Friendships...

Why are friendships are so important? As a woman I have found when I have just a few minutes conversing with other women I feel strengthened and walk away with a little more sanity. Is it maybe because we understand one-another better than in male-female relationships?

Being a wife and a mom to 9 kids leaves very little time for friendships outside of our "little" family. I guess for the 25 years, I have not made the time to maintain the friendships that I have had along the way. The funny thing is when I do make the time...I really feel better and walk away a stronger person. For me, hearing verbally that others are walking similar roads...struggles and joys...I no longer feel alone in my walk. When going through a trial I often alienate myself from the world...pity party maybe? When what I really need is to be around those that understand and can lift me up with prayer and encouragement.

Today I had the privilege of having lunch with a friend I haven't seen in 15 years! Janet was a girl I met when I was 12. We started going to this new church and a few months later my dad was killed in an automobile accident. As we adjusted to our new life and new church...I began new friendships. I was a quiet shy girl with alot of pain going on inside. I'm not sure if these kids realise what an important role they played in my life. They would always go out of their way to invite/encourage me to participate in different youth events or ministries.

Puppet ministry was one area Janet and my other friend Becky talked me into. That was a time in my life that was an absolute blast! Those friendships with fellow puppeteers is what kept me going and that allowed time to build those friendships...and I to this day have missed and cherished.

Youth group was another area that I feel God had His hand on. We had the best Youth director and really the only one I ever had. Tracy and Lisa had a gift of connecting with kids and did an awesome job! Tracy even played the piano in my wedding after my family left LCOG.

I was just 17 when my family chose to leave LCOG...leaving my friends behind was very hard...they had been my support for the last 4-5 years. However, God had an ultimate plan for me and in spite of the lost friendships...I had to follow Him. On and off for the next few years I would run into Janet, Becky or Tammy. A few of them even came to my wedding. As years passed we lost contact, until I decided to join Facebook...per my sisters request! Now my past friendships are coming out of the wood net work. Janet and I have even discussed a reunion of sorts with our old youth pastor.

The teen years are the hardest part of ones life. Now that I have teenagers I can see how important friendships can be. Hopefully I can direct my kids to make good choices in the friends they have...those friendships will impact their lives forever!

We missed you today Becky and Tammy! I hope we can get together soon...I have missed your friendships!

Karen

A day of firsts....and one dead deer!

For 5 years now I have been having trouble with my gallbladder. I have an attack about every 4-5 months... with pain in my side and between my shoulder blades.Usually they only last a couple of days. This last attack I've had nausea and it has lasted over two weeks now...no I'm not pregnant! This morning I had an appointment to have a Hida scan...nuclear medicine. I had to be there at 7:30 am and we live 45 minutes away. When I get there, they inject me with the nuclear meds and I have to lay still on my back in a vice like scanner for 1 1/2 hours...not good to have a huge chunk of metal a few inches from your face for 1 1/2 hours. The meds make my organs glow so they can view my liver...gallbladder and small intestines...there's nothing like feeling like a glow worm!

Two hours later I'm freezing and head home...thinking about stopping at Target...I resist the urge. Getting off of Hwy.316 I turn onto Hwy 29 heading towards Dacula. Passing QT and the Waffle House I look up to see oncoming traffic and cars in front of me. As I am passing the oncoming traffic, suddenly I have a deer hitting my drivers side front...I really don't know where it came from! Not knowing what damage is done I proceed to pull over in the parking area of what use to be Chadwicks vegetable stand...the building I thought was empty. As I pull in... my van's power dies. Oh great! My hubby is out of town, this is not good...or so I thought. I looked up to see two gentlemen to the side of the building. I get out...or at least try but the driver door wouldn't open. So I get out of the passenger side door. I know these guys are thinking what a weird lady...I'm thinking they probably don't speak English and will be of little help. You know... God is good ALL the time and He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. As I'm looking at the damage I tell them I just hit a deer and now my van won't start. I then see a 3rd man...the owner of the building...he begins looking at the damage and seeing if he can get it started. As they are trying different things I find out he wasn't supposed to be there...but had just swung by for something...is that God or what? I am trying to get a hold of my hubby...who is out of town meeting with a General at Fort Brag. I have never been in an accident or hit a deer...Kelley is my wisdom in times of stress. To my dismay he couldn't be reached. I am thinking ..Oh great! I better find a tow truck! After trying several things this man pulls out the fuse box that is in the engine. The only problem was a loose fuse...the impact of the deer had knocked it out! Praise God from who all blessing flow! No tow truck after all! I really didn't want to spend $150 for towing...Target would have been better! What a blessing these 3 men were to me today...God sent three angels to rescue this stranded glow worm from her deer hunting experience!

Before I left I ask them how much I owe them...their response "a deer!" Just so happens I know where to find one!


Listening to that inner voice...I should have made that stop at Target...It would have been cheaper! However I would not have had a day of firsts....First glow worm experience...first deer ...first accident...not bad for a 43 year old lady! But I did get to see God hold me in the palm of His hand and experience His mercy to the fullest...I could not have ask for more! Now to trust Him and His ways of doing a good work in me.


Karen...the deer hunter!

25 Years with the man that has my heart !!!

I can't believe we have been married 25 years! It all started 24 years ago, at the age of 17, praying for a little excitement in my life. It was my senior year of high school... tired of school and just living a mundane life, I one day asked God to please put a little excitement into my life. Be careful what you pray for...you just might get it! Within a few weeks I committed to go on a short term mission trip to England and Scotland. A month later God begin softening my heart towards my now husband ....who was leading a singles Bible study at my parents home and doing some remodeling for them. It didn't take long for God to do a mighty work on both our hearts...despite our age difference of 9 years...we fell in love and began courting. Two months later we became engaged. A few weeks later I graduated. Three weeks later I left for Scotland...that was the longest trip but God did a mighty work in me.Two months later I returned home and five weeks later I became Mrs. Kelley Holcombe Jr. :

April we officially began courting... May 1984 I became engaged to the man of my dreams...Early June I graduated from high school...Late June I left for Scotland,not to return home until August...August I return home....September 15, on my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary, I married my dear sweet husband. It's amazing what 6 months and 1 small prayer does to change one's life. God is always faithful, He goes above and beyond all our hopes and dreams.

Twenty-five years, 9 kids, many many moves(5 states), tears of laughter (yes I cry when I laugh), tears of sorrow....we remain committed to the One who brought us together and to each other. I can't say it has always been easy...but we have always tried to laugh through some of the most stressful and even the most happiest times of our marriage.

Our most memorable anniversaries have been the ones we were so broke we split a whopper or the one where Kelley had to go out of town because of a hurricane. Some would see these times as too much to take...but we took those times and made lemonade!

Our biggest challenge has always been finding quiet alone time together...nine kids may have something to do with that! Sometimes going to the grocery store is all we can manage...we like to meet at the milk counter! Our older kids have been very gracious to watch the younger ones for us when we can manage a real date night. They have even been known to offer to watch the kids if we wanted to go out. What a blessing each of them are! The best gift we could ever give our children is for us to love each other and nurture our relationship.

Well the thought has crossed my mind to ask God once again for excitement... not that I'm bored...maybe I should just be content. However I know from a perfect experience that when God does something exciting He really goes all out! I would hate to miss an all out God experience!

To the man who has my heart.....

Kelley you have gone above all my hopes and dreams in what I wanted in a husband. You have given me love when I really didn't deserve it. You have given me courage when I was so afraid I couldn't see the way...You have helped me to trust in what my eyes could not see. You have filled my life with laughter, love, trust, children(he!he!), and above all you have helped me to follow Jesus! What a patient man you are. Words cannot express my love and gratitude that I have for you. God knows me so well and He knew what I needed when He made you. Thanks for waiting for me(to grow up). I can't wait to experience the next 25 years with you...who knows?...It may start off just as exciting as the first 25 years! As long as you always hold my hand....I will be the happiest woman!

I love you....and YES I would marry you all over again!

Karen

Guess who?

Guess who I was able to meet? I have never really had an idol but I guess you would say these two handsome men are the sons of a lady that I would truly love to meet. That's right Jammie and Bobby Deen! Let's just say they are just as sweet as they are cute. Our plans to go to Savannah to eat at their restaurant were cancelled ,so my dear sweet husband surprised me by taking me to their book signing. I really liked the fact that we know someone who knew them. Becky who works with my husband went to school with Paula and they were on the cheer squad together. I am hoping she can one day introduce me to Paula. And a little bird(Bobby) told me he had a crush on Becky when he was younger. Paula if you are reading this... you have raised two fine young men and thanks to my hubby I was able to meet them.