Friendship Archives - kathrynegly.com

0 In Family/ Friendship/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

The Best Thing About Memories is … Making Them

Summer is for making memories! Here’s the highlights:

A visit from Mom

Grandma came for her first summer visit in Minnesota! We got to spend a few awesome days together, which included knocking an item off the Minnesota Bucket List – a visit to Mill City Museum (click here to read about it). Then she graciously watched ALL FOUR boys so I could go to Florida for my second favorite memory of the summer…

My Cousin’s wedding in Florida

I spent four wonderful days with family in Sarasota, Florida to celebrate the wedding of my cousin (who’s like a little sister to me). My uncle rented a big house that used to belong to Flavor Flav and I spent 3 nights with family there – and one night with my sister on Long Boat Key. It’s the first time I’ve been back to Florida in SO long and forgot how much I love it there.

Me and my sister, Krista
View from Flavor Flav’s former house

There’s something soul-healing about walking on the beach, soaking in some sun, and playing in the waves.

My cousin’s wedding was absolutely BEAUTIFUL and I’m grateful I could be there!

A Unique Birthday

Dropping off diapers and wipes at a Pregnancy Center
Hiding Dollars at the Dollar Tree
Ended my birthday with burgers at B-52

I learned how not to dread turning a year older – make it about OTHERS! This year my boys and I researched ways to give back to our community. On my birthday, we spent the day making a difference!

My baby sister’s wedding in Oklahoma

Another whirlwind weekend with family in another part of the country. I loved spending time with family, celebrating Brooke and her new husband, Jeff!

She had the sweetest wedding, surrounded by big trees, on a beautiful lake.

My sister, her new husband, and new step-daughter
Fueling up for wedding prep
Presenting…the bride!

Fourth of July in Indiana

Shipshewana
Rise and Roll Donuts
An annual tradition – me and my sister with all of our kids

We spent several days with our Indiana family – boating, tubing, fishing on the Lake. We also explored Amish country in Shipshewana, Indiana.

On our way home from Indiana, we stopped for an…

Adventures in Illinois

We visited two places I love… Bien Trucha for the world’s best tacos and…

Blackberry Farm – A fun spot we’ve been visiting since the boys were babies!

We came back home to spend the rest of the summer at home. Some of the highlights for July and August are…

Exploring the Twin Cities

We went fishing, explored parks and beautiful spots around the Twin Cities.

Como Zoo and Conservatory

Egly Burger Challenge

BURGER CHALLENGE STOP #5

We are on the hunt for the best burgers in the Twin Cities. This summer we tried FIVE different burgers places. When we finish, I’ll blog about what we discovered!

Mall of America

Co-producers
Apple Camp
Lego store fun
Log Ride

We love having Mall of America just a few minutes away. George and Clark did a free video editing camp at the Apple Store and all four boys tried their first roller coaster.

Back-to-School Ice cream party

We texted our neighbors, set out ice cream and toppings and 30+ people showed up in our front yard for a back-to-school ice cream party. Super easy and fun for everybody! I wish I would have snapped a picture of the crowd gathered in our front yard – but I didn’t, and it is one of the sweetest memories of the summer.

The Minnesota State Fair

THE GIANT SLIDE

I was going to skip the fair this year, but a friend gave me four free tickets so I took Clark, his friend Sam, and Luke.

We tried some new foods, rode the Giant Slide, enjoyed the Fair from up above on a ski-lift type ride called the Sky Glider and played some games. It was the last thing we did before school started and Clark called it his “favorite thing” all summer…well, “and cousins.”

The Difference a Year Makes

One year ago, I attended a ladies night (Sisterhood) at our church alone. I sat by myself and chatted with complete strangers. This year I came with this group of phenomenal women.

I’m shocked at what a difference a year can make. Last summer we did some grieving and moving – this summer was filled with friends and happy memories.

It’s been fun to go back and reflect on the summer and see the generosity of friendship, the beauty of nature, and the Goodness of God in all of it.

Thanks for joining me on the summer road trip down memory lane.

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September 7, 2019 By Kathryn

2 In Finding our place/ Friendship/ Moving

Finding friends in the Twin Cities!

One of the joys in moving is how small the world seems when you find old friends in new places. I love how I can see God directing my path as I meet people at just the right time and place.

This happened to us when we moved to Colorado in 2015, I wrote about it here.

It’s happening again in Minnesota. Here are three examples:

One:

I told myself that when we got settled here, I would reward myself with a massage. Well, we are finally feeling settled and I found a massage therapist in my town and booked an appointment. Her last name is very unusual – yet familiar. I had friends in Tulsa, OK with the same last name. I looked this massage therapist up on social media – and realized that she had married into an amazing family I know in Tulsa. I knew her husband, her in-laws, aunts and uncles! It was so fun to meet her and catch up on the people we know in common. And the massage was great too!

Two:

I shared a while back about a group of ladies that I ‘randomly’ bumped into at a coffee shop right after moving here. (You can read about it by clicking here – scroll down to “River Valley Church”) Those ladies have become friends and have helped me get to know SO many others! They’ve welcomed me into their community and I’ve loved getting to know them.

Three:

I went to a woman’s conference recently. As we were walking in, I met and started chatting with a lady. I really connected with her and wanted to sit by her so we could continue talking – but I was with a large group – and I didn’t know any of the ladies very well, so I didn’t want to force myself into a seat next to her. However, it just happened that we DID get to sit next to each other and had time to chat some more. I loved hearing her story and the interesting things that have happened in her life. I asked if she’s ever written her story or had an outlet to share it and she responded, “Yes, I help run the TwinCitiesMomBlog.com and am a blogger.” Wow! I told her I had just begun writing for the Colorado Springs Mom Blog before I moved. This new friend and I exchanged numbers and I look forward to connecting with her in the future.

Are these three incidences RANDOM COINCIDENCES? I don’t think so!

The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. Psalm 37:23 (The Living Bible)

These experiences have been added to my GRATITUDE list! When days are hard and I’m feeling lonely in my new place, I remember that slowly, doors will open and new friendships will form. I may find an old friend who becomes a new friend, and new friends who will eventually be old friends!

Do you have a story of “coincidence?” Share it in the comments section!

November 5, 2018 By Kathryn

4 In Family/ Friendship/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Traveling

Peek into our week(s) in Minnesota * Indiana * Illinois

My first couple weeks in Minnesota were uneventful….it was a whole lot of digging out from underneath a mountain of boxes. Moving is a LOT of work, but our house is beginning to feel like home!

We met lots of our new neighbors and couldn’t ask for a better neighborhood.

Saturday

We had dinner at a restaurant on a nearby lake with the ONE family we know in Minnesota! It was so nice to spend time with great friends in our new state.

Sunday

We piled in the car and drove to Indiana.

The kids were so excited to see their cousins, and equally excited to see the kittens that were just born.

Sunday’s drive was long. What was supposed to take eight hours, took ten. The traffic and tolls going through Illinois reminded us why we moved away 3 years ago.

When we finally arrived, my mom had a delicious dinner waiting for us (thank you mom!)!

Clark, Kate and KITTENS!

Monday

Ted worked and I got to spend time with my mom and sister.

Our kids had an amazing day together on the lake where my mom and sister live. Some of my favorite childhood memories were spent on the lake, and I’m glad my kids get to experience this too!

They are so creative when they are together …. they imagined that the paddle boards were their “ships” and spent the day finding treasure on the bottom of the lake. They were convinced that the sticks and rocks they found were extremely valuable and would make them millionaires!

That night, my sister and her husband hosted a dinner at their house and we enjoyed catching up with old friends.

Tuesday

George woke up covered in toilet paper and “duct taped” to his bed. Since he is the one that likes to sleep the latest, his cousins and brothers thought it would be hilarious to play a trick on him. He woke up with a sweet note and a struggle to get out of bed.

“Love ya George, with a lot of toilet paper.”

After that shenanigan, the kids walked to grandmas (next door!) for a donut, then spent more time on the lake – swimming, paddle boarding, looking for treasure, and riding the wave runner with Ted.

Donuts at Grandmas

That night, Ted and I got to go out on a double date with my sister (Krista) and her husband (Nate). We took their boat to dinner – making two stops, the first one was for appetizers and the second was for dinner at one of their favorite restaurants.

Wednesday

We took the kids to a classic rootbeer stand for lunch and my brother-in-law took them tubing.

Rootbeer at Shopoff’s Drive-in

That evening we spent time with my dad’s side of the family – grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Thursday

Ted’s 40^thbirthday

I had been so busy with the move, I hadn’t spent as much time as I needed to planning for Ted’s milestone birthday. However, once I got Nate and Krista involved…they moved mountains to make sure Ted had a memorable day. I’m so grateful for them!

My mom kept our four boys so that Ted, Nate, Krista and I could spend the day and night in Chicago.

My sister (Krista) and brother-in-law (Nate) at Buckingham Fountain in Chicago

The view from the condo we stayed in for the night

It was a perfect day! We walked, visited our favorite sights, got Sprinkles cupcakes, then rented bikes to ride along Lake Shore Drive. The day ended with an UH-mazing dinner at the Girl and the Goat. The owner and chef, Stephanie Izard, was the first female winner of Top Chef. Everything she makes is delicious!

Friday

We met up with our boys and drove to stay with friends for a couple of days.

My friend Stacey and all of our boys!

We had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants – The Turf Room – then came back to the house to eat some Portillo’s cake and sing Happy Birthday to Ted! We loved spending time with the friends who were able to come and celebrate him.

Dinner at The Turf Room. I’m holding a gift that my friend Lisa made for our new home.

Saturday

In the morning, Ted met up with a book club group that he used to be a part of when we lived in Illinois. The guys just finished reading his book and Ted got to meet them for breakfast, answer questions and hear from them what they learned from his book.

That afternoon, we took the boys to Geneva, IL – a quaint town with beautiful old homes, unique stores and a delicious ice cream shop. Then we went to a new park to play.

A cool OLD tree we found at the park

That night we went on a boat ride with friends. There’s a new music venue along the river, and One Republic was playing that night. We anchored the boat and enjoyed a free concert!

Sunday

We said good-bye to our friends and drove home. We had a fabulous time away. We all agreed that we LOVED our time with family and friends.

We are settling back in to our new home in Minnesota and excited to begin planting roots and building community.

August 12, 2018 By Kathryn

6 In Friendship/ My Journey

The Story of Us – where it all began

It was 1999, and I had just moved to Tulsa. My sister, Haili, invited me to attend a Bible School graduation ceremony. She heard there would be a great speaker. That night, I walked in and sat next to a sweet lady named Shirley Egly. We chatted for a bit and I asked if she knew anything about the person who would be speaking that night. “Oh, it’s my son Ted!” She replied.

Her son walked out to the front of the room and my heart skipped a beat. Ted Egly. He really was a gifted communicator – and extremely handsome!

Ted and I chatted for a few minutes that first night and kept running into each other at different events over the next several months. The more I was around this guy, the more I liked him! However, there was a problem. I had this “list” of several things a person “HAD TO BE” before I would consider dating them. One thing on that list was that the person HAD TO BE older than me. He was two years younger, and that was a deal-breaker.

I decided to set him up with my sister, Haili, who was also two years younger than me. For some reason, she thought of him as a brother and he saw her as a little sister, and they weren’t interested in dating. I thought Haili was CRAZY! “He’s PERFECT!” I told her.

“Then you date him,” she replied.

Hmmm…maybe I should consider breaking this rule on my “list.”

One afternoon, Ted invited Haili and I and some other friends to his house to play games. Haili couldn’t go, but I wouldn’t have missed it. That day I met Ted’s dad, sister, and mom (again). I later learned that Ted’s sister pulled his mom aside and said:

“Mom, I think that girl Kathryn is the one Ted is going to marry!”

Ted and I continued to see bump into each other or hang out on different occasions with a group of friends. In November 2000, we were both at the gym at the same time. I was working out with my sister, he was with his dad. He started running laps on the track, and I decided to join him. That night, he asked if I’d want to meet him later that week to go running at La Fortune Park in Tulsa. “Sure!” I answered (trying not to be too enthusiastic.)

How do you dress when your first date is to go RUNNING?

Do you wear makeup? (I wore a little.)

We met at the park and ran 6 miles together. I don’t usually run six miles. In fact, I’m not sure I had ever run 6 miles before that day or if I’ve run 6 straight miles since then, but it was that “first date” adrenaline and I mostly floated through the run. After that, we got some Mexican food and talked for hours.

From that very first date, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this man, Ted Egly. I was crazy about him.

Thankfully, he felt the same way. On Valentine’s Day, 3 months later, he told me he loved me and wanted to talk about our future together. In June, we were engaged.

Click here to read the story of our engagement!

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November 16, 2017 By Kathryn

1 In Colorado Springs/ Faith/ Finding our place/ Friendship/ Uncategorized

Finding old friends in our new place!

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. – Anais Nin

When we moved to Colorado Springs, there was only one family we knew. They were our neighbors and the only who had helped us find our home. After 13 years in Chicago, we had developed a strong community of friends, and it was hard leaving that behind.

Soon after arriving in town, old friends of my husband (Ted) recommended we visit New Life Church because he thought there’d be some people at New Life that Ted might know. We went to a Friday night service and discovered that the Friday night pastor went to high school with Ted! Ted knew nearly a dozen people that were a part of New Life Church! How incredible to be in a brand new place and have some really special friends from the past! These are people that knew him well and immediately welcomed us into the church and their homes. From our very first visit, we knew that New Life is where we belong.

If you are in Colorado Springs and don’t have a church home, visit New Life Church. The pastors are incredible teachers, the music is absolutely amazing, and we love the children’s ministry! And best of all, it’s a church filled with some really incredible people.

In my next post, I’ll finish our “Pikes Peak or Bust” saga by telling you a great story about how we found our permanent home in Colorado.

Also, tomorrow is the last day to enter to win my giveaway. I’ll be choosing a winner tonight! Go here to enter!

September 9, 2017 By Kathryn

30 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Finding our place/ Friendship/ Moving

8 ways to LOVE where you LIVE

We moved into our nice home in Colorado Springs, into our family-friendly neighborhood, in this amazing state, and within 3 days I started feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and questioning everything. I’m usually an extremely happy person, but suddenly I was so very sad. We made it to Pikes Peak, but was it really just a BUST?

I didn’t know where to grocery shop for the five hungry males in our home, the post office wasn’t delivering our mail, I had just said good-bye to every single one of my friends and family members (I was lonely!), my house was unfamiliar and filled with BOXES and MESSES everywhere.

What have we done? Why are we here?

My son Clark (only five years old at the time) noticed that I was sad and said, “Mama, just look at the mountains!”

He was right! I needed to re-focus on why we had moved here!

We got outside, did some exploring, and my heart and soul filled with gratefulness that we GET to live here!

If you have recently moved or are planning to move, here are 8 things to help you love where you live:

Get outside

You may not live at the base of Pikes Peak, but every town in every state has something outside to enjoy. Whether it’s a sunset or park – get outside and let God’s beauty fill your soul!

2. SMILE! To make friends, be friendly!

If you know me, you know I talk to EVERYONE. I recommend you do the same. Don’t talk about yourself, ask questions!

“How long have you lived here?”
“Where are you from?”
“Do you have children?” “What are their ages?”
“What do you like about this area?”
“What do you do for fun?

Remember, every stranger can one day be a friend. I met my first and closest friend by just walking up and chatting with a complete stranger while our kids were playing together on the playground.

3. Call an old friend

When I was feeling lonely, I reached out to old friends for encouragement. They cheered me up and spurred me on!

4. Get to know your neighbors

We knew one of our neighbors. They had us over for dinner and made us begin to feel welcome in this state. (Thank you Barrett family) I asked them LOTS of questions, and they were so helpful and patiently answered each one.

If you don’t know anyone in your neighborhood, spend time OUTSIDE. Take walks and say hello to each person you see. Being friendly helps you have FRIENDS!

When you chat with neighbors, they would HAPPILY answer simple questions like:

“What day does the trash go out?”
“What paper should we subscribe to?”
“Where do you recommend I buy groceries?”
“Where’s the library and post office?”
“What restaurants should we try?”
“Where’s the best thrift store?”

5. Reach out to any friends/family in your new state

We have cousins who live about an hour away. One offered to stay with me while Ted was gone on one of his Chicago trips. (Thank you Sarah!) I also re-connected with childhood/college friends who live in Colorado. It’s so fun spending time with old friends in a new state!

6. Volunteer

I started volunteering at our children’s school and at our local church. This is a great way to meet your kid’s new friends, see what they are learning, and MEET new people!!!

7. Join a group

Whether it’s on meetup.com, a book club through your library, or a Bible study through your church…a small group will make it easier to build friendships.

8. Read good books – Two books I enjoyed and found really helpful are:

This is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick and
Aft er the Boxes are Unpacked by Susan Miller

“This is where you belong” has TONS of great stories, facts, and information about making a new place feel like home. I checked it out from the library but loved it so much I had to BUY my own copy. I recommend it to everyone who has moved recently.

After the Boxes are unpacked is filled with encouragement and practical advice for feeling at home in your new place. Visit JustMoved.org for more info!

I really enjoyed both of these and believe you will too.

Thanks for reading!

Click here for 20 fun, free, family-friendly things to do in Colorado Springs!

Click here for my Minnesota Bucket List!

You can also read how we became Colorado Home Owners here!

If you know someone who would benefit from this article, please share it!

September 6, 2017 By Kathryn

9 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Faith/ Family/ Finding our place/ Friendship/ Moving

Finding our new home and saying good-bye to our old home

“Always in the big woods when you leave familiar ground and step off alone into a new place there will be, along with the feelings of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging of dread. It is the ancient fear of the unknown, and it is your first bond with the wilderness you are going to.” – Wendell Berry

Our moving date was one week away, and we had NO idea where we were going to live. (Click here to read about it!)

The ONE family we knew in town mentioned that their neighbor had just moved out. She called to see if the home was available for rent. Thankfully, miraculously, the person who had been renting that home had moved out two weeks early, providing an opening for us to move into the home in SIX days!

“Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down.” – Ray Bradbury

Ted had to fly back to Chicago, so our sweet friend offered to meet the agent at the potential rental home in Colorado Springs to give us an iChat walking tour. The house was PERFECT! It was a four bedroom house on a cul-de-sac, in a great neighborhood, with a gorgeous view of Pike’s Peak – and within our budget! We immediately signed a 12-month lease, waited for approval and FIVE days before we were scheduled to move, we had a home!!

Thank you Lord! I can breathe again!

Saying the actual “good-byes” to our Illinois friends, and my Indiana family, was harder than I expected it to be. These are the people who loved us, encouraged us, worked with us, supported us through the births of each of our four sons! They had watched our boys grow and had loved them so well. My Indiana family had only been 3 hours away for the last 13 years. I could pop over any weekend and for any event. Now everything was changing. Our DREAM was being realized, but we were leaving a part of ourselves behind. And that was hard. (Honestly, it’s still hard. There are so many good people that we miss in Illinois, and I still miss not being able to drive over to see my family in Indiana whenever I want.)

(Saying good bye to family⇑ and friends ⇓)

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

In September 2015 – we left Illinois, the place that we had called “home” for the last 13 years, to make a new start in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

When we arrived, something happened that shocked me. I’ll tell you about it my next post. (Subscribe→ so you won’t miss it)

September 5, 2017 By Kathryn

Friendship