In Great Detail - Day 1

I don't remember where I found this list of blog topics, but I've had it saved in my drafts folder for a little while. Blogging every day for 30 days is quite intimidating, especially given my less-than-stellar track record. Anyway, I'll do my best, starting with today, day 1 (duh).


Introducing myself, in great detail


I started writing this post in great detail, but I think a little less detail may be better.


I was born in Southern California in 1985. I was the first and only child of my parents and named after my dad, Steve. I was either going to be Stevie or Stephanie. Good thing I came out with a vagina. 


My parents were (and still are) crazy about me, but soon were no longer crazy about each other and they divorced when I was six months old. 


My dad married Susan, and their son, Tim is sixteen months younger than me. 


I love Tim, but we didn't always get along, nor did his mom and I.


I liked baby dolls and Barbies and would refuse to wear anything but dresses - the twirlier the better. 


When I was five, my mom married our next door neighbor (and former best man in my mom and dad's wedding), Tom. He was a life-long bachelor who loved my mom for many years before finally making his move.


My sister and brother came along a little while later (Erin in 91 and Mark in 92). They were my little heavens on earth. I loved my babies!


When my dad would pick me up from my moms after work, I would jump into his arms and inhale his smell - a comforting mixture of metal and car grease. I can still smell it.


For Christmas in 1995 I gave Tom a refrigerator magnet with a sail boat picture (he did not like sailing) that said "Behind every great kid is a great dad." He started crying and I realize right then how much he loved me and how special it was to him that I called him my "dad" - if only in a magnet. From that day forward I called him "Dad" and not "Tom." That is one of my most special memories.


I loved high school. I made good grades, had a lot of friends and was a cheerleader. I had a boyfriend who was no good for me, but thankfully, God kept me safe even though I tried really hard to get in trouble. 


At the end of my sophomore year, my parents (mom and Tom) decided they were going to pursue a dream and move to Oregon. I was devastated, but I knew I had to go with them. I told my parents I was only going if I was allowed to get a puppy. My dad said I could maybe get one after we moved. My mom brought home Kobie a few weeks before we moved. 


It took me a little while to make friends in Oregon, but I was able to spend sweet time with my family. I am so thankful for that move. I missed my dad like crazy, but he visited a couple of times a year, and I would fly down to seem him on most of my school breaks. 


I graduated high school in 2003 and started nursing school in the fall. I only had to share a room for one year, and that was enough for me (even though my roommate really was lovely). I was a RA my Sophomore year and very involved with school. I thought I loved my boyfriend back then, and I thought he was the one - I didn't and he wasn't.


 I spent the fall semester of my Junior year studying abroad in Nottingham, England with my best friend Jenny.

We backpacked around the rest of Europe our last month there, and I spent that time anxiously looking for emails from the man who really was (is) the one.

I came home and proceeded to fall head-over-heels in love with this dude:

We were engaged on my birthday in 2007 and were married three months later - the day after I graduated from college (my dad told us to wait until I graduated, we did!).

I started my job shortly after, we got our sweet pup

and four and half years later, here we are!

Phew! That was fun! 


Here are the rest of the days:


Day 01 - Introduce yourself, in great detail
Day 02 – Your first love, in great detail
Day 03 – Your parents, in great detail
Day 04 – What you ate today, in great detail
Day 05 – Your definition of love, in great detail
Day 06 – Your day, in great detail
Day 07 – Your best friend, in great detail
Day 08 – A moment, in great detail
Day 09 – Your beliefs, in great detail
Day 10 – What you wore today, in great detail
Day 11 – Your siblings, in great detail
Day 12 – What’s in your bag, in great detail
Day 13 – This week, in great detail
Day 14 – What you wore today, in great detail
Day 15 – Your dreams, in great detail
Day 16 – Your first kiss, in great detail
Day 17 – Your favorite memory, in great detail
Day 18 – Your favorite birthday, in great detail
Day 19 – Something you regret, in great detail
Day 20 – This month, in great detail
Day 21 – Another moment, in great detail
Day 22 – Something that upsets you, in great detail
Day 23 – Something that makes you feel better, in great detail
Day 24 – Something that makes you cry, in great detail
Day 25 – A first, in great detail
Day 26 – Your fears, in great detail
Day 27 – Your favorite place, in great detail
Day 28 – Something that you miss, in great detail
Day 29 – Your aspirations, in great detail
Day 30 – One last moment, in great detail