PAST
first grade teacher's name: Mrs. Wilhoit (she was a meanie)
last word you said: the last one I remember saying is “bye” (to Adam on the phone)
last song you sang: “Come, now is the time to worship”
last thing you laughed at: the radio this morning; the deejays were having listeners call in if “you’d ever ruined a wedding” and one of the call-ins was hysterical
last time you cried?: when I watched Chronicles of Narnia the other night; can’t watch Aslan die without bawling
PRESENT
what's in your cd player: there’s some Spanish praise & worship songs and I think my ABBA’s greatest hits is in there too
what color socks are you wearing: it’s sandal weather…no socks ‘til September or my feet get cold
what's under your bed: carpet and probably the discarded Kleenex or three
what time did you wake up today: 6:55, but resisted until 7:10
FUTURE
what is your career going to be: writer/novelist, wife, homemaker, mommy (I hope one day!)
where are you going to live: we’ll always have a home base in Greenwood, but I actually hope we get to live in Guatemala one day, at least for a year
how many kids do you want: at least 2, but no more than 5-ish? Ideally, 4
what kind of car will you drive: Ooh, so many choices. I really love my SUV. I don’t see me ever going back to a car, but I would like a smaller SUV so I don’t waste a fortune in gas money
CURRENT
current hair: not-quite shoulder-length brown hair with some subtle caramel highlights
current clothes: peasant-ish, pink, red & black 3/4-sleeve shirt, black skirt, black espadrilles
current jewelry: wedding rings and these dangly silver heart earrings I bought at Express my senior year of high school (11 years ago)
current annoyance: being inside working on a beautiful breezy, sunny day
current smell: my own toffee-nut latte breath
current longing: to run outside and play? Actually, just to be at home and finish my humongous closet-organization project
current desktop picture: me and BF Kate hugging in her receiving line at her wedding
current favorite music artist: I feel ridiculous saying this, but Kelly Clarkson
current book(s): still getting through (non-fiction) “Isabella”, (fiction) “Body in the Snowdrift,” and about to start (non-fiction) “Our Changing Values” by Jimmy Carter
current favorite article of clothing: my denim skirt I bought at Goodwill for $3
favorite physical feature on a man: Adam’s chest and shoulders
one person you wish was here right now: as in, with me? Corny answer, but I’m gonna go with…Adam
line from the last thing you wrote to someone: oh sheesh. That would have to be “here you go” when I e-mailed somebody at work a file
I am happiest when: I’m at home, the windows are open, the birds are singing, I’m brewing coffee, the house is clean, Adam is with me, and there are no plans for the long day stretching out ahead of us
I feel lonely when: Adam’s away on business, everyone I know and their brother has plans not including me, it’s dark outside and there’s nothing good on TV
favorite author: impossible query to answer. I shall not answer it.
do you think too much: Good heavens, yes
If you could live anywhere in the world, where: England, England, England
famous person you have met: I once saw Jonathan Crombie (Gilbert Blythe in the Anne of Green Gables movies) in a play in Canada, but I didn’t actually meet him so maybe it doesn’t count
do you have any regrets: I’ll answer that question with another question…am I a sinner?
favorite coffee: anything really fresh, really high-quality, really hot, and served to me immediately upon awakening (this never happens, by the by)
favorite smell: fresh air (if that’s a smell)
what makes you mad: traffic on I-465
favorite way to waste time: taking quizzes like these
what is your best quality: I love intensely and I’m loyal to a fault
are currently in love/lust: In love
what's the craziest thing you have ever done: got on a plane and went to a third-world country
any bad habits: of course. But you didn’t ask me what they are, ha-ha!
last thing you bought yourself: a couple packs of plain generic ivory candles at Jo-Ann Fabric for a ridiculously low price
bath or shower: Both. Shower in the mornin’, bath in the evenin’
favorite season: Right now! Spring, spring, spring!
favorite color: lavender
favorite time of day: toss-up between mid-morning after a couple cups of joe and after 5 pm when the whistle blows and I’m free again!
gold or silver: both, thank you
any secret crushes: nope. I haven’t had a technical “crush” since the 8th grade
FASHION
how many coats and jackets do you own: sadly, probably like 7
do you wear a watch: not usually.
favorite pants color: black
most expensive item of clothing: I actually tend to spend more on accessories than actual clothes…
most treasured: maybe my apple-green sandals?
YOUR FRIENDS
do your friends know you: what an oddball question
what do they tend to be like: weird, goofy, great sense of humor, etc.
can you count on them: there’s a few who always seem to be there…
can they count on you: gosh, I hope so. I try!!!
LAST
last book you read: “Shopaholic takes Manhattan” (oh the shame in admitting that)
last movie you saw: Narnia
last movie you saw on the big screen: it’s been a long time…it might have been Tristan and Isolde???
last show you watched on tv: “God or the Girl” on A&E (these 4 men are choosing between priesthood and relationships with girls…it’s fascinating)
last song you heard: can’t remember but it was a country song
last thing you had to drink: toffee nut latte
last thing you ate: leftover taco casserole and corn cake from dinner last night
last time you showered: this morning around 7:10
last time you smiled: maybe 5 minutes ago?
last time you laughed: last night
last person you hugged: my new friend Emily last night
last person you talked to online: Kate
last person you talked to on the phone: Adam
DO YOU
smoke: no.
do drugs: do prescription drugs count?
drink: I like the occasional glass of wine
sleep with stuffed animals: I have a small teddy bear that Adam gave me for Christmas. His name is George. I occasionally invite him to snuggle.
have a dream that keeps coming back: yes. There’s one I’ve had since I was little and it involves dinosaurs. It’s very bizarre.
play an instrument: sadly, no
believe there is life on other planets: nope.
read the newspaper: if online news counts, then yes
have any gay or lesbian friends: Not any more, but I had a friend at college who “came out” my freshman year and it was a very odd situation since we were at a Christian college (yep, she got kicked out quite promptly, which only made things much worse)
believe in miracles: absolutely
consider yourself tolerant: um, I try very hard not to judge anyone. But I’m not tolerant about behaviors that hurt people.
consider police a friend or foe: if I see them in the rearview mirror, a definite vote for “foe”
like the taste of alcohol: no…it’s gotta have something in it, like fruit juice
believe in astrology: not at all.
believe in magic: nopers.
go to church: try not to ever miss.
have any secrets: too many, so I end up telling people
have any pets: nope.
go or plan to attend college: graduated with a BA in English
talk to strangers: often. Especially when they’re in Starbucks, the line at the post office, or need some emergency grooming
have any piercings: Ears.
have any tattoos: no, but I’m not ruling them out
hate yourself: no
wish on stars: I would if I thought it would help
like your handwriting: yes
believe in ghosts: um, I’m not sure. I think there are things that go bump in the night…
believe in santa: No. I pretty much hate Santa. Well, I did until I saw Narnia…now I’m reconsidering…
believe in the easter bunny: I HATE the Easter bunny. Easter is my favorite holiday and stupid bunnies ruin it.
believe in the tooth fairy: I believe in my parents who acted as tooth fairies by proxy
have a second family: I have several second families…I really enjoy many of my friends’ families
trust others easily: not as much as I used to. I think skepticism and wariness come with age.
sing in the shower: not very often, but occasionally, if I’m in a very good mood.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
every time I look at this picture, I start laughing until it hurts
It's just absolutely classic...try to get the kids prettied up and standing together for the Easter family photo and...chaos. Ethan is resisting his bowtie (which he later showed off proudly), Ada is looking at her pretty shoes (reincarnated little me), and Abby just can't stand being the smallest (and thus, the one Mommy holds all the time in pictures). And of course, my sister Sarah is just taking the opportunity to enjoy the hilarity of little ones. LOVE it!!!
Saturday, April 15, 2006
can't help posting this...
um...two princes of England in uniform...does it GET any better than that?
introducing my study on women in the Bible
As many of you know, about 4 years ago, after Adam and I realized that we were not growing spiritually in our church at the time (an understatement), we decided to make a "clean break" from the denominations that we had both been raised in (Baptist for me, Catholic for Adam). In all truth, this was no reflection on either set of our parents...our 4 respective parents raised us both to know the Lord and to love Him, and for that, Adam and I are both eternally grateful.
However, we had both come to a standstill in our spiritual lives in the place where we were at. For our own good, we knew we had to find a place where we could learn and grow. For me, this wasn't just a church-swap. In college, I realized that the private school I was raised in had put, for lack of a better word, "spiritual sludge" in my mind about the Lord and about how to live the Christian life. So when we decided to find a new church, I also decided to chuck out the window pretty much everything I had been taught up to that point (excluding the basics, of course...the virgin birth, Christ as Messiah and Redeemer, His glorious resurrection, etc.). I'm talking about...does God really care whether your skirt comes to your knee? Did He turn water into grape juice (whatever!) or was it wine as the Gospel says? What is speaking in tongues??? Is that "bad" as I had been taught? I had so many questions, I didn't know where to start, except to trash everything and allow myself to be instructed anew.
Long story short, that's indeed what happened at Southside Bible Church...we were instructed anew. And I think everyone can relate to this...do you know what it's like to be taught truth, and to know that it is indeed TRUTH, to the core of your deepest gut??? In essence, Adam and I have just BLOSSOMED in our church and our growth as followers of Jesus has been nothing short of phenomenal...to God be all the glory!
So what's your point with this blog entry, Becky? Please hold, I'm getting to that. One of the areas where I really struggled and fought with the teachings of my youth was the area of how God viewed women, what a woman's role in the church was, what God's expectations of a woman are, and so on and so on. And though I have learned MUCH in this area and have really found peace with the answers, I realized the other night that I've never done a Bible study on women in the Bible. I've done a pretty thorough study on the women in the Bible who experienced infertility, but hadn't really stretched beyond that, and the other night I had a strong desire to do so. So...I want to blog my findings, because basically, I think they're really really cool! Anyhoo, what a long introduction to a pretty simple Bible study! Stay tuned for my findings. I think that they will bless you, as they have blessed me.
However, we had both come to a standstill in our spiritual lives in the place where we were at. For our own good, we knew we had to find a place where we could learn and grow. For me, this wasn't just a church-swap. In college, I realized that the private school I was raised in had put, for lack of a better word, "spiritual sludge" in my mind about the Lord and about how to live the Christian life. So when we decided to find a new church, I also decided to chuck out the window pretty much everything I had been taught up to that point (excluding the basics, of course...the virgin birth, Christ as Messiah and Redeemer, His glorious resurrection, etc.). I'm talking about...does God really care whether your skirt comes to your knee? Did He turn water into grape juice (whatever!) or was it wine as the Gospel says? What is speaking in tongues??? Is that "bad" as I had been taught? I had so many questions, I didn't know where to start, except to trash everything and allow myself to be instructed anew.
Long story short, that's indeed what happened at Southside Bible Church...we were instructed anew. And I think everyone can relate to this...do you know what it's like to be taught truth, and to know that it is indeed TRUTH, to the core of your deepest gut??? In essence, Adam and I have just BLOSSOMED in our church and our growth as followers of Jesus has been nothing short of phenomenal...to God be all the glory!
So what's your point with this blog entry, Becky? Please hold, I'm getting to that. One of the areas where I really struggled and fought with the teachings of my youth was the area of how God viewed women, what a woman's role in the church was, what God's expectations of a woman are, and so on and so on. And though I have learned MUCH in this area and have really found peace with the answers, I realized the other night that I've never done a Bible study on women in the Bible. I've done a pretty thorough study on the women in the Bible who experienced infertility, but hadn't really stretched beyond that, and the other night I had a strong desire to do so. So...I want to blog my findings, because basically, I think they're really really cool! Anyhoo, what a long introduction to a pretty simple Bible study! Stay tuned for my findings. I think that they will bless you, as they have blessed me.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
a beautiful song that captures the feeling of Easter
You spoke and made the sunrise, to light up the very first day
You breathed across the water,
You breathed across the water,
and started the very first wave
It was You
You introduced Your glory,
It was You
You introduced Your glory,
to every living creature on earth
And they started singing,
And they started singing,
the first song to ever be heard
They sang for You
You make all things new
You make all things new
They sang for You
You make all things new
You make all things new
Then the world was broken, fallen and battered and scarred
You took the hopeless, the life, wasted, ruined and marred
And made it new
You make all things new
You make all things new
You redeem and You transform
You renew and You restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You
You turn winter into spring
You take every living thing
And You breathe Your breath of life into it over and over again
You made the sunrise, day after day after day
But there's a morning coming, when old things will all pass away
And everyone will see
You make all things new
You make all things new
Come redeem and come transform
Come renew and come restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You
Now and forever
You are making all things new
You're making all things new
Hallelujah...
("All Things New" by Steven Curtis Chapman)
You took the hopeless, the life, wasted, ruined and marred
And made it new
You make all things new
You make all things new
You redeem and You transform
You renew and You restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You
You turn winter into spring
You take every living thing
And You breathe Your breath of life into it over and over again
You made the sunrise, day after day after day
But there's a morning coming, when old things will all pass away
And everyone will see
You make all things new
You make all things new
Come redeem and come transform
Come renew and come restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You
Now and forever
You are making all things new
You're making all things new
Hallelujah...
("All Things New" by Steven Curtis Chapman)
Monday, April 10, 2006
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Zechariah 9:9-10 (NIV)
Amen! Thank you Lord, for the fulfillment of prophecy in the beautiful person of Jesus Christ!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Zechariah 9:9-10 (NIV)
Amen! Thank you Lord, for the fulfillment of prophecy in the beautiful person of Jesus Christ!
from "Got Questions?" (a website that answers questions about Christianity)
Question: "What is Passion Week?"
Answer: Passion Week is the time from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday (Resurrection Sunday). Passion Week is described in Matthew chapters 21-27; Mark chapters 11-15; Luke chapters 19-23; and John chapters 12-19. Passion Week includes: the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, Jesus cleansing the temple for the second time, Jesus giving His Olivet Discourse on the end times, Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus' arrest and trials before the chief priests, Pilate, and Herod, Jesus' scourging at the hands of the Roman soldiers, Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus' death and burial, and gloriously - Jesus' resurrection. It is referred to as "Passion Week" because in that time, Jesus Christ truly revealed His passion for us in what He willingly went through on our behalf. What should our attitude be during Passion Week? We should be passionate in our worship of Jesus and in our proclamation of His Gospel!
Question: "What is Passion Week?"
Answer: Passion Week is the time from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday (Resurrection Sunday). Passion Week is described in Matthew chapters 21-27; Mark chapters 11-15; Luke chapters 19-23; and John chapters 12-19. Passion Week includes: the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, Jesus cleansing the temple for the second time, Jesus giving His Olivet Discourse on the end times, Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus' arrest and trials before the chief priests, Pilate, and Herod, Jesus' scourging at the hands of the Roman soldiers, Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus' death and burial, and gloriously - Jesus' resurrection. It is referred to as "Passion Week" because in that time, Jesus Christ truly revealed His passion for us in what He willingly went through on our behalf. What should our attitude be during Passion Week? We should be passionate in our worship of Jesus and in our proclamation of His Gospel!
Friday, April 07, 2006
A decade with my sweetie...
Over lunch today with my friend Tonya, we got onto the subject of how Adam and I met, and since it's one of my favorite stories, I was only too happy to tell it. In telling the story, though, I happened to mention that our first date together was on April 6th, and then in a moment of horror, realized that I'd forgotten it (today is the 7th)! You see, April 6th, November 23rd (the day Adam proposed), and July 10th (our wedding day) are our 3 most important occasions, which I always try to remember and celebrate in some special way.
Anyway, I was snuggled up to Adam on the couch tonight watching a movie when I remembered to tell him. We were talking about it when we realized that it was 10 YEARS ago! Our first date was April 6th, 1996! That was even before Katie graduated from high school!!! And I was a spring chicken and Adam a cradle-robber...I was a very wet-behind-the-ears 19 year-old!
It's so interesting to think about my life in that context...I'm almost 30 years old, so literally 1/3rd of my life has been spent with my love. Wow. Thank you, Lord, for the decade I've been given with my Adam. I am truly a blessed woman!
Over lunch today with my friend Tonya, we got onto the subject of how Adam and I met, and since it's one of my favorite stories, I was only too happy to tell it. In telling the story, though, I happened to mention that our first date together was on April 6th, and then in a moment of horror, realized that I'd forgotten it (today is the 7th)! You see, April 6th, November 23rd (the day Adam proposed), and July 10th (our wedding day) are our 3 most important occasions, which I always try to remember and celebrate in some special way.
Anyway, I was snuggled up to Adam on the couch tonight watching a movie when I remembered to tell him. We were talking about it when we realized that it was 10 YEARS ago! Our first date was April 6th, 1996! That was even before Katie graduated from high school!!! And I was a spring chicken and Adam a cradle-robber...I was a very wet-behind-the-ears 19 year-old!
It's so interesting to think about my life in that context...I'm almost 30 years old, so literally 1/3rd of my life has been spent with my love. Wow. Thank you, Lord, for the decade I've been given with my Adam. I am truly a blessed woman!
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
They are growing up so fast...
As you all know, Ethan, Ada, and Abby are "my babies by proxy." Sarah has often told me that she's happy to share them with me! (I just hope that the reverse will be true one day when I'm a frazzled mommy and need her!!!) Anyway, at 3, 2, and 1, they are still so little. But, I can't believe (from these pictures), how much a difference 1 year makes i
n their lives.
This is Abby, still so teeny-tiny, at about 2 months old. Now, she is a little woman of 15 months, full of spunk and attitude, wicked-smart and devastatingly clever. She can figure out how to do just about anything she sees others doing. Heck, she learned to walk at 8 months...there is nothing stopping this girl! But here, she was still a cuddle-bug. Just looking at this picture makes me antsy to meet the new little one in Sarah's womb. Can't wait to have another cuddle-bug!
And here's my Ethan and Ada, at the time, just 2 and 1 respectively. I can't believe how much of their baby-fat is gone now! Ada used to be so roly-poly, and now she's pretty tall for her age and about 90% potty-trained! And Ethan, wow, he has changed so much. He rarely sucks his "fingies" anymore, he is potty-trained, and he's even in pre-school! His language, though still behind, has come a long way. At this time, VeggieTales were his favorite thing, but now he is interested in very little that isn't Thomas the Train. Awwww, I miss their baby selves. Even though they get more interesting every day, these pictures make me a little sniffly.
As you all know, Ethan, Ada, and Abby are "my babies by proxy." Sarah has often told me that she's happy to share them with me! (I just hope that the reverse will be true one day when I'm a frazzled mommy and need her!!!) Anyway, at 3, 2, and 1, they are still so little. But, I can't believe (from these pictures), how much a difference 1 year makes i
n their lives.This is Abby, still so teeny-tiny, at about 2 months old. Now, she is a little woman of 15 months, full of spunk and attitude, wicked-smart and devastatingly clever. She can figure out how to do just about anything she sees others doing. Heck, she learned to walk at 8 months...there is nothing stopping this girl! But here, she was still a cuddle-bug. Just looking at this picture makes me antsy to meet the new little one in Sarah's womb. Can't wait to have another cuddle-bug!
And here's my Ethan and Ada, at the time, just 2 and 1 respectively. I can't believe how much of their baby-fat is gone now! Ada used to be so roly-poly, and now she's pretty tall for her age and about 90% potty-trained! And Ethan, wow, he has changed so much. He rarely sucks his "fingies" anymore, he is potty-trained, and he's even in pre-school! His language, though still behind, has come a long way. At this time, VeggieTales were his favorite thing, but now he is interested in very little that isn't Thomas the Train. Awwww, I miss their baby selves. Even though they get more interesting every day, these pictures make me a little sniffly.
Part-time is the best!
How did I ever cope with a full-time job? Well, the answer is, of course, not very well at all. I always seemed to be dragging myself through the week, just hanging on for the weekend, when I could finally sleep and then sit by myself for a while and have a good "think." I know this must sound spoiled and bratty of me, but it's the honest-to-goodness truth: I'm a girl who needs time to herself! And I know all my friends would laughingly agree. Yes, I see you all nodding your heads right now.
Thing is, I used to really fight this about myself. I used to see it as a serious flaw in my nature. I used to describe myself as inherently lazy! However, I've really been re-evaluating my perception of myself in this way. You know, God makes us who we are for very specific reasons. So instead of wondering why I'm a person who needs a rested mind and a relaxed body in order to function at my very best, I think I'll just embrace that and do what it takes to give myself...a rested mind and a relaxed body! It's no accident that God worked it out for me to go part-time with my job, and how easy it was to request it and be granted it by my bosses (even though I was terrified to ask). You see, I've been wanting to write a book (well, okay, books plural!!!) for a long time, and I know that God has opened the door for me to do so. And in doing so, He also provided a way for me to get the sleep and rest that I need in order to have a mind that can focus and think and concentrate and most importantly, LISTEN to what the Lord is telling me.
So, gone are the days of doping myself up with inordinate amounts of caffeine just to stay awake. Gone are the days of frying my brain at work 40 hours a week, using all my mental energies, only to come home and be brain-dead for the evening and completely useless to my husband and myself. Gone are the days of going through the motions, literally dreaming of Saturday mornings when I could get off the merry-go-round and have a LIFE.
You know, I really look up to and respect the people who, as I've realized, God has blessed with abundant stores of energy for their jobs and ALSO their families and lives outside of the corporate world. But I've also realized, it's not a bad thing to not be able to group myself in that category. God made me this way. And God provided an out. I'm truly, truly thankful for who I am, who God intended me to be.
How did I ever cope with a full-time job? Well, the answer is, of course, not very well at all. I always seemed to be dragging myself through the week, just hanging on for the weekend, when I could finally sleep and then sit by myself for a while and have a good "think." I know this must sound spoiled and bratty of me, but it's the honest-to-goodness truth: I'm a girl who needs time to herself! And I know all my friends would laughingly agree. Yes, I see you all nodding your heads right now.
Thing is, I used to really fight this about myself. I used to see it as a serious flaw in my nature. I used to describe myself as inherently lazy! However, I've really been re-evaluating my perception of myself in this way. You know, God makes us who we are for very specific reasons. So instead of wondering why I'm a person who needs a rested mind and a relaxed body in order to function at my very best, I think I'll just embrace that and do what it takes to give myself...a rested mind and a relaxed body! It's no accident that God worked it out for me to go part-time with my job, and how easy it was to request it and be granted it by my bosses (even though I was terrified to ask). You see, I've been wanting to write a book (well, okay, books plural!!!) for a long time, and I know that God has opened the door for me to do so. And in doing so, He also provided a way for me to get the sleep and rest that I need in order to have a mind that can focus and think and concentrate and most importantly, LISTEN to what the Lord is telling me.So, gone are the days of doping myself up with inordinate amounts of caffeine just to stay awake. Gone are the days of frying my brain at work 40 hours a week, using all my mental energies, only to come home and be brain-dead for the evening and completely useless to my husband and myself. Gone are the days of going through the motions, literally dreaming of Saturday mornings when I could get off the merry-go-round and have a LIFE.
You know, I really look up to and respect the people who, as I've realized, God has blessed with abundant stores of energy for their jobs and ALSO their families and lives outside of the corporate world. But I've also realized, it's not a bad thing to not be able to group myself in that category. God made me this way. And God provided an out. I'm truly, truly thankful for who I am, who God intended me to be.
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