Sue just passed her 100th post and that got me thinking about how many posts I've written - apparently 127!! I missed my 100th milestone.
oh well...
In honour of my 127th post I will write 127 things . (sorry I only made it 106 - actually I'm sure you're quite relieved...)
Don't feel obliged to read them... although I'm sure you will be totally engrossed, fascinated, enthralled...
ok, maybe mildly interested :)
1o6 THINGS!
1. I am the youngest of 5 children - 3 girls and 2 boys.
2. My older brother drowned the year before I was born. He was 3.
3. This death influenced our family both for good, and for not so good.
4. My mother made sure we all were good swimmers.
5. My oldest sister, Pat, was 10 years older than I and she was like a mother to me.
6. I started piano when I was 8 and took lessons for 6 years.
7. I love to play although I don't play as well as I should.
8. I love, love, love to read.
9. When I was a child I used to take 14 or more books from the library every week. My love for books sometimes got me into trouble...
10. I grew up in a little town where large maples and oaks hung over
11. On every Christmas list I asked for a horse, a saddle and a years worth of feed - then I would write other things.
12. I never received a horse - or a saddle - or the feed - but I did get the next thing on those lists.
13. We hung up our stockings every Christmas Eve and were not allowed to get out of bed until
14. I played outside ALL the time - summer and winter - the only time my friends and I were allowed in to play was on rainy days.
15. I didn't watch much TV because we only had 1 station.
16. My favourite treat growing up was a fudgesicle and a MacIntosh toffee bar.
17. I wonder why I have a lot of fillings in my teeth.... :)
18. My mother took us swimming on every sunny day in the summer and on a few rainy days too.
19. YES!! The water surrounding
20. I love L M Montgomery's writing including Anne, although as a child, I loved Emily better.
21. I love where I live - I am an Islander born and bred.
22. Islanders feel 'strange" when they are off the
23. Everyone who is born on the
24. Everyone else is "from away".
25. Islanders love new people to adopt the
26. When I was growing up there were 35 children in my neighbourhood - no shortage of playmates!
27. We played countless games of Annie Over, Hide and Go Seek, Frozen Tag, TV Tag, British Bulldog, Kick the Can, Touch Football, Baseball, Street Hockey, Red Rover, Capture The Flag and
28. Also the game "Shoot" - a homemade game where one player “shot" the others and a panel of judges picked the one who died the most dramatic death - a mite violent but lots of fun!
29. Another home-made game - "
30. And then our neighbour's father would organize a huge raking day. All the kids of the neighbourhood would rake the lawn and we would load the pine-needles into the back of a ton truck. Then we would ride down to their cottage, have a bon-fire, hotdogs and fireworks. It was one of the high points of every year!
31. I had my tonsils out when I was 11 - one of my friends brought me a Crunchie bar. She knew it was my favourite but of course, I was only allowed to eat Jell-O and ice-cream. I told her I couldn't eat it, so she ate it right in front of me! I never forgot that!
32. I dealt with my boredom by sneaking out of my bed and going down to visit the babies and toddlers in the nursery. The nurses weren't happy with me...
33. I went to see the movies every Sat. afternoon at a theatre we called "The Show-hall". We watched westerns, Ma and Pa Kettle, The Three Stooges and Elvis Presley.
34. My mother became sick with MS when I was 11.
35. She was in the hospital for a year but made a good recovery and lived until she was 70 years of age.
36. I loved to play with dolls - for a long time.
37. I was hospitalized when I was 13 for pneumonia.
38. When I was over the worst of the pneumonia, but still in the hospital, my mom wanted to bring my dolls so that I wouldn't be bored, but I was too embarrassed to be seen playing with them.
39. I was 13 when I became a Christian - at a camp. I have always been very thankful for the timing of my conversion because when I was also 13,
40. my dad, a recovered alcoholic who had been sober for 15 years, started to drink again. not good.
41.I became a lifeguard at age 15.
42. We camped every summer when I was little - my dad didn't really like it but he was very cheery about it. He slept on a cot, my mom on an air mattress and the rest of us slept in sleeping bags on the tent floor.
43. We got together with my father's family several times each summer. My grandmother, great aunts, great uncles, aunts, uncles, first, second and third cousins. The family reunions had all kinds of people that I never even knew and my aunt would take me around the parlour and introduce me to each one of the older relatives saying "This is Peter's youngest." It was so boring - I had to be so polite. I could hardly wait to get outside to run around with my cousins.
44. My mother's family were scattered all over
45. My brother and I had a paper route - we rode double on a bike - I sat on the seat and held the bundles of papers while he pedalled, standing up.
46. We ate hot oatmeal porridge every morning, winter and summer, for breakfast.
47. One summer, while we were camping, my mother didn't bring the porridge pot because she wanted a break from washing it every day. My brother and I cried because we wanted our porridge. She went out and bought a pot.
48. My dad worked for the Federal Dept. of Fisheries so we ate a lot of lobster - If I saw that there was lobster for supper, I would moan "Not lobster again!" Times have changed... :)
49. I was 9 years old when my best friend's mother died very suddenly. When I heard the news, I ran into the bathroom, locked the door and wouldn't come out.
50. When I was 11, my second oldest sister, Deb, brought home a little dog named Cami. I taught her to do all kinds of tricks like jump into my arms, sit up, lay down, stay, shake. She slept in my bed every night. She lived until I was 21.
52. When I was little, my chores were cleaning the bathroom, dusting, vacuuming, ironing my father's handkerchiefs and pillowcases and when I was around 12, my mom taught me how to bake cookies and desserts.
53. I received my two favourite Christmas gifts in the same year. A sweet little baby doll and a pair of home-made crutches.
54. Why would I want a pair of crutches? A little boy in my Grade 1 class broke his leg and we all loved to borrow his crutchers (our name for them). At home I was always hopping around on yardsticks. So my Dad made me a pair. I was the envy of the neighbourhood.
55. I had my first job when I was 15 - teaching swimming lessons.
56. I was an active member of a group called Allied Youth - and attended my first International Conference in Buck Hill Falls, PA, when I was 15 .
57. I joined a singing group called The New Christian Singers when I was 16. I played keyboard.
58. I met one of my best friends in that group and her brother....who became my husband.
59. My Dad died when I was 18.
59. I went to Philadelphia College of Bible after I graduated from High School. A small town girl in a huge city. I lasted for one year.
60. I transferred to
61. My husband and I were married
62. We graduated from college and came home to
63. We travelled to L'Abri in
64. After L'Abri - which we loved - we travelled from
65. Our first baby, a son, was born in 1980 and followed by three more brothers and a sister.
66. We moved to Mass to attend Gordon Conwell Seminary - for 3 years.
67. Then we were off to
68. Our first church was a little Presbyterian church in
69.We received a call to St. John's Presbyterian Church, Belfast, PEI in 1987 and we have been here ever since.
70. Dear me...this is getting hard... boring...are you still with me or could I just type in a bunch of nonsense and no one would even know the difference??
71. My mom died from her final MS attack 9 mos. after our daughter was born - she was so thrilled to see her.
72. I was diagnosed with Wolfe Parkinson White syndrome in 1983 and ended up having open heart surgery in 1992 - 9 mos after my Mom died.
73. It was a long recovery with 5 children ages 18 mos old to 11 years and I was unable to lift anything. I still wonder how I did it...
74. My husband slept on the floor beside me so that if I needed anything he would be right there. I will never, ever forget that.
75. Our church family brought us meals every day for over a month.
76. My mother in law - who is a saint - came and lived with us for a few weeks - doing all my housework, baking and keeping me in bed - no easy task... :)
76. In May,1994 I was diagnosed with clinical depression - a difficult 3 years and 7 mos.
77. The Lord rescued me in Dec. 1997. Psalm 40:1 - "He lifted me out of the horrible, slimy pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock."
78. I love to sing - play piano, guitar and now...I'm learning Celtic harp :)
79. Have I mentioned how much I love to read?? Especially children's books? here is a list of my favourites (and yours)
80. I teach information literacy to 200 students grades 1-9 and also manage the school library. I am also the webmaster of my school site
81. I play keyboard and sing on my worship team every Sunday.
82. I am the proud mama of the Chucky Danger Band
83. I love to kayak - winter and summer
84. My favourite pets.
85. I am running out of things to say... unless I get started on prayer and revival - oh my! I'd be good for another 100 things maybe even 1000... we have been praying for revival here on
86. I am convinced that prayer is the answer. I want to go deeper and deeper in prayer. It's my life goal.
87. Hmmm...how do you guys so this 100 thing anyway?? I love babies - oh there's a good topic!!
88. I was the happiest ever when I was pregnant - it's true I never was sick even 1 day...I felt wonderful. I prayed for my babies from before they were conceived.
89. Nursing my babies was a very close second in happiness and satisfaction. I miss those sweet baby hands reaching up to touch my cheek.
90. I tried to teach my first newborn baby to read...poor child...he was the unfortunate and fortunate trial baby in so many ways... (does anyone else remember that book - teach Your Baby To Read? and did it work for you? and why did we care???
91. My boys had an adventurous streak- the neighbours would drive by and peer into our yard to see what "Those MacPhee boys" were up to next!!
92. Like the time they decided to hook up a rope slide from the top of huge spruce tree using an old rope and tricycle handlebars - it was fast - the problem was landing...
93. or the time they decided to slide down the stairs inside a sleeping bag - it worked until they decided to go down double - another trip to the doctor.
94. countless years of hockey games were great outlets for their boundless energy
95. and music - piano lessons, trumpet lessons,
96. Their little sister was not far behind them although she showed a very definite feminine streak - she loves her dolls and babies and can hardly wait to have her own little one.
97. Am I allowed to write about my husband here? I'll tie it into me ok? He loves to fly-fish - I don't. He loves to hunt - I don't. He loves to go to Tim Horton's - I do too. Tim's is the social gathering place on
98. I love to walk along the beach - and in the woods.
99. I love to watch the sun set over the water - and rise over the trees outside my kitchen windows.
100. I was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy a few years ago - a genetic heart muscle problem. It makes me tired.
101. My sister died of this disease 4 years ago - my other sister and my brother also have it. bad genes...
103. It's fun to blog in a coffee shop - that's where I am now - Timothy's.
104. Bother ...think... think.... think ... oh that reminds me - I love Winnie the Pooh.
105. Hmmm - oh dear...the sun has come out - I don't think I'm going to make it to 127...
106. Phew...did I really say I would write 127?? I must have been crazy - I like to blog - but the sun is shining and this list has taken so much longer than I thought....
Did you really read it all?? Gosh...you are my TBF - True Blogging Friend
*update* -
I just have to give an award to all you lovely TBFs... :)
Comments
TBF Trophy
I read them all, and I wish there were 11 more. :)
You went to Bible College just a couple of hundred miles from where I went, and your school plays my school in basketball, but I'm guessing I went a couple of years before you did.
Yes, I did read it all...and thoroughly enjoyed it...you have led and do lead a full and interesting life! I loved hearing about your journety thus far; thanks for sharing, Island Sparrow.
I'm so glad you did these! I did read every single one! I was amazed at how many similarities we have. You must have loved your oatmeal porridge a great deal! My mother served (cold)cereal on Mon, Wed & Fri. On Tues, Thur & Saturday, she would serve bacon & eggs. Sunday was usually pancakes. It never varied on the schedule :-)
I read them all! I'd love to live near you and count you as my friend.
Here are some that interested me:
22. Islanders feel 'strange" when they are off the Island - a little uncomfortable - because on an island you know where you are - you have clearly delineated borders - the sea - but on the mainland, where are you?? There are no borders. This is a strange concept that islanders find hard to explain and non-islanders find hard to understand.
I can see how this would be, but I have never experienced it; we have moved a lot. I would suspect that, since being off the island is a bit uncomfortable, then being on the island must be comforting.
63. We travelled to L'Abri in Switzerland and attended school there for several months.
What a privilege!
71. I was diagnosed with Wolfe Parkinson White syndrome in 1983 and ended up having open heart surgery in 1992 - 9 mos after my Mom died.
I taught school with a girl that has Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome.
I'm far from home, on a slower computer, but will read these when I get back. :-)
Sparrow's other blog is Fernwood Hill. You can find it listed under Homestead on her sidebar. She also had a homeschool blog at one time, but don't remember where to find it.
http://fernwoodhill.blogspot.com/
Very interesting, all of this. I can't believe you got to 106! Isn't the human memory just amazing? Well I'm well over 235 entries now so don't expect one of these lists out of me.
P.S. I loved what you said about enjoying pregnancy. That is so good to hear. I've never been and may never be :( but I get so tired hearing girls complain about it, even ones with easy times of it.
Of course we read them all!!! So interesting! I just got a note from a friend today saying she really enjoyed all the "personal" stuff on our blog. That's the type stuff I would think wouldn't be interesting. But it seems folks really enjoy getting behind the scenes into others lives. And you gave us a peek into yours, and it was neat to see. :)
Read them all!
I am getting ready for my 100th post and plan on doing something similar. It does seem daunting!
Looked the personal tidbits! I would love to be your friend. You seem so calm and gentle and the things you take note of seem to bring you true joy!
I read them all and enjoyed it. You've had such a wonderful, interesting life thus far, and of course anyone who likes to read can never be bored. :-)
Wonderful! I read them all too - and would have read all the way to 127 if the rest had been there. (Why does someone else's life always seem so much more interesting than your own?)
What a wonderful and interesting list. Thoroughly enjoyable. I took home loads of books from the library also. I had to eat oatmeal almost every day, but I wanted eggs instead. I love to walk along the beach, but instead of the woods, I climb mountains. I lived in New Hampshire for a year and my one regret is not visiting Nova Scotia and PEI....well, sometime when my husband and I visit back in NH I will just have to make the trip.
Read every one of them! Very interesting! Your anniversary day is my birthday!
Goodness!! 13 TBFs!! Thank you for your kind comments and remarkable patience :)
Happy 4th to all my 'merican friends!!
(when we were kids we called our cousins from the States "our merican cousins" I don't think I realized the difference :)
BTW - I fixed the links - not that you would want to go back over the list but since I did all the work of linking them I figured I had better let them stand out in a different color font... why do I feel so apologetic?? :)
Of course I read them all! Very interesting! My parents went to Gordon college and I live kinda close to PCB. I love Winnie the Pooh, I am a school librarian too, and I am also one of five kids.
You are so completely interesting! I loved this! Well done and thankyou for giving us 106 little peeks into your life.
I love your book story! Sorry it ended in injury though.
Congrats on the 127th post. May you have many more!
blessings - :) PEI and Timmy's sound great!
I loved your list. I laughed so much that you tried to teach your baby to read, that endeared you to me more than anything. I was also very interested in one of your other posts about great books. I have just put a request out on my blog for good book and music suggestions for my birthday and so I will have a proper look at your suggestions later. Many blessings. I love your blog!
Hi Islandsparrow! I am up late tonight, and was looking at Tasha Tudor books on Amazon. And after discovering that I have one that my mom read to me when I was a little girl that I didn't even realize she illustrated, I googled it (The doll's house by Rumor Godden) and a post from March on your blog was at the top of the list. I thought that was funny!
I have seen your comments before at Sparrow's and have visited here before, but not sure if I commented. So wanted to leave a comment to tell you the co-inki-dink. :)
I read the whole list btw. I found it interesting, you know how you compare "where was I when she was doing such and such?" My dearest friend has 2 children who have had Wolf Parkison White. My 2nd son died from myocarditis when he was 5 days old. I was 4 when you were married and we married in May '94.
Thank you for sharing these, it sounds like God has brought you through much and I can hear such peace in your tone of writing.
Blessing~
Roberta
(My husband is home...time for bed.)
I mean...Tasha Tudor illustrated. :)
Just getting back from vacation and catching up here...What a treat!
We were packing and leaving when you asked about other authors on the topic of listening to God--sorry I wasn't able to respond then.
You've read widely in that area! You might want to check out Agnes Sanford and Joyce Huggett (Listening to God)--both predate Leanne Payne, and Agnes was a mentor of hers. I really liked Listening to God. I've only read AS's autobiography and it was interesting but slow. Many talk about her tho, especially related to healing. Let me know what you think if you read them!
Of course Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence is a classic on the topic.
Jeanne
OH yes my little copy of Practicing the Presence of God is quite worn out :)
I have read Agnes Sanford but not Joyce Huggett. I will look her up - thanks Jeanne.
I'm so glad I "accidently" found your blog. As others have written before in the comments, we also have a lot in common. :) My dear husband and I also celebrated 30 years of life together this year. Someday I hope to visit PEI - have never been to New England or that part of Canada (but have been up and down the Alaska Highway several times and love the Yukon and BC!). I plan to read more of what you've written. Thank you for sharing your life with us!