Happy New Hodgepodge!

I hope that everyone had a blessed Christmas! On to the last Hodgepodge of 2011... what a year it has been! 

 1. Share something you loved about your Christmas Day. 

I loved how quiet it was... just our three kiddos and us, opening stockings, my eldest C making us breakfast (Cinnamon-burst French toast with Eggnog coffee... yum!), then going to church, then coming home to open presents and make Christmas dinner... just simple!

 2. You get to put five items in a time capsule to be opened in 100 years, what items would you choose and why? 

Oh gosh... I would put my Bible, because everyone needs their Bible, and perhaps the notes and scriptures i have highlighted might provide encouragement to those who read it.

Our photo albums.  Because looking at pictures from ages ago are just so much fun!

An iPhone - because as obsessed as we are with them today, surely the future generations would look at them with a mix of horror and amusement... just as my eldest C who looked at a rotary dial phone in our town museum and asked "How do you text on that?"  sigh...

An iPod filled with music and movies.

A bottle of really good alcohol that only gets better with age.  Not sure what kind - I don't know much about such things - but surely something that is supposed to age a really really long time and get better would indeed be a treasure to those who opened the capsule!

 3. What do you like on a cracker? 

Really creamy havarti or gouda cheese!

 4. Do you make resolutions at the start of a new year? How'd that work out for you this past year? 

I don't generally make "resolutions" - but I just read a quote that said "What could you do today that will make you proud in a year?"  and I thought that was a really good way of looking at it.  This last year I did a reversal of resolutions, of sorts... and I posted on my blog here and, looking back, I still laugh maniacally... 'twas a good idea, and several of those things did come true.  The big things.  The important stuff.

-  My husband came back safely from Afghanistan.  Thank GOD!

-  My eldest, though he had to miss his baseball season due to a hand injury, and missed a large part of his football season due to a concussion, he has had no more abdominal issues and his migraines have decreased.

I will do another blog soon... like really really soon... recapping the year and revisiting my resolution from last year.

 5. What's a song or song lyric you'll associate with 2011? 

Nor surprisingly, this last year was consumed by my husband being in Afghanistan for most of it.  Every time he deploys, there seems to be a song I latch on to that reminds me of him...  Lovin' You Tonight by Andrew Allen is that song!

 6. How will you ring in the new year? 

We will be attending a theater-in-the round in Salt lake City - it is a really fun tradition where we go to the play, and at midnight, no matter where they are in their production, the lights go on, they countdown to the New Year, and then balloons and such come flying out of the rafters.  They hand out noise makers as you enter the theatre, and it's all a lot of fun.  Then, after a few minutes, the lights go off again and they continue on with the play as though nothing ever happened.  We have gone to the New Years production at this theatre for the last four years with my bro/sis-in-law and it is a lot of fun.  We don't know where we will be living next year at this time, so we feel very fortunate that we have been able to do this as often as we have.

The only other place I would want to be on New Years is at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, which is where I grew up and I never ever missed the Rose Parade.  Seeing it on tv is not the same at all.  Not even close.


 7. What is something you look forward to in 2012? 

No deployments!

 8. Insert your own random thought here.


Tomorrow is my Middle C's 10th birthday!  My only girl, she is just too precious to me.  Spunky, creative, smart, fun, stubborn, petite... oh how I love that girl!  Since the moment she was born and gave everyone in the delivery room a "Stare-down", I knew we were in for a serious ride with her!  And boy was I right!  She has filled our lives with music and glitter and a determination to succeed at anything she tries that I greatly admire.  I love you, sweet girl... Happy Birthday!

'Twas the Hodgepodge Before Christmas

Merry Christmas!!! OK, not quite yet... but I just LOVE the sights and smells and sounds of this season - and seeing my kids faces, especially my youngest C, as they count down each day to Christmas is just SO much fun! So, dash away, dash away, dash away all onto our weekly Hodgepodge questions! Have a very blessed week everyone!

I mean, look at this face... how can you not smile? :-)

1. Are you cooking Christmas dinner? How many will be round your table this year? What are we having?

Yes, I am cooking this year, and it will just be a quiet Christmas with my hubs, kids, and I. We will be having ribs for Christmas Eve - not what I would have chosen, but my Middle C requested, and hubs agreed, so what are you going to do? :-) Christmas dinner will be ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, and yeast rolls.

2. What is one must-have Christmas cookie in your house?

Carmelitas - more of a bar than a cookie, but Christmas just isn't complete without them... and they are easy to make too!

3. Santa likes a glass of milk with his cookies. Do you? What kind of milk is on tap at your house-skim? almond? soy? full fat (Gasp!)

This Santa kindly requests a glass of Chardonnay, please. Not with the cookies, exactly... just in general.

If milk is to be served, then it is of the skim variety.

4. Time magazine recently named their 'Person of the Year' for 2011. This is the person the editors believe had the greatest impact, for better or worse, in the past year. This year they chose 'The Protester'. Your thoughts? Who would you name Person of the Year for 2011?

"Seriously?" is what I thought about Time magazine's choice. I still think the whole "Occupy" movement is bizarre... sorry, I just don't see that they are making much impact and their whole philosophies seem somewhat convoluted.

My person of the year would be our military - in terms of honor, sacrifice, and duty, protecting all that is good and honorable, sacrificing themselves and their families... none can compare.

5. December 21st is National Flashlight Day... when was the last time you needed a flashlight and did you know right where to find one?

The last time I needed a flashlight was when my Middle C had a sore throat and I needed to see just how bad it was... and yes, a flashlight is always kept underneath the kitchen sink!

6. candy canes...yum or yuck?

Yum! Not in large amounts, but when you have an upset tummy (from, say, too many carmelitas!) or swirled in hot cocoa... yummy yummy!

7. What Christmas carol lyric means the most to you?

Oh gosh... only one? Oh Holy Night - "Long lay the world in sin and error pining 'till He appeared and the soul felt it's worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn - Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angel voices! Oh night divine! Oh night when Christ was born! Oh night divine! Oh night! Oh night divine!"

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I spent yesterday up in Boise running around doing gathering last minute stocking supplies and buying Costco out of everything - I mean, my kids will be home. All day long. For 2 weeks. I have to stock up - because obviously they are NEVER fed. Ever. Good grief! But anyway, I could not believe how cranky some people were! i mean, really... just because you are stressed out, doesn't mean you should take it out on everyone else around you. This is Christmas - a time for family and friends and beautiful music and yummy food and celebrating the fact that God himself came down in the form of a baby just to SAVE us from our sins even though we are COMPLETELY unworthy and NOTHING we could EVER do would save us...

SO - if you are still shopping out there, be sensitive to those around you - smile even if you don't feel like it, and give a kind greeting to the poor harried store clerks!

And if you are a store clerk, the same goes for you - smile even if you don't feel like it, thank God that you have a job in this horrible economy, and give a kind greeting to the poor harried customers, especially those who are toting around small children!

And have a truly blessed day, my friends!

Dasher and Dancer and Hodgepodge

1. Do you put Christmas decorations in every room of your house? If not every room, what rooms do you decorate?

We put decorations in every room except the bedrooms - well, except for my daughter who this year took a mini-Christmas tree and decorated it with all of her earrings and necklaces. It actually looked kinda cute!

2. If you could visit one of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) which one would you choose and why?

Oh gosh - they all sound so COLD to me! But I guess I would choose Sweden, which is where my ancestors came from!

3. What does the word faith mean to you?

Faith to me is the secure knowledge, that inner peace of knowing without a doubt that God is there, that He loves you, and that there is absolutely nothing you can do to deserve His grace, and yet He gives it anyway. I can't imagine going through the trials of life without faith.


4. You can go back to your childhood for one day...what day and age would you choose?

I would choose any day that my grandma was still alive and aware of who she was. She developed Alzheimers when I was 8 and passed away when I was 16, but for the first 5 of those years many times I was the only person in the family she would recognize. Oh how I wish I could see her again and listen to her stories of being a girl in Hollywood during the 1920s... she was beautiful and lively and I wish she could see her great-grandaughter who is named for her and has her same beauty and spunk for life.

5. When did you last have 'punch'? If it's not too much trouble share your favorite punch recipe.

On Sunday I went to a baby shower and the hostess there had a super yummy coffee punch! I've asked her for the recipe, and if she does, I'll add it in my comments. But for now, this is the punch recipe I always go with - it is easy and I always get tons of compliments on it!

1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
3/4 c. sugar
1 qt water
1 pkg tropical punch kool aid
1 (46 oz) can pineapple juice
2 liters Sprite

Mix up orange juice according to package directions. Add sugar and water to package of Kool Aid. Chill mixture until ready to use. Before serving, add pineapple juice and sprite to punch mixture. (You can make a frozen ring of part of one bottle of Sprite to keep punch cold - add strawberries or orange rind to make it pretty)

6. Do you fill stockings at your house? Are stockings opened before or after the bigger gifts?

Oh yes, stockings are always filled. My mother-in-law is the queen of stockings and has taught me how to do it right! This year we aren't traveling for Christmas and I have made it known to my DH that I expect a filled stocking! :-) He assures me that he has it covered! We always open our stockings first thing in the morning, then we have breakfast (usually a yummy egg dish I've set overnight), and then we open the big presents. This year we will do stockings, breakfast, and then go to church, and then do presents afterwards.

7. What takes your breath away?

Sunrises and sunsets. Rainbows. My children's laughter. My husband coming up behind me and kissing me on the neck.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Here's a fun Christmas video for you - even if you don't have pets of your own, you just can't help but smile and laugh! The guys who do these videos are so talented! (And they have way too much time on their hands... just sayin...) Have a wonderful week!

ugh - OK, so for some reason it won't let me post the video here... grrrrr..... SO, just follow this link - believe me, you won't be sorry!

youtube.com/watch?v=uRzhd3eUyO8

Definition of an Inconvenience

What is the definition of an inconvenience?

I've just spent the last 5 days in Los Angeles. An area that, the night before I flew in, was ravaged by hurricane-force winds. Over 3000 trees down, power disconnected for thousands of people. No major injuries reported, not many homes or properties with catastrophic damage.

For the last 5 days I have heard nothing but complaints around me. People griping that their power wasn't turned on. That the street lights weren't working so it made their commutes longer. Streets were blocked by road crews trying their best to clean up and make the streets safer, but it was an inconvenience to those trying to drive through... and so they complained. Just this morning I overheard someone complaining that the street sweepers hadn't cleaned up the branch and leaf debris. I also read in the LA Times of a gentleman who went to a city council meeting the other night to complain that his power was still off. Really? Because your power was off for a few days? And you still had a roof over your head, a car to travel in, restaurants to eat at, and you and your family are healthy and all accounted for. And yet you complain.

Now, I'm not saying that the powers-that-be couldn't have been more effective in trying to get information out to the communities. Certainly they could have. And I'm sure this is serving as a good lesson for the city officials on how to handle an emergency situation.

But lets look at this from the proper perspective.

The lows in LA at night, while chilly by LA standards, are still only in the 30s-40s. Blankets work. You aren't covered in snow and ice, like people are so often in other parts of the country where being without power truly is a life and death situation.

The skies were clear and the sun shining. Temps during the day were in the 50s. Gorgeous! The only mess to clean up were tree branches. You don't have the water from a hurricane, ice and snow to dig yourselves out of as they do back east, or homes ripped off their foundations like in a tornado.

You have food. You aren't starving. You have shelter. You have family and friends. You are safe. You will survive.

True disasters happen every day. Life changing events that literally, change. your. life. Forever.

That, my friends... is life changing. Life altering. Not being without power for 5 days? Having to leave a few minutes earlier to get to your destination? Not so much. Not when you are otherwise healthy and whole.

eally, is it even an inconvenience?

It's all in your perspective.

Grandma Got Run Over by the Hodgepodge

I'm leaving on a jet plane... yep, for the last 5 days I've been in LA helping my parents move (more on that later) and today I fly home, back to my kiddos and my amazing husband and the freezing cold... brrr.... but more importantly, today is my eldest C's 14th birthday! Happy birthday kiddo! I'll see you in a few hours!

On to the Hodgepodge!

1. Will you be hosting any house guests between now and the end of December? Does that thought make you happy or crazy? Do you do anything special for your guests to make them feel at home? How long should a house guest stay?

This year is pretty low key for us, which will be nice after such a crazy year. No visitors, no major traveling, probably just a few days down in Salt Lake City for New Years. And while we will miss not being with our family, having kids always makes the holidays fun!

When guests come to stay, I always have a basket in their room with fresh rolled towels, hand soaps, and chocolate for them.

A house guest should not stay any longer than 5 days if possible.


2. Walter Elias Disney was born this week (December 5) back in 1905 ...what's your all time favorite Disney movie?

Oh gosh, there are so many! I love the movie "Up" - any cartoon movie that can make me cry and laugh every time I see it is a winner in my book! I also love the music in both "Enchanted" and in "Tangled"

3. What was the last thing you purchased that you realized was a mistake after the fact?

hahaha - yesterday I went to Home Depot for my dad to buy new electrical outlets for their new house and I bought the wrong kind. Sheesh.

4. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?

Almost all of it - the crowds, craziness, and over-commercialization of the main stores drive me crazy. Amazon is my friend.

5. Amaryllis-snowdrop-poinsettia...your favorite winter blossom?

Poinsettia! I love the way they look against the snow and the greenery!

6. What is one thing on your personal Christmas wish list? I think we all want peace on earth so let's make this answer an actual item.

I would love the new iPhone 4S, but I don't think that's going to happen... so I'll say the Pioneer Woman's Cookbook - I love her recipes, her photos, and her descriptions!

7. If you could only use one word today what would it be?

LOVE!
8. Insert your own random thought here.

For the last 5 days I have been in Los Angeles helping my 70-year-old parents move from their house of 40 years into a much smaller place. It has been an adventure of sorts. Moving from 2400 sqft to 1300 sqft. Oy.

As my brother and I sorted through their boxes and such, we couldn't help but laugh and shake our heads... a lot... and so yesterday I wrote this little "ode to my parents" for them. Enjoy!


On the first day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
A little house in Duarte

On the second day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte

On the third day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte

On the fourth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Four cleaning mops,
Three ugly lamps,
Two vacuum cleaners,
and a little house in Duarte

On the fifth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte

On the sixth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte

On the seventh day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte





On the eighth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte

On the ninth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte

On the tenth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Ten boxes of Christmas lights
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Eleven different bath towels
Ten boxes of Christmas lights
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte


On the twelfth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Twelve assorted razors
Eleven different bath towels
Ten boxes of Christmas lights
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte

Merry Christmas from the Henrys!

Picture slideshow created with Smilebox

'Tis the Season Hodgepodge!

Thanksgiving is over - the season of preparing to welcome the Christ child is upon us - but lets pause in the midst of us, grab a cup of coffee, and join in for the weekly Hodgepodge!  (And after you have left a kind comment - remember, I'm a comment junkie! - feel free to join Joyce here for the original posts!)

Happy Hodgepodge everyone!  :-)

1. Do you send Christmas cards? If so about how many will you send this year? How do you display the cards you receive? Or don't you? (gasp!)

Oh, I absolutely LOVE to send and receive Christmas cards!  And I love the newsletters that come with it - go ahead, brag on your kids, every day is a gift, so celebrate!  We will probably send out close to a hundred cards - that's what happens when you are a military family, we have friends all over!  I vary from year to year on how I display them - taped to our coat closet door, in a basket... I think this year it will be in a basket on our wine rack!

2. When do kids become adults?

Oh my - hard question.  I know some teenagers who are so mature and morally upright, that I'm sure they could come in and run my household better than I do on some days!  but then I know of some 20-30 year olds who are still living with their parents and are quite happy not really growing up.

So I don't think it's necessarily a chronological age issue - although I DO think there is a certain point where you've just got to "tough love" your kids and force them to grow up a bit.  That's just me.  So many hallmarks of what being an adult is:  holding and maintaining a job, moving out and being responsible for rent/utilities/upkeep, realizing the balance between work and play, etc.  

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my kids while they are kids!  

3. Does your 'beauty regimen' change with the seasons?

OK, first you would have to assume that I even HAVE a beauty regimen!  So, I would have to say no, other than I use more face moisturizer in the winter because ohmygoodness, it is skin-cracking dry here!

4. What's something you like to eat that might cause another person to turn up their nose?

Depends on the person - my daughter despises potatoes (I know, and we live in IDAHO!), but I love a good baked potato, so she would be in the corner gagging while I ate it.  I also really like broken up graham crackers in a glass covered with milk, eaten with a spoon - and my husband thinks that is the weirdest thing in the world.  

5. Gloves or mittens?

Gloves - you just can't do anything without fingers!

6. What's the longest queue you've ever been in? Was it worth it? Queue=line but doesn't queue sound nicer?

The line for "Test Track" at Epcot (Disney World) - it was the one ride we didn't have a Fast pass for, and we waited almost 2 hours!  And while my teenage son (who is sitting next to me right now) thinks it was the best ride in the entire world and completely worth it, I beg to differ... 

7. Besides Christmas, what is one thing you are looking forward to in the month of December?

I love the whole season - the fresh pine, the candles, the music, the church services... but aside from all of the Christmas stuff, it's also the birth month of my eldest and middle children!  So, happy birthday to my Big C who will be 14 next week, and to Middle C who will be 10 at the end of the month!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I would really appreciate your prayers as I leave on Friday to go help my parents settle into their new home.  I will be gone for 5 days, and my dear husband gave up an invaluable two week training course in Florida so that I could go and be there for my parents right now.  I so love him and the way he puts family above all else.  Please pray for him too - he is an amazing father, and a good cook, and all of that - but managing all of the household stuff plus the kids schedules and everything, well, it'll be fun!  :-)

Blessings on you this week!

It's a Thankful Hodgepodge!

Yea - our pause in the middle of the week to ponder the hodgepodge questions and, for this week anyway, sit for a moment and ponder all that we are truly thankful for as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow.  May your day be blessed!

Now, without further ado - on to the Hodgepodge!

1. Let's start with something controversial...dressing or stuffing? What's it called at your house and what's included in your recipe...cornbread? oysters? sausage? chestnuts?

At our house it is called stuffing.  My recipe (as are almost all of my recipes this year) are coming from the Pioneer Woman - and I can't wait!  My stuffing recipe has cornbread, french bread, sausage, mushrooms... oh my, I'm hungry just thinking of it!  If you want your tummy to growl right along with me, you can find the recipe here!

2. Who do you sometimes compare yourself to?

lately, I've been identifying myself with Frankie, the mom character from The Middle - my DH has even started calling me "Frankie" every once in a while... what can I say, with a teenage boy, a middle child girl, and a young son, our family just resembles this tv show one... way too much... :-)

3. When were you last inside an airport?

The end of September when we welcomed members of our squadron home from Afghanistan!

4. What is one side dish that absolutely must be included in a turkey dinner?

Cranberries!

5. What Christmas song do you dread hearing?

Any Christmas tune sung by the Chipmunks.  There just isn't enough wine in the world to make them tolerable.

I'm just sayin...

6. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

If someone approaches me, I will go buy them food or fill their car up with gas, if the situation allows.  I will rarely just give money.  We support several organizations year round - Habitat for Humanity, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Compassion International, Voice of the Martyrs, a dear friend who is a missionary in Brazil, and our church.  During the holidays we donate items to families in need, either through rescue shelters, angel tree, or Samaritan's Purse.

7. Share a favorite Thanksgiving memory. If you live in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving share a favorite memory associated with food.

Bar none, my favorite Thanksgiving memory is being at my grandparents' house.  I was sitting at the "kids table" and my uncle came to sit with us, and we started "roasting" the marshmallows from the sweet potato casserole over the candles that were burning on the table!  The laughter, the warmth, the memories... Love it!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I have typed and re-typed this "random thought" about 5 times now.  I keep bouncing between being serious, and being funny.  It's good to have a balance, after all.  And there is a time and a place for both.  

My husband has been home now for two months from afghanistan.  The squadron that replaced his has many of our friends - men and women who are away from their families, fighting a war that is far from being over.  My husband is home.  He could have easily been one of those who didn't make it home.  Too close for comfort, actually. And so, as we gather around our table, I will look into his eyes and thank God that he did make it home, and we are so... so blessed.  And we will thank God for being with our troops who are still over there serving, and will pray for their families as they celebrate without their loved ones at their table.

Take time.  No matter what your background, your political opinions, your religious views... stop and tell those around you that you are thankful for them.  That they matter to you.  Don't take each other for granted.

Whew - so, apparently the serious, contemplative side won out on this "random thought"  But random thoughts worth pondering, indeed.

So, to lighten up, here's a lighthearted Thanksgiving song just for you!  Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Hodgepodge!!!

1. What song reminds you of a specific time in your life and what is it about that song that makes you remember?

When I was a kid, we used to car camp.  Every summer.  We'd all pile into the station wagon and head off to the national parks of the west.  And I remember when we got a station wagon that had a...

CASSETTE TAPE DECK!

I know.  I'm so ancient.

But I remember going to the music store and my mom picked out three cassettes for us to listen to on our camping trip.  (I laugh, when I think now of hte 1000+ songs on my ipod... ridiculous, really)  But anyway, we listened to John Denver, Glen Campbell, and the Beach Boys.  Being a parent now, I can only assume that my parents were trying to put us into a 1970s coma.

And though I still don't have any idea what this song means, this tune in particular takes me right back to those long sweaty drives in the station wagon, squished in the vinyl backseat that would stick to your thighs as the ancient air conditioner tried to compensate for the fact that the car was hauling roughly 792 pounds of camping gear, with my brother on one side and the labrador retriever in between us, who would turn her head to lick us on the face whenever we started to bicker.  Good times.

2. What's something you've given up on?

Ever being the weight I was before I had my first child 14 years ago.  Just not going to happen.  Sigh.

3. What's something you'll never give up on?

God and my family!

4. If you had to cook something from scratch in the next hour what would it be?

Well, lookie here, I just happen to have the ingredients for these killer brownies - Called "Knock You Naked Brownies" and yeah... they're that good!

You can find the recipe HERE

5. Have you started Christmas shopping? Decorating? Listening to Christmas music?

Shopping, yes.  Decorating, no.  Christmas music, only by accident as I was flipping through my satellite radio stations today and what used to be the "Love Song" station is now apparently all Christmas music.  I may or may not have listened to it... a lot... today... but then I turned it off because I felt kinda guilty.

6. What do you know about your parent's wedding?

Not much, actually, which now that I think about it, is kinda strange... I just know it was rather quick, they met in April and married in August (and it wasn't a shotgun wedding or anything like that!)  my grandparents were annoyed because they were going to be in Hawaii that summer and wouldn't be there to help plan the wedding.  

7. I can't believe I ___________________.

Won't ever get to go to my childhood home again.  My parents have sold their home that they bought 40 years ago.  And while this is a good move for them, both financially and for other reasons too, it's still a hard thing to grasp.  Because no matter what memories are there, it's still your childhood... and you can't ever replace that.  Farewell, dear home... thanks for the memories.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Ok, perhaps it's counterproductive to advertise someone else's blog on your own blog... but this is seriously the funniest blog I have read in a really. really. long. time.  hehehehe.....

Bloggess

It's a Lovely Day in the Hodgepodge...

Yea!  It's Wednesday Hodgepodge Time!  If you have stopped by, please leave a comment at the end (you have no idea how it brings a smile to my face!)  and then join Joyce over at her page to see her original comments!  (And a tip of the hat to Joyce for doing this every week - it really is fun!)




1. Of all the tools and gadgets you own which do you most enjoy using?

Oh gosh... My kitchen is the "Land of all fun gadgets" according to my MIL... I would have to say probably my Keurig - though it's not really a tool or gadget, more of an appliance... but it allows me to have my flavored coffee within 2 minutes, and my husband to have his regular black coffee as well, so we are all happy!

2. When (if ever) is impatience a virtue?

When it comes to making sure you or a loved one is receiving the kind of medical care that they need.

3. What temperature do you keep your thermostat set to in winter? Do you have another way to heat your house besides a furnace of some type?

We generally set it around 69 degrees.  We don't really have another way to heat our house, as we have a very small fireplace that is located in the smallest room in our downstairs, and really only heats about 5 feet out and then quits.  We do have tons of comfy soft blankets over all of our couches though, which are perfect for snuggling under!

4. Do/did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents?

Yes, I was very close with my grandfather and with both of my grandmothers.  My daughter is named after my grandmother, who passed away from Alzheimers when I was 16.  I have one grandmother who is still with us - in fact today is her 94th birthday!  I love her dearly and can't wait to see her after the new year!

Happy Birthday Granny!!

5. When did you last have a family portrait taken?

When my DH was in Afghanistan I took the kids to a local park and a good friend (who also happens to be a professional photographer) met us there and took pictures to send him for Fathers Day...

But then here is our latest family photo, taken when he came home!  :-)

6. What does the word patriotism mean to you?

It means a pride in something much greater than yourself, being willing to set yourself aside for the greater good, and sacrifice when asked to... See the above picture!

7. Do you like to play cards and if so, what's your favorite card game?

I love to play cards!  Our kids do too, which is really fun!  But when I married into my husband's family (actually, it might have been a prerequisite for marrying into his family!)  I learned the game of pinochle.  And now I'm one of the strongest advocates for it!  We even played it with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law when we were in Hawaii two weeks ago!  (And my bro-in-law and I WON!!!!!)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I just emailed a link to this song to my daughter's 4th grade teacher, because they are learning about this right now. So I thought I'd share it with you... but I'm warning you, you'll be singing it for the rest of the day!  You're welcome!  :-)

The Curse and Blessing of "er"

This has been mulling through my mind all day long.  How much time we waste, dwelling on the "er"s of our lives... You know what I mean:

I wish I was...
Thinner
Richer
Cleaner
Craftier
Trendier
Smarter
Sexier
Humbler
Wittier


All of those "er"s that take up so much time and energy.  Time wasted dwelling on everything we aren't, instead of praising God for what we are... which is a whole complete other set of "er"s

For what I KNOW I am is this...

I am a...

Mother
Daughter
Sister
Lover
Homemaker
Grocery buyer
Maintainer/Scheduler
Worshipper
Photographer
Writer
Teacher


Somehow the "er"s that I am far outnumber the "er"s that I'm not... so let us dwell on that which God has gifted us to be, instead of dwelling on that which He has not... don't allow the flick of the serpent's tongue poison our thoughts and moods any more.  Realize that God doesn't make junk - and He has created us exactly the way we are, and you know what?  He thinks you are beautiful!

Beautifuler... that's my new "er"

Aloha! Hodgepodge

Seriously, I'm addicted.  There I was, a week ago, surrounded by palm trees and 80 degree sunshine, snorkeling with my hubby and my awesome bro/sis-in-laws in Kauai... and I missed this, my weekly Hodgepodge!  But I had made a "No Facebook While on Vacation" pledge. and I somehow thought the same with my hodgepodge... but I'm back!  Tanned (not that you can tell, since it is 20 degrees outside and I'm now drowning in sweats) and relaxed (not that you can tell, with the family drama that awaited my return), but oh, what a week we had!   God is SO good...

Anyway, on to the Hodgepodge!  :-)

1. Who taught you how to cook?

I really don't know how my husband and I survived the first couple of years of marriage.  I didn't know how to cook. At all.  Our first dinner guests actually asked to put their chicken in the microwave to cook it completely.  Oh dear.  (And we are still friends to this day, imagine!  Although they haven't let me live that dinner down... sigh...)  But when we had been married a few years I joined the local MOPS group and they had the most amazing cookbook they were selling, called "Beyond Macaroni and Cheese"  (actually, the MOPS coordinator was my friend who was our first dinner guest... perhaps this was her original intent!)  Anyway, this cookbook revolutionized my cooking - all really good recipes containing ingredients already in my pantry, and they were YUMMY!  I've been married 17 years now, and I'm in my 3rd copy of this cookbook... it is because of it that I can cook at all now and have since ventured to Southern Living and Joy of Cooking cookbooks, and am a pretty darn good cook if I do say so myself!

2. Have you been told you think too much? Are too much of a perfectionist? Are too sensitive? Were they right?

Yes, Yes, Yes, and probably Yes!  'Nuff said... sigh...

3. As a child did you have a favorite blanket or toy? Tell about it.

I had the most beautiful sweet doll that I named Jane.  I got her when I was in the 4th grade, right on the cusp of little girl/pre-teen girlhood... I had asked for the "Baby Feels So Real" doll for Christmas, but then the doll broke, on Christmas Eve, and my parents went to several different stores, on Christmas Eve, to try and replace her.  But to no avail.  When I woke up Christmas morning, Baby Feels So Real was there, but she was all goopy and broken... when i started to cry, my mom confessed the truth about Santa.  And then she went out and bought me Jane instead, and I loved her!  She fit in my arms just right, and was so cuddly.  And then she got lost.  I have no idea where... but I was oh so sad when she went missing... and I still wonder what happened to her. Guess I wasn't ready to grow up yet.

4. What 'institution' do you have the most faith in?

I have to believe in marriage.  No matter what the studies say, or what the statistics say, or what whoesi-whatsits-in-Hollywood say... true marriage, true commitment, the kind that lasts even when you think your spouse isn't understanding you or when you are unsure of yourself or you just want to take the next flight to Figi and forget it all... the marriage that sticks together through it all is SO worth it, and is real.  And good.  And true.  And honorable.

5. Chrysanthemums-pansies-burning bush-ornamental cabbage...your favorite in an autumn garden?

Pansies!!!

6. What superpower do the kids in your neighborhood seem to posses?

Umm, since my kids ARE the kids in the neighborhood, I'll say that they possess the insane ability to know the EXACT time I get on the phone with a REALLY important call and then choose that time to run into the house because Little C is chasing Middle C around with an aluminum baseball bat and Eldest C is screaming that HE was not at ALL involved at ALL and that they are ALL LYING if they say that HE started the whole thing.     

I may or may not be directly quoting my household from 5:20 until 5:27 this evening... I'm just saying...

7. Are you a fan of the cranberry?

Yep, love it!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It has been a long day.  (See #6 above)  Oy.  So, I'm going to go to my happy place... where my hubs and I were a week ago... come along with me!  Aloha!  And Mahalo for joining me in paradise!

Keep Calm and Hodgepodge

Hmmm... so this morning I was doing my Bible study and it was talking about finding rest in the midst of craziness.  And then I was emailed a devotion that, yes, was about rest.  And now even Joyce's HOdgepodge is titled "Keep Calm" ... me thinks the Lord has a message for me this morning - which is SO ironic since this is my crazy day-before-I-leave-on-vacation day!

Finding rest?  Yes, Lord.  Keep Calm?  Yes Lord.

On to the Hodgepodge!

1. How do you typically react in a sudden, extreme, pressure-filled crisis? Would we want you nearby in an emergency?

I am one who works well under pressure, and somehow just know what needs to get done.  Afterwards I may look back and think "How in the world did I get through that?" but in the midst of a true emergency, yep, I think I'm pretty put together.  

For example, When we were stationed in Mississippi, we were caught in a micro-burst that leveled many parts of the town.  My 3-year-old and I were in McDonalds with another friend and had to take cover in the McDonalds bathroom (I know... EWWWWW!!!)  My friend was hysterical, and I could see that the kids were picking up on her fright - so I quickly sat everyone down and started singing Barney and VeggieTales songs, distracting both the kids and the moms.  We got out of there safely and afterwards looked back and thought, perhaps I should have been more frightened, but instead I took control of what situation I could take care of, and I did it.  

2. Caramel apple-caramel sundae-caramel corn-caramel macchiato...of the four, which carmel treat would you choose?

Can I add one here?  Am I allowed to do that?  I absolutely love the Salted Caramel drinks at Starbucks... ohmygoodness... YUMMY!

If I have to go with what is on the list, then caramel macchiato is the closest to what I mentioned above!  :-)

3. Is there such a thing as destiny? Explain.

Oh geez, to go from "what's your favorite caramel" to "how do you define destiny"?  Good grief!  Ummm... ok, hold on... switch tracks... take a sip of coffee...

I think everyone's definition of "destiny" is different... if you mean "destiny" as in "God is in control of everything and yearns to draw us closer to Him by revealing His glory through our life events" then yes, I believe in destiny... but more importantly, I believe in God - my maker and creator who loves me with a love that is completely incomprehensible and He delights in me and is my Abba.

If you mean something more like karma, or a "what will be will be" type of attitude, then no... believing in something so obscure leaves you empty in the long run, because it is not God.  No matter what you call it.

4. What's your favorite piece of furniture? I'm referring to something currently in your possession as opposed to something on your wish list.

My corner china cabinet that belonged to my great-grandmother.

5. Wednesday night marks the start of the 2011 Baseball World Series. Did you know? Do you care? Will you be watching? Ever been to a professional baseball game? If you're not an American do you find the title 'World Series' annoying or amusing?

Nope, had no idea.  I don't ever watch baseball on tv, but I have been to several professional baseball games. I grew up in Los Angeles, and so the Dodgers games were always fun (and affordable!) to go to.  We also went to an Atlanta Braves game when we were visiting Georgia a few years back.  And I'll be honest, I have never given any thought about the title 'World Series' and what that might imply until now.  Thank you, Joyce, for giving me something to muddle over while I am on the airplane tomorrow!  ;-)

6. A sound that takes me back to my childhood is____________.

Marching bands.  That may sound odd, but growing up in California, our city had a huge parade every year.  The music program in our school district was (and still is) one of the best in the state, and of course, we were just blocks from the Rose parade every year.  So I grew up going to parades, and watching marching bands, and then when I was in jr and senior high school, I was in marching bands as well and even got to march in the Rose Parade my senior year.  I loved it.  And I can't hear a marching band now without remembering the sounds and smells and sights of the parades I attended growing up.

In fact - here is a clip of a documentary currently being done on my high school!

7. On average, once you've linked your hodgepodge post to mine how many other participant blogs do you visit? Do you ever come back to the Hodgepodge later in the day or even the day after to read posts?

It depends on how crazy busy my day is, but there are several that I have made a habit of visiting, and the same goes with mine - it's fun getting comments from the same people each week, I feel like we are friends even though we have never met!  But yes, I almost always do check back later in the day to see who has posted.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Sometimes, plans change.  When you least expect it.  We have been planning a trip to Kauai with my in-laws, and my two bro/sis-in-laws. 8 of us.  In Kauai.  One week.  No children.  (I believe I just heard the Hallelujah Chorus in the background)

And then came the call on Monday morning.  My mother-in-law was having emergency surgery on her eye for a detached retina.  And they can't go to Hawaii.  And not only can she not go on the trip with us now, but she has to stay in her bed on her stomach or side for an entire week.  And our hearts are heavy.  Oh, how she needed this trip - these past 9 months have been so hard with the passing of her mother, my husband's deployment to Afghanistan, her eye problems (this is her third surgery in the last 6 months)... this trip was the light at the end of the tunnel.

But instead, she is in recovery from yet another surgery.  But her eyesight is saved.  What if she had waited?  She might have lost her eyesight forever.  She would have spent the entire time miserable, frustrated with her eyes, worried and fretting.  

The bro/sis-in-laws and my hubs and I are still going on the trip.  But a huge part will be missing.  Our mother and father-in-law.  Who planned and made this trip possible for us.  Sigh.

It doesn't make sense.  But (referring back to question #3) God is in control.  He has planned this time right along with us and knew the outcome before we did.  And so, we go.  

Psalm 32:7 "God is my island hideaway, keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck" (MSG)  Aloha!

Hodgepodge Happiness!

There's a crispness in the air that just can't be anything but FALL!  Gorgeous - Love it!  And so, before I head out into the chilliness, lets do this week's HOdgepodge!  (And after leaving a kind comment - remember, I'm a comment junky! - join Joyce to see the original questions and answers and join in the fun if you wish!)

1. Have you ever been 'asked' to report for jury duty? Were you chosen to serve? If not, were you happy or disappointed?

I have been asked to report for jury duty only once - it was when I had just moved to Arizona for college but was a Los Angeles resident still.  I was able to get off of reporting, of course, because I was in college out of state - but they were in the process of choosing the jury for the OJ Simpson murder trial and ohmygoodness, what if THAT was the trial I was going to be considered for?  *shudder*  

2. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being very), how mechanically inclined are you? Give an example to back up your answer.

I would say a 6... Being a military spouse means that hubs is not around a lot of the time when things need to be fixed, put up, taken down, etc.  So I have figured out how to handle a power drill with the best of them, paint entire rooms, etc.  However, i am also not above asking for help when I need it!

3. Beets-cabbage-cauliflower-butternut squash....of the four, which is your favorite fall vegetable?

Butternut squash!  Yummy... There is a yummy butternut squash soup recipe that unfortunately, I'm the only one who likes in the fall... sigh,... but is great for entertaining!  If I can find it, I will post it later!

4. What do you recommend to overcome self-pity?

Count your blessings.  Make a list of things you are thankful for.  I am reading an incredible book right now called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp - beautifully written, incredibly humbling, you will be blessed and both brought to tears and to your knees in reverence...

5. Do you enjoy classical music?

Oh yes!  Growing up, I had a piano teacher who ONLY would allow me to play classical music.  I hated it.  Don't get me wrong, I am a much better piano player now as a result, but I would have loved to learn some "Fun" music at the same time - more "Great Balls of Fire" or "Charlie Brown Theme Song" stuff.

But I digress.

I do enjoy how relaxing good classical music is, and I will listen to it in the car and ask my children "What instruments do you hear?" to expand their listening ears...

6. October is National Book Month...what's on your reading list this month?

Shoot - didn't read this before I answered #4!

7. What is your idea of 'cute'?

Chubby babies with rosy cheeks and a gurgle laugh!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

In a week my hubs and I will be flying to Hawaii for a week with his parents, siblings, and their spouses.  No children.  For a week.  We have saintly friends here who volunteered to watch our children for the week - we are so excited!  Watch out Kauai, here we come!

Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup

After posting about this on yesterday's Hodgepodge, I got several requests for the actual recipe... so here you go!

Chicken Tortilla Soup (Crockpot)

1 1/2 lbs boneless chicken, cooked and shredded (or if you are in a hurry, you can use frozen grilled chicken strips - unseasoned)
1 can (15 oz) petite diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz) enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (4 or 7 oz) chopped green chilies
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups water
1 can (14 oz) chicken broth
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen white corn

In crock pot, combine all ingredients.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours

6-10 corn tortillas
kosher salt

Preheat oven (or toaster oven) to 400 degrees.  Lightly brush sides of tortillas with some vegetable oil.  Cut tortills into strips.  Spread onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt.  Bake, turning occasionally, until crisp.  (You can also just cut the tortillas and put them in the pan and THEN drizzle oil over them and mix them all around).

Sprinkle tortilla chips over soup and then garnish as you desire - I use sour cream, jack cheese, and avocado.  Delicious!!

Mucho Fun in the Hodgeypodgey

Yea, it's Wednesday!  Things have been a little crazy since my hubs came home from Afghanistan last week, but I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING!    So... on to this week's Hodgepodge!  




1. What's your favorite meal to serve on a chilly autumn evening?

Chicken tortilla soup from the crockpot.  I made it just last night, in fact... absolutely delicious!  Topped with sour cream, cheese, and avocado... yummy!!!

2. Are you a creature of habit? Explain.

For the most part, yes.  Perhaps this is too much information, but when I shower, I clean and shave in the same order every time.  I don't know why, but if I lose track, I have been known to double condition my hair on accident.  Which just makes for greasy hair.  Blech.  Surely there is a better example than that to show how I am a creature of habit, but that's what came to my mind first.  Sorry!

3. What food product (no longer readily available) do you remember and miss from days gone by?

Strawberries from my grandmother's garden.

4. What's something you've lost that you've never been able to find? Any theories as to what happened?

After my daughter, Middle C, was born, my hubby bought me a "Mommy Ring" with the birthstones of my kids in it.  I took it off one day when I was working on the computer and never saw it again.  Unfortunately, I think our babysitter may have taken it.  I asked her about it and she acted very strange about it.  Sigh.

Another item I've lost is small aviator wings on a necklace that my hubs gave me a few years ago.  I have NO idea where it went.  But I miss those two items every day.

5. Zoo~circus~ carnival...your favorite?

Zoo!  Especially when they do a good job of actually educating the public about the animals instead of just making them perform.

6. What song makes you feel instantly happy?

7. To what extent are you an argumentative person?

Oh goodness, I'm not argumentative per say, but I am definitely a fighter if I think someone is trying to get away with something (say, at the car dealership!) or if I or someone else has been wronged in some way.  I once went to small claims court in San Diego because of a horrible travel incident that ended up costing us thousands of dollars.  Did I mention that we lived in Florida at the time?  So yep, took the guy to court... travelled back and forth from CA three times to fight him in court... and in the end, even though the judges sided with me, the guy fled to Mexico and never paid me.  So, the end result wasn't monetarily satisfying, but I fought it and won... that's what matters!  (OK, the money matters a little...)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I just heard the news that Steve Jobs has passed away.  This last deployment would have been so much more difficult without his ingenious creations.  It's always so sad when someone so young and talented loses his life.  But more importantly, I really hope that he was saved.  That he knew the Lord and was welcomed into glory upon his passing.

He's Home! I mean, it's time for the Hodgepodge!

Good morning!  So before I begin our weekly hodgepodge journey, I just have to say that after 202 days apart while he served in Afghanistan, I woke up this morning with my dear husband in bed next to me!  Never have I been so happy to trip on his combat boots in the morning or to make coffee for him!  He arrived home on Sunday afternoon (more on that later) and we are all thrilled to be back under one roof again!  The kids are all velcro-attached to him, and I'm not far behind!  In fact, as I was typing the last sentence, my Little C came in and immediately climbed on top of my dear hubs who was snoozing on the couch... so sweet to see them so snuggly with their daddy!

Now - as the other two kiddos are still snoozing and hubs is (trying to) as well, lets get on with our hodgepodginess!

1. It is officially fall here in North America...I realize not everyone who participates in the Hodgepodge lives in North America but if you do, what's your favorite memory of Summer 2011? If you're not in North America, what's your favorite memory of the season just ending on your side of the world?

My favorite memory of Summer 2011 would have to be all of the traveling the kids and I did together this summer.  Utah, Nevada (where we discovered that what happens in Vegas NEVER stays in Vegas... especially if it is the stomach flu), California (Sea World, San Diego Zoo, beach house, LA, Monterey Bay Aquarium, locking the keys in the car in Winnemucca, Nevada which yes, is as small and podunk of a town as it sounds but has really really friendly people), then Arizona for me while youngest went to Utah for Oma/Opa spoiling and Middle went to California again and Oldest went to scout camp)  Whew!  What a summer!  But oh, we had so much fun, and it did make the time of being separated from hubs go by quicker!

2. Your favorite nut? You know I mean the edible kind, right?

Cashews!!!  Yummy!

3. What activity puts your sense of balance to the test?

Roller skating, skateboarding, skiing... really any activity where my feet are not directly in contact with the ground and I have to depend on some other tool to get me from point A to point B.  

4. How would you describe your sense of humor?

Alive and well!  I love finding the humor in small things, especially every day life, because really, life is short, and sometimes things are just. darn. funny.  My dearest friend Jamie lives in St. Louis and just asked me to change the lyrics to "How Lovely to be a Woman" from Bye Bye Birdie, as she is speaking at a women's retreat this next weekend and wanted a light-hearted look at being a woman.  Adapting lyrics has always been something I have loved to do, so I sat down yesterday and had so much fun poking gentle fun at the realities of being a woman/mom/wife!  I can't wait to see the video of Jamie doing this song!  hee hee hee...

5. September 28th is National Ask a Stupid Question Day...what's your stupid question?

This may offend some of my British and Australian friends, but WHY on God's green earth, with all of the blessings and beauty He has given us, would anyone in their right mind create, eat, and then market Vegemite?  (And no, it is NOT EVEN CLOSE to what we call peanut butter, which is delicious heavenly spread!)  

6. Roller skates~hula hoop~jump rope...which activity would you most enjoy? Yes, you have to choose.

Well, from my answer on #3, you know it's not roller skates!  And jump rope - um, if you've ever had children, you will know why ANYTHING involving jumping is, well, not pleasurable.  So I would have to go with hula hoop, which I can do 'til the cows come home.

7. What's your most sentimental possession?

Oh gosh, I have so many.  My grandmother's diaries from when she was a teenager during the roaring twenties in Hollywood.  (I wrote about her  here).  My picture of my best friend Erika, who i can't wait to see again. My wedding ring, which is small and petite and totally represents who we were when we got married - i.e. POOR!  But I love it.  My Willow Tree figurine of a husband and wife dancing together, because my beloved and I found it before he deployed for the first time to Iraq, and then when she found out how much I loved it, my friend Tammy bought it for me.  

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Not so random, but in case I didn't mention it, MY HUSBAND IS HOME!!!!  When we got to base on Sunday, the guard informed me that the media was already there waiting for us.  Ummm, what??  Sure enough, when we walked into the squadron, there were two news crews there as well as the base publicity officer.  They asked for a family to interview and my eldest said "Oh, we'll do it!"  So, yep, we were interviewed and followed around - my poor hubs got out of the plane only to have news cameras following him and such... and lets just say, he's not quite the social extrovert that my kids and I are!  But, it was fun, and the kids enjoyed being mini-celebrities at school the next day.  Here is a link to the newscast!

have a great week everyone!