them all – with the small exception of “elephant boogers” (aka mushrooms)!	Hmmm. Baked acorn squash in the fall, Corn-on-the-cob and tomatoes off the vine in the summer, Catalan spinach with pine nuts and raisins, and Fresh green beans with new potatoes. I guess it would be easier to identify which vegetables I don't like: okra, lima beans and squishy eggplant (firm is okay).	asparagus	Edamame
Favorite Meat:	Steak - Sirloin or Filet, Lean Pork, all kinds of Fish, BBQ Ribs (I'm a meat lover!!)	Ground sirloin (as in hamburger). Also, the leanest filet mignon you can find.	Salmon	Lobster hands down, especially from New England. A really good rare Delmonico is a treat too, but not too often.	"My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work" John 4:34 - Actually, I can take or leave meat - give me carbs and I'm happy. My dad's pre-heart attack barbecued ribs were pretty good, though	Shrimp
Favorite Drink:	Seltzer with Lime	For a hot drink my absolute favorite is Earl Grey tea with a dash of creme and a bit of sugar. (I carry my own tea bags with me.) My favorite cold drink is Pepsi (not Coke!) with lots of ice.	Iced Seltzer Water with Lemon and Lime and Oranges and…	Fizzy water with lime (oops, let me translate...Seltzer with lime)	A wedge of lime with either Diet Coke (never Pepsi) or Seltzer, depending on the time of day. In the morning, Diet Mountain Dew because it’s the “breakfast of champions!”	Colorado water - or Aquafina if we are traveling
Favorite Desert:	Cheesecake with Cherries	Moist white wedding cake with a handful of peanuts and mints on the side.	Cherry cobbler	Mom's Rhubarb Pie	Ice Cream in any form	Where do I begin? this is my FAVORITE part of a meal!! - key lime pie, apple crisp, apple turnovers, cupcakes, mint chocolate chip ice cream, berries with real whipped cream, my Doris' caramel cream pie, strawberry rhubarb pie...
My Idea of Fun:	Playing golf with my husband	Getting in a van and traveling across country with my sisters. No seriously...I do like to travel with my family in and out of the country. I like to sit on a boat in the middle of a lake and catch the biggest fish on the boat. Going out to a good restaurant. Riding on all the roller coasters at any amusement park. Reading a truly good book.	A bubble bath with a book, working out, editing someone else's writing, singing with my sisters	Traveling the world and experiencing something I have never experienced before-but it has to be with people. The definition of fun requires that there is someone along to share it.	Staying in bed all day, alternating between reading, eating, and napping	Hanging out with Eric (husband) and Ronen (son). Hanging out with family and friends.
Favorite Color:	Green (that's why I enjoy golf so much!)	I like to wear all the vibrant winter colors but for colors that I like to look at it would have to be peach or Colorado sky blue".	Green and red	Any shade of purple and bright yellow	Black (it's so slimming)	Black
Favorite Bible Verse:	"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23	"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct they paths." Proverbs 3:5-6	Psalm 42:1 "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."	PsPsalm 51:1-13 "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness..	"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God" Psalm 20:7	"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (New Living)
Hobbies:	Golf, reading, spectator sports	Reading, taking brisk walks, reading, writing music or playing the piano, cleaning my house while walking around talking on the phone and reading.	Reading, writing, putting together 1000-2000 piece puzzles, knitting	Travel, experimental cooking, reading, designing & sewing, decorating, skiing, shopping... The list seems endless. Perhaps that is why I am so busy?!?	Singing, reading, travel, shopping, sports, planning anything	Travel, reading, singing
Collections:	"Grandkids". Caleb Blaise born in August of 1999; Tristan Riley was born in July 2002; Collin Brooks born in December of 2002, and my two granddaughters, Madeleine Leon, born in December of 2003, and Graciela Anastasia born in January, 2009 - ALL Hyatts!	I collect lots and lots of paper. You should see my house. I have paper work for several businesses. I have paper work for all the lessons I put together. I have paper work for the Gordon Sisters. I have paper work for all the music conferences I have ever gone to. I'm buried in it! I also have quite a few non-live bunnies.	Grandchildren, friends, Americana, flags and other red, white and blue items to go with the red desk in my home office, Pampered Chef tools, fun Band-Aids, different colors and sizes of Post-it notes, dust-bunnies	I collect plane tickets and college degrees-just kidding. I have collected so much through our many moves that my garage sales look like full-fledged stores. Truthfully, I must admit that I collect shoes-any color, any style, especially funky, but all in 9N.	Coca-Cola paraphernalia, great-nephews & neices.	Ummm…lots of toys strewn all around the house?
Favorite Quote:	"A good attitude always wins"	I don't have just one. I like them all. I just sit and ponder them.	I have three. About my personality style: "Spontaneity is difficult to plan for" When I'm tired: "Consciousness is that annoying time between naps" And, seriously: "If it doesn't matter for eternity, it doesn't matter."	"If the shoe fits, you paid too much"	"You can eat an elephant if you do it one bite at a time"	"Solitude is deep water and small boats do not ride well in it." Emma Bell Miles
Other Interesting Fun Facts About Me:	My husband accuses me of being a "food snob". I really enjoy eating, but if the food is not tastefully prepared I turn up my nose. As you can imagine, I don't do fast food restaurants (only under duress while traveling with the Gordon Sisters). Actually, nothing makes me happier than a gourmet cup of coffee preferably a vanilla latte) and a fresh bagel! Also, because of my penchant for tasteful food, I'm a better than average cook and I make dinner at least 5-6 nights a week!	I am a closet introvert. If I have to be extroverted, I can be, but it is not my nature.	I like to tell people that I was Band-Aid deprived when I was a child. Even though there were 10 people in our household and we were quite poor, I never felt deprived - with this one exception. You had to be really bleeding UNTO DEATH it seemed, in order to get a Band-Aid, otherwise there would never be any available when someone really WAS bleeding unto death! Once I got old enough to buy them myself, I did! And, now, I always have a nice selection of fun colors and styles to choose from and everyone comes to me when they need one. And me? If I have the tiniest little "owie", you can be sure I have a fun Band-Aid on it!	In October, 2011 I will have been married for 24 years to Dean. In twenty-four years we have lived in four countries (US, China, England, Spain) and 13 cities (3 in the San Francisco Bay Area; Madrid, Spain; Philadelphia; London, England; Barcelona, Spain; Panama City, Florida; West Orange, New Jersey; West Bloomfield, Michigan, Orlando, Florida; Thames Ditton, England, Shanghai, China). My first two girls are named for places we had been and loved: Chelsea and Quincy, and Sydney is named for a place we finally got to visit a couple of years ago.	I like gospel music live, but can't stand to listen to it recorded. I love to write poetry, but can't stand to read it. I love to sing (arguably more than any of my sisters), but can't stand that I am far from the best vocalist in the family. I truly enjoy a good rousing argument, but can't stand it when other people argue.	I test as extremely introverted but have learned to "fake it 'til I make it" - after concerts, you might find me hiding or in intense conversation with one or two people - it is amazing what you can learn through silent observation.

2310 S. Troy St - Aurora, CO 80014 - Phone 303.355.4410 - Fax 303.355.6605 - Email