Fun Facts About Me

It has been a while since I have posted anything and so I thought I would take this opportunity to share a few fun facts about myself. I hope you enjoy!

1. Started your own blog - yes
2. Slept under the stars - a few times
3. Played in a band - yes, 7-12 grade including marching band and 2 years of orchestra in college
4. Visited Hawaii - no
5. Watched a meteor shower -yes
6. Given more than you can afford to charity - no
7. Been to Disneyland - yes Disneyland and DisneyWorld
8. Climbed a mountain - I've been hikeing in the mountains
9. Held a praying mantis - yes
10. Sang a solo - I have been singing solos since I was 5 and have sang many since then
11. Bungee jumped - no i am afraid of heights and falling from them
12. Visited Paris - no
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - yes, I lived by the ocean for 6 years
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - no
15. Adopted a child - no
16. Had food poisoning - no
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - I have been to it, but the top was closed when I was there due to 9/11
18. Grown your own vegetables - yes
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - no
20. Slept on an overnight train - no
21. Had a pillow fight - I have a huge family, I think that is a cardinal rule in the big family handbook
22. Hitch hiked - no
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - no
24. Built a snow fort - yes
25. Held a lamb - no
26. Been to Royal Gorge - yes
27. Run a Marathon - no
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - no
29. Seen a total eclipse - yes, a couple of times
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - many times, especially when I lived by the ocean
31. Hit a home run - I don't think so
32. Been on a cruise - no
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - no
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - I live where they were from
35. Seen an Amish community - I lived next to an Amish town and even had some friends there
36. Taught yourself a new language - working on French right now
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - I would like to think so
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - no
39. Gone rock climbing - yes
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - no
41. Sung karaoke - yes at a slumber party when I was in grade school!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - no
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - not that I can recall
44. Visited Africa - no
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - yes
46. Been transported in an ambulance - no
47. Had your portrait painted - no
48. Gone deep sea fishing - no, but that is one of my dream...I want to catch a shark
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person - no
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - no
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - yes in cozumel
52. Kissed in the rain - no
53. Played in the mud - yes
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - no
55. Been in a movie - do home videos count?
56. Visited the Great Wall of China - no
57. Started a business - no
58. Taken a martial arts class - no, I can scream really loud though
59. Visited Russia - no
60. Served at a soup kitchen - yes
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies- yes
62. Gone whale watching - yes
63. Got flowers for no reason - yes
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - yes, it didn't turn out so good, I passed out.
65. Gone sky diving - no, I am afraid of heights and falling from them
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - no
67. Bounced a check - unintentionally
68. Flown in a helicopter - no
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - yes
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - no
71. Eaten Caviar - yes once was enough
72. Pieced a quilt - no
73. Stood in Times Square - yes
74. Toured the Everglades - I lived by them for a year
75. Been fired from a job - no
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London - no
77. Broken a bone - no
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - no
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - yes
80. Published a book - not yet
81. Visited the Vatican - no
82. Bought a brand new car - no
83. Walked in Jerusalem - one day I will
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - yes
85. Read the entire Bible - a few times
86. Visited the White House - no
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - yes
88. Had chickenpox - yes
89. Saved someone’s life - not physically
90. Sat on a jury - no
91. Met someone famous - I met President Bush when he was still Governor of Texas
92. Joined a book club - once
93. Lost a loved one - yes
94. Had a baby - no
95. Seen the Alamo in person - I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the times
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - no
97. Been involved in a law suit - no
98. Owned a cell phone - yes
99. Been stung by a bee - yes
100. Been to a birthday party where they put something on your eyes and have you feel through a bowl of rice for different objects - no

The Three Trees

This is for those of you who find that your life hasn't turned out quite like you had imagined it would. This is one of my favorite stories and I am thrilled to share it with you. Merry Christmas, and may you find your life pointing the way to Jesus.

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said,'Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'

Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'

Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter,' and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When a woodsman came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the Woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said, 'Peace', and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

So, remember, when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for your life that is far greater than you could have imagined.