Just so you know..

Apr 15

I am so not perfect:

10. I dislike going to events where I don’t know anyone.  I am shy and tense before and during.

9.  My house is messy most of the time.  Not dirty at least, but definitely messy.  (It’s an important distinction.)

8.  Maren only brushes her teeth 1x/day even though the dentist keeps telling us it should be 2x a day.

7.  I procrastinate whenever possible.  I tell myself I work best under pressure.

6.  I hate cleaning floors.  (So Brad does it.  Isn’t he amazing?)

5.  I’m late.  A lot.

4.  I don’t love my husband as well as I could.  Always room to improve.  I’m working on improving.

3.  I do not do acts of random kindness for strangers.  The strangers responses to this blog are changing me.

2.  I watch too much TV at the end of the day because I am tired at the end of the day.

1.  I get grouchy and whiny and angry and frustrated.  Sometimes all in one day.

I tell you this because writing the blog is a process for me.  It’s helpful for me to write and lay out my thoughts.  Often I am weeding out negativity and sifting to the goodness.  So what shows up here is upbeat and hopeful and positive.  And I like to think that I am all of those things.  But not always.  I’m a regular person.  I just thought you should know…

30 comments

  1. I’m afraid that you learned number 5, 7 & 9 from me! My bad!!! Hehe!

  2. Sue Nitz /

    Hi Jen. I don’t even know you and I love you. I want to meet your parents too. They sure did a good job teaching you to be the best you can be and that it is okay that you are not perfect. No one is perfect. God is teaching you wisdom and that it is okay to be humble. He loves you and knows every single thing about you. It is all about love. How we love. How we realize His unconditional love. I think that is the most important thing we can teach our kids and your mom and dad did a good job teaching you. Just a side note: on my third day I loved strawberry milkshakes from UDF! Today is going to be beautiful!!

  3. Julie T /

    Well most of us are far from perfect but thanks for sharing….I love you just the way you are (and the other 3 too!) Tell Brad I will save my floors for when you come to visit 🙂

  4. Cyndi /

    Sometimes I was feeling a little concerned for you always being 100% positive and upbeat. Being open and sharing all of you is liberating, isn’t it? Now I know you are truly okay. You’re just focusing on the positive, so you can have lots and lots more of it in your beautiful life. Way to go, sweet and inspiring Jen!! We are so fortunate to be here with you. (((hugs)))

    • Just curious and asking with much kindness: what would there to be concerned about her being positive and how does her post help you to “know she is truly ok”?
      I don’t mean to stir a fire here, I mean, we already know she is human.
      Hope this comes across as just a sincere question with smiles and friendliness intended; )

  5. Darn! Now what will I do with that lovely SUPER HERO cape I was knitting for you?

  6. Erika /

    You, my dear, are amazing.

  7. Yay! I celebrate your humanity along with you! My house is dirty as well as messy. Oh well.

  8. Lisa Mader /

    Love your transparency. Love that when Matt puts you on the spot you embrace it and jump up then give the praise and glory to God. Praying for your day and each day.

  9. Marion /

    Jen, your post made me giggle because that list could have been written about me (along with a few more)! We are all human and thus flawed. God knows our heart…thats what I keep trying to tell myself when I continually fall short! We are all works in progress!

  10. You’re as human as the rest of us Jen. So welcome to the club and embrace your emotions / feelings as they will help you navigate your cliff side journey.

  11. Is someone giving you a hard time? Do I need to kick someone’s a*s? (I was guilty of worrying about you too, until our recent IM convo.) Thanks for sharing your laughable ‘flaws’ with us. I’ll keep reading your positive, inspiring, uplifting, put-the-rest-of-us-to-shame blog entries until the cows come home!

  12. Samantha Cahalan /

    Now, write down or at the very least think in your head 10 great things that you know about yourself or that people would say about you. That is the more important list 🙂

  13. Well of course you’re human! I never doubted it. But to have such grace & inner beauty be coming out during the worst of times? I think that speaks volumes about the kind of person that you *really* are.

    p.s. I am totally numbers, 3, 4, 6, 8, & 9 too.

  14. Hey Jen, just wanted to let you know I truely enjoy reading your blog entries. I often check my emails several times a day to see if you have posted anything. Glad to see that I am not the only one who has a kid that only brushes once per day.

  15. Jen, I feel that your post must have been under duress and hope that there have not been comments suggesting that you are hiding flaws or only showing a certain side of you. I feel as if the post is so very different even in style, that i must confess it feels like a list you needed to complete to convince SOMEONE that you are not perfect. I have never liked that way of thinking because it suggests that you, yourself think you are flawless (which never crossed my mind) OR that someone would feel better bout themselves by hearing you air your imperfections. Neither of those are reason to waste your precious time giving us a list that we can all nod our heads at.
    Some of us (hopefully most/all) come here to support you, pray for tou and draw from your well of strength, faith, wisdom, optimism and sheer will in hard times.
    Just be YOU ; )

  16. I felt like you were talking about me in your listing! You may not be perfect, but I think you are authentic – and there aren’t many like that in this world. Prayer for you from Richmond, VA – Kent

  17. We all have flaws. If it makes you feel better to confess yours, go ahead! But I truly appreciate that you are “weeding out negativity and sifting to the goodness.” Joy is not dependent upon happy circumstances; instead, joy comes from the heart.

  18. Debbie Ball /

    You are human like the rest of us. We are all sending you love and healing without any expectations except that you close your eyes and just absorb the love coming towards you.

  19. The good, the bad and the ugly! Lay it all out there sister. We are here to love you through this. Let us lift you with prayers and love!!

  20. Susan /

    I read all your blogs and all the comments and I thought that this one was funny. Even though your situation is very serious, you have managed to incorporate some humor along the way. I have chuckled “with” you, cried “with” you, and “seen” God’s very real presence in your life. That list of ten human flaws is nothing compared to the beautiful, strong, spiritual person that you also are. And those are the qualities that probably a lot of us wish we could be more like. You know the saying “Don’t sweat the small stuff”… well everything on that list was “small stuff”. You can hold your head high believing that the Lord is very proud of your response to this current challenge and that you are helping to build up faith in an untold number of people.
    Have a great week.
    Praying for you.

  21. Karen Ward /

    For some reason, I felt the need to show you that you are not “the only one” by going through each of your points, one by one.

    10. Ditto
    9. Ditto
    8. Okay, not so ditto on this one. LOL
    7. I procrastinate as well! Especially when it’s something I DONT’T want to do.
    6. I hate cleaning my floors because my kitchen is the size of a football field. Okay, that’s an exaggeration all y’all try cleaning my kitchen! LOL
    5. Sorry – pet peeve of mine!
    4. Ditto
    3. Ditto – I am way too suspicious of people. I’m not sure why.
    2. Ditto
    1. Double Ditto

    Love what Susan says above about sweating the small stuff. I think we could all take a piece of that advice!

  22. I think I do EVERY single thing you wrote on here. Glad I’m not the only one (especially about brushing my children’s teeth!) 🙂

  23. Cherie /

    we all have those days, those weeks, those months, and sometimes even those years. I think we all just need to be a little gentler with ourselves and others. After all, we are only human, and we are doing the best we can with what we have. That being said, I often get angry, grouchy, and cranky and usually when that happens I end up taking it out on the wrong person. Luckily my husband loves me and knows how to love me through it. I think every woman should be as lucky as I am.

  24. Julie /

    Such a fun post. Prayers are said everyday for you.
    Julie + baby

  25. Aimee /

    10, 9, 8, 7, and 2! Made me laugh out loud, especially 9. It is a very important distinction! I love that someone else out there understands that distinction. I like to think that I just prioritize having “moments” or making memories with my kids and husband.

  26. All of us are “just regular people”, Jen. Isn’t it nice to know that people care about others? I love that you share your journey with us and allow us to love on you.

  27. Ali Porter /

    This post is my favorite-you seemed like you had it all together and this just shows your human and I’m proud of your honesty!! Good for you, be proud of your list! It’s small!

  28. I like you. Can we be friends?? 🙂 Praying for the Anderson family.