Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's left to be done on your Christmas to-do list? EVERYTHING!!  I haven't even started to shop! Ok, well I did order one thing from Amazon but it is materials for something that I still have to make. We will be going shopping on Friday to take care of the gifts.  Oh and by the way for those who are wondering...this doesn't stress me out at all...Jeremiah yeah a little, me- not so much.  It will get done, sometime!  One year (many years ago) Jerm and I did ALL our shopping on Christmas Eve.

 

2. The Hodgepodge lands on the first day of winter this year. What's your favorite thing about winter?  I like the beginning of winter. It's the end of winter that gets me...It is just too long and cold!  :-)  But for my favorite part, it has to be those first couple snows.  I love when we get a big snowstorm and it coats everything in a dazzling white!

 

3. In what area of your life are you immature? Feel free to elaborate or not.   This is hard.... I will say...parenting.... I don't know if I will ever get it together in this department but I am trying! Lord willing, I will keep trying!

 

4. What was the most (or one of the most) important lessons you learned in 2016?   It has to be to savor each moment we have together.  

 

5. It's Fried Shrimp Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite way to eat shrimp? Will there be shrimp somewhere in your holiday feastings? SHRIMP!!!  YUCK!!!  I do not like ANY seafood.... Shrimp may be part of our holiday feastings because Ryder LOVES shrimp.  We usually get one or two shrimp rings for an appetizer for the Christmas Eve dinner that we host.  

 

6. What sound lulls you to sleep?  A fan.  All of us are lulled to sleep by a fan.  Our first home was right by a busy road.  Lots of noisy vehicles going up and down the road.  It would wake up the kids when they were babies.  We had found that running the humidifier helped all of us to sleep better.  Summer arrived and the hum then came in the form of the fan.  No going back now!  :-) 

 

7. What one word best describes your 2016? Blessed

 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.  For the past several years we have exchanged home made gifts with Jeremiah's family.  One gift per couple.  (The kids are the exception, they still get gifts)  This year we decided to change up the gift to have a family experience.  So as of now, we have decided to go snow tubing at a local ski resort in January. 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

1. Are you more task oriented or people oriented? Elaborate.  I am definitely a people oriented person. I don't care much for working by myself and will happily delegate tasks to others.  Now, I will say that once upon a time, I would have rather done the work myself so that it was "done correctly" but I have learned that I can't do that anymore.  It was very wearing on my mental health!

2. December 15 is National Wear Your Pearls Day...do you own/wear pearls? If you're a man answering the question, does your sweetheart own or wear pearls? Everyone share a 'pearl of wisdom' with us here today.   I do not own any pearls. I have a set of small earrings that are fakes. My pearl of wisdom is to enjoy every moment of each day.  I will add more to this in #8, the random thought.

3. Speaking of pearls...oysters? Are you a fan or not a fan? If you answered yes, tell us your favorite way to eat oysters? If you said no, be honest-have you ever tried one or does just the idea of eating an oyster make you gag a little?   Not a fan of oysters and no I have never, ever eaten an oyster and hopefully for the rest of my life I will never have one of those slimy things in my mouth.  For me, it's a texture thing and I will never willingly eat one!

4. Time Magazine has named President-elect Donald Trump Person of the Year. Let's take presidents and presidential candidates out of the mix for a minute. If a political figure had not been chosen who would you name Man or Woman of the Year for 2016?  Honestly, I have no idea.  I guess they want famous people or newsworthy folks and really there are very few of those worthy of being called the "person of the year" to me.  I don't have an answer to this question.

5. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2017 has been announced, and it's a vibrant green aptly named-greenery. Your thoughts? Is this a color currently in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade for the new year? Click here to see the color.   I like the color.  I don't think I have anything in that color anywhere.  It's pretty but I don't think it will show up in my home or in my wardrobe.

6. Today I've had too much________________________.   To do!!  I have cabinets to organize, my kitchen needs some major attention and as usual the laundry is out of control!!  Oh, I also need to get the Christmas cards out! AND what am I doing....blogging!  HaHa!  I will get to it though!

7. Share a favorite lyric from a favorite Christmas carol.   One of my favorite carols is Mary Did You Know? and Silver Bells is a song that makes me think of my grandma.  She used to play it on the organ a lot when I was a little girl. I don't enjoy shopping or going to the city but the song is sweet. I am going to post the lyrics to both songs. I think that Mary Did You Know? is a deep song.  Madi sang this song at our homeschool Christmas Variety Show.

Mary Did You Know?:

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God

Mary did you know, Mary did you know, Mary did you know

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am

Mary did you know, Mary did you know, Mary did you know

 

Silver Bells:

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks,
Dressed in holiday style,
In the air there is a feeling,
of Christmas
Children laughing,
People passing
Meeting smile after smile,
And on every street corner you'll hear :

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
ring- a- ling, hear them ring,
soon it will be Christmas day.

Strings of street lights,
Even stop lights,
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush,
home with their treasures.

Hear the snow crunch,
See the kids bunch,
This is Santa's big scene,
And above all this bustle
You'll hear :
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city,
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
Soon it will be Christmas day.

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.  In keeping to my answer in #2 about enjoying every moment of every day here's why... This isn't to necessarily be a Debbie Downer but it's what happening in my life in real time....

 

I say to enjoy every moment because we don't know how many days we have with those we love.  In August, Jeremiah's cousin and her hubby lost their little girl in her 7th month of pregnancy.  It was a devastating loss to them and the family.  They have 3 beautiful little girls and she would have made their fourth blessing.  On Thursday of last week my mom called me and said that my cousin and her husband lost their little boy in her 7th month of pregnancy.  He would have been their fourth little boy.  His funeral is tomorrow. 

 

Yesterday, I kept my nephew.  He just turned 10 months old and is a sweet baby boy!  He had two vaccinations on Monday and wasn't a very happy camper.  He was fussy and didn't feel too good along with not sleeping well.  He wasn't easily entertained or his regular happy self yesterday.  I have a metal star hanging on the glass patio door that leads to the playroom from our kitchen.  He liked touching it and playing with the star. There are little fingerprints on the glass now and I will be letting them there.  It seems like just last week that my own kids were leaving little fingerprints on the glass.  They are both bigger than me now.  I will savor those little messy prints for a bit longer.  It won't be but a couple blinks and he will be taller than me!

 

Enjoy each and every moment you have with those you love.  We only have so many days and I want to savor as many of those as I can.  I will snuggle, hug and kiss my little nephew and pray God's favor on him as I do my own two kids.  I hope that as we enter into this wonderful Christmas season that you embrace those around you and enjoy every moment spent with them....even the ones who try your patience!  Blessing to All! 

Homeschool Program!

   Last night we held our annual Christmas program for our homeschool group. It is always so much fun.  It is our own version of a talent show, if you want to call it that.  We have kids who play instruments, sing beautifully, dance, do stand up comedy, drama, art work, etc. 

  I am always impressed by our kids.  Last nights show was did not disappoint.  Ryder helped the younger kids with a song they sang about patience.  Madilynne was in a drama, played  Carol of the Bells on kazoo with 7 other teens, and sang and played guitar for Mary Did You Know? Ryder isn't one to be on stage.  He prefers behind the scenes type activities or black light puppetry where he isn't seen.  Madi on the other hand, LOVES front and center stage.  My job was to run the lights for the drama. 

   The fun continues after the program as we enjoy snacks and a time of fellowship.  I like to visit with everyone and we usually have some folks visit who once attended our group or friends and family that come to see the kids.  I have made so many dear friends throughout the years because of our group. 

   The only drawback to these evenings....CLEAN UP!  Oh how I dread clean up.  We need to vacuum the entire church, clean up the kitchen and put all the tables back and reset the classrooms, red up the bathrooms and turn the lights off.  Many hands make light work but it is still work.  As is the norm for us, we were in the pack of the usual three to four families to leave. We were able to get out a bit earlier than normal though... 10:30 pm.   In the past it has been 11-11:30 pm. I am used to it though. We have been part of the clean up for many, many years.  My kids know that we will in the crew that locks the doors!  Now that I think about it, we are also there to open the doors!  LOL

   I don't mind really as these clean up times also have good memories in them for Jeremiah, me and both kids.  I can't tell you have many years Jerm and another one of the dads have run the vacuums so the moms can clean other areas.  The teens are a huge help in putting away tables and resetting the classroom areas. 

   It is a fun evening but I am glad it is over.  We will repeat everything again in the Spring! I will dread the clean up but do it anyhow!  As my kids are getting older I don't have many more of these functions to look forward to but I plan on savoring each and every one! 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

1. Let's talk holiday decorating. On a scale of 1-10 where do you fall? (1=Scrooge and 10= Clark Griswold). What's your favorite corner-room-table-space to decorate? Is it done?  I USED to be a Clark Griswold but now...not so much.  When the kids were little, Jeremiah and I went all out decorating.  We did most of the house.  However, as time went on I have drastically changed my decorating habits.  It is just too much extra work for me right now.  I am not into it as I once was.  Each year depends on my energy level and amount of excitement I have for decorating.  I don't think I will do much this year.  The tree is up and so far that's all....

2. Is there a nativity scene in your decorating somewhere? Post a picture or, if it's special to you in some way, tell us why. Or do both-it's Christmas!  I have a beautiful nativity scene.  It is very simple in design but is very fitting.  I do not have it up yet.  I think I will get it out this year, maybe.

3.  Do you live in a social neighborhood? If so are you glad? If not do you wish you did?  Many of my neighbors are my family... We are social for sure. 

4.  As the saying goes, 'there's no time like the present'. How does that ring true in your life right now?  It is ringing true here.  I don't spend a lot of time thinking about the future at the moment.  We are living day by day and enjoying it.  Each day is a gift and I want to savor it.  Today I will be keeping my baby nephew.  He is 9 months old now and I honestly can't believe how fast the time has flown!  It seems that a blink ago he couldn't even roll over and now he is crawling and getting into everything!  I love it and it helps to keep me grounded!  My own babies are teens so I truly miss this wonderful baby stage!

5. Do you dread Mondays? Why or why not?  I am one of those people who dread Mondays.  I think I have always dreaded Mondays.  I am not a schedule person so when Monday rolls around I have to leave the carefree weekends go...

6.  Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis-which on the list is your favorite holiday plant? Are any of these on display in your home right now?  I will say Christmas Cactus but the Poinsettia is very close...  My Christmas Cactus is in bloom right now.  They are so lovely.  When I decorate, I like to use Poinsettias. 

7. Share a favorite quote from a Christmas movie.  I don't think I actually have a favorite quote but one our family uses is: You'll shoot your eye out with that thing!  from a Christmas Story.  I will assume that it isn't the actual direct quote but close.  I will also state that I am NOT a fan of that movie but it has some really good one liners in it!  :0)

8.  Insert your own random thought here.   Today Jeremiah and I celebrate our 20th Anniversary. We were high school sweethearts who were engaged on Christmas Day then married two years later with a Country Christmas wedding. December 7 is Pearl Harbor Day so many folks don't choose to marry on that day but it was also my Pap's birthday.  We decided that it was ok to chose that date.  We even mentioned Pap's birthday on the wedding program.  He is gone now, actually passed away on Christmas Eve many years ago, but all our grandparents live on in our hearts and memories.  In reference to question #4; live in the present and enjoy every day you are given. Plan for the future, but don't obsess about it; remember the past and learn from it.  We never know how many of days were are blessed with.  Have a blessed day and enjoy it to the fullest.  God is good- all the time!

After re-reading #8, I think I hit random on that!!!!  I am very scattered with my answer!  Have a good day anyhow!  ~smile~

From My Front Porch

  

 

  I forgot about posting at the beginning of this month. I am close though!  We are having a lot of rain and wind.  It is cold here at 31* so that rain is freezing on contact.  The roads are staying clear but the rest of the stuff outside has a nice layer of ice.  I am happy that the roads are staying clear as I need to go pick Madilynne up from work this evening.
 

 

   The ice is beautiful and I would really be enjoying this storm if I didn't have to go out in it! The Christmas lights will really dance and twinkle in the crystals! 

 

I hope everyone is staying safe today.  Enjoy your day! I gotta get back to work!  Laundry is calling my name again! LOL

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

1. Give us three rhyming words that say something about your Thanksgiving holiday (or your most recent holiday gathering if you didn't celebrate Thanksgiving).  
   1. Fast- This holiday was quick.  Time flew!
   2. Blast- Time flew because we were having such a great time.
   3. Last- This is the last holiday of the year that all of Jeremiah's family gets together.  Those that travel stay home for Christmas. 

2. When did you last say, 'the more the merrier'? Did you mean it?  I can't exactly say when I used that saying last.  I use it a lot.  Every time we have get together's we love to have more.  I definitely mean it when I say it! 

3. What's one piece of advice you'd give someone who is your same age?  This is tough as I could really use the advice! LOL  I am entering into a stage of life where my kids aren't as dependent on me anymore and are branching out onto other things.  They do most of their school themselves so I am not necessarily needed there anymore. They are teens and it is hard to sometimes let go.  I guess my advice would be to enjoy every moment of time together we can.  They will be flying the coop way to soon!

4. You're ordering a veggie plate, what four veggies are on it? 
   1. Carrots
   2. Cauliflower
   3. Broccoli
   4. Radishes

5. Shop til you drop! Did you? Have you ever? Will you between now and Christmas?  I didn't shop til I dropped.  I may have in my early twenties though.  I will shop again but it isn't my favorite thing to do.  I detest shopping.

6. What's your favorite chair in your house, and why is it a favorite?  A favorite chair is actually a glider with a matching ottoman.  A dear friend gave us this glider set and it is so comfortable!!!!  I love to sit and read on it. I think it may actually be a favorite chair for a lot of the family.  It isn't comfortable to take a nap in though.  I fell asleep in it one time while reading. I woke with a terrible kink in my neck!  LOL  It is also a great chair to be in while holding my baby nephew! Awesome!  It gets a lot of usage! 

7. Share an early memory of faith, religion, or spirituality. I have so many memories that picking one is hard. I guess I will go with one from my teen years.  I was in our church youth group.  It was different from many of the ones today.  Our group met to help others; like an outreach ministry and we spent a lot of time learning the Scriptures and how to apply them to our lives.  Occasionally we would go for ice cream and once we had a sledding party. That was fun!

8. Insert your own random thought here.   It's amazing that Christmas will be here soon.  I can't believe that we are at the end of November already! We have only had one snow so far this season.  It seems weird!  LOL  Today it is raining!  It should be snow... I am not wanting snow but it makes it seem more festive.  We have had the Christmas music playing since Thanksgiving and it is starting to look like Christmas in our home!  The tree is up and some decorations have been set out.  It's an exciting time of the year!

Update, Again!

   I think that I stated a while back that I was going to do better posting.  Umm...Well, that didn't happen!  I have been too busy living life instead of blogging.  I figured that today would be a good day to update you on what has been happening here.  

   Ryder and I were under the weather last week.  He had a sore throat and head cold and I had a stuffy head.  I wasn't really sick, sick- just icky sick. I was also really tired.  Everything I did wore me out. Ryder was much worse than I was.  He spent much of his week on the couch or in bed.  He wasn't even upset that he didn't get to go to homeschool group that week so I knew he was still sick.  He is still a bit clogged in the head but doing much better.  Madi went to work this morning but she told me that her throat was a bit sore.  I told her to call me if she needed to leave work early.  She has a really nice boss and manager at her store so if she needs to leave there shouldn't be a problem. Jeremiah has been able to stay clear of the crud.

   We went to a Thanksgiving dinner for my side of the family last Saturday.  My mom hosted it and she kept it pretty small this year but we have enough leftovers to go home with each of us.  She made everything but I brought the rolls. Mom only had us, my brother C and his family and my uncle and friend K. My brother J lives in FL and didn't make it home. We enjoyed getting to visit and it was just a nice family meal.  One more reason to be thankful.  On Thanksgiving day, we went to Jeremiah's parent's house.  I took candied carrots, that we canned this year, and coleslaw.  They host all Jeremiah's extended family.  It is a large, noisy affair with lots and lots of food.  You never get the time back so we enjoy all the time we get to spend with our families.

   Madi really, really wanted to go Black Friday shopping so I broke down and went with her.  One positive thing is; Madi isn't a morning person so she had no interest in getting up at O dark-thirty to go. I have not gone Black Friday shopping in years.  I used to take both kids when they were babies with me to shop because Jerm was working. We had a good time shopping. A couple of those years when the kids were babies in diapers and really little my father-in-law even went with us to help out.  Those are precious memories that we will never forget so even though I didn't want to go shopping I went and it made my daughter extremely happy.  Another day of memory making!

  After Black Friday shopping it is a tradition to go to my in-laws again for another supper. My mother-in-law always makes turkey pot-pies with the leftover turkey and some of the left over veggies.  We eat up most of the leftovers and bring some new dishes to feed everyone again.  I decided to take a big crockpot full of baked potatoes and a container of sour cream along with the left over coleslaw.

   Speaking of memories...  This is just a weird thought that I had last week.  Madi and I were in the car going somewhere, I can't remember where but, I was driving and went to change the radio station.  When I looked at my hand I could have sworn it was my mom's or grandma's (mom's mom) hand and not mine!  Isn't that crazy?  Grandma has been gone for many years now but my memories of her are still clear. OK, so really my hand isn't as wrinkly yet but the shape and just the movement caused me to picture one of their hands. I should state that Mom's hand isn't really wrinkly yet either but still... I shared it with Madi who put her hand out with mine and was rather appalled that her lovely, young hands would one day end up with age spots and wrinkles!   HAHA!

   Since we have been doing a lot of running lately, you know that the laundry has fallen behind.  Yep, Mt. Laundry has peaked.  I am remedying that today.  I have two loads washed and on the line to dry.  Jeremiah has furnace fire going so it shouldn't be long for them to dry and I will start another load.  While Madi and I were shopping yesterday, Jerm sent me a picture of a cleaned up kitchen. He and Ryder cleaned the house while we were out.  What wonderful guys.  Jerm said that he didn't think I wanted to come home from shopping all day to tackle the mess from the previous day.  So sweet of him!   

  Well, that's all the time I am going to take today to post.  Hope everyone is having a blessed day.