 sometimes church feels like first monday back to school after a slumber part you weren't invited to.
the little jokes, the innuendos, the giggling. someone walks up and asks how you are but their interest is fleeting; before a response even forms on your lips they're walking away, laughing with someone else about something you don't understand and so you turn, once again unnoticed, and slip into the crowd. in a split second you've transformed from a woman at church to a 6th grader in a lunchroom, staring into your sandwich as your friends laugh over a funny memory you weren't there to make. week after week, it takes its toll, this game you don't have the energy to play. it's frustrating.
 there seems to be a trend toward authentic lately. in the Church, in books, in the blog world. there's not much we don't talk about, and i like it that way. our stories are too powerful to settle for a watered down version of redemption, too important to stuff beneath false exteriors and perfect masks. our stories, the truth of our journey with Jesus*, matter. for us and for the world.
 hi lovelies! ignite was such an incredible experience, and over the weekend my mind buzzed with stories and thoughts and little tidbits i couldn't wait to share with you. but, the truth is, i am just plain exhausted! i'm certain any words i could string together this morning would not do the event justice. thank goodness our big God cares about the little things, even monday morning posts in this tiny corner of the internet! i invited sweet michele to be a guest here anytime she'd like, and she chose this morning to send her post---without knowing it was exactly what i needed! i love when God reveals Himself in such obvious ways. michele and i met in a shuttle on the way to she speaks, the proverbs 31 conference i attended over the summer. though it was our first time to connect face to face, i already loved her heart! i had been following her blog, the journey north, for months before our God-designed meeting, and just so you know--she is just as kind and clever in real life as she is online! as always, i'm praying for each and every single one of you! may you find encouragement, inspiration, and the courage to embrace tough lessons in these words.
 Uhh...remember me? Holly? Yeah...I'm the lame-o who hasn't posted in months and just sits back to enjoy Brittany's genius! So here I am, hopefully I will be back more often again-I need to re-read Brittany post about breaking-up-with-busy...and maybe write one about Holly-stop-your-excuses! BUT! I'm happy to be back and feeling good about today's post!
 the following is based on the poem "where i'm from" by george ella lyon. i was inspired to write it by hopefuleigh's own "where i'm from" on her blog. check her out!
also, you can find the template here.
 we are bags packed, don't let the door hit you on the way out, facebook-official finished.
yes, it's true.
i have broken up with busy.
 first, i want to say just how much we have enjoyed reading all of your responses to our church surveys. my heart was not only touched but changed by many of the things that you shared. thank you, thank you, thank you, a million times over, for allowing us those glimpses into your hearts. we are blessed by each and every single one of you.
 there is a very specific question that has been on my heart these past few months, so i'm just going to come out and ask it:
why do women use gossip as a way to bond with one another?
i know it sounds weird to say it that way, but we totally do. we even build entire friendships on foundations of gossip! think about it: how many times have you felt “closer” to someone after you had a nice, long talk about somebody else that you both know? maybe you weren't even being catty. maybe you were simply talking about them and their life, sharing information with each other. maybe you were complaining or laughing about something they do that happens to annoy both of you. maybe you were analyzing whether their new relationship/new job/new car/new friendship was good or bad, impressive or embarrassing. maybe you were sharing secrets they trusted you with because they were just too juicy to keep to yourself. maybe you were just “venting” out some of your frustration. maybe, maybe, maybe.
 "how are you?"
"good, what about you?"
"no, really, how are you?"
"pretty good..."
"no, i mean.. how's life?"
meet kami.
kami is, i can honestly say, one of the most intuitive, genuine people i have ever met. if something is wrong, kami can tell with one look at your face. if nothing is wrong, she still wants to know how you are, and she will not be satisfied by a routine answer. she doesn't ask because it's polite, corteous, or the social norm, she asks because she cares, like---really cares. the kind of caring that isn't natural for most of us. the kind of caring that i have to work at. Christ's kind of caring.
 Hello FIB! First, so happy that Brittany has been lead to form an outlet for us twenty-somethings!"In between" is a great description of this hectic time in our lives. I am lucky enough to know Brittany personally and have the joy of her friendship! Also, Brittany started a Bible Study, "Experiencing God" with 8 of us twenty-somethings in our small hometown. This study has opened up the hearts of 8 young women and I'm so proud to be involved! In these years full of change, it's a rare thing to have a group of women our age gathering to extend, share, and discuss their faith! And the best of it is...we aren't a stuffy group of women who attempt to change our exterior to fit the situation when we walk through the door into Bible Study. We walk in, let our hair down, confess and embrace being normal, twenty something human beings-and give our REAL testimonies, share our REAL experiences, and have the extreme gift of being able to be ourselves in a place free of judgment but full of support! I pray that each of you who visit this site, and every twenty something who never even sees it, can someday experience the freedom of sharing your faith in an honest and comfortable environment! God knows our hearts-and sharing your true heart with other Believers is life-altering!! (We know we're not going to fool Him by changing who we are on the other side of that door!) I hope you will all continue to come check out blogs, share your faith, love, laugh, and uplift each other and yourselves, comment your little hearts out and keep your faith! even in our in between!! LOVE-Holly
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