Inspired by a friend's post, and a discussion in our staff meeting today about diversity and what makes each of us unique, I thought I'd do a random list of 25 things about little ol' me. I'll try to make them as interesting as possible, but no promises.
1. I LOVE to dance. I took dance lessons, was on dance team in high school and college and coached/taught a dance team for 2 years. My favorite? Hip-hop/urban/whatever you want to call it. Don't hate. Sadly, I don't get to do it as often as I'd like, but Jim does get to witness my random dance moves around the house. His usual reaction is just shaking his head.
2. This list is a bit intimidating for me. 25 things? Really? That's hard to think of...sometimes I feel like I could tell you about me in about 5 sentences. But hey, we're doing it. Speaking of intimidating...I like to talk in front of people and am relatively good at it, but it seriously freaks me out. I try to hide it, because I have to do it all the time (i.e. today while leading parts of a staff meeting/training), but secretly, I'm convinced everyone is sitting there going "She.is.an.idiot." On to number 3.
3. I grew up in very small town, very rural MidWest America. When I was little, it was great. When I got to be a teenager, I wanted out. Now that I have my own kids, I kind of miss it. (Mom, don't get too many ideas!)
4. As a result of #3, I kind of love country music. And in relation to the now kind of missing the MidWest, the song "Fly Over States" by Jason Aldean makes me so homesick it's not even funny. Which is weird, because he kind of annoys me. Yet, still...seriously homesick. Also as a result of #3, I love outdoors-y things. Fishing,
hiking, gardening, walking...outside is like one huge playground.
5. Anne of Green Gables is possibly the best movie series ever made. Yes, it's based on the books, but this is one rare instance where I think the movie outshines the books every time. Megan Follows embodies Anne perfectly. Sick day growing up always equaled an Anne marathon. Lucky G - I'm so going to try and do this with him too. I have a feeling it may not quite be as fun for him as it was for me, but hey - if he's sick and I'm the mom, I vote I can pick the movie. That's fair, right?
6. I love thunderstorms. We're about ready to get a good one (or so it looks like), and I'm super excited. I want to sit, drink tea, and read.
7. Speaking of reading, I'm a total bookworm. I literally started reading my first books when I was 4 years old, and haven't stopped. Some of my favorites are Jane Austen novels (Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book), John Grisham books and any sort of law/politics/mystery type of book. Currently, I'm reading Emma.
8. I am a little obsessed with all things political. Even though politicians in general annoy me, I love to learn about it, be involved, and have a secret (OK, not anymore) ambition to lobby Congress. Strange, I know.
9. I've seriously considered going to law school. I'll probably continue seriously considering it until I finally do it. Maybe when the kid(s) are older.
10. Yes, I added an (s) to that one. For a while, I honestly considered that maybe we'd be done with just one. But, through the grace of God, a little counseling and some much better hormone levels, I think we'd like at least one more. Not sure if we'll go beyond 2, but I'm open to it.
11. Travel. Oh to just travel....I love it. Some of my favorite places thus far? Yellowstone, the Badlands, New York City (oh I love it...and I miss it), Cozumel, Wilmington, NC. Jim and I used to go to New York every year, at least once/year. It's been 2 years since we've been, and I am going through withdrawal. Once, we went 3 times in the span of 6 weeks...that's a good story.
12. I suck at crafty things. Every once in a while, I have a stroke of genius and do something I consider quite crafty. But overall, Jim wins hands-down on this one. I AM good at decorating. And organizing. And cleaning. Basically, I like
house-ish things. Although sometimes, the cleaning I could do without.
13. All of my favorite movies have to do with persons with disabilities. Rain Man, Radio, The Boys Next Door, The Other Sister. They inspire me. As does my job. I love my job. I've been in this 'field' for over 10 years now and don't think I'll probably ever leave.
14. Ironing is of the devil. Seriously. Who ever thought "It is only appropriate to wear clothes that are perfectly flat and not wrinkled". That's not life, people. I vote we all just wear things as they are, wrinkled or not, and be happy. I, for one, would be much happier if I wasn't staring at that basket of shirts (and can we note...they are not my shirts, excepting one.)
15. We're only on 15?! This is hard, dang it. Hmm...I am OK with cursing/cussing/whatever you call it. Maybe you think that's bad, that's OK. Personally, I don't think there's a clear line on that one and sometimes, there's just no other words that one would deem appropriate. And quite frankly we ALL think it from time to time, then try to disguise it with 'almost' cuss-words. In my book, just say it, get it out, and move on.
16. Continuing on my soapbox, political correctness annoys me. Now, some things that are considered 'politically correct' make sense, like calling someone a 'person with a disability' instead of a 'disabled person'. But not because of the PC of it, but because they are just that - a person first. But other things, like tip-toeing around issues or whatnot...just deal with it head on please. It saves us all time and we don't have to decipher what you're actually trying to say.
17. Sometimes, I'm afraid of what people will think of me when I write on here. My occasional cuss words, my discussion of struggles, my writing style in general...it's kind of just leaving things out there for you to do what you want with it. But that's good, I think. We need more of that in our lives.
18. I hate drama. But to the opposite end of that, I am sometimes too blunt, because of my strong hatred for drama. I think there's a balance somewhere...I just haven't found it yet. I blame it on my Northern roots. (that works here in the 'South'...sometimes)
19. I have high aspirations to one day live in both Ireland and in Italy. Maybe it's something with the 'I's, I don't know, but both of those countries intrigue me.
20. Jim and I are polar opposites in almost every way imaginable. I like to go out and meet new people, he likes to stay closer to home and with his close-knit group of friends. I am analytical, he is more emotional. He is crafty, I am not. You get the picture.
21. Partly because of #20, but mostly because I had a lot of growing and learning to do, I almost ruined our marriage. Twice. Maybe I'll blog more about that sometime. Maybe. Suffice it to say Jim is the most forgiving man I've ever known.
23. (Jim is helping me now) My 2nd toe is longer than my big toe. G has my feet.
24. I was valedictorian and homecoming queen my senior year. In a class of 6. Yes, 6.
25. I was homeschooled for 6 years, and skipped 4th grade entirely. Because of this, I graduated high school a month after my 17th birthday.
Yay! I did it. 25 things. I feel like I should do a dance. But really, I should do my budget. I'm going with dance though, definitely, definitely dance. (not-so-subtle Rain Man reference)
Good night.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
On Being a Turtle (or Daily Disciplines)
I think to myself, literally, every day: "I need to blog". Then, I start thinking of what to blog about and I get overwhelmed, because I feel like I need to post some big long thing about my postpartum progress (sounds like a really awful 80s cover band, right?) and if I don't then it just seems like I'm ignoring it, but if I do it will be way to involved and drawn out...and then I just don't blog. Thus continues the daily cycle, until today, darn it. I'm blogging. See. Here I am.
What I am not going to do, however, is write an entire blog about how I'm doing with the postpartum thing, or counseling, or what have you. Eventually, I probably will, but right now, I just don't feel like it, so why stress about it? (I say this to myself, in my inside voice. Wait...my inner voice. Inside voice would be like a quiet talking, and if I was talking out loud to myself, even quietly, we'd have more issues to address. Inner voice. Moving on...) Suffice it to say, God has used counseling, His Word, friends, circumstances, my husband, my baby, family...basically life in general to really help me through this time and I'm learning and growing a lot. There, done.
So what shall I blog about, do you ask? We'll see where the keyboard takes me. Can we first talk about how my son is all of a sudden a little mover? Like, within the last week he went from lying on his back and occasionally rolling over if he really felt like it, (but more often just making an "eh! eh! EH!" noise to be picked up), to now immediately rolling as soon as we lay him on the floor. He's on his side, he's on his tummy, he's on his back, he's turning, he's trying to sit up...baby proofing is in my near future. This should be interesting, considering our house is possibly the least baby-proofed place I know of. I love antiques, and we have an old house, so there are lots of random breakable things and nooks and crannies and old cabinets that don't shut properly; like I said, interesting. Or in other words, chaos. (Side note: I accidentally typed "don't shit properly" at first. I erased it, but laughed to myself at that sentence, because really, is there any cabinet that shits properly? I propose that there is not.)
Proof of his new mobility (he's obviously not quite sure what he thinks of it either:):
Hmm...what else? Phillip Phillips. He has nothing to do with my child except I'm pretty sure he'll make very pretty babies, and I think we (as in Jim and I) make pretty babies, so we have that in common.
See. Pretty babies. Gah. I could listen to his version of "We've Got Tonight" about 100x/day and still swoon. OK, I'm done. Jim's probably reading this and gagging. I love you honey. (and by honey, I do mean Jim, I thought I should clarify)
I've decided that I need - I CRAVE - order in my life, possibly even more so now that we have a child. I find that ironic, since a baby basically says "Order? What is that? Is that where there is crap all over the house and poop on the floor and laundry overflowing? Oh that! Sure, we have order."
But there's this little rebel inside me (that inner voice, remember?) that sees that craziness and says, 'I can meet your mess and raise you 2 organized closets, an organized pantry, a huge pile of things to donate and a big fat "CLEAN ALL THE THINGS!" Take that baby.' And then I collapse in a big heap when I actually think about doing all of those things. So, rather than take that approach, I'm doing the turtle-type of thing (Tortoise and the Hare reference in case you're not quite with me here) and taking it one day at a time, slow and steady, practicing daily disciplines. I'm trying to tackle one big project every week, such as re-organizing the pantry (done. Feels so good.) I've realized that the little things tend to pile up and then I just get completely overwhelmed, so every day am trying to practice putting things in their place right away (assuming they have a place...if they don't, guess what, they're getting one. Boo-yah.). This can be difficult sometimes with a baby, and it doesn't always happen, however, with practice things become habit, and when something is a habit, it's automatic. The best way to break bad habits to to replace them with good ones, so that's what I'm doing, or trying to do at least.
This daily discipline thing is becoming an over-arching theme, and I kind of like it. I'm trying to stick to my cleaning list that I printed out not long after G was born...it's easier said than done. (reference the "Clean All the Things" above.) I get into these modes where I feel like I should do everything, every. day. Yeah, um no, self. Just no. So, sticking to the cleaning list is helpful, as I have one responsibility/day, but it's not overwhelming. I'm also trying to pick one special thing/month to do every day. This month, because I need it desperately, I'm trying to read Romans 8 every day. Doesn't matter what time, just that it gets done. I'm thinking June will be something to do with running...we'll see about that one! ;) With all of this, I'm learning that a disciplined life, while it may not sound quite as exciting as a spontaneous life, actually leaves more room for spontaneity, and allows me to "go with the flow" a lot more, because I'm not always focused on what could (or in my mind, should. evil, evil shoulds.) be done.
Now, I leave you with this picture that our friend took while babysitting. He was supposed to be asleep, and also should have had a larger pacifier (which we have since bought extra of!). I kind of love it.
What I am not going to do, however, is write an entire blog about how I'm doing with the postpartum thing, or counseling, or what have you. Eventually, I probably will, but right now, I just don't feel like it, so why stress about it? (I say this to myself, in my inside voice. Wait...my inner voice. Inside voice would be like a quiet talking, and if I was talking out loud to myself, even quietly, we'd have more issues to address. Inner voice. Moving on...) Suffice it to say, God has used counseling, His Word, friends, circumstances, my husband, my baby, family...basically life in general to really help me through this time and I'm learning and growing a lot. There, done.
So what shall I blog about, do you ask? We'll see where the keyboard takes me. Can we first talk about how my son is all of a sudden a little mover? Like, within the last week he went from lying on his back and occasionally rolling over if he really felt like it, (but more often just making an "eh! eh! EH!" noise to be picked up), to now immediately rolling as soon as we lay him on the floor. He's on his side, he's on his tummy, he's on his back, he's turning, he's trying to sit up...baby proofing is in my near future. This should be interesting, considering our house is possibly the least baby-proofed place I know of. I love antiques, and we have an old house, so there are lots of random breakable things and nooks and crannies and old cabinets that don't shut properly; like I said, interesting. Or in other words, chaos. (Side note: I accidentally typed "don't shit properly" at first. I erased it, but laughed to myself at that sentence, because really, is there any cabinet that shits properly? I propose that there is not.)
Proof of his new mobility (he's obviously not quite sure what he thinks of it either:):
Photo taken by Sabrena Deal. She rocks. There's a link to her blog later. Or you can go to her website: www.scarterstudios.com
Hmm...what else? Phillip Phillips. He has nothing to do with my child except I'm pretty sure he'll make very pretty babies, and I think we (as in Jim and I) make pretty babies, so we have that in common.
I've decided that I need - I CRAVE - order in my life, possibly even more so now that we have a child. I find that ironic, since a baby basically says "Order? What is that? Is that where there is crap all over the house and poop on the floor and laundry overflowing? Oh that! Sure, we have order."
But there's this little rebel inside me (that inner voice, remember?) that sees that craziness and says, 'I can meet your mess and raise you 2 organized closets, an organized pantry, a huge pile of things to donate and a big fat "CLEAN ALL THE THINGS!" Take that baby.' And then I collapse in a big heap when I actually think about doing all of those things. So, rather than take that approach, I'm doing the turtle-type of thing (Tortoise and the Hare reference in case you're not quite with me here) and taking it one day at a time, slow and steady, practicing daily disciplines. I'm trying to tackle one big project every week, such as re-organizing the pantry (done. Feels so good.) I've realized that the little things tend to pile up and then I just get completely overwhelmed, so every day am trying to practice putting things in their place right away (assuming they have a place...if they don't, guess what, they're getting one. Boo-yah.). This can be difficult sometimes with a baby, and it doesn't always happen, however, with practice things become habit, and when something is a habit, it's automatic. The best way to break bad habits to to replace them with good ones, so that's what I'm doing, or trying to do at least.
This daily discipline thing is becoming an over-arching theme, and I kind of like it. I'm trying to stick to my cleaning list that I printed out not long after G was born...it's easier said than done. (reference the "Clean All the Things" above.) I get into these modes where I feel like I should do everything, every. day. Yeah, um no, self. Just no. So, sticking to the cleaning list is helpful, as I have one responsibility/day, but it's not overwhelming. I'm also trying to pick one special thing/month to do every day. This month, because I need it desperately, I'm trying to read Romans 8 every day. Doesn't matter what time, just that it gets done. I'm thinking June will be something to do with running...we'll see about that one! ;) With all of this, I'm learning that a disciplined life, while it may not sound quite as exciting as a spontaneous life, actually leaves more room for spontaneity, and allows me to "go with the flow" a lot more, because I'm not always focused on what could (or in my mind, should. evil, evil shoulds.) be done.
Now, I leave you with this picture that our friend took while babysitting. He was supposed to be asleep, and also should have had a larger pacifier (which we have since bought extra of!). I kind of love it.
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