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.
Friday, July 15, 2016
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?
Thursday, June 30, 2016
A Generalized Life Update #3
Kelly: I realize, well...we both realize it's been a while since we've written last. It's kind of surreal to me how fast this month has already gone by, and it has literally gotten away from us. A lot of things have come up and unfortunately, time on this blog has been placed on the back burner. I suppose that's how it goes, right? Anyway, I've been dealing with some personal struggles, mostly with my ongoing foot/ankle pain, and ever since yesterday I'm back in a boot. It kind of stinks, and I'm already struggling with my limitations and what I can't do and what I shouldn't do. Not to mention the unwelcoming stares of passers-by as I thump along, and it really just gets old after the first few times. Might as well hold a big sign up that says "YES I AM IN A BOOT PLEASE STOP STARING AT ME." I'm starting to feel a little discouraged, but your prayers, silly comments and humor are really helping, so if I haven't said thank you, then thank you. I read everything that you all post for me, and you have no idea how much they mean to me. It's those little things that keep me going. So again....THANK YOU! :)
Sis and I just finished another stint of house/critter sitting for I believe the fourth year in a row. It's always nice to just get out of your own place for a while and have some adorable yet sometimes rambunctious pooches just love on you while you love on them right back. Our only living grandparents aren't in the best shape either. Granted they're 89 and 90 and I think it's finally starting to show. It's been a few years since I've seen them, but judging on the conversations I've had with my folks, it's evident that times are changing. They're changing, we all are, and a lot of what's been going on is something new we've all had to learn to navigate. How fast this month has gone has been a reminder of how quickly time just seems to get away from us, and suddenly those little things we take for granted are gone and then we realize how much we miss them. Let that be a reminder for all of us; be thankful and grateful for right now. But all things considering, we're doing all right. The weather is MUCH cooler and sis and I are looking extremely forward to some family time in Ohio this weekend for 4th of July.
Holly: I do a lot of blog/newsletter writing for work and for an earlier blog I wrote, "Hi, can anyone tell me what happened to the month of June?" Time just flies, and we are already halfway through to what's, for me, been a pretty great year!
Speaking of work, I've been doing quite a bit of traveling. One of the components of working for GA HQ is partner site visits. This year all of our partner sites are divided up into regional groups, as much by geography as possible (we have a few outlying sites), and so my group comprises our sites in Floyd, Wolfe, Breathitt, Owsley, and Menifee County, all in Kentucky. Yesterday I was in Wolfe county, earlier last week in Menifee, and Floyd at the beginning of the month. This is my first year making site visits and it such a rewarding component of the job! It's so refreshing to put faces to names, to put faces to numbers we spend a lot of time crunching, and to hear firsthand from the families we serve just how much of an impact this program is making. Very affirming, especially when the "daily grind" feels sort of like a grind. Mid July I'll be wrapping up my visits.
Things between my Aussie/the boy/J are going quite well. It's hard to believe it's been almost 6 months, and every day his heart and who he is as a person just continues to win me over. He was baptized last weekend, the 26th, and it was a powerful and beautiful moment. The Lord has really made Himself known to us as we continue getting to know each other, and I've learned so much about myself and what it means to be a caring and supportive partner. We have had some "serious" conversations and are looking forward to the future, but ultimately we're both praying for patience and wisdom and asking HIM how we fit into the plan He has for us. Oh....and he is coming with us to Ohio this weekend :)
Yoda and Wiley continue to delight us with goofy antics and plenty of cuddles and purrs. They're such joys!
Here, look at some pictures! It'll likely be after the 4th until y'all hear from us again. So be safe, tell your loved ones you love them (to their faces, not to Facebook), eat lots of yummy food, laugh, and hug someone.
Sis and I just finished another stint of house/critter sitting for I believe the fourth year in a row. It's always nice to just get out of your own place for a while and have some adorable yet sometimes rambunctious pooches just love on you while you love on them right back. Our only living grandparents aren't in the best shape either. Granted they're 89 and 90 and I think it's finally starting to show. It's been a few years since I've seen them, but judging on the conversations I've had with my folks, it's evident that times are changing. They're changing, we all are, and a lot of what's been going on is something new we've all had to learn to navigate. How fast this month has gone has been a reminder of how quickly time just seems to get away from us, and suddenly those little things we take for granted are gone and then we realize how much we miss them. Let that be a reminder for all of us; be thankful and grateful for right now. But all things considering, we're doing all right. The weather is MUCH cooler and sis and I are looking extremely forward to some family time in Ohio this weekend for 4th of July.
Holly: I do a lot of blog/newsletter writing for work and for an earlier blog I wrote, "Hi, can anyone tell me what happened to the month of June?" Time just flies, and we are already halfway through to what's, for me, been a pretty great year!
Speaking of work, I've been doing quite a bit of traveling. One of the components of working for GA HQ is partner site visits. This year all of our partner sites are divided up into regional groups, as much by geography as possible (we have a few outlying sites), and so my group comprises our sites in Floyd, Wolfe, Breathitt, Owsley, and Menifee County, all in Kentucky. Yesterday I was in Wolfe county, earlier last week in Menifee, and Floyd at the beginning of the month. This is my first year making site visits and it such a rewarding component of the job! It's so refreshing to put faces to names, to put faces to numbers we spend a lot of time crunching, and to hear firsthand from the families we serve just how much of an impact this program is making. Very affirming, especially when the "daily grind" feels sort of like a grind. Mid July I'll be wrapping up my visits.
Things between my Aussie/the boy/J are going quite well. It's hard to believe it's been almost 6 months, and every day his heart and who he is as a person just continues to win me over. He was baptized last weekend, the 26th, and it was a powerful and beautiful moment. The Lord has really made Himself known to us as we continue getting to know each other, and I've learned so much about myself and what it means to be a caring and supportive partner. We have had some "serious" conversations and are looking forward to the future, but ultimately we're both praying for patience and wisdom and asking HIM how we fit into the plan He has for us. Oh....and he is coming with us to Ohio this weekend :)
Yoda and Wiley continue to delight us with goofy antics and plenty of cuddles and purrs. They're such joys!
Here, look at some pictures! It'll likely be after the 4th until y'all hear from us again. So be safe, tell your loved ones you love them (to their faces, not to Facebook), eat lots of yummy food, laugh, and hug someone.
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... |
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
The attraction of negativity
Kelly: Picture this; you read something on Facebook about so and so's rant about x topic/place/person. There's a slew of "right on's!" and "you tell them!" and "you're right!" You see a friend of yours crying because they're upset something didn't go right, then a few people gather around, hug them, tell them everything's ok. You work with kids/teenagers and one of them starts throwing a fit, so all of a sudden all of your attention has to go away from everyone who's behaving themselves to the one person who's acting out.
Does any of this sound familiar to any of you? I'm guessing probably so.
So now picture this; you see someone walking down the street, and they're happy go lucky, not a care in the world. You walk on by and let them be without asking. You read something on Facebook about how so and so had a good day. Chances are, you probably just skipped right over it and didn't even think about it.
And now I've probably got you thinking. Have you noticed that in today's world, attention goes on negative attitudes/behaviors? Or is that just me? Has anyone else but me wondered why that is? I'm fairly certain we've touched on this subject before, but it bears repeating, at least I think it does. It's kind of frustrating to me, you know? I think I find it most frustrating because I don't have an answer to the very question I'm posing. Why????? It just seems so backwards. I know it's something I'm guilty of too, and it happens a lot, especially where I work. Some days it seems like all I do is put out bombs caused by temper tantrums, and it really takes away from the time I want to spend praising those for having a good attitude. I'm trying to be more mindful of how I am too and about what I share on social media. Is what I'm posting really going to help someone? Encourage someone? Or am I just using it as a platform to excuse my lack of better word, bitch about something that I have no control over? Just a little food for thought.
Holly: Yes, I notice it. I notice it a lot. Or, on another extreme...if you're positive, "bubbly", or just a good-natured person, sometimes you're asked "what's wrong with you?" Like, why are you like that all the time? I once had a boss tell me I was too nice.
What?
I don't get it either. I mean, from personal experience, the longer I spend time with someone who is just perpetually in a crappy mood, the more I find that I'M starting to get affected by it. I'm turning more cynical, negative. Why do we, or others, find it irresistible to feed into drama, rants, general negativity? I don't get it. Someone please explain!
I too am doing my best to be mindful...hence my 365-day gratitude/thankfulness picture project I'm doing on Facebook (so is Kelly). I know it's not much. But I like to post things on Facebook to encourage, make someone laugh, invoke joy. Positivity! They say nice guys finish last and I just don't think that's true. We should always be kind to one another and build one another up. And one way you can do that, definitely, is through social media. But don't just stop there. Really try to be a positive example wherever you go. I'm working on it every day. Because, truthfully, I'd much rather be told I'm "too nice" than the opposite.
Does any of this sound familiar to any of you? I'm guessing probably so.
So now picture this; you see someone walking down the street, and they're happy go lucky, not a care in the world. You walk on by and let them be without asking. You read something on Facebook about how so and so had a good day. Chances are, you probably just skipped right over it and didn't even think about it.
And now I've probably got you thinking. Have you noticed that in today's world, attention goes on negative attitudes/behaviors? Or is that just me? Has anyone else but me wondered why that is? I'm fairly certain we've touched on this subject before, but it bears repeating, at least I think it does. It's kind of frustrating to me, you know? I think I find it most frustrating because I don't have an answer to the very question I'm posing. Why????? It just seems so backwards. I know it's something I'm guilty of too, and it happens a lot, especially where I work. Some days it seems like all I do is put out bombs caused by temper tantrums, and it really takes away from the time I want to spend praising those for having a good attitude. I'm trying to be more mindful of how I am too and about what I share on social media. Is what I'm posting really going to help someone? Encourage someone? Or am I just using it as a platform to excuse my lack of better word, bitch about something that I have no control over? Just a little food for thought.
Holly: Yes, I notice it. I notice it a lot. Or, on another extreme...if you're positive, "bubbly", or just a good-natured person, sometimes you're asked "what's wrong with you?" Like, why are you like that all the time? I once had a boss tell me I was too nice.
What?
I don't get it either. I mean, from personal experience, the longer I spend time with someone who is just perpetually in a crappy mood, the more I find that I'M starting to get affected by it. I'm turning more cynical, negative. Why do we, or others, find it irresistible to feed into drama, rants, general negativity? I don't get it. Someone please explain!
I too am doing my best to be mindful...hence my 365-day gratitude/thankfulness picture project I'm doing on Facebook (so is Kelly). I know it's not much. But I like to post things on Facebook to encourage, make someone laugh, invoke joy. Positivity! They say nice guys finish last and I just don't think that's true. We should always be kind to one another and build one another up. And one way you can do that, definitely, is through social media. But don't just stop there. Really try to be a positive example wherever you go. I'm working on it every day. Because, truthfully, I'd much rather be told I'm "too nice" than the opposite.
So much selfie!
Somebody call Charlie Eppes for a little social network analysis...
Ok...now it's Holly's turn...
Do you see our point?
Please don't misunderstand us. Relationships are wonderful. Having to go to work on Christmas and bring joy to others is wonderful. But what about deep, from-the-gut life stuff that shows how much we've grown, changed, etc? Why is everyone suddenly all akjfdbnakdljbgfiawuer when your relationship status changes?
We encourage mindfulness: Why are you really "liking" that? Yes, those things we mentioned are wonderful. They truly are.
Kelly: Did anyone see my little comparison at the top of this post? I thought it was a bit strange. Then again, maybe I don't. Today's culture is gripped with selfies galore, and for what? What is the purpose? I am guilty of posting the occasional selfie, usually when I'm just being silly. Sometimes it's to make a point, like the one on Christmas where I didn't get to spend time with my family and just put it up as a reminder that some people don't get to spend holidays with their families. That was it, that was the point.
I guess the point is to just perhaps be a bit more mindful of not only what we post, but why we are attracted to what we are attracted to? What is the point of that selfie? Am I trying to gain something from this? Is there some sort of point I'm trying to get across? Did something really great happen? Did something really awful happen that you are trying to bring awareness to? I know it may seem silly, but these are the things we should be asking ourselves. It's something I try to do.
 |
| Nothing fancy; just a road I (Kelly) posted this afternoon with some God-chasing song lyrics. 2 likes so far. |
 | |||||||||
| A selfie of me on Christmas. 65 likes...and a few comments. |
Ok...now it's Holly's turn...
 | |||
| A picture of God's creation, with an encouraging reminder to stand firm in our faith even during downpours: Nothing. Nada. Zip. |
 | ||
| A pic of my Aussie and I. 55 likes...also with a few comments. |
Do you see our point?
Please don't misunderstand us. Relationships are wonderful. Having to go to work on Christmas and bring joy to others is wonderful. But what about deep, from-the-gut life stuff that shows how much we've grown, changed, etc? Why is everyone suddenly all akjfdbnakdljbgfiawuer when your relationship status changes?
We encourage mindfulness: Why are you really "liking" that? Yes, those things we mentioned are wonderful. They truly are.
Kelly: Did anyone see my little comparison at the top of this post? I thought it was a bit strange. Then again, maybe I don't. Today's culture is gripped with selfies galore, and for what? What is the purpose? I am guilty of posting the occasional selfie, usually when I'm just being silly. Sometimes it's to make a point, like the one on Christmas where I didn't get to spend time with my family and just put it up as a reminder that some people don't get to spend holidays with their families. That was it, that was the point.
I guess the point is to just perhaps be a bit more mindful of not only what we post, but why we are attracted to what we are attracted to? What is the point of that selfie? Am I trying to gain something from this? Is there some sort of point I'm trying to get across? Did something really great happen? Did something really awful happen that you are trying to bring awareness to? I know it may seem silly, but these are the things we should be asking ourselves. It's something I try to do.
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! |
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