Happy Hodgepodge Christmas!

1. What's left to be done on your Christmas to-do list? 

Cleaning.  I started to feel stressed about that until I realized if I wait..A. Things will be cleanest when company arrives and B. I'll get help from my minions (aka kids) who'll be home!  Win win!

2. The Hodgepodge lands on the first day of winter this year. What's your favorite thing about winter? 

Having recently endured an ice storm here in Indiana...I have to admit that although scary on a whole lot of levels...it is stunningly beautiful!  Ice magnifies the ordinary.  Twigs, grass, leaves shine, sparkle and glow.  Of course, I can only really appreciate this when we're all snuggled up safely together.  

3. In what area of your life are you immature? Feel free to elaborate or not. 

Yeesh...I thought this was supposed to be fun?!  HA!  I guess I act most immaturely when things don't go as I have planned.  I'm not as flexible as I'd like to be most days.  Although, I'm probably, hopefully, growing up a little in that area.  God has a funny way of shaking my stability to really teach me deeper trust in Him.  Flexibility requires stretching...He's stretching me...Hence, the moving and all! LOL!

4. What was the most (or one of the most) important lessons you learned in 2016? 

I picked the word Steadfast for 2016.  I thought I'd work to be more steadfast...in my goals, in my relationship with God, etc.  What I discovered was that God is the Steadfast One.  I am so grateful for all He's done in this year.  It's been quite a wild ride!  I know that He is working all things for my eternal good and His glory!

5. It's Fried Shrimp Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite way to eat shrimp? Will there be shrimp somewhere in your holiday feastings? 

I love shrimp and I order it often when eating out...mostly because my Sweet Loverbrains is allergic to it and I never make it at home.  I really like it in a dish at Carrabas...it's a spicy marina sauce with linguine and lots of shrimp, mussels, scallops, etc.  Yummo.

6. What sound lulls you to sleep? 

The humidifier and fan next to my bed!  I like the sound of falling rain too.

7. What one word best describes your 2016? 

Adventure!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I'd really like to blog more...I keep thinking of things to write and I've started making a list in the hopes that when I have time to write I'll actually remember something I wanted to write about.  However, I'm finding that I either can't understand or find a passion for writing on what's recorded on the list.  So, I'm open to suggestions.  How do ya'll think of things to blog about...keep things organized, etc.?

Bullet Journaling aka Exhausting Inspiration

I've been making a list of things I'd like to blog about...in my phone...under reminders.  So nifty.  Just figured out I can share the grocery list with my husband.  Genius.  But, yeah...listing...totally a step in the right direction, right?  I'm thinking about blogging...so maybe that means I'll do more actual blogging.

And speaking of making lists...

Bullet journals.  Not what they seem to be.  One imagines they are simply bulleted lists kept safely within a journal...but no.  They are a sadistic, artistic challenge.  A complete waste of time, that supposedly saves time, in the tomorrow that never comes.  It's the journaling version of having meetings about your meetings.

Seriously, some of them are ahhhh-mazing.  On Pinterest you can eat your heart out on said topic...and pin your brains out.  Beautiful and nifty ideas for how to remember birthdays, chart goals, record every dream and thought...plus nifty keen-o rulers and tutorials.  Cha-ching!

I've timidly stuck toes into this world.  There would have been seasons of my life where I'd have plunged in head first...but nowadays I occassionally realize I don't have time for things, before they suck up all of my time.  Sometimes.  Ha!  So, I bought a beautiful journal with a hot air balloon on the cover and decided I'd record beautiful Scripture and prayer and quotes.  Ya'll, it takes f o r e v e r.  This isn't always a bad thing...I've had some great times worshipping God with said journal.  But, since I'm so prone to wander into the land of perfection rather than grace...let's just say it's the slippery slope...and I fell on my ker-bump.  I started being truly anxious about how good things looked...and started completely missing the point.

And come on...some lists shouldn't go in a journal.  They should just go at the top of your Daytimer...in letter form...W=water...check yes or no.  Let's not make things harder than they should be.  My grocery list does NOT have to be pretty...it does have to be functional!!

So, I'm inspired and I'm exhausted.  And, as I begin to ponder what will work for the year of 2017 that is fast approaching...well, a bullet journal keeper, I ain't.  Very pretty though.  Seriously, how is anyone getting their laundry done, reading...anything else?  Yeah, my husband likes his laundry clean and my kids like to eat...and showing them my nifty journal that's so pretty I'm afraid to write in it probably isn't gonna cut it!

Peace!

*Above comments are said in fun loving sarcastic tones.  If you bullet journal and it rocks your world...I still love you...and I'll ooo and ahhh about your art any time.

Holiday Hodgepodge (better late than never)

1. Give us three rhyming words that say something about your Thanksgiving holiday (or your most recent holiday gathering if you didn't celebrate Thanksgiving). 
Humble (so much to be grateful for), Grumble (forgot the sugar in the pumpkin pies), Bumble (busy)
2. When did you last say, 'the more the merrier'? Did you mean it?
I don't think I ever have...and when I was thinking of sending "We Moved" announcement postcards I liked the ones that said "come visit...call first"...but I wasn't sure how that'd go over.  Don't worry.  It was a none issue because time zoomed forward and now I'm just hoping to get Christmas cards out with the new address.  Ugh....
3. What's one piece of advice you'd give someone who is your same age?
Exercise!  Things are going down hill fast!
Silence is golden.  Duct tape is silver.  Go buy duct tape.
4. You're ordering a veggie plate, what four veggies are on it?
Cauliflower, Carrots, Celery, and Broccoli (RANCH DIP)
5. Shop til you drop! Did you? Have you ever? Will you between now and Christmas?
I prefer to shop from my LAPTOP...it rhymes!  I don't like traffic or crowds.  Or shopping alone.  Or with my kids.
6. What's your favorite chair in your house, and why is it a favorite?
A small, tan lazyboy that was my husband's grandmother's.  My feet touch the ground in it and it's comfy.
7. Share an early memory of faith, religion, or spirituality.
When I was six years old my parents had a college aged bible study meeting in our tiny house.  I would listen to their talks and one day after listening...I realized that I was a sinner and needed a Savior.  My parents opened the Bible and told me all about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection...the gospel.  I repented of my sin and asked Jesus' to save me and be in charge of my life!  I remember calling my grandparents to share the news with them and how happy they were and how they told me angels were dancing in heaven because they were happy about me belonging to Jesus.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm loving having actual designated guest space in this new house.  It's so nice!!!  God has so blessed us...and hopefully our guests felt even more welcomed and comfortable.

Killing my pet sins...

I have struggled for years to love my husband when he is sick.  I am not alone in my struggles with sick men.  There are plenty of hilarious jokes out there.

"During labor, the pain is so great that a woman can almost imagine what a man feels when he has a fever."

"I think I'm getting sick."  The most dreaded words a wife can hear her husband say.

And my favorite..."I'm gonna kill him and put him outta MY misery!"

I've known for years that these attitudes had a dark edge.  I didn't want to call them sin because sarcasm is probably one of my greatest temptations in regards to the sin of pride.  I like to think that the wittiness of sarcasm helps me through difficult circumstances.  But, all too often, it is at the expense of others and inappropriate for the situation.  God convicted me especially regarding those comments where the husband is referred to as the additional "child."  I knew, and there was no denying, that it was an unbiblical and sinful way to think, or speak, towards my husband and the leader of our home.  It was as if there was a neon light flashing over my head..."Selfish!"  The feelings of anger and frustration were like the check engine light of my heart...saying, "STOP!  Pull over!  Selfish, ugly explosion of SIN about to pour forth!"  And rather than being the wise woman who builds her house...I was the foolish one who with my words and hands tore mine down (Proverbs 14:1).

I am thankful for the Holy Spirit's conviction.  How he points to, highlights, and scrapes at anything that doesn't look like Christ in me.  Maybe he should break out the heavy machinery.  *sigh*  No one likes how this discipline feels...but without true conviction and true repentance there can't be true reconciliation and relationship.  And even though it's painful...I want that...I want to be more like Christ.

I've gone in spells trying to do better about my attitude on my own...knowing that I couldn't and shouldn't be ugly to Loverbrains when he's got a sinus infection or whatever.  I always fail.  Self effort is...stupid.  I don't have the power.  This time, I am hopeful that by admitting my inabilities and my need for help to God, that He IS and WILL keep helping me to love my husband well.  Darren is in more pain with this pinched sciatic nerve than I have ever seen him.  And now, my heart breaks as I watch him struggle...and I pray faithfully and fervently for him...rather than griping and thinking of myself.

Last night, I said something about all suffering being sanctifying and he looked at me like, "Bug off!"  Cuz, really, who wants to hear that when they're suffering, right?  Then I said, "Not for you...for me!"  I'm grateful for this time of trial because it has worked to break me of a pet sin I've been coddling for years.

"So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you." Col. 3:5

Hodgepodge: Sense of time...

1. What would you say is your strongest sense? 
Hearing...I have always had sensitive and intelligent ears.  I love languages and accents and pick up on them easily...so easily that I tend to copy how people talk and have to catch myself.  It feels fun on my tongue.  This strong sense is a bit of curse though...especially in our new house where I hear every new sound and cannot seem to sleep well at night.  Ugh.

2. Do you believe in the idea of a 'sixth sense'? Why or why not?
It's an interesting idea.  I 'get' what people are trying to describe...a gut feeling of sorts.  I do think that there are times we need to trust our gut.  But, there are also times where we can get carried away by our emotions and feelings and that's a mistake.  I guess my answer is no.

3. When do you most feel like a slave to time? Explain.
Generally, I feel like a slave to time when I'm in a hurry and it involves the kids.  I feel rushed and like I'm missing the most important things and I hate that!  The constant companion that phones have become makes me feel this way too.  People need an answer and they need it RIGHT NOW.  I miss my answering machine that I checked once a day when I got home from work.  

4. Have you ever worked in a restaurant? How would you rate the experience? If you could own a restaurant what kind would it be? 
Yes.  I was a dishwasher/prep cook in college and then later I worked at McDonalds too.  It was hot, sweaty work.  It taught me the value of money and the value of my education.  It taught me to value people too.  Many blue collared workers never get recognized for how hard work is...and many are badly treated.  You will never see me be unkind, impatient or cruel with a restaurant worker partially because of what I learned working.  That is a priceless lesson.

5. Ever traced your family tree? Share something interesting you learned there.
Sort of...I haven't but a few family members have and I've learned from their findings.  I visited Denny, Scotland (Denny is my maiden name) and met a few Denny's while there...long distant relatives no doubt.  It was sheep pastures mostly.  Very pretty and remote.

6. What did your childhood bedroom look like?
My bedroom was large and had a cubby off the middle of it with a window.  I used it as a play area, reading area and dressing area by spells.  It had white curtains with little rosebuds.  The carpet was blue shag and hard to vacuum.  I had a bunk bed with a double on the bottom and single on top.  Anytime we had company they took my room.  I had a white eyelet bedspread with pastel color in the lace.  The giant black cat we had used to hide under the dust ruffle and pounce on my feet.  The room had radiators and I'd climb up on them to see out the high windows...those kind that cranked out!  Good memories...

7. Anyone who knows me knows I love_______________________?
Turquoise, cobalt blue glass, clocks, oil lamps, books, coffee but hopefully most of all....GOD!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
In case you missed it I moved this month.  I posted about my life and whirlwind if you go back a post!  Phew...I'm tired.  I probably should be unpacking something but there is only so much unpacking a gal can do before she cracks!

Update: My life, my whirlwind!

So, we went on our yearly trip to upstate NY to visit my grandparents.  It was beautiful there in the mountains by the lake, as it always is...and it was interrupted by work, as it always is.  

My husband's company had been showing signs of strain for years...filing a form of bankruptcy, layoffs...but we'd said we felt he was secure in his position and we'd stay.  He liked it and he's loyal and wanted to help them succeed.  But, they'd continually been encroaching on our family time...long and late teleconferences became longer and later...and went from once a month to almost every night with many more trips overseas.  Oh, and did I mention...they never NEVER let us have a vacation without an interruption... or several.  Everything was an emergency.  And I'd say, "there is no reason a good employee shouldn't be able to leave for a week without this kind of intrusion."...well, it finally got to my sweet, humble Loverbrains this July and he decided to put out his resume to three places.  

As soon, as we got home from that vacation he was sent overseas for possibly a week, possibly more...and he said, "put the house up for sale so we aren't stuck with it if I get a new job in the wintertime."  So, my Mom came for her scheduled visit and I put her to work (ha)...and she helped me clear and clean and set up that house for sale.  When he came home a week later we listed it at the highest going price and in one showing...it sold...for asking price!  WOW!

So, while Loverbrains fielded major problems at his current job he also had phone interviews on the down low...and managed to schedule two live interviews back to back.  I bought new suits and helped him prepare in any way I could.  I prayed...a lot.  His interview on the Monday went great and they offered him the position right before he walked into his other interview on Tuesday.  That interview went so well that they met him for dinner and offered him that job too.  By Wednesday he had both offers in writing on his desk.  Just so ya'll know...that doesn't happen...that was God.  God gave multiple good options.  God is so good.  And it seemed that God was very serious about us moving.  WOW!  

We had great connections through our church and were able to get help completing the home inspection items on our list for our buyer in record time.  And we were able to house hunt that very next Saturday and Sunday and find...ok, I'll just say it...my dream house!  Seriously, it's gorgeous!  All the details fell into place with it too.  I remember one Sunday I was feeling stressed about some minor detail regarding inspection or some such and as I shared it with an older lady at church she just looked at me at said, "Honey, it just seems like God is steam rolling the way before you...don't you think you can trust Him?"  And indeed He has steamrolled the way.

He blessed us with corporate movers too.  Although the big dog relocation company wasn't very nice the third party they hired were just splendid...so much so that I now have a friend named Karen in MA should I ever visit there.  Seriously, moving is stressful and when the big dog company kinda forgot they were dealing with people and not just money and the Monday of the move told us they might put us into storage for two weeks...my MA friend listened to me cry and reassured me that they would be there to move us no matter what ducks were lined up or not!  They wouldn't leave us stranded.  Castine Movers...I'm telling you...they're the best!  

So, in roughly 8-10 weeks....we moved.  Things are still a bit crazy here...and on gray days like today they are a bit lonely and quiet for this extroverted chica.  But, we know that God has a plan for us here...He moved us...and We trust Him!  We are excited to see what He has in store.

50 questions for fun

50 QUESTIONS  

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?  
Nope.  Interestingly, I also didn't name my children after anyone either.  

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?  
Last week...ugly cry.  A little bit hormones, a little bit needing to surrender to God's plans over mine.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?  
Yes.  I worked very hard to have classic teacher handwriting.  My cursive has become a bit lazy since I stopped teaching but I still like it.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?  
Chicken

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?  
Yes, one boy one girl  

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?  
Yes.  I'm very fun and I care a lot!!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?  
Just one of the many services I provide.  Haha.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?  
Yes  

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?  
No, not ever!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?  
Vitality with Strawberries

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?  
Yes, every time.  It hurts my ankles otherwise.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?  
I think I am weak...but God is strong.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?  
Butter Pecan...my husband's least favorite.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?  
Their eyes and body language.

15. RED OR PINK?  
Red 

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?  
I'm pretty easy on everyone else...but VERY hard on myself.  Saw a saying the other day..."Be nice to yourself.  It's hard to be happy when someone is mean to you all the time."

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?  
My Grandpa Sharp...he passed away when I was 12...wish he could meet my husband and kids.

18. WHAT IS THE NUTRITION OR FITNESS STRATEGY THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST?  
Exercising on the days when I don't meet my friends at the gym.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?  
Black flip-flops 

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?  
Protein Bar

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?  
The birds chirping in my backyard

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?  
Turquoise...my favorite color.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?  
coffee in the morning, peonies, fresh paint

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?  
My Mom...it's her birthday today.

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?  
Beach house

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?  
Bowling...ha...we are NOT a sports watching household...but I saw bowling at a restaurant the other day and I'd totally watch that!  

27. HAIR COLOR?  
Dark Blond

28. EYE COLOR?  
Dark Blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?  
Yes...almost all the time 

30. FAVORITE FOOD?  
Curried Chicken with Snowpeas

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?  
Happy endings.  

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?  
The Jungle Book (the old animated one)

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?  
Blue paisley

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?  
Summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES?  
Hugs  

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?  
Rhubarb Crunch

37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?  
Strength Training  (incidentally I'm not altogether sure of the people who love cardio...ugh)

38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?  
Computer  

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?  
The Heart of Anger by Priolo

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?  
MacBook...not mouse pad needed

42. FAVORITE SOUND?  
The voices of my children

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?  
Beatles! 

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?  
Europe

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?  
I sing pretty well.  I'm pretty crafty too.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?  
Racine, Wisconsin

47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?  
Indiana

48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?  
Gray

49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?  
Maroon

50. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 50 QUESTIONS?  
Yes!!!! 

Walls of self effort...

Ever heard that saying, "God wouldn't have allowed it unless He had a purpose.  Don't just go through it--grow through it." ?  Well, I'm trying.  Maybe that's the trouble...too much striving.

I'm currently writing my counseling and theology exams for biblical counseling certification.  It has been a long and arduous process.  I think I was kind of delusional naive as I finished writing them last month and headed into the proofreading and editing phase.  

Yup, I hit another one of those walls of self effort.  I say God's timing is perfect...and it is...but I really wanted my timing.  I am constantly struck by the antagonism of the concept of trusting God and yet working out your salvation.  I want to obey Him and complete this training...I don't think I should just wait for lightning to strike or information to fall out of the sky...ya gotta have a plan, right?  True...but its got to submit to Him too.

So, when blessed with two mentoring editors...instead of being full of gratitude and encouragement...instead, I bawled at the first sight of the work still left ahead of me.  Several questions I can't answer until I study...more.  Not total re-writes...but ALOT more work still to go.  I know better than to ask why me.  I knew some of the questions needed work.  I want to grow through this time.  Sometimes I feel stretched and about to break.  I'm a full sponge unable to hold another drop.  I can't juggle it all.  And, that's kind of the point.

WHAM...wall of self effort.  It could be easier though.

You see, I'm all over Phil. 2:12, "Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. ...but I forget about v. 13, "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."  I need to work out with fear and trembling what God is working in me; the desire and power to do what pleases Him.  He needs to become greater, I need to become less.  When I pray for His Kingdom to come...that means NOT my kingdom.  That evidently means NOT sending in exams until Fall...that means pausing and refocusing to make sure wife and mommy are really on top where they should be before student.

The only place to bring my weariness and heavy burdens is Christ.  He is humble and gentle of heart and has redeeming power to give me true rest for my soul.  Jesus' yoke is demanding, but easy because of his heart toward me and the empowering Holy Spirit 

Steadfast was the word I chose as the focus for my 2016.  I knew I had a lot before me on this journey...I chose it wanting to be steadfast for God.  I have been learning that I can't be steadfast without trusting first in His steadfast love.  Each morning He faithfully reminds me, showing me the eternal perspective, lifting my eyes.

Oh Lord,

Fill my heart with gratitude for Your truly perfect timing.  You are good to those who hope in You and seek You.  It is good to wait quietly for the Lord of my Salvation.  Oh Lord God...you are a Mighty Savior.  You take delight in me.  You will quiet me with Your love and sing over me.  Please stop my sinful strivings and change my heart to have a posture of rest before You.  

Amen.

Some PHoto PHun!

I have been busy (again...still?). But, I've taken some pretty pictures now that Spring has sprung in these parts...

I tried to get a good shot of the light shining in and through this tulip.  It was tricky.

I love this one of our shoes and our Scruffy!

I took this for my neighbor while she was on vacation.  We had a late frost and almost all of the tulip trees died...huge magnolias just brown...it was awful!

And today...I snapped this of the cherry tree by the bus stop while I waited for my kiddos!

Hodgepodge with a CUTE birdie!

1. What does retirement mean to you? Are you planning for it, not thinking about it, looking forward to it, or dreading it?
My husband and I are a few decades away from it...but we are thinking about it.  We don't really believe in "retirement" per se...and since he loves his job and we'd like to travel together we've got a pretty good idea of what he needs to do and where he needs to be by that time.  I do know I want to downsize BIG TIME...and live in a place that one level, someone else does the lawn care, and there's room enough for my books and my kids to visit.
2. It's International Guitar Month...do you play? Does anyone in your family play? What's a song you especially like to hear played on the guitar or a favorite song featuring the guitar?
I can play the guitar and trumpet a little bit.  I play the piano quite a bit better than those.  Last year I got ukelele...and I am LOVING her portability and ease.  The Internet is full of great tutorials and music!  My favorite guitar memories are tied to my Grandpa Sharp who passed away many years ago.  We used to get together with friends and they'd play and we'd sing way into the night.  I think fondly of "you are my sunshine."
3. What's your comfort food?
Fall foods...pumpkin desserts, soups...
4. What's one activity or area of your life where you absolutely never procrastinate?
I tick through the morning routines pretty carefully.  My little has meds he needs to take and they need specific things ready for school.  I know the day changes ALOT if any of those things are forgotten so I don't put them off or try to go out of order.  But, seriously, I don't procrastinate about almost anything...I'm highly organized and get a little frazzled when things are "spontaneous"....I work on being more flexible.
5. Who does the grocery shopping in your house? Does your local store bag the groceries for you or is it a do-it-yourself kind of place? Do you like someone packing your groceries?
I do the grocery shopping.  I shop at two places to save the most money.  I shop first at Aldi...and bag my own groceries and put away my own cart.  Then I go to Meijer and they do bag for me but generally not well and in thin flimsy bags.  But, I reuse those bags as small trash bags so it's ok.  I wish I had someone at home to help me unload...that's my least favorite part.  Ugh.
6. What's the coolest thing you've seen in nature?

Gee...I'm kind of stumped on this one.  I think all of Creation is pretty stinking amazing.  Little things amaze me...looking at butterfly wings or flowers.  I LOVE birds and they are all so very intricate and wonderful to study.

7. Share a favorite quote about home.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Jumping back into "real life" after a two week Spring Break and my head is a spinnin'. But I didn't want to miss Hodgepodging!!

Sew Thursday!

Well, the foxy boy quilt is completely finished...and all tied up ready to be delivered!

I made Felix here as a bonus surprise.  He's made from parts of an old sweater...and I especially like his tail...an old tie!

Hodgepodge No Foolin'

1. What are two or three expectations you have of yourself?

I try to hold myself to God's standards.  I want to please Him by meeting His expectations written in His Word and give Him glory in what I say and do.  1.  I am working on not complaining because that's basically telling God He messed up.  This applies to head colds, lateness, and the weather.  2.  I'm working on being a submissive wife and grace focused parent.  3.  I'm working on completing this course of study in biblical counseling so I can help my sisters in Christ at church.

2. In what way does your outdoor space need sprucing up this spring?

We have plans to put new black shutters on our house.  We also plans to hang more outside lighting and paint the screen porch and fence.  I need to add and remove plants from my flower beds too.

3. According to this site (Roadtrippers), six of North America's most wondrous waterfalls are-Webster's Falls in Ontario, Upper Whitewater Falls in North Carolina, Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon, Multnomah Falls in Oregon, The Lower Yellowstone Falls, and Niagara.  Have you seen any on the list? Which one on the list would you most like to visit? Prettiest waterfall not on the list that you've seen in person?

The only one of these I've seen is Niagara.  It was amazingly powerful!!! 

4. Looking back, what's something you wish you'd done as a teenager?

I wish I'd been braver about sharing my faith in Christ.  I'm not sure what bad thing I thought was going to happen but I never said much until my Junior year...then I moved and didn't really establish new friendships.

5. Ham...yes please or no thank you? If you said yes please which of the following do you like best-baked ham with all the trimmings, a ham and cheese sandwich, prosciutto with melon, a ham biscuit, a bowl of split pea and ham soup, or a slice of pizza topped with ham and pineapple?

Yes please.  I love a good pea soup with ham!  Yum!!!

6. Are you typical of your generation? How so?

My husband and I are not typical of our generation.  Most are very sports focused and anti academic.  We are very settled...total nerds and bookworms.  We get along best with people at least a decade older than us... or more.

7. April rolls in at the end of the week, and in keeping with that theme...'act the fool', 'nobody's fool' 'a fool's errand', 'could have fooled me'...which foolish idiom most recently applies to you?

I'm going with 'act a fool'....I'm slowly learning it's better to just keep your mouth shut and let people think whatever they want.  I'm not sure this is so much me acting the fool as it's just letting fools think what they want. Makes me think of "Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Due to a new perpetual school calendar our Spring break has gone from one to two weeks off.  It is long.  They are currently slap silly on the couch bugging and loving each other.  It's all good fun until somebody cries.  Sigh....I visited family and I have outings planned...but it's still long.  They miss their friends and teachers.  I'm glad they're good friends most of the time.

Reading Aloud...

I simply adore reading aloud!  I learned to love it as a child...and have fond memories of many road trips and quiet evenings spent reading as a family.  My parents modeled great reading and helped hone my read aloud skills as I learned about speed, inflection and volume.  Then, as a teacher, I learned to enjoy it even more!!!

My own two Sweet Boobahs are now both avid little readers and I'm trying to pick some great read alouds.  It is challenging, even for an adult reader, to animate books.  Much of comprehension is based on my reading as often the vocabulary is right on the edge of their current reading level.  I LOVE this challenge and the widening of vocabulary.  I comply with their gleeful pleas for 'just one more chapter' until I'm quite hoarse.

Per my Sweet Loverbrains request we are reading The Hobbit aloud.  Although, The Lord of the Rings movies were very enjoyable I could never get into Tolkien's books...but I am amazed at how very fun this read aloud has been so far.

We've enjoyed many Roald Dahl books and Richard Peck books...our favorite being George's Marvelous Medicine and A Long Way From Chicago.

On our current list are:

The Voyages of Dr Dolittle

Pippi Longstocking

The Borrowers

The Last Of The Really Great Whangdoodles

Five Children and It

The Twenty One Balloons

Do you have any favorites you'd like to suggest!?

Sunrise Song

This song is still pounding through my heart after church yesterday....

Creation sings the Father's song; 
He calls the sun to wake the dawn 
And run the course of day 
Till evening falls in crimson rays. 
His fingerprints in flakes of snow, 
His breath upon this spinning globe, 
He charts the eagle's flight; 
Commands the newborn baby's cry.  

Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing,  
"Hallelujah!" Fill the earth with songs of worship;  
Tell the wonders of creation's King.  

Creation gazed upon His face; 
The ageless One in time's embrace
Unveiled the Father's plan 
Of reconciling God and man. 
A second Adam walked the earth, 
Whose blameless life would break the curse, 
Whose death would set us free 
To live with Him eternally.  

Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing,  
"Hallelujah!" Fill the earth with songs of worship;  
Tell the wonders of creation's King.  

Creation longs for His return, 
When Christ shall reign upon the earth; 
The bitter wars that rage 
Are birth pains of a coming age. 
When He renews the land and sky, 
All heav'n will sing and earth reply 
With one resplendent theme: The glories of our God and King! 

Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing,  
"Hallelujah!" Fill the earth with songs of worship;  
Tell the wonders of creation's King.  

Words and Music by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townsend 

WORD: schedules of reading

I noticed one of my last posts before my long hiatus was about how I was reading through the Bible without a true schedule.  Yes, for 2015 I used a simple list of all the books of the bible and chapters and went about it at my own pace.  For this chick, who's a little too driven by rules and "to dos", it was very freeing.  It kept Bible reading from being so much a duty and changed it to be more of a delight.  

Now, that being said, I'm not sure I'd encourage people to go all loosey goosey...It was harder to stay disciplined without a true schedule pushing things along.  I prayed for God to help me desire His Word...a lot.  Thankfully, I believe He truly delights to answer this prayer...even if He has to put hard times in your way to make you dig into His Word.  

This year, 2016, I'm being ambitious.  Through my studies I've realized more and more that no good human writing about God's Word is as good as God's Word itself...and I REALLY need to be in it more.  I saw the need in biblical counseling, and life as a whole, to get better at knowing where things are located...and quickly.  I'm not terrible at this...I can usually nab the right general area and I'm a wicked fast googler but...then someone suggested using Professor Grant Horner's Bible Reading Schedule.  

Each day you read one chapter from each of ten lists. That’s right -- ten chapters per day!!! I use Olive Tree and they actually have this reading plan and it just electronically bops me from book to book...but sticky notes would work just fine too.  In fact, there's a neat printable set on Pinterest.  Since the lists vary in length, the readings begin interweaving in constantly changing ways. You will NEVER read the same set of ten chapters together again! 

Every year you’ll read through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the OT History and Prophetic books about 1 1⁄2 times. 

Since the interweaving is constantly changing, you will experience the Bible commenting on itself in constantly changing ways -- the Reformer's principle of 'scriptura interpretans scripturam' -- 'scripture interpreting scripture' IN ACTION!  I'm loving it!!

So, that's the WORD for today.  Hope ya'll are getting into it!  

"The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is sure,

making wise the simple;The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is sure,

making wise the simple;  The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is sure,

making wise the simple;"

Psalm 19:7