25 Random Things

I have put off doing this since the first time a "25 Random Things" went through my inbox. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I don't really have time to explain 25 things about myself that frankly, most people could care less about, or maybe it's because I started getting so many that I felt it tired itself out. But, here I am, taking my turn at 25 random things about my life. No pictures on this blog, just me.

1. Since I was a baby, I have done things differently than most people. Teachers were better friends than my classmates and things that people my age were doing - I often felt had no point or that they needed to grow up. I don't know if I myself had to grow up quickly or if that's just how God made me, but despite what was real inside of me, I tried to conform to my "age group" because I wanted so badly to fit in and be accepted. I would love to just be happy with who God made me to be and conform only to His image, not what I think everyone else wants me to be.

2. My grandmother passed away when I was 10. I miss her as much today as I did the day she left us. I want so badly for her to meet my husband and my precious kids. She was an amazing lady and would have loved them as much as they would have loved her. I want to be more like her...full of energy, very forgiving, always ready for an adventure. Willing to get on the floor in her 60's and flip her body around to impress us in ways that my body couldn't bend today. Full of life, always cooking yummy foods, very caring, would open her home to anyone that needed it. She was a fireball, loved God and adored her family. I miss her terribly.

3. I graduated from high school a year early. As mentioned before, I did not fit in real well in school because I was different and I had no desire to stay any longer than I had to. I wanted to go to a christian college and start pursuing my life. Although I have many good memories from high school, I had made enough memories by my junior year to last me a lifetime. I stuffed junior/senior year together, going to school extra hours, taking correspondence courses and working part-time and even after getting mono and being out of school for 6 weeks, I was able to complete my year and move on.

4. Somewhere during that year, I found time to be an extra in a movie that was filming in my hometown. I was there 3 days or so and couldn't believe my eyes when we went to see The Faculty on the big screen. My face filled up the whole screen in the theater for a few seconds. It was pretty cool. The same scene was also played during an MTV video of the song "Another Brick in the Wall" so I guess I'm famous twice. :) ha!

5. I have been to Zimbabwe, Africa twice and would love to return someday. I went there on a campaign to raise awareness of World Bible School, which is a great organization that teaches people all over the world about the Bible. We also held gospel meetings and VBS for the children. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever done and I'd love to take my whole family to experience the same thing someday.

6. I am terribly afraid of snakes. I had a bad experience with one when I was younger (I happened to walk right past a huge one that was stretched out on our door frame and realized it later when I almost walked right into it...how's that for a bad experience...HA!!) Anyway, I have also had horrible dreams about huge snakes taking over our house and now I just can't stand them.

7. I love second chances! Thank you God for your grace, thank you Chad for your forgiveness!

8. I married a man who grew up very differently than I did. He had a rough childhood and was exposed to things that I had never heard of until I met him and would never in a million years have wanted my child to experience. I introduced him to Jesus, but he made the decision to change his life. I thought I would teach him a lot of things since I was raised in the church my whole life, but that man has taught me more than I could have ever thought about teaching him. He is an incredible man and I love him with all my heart.

9. I love to cook and love to experiment with cooking when I am in my own kitchen and do it very confidently. However, if anyone is standing in my kitchen, or I in theirs, I get all weird and self-conscious that I am going to do something wrong or different than the way they do it. ARRGHH! WHO CARES?

10. I love to sing. I have always had a dream of singing for a living, but once I make it past the fantasy, I could puke and don't think I'm good enough. Man, I need to get some confidence in myself. I also love to write songs. I have only done a few and am definitely a rookie, but would love to do more and have hopes of becoming a better writer. Here's my first one:

In all that I do and say, I want to give you glory and praise.

Teach me to know, respect and to show, the Mighty One worship today.

Chorus: May I praise you as I was designed to? May I praise you with honor and joy?

May I praise you with intimate worship? Sacrificing it all for the Lord.

In intimate worship I pray, I want to honor the life that You gave,

Bowing down to your throne, Shouting praise to the Lord,

Glory be to the Lamb that was slain.

Chorus: May I praise you as I was designed to? May I praise you with honor and joy?
May I praise you with intimate worship? Sacrificing it all for the Lord.

Yes, my child, praise Me with your gladness, and praise Me with your song,

Lift your holy hands to Me the One who's worthy, and I'll smile down with joy.

Lift your holy hands to Me the One who's worthy, and I'll smile down with joy.

11. I have hated reading since I was little, especially the huge, stupid textbooks that every teacher I had thought was the most important thing I would ever read and that I should retain every word that seemed to go in and right back out as I read through the pages. I could never finish a book for the life of me and I'm not sure why. I could read the pages, but my mind would drift onto other, more important things and after 10 pages of nothing, I'd have to start all over again.

12. I love reading now. Especially books that are Christian based and try their best to make you a better person and more like Christ. Since I joined a book club (crazy I know that I just said that after writing #11), I have read many books from front to back and really enjoyed them. Am I a better person? Am I more like Christ? Hmm...although I try to be, maybe I should pick up another book. :)

13. I was in the band and choir in high school. Total music geek. I played the alto sax, tenor sax in jazz band and I marched the bass drum. The drum line was by far the most fun I had in high school and I wasn't even really a drummer. :)

14. My hands and ankles and feet swell really easily, especially when I'm riding in the car. When I was younger, it was much worse and I'd always have to take my rings and shoes off for better comfort. Then, I couldn't get them back on.

15. After I had Jackson, I lost 100 pounds with Weigh Down. I think that Gwen Shamblin(the author and leader) is crazy, but I really enjoyed her study and losing the weight. I should probably try it again very soon!!!

16. I won our wedding and it was F-R-E-E. Once they called us, we had one week to get married, and as crazy as it was, it all fell together perfectly and we had a great wedding. Thank you God.

17. Neither of my kids were planned...OOPS! One came just one year after we were married and the other just one year after that. However big the shock, both are blessings that I couldn't have planned better myself. Thank you God!

18. This darn 25 random things is harder than it seems.

19. I hate cancer. It took my grandma, hurt my aunt and has hurt numerous friends and family too. I hate it, I hate it. And I've been afraid of it my whole life. It seems to run in our family and I already have issues with cysts so it frightens me more.

20. It doesn't really seem like my grandpa is really gone. When I picture scenes from Oklahoma or think about my Meemaw JaNell, he's always there, like he should be. I don't know if I can handle going to his house again without him there, but I want to go visit Meemaw.

21. I never got to meet Chad's father. He died in a car accident before we started dating. Actually, it is what brought us closer together as friends. I really wish I could have met him. Chad says he was hilarious and goofy and he would have liked me. I guess I'll have to take his word for it.

22. I have a dark spot on one of my eyes. My mom loves it and I catch her staring at it quite often. Chad calls it my "doodoo spot". Funny guy he is.

23. I love sleeping with a fan on or with something that makes noise. I really dislike the complete quiet. I hear every noise known to man when there is silence and it is almost impossible for me to go to sleep.

24. I love to travel. My favorite spot is Colorado and I would love to move there someday. I have been to many places...Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, South Dakota, Nebraska, California, New Mexico, Mexico, Germany, London and Africa, but would love to travel more....especially with my husband and kids.

25. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my family! I don't know what my life would be like without my handsome, loving, strong, faithful husband by side and our life together wouldn't be complete without our two amazing children. Who could ask for more???

Funny Children

The other day H got a bag of skittles and got really excited when she realized she had her favorite flavor, the "organal".
"Huh," I asked, baffled at what organal was??
"Mom, the organal, it's my favorite!"
I had to look back at the bag to discover what in the world she was talking about. It was the ORIGINAL flavor. I had to laugh. :)


Tonight J was eating chocolate cake and with a huge piece in his hand he walked over out of the blue and said, "See this cake in my hand? Look where it's going." He then proceeds to shove the whole piece in his mouth. Since we were laughing so hard, he struggled to keep it all in, but man, it was funny.


The kids were discussing where they are going to celebrate their birthdays and J said, "I am so excited to go to Austin Park-a-Pizza."
H quickly corrected him, "J, it's Austin Park Pizza," as if to say DUH.
I then got to correct them both..."It's Austin, Park AND Pizza....DUH!!!"

Ode to Grocery Store Flowers

Ok, so this was all prompted by a friend's blog that you will have to read to fully understand http://loslivingstons.blogspot.com/ . There are actually three posts that you will have to go back and read to get the full story. But it is on the subject of flowers and where and how often husbands should buy them for us.

Really...go read their blog and then you'll appreciate the following picture of my grocery store flowers that were bought so sweetly on Valentine's Day (just 2 short days ago I might add).

Here's a close-up just in case you can't get the full effect of my g-store flowers......and no, the picture is not upside down!

Even after washing and cutting the flowers (exactly as instructed), I should have known when the water started changing a dark color after 5 minutes of sitting in the vase that we had a small problem, but I didn't dare say a word. I still wouldn't have said a word in a million years because it's the sweet thought that counts, but we laughed so hard that I had to share. Chad mentioned that they have a 5 day guarantee....and is contemplating returning them. He's not exactly sure how it will look walking into the store with dead flowers in hand, but we'll let you know if he decides to actually do it. :)

Thanks to the Livingstons for our late night laugh! And thank you to my sweet hubby for your wonderful efforts! I really did love them!!! Honest!

Dancin' the Night Away

Wow! Who ever gets a second chance at prom? An evening to remember those fun high school times AND get to do it with the man of your dreams? Well, thanks to a great friend at a local church, Chad and I got to do just that....go to prom together...on VALENTINE'S DAY!

It has been a really long time since we've even been on a date together, especially on Valentine's day, so we were super pumped (well, maybe I was a little more excited, but I think he ended up having a great time too!!).

It was held at a beautiful building downtown where it was set up just like prom was in high school...even with an area full of balloons for pictures. So cool! I will let the pictures do most of the talking....enjoy!

The car ride there. Exciting, huh? :)

Upon arrival to the prom

Getting down & having fun!

Wow! Old people doing the train...choo choo! Slow dance with my hubbySweet Friends

What a great night!!! The best prom, the best date, the best Valentine's Day!

Who could ask for more???

The end.

What a Difference a Day Makes

J has been growing his hair longer for quite awhile so he could look like Hannah Montana's dad, Billy Ray Cyrus. (YIKES!) I never really cared for his hair to be that long, but I figured it wouldn't hurt and at some point, he would get tired of it and want to cut it. Well, he held out way longer than I anticipated and it was starting to look like a mess everytime we went out. You see, his parents both have hair that likes to kink...in a bad way. :) This trait did not pass either of our children but H got more of the curls and J got more of the "mess". So I've been trying to convince him quite a bit lately that it was time. When I put his hair in a ponytail on Thursday and he saw the pictures, he decided it was time as well! :) (And he would not allow me to post those pictures! ha)

It amazes me how different a little man can look after inches of hair clipped away. Let's see what you think...

I think I'll keep my little man either way...he's pretty cute and oh so sweet!!!!

Fat Lip

So, today was fun! As we arrived home from church this morning, Chad picked J up and slung him over his shoulder "like a sack of potatoes" as he described it. I decided it would be a great idea to pinch J's bottom which was in perfect reach where he would get a good rise out of it. Well, rise his feet did....right into my mouth.
I guess I learned my lesson the hard way. DO NOT PINCH YOUR SON'S BOTTOM...ESPECIALLY WHEN HE IS WITHIN KICKING DISTANCE OF YOUR MOUTH!!!!!

Ouch!It didn't help my already aching headache and it broke little J's heart. Once I got upstairs and cleaned the blood up and got a look at my prized lip, I went looking for him to make sure he was ok. After a few seconds of not finding J anywhere in the apartment, Chad finally found him curled up on the top bunk crying. When I came in and he saw me, he started crying even more. He said, "I didn't know your mouth was there!"

Poor little thing. He checked on me numerous times throughout the day. He laid down with me at first, but everytime I opened my eyes, he was just sitting up staring at me, making sure I was ok. While I was napping, I felt him come in and hop on the bed to see if I was still ok. It was the cutest thing ever.

Tonight, we (sort of) reenacted the whole foot in mouth incident. Because of the humor involved, I think it made him feel a little bit better. Me, on the other hand, will not heal so quickly.