More Randomness About Me

It's time for the next edition of Random Stuff About Me.

1. The first movie I can remember seeing in the theater is The Jetsons.

2. Speaking of movies, the weirdest things I ever sneaked in were: a GIANT pixie stick which I tucked in my sock and in ran up the inside of my jeans. And also, rolls from Texas Roadhouse.

3. One time when my sister Erica and I were driving around, I ran over a laundry basket with my car, and it got stuck underneath.

4. I've locked my keys in the car probably 7 or 8 times. Locked myself out of the house twice. And locked my keys in the garage once. I have a problem.

5. After probably 15 -20 years of stomach problems,  I finally got diagnosed with diverticulosis. Amazingly it hasn't turned into diverticulitis, and hopefully won't. After I cut out nuts and popcorn I haven't had an "attack" since I was diagnosed in September.

6. I still have 3 wisdom teeth. They need to be removed, but unless they hurt, ain't nobody got the time or money for that.

7. Laughter is my coping mechanism. I laugh way too many things off, but it's how I get by.

8. I tend to start projects and never finish them because I get bored or frustrated.

9. I have no idea what I want to be when I "grow up".

10. I do feel a very strong calling from God to go on another mission trip. Right now I am just waiting to see when and where that might be. Maybe soon, maybe in several years. Just waiting on His timing.

11. I am an introvert with random days of feeling semi-extroverted.

12. I used to be really embarrassed when I did stupid things in front of other people. As I've gotten older I've learned to laugh it off more and embrace my awkwardness.

13. Movies I've watched over and over again include: Bridesmaids, You've Got Mail, While You Were Sleeping, Christmas Vacation, Sweet Home Alabama, The Notebook and Remember the Titans.

14. I had FOUR imaginary friends when I was little.

15. If I could spend a day with any celebrity it would be Ellen.

16. I have never smoked and never will.

17. We did have cable until I was a teenager and then I also did have it when I lived on my own. My weird obsession was watching the same infomercials over and over again. I really wanted a Ginsu knife, a food dehydrator and a magic bullet. LOL!

18. I am obsessed with car seat safety. It used to bother me when people made comments like, "Well, I survived." or would make comments about me doing extended rear facing, but it's my thing. I read the facts. I get the seats checked. And yes, my kids will more than likely be in a booster seat until they are 10-12 years old.

19. On a related note...everyone makes mistakes. Mine? I forgot to buckle Daniel in his bucket seat once. Made it 2 blocks before I remember and flipped out. With James, it was this past year. I had him half buckled, got distracted and forgot to finish. Once again, made it a few blocks before realizing. Eek!

20. 2 summers ago we were in Indiana. I always pray for safely when we're driving anywhere. We were on the interstate a few miles from our exit when we heard a big thud. We weren't sure what it was but the van was driving fine. We actually forgot about it when we got to the hotel. Next morning our tire was totally flat. The only reason I feel like we avoided a blow out was being God was protecting us.

A Brand New Year

There's just something about the start of a brand new year. Does is erase the bad things that happened last year? No. Can it take away your happy memories? Absolutely not! It's just a fresh new canvas, where anything can happen. Some things that will be within our control, and other won't be. A new year of activities, road trips, birthday celebrations and adventure.

I never have really liked the term, "New Year's Resolutions".  I guess because I remember always having to come up with ones at school when I was a kid and I never knew what to put, so I'd copy someone else, or make something up that I knew I wouldn't do.

I bought this new shirt from Kohl's that says, "Take Chances", and I decided to kind of make that my theme this year. I don't know exactly what that will entail yet. I'm not really a risk taker. I don't like to fail. I'm not going to jump from an airplane or anything like that. I feel like I'm going to let God take the lead on this one. I want Him to show me what he wants from me this year. And while technically listening to God's direction isn't really taking a chance, it does take a leap of faith.

I'm also getting ready to embark on a weight loss challenge. This time I doing a Biggest Loser type contest because I feel like I'll do better when I'm competing for something. (Taking a chance, ya know?) I seem to start over every year. I am what one would call a yo-yo dieter. I do well. I exercise. I take the weight off and then I start eating more and more and more, until I'm right back up to my starting weight...or like this time...have surpassed it.

Weight is a struggle for me and has been for many years now. My only saving grace is my height. It helps balance it out a little, but, after some research I've realized that I actually probably have a binge eating disorder. Like, I truly will eat embarrassing amounts of junk food. So many calories, each day. It's a true addiction to food. I joke about it, but truthfully it is a HUGE struggle. I have an awful sweet tooth, and I've always been picky. I don't like many fruits and veggies. This time around will  be even harder because 2 of my go to diet foods are on my can't eat list now due to diverticulosis. Nuts and popcorn. Let's just take a moment to mourn that loss. So this year, I will work to gain control over my addiction to food.

Another thing I am looking forward to is joining my church. This next Sunday I will become an official member. Through this year I look forward to new opportunities to serve at church.

I'd also like to get even more organized. We have a small space that just keeps filling up. I've already got a new donation pile started. Out with the old!

Lastly for things I'd like to accomplish is to read more. I think last year I read maybe 3 books. How sad it that!? I'm already over halfway through my first book, and hope to continue all year.

I've already got a couple of fun trips planned this year and I know there will be many more.

Then at the end of summer we'll hit a huge milestone. Daniel will start kindergarten. I got teary eyed thinking about it yesterday. I remember after he was born, I figured out he would start in 2017, which seemed so far off from 2011. Yet, here we are. I'm happy and sad. But, I've got 8  more months to embrace having a preschool aged child.

So here's to a new year and new opportunities!

Gratitude Challenge 6: Taylorville--Home Sweet Home

If you would have asked me during my first several years that I lived here if I liked it I would've said no. Actually, no I wouldn't have because when people asked I pretty much just acted like it was okay, except to the people I was close to. I basically hated it. I hated how small it was. (Going from a city of 130,000 to a city of 11,000 is quite a change.) I was pretty depressed I think. I hated having to drive 30 minutes to get to "civilization" (the bigger city!) I hated not knowing many people and being so far away from my family and friends. I was homesick constantly and didn't not consider Illinois or Taylorville as my home.

I think when I started working at the Y is when I started feeling a little more at home. I started to get to know several people in the community and felt like people were starting to get to know me as well.

Plus, having Daniel brought me out of my shell more. It's easier to strike up conversations with people when you have a little kid. I started to venture out more around town. I found out when events were and would go. I started visiting the library and discovered story time. We started finding the parks and going to the playground. I started going on walks around the neighborhood and have met some really great people along the way.

What really changed my tune was finding my church family. I LOVE having a church so close to home. I can be there in less than 5 minutes. It's not that suddenly I hang out with people all the time. A lot of my friends actually live in other small towns around here, but I still just feel like I'm home.
It's the exact feeling I had when I lived in Iowa and went to Valley View. I can't tell you the amount of Sundays when I moved here and we went to our old church that I would cry on the way home or cry in the afternoon. It's not that it was awful. It's not that I didn't meet some wonderful people there. I just wasn't "home".

I look back and think how I felt God tugging at my heart to try Calvary for several years, but I had something holding me back. We took Daniel to trunk or treat there for the first 3 years before I started going, and I always felt drawn there. I had even been invited by someone once when I was pregnant with Daniel. It wasn't until I had been out of church for quite awhile that I was having some problems and went once to talk with a counselor. I didn't take a lot away from the experience but I did take one thing. She asked why I wasn't going to church when I mentioned wanting my boys to be involved. I told her why, and she told me that I couldn't use that as an excuse. That maybe try the place that I felt drawn to because there was probably a reason why. Maybe God wanted to use me there. How would I know if I didn't try?

The next Sunday I sucked it up. I gave myself pep talks all week because I knew I would talk myself out of it. I went though, and soon, I will become a member!

Yep, this "small town" of mine has officially grown on me. Would I move back to Iowa if we were given the opportunity. Probably! But, I'm finally content here. I like the sense of community. I like that I know people. I love that we have a million silly parades every year. It's not so bad when you feel accepted and know you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

The sign driving into town says, "Taylorville. A Great Place to Live". Indeed it is. I'm home.

Gratitude Challenge Week 5: Thankful for Gifts and Memories.

So, I fell behind on my challenge. I kind of spaced it out over Thanksgiving.

I'm kind of struggling with this one, which is weird, because it's about something that someone gave me. Well, I've been given so many things, but it's hard to name just one thing that sticks out to me, so I'm going to bend the rules and share a list of things and why they are special to me.

1. The necklace Daniel made me for Mother's Day this year.

This was the first year I got something truly made by him. He was so proud to give it to me and it's something that I will keep forever!



2. My Hawkeye Orange Bowl Hoodie

Jacob bought it for me Christmas of 2009 and it's one of my favorites. I've worn it so much that it's super faded, but I don't care. I still love it!



3. Tickets to my first Iowa football game.
My dad got tickets from someone at work and asked me if I wanted to go! I wasn't huge into football at that point, but that game was the turning point for me and my love of Iowa football!  And it was an amazing game to boot. We beat Michigan St in double overtime!



4. Tickets to see Garth Brooks!
Not only did my mom help me fulfill my dream by paying for tickets to see Garth Brooks, but she road tripped to Omaha with me to see him (and stayed up until 2:00am with me at the concert!)
Can't leave Kendra out. She came along for the ride and took care of James at the hotel for me...which he didn't not make easy for her!



And quite honestly...my mom has gifted many a fun road trip and I'm so so thankful for those memories that we make! (Even if we're being sassy with each other!)

5. My first Bible

I don't have a picture of it. I found a picture of it online though, and I do still have it. It's just packed away in a box.



I'm pretty sure I got it as a baby. I know it has the date inside of it, but I do know that it was from my Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Mike. I always loved that Bible as a little girl, and it probably started my obsession with Precious Moments too! I'm thankful that I grew up with a family of believers and so happy that they gifted that to me.

Countdown!

Tomorrow is the first day of December. Let the countdown to Christmas begin! I always get so excited and then as the month goes on and I get panicked because I have to get organized and wrap everything.

Then last year I added to the craziness by making an advent activity calendar for Daniel. I'm excited to do it again this year, but I know about halfway through last year I was wearing out! Most of the activities are simple, but some are more time consuming (ie: decorating Christmas cookies). I kept some favorites from last year and then added in some new ones as well. Hopefully Daniel enjoys them. James will get to participate sometimes, but really at this point it's all for Daniel still. Along with the fun things, I also included some services/acts of kindness cards like last year. Those are always some of my favorites!

My darn strings kept falling as I was hanging the mittens, because why wouldn't they? It's my luck. Those suckers are taped hardcore to the wall now, but 10 bucks says tomorrow I'll find them on the floor. At least they're cute for now.

November flew by, and I don't see December slowing down any. In just one month we'll be ringing in another New Year. So, here's to a happy, healthy and fun last month of the year!