Hey, Siestas! We will do our random drawing later today as promised and, if you don’t mind a little delay, post our biography winners within the next forty-eight hours so we can leave time for you to respond to this post. I learned something new about you over the previous post: YOU ARE READERS. And I love that. Get a load of the number of comments to that post! Of course, it makes sense when you think about it. Blog readers usually are…well…readers. I have already ordered several books from your recommendations and others of you mentioned titles that stirred up great memories of biographies past.I am a dyed in the wool book nerd so this totally spoke my love language.
I’ve been thinking about something since AJ’s recent post about stepping back from her LPM job for the sake of her family. In that post and in the one that followed, we hashed over the painful truth that, actually, no one can do everything and, unless our all is Jesus, no one can have everything. We have limited resources of time, energy, and ability. But, I thought it would be fun to list a few things (dreams, if you will) that we’d each do…if only we could. If only we were not limited by time, energy, and ability, or money, for heaven’s sake. How would you complete the sentence, “If I could, I would…?” Here are the ground rules: YOU CAN ONLY NAME THREE THINGS. You have to choose. Keep in mind, these aren’t regrets. (i.e. “If I could, I would…live my whole life again without making that stupid choice.” We all have plenty of those and they’re not likely to encourage others much.) The things we’re listing on this post are wishes! Dreams can say a lot about a person and reshape how we picture one another. For instance, maybe I’ll find out today that Moose Mama secretly wishes she could sky dive, or katiegfromtennessee has a long standing dream of being a zookeeper, or Sister Lynn has always wanted to take tuba lessons. You see, this could change everything. OK, well not everything. Not even much. But, for crying out loud, wouldn’t it at least be a little fun in a grueling week? Here are three of mine:
If I could, I would…
1) Travel to every country on earth.
2) Teach elementary school Sunday School.
3) Learn sign language fluently.
OK, how about you?
If I could, I would….
1. Quit my full time job and be a full time mom.
2. Get a masters degree.
3. Travel as much as I could.
If I could, I would….
1. Take a year off and travel Europe.
2. Quit my job and sleep for six months.
3. Buy a pair of Manolo’s.
You have to look into a lady named Caroline Leaf! She’s a neurologist who loves Jesus. She has books and DVDs of a siminar in which she addresses what’s happening in your brain to cause things like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It’s so cool! I believe this is something the Lord can do amazing work in for you. Look into her. You won’t regret it!
I speak blessings of peace and the hand of Jesus over you today. May He ultimately draw you in near to His loving arms. He’s got you tightly in His grip. Don’t you forget that today! Believe Him, rather than IN Him!
If I could, I would…
1. Quit my jobs and spend that time with my family and finish my studies to be an RN faster.
2. Travel the world (esp. Ireland) with my dear Hubby (take the honeymoon we never had) and kiddos so they can see and learn what this beautiful land has to share.
3. Stop caring and worrying about the things and people I have no control over.
1. Be on the Canadian Women’s softball team
2. Have huge amounts of land to own as many animals as possible! (if i could fit whales and seals and dolphins into that somehow too, i would!)
3.to really have a voice for the voiceless and fight injustice!
If I could, I would….
1. Become a veterinarian
2. Play first-seat violin in the symphony
3. Live near the ocean and mountains
Only three!
1. Own/run a Christian Bed and Breakfast with Marriage Seminars given on premises and a working organic farm/ranch as food supply for the B&B and others.
2. A month long vacation with my Man traveling the East Coast.
3. Home school all my grandchildren.
#3 – You are a wonderful Grandmother to even think of that! (I’ll come work on your farm with you)
Lisa,I would love it! Wouldn’t that be great?!
Holy hugs!
1)Run into Jesus’ arms!
2)Go to Israel!!
3)FLY! (wonder if we get to in heaven?) :0)
1)Travel the world with and without my family
2)Be an FBI profiler. (My observation skills drive my husband crazy.)
3)Become a published (also best-selling) author.
P.S. – if what I want to do sounds a little self-centered, I was just diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome today. I feel angry and upset. I’d appreciate your prayers.
They sounded honest not self centered….I will pray for you – for healing and that you would come to know God in a more intemate way though this health ordeal. Blessings Penny A
You have my prayers. I have been fighting it for 20 years. Ten years for a doctor to say what I have and then another comes along and says its depression. I’ve read every book I can find on it and I do know my body. I hope you are not in too much pain. Rebecca
If I could, I would:
1) give my husband his sight back
2) live on a ranch and raise horses
3) read every day all day long
1. I would have become a nurse and not let fear rule.
2. Truthfully I can’t think of another thing. My life has been far from perfect, but since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a wife and mommy. I have achieved my dreams and have said it often. Maybe small goals, but I have no regrets. I have been a wife and mom of 4 children, my second is in heaven since his age 18. I now have 5 grandchildren and care for 3 while their mommies have to work. We’ve suffered marital difficulties on my part and on the part of my girls, but truly I can’t think of a thing I have missed, except maybe being a nurse. Sounds like I’m trying to be a saint, but I have done my best to think of anything else and can’t.
If I could, I would:
1) Go into full time ministry and get my master’s degree.
2) Take an annual trip to a different country every spring.
3) Go back to school to be a labor and delivery nurse.
Wow~I’m feeling so guilty now! Everyone else’s dreams are much more noble & selfless than mine! Go, Siestas, go! You girls rock!
1. Write a book that will make someone laugh and cry!
2. Live on a farm filled with a varity of animals and use it for ministering and helping all kinds of “people in need”!
3. Lay my hands on my dad; miracle will happen and he is walking and out of bed again; and together we go to Germany and see all the sights of his childhood home!
1. Ice skate as well as Michelle Kwan
2. speak vietnamese so I could understand what the ladies are saying at the nail salon
3. visit Europe first class all the way
Suzie, you made me laugh out loud!!
If you haven’t seen this comedy sketch, I know you’ll get a kick out of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsWrY77o77o
Love yours! Made me laugh out loud!
1. Be a Nat’l.Geo world-class photographer
2. An illustrator for Hallmark (work’n @ home, over look’n a lake/mountains)
3. A mom that makes a real difference in the life of her kids & grd. kids!!! (for etenity’s sake)
If I could, I would…
1) Travel all over the world.
2) Live on 10% of my income and give 90% to God.
3) Marry Chris Tomlin ;0)
Hello Sister Siestas 🙂
If I COULD, I WOULD
1. Travel to every Country in the world!
2. Be fluent in several languages.
3. Know my Bible well enough to remember and recite EVERY scripture when and as I needed it!
1. Be a fun loving wife and Mum who NEVER gets fraustrated, angry or afraid – but is able to love and serve her husband and family no matter what.
That’s a little heavey – so….
2. To have enough money to retire to a small cottage on a lake that my children and grandchildren can visit and have fun at….and my husband and I can sit and watch the sun set from.
3. That my side of our family could see each other more often – they are all in the UK….and that they would come to know the Lord.
If I could, I would…
1) Let down my guard and sing out to God
2) Heal my family
3) Quit my job and be a stay at home mom
If I could, I would…
1- travel to every country in the world and learn about its unique culture (and learn a whole bunch of languages!)
2- fly around the world just to encourage, listen, and bring surprises to missionaries who are on the field
3- get in my car and just drive, drive, drive with no particular destination in mind, seeing the unknown treasures of our country
and soooo much more!!
If I could I would… 1. Provide all living expenses for my parents so they wouldn’t have a worry financially. 2. Spend my time doing fun, joyous, behind the scene deeds for others anonymously. 3. Give every friend and family member a lump sum of money to be able to do anything they always wanted to do without worrying about the cost.
If I could, I would
1) Go to art school
2) Write a book (or two or more)
3) Build my dream house smack dab in the middle of the mountains
Gosh- only three? 🙂
If I could, I would…
1) never allow ‘self’ in the way at any point during my day.
2) make everyone feel welcomed at all times.
3) (after only two semester of this I have to agree with your #3!) Learn sign language fluently (or ‘flow’ently it’s so perty!).
1. Sell everything and just travel.
2. Fall in love with my husband again. I love him but I want to feel like I did when I was 14 and met him.
3. Go back to college and get a degree.
My husband and I started reading Love at Last Sight by Chris and Letty Shook. Same people that wrote One Month To Live challenge!!
If I could , I would…
1) Take my Mother’s cancer for just one day so she wouldn’t have to struggle with it.
2) Have continued with my ballet lessons.
3) Be a World Traveler that visits different places and writes reviews on them!
As a pastor’s wife my narrowing down choices to 3 is nearly impossible but here goes….
1. Seriously, if I could I would love to just spend a ladies lunch day with Beth, she is such an influence in my life plus she knows about having 2 daughters then a grandson 🙂
2. If I could I would like to finish the book this year the Lord has laid on my heart so I will accomplish His will in my life.
3. and I would like 3 more wishes (lol) If I could I would like to take my entire family on a week cruise so my husband could get away from being needed for a week and just enjoy family time.
If I could, I would:
1. Speak in churches on the affects of pornography and the incredible damage it does.
2. Learn to shoot a bow and arrow and become really good at it. (come in handy for those who just don’t get #1, not really but sometimes…..)
3. Take a trip to Italy, renting a car and travel through the back road with no time limit whats so ever!
If I could I would
1. walk the beach everyday…a beach…any beach will do!!!
2. make rye bread like I remember from the Polish bakeries in Detroit where I grew up.
3. open a Christian bookstore/coffee shop here in Vermont.
And while I am traveling the East Coast I’ll drop by for a few books and some coffee. I have been dreaming of visiting Vermont for years! Perhaps some day … With GOD ALL things are possible … even a Christian book store/ coffee shop. A great idea!
Holy hugs!
If I could, I would…
1. Travel to Australia with my family,
2. Own a bakery, and
3. Be the best wife & mom ever…never getting grumpy or impatient. 🙂
I will tell you that Australia is well worth travellling to. If you can manage it you’ll never regret it. We are not called the ‘Lucky Country’ for nothing. Blessings from Down Under
I would…
1. Become an amazing event planner and interior designer.
2. Have 4 or 5 kids without sending myself to the nut-house.
3. Love people without fear.
I would
1.play the piano like Jerry Lee Lewis in Great Balls of fire.
2.travel the world(and not be afraid of flying!)
3.speak multiple languages fluently.
If I could I would:
1. Learn a musical instrument
2. Travel all over the world
3. Finish my bachelor’s degree, get masters and doctorate and go to the mission field.
1. retire from running my own businesses. I have a degree in fine arts, not bookkeeping!
2. Serve God by teaching women to study the Bible and by writing devotionals, also furthering my Bible Study skills.
3. Restoring Creativity to my life (crafts, cooking, baking, fabric arts).
Every blog I encounter lately is focusing on dreams.
I feel like mine have been thwarted, but am holding out hope that one day God will give them back to me. I’m not getting any younger!
If I could, I would
1. Take my parents and all of their family to Greece. They were stationed there in the 70’s as newlyweds and have always wanted to take us back.
2. Go to seminary…I love to study.
3. Travel with my hubby to some place warm.
There are others, some definitely more noble, but I wanted to say the fun stuff!
To Marie
I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis of CFS. You’ll be in my prayers, my sister.
1) Travel to Israel/Egypt
2) Learn to whistle
3) Have a pet monkey. Maybe just for a day.
Without the limitations of time, energy, ability or money……This is really harder than I thought it would be….
1. Adopt children…probably several
2. Start a transitional type home for abused children/women for them to find healing(with Jesus), and stability, and a new life
3. Provide for my family and extended family in such a way that a lack of time,energy or money wouldn’t hinder them from chasing their dreams
1. If I could I would be in CATS on Broadway as Grizabella.
2. If I could I would be in Travis’s praise and worship team.
3. If I coul;d I would go to the Holy Land’s and walk where my Jesus walked.
1) I’d love to spend the day shopping for toys and kids clothes – then the next day wrapping them in fabulous shinny paper and ribbons THEN be able to drop them off at an orphanage in a huge mountanous pile!! Bang on the door and run to hide behinde a big tree or something!! 8)
2)Spend a year traveling with my hubby!!
3)Bring my Father -in-Law back to life!
*** Hey Beth!! I might be able to help you with your Sign Language dream! I’ve studied in a cpl different IT (Interpreter Training) programs and went to school as a Deaf Educator ((of course now I do hair – but LOVED that part of my education!!))! The BEST book I’ve found is called A Basic Course in American Signlanguage! It allows you to self learn in the best way – of course emergining in the culture is really the best way – but as far as books go, it’s the best!!
I have a secret sign language dream, too. So thanks for the BEST book recommendation. My birthday is Monday and now I know what to ask for.
If I could I would:
1. Learn at least 3 other languages and travel to those countries
2. Be some kind of missionary – work with Compassion or any other organization that loves the poor and needy
3. Volunteer at our local Childrens Hospital, holding babies, talking with parents, anything to help the families.
1. I would go to culinary school
2. I would play my cello in a symphony again
3. I would learn to speak another language fluently
If I could, I would…
1. Work for Living Proof Ministries
2. Marry a godly man who adores Jesus
3. Raise children who adore Jesus and freely worship Him with no inhibitions
If I could i would….
Fix my daughters pain
Travel the World, starting in Israel
Live by the Ocean and the Mountians
If I could, I would:
1) Learn to speak and read Greek fluently;
2) Set my feet in every country in the world; and
3) Hole myself away for four months to finish writing a book.
1. Buy my daughter and her husband a house.
2. Cure what ails my Mom.
3. Move back to CA to be near my family.
#1 – sure wish I could sing!!
#2 – wish I could help every hurting teen see how much God loves them
#3 – with I was able to go biking with my hubby (his exercise passion)
1. Finish Seminary
2. Get my husband a job he really loves.
3. Enjoy traveling as much I desire to travel.
Well, just for fun… I would if I could…
1. Travel to Israel and walk where Jesus and the apostles walked.
2. Learn to speak Spanish
3. Own horses and learn Dressage
My husband and I like to dream about what we would do if we had millions of dollars. 🙂 Provide for our parents, travel, & quit our jobs and go into full-time ministry/missions. LOL Fun stuff. 🙂
If I could, I would:
1. Had a dozen children, all one or two years apart in age
2. Swim with Shamu at SeaWorld without fear
3. Learn every Hymn in the Baptist Hymnal as they are foundational truths