This is a long one, but you asked for it....

**This is my 5th time to post this blog and Blooger, for some reason, will not publish it the way I typed it. So, if my spacing is off or sentences are running together, please forive me!

It's all Bloggers fault!**

Actually you didn't, I did. But still...you asked the questions.

Lets get this started!

**By the way, you can still ask me questions, just leave a comment and I'll answer them later or tomorrow or Monday...who knows? I'm pretty unpredictable.

Emily asked...

How did you meet your husband?

I had just gotten done unofficially dating another guy who was terribly hateful to his mother and I had determined that I would not date again until I found the man God intended for me to marry. I had also hit a wall after leaving college and had to find a job somewhere that paid better than $6.50/hour so the Lord's mighty hand directed me to Wal-Mart. It's a good thing He did too cause I was WAY to proud to do it on my own.

Anyway, my very first day I was sitting in the training room and this very tall, very handsome and very sweet man walked in just to visit his mom (she was an Assistant Manager there).

Immediately I was drawn to him. It could have been the rugged good looks, the sweetness he showed by visiting his mom but, honestly, what caught my attention first was a very ratty old Arkansas Razorbacks hat. See, I lived in Arkansas through my junior high years and the love of that state still runs deep.

From that day on anytime I would see him in the store I would make it a point to try to talk to him. He would NEVER talk to me and I couldn't figure out why. Then, one day, after I had been transferred to the Sporting Goods department (yes, I sold guns and knives!) he walked by wearing the uniform of the guys in Automotive. I thought to myself, 'Now he HAS to talk to me'.

One day I was standing at my register checking out a man who was paying a $15 bill only in change (what a chore) when suddenly he came around the corner, pointed and laughed at me.

Turns out, a few of the guys in automotive were trying to see who would get to date me first. I praise the Lord that David was "THE ONE" cause all the other guys were just plain weird!

Has any event in your life (loss of a loved one, ect.) pushed you into a crisis of faith? How did you overcome it?

I would have to say the event that pushed me into a crisis of faith would be the circumstances that cause Ethan to move in with us and ultimately become our son.

This is a very very long story that I may tell at some point but here it is in the abbreviated version.

It all started in October of 2004. David and I had been married a year and wanted children but nothing had happened yet so we stepped up our praying. A month-ish later I got a call at work from the police dept. telling me to come pick up my one year old nephew or he would be taken to foster care until they sorted out the details of a domestic dispute.

I took the rest of that week off of work and went to get him. The home he lived in was atrocious. Dirty/moldy dishes everywhere, drug paraphernalia, toys scattered, dirty diapers laying around...it was disgusting. The State eventually named us as his foster parents and by November Ethan was in daycare and I was back to work.

Money was very tight, we were getting no assistance from the State, his parents or anybody else for that matter. Work was tough because I now had the responsibilities of a mom - literally over night.

In December Ethan was admitted to the hospital with MSRA, the drug resistant staph infection. By this point the State had determined that his parents could only see him with their supervision and named me as the only guardian. Well, hospitals require that children under the age of 8 be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times - I was his only guardian!

Ethan was in the hospital for EIGHT DAYS. I ended up losing my job as an apartment leasing agent, he needed surgery and our roommate at the time started causing all kinds of problems....

The Lord is the only One who saw me through this. He gave me a job in the ministry and blessed David with a better job. Ethan ended up getting medicaid and we were able to qualify for a hardship grant.

At what age/with what pup did you discover you were a dog lover?

Umm, I was probably 20ish. I've always been a cat person but slowly dogs have stolen my heart.

First kiss? Spill it.

3rd grade. Joe Lee Squires. Behind the big tree on the playground.

My first REAL kiss though came from my hubby, well he was my boyfriend at the time. We were laying on the floor watching a movie and he looked at me and asked if he could kiss me. It's as sweet and simple as that. It was perfect.

Barb asked...

What is your favorite thing to do on a quiet day?

I don't get very many of these but when I do I like to put on some good music (Jack Johnson, Leeland...), clean my house, do some embroidery, go antiquing, do some reading, but most of all, I like to take naps on quiet days.

What would you do if you were a millionaire?

After, double checking my books to make sure it wasn't a mistake I woud cry, then I would tithe to my church. Pay cash for a home, pay off the Jeep and other debt, buy David a good truck and then we'd sit on it. We might update some things as far as furniture goes and we would certainly help our friends a family who need it. Otherwise, David would continue to work and I'd stay home with Ethan and the next child we adopt...I would also homeschool and maybe have some sort grant or scholarship for parents needing help with homeschool curriculum costs.

Oh, and we'd go on vacation to Greece and buy me a pony. I might buy Kate a pony too.

And I'd buy a new wedding ring since I left mine on the sink at Wal-Mart. NEVER DO THIS and BUY INSURANCE PEOPLE!

Hilltopper asked...

How do I get my cat to lose weight? It's not like I can take fatty out for a walk, I tried diet food but I think he just ate twice as much. you should see this cat, he outweighed my kid for like 8 months!

This is a toughie. I've done a lot of thinking and a lot of googling. I only have one idea as far as the food goes - Don't free feed. Feed your cat at the same time every day and make sure Fatty sees it. If he walks away, put it up. When the time comes around for him to eat again put it back down. Eventually, he will be eating less and not just whenever he wants to. And if all else fails, try this:

Kitty Wigs

Katy Lin asked...

What is your favorite Bible verse/passage?
I've have to say that my favorite passage is:

"For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshy wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you." - 2 Corinthians 1:12

It's a great reminder of how we should strive to live as Christians. I long for simplicity!

What's the best book you've ever read (other than the Bible, although it is great)?Best book I've ever read....I have a hard time narrowing this down because I've read so many great books!

I would have to say

Favorite TV show? Movie?
I can't decide between Scrubs and The Office. They are both so funny!

As far as movies go...I love Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood but I can't watch it because of all the language, it just kills me! I also am starting to love The Thin Man!

Your best memory? the day that you were as happy as you could be?

The Adoption day, hands down!

How did your hubby propose?

It was so not romantic. He was tickling me and I was getting ticked off then he suddenly stopped and said "Hey, would you ever marry me?" I said, "That depends, are you asking me now?"

He said, "Suppose I am!" So I said, "I suppose I'd say 'yes'."

After that we went out and bought a ring. We had only dated for three months.

Mrs. Querido asked...

How long have you had your blog?
I think it's since January of 08. It's still just a baby blog.

Why did you start it?
I saw what a great community there was in the blog world and I wanted to be a part of it. That and so family and friends can keep up with my weirdness and family.

Is writing a professional career for you or just a creative outlet?

I'm blushing....well....I am just flattered that you would ask if this was a professional thing for me! I hope I come across as somebody who can write cause I think I'm terrible at it and I'm certainly not a professional. Thank you for the compliment!

I won't even say that this is a creative outlet for me. I am a very social person and I love to try to make people laugh. I also want to try to spread the Gospel as well as strengthen the walk of other Christians I meet.

Do you ever wish you could stay at home with your children or are you happy being a working mama?

It is my dream to be a SAHM. It's not yet something we can afford to do but, Lord willing, I'll get there someday. Till then I am so happy in the job that the Lord has blessed me with. I love answering phones and serving people, I love the people I work with and for but, most of all, I love the fact that I am able to serve my Lord in this way.

What book are you reading right now, or what book have you just finished up?
I have a habit of reading lots of books at a time...

I am reading: Shepherding a Child's Heart, Knowing God, The Strong Willed Wife, From Chaos to Calm

I have just finished reading Good Night Moon. I really haven't finished reading a book in so long, I keep getting distracted by other books.