An Interview With: Sing 4 Joy

Okie Dokie...I think we're winding up on these interviews. Gosh, but they've been a blast. I'm gonna throw out a last call, and then wrap up this little chapter of bloggy fun-ness-eology. I may never top this, though...I have Brandy's questions lined up. Anyone else? Bueller? Mkay.

1. I lurve your bloggy name, Sing 4 Joy. I know you’re a worship princess; goddess of sopranos. However, let’s say you went to Broadway to open in a musical. Which one are you in? And what role do you play? If that’s too hard, simply fill me in on your fave musical—if you have one. I’m Fantine in Les Mis, BTW. Sorry, babe. She’s an alto. She’s all mine. :) That is hilarious! In my head I had already answered, “Eponine from Les Miserables” by the time I got to your pick of Fantine. I actually can belt all the Fantine parts with all angst and believable tragedy, but in all of our Les Mis fantasies, HisGirl was always Fantine and I was always Eponine. You’ll have to take that up with her. (I don’t think they would hire me at this point anyway, since I would die after climbing ¼ of the way up the barricade due to lack of being able to breathe from the effort) As I emailed you, I think His Girl could possibly fight for an understudy. I might...might allow that. Especially since Big and I do a mean "Confrontation" as Javert and Valjean. I mean, we rock whichever vehicle in which we sing.

2. I’m gonna go back to the well with this question because I truly don’t know anything about where you live. Let’s say I’m comin’ for a girls’ weekend. What 3 things are must-dos? RUN the other way! We live in the part of Louisiana called Sportsman’s Paradise – if you don’t like to hunt, fish, or do other dirty outdoor activities for a girls’ weekend, this isn’t your best bet…or 1. There is a place here called Hodges Gardens State Park which I actually really love. As its name suggests, it is a garden. I love to go there different times of year and see what’s in bloom. I also love to take my photography clients there for outdoor sessions. 2. You must attend a crawfish boil. I do not, nor will I ever, eat crawfish, however – it is a big deal here and a very local/cultural activity. 3. When you come to my house for a girly weekend, we will sit out on the front porch with my 12-string drinking sweet tea and singing to the Lord. Oh, my...that'd be so much fun, I can hardly stand it. I'm in awe of anyone who can walk and chew gum, or play and sing simultaneously and all. What is a must eat (in terms of local edibles)? So far, I love Dirty Rice. I replace it for Spanish Rice whenever we have a meal that calls for that. Note to self: Google "dirty rice".

Edited: Dirty rice
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Pork chop with dirty rice
Dirty rice is a traditional Cajun dish made from white rice cooked with small pieces of chicken liver or giblets, which give it a dark ("dirty") color and a mild but distinctive flavor. Similar to a pilaf, it also includes green bell pepper, celery and onion (the "holy trinity"). Parsley and/or chopped green onions are common garnishes. Dirty rice is most common in the Cajun regions of southern Louisiana and Mississippi; however, it can also be found in other areas of the American South.

[edit] In restaurants
Zatarain's offers dirty rice as one of its boxed dinners. This rice does not have pieces of chicken liver in it and uses soy sauce to achieve the desired color. Zatarain's suggests a blend of ground beef, sausage, and finely chopped chicken giblets for a more robust flavor.
Bojangles' Cajun Fried Chicken restaurants serve dirty rice as a side dish. The rice has sausage in it, which is also in their gravy.
For many years, dirty rice has been an offering on the menu of the New Orleans-themed Popeye's Fried Chicken restaurants; however, recent years have seen the chain change the name of the dish to "Cajun rice," desiring perhaps to avoid connotations of uncleanliness on the product's part.

3. Fill in the blank: “If all my had-tos were finished for the day/week/month, I’d spend my time sleeping”. Why? I love sleeping. Does that make me simple? Well, if it does, then call me simple, too.

4. “Something that is so easy and quick, but that I hate to do is: shower.” Why?It just seems like there is so much work involved; getting undressed, starting the shower, doing all the washing (and shaving[bleck] if it’s that day),then drying off, finding all clean pieces of clothing to wear at the risk of having to iron, spending however much time/effort it takes to subdue my hair, and then putting the bathroom to rights. Whereas I could just remain dirty and do none of those things. OOPS. I think I edited that question so I could complain about having to shower.

5. If you could visit heaven for one day and come back to your normal life, whom would you visit? Famous or family, or anyone. This is entirely open-ended. I think I know, but I might not. What would you say to him/her/them? What would you want to hear? If I could visit heaven for one day, I would go straight to God and BEG Him to let me stay. When I get to sing with the Angels and sit at His feet, I want it to be forever! OH, good answer, my friend. I'm so with you!

An Interview with Fab Momma: Becky

I don't remember when I started reading Becky's blog, "Stuck in Frump, Striving for Fab"; it just seems that I always have. She is a kindred spirit in so many ways. And I honestly love the name of her blog. Isn't that what we're all trying to do (at least at one time or another?)??? Becky is today's Erma. Really. And she's definitely a spiritual mentor for me. Lurve all these women who God has led me to who are really God's fruit and not nuts. Enjoy!


1. I love the names you have for your boys, Jericho and Judah. So strong and biblical. Are they pseudonyms, or are they their names? If real, how did you choose them?Thank you. Actually, those are their actual IRL first names. They are from the Bible, having been chosen because we have a very ordinary and extremely common last name and wanted something that would set them apart a bit. I remember sitting in a Bible Study when I was pregnant with Judah, and there was a Holy Land map on the overhead screen, and both Judah and Jericho were listed on the map. When I mentioned that one to Jeff he liked it. (Which was good, because the other name he was pulling for was Thor.) Sounds very Minnesotan--Thor, I mean. Funnily enough, my grandma named her kids with simple names (Richard/Dick, Jane and John) because they had a 100 syllable last name. Don't know if there ever was a Spot, but they did have a Chihuahua named Jose...I digress.

2. Where do you fit in the birth order of your family? Do you have any
characteristics of an oldest, only, middle, or youngest child which match your actual placement? I was raised as an only with my mom, but am an oldest where my dad is concerned. I’m very independent and some folks IRL would say I have leadership tendencies. I would peg you as an oldest, as well. Am I right?You have me pegged right, lol. Yep, definitely an oldest child. I grew up the oldest of four. I'm sure my siblings would say I was kind of bossy as a kid, but I did spend a considerable amount of time babysitting them and trying to keep track of their comings and goings, particularly after my parents divorce. Being mother-hennish, always 'advising' them kind of came with the territory. I think it served to grow me into a dependable, sensible and independant type. At 18, I moved far away from my childhood home in Western Washington, working and eventually attending college in Minnesota. It was during that time that my 5th sibling, my "baby" sister was born, and what a surprise that phone call was! "You might want to sit down for this..." LOL. My baby sister is in high school currently (and is only 4 years older than Jericho). We've only lived in the same town briefly when Jericho was a baby, and because of these things I feel our relationship leans more towards that of a distant aunt-niece type than a sisterly one. Any which way though, I'm proud to call her family. She's good people. Um...I have a 1/2 sister who is 14 years younger...same type of relationship. She's good people, too. Trying to figure it all out in the NAVY right now. Best thing she ever did.
3. You are extremely entertaining and Dave Barry-esque (or perhaps more Erma Bombeck-esque) in your writing style. You simply need to get a column. Gawrsh, thanks. I'm flattered that you would think so, lol. I've enjoyed both of their styles of writing over the years, and if mine even remotely resembled it, I'd count it a real honor. I do enjoy laughing and making other folks laugh,and if that comes through in what I blog about, all the better for us all. I come by it honestly enough...my parents and grandparents were all the same way.Are you a reader, too? If so, whom do you lurve? Why? I am an avid reader. As a kid, I always had the most carts behind my Train engine on the gradeschool classroom walls, and often won prizes in reading contests. The librarians at our local library knew me by name. I think the long, rainy winters in Western Washington and the fact that we didn't have a TV (on purpose) while I was growing up contributed to this love for books and reading (and storytelling). I especially enjoy Inspirational Christian and historical fiction and lurve Jane Austen, Laura Ingalls Wilder and L.M. Montgomery's works. I think because they whisk me away to another era that seems simpler, less complicated and with noble gentleman heroes. I'm also a big Jan Karon fan. Of course, my life wouldn't be what it is today without the bestselling book of all time...the Bible. A follow up…have you always written? I never kept journals as a kid, but I did scrapbook. Have you been a lifelong journal writer, or did blogging ignite that within you?I have always written. I kept journals all through Middle school and one day read through them and was embarrassed by all the angst and meloncholy things I poured out in there, especially the parts about my latest crushes, and so I threw them all out. And then was mortified to learn my grandma had been reading all that drivel out at our burning barrel in the back yard, lol. I was a frustrated writer, though. My thought process would spin ahead so much faster than I could write it out, and it wasn't until the personal computer came around that I began to find my 'groove'. It saved reams and reams of paper wasted on 'false starts' of stories I'd written. One day I do hope to get something of my own published.
4. My grandma always said that she loved her son’s wives as much as her own daughter, and felt so blessed by their choices. What are some must have attributes for the practically perfect d-i-l for each of your sons?Wow, I haven't really thought that far ahead. Why would you? I'm a bit cracked... My husband and I have often prayed for our future DIL's, wherever they are, that the Lord will bring them together in wonderful, memorable ways, and that they will go on to serve the Lord together wholeheartedly. Of course I'd like to see young women that respect my sons as the men God grows them into, and that together they will do a great job of raising our grandbabies to carry the torch for Christ in this world. Having sweet daughter-in-laws that I could regard as daughters and friends would be a huge plus.
5. Which of your 5 senses would you choose to go without if you absolutely had to? Why? Which of your 5 senses would you like to see enhanced? Why? Oh, man...if we were streaming live, this would be a huge stumblingly awkward sequence. I just don't know. I suppose taste, because being able to see and smell and hear and touch are so important to me, and losing my sense of taste would make food less important. If I couldn't tell the difference between chocolate and brussels sprouts, I'd just eat the latter for the nutrtional value. It would make it a lot easier to eat what's good for me. I suppose I would like my sense of hearing enhanced...so that I could be a better listener and less of a talker. Because combined with the obnoxious SAHM tendency I have (after conversing with 3-and-unders for most of the day), I get downright greedy about getting my 30,000 words out, and I'm afraid I can come on waaay too strong at times. And there you have it.

Well done, Chica. Well done. :)

An Interview With: Jenster

Oh, are you in for a treat! This interviewing is so much fun. Thank you for playing along. Jenster is a bluddy of mine who I think I've been reading for about 2 years...I don't want to gush and tell you that she's an amazing woman, because she would hate that. But, guess what: she's an amazing woman. Making lemonade out of her lemons and writing so poignantly about it along the way. She writes at her personal blog, and at Mothers With Cancer. Enjoy!

1. As you have surmised by now, I am not from the South. You, apparently, have lived in AR. And I believe your parents are there, no? At any rate, let’s say we’re taking a Thelma and Louise road trip to AR. What do we see and do, and what are the top 3 foods/drinks we must order? Yes, I lived in Arkansas from the first week of my married life until almost three years ago. My parents moved there after my dad retired. And then we left. (Oy, the guilt!) So a Thelma and Louisesque road trip. We don’t have to tote a gun or anything, do we? I’d say we definitely have to take in Eureka Springs – an eclectic Victorian town nestled in the Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas. While there we can do all manner of fun shopping AND take in the Passion Play. If we do this in the fall the colors will blow you away. People always think of the Northeast when they think of fall foliage, but the Arkansas foliage rivals even New England. Then we’ll wind our way through the rolling hills to Mountain View and take in the various blue grass bands doing their thang on the porches and in the gazebo in the middle of the town square. From there we can drive down to Petit Jean Mountain and just take in the beauty. Arkansas is the Natural State and most of what I like to do there involves hanging out and enjoying nature. Mountains, rivers, valleys, bayous – take your pick. As for food (now you’re speaking my language!) – Since it is the South we have to do fried. Fried green tomatoes, fried okra and fried catfish!!

2. I feel like I would be remiss if I didn’t ask something about your journey and victory over breast cancer, since that has impacted your life for the last 4 years. What, if anything, has changed for the BETTER since this all began? This is a question I ask myself a lot. I could give you a huge list of what has changed for the worst – mostly all physical with a little of the emotional thrown in. But there have been positive changes as well. Before I was diagnosed I was a committed Christian, living daily in the Word, chatting with Jesus, singing Him songs, happy and content with my life – it was practically ideal and I knew it all to be blessings from God. But I don’t think there was any more room for me to grow at that point. I was so come – my relationships, my lifestyle, my spiritual life – all of it. At that point I believed in my head and, I think, my heart that God was in total control of my life and He would be my strength and my joy in any circumstance. But before my diagnosis I didn’t know that as an absolute. He proved Himself so faithful over and over and over again. How could I not be changed for the better?
To expound… (‘cause I’m all about expounding) I’ve always had a heart for women’s ministry and have been involved in some form or fashion over the last 15 years or more. This experience has given me different insights and a more useful perspective (for lack of a better phrase). Now I see God taking me to the next level in this ministry I have such a passion for and using what was a difficult circumstance to better serve the women I want to help. Not just within the realm of breast cancer, either, but just women’s issues as a whole.


3. Who inspires your wickedly awesome sense of humor? Your compassion for others? Both of these are so vividly a part of who I see in you. And one of the reasons I lurve ya.
Both my folks are funny. And Todd is funny. And my kids are funny. And my friends are funny. So I can’t escape the humor thing. I’ve been inundated with it, I suppose. My compassion for others? Wow. That’s a tough one because my spiritual gifts inventory lists compassion as my second lowest. I’m a very, “suck it up”, “get over it” and “save the drama for your mama unless that’s me” type of person. But I do hurt when others hurt. Looking back over the years, I would say the degree of my compassion is in direct proportion with my relationship with Christ. I’ve been less than compassionate with a few people lately. Hmm… I don’t think I like what that means. Oh, dear! Probably means you're human. I think we can be compassionate w/o dramatics.

5.Name an area of motherhood with which you s.t.r.u.g.g.l.e? An area in which you r.o.c.k? Explain both. Only one area in which I struggle? Okay then. I’ll stay with something safe so you won’t think too much less of me. Sometimes I’m too strict and other times I’m too lax. So maybe that “one” area would be consistency. I know I let them get away with a little too much at times and then other times I get angry over stupid stuff. Gah! What a lamo I am!
I’m not so sure about the area in which I rock. I will say I have a great relationship with both kids. I truly love their teenage years. Just like every other stage they’ve grown through, they do cause their fair share of frustrations. But on the whole they’re good kids and I’m continually amazed at the things they talk to me about. So maybe I rock at inspiring confidence and unconditional love? That’s my hope. It's a good hope to have because I believe it's true!But really, when you get right down to it, I would say the only reason I rock at ANYTHING is by the grace of God. Seriously.

4. Who is your second husband? Explain. Ahem, what I mean to say is…Phil Mickelson used to be my 2nd hubby; now he’s dropped to 3rd husband status. Kyle Chandler is now 2nd. If I weren’t married almost 19 years you could worry. :) Also, I know that if things don’t work out between Big and me, he’ll be headed right towards wife 2, Keira Knightly. Or…possibly Cameron Diaz. Hmm… If I couldn’t be married to Todd and I had to pick someone else I might pick Adrian Paul because he’s cute, has a wicked sweet Scottish accent and looks fiiiiiine in a kilt. Not just any guy is manly enough to get away with looking masculine in a skirt. Know what I’m sayin’? But I don’t know much about his personality so that might not last very long. Oh, I know!! Carter Oosterhouse! The carpenter guy! He’s cute and handy, too! And I would be able to do all the home improvement projects I wanted to because I would have all the right tools at my disposal and when if I got into trouble he could fix it for me. He’s a little young for me, but youth is wasted on the young so… whatever.
Yes, I so agree. You thi IS wasted on the young. Which sucks for me, except when I can boss my youth around (e.g. poop scooping). Then it's okay. I often lament that my cuteness and my wisdom are at inverse odds. Anyhooo...

Thank you so much, Jenster.

An Interview With: His Girl

Howdy! This is so much fun for me, and I hope so for you, too. My next victim subject is Amber, at His Girl. I've followed/become bloggy friends with HG over the past 18 months, and am super honored to have met her. Her faith sharpens my iron. Actually, puts my iron to shame, but is so in line with who you "see" at His Girl. It's fitting that she's a teacher because she's taught me something new every time I read her posts. Without further ado:

1. You have twin girls, who I believe are identical. Don’t laugh—I went to college with Joan and Jean and they were so look-alike, and yet swore up and down that they were fraternal. Anyhoo. You’ve also written a book, I believe, about the experience. First, yay, you! Second, what put the seed of the book in your head? First of all, I’m not laughing at the identical question. The truth is we really don’t know if they are identical. They look so much alike it’s hard for most people to tell which is which, but we would have to do a genetic test to know for sure. I have a children’s book called “My, You Have Your Hands Full” which is kind of an inside joke for parents of multiples. Going out in public with baby-toddler twins in not only really challenging, but also you are kind of a spectacle. Well meaning strangers say the most unbelievable things and almost always say at one point either “double trouble” or “boy, you sure have your hands full.” So, I wrote a poem about it so my girls could know about a time that they won’t even remember. I submitted it to a magazine contest, won, and they (edited it severely!) and turned it into a book. That’s the story.

2. Kind of a piggy back question: You have an awesome 13 y.o. son and two 9 year old dtrs. Do you have a “middle child” in your fam? Or just an oldest and two youngests? Explain. There really isn’t a middle child. I guess if we had one child that fit the description of a middle child it would be the younger twin, who is very much alike in temperament to my husband, who is actually a middle. However, I really think the twin thing makes for a whole different dynamic than the typical three child family.

3. I know you are a teacher—of both adults, and I believe, children, at your church. Teaching seems a very natural gifting in you. Other than the Lord, who inspires this, if anyone? And bottom line: what do you hope to accomplish at the end of your (work) day? Hmmm. I had some really cool teachers in elementary school that likely sparked my love for teaching, and I have some really good role models as an adult (Jon Courson, Patsy Clairmont), but overall, I think a teacher is who I am. Even if I didn’t have a classroom to teach in, I’d still be out there trying to educate others. It’s my best and worst feature. Best when I’m following Christ, worst when I am not.
As far as the end of a workday? I hope I’ve inspired others to look at the bigger picture in any situation. I think one of the most amazing, eye-opening scriptures is Proverbs 21:2 People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. More important to me than to teach technical, practical processes (though I do teach those too) is to help people get to the heart of the rule, strategy, procedure that I have to teach. I find that often that’s the only thing people need to do to be able to be fantastic teachers, volunteers, parents… get their hearts in line with God. Boy, I love the part about "best when I'm following Christ, worst when I'm not". Certainly tough to keep that eternal perspective in mind in the day to day "schtuff".

4. If you could summarize your husband in one word, what would it be, and why? Well, as you can see, I’m a wordy girl. Picking one word feels impossible. I suppose I’d go with noble. The man is steady, honest, brave, smart, and true. I think that qualifies him to be called “noble” . One of my kids' teachers is Mr. Noble. He probably really felt a need to either live up to or totally denigrate his last name. Thankfully, noble is how I'd describe him, too.

5. Think back on all the good and schlocky TV of our lifetime…which character are you/on what show? Explain. Oh, dear. I am stumped. What’s that show that had the wacky blogger who means well, loves Jesus, her kids, her husband, has amazing friends, is addicted to email, can’t stop talking, and never cleans her house? I’m that character. Sounds like a real housewife of So-Cal episode to me. NOT Orange Cty. :)


Thank you, HG! And, BTW, thank you again for my fancy-schmancy button.

An Interview With: Tiffani

Okey Dokey, my first interview is with Tiffani, of Bears and Belles. I am drawn to Tiffani's bubbly personality, incredible faith, and sense of optimism that I see on her blog and in emails. It's my pleasure to get to know her more.

1. How did you meet the lurve of your life, Adam? I met Adam at a teency little church when I was 15 years old. I was immediately drawn to him--even at such a young age. His ridiculously wonderfully blue eyes immediately got me.

2. I see encouragement as a definite gifting in you, Tiffani. What would you say your primary spiritual gift is, and, other than God, who (if anyone) inspires this in you? Thanks and I am honored for you to think that and you are right on. I would say other than encouragement. mercy. My grandmother inspires MANY gifts in me but these two she's probably poured out the most...not just to me but everyone around her. I guess I like giving the "thing" I need the most from others, too?!

3. I know nothing about Georgia, except that I visited Savannah last spring and lurved it. Are you kidding? 80 degrees in April? What’s not to love? Name three things we will do as girlfriends when I come visit. Talk about Deep South, Savannah!? It IS divine down there. Okay: 1. We'd go to the Varsity in Downtown Atlanta and eat chili dogs and onion rings and drink a Frosted Orange (F.O.) and wave to the bell hop whose worked there for 60+ years then take in some great "downtown" things...sights, shopping, etc. 2. We'd go to Stone Mountain and sit on the lush, large, green lawn in front of the most beautiful piece of exposed granite/relief carving you've ever seen and picnic and talk and talk and talk and talk (we could even hike up the back side of the mountain) 3. We'd have to find a "festival" for that time of year...The Apple Festival in Ellijay, Geranium Festival in McDonough, Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon...warm sunshine in the spring, cool air in the fall...funnel cakes, craft booths, art displays, cloggers :), fried pies from scratch...you just can't beat it! You ready to come now??!! (I just realized re-reading this that all of our "fun" revolves around FOOD!!) Yes, I'm so ready. :)

4. “If I could share one thing about myself which no one would guess, it would be…” Gosh. This one was a little harder because really I am an open book...ask and I'll usually tell! :) But, no one would probably guess that I have a tattoo...a very special, dainty verse tattooed between my shoulder blades...not too big, not too small...a surprise for Adam upon returning home from TX---that in just a few words sums up my deep affection for him and for our relationship..."I am beloved's and my beloved is mine" Song of Songs 6:3...I like that it's in a place where only he can see it (other than in summertime, of course) and that it's a constant reminder of the gift of our marriage! Plus, I was totally "speakin' his language"--he has a couple, too. Also, it's been a semi-secret...until now, of course! I think that's totally sweet, and probably the type of tattoo which would appeal to me.

Barbara Walters-esque question: What kind of flower are you? Why? I thought all of these were quite Walters-worthy! Well, since I don't know much of flowers I do have to say that I am something simple and low maintenance...a violet, maybe. Their beauty is simple but yet they are a great contribution to any flower bed or pot. They come in a variety of colors and I think there's depth to who I am and I am a variety of traits, but just a simple girl nonetheless. Lovely!

This was so much fun! And I loved her answers! If anyone else is game for an interview, let me know, and I'll getcha asap. There are others in the works. :)

Who, me?

So I saw this at Suzy Q's place, and I thought it was a brilliant idea. I'd lurve to know more about my readers--in the most non-stalking, friendly way possible--so if you're game, give me a comment wherein I have permission to interview you. I'll ask 5 questions, and you have dibs on privacy, etc. Me thinks this could be fun.