After I gave my testimony to the women at my church, I realized that I told about the major God moments in my life, but thought a few fun facts about me would have been nice too.  So here goes:

1.  I am NOT a name brand kinda girl!  If I have name brand clothes on, they were probably yours that you took to Goodwill!  I love Goodwill!

2.  I do my laundry totally "wrong".  Of course my mom taught me to wash with like colors and when to use warm or cold water.  I do my loads according to importance of being folded.  I wash all the undies, socks and pjs together and wash them if I have to leave the house b/c it's ok for them to wrinkle.  Our nice clothes I do when I can get them out of the dryer immediately to avoid having to iron...one of my least favorite things to do!  I also wash everything in cold.  Heard the other day that I'm saving $.25/load by doing this!  :)

3.  I am a clean freak.  I love organizing!!!  Have to bring order to the chaos!  Derrick gets on to me all the time because I clean up after the kids all the time instead of making them do it.  I just know how I like it done and that I can get it done that way.  So the other day I taught them all how to do their individual jobs (the way I like it).  A few weeks in and they are still loving cleaning day...go figure!

4.  Another one of my least favorite things to do is COOKING!!!!  I so need help in this area!  I literally dread every day deciding what's for dinner and with 5 kids none of them like the same things.  Then if I try something new that takes me forever, it never tastes worth the time and effort I put into it.  I would so love a lifetime meal-plan...one that preferably shows up at my door at about 5 p.m. everyday!

5.  I handle all the money in our household.  I budget and pay all the bills.  I'm one of those that pays right away...don't like any late payments!  I knew once I had kids that I wanted to be a stay at home mom, so I have always prioritized what we need and don't need.  For instance, I do my own mani & pedicures; we don't have all the latest technical stuff; we have never had a car payment b/c we have never bought a brand new car; I shop at Walmart, Target and Goodwill;  I try to highight my own hair, but as you've seen lately it's not going so well.  These are just a few of my budget savers.  I have tried coupons, but I usually forget them or if I remember to take them, I forget I have them.  Gotta work on that!

6.  I love the beach!  Always have and I'm assuming I always will.  (Even though my tanning days are catching up with me through a few wrinkles.)

7.  I have written a book on my journey though infertility and will save up to self-publish it.  Just want to give to those going through the same, not to sell.

8.  Derrick and I began dating 20 years ago.  Wow!  And I still love him...even more!  :)

9.  I will be 40 next year.  Oh my gosh!  I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth!

10.  I'm trying to get back to the weight I was before i had all my babies...15 lbs to go!

11.  I love strawberry flavored twizzlers!

12.  My parents and my in-laws are four of my very best friends. 

13.  I enjoy aerobics, rollerblading and swimming.

14.  I have never mown the lawn...don't even know how.  (Pitiful I know!)

15.  I love rings.  Used to wear one on every finger in high school.

16.  I am a reality t.v. show and a facebook junky. However I do not play all the games on FB...just the connect part.

17.  I am shy even though I force myself to overcome.

18.  We get a couple of $5 hot & ready pizzas from Little Ceasars on Friday nights.

19.  I do not like to read.  Never have.  Shh!  Don't tell my kids!

20.  I am completely bored now!  :)

Well, just a few fun facts.  I'd love to know some about you too!

My birthday is tomorrow and I'm sitting here quietly (I know, it's a rare moment among my household!) wondering if the past 38 years mattered?  Who am I? 

I began as a daughter.  A long awaited for daughter.  My parents had prayed for 8 years to have another child, and after two miscarriages, my mom finally had me.  I know I have brought many smiles to their faces and many tears to their  eyes, but I hope that the smiles outweigh the tears!

I then became a child of my precious Savior.  As I think back, it's funny because I know He waited for me a long time too as I shifted through my own way of realizing He was all I needed!  Since I was "born" into His family, I, again, have brought smiles to His face and tears to His eyes, but my daily prayer is to place a big smile on my Heavenly Father's face.  I know I let Him down time and time again, but I'm hoping that the smiles outweigh the tears!

23 years later I became a wife.  Perfect in all my ways!!!! :)  What's up?  Derrick waited for me too!  He turned 30 the day after we were married.  Doesn't the Bible say something about good things come to those who wait????  I'm learning something new about myself through my own blogging!  :)  Anyway, I can definitely say that I try very hard to be a good wife; however, I know I fall short many times!  Thankfully, Derrick and I have a wonderful, healthy marriage and again...I hope the smiles outweigh the tears!

30 years after I was born I became a Mama.  I love this title!  I prayed so long and hard to hear little voices calling me "Mama!"  I do have my days where I have to remind myself of this!  You know one of those days that if you hear "Mama" called one more time you would like to escape to one of those Calgon commercials!  People ask me how I do it with five little ones....I wouldn't have it any other way!  They are my most precious little blessings and I thank my faithful Jesus for them each and every day!  I do pray for patience at times, but I hope that as I rock them to sleep or kiss their bo-bo's or cheer them on that their smiles will outweigh their tears!

I am also a sister, a sis-in-law, a grand-daughter, a niece, an aunt, a cousin, a pastor's wife and a friend.  I thank each of you for allowing me a place in your life whether you had a choice in the matter or not.  I have mentioned before that my life's prayer has been for God to use my life in a MIGHTY way.  I also have another life's prayer...that in some way my life has brought a smile to your face!  If it has been over the last 38 years or if our paths have just crossed, I hope I have a part in making your smiles far outweigh your tears!!!!