100 Things About Me

Here are some things you may or may not want to know about me...

1. I am originally from the east cost (Delaware). I always say that I am from the Philadelphia area, because very few people know where Delaware actually is.

2. I am the youngest of three. My brothers are 12 and 16 years older than me. I was definitely a surprise!

3. I went to all private schools. I went to Catholic schools from (K-12) and a Christian college and seminary.

4. I became a Christian my senior year of high school.

5. My undergraduate degree was in history.

6. I originally wanted to be an ed major but didn't like the education classes.

7. When I dropped the education major, I wanted to change to christian ministry. But then I learned I was only one class away from a history degree.

8. I worked for the college and got a (mostly) free graduate education.

9. My graduate studies were in educational ministries. (Children's/youth/women's ministry)

10. I never wrote my thesis but completed all my coursework. I second guess that decision.

11. I am introverted.

12. I love road trips and travel.

13. I've been to Europe twice and Africa once. The countries I've visited include: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.

14. I've been to 31 states. My husband only had been to a handful of states before he met me. Now he has more than me.

15. I met my husband doing youth ministry at a local church.

16. We were friends for several years before we became a couple. I'm thankful it was that way because of #11.

17. I had a crush on him for a year before he asked me out. My journals from that time are full of prayers for God to guard my heart.

18. I thought my husband was a man full of godly character and one I could easily follow. I still think that, although I'm not always a good follower.

19. 6 months after we started dating, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 25 (2004).

20. I went through surgery and chemo and hormonal therapy (tamoxifen). He walked through it with me. It's the hardest thing we walked through together. (Breast cancer does not run in my family).

21. He proposed on a Monday-- I wasn't expecting it, because who proposes on a Monday after work?

22. We were engaged for five months and decided on a January wedding. We've been married since 2006.

23. He is my best friend, my strongest Encourager, in many ways my complete opposite, but absolutely perfect for me.

24. I took violin lessons from the time I was four years old until my senior year of high school. I briefly picked it up in college, but not for long. I still have my violin.

25. I have a good ear for picking out a melody (thanks to Suzuki).

26. I love history, especially family history.

27. I love to read, but mostly Christian non-fiction. It's rare to find me with a fiction book.

28. I have been chronologically studying through the Bible since graduating college. I prefer to use an inductive method.

29. My Bible is held together with purple duct tape.

30. I love to play games, but don't get to do so very often. I really like playing the Catan Card Game with my husband as well as Carcasonne. We brought them with us on our anniversary cruise this year.

31. It's hard to suck me away from my laptop. I have to turn it off during the day so I can focus on my kids (sad, but true!)

32. I am not a morning person, but I try to get up at 5:30 AM to have a little "me" time before the kids get up.

33. Speaking of children, I have two beautiful children. Jonathan (Jan 2009) and Grace (Aug 2010).

34. We weren't sure if we would be able to have children or not (see # 19-20). God gave us both a heart for adoption.

35. We were surprised to find out we were expecting Jonathan.

36. Because I was on tamoxifen, the doctor flat-out recommended we have an abortion.

37. That was never a consideration. Jonathan is perfectly healthy and smart! It saddens me to think there would be many women who would have followed the doctor's advice. (There was no research on the effects of tamoxifen & pregnancy at the time-- it was just a guess that he would have some kind of defect).

38. We were also surprised to learn we were expecting our daughter. Apparently, fertility was not an issue for us.

39. We still have a heart for adoption.

40. I had post-partum depression with Jonathan. I denied it at the time, but it's pretty clear looking back. I've been on an anti-depressant following Grace's birth.

41. I had PUPPS when I was pregnant with Jonathan. It's so rare, my doctor didn't recognize it. I was miserable.

42. I didn't have PUPPS with my 2nd pregnancy, but ended up with gestational diabetes. That was no fun either!

43. I grew up having dogs (a chihuahua and a mutt). I always thought I was a dog person.

44. When I was single and living alone, I adopted a cat named Tulip.

45. Tulips are my favorite flowers.

46. My husband is allergic to cats. I was sad to give Tulip away (but found her a good home).

47. I would like to have a cat, and I think my husband would too if he wasn't allergic.

48. His parents live on a horse farm and have barn cats-- we all love their kitties!

49. I, unlike every other little girl on the planet, never wanted horses.

50. I did have My Little Ponies though.

51. I love '80s music.

52. And worship music.

53. And early '90s grunge.

54. My iPod is very eclectic.

55. I love to bake-- cookies and pies are my specialty.

56. I enjoy my 30s more than my 20s. And I enjoyed my 20s more than my teens.

57. I was a misfit-- hence, my enjoyment of children's/youth ministry.

58. I love chai tea lattes and fancy coffee drinks.

59. I also love scones of any shape and size.

60. I worked at Starbucks for a week.

61. I couldn't handle cleaning public restrooms so I quit.

62. I think about that every time I have to use a public restroom and try to be as courteous as possible.

63. I despise having wet socks.

64. Cotton balls give me goose bumps when I hold them. Ick.

65. I've lived in Illinois since 1997 (except for 1 year across the border in Wisconsin). Most of that has been in the Chicago area.

66. I lived for a couple years down in central Illinois. We lived with my in-laws and tried to sell our house in Chicago.

67. I am fortunate that I get along very well with my mother-in-law.

68. Our house didn't sell and we moved back to Chicago after two years. The job called my husband, so we thought that God was moving us back.

69. We came back to the same house and same church, but with Jonathan. It was a strange time warp.

70. I love our church and our adopted hometown, but I miss having family close by.

71. Moving was very hard on me-- I had a hard time fitting in down in central Illinois. It was probably because of #11.

72. I consequently have a heart for helping people get connected when they are new to the area/or our church.

73. We co-lead a small group of mostly young families. I love our small group! I am so thankful for Christian friends for my children.

74. We plan on homeschooling. I don't know how far we'll go, but we'll take it year by year.

75. I have a major sweet tooth.

76. I think I'm addicted to Pepsi.

77. Oh, and to Pinterest. I find such wonderful ideas and blogs from there!

78. I dislike the winter-- it always makes me wonder why I chose Chicago for college.

79. I'm an INFP. I try to be more organized.

80. I'm finally getting in the groove of meal planning.

81. But all my son will eat are peanut butter sandwiches.

82. I'm trying to learn how to sew. I've made one baby quilt, two couch pillows and an apron.

83. I wish I was a better decorator. I don't have a good visual eye.

84. Same goes for clothing.

85. I'm only 4'11" so I have a hard time finding clothing. I wear a lot of T-shirts and jeans.

86. I often get mistaken for being much younger than I am. I hate it. It's so insulting when someone thinks you're a child.

87. It's a blessing when you're in children's ministry.

88. I love thunderstorms, but used to have recurring nightmares about tornadoes.

89. I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.

90. I could do laundry every day, but hate doing dishes. But, they both pile up every day.

91. I used to go see a broadway show once a year for my birthday. I still love musicals.

92. I love mysteries-- mystery novels, TV shows, movies. My standby is Murder She Wrote. But I hate "horror" movies.

93. I have a Philly accent sometimes. I say "arange" instead of "orange" and "harrar" vs. "horror". My husband teases me when it comes out.

94. I really liked the TV shows Lost and Monk. My current favorite is Psych. 


95. I really, really like Jane Austen. I particularly like the 1996 BBC mini-series of Pride & Prejudice. Any Jane Austen book/well done movie is right up my alley.

96. As an '80s child, I loved Care Bears. I have all ten original Care Bears.

97. I hate making phone calls. See #11.

98. I love blogging-- and reading others' blogs. But I have to turn the computer off while my children are awake-- see #31

99.  I am an imperfect woman, wife and mother.

100. But I have a perfect God who is at work in my life!



Do you have a 100 things list to share?