reconsider

living by faith is tough.

Being sure of what I hope for, and certain of what I do not see certainly does not represent my current attitude.

Instead of feeling like I'm on a roller coaster ride of happys and crappys, I am going to smile.
Take a deep breath.
Remember what I am worth.
Hold my chin up.
TRUST that I am in good hands, His hands.
Repeat as needed.

25 Things

So... a few other friends have done this and now its my turn. Here are 25 things about me that most likely wouldn't come up in conversation, and I'd love to read yours!

(in no particular order of importance)

1. I have an irrational fear of moths. So irrational that sometimes it brings me to tears.

2. The first concert I attended was Boys II Men in Rapid City, SD. My parents made my older sister Kristen and cousin Adam bring me along. I still break into a little "motown philly back again" when I fold laundry.

3. Speaking of singing, I performed "Wing Beneath My Wings" "X's and O's" and Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" at my elementary school talent shows. My 5th grade year me and my friends did a dance to a Spice Girls song so I couldn't sing.

4. Three things I rarely go a day without: post-it notes, Diet Coke, and calling my mom.

5. When I was about 5 my bald uncle Tom had me convinced that he wore a 'bald wig' because his hair was so long that it would drag on the ground. I believed him until I was in 7th grade.

6. Now that my mom is bald, I sometimes wonder if me or my sisters will lose our hair too. I pray that if it does happen to one of us it will be me because I don't think that either of them will handle it very well.

7. I rode on the back of a motorcycle with a complete stranger going over 100mph.

8. I appreciate men who know how to treat women, and am thankful that chivalry is not dead.

9. When my best friend Erin was killed in a car accident my freshman year of high school, it poured rain. The next day when I was riding along with someone down the road that she died on I was so thankful that the rain had washed everything away. I think that ultimately, this developed sense of peace and healing from rain played a big part in my decision to move to Washington.

10. Growing up the highlight of my summer vacation was herding cows horseback for 4 days with my mom's cousin (most of my mom's cousins are considered my aunts and uncles, and growing up I didn't know that they really weren't). When I was 4, I went along on the winter trip as well and I peed my pants on the saddle. It was so cold that the pee froze in my red cowboy boots. When we got back into the house and I thawed out, my boots smelled so bad that my aunt Donna threw them away and bought me a new pair of turquoise ones, which were even better than red.

11. Speaking of peeing, I peed my pants (just a little bit) when my friend Markus, in desperation to rush to the door in order to unlock it for our friend Ali who REALLY needed to pee, tripped on a crack in the sidewalk, fell to his knees, ripped his pants and had rocks in his wrists, but rolled out of it gracefully and continued running to the door even though Ali and I were both curled up laughing uncontrollably.

12. My favorite thing to cook is...well let's be honest. I love cooking. I think that meals are so important and truly believe that who you eat with becomes your family.

13. I absolutely LOVE Disneyworld.

14. Whenever I put deodorant on, I make a weird face. Kind of like how I can't put mascara on without opening my mouth.

15. My iTunes library currently has 4,004 songs in it.

16. I will never be able to formulate words to express how truly grateful I am to have had the opportunity to be a part of the lives of all of those I have lost. They are forever in my heart, and each of them has inspired me in a special way.

17. While working at the hospital as a nurse's assistant, I accidently sprayed myself with someone else's poop while attempting to empty his bedpan. Then I threw up. .

18. I have 2 1/2 screws in my right ankle because I fell bouldering.

19. My only regret is regret.

20. The reality of "what I want to be when I grow up" could be drastically different than the one I'm working towards right now, and secretly I hope it is.

21. My face lights up when I see ANYTHING South Dakota. (example: while watching National Treasure 2, I was constantly poking the people next to me and walked out of that movie feeling like I had just visited home. The only thing missing was my family)

22. If I could, I would graduate college and start over as a freshman in high school.

23. Three things I could probably live without: lentil soup (gross), confrontation (its really hard for me to do) and silence.

24. My ideal day would consist of waking up to snow, drinking coffee, getting bundled up, snowboarding, coming back to a fire and a crock pot of chilli with friends, sipping hot chocolate roasting marshmallows and watching a comedy. Sleep and repeat.

25. I'm embarassed that my middle name is Rae. I kept it a secret all through middle and high school. But now, here it is. Kimberly Rae Bilka.

Let's see your 25 things!