25 Things...

Jill and Amanda tagged me on Facebook for a list of 25 Random things about me and since I don't know how to respond on facebook and I don't want to take the time to figure it out...I'll post it here! IT took me days of thinking on this while I was walking and cleaning...most of it is not-so-random, but 25 Random Things is a lot of randomness...so I put some serious things here for my kids to read one day about their mother's life.

25 things…

1. I love to exercise…I feel yucky if I don’t break a sweat once a day--even if it is just mopping.

2. I never leave home (even for a simple trip into town) without ample amounts of FOOD and a water bottle.

3. The only good things about winter to me: spring/fall and American Idol.

4. I love having dance parties with my kids.

5. I love going to church EVERY Sunday—Foothills is AWESOME!

6. The more animals in my life the merrier.

7. I never thought I’d want a mini-van, but in the next year I do!

8. Nothing excites me like when all my flowers start coming out and up! I love gardening and watching plants grow. Even the smell of mulch is fabulous!

9. I want to be outside all the time…I don’t enjoy cooking, cleaning, scrapbooking, sewing, ironing, crafting, decorating, or any other feminine indoor pastimes!

10. I love people. The more friends and family in my life the merrier. I have never been a girl that needed one best friend—just lots and lots of interesting people of all shapes, ages, sizes, colors, talents, gifts, weirdness, boredness, funniness, sweetness, inspiringness…I love everyone in my life for all kinds of reasons. They all enrich my life so much.

11. If I won a lotto jackpot, I would give some—to international charities that support orphans by providing a gospel message, food, shelter,etc…spend some—pay off the house so that I could travel more and save some---so that the kids could go to college (although I still want them to be paying for part of it themselves EVEN IF I have the money), and so that I never have to work again—more tennis!

12. In my life I have wanted all of these careers at some point: a P.E. Teacher, a TV journalist, a social worker, a teacher, a full-time mom, an editorial writer, a news reporter, a public relations person—fortunately, I have had and do have some of these careers!

13. I am absolutely obsessed with wiping down my kitchen countertops????

14. I hate food floating in a water…it makes me gag. It truly is a repulsive thing to all the senses.

15. My husband is a loving, selfless man who is a good at EVERYTHING!

16. My kids have big personalities that make me laugh often.

17. I want to trust God more in 2009 and make some faith-filled decisions that FORCE me to do it! I have been forced to trust him by many circumstances that I did not choose—he always comes through…I know it!

18. I love food…ice cream, breads of any sort, apple pie…really any pie, peanut butter, peanut butter mixed with jelly…peanut butter mixed with chocolate…see a theme? I love candy too…peachies and lemon drops are my favs! I love pizza-even when it's bad it's good.

19. I wish I could play the piano again. I want to do that one day…maybe when Jeb is learning to play the “tar” I can re-learn the piano. I enjoy music tremendously…music of every sort!

20. I enjoy the mountains and the rivers more than the beach and the oceans.

21. Books that have impacted my life the most: The Bible esp. Psalms, Proverbs, James.; Randy Alcorn’s books Heaven and The Treasure Principle; The Power of a Praying Parent…Power of a Praying Wife, The Hidden Power of Praising God all by Stormie O’Martian; Don’t Make Me Count to Three and Shepherding a Child’s Heart; The Strong-Willed Child; 30 Days to Taming the Tongue—Pegues; His Needs Her Needs and For Women Only; Experiencing God and The Bondage Breaker; The Purpose Driven Life and God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Question—Rick Warren.

22. I worked for a year with Oscar Mayer Foods: Yup, drove the Wienermobile, rental cars, and flew a lot. My job was to audition kids and invite local media and do interviews all over the country about our talent search. The 10 finalists spent 2 weeks auditioning/having fun in LA with us at Universal Studios and such…what a fun job! I went to the KY Derby, the Superbowl, Nascar events, The FL Keys, 4 weeks in Key Biscayne in Dec/Jan and now I’ve been to almost every state in America. This gig helped me pay off all my college debt—what a blessing! Once when leaving Chicago I hit Mike Ditka (Coach of the Chicago Bears, who was in first class) with my bag on my way through and spilled wine on his dress pants. I didn’t even know who he was till I got to my seat and the man next to me explained the magnitude of what I did. Mr. Ditka was very nice about it !

23. A few life changes that changed me FOREVER: A. Going to the Univ. of MO at 17 (18 hours from home)—didn’t know a soul and didn’t go to orientation B. Being loved by church family at Cornerstone and friends at crusade and BSU. C. Doing missions at Yellowstone National Park for 4 months D. Living in Colorado at newlyweds E. Dating and Marrying Jonas—he changed me so much for the better F. Coaching tennis at Kanakuk-A Christian sports camp—this place was like Heaven, seriously was. G. See number 22. No GPS, no home for a year! Flexible and Fun were keys! H. Quitting my job to stay home with the kids I. Joining Foothills—gave me more of a heart for the lost and learning church is not for ME. J. Traveling from Canada to South Carolina with Jonas! K. All at once---Building a house, getting a Master’s, quitting a job, being pregnant for the first time, while Jonas ran a roofing biz and taught full-time—glad that’s over! L. J’s deployment—alone for 16 mos in a big ole new house and a new baby.

24. A part of my soul will always reside in the West: I love Wyoming, Montana, Utah and Colorado. When the kids are older we will be out there during our summers living like hippies.

25. There is one thing I am sure of: Life changes FAST and goes quickly…
“In the years I have lived thus far, I have invested much time, energy and resources into many different things. I now know that there is only one investment of any real value. There is only one investment that will prove to be of eternal significance—people!”
By Larry McDaniel, the founder of a children’s home in MO and a super dad I was blessed to be acquainted with at one time.