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Today I celebrate my thirty-eighth trip around the sun. And with that in mind I thought it would be fun to share thirty-eight things about me. Some you may know. Some you may not. Here goes.....

1,  I share a birthday with one of my oldest and dearest friends (my soul sister), Jannine. It is an honor to share a birthday with someone so near and dear to my heart. J, I wouldn't have it any other way! Happy birthday to us! xo

2.  David and I were married during the August heatwave of 2002. In a church with no air conditioning. Our wedding day still stands as the hottest day in the last (almost) twelve years. For a girl who always thought she'd get married in either May or December this is truly hysterical to me.

3.  Ever since I can remember I always knew I wanted to be a mama. To four kids. Though I think we easily could have had six. I often look at Grace and Emma and feel like they really should have been sisters of many more than just each other.

4.  In addition to being a mama I always wanted to be a teacher.

5. I have two degrees that I achieved as a result of the above desire.

6.  In high school I felt called to become a minister. This is something I still wonder about from time to time.

7.  Ever since having the girls I have given serious thought to becoming a midwife. I was even briefly in midwifery school ('till I realized how hard it is to be a graduate student and a mama). Perhaps I'll make this dream happen someday.

8. Or maybe I'll become a Waldorf trained teacher.

9.  Clearly, I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up!

10. Being David's wife and Grace and Emma's mama is the best job I've ever had. I thank my lucky stars every day that I get to share this space and this journey with these three incredible souls. I am easily the luckiest woman alive! xo

11. Going through infertility was one of the hardest things we've even done but I do believe it helped to make us the parents (and partners) we are today! 

12.  Homeschooling. I cannot imagine life any other way and am so glad that we chose to head down this path and live this incredible life. I am so very thankful for all that David does to make this life of ours possible.

13. Even though I have never been to Europe I have this incredible desire to move our family there. I have a feeling that we'd really fit in beautifully (places like Finland, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland being among the places I think we should consider).

14. I served as the officiant at my goddaughter Hannah's wedding. It was such an honor to be asked to fill that role and is a moment that I will cherish forever.

15.  Oprah Winfrey is a person that I would love to have a meal with. I wish I had gotten to attend a taping of her show before it went off the air. I would love to spend the afternoon talking to her and getting to know her.

16. Gilmore Girls is pretty much my all time most favorite show. Other favorites of mine are: Veronica Mars, The West Wing, Ugly Betty, Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife.

17.  Several of my friends have suggested I write a book. I am honored by this request and will try to make it happen someday. 

18.  Charlotte's Web, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie and the Love Comes Softly books are some of my most favorites.

19.  For as much as I love having background music on I also love it when the house is super peaceful and the birds singing outside is the background music that our day goes by.

20. I really dislike coffee.

21.  My morning walk is sacred. Though I do so love having company (my girls or my dear friend Sharon) every now and again.

22.  I am determined to finish my application for the Daughters of the American Revolution.

23. Celebrating the change of seasons has become some of our most favorite holidays to celebrate. Winter Solstice pretty much trumps Christmas in my book.

24. My family means the world to me. Both the family that I share our sweet old farmhouse with and those who live outside its walls. One of the main reasons I often ask to move out of this state is so we can be closer to our extended families. I wish that we could be at family functions way more easily and that not everything required an overnight (or more) to do so.

25. I have been blessed with some really amazing friends and am eternally grateful for their love, support and friendship.

26.  Loosing Albert was one of the hardest things I've experienced. It hit me in ways I wasn't ready for. I am eternally grateful for those who truly got what that loss was like for me and were there holding my hand while I grieved his passing. 

27.  "My colors are blush and bashful."

28.  I am more shy and introverted than most people realize. I am better in smaller groups than huge crowds (though I can do fine with large groups if needed). Home is truly where my heart is and where I feel my most comfortable.

29.  This is not to say I don't speak up for what I believe in or for those who need speaking up for. I hope that I have empowered my girls to always stand up for those who can't speak for themselves. I never want them to have their voices silenced. 

30. I wish that our girls had been born at home. If only I knew then what I know now....

31. I am a helper. I love to be able to make things easier for people.

32. I love how the girls are always wearing skirts and dresses and have started to follow their lead on this. I have found myself feeling much more comfortable and much more myself since making this change.

33. I wear my heart on my sleeve. There have been people in my life (bosses etc) who have found this to be a character flaw, which I have never understood. If I wasn't this way I wouldn't be me.

34. I love our slower pace of life. I love learning (and teaching our girls) "old school" ways. Making things from scratch. Handwork. Gardening. Canning. Letter writing. Home keeping. Homeschooling. Various traditions. I love how much we all work together on all of these things (case in point: Tomato Day in August would not be possible if all hands weren't on deck)!

35. I love that the girls identify each other as their best friend, and I know they always will be.

36. I still think I am 25 years old.

37. The closer I get to 40 the more I am sure of who I am.

38. I can't wait to see what this next trip around the sun has in store for me! xo