What am I frightened of . . .

I guess its appropriate to answer this the day before Halloween. As I kid I was afraid of bugs, so I'm told. That's how I got the nick name Nenny Bug (Nenny was how my older brother pronounced my name). Although I don't like having to deal with spiders, mice or other such creatures I'm not frightened of them. My fears are more of the unknown kind. When My husband deploys will he come home safe? Will I be strong enough to accept God's plan for me if he doesn't come home? I have 2 kids with constant sometimes tiring medical issues will they be healthy for many many years; or will some of their internal systems start shutting down? Can I hold strong and Endure to the End . . .No matter what trials and obstacles are put in my path? That is where my fears are. Although I know that one decision will not 'make or break' me and that it is my everyday actions. But somehow I still develop fears that if I do something wrong it will set the course toward destruction.
I also know that FEAR and FAITH cannot exist together and therefore I have lots of work to do to conquer my fears and know without a doubt that I CAN stay strong, I CAN endure, and I CAN do it all knowing my Heavenly Father loves me.

My Mom and I . . .

didn't really have an common interests. She was old fashioned, I was young and impulsive. She was giving and worked hard everyday, I was stubborn and got out of work any way I could. As the years have past though I find that we are more alike than I thought. Our laid back personality for one. We tend to live with the idea that you can be who you want and do what you want and please let me do the same. We love family and getting together for fun times, I'm sad though that I live so far away and can't make it home for holidays and such. So I build a family of friends where ever the Army plants me for a few years. I find myself repeating things my Mother said to me when I was growing up and I'm sure that she said things her Mother told her. I love that My Mom and I made it through my teenage years and that we have a great relationship today. She has been and continues to be a great example to me as look at my own girls, raising them and trying to do my best for them, as my Mom did for me. I love you Mom!

The instrument I play is . . .

The Piano. I took lessons off and on from about 6 or 7 I think. Mostly from my Aunt Barb, my Aunt Lorraine, And from a Suzuki Method trainer for a short period of time. I know a few hymns well, I can top hand several hymns, I can figure out a pound out a few more. I have actually thought I should sit down and teach myself all they hymns, and the primary children songs. I have yet to do that. I understand it all well enough to teach myself I just don't. I do however teach my girls. They work on one song a week as a part of their home school curriculum. Even if they don't stick with it I hope to teach them enough that can can decide if they like it and be able to teach themselves more if they choose.

I have lots of favorite scriptures . . .

But one I go back to often is actually the entire chapter 13 of 1st Corinthians. I guess I like it because it tells you about what true charity is. I may never get it completely right I will always have an area in my life that I will continually work on. I try to live my life following these guidelines and if I ever get it right or even close the blessings shall be great . . .

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS

CHAPTER 13

Paul extols the high status of charity—Charity, a pure love, excels and exceeds almost all else.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Handed down talents in my family . . .

Would have to be mostly in music. My grandfather loved music especially the hymns. Many of us have taken piano or other musical lessons. I took Piano for awhile and can play if needed, but it's been a long time. I do know that it relaxes me and when I'm stressed I really should take time out for myself and sit down and play through songs that I remember.

I can play by ear so I can hear a song on the radio or somewhere and if I sit down to the piano I'm pretty good at figuring out the melody although when you don't use your talents they become rusty and this has become rusty too.

I haven't used my voice in ages in public I used to sing solos in Jr. High and High school choir - again many years and layers of rust. But I can still carry a tune and dogs don't howl at the moon when I sing so maybe if I work I can salvage both these talents.

I would like to vacation . . .

Hmmm well this one is difficult to answer. Most of our vacations are heading to Idaho / Utah to visit family. Doesn't really seam all that great, but I've lived in Hawaii and Germany. Two really great vacation spots, we've also lived in Texas and Washington and traveled to many places surrounding those states. Along with the fact that each time we move we take the time to stop at other fun vacation spots such as the Grand Canyon. When Paul was in school in Virgina we drove out to pick him up from Idaho stopping at all the church history site along the way. So a vacation for me is when I get to Travel home (where my heart is anyway).

I think I always had a bicycle . . .

But I'm pretty sure most were hand-me-downs from an aunt or my older brother. The most memorable was the little yellow one that I wanted blue. We spray painted it, but I think we forgot to pay attention to the pedal area it was really hard to pedal after that. The only time I remember hating the darn thing was at the end of my third grade school year when we had two weeks where we could ride our bikes to school. A group of us rode over 3 miles from Hitt road across Hwy 20 (yes Hwy 20 before it got so busy) to Fairview school. I remember it well because I rode with one or two flat tires the whole stinkin way. I think some in the group traded with me a time or two. But I totally slowed the whole group down -I'm pretty sure we were late that day - and I remember hurting all that day at school, my muscles were pretty sore.

The day I was Baptized . . .

I would have to say I don't remember it well. I know my Uncle Bill baptized me and my Grandfather confirmed me. I got baptized when I was 8 with several other kids my age and it was kind of a stand in line and get it done thing. That being said I think for me it was just something I was suppose to do. I wanted to do. I did not question whether or not I should. I just knew that I wanted to do the things I was asked to do by my Heavenly Father, by my Mother and by my family. I'm so very grateful I took that step and I'm so blessed to know that my Father in Heaven loves me. I know there are definite times in my life that can not be explained any other way.

The most exciting place I've ever been . . .

Would have to be Germany. The food the culture, and exciting places to travel. Everything was so close a day trip could take us to France, or EuroDisney/Paris, Belgium, Amsterdam, Switzerland and Austria. I took a bus trip for Mother's day with a girlfriend to London. The bus drove all night we shopped all day and they rode back all night, it was awesome! Every staying close by and exploring the Castles, the Black Forrest, so many fun things to do. Every winter they had the KristleMarket or Christmas fest yummy foods and little shops to by Christmas at. Spring and Fall brought the fest similar to a fair here in the states. Again really yummy foods and fun to be had by all! I'm really glad that the 3 years we spent there were spent well; exploring new places and such. I met some of the greatest people there. I'm thankful I was given that opportunity.