Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thankfulness

Today is #foodthanks day. A day started by the AgChat Foundation - agchat.org to thank the farmer's and rancher's that raise the crops that become the food America loves to consume. Take a moment today and thank a farmer near you!

Monday, November 15, 2010

discontentment

I've been feeling discontent lately with how my life is. I go through stages. There are days, months even that I'm completely satisfied with my life and the blessings God has given me. Then I have these valley's where I wonder why He hasn't given me the one thing my heart desires more than anything else.

I know all the scripture references and I know that I should be content in all things, but it's hard to be content when my heart desires a husband to share things with. To be there to comfort me and to share life with.

So many people tell me I'm so lucky to be single. But I often wonder if they really stopped to think about that phrase if they would truly mean it. Sure, I don't have to consult with someone else about financial matters or big purchases. But I also DON'T HAVE anyone to consult with about financial matters or big purchases. It would be nice not to have to make so many decisions alone.

The old adage about 'the grass is always greener' certainly comes into play here. I know that marriage is not always easy. My rose colored glasses are clear enough to know that married couples face challenges that I can't even begin to comprehend. But, truthfully, I don't understand how fighting with someone, and subsequently making up with them, can be worse than living a life alone.

I know that God has a plan and I really am ok with it, it's just that there are days where I just wish His plan for me were different. I'm sure one of these days it will all make perfect sense, but until then, I'll keep praying for contentment, because right now, I'm not feeling it!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

New nephew

On Monday, October 4th, my sister and her husband had their third child and my second nephew. Aaron Scott was born at 11:55 p.m.!

What a cutie. Big sister and brother stayed with me and were very excited to meet their new brother.

My daddy

On Thursday, September 16th my dad was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma in his upper gum. As an employee of an organization that works with cancer survivors everyday and raises money to research a cure and to fund programs that support cancer survivors, I am well aware that a cancer diagnosis is not what it used to be. More and more people are surviving cancer everyday, and my daddy will be one of them!

He had surgery today and is recovering comfortably in his room! But true to my dad's mischievous nature he is playing with all the things around him and his dressings...apparently the dr. gave him a stern (cough, cough) warning to leave things alone. ;0) According to my mom the dr. and his staff are pleasant and funny, which is good since my dad has very few serious moments!

As I have been posting updates on my Facebook about my dad and this journey, I am so in awe of the number of people who have been praying for him. I am so thankful!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Relay For Life of Titusville is just one week away. They are working toward's a goal of $71,000 with $2,000 coming from the website. Please consider helping them reach that goal by donating today at www.relayforlife.org/patitusville! Help us help those living with a cancer diagnosis and find cures so that others don't have to! Thank you!

The rules of setting Kellie up!

Apparently, there has been a lot of talk amongst people lately about me and my 'single' situation. So, here's the deal. I'm pretty picky (as you'll see from the list) and while I may complain about being single, I really am not 'looking' for someone, but apparently, there are people who are looking on my behalf. So, this note is for those people. You know who you are or you know who they are. Please read the following list. This is a list in progress and will change as things come to mind. Enjoy! :)

Kellie’s rules of being set up:

1. Don’t tell me about it, don’t even hint about it.

2. Even if you don’t tell me about it, you need to be really sly. I can smell a set up a million miles away.

3. If I know about it or figure it out, I will put up a wall and unfortunately, probably be rude to the guy (a character flaw/defense mechanism in myself that I can’t seem to break), even if, in your opinion, he is the ‘greatest guy in the world’.

4. He needs to approach me himself. You can introduce us, but he needs to initiate the conversation and he should not start out the conversation with ‘I hear you’re single!’!

5. He needs to be comfortable in his own skin. He needs to be confident, but not cocky.

6. He can’t look older than I do.

7. He needs to have a real job and not live with his parents, or have a really good reason if he still does. By really good reason, I mean, his parents are older or sick or something. Money is not a really good reason. If he can’t afford to live away from them, he can’t afford me. ;) Special consideration will be given to someone who farms in partnership with his parents. I say this, because my brother would be a really good catch and he still lives with his parents. Does anyone know any girls we can set him up with?

8. If he has kids, he must have a really, REALLY good reason why he’s not still with their mother, and they must have a respectful relationship.

9. He must be a Christian and must attend church on a regular basis.

10. I will not initiate first contact. If you have someone that you think is perfect for me, then tell him, not me! Let him decide for himself. Don’t force, encourage strongly or hound him to do anything about it.

11. If you think he’s interested you can have him contact me first.

12. The bar cannot be his second home – or his first! Been there! Done that! Not going through that crap again! I don't mind going out every now and then, but I don't want someone who makes the bar his priority over everything else.

13. Alcohol is something he enjoys on special occasions or sitting around a campfire…it cannot be his first drink of choice and it should not be regularly stocked in his fridge!

14. No Smoking! Of the tobacco kind that is…he can be Smoking hot! ;)

15. No tobacco at all. No cigarettes, no chew, no cigars, no pipe…nothing…nada!

16. I’d love it if he owned at least one of the following: Truck, Motorcycle, ATV, Snowmobile, Jet Ski, or Boat. If he has them all, that would rock!

17. Needs to be a hard worker, mechanically minded and doesn’t mind helping out anyone who asks. Including my dad who will ask, a lot.

18. Doesn’t mind getting greasy, muddy and sweaty, but must be able to clean up well, and look awesome, for church or a night out.

19. Will be able to handle the fact that my job requires a lot of time and dedication and he needs to be ok with the fact that he will get sucked into helping me with it on more than one occasion…in fact four come to mind quite quickly…

20. He needs to know how to respect me, my time, family, friends and the things I enjoy.

21. He doesn't mind that I'm a bit on the pudgy side and if he's willing to be my workout partner, I could get thinner.

22. He doesn't mind that my favorite foods are bad for me and include wings, cheese fries and hot dogs.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010


Dear Friends,


On June 18th and 19th I will join with hundreds of other participants at Titusville’s Carter Field, to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society through their signature event, Relay For Life.


At local Relay For Life events all over the country, participants form teams and Relay for 24 hours. Each team will be represented on the track at all times by at least one team member. We walk, day and night, to Celebrate family members and friends who are cancer survivors, to Remember those who have lost their fight, and to Fight Back against a disease that has taken too much.


The American Cancer Society is helping people right here in my neighborhood, as well as throughout Pennsylvania and across the country, to fight back against cancer.They can only continue their mission with donations from great people such as yourselves. If you already participate in your local Relay For Life event – Thank You! Let me know when your event is, I’d love to hear about it. If you don’t already participate – consider it. It is a great event, raising money for a great organization.


If it is within your means to do so, please consider supporting me in my quest to raise $500 (or beyond) to support the life saving mission of the American Cancer Society. You can do this by clicking the ‘Support Me’ icon at the bottom left of my Facebook page; by visiting the event website (the link is at the bottom of this post) and searching for my name (Kellie Kunz, team name- The Purple Slippers); or by mailing a check to my home address (If this is your choice, please message me and I will send you my address).


I would appreciate any amount. No amount is too small. I’m sending this message to over 300 people, if each one just sent me $1 – yep, just a little over $300! Small donations do add up.


Thank you for considering donating to this great cause!


Be blessed,

Kellie


www.relayforlife.org/patitusville

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Thirty-One

In a previous post, I mentioned that I am now a Thirty-One Gifts Consultant. Great purses, tote bags, stationary, thermal totes and other great stuff. I've been running into a lot of people who have never heard of the company and so I thought I would do an open house. So, if you are reading this, you are invited.

This Friday, March 26th
My house - let me know if you need an address or directions - kelliek31@gmail.com
7:00 p.m.

No pressure to buy, just come, have a good time, see the product and fellowship with other women. It will be a fun Girls Night Out.

I hope you'll consider joining us.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

25 years ago or so...

...I went to 4-H camp, alone.

At that time NW PA summer 4-H camp was held at a Boy Scout camp near Cochranton. Custaloga Town, was this beautiful place with big pines and a stream you had to cross to enter into the camp. I loved it. But the sleeping arrangements left a lot to be desired....canvas tents that held two cots. It was ideal that you came to camp with a friend that you could tent with for the three or four days. But that year, I went alone. I was nervous, but looking forward to the fun that camp had to offer. As we got to the campsite I wondered who the counselors would 'tent' me with.

I'm so glad that I chose to go to camp alone that year. Why, because if I hadn't, I may never have had the great friendship I have had with the girl the counselors teamed me up with that year. I don't remember much from that year. I can't even tell you really, what year it was. All I know is that, in that one week, a bond was formed that has carried us through almost 25 years.

We camped together several years after that. Not always as roommates, but we were never far away from each other. As we grew into older teens we even had the pleasure of counseling together at that very same camp. That friendship has seen us go through 4-H; boyfriends; break-ups; college at Penn State, sorta...KUDOS to her for being the one that graduated (of course I was there to witness that occasion at the Bryce Jordan Center!); career paths that took me south and her to the mid-west and back again; boyfriends, again; break-ups, again; to her original, but OMG, hot (as in weather hot, it was the hottest, muggiest day EVER!) beautiful wedding to one of the last great guys out there, and has been one of the greatest friendships of my life.

Every once in awhile (not near as often as I wish) I head to her house and spend the day...and I do mean day, we couldn't possibly visit in anything less than that...I have dinner with her family and we discuss life as we know it. So many moments that her and I have spent together. We've helped each other through so much. I'm so blessed that she is also a christian and her insight is so amazing. We may go months without sharing anything but the quickest of emails, but the minute I need her wisdom, she's right there with it.

I write all this because Sunday was her birthday. We chatted for what seemed like hours that day. She's been on my mind a lot and so I thought I would write about how great of a friend and mom she is versus the many moms out there who aren't. She is this amazing woman who is raising her two sons (OK, her husband :) gets credit too! ) to be productive, responsible citizens. They are still little boys, but you just know that they have such greatness inside of them. They are not swayed by all the things in this society that takes away the innocence of little children. They are playing in the country-side around their home, growing and selling pumpkins, doing craft projects, raising money for their church and non-profit organizations and being just genuinely great kids. KUDOS to her for being the mom so many others should be. Unfortunately, she's not the norm. If this world had a few more moms like her, wow, what a different place we'd be living in.

Instead, we have moms...and dads, who let their children be raised by others, whether it's by well meaning relatives, teachers or heaven forbid, the neighbor kids. When did parents stop being responsible for their own children? When did they stop taking the responsibility. It's not someone else's job to help their kids with their homework. It's the parents'! It's not someone else's job to fix them their meals. It's the parents'! It's not someone else's job to teach them morals. It's the parents'! And if everyone that was a parent would take the responsibility for their own children, this world would be a whole new place. At least, in my opinion. I know that there are so many that do, but they are becoming fewer and fewer and I hope that I have not offended some of you, but I bet everyone of us could name a couple of people who could stand to learn this lesson.

Well, this post definitely turned into something completely different than what I first intended. But apparently those are my thoughts today.

I'm so blessed to have this friend. I hope you are blessed with one just like her!

Be blessed!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Thirty-One

To make ends meet I've started selling Thirty-One.  A super cute line of purses, bags and organizers with so many possibilities.  Want to learn more, visit  www.mythirtyone.com/15128.  I'd love to come to your house and have a 'Girls Night Out' with some of your best friends!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Yesterday...

...was the third anniversary of the passing on of a great man, Dave Rynd. His daughter posted on her Facebook yesterday a status, asking for memories of him, that she could share with her daughters and her niece and nephew. I could only post a small portion of the story there, so decided that I could post the whole story here.

I was in my mid-20's and helping at the records table in the show arena at the Northwest Pennsylvania 4-H District Dairy Show with all the other record keepers, announcers, volunteers and staff. One of the parents came to the table and was complaining about one of the rules at the State 4-H Show that would take place three weeks later. There are a lot of rules, mostly made up by well-meaning adults, to keep the competition as fair as possible... (I could write a whole other post about this...maybe I will one of these days). This particular parent was complaining about the rule that if a substitute showman is needed for any reason, it must be pre-approved and the substitute must be the same age or younger than the 4-H'er.

I had never given it much thought, you find a younger sibling or 4-H'er and you get them to show the animal. For my family it had always been easy to find a younger person, apparently for this family it was not as easy. This led to a very intense, but respectful, discussion around the table. I don't remember who said it, but someone said a sentence to the extent of if the 4-H'er can't go to states then maybe the animal should stay home too. I didn't agree and stated that if the 4-H'er had worked with the animal all year and the animal qualified for the State Show then it should have the opportunity to be shown even if the 4-H'er had a college class clear across the state.

It was at that point that Dave Rynd looked at me and asked 'Which is more important the 4-H'er or the project animal?' Our conversation got interrupted at that point and I never had the chance to finish it with Dave. I would have loved to have heard even more of his opinion on that topic. That one small statement has stayed with me since.

While it's great to see a 4-H'er who truly puts THEIR heart and soul into a project (and thats a whole post of its own as well) come out a winner, the real lesson is what the 4-H'er learns from the project, not the ribbons and trophies that come with it. I am ashamed to admit that it took me as long as it did to figure that out. All thanks to Dave and that brief encounter we had one Labor Day weekend.

Dave passed away from cancer. A disease that takes so much. He is one of the MANY people I Relay for. I Relay to Celebrate the lives of those who have or have passed on from cancer. To Remember them. And to Fight Back against a disease that has taken too much from too many. You can visit my Relay For Life event page at www.relayforlife.org/patitusville to learn more about Relay For Life and why I participate.

Dave Rynd was a legend and I held a deep respect for such a great man. This year I will light a Luminaria in his memory and remember the man who taught me a great lesson with one simple question.