One Hundred Things...

I have come across several "One Hundred Things" post on other blogs and enjoy learning little quirky tidbits of information about people, so I am going to give it a try. Feel free to join in the fun!

1. I don't eat red meat and haven't since middle school.
2. I use old lady phrases such as "Bless her heart."
3. If I had my way..Ice cream would be good for you.
4. Growing up, my siblings & I had a Hispanic invisible friend named Julio.
5. I was a flower girl in a wedding around age 7 and frowned the whole time because I did not like the boy I had to walk down the isle with.
6. My Dad often called me Brookie Elizabeth growing up even though Elizabeth is not my middle name.
7. One day I want to have a dog named Sukie or Egg roll.
8. I could eat Sushi everyday of my life.
9. As a child I aspired to be: a teacher, choreographer, whale trainer, author, or an architect.
10. I used to watch I Dream of Jeannie and A Different World every morning before school.
11. I love children's books.
12. One day I hope to write a children's book.
13. I have a not-so-secret dream of wanting to rap. I practice this often.
14. Sometimes in the morning I dance around my room like a crazy person.
15. I once played the triangle in a Cajun band performance.
16. My aunt is a ventriloquist and her dummy "Danny" often makes an appearance at family functions.
17. I plan on adopting children one day.
18. Babies and Elderly are the cutest.
19. I like playing car games.
20. I have some relatives that for religious reasons, do not go to movies.
21. Laughing is my absolute favorite.
22. I'm very snuggly.
23. My family often quotes the movies: Father of the Bride 1 & 2, and Elf.
22. I have seen every episode of Friends hundreds of times & it still makes me laugh out loud.
23. The library may be one of the greatest places on earth.
24. My family names our cars.
25. My mom & I have birth marks in the same exact place on our legs.
26. Growing up, I was not allowed to watch Scoobydoo.
27. I love Fall & any Fall activities.
28. I am a loyal Jennifer Knapp fan.
29. Modern Family is my new favorite show.
30. My cousins & I used to play orphanage & Resort Hotel in my grandma's basement.
31. Jumping on a giant trampoline makes my heart happy.
32. I have been blessed with some of the most incredible friends & family.
33. I'm proud to come from a line of very strong women on both my mom and dad's side of the family.
34. I am a middle child.
35. I am a founding member of the Merna Schnur Fan Club.
36. I like sleeping.
37. One of my favorite places to visit is Lake Charles, Louisiana
38. I love working with and meeting new people.
39. I have great respect for those who choose to place their children for adoption.
40. I love smoothies.
41. My favorite sport to play & watch is volleyball.
42. I love wearing ballet flats, especially my purple ones.
43. My sister & I dressed up as picnic tables for Halloween one year...pretend food included.
44. I mix up words & phrases ALOT...and find it hilarious.
45. I could listen to Brandi Carlile's music all day.
46. I'm going to be an aunt soon & could not be more thrilled!
47. I love the PBR (Professional Bull Riders)& Guilherme Marchi is my favorite rider.
48. I used to be afraid to ride in elevators alone...I have since conquered that fear.
49. My drink of choice is diet coke.
50. My favorite family vacation as a child was going to Williamsburg, Virginia.
51. We were not allowed to say the word "sucks" in my house growing up.
52. I have my own tool box & it makes me feel tough.
53. I find myself more & more turning into my mother...& I am honored.
54. I have a fear of choking in the car so I try to always have something to drink.
55. I love learning quirky things about people.
56. Whenever I hear children's church songs, it makes me happy.
57. I sometimes choreograph dances in my head, even though I rarely dance in front of others.
58. I notice weird things.
59. I once literally cried over spilled milk.
60. I have a list of words that I like & another of words that make me gag.
61. The night before the first day of school, my whole family would kneel by my parents bed & pray for the school year.
62. I have trouble saying the phrase " A week & a half ago".
63. There is a special place in my heart for VBS.
64. I'm very ticklish
65. I saw Paul Hamm at the mall & literally almost threw up cause I was so nervous.
65. I'm a little self-conscious about my handwriting.
66. I absolutely HATE the expression "Get her done"
67. My sister & I have kept lists of names we hope to name our children since we were little.
68. Sometimes I daydream about what it would be like to be interviewed on a talk show.
69. I believe Molly Shannon & Kristen Wiig may be 2 of the funniest women on the planet.
70. This list took me 3 days.
71. I have & always will be a Hootie & The Blowfish fan...no matter how uncool it maybe.
72. I am continuing to realize just how much my God loves me...No Matter What.
73. My great - great uncle Lawrence Brooks wrote the hymn " He Lifted Me Out".
74. I can't draw...seriously even if my life depended on it.
75. I use the words "seriously", "definitely", and "perhaps" a lot.
76. I love & am completely fascinated by adoption.
77. I LOVE my job & the amazing people I get to work with.
76. Even though working with middle schoolers was one of the hardest things I have ever done, I miss them.
77. I like to hear other people's stories.
78. I cry when I watch Juno.
79. I wish I had one of those impressive belt-it-out kind of voices.
80. I am on an endless search for the perfect jeans.
81. I like candy that few people like: Bullseye caramels, Mike & Ikes, Fruit Wedges.
82. I am mildly claustrophobic.
83. Having someone play with my hair or rub my back makes me melt.
84. I hate selfishness & I hate even more that I am sometimes.
85. For along time I was scared of driving...thankfully I'm not anymore.
86. I have a hard time being near trains.
87. I once played Mary the mother of Jesus in a church play & am fascinated by her.
88. I'm excited for the day that I have a family & I keep a list of things I want to do with them.
89. I have a few friends who I can tell absolutelty anything too & that feels good.
90. Psalm 139 is forever my favorite passage in the Bible.
91. I was in orthodontia from 2nd grade until sophomore year of college.
92. I still have one snaggletooth, which is my fault for not wearing my retainers.
93. I have a large face.
94. The feeling of someone I love hugging me, is the best feeling in the world.
95. My best prayer time is in the shower & when I'm getting ready for the day.
96. I want to be a person who invtes others to be themselves.
97. I am often awkward & I'm pretty ok with that.
98. I like grass-roots work.
99. Politics scares/confuses/frusterates me.
100. I'm certainly not perfect & I like knowing that other people aren't either.

We Are Free

The music of Alanna Story, a local group from AU, touches my soul in a way that is hard to explain . The lyrics are full of passion and power and speak undeniable truth about humanity. Their music is life-giving. It tells the story of my Saviors fascinating love for his people regardless of their age, race, orientation, gender, political views, job, status or any of the other countless labels we put on each other. The video below combines 2 of my favorite songs with a Post Secret project done at AU. It gives me chills every time I watch it.
The song We Are Free from this video has become a beautiful reminder for me, that the battle has already been won. This is a song hat I listen to often and pray that my life reflects its truth.
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Blogger Confession...

Confession: Sometimes I don't blog because after reading other blogs, some of people I know and some of people I don't I feel that I have nothing to offer. They write with what seems like such clarity and purpose. Their phrases are smooth and powerful....mine are awkward and plain. Writing does not always come easy for me, though I wish it did. Sometimes I find myself "in a zone" that provides for words to come more freely to my brain and out on to paper. This usually occurs when I have had experiences that evoke strong emotion within me...whether that be sadness, anger, gratefulness, or excitement. Other days (that happen more frequently) I sit down to write, so badly wanting to free the thoughts and feelings that are bouncing around in my head...but nothing happens. Perhaps this is due to a lack of perseverance on my part. Sometimes when it does not happen easily I allow myself to give up. A dear friend of mine shared that she has made a goal to write something every day and that got me thinking. Her commitment to this has inspired me to make this a priority also. I may not write everyday, but I will make sure that I do some writing each week. Some entries may be shared here and some may not be, however I'm hoping that confessing this will help hold me more accountable. So there we go...this year I will try to overcome my writer's fear.