My favorite part of the night was the questions that Mandy thought of that popped up throughout our conversation. Had she not come with something special prepared, I don't think the night would've had the same impact on me. As I get older and look back on this post, I know I won't remember all the questions unless I write them out. I don't have all the questions exact, I'm sure, but more or less, they were:
- Do you remember the very first time you met Kelli and if so, what was your first impression of her - good or bad?
- Since she loves music so much, is there a song that reminds you of Kelli?
- Kelli sends out a lot of cards. Is there a certain card that stood out for you that you've received from her?
- Can you think of a time when you realized that Kelli was a true, good friend, someone more than just a girl you like hanging out with?
- Is there something that you've learned from Kelli that is meaningful to you?
More importantly than the questions, I hope I can remember all the answers. Each one was special, but one that made me really proud was when girls shared things they'd learned from me. Bekah said she learned that you don't have to cook with meat to make a meal delicious and silly as that might seem, it was great for me to hear. Mom was such an amazing cook, as was her mother before her and if I'm honest, I'd love to be remembered in the same way. And here's the kicker: Mandy, Kristina, and Kelsie all said they learned more about birth, alternative birth options, and things of the like from me. What?! I couldn't believe it. It was so great to hear that! I felt so affirmed in the path I'm on for how I can help women and babies. Amazing to me! Throughout the night tears were shed, we all laughed together, and with each word spoken over me, I was filled up. I felt so celebrated and valued that night in ways I didn't even know possible. What great girls I've been able to have in my life. This is a rare gift.
Towards the end of the night Kelsie asked me what the last year has been like for me. Things I've learned, things I've done... it was sort of nice to have the question asked of me and to have to think about my life like that. (Kelsie is so good at that.) I think I might be forgetting one, but I shared that:
- I finally decided that I know what I should/want to do when I grow up, thanks much to a September 2011 conversation I had with Kels at Cup O Joe.
- I'm continually learning more about marriage and how to I need to be better at serving and loving my spouse. The marriage group we were part of at the beginning of this year helped me a lot and while I felt like Blinn and I had a great marriage before, there were definitely things pointed out that both of us need to work on. Its a continual learning curve, but one I'm happy to be on with this boy.
- Moving back to Columbus hasn't exactly been easy in the friendship department, but I've learned a lot about my old friends, how I view friendships, and thankfully, I've been able to make new friends.
I am humbled at the thought of the beautiful women God has gifted me with and I'm thankful for the opportunity to know them, do life with them, create a history with them and share me with them. I don't know how or why I am given the things that I am, but I am so very pleased.
I know I wasn't part of the party, but I have been thinking about those questions and have chosen to answer them myself!
ReplyDelete1. Do you remember the very first time you met Kelli and if so, what was your first impression of her - good or bad?
I'm not sure if it was the first time we met, but it was the first conversation we had. It was in the FEBC room on MVNU's campus, and I was looking for a set of roommates. Being an introvert, I had spent days mustering up the courage and crafting the right words in order to ask one of these girls that my friend Anne had recommended, and when I finally sat next to Kelli in class, she had her head on the desk. I tapped her on the shoulder and she sat up, clearly tired and weary, and I asked her if she'd have any extra rooms in her apt for the next year. She shrugged and said "I don't know, ask Summer." I took this as a good sign, and proceeded to do just that :)
2. Since she loves music so much, is there a song that reminds you of Kelli?
There are SO many that remind me of Kelli. Mostly Ben Folds...I'd say anything from him reminds me of Kel. I know it's not a song, rather, a movie - but I think of Kel whenever I watch "Best in Show" (which is at least once a year). "We have so much in common, we both love soup and snow peas, we love the outdoors, and talking and not talking. We could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about"
3. Kelli sends out a lot of cards. Is there a certain card that stood out for you that you've received from her?
The most recent favorite was a Christmas card that she sent that I found months later, and the verse in it was extremely encouraging and uplifting. Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." I also remember one that she and miss ZJ sent me as a thank you for the tea pot b-day gift. Love it!
4. Can you think of a time when you realized that Kelli was a true, good friend, someone more than just a girl you like hanging out with?
There are several times, the first being when she told me that my white t-shirt was indeed see through and that I should change (I loved her honesty). I also have a very distinct memory of a time when we worked at the ol' AHA together, and we were on one of our lunch excursions, I believe to JoAnn Fabrics (where we were likely going to buy and split a pack of scrapbook paper)...and we were riding along together in silence. There was probably music playing, but I don't remember it. What I loved was that we were sitting in silence and it was completely comfortable.Then there was the time she purchased me a book of poetry by Paul McCartney...and I thought: "This girl gets me." She is also the friend I miss the most.
5. Is there something that you've learned from Kelli that is meaningful to you?
I've always been a fan of Kelli's honesty and conviction. When she stands for something or speaks of something - she means it. She is authentic, she is the real deal. Kelli as a mother is also a wonderfully beautiful thing. I'm jealous of all the Ohio peeps that get to see this first hand. The way she speaks of her family with such love and adoration is truly inspirational. I've learned how to be a better friend from Kelli as well. There was a time when I was not being a very good friend because I didn't have a clue how to be, and she called me on it. This has changed the way I interact with her and with other friends now - it's made a lasting impact. I guess that all goes back to being honest.