My husband is scheduled to leave next week for training before deploying to Afganistan for a year. I am feeling a little overwhelmed, so I thought why not blog? I have a few passions in my life: #1 to follow God and His plan for my life, #2 to be the best wife and mother I can, and #3 help young children with education.

For people to understand me, I thought I would put down the 25 Random Things About Me that I did for Facebook. I had just started Facebook and thought I was supposed to really pour my heart and soul into it. I didn't realize it was one post in a never-ending line of requests I would be getting, so I worked on it like a college assignment. I think it was good therapy for me, and would recommend others to do it as well.

25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME!

1. get cranky when I’m tired or hungry.
2. I have the most wonderful children in the world. No, really, I do. I’m not the only one who thinks so.
3. I am homeschooling my girls and know that when I look back later in life, I will be so glad I made this choice. No regrets.
4. I have always wanted to work with moms and teachers to help them with young children. My sister Kathy and I even made a website (www.abcimpressions.com), hoping it would help others. It didn’t catch on, though. Kathy and I are the only ones that use it. Sigh.
5. My husband has more energy than a class full of two year olds. I should know, I’ve spent time with both. He is my perfect mate, the one I turn to in both good times and bad.
6. My bootstraps are broken. I’ve spent so long pulling myself up by my bootstraps that they finally broke. It’s a good thing, really. Sometimes I think I am so capable I will try to solve my problems rather than turning them over to God.
7. My earliest memories of my dad are precious. He was pushing me on a swing, singing “Hallelujah” (old, slow song). Anyone that has heard my dad sing may wonder why it is precious. It’s probably like giving birth. You don’t remember the bad parts. I just remember the security and love I felt. My other earliest memory is climbing all over him with my sister while he lay on the living room floor. I love that my earliest memories are of my dad and that they are so loving.
8. I’m a twin, and I have twin girls. My uncles are twins and one of them has twin sons. My great-grandmother was a twin. In my family, we don’t care whether it’s a boy or girl – we want to know how many are there!
9. My younger sister is a personal trainer. I am the opposite of a personal trainer. I am sometimes jealous of how well she is doing in life. Maybe even intimidated by her. She is beautiful inside and out, a fabulous mother and always there if I need her.
10. My husband is always right. I mean it. He always is. He doesn’t say it, he just is. It drives me crazy sometimes, but it sure comes in handy.
11. My favorite place I have visited so far is the Cayman Islands. So peaceful. We got a German Shepherd puppy right after the cruise, and I named him Cayman so I wouldn’t kill him when I found him chewing something.
12. Our family has a camper and one of my favorite things to do is spend the weekend camping. We have so many great memories to enjoy. Arkansas is a beautiful place.
13. My most embarrassing moment was during a youth trip to snow ski in Colorado. I was riding up the hill sitting on a pole that had a Frisbee for a seat. I was so afraid I would wait too long and meet a certain death that I got off of the seat too soon instead. I began to slide backwards down the hill as other riders were being shuttled up. I was knocking people off of their seats left and right. The ski patrol came to rescue me. He asked, “Where are you from?” I said, “Arkansas.” I still remember the way he rolled his eyes and directed me to the bunny slope. Every picture of me “skiing” on that trip actually shows me on my rear end. I’ll try to add a photo of this trip. Indian Hillers, anybody remember that?
14. When my twin girls were born, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. I painted Megan’s big toenail red before I cut off their hospital bracelets. I didn’t need to worry. A mom just knows.
15. It is critical to get plugged into the church God has for you. Makes all the difference in the world.
16. I love to laugh.
17. My twin sister and I would sometimes switch classes on April Fool’s Day. We never got caught. We even switched places when she was a third grade teacher in Redfield. The kids were suspicious, but didn’t completely catch on until she walked in the door.
18. I like to be the leader.
19. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve taught babies through college, deaf children, and students with extensive criminal backgrounds. It’s still magical when the lightbulb comes on. I have never taught in a regular classroom. I’d like to give that a try some day.
20. I’m learning that simply being busy trying to do good may not be God’s best for me. I need to slow down, listen to what He wills, then follow that. I would get a lot more done.
21. It is great having a twin sister. I truly think she understands me better than anyone else. Watching my girls grow up as twins has been a fantastic experience.
22. When I grow up, I think I would like to be a missionary.
23. I have been blessed with tremendous friends. My childhood friends hold a special place in my heart. Who else would dream with me to live in a trailer and work at Western Sizzler when we grew up? Thankfully those dreams changed!
24. I went to a birthday party once with my girls. The parents were all in a corner discussing issues with their step families. I soon realized I was the only one there that had been married one time. After hearing the others try to solve problems like which family would have them for Christmas, I was thankful for my little family.
25. If you have made it this far, you probably have too much time on your hands. I will end it as you probably would expect. I am blessed. I am loved. I am overwhelmed with what God has given me. It’s an amazing ride and I know there is much more to come.