What does your Animal Name mean?

                                                                    RESERVED                                                                                 
Profile #2 is a Lion                                                                               Profile #3 is an Owl
 This means you are:                                                                              This means you are:

Spoken/Visual                                                                                     Written


Blunt                                                                                                   Aloof

Impatient                                                                                             Skeptical

Interrupts frequently                                                                             Listens critically

Likes/Dislikes:                                                                                      Likes/Dislikes:

*Likes conclusions first                                                                         *Likes documentation

*Dislikes introductions                                                                          *Dislikes exaggerated claims
     and background

*Likes content which is                                                                         *Likes an intelligent audience
     complete but concise

ASSERTIVE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------RECEPTIVE


Profile #1 is a Chimp                                                                             Profile #4 is a Koala
 This means you are:                                                                               This means you are:

Visual/Spoken                                                                                       Dialogue

Dramatic                                                                                               Informal

Curious                                                                                                 Agreeable

Easily Distracted                                                                                    Patient

Likes/Dislikes:                                                                                       Likes/Dislikes:       

*Likes to contribute ideas                                                                      *Likes Discussions

*Dislikes detail                                                                                      *Dislikes high pressure

*Likes to be entertained                                                                         *Likes to hear options

                                                                Responsive

                                                                   Chimp:   
Strengths:                                                               Positive Words
*entertainer                                                                                            Idea-Oriented
*positive                                                                                                Creative
*optimistic                                                                                             Enthusiastic
*takes a social lead                                                                                Personable
*never at a loss for words                                                                      Expressive
(always has something to say)                                                                 Stimulating
                                                                                                              Energetic
                                                                                                              Spontaneous

                                               Lion:
Strengths:                                                               Positive Words
*troubleshooter                                                                                     Goal-oriented
*initiator                                                                                                Disciplined
*idea generator                                                                                     Organized
*change agent                                                                                        Efficient
*not intimidated by conflict                                                                     Intense
(can look forward to it)                                                                          Pragmatic      
                                                                                                              Determined
                                                                                                              Directional
                                                                                                             Objective
                                                                                                              Competitive

                                                Owl:
Strengths:                                                               Positive Words
*accurrate                                                                                             Task-oriented
*logical and sequential                                                                            Precise
*follows rules/standards                                                                         Thorough
*makes decision based on facts                                                              Inquisitive
*diplomatic                                                                                            Persistent
                                                                                                              Prudent
                                                                                                              Stabilizing
                                                                                                              Rational
                                                                                                              Objective
                                                                                                              Introspective
 
                                               Koala:
Strengths:                                                               Positive Words
*organized                                                                                             People-oriented
*disciplined                                                                                            Loyal
*team person                                                                                         Team Player
*courteous                                                                                             Accepting
*warm and friendly                                                                                Cooperative
*systematic                                                                                            Friendly
                                                                                                              Empathetic

After you read though your profiles let me know if you were surprised how well it described you or if you feel that it didn't subscribe you. When I first heard I was a Koala I didn't think so because the talk I heard before taking the test made me think I was a chimp, but after finding out I was a Koala and reading what the profile was it was like meeting myself all over again. It was also fun to get together with all my other Koala buddies and realize how truly alike we were! It was fun! Also interesting to know is after we took the test they broke us up into groups according to our personality and had us build something with some building toys. The chimps had a great time and whatever they didn't use was all over the place and they couldn't find their container. The lions had a difficult time getting their toy built because everyone wanted to be in charge and had a better way to do it. The owls had their toy built and all the left over pieces organized according to shape and color. The koalas were finished first because they were all so agreeable with one another.

They did the same kind of exercise with another toy and put each personality profile in each group and all the groups finished about the same time because the groups were more equally dispersed. I thought it was interesting how much more balanced the groups were with all the personalities. Helped me to realize how important we all are in this world and how much more we can accomplish when we all work together for the same outcome.

Personality Styles (Animal Names)

Just learned about a personality test at my Discovery Toys meeting that I find interesting. I attribute it to Team Leader Pat Nelson. Thought it would be fun to share it with you. Be sure to go with your first answer as it is usually the most honest answer.
Here's the test...

Circle the number for each category that best describes the person. Example:
The answer would be                        IF:
          1                        Challenges what others say most of the time.
          2                        Challenges what others say somewhat more than accepting what they say.
          3                        Accepts what others say somewhat more than challenging what they say.
          4                        Accepts what others say most of the time.

ASSERTIVENESS

Challenges what others say                       1  2  3  4            Accepts what others say
Communication is to the point                   1  2  3  4            Communication is indirect
Speech is quick and demanding                1  2  3  4            Speech is slow and thoughtful
Active, fast-paced, and impatient              1  2  3  4            Calm, Slow-paced, and patient
Bold, decisive, willing to take risks            1  2  3  4            Hesitant, studied, avoids risk taking
Leans forward and faces you                    1  2  3  4            Leans back and faces away from you
Raises voice for emphasis                         1  2  3  4            Speaks softly
Competitive and confronting                     1  2  3  4            Cooperative and receptive

            Total of circled numbers            __+__+__+__ = ______ Assertive Score (Range 8 to 32)

RESPONSIVENESS

Outgoing and approachable                      1  2  3  4       Guarded and distant
Emphasis on opinions and concepts          1  2  3  4       Emphasis on facts and details
Random and unstructured conversation     1  2  3  4       Focused and Organized Conversation
Decisions based on intuition                      1  2  3  4       Decisions based on logic
Much body and hand movement               1  2  3  4       Little body and hand movement
Appears open and casual                          1  2  3  4       Appears controlled and businesslike
Animated facial expressions                       1  2  3  4       Unresponsive facial expressions
Warm and friendly                                    1  2  3  4        Cool and formal

            Total of circled numbers              __+__+__+__= ____ Responsive Score


                                                  Locate the person's Position on this array
                                               Lions                              32                                     Owls
                                                                                       |
                                                                                       |
                                                                                       |
                                                                                     26
                                                                                       |
                                                                                       |
                                                                                       |
         Assertive Score     8--------------14--------------20--------------26--------------32
                                                                                       |
                                                                                       |
                                                                                       |
                                                                                      14
                                                                                       |
                                                                                       |
                                                                                       |
                                        Chimps                                   8                                   Koalas
                                                                           Responsive Score

Locate your Assertive Score on the horizontal line then locate your Responsive score on the vertical line.
Your two dots connected will make a new dot inside one of the quadrants and you will then have your interpersonal animal style name. Write down your animal as a comment and when enough of us have taken the test I will tell you about what each personality style means. So far Kent, Cheryl, Devin and I have taken this test.

I am a Koala
Kent is a Lion
Cheryl and Devin are Chimps

I'm looking forward to hearing what each of you are. Thanks for taking the test!!!

Small Miracles

When a flying insect comes into your home they often long for the rays of the sun. You will find them sitting in the window as if trying to get back to the outside. If that insect will but shift their focus to a doorway instead they would find unlimited freedom and the outside world they desire. We too are like that insect in so many ways. 

I feel like lately I have been banging my head on a window trying to figure out how to make it to the outside world. Last week my Father in Heaven answered my prayers in the miraculous ways he has before. It seems like many times we wish He would just break the window but instead he showed me where the door was. It is such a simple answer that far too often we don't see it as a miracle, but to me it was as much a miracle as changing water into wine. 

Wednesday morning I had prayed for my Father in Heaven to help me feel love for my husband and to remember why I married him. As I drove to the splash pad to spend time with my friends I saw a guy riding a motorcycle. Upon seeing him my first thought was wow that guy looks tough (not tough like a biker, more strong like a hard worker). Just as soon as that thought had finished a new thought jumped in my mind. "Man Kent would look so good a bike...I love my husband. He is so handsome and strong." How easy would it have been for me to continue thinking about the bike rider or the other cars or some other focal point yet my mind was turned to the wonderful man I had married. As I continued down the road the radio songs seemed to remind me of how I love my husband as well. For me it was a small miracle. I shared this with my friend at the splash pad and she shared with me some of the information she had read about the needs of men and woman and how they are different. She helped me to see so other doors that could help me be a better wife and ask for the things I need from my husband. 

That night I had some other information brought to light by my Father in Heaven. Information that helped me to understand some of the struggles I have gone through in another family relationship. It empowered me and I felt like my soul had become amazingly light. I shared this information with my husband and thought this would be one of those moments we would connect in a way I felt I need to connect with him, but it wasn't. My husband was very tired and could not keep his eyes opened. I sent him to bed and felt discouraged, unloved, and unimportant. It was hard. 

The next day felt even harder because I was carrying that pain from the day before. I knew there were things that needed to get done, but again I found myself pounding my head against a window wondering how to make it outside. I couldn't figure it out. As I was heading home from the grocery store I my Father in Heaven again show me where the door was. It as a text from a dear sister-in-law who had finally read a discouraged email I had written to her a few weeks earlier and she was responding just at the time I needed it. 

Her text read, "Hey...u knock it off. You have work to do! We all need you, especially that beautiful family of yours and don't you doubt it for one second. You are an amazing strong righteous woman and that means plain and simple Satan wants YOU! Never forget that. I think that's just as important to remember as the knowledge that God LOVES us, Satan wants us to fail as much as God wants us to succeed and so he will NEVER stop messing with us, especially those that are trying! Don't let him trick you, he's so smart. He knows U don't have the typical weaknesses so he is trying to use YOU against YOU...its called self doubt. I love you and I'm reminding you right now of how wonderful you are how needed you are how much we rely on your sweet spirit in our family. I know I couldn't have made it without you and your wisdom many times. I'm so lucky to have you for a SISTER:) Love Love Love U."

After reading that text I was in tears. My heart shifted from being hurt and upset about things again to me realizing I needed to turn to my husband with my hurt and my problems and let him know my pain so he could help me to heal it. He has been helping me through this and I appreciate his love and his help as well as his humility and his kindness. I am so thankful that my Father in Heaven was willing to send me the small miracles that I needed. I pray that he will continue to do so and I pray even more that I will always be willing to see when I am blessed with those miracles. It's amazing what a small change in perspective can do to change a life. It's true that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass! Alma 37:6-7

Braxtonisms

I'm always told to write down the funny things Braxton says because I will forget. Here are some of the fun Facebook posts that I have about Braxton in the past year. Enjoy!

Braxton saw an add in a magazine for cosmetic surgery. It had the before and after pics of a breast augmentation. He said to me, "mom, I can see that these got bigger." I thought Oh dear here we go. He then told me that they needed to cover them! Oh thank goodness that was the thought my son had! August 4, 2012

Watching Water Polo during the London Olympics one of the swimmers got out of the water and Braxton said to me, "Mom, I saw the flag of liberty guy and his shorts were off and I saw his underwear ha ha ha." July 29, 2012

Braxton got his first loose tooth tonight. He was really sad about it. He was asking Kent and I to fix it for him through sobbing and tears. hopefully it comes out soon and we can send it off to the tooth fairy. July 16, 2012

I have friends who have told me they don't like musicals because it's not realistic for people to break out into song. Those people have NOT lived with my 5-year-old. He breaks out into song regularly! March 10, 2012

My nephew is so cute, he just called me and said he made cherries in school and thought of me. Totally made my day!!! :) - Posted by Liesel Kunz on October 24, 2011