Seven things. . .

Glenda tagged me with this award awhile ago, and I finally finished the accompanying meme. If it seems disjointed. it’s because it took me over a month to do. Anyhow, here goes. . . 

Seven things I did before (moving to Wyoming):

1. I took ballet classes (and so did the kids).

2. I attended the local La Leche League meetings.

3. I was part of a local homeschool group.

4. I picked strawberries and made jam every June (that I wasn’t pregnant or tending a new baby, that is).

5. I enjoyed regularly visiting with the other pastors’ wives in our circuit.

6. I shopped at Walmart regularly.

7. I had six babies (plus one more we won’t meet until heaven).

Seven things I do now:

1. I can see the mountains over the neighbors’ rooftops.

2. I am a part of our church’s LWML.

3. I hang our clothes on the line in the summer.

4. I think driving two and half hours to spend the day with a friend is worth the gas money.

5. I don’t think Walmart is worth an hour drive more than once a month or two.

6. I pay dearly for fresh produce, even in season.

7. I let the older boys ride their bikes to the library.

Seven things I would like to do:

1. Sell our house in Iowa.

2. Travel around the USA with my family.

3. Be more patient.

4. Worry less.

5. Be more organized.

6. Spend less money.

7. Pray without ceasing.

Seven things that attract me to my husband:

1. His broad shoulders.

2. His hearty laugh.

3. His faith.

4. His generosity.

5. His ability to be spontaneous.

6. His strength.

7. His love for me, even at my most unloveable.

Seven favorite foods:

1. Chocolate

2. Homemade pizza

3. Cookies

4. Fresh baked bread with a dab of butter

5. Cheesecake

6. A good cheeseburger

7. Garlic (not by itself, mind you!)

Seven things I say most often:

1. No!

2. Please be QUIET!!!

3. I love you.

4. BOYS. . .whatever you are doing, stop it!

5. Just a minute. . .

6. What part of (fill in the blank) don’t you understand?

7. No!

Seven people I am tagging:

 

1. Gina

2. Wendi

3. Teri

4. Jan

5. Jenny

6. Michelle

7. And anyone else who wants to play along.

Meme

Teri tagged me for this one, and since blogging is always more fun than packing for vacation. . .

1.  What was I doing 10 years ago? 

Ten years ago, lost boy #1 was a toddler and #2 was on the way. I had started sewing enough nursing and baby clothes that for my birthday/Christmas gift, Mom traded up my Singer for my first Viking. I baked a lot of our bread and other goodies, but hadn’t learned to make cheesecake yet. I also joined Martin Loopers that year. Larry was an associate pastor in central Illinois and we were renting a cute 2 bedroom bungalow.

2.  What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

My to-do list is crazy long, but I’m going to take a cue from one of my favorite Toby Keith songs. . .

* take the time to lick the beaters with a certain little boy when he helps me decorate his 6th birthday cake

* call my grandma to decide when we’ll see her on our vacation next week

* sit on the couch and watch our family night movie instead of wandering off to pack some more

* let twirly girl help make the pizza instead of being in a hurry and  doing it myself

* nurse the baby without trying to do something else “while I’m sitting here”

3.  Snacks I enjoy:

Chocolate. . .especially cookies, but definitely chocolate.

4.  Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Times have changed. . .didn’t the question used to say “millionaire”? Anyhow, I’m too frugal for our everyday life to change much. Ongoing donations to our church and to Lutherans for Life would be at the top of the list. After paying off any debt, we’d probably invest a chunk for retirement. After that. . .save it to use as needed (kids’ education, new vehicle, occasional vacation).

5.  Places I have lived:

Three out of four I states: Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. And now Wyoming. Mostly small towns. . .except for Indiana, where I lived in Indianapolis as a teenager and Fort Wayne as a new bride.

6.  Jobs I have had:

Most of my work has been of the unpaid sort; every so often Social Security sends me a letter telling me I haven’t worked enough. As for paying jobs, in high school I worked a few months at a dry cleaners and about a year at Stride Rite. I babysat very infrequently, mostly older children. I then worked 5 summers at the library, usually helping with the summer reading program. My second year of college I had a stipend positon as costume manager for the theatre. After college I worked a few months for Northwest Fabrics & Crafts~in Illinois before getting married, and then in Indiana as a newlywed. Since then, I was a Creative Memories consultant for a couple years and most recently did sewing for hire (costumes for our dance studio plus an occasional sale on eBay). I’m currently happily unemployed.

7. 6 Peeps I would like to know more about (in no particular order)

• Gina
• Wendi
• Kristi
• Charity
• Susan
• Cheryl

It isn’t easy being. . .responsible

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick.You’re always willing to lend a helping hand. In any big event or party, you’re the one who keeps things going. “15 seconds to showtime!”

The Muppet Personality Test

Now I’m hungry. . .

You Are Basil

You are quite popular and loved by most people. You have a mild temperament, but your style is definitely distinctive. You are sweet, attractive, and you often smell good.

What Spice Are You?

Two things

I had fun reading what Kristi & Michelle wrote today, and thought I would play too. . .I needed something to do while not fixing dinner! ;)

Two names you go by: Angie, Mommy

Two things you are wearing right now: Birkenstock clogs, nursing top

Two of your favorite things to do: Sew, eat chocolate

Two things you want very badly: Cooperative children, a full night’s sleep

Two favorite pets you have had/have: Only dog in my life ran away when I was 3

Two people you think will fill this out: Charity, Gina

Two things you ate today: Baby carrots, Dove dark chocolates

Two people you last talked to today: A couple of lost boys

Two things you’re doing tomorrow: Homeschool, pay bills

Two longest car rides: Waverly IA to Corpus Christi TX (by way of Indianapolis IN) and Danville IL to southwest NE to the NE panhandle to Minneapolis MN

Two favorite holidays: Easter, Christmas

Two favorite beverages: Water, Coca-Cola

They had me from the pasta. . .

Your Inner European is Italian!

Passionate and colorful. You show the world what culture really is.

Who’s Your Inner European?

Seven things

It’s time to put on my thinking cap; Glenda tagged me this week. The rules this time are as follows:

1. Link the person who has tagged you.
2. Tell seven true things about yourself.
3. Tag seven new people.
4. Leave a message with the person you have tagged so they know about it.

1. I’m a chocoholic.
2. I’m an obsessive declutterer yet most of the clutter in my house isn’t mine to toss.
3. However, actual cleaning (such as dusting, vauuming) makes me sneeze!
4. For years I thought I was 5’2″, but it turns out I’m only 5’1″.
5. I’m afraid of both heights and deep water, so long bridges petrify me.
6. I love to sing, even though I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.
7. I’d rather send an email than make a phone call.

And now the really hard part. . .thinking of 7 people who haven’t already been tagged! I was going to tag Gina, but it took me so long to come up with my list that she tagged me first. So instead I think I better put my energy into washing dishes, because some little monkey boy broke the door of my dishwasher meaning it leaks water on the floor if I try to run it.

Which Jane Austen character are you?

This quiz has been making the rounds of my Looper friends and I thought I’d take a turn too. Embarassing though it may be for me to admit, with my BA in English, I’m not familiar with the character. The description suits me though!

Which Jane Austen Character are You? (For Females) Long Quiz!!!
created with QuizFarm.com

Tag-tag, I’m it!

In the past couple of days I’ve been tagged twice. . .I hope I don’t break any blogging rules if I reply to both at the same time.  

Glenda tagged me first; I’m supposed to list seven things I’ve learned in life. Hmmm. I apologize if my answers aren’t very thought-provoking; chasing 5 kids around while pregnant with a 6th seems to have evaporated my ability to think.

1.  Done is better than perfect.
2. Some things can only be learned by experience.
3. Three or more boys WILL be rowdy.
4. Reasons for the term opposite sex go beyond anatomy.
5. I am capable of more than I think I am.
6. Most of the time, you get what you pay for.
7. You can’t fix stupid.

Today Elizabeth tagged me to answer the following, easier question:

What did you want to be when you grew up when you were 5, 10, 15, & 20?

5-nurse (my grandpa was a doctor)

10-mommy

15-mommy, wife (having gotten over the “boys are gross” stage), & maybe a teacher

20-wife & mommy; if I didn’t meet my man I would have become a librarian (Plan B, you might say)

I never know who to tag next. . .the first one seems to have already made the Looper rounds and the second is getting there fast. But if someone hasn’t answered yet, or one of my sewing friends wants to join the fun, then by all means consider yourself tagged!

Short (but accurate) quiz. . .

Your Personality is the Most Common (ISTJ)

Your personality type is disciplined, realistic, predictable, and honest.About 14% of all people have your personality, including 9% of all women and 17% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging.

How Rare Is Your Personality?