25 Things

I saw this on my friend's blog and thought I would do it too! Here are 25 things that you may or may not know about me....try it out yourself - it was sort of fun!

1. I was born as a preemie in 1974 with a club foot, a few toes (that the doctor’s were able to ‘make’ into 9 all together), and 8 fingers. I wore corrective shoes for 9 years of my life every night while I slept. I went through several surgeries and can confidently put on my doctor’s check list that I have had legitimate plastic surgeries! I was envious of girls who wore thongs and who could paint their toe nails. I stopped wearing sandals at age 9 because I was tired of people pointing, staring, and whispering. When I turned 30, I made a vow that I would wear sandals confidently. Though I’m still self conscious, I do paint my one toe nail for the world to see =)

2. I love fragrances – the smell of perfume, cologne (meow), candles, lilac flowers, babies after a bath, fresh cut grass, hay, coffee (I won’t drink it) and yes, even the gas station. However, I hate the smell of syrup in the morning. Makes me want to gag.

3. Jell-O should never contain food such as fruit cocktail, peaches, or shredded carrots. Same goes with cottage cheese and yogurt. My throat kind of closed up a little thinking about all of that.

4. I saw Cindy Crawford and her husband in Santa Monica a few years ago. It’s safe to say that I was completely star struck and they are two incredibly beautiful people not only in magazines, but in person, too. They are the closest brush with fame that I have gotten.

5. Olivia Newton-John was my idol. I seriously thought I could sing like her. I would record myself in my little Sony tape recorder and when I listened to it over again, I was painfully aware that I sounded like her ailing cat instead. I remember sitting in the corner behind my bed crying one night because I knew I was a terrible singer. I can’t even sing karaoke with my friends because I’m still embarrassed by how I sound.

6. When I would play with my Barbie, I would use my brother’s Big Jim doll and Six Million Dollar Man as her boyfriend(s), but they were both named ‘Jonathan’ in my head. It sounded so much more manly to me. I still like that name.

7. I was always jealous of my friends who were treated like princesses by their dads.

8. I think I’m a really good dancer. I dream about what it would be like to be on Dancing with the Stars without the all over body pain. My boyfriend in college and I tried out some figure skating moves in the living room when the ’98 Winter Olympics in Nagano were on – he would lift me over his head and I would be straight as a board like Super Woman… I really thought I was a good carpet skater.

9. If I had to choose between cake and ice cream at a birthday party, I always go for the ice cream. I love mint chocolate chip with fine chips… not the chunky junk at Cold Stone. However, I love chocolate ice cream with peanut butter swirls in it, too. I hate strawberry ice cream because again, this goes back to having food in something good…it just messes everything up.

10. I am very protective of my family. I can talk about them, but nobody else can.

11. I marched in the Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl parades when I was in high school and played the trumpet. It was such a highlight of my life back then because the only reason I made it was because I worked hard to get there. I can’t read music all that well, but if I hear a song and how it’s supposed to sound, I am able to ‘read’ it on my own.

12. I am a hypochondriac, I have had panic attacks, I pick my lip when I worry or think about things. I have too many OCD tendencies that drive me nuts. But it all works for me. Sorta.

13. I’m at a point in my life where I’m scared that I won’t be able to have children someday. All I want is to be a wife, a mother, lead by example, teach my kids about God’s love, and live long enough to watch them grow up and branch out on their own.

14. I love traveling and seeing the country side. The beach and ocean is my favorite, but looking at the mountains is a close second…

15. I have been in 9 weddings.

16. I love being in love…the butterflies, the excitement, the anticipation, surprises, and knowing that somebody is into you just as much as you’re into them. I have had my heart broken way more times than I have been in love though… In God’s timing, the future Mr. Marcie will make up for all the boys that have hurt me. The hardest part about being single is the lack of cuddling.

17. I have been to 26 states – I’m over halfway to seeing them all!

18. I have never inhaled….either cigarettes or the doobs. Too scared that I would like them…

19. When I was a kid, I used to have recurring dreams that the devil lived behind the babysitter’s furnace. Every time I would walk by it in my dream, he would reach out and grab my arm, but I would break free and run upstairs to safety. Not only was I petrified of the furnace, I almost think it’s symbolic today that my dreams are so significant – I also broke free and look ‘up’ for my safety now.

20. I don’t have any feeling in the lower half of my lip and chin after getting my wisdom teeth pulled and cutting a nerve. So if you see stuff drizzling down my face, please let me know – I can’t feel it.

21. I used to be a good artist and I sometimes wonder if I could pick it up again. However, I love taking pictures more than anything. I have 8 albums that hold 504 pictures each and I’m good about reminiscing for hours on end when looking through them.

22. Bo Duke and Terry Bradshaw were two men that I had a huge crush on when I was little…and I really, really thought that I would be able to marry one of them when I grew up.

23. I have finally gotten past the negative stigma of being ‘Todd’s sister’ and have learned to embrace it. He’s a pretty good guy and I’m proud to be his sister.

24. I’ve always wanted to pierce my nose, eyebrow, or get a tattoo, but I’m a super chicken. The bellybutton is about all I can handle.

25. Mickey Mouse is creepy.

Holiday Fun

Me & Kelli the day before I left

Amy & her small tribe of women

Evonn & Todd (thank you for not making a dorky face)

Zoe (toothless) and Keegan (too cool for pictures)

Me and Joan at our "only" hang out - Champp's!

Shonda - my BFF

My little Kerry - I heart you.

Addy & Aspyn - first thing Addy mentioned was the peanut butter balls. Acorn didn't fall too far from the tree....

Miss Mandy

April & me New Year's Eve - uh yeah, are you here for the private party?

Missy and her son, Carson - I think the timer threw him!

Kelli Ann stopped by with her clan :)

Heidi and me at Kelli's house

Pretty little Kaley - my cousin and me at Grandpa's house

My cousin, Kari - can you tell we're related?

Hilary & I on Christmas day

Keegan, Me, Zoe on Christmas Eve

Me & Mama before Christmas Eve (eve) services

Det, John, Me, Todd, Ryan - Go STEELERS!!

Jacie Jo at her mom and dad's
Me and dad on Christmas Eve (eve)

I'm finally get back into the groove of things now that Christmas, New Year's, and traveling is done and over with... getting settled back into my routine at work and 'living' again! It's funny how rejuvinating vacations are - especially when you're spending it with family and friends!

I won't bore you with the day to day events, but know that if it weren't for Missy, Kerry, and April planning my trip back home, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to see everybody and enjoy every bit of time that I had while back in Iowa! THANK YOU, thank you, thank you... from the bottom of my heart...

I enjoyed great food like Det's delicious pho, homemade sugar cookies (mom even made an extra batch), peanut butter balls, chipped beef gravy over homemade biscuits, taco pizza, and hamballs...needless to say, my pants were fitting a little more snug by the time I left :)

Keegan and Zoe were the highlight for me - listening to their stories, seeing the changes that have taken place in them in just six months, having Zoe draw me some beautiful pictures, spending time with Keegan and having him occupy my lap, and listening to their little laughs.

Two of the funniest things that happened was when Zoe was drying dishes on Christmas Eve and I walked behind her and poked her side. She turned around with the meanest look on her face and threw one fist up, then the other and said very sternly, "I used to take Tae Kwon Do!" Well, in that case, I'd better shield myself...

The other was when we were all sleeping in on the air mattresses and Zoe says, "Do you know why I like it when you spend the night with us? Because your teeth glow in the dark. I always know that you're here by me because I can see them." She said it was a good thing, but my I had a bit of complex thinking about Ross from "Friends'' when he had his teeth whitened and they were glowing in the dark! LOL...

Hope you enjoyed the pictures from my trip!

This is So True!

You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.

- Frederick Buechner, Telling The Truth

Brrr...

It's getting cold here and by cold, I mean, it's still above freezing!

Friday night I went with one of my friends to a middle school ministry 'mystery' outing. We were in charge of taking middle schoolers around town to pray for certain places - for example, the first place stopped was the police station so we could pray for safety, justice, etc. Next on the list was one of the middle schools, the pastor's house, and then back to the church to pray for their ministry program and then to eat pizza! Each place we stopped, we had to stand outside and I didn't know this beforehand - so I was freezing my little tush off for 2 hours.


And just for the record, I decided that I do not want a junior high-aged boy when I grow up :)


Saturday I got a little bit of shopping done and then headed down to Elk Grove with one of my friends to a cookie exchange. I love attending to those little get togethers! We had a few drinks, some appetizers (yay, little weenies!), and a ton of cookies! I think I had at least 10 cookies just sitting there visiting ...they were SO good, though.


This morning some of my friends and I headed out to cheer on one of our coworkers as he ran a marathon around Sacramento. It was so cold, foggy, and misty - I had on double layers of everything! We almost missed him running by, but luckily saw him when he was right in front of us! Good job, Chester!

Elizabeth & Marcie waiting for Chester to run by

He's so nice that he stops running to give hugs!

It's been a great weekend with friends and being able to get out and have some fun! But I'm more looking forward to getting home in 12 days to see my family...it'll be here before we know it!

I can't wait :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving. It’s that time of year to look back, give thanks, and offer gratitude… what a great time to reminisce.

I’ve been thinking about what I’m thankful for this year and I have come up with a few things to share.

I’m thankful for my mom, dad, brother, sister in law, nephew, and niece – I honestly don’t know what I would do without their support, love, encouragement, pictures, email, cards, gift packages, and phone calls week after week. It all brightens my day knowing that you’re thinking of me and only wanting what’s best in my life. I love you so much....Thank you!

I’m thankful for God’s endless blessings that He continues to pour out on me day after day. I usually see a beautiful sunrise and/or sunset and finally experience the changing season!

I’m thankful to have a job, the air in my lungs, and a roof over my head.

I’m thankful for the friends that I have back home who have supported me and my move out West 100% and those friends that continue to have my six. Not to mention the friends that I have made out here who have blessed me in countless ways by getting to the root of who they are, what we mean to one another, being my support system, learning about each other on an intimate level, growing in our friendships, trusting, and loving. I can’t imagine my life without any of you in it….thank you….

I’m thankful for God’s emotional healing. When things were at such a low, painful point and I didn’t know how to cope, He came in to my heart, comforted me and raised me up to show me that better things lie ahead in my future. We formed a much needed relationship with one another – one that I had sought for years. Broken hearts can be mended and later healed with time and nurturing. Our lives intersect with one another for certain reasons and sometimes it’s hard for us to figure them out in the here and now, but they become more revealed with each passing day. I’m thankful for the heartache and experiences that I’ve had because it’s making me a stronger woman.

I’m thankful for my church ladies (insert your visual of Dana Carvey here). They are a group of wonderful women that I’ve gotten to know over the past year that act as my mother(s), friend, counselor, and sisters. They have been beside me as I have walked through a spiritual journey that I have never been on before. They are loving, supportive, knowledgeable, generous, and hilarious! I look forward to seeing them every week because they are safe and comfortable….my home away from home.

And last, but not least – I’m thankful for the Steelers.

I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends – share with one another (and me) what YOU are thankful for this year.

Everybody has something to share – take the time to listen and open your hearts…

Day Trip

Old Faithful geyser (not THE Old Faithful though)

Me by the geyser

Redwoods at Leggett

Drive Thru tree

Me inside a stump

Ring tailed lemur...I like to move it, move it

Pregnant giraffes

He was curious and wanted to check things out

White Rhino named Eesha (meaning Princess)

Watusi cow named Eileen (she had a syndrome where she has both male and female horns) and she was all by herself...I felt sorry for her

Wildabeest

Safari West from the hill

African Cheetah - she ate a bird in front of some 2nd graders the other day! The other cheetahs were raised on a reserve, so they were mellow, but this one never stopped pacing

Flamingos and giraffe

I had an opportunity to head up north to check out the Avenue of the Giants, Old Faithful geyser, and an African Safari over the weekend and it was so much fun! I love scenery and country side gawking around, so this was right up my alley. The weather was perfect and the trees were changing colors - absolutely beautiful! Going through the redwoods in the early morning light with the fog was amazing, too....I love how God always speaks to me through his 'artwork'!

Dunzo

After ten years of making monthly payments to the U.S. Department of Education, I can finally say that my college student loans are officially paid off! WEE FREAKING HOO!!

I never thought this day would come - or at least I didn't think it would when I received my first bill in the mail. Talk about a cloud of doom hanging over a fresh graduates head...

In looking back, I sure borrowed a lot of money for beer, good times, and great memories :)

But it was so worth it.

Bye-bye loans.