The List

Recently, I visited my closest friend Emily in her little town of Cullman, AL. I’ve actually visited her a lot over the past couple of years and am so grateful that the Lord placed us both in the Southeast during the same season within two hours of each other. This last visit, however, was a unique visit in that it did not entail any other basis except to just connect and catch up with each other. And connect we did! We actually added the hours up and we basically talked for 31 hours straight with only taking time to sleep and shower separately….otherwise, we were together, and we were talking. It was AWESOME! When I told Daniel, I’m not sure he was relieved that I had gotten it out of my system or floored that the two of us could actually do that.

One of the things we discussed was this phenomenon called blogging and how I secretly wanted to do one. She showed me one of her friends recent post that listed 100 things about herself and Em and I decided we should each do that too. So, I am hoping I’m first, because I think there is a reward for being the first one to do it! Here it is…The List!

1. I highly dislike wet paper…don’t know why, it just bugs me
2. I like to read
3. I like things pretty simple: clothes, food, decor, relationships, cars, beauty routine, etc
4. I’m blessed with a lot of friends and sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with them like I want to
5. I bought my first pair of Reef flip flops this summer. I really want the $50 pair of Rainbows but I haven’t taken the plunge yet….maybe next summer…or if they would ever go on sale
6. Speaking of sale, I’m pretty frugal and I have a hard time spending money on myself…or period…I’m working on this
7. I’m an analyzer and can easily be an over-analyzer
8. I love maps…the way they look and just figuring out the best way to get somewhere
9. I like to be efficient and find the most efficient way to do things…see #8
10. I have a bad habit of speeding. I’m working on this right now too.
11. I love rain and thunderstorms
12. I want to be a mommy, a young mommy too so that I will be younger when they are older
13. I’m not picky about cars. I don’t have a dream car. I just want air conditioning and one that doesn’t squeak and I’m fine. See #96
14. A big pile of dishes in my sink disgusts me. It’s my goal for there not to be a big pile. I try to do them every time I use one.
15. I try to do laundry on the same day every week and I time everything so that I fold them as soon as they are dry so that they don’t get wrinkled. The goal….to not have to iron.
16. I scored a 34 out of 35 on Oprah’s happiness test from a show last week but for some reason I don’t want anyone to know that I was watching Oprah.
17. One of my favorite “activities” is having people over for dinner. I would love to have a consistent night of the week where I always invite someone over for dinner
18. I’m a little insecure in my cooking right now. I’ve done a cooking co-op for 5 years and I’m just now back into cooking on my own. Bless Daniel’s heart.
19. I like that Daniel and I have known each other for most of our lives.
20. I have always had the bad habit of biting my nails. I’m working on that too. I did really good for about a month and I’m back down again. Polish, polish, polish
21. I have never been a girlie girl and only after college did I start to wear pink
22. I’m still proud to be a Texan but I’m glad to be a Tennessean
23. Favorite Comfort Foods: Stuffed Baked Potato; Blue Bell Banana Pudding Ice Cream (Thanks Andy & Kristy!); Micahl’s Apple/White Cheddar Salad; Daniel’s Steak, Brisket, Guacamole; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
24. Our refrigerator is not working right now so I’ve been living off of Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches for the past week
25. I LOVE to be organized…not in an obsessive compulsive way but I have just learned that I function better in an organized environment
26. In the last year, I have traveled to: Peru; Hawaii; Atlanta; Lubbock, TX; Houston; Dallas; Chattanooga; Cullman, AL; Birmingham; Colcord, OK; Little Rock; Hot Springs, AR; Memphis; Knoxville; Ocoee, TN
27. I really want to go to New York, Israel (See previous post) and on a cruise
28. I hate running. That’s why I love to ride my bike. I just wish I could ride by myself everyday
29. I am a C/D on the Disc Personality profile. (Aka: Beaver/Lion)
30. I love trees and I want to plant one really soon at our new house. I’m thinking a magnolia tree.
31. I love Jesus and I’m really excited at how He is working in my life right now.
32. I love studying the Bible but I struggle to be a prayer warrior.
33. I just started journaling again. Thanks to Paige for my new journal.
34. It really bugs me to not finish something. If I am late to something, it’s usually because I was trying to finish what I was working on.
35. I love games, particularly card games the involve speed but have a hard time finding people to play with me. I guess I usually win and people don’t think it’s fun. I appreciate that Andréa plays Nerts with me and Jori and I were a great match at ERS in college. I miss that.
36. I’m really thankful for my husband and love him very much. I can totally see why God put us together.
37. I feel like I’ve gone through some sort of a revolution this past year. There are a lot of things that I used to be that I no longer am. And trust me, the “used to be” definitely needed to go.
38. I live life on a deep level. Sometimes I have to be reminded to just lighten up and have fun. But, I really enjoy living life deeply.
39. I mess up cliche phrases all the time. Ex: “You’re hitting it out of the ballpark” instead of “You’re knocking it out of the park.” Daniel finds this quite humorous.
40. It is very important to me to not let my circumstances affect how I feel about someone else’s circumstances. Being genuinely excited for someone else who has what I want. IE: single vs. married, pregnant vs. not pregnant, kids vs. no kids, certain house or job or grade, etc. It really bothers me that girls have such a hard time with this.
41. I’m not very trendy but I sometimes wish I would let go and splurge on trendy things. See #6
42. I’m basically a home body. Not a reclusive home body but I really like to be home. That’s why I am so anxious for my new house to feel like home.
43. I’d love to have long hair but I’m not patient enough to let it grow out
44. I love to sleep but have had trouble sleeping lately
45. My favorite treat has been my homemade chocolate chip cookie dough until I read the label on the back of the Pillsbury dough and saw how much fat was in 2 TBSP. Needless to say, I was easily eating twice the daily fat allowance in just one sitting! It’s been awhile since I’ve made it now.
46. I am afraid of being overweight and tired when I’m older. I’ve never really dieted or worked out a ton which makes me wonder if I would really be motivated when I’m older. I’ve stayed within 10 pounds of my high school weight by doing that but haven’t had kids yet! See #12
47. I was really sad that Borders changed their Chai Tea Latte. Good times with Kelly. The 2nd best I’ve found was in a box at the WalMart neighborhood market.
48. I’m not a big movie buff. I think they are way too expensive to see in the theatre and I rarely pay attention to the trailers to know what to rent
49. I love getting cheap jeans from Plato’s Closet
50. I’m not a big gift giver. I feel bad about this. I have a hard time picking things out for people and because I’m frugal it is hard for me to actually buy something because I always think it’s too much or not the right gift. I also don’t love getting gifts. I usually feel obligated to use it somehow even though I don’t like it. I’m really grateful for the meaning and effort behind it but could usually care less about the item. I’d just as much like a card where someone tells me what they are trying to say with the gift. That sounds so awful and I really dislike it about myself! I do like giftcards but it takes my forever to spend them.
51. I have a lot of ideas but rarely act upon them
52. Water is my absolute favorite beverage. I feel like it is the one good thing I do for myself all the time so I try to always have a water bottle with me. If I order water at a restaurant, I like it with lime.
53. I really believe in good nutrition and love my Advocare vitamins. I can swallow 5 at once now!
54. I would love to decorate my whole house from Pottery Barn.
55. I really don’t like bugs. I guess most people don’t but I thought I should mention that.
56. I like living debt free. It’s hard sometimes and takes a lot of discipline and sacrifice but I like it all the same.
57. I have a very discerning spirit and usually see behind the obvious. I sometimes don’t know what to do with it though.
58. I like for people to leave me messages. I have some friends who we talk more on voicemail than in person and I’m glad we at least do that!
59. Age is not a factor for me. I have friends of all ages and I really enjoy what that adds to my life and trust that God uses me in theirs. I used to feel judged when I told people how old I was but I don’t anymore. See #37 Thanks to Sandy, Missy, Melissa M. and Michelle O. especially for still hanging out with me.
60. I would love to write a book.
61. My favorite season is Fall. And I am very ready for Fall right now.
62. I have a clock in every room of my house. I’m not obsessed with time, but I do like to know what time it is. Someone recently pointed out that this was strange and I’ve been noticing that more and more lately.
63. I am seriously over scrapbooking.
64. I struggle in relationships when I don’t know where I stand with people or what they think of me.
65. I’ve learned to not have expectations of people. I enjoy people a lot more when I am blessed by them rather than when they meet my expectations.
66. I have always been a pessimist and I am working on being an optimist. I struggle with seeing the good in situations before the bad.
67. I am really good at thinking through the ramifications of decisions and try to help others with it. Sometimes it appears that I don’t like an idea but it is usually that I am processing what it will be in the long run.
68. I am an internal processor. I have a hard time telling someone what I think right away because of that.
69. I usually don’t initiate conversations about me. I’d rather the other party be content and able to share before I do. And then, usually only if I am asked. Emily is the best at getting stuff out of me.
70. It is a dream of mine to give birth completely naturally. I’m not sure I can do it but I want to.
71. My one “have to watch” TV show is Lost. I’m kind of mad at it after last season but we’ll hope for redemption this next season.
72. I am a list person but I tend to think my super long lists can be accomplished in a day when they are more suited for a week! I’m fooling myself.
73. I’m sentimental about things buts I am determined to never be a pack rat. I think I’m doing pretty good so far.
74. I take 20 minute showers.
75. I am a slow cleaner. I dislike this about myself. I really look up to Tracy E. and Micahl and their master cleaning skills.
76. I love being outside, but not when it is 105 or 30! Hints why #61 is true.
77. I think my favorite place to be right now is on the lake. It’s warm but you can cool off. You can be active in wake-boarding, skiing or tubing or chilling out with your cold beverage of choice in the boat. Listen to music, be outside, get a tan, have good conversation with friends, and you can’t be doing anything else but just being there. See next entry.
78. I usually multi-task when I am at home. Folding laundry while watching a movie, emptying the dishwasher while cooking, writing emails while reconciling the checking account. I drive myself crazy because I don’t enjoy the moment enough. Hints why I like being stuck on a boat all day. It forces me to chill out and not multi-task. I think it’s good for me.
79. I can be pretty long winded. I won’t talk your ear off but I explain things more thoroughly than they have to be explained. Example: this list that has now become mini-paragraphs.
80. Spelling is important to me. I usually have a good editing eye but it embarrasses me if I miss something. It also bugs me when words are incorrect on the slides at church. I also think ‘he’ should be capitalized when referring to Jesus/God.
81. I love watching high school or college football and sometimes the NFL.
82. I usually do not show a lot of excitement about things. I’m not sure if that’s because I don’t get excited about much (sad) or if I just don’t show excitement like most people do. I think I’m excited. Hmmmm….
83. I have a wide range of musical tastes. I used to say I like everything but rap but I can even tolerate some rap these days. I’m currently on a country kick.
84. I love my girls. My student ministry girls. I just love it and am so grateful to be apart of their lives.
85. I really enjoy corporate worship…the musical part. I love praising my Savior in that way and there is just something about doing it with a group of people that brings an added depth of joy. It’s not about me, but I do enjoy it.
86. I sing at the top of my lungs in the car.
87. I can’t dance but I really wish I could. I would love to take dancing lessons…all of it. This is probably what would make me show a burst of excitement.
88. I have a secret love of reality TV but I rarely ever watch it. I like the element of it that reminds me of “people watching”.
89. My favorite verse is Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Thanks Dad. The reason…I spent most of my life worrying about getting the desires of my heart. When I quit doing that and focused on finding joy in the Lord no matter what my circumstances, I really did delight in Him and my desires changed. When I trust Him, I’m at peace. When I don’t, I’m a mess.
90. I love Yankee Candles. Current fav? Indonesian Ginger
91. Speaking of ginger. I love sushi. And, I love the ginger that comes with the sushi. I will eat every ounce of ginger on the plate. Apparently that’s weird because I haven’t met anyone else that does that.
92. I really like to eat out and I’ve been blessed and spoiled with where and when we go. And lately I have felt God tugging at my heart to not love it so much.
93. I am not a big Bath & Body Works fan. Most of their scents are too strong for me. I used to hide my roommate’s Plumeria lotion when I was in college. I just confessed that to her this last weekend.
94. I do not like to be ‘sold’ to. I feel like most sales people are trying to “get me” with their pitch. I hate when I fall for it and pride myself when I tell them no. I’m always looking for the catch. This offends my husband who is in sales. I don’t think he is like this and feel like I am doing him a favor because I’m not spending money.
95. I have a wart on my finger right now. Never had one in my life. It’s gross, it hurts, it’s ugly, I’m embarrassed by it but I am afraid to use the little freezing kit that is in our medicine stash.
96. I have to beat my car with a big wrench in a certain spot under the hood every time I get in it if I want the air conditioning to work. I sing “I’m a redneck woman” in my head as I do it.
97. I love getting the mail. The whole process….driving by and seeing that it’s been delivered, walking the the mailbox, opening it and pulling it out, seeing who sent you something, shredding the junk, opening the good stuff, reading the ads (this kind of goes against #94), etc. See #2. It is one of the small daily joys that I value in life.
98. I am picky about my toilet paper and paper-towels: Cottonelle Double Rolls (preferably Ultra) and Bounty Pick-A-Size (white). I was really annoyed at Wal-Mart last week when I bought Cottonelle for $7.34 and found it for $6.00 at Publix about two hours later. Isn’t Wal-Mart supposed to be cheaper on stuff like that? See #6
99. I’m concerned about becoming boring to talk to now that I am not working. I’ve started listening to talk radio some so I feel like I am in the know with the world around me.
100. I’m ultra-sensitive to other people, their schedules, what their going through, etc. I try to plan for what is easiest on someone else but usually end up making it too difficult on myself and others because of that.