Hodgepodge Thanks and Gratefulness

It's a November kind of thankful and grateful Hodgepodge. I am thankful to Joyce for so faithfully supplying interesting questions week after week that give us that little boost needed (me anyway) to expressing thoughts about different things. Thank you, Joyce. And everybody is invited to join in the fun right here.

1. Besides Thanksgiving, something you're looking forward to on your November calendar?

Amy and I have VIP tickets to see Anita Renfroe on her "Get Your Happy On" tour. Spending time with Amy is probably more of what I am looking forward to than anything. Our time has been limited since she began working outside the home.

2. If I gave you a thank you card right now who would you send it to and why?

I would choose to send it to a woman I worked with who has been one of the greatest examples to me of grace, patience and forgiveness. It wouldn't be my first thank you note to her. I so value what I saw in her.

3. Of the breads listed, which one's your favorite...bagel, cinnamon, sourdough, garlic, banana, biscuit, pita, Naan, or plain old fashioned white bread?

A fresh out of the oven biscuit with either butter and strawberry jam, or a biscuit with cream gravy. (Creamy, peppered - no sausage gravy!)

From Norma's Cafe

4. What's something you have in abundance? Is that a good thing?

Around the house, we probably have way too much stuff and need to get rid of a lot of it. That isn't a good thing.

But, on the other hand, we are blessed abundantly with wonderful family and friend relationships and that is truly a good thing.

5. November 5th is National Love Your Red Hair Day. Are there any redheads in your family? Who's your favorite redhead?

No redheads in our family. Lucille Ball is probably the first that comes to mind, but was she a natural redhead? Maureen O'Hara would be my favorite and I always liked Stephanie Powers, too. 

6. The travel website Busbud recently calculated the most Instagrammed spot in every state. Go here to see what made the list where you live. Are you happy with your state's #1? If not what do you think should be the most photographed spot in your state? Have you snapped a photo there? If you live outside the USA answer as it relates to your state, city or province.

Circuit of the Americas!!!!! 

photo credit

What???!!! I had to look it up. Have never heard of it, much less been there, or taken a pic of it. And now my question is why? I don't get why in this huge and beautiful state with so much natural beauty to offer, that the most photographed spot would be a unidirectional, grade 1 FIA specification 3.427-mile motor racing facility located in Elroy, on the southeastern periphery of Austin city limits, in Central Texas.

Texas is filled to the brim with beautiful places to photograph - from the Palo Duro Canyon to Hill Country to Big Bend National Park. East Texas beauty with pines and dogwoods and redbuds ... bluebonnets in the spring in the Hill Country. We have the coast and, one of the things I think would be photographed often would be the San Antonio River.

San Antonio Riverwalk photo credit

7. I'm going to try to have something related to gratitude in this spot each week during the month of November. Here's this week's question-

What's something you've learned about yourself this year that you're grateful for?

I have a long ways to go in the patience and compassion department, but what I am learning about that is the area in which I'm struggling. This has to do with helplessness and frustration as I watch someone I love struggling with memory loss. I absolutely MUST get better with this. But I am grateful that God is showing me the root of the impatience and helping me deal with it.

"Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. 

And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves 
you don’t snap at each other. 

Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. 

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; 

thank God no matter what happens." 

(1 Thessalonians 5:14b-18 The Message)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I love the months of November and December. I have already taken steps to shake some things off and simply enjoy November, the month of thanks and December, the month of giving, although I qualify that by saying our whole life should be about thanks and giving! Don't you think?

Give Thanks!