Forty One Things

This post has been brewing for a few days. Happy birthday to me; I'm 41. So, in honor of that, I'm posting 41 things --- there is no correlation between the "things" other than I wrote them and they are my thoughts. So, enjoy, or skip. Regardless -- MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

1. I love God. I believe in Jesus as our Savior. I believe he was born in a manager and that his mother Mary must have had the most amazing life and that she had to have had AMAZING faith to do what she did.
2. I don't care that people know how old I am. I am 41 and proud.
3. I like animals a lot.
4. I am surely missing sleeping anytime I want to and I am dreading tomorrow morning when I won't be able to get another nap during the day and will have to get up early to see what Santa brings.
5. I am afraid of spiders -- terribly afraid of spiders.
6. I make a lovely manicotti when I have time, but I haven't made it in years.
7. I have had several names in my life due to a failed placement (way back before that term even existed) and I was named by the first "mom" I knew. n
8. Apparently I am allergic to pine trees.
9. I don't like cold weather. 70* is my "magic" number in weather.
10. I LOVE one piece pajamas but only have one pair that is flannel, old, with a rip in the back neck area and has Winnie the Pooh on it.
11. When I get to heaven, I am going to be tall. It is my reward for being short and not being able to reach the top shelves and having to lurch myself over the sides of cribs.
12. I miss the Mickey Mouse Club that I used to watch after school when I was little.
13. When I was little I ate lima bean sandwiches. The bread HAD to be white and VERY fresh, though. I had standards at least.
14. I miss my brother Derek.
15. I don't visit my grandmother as much as I should.
16. I spend too much time on the internet.
17. I do not manage my life very well.
18. I love my husband -- shouldn't that have been farther up on the list? I cannot imagine how different my life would have been had we not married each other. Sometimes I feel sorry for him being married to me. I'm certain my friends feel sorry for him. *smile*
19. I love my children -- even on the days I want to pinch their heads off. *smile*
20. I like casseroles. (half way there).
21. I don't like change at all. (Imagine how freaked out I am right now - ha!)
22. My favorite movies are: Grease, Christmas Vacation, Point of No Return, Romancing the Stone, Home Alone, Wild Hogs, Talledega Nights (I have this weird sense of humor), Facing the Giants
23. When I was little I was a voracious reader. In the summers I'd read 20 books a week. I would LOVE to read now, but time is a commodity I don't have right now. I'll read again one day.
24. I like looking at the Christmas tree while sitting in the dark in my living room. I like the lights.
25. I don't like liver, brussel sprouts, gravy, grits, dumplings or avocado.
26. I think the reason today's children have so many problems is because their parents don't take enough time with them. I don't think it's the school's job to raise my children or to teach them values.
27. I think common sense has left 99% of people (myself included some days).
28. I want to live to see great-grandchildren and be healthy in the process (who doesn't?) or to have Jesus return so we can all go together.
29. I would love to have a clean house -- just for a day as of late.
30. I would love to have a clean car -- see above.
31. I would like an entire week where I don't lose anything, especially my keys.
32. I wish there was no hunger in the world. I wish children and others did not have to suffer; I wish there were no orphans.
33. I would love to visit Italy.
34. My favorite holiday is Halloween.
35. I value tradition and time with my family so much more the older I get.
36. I am the "oldest" of my girls who are part of "GNO".
37. I am so blessed to have made so many new friends in the past few years in our adoption process. It has been the best side-effect of the process.
38. I love Waffle House and IHOP -- the breakfast places.
39. I value quiet.
40. I am sorry that Ellie's mom felt she had to give her up; I am happy that God chose my family for me.
41. I hope 2009 is a calm, regular year with little to no drama. Boring is good after the last three years.