10 things

Tagged again! Man -- what fun! 

So, Jenny C. wrote about 10 things people may not know about her. It seems I've been challenged to do the same. Forgive me, I love these things... We were just talking about this in my session (at the gym) today! I hope I haven't done this one before or all 6 of you who read my blog are gonna head for the hills! Don't leave me! I love you guys!

1. I grew up with cats & dogs, and I always considered myself a cat person. However, the love of my life is allergic to cats, and I probably won't ever have another one. :( LB, my last cat before I got married, was THE best cat ever & had the most relaxing purr in the world.

2. I am an organizing freak. I love such places as The Container Store or even just the organizing aisles at Target or WalMart.. I often choose projects that involve organizing (re-doing a closet/organizing cabinets) before doing anything else around the house.

3. I have now lost 3 nails on 3 different toes. Two were lost with soccer being the culprit. One, I lost just this Fall for no apparent reason.

4. I'm still shocked when God chooses to use me. 

5. I love to read. Fiction is my favorite! Though, Stevie tries really hard to get me into non-fiction -- it just ain't happening!

6. I, like Jenny C., waited until I was married to have sex. It may sound cliche, but it was definitely worth the wait! My husband waited, too. I can't tell you what that has meant for our relationship!

7. Of four children in my family, three of us were born on 7's. 7 was always my 'lucky number', and it's also the number I wanted for my soccer jersey each season.

8. I'm not sure if I want children. God & I are talking this through..

9. My sister-in-law & I met a long time ago when I was dating her ex-boyfriend. We weren't friends then.... we are friends now. I love her so much & I'm glad we're sisters!

10. I only have one dimple -- on the right side of my smile. :) 

Tagged!

Dianna tagged me... so here we go! I hope I can think of all the 8's required! ;)

8 shows I watch -- Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, House MD, Dirty Sexy Money, Brothers & Sisters (I watch these online)... that's all I got! Sorry. I think it's probably a great thing that I can only think of 5 shows I watch. If I actually had cable this list would be SO much longer.

8 favorite restaurants -- Texican Cafe, Cafe 1626, Chipotle, Jason's Deli, Chic-fil-A,  Carino's, Fire Bowl Cafe, Salt Lick

8 things that happened today -- (Well, I'm changing this to yesterday b/c I'm a slacker and just haven't been up long!) Got up & got ready for work, delivered a gift as a secret Santa, delivered a gift as a friend, got report as charge nurse, deleted leftover pages from charge nurse pager, changed the pager alert to "chirp & vibrate", opened the most delicious candle I've ever smelled (gift from Patricia - YUM, thank YOU!), watched 2 online episodes of House with Stevie

8 things I look forward to -- Jesus coming back, Christmas in 2 days (!), my 6th anniversary, hugging my parents and telling them happy 30th anniversary :), getting a beagle next month, seeing my friends at work later today, our mission trip to Guatemala, my next Helm House Creations event

8 things I wish for -- a thriving Women's ministry at MBC, saving grace every day, shaplier calves (ha!), a dog for Stevie & I that won't chew on furniture or pee on carpet, for Pharmacy school to be paid off, for my siblings to be in happy, fulfilling relationships, awesome-big hair that doesn't require so much product, for my parents to never die

I'm tagging Melanie, Jenny C, Laura, Julie, Shelah & Ryan! (Sorry if Dianna already tagged one or both of you!) I look forward to reading your posts! :)

my Hero

Do I know that Jesus Christ left his throne to come to Earth? To be born into beyond humble circumstances? Do I know that He could have come with all the glory that He deserves? That he could have ridden in on a white horse that day? Do I know that I don't deserve His love? That I don't deserve His having given up one split second of hearing His own praises sung?? Do I know that He was sacrificing SO much, every second He was on Earth - not just on the cross.. Because He loves me & wanted to save me?

Absolutely.

Do I lose track of that with ridiculous, unforgivable regularity?

Unfortunately, yes.

I came across this song on iTunes tonight... just browsing. I feel like God used it to remind me of the depth of His love for me. I hope you'll check it out. I love you guys - Merry, Merry Christmas! Praise you, Lord, for birthing yourself into our realm to save us from what we deserve. You are my unlikely hero. My perfect Savior. 

"How Many Kings"

downhere

Follow the Star to a place unexpected

Would you believe after all we've projected

A child in a manger?

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl

Just a child - is this who we've waited for?

..'cause

..Chorus..

How many Kings step down from their thrones?

How many Lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts 

To romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior

All that we have whether costly or meek

Because we believe

 

Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure

And myrrh for the cross he will suffer

Do you believe?

Is this who we've waited for?

..Chorus..

All for me..

All for you..

..Chorus..

Here's to goals!

Who weighs less than 130?? (My big "number" goal..)

I do! 

Here's to hard work & accomplishing goals in the absolute hardest time of the year to accomplish goals pertaining to weight loss! :) From here on out, I need to maintain & every extra push I can give is bonus! I feel great... well, that's an understatement. I feel freaking awesome. 

Thanks belong to God, first of all, for giving me the crazy notion of signing up with a trainer... Praise you, LORD, for all the energy - for not letting me give up - for this stubborn spirit of mine. I'm thankful that there's a positive use for that stubborn streak! ;)

Thank you to my awesome husband who is working like crazy alongside me to get into amazing shape. You are inspiring & so encouraging to me. I love you like mad. And (by the way) you're hot.

Thanks to my friends! (Stacy, Patricia, Jenny C, & Carlyn - to name a few..) You folks are pushing me mentally. I crave your words of encouragement & affirmation. You mean SO much to me. I love sharing 'gym' stories with each of you... Patricia, thanks for talking about your trainer. If you hadn't, who knows? I may never have gotten one! I think  God used your words to lead me to signing up... Thank y'all for never accusing me of being anorexic. :) I've said it before, and I'll say it again: "Lord knows, I don't miss a meal!" Jenny - thanks for helping me with my running! I'm still not a 'runner' but who knows???

Thanks to Brandon - You've been so encouraging... so, so understanding. :) I'm very glad we're friends. You have an amazing attitude - it gets me through all the hard work you throw my way. Stevie & I  are beyond thankful that God led us to you - our friend and trainer. Please keep pushing us. I enjoy my time at the gym more than I ever thought I could.

So, on LPM's blog, I came across this fun little survey. Cute that I happened to read it on a cold, cold night with the fireplace a'blazing, the Christmas tree lit, and my adorable husband wrapping presents for loved ones...

I hope y'all will fill out your own version and post it for me to read! :)

1. Fresh tree or Fake??

While I LOVE the way fresh trees smell, I grew up with fake & that's what I have in my own married home now. This year, Stevie and I upgraded to a pre-lit tree. Hallelujah! The Lord is indeed good to have blessed us with such an invention!

2. Favorite Ornament??

I love my silver star tree topper. I believe we got it on sale at Pottery Barn... Stevie polishes it and gets it shining just right before he places it perfectly atop the tree. I don't jockey for the role of placing the star because 

a) I'm shorter than him & would probably injur myself or the tree trying to balance on a chair/stepstool...

b) he's an even bigger perfectionist than I am (I know! *gasp*), so he actually gets it straighter than I could ever hope to!

3. Favorite Christmas song??

Silent Night - it makes me remember all the Christmas Eve services I've attended over the years... the sweet sound of instruments fading out and vocals rising. The harmony is breathtaking. I can't imagine how much sweeter it must be on the ears of our Lord.

4. Favorite Tradition??

I don't think I have just one! Let me name a few... Momma always reads us the Polar Express... Erin always finds the pickle ornament because she's a cheater - but I love her and won't rob her of the prizes she's won for finding the pickle over the years ;)... My mom makes her lemon bars, Martha Washingtons & fudge - DELICIOUS! Sometimes candy is missing from tins before we get them delivered... We have a candlelit steak dinner every Christmas Eve and waffles on Christmas morning... Daddy cracks up and rewinds Home Alone 2 to watch Marv get electrocuted again

5. Favorite Gift ever received?? 

Oh my! This is tough. I think the one that most shocked me in recent years was an apple-red KitchenAid mixer from my parents. I hadn't put it on my list (though I'd been coveting one since my wedding FIVE years before when it didn't get purchased off my registry...), and it was the last thing I expected to unwrap that day. 

6. Favorite Christmas meal??

Candlelit steak dinner on Christmas Eve with baked potatoes, salad & rolls. A very close second is the waffles and hot tea we have on Christmas morning!

7. Favorite Christmas cookie??

I don't have one. That is because my standards have been set to the tune of fudge, Martha Washingtons (re-named "Chocolate-covered sugar bombs" by my big brother..) and lemon bars! 'Ol Martha is my favorite!

8. Favorite place to be??

My parents' house... it's still home, you know?

9. Favorite memory??

One of the last two Christmases, I can't remember exactly which.. there was a moment when (after an hour or two of misbehaving and refusing to cooperate with family pictures in front of the tree) Dalton walked right up and posed with Stevie and I during our picture! It cracked me up. With his brown eyes and dirty blonde hair, he could have passed as ours - too cute. I still have the picture..

10. Favorite Christmas movie??

I would have to say Home Alone or Home Alone 2. For years it was because Daddy's reaction was just so priceless every time Marv got shocked into oblivion in the basement of the New York apartment... now I think it's grown into a favorite for all of us. When I was younger, it would annoy me if Daddy rewound the movie to watch it again... Now, I laugh so hard I cry. And the tears are just as much for that bond with my Dad as they are for the giggles elicited by the movie...

busy, busy weekend

Look at these lovely ladies! :) After a long day at Budafest (and I'll certainly fill you in on Budafest soon..) I got home, touched up the make-up a tad & headed to Southpark for the laser light show and Poetry for a King's gig! Our boys did a great job on the show, despite the sound system lacking in several ways... and the light show was a lot of fun! Who knew a gal my age could be so entertained by lights?? In the photo above (and excited right along with me) were these friends: Kelly, Jill, me, Jenny C, & Beth. 

And since I mentioned Budafest, y'all should come out if you haven't already! It's still going on tomorrow, Sunday the 7th. We'll be there 10 to about 4:30. All sorts of cool stuff just waiting to be claimed!