An Extroverted Introvert

  People go on and on about this person or that person being an Introvert or an Extrovert. I feel like I am an extroverted introvert. I know that is contradictory, but its honestly what I am! How can one be just one or the other? I can't decided if I am really an extrovert driven to into "introvertedness" by my huge family, or if I am really an introvert that has been driven to "extrovertedness" due to ministry...

I'm an Extrovert...Introvert

     Is it any wonder that this is a possibility?! I mean growing up in a family like mine could drive the most bubbly person into "hermitdom"! When you grow up in a huge family you are never alone... for crying out loud, I would go to the bathroom and the next thing I know the boys had locked me in!!! (talk about being forced into being an introvert.) My brothers are awesome! I love every single one of them and wouldn't have wanted to grow up with anyone else but, there are only so many times a little girl can play "WAR." The worst part was they wouldn't even let me have a pretend gun and go out into battle. No, I had to be the nurse. A nurse with no patients because as soon as they got shot, they miraculously were healed! They never had to stay in the hospital for longer than 10 seconds. Ya, that was an exciting game to play. My introvert tendencies could be because even though I was around people all the time I was alone in so many ways.

     Then again there was always noise at my house. People running up and down the halls. It only got worse when my two sisters came along. I always wanted a little sister and I always wanted a bathroom that was attached to the bedroom. I ended up getting both and it wasn't all I thought it would be. When we moved to Grenola, the bathroom was in-between my room and my baby sister's room. Toddlers and bathrooms just don't mix. I had to make sure the door was locked and keep all my stuff up. I mean we are talking about the little girl who was found eating brownies out of the trash can when left alone for a few minutes. Again, I love my siblings and always miss them when I am away but, the way the barge into your room at random times, the way they would run up and down the hall in the morning, the way my little brother would have to read out loud when I was trying to do math, the way my sister decides she can't wait to ask me if I want the book back I let her borrow...couldn't you wait an hour?! I'm sleeping!! It's 6:30 in the morning! They are everywhere, all the time! It seems you can never escape siblings. Even when they aren't there, they are. They leave their mark EVERYWHERE. Even to this day, for about a month after I  come home from a trip I am finding my siblings socks, clothes, pens, pencils, books, etc.... all over my room. (In every nook and cranny!) Maybe I have introvert tendencies because after those type of experiences. Sometimes I just want to go hide in a closet and not come out for days....actually I've kind of done that.

     People sometimes don't believe me that I have introvert tendencies. Believe me it's true! Ask my brother Hunter...or any of them really. They will tell you there are times I hide myself in my room and never come out. It was always Hunter, Erika and Mark that got me go hang out with people. I was drug into so many schemes by them in high school...which is a whole other story. (flashing lights, trying to fasten seat belts, and someone stuffing fries in my mouth....Erika you know what I'm talking about.)  
 
      Give me a good book and I'm gone. Give me enough time to go to Grenola KS and I'l drop off the face of the earth. When I can't go to Grenola I find other ways to disappear. Ask those who have worked with me. When a weekend came that I wasn't working, and they didn't have biscuits and gravy as a meal, I was nowhere to be seen. My cell phone? Sorry, I have no idea where it is or how it works. (people are constantly getting onto me for not answering my phone) I like to slip into a world with no electronics, no people, and no time. Sigh...the PERFECT vacation.

I am an Introvert...Extrovert

      Like everything, there is a flip side. Yes, a huge family can cause you to be a hermit at times but having a big family also makes the quiet seem...wrong. I mean when your use to noise its can be creepy when there is none at all. I can easily drown out crying, yelling, whining. (a great skill to have as a camp counselor.) In fact, I once told my cousins that there was something in my ear that wouldn't allow me to hear whining. A little later one of them was whining at me, I was somewhat ignoring him, his brother turned to him and said, "She can't hear whining, remember? There is that thing in her ear!" HAHAHA But when you are use to blocking it out, you're use to noise, not no noise. The first time I lived on my own I couldn't stand there being no noise. I had to sleep with the TV or radio on. On the days I had off I still found myself in the office, cause I had to be around people, not a lot of people but people. So, I guess having a big family didn't make me an introvert completely. I was usually the one talking people's ear off until my brother Garrett came along and then Anna and well, I can't get a word in edge wise anymore. But, every once in a while I just need to sit down with a good friend and talk their ear off for an hour or so and then I'm good for the next month. Yes, I am an extrovert at times. The biggest reason I am an extrovert is due to my father's influence. My dad isn't really a people person but he is always around people. He has a big family, highly involved in the church, a furniture sales man... there is a phrase my pastor once used and my dad has often used since. "Ministry is People." 

     It's true. The ministry isn't a program, or a place but the people we encounter. It's all about people and their relationship or lack of relationship with Jesus Christ. I have made a good case for my "introvertedness" but the truth is I am also often an extrovert. How can anyone who has been impacted by Jesus Christ like have be 100% introvert ALL the time?! Believe it or not you are reading the blog of the girl who would go up to strangers and tell them they were sinners and needed Jesus...when she was like 4. The little girl who would peer over the neighbors fence as he watered his flowers and invite him to church. I loved those days. I would stick my tiny hand through the chain-link fence and pet ol' wrigley, his dog, and talk to Mr. Igo about my Jesus. My young heart was so burdened for him. I wish my child-like faith was always that strong. Years later, when my mom called to tell me Mr. Igo had passed away, I slipped into a very thoughtful state. I will never know if he came to know Jesus. I will never know if I will see him glory. What a haunting feeling. More than any other reason, this is why I have to be an extrovert. All the people I pass by on a daily basis that do not know or are not living for Jesus Christ. Does it not burn your heart? 

      So, who really knows if I am an extrovert or an introvert. I like to talk with people. I like to know what God is doing in their life. I like to teach his word to others. I love hanging out and laughing with my awesome siblings. Then, I like hoping in the car and heading out into the middle of nowhere, locking myself into the house with a good book, or a notebook and pen, a pot of coffee, and slip into a world all my own. I am an Extroverted Introvert.

Follow Me

Summer Camp passes by so quickly. Even though there are so many great memories and funny moments you can't put them into words. It's like a giant inside joke! Even if you try and explain what happened people just don't get it. But there is one instance that happened this summer that I must recount.

Oh my poor car... we haven't had trouble in a year or two! Besides her squeaking. Oh, and the zip ties holding up her bumper finally broke and needed replaced. Then there was that tube that let air into the engine or something....anyways it needed replaced. But, you know she's getting old. She can't do everything she used to! But, she thinks she can. She keeps telling me she has traveled all across the south and hasn't killed me yet. (which is true, thank goodness!) I'm getting ahead of myself.

It was my last weekend at camp and apparently it needed to memorable. Juan had thrown a counselor party that Friday night and although this sensible old lady went to bed on time, the rest of them played pong, threw up after too much Mt. Dew, played some basketball and then crashed here at camp about 3 in the morning. (silly people) I got up at a reasonable time, put in laundry, started cleaning my room and then found Aly sleeping in the counselor's lounge. Thankfully my good friend can live with only a few hours of sleep. :) We decided to swim the lake. (a weekend tradition) However, we needed someone to boat for us just in case. Everyone was asleep! So, we texted Doug-Mitch, Mitch-Doug. (I forgot I have to explain his name. I feel like it was Isaac and I's first official act as head counselors. You see we arrived for counselor training and there were 2 Mitch counselors. The dilemma was fixed without even a thought. You see Mitch happened to hold open a door for Isaac and I. Isaac replied with a, "Thanks Dawg." Well I heard, "Thanks Doug." I was like, "Did you just call him Doug? Why did you call him Doug?" and Isaac was like, "I called him Dawg. But we can call him Doug." He then turned and asked, "Are you cool with being Doug?" Doug shrugged his shoulders and was like "Sure." and He has hence forth been known as DOUG. It's like Saul/Paul, Abram/Abraham, Jacob/Israel.....ok he didn't wrestle with the Lord or see the Lord on the road....the point is, his name changed) Doug said he would boat for us as soon as he threw his eyes into his skull.....which is a weird response but whatever.

We had a nice quiet morning talking and hanging out on the lake. When we determined that we wanted to get lunch and go for a drive. So, we changed, grabbed our wallets, keys and Natasha. Natasha and Doug road in his truck "lola" (silly name for a truck right?) and Aly and I road in my car. We grabbed some Arby's (The Serna's had never eaten at Arby's!! Crazy!) and then Doug said he wanted to show us this awesome spot he found down my Lake Alfred. "Just Follow me." He said. I want to tell you right now, if ANYONE says "Follow Me" besides Jesus, DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!! 

We drove down some back roads listening and singing to country music, following Doug's truck. Suddenly he turned off the road and down a dirt path beside an orange grove. He had told me to follow him, I thought this was the spot he was talking about. About half way down the road, full of sand, I was like "Oh, I'm gonna get stuck!" But, I made it. I rolled down the window and Doug looked shocked. (What! Did he want me to get stuck in the sand?) We both circled around and began to leave. Doug went first, kicking up a ton of sand. I'm not sure if he was showing off or almost got stuck. Either way I was worried I may not make it out. I had a good reason to worry. "Stay on the grass!" Aly and Doug said. WHAT GRASS!?!?!?! Sure enough, I made it to the sandiest spot and down my car went like it was in sinking sand.

My car and I have been through a lot together. I know when she is in trouble and she was in trouble. However, I had Aly in my car who was determined she could fix the situation through brut force. She took the driver seat and slammed on the gas again and again, sinking my poor car deeper and deeper into the mire. That brut force might work for most things but my poor car is old and decrepit. The poor thing needs a gentle touch. Heaven's to Betsy!

Most people would freak out at this moment but thank goodness I have seasoned experience with car trouble. This time I wasn't alone, stuck were I didn't know how to give directions for someone to help me, or on a mountain. It was looking pretty good this time. We tried over and over to get her out. We tried pulling her out, (which wasn't easy to try and do. It was hard enough to find a spot to tie the ropes on and then when we did finally have her tied up the ropes broke!) we tried digging her out, and we tried using car mats to help give friction. Nothing worked. My car was very, very stuck. Finally, Doug said he would go get some chains from camp and we could pull her out. Well, if you think that will work. So, Aly and I sat in the scorching heat as Doug and Natasha left to get the chain. It was sooooo hot out!!! But thankfully there were orange trees nearby. We walked through the orange grove and found a shady spot. Aly began a video diary as if we were out in the wilderness trying to survive. She started talking about find food, water and digging a latrine. Uhhhh What?! Aly, we haven't even been out here very long. Calm down.

Well, the chain did work and my car got out of its mire pit. At this point Aly took over and decided she needed to drive. I love Aly, but she is a horrible driver! This story proves it because as soon as we got my car unstuck, she drove through the orange trees (where there was more grass so I wouldn't get stuck) and got me stuck again! She missed the spot she was suppose to turn and get out of the grove, tried to back up and backed right into the orange tree, went forward and got stuck in the sand......We finally made it out after Doug once again pulled out my car and I took over the wheel. I still have the scratches on my car to prove the whole story! Like I said, my last weekend needed to be memorable. My little old car, with all its scratches and bruises, is just fine and made it all the way from Florida to Kansas. Heaven's to Betsy that car is awesome. I think I'll keep her. :)

Little Fishin' Buddy

 

I think by now it has been established that I have a huge, crazy, and unique family. You know the saying "Blood is thicker than water?" I truely believe it. My dad adds to it though. According to him, blood is thicker than water. However the blood of Christ is thicker than family blood. Which means those who are believers can be closer to you than your family. However, the strongest bond of all is blood relative who is blood in Christ. That is what is awesome about my family and why I believe we are so close. Not only do we have that bond of the Davis family, but we are also tied through the blood of Christ. Not to brag or anything, but BOY has God blessed me!! You know in my posts I have mentioned my brothers, my sisters, multiple cousins, my parents and my uncle. Today however, I have been thinking about a more distant relative, yet one I love dearly: Great-Uncle Ray.

I grew up as a little princess. The oldest of 4 children at the time and the only girl. I was a strange mix of pretty princess and anything my brothers can do, I can do better. How can I describe this? Imagine a little girl, who's hair had been all curled and put on top of her head. Her tiara sat on top and her wand in her hand. She wore a pink tutu and ran barefoot....through the biggest mud puddle she could find. I guess some of the best stories to describe the little girl I was would be first, Sundays. Often my cousin would spend the night and my mom would put our hair up in curlers and pile our curly hair up high the next morning. I loved it! I would then slip into one of my fancy dresses that was hand embroidered by my mom and they often had puffed sleeves! I felt like a princess. However, that dress soon became a nuisance when trying to play in the playground at Burger King. Did you know, that if you pull your skirt through your legs and tuck it into your waistband you can make pants? Like I said, anything my brothers could do, I could do better. In fact I could do it in high heels and a dress!

The second story is my mother's favorite. She is constantly telling this story. In fact I was so young I don't remember it happening but I've heard it enough. Apparently, I was out catching Rolly Pollies one day and was so excited to show my mom my find. When I brought them to the door, my mom promptly told me that they were not allowed inside and I would have to let them go. I gently set them on the porch, scooted them on their merry way and said, "go on, go to your families." At that very moment my brother Hunter stomped his foot on top of them and began to grind them into the cement. Any normal little girl who cared for animals, like a good little princess should, would have begun to cry. I however, looked down at the dead insects and said matter of factly, yet slightly mournful, "oh, well I guess you can't go to your families anymore." That's my mentality towards animals summed up in a nutshell.

I am totally rabbit trailing....(then again, is that any surprise) Let's get to the point of this post, shall we? I guess I wanted to establish what kind of little girl I was because that is what this post is all about, fond memories of when I was a little girl. You see, I had three brothers and I was the princess but there was one thing I loved to do and when I was really little I remember Great Uncle Ray teaching me how. He taught me how to FISH. Yep, I loved fishing. If memory served me right, I had one of those cheap little kid fishing poles, the ones with the button, not the real kind. I haven't been fishing with Uncle Ray in over ten years but every time I see him, he still calls me his "little fishin' buddy." And every time I hear it, it makes me smile.

I didn't just go fishing with Uncle Ray. In fact, I have to give credit to all the men in my life, because they all helped teach me how to fish: Grandpa, Papa, Dad, Uncle Chad, Landon, Hunter, Caleb, and Garrett. I grew up with a lot of outdoorsy people. :) But my first memories are of sitting impatiently with my little fishing pole beside Great Uncle Ray. I think he sparked a love for fishing in my life. I felt like I could hold my head up high with pride when I caught worms, put them on a hook without whining like a girl, toss my line into a pond and pull out a large mouth bass. As the years have passed, I have gotten more girly and traveled too much to fish a whole lot. In fact, most of the time when I am home its already winter and I am unable to fish and have no desire to ice fish. But, those rare spring or summer days I find myself home and able to travel out an hour to the prettiest piece of country you have ever seen and sit by the big pond with a pole in my hand, those days, those are precious. Like a healing balm on the soul. It's so quiet and peaceful. When I think about it, I think of the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19.

"Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper...."

Ahhhh the Land the Land.... There I go again, rabbit trailing. Besides the times I went fishing with Uncle Ray, a few other times are vivid in my memory. Like for instance the many times Uncle Chad and Landon would come out to the Land and fish for several days, bringing all there fish to the house and cleaning them on the porch. Mom wasn't to happy about it, but us kids thought it was the coolest thing to watch them fillet a fish. Then there is the morning my sister Kaytie was born. My other siblings went into town to stay with Nana and Papa, but I was able to stay a little longer. That afternoon dad and I went over the the big pond and went fishing. That day I caught an 8lb bass! I was so excited!

About a year or two later we moved back to town. During high school, Pop's would close his little shop early on Fridays, pack his car and take me out the the land. We would fish, watch the stars, take pictures of the moon and enjoy the summer nights. I'll never forget those days. I never really caught anything but being with my Papa and stargazing was some of the best memories I have. Years later, after traveling back and forth from Kansas to the South I was finally coming home to stay for a while and decided it would be a good idea to have my brother tag along on my vacation. Our last stop was Aunt Julie and Uncle Rick's. They took us trout fishing. It was blast!

What has caused me to go on this strange rampage down memory lane? (all about fishing non the less!) Well, I guess being at the Land does that to me. This weekend I went out there with Pop's and the girls. I haven't done that in a long time. I took Prairie, my kitten and used my dad's new weedless hooks. (they are a fisherman's best friend!) My first cast I caught a nice bass. My second cast, a slightly smaller bass. I spent the whole weekend driving the ranger, hanging out with my sisters, cousins and my pops, drinking coffee, and enjoying the summer weather. It was fantastic! I still like high heels, my scarves and my earrings. I like dressing up nice and curling my hair. I like to travel and see the world. I am still a city girl, I am still a princess. But, there is still nothing I like more than pulling my hair up into a messy bun, pulling on my Cabela's hunting boots, grabbing a fishing pole and sitting by the big pond in Grenola KS.

I still like to be considered Uncle Ray's  

"little fishin' buddy." 

Viewing life like Anne

   

     Recently I have gotten back into Pinterest. You know most people use this handy app for finding new recipes, saving DIY projects or wedding ideas. I however, just look up quotes and awesome photos and let my imagination fly. It's a great inspiration board for writers, let me tell you. So I don't use it correctly, but while I was in there I got enraptured into Anne of Green Gables once again. I read quotes from Anne and I am like, "how did you get into my mind?!" She is so elegant, deep and profound with her words. It's like she is constantly living in a novel. I think that is how we should live life. It makes it a whole lot more interesting. To walk through everyday as if you were the main character in a novel. You never know what is going to happen, it keeps it adventurous and exciting, always waiting to turn the next page of life. There might be ackward moments, laughter and tears but you know in the end it's gong to be a happy ending so you keep going and keep anticipating the next moment, the next chapter. When you get so wrapped up in living like this you just might find yourself narrating your life.....I have no idea what that's like (she says sarcastically). Did I have a point with this?

     ...Oh YES! My point was that when you view life with this perspective, it causes life to be more enjoyable. When things happen to disrupt our day, instead of stressing and freaking out about it, you can laugh! As the old saying goes, "there is no point in crying over spilled milk." Not only that but your more aware of adventure. So many times we walk right past opportunities and adventures because we are busy doing whatever we think we have to do for that day. If we would just "stop and smell the roses." As Isaac and I told the counselors again and again during the summer, "take advantage of every teachable moment," 

“I went looking for my dreams outside of myself and discovered, it's not what the world holds for you, it's what you bring to it.” ― Lucy Maud Montgomery

      Since I have been home for the past two weeks, I have been thinking back to about 5 or 6 years ago before I graduated. I was so ready to leave! One day my dad sat me down and said "your about to leave and who knows when you will be back. How will your siblings remember you? What will they say when asked about their sister?" Well that hit me over the head!! I am so thankful my dad said that. Because, the next year or two I had some pretty fantastic times with my siblings and cousins. I had a car, could drive, and I had time! That is a rare opportunity to do some awesome stuff that you siblings will never forget. Like the times Kerri and I would randomly be like, "let's go to Grenola for the day!" And we did. It was a blast, and I will always remember it. Then there were the times I hoped in the car with my two sister drove all over town to pick up cousin after cousin and then went to the park. Or deciding to take Anna, Kaytie, Kollin and Kole to the discount theater at 8:30pm, get tons of candy, popcorn, and pop and have the best night ever! Maybe it's just hoping in a car with your sister, driving down a dirt road and find a kitten to bring home. We washed her, put a bow on her and stuck her in a box to give to Kaytie. I am pretty sure Kaytie thought that was the greatest gift ever (besides the iPhone she just got) my dad not so much.... The point is, that time in my life will never be again and I am glad I took advantage of it while I had the opportunity. Then again, this time in my life will never be again and I hope I take advantage of the moments in my life today. 

“Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

     It's a challenge to take the time to hang out with my sisters, take advantage of the moments Hunter is home, or ride with Garrett in his truck and go to the grocery store with him. (Which is an adventure in its self. It's like going to the store with great aunt Gloria! If your in my family you will understand that reference, if not let me enlighten you. Aunt Gloria would love to go into the store with my dad and act retarded to embarrass him. She would also go to look at cars and take them for test drives, just to drive cars, not to actually buy one.) Last night I went to the grocery store with Garrett so he could buy marshmallow cream and cereal....a hearty meal. As we were walking out of the store he drops his cereal bag which bursts open and spills all over the floor! Garrett of course laughs and as we are leaving, using his various voices, narrates what it would be like if an old lady slipped and fell because of the cereal. I died laughing! Once outside he says, "You have to make a joke out it. Otherwise you just feel stupid." Perspective, it's all in perspective.

     The moral of this random post that has gone on and on about all kinds of randomness: MAKE LIFE FUN! Enjoy every moment! Rejoice, because this is the day the Lord has made. He has blessed us beyond measure. Are we going to take advantage of the moments? Can we look back and say, "I am so glad I did that. That I took advantage of that moment. That was fun!" It doesn't matter if its a picnic at the park with all the cousins, strumming a banjo and making up songs with your brother, or getting your car stuck in an orange grove (that is a whole different story). Stop the car and run across those hay bales on the side of the road. There will never be another day like today!

“What a splendid day! Isn't it good just to be alive on a day like this? I pity the people who aren't born yet for missing it. They may have good days, of course, but they can never have this one.” ― Montgomery, L. M.