There's leaps of faith, then there's shoves of faith: Kelly has stepped into the world of travel nursing! After tiptoeing around the idea for a while and signing on with an agency over a month ago, she has decided to take a chance and make a good positive change in her career. She's been ready to do something else, and though a little anxious about the future, we are both equally excited!
Sister dates are still awesome: We made several last month, including a trip to Lexington to check out a new Good will! What can we say...we're good company? :)
Travel is hard...not just on the traveler: Holly's boyfriend Justin made a trip back home (yes, as in home home to Australia) and his journey back included a delayed and a missed flight, a late night phone call to friends in Louisville, a night of little sleep, and a round trip drive to Louisville and back. However, we are very thankful for his safe return and for the time he shared with his family.
Wineries are great. Wineries with friends are even better: We had the opportunity to spend a rainy afternoon with dear friends of ours at a winery in Versailles. Oh man...can't recommend it enough. And the company was lovely.
Patience, time and grace: Doctor's visits, a few appointments and Kelly's foot/ankle is starting to heal. It's going to take a lot of time, but it's getting there. There have been some good days and some bad days, but the good days are far outweighing the bad.
There's something for everyone! We introduced two friend to Charming Charlie's, a store in the mall beside Lexington. It's jewelry, purses, shoes, a little bit of clothes and it is fabulous! Each time we took each individual friend we were there over an hour! There's a bit of satisfaction knowing we found something that fits our friend's tastes.
That's all for now! Keep reading and keep learning!
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Monday, August 1, 2016
Things we learned in July
Take a break: Sometimes, circumstances in life force you to. The two of us experienced that first hand this past month and learning to deal with sudden changes that resulted in some difficult decisions that had to be made. All is well now and we learned a LOT about patience, humility and not being afraid to speak up and ask for help when needed.
Time doesn't matter: A friend of ours visited at the end of the month for a long weekend and we had a marvelous time. Good food, catching up and picking up right where we left off, and it had been months since we saw each other. But it didn't matter at all!
Trips home are still needed and always enjoyable: We spent the 4th of July weekend in Ohio with our parents. It was a laugh filled weekend with croquet, shuffleboard, a beer or two, photo albums, some much needed rest and too much fun. Plus beautiful weather!! And J came with us as well :)
Balancing act: While we've had friends over and boyfriends (Holly's; Kelly is still available), it's sometimes been difficult to find time just for us. But that's ok; we treasure the time we share together and are continually learning to still carve out time for each other as we navigate these new and exciting endeavors!
Good things are happening all around: A longtime college friend breezed through our neck of the woods on the way to Colorado and stopped for a visit! He's off to do some great things and we are very happy for him and whatever endeavors he chooses to pursue. And as for our shenanigans...it was just like old times.
The game is (still) on: Sometimes you just have to watch the new Sherlock trailer over and over. We've lost count!
Being sick as an adult is not fun: Poor Kelly got stricken with an ear infection later in the month after ignoring it for a little while. Luckily she is on the mend and probably about 99% better.
Small steps of faith are worth taking...again! We were reminded of this one Sunday after hearing a repeat sermon we'd heard back in 2008-2009 as first year college students. The message's relevance was still meaningful, perhaps even more so. God truly has perfect timing.
Good things come to a city who waits: So many exciting eateries and opportunities have come to Berea just within the last couple of months, our favorite being a Thai noodle restaurant, Noodle Nirvana. DEEEEELISH. Check it out if you're in the area!
It pays off (literally): After five years Holly made her final student loan payment this month!! She is now enjoying a life of being debt free at 26. She thanks God and AmeriCorps for that!
What did you learn last month? P.S. is it just us, or how can it already be August???!
Time doesn't matter: A friend of ours visited at the end of the month for a long weekend and we had a marvelous time. Good food, catching up and picking up right where we left off, and it had been months since we saw each other. But it didn't matter at all!
Trips home are still needed and always enjoyable: We spent the 4th of July weekend in Ohio with our parents. It was a laugh filled weekend with croquet, shuffleboard, a beer or two, photo albums, some much needed rest and too much fun. Plus beautiful weather!! And J came with us as well :)
Balancing act: While we've had friends over and boyfriends (Holly's; Kelly is still available), it's sometimes been difficult to find time just for us. But that's ok; we treasure the time we share together and are continually learning to still carve out time for each other as we navigate these new and exciting endeavors!
Good things are happening all around: A longtime college friend breezed through our neck of the woods on the way to Colorado and stopped for a visit! He's off to do some great things and we are very happy for him and whatever endeavors he chooses to pursue. And as for our shenanigans...it was just like old times.
The game is (still) on: Sometimes you just have to watch the new Sherlock trailer over and over. We've lost count!
Being sick as an adult is not fun: Poor Kelly got stricken with an ear infection later in the month after ignoring it for a little while. Luckily she is on the mend and probably about 99% better.
Small steps of faith are worth taking...again! We were reminded of this one Sunday after hearing a repeat sermon we'd heard back in 2008-2009 as first year college students. The message's relevance was still meaningful, perhaps even more so. God truly has perfect timing.
Good things come to a city who waits: So many exciting eateries and opportunities have come to Berea just within the last couple of months, our favorite being a Thai noodle restaurant, Noodle Nirvana. DEEEEELISH. Check it out if you're in the area!
It pays off (literally): After five years Holly made her final student loan payment this month!! She is now enjoying a life of being debt free at 26. She thanks God and AmeriCorps for that!
What did you learn last month? P.S. is it just us, or how can it already be August???!
Thursday, July 28, 2016
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
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
Friday, July 15, 2016
The responsibility of reaching out
Holly and Kelly: Earlier this week Kelly confided that she had been feeling a little down and lonely lately. Changes in routine, daily lives, that sort of thing have caused some disarrayed emotions. I (Holly) suggested that perhaps she reach out. And then she made a point, and it stopped us dead in our tracks:
"Why do I have to be the one to reach out?"
Again...good point. It's not exactly a surprise that life has handed us a little bit of a curveball lately. But then she made a comparison...to bullying. Have you ever noticed that when someone becomes a victim of bullying, he/she gets advice such as, "Oh, just ignore it." "Stand up for yourself." "Don't let it get to you." Why is it hardly ever taken back to the one inflicting the bullying in the first place? Yeah, sure, the bully will get dragged to the principal's office...But, at least in our experience, it's never the bully's responsibility to quit bullying. It's the victim's responsibility to quit behaving, or simply existing, in a manner that warrants bullying in the first place.
Do you get what we're saying?
Kelly then spun the example to people who suffer from depression: Part of the recovery process is that they're encouraged to check in with a trusted friend or accountability partner on a regular basis. While I appreciate the notion of staying in touch and maintaining open lines of communication, especially with someone who's just gotten out of an unsafe or traumatic situation, it seems a little backwards to me: Shouldn't the person suffering from depression be checked on as regularly as they're checking in? And perhaps they are. But do you get what we're saying?
We're certainly not trying to guilt-trip anyone or make anyone feel bad. Please believe us! Life is busy and crazy, and we're certainly grateful that we have amazing people in our lives who don't hold that against us. But it's certainly not an excuse. So how about a challenge? The next time you hear of a friend or loved one in your life going through a hard time, or a rough patch, don't wait to hear about it on Facebook, don't wait for them to reach out to you. Make the first move. And be consistent! (That's what we struggle with the most!)
Sometimes getting better is about being better.
"Why do I have to be the one to reach out?"
Again...good point. It's not exactly a surprise that life has handed us a little bit of a curveball lately. But then she made a comparison...to bullying. Have you ever noticed that when someone becomes a victim of bullying, he/she gets advice such as, "Oh, just ignore it." "Stand up for yourself." "Don't let it get to you." Why is it hardly ever taken back to the one inflicting the bullying in the first place? Yeah, sure, the bully will get dragged to the principal's office...But, at least in our experience, it's never the bully's responsibility to quit bullying. It's the victim's responsibility to quit behaving, or simply existing, in a manner that warrants bullying in the first place.
Do you get what we're saying?
Kelly then spun the example to people who suffer from depression: Part of the recovery process is that they're encouraged to check in with a trusted friend or accountability partner on a regular basis. While I appreciate the notion of staying in touch and maintaining open lines of communication, especially with someone who's just gotten out of an unsafe or traumatic situation, it seems a little backwards to me: Shouldn't the person suffering from depression be checked on as regularly as they're checking in? And perhaps they are. But do you get what we're saying?
We're certainly not trying to guilt-trip anyone or make anyone feel bad. Please believe us! Life is busy and crazy, and we're certainly grateful that we have amazing people in our lives who don't hold that against us. But it's certainly not an excuse. So how about a challenge? The next time you hear of a friend or loved one in your life going through a hard time, or a rough patch, don't wait to hear about it on Facebook, don't wait for them to reach out to you. Make the first move. And be consistent! (That's what we struggle with the most!)
Sometimes getting better is about being better.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Things we learned in June
Sometimes the answers you're looking for may not be what you'd expect. Kelly is back in a boot! :(
It's hard going from 1000 to virtually 0 overnight, but we learned grace (and are still learning), and that sometimes, life makes us take a break to make sure we get ourselves where we need to be.
House-sitting (and dog sitting) is very time consuming. The next thing we knew we looked up and it was almost July and more than a week had gone by!! But it's gratifying to be needed, and to help friends of ours. Plus, kittens!
Again, life is short. A beloved Berea professor passed away mid June after battling an aggressive form of cancer. Life, whether it's shared, lived, or new, is a gift.
Having no internet is doable, but somewhat of an inconvenience. We love our local coffee shop and library as much as the next gals, but eventually being there for 3+ hours takes its toll.
We have some of the greatest friends. June was the month of Summerfest, cookouts, a birthday dinner to the Cheesecake Factory, and a surprise attack on Holly's room!
It's never too late. Holly's boyfriend got baptized the last weekend of the month. It was a beautiful evening, a beautiful moment, and a reminder that no matter where we get in life, no matter how big of a mess we make of our lives, God is right there waiting for us with open arms. We simply receive and accept His truly amazing grace. And if we seek Him with all that we are, He will be found by us.
Quite a busy month for us! What did you learn in the merry month of June?
It's hard going from 1000 to virtually 0 overnight, but we learned grace (and are still learning), and that sometimes, life makes us take a break to make sure we get ourselves where we need to be.
House-sitting (and dog sitting) is very time consuming. The next thing we knew we looked up and it was almost July and more than a week had gone by!! But it's gratifying to be needed, and to help friends of ours. Plus, kittens!
Again, life is short. A beloved Berea professor passed away mid June after battling an aggressive form of cancer. Life, whether it's shared, lived, or new, is a gift.
Having no internet is doable, but somewhat of an inconvenience. We love our local coffee shop and library as much as the next gals, but eventually being there for 3+ hours takes its toll.
We have some of the greatest friends. June was the month of Summerfest, cookouts, a birthday dinner to the Cheesecake Factory, and a surprise attack on Holly's room!
It's never too late. Holly's boyfriend got baptized the last weekend of the month. It was a beautiful evening, a beautiful moment, and a reminder that no matter where we get in life, no matter how big of a mess we make of our lives, God is right there waiting for us with open arms. We simply receive and accept His truly amazing grace. And if we seek Him with all that we are, He will be found by us.
Quite a busy month for us! What did you learn in the merry month of June?
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
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?
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?
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| Normally we don't let our kitties on tables...but the AC was out here, and it was close to the fan... |
Sunday, May 1, 2016
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.
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.
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| Happy b-day from Chicago! |
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
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)
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)
Monday, February 1, 2016
Things we learned in January
Holly and Kelly: So we stole this idea from a friend of ours. She has her own blog, Reflections in Writing, so you should check it out! Anyway, we have already completed one month in 2016 already (already??!!!) and we wanted to share some things we learned in this month.
God is working BIG: we've been attending church with some friends of ours, and the experience has been very rewarding for us. Though we have no intentions of leaving BBC anytime soon, it's just really awesome to see how God has been working in other parts of KY. The church is all Gods body, no matter where we end up going.
Snow: it still stinks, but you have to do what you must. And that opportunity when you FINALLY get to get out of the house is glorious!!!!
God is working BIG: we've been attending church with some friends of ours, and the experience has been very rewarding for us. Though we have no intentions of leaving BBC anytime soon, it's just really awesome to see how God has been working in other parts of KY. The church is all Gods body, no matter where we end up going.
Friend time is time well spent: even if it means late nights and little sleep.
Take a chance: even if it's a small one. Kelly reconnected with a good friend after over a year of no contact, and as for Holly? Well, let's just say she's off the market now ;)
Things we learned in January. What did you learn?
Monday, September 28, 2015
What (another) beautiful wedding!
Holly and Kelly: This past weekend was a dear friend's wedding! The three of us have been friends for about 11 years (and counting). We met when we were freshmen in high school; she's a year older than us. Right before Christmas, she asked us if we would be bridesmaids in her wedding, so of course we jumped on the opportunity! The kicker? The last time (other than this weekend) that we all saw each other was 4 years ago.
Yup. You read that right. If THAT doesn't stand the test of true friendship, I don't know what does!
The wedding was yesterday, and we couldn't have asked for a greater day weather wise. It was cool, sunny and breezy. Since it was in September, we were a bit worried about how the weather was going to cooperate, but it was perfect! I (Kelly) was worried about how much stress was going to be involved in being a bridesmaid and of course with nuptial drama (which there was very little), but it was actually one of the most low stress and low key weddings we've ever been to. Never mind the fact that the both of us were in the wedding too! There weren't a lot of people at the ceremony, too. It was outside on some guy's farm that he owned and uses for weddings and other things (it's called the Willow Tree in Tipp City, Ohio. Give the pics a look!)
Overall it was a really awesome weekend! It was great to reconnect with old friends and meet some new ones along the way. We adore her now hubs and could not have asked for a better fit! We'll put some pictures up and possibly share some more stories as they come up along the way! As our mom would say, it was a 10+ weekend!!!!!
Yup. You read that right. If THAT doesn't stand the test of true friendship, I don't know what does!
The wedding was yesterday, and we couldn't have asked for a greater day weather wise. It was cool, sunny and breezy. Since it was in September, we were a bit worried about how the weather was going to cooperate, but it was perfect! I (Kelly) was worried about how much stress was going to be involved in being a bridesmaid and of course with nuptial drama (which there was very little), but it was actually one of the most low stress and low key weddings we've ever been to. Never mind the fact that the both of us were in the wedding too! There weren't a lot of people at the ceremony, too. It was outside on some guy's farm that he owned and uses for weddings and other things (it's called the Willow Tree in Tipp City, Ohio. Give the pics a look!)
Overall it was a really awesome weekend! It was great to reconnect with old friends and meet some new ones along the way. We adore her now hubs and could not have asked for a better fit! We'll put some pictures up and possibly share some more stories as they come up along the way! As our mom would say, it was a 10+ weekend!!!!!
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| :) |
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
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! :)
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! :)
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| ROBERT!!!! <3 |
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| :) |
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| Sunset in the Kentucky Shire |
Sunday, March 29, 2015
We Choose Jesus Above Us: Winter Jam 2015
Holly and Kelly: So there we were, barreling through the traffic that is Winter Jam, on our way to meet Tony Nolan (which we did) and out of nowhere we saw THIS AWESOME GAL walkin on by. Kelly grabbed her by the arm and a 30 secondish screaming session began! We have not seen this awesome lady since her wedding day...which we wrote about right here! That was the middle of a pretty awesome night of worshiping Jesus through music, laughter, friends, a bit of testimony and a lot of fun!
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| !!!!!! |
Far and away, the best one we've attended! Yeah...that's pretty much it. We got to say hi to Tony Nolan for a few minutes. If you have not heard his testimony or heard him speak, do yourself a favor! We were pretty far up in the stands, but we certainly didn't let that stop us! All in all a good night of friends, new friends, laughter, good music, good messages, and most of all a wonderful night of giving it all back to the One who gave it to us in the first place. How great is our God!
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| Here's us with Tony Nolan :) |
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| Joel from fK&C bringin' tha word! |
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| Arise My Love!! |
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| Party on stage with Family Force 5 |
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| I love his heart for God! :) -H |
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| "Those nights kept me right." -Skillet |
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| Until next time! | \ |
The fact that we woke up with crazy headaches and barely any voice= worth it!
Sunday, December 21, 2014
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
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
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| One Last Time! (Photo c/o Kelly Gable) |
Monday, September 29, 2014
ALEP: More than just a long expected party
Holly and Kelly: I would also add sister bonding, music, weekend, unity and silly things to the labels part of this blog, but the label section cut me off after 200 characters. So much for that. Anyway, YES. This was the weekend of ALEP: A Long Expected Party. Now what was it? Fun, fellowship, geeking out, costumes, music, food, dancing, skits, workshops and PEOPLE. Lots of people! From all over the country and in some parts of the world...mostly Canada. It started this past Wednesday and concluded yesterday, and most people bought passes for the entire couple of days. As for the two of us, because we didn't know what we were going to be doing work wise and schedule wise, we opted for a Saturday day pass (bear in mind, we made these reservations 18 months ago. Not even joking. You wouldn't believe how fast spots filled up) And we're going to try and get some friends to come with us in 2017!!!!
We arrived Friday night around 7PM and checked into our room. Little did we know that's when the adventure would begin. We stayed in the West Lot Dwelling, which if you've ever been to Shaker Village, you know that....well, it's kind of out there. A mile and a half out there, away from the main part of the village. By the time we arrived it was starting to get dark. We got in the car and drove to the house, couldn't see the sign (which we figured out later that that was it) and then realized maybe we missed it and drove back to the main part of the village. We walked around for over an hour, going into the different houses where people stayed, desperately trying to find our room! Then, it dawned on me, maybe the building we saw the first time was it. So we drove allllllllllllll the way back out there (and it was dark by this point) and went to the first building we found, and sure enough, that was it. Holly's room key had two keys on it and mine only had one; the check in person at the desk said that she didn't need the second key but said to just keep it there so they wouldn't have to worry about it. We got to the West Lot house and the door was locked. I told her "try that other key the desk person said was useless" and sure enough, that spare key opened the side door. Thank GOODNESS we had it, otherwise we would have been stuck. So we moved all our stuff in, got settled and drove BACK to the main area, chilled out at the Dancing Pony, met a few people and that was the end of Friday. There were lots of catchy drinking songs; yes we have videos but they are too big and Blogger doesn't like that.
The big party was at the site where our house was we were staying at, so we took naps! The party site looked pretty much dead-on to Bilbo's birthday party in Fellowship. There was also a Bag End site that was built by two of the coordinators of ALEP. Let me tell you it is a SPOT ON replica (pictured below). Holly also did a Bag End painting about a year ago...it's in our den :)
We arrived Friday night around 7PM and checked into our room. Little did we know that's when the adventure would begin. We stayed in the West Lot Dwelling, which if you've ever been to Shaker Village, you know that....well, it's kind of out there. A mile and a half out there, away from the main part of the village. By the time we arrived it was starting to get dark. We got in the car and drove to the house, couldn't see the sign (which we figured out later that that was it) and then realized maybe we missed it and drove back to the main part of the village. We walked around for over an hour, going into the different houses where people stayed, desperately trying to find our room! Then, it dawned on me, maybe the building we saw the first time was it. So we drove allllllllllllll the way back out there (and it was dark by this point) and went to the first building we found, and sure enough, that was it. Holly's room key had two keys on it and mine only had one; the check in person at the desk said that she didn't need the second key but said to just keep it there so they wouldn't have to worry about it. We got to the West Lot house and the door was locked. I told her "try that other key the desk person said was useless" and sure enough, that spare key opened the side door. Thank GOODNESS we had it, otherwise we would have been stuck. So we moved all our stuff in, got settled and drove BACK to the main area, chilled out at the Dancing Pony, met a few people and that was the end of Friday. There were lots of catchy drinking songs; yes we have videos but they are too big and Blogger doesn't like that.
Saturday was a beautiful day! We got up early and I (Kelly) went downstairs to the kitchen and fumbled around trying to figure out how to use the complimentary coffee maker. It worked, after about 5 minutes of tinkering with it. Once we got to the main village, we just walked around, since nothing started till 10 in the morning and we got up there at like 9ish. It was nice to look around, explore and actually see all the sites in daylight! We ran into a few people we met the night before and bought some cool little trinkets (and I bought an Evenstar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Right before lunch time we went to a workshop by an artist who showcased various paintings and sketches of Middle Earth from the beginning of it until the fourth age (the end of Middle Earth). Oh. My Goodness. Beautiful and stunning artwork....kinda wish we would have snagged some pictures of them. After lunch was a bit of chill time before we decided to join the Hobbit choir. Our selections were May it Be and The Road Goes Ever On, which is from the musical. Yes, there is a LOTR musical and apparently will be world touring next year. Wee.
The big party was at the site where our house was we were staying at, so we took naps! The party site looked pretty much dead-on to Bilbo's birthday party in Fellowship. There was also a Bag End site that was built by two of the coordinators of ALEP. Let me tell you it is a SPOT ON replica (pictured below). Holly also did a Bag End painting about a year ago...it's in our den :)
So anyway, thus the party began. It was all outside and there were tables and chairs set up under lights and paper lanterns. Like I said, it looked exactly like Hobbiton. We were joined at a table with the only person we knew at the time and met lots of other awesome people! What was so interesting was that we were some of the youngest attendees, with the exception of a few families who brought their young children. At this party, there was AWESOME food, music (major kudos to the Great Hobbit Jam Band) and a HILARIOUS skit near the end. I would post my video, but Lord of the peepers took over and its sound quality is a bit rubbish, but I still have it for my enjoyment. Holly has a video as well, but its watchers may endure a grand mal seizure in an attempt to view it. Anyway, after the sun went down it got a bit chilly but there were gracious individuals who were warm hearted...and also had a few matches to spare for some lanterns that had tea lights in them. After a final parting song, we made our way back to the Dancing Pony again where we chatted, nibbled and had some lovely tea and used our new tea pots. Then it turned into a mini bar where a bit of drunken foolishness occurred and we left. This was at about 1AM and we got back to our room and craaaaaaaaashed.
Sunday was very lovely. We arose a bit early, packed up our room and drove to the main village again. Debbie, who we knew and goes to our church and told us about this in the first place, led a mini church service so to speak. None of us were expecting a good turnout but actually about 20 people showed up! We sang, prayed and Debbie shared a devotional that she wrote, and it was lovely. After mini church, we stayed around for a bit and watched a fan made movie called The Hunt for Gollum. For being done by fans, it was really well done! The cinematography was stunning! Then we drove home, and on the way home my GPS got a bit wonky and we ended up driving through Danville. It was a nice detour to say the least. So there you have it. ALEP in a nut shell. Overall, the time was too short. It was too fast. We met a lot of awesome people, some only briefly, but there is no doubt we will meet again. It was more than just a bunch of costumes, dancing and food. It was a retreat, so to speak. A revamping of it all, not necessarily an escape, but a respite. It was different and special. And on that note, we will close with this:
I (Holly) wrote this in my journal last night, and I think it captures the spirit and mentality of the weekend perfectly. Until 2017...
I met so many wonderful people, all from such vast and different walks of life. And yet, despite our differences, backgrounds, characters of choice, we were all bonded and united by this one love of this brilliant soul and his magical world that will forever captivate us...I pray for a continued, prolonged sense of wonder, that we will establish our own Shires, wherever we may be, and that we will never, ever lose sight of not only the time spent together this weekend, but of the One who made it all possible in the first place.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Three cheers for H and K!!
Holly: Ach!! That magical all-elusive date has come and gone again! How time just seems to march right on by.
Yesterday was August 20th, THE THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OUR BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D YAAAAHHHOOOOOOYAAAAAAYYY!!!
I still can't believe we're chuggin' along, and that we are. They say "what a difference a year can make" and what a year it has been! It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating 2 years of this blogosphere of wonder and now here we are again, 3 years strong. 3 years of not running out of stuff to talk about. Imagine that! So much has happened this year and we still have so much more to look forward to!
I think we're going to keep at it. In fact, there is no "I think"; we ARE going to keep at it. Thank you all, once again, for chuggin' along with us. Here's to many more years!
Kelly: Trying to type this with a kitty on my lap (a Yoda kitty to be more specific) will be most interesting. Like I say every year when this comes up, I never thought it would make it another year. This has been the first full year of our lives we are both working "full time" and neither one of us are in school. It's been fun and awesome and by far the most crazy! Hard to believe how fast the time seems to go, and it feels like this year went by the fastest. But yeah. 3 years. This blog idea was born after the two of us came home from our respective abroad endeavors and decided this would be not only fun for us but a bonding experience too. We have enjoyed coming back to this blog, even though we haven't been able to post as much in a while, but still. This isn't just for us, but all of our readers too. We want this to be a safe place to read our thoughts and to explore your own thoughts on the topic at hand. We don't do this to get it out there and see how many people will follow it in one day, no.
That's one of the great things about this blog and the fact we write it together; there's always something to talk about! Often I see stuff on the news or hear something on the radio and still after all this time tell myself "that would be good to blog about." And we do this too with conversations we have. So there you have it. Three years! Here's to hoping we'll have a four year post next year!
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| August 20, 2011- date of blog launch |
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| August 20, 2012- one year after blog launch |
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| August 21, 2013- two years and one day after blog launch |
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| Today! August 21, 2014- three years and one day after blog launch. With Yoda :) |
Monday, August 18, 2014
The Singles Industry
Kelly: "You just know."
But really? Does any one person ever just "know?" If anyone who has ever been in my shoes and has heard that phrase, you feel the same way I do; it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Yes, we're talking about being single, more importantly single women. To me it seems that there are so many things that give me the impression that being single is a problem to be fixed. And you know what really gets me? There is so much media giving attention to singleness written/advertised by MARRIED women! Let me give you a few examples; blog posts written about being single (by married women), an advertisement on K-LOVE about Proverbs 31 ministries and most of the content of their message is geared towards married women. I'm going to be completely honest, those are the last things I want to see and hear about when it comes to singleness.
Not going to lie, I enjoy being single right now. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever find "the one" and while my answer is yes, the truth is I'm not really in any hurry. I sincerely believe God will place the right person in my life and in the meantime I'm going to enjoy the ride. And for the record, I love spending time with my married friends and my friends who are in relationships (and none of them have done these things!) I've learned so much about being in a relationship from them and they are good models for me. I don't feel uncomfortable around them at all. I remember being in high school and sometimes my friends would try to hook me up with a guy they thought I would like, and my freshman year I actually caved and went along with a hook up. He was in 7th grade and had a crush on me since the beginning of time. Needless to say, it lasted about a week and I told him it wasn't him but it was everyone else calling the shots except me, and I had a problem with that. Of course he was crushed, but I did it for the best. Fast forward to 6 years later; I was a junior in college and this guy Facebook messaged me. I won't go into the nitty gritty details, but basically he wanted me back. Not joking. I ran from my dorm to Holly's and told her everything. Very few people know that story. The point is, it's ok to be single; enjoy it. Good grief I knew so many people who seemed to have a new relationship every week. It was exhausting. I don't have a "Mr. Right" in my life yet, but the tides seem to be changing, and I am open to that. So married friends; let your friends be single. Let them enjoy it. Be good examples of a good relationship.
Holly: I'm not going to lie, I harbor a bit of animosity towards the singles industry. Let me explain: On Facebook or something, every now and then I'll come across an article, blog post, something of that nature, with a comment along the lines of "Shout out to all my single friends, this is for YOU!" And guess what? 9 times out of 10, it comes from someone WHO ISN'T SINGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Immediately tuned out. Sorry, but that's just how it is. If you're a single lady (or guy!!) and you post something like that, then I will be much more inclined to give you the time of day. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is for me. I know it's a bit brash. But let me make a few points:
How about more articles, blog posts, etc, celebrating singleness? The fact that I am 24 years old and am able to keep a roof over my head, pay my bills on time, not starve to death, find a job I enjoy, ALL THE WHILE being comfortable in my own singleness is pretty applause-worthy to me. Or anyone who is able to do all those things, for that matter. Nope. Instead, we are bombarded with "How to be the perfect wife", or advertisements for dating sites, Facebook friends jumping from one relationship to the next, and the list goes on. Now please do not misunderstand me. I envision myself getting married someday. I'm going to be a bridesmaid next summer and I couldn't be more thrilled for my friend. I would not be opposed to going on a date or two in the forseeable future. But what's the hurry? It seems like people are getting married younger and younger these days. I feel like in today's society, if you hit your mid-20s and you're not married yet, then something's wrong with you. I'll be 25 in about 8 months or so. Is something wrong with me? I certainly don't think so. For now, I'm going to keep my options open...and continue enjoying my singleness. Who's with me?
But really? Does any one person ever just "know?" If anyone who has ever been in my shoes and has heard that phrase, you feel the same way I do; it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Yes, we're talking about being single, more importantly single women. To me it seems that there are so many things that give me the impression that being single is a problem to be fixed. And you know what really gets me? There is so much media giving attention to singleness written/advertised by MARRIED women! Let me give you a few examples; blog posts written about being single (by married women), an advertisement on K-LOVE about Proverbs 31 ministries and most of the content of their message is geared towards married women. I'm going to be completely honest, those are the last things I want to see and hear about when it comes to singleness.
Not going to lie, I enjoy being single right now. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever find "the one" and while my answer is yes, the truth is I'm not really in any hurry. I sincerely believe God will place the right person in my life and in the meantime I'm going to enjoy the ride. And for the record, I love spending time with my married friends and my friends who are in relationships (and none of them have done these things!) I've learned so much about being in a relationship from them and they are good models for me. I don't feel uncomfortable around them at all. I remember being in high school and sometimes my friends would try to hook me up with a guy they thought I would like, and my freshman year I actually caved and went along with a hook up. He was in 7th grade and had a crush on me since the beginning of time. Needless to say, it lasted about a week and I told him it wasn't him but it was everyone else calling the shots except me, and I had a problem with that. Of course he was crushed, but I did it for the best. Fast forward to 6 years later; I was a junior in college and this guy Facebook messaged me. I won't go into the nitty gritty details, but basically he wanted me back. Not joking. I ran from my dorm to Holly's and told her everything. Very few people know that story. The point is, it's ok to be single; enjoy it. Good grief I knew so many people who seemed to have a new relationship every week. It was exhausting. I don't have a "Mr. Right" in my life yet, but the tides seem to be changing, and I am open to that. So married friends; let your friends be single. Let them enjoy it. Be good examples of a good relationship.
Holly: I'm not going to lie, I harbor a bit of animosity towards the singles industry. Let me explain: On Facebook or something, every now and then I'll come across an article, blog post, something of that nature, with a comment along the lines of "Shout out to all my single friends, this is for YOU!" And guess what? 9 times out of 10, it comes from someone WHO ISN'T SINGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Immediately tuned out. Sorry, but that's just how it is. If you're a single lady (or guy!!) and you post something like that, then I will be much more inclined to give you the time of day. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is for me. I know it's a bit brash. But let me make a few points:
How about more articles, blog posts, etc, celebrating singleness? The fact that I am 24 years old and am able to keep a roof over my head, pay my bills on time, not starve to death, find a job I enjoy, ALL THE WHILE being comfortable in my own singleness is pretty applause-worthy to me. Or anyone who is able to do all those things, for that matter. Nope. Instead, we are bombarded with "How to be the perfect wife", or advertisements for dating sites, Facebook friends jumping from one relationship to the next, and the list goes on. Now please do not misunderstand me. I envision myself getting married someday. I'm going to be a bridesmaid next summer and I couldn't be more thrilled for my friend. I would not be opposed to going on a date or two in the forseeable future. But what's the hurry? It seems like people are getting married younger and younger these days. I feel like in today's society, if you hit your mid-20s and you're not married yet, then something's wrong with you. I'll be 25 in about 8 months or so. Is something wrong with me? I certainly don't think so. For now, I'm going to keep my options open...and continue enjoying my singleness. Who's with me?
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Things change/remembering Brian
Kelly: The ever so cliche saying of God making good out of something bad really is true. We were 15 when Brian passed away; still young and clueless. Heck, I'm still young and clueless, but that's beside the point. But after the funeral, I remember feeling a sense of closure, but that sense of closure soon turning into anger. I was angry at God; angry and wondering how He could take someone I had barely known away from me. From the rest of his friends. From his family. It didn't seem fair. A few weeks prior to his death, he went to some camp....sadly I can't remember which one, and he accepted Christ. Again, I don't remember where I heard that from. He was about to start his senior year of high school and was supposed to graduate with our brother.
Then coming to college and things changed. I thought about Brian a lot. But that night I accepted Christ into my life (again) I realized and was comforted at the fact that he was in Heaven with Jesus, and it felt...right. And now, fast forward to 9 years later. I'm working where I love and loving what I do. So often I get patients who are depressed and want to end their own lives, usually because of a loss in their lives. Lost their jobs, going through a divorce/separation, and most often loss of a loved one. I always try to tell them that times are hard, but somehow we find the strength to make it through. My strength came from (and still does) come from God, but way back then I didn't realize that. Or if I did, I was just too busy being pissed off. And now, our lives are going on, and the world is still spinning. I still do think of Brian, but not as often as I used to. But when I do think of him, I think of my other friends, who for whatever reason or rhyme are still in my life but live far away. I don't know when I'll ever see them again, but I pray for their happiness and safety often. I am at peace, because I know Brian is in a better place, and I do hope one day when my time comes I will see him again.
Holly: It's amazing, and a bit staggering, to be honest, at how sometimes things can change so quickly. Like this week, for example. Monday, I woke up to another normal work day; Tuesday, I had my Grow Appalachia interview; Wednesday, another work day; Thursday, I received the offer; and yesterday, I submitted my resignation to my supervisor. That's that. It's done, just like that. On paper, my last day at UK is August 15th, just shy of three weeks from now. My days at UK are numbered, I have some time in between, and then on August 25th I hop on a plane to either Philadelphia, DC, Columbus, or Atlanta, and start a new chapter in my life. Things change.
And then, yesterday, I thought a lot of Brian. I still remember that day very fondly; just another day of marching band practice. We were all in the auditorium and then my friend was running to Kelly and I saying "it's Brian, he's gone." Things change.
Yesterday, July 25th, was 9 years since we lost our friend Brian, killed in a car accident. Brian was a friend whom we had just barely gotten to know, and yet...I don't know if I can speak for everyone, but I felt as if I'd known him my whole life. He could make anybody laugh. When we all parted ways for the summer I almost couldn't wait for the new school year to start, just to see what sort of shenanigans our group could get into. Our group all saw each other again that summer, but it was at his funeral. Not long after that, school started again. That was 9 years ago. I was 15 years old, still a kid, still had so much of high school left, hadn't even heard of Berea College, thought that friendships lasted forever, thought band was my world, and you know...the list goes on. I've done a lot of growing up since then, but I still think of Brian often. Things change, yes they do. But never forget where you were and what has happened.
We all change, when you think about it. We are all different people, all through our lives, and that's ok! That's good! You've got to keep moving, so long as you remember all the people you used to be.
Then coming to college and things changed. I thought about Brian a lot. But that night I accepted Christ into my life (again) I realized and was comforted at the fact that he was in Heaven with Jesus, and it felt...right. And now, fast forward to 9 years later. I'm working where I love and loving what I do. So often I get patients who are depressed and want to end their own lives, usually because of a loss in their lives. Lost their jobs, going through a divorce/separation, and most often loss of a loved one. I always try to tell them that times are hard, but somehow we find the strength to make it through. My strength came from (and still does) come from God, but way back then I didn't realize that. Or if I did, I was just too busy being pissed off. And now, our lives are going on, and the world is still spinning. I still do think of Brian, but not as often as I used to. But when I do think of him, I think of my other friends, who for whatever reason or rhyme are still in my life but live far away. I don't know when I'll ever see them again, but I pray for their happiness and safety often. I am at peace, because I know Brian is in a better place, and I do hope one day when my time comes I will see him again.
Holly: It's amazing, and a bit staggering, to be honest, at how sometimes things can change so quickly. Like this week, for example. Monday, I woke up to another normal work day; Tuesday, I had my Grow Appalachia interview; Wednesday, another work day; Thursday, I received the offer; and yesterday, I submitted my resignation to my supervisor. That's that. It's done, just like that. On paper, my last day at UK is August 15th, just shy of three weeks from now. My days at UK are numbered, I have some time in between, and then on August 25th I hop on a plane to either Philadelphia, DC, Columbus, or Atlanta, and start a new chapter in my life. Things change.
And then, yesterday, I thought a lot of Brian. I still remember that day very fondly; just another day of marching band practice. We were all in the auditorium and then my friend was running to Kelly and I saying "it's Brian, he's gone." Things change.
Yesterday, July 25th, was 9 years since we lost our friend Brian, killed in a car accident. Brian was a friend whom we had just barely gotten to know, and yet...I don't know if I can speak for everyone, but I felt as if I'd known him my whole life. He could make anybody laugh. When we all parted ways for the summer I almost couldn't wait for the new school year to start, just to see what sort of shenanigans our group could get into. Our group all saw each other again that summer, but it was at his funeral. Not long after that, school started again. That was 9 years ago. I was 15 years old, still a kid, still had so much of high school left, hadn't even heard of Berea College, thought that friendships lasted forever, thought band was my world, and you know...the list goes on. I've done a lot of growing up since then, but I still think of Brian often. Things change, yes they do. But never forget where you were and what has happened.
We all change, when you think about it. We are all different people, all through our lives, and that's ok! That's good! You've got to keep moving, so long as you remember all the people you used to be.
Friday, May 30, 2014
30 Days of Doctor Who: Favorite friendship/Favorite spoof
Holly: All together now: "Doctor Donna, friend! Doctor Donna, friend! Doctor Donna, friend!"
In terms of comic relief, these two definitely take the cake- they bicker and nitpick each other so much it's almost like watching an old married couple, which they actually get mistaken for a time or two. A married couple, not an "old" married couple.....ANYWAY. They go on some pretty wild adventures together. Donna gets to meet Martha, the Doctor's "daughter", and even Rose! Though the story has a terribly heartbreaking ending, it's still a hoot to watch them. Plus, without Donna, you don't get Wilf, which....oh Lord. If you don't love Wilf, you're wrong. End of discussion.
Kelly: You see, I have a different take on the first pairing; The Doctor and Rose.
Yes, I do believe that without a doubt they loved each other. However I don't think it was always so. Like any couple starting out and wondering if there is "something more," it's like meeting a new friend. Especially with Rose and Ten; she had to re learn to trust, believe and ultimately love a new face all over again. Again, I think that they did love each other, yes, but I think their love was a brother/sister/looking out for each other love...that is, until Journey's End. And when you think about it, when someone gets married, they "marry their best friend." So that's the way I see it. It's a love, like a romantic love, but I think they also have a "best buddy" sort of love, if that makes sense. You see their relationship flourish throughout seasons 1 and 2, and you're just like oh my GOSH. I hope to have that with someone one day. They don't come right out and say "I love you," well....ok, there was once...SPOILERS. But it is sweet nonetheless. They complete each other. And you know what else is so great? They hit it off in real life and to my knowledge are still friends today. Now isn't that just super awesome?
Our favorite spoof/spin off is one that I stumbled upon while just browsing the world wide web one day. No, we haven't seen Torchwood or the Sarah Jane Chronicles or any of the animated stuff, and we're still undecided about whether or not we want to delve into those yet. Anyway, this one we found is called The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. It was created by David Tennant's wife Georgia for the 50th Anniversary celebration of the show. It's in the style of The Office; as a "mockumentary/drama" sort of thing, and it's just goofy and fun. It features just about everyone who's been on the show, and it takes a look at some of the older doctors and "what they've done post Doctor Who" since they have hung up their keys to the TARDIS. It's only 30 minutes long, and if you are a fan of Who definitely take a look at it; if you just google it you should be able to find it. Please enjoy.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
30 Days of Doctor Who: Favorite Couple
Kelly: This took me a while to deliberate, but my favorite are the sweet, lovable and adorable Ponds!
I think I love them so much because they remind me of me; it took them a while to realize they were more than friends, found something, had some problems but got back together. Though I'm currently not in a relationship....there has been something stirring around in my life for a wee bit...stay tuned on that. They then let the Doctor into their lives and house when he has to solve the mystery of the millions of small cubes...ahh another one of my favorite episodes. Plus Rory's a nurse...like me!!! Like many of the Doctor's companions, he helps them, but I think that though he doesn't know it, they help him too. I hope one day to find someone who loves Amy the way Rory does. A man who would wait 2,000 YEARS for the woman he loves is a keeper, whoops. Spoilers.
Holly: If Amy and Rory were any sweeter, I would have diabetes. Fo shiz. I'm going to talk about a fairly popular combination.........drum roll please................
Ah yes, Ten and Rose. I loved them within the first five minutes of them being on screen together (granted, Ten was newly regenerated and mostly in a comatose-like state), but I digress. Rose was his first companion, and over just the one season with Nine we went from MAJOR uncertainty, almost a brashness, to a deep caring, on both parts. Rose was devastated to lose Nine, and it took a while for her to warm up to this completely different Doctor. And then we lost Rose......man, that still gets me after all this time.
I don't care what anyone else says, plain and simple, they loved each other. Heck, Rose was the ONLY companion to tell the Doctor "I love you". Traveling with the Doctor changed Rose, definitely, but it's only until later when we realize that traveling with Rose changed the Doctor as well. "You made me better," he tells her towards the end of "Journey's End". She saved him from himself, and he saved her from a life full of "what ifs". And then some. I think, secretly, they both made us all better. The end of their story, of course, is nothing short of heartbreaking, but I think that in any love story there is some element of tragedy, loss.
I love their story, I love watching them together. I don't think I'll ever grow tired of it.
 |
| Maw!!! Don't you just love them? :))))) |
Holly: If Amy and Rory were any sweeter, I would have diabetes. Fo shiz. I'm going to talk about a fairly popular combination.........drum roll please................
 |
| You probably guessed it a long time ago :) |
I don't care what anyone else says, plain and simple, they loved each other. Heck, Rose was the ONLY companion to tell the Doctor "I love you". Traveling with the Doctor changed Rose, definitely, but it's only until later when we realize that traveling with Rose changed the Doctor as well. "You made me better," he tells her towards the end of "Journey's End". She saved him from himself, and he saved her from a life full of "what ifs". And then some. I think, secretly, they both made us all better. The end of their story, of course, is nothing short of heartbreaking, but I think that in any love story there is some element of tragedy, loss.
I love their story, I love watching them together. I don't think I'll ever grow tired of it.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
30 Days of Doctor Who: Character you love that everyone hates
Kelly: Martha Jones. Seriously...WHAT is with all the Martha hate?! I don't get it. Next to Rose, she's my favorite solo companion. Ok, I will be honest, she did irritate me at first, but then at the end of Smith and Jones she redeemed herself big. Like I said, she's now my second favorite companion. And that's all I really have to say about that.
Holly: Maybe because she asks a lot of questions???? Heck, I do that :P NEXT!! Seriously, I think her story arc is the best out of the companions: she starts out snarky and unsure to being the one person the Doctor can depend on, not to mention kicking some serious tail and literally saving the world (and the Doctor too!). I don't get it either. I will admit, I was the least emotionally attached to her because her exit was not horrendously sad or tragic, but I still missed her when she "got out" (SPOILERS).
Anyway, like Kelly, I don't really understand all the hate either. Perhaps someone could shed some light on it...? Or not. We still love season 3 anyway :P
Holly: Maybe because she asks a lot of questions???? Heck, I do that :P NEXT!! Seriously, I think her story arc is the best out of the companions: she starts out snarky and unsure to being the one person the Doctor can depend on, not to mention kicking some serious tail and literally saving the world (and the Doctor too!). I don't get it either. I will admit, I was the least emotionally attached to her because her exit was not horrendously sad or tragic, but I still missed her when she "got out" (SPOILERS).
Anyway, like Kelly, I don't really understand all the hate either. Perhaps someone could shed some light on it...? Or not. We still love season 3 anyway :P
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