What personality type are you?

Our personalities- are they determined more from nature than nurture? Or are we mostly a product of our experiences and environment – a tabula rasa so to speak? Are our personalities a gift from God given for us to fulfill His plan for us on earth? Or do we get used to and comfortable with a certain way of being in the world and stay there stagnantly? Or is it a mix of both if that is possible?

I enjoyed Bec’s entry about Myers-Briggs. I was first introduced to it by Paul Stunkel about 15 years ago. I have found it to be incredibly helpful when interacting with people.

If you’ve never heard of Myers-Briggs, here are the sixteen types:
http://www.capt.org/mbti-assessment/type-descriptions.htm

I use Myers-Briggs to remember that some people need to plan an activity before doing it and temper my desire to just up and go. (Jay is an ESFJ, I am an INFP.) Jay makes a big “N” with his hands sometimes when dealing with me. He is a sensor and I an intuitive. I’ll say, “You know that thing with the thing around the thing?” He smiles and gently prods for detail which I just don’t have. I laugh, since he normally can produce the names of all the actors in an obscure film we saw 10 years ago. In fact, some people come to Jay to help remember their own life details. He is like a walking encyclopedia. If we ever play Trivial Pursuit in couples- I have dibs on Jay. I am of course oversimplifying the complexities of each sub-group. Oh it is so easy to judge others with this tool. They are an evil “T” so different than the perfect “F” that I am.

Can we really be pigeonholed into a group anyway? I know it is a spectrum even for Myers-Briggs, but there is usually a group to which you belong. Some like being in a group, while others find that an insult to their individuality and resist it like the plague. Is the ultimate Myers-Briggs goal to strive to be in the middle between an “I” and “E”, “N” and “S”, “T” and “F”, “P” and “J”? Or would that make everyone the same thus thwarting the diversity of people in which God seems to delight?

Interesting stuff. If your personality allows, take this small test. Keep in mind that the abridged test might skew the results. But it’s a start. I am curious what you come out to be. Let me know. I have an idea about the people I know to read this blog. I wonder if it’s right. I also want to know you better.

Click here to take the test (it won't take that long):
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

IX Indoor Amusement Park

Fun was had by all at the amusement park, which was only slightly cheaper than Disney World. :)

The girls were looking forward to this more than anything lately. Jay took them all day. It was 19 bucks per adult so I stayed home. They had ice cream, rode rides, pet animals and played games. The whole ride there they sang the radio theme song "IX indoor amusement park...." over and over. Poor Jay. They started out only wanting to do kiddie rides. Soon they were on the biggest and scariest rides the park had to offer. I am glad I wasn't there to see that! I would have been screaming, "My babies! Be careful!" The pictures came out a bit blurry because the kids were never still. The one scary ride just shows some pink blurs. But I am proud of their bravery.

My TV Watching Buddy

Millie is the best dog in the world. I know that some others might be deluded into thinking that their dog is, but alas they're wrong. :)

We got Millie from Animal Control in December. She was very sick and starving. My dad even worried that she might not live. The first day we got her she was shy and weak, but after that she made herself right at home! She and I like to lie on the couch, fight for the pillow and watch TV or nap together. She's not man's best friend; she's a couch potato's best friend. :)

Easter

Today we went to my mom and dad's to celebrate Easter. Aunt Delores and Uncle Jim were also there. The girls cashed in with lots of jelly beans, chocolate and toys. The highlight was an indoor Easter egg hunt and a very good meal. My mom looked beautiful today and Aunt Delores taught Emily how to tell time.

Tara with Dora Play-Doh

Easter Egg Hunt (indoors this year)

Sisters (Mom and Dee)

Playing with Aunt Dee

Kid's Table

Pop-Pop steals candy :)

Emily with new basket

Easter eggs are messy

We colored eggs today.

I should've simply put all the colors in one bowl instead of the carefully separated bowls of different colors. This is because they all came out looking blue-green. The girls were so excited to color them that they quickly moved the eggs from one bowl to the other, making all the colors run. Who cares, though. As long as they had fun.

This year I said to myself that I would minimize the mess by using sandwich bags as gloves. Oh, I was so proud of my innovation. There would be no messy hands this year!!! It failed miserably. The girls flung the bags around as they worked, whipping tiny droplets of dye into the air, and used the other "free" hand to dip the eggs anyway. They didn't want to use that ziploc-encumbered hand. It makes me laugh now but at the time, I was running around trying to minimize the staining. I really need to chill.
Then came the glitter part. I know an evil person invented this. Now I know why it was on sale. You have to dip the eggs in glue and then in a glitter-filled bag.

I am a crafty person, but egg coloring is just too insane for me. It's one of those - do it for the kids to make memories so they don't grow up to ask why they didn't ever get to do it - activities.

My new light came today and Jay installed it! I really like it, although Emily said it looks like a restaurant's light. It's better than the 70's looking light we got when we moved in four years ago!

Jay also painted the trim around the house. There was one part that he had to go really high on the ladder and I held it for him. I said, "Great job, honey." Inside I said, oh please don't fall off this ladder because I am going to break your fall and our insurance isn't that great right now. Ha ha.

Tomorrow we paint eggs...

SO I took this over the counter cough medicine. Well, I didn't realize that it is a stimulant. Now it is late and I feel like running around the block a few times. Yikes- I am never getting to sleep.

Maybe I should use this new found energy and clean or fold clothes or -gasp- even mop.

Nah. I think I'll go watch Seinfeld reruns.