Look Who Lives Down The Street!

Pretty sure The Griswolds moved in while we weren't looking. ;)



Merry Beginning of the Christmas Season!

Random Dozen -- Thanksgiving Edition

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous?
I'm pretty much sticking to the traditional menu. That's one thing I love about Thanksgiving Dinner, the menu is pretty much set. I am planning on trying pecan pie this year. It's my new daughter-in-law's favorite.

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.")
My home. I feel comfortable and safe here.

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for.
I am oh so thankful for God's unconditional love and for my hubby's unconditional love. I think it is so cool how God gives me an earthly version of His great love for me.

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory.
When we lived in Singapore we had a wonderful time celebrating Thanksgiving with our new American friends there. One year our family was in three different countries on Thanksgiving Day. Caleb was in Malaysia with the youth group from our church on a retreat. Megan was in Singapore with some Singaporean friends. Pete and I were in Hong Kong having a wonderful long weekend just-the-two-of-us. That is my vivid Thanksgiving memory.

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year?
We will eat turkey! And we will share what we are thankful for.

6. Do your pets get any left-overs?
No pets here.

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying?
We pray before every meal. We join hands while seated. Hubby most often does the praying. The prayer is not a formal prayer.

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing?
I am positive that football will be on the TV. And I am positive I won't be watching it. I will probably have my nose in a book or most likely, in my computer.

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing?
I have never had it. Is that one of the camps? I'd like to try it. I am still trying to find the perfect dressing that we all like.

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving?
Yes I do. I have learned a lot more in the last several years thanks to Barbara Rainey. I have a special feeling for Thanksgiving and what it means to this country. My husband's nine-times great-grandfather is William Bradford. He was governor of the Plymouth Colony. I have stood on the beach the Pilgrams sailed from in Holland and I have stood on the beach in Plymouth, Massachusetts. I was moved by the obedience of William Bradford and the Pilgrims. Because of that, I have my hubby and he has had the privilege of having the Christian faith passed down through many generations.

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying?
Pumpkin. My mom has the best pumpkin pie recipe.

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!)
No. Turkey is good eats.

Dr. Max

I enjoy participating in Linda@2nd Cup of Coffee's Random Questions posts. It gives me ideas about what to write about and brings up some fun childhood memories. I like reading the answers of all the people that participate and link up to this.

A couple of weeks ago in one of the Random Questions posts there was a question about sharing an after school memory. One of the blogs I went to wrote about a TV show she used to rush home from school to watched and even included a short video of the show. I starting laughing when I watched it because I remembered watching that show when I was very small. It's called Dr. Max and Mombo.



When I was four years old, my dad took my siblings and I swimming at the local rec center. After the swim my older sisters and I were showering. I slipped in the shower as I was trying to leave. I fell and smacked my head on the ledge you step over to get out. I cut my forehead and started bleeding. One of my memories of that experience is sitting in the office at the rec center and someone suggesting that they should call Dr. Max. I was sooooo excited because I thought it would be the Dr. Max of the TV show.

Then I was really disappointed when I realized that it wasn't.

I ended up with three or four stitches and a scar in the middle of my forehead.

Just thought I'd share. :)

Amazed

<sup>There are times in this Christian walk I am on, that I have no choice but to sit back and shake my head in amazement.

Sometimes I am amazed at the hard things: the friends who are getting divorced after almost 30 years of marriage; the cruel things said by someone close who should be a cheerleader rather than a criticizer; the cluelessness of the lost.

Sometimes I am amazed at the overwhelming goodness of God: the Bible verse I read that speaks amazingly specifically to something I am struggling with; sunshine; a song on the radio; the unconditional love of my hubby; friends who take time out of their lives just to help me (and I didn't even ask).

I struggle with throwing around the phrase "God is good." It's not that I think He is not good sometimes. I believe He is good all the time. Yes, He is even good in those terrible heart wrenching times: when the divorce comes at you, when family members treat you badly, when children grow up too fast. He is good then because He always loves me even through those kinds of things. God goes out of his way to show me His love. Even if He is breaking me to teach me how to be more faithful to Him, He is good and He loves me. I think Christians tend to throw around the "God is good" phrase too haphazardly especially when our lives are going the way we want them too. But can we say "God is good" even when things in life stink? I'm learning to.

This verse is one that I have been aware of for several years:</sup>

^{The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17}

I just can't quite wrap my brain around God rejoicing over me with singing. What in the world does that look like? I picture me holding my sweet little babies, or sitting on the edge of their beds and singing to them. Is that's what it's like? Does God try to calm me with a song? Does God look at me and do a little happy dance and break into song? Amazing. Simply amazing.

As I was thinking this over, this song came to mind. Worship God with this.

A Dozen More

For more answers to these questions from lots of other great people click on the button and click on Linda's Mr Linky button. (Is that too much instruction? You can handle it.)

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be?
I have been sitting here staring at the computer screen for several minutes trying to figure out what sport I'd like to master. The question is can I master a sport? I seriuosly doubt it. When I was in PE in school I remember being frustrated that I couldn't make my body do what I thought it should. I finally came up with tennis. I wish I could because I would have been able to play with my hubby. He used to really love playing tennis. I took a tennis class in college to fulfill a PE requirement. I remember the instructor wanted to fail me. I just did not have the hand/eye coordination. (okay and I had a smidge of an attitude) I would hit the ball over the net in the court next to me, not the net in front of me. The TA thought it was ridiculous to flunk someone for a one credit class, so he gave me a B in the class. I haven't played tennis since.

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision?
I like to do research. I have made a couple of purchases without the research and regretted it. Consumer Reports is my friend. When we had to buy a new refrigerator recently my research consisted of talking to the repairman who declared the old refrigerator dead. He is a great repairman and has a great reputation in town. I trusted his opinion.

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name?
Lorraine Meadow. Ugh.

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food?
I bet that if I gave up either one I would develop a new favorite food or new favorite music. (How's that for avoiding answering?)

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference?
Definitely pristine yellow bananas. I got in trouble with my dad about this when I was in high school. I remember one time when he started yelling my full name, you know, first, middle and last name all together. My mind raced to anything I might have done that I was getting in trouble for. I couldn't think of anything. It turns out he was complaining that I had eaten the bananas before they got spots on them...the way he liked them!

6. Your favorite tree is?
I love the Willow Tree in our back yard. I love how it sways in the wind. I love the bright green color in the spring. My hubby hates it because whenever it's windy, it make a mess with all sticks it drops. My kids hated mowing under it. I always thought it was cool to mow under it and walk through the branches. It seemed like a little private world under the branches.

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you?
I would guess a 5. But I can get a lot accomplished with my "click until I get it" method.

8. Has H1N1 touched your family?
I don't think so. I was sick a few weeks ago, but never went to the doctor.

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing?
I don't think I'm an analytical person, but I don't think I just accept things the way they are without questioning. I would say my hubby is definitely analytical and I don't think I approach things the same way as him. (But I would say we are a good mix.)

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala?
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I dislike this type of question. So I am actually not even going to attempt to answer it. No offense, Linda?

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago?
A few. Facebook and email really helps with that. I have reconnected with a Junior High friend thanks to Facebook. I have reconnected with a friend from when we were first married thanks for email. I reconnected with some college friends thanks to Facebook. I keep in touch with many friends that we no longer live near to through email and Facebook.

12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why?
Sorta depends on how antsy I am at the moment. Although my choice is usually the self-checkout lane.

Driving Music

I went shopping in the Big City and obviously did a lot of driving. I enjoyed listening to the radio and heard several songs I hadn't heard for a while. This one by Ginny Owens really spoke to me. The video is of her singing it live. Enjoy. It is my prayer to God.

Peace

I just needed something peaceful to look at. There have been way too many stressful things in my life lately. I need to escape.

Note To Self

Dear Judy,

Every morning between 5am and 6am, your kind, sweet husband will walk from the bathroom through your bedroom. He is just going to work to provide for you. He's been doing this for over 25 years. Screaming in terror is not necessary. It will just scare and upset him and will make you not be able to go back to sleep. You don't function well when you wake up at 6am.

Love from the one who thinks more clearly later in the day,
Judy

More Random Questions For This Week

1. What was the last song you listened to?
I sang Jesus Messiah last night while my hubby played it on the piano.

2. Have you ever had “buyer’s remorse” over anything?
I rarely buy things on impulse. I usually regret when I think too long on a purchase because quite often when I finally decide whatever I wanted to buy is no longer available. I remember buying a jade bracelet for myself when we lived in Singapore. After I bought what I wanted, I kept looking at other places to see the prices. Once I found one similar for about $30 cheaper. I learned after that to stop looking around after I bought something kind of pricey.

3. What is something in your life that you are thankful for now that you didn’t think you would be at the time of the event? (Something that seemed ill-timed, inconvenient or hurtful which turned out to be a good thing)
I am thankful for the three years we lived in Singapore. It was a really difficult three years for me and most of the time we were there, I desperately wanted to leave. Now I see SO many good things that came out of that.

4. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year? If so, do you have a favorite float or balloon?
I might watch a couple of minutes of the Macy's Parade, but not enough to have a favorite anything.

5. Share a quote, scripture, poem or lyric which has been an inspiration to you lately.
I wrote on my Facebook status last week: Life is hard. God is faithful. Those six words are comforting. Even though I may at times feel like I an overwhelmed with the hardness of life, God, my God, is my rock. He Is Always Faithful.

6. This is meant to be a fun question, and this is a G-rated blog, but please share a “guilty pleasure,” something that you enjoy that’s probably not the most edifying, time-worthy or healthy thing you could be indulging in. Did I mention--G rating?
Once a week or so I like to go to a local convenience store to get what I like to call a ginormous/huge/mondo Caffeine Free Diet Coke. Whoa. Living it up, I know. Sometimes I get a doughnut too.

7. What Thanksgiving food are you looking forward to?
Mashed potatoes. No...turkey. Maybe... green bean casserole. Or what about the homemade bread? (Haven't decided if I should make Swedish Rye Bread, or Butterhorn Rolls.)

8. What is your favorite book to read to children, or what was your favorite childhood book?
I loved Charlotte's Web. Encyclopedia Brown was another favorite. We have half of a bookshelf full of our favorites that we read to our kids. We loved reading to them. They loved being read to. I think that was the best part of the bedtime routine.

9. Do you collect anything? (Feel free to post a photo.)
I don't really collect anything. So I wouldn't have a photo to post, the would I? ;)

10. Gift bags or wrapping paper?
Both. I have an insane amount of gift wrap and gift bags stuffed under the guest bed. I went a little nuts with the 50% off after Christmas sales a couple of years ago.

11. Share an after-school memory from when you were younger. What was your routine like on an average day?
In elementary school I would walk to school, walk home from school for lunch, and walk home after school. I always thought it was a really long way. Several years ago we were in the town were I went to elementary school and I wanted to show our kids how far I had to walk. We drove from my old house to the school and I started laughing. In reality, it really wasn't very far. I think it was something like 4 or 5 blocks, if that. Isn't it funny how your perspective changes when you grow up? Oh and the other thing that had really changed was the hill the school was at the top of. It used to be quite a steep hill. But over the years, had really shrunk. ;)
After school in high school (we had moved to a different town), I would walk the three blocks home or try to find someone to give me a ride. You know, three blocks was sooo far! I remember that my mom was working those years, so it was just me at home for a few hours. I usually watched TV. Sometimes I played the piano and sang along. I didn't like to do that when anyone else was around to listen. I wasn't a very good student and didn't study like I should have. Sometimes I would stop at the convenience store across the street from the high school and buy Nacho flavored Doritos for a snack.

12. True story: Once, in a job interview, I was asked this question and told there would be no clarifying; I simply had to answer the question: “When you’re fishing, do you feel for the fish?” So what about you? When you're fishing, do you feel for the fish??
Well, I have a vague memory of fishing once when I was little. I think I felt worse for the worm.

What I've Been Up To

Listening to... my sweet husband play the piano. Am I lucky or what that he is an amazing pianist and I get to listen all the time?

Thankful for... Zach Meyer. He asked our daughter, Megan, to marry him last weekend. He loves her so much and I am looking forward to having him for a son-in-law.

Enjoying... our new quilt. We bought a beautiful Amish-made quilt on our Wisconsin vacation.

In the kitchen... not much right now. I've done a lot of cooking the last couple of weeks and have a lot of things in the freezer. Nice. Kinda like a food savings account.

Sewing... a quilted cover for my sewing machine. (Yes, still... I need to get busy and finish this before my poor sewing machine becomes covered in dust.)

Reading... Shiloh Autumn by by Bodie and Brock Thoene. I read this years ago and in an effort to not buy more books, I took this off the book shelf to read again. It's a good thing I don't have a great memory and don't remember the details of the book.

Striving for... a merry heart, a gentle tone. Still.

In the yard/garden... not much of anything but leaves. The yard is getting ready for winter.

Praying for... relief and peace for my mom. She has been in the hospital for a month following a heart attack. Also praying for strength for my dad. This is taking a toll on him.

In the CD player today... Selah's You Deliver Me. I love the hymns and the songs You Deliver Me and Unredeemed are awesome.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Watching... lame Sunday night TV.

Just Finished Reading... A Hundred Years of Happiness by Nicole Seitz. I thought it was kind of weird through most of the book. But it ended really good. I loved how the author tied everything together at the end. I actually stayed up late one night last week to finish it.

Studying... Finally in the Land: God Meets His People's Needs by John MacArthur. I'm doing this with a young mom in our church. We've met one week and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the study.

Over-indulging on... sleep. Since I was sick for a week, I've gotten too used to naps.

Trying out... half-price appetizers at Applebee's.

Gearing up for... our daughter Megan's wedding this summer!

Looking forward to... having Caleb and Amanda here for Thanksgiving. I haven't cooked Thanksgiving dinner for a couple of years so I hope I remember how! :) One thing about Thanksgiving I like is the menu isn't too hard to figure out: a turkey, some stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, etc.

Megan and Zach

The big news around here is that we are going to add to our family again! (No, not a baby. And HEAVENS no not a dog or any other kind of a pet)

Last weekend our daughter, Megan and her boyfriend, Zach became engaged! We are so happy for them! No date set quite yet, but likely this summer.

Don't they look happy?
Here's the beautiful ring. The diamond is from Zach's great-grandmother's wedding ring. The amethysts on either side are Megan's birthstone. Zach designed the ring himself. Pretty talented, huh?


We are so incredibly happy for them!
:D :D :D :D