August 14 is kind of a big deal in my family.  We celebrate two things on this day.  The people who joined together to give us our beginning and the guy who makes us laugh and cry and cheer and scream.  Ok - more laughter and cheering, but let's be honest there are tears and screams as well.

Today marks my parents 53rd wedding anniversary.  As I think about that I am grateful.  Grateful that they found eachother and grateful that they have continued - through good times and bad, in sickness and in health to work through things, laugh, cry, share and all the other things that make a marriage.  I am not naive enough to tell you it's been perfect.  I remember some days that were not, but they were committed to one another and to us and I am thankful that they have shared so much together and with us as well as many others throughout this journey.

I could probably go on some big rambling about what does or does not make marriage work, but I'm not going to.  I haven't done it, so I'm not sure I would qualify as any sort of expert on that particular topic.  I can go on about how even on the days they didn't want to, they did.  They still got up and went to work, cleaned the house, got us to whatever activity we were in, volunteered, attended church, belonged to community organizations, helped with homework, disciplined, came out (in a robe - on main street) looking for us when we were not home on time, took us hunting and golfing and allowed us to make mistakes - not excuses.  Even on the days we threw temper tantrums or told them they didn't love us because we weren't getting our way, they did.  I don't know this for sure, but can imagine that there were days they wanted to throw in the towel, give in or give up and they didn't.  They still haven't and I'm blessed.  We're blessed and they're blessed.  

The guy who then came into our lives 10 years ago today has brought much with him.  He's funny (at least he thinks he is), smart, sassy, annoying, adorable, caring and kind (most of the time).  He's precious in his own right and for him, we're grateful.

It took a long time for me to really understand how much my family means to me and as I write this there are tears in my eyes.  Not because I'm sad - oh sure, there are times when I wish we were all together again, but because I really, truly, deeply love these people I call family.  And because somehow, someway, even on the days we don't want to - we will.  Together we are strong.

#blessedbeyond
​~Kelley

I found this great card in a box of things that I took out of my parents house and was all set to write about that and then another school shooting happened.  I'll save that original thought for another time.

​I'm not going to get into the gun argument because to me, it's just simply more pointing of fingers and not where I feel my efforts are best used.  It's a hot topic and people have very valid and strong opinions on both sides.  

​What I am going to talk about is responsibility.  The responsibility we, as a society, (in my opinion) need to take.  

​When I was a child, I believed I could change the world.  Not me, individually, but me - as an individual.  You see, I thought that if I did one good thing (something as small as a smile) to/for someone, that person could then pass that on and the next and the next.  You know, the domino effect. 

​Somewhere inside of me that little girl still thinks this is possible.  She still believes that she can change the world.  There have been obstacles and road blocks and naysayers and her spirit has been crushed more than once, but it's in that falling down that she has gotten back up and moved forward.  "Charged on" as my dad would say.

​I'm not going to pretend that I'm perfect.  I'm not going to tell you that I have done a great job of doing my part or one good thing every single day.  I'm not going to tell you that I haven't let adversity and naysayers (including those crazy voices in my own head) stop me.  I am human.  I have fallen.  I have allowed the "cannots" to take over the "cans" at times.  What I am going to say though is that I believe I have learned.  I have learned that one can fall and get back up, that negatives can be overcome with positives, that change begins with me.  That I must take responsibility and do my part to make my life and world a place I want to live and sometimes that's hard, but hard is not necessarily bad and it's certainly not impossible unless I allow it to be.

With that - because it's been almost a month since the shootings in Florida and because it's time to stop thinking and start doing, I'll close.  I'll "charge on" and work to do my part to make the world a better place and hope that you will too.

#sharekindness
#blessedbeyond

Take care of you
​~Kelley

The weather people were right this time!  How often does that truly happen?!?!

​Out of the years I've been traveling between my two locations, there have only been 2-3 occurrences where I had to cancel appointments, but today may be one of those days again.  I have not heard the totals yet, but at this point, the roads are closed and so, my Denver office is closed due to the simple fact that I cannot get there and without my hands, well, there is no massage.

​We've become such a mobile society as well as an instant gratification one.  Days like today are reminders of a simpler time when we weren't always able to just snap our fingers and have what we wanted right now.

​Although I'm a little frustrated with myself for not wanting to travel on the ice yesterday, I'm going to take a deep breath, have a cup of coffee and then go enjoy the exercise of shoveling in the cold, but fresh air and just wait and see.  

​If you are someone who had an appointment scheduled today, I will stay in touch with you and keep you posted regarding holding or rescheduling appointments.  For now, let's just be thankful for the moisture and our safety.

Stay warm friends.......

#blessedbeyond
​~Kelley

It's official.  2018 is here and has begun.  

We all have the same 24 hours in a day.  The very same amount.  It's what we do with it that counts.  This has been around for a while, but I believe is worth another view....

THE BANK ACCOUNT OF LIFE
Imagine there is a bank that credits your account 
Each morning with $86,400. 
It carries over no balance from day to day. 
Every “evening” deletes whatever part of the
Balance you failed to use during the day. 
What would you do? 
Draw out every cent, of course !!!
Each of us has such a “bank” 
It’s name is TIME. 
Every morning, 
It credits you with 86,400 seconds. 
Every night it writes off, as lost, 
Whatever of this you have failed to 
Invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance, 
It allows no overdraft. 
Each day it opens a new account for you. 
Each night it burns the remains of the day. 
If you fail to use the day’s deposits, 
The loss is yours
There is no going back. 
There is no drawing against the “tomorrow.” 
You must live in the present
on today’s deposits. 
Invest it so as to get
from it the utmost in
health, happiness, 
and success! 
The clock is running. 
Make the most of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR …
  ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH …
   ask a mother who gave birth
   to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK …
   ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. 
To realize the value of ONE HOUR …
   ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. 
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE …
   ask the person who missed the train. 
To realize the value of ONE SECOND … 
   ask the person who just avoided an accident. 
To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND …
   ask the person who won a silver medal
   in the Olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have! 
And treasure it more because you
Shared it with someone special, 
Special enough to spend your time. 
And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history. 
Tomorrow is mystery. 
Today is a gift. 
That’s why it’s called 
… The Present!! 
(author unknown)

I hope you will make the most of each minute of every day this year and do a little self care along the way.

To health and happiness
#blessedbeyond
~Kelley

Perhaps it seems obvious, but I didn't know or at least didn't remember until this morning.  You see, I had left my makeup in the car last night - not really intentionally, but it was so cold outside all I could think about was getting inside and warming up.  Alas, my makeup bag remained in the back seat.  When I got it out this morning to put on, I discovered that my mascara brush was frozen.  It didn't take long to thaw out or to be able to put on, but found it curious.

It seems to me that there are many moments in my life when I have been similar to the tube of mascara - simply frozen.  The question is - how long did I remain in that state?

I believe there have been instances when I was frozen only momentarily, but other cases where I am still frozen.  The question then becomes, why?

Why would one choose to stay in the same state or circumstance?  Quite simply, the answer is often something like fear.  It's a four letter word that holds so much power and yet, I often wonder why or how.  Why not, just let go?  Why not, just do it?  Why remain a prisoner?

My answer today???  My answer today is because it's going to require change.  Honestly, the change may not even be great, but there will have to be change and until the fear of remaining the same is greater than the fear of change - nothing happens.  As I re-read that sentence it seems quite simple, but the truth is, fear can be paralyzing.  I have spent - as I'm sure others have, hours contemplating, dreaming, thinking about the what if's in life.  What if we took that leap?  Jumped off the cliff?  Let it happen?  What is the absolute worst thing that would happen?  Would my current circumstances or situation be all that different?  I know I can exist, survive, be ok with how things are now, so.........perhaps it's time for the leap of faith?

Are you ready for a change?

#blessedbeyond
~Kelley

Time, that is.....

In two days November will be gone, December will be here and 2018 will be literally around the corner.  It always seems a bit crazy to me that as a child, the days couldn't pass quickly enough and as an adult, there are times I just want it to slow down - hold on to the moment and, I don't know, never let it end?  Reading that sentence sounds a little silly, but there are moments that I want to capture every single detail of and etch them into my memory bank so as to never let them go.  

Alas, time marches on.  What we do with that time is the important thing, in my opinion.  

Just a thought I had today and wanted to share.  How do you spend your time?

#blessedbeyond
Kelley

PS - I did win the recipe contest with a Salted Caramel Apple and Brie Crepe - in case you were wondering ;-)

Are you a mad scientist?  An individual who mixes anything you can?  An individual who tries it many different ways?

Science was one of my most difficult subjects all through school - no matter what variety, however, experimenting in the kitchen has never been that difficult.  I have (at least as I've aged) enjoyed trying new recipes, swapped out ingredients to see if it would work or how the taste and/or texture would change.  I'm still not able to explain the ology's in life (sorry Mr. K and Mr. O and many others), but have decided that's ok.  I do know that it works to use applesauce or bananas in place of eggs in some things and honey as sugar and well, there are other things too.

My latest experimentation project has become breakfast.  Now, it's not because I am one of those dutiful people who gets up each morning, works out, makes a healthy and nutritious breakfast and goes on about my day.  No.  I'm not that person, but there's a little contest and I can be THAT person.  Yes, my competitive edge does come out occasionally.

As many of you know, I live in Denver, CO and St. Francis, KS - alternating weeks.  One of the bed and breakfasts in St. Francis is holding a little contest.  Although I've never stayed at the b and b, I have been inside and have been to events which have included some of Kate's delectables.  Needless to say, the competitor in me is not going to enter and show up with bacon or sausage, eggs and toast.  Oh, no, I have to do something different.  Hence, the experimentation.

The deadline is this upcoming, quickly approaching Saturday and I have not yet mastered the plate, but have not given up hope - you know that crazy little thing that whispers in your ear - go ahead - try one more time.  I'm still trying.

As I sip my coffee and write to you, I have parts of one of my breakfast favorites - with a twist - in the oven.  If it looks as amazing on the plate as it does in my head and is equally as delicious - it will be the winner!  If not, we'll move on to the next one.  Yes, I've had ones that haven't worked as I thought they should and yes, I'm trying to keep in mind, a variety of diets in order to have something that will be different, but the masses may enjoy as well.

Back to the stove, oven, cutting board and spices I go.  Stay tuned...I'll let you know my decision and "hope"fully my entry!

"To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world"
Kelley

#blessedbeyond has been a theme for me over the last couple of years - for many reasons, but as I prepare for the day today, I am reminded once again, how truly #blessedbeyond I am. For that and so much more - I am grateful.

And I just wanted to let you know. Thank you for being part of my #blessedbeyond journey.

Love, peace and happiness
~Kelley

I wear these two necklaces every day.  One reminds me of where I've been and the other keeps me focused on what's important to me - what I'm passionate about. It seems kind of silly as I'm writing this and yet, I know the meaning behind them and appreciate and value that meaning.

The cross is the reminder of where I've been.  I wouldn't consider myself a religious person, but a spiritual one.  I do believe there's something out in the world bigger than me.  It's sort of a guiding force.  Something that helps me maintain my sanity when I feel it's almost gone.  Something that gives me strength when I feel that I am not going to make it or can't go on.  Something that reminds me I'm on a path and although there is not crystal ball to tell me exactly how things will go or work out - they will work out.

I bought that cross necklace when a friend of mine had been sober for six months.  I felt it was a milestone and purchased one for him and got one for myself (no, they don't match - that's a little too cheesy for my taste).  We had both grown, changed, learned a lot about ourselves, separately and together.  I didn't know at the time how important this little piece would become as I've had many days when all I need is to just touch that and almost instantly, I'm reminded - "you've made it through much and you'll make it through this too."

The other one is called a "freedom" necklace and I purchased it through Trades of Hope which is a company built by women with a dream of creating job opportunities around the world to end poverty.  Their dream was to help people to change their own circumstances in a dignified and lasting way.  They want every mother and father to be able to break the cycle of poverty - for themselves and for their children.  This particular necklace is made by women in the US who are working their way out of sex trafficking. 

• "Within the United States, there are thousands of women trafficked into the sex industry. Some of these women are US residents and some come from countries far away. They get promised jobs as actresses and dancers, only to find out that they are trapped in a vicious cycle of sexual abuse. This group is changing the cycle and helping women find their freedom again! They facilitate restoration, healing, and changing lives. This program teaches these women life skills and gives them an opportunity to create beautiful products! They are dedicated to letting these women know that they are beautiful and cherished. These beautiful ladies no longer have to feel the bonds of the sex industry, but can experience the redemptive power of forgiveness and love through this ministry!"

​You can purchase one too if you're interested by clicking here as I'm hosting a Celebration of Hope from now through the end of February and there's an amazing gift with purchase (see pic below)

The Freedom necklace reminds me of my passion for helping others, empowering them to be all they can be and remember that we all have a place in this world, a journey to take.  It helps me to keep things in perspective, remember that I, too, have a purpose and although there may be days that I'm not sure what direction to take, I just need to take a breath and remember my "why" in this world.  That which is important to me and keeps me going and growing to be the individual I want to be.

Don't lose sight of what's important to you......

​Kelley