Journal entry 63--Holidays

Describe your favorite holiday. What makes it so memorable?

For years my favorite holiday has been Christmas and it still holds a special place in my heart. I loved going to my grandparents house for Christmas and comparing gifts with my cousin. However, within the past few years, I've been enjoying Halloween. I love going trick-or-treating with my children and seeing friends and neighbors outside. I like the decorations leading up to this holiday. And I especially like the candy! Halloween represents Fall which represents coziness and fireplaces. Also, I think Halloween is the lead in to three months of holidays--Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. It's just a great time of year.

Journal entry 62--Home Remedies

Describe a home remedy your mother used that either worked or didn't work. Do you still use this remedy today?

Whenever someone was choking or just having a coughing fit, my mother would immediately raise your arm in the air. I still don't understand why or what the meaning was behind this, but I think she was trying to force air down your throat. Of course this doesn't make any sense and hence I don't use this remedy anymore.

Journal entry 61--Small Things

Describe how a small and simple thing or act has impacted your life in a big way?

A simple act of friendship is what has kept me on the right path in life. When I was a teen-ager my cousin was my good friend. It was she who encouraged me to join her in church activities and social events which helped me avoid hanging out with my other party friends. Because of her, I went to our church college and met my husband who happened to be my boy-cousin's roommate. I'm grateful for her example and support during a time when I needed it the most.

Journal entry 60--Hopes

What do you hope your children will learn from you?

The one thing I want my kids to learn from me is serving others. It's impossible to make poor choices when you are serving others. Service equals unselfishness, sin equals selfishness. I hope that my children can learn to work hard for themselves and for others.

Journal entry 59--Illness

Describe the most serious illness or accident that you have had.

When my daughter was just 6 weeks old, I came down with viral meningitis. I literally had the worst headache of my life and could feel my brain throbbing whenever I moved. After the doctor figured out what I had, I stayed overnight in the hospital. When I came home the next day, I pretty much stayed lying down for 2 weeks taking Vicodin every 4 hours. There were several women at my church who helped me with my children and dinners. I'm grateful for their service. It was quite a painful illness which I hope to never have again.

Journal entry 58--Embarrassment

Describe your most embarrassing moment.

Unfortunately I have several embarrassing moments, however, the one that comes to mind is when I was 16-years-old and in a play with 200 audience members. I was playing Marion the Librarian in "The Music Man" and was singing the song "Till there was you." There's a part in the song that goes high and when I went there, my voice cracked. Right there in front of everyone, including my boyfriend at the time. When it happened I just kind of laughed a little and kept singing. All the while I wanted to run off stage.

Journal entry 57--Least Favorites

List ten of your least favorite things.

In no particular order:
1. Littering (especially smokers who think it's okay to throw out cigarette butts)
2. People who annoy me.
3. Going to a nice restaurant, spending money and the food ends up tasting terrible.
4. Traffic
5. People who play their car music loud enough for me to hear a mile away.
6. Not winning a game that I know I can win.
7. Tatoos, body piercing other than ears, any form of self mutilation.
8. People who drive slowly when I'm in a hurry.
9. Cashiers who chat with the person ahead of me causing me to wait.
10. A messy bed in which to sleep.