Describing myself has always been a challenge.
This pattern has repeated itself in my life over and over. Pleasing others and neglecting developing my own sense of who I really am and who God created me to be has been a recurring theme.
Enter grace. And the freedom Christ gives to be ourselves in the midst of his grand story.
So here it goes…50 Random Things About Me
1. I’ve been married to my husband Chuck for over 11 years.
2. We have 3 super-fun kiddos under the age of 6 and another little one in heaven.
3. God reveals daily how faithfully He keeps His promises. I am learning to pay attention & notice.
4. I worked full time as a Patient Advocate for cancer patients for 10 years & am now the to Business Manager for Cancer Services. It’s a blessing and a challenge every day.
5. Growing up, my family had a pet bobcat/housecat mix named Linus. He brought a dead rabbit to the door on Easter morning. True story.
6. Coupons + grocery store sales are my friends.
7. I’ve been on mission trips to Guyana, Romania, and New Orleans.
8. God placed adoption on my heart before I ever had my own children. We’re waiting for his timing.
9. I love to learn. About almost anything. Podcasts are the greatest invention ever for this purpose.
10. Two things I would love {in another life} every week – a housekeeper & a massage.
11. The time between Christmas & New Years is the best. So full of hope & promise for the year ahead.
12. 72 degrees with a slight breeze is the perfect weather.
13. We once rescued two red-bone coonhounds – Eli & Ellie. {think: miniature versions of the dogs from Where the Red Fern Grows}. Ellie was terrified of men in suits. Eli thought he was a cat.
14. My one sister is 2 1/2 years younger than me. She is amazing and I love her.
15. I was a drum major for the marching band in high school and loved every minute of it.
16. The first thing I will do when I’m an empty nester is sign up to play in a concert band or orchestra again.
17. My favorite place to be is on a quiet river in a canoe.
18. I once slept in a tent for 30 days straight. Then did it again the next summer volunteering in Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons.
19. Chipotle is the best fast food restaurant. Please don’t try to argue with me about this. You will not win.
20. Road trips are my favorite thing to do with my husband. It’s the best way to get him to sit still and talk to me!
21. I’ve lived in the coastal area of NC, New York City, southern Louisiana, northern Virginia, east Tennessee, and the Triad of NC.
22. I have college degrees & certifications in Business, Organizational Leadership, Sociology, and Non-Profit Management. And I’m pretty convinced I’ll still be paying for them when my kids go to college!
23. Chocolate is my favorite. I tested allergic to it when I was 10. It’s still my favorite. I may or may not be in denial about this.
24. I cannot use a curling iron successfully. Or a hairdryer and a brush at the same time.
25. Fashion and makeup are not my strong points. Somehow I missed out on the “girly” gene. Although I do love me some dangly earrings. Maybe that will redeem me.
26. I picked out my own engagement ring. I regret being too controlling to let my husband pick instead.
27. I am learning that having control is an illusion anyway. God is growing me in this!
28. When I was 16, I knew a lot ABOUT God, but wondered how to KNOW God. Now I know it’s a process based in relationship.
29. I explored Washington, DC on rollerblades as a kid. Once we ate lunch on the lawn behind the White House. I doubt my kids will ever believe this.
30. My dad retired from the Coast Guard. My mom once dressed me as a roll of Life Savers for Halloween. {take a minute to think about it}
31. Camping was our vacation of choice as a kid. It usually rained. We loved it anyway.
32. My Girl Scout troop leader was my best friend’s dad. So we did everything with the Boy Scouts and had more fun than anyone else. I learned to shoot a gun and tie knots. You know, helpful things to know when you grow up to work in an office everyday.
33. Two summers in high school, I volunteered at a camp for deaf children. Those kids were walking billboards of how to have joy in whatever circumstance you find yourself in. What a blessing.
34. I chose my college specifically for the American Sign Language program. I dropped out of the program after one semester because I didn’t feel like I fit in with the other ASL majors. I was 17. Apparently fitting in was important.
35. My jobs in college included: outdoor adventure guide, babysitter for Jazzercise class, poster-hanger for Kaplan, marketing assistant for a realtor, internet researcher & admin assistant for a publishing company, and office assistant in the campus Career Services office. At one point, all at the same time.
36. Fried okra is heavenly. And fried zucchini. {all things in moderation, right?}
37. I try to eat healthy, avoiding processed foods & artificial ingredients. Except for the fried okra. And zucchini.
38. In middle school during a blizzard, my friends and I made an igloo in my front yard & played cards in it while drinking hot cocoa.
39. My husband & I have never had cable since we’ve been married. And we’ve never missed it.
40. Penne Rustica from Macaroni Grill is my favorite dish from a restaurant. Shrimp, ham, chicken, pasta and cream sauce. Yum.
41. I like yoga more than I practice yoga. I should change this.
42. I do not like to shop. Except for groceries, especially at farmer’s markets. There is something intrinsically better about buying food from the person who grew it.
43. Once we bought a cow. To eat. And a freezer to put it in. Then drove it across two states to our house. Next time, we’ll buy local.
44. My engagement was epic. Scavenger hunt + surprise friends + new dress + dancing + beautiful ring + limo + dinner = fabulous.
45. It was 96 degrees outside for our wedding. The wedding was one hour long. Our 400+ guests were gracious & apparently really loved us since they didn’t leave before it was over.
46. I like the idea of cooking more than I actually like cooking. This means I plan meals and my husband cooks them. He is the greatest.
47. I only fold laundry when I watch TV. And I only watch TV when I fold laundry. Chuck helps. He is a good man!
48. A few months after losing our first baby to miscarriage, I had emergency surgery when I was six weeks pregnant with my daughter to remove an ovarian cyst that was about to burst. She is a miracle baby!
49. Live music is a treat. Especially orchestras. I bring my binoculars & watch them play up close.
50. I had a mini-breakdown the day of my wedding and told my husband I wasn’t sure if I could go through with it. {enter my control issues} He was the only one who could calm me down, we got married and the day was beautiful. Best. decision. ever.
Congrats, you made it to the end of the list!
What about you? Share a “random thing” about yourself in the comments or just say hi. I can’t wait to get to know you!
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LeeAnn,
Have you ever thought of being a writer? Reading your “50 Random Things about Me,” was inspirational, made me smile, giggle, and was a breath of fresh air! Thank you for sharing this. You, Melissa, and the rest of the staff at Cancer Services are special people & I can never say thank you enough for all that you do for patients. 🙂
Lori
Thank you so much Lori! I enjoyed writing in college, but that was 10 years ago and I haven’t done much since. I’m excited about the opportunity to write more now that I’ve launched this blog. Cancer Services is definitely a special place. It’s an incredible place to work and I’m always so blessed by the patients and their families!
Thanks LeeAnn for sharing with us all. You and your husband are such an inspiration to many people. I have learned a lot from both of you. I grew up in church and was saved at 12-13 and again at 15-16 and for the last time at 39 . I don’t think that was necessary, but I definitely needed to re-dedicate my life to Christ that last time. It was January 1998. And my life changed forever…. I’m so glad I ended up at Rescue House and met you and your husband and all the others that have made my life richer. Love, Donna C.
Lee Ann, I love your blog and learning these 50 things was awesome! I’ll definitely be back to learn some more. And thank you for listing Reclaiming a Redeemed Life on your list of inspiration. So sweet! Much love to you, Chuck, and those beautiful kiddos!
Thanks so much for the encouragement Holly! I also found Kayse Pratt through your blog. Thankful for the blog community and the support available to Christian women all over!
Oh Donna. You may never fully understand how your obedience to the Holy Spirit in your own life was the doorway to God working powerfully in my own life last year. He used your actions like a billboard sign on the highway with flashing lights to get my attention so I would know that He cares for me and knows our every need. That day was a turning point in my life and I will always be grateful!
Oh…that makes me tear up..Thank you. God is so good to us!!!
7. 14. 15. 19. 21. 28. 29. 36. 38.
51. Sensitive, empathetic, passionate, driven, friend.
Love how many of these memories were shared with you and your family. And thank you for #51. You are a blessing!
You did it! It looks like you can talk about yourself just fine. I’m definitely an A-type personality with wanting to be in control but I think that’s because of my experiences giving the reigns to others and being disappointed. I found that if I wanted something done, I have to learn to do it myself. I’m definitely realizing this year in 2014, while getting my business plan written, that delegation is actually wise as long as I choose my help in a smart and business-sense manner, especially for my new local business. I do believe that God works in mysterious ways to bring us the support we need when the time is right so I count on Him. I am a Chipotle fan as well even though I’m a vegetarian. I get the vegetarian burrito, which are HUGE and their guacamole is fantastic with their daily-made tortilla chips. Nice to meet you, from buddy group #118 🙂
Thanks for sharing! I look forward to getting to know you better. What instrument did you play in band? I played the flute for 10 years. For the past 10+ years my flute has been sitting in a closet. That’s kind of sad now that I think about it… Your profile picture is beautiful!
I played the flute too! I played during middle school, high school and college – 11 years. Maybe I won’t have to wait until the kids leave home before I can start playing again!
Your 50 Random Things List is great! You’ve had a lot of fun experiences! Your comment about the hair dryer and brush cracked me up. I have long, thin hair and have never figured out how to dry it with a brush. It usually becomes a tangled mess with the brush fully encapsulated in hair and hanging from from my head. lol
Oh man, I am terrible at it! I was 12 before I could even put my own hair in a ponytail. Truth.
I am so proud of you babe. You will be a strong influence and inspiration to many women who are trying to find their place in God. Thank you for being vulnerable, engaging and sincere. I love you and I am inspired by you. LILY.
You are the most amazing husband anyone could ask for and I am grateful for how you believe in me! CILY
I loved reading your list!
Thanks! Glad you stopped by!
I just learned several things about you that I didn’t know LeeAnn! You are so brave and wise and I am so proud to call you my sister!!!
Thanks so much for the encouragement! 🙂
Yay!!! You did it!! Congrats. 😀
Fun list!
My spices and DVDs are in alphabetical order. My books are not. [They’re by subject, but I want them to be by color. 🙂 ]
Hi LeeAnn! Congrats on your new blog. Once again it was nice to meet you “At the Barn”. So funny, my favorite dish at Mac. Grill is also Penne Rustica.
Hi Pam! I was hoping to re-connect with you. How’s starting your blog going? YOU CAN DO IT GIRL! 🙂 Send me an email through my contact page and I’ll send you a link to a great blogging class I’m taking right now that is affordable and taught by a woman who is a Christian. Tons of great information to get you started!
haha, cute anecdotes! My random thing: I have never lived in snow so I’m insanely jealous of #38!! #sitsblogging
YES to these: 10, 12, 20, 23(not the allergy part), 24, 27, 42, 46. I have a list of 25 somewhere. I love lists, making them and readying others. It is a fun, quick way to find out about yourself or someone else. I find that I need to revise my list every few years as things change. I enjoyed getting to know you a little better!
I was reading through your list and had to chuckle. I lived in Alexandria, VA when I was in 6th grade. There was an awesome snow storm and someone in our neighborhood of townhomes made an igloo! That would have been awesome if it was yours! My step brother and I stole a few minutes inside it 🙂
I have 3 kids and one, possibly 2 miscarriages. I am an OIF veteran and met my husband in the military. We even deployed together to Iraq. We got married when we returned and have been together since 2006. I also do not know how to do hair and makeup, my girlie gene was lost too! I can see we have a lot in common, except OKRAH! Never could learn to like it…it was always too slimy for my taste. Great blog so far 🙂