Top 11 AMAZING Facts About Me

First, let me say a hearty HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! to all my fellow mothers out there. We have a tough job, but the rewards are many and well worth it. I pray that God blesses each of you today. On to today's regularly scheduled program...


I don't know that there's that much AMAZING about me. But, well, here's some fun facts about me. I was going to wait until closer to my birthday to post something like this, but since Wives of Faith insisted…

1. I had surgery when I was 2 days old to remove a large tumor in my neck (think man’s fist in baby’s neck). The doc’s said there was a 95% chance I would be physically/mentally handicapped to the point of being unable to take care of myself. Other than a paralyzed shoulder that limits how much I can lift, I’m completely normal. Well, you know, as normal as I can be.

2. When I was little (like 6 or so), I tricked my sister into thinking a tomato cage was a Chinese trap. With her arms pinned to her side, she attempted to hop to my dad and fell flat on her face—result? Not good…she had to black eyes and a big goose egg on her forehead. Yeah, is it any wonder I still don’t like tomato cages?

3. I was published in the city-wide literary magazine when I was in the 3rd grade for a little piece on Martin Luther King, Jr.

4. I am the blessed mother of three darlings. I wouldn't trade this job for the world!

5. I’ve been to Disney World TWICE! I went with my high school band my junior year, and the school dance team my senior year. Fun times! I so intend to take my kids in a couple of years!

6. I’ve lived in 6 states (one state four times) and one foreign country.

7. I graduated Top 10 in my high school class.

8. I married the love of my life and he still surprises and delights me.

9. My first pregnancy/delivery was my hardest. I had diabetes and eclapsia by the time they induced labor. It took 20 hrs of labor and almost 2 hrs of pushing, but Alana was finally born. Both mother and daughter recovered from the experience nicely!

10. My passion is to share the extraordinary ways that God works in our lives through fiction writing.

11. I am human. I know, shocker. I make mistakes, but I am redeemed by a loving Savior and share an inheritance befitting a princess.

Now that you know a little more about me, what about you? Tell me something AMAZING about yourself.


Ralene’s BeachFest Trivia Question:
Alana starts Kindergarten this year—where is she going to school?

DON'T FORGET! Last night to enter a short 300 words on your best birthday for 30 points toward the grand prize package! Also, go back and leave a comment on Friday's post for a chance to win Exposure by Brandilyn Collins!

Top 11 Fun Things I"m Determined to DO in Hawaii!

Yesterday, one of my 11 reasons I love being a military wife is the opportunity to make the most of every place we go. Somehow, my husbanded landed a much coveted duty station—Hawaii! Now, while I wasn’t totally excited at first, I am loving it here. Due to some circumstances beyond our control, we haven’t actually been able to get out and do much, but boy do we have a list!

1. Island-hop. There are like 125 islands that make up the Hawaii chain. While I don’t intend to visit that many, I do want to visit Maui and the Big Island.

2. Spend a day out at Diamond-head.

3. Take a leisurely drive around the entire island (except for the one little part where there’s no roads).

4. Take in an official luau.

5. Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center.

6. Visit the Dole Plantation.

7. Have a weekend with my hubby at the Hale Koa.

8. Spend a day at Pearl Harbor.

9. Visit the zoo and the aquarium.

10. One day, when I have more stamina, I want to go on one of the several beautiful hikes.

11. This one I’m almost embarrassed to say I haven’t done yet—hit the Stadium Swap Meet!

There are several other things we plan to do while we’re here, but these are what I’m most excited about. We have 2 ½ years left here, so plenty of time to take it all in! What do you want to do where you are? (even if you’ve been there for years!)



Ralene’s BeachFest Trivia Question:
For what website am I the newborn/baby blogger? Hmm…
 
DON'T FORGET! Email me your best birthday in 300 words or less for a chance to win 30 points toward the grand prize package! (due tomorrow night)

Top 11 Reasons I LOVE Being an Army Wife!

Some people may be giving me that crazy look. You love what? Seriously? What meds are you taking? But I do. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I was raised in a military home, or maybe it’s just that I’m people-oriented—but I love being an Army wife.

In honor of Wives of Faith’s Blog Carnival, here is my Top 11 Reasons:

11. It teaches your independence and self-reliance. I’ve talked to some women who wouldn’t have a clue what to do if their toilets, mower, etc broke. I know other women who have complained about having their husbands gone for a weekend. Trust me, you learn quickly in the military.

10. An inside look on how the military works. I’m sure it looks a lot different to those on the outside not “in the know”, you know?

9. People are impressed when I tell them all the places I’ve been. Not that I’m trying to impress them, but you know. Hehehe…

8. Okay, I hope that I don’t sound greedy/selfish here, but I love the discounts. If you know anything about the military, you know we don’t get paid nearly as much as we should. *cough, cough* Although there are several other perks that we enjoy. Still, with the economy the way it is, every little bit helps. I am so grateful for the way that businesses treat their soldiers/military families.

7. My kids will have so many experiences that they would not likely have if we were settled in one place for the majority of their childhood. From learning how to make friends to learning how to let go, from interacting with different types of people to living in different cultures, from the importance of values to the importance of discipline—my children will grow in many ways just from living the military life.

6. Amazing opportunities to encourage and minister too other women. Programs like PWOC offer ways for military wives to fellowship and study the Bible together. Other volunteer positions in program like the FRG (Family Readiness Group) and Spouse groups offer chances to meet other women. Online, one can find a plethora of groups for the military spouse (like Wives of Faith!).

5. The most interesting places. No matter where the military sends us, our home is what we make of it. I wasn’t too happy about going to Hawaii and being secluded from the rest of my family. But now that I’m here—I still miss my family—but I’m making the most of it. The scenery is downright beautiful—we see rainbows on a daily basis around here. Yet even in the most mundane of places (like Ft. Leavenworth, KS), there’s still so much to see/do nearby.

4. Meeting new people! In the many travels of a military family, you run across all kinds of people from different races, religious, cultures. You realize just how diverse this world is and how connected we all are.

3. This one may sound a bit off, but I love being a military wife because it forces me to rely on God. Whether my husband is deployed, or safe at home, or I’m moving from my home state to a completely different culture, or I stress about normal, everyday things—I have to turn it all over to God or I’d completely use my sanity. God and I have done nothing but grow closer over the years.

2. The bonds we form with other military wives. I don’t remember where I saw/heard this, so I’m paraphrasing here. But as military wives get to know each other and go through the stuff that we do, our friends become our family. They become who we turn too when it all gets too much. They are the ones who know how to encourage us, who know what we need. It’s a very unique bond that I think little others know, especially because it can form so fast

1. The number one thing I love about being a military wife? The honor and pride in being married to a man not afraid to lay his life down for his family and his country.

As you can see, I enjoy many aspects of being a military wife, but I most cherish the relationships forged and the memories made. Join me tomorrow when the Wives of Faith Blog Tour subject is 11 Fun Things I want to See or Do in Hawaii!



Ralene’s BeachFest Trivia:
What genre do I write in?

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