Kelly Caines, DPT

What an incredibly special day :D

It was such a great honor to share my achievement with dear family and friends!! I am deeply grateful for each and every person that contributed to my completion of this degree and season of my life!

These people are the reason I completed the program!! I truly believe no great feat is accomplished alone.

Don't worry my Cousin Jon and favorite MOH were there too!! Sara rushed from work, that was one of my most favorite hugs of all time!!

There are also several peeps that are not pictured that deserve my great thanks!! If you have known me for any portion of the past 3 years. You helped me earn this degree!! You loved, comforted, and supported while I acted like a complete crazy person :)

And extra special thank you to Aunt Cindy for taking these AMAZING photos!!

Love,

Kelly

Christmas!!

Sittin here with my hot chocolate and peppermint bark with Celine Dion singing "Oh Holy Night". Just reflecting on family and friends and how precious they are to my heart. Thinking about wonderful memories, memories that would not have been possible if not for one spectacular Holy night.

Matthew 1:23

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us)

Lord, thank you for continuing to dwell among us through your Holy Spirit. May we bless your name in all that we do.

Some of my favorite Christmas Memories :D

Christmas 2003: Snow in Oregon!! My mom and brother got into a SERIOUS snowball fight. Kim showed NO MERCY, hahaha

EPIC hallway race to the presents of 2006!! An annul tradition in the Case household.

First Christmas with Erik!!

My last Christmas living at home. We wanted to give Trav a special wake up :)

Christmas 2010 our first married Christmas in our own home!! The absolute best!!

Showing Up!!

Welp!! I think the blog (blogger) as hit an all-time low for lack of posting. But whatever, I blog when I feel like it. My promise to myself is this would not become ONE MORE obligation.

Today, has been a sweet day! God speaks to me in the most random, wonderful ways that I question will hold meaning for anyone else, but its just so exciting to me that I have to share :)

As I was finishing up my Jillian Michael's workout (that I have neglected for far too long) in my family room, sweaty, breathing as though I had ran a marathon, heart pounding in my ears, Jillian said something I SO NEEDED to hear. Forgive me, the quote will not be exact, due to lack of oxygen and my body/ mind going into shock because I have gotten way to used to being lazy.

So anyways, I am stretching and Jillian says, So many people dont show up in their own lives. They dont try because they are afraid of failing. And this made me think of all the times I have not even tried because I am afraid it wont be perfect. How often I dont "show up" in my own life, just watching life and only jumping in when it feels safe. This fear of failing results in countless missed opportunities and many unfulfilling days. Each day my prayer is to mindfully live in the present. To show up with my best effort. To invest in my mind, body, and soul with purpose and passion.

For the month of December I am going to challenge myself to daily list the ways I "showed up" in my life. Because I know small daily decisions lead to big change. I am going to list even the small things, like flossing my teeth. Because its about an attitude shift one that says I care about my mind, body, and soul and therefore I will care for my mind, body and soul.