Q&A Answers Round #3

Yeah!  Jill resubmitted her questions!  Thank you, dear Jill! 

Jill is also a small group girlfriend of mine, and she's also known as Harrison and Hadleigh's momma!  Harrison is the amazing little man I get to tell you about tomorrow who spent the night with us for the first time on Friday.  Miss Jillie is a very special friend who knows me pretty well; she doesn't let me get away with too much because she can call it what it is, straight up.  That is an incredible kinda friend to have, and also a dangerous one...I can't get away with nothin', sour attitude or NOTHIN'!  She makes me laugh a lot, keeping me lighthearted and playful.  She is one of the most authentic and genuine people I know, a true example to me of how to love others with unselfish delight!  It never fails:  whenever she and Molly are together, Molly licks her toes all over!  Moos loves the taste of Jill's lotion, and Jillie gets a kick out of it!

Let me just say it again:  I'm so thankful for all of my friends!  I am truly blessed.  Ok, so onto what I think is the second to last round of answers to the first Q&A session.  I've had lot of fun with this, and I hope you have, too!
Jill asked:

1). What is one of your most favorite things about yourself?
Ok, this is admittedly a difficult question for me to answer because I feel like I'm in a season of learning a number of things about me that I need the Lord to change...but I'm always in that season, so I'll move on.  The first thing that came to mind though is that I like how I'm an organized, detailed person.  I have to be careful though because I can be a bit obsessive compulsive about my organization and detailed traits, and undoubtedly have likely caused angst to friends and family who are more "normal" or less organized in their lifestyle or planning than I am because I'm always asking them about something months in advance (i.e. I've even emailed my friend Corrie already about scheduling a trip to Jordan for next April...that's either kinda awesome or kinda kookoo!).  I love having things in order, things to be in their place, and being detailed enough to where I can effectively event plan, coordinate other such logistics, or even organize a pantry like I did for my Momma.  Even a project to stuff envelopes and get out a mailing for a friend is enjoyable to me.  I guess I'm weird like that.  But it's something about myself I appreciate and hope it can be used as a gift and a blessing to others.

2). What was/is one of the most difficult lessons you've ever had to learn?
Trying not to be a perfectionist/control freak/living in fear of what other people think of me!  I guess it goes along somewhat with my organization/need to have everything in its place, but it's even deeper than that.  Trying to control situations, my future plans (notice the unintended "my" future plans--ha!), and people (this probably comes out more in my relationship with Matt than anyone else); learning to let go of my perfectionism; and trying to not live in fear of what others think of me are some of the most difficult lessons I am continually learning!  And it happens partly because of a fear I have that if I let go then all the balls will drop, something won't be done as well (that sounds awful, I know!), something bad will happen, or someone won't like me.  It's a way of playing god when I am so not, and it's not trusting the Lord and letting Him have His way, which is ultimately the best way. 

I have a friend who recently gave me an image that has stuck with me like peanut butter in hair (ya like my The Office allusion there? <grin>).  She said that sometimes we hold onto things so tightly that it's like our fists are in a constant motion of ringing out water from a washcloth, so closed and tightfisted.  And in many ways, it causes much more pain to give something over to the Lord if we're holding on so tightly as a way to control, as opposed to keeping our hands open in an act of surrender.   So to tangibly put this into practice, I decided to hug Molly differently.  You see, I love this dog, probably way too much.  She's nearly 7 years old, and I have the biggest fear of losing her.  But sometimes,  I hold onto this little girl of mine in my heart way too much.  So when I hug her or hold her now, I try to remember to do so with open hands, in an act that I am saying, "Lord, I give her to you.  I love her, and thank you for her, and I give this little puppy to you."  It's hard!  So I'm still learning.  For sure, I'm still learning.  <sigh>

3). Are you more like your mom or dad?
I like this question!  But I don't have an easy answer for you:  I think I'm split down the middle...although I'd be curious to know how my parents would answer this question for me!  These are just a few things that come to mind:

Things I got from my Daddy:  organization and communication skills; love for learning; joy of writing; way of thinking and processing through things; the ability to go in and out of the store to get what you need and not roam for inessentials <grin>. 

Things I got from my Momma: 

her gift to be uninhibited to dance around the house, be silly, make up songs, or start food fights; her terms of endearment/the way she talks; her love of cooking; her mannerisms--if you spent time watching us both, you'd easily see things we do similarly in actions.  I wish I had a lot more of my Momma:  she is another one in my life who knows how to love and unselfishly serve others!  Her level of compassion and mercy is something I do not have, that I desperately need.  And we look alike!  My boss from church, when he first met my mom, eyed us coming towards him one Sunday and he had to do a double take!

4). Where was your favorite place to vacation and where is one of the top places you'd like to go? (money being no object!!)

As little kids, we were blessed to be able to take vacations as a family regularly and see many exciting places.  My favorite vacation spot growing up was Colorado.  We took several trips to Durango, Aspen, Keystone, Colorado Springs and Denver.  Colorado was one of my family's favorite places and we have lots of fun memories there.  As an adult, Banff, Canada has been both mine and Matt's absolute favorite so far!  I guess I'm a mountain girl!  <grin>  I can't WAIT to go back to Banff!  Which, if you don't know, is part of how we came up with Ink Pots for our blog title:  they are beautiful, bubbling springs that you have to hike a ways to see, but they are worth every huff and puff and ringing of the keys to scare away bears! 

Money being no object (wow, that would awesome!), I really, really want to make it to Jordan to visit my friends, Jonathan and Corrie, and visit the Holy Lands as well.  After that, I think I'd pick Italy.  Matt has been to Rome and raves about it, so I'd like to go see what all the fuss is about.  Oh, but my list is L-O-N-G!  I'll keep dreaming...

Tomorrow, I'll spill the beans a bit about our slumber party with "H" and answer Matt's Q&A question.  Unless there are any other questions between now and then, I'll wrap up this fun Q&A session then.  Until tomorrow, take care!