Want to know more about your girl?
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Enjoy 30 fun facts about me.
1.) I used to want to be a cheerleader.
I signed up to be one back in my teenage years, but once my mother signed the permission slip and I made the team, I didn’t really want it anymore. I also didn’t like the ugly Maroon skirts, so I decided not to do it. Looking back at in now, I think it would have been a pretty cool experience, but I think I just wanted to challenge myself and see if I could make it on the team.
2.) I collect trolls!
Yes! The big-eyed, crazy-haired 90’s dolls. My kids think they’re creepy, but I think they’re adorable. If you want to know the fastest way to my heart – it’s going to be to surprise me with a new troll I don’t have yet.
3.) I also collect anything turtle related.
Stuffed animal turtles. Paperweight turtles. Rocks shaped like turtles. Glass turtles. Key chains and coffee mugs with turtles on them. All things turtles. I plan on getting a turtle tattoo soon in honor of my oldest, Tiffanie. (Jordan).
I had a dream one night that she was standing in the living room holding a turtle and I had no idea why. She had her hand stretched out, she was smiling so big, and showed me this turtle. For days, weeks – I couldn’t figure out why she would come to me in a dream with a turtle, but one day – as I was driving, it hit me!
I screamed out, “SHORTY!”. My other kids knew about the dream, and they asked what I was talking about when I yelled that, and I told them – that from the time Tiffanie was 5, until she was about 11 or 12 – she had a turtle named Shorty, and that’s probably why she was in my dreams with this turtle. We felt like she found Shorty or was reunited with Shorty in heaven. She was so heartbroken when Shorty died.
So, now – I collect all things turtles – feeling like it represents my oldest. It makes me feel good.
4.) I want to adopt one day!
I don’t know if it’s in the cards for me, but I’ve always wanted to adopt because I believe that every child deserves a loving and safe home, and at least one loving, safe parent – so if you have the money, the time, the extra space and the love to adopt a child, please do!!!
Not many people know this, but when I was still married to my now ex-husband, he and I almost adopted a little boy named Logan. Logan was about 10 or so at the time, and he and my older son (who was about 8 or so at that time) were going to share a bedroom. We filled out all the paperwork, met with Logan’s case worker, and did our background checks. Everything was approved except the bedroom size.
It was literally 2 inches off, and we were told if the boys are going to share a room, it needed to be a little bigger, and that if we are able to figure something out, or find a bigger apartment – to call the case worker back and she’d come recheck the room size – which I honestly think is so stupid because there’s so many kids who need parents and a home, and room size matters? Come on, now!!!! Still, we had to follow what she said, and while we were looking for a bigger place, Logan was adopted by another family.
We didn’t even bother trying to look for another child because my heart was set on Logan and my heart was so broken, and I think of him sometimes wondering if he grew up well, and where he is today. He’d be in his 20’s now, but yes – one day – if God allows it and it’s in my cards – I would love to adopt.
Right now – even if I could – my little Elijah is such a mama’s boy, he wouldn’t allow it. lol.
5.) I have a few tattoos, but I want a few more.
I want the turtle I mentioned. I want Stitch to go along with the Lilo tattoo I have. My youngest daughter and I have talked about getting matching “It happens” tattoos – for the last funny memory we have of my Tiffie (Jordan), and I want the Phoenix rising from the ashes for sure. I’ve been through hell and back, still going through it, and keep bouncing back every time. So, I do want a few more.
6.) I love sitting by a beach or lake just clearing my mind, thinking, and regaining my thoughts. Anywhere near water – is my happy place.
7.) I love all holidays mostly, but the 4th of July, Halloween and Christmas are absolutely my favorites!
8.) I love when a good Basketball or Football game is on TV. Game days are the best, and I enjoy watching almost any Basketball game, but when it comes to Football, I’m a Bears and Steelers gal!
9.) I love horseback riding.
I enjoy running a horse through a big open field, and just forgetting all of my troubles, worries and problems for at least an hour. Back in Minnesota, I’d go to the stables whenever I could, and ride this beautiful horse (King), but now that we’re back in Illinois, I’m going to have to find a new horse to get used to.
I’ve always wanted to own my own horse one day, but they’re so damn expensive to keep up with.
10.) In one of my school yearbooks that I have kept all these years, I was voted “Sweetest” and “Most likely to become a writer”. Pretty cool, huh?! ha. They lied. I’m not sweet at all. Wait until you see my resting “B” face. I’m just joking – I can totally be sweet, but to the right people.
11.) I absolutely love Lilacs, Yellow and white roses, and Orchids.
12.) My favorite tree is the Weeping willow, and when I buy a house finally – I want to plan one in my back yard. Bonus if the house already comes with one in the back yard.
13.) I love Pinwheels. I just think they’re super pretty and my kids once-in-a-while – will come home with a new one for me. I can’t wait to put them around my Weeping willow tree in the yard of my house one day. I mean, I can dream, can’t I?
14.) I have a huge family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and some I’ve never met in different places. We don’t talk much or get together at all anymore for holidays, reunions, etc. but no matter what, I still have so much love and so many good memories with many of my family members.
You know it goes! Everyone kind of goes their own ways once the glue of the family passes, and those who held the family together – have all passed on, sadly.
15.) One of these days, I want to get myself the original Nintendo and it’s only going to be for me. My kids have their PS5’s, and I want my Nintendo with Duck Hunt, and all 3 Mario’s I used to love so much back in my teenage years.
I always say I don’t know understand how my kids or any kids could sit and play video games for hours, but let me get the Original Nintendo, and I’m going to do the same on my days off.
16.) I love abandoned places.
I will happily stop on the side of the road or in the middle of nowhere to take photos of abandoned churches, houses, warehouses, farms, and other buildings.
My kids joke that this is how I’m going to die. Stopping to take photos of places I think look cool, and end up getting dragged into someone’s barn, tied up, and never heard from again. lmfao. Dramatic much? I only take photos from the car or the sides of the road. I never get brave enough to go into these places, although I’d love to.
I always want to know the back story of what they were before they were abandoned, why they were abandoned, who lived there or went to church there, and so on. I find abandoned places interesting and fascinating.
17.) I hold two degrees in Criminal justice. (Associate and BA) and I’ve always wanted to become a juvenile probation officer to help kids change their lives and show them tough love, but also that love they may not be getting at home.
I want them to know they can do so much with their lives, and I want to be there for them like my probation officer at `15 – was there for me. She was little. She was tough, but she was one of the people who saved my life, and showed me a different route, and I want to do the same for other youth.
I don’t know if that’s in the cards for me, either – but I know if it’s God’s will – it will happen eventually. If not, I’m looking forward to wherever my criminal justice degrees take me and I’m just so proud of myself for the 4 years of college I got through to get those degrees.
18.) If you want to laugh, I always said I wasn’t a cat person.
I hated cats for years and years because when I was in 3rd grade, a cat was following me home and rubbing its body against my leg, so I went to pick it up and try to bring it home with me, but it scratched the hell out of me. I still have that scar on my arm.
One of my aunts loved cats, and she had some, so when she passed away – it broke my heart and I decided I was going to adopt a cat. I went to an animal shelter, met the cats, picked one, had all the paperwork filled out, and when the woman went to process everything and I went to pet the cat I picked one last time before signing the papers, it attacked the hell out of my hand and drew blood, so F*** them cats!
But – when my little dude was 4, he loved cats and kept begging me for one. I kept saying no. When he graduated Kindergarten, I caved and I got him a beautiful Orange Tabby. Simba is the sweetest cat, and secretly, he’s become MY cat, because Elijah barely pays attention to him.
Now – ever since Simba came along, I can’t imagine my life without a cat.
19.) I love to read. I love a good book, and my kids know if it’s a page-turner and it’s so good I can’t put it down, I can easily get through a good book within hours, a day or two.
I’m mostly into non-fiction and autobiographies, but I can get into a good fiction book if it was written well.
20.) My favorite chore is laundry because I love when it’s all done and all the clothes are nice and clean, and smell amazing. My least favorite chores are dishes and mopping, but they still get done. I might have to find me a husband soon to make deals with him, and put my least favorite chores on him, and I’ll plead my case by doing the things he doesn’t want to do, or – doing the things he does want to do. lol.
21.)
(to be continued….)
❤️Shel❤️