Jean Stockdale...

Stuff You Probably Don't Want to Know About Me

1. Are you pleasant when you're ill, or are you a grumpy, fussy patient? I suffer well.
2. When you find out that school is canceled (due to inclement weather) what is your gut reaction? My boys are grown now but I used to love the break in the routine. However, I do not like cold or wet. And cold and wet is out of the question so I would not go out and play.
3. What is one domestic skill you wish you could improve? Clean more efficiently.
4. Do you decorate your home for Valentine's Day? No. I barely get it done for Christmas!
5. What song is on your mind today? "Held" by Natalie Grant

6. Do you prefer contemporary movies or classic? I detest the current trend towards crude humor, graphic violence that is way over the top, and the blatant sexuality and innuendos. 
7. How well do you "compartmentalize" your feelings? As I walk with the Lord and grow in my faith I have learned to cast down vain imaginations and everything that would exalt itself against the knowledge of Christ. I posted a blog on this topic. Click here is you are interested in reading the full post.
8. What is the first thing that attracted you to your spouse? A kind heart and extremely polite manners-to say nothing of the blond hair and blues eyes! We will celebrate 36 years of marriage this month.
9. When was the last time your heart raced? This morning. I flipped on the light in the kitchen and a mouse (a huge one!) scampered across the floor. Oh, it is so on!
10. What are your memories of Valentine's Day at school? Never getting to sit at the cool table.
11. If you were going to receive candy for Valentine's Day, which would you prefer? Honestly, I would prefer shoes or a bag.
12. Red or pink? Red for sure.

Blessings. Linked to Random Dozen.

Random Dozen

1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about? I have never liked my nose.

2. Who do you think is/was the best TV mom? I think most moms on TV are cartoonish caricatures of what a real mom is supposed to be like. Either the mom is portrayed as an overbearing, manipulative, wise-cracking, self-centered feminist who constantly puts her husband down OR she is made out to be a weak-willed, easily manipulated, ill-informed ninny. Now, aren't you sorry you asked?!?!

3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn? I do not speak any languages. I do now think I could master another language and only wish I had a better grasp on the English one that I do speak.

4. Who is your personal hero? Kay Arthur is a personal hero of mine. She is an outstanding Bible teacher and has impacted 1000s of women for the cause of Christ through her ministry Precepts.

5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in? I love dressing and gravy but a close second is sweet potato casserole with butter, brown sugar and pecan topping.

6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value. My friend, Jane Morris, made me a nativity scene nearly 20 years ago. Each year she added a piece or two to it. I use it every year and it produces strong emotions in me every time I unwrap it. I will post pictures of it. Now I use it as a centerpiece on the dining room table. It is fabulous.

7. How do you feel about snow? I do not love cold weather but I do enjoy seeing a snow, especially if it is not accompanied with ice.

8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I'm jealous of any number over three or anything. I don't sleep well because I am "a woman of a certain age." If I can get 6 hours I am thrilled, but it is usually less and is often in short spurts through the night. I am so hoping sleep is overrated!

9. Tell me about your first crush. I fell in love with Craig Stockdale when I was 14 years old in the 7th grade. Seven years I married that boy and this Feb. will celebrate 36 years!

10. You're stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw? I can only draw a cat so I would probably draw cat faces-recognized only by the fact it has whiskers and pointed ears-and I would doodle my name over and over and over again.

11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day's forecast? I dress in whatever is clean. I rarely know the forecast. I always wear long sleeves so if it is cool inside, I will be fine or I can push up the sleeves if I get hot.

12. Favorite Christmas movie is? The original Miracle on 23rd Street.

Linked to 2nd Cup of Coffee.

A Random Dozen

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be? Running

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision? I never research. I leave that to Mr. Stockdale who takes great pleasure in reading and researching.

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name? Carol Melvin

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food? Favorite music. Food is very important to me. Sad but true.

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference? I can only be slightly spotted.

6. Your favorite tree is? Dogwood

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you? About a 4

8. Has H1N1 touched your family? No and we are grateful.

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing? I never overthing anything. I live life at a rapid speed. Move it. Move it.

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala? A cat-love to nap, choose my friends carefully, don't like anyone to ruffle my fur.

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago? Yes.

12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why? I am a perpetual wrong line chooser. But I usually go with the shortest line, but something always goes wrong-they change shifts, the register tape breaks . . .

For more Random Twelve click here.

Random Dozen

Just for fun I borrowed these questions from a blog meme only to discover that I was too late. So this is just a post. For fun. How random is that!

1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher-My favorite teacher is Bible teacher Kay Arthur.When I became a Christian at the age of 24 I was clueless about how to study God's Word. I was invited to attend a Kay Arthur video Bible study by a friend. I still use her method of Bible study now 30 years later. Now I am a Bible study teacher and Christian author and I feel I am a direct extension of Kay Arthur's ministry.

2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life-My husband and I began to attend Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. Adrian Rogers had just come to this church from his former church in Florida. We began to hear the Word of God preached in power. God used him to expose us to the truth-we were sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus had died to pay for our sins. Repentance and faith were required. Craig and I both made personal decisions for CHrist. We asked Him to come into our lives, forgive us of our sins, and take us to heaven when we died. Since that moment in time, nothing has been the same!! The Lord has set our feet on a path we could have never dreamed!

3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke? I love Red-memories of buying cherry popsicles as a child from the Popsicle Man.

4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older? I suddenly needed bi-focals-overnight my vision went fuzzy.

5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you? We are careful to avoid the evil influences attached to the holiday, but we enjoy seeing the dress-up and the candy.

6. What's your favorite musical? I am not a musical kind of girl.

7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse? I am a city mouse translated to the country mouse and surprised how much I immediately loved country living.

8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Goggle it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn." I am a very practical person so I would never go with the star deal, but the movie and popcorn is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I am not texting much.

10. "It's not a party unless we sit around the kitchen table until the wee hours of the morning visiting with sweet friends." 

11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? I love to listen to my iPod. I have it loaded with Christian music and lots of sermons.

12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you? Crazy things seem to happen to me that don't happen to other people, so I would be skeptical of a friendship with someone who seems to attract craziness. Actually, now I sound fun. I am rethink my answer!