Wednesday Hodgepodge

Today is the first day of February!! Another year is beginning to spread its wings and take flight! It's also time for another Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce. 

1. Can you believe it's the end of January? What was the best day of January 2017 for you, and why?

I think January 1 was a good day, but I don’t see it as the “best” day. It was the beginning of a new year and it began with great encouragement and hope that this will be a good year, that I will continue to wait and see what God has for me and my DH, and I will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord as I abide in Him. January has been a good month all in all and I was glad when the presidential transition was finally complete.

2. What sounds make up the background noise in your life?

I take it you are meaning that literally, so I will say sounds of birds outside, children playing in the park behind our house, DH’s TV. When I’m in the car, the sounds are of music playing praise and worship or teaching on the radio. At home, for the most part, it is quiet and peaceful.

3. I read on the Power of Positivity website a list of ten things to drop from your life right now. They are-

anger outbursts, people who put you down, regret, negative self talk, being a people pleaser, the notion you need to be perfect, the past (but keep the lessons learned!), gossip and judgment, comparing yourself to others, and the word hate (focus on what you love instead)

Which thing on the list do you most need to drop? Are you trying or will you try?

I don’t gossip, but I do make mental judgments and I am working on that.

4. What is sacred to you?

My time in the morning with the Lord and my Bible. It is most precious to me and as I go to sleep, I am already looking forward to the next morning. When I arise, first thing I get a cup of coffee and settle down to read, pray and work on my Bible study. When we travel, or when company is here, that is something that I miss greatly and must purposefully carve out that time.

5. January is National Oatmeal month. Are you a fan, and if so how do you like it?

I grew up despising the stuff preferring Cheerios or Frosted Flakes … anything but oatmeal. But one year at a retreat, that was the only option for breakfast. Because it was served with butter, brown sugar and raisins, I gave it a try and discovered that it wasn’t bad. We now have oatmeal a couple of times a week doctored up with those things, along with walnuts. Irish oatmeal is terrific … when I cook it! I don’t care for restaurant oatmeal at all.

6. What feelings does twilight stir up in you?

Sometimes melancholy, sometimes songs about the end of the day such as Deep Purple or Now the Day is Over; mentally reviewing things that were accomplished or just saying goodbye to another day that has slipped away. Each day I am thankful that I had it and could enjoy it.

7. Something you're looking forward to next month?

I really can’t think of anything spectacular, so I guess I will be surprised. We will be going out of town for a special birthday party celebration for our son-in-law's mother which should be fun; DH will most likely be having surgery so I am looking forward to getting past that and having him be well.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I’m still trying recipes for bread. Tonight, I am working on whole wheat rolls and they are not rising. The last batch in another recipe rose beautifully, so I don’t get it. The yeast is fresh. I wonder if I didn’t knead it enough. And now they have finished baking and we sampled them with dinner, I will be moving on to the next recipe!

I also confess I watched several – not all – of the Mary Tyler Moore Show episodes aired last week. She was always one of my favorites from the old Dick Van Dyke show and I so enjoyed her show in the 70’s. But it was disappointing to me that they didn’t run the earlier shows with Rhoda Morgenstern and Cloris Leachman when Mary first moved to Minneapolis. I thought those were the better shows.