bekahcubed

Categories Following Christ, Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday: A Sovereign God

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Today I’m thankful that the following are true:

  • “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
  • Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
  • “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5)
  • “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
  • “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord…” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

God is good. He is trustworthy. He is sovereign. His plan for me, whatever that is, is for His glory and for my joy. I can trust my life, every part of it, to His hand, knowing that even if things do not go MY way, God is working all things in my favor.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 9:28-32)

This Piper video, which I discovered via Buzzard Blog, serves only to reinforce my hope in God’s sovereignty.

Join with me, if you will, in singing “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

Verse 1:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Chorus:
Great is Thy Faithfulness,
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

Verse 2:
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Verse 3:
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside.

Categories Book Reviews

Book Review: “The Stunning Science of Everything” by Nick Arnold and Tony de Saulles

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Got a child (or a father) who’s crazy about science? The Stunning Science of Everything: Science with the squishy bits left in might be just the book for you.

Stunning Science is filled with hard-core science (chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, cosmology, geology, and more) delivered in a seriously fun way. Stunning Science includes comic strips, quiz shows, letters home, and some crazy amazing recipes.

Check out this first recipe for a hydrogen atom:
(Ingredients and extra notes omitted to avoid overly plagiarizing!)

  1. Preheat your universe to 10 billion degrees Centigrade and set off Big Bang
  2. Mix in the quarks and stir well.
  3. Cook the quarks for a split second until the strong force glues them together to make a proton. Be careful–if you mix two up quarks and one down quark you’ll be making a neutron by mistake!
  4. Cool slowly for 380,000 years, add an electron and serve.

If you haven’t figured out yet, this book is Big-Bang friendly. In fact, the Big Bang is probably found in half of the layouts. Those who are uncomfortable with the Big Bang might find this a bit too much. As for myself, I am pleased to see the topic addressed in a matter of fact way with good explanations of the implications of the big bang to life (creation of matter, heat, etc.) The big bang is currently the best theory for the origins of the Universe, and it clearly affirms the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo (creation from nothing). I am pleased to see a children’s science book focusing on this, rather than, say, evolution.

Speaking of evolution…this title includes the obligatory spread or two on evolution, but I found the coverage of evolution to be remarkably understated. While parents would want to talk openly with their kids about what the children are reading, I don’t think the inclusion of the couple of spreads on evolution should be reason to not select this book.

I was most impressed with the science found in this book–and how remarkably accurate and detailed the information is. Stunning Science doesn’t water down the facts or give simplistic explanations. It says science the way it is. My dad, on the other hand, was impressed by the humour found in this book. This title is absolutely comical. From word-play to geeky humour to occasional “bad guy gets bad stuff” and the more common bathroom humour, this book is packed with puns and more that’ll keep kids (and fathers) laughing out loud as they learn.

Rating: 4 Stars
Category: Children’s Science
Summary:A quick and humorous science of everything, from the tiny atom to the enormous universe and everything in between.
Recommendation: This title is a great bet for science-loving kids (or kids at heart). Parents might want to preview it before buying, though, to determine whether the Big Bang cosmology, discussion of evolution, and bathroom humor are within their standards of acceptability.

Categories Everyday Life

Braving the Elements

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“Wow, you’re brave,” she said as she passed me on my long trudge onto campus.

She was undoubtedly referring to my knee-length skirt and tights–and to the temperature in the mid-teens.

But her admiration (or was it?) of my bravery was misplaced. I was far warmer in my closely-fitting tights coming on to campus than in my loose-fitting workout pants coming off of campus. I was a comfortable temperature as I walked to the Nutrition offices to meet the instructor I’ll be TA-ing for this semester. Only my finger tips and ears really felt the cold.

On the way back, I felt the cold air on my legs–the air that my pants could not keep out. The fabric chafed as I walked briskly back to my car. I was COLD and UNCOMFORTABLE.

What she should have been impressed with was that I made it safely on to campus in my loafers. My black slip-on loafers look nothing if not sensible–but they’re actually the worst thing imaginable on ice, or snow, or wet, or anything with the potential of slickness.

As I confidently returned to my car wearing the tennis shoes I’d worked out in, I noticed my tracks going the opposite direction. Nearly every track includes a skid mark, as the practically nonexistent tread of my loafers failed to do its job.

I’m a big fan of skirts–I wear them from 50-80% of the time. I tend to go for a business casual look, either with skirts or with slacks and dress shoes. I wear jeans approximately twice a year (and I’m not under-stating that at all), and I wear tennis shoes MAYBE once a week (unless I’m exercising).

The skirts tend to do just fine, regardless of the weather–I just choose shorter or longer and add or remove tights as appropriate. The shoes? Not so much. Dress shoes aren’t exactly known for being warm (in the winter), and they’re not necessarily breathable (in the summer–between food and medicine, my profession doesn’t really make sandals an option). What’s more, they’re slick-soled and generally not waterproof.

What I’ve learned from braving the elements in business casual? It can be done, but choose your shoes wisely. If I don’t have much walking to do, but it’s really slick outside, I’ll often choose something with a spike heel. The spike provides more grip than most “flat” soles–and still allows me to walk pretty quickly. If I have lots of walking, I consider flatter to be better, but I have to take it slowly so I don’t slip.

I’m thinking what I need is a pair of business casual cleats for winter. Does anybody know where I might find some of those?

Categories Homemaking

Grocery Shopping Experiment

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“Never shop on an empty stomach.” Or so the saying goes.

Penny-pinchers say you’ll spend more than you want to. Dietitians warn that your food choices might be less than stellar. I would add that you might spend more time in the store than intended.

It was supposed to be a quick trip to the store. I’d been running errands all afternoon–and then I popped in to the gym for a (relatively) quick bike ride (Yay for starting to train for the big ride!) By now I was tired and hungry and just wanted to get home–but I had my little list that I really wanted to get taken care of while I was out and about.

My list?

  • Fresh fruit
  • Lettuce
  • Celery

My purchases?

See for yourself.

Grocery store purchases

  • Bananas
  • Apples
  • Oranges
  • Celery
  • Lettuce
    AND
  • Green onions
  • Acorn squash
  • Avocados
  • 2 bags of cheddar cheese (on sale)
  • 2 bags of mozzarella cheese (ditto)
  • A bag of tortilla chips
  • A bag of Fritos
  • A tin of sardines in mustard sauce
  • A can of salmon
  • A bottle of Tabasco sauce
  • A bottle of ketchup
  • A box of mozzarella cheese stick snacks

The results of this little experiment?

Cost of shopping trip
Items on list cost $4.93
Items not on list cost $21.12
I quintupled the cost of my shopping trip by shopping on a empty stomach! Yikes!

Food choices
A number of my impulse purchases were of high nutritional quality (but then again, I’m a dietitian who happens to adore food). But then I still did make some purchases that I never make when I’m exercising self-control and wise shopping practices. Case in point? Frozen mozzarella stick snacks. I never even VISIT the processed freezer food section of the store. But today I thought, “You know, I would love to have some mozzarella sticks”–and since I was in the store, I just went ahead and got them. Then there’s the Fritos–which ostensibly were for with the chili I was going to warm up when I got home. But I opened the Fritos and started digging in before I was even out of the grocery store parking lot. Um, yeah.

Time
I didn’t calculate this exactly, but I’m pretty sure I picked up the items on my list in less than 5 minutes. My overall shopping trip took over 20. And, if it hadn’t have been for all those extra impulse purchases, I could have paid with the cash in my purse (instead of having to run out to the car to get my bank card, which I’d left in my gym bag.)

Based on my experiment, I have decided that “they” are right. It’s best to not go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

Categories Following Christ, Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday: Truth

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Thankful that amidst the whirl of feelings and thoughts and hormones (yes, big girls have those too!), Truth is steadfast.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)–and “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8).

He is Truth, and He is unchanging. Steadfast, immovable, a rock on which to build my life.

Many a time in the past several weeks, I’ve been reminded of Proverbs 14:1 “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.” I so long to be a wise woman, one who builds my house–but I am reminded even today of how that house is to be built.

In Matthew 7:24, Jesus said “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” It is only if my house is founded on the rock, the foundation of obedience to Christ, that I can build a house that will stand.

So, Lord, give me grace to fix my eyes on You beyond the many things I would be tempted to focus my gaze upon. Give me grace to hear Your word above the word of my own mind or my own heart. Give me grace to be obedient to Your direction, whether my heart and will agree or not.

I recognize that unless You build my house, all my housebuilding labor is in vain (Ps 127:1). So, Lord, I ask that you would work in me to will and to do Your good pleasure, building my home on the truth of who You are and what You have spoken.

Thank You for the wise friends and counselors who continue to remind me to turn my eyes towards You, You who are Truth.

Categories Following Christ, Reflections

Reflections on 2009

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2009 has been a year of completions and of new beginnings (as perhaps every year is, when all is said and done.)

This year, I completed my six year quest to become a Registered Dietitian. After my long years of undergraduate school, overgraduate school :-), internship, and test anxiety, I am finally Rebekah Menter, RD, LMNT.

This year, two of my best friends completed their PA training and moved from my house to their own respective houses hours away. My sister is no longer my roommate, for (almost) the first time since I was born. She’s moving on, into the things God has prepared for her.

This year, after years of watching Dan and Debbie move from childhood crushes to friends to girlfriend and boyfriend, my dreams (and theirs) are coming to a culmination: we will welcome Debbie into the Menter family in June of 2010.

This year, after years of anxiously tugging on God’s shirt, begging for a chance to pursue a relationship with a man, God has said that the time is right. And so I venture into the unknown world of courtship myself.

But one thing has not changed this year. He who began the good work in me continues to be faithful. When I reach the bottom, He lifts my head. When I almost reach the sky, He is the tether that lets me fly. When I am at the end of myself, He is all-sufficient. He who began the good work in me is faithful to complete it. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on (by His grace), that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has already laid hold of me…Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Categories Family & Friends, Following Christ, Reflections, Thankfulness

The Christmas Haul

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Allow me to be the first to affirm that Christmas is NOT all about presents. But I have found myself amazed in recent years by the gifts I’ve received. Not because the gifts were absolutely spectacular in their own right, or because I’m all about getting new things–but because of the way the gifts I’ve received reflect the love and care of my family.

This year, I got…

  • A funnel, a filter wrench, and a oil pan from John
    The oil pan is probably the coolest thing ever. It’s ginormous, but it collects all the oil INSIDE of it, and can be sealed so it won’t spill while waiting to be disposed of. Then, when it’s time to dispose of the oil? The pan has a convenient spout for disposal. Say goodbye to messy oil changes–I’ve got all the tools to make it easy as pie!
  • Camelpack
    Time to start training for that big bike ride across Nebraska! And for me, hydration is key. Now I can do it in style.
  • Two puzzles
    Payback, I’m sure, for the many years I’ve bought “the fam” puzzles for Christmas. Now it’s time to get some of my own done!
  • A trash can for my recycling
    I’ve had a bucket in my kitchen for collecting recyclables. Now I can upgrade to a trash can thanks to John–who generally ridicules recycling but cares about me enough to get me what I care about.
  • Double 15 dominoes
    Every household should have a set, and since Anna moved out, my household’s been without. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
  • A utensil tray
    I’ve been keeping my silverware in a little cardboard box since Anna moved out. Now I have a proper utensil tray so I can keep everything divided. What’s more, my mom found it at the used store! (I appreciate my mom’s thriftiness and care. While all of us received new gifts from Mom and Dad, we also received gifts Mom found at used stores. The used gifts were far from second-rate. They were exactly what we needed/wanted–and were obtained in a way that doesn’t break my parent’s bank. My dad’s compliment is true: My mother is like a merchant ship, bringing her gifts from afar.)
  • Shampoo and barrettes
    Funny gift, you might think. But for me, not at all. I ask for “practical gifts” every year, and am supremely thankful when somebody takes up the call and gets them. You see, I HATE buying shampoo, deodorant, and the like. They’re necessary, so you don’t want to run out. Yet they’re expensive at the grocery store, so buying them generally means a trip to a different store–a WHOLE separate trip, since I rarely buy anything except food. So shampoo is the PERFECT gift.
  • A kitchen decorating ideas book
    For me books + home = love. Grace knew this and planned ahead to get me a book from the library book sale.
  • A picture for my walls
    Mom found it at a used store. It has a Bible verse on it. My living area walls suffered most when Anna left. She had so many wonderful wall decorations. Now I’m building up my own collection.
  • A bookshelf
    My current two (and a half) are stuffed full, and bowing because of the weight of my books. My “little” box of books that don’t fit in the shelves is currently overflowing. But not for much longer. Soon I shall have a bookshelf in my room. I’m excited to move all my Bible study tools up to my room, where I generally do my Bible study. It’ll be much nicer to have easy access instead of having to run downstairs.
  • The promise of another bookshelf
    Joshua has promised to make me another bookshelf (and was a bit disappointed when I received one under the tree.) But I have PLENTY of use for new bookshelves, and I’m excited to see what Josh comes up with. He’s quite a handy guy, if I do say so myself.

Beyond the physical gifts under the tree, I received a few more intangible gifts.

  • A delightful family candle-light service when our church one got canceled
    We packed into the “conservatory” while Anna played William and led us in Christmas carols. Dad and John and I had a bit of an out-loud each other contest during one, probably bringing the others’ eardrums almost to a breaking point (in my favor, my part in the “contest” was unintentional–I just don’t have the greatest concept of my volume while singing.) We lit our candles for Silent Night and sung sweetly in the almost dark.
  • The addition of a fourth girl to the family festivities
    Debbie evens us out at four girls and four boys (for the time being). She joined us for our celebration this year, and blushed massively at some of the gifts she received from my brothers. Their goal in their gifts to her this year was “cherry cheeks”–and they succeeded pretty well. Welcome to the family, Debbie–I can’t wait to have you for a sister-in-law.
  • The boys let me take their pictures
    As the family historian, keeper of the family photos, and (more) regular photo snapper, I am somewhat of an annoyance to my family. I insist on chronicling the exciting and the mundane, pulling out my camera at what they consider to be inopportune times (read, anytime). But last night, they (mostly) let me take photos in peace. John even POSED for a few photos. It’s pretty much a miracle.
  • The girls had patience with my distraction during a game of Mexican train
    Timothy announced that I’d missed a text message just as we were about to start our game of Mexican train. I broke my personal rules and texted back during our first few rounds of the game. I enjoyed the text exchange–and I appreciated my family’s tolerance for my somewhat unusual behavior of late ;-).

And the greatest Christmas “haul”?

Yesterday I read these words–an unusual Christmas passage, but an amazing one nonetheless:

“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“ O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(I Corinthians 15:53-57)

At Christmas, we celebrate Christ the immortal, who put on our mortality. Christ the incorruptible who put on our corruption. Christ, who is life, who submitted Himself to death. And why? He did so in order that we who are corrupt could put on incorruption. He did so in order that we who are mortal could put on immortality. He did so in order that we who are creatures of sin and death could obtain victory over the same THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Now thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

**Okay, so I was planning to upload those Christmas pictures, but my computer’s acting funny about recognizing my camera today. It goes on funks every so often, so I’m not too worried. More later–for now I’m gonna go back over to the folks and (find my Bible and) spend some time with the family.**

Categories Books, Technology

Stereotypes…following the links

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Don’t you just love the internet?

You check your twitter page to see who’s following you (You rarely use the main site for anything else, as you’ve got some fantastic twitter aps like TweetDeck and Share-a-holic.)

Turns out Matthew Paul Turner is following you (must have been that one time you linked to one of his articles using Shareaholic).

You decide to see what’s new on his site, Jesus Needs New PR and find a fun little article on “stereotyping Christians by their favorite Christian author.”

This article links to “stereotyping people by their favorite author” which quotes from “readers by author.”

Amused by the content found on this collection of linked articles, you decide to write your own blog post on the stereotypes–and link to each article respectively.

As I am a reader, I found this collection of stereotypes particularly interesting. And though I have LOTS more than just ONE favorite author, I thought these comments about some of my favorites rather interesting.

From the Jesus Needs New PR list:

  • Joshua Harris: Virgin (Yup.)
  • Beth Moore: Moms whose voices become breathy while praying aloud. (Okay, so I’m only a mommy wannabe–but the “breathy while praying aloud” is probably true.)

From the original list:

  • Jane Austen: Girls who made out with other girls in college when they were going through a “phase”. (Not even. I don’t know what Jane Austen this commentator is reading. More like, “girls with romantic fantasies of the strong and silent type”.)
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne: People who used to sleep so heavy that they would pee their pants. (Well, as a child I did. But I don’t really get what it has to do with Hawthorne.)
  • William Shakespeare: People who like bondage. (Actually, not everything is “Taming of the Shrew”–and even there, it’s not so much about bondage. Some of us just like the witty repartee and skilled linguistic jabs a la Beatrice and Benedict or Kate and Petruchio.)
  • C.S. Lewis: Youth group leaders who picked their nose in the 4th grade. (Guilty as charged–except that I stepped down from the youth sponsorship gig last December.)
  • Shel Silverstein: Girls who can’t spell “leheim”. (Had to look that one up because I didn’t realize the author was trying to say “L’Chaim”. I’m too much of a reader for this one. Spelling is usually easier for me than pronouncing–although I can pronounce this one thanks to “Fiddler on the Roof”)
  • Michael Pollan: The girl who just turned vegan to cover up her eating disorder. (Nope. I like food too much for that one.)

If I were to turn the stereotypes the other direction, I should find that I enjoy:

  • J.K. Rowling: Smart geeks.
  • Anne Rice: People who don’t use conditioner in their hair.
  • Sylvia Plath: Girls who keep journals.
  • Vladimir Nabokov:Men who use words like ‘dubious’ and ‘tenacity’. (except that I’m a woman)
  • Phillippa Gregory: Women who have repressed their desire to go to Renaissance Festivals (don’t know that I’ve repressed the desire–I just haven’t actually been to a Renaissance faire.)
  • Stieg Larsson: Girls who are too frightened to go skydiving. (Not going to lie, I’m about the farthest thing from an adrenaline junkie.)
  • Dean Koontz: People who would never dream of owning any type of “toy” breed dog.
  • Richard Dawkins: People who have their significant other grab them under the table in order to shut them up whenever someone else at a dinner says something absolutely ridiculous and wrong. (Okay, so I’ve never actually had anyone grab me under the table, but I’m sure some people have felt like it on occasion. I do tend to be a bit opinionated and can be overeager to share my knowledge and, erm, “wisdom”.)

So what about you? What do your favorite authors say about you? And who should be your favorite authors according to these stereotypes?

Categories Memes

Autobiography?

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Yes, I’m occasionally sucked into doing memes. And I often wonder why memes have such ridiculous titles–and ridiculous questions to go along with them. Nonetheless, I persist. This one is compliments of Johnny B (my almost little bro).

  1. Where did you take your profile picture?
    The picture in my “cast of characters” sidebar was taken in Mexico before an evening “out on the town”
  2. What exactly are you wearing right now?
    A Lincoln Christian Fellowship t-shirt with my new homemade yoga pants, and bright red socks with green toes and Christmas lights strung across them. (So I don’t ALWAYS get dressed in the morning–at least, not on Christmas-Eve-Eve.)
  3. What is your current problem?
    Sin
  4. What makes you happy most?
    The amazing grace of God to a wretch such as I.
  5. What song are you listening to at the moment?
    Preta Porter de Tafeta with Leonard Lucini, obtained for free back when cNet had the option of letting musicians upload their songs for people to download.
  6. Any celeb you would marry?
    Not really
  7. Ever sang in front of a large audience?
    Depends on what you mean by “large.” I’ve sung at church before (as a member of the team). I’ve sung individually or as part of a group in front of my family (which numbers more than 50).
  8. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
    Yep. I AM posh spice, after all.
  9. Do you still watch kiddy movies or kiddy TV shows?
    Actually, I never really did watch kiddy movies or TV shows. I grew up without a TV (and think that it was a wonderful way to live). I do like the classic Disney princess movies, though (Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty). And I’m generally fond of “family-type” movies like “Cheaper by the Dozen”, “Yours, Mine, and Ours”, etc.
  10. Do you speak any language?
    Yes, I speak American English without accent (the Great Plains are home to “standard” American English–the kind you often hear on the radio or television). I also once learned some Spanish (not that I can actually speak it).
  11. What’s something that really annoys you?
    Questions that I can’t think of an answer for. The feral cats that hang out in my neighborhood. That my neighbor feeds said cats.

Chapter 1:

  1. Middle name: Marie (a family middle name–my grandma and aunt are both ____ Marie’s too)
  2. Nicknames: Bekah, Bekahcubed; Becky Jo, Becky Jane (only my father); Rebe, Menterbek, Ca-ca (yes, I know).
  3. Eye color: Blue

Chapter 2:

  1. Do you live with your parent(s):
    No way, Jose. I don’t know that I could respect myself if I were mooching off of my parents this late in life
  2. Do you get along with your parent(s)?
    Absolutely. I consider them among my closest friends, confidants, and counselors. (For all those parents who’d love to have their kids say this, let me tell you that we did not get here because my parents tried to be my friend. We got here because my parents chose to be my parents–and we grew into this stage of the parent-child relationship.)
  3. Are your parents married/separated/divorced?
    Happily married, with a marriage I admire greatly.
  4. Do you have any Siblings?
    Yes.

    Oh, you want to know about them? Two sisters, four brothers, one soon to be sister-in-law with a couple of “outlaws” to go along with her (including the aforementioned Johnny B).

Chapter 3: Favorites

  1. Ice Cream: Butter Brickle, Raspberry Cow Tracks
  2. Season: One of the ones where I can go outside and still be warm. Probably spring or summer.
  3. Shampoo/conditioner: Don’t tell anyone, but I use Equate brand dandruff shampoo. They just started making it with a rather nice scent–as opposed to the icky stuff I remember from my childhood visiting my grandparents house. It’s still that rather gross shade of blue, though.

Chapter 4: Do You…

  1. Dance in the shower?
    Weird. No. I don’t really take showers very often–and if I do, I don’t generally dance in them. I do, however, sing in the shower–and read in the bathtub.
  2. Do you write on your hand?
    Usually not, although I did have a stage where I did it more frequently (Generally Isaiah 44:5)
  3. Call people back?
    Yes, although I can be pretty awful about checking my phone to see that I have messages.
  4. Believe in love?
    I believe in God. God is love. (I John 4:8)
  5. Any bad habits?
    Does anybody NOT have bad habits? I tend to dump my stuff on the floor of my bedroom when I get home from something. I often play with my ears (even in public). I’ve discovered I’m not too great at waiting for gentlemen to open the door for me.

Chapter 5: Have You…

  1. Broken a bone:
    Yes. Collar bone when I was 2 (fell out of bed), both bones in my right forearm when I was eight or so (Roller skates and gravel don’t always go together).
  2. Sprained stuff:
    Oh probably
  3. Had physical therapy:
    No.
  4. Gotten stitches:
    When I had a mole removed.
  5. Taken painkillers:
    Septoplasty. Wisdom tooth extraction. Took a few, tossed the rest. I prefer stoicism and generally don’t do anything more than a couple ibuprofen.
  6. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling:
    No.
  7. Been stung by a bee:
    Yeah, sure. At least, I think so. I’m not afraid of bees, if that’s what you’re asking.
  8. Thrown up at the dentist:
    Why would I do that?
  9. Sworn in front of your parents:
    Sworn? No. Used bad language? Occasionally. I’m working on eliminating some of those epithets I’ve let myself get a little too comfortable using.
  10. Had detention:
    What is detention, exactly?

Chapter 6: Who/What was the last…

  1. Movie(s): Not sure, it’s been a while since I last saw a movie.
  2. Person to text you: Evan
  3. Person you called: Michele
  4. Person you hugged: Anna? My mom? Grace? My dad? I’m not sure.
  5. Person you tackled: Can’t say I’ve ever really tackled anyone.
  6. Person you talked to on MSN: Who talks on MSN?
  7. Thing you touched: My computer keyboard (snarky, I know.)
  8. Thing you ate: dried cranberries
  9. Thing you drank: water
  10. Thing you said: Not sure, I haven’t spoken to anyone yet this morning. Probably, “Oh Lord, have mercy” last night before I went to bed. (And I wasn’t swearing, I was PRAYING.)

Chapter 7: Future

  1. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
    Should God will, married and raising the start of a passel of kids.
  2. Where do you hope to live?
    Wherever God wants me to be. But I sure do like the Midwest.
  3. Do you want to be famous?
    Sort of. I want to be significant. I want to make a difference in people’s lives. I want to do everything that I do excellently. But I don’t want to be a celebrity.
  4. Will you have plastic surgery?
    No, I’m not really a fan of plastic surgery. At least, not the cosmetic kind. I think God made me well. Although I sort of already have had plastic surgery–the septoplasty. Thankfully, it didn’t “correct” my crooked nose (which I love), but it did help me to breathe more easily.