You know how sometimes people on your friend's list post about stuff going on in their life, and all of a sudden you think "Wait a minute? Since when are they working THERE? Since when are they dating HIM/HER? since when???" And then you wonder how you could have missed all that seemingly pretty standard information, but somehow you feel too ashamed to ask for clarification because it seems like info you *should* already know? It happens to all of us sometimes.

Please copy mine below, erase my answers putting yours in their place then post it in your journal! Please elaborate on the questions that would benefit from elaboration! One-Word-Answers seldom help anyone out :)


1. First Name: Elizabeth

2. Age: 26

3. Location: Topeka, KS

4. Occupation: I'm currently an administrative assistant at an insurance company - definitely not a career, but it pays the bills.

5. Partner?: Nathan, for the last 5 years. I really can't believe it's been that long. The story of how we met is here. There are definitely times when he drives me crazy (and I will admit I do the same to him), but I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.

Marriage will happen, but we're not really in any rush to get there.

6. Kids: Someday, definitely.

7. Brothers/Sisters: One twin sister, chiara607. She is seven minutes younger, and I probably played the 'older sister' card more than I should have when we were growing up. We're not quite as close as we used to be, but she still understands me in a way no one else ever will, and I don't know what I'd do without her.

8. Pets: My parents have a vizsla puppy, Willie, who turned 1 in January. I think of him as my dog when I'm home. Nathan & I both want to have a dog, but I don't think it would be fair to keep one cooped up in an apartment all day.

9. List the 3-5 biggest things going on in your life (in no particular order):

a) Nathan is leaving at the beginning of July for 6 weeks in the Netherlands; he's going to be studying at the University of Utrecht. I vacillate between being excited for him and being really not ok with it. I know it's a great opportunity, it's just that this is the longest we'll have been apart I think as long as I can stay busy, I'll be fine; I just don't like being alone. (See living in a residence hall for four years.)

b) Discernment process is continuing. I've turned in everything to Fr. Don, and he's supposed to get back to me this week with any edits. After that, it goes to the diocese, and then the waiting begins. I don't do patience very well, so this should be interesting.

c) Church stuff in general - serving as an Eucharistic minister, youth group volunteer, & altar guild member. St. David's has really been the best community I could ask for; I've been welcomed pretty much from the moment I walked in, and I have a feeling they're going to keep me sane this summer. Several families have offered to feed me, so I won't actually starve. :)

d) I'm learning how to play D&D.

10. School: I technically went to a traditional suburban high school, but when I think of high school, I think of the Center for International Studies. That building no longer exists (and don't get me started on that), but I studied Russian and geo-politics, aka social studies, for four years there. I think it was absolutely the best decision I could have made - being exposed to students from all over the district, with some of the best teachers ever. Being me, I was pretty involved (leadership for model UN, student council), and I think that's where I started my trend of carving out smaller spaces where I could lead within a larger community. There's a plaque somewhere at South, where the center is now located, that has my name on it for winning the outstanding senior award. :)

I went to K-State mainly because buffyholic and oneechan19 were going there, but I loved every minute of it. I met richlayers there, I started figuring out what my vocation might be, I got to work at a job I loved, and I was very involved with the residence hall system. Residence halls aren't a perfect fit for everyone, but they were for me. Oh, and you know, the academic stuff. :)

11. Parents: Live in Overland Park. Dad works in the claims department of a national medical insurance company, and Mom is a nurse's aide at one of the hospitals in town. Growing up, I was much more of a daddy's girl; I never really fought with either of my parents, but Mom worked a lot of night shifts and didn't have the energy to deal with us. There have been various things that have changed that, but the result is that Mom and I have the best relationship I could possibly ask for. Dad & I argue over more stuff (politics and religion, usually), but I know that both of them will always support me unconditionally, and I'm so grateful for that.

12. Who are some of your closest friends? As stated above, Mom. richlayers. madbonnycaptain. Matthew & Kristen. And always, forever, the girls known as nu_mu_pi (long story) - betheliz, jvgymnast, psycho_hedgehog, oneechan19, buffyholic, and chiara607.

Thank God for the saved draft feature. :)