25 Things

It's been a long time since I've done one of those "25 things about me" lists. Back in the days of myspace, I used to do these every so often. I enjoy reading them, so I thought I'd give it a whirl myself.

1. I love heat. I am probably the most cold-natured person you will ever meet. To illustrate this point, I have a space heater that I actually have near me most of the day. Before I go to sleep and before I wake up in the morning, I will put it beside me in the bed and turn it on. The bad part about this is one time, I fell asleep on the couch with it turned on beside me. I woke up with 2 small burns on my wrist that left scars.

2. I've had every hair color (I mean, besides blue, pink, orange etc) that you can imagine. Red, black, brown, blonde...I used to change it every time, but now I feel most comfortable blonde. Travis would love to know what my hair color actually is. Hint: It's the darker part underneath and also closest to the roots. ;)

3. I LOVE The Office. My mom finds it almost painful to watch because Michael Scott is so stupid, but I really love that. I've always loved dry humor.

4. I really try to be kind to people, to engage them, pay attention to them...just to be NICE. With that said, I have a bit of a flaw in this. It irritates me (and this is not right or okay) if I see someone that I think is being rude to someone else or even to me...well, that kindness can be thrown right out the window. I don't know if I want them to know how it feels? Or if I want them to know they can't just treat someone like that? I don't know. I'm a work in progress, I suppose. Oh, and don't even think about messing with my kids. Then this whole statement gets erased. ;)

5. It's very difficult for me to just go and start a conversation with someone. Maybe it's because I don't work outside of the home, so I'm used to just being with my family? Or maybe I'm a snob like Travis says, I don't know. Kidding. Once it's started, I'm all for it. I just have trouble initializing it. I'm outgoing, I just need a push sometimes. :)

6. This is kind of stupid because I think these things should try to tell something about you that perhaps the audience wouldn't already know, but I have to throw this in there. I love FLASHY things. Shiny. Sparkly. Noisy. Chunky. If it shines and makes some noise, I love it.

7. I had Bell's Palsy when I was a senior in high school. I cannot tell you how much that sucked. The doctors said that they didn't even know if it would completely restore itself. I had to sleep with my eye taped shut. Obviously, my face did return to normal, but it did, in fact, take several months. I have pictures, but they will NEVER be seen on here. Think Halloween. Yuck.

8. I hate loud, repetitive noises that aren't musical. Dogs barking. Tapping. Stomping. A friend told me that maybe it was because I AM musical, but I don't know. I just find it annoying.

9. I probably should have been on medication when pregnant with Sage. I was borderline crazy. Ask Travis. But I was completely elated and normal when she was born. When I was pregnant with Jaggar, I was great. Normal me. But when he was born, I cried a lot. Worried. And wondered what I had done because 2 really overwhelmed me.

10. I've been turning our family over to more and more organic foods. It is painfully and ridiculously expensive, but I just don't like the idea of my son drinking 1/2 gallon of milk a day (seriously) from a cow on steroids. It can't be good for you.

11. I've had a few friends tell me that anytime they go anywhere with me, they make sure that they have makeup on, outfit accessorized, etc because that's how they always see ME. Funny thing about that is that since Jaggar was born, I really never wear makeup unless I absolutely have to. And I wear whatever I can find that is easy to throw on in the mornings. It's good to know they don't see me as the bum that I think I am though!

12. In high school, we had to do exit interviews in front of the class. My interview was good. The only criticism was that I said "like" too much. I STILL do that to this day with the added phrase of "you know what I'm saying." I also find myself saying, "It's just like...." in addition to the simple, yet profound "like." Listen to yourself speak. You have phrases that you throw in all the time too. If you can't think of them, ask someone around you. :)

13. I get embarrassed for people. If someone does something that I know they're about to be reprimanded (however so lightly) for, I want to disappear. I can't stand to see it.

14. Our house was shot up in 2005. Yeah, like with a gun. One bullet went through our front door, through the playroom door, and out the back of the house. One went underneath the window in the formal living room. One went into the trunk of the car that was in front of the family room where Travis was sitting. Had it not gone into the car, it very likely could have hit him. The mother of one of the boys attends our church. It was a very long story and a very low point in our lives that caused a lot of fear and anger, but it makes for a random "Hey, there's not something that happens every day," fact now for this particular survey.

15. Sayings like, "Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away," "Sometimes we build walls not to keep people out but to see who is willing to climb in," "If you don't love me at my worst, you sure don't deserve me at my best"....well, those kinds of sayings make me want to stick 2 fingers down my throat. I HATE cliches'.

16. I don't drink, smoke, chew or hang with those that do. HA...kidding, kidding. the cliche', I mean. I don't smoke at all, and I really don't drink often. The reasons behind these are strictly for vanity purposes. I will NOT have unnecessary lines and wrinkles on my face from smoking. AND I don't want to sound like a man when I talk. Gross. AND it's just EXPENSIVE. And alcohol is way too loaded with calories to overindulge in.

17. I remember when I was in kindergarten, someone told me that I had a big nose on the bus. I hated my nose for a while after that and when I was older, I swore I'd get nose job. Funny thinking that way now, since I think my nose is perfectly fine. Now I'm more realistic in my plastic surgery expectations: face lift in 20 years or so, liposuction... ;)

18. I'd rather eat a snack than a meal.

19. Becoming a mother was the greatest thing that ever happened to me minus salvation. It just did something to me. Made me who I wanted to be and makes me want to be better. (I have tried to do this whole thing to make it strictly about me, but I just had to throw that in there.) I love my kids, and of course, Travis! He loves me for me, even the ugly that I won't tell you about. ;)

20. I used to drink a 12 pack of Diet Sunkist in 2 days. I lived on that stuff. Now I drink 2 liters+ of water a day. Definitely a change for the better.

21. For some reason, since I had Jaggar, I have worse acne than I have EVER had in my life. It's terrible. And embarrassing. I THINK it may finally be getting somewhat better, or else I'm just used to it?

22. Mondays are the most difficult day of the week for me. I am physically drained from Sunday. Sage starts a new week of school. And for some reason, my house looks like a hurricane went through it EVERY MONDAY, and because of the above reasons, it's very difficult for me to clean it up.

23. I am way too self conscious and overly concerned with what people think about me. I'm my own worst critic, so I think that others are that way towards me too. I'm learning that assumption is generally false.

24. It makes me slightly uncomfortable to see 30 and 40 somethings (heck, even 2o somethings) posting ALBUMS full of pictures that they took of themselves on facebook. ESPECIALLY when they're trying to look like they are unaware or sexy or in deep thought. It is SO awkward! I mean, they aren't with their friends or anything. They're just sitting around alone. I'm all for a self portrait, but most of the time, I'm being silly. I just can't take myself seriously doing that, but hey, to each his own. Maybe #23 is my problem in this case.

25. I'm very grateful for Word Alive and the things that I get to be involved in there. I had my eyes opened this morning to the perspective that I can grow comfortable with of being able to watch 1000s of people worship. It's really beautiful.

Wow! I honestly never thought I could get 25 things without sounding stupid or narcissistic. Maybe I did or didn't accomplish that!