25 Things (I Don’t Want You To Know ) About Me

Posted on 03.17.09 in Faith Blogging and there are

Yes, I Realize That’s A Frighteningly Dorky Picture

I know that in the world of blogging (and Facebook) it’s so easy to just show the world the good stuff.

“I run races with my kids!”

“I get up at 5:30am!”

“I’m a fun mom!”

And it’s easy, when reading about other people, to think, “Wow. They eat all organic foods, have a family fun night EVERY night, homeschool, take European vacations, wear the latest fashions, go on family mission trips, run marathons together, make their own all-natural cleaning supplies and have never forgotten their kid at school. I’m such a loser.”

But it’s important to remember that no one is perfect. We all have stuff we don’t blog about.

My List

So, I thought I’d make a list of “25 Things (I Don’t Want You To Know) About Me.”

1. I once FORGOT TO PICK MY DAUGHTER UP FROM SCHOOL (oh yes. I did.).

2. Sometimes I do (or have my kids do) goofy things just so I can blog about it. 

3. I look for attention too much.

4. I sneak candy when my kids aren’t watching.

5. My ceiling fans all have a decorative layer of fuzz.

6. I often stay up way too late.

7. I care too much about how I look.

8. When reading a blog post with a scripture passage in it, I usually skip over it.

9. I eat frosting from a can. With a spoon.

10. I don’t floss regularly.

11. I fall asleep during my morning time with God. (Just for a “minute")

12. I check Facebook during my morning time with God. (Real “quick")

13. I check my email during my morning time with God. (Real “quick")

14. Checking email, Facebook and napping never happen as “quickly” as I plan.

15. I’m usually late.

16. While the kids are awake, my house is a mess.

17. I get frustrated with my kids. Daily. Hourly sometimes.

18. I rarely send birthday cards or gifts on time.

19. I don’t want to be an overseas missionary.

20. I have no idea how to use a semicolon.

21. I’m having trouble coming up with 25 things I don’t want you to know that I’m still willing to tell you.

22. I like Kelly Clarkson songs.

23. I pout.

24. I look at my blog stats too much.

25. I’m so bad at laundry that my kids know to look for socks in the basket in my room.

There you go. 25 things I’m not very proud of.

The Challenge

You probably have things that you’re not proud of either. So here’s the challenge. Let’s live our lives honestly and openly but in a way that results in daily, monthly and yearly change.

Last year “I don’t have a daily time of prayer and Bible reading” would have been on my list. But that changed. Granted it’s not always perfect (see 11-13) , but I show up and it gets richer each time.)

Perhaps next year I’ll learn how to use a semicolon or be faithful about sending cards and gifts.

Your Turn

So what’s something on your list? (Or what is something you’ve recently knocked off your list?)

(Annie, I hope you’ll still be my friend even though I DID do the 25 Things thread. I just did it a little differently.)

The Comments:

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1. I didn’t make my bed THE ENTIRE TIME I was in college. For 4.5 years.

2. I have the cutest, happiest, sleepiest baby in the world and I get frustrated with him sometimes.

3. I go over our budget ON PURPOSE very occasionally.

4. I like sugar and processed foods way too much.

5. I say I need things when I know I don’t.

6. I obsess about my mommy body too much and wish I had my old body back.

We are all so broken.

Kat-

This post makes me so proud of you.  I wish I didn’t hide behind pretty words so often.  You inspire me not to anymore.  Here goes.  (deep breath)

1.  I’m entirely too independent.
2.  My Bible is underneath two trashy maganzines on my nightstand.
3.  I’m a people pleaser.
4.  Money burns a hole in my pocket.
5.  William Faulkner’s from MS, and I don’t even care.
6.  I listen to country music.  A lot.

I LOOOVE this idea and am going to spend the day thinking about it. I can say that one issue is that I’m going to struggle with pride over my “things I’m not proud of” list. Again, great idea ... it’s so INSPIRED!

Ok, that’s one of the best posts I’ve read in a long time. I think as bloggers there’s the “cool authenticity"- you know, the kind where we admit to stuff that makes us sound amazingly spiritual or approachable - and then there’s the “uncomfortable authenticy” where we admit to stuff that doesn’t make us look cool or spiritual. Chances are everybody struggles with it and yet we still are embarrassed.

You’re totally right though. That photo at the top of this post and some of this stuff you talk about is a side of you I probably would never have seen had you not let your guard down a bit. Sure, we prefer people to think of us as super-parents or amazingly spiritual but the plain and simple fact is that most of the time we’re not.

Awesome, awesome post.

That was SO refreshing!  Thanks, girl!

Yeah… what’s up with that hat, anyway?  Uh… Blossom?

But seriously…

1. I homeschool… and it sucks.

2. I’m overwhelmed on a daily basis… even though I’m always simplifying.

3. My standards for everyone (my family and myself included) are ridiculously high and unobtainable, and I often have little room for grace.

4. I want everyone to communicate loads of grace to me in overt ways, or I get moody.

Now, for something that used to be on my list that isn’t anymore.... hmmmm....

I used to care more about tasks than people.  Things like #3 used to not bother me.  It bothers me now.

Wow...this is an amazing post. So inspiring!  Count me in on this for tomorrow’s post!

I loved this post and your transparency. Here are some of mine:

1.  I fall asleep during my time with God.  (I’m so glad I’m not the only one!)
2.  When people sing solos in church, instead of listening to the lyrics, I’m criticizing their voices in my head. (I know, it’s terrible!)
3.  I ALWAYS have to be right.  Even when I’m wrong.
4.  I complain.  A LOT.
5.  I eat ice cream out of the carton when my husband’s not around. 
6.  I have a really hard time staying focused when I pray.

I’m working this year on having a daily Bible reading and prayer time.  The prayer time especially is something I long for God to enrich and grow because I feel so much more connected to Him when my prayer life is strong.

Kat- I KNOW we’d be friends if we ever connected in your town....

I also skim over scripture passages in posts, sneak candy and look for too much attention.

I am currently taking the discipline from my running and adding it to other areas of my life. This morning I reset my alarm for 30 more minutes, just to be up in time for my track date and was going to skip my quiet time. Then I honestly wanted to get up and hang out with God. COULD NOT have said that 2 months ago.

I will be working on my own list.....if I am that brave......

Rejoice! Aren’t you glad that God made us all different and none if us will EVER be perfect “until that day...” You’re still a wonderful, caring and loving Daughter and a VERY blessed Wife and Mom!

1) I graduated home school at 16. I am neither a brain or retarded. I’m just normal.

2) I often get very distracted when talking to loved ones on the phone & I just want to get off the phone.

3) It is frustrating that I do the exact same job as my husband at our church *even preaching* & yet people still refer to me by my first name & him by Pastor.

4) When I get angry my hands shake.

5) I am addicted to yahoo answers

6) I’m not sorry my ex husband didn’t want to be married to me.

In response to #5: I thought that layer of dust simply assisted the circulation of air...you’re supposed to dust those things?

I loved today’s blog.  Here goes:

1.  I secretly enjoy watching my husband’s tropical fish swim around the tank.
2.  I am the slowest marathoner I have ever met: 5 hrs 37 min
3.  I talk to the Lord in my car, and I am sure that I look like a complete fool. 
4.  I take a secret delight in seeing control freaks be thwarted.  Hee, hee, hee.
5.  I kiss my dog everyday.
6.  My kids have turned into really cool friends as adults, and it is kind of a mystery to me because they used to drive me crazy every single day when they were little.

Mindi,

I am so glad you told us #6.  I now have hope!

I actually totally love this list.  You are amazing and I’m proud to call you my friend.

I read this earlier today & thought, “Nope, not gonna do it.” But I kept thinking about Kat’s transparency & wanted to see if I could do it, too.
1. I am NOT a creative blogger.
2. I am *so* not a cool mom. Just ask my kids.
3. I don’t pay enough attention to my ever-patient husband. (OUCH)
4. My TV is on a lot. Often for background noise, but still…
5. I don’t exercise regularly. Don’t tell my doctor. Although she probably knows.
6. I use semicolons excessively. (That one’s for you, Kat.)
7. There are Christmas gifts for my parents in a box in my room that have still not been sent.
8. This is way harder than I thought it would be. Thank you, God, for grace.

Okay, I’ve thought of one (and, yes, I probably will come back with more whenever I feel like it...):

1. Over the fifteen years I worked for the church, my favorite services were the perfectly planned programs that went wrong. Why? A) there’s something seriously funny about songs sung off-key or plants falling over during “the serious part” of the sermon and B)I think “perfectly planned programs” forget to include God.

2. I suspect my “B” explanation is self-righteous baloney.

Kat,

Inspiring post.  We are all lying to each other aren’t we?

1.  I filed for divorce this year, but put it on hold for one final round of counseling hoping this time it would work

2.  I hate some specific people

3.  every sunday at church for the last 18 months someone has said something that has hurt my feelings

4.  I think I’m having panic attacks or maybe I’m going crazy or both

5.  my kids sneak out of their beds at night and listen to us fight & argue outside our door

6.  we are getting help, being helped and our community is highly aware ( relax )

7.  my house smells like the litter box today so I’m in my room with the door closed and scented candles burning when I should clean the danged thing out

8.  I won’t link to my blog because I just won’t

9.  I could go on and on and on but I won’t

OK, I did it on my “just random thoughts type blog” (not the one linked above). So, enjoy my boring list. http://proverbs31womanintraining.blogspot.com/2009/03/25-things-i-dont-want-you-to-know-about.html

We could be twins.
Sans the kids.
And the icing.

You all are AWESOME! I love the honesty happening here!

I pray that a year from now, most of these things on our lists will be things of the past.

(Except for the icing one, of course.)

This is such a good idea and so true!!!!

The reality is that everyone has bad days, and no one is perfect.

My confession is that on a day like today where my husband has been traveling for 4 plus days, and will be gone for another week or so, I haven’t been sleeping well, and I have a sick child, my TV will be on more than usual, and we will be eating leftovers or snacks all through the day- I will not cook today! I am very grumpy, my kids are driving me nuts today.. so I had to go through the alphabet and thank God for something with each letter of the alphabet, to get me a little less grumpy.  Ironically my kids names are all in the beginning, A,B, and C.  ha!

I think I have a can of frosting in my fridge… hmmm.

Ha!  That made me laugh.  Mostly because I do quite a few of the things you listed as well… Thanks for being real.

I love your list! I feel like you peeked in my head and pulled out my own thoughts. I hopped over to your blog from your link on we are that family.  Love what I have seen! Adding you to my blog roll!

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