Tooting my horn....

Okay.

I'm gonna do this....and it's not a 'tooting my own horn' kinda thing, either. The past few weeks, my self esteem has taken some major hits and since I use my blog for mostly journaling purposes, (because I intend on printing it out one day - just as soon as I can afford it - for more info http://www.blog2print.sharedbook.com/) I'm gonna make a list of some of the things I'm good at.

Purely for self-esteem purposes, mind you. ;) LOL.

Seriously, though, I think everyone ought to do it. Everyone has 'those days', right? I mean, I can't be the only one in the world who carried that over from my teenage years...?? The insecurities, the hits to the self-esteem, the break-outs?? Oh. Wait. I stopped having the breakouts once my hysterectomy happened. Hooray! One good thing that came of it!!

And if you disagree with my list, well, you're entitled too. Just keep it to yourself. LOL. Just kidding. :D As I said...this is purely for my own purposes, to help me hold my head a bit higher - help me keep that smile on my face....and remember that I need to always be 'Counting my Blessings'. :D

So feel free to stop reading after this point.....

*I've got an AWESOME family. Not just talking about my hubby and kids, either. Though, I think they are simply stupendous! I've got great in-laws, (how many of you can count your mother in law as one of your closest friends?!), AWESOME parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunties & uncles.....I'm super lucky. I would've picked 'em, even if I hadn't been born to them...

*I have a testimony of Jesus Christ and his restored Church. Hopefully all members of his church can do this...but if I've learned one thing it's that sometimes that's not the case....and I'm grateful for mine. :D

*I cook really well. You don't get to be my size without knowing how to make some super-yummy meals and treats. LOL. Just kidding. Kind of. :P I can follow pretty much any recipe and have it turn out well. I also invent things on my own....and very rarely do I hear the words from my husband....."Um...yeah. Let's not have that again anytime soon..." LOL. Seriously. That's all that he says....

*I am incredibly crafty. Though it's not my season in life at this time - I'm not able to spend all the time scrapbooking, sewing, cross-stitching, painting, knitting, crocheting, etc.... I've been blessed that I've always been able to pick up on things fairly quickly - and do well at them.

*I'm a great Mom and Wife. :D I take a fair amount of pride in this too! All Mommy's and Wives should, I think. It's not easy keeping a peaceful home....I've often thought marriage was the hardest task I've ever undertaken - until I became a Mom. :P Though Stann and I were both raised in the church....his parents raised him one way....my parents raised me theirs....and combining the two personalities and approaches can sometimes be, well....difficult. But we make it work!! And I've got a great, amazing, Hunky Hubby, who makes it more easier than not.....!

*I'm an awesome housekeeper. Move over Martha Stewart!! :D I love order. I love everything to be in its place. I have a fondness for labels. My weakness is the cleaning aisle at the store....I could spend hours....just reading labels. ;D I realize this isn't everyones cup of tea. But it's mine. I take great pride in how I keep my house. I enjoy people coming over. Having guests. Having guests stay with us. I want those who enter my home, to feel like they've just gone to heaven....because it's a loving and peaceful place. If I can have people feel like they're at home, then I'm happy. :D

*I'm funny. I won't even end it with the 'Looking'. Get it? Funny. Looking. Haaa! Okay, maybe not. But I crack myself up....!

*I have a good voice. It's loud. I try to not sing too loudly. But I was not blessed with a small, breathy voice. My parents have more than once said that I missed my calling in life. I should've sang Opera....'cuz I've never needed the 'mike'. LOL.

*I'm smart. :D Really, I am. There are even times that I watch 'Smarter than a 5th Grader..." And I make it to the million dollar question. LOL. Okay. So it's more along the lines of "Queen of Useless Information".....I remember things. Sometimes they're weird. Can't help it. My brain stores these fun and useless facts. I love to learn. I love to read! I even like to teach!!

*I'm pretty. Why do I list this??? To remind myself, I guess. Though, I try not to compare myself to others. I still do it. Everyone is pretty or beautiful in their own way. What makes me pretty? What makes anyone pretty, for that matter?! Is it really the outside? Or the inside looking out?! I have even-enough features....high cheekbones under the skin, somewhere....sprinkling of freckles....pretty-colored blue-gray eyes....full lips and good eyebrows, requiring little to no maintenance. And great skin. ( Thank you Grandma Robertson!!) I realize that my nose is a little large (thanks, Dad...for the 'ski-slope', too...lol) my face a little rounder than it once was....I have more lines around my eyes than I had at 23....but I'm glad to say, I'm content 90% of the time with what I see in the mirror everyday. :)

*I'm a good teacher. I love teaching. I think I'm fairly good at it too. If my class doesn't 'get it' the first time...I'm going to keep presenting it to them, in different ways, until they finally do. I especially like teaching with the spirit. Granted...I never remember what was taught....but I like teaching. I like that my class is willing to be taught. :D

*I am a good friend. I try to 'Be There' for my friends and family. I try to make sure I visit teach every month. I try to have a shoulder available to cry on. I try to just listen. I try to love my enemies...bless their hearts....and I try to be the kind of person that I know Heavenly Father wants me to be. I try. I try. I try. Not sure that I've made it yet, or even come remotely close....but I try.

*I am a talented writer! Yes! There I've said it! This one talent has eluded me the many, many years, because I've feared reproach.....or even worse......praise! :O But I've taken the time to continue to study this craft. To shape and mold the stories that are constantly bombarding my brain - and put them onto paper, to share with the world....I am finally owning this talent and admitting it to myself and the world.....!!

That's it. That's me in a nutshell. I can't think of anything else. :P

But I'm gonna print this out....and darn it, if I'm not gonna post it to my fridge, pull a Stuart Smalley and keep a smile pasted to my face as I continually say....

"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me!"

LOL.

Happy Wednesday.