Tag, I'm it!

So, I’ve finally been tagged!!! I wondered if/when it would happen. Bethany tagged me, and I am suppose to share ten things about myself that are "pretty interesting" and then tag seven bloggers to share their ten things. Sadly, I only I have six "followers" of my blog, including Bethany, so if you get tagged and you don't have a blog, then you can post it on your Facebook or MySpace or something.

Since this is my art blog and it's supposed to somewhat "professional", I'll try to keep most of the "interesting" things about my art, but I may have to venture out of that arena a little.

1. I have been drawing since I can remember. I first remember drawing on my big chalkboard and then doing cartoons on paper and finally, as a teenager, I actually had an art desk. I drew cartoons, comic strips, etc...

2. I just started painting when we bought our house in 2004; I started out in the dark and dreary garage. I now made myself a make-shift studio in the bonus room which is much nicer and I can see a lot better!

3. I hardly ever paint on an easel. I actually got an easel for Christmas a few years ago, but mostly I paint on top of the pool table or at the kitchen counter. I never sit and paint; I like to stand up. I'm not sure why, though.

4. I mentioned this a few posts ago, not to boast or anything, but it surprised me; I have art in 5 states in the US and a piece in Finland. It really just sunk in that my art is actually hanging in people's homes. God is truly amazing and has blessed me immensely (spelling??).

Ok, here's where we venture away from art. Hmmm, earlier than I thought.

5. I try to do some sort of exercise everyday. Even if it is just 10 minutes of stretching or yoga poses with my friend. It doesn't look like it, but I do feel much better inside than before I started.

6. Sadly, but also very happily, I have just developed a closer relationship with God in the past 3 years. Sadly because I wish it had come along much sooner, but happily, but it grows stronger everyday. My life has changed so dramatically since I have started trying to put Him first.

7. I have mentioned this once or twice before, but I have been keeping children at home for a little over a year now to stay home with my son. I actually got an article by email today for moms considering doing this and it was entitled, "The Hardest Job You'll Ever Love" and that is so true. It is very difficult, but also so very rewarding to be here with Preston and the other little ones. They are all so sweet and sincere. Children are not judgemental or synical and I love being with them all day. I can just be myself and they love me for who I am.

8. Speaking of Preston and this is one should have been at the top of the list, but I love being a mom. I know this is not necessarily "interesting", but being a mother is the most amazing thing, next to my relationship with God, that has ever happened to me. You know when you are pregnant that you are going to just love your baby so much, but you can never know the level of love or how special it is until you hold your own child. If you did not believe in God, for whatever crazy reason before having a child, the moment that baby is born and you hold them in your arms, you know it is a miracle straight from God. Just yesterday, I read a letter I wrote to Preston in his baby book on his 5th day of life, and I just cried as I remembered how good it felt to have this special little person in my life. Thank you, God!

Hmmmm...I'm running out of "interesting" stuff about myself.

9. Ok, thanks to Bethany, I thought of another one. Ok, so if I could go back about 10 years and pursue any "career" I wanted, I would have tried much harder to be a dancer. I absolutely love to dance (this counts as my exercise on a lot of days). I have always had pretty good rhythm and if I had really tried, I probably, at least, could have been a back up dancer in videos or something. I just love watching choreography, especially with several dancers doing the same thing and trying to do what they are doing. Ok, I know, it's sounds pretty crazy...

10. Last, despite having been to/driven through about half of the country, I have never been out of the continential US. I know this sounds even less interesting than everything else, but I mention this because the 2nd week of February, I am going to HAWAII!!!! My friend who is a biologist has been on a project down there for the last few years and is possibly going to be through this summer. So, a friend (my yoga friend from #5) and I are going down to visit her for a week for next to nothing! I just found out that I was going to be able to go this past Sunday and everytime I have turned on the TV since then, there is something about Hawaii on there!! She lives in the mountains on Maui, so we will have free lodging and travel around the island and our own personal tour guide! Ok, I promise I am not rubbing it in, so I will stop now. Yipeee....

I know, I am sooooo boring and all this probably put you all to sleep. Ok, now I have to tag 7 people. I am tagging all my "followers", so that is 5 since Bethany tagged me, and then Rachel and Jennifer (if you guys still get a feed when I post).