Potpurri post #8

Kelly: Realized: we have not done one of these since February. It's a general consensus that we share just some of the things that have been going on in our lives. We put the Christmas tree up a few days ago; Wiley keeps trying to eat it. Ever since we've been at our current house, Yoda does this adorable thing when she smells something unusual; we call it grinning. Last night I got home from work and she grinned after smelling my feet. Twice. Annnnnnnnnnnd....the litter box reeks again. Lovely.

I woke up this morning to a voice mail from my nurse manager, reminding me of a 4 hour medication class I will be attending this Thursday in the morning, on top of working my regularly scheduled shift. The circumstances as to why I am taking that class are of no importance, but yeah. Happy Monday to me....hahaha I'm teasing. I was half expecting a "hey can you come in and work today" voice mail. It was a pretty slow weekend at work; our census is low again, so yay! And now Wiley is trying to climb on my arm; we had a nice cuddle this afternoon when I was watching Titanic. Oh yeah, and I'm giving blood tomorrow. Yippee!! That's about all to report; nothing really on. One last thing; WE'RE GOING TO OHIO FOR THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!! :D

Holly: Did you know that crayfish spit? Yep, I didn't either, until it happened to me today.  Moooving on...

Guess that's a good sign work is going well.  I've been there just a tad over 3 months now, and a sure-fire sign that I'm used to the early mornings is that on weekends, I'm wide awake by 9:30.  Granted, I don't get out of bed until 10ish.  But still.   What I wouldn't give for my college glory days of sleeping in until 11-11:30, sometimes noon.

SMAUG IS COMING IN 25 DAYS!!!!!!!!  It's beginning to get ridiculous how excited we are.

Kelly is now showing me a YouTube hack: Apparently, if you type "1980" after pausing a video it turns into a game sort of thing where you have to protect your video from flying missiles.  Aaannnd, this is probably why we're still single.  hahahahahahaha

One last thing, I reckon: I am super stoked for Thanksgiving.  A week from Wednesday we'll be on the road (well, it's 8:40 at night so hopefully we'll be at home...) in Ohio visiting our mom and dad and brother, and possibly our grandparents.  We haven't been to Ohio in almost a year, and seen our grandparents in over 2.  I know that doesn't seem like a lot of time, but we're a close family.  That's one of the crappy things about growing up; you don't get to see your family that much.  It's funny- working in academia, you look forward to the breaks as much as the students do.

 Please enjoy this picture of Yoda that I just love so much!! :) Hope life is treating you all well. 

Yoda says hello

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?

The company you keep

Holly: This weekend was Berea's homecoming.  We got to see several of our friends, some that we haven't seen in a year or so.  We all went to lunch and as we were leaving, one of our friends asked if we would be getting together for new year's, because that's likely when we'll next see each other.  The reply was, and it didn't really hit me until just now because it was basically laughed off, was something to the degree of  "We can have a thing at our house since we're not into the going out and drinking."  This morning Kelly and I were talking about this, and we came to this conclusion: That is the reason why we aren't into "that" scene- because our friends really aren't either.  And let me tell you, that makes it a million times easier to not give into it.  Don't get me wrong, I've never been one to follow the crowd, but that doesn't mean the temptations aren't there.

On the flip side of this, I know several people who are into "that" scene, and guess what....typically so are their friends.  Coincidence? I think not.  Is that a bad thing? No.  Not at all.  But contrary to popular belief, who we associate with GREATLY influence us, and that could definitely swing one way or the other.  I am at that age and time in my life when I can determine basically who stays in my life and who doesn't.  It sounds blunt, I realize this.   Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way just this year when an almost 10 year friendship came to an end- I'll make a set of very long stories short and just say we weren't the same people we once were.  She became a different person (entirely not for the better, I must admit) and Kelly and I just didn't understand.  But I digress.  I, long ago, set boundaries, guardrails, for my life, and I have enough respect for myself to hold to them.  Anyway, if you're into the drinking/going out scene, then by all means, please have a good time (but please be safe as well).  As for me, I am much more inclined (and so are me and my friends) to go have dinner and go see a movie.  In the instance of this weekend, it happened to be Cheddar's and Thor: The Dark World, both of which I highly recommend.  :)

Kelly: In this day and age, it's so uncommon for a young adult of my age to do what I do...or don't do in this case. A typical get together involving my close friends usually involves going out for lunch/dinner, going to someone's house (usually our friends in Lexington. Many of our friends have cat allergies), talking, hanging out, watching a movie and snacking on popcorn or the new healthy snack of the week (these same friends introduced us to Orgain shakes. They're quite good). :) But over time, the people you spend a lot of time around BECOME one another, without ever really intentionally meaning to do so.

Some of our close friends are Christians, but most of them are not. They know I am a believer in God and do not hold that against me or make fun of me for it. I sincerely hope that my friends can see Christ in me. They are supportive of the good choices I make, as I am of the good choices they make. If I don't want to do/try something, they drop it. I remember when I was in Scotland and I was a flat-sharer with 5 other girls. I was the oldest, which already put me in an awkward position. But they were the typical party girls and often tried to get me to come as well; I soon learned realized this was their lifestyle choice at their home universities. I politely declined because I'm not really into that kind of thing. At all. One on my roommates asked me "so do not drink because you're a Christian?" Number one: rude. Number two: the generalization that all Christians are thumb-twiddling Bible-thumping hermits needs to GO! It was at that moment that I missed being back in Berea, because in my circle of friends I'm loved and accepted for who I am and what I do or don't do. I love all of my friends like my own family and I would do anything for them. I'm happy that God put them in my life and hope they are happy I'm in their lives as well. 

You jump. How high?

Kelly: This has been a topic of conversation between us for quite some time now. We all know that one person who always seems to be out and about doing things with friends. And we have heard multiple times the "I'm tired and don't want to go out tonight" line. Yet later on in the night a text or phone call comes in, then it's the "Well I'm off. See you later tonight" line. And then, there's the "well my friends are having this party. You can come if you want to but there's going to be things there that you probably won't be interested in." When I was in Scotland I had one roommate actually tell me "I know you're going to say no but I wanted to ask..." Uh...thanks? Hands up, who's heard any or all of the above statements?

I don't know, maybe I'm just a stick. I consider myself to be somewhat of a social person, but sometimes I tend to lean on the introverted side. I like hanging out with my friends just as much as the average young adult, but I also like having my me time. I'm a BIG fan of quiet nights in, especially after a few rough nights of work. But the way I see it is this; the social world is constantly evolving and frankly, it's not going anywhere anytime soon. And it's not that I do anything "fun" at all, but my type of fun usually means staying in, watching a movie or reading a book (something I did not have the pleasure of doing while in school. One of the MANY benefits of only working part time). Maybe people think they're a bad friend if they turn down an invitation; I used to think that way with my best friend at home. But sometimes, I feel it's really necessary to just say no. It really is ok.

Holly: Personally, I think if you want to have a quiet night in, then you should have a quiet night in.  If your friends invite you somewhere and you say no, and they get upset, then that's their problem.  Don't get me wrong; I love my friends to death, but more often than not I am much more inclined to spend the night to myself reading, watching Big Bang Theory, etc.  Why do we sometimes feel the need to drop everything and do something even though deep down, we REALLY don't want to?  I'm guilty of that, big time.  I sometimes have a hard time saying no.  Mostly because I'm just trying to help out.  But I think you should "go out" or help out when YOU want to because you want to, not because you feel like you have to.  It really is ok to say no sometimes.  I know many of you are just go go go all the time (myself included).  I don't think anyone is going to fault you for wanting to take some time to yourself, heaven forbid.

Heck, even Jesus took time for himself.  There are numerous instances in the Bible when he would go off by himself just to be by himself and pray.  We NEED alone time.  Seriously.  I think if us single (and not!) young adults learn to be independent, we can thrive in our day-to-day relationships with others.  Or we can just learn how to breathe!!! 

I'm rambling.  My apologies.  Take some time for yourself this weekend, even if it's just a few minutes.  And if we do jump at opportunities, let's try to ask ourselves why.  

Schtuff twin girls say, volume 4 (Brittany makes return appearances)

And we're at it again...

Kelly: I would love to be a Hobbit. Just for a day or two or ten.
Brittany: You could house sit while Bilbo goes on his adventure.
Holly: He WAS gone for 13 months.
Kelly: I could!!!! Oh my gosh I would totally do that.
Brittany: I would love to have tea with them.
Holly: I would love to take them to Orange leaf. I could just see them standing over there like "aahhhhhhhhh" because they love food.
Kelly: Honey, I do that when we go there.

Kelly: Brittany, I keep telling Holly about all the stuff that's at Plato's Closet because she keeps asking me.
Brittany: They really do have everything.
Kelly: Except scrubs.
Holly: Or puppies. So they don't have everything!

Holly: Devin (other guy I work with) thinks Wiley's gay.
Brittany: Why?
Holly: Because he likes to lay on shoes, and my purse, and all that...'
Brittany: Nah, I'd say he's more like Smaug.  They're his treasures!
Dead.  Holly died.  XD

(A few minutes after the above conversation)
Holly: (notices Wiley laying on her shoes) Wiley, are you Smaug? Are you guarding your treasure?
(Wiley purrs)

Kelly: (while watching America's Funniest Home Videos) Ok, that HAD to have been photo shopped. Or video shopped. Or whatever the video equivalent of photo shop is.

Kelly: (watching an Arby's commercial). Au jus. Au jus. Au jus sauce. Au jus. Bless you. (Holly proceeded to laugh so hard she snorted).

Holly: I'm officially in cell-phone limbo. I'm in cell phone purgatory. I'm scared.

Holly: (in reference to Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, who are often photographed together) I don't see how the world just hasn't blown up because of their awesome.

Brittany: Come on Wiles, let's get crunk.

Kelly: German just sounds like a very angry language.

(while out with friends, one of whom is a photographer.  She asked if we felt pretty)
Holly: (taking a large spoonful of ice cream) No, I feel fat.

Holly: I feel bad for Gollum because he doesn't eat.
Brittany: No wonder he's losing his hair.

Holly: Well there's Aragog, then Aragorn and Christopher Paolini wrote Eragon.
Kelly: It's like different tenses.

Brittany: Oh Wiles, why are you so cute? You have such a handsome face, like Liam Neeson.

Holly: (after watching the DoS TV spots) Smaug kind of sounds like Darth Vader.

Kelly: I'm already ready for bed tomorrow.

Brittany: Oh look, boyfriend is calling. (picks up phone). Hello, boyfriend. (short pause). Yes, this is girlfriend, how may I help you?

Kelly: Peter Jackson! (while watching Jeopardy)
Holly: Um, Kelly, the category is Female New Zealand Directors.

Relentless love

Holly: The following is my Facebook status from this morning: 

Thought of a couple things on this rainy Wednesday morning:

1. Last night at choir, there was mention of a young man in Rockcastle County who attempted suicide.  Praise God he is still with us, but he is 15, and while he is physically healing, the spiritual and emotional damage is probably so much more extensive than we can even begin to imagine.  Granted, my life was not perfect at 15 (although better than most, I must admit), but I can not imagine wanting to take my life at that age.  At 15, you're still a kid; there's still so much more out there.  As I was praying in the car this morning, I prayed that we would be aware, that we would reach out, that we would show love, RELENTLESSLY, to others, because we never know what we are going through.  Sometimes it's one encouraging word, a smile, a silent prayer, that keeps someone from going over the edge.

2. I love the concept of a subtle witness: There is a shuttle driver that drives UK employees from the stadium to campus, and right as he pulls up and opens the doors, he ALWAYS says "Have a good day, and may the Lord bless you."  EVERY time.  It never fails to bring a smile to my face.  

Doing my best to think of others and to be that subtle witness, today, and every day.  :)

The first part, the young man, has been heavily on my heart since yesterday.  The word that kept running in my mind was "relentless".  We ought to NEVER stop showing love and compassion for one another.  Guys, it's still hard for me.  I know the words above probably disagree with that, but it's true.  The more I think of this, the more I realize that life isn't about me.  I was not put here on this earth for me.  I was put on this earth to love God and to love people.  I have hope, and every day I do my best to live out that hope.  I fail, I know I do, and I accept that, and I accept God's amazing grace and I try again tomorrow.  But I've said this before and I'll say it again- I sincerely desire to impact someone's life just by me being in it.   

For the life of me I simply cannot imagine getting to a point in life where you think the only way out is taking your own life.  I just can't imagine the pain, the loneliness, the fear, the despair that one must feel.  Especially with these young people; it just destroys me.  Feeling like there's absolutely no one and nothing...you're so, so alone.  I think at some point, we hit the lowest of valleys, but I have been blessed with an amazing support system, and I know that there are those who love me and support me and pray for me (And God knows I need it!).  But some people do not have that.  That destroys me too.  We weren't meant to do this life thing alone.  We're stronger together than we are apart.  I think it's high time we show people the human side of humanity, instead of all this nastiness and bitterness everyone is so hell-bent on broadcasting.  

Even darkness must pass.

Kelly: Where I work, I would say the most common report I get from patients is "I feel hopeless", "I've hit rock bottom" or "If (insert situation) doesn't get better, it will kill me." They feel like there's no hope. Some of these patients I've encountered don't have any family, or even a place to call home and no one to call friend. Some have all of the above and still feel hopeless, and that's when they come to us. Sadness, hopelessness, loneliness and fear, it doesn't discriminate. I've dealt with 18-year-old suicidal people and older suicidal people. My reaction is always the same; I hurt. I told a co worker on Monday that at one point or another I'm sure everyone has gone through some sort of depression in their life. I have. I KNOW I have. But never, not even for half a second did I ever even consider taking my own life. 

But some people have. Some people succeed and some don't. I remember this song from high school and some of the words are "how do you get that lonely? How do you hurt that bad?" That's why I do what I do; just try to love especially when someone doesn't feel loved. And the love that I share comes from Christ alone. That hope, joy and peace I have comes from Him too. I often wonder if my words of encouragement to others falls on deaf ears, but I'd like to think that what I say is what someone needed to hear at just the right time. I left early for work yesterday and a patient asked me to unlock his door. I jokingly said "you just want me to stay don't you?" He didn't say anything for a while, but he said "yeah, I do." It's the little things. 

Friends, I don't know what you all are going through. I'm sure some of you are going through the most unimaginable circumstances. I sincerely hope and pray that your situations, whatever they may be, will resolve soon. But when someone tells you they are thinking/praying for you, I hope it encourages you and lifts you up, even if it's for just a little bit. A sliver of hope goes a long way. 

Packages from Mom

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

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

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

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

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