Hodgepodge Highway

Joyce is back this week with some very "moving" Hodgepodge questions. Join in the fun with your answers and link with Joyce right here.

1. When was the last time you relocated?

Twelve years ago this month we moved from our home of 30 years. The "big move" was only about fifteen miles away, but it proved to be a big move for me leaving all my familiar places, and with all the things that had accumulated over that time. 

Did you move yourself or leave it to the professionals?

We hired professionals for the big items and all the boxes. We carried odds and ends and breakables back and forth ourselves. My sweet sister-in-law came from Oklahoma to help me pack - bless her heart - and I still remember the loud discussions in the kitchen with DH about how to arrange MY kitchen! Turns out he was Mr. Right on that one!

Are you happy staying put or is there a move in your future? 

Husband is pleased as punch to stay here, but I think we need to downsize into a one story house. While I feel very strongly about it, he won't budge and says the stairs are great exercise for us.

Best thing about moving to a new city or town?

Making new discoveries, meeting new neighbors, having all your "stuff" in a more spacious place. When we moved, it was fantastic having all that extra room and the wide open views of the lake behind us. I love, love, love the view from my favorite chair upstairs!

Least favorite and/or hardest thing about moving house? 

Packing and unpacking. All the mess. And the hardest thing?  I had no idea I would cry so many tears over leaving the house I had called home for 30 years. So many memories and it took me a long time to get over it.

2. When were you last 'moved to tears'? Explain.

I remember the last time I cried, but it's too personal to share. If you mean "moved to tears" as in a "touching" or "heartfelt" moment, most recently, I was moved to tears when reading a story in The Voice, a publication by Christ for the Nations Institute. It was telling the miraculous story about the young man who plays drums for our praise and worship team at church. He is in his early 20's and two weeks after he was married had a stroke. The cause was due to a heart disease which had been undetected. His illness was so severe that as they were preparing to care flight him to the heart hospital a few miles away, his young bride was advised she should say her good-byes because her husband might not survive the 15 minute ride. He did though, had open heart surgery, got a serious infection and both of his hands had to be amputated.
Trying to keep this brief, he is now well, has two prosthetic hands and is, miraculously enough, playing drums again. This young man's faith in God, along with the love of his wife, family and church family saw him through this amazing trial. I could not help weeping as I read it. Here is the link: Scott David Grimley - click on magazine.

3. Do you have rules about eating in the car...any forbidden foods? What's the last thing you consumed in your car? Your go-to car snack when traveling long distance?

Nothing too sticky. Grapes are good in the car, sometimes trail mix, maybe some chocolate chip cookies. 

These are good!

The last thing I consumed in the car was a Cobb Salad from Cheddar's while driving our daughter to the soccer field last Saturday. (Cobb Salad would probably be on my "forbidden food in the car list" had I ever thought about the possibility.) We had all gone out for lunch, but ended up having to wait for-ever! just to be seated and then again for-ever to be waited on, and then for-ever to get our food. By the time it arrived, it was time for us to be on the road, so Sara and I packed it up and left everybody else to finish their food.

4. Share a favorite song relating to cars and/or driving.

"On the Road Again.

Goin' places that I've never been.

Seein' things that I may never see again.

And I can't wait to get on the road again."

5. What's your most frequently visited drive-thru...Starbucks? the bank? the pharmacy? some other window?

It has to be the pharmacy! They see us on a regular basis, have our names memorized and I think they are working on our date of birth!

6. "He who hesitates is lost"...would you agree? When it comes to making decisions do you generally act quickly or do you more often than not fall into the 'lost' category?

It really depends on the type of decision. I guess sometimes I over analyze until maybe I do fall into the "lost" category. 

7. When was the last time you got lost? Was it stressful or an unexpected happy adventure?

I wasn't really "lost" per se. Just turned around. But it was in the dark in an unfamiliar location and my eyes haven't been doing so well lately, so it was a little stressful. I managed to find my way back on the right road again!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It maybe isn't a random thought since this hodgepodge has to do with moving and it's been on my mind for the past few months. I'm very, (extremely) excited and deliriously happy that our dear friends have moved back here after being in Florida for the past five years. I cannot wait to resume our weeknight couples times together and have Alice with me at Bible Study Fellowship! 

Alice and Fred are on the left.

It will be fun for our little group of buddies to be back together again.