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. Visit Israel
2. Preach to the latin community in my area
3. Teach from the Wounded Heart book.
1. Own a house by the beach and in the mountains.
2. Be able to read a Greek NT.
3. Eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight.
Amen! to #3, Kalonni! 🙂
Oh, I so am with you on #3!! Starting with chocolate! Dark chocolate.
1) Do an internship with sweet Beth Moore to learn how to be a Bible teacher 🙂
2) Buy a desperately old house and have limitless money to fix it and decorate it!
3) Make my favorite book series (Francine Rivers- Mark of the Lion Series) into a movie.
Chesney
17
Knoxville
Oh, Chesney, I’d love that, too! I’m so glad you’re on here.
I’m so glad HE knows the plans He has for me! I love being on here, too!
Oh my word…Mark of the Lion Series is my all time FAVORITE books EVER!!! I so agree with you. I would weep through the entire thing…but man it would be sooo good!
Agreed!! Just finished the first book…dying to start the 2nd!
the 2nd AND 3rd are incredible! : )
their my favorite ever too : )
Oh, I like #1! I can’t believe I didn’t think of that, since that’s all I want to do really is teach the bible! I just wasn’t thinking big enough! All the things I said could happen some day, except for the one about writing a song. I can’t write music!
I would love to have a ‘green’ house built and live in it(of the all natural no toxic kind).
Write a book.
Set up an in-church retreat(comfy couches/chairs, tables to sit at while studying, research materials available, prayer room) where women could come in the midst of their busy lives to have quiet time, time for bible study, time for prayer, with others there to offer encouragement and love when needed.
I love this idea Kathy!! Women so badly just need a place to let go and breathe in peace for a little bit!! I’m keeping this in mind!!
Blessings Siesta!!
kate
Kathy,
May I come to your place of retreat. I so despartely need a retreat and some spelling help.
1. Travel the U.S.A. in an RV to see all the wonders God has made.
2. Learn to play the piano
3. Have the ability to teach children
1. Have a cabin by a flyfishing stream for my husband (who loves to flyfish). And for me who LOVES to read. I would sit leisurely on the front porch reading while I watch my husband fishing right by me!
2. Travel to many places full of ancient history with my hubby.
3. Be able to pay for all 8 of my grandchildren’s college!!
1. Travel to every country on earth
2. Go to cooking school
3. Sing REALLY well. Not just mostly on key, I mean really really good, like a famous person.
1) Write a book
2) Live surrounded by my extended family
3) Buy the New Imperial Hotel right inside Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem, and turn it into a 24/7 cafe and house of prayer & worship (what could be better than lattes and live praise?)
1. Memorize the Bible (Just saw that movie The Book of Eli)
2. Learn to speak Spanish like a native
3. Write a best selling inspirational novel
If I could, I would…
1. Write a book
2. Run a marathon
3. Move to the carribean and open an adorable little shop, make enough money to survive, and tuck my kids into bed each night with the sound of the ocean outside the window…
If I could, I would…..
1. Find a way to get my ill husband to Arizona to see his six month old first granddaughter, before he goes home to the Lord.
2.Find my husband a new heart.
3. Peace in the world and for everyone to come to the Lord.
Oh Sue, that just breaks my heart. If I could, I would…lay hands on your husband in prayer, knowing because of Jesus, he’d be instantly healed and off the see his granddaughter! My prayers are with you!
Thanks so much, for the kind words. He has had a bad last few days. With the Lord’s help maybe we can go see has granddaughter for Christmas Blessing to you.
If I could, I would:
1. be a ESPN college football analyst (but I have no desire to go into the dressing rooms).
2. sing as well as my husband.
3. play more with my kids (hey, I can do that one!).
Love your #1 response!
1. Spend six months in Europe.
2. Adopt two children from Africa. (I’ll help you with the orphanage in Uganda, Rachel!)
3. Learn to play the violin and paint. (not at the same time, though! Although that might get me on America’s Got Talent!! hee hee)
If I could, I would…
1. learn to scuba dive
2. travel…a lot…to everywhere!
3. be outgoing and outspoken and sanguine!
1. Be a missionary in Brazil.
2. Run a marathon.
3. Find a cure for cancer.
1. Share my testimony without bawling my eyes out.
2. Go on another trip to Israel – too young the first time.
3. Travel, Travel, Travel.
Lisa, ‘sharing your testimony’ was a GREAT one! I can’t do it either. Worse than that, I can’t share the testimony of each of my sons without bawling my eyes out! I think that’s the way the Lord distributes the Holy Spirit among us…..so just keep sharing and let the ‘joy’ flow freely!!!!! 😉 Blessings to you, Charlotte
1. Have the means to travel around the world with friends and family.
2. Get a great first dreamhouse and start a family in it
3. Own my own event business and be able to give most of my time/services away
Thanks, this is so fun!
If I could, I would…..
1. Drive the Alaska/Canadian highway with my sweetheart and our two sloppy Labs.
2. Be a stay-at-home wife who was always caught up on ironing, gardening and housekeeping.
3. And due to #2, have tons of time to study God’s Word, meditate on Him and just draw closer and closer to Him.
Whew! Took some thinking!!
If I did not work a full time job in the private sector I would spend more time working for my church in our Women’s Ministry.
If I had time I too would learn sign language
If I had more time, I would pick up my grandchildren from school and have more quality time with them (I have twin grandaughters who are 7)
1. love more uncondiontal
2.spell great.
3. be skinny
I love #2, especially after #1! 🙂
If I could, I would:
1) become instantly neat
2) achieve/maintain a healthy weight, all the while eating everything I want
3) speak the wisdom of God in every situation; esp. to my grown children.
Sue,
If I hadn’t already made a list this could DEFINITELY be mine!
If I could, I would
Travel to Europe multiple time.
Visit my older three in college several times a semester.
Have my own bakery or major ministry to women.
1. I would go to Israel and take my family
2. Scrapbook
3. Have someone to clean my house so I could focus on my family and friends and be able to serve others.
1. Pay off my adult children’s school loans.
2. Own a lakehouse for my preacher husband and I to retreat to once in a while.
3. Take all my family on a vacation every couple of years.
If I could, I would:
1) Move to the South (I love to visit my family in the Carolina’s).
2) Take a cruise with my hubby of 21 years (we didn’t have a honeymoon).
3) Travel to Israel with my husband and daughters.
If I could I would:
1. travel across the country in our rv…there is so much beauty in this country I would love to see!
2. work to find a cure for cancer
3. open a teahouse
Christina-KY
1.) Work in an orphanage in a 3rd world country
2.) Lead a Bible Study
3.) Travel the world, and never come home 🙂
1. Write
2. Research
3. Write
1. See the pyramids of Egypt.
2. Finish all the books I never finished reading
3. If it were possible, hold a piece of rainbow in my hand.
If I could, I would:
1) Live among the gorillas and/or chimpanzees in Africa
2) Live in a little hut on some practically deserted island in the South Pacific
3) Spend a week at The Canyon Ranch Spa in Tucson, AZ
I love your haircut Becky.
Thanks, Rebecca. If I got any of my wishes, my good haircut would no longer be a priority 🙂
1. Have more kids (through birth or adoption)…LOTS more kids
2. Homeschool together with my husband
3. Travel the world as a family, for education and missions
If I could, I would
— live without fear, fully trusting God’s goodness and provision.
— travel to Norway with my cousin Jean.
— have a weed-free yard.
If I could, I would..
1. Quit my job and volunteer some place where I could make a difference in other lives.
2. Adopt children from overseas.
3. Take a cruise through Alaska
1. Attend in one year a major league sporting event in each sport…football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer and, well, golf!
2. Learn how to quilt…with a machine, not by hand!
3. Take my entire family (immediate and extended) on a cruise.
1) Learn every official language of every country.
2) Frequently visit all of those countries.
3) Have a home in my top 10 favorite countries, and divide my time between them. 🙂
If I could, I would:
1) be a singer/songwriter
2) write a syndicated column
3) do my songwriting and column writing from a simple but charming seaside cottage in Scotland with dogs at my feet
1. I would travel around the world & each state in America.
2. Go to sites of disasters & cook for people, help them get back on their feet.
3. Take the zip line in Costa Rica.
Lawan
If I could, I would…
be a woman who always responded with the Fruit of the Spirit
become a labor and delivery nurse,
like to enjoy yard work
If I could, I would…
1) Become a doula/midwife
2) Have millions of dollars to give away
3) Be a travel agent
My friend and I wanted to start a small group for women, on women’s issues. We went to the book store and God lead us to your book “So Long Insecurity”. I have just finished the book and begone the prep for the group and felt the need to share how this book has touched my life. Not realizing how much my past has fueled my insecurities and how much my God can free me from all of that. Thank you sounds so small and yet I can find no other words. So, thank you, Beth Moore, for proactively allowing God to change my life. Women and young girls are of primary importance to me. This will help us all.
1)Star in a musical!
2)Live by the ocean
3)Complete my master’s degree
1. Pay off all debt for my family and friends
2. Own a beach house large enough to share when my family/friends want to visit( I would LOVE to go to sleep hearing the waves and wake each morning to the sun rising over the ocean)
3. Rescue EVERY dog on “death row” at the pound and provide them with lots of love and space to run, while being a professional singer and providing low cost mental health counseling to teens and young adults who can’t afford it. (Sorry! I didn’t want to cheat so I had to make #3 really count!)
I love your #3!!! You’ll be a multi-tasking wonder woman!
1. Have the self-discipline to spend hours daily in the Word.
2. Be fit enough to run a marathon and strong enough to keep up with lots and lots of potential grandchildren.
3. Be the acquisitions editor at a major Christian publishing house.
Hubby:
1. Fly the SR71 (a super-secret spy plane that goes over 2000 miles an hour)
2. Start a church among a completely unreached people.
3. Visit every historical battlefield on earth.
If I could I would …
1. Run a Retreat for Women living for Christ
2. Go back and finish College
3. Travel
I was thinking the same thing about a retreat. 🙂 Love you!
If I could, I would:
1. Take my friend Maria to Italy and spend a month exploring all the cool places we’ve seen in movies.
2. Buy a farm and open a B&B and grow flowers for seeds.
3. Learn to knit and then make tons of gifts for my friends & family.
Jackie D,
It’s not that hard to learn how to knit. I taught myself and started making pretty scarves for everyone.
1) Remodel and redecorate our home.
2) Own and operate a small Christian bookstore here in our small town.
3) Learn to paint.
If I could, I would …
1) Own a house
2) Not get sun-fatigue and sun-headaches and sit indoors from the sun.
3) Be a personal friend of Beth Moore. Share in each other’s life.
If I could I would
1. Travel the world with my husband but if I have to only pick one place I think I’d pick Italy.
2. Write a bible study that people would actually read and enjoy.
3. Decorate and get paid for it.
If I could, I would:
1. Spend a month working at an archaeological dig in Israel.
2. Be a sign language interpreter, but would need to learn it first.
3. Have a pottery workshop to throw clay.
If I could I would visit the Middle East, especially Israel and Greece (Greece is considered Middle East isn’t it??), I would learn the biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek (though my son is sort of living that dream for me) and I would write books.