So good to go Home!

This past weekend, Paul and I went home to see family. My brother Jon and his lovely wife Amanda had just introduced their new daughter Isabella Mae to their family, and I was eager to meet my first niece. It was so wonderful to see family and (a few) friends in wonderful Michigan! I wish I lived closer to my loved ones, but that will never happen if my loved ones can't be persuaded to move to South Carolina with us in a few years! Michigan has no teaching jobs so we will never be able to live there again. So I shall just have to hope and pray that my loved ones are eager for a South Carolina adventure like we are! :)

While in town, we were quite busy, as always:

On Friday, we saw Julie for lunch, Jon/Amanda/Isabella in the afternoon, and Paul's parents for dinner/evening.

On Saturday, we saw my parents in the morning, went to our nephew Wes' birthday party in the afternoon, and saw Rick, Kevin, and Kyle for dinner/evening fun.

On Sunday, we left right after lunch.

Even though time went quick, we didn't see everyone we wanted (like our nephew Quentin, who was napping during our entire visit to his sister Isabella! Boo!), and we came home tired and already homesick for Michigan, it was still good to come Home. Here is a picture of me and my new niece. Once upon a time, I was not fond of the idea of having a niece, since I don't understand females very well. However, I fell in love with Isabella at first sight! I hope we get along as she gets older! :)
Here is another picture of me, Paul, and Isabella. Jon said while taking the picture: 'Wow, Paul is actually smiling for the camera!' And it's true! I think that means that Paul was as proud and happy of the newest addition to our family as I was. :)

In other news, I have been working hard on my new year's goals: I have been working on my afghan, my quilt, and we finished the 30 day shred! woo hoo! Now we are starting a new exercise routine with our friends. We made an online calendar so that we can all see the exercises no matter where we live. When we do the exercise for the day, we put our names on that day of the online calendar. That way, it makes it both an accountability thing and a competition between friends to help us all push at working out diligently. We shall see how that works out!

Personality Test

I love taking personality tests. Every time I take them, I get the same answer. I always agree with the answer too. But I love to take these tests every once in a while anyway. Why? Well, just by reading about my personality, it is clear why: I like to observe myself (instead of always observing others) occasionally! :) Here is the concluding data about my type of personality. What type are YOU? I would love to know the answer, because I love to know about my friends and family. :) My apologies if you don't find this information as fascinating as I do. There is a chance that people reading this information about me will now understand me a little bit better:

Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging

(ISFJ)

General Info:

1)      ISFJs are characterized above all by their desire to serve others, their "need to be needed."

2)      ISFJs are often unappreciated, at work, home, and play. Ironically, because they prove over and over that they can be relied on for their loyalty and unstinting, high-quality work, those around them often take them for granted--even take advantage of them. Admittedly, the problem is sometimes aggravated by the ISFJs themselves; for instance, they are notoriously bad at delegating ("If you want it done right, do it yourself"). And although they're hurt by being treated like doormats, they are often unwilling to toot their own horns about their accomplishments because they feel that although they deserve more credit than they're getting, it's somehow wrong to want any sort of reward for doing work (which is supposed to be a virtue in itself).

3)      ISFJs place a great deal of importance on their personal relationships. They're generally very giving and loving people, who place the needs of others above their own. They sometimes have a problem with becoming overly emotionally needy, and with keeping their true feelings hidden from others. They take their commitments very seriously, and seek lifelong relationships. ISFJs are extremely dependable, and put forth a lot of energy into keeping things running smoothly.

4) The ISFJ is very warm and selfless. They'll put forth tremendous amounts of energy and time into doing what they feel is their duty. What makes them feel best about themselves is when others show them their appreciation of the ISFJ. Consequently, the best gift that the partner of an ISFJ can give them is the expression of their love and appreciation. 

5) ISFJs have difficulty with conflict situations, and would much prefer to just sweep things under the rug. Sometimes facing a conflict situation helps to resolve it, and the ISFJ should realize that the world will not end if they face the conflict, and express how they feel about it. It's a common problem for ISFJ's to not express their feelings until pushed to some limit, after which they explode in anger and say things which they later feel they shouldn't have said. These kinds of outbursts can be reduced by expressing their feelings on a more regular basis, rather than keeping them pent up inside. 

6) In general, the ISFJ is usually a traditional, family-minded individual who places the comfort of their mates and families as their first priority in life. They're great for providing for everyday basic needs, and have a depth of caring which is very unusual, and not found in most types. They highly invested in the health of their relationships, and will work very hard to make things run smoothly.

ISFJs generally have the following traits:

• Large, rich inner store of information which they gather about people
• Highly observant and aware of people's feelings and reactions
• Excellent memory for details which are important to them
• Very in-tune with their surroundings - excellent sense of space and function
• Can be depended on to follow things through to completion
• Will work long and hard to see that jobs get done
• Stable, practical, down-to-earth - they dislike working with theory and abstract thought
• Dislike doing things which don't make sense to them
• Value security, tradition, and peaceful living
• Service-oriented: focused on what people need and want
• Kind and considerate
• Likely to put others' needs above their own
• Learn best with hands-on training
• Enjoy creating structure and order
• Take their responsibilities seriously
• Extremely uncomfortable with conflict and confrontation

Family:

1)      While their work ethic is high on the ISFJ priority list, their families are the centers of their lives.

2)      ISFJs are extremely warm and demonstrative within the family circle--and often possessive of their loved ones, as well.

3)      They place a strong emphasis on conventional behavior, and if any of their nearest and dearest depart from the straight-and-narrow, it causes the ISFJ major embarrassment: the closer the relationship and the more public the act, the more intense the embarrassment. Over time, however, ISFJs usually mellow, and learn to regard the culprits as harmless eccentrics :-).

4)      ISFJs take infinite trouble over meals, gifts, celebrations, etc., for their loved ones.

5)      ISFJs are committed to their marriage partners. They have very intense feelings, which is not immediately apparent to others because they tend to hold things inside themselves without expressing them, unless they have a strong reason to do so. Their intensity of feeling makes their intimate relationship their first priority in life, with the possible exception of God. They seek monogamous, lifelong commitments, and can be depended upon to be faithful and loyal to their mates once they have made a commitment.

Friends:

1)      Like most Introverts, ISFJs have a few, close friends. They are extremely loyal to these, and are ready to provide emotional and practical support at a moment's notice.

2)      The older the friendship is, the more an ISFJ will value it.

3) Although the ISFJ is likely to place God and family above their friends in their priorities, they genuinely enjoy spending time with friends and colleagues. In fact, ISFJs usually feel a strong need to talk problems and issues over with people before making decisions on their actions. Some ISFJs like to discuss things over with their friends, rather than their families. 

4) ISFJs enjoy spending time with most other types of people. They love to observe people's reactions and emotions in situations, and so enjoy being around diverse types of people. The ISFJ usually remains reserved around others, and does not open up very much. However, since they have a need to talk things over with others in order to make decisions, they do really need some close confidantes in their life. 

5) Friends of the ISFJ will value them for their warmth, dependability, depth of emotional awareness and understanding.

ISFJ Strengths

---

• Warm, friendly and affirming by nature
• Service-oriented, wanting to please others
• Good listeners
• Will put forth lots of effort to fulfill their duties and obligations
• Excellent organizational capabilities
• Good at taking care of practical matters and daily needs
• Usually good (albeit conservative) at handling money
• Take their commitments seriously, and seek lifelong relationships

---

ISFJ Weaknesses

---

• Don't pay enough attention to their own needs
• May have difficulty branching out into new territory
• Extreme dislike of conflict and criticism
• Unlikely to express their needs, which may cause pent-up frustrations to build inside

On my Way

Life has been pretty great lately. I am only teaching one class right now, so I have lots of time off. I thought that would mean that I would have TONS of things done, however, time really flies! Even if you aren't doing much! I have been busy making appointments with doctors, dentists, etc. since it's been WAY too long since I had any of those checkups. I have also been researching herbs like crazy, because I am starting to get into growing herbs for both culinary and medicinal purposes. It should be fun! I sometimes feel like a hippy though :)

The 30 day Shred exercise program is coming along. We just finished day 10(!). 1/3 of the way done. I still hate it and almost threw up again yesterday. Blegh. I can do it though! Just this stupid 30 day program and then I won't feel guilty about being fit for a whole year. I am not just going to stop trying, but I will only do pleasant things afterwards, like walks and eating healthy, etc.

Since I am having so much fun learning about herbs (I start growing them soon!), I thought I would share info on each herb that I am planning on growing, to spread knowledge of the power of herbs! I shall do one herb at a time:

Feverfew (Tanecetum parthenium)
*Parts used: Leaves and Flowers
*Benefits: helps prevent migraines, helps stop headaches, migraines, stress, etc.
*Harvesting: Harvest the fresh leaves at any time. To prevent migraines, eat one leaf per day. Will see amazing results after 2-3 months. You can also make a Tea for migraines: Pour 1 quart of boiling water over 1 ounce of feverfew leaves/flowers as well as 1 ounce of lavender. Let it steep for 20 minutes covered tightly. Strain and drink 1/4 cup of the tea every 30 minutes until headache is gone.

I am looking forward to growing feverfew, since I am hoping for a healthy remedy against my constant headaches/migraines. I am worried about the bad after-effects of taking so many pills for my headaches. I need stronger and stronger doses all the time. It can't be good for my body. Thus, I started looking for healthy, natural ways to stop my headaches. Many herbalists say that eating just one feverfew leaf a day can actually stop migraines from happening! Science researchers have been becoming more and more interested in the feverfew plant for this very reason. I hope it works! If it doesn't, at least I will have a really pretty plant to look at! :)

Spiritual Ponderings

Today we were supposed to go to our small group meeting. There, we were going to read Colossians 3:18-35, part of which states: "Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly..."

I spent a good portion of my day reading the NIV Bible, Greek Bible, internet commentaries, and my wonderful book "Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementary without Hierarchy" by Ronald W. Pierce and Rebecca Merrill Groothuis, to figure out some wise things to say about this notorious Bible verse for our small group meeting.

However, at the last moment, we could not go to our small group. How sad. I actually had ALOT to say about these verses. :)

Anyway, the point of this blog, is that I found something REALLY cool about the Greek words, and if I am not going to blab away about it in small group, I just HAVE to spill out my heart in this blog instead! I am sure that I have said this before, but that "Discovering Biblical Equality" book is AMAZING! It always calms me down after reading certain Biblical verses. :)

Now that I got my promotion of amazing books out of the way, I found out something on my OWN about the verse that blows my mind! The Greek word for 'submit' that is used here is "HYPOTASESTE" (it's hard to write it out in English!). While in its' crude form, it simply means 'submit', the phrasing used in this verse slightly alters this to "submit to one's lot". It is NOT the Greek phrase for "submit to one's superior". This is important. In addition, the Greek word for 'love' is "AGAPE". There are many types of love that are described using different Greek words. For example, "EROS" is passionate/lusty love. "PHILOS" is brotherly love. "AGAPE" is selfless, humble, deep love, like Christ for his people. "AGAPE" love is the most important, serious and beautiful type of love that can be described in Greek.

Some extra background information: It has been said by certain scholars (sorry, another nudge of praise for "Discovering Biblical Equality"!) that Paul's main message in this verse of Colossians and its' almost-twin verse found in Ephesians is that Christians must follow the laws/cultural values of their times AND follow God. (Basically, Paul is trying to make Christianity not look like such a rebellion and more like a welcoming new religion, etc.) Anyway, this makes sense if one looks at the "submit to one's lot" Greek word for wives. It makes this part of the verse mean more "Since it is part of our culture right now, wives, submit to your husbands because that's what you did before being a Christian". THEN you look at the next part of the verse which means "Husbands, AGAPE-love your wives...in other words, love them in the most selfless, submitting, beautiful, humble way..."

So again, the way to actually see this verse is: "Wives, as is culturally fitting at this time, submit to one's lot aka your husbands. Husbands, selflessly and humbly and completely love your wives..."

WOW. I see this verse in two different ways, and both of them take my breath away. The first way I look at this verse: Both Greek words actually mean the same thing. Wives are submitting to their husbands, not as an authority figure but actually because that's the cultural way, and husbands are submitting to their wives by trying to love them in an near-impossible (for humans) way: a selfless, humble, submissive love. The second way I looked at this verse: Men have a more enduring task! Wives only had to be submissive because it was the way of their culture. But the word "AGAPE" does NOT have temporary connotations like "HYPOTASESTE" does. Instead, "AGAPE" is an enduring, eternal love. So husbands, no matter what culture/generation, always must strive to enduringly and selflessly love their wives.

Such a beautiful discovery about this verse. Other people on their own blogs mainly argue that it about how wives must let their husbands be in charge. But I like my version much better. It either means that both wives and husbands both submit to each other OR that husbands have a great responsibility. :) If I had to choose, I like the idea that both submit to each other. In our culture today, it seems like equality and mutual love/respect/submission would produce a happy, healthy marriage.

I love researching things like this and learning from it. What do YOU think of this verse? Do you agree with my findings? Do you have a different opinion on it? I would love to hear in my comment section from anyone who takes time out of their day to read what is on my mind! :)

New Year Thoughts

Christmas Break was lovely. Paul and I spent some time in South Carolina with my parents. Our dream is that someday (probably sooner rather than later) Paul and I will live down there, and we want more than anything to have our families live near us. If my parents move down there, then maybe both of my brothers will move down there, and I can be a more active part of my nephews'/nieces' lives. :) We went hiking, saw waterfalls/lakes/mountains/cousins, etc. We fell in love. We hope to live down there by the year 2012. For now, we continue to fix up the house, pray, and research.

Anyway, I usually do a review of the year thing. This year, I don't feel like looking at the past. I was unhappy at Marquette. I left. I trusted God. I got jobs. Paul and I went fishing alot. Um...that's about it! Instead of going into review of the past year, I eagerly look forward to a future that does not include Milwaukee. I also look eagerly to the future when it comes to good habits and goals.

Thus, in an unusual manner (for me), I have some New Year resolutions. They are mainly simple things that I want to do this year. I am NOT going to obsess over them and force things to happen. But I think I can survive one more year in this terrible, terrible city if I have some fun goals to keep myself occupied:

1. I want to take more pictures this year.

I realized the other day that I have hardly any pictures of my baby/dog Athena! Yet she is an important part of my life! I need to fix this. I also have never taken pictures of the rooms in our house that we have worked so hard on. I want to fix this too. Finally, I am surrounded by a few very cool friends, and I only take pictures with them when on vacations. I love my Paul, but most of our pictures are of us with fish. I love my family, and I want more pictures of them in my house. So I am hoping to take my camera with me to places and to use it.

2. I want to finish my quilt.

I like sewing, but I hate the process of getting the sewing machine out, setting it up, getting the thread ready, etc. I recently put up an old table in our extra room, though, so I will permanently set up my sewing machine. That way, when I have the urge to work on my quilt project, it will be much easier to start.

3. I want to finish my half-knitted afghan.

Years ago, I started this beautiful afghan. Everyone compliments the parts that I have finished. However, it was a pain in the butt. After EVERY row, the yarn gets terribly tangled and I have to spend the next hour untangling it. No exaggeration. I quit my project. However, the half finished parts just keep staring at me. I now want to get it done and out of my closets! I just need to find the guidebook (possibly in our attic space?) and I will finish this and be proud.

4. I am restarting AND finishing the 30-day-shred!

There is this "amazing" exercise program that is supposed to have dramatic results in 30 days. Paul and I started it in the fall, but after two weeks of one of us being sick and then the other, we just stopped trying. We only go through 6 days of the stupid program. I hate exercising. I hate sweating, I hate routines, I hate forcing myself to do stupid exercise movements. I would rather live in South Carolina and go hiking every weekend. However, I live in this Crappy City in the cold and dark (dark at 4:30 every day), there is nothing else to do to get in shape. If you go for walks at night, you WILL get mugged. Thus, I shall do this stupid program and I better get results. Lucky for us, we have a whole bunch of friends doing it too and we are all keeping each other accountable. Blegh. 4 days done, 26 more to go...


I had other resolutions too, but I can't remember them right now. And now dinner is ready. I will write more another day. :)

Busy living a fulfilling life :)

I thought I would post more entries now that my life isn't so crazy busy and stressful. However, now the opposite thing has happened but with the same results: now my life is full of blessings and fun, so that I never think "I should post an entry" because I am off doing other fun things. :)

Things have been great. I have been teaching at two Universities and I am so blessed to be a college teacher. My Carroll students were taking their final exam, with their heads bent over their work, and I just smiled and thought: "Even if they don't like the course, they all LEARNED something in it! From me!" I have found that there is nothing more satisfying than spreading knowledge.

I had a terrific Thanksgiving break, in which I did Christmas baking, had an amazing steak dinner with my beloved Paul, decorated for Christmas, played board games with my beloved and read books for fun. That's right! I am reading books for fun again! I didn't think I would be able to read for fun again for a few more years (for those that don't remember: graduate school had me reading hundreds of books each semester, and something happened that I never thought was possible: I got sick of reading!), so I am very pleased to be able to enjoy reading again. Paul and I went to the library this past weekend and got plenty of books to read over Christmas break. I am excited to start!

We are very eager to go on Christmas break. I am officially done after today, but now I have loads and loads of laundry to do (the laundry needed to be done since Thanksgiving break, but I kept putting it off!) and packing and cleaning so that we can leave. Depending on the weather, we are either leaving for lovely Michigan/Home on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. I am hoping we leave on Tuesday night, since I prefer night driving (less traffic in Chicago) and we have a Christmas party on Wed. night, and I don't want to rush around a lot. We are in Michigan until Christmas. Then, on the 26th, we are leaving for South Carolina with my parents.

This trip is half-pleasure and half-scoping the area. We are hoping that (1) My parents find jobs down there and want to move (2) We find that we like the area as well so that we can get more serious about researching homes/jobs so that we can move down there too.

We hate Milwaukee. This city is not meant for us to live permanently. We are so eager to get out of this crappy city, that we are contemplating giving the govn't back the 8,000 bucks we got from them as first home buyers (in order to keep the money, you need to live in your home for 3 years at least) and just move to South Carolina sooner rather than later. The next two years should be interesting for us. My dream would be to see my whole family and my friends live in South Carolina near me. I am tired of being away from them all, and it is probably never possible to move back to Michigan because no one there is hiring.

Well, time to put in yet another load of laundry! This is day two of laundry (both days I started right away in the morning and stopped at bedtime), and I think I will still be doing laundry tomorrow as well! Maybe someday I will stop being so lazy about getting this stuff done. :)

tomboy fashion problems

UGH.
Sometimes, I hate that I am naturally a tomboy. I sometimes wish that I had been born like most average females, with the mentality that wearing dresses, ribbons, lace, and pink is fun and pretty.
Instead, I was born already being a fiery, stubborn lass that wants to be different. I want to be different in my mentality, my dreams and goals and also in how I dress. You see, I have always thought that female clothes and fashions were varied mixes of: immodest, uncomfortable, unimpressive, bland, and ordinary. Especially the first two, immodest and uncomfortable.

Women wear lots of clothes that are: thin fabrics, clingy fabrics, low-cut shirts, short short skirts/shorts, skin-tight, accessory-dependent, etc. It's so frustrating. I guess I am one of very very few females in this world that does not want to be uncomfortable. Think about all the times you have seen females pulling on their clothes because they are so uncomfortable.

Now think about guys. Sigh. Guys are so smart about fashion. Just jeans and a t-shirt. Nothing crazy. Just nice, loose clothing. They wear their shorts long and loose, so that they are comfortable. They wear loose shirts -even dress shirts don't usually cling to guy bodies- so that they are comfortable. They even wear comfortable swimming trunks. While it is true that guy fashion is starting to look more uncomfortable (aka feminized), guys can still just wear jeans and a t-shirt and it's still a popular and typical look.

Then there is me. I am a female that *gasp* wants to be COMFORTABLE in the clothes that I wear! I am unique in that way, I guess. I have, since I can remember, preferred guy clothes to female ones for the very reason of modesty and comfortableness. For example, I don't understand why girl shirts have to cling to bodies while guy shirts can be loose. However, I can admit it easily: guy clothes make me look frumpy. Why? Because the shirt linings are farther spaced at the shoulders (because guys have broader shoulders) and the jeans/pants/shorts are made...um, for guy anatomy parts, so they are bunchy in weird places on me. I have dealt with this frumpiness because, even though I spend hours at the mall every year, I have yet to find female fashions that are comfortable. (Every year I hope for a change, and alas, the changes in fashion do not get more comfortable).

But now I am more frustrated than before. You see, I thought that maybe the internet would save me from my frustrations with fashion. I thought that maybe there would be some awesome tomboy fashion site, that simply took guy clothes and made them fit female body shapes better. But apparently, I am alone in this large world for desiring comfortable female clothes. If you don't believe me, simply google 'tomboy fashion' and here are a few things you will see:

Notice that the seven-lady picture shows women in skirts. Why would tomboys wear this? I cannot think of anything more uncomfortable than a skirt. I hate how paranoid I get about my skirt being stuck in my underwear, or my skirt getting ripped or my skirt flying up and showing off my underwear or me tripping and my skirt rising up and showing off my underwear, etc. Skirts are awful. This google image is a lie. This is NOT tomboy fashion! The next image is not better. The first lady is wear skin-tight jeans with crazy looking heels. NOT tomboy fashion! The middle lady is either wearing a short skirt or short shorts. This is not comfortable! This is NOT tomboy fashion! And look at those heels! The third lady is the closest to a tomboy, but her shirt is too lowcut and her pants are still too tight. How did she even get those pants over her feet?

Not only am I apparently the only person on the planet that wants comfortable, loose guy-like clothes made for a woman's body, but I also seem to be the only female who does not want to look like a slut on the beach. I hate female bathing suits so much. I have never worn one to the beach, not even as a teenager, without shorts and a t-shirt over it. I struggled for years trying to figure out how to have fun on the beach and still wear a bathing suit, since t-shirts and shorts get soaking wet and are uncomfortable in the water. Surely, I thought, SOMEONE has a website selling bathing-suit material modest clothes?! Alas, I found nothing. I found some sites for muslim or mormon women bathing suits. They are dresses for the water. Ugh. Why on earth would I want to wear a dress?!? I then thought that maybe surfer websites would have tomboy swimming suit ideas. Alas, I can get girl surfer shorts, that are super short and incredibly skin tight. Why would I want this?!? I found a temporary solution, but it still does not make me happy: I wear guy swimming trunks with a female exercise top (that dries quickly b/c it's suppose to be sweat proof). The female top is still too clingy and way too low cut, but it's the best I can find.

Why did I just write this entire, very long post/rant? Because I am begging the world to please start noticing tomboys. I am certain that I am not the only female that wants to be comfortable. But we will never know how many tomboys exist out there if we cannot join up and beg the fashion community for clothes. If anyone has been interested in making their own fashion business, well, I have good news. There is a HUGE gap in the tomboy fashions! You could start your own business in that field and have no competitors! Everyone, please tell everyone else you know to spread the word: I am a tomboy and I want clothes! Cloth me! I have money! I would be a great customer! You don't even have to be very creative if you don't want! Just simply copy guy fashions and make them adaptable for female bodies. It's so simple.

So please, help me. I want to be comfortable for once.