6 posts tagged “qotd”

What is a childhood memory that still haunts you?

In answer to this question I'll include an excerpt from my yet to be finished memoir Short of the Glory. This is from the chapter To Hell and Back. It takes place when I was eight years old and I have never forgotten it. I hope to show others the love of God is free...no gimmicks, no hoops to jump through, no not-to-be-found-in-your-Bible-anywhere "church bylaws".

Here goes:

What's the hardest part about the role you play in your family?

Being responsible to be a grown up when I feel like I'm only just figuring out who I am. I adore my husband and am amazed by my children. I just think I could have done a better job at the wife and mother thing had I waited a few years. On the other hand, they have played such a role in helping me discover the answers to "who am I?" or "What do I want to be when I grow up?" So, maybe that's just the guilty conscience of a super-mom-wife mentality that beats me up like that!

I did learn a valuable lesson over the last several years. My family functions best when I work at home. I don't juggle well. I have ADD tendencies which means I THINK I juggle well, you know, because I don't notice the balls I'm dropping. I'm very driven and when I work outside the home I lose sight of the people who are most important to me because I become the workplace go-to girl, putting in extra hours, being available at 11pm to pick up the boss's girlfriend when he gets arrested after a traffic stop...doesn't fit in well with our lifestyle.

At first I resented the demands they made on my time because I felt inhibited my career ambitions. I've met a lot of wives who struggle with those feelings. But that changed after a Beth Moore Bible study led by my friend Marla. Beth mentioned asking God to make her thrill at her husband's touch. I asked God to make me thrill at the sound of my children's voices. Sounds dumb, but I had started to dread the constant wants and needs they voiced. Less than a year later my pastor, Lucas, challenged me to lay down everything that I thought was "good". I was always involved in church and constantly feeling like I had to be doing. Another one of  those things that left my family behind in the dust.

When I battled a year of sickness recently he even challenged me to take a Sabbath...from all things church. I thought he'd lost his mind. But after "skipping" church for three weeks --- I haven't been sick a day since. What I'm learning is that all my good intentions and ambition aren't necessarily fed by God. As a result my family is happier. I am happier. And because I laid down "works" I was able to flourish in my writing career that is really starting to pay off. All because I started being a human being instead of a human "doing". It feels pretty good, I must say!

What's your favorite type of cheese? Or, if you don't like cheese, why not?
Submitted by Draegon Scribe.

Is there a cheese that ISN'T good? I haven't crapped in a year.  I love all cheeses.  Slices of wet Mozzarella on tomatoes drizzled in olive oil and sprinkled with fresh basil is a staple in my kitchen!

Who was the last person you offended?
Submitted by May.

Apparently everyone in Elkhart County.

What have you tried in life that you just weren't very good at?

Sales.  I love sales.  I love the art of the deal.  Unfortunately, I am just no good at it.  I once worked for a car dealership.  In a three month period I sold 2.5 cars.  Yes, two and a half.  One was a split deal.  I couldn't sell hot cocoa to a naked Eskimo in January.  Seriously.  

What aspect of your personality could use a little work?

I say everything I think.
I interrupt people when they're talking.
I like everybody.
I must be liked by everybody.
I am disorganized to the nth degree.