30 and Flirty and Thriving!

30 Reasons to be Happy today!

1.) Treated myself to Pok-e-Joe's and learned they have wireless! Wahoo!

2.) Got up and ran 3 miles before work today.

3.) I have a great job, I help people feel better!

4.) Spanish-Speaking patient from Guatemala today. That was fun!

5.) Facebook makes me feel so popular! Love all the birthday wishes on my wall. I feel famous.

6.) Anticipating the pile of presents at home, mom went crazy and I love it!

7.) I'm in the best shape of my life!

8.) I have a cool green bruise from playing soccer last weekend. Battle wounds rock!

9.) Tonia and Orland are my parents, Jack and Vera & Aline and Wolf are my grandparents!

10.) Tomorrow I'll prove to the Federation that I deserve more than a temporary license!

11.) Handsome man calls me beautiful!

12.) I'm the proud Khala of Raza and Sofia.

13.) My body reminded me of my youth with a big fat zit today.

14.) I get to Zumba with Ena and my friends tomorrow.

15.) Colbie Caillat playing over and over again in my car.

16.) Chuy's creamy jalapeno!

17.) Get to ride in a car on Saturday for 2 hours with my dear sister so we can go see our other sister.

18.) Text messages.

19.) Cheesecake and flowers delivered to the office from Nadia!

20.) Still got my dad wrapped around my finger. "Pai, te amo", she yells from her bedroom...and dad comes running!

21.) Surviving 5 hours in the pool yesterday.

22.) The sun decided to come out a little today.

23.) I confess...new Vampire Diaries tonight!

24.) shoes with good pronation support.

25.) Co-workers thinking of me when they want to set someone up with a doctor friend in Marble Falls. Not interested, but happy I was thought of.

26.) Letter from my younger self. She was actually pretty wise!

27.) Voicemail messages of friends singing "Happy Birthday".

28.) My survival kit from Shaleen-suckers, kleenex, and a massage!

29.) Hugs

30.) Today is Happy Tamara Day!

Effortless

"You left a mark,
I wear it proudly on my chest,
Above my heart,
To remind me that I'm my best when I'm with you,
And everything is effortless..."

UTAH!

I'm sitting the airport in Salt Lake City (love airports with free Wi-Fi). I took a break from studying for my licensure exam and decided to go visit a bunch of relatives in Utah. Life was getting a bit overwhelming and I needed a break before starting work on the 13th.


I saw lots of babies...

(Jack Boyd- named after his great-grandpa and grandpa)

(Ellie- sound asleep, it was hard work playing and eating!)

(Maddie- also asleep after her grandma calmed her down)

(Anna- another precious sleeper, soothes the soul to hold a sleeping baby)

I played in the mountains, even hiked up to Bridal Veil Falls.


I was in a talent show with St. George's finest!


I saw grandparents...



I went to a BYU football game...

(45 yard line, 8 rows up...Cassi and I had sweet tickets!)

(Half-time show featured Lavell Edwards and his all-start QBs)

On my last day I went to the Draper Temple. I went back in January and fell in love with it. I had a great experience. I have been studying a talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland, "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence". He uses Hebrews 10:35-39 to teach.

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of ^apatience, that, after ye have done the ^bwill of God, ye might receive the ^cpromise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man ^adraw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who ^adraw back unto ^bperdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

I think it is just beautiful. Anybody seen the movie 13 Going on 30? At the end teenage Jenna takes Matty's hand and goes running up the stairs ready to take on the future. That's how I felt when I left the temple. I wanted to run out the doors ready to take on all that awaits me in Austin. I was just filled with excitement, confidence, and love. Thanks for the good time Utah. Here I come Austin...

Reflections

I've noticed the past few days that as I have glanced in a mirror, I see a slight change in my reflection. The woman in the reflection seems more confident, more comfortable in her own skin, and beautiful. I give the credit to a few things.

First, I am just happy right now. I am abundantly blessed, so abundantly so that my cup runneth over. The changes coming are not going to be easy- I've got a scary examination ahead of me, I have a huge learning curve zooming towards me at full speed with a new career, and I'll soon move into my own place....however I can see the hand of God in it all and can't wait to get started! All this gives me confidence that I see in my reflection.

Second, I had a great weekend last week. Sorry I am going to be vague. It involved a friend, who is a boy..I mean a man!...who I got to spend a lot of time with. I got to experience being totally myself around a guy. Just a few subtle compliments is all it took for me to not only feel beautiful, but to believe it! Several days later, I still see it in my reflection.

I like the girl I see looking back at me. I hope she sticks around....