Holding My Horses

Cute moment from the 2 year olds at the day care where I work:

I was serving afternoon snack to the adorable little kids sitting at the table. As I was getting the vanilla wafers and apple juice together, as well as corralling the stray kids and getting cups out and a million other things, Emerson said, "I want some juice!"
I told her, "You'll have to hold your horses, Emerson. I'll get it in just a second, ok?"
A couple minutes later, as I began to pour apple juice into the cups, Ethan piped up in his angelic little voice, "Miss Holly, I'm holding my horses."

So adorable! He had no idea what it meant, but he wanted to show me he was being good. I love those kids.....most of the time.... ;-)

God Bless the USA

This song always makes me cry when I hear it. I am proud to be an American, and I am so proud of the men in my life who have served our country: my great-grandpas, my grandpas, my dad, my cousins (one of whom will ship out to Iraq within a few weeks), and friends that I know. I am so thankful to God for the free country I live in and for those who help to keep it free.

"And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA."

Happy 4th of July.....from our home to yours!

Links, Links, Links!

Here are some new links for y’all:

Our official wedding website: http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/HollySkinner&AndrewMinion

A website Andrew and I have created for wedding plan posting and beyond:
http://andrewandhollyminion.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Building Castles

I wrote this one day last semester about the danger of making our own plans without consulting God first...

“I built a castle one day. It was a magnificent construction. Each stone so faultless and so perfectly aligned. There was no flaw in my castle. I polished each stone and cherished every part. I knew exactly what dimensions that castle needed to be. Nothing could mar my castle. I imagined what it would be like completed, and how everyone would be so stunned at my outstanding creation.

One day, it was completed. It was a lofty structure, far above anything that could harm it, I was sure. Yet, as I surveyed my castle, I realized that sketched across the entire building was my name, written in bold, brash letters for all the world to see. Why shouldn’t it be there, I thought. After all, it is my creation. No one else should have any part of my castle.

Then, in a horrifying instant, I realized that there was One who did have access to that castle, for He rules all of the castles that we humans attempt to build. Slowly, before my eyes, he began to take apart the walls I had constructed. It was painful to watch those stones that I had carefully carved and polished come crumbling apart. It hurt, and I shed tears as I watched it disintegrate into a heap of useless rubble.

Then that One and I wrestled for the blueprints to the castle. He insisted that only He could make it a truly perfect castle. I cried that my dreams could only do. He showed me His plan throughout the ages. I offered up the pitiful successes of my brief life. More tears were shed, by me, and, if I could guess, by Him as well, as we wrestled. Then He just asked if I would simply trust Him. If I would give to Him the pieces of a shattered dream and let Him make a castle that no man could penetrate, that no force of evil could crumble. And, finally, I released the blueprints into His omniscient hand. I gave Him the trust that He demanded in exchange for a truly perfect castle. I gave my broken walls to the Rock of Ages and let Him make them whole.

I don’t know what that castle will look like. Do I want to know? Oh yes. But trust doesn’t mean only in the sunlight. Trust means stepping in the dark and allowing Him to guide me. You know what I’ve discovered? I don’t have to know what the castle will look like, I just have to know the Builder.”

Our Love Story

Ok, so a lot of people want to know how Andrew and I got together and how he proposed....so here it is~

Andrew and I met as freshmen at Ambassador Baptist College. He is actually one of the few people I remember from registration day. We had the same group of friends during their freshman year, but we didn't really get to talk a whole lot so I didn't know him all that well. I didn't know it, but Andrew started liking me at the beginning of our freshman year, but various circumstances kept him from pursuing a relationship at that time.

When we came back as sophomores, Andrew began to like me yet again. When I found out, I wasn't too happy about it at first (just ask some of my friends!), but after wise counsel from friends and much prayer, we began a relationship on November 1, 2007. (btw- I kinda like him now too) :) Some interesting milestones~

•First date—Missions Banquet Concert- 2 November 2007

•Holly’s first stay in Chicago—Spring Break 2008, while attempting to get home during Ohio’s blizzard of March ’08 (definitely the most interesting meet-the-parents story in the whole world!)

•Longest time apart (so far)—106 days over the summer of 2008

•Andrew's first stay in Heath—Christmas Break, January 2009

•First “I love you”—27 January 2009

After dating for one year, six months, and one week, Andrew popped the question……

Andrew and I were engaged on May 7, 2009. My family was at the college for my graduation, as well as Andrew’s mom and sister. The school’s Commencement Concert was on Thursday evening, and just before the concert, Andrew asked me if we could go to Pastor Johnston’s house with our families afterwards. Pastor J is a professor at Ambassador who holds bonfires for students and campouts throughout the year. Andrew and I were both good friends with him and his wife and had been there on several occasions for dates.

As I sat in the concert, I began to wonder why on earth he wanted to go there that night. Honestly I was kinda annoyed, because by the time the concert was going to get over it was going to be pretty late and we'd have almost no time to spend together. It was then that I first had an inkling that this could be the night he proposed.

When we got there, Andrew and I (and my dad) went down to the creek, where Andrew had been camping several times. The entire way down, I was thinking, "this is it, he’s going to propose!" Even though the moon was full that night, it was still dark and a little hard for me to see, but we finally made it down there. We were standing on a little hill by the creek and next thing I knew, Andrew was getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him. A girl dreams of that moment almost her entire life, and even though I knew it was going to happen, it didn’t actually hit me until I heard him ask the question. I kind of laughed and said, “You’re asking me to marry you? You’re asking me to marry you in the middle of the woods?” He must have known I was going to say yes, because he already had slipped the (absolutely gorgeous) ring on my finger. I finally did say yes, and after spending a few minutes down there savoring the moment, we headed back up to the house where our moms and sisters waited……except only his mom knew he was proposing right then. So I got to completely shock my mom and our sisters, which was a lot of fun.

It was the best moment of my life (so far), and I will never forget it as long as I live. To use the word of a guy in Andrew’s dorm: It was truly magical.

Now I'm living in Ohio while he finishes school in North Carolina, so it will be a hard year apart from each other, but I know it will go by quickly. We are planning a May 15, 2010 wedding. We chose that date for a couple reasons. First of all, it's a week after graduation, which means it's the soonest we could get married, and, hey, who wants to wait if they don't have to?? ;) It's also going to be my parents' 28th wedding anniv. as well as my sister's 20th b-day. So it's a very important date in our family, so what better day to celebrate?!?

Anyway, that's our love story and I wouldn't have written it any differently even if I'd had a choice.

Diplomas and Diamond Rings

The past 48 hours in a picture.....

(hint: notice my left hand)

370 days until I become Mrs. Andrew Minion. I am the happiest girl in the world!!!!

I know, it's been forever...

Ok, so I haven't posted in a while. But I have a very good excuse. I'm a college student. Ok, so that's not a terrific excuse, but it's a reason. I am finally less than 2 weeks from graduation and things are starting to wind down. Right now I have 4 tests and 2 projects standing between me and a diploma. The biggest thing on my plate is a piano hymn arrangement for Hymn Playing class. I'm finishing up my second arrangement, and it's coming very slowly right now. So my Sunday afternoon will be full of Finale and hymnbooks.

Lots of stuff going on these last few weeks. Finals start Friday. Graduates' Brunch at my pastor's house and Grad Banquet at school on Saturday. Graduate service at Emmanuel with a fellowship afterwards on Sunday night. Last service at church on Wednesday night. Grad concert on Thursday night. Baccalaureate Brunch, Baccalaureate Chapel (where I'm playing a piano quartet offertory), and Commencement on Friday.

So, busy, busy, busy until graduation. Then, it's home to find a "real job." And after that, who knows! Sorry for the long break since updating last. Lord willing, next time I update, I will be a college graduate living in Ohio!!!!! So long from the beautiful North Carolina.......

Thoughts upon the occasion of turning 21

Thought #1- Wow, I'm getting old.

Thought #2- I'm thankful I'm this old.

Thought #3- I'm so blessed.

Thank you for the thoughts and prayers of everyone who knew about my little trip to the hospital. Saturday morning (the 17th) I began having chest pains. As a relatively healthy almost-21 year old, I was a little confused. I ignored them on Saturday, but as the pain worsened and breathing became more and more difficult on Sunday, I started getting scared. Heart problems run in my family, and I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong. So, after the evening service, my wonderful friend Amy drove me to the emergency room in Shelby. Miss B, the Dean of Women at ABC, came and stayed with me until the ordeal was over. I got to the hospital at 8pm and five hours, 2 x-rays, and one vial of blood work later, I left. Funny side note- my admitting bracelet shows my age at 20, the release paperwork shows it as 21. Yes, people, I turned 21 in the hospital. No, it wasn't fun.

It turns out I have Costochondritis. Basically, it felt like I was having a heart attack, but it was really just inflammation of my chest wall. All the doctor could do was prescribe pain medication for it. It will take a couple of weeks to get over. Breathing remains difficult and rather painful which leaves me light-headed often, especially when I laugh. I can't lift anything heavy as that causes stress on the chest wall. But, praise the Lord it was nothing more serious. I have amazing friends who take very good care of me, as well as a wonderful boyfriend who makes sure that I follow doctor's orders and does so much to help me out.

My friends surprised me on my birthday with a decorated cookie from Walmart (courtesy of Mom), ice cream, balloons, gifts, cards, and showered me with love and care. Oh yes, and embarrased me thoroughly in the Commons doing all that. *smile* I am truly, truly blessed.

Right now, I'm in Raleigh, traveling for the school with a music team. I'm the 'roommate' for my best friend who is the pianist for a guys duet. It proves to be a long weekend as we won't get back to school until close to midnight (or maybe after) tomorrow night. But I'm just loving the opportunity to travel and serve the Lord.

Curiosity

Because I'm insanely curious, I'm doing something a tad random. I was looking at my Stat Counter map tonight, and I'm wondering if anyone out there actually reads this tiny blog. (Ok, I know I have faithful readers from the Chicago area and at least one in PA. *smile*) But I really don't know who reads my randomness and how they found this site.

After thinking about it, I realized that I would probably blog even if no one was reading. Due to my utter inability to keep a journal or diary or whatever for more than one week straight, this blog has become the journal of my life. In 10 years I will look at this and reminisce fondly of the noble life......Ok, whatever- I'll be looking at this and laughing hysterically at myself. But what else are blogs for?? I originally started this to let people in my life know what is going on without having to email dozens of individuals. It turned into a sort of therapy for me and a writing outlet. It makes me smile to think that other people would want to read about my crazy, little life.

So, if any reader out there in the big, wide cyberspace wants to help satisfy my curiosity, please leave a comment by clicking on the word "Thoughts" at the bottom of this post. Let me know who you are and where you are and how you stumbled across my piece of blogdom. Thank you muchly!

That I may know Him

Once again, it's time for me to pick out a new verse for the year. This year, I could not get one verse out of my mind the past couple of weeks. That verse is Philippians 3:10--

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"

I want to get to know God better this year. One of my favorite authors states it this way in one of her books:

"Life’s passions are powerful things. But the greatest passion would be knowing God more. Not for just a moment. Not until everything works out like you want it to. But every day, seeking to know God more. His heart. His thoughts. His plans. They may not match your own. But the question is, are you willing to let yours match His?"

(Savannah by the Sea- Denise Hildreth)

I could not have put it better myself.