My ISTP is Showing...

Where have I been? Why have I not been posting? Well:

We have been sick.

We have been busy.

I killed my internet connection for a couple of days because I tried to install Vonage. :( Mel took my laptop in to the cable place yesterday and they fixed the connection program, free of charge. The sad news is, they tell us that we cannot use Vonage with their cable service. Bummer.

We are getting ready for a new team family (2 adults and 4 children).

We are getting ready for Melinda to return from her 'furlough.'

I have been busy knitting.

Excuses, excuses.

When I take the Myers/Briggs personality or temperment or whatever it's called test, I always come out a solid ISTP. Very high on the P. So high, in fact, that combined with Mel's very low J, a psychiatrist once told us that it was a 'miracle' that we have stayed married. I looked at Mel when he said that, and thought - wow, you have given up a LOT for me, and I never even realized it! At that meeting, I also asked the psychiatrist what being such a high P says about me - and he responded, "oh, it just means your house is a mess." (My immediate thought at his response? :) 'You mean you know that about me and still think I am ok for being a missionary? You need to talk to my mother...')

"So what?" you may ask. "What does all this ISTP stuff have to do with the price of tea in China?"

Well, those four letters tell other people (I already knew this, heh heh) that I am an introvert, that I acquire information by my senses, that I am logical and that I don't like a lot of rules and regulations and I hate to be confined to schedules. Well, that is all very simplistic - it's alot more complicated than that. I do fit my profile, though, at least the female part of it.

"As a homemaker, the SP female tends to find outlets for her hunger for action through arts and crafts. Her home tends to be filled with various projects in various stages of completion. Clutter is acceptable to the SP. She may get heavily involved in gourmet cooking for a time (or writing on her blog), and then move on to an avid interest in weaving or pottery (or knitting). Color is likely to be abundant and strong. Plants are apt to be set about the rooms in profusion. Drop-in guests are sure to be welcome almost any time and the SP female is not apt, as would the SJ to be put off-balance by a less-than-guest-ready home. She is more likely to share cheerfully and freely whatever is there, pushing aside current projects to make seating or eating room (just dump it on the bed in the other room until they are gone...). The SP mother is likely to be very much in charge of her children. She is not subject to the notion that she ought to be of service to her children (I wonder if my kids agreed with this); nor does this mean she is subject to guilt, wondering whether she is doing the “right thing” or whether she did the same thing as other types. She does what seems right at the moment and that is that. More often than not, she expects and gets obedience, although she also allows her children a great deal of autonomy. She cannot be conned by her children and does not allow them to rule her. It is, perhaps, easier for the SP mother to allow others to participate in the raising of her children than it is for other temperaments. When her firstborn goes to kindergarten, for example, the SP mother is apt to take it in her stride in a way other types may not. MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR GENERAL PROFILE ISTP

I found another internet site that gives a detailed description as well, Murray State University, MSU First Year Experience Program. There are many places all over the internet, as well as books available at libraries and bookstores, that have tests you can take to determine your personality type. As I've said before, I love taking internet tests. :):)

There have been many moments in my life when I have wondered, "What's wrong with me? Why is my house always such a mess? Why do I have 18 different projects going on at the same time? Why do I want 25 plants in this little space (ok, I only have 12 right now). Why in the world would I want a bird and a hamster to go along with my cat and fish?" Oh, I have had a book full of other questions about myself, too - wondering why I can't seem to settle on one field of interest (I want to know everything there is to know about marine biology, astronomy, ancient history, how to spin and weave and so forth and so on - one life is way to short for everything I want to see and do and know ...).

I've been a little frustrated recently because I want to learn everything there is to know about knitting - how to do it all. Sweaters, socks, intarsia, fair isle, and so forth and so on. The sad part is, in two months I may be this interested in snorkling and deep sea diving.

Yes, one life is way to short for a bonified ISTP!