2015 is here! And with is some amazing memories from the last night of 2014 . . .
Roots
It’s the beginning of 2015 and a year of great change is ahead.
Each year of my life has brought a myriad of goals, accomplishments, and yes, failures. But this year, from where I stand on the edge of the cliff overlooking the great ambiguous beyond, will probably top them all.
What’s ahead, you may ask? A colorful spectrum of wonderful ups and downs that I know come from no one but the wonderful creator. Going from the least to the greatest, here’s a few of the challenges/events ahead:
Deployment – Yes, this is finally the year I have dreaded. My husband and I completed a number of years of long distance before we were married . . . and I remember the day we ended that phase. It was a beautiful sunny day and I had the privilege of attending his graduation from West Point on the grounds of USMA. In a flash of joy, the hats were tossed and me and his mother rushed the field to congratulate him. That was the day we took him home and I remember thinking, ‘it’s finally over.’ As cliche as it sounds, despite the coming separation, I consider myself blessed. Yes, it will be hard. Yes, I will be lonely. But like all things, “this too shall pass.”
Graduate School – When I graduated from college, I remember thinking, ‘wow, that wasn’t so bad! I definitely want to pursue graduate school!’ Fast forward two and half years and I am finally half way through completing that goal. By this time next year, I will be putting the finishing touches on my manuscript and looking forward to spring when I can finally call myself a “master.”
Motherhood – The greatest of all of these events is my swiftly coming daughter, Hadley Elizabeth (coming spring 2015). I am so excited to share this year with her. Despite the sadness of her father’s initial absence, by the time he comes home, she will be a very interactive baby. I know this is only the start of a truly wonderful relationship and I hope to honor the great gift she is.
To properly arm myself against the doubt and inevitable struggle that is going to flow around each of these great changes, I chose a word and verse for the year that I hope will remind me to have peace when those difficult times do arise. Encouraged by our home church, VintageNxt I decided on the word “Roots” and the verse from Colossians 2:6-7:
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
I have always had a love for trees so the word came naturally. In all, it’s simple but I believe the beautiful simplicity of Christ in the chaos of this year will be a true stronghold.
I hope these thoughts bring you some encouragement as you begin your own journey through 2015.
Happy New Year!
Unexpected Adventures
A late arrival to my poor neglected blog, but a fun spin on “going home” none the less.
Here’s the story of how Clayton, Blu, Ilsa, Sill & I went back home to a much needed respite with family and friends . . .
Follow the link to read the full contents of the story!
For many, summer offers a time of relaxation, a time to slow down and perhaps, even some time to travel. For me, my husband and our three adventurous dogs – the summer of 2014 offered a much-needed respite back to our joint hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. Our two week adventure began in late May with a packed car and a 16 hour ride across the great state of Texas. As brutal as the long hours in the car were, (and as tempting as flying would have been) I am always so amazed and entertained by the beauty of the changing Texas landscape. If you have ever done this drive yourself (the drive from El Paso to Dallas), you’ve probably seen it too; the way the arid desert landscape transforms and changes just before your eyes from a dangerous dry beauty, into a deciduous forest-like land (the climate I’ve always called home). It was as I was riding along in the car that I had a thought: despite the fact that we were “just going home,” I proposed an idea to my husband that we should use the trip to act like classy tourists in our hometown and spend our vacation soaking up time with family and seeing little old Arkansas as a great escape. Two weeks later, our experiment merited not only an awesome two weeks of relaxation, but also two weeks of rip-roaring exploration, re-seeing our city in a new light. When the day came to finally leave, we were both heart broken, for the usual sentimental reasons, but also because we discovered a new side and a new depth to Little Rock we had never touched before.
What this experience taught me is that there is something to gain from every city, and that there is something special to be found in seeing the old as new. As you look ahead and soak up the last rays of this summer’s sun, here are some exciting techniques to help you re-see your own hometown and quench your thirst for wanderlust in a whole new way.
Something Old . . .
Before diving into the new wild frontier of the place you once called home, explore your favorite old spots; the diners or restaurants you were once a “usual” at. Whether it’s a bowling alley or taking a morning run on your old high school track, wherever these spots are for you, spending time in them will restore your soul and rekindle your love for your roots. With it being summer, there may be other old friends in town. Spread your social wings and invite them out to relive “the good old days” together.
Something New
Since you’ve been gone, there have probably been some new developments throughout or near your hometown. Ask around and make a list of the top hits you want to explore. On our trip, we came home to find that the city of Little Rock had a few new locally owned shopping spots, one even featuring Arkansas’ new ice cream, a trendy new company Loblolly Creamery. We enjoyed this cool treat in one of our new favorite places, The Green Corner Store on the renovated South Main Street (or SoMa as it is now called). We found it so fun and exhilarating to explore these blossoming new areas and to celebrate the growth our city had experienced in our absence (and with ice cream in hand, who could complain?) The town also housed another new place, it’s own Altitude Trampoline Park. As ridiculous as it looked, playing trampoline dodge ball and running around was not only an incredible workout, but it was also almost too much fun to handle. Since this particular outing included me and all of my friends from high school and college, it was a great activity to help us all reconnect. Needless to say, ending the evening with a much needed margarita did help us feel a little less sore . . . if only for a few hours.
Take a Walk
There is something very organic about walking. The act itself forces you onto your feet, but at the same time you are still moving slow. Find a place that highlights the best parts of your hometown. For us, Arkansas (if you’ve ever seen an Arkansas license plate you know it’s alias is “the natural state”) is all trees and river trails so we spent a lot of time simply getting lost in the woods and walking to our new favorite local coffee shop, Mylo Coffee Co. in the Historic Hillcrest District. Arkansas is also home to “The Big Damn Bridge” which is an amazing walking bridge over the Arkansas River Damn in Little Rock. But wherever your feet take you on these breezy outings, these walks down memory lane will lead you to reflect on how much has changed, how much is still the same – and ultimately they will enable you to soak in the scenery and natural beauty of the town you were born and raised in.
Slurge
The key here is to do something you would never have usually spent the money to do. Pick a place or activity that means a lot to you. If you love food, go out for a big multi-course dinner at a fine restaurant. If you are into the outdoors or sporting, this could mean going to a zip-lining course, or renting a boat or cabin. For us, we decided to go out to one of the fancy restaurants in town. As simple as it sounds, buying a nice bottle of wine and tasting the delicious local cuisine was just what we needed to add a little pizzazz to our not-so-ordinary trip home.
Wherever you go, the world and every city within it is so full of potential. Take every opportunity for travel that falls in your lap. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and remember that there’s no place like home.
Don’t Judge a Book . . .
My mother taught me never to judge a book by it’s cover.
When my husband and I were first informed by Uncle Sam that we would be moving to El Paso, Texas, almost everyone I told came up to me with sympathetic looks and warnings.
What was most ironic was when I would respond with the simple questions of, “have you ever been there?” I would without fail always hear something to the sound of, “ Well, no . . . but I heard from a-friend-of-a-friend-whose-cousin’s-sister’s-aunt told her . . .” and the like.
Well folks, Clayton and I just hit the one year mark and I think I can officically give my review of the city. On happenstance, the chance to write an article highlighting the city’s most noteworthy aspects fell into my lap at work. To see the full article or an online copy of the magazine, visit http://thecitymagazineelp.com/decemberjanuary-2014/
Here were a few of my thoughts:
Why El Paso is One of America’s Best Kept Secrets
Meagan Kinley
As the year ends and we being to reflect on what 2013 brought to us, it’s important to give credit to the amazing city we all know and enjoy. In the last decade, numerous efforts have been made to make El Paso bigger and better. Here are a few ways that this city is quickly becoming on the best in America.
We’re Cultured
Living in El Paso, it’s easy to forget the rich history that surrounds us. Being one of the U.S.’s oldest cities, with origins estimated to have begun thousands of years ago with the indigenous hunter-gathers who dwelled in the Hueco Tanks, the El Paso region is an area steeped in conflict, prosperity, revolution and is the epitome of a modern Wild West with the Spanish, Mexico, and U.S. influences that abundantly embody it.
We’re Growing
Today the city of El Paso boasts a proud population of approximately 830,735 people making it the 19th largest city in the U.S. But if you include the surrounding areas of Juarez, Doña Ana County and Otero County, of which many people commute to do business, the population encompasses approximately 2.5 million people. Not to mention, the expected growth with Fort Bliss’s continued expansion. Currently the military installation imports thousands of soldiers from all over the country—adding more flavor and interest to the El Paso population.
We Have Amazing Weather
For the citizen who loves sun, El Paso has an estimated 297 sunny days a year, far above the U.S.’s national average of 205. This means that on top of having a little more color even during the frigid winter months, El Pasoans enjoy boosted health benefits from the higher intake of vitamin D. For those who love being outside, the unique desert-scape of the Chihuahuan desert offers a myriad of activities ranging from the stunning golf courses—specifically the course at Butterfield Trail Golf Club, which was ranked as the number one golf course in Texas this year by KemperSports—to numerous hiking and mountain biking trails—through the Franklin Mountains or along the picturesque Rio Grande River in the Upper Valley—to the numerous city parks and local farmer’s markets that make leisurely weekends delicious and entertaining.
We Like to Work Out
With so many sunny days it’s no wonder El Pasoans stay fit. Facebook Stories reported that this year, El Paso had the 7th highest number of posts related to fitness, making it the 7th Fittest City in U.S., specifically relating to posts about Cross Fit. El Paso also has it’s own annual Marathon, this year celebrating it’s 8th consecutive year. On top of these statistics, The National Geographic Society also visited El Paso and found that Hueco Tanks is “the climber’s equivalent of Mecca” in the sport of Bouldering, with thousands of climbers coming to pay homage to it’s breathtaking rock-scape every year. El Paso is also a city with the best of both worlds. It’s unique location makes it a great place to enjoy sun—but is also only a two hour car ride away from Ruidoso, New Mexico housing Ski Apache where visitors can enjoy all of the great winter wonderland activities like skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, winter sleigh rides and more.
We’re Smart
In August, Washington Monthly Magazine released their “2013 National University Rankings” with The University of Texas at El Paso coming in at number 7—just behind number 6 Stanford and topping number 8 Harvard. The school was honored for its groundbreaking research, continued pursuit of positive social mobility and incomparable community and nation-wide service. The university also houses a unique College of Business Administration with a nationally ranked MBA program. In addition to UTEP, El Paso also houses it’s own medical school, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, which is one of the nine medical schools in the state of Texas. It is also the first medical school to open in the last forty years and the only medical school located in a border city in the state of Texas.
We Play it Safe
Border towns have a notoriously bad reputation, but El Paso defies these negative stereotypes with its continually low crime ratings. Using the FBI’s latest crime reports SFgate announced that this year El Paso comes in as the 14th safest city in the U.S. with a murder rate 28% below the national average as well as a robbery rate of 39% below the national average.
We Know How to Eat Well
Forget fast food and the typical franchise, El Paso has some of the best locally owned restaurants in the country. From traditional Mexican favorites, to fresh-brewed and thought-provoking coffee nooks, to hip and trendy bars to heavenly burger joints; El Paso’s local food scene literally has a taste to satisfy every craving.
We are giving Downtown a Makeover
A few years ago, the citizens of El Paso voted and passed a Quality of Life Bond referendum, which redirected the city’s tax dollars toward improving the overall quality of life of the city. This has been most clearly seen in El Paso’s move to reinvent it’s downtown district. Forbes reported that El Paso is among the top “15 U.S. Cities with Emerging Downtowns.” Improvements include the new Children’s Exploreum, a cultural heritage center and the exciting new Triple-A baseball stadium. Improvements like this and others from the bond have increased the amount of young El Pasoans returning and staying in the city. The New York Times recently reported more and more “young El Pasoans are returning home as new jobs and a burgeoning restaurant and night life scene make the city more hospitable.”
A Bit More Reflection & Some Long Walks
After a semester of mind-sweeping reading, writing, studying and more the recent holiday season and the much-needed time of rest has been well received at the Kinley house. But as more work looms, my husband and I have began reflecting on new goals go sharpen ourselves for the adventures of 2014.husband and I have began reflecting on new goals go sharpen ourselves for the adventures of 2014.
In the meantime, nailing them down and considering what areas need the most oil has been done on my newest gem located less than a mile from my house. I have been saying that I think my heart and my head need more long walks . . . but living in the ‘burbs, I mistakenly thought the closest bit of wilderness was the Don Haskins Community Center (still an amazing spot) but after a wonderful run in this awesome December weather, I happened upon a rabbit hole into the westside’s little-known paradise: The Lost Dog Trails. Winding around the transmountain area, I am in love with the big beautiful Texas sky and the rough terrain of this city I never thought I would love. God does have a strange sense of humor indeed. My new spot and the thinking it is sure to inspire are the newest blessing in my life. Enjoy the last few days of 2013, everyone!
Stories from the Desert: Visits, Home Owning and the Tale of the Blu Dog
It has been quite awhile since I last posted anything up here so I have a lot to tell.
After a lovely spring, Clayton and I kicked off our Memorial Day weekend with a much needed visit back to our favorite place. This began with a wild ride across the ENTIRE state of Texas …
In case you don’t know (not including the Arkansas portion of our trip) that’s 813.57 miles … one way. Having only previously driven the small portion from Dallas to Texarkana, I had no idea how BIG Texas truly is – as well as how varied the landscape can be. Beginning with the sunrise coming over the rugged East Texas mountains, we continued on past the desert to the flat plains. Slowly but surely more and more green began to appear starting with shrubby bushes and growing denser into real live hardwood trees. By the time we made it to Texarkana we were back in the forest and could hear the sweet sound of cicadas. We didn’t arrive at Hillcrest Cottage until midnight but despite the long 17 hours—with Ilsa and Sill in tow—we had a really great road day.
The next two weeks were slam packed with fun. Our first week was jumpstarted with getting to see the whole Basham/Kinley clan and celebrate Clayton’s birthday. Towards the middle of the week, the Kinley boys took off on a full-length camping adventure in the woods. And as the weekend came upon us it was time for the long-awaited wedding of my BFF Caroline (Benton) Richardson.
Apart from all the fun festivities we had had leading up to the big day, her wedding will always hold such a sweet place in my heart. For those of you who don’t know Caroline and I have been stunting partners, roommates, running buddies and partners in crime. For two years in college, she was a shoulder to cry on, a friend to laugh with and best of all, someone I could always confide in. Getting to watch her marry the man God made for her was a blessing I am so happy I could be a part of.
The fun really began on Friday when Caitlin Hagans, Emily Parker, Julie Forrester and I made our way up to Big Cedar Lodge. Apart from being the most unexpectedly funny car ride I’ve ever taken—I was sincerely reminded of how silly my friends are. As the day progressed, the entertainment just didn’t stop. By the time we were dressed and ready for the rehearsal dinner, even our tummies were tired of laughing. After the rehearsal, everyone met out on the docks of Big Ceder Lake and waited for the chuck wagons and boats to arrive. After Clayton joined us, we took a ride out on the lake and joined the cowboy music and delicious smell of dinner awaiting us on the bank. It was a truly sweet night I will never forget.
The next day was the BIG day. This began with a luncheon, culminated with a kiss and ended with a night of dancing and a final goodbye to our newly married friends. I am so happy for Caroline and Dan and I cannot wait to come and visit you guys in Alaska!
After the wedding Clayton and I returned to Arkansas and for our final week were we enjoyed the simple nature of sitting on the porch with family. It was a trip to remember and Arkansas will certainly always be the place we call home.
After a long, heavy-hearted trip back to El Paso, Clayton went back to life in the Army and I started my new job at The City Magazine.
We also began a new journey–house hunting. Just to preface, Clayton and I have lived in two different houses to date, this encompassing three state-to-state moves (Arkansas to Oklahoma to Texas) in the span of a year. And with the on-coming end of our current lease in the middle of July due to the hope that we might get a house on post … and since no house on post was available, we got a wild hair and decided to make an investment and BUY a house. Before our trip we had found the perfect fixer-upper. While we were gone, we had made an offer and the sellers had accepted it. The entire experience was arduous—thanks to the fall of the housing market in 2008 as well as a distrustful mortgage company we fell into the prams of. But the Wednesday before Fourth of July weekend, we were officially home owners. Finally the dream of painting, building and simply having the freedom to change a room was ours! As simple as it sounds, this new house has already become such a cathartic creative outlet …
You can actually read the full extent of how to buy a house as chronicled by me in both the July issue of The City Magazine as well as the summer issue of The City Spaces Magazine available online at www.thecitymagazineelp.com
But alas, I’ve gotten ahead of myself …
Monday after we arrived home, my husband came home from PT with the crazy idea of adopting another German Shepherd dog—a boy. The next day without warning, he came home with a 9 week old husky. And while he may not have been necessarily wanted at the beginning, little Blu (we named him for his defining feature of one blue eye) has quickly become a sweet addition to our family. Thankfully he is an easy puppy to care for and his two shepherding sisters offer great babysitting … with only minor bullying.
In other puppy related news, our big girls Ilsa and SIll turned 1 years old July 2nd:) We celebrated by making them a puppy cake made from honey and peanut butter.
In conclusion, we have been traveling, moving, renovating, and raising our new puppy. This summer has brought a lot of happy changes and while there have been setbacks (broken AC, broken refrigerator, etc.) we have definitely felt God’s provision and love through it all. We have a lot to be thankful for and I am so excited about the future.
I can’t wait to post pictures of our new projects …
In the Waiting
I have officially been living in El Paso for five months almost to the day.
Some of my everyday struggles:
1) Finding my calling in this foreign place.
2) Using my degree to its fullest potential.
3) Being patient and waiting for God’s perfect timing.
Three broad ideas may seem simple, or you may think so until you have to put them into practice. College for me was a time of great growth. One of the most important lessons I learned was the power of “putting myself out there.” In a since, being a “go-getter.” And with this way of life comes the burden of Great Expectations…
These past five months I have been challenged by the Great Expectations I put on myself. These long days have taught me that power of patience. Being a runner, I feel powerless sitting around. But God’s greater lesson wasn’t in pushing me … but in the waiting. He wanted me to rely on him instead of on my perseverance.
In a way, this past year has followed its own unique storyline; a story in which small puzzle pieces have slowly fallen into place and finally created meaning. It began with the initial action of my marriage, the rising action of our state-to-state moves and finally the climax of finding my “next big thing.”
All this waiting offered me a great experiment, one in which God spoke directly through these small pieces. Today I can humbly say that I am floored by God’s plan for my life.
Back in the rising action of this year’s story, I applied for a competitive Masters of Fine Arts program at the University of Texas at El Paso. After four years at UCA focusing of the “literature” side of the written word, I figured the only thing my higher education was lacking was creativity. On May 1st my waiting was finally over. I received a letter that I had formally been accepted into the program with a full scholarship working as a Teaching Assistant.
This three year program is the answer to my prayers. I have always dreamed of being a writer. If all goes well, three years from now I will graduate with not only a Masters Degree, but a publishable manuscript that will hopefully be the first of my novels/research projects.
God is so alive in my life. Over the past month I have felt his provision in almost every area: in this new opportunity, in the lives of my newly married friends, in the love I share with my sweet husband, in the shared kinship of my friends and in the love of my family.
I can truly say that in my short experience on this earth, God is well on his way to answering the desires of my heart.
When Spring meets Winter
At the intersection of spring and winter, March brought about a whirlwind of travel for me. From Arkansas, Florida to Colorado and back to the big sky of Texas, I have been more than blessed to see a few familiar faces that I can’t deny missing.
These transition-time adventures have given me the insight and the clarity to keep traversing.
Yet when the time comes to come home again, it’s nice to know that there some friendly faces waiting for me.
But mostly the time away has prepared me for the adventures awaiting me back here …
New Possibilities
The last few weeks have finally brought normalcy to our little El Paso home. Our furniture and boxes arrived just one week late, bringing with them simple pleasures that Clayton and I hadn’t realized that we had taken for granted. Little treats like relaxing on the couch (and not the floor), sleeping on an actual bed (and not a blow-up mattress) were activities that we quickly rediscoved with new-found appreciation. And with that, the task of unpacking . . . or kind of unpacking . . . since we are expecting another move in six months. It will be a great joy when we finally arrive at the house we will actually live in for the rest of our stay in El Paso.
Ilsa, reunited with her favorite spot on the couch.
Exploring our new metropolis has also become a new hobby of ours, especially with the benefits that come with free admission from my new job. Taste-testing at new restaurants and events, playing in the new children’s museum, running across this unique desert-scape, and even monster truck rally’s (more to the delight of Clayton) have begun to fill the void of free time we once had.
My new favorite coffee spot (props to my father-in-law for finding it). The name is pure coincidence:)
Clayton also surprised me this past weekend with a fun weekend away to Ruidoso, New Mexico. We explored our neighboring state by taking scenic drives, antiquing, and enjoying the delicious delights that only secluded ski towns can offer. We even found an amazing antique dresser to replace our old one that died in the move. But my favorite part of the weekend was the sublime day of skiing at Ski Apache we were blessed to enjoy. There is something about the sport that comes so close to flying . . . There are only few activities I enjoy more.
My ‘new’ dresser! I don’t know if I should restain it or not…what do you guys think?
Direction
More often the road in front of us makes more sense when reflecting in reverse. For that reason, I feel compelled to write about the times that I have been completely and stubbornly against transition. The same instances where my life has changed dramatically and ended up being better than anything I could have ever planned or designed myself.
Example #1–Moving to Little Rock
Being a Fort Smithian from birth, when the news came that I would be moving to Little Rock my ten year old mind was more than boggled. But if I hadn’t, I would never have met these guys:
Example #2–Coming Home to UCA
Arriving at the decision at the end of my freshman year to transfer to UCA was a gigantic life change. While I was coming home, I was also leaving my family behind. But for all the miles it put between me, my parents, and my amazing friends I met at CSU, it was ultimately one of the greatest decisions of my life. Namely because I got to spend three years of my life with girls that would become more than sisters to me. Further more, if I hadn’t of made the leap of faith to join the UCA cross country/track team, I would never have met these ladies:
Being in Arkansas also enabled me to meet and get to know this man:
Which led to this:
Photography by Stephanie Parsley
And my new amazing second family:
Photography by Stephanie Parsley
Example #3–Lawton
Oklahoma was not the place that Clayton or I thought we would find friends, but despite all odds we met some amazing people that showed us more love and kindness than we ever thought possible.
In the midst of all the chaos of college and newlywed-dom, none of this made much sense to me. But now, the blueprints of God’s plan have shown me how and why it all became possible. Today’s observation and my current goal is to learn to appreciate the everyday blessings and people that make life worth living . . . and to also trust that while the road may seem long and sometimes dark, transitions and twists bring light and purpose. So here’s my ode to all of you, the ones who have taught me so much and who have shown me so much love. I can only trust that “as the road goes ever on and on,” my life will continue to be enriched by the blessings and lessons of others.
the art of observation 