Tell Me about Yourself Award

During our adoption journey, there have been many surprises. Boarding a plane to China was one--and now we've done that twice. Meeting and discovering our wonderful sons--well, they deliver surprises to us every day. One of the most unexpected surprises is that I find I am suddenly a citizen of the adoption blogging world, a world I never knew existed. And I meet some wonderful people, some of whom I never expect to meet in person, but who are on similar journeys.

One of these blogging friends is Jerusha at Hands Full on Purpose. Jerusha and I met online through our agency, and she traveled to bring home her beautiful son Shu before we traveled to meet our Michael. She's a wonderful, faith-filled writer and an equally outstanding mother (of four) and I love following her blog.

This week she sent me an award--yes, yes, End of the Thread is now an award-winning blog--and, since it's a Tell Me about Yourself Award, it's also a homework assignment.

 

The rules are to
1) thank the person who gave you this award. So thank you, Jerusha!
2) list 7 things people may not know about you.
3) pass it along to a few other bloggers. 

It's almost impossible to think that there are seven things people don't know about me that are actually worth knowing--or even mildly interesting--but I'll do my best.

1. My husband and I met through an online dating site. Then we met in person for our first date on the steps of the church where we are now parishioners--but we had no connection to it at the time. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. Sort of like how our rehearsal dinner was at a Chinese restaurant--years before we talked about adopting from China. Either way, he is my perfect match, an extraordinary and loving father, and I am so blessed to share this journey with him.
2. I am a magnet for poor customer service. Unless you have at least 45 minutes to spare, don't ask me about my worst oil change experience, my frustration in having wireless Internet installed in our house, my attempt to buy Christmas stamps at Christmastime, or anything related to Social Security. Really. There may be a whole blog to come on that last one.
3. I am scared of heights, but I love to fly. My first airplane flight was to Rome. My first flight with John was to Beijing. Yes, after our flights to and from China, I am not as eager to board another long flight. Still, I find flying exhilarating--a true leap of faith, placing yourself in God's hands.
4. I don't sprinkle Parmesan cheese onto pasta. I pour and pour and pour. There are mountains smaller than the mounds of Parmesan cheese I use on noodles. My boys are happily following in my footsteps.
5. Before we brought Louis home from China, I rarely cooked eggs. I could barely fry one. Now--though I still don't care much for eggs myself (yick)--I can make the fluffiest scrambled eggs you've had outside a Chinese breakfast buffet. Well, they may not be quite that good (and they are fully cooked), but the boys love them. And the house always smells like eggs because they are a favorite breakfast food.
6. I collect flyswatters. I have hundreds of them. The boys take a mild interest in them--especially the large, inflatable, squeaky flyswatter we have--but they seem to prefer the trains their father collects.
7. I love country music. Baba, Louis, and Michael don't--unless it's Johnny Cash--so I don't get to listen to it much anymore, but if I got to choose the music in the car, we wouldn't be listening to "Turkey in the Straw" or "Frog He Went a Courtin" or even "John Henry" (a song I liked much more a year ago than I do now) 5,000 times every day. In fact, if the boys aren't quick enough to get into their car seats, I threaten them with listening to what Louis calls "Mama's music." Works like a charm--though it's not likely to get me Mother of the Year.

"Tag, you're it" to my following bloggy friends...and if you choose not to participate, that's absolutely fine!

Amy at Patience Is a Virtue
Annie at Cornbread and Chopsticks
Tanya at Frogs and Snails and Puppy-dogs' Tails
Tobie at Made in China, Loved in America
And my niece Julia! (I won't link to her blog to protect her identity, but I am hoping she will accept my award, and I know she'll participate.) :)

I am not tagging all my wonderful blogging friends, just the ones I think are most likely to find this fun (though I could be wrong), so please don't be offended. I am intentionally not tagging my friend Donna who is leaving for China tomorrow to bring home Michael's friend MaiaJewel (hooray!). I was lucky enough to meet and hug sweet Maia in my arms when we visited Michael's orphanage. We live fairly nearby and are so excited to get our not-so-little ones together later this year. Maia will be Michael's oldest friend, and we're thrilled that she is finally coming home!

And next blog, I promise, won't be about me. Those guys piloting the plane are so much more fun.