Birthdays, Babies, and New Beginnings...

This is it!  The final Hodgepodge of 2014 - to be honest, I'm ready to kick 2014 out the door and say "Don't let the door hit ya' where the Good Lord split ya'!  What. A. Year.  Cancer scare - huge medical bills - starting a new job - hip injury - hubby losing his job - unemployment - hubby getting a new temporary job 2000 miles away - oy.  But before we say farewell to 2014 with our party hats and streamers and confetti and really loud noise makers, truly thankful for another year to begin, lets Hodgepodge one more time, shall we?

1. Share a favorite moment from your Christmas holiday celebration.

Christmas Eve - going to the early service with my family, then having dinner at my aunt's house and celebrating with my cousin Meghan, my cousin Scott, and his wife, Sarah, and sweet baby Tate.  Tate just turned 1 and is just so much fun... babies are so innocent and genuine.

2. What would you say has been the biggest news event during your life so far?

I will definitely say 9/11... I'll never forget it, knowing right then that our world and country would never be the same.  Sending my husband to the Middle East to fight in the resulting war, from which he nearly didn't return... that will shape you.

3. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2015 is Marsala. What say you-like or no like? Would I find this color anywhere in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in t

his shade to either?

Yes, I do like this color, or some variation of it - I have throw pillows with this color in it, our master bedroom comforter is very close to this... I like how warm it is - and easy to coordinate with other colors, like olive green and deep purple and gold, which you will also find in my home!  In our last house, we had an accent wall in my Big C's room painted this color.  

4. Would you rather meet your ancestors or your great grandchildren? Explain why.

My great grandchildren - oh, how I would love to see which family traits and traditions get passed down, and what questions they have about what life was like for me.  While it would be fascinating to meet my ancestors, I prefer to look forward!

5. Share one life lesson learned in 2014?

God is bigger than all of it, and will provide even when things look quite dire.  And wrestling with Him is worth doing.  It hurts, but the end result is worth it.

6. What was your best or favorite purchase made in 2014?

My new sofa throw pillows I got last month - I've been wanting a pattern to break up the solid colors in my other pillows and couch, and I found the perfect ones!  Plus, they are really soft and squishy to lay on!  AND apparently they are in the Pantone Color of the Year, so lets hear it for being trendy without even realizing it!  

7. What is one thing you're looking forward to in the new year?

Finding out where we will be living/working a year from now!

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

This week has been a whirlwind for sure - Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, a funeral for a family friend, holiday parties, and my Middle C turned 13 - so of course we celebrated with a sleepover with 7 of her closest friends.  Lots of giggles that evening!

I showed them how to do a tickle train, they played Scattegories and Twister, played hide and seek outside in the dark, watched The Princess Diaries, cooked hotdogs over the fire pit in our backyard, and had an ice cream sundae bar.  Such a fun birthday.

But tell me, how did this little peanut (4 days old here with her "big" brother)

Turn so quickly into this beautiful, talented girl?

Oh how I love her so.

(And if you are wondering what 4pm on the day after a sleepover looks like, this is it:  

Precious.

Flying through the Hodgepodge!

1. Time magazine has selected The Ebola Fighters as their person of the year for 2014. Do you agree, and if so who would you say is a close second? If you disagree with their choice, who do you think should have been chosen? 

I have a confession to make.  I wrote my answer to this question last night without reading the Time article.  Ugh - how could I do such a thing?  Make a hasty response without knowing the facts?  The worse type of journalism.  

Then I saw my first blog comment, from Joyce.  And I was humbled... and immediately went to read the article.  And you know what?  Despite my opinions on those who were careless when they returned home, I'm pretty darn happy that Time decided to honor people who are doing good, putting themselves in harms way, seeing a need and going to help.  

Thank you, Time, for your decision.  And thank you, Joyce, for reminding me what true journalism is.

2. This question comes to you courtesy of Susan who blogs over at Stew Mama Says. She knows we have a wedding happening any minute now, and she asks, 'What's your favorite-something old? something new? something borrowed? something blue in your home?  Be sure you hop over and say hi to Susan today! 

Something old: my china hutch, which once belonged to my great-grandmother.

Something new:   my new throw pillows I got for our couch.

Something borrowed: the surfboard we borrowed from a friend at church!

Something blue:  My comfy pajama pants!

3. Fudge-yay or nay? Your favorite flavor? Do you make it yourself? With nuts or without?  

Um, yeah!  Chocolate please, made by my mother-in-law.  

Because she rocks at many things, making fudge is one of them.  

Nuts - I can take them or leave them.

4. December 17th is Wright Brothers Day, commemorating the first successful flights made by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  How old were you when you made your first flight? Do you like to fly? Have you ever been to Kitty Hawk or other parts of the North Carolina Outer Banks? 

Believe it or not, my very first flight was when I was 18 years old - from Los Angeles all the way to Australia!  talk about a long flight!  I don't mind flying, as long as it goes smoothly!  There is something to be said for being able to get across the country in one day!

5. Do the people in your family tend to follow a particular career path, and if so what's the path?

Nope, we're pretty scattered... in my husband's family and in mine we've got lawyers, accountants, farmers, biologists, computer geeks, preachers, realtors, etc.

6. What is one thing you absolutely, positively must accomplish today?

This blog! hehehe...

Followed closely by my gifts for my fellow staff members.

7. This Christmas I hope___________________________________.

that my friend April's daughter, Abby, comes home.  Suffice it to say, it's so hard when your young adult kids become confused and mislead about what is important, and make decisions that you know are bad ones... and all you can do is pray, and wait, and pray some more... sigh.  Love you friend...

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I've hosted 3 holiday parties in the last 4 days.  I'm pooped.  I'm done.  BUT - my lovely housecleaners come tomorrow (seriously, the best pampering!), my son's holiday concert is tomorrow night, my hubby comes home on Friday for two weeks (!), Christmas is next week, and, HELLO, my hubby COMES HOME ON FRIDAY!!!

:-)

Christmas is in the Air!

Merry Christmas, friends!  This is a busy time of year, but oh, what fun!  Gifts, music, lights, greenery, amazing scriptures of angels appearing to shepherds announcing the birth of our Messiah... oh, I love it!  So, without further ado, lets Holiday Hodgepodge!

1. What is one new holiday tradition you'd like to establish, or one you've established recently, say in the last year or two?

I'd love to do an advent devotional with my family - if not every night, then at least once a week.  It's too hard to get trapped in the busyness of the season and forget to stop and... just... be.

2. It's the second week of December. Have you sipped a cup of eggnog yet this month? Wrapped a gift? Opened a gift? Kissed someone under the mistletoe? Lit a candle? Eaten a Christmas cookie? Seen Santa in person? Watched a Christmas movie or special? Read scripture relating to the birth of Jesus?

Eggnog over Thanksgiving, but that was in November, so no, not this month.  I have gifts wrapped under the tree already!  haven't opened a gift or kissed anyone under the mistletoe.  But I HAVE lit candles on my table and mantle, eaten Christmas cookies, seen Santa at the mall, watched several Christmas movies, and have read the scriptures telling of the REAL story of Christmas!  Not bad for it only being December 9!

3. Do you think it's better to be an adult or a child at Christmastime? Explain.

Oh gosh... it's hard to say, isn't it?  I remember the excitement as a child, waiting for Christmas morning... and then as a teen being struck by my first candlelight Christmas Eve service... But now, as an adult, it is so fun to decorate, to share Christmas memories, to share the Christmas story, and to provide Christmas for my kids and see their excitement.  And I love reminiscing with my kids about the sweet little way they said things at Christmastime when they were little... Like my Middle C, saying over and over and over again, "Mommy, Noel means "Fear NOT!" So "FEAR NOT!" Mommy" as she crossed her hand vehemently across her chest in a diagonal motion.  "FEAR NOT, Mommy!"  Oh, Christmas... children... Christ... I love it all.

4. It's often said, 'Good things come to those who wait'...agree or disagree? Why?

Oh I agree - when you wait for something, it makes the "getting it" all the more special and precious!

5. What's the last sweet thing you baked? Did you keep it, take it to a party/event, or give it away?

Just tonight!  I made cranberry oatmeal cookies for our church's joint Session/Deacons meeting.  The leftovers I will take to the office tomorrow!

6.  This question comes to us courtesy of Jhona who blogs over at The Red House at the End of the Lane. Everyone hop over and say hi to Jhona this week!  Here is her question... "I heard an actor talk about how he makes a conscious choice to talk to people in elevators.  He chooses to connect, make eye contact, and converse. Do you talk to people/strangers when you're in an elevator or any other place where you might have to wait together? Why or why not?"

Yes I do - just yesterday I was called to jury duty, and as I sat there in the waiting room with 75 other individuals, at first no one talked to anyone.  It was very strange.  I couldn't help but look around and notice EVERYONE on their phones, laptops, magazines, etc.  But by the second time that the clerk told us we were on hold, people started talking a bit more.  I struck up conversations with both individuals sitting on either side of me.  I have no problem talking with strangers and making a connection - my family will attest to this!  After all, we're all in this together, we might as well smile, chat, and weather it all together, whether its an elevator ride, a jury selection pool, or a natural disaster...

7. Are you on the naughty or nice list this year? What put you there?

Definitely nice.  I'm a proud mama, a loyal loving wife, an active leader in our church... it's good!

8. Insert your own random thought here

Other Christmas traditions - my mom and I used to always go to holiday home tours when I was a teenager.  This last weekend, I invited her to come down and go to one in my city!  It was so much fun!  Fun to see how other homes are decorate (and holy schmoley, the money people have!  Crazy!)  And fun to go through it together.  Another tradition - we used to always take one night and drive around looking at neighborhoods that all decorated for Christmas - themes, etc.  Now that we are back in southern California, I can't wait to do this with my kids next week!

Have any of you done a holiday home tour or gone to see Christmas lights yet? 

the 200th HODGEPODGE??!!!

Whoa!  How did we get to the 200th Hodgepodge?  That is crazy!  a HUGE shout out to our friend Joyce, who somehow figures out new topics each and every week for us to talk about!  I've met some great friends through this Hodgepodge, and I'm counting on a Hodgepodge retreat sometime in the future, where we can all meet face to face!  Hey, a girl can dream, right?

In the meantime, lets head into our 200th Hodgepodge!!!

1. What is something in your life right now that feels a little 'hodgepodge'?

The definition of "hodgepodge" is cluttered, random, somewhat confusing, not adhering to a particular theme.  So I would say our living situation is a bit "hodgepodge" - my hubs working 2000 miles away, three kiddos in three different schools with three different schedules, our landlord just put our house on the market, and our renter in North Carolina just informed us that he is moving in April, which means we need to put our house on the market.  Yeah, a bit hodgepodge right now!

As my pastor said, "God isn't done writing your story yet" and I replied "Yes, I'm glad... but I'm also a little tired of the plot twists at the moment!"  :-)

2. What does 'peace on earth, goodwill to men' mean to you?

Hope in a greater peace, one that can only come from God, from the quest to get along, even if it means compromising.  Goodwill to men... get over yourselves, look to a higher cause, and be kind.

3. Which edible treat you are most looking forward to sampling this December?

My mother-in-law's carmelitas...which we had at Thanksgiving... and for the FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS I discovered her secret... all of these years I have been frustrated because mine never came out as thick and awesome as hers... but I now know her secret... She DOUBLES the recipe, every single time!  NO wonder why I've been carmelita deficient for 20 years.  

4. It's that most wonderful time of the year...do you agree, and if so why is it so wonderful?  If not, what would you say is the most wonderful time of the year?

I do love this time of year - I love the lights, the decorations, the music, the attention people give towards charities and such.  I do wish that people paid the SAME amount of attention to charities, helping others, etc all year round.

5. What was the last word you looked up in a dictionary (actual or online) and why?

Um, perhaps I should have done this, oh, 199 posts ago... but I actually just looked up the definition of Hodgepodge (online) just to be sure my definition was the same as what it really means!  Turns out it was!  Woo hoo!

6. Besides a Christmas tree, what is your favorite thing to decorate this time of year?

I love my mantle, and, in this house, the landing on our stairs.  I've never really done anything much with the landing, but I've been reading "The Nesting Place" and she talks about simply moving things around in your house, using what you already have in new locations, to decorate for different seasons.  This was my inspiration - as I moved the clock from a dresser, and the family Bible from our piano, and the Santa from my xmas decor box, and put them together with the artificial plants that always reside on our landing.  I think it turned out very cool and old-timey looking!  (It looks much better in person than in the pictures)

7. Share one thing you've learned (about yourself, people, or anything at all) in the Wednesday Hodgepodge, or through blogging in general. 

I love connecting with the same people each week, and meeting new friends and developing true friendships, even with people I haven't met in person, but just have a kindred spirit with them.  We pray for each other, we send cards outside of the Hodgepodge, we celebrate with each other, we cry with each other.  It has been a really cool community to be a part of, and I am thankful for that.  

8.  Insert your own random thought here

If you are looking for some new Christmas music, I highly recommend this new album - I heard about it from my friend Melanie Shankle.  OK, true confession time - she's not really a "Friend" - I just own her books and follow her blog, and know that if we met we would instantly be friends in a very non-stalker kind of way... But anyway, this album is so fun and it's only $4.95 on ITunes right now... can't beat that!  I'm loving his sound and his renditions of these Christmas tunes.  have a great week, friends!

Shaun Groves - Christmas Vol 1

Black Friday Infomercial Shopping?

Hi friends!  If you're new around here, this is my weekly link to the Hodgepodge - generously provided by the amazing Joyce who somehow finds time to provide us with fun questions each and every week, even though she is in the middle of wedding planning with her sweet daughter.  Her dedication to feed our addiction weekly habit is a blessing!  Thanks Joyce!  I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful week celebrating all that they are thankful for!  Without further ado, lets Hodgepodge!

1. Besides U.S. Thanksgiving, it's also National Game and Puzzle Week...what game have you played most recently, and who were you with? Have you worked a puzzle of any kind in the past week?

The kiddos and I drove up to Monterey, CA today to celebrate Thanksgiving with my sis-in-law, bro-in-law, my in-laws (flew in from Utah), and my hubby (who, God willing and please let the riots stop so he can do this, will fly in tomorrow night from Saint Louis)

My oldest kiddos and I just finished a raucous game of pinochle.  Pinochle, you say?  Isn't that a mellow card game that elderly people play?  Oh, you haven't seen us Henrys play... we're brutal.  And loud.  And it's oh, so much fun.

And I haven 't worked a puzzle, per say, unless you call arranging schedules, work, home showings, etc so the kids and I could be gone this week.  That's a puzzle!

2. What is one place you were thankful for this year?

My job.  To have regular hours, health benefits for the kids and I, and to be in a place where I feel supported personally, and valued professionally, is such a God-send right now.

3. Take a nap, watch football, go for an after dinner walk, or hit the stores...which ONE is on your must-do list for Thanksgiving day? For those of you playing along who aren't in the US, answer as it relates to any big holiday meal.

Um, i think all of those are on our list for Thanksgiving!  Well, except for the stores... but we WILL be going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 'cause my bro-in-law works there and can give us the behind-the-scenes tours that are just SO cool.

4. Besides Thanksgiving, what's your favorite home cooked meal?

Anything where I don't have to clean up afterwards!

5. What product from an infomercial would you most like to own?

The total gym.  As long as it came with a trainer to show me how to use it effectively, and to not just use it as a handy place to hang my laundry after I iron.  Hahahaha - as if I actually iron!  I crack myself up.

6. Christmas shopping? Have you begun? Finished? Will you shop on Black Friday? How do you feel about stores opening on Thanksgiving Day? What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?

I have started my Christmas shopping.  I have also begun creating Christmas/birthday wish lists on Amazon (I've got two kiddos with birthdays in December) Almost 90% of my shopping is done online, especially this year because I truthfully just don't have the time to go shopping from store to store.  Online is so much easier, many times cheaper, and I can have it all delivered to my work so my kiddos won't find them!

Personally I think it is awful that stores are open on Thanksgiving Day - I mean seriously, we can't take ONE day off where no one has to work?  A time to be with friends and family?  Good grief.

7. What are you most grateful for that adds beauty to your everyday life?

This door hanging bucket that I have on our front door.  I bought it from my sweet friend Martha, who used to be a consultant for Mary & Martha home decor.  I change the flowers with the seasons - but what I love most is the blessing that is etched on the front - it makes me smile!  "As you enter through our door we ask the Lord to greet you with peace and comfort, joy of heart, and blessings sweet and new"

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I've got to brag on my kids a bit - on Sunday our landlords put the "For Sale" sign in our yard.  Sigh.  After a long day, I went to bed, woke up Monday morning, and went to work.  The kiddos were on their own all day, as they have all week off, but I didn't have off until today.  As I left, I asked them to please clean up the house so that when we left for Thanksgiving the house would be ok for the landlords to show, and for them to pack their clothes for our trip.  I completely expected to come home from work and still have cleaning and packing to do, and we would leave for Monterey sometime late morning on Tuesday.  Instead - I walked in the door Monday night, and my house was SPOTLESS.  They had run the vacuum, mopped the floors, tidied up their rooms and bathrooms, done the laundry AND put it all away, AND packed their bags... I was speechless.  And so proud.  And so relieved!  As a result, all I had to do was pack my things, and we left early this morning!

They are awesome.  And I am so blessed.  And thankful.

Feelin' grateful...

For those of you who regularly stop in, you know the drill!  Check out the Hodgepodge answers below, then hope on over to Joyce's blog (click the Hodgepodge icon!) and see what others are saying!  It's pretty darn cool.

1. What's something you take for granted, that when you stop and think about it you feel truly grateful for?

Oh, so many things.. the ability to walk, talk, see, hear, laugh.  My children.  Our freedoms.

2. The color brown-love it or no? What's your favorite shade of brown? Most loved something in your home or closet in a shade of brown?

I do like brown, though I like it as an accent color, not the primary color of something.  I like the soft earthy browns, the ones that look great next to dark cranberry reds and olive greens.

3. What's something you're looking forward to today?

Quite honestly?  My housecleaners are coming.  A small indulgence, with my hubs across the country.  I look forward to them coming, and all day long I look forward to walking in my front door and seeing the entire house cleaned, beds made, etc.  Bliss.

4. The word 'feminism' is not new, but it has been generating all kinds of headlines in recent days and months. What do you think/feel when you hear the word? If you're a woman, do you want to be described as a feminist? Why or why not?

Hmm - when I hear the word "feminist" I think of die hard liberals waving their protest signs in the air!  I know that's a bit extreme, but I've always lived in an age where women can vote, they can work... there is still progress to be made, of course.  I'm not a feminist, per say... but I do believe that women deserve to not be treated as property, that they should have equal rights and equal pay.

5. What's something you personally can't eat without making a mess?

Ribs.  Yummy... but messy.

6. When did you last surprise someone with a little gift or when were you last surprised by someone with a little gift? What was it?

Just a couple of weeks ago my friend Julie surprised me with a care package - all the way from Arizona!

7. Share a favorite quote, saying, song lyric or scripture relating to gratitude.

"Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward

8.  Insert your own random thought here

I'm tired. I'm going to bed.  But before I do, here's a pic of my three C's from last week... Time, if you are listening, could you please slow down a bit?  Thanks...

Being Thankful...

1. We celebrate Veteran's Day in the US of A on November 11th. When did you last interact with a member of the armed forces (either currently serving or retired)? Have you ever written a letter to a soldier, bought a meal or coffee for a solider, said an unprompted thank you to a soldier you encountered out and about somewhere? If you're not in the US, comment on a similar holiday in your own country.

Ha!  Finally, an easy first Hodgepodge question! ;-)  My favorite veteran (my hubby!) was home this last week!  So yay!  And yes, I make it a point whenever I see people in uniform to thank them for their service.

2. You can have fifty pounds of anything at all (except money)...what would you choose?

Oh geez... totally drawing a blank on this one...

3. When did you last receive an invitation in the 'real' mail? What was it for and did you attend? When it comes to RSVP-ing, are you an 'early responder' or a 'last minute, barely-under-the-wire' kind of guest?

The last invitation we received in the "snail mail" was to a friend's baby's first birthday party - so fun!  (And it was so much fun to buy Fisher Price Little People toys again!)  I'm generally an early responder, unless I know that things are crazy - then I may wait more until the last minute.  Just depends on the timing.

4. What's something you really don't like to waste?

Time.

5. Cheers, Friends, MASH, Seinfeld...of the ones listed, your favorite long-running sitcom?

MASH.  Best sitcom ever.

6. What decision are you glad you made?

Marrying my husband.  It hasn't been easy, but it has been worth it.  He makes me laugh, he drives me crazy, he challenges me, he loves me.

7. In this month of 'Thanksgiving' what is one thing that's different today than it was a year ago that you're grateful for?

I'll admit, this is a hard one.  A year ago, I was working three jobs, and now I only have one.  That's a bonus.  But man... in the last year, my hubby has lost his job.  We've had to pull all of our investments in order to make ends meet.  Now he is working 2000 miles away at a year contract job.  I'm working full time.  3 kids in 3 schools with opposite schedules.  Landlord putting our house on the market this weekend.  A difficult time for sure... But... my hubby is employed.  I'm employed.  The kids are healthy and doing well in their schools.  God is good - all the time.  There is much to be thankful for, even amidst the chaos and the sucky 2000 mile commute.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Feeling stressed?  Check out this video... I want to go here. Every day. During my lunch break. Seriously.

Lectio Divina for the win!

Hi friends!

So today is supposed to be "Hodgepodge" day - but our amazing host, Joyce, is beyond overwhelmed with her daughter's pre-wedding activities right now, so we'll allow her to take this much-needed week off.

But never fear - the blog must go on.

Yesterday, I had the most amazing God-time in my devotional.  It is rare that I actually get the time to really sit, in a quiet house, and simply meditate.  Our small group from church is going through a program called "Groundings" and as a part of the study, we are to practice Lectio Divina - a practice in which we take a passage of scripture and go through the steps of allowing God to speak to you, to highlight a passage or word meant for you, and to reveal Himself to you.

People, I was mind blown.  If you have never heard of Lectio Divina, I highly encourage you to try it.  It's amazing.  It's real.  It's oh, so good.

The passage I read yesterday was the story of Zaccheus (and WHY my spell check keeps wanting to correct that to Bacchus, I'll never know.  Obviously more people need to name their children/pets Zaccheus so that it enters back into common language use)

But I digress.

As I read this story - this story that I have known and read and sang ever since I was a little girl - I was struck by the imagery of what took place.  Zaccheus, a "wee little man" as the song says, trying desperately to see Jesus.  Not talk to him.  Not meet him.  Just knew that he HAD to see him and would do whatever he had to do.  So, pushed aside by the crowds, he climbs up a sycamore tree.    I imagine others were mocking him as he climbed up "What, tax collector, are you going to spit on Jesus?  What do you think you are doing, Shorty?  Look at him, who is he to think that Jesus would even notice him?  This ought to be good - if Jesus DOES see him, he will probably knock him right out of that tree because of what a sinner he is!"

All Zaccheus wants to do is to see Jesus.  We used to have sycamore trees in our backyard when I was little, and I remember standing at the bottom of the tree trunks and looking up, trying to imagine climbing to the top.  They are TALL, and not that easy to climb either.  The bark is a mixture of rough and smooth and chips off easily.  Nope, give me an oak tree anyway.  Sycamore would be hard!

Have I ever been that desperate to see someone?  Do I search for Jesus, no matter what the cost?  Do I take on the challenges, scrambling to see my Lord?

And look here - when Jesus passes beneath the tree, he stops, he looks up, and he says "Zaccheus, I'm coming to your house today!"  And when Zaccheus (whose name means "pure", interestingly enough) comes down out of the tree, Jesus "welcomed him gladly," That image stuck in my mind.  There is no indication that Jesus knew Zaccheus before, but He knew his heart, his seeking heart, his pure heart.  And when He saw that, He welcomed Him gladly.

I wonder if Jesus sees me seeking Him, sees my heart, and welcomes me in the same way.

I kinda think He does!

So my challenge is to seek Him.  To not be daunted by the "sycamore trees" in my life - the schedules, the office politics, the household chores, the health issues... no matter what "limitations" I may have before me - my height, my health issues, our finances - I will do whatever I need to do to see my Lord.  And to welcome Him, and to be welcomed by Him gladly.

Oh a hunting we will go...

1. My hubs spent last weekend pheasant hunting. Are there hunters in your family? If so, what do they hunt? Which of the following have you tasted-pheasant, rabbit, venison, duck, goose? Which of those would you most like to taste, or be most willing to taste?

Vegetarians keep calm and Hodgepodge on.


Nope, no hunters in my family - or in my hubby's family.  I certainly had a rude awakening when I was first teaching in northern Arizona and they closed school for the first day of elk hunting season!  But my hubby has gone deer and turkey hunting with a friend of ours.  I've had venison, duck, and goose.  I LOVE duck - I'll take that any day of the week!  Yummy...

2. What high spot have you visited that gave you a wonderful 'bird's eye view' of something below?

The Grand Canyon.  Wow.  'Nuff said.

3.  Do you have any birds in your home? These could be either real live pets or decorative, as in bird prints, knickknacks, fabric or pottery.

Yes!  I have three beautiful hummingbirds that chirp and fight over our hummingbird feeders outside, and I have a gorgeous hummingbird figurine that my sweet friend Martha bought me - it hangs in my kitchen window and I think of her every time I see it!  (Miss you, M!)

4. Tell about a time you 'killed two birds with one stone'?

Just today, I ran a report for one co-worker (which she ended up not needing), and then later in the day my boss needed the same report, so I simply asked my co-worker for the one I had run earlier... there, killing two birds with one stone... kinda!  Or at least, not killing more trees by printing out multiple identical reports! 

5. Your favorite song with a bird in it's title?

Bye Bye Blackbird!

6. What most recently gave you goose bumps?

I have no idea.  

7. Halloween is this Friday...any plans? Did you trick or treat as a child? Carve pumpkins? Share your most memorable costume.

I've got three kiddos, so yep, we're trick-or-treating!  (Although my eldest child-man now prefers to dress up as a scary scarecrow and scare the bejeebees out of the kiddos as they reach for candy)  Our neighborhood always does a potluck dinner in our neighborhood park beforehand - it's a lot of fun, everyone brings veggie trays, fruit, cheese, wine (for the adults, obviously) and it's a fun way to kick off Halloween!  AND, most importantly, my hubby will be here!  yay!  The kiddos and I carved pumpkins last night... ok, that's a lie... they carved... I stayed inside and tried not to gag from the pumpkin guts.  bleh.  

My most memorable costume was when I was in 5th grade, I think, and I was the "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" (we lived in the next town over from Pasadena)  Gray hair, walking stick, etc.  I won first prize!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

OK - first, thank you all for your sweet comments last week regarding my landlords putting our house on the market.  Sigh.  Unfortunately, we are NOT moving to St Louis to be with my husband - his job is only a one year contract, and our son is a junior in high school, so we are staying put.  We may just have to find another house to rent if this one sells quickly.  One thing at a time.  In the meantime, my dear sweet angel of a friend, Sandi, is helping me organize, cleaning out my garage, and replanting all of my pots and such.  And angel in disguise, this one is!  

AND...

So - have you guys seen the preliminary designs for THIS AIRPLANE!!  ACK!  I hyperventilate just thinking about flying in this thing!  What do you all think?  Would you like it?  Want to try it?  No way, Jose'?

To every thing, turn turn turn...

1. Elizabeth Lawrence is quoted as saying, 'Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." So have you done just that? And what did you leave undone in order to do so?

Well, since I live in the land of 75-degrees-more-or-less-all-year-around, there aren't many leaves changing color... So I'll just go with the figurative meaning... 

Last week, before driving my hubby to the airport, I took the afternoon off from work, brought lunch home for him and I, and we went for a walk on the beach.  it was wonderful.  Stolen time together.  Who cares that I had work piling up, that there was laundry to be done, chores to be accomplished... i was having lunch and a slow walk with my hubby.  Worth. Every. Minute.

2. Since we're talking turning...what's one thing you feel you're doing 'every time you turn around'?

Cleaning up messes!  Figuring out our schedules!  Praying for strength and discernment!

3. How hard is it for you to 'turn the other cheek?'

I wish it was easier.  I really do.  It's hard... and takes a whole lot of prayer and giving it to God over and over and over again until, what do you know, the cheek is turned!

4. When did you last turn a drawer, your car, a room, or your entire house upside down looking for something? Did you find it?

A couple of weeks ago, i went looking for a very special (very valuable) necklace.  Couldn't find it anywhere.  Looked in all of my drawers, in the jewelry boxes, etc.  Was thinking that maybe an old housecleaning service had taken it, etc.  Then just last week I moved some other jewelry around and there it was!  I was sure I had looked there, but who knows... I was just so excited to have found it!

5. 'One good turn deserves another'...were you most recently on the giving or receiving end of that sentiment?

So, on top of my hubby working 2000 miles away for the next year, my three kiddos in band/soccer/church activities, and I'm working full time, our landlord has decided to put our house on the market next month.  Oh joy.  Sigh.  So, my sweet friend Sandi came over tonight to help me walk through my house and figure out what needs to be rearranged, what to move where.  I was so inspired after she left, I immediately started moving things around and making Goodwill bags!  AND she is going to take items to Goodwill for me as I clean out!  AND she offered to help organize cupboards while I'm at work!Talk about a good friend!  What a blessing... I think I may be bringing her thank you bottles of wine, chocolates, dinners at fancy restaurants...

6. Red, yellow, and orange are the colors of fall. Also the colors of fruit. If you were permitted only one color of fruit in your diet, which would you choose? This question isn't as easy as it sounds, at least not for me.

Red - strawberries, watermelon, raspberries, cherries!

7. The Hunt for Red October, October Sky, Halloween...which 'October' film is your favorite?

October Sky is one of my all time favorites!  But the Hunt for Red October is awesome as well - I mean, Sean Connery, HELLO!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Seriously... 

Have a good rest of your week, friends!

So now I know what I'm making for dinner tomorrow...

Happy fall y'all!  It has finally dipped below 90 degrees here (I'm kind of tired of my summer wardrobe, to be honest... ok, all you northern folks can throw a snowball at me now... and REALLY, First World Problems... but I"m just sayin... enough already!)  So to celebrate fall, I'm buying out the Pumpkin Spice Eggos from our local Target - let me just say, they are AMAZING, and I"m a just a little alarmed at how much I am loving them.  Seriously.  I need to get out more.  And for all my local friends, yes, you can blame me if Target is out of them.  I'm a working mama with 3 kiddos and a hubby working 2000 miles away.  Give. me. the. pumpkin. spice. waffles.

I may need serious help. ;-)

So without further ado, lets join Joyce with her weekly Hodgepodge!  Click on the link below to see what the other Hodgepodgey peoples are saying this week!  it's fun!

www.fromthissideofthepond.blogspot.com

1. What's your favorite time of day? Why?

My favorite time is early morning: I'm the most creative at that time, I do my best writing and studying, I really do get the most done.  Especially when the house is quiet, everyone is still sleeping, and the air is crisp and cool, no traffic noise outside, no drunk southern lady yelling behind our house (I'm not kidding), etc.  Evenings are my worst, simply because I'm exhausted and my creative juices are NOT flowing.

Right now it is 10 pm, people.  You've been warned.

2. Waffle iron, toaster, coffee maker, mixer, blender...which small appliance would you say most needs replacing in your house? 

Definitely our blender!  The one we have is from our wedding (20 years ago) and it simply refuses to die... and it doesn't blend all that well... but I can't bring myself to get rid of it simply because it doesn't blend quite as well as it should, ya know?  And I don't actually blend all THAT often... but maybe I would if I had a better blender... but who am i kidding... I probably wouldn't... even though so many of my friends blend DAILY using all kinds of vegetables and fruits to feed their families and their kids have no idea there is kale and cauliflower and broccoli and broccolini and beets in this freshly blended juice because HELLO, it's a DRINK and somehow they all drink it down as though it is the best carbonated sucralose dye-infested beverage EVER, not realizing that it will prevent all cancers and reproductive health issues and hormone imbalances in their entire lifetimes.

So maybe I should get a new blender.

Or not.

See, this is why I should only do my writing in the early morning.

(And just a disclaimer, I really do think that those who blend/juice daily are awesome, and my pithy attempts at making fun of juicing is really just a shabby cover for my own insecurities.  Carry on.)


UPDATE - you guys, seriously, I posted this blog, and then logged onto Facebook and a friend (whose hubby just bought her a really really expensive blender this last weekend) just posted this SNL sketch.  And I died laughing.  Because I had just blogged about it.  Like, 30 seconds before.

So here you go...

Sarah Silverman - Vitamix

3. It's National Grouch Day (October 15)...what's something that makes you feel grouchy?

A sink of dirty dishes that are still there when i get home from work.  Sigh.

Maybe I'll invest in more paper plates.  

Who says I can't problem solve at 0h-dark-hundred?

4. Ever been to Canada? Is that a country you'd like to visit? According to Trip Advisor, the top ten best destinations in Canada are-Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Victoria, Calgary, Niagara on the Lake, Niagara Falls, Whistler, and Halifax. Which city would you most like to see?

I've never been to Canada, and honestly, none of those places are on my destination list... though I'd like to go to Prince Edward Island and see where the Anne of Green Gables series was based on.

5. What was your favorite food (or one of your favorites) when you were a child? Is that still a favorite?

Chicken divan casserole.  Yum.  (Hey Jui and Christina, do you remember requesting this as our graduation dinner?  We were so weird.  And yet... I kinda want some now...)

And my Grandma Claires' garlic bread - oh how I wish I had her recipe!

6. Do you cry easily?

Not generally, but certainly there are more times when I'm more weepy than others... hormones, missing my best friends, missing my one best friend who is in Heaven now, missing my grandma and papa... missing my hubby when he is so far away... and when I feel simply overwhelmed by the constant stuff on my shoulders.  yeah, it gets a bit overwhelming at times... so i cry, and then i feel better!

7. Have you started your (gasp!) Christmas shopping? If so when, and how much? If not, when will you even begin thinking about it?

Oh geez... OK, I'll admit it, I've bought one thing.  A stocking stuffer for one of my kids.  Other than that, nope.  I'll start thinking about it the first part of November.  As in, actually buying things.  I'm just making mental notes right now.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

So, before my Women's Retreat last month, several of us read the book "Choosing Joy" by Kay Warren.  This is one of her quotes from the book, and it has been resonating with me ever since.  Truly. Awesome.

Enjoy!