Taking the Challenges: The Letter “T” & Twenty-five Things about Me

Beth VogtFun, Life, Reality 40 Comments

Graffiti me -- and a little Goth too (but that's a long story!) Thanks to my friend Marty Osborn for the fun artistic effect!

 

I know, I know. This is a blog about quotes — not about me. And usually my blog posts are short.

But I’ve been invited by other blogging friends to “list x number of things about yourself” — and never complied. I’ve always been too busy … pushed to the max by deadlines and “to dos” and … really? Too busy for a little fun?

So then this past Wednesday rolled around. My friend Coleen Patrick blogged about the letter “L,” inviting anyone to join the letter-fun and offering to pick a letter for us. So, I said, “Why not?” and requested a letter. She gave me the letter “T.”

And then my friend Kim Henson of “Do you like cake?” fame (and so much more!) had such a fun “I Listed 25 Things About Myself … you should try it some time” blog post on Thursday.

Which brings us to today: The letter “T,” brought to you by me (and Coleen, of course), in a “Twenty-five Things About Me” post. Let the fun begin!

  1. I am a twin. (Oh, look, I’m sticking with the letter “T.” This won’t happen for all 25 things, I assure you.) My sister, Brenda, and I are fraternal twins. Our parents called us “Day” and “Night” because I was fair and she was dark. I always liked that.
  2. I went to Catholic school and, at one time, considered being a nun. I think most young Catholic girls do at one point in their lives. I even corresponded with a nun for a year — and she encouraged me to explore life before making a decision. I obviously opted out of the convent.
  3. I was a spelling bee champ in school. Loved spelling bees. Math, not so much … which brings me to #4 …
  4. I am the original carrier of math-anxiety. It all started here, folks. The minute anyone starts talking math, the white noise turns on in my head.
  5. I one time dated five different guys named Michael at the same time. This was at the end of high school … and no, I was not a runaround kind of girl. It just happened. Now do you want to know what I did when I received a bouquet of roses signed “From Michael”?
  6. The movie “The Kid” is one of my all-time favorite movies. When Bruce Willis yells, “I’m OK” — I want to jump up and yell it with him.
  7. I do not like scary movies. At. All. One rule in the Vogt Family: If even one person is scared by a movie or TV show, we don’t watch it.
  8. If God had asked me what talent I’d like to have — not that I’m complaining or anything, I’m just having fun with this list — I would have asked for the singing voice good enough to land me on Broadway — and the dancing ability too, of course.
  9. I kiss my kiddos good night every night until they leave for college … because that day comes way-too soon. They may not remember, but I do.
  10. A regret: That I canceled a trip to Europe because my then-boyfriend asked me not to go. S-T-U-P-I-D. The right guy would have said “Have fun and make sure to send a postcard!”
  11. It took me way-too long to look in the mirror and like what I saw.
  12. Romance for me is an impromptu dance in the kitchen with my husband.
  13. I’ve lived in Turkey. Thank you, Uncle Sam, and the fact that I married a military man. I did not know that the Air Force could send you to Turkey — for two years.
  14. I think it’s a wonderful thing to look at your adult children and think “I wish I had been more like you when I was your age.”
  15. I realized a few years ago that I was an “Accidental Pharisee.” Blogged about it for a while … about how I was attempting to step away from the comfortableness of legalism into God’s lavish grace.
  16. I know for a fact that a kidney stone is more painful than labor. How? Because I had a kidney stone when I was 8 months pregnant with my fourth child. This was also when I discovered that morphine is a wonderful thing.
  17. I sing in my car — loud. Sometimes I dance. My daughters usually joined in. My son was glad when he got his own car.
  18. My favorite Christmas song is “Silent Night.” I love to attend a candlelight service and sing that song. Then I’m ready to celebrate Christmas.
  19. I am craft-challenged. I gave my sewing machine away when I turned 30. I haven’t missed it.
  20. I love hummingbirds. I have a wonderful hummingbird story — but for now, I will just say that when I see or hear a hummingbird, I hear God saying, “I love you.”
  21. My one word definition of marriage? W-O-R-K. But it is so, so worth the work.
  22. I am a gluten-free gal. But so are a lot of other people, so it’s no big deal.
  23. I need my girlfriends. They enrich my life. I like to give my friends nicknames. You’ve been warned.
  24. I am living my dream, having the chance to write. How many people can say that? I sat in a conference one time where a speaker urged us to go out and pursue our dreams. I sat there and cried because I realized I was living my dream.
  25. My favorite place to be? In my husband’s arms. (I bet you thought I was going to say the mountains or the beach …)

If you’re reading this post, well, first … thank you! And I invite you to join the fun and share something about yourself (starting with the letter “T” or not!) in a comment below — and then post your own Twenty-five Things About Me blog post!

Comments 40

  1. We have an insane amount in common. That much is true from this post. I hear you loud and clear on the math and would love a strong singing voice (but sing anyway I do). Oh, and I’m just getting started! Loved reading more about you!!!

    1. I can echo your words, Wendy! I can relate to so many of these. I’ve always wished I could sing, too. My husband sings and I’ve thought a hundred times: I wish we could do a duet together. Good thing we’re doing a duet in life. 🙂

  2. I loved learning about you, Beth! It appears we have quite a few things in common…one I wish we didn’t-kidney stones during pregnancy! Awful!

    1. Well, of all the things to have in common, a kidney stone is the one thing we should have skipped, don’t you think?
      🙂

  3. That’s quite a post, fun but also valuable, and love the graphic, though it surprised me. I can’t take time today to do the list but I’m definitely mulling. Let’s say that one of my greatest fears was that life would be boring–and it isn’t.

    1. The Goth-look is from a Murder Mystery Dinner party Rob and I attended a couple years ago. My character was Conika Gothica, a Goth-editor. Yep, still had the whole writing-thing going on. I had a blast actually. I took Amy shopping at Goodwill for my ensemble — and even bought a wig for the right “look.”

  4. One thing about me…

    We moved Friday the 13th to a house on Elm Street [and made an offer on our second house on 06/06/06]

    😀

    Good thing we’re not superstitious!

    1. OK … that freaks me out just a bit.
      But if anyone’s personality can counterbalance all that freaky stuff … it’s you!

    2. Give me a letter, Beth, dear, and I’ll post next week.

      I’m not sure what we’re going to do for our 3rd house… 😀

    1. I can sing, Pat, but it’s more “let me sing in a group” kind of a thing — not front and center with the spotlight on me.
      😉

    1. Okay, now you’re making me nervous, Melissa …

      Unless you’re going with the “Twenty-five things about me” idea!
      😉

  5. I love this, and that we too, have so much in common. 🙂 I have to admit, I got a tear in my eye when I read your last one. So beautifully said.

    Let’s see, one thing about me…I moved three times in the first 1 1/2 years of marriage. Wouldn’t trade, but wouldn’t want to repeat it, either. :). One more: I like to dance in the kitchen with my husband.

  6. Okay, Beth…I did an “All About Me” post last year, but I think I only listed 10 things. You’ve just stepped it up a notch! 🙂 I’m going to challenge all my blogger/writer friends to do this, too!

    And just a word about what we have in common: I strongly dislike math. As in, I’m so glad there won’t be math class in Heaven! I always kiss my kiddos before bed, too (even though one just recently graduated college.) I’m not a twin, but my mother is. Hate scary movies. Not gluten-free, but we do a lot of healthy, probiotic stuff. I have a grown child and one who’s 10 years younger proving God does have a sense of humor. 🙂

    1. Cynthia:
      Your mom is a twin? How fun! Fraternal or identical?
      And I have a caboose kiddo too — you know that, right?
      🙂

  7. So cool to learn more about you Beth (and that grafitti art is awesome)!! I also went to Catholic school and wanted to be a nun–but turned out I wanted to have kids more. 🙂 And I think it would be great to be able to sing “for real” but that doesn’t stop me in the car either!
    Thanks so much for the shout out Beth 🙂

    1. Coleen,
      Thanks for dropping by and for giving me the letter “T” for today. Between you and Kim, I’ve had a fun Friday!
      🙂

  8. I loved this. I know, I know–I didn’t follow the rules. My brain’s fogging from writing all morning, but this post was a nice little break and I enjoyed getting to know you better.
    Dabney

  9. This was so fun…I do want to play.

    Touch….I walk through clothing stores touching all the clothing. The feel of an outfit is almost more important than the color or style.

    I’ll be posting soon! Blessings.

    1. Tina, so glad you’re going to play the game too.
      Wow — love that interesting fact about you. That’s a characteristic to give a heroine in a book, you know? Could have fun with it …
      🙂

  10. Beth,

    What a fun way to learn more about you!

    I love simple romance – the dance in the kitchen is spot on for me. Have you ever read Rose is Rose, the comic strip? She and I have so much in common – and I think I see you there, too.

    Hugs,
    Becky

  11. It’s funny how much about a person you learn from these sorts of lists. I like them a lot.

    Math is not my strong suit. It’s like my brain clouds over. I also hate scary movies. I was also big into spelling bees.

    …total side note: a friend just called and has a free ticket for me to go see Beth Moore with her this evening. Yay! I’d wanted to go, but the tickets were a bit pricey for my budget. Guess God thinks I need to be there.

    1. Marney,
      How fun that we share those similarities … and I had the chance to see Beth Moore this summer too … but it was during the evacuation and I knew I’d get there, sit down and fall asleep.
      Enjoy!

  12. I love, love, love your list, Beth. So happy you did it! And T … the perfect letter for your year, with trust being so important and all. Since this is your blog (and not mine), I’ll resist my urge to comment on each one. Bad as I want to, I will practice self discipline.

    But ones I can’t pass up –

    #2 I wanted to be a nun (!!!), especially after watching the movie The Flying Nun (closest I got was marrying a Catholic boy who went to Catholic school … I think that was a better plan)
    #8 I’d choose singing also. No, really, I would. I’m not just being a copycat. We could form a duet and be The Icing on Your Cake Sisters. Bahahaha.
    #11 The mirror … mmm, some days I still have trouble, but I can look at friends and see my reflection in them and that sure helps. Love my girlfriends too. Glad you’re one.
    #15 Grace over legalism. A slogan to live by.

    Okay, your blog, not mine. That’s it.

    1. Oh, I love all your comments, Kim.
      So thankful our paths have crossed via the blogosphere … now let’s do it face-to-face, ‘k?

      🙂

      You and me: The Icing on the Cake Sisters!

  13. Love this! You’re as much fun as I thought you were!

    Yes, ixnay on the scary movies! And two enthusiastic thumbs up on the loud, in the car singing and dancing…with your daughters!

    I offered to be a nun, but God let me keep my boyfriend…and marry him, which has still equated to serving Him all my life with all that I am…for the past 30 years.

    I was voted least likely to leave my small home town…but I did manage to move 15 miles into the not-so-big city. Been here ever since.

    I love coffee, dark chocolate, laughter, great conversations and thinking. (my T word)

    There’s more, but maybe I’ll take the blog challenge…in the near future…because I’m also a grandma and my newest little sugar muffin is in town visiting for a week. ((squeal!))

    Thanks for posting!

    p.s. I love math. Nobody’s perfect.

    1. Bernadette,
      It’s OK that you like math … when we go out for lunch together, I’ll let you handle figuring out the tip!
      😉

  14. I love your list. As you know, I’m a twin, too. We never used “night” and “day” just good and evil. It’s more of a joke than anything. Oh, No. 5 made my head swim. I like that house rule on scary movies. I just have a notebook during action scenes, so I can look away during home viewing.

  15. I loved this, Beth! I’m always intrigued when people sit down to compile a list like this one – what will they think of? Yours was so good and it was fun learning little bits and pieces about you. Do you have a nick name, too?!?!

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