feeling stretched

Remember him?

Yeah. This is what I've felt like life has been doing to me lately. Bear with me as I get myself back to normal and back to blogging.

Oh, and if you have any brilliant ideas of things I could write about, please let me know.

fifteen

Amy over at Where Rubber Meets Road tagged me for a meme.

The rules are:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.
2) Post the rules on your blog
3) Write 15 random things about yourself (see below).
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.
5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave
a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry has been posted.

In the spirit of rebelliousness, I am NOT going to tag people at the end of my post, but I'll be glad to entertain you with 15 more random things about me.

1. I get these little shivers every now and then that make my body shake for about a second. Its really funny and catches people off guard when it happens. And I don't need to be cold for them to come.

2. I am very stubborn when it comes to taking medication or treating illnesses and just about have to be on my deathbed before I will take something.

3. I do not enjoy cleaning my house, but if I start to clean, something happens to me and I want to continue. I guess I like the feeling of clean.

4. I will make a to-do list just so I can cross things off. I love crossing things off.

5. I once forgot the entire verse to a song I was singing at church. Oops. If you must know it was Twila Paris' "The Warrior Is a Child".

6. I have never tried pickles and ice cream and have never known anyone else who has either.

7. I have been hit by a softball twice, by the same batter each time, during one game of softball. I should not have been pitching.

8. My first kiss was at 18 years old.

9. The second guy I kissed was Mr. Baseball. We're still kissing to this day.

10. I would rather be cold than hot and sweaty.

11. My mom made me start wearing a bra when I was in the 5th grade. On the FIRST day of school a guy made fun of me because of it and so for the next few weeks (during the Aug/Sept heat) I would wear a sweatshirt over my shirt. On the sweatshirt was written..."I don't want to grow up".

Cruel irony.

12. Every winter since I have been married, I have gotten a little rash under my wedding rings. I think it comes from washing my hands so often and not getting my fingers completely dry before putting my rings back on.

13. I am currently re-reading Twilight to erase the terrible memories (except for Rob Pattinson) I have of watching it in the theatre.

14. My favorite restaurant as a child was McDonald's (whose isn't), and every time we would travel to my grandparent's house, I would always "be hungry" on the way there just so I could get a cheeseburger from the coveted golden arches.

15. I wore braces twice and had major jaw surgery when I was 17.

(cue Looney Tunes music) Aah-bee-dee, aah-bee-dee...That's All Folks!

6 new crazy things about me

Queen Shiner over at Shiner's House O' Fun tagged me for another meme. I did a similar one a while back (click here to see it), but thought I'd be a good sport and play again because there are just so many crazy things about the life that is mine.

1. I am a very messy cook, even though I try my darndest to be clean. I just don't know how they make it look so easy on the Food Network. Oh wait, yes I do, its called YEARS of experience...and good editing. I love you Ina Garten.

2. If I am the passenger in the front seat of your car for any road trip over an hour, I will fall asleep. Its just something about the smooth quiet ride that knocks me out. Mr. Baseball hates it. Every time we would take a roadtrip (pre-redhead), he would get so mad when I would doze. Then I would get mad at him for getting mad at me. We would go round and round in circles over him being mad about me sleeping. He just felt like it wasn't fair for me to sleep and him to drive. I would say, "Fine then, let me drive and I won't sleep". Would he ever let me drive? Not really. And there you have it. The only way around being able to sleep during road trips? Pregnancy.

3. I know just about every word to Les Miserables. My dream when I was a senior in high school was to go to Broadway. I know...original isn't it? I wanted to be Eponine and I would totally still do it if I was ever given the opportunity. What is the most amazing part about Les Mis is that every line in the play is sung instead of spoken. Just thinking about composing a 3 hour musical is mind-boggling. Never mind the fact that the score is absolutely beautiful and it has a good storyline too. That's just off the chain people. Unfortunately it is no longer on Broadway and isn't touring to my knowledge. What is the world coming to?

4. I am very good at remembering to take pictures - the only problem is that they never actually make it beyond the computer to actual print form.

5. Due to the problem listed above, I have yet to start anything slightly resembling a scrapbook chronicling the redhead's life. And he just turned 2. I've got a lot of work to do. In fact, while I'm laying it all out on the table, I'll just go ahead and tell you that I haven't scrapbooked one picture of our wedding either - and that was, um (cough) 4 1/2 years ago.

6. **Feminine Issues/TMI Spoiler - if you're the one guy(Hey Steve!) that reads my blog, you might want to skip this one** I, for some reason, only have a period, on average, every 55 days. Yes, you read that correctly. I have gone as long as 2 1/2 months without one. No clue as to why, it just happens like this. Its kind of nice though because I only spend half of what the rest of you do on personal hygiene products.

If that last one was a bit much for some of you I apologize. I was grasping at straws as to what I could list as my 6th amazing quirk.

At least the picture is funny.

answering the "what if's"

I have to say that I am mildly disappointed at the lack of response to my questions. However, out of love and respect to those of you who actually asked something, here are my attempts to answer...

Swirl Girl asked:

Why did the Howells bring all their money and jewels with them on a 3 hour cruise while Maryanne only got to bring that little red checkered belly shirt and her Daisy Dukes?

Well, my friend, as I see it, Maryanne didn't have any money left to bring after she got lipo, a breast lift, and a tummy tuck, therefore she had to bring what little clothes she had to show off her goodies. And the Howells, well, they still have their money...and their wrinkles.


Hot Tub Lizzy asked:

If your husband got a job as a New Kid, would you move to another city where it would be easier for the redhead to be pottytrained, or would you have another child who chewed gum forever?

You win HTL! This question has me completely stumped.


Dear, sweet Lula asked:

If Jason Statham showed up on your front porch, would you give him directions to my house?

Yes, but only after I'd made out with him...and smoked with him on my front porch where all my neighbors could see.

If I sent The Redhead protective headgear, would you let him wear it? Every day? Especially when you're talking to me?

Everyday. ESPECIALLY when we're talking (cause that's when he usually gets hurt).

If I found a good karaoke joint between me and you, would we meet up there and sing Pat Benatar?

Bring it.


Blogstalker got all deep with the question:

What if You had to choose between seeing or hearing....what would you choose? (losing your sight or hearing)

I still don't feel totally set with an answer, but I think I would rather lose my hearing and I'll tell you why. As sweet and special as words are to hear, I have always loved sign language and would love to be able to communicate through sign language. And I think I would rather see my kids and grandkids than be able to hear them speak (because we could do that through signing). Also, I love nature and to not be able to see things like blue sky, the mountains, waterfalls, etc. would just be so devastating. There would be difficulties either way, but I think I would choose to see first.


John Deere Mom asked some thought provoking questions:

What if you could only read one blog forever..what would it be?

Are you kidding me? What if I can't answer this question? Okay, it would probably be this one because its got a little bit of everything.

What if you knew you were going to have triplets next...would you still get pregnant?

Yes, and then I would go visit the Howells on Gilligan's Island and ask them for the money to get my lipo, breast lift, and tummy tuck...and to get Mr. Baseball's "bags unpacked" so there wouldn't be another "3 hour tour".

If you had to choose...would you lose your sight, hearing, or ability ot talk?

See my answer to Blogstalker's question above.


Tracy P. riddled me this:

What if you had to move to a new state in another region of the country? How would you feel about the new challenge, and where would you like to go?

I have told Mr. Baseball that I would go wherever he goes, no matter what. Of course that's hard for me because I tend to shy away from change, but I think the new challenge could be good for us because it would cause us to lean more heavily on the Lord and each other. As far as where I would like to go...Virginia, the Pacific Northwest, New England. It would be hard to move away because ALL of our family lives in NC, but again, wherever my man goes, there I am with him.

And with a clean slate and no expectations from your new neighbors and friends, having not yet accepted any responsibilities, is there anything in your life you would want to do in a new way? Things you would want to quit doing? New things you would like to try?

I would like to quit obsessing about my weight and constantly thinking about food and being afraid of failing at new things I try. And speaking of new things I would like to try...I would like take a cake decorating class and a photography class.

Sorry. My answers to that last question are a little weird. I had to read it several times to understand what exactly you meant Tracy P. Thanks for helping stimulate my brain for the first time today and fend off Alzheimer's for just a few more years.


And now, if I don't stop staring at this computer screen, I'm going to look like this...

and we don't need that.

if you ask it, i will answer

I wonder "what if..." quite often. For example:

* What if my husband had a different job?
* What if we were to move to another city, where would we go?
* What if my next child is not as well behaved as the redhead?
* What if the redhead never gets pottytrained?

Things like that. But I also wonder crazy things like:

* If one the New Kids had shown up on my doorstep when I was in 7th grade. Would I have gone with them, or would I have been too shy?
* If one of the New Kids showed up on my doorstep today, what would I do? I do happen to have the answer to this one. I'd show them this letter, give them their little "present" and send them on their way.
* If I could chew only one kind of gum for the rest of my life, what would it be?

Sooooooo...

Now its your turn to ask me some of your zaniest "If" questions. I promise I will answer them, no matter how crazy they might be.

Now get to askin'!

images of the day

I managed to tear myself away from Edward and Bella long enough to update my blog.

It seems the change of seasons has left me with nothing exciting to write about...yet. So, I bring you...

Caroline and the Camera (Episodes 1 & 2)

Episode 1 - Little Caroline takes pictures...of EVERYTHING!

Little Caroline (I'll call her LC) got a hold of the digital camera the other day while she was here and she went crazy. I'll spare you the really exciting pictures - Wesley's ear, me on the phone, the tv as the Veggie Tales movie Jonah was playing - and I'll show you some of the better pics from our fun day.

She had me take these since I have long arms. Did you know that if you arch your eyebrows just slightly in pictures it makes you look younger...or really stupid.

Here she is demonstrating her camera skills - not bad, but Lijah is done with paparazzi.


Episode 2 - My Experimentation with Photography



You've been privy to many a picture I've taken and never left a bad comment. I thank you for that and ask that you continue that tradition even after viewing these. Our yard happens to be very shady in spots and very sunny in others. I don't like simply using the automatic settings on the camera - I prefer to branch out and try to do it manually, choosing my own specs or whatever. The upside to this experimentation is that while the picture may stink, the subject is always redheaded perfection.

seven

I found this little meme over at Out on a Limb and I think she got it from Melissa at Stretch Marks. So now I'm jacking it for my blog.

Seven things I can't do:

• yodle
• dance (I live vicariously through the phenoms on So You Think You Can Dance)
  
• a round-off back handspring with a full twisting layout
  
• can vegetables
  
• make anything from scratch (this is bad)
  
• make myself throw up (ewww, gross)
• run marathons...yet (maybe one day I will)
  

Seven things I do well:

• cook
• sing
• play guitar and piano
  
• remember little things like people's birthdays (I may remember the birthday, but I forget to send the card)
  
• blogging
• various sound effects
• sleep

Seven things you might hear me say:

• "Just a minute..." - to the redhead when he's whining and telling me something over and over and over and over.
  
• "Do you have a stinky?" - also to the redhead...for obvious reasons.
  
• "I don't understand whining, use your big boy voice."
• "What did I miss?" - this would be what I say when I've fallen asleep during a tv show or movie (which is all the time)
• Lijah, hush! - Lijah is our dog.
  
• water with no lemon, please
• turn over, Mr. Baseball, you're snoring.

Seven celebrity crushes (I even added pictures for your viewing pleasure):

• Mike Rowe - Dirty Jobs

• Curtis Stone - TLC's Take Home Chef

• Chris Daughtry

• Ty Penington

• Daniel Craig (the newest James Bond)

• Christian Bale (I have loved him since his days as a Newsie)
  

• Mr. Baseball (yes ladies, this is a picture of him as he's seeing me come down the aisle at our wedding)
  

Seven things that made me love my husband:

• his dashing good looks
  
• his dedication to see something through
• he isn't afraid to take risks and try something new
  
• his intelligence
• he is a faithful friend
  
• he loves Jesus
  
• he loves me

i

I AM ... really addicted to blogging. I check my blog at least 5 times each day searching for comments. I am a comment junkie - I even have the t-shirt to prove it (thanks to SITS). However, I don't think this is healthy.

I WANT... another choice for a presidential candidate. (I don't typically discuss political issues, and probably won't again on my blog. I guess I'll have to settle for the lesser of two evils.)

I HAVE ... a full bladder, but because I'm blogging, peeing is being put on the back burner.

I WISH ... that Curtis the Take Home Chef would cook dinner for me every night and Mike Rowe would read me stories until I fell asleep (I love him, um I mean... his voice).

I COULD ... go take a shower instead of sitting on my butt typing a post. But why would I want to do that?

I HATE ... when people litter - there's not a shortage of trash cans, you know.

I FEAR ... not being a good mom.

I HEAR ... that the human head weighs 8 lbs.

I SEARCH ... for my keys almost daily. Mr. Baseball says that if I put them in the same place every time like he does, then I wouldn't have to look all over the house for them when I need to go somewhere.

I DON'T THINK ... he's right. "My way is sportsmanlike."

I REGRET ... not knowing my dad better. There is still time for this to change though.

I LOVE ... music and in my mind's eye, I have seen key moments in my life play out like music videos. (That sounds weird, I hope you get it.)

I ACHE FOR ... my husband to be doing what he's meant to do and to make a good living at it.

I ALWAYS CRY ... after seeing a Hallmark commercial. I care enough to send the very best. Hallmark was my favorite job as a teenager.

I AM NOT ... a fan of Marilyn Mansen. See, I don't even know how to spell his name.

I DANCE ... with the redhead. Often.

I SING ... a lot. The redhead loves it and will sign the word for "more" after I've finished a song. He's good for my self-esteem.

I NEVER ... say never, it always come back to bite me in the butt.

I RARELY ... refuse food.

I CRY WHEN... I get overwhelmed.

I WATCH ... too much Noggin. Its not good for me. I think my vocabulary might be suffering because of this.

I AM NOT ALWAYS ... funny.

I HATE THAT ... I am selfish and prideful and don't love others the way I know I should.

I'M CONFUSED ABOUT ... why men wear speedos.

I NEED ... more quality time with Mr. Baseball.

I SHOULD ... not worry about pleasing others so much.

a tribute to my childhood blanket

Mama Kat over at Mama's Losin' It came up with a brilliant idear. She is hosting Writer's Workshop Wednesday and suggesting a topic or two for people to blog about. In the wake of much blogger's block, this is a fabulous solution. Go on over and check this out if you need a little nudge.

One of this week's suggestions was to write about your favorite childhood blanket or toy.....

So, here it is: A tribute to my favorite and only childhood blanket


Dear Boobie,

I do not recall our first moments together. In my defense, let me just say I was a week old. You were a baby gift from dad and mom's neighbor who worked for Nationwide Insurance, hence the "N" in blue stitching and the white eagle on one of your corners.

Word has it that we were inseparable from the get-go. I'm not sure how mom and dad felt about this, seeing as how I always referred to you as a "boy" blanket. I mean, they let me sleep with you every night for goodness sake. Talk about permissive parenting. AND they let me name you Boobie too? Sheesh, how did I ever make it to adulthood? I digress....

I named you Boobie before I had any understanding of what boobies actually were. Even when I did understand, I still didn't change your name. It was cemented by then.

Every so often, Mom would try to pry you from my kung-fu grip to wash you. She said that you stunk. Like Rose and Jack of Titanic fame, I never wanted to let go. It was Mom, Boobie, who would steal you while I was sleeping to let the spin cycle have its way with you.

You were the perfect compliment to the two fingers that I sucked on, only you didn't cause me to need braces like they did. Oh well, you live and learn.

I sacrificed a lot for you Boobie. Sarah teased me about having a blanket, and Daniel, well, I'm still bitter about the quarter-sized hold he cut in you (with a pair of kitchen shears) while we were watching cartoons one morning. I have to admit that I smiled quite smugly when he got spanked for that one. Serves him right for messin' with you. And when we would travel, they would always threaten to throw you out the window. The chiding was relentless. Where's the love?

When I went to college, I pondered whether or not to take you. The dorm was female only, but we got away with it for 4 whole years! You slept under my pillow most days, staying out of the public eye.

When I got married, you weren't really replaced, just no longer the first "man" in my life. Thank you for understanding and knowing that your place was between the mattress and the headboard. Several years ago, you did talk me into upgrading your housing to the lingerie drawer. No thanks are needed, it was the least I could do for all the years you'd been faithful to me.

We've had some wonderful times together, Boobie. And now the world knows I had a blanket named Boobie. See, I'm still sacrificing for you, and you're still folded up perfectly in the lingerie drawer.

Thirty one years have passed since I first laid eyes on you. Your edges are a bit more tattered, you've gone gray and your washings are less frequent as you can't handle the dreaded spin cycle anymore. You have earned your place with the bras and other unmentionables in the delicates bag. You will always hold a special place in my heart as being my first and only blanket. There was none other in this heart of mine (that is until Mr. Baseball showed up).

Boobie, thanks for the memories!

Love,

Your Dearest Caroline

spectacularly unspectacular

Melissa over at Another Day In Paradise tagged me to reveal six unspectacular quirks I possess. Thanks Melissa. I shall now reveal to you (in random order), those six quirks. But first, the rules...boo.

First you post the rules:

1. Link the person who tagged you.

2. Mention the rules on your blog.

3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks you possess.

4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.

5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.


Here goes:

1. 85 words

Speed test

Go ahead, take the test...you know you want to.


2. I think "fart" noises are hilarious, but I don't really like the word "fart". I prefer "poot" or "toot" or "stepped on a frog" or "barking spider". Those are really much better than "fart". Its such a harsh word. When I was younger, my cousin Erin and I would plan what came to be known as "The Big Blowout". This would be where, after we had already been tucked in our beds, we would proceed to make all kinds of "barking spider" noises (with our mouths). The sounds emitting from Erin's room would reach such decibels that inevitably my Aunt Sandra would appear and the door, holding back her laughter, to tell us that it really was bedtime.

3. I can't stand to touch loose hair. When I was younger and I would have to clean the bathtub, part of the chore was opening the drain and pulling the hairball out. I can't even think about it without vomiting in my mouth...UGH..

4. I can do various sound effects (carousel, squeaky bike, trumpet, heartbeat, walkie talkie, the infamous sounds of flatulence, etc.). I have been meaning to post a video of my talents and I promise I will get to it. I promise. And I actually think these are pretty spectacular.

5. I bite the skin on the sides of my fingernails. Don't judge. It's no grosser than actually biting nails or nosepicking. I used to bite my fingernails, but now I take pride in my strong, white nails. Biting the skin is really a nervous habit. I need to quit, but then I might have to take up smoking and I don't want to do that.

6. I am a perfectionist about my handwriting. In school, if I was dissatisfied with my writing, I would toss the paper and start all over. I have also been known to do this with simple grocery lists. Its not so bad now, seeing as how I don't have the time to write things until they're perfect. I also ONLY write in print. My signature is the only thing I write in cursive. Why? Because my 6 year old niece could write better in cursive, that's why. These days, I prefer to type and really don't have to write all that much. So, being able to type 85 words per minute does come in handy.

Okay, so here's the point in the post where I'm supposed to tag 6 others. Um yeah, not so much. That's the only rule I don't like. If you want to do this on your blog, then tag, you're it. If you don't, then I just hope you enjoyed reading my six unspectacular quirks.

your questions answered - part 2

If you haven't already, check out Part 1!


Jennifer P. asked:

I'd love to know if you continue wearing aqua and lavender?

Um, not exactly. Those colors were more popular in the 80's. You're an interior decorator, you should know that one! DUH! =0)


Hot Tub Lizzy asked:

What's your favorite comfort food?

That would be....................................CHEESE PUFFS!!!

Did you go to summer camp?

Why yes, yes I did - once! I attended Camp Marietta in Marietta, SC when I was in the 4th grade. I went with a group of little girls from my cousin Jennifer's church in Greenville (also SC). I don't remember much of my experience except that another girl in the cabin whose name was Candy was quite - how shall I say this kindly - well endowed for a 10 year old. Candy was not at all modest and liked to display her lovelies at unannounced times while we were in the cabin. Needless to say, I got an education. Probably not what my mother was envisioning would come from a week at a Christian camp.

Do you pronounce your name Carolynn or Caroline?

Thank you for asking this question. You will be my friend for life because you asked me first how to pronounce my name instead of assuming to know the proper pronunciation.

I pronounce my name (cue drum roll)....................................Caro-line (with a long 'i', i.e. Caroline Kennedy). I have been called "Carolyn" about forty-hundred times and not that its a bad name, its just not my name!

If you're still confused about the pronunciation, please, just call me Caro (as in Karo Corn Syrup).


The Queen In Residence asked:

Your best day, what was it and why?

Well, the obvious would be my wedding day or the redhead's day of birth. Other than that, I would say it was the redhead's day of birth and I'll tell you why. Its because I looked like this (and actually, this picture was taken a MONTH before he was born) -


At the risk of sounding shallow, I was excited because I knew I could then lose the miserable amounts of fluid I gained from the preeclampsia that started at week 33 and the 50+ lbs I gained throughout the pregnancy. I was absolutely miserable the last 3 weeks. I was taken out of work, put on bed rest, and was in and out of the hospital 4 times in the 4 weeks before his birth. Needless to say, after he arrived, I was relieved!


Sarah @ The Wonderful Life That I Live asked:

Favorite color?

Green

What is the meanest thing you ever did as a kid?

When I was in the 5th grade, I hung out with two girls, Rachel and Carrie. Rachel and I were BFF's and Carrie was kind of a 3rd wheel. Rachel and I ganged up and decided we would start "Friday Fights", where we would pick a fight with Carrie. Carrie, if you're reading this, I'm so sorry.

Children can be so cruel.


Ainsley asked:

What are some of the other things that put you out?

Good question Ainsley! I think I better compose a list (not all-inclusive...we'd be here a while).

1) Most things about Wal-Mart (with the exception of the cream-cheese covered cinnamon buns)
2) People who cut across parking lots and neglect to look out for the people who actually follow the rules
3) Impatient drivers (I really get put out a lot while I'm driving. Its really insane the amount of stupid people who are granted a license to drive)
4) the constant whining of an almost 2 year old redheaded child
5) telemarketers
6) door to door solicitations
7) loose dogs who come out at me while I'm walking
8) rude people in general
9) Ruby from "Max and Ruby" - its on right now and not only is her voice annoying as all get out, she's way too bossy to Max, poor little lamb.


Wilson Ramblings asked:

What's your favorite part of being a mom?

Knowing that I (and sometimes his daddy) am the only one who can "kiss it and make it all better" when he's hurt or just wanting a snuggle. I love snuggles (or "nuggies" as we sometimes call them)


Strawberry Blonde asked:

Who was your favorite NKOTB?

I'm all for the underdog. EEwwwww, not Danny (a.k.a. Monkey Boy). I preferred Jon, Jordon's older and more mature brother. I put his poster from Teen Beat on my closet door and would kiss it. Yah, that's probably more than you needed to know.

Favorite date with Mr. Baseball?

We've had lots of good ones, but my favorite would probably be the time he took me to Grandfather Mountain (near Boone, NC) for my 26th birthday. We hiked, took in some beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and had dinner at Storie Street Grille in Blowing Rock, followed by ice cream at Kilwin's. It was wonderful! Some of my favorite memories with Adam are from trips we've taken to the mountains. I just love spending quality alone time with him.

Where do you want to retire?

I'm not really sure. As much as we love the NC mountains, that would probably be our first choice. Really, I'll go anywhere, as long as I'm with Mr. Baseball.


Octamom asked:

In 50 years, what is the most secret desire of your heart you hope to have accomplished (and not just great wife, great mom, etc)?!?!

In fifty years, I'll be 81. I hope by then that my life would mirror Philippians 1:27 - "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."


Laurie asked:

What about your life as an adult would have most surprised Caroline the kid (interpret that time as anything pre-college graduation)?

That I could actually grasp finances (thanks to Mr. Baseball) and not fall into a crying heap while opening a checking account (yes, I have done that before). AND - that I would grow to like baseball (thanks again to Mr. Baseball) and watching golf on tv.

If you could relive one perfect, but technically "ordinary" day (this ruling out your wedding or the redhead's birth, since they definitely weren't "ordinary" days) of your life, what would it be?

I would want to relive my family's trip to Ireland. More specifically, the day we went to the Cliffs of Moher. It was beyond breathtaking.



How someone could see this and still deny Intelligent Design is beyond me. There's only one other time that I have stood overlooking landscape (or ocean) and truly realized how vast the world is. Its very humbling.


Rose asked:

What is your favorite memory from UNCG?

Geez, that's a toughie. I still consider those four years I spent there to be some of the best years of my life. While I have many many great memories (and a whole scrapbook full of pictures), one particular one comes to mind. When I was a junior in high school I went to visit my sister and she took me to an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) meeting at UNCG (where she was a freshman). During one of the songs, God got my attention. He didn't speak in an audible voice, but in my heart, I knew He wanted me to follow Him. I didn't make a decision at that moment, but I believe that was a turning point in my faith.


Veggie Mom asked:

Does red hair run in your family, or is the red-head the first one?

The redhead takes after his great-grandmother (my mom's mom), who in her younger years had bright red hair. We also think someone in Mr. Baseball's lineage was a redhead also.

and...

Kari so kindly reminded me of my most embarrassing moment post-childhood.

My senior year in high school, my best friend Stephanie and I sang a duet to Twila Paris' "The Warrior Is a Child" at our youth group (which was not small). I completely FORGOT ALL the words to the first verse I was supposed to sing SOLO. Gone. Nothin. DEAFENING SILENCE!!! Yah. Not one of my most stellar moments.

Oh yeah, I should mention that Kari's husband, Mike (long before they were ever married), also happened to go to this church and be in this youth group. HE GOT THE ENTIRE THING ON VIDEO!!! super. Pretty darned embarrassing.

But I'm over it.

So there you have it. Your questions - answered! Thanks for comin' out!

your questions answered - part 1

I got such a great response to my q & a post that I'm going to split the answers up over two posts (that way you won't get bored and you'll still come back to visit).


You wanted to know my bid'ness so here it is...

Lula asked...

Other than being a wife and mother or working at a crisis pregnancy center, what would be your dream job?

I have a couple that I think would be dreamy. 1) to sing with or backup for a worship leader such as Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, or Travis Cottrell - I love me some contemporary worship music, 0r 2) 911 dispatcher.

Right now I'm laughing at the vast difference between the two jobs. I have been interested in dispatching ever since the days of Rescue 911 (remember that one?). Something about it intrigues me.


Melissa @ Another Day In Paradise asked:

When you were pregnant did your belly button stick out towards the end, and if so did you ever draw eyes and a nose above it and pretend it was whistling?

Unfortunately, my bee-bo (as belly buttons are known around here) did not stick out. My bee-bo is like a cavern, dark and vast, and didn't even get completely flat - can you believe that? I was kind of hoping it wouldn't stick out because I've heard that's kind of painful.


Kari asked:

What is your last name? And also, where exactly do you live?

Kari, did you not learn to follow directions in elementary school?

Just for being a smart a$, I'm going to do this (its all in love)...


Folks, this is Kari her freshman year in college. We were on a beach retreat and I just so happened to snap a pic of her showing off her raw talent. What talent might that be? Kazoo playing. Kari, America's Got Talent called - there's a shortage of kazoo players this year and they need you! And you make up the "I" part of "IV" (InterVarsity) in my scrapbook.

Are you signed up for any more races?

As of right now, no. I wanted to do a 10K in October, but I haven't been running lately because its been so crazy hot. I've had to find alternate forms of exercise until it cools off a bit.


John Deere Mom asked:

What's your favorite fast food restaurant?

That one's easy...Chick-Fil-A. Anyone who says differently is selling something.


If you could have dinner with 3 famous people, who would you choose?

Wow, that's a tough one. Would it be "dinner" or "supper" cause you know they're different depending on where you live?!

I know these are questions for me, but Mr. Baseball said he would dine with
1) Mark McGwire 2) Nolan Ryan and 3) Jeff Foxworthy.

My choices would probably be:

1) Paul (from the Bible) - he had an unbelievably challenging life and never wavered in his understanding of grace and his faith in Jesus Christ. I'd love to learn from him.

2) Travis Cottrell, Charlie Hall, and Chris Tomlin - we'd have a jam session and then they'd hire me to sing with them on their worship tours.

3) Katie Holmes - only to find out why in the world she married this looney.

4) I'd also invite Matthew McConaughey, but he wouldn't be able to come in because at most restaurants...shirts and shoes are required.


If you had to eat the same thing every day for eternity, what would it be?

Baked Parmesan Chicken (I'll have to share the recipe sometime soon), texas garlic toast (check out my ode to the texas garlic toast), caesar salad, and cream cheese covered cinnamon buns from the Wal-Mart deli (quite possibly be the only good thing that comes from Wal-Mart)

...and Cheese Puffs (I lived off these when I was pregnant with the redhead. Hmmmm, that might explain the extra 50 lbs I gained.)


Swirl Girl asked:

Did either grandpa have red hair?

Actually, no. But my mom's mom (my grandmother) had red hair. I have never known her as a redhead - she's always had white hair as long as I can remember. When I was pregnant, she told me that I had better hope I didn't have a redhead. She didn't like her red hair, but I certainly like the redhead's. We also think someone in Mr. Baseball's family had red hair too.

Do you like jello?

Negative ghost rider.


Missy @ Roots and Wings asked (several questions):

Are you and Mr. Baseball planning for any more redheads?

Well...unfortunately we don't have much control over hair color, that's up to God. You can put in a good word for us though. We like redheads.

Top 5 songs that you can listen to over and over without EVER getting sick of them?

(all of these are on my playlist)

1) We Belong - Pat Benatar

2) Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship (Mr. Baseball and I used this as our recessional when we were married)

3) Glory - Nichole Nordeman and Selah

4) Heaven - Brian Adams

5) Rainbow Connection - Kermit the Frog; Mr. Baseball played this for me when we were dating and I knew it was true love if he could have this song on his computer.

I kind of have a thing for 80's music and muppets. Glory falls under neither category, its just good.

Do you have a favorite Bible Study book for beginners?

I feel very inadequate to answer this question, but here are some resources that I have found helpful:

* Going through the book of John (Christian bookstore often have studies on individual books of the Bible)
* Focus on the Family website - they have a wide array of resources to choose from
* Anything by Beth Moore (I have done The Patriarchs, Stepping Up, and To Live Is Christ - all of which were EXCELLENT, but could be a little intimidating to a new believer)
* Priscilla Shirer - He Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear the Voice of God
* Pursuing Spiritual Transformation: Growth; Zondervan (publisher) - found this one at a christian bookstore

** I also would recommend getting involved in a bible study through a church. I participate in a study every Thursday morning (follows the school calendar) and love it. There is childcare available and I contribute a little money to help with that as I can. Many churches will have Bible studies at different times to accommodate moms/ladies who work or stay at home. Check with your church, or with some of the larger churches in your area to see if they offer such studies.

How's the jogging stroller going?

The stroller itself (Baby Trend, approx. $120 and rated a good buy by Consumer Reports) is golden. The redhead loves going for walks in the stroller. As far as running with the redhead in the stroller - yah, not so much - not because it doesn't run well, just because its a beast to try to push a 25lb stroller carrying a 28lb toddler.

Most embarrassing moment that you feel comfortable sharing with the blogosphere?

Wow, I don't know. Most of the memorable moments happened when I was younger - mostly because it takes a lot more to embarrass me now than it did in years past.


One time when I was in 4th grade, I wore my really pretty aqua/lavender sweater vest and paired it with an awesome pair of aqua corduroy pants. I picked out this outfit after changing outfits twice already that morning. I didn't realize until I was on the bus that I had on RED socks with my aqua/lavender outfit! I had forgotten to change my socks when I finalized my outfit for the day...Oops. I was mortified and immediately took off my socks. I looked like a tool wearing just my tennis shoes and no socks, but at least I wasn't clashing!


I also let my dad cut my bangs when I was in the fifth grade - bad idea. He says he only "trimmed" them, but it was a major WHACK JOB. I think my bangs were half an inch long. Seriously.


Coming tomorrow:

* How I pronounce my name (this is really important is we're going to be friends)

* What my best day has been so far...

* My favorite date with Mr. Baseball

* What makes me very "put out"...and more

caro's q&a

Here's your opportunity to delve into the mind and life that is mine.

Several other bloggers whom I frequent have done q&a's and I thought it was good idea.

(I'm also suffering from a well-known disorder commonly known as writer's block)

So, now is your chance to pose any question (let's keep it clean though) to moi. Questions regarding my last name, exact location in NC, and other personal information (SS#, bank account, credit card numbers, etc.) are not allowed for security reasons - you understand. You have until the end of the day Monday to submit your questions.

This is gonna be fun - as long as I actually get some questions, if not, then I shall be very put out.

my dilemma

See this...?

...and this?

those are pictures of our beautiful (and enormous) back yard. Half an acre of lush lawn inside the city limits. The perfect yard for...

Also the perfect yard for a swimming pool, swingset, and baseball games with daddy. Perfectly perfect in every way.

Except one. One thing stands between me and my perfect yard.

These little pesty pestersons keep the redhead and me from playing outside. The minute I go outside, I look like this...

Well, I don't exactly look like an old wrinkly man with no shirt on, but you know what I mean. You think I'm kidding? Nope. It really is that bad. Its miserable. I have some bug spray, but it. does. not. work. Evidenced by the bajillion mosquitoes that still land on me even when I'm covered in repellent.

So, I pose to you a question. Does anyone know of anything (preferably natural/organic) that does work and won't harm the redhead's or my skin?

That way, I might be able to enjoy this...


again.

i only have eyes for you - the proposal

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five

In the course of dating, NG and I talked about many things, including high school proms. He had the opportunity to go to both proms (he had two dates his junior year), and I was unfortunate enough to go to neither of my high school proms. Actually, I did ask a friend our junior year, but he never answered me...how rude. But I'm over it.

So, due to the prom misfortune, NG and I decided we would hold our own prom, now that I had a more than suitable date to go with. We set our prom date. NG would take care of all the details, I just had to show up.

I had convinced myself that this was not to be the proposal night for several reasons:

1) It would be waaaaay too obvious and I had prayed that I wouldn't know when the proposal would happen

2) He had convinced me that he in fact did NOT have the ring yet.

3) I was just convinced this would not be the night - enough said.

I dressed in my best dress - a little black number, very hot. I had a handful of bridesmaid dresses (hot pink, periwinkle, seafoam, , etc.), none of which seemed appropriate, and my sister had loaned me a beautiful shawl she had purchased in Spain that went exceptionally well with my little black dress.

NG arrived at my door right on time. He had a bouquet of flowers in his hand. I took them and he whisked me away...next door, where the prom was being held (in his apartment).

He opened the door for me and was blown away. Balloons and streamers hung from one corner of the room to the other, candles danced and flickered, white rope lights outlined a dance floor in the middle of the living room, and soft music played. I felt like I had just walked in to a Candace Olsen divinely designed room. It was breathtaking.

We put the flowers in water and then he ushered me out to the veranda (commonly known as a balcony on non-prom nights) where there was a little table with two chairs. It was a lovely October evening. The sun was just setting as he brought out dinner - Baked Parmesan Chicken, rolls, and something else I can't recall. I remember being amazed that he had taken time to make this just for me. We sat out on the veranda and ate our delicious meal while the stars appeared one by one. Eighties tunes - one after another played on the stereo - part of a collection of cd's that he had burned just for that night.

We finished dinner and enjoyed dessert (some type of pastry from the infamous Wal-Mart deli). Following our meal, he put away the dishes and suggested we do a little dancing. We danced for a good while and I was ever so content to rest my head on his chest (he's 6'4"). I was only halfway paying attention when I heard "I Only Have Eyes For You" by the Flamingoes playing softly in the background. It was then that NG said, "I have another surprise for you."

Honestly, the first thought that crossed my mind was, "Wow, more flowers?"

He asked me to go stand in front of the linen closet door, but not to open it. I obliged, even though I had no idea what was going on.

NG then said, "Okay, I'm going to turn the lights out. Put your hand on the doorknob, but don't open the door until I tell you to."

He walked back into the living room where he could still see every move I made.

I heard the "click" as the room went pitch black.

"Okay, open the door..."

My heart was pounding wildly. Who or what was he hiding in this closet? I had to ask him if anyone was going to jump out at me. He said there was no one hiding in the closet and told me to just open the door.

I turned the knob and opened the door.

I heard the "click" again as the light came back on.

In front of me was a completely empty linen closet with the exception of a barstool that stood on the floor under the lowest shelf. Clipped to the stool was a desk lamp, its light shining directly on the most beautiful engagement ring nestled snugly in its velvet box.

I gasped and put my hands over my mouth.

I felt NG's hand come around my waist. He reached for my hand as he dropped down to one knee.

"Caroline, will you marry me?"

Of course I said yes. Who wouldn't after all that?

He placed the ring on my finger and gently kissed me.

It was so much to take in and I didn't ever want to forget it. I was ENGAGED!!!!!!

At that point, we basically forgot about the prom and called every member of our families that we could think of. We celebrated the rest of the evening, doing a little more dancing, making a lot of phone calls, and staring at the ring on my finger. It was surreal.

That was October 10, 2003. Five months later, on March 13, 2004, we were married and Neighbor Guy (NG) became my husband, Mr. Baseball.

Our wedding ceremony was beautiful and I would not change a thing about it. God's presence was so abundant in the sanctuary as we sang worship songs and said our vows to one another. It was the perfect day.

As I look back over the four years of marriage, I can't help but see God's plan in all that stuff with Blonde Guy and the heartache I went through. I don't regret it because if it had not happened, I might not be where I am today, married to the love of my life and mother to a beautiful little redheaded boy.

i only have eyes for you - part 5

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

...asked if he could give me just a little kiss.

I wanted to be obliging, but instead I said, "no, I'm just not ready yet - can we just hug?"

What a moron! I'm not ready yet - what kind of answer is that? Like how was I supposed to get ready? Oh, too bad I threw my Jonathan Knight (from NKOTB) poster away, I always liked practicing on him!

Anyway, I was actually super nervous because I had (in my entire life) only kissed one person (when I was 18) and I guess felt like I needed practice or something. Geesh.

So, we didn't kiss, but we did have a nice warm embrace.

My family and I departed for Ireland the next day and planned to be gone about 8 days. I was on such a high from the 24 hours prior, I probably could have flown myself to Ireland without the help of Continental Airlines, but my parents paid for my ticket, so I felt a smidge obligated.

The week in Ireland was so much fun, but I couldn't stop thinking about what (or should I say) who was waiting for me back at home.

The day of our departure dawned and we awoke bright and early, packed the tiny vehicles they call cars and drove to the airport. Upon arriving at the airport, we discovered that a massive snowstorm had pummeled the eastern seaboard of the US. Normally, that would be all well and good, except that we were flying into NEWARK, NJ - which, I might add, was blanketed with at least 2 feet of snow. Not only that, but there were no flights going to states east of the Mississippi. Hmmmmm. All we could do was wait another day. Since NG was supposed to pick me up from the airport, I decided to check my phone messages to see if he had called. At this point, I still didn't have his phone number, so I had no way of getting in touch with him.

I dialed my phone number, entered my password, and voila - he had left me a message. He had also called the airline and found out that the flight had been cancelled. The best part of his message was when he left his phone number. I quickly dialed it, neglecting to think of how much this phone call would set me back. We spoke briefly, and it was so good to hear his voice. I told him I would keep him updated on our flights and let him know when we would be arriving back in NC.

The next morning dawned and we were able to leave Ireland and fly into Newark. However, our connecting flight to NC had been cancelled. Being the finagler (sp?) that he is, my dad got us on another connecting flight only a few hours later that would arrive in NC around 11pm.

NG met a very tired Owen family at the airport, long enough to meet my parents, get my bags, and drive home. Oh, I should mention that there were flowers and a card waiting for me in my seat of his Jeep.

From that point on, it was a go with our relationship. We did share our first kiss in early March (about a month into our relationship) and many more kisses after that. He was wonderful to talk to and we actually joked about never wanting to watch tv because we always had something to talk about.

One of the sweetest things he ever told me was that he wanted to thank Blonde Guy personally for breaking up with me because if he hadn't, I wouldn't be with him (meaning NG). I melted.

In mid-May, after dating 3 months, NG and I were cuddling one night when he looked directly in my eyes and said, "I love you, Caroline." I looked directly in his eyes and said, "Thank you." In my defense, I only responded that way because I had this grandiose expectation that I would only hear that from the man I would marry and I was afraid because I didn't know if NG was my future husband or not.

Over Memorial Day weekend, I spent time with my friend Stephanie (who really needs a blog) and decided that yes, I really did love NG. I had no other words to describe our relationship and "I love you" seemed to be the best next words. I went home and shared with him that I did love him too.

We began discussing our future and where we thought the relationship might be going. That was pretty daunting because I wasn't quite sure if he was thinking marriage, or if I was just crazy. Once we were on the same page for sure, we purchased a book, Preparing for Marriage, and worked through it.

Around August/September, we went ring shopping. I knew the cut I wanted, and that I wanted white gold, but other than that, the ball was in NG's court. He kept me totally in the dark about when and if he had purchased a ring. I pressed him from every angle, but he was unrelenting.

Little did I know the surprise he was cooking up...

(**stay tuned for i only have eyes for you - the proposal)

i only have eyes for you - part 4

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3


Four hours later, I left his apartment and went home to go to bed. (Get your minds out of the gutter. I'm not that kind of girl. We talked the entire time. Girl Scouts honor.)

Right before I left, he had invited me over for dinner and a movie that Tuesday evening.

Tuesday came and as I left my apartment, I breathed a little prayer.

"Lord, I don't know if this will amount to anything beyond friendship. Help me to first and foremost be a good friend and represent You well if he doesn't know You."

I knocked on the door. NG opened the door, greeting me with a smile. His house smelled of lasagna. We made small talk while the lasagna baked. I noticed it had been a while and I was getting hungry. He checked the lasagna and it was still completely frozen. That's right - turns out NG was good friends with Mrs. Stouffer and she was doing the cookin' that night. We decided that we were too hungry to wait and eat when the lasagna was ready, so we ate our salad and french bread.

Then, we watched Castaway. Talk about awkward first "date" movie - there's no talking for like the entire first hour. If I was any kind of talented, I would have done the cricket sound effect, that would have been hysterical.

By the time the movie was over, the lasagna was done.

Before I left that night, we had set another "date". This one was at my place - I was cooking - and we'd watch another movie - preferably one with more dialogue.

The night came and went. I think we built a fire in my fireplace. I had him build many a fire in my fireplace (literally, not figuratively - yet, anyway) because I always got a good view when he would bend over to place the logs in the fireplace.

The next month we spent a lot of time together. We took trips to Wal-Mart, went sledding, we even bought puzzles to work instead of watching tv. I know, it sounds so cheesy and retirement home-esque, but whatever. We spent hours talking about our families, our spiritual beliefs, our previous relationships, and many other rousing topics. I always looked forward to the end of the day when I would come home. Often, we would leave notes on each other's doors, telling the other one if we'd be late or something. He would always leave his on some kind of baseball post-it notes and I would leave mine on one of those medical pads with a picture of a dinosaur whose name was Sniffasaurus.

Inside, I questioned how he felt about me, but I never voiced that to him. I wanted him to be the one to make the first move. One night in late January, I felt more sure that things might be taking a turn toward a relationship. NG had come over rather late to hang out. We ended staying up until 3am drawing on each other's faces with eyeliner. **I swear I'm not making this up, and we weren't drunk or high - just good, clean fun**. As he was leaving, he grabbed my hand and told me how much fun he had that night and how "sorry" he was for keeping me up so late.

I really don't know what he said because at the moment he grabbed my hand, I was buttah.

The next day was a Friday and I had plans to travel to GA for a conference. I worked half of the day and went home to pack for my trip. Hanging on my door knob was a plastic bag. Inside the bag were two cd's and a note.

The cd's were of 80's music (cause that's how I roll) and the note said:

Hey Caroline,

I am really sorry about keeping you up so late last night. I really didn't mean to do that, but I have so much fun around you and its hard to leave. Well, I hope you have a good trip this weekend. Drive safe today because I know you will be about dead on the drive down. Just play my cd's and maybe that will help. Also, as I write this, I am eating those biscuits you gave me last night and they are really really good. It tastes like they were cooked in a wood-fired thing. Oh, and by the way, my side still hurts a little today, but that can be forgiven. I'll see you next week.

NG

We did see each other that next week, and with Valentine's Day looming, I wondered if he would do anything. There was one small hitch however. My family and I had plans to travel to Ireland to visit my sister who was serving as a missionary over there. We would be gone from the 8th to the 17th, meaning I wouldn't get to spend Valentine's Day him.

NG was on top of his game and invited me out to lunch the day before I was to leave for Ireland. We dined at a steakhouse and returned to his apartment - he had a surprise for me. I waited patiently on the couch in his living room while he worked furiously on a culinary masterpiece in the kitchen. He emerged with Valentine's Day themed slice n' bakes.

The conversation turned serious when he began talking about a "girlfriend" he had in Raleigh. She was a manager at the Gap and sounded really intriguing. Moments later, I found out the Gap girl was merely fictitious and made up to keep a stalker at bay.

Alright NG, you throw a curve ball at me, here's one for you.

"So, if you have a girlfriend in Raleigh, then where does that leave me?"

Boo-Ya.

NG proceeded to launch into a lovely monologue describing his feelings for me. He told me he had never met anyone like me and that he felt more than comfortable when he was with me. I told him I felt the same way about him. We both agreed that we should take the friendship to the next level.

A short while later, I was leaving his apartment when he grabbed me in his arms and....