On my Porch...Ten Things...or Fifty

O.K....so in real life, I don't even have a back porch. And, while I do have a front step, I'm not sure if it even qualifies as a "porch" per se. But, in my heart, I have a wrap-around front porch with beautiful flower-filled hanging baskets and a porch swing waiting for us to meet and sip our lemonade and talk for hours about whatever fancies us. (In my mind, I say things like fancies...because, well, I'm all Southern like that! Even though I'm not.)

After my little lament about how things change, and how much I appreciate and love all of you who come to sit on my "virtual" porch and walk this life with me, my sweet-blog friend, Lynnette thought of the great idea for us to gather together on our "porches" and sit a spell. I sure wish I would have thought of it, but I'm glad she did...so I thought I'd join in.

O.K....we're supposed to think of ten things about us...so here are my ten and a few more, because I never seem to be at a loss for words.




1. I am passionate about: loving Jesus, my family, serving in ministry, and the friendships God has blessed us with.

2. I love to: eat yummy food and enjoy conversation with friends, golf with friends and family (although I am hopelessly not improving my game. Many of you will remember my theme, "If you can't be good at something, you better at least look cute doing it." I stand wholeheartedly by that statement, and at least shoot for that goal...for as long as it is possible...even if it's just my husband who thinks so!), go to church and worship with my beloved church family, read books when I can, enjoy the warmth of a sweet summer day, take naps, sing songs of worship, and delve further into the beauty of God's word.

3. I spend my time: hanging out with my family, blogging, praying, chatting with friends, reading, going on bike rides, walking with moms who grieve, watching my boys play golf, baseball, soccer and various other activities, working on Sufficient Grace Ministries, and during the school year...working one-on-one with special needs kids.

4. I live in the same small railroad town in the midwest where I grew up, in a little house in town. I would love to live in the country or by a golf course some day.

5. My two favorite places to be are: in my husband's arms and on a golf course. I love the beauty of all the shades of green...of the trees and the rolling hills, the contrast of the green against the blue sky.




6. I want to finish writing the book I started about our family's journey through loss to hope and healing...about the sufficiency of God's grace...and the gift of how He makes beauty from the ashes of our lives.

7. I am terribly disorganized and really need to simplify my life. I have taken one step forward and two steps back in this area of my life.

8. God is teaching me: well...a lot of things! About His grace, trusting Him, humility, to enjoy this moment He has given me, and not worry about tomorrow or regret yesterday.

9. My personality....hmmm...there are so many layers, like an onion. A stinky onion! I can be serious when need be, but much prefer laughter to tears (or laughter through tears, as Dolly says), I am ridiculously forgetful, struggle with being late, while I like to seem polished and prepared...I am often flying by the seat of my pants on a wing and a prayer. I cry easily and feel compassion for others. I talk...a lot. (Hold the title for Most Talkative in High School...thank you very much!) Words in all forms are my friend. I am outgoing. Very focused when in "work mode" as Pastor James would say. Not very focused every other minute of my life...as I often have 100 things going on in different directions in my life. "Too many irons in the fire" as my dear husband often says.

10. I love to laugh...deep belly, snorting laughs. At our house, humor covers a multitude of sins. We have used humor to get through many situations. And, I'm so grateful for the gift of laughter. And for being married to the funniest, hardest-working, most beautiful person I know for the past fifteen years.

Thanks for stopping by and sitting a spell with me. I hope to visit everyone's porch sometime in this busy weekend (in between singing in a wedding, going to church, and sending off the Ride 4 Grace bikers!). I hope you'll come back again...and I pray that you feel loved and encouraged whenever you visit. I don't normally do this...because, truth be told, I'm afraid no one would ask any questions. But, if you have a question for me...something I haven't mentioned (is there anything left?), please ask it in the comments and I will answer in a future post. I look forward to getting to know all of you better.

Come back and visit again soon!