25 Random Things...

OK. I've been procrastinating doing this for a while. I've been trying to figure out a way to get out of it :) ... but, I've enjoyed reading others and thought that would be selfish. Being this blog is imported into Facebook, I figured I'd just do it here and not have to 'tag' other people to do it...

1) I love Jesus. There was a large portion of my life that was not true even though I was raised in the church. And there was another point in my life that I was ashamed of it. Knowing what He's done for me and is doing for me every day, there is no other way...

2) I married the perfect girl for me. God sent her to me to fulfill His plans for my life. I now see that even though I didn't when I married her. I love her with all my heart.

3) I miss the good ol' days of playing wiffleball every day in the summer. The neighborhood kids would be at my house at 9am and we'd play all day. Mom would fix lunch for us and we'd continue until it was too dark. We had a "right field monster" (compared to the left field monster at Fenway Park) that was my parents' 1970's RV. When not playing wiffleball, we would re-enact wrestling matches. Old Mrs. Davis would call my mom because she thought we were 'fighting' in the yard. I learned at a young age that the figure-4 leglock, when done correctly, will make you squeal like a little girl.

4) When it would rain and couldn't play wiffleball, we would have nerf basketball tourneys in our house or play old-school Nintendo. I was the first person in my town to beat Mike Tyson Punchout.

5) I believe abortion is murder and the church and our country will be judged for that.

6) I had scoliosis surgery in June 1995. I went into surgery around 5'11" and came out 6'2" after they straightened my spine the best they could and fused a couple rods to my spine. I'm supposed to be 6'6"-6'7" if I had a "straight" spine. I went into surgery with a 64 degree curve on my spine in my shoulder and still have ~34 degree curve today. In the top 3 physical pains in my life.

7) I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL WE KNOW WHO OUR ETHIOPIAN MIRACLE IS! (ok, I did a pretty good job in waiting until #7 for this)

8) I grew up an Indiana Hoosier fan (and still am today ... we have an "IU basement") even though I grew up 45 min from University of Illinois ... can't stand the Illini. This played out well for me as Amber went to IU and we got engaged on IU's campus.

9) I bleed Chicago Cubs blue. I miss my summer days sitting at Wrigley.

10) When I move to TN 6+ years ago, I didn't even know how to put a ceiling fan up (I actually paid someone to do that when I lived up north ... I know ... sad). Since then, I have done about every remodeling project a person can think of. When you buy an older house, you just have to "learn."

11) I have a few rental houses and really like working on/managing them (even though it seems like I never have the time).

12) In the past 7 years, I have lost 100+ pounds, gained almost 70 back, lost 60 lbs, and now have gained ~25 back. I have learned that my metabolism has to have me working out or I gain weight back no matter what I really eat. I seem to always get to a goal, get busy (aka, lazy), quit working out, and well ... yeah. So I have just started working out again and my goal is to lose the 25 before we travel to Ethiopia. I really want that discipline in my life.

13) I used to be co-owner of a mobile DJ business named 'Da Posse DJ Service' (I know ... but it WAS the early 1990's ... and we were cool)

14) I got 2nd and 3rd degree burns on my arm from mom's boiling kettle of sausage gravy a week away from turning 16. As I sat down at the table, I hit the arm of the pot and it flipped over and the gravy stuck to my arm. First time I had cursed in front of my parents. In the top 3 physical pains in my life.

15) I don't hate anything ... but I hate wallpaper. It is a fact that I will never put wallpaper up in our house no matter how 'in style' it may become. I don't want to do that to the next owners of our house.

16) I am forever indebted to the Jewish people. I will always try to stand beside Israel. I pray our country and leaders do the same. It is not good to be on the other side of the fence from God's people.

17) I really have to get cranking on my taxes and my honey-do list around the house ... along with building out the nursery :)

18) It's really great to see the personal relationship my sister is building with the Lord and the choices she is making towards Him.

19) The first vehicle I drove was a 1977 GMC Sierra pickup. The 2nd vehicle was a 1977 Cadillac Fleetwood (1st 2 years of college). I currently own a 1984 GMC Sierra pickup. It all comes full circle.

20) God has given me a small chunk of His compassion for His children in Ethiopia and it has forever changed my life. As Christians, we are called to care for the widows and orphans. What are we going to do with that?

21) Seeing how Amber's family interact, I wish I was closer to my extended family. I am blessed to have great in-laws that love me.

22) I fell down the stairs at our house last year and broke 2 ribs. Right after it happened, Amber thought it would be a good idea for me to lay down on the couch on my side with the broken ribs (she did not know they were broken at the time and was just trying to get my to stretch out to try to be able to breath since I was hyperventilating ... which made the pain worse). That was one the worst. pains. imaginable. She then had me climb the stairs I just fell down to lay down in our bed. Another bad move. Finally, about an hour later, I told her we had to go to the ER ... I was more worried about my back then anything. This rounds out the Top 3 physical pains in my life.

23) I love our church. I want to be part of an orphan care ministry team. I was looking at purchasing a book last week on how to start that ministry at your church. We met with friends last night who are adopting from Ethiopia as well and they just happened to have an extra copy of that exact book and they gave it to me. Thank you, God (and Chris and Anna too).

24) I drive Amber's Toyota Camry to work everyday; even though it has almost 210,000 miles on it, I would drive it anywhere without a second thought. I wish American-made vehicles were made like that. Our next car will be a Camry.

25) I love our country. I appreciate this country more and more. I used to not understand the sacrifice it has taken ... going to see Amber's brother's graduation from West Point and his tour in Iraq opened my eyes and I had a personal tie to it all. Our soldiers (past and current) are in the class of the bravest men and women on Earth.