No foolin' it's a Hodgepodge!

We're back - Hodgpodge Wednesday again!  No foolin'! See y'all tomorrow!  Are you playing any April Fools tricks?  Do share!!

1. In honor of the date...when were you last sent on a 'fool's errand'?

Not sure... but I know it has happened!
2. Peter Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, The Energizer Bunny, The Easter Bunny, Rabbit (Pooh's friend), White Rabbit (of Wonderland fame), or the Trix Rabbit...which of these 'famous' rabbits can you best relate to right now?

Hmm - well, since my hubby is across the country right now, and I get to play "Easter Bunny" this year, I guess that would be me!  I can also relate to the White Rabbit - "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!" Three kids, full time job during Holy Week, spring break next week, it's craziness!
3. When did you last find yourself scrambling to get something done? Explain.

Just tonight, when my Little C got his tennis shoes soaking wet at the beach (sigh) and I had to get them washed and dried before school tomorrow!

4. Last time you were up at the literal crack of dawn? Why? Last time you stayed up all night? Why?

I've started walking every morning, and often times the sun hasn't quite risen yet!  It's a beautiful time of day - very crisp and clean, the birds are chirping...  I don't remember the last time I stayed up all night - probably when my little ones were sick!

5. Crack a book, crack a bottle, crack a joke, crack an egg...which have you done most recently?

I cracked an egg yesterday morning!  Also part of my "eat healthier, more protein, less carbs" diet I'm on!

6. What's your favorite part of a typical weekend? Tell us why that's so.

Sunday mornings - we have a "NO SCREEN" rule until we get home from church, so it's generally quiet around the house, we may have praise music on, we read, we have breakfast, it's nice to not have the distractions of tv and computer and phone.

7. What's something I'd find on a bookshelf in your home? Other than a book I mean!

We have WillowCreek figurines scattered throughout our home, and several on the bookshelf!  I love them because they were each bought/given at special times in our lives - a new baby, a good friend, a deployment...

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It was exactly a year ago today that we got the news about our business partnership dissolving.  What a strange time to look back on... we were devastated, scared, angry, betrayed... and while this year has DEFINITELY not been what we were thinking it would be, what it should have been, wow - what a year of growth it has been, and continues to be.  But boy do those growing pains hurt sometimes!  

I'll admit, there were times I was tempted to just wallow in the bitterness, in the righteous anger, waving my fist at the injustice, attack those who hurt us so deeply.  But I felt that poisoning my very soul... and I didn't like it.  I knew it wasn't what God wanted for me.  And so I fought my way through it.  I prayed... hard.  I admitted my struggle to close friends, who prayed.  Hard.  I wrestled over it with the Lord, read the psalms, declared victories in His name, and submitted myself over rand over and over and over again until I was sick of hearing it all... It was hard.  I had to let go of my selfish, human desires.  So hard to do.  

But worth it.  Even though it was hard.  It IS hard.  But always worth it.

Pondering the happiness of bivalves and dances...

Hey y'all!  Good to see you back here again for another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge!  Leave a comment below letting me know you stopped by, and then head on over to Joyce's page (click the link below) to see what others are saying, or join in the fun yourself!  Have a wonderful week, friends!

1. This coming weekend is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. Do you celebrate Easter in your home? What was your favorite Easter tradition as a child?

Yes, we celebrate Easter, and since I work in our church, it is definitely a busy time for all of us!  As a child, my favorite tradition was waking up early, searching for the eggs around the yard, and then dressing up and going to church with my grandparents.  Now, I love making the baskets for my kiddos, hiding eggs, and going to church as a family.

2. George Weinberg is quoted as saying, 'Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.' Agree or disagree? Share your own thoughts on the word hope. 

The definition of hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen - the optimist in me would say that it's not that hope abandons you, or you abandon hope, but rather that your goals or dreams may change due to circumstances or life changes...

3. Weigh in with a yay or nay on the traditional Easter candies. A solid milk chocolate bunny? Cadbury Creme Eggs? Peeps? Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs? Jellybeans? Coconut Cream Eggs? Of the candies listed, which one would you most like to find in your Easter basket?

I do like the traditional easter candies - of course, there aren't many candies I don't like!  Don't really care for Cadbury creme eggs or peeps, but give me a coconut cream egg, or a solid bordeaux egg from Sees, and I'm happy as a clam!  (Assuming clams are really as happy as that saying indicates... have we ever been able to accurately assess the emotional state of a bivalve mollusk?)  Whatever... I'm happy.

4. When did you last feel 'like a kid in a candy store'? 

Just tonight - I was in Bed Bath and Beyond with a girlfriend, and oh my goodness, they have the CUTEST summer plates and cups!  All plastic, so cheap, but cute!  I resisted buying any, but I may just have to go back... there were clear cups with oranges on them too, which would be perfect for our family beach house, which was made possible by our orange farmer grandparents!  (See, i can always justify spending money on cute household things... especially when they elicit an emotional response)

5. What's something you know you do differently than most people? Does that bother you? Does it bother other people?

I'm drawing a blank.  For those of you who know me... whatcha think?  Any suggestions?

The only thing I can think of is the fact that I talk in sweet talk to the crotchety old copier in my office when it's being ornery - my coworkers think it's ridiculous, but I maintain, if you talk nice to it, it will behave!  Doesn't really bother me, or bother my coworkers - I maintain, you don't argue with what works!

6. Palm Springs CA, Palm Beach FL, or the PALMetto State...of the three mentioned, which sunny spot would you most like to visit right now? Which have you visited at one time or another?

I'd love to visit the Palmetto State- I love South Carolina, and as a bonus, it's right next to North Carolina, where our rental house is that we are trying to sell!  Oh how I would love to be there to meet with the realtor, talk to our renter, and for pete's sake figure out what in the world is going on with the air vents that they are saying need to be replaced... oy... so yeah, South Carolina is where I would love to be!

7. If you could change the length of a day would you lengthen it or shorten it? Tell us why.

I would lengthen it.  Not only does it feel like there are never enough hours in the day, but it would give more time to be with those I love.


8.  Insert your own random thought here.

A friend sent this to me on Facebook the other day, and I've been singing this song ever since - it is so fun, and is a fun compilation of movies too!  Sorry I couldn't figure out how to actually put the video on here - but follow the link below - you'll be glad you did!  Enjoy! :-)

HERE!!!

It's not easy being Green!

1.  Share a favorite song, book, or movie title containing the word green...

2. Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, 'Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.' Would you agree? Are you a believer in luck?

Hmm, I would say even stronger men know that there is no such thing as luck, or simple cause and effect, but rather God who orchestrates it all!

3. Spring water, Hot Springs, handspring, spring fling, spring break, spring fever, offspring...which 'spring' word best applies to something in your day, week, or life right now?

I would say "handspring" - as our family has made a huge decision that has, in one sense, sprung us forward, and in another sense, left us right where we are.  Does that make sense?  no?  See the "random thoughts" below to understand... :-)

4. What's something you do to make yourself look or feel more confident?

I dress in things that I know make me look good, don't remind me of the extra pounds I need to lose... and I avoid doing things like Facebook and Amazon shopping while at work, instead I plow through projects, no matter how menial some of them may seem... at the end of the day, I know I've gotten work done.

5.  It's National Celery Month...are you a fan? If so, what's a snack or dish you enjoy that calls for celery?

Blech.  No thank you.  I only use it if I know it is absolutely essential for crunch factor...

6. What's one thing you wish you'd learned sooner?

Oh gosh... where do I start?  Seriously, the things I wish I could tell my younger self!
- go easy on yourself and enjoy getting to know your babies when they are newborns... don't frustrate yourself trying to do everything right all the time...
- date your husband, go on hikes, laugh...
-  play with your kids while they want you to play with them... and record as much as you can!
- and the list goes on, and on, and on...

7. Would you like to own a second home? If so where would you want that home to be?

Owning a second home hasn't ever been a goal of mine - but my hubby's family has a beach house in the central coast of CA, and it has been such a wonderful place of common memories and experiences, that if I could have a second home, that is what it would be... a place, in the woods or at the beach, where all family members could gather and share their dreams and experiences...

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

So - a week ago my husband was offered a full time permanent position with the company he has been working for (on a one-year-contract) - the only caveat, is the position is 2000 miles away from where we live now.  And our eldest son is going to be a senior next year.  And my job is in a crucial transition point... so, after a LOT of praying together, we have decided to stay here.  For my hubby to come home, to really push his company forward, and to be together through it!  I'll admit, it's hard knowing we are passing on a 6-figure salary with benefits... but we are at peace with our decision, so surely it must be a God-thing... and we are definitely ok with that!

Springing Ahead!

Hi there friends!  It is Hodgepodge time!  And not only that, I am taking tomorrow off from work so I can put the finishing touches on our home that we have moved into - you know, hanging pictures, driving to Bed Bath & Beyond to find shelving for my pantry spices, all of that exciting stuff that just needs to get done!  So, that also means I may have more time to catch up on some blogging and actually respond to people who stop by my blog tomorrow!  I hope so - I have missed it!  Please hop on over to the Home Page (Joyce's abode) and see what others are saying in response to the questions.. it is so much fun!

1. What's the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word 'spring'? Which phrase best describes the season of spring where you live right now (today)-sprung! almost there, or still waiting?

The first image that comes to mind is "Spring ahead" as in, the daylight savings time ritual that made us all oversleep yesterday!  Yikes!

Followed, of course, by Tigger!  Although he was more of a "bouncy flouncy pouncy trouncey fun fun fun fun fun! - the most wonderful thing bout Tiggers is that He's the only one!  hoo hoo hoo hoo!"  (extra credit points if you just totally sung that in the Tigger voice in your head and even did the ending "hoo hoo hoo hoo!")

Spring is definitely on its way here - the flowers in our office courtyard are starting to bloom!

2. Bed, couch, stapler, garage door, computer mouse, recliner, flashlight, door knob...which household item containing springs most needs replacing in your home? Speaking of springs...did you ever own a Slinky?

Honestly, we move so often, most of those things are replaced pretty regularly.  I am pretty darn attached to our bed, though, as was evidenced this past week when we switched mattresses for the "better, newer" mattress that one of our children had.  And neither my husband or I slept well all week!  When I started waking up with sharp stabbing pains in my jaw/ear, I knew I was grinding my teeth in my sleep... so we switched the mattresses back.  And I have slept like a log ever since!  The princess and the pea, I am... apparently.

And duh - what child of the 70s/80s didn't own a slinky?  Or, at least, the tangled mess of wire that USED to be a slinky...  ;-)

3. March is Women's History Month. Share a favorite quote by a woman.

"For beautiful eyes, look only for the good in others.  For beautiful lips, speak only kindness.  And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." - Audrey Hepburn

4. What's a question that looms large in your mind right now?

How many steps/leaps of faith is God going to ask us to make?

5. Are you a sugar freak? By that I mean how much do you love sugar? With all the bad press sugar gets these days, have you made any efforts to reduce the amount of sugar you consume?

I love sugar... truly, the minute I have any, I crave more.  Which means that I really should limit it a bit.  I don't consciously reduce the amount of sugar I consume, but I do avoid the synthetic stuff - I just don't trust it.  i would rather have less of the the "real" stuff than something chemical.

6. Would you rather have less work to do or more work you enjoy doing?

Definitely more work that I enjoy doing.

7. Ever been to Texas? Of the top ten Texas tourist attractions which would you most like to see-The Alamo, The San Antonio River Walk, The State Capital, Dallas World Aquarium, Padre Island National Seashore, Houston Space Center, Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Six Flags Fiesta Texas,  Moody Gardens, or Galveston Island?

Yes I have!  I took my little ones (ages 5 and 15 months at the time) on a road trip from Pensacola to Dallas and San Antonio to visit good friends while my hubby was away at a military training.  The River Walk in San Antonio is gorgeous - so much fun!  I would like to see the World Aquarium - from what I've heard, the Alamo is really nothing to look at - whoever planned that memorial did a very poor job!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

A friend sent me this song today... I really needed to hear it, and so thought I'd share it with you!  God is so good...

Movin' Right Along in the Hodgepodge

Hello friends!!  So, woo hoo!  We're moved!  Into a new home, 12 houses down from our old home, with awesome neighbors that don't have barking annoying dogs, and a floor plan that I actually think I'll like better, once I get rid of all the boxes! Sure, we don't know how long we will be here... and while I have been struggling with that a bit, finding it difficult to want to settle in here... but God has put us in this place right now, at this time, and I need to settle... and let Him reveal Himself to me during this time.  And so now, lets Hodgepodge! :-)

1. 'In like a lion, out like a lamb'...does the first part of this saying describing March weather ring true  where you live? 

Our March weather has definitely been accurate to this saying - well, at least for here, where the normal temps are in the 70s!  We had rain and HAIL this weekend - "What is this hard cold stuff coming from the sky?" we asked ourselves in bewilderment.  "Don't our exorbitant property taxes and cost of living guarantee some sort of sunshine tax, as in, we get sunshine all the time, especially when Sally and her family are moving this weekend?  No?  Well... Alrightythen...

2. March 4th is National Grammar Day. What common grammatical error bothers you the most? 

The misuse of apostrophes - as in, if you inviting my family to an event, you address it to the Henrys... not the Henry's.  

3. William Arthur Ward says- 'The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.' Which one are you?

I'm a combination of an optimist and a realist... using this analogy, I would wait for the wind to change, but then if it doesn't, I would adjust.  I wouldn't waste time complaining about the wind - what's the point?

4. What's something you need to 'march forth and conquer' this month?
These. Boxes. All. Over. My. House.

5. An ongoing debate around here...do you dust first, then vacuum or vacuum first, then dust? Of the two routine household chores, which do you dislike the least? How's that for wording? 

Ideally, assuming I'm actually doing all of the cleaning at the same time, I would dust and then vacuum.  But, since I normally just do what I've got to do in a quick amount of time, I vacuum - because that's quick, and then I dust when i have to.  

6. According to thrilllist.com, the ten most photographed sites in the U.S.A. are- Cinderella's Castle in Orlando, Southernmost House in Key West Florida, The Space Needle in Seattle, The Site of the Boston Massacre in Boston, The Bellagio Lake/fountains in Las Vegas, The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Coit Tower in San Fransisco, The Art Institute of Chicago, Niagara Falls, and snagging the number one spot-The Guggenheim Museum in New York City. 

How many on this list have you photographed? Which on the list would you most like to visit and photograph?

I've photographed Cinderella's castle in Orlando, the Space Needle in Seattle, the Bellagio in Vegas, and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.  I would love to visit the Guggenheim Museum in New York!

7. Fifty years ago Monday (March 2, 1965) The Sound of Music premiered at the Rivoli Theatre in NYC. Have you seen the film? Do you own a copy? On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love it (or not)? Ten=best movie ever. If you're a fan, what's your favorite scene or song from the movie? 

As a kid, I remember waiting anxiously for the Sound of Music to come on tv - it was the one night we were allowed to stay up late and watch a tv movie!  I never made it to the end, though, i would fall asleep!  Seriously - I think I was 20 years old before I realized how the movie actually ended!  Now, we do own a copy of it, and my kids love it!  On a scale of 1-10, I'll give it an 8... and it's got to be the original, with Julie Andrews.  No offense to Carrie Underwood - but she's no Julie Andrews.  Favorite scene - when Maria and Captain VonTrapp are singing "Something Good" to each other... love that song!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

So... we moved.  On Friday night.  It was supposed to be on Saturday, but - hello weather forecast - 80% chance of rain on Saturday... so I posted to Facebook a "Please help us Friday if you can, I"ll provide pizza!" plea, and you guys... we had over 20 adults and kids/teens show up to help us!  it was incredible.  And we got EVERYTHING moved in one night.  So awesome.  God is good.  All the time.

 Here's my handsome hubby, talking to our "crew" and praying before we ate.

Here's our crew of teens that came to help. (that's my eldest son and his girlfriend in the center of the picture against the wall - aren't they cute?) :-)

Movin' Right Along...

Feel the rhythm, Feel the ride, Get on Up, it's Hodgepodge Time!

1. Did you watch The Oscars? How many of the Best Picture nominees have you seen? (American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, Selma, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash)

Nope, I missed the Oscars, and I don't ever get out to the movies, so I'm really out of the loop on this one!  My hubby and teen son went to see American Sniper the other night, and absolutely loved it - my hubs said he thought it was the most inspiring movie he had ever seen.

Do you think actors should use their acceptance speeches as an opportunity to promote their political and/or social agenda? Does that sort of speech make you more or less inclined to change the channel?

I feel like their acceptance speeches should be focused on their work, why they are there - not to promote a political or social agenda.  There are other ways they can do that - through their charity giving, etc.

2. Speaking of the movies... are you comfortable going to a movie alone? How about dinner in a restaurant (not fast food, but an actual restaurant)? The second half of this question was posed by Carrie who blogs over at It's Not Easy Being Queen. Thanks Carrie! 

I'll admit I'm not comfortable going to a movie alone, mainly because I love having someone to share it with.  Dinner in a real restaurant by myself, not my favorite thing either, but I could do it - because not having to do dishes is awesome.  I have also found that when I dine alone, I don't get as good of service at restaurants.  Weird.

3. What's the last home repair or home improvement project you had to pay someone to complete? In hindsight was this a project you could have done yourself? 

Ugh - our home in North Carolina.  We are putting it on the market soon, and it needs repainting on the inside.  If we lived closer, I would totally be doing it on my own.  But nope, we have to hire someone.  Frustrating.

4. Have you ever had Indian food? Like it or no? If you're a fan, what's your favorite dish? Have you ever prepared this yourself at home? Is there an Indian restaurant in your current hometown? 

I've had Indian food a few times - I don't really like overly spicy food, and that has been my experience with a lot of Indian food.  

5. A song that reminds you of your parents? 

This one... we used to listen to it on our long drives to our camping vacations....

6. The 26th of February is National Tell A Fairy Tale Day. What's your favorite, or one of your favorite, fairy tales? Do you have any childhood memories associated with a particular fairy tale? 

My favorite fairy tale is Cinderella - and yes, i can't wait for the new version to come out in a couple of weeks!  As a child i had a book of fairy tales and there was a picture of Cinderella in a blue sparkly dress, and I thought it was the MOST beautiful dress EVER!  Recently I found that book again, and it was actually kinda gaudy... but oh well, the little girl in me still loved it.

7. What's a problem you solved yesterday? 

Just one?  bahahahahaaa...  um, the most obvious would be the first one that came my way, when I was up at 0-dark-hundred because of the neighbor's barking dogs - sigh - and while I was grumbling about wanting to sleep enjoying my quiet time, the power went out!  So i called the power company, only to find that they had gotten our "move out" date wrong, and had shut off our power!  I was so thankful that I was up when that happened - otherwise we would have all slept through our alarms, and there wouldn't have been hot water for the coffee - I KNOW!- and other such inconveniences.

8. Insert your own random thought here

We are moving in four days.  Enough said.  Prayers for NO RAIN (darn the 70% chance of rain forecast!) and for a quick easy transition to the new place would be appreciated!  (And yes, we are moving away from the obnoxious dogs next door.  There is a silver lining to this move after all!

Barking dogs and Tiny Prints

How is it Wednesday already?!  Seriously, this last week has been such a blur - mainly because our "lovely" neighbors (insert ALL manner of sarcasm here) have a pitbull and german shepherd that bark. all. night. long.  These are neighbors that split their time living between Las Vegas and here - and haven't been "home" since July.  I'll be honest, I haven't missed them.  But then they came home last week, and brought two dogs with them.  Did I mention that they bark all night long?  Yawn.  Double yawn.  And yes, this has further convinced me that THIS is why you have babies when you are young, for surely the lack of sleep would kill me now.  As is exemplified by my foggy headedness this last week.

But - enough about that.  On to the Hodgepodge, my friends!

1. When did you last have to interact, either by phone or in person, with someone in a government run agency? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the experience? (10 being fabulous and 1 being pass the Tylenol)

Um, do you count when I called the sheriff's department last week on our neighbor's dogs?  (I'm telling you, I get C-A-RANK-Y when I'm without sleep three nights in a row)  The deputy I spoke with was quite sympathetic, told me what steps I needed to take (darn bureaucracy, it's an animal control issue, not sheriffs...) But even she said "Really?  Nice, neighbor... go back to Vegas!"  We bonded.  I could tell.  So, on a scale of 1-10, I'll say an 8, only because she couldn't send the SWAT team out to take out the dogs.  Not that I would REALLY want that... but, just a nice man in uniform with a tranquilizer dart to get the message across would have been nice.  Sigh.

2. The current governor of Wisconsin is considering a run for President next time around. Walker attended Marquette University, but never graduated. In terms of any candidate running for the office of President (not asking here if you agree or disagree with Scott Walker's politics) would the lack of a college degree influence your vote or no? Would that be a factor in your support of any candidate running for public office, even a role less weighty than President?

Whether or not a candidate has a degree doesn't qualify or disqualify them from being a public role model and leader.  I myself wouldn't want to be judged solely based on whether I went to college or not!  What an individual does in his own personal life, how he lives out his beliefs, if he is a man of integrity, and whether he has served his country is of much more importance to me.  I do have difficulty feeling like a President can really identify with the mainstream if he has not worked his way to the top and had any military experience.  

3. When did you last visit a place or site named for George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, and what was that place or site?

I think it was back at Christmas, 2003, when we went to D.C. over Christmas and went to the Lincoln Memorial.  Inspiring, for sure.

4. February 16th was President's Day in the US, but did you know it was also National Almond Day? I didn't think so : ) Do you like almonds? If so, what's a food/dish/recipe you enjoy that contains almonds? 

Almonds... meh, I can take them or leave them.  I'd prefer cashews to snack on!  Of course, anything salted and/or in chocolate is excellent in my book.

5.The television program Saturday Night Live celebrated it's 40th anniversary this past weekend. Were/are you a fan of the show? If so what has been your favorite (or one of your favorite) skits, sayings, or characters that came out of the program?

Yes!  Oh, I loved this show when I was in high school.  Some of my fondest memories are of coming home from a date and finding my dad in his recliner, watching SNL, and I would sit and watch a bit with him before heading to bed.  My favorite skits - oh, so many - the Church Lady, Hanz and Franz, and the "More Cowbell!" is classic.  

(As a side note - no joke - last week in our church staff meeting, the Minister of Worship asked if anything was missing from worship.  Without skipping a beat my boss (the Director of Family Ministry) and I both said in unison "More cowbell!  I gotta fever!")  It was awesome.  

You can't take us anywhere.

6. Anything purple within ten feet of you? What is it?

My fuzzy blanket - it is white with a purple paisley print that I bought at TJ Maxx years ago.  It is so soft!!!

7. Back in December I asked you to submit a question for a future HP as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I grabbed this one from those entries, submitted by Zoanna who blogs over at Penchant for Pens. Thanks Zoanna!

She asks, "How often do you make your bed, and how do you like to make it-pull the covers all the way up over the pillows, tuck the covers in around the pillows, or place all the pillows on top of the covers?" 

Oh gosh, I feel like I know a celebrity!  Zo is one of my dearest bloggy friends! (no, not bloody as my auto spell correct keeps trying to say! sheesh, this is not a murder mystery, autocorrect!)  Anyway, I'm just so gosh darn proud of Zo for getting her question picked this week!  Yay, my friend!

So now, to answer her question...  

With my house on the market these past couple of months, I have been making my bed every. single. day.  And I"ll admit, I kinda like it.  And it's not hard to do, especially with my hubby not home, it means I really only have one side of the bed to make.  Kinda bittersweet, 'cause I would much rather have him at home with me... but, this long distance job won't be forever.  

Am I ever going to answer this question?

I make it every day - usually - and I pull the covers up, fold them down, place the bottom pillows on top, then pull up the comforter and add the rest of the pillows on top decoratively.
 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

This past weekend the kiddos and I drove up to Salt Lake City to see my in-laws for the long weekend.  My hubby flew in too, to join us, and then to drive home with us to help us with the packing/moving/business meetings that are happening these next couple of weeks.  While we were there, I helped my mother-in-law with the preparations for my father-in-laws retirement party in April.  We chose the invitations, the wording, and the guest list, uploading them all into a database - and get this, we even found a site (tinyprints.com) that had beautiful invitations and would mail them all out to our guests for us!  Gosh, is technology wonderful or WHAT?!  WHERE was this when I got married?  Guess which site I am using forever and ever now, for Christmas cards and such?  Amazing - My helpful tip for the day!  

have a good one, friends... I'm off to hopefully get some barking-dog-free sleep!

Lovin' the Hodgepodge

Good morning friends!  I've got my coffee, my fuzzy blankie, David Nevue playing in the background, and my laptop... after what was a very long night, this is a wonderful way to start my morning with you all!  Much love to you!

1. Have you ever written a love letter? Have you written one recently? Had one written to you? Did you keep it?

Oh yes - I will say, that is one of the only fun things about my husband being deployed, is we wrote some pretty wonderful love letters to each other!  I haven't written one lately, but you know, I should!  And yes, I kept every one my husband sent me, and even a rough draft of one I sent to him... it's good, my friends.  (blush!)

2. What's a movie that ends in a way you especially love?

When Harry Met Sally - "I hate you, Harry, I really hate you!" and then they kiss!

3. Something that makes your heart sing? And for those of you who are parents, I mean something besides your children that makes your heart sing?

The sound and smell of the waves crashing on the ocean.  Spring flowers erupting through the winter ground.  The sound of loved ones laughing together.

4. What's the last event you had to attend, phone call you had to make, routine task you needed to complete, or meal you had to prepare, that you did do, but only half-heartedly?

Over the weekend I had to attend a dinner at our church - normally I love those types of things, but I had been packing our boxes to move all day long and I was exhausted!  However, I had RSVP'd to come, so I went, but instead of making an amazing salad to take with me like I normally would, I cheated and got a couple of Trader Joes pre-made salads and threw them together.  I don't like "cheating" like that normally... but I'm in survival mode here people!  (And the dinner was fun, and the salad was fine.  I mean seriously, I think I put way too high of expectations on myself sometimes.

  Did I just hear a resounding "Ya THINK?!" from all of my family and friends?

5. Tuna fish salad-yay or blech? If you said yay, how do you like your tuna salad prepared? Hey, this is the Hodgepodge, right?

Meh, I can take it or leave it... it's never something I crave, if you know what I mean.  (Well, except for one time when I was pregnant, I woke up and I wanted tuna fish SO badly... and so I ate some, and promptly threw it all up again.  Maybe that's why I don't particularly care for it now!)

6. What's something you 'know by heart'?

That God loves me, that He has everything under control, and there is absolutely nothing I can ever do that would separate me from His love.  Oh what assurance that is!  He is so good.

Oh, you mean something i have memorized?  My phone number from when I was a child, the Lord's prayer, Psalm 23, and the prayer my eldest used to pray every night when he was little "Dear God, dank you Mama, Daddy, Elmo... amen"

7. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, what two or three word phrase would you write on a conversation heart for someone you love? That someone could be a spouse, child, parent, cousin, bestie...anyone at all whom you love.

"Three squeezes" - When my hubs and I were dating, as we held hands I would squeeze three times to say "I love you" - and that has continued to this day, and with our kids.  Our own little secret code!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

So, the moving saga continues... We move into our new home, just 12 houses down from our current home, in 2 1/2 weeks.  I have been packing like a mad woman, while at the same time praying like crazy... No answers yet on my hubs job situation, so we are putting one foot in front of the other, trusting that God will give us direction along the way.  I appreciate the prayers, not only for our peace as we go through this time, but also for safe travels as the kiddos and I drive to Utah this weekend to see my in-laws, and to pick up my hubby, who is flying in to meet us there and then drive home with us to help with the move and such!  I can't wait to see him... I'm kinda fond of that guy! Have a blessed weekend, friends!  Thanks for stopping by!

Friends, prayers, and moving...

It's Wednesday, which means it's Hodgepodge Day!  Click on the link below to join Joyce and our bloody friends on our weekly venture, and please leave me a comment letting me know you've stopped by!  Please please please... you all know how words are my love language! :-)

1. Do you wear your heart on your sleeve, or keep your emotions tucked in tight?

I'm pretty much "on my sleeve" - even if I think I'm trying to keep my emotions hidden, my eyes give it away.  I'll think i've got it all hidden deep down and then someone will look at me and say, "Are you SURE you are ok?" and I burst into tears... Yep... Can't keep much hidden for long!

case in point... after a long day at work yesterday (complete with a paranoid schizophrenic in my office twice yesterday...no joke...) I came home last night and my teens were bickering, and I may or may not have stopped in the middle of the kitchen and said "You know, your frontal lobes in your brains are not fully developed which means that you are both reacting to each other in a purely emotional state, fully lacking in sophistication and reason, so just accept that you are both essentially brain damaged right now, take comfort in the fact that you will not always be this way, and just for the love of Pete, be nice and decent to each other!" as I ate chocolate ice cream out of the carton with a plastic spoon that had just broken in half.  They were stunned silent.  Mission complete. BOOM!

2. How did you meet your closest friend?

This is actually a really hard question to answer, because we have moved so many different times and I have so many good friends all over the world that I'm still very close to.  I could talk about the friend I have had the longest (Bill, whom I met in the toddler room at church, and eventually who actually introduced my husband and I, became my husband's best friend, and business partner), my teenage friends, Christina, Jui, and John, or my first "adult" friend as a newlywed, Tammy (whose kids I adore, and can not believe that they are all grown up and stuff now), and of course Ellen and Julie who were my awesome-sauce mama mentors, and my first Air Force friend, without whom i'm not sure I would have made it (Stacy!)... the list goes on and on and on... Erika C (whom I lost way too soon... miss you, see you in Heaven!), Martha, Erika M, Holly, Jamie, Carrie... and now here, Marcy, Tracy, Jennifer...

The thing all of these amazing people have in common?  Their love for God, their willingness to listen, and to be silly, and to know we have each other's backs through thick and thin.  Amen and hallelujah.  I love you all...

3.  Pink lemonade, grilled salmon, cotton candy, pink grapefruit, a strawberry milkshake, or raspberry sorbet...of the pink foods listed, which one is your favorite? Least favorite? Which one have you most recently consumed?

My favorite would be a strawberry milkshake, but not the fake crap you get at McDonalds, it's got to be GOOD ice cream and if it has real berries in it then I'm yours for life... (although I do love grilled salmon, marinaded in the Trader Joes Island Soyaki marinade - ohmygoodness... so good)  But most recently, It wasn't a strawberry milkshake, it was strawberry ice cream, although it had kinda melted, so it WAS kinda like a milkshake... but not as good as the ones that are actually MADE to be a milkshake.  Yum.

I do NOT like pink grapefruit - ewww, my lips just puckered up and my nose squinted up just thinking about it!

4. When were you last 'tickled pink' over something? Explain.

On Super Bowl Sunday, when I looked over at the couch and saw my son cuddling with his new girlfriend.  They are fun, they make each other laugh, and their relationship is still new enough that they are trying to figure out how to act around each other... it brings back many fun memories of being that age... but I wouldn't go back for anything!

5. Are you a fan of television talk shows? Daytime, nighttime, or both? What's your favorite?

I'm not a fan of the daytime television talk shows, other than Ellen, who I think is hilarious - if I time it right, I can watch the end of her show as I make dinner.   The only nighttime one I like is the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon - but it is on so late here, I normally just see the clips that get posted on Facebook!

6. When was the last time you wanted to ask a question, but felt too foolish to do so?

Just tonight, my son came home from his very first ROP class, which will give him his EMT license at the end of the semester.  As he was explaining to me everything they learned, he was SO excited, the acronyms were flying, the medical jargon was abundant, and I'll admit I thought "Huh?  What was that?" so many times, that by the end, I was just nodding and smiling and said, truthfully, "I'm so glad you are loving the class and are so excited about learning about medicine!"

7. My favorite __________________right now is _________________.

My favorite quote right now is "Is my own theology of _____ getting in the way of my theology about the Great Commission?" - from Jim Toole, a former pastor at our church.  This quote has me thinking... about a great many things.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

So, prayers needed, dear friends.  Last Thursday, the house we are renting sold.  We have 60 days to find a new place to live.  In the middle of the school year.  With three kiddos.  And my hubby 2000 miles away.  And I work full time.  And, with my hubs job so uncertain, hard to commit to a year lease, but that is what we will have to do.  So... ugh.   We have offered a contract on another home in our neighborhood, that would allow our carpools/childcare/everyday life to remain the same... but we have yet to receive an approval on it.  And then today my hubby was asked to apply for a permanent position at his company... in St Louis Missouri... So... Please pray, for clarity, for provision, for peace, even though this is all very scary and we have no idea where God is directing us... please, pray.  Thank you.

Real estate drama and chocolate deliveries!

Real estate drama. It's what is on my mind, and apparently upsetting my stomach and dreams, as was evidenced last night.  So here I am, at 4:59 am, having just woken up from a true nightmare, and I'm sipping a ginger ale, ready to Hodgepodge, do my Bible study, and get this morning started off on a better note!  (Though I may be sleepy later today, thats for sure!)  Ooh, but here's something awesome -  last night I was attempting to log in to my blog (to do the Hodgepodge), and for some reason Google wasn't having it... nope, DE-NIED!  I even enlisted the help of my awesome-sauce teen boy to help me, to no avail.  So finally I gave up and just went to bed... but when I woke up this morning was hit with the brilliant idea to clear all my history browsers and sign-in data, and try it that way.  And voila, it worked!  Who says you can't be brilliant at 4:51am?!  That may be the end of my brilliance after such a long night, but on that note, lets Hodgepodge!

1. When did someone last suggest you 'chill out'? Or, when did you last tell someone (or want to tell someone) to 'chill out'? Or, when did you last tell yourself to 'chill out'?

hahaha!  Just this last Saturday, I was running around like crazy trying to clean up the house before some realtors came over to do a showing (mind you, this house doesn't even BELONG to me - it's my landlords who are selling the house... but I'm going to do the right thing and make it presentable)  So anyway, I was cleaning up before taking my daughter to her soccer game, and she finally came in, stood in the door with her hand on her hip, and said "Mom, you really need to chill out - the house looks good, you are obsessing, it's FINE!  Now lets GO!"  And I laughed, because you know, she was totally right.  Since then, I've been chilling out a bit... or trying to anyway...

2. What most recently caused your heart to melt? 

Yesterday I had a long 3-hour training session, much needed, but my brain was mush afterwards and I was exhausted.  I went to the back part of the office and muttered under my breath "I need chocolate!" But alas, there was none to be found.  A few minutes later, my co-worker  appeared with a piece of chocolate cheesecake - she had gone to the freezer and thawed a dessert that was supposed to be for last night's session meeting, just so I could have chocolate!  I was so touched... and oh man, did it hit the spot!  I do have wonderful co-workers, thats for sure!

3.  "An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." G.K. Chesterton  

Your thoughts? When did you last experience either an adventure or an inconvenience? How did you see it at first, as an adventure or an inconvenience?  Does it feel the same in hindsight?

A couple of weeks ago I had a few extra minutes before I had to be at work, so I got some coffee and went down to the beach for a few minutes.  As I sat there, I prayed and sighed and enjoyed the warm sun, and took a picture to post on Facebook.

No sooner had I posted it to FB, with the somewhat braggy post of "Just because I can!" (knowing full well that many of my friends were currently snowbound), when I heard a sound of something dropping on the wood, and felt like someone had thrown a splatter of mud at me.  It was a seagull, who had just pooped on me (and my breakfast).  I had to laugh and say "Karma's a *!tch" yes, my breakfast was ruined, but the bird didn't get that much poop on me - it came off easily and didn't ruin my blouse- and I was grateful it was a gull and not a pelican (because those things... their poop is NASTY!)  

So maybe not an adventure, a minor inconvenience... but I still got my coffee on the beach!

4.  A Wendy's Frosty, root beer in a frosty mug, or a frosted chocolate cupcake...of these three, which one is your favorite 'frosty' treat?

Root beer in a frosty mug, with a scoop of Tillamook vanilla ice cream if you don't mind!  yummy!!

5. Would you say your life so far this year has been more like a circus or a symphony? Explain why.

BAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!!  Oh Joyce, you make me laugh.  It's full on circus!  Hubby working 2000 miles away while also still trying to get his business out here going, 3 kids- school, soccer, band, church youth groups,  working full time at a church that is currently in search of a new senior pastor, my landlord is selling our house, and we are putting our own rental property in North Carolina on the market in the next couple of weeks.  Circus Circus Circus...


6. Since it's a 'snow day' here, what's your favorite song containing the word 'white'?

This one - "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" by Toby Keith... as a military family, after the attacks on 9/11 and all of the emotions that went along with it, sending my husband off to fight overseas, all of it... this song was a great morale booster!

7. If you had to leave the city you currently live in, what would you find the hardest to leave behind?

Um, did you SEE my picture on question #3?  Yeah, I love watching the sunsets over the ocean, the surfers, the smell of sea water... love love love it.

8. Insert your own random thought here

So yeah, the real estate drama is getting to me a bit, as evidenced by my dream last night.  I dreamt that I flew to North Carolina just to see what needed to be done to get the house ready to put on the market.  (Our realtor had suggested we get the walls repainted and the carpets cleaned)  And in my dream, when I arrived the yard was overgrown with weeds 4 feet tall, the trees were all overgrown and in different locations in the yard, and as I peeked in the windows, the walls were all torn down to the particle board, you could see the wood framing in some places, and where there WAS still paint it looked like the previous renters had hired a youth group to paint!  Meanwhile, our current renter was there (a single guy, good friend of ours) and he had pizza boxes all over the place and beer steins all over the mantle, and he said "Yeah, I told you the previous renters didn't treat the place right, but I didn't want to worry you!"  Just then my co-worker Diana came in and said that the particle board was all wrong, and then my NC friend Erika (HI friend!!) drove up and was surprised to see me, but said her hubby and son would help reframe the walls with the right particle board.  And then i woke up... heart pounding... sheesh!

So friends... please pray that our house in NC sells quickly, pray for guidance as we get it prepared long distance, and pray that the house we are living in NOW does not sell and we can stay here!  Just saying... that would be wonderful.

have a good day!