Because YOU Asked! (Part II)

READY. SET. GO! The rest of the answers!

Charlliesweb said...

I think you need to have a new post during the week, Ohilda's Consumer Report, you can help us out with other products like the ped-egg thingy; what do you think?

I love the idea, but, ummm...no, thanks. I could barely keep with the post I have now.

I was even going to stop the Not Me's because I absolutely want to be truthful, but some weeks it's just plain boring around here. But, I know some of you (Michelle and Ily) love the Not Me's, so for now, it's still a go. :)

Have you been through really hard financial times, enough to have checks bounce; and if so, how did you handle the emotions?

Oh, yea. RIGHT NOW is pretty bad. Although I admit I've never bounced a check. When things have gotten REALLY bad, I just have to look at the bills and say, "Eenny, meeny, miiny, Moe..." The lucky one gets paid that week. Fortunately that has not happened very often at all in my life. (Thank you, Jesus).

As to the emotions, when I am completely down in the dumps and at my last straw thinking "How in the world are we going to get out of this?" It is then I usually find myself on my knees begging God to please intervene. I know the man upstairs is in control and He will provide, maybe not like I expect, but in the end, it's always perfect and it all works out for His glory. I keep repeating the following verse to myself, over and over:

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" - Matthew 6:26

How many days is the longest you let laundry pile up?

I'm embarrassed to say, too many. By the time I roll around to doing laundry I have a tower that could be 5 feet tall. It usually takes a week with the 6 of us, for it to get that tall. By the way, I despise folding and hanging laundry, so sweet hubby usually does that task, except for the kids' clothes.

Are you guilty of calling a child in the room to pick up something in the same room you're already in? lol

Heh! No, I can't say I've done that, but I am guilty of calling Amanda or Scott in to "chit-chat" only because I want a glass of water or something, then I sneak that in as they leaving the room.

Do you read the celebrity mags at the checkout?

Not really, especially if I'm with the kids. Then I'm too busy keeping 6 pairs of hands off of all the candy racks! The only times I do pick one up is if it pertains to adoption (Meg Ryan or Angelina) or of course, Kiefer! What I do enjoy is reading the covers and comparing them. (i.e. Brad Pitt has secret affair with ex, Jennifer Aniston. Then the next magazine states, "Jennifer Aniston hasn't spoken to ex, Brad Pitt, in over a year!) GASP!

Do you watch soap operas?

I haven't watched a soap opera since I was in junior high. Although some may consider "24" quite the soap opera.

Are you guilty of going out in your pj's when you're feeling lazy?

Nope! I could say quite a few times if I don't have to go anywhere I will gladly stay in pj's all day long, but as to going out, I'm terrified of getting into a car accident that one time I have pj's on.

Have you totally zoned out while the kids are talking to you and had to apologize?

I am totally guilty of this. I hear, "Mama, Mom, Mama, Mom" ALL DAY LONG. After a while, I don't hear it anymore. The kids (both old and young) always say, "Mama (Mom) never listens!" Sorry, guys. I do love you, though.

Have you faked being asleep when the kids start tugging on you to go help them with something?

This was funny! Nope, my kids know my sacred rule. NO ONE gets out of their bed until Mama comes get them. I usually listen to them on the intercom until I see they are getting wild, and then I go get them. BUT....I admit (Sorry, honey, I promised my peeps I'd be honest) I have faked being asleep maybe once or twice when hubby tugs on me. :) A girl needs her sleep, ya know!

Have you had Mac-n-cheese nights for dinner?

Oh yea! I'm not a huge Mac-n-cheese fan, but the kids and Scott are. And since he's the fan, he cooks it.

Do you have any quirks, like always wearing socks around the house?

Socks? No, I live in Florida. My quirk is usually being completely barefoot in the house. I hardly ever, ever where shoes/socks in the house, unless we have guest over. And if it's family, no shoes. Oh, and I wear sneakers maybe 2 or 3 times a year.

Do you recycle? Yup! But I'm really not into the whole "green" thing. (Sorry to all the environmentalist out there. I wish we were protecting babies more than we protect our animals and trees.)

Do you try to slide by expired coupons at the grocery?

I wish I used coupons. I'm terrible at that. I went on a kick a few years ago and ordered the Sunday paper just for the coupons. I spent hours cutting and snipping and then let most of them expire because I never remember to take them with me. The other issue was buying stuff I'd never buy, just because I had a coupon. So, my grocery bills were even more than usual.

What are your main holidays you decorate for?

Hmm....definitely Christmas, sometimes Halloween and always for my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.

Before you were a working mom at home, what other jobs did you hold?

I was an administrator at a private school for about 15 years, and taught some 6th grade computer classes in between. I was also a real estate agent and still have my license, although I have not worked real estate since the boys came home.

Do you print the pics you take or just keep them online?

I print them if I am going to enlarge them or need a picture for an occasion, otherwise I just store them on my computer, which I MUST put on disks but am way too lazy to.

Do you get mixed up with the kids' birthdays at doctor's offices, etc?

Not really. For some reason, I keep thinking Anna Grace's birthday is the 5th when it's on the 7th, but otherwise, everyone's birthdays are pretty much etched in my brain.

Have you ever forgotten how old you were, even for a minute?

Oh my gosh, I do that all-the-time! It drives me nuts!

Did you ever want a fake ID?

Nope, can't say that I have.

What are you most proud of, about yourself, not involving family?

Wow, not involving my family? That's tough because it seems like my family is all I am involved in. heh. Hmm. I could think about this one all day. Right now, I'd have to say the times that I have asked the Lord to use me and He has. I am always honored that He thinks I am capable of doing something, when I don't feel I can. When the "mission is accomplished", I always realize that it was not me, but it was Him.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

Patricia/NYC said...

If you could meet anyone for the first time (dead or alive) who would it be & why?

You know, I've been asked this before and my answer has always been Jesus. But as my walk with Christ has grown, I know now, without a shadow of a doubt, that someday I will indeed stand or probably drop to my knees, before the King of Kings that I so look forward to meeting.

So now, I've changed my answer. Ok. I know you guys know who it would be. Yes, it's Kiefer Sutherland. Why? Just because I would love to sit and chat with him and see what he's really like, not what I envision him to be. I think he'd be a great dinner guest! Anyone out there know how to get an invite to him?

a corgi said...

Have you ever been to California?

Yes! I was there on a 10 day trip that included Lake Tahoe, then we drove down the coast, went to Muir woods (there's funny story I will mention someday about my now 26 year old and Muir woods) and then spent 5 days in San Francisco. We also went to Carmel and Monterey Bay. I loved, loved, loved it! I'm terrified of earthquakes, but hope someday to go back.

Your Husband@ said...

Yes, folks, these questions are from the sweet (but very goofy) love of my life, MY HUSBAND!!!

Ok since you have to be truthful.... did you really love my Black Velvet Cake???

Yes, honey! It was AMAZINGLY delicious!!! You are a fantastic cook and an incredible baker. (I'll post a picture of the cake next to your Don Quixote mustache picture :)

Here's another one: Right now, how many pairs of shoes do you have lying around the house?

STOP THAT!! I have 2! TWO! One pair in the kitchen and one in the office, because when I was leaving to pick up the kids, I had forgotten where the first pair was, so I had to grab another.

See, I told you guys I have to be barefoot in the house.

And this is a bit late, since he posted it this morning, but I wanted to make sure y'all got the message from Scott.

Last but not least: Can I give a shout out to all your " peeps?? " GOOD MORNING PEEPS!!!!

Leslie Jackson said...

could you introduce us to your family a bit?

Sure! I always love sharing my precious Bouquet of Blessings!

<

From left to right:

The rock of our family, my sweet hubby, Scott.

Kai, our 4 year old little man who came home from China almost 3 years ago.

Anna Grace (carried by Tito) my 3 year old Chinese princess who was placed in our arms on Father's Day 2007.

Tito, my 26 year old, sweetheart who is now engaged and has a shaved head (yes!!!)

ME (a very happy wife and Mama of six)

My beautiful 14 year old Amanda who made the high school (she's a freshman) softball varsity team and will be the starting pitcher at their first game on Tuesday. Woohoo!

My other big boy, whom I love dearly, Adam (24 years old).

And last but not least, the baby of the bunch who is spoiled but it's my fault because I can't help but falling for his puppy dog eyes whenever he wants something, A.J. who will be 3 in March. AJ was adopted domestically and was placed in my arms just a mere 6 days before we left for China to bring home Kai.

By the way, all of my children's names start with an "A".

Armando (Tito), Adam, Amanda, Adrian (Kai), Anna Grace and Arthur Joseph (AJ). When we first decided to adopt and we were looking for names, my kids (especially the oldest) were very indignant when they heard that I might consider naming them something else than an "A" name. I'll always remember Tito telling me, "Mom, for them to feel like they fit in with us, they have to have an "A" name. He was 22 at the time.

Favorite things to do as a family?

Watch movies while snuggled up under the covers, or maybe play RockBand, or board games.

Favorite things to do as a couple (you and hubby)?

We're both computer geeks so lots of times we relax by sitting at our computers, which are side by side. We also love to play Scrabble, watch shows like "24", Hell's Kitchen, the Food Network (we love trying new recipes) and now American Idol, together. Of course, going out to dinner and a movie is great, but tough to do both with 4 kids at home.

Favorite foods?

Mexican and/or Tex Mex! YUMMERS!

Favorite colors?

I love black clothes. Otherwise, I pretty much don't have a favorite color.

Anonymous said...

a follow up to an answer you gave someone above. In your walk with God, how did you come to the Catholic Church? Was is your upbringing? Scott's? Both?

I've been Catholic from the day I was born. Unfortunately, my Mom who is now very close to the Lord, took us to church on Easter and sometimes Christmas, probably for the same reasons I didn't take my boys when they were little. I went to a Catholic school for Kindergarten and 1st grade when we first arrived to New Jersey from Cuba, but then attended public school growing up.

As to Scott, it is my understanding he'd go when he was young to church with his Mom every once in a while, but again, more of an obligation and not because of a commitment to Christ.

Anonymous said...

Do you believe Catholicism to be the one true religion? As a cradle Catholic, I find myself so much more engaged with my walk with God after changing religions a few years back. If you have time, I would love to know your response.

The above question was sent to me as a private email, but I have decided to post it on here because it truly is one of those questions that I struggle with...a lot! I really try hard to stay firm to my faith and what our church teaches, but I have to say that there are a few things that just go against my grain so much. Things that, as I inch my way through on my walk with Christ, I just cannot fathom He would do. Maybe it's because I so badly want to believe that what I am taught as a Catholic, it being the one true religion, is so wrong. I know so many Christians of so many different denominations that literally blow me away with their love of Christ and their knowledge of His word. I just can't believe that our loving, merciful Savior would turn anyone away who truly has served and loved Him. I can't just can't believe that.

A few months ago I had gotten into listening to a particular Catholic radio station and it was almost daily that I would hear how we need to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters that weren't Catholic. It really was depressing me. I emailed a beautiful, very devout, Catholic friend of mine and asked her what her opinion was. Her answer? Turn off the radio! I loved it!

So, Anonymous, after all that rambling and even discussing it with Scott over dinner (who feels the same way I do), I have to say, "No, I don't believe that Catholicism is the one true religion." (Yikes! That's scary to even write.) I hope I don't get hate mail from my Catholic readers, but I did promise to be honest with my feelings. And obviously, these are my opinions only.

But, I DO want to clarify that I completely believe in the Holy Eucharist as being the body and blood of Christ. That alone keeps me glued to my faith. As I've mentioned before, I love the traditions and history of the Catholic church, but I admit that sometimes I struggle with their teachings.

Thank you all so very much for asking such amazing questions!! You've made me laugh, cry and look deep within myself in order to answer a lot of the questions honestly. I may have to wear a helmet with all the comments/emails I received with people telling me they "may have to pick my brain!" Ouch!

I truly love blogging, but aside from the fact that I do it to honor and give glory to God whenever I can, I love the interaction with and from my readers. That's not a request for comments or followers, that's truly what I feel in my heart. I feel I've known some of you for years. Your friendship and encouragement, both spiritually and emotionally, are huge blessings in my life. Thank you and may God bless you all abundantly.

It's 1:15 a.m. and I need to get my sappy, cheesy self to bed before I start to cry again!