Things we learned in April

New friends: We've had the privilege of making one! It's never too old for anyone, isn't it? Over this past month we've done a few things together, and it was just a time in our lives where we felt God calling us to reach out to this particular person. It's been terrific!

Let's get better: We're both pretty healthy and have been for all our lives, but this month we decided to see for ourselves- that is, make actual, adult doctor's appointments and be more proactive with our health. I (Holly) go tomorrow, even though I'm currently battling cold-like symptoms, and Kelly went earlier in April and, aside from some joint issues, received a clean bill of health :)

Honest conversations and realizations: Sometimes you have to have them, be it for setting the record straight or coming to that conclusion that you just have to let go. It's one of the many ways we grow as humans.

Cars are expensive: Both of us had some unforeseen car issues arise this month that left us needing to pinch pennies for a few days. Be prepared!

Mental illness is real: Our sweet, dear friend bravely shared her struggles with depression in a candid, honest way, because so often these types of conversations are brushed aside. A sobering reminder to always, ALWAYS be kind and considerate to others, because we never really do know what the other is going through. Treat others with compassion, and be grateful for what you have.

Birthdays can still be fun: For the first time since either of us can remember, we rang in 26 out of school, out of home, and actually...out of Kentucky! We spent our birthday weekend in Chicago, where we nearly froze to death, ate way too much, and just cherished the moments we got to spend both together and with Justin.

Those that we hold in our hearts never truly leave us: Our beloved Grandpa passed away on our birthday (April 9) three years ago this year. It's almost every day that something or someone reminds us of him.

Happy b-day from Chicago! 

On being 24

Holly: 23 was a rough year for us.  I found myself, at 23, in various up and down stages of my life: I watched my sister graduate from Berea, all the while celebrating my first (whole) year of being a Berea alum and not a college student.  We moved again, and don't see ourselves moving for a long time.  I started my first full-time job.  We allowed an alien time traveler from Gallifrey to enter our lives and take us to places we'd never imagine.  And then there were the downs: a friendship coming to an end, some difficult family circumstances that I'd rather not mention (God knows and things are great now, but will never be the same), working multiple jobs and struggling very much so financially, to the point of almost moving back home, and losing Grandpa.

I woke up at my usual time this morning, but with a bit more pep in my step, so to speak, as I am always grateful for my birthday.  It's suffice to say that birthdays are usually a lot less exciting when you still have to go to work, but I digress.  This year, I'm 24.  24 is my favorite number.  And while I'm another year older and I celebrate that and thank God for that, the day didn't go without its share of sadness.  Today also marks the one year anniversary of Grandpa passing away.  One of the things that inspired me the most about my grandpa was his faith; Jesus was at the center of his life and he lived, breathed, spoke that reality every day of his life, right until the end.  I was driving on the interstate, praying and thanking God for my grandpa, listening to K-LOVE and an acoustic version of "I Can Only Imagine" came on.  Knowing that my grandpa was with Jesus and his family, living out what I can only dream of (being with Jesus eternally), I started crying and wasn't sure I would stop.  It was a mixed moment: I miss my grandpa more than words can express, but I rejoice that he is with the One whom he loved more than anything.

24.  Another year older, and the first year without my grandpa.  I'm looking forward to being 24, and I'm open to new possibilities and opportunities.  I'm praying for clarity; God has a plan, and He knows my heart and my desires.  I'm not where I want to be, but I'm not where I used to be; God has brought me through so much and I find myself craving more time spent with Him.  I pray that God will open doors and strengthen my faith as I start my 24th year.  I truly believe the best is yet to come.

Kelly: I don't look it, but some days I do feel myself getting older. Woke up this morning with a few aches, but I woke up. God has been very good to me. This past year of being 23 years old was without a doubt one of the hardest years of my life. Some very good things happened though; I finished nursing school, graduated, moved again, took/passed the boards, got hooked on Doctor Who and started my job that I am currently holding. However, I also endured my fair share of hard times; losing my Grandpa (on this day of all days), said goodbye to an almost 10-year friendship, saw my family be (almost) ripped apart, struggled with a lot of anger and frustration and at one point or another thought about throwing my potential career away. 23 was a very difficult time, but out of those difficulties God really taught me a lot about not only His grace but showed me how much through Him I could handle. And let me tell you, I can handle a lot now. He made me a stronger, better and happier person because I got to a point where I let things fall into His time. If it wasn't for His time I'd still be holding onto a toxic friendship and a lot of other things. I'd be miserable. But today, as I sit here and write this, I am far from it.

I'm not sure what being 24 will hold, but I know God has a plan and that it will be good. And the year 2014 in of itself is already promising to be a good and interesting year. I've found myself starting to think about things I normally didn't have the time to think about while I was in school. I know it's a rubbish excuse, but being out of school really does free up so much of your time. You think about things you don't normally, you do things you used to do but couldn't (I've been READING so much more!) and you get to see and enjoy yourself more. Seriously. But one thing I've been finding myself thinking about is the idea of relationships. I'm at that point I believe in my life that God is planting a seed that could potentially blossom into either a really great friendship or something much more beautiful than that. Either way, I'm very happy. And this person knows that I'm happy he's in my life....and no I don't feel the need to constantly broadcast it all over every social media site every single day. But our relationship...is a very unique one. God is up to something, but I'm just not sure what it is yet. Anywho....yeah. A year sure goes by fast. I'm not the same person I was, thanks be to Him. I am so blessed and pleased with where I am right now. I'm thankful that this past year has taught me to grow despite of my struggles. I'm also thankful for new places, faces and experiences. 24 will be better than 23, I am determined to make it so.

30 Days of Writing: Your Zodiac

Holly and Kelly: WE'RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  After many, many exasperated phone calls to Time Warner Cable, techs ending up in the wrong places, and having to use our dumb phones to browse the internet (seriously time for an upgrade soon), we are back in the realms of the internet.  Thank you all so much for your patience and cooperation! :)  Now, on to the fun stuff:

We are Aries! Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!  It's from March 21 to April 19, so we're pretty much right in the middle.

Some strengths of Aries are: independent, generous, optimistic, enthusiastic, and courageous.  Ok...optimistic, enthusiastic, generous, independent, do you KNOW us? :)  Suffice to say that suits us quite well.

Some weaknesses: moody, short-tempered, self-involved, impulsive, and impatient.  Can be moody and short-tempered, just depends on the situation.  Most of the time we're pretty chill, though.  Impulsive, yes, especially when it comes to shopping (we're working on that!!).  Impatient...OH YES!

Aries are also go-getters and leaders.  Go-getters, yes.  We are not ones to sit idly and watch the world go by.  Leaders.............eh, again, depends.  Definitely in school whenever we had a group project or something, one of us would usually end up picking up the slack and sort of taking charge.

Read something that "Aries play as hard as they work."  Trust us on this one.  We love having fun.  And not the typical "fun" you see in today's society.  :)

What does your sign say about you?

23 years of memories

Holly and Kelly: We turned 23 today! :)

Hi! :)

For Kelly, just another day of classes and stuff...it's funny how birthdays become a lot less exciting when you get older.  We started off the day with the newly inaugurated president of Berea College, his lovely wife, and a few students at the walk/run club that's been going on all year.  Figured we'd start off our new year of life on the right foot.  Holly was inspired by a conversation with Ms. Laurie (the First Lady) about giving back to your alma mater, and in a very hobbit-like spirit of giving to others, made her very first...and not last...23rd birthday donation to Berea College.  Not a large one, mind you, but sincere.

We met up with a very dear friend for lunch.  This dear friend has become like a little sister to us; she will be graduating with Kelly and will be on to bigger and better things in her life.  :)

The spirit of the day, however, was the receipt of news that we've been expecting for a few days now: our 91 year old Grandpa went to be with Jesus early this morning.  We are all at peace with the situation, and although we are sad of his passing, we rejoice that he is now free of suffering,  with the Lord, and reunited with our grandmother (she passed when we were five years old) and his siblings and parents.  We remember him teaching us how to ride bikes...with much protesting on our part.  He was probably one of the first people to tell us about Jesus and how much He loved us.  He was the epitome of a servant leader: worked hard for what he had, loved his family, loved the Lord.  There will come a day when we will see him again and we long for it.  The outpouring of love, prayers, and support has been absolutely overwhelming and awesome, and we thank you all for it, from the bottom of our hearts.  It's people like you and the good times we do remember that will make this loss easier to deal with.

We turned 23 today.  23 is just a number.  God is good and He is faithful.  He has a plan for us and our lives are changing.  Of course we couldn't do it without Him, but as we said earlier, it's the support of our Berea family and friends that keep us strong.  We are blessed to be a part of your lives and hope for 23 more years of friendships, love, and growing ever stronger in Christ.

Thanks for putting up with us!

22 years young and hoping for 22 more!

Kelly: Each day is a gift from God. That's why it's called the present. Anyway, sis and I celebrated our 22nd birthday today. I don't...feel any older, but I reached a sobering thought while at work this morning. Each year we get older we are hurdling towards our own death. Sure is sad, but it is ever so true. When I woke up this morning, I was just anticipating another typical day of classes, work and the occasional "oh it's your birthday today? Well have a good one."

No, I didn't get any flashy new presents. Or a car (there's always next year for that *wink wink*). I didn't have a birthday cake where I was surrounded by a zillion of my friends singing "Happy Birthday" to me. It was just...another day to be grateful for life! However, I did get sung to by two friends in my morning class and my ENTIRE Med/Surg class. That was awkward. What do you really do or say when you're standing in front of your peers and professor/academic adviser, not to MENTION the division chair who happened to be sitting in during the first part of our class? I just stood there praying "Dear God, just make them stop." Hahaha. I tease. It was quite amusing; let's just say there's a reason we are nursing majors. Last night, I made rice krispy treats to share with my class; they were good. I'm still here!

Yes, there is actually a point to all of this. I just want to close with this. I am just very thankful and happy that I have lived to 22 years. Looking back on all God has brought me through is just astounding. I am happy and praying for 22 more blessed years and many many more!

Holly: 22 is kind of an odd number.  No longer a "legal" adult, way past the teenage hump, close to 30 and even closer to 25 (our brother is turning 25 this year).  Shew. 

Like Kelly, today was just another day for me: class from 8 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon.  I guess that's what happens when you grow up.  Adult obligations don't stop for days like today.  haha.  But today I was reminded just how many people I have that support me and love me.  Between the countless Facebook posts, texts, and passing-by "Happy birthdays", I was...overwhelmed, at best.  This year, my 22nd year, I'm going to try to let those I care about let them know that I care about them too! 

The fact that I'm also graduating from college in 27 days is pretty snazzy too!  And during our field adventure today we almost talked our professor into stopping for ice cream! ^__^

Looking back on where I was this time last year, it's almost sobering to think: my life was about to change...I was preparing to study abroad in another country!!! Now I'm preparing to start my LIFE! Life I've known for the past four years is almost over....anyway...

Whoever is reading this, thank you.  That's all we can really say for now.  :)