The One with Facts of My Life

Intriguing and mundane details of an adorkable life. Updated as desired.

• According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator I am an ESFJ. Extroverted. Sensing. Feeling. Judging. "Warmhearted, conscientious, and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through even in small matters. Notice what others need in their day-by-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute."
• In January 2007 I spent three weeks experiencing the true culture of Jamaica. I have never been the same.

• Kevin can tell me how awesome he thinks I am and I will never ever tire of it.
• My best and longest friend, Elizabeth, and I were "introduced" in utero. Our mom's were in Lamaze class together. Then they started going to the same church. And that pretty much set our friendship in stone. 
• I rotate my bath towels, kitchen towels, wash clothes, underwear, socks and tshirts. For even wear. 
• I'm not a huge fan of pop. That is, I'm not a huge fan of drinking my calories. I'd rather eat them. So I stick to Diet Coke. And boy do I love Diet Coke!
• I get extremely excited over plastic ware. Especially when I pick the perfect container to hold leftovers.
• I refuse to spend more than $15 on a pair of pants. Never have. (Hopefully) never will.
• My nose bleeds at the most inopportune times in the most violent of ways. This has been an ongoing occurrence since childhood. You probably didn't want to know that, though, did you?
• My parents taught me how to balance a checkbook and manage my money. Kevin's parents taught him to do the same. We work well together. He has the "big" picture. I keep track of the details.
• I have the best mom in the whole world. And she's become one of my closest friends.

• I can't stand commercials.
• I love memorizing Scripture. My favorites include: Romans 8:35-39. I John 4:18. Psalm 94:19. II Corinthians 1:3-4. Philippians 4:6-7. I kind of wish I would have been a Bible Quizzer in high school.
• I never liked hot tea. Until high school. When apple cinnamon tea became a favorite. Then blueberry, then peach in college. Now I can drink and truly enjoy any variety of this leafy hot beverage.
• I was class president my senior year of high school.
• I was also on Homecoming Court and Prom Court. I still don't know how that happened.
• I love footstools. I almost always feel more comfortable with my feet propped up.
• I am really hard on myself. The smallest mistake results in the biggest feelings of failure. This is something that needs some serious alterations.
• Some would say I was a momma's girl when I was younger. Others thought I was a daddy's girl. I think it just depended on which parent I was with.
• My husband makes me laugh harder than anyone ever could.
• I have an excellent sense of timing. I go to the kitchen to check the baking process just as the timer hits "zero." This happens nearly every time I'm cooking.
• Umuhoza Albert is my amazing 10 year old sponsor child living in Rwanda. He's been asking me to visit him since 2005 when I first "adopted" him. I pray that someday I will see him face to face.
• The summer of 2006 was spent traveling with Wellspring--a worship team coordinated by SAU to work at various camps throughout Ohio, Michigan, and Canada. Six guys. Two girls. Ten weeks. One van. We became a family. We loved like family. Prayed like family. Worshipped as Family. Argued like family. And served like family. An experience I will never forget.

• I really love milk. I try to stick to the skim variety, though. I know, I know. It's white water. But hey! It's still highly nutritious!
• I love taking naps, but I hate waking up from them.
• I'm not high maintenance. But I'm not low maintenance either. What's the word for mid-maintenance?
• A while back, Kevin's parents had all of us take the Flag Page test and I found out I'm an entirely blue flag. Meaning 82% of my talents lie in relating to people (versus Task/Creation/Leading/Showman Talents). I love people (acceptance, warm, caring.) I am sensitive (diligent, thoughtful, considerate). I am thoughtful (considerate, warm, caring). I'm sincere at heart (thoughtful, genuine, compassionate). And primarily I thrive on encouragement (nurture, build up, believe). At first I thought this was bizarre as everyone else had lovely mixes of talents, but now I'm loving this depiction of who I am.
• I love watching Friends with friends. It's taken me about eight times through the ten seasons to have the episodes memorized.
• I started taking piano lessons when I was ten. I have always loved sitting down with my mom and my grandma. Still do.

• Kevin and I didn't say those three sacred words ("I love you") until a year or more into our relationship. He had committed to reserving those words for the woman he would marry. And marry me he did. Now he tells me many times each day that he loves me.
• I watch the Food Network more than any other television station.
• My palate just does not enjoy wine. Not even a little bit.
• I can't imagine life without music but I can't pinpoint my favorite genre. I love worship, classical, old school CCM, jazz, rock, and much more.
• I hate going a day without working out--I just feel so great afterwards. I really miss having free access to a gym. But I do love a great aerobic workout dvd. And I'm a big Pilates fan.
• I love driving our stick shift '98 Civic.
• I have suffered from chronic headaches since I was in elementary school.
• Oftentimes I let my emotions get the best of me. Or I could just say I "wear my heart on my sleeve."
• Kevin and I are frighteningly similar to Calvin and Susie: the characters in Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes.
• I adore my baby sister. Yes. She's almost 21 years old.

• Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks but I only eat it at night...while watching a favorite show.
• I didn't date anyone until I was 19 years old. It was a personal choice of mine. Kevin happened to be that guy. My first boyfriend. My first handhold. My first kiss. My first fight. My first love. One proposal and three rings later, he is my husband for always.
• It is physically impossible for me to walk slowly.
• I am almost always reading multiple books concurrently. One magazine, one on spiritual growth, one on Christian fiction, one on youth ministry, and one novel to read aloud to Kevin (i.e. Lord of the Rings).
• My dad taught me how to ski when I was four years old. So yes, I've been skiing for some 20 years. But once a year doesn't allow for much growth, if you catch my drift.

• I never ever thought I'd be a youth pastor. But here I am, over a year later!
• I love working in the kitchen. My skills have improved exponentially since this past summer. Some of my specialities include chocolate chip cookies, sourdough or wheat or banana bread, and brownies. I am willing to try any recipe at least once! (any requests?!) Kevin loves my hobby! ;)
• I don't at all mind spending days at home in peace and quiet--in fact I quite enjoy personal time.
• I loved being involved in speech competitions in elementary and junior high school through ACSI.

• Breyer's Mint Chocolate Chip is the best ice cream in the world! Actually, I love ALL ice cream.
• My water bottle is an extension of my body.
• I am a salad connoiseur.
• When the seasons change from fall to winter, my hands know. They become dry and cracked immediately.
• I really enjoy the opportunity to share my relationship experiences with those who ask.
• I am an information sponge--reading every word on flyers, magazines, bulletins, books, and more.
• In college, some of my friends would ask me to make sandwiches for them. Mine always looked irresistible, I guess.
• Even if I've been in a restaurant multiple times I still have to ask the waitress to come back later to take my order. My decision making skills are somewhat sluggish.
• I do not consider myself athletic in the least, but I love downhill skiing and ultimate frisbee despite how ridiculous I may look.
• I was completely technologically illiterate until college. I had no idea what instant messaging was, I didn't have an email address, and I was one of the only students that didn't have a personal computer.
• Baking has been a love of mine since I was a young girl. I spent hours under Mrs. S's tutelage.

• I have a thing for crime shows. My favorites are Law and Order: SVU and Criminal Minds.
• I have so many thoughts, hopes, questions and dreams for the future: grad school, women's ministries, a business/restaurant with my husband, professional wedding planning, children, teaching, writing Bible studies, keeping up with my love of hospitality & baking, being involved in a challenging music program, giving piano lessons, leading a worship team, et cetera...
• I am absolutely positively forever head over heels in love with my husband, Kevin Michael Eccles.
• I am only beginning to understand the meaning of abiding with my Lord--to be constantly aware of his presence and involvement in every moment of my day.