9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.

This is a very tough list. Not because I can’t think of anyone to list, but because there are too many that I could describe. I am very thankful to have had so many people who have touched my life in positive ways.

I am almost nervous to do this, because I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I could easily list 10 family members, 10 teachers, 10 church leaders, 10 friends, etc, but I will try to vary the list. If you aren’t on the list, it isn’t because you haven’t touched me. I am just trying to narrow it down to 10.

-Mom and Dad

For obvious reasons, my parents have been a significant influence in my life. They taught me most everything that I know and believe. They made sure to raise me in a Christian environment so that I would have a solid foundation of core beliefs. They gave me plenty of love and showed me what real love looks like. They encouraged me. They were (and still are) an excellent example of a godly marriage/relationship. They taught me to have fun and enjoy life. My mom even taught me in school – thus my interest in studying/teaching English and Literature.

-David

David has also been a huge influence in my life. Being David’s wife makes me want to be a better person, not because I have to, but because I want to. I want to love more, to trust more, to give more, to laugh more, to be myself more. I knew how to love before I met David, but being married teaches you how to love on a totally different level.

-Miriam, Stephen, and Deborah
I definitely have to include the siblings. Their influence on my life has probably been bigger than any of them actually know. They have known me from the beginning (well, not Bor, but she has known me long enough.) They have shared with me, laughed with me, cried with me, loved me (even when unlovable), played with me, gotten in trouble with me, encouraged me, inspired me. I know people make it every day in this world without siblings, but I am so thankful that I have mine. They are not only the best siblings that I know of, but also the best of friends!

-Doug and Kimber : Family Friends

On a lighter note, I have to give credit to Doug and Kimber for making me into an Auburn fan. We met them when we lived in Huntsville. I had just finished 1^st Grade when we moved, so this was early in my life. Doug and Kimber somewhat adopted me and let me hang out with them. They are both DIE HARD Auburn fans, and they encouraged me to be one too. I have to shout out to them for showing me the light and leading me to follow the BEST college football team there is!!

-Clifford Moulton : Softball Coach

In my early years (elementary and middle school years) softball was my life. I pretty much played year-round. Regular ball was in the spring; we played Fall Ball; and summers were all about Tournament play. Although I played on teams with other coaches, Mr. Clifford was by far the one I loved and learned from the most. He was a tough but encouraging coach. My least favorite words to hear him say were, “Drop ‘um and run!” That meant we had done something wrong, weren’t trying hard enough, had a bad attitude, or he just thought we needed to run a few laps. My most favorite words to hear him say were, “Are we having fun yet?!” He knew that I was way harder on myself than he could ever be. I tended to get too serious and would forget that the game was fun. Softball taught me discipline, hard work, teamwork, perseverance, and fun in addition to a ton of other things.

-Mrs. Mossor : 2^nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Mossor was my 2^nd Grade teacher, my first teacher at CHA. Although that was a LONG time ago, I remember so much that I learned in her class. I probably know more than most people my age about the Gulf War, because Mrs. Mossor had a dear friend that was killed during the war. More importantly than the educational things, Mrs. Mossor made sure that we learned spiritual truths. There are many Bible verses and Hymns that I know now because I learned them in her class. I think of her whenever we sing songs and read Scriptures that were important to her.

-Mrs. Simmons : 12^th Grade English Teacher

Lakeside High School finished out my round of high schools – 3 different ones in 4 years. Although I’m not a huge British Lit fan, I really enjoyed Mrs. Simmons’ class. She was very laid back and she was very real – not like your typical high school teachers. When I taught school, I tried to be a lot like her. I tried to connect with my students on a personal level, not just an educational level. I tried to have fun and make learning fun. I tried to allow them to be creative and take learning “outside of the box”.

-Vino and Van Gogh

I would never consider myself to be an artist…a doodler, yes…artist, no. I always wanted to be, but I just never was very good at drawing or anything like that. My sister in law, Crystal, mentioned attending a painting class with her. I was intrigued, but skeptical. This was supposed to be a step by step, learn as you go, fail proof class. I’m always game for A. trying new things and 2. hanging out with Crystal, so I went. Marquin (the instructor) made the class so much fun. I learned that night that painting really isn’t as hard as I originally thought. Was my painting a masterpiece? Nope. Do I plan on having a future in the Art World? Nope, again. I did learn, though, that it is fun and something that I enjoy doing on occasion.

-Leigh Ann

LA has been a big influence in my life over the last few years. We started getting to know each other over church softball games. Who knew way back then that we would be such great friends now?! LA is one of those rare friends that I can work with all week and still want to hang out with on the weekend. We talk all morning at work and still talk on the phone almost every evening. We have shared way too many “I probably shouldn’t tell you this” moments. LA is seriously one of the best people that I know. She has been through things in her life that I can’t even begin to imagine, yet has remained one of the sweetest people that I have ever met. She has chosen to rise above her circumstances instead of letting them define her. She loves when she shouldn’t. She gives when she doesn’t have to. She helps when others won’t. She cares when others could care less. LA has literally become “one of the family.” I’m so glad to have a sister-figure here in town that I can talk to, hang out with, laugh and cry with.

It is kind of funny to sit back and think about something like this. Like I said in an earlier post, I tend to compartmentalize my life. I rarely go back into the details of each “chapter” but every once in a while it is neat to go back and revisit them.

On the flip side of this list, I thought of several of the negative influences in my life. (Of course, I am not going to list those. I figured it would be way worse to leave people out of the good list than to list off a bad list! J) It is kind of interesting to look at how negative influences/actions change the way that you think and act, even as an adult. I feel like I have learned from others about as many things that I don’t want to do/be as I have things that I do want to do/be. Ironic, huh?!