Introducing...ME! :)

I began blogging a couple of years ago at Xanga...mostly because my best friend was blogging and, yes, if she jumped off a cliff I'd probably jump with her.  We mostly were there because there was a lady blogging there and we are nosey.  Plain and simple.  She is one to create a bunch of drama...and we just wanted to keep up with it all.  However...one day, she called us out for reading and not commenting or posting our own blogs.  So...my BFF moved over to blogger.  And after a couple of weeks...like a cute little puppy dog, I followed. 

But I didn't know what to do!  I didn't really know what to do with the Xanga account either.  The only people who ever read my blog were the crazy lady and Ashley.  And, while that's OK, I didn't know how to find other people...people like me...people would read what I wrote and comment, encourage, rant, or whatever I needed!  So, when I started my blog here, I had one follower...that was Ashley.  There was no reason to introduce myself to her...she knows all the good, the bad, the ugly. 

A friend of mine encouraged me to read a blog...I read it for a while...didn't comment...didn't blog myself.  But, suddenly, I felt like I needed to blog...like I should be contributing my own two cents into the blogging world.  And that's when I happened upon Keely's "Getting To Know You Sunday" meme.  And that's when I found other blogs...written by people who were like me! 

Now, my blog has grown to 62 readers (it's been hovering all day...weird)!  I thought about a week or so ago that when I hit 50 followers I would introduce them all to me at one time.  Well 50+ followers later, here I am!  And I just wanted to let you know who I am!

Hi!  My name is Jenn!   Other than two years I spent at Appalachian State University, I have lived in the same area all my life.  I literally live 2 minutes from my parents...and my sister lives about 5 minutes from me!  We are all in this little triangle of the world...and it's so nice to have family around.  When I moved out on my own, it was nice not to have to learn the best ways to get to the stores or wherever I needed to go...because I already knew! :)

I live right outside of Winston-Salem, but I "exist" in Kernersville.  Kernersville is a smallish town...well, it's not so small anymore!  But Kernersville has everything I need to survive - Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Target, Starbucks...so I spend most of my time there!  I graduated high school in 1994, went to ASU for 2 years...then transferred to UNCG and graduated in 1999 with a BS in Elementary Education. 

However, I've never taught a day in my life outside of student teaching!  It just wasn't God's plan for me...which still seems so weird since that is what I went to school for...but I went to work in a construction company as a temp for the summer after I graduated...and I've been there 11 years.

Even though I haven't taught, I've been very active in the children's ministry at our church, which I have attended since I was born!  (Do you sense a pattern...I don't do well with change! HAHA!)  Right now, I help lead our Children's Worship during the contemporary service...and have a blast!  I love working with kids...I love their hearts...their insights...everything about it!  So, while I haven't used my education quite the way I thought I would...I guess I still am getting my money's worth, plus some! :)

The greatest blessing in my life, thus far, has been my son Dylan.  He just turned 14 this summer and he is starting high school this fall.  High school.  This is weird to me.  I was 20 when he was born...so I'm a younger mom...but still.  I don't feel old enough to have a high schooler!  He is taller than me already, which at 5'4" I hoped he would!  He's super smart and very athletic...competitive when he needs to be, but he enjoys sports more when he can just "play around" with them.  For example, he would make an awesome football player...he can throw like nobody's business and he's fast.  But, he'd prefer to just throw the ball around, maybe play a pick up game of two hand touch, than put on the pads and play.  Same with basketball and baseball.  The only sport he's willing to play in an organized fashion is soccer.  He's been doing tryouts this week...we find out Thursday if he made the team. *fingers crossed*

My next favorite kids are my niece and nephew.  Alyson is 6 1/2...going on 25.  She's sweet when she wants to be...and bossy, sassy and attitudinal a lot!  I've never seen a kid mimic adults quite in the way that she has.  She's been a character so far and Aunt Jenn is her favorite.  I love it!!!  Ayden was born in October of 2009 and is one of the sweetest babies I know.  OK, I'm partial...but truly, he has a sweet disposition, he's not a fussy baby and just content.  He has turned into quite a mischievous little boy since he's started crawling...but to me, that only adds to the fun.  He doesn't quite understand that Aunt Jenn is the "fun" aunt...but he will! Trust me!

Just a few random things about me...I'm left handed (so is Aly!)...I'm a hair snob - I've been going to the same hair stylist for at least 10 years and I only use Redken shampoo & products (other than hairspray)...I love pushing buttons - like the doorbells at Lowe's (my mom refuses to go down that aisle with me).  I'm super curious by nature...I am the kind of person who has to know what is behind that door/in that cabinet/in that drawer.  I love summer and spring and fall...my favorite color is blue...when I was little I wanted to be a fireman or a ballerina.  I have an unnatural fear of fire...I blame my dad...he was a volunteer fireman when I was very young, and has worked for the City of WS Fire Dept for 20 some years.  Which means that in my less than 1000sf house I have four smoke detectors.  I've never been married.  I hate to iron...I do only out of necessity because I hate for my clothes to be wrinkled.  I am very particular about how my house is cleaned (not that it's ever super clean) and how my laundry is done...and for that reason I do most of this myself.  I know I should be teaching Dylan...but I just can't stand it!

So...there's just a lot little bit about me.  There's probably so much more I could tell you...but I guess that's part of what this whole blogging thing is all about!  I hope you will enjoy reading my blog...I'm certainly enjoying reading a lot of yours! :)