Happy Tuesday, friends! A few weeks ago, Marilyn gave me a book called Burn After Writing. I was immediately inspired by this book to flip through it and write blog posts from some of the prompts inside. This is one such post! I'll mention this book again when I post things that the book inspired, but I'm going to jump right into this one called Firsts and Lasts.
The first word I would use to describe myself: optimistic
The last time I felt happy: this morning when I woke up to a "Good morning, Beautiful" text from Chris. I don't want to take these for granted! And also, last night when I hugged Marilyn for a whole minute after days of not seeing her.
The first thing I would do if I were in charge of the country: I would call on the people that run the Chick Fil A corporation.
The last thing I think of before I go to sleep: is my alarm set?
My first love: Dad.
The last time I cried: Saturday when I was at my dad's grave. I walked away and said, "Bye, Daddy. I love you." And the tears started. Chris was there with me when this happened, and he handled it like a champ. He just held his hand on my back and rubbed it as we walked back to the car.
The first person I would confide in: Soulmate, aka Marilyn.
The last person I would rely on: my ex-husband. Sad, but true. I'm not mad at him, by the way, as he's been nice to me. I've just been let down by him too many times to count, and I no longer believe anything he says.
The first time I had my heart broken: in high school...teenage love stories are no joke!
The last time I said I love you: last night when I said goodnight to my son.
The first quality I look for in a person: kindness is right there with loyalty.
The last time I felt in control: when I actually had my life together. 🤣
The first time I stood my ground: when I went through a divorce.
The last time I faked it: I think this warrants a different answer, but instead of that, I'm going to say that I have to fake being patient and in a good mood everyday of my life to be out in the world. This is even more so because of the fact that I work with young students in an elementary school! Kids don't care if your life feels heavy or sad...they just need you to show up.
The first person I would call in a crisis: without a doubt, my sister Lisa.
The last time I congratulated myself: the day I dealt with getting the car title in my name and my own license plate and tags. I took a half day and treated myself to brunch afterward!
My first real relationship: when I was 16, my first boyfriend's name was Jason. He drove a Bronco II, and I was at his house on Christmas Eve when my grandmother died.
The last time I said thank you: Sunday night when Chris bought my dinner.
The first person I had a crush on: my friend Brad from youth group when I was a teenager.
The last time I was angry: last week. Here's the blog post.
The first thing I would save in a house fire: my important papers, my purse, and my phone.
The last time I was fearful: when I thought my world would end when my husband walked out of my life. I didn't think I'd be able to "do" life without him, but here I am today thriving and experiencing a glow-up, as my friend Kendra likes to say.
I'll save some more of these for a later date, but in the meanwhile, did you learn anything new about me today? What are your thoughts on some of these? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!
Jenn ❤️
I enjoyed reading this a lot. I learned things about you and was reminded of things that I already knew which means that we have history together which is cool, I think :). You've walked through the fire and you are reFINED!! (Is that a thing? Do people get refined through a fire?? It sounded good in my head but now I'm not so sure...). What you said about faking it at school- for sure! I love all your pics. You are glowing!
ReplyDeleteI love that we have history, too! It is a thing about people being refined through fire, like someone who forges metal. That's one of my favorite portions of Scripture in the Old Testament...maybe it's in Malachi? Thanks for this, friend. I hope you have a great day!
DeleteGreat post and great things to think about, too! Cool book!
ReplyDeleteI loved this book! I think it's a great gift idea. She bought one for her as well. We often do that- think of each other as we buy ourselves something, we include the other. I love this about us! I did this again yesterday and gave her a little happy at dinner last night.
DeleteThat was a fun list - I love learning about people beyond just "facts". I think it's interesting the details you remember about your first boyfriend :). It made me think a bit too, about who I would call first in a crisis, one word to describe myself, and who I can't count on. I also liked your statement about kids not caring what our day is like or how we're feeling - they just need for us to show up. I think that's the definition of "adulting", right?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, friend! I think that statement that I made about showing up for kids would definitely be part of the definition of the word "adulting". The world doesn't stop just because we momentarily do! I'd love to know your answers to some of these, so feel free to use this as an inspirational idea for a blog post. Have a great day!
DeleteLoved reading this- always enjoy learning more about you. You are right about teenage love- yowsa- forgot how painful that could be. You did experience a glow up- love seeing it and cheering you on!
ReplyDeleteThanks, friend! This was fun to write, honestly. I said this to Marilyn last night about us both experiencing that. Yesterday was our 3rd anniversary of meeting each other in public for the first time...we met online first, then at a Bible study in 2020...but we have both gone through a glow-up since then! I love that we have each other. I hope you have a great day, my friend!
DeleteI love this - using the prompts in the book as blog posts! Thanks for the inspiration! I now have this book in my Amazon cart. Just reading some of the sample pages has given me ideas for future posts! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rachel! I love doing this kind of thing as well, and I'm glad it inspired you. It's such a great little book!
DeleteThis was a great read and I loved learning more about you!
ReplyDeleteI always think is my alarm set before I go to sleep, I always have to double check.
Thanks, friend! Isn't that funny how we question ourselves?
DeleteI laughed out loud at your comment about Chick Fil A but I think you might be on to something! This post was great!
ReplyDeleteIs it true or what, though??? Thanks for that, friend. And thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog!
DeleteGreat questions!! I love reading your responses!
ReplyDeleteLast time I cried: this afternoon, watching a video of IDF soldiers coming home to their families and pets. Those always get me; I'm an easy crier.
The first quality I look for in a person: making me laugh (second would be kindly listening and also sharing)
The last person I would rely on: my father, sorry to say….
The last time I congratulated myself: Last week when my dept. chair (boss) said in our check-in that the students (young adults) consistently report that I make them feel comfortable. As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” So, I'm claiming that feedback as a win.
I love this post and hope you have a great week!
Thanks, friend! Those videos always get me too! I love that quality of laughter; it's something that immediately turned me on with Chris. I laughed like crazy on our first date! That's amazing about what your boss said last week! Way to go, my friend. I hope your week has been great!
DeleteSo glad we can use this for inspiration to share and then some things to write and not share...uh hum, burn after writing :)!
ReplyDeleteYessss! Me too. This was such an amazing gift. Thank you! And yes, BURN IT, girlfriend! 🤣
DeleteThis was so fun to read; what a great book!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Isn't that fun?
DeleteThis was such a fun post! I don't have the burn after reading book but I do have several others made by that same company and they have writing prompts in them similar to this. I had started doing blog posts from some of the prompts and then I totally forgot about them. I need to do more of these! I feel like they really help you connect with the writer and it was so good to learn more about you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, friend! I love that you have something similar. I think you should do some more of these! I would love to read those.
Delete