10 Things most people do not know about me

Jen of course knows all this stuff- but for some of you it is new information:

1.) I am a very shy person- sure once I get to know you all is good but I am not one to start a conversation and I hate talking to strangers.

2.) I am not a touchy feeley person- growing up my parents did not hug and kiss me- so it is still weird to me- I will hug and kiss my family but I cringe when strangers hug me and I think it is weird that Jen is so close to her family- her Dad still kisses her on the lips and says he missed her over the weekend- I think this is cool- but just not how I was raised. I strive to raise my kids differently and I tell them all the time how much I love them.

3.) I did not have an official high school graduation- I guess traditional is a better way of saying it- I dropped out my Senior year because of some trauma in my life and then a year later the school district sent me my diploma when I showed work experience they could use for credit.

4.) I hate to watch movies twice- once I see a movie I am done- I know the ending no need to watch it again.

5.) It is very hard for me to ask for help. I want to help everyone else- I try to fix people, but I can't ask for help myself. Even from Jen I have a hard time. I don't think anything is wrong with asking for help- it is just hard for ME to ask.

6.) My Mother was an alcoholic and made some very bad choices in her life- so I choose not to drink. I do not want my kids to have those memories that I do.

7.) I used to be a Foster parent to teenagers- it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life to make such a difference in the lives of kids- I even adopted one- today is her birthday- Happy Birthday Evie- I love you!

8.) I had the pleasure of being loved and loving and helping to raise 2 amazing kids that were not mine. They changed my life and made me want to be a Mom.

9.) I buried a 2 year old that I had raised from birth, I did not give birth to her- but I could not have loved her more. She was born addicted to drugs and it was very painful for her to go through withdrawls. I tried to adopt her, but I lived in Utah and I was young and white and she was African American so the judge said no way. He said I would not understand her needs. So he found her a "better" home, where the people would not try to adopt her and she was murdered. My heart will never heal from that and I think about her every day- even now 15 years later.

10.) I am always cold- even in the summer I am freezing.