Saturday, November 29, 2008

I've Been Tagged

50 questions to answer and then tag your blogger friends. Tag as many or as few as you want, whatever works for you. AND...try to put some added info into your answers, no "one worders" please :) We're trying to learn about each other here PEOPLE!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes. I'm proud to say I got the family name. When my older brother was born, mom and dad flipped a coin to see who got to name him. Mom won and Ryan didn't get a family name. So, when I came along, dad got to name me. Dina D. - named after my dad, Dino and my grandpa Dean.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Today....I went hiking in the Rocky Mtns. with Karissa and we just had a great conversation. I got pretty teary-eyed talking about some things.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I love my handwriting, cursive and print. I don't know why, I just do. :)

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Virginia Baked Ham....I especially love it in an omlet.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? None that officially belong to me, but I teach 23 amazing students! And I call them "my kids".

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Pretty sure I would, I make myself smile alot and my friends too. And, I love to be around people that make me smile.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Never! Hahahaha, I am totally sarcastic. I get it from my daddy.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? sure do unless they were mysteriously taken without me knowing about it.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Never in a million years. Too terrified of heights for one. And why would you jump off a perfectly stable structure just to get flung through the air. And I'm concerned as to how one gets unhooked from the bungee cord.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cocoa Dino-bites. It is Walmart bag cereal. (I'm trying not to eat as much....it's not very healthy).

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope, but I untie them to put them back on.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Most of the time. I've been working out and my muscles are getting rather beastly. I like the definition of them.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Mint Chocolate Chip. But during the Christmas season, I will choose peppermint. Yummy!

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their smile and eyes.

15. RED OR PINK? i think i prefer pink (no comments from Darcy). Although, I like a good true red every now and then.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? struggling to like myself on a daily basis.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grandma (aka Gram). She died when I was 8 or 9 and was the most loving person ever. And she always made time for us. And, she laughed ALL THE TIME...so much that she would inevitably pee her pants.

18. WHAT IS THE WORST QUESTION PPL ASK YOU ALL THE TIME? Are you seeing anyone?

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? i'm wearing luke's brown sandals right now (he's my BF's hubby and he let me borrow them to walk down to dinner)

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Fresh pineapple, grapes, and figs - it was desert after dinner.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? people talking, tv in background, Karissa making cookies!

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Green. it is my favorite color. it is so fresh and clean. and reminds me of spring

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? freshly mowed grass, leaves burning, campfires

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Tim. I had to remind him to pick me up at the airport tomorrow.

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE? tough choice. due to being in CO, I would have to say mountain hideaway. it is so majestic and peaceful here.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Basketball, primarily women's college bball. Actually, any bball will do. i just love to watch bball.

27. HAIR COLOR? dark brown. right now there are some blonde and red-tinted streaks

28. EYE COLOR? brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes and I can wear them for 30 days/nights straight! I love them.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? cheese pizza from Pizza Hut or chicken

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy endings. I really don't like scary movies because I will, inevitably, have nightmares.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Kid. And I laughed just as hard as always.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Black Huntington University T with a pink long sleeve underneath

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer because I love to be barefoot

35. HUGS OR KISSES? HUGS all the way!!!! Nothing that makes me happier than a good solid hug

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? anything chocolate. I really like warm brownies or warm choc chip cookies (which I will be eating in about 15 minutes)

37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO? I do strength training, but like some good cardio....make the lungs burn!

38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION? I prefer neither, but since i have to choose, I would go with computer. it's how i keep in touch with my peeps.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge. It is so good and much needed at this point in my life.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I don't have one here. At school it is an advertisement for Splash Universe waterpark

42. FAVORITE SOUND? a perfect "swoosh" in a bball net

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles all the way. They are my favorite band of all time (Jeni...I can't believe you don't know these bands! You best be putting some on your Itunes)

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Australia (from Sydney to Cairns) I went there the summer before my Sr. year of highschool.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Hugging. I know it doesn't sound like much, but people refer to my hugs as "Dina-hugs" and that has it's very own meaning.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Goshen Hospital, Goshen, IN

47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Syracuse, IN with some great friends.

48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? White with green shutters

49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? light khaki (that's what the sales slip said)

50. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 50 QUESTIONS? It was kinda fun. It took a while too. Makes me think and I love sharing things like this with people.

I would like to tag...
Jenn, Jess, Hannah

Monday, November 03, 2008

In the Midst of Crap

The title came so easily because that is where I am. But the words aren't coming out (my appologies if this is a little scattered as I get things out).

If you are reading this and wondering what the stink is wrong with Dina, please read the previous post - it gives a little background. Yes I am doing so much better and am slowly coming out of a self-deficating pit, but it is not easy. I feel like I climb and can almost see out of the pit and then I slip and fall back down. It is amazing how God is right there though. I'm speechless most of the time to think about just how God is 24/7 involved in my daily life.

Still, I find myself in the midst of crap. But, I am encouraged. I just had Fall Break from school - total blessing. I spent 4 days driving around the great state of Indiana and visiting so many people.

Wednesday night I got my hair cut and colored by my dear friend Erin. So good to spend time with her and share my struggles and joys. She is such an encouragement and just pours out the love on me. I needed that. Afterwards I hung out with AJ at B-dub's. It was encouraging to know that I am not alone in my struggles and questions and frustrations.

I had lunch with my old roomie. First we hugged and cried just because we miss each other so much. We spent 2 hours catching up and sharing all that God is doing in our lives. Both of us are dealing with BIG things, but it was so encouraging to know that God is right there in the center of it all...growing us, shaping us, molding us for HIS divine purpose.

Next I traveled to Huntington University and Taylor University to visit 2 of my girls. Nothing could have made my break better (but it got better). I got to hug them and see their lives and meet their friends and just be loved on. I shared what's been going on with me and they just loved and encouraged. ....So good!

Friday I had lunch with another friend, Jamie. We just spent time laughing and hangin out. I love her so much.

Then I headed for Indy to see Jenna. She and I just met this summer at camp and hit it off. We met up with another friend from camp, went out to eat, saw a movie and just hung out. Saturday she studied for school and I did school work. Then we ate pizza, watched a movie, and just enjoyed the company of each other.

So, you are probably wondering about my title as of this minute. This all seems well and good and it was! Please don't read this and think that my weekend was such crap. It was so good. But, Saturday night I fell back into an old habbit. At the time it was fun and I can look back and say that I had a good time, but I know that God was not glorified. I know that I wasn't being Jesus to so many people that don't know him. And I slipped back into the pit.

So, I'm in the midst of crap. Personally - I'm dealing with losing weight. I have been working out with a personal trainer, eating better, and running (which I absolutely despise) only to get on the scale and see a 6lb gain tonight. Nothing breaks me more than that. It hurts deep down in places that I didn't think could hurt. And now I face the challenge of the morning...get up, get ready, and look myself in the face and tell myself that I am beautiful. Some guy is out there who will think that of me. And then I put on my happy face and go into my day. Spiritually - I'm wrestling so much with God right now. My days are filled with highs and lows. I struggle to believe the promises that I know to be true. I wonder if God really is hearing my cries for help, saving, love. Emotionally - I am drained at the end of each day. I pour myself into teaching, and it has been good. I work out with such anger and feel some release doing that. I feel like I constantly have a well of tears ready to spill over.

In the midst of crap. . . I'm encouraged to know that this is a season. And I'm encouraged to know that these trials, crap, will strengthen me. And I know that God must have a huge plan in store and that satan is attacking in new ways. All this I know, but it doesn't make the crap easier, just more real.

1 Peter 5:8-9 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."