The 44 List

It's been a while...this summer has been SO BUSY!

Since I've last talked to you, I've been packing for a camping trip, went camping with good friends, completely put my house BACK in order and had a birthday.

Yup. I'm older and wiser now. (Yeah, right...didn't think you'd buy that one...) I am older, however...
Last year I put up a list of 43 things you didn't know about me, and that was well received. Are there 44 things you STILL don't know about me?
Honey, there are 44,000 things you still don't know about me!
;)
Got your attention? Here goes:
1. I like to read the local want ads, just to see how many jobs I qualify for, or the jobs I think I could get, even though I don't want to get employment outside of the home.
2. I usually have one or two days of really efficient, productive days followed by one or two days of big blocks of time wasted or times I can't get motivated. What is THAT about?
3. I am obsessed with brown leather in my home. I love, love, love it!

This is my favorite journalling corner with my big chair and ottoman, and the leather wrapped trunk from the 1800's off to the side.

...and the sofa to match (we also have another chair that reclines...love my leather!)

 This is my leather map cabinet. I don't know if it's real leather or not, but it looks real! ;)

This feels like suede leather, but it's really microfiber. It's in our family room. We wanted something a bit more "snuggley"...but it's leathery looking! :) We have a reclining loveseat to match down there, too!

 T

 This is my FAVORITE latest find...brown leather placemats! Aren't they the CUTEST?! I found them at Pier 1 when I went shopping with my friend Cathy. I ordered some other ones on-line but they were vinyl cheap-o looking ucky...these are exquisite!

okay...back to the list...I was getting all worked up over brown leather...whew! See what I mean? Love the brown leather...
4. I also love amish-made oak furniture. That table and chairs up there in that picture is from The Wood Shed Amish shop in a town a few hours from here. We also got our bedroom set from there, and our entertainment center and our spare bed there. Lots of stuff! (I also took my SIL there last week and came home with a bunch of stuff I haven't shown Mike yet...no furniture...just a vase and another knicky-knacky thing...)
5. I don't like people to call me after 9pm. Just sayin...
6. I am to the point where I tune people out when they lecture me on the evils of artificial sweeteners. I can use them if I want to. That is not why I have MS. Several medical studies will back that up...probably more studies than the ones you want to show me.
7. No, I don't want to prove it. No, I don't want to see the ones you want to show me. No, I don't want to see the cure for MS that you just read about in the Natural Journal of whatever. It changes weekly. I appreciate your concern. I just don't care to read it. Thank you. (I'm really not bitter...just not interested.) :)
8. I love colored Sharpies. Yes, really. I have a set, but only one set. I know there are sets of DIFFERENT colors. I want them! (I have very high goals that I've set for myself, don't you think?)
9. I used to be a crafty person. That is evident from the 5 scrapbooks I have finished...and the boxes of pictures I have organized...and the piles of scrapbooking supplies I have yet to organize. (Have I mentioned that the scrapbooks end when the kids are about 5 and 6? They are now 14 and 15...hmmmm...)
10. I have the idea for a great article to write. I've had the idea for a few years, now...but can't get motivated to write it and pitch it! I don't know WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME???!!! I haven't had anything published for 2 years now. I'm in quite the slump.
11. My biggest fear when I was a little girl was that I would never get married. Maybe I'll write a post about that some day. There's a good story with that one.
12. I love colorful dishes that don't match. I bought 10 sets of Fiestaware and when I set the table I make sure everyone's plate, coffee cup, salad plate and ramikan doesn't match; each piece for the place setting has to be a different color.
13. I still prefer to get letters in the mail over email, although it happens less and less these days.
14. Even though I'm a chocoholic, I don't like dark chocolate. It's too bitter.
15. I act very differently when I'm out with my girlfriends opposed to when I'm out with my husband. Apparently, when I'm just out with my kids, too, because I went out to lunch with my kids, my friend and her daughter (who is friends with my daughter) and my son said I was acting weird and was really loud. I didn't think so, and neither did my friend. We were just goofing off like we always do...
16. There's nothing better than good background music when you have a task to do in the kitchen.
17. I need to plan my week out on Sunday, or I'll be flailing around on Monday.
18. I need to plan the next day out the night before, or I'll be directionless in the morning.
19. I start most days with my devotions - after Mike leaves for work, and anyone else is awake...with a hot cup of coffee, my Bible, my journal, the day's agenda and a pen.
20. Gardening is not my thing.
21. I can sketch portraits...at least I used to be able to. I'd be willing to bet I'd be able to again, with a little practice. My artwork hung on the bank wall in my hometown for a while back when I was in highschool.
22. I won a state competition for singing - first place (two) and one second for a duet.
23. I once painted a mural of Noah's Ark on the walls of a church nursery in Wausaukee, Wisconsin.
24. I am one of 25 first cousins on my dad's side. We all lived on one city cul-de-sac. We walked to school together, went to church together and played together. We did EVERYTHING together.
25. I absolutely love wild thunderstorms. I love watching them roll in, and I love watching the sky get dark, and to hear the thunder and watch the lightning and to feel the electric atmosphere.
26. I'm going to see the movie "The Help" tonight. I love nights out with girlfriends! We're going out to dinner and then to the movie. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah!
27. I'd rather have time spent with a person than a gift.
28. My favorite dessert is Edy's Espresso Chip ice cream. Yummmm...
29. I love to wear black, dark grey or navy with a splash of red or hot pink.
30. My fave footwear is flip flops in summer, boots in the winter.
31. I love it when people hear me speak at an event and they assume they know me or know "my kind," as if I don't know hardship or as if I've grown up a "good girl" my whole life. I'm not ready to reveal any of that past life yet in my blog, if I ever will...but let me tell you - I've had a tough go of it...learned everything the hard way...made ten tons of poor choices...and by the grace of God I am here now to blog this list!
32. I feel like now, finally at 44, I am getting comfortable in my own skin. Gosh! It took long enough!
33. I had this crazy thought the other day. (ONE crazy thought??? Ha!) I thought, "What if I woke up and I thought it was 2009?" I'd be ready to go to my parents and I'd be wondering why I was in so much pain, and why I couldn't feel parts of my body, etc. Mike would have to tell me that my Dad died and that I had MS and a whole lot of other things. I would think, "My life went downhill in two years!" But, you know what??? I'm SO MUCH happier in my life...I mean with myself, in my relationships, in my soul, than I was two years ago! I know it's crazy...and it doesn't add up...but, it's true. I guess that's God's addition...but, I'm grateful for it. I wouldn't have chosen these things, but they worked, whatever...I guess God really DOES know what He's doin'...Huh!
34. I love the color pink.
35. God sends me rocks. Don't laugh! They are heart-shaped...that's how I know they are from Him! Ever since I was in my twenties...He puts heart shaped rocks in my path, when I'm feeling down or hopeless. I pick them up and save them. I only have about a dozen or two of them. But, I keep them to remind me that I am loved. (I know it's corny, but He does...) I don't even remember how that ever started...
36. I don't like Juniper bushes.
37. I love my mug.

These are the whole collection of mugs. (From left) Amy's, Gary's, Mike's and mine. (Mine has a heart clip on it.) Gary and Amy bought them for us about 12 or more years ago. They are PRICELESS! The photo is from our Glacier trip last year. We bring them everywhere. They really are THAT great. They keep coffee warm in -30 weather (ice fishing - done it!). We ALWAYS have them on our camping trips we take everywhere. All of us use them daily. (Proof: Gary's is the one with the apple sticker and the dent...he dropped it out of the truck and hit it with his tire before he noticed it wasn't in the cup holder...) They are THE BEST! The handle never gets warm (if my hand gets warm, I lose my grip...not good for most coffee cups...) I love my mug!
38. There's something about a blank notebook or journal that I just LOVE! All those empty pages - the possibilities are endless! My friends Bonnie and Robbin just gave me one for my birthday. I can't WAIT to finish my current journal to start this other one...
39. I never feel like baking in the summer but come autumn, I get the bug. I know it's time to start storing up supplies, because autumn is right around the corner!
40. I'm waaaayyy too young to have two in high school, right???? (McVal, this is where you make good on your promise...never mind that I waited until I was almost 30 to have kids...)
41.  I am deathly afraid to take my son out to practice his driving (he has his permit). It makes me really anxious. I'm not saying that to be funny or cute or anything. It really makes me anxious. Our DMV workers are booked, so he has to take his driver's test (in October) in Eau Claire - 65 miles away! That means, since I'm the only one home during the day, I have to take him to practice!
42. I wish I had finished college...one of my big regrets. Yes, I know I could do it now. But, I don't want to.
43. It amazes me that my husband and I ended up together. He is totally not the kind of guy I ever dated before. But, he is exactly who I need. I don't think there is anybody else out there who could be a better balance or a better match for me, and I'm so grateful that we ended up together. He's amazing.
44. I think out of all my 44 years, this year has been all about acceptance and maturity and settling down. I'm in a good place and I'm glad I'm me and I'm glad I'm where I am. It's by no means boring, that's for sure! Always something new around the bend! I'm ready for what this next year will bring.