I AM AMAZING

Like I said...rough days pop up. And when they do, I do things like re-read the previous post. In addition to that, I was reminded today several times that I have a lot of great people who love me...

Like getting a text from my dad at the start of my day.

And a chat with my mom at the end of the day.

Flowers and chocolate dropped off at my office in the middle of the day.

I went for a run after work. I came home to this on my door....



Each letter has a different word written in it.

Don't know who left that message, but THANK YOU!

Today Is Great!

Today has been great...

Woke up super early to drive down to the San Antonio Temple with my delightful friend Melissa Smith. I participated in several different ordinances for the dead. I got to spend a lot of quiet time reflecting. I felt very content and calm. There was an 80+ year old man receiving the temple blessings for himself and immediately following he joined his wife in the sealing room to be sealed forever to his sweetheart.
That was heart warming!

Then I had a fabulous nap! I love Sunday naps the best,
but Saturday naps are good too.

Then I strapped on my new heart rate monitor/calorie counter and headed for the gym. I was super stiff from my weight class on Thursday and thought I'd loosen up a bit. I started with 3 miles in mind. Then two miles into it I pulled a trick on myself-
ha ha, you're going 4 miles I said!
At four miles I slowed down and walked a mile...
then I pulled another trick-
ha ha, you're going one more mile!
And I did! Wahoo!!!!
700 calories burned!

And now I am about to go meet one of my best friends for some
delicious Indian food and a chick flick.

So why the boring commentary on my life with no pictures? Because when days are rough, I need to remember days like today. It is a near perfect Saturday!
My life is rich and full, and I have so much to be grateful for!
I am truly blessed with much happiness!

Like I said in my last post, I am not defeated!

NOT Defeated!

Ever feel stuck?


Ever feel like something is about to bite your head off if you don't move?



Ever feel like maybe you have outgrown the situation?



Ever feel like you're holding on for dear life, but if you let go
the fall won't really be all that dramatic?



Ever feel like hopping in a plane and just getting away?



And then you remember how cute you are...


And you remember a few other things...

This week I had a moment where I felt totally defeated. I looked at a situation I've been in for awhile and said- I have done all I can do, time to let it go. It has made me happy, and made me sad. I felt defeated and said- I surrender! But I'm not really defeated. I have nothing to regret. I am simply turning it over to my Heavenly Father. He'll take care of the rest.



I am looking at the future and saying, life is amazing.
I am surrounded by awesomeness! Take that!

Happy Birthday Darling!

Happy Birthday Darling Jocelyn!
My fellow fan of all things pink.
Love you!

Cute girl, this is for you...

Chivalry

I saw this on a friend's facebook. I really liked it. I recently went out with a guy friend. I was excited all day because I knew doors would be opened for me. Small and silly? Perhaps...but for some reason it just makes me feel good.

"Some will call me hopefully old fashioned. Feminist and those more liberal minded will decry it as a way of life that is simply bloodshed, war and women seen as a possession. It's not. A chivalrous man, has no desire to control and direct a woman's thoughts, but to allow her to live without constraint, loved unconditionally, free from pesky dragons and telemarketers. He will not only arm himself with the tools he as to protect her, he will smile when she takes up her own. He will fight for her. He will fight with her." -Brigid

The picture on facebook included this quote. (Don't know who Brigid is.)

The One Where Tamara Gets Stopped At Airport Security

You've seen this picture before. I love this pic!
I mean look at those cool goggles, the sweet jean jacket,
and the awesome 22 rifle in my hand!

I recently came back from a trip to Utah with my mom.
At the Salt Lake Airport I got stopped at security.
My bag went through the x-ray machine and they pulled it off the conveyor belt.
The security guard went straight for my wallet and started sifting through it.
He opened up the coin compartment and I knew what was going on.
He pulled out a bullet. It was a 22.
He held it up and said- "What is this doing in here?"
I told him I kept it after the shooting range as a souvenir.
I had forgotten it was in there.
I was asked to show my boarding pass, my I.D, and those along with my bullet
were taken and the man walked away.
Knowing it was purely innocent mistake, I didn't stand there scared or nervous.
Honestly my thought was this-

"Crap! He is going to take away my bullet! "

Luckily he returned, sternly told me that it was a prohibited item
and put it in a yellow safe and locked it up. I was told I could continue on.

Guess I was lucky nothing more happened.
I suppose I should have been more worried and more careful.
But like I said,it was an innocent mistake.

I'm still saying to myself-

"Crap! He took away my bullet!"

My Love/Hate Relationship with Valentines Day

I have a love/hate relationship with Valentines Day.

On one end I'm too much of a romantic to hate the made up holiday of Valentines.
I know it is commercial. I know tons of money gets spent on ridiculously priced chocolates, fancy dinners, and roses that will die.

But there is something about the idea of homemade Valentine cards, baking favorite treats, cooking a special meal, and surprising someone with flowers they might not have expected that just screams the kind of girlie/lovey stuff
Tamara Christine Kelm enjoys!

So every year I make some cards, bake some treats, and have this silly bit of hope that says- Maybe you'll get flowers.

But here is the "hate" part of my Valentines Day relationship...I have NEVER been in a relationship on Valentines, therefore the only Valentines I have ever enjoyed are friends and family. Not a bad thing, I'm not complaining about that.

But darn it, I have all these Valentines Day ideas just stacking up, waiting to burst open and shower on the "Love of My Life". I just wish he'd show up!

At least I have my 83 year old patient to make me smile. He asked if I was married, and my response was no, nobody has decided to fall for me yet. He said this- "Anyone who lets you go is dumber than dumb!"

Until the love of my life shows up, or stops being dumb (which ever it is) I listen to songs like "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri, make cute homemade cards for my loving parents, decorate a silly kindergarten style Valentine box for work, and go out to eat with great friends and eat delicious desserts!



Christina Perri- A Thousand Years




"True love is a process. True love requires personal action. Love must be continuing to be real. Love takes time. ...Love demands action if it is to be continuing. Love is a process. Love is not a declaration. Love is not an announcement. Love is not passing fancy. Love is not expediency. Love is not convenience. 'If ye love me, keep my commandments and if ye love me feed my sheep' are God-given proclamations that should remind us we can often best show our love through the processes of feeding and keeping." (Elder Marvin J. Ashton)