Five for Friday by Mama M

Here we go, my friends! I was super excited that last week's Five Question Friday was "off the hizzay" and that I learned a hip new word from Keely! Thanks! (P.S. Isn't that a cute button?!! Again, muchos gracias to Michelle!)

So, the rules? Copy and paste the five questions below to your blog post, answer them, grab the MckLinky Blog Hop code and link up! I'd also love it if you'd link back to me...not a requirement, just a request!

And, we're off!!


1. What is your favorite Holiday and why? (Thanks, Keely! Yup, same Keely as above!!)
Christmas! The meaning, the season, the smells, the presents. :) Actually my favorite part is finding that PERFECT gift for someone, something unexpected that they have no clue they are getting and then watching their face. Priceless. My hubby and I married two days after Christmas. It's just a magical time of year. :)

2. Who has been the most influential person in your life?
I would have said one of my grandparents, because up until last year they were. Now, it's Matthew. My son has shaped my life in such a way that I will never be the same. Don't get me wrong, my first born changed my life and has only brought a richness to it that he can, but Matthew has allowed me to actually be a better person. More compassionate, more Christ-like, more determined. He's fixed my flaws and helped me to forgive other people for those same flaws. He's brought me closer to God and to my family in a way I've never expected to in this life. He's shined up my soul. People often say they are proud that I didn't give in and terminate him. I say I didn't save his life, he has saved mine!

3. If you could give up one household chore forever, what would it be?
Only one?? Dishes, I can't stand dirty dishes. Once the food is in my belly, I find it absolutely disgusting on the plate. Even my own families forks and spoons repulse me after the leftovers are placed in the fridge. I will NEVER touch a fork by the tines, only the handle. Just heebie-jeebies me out! And if we are without a dishwasher for some reason and must wash things by hand - well...we'll just get fat and eat Mickey-Dees for a week. I'm not washing by hand. I was born and raised in the last couple of decades of the 1900's for a reason. God programmed me to hate dirty dish water!

4. What is the BEST practical joke you have ever been a part of, on the giving OR receiving end? (Thanks to Meghan, for that one!!)
It wasn't really a practical joke, but it was fun regardless. My oldest son William had just been born 7 weeks earlier and it would be our first Easter as a family. With him so young and my husband having used leave from the coast guard for his birth, we didn't think we'd be able to make it home to GA. (we were in NC at the time) But he was given Good Friday off and then decided to take the following Monday to allow us a 4 day weekend. So we called our parents and told them how much we would miss everyone, but we would call when everyone was sitting down for Easter lunch together and say hi. We showed up at my husband's grandparents first. Many on that side hadn't been able to come up to meet William yet, so it was a double surprise. Ian was talking to his grandmother on the phone asking what she was serving, then we walked through the door saying it sure smelled good. Lots of happy screams ensued. :) Then we surprised my mother, I told her we had sent a special surprise for Easter and I had gotten confirmation that it had arrived - could she look on her porch? We put William wrapped in a blanket and set on a pillow in front of the door in a huge box (we left the lid off). My mother as on the phone with me saying how it looked like someone had opened the box and she was mad. Then William raised his little arm in a stretch and she started screaming! We have it all on tape. It's hysterical. You can hear her screaming from inside the house with the doors shut! It was great!

5. Where (or how) did you meet your spouse?
We actually went to the same high school, but never met. (I was too cool for him) :P A mutual friend of ours asked him to come sit with us for lunch in the student center at college a couple years after graduation. We hit it off immediately. Our mutual friend was my maid of honor 4.5 years later. :)