Sum Sum Summertime Hodgepodge

Hodgepodge Fun!

1. The first day of summer rolls in later this week. What are ten things you'd put on your list of quintessential summer activities?

Why am I having such difficulty thinking of ten things?

Fun at the lake

The annual Big Boat party

Eat watermelon (everybody else that is, not me)

Watch fireworks

Take the kids to the waterpark/pool

A road trip

A baseball game

An outdoor concert

Eat ice cream

Have a picnic

Watch a summer movie

Listen to songs of summer like Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer, Summer in the City, Summer Place, Everybody's Gone Surfin', A Summer Song, and any other you might like.

Will you try to manage all ten this summer?

Most on my list will be done. I'm not sure about the baseball game or outdoor concert (it's sooooooo hot ... whiny voice).

2. Do you collect seashells when you're at the beach? I never have.

What do you do with them once you get them home? What's your favorite place to comb for seashells? How many of these 'best beaches for hunting seashells' have you visited?

We've been to Galveston Island, the Bahamas and other beaches not on the "best list". Which one would you most like to visit? I would have to choose Hawaii. It was so beautiful, I would love to go again.

Calvert Cliffs State Park (Maryland), Jeffrey's Bay (South Africa), Sanibel Island (Florida), Shipwreck Beach (Lanai Hawaii), Ocracoke Island (North Carolina), Galveston Island (Texas) and The Bahamas

3. At a snail's pace, shell out money, come out of your shell, go back into your shell, drop a bombshell, happy as a clam, clam up...which 'shell' phrase could most recently be applied to some event or circumstance in your life? Explain.

We are shelling out money. It seems 2017 is the year when everything decided to quit on us: my computer, the AC, landscaping issues, the hot tub is broken, both cars needed new tires, the sprinkler system broke, the garage door opener! Need I go on? It is depressing and yet ... how thankful I am that we are able to get these problems resolved.

4. What summer activity do you dislike? Yardwork.

Why? It is way too hot in Texas to be working in the yard. I feel enormous sympathy for the guys who do our lawns, roofers, construction workers, people working on the roads, firefighters, and everybody else outside. Oh yes, and the AC guys who will be in our attic next week replacing the units. Ugh! It reminds me of my Dad who worked so hard in the heat. 

5. What's something you see as quickly becoming obsolete? The first thing that comes to mind would be the checkers at the infamous Walmart. Does that bother you? Yes. I feel for the people who maybe lost their jobs and I also miss passing the time of day with them as they checked out my groceries. It is also very annoying when an item doesn't register and someone has to come over to reset the thing!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Our grandson Noah is at a very cool camp this week. Our grandson Brady got to go to Spain in May. All the grandkids got to visit the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, raft down the Colorado River, and stay at a big hotel in Las Vegas. Lucky kids!!

So, lucky us! We get to see the pics of them having a great time! And for Father's Day, we did one of the things on the quintessential summer list. Jason took us out on the lake! It was a fun time!

Being with these two and watching them

knee boarding ...

Made his day!

Red White and Blue Hodgepodge

1. The Hodgepodge lands on June 14th this week, Flag Day in the US of A. Do you fly your country's flag at home? Yes.
Sometimes, often, or every single day?
On occasions such as Flag day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Veterans Day, etc.

Have you ever visited the city of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia)? No
Did you make a point of seeing The Betsy Ross House? N/A
Have you ever made a trip to Baltimore? No.
If so, was Fort McHenry on your itinerary? (where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner) N/A

2. Red flag or white flag? Which have you encountered most recently?

White flag.
Explain.

Giving up my desire for now to downsize and move. It just isn't the right time. I'm trusting that I will know when the right time comes for us.

3. Are you a stay in the car listen to the end of a song kind of person? Yes.
What kind of person is that?

A sentimental someone or somebody who just really is enjoying the moment. Maybe the words are encouraging ... maybe the song brings back memories ... maybe just enjoying a feel good moment. Amazing how a song can instantly take you back to people, events, stages of life and stir up the emotions from that moment in time into the present.

4. What are some of the traits or qualities you think a good dad possesses? In other words, what makes a good dad?

Gentle love that invites trust, setting a good example, being faithful, committed, patient, having a good sense of humor, not afraid to correct and teach with love.

What's an expression you associate with your father?

"It's too far and snaky."

This had something to do with something he didn't want to do or place he didn't want to go. I know he said many other things, but that one was funny to me the way he said it. I think this is a southern kind of expression and he grew up in the hills of Northwest Arkansas.

5. What's one rule you always disagreed with while growing up? Is that rule somehow still part of your adult life? Is that a good or bad thing?

"Clean your plate." It is a part of my life now because I somehow can't bear to waste anything and therefore, it has greatly affected my "waistline!" That's not good.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

The expensive to-dos around here are getting me down and wondering when will it end. I'm thankful right now we have the funds to cover, but I was trying to plan a nice vacation and I am now thinking that may not happen. The good thing is we have several upcoming events to look forward to, so I will be content with those.

They said Yes!

Our two right there in the center looking this way!

Brady first

 

Noah next

So thankful and rejoice that they have decided to follow Jesus!

He will be faithful to lead and grow these tender hearts as they look to Him!

Friday Foto Friends

It's Friday! Time to join the others as we share pics with Deb at Breathing in Grace for Friday Foto Friends.

My pictures for this week are sky pics ... again. It sometimes seems so redundant and yet no two are ever alike. The sky is ever changing, I can't help myself, I'm drawn outside to behold the beauty of the heavens that declare the glory of God.

What to say on this beautiful Friday? I am going to be a busy bee today getting ready for Sara and her family to be in town for a soccer tournament. Hopefully there will be some down time in-between sitting out in the hot sun watching them play. Not complaining, but it can be tough here in Texas.

It's been a good week and included our seeing two movies which is not the norm for us. We saw Churchill, which was about D-Day and the allied forces landing on Normandy. In watching movies recently about Churchill, I'm impressed for the man that he was and how he cared for his country and the Britons. The other movie we saw was Wonder Woman! I surprised myself by wanting to see this one and surprise, surprise! We both loved it. If the boys haven't seen this one, I am going to offer to take them and watch it again! From the little I have read about the actress who played Wonder Woman, I think she is a pretty amazing woman herself. She is a former Miss Israel and served in the Israeli army. She is gorgeous and on top of all of that, she was pregnant during the filming of the movie!

It was also a productive week in that I finally:

• got all the plants I wanted for pots and planted them,
• bought a new outdoor rug for the patio which amazingly enough goes with the new pads for the patio chairs,
• made a plan and met with the lawn guy to discuss what we can do with the back yard to fill up the vacancy left from the diseased roses,
• baked cookies,
• shopped for new jeans for DH,
• FINISHED a book,
• stayed on track with two new Bible studies,
• made special "Good Job" cards for the kids,
• made my grocery list for the weekend,
• maybe came up with a vacation plan,
• and finally got the critter control people out to finish the job they started months ago.

Thankful Thursday

Every day is a day to be thankful ... we are so blessed and the ordinary days are to be celebrated because they are a gift from God. They are days that are routine and yet without a schedule. The goals are small and yet in the completion of the duties, we can feel a reward in their accomplishments. (Nope, there hasn't been a lot to blog about!!)

In addition to the duties of everyday life, we resumed our regular Monday night visit with friends. And yesterday being the first Wednesday in town and no Bible studies, I was able to join DH and his buddies, along with their wives, for the bi-weekly breakfast meetings. That was fun and I'm looking forward to being able to do that throughout the summer until Bible studies take up again in the Fall. Summer already seems to be filling up with things to do and commitments, so it will speed on by as life seems prone to do these days.

My Facebook memories today brought up a photo from six years ago of our grandsons, Brady and Noah, which was perfect because I wanted to make mention of them today.

This week they have been attending VBS and have called each day to tell me what they are learning and what fun they are having. VBS is certainly different these days in that there is more activity for them in their learning experience than we had when we were kids. (The painted ceramic plaques come to my mind!) They get to do rock climbing, which I know they love, and have also been able to shoot BB guns and the lesson there is all about how we "miss the mark"! I think that's terrific! They are coming this weekend to play a soccer tournament and will be staying with us. I know I will hear more about what they are learning when they arrive.

They were very excited to repeat their memory verses to me yesterday and it was quite impressive to hear each of them quote this Scripture from Colossians 1:15-16:

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."

And the best and biggest news of all was their telling me how they are learning about connecting with God and that today they will both be baptized! So while today's memory shows them with their feet in water, today they are going under!!!

Full to overflowing!!!

May you always trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.

(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV and MSG)

Friday Foto Friends

Friday Foto Friends!

Cloud ships sailing to unseen ports below the hills.

(Shepherd of the Hills)

I could not keep up with this ever changing sunset the other evening.

This is a one eyed, very spoiled Shih Tzu named Bella who does not like for my DH to make faces at her. Several years ago, we met for Bible study at our friends' home once a week. Their little dog took a dislike to DH and provided all of us with lots of laughs when Bella would bark at him  constantly for making faces. We visited them this weekend and Bella just picked up where she left off barking at DH!

Today's wisdom 

Unhappiness with one haircut doesn't necessarily

mean another haircut will resolve the problem!

I am thankful that hair grows back.

Hodgepodge Accomplishments!

1. What makes you feel accomplished? Explain.

Finishing whatever I started. No matter how big or how small the size of the job. Cooking, making bread, planting flowers, handling the finances these days, keeping up with maintenance of the house or our cars. Each day I feel accomplished if I have actually accomplished something. Now, as far as being accomplished at a particular thing, I can't play a musical instrument, nor do I sew, crochet, etc. I felt accomplished in my job when I worked full time.

2. If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? Tell us why.

My pastor's wife, Geni. Because of the size of our church and the demands on her both as pastor's wife and children's pastor, there isn't time to just sit down and visit and get to know her. Everything about her exudes such love, enthusiasm, encouragement, innocence and fun. She is almost too good to be true.
Corrie ten Boom - another of my heroes.
Our president's daughter, Ivanka. I would want to know how she maintains her calm composure in spite of all the ugliness and criticism of her and her family. It has to be extremely painful.

3. Do you have a great burger recipe? Not really.

What's in it? When I do make burgers, the seasoning is simple. A little salt, pepper, Montreal steak season, a little seasoned salt, garlic.
What do you like on a hamburger and where is your favorite spot to order one out?

Lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, mustard. JC Burgers a local burger chain which began as a hole in the wall burger place in Plano, Texas. The owner was a neighbor of ours for years!

Need I say more?

4. What's the biggest anxiety producing thing you do on a regular basis?

These days it might be leaving home for more than a weekend. Or handling the finances on my own, keeping up with maintenance of the house and our cars or whatever else pops up. Maybe trying to plan a family vacation produces a lot of anxiety. See random question.

5. This is the last Hodgepodge of May. Tell us about your summer plans.

Nothing planned so far except to go boating with our son's family, take the kids swimming, have company, hang out with friends, maybe take a weekend trip or two, work on a Bible study.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I really need to plan a family vacation, but every idea I can think of is either too far, too expensive, or has now been booked up. Any suggestions would be helpful.