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