Welcome to March in the South

Welcome to the first of March and the Wednesday Hodgepodge, hosted by

Joyce From This Side of the Pond

1.  Hello March!  Is it coming in like a lion where you live?

With temperatures in the upper 80's and not a cloud in the sky, March is entering more like a happy kitten.

How do you feel when it rains?  Like this happy kitten.  I love bad weather.

2.  What's something you'd like to do differently this week than the last?  Explain.

Last week I concentrated heavily on completing the HOA newsletter that was emailed to all residents today (Tuesday).  This morning I joined the Premier Club at a very nice assisted living facility adjoining our property where I will be able to do water and varied fitness workouts regardless of the weather.  I plan to hit the warm pool early Thursday morning.

3.  March 1st is National Sunkist Citrus Day...do you drink orange juice?  Orange, lemon, line, tangerine, grapefruit...what's your favorite citrus fruit?  A dish you love with a citrus fruit as one of it's key ingredients?

I do not do citrus because of reflux issues but I would gladly share a slice of lemon ice box pie with you.  Most often though, you will find a citrus flavor coming from my diffuser.

4.  What do you consider to be your culture.  Elaborate.

DNA results show that my ethnicity is 59% Scottish; however, all my emigrating ancestors came from England and Wales, ending up in the south and primarily in North Louisiana where land and water were plentiful.  Based on this and where I grew up, South Central Louisiana, I would be considered culturally a Bible-Belt Christian with a smidge of Cajun.  Throw in now some Texas experiences and I think that adds up to be pretty well balanced.

5.  Sum up your February in fifteen words or less.

In with a roar; out with a purr

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Today, Feb. 28 is our only grandson's 28th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Jackson!

Let's Party Hodgepodge

My friends and I don't have time to get bored!

Welcome back to this Wednesday Hodgepodge and thank you Joyce for these fun questions.

1.  What do you find is the most boring part of your life at the moment?

I do not have a problem with boredom.  In fact, I never think about using that word.  But to play, I suppose trying to figure out what to eat on a daily bases at this point in our life can be tiring.  But, we're both easy to please in the department, so it's never a big deal.

2.  February 22nd is George Washington's birthday.  You'll find his face on the US $1 bill.  What's the last thing you bought for roughly $1.00?

An egg?  I seriously can't think of anything that even costs $1.00.

3.  Is it ever okay to tell a 'little white lie'?  Explain.

Is it a lie to not say what one believes to be true in order to save another's feelings?  This is an age old question.

We have just finished watching the first season of "Extraordinary Woo Young Woo."  The main character is a lawyer who happens to be autistic.  For her, there is no distinction between true and false, and as a result there can be conflict.  We know lying is wrong; however, for the sake of preserving relationships, etc. I may not say exactly what I think or believe to be true if it will be unkind, harmful or cruel.

4.  What's the last thing you 'chopped'?

Mushrooms

Cherry pie, chocolate covered cherries, a bowl of cherries, cherry vanilla ice cream, maraschino cherries, a cherry lifesaver...your favorite cherry flavored something?

Does anyone remember the Cherry Coke of yesteryear?

I can't tell you the last time I even drank a coke, but have wonderful memories of sitting in a drugstore booth sipping on a refreshing cherry coke as a teenager.

5.  Describe yourself with three words using your first, middle, and last initials.

E - encourager; C - cautious; D - devoted

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Today, when it reached 88 degrees here in Plano, TX, I couldn't help but remember what exactly two years ago looked like in Northern Indiana.

My granddaughter and I took a road trip into Michigan to see the snowy sights.  I'm glad she was a good driver.

This was the sight she wanted me to see.  I was not disappointed.

To me, there is nothing more beautiful than a snow-covered vista with the sun creating snow crystals.

But, this is perhaps our best news this past week.

We had a FaceTime gender reveal on Saturday and great grandson #3 will be here in August.  Our daughter and son-in-law are thrilled after a household of four girls.

A Bright & Colorful Hodgepodge

Belated Happy Valentines from Jax!

As I write this, it is a cool, very windy day in North Central Texas.  We have gusts upwards of 50 mph, but plenty of gorgeous sunshine.  There is something comforting to me about sitting inside my naturally well lit house, in front of the fireplace, and listening to a whistling, howling wind outside.

Welcome to another Wednesday Hodgepodge that is full of color and interesting, thought provoking questions.

1.  Pantone's color of the year for 2023 is Viva Magenta.  Etsy's color(s) of the year are indigo and honeycomb.  Your thoughts?

I love the way nature combines colors that are complimentary and natural.  This beautiful bird is a prime example.  You will see magenta on the beak and blended in the feathers.  There is indigo on it's head and lower in the feathers alongside shades of honeycomb.  This is a perfect example of color used correctly and it was created by the Creator Himself.

 Would we find any of these three shades in your home or wardrobe?

You will find all three of these colors in some of my paintings throughout my house; however, you will find absolutely NO magenta in my wardrobe, very little indigo but lots of honeycomb.

Is there a room in your house that needs painting this year?  Will you do it yourself or hire out?

There is a need for touchup on baseboards but nothing major.  I keep saying I will get around to doing that, but alas.

2.  Something you had to do recently that could be described 'as exciting as watching paint dry'?

I can't think of anything that boring that I have had to do recently.  I try to avoid that sort of situation if at all possible.

3.  Who would you most like to sit beside on a 10-hour flight?  Tell us why?  Have you ever taken a 10-hour flight?

Without question it would be my hubby.  Who else would let me squeeze his hand until the blood stopped flowing, or let me prop a leg across his, or put up with my fidgeting for 10 hours, and love me through it all.

Yes, we have taken several 10+ hour flights and the above applied to every single one.

4.  What's something you did growing up that would get you into trouble?

Some things we just don't talk about.  But, I did steal a few cigarettes from my dad's packs back in the 50's and for some reason thought I got away with it.

5.  According to Google the top searches in 2022 were - Wordle, election results, Betty White, Queen Elizabeth, Bob Saget, Ukraine, Mega Millions, Powerball numbers, Anne Heche, and Jeffrey Dahmer.

Hmmm...what does this say about us?  How many of these words did you search last year?  What would you guess was your most 'googled' word/phrase/question.

That we are easily bored and require entertainment; that we are seekers of information yet basing our focus of interests on mundane things.

My google history would not include any on the list, but would show a mixture of useful, educational and mundane things as well.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

What is happening on the Asbury University campus in Kentucky this week is one of the most amazing outpourings of God's spirit in recent days.  Someone described it as a true spiritual revival, "a movement that only God could orchestrate and keep going."  It has now spread to Lee University in TN.  God is moving among our young people.

It started a week ago today and continues to draw people from all over the country.  Oh that more college campuses and churches would seek such a revival.  A spiritual awakening is the only solution for our own lives and for our country.  Lord, let it begin in me!

It's a RED Hodgepodge

Another Wednesday, another Hodgepodge

Thank you Joyce

1.  Something you've done recently that might be considered a labor of love?

I decided to do a monthly HOA newsletter instead of the traditional quarterly.  It is time consuming but something that uses my creativity, computer skills and keeps my mind active.  I will be meeting with some residents tomorrow to brainstorm ideas for making the newsletter as beneficial to the village as possible.  It is a labor of love, but making a contribution is also fulfilling.

2.  What's one thing you love about being the age you are now?

Being two years away from 80, I value every single day.  But also, being this age, I am more and more aware that this isn't my home.

I value friendships; I can get away with forgetfulness; l love deeper; I've lived long enough to have great-grandchildren; I'm grateful for the small things; I've seen good and I've seen ugly and know my Lord is in control of it all. 

3.  What do you value more:  careful planning or the freedom to be spontaneous?  Elaborate.

Most definitely careful planning.  We are busier than we have ever been, and actually keep a paper calendar these days.  There must be careful planning in order to fit in all the spontaneous things we want to do.

4.  A home cooked meal or a fancy restaurant?  pink or red?  watch the sunrise or watch the sunset?  wine and cheese or champagne and chocolate?

Home cooked meal

RED

Sunrise through my sunroom windows/sunsets on Randy & Cele's porch

Cheese and Chocolate

(I know I fudged (no pun intended) a bit on that last one)

5.  What's your definition of romance?  Are you a 'romantic'?

Tenderness, love and respect; Words of affirmation; Fresh flowers; Holding hands; Time spent together; Being heard.

I am not a 'romantic' at heart, unfortunately for my husband, but I do respond to it well.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

I finished Season 5 of "The Crown" and have easily come to the conclusion that the Monarchy is not to be envied but pitied.

Watching "The Chosen" has opened my eyes to new possibilities of how the story of Jesus might have happened rather than the limited images I've created in my mind all these years.  It's been refreshing.

We need another good, wholesome, dramatic, thriller, suspense series to watch.  Any suggestions?

Hello February Hodgepodge

It is so good to be back with the Wednesday Hodgepodge.  I think the break was good for all of us, but it is time to reunite with Joyce for our Wednesday blog fix.

1.  Tell us anything you want about your January.

It was a busy month with doctor appointments for us both and getting back into  re-startup church activities.  I suppose the most memorable happening was the syncope episode I had a couple weeks ago, where I passed out and was completely unconscious.  Dick thought I was dead.  Literally.  I came to hearing the 911 operator telling him to start chest compressions.  Thankfully, the EMT's arrived about that time and that course of action wasn't necessary.

2.  Lake Superior State University posts a list each of words they think should be banished from the Queen's English for misuse, over use, and/or general uselessness.  The 2023 list includes GOAT, inflection point, quiet quitting, gaslighting, moving forward, amazing, Does that make sense?, irregardless, absolutely, and it is what it is.

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly?  Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why?  Is there a word/phrase not on the list you'd like to add?

I probably use "it is what it is" most from the list, but never unncessarily.

"Irregardless" is used much too frequently and wrongly.

Words/phrases not on the list:  Wokeism, re-productive rights, and if doing away with the word would make the practice disappear, I'd also add abortion.

3.  February 2nd is Groundhog Day.  What's something that feels repeated in your life right now?

Doctor visits?

4.  What's a food you love that's named after a place?

I researched it and there is not a single place named "Whatever Someone Else Cooks."

5.  What's the best season of the year to visit your city or your part of the country?  Tell us why.

I can more easily tell you that the summer is NOT when you want to visit North Central Texas.  

Most parts of the country have four distinct seasons.  Here we have daily seasonal changes and we never know from one day to the next.

Fall and Spring are nice if you time it right, but both will have an over-lapping of summer.  Winter is debatable because right now we are in a Winter Storm Warning with ice covering everything.  Next week could be in the 70's.  So, when to visit?  Anytime you want to.  There is always something to do and see in the Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex regardless of the weather.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Who doesn't love a naked baby?  These two great grandboys are growing up a storm and couldn't be any more precious to us.

Granddaughter, Ava Grace got her driver's license last week and this was her first day to drive herself to school.  Mom and Dad aged a bit that day.

This is my corner or nest in the sunroom and usually my favorite spot in the house.  Today, however, my favorite spot is in front of the fireplace.  Stay warm and cozy!

Sunshine in My Soul

"There is sunshine in my soul today

More glorious and bright

Than glows in any earthly sky,

For Jesus is my light."

The words of this old hymn came to mind as I looked into my sunroom this morning and saw the morning spotlight.  Yes, through somewhat dirty windows.  But, you know what?  His light shines even when things aren't always clear and exactly the way we would have them be.  Isn't that wonderful!

I began to notice where the light was shining into my house and found these wonderful reflections.

So many lessons and analogies in this picture.  Let it speak to you.

There is always light and shadow in our lives as well.  Have you noticed how the shadows enhance the light?  That's how it is with God's love.  Sometimes when we seem to be at our lowest, and life becomes heavy with fear and doubt, His light shines the brightest.

"God shined in our hearts, to give the light."

2 Corinthians 4:6

"There is gladness in my soul today,

And hope and love and praise,

For blessings which He gives me now,

For joys in future days."

"Sunshine in My Soul"

Eliza E. Hewitt  

Laughing in 2023

This past year I have used a book of daily readings on the lives of Christian women throughout the ages.  It has been most enlightening.  These past weeks have been a concentration on the women of the nativity, beginning with Elizabeth and ending with Sarah.  Wow, what a group of interesting and questionable women.

The point that seems to have resonated with me the most, is that not one single woman found themselves capable of what God had called them to do.  Beginning and ending this series are old women well past childbearing age who were told they would get pregnant by an old man.

Elizabeth, we're told was "very old" and yet God gave her a son who grew up to be John the Baptist, the radical preacher who prepared people for Jesus' ministry.  And the strange thing is that God revealed her conception and even the name of the baby to her husband instead of her.  He didn't quite respond with "You're crazy" but he sure did question how something so absurd could happen.

Sarah's response may be like most of ours has been when God has led us to do something we saw as out of our realm of capability.  She laughed!  Of course she denied it, but God heard her and told her so.

Look at Mary, the mother of Jesus who was told she would become pregnant without ever having sex.  Mary, extremely confused about the angel's message actually had the nerve to ask "HOW?" and "WHY ME?"  Has anyone ever told you to not question God?  Mary proved He is big enough to handle our questions.

What about Ruth.  She had married a foreigner who up and died as did his brother and father, leaving her with her mother-in-law who wanted to go back to her homeland.  Ruth then became the breadwinner with no way to care for her aging mother-in-law.  However, this old woman had a plan that was considered scandalous at the time, and Ruth did what she directed.  And it worked!  She attracted the attention of the chosen landowner, they got married and had a son who turned out to be the grandfather of King David.  Have you ever felt like an outsider being led to do something totally out of your comfort zone?

But wait, there's more.  What about Bethsheba who was basically raped and impregnated by the king, who then had her husband killed, and the baby died?  How did God use her through these sad, tragic circumstances outside her control?  The king married her and God blessed her with another son who later became Israel's most prosperous king and wrote a whole book in the Bible about wisdom.

Women who may have seen themselves, and in many situations society agreed, as inadequate, sinners, totally unqualified, abused, too old, and doubters, were actually chosen by God to be part of His work in bringing a Savior into the world.

Sarah who laughed, later "believed that God would keep His promise" and her son, Isaac fulfilled that promise in her day.  Generations later, another babe was born to a young woman who questioned yet was willing, and His name was Jesus.

As we go into this new year, remember that God can do "impossible" things through you as He has done through other women through the ages.  It doesn't matter if we're too old, too young, too fat, too out-of-shape, too underqualified, or too sinful.  He specializes in surprises.

So let us keep laughing with Sarah all year long as we watch God work in flabbergasting ways.

After Christmas Hodgepodge Wrap-up

Christmas Eve found our family where we always try to be - celebrating the birth of the Christ Child at our respective churches.  Though a thousand miles apart, this tradition of worship joins us together.

Our Dallas family had their Christmas morning traditions that this year involved our sweet Baby Landon.  I can only imagine the joy they experienced as they watched him.

For us in Indiana, everything revolved around Baby Jax.

Perhaps the sweetest picture of the night was him watching and listening to his Great Grand Da tell the Christmas story.

He listened so intently.

He is such a happy and mild tempered baby and absolutely loved every thing that took place around him.  There was not one single fussy moment all night long.  And why would there be with eight silly, adoring adults around to anticipate and meet his every need.

Here it is the 28th of December and the household is rather quiet.  Savannah has taken her cat Ollie back to Indy, John has gone back to work, final returns made and sales shopped, leftovers eaten, soft music playing on Alexa, and a new puzzle on the table waiting to be finished.

Even the outdoors is quiet and still covered in layers of snow.

Before we close, let's do a quick version of the Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Did you set any goals for the new year this time last year? Did you meet them or miss the mark? Tell us more if you're comfortable sharing. 

I had hoped to paint more in 2022, but again, I failed to live up to my perhaps unrealistic expectations.  My other goal was to love on two eagerly anticipated great grandsons.  Is there ever a point when that has been fully accomplished?

2. What are three words that might describe the kind of person you were this past year or describe in some way how your life looked? 

Cantankerous, Forgiven, Grateful

3. What's something new you ate, saw, heard, or experienced in 2022? What did you think?

A deeper appreciation for God's Word  

4.  Oxford Dictionary has announced it's word of the year for 2022, and it's this-goblin mode. Huh? Have you ever heard this phrase? Used this phrase? It's defined as "a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations." 

This year they allowed the public to choose amongst three finalists. You can read more about that here. 

If you were in charge, what word would you declare word of the year for 2022? 

Have never heard of or used that phrase.  My word for the year would be "BABIES!"

5. Any special plans for an end of year celebration in your house or town? The travel channel says the world's best New Year's Eve celebrations will happen in Copacabana Beach-Rio de Janerio, the Orlando theme parks in Florida,  London, Sydney, New York's Time Square, Edinburgh Scotland, and Paris. If you could attend any one of these which would you choose? Tell us why? 

We will be closing out our visit in Indiana on the 2nd of January, so our new year celebration will involve packing our car for a long two-day trek home.  Anything more exciting than that is yet to be determined.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Some pictures need no explanation!

And these girls bring so much joy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!