And There's More

In case you're interested, there's a little more to the person behind Tater Mama than someone who's avoiding the vacuum cleaner while thinking about learning to fry chicken.

I am a Christian and a work in progress.  Oh, my lands, am I a work in progress.  Sometimes I shudder to think how much there is to do and I wonder if the Lord ever looks up and thinks, "Oh, no, please. Her again? Are you kidding me?"  But God is faithful and forgiving, and thank goodness He has a wonderful sense of humor.

My husband and I are Methodists.  It's not really important, I suppose, but since I was on the subject of religion and all I figured I'd throw it in.  Tater Daddy and I LOVE the Methodist church, although I am still a little put out that the powers that be went and changed the wording of everything several years back.  I do NOT know why everything has to sound, well, modern, for lack of a better way of putting it.  Oh, well.  My mother said the Methodists were on a downhill swing when they started clapping in church after anything other than children's choir performances.  And even THAT was pushing it.  Tater Daddy and I are "between" churches, so I'm sure I'll have plenty to write about as we continue our church search.

My father passed away in March 2008 after battling lung cancer for nearly five years.  He was the greatest man I've ever known, and I love him and miss him fiercely.  He suffered mightily toward the end of his illness, and I was prepared to let him go, believing fully that God had prepared a place for him and knowing that Daddy was not afraid of death.  I know he is in Heaven.  I also know that the reason my heart and soul ache for him so is because he was such an incredible father to my brother and me.  (Do you miss that nasty splinter?  Didn't think so.)  Daddy will most definitely show up in the blog. But it might take me a while.

My husband and I grew up in a small town in west Tennessee about an hour northeast of Memphis. He's four years older and we went to different schools and colleges, so it wasn't until we ran into each other after I was finished at Mississippi State that we began dating.  Anyway, this small town -- to me -- was everything.  I loved it and couldn't understand why so many people felt differently.  Like so many small towns, drawing young families back and keeping them there proves more and more difficult, and we've opted to remain in Memphis.  It's an hour from our driveway to either of our parents' driveways.  You really can't beat it.

I love Mississippi State University.  I love my Bulldogs whether they win or lose.  That last part is important, because the Bullies do not have the, uh...well...um...most flattering record when it comes to the football.  State is a friendly campus and I loved it there.  LOVED it!  I got a degree in Communication (Public Relations), which I used for a grand total of three and a half years.  By that time I realized that I really did want to be a teacher, so I quit my job and went back to school for a Master of Arts in Teaching.

I taught third grade for six years and first grade for three years before Tater Tot came along, and I enjoyed it very much.  The teaching part, that is.  I can't imagine any other job that affords you the rewards that teaching does.  The ridiculous junk that comes with it is what makes you nuts.

And here's a little potpourri:

• I am scared of flying to the extent that I have to be medicated.  After that, I really like flying.  I think.
• I can probably quote every Friends episode from memory.  The same goes for Steel Magnolias, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Philadelphia Story, The Birdcage, and Raising Arizona.  There are others, but I am a bear of little brain and can't conjure up the titles at the moment.
• I will do almost anything to avoid even a possible encounter with a snake.
• I can't carry a tune in a bucket, nor can I draw a straight line, dance, twirl a baton, play any musical instrument whatsoever, do birdcalls, or jump and twist around like a gymnast.
• However, I make a mean chess pie and mighty good chicken salad.
• I can talk to a perfect stranger and within 30 minutes figure out a way that we might be related.
• I will not eat beets, liver, or boiled okra.
• I can't get enough iced tea, diet coke, homegrown tomatoes, corn, fried eggplant, and butter beans.
• And I have hair issues. Big ones.

Finally, I agree wholeheartedly with E.E. Cummins in that, "The most wasted of days is the one without laughter."

Comments

[thefarmerfiles]

Aloha from Hawaii...a friend of Vitafam's in real life. I am a Christian SAHM that once upon a time was a teacher, too. I taught 4 years of 3rd, 2 years of 2nd, and a year of ESL. I LOVED TEACHING. I could imagine loving it again. But I cannot imagine being anywhere but home, for now, indefinitely. Gotta read your chicken post, because LL told me to...

[Melissa]

I've never read this section before....you made me laugh and cry! :)

[jrsypoet1776]

I linked to ya from IHGB and boy am I glad I did! Very enjoyable reads thus far...and I haven't even made it to the actual content yet! :-)

I am a fan for life because you can quote Steel Magnolias....hundreds easily numbers the amount of times I've watched it!

Check me out sometime...
dotk.wordpress.com

[jrsypoet1776]

Thanks for dropping by! I checked out Big Mama Boo Mama..both very entertaining! And I couldn't resist trying out the celeb look alike collage - OI. :-)
Jenn

[Rudy McD]

I LUV Chess pie!!!!!!

When you see David at Christmas, puleeze send me a chunk of one.

Love you girl!