My Random Three's Tag

Apparently last month my BYU roommate, Camille, tagged me with this post and I missed it somehow. Yesterday she "reminded" me I'd never done it, and then this morning I read the same tag on Shana's blog, so here it goes.

My Random Threes:

JOYS
1. My family is hands down my number one joy! I have the best husband. He is so supportive and encouraging. He's a great dad to our kids. He puts up with all of my quirks and genuinely still loves me, which is amazing in and of itself. He is deep, spiritual, strong, compassionate, and my better half. My kids are genuinely sweet-natured kids, which is such a blessing in our home. Don't get me wrong - they are often my biggest headache - but I would be miserable without any one of them because they each complete a part of my heart and bring me joy everyday in multiple ways. My parents, siblings, in-laws, etc. are wonderful - I'm very blessed.

2. The gospel. My testimony brings with it the joy of knowing my life has purpose. Through the gospel I know my number one joy, my family, can be together forever, and that gives me delight every day. I don't know how people survive without the amazing network provided by belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the knowledge that they are a child of God.

3. A good book or movie. There is nothing like an escape into a good story to relieve you from daily pressures. There is no better way to gain perspective than to learn about someone else who has struggled more than you. There is no better way to become a better person than by loving a character and discovering which of their characteristics you admire or want to develop in yourself. There is no better way to increase your capacity to think or empathize. For me, it is pure joy.

FEARS
1. Failing my kids. Not teaching them enough. Not loving them enough. Not building their self esteem enough to make them confident in themselves. Not keeping them humble. Not helping them develop testimonies of their own. Not helping them become independent and responsible enough. Not helping them become the amazing adults I know they can be. I love being a mother, but it is the highest-pressure job there is.

2. Sharks. I know it is completely silly, but I am absolutely paranoid where they are concerned. I love the ocean, but I freeze up every time I go in just waiting for those deathly jaws to find me. Craig laughs at me as I trepidatiously enter the water; I'm actually glad he finds it humorous because it helps get me past it. When I was pregnant with the twins we went to a 3-D ocean life film and I had to run out of the theater halfway through to throw-up. I tried to write it off as morning/motion sickness, but a lot of it had to do with the huge sharks in my face. Needless to say, "Jaws" is not a movie that fits Joy number 3.

3. Home invasion. I'm a freak about locking doors and windows - even during the day. I have locked myself out of the house twice because once a door is closed and locked behind me there is no other way in without breaking something! I don't think I could handle watching someone hurt my kids in my home. And the thought of them seeing someone hurt me and their devastation is just as terrible.

GOALS
1. To lose weight. I know it is completely trivial and superficial in the long-term scheme of things, but it is a goal of mine nonetheless. I guess this means my goal is to exercise more because I've given up on trying to not eat.

2. To publish a book someday. I was an English major in college and have always wanted to write a children's book or young adult novel. It will likely go unfulfilled, but it has long been one of my dreams.

3. To be more patient. I'm too quick to lose my temper, and I'm constantly working on this one!

OBSESSIONS / COLLECTIONS
1. Jane Austen. I love her books. I love her characters. I love that she wrote to remain independent. I read and watch her works way more than I should. I quote her way too often. My blog music is from Pride and Prejudice. I would love to be in an Austen film someday. (I'd probably be the silly, rambling, old maid but it would still be fun!) I'm so glad Craig is secure enough to listen to me ramble about Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightley and just smile about it. Thank goodness he "ardently admires and loves" me!

2. Cleaning. I debated about putting a clean house or a good book as Joy number 3. Four kids have definitely caused my standards to relax a little, but I still can't sleep if there are dishes in the sink. I do my best thinking while I'm scrubbing something. It is a great way to vent frustration (see Goal #3) and I don't seem to function very well if my house and car are messy. There are many nights that Craig rolls his eyes as he goes to bed because he knows I won't until the laundry is folded and the dishwasher is running!

3. Blogging. A fairly new one but rapidly gaining in severity.

Overall I'm a pretty obsessive person, but most of you already know that.

RANDOM or SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT ME
1. I was very injury prone as a child. Not scrapes and cuts but big things like breaking my arm, having my finger severred from my hand (and thankfully re-attached), being hit by a car and stuff like that. Most happened because I was trying to be too independent - shocking, I know!

2. I've always had really straight teeth but I still had to have braces (with headgear) for two years because I had such a bad over-bite.

3. I'm super competitive, so it about killed our marriage when I lost to Craig in Monopoly twelve times in a row! I came back to redeem myself with a winning streak, and I'm not sure we've played since. The current competition is who dominates in Super Smash Melee, and I'm winning!

I'm tagging Diane, Jenny, Kent, Miranda and anyone else who wants to play!