Mrs. Lonely

Kelly: For the past couple of weeks, I have embarked on a new career path 2 hours away from Richmond. I have thoroughly enjoyed my job and getting to know those I am working with. The work has been fun, challenging and a great opportunity for me to expand on a very rewarding and promising career. The biggest adjustment I have had to make thus far is living on my own. For most of my life, I have lived with Holly or in close proximity to her (there was one year in college where we lived in the same dorm but 3 doors down from each other with separate roommates). Even when I was abroad in Scotland, I still lived with roommates. So really, this is the first time in my life where I've truly lived on my own. For the most part I can say I've enjoyed it. I'm really learning a lot about myself as an individual and this has been a great opportunity for me to be accountable and responsible, and I think I've done pretty well. There have been some things I miss though about living with someone, and sometimes the feeling of loneliness can get pretty overwhelming. 

That was the case last night. Holly was up here visiting me for a few days, and when I came home from work last night, my apartment was empty. Remnants of her presence were still there, and I instantly thought about how much fun we had over the past 2 days....and I broke down. And she called me, after not hearing from her for a while, and I basically went off. I was upset, told her I was upset and just wanted to be upset, and I wanted her to feel what I was feeling. During the conversation, she stopped me and said "Kelly, just stop. We need to pray about this." So that's what I did. I got off the phone with her, and I prayed. I realized that the root of all I was feeling was just loneliness. Plain and simple loneliness. It stinks sometimes, and it sneaks up on you when you're least expecting it, and that's what happened to me last night. After I finished praying, I sat in silence for about a minute, then for some reason felt compelled to go on my Facebook. The first thing that came up on my newsfeed was a picture of a friend of mine and her kids at the movies. And I smiled....widely. I thought about the good times we had shared over the last couple of months, how we've walked alongside each other in Christ, encouraged each other and some of the conversations we've shared, and it made me so happy. It was then I realized that where that happiness came from; God. 

As a Christian single young woman, it seems like there's a lot of pressure for us to learn how to be contented in our singleness. And yeah, for the most part, I am. But there are some days....where that feeling of walking home after a long day of work with no one to share it with really hits me hard. I am still a work in progress, and God has shown me so much about Him in these last 3 weeks that I've been here. I know there's still so much I have to learn, if I'm willing to be open to what He might be trying to show me or tell me. I am so thankful that God is patient, and I don't think I'll ever be able to truly comprehend and acknowledge all that He has done for me. I really am blessed, and sometimes I forget that when I let my feelings take over. One day at a time. Today is better. 

Holly: As I told Kelly via text just a little bit ago, the timing for this could not have been more perfect. I'm a little hesitant to share this, but  here goes: Over the weekend I attended a church event. At one point the crowd had thinned considerably and I was left waiting for my boyfriend to finish tearing down the set/stage from the morning. I waited...and I waited...and I waited some more. And it wasn't too long before this overwhelming feeling of loneliness set in. It didn't make any sense to me; in a good-sized crowd, all gathered together for the sake of glorifying the Lord, I should have felt right at home. But I didn't. At one point I felt very isolated.  Left out. And it hurt.

Later on in the day, after seriously considering going home, I moved spots, where I was able to spend some time in pleasant conversation with a mom I'd recently gotten to know through a small group. It certainly helped to alleviate the feelings from before. But after I'd gotten home and was talking about the day with my boyfriend, at some point, all of the hurt from earlier came to a rise. And I just completely broke. All the while I was silently praying...just for the hurt to go away. After that, I'm not sure what happened, whether it was my prayers or my boyfriend praying too, but I felt better. I soon realized that there is one person that will never, ever leave us to feel isolated, lonely, left out, and that's God. I believe He brought peace into my heart at the exact moment I asked for it.  I believe He did the same to Kelly, just through a different means. Part of my conversation with Kelly a few days ago was a reminder that my boyfriend by himself is not and cannot be the source of my joy. At least full, complete, unconditional joy. That type of joy can ONLY be found in Christ and through Christ based on what He did for us at the cross and what He has done in our lives.

Wrapping up and maybe digressing a little with a bit of a confession: I think the church needs to refocus some of its areas more towards single people. Many ministries are geared towards married couples and families, and I think that's absolutely fantastic. But I don't think I need to throw out hard data and statistics to make a point that number of single people attending church is rising. And sometimes I think they're getting left out of what could be some very valuable opportunities. I think my prolonged period of singleness was beneficial in my now relationship, but I think that, especially for young women, there's a lot of shame in being single. And there shouldn't be at all!

Maybe I should rephrase that last bit: I think we as humans sometimes need to refocus some of our areas towards single people. I would encourage any of you reading this who are married or in a relationship: reach out to one or a few of your single friends. Encourage them in their goals and in their walk with Christ. Show Christ TO them. Remind them that their singleness is to be celebrated, not a problem to be fixed. Let them know that they are loved and treasured. Because when we have that perfect, complete joy in Christ, we are free to be the 100% version of us that we are destined to be. Single or not. Cry out to God in the midst of your loneliness. He is there.

We need each other

H and K: In case you haven't heard, seen, or read lately, the world is going a little bit crazy. Ok...it's straight up lost its mind. We're all holding our breath until November, wondering what dubious schemes or outlandish comments our incumbent presidential candidates will throw out next. We grieve with complete strangers as yet another story breaks the news of a shooting. We think of our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East and their constant living in terror and fear of persecution.

The worlds within our own four walls seem to be going crazy too. We pray for our friends who are dealing with death, loss, sickness, hopelessness, uncertainty, We pray for our own family as we deal with aging grandparents and the roller coaster rides that come with that. We pray for each other as we walk through this (hopefully soon ending) season of waiting and anticipation. We recently passed another anniversary of the loss of a dear friend.

Life just seems to be hard right now. We're willing to bet that some of you wonder if God is even really there, if He's even listening at all.

He is.

And for us, He's lightened the heaviness in our hearts by providing us peace when we wouldn't normally have had it. But more than that, He has put some amazingly supportive and kind friends into our lives, many just this year. When we moved to Richmond almost a year ago (whaaat??), for a time we both struggled with loneliness; even though Richmond is only 15 minutes away from Berea, we didn't have any friends close by anymore, and that was hard. It was just within a few months of moving that we re-reconnected (we never really lost touch but life had us all in different directions for a while) with some friends of ours, and now they and their three "kids" have warmed their way back into our hearts and lives again. Some of our fondest memories of 2016 have involved them and we are just so, so thankful, for that and for the future. The story is kind of serendipitous, in a way...it's how Holly met Justin. :)  And then we've made a new friend who lives in Richmond (yay!!!), she's so bubbly and fun-spirited and full of life and Jesus and we just love spending time with her.

And there are others...so, so many others, who have sent us cards for no reason, who have sent us texts just to say they were thinking of us, who have stopped by the house with little "just because" gifts, who have embraced us with so many hugs, prayers, lunch dates, and kind words that sometimes we believe it's so much more than what we deserve.

For me (Holly), I believe that God sometimes manifests Himself through the people He has put in our lives. Think about it: The closeness we feel when we are with those we love. That one word, affirmation, or piece of advice/wisdom from a friend, right when you need it. When your friend or loved one finally reveals that their long-time struggle is over, and you can directly remember praying over that same struggle. Just think about it.

The truth is that we need each other. Plain and simple. The way we interact with those around us...well, it sets an example. It shines the light of Jesus into a world that seems to be plunging deeper into darkness. Being kind or loving those in our lives certainly isn't going to change the world or stop all the violence and nonsense taking place. But it will help make our corner of the world a little brighter. Worry less. Complain less. Compare less. Pray more. Thank more. Practice gratitude more. Encourage more. Love more. Our spirits have been lifted by the company we keep. What can you do to uplift those in your life, even if everything seems to be going fine for them? How can you encourage someone this week?

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. -1 John 3:18

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.

Things we learned in May!

Keep up with the routine stuff! Upon a seemingly routine eye exam for Kelly, she was shocked to discover that her vision had changed quite a bit in the last two years. While we're now seeing the world through fresher eyes (Holly's new vision insurance should be coming in soon), it reminded us to continue advocating for our health and taking care of ourselves.

Broken AC is no fun. Last week, our AC decided to stop working (And then it was 85+ the next day as a high). Even though we grew up without AC, it's amazing how different 86 inside feels in an open, hardwood floored house versus a less-than-1000-square-foot mostly carpeted apartment.

The pollen this year is NOT messing around. We've both come down with cold-like symptoms this year. I think I'm (Holly) still blowing my nose after 3 weeks...

Having the opportunity to meet family is a privilege. We had the opportunity to meet Justin's older brother and sister-in-law as they visited from Australia! We spent a few days with them in various settings, but it was an absolutely lovely time with lovelier people. For me (Holly) it was especially a privilege, getting to know the family of someone I've grown to care about very much.

Life is short. Very short. A friend to many from our church passed away after an awful motorcycle accident. The fact that he even survived after the accident itself is a miracle. But as friends of ours gathered together to grieve this loss, it reminded us how short life is. It's only but a vapor, a brief moment in time. Make the most of it. Don't dwell on the negative. Tell those you love that you love them and tell them often. Be thankful for what you have.

Sister time is STILL important! We had a sister date that involved iced coffee and pedicures. And we had an absolute blast! 

Friends are still friends, no matter the distance. We got to pick up our friend Matthew from the airport as he arrived back from the land down under! True friends are never separated by distance. We're very thankful for ours :)

What did you learn last month? What are you learning now?

Normally we don't let our kitties on tables...but the AC was out here, and it was close to the fan...

Things we learned in March

Holly and Kelly: March was a busy and somewhat slow month for us. Here's what we learned.

Sometimes, you have to say no: even if it's to an old friend who wants to re open the lines of communication. We had to say no; it wasn't even an option. It wasn't worth the risk of possibly things being ok for a while, then back to the same old stuff. You get to a point in your life where you are free to make those decisions, and we lived with the consequences of said choice for too long. We are both at points in our lives where we made peace with the situation and have moved on. Neither of us have heard from this friend since, which says to us our point exactly.

Priorities change: We've put our relationship with each other on the back burners, and are now going to be taking the time to spend time with each other in prayer and devotionals. Over the last few weeks we have done this, it has been astounding to hear about what God is doing in each of our lives. It's been extremely beneficial to the both of us!

Time away is essential: Even if it's just for a few days. The time we were able to spend in Florida was....amazing. Seeing the sunrise on the beach...it was just one of those moments that make you realize how much of a masterpiece artist God is. Neither one of us thought about obligations we had at home, whether at work, things to do in the house, whatever. Take some time to just get out of work for a while; you will be amazed at how much better you feel. 

 God is working: In Kentucky, people! Over the past few months, but more regularly this month, we've been visiting another church with Holly's bf and some friends of ours. We're NOT leaving our current church anytime soon, but it's been super amazing to see the body of Christ working elsewhere in Madison county. He's doing some great things in His body, people, and it has been a privilege to see that work come to life. Also, we had the opportunity to sing with a church from London in a combined service for Easter. It was a long day, but full of blessings to celebrate our risen Lord. (There's a link at the bottom of the page for your viewing pleasure. Buckle up though...it's an hour and ten minutes long...)

Basketball....nah: We suck at basketball. Really, REALLY, suck. There's a reason God called us to work at Grow Appalachia and to be a nurse and to NOT be professional basketball players. Thank God! 


Easter program
Basketball part 1
Basketball part 2 (Kelly's shame)

H and K (and parents) visit the Sunshine State!

Holly and Kelly: This past weekend sis and I were in Florida for some baseball games and a day at the beach. It was the first time the two of us have seen the ocean since 2009, and let me tell you, when you spend every summer at the beach for as long as you can remember and then go 7 years in between without, it's a long time. We left Friday afternoon and flew out of Louisville into Atlanta then into West Palm Beach where we didn't get to our hotel until after 1 in the morning. Dad picked us up and we all just crashed once we got to the hotel. Saturday morning was spent sipping coffee by the pool, then we gallivanted a few miles up the road to watch the first of two spring training baseball games. Dad's a big Cardinals fan (don't hate) and the tickets came at a really good price, considering it was major league baseball. The weather was absolutely gorgeous too! A bit warm, yes, but there was a time where the clouds got in the way, so we all weren't sitting under the sun for the entire duration of the game. It was nice.  Very nice.

After the first game we ventured off to a small beach and found quite a few shells, and sis and I have a project planned for the shells we did find, so stay tuned for that! We had 3 nights of fantastic food, and I mean fantastic! The best food night was Monday night, where the two of us shared a pasta with mussels, scallops, calamari, shrimp and some kind of fish. We DESTROYED it! I (Kelly) put a pic of it on Facebook, and I'm sure I will gross a few people out. But you want to know what the best thing was? Family time. There's nothing like it. At the second baseball game, Holly was seated next to a family where a younger girl, in her words, was being a brat. She was whining, complaining, glaring at her parents and making rude remarks to her younger sibling. I wish I would have had the chance to tell her to enjoy the moments now, because when she gets to become our age and moves away from her family, you will die for just one more day. Sis and I see our parents on a good year six times, typically it's less than that, usually 4 or 5. We were talking about that one time, how when we were growing up and even in the first few years of college each time we visited we couldn't wait to get back to Berea. But like I said, what I wouldn't have gotten for just one more day at the beach.

Tuesday morning sunrise 

Family selfie! 

ALEP Mid-Summer: A continued family reunion

H and K: Howdy! You get both of us again!

It's been a little while since our last post.  Can't believe how June has just seemed to slip right through our grasp.  Heck, next week is the 4th! We've been rather busy, traveling and going here and there. Unfortunately we still have not heard any word on our house-to-be, but we are keeping the faith and holding out that we will hear something soon.

But enough of that. Almost two weekends ago we went back to the Shire! Yes, that's right.  You may remember how all of this ALEP craziness started back in September. This gathering was not official, not planned, just whoever was available to escape for a weekend of unplanned relaxation, conversation, and generalized merriment.  And all of those it certainly was!

It's hard to capture the atmosphere we've come to love in this ALEP group.  We all come from such vastly different walks of life, from vastly different parts of the country, even (a few traveled from as far as Virginia, Texas, and even Canada!).  But what's so amazing about this time, these ALEP reunions, is that, for just a few days, there is no worry.  No stress.  No negativity, pessimism, or stress of any kind.  It simply ceases to exist as soon as you see the signs welcoming you into the Shaker Village. The laughter, the cheerful conversations, the food (oh. my word!), the time we cherish and spend together...it's the best form of therapy that we can possibly imagine.

The next event is in April of 2016. While we won't be able to go for the entire weekend (these fun gatherings do cost money), we will definitely return for a day.  Because even just one day is worth it!

Until next time! :)

ROBERT!!!! <3 

:) 

Sunset in the Kentucky Shire 

One Last Time

Holly and Kelly: Dear readers, we apologize for not updating in a while. It has been a very crazy month of going here there and everywhere. But we are fine, all is well and now we are back. Thanks for hanging tough and bearing with us.

Yesterday was the final hurrah. The big finale. The movie to end all movies. The Battle of the Five Armies. And it was glorious.  It was also a time of gathering. As you all know, in September we attended ALEP (see our post on ALEP weekend here!) and met some pretty awesome people during that time. It was discussed at that time that there was a group who usually met up in December to see the current Hobbit movie in Nicholasville (about an hour from Berea). This group met up at Shaker Village the night before for a merry gathering, since it's almost Christmas. So needless to say we jumped all over that! We stayed at the village Friday night and got to meet up with some of the folks we met in September for snacks, conversation, laughing, a long slideshow and a little bit of tasty wine. Come Saturday we rolled out to Brannon's Crossing in Nickyville and gathered at the theater for pictures and a bit of singing, such as Misty Mountains and I See Fire- which was pretty incredible. Before we knew it there were other people taking pictures and videos of all of us, as the majority of the group were in costumes. It was awesome. Truly awesome. We kept saying "I love us." This group, these movies, as Kelly said, it was a celebration of the Christmas season, the love of Tolkien and Peter Jackson's work, how the books/movies have impacted us and our lives, and celebrating each other.

Now for our movie opinion; we LOVED it!!! We don't want to give too much away, because that's just not nice and we went into this movie having read no reviews, not viewed any clips, or seen anything else other than just the trailer.  We expected a few things, naturally, just because we're fairly familiar with the book, but it far surpassed our expectations!  There were quite a few moments that really surprised us, and of course, there were things that we weren't too thrilled with (but that's the case with the previous 2 Hobbit movies, and even LOTR too).  But what really made this movie special, aside from it being the last Middle Earth hurrah, was the company that was able to witness this cinematic adventure with us.  Many we met from AL3P, but we didn't get to have as many in-depth conversations and fellowship as we had wished (though there was still plenty!!), so it was really memorable to share life with these people.  We all come from such different walks of life, such different parts of the world, and when we all come together united by this love for Tolkien, wonderful things happen.  Now every time we see Five Armies, we'll think of this group, this family that we've been so fortunate to be welcomed into.  Plus...Billy Boyd's closing song is complete perfection to the end of an incredible movie series...and to our parting.  We will see each other soon, though.  There is no such thing as goodbye!

So ends this day
The road is now calling
And I must away
Over hill and under tree
Through lands where light has never shone
By silver streams that run down to the Sea
Under cloud, beneath the stars
Over snow one winter's morn
I turn at last to paths that lead home
And though where the road then takes me, I cannot tell
We came all this way
But now comes the day to bid you farewell

One Last Time! (Photo c/o Kelly Gable) 

Growing up is hard to do

Kelly: As you all know, yesterday was Thanksgiving. I had to work, so as a result we went back to Ohio last weekend to do Thanksgiving then. One of the things I've learned about being an adult in the real world is that sometimes, actually a lot of times, it requires sacrifice. Time away from family and loved ones, and sometimes it involves being away from your family and loved ones when you really really want to be with them. That was me yesterday; driving on the way to work and instead of working wanting to be snuggled up on the couch under the roof I spent 18 years of my life, smelling the aroma of turkey and pumpkin pie while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade followed by the National Dog Show. Memories. Fun-filled and joyous memories. If there's one thing I've learned though about being away from the home you grew up in is that some people end up finding another home away from home. That's how we are still here in Berea, because this has become our home away from home. And part of finding your home away from home is finding your family, whether or not they are related by blood or not.

One of my "grown-up" lessons I've held onto the past 6 years I've lived here is that no matter what the circumstances, how old you are, or whatever is running around in your head, you should never feel ashamed or uncomfortable to tell your extended family "hey, life is great right now" or "you know, things are just sucky and I need prayer or a hug" or "oh my gosh I love each and every one of you." And when it comes to family, sometimes it turns out they need you too. I don't really know how to wrap this up but with this; I have grown up a lot. Circumstances and changes have somewhat in a way forced me to. But one thing is for sure, in an ever changing world is an unchanging God who gave me a big ol' Earthly family. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and remember to keep thanking God for your many blessings.

Holly: If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that most of my "wisdom" has come from my observations of just watching those around me live.  I've never been much of a crowd follower, and it really irritates me...actually, makes me sad...that so many my age are still acting like they're stuck in high school.  Don't get me wrong, 99% of the time I'm a complete goofball.  But what in the world is with all the DRAMA? Still?! If the worst thing that happens in your day is that you're pissed at your parents or someone "told you off", then you still have it pretty well off, in my opinion.  I'd love to be pissed at my parents sometimes, even if it meant that I got to spend one more day with them.  As it stands now we're lucky to see our folks 3-4 times a year.  If that.  I don't mean to whine, but it's like what Kelly said earlier: being involved in the real world means sacrifice sometimes.  Also part of my "wisdom" is perspective: there is always someone who has it so much worse than you do, and when it's all said and done, we have a lot more to be thankful for than we realize.

I have an amazing support system, serve an amazing God, have the best parents a girl could ask for, a job that I adore, and yes, I'm still single and enjoying that as well.  Society thinks female 20-somethings should either be in a serious relationship or married with kids by then.  Something else I see so many my age doing is just bouncing around from one relationship to the next...it's almost as if singleness scares them.  IT SHOULDN'T.  Ok, I've been jumping around a lot, but there is a point to all of this, I suppose: I had someone tell me last night that Kelly and I are admired because of our attitudes regarding our circumstances.  Yeah, life is hard sometimes, and yeah, sometimes it's easier to mope and feel sorry for ourselves, but it's a choice: how we feel about it, how we react, despite how we may be feeling.  Heck, it's a choice to breathe a prayer of thanks to God for what you DO have despite how you may be feeling.  Is it easy?  No.  No, sometimes it really isn't.  But one last thing about growing up is that you do not have to be a victim of your circumstances, and you have the power to choose who remains in it for the long haul.

What are some lessons you have learned over the years?

Just for fun, here's H and K at 17

The Doctor Who/Wings Experience

Holly and Kelly: I've come to realize that this has been a very slow month for blogging. Probably one of the lowest and slowest in a while. A lot has been going on; nothing bad by any means, but still quite busy. One of the things that has gone on is something we are talking about today. A couple of weeks ago, on the 16th and 17th to be exact, our local movie theater put on this special event that featured the screening of two Doctor Who episodes one night, followed by a documentary the second night. They screened Rise of the Cybermen/Age of Steel, and we aren't really sure why they picked those two, but anyway. It was just fun and awesome to see Doctor Who on the big screen, since we kinda missed out on Day of the Doctor because we were lame and stupid and weren't fans yet. Sorry, got some coffee in me. On the second night, they aired a documentary about birds. No seriously.

It wasn't just any documentary about birds though; it was in 3D. It was narrated by none other than David Tennant!!!!!!!!! Let me tell you, watching 3D birds and listening to a Scottish accent for 90 minutes was pretty remarkable. But the documentary was REALLY well done. But that wasn't even the highlight of the evening, no. What was was something that we touched a bit on while we were doing our 30 day Doctor Who challenge. The first night we were at the theater there were other Whovians there as well...trust us, they're pretty hard to miss. The credits were rolling at the end of Cybermen/Steel and this older guy sitting a few seats down from us turns to face the rest of the theater and says "These are my kind of people."  Later, Kelly ran into a girl who was maybe 11 or 12, and she was wearing a bow tie and a fez.  Kelly said "Bow ties are cool" and the girl smiled.  It's a community, a family of sorts, and we really haven't seen that in any other big movie or TV franchise.  And that's a really incredible thing.  Yeah, when you boil it down it is just a TV show, but for all of us, it's so much more than that.  Also a really incredible thing.  It's an experience and a TV show for some people, but for others, it's much more. It's a bit excessive and obsessive for some (eek) but as for us, we just enjoy it. We enjoy the show, the characters, and the community it brings.

30 Days of Doctor Who: The Wrap Up

Holly and Kelly: So we're FINALLY finishing this thing, even though it hasn't been 30 days. Needless to say, the 30 day challenge proved to be too much for us. With our mom coming to visit, working, hanging out, kicking butt and now I'm (Kelly) waiting for a staff meeting to start, we just decided to wrap this thing up and do our best to continue to blog about other topics we've come up with at hand. We LOVE Doctor Who, without a doubt, but we decided we're tired of being prompted. Needless to say we're straying from 30 day challenges for a while; they were easier to do when we weren't working regularly! Anyway, we thought it would be appropriate to wrap this challenge up, saying why we love Doctor Who so much: 

1. It draws us closer to God and makes us more like Jesus
Seriously. Not so much be like The Doctor per se, because he himself isn't real. But God is real in our lives, and the show makes us want to be more like Christ. Not that we use it as an example of how to be like Christ, but in the sense that The Doctor is actually a good role model. If you look and think deeper into the show, it does have a lot of Christian elements in it...in our opinions. We appreciate the fact that the show values people, for the most part. The main characters have very strong moral compasses, which is a plus. Not to mention we're also delving into a bit of the Classic eps, and they are no different, with the exception of a few years.

2. It's welcoming. 
The Doctor isn't a stranger to anybody. He finds people from different walks of life, the wash outs, the nobodys, the "just a temp" kind of people, and changes them. He makes them better. That for us allows us to try and do the same; we love because Christ first loved us. It's the way God finds and loves us! No matter what they have been through, he accepts them, and he teaches them to accept others...and themselves. This somewhat ties into our last point. Bear in mind, you have to respect the fact that this show has been around for over 50 years!

3. Good escape
Sometimes, days just really suck. Work is stressful, stuff is going on at home, friends are hurting, whatever. We turn to God, each other, phone calls to home and to The Doctor to help us cope. And then we find ourselves a little bit better.

4. The music. 
Need we say more? Refer to our post from earlier regarding our favorite music.

5. It's relatable. 
Well yeah. You've got this extraordinary, 900+ year old time traveler who has seen...well, gee, EVERYTHING. He can go anywhere, has seen everything, and yet, he's like us in a sense. He's lonely, which is something we've all struggled with. He seeks companions that are every day people; looking and longing for something more, that one "missing piece." All of their lives change because of The Doctor, both in good and unfortunately some in bad ways. One way or another, we influence who we as every day people come in contact with, and it's a good reminder for us to take that small extra step to go a bit further with someone, because while you may be changing them, they may be also changing you. Just ask Kelly. :)

6. The community. 
It never fails every time we go to Hasting's to purchase something Doctor Who related, the cashier always ends up engaging one or both of us in friendly Who conversation. And they always ask if we've seen The Day of the Doctor (which we have!) And most recently, last night. There's a 2 night event going on this week and last night was the first night (the last night is tonight sadly), and it was a showing of Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel. It wasn't a packed house by any means, but there was a pretty good crowd. Anyway, we were at the theater and we saw a girl with a bowtie and fez on. I (Kelly) smiled and said "fezzes are cool." She smiled. Then at the end of the viewing and the credits were rolling, this guy just looked around and said "these are my kind of people." With any big movie and TV franchise this happens; it happened when we saw The Hobbit too. No matter who they are or what walk of life they come from, everyone is so nice! We have yet to meet a cross Whovian or Ringer!

So there you have it. The secret is out! This challenge has come to an end. We will be back to posting regular topics soon. Thanks for hanging with us. Allons-y!!!

Spring (and change?) in the air

Holly: It goes without saying that spring is my favorite season.  Ahh, ok...scratch that.  I love fall.  But spring is a very, very close second.

Isn't that just beautiful????

One of the reasons I love spring is its transitions.  Think about it: We're in all this cold, dreary, snowy, wet crap, and then we're into warm breezes, blue skies, birds singing, flowers blooming, almost as if life is reawakening once again.  To me, this burst of new life and color is also symbolic of something else: change.

Change can be scary and unpleasant, and, to be frank, bring out the absolute worst in people.  I remember the summer before our senior year of high school.  I and Kelly and several other upper-class students met one afternoon, just prior to the start of our marching band season, and had a bomb dropped on us: our director had resigned and was leaving.  I was totally devastated; I had grown up with him, my entire marching band career had been with him, and now someone else was going to be taking over.  Of course, there was an array of mixed emotions, but one that surprised me was anger; students were angry that he was leaving.  I was shocked; of course, I was devastated, but he was doing what he believed was best for him and his family, and the school was unpredictable, at best; I couldn't resent him for that.  But many did.  And when the new director arrived, I'll admit, things just fell apart.  We weren't the same band we once were.  I didn't expect to be, of course, but I didn't expect what happened to happen either.  Some just weren't ready to accept...the change.

Tomorrow is Easter.  Our church choir has been practicing for months now and tomorrow we will share our music with the congregation and thank God for His son and for the new life found in Him.  We will worship together.  Inside, though, we will be terribly saddened: we are losing a major foundational member of our choir family (see this post here).  Tomorrow is his last "official" Sunday.  We all thank God for him and what has become of our choir family, and we are all preparing for this change.  I was telling Kelly after our dress rehearsal this morning that I sincerely hope we don't fall apart, much like our senior year of band.  But I know we won't.  We owe it to this ministry to give whoever God gives us to lead us EVERYTHING we are, even though it will never, ever be the same again.

Yes, change is in the air.  But I challenge you to see whatever changes you have coming in your life as spring, rather than something to be scared of.  Spring is new life, new color.  Easter is death overcome and a promise of new life!  Can you see why I love spring so much? :)

Kelly: I think of the verses in Ecclesiastes 3 in where it starts "to everything there is a season." And it's true. Sometimes we have to change either support a family, ourselves or to follow what one believes is God's calling. Holly and I have had to do all of the above, and at times it hasn't been easy. But I've found that when I trust God, really trust God, those changing seasons are a little easier to weather. I remember being that frustrated high school senior and hearing my peers vent their anger in the situation. They were mad he was leaving, but I couldn't be. My feelings weren't going to change the circumstances, and neither were theirs. 

Now that Easter is over and the singing and praising is done....well...no. The praising and singing is never done if you're a follower of Christ. It's a very noble and sincere cause when someone does something for His cause. I've known people who've given up everything to do what they feel He has called them to do, yet some are living for Him right from the comforts of their home. And that's been the cases in the two experiences we have mentioned in today's post. In my life I get reminders often that I am where God wants me to be. He changed me in so many ways to get me to where I am right now, and I praise Him for those changes. Yes some of them were bad, but I think that that has to happen sometimes, that way you learn to stretch those faith muscles. Yesterday was Easter, and what a blessed time it was. Quite an emotional day, but in a good way. During one of the songs at church, I was deeply moved quite suddenly. Sometimes, like Holly said yesterday, God just grabs me at random times....hard. I consider it a privilege that He does that to me, to all of His followers. Reminds me what He's brought me through and how good He is to me. 

Oh the blood of Jesus washes me

Oh the blood of Jesus shed for me

What a sacrifice!

That saved my life. 

Yes, the blood. It is my victory. 

Packages from Mom

Kelly: It's no secret of mine that I have a close relationship with my mom. With both of my parents actually. But in the past few years, I feel that I have grown especially closer to my mom. Don't know if that's because I've been out of their house since I was 18; officially since last year. We talk at least once a week, sometimes more. I am not ashamed to say that at my age I still need my mommy and daddy! Like a child getting lost in the mall....like that. It's the same way that I need (and we all need) Christ! To those who out there who are not as close to their parents, I hurt, because I do not know what I would do without my parents. I sincerely hope you can work out your differences, whatever they may be. To those of you who lost your parents due to death, again, I hurt. I know you miss them deeply and would love to see them again; I'll say a prayer for you tonight.

But one of the things that my mom did while we were in college was send us random holiday packages...for each holiday. This tradition of holiday packages started around our sophomore year of college. Valentine's Day, Easter, our birthday, Halloween, but not Christmas since we were usually home then. In these packages there's usually candy, candles, a sock monkey or two (for me!), coupons, and other assorted things. Sometimes there have been socks for that holiday, toys for our kitties, or other assorted Dollar store goodies (the very place we introduced our mom to in the first place), but in each one there was always a card or a note that usually says "yay! Good for you" or "you can do it" or "we're so proud of you!" I'm not a mom yet nor I don't know if I will ever be, but I think those are some of the greatest things a parent can, and should say, to their child or children. And they should say it often. And our parents did and still do.

Holly: When Kelly texted me earlier today with the words "MOMMY PACKAGE!!!!" my day instantly got better.  When I got home and perused through this particular package's contents, I said "If I ever have kids, I am going to send them packages too."  I know my parents love me and are proud of me, but sometimes it's the unexpected surprises that remind you just how much you are loved.  And missed.  I miss my mom and dad.  Yes, at 23, I still miss my mommy and daddy, and I don't see that changing any time soon.  I figured that when I moved out and was on my own, I would miss them less.  Nope.  Don't get me wrong, I love being on my own and being independent, but if my parents showed up at my door tomorrow and said I could move back home, I wouldn't spare a second thought.

I know my parents aren't going to be on this earth forever, and it breaks my heart to imagine my life without them.  So for now, I try to cherish the time I do get to spend with them.  Usually it's just for a few days at a time, several months apart.  I appreciate the time I spend with them now, possibly more than I did before I started college, moved out, etc.  I regret that.  I really do.  My parents have been there for me so many times, have believed in my craziest dreams, and have never been shy of voicing how proud they are of me and Kelly and how much they love us.  It kills me when I hear my friends say that they don't get along with their parents, or they never hear their parents tell them that they are proud of them.  Or my friends who still live with their parents but they just don't talk.  When my parents come to visit, that's basically all we do.  I feel like I could talk to my parents all day!

If any of you are reading this and you don't have a good relationship with your parents, maybe it's time to bridge the gap.  If any of you are reading this and your parents aren't with you anymore, I hope you think of them with a smile on your face, tears (of whatever magnitude, if necessary), and love and warmth in your heart.  If any of you are reading this and you still live with your parents, please hug them a little more.  Tell them you love them.  Tell them you're proud to be their son or daughter.  This world is so ugly, as our roommate Brittany said, and it needs beautiful things.  One of our candles from today's mommy package is burning, and now I'm thinking of home-cooked meals, the smell of the house, laughing together.  That's a beautiful thing.

Family Matters

Holly: I fail to be clever on demand.  Sorry.  This week has taken forever and it STILL isn't Friday.  haha.

Our parents came to visit us this past weekend.  We only get to see them a few times out of the year now, and they usually have to come to us.  They're both retired, so they have the flexibility that they so need after both working 30+ years in their respective fields.  After they leave I always miss them.  But this time was different.  I was left thinking about the relationship between kids and parents nowadays.  I have a great relationship with my parents and my family in general.  Yet I know so many of my friends who don't.  Some of my friends haven't spoken to their parents in years.  Some of my friends don't know their mom or dad.  Some of my friends don't even know how to fit in with their own family.  That makes me really sad.

The friends I do have who are still in contact with their folks don't have many good things to say about them.  Most of the time they say they're not supportive, or they shoot down their dreams.  Which makes me even MORE sad.  This is a glimpse of what we had growing up:  We were never given everything we wanted, we always had to work for it (I'll let Kelly share a story about that).  There was always a home cooked meal, and if Mom or Dad made something and we weren't sure about it, we had to try one bite.  If we didn't like it we didn't have to eat it.  Mom and Dad weren't afraid to show their affection in front of us kids (although it grossed us out at times! haha).  They told us they loved us and they told us often.  They've ALWAYS supported Kelly and I, and tell us they're proud of us, and tell us often.  My mom has bailed me out (mostly financially) more times than I care to admit.  If something awesome happens in my life, Mom is the first person I tell!  My Dad is so goofy; I get my silliness from him, for sure.  In my 23 years of life, I have never felt not loved, not supported by my parents.  In fact, I think I've grown closer to my folks since being on my own.  Yeah, they're not perfect, and in their almost 32 years of marriage and 3 grown kids later, there's been issues, of course.  But I love them so much and I'm proud of where I come from.  I hope that if I ever have kids I can be half the parents mine are.

Kelly: I always remember when I was growing up that we weren't "spoiled" by any means. We didn't have everything we wanted, but we weren't skimped out and we got by. We weren't filthy rich but we weren't dirt poor either. My parents valued working hard for what you had, and they definitely passed that onto us. As kids, Mom would get us something (usually a season of Smallville) and instead of giving it to us we had to work for it. This usually meant cleaning our room (and not just throwing everything in the closet...I mean HOURS of cleaning) or practicing our instruments when were were in our band years. And I'll admit; we were good kids because we had good parents. Sure us 3 kids fought, but to my knowledge it was never anything physical. We never laid our hands on ANYONE because Mom and Dad never laid their hands on each other or on us as punishment. Yes, you heard me; none of us were ever spanked. Now I'm not against spanking, but I do think that people can take it too far. We were never grounded, snuck out of the house, ran away from home or endured any of the classic "teenage rebellion." Why? Well A, we had nowhere to go and B, we learned very early in life that it's just not ok to run away from your problems or blame someone else for something you did. When the time came for us to go to college, mom and dad always said that we had the choice to go wherever we wanted and that they would help us provide the financial means as best as they could. Again, we weren't skimped out. And we were honest and real with one another; we could all talk to each other about EVERYTHING. We didn't get our driver's licenses until we were 19 years old, because Holly and I told our parents at 16 that we did not feel comfortable or mature enough to operate a car. At Christmas time, we were always at our house together; now if family or friends wanted to join us they were always welcome to do so.

How I've been raised has allowed me to reflect on how I want to raise my own children, should I ever get to that point. My future children, like I was, will learn to respect authority, all authority. I want them to be responsible, accountable for their own actions and want them to do not only what is right within them but what is right in God's eyes as well. I want my children to march to the beat of their own drums and to not necessarily do what is "normal" or "easy" or "in." I want to be a parent, but I also want to be a friend. I'm just thankful for the family I had, and still do have, because I know that one day we will all depart this Earth. Be thankful for your family; whatever your definition of family is.

Little twins.  We're 7 in this picture :)

Holly, our brother Kip and me. Family friend did a photo shoot of us kids. 

Holly's graduation, May 2012

Our wonderful parents! :) 

30 Days of Writing: Somewhere you'd like to move or visit

Holly: If I am 30 and still single I am moving to London/somewhere in England outside of London.  Nuff said.  I would go back there in a heartbeat.  Definitely want to visit Finland; our ancestors are from there and it look so beautiful there.  Ireland too.  New Zealand and take the LOTR tour.  Plus...it's New Zealand!! Hello! :D

Within the US I'd love to see the west coast: Seattle, Oregon (visit Brandi!!), some of California, maybe up into British Columbia.  I've been to more than half of the states, but the farthest west I've gone is New Mexico, and there ain't a whole lot out there.  I've also been to two nations capitals, none of which are my own, so D.C. is definitely a must as well.

Kelly: One place I would like to visit is Finland. My mom's been there and a few of my distant relatives have been there. It's where the majority of my mom's side of the family came from; my great-grandparents (my Grandpa's parents) were from there. My mom visited when she was in college but was only there for one day. There's so much about my heritage that I want to know about that's all over there. In my house at home my Grandpa's baptismal certificate...in Finnish. He did know a bit of Finnish, and maybe someday I would like to learn the language! I do have some extended family over there still, though I don't remember which part they live in.

2nd place I'd like to visit: IRELAND. Granted I always want to go back and visit Scotland, but Ireland is somewhere I'd like to venture. Sis and I are planning a 2015 return Europe trip and we're hoping to take a day or two to visit some of the bigger cities, such as Dublin and Belfast (we're open to other suggestions too). And Scotland. If I'm 30 and still single I swear to goodness I'm moving back there!

30 Days of Writing: Your Family

Holly and Kelly: For today's post, we thought a combined one would be easier. We'll start off with our blood family; our parents and our older brother. We were born and raised in southeastern Ohio in the town of Athens. We lived in the same house our entire lives; never moved until we came to Kentucky to start college. That was in 2008, and we haven't left Kentucky since! Since last May, Holly and I have created our own little family in our own place since last May. It's been an incredible journey; developing the skills necessary to live with each other and maintain our sanity, as well as our budget. Prior to that, we had lived on campus as Berea students, and I think that REALLY helped us grow up and live within our means. Granted, it has not been easy, but the thought of being on our own doesn't terrify us anymore, and being away from home had a big role to play. Of course we missed mom and dad, but I think it's something every child should do for college...just my opinion. 

Anyway, our current apartment came with Wiley. His previous owner couldn't keep him because all of her family was allergic, and she was just going to take him to a shelter. We of course decided to keep him. A few weeks later we adopted Yoda. Yoda came from a former professor Holly and I both had. She was scared of everything for the first few days we had her, but she warmed up to us and has wormed her way into our hearts. We absolutely love our pet babies! But soon, we will be packing up our family and moving yet again. Not out of Berea, just across town. More space, costing a bit more, but we'll be with a dear friend of ours until she graduates in the summer. It's going to be a bit scary at first, but we are excited to see where this journey will take us !

And last but not least, Holly and I thought it would be important for us to mention another edition to our family: our church family. I first attended Berea Baptist in August of 2008. My friend Tim and I made the trek, and I fell in love instantly! I dragged Holly with me the following week, and she too fell in love. And we've been there ever since; we officially became members in May of 2009. We've since then joined the choir, fostered some wonderful relationships and have greatly improved our relationship with God. We are truly happy and blessed to have such a large family, both blood related and Christ related. Thank you all for being a wonderful family. We love you all!

Our wonderful parents! They raised us to love others, ourselves and so many more lessons! 

We of course can't forget miss Nala. :) 

Our first home! 

Wiley. He's a sweet boy :) 

Miss Yoda. She likes Tolkien too! 

Berea College from above...became our home away from home! :) Came here 5 years ago and haven't left yet!

Church choir family. This pic is so old, but captures us well.  We love them all dearly!  God has greatly blessed us with such a wonderful church family! :)

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!

Home

Holly: Throughout my life my perceptions of things have changed.  Chalk it up to growing up, I suppose.  One of these things that have changed is my concept of home.  What is "home"?  What does it mean to be "home"?  Is it a place, people, or something even more than that?

As many of you know, Kelly and I moved to Berea in May of this year.  We spent a lot of our time here, college-related time, and we felt like Berea was the place we were supposed to be.  Considering the large amount of our time here Berea felt more like our home than our grassroots of southeastern Ohio.  Now, PLEASE do not misunderstand me.  I love my hometown.  I love that I was able to grow up there, and I love my family and best friend more than anything.  But when I would go home for holidays or breaks or whatnot, things just felt so....foreign.  Different.  I felt out of place, like I had missed so much from Athens and from my folks and best friend.  It just wasn't the same place anymore.  I wasn't the same person.  Because I had grown so used to cozy Berea, my school, and my church, it was strange to be away from that, even though I had spent the first 18 years of my life in this place.  Now, when I say I'm going home, it means I'm going to my 2-bedroom apartment in Berea.

But home for me is a lot more than just a place.  When my parents come to visit, that's home.  When I talk to my best friend on the phone, that's home.  When my cats come downstairs when I come in the door from work, that's home.  Home is watching an episode of Sherlock in the living room with Kelly and exclaiming in excitement how I picked something up that I had never noticed before.  Home is a cup of the flavor of the day at BC&T.  Home is opening your window and sensing that fall "smell" and feeling the breeze blow into your space.  Home is singing as loud as you can to that song on the radio when you're stuck at a red light.  Home is hugging that one friend you haven't seen in ages.

Take time to notice the "home" in your life, whether it's a place or not.

Kelly: On our daily walk tonight, I was talking to Holly that a lot of college students move back to where they came from after they graduate. Our brother did this. I have lots of friends who did this/are doing this. I was talking to Holly that this didn't even cross my mind after I graduated. Then she said to me: "I already moved back home. I moved here." Didn't really think about it that way. I remember being a first year student wondering how I would get used to this place called Berea, Kentucky. Now I can't imagine being apart from it. To be honest though, my perspective on home is a bit different than Holly's. Sometimes I sit and ask God how He picked here for me to be. How did He get me to fall in love with a place like Berea? Then it hit me.

To me, home in many cases is more the people than a place or a thing. I think people largely make a home a home. And for me, my Berea home and my attraction to it is largely where I go to church every Sunday. I see it as a home despite the division and sometimes negativity that has been seen/heard/read in a survey. Despite the fact that I read a comment that basically said college students can either just deal with the changes or shove off, it's still a home to me. Because in a home, you notice there are flaws, yet you don't define it by the few flaws. Positive memories and faces trump any negative comment in my book. When I think of a home, I think of family. A family. People who love one another, encourage one another, support one another and pray for one another. They don't hold grudges, or judge, belittle, or put down...not that anybody in my immediately family or my close friends do that. But families don't do that, or at least they shouldn't. That's why I love my church; it treats me like a family. Every Sunday (and Tuesday night) I am welcomed with open arms and loved by so many.

I'll close with this: on the way out of church today I got a comment from my pastor today saying how much he appreciated how Holly and I have openly loved his family. I was stricken mute by my overwhelming joy that I totally forgot to say I only give such love because I myself have been given the exact same love by not only his family but so many others at BBC. I am blessed to have that church as my family. And my home.

EtOh....wait?

Kelly: About a week ago, Holly and I were having a talk about...alcohol. What is it about it that attracts people to it? As you all know, we are a year over the legal age in US. I've drank alcohol since I've turned 21  less than a dozen times. Now I'm not trying to brag, but moderation for me is just a preference. When I was in Scotland, my roommates would either go out to clubs/pubs or have alcohol in our apartment. I was a bit shell shocked at first (I refer to such part of the kitchen as "the corner") because in Berea it's a dry campus. You would not believe how many people asked me "how do you survive?" The smart butt in me wanted to say well I'm alive now. But in all honesty being in a dry campus doesn't even phase me.

Ok, now back to moderation. I think that drinking alcohol should be for social events in MODERATION, not a contest or spectator sport. And someone PLEASE explain to me what the deal is with turning 21 and boozing? That just doesn't sound fun to me. At all. It seems in today's culture that's the default thing to do when someone crosses the hump. I think that's why I loved my 21st birthday so much. We were all sober and had the best time. A friend of ours was going to bring a bit of booze but we politely declined and said that at our 21st birthday that wasn't going to happen. Now I'm not totally 100% against alcohol, however I am against drinking just to get drunk and completely losing control. Mostly because me knowing me I am a person that has to be in control. At all times. Now...having said that, Friday night my parents were here and we went to O'Charley's. And yes, I had a margarita. It was quite tasty, but I was in a controlled environment with people that I trust.

This brings me to my last point. A while ago in Sunday School we did a series called "Guardrails" by Andy Stanley. Long story short, but as a Christian I have established a set of guardrails for myself; and yes one of them involves alcohol. Ironically this study was done shortly after I got back from Scotland. While I was there, there were a few situations where I wanted to "fit in" with my roommates. And that would have involved doing things/drinking things I normally don't. But I didn't. I realize now that one of my guardrails is simply avoiding situations in which I might lose control. And I don't regret it. At all. Now if you get something out of this, it's just maybe I don't understand. I really don't understand the point of getting completely out of control with yourself...just to drink and "have fun." I'm serious...WHAT is the appeal?

Holly: Here's my stance on the issue.  I am not against alcohol.  Period.  I think it is a very enjoyable, social, and relaxing thing....when used responsibly.  If you want to go home after a long day of work and plop down on the couch with a glass of vino, go for it.  If you and some friends want to get together and shoot the breeze over a pitcher of margaritas, have fun.  But what I don't understand is what is so appealing about drinking to the point of blacking out, acting like a blubbering fool, and not remembering a single friggin' thing of what went on.  On more than one occasion I've had friends tell me "oh one night I'm just going to get totally s***-faced" and I just ask WHY????  Why do you want to risk harming yourself, others, your body, etc?? Not to mention just how quickly things can go south if you aren't in control.   Which you aren't, p.s.  And I'm with Kelly on this: if you are into that kind of thing and you want to tell me the appeal to it all, please feel free to do so.  You will be welcomed with unbiased ears.

Personally, I enjoy a ridiculously fruity margarita every now and then (much like the one I had on Friday).  At our apartment we'll have some Smirnoff ices in our fridge once in a while.  I think drinking in moderation is totally ok.  Not to brag, but I can count on one hand the number of times I've had a drink (an ENTIRE one) since being of legal age.  And I'm not saying this to be a stuck-up snob, saying "Oh, well she's too good for alcohol."  No.  That isn't it.  I'm just saying I've made a choice to moderation, which has kept me on track for choosing moderation in other food choices in my life (which must mean I'm doing something right: down 8 lbs since April,  w00t).  But anyway, next time you call me up and ask "Hey, let's go have dinner and I'll buy you a drink," just say when and where.  But if you call me up and say "Hey, let's just go totally lose our )*(^*%&^*&^*&^*^&#*&$^@ and get schnockered and what not", I'm going to have to politely decline.

Need to get this all out

Kelly: I'm flying solo for this post. My mind is scrambling right now and I need to just get it all out in the open in hopes that it'll make me feel better. My hands are visibly shaking due to worry, frustration and honestly, a bit of relief. I just returned from another podiatry consult about my ankle. So for the half-dozenth time, I explained my whole scenario, starting back in February of 2010. I knew right from the get-go that this doctor was different. He wasn't going to give me just another cookie-cutter response and send me on my way this time. One of the first questions I was asked was for the MRI report. Yeah, like I have that laying around. Luckily, I remembered the name of the place and it was faxed over. First part of the frustration; I heard the report for the first time...TODAY. I had the MRI done in January.

Second part of the frustration comes now. The affected tendon in my ankle has been torn...this entire time. Not badly, but still. It's been torn slightly. I'm just wondering for these people...would that have been so hard to tell me? NO. I don't think so. Ok, enough about that. I'm talking to my best friend right now and my mood is lifting. But...still. I wouldn't be hurting as much if you know, they hadn't failed to tell me that from the get go. Ok, anyway. So here's what the doctor told me: to prevent further tearing, I am stuck in a brace until....I get the ok from my insurance for a repeat MRI.

This is where the worry comes in. If the problem has gotten worse, there's one and only one solution; surgery. Recovery time is 6 to 8 weeks. Physical therapy will follow. I don't even want to think about all of that right now; all the class work I'm going to have to get caught up in, all the work hours I might miss, that's the worry. The hardest year of my major....and now...THIS. Just when I thought things couldn't get any more stressful. So here's what I'm going to do until then; PRAY...constantly! Monday, talk to my teachers and keep them in the loop as much as possible. Consult with Holly as soon as she gets back from teaching lab. Call my folks this weekend to let them know. Tell people at church on Sunday. Try to keep myself from calling the MRI place and screaming at them...yeah, not going to help. Try not to think about the worst-case scenario and hope for the best. Keep the pain at bay as much as I am able. Enjoy the free time I have this weekend. Marvel at the fact that in 2 WEEKS I will be enduring quite possibly the BEST NIGHT of my entire life!!! Laugh at the silly things and thank God when I wake up each morning.

I just wanted to inform all of you what is going on. I'm doing all right right now; just finished talking with my best friend, which always helps. My advice to all of you is this, if you think there's something going on with you, investigate it. DO NOT STOP. Do not stop until you are at a point where you can go through your daily life and not be in pain, or whatever. You know yourself better than anybody; you owe it to yourself to explore the problem. Don't settle for just a "do this do that" response. Ok, that's all. I will let you all know when I hear back from when my repeat MRI is and then we'll just take it from there. Thanks for caring. I love you all. :]