A Generalized Life Update #3

Kelly: I realize, well...we both realize it's been a while since we've written last. It's kind of surreal to me how fast this month has already gone by, and it has literally gotten away from us. A lot of things have come up and unfortunately, time on this blog has been placed on the back burner. I suppose that's how it goes, right? Anyway, I've been dealing with some personal struggles, mostly with my ongoing foot/ankle pain, and ever since yesterday I'm back in a boot. It kind of stinks, and I'm already struggling with my limitations and what I can't do and what I shouldn't do. Not to mention the unwelcoming stares of passers-by as I thump along, and it really just gets old after the first few times. Might as well hold a big sign up that says "YES I AM IN A BOOT PLEASE STOP STARING AT ME." I'm starting to feel a little discouraged, but your prayers, silly comments and humor are really helping, so if I haven't said thank you, then thank you. I read everything that you all post for me, and you have no idea how much they mean to me. It's those little things that keep me going. So again....THANK YOU! :) 

Sis and I just finished another stint of house/critter sitting for I believe the fourth year in a row. It's always nice to just get out of your own place for a while and have some adorable yet sometimes rambunctious pooches just love on you while you love on them right back. Our only living grandparents aren't in the best shape either. Granted they're 89 and 90 and I think it's finally starting to show. It's been a few years since I've seen them, but judging on the conversations I've had with my folks, it's evident that times are changing. They're changing, we all are, and a lot of what's been going on is something new we've all had to learn to navigate. How fast this month has gone has been a reminder of how quickly time just seems to get away from us, and suddenly those little things we take for granted are gone and then we realize how much we miss them. Let that be a reminder for all of us; be thankful and grateful for right now. But all things considering, we're doing all right. The weather is MUCH cooler and sis and I are looking extremely forward to some family time in Ohio this weekend for 4th of July. 

Holly: I do a lot of blog/newsletter writing for work and for an earlier blog I wrote, "Hi, can anyone tell me what happened to the month of June?" Time just flies, and we are already halfway through to what's, for me, been a pretty great year! 

Speaking of work, I've been doing quite a bit of traveling. One of the components of working for GA HQ is partner site visits. This year all of our partner sites are divided up into regional groups, as much by geography as possible (we have a few outlying sites), and so my group comprises our sites in Floyd, Wolfe, Breathitt, Owsley, and Menifee County, all in Kentucky. Yesterday I was in Wolfe county, earlier last week in Menifee, and Floyd at the beginning of the month. This is my first year making site visits and it such a rewarding component of the job! It's so refreshing to put faces to names, to put faces to numbers we spend a lot of time crunching, and to hear firsthand from the families we serve just how much of an impact this program is making. Very affirming, especially when the "daily grind" feels sort of like a grind. Mid July I'll be wrapping up my visits.

Things between my Aussie/the boy/J are going quite well. It's hard to believe it's been almost 6 months, and every day his heart and who he is as a person just continues to win me over. He was baptized last weekend, the 26th, and it was a powerful and beautiful moment. The Lord has really made Himself known to us as we continue getting to know each other, and I've learned so much about myself and what it means to be a caring and supportive partner. We have had some "serious" conversations and are looking forward to the future, but ultimately we're both praying for patience and wisdom and asking HIM how we fit into the plan He has for us. Oh....and he is coming with us to Ohio this weekend :)

Yoda and Wiley continue to delight us with goofy antics and plenty of cuddles and purrs. They're such joys!

Here, look at some pictures! It'll likely be after the 4th until y'all hear from us again. So be safe, tell your loved ones you love them (to their faces, not to Facebook), eat lots of yummy food, laugh, and hug someone.

A true Berea gem

Holly: I'm actually getting a little sad writing this.  Tillie really is one of a kind.

We first met Tillie our junior year at Berea.  Of course we had heard about her: she was the dog that would come hiking with you at the Pinnacles (random side note, if any of you non-Berean readers ever find yourself in this charming little town, you must explore the Pinnacles; they really are extraordinary).  While she did not accompany us on our hike, I remember her quiet, gentle presence on the grounds, taking drinks from student's water cups, laying patiently as she was swarmed with children.

We've seen her a few times since then, and nothing has changed.  Unfortunately, her time on earth is coming to an end.  The entire community is rallying around her.  It's amazing how one dog that was just a grungy, skuzzy stray has charmed her way into thousands of hearts.  I'm sure her spirit will live on in those mountains and woods.  Kelly and I are hoping to make one last pilgrimage to pay homage to this special creature.  She is an angel, in my not so humble opinion.  Or perhaps a guardian.  Or both.

Kelly: When I was last up there, which was in March, she did not accompany us. However, when I was there in October, I noticed she had found her way up the mountain with a small group. Only once did she actually accompany me while I was on a hike; that was my junior year. I was on the college's orientation team and was with some freshmen hiking up the Pinnacles. Most of them opted for the more demanding and steeper West Pinnacle; I chose East. But before we split and departed, I managed to capture this shot. Tillie opted to follow the West group, but I remember it being particularly warm that day. She was a bit thirsty and soon made a new friend.

I don't know if I'll ever see this beautiful creature again. I hope I get the chance to. But I hope that her owners realize number one, how lucky they were to have her for as long as they did. And number two, I hope they realize how lucky we were to have her as well. At the bottom of this post I have attached a news link from one of the local TV stations. Enjoy. 

Took this in October. She took a snooze after I gave her a cup of water. 

People make Pilgramage for one last hike with dog

30 Days of Writing: Something you miss

Holly: Being a kid.  That's why I act silly a lot.  I love watching children: their innocence, their views on life, their lack of inhibitions.  I love being silly in front of kids because I know they won't judge me.  I miss not having to be responsible for me sometimes...sometimes I wish my mom and dad could go back to making all my decisions for me, taking care of me, etc.  I especially love kids in church because their answer for everything is always an overly enthusiastic "JESUS!!!".  We all learn something from kids.  Kids always make me smile and laugh; I'm constantly entertained by them.  I think the world would honestly be a better place sometimes if we just acted a little child-like every now and then.

Kelly: Raven. I miss her. Almost three years ago, she had to be put to sleep at 11 years old. She was in our lives starting at 8 years old. She came from a broken home; abused, malnourished and terrified of people. But little by little she gained our trust and won our hearts! I think about her a lot; not as often as I used to but I still do. I hope she's enjoying Jesus's company and playing with the other puppy dogs up there in Heaven. I remember growing up with her, and her being the quiet force of the house, a shoulder to lean on or cry on, or a pillow to lie on. I remember running around in the yard with her, throwing the ball and her barking with the ball in her mouth...that was the funniest thing I've ever seen a dog do! She was a good girl, and I bet if she were human she'd be a lot like us.

Raven. :) 

30 Days of Writing: Five items you lust after

Kelly: I'm not going to "lust" after anything, because it's not a good thing to do. However, there are things that do catch my eye and tickle my fancy/things that I do want in the near future, so let's go with that!

1. Map of Middle Earth. They ARE at Walmart, but they were out when I was last there.

2. Dogs. Sis and I want one, but with the two cats and an apartment it makes it a bit difficult. Maybe someday soon.

3. Samsung Galaxy. New phone. Don't get me wrong; there's absolutely nothing wrong with my phone, but me thinks I'm ready for a more grown-up phone. I've asked around and this make seems to be good. Plus I've been using Samsung phones for years now and have loved every single one!

4. A new pair of comfy working shoes, which leads into...

5. A job. Please? But good things come to those who wait.

Holly: I don't like to fuss over material things.  But I do have some things in my future big-girl list.

1. A KitchenAid stand mixer.  OHMIGAWB.

2. A Mazda 3.  Have wanted one since high school.  They're so cute, and not terribly shabby on gas mileage either.

3. I don't really lust after this, but eventually I would like a tattoo of "Even darkness must pass" on my shoulder.  It's become sort of my daily phrase and it holds a great deal of personal significance to me.

4.  A new pair of Teva flip flops.  They're not expensive, and SO comfortable.  Just waiting for the right time, I suppose.

5. A smartphone.  Any one, really...at this point, since I'm out and about so much, it would just be nice to have.  For the time being, my dumb phone does the trick just fine.  :)

A Dog's Perspective (Really Makes You Think...)

Holly: So there is this country (1/2 of this blogging duo has been there!)

Where there is this band

Which features this guy

Whom you probably recognize as Pippin from Lord of the Rings

Anyway (ha, that was fun!), Kelly and I stumbled across them recently and while Kelly was busy being all student and stuff, I listened to their most recent album.  Which opens with the track below.  But it isn't a song.  It's a monologue, written from the perspective of (I'm going to assume...) a dog.  I had to listen to it a couple of times to get all the words, but for some reason it really made me think. It's poetic, almost...poetry. What do you think?

*P.S. I copied these words by ear, so I apologize if they aren't completely correct*

"Dog's Waltz"

I dreamt I was a dog
Running through pale through the long wet grass
Enjoying every moment as it came and went
Not a second of my existence spent worrying about a future I knew nothing about
I laid panting on some cool concrete
And watched the humans busily rushing back and forth, shouting, crying, laughing in a language I didn't understand
Trying to stick to the five-year plans
Buying and selling, hoping their second house investment was a good one
Fighting wars for oil or land, or because their God is a better God, a vengeful God, the only God
And I close my eyes...
When I wake, I find a stick
And I busy myself throwing it around, enjoying the stick for all that it is
Then I see another dog with a better stick, and I think "I might fight him for it"
Maybe I'm evolving 

Dogs dogs dogs!!

Holly: We've got hardcore dog fever!!!!!!!! CRAZY!

To be fair, though, I haven't seen my little sweety pie since August.  Our bassett, Nala.  No, not from the Lion King "Nala."  If you really want to know the story of her name feel free to ask.  She joined our family in February of 2008 and we all love her to pieces; she's so funny! She sings...she especially loves the J.G. Wentworth commercials and "How Much is that Doggie in the Window."  Will have to record it sometime and share!

 

Nala

The four-legged beauty I still call my baby, though, is no longer with us.  She passed away in March of last year: chalk it up to old age and some kind of sickness (she was put to sleep).  Honest to goodness, THE sweetest dog you in the world! Wouldn't hurt a fly even if you told her to.  She also had those deep brown eyes that just seemed to say "I'm listening, and I love you."  I still miss her.  A lot.

Raven

I get "doggie fix" occasionally because sometimes my boss/advisor/awesome professor in my department brings his chocolate lab to his office; she's fairly young and she REALLY likes to jump and lick your face.  Oh, she's adorable and her name is Prynn.  :)  Another professor in my department has a 10-year-old long-haired wiener dog named Oscar, but he can't really use his back legs all that well, so he just kind of scoots to get around.  Kind of pathetic, but he's a sweetie, too.


Anyway, now that I miss my dog like hardcore...
:(

Kelly: Ahh, dog fever. I caught it today hardcore. Something else Nala does that Holly forgot to mention; she sings to her toys. Nala is...very particular about her toys, so she likes the ones with all the squeaker things. Anywho, sometimes she can't find the squeaker, so she provides the squeaker sound! At times it's very soft, but sometimes we all can hear it. Thus we proceed to either mute the TV or stop what we are doing to listen and giggle at her, because it is the funniest thing ever. Nala also really really really likes people! Last year for Thanksgiving break, we brought our friend from Oregon home with us, and she was all over her! However, Nala does not like other dogs. Seriously, she turns into the world's biggest wimp. It is pretty funny though, in pathetic sort of way. Other fears of hers include the broom, the vacuum, cardboard Christmas wrapping paper tubes, and...pretty much things that make noise.

This was taken the day after we got her. She had just woken up

  

But today, like I said, I caught dog fever majorly. My psych nursing professor brought his dog today. Ironically, she was a 13-year-old...basset hound. She didn't look anything like Nala, but boy she acted almost exactly like Nala. I'll have to put a picture up later if I remember...but anywho. Me and some of my classmates had a group presentation, and she would just wander around the room. It grew to be very distracting, but it was a good distraction nonetheless. During the first part of the presentation though, one of my classmates brought her two dogs to demonstrate Pavlov (if you don't know what it is..I pity you). The two dogs had a tendency to nip other dogs, so Addie (that was the dog's name) had to wait outside. Throughout the presentation, we could hear her barking. Not a bad bark for a 13-year-old dog. Once the Pavlov demo was over, Addie proceeded to join us in the room...and wander around...then finally fall asleep.



Then she wanted to be my bff, which included begging for my coffee and drooling on my jeans. That's my day in a nutshell, as I wrote on my Twitter: BRING IN THE DOGS!!! Great day. Hope you all read this and go give your dogs some lovin'. If you don't have a dog...well then, drool and marvel over the pictures. Cheers!

Addie :]