10 things

Day 3 of the Recapturing Beauty challenge is tough.  It asks each of us to make a list of 10 things you like about yourself that have nothing to do with your appearance.  THEN make another list of 10 things you like about your appearance.  Really?  This is no longer a list of 10 things...but more of a list of 20!  I was stumped.  So I went to my old journals for inspiration.  Here it goes.

Non appearance "likes":

1. I can play the piano well, and have taught my daughter and son to play.
2. I am a great cook.
3. I have a deep testimony and love of my Savior Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father.
4. My family composition is different, but I love it.
5. I have a loud voice which comes in handy on the sidelines at football games cheering on my boys.
6. I have yet to miss a gear while drag racing my Camaro. (knocking on wood as I type this!)
7. I have the knowledge (thanks to my hubby) of how to take out and replace just about ANY car component.  Need help installing a motor?  I'm your girl.  Tranny?  No problem. :)
8. I am NOT afraid to get dirty.  Yard work, mechanic work or just playing football or soccer in the mud with the kids does not make me cringe at all.
9. I have great girlfriends who God has placed in my path to do life with.
10. My marriage is centered around God.  We say often our motto for our marriage is Romans 8: If God is for us, who can be against us?

Appearance "likes":

1. My arms. (My husband agrees too.) It amazes me that even though I have had two reconstruction surgeries on my left shoulder, somehow I've been able to have full strength each time.
2. My legs.  They have carried me past finish lines at 5k's, half and full marathons.  They have enabled me to compete in du and tri's.
3. My hair.  It is long and I have ALOT of it. Melissa (hairstylist) tells me I have the thickest hair she has ever felt/seen.  She's been doing hair almost 15 years.
4. My cankles.  Stop laughing. No really, stop.  I really do love them and here's why.  I have three sisters, all of who have openly told me they are jealous of me for various reasons.  All have said one big reason is because I am skinny.  So whenever they say this I simply pull up my pant leg show them THEIR ankles are smaller than mine.  So what I used to hate for years, I now love; because it allowed my sisters to love THEIR bodies too.
5. My nose.  I have my mom's genetics on this.  I look like her and all of our Norwegian ancestors.
6. My feet. Another thing I used to hate but I have grown to love.  Especially recently as they do not seem to tire on my 20 mile weekend training runs.
7. My eyes.  My vision is not perfect, not even after Lasik surgery. But I can see.  I am able to read the scriptures and really get to know more because I can read.
8. I am tall, taller than most of my friends.  I embrace this.  I am NOT afraid to wear heels.
9. My scars.  Oh do I have a ton of them.  Great stories for each one too.  My belly button really is more of a battle zone.  Mine is funny looking.  I wasn't born that way, it has been *transformed* this way due to MANY laproscopic surgeries.  You can see the tiny scars if you look close.  Or the one on my lower abdomen when they removed my uterus due to uterine cancer.  Each one has a story.  Each one makes me "me".
10. My body.  Every. Single. Cell.  It has endured SO much.  Only by Him has each ailment been cured.  It carried a baby to term when I was told I could never conceive; and if I did conceive I would not be able to sustain a pregnancy.  Just so you know, my little miracle is turning 10 this December.  My body may not be *perfect* according to Vanity magazine.  But it is perfect according to Him.

Wow, that really was tough.  I encourage you to do this too.  It is empowering.  You will walk away from your list loving yourself even more than before.