On Being an Introvert

My sweet man gets me. 

There is no surer way to have your introvertedness confirmed than to be completely intimidated by a new Facebook group...it's online for crying out loud. I have the privilege of previewing and reviewing Jen Hatmaker's newest book (coming out in August) and with that came a fb group of other reviewers - there are 500 of us. I have to laugh that even online, I want to hide in the corner. :) Not because I'm uninterested, not because I dislike the lively conversations, not because I feel left out...because it's just too much socialness. (Of note, I have now used two 'ness words that have failed to meet with spellcheck's approval. :)) But seriously, I am so THRILLED to be a apart of the Launch Team!

My tendency towards being introverted has only solidified and deepened over the years. Even with people I've known forever, I sometimes find it hard not withdraw. We had a fabulous women's retreat with my church a few weekends ago and I enjoyed it, but I was so tired afterwards because, well, it's just a lot of social. When I walk into a room, I tend to go towards someone who I know well and who feels safe to me. It's not a reflection on anyone else in the room, it's simply my coping mechanism.

I'm private, I'm easily intimidated, and I don't have a high need for social interactions. I'm working on this because I know I come off as standoffish sometimes. I'm better one on one, but even that can be challenging for me. I also despise conflict and aggressive disagreement - they make me extremely uncomfortable and I will frequently escape or shut down in those situations.

The thing is...I love people. I care deeply. I am committed.

So, if you see me quiet or alone or talking to my family, it's probably because I'm feeling insecure. Be assured, I love you, I care for you, and I will happily talk to you...you just might need to initiate sometimes...or maybe a lot. I'm a work in progress - aren't we all? My life experience has only intensified my tendency towards privacy and silence.

The truth? My extroverted children exhaust me. By the end of the day, I need to be alone for a little while. My ears are tired and the constant interaction is exhausting. But I love them with all of my heart and I wil get up and do it all over again. My husband is also an introvert, but less so than me. He is so good at being sensitive to my need for alone time and I'm thankful!

I'm okay with being an introvert - I think it takes both introverts and extroverts for the world to go 'round. :)

Highlighting a Few Things

Today, I just want to highlight a few things that I believe are worthy of your consideration.

First, my sister wrote an excellent post about the increase in people drawing from food banks to provide for their family. In these tough economic times, it is increasingly hard for people to make ends meet. If your church or community group doesn't already have a box for donations, maybe you will consider volunteering to coordinate that effort. It doesn't take much time or even much money to contribute but it can make a big difference in food banks ability to provide for families in need.

I also wanted to tell you about my friend, Kim. She is an amazing mom of two boys and one of the founders of Two Hearts for Hope (I've mentioned that great non-profit before). Anyway, she and her husband are in the process to adopt their third little one and the board of Two Hearts surprised her by holding a quilt raffle benefiting Miss Bear's adoption. Tickets are $5 and will help bring Miss Bear home. Adoption expenses can be/usually are daunting and this is a great way to be involved in helping another child find her forever home.

Finally, I mentioned the Fresh Air Fund a couple of months ago but wanted to let you know that they are still looking for host families for this summer. Just as a reminder, here is what they are involved with, "Fresh Air Children are boys and girls, six to 12 years old, who reside in low-income communities in New York City and are eager to experience the simple pleasures of life outside the city." If you would be interested in hosting a child or helping in any way, please contact them!

That's it for this Friday! Oh and in case you haven't noticed, I decided to do a fun poll to the right - vote if you like! Have a wonderful weekend!

You Can Make A Difference

My friend, Jenna, blogged about how you can join the bone marrow registry for free until May 19 (it's normally $52). It's free to the first 10,000 online donors and the first 36,000 in-person donors. What a great way to potentially give life to someone who is waiting for a match.

Please consider joining. It takes 15 minutes or less to register online and they send you a cheek swab kit in the mail. You never know how you might make a difference. We joined today and they haven't reached 10,000 yet - let's help with that goal. Thanks for spreading the word, Jenna!

2 Things

#1: If you live here in Indiana, don't forget to VOTE tomorrow!

#2: If you have any extra hygiene items (maybe from CVSing :)), I'm planning to send a donation to Two Hearts for Hope. This is a ministry begun by two moms who adopted from Kazakhstan last year (obviously near to our hearts!) and May is hygiene month. These donations will go to the orphanages in a couple of different regions. They will be put to great use. If you would like to contribute (even just 1 thing), let me know - I will cover the shipping costs.

Here are some of the suggested donation items:
Wash cloths
Shampoo
Soap
Baby wash
Lotion
Diaper rash cream
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Feminine hygiene
Deodorant
Hair brush/comb
Q-tips
Pacifiers

Idol Gives Back

I don't know if any of you watched Idol Gives Back the other night but it was incredible. We don't watch much American Idol but we both had an interest in this special. I watched with tears streaming down my face. I have much more to say about poverty, orphans, AIDS etc. and wrote a long entry about it and promptly lost it before posting (yeah, I was not a happy camper). Anyway, I'll write more on this another day - they are topics very near to my heart.