Monday, August 11, 2014

Get to Know You Monday (Vol. 11)


In a 4x4 of 4 Things linkup last week for the Declare Conference I shared 4 of my endearing quirks. If you recall, in the last Get to Know You Monday post I said this week I would ask you to share a few of your endearing quirks. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

I first saw the question asked on a Facebook Page for (in)Couragers Online Community Group Leaders and the responses were super fun to read through.

Because I like to think I know you even better than the women I gathered with on that page, I am even more excited to read through your responses. This means you better share at least one of your endearing quirks. You know you have one so don’t be shy.

If you missed the four quirks I shared and don't feel like referring back to my previous post, here they are again:

4 Endearing Quirks
  1. Coffee must come first in the morning. I am not very endearing without it.

  2. My comfort food is carbs. I consider it an addiction. A few of my favorite carbs are bagels, pretzels with brie cheese and recently plain pancakes. The pretzels and brie cheese usually come out several times throughout the day and putting them away takes much convincing on my part.

  3. My love for our Red, White and Blue and anything containing those colors could possibly be considered as an endearing quirk. I dream of having a big ole’ American Flag hanging in front of my home. Splashes of those three colors are found throughout my home.

  4. I hate shopping. My husband finds this very endearing.

To share with you a takeaway from my weekend at the Declare Conference, I am sharing one more of my quirks.

Often I choose not to do something because many others are. I consider this a quirk because it happens quite often.

I want to make decisions based on God’s leading. However, I have come to realize I can use that as an excuse for not taking action.

One of the “things” I have not done simply because many others are . . . sponsor a child through Compassion International.

On the last evening of the Declare Conference Shaun Groves told us about his first trip to El Salvador. He went with Compassion International and the trip changed his life. Shaun had me, and many others, in tears. He impressed me most that evening because he did not just ask us to consider sponsoring a child. He said, “Do something.” 


Several amazing organizations were present at Declare. Each organization does something to have an impact on the poverty of our world. Shaun not only mentioned the organization he represented. He highlighted each one. “Do something.” 


As the evening drew to an end I looked at a friend and said, “I am tired of doing nothing.” I say I need to pray and wait on God to lead. Maybe God is waiting for me to just do something.


I hesitate to share this as I never want to come across as boasting. But how do I not share with you, my dear friends?

I have sponsored my first child through Compassion. Her name is Jacqueline. She lives in Mexico and will be nine years old in October. The moment I held a picture of her in my hands I felt God smiling over me. This was my something I needed to do.

Your turn. What are a few of your endearing quirks? Or maybe not so endearing.

P.s. The photos are from my trip to Guatemala in August 2013. My heart has been stirring to do something since that trip. Sponsoring a child through Compassion International feels so right.


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32 comments :

  1. Beth,
    I am so glad you enjoyed your conference. I enjoyed reading more about you in your 4X4 Things. Quirks is a good thing to use as a prompt for getting to know people. I think I'll use the 4X4 idea for my writing elective as a way to get to know them--middle schoolers are always quirky! In fact, they go out of their way to be quirky as they learn who they are and who they want to become.

    For myself, one quirk is my passion for UCLA. My dad went to UCLA, and when I was 11, he worked as a coordinator of teacher training for Los Angeles Unified School District. He placed UCLA ed students in regular classrooms for their student teaching, and helped teach some of their ed courses. Since he was a UCLA alum, he became very excited. That excitement opened a door for me--it got me interested in college! As a 6th grader, I went with my dad to UCLA football games and we got to sit in the student section. I learned all of the fight songs and cheers, did card stunts, and realized college was more than books and studying. This year for the first time since 1966, I won't be going to UCLA football games. He also got season tickets to UCLA basketball. That was the first season Lew Alcindor, now Kareem Abdul Jabar, played for UCLA. One day Daddy took me out of school and took me on a tour of the UCLA campus. I was hooked. In 1973, I followed in my dad''s footsteps and became a student at UCLA.

    Now I have a collection of UCLA stuff. Most of it I keep in my classroom to use as a quirky thing t get kids thinking about going to college. During the NFL season, I keep a list of Bruins who play for each NFL team, and I root for the team with the most Bruins.

    Silly, but fun for me. Endearing to some, and I know annoying to many. UCLA, fight, fight, fight!

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    1. Oh my goodness, a BRUIN!!! Me too! My dad and I loved UCLA sports when I was growing up, and though I never attended there, both of my sons did! Yes, we are fan-addicts - but you're so right, it's fun! Here in Southern California, we have to *do battle* with fans of our crosstown rivals - USC - but we all know that the best people bleed yellow and blue!

      LOVE IT!

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    2. I have been known to rearrange store displays so UCLA gear is in front of USC gear...

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    3. Smiling over the exchange between you two fabulous ladies! Go UCLA! :) xoxo

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    4. Oh my gosh, Debbie - ME TOO! I have even been known to turn the SC clothing around backwards before I put it all the way in the back. Or on the floor...oops! :-)

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  2. Sweet Beth, I will be praying for Jacqueline! I think that nudge to "do something" IS God's leading. :)
    Let's see, so many quirks, so little time. :-p I'll share 2.
    One is that I eat snickers bars one layer at a time. I know. I've tried to eat it all the layers at a time, and it's just not the same. Doesn't feel right. lol
    The second quirk is that when I'm eating, I kind of measure my food into the same amount of bites per item, so I won't run out of one thing before the others. I don't really think about it, it just sort of happens.
    And now, I must go eat something. Apparently, I'm hungry. LOL
    Love you, precious friend. Heart Hugs, Shelly <3

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    1. A snickers bar is sounding rather yummy right about now. :)
      Thank you for sharing a few of your lovely quirks with us, Shelly.
      Love you so much.
      xoxo

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  3. You are going to be so blessed by your sponsorship with Compassion. We love writing and praying for our little boy. Getting letters from him is the best EVER! I am so glad you had a great time in Dallas.

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    1. I'm excited to send off my first letter soon! Once again, Jennifer, thank you for your oh so lovely post you shared as part of Get to Know You Monday.
      love you.
      xoxo

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  4. Sounds like a great conference. I'm so glad you could go. I'm sure you and Jacqueline were meant to be :) I don't like shopping either! and I could totally eat ice cream for breakfast.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. I have to say I don't think I've ever had ice cream for breakfast. However, on a hot summer day that may just hit the spot.
      Much love.
      xoxo

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  5. Hi Beth! Welcome back from your conference! And congrats on the fostering of a little one through Compassionate Ministries. We also foster a boy from Kenya through Unbound. We get letters now and again from him, so it's fun. I know you'll enjoy your relationship!

    I have so many quirks that my life is just one big 'quirk-fest'. The one that everyone knows in my family is that I have a 'germ-thing'. I won't sip out of a glass someone else is using, and I won't let anyone use my glass either. My mom was the same way, so I think I got it from her!
    Nice to see you again :)
    Ceil

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    1. Hello friend! I need to come on over and say hello to you too. I'm hoping we are meeting up for coffee again soon. I promise not to sip out of your cup! Nice to see YOU again.
      xoxo

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  6. Beth,
    I'm with you - gotta have my coffee first thing or I'm definitely Oscar the Grouch. I love to sleep with a down "squishy" pillow...one that you can mold and shape until it is just right. My pillow comes with me on trips. I usually always keep my toenails painted and there is nothing in the world like a good foot massage...it's one of my love languages lol. Okay, enough quirky :)
    Love and ((Hugs)),
    Bev

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    1. Oh how I need to buy a new pillow. I complain all the time about how uncomfortable mine are. After spending a few nights at a Marriott I'm reminded of how much I love their pillows. I think it's time to shop!! Would you point me in the right direction for a nice "squishy" one?
      xoxo

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  7. First of all, Beth, I'm glad you shared about your decision about supporting a child through Compassion. You're not boasting at all - and I know God will use your caring heart to touch your dear Jacqueline.

    My quirks? Only four??

    I am a huge sports fan. Like Debbie above, I love my UCLA Bruins - but my favorite sport is hockey, and I am a huge fan of the LA Kings (who just won the Stanley Cup for the second time in 3 years...ahem...but I digress). My quirk? I have to wear the same outfit when I go to games with my son - and when I watch games at home, I have a certain chair I sit in. And, I have a few hand clasping or tapping things that I do when we're behind. Hey, maybe it works. Did I mention the Stanley Cup?!

    I have an OCD need to check, check, check - are doors locked, are things turned off, did I leave anything under the bed at the hotel, etc. Speaking of the hotel thing, I always remove ALL the bedding to make sure that I haven't left anything behind. Not sure what the housekeeper thinks.

    I like to eat cut-up fruit and vegies with salad dressing. And sometimes a sprinkling of ground ginger. The other day I had pineapple, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, grapes, and frozen peas with ranch dressing. Sometimes I'll add croutons - though I leave them until the end to eat.

    And, I am crazy-weird about germs (Hi Ceil!). Waterless soap is my best friend. 'Nuff said!

    XO

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    1. Ya know my Chicago Blackhawks were between those two wins! But . . . I must admit I do not pay any attention to sports. :) Going to a game and watching a game with you sounds entertaining. :)
      I should give the removing all the bedding a try when traveling. I am known for leaving a few things behind. And your salad sounds way yummy!
      Thank you for sharing, Sharon. xoxo

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  8. I am so excited that you have sponsored your first Compassion child!! You know this is a big love of mine and I'm thrilled beyond words that another child will have some security because you have said Yes to God! :-)

    My endearing (?) quirks are many but here's a couple:
    1 - the egg carton needs to balance. I take out eggs from each end and work towards the middle. I don't like it when there's an uneven # of eggs left in the carton.
    2 - on a double switch plate, both switches need to be either up or down. Not one of each.
    3 - I talk to myself as I do chores...like telling myself what's next, etc.
    4 - I totally have a particular way that I like my blog posts to look...same size pictures, spacing, where I put boldfaced type, closing etc. I may or may not have gone back and edited old posts because they didn't match!

    Okay, that's more than a couple but hey, I'm a full of quirks! Glad you had a wonderful time at Declare. Much love!

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    1. Oh I so talk to myself ALL THE TIME, Holly. :) I find it to be a very endearing quirk. hehe
      Thank you for sharing a few of yours.
      And thanks for your shared excitement in me sponsoring my first Compassion child. You should have seen me that evening. Lots of big smiles.
      Love you.
      xoxo

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  9. This is fun, Beth :) I'm glad I read through some of the comments first because I feel better about some of my quirks, lol! So I guess that's number one, I try not to read other comments before posting my own. I want my comment to be genuine {from the heart} and not influenced but what others are saying. Sometimes I end up saying the same thing, and sometimes {ok a lot} my perspective is from left field, lol!

    I was glad to see a few germ-o-phobes in the group. We do not wear our shoes in the house and people find us weird {and sometimes get annoyed} when we ask them to remove theirs. But really, don't people know what is on the bottom of their shoes? Do you want that in your house? {Think public bathrooms, etc.} I have trouble keeping my seat when people allow their kids to play on the floor in public places, or worse, pick up the pacifier and put it right back in the babies mouth! Okay, enough, you get the idea ;)

    I'm so glad you went to Declare! And Jacqueline is sure to be a blessing to you and your family. I had a little boy for ten years until he left the program. Have a great week!

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  10. I have CHILLS reading this!!! You probably know, but I love, love, love Compassion and child sponsorship. When I saw you were going to Declare and also that Shaun was going to be there, I was hoping you'd get the chance to hear him. I've been a sponsor and advocate for almost 20 years now...I even have a blog called Compassion Family if you need encouragement in this journey (www.compassionfamily.blogspot.com). In fact, when you are ready, I'd love for you to share this "Compassion story" with my readers through a blog post : )

    I'm going to think about my quirks and come back to share later....

    Welcome to the Compassion family!

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing, Jill, and for the encouragement. I spent some time on your compassion blog this morning and so enjoyed. I'd love to share with your readers at some point. We are excited to write our first letter!! Be sure to come back if you think of a few quirks.
      Blessings.
      xoxo

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  11. Thanks for sharing, Beth! I love you more after reading these. :-) I am not very amicable without before my morning coffee either. And I love carbs. One of my quirks is that I swish carbonated drinks in my mouth before swallowing. No, not like mouthwash or anything. Ha. Otherwise it burns my throat. My husband likes to pick on me because of it but that's what spouses do, right?

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    1. You are so sweet, Abigail. I so enjoy these Monday's (and Tuesday's) together! Thanks for joining in. And yes, that appears to be what spouses do because mine loves to pick on me too. Much love. xoxo

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  12. One more thing… I, too, have been considering sponsoring a child for Compassion. Thanks for this nudge to just do it. That's so beautiful that you took that next step.

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    1. Praying for you as you consider taking that step, Abigail. xoxo

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  13. This is plain and simple fun! Here goes... A morning is not a morning without that first cup of coffee-I love me some coffee! I have a fettish for pens and go crazy if I can't find my favorite pen (this used to be a problem when I wasn't an empty nester :) ). I handwrite my posts before typing them and publishing them to my blog! Yep-old school but it is very therapeutic! Thanks for sharing and giving us the same chance. Praying for your sweet Jacqueline and the journey you will now have as her sponsor. Hugs my friend!

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    1. I am so glad you enjoyed! I love this opportunity to get to know friends better. Thank you for sharing, Mary. And thank you for your prayers. xoxo

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  14. I've got too many quirks! Lol.
    Here's one: I LOVE to do voice imitations. Of people and things! My hubby says I have my own quirky language. He's right. ;)
    We are getting ready to sign up for our second Compassion sponsored child. Ours left the program a few years back. It's a real blessing for the children and us. :)
    You'll love it.

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    1. You have me smiling, Heather. I'd love to hear one of your imitations. :)
      Much love.
      xoxo

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  15. I'm so glad you enjoyed the conference. Hate that I missed seeing you by a day!!!
    That song "Do Something" is undoing me every time I hear it. I want to DO SOMETHING too! We sponsor a little boy from Tanzania, but I always feel like I could do more, ya know?

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    1. I need to check out that song as I'm not sure if it's one I know. And yes, I so get that feeling of always thinking we can do more. Thanks for sharing. Alecia. I hope you are getting settled back in to home. xoxo

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Much love to you.