30 Days of Writing: Your Fears

Kelly: The kind of world/society generations younger than me will have to endure and go through.

Being stagnant in my relationship with God.

Finding a job, not liking it but staying with it to make money, end up miserable and "stuck" in such job.

The thought of Yoda/Wiley accidentally getting out and not coming back. :(

Holly: Stagnancy in general

That I won't find a job in my field

When I come to the end of my Earthly life, that even though I did my best, that God will be disappointed in me

The kind of world/society my kids/grandkids will have to see

The kind of world/society that we already see

People being disappointed in me

Being stranded in downtown Lexington (don't judge me on this one...have you been to downtown Lexington??)

Falling

30 Days of Writing: Five items you lust after

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. A KitchenAid stand mixer.  OHMIGAWB.

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

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

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

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

30 Days of Writing: A problem you have had

Holly: It's one I'm still working on, and probably always will, but impulsive spending.  I can't pass up a good deal, like many red-blooded Americans, and I LOVE shopping.  I have gotten a lot better at controlling myself and saying no, but sometimes I can get a little carried away.  I know back when I was a freshman at Berea, before I went on direct deposit, my paychecks went right into my pocket and were gone in less than 2 weeks.

They say money is the root of all evil.  I disagree.  Money is a fundamental necessity, and it is useful when used wisely, and as long as you are bringing in more than you are taking out.  However, people abuse money, and that's when it becomes evil.  I also think the LOVE of money is evil: that is, trying to aspire wealth, things, possessions, instead of intangible things.  I know I've done my fair share of money abusing and money-loving.  Something I'm trying to work on is whenever I bring home something new, I try to take something out so that there's some kind of a balance. Something I also do is sometimes when I go out I leave my debit card at home on purpose so I'm not tempted.  ALWAYS set a budget.  Like I said, I'm getting better, but I know I still have a long way to go.

Kelly: As you all know, I am a very bubbly person by nature. However, sometimes my bubbly nature gets a bit too out of hand...this happened a lot when I was in clinicals while in nursing school. There were several occasions in which I was gently reminded to "tone it down." Not that my personality is a bad thing, but in the past there have been some that interpret being too "silly" as not being confident or not knowing what you're doing. I can understand that. Sometimes...it's also not very professional, let's be honest.

Now I don't want anyone attacking my educators with pitchforks saying "YOU'RE MAKING PEOPLE CHANGE THE WAY THEY ARE!" No. That's not the case at all. The issue was that in my world there has to be a balance between being professional and acting like a goober...which I do 99.9% of the time when the situation is right, of course. Also, in the profession I'm in (mental health) being too friendly can sometimes be threatening to patients. So yes, it is something I'm working on, but in the meantime I'll keep on keeping on. :) 

30 Days of Writing: Something you're proud of

Kelly: In light of recent events, today's topic is highly appropriate. There are a lot of things that I am proud of, but what I'm going to talk about today is simple; my college degree.

To obtain a college degree is an excellent achievement, of course. However, obtaining a Berea College degree in my opinion is much more...different, for lack of a better word. I was blessed to have worked with wonderful educators who helped me get this degree. Some I knew for quite a while, some I only had one semester. Yeah...about that. One of the most influential professors I had I had my second to last semester, for just one class (you know who you are...). Others I had for the majority of my time here and were just THERE. If I needed them, they were in their office; I didn't have to channel jump through a plethora of graduate students just to find them! That's why Berea is what it is! Thank you God and for everyone He put in my life to get me through! ^_^ 

Holly: I'm proud of two things, really: first, and obvious, is my degree from Berea.  I know, I know, that's what EVERYONE says.  But seriously, I don't think many people realize just how big of a deal it is graduating from college, much less Berea College.  I put a lot of work into it, I have a lot of fond memories attached to Berea, I've formed some lifelong relationships as a result of my education there, I've become a more educated and well-rounded individual and young woman, and my faith in God strengthened and was pushed and challenged as well (which, trust me, is NOT a bad thing). 

The second thing I'm proud of is that, for the most part, I have succeeded in living on my own and holding my own.  Yeah, there's been some scary moments, there's been some moments in which we weren't sure how we were going to pay next month's rent, there's been a lot of phone calls to Mom and Dad, there's been A LOT of penny-pinching (there still is), but when I look back I am proud of where we were and how far we've come.  I've also learned, in these days of apartment-dwelling and semi-tight budgeting to become dependent on God.  Completely dependent!!! He's brought us through and I know He will continue to do so! :)

The beginning of the end, part 2 (aka KELLY graduates from college!)

The last of the Korb twin dynasty has walked across the stage.  A pretty special (and chilly and wet) day! :)

30 Days of Writing: Something you always wonder "What if?"

Kelly: What if I don't find a job/don't like a job/become desperate and just take a job?

This has been a lingering worry of mine. Granted, I'm very open minded, and the field of nursing is opening SO MANY doors for me. I just hope that since I graduate tomorrow (!!!!!) that I don't just run to the first job I get offered simply because I'm desperate...eeek. But, I do graduate tomorrow, and I still do not have a job lined up, so I don't know. Maybe I will have to take the first job I get. I was watching the news last night and the unemployment rate is the lowest its been since December of 2008, so that definitely gives me hope. But yeah...not working. I suppose for now I will do my best to enjoy this time of not working, keep looking, keep praying and hoping that God will put me where He wants me to go!

Holly: What if God calls me to leave Berea and start over again?

I am aware that this is a possibility and that could happen.  But right now, I'm so happy here.  Kelly and I just moved to an awesome new apartment, I have an amazing church family that I would be utterly devastated to leave, I have a job that I really enjoy, and all our friends and support network are here.  Berea is less than a day's drive to our parents, everything is easy to get to and not far from...well, anything, really; I mean, 10 minutes away is Richmond, and 20 more minutes and you're getting into Lexington.  I honestly wouldn't even mind living in Lexington someday.

I don't know...it's funny, really, if you told me 5 years ago I'd end up living in somewhere like Berea, I'd laugh in your face.  Now I can't imagine being anywhere else.  I guess we'll see where God leads me, but for now, I know I'm supposed to be here.  :)

30 Days of Writing: Your Zodiac

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does your sign say about you?