Fat Chick Fed Up

La la la la.

 

Please tell me I’m not the only one who knows that song. C’mon, everybody now, “Getting to like you. Getting to hope you like me.” No? Alrighty then. Ahem.

 

I found a new blog this week. I can’t really say how I found it but I am pretty sure it was through a link on another blog. At any rate, Tina, at Carrots ‘n Cake, did a “get to know you” blog post this week. I love posts like that because it gives you the opportunity to get a glimpse at who the blog writer really is and helps you to realize that it’s more than just words on a screen. There is an actual person behind that screen.

 

One of the biggest downfalls of our technologized (yep, another one of my made-up words) is that I feel things get lost in translation. They say that our communication is 90% body language. So when I sit behind the screen to write  a blog, you can  miss out on so much. Misunderstandings are more likely as we can’t see each other’s facial expressions or hear the inflections in someone’s voice.

 

People tend to be bolder too. Have you ever noticed that? People will say things to people online that they would NEVER dream of saying to their face. I have probably been guilty of it myself a time or two. There is power in the anonymity.

 

I don’t like it though. Here on my blog, you guys know when you come here that I make a concerted and intentional effort to be as transparent and as real as possible. I want to get to know you and I want you to get to know me. I want you to know that I am a real person and these are my real thoughts and feelings and struggles. I know that if you see me as a real person and not just as words on a screen then you are more likely to keep reading, you are more likely to engage in comments, you are more likely to be encouraged and feel supported by my very real struggles and successes. And I, in turn, will be supported and encouraged by you.

 

Which is why I have decided to do a “Getting to Know You” post. I know, I know, I already did one. But still, it’s my blog and I can do another one if I want to. Neener, neener.

 

That’s right folks, you will also get total maturity when you come here too.

 

So in the interest of transparency and full-disclosure, I am going to introduce myself.

 

My name is Lisa. I am 33 years old. I am the wife of one man, Rick. I am the mother to 4 beautiful living children (so far) and one angel baby.

 

Madison is our oldest, and only, girl and she will be 9 at the end of this month. We lost a child after Madison and we named her Alida Rae. She would be turning 7 in October. Our first son came next. His name is Noah and he is 6 years old. Brady is our third child (he happens to be named after my maiden name-bring on the “Brady Bunch” jokes!) and he will be 4 in November. Ethan is our miracle boy, and he is almost 16 months old. We live in Indiana…for the moment but apparently that may change any second.

 

It’s so nice to meet you. I will probably continue to refer to myself as “The Chick”, my sweet hubby as “The Chick Magnet” and my babies as the “Chicklets”, just because I think I am so darn clever and cute.

 

Tina also included a few questions on her blog, so I am going to steal them and answer them here.

 

What are you really good at?  What are you really bad at?

 

I am a really good cook. Which may be partly why I have to have this blog, because I keep eating the food I make. I am a really bad housekeeper, even though I am a perfectionist and can’t stand for things to be out of order.

 

Have you ever been in a car accident? What happened?

 

Yep, several. I’m not even sure I can remember them all so I will just share the highlights.

 

One of my first accidents was when I was in high school. Driving home from school one day I was rear-ended by a fellow classmate who I grew up with. That fellow classmate later played professional baseball for the Houston Astros (and another team that I can’t remember). He became famous for making an unassisted triple play in a game-the first game-ending triple play in National League history.

 

Another accident happened just before I started college. My dad, step-mom and I were headed out to dinner after a softball game. We were stopped at a 4-way stop and there was no one around. My dad started to go when out of the corner of my eye I saw a truck barreling for us. I yelled at my dad to stop but it was too late. The truck, with it’s drunk driver and 7 year old passenger, slammed into the front end of our car. My step-mom broke her collar bone and my dad broke his hand. I had minor injuries and whip lash. Thankfully for the driver of the truck, they had airbags and were uninjured. Thankfully for us, the crash happened in the front yard of a police officer and we received immediate medical attention.

 

I’ve already told you about another accident, in numbers 58 through 60 of this post.

 

Why did you attend your college?

 

Umm, okay, honesty. Yeah, I was running away from home. I wanted to be far away, I wanted a school with stringent academics, and the free computer they give to all freshman was just an added bonus. I went to Grove City College in Grove City, PA, by the way.

 

It was a fabulous time and I loved all of it. Even “four on the floor, shoe in the door” and no walking on the quad. Yes, even, “Look to your left. Look to your right. Your future mate may be in sight.” It was there that I became a Christian. I am forever grateful that I ran away from home. (Never in a million years did I imagine I would come back. Thanks Chick Magnet!)

 

How did your parents’ relationship influence you?

 

Wow. Tough question made even tougher by the fact that my mom reads my blog. Hi mom But, I won’t lie or pretend. She already knows how I feel anyway.

 

My parents divorced when I was very young and my sister and I were often caught in the middle of their custody dispute. It was hard. Really, really hard. I love and appreciate both my mother and my father. I think they both made mistakes. But I also think they both did the best that they knew how at the time.

 

I always wondered how my life would be different if they had stayed together. But it’s really silly to think that way because their relationship is a part of who I am. It makes me a better mother and a better wife as I strive to have the family I always wanted and recognize that anything “better” I can give to my husband and children is only the result of the work of God. If you knew me way back when you would definitely agree. Besides, I got some pretty cool siblings out of the deal.

 

What were the three happiest moments of your life?

 

Well, I can’t choose just three because I have a husband and 4 children. The day I became a Christian wins hands-down. The next two would not have been possible without the first one. My wedding day is a very close second. It was a beautiful day and I am one lucky girl. The births of each of my children, of course, quickly follow.

 

What about you? Share in the comments something unique about yourself. Write a blog post answering the five questions and share the link so I can learn more about you, or if you don’t have a blog, share in the comments.