Is that how the universe works?

We went out to Pei Wei for dinner tonight. (Pad Thai with Chicken, no scallions is always a winner!) We got talking about silly things people say. Like when I say I don't really like dogs, people say- what if you marry a guy who loves dogs? My brother doesn't like to travel, people say- what if you marry a woman who loves to travel? My brother hoped he wouldn't go on a foreign mission, people would say- well that is just what you are going to get. I don't think the universe works that way. I said maybe I should try it though, like start saying- I never want to get married, ever! Devin said, great- you will either get married or it will come true but you'll believe you didn't want to and be okay with it. Ha!

Sometimes Less IS More

Sometimes less IS more, and sometimes you CAN get too much of a good thing. I thought of this twice this weekend.

I used to teach Body Flow (a class combining Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi) at Gold's Gym. I loved taking the class about 3 years ago. I would walk out of class feeling rejuvenated and walking taller. Then I randomly decided to go to an open audition, tried out to be an instructor, then got certified in it. I taught it all while going back to school. I loved teaching, but the last year or so I just kind of went through the motions. Then every quarter when new music and choreography came out that I had to learn, I wore myself out doing a lot of Body Flow to get it all down. I can't say I felt rejuvenated or taller. Well the past two weeks, after a two month break, I re-introduced myself to Body Flow. One day I popped in a DVD that I learned off from, and then yesterday I went to a class taught by one of my favorite instructors. She said at the end of class something about feeling great and walking taller...well as I walked to my car I thought- YES, I do feel taller and calmer, and stronger! When I was just a participant I actually got to get into the zone that I lost as an instructor. I was doing too much Body Flow for awhile. Less is more!

The second lesson of less IS more came in two separate instances with friends this week where quality time hanging out was just what this worn out girl needed. One friend and I simply watched a favorite TV show together and then chatted next to the glow of her tinsel Christmas tree. The other time a friend surprised me by making dinner and then chatted for hours in a practically furniture-less apartment. Big groups can be fun, but more often it is the small simple settings one on one that bring me the most satisfaction. Less is more!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake-Off 2010

Four contestants (Desiree, John, Joni, Tamara)

Four recipes (aka Egos)

Three judges (Matt, Abraham, Phillip)

One auditor (Kevin)

One kind of cookie (Chocolate Chip)

One winner.... Desiree!

One absolutely brilliant evening!


Thanks to everyone who came to play, eat, watch, enjoy, and share a fun night!

My Friend Beth

This is my friend Beth. She is one of the sweetest people I know. She likes to come across as tough (she will only play football if it ISN'T flag, what fun is it if you can't tackle?), but she is really a softie. Beth remembers details and numbers like no other. If you have an event going on in your life, big or small, she will remember. She loves being around people. Beth is genuinely happy to see everyone, she greets you with a smile and if you're lucky, a hug. She loves Chicago, the mafia, wrestling, talking on the phone, Facebook, hanging out at the Institute, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and has excellent taste in men.




I sure do love this girl a lot. She has taught me a lot about being more Christ-like. Thanks Beth for being such a great and loving friend.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Well we did it, we decided it was time to start looking like Christmas, even thought it is still November for a few more days. Even the pumpkins busted out the Christmas Spirit....


...and so did the Canadian moose...


Then I went to an "Elf" party, based on the movie. Here is Nice...

...and naughty. Saw a great shirt. It said "Dear Santa, let me explain..."...



Melissa and Ivy had the place all decked out. We had to walk through the candy cane forest and dress like an Elf. We ate the four food groups- candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup!



Mom picked out this years tree. It was an 8.5 footer. They only charged us for 7.5 feet though because the top foot was just the trunk and would be cut off. It is so big and heavy it is being held to the wall by string. I love the randomness of our decorations, makes me happy. Now it needs some presents underneath.

Both of these teams got embarrassed by the rivals this year, but we are not fair-weather fans and will stick by them! Hook'em Horns and Goooo Cougars...now come fall of 2011 this house might be a bit divided...

Those paper decorations were made by my parents when they first got married. They are old and "ugly" as mom said, but 30 years later they still find a place on the tree!

And the Christmas decorations would not be complete without mom's nativity scenes. They come from all over the world.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts...

I thought I would follow up on my last post, "Surviving Disappointment". Item #13 refers to learn to express love regardless of how I felt. Well, at the time I wrote it I knew it needed to be on the list, but I didn't know how to do it.

Last Sunday after being miserable for two weeks, I decided that enough was enough. I needed to figure out how to move forward. The answer is and always will be LOVE. I was re-reading some notes I wrote down earlier in the year and came across this scripture:

Colossians 3
12 Put on therefore, as the ^aelect of God, holy and beloved, ^bbowels of ^cmercies, ^dkindness, ^ehumbleness of mind, ^fmeekness, longsuffering;

13 ^aForbearing one another, and ^bforgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on ^acharity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the ^apeace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye ^bthankful.

I figured out what I needed to do personally, and once the decision was made and prayed over, I woke up to a much happier and peaceful countenance on Monday (still bruised, still wishing and longing for more, but MUCH happier). I had a great week, which included

*being flashed by a patient,
*rescuing a lost 2 year old,
*treating two patients at work who have requested me specifically and that the front desk describes as my "boyfriends",
*learning about the mafia,
*teaching a patient to say "homomenous hemianopsia"
*putting a 60 year old woman on the skateboard and seeing her face light up and become as giddy as a teenage girl,
*dinner with Flor and laughing our heads off
*touring the new beautiful building my work is moving to and being so excited for it!
*receiving a kind letter in the mail
*celebrating a friend's upcoming wedding with a classy Bridal Shower
*apartment hunting with my mom
*being completely exhausted everyday after being in the pool with a bizzilion patients

All of the enjoyment from this might have been missed had I not decided to focus on charity and kindness, and allowing "the peace of God rule in [my] heart". I put into action the knowledge I gained from Colossians this weekend I am so glad that I did.

Surviving Disappointment

A few weeks ago I suffered what I'll call a bump in the road that has left my heart bruised and has led to more more tears then I want falling from these eyes.

They say what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Personally I think that is a bit dramatic, but then again, sometimes so am I. I'm definitely not dead, but right now I do NOT feel stronger. It's probably one of those things that down the road I'll see the purpose and be grateful for this growing pain. I'm not looking for compliments or sympathy. I'm trying to find some of that purpose sooner rather than later.

So how do you "survive" when you are handed a big dose of disappointment?

1.) You pound the conga's with your dad before heading to work in the morning.

2.) You go to that "dumb dance where they are encouraging dates" with a date, you dress up, you dance like crazy, and you have a good time!


3.) You teach Sunday School with your glasses on even when you've been crying all morning long and can't wear your contacts because your eyes hurt.

4.) You graciously accept flowers from your best girl friends who know the condition of your heart, and you laugh when the vase says "Prescription- Get Well Soon" and all your co-workers wonder what in the world happened to you.


5.) You tell angry thoughts towards the one who squished your heart they are not invited and give no room for them.

6.) You go kick a soccer ball!

7.) You become the crying shoulder for a patient who is having a hard day, because you understand how good a crying shoulder feels.

8.) You try to enjoy the bizarre dreams your subconscious throws at you instead of being shaken by them!

9.) You go eat at Pappasito's just for that delicious ice cream dessert with a friend visiting from out of town.

10.) You find ways to serve, and serve, and serve.

11.) You watch several conference talks and remember what the real purpose of life is.

12.) You go to a few Les Mills classes at the gym, "Because we need more hard core!" You can't feel sad when your shoulders are burning after the Body Pump shoulder track!

13.) You learn to ignore all the voices of the world and try to figure out how to keep on loving that person because that's the only way to heal-LOVE! You remember that you were a friend and still are a friend.

14.) You go apartment hunting and make grand plans!

15.) You remember that even though it might not feel that way, you KNOW that life is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT and you have to keep moving forward, relying upon they One who will heal this disappointment. You keep hope alive!

TPTA Student Physical Therapist Assistant

Sometimes we have to toot our own horn, and a blog is great way to do that!

I won the Student Physical Therapist Assistant Award from the TPTA- Texas Physical Therapy Association. My friend who accompanined me to the awards reception dinner in Arlington, Texas Saturday said, "you're kinda hot stuff". So yes, I, Miss Hot Stuff, was proud to accept the award for the Student PTA in the whole state of Texas. I also got to share the evening with the instructors who nominated me, and other great PTA's/future PTA's.

On my way to the stage...even though they said my name wrong. Oh well!

ACC's Finest! I am holding my award, can you see it?


Two ACC grads and a second year student represented the profession proudly!


Miss Hot Stuff herself! I mean check that award out, kind cool!



Love those women! Thank you Jana and Karen, I suspect the kind words from some of nominators where your very own!


Other winners of other awards, don't know which ones. Again, can you see my award? I am holding it.

Symbols

This is a Maori Carving called "Hei Matau", a Fish Hook. It represents Determination, Strength, Abundance, Prosperity and Peace, and Good luck. That's all well and good. I think it looks cool. But for me, it symbolizes a friendship. It symbolizes someone who remembered a request I made after 5 months...remembered me!

This weekend I had a little bump in the road. No, nothing with an actual bump or a vehicle or the road. The kind where something just didn't go as hoped for. I don't need a necklace to be determined, strong, prosper, have peace, or be lucky...but it sure was a nice reminder when I looked at it today.

Because of my testimony of God and my relationship with Him and Jesus Christ that I strive to have, I am strong, I am determined, I am living an abundant and prosperous life, and had peace today.

Plethora of Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

"Be ye therefore perfect" (Matthew 5:48)

If I claimed to be perfect, I would be sinfully prideful and I would be lying.

However, there is one thing I do perfectly...


Aren't those just beautiful?

10 Items, at 10:10, on 10/10/10

I love being a Kelm.
This is how we celebrated...
the 10 event of the century




10 Items... brownie, bananas, strawberries, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, whip cream, mint chocolate pieces, sprinkles, and crushed peanuts, accompanied with a chilled glass of almond milk.




Eaten at 10:10, on 10/10/10!



And finished by 10:15. Too bad we didn't take 10 minutes to eat.

The Past Fabulous Month of my Life!

The beginning of September I obtained this.... a temporary license to be able to practice as a PTA until I took my exam and got my permanent license.


Then I got a job at Reavis Rehab. On September 24th, the day after my 30th Birthday, I took the licensure exam. After a minor freak out in the morning and needing a last minute hug from a great friend, I arrived at 7:30am at the testing center. It took me 3 hours, 3 snack breaks, metal detector scans every time I stepped in and out of the room, and 48 hours of waiting...but I learned on Sunday the 26th that I passed. Less than a week later...this arrived in the mail....

(just a copy, the actual one is not bent up, but framed prominently at my work)

Then Friday I was told my business cards arrived. A business card? Really? Cool! I didn't know I'd have one.


Wait, there's more! Saturday I received a letter in the mail from the TPTA- Texas Physical Therapy Association. "It is our honor to inform you that you have been selected as a 2010 recipient of the PTA Student Award"...the award will be given at the Annual Conference/Student Conclave on October 23rd. The award "was established to recognize an outstanding physical therapist assistant student in Texas who has demonstrated personal and professional growth through service to patients, classmates, school, and profession". I was shocked and thrilled, and so happy. What a blessing!

Turning 30 was a piece of cake! I was surrounded by a ton of friends. Here are a few pics from the fabulous Zumba party I had. Not the most flattering pictures, but hey, we were dancing away for an hour with Ena! We earned our chips and queso, and delightful cake cups made by the wonderful Michelle.


My cup runneth over! My life is extremely blessed! I am overjoyed with the hope in my heart right now. Life is not perfect, but right now, it's close. Saying I am grateful just doesn't seem like it scratches the surface. But I'll say it, I am so grateful. So grateful... now how to give back more...now that I don't spend my evenings studying. Yep, life is good.