A Richmond chapter begins

Disclaimer: There is a lot of talk about God in this post.  We believe we can ONLY give the credit to Him! Once you read this, you will see why. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to speak to us privately about them.  Otherwise, enjoy the story, and if you feel inspired, praise with us! :)

H: Wednesday we found out that moving into the house was no longer an option, without any real concrete explanation.  Disappointed and frustrated didn't even begin to scratch the surface as to how we felt.  I wrote in my journal for a long time, pouring out my frustrations and anger to God.  Yes, I was angry.  I don't like being angry, and I even apologized.  There was no holding anything back.  At one point I wrote, "I've learned in the journey of becoming a follower of Jesus is that we still have an obligation to show Your love, even if we don't feel like it."  Quite frankly, I didn't feel like it.  We had spent the last two months praying, putting our faith in people following through, only to be left empty-handed and disappointed.  I went to bed unhappy that night, utterly defeated and spent.  I'm surprised I got any sleep at all.

Kelly was due to come home from Ohio Thursday, so I shared with our house church members that we would not be there, so we could spend the evening catching up, relaxing, and discussing our next steps.  But what I didn't mention was that Thursday morning, I heard that still small voice, something, in my gut say, "You shouldn't go to church tonight."  I couldn't explain it.  (That was the first God moment, although I didn't know it at the time)

We went out for Chinese and we'd barely been home five minutes when Kelly got a Facebook message from a co-worker of hers, saying she had spoken to somebody about a duplex available in Richmond (God moment #2). On the phone, she said that a couple was going to look at it the next day, and asked if we could look at it that evening.  We dropped everything and drove up there.  Yes, it was that split-second of a decision! We had no trouble finding the apartment and were immediately taken to the location and the quietness of the neighborhood, despite it being right off the interstate.  Kelly's co-worker arrived a few minutes later and we asked how she knew the landlord.  This was her response (another God moment):

"Oh, I just talked to her on the phone just now.  I've never met her before.  I was just driving through here and I saw the sign out front, and I thought 'This is for Kelly. I want her to be in a safe neighborhood.'"

We were like ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME.

Jennifer, the landlord, arrived a few minutes later.  In addition to her infectious personality, she mentioned that a police officer lives down the street and that her niece works at the preschool nearby (Remember the talk about a safe neighborhood?) We helped ourselves to looking around, and, admittedly, it is a downgrade in terms of size and space, but we've learned over the last year that we've had too much space.  The rent is more than $100 LESS than what we're paying now, and the place was near immaculate, there was new carpet, a small patio outside, plenty of parking, a washer and dryer hooked up (!!!), and, most importantly, Yoda and Wiley are welcome! :) Needless to say, it was not a difficult decision.  By the end of the night, a key was given to us and we had signed the lease!

The drive home was a combination of a daze and utter exuberance. God had shown up! Big time.  If we had gone to church, we would have missed the Facebook message and, ultimately, the phone call, the apartment would have been shown tonight and probably taken, and we would still be stuck waiting until the end of next month.  But now, there is no more waiting, and we have a cute new duplex in Richmond waiting for us.  All thanks to God!

K: While reading this, I thought of Holly. Gave up a UK, full-time benefited job for what she does now for the sake of being happier and less stressed out. I also think about getting my first job; that moment and time when I was just ready to give up was when I got the magic phone call. That's what happened here last night; God gave us what we needed, not what we wanted. I remember so many times praying "God just get us this house. Just get us this house." I'm not going to say it was as if my prayers were falling on deaf ears, because I don't believe that. Rather I just felt that this house we were seeking so hard for was just not going to happen. I always had this small notion in the back of my head that it was just going to not work out. Perhaps that was God's way of saying that He had something better for us. Because let's face it, the last thing we actually needed was MORE space and more money to be given for rent.

I truly believe that God talks and shows us what we need in a lot of mysterious yet awesome ways. I remember walking into that duplex and was like "this is it." That "aha!" moment. I don't believe in coincidence. I think coincidence is just one of the many ways God speaks to us. Though I can't hold claim to actually hearing His voice, I can hold to the fact that His fingerprints were ALL OVER THIS. There's really nothing more I need to add to this. It's all been said. We are excited to begin this new adventure and see where else He will take us. My ending is this; if you're waiting for something and feel like throwing in the towel, that's usually when a corner will turn. Sometimes it's not a good corner, but in our experience it usually is. Keep the faith, and remember that God is good.

Three cheers for H and K!!

Holly: Ach!! That magical all-elusive date has come and gone again!  How time just seems to march right on by.

Yesterday was August 20th, THE THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OUR BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D YAAAAHHHOOOOOOYAAAAAAYYY!!!

I still can't believe we're chuggin' along, and that we are.  They say "what a difference a year can make" and what a year it has been!  It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating 2 years of this blogosphere of wonder and now here we are again, 3 years strong.  3 years of not running out of stuff to talk about.  Imagine that! So much has happened this year and we still have so much more to look forward to!

I think we're going to keep at it.  In fact, there is no "I think"; we ARE going to keep at it.  Thank you all, once again, for chuggin' along with us.  Here's to many more years!

Kelly: Trying to type this with a kitty on my lap (a Yoda kitty to be more specific) will be most interesting. Like I say every year when this comes up, I never thought it would make it another year. This has been the first full year of our lives we are both working "full time" and neither one of us are in school. It's been fun and awesome and by far the most crazy! Hard to believe how fast the time seems to go, and it feels like this year went by the fastest. But yeah. 3 years. This blog idea was born after the two of us came home from our respective abroad endeavors and decided this would be not only fun for us but a bonding experience too. We have enjoyed coming back to this blog, even though we haven't been able to post as much in a while, but still. This isn't just for us, but all of our readers too. We want this to be a safe place to read our thoughts and to explore your own thoughts on the topic at hand. We don't do this to get it out there and see how many people will follow it in one day, no.

That's one of the great things about this blog and the fact we write it together; there's always something to talk about! Often I see stuff on the news or hear something on the radio and still after all this time tell myself "that would be good to blog about." And we do this too with conversations we have. So there you have it. Three years! Here's to hoping we'll have a four year post next year!

August 20, 2011- date of blog launch

August 20, 2012- one year after blog launch

August 21, 2013- two years and one day after blog launch

Today! August 21, 2014- three years and one day after blog launch.  With Yoda :)

Deep breath: The next chapter

Holly: It's the deep breath before the plunge. -Gandalf, "Return of the King"

It's very fitting for me that the first episode of this newest season of Doctor Who is titled "Deep Breath." This, coupled with Gandalf's words and the words of those who have always had my back and will continue to do so, resonated with me as I hung up the phone this morning.

Today, another chapter in my life story began being written.

This morning I was offered an Americorps VISTA position, in conjunction with Berea College and an organization called Grow Appalachia.  I interviewed for this position on Tuesday, after taking the day off from work so I could gain my bearings and dwell on just what I could be getting myself into.  And today, I suppose that the Grow Appalachia team decided I can cut it.  And I know I can.  

I've had over a week to think about all of this, from the time I initially applied for the position until Tuesday, and even from after my interview on Tuesday until today.  If you know me, you know I've tried to get my foot in the door at the college for quite some time now, but every opportunity I applied for never even got an interview, just a solid rejection after months of waiting.  It was very frustrating, because I believed that God was calling me there.  But this opportunity was different.  Within an hour after submitting my application materials I was called for an interview (I'm really not exaggerating on that, either).  I had my interview on Tuesday and was told I would hear something within a week or two, the following Monday at the earliest; I got the offer today.  I know it doesn't make sense, but it just feels....right.  It's not going to come without some sacrifices, though; as a VISTA I'll be making roughly half of what I make now as a lab coordinator.  In addition to that, it's a 12-month commitment, meaning afterwards, there could be another open door with the organization, something at the college, etc...or I could be back at square one.  

But that's something I've learned while walking with God and living in this world we live in: You can't plan ahead if you're trying to follow God's will.  As a Christ-follower, I believe that God is sovereign, and He calls us to do various things, at any time, without warning, because He is God and He is in control.  As a Christ-follower, I do not live for myself; I live for God.  Where God goes, I follow in obedience and TRUST that He will provide for our needs.  Because He already has. And I'll let Kelly share that bit with you all.  

So that's where I am right now.  These next few weeks are going to be a bit of a whirlwind as I transition out of UK and all the comforts thereto and into the trenches of Americorps and service and really living like the least of these.  

Kelly: My thoughts will continue...after I eat dinner. 

Anyway, now that I'm finished, I will continue. I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive at first, considering this will result in us having a drastic cut in our bank of income. And our Europe trip is now postponed until next fall, but these are sacrifices we were both willing to make. But to be fair, AmeriCorps is a really excellent organization, as is PeaceCorps, as a very dear friend is about 6 months into a 2 year commitment in Thailand. But as we were embarking on our almost daily evening walk, I found myself thinking about my last summer/year in college. I spent my last summer as a student working minimum wage as a facilities assistant...ok...I was a janitor, but hey, it was a good job. In my opinion its something everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. ANYWAY, but in my last year of school, I was working 15 hours a week making $5.65 an hour, and most of the time due to classes and clinicals, I wasn't even getting in 15 hours. I did the math, so that's...roughly $339 a month. And we were living off campus and had to pay rent, utilities, my own cell phone and the sort. Holly had just finished her first job at UK in November and soon after started working in Old Navy; that was her only job from December until I graduated. Then she got another job as a temp in UK's Department of Pathology. Between those two jobs, she was only making about $500 a month. Sometimes more if she picked up extra at Old Navy. Then, when I graduated, I didn't even have a job until August. So from the middle of May to the beginning of August, we were living only on Holly's earnings. And while I was in school, the two of us were living on less than $1000 a month. We were scared, to be honest. We struggled many times to make ends meet, but we got by. Thanks be to God I had food stamps. We prayed that God would meet our needs and bless us with what we had. And He did. Today He still continues to do so. 

So why am I telling you readers all of this? Number one, it's reality. It was reality for us for a long time. But it was possible; God brought us through that time. Number two, God is faithful! He is gracious to those who pursue His best interests. Holly wanted to find something in her field at the time, and I was following God's calling by finishing nursing school. However, that faithfulness doesn't come without a price; we had to learn that His answers come in His time, not ours. And even when we couldn't see the light, God was standing right there, even if He was just holding a flashlight. So that's that. Things will be tight, yes, but I remember God's promises and the fact that He brought us through that and so much more! We will make it work, rest assured, but we'll be ok. I prayed this morning that if this is meant to be, then it will be. God will make a way. Thanks to YOU ALL for being so supportive of us, and please continue your support. We will covet your prayers as this period will bring so much excitement but new challenges as well. 

30 Days of Sherlock: Free for all #5

Kelly: In the original 30 day prompt we've been following, today's topic is what our favorite thing about Sherlock is. However, using my sound judgment, I thought that would be nice to wrap up the 30 day challenge with that. So today's prompt is actually tomorrow's, which is yet ANOTHER free for all!!! Before what I decide what I want to talk about/post a silly picture of, I just want to say that I have really enjoyed doing this 30 day challenge. It's been a bit random figuring out when to post our entries, with sis working and me orientating to my new job, but we wouldn't have it any other way. So fear not; we are still writing, but sometimes it's taken us a bit longer to get things actually posted. Ok...now what to talk about?

I read something on Facebook that there's going to be a new villain for the 3rd season. Oooh. Don't ask me to remember his name, because I can't, but yeah. Pretty exciting. Also, Mark Gatiss posted on his Twitter account a few days ago that last week they finished the read through but that today they're starting shooting on the last episode of the new season TODAY! Which means that in UK time they're probably already almost done/done for the day. According to the commentaries on the 1st season DVD set it takes about 4 weeks to shoot each episode. So we'll have a new season finale in our midst by the end of next month it seems. Heck, I'm just really interested in the fact that in a few months we'll see how Sherlock survived his death. I have a few theories, which for the time being I will keep to myself. I doubt any of them are right, but a girl can speculate, right? And Pandora just yelled at me because I'm not being attentive to them. Oops. Anyway, I feel like I'm just babbling nonsense now, but please do forgive me. I'm a bit brain dead from job orientating. All right all right ALL RIGHT. Here's another silly meaningless picture. Have at it.

What I would not do to meet these fine gents. 

Holly: So I just looked up this new bad dude on Facebook.  He goes by Charles August Magnussen and seriously...there's a pic on Facebook and he is creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy lookin'.  Hopefully he'll be on the same level as Moriarty, because he was brilliant.  Utterly sinister and psychotic, but brilliant.

Anyway, I too have also enjoyed this writing challenge.  Sometimes we like things and we really don't know why we do.  This has kind of helped me to see that.  More on this....tomorrow! :)

And now, for some funny-bone tickling humor, please enjoy the picture below.  I about died laughing.

A Generalized Life Update

Holly: A lot of things have changed for us in a short amount of time.  So here's what's going on.

We have been at our new apartment for about four weeks now.  While it still has its messy places, its boxes of stuff with nowhere to go, and a washer that still needs to be hooked up (any takers?????), we are feeling very at home and happy.  This morning we finally had to turn on the AC after putting it off for a while now...Berea Municipal is scary.....more on that later.  Wiley is contently snoozing on a student hand-me-down armchair and Yoda is....well...somewhere around here, probably getting into some kind of mischief.

A week ago I started a second job, back at University of Kentucky.  It's only part time, and it's only through the summer.  Essentially I play mail clerk and get slides for the pathology department.  It's pretty boring, actually, and the commute is pretty wretched, and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it, but the ladies I work with are quite pleasant, so that helps.  I have applied for a position in the biology department there and my application has gone on to the hiring officials, so we will see about that; I'd basically be helping to run UK's biology labs, and it would be full time and NOT temporary.  We shall see.  Just praying that God will show me where to go and what to do.

I still work Old Navy, but on the weekends now.  Even though my UK job is only 3 hours a day, it's a TON of driving in Lexington, and my poor car just doesn't get the gas mileage it used to.  I'm coming up on six months at Old Navy.  Considering earlier posts I ranted and raved about quitting...well, it's just amazing what can happen and how God can use you.  I really love working there.  I've become friends with some pretty awesome people there too.

Life is pretty good, peeps.  Pretty darn good.  :)

Kelly: I've been out of college for almost four weeks now...WOW!!! That is crazy for me, and it still hits me at random at times. Like...whoa, I'm not a college kid anymore. But I've got some great news to share as well! Earlier this month, I scheduled to take the boards (NCLEX). I currently hold a provisional RN license, which means that I can still work, but I have to be supervised by an RN or ARNP until I pass the boards and become an RN. Well, I took the boards yesterday! It was intense and it took me over 2 and a half hours to answer 202 questions! I got my results this morning and I PASSED! I'm now a Registered Nurse, so maybe I'll just start signing my name Kelly Korb, RN, BSN! ^_^

BUT...I still don't have a job yet! :( There haven't been any new openings in a few places, so for now I'm on a standstill. I plan on making some phone calls today to some jobs I applied back in March, so we'll see! Several applications have been referred rather quickly, so that's good news! It's just a matter of time I suppose, but I'm looking and applying to at least one job every day. If not applying I look every day! I'm just praying that God will open something up for me. Maybe He just wanted me to pass the boards first. :)

Two will become three....and some crazy dives!

Holly: Well...it's the end of July, going into August, and it's an even numbered 4 year period, and you know what that means??

SUMMER LYMPICS!

Yep...from London this year (tears!!!!!! considering I was there this time last year...).  Anyway.  Enough of that.  The three of us (and two very uninterested felines) from humble Apartment #1 are pouring over the diving men's finals right now.  Wow!  Such poise.  And they're SO together!  It's practically perfection, flawless.  How do they do that?  And two guys from Mexico just did a 4 1/2 inverted somersault...so much spinning...perfect spinning!  Crazy!  Perfect!  But we always cringe when they jump off because they're so close to the board and I don't want to see lovely toned divers go splat!  We watched the Opening Ceremony when it came on, but I'm sad to report that we missed James Bond/the Queen parachute in.  But we did catch the bajillion-foot Voldemort and the crazy era music dancing montage.  And the doctors and nurses.  A bit odd, but still well done if I do say so myself.  Hopefully this evening on the beach volleyball front, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh will pull another win....man, that stuff is just as exciting as Sherlock!

Now, onto the second big piece of news that's sweeping the nation...literally!  I'm sure many of you are familiar with the Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit series.  If you're not, I suggest you claw yourself out of that rock you're hiding under and remedy that as soon as possible.  Seriously, I have just recently seen the light and I have no clue why I waited so long.

ANYWAY....

As of today, the illustrious Peter Jackson (if you don't know who that is....oh geez, just look it up) announced today that the originally slated two part movie series of "The Hobbit" will now become a THREE part movie series!  Of course, I have some.....concerns.....with this:  First off, the book is only 271 pages.  Now, there is plenty of material for two movies, but even with some series drawing out, editing, tweaking, etc...it will be interesting to see such short of a book into 3 parts.  I mean, the LoTR series itself is WAY over 1000 pages, and each of those movies is well over 3 hours.  So that makes sense.

My second concern is that of the actors.  Kelly and I are now hopelessly "Sherlocked", and, of course, the illustrious actor playing the hobbit protagonist Bilbo Baggins is also the charming Dr. Watson in Sherlock.  I'm just wondering how that will work in terms of filming and production.  See, Sherlock's seasons are only 3 episodes, but they're 90 minutes.  Season 2 finished in January of this year, and Season 3 starts in January 2013.  The Hobbit (part 1) is being released at the end of this year, December 2013 next year, and now with part 3, theoretically summer 2014.  How will this work??????????????????

Until then, I shall wait anxiously for The Hobbit.  And Smaug.  Who is being voiced by the smooth-as-silk Benedict Cumberbatch (who is also Sherlock).  Can you say SPAAAZZ??? &^%@(*&P_)_)(#$(*&^@#^%$^&

Kelly: As I posted on my Twitter earlier, I stated that I was going to be cautiously optimistic about the fact that a 2-part movie is now going to be turned into 3. Though my concerns have nothing to do about characters, plot holes or material. The way I see it is simple; MONEY. Think for a sec; the LOTR trilogy pulled in over $2 BILLION. No...not million. OVER 2 BILLION DOLLARS. So really it seems like a no-brainer; die-hards will watch and wait for a 3rd movie. They'll wait and pay to see the three movies. Shoot, I'll wait and pay my dues to see the three movies as a recent Ringer. Like Holly, I too am concerned about the overlapping in Sherlock and this third Hobbit film. Again...cautiously optimistic.

And US just won a bronze in diving! TEAM USA!!! For what it's worth though the Chinese team were really good (they won the gold). Mexico completed the most difficult dive and they walked away with the silver. Let's see what is coming up next...YES. Beach volleyball! May-Treanor and Walsh are coming up next and taking on Czech Republic. We've been waiting patiently since Friday, so we are getting very excited. I really have nothing else to add so I am going to post this humorous picture that a fellow Sherlock fan of ours linked to me and Holly via Facebook. Enjoy the Olympics and don't shoot walls if you're bored.

Holly and I have friends. Sherlock doesn't. Except Watson. 

Movin' on up...to a deluxe apartment in the SKY-YY-YYYY!!!!!!!

Holly: Ok..."deluxe" might be a bit of an exaggeration! But if you can't figure it out from the title, then I'll just share it now:

Kelly and I have a place to live now!!! w00000t!

It's nothing spectacular...well, ok, again, sort of a lie...the current tenant is a current student who happens to be graduating with yours truly and, in essence, she's leaving us the majority of the furniture and STUFF and the timing could not have been more perfect!!! Anyway....

Nothing spectacular, I mean...it's not huge or anything, but it's perfect for us and it meets our basic needs.  It's clean, it's not far from campus, it's in a pretty quiet spot, it has a (teeny tiny :]) porch, two floors, and, from what we know, a reasonable, nice, not-psycho landlady.  And it will do just fine for our sweet Yoda as well; Yoda is our heartbreakingly sweet, cute, and petite black-and-white feline who currently resides with my Genetics professor in her office with three other kitties, a fish, and a guinea pig.  Post May 6th festivities, though, and she's as good as ours!  Tomorrow, if I can sneak out of my class for a few minutes, I will be calling this (from what we know) reasonable, nice, not-psycho landlady just to sort of introduce ourselves and ask a few more questions.  But yeah...it's a done deal. 

Now if I could just get a job..............

Kelly: Yesterday, sis and I also had the lovely opportunity to help a friend find a roof over her head. She's moving to the big city of Lexington to pursue her Master's in Sociology (dear Lord I hope I didn't butcher that). We all had a blast locating, rating and viewing, minus the sketchy guy and the three-legged dog. Yeah. Super sketch. ANYWAY, it gave us good findings too. In a year from now I will be almost done with my degree and will be most likely seeking employment in the city; hey, it's better money and oodles more opportunities. I will MAKE the 45 minute drive once a week to church!!!!!!

Just looking and seeking got us all excited to be on our own! Having a place to call our own is something we all have longed for just for the sole experience! So yeah! Starting May 4 (hopefully), sis and I will be starting to move some of our stuff in. Our goal is to have all of our stuff in by May 12 since summer classes start on the 14th. Unpacked or not, well that's a different story.

So, it's 12:30 on a Friday afternoon...

Holly: So........................................

Hi everyone! *waves*  How's everyone doing? I'm usually still eating lunch right now, but sis and I ate early today and now I'm just killing time before my dreadfully boring Spanish class.  Listening to "I Want to Break Free" by Queen (only because I had NO IDEA that this great song is by Queen).  My computer is currently operating on no battery..."life support", as Kelly put.  Kelly's about to leave for her psych nursing class; she has an exam so send happy thoughts to her!!!!!!!

Shout-out to one of our lovely readers/followers: glad you are having a superb time in London! Wish we could be there too! :)

Oh, Berea students got paid today! Yay for income!

Um...yep.  That's it.  Have  a wonderful day filled with hugs! <3

UPDATE: Dreadfully boring Spanish class got cancelled and got attacked by my advisor's sweet chocolate lab.  Life is good.  

UPDATE AGAIN: Sorry, but this one's huge: Just checked my email, and the Berea College Board of Trustees has elected Berea's ninth president! A big day for Berea College indeed! So happy and excited!