Liebster Award -- take 4

This is now my fourth time doing this one, but the questions aren't the same. If you are interested here are posts one, two and three. I was tagged this time by Kim over at Mystery and Sunshine.  Yet again, I am playing along because I like her blog so much, but I am not tagging anyone. If you feel like answering the questions, feel free but no pressure. =)

Her questions for me with my answers:

1. What's your favorite song right now?

2. If you could tell yourself something one year again what would it be?
I am going to assume that you mean one year ago, and I would tell myself about my mom dying way too soon. I would try and get a few more visits in, a few more phone calls. Keep a few of her voice-mails.

3. Chocolate or candy?
Depends on my mood. Chocolate is almost always a good bet though

4. Do you change your appearance a lot or like to keep it the same?
I keep it pretty much the same. I go through fazes with my hair, sometimes short, sometimes long. Love it short right now.

5. Do you have a lucky number?
Four. Not sure why or if it's actually lucky or just my favorite.

6. How much time a day do you spend on social media?
too much I am sure. I do a lot of my Jamberry business stuff on social media so that is part of the reason.

7. If you could stay one age forever what age would you be?
I love this age right now. Not old yet, not too young to be going too crazy.

8. Who's the best Disney character?
I am going to say that Elsa (from Frozen) because she is a strong woman who knows that she is just as capable of being a hero as any man is.

9. Who do you look up to most?
my mom. She still is the most amazing person I know. I love how much she loved other people. Even those she didn't like, she still showed love to.

10. Jeans or dresses?
jeans. Just feel more comfortable in them.

11. Do you play any addictive games?
I do :/  I am stuck on Sim City Build. I also enjoy candy crush, soda crush, toy blaster, and words with friends. It's sad really.

1000 Gifts: three gifts from God's word

I think the best gifts found in God's word, are His words. These are just three I have pinned recently. 

Liebster Award Take Three!

My bloggy friend Kathy just nominated me for the Liebster award. I have already done this once twice, but it's hard to tell (since I don't add a button to my sidebar) and because I like her so much, I am doing it again!

1. What's the inspiration behind the title of your blog?
It's pretty boring. It was something that I came up with, just thinking about the randomness that is me, that is also what my blog is. My thoughts written out.


2. What did you hope to be when you grew up?
I didn't really have anything that I stuck with. I did always have a love for writing though. That is coming through strong on this blog, though not quite what I was doing in high school!


3. What kind of animal best represents you/your family?
Well, I had nothing for this one, so I asked my fiancee and he said Siberian tiger. When I asked him why this was his reply: "because they are cute and cuddly and rare and if you mess with their family they will rip your face off." I found it pretty fitting (though I'm not sure that they are that cuddly lol)

4. Why did you start your blog?
Honestly, I think it was peer pressure. I had a couple good friends who were blogging and I loved to read them, one suggested I do one (I think!) so I did! I am so glad. I have been blogging since late August 2007 so almost seven years and really do enjoy it.


5. Name one item near the top of your bucket list.
Travel. I want to see the world. I have so many places I want to see: Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, Buckingham palace. I could go on and on but you get the picture.

6. Describe your ideal summer evening.
On the beach, my feet in the sand. Watching the sunset as my children are playing. I would rather it be with a drink in my hand and my love by my side.

7. Who inspires you the most outside of your family?
I think that would have to be Lola Bacon and her husband Floyd. Sadly we lost Lola in 2012 but Floyd is still an amazing inspiration. They were pastors of mine and both live the Godly life style. I love how passionate they are about their work in the church. Even retired they were so involved.


8. Finish this sentence: After a long day, it makes me happiest to….
curl up on the couch and watch a few episodes of my favorite shows or with a good book.


9. If you could have any super hero power, what would it be? Why?
I think I would like to be able to fly. Though I would also enjoy being super fast or maybe the ability to heal... There are so many options!


10. Why do you write about what you write about?
I just write what I feel like writing. If I don't feel like writing, I post a picture!


11. What is your favorite season and why?
I am going to have to go with summer. I love the heat, the outside activities you can enjoy, and the fact that the days are long leaving me more sunshine.

I am not going to nominate anyone, but if you want, you can "play" along. Just leave me a link to yours in the comments so I can read it.

Liebster Award (again!)

I got nominated this time by Christine over at Three Boy Circus. I figured it's different questions, so it might be fun to at least answer them.

If you don't already know, the Liebster award is for newbie bloggers and is a way to get to know your fellow blogger buddies a bit better. There are rules that I am not following all of!
1. post the award on your blog:
2. Thank the blogger who tagged you and link back to their blog (you can see Christine's blog by clicking on the link above)
3. Write 11 random facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers you feel deserve the award and have less then 1000 followers (NOT gonna do this one, I already did nominating back here)
5. Answer the 11 questions from your presenter and then ask your nominees to answer 11 questions. (since I'm not nominating, I am not asking more questions!)

So, like I said, not tagging anyone, but I will definitely do the random facts and answer the questions.

Eleven random facts about me:

1. I listen, nearly exclusively, to christian music. I have even started listening to it while I sleep, on my clock radio. I think I need to buy an actual stereo for at home! 
2. I have three girls and by my third pregnancy I was actually praying it was another girl. I don't even know how I would handle boys at this point! 
3. I am a compulsive picker. Scabs, zits, hangnails, I can't leave them alone. I have even started picking at my kids when they have a scab that I know is ready to come off. Awful right?!
4. I dreaded moving to Idaho for YEARS but now that I am here, I actually want to stay. It surprises people when I say that. People thought I would go back home, after the separation, to where my parents live, but Idaho has found it's way into my heart. It is my new home. 
5. Writing has always been something I loved. Even when I took breaks from blogging, I was still writing in journals or something. 
6. Going back to school was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. When I found out I was pregnant with Alivia I thought, for sure, those plans would be derailed but I still managed to graduate in three years with an associates degree. 
7. I am addicted to reading. I made a goal of 100 books this year and I am well on my way to accomplishing that. It feels strange to go to sleep at night without reading a bit first. I was hesitant to join the digital book world, but I love reading my kindle at night. I can literally fall asleep while reading and don't have to worry about losing my place or anything! I do still read paper books too though. Can't beat the weight of a book in your hands! 
8. My favorite color has always been yellow. Forever. But I cannot wear it. My skin tone just makes me look like I am jaundiced. 
9. I have had three kids (two of them without the assistance of an epidural!) but I am still scared of needles. I want a tattoo sooo bad, but I have to psych myself up for it first. 
10. I think I have a touch of OCD. My blanket on my bed has to be a certain way with the tag in the bottom left corner (always!) and I obsessively check my door locks. I also have to have the clipboards at work organized a certain way and the paperwork can't look messy. The girls at work tease me about it a little, but I love it. Shows they care ;)
11. I once won a vocal solo competition (when I was 15). It was at church camp but I still think it's an awesome accomplishment! 

My answers to Christine's questions:

1. If you could live anywhere, where would you choose? I think I would stay here. But I would love to have a little bit more money to travel a bit! 
2. Are you a dog person or a cat person? I don't really love either one more then the other. I like smaller dogs but only when I can pet and interact with them on my own terms and the same deal with cats. I think I would rather own a dog though, much more variety in what you can get. 
3. How did you choose the name for your blog? It isn't anything special, I knew I was a random person and that my blog would be just a random assortment of the things on my mind. Ta da! 
4. Where do you see yourself in five years? Career wise I will probably be in my same job. I would like to eventually be an office manager but right now I am quite content where I am. That is really the only thing I am making plans for. I would also like to be a little more financially stable. 
5. What is your favorite meal to cook (or eat in a restaurant)? I am not a great cook. I like this taco soup though. It's actually what I am making for dinner tonight! You can get the recipe here. 
6. What is one thing you want to learn how to do? I would love to learn how to play piano. It has always been my dream to sing and play my own accompaniment. 
7. Favorite holiday? I think that would have to be my birthday. I don't have to share it with anyone. Don't have to stress doing anything if I don't want to. I just get to enjoy the day. 
8. Do you have a nickname you go by? Actually, Betsy is my nickname. My "real" name is Elizabeth. I have gone by Betsy as long as I remember though. My grandma apparently said that Elizabeth was "far too long a name for that little tiny baby" and nicknamed me. I think it's safe to assume that no one expected it to stick nearly 30 years! 
9. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to your 14-year-old self? I think the biggest thing would be to be yourself. Don't compromise on your values for anyone. As a kid, I never did anything "bad" but there were a few experiences that I wish I would have handled a little bit differently. I would also tell myself to let people take more pictures. It is one thing I don't have a lot of is pictures of my teen years. I did so much that is just vague memories in my head now. 
10. Best book you've read recently? I am going to go with series here, because that's what I have been reading a lot of and I would say the best would be the Lynburn Legacy books. They are just really good books. Though, if you want to read them, wait until after September 23 so you can read all three. I HATE waiting! 
11. Who is the most inspiring person you know? I think that would be my grandpa. For everything he has been through, he is such a positive and wonderful person. He shows me on a regular basis that it is possible to go through struggles and not lose your faith. I'm not just talking small struggles either! He has been through huge ones including being in a Japanese concentration camp during world war two, immigration from Indonesia and the loss of his wife of more then 50 years. If he can remain faithful through that, I can make it through my own struggles.