It all goes to the bad...

Kelly: Have you ever noticed that when someone acts up, throws a fit, gets angry and starts swinging some fists, or when someone talks just to "make a scene," that everyone LOSES THEIR MINDS? Now what do I mean by LOSING THEIR MINDS? They validate it, affirm it, and a slew of "right on's!" and "yeah!" and "you tell them!" are certain to follow. Especially where I work; negative and crappy attitudes just feed one right into the other. One bad and crappy attitude can run the show, and everyone just eats it up. Or when something happens that makes you angry/frustrated, and you dwell on it, and dwell on it, and dwell on it....over, and over, and over. And THEN....on the flip side of that, when like me, I show up, act like my happy-go-lucky self, it arouses suspicion. Like....why are you being so nice? Stop that.

So is that just me? Anyone? 

But sometimes, negativity really REALLY affects me, to the point to where I feel it, deep down in my core and I have to physically remove myself from the person or situation. It's honestly one of the most baffling phenomenons I still to this day experience. I don't get it. Can't wrap my head around it. It just makes me wonder, why do we put so much attention to crappy attitudes or rip roaring rage fests? And admit it....we all do it. It's splattered all over social media day after day after day, demanding our attention. It's human nature, I guess, but still. And I do it too, all the time. God has really been challenging me to focus on the nature of my heart, instead of what's swirling around in my head and the words I say. It hasn't been easy, because sometimes we just want to go with the flow of things, even if it means going with the flow of a toxic environment.

I was talking to my dad last night, and he said he was really inspired by how Holly and I handle things. We were just in Florida not too long ago, and some things happened and we ended up going in the wrong direction on the way to the airport. And I just...rolled with it, even though my nerves were frayed. Eventually, I let it go; I had no control over it. Let me tell you, it makes a difference, and I'm going to level with you all, I just really try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Stuff happens. I get it. We're all wired differently. But the sooner you just let the crap go and focus on things/feelings/stuff that's more worthy of our beck and call, you will be amazed at how....smoothly things just seem to go.

Holly: I'm with my sis on this one. I don't get it either. 

Something Kelly says often, and I'm fairly certain she got it from her work, is "You are responsible for the way that you act, no matter how you feel." I am a generally upbeat person by nature, and I try not to let things get to me. But when I'm exposed to constant negativity, it really does seep into me.  It's toxic! That's the way it was with an old friendship of ours, there towards the end; I'd just get in a funk or in a sour mood afterwards, just because I just had all this negative junk unloaded on me. I never understood, and still don't understand, how you can let one little thing get to you. 

Yes, we are wired differently. I get that, and I try to be mindful of that. But how about instead of reinforcing negative behavior or actions, we reinforce positive behavior or actions? The way I see it is that there's WAY too much negativity in the world as it is. And I'm certainly not saying be a ray of sunshine all the time. I get frustrated and disappointed all the time. But you can try- you can at least try to put a positive spin on things. In fact, I encourage you to try it. I think you'll be surprised.

I want to close with something unrelated, per Kelly's recommendation: I shared something on my Facebook page earlier today and I hope that you are encouraged by it. Because the truth is that God does love us and He does know our deepest desires, and He cherishes us and wants the best for us.

Look to God. He can take it. Choose joy. Be encouraging.

God does answer prayer. I definitely believe that. But sometimes, His answer is "No."
I was dealt the reality of that just this week.

Sometimes we are so convinced that when we receive something, it's from God. And while it very well may be, at least in my own situation, things didn't go as I'd hoped, and at the end of it I was left very broken and hurt. As I did some devotional reading this week, I realized that when God told me "No" in this particular situation, it was because He was preparing me for something better. We don't often see it that way in the moment, because we're in the midst of pain and inner turmoil, but when we are able to look back and recognize that God truly does desire the absolute best for us...it's a relief, almost.

God is good!

You're the Inspiration!

Holly: No, we're not about to break out into song here...although who doesn't love Chicago? Anyway, a little off topic here. Happy October, everyone! Is it just me or is 2015 flying right by? It seems like just yesterday we were all digging ourselves out of substantial amounts of white stuff, and now it seems like a distant memory, one I'm sure many of us wouldn't mind forgetting.

Life is pretty swell for us lately. It definitely hasn't come without its share of bumps, but that's another set of stories for another day :) Part of the swellness of life for us is our work, and that's where my story begins...

Today I attended a workshop that catered to, admittedly, mostly Berea faculty, but there were Development staff present, as well as myself and one of my bosses. The topic, along with many other sub-topics, was philanthropic fundraising: identifying donors, relating to donors on a personal level, some strategies, etc etc etc. I won't bore y'all, but one of the "kickers" was sharing stories that inspire. I was seated next to a current Berea professor and we both marveled at the fact that Berea draws in a crowd that has some pretty incredible stories. This professor was telling about a current student of his: how she'd come from a poor family in Alabama, how she'd had numerous travel and internship opportunities, how she was doing "exceptional work" (his words), and that she was working multiple jobs even as a student. And, he concluded, "she's still not done yet." I was immediately struck by something, and I verbalized it almost immediately, "I love this story," I said, "I mean, I could be here all day going on about the professors that inspired me, but it's so cool- the professors are inspired by the students too." He agreed, but then commented that he didn't think that he made an impact on his students- it was the joy of seeing his students thrive and realize their potential that made the difference.

But that's where I [mentally] disagree. If you don't think you've made an impact, or been at least some degree of inspiration, that is not true. For me, anyway. Even with the classes that I absolutely HATED (and there were a few), I still learned something. I was still challenged in some way, be it through an assignment, or even a way of thinking. And with those professors that immediately stick out in my mind having been the most influential to me, both personally and professionally...I could fill volumes. There is something to be said about attending a college in which the opportunity to build a relationship with a professor, both in and out of class, is not only more than just an idea; it's a living, tangible, meaningful reality. From way too many after-class conversations about EVERYTHING, to just learning how to deal with people when they weren't at their best, I graduated from Berea College with more than just a Bachelor's degree.

Kelly: I was sitting in the chair of my department's office, crying. Graduation was 3 months away, and I was dead set in my head that I was going to fail the program in my last semester. I was pouring my heart out, verbalizing feelings of "feeling picked on," like a failure and feeling like I was miles behind my 12 classmates. After I got it all out, she first said that I was past the point of failing. The second thing she said to me I still remember to this day.

"You can do this, and you're going to do this."

So I did. I made it through, graduated, and passed the boards the first time around. I feel like I owe part of my career and the nurse that I am to Berea College. They pushed me and all of us not because they didn't care, but because they did care. I feel like at any other college they would just be like "well too bad" while still taking my money. Now that I'm a working nurse, I find myself hoping that I say or do something to inspire my patients. But 9 times out of 10, it's them who are inspiring me. I have learned so much from these people, because that's who they are before patients, they are people. Just recently, I was thinking about my time at Berea, which is something that I still do from time to time. One professor came to mind, and ironically it wasn't one I had for one of my nursing classes. I took this class with this specific professor on the recommendation of Holly and also, quite frankly, I just needed the filler so the college wouldn't get mad at me and drop me to only part-time status. It turned out to be one of the most challenging, yet fulfilling courses in my time. Completely disregard the fact the professor had bipolar disorder and....yeah.....part of my career goes there too. That class and the teaching and the all of it also spear-headed me to being where I am.

The point I'm trying to make through all of this is that you never know whose lives you are changing, and whose changing your lives. Think of those in your life that have inspired you. Is there a possibility that you've inspired them as well? My answer is probably.

A Richmond chapter begins

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

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

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

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

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

We were like ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME.

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

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

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

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

Emma Watson is not Hermione Granger

Kelly: And Martin Freeman is not Bilbo Baggins.
Benedict Cumberbatch is not Sherlock Holmes.
Also...Benedict Cumberbatch is off the market and happily married....LADIES.

Get over it!

It had to be said. It just had to. One of my biggest pet peeves is the way some people post things about actors/actresses and they don't even use their real names. Case and point the above of this post. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but in a way it seems disrespectful to me when people do that. Today in church our pastor was talking about the fact that our self-worth is not measured up by how useful we are. So what would happen if Emma Watson never took on the role of Hermione Granger? Would people even recognize her or pass her a second thought? It's uncertain of me to say, but I hope it makes you think. Jesus loves us all so much and thinks that we are priceless; so priceless that He died for us! It doesn't matter if we're famous or just the other every day Average Joe. God doesn't see me as the psych nurse, or Holly as the non-profit worker, or Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug the Dragon. No! He sees each and every one of us as His precious children whom He loves very much and created in His own image.

And I've been guilty of it too; following what the fans say when things pop up on the Internet. But lately I've been known to bite my tongue and remember "ok, they're regular people like us before they're actors." But even above THAT they're children of Christ. We all are. So how about we start showing some respect for everyone in who we really are in Him and not who we are or were in the past. I'm not going to be a psych nurse forever. Holly isn't going to be a VISTA forever. The Harry Potter movie franchise is done, but not forgotten. Try to take the time to see each other as God sees us.

Holly: It's no surprise that Kelly and I are die-hard fans of for KING & COUNTRY (If you've been following us for a while and you haven't managed to listen to them yet, please do yourselves a favor!).  One of the many reasons we're fans of them is because of what they stand up for.  They have a "campaign", if you will; Respect & Honor.  Today during church I was reminded of why I wear my Respect & Honor wristband every day, and the sermon and above thoughts from both Kelly and I really drove the point home for me.  In fact, I held it in my hands during the invitation as a reminder.  And it goes something like this: I love God.  God loves me, and everyone else.  Therefore we ought to remember our worth the way God sees it, and that is that we are PRICELESS to Him!  We were all created in His image, made to be like Him.  Think about that for a second.  If we all adopted that mindset, every single person in the world viewing every other person in the world through God's eyes, it could literally change the world!  

Kelly and I are also regular Pinteresters, and we have a board for Sherlock, and naturally, since it's a popular show we've drawn a lot of followers.  But some of the comments I see with accompanying pictures are, quite frankly, disgusting sometimes.  I'll admit that I find both Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman attractive.  But when we look at them through God's eyes...they are so much more than pretty faces.    So let me add a finale to this:

Emma Watson is not Hermione Granger.
Martin Freeman is not Bilbo Baggins.
Benedict Cumberbatch is not Sherlock Holmes.
They are ALL children of God.  And so are we!

It's a God thing!

Holly: So we're pretty happy this evening.  

 And apparently I am part contortionist.  Anyway...yeah, it's been a good day today! :)

Last night I wrote a post on my VISTA blog about VISTA turning 50 and what, essentially, being a VISTA means to me.  I shared it on my Twitter page as part of a social media campaign raising awareness for this celebration.  This evening I got this:

Yes, that is the AmeriCorps VISTA twitter page linking up MY blog for all the world to see!  They mentioned my blog! Say freaking WHAT? :D

I don't mean to sound preachy, but I can't take any of the credit for this.  It's all God.  He knew EXACTLY what He was doing when He sent me here, and I am so thankful and beyond blessed (and undeserving!!).  I don't know who runs VISTA's social media platforms, but it's humbling to realize that out of all the thousand some-odd VISTAs out there, they chose to showcase what God is doing for me and through me in wee little Berea Kentucky.  It's humbling to realize that people in Washington DC could read this, my own personal blog I started just so I could remember this year.  Yep...chalking this up to yet another pinch-me moment!

Kelly:  For me, my "God thing" most of you already know about, as my Facebook continues to blow up with likes and comments from today's status. Ever since I did clinicals where I work (which was like almost 4 years ago) and ended up on the substance abuse unit, I was like yes. This is the kind of nursing I can do and want to do and would be very happy there. So I'm where I am now and am thoroughly enjoying it while winding through the occasional bumps and valleys and all of a sudden another opportunity for an opening on such unit comes up. Except it's during the day and not on my shift (3-11). On a whim, I apply internally for it, which I did on Tuesday. And this didn't just come out of nowhere; I've been ready for a change in job for a bit now; not leaving where I work, rather just doing something else. Anywho, I come into work yesterday and the scheduler tells me the job is mine once my current position gets filled. I was like....really? I honestly didn't think I'd even get the job. You see, there was an opening on my shift on the same unit back in the fall. I applied for it but didn't get it, which I was pretty bummed about. My state of mind on Tuesday after handing in my application was well if it's meant to be then it'll happen. And it did. And it IS!!! I was talking to a co worker last night (whom I have appointed as my "work mom") and we were like if you work hard and do well it'll pay off. I then said that never in my life did I have anything handed to me; I always had to work for it.

I was reminded of a song from mine and Holly's BME days and some of the simplest words were "with God I can." And for me it's been with God I can....and I just fill in the blank. At our house, we have a God is Good because...board. Last night when I got home from work I wrote because He knows our desires and provides. With God I, we, you, can do what you dream to do. And if you're reading this and are discouraged with whatever is going on in your life, I encourage you to please hang in there. Keep the faith; the darkness and shadows eventually have to go away. You can do it! As for me, I can't wait to see what God has in store for me and this new position.

Joy unspeakable. Faith unsinkable. Love unstoppable. Anything is possible

Stories: A night of tobyMac (and others!)

Holly and Kelly: Keeping up with the spirit of concerts, our second concert in one week (Yes, you read that correctly.  We are blessed!) was on this past Friday night.  We bundled up, as it was quite, quite cold and after a pit stop at Five Guys for some food, we made our way over to a church in Lexington to see tobyMac and company.  It.  Was.  Packed!  We ended up having to park over at Mejier, which in relation to the church is a few blocks away.  But all of that is completely irrelevant.  The show was awesome!

The icing on this cake was that we got to share this experience with some folks from our church, which sweetened the deal, so to speak.  I (Holly) see a lot of folks who attend my church as family, so it was just one big happy familial gathering to us, and I know without a doubt Kelly and many others feel the same way.  Anyway, you don't want to hear me ramble on and on anymore.  The show opened with Ryan Stevenson, a fairly new artist in the CCM industry.  We are familiar with a couple of his songs via the radio, but it was really special to see just him, his guitar, and his voice.  His testimony is pretty incredible as well: One of his songs "Holding Nothing Back" was penned at a really difficult time in his life, including his mom passing away and he and his wife losing their twins.  It's amazing what God can do though.  It is.  He played four or five songs and he got a standing ovation when he was finished.  It made him cry!!!  What a powerful moment.  It's like something for KING & COUNTRY says "When you merge the power of music with the ultimate power of the Gospel, it not only has the power to change your day, but to transform your life as well."  A pristine example of that is what we saw at the opening.

After that was Matt Maher, whom we haven't seen since ICHTHUS of 2008, before he was really popular.  I loved his show then and I loved him this evening as well.  He played a new song "Because He Lives" and I think it's his best song yet.  Such simple words, but such a strong reminder of who God is and who we are in Him.  One of our favorite songs by him is "Lord I Need You", which is about a kajillion times better live.  Take my word for it!  We've been fans of his for a while so seeing him was an added treat to the already great evening we were having!

Finally, tobyMac came on!!! He has been around the block for quite a while now; he started out in a group called dcTalk back in the late 80's/early 90's with the current lead singer of the Newsboys (Michael Tait) and the former lead of Audio Adrenaline (Kevin Max).  Went solo not long after that and the rest is pretty much history.  We first saw him at ICHTHUS of 2006; we broke our curfew to wait in line and talk to him.  He's a super cool guy, y'all.  We saw him again at Winter Jam of 2010 (I think....), and it was a great high-energy show.  The show this past Friday was no exception whatsoever!  And it was loud.  Oh man, was it loud!  But it was such a great time.  I had completely forgotten just how big his heart is for God.  It was beyond inspiring!  He had a good mix of some of his older stuff, and some of his stuff that I know really well, as well as some new stuff, which I can't WAIT for his new album!  What was especially cool about the show is that he brought the previous "acts" back on from time to time to do some stuff with him.  One of my favorite songs by tobyMac, "Speak Life" was written by Ryan Stevenson!!! I didn't know that! Something that he said, though, and it's still with me: Someone walks up to you on the street and asks who are you.  There are a million different answers to that: a sister, a Christian, a friend, a twin, a doctor, a mom, and the list goes on and on.  The only "label" that matters, though, is that we, YOU, are a disciple that Jesus loves.  In the Bible, John referred to himself as "the disciple that Jesus loved".  Guess what? We are the same!  How cool is that? :)

My favorite picture! 

Definitely a memorable evening, beyond all reaches of the imagination.  An added bonus: We got to hang out with Ryan Stevenson after the show for a few minutes.  He is unbelievably sweet!  I posted a couple songs below.  I hope that you are encouraged, both by the stories on this page and the stories in your own life.

Ryan Stevenson- Not Forgotten

tobyMac- Speak Life

Matt Maher- Because He Lives

Here we are with Ryan Stevenson afterwards! :) Thank you to the nice lady in line behind us for taking the picture

Burger and Chips; it's a Fine Fine Life, and guess what? YOU Matter: A night of for KING & COUNTRY

Holly and Kelly: For the 3rd time this year, we saw for KING & COUNTRY last night.

If you remember, this was the same band we saw at the 4th of July concert in Winchester. Back near the end of September, I was randomly browsing and then I (Kelly) checked my email (we signed up to receive their emails after the Winchester concert) and found out they were coming to Lexington. Yup. All over that one! I mean seriously, we love these guys. Not only do they love Jesus, but they love their fans too! Before we left for the concert, they posted on Facebook that they were going to leave tickets at the will-call center FOR FREE for anyone who wanted to go for themselves, friends or family but couldn't afford them. Yeah. Does your favorite band do that? Would your favorite band do that?

We took a good friend of ours, who didn't want to go at first because of the cost and such, but I (Kelly) said "I will buy your ticket and your dinner because I just really want you to see this concert because you will be so blessed by it." Needless to say, we both got several thank-yous (and if you're reading this Matthew, you are so welcome!) But one of the other things that got us sold was their support of Compassion International. In case you don't know what they are, Compassion is an organization that sponsors children that live in impoverished areas of the world. Sponsorship pays for medical care, food, schooling and for these children to receive the Gospel at their local churches. Luke, one of the brothers in the band, is a big supporter of this organization, and so finally, after seeing them 3 times, we finally decided to become sponsors ourselves. We are now sponsoring 5 year old Perla from the Dominican Republic :) We are thankful to God that a portion of our earnings will be going to this little girl so she can grow and know that somewhere in the world she is loved not only by us but by a God so big and loving. If you have any questions about sponsorship or want to sponsor a child yourself, please go to Compassion International's website and get connected.

Anyway, so the concert lasted close to two hours and afterward we waited 45 minutes to meet Joel...again.  I of course (Holly) just had to ask if he remembered me from Winchester (you can read the entire story here...which you should :) ).  Guess what y'all? He did!!!  In fact, he gave me a high five and said "Rock on!  I can tell that it's been loved."  You all, if I could just describe the feeling.  alkdsjbzskjdfng!!! The icing on the concert cake was that they opened the show with my FAVORITE song, "To the Dreamers".  Give it a listen.  You will be encouraged! :)

Like we said, last night was the third time we've seen them this year, and it just blows me away at how much more I fall in love with their music, their message, their stories, every time I see them.  I'll say it again: if you have not yet seen them live, you really need to.  I'm serious.

Your someplace

Holly: Lately Kelly and I have been on a bit of a Numb3rs binge.  If you're not sure what that means, you can read more about it here.  Anyway, we watched an episode earlier today, "The Running Man", and one of the side stories is that Charlie and Don discover their late mother was a closeted, and gifted, musical composer.  Their father feels some resentment because he felt as if he was kept in the dark about this.  At the end of the episode, Charlie and Alan (their father) are having a conversation about this discovery; Alan still feels as if she was hiding something, Charlie believes she wasn't.  Charlie states that people go to their own places to be alone, and he puts it this way:

It's just part of being human, you know?  To want to find someplace solely for yourself, whether it be out in the world or deep inside your head.  

Got me thinking about alone time.  As many of you know I am a very happy and exuberant person by nature.  I love to laugh and I do it often.  Most of all, I love people.  However, after taking several personality tests over the past year or so, and just based on my own experiences in that time as well, I have discovered that I do lean towards being an introvert.  Like I said earlier, I love people, but after being around people for an extended period of time, I need time by myself to unwind and detox.  No, that doesn't mean I'm shy.  Quite the opposite, actually.  In fact, I was surprised by these findings because when I was in college, I was waaaayyyyy more of an extrovert (Probably because I didn't have any time to be alone in!).  Back to alone time:  I think Charlie is dead on.  I greatly look forward to my alone time, even though, given my current schedule, my alone time comes in bursts throughout the day: walking to work each morning with my iPod on and a cup of coffee in tow, at home; writing a blog, in my room writing in my journal, reading a book, binging on a Netflix series, sometimes mindlessly surfing the net.  Despite all those, I do find a lot of my solace in writing.  If home doesn't suit me, you can usually find me at Berea Coffee and Tea with a book :)

Alone time is essential.  Yes, we humans are designed to be social, but there is a time for that, and there is a time for retreat as well.  We all need our "someplaces"; to reflect, unwind, or just simply exist.  To me, it's that very time where I learn the most about myself.  What is your someplace?

Kelly: I consider myself to be a people person. Heck, I'm around them so often that it's just second nature to me. But I think that even the one who loves people the most yearn for quiet and solitude at times. Even Jesus needed times of stillness. On my days off, when I wake up in the morning and the house is quiet, sometimes I just gather in all that is around me. My house, the smell of coffee, the cats either sleeping or running around manically. Even now as I'm looking outside, it's gray but the air is somewhat still with the occasional leave blowing. Very gently. Usually days off are spent in where I say very little, and it's ok for me. I've had Holly ask me how I can just stay at home for days on end and not go anywhere. Other than the fact that I'm used to it, but to be honest it's nice. With a job like mine, I look forward to those quiet days where I sometimes get lost in myself.

For me, I like being outside when the weather is nice. When I take in all that's around me I wonder how people can't believe in God? I write my own blog about my nursing endeavors; it's good for me. I can look back and read about those who have touched me deeply, and also reflect on my growth not only as a nurse but as a person as well. My mom discovered my blog and said "Kelly, I feel like I know you so much more." Often when I write a post I'm at home, alone, reflecting on what I am writing about. My favorite someplace is alone, in my bedroom, with my Bible, journal and iPod. I just let all my guards down and I write. God I truly believes sees what I write, and sometimes I just sit, think and pray. Either in my head or sometimes out loud. And I love my music; music is one of the ways I feel that God speaks to me. So I will close with this; take some time for yourself in your someplace. Wherever that is; we get so busy and wrapped up in taking care of other people that sometimes I think we forget that we need a little taking care of too.

Run wild. Live free. Love strong.

Holly and Kelly: Today. one of our favorite bands, for KING & COUNTRY, released their second album.  You may have remembered us mentioning them during that one time during the 4th of July concert where Holly ended up with Joel's bracelet and it was kinda awesome.  So we've been listening to it...pretty much all day, and there's a monologue towards the end of the record that has just resonated with us so powerfully.  We wanted to share it with you all.  Take some time to reflect on the words, and please listen to the album if you can (it's on Spotify); really fun music with an awesome message!  Be blessed!


Run wild.  To risk everything, to hold nothing back, to lay it all on the line: your reputation, your success, your comfort.  It's that moment when fear is overcome by faith.  Live free.  It's not the liberty to do whatever you want, whenever and wherever you want, but rather, it's living in accordance with the author of humanity, and finding freedom by connecting with the Creator who conceived you.  Let the light flood into your eyes for the first time, feeling the blood course through your veins, finding the truest version of yourself by knowing the One who knows you even better than you know yourself.  Love strong.  Because you were first loved.  Because without love, we all perish.  Because the earth and the stars can and will pass away, but love; love will always remain.  

Introducing....Spout!

A spotlight on Christ. An outlet to plug in and share life. 

Holly and Kelly: Our church has a great youth program, starting as early as babies up to high school, in addition to an AWANA program that has garnered a huge amount of success. Our church also has a great variety of adult programs that meet throughout the week. We have Men's Sunday, Women's Sunday, Deacon Ordination Sunday and Youth Sunday. We have a Sunday School class for college students.

And that's it.

This is where we come in.

Starting in October, the two of us will be having a home-based small group for college students/young adults. The purpose is to have in-depth discussions based on Scripture and to fellowship with one another in other ways.  College is a crucial time, and while we want to have a Christ-centered focus, we also want to extend Christ's love and hospitality to those who choose to become a part of this group.  If a student wants to come over and hang out, has a question about a class or professor, is facing a faith challenge, or just needs a ride to Wal-Mart, we want to be there for them as much as possible during this time.  It is also a chance for us too, because we feel this responsibility, because let's face it, that's what it is, has been called upon us by God and we have decided to take the plunge and obey Christ. We have no idea what to expect, how many students will come, if any, and what sort of needs these students may have. But we're willing and ready to face whatever may come of it. We're excited, a little bit anxious, but have prayed and consoled with other Christians we trust and we feel this is a step in the right direction.

Maybe this is what following and obeying Christ is really about.

Now, a quick disclaimer: We are NOT, repeat, NOT leaving Berea Baptist.  We love our church and still value and cherish the relationships we have there.  We still love being in the choir and don't foresee that changing for a long time.  We have NO ill-will towards the church what. so. ever.  We simply see this need that the church possesses, and we feel that God has called us to try to meet that need.  We love the messages every week and are deeply encouraged and challenged. We can't predict the success of this upcoming endeavor- only God can.  And we're trusting Him to see this through.

So that's it. We appreciate your support in this decision we have made, and we are so thankful that it was at this church where we felt this need was started. The picture on the bottom is a tiny bloom, and we thought that was fitting. We want to help these young people grow, and in turn we will grow as well.

The Bracelet

Holly: Warning: this is not your typical 4th of July post about cook-out food, fireworks, etc.  Although I'm pretty sure I did eat my weight in horrendously unhealthy textbook "fair food", which may or may not have included cheese-smothered fries, kettle corn, and a rough half of a funnel cake and...I'll just stop now.

No, today, this 4th of July post is about this.

So this is a bracelet that bears two words on it: Respect and Honor.  Part of the festivities last night included seeing for KING & COUNTRY in concert.  They're a Christian rock duo from Australia, and they've only been around for a couple of years or so.  I will just say that if you haven't seem them yet, you are missing out.  Those Aussies sure do know how to put on a show!  P.S. For any of you fans into more classic CCM music, they're the brothers of Rebecca St. James.  

Anyway, they had just finished a few songs, and Joel, one of the band members, jhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhcgfv (pardon the Yoda interruption) was talking about relationships, and how they are all important to all the band members.  They're all married.  The point of his message was simple: ladies, do not let ANYONE treat you as second-best; we ought to be treated as the priceless jewels that we are, especially in the eyes of God.  And men ought to treat women with respect and honor.  All the band members wore these bracelets too, in addition to a necklace in the shape of a penny with the word "Priceless" stamped onto it.  He also said that our society has ingrained women to be cheap, as cheap as a penny (that's where the necklaces come in).  Towards the end Joel said "You know what, there's a special someone I'm going to give this to right now."  What happened next I will never forget: He got off the stage, took off the bracelet, and handed it to me.  

Yes.  Me.

And that's the end of the story, guys.  We stood in line and met them again.  I told him I didn't have anything for him to sign, I just wanted to give him a hug and thank him.  So I did.  

Kelly: And of course while this was all going on last night, I was standing beside her ugly crying. Because that's what I do. I ugly cry when something awesome, really happy or sad happens. And last night was awesome. Truly. The end. Probably one of the best 4th of July holidays I've ever had. Not to mention the band MIKESCHAIR opened; let's give them some love too! Turns out I knew more of their songs than I thought. Plus they favorited one of my tweets :) While we waiting in line to meet them (again), I found myself thinking; I was supposed to be at work yesterday. But I put in a day off to see these guys again and missed getting paid time and a half, which means my regular hourly pay plus if I worked a half a day. So quite a bit. But it was totally worth it, and I'd do it again. The last few weeks at work have been incredibly stressful and emotionally draining at times, more than usual. I've been all over the place and have been struggling with fine tuning my purpose in what I'm doing there. Not thinking about leaving by any means, but let's just say I really needed last night. It's not over yet, according to one of their songs. 

I really don't have much to add, but I will close with this. I don't know what's going on in your all's lives right now. But I do hope that this story encouraged you or at least made you smile. That's why we share stories like this, not only for us but for you all too. I hope you remember that in God's eyes you are precious and are more valuable than anything. It's ok to feel discouraged, frustrated, worried and pissed off, but just remember who holds the key to being redeemed from anything that is trying to tear you down. God is good all the time. And remember, there's always hope. 

MIKESCHAIR! They were a great opener! :)

Rest are for KING & COUNTRY.  Enjoy! :) 

Best picture ever! 

Photobombing the concert! :D

We're all singing "Amazing Grace" here, by the light of our phones.  An incredible moment! 

Cheers!! 

Because it ain't the 4th without fireworks! 

Holly with Joel :)

Kelly with Joel :)

30 Days of Doctor Who: Days 8 and 9

Day 8: Least favorite season
Day 9: Favorite master

Holly and Kelly: Well...now that we're a few days behind already...oy. Back to it! These next two are a consensus made by both of us. Our least favorite season was season 5. Not that it was bad by any means, but the majority of the episode plots in our opinion were just, blah. Not climatic, but some of them were actually just not good at all. We have a few from that season we do enjoy (Amy's Choice and The Lodger being our two favorite). Season 5 also began 11's run; while we do love 11 the season opener was really way too long. So that's about it, really. Overall we were pretty disappointed.

Now when it comes to the Master, there's only one that we have watched, so the winner by default is...The Master! You first meet the Master at the end of season 3, although he's mentioned throughout. His last appearance is at The End of Time. The Master has an interesting back story; he saw all of time and space and was driven mad. He's the only other living Time Lord, other than The Doctor. The Master, AKA Harold Saxon, played by John Simm, is brilliant, one who plays mad very well...like Moriarty from Sherlock. You want to hate him because he's an evil dude, but you can't. It's pitiful in a way. This video below is from Season 3's "The Sound of Drums" and it is by far our favorite Master scene. You see not only his madness, but his brilliance and evil all in one.

The Master, having come from another planet, also relearns a lot about the culture he is now immersed in, having been elected Prime Minister of Great Britain. His new discovery? The Teletubbies. Take a look below.

The Master and Teletubbies

So there you have it! 2 days in one! Thanks for hanging with us on our hiatus, but we're back on regular schedule now...for now. Stay tuned for more Doctor Who related posts.

God's Not Dead!!

Holly: Kelly is banished from reading this post until she sees this movie.  Which is looking like Wednesday night at this point.  Because I WILL see it again.  So Kelly, if you're reading this, stop.  Stop now.  Moving on...

Today I saw "God's Not Dead".

I hadn't heard about it, really, until about a month ago.  I'd seen posts about it mostly on Facebook and Twitter, and just a couple of days ago it was really brought to my attention.  Some members of my church were planning on getting together and seeing it because it was showing in a theater nearby.  I was interested, so I took a ticket.  Watched the trailer.  Admittedly was not all that impressed.  Honestly.  Not all that impressed.

Remember how I blogged earlier about how I wish I could travel back in time and smack myself across the face? (I promise I'm not a violent person..?).  Yeah....

First off, I believe that every single college student in America needs to see this movie.  I'm completely serious.  For those of you who don't know much about this movie, the jist of it goes like so: a college freshman enrolls in a philosophy class taught by an outspoken atheist professor.  He has the class write "God's not dead" on a piece of paper, sign it, and hand it in, thus avoiding debate and debacle between philosophical ideas and theist-based ideas.  One student, a Christian, refuses.  The professor challenges the student to defend the "antithesis", so to speak, that God is, in fact, not dead.  Through this, the student is challenged, his relationships fall apart, and he is belittled and threatened by the professor.  There are numerous other character storylines that all intersect as well; many of the characters either don't believe in God at all, or do, but are keeping it secret.  And yet, at the end, all are affected by Him in some shape, size, form, or fashion.

My first thought was what would I do if I were in that student's situation.  I'd like to think that I would take a stand for God, but the sad truth is that I'm not entirely sure what I would do.  I immediately began thinking of my own college days.  While my faith was challenged, yes, I was never publicly belittled, threatened, or forced to believe in something I didn't.  Maybe none of us would every really know what we would do.  God has a time and a place for everything.  One of the things the student kept saying throughout the movie was "I feel like God wants me to do this."  I suppose that, given the circumstances, I would know what God would want me to do.

The biggest take-home message, for me, was this: every single moment is precious, and our time on this earth is limited.  We don't know how much time we have left.  I would say that the storyline that really struck me was that of the atheist professor.  Without giving too much away, all he has for God is hate, but I won't disclose why...spoilers (for which that argument is rebuked by "How can you hate someone that doesn't exist?").  Literally at the last possible second does he see the light of Christ and turn to Him.  I wasn't expecting it to end the way that it did, which is why it probably struck me as much as it did.  Life is so short, too short.  In light of this, I will say that I realize that I don't act as Christ's ambassador as much as I should.  I don't speak or act for God as properly as I should.  I don't reflect God's likeness as I should.  Yeah, I've had people tell me that they can tell I'm a Christian because of how I act, how I handle stress, etc, but it's not good enough to just be "good enough" anymore.  I pray that God will use me, and anyone else who sees this movie, to shine for Him, to stand for Him, to witness, to be brave.  I'm doing my best to live for Him, and I pray every day that others will see Him.  I will keep praying that prayer.  Always.

My God's not dead, He's surely alive! 

One of the lines from the movie was how that we might be the only meaningful experience with Christ that someone will experience.  We only get one chance.  I'm praying that my faith will be strengthened and that God will shine through me.

Wrap up: Run, do not walk, to your nearest movie theater and go see this movie!!! Please!  You will not be disappointed.  God is awesome and this movie was a great reminder of how God works in awesome ways.  P.S. It features the Newsboys (briefly), and I've met them before.  They're super cool- Duncan the drummer follows me on Twitter.  Seriously!  Oh, and there's Duck Dynasty too.  Which (I guess???) is kind of a big deal nowadays :)

Took me a little while to write this post- I have my own personal editor :)

10 Reflections

Holly: Flying solo tonight, for a couple of reasons: 1. Because Kelly is currently writing her own post for her nursing blog, and 2. Because she told me to post this.

I didn't want to, but like I said, Kelly told me to.  Earlier this week we finished our viewings of all the 10th Doctor episodes of Doctor Who (minus The Day of the Doctor...).  Probably some of the most breathtaking (literally!), beautiful, heartwrenching, poignant, and emotional 2 hours of TV we've ever watched.  Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.  ANYWAY...last night I put a pen to paper, and this is what happened.  Hope you like it.  

10 Reflections
written 2/28/2014

Barcelona

first impressions: cute, crazy, a bit manic

and alone

so alone

But there was someone else
Her name was Rose

she made you better

the only one to say those three words directly to you

You and Rose

tumbling headfirst into strange worlds and creatures

Together

Then the parallel- cruel separation

Am I ever going to see you again?

No! was the resounding cry

but fate would have it otherwise

You understood

You became human
You knew what it was like to love and be loved

The love you gave and showed made us all fall in love with you

we followed you once more, with Martha, then Donna

I think you need someone

So alone
Saving the world with your family at your side
Donna: the metacrisis
she must never remember any of it

Utter heartbreak

Rose, then Donna
No more

resigning to travelling alone
trying to make everything right

So much power in the face of loss

the bonds of time are too easily broken

I've gone too far

And with time comes an end

He will knock four times

The end

The all-too-bittersweet end

The final hurrah to a journey of adventure, wit, and love

Your greatest asset and enemy

Every life is sacred

The love you gave and showed made us all fall in love with you

and so

We will sing to you, Doctor.  The universe will sing you to your sleep.  This song is ending, but the story never ends.

In a world of despair, you gave hope

In a world of darkness, you were light

never afraid to wander, to marvel, to grieve

Regeneration begins again

one last round of silent farewells, final glances and moments, rueful acknowledgments

Back to the TARDIS, the blue wooden sanctuary

I don't want to go

But go you did

much like the inside, our hearts shattered, almost beyond repair

the face physically changes, but yours will be imprinted on our hearts until the end of time

We wish to thank you, but the words seem so small

please believe we will never forget

our 10th Doctor

our Mr. Smith

our lonely angel

our soul

Vale Decem

H and K have church...but not in the way you'd think

Holly: Church was cancelled this morning...well, last night, actually.  Anyway, we didn't go to church this morning.  Instead, we slept in, had pancakes and coffee, put on some praise and worship music and just talked: about God, about how older Christian music is better, about work, about Doctor Who.  And then this came up.  The following is an excerpt from my journal writing on Saturday evening, shortly after watching the third season finale of Doctor Who (and random excerpts will continue cropping up):

I can't help but think of this particular exchange: Here's the Master, who's corrupted all of planet Earth, who's forced Martha's family to watch countless people suffer terrible demises, who's tortured the Doctor and transformed him into a pitiable state.  But through the redemptive power of the human mind and spirit, and Martha's courage and love for the Doctor, the Doctor is regenerated back to his present form, where he is able to meet the one who understands him probably better than anyone.  2 Time Lords.  Given all the Doctor knew the Master had done, he could have banished him to any one fate.  Instead, he tells the Master "I only have one thing to say to you.  I forgive you."  God, Your forgiveness to us, your sin-filled children whom You love dearly, is NO different.  Because, let's face it, the Master didn't deserve the Doctor's forgiveness.  And we don't deserve Your forgiveness.  

Guys, forgiveness and love changes lives.  So often we choose to take the easy way out, which is to hold onto with ever-increasing strength whatever grudge we have, whatever bitterness we've been harboring, whatever pride we can't let go of, what have you.  But I truly believe that that is not God's will for us.  God sent his son into this broken world and broke the chains of all the junk we hold onto.  We ought not to live in bondage to our mistakes and our sin; it doesn't have the last word!  You do!  And you speak love: love that surpasses understanding, breaks barriers, changes hearts and minds, brings people together, drives them apart, and it goes on and on...Forgiveness is scary, sure.  The Master cowered in fear from the Doctor as he put his arms around him and said "I forgive you."  The night before he died, Jesus pleaded for another way out.

And then there's love.  There's a quote somewhere, and I'm butchering it, certainly, but it's something like how Jesus was on the cross in the way he was and that was him saying "I love you."  The Bible says we love Him because He first loved us.  The sad irony of the end of that Doctor Who episode is that the Master died in the Doctor's arms.  There has to be an extraordinary amount of love in there somewhere to literally hold your enemy until his last moments.  Pretty powerful.  I'm thankful for those who lead by example: in this case, Jesus and the Doctor.

"Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love."  -Romans 12:9-10

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." -1 Peter 4:8

Kelly: While I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with all that has been said above, there is one more element I want to add that I think is equally important; trust. It too can make or change lives for the better or the worst. The quote as old as time goes "it takes years to build up trust and seconds to destroy it." But one thing I definitely admire about Martha as a companion to the Doctor is her unending trust in him. On a whim, she decides to put her trust in this man that she barely knows but something tells her to take a chance. As the series progresses, she gets to know him better. I think of the verse in Isaiah where it says "Here I am, send me!" It's the true heart's desire of a servant of Christ; to lead where He goes without really knowing what the plan is. It's how I felt when I first started following God; I didn't know Him all that well, and I didn't trust Him that much. But as I got to know Him and spend time with Him, that trust has continued to build. (Proverbs 3:5-6). In the 3rd series finale, which was a very powerful episode, there was one part that made me think about my relationship with God. It made me think that perhaps I was meant to find this show. In a scene, Martha is talking to a group of refugees as the world is about to end. She is telling of her experiences with the Doctor. Just read this below and see what I mean:

...But if Martha Jones became a legend, then that's wrong because my name isn't important. There's someone else. The man who sent me out there. The man who told me to walk the Earth. His name is The Doctor. He has saved your lives so many times, and you never knew he was there. He never stops. He never stays. He never asks to be thanked. But I've seen him. I know him. I love him. And I know what he can do. 

I mean...WHAT? You read that and you Christians, tell me. Have you EVER felt that way about Jesus? I know I have! That night, before I went to bed, I thanked God and told him that even though I may not see Him with my eyes, I know Him with my heart. He has saved my life so many times, and sometimes I knew it, sometimes I didn't.  It may sound silly, but I truly do believe God can speak to us in so many ways, even in Doctor Who. You may not want to trust God sometimes, but something tells you to take a chance, like Martha did with The Doctor. Listen when it does. Your life may never be the same.

Take a chance.  Your life may never be the same. 

Love. 

The Hobbit: what the book and movies mean to us

Holly and Kelly: We are now 10 days away from the second movie of the Hobbit Trilogy; The Desolation of Smaug. Now I am sure that most of you are sick of seeing the stuff we keep posting on our social media sites. Here's just a few reasons why we are so excited for the upcoming flick:

*Lord of the Rings: Yep, we totally missed out on that movie trilogy. We were 11, 12 and 13 when the movies hit the big screen. I remember seeing previews for those movies and thinking how stupid they looked. Someone should have gone Sam with a frying pan to our heads.

*A story of hope, courage and inspiration: When you get past the scary Wargs, Orcs, trolls and goblins, that's exactly what this story is all about. Bilbo is basically an average Joe Hobbit who is so preoccupied with his space and things. But out of the blue, Gandalf takes all that away from him, stating in the movie "it will be very good for you." In my life, God has been the Gandalf in my life; taking away my comforts and putting me on this roller coaster that's called being in a relationship with Him. It's crazy, but worth it!

*The actors and crew: I cannot stress this enough, they really do care about their fans! Peter Jackson was quoted saying "I don't make these movies for the Oscars. I make them for the fans." He also does video blogs and hosts fan events. How many movie makers do you see doing that? Not too many. We were watching the World Premiere last night that took place in Hollywood. The actors spent a LOT of time with the fans signing things, talking to them and taking pictures with them. I will post a video at the end that brings this point home. You'll see what I mean.

*Tolkien; He was a Christian! Need I say more?! If you read the book you will see hidden Christian themes, or at least I do. My favorite is at the end when Gandalf tells Bilbo " you really don't suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit?" (and yes this is straight out of the book). Bilbo then states "Thank goodness!"

*Our faith: We can honestly believe that these stories have strengthened our faith and relationship with Christ. When you read about Bilbo and his struggles, Frodo and his struggles and the other characters and their struggles, you know they're real, even though the characters are not. Let's face it; we've all dealt with fear, pride, worry and doubt, and we've all had a Sam or a Gandalf in our lives to help us fight the good fight. Accountability partners? Exactly. I read about these struggles, reflect upon mine, am inspired and I thank God for what He has brought me through and for blessing us with an author and movie director that has inspired many, ourselves included. So there. Now you have it.

Prepare to grab some tissues for this one.

Heroes among us

Holly: This past Sunday, the sermon at church was about heroes, not only how everyone has them but that we ought to be one as well.  Something the whole "hero complex" thing tends to leave out, huh?  Anyway, I posted a little diddy on Facebook, but didn't get much of a response (which is fine.  Half the time I post stuff just for my own enjoyment. ha).  So we decided to branch out on this and not only mention our heroes, but why, perhaps...

~Jesus.  Now I'm not going to go all preachy on you all, because you have your beliefs and I have mine.  But ever since I became a Christian, life has not been the same for me, and I'm trying not to sound horrendously cliche...but it's true.  I look at the world differently, I don't stress about things, I have more joy in my life (REAL joy), I have hope for the future...I could go on and on.  And I will just leave it at that.  :)

~ My parents.  Again, could go on and on about this.  They have supported me and all my craziness/foolishness/broke-ness/silliness, etc, they love me and tell me often.  I consider my mom one of my best friends.  I hope to be half the parents mine are, if I cross that bridge someday.

~My grandpa.  He passed away this year, on our birthday.  He lived a life of what I like to call "quiet grace"; he loved the Lord, he loved his family, he loved his work, but was never "in your face", never outspoken.  I think he was one of the first people to tell me about Jesus.  He always encouraged me in my faith journey.  I miss him still and think of him often, but I know he is at peace, reunited with my grandmother and his family.

~My advisor from my college days.  I learned more about life, other people, and myself from hours and hours spent in his office talking than any Berea College course I took.  I'm grateful that I was an advisee and student of his, because he has moved on from Berea College and is onto another chapter in his life, as I am with mine.

~Missionaries.  Takes a lot of courage to travel to an unfamiliar place and share something so personal with complete strangers.  Yet thousands do it, voluntarily, every single day.

~Single parents.  I can't imagine raising a child with a strong support system.  By yourself...seems nearly impossible.  You have my immense respect, all you single moms (and dads!!) out there.

~My pastor and his wife.  I met them at a challenging, scary, and change-filled time in my life, and they just welcomed Kelly and I with open arms and basically allowed us to become part of their family.  Now five years, 2 Bachelor's degrees, a Master's degree, 2 kids, and a lot of lunch dates later, and I now consider them both dear friends.  They really do walk the walk and talk the talk, and it's so rare these days.

~Bilbo Baggins.  Yes, I know he isn't real.  But you have this ordinary, small, well-meaning hobbit who enjoys his food and his quiet and his things, and he gets swept away on this incredible journey and ultimately becomes the hero of the story.

~Paul.  Starts out persecuting Christians.  Becomes one.  Speaks for many and changes lives.  You can't make that stuff up.

Kelly: I have an addendum or two to add to this list:

~My parents, but here's my view. They raised me to not only love other but to love myself as well. I never hit my siblings and did my best to obey them. Call me a goody-goody, a teacher's pet, whatever. Seems like its a lost art these days.

~My friends. I am so happy and blessed to have such a diverse group of individuals that I am close to. Some of my friends have gone through unimaginable junk in their lives but have not let that junk define them. We are all going through walks of life but are bonded by friendly love.

~Anyone who is going through a physical or mental illness and has decided to seek help and/or treatment in some way not because they are forced to but because they WANT to. They want to better themselves and they want to invest in a better life for themselves and for their family and friends.

~Veterans, past and present. You all know what you did and have done for our country. Words cannot express my sincere gratitude. I would not have what I have if it wasn't for you all. Thank you!

So there you have it. Who are your heroes? Whose hero are you?

There's always hope

Holly: Life has majorly turned for me in just a few days.  It's amazing the kind of transformations that can occur in one's life, even in such a short amount of time.  A week ago today I received a phone call: the full-time job I applied for back in May was being offered to me.  It's in my field, it's not teaching (something I have no desire to do....right now, anyway.  Things change), the pay is decent, and it's at UK, somewhere I have great experiences with.  I'm three days in and I just can't help but think: This! Is this what I've been missing?

Up until a week ago, I was working two jobs.  One was in the pathology department at UK, pulling slides for physicians and faculty and getting mail.  It was 15 hours a week and I made just a tad over $8/hour.  Looking back on it now, it's ridiculous; I was driving almost an hour each way, working for three hours a day, then coming home.  There were many days in which I could only put $10 or $15 in my gas tank just to GET to work each day.  Please don't misunderstand me; it was not in vain, by any means.  Even though the hours and pay were so-so, I was filling large shoes in such a short amount of time, and I was often thanked and praised for doing the work I did (Which, let me also say, that's not what I was in it for, although the thanks and recognition were definitely nice).  I enjoyed the people in the department as well.  But I was barely scraping by, to say the least.  My second job is at Old Navy; I'm still there now.  But since I was spending so much on gas already, driving to UK's campus, I cut back to weekends only at ON.  Most Saturdays and Sundays I worked only 4.5ish hours a day.  When it's all said and done, altogether, between 2 jobs, I was making just about $200 a week.  I spend that much on my share of rent once a month.  So yeah.  Things were tight.  Really tight.  Like, losing-sleep-over-potentially-overdrafting-and-not-being-able-to-pay-bills/student loans-rent tight.  Literally sick to my stomach with worry.  I was envious of others.  I would walk past employees in the hospital and would literally think to myself: Yep, they don't have to worry about money.  Yes, I'm serious.  I drove myself mad over this.  Let me say this: it is not God's will for us to worry!  He wants us to trust Him.  This has taken many, many years and sleepless nights to get to this.

I looked over my journal recently.  My worries about money have spanned years.  Yes, you read this correctly.  YEARS.  And now, I feel all those worries just disappearing.  God has tremendously blessed me with this job; it's more than enough to meet my needs and then some.  He wants us to trust Him.  He wants us to have hope.  I know there are some of you who are reading this and are going through the same struggles, or perhaps different ones.  Please, please, please, please, PLEASE...don't give up.  I know it's hard.  God doesn't leave you, even when He feels millions of miles away.  He WILL provide, even if He just takes you somewhere else.  And if you don't believe in God, then I believe.  I believe in you.  I believe in the power of lives being changed in an instant.  It happens.  Let our stories encourage you.  Have hope.  Have faith.  I know it's a terrible cliche, but things do get better.  I'm a firm believer of that.  We were all put on this earth for a reason, for a purpose.  All will be revealed in time.  Just hold on!

Even darkness must pass.

Kelly: Sometimes, like now, I wonder "why me?" What did I do to deserve what I got? What I have? Why is it that I am blessed so greatly yet there are those who I know and don't know that are struggling severely with a given situation? It's God. I'm not trying to convert those of our followers who don't believe in Christ, rather I'm just sharing my own experiences and what He has done for me and through me! But if I can say anything, it's just hang in there. Believe! Believe in something or someone! I believe in Christ; what about you?

After I graduated from Berea and prior to getting offered my current job was a period of about 3 months. I can say without a doubt those were some of the darkest days of my life. I'm certain I experienced some sort of depression. I turned into someone I did not recognize. I was hurt, sad, lonely and angry. There were some days I dreaded getting out of bed in the morning, because I know I'd have to face another day of not hearing anything from a job, or logging onto my computer and checking my gmail account because I know there would be a job rejection or two, or turning on my cell phone and receiving no voice mails asking for a call back or to schedule an interview. I cried myself so many nights to sleep, begging God to just get me through one more day. My insides curled with anger when Holly would leave for work and I'd sit on the couch and bid her good-bye, then when she came home I'd say anything just to pick a fight. Just to have a reason to vent and blow off steam. I'd go to Walmart or Walgreens to get something just to find an excuse to get out of the house. A time or two I remember having the conversations, wondering how in the world we were going to pay next month's rent or make ends meet. I'm telling you; I've felt like I was in the dark. It sucks. It HURTS. But as famously quoted in The Two Towers; "even darkness must pass." And it did. It does.

So this is for those of our readers and followers (or someone who just happened to stumble upon this) who are struggling and going through whatever hurt or struggle they're going through. Hold onto those close to you; don't push them away. I shared a part of my story because I've felt strongly to do so for quite some time now. Someone out there is feeling the way I felt, and they don't know what to do. Please, whoever you are, please don't give up. I was about ready to throw in the towel and move back to Ohio when I got the call for my dream job. God is NOT giving up on you; He didn't give up on me. Now whether or not you reader or readers believe in God is entirely your choice, but I found my hope. I found hope in God; the one and only! There is someone or something that is keeping you going, whether or not you know it.

I lift up my eyes into the mountains; where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord; the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)