Without further ado, here is the first (of hopefully several as time goes by) Nothing Gold Q&A.

Chris asks, “Who paid for your cool new haircut in the pictures you posted?”
Well, Chris, that would be you. Thank you.

Brandon asks, “Which is your favorite child?”
He also warned me not to say, “all of them”. I’ll do my best to answer this one. I don’t have a favorite child. I know this because if I thought, “Which kid could I live without? If I had to choose one child to lose, which one would it be?” I cannot do it. Sorry, Brandon. However, I do have favorite children at different times. Abby Jo is always very close to favorite child position on a daily basis. She rarely throws temper tantrums about what she has to wear to church on Sunday, goes into a five year old rage and does a crazy caveman fit over being told to go to her room because of freaking out on whichever sibling made her mad, nor does she poop on herself, take off her pull up, and then try to go to the potty by herself, smearing horrible nastiness all over the bathroom. Also, she completely adores me at all times. So, she doesn’t have to do much to be the cutest, sweetest, most easily satisfied child. However, she doesn’t do random acts of service like Kyra does…she doesn’t say, “Mama…” wait thirty seconds, grin from ear to ear, and continue “…I love you!” like Elijah does, and she doesn’t make me laugh till I pee my pants over three year old one liners like Owen does. They all get to be my favorite for unspecified amounts of time. Poop has a lot to do with it.

Haley asks, “What has been the turning point in your life…the moment in which you realized something and it changed how you view the world?”
This is a hard question, not in that I can’t think of such a point, but to think of only one point. I’ve had several of those moments over the last few years. One that stands out to me, though, is the time during my third semester of college when I was taking a Psychology class, a Sociology class, and a History of Western Civilization class all at the same time. It was the perfect storm of getting really ticked off about the way women have been treated throughout history. I started to see a lot of correlation between history and my own life. I was outraged to see that the rest of the country had conceded that women were not second class citizens, but that in my own little religious bubble, in practice, the thought was still pretty prevalent. It was not the rule, but it was also not the exception. I would read about Aristotle teaching that women were inferior in Western Civ, and then see how that thinking was still going strong…if not in teaching, in practice…in my own life. All three classes just coincided with one another, and I started to get kind of upset about it. The people who were confronting me about worrying about me, my family, and my spiritual condition because I had chosen to continue my education, were not helping me to see my thoughts as in error. I felt like they were trying to keep me in “my place”. I remembered that I do have a mind of my own. I do have thoughts and ideas. I have hopes and dreams. I realized one day that I was an adult in the United States of America. I was free to pursue my education. I was free to break away from the pack if the pack was not helping me. I was free not to concern myself with whether or not people wanted me to or not. I was free, and it felt pretty refreshing.

Chris (yes, again) asks, “Which do you like better…chili or potato salad?”

Chili.

Taylor asks, “What do you do with most of your time not spent with the hubby or kids?”

The most honest and concise answer…waste time on the Internet. I read a lot of blogs, spend too much time on Facebook, and chat with friends on gmail. Following that, I talk to Amy on the phone a lot. I don’t really get out much without Chris and the kids, but if I do, it’s usually church related.

Travis asks, “Peanut butter…crunchy or creamy?” and “How do you feel about Goober grape?”

Well, Trav, I like Smuckers All Nautral creamy peanut butter…the kind you have to mix the oil all up with it. It’s the best. I’ve never tried Goober grape, but it seems like something I wouldn’t like too much.

Natasha asks, “So how are the kids? What is everyone into these days? Are you guys still planning to move?”

Tasha, the kids are doing great. Kyra is in 2nd grade, and doing quite well in school. She is into computer games, playing xbox, occasionally blogging, and reading. She loves chapter books these days, especially Junie B. Jones and Ramona. She is a great help with pretty much everything. Elijah is in kindergarten, and he loves it. He’s a fast learner, and very excited to learn. He loves computer games and xbox games, too, but he is especially adept at games of logic. He amazes Chris and I at his ability to do puzzle games that are hard for us to do. Owen is not yet in school, but he sits through kindergarten with Elijah and is learning his letter sounds. He’s our little comedian. He’s hilarious and keeps us in stitches. He likes to watch the big kids play games, and occasionally gives it a go himself. He likes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Scooby Doo, and superheroes. They all love going to Awana at church.

Yes, we are still planning on moving, if Chris does go active duty with the Army. That is our general plan, but it could always change. He will be a Reserve chaplain first for a couple of years. He is not yet a chaplain, but he could be by the end of the year or shortly thereafter. We will not move until he goes active duty.

Cassandra asks, “The last few years, I have been reading your blog, and when I first started, we had a ton in common. We were both at independent fundamental Baptist churches, we had children in ACE ( I think you used to have Kyra in one-maybe I am mistaken about that) schools, we stayed home with our kiddos, both wore skirts all the time, etc. etc… Now, we still have alot in common- (our ages, our kiddos, our mommyness moments) but alot has changed for you! I’ve witnessed alot in your life the last couple of years. Starting up your schooling again, going to a different church, your husband’s change in vocation, leaving behind alot of the fundamentalist ideas…so, I am just curious. What started it all? Do you still consider yourself an independent Baptist? I am not condemning your choices in any way, I am just curious about the journey that you have started on. Was there a defining moment when you decided you wanted to do things differently, or did it slowly happen?”

Cassandra, thank you for your question. I will be happy to answer each part of it in detail, but I’m going to give it it’s own post. So, hang around a bit longer, and it will be my next post. (You were so one of the three loyal readers I was talking about.)

April asks, “Did you get your nose pierced?”

Yes.

Emily Moore asks, “How bad did it hurt to get your nose pierced?”

It hurt quite a bit, but just for a moment. As he pushed the needle through the cartilage, it hurt pretty bad, but, as soon as the needle was through, it was just sore. It was sore for a few hours, and, after that, it’s only been sore if I bump it.

Emily McMichael asks, “Do you think I’m hot?”

Emily, my dear…I think you are beautiful…lovely…talented…wonderful…hilarious…compassionate…loving…and completely awesome, but I have never thought you were hot.

Emily McMichael also asked,”Why did you get your nose pierced on the right side instead of the left?”

I had it pierced on the right side because it looked better, I thought. At the time, I had my cartilage pierced on my left ear, so I thought it looked more balanced with my nose pierced on the right. It was purely an aesthetic choice, and it means nothing.

Maurice asks, “If a hen and a half laid an egg and a half in a day and a half, how long does it take 7 hens to lay 7 eggs?”

There is no such thing as a half a hen that is still capable of laying eggs, so the question is moot.

Maurice also asks, “Which direction is up?”

Stand up with your feet on the floor, tilt your head backwards as far as it will go…the direction your nose is pointed is up.

Heather asks, “How do your children keep getting cuter?”

Well, Heather, the funny answer is that as they get meaner, God realizes they need to get cuter so that I don’t start beating them. The serious answer? Superb genetics.

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I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had fun. If anyone else thinks of any questions they’d like to ask, leave them in the comments and we’ll have a You Asked: Part Deuce sometime in the future. Stay tuned to the answer to Cassandra’s question in my next post, and I’ll also have a post up soon about getting my nose pierced, with pictures and video, since it was such a popular topic.

Thanks! You guys rock!

1. Where is your cell phone?  ear
 2. Your significant other? heretic
 3. Your hair? bee-yu-ti-ful
 4. Your mother? crafty
 5. Your father? funny
6. No question here for some reason.

 7. Your dream last night? squirrels
 8. Your favourite drink? wet
 9. Your dream/goal? happiness

10. What room are you in? kitchen
 11. Pet’s name? peeve
 12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Heaven?
 13. Where were you last night? home

 14. What you’re not? stupid
 15. Muffins? pumpkin-chocolate-chip
 16. One of your wish list items? bigger-mp3-player
 17. Where you grew up? in-skirts

 18. The last thing you ate? Froot Loops

19. What are you wearing?? pajamas
 20. Your TV?? loud

 21. Your computer?? beloved
 22 . Your mood? constant
 23. Missing someone? Me!
24. Your car? Filthy
 25 . Something you’re not wearing?? bobsled
 26 . Favourite Store? Kroger?? (no, my friend, it would be a bookstore)
 27 . Your summer? adventure’y
 28 . Your favourite colour? pink (said very sadly)
 29. When is the last time you laughed? when I gagged at your pink
 30 . Who will/would re-post this? only the losers with nothing else to do

First, you get a good hold on your opponent. Don’t worry if he’s bigger and stronger. If you get the right hold on him, he’s done for. Then, you…whoah, whoah…aaahhh!!!

Don’t worry if your opponent flips you over his head. All is not lost.

Even if your faces turns red and then purple from the blood being forced from your extremities and into your head, you still have a chance. As long as your opponent plays fair, you can still….yeeeouch!

While against the rules, some opponents may cheat and bring in tag team partners. However, all is not lost. Just keep control of your breathing, and…oh, man.

It was the little guy that did me in. My butt has been kicked.

** These photos brought to you by Kyra Joy.

1. No one is this house is allowed to say “I hate you”, “I don’t like you”, “I’ll kill you”, or any other hateful things kids like to say to each other when they are mad. It will get you in more trouble than just about anything else you could do. Not only will you most likely be spanked, sent to your room, and sternly lectured…but you will also have to hug and kiss each other and tell each other how much you love one another. Needless to say, those things are rarely said.

2. I never pass up an opportunity to do someting fun to do housework. Ever.

3. I rarely stay home because I have no one to help me with the kids. I’ve always taken them with me…even when there are three of them…to buy groceries or whatever when I had them by myself, and I guess they’ve learned how to act, because they’re usually pretty good.

4. I shave my legs every day. Every single day. Unless I am sick and can’t get off the couch. Even when I’m insanely, hugely pregnant. Because to not do so is gross.

5. Now that I have kids, I no longer do some things that I did before, such as ride fourwheelers, dirtbikes, etc, jump off of waterfalls, or drive too fast. Because I can’t stand the idea of some other woman raising my kids.

6. Everyone must wear their seatbelt when they ride with me. No exceptions. No one under twelve is allowed to ride in my front seat.

7. I never turn down free food cooked by someone else.

8. I never skip ahead in a book to see what’s going to happen. I can’t stand when people tell me they do that. I think they’re missing the point.

Ah…let’s see. Who shall I tag?

Sara, Laura, Jenn, Joy, and Heather… I choose you. If you’ve already got this meme, tag someone else instead. After you finish, tag five more people, and let them know in their comments that they’ve been tagged. Have fun! (I hope you guys are more interesting than me.)