A Grace Filled Hodgepodge

1. How will you celebrate Easter this year?

I will be attending my life group on Zoom, and our church is holding drive in services in the parking lot. They will give us a packet of information as we arrive telling what radio station to tune to and there will be a stage in the parking lot set up for the praise and worship team and the pastor. Our church is doing everything possible each week to stay connected with members and I so appreciate it. Each week we have drive through prayer and everyone brings some items of food for the food pantry.

2. Is it easier for you to receive grace offered or extend grace to another? 

I’m not sure. I do believe I extend grace, but maybe not all the time. It probably depends on the situation. 

Explain. An example from yesterday speaks poorly of me maybe. I had a pick-up order at the grocery store which was delayed by two hours and that was fine with me. Two hours later, they told me my order was ready. I arrived at the store at the time requested. The parking lot was full of people waiting, so I waited my turn and as we moved up in the line no one ever came out to me. I called the number twice and trying to keep this brief, after over an hour waiting, I signaled someone over and I fear I was a little bit grumpy. They said my order was in the process of being filled. I don’t like to complain, I really don’t, but I did, and upon learning a few other things and watching these people work so hard trying to satisfy all the customers, I had to extend grace and tell them how sorry I was and that I appreciated them and give a nice tip for the person who loaded my car.

3. Do you say grace before meals? 

Always, even now, especially as I sit alone at the dinner table. 

If so do you have a standard dinnertime grace or is it more 'off the cuff'? I just pray and thank God for His goodness, continued provision and love for me. 

Do you say grace when dining out? Yes, and when we would travel and be seated with strangers, we did and people most always expressed their gratitude.  Only one experience on a trip did we meet with resistance, but it did give us a chance to witness. 

Do you have a favorite grace? 

Any special memory associated with 'saying grace'? As children, we took turns saying grace:

A funny memory with these are that usually my sister and I were just keeping a sneaky eye on each other waiting to grab the best piece of meat off the platter. My little brother would say, “pray, pray, pray.” And also, I remember when little Jack would scrunch up his face as he looked up to Heaven and just say “Jesus”! It was the sweetest. 

4. What are some challenges you think the next generation will face? (Generation Alpha-born between 2011 and 2025) 

They may be challenged with the loss of things our generation has taken for granted. Things they’ve seen their parents have may not be there for them. I look forward to seeing other answers.  

5. Share a favorite quote or lyric featuring the word faith.

"My faith has found a resting place, Not in device nor creed; 

I trust the Ever-living One, His wounds for me shall plead."

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. 

Hebrews 11:1, 6 (NLT)

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Joining my neighbors for a social visit and keeping our proper distance! What a nice evening for being outdoors to visit--with real people--in person!

My favorite show is Call the Midwife. Each episode always ends with a bit of wisdom and I love this from last Sunday. 

"Not all of us will choose what we give up. The things we love are taken or are never ours at all. Life is defined not by what we let go, but what we let in. Friendship and kind words, frailty and hope. To be human is to be imperfect, and to accept that is to thrive. No path is always strewn with flowers, but therein lies the power of each fragile, tender bloom." ~Call the Midwife 

Saturday9 Could've Been

1) This wistful song is about a love affair that ended. What song reminds you of a long-ago love? Then You Can Tell Me Good-Bye!

2) It was written by Lois Blaisch, a singer-songwriter who performs at clubs around Los Angeles and has sung outdoors at Disneyland. Would you prefer to attend a concert indoors, or outside under the stars? 

If the weather is nice, it would be fun outdoors. Dallas used to do a concert under the stars and in 1987, we attended an outdoor concert to see Reba McIntire. It was the 4th of July, and memorable because the next morning I would leave my Jay to travel to Seattle for the purpose of being the bone marrow donor for my brother, Phil. Otherwise, I like indoor concerts.

3) This week's featured artist, Tiffany, appeared on the TV talent show Star Search when she was just 14. She came in second. Though she was disappointed, she admits she learned from it. She studied the singer who won and says it made her a better performer. Can you recall a time when you weathered a tough time and came through stronger? 

The summer of 1987 might be one of them. Every storm serves to strengthen and when I look back, they serve a greater purpose, including strengthening my faith. I told about that summer story here.

4) Early in her career, she toured Alaska, opening for country legend George Jones. Have you ever visited our 49th state? (That's a correction; I made a mistake when I originally posted.) 

Jay and I visited Alaska in 2012. It was a wonderful trip!

5) Tiffany provided the voice of Judy Jetson in 1990's Jetsons: The Movie. Which cartoon did you enjoy more: the space-age Jetsons or the pre-historic Flintstones? 

I think I was in high school when these came out, and remember watching both sometimes.

6) In 2007, she appeared on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club and lost 28 lbs. Are you making an effort to stay fit during this stay-at-home period? 

I walk each day with the dog, but we don't stray too far from the house.

7) In 1987, when this song was popular, Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What's your favorite Aretha song? 

Oh mercy! I loved Aretha Franklin and it would be hard to choose. I'll go with Respect since it's the first to pop in my mind other than Chain of Fools and THINK!!! I DID LOVE THOSE SONGS!

8) Also in 1987, third-generation race car driver Marco Andretti was born. Are you a race fan? No.

9) Random question: Do you find it easy to sit still, or are you fidgety? 

I find it quite easy to sit still, but when I'm still, I can be easily distracted by this book or that, the phone, the iPad, the TV. Oh dear.

Spring Hodgepodge

1. Has spring sprung in your part of the world? Spring seems to have sprung several weeks ago. How can you tell? The signs for me included the first daffodil I saw when stopped at a stop sign, a red bud tree in bloom, and all the pear trees blossoming out in white. Every year those trees are so beautiful and never last long enough. They remind me of Anne of Green Gables re-naming The Avenue the “White Way of Delight.” The sun and the breeze just seem to caress you when you step outside. 

Did March come in like a lion where you live? As I recall, it wasn’t that bad, it’s just had its ups and downs. Going out like a lamb or something more ferocious? The last day of March was sunny, beautiful and very calm.

2. The last thing that caused you to spring to your feet? Jumping up to run to the door to see why the dog was barking so ferociously.

3. Do you have a spring clean to-do list? Not really. What's one chore on the list you've already managed to accomplish? Ever since the “great shut- in” I’ve been cleaning closets. What spring clean chore do you most dread? Maybe windows.

4. Tell us something you've learned about yourself or the wider world as a result of social distancing/the virus crisis. 

People need people. People need Jesus. I see even more how much I appreciate my family and friends and I can’t wait to be up close and personal. I see people on all sides of the spectrum, the greedy ones taking advantage of the situation, the selfish ones who don’t want to cooperate, the fearful hoarders, and the generous who are reaching out to help.

5. Something you love that's the color pink? Azaleas. How I wish I could grow them. The people across the street have some that I can enjoy, but I love seeing them at the Arboretum and in the areas of Dallas where they are in abundance. 

These are in the back yard of a friend's home.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I had a fun video chat yesterday with my nephew’s family. A wild and crazy bunch. Here are a few pics I snapped as we talked.

And we've been Zooming our Bible Study Fellowship. It's a great way to get together when you're apart. For now, anyway.

It's nice we have many means of communicating, but I am ready for a real hug and a sit down conversation with a friend.

Not so random: