"What's Love Got To Do With It?"

Thanks to Pam from Twenty Little Piggies for tagging me.

Here are the rules: Choose a number significant to you and list that many things that you love. Then tag 3 people.

I’ll admit right off the bat: I cheated.
I figured I’d start with writing the things I love, then whatever I ended up with would be my “special number”. Yeah, I suck at rules.

But here goes!

I love God.

It seems so many people have so many diverse ideas about God and what He thinks. The only thing I’m 1,000% certain of, is that God loves me and He’s got a plan for my life… some days that’s the only thing that keeps me from hiding in my house and consuming pints of Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream while watching Princess Bride over and over again.
~
I love my husband. Mr. Daddy and I met nearly 15 years ago when I transferred to his section. He’d been welding that day and I’ll never forget his blue eyes twinkling at me from a soot-covered face as he shook my hand. I think I managed to say something like,

“Umm hi, umm Rachel, uh-huh. Gotta go.”

Folks, you know how wordy I am (yeah, we’re approaching 300 posts!); as he grinned at me, that is the first time I can remember the words just falling out of my head. (Mr. Daddy is gonna chew me out for posting this, but he’ll be grinning that same grin as he does it).

~
I love my kiddo.

Where do I start? From smiling at the last paragraph, to suddenly teary-eyed now.
Itty Bit is the goodness of God in my life.
I always felt like I was born to be a mother. After years of struggling with PCOS and failing treatments… I gave up. And I gave up on God.
Suddenly this little blue-eyed boy came along and reminded me again, that the best things in life are worth waiting for.
~
I love my family.
I think every member is amazing.
My dad is the rock. He is the most trustworthy person I know – dependable and honest, but with an infallible sense of humor.
My mom is the glue. She has held us together by sheer love and prayer and is a true picture of joyful sacrifice. What can I say about her except that I believe with all my heart that God put us together?
My sister… is incredibly resilient. Your heart would be breaking with mine if I shared the seeming unfairness of what she has survived. Yet she is one of the most warmhearted people I know. She cares for the most fragile of patients with the greatest of tenderness. I admire her and love her to pieces. Anyone who wants to mess with her better beware, because “I know karate”. <-- (that one was for you, Ju).
~
I love my nieces. All three of them are miracle girls. Being an aunt ROCKS.
~
I love my in-laws. I am so blessed to be able to say that my in-laws are terrific. Our home is near those of Mr. Daddy’s parents and his niece’s family. So there is always someone around for a cup of coffee or a horseback ride or a quad race.
These people barely knew me before Mr. Daddy and I got engaged. They made me feel accepted and loved in the most meaningful way.

(*side note here… I also work with Mr. Daddy’s brother. Who STILL puts me in a headlock frequently and messes up my hair. I love you Jonny-boy, but one of these days I’m gonna get you back.)
~
I love my Kona-girl. She came out of a tough situation, but didn’t let it ruin her sweet spirit. She knows way more than me, but we’re learning… even if it entails some mud somedays…
~
I love music and dance. So often they go hand-in-hand for me. I miss my ballet days and sometimes wonder if I’m not too old to go back.
~
I love food.
Food loves my thighs.
Especially pasta and Haagen Daz.

Umm... maybe that's why I can't go back to ballet?
‘nuf said.
~
I love blogging and all our bloggy friends!
I get guilt attacks when I am too busy to catch up with everyone.
I wish we lived closer to more of our bloggy friends (though I’m running into more of them in bloggy land and in real life!)
I love typing for 20 minutes to put something together that feels like a complete project… instead of a million things that are unfinished. Of course, I then freak and wonder if I’m putting too much information out there, or y’all are just laughing at how crazy our lives are.
~
Guess my significant number is 11. Any more and this post would have gotten WAY too long.

I had to pick just three friends to tag, but feel more than welcome to join in and link back!

These three are NorthWesters – just because I’d love to learn more about them (and because I’d love to get on their good side and perhaps meet up in real life some day!)

Paige from Happiness Is…
Carebear from Two Under Two. WHEW!
Heather from Adventures of Aidanpod