25 Things

Remember the facebook craze of 25 things? I was on a digital cleaning kick and was trashing some of my older files, when I stumbled upon one that I did a few years back but never had the courage to actually post on facebook. Since that one is a bit outdated, I decided to try my hand at another one...and actually publish it this time. Here goes....

25 Things About Me:

1.)    While I can muddle my way through a Spanish conversation if necessary, I still am not fluent. One day I hope to be if only to become more connected to where I was born and the traditions that surround it.

2.)    I’ve never been back to my birth country of Guatemala, but it is something I would like to do in the next five years.

3.)    Aliyah is one-half Guatemalan, one-quarter German and one-quarter black. One of my big hopes/goals for Aliyah’s education is to enroll her in a Spanish immersion school so that she is fluent in Spanish. I would also like her to be immersed in German so that she experiences all parts of her heritage.

4.)    I loved living in California and am so glad I was able to be there for five years. Living in California made me much less naive. Most times my experiences there left me more open-minded about things, but sometimes they also left me a bit apprehensive and cynical about what is truth and what is not and whether is it possible to distinguish the two confidently. I sometimes think I would like things to be either right or wrong, but I know that this isn't really how the world works...and for good reason.

5.)    I have a sentimental attachment to green corn and bean fields and green grass. 

6.)    When I first met Sebastian, as instructors/Assistant Directors at a summer camp, I thought he was just another over-confident guy and I had no interest at all. Three seasons later, my mind was changed forever.

8.)    I wish I talked to and saw my brother and sister-in-law more often. They are two of the nicest people I know.

9.)    I have the cutest nieces in the world. They will melt your heart in less than 15 minutes after meeting them. This, I can guarantee.  

10.) I have such deep respect, admiration and love for my parents both in business and family life. I know I can go to them for anything and they will provide me with insight and guidance. I’m extremely grateful for this.

11.) My dad always joked that I needed to marry someone who knew how to cook. Lucky for me, Sebastian is phenomenal at this task.

12.) Sebastian also loves to do laundry. How cool is that?!

13.) One day, I’d like to start and run a chartable event or organization that makes a difference in this world. I am completely aware that this is a monumental task, which is also what makes this aspiration quite daunting.

14.) I’ve come to admit that I am somewhat messy. I am absolutely bewildered at my Mom’s ability to keep a clean house ALL the time. I think I try to hide my semi-messiness by cleaning every weekend, but really, my cleaning habit is more of a way to get rid of all the germs I don’t like.

15.) I love foreign films. I think there is something beautiful in listening to a language you don’t speak fluently.

16.) I fly quite frequently, but each time the plane lifts off the ground and each time it lands, I am always amazed at how a huge chunk of metal can fly. In the air. At such a speed. It’s pretty amazing.  

17.) I love being a designer. But I love being a Mom even more.

18.) My super power is the ability to sleep. If I put my mind to it, I can sleep almost anywhere in less than 10 minutes. I also have very vivid dreams when I sleep.

19.) As I get older, I think my attention span becomes shorter. I also believe that technology breeds this attribute.

20.) Whenever I come back home to Minnesota, one of my favorite things to do is watch late-night tv re-runs with my Dad. It’s father-daughter bonding at its best.

21.) My Mom is one of my best friends. She is also one of the kindest people I know. I hope that as I get older, I can become more and more like her.

22.) The older I get, the more difficult I realize it is to make best friends. I miss my good friends in California and I miss my good friends in Minnesota a lot these days. There is something very special in having a friend whom you can call at anytime to talk or to hang out with and have no reservations in doing so.

23.) I never, in my wildest dreams thought I would like living in Arizona, but I do. It’s actually a pretty nice place to be.

24.) It’s true what they say. A good marriage takes work. I used to think a good marriage meant living in complete bliss all the time. But Sebastian and I fight passionately. We also love passionately and we know we’re both committed to one another forever. Agreeing on that is exactly what I always wanted in a husband.

25.) I’m addicted to HGTV and Pinterest. They consume way too much of my time these days.