Tuesday was Modern Reject’s 6 month anniversary, as some of you may know. I had asked all you lovelies to take a survey, telling me what you love and could do without on Modern Reject. Turns out, much to my husband’s surprise–you all really like Favorite Things Friday. To be honest, I was thinking of scratching it from my repertoire, but I think there might be a revolt if I attempted that. (I will tell you, though, that I may not be doing it every single Friday anymore; but it will still be a feature).
I always learn so much about you guys from Favorite Things, too. Your comments are filled with all of the things you love and care about. I thought that, this Friday, I’d like to get to know you all even more. Since next week is Thanksgiving, I also thought today’s Favorite Things would incorporate some of what we are thankful for. Let’s get a little personal. Whadya say?
I’ll start. Then you go. Cool? Cool.
My favorite color: Purple. All things purple.
My favorite food: Japanese… oh, wait, Mexican. No, no… American fusion, or just a good burger and fries.
My favorite time of day: Early morning, just before my kids wake up. Not because I like mornings, but because the morning is quiet and full of the promise of a new day.
My favorite album: Thriller, because it was my first. Besides that, it is really hard to say. I love so much music, so it is hard to say which is my favorite. Over the years, however, each of these albums was at one time played ad nasuem: Roots Live, John Coltrane’s Love Supreme, anything by Tom Petty, The Eagles’ Hotel California, L.A. Woman by The Doors, Blood Sugar Sex Magik by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jill Scott’s Who is Jill Scott, and even some old school Janet Jackson Control. Whew. That’s a lot.
My favorite way to spend a Saturday: Sleeping in (like that’s possible), having a big breakfast/brunch with my hubster and kids, afternoon shopping and lounging, filled with laughing and silliness. A late nap. A delicious dinner from our grill. Wine. Good conversation. A movie curled up on the couch with my hubster. A good night’s sleep. Bliss.
My favorite age so far: 25.
My favorite childhood memory: Camping with my parents, taking long walks with my grandfather, laughing uncontrollably with my grandmother.
My favorite sound: My kids laughing (so cheesy, I know, but it’s true!).
My favorite dessert: I have the world’s largest sweet tooth, so I’ll just say “one of each please,” but I especially like tiramisu, donuts, and anything chocolate.
My favorite scent: The Arizona desert just after it rains (I’m gagging on my own cheese).
My favorite verse: Philippians 3:12-14, but I am also loving Isaiah 61, which the Lord showed me in regards to my future and present ministry.
Finally, 3 things I am thankful for: The obvious–my husband, children, and family. God’s continual grace, poured out on me, when I am so clearly undeserving. This blog, and all of you who faithfully read, comment, and bless me.
My favorite color: baby pink or purple, it’s a tossup.
food: pasta, specifically chicken alfredo but any kind of italian is perfect for me. I am SERIOUSLY on a no carb left behind diet. LOL
time of day : about 11pm, when it’s all quiet and i can relax
album: So far, it’s Jason Aldean’s Wide Open. However, I haven’t heard his newer one so maaaaybe. LOL
Saturday: Hiking in the mountains near my house, with a picnic lunch
age: So far most of them sucked in some part. I will just say I hope my golden years are golden.
childhood memory: sitting on a front porch swing with my grandfather, *going to the beach*. He always swung the two of us all the way to the ocean, every week.
sound: the meow a newborn baby makes when it cries.
dessert: Duh. I’m bbw. ALL of them! I do love tiramisu though. Yum!
scent: sandalwood, ahtough I am also extremely partial to all things tropical and fruity like ocean breeze, mango blah blah. Moving to Hawaii seems like a good goal right now!
verse: Corinthians. Love is Patient, Love is Kind. (now who’s cheesy?!)
3 things I am thankful for (did this one again before I got up):
my children
hot water
the love of a good strong man. (yeah, I’m talkin bout Jesus!)
Ade
I love your list Ade! Gosh, you always have such great answers. I have to say that I do feel like I know you–as much as you can know someone via a blog. I feel like I could describe you to someone who didn’t know you.
I am thankful for you, your voice, your perseverance which is a testimony to me and glorifying to the Lord, your obvious love for your children and commitment to them.
While I cannot guess how difficult these last few weeks, months, or even years have been, please just know that I count you a friend. I am thankful for that and am praying for you, dear friend.
Well, you just had to go and make me cry, eh? :) Thank you so much Nicole! I love your blog, and I look forward to read everything you write each day. Always gives me food for thought!
I appreciate the prayers more than you’ll ever know. I think my situation is hard and unique because I truly believe he loves me, and he WANTS to be a good person, he’s just all messed up with his mental disorder. I hope that with enough love and patience he can work through his issues — and then, I hope I can forgive and forget the mistakes he’s made and the pain he’s put me and our children through. It has been incredibly hard, but I always know that God and I can get through it. He holds me when no one else will. :)
Ade
My favorite album: Kid A by Radiohead.
My favorite way to spend a Saturday: Mine looks like yours, believe it or not. Though I might add a cigar in there, too.
My favorite age so far: Always my curreent age. I never really look back, just at now and the future. It’s the optimist in me.
My favorite sound: Tolan laughing is definitely a good sound, though I don’t mind the sound of a good jazz piano, either.
My favorite dessert: I’m not much of a sweet tooth, so I’d have to say that YOU are my favorite dessert (yes!).
Thankful for: God’s grace, you, my amazing wife, and our hilarious children, an awesome and believing family, a fun job, and whatever God has ahead.
Are we such an old married couple that I’m not surprised by anything on your list?
It’s okay though. Even though I know juts about everything about you, I still think you are the most interesting, fascinating, and coolest guy I know…even if you misspell “dessert.” xo
My favorite color: At the moment, I would have to go with the GM factory color “Inferno Orange Metallic” in the House of Color palette. My grandpa, brother, and I are resurrecting an old rust-bucket from the dead and turning it into a show-stopper with this color.
My favorite food: Hot wings, followed by Chinese.
My favorite time of day: Night. I run hot and have zero heat tolerance. If it’s warmer than 70, I’ll run the AC in my car. Living in AZ, I’ve come to appreciate the night time.
My favorite album: My default answer for a long time has been Led Zeppelin’s “4” (which is technically not called 4 but a series of symbols). With that said, Gogol Bordello’s “Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike” has been my most listened to album since 2007 (and my most listened to artist)…
My favorite way to spend a Saturday: College football. My previous favorite was Saturday morning cartoons, but those have been eliminated. What remains are shadows of former glorious.
My favorite age so far: 18-21. I was old enough to do grown up stuff and in many ways had a chance to make up for my lost childhood. After 21, things began to quickly change and go downhill.
My favorite childhood memory: The epic 8000 mile, 2 month long RV trip with my grandparents.
My favorite sound: A Rolls Royce Merlin engine at full throttle in ground effect.
My favorite dessert: Definitely not the Mojave dessert. That place is depressing.
My favorite scent: A woman. I know that sounds creepy/weird/nasty perhaps, but I mean how good you women smell when you’re all cleaned up for going out on a date (even I’ve been on those). I don’t know what magic alchemy you perform in the bathroom, but your efforts do not go unnoticed.
My favorite verse: Mark 9:24, because the final phrase sums up my walk right now “I do believe; help me with my unbelief.”
3 things:
1. Every day God gives me life is another chance to get it right.
2. My friends. Without them I would have given up so long ago.
3. The fact that I can at least think of two things. Gimmie a break here, I’m at a big crossroads in my life and the signals coming in are muddy.
Joey, I don’t even know where to start with your list. It is stellar.
Love your color
Don’t know Gogol Bordello, I guess I should
I miss Saturday morning cartoons too. Go Thunder Cats!
Your childhood memory sounds ah-mazing!
Can you seriously identify the sound of a Rolls Royce engine? If so, I’m flabbergasted.
For the record, I spelled “dessert” correctly. Then my husband, thinking it was a misspelling went in and edited it to “desert.” Yum, dry and crunchy.
And you get off the hook for only naming 2 things you are thankful for…I guess.
I could think of a third if I wanted to, but I’m being mentally lazy on a day off.
As for the engine, I grew up around airports and eventually got my pilot’s license. The Merlin was a 27 liter V-12 produced by Rolls Royce (and by Packard in the USA) during WWII. These things make the most glorious mechanical sounds on earth at full power.
Coool…you have your pilot’s license? You are one cool dude, Joey. “Glorious mechanical sounds” though? How about the sound of new shoes being taken out of a shoebox? (joking…sorta) I’m such a girl…
No, it’s cool. No third thing necessary. Enjoy your brain vacation.
My favorite color: Most shades of green. But not lime green or bright kelly green.
My favorite food: currently (I’m pregnant, so it changes each week, apparently): potato wedges with sour cream for dippin’.
time of day : Either early morning before the kids get up, or school time when homeschooling is humming along nicely. Also end of the day when kids are in bed.
album: Bat Out of Hell II by Meat Loaf. Yeah, you heard me. Also The Proclaimers’ Hit The Highway.
Saturday: Breakfast at a local old mill, hiking in the gorge nearby with the kids. Solitary afternoon at a bookstore with a latte.
age: My current one is pretty good. I also liked 26.
childhood memory: My grandfather’s annual hayride at his farm.
sound: My kids laughing, a cat’s meow when it wants attention.
dessert: Not so much into dessert these days, but cheesecake sounds darn good.
scent: The way my husband’s skin smells after he’s been outside on a sunny, windy day.
verse: Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” There’s also the verse that I read at my brother’s funeral, I can’t remember the citation now, but it was something about the young man, being taken young so he would not fall to temptation of the ways of the world. It helped me come to terms with his death.
3 things I am thankful for:
my children and being blessed with a pregnancy at the age of 37
ginger ale
My husband
Karen, what a beautiful list. I really enjoyed reading it.
Hey, no judgment on Meatloaf. I also love your Saturday at a bookstore with a latte. I’ll join you on that one.
And congratulations on your baby-to-be. What a true joy and blessing! Thanks so much for sharing with me today.
Favorite food: Italian, Mexican, and good ol’ American steak.
Favorite album: Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” because it reminds me of my college days. That really dates me. lol
Favorite Saturday activity: Watching college football or playing with the kids. Make each day count. (My oldest graduates high school in the spring.)
Favorite age: That’s a tough one. Maybe right now because God has given me extra time on my life. I appreciate the simple things more now. (http://passionwind.com/testimony/default.asp)
Favorite scent: The smell of fallen leaves in the cold October air in the forest.
Favorite verse: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” JER 29:11
Three things I am thankful for:
1. My wife and two beautiful daughters
2. My job and all the other wonderful gifts from God
3. Healing from Evan Syndrome TWICE! I recovered three years ago and I am still recovering from round two. I have been recovering at home for two months now. I may release my journal once I am completely healed. You will not believe God’s healing mercy in my life.
Oh nice, lots of favorites!
Food: That’s gotta be potstickers(Chinese dumplings).
Album: It’s an old one, not sure how famous it is nowadays. ‘Close to the Edge’ by Yes. It’s not everyone’s taste, I’m sure, but I feel it’s one of the crowning achievements of rock music.
Dessert: Coffee Ice cream.
Verse: Really, the whole 9th chapter of Matthew, but the verse that sums it up is Matthew 9:2
‘ Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” ‘
3 things: my faith, my family, my health. In particular, I take for granted the latter way too often.
I played the snot out of my “Close To The Edge” album. Vinyl of course. CD’s had not been invented yet.
Bradley, nice list. I love me some dumplings and coffee ice cream too. And no, I don’t know that album. I’m going to need to look it up.
Great verse too. It encompasses so much. Thanks for sharing!
I know its a bit late, but here is my list!
My favorite color: Green and Brown.. they look pretty good on me too!
My favorite food: at the moment living in England I have come to appericate a big all American steak.. medium rare with horseradish, they don’t do steak very good here! and also mexican food.
My favorite time of day: I like afternoons right after naptime,I get great cuddles from Violet and we have another few hours to play and enjoy the day before bed time. Also dinnertime, because I love to eat.
My favorite album: I love David Bazaan’s new albums Fewer Moving Parts and Curse Your Branches.. they make me cry for his search and struggle with God. He is truly wrestling with God in these albums and it his journey is so raw and painful I can feel it when he sings.
My favorite way to spend a Saturday: Pancakes and hanshbrowns with the family… and just relaxing in my pjs all day.. maybe going to the park or the sea.
My favorite age so far: I really have enjoyed from 25 to present.. great times have been had.
My favorite childhood memory: Long road trips from Minnesota to SOuth Carolina.. stopping at road side picnic tables with my family. So many fights and squables but so much fun just to make it to the ocean and burn in the sun.
My favorite sound: I love the sound of books when you take them off the shelf or the sound of them when you turn the pages.
My favorite dessert: I am a plain jane kind of girl: plain cheesecake with chocolate sauce
My favorite scent: freshly baked bread, my husband’s roast lamb or my children’s scent.. so delcious
My favorite verse: Colossians 1:15-20 or John 15:9-17
3 things I am thankful for: For the chance to live in England and create community and family.. and the opporunity to do some many great things for God’s Kingdom.
My lovely husband and two daughters
The chance to move back to the States and start a new chapter in our life.. scary but exciting.
It’s never too late to comment.
Love you list!
I especially love your Saturday, sound, and dessert. I don’t know that album and I’ll need to check it out. It sounds amazing and I’m always on the hunt for good music. Also, I just looked up those verses and read the full passages….ahh…water to my soul right now in this moment, especially Colossians, so thank you!
P.S. Are you guys heading back to the States? Or were you just referring to the future? Happy Thanksgiving Adriel to you and your family as well!
Nicole,
Yes we are moving back to the States, after 10 long years (For Joel, 4 1/2 for me) in England we re moving back.
We feel like our time here is done, and God is calling us back to the States. we are going to get jobs, and joel wants to learn a trade of some sort. We are very excited but also very sad to be leaving. Our whole married life is here, and our kids first years. I am mourning a lot of things actually at the moment. But also I trust that God spoke to us clearly that we are to move back. Also its important for our children to know their family. SO we are moving to Seattle where one of my sisters live and Joel’s sister lives.
Now we have to deal with culture shock..Joel has lived his whole adult life in England..its going to be a big change!!
Wow! That is awesome and so scary, I’m sure. I will be praying for your family as God continues to prepare your hearts for such a huge change. May you grieve leaving your home in England, but rejoice in the newness of God and the future He has for you!