Random Dozen #9

Whew! Participating in the Random Dozen Meme can be exhausting. I am flat worn out from answering all the questions Linda came up with this week. But I sure did have fun in the process. And I know it will be a hoot to read what others have answered too -- funny, serious, hilarious, thought-provoking...always entertaining!

1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher.

I've been blessed with some truly wonderful teachers, especially in college. But I'm going with the first really good teacher I remember having. This is terrible but I can’t remember her name! (Walton? Walken?) She was my high school American history teacher and she just made history come alive. She was so knowledgeable and full of anecdotes, especially about the presidents and first ladies. It was the first time a teacher had made history fun, and she instilled in me a love for biographies that continues to this day.

2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life.

There are a lot of pivotal moments I could share but I’m going to tell about the one that propelled us into a year in Africa because it’s a great story of how God can and does move stuck-in-a-rut-and-happy-to-be-there people :-) [And this is going to be a rather long story so go ahead and make some tea, grab a cookie and settle back.] 

The way it all came about was so clearly of God. We had traded some vacation time at a friend’s cottage on Lake Michigan for some work and instruction on building by my oh-so-handyman husband. But it took two years for us to coordinate schedules to where Ivan could do the work AND teach our friend in the process (and in that time we used the cottage three times!).

Anyway, the day Ivan finally made it over there, they were hosting a missionary from Uganda whose daughter was a student at Hillsdale College where our friend taught. (still with me?) So midway through the morning they stopped for a coffee break and Ivan met Jay Dangers for the first time. It turns out they had a few things in common: both were MKs (missionary kids) and they had a mutual friend. Ivan had a great time talking with Jay and learning about the ministry to orphans that Jay had founded. Before he went back to work Ivan felt compelled to ask him, “So is there anything a guy with my skills could do to help over there?” to which Jay responded, “As a matter of fact, our construction manager is in dire need of a furlough and it would be great to have someone fill in for him during the time he's gone.” All afternoon as Ivan worked he thought about the possibility but he kept saying to himself, “Kim will NEVER go for it so why even think about it?” and yet he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

We had tickets to a concert at the college that night and he was running late so when he finally made it home I was waiting at the door to rush him along. “Go hop in the shower and I’ll have your supper on a plate when you get out,” I told him. He grinned and asked “How would you like to spend a year in Africa?” before handing me some papers on his way to the shower. I was dumbfounded! I’m sure I stood there with my mouth hanging open for a few minutes, looking at the papers in my hand in utter confusion. Okey-dokey then! 

I snapped back to reality, put the papers by my purse and proceeded to get his supper ready to go. I drove while he ate and between bites he told me about his time with Jay and how he couldn’t stop thinking about going to Uganda. I was amused and aggravated at the same time. What a crazy idea!

But once we were sitting in the auditorium and I had time to finally look at the brochure and newsletter from New Hope Uganda while the orchestra tuned up, God had already started working in my spirit. As I read about this place that was “bringing the fatherhood of God to the fatherless” I felt this overwhelming sense of God saying “GO!” I turned to Ivan, tears springing to my eyes, and cried, “But I never wanted to go to AFRICA!” Ivan took my hand and smiled at me and said very gently, “Neither did I.” But in that moment we both knew that’s exactly what we would be doing.

[And it was that experience in Uganda which God used to catapult us into full-time missions in Argentina. So the pivotal moment took us in a whole new direction for the rest of our lives.]

3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke?

For the first fifty years of my life I would have answered without hesitation: blue and yellow (“can’t have one without the other” - name that song for 100 points) but for some reason I have become obsessed with green. I love green in all its glorious shades and hues but especially a light Spring green. It fills me with a sense of peace and calm and happiness. But I have no idea where this passion for green comes from! It’s only been recently that I’ve even acknowledged it. Maybe it’s my midlife crisis?

4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older?

Good grief but my body has developed all kinds of old people quirks. Everything from failing eyesight to disturbing gastrointestinal issues that I certainly never had in my younger years. Even eating potato soup can give me a bad case of gas. (was that TMI?) 

5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you?

Yes but no. Growing up I loved the holiday. We had lots of kids on our block and I don’t remember a single house that didn’t give out candy. All the kids (and a few adults as well) dressed up and we had so much fun visiting everyone in the neighborhood. A favorite was the confirmed bachelor next-door who gave away the BIG candy bars -- what a treat! I honestly never knew it was a controversial issue until I began attending a Christian college. It became a mute question once I was married since my husband had definite ideas and opinions (and none of them good) about Halloween.

6. What's your favorite musical?

Poor Lid, I'm afraid we’re all going to torture you with our answers to this one. It’s actually a really hard question for me...Man of La Mancha, Oklahoma, West Side Story, Evita, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease...there are so many great ones that I can’t possibly pick only one! Here for your listening and viewing pleasure, I present the Ambassadors of Harmony singing "Man of La Mancha"!

7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse?

Country mouse.

8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn."

While I’d think it was a nice gesture, I honestly think there are much better uses to which you can put your money that would make me feel way more warm and squishy inside: supporting a child through an organization like New Hope Uganda, buying supplies to put together a box or two for Operation Christmas Child, giving to missions...  

...there's an event happening right now that allows you to support worldwide missions:

This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways.
9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn't.

I am a texting ignormous of the highest degree. Just last night I tried sending a text message that never did go through. And I have no idea what I’m doing wrong. None.

10. "It's not a party unless there’s food!"

11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available.

Think about what I’ll write about for my next blog post.

12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you?

Depends on the day. When I’m all PMSy and grouchy, no. Otherwise, yeah, I think so.