For Love of a Bloggy Friend

My sweet bloggy friend Rachel tagged me in this Q & A post a while ago, but I am a complete slacker and haven't done it.  Sheesh...those silly excuses like sleep, and quality time with my children, and dinner...excuses.  All excuses. 


Well, no more!  Here I am, for all the world to see, in 19 completely random questions!



1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?

Well, that's a silly question around these parts!  Our animals are certainly treasured members of the family.  And my cousin Heather (who happens to write an amazing blog about all things thrifty, and who is getting married this year - WOOHOO!), still gets the award for best photos of my fur babies.

Someday, when we have our 6 foot privacy fence built around our property, we will get another dog.  But, for now, we enjoy the felines.

2. If you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?

That's easy!  I would be back home with my babies.  And I would probably be spending a good portion of the year in Haiti, working with orphanages.  And, if a sweet, precious little boy (or girl) just happens to find his way into our home, well, I wouldn't complain about that at all!


3. What is the one thing most hated by you?

I cannot handle mean people.  At all.  And I have learned, being in a service position at work, that there are a lot of mean people in the world.


4. What would you do with a billion dollars?


Well, I would do the obvious things first.  Pay off the house, pay off my parents' house, buy a house for my sister so they could move back to CO.  Stick some aside for the girls for college, some for retirement for us. 

And then I would probably go ape crazy.  Pay off other people's houses.  Leave envelopes of cash on people's front porches.  Pay rent for someone for a year.  Send enormous amounts to missionaries & orphanages in other countries.



5. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?

'Nuff said


 6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
 
No fair Rach!  You didn't say anything about making me think!  I am honestly not sure.  You are either a blessing by loving someone, or being blessed by receiving that love back.  GAAH!!!  My brain just imploded.  And now I have to go clean grey goop off the computer.  Thanks, Rach.

7. What is your bedtime routine?


Our bedtime routine starts with the babes.  We put on their pjs, brush hair & teeth, and read stories.  Then Daddy carries each of them to bed, where we pray and snuggle for a few more minutes.

Once the minions are locked and banished tucked in sweetly, we usually watch a show or two, then head to bed ourselves.  Jerome has to have a glass of milk and a few minutes of E*PN news every night.  Cause we all know the man would not be able to get a decent nights sleep without the day's stats...

We head to our room, put on our pjs, pray, kiss, then Jerome usually falls asleep while I read for a while.  "A while" being relative to how bad my insomnia is acting that night. 



8. If you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?
 
We bonded over the fetal pig dissection in 10th grade.  And trying to make the popular/mean girl in the class throw up every day.  Hmm...perhaps that should be a TST...

 

9. If you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?



I would require the use of a time machine for this one.  I would love to go back to my childhood and watch my grandma.  Here she is holding Kat as a baby.

My grandma is, by far, the most creative person I have ever met.  But time and age have deteriorated both her mind and her body.  I would love to be able to go back and watch her when she was truly able to do all the things she loved to do.



10. What kinds of books do you read?
 
Anything.  No, seriously.  I am pretty much wide open, and will try anything at least once.  Well, not smutty romance novels (have no desire to read about someone else's bedroom habits in full living color), but other than that I am open to suggestions.  I love Christian fiction, regular fiction, sci-fi, mystery, historical, biographies, sports, humor, ...

See, I wasn't kidding! 


11. How would you see yourself in ten years time?


At home with my girls (ack!  They would be 17, 14, and 13).  Oh Lord!  Will you start praying for me now?  Thanks.

Anydoodle, my "ten years" answer reads much like my "dream come true" answer.  Home, part of the year in Haiti, and perhaps a few more minions added to the mix.  I'm going to need a bigger car...



12. What’s your fear?


Losing someone I love.  It is a deep fear that I have always had, and that I constantly struggle with.  Honestly, there are evenings, when I am driving home from work, when the thought of losing someone overwhelms me to the point of tears.  It is a battle I fight daily, reminding myself that God does not give a spirit of fear, that the fear itself is the battle.





13. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?


Seriously?  What kind of silly question is this?  What woman, in her right mind, would EVER give up junk food for the rest of her life, just to go see a vacuum.  I've got one of those in my laundry room. 

Pass the chips & salsa, please.



14. Would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?


Again, very silly question.  Obviously, I would rather be married.  When I said "for richer or poorer" 8 1/2 years ago, I meant it.  Also, I have informed the dear hubby that if he wants to get rid of me, he's going to have to kill me first.  And good luck with that, because I am a pretty good shot.





15. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

Hit the snooze and doze for another 9 minutes.  When the evil instrument of doom nags me again, dear hubby gets out of bed & starts the shower.  Approximately 30 seconds after the shower is turned on, we have this:

The girls (especially Madi - the rooster) know that they are not allowed out of bed until the shower turns on.  Works fabulously for Saturday mornings, I might add.  But, once the shower is on, they know Mommy is in bed and would love to snuggle for a minute. 

And, yes, I have just shared a photo of my bed, with me in it.  Please don't be horrified - there are cute toddler chubbies in it!

 16. If you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?


Oh good golly, what are you people trying to do to me?  This is like marriage dynamite right here! 

Ok, well there's ...

...

... yup, drawing a blank here.  There are times I threaten to throw his phone out the window when he answers it for business, but I love the part of him that wants to serve people and bless them. 

I just have to face facts.  I got the best man in the world. 




17. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?


Francine Esmerelda Ruth.  Or Zoe for short.

And if you believed that, do I have a deal for you! 

Seriously, I have no idea.  I guess I've never thought about it. My parents always told me how grateful they were that I was a girl, because Tiffany was the only girl name they every wanted to name me, and they had NO names picked out if I was a boy.  And, knowing that my parents went through 2 years of infertility to have me, I know they spent a lot of time thinking about my name.  And I like it.  So there.



18. Would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?


No.   I have forgiven some atrocious things from my past done by very special people, but that does not mean I have forgotten.  And, while I have been able to use those horrible things to bring healing to other people, I have not forgotten.  I honestly do not think you can. 





19. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?

Figures that the easiest question would be the last one!  That is so easy - Mexican!

Image from Google

The dear hubby jokes that I am only happy eating food when there is hot sauce on it.  And he's right. 


And, there you have it.  19 completely random facts about me. 

Happy Valentines Day Honey

I have a sweetheart.





He was a gentleman. The first one I had met.








In high school.








He did not kiss me on our first date.








He did not even hold my hand.








He was cute, and so much fun. That's him on the right.











He made me laugh. He was healing for my heart.








We went to college. Together.








Had some really good times. Had some really bad times. But had them all together.








On June 8, 2002, we got married.








On September 18, 2003, our first daughter was born.








On July 27, 2007, our second daughter was born.








On November 2, 2008, our third daughter was born.








Since we have been together, he has worked as a retail clerk, office assistant, property manager, estate manager, and realtor.








Since we have been together, he has been a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, an uncle, a friend, a boyfriend, a fiance, a husband, and a father.








Since we have been together, he has seen me through family problems, three pregnancies, three surgeries, depression, frustration, emotions, joy, heartache, work problems, work joys, life.








Since we have been together, he has introduced me to my Savior. He has shown me that, as much as he loves me, his love will never compete with my Daddy's love. That his plans for our life cannot compare to His plans. That while he will do everything in his power to take care of me, ultimately, it is His responsibility.






Some years, Valentines Day has had dozens of roses, jewelry, expensive dinners.


This year, he made me an apple tart.


And bought the roses for our daughters.


We will have a quiet dinner at home. Reflect on where we have been. Dream about where we will go.


And it will be perfect. Because it is with him.


I have a sweetheart.

Too Good Not to Share

Our church has been studying 40 Days of Love, an amazing book that totally challenges your views on how you love compared to God's way of loving. I thought it was totally appropriate, and probably God-sent, that this email devotional was in my inbox this morning. It comes from http://www.crosswalk.com/, which send out great devotionals, if anyone is interested. Enjoy!

May 19, 2009
Love That Changes Lives
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth "So encourage each other and give each other strength." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Friend To Friend

I will never forget the day I learned just how powerful words can be and their capability to teach and train from the hand of possibly the most abrasive person I have ever met as well as one of the kindest young girls to grace my life. The first thirteen years of ministry found my husband, Dan, and I working with teenagers as youth pastors in three different churches. Before our children were born, I was his right hand girl -- attending every youth event, teaching bible studies, directing the youth choir and loving every minute of ministry at his side. Teenagers flowed in and out of our house at all hours of the day and night, some coming for help and others for fun.

The youth to whom we ministered came primarily from homes that seemed to be healthy and whole. I quickly learned that outer trappings often masquerade inner ruin. A young man named Jack (names have been changed to protect the guilty) joined our youth group, having recently moved to the area because, as he put it, "My parents like to move a lot." That should have been my first clue.

In the beginning, Jack worked hard at making friends and seemed content to go with the flow - until the day he decided that the stream of life was flowing in the wrong direction and it was up to him to redirect its course. The mask came off and the façade quickly crumbled. Standing before me was the real deal -- a genuine, authentic sandpaper person of the coarsest degree. It started with little things -- a friendly shove, caustic comments masquerading as sarcasm, words of darkness and destruction a fast growing and constant stream. Other teenagers began coming to Dan or to me, sharing their concern and eventually disgust at Jack's antics. I talked to Jack. Dan talked to Jack. Together we prayed for Jack and urged the other youth to join us. Nothing seemed to change. As a last ditch effort, we drafted two of our most mature youth to take Jack under their wing and mentor him. Jack did not want to be mentored.

During one Monday night bible study, Dan asked one of those mentors to sing a solo. Jami was a redheaded freckled face girl whose sparkling blue eyes and contagious dimpled grin did not convey the constant pain she suffered as a victim of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Jami never complained, always sharing her faith in God and His goodness to her. Everyone loved her and the pure voice with which she sang but as she stood to sing, Jack began laughing, pointing and whispering to the people around him. Their lack of response fueled his fire, upping the ante for Jack to win this battle and capture center stage. With desperate questioning eyes, Jami looked at me, silently begging me to rescue her and the situation. I smiled the most encouraging smile I could muster, hoping it would be enough. It wasn't. I looked back at Jack, delivering my famous and usually feared "shape up or die" glare -- all to no avail. Dan asked, "Jack, are you ready to hear Jamie sing?" Well, that did it! Jack erupted into uproarious laughter, "Sing? Have you heard her sing? She sounds like a frog -- not to mention the fact that she walks funny!" Every ounce of oxygen was sucked out of the room. Everyone froze, except Jami, who fled in tears. From the faces of those youth sitting around Jack, I could tell that well-deserved revenge was close at hand as they began loading their emotional guns and sharpening their retaliation knives. Wanting first shot at this obviously hateful and mean-spirited young man, I jumped to my feet, grabbed Jack by his ear (no, I am not kidding) and pulled him out of the room and sure death.

Reaching the foyer, I released Jack, whirled him around to face me and with clenched teeth ground out my livid question, "Do you have any idea what you just did?" The laughter vanished, pain and harsh realization spread across his face. His response was nothing short of incredible. "Yes. I embarrassed Jami and hurt her feelings." I am not often speechless, but at that moment, words simply evaporated as I stared into the eyes of someone fully aware of the pain he had just inflicted on one of the few kids who truly accepted and was forever defending him. "I cannot believe you! Jami has always been kind to you, coming to your defense when you did not deserve to be defended, inviting you to join the group when the group did not want you anywhere around them. She has probably been the best friend you have ever had or will ever have. What is wrong with you?" Jack stood, silently accepting his rightful and, I thought, well-deserved punishment without a single word of defense.

From the corner of my eye, I saw someone approaching. I was really hoping they were bringing me some kind of rusty weapon. It was Jami, a tremulous smile breaking through the tears cascading down her face. Jack instinctively began backing away until he saw her eyes and the outstretched arms she offered him. In astonishment, I stood paralyzed, a witness to God's supernatural presence and the restoration power of forgiveness at work before my unbelieving eyes and my angry heart. Instantly, I became the student and Jami the teacher. Both Jack and I listened quietly as God spoke through this precious young woman, the words only she could speak. "Jack, I got to thinking about why you did what you just did, and I realized something. I love you and you know that, but you don't think you deserve that love so you tried to kill it by hurting me. It won't work. Do you know why?" Sitting at the feet of this young, wise beyond her years master teacher, I witnessed Jack's sandpaper world being rocked by a love he could not understand, a love that was not altered by anything he did or didn't do, a love that only God can give. In answer to Jami's question, Jack gave a quick headshake and whispered, "No. I don't know why." Jami smiled, wrapped her arms around the very one who, just moments before had viciously wounded her, and with fresh tears streaming down her face, choked out words I will never forget. "I love you with God's love, Jack. Not mine. And His love will never die. People tried to kill it on the cross, but even that didn't work. I just wanted to tell you that I love you -- no matter what you say or do. I am your friend -- period."

Staring into her eyes, I suspect Jack experienced, maybe for the first time, the timeless and stubborn love of God; a love that could be his to give, a love that would redefine his future. With a giggle, Jami playfully grabbed Jack's hand and, pulling him toward the place only love could take him, began happily chattering about how she needed him on the front row to encourage her while she sand. And he did!

That is not the end of the story. From that day forward, Jack was a different person. From time to time, he would fall back into old emotional habits but when he did, Jami or someone under her direction and influence would snatch him back to the new place that words of staggering kindness and God ordained wisdom had brought him. The youth who witnessed Jami's love for this unlovable one were changed and called up higher in their obedience to God, even when it didn't make sense and was completely undeserved. I learned the valuable lesson that hurt people hurt people. Instead of angry words, I need to make my first response one of unexplainable love and unmerited understanding.

Let's Pray

Father, please forgive me when I judge instead of love. Help me to see every person through Your eyes of love, grace and mercy. Please guard my tongue and my heart so that I will build up and not destroy others. I want to please You, Lord, by the way I love the unlovable.
In Jesus, name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Right now, think of the most abrasive people in your life.
Are you ready to accept and love them without demanding that they change?
Find one good point about each person and voice it to others whenever you have the chance.
What can you do to demonstrate the unconditional love of God for these people?
Do you need to ask any of them for forgiveness? Are you willing to do that now?