Yesterday I was out and about running through a long list of errands. Lately, my drive time is increased because of road construction in town. The one road I can take into town (we live on the edge of town) is closed for a while, so I have to drive out into the country and round about to get into town. Kind of a pain, but I'm thankful it's not winter with snowy roads to deal with. And for an added bonus, there is more time to listen to music!
I don't know about others, but when I come across a song that is really speaking to me, I listen to it over and over and over and sometimes over again.
Yesterday's song was Victory in Jesus. An old hymn.
I got to thinking how I feel like an utter failure in so many areas of my life. I feel like my life is pretty fruitless right now. But there is one thing I can claim victory in. I have victory in Jesus because of His death on the cross.
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood
Jesus sought me. He bought me through dying on the cross for me. He loved me before I even knew Him.
I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing power revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and brought
To me the victory.
I know when I ask Him to heal my broken spirit, He will heal me and bring me the victory.
Yesterday in the Wednesday Hodgepodge one of the questions asked what our favorite Love Song was. In an effort to find an answer (because no single song was popping into my heard) I was poking around my blog and on YouTube. I came across a video I posted on Hubby's birthday a few years ago.
Last night, as I was falling asleep, I decided that the song, Dancing in the Minefields, is my favorite Love Song.
The Valentine's Day before we got married, I gave hubby a little cake that said "Always." I still like to sign my cards that way.
You know, back on that Valentine's Day in 1984, we had no idea what was ahead. No idea how sometimes just sheer determination is what it would take to keep committed to each other. Sometimes it took me remembering my promises to "stand by you no matter what the future holds" and "I promise to work at loving you every day" that got me through.
No regrets. I am so thankful for each day with my Valentine.
Please take the time to listen to this video and follow along with the words. You'll be glad you did.
Well I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway
We got the rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen years ago
We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storms
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for
"I do" are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I've heard
Is a good place to begin
'Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it's an easy price
For the life that we have found
And we're dancing in the minefields
We're sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for
So when I lose my way, find me
When I loose love's chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me
'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there's nothing left to fear
So I'll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear
'Cause He promised not to leave us
And His promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos, baby,
I can dance with you
I'm joining up with the Wednesday Hodgepodge this week. Click on over to Joyce's blog and read others answers to these questions or even better, link up yourself!
1. This week marks the beginning of Lent...will you be giving something up or adding anything to your life during this season of the year?
I have never done anything to observe Lent. I used to think the whole "give up something for Lent" was silly. But I base that on some high schools friends who gave up earth shattering things like chocolate, chewing gum or soda pop. But now that I'm older, I understand the concept a little better. It is something I would be willing to look into sometime in the future.
2. The day before Lent is Shrove Tuesday... tradition
states you eat pancakes on this day. In some parts of the world Shrove
Tuesday is actually known as 'pancake day'. How do you like your
pancakes? Or don't you?
Pancakes are yummy! I went out for breakfast yesterday morning, but opted for cinnamon french toast. When I have pancakes, I like them with a smidge of butter and a drizzle of maple syrup.
3. I'm sure there are many, but what's one love song you really love?
Well, this one is my hubby's favorite:
And just for fun and giggles:
(Is it sad I can still sing along with this?) 4. What are some things you do to let others know you love them?
One of my love languages is Gifts. I love to give the perfect gift and I love to receive gifts. I love the thought that goes into choosing a gift. Another love language of mine are Words of Affirmation. I try to express to my loved ones how I feel about them and I try to encourage them. I need to study the love language of those I interact with to know how to communicate in their language.
5. Roses...red, pink, or do you prefer another color?
I love yellow roses. I based the whole color scheme of our wedding based on that.
Can you recall
the last time someone gave you flowers?
My sweet daughter and her husband sent me flowers for my birthday.
Given your choice would you like
to open the door and see a dozen red roses, a dozen purple tulips, or a
dozen pink peonies?
Frankly, I don't care what type of flowers. I just love opening the door to flowers, or to Hubby coming in the door with flowers. I'm not picky. :) 6. President's Day will be celebrated in America next Monday. Does US
Presidential history and trivia interest you? Many Presidential homes
are open to the public and offer guided tours...Monticello (Jefferson's home), Mount Vernon (Washington's home), Montpelier (James Madison's home), Hyde Park (FD Roosevelt's home) and The White House (home to the sitting President) to name just a few. Of those listed which would you be most interested in touring? Why?
I would be interested in touring of any of those if I was in the area of them. I like history.
7. Are you good at keeping secrets?
Keep secrets from my hubby? Not good at all. Every single time I have thought to myself, "I won't tell him that", he knows by the end of the day. Well, who am I kidding? Sooner than that. Christmas and birthdays are torture!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I've been busy in in sewing room working on my next quilt. I've been busy sewing 394 little squares on 234 bigger squares. (Seriously, those are the numbers.) Yes, tedious. But TV keeps me distracted.
If you doubt my numbers, I figured it all out on graph paper. And I did math and everything!
This morning hubby and I stayed put and didn't make the almost hour drive to church. It was raining and thirty degrees. After I finished getting dressed, (I was three fourths of the way through putting on my makeup, so I finished that and fixed my hair.) Hubby suggested we sing some songs. So he lugged out one of his huge binders of music, sat down at the piano and I pulled up a chair from the kitchen island and sat behind him. We sang for probably thirty minutes. Well, Hubby played, I sang. Hubby is a wonderful pianist. He played for worship at our church in the previous town we lived in. I sometimes sang with the worship team. When the kids were still at home they would help with worship as well. Megan played the piano some and sang (beautifully). Caleb played his guitar and sometimes his alto saxophone.
When we finished our two person worship service this morning. I kinda sighed and said, "I miss singing for worship." I thought for a while and said, "It was a good season when we did that."
Earlier last week when I was visiting my sister-in-law, I apologized to her for mumbling about my current life situation. She just hugged me and said, "I understand. It's just a season." ( I can't tell you how relieving that simple statement was to me. It says to me that she just accepts where I am and trusts that change is coming. She's a sweetheart. I am blessed to have known her for close to 25 years.)
Sister-in-law is right. Seasons change. Winter doesn't last forever (even though by March here in the North Country it seems like it will never end). Everything is for a season. Situations change. Our attitude and outlook on life changes.
As I was mulling over this whole seasons thing, the song Every Season by Nicole Nordeman came to mind. I remember listening to this when we were living in Singapore. (I'm sure the kids remember...they say there are certain CDs that remind them of driving around Singapore.) I suppose it caught my attention then because of the whole theme of seasons. (In Singapore, the weather is the same every day since the country is only 80 mile north of the equator.)
I found this YouTube video some creative person put together. It's Nicole Nordeman's song put to pictures of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Awesome.
Some of my favorite lyrics:
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn
And this last verse perfectly describes why Spring is my all time favorite season:
And everything
that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You
And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me Summer, autumn, winter, spring
I am thankful for...
...music and singing
...my husband's ability to play the piano beautifully
I am thankful for...
...singing worship songs at church
...having a great conversation about life stuff with my hubby in the car driving back from church
...watching episode after episode of M*A*S*H and laughing despite the fact that I've seen every episode multitudes of time
...electricity
...a comfy bed to sleep in tonight
...listening to my hubby snore next to me (Seriously. This video has changed made me much less annoyed with the snoring.)
For two of my college years I roomed with a gal that has to be the sweetest person in the world. She met and married a farmer and moved to Ohio.
Last summer my friend Carol and I got to spend a couple of days together. We hadn't seen each other for 7 or 8 years and it was very good to spend time together. Oh yeah, and the husbands were there, too. We were all friends in college. We were all involved in a campus Christian group.
My friend and her husband farm on a seven generation farm in Ohio. Their family has met with some pretty big challenges over the years, but they've stuck together and leaned on God.
Last year their local PBS station filmed the family at their farm. I think the purpose was to highlight some of the people of Ohio and highlight farming. This is a great video. It's about 25 minutes long. Watch it. It's time well spent. You'll be blessed. I was. Both times I've watched it.
I'm still here. I haven't fallen. I just am having writer's block. Common excuse in the Blogging World.
For tonight I think I will just try a list form.
1. I had a dentist appointment this morning. For some reason I was anxious about the appointment. Maybe it has to to with the fact that 6 months ago I had to get a crown on a molar and that wasn't the most fun experience in the world. Also, the dentist? Not my favorite personality. Thankfully I only had to put up with him for about 4 minutes. Seriously? I should correct myself and say that I had a dental hygienist appointment this morning. I hope she gets paid as well as the dentist. Oh, and I had no cavities. Yay! (But my teeth hurt. Ugh)
2. I am oh so very thankful for the beautiful sunsets we are blessed with being able to see from our house every single night. I love that they are different every single night. God is so creative and I think He must have fun painting a new one every single night.
3. The soybean field next to our house is slowly turning yellow. Fall is coming. Which means winter is next. Sigh.
4. I have a turkey in the fridge thawing out. No, I'm not getting ready for Thanksgiving already. Hubby got it free last year and I finally remembered it was in the freezer in the garage. My plan is to cut it up like I would a chicken and grill it and baste it with Italian salad dressing. I hope it works.
5. After all that turkey is grilled, I think I'm going to have to find some recipes to use it all up. Any ideas out there in blog land?
6. We had three or so days of a mystery beep in the house. It took us that long to narrow it down to the correct smoke detector. There was no pattern to when the beep would sound. At first we thought it was a CO detector, then a smoke alarm in the hallway. We had both of them dismantled and sitting near us in the living room when we heard the beep again! Grrr. It turned out to be the smoke detector in the guest room that I didn't even know was there. (The smoke detector, not the guest room. I knew the guest room was there, silly.)
7. We had a fun Labor Day weekend. Our original plans were to go to Chicago, but we ended up at an Old Threshers Reunion in southeast Iowa. I'll write more and post pictures soon. Intrigued, aren't you?
8. I love our king size bed. We've had it for a bit more than a year. I love the size, I love the comfy-ness of it. When we travel I sincerely wish I could bring our bed with us. :)
9. I don't love that dear, sweet, wonderful, loving Hubby snores. It does keep me up sometimes. But when I find myself getting frustrated, I think about how it would be if he wasn't there anymore. I'd rather have a snoring hubby than no hubby. I posted this video a couple of years ago, but I think it's worth a re-post. Watch it.
This is another one of those songs from the CDs Megan and Zach gave me for Christmas.
I don't know about any of you, but I sure can use a reminder that Jesus' love never fails. Never. Nothing separates me His love. He has new mercies for me every day. In this world of seemingly constant change, how I need to be reminded He Never Changes. He stays the same through the ages.
The thing that makes me, me, the thing that is at my core is my faith in Jesus Christ. I cannot imagine my life without Him. I don't even want to know where I would be without Him. How would I deal with life without the Bible to guide me? I don't want to know.
I have no idea why this popped into my head tonight, but I went searching on YouTube and looked for Billy Graham videos.
(My mom came to Christ as a college student at a Billy Graham Crusade.)
Maybe this will hit home with someone reading this.
I am reluctant to say this, because I think almost every blogger I read says this at one time or another, but lately I have been having a difficult time coming up with things to blog about. So, I apologize for the lack of posts.
But, can I say I am thankful for the prompts from my blogging buddy, Joyce? (I know I don't actually know Joyce IRL, but I feel like we are buddies because we have so much in common and I think that if we didn't have 1200 miles separating us, we'd go out for lunch and have a great time.) All that to say that I am participating in Joyce's Wednesday HodgePodge this week. Thanks Joyce! Go over to @From This Side of the Pond to read some other bloggers' answers to this week's questions.
1. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time or have a significant conversation with two people?
It probably depends on what kind of party it is. If I don't know very many people, I think I would rather talk to a couple of people. But if it is people I know, then I'd likely talk to more people. (How's that for a wishy-washy answer?)
2. What objects do you remember from your parent's living room?
I remember two little angel figurines that are on a bookshelf. They sit on a little bench and are kissing. When my parents were arguing with each other, I would switch the figurines around so they were facing away from each other.
My mom has a Nativity set that my grandmother made out of Plaster-of-Paris. It is plain white. I've always liked it and remember playing with it (carefully) when I was little and rearranging the shepherds and wise-men and Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. I also remember my parents having friends over and sitting in the living room talking all night. I thought that seemed like the most boring thing ever. Just sitting around and talking? No playing outside or playing games?
3. Do you hog the bed? Steal the covers? Snore?
Yes, I hog the bed. That's why we have a king size bed now. :) (And, oh, how I love it!)
No, I don't steal the covers, that is all taken care of by Hubby. (But, then since I am you know, 50, I often don't need covers thanks to my own personal furnace I got going.)
And I don't think I want to answer the last question. Doesn't seem very lady like. ;) I will say that we do have a Sound Machine that helps mask some of the extra noisesgoing all while Hubby and I are sleeping.
4. Speaking of Easter Dinner....what is your favorite way to cook/eat lamb? Or does just the thought of that make you squeamish? If you're not cooking lamb what will be your entree du jour on Easter Sunday?
We were speaking of Easter Dinner?? :) I have never fixed lamb, but I do like it. Several years ago we spent 10 days in New Zealand (where there are more sheep than people) and I had lamb every opportunity I could. The last time I had lamb was last year in my favorite restaurant in our previous town.
Doesn't it look yummy?
A side story: When I was little (5 or 6?) I had an adorable stuffed lamb. One night for dinner my mom fixed lamb and my loving siblings (**cough cough**) told me it was my Little Lamby we were eating. I remember running to my bedroom to make sure he was okay. (He was.)
5. Do you know the whereabouts of your birth certificate and when was the last time you had to produce it to prove you're you?
My birth certificate is in the fire-proof safe in the basement. I think the last time I had to use it was when I first got a passport before we went to Switzerland to visit my sister-in-law and niece in 1995. I probably used it when we moved to Singapore,which was in 1998, so I guess that would qualify as the last time, huh?
6. As a child, how did people describe you?
My grandma always introduced me to her friends as "Clair's baby." Even when I was over 10. Sheesh. (I miss my grandma. She was great.) I think people thought I was a happy kid. But I don't really know what people said. I was cute though, huh? :)
I use the black & white picture as an example for my hair dresser of why I don't like short bangs. :) That nifty "hat" thing I have on in the picture on the far right is my mom's hairdryer. Cool, huh?
7. What do you complain about the most?
Living in this small, rural town. Ugh. Ick. Yuck.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Random video time! Here's the best movie scene ever... from Sleepless in Seattle:
And here is the scene from An Affair to Remember:
(I can't decide which is sappier, the dialogue or the music...)
Dear Hubby, I am praising God today that you were born. (50 years ago...) (Just had to get that in there...) I cannot imagine my life without you in it. You are my best friend. Thank you for devoting your life to Christ, to me, Caleb and Megan and now to Amanda and Zach. If I had to choose one word to describe you it would be commitment. You are committed to your relationship with God, and you are committed to me and our marriage.
We've had some joyous times in our marriage and we've been through some pretty tough times. Through it all you have stayed committed. You've chosen to stand by me no matter what. (Even though I said those words in my wedding vows to you, you have done the same to me.) Thank you for being my partner in life. For being my partner in raising our two amazing kids. I appreciate your example of seeking after God. You have sat by me and read to me from the Psalms when I have been sick. (Remember those days I was in the hospital in Singapore and you read the Psalms to me? I sure do.)
A couple of Christmases ago you gave me this little plaque:
That says Commitment to me. How blessed am I to have you in my life?
This past Christmas I gave you this to remind us that even though we are done with having children in our home, that we are done with the day to day job of raising them, that our life together is changing from what it was for many years, what it had been for most of our marriage, it is still you & me. Always.
A few weeks ago we saw this video of Dancing in the Minefields. There is a line that says:
But to lose your life for another I've heard is a good place to begin
Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down
And I believe it's an easy price for the life that we have found
Remember that Keith Green concert we went to back in 1982? (We weren't even dating yet. You were just my best friend.)Do you recall how we sang to each other?
Remember there's no greater love to lay down your life for a friend.
What a life we have found in being able to lay our lives down for each other! You have done that for me countless times in so many big and small ways. Thank you are such inadequate words.
So, sweetie, let's grab a hold of each others hands and go dancing in the minefields. Life with you is so worth every hard time and such a thrill to have the wonderful, joyous times to celebrate together.
I am so blessed for you to be apart of my life for the past almost 30 years. (Way more than half our lives, baby!)
Another Wednesday, another Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thanks to Joyce@From This Side of the Pond for another set of questions for this week.
1. National Read a Road Map Day falls on April 5th. Would people say you have a good sense of direction? Do you rely on a GPS when you drive somewhere new? When was the last time you used a map?
I tend to have a pretty good sense of direction. The town where my in-laws live is the only town where I have gotten miserably lost. I have GPS on my phone now and I LOVE IT! It is usually my job to navigate and sometimes I have a hard time with maps especially in big cities with one way streets, etc. GPS is a life-saver! Last time I used a map? Um, I don't remember. Probably a bit more than a year ago, since that is when I got this current phone. (April 6th is National Read a Road Map Day? Time to celebrate! Maybe I'll bake a cake.)
2. What's your favorite cookbook?
Hello, my name is Judy, and I have a problem with cookbooks. I love to try new recipes. (I am glad I can find recipes online and have quite a few bookmarked on my computer.)
This is the first cookbook that was "mine". My sister gave it to me when I was about 9. It was published in the early 1960s. It looks well used, doesn't it? It has some really good, basic recipes in it. I use it often. It's easy to find the recipes I use the most, just find the pages that are falling out or have food splattered all over them.
Another of my current favorite cookbooks is Pioneer Woman Cooks:
The recipes are really yummy and not full of "fancy" ingredients. But I think the real reason I love it is because my daughter, daughter-in-law and I are cooking our way through this cookbook and blogging about it. You can read the posts here.
3. What painting would you like to "walk into" and experience? Why?
I think this one:
Paris
Or this one:
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Or this one:
Gryuere, Switzerland
Or this one:
Christchurch, New Zealand
Or this one:
Sydney, Australia
Or this one:
Lake Dillon, Colorado
Or maybe even this one:
Hyannis, Massachusetts
These are all paintings or photographs we have around the house. They are all places we have traveled to. We try to find a painting from the places we are vacationing in. I'd love to go back to any of these. (The picture of the cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand makes me a bit sad. That cathedral was ruined in the recent earthquake there.)
4. What annoys you more- misspellings or mispronunciations?
Yes. Both. But I get most annoyed with mispronunciations.
Fustrated (Frustrated)
Valentimes (Valentine's)
Baali (Bali read: Bahli)
I think I'll stop now.
5. What is something your mother or father considered important?
Teaching me about Jesus. That has been the greatest gift they have ever given me.
6. Do you like or dislike schedules?
Mostly dislike. But they are necessary at times. I think I would be fine with them if there was nothing on the schedule before 10 AM. :)
7. Let's have some fun with National Poetry Month (that would be April)...write your own ending to this poem- "Roses are Red, Violets are blue..."
Incidentally if you'd like to read the history behind that little ditty you'll find it here.
My hubby has written me many poems over the years using these starting lines. (He's such a sweetie.) Let's see how I do with it....
Roses are red Violets are blue The snow is gone in our yard (!) And the lake ice too.
(Hmmm, I think hubby is better at it.)
8. Insert your own random thought in this space.
I have been addicted to watching live video of Bald Eagles in their nest in Decorah, IA. Right now there are two babies that have hatched and one more impending. Here's the link to the live feed. There are oodles of videos on YouTube of the eagles, here's just one to whet your appetite:
Another Wednesday, another Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thanks to Joyce@From This Side of the Pond for another set of questions for this week.
1. April rolls in at the end of this week and in celebration of that infamous date (April 1st) answer this question-What is something foolish you've done?
The first thing that pops into my mind (and by no means the last foolish thing I did), was to join a health club when we were first married. I was suckered into it and we just did not have the money for it. We did manage to get out of it, but it wasn't easy.
2. With April comes Easter and that classic edible treat known as Peeps...so tell me...what's your favorite way to fix/eat chicken? (That wasn't what you were expecting, was it? I 'fooled' you. teehee.)
I can eat chicken every day and I have lots of different ways to fix it. I will admit, I am a sucker for fried chicken. I don't make that myself, though. There is a pizza place in town that makes great fried chicken. (Yes, I said pizza place...)
Probably my favorite way to prepare chicken is to grill it and marinate it with Italian salad dressing. Mmmmm! I am looking forward to the snow melting away so I can drag the grill out from under the back steps and get busy grilling!
3. What's the best museum you've ever visited? Or your favorite? Or the one you'd most like to visit?
I'd love to go back to the Louvre in Paris and this time hit it long before 30 minutes before closing. That just wasn't long enough. We tried to see the Mona Lisa, but were turned away before we got very close. Sad.
4. You know what they say about April showers...what's your preference- a shower or a bath?
Yes! :) This house is the first house we have owned that has a jetted tub. So my favorite thing is to soak in the tub for a long time (basically while the water heater replenishes) and then take a shower to wash my hair. Ahhhh....!
5. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"...fact or fiction? Why?
My guess is that it depends on where the relationship is to begin with and how much you want to put into it while apart. My hubby came back to work in the US while the kids and I stayed in Singapore so they could finish out the school year. It was tough to be apart for 8 weeks, but we worked hard at communicating and staying connected. I know I learned how much he really contributed to our family and I missed his daily presence.
6. What's your favorite product made/grown in your home state?
I grew up in Iowa. I will say all of my favorite products have to do with food.
My first choice is fresh corn-on-the-cob:
Oooo yummy. The best thing of the summer!
What else is Iowa known for?
Pigs!
I don't like how they smell as you drive down the highway, but I sure do like pork. I can eat that almost as often as chicken.
Aaaannd (I know there's lots of food here) I love these potato chips.
They are made in Burlington, IA. Mmmm. They are gooood!
Okay, I will stop talking about food now. I don't want to make you too hungry.
7. What is going on in the world today that affects you the most?
Honestly? I can't think of anything.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
And now it's time for Silly Songs With Larry (The Cucumber, that is):
Another Wednesday, another Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thanks to Joyce@From This Side of the Pond for another set of questions for this week.
1. Sunday was the first day of spring. So they say. (Ahem.) What is your favorite outdoor springtime activity?
Being warm. Not wearing a coat. Watching the world turn green and the flowers bloom. Spring is by far my favorite season.
2. Who would you want to come into your kitchen to cook dinner for you?
My son-in-law. He used to come over and cook once in a while when he lived in the same town as us and before he was my son-in-law. He is a great cook. I miss having him do that and I miss seeing him at church and going out for lunch with him after worship. The good news is he's married to my daughter so he's in my life from now on.
Our son-in-law and daughter on their wedding day.
3. When did you last fly a kite?
Jeepers, I don't know if I remember. I think we did when the kids were pretty small, but that was a long time ago.
4. What topic puts you to sleep faster than anything?
Basically anything with a bunch of numbers. Before we moved overseas with my hubby's company (about 14 years ago), we met with accounting people and people who would do our taxes and oh boy, it was a snore. I was amazed that someone chose to do that for an actual living.When someone starts throwing too many numbers around I start hearing something akin to Charlie Brown's teacher.
5. Which flowers do you associate with specific people, places, or events?
My daughter-in-law loves sunflowers so whenever I see one I think of her. Orchids remind me of living in Singapore. They were prevalent, cheap, and in so many colors and sizes! Yellow roses remind me of our wedding. I carried them in my bouquet.
Oh, are we cute? And young?
6. What significant historical events took place during your elementary school days?
I remember watching on TV the moon landing and walking on the moon in 1969.
(I just love the astronaut walking and jumping around. He looks like he was having fun!)
7. Do you swear? Do you pseudo-swear? (You know crap, shoot, friggin'?)
I used to. A little. When I was particularly mad, a few not so good words would slip out. I was challenged/convicted several years ago to stop doing that. I will say that I have done quite well with that. And I am thankful. I'm working on the psuedo-swearing as well. Now that I read it, it sounds like I have/had a real potty-mouth. I never did. I remember a job at a fast food restaurant I had one summer during the college years. Some of the people I worked with commented on how they noticed I didn't swear.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Who doesn't love a laughing baby? (These two kids are actually my great-nieces.) This is sure to make you smile, if not laugh out loud. :)
Another Wednesday, another Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thanks to Joyce@From This Side of the Pond for another set of questions for this week.
1. Did you know there is a National Day of pretty much everything in the universe? February 23 happens to be National Inconvenience Yourself Day...when was the last time you were inconvenienced?
Oh, I don't know.... waiting for a price check yesterday at the discount store? (I like starting off with a totally lame answer.)
2. When a room in your house needs painting who does the job?
Hubby! He's much more meticulous and neat than I am. I have done my share of painting, but it may be my lack of neatness that has worked me out of that job. (I also don't like the paint fumes very much.) (Not that I mind not doing that job.)
3. Are you friends with your cousins?
On my mom's side of the family I have 2 cousins. On my dad's side, I have 5 living cousins. I am a good 10-15 years younger than most of my cousins. My hubby and I were talking just the other night about when we had last seen some of our cousins. It's been more than 15 years since I have seen several of my cousins on my dad's side (since my grandma's funeral). Anyway.... to answer the question. I would say that, no, I'm not friends with my cousins. Especially on my dad's side. I've interacted a bit more with my two cousins on my mom's side, but have never been friend-type close to them, mostly because of the age difference. Having said that, I did have a wonderful visit just a few months ago with the cousin who lives on the farm my mom grew up on. I wrote about that visit here. I have always adored his wife. I have known her since when I was probably 9 years old and she was in college.
4. Do you use an alarm clock? If yes-is it an actual alarm, music, or something else?
I'm finally to the point in life (no kids to take to school) where I don't have to set the alarm most mornings. **Aaahhh.....pure, sheer, bliss for this non-morning person** . But.... when I do set an alarm, it's to music. I cannot stand the blare-blare-blareof an alarm. I set it to a radio station with music that won't let me keep sleeping. I tried classical music for a while and that was a disaster. It has to be rock music with DJs that talk. (Did I mention that I'm not a morning person?)
5. What do you put ketchup on?
I gotta have a little ketchup with my french fries and hamburgers. Hubby likes BBQ sauce, but, I'll just stick with ketchup thank-you-very-much. I'm not really one to douse all sorts of things with ketchup. I have actually thrown away partial bottles from my fridge that have been there for years.
6. What smells make you nostalgic?
My mom's Swedish Rye Bread. Mmmmm.....
7. (Editing this question a bit--sorry Joyce) This questions has to do with boundaries online relating to this story of a teacher and her blog. (Click on the button at the top to go to Joyce's blog to read the whole question.)
I do think there is a line that should not be crossed when it comes to posting frustrations online on a blog or Facebook page. I won't say I'm perfect, but I try. A long time ago I wrote a blog post about some frustrations with a relationship and it backfired. I took the post down. I have written other posts about frustrations, and hopefully have not crossed the line of inappropriate.
Now, don't even get me started on Facebook statusi, statuses. (What is the plural?) I detest the ones that just beg for sympathy, slam their husband, kids etc. Don't even get me started on those.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
In keeping with my theme of posting a video for Question #8, I give you the Muppets singing Bohemian Rhapsody. Enjoy...
(My favorite is Animal.)
Have I ever told you what my hubby says about the four types of music? No? Well, then I'll share. (And if I have, please just smile and nod....)
1. Good Music; Good Words
2. Good Music; Bad Words
3. Bad Music; Bad Words
4. Bad Music; Good Words
The group that originally did Bohemian Rhapsody? Falls under category #2.
Time to start the new year with a new Hodgpodge of questions! Thanks to Joyce@From This Side of the Pond for another set of questions.
1. What three words would you use to describe 2010?
Challenging. Wedding! Moving.
2. If fear were not an issue what is something you'd like to try?
Well, I could say something about not trying bungy jumping or sky diving because of fear, but I can honestly say I just don't have a desire to hurdle my body through the air. So I need to come up with something else...
3. What do you add to your coffee or tea?
Coffee? Blech! I'm a tea drinker and more often than not I add ice to my tea. I love, love, love Ice Tea. I drink it all year round.
4. What historical sporting event would you like to witness?
The Olympics. We were in Sydney, Australia about six months before the 2000 Olympics and it was exciting to see all the preparations that were going on in the city. I'd love to watch Figure Skating or Gymnastics and my hubby would love to see Track & Field.
5. What is one piece of advice you would like to give your sixteen year old self?
Those extra 10-15 pounds really are a big deal. Keep them under control. Also, some of those boys? So not worth it. God has the most amazing man waiting for you to spend the rest of your life with.
6. Are you a planner or do you prefer to fly by the seat of your pants?
I think I would fall under the planner category. Although, I do love to do things spur of the moment. The balance of planning things to make sure something happens, and allowing for extra time to be able to something spur of the moment, is a tricky one to find.
7. What is one thing you are looking forward to in 2011?
Blogging and cooking my way through Pioneer Woman Cooks with my daughter and daughter-in-law. (Go read this post to read all about it.) (I wrote about it in point #6.)
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Time for another video! Here's one with a scene from the movie Julie & Julia comparing the real Julia Child with how Meryl Streep portrayed her in the movie. Brilliant!
