Friday, November 16, 2012

Wow

Crazy how life changes in a blink of an eye. I still sit back in awe of my life. Life is so full of rich blessings. Funny how after over a year I can still sit and be like wow, baby I moved. I love every emotion I get.  Good or bad they are my emotions. 

I, Maggie Kelly, was accepted to University of Kentucky. Senior year is flying by. SO fast. 

So tonight as I write this I take the time to sit back and thank God for all the blessings that I have in my life. I owe it all to him. 

Stay blessed through the holiday season! 

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

here we go again

Wow, one more week of summer! It has gone way to fast! This was my first and official Kentucky summer and I have loved every minute of it. 

As the end of summer was approaching we all know what that means...school scheduling. I got a call from my best friend in Memphis to give me all the details about her upcoming senior year at Arlington and this very familiar feeling crept in. 

Homesickness. 

This feeling is not a stranger to me but I haven't felt it in awhile. Suddenly, I saw flashbacks to my senior year and was realizing the friends I started freshmen year with would not be the ones that I would walk across the stage to graduation with. This is sad to me! It was an unexpected wave of homesickness and it felt raw. I didn't like it, this crummy feeling. 

These moments really help me to see how far I have come through the move. Yes, it is a year later and I will still have homesickness moments. I have learned that will be a part of it! I try to control these feelings with looking at the present. Looking at the friends that make me life and the beauty of Kentucky's rolling white fences that I have taken over my heart. I try really hard everyday to embrace Kentucky and to learn to love it. But, some days are just pure Memphis homesickness days... even a year later. 

I don't ask for anybody to understand I just ask that they accept this feeling of mine that I get from time to time. I am so pumped for senior year at Ryle, without a doubt! I love Kentucky but I love Memphis too. I have room in my heart for two :) 

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Discover

I have decided that my word for the year is Discover. You never know what your going to discover. Boy, the Kelly's discovered this year. 


We have officially passed the one year mark of living in Kentucky!! Can I get a WOO HOO? :) 


I could not be more proud of the whole family. Who would of thought that a year would blow by so fast. This past year was one to remember. We had some struggles but we also had amazing triumphs! I honestly could not have asked for a better year. Without a doubt it was hard but I wouldn't change it for a thing! I am beyond blessed with all the friends that I have met and the new city I have fallen in love with. This past year makes me very excited for the years to come. Who knows where we will be? :) 


I had an amazing opportunity to go on my first YoungLife camp trip this past June! This trip was a week long of pure fun with friends. I was without my phone for a week and it made it very hard for me! My phone is the only connection to Memphis that I have so without it, I felt sorta homesick from my best friends! This pain and hurt reminded me of the first few months of the move and just how far I have come. Also, this forced me to depend on God and Kentucky. It showed me that Memphis isn't my only comfort, that I can look to Kentucky. Kentucky can be my comfort too. :) 


Finally, I was able to have my best friend from Memphis visit me in Kentucky! It was a total blast! I loved being able to show her around! For a few days both my states were intertwined into one and it felt great. This past week made me very grateful for two amazing girlfriends that I have in my life! They know who they are! 


Well, this past summer has been busy and packed with memories! Thanks to everybody who has made the one year journey with us! I feel so loved! I have two states in my heart :) 

Monday, April 30, 2012

God Spinner

Every so often I have these days of homesickness. I feel the need to see Memphis. I feel the need to be there and hug all my girlfriends. I feel the need to be back in my Arlington bedroom. I feel the need to walk the halls of St. Paul UMC. I feel this sudden urge for Memphis.


These days can be tough at times. I would love to hop into my car and drive the 7 hours but truth be told I like Kentucky. I like Young Life. I like the girls that I call best friends. I like my house and my new room. I like Kentucky, yes I do.


It is hard for me to balance these two in my heart and in my life. I want to be there for Memphis just as I can be for Kentucky. Sadly, that isn't possible. I can't drive to their house and have a movie night with Memphis like I can Kentucky. There has always been a part of me that feels as if part of me is still in Memphis. If I could combine both worlds, I would in a heart beat.


So, why did God give me the challenge to love two states? Why did he give me the opportunity to love two states? Why did God give me the privilege to love two states? I will never know that answer but I find glimpses of it here and there.


When my stomach hurts from laughing due to a girls night or when I drive to school and see the Kentucky sun rising. I find pure joy in these moments. I feel blessed and tell God that maybe moving wasn't as bad as I thought.


I am will never know why he moved me so in the meantime I am going to be thankful that my roots spread beyond just one state and one city and one town.


I have been reading this great book. It is called Bloom by Kelle Hampton. I started reading her blog this past summer and she is amazing! She does an amazing job of seeing the beauty in hard struggles throughout the crazy ride we call life. Visit her blog: www.enjoyingthesmallthings.blogspot.com


In one of the chapters of her newly released book she talks about these things called "God Spinners." Just when you think you got the life you wanted and are walking on the path that you imagined God, changes it. He spins something you would have never imagined in your way. What are you going to do? Are you going to take it head on or are you going to sit back and let the experience pass you by.


I am going to take it head on. So what I still have homesick days?  I say bring it. I say I am ready. Who knew that I would be here living it up in Kentucky? Who knew I could carry such love for two states in my heart? Who knew life could be so crazy? Who knew?




Hope all is well, pictures coming soon! 


Miss ya Memphis! 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

A love hate relationship

Hello all :) 


How are we doing? I hope very splendid. I got to spend the night downtown with some great girls and as we were driving home I got to really take in the beautiful skyline of Cincinnati.


It got me thinking. I kept thinking wow. I have been blessed with this new city. I have been blessed with new beauty. I have been blessed with a new culture. Pretty amazing stuff, if I say so myself. :) 


That makes me smile so big. I have this love hate relationship with moving. I hate it but love it at the same time. I hate that I moved from everything that I loved. I hate that some of my friendships haven't survived the move. I hate that I am not by that oh so good bbq. :) 


I hate starting over but I do LOVE the new blessings that God has given me. 


Man, he is so good. The new city, town, and friends he has given me. So, yes I do love moving. It is exciting and given me people that I can't imagine not having in my life. 


Funny how time works. Just 8 months ago I could have told you that I hated Kentucky and moving. Funny how God tells us to wait for him to work his magic. 


And look...




I waited and I can see his glory and magic. Today I am feeling blessed. I feel blessed with the girls that I still have in Memphis and I feel so thankful for the ones that I have here in Kentucky. 


God is good. SO good. 


Hope y'all enjoy your afternoon. Miss you! 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

I passed the test

So, I have really slacked on the blogging! It is crazy up here in Kentucky. I can't believe that winter is coming to a close and summer is approaching fast!


A few weeks ago I encountered a huge test. This test was a big one. This test showed me that I do really like Kentucky. I loved being back in the south and eating those to die for ribs. I loved seeing my sweet southern faces and being back in my home town! There was only one thing missing....


It was Kentucky. By the time Monday morning rolled around I was longing for Kentucky and my best friend. I was longing to be back in the place that until that moment was afraid to call my home. I was afraid to go visit Memphis. I was afraid that I would feel those moving feelings all over again. To my surprise that feeling wasn't present. I felt relaxed. I felt at peace. That very moment sowed me that I passed the test. :)


I have come a long way. By no means do I love Kentucky but you know what? I missed it. I missed it big time. Memphis will always be a part of me but Kentucky is me now. It is my present and I am smiling :) I am so thankful for the best friend that God has given me. I am so thankful for the group of girls that God has given me. I am thankful for the move. :) 


Hope y'all are doing swell! Miss you!!  

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Half way through!

Hello out there :) 

Several weeks have passed since I have posted and all I can say is, I am busy! I have passed the 6 month mark of living in Kentucky. I have lived here for half a year and I honestly can't believe it. Time flies when your meeting new friends! I feel so blessed to be living here. I will always miss Memphis and ache for it from time to time but Kentucky has showed me that moving may not be to bad. I can't imagine my life without some of these Kentucky girls, they are so special to me. I know the next 6 months will be filled with more great memories but for now, I am living in the moment. I am trying to soak up every minute and smile. God has blessed me and I want to embrace it. 


Enjoyed have the wonderful Dougans in town this past weekend. It always feels so good to have those familiar faces around me again :) 


SO thankful to have my two families with me helping me through. 6 months down? Wow baby is all I have to say. Time flies when your having fun :) 


Happy January y'all!