Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Tuesday ~ Starbucks Tuesday + a Big Life-Changing Announcement

Happy Starbucks Tuesday once again, my fine friends!

I decided to break away from my well-loved and well-tried (but still favored!) tea lemonades, so that I could try the new drink at Starbucks. I was hanging between two friends - one who said it was amazing and one who said it wasn't all that grand. And so in order to give a fair representation, today I tried the:



Drum roll, please! My consensus is: average. Nothing more than good, nothing less than good. Just average good. I can't even taste anything hazelnutty or much of a taste other than what the regular caramel macchiato tastes like....said the girl who doesn't actually like coffee. Perhaps all my taste buds could process was the stronger-that-I-like-it coffee taste. :)


Side note...do you know how hard it is to take pictures while sitting in your car in a parking lot? There's people walking by, people randomly sitting in their cars....all just so ready to watch the strange girl holding the big camera taking self-portraits and close-ups of a coffee cup. Stealth is my word when I'm trying to take my coffee pictures and it's like people pop out of the pavement on jack-in-the-box springs all around my car, making it almost impossible for me to not look like that girl with the camera taking self-portraits of herself. Oh, how vain.


It's lilac season right now, or rather, the beginning of the end of lilac season and I've been so busy lately I haven't had time to "drink them in," so I quickly snagged a few sprigs as I was heading out the drive way. Aren't lilacs the most wonderful flower ever? I'm pretty sure heaven will be filled with the overpower scent of lilacs. Really. It has to be.

And this morning, I was listening to one of my favorite worship albums My Savior Lives, by New Life Worship...who is actually Desperation Band in disguise. Track #3 is pretty much my favorite worship song ever.



Let me tell you a little bit about myself...

- I was the girl who grew up never ever thinking about a career.
- I was the girl who never thought she’d ever actually have to work a job to pay her way through life.
- I was the girl who thought she would get married pretty much as soon as she reached marriageable age.
- I was the girl who wanted to graduate, marry at 18 and start having ten boys right away.
- I was the girl who never thought she’d see 20 and still be single.
- I was the girl who never, ever thought in a million years that she’d move out on her own.
- I was the girl who though other girls who moved out on their own were rebellious.

But now?

I'm the twenty-six year old single woman working a full-time job and who's now taking the next step and moving out on her own.

Yes, folks, you heard it right - Kellie's going solo! The past few weeks have been a volcano of conflicting emotions. On one hand, there's total radical excitement about living life as a fully independent woman...and on the other hand, there's times of hysterical crying into a pillow in the closet  because I'm leaving home, family and everything that's ever been my faithful, reliable constant. I don't like change, I don't handle it well, and frankly, moving out is something I never, ever, ever saw myself doing. It was just never something I ever though I'd be in a position or in a place in life to do that. In the Gospel According to Kellie, I should be married right now with like four little boys running around my ankles.

But life didn't go the way I planned it. All those ideals, visions and yes, misguided concepts have proved false, some more so than others. I mean really, I'm moving out and I'm not being rebellious?!? I have my parent's full blessing?!? Haha. So, whereas I may not have the life I always wanted...you know what's happening here?

I'm getting the life I never even dreamed of!!   
Because it's gonna be different, but seriously, people? It's gonna rock!

And so, after weeks and months of praying, long talks with my parents, and honestly, a LOT of tears and a LOT of raging emotions (remember, change is hard for me and I've been a home-lovin', family-worshippin', safe-haven-huggin' girl for twenty-six years!), I am indeed....moving out.

Or rather, as I like to say (since "moving out" does sound like there's insidious rebellion lurking behind my motives!), I am "relocating."

Prepare for new adventures to begin.

31 comments:

  1. Just had to say... ME TOO!!! And I've been going through the EXACT same motions. This post could have been written by me. Hope your journey to independence is great!

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    1. Thanks, Taleia!! I hope yours does, too! Scary times, huh?

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  2. I love iced caramel macchiatos, but they do definitely taste a lot like coffee, yum! ;-)

    I was the girl who nodded and agreed with all of the above statements about never having to support myself and being married before I was 20 and may be harboring similar thoughts of moving out as soon as financially able.....job hunting bites!

    Congrats on the big move! Can't wait to here more about it, and see your new place! =)

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    1. Katysue! How goes the hunt for a job? It's definitely a frustrating place to be in, huh? We seem to be so much a like, gral! Perhaps this will be the year you go solo, too!

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  3. i so love a carmel macchiato but i am hesitant to try the hazlenut nut one...

    congrats on relocating :) that is awesome!

    i can't wait for it to be my turn,whenever i get a full time teaching job, to relocate :)

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    1. Thanks, Victoria! Hopefully you will get a teaching job soon! And then you can begin your own moving-out adventures! :)

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  4. Congrats! That IS a really big deal- go you!! I hope you`ll really like having your own place!

    Some Snapshots Blog
    Jess

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    1. Thanks, Jess!! I am super excited (amidst the moments of sheer panic) and a big deal is right! Like I said above...never saw myself doing this in any of my plans for my life, but I'm actually quite glad that I get the chance to experience life on my own. Well, I guess I should say "on my own" with two house-mates. But "on my own" as far as being totally independent and having to make my own decisions and choices! :)

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  5. First of all, I'm totally the girl who takes pictures of her coffee/any drinks and gets weird stares. It's perfectly normal, I think. Secondly, congratulations on opening this new/scary/exciting chapter of life!! You're gonna rock it. =)

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    1. Hehe, Emily, then I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets the wierd/amused stares! I'm just a little too self-conscious! And thank, gral, I appreciate your vote of confidence! I'm sure my blog will have many a post on the ups and downs of living on my own! :)

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  6. Oh how I would love some Starbucks right now! :) I try and make my Starbucks days on a Friday to celebrate getting through another week of school :)
    Good luck on the next chapter of your life. I moved three states away from my family almost 6 years ago....I enjoy my independence but I do miss my family dearly.

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    1. Thankfully, Rebecca, I'm actually only moving ten minutes (eleven, to be exact) away from my family, and closer to my two sets of married siblings! So I guess I've still got it good! I can't imagine moving three states away!! That must have taken some guts, gral! And only three more days til you can get your coffee fix! :D

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  7. you're really good at taking photos in the car though, i must say haha! mine would just be a mess. odd angles and terrible light and weird faces. and YAY! that is such exciting news :) it'll be a big transition, but i'm sure everything will go well and you will love living on your own! just another unexpected adventure :) congrats, girl!

    grace & love,
    kristyn

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    1. Haha, thanks, Kristyn! That's kind of you to say that! :) And despite all the change, I'm pretty sure I will love living on my own, I have that independent streak in me! :)

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  8. I'm also realllllllly bad at change. Gosh, are we the same person? Before any huge life change whether it's good or bad I am a total wreck. I cry a lot and my moods are crazy. Before I got married I was the same way, and I was supppperrrr excited to get married. I guess I just don't handle change well. :) It all works out in the end though. Congrats, girl!!

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    1. Angela, I think we might be twins somehow!! God must have really liked our prototype, eh? ;) Haha, that's funny you would say that...I've been thinking that if I'm this messed up emotionally about leaving home, it's a good thing that I'm doing it NOW instead of when I'm getting married!! I'm sure that my blog, in the days to come, will have many new adventures to tell! :)

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  9. WOOOT! Congrats!!!!

    And this was totally me...the married at eighteen thing (and now not), never going to college (and now I do), never living on my own (not yet, but you never know what life'll throw your way!) I've said it a million times, and I'll say it again, God doesn't work in boxes. :) His plans were so different from mine...and so awesome!

    AND I am totally the same about change. Hugh emotional drama recently over some change. Totally understand! :)

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    1. And aren't we GLAD God doesn't work in boxes?? I know that I am! Despite the fact that once I again I was an emotional "just want this bad dream to be over" mess again last night (ie. crying hysterically on the back porch after dark, haha), this morning I wake up feeling like God IS in control, He's not letting go of me and that whereas change IS SO HARD...change is what opens the doors for the bigger and better. :) I hope your transition with your recent change is going well! Hugs, friend! I appreciate your comment this morning!

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  10. Oh Kellie! I understand. Truly I do. Change is hard. I actually moved 3000 miles away from my family over 10 years ago. Which you'll think is absolutely nutso, I do realize. And it was my decision. I love it here, but even so, it was still and is still very hard. Family is awesome! And since you're so close to yours (which is beyond cool and wonderful! just so you know), things will definitely be different. But I'm so glad you're excited! And believe me, you will find out all kinds of things about yourself that you may never have realized before. I know I sure did. I hit 30 a couple years ago, and I'm still finding stuff I never knew about myself. How crazy is that?! ;P But seriously, congrats. Praying all goes smoothly and wonderfully for you! :)

    Also? You totally made me feel better. I try taking pics while sitting in my car, whether of myself or of other things and always feel so self-conscious. Because you're totally right! While I'm just sitting there, nobody's around. But as soon as I get my camera ready, out pop all the people everywhere!

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    1. Wow, Kara....I can't imagine moving across country!! I'm struggling with just 7 miles away from my family! Hehe, now I'm a little nervous about what I'll discover about myself!! But hopefully what I'll discover most are the things that need weeding and pruning in my life. I'm really praying that this new adventure will be cataclysmic in really perfecting more into the image of Christ! Which, after all, is what life's adventures are really all about anyway. :)

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  11. If I didn't know what the announcement was going to be, I'd seriously wonder if it was your change in drink. :-P Quite funny. Also quite funny was the picture of jack-in-the-box people popping out of the woodwork whenever you go to take a picture of yourself+coffee :-P I'm sure it's true too! And, *sigh*, I'm learning that although what I wanted with my life was good, what God has prepared for my life is good too. A different good. :) Katheryn said we'll have to have girl nights at your new place--I'll be planning on it! ;) :-P

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    1. Ah, Michelle....that love-hate relationship with the "different good." I love how you said that, because what I dreamed for my life WAS good and God-honoring..it just wasn't HIS good for me! And gral...you'd better hold on to your hat, because there is going to be SO much girl-stuff happening at our Girl House that you may not even know where to start! I should put a sign over our front door, "Warning: All Who Enter Are in Danger of Estrogen Poisoning. Enter at Your Own Risk." ;)

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  12. How exciting! And congrats on this new adventure in life! I can't wait to hear more about it and I know that God has some great things in store for you. Isn't it interesting how God will sometimes take our plans and turn them upside down for the better? :)

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    1. Absolutely! I'm excited about the journey ahead of me! It's gonna be big, I know that! I'm excited about discovering more about myself, as I know that this will stretch me and challenge my character. My two house-mates are two of my very best friends...but even best friends can get on each other nerves and bring out the worst in each other! So, I'm looking forward to learning more about myself! :)

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  13. Congrats, Kellie! I am excited for you because you are! That is evident here, my friend. :)

    I was always the girl who didn't "get" her peers getting done with high school and immediately wanting to jump into marriage. It just seemed like there was so much learning and growing to be done yet. Even as a 20-something I still feel that way and yet, yes, I do wonder about the man I will one day marry. As for moving... that would FREAK me out. Little changes, I like (new decorations, new clothes, new hair color). Big changes, yeah, I FREAK OUT. Plus my family has different mindsets - more Biblical, less cultural - when it comes to many of these issues.

    I am SO happy for you. :) Hope you and your friends enjoy this time even if it is a bit "scary" or challenging. Hey, that is good for us!

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    1. Thanks, Rissi! I appreciate your support! And I totally understand the "biblical/cultural" thing. In SO many ways, that also defines my family and how we operate. And frankly, I was very unsure how my dad would feel about me moving out, but I wanted his blessing on it. I knew that if it was God's will, that He would open every door. And apparently it IS God's will, because I have my dad's full, undisputed blessing in this new phase of life. I NEVER thought I'd ever be that girl who moved out, but God has so many other plans for my life that I never anticipated! I know without doubt that God is in this and that He's going to be perfecting His perfect will through the move! And yes, this WILL be challenging (refer to my reply to Kiki above!) but I'm ready for it!

      Thanks for being excited for me, gral!

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  14. SO excited for you, Kellie!
    I was within an ace of being in there last winter - my bro was moving up to town, and I allllmost went with him. I was thrilled, terrified, and really, really excited (did I mention I was scared to death?), though in the end, it turned out that God had other plans for me.
    However, I know that feeling of wishing the horrible dreamlike feeling of impending doom also known as Change to just leave me alone and pass away. But once God starts something, He's going to see you through it. It's going to be amazing and fulfilling and probably a time of big growth, too. In other words, thrilling, terrifying, and really, really exciting!! Hang in there, girlie, because we're all here for you. Praying!

    --K

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    1. Wow, Kellie...thank you SO much for this!! You have no idea how much this hits me "right there" where I needed it! When I first started blogging, I just didn't "get" how other girl bloggers were talking about all the great friends they'd made through their blogs...but in the past few months, I have come to find it SO true! I am so encouraged and motived by what you said and I'm so grateful!

      I know what God has in store for me is going to be amazing, even as it will be fraught with challenge and hardship! I'm sure I'll be chronicling more "Adventures in Independent Living" over the next months! :) Thanks, Kellie, you have encouraged me today! :)

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  15. Key Kellie,
    Hope the move is smooth and I totally agree with you about the Hazelnut Macchiato, I too was sadly underwhelmed. Love and miss you.
    Your cousin, Kade

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    1. Ah, Katie!! I miss you, too! Here's a big hug from me to you!!

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Oooh, you're about to comment! How exciting! Know that you are SO MUCH MORE than just a name and a comment to me - you're a person I'd like to get to know! Make sure you check back, as I reply to each comment. I love getting to talk/correspond with each of you!