Happy Hot Hodgepodge

 1. What's something that reminds you of your grandmother? Tell us why. 

This bone china strawberry tea cup.  I use it daily.  Ironically, she was allergic to strawberries...but she loved this pretty mug.  When I wrapped my hands around it I can picture her hands wrapped around it.

2. Is your life currently more 'moonlight and roses' or a little more 'every rose has it's thorn'? Elaborate. 

I think I'm coming out of a season of 'every rose has its thorn' with various trials but I'm not sure I'd exactly say I'm in a 'moonlight and roses' quite yet either.  Seems like sorta begging for it to say that.  Summertime always feel sort hectic to me...I struggle to enjoy the wild ride of activities.

3. June 23rd is National Pink Day...favorite thing you own in any shade of pink? Favorite thing found in nature in any shade of pink? Your favorite pink food or beverage? Your favorite shade of pink? 

I have a dusty pink V-neck t-shirt that almost works as a neutral.  It's very soft.  

These are pink roses from my yard.  The darker rose is from bushes at the side of the house.  The lighter is my family rose from Scotland.  They smell amazing.

4. Last thing that had you 'tickled pink'? 

I finally finished my counseling certification...got my Congratulations email.  It was ALOT of work and a long time coming.  I'm so happy!  

5. What are two or three words that describe your style. 

Classic Jeans

Black

Sandles/Toms

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Summer fun times here...Glad for a break in the weather after a SUPER hot week last week.  So glad for water guns and water balloons.  And AC...very grateful for AC!

Loving coffee time with my girl baby...She is enjoying coffee finally...and just started driver's ed classes online this week.  They grow up so fast.

I Won't Last A Day Without You, God!

Sometimes I'm struck by love songs written for mere mortals that could be worship songs to my Savior.  It reminds me how easily I put these expectations on my marriage or friendships.  Always, perfectly be there for me... always, perfectly keep your promises...always, perfectly shower love upon me...It's unfair because they simply can't hope to measure up.  But my God, His love never fails.

This song is a great example...

Day after day I must face a world of strangers (I am a stranger here...this world is not my home)
Where I don't belong, I'm not that strong (O Lord, I need you)
It's nice to know that there's someone I can turn to (He will never leave me or forsake me)
Who will always care, you're always there (I am His, forever)

Touch me and I end up singing (He even sings over me and quiet me with his love)
Troubles seem to up and disappear (He delivers me from all my fears)
You touch me with the love you're bringing (through your precious Son Jesus)
I can't really lose when you're near (We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us)
When you're near, my love (God is close to the brokenhearted)

If all my friends have forgotten half their promises (God always keeps his promises)
They're not unkind, just hard to find 
One look at you and I know that I could learn to live
Without the rest, I've found the best (Indeed, I have)

When there's no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true (So many unfulfilled longings)
I can take all the madness the world has to give (I CAN'T take it...I need God's help)
But I won't last a day without you (God)

If you're curious for the full lyrics, without my parenthetical thoughts, you can find them Here.  

Thanks for tagging along for an overly analytical musical adventure.

June Bug HodgePodge

 

 

1. Something you've seen recently that's 'cuter than a June bug'? 

I consider these peeps to be pretty cute!  We managed to get away for an unplugged week in TN before the crazy of summer began.  I really loved the cuteness of seeing their faces and spending time with them at waterfalls, around campfires and across board games.  

While wading (yes, bravely with my phone/camera)...I got a picture of this cute water 'bug'...

2. Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988? If you weren't born yet, June of 1998. Or if that doesn't work, June of 2008. 

June 1988: I was in third grade.  I had Miss Dailey as a teacher.  I loved school.  I remember all of my teacher's names.  I feel like school let out in June when I was growing up.  We didn't go back until labor day.  Now that's about a month different.  My kids get out in May and go back in August.  

June 1998:  I graduated from high school.  It was kind of weird because I graduated from a school I transferred to at the end of my Junior year and then I went to the community college for half the senior year.  My friends were largely back in upstate NY where I'd grown up.  But, I do remember my grandparents coming and I was very excited to be going to college on a full vocal scholarship.

June 2008:  I was the married mommy to two adorable children...a three year old and one year old.  

3. A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel 'snug as a bug in a rug'? 

My sewing room/office...this has become more and more my refuge over the past year. 

This is my current project...these are from a pinwheel exchange and I want to get them into a quilt before the Winter state guild retreat when we can reveal what we did with ours to each other.  

I've been working on a counseling certification and much of that has been virtual, so my design wall became a lovely back drop for counseling and the sewing room became my snug, cozy, private space.

4. June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month. Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day? What's a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits. A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg? How do you feel about cooking in the summer months? 

I love fruits and vegetables.  I don't think I've had one I don't like.  We really enjoy oven/grill roasted veggies with just EVOO, salt and pepper.  I regularly roast cauliflower, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and asparagus.  Strawberries are in full boom here and are sooooo good.  I've made jam and we ate a whole bunch plain.  I'm debating picking another time but I don't want to be greedy.  Peaches are just coming into stores here...and I make a fresh peach ice box pie that is amazing if I do say so myself.  It's my son's favorite.  It's pretty much peach jello and fresh peaches in a graham cracker crust.  

5. Do you have a summer reading list? If so share a title or two we can add to our own. 

I highly recommend Gentle and Lowly and The Girl with Seven Names...

Upcoming on my list are...Untangling Emotions and The Making of CS Lewis.

Fun fact about my reading habits.  I generally have a long list of need to reads for counseling education, etc.  So, I 'bribe' myself to read those tougher, nonfiction reads...by 'rewarding' myself with fiction before bed.  So, I've always got an Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes on my nightstand for said reward purposes.  I have the complete works of both.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

My Sweet Emma helped me pass out runner bibs at our church's annual 5K-10K...We usually do it as a family but the boys were down with back pain and allergies...It was as sweet time.

I'm about to head off for a few days of sewing with friends.  I'm very excited.  I'm off to pack...hopefully not everything but the kitchen sink.  I try to be a light packer but I think of too many possibilities. 

Five Minutes of Slow

Ready...set...GO!

After a season that was absolute, full out sprint....God gave me slow.  Not a full stop...but certainly a decided stroll.  

He knew I needed it...to lean even harder into Him.  There was an adrenaline rush to the fast...a no nonsense clarity to the, "I can't do this and I need you Jesus... a "I am weak and You are strong"...a "gather yourself and RUN"...

So, in ways the slow held hard lessons...quiet, waiting, lonely.  And...I found in it a chance to abide...to dwell deeply...to await His perfect timing and to see His ways are always best.  To again renew and embrace being a helper to my husband...who needed me to go slow and care for his injured back...and a time to embrace my mommy-hood...to kids who needed me to go slow...listen and love.  

And now as things begin to gather...the old, familiar busy days of summer activity...the slow, abiding remains...the love for an early morning of slow...and the rich, abiding.  God continues to give opportunities to trust Him more.

STOP.

Sunday: Disturb us, Lord

Disturb us, Lord, when

We are too pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst

For the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision

Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wilder seas

Where storms will show Your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

We ask you to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push back the future

In strength, courage, hope, and love.

This we ask in the name of our Captain,

Who is Jesus Christ.

-Sir Francis Drake, 1577 

Before and After: Master Bedroom

I finally decided to makeover the master bedroom.  I don't know if makeover is exactly the right word.  The past few months has included the consideration of possibly moving to a place where we could better accommodate caregiving for family.  With that being on the table I was very slow to do any upgrades that weren't necessary and resale became the word of the day.  It turned out not to be the best way to care for our family so we won't be moving for the foreseeable future, which allowed me to open some paint and go for it.  My Loverbrains thought this was a bit silly, cuz no one sees this room but us, but he loves the finish.  So, that makes it worth it. 

Before:  I made the gray, roman blinds and they were beginning to droop.  Very tricky to make, just saying.  I apologize for my photography skills but the room is quite large and has a vaulted white ceiling.  It felt very builder beige blah.  Also, the art had worked with our previous wooden bed but was too small now somehow.

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SO, I selected a beautiful shade of blue...Refuge by Sherwin Williams.  I painted just the one wall and  created a collage out of mirrors I'd been collecting over the years.  We added cordless, bamboo roman shades and hung heavy black out linen/brocade drapes.  I added a plant too.  I may still add a dust ruffle to the bed.  I haven't decided.  I love it.  It's very much a room to exhale in...a refuge.  

After

Thoughtful Thursday: Time alone

 Today, I had tea, with jam and bread...for any other Sound of Music fans out there.  I have had a lovely hiatus of alone time lately.  Maybe even too much.  I can get all inward and overly analytical.  Today was probably one of my last alone days for quite a while.  School is ending tomorrow.  Grandparents are coming to visit.  A quick, 'off the grid' vacation to TN is in the works, followed by a serving trip, VBS and trips to see loved ones and their new, squishy baby.  

I made some freezer jam.  It's so beautiful.  I'm always alarmed at the amount of sugar.  Yikes.  But, it's a sometimes food, right?  We still have a lot of berries just for eating these next few days.  I made it alone.  Clinking and smooshing in my kitchen.  Scrubbing and wiping.  Quiet.

The weather has been humid and full of thunderstorms lately but this morning was clear and beautiful with a light breeze.  Perfect for berry picking.  If my back didn't remind me I was over 40 I would have picked forever.  I didn't want to be greedy though either.  Last year we experienced a bit of a "hoarding' around here and fields were picked clean very quickly.  I never got into a field...so no jam, apple butter, or canning happened.  

Usually, I berry pick with my kids but when I saw the chance to get into the field I decided to take it.  My girlie is learning to drive this summer.  The boy child is very into playing and teaching board games to his friends.  So, today I picked alone...I listened to others chatting around me a wee bit...and thought how good it was to be quiet...here the birds and the breeze...breathe the berry scented air...squish the mud underfoot. 

I've felt a bit tender after the season of discipline and trial we've just come through.  I find my usually extremely extroverted self shying away from gatherings.  I have been tired in every way...and feel the expectation is for me to be my normal cheery self but sometimes we go through things that change us...and we just want some time alone.  I hope I'm ready to jump into the summer season...maybe a little more sober minded, serious...not necessarily a bad thing...just different.  I can say with confidence that God is good, all the time.  He is close to the broken hearted.  He is good and does only good...no good thing does he withhold. He will never leave me or forsake me.  

Memorial Day Hodgepodge

 1. We're approaching Memorial Day Weekend in the US of A...will you mark this in some way? If so tell us how. According to a list found here some things you might do in honor of Memorial Day would be-shop in a Veteran owned business, learn to play a patriotic song, watch the Memorial Day concert, take a virtual tour of the White House, write a letter to a soldier or a soldier's family, fly a flag, attend a Memorial Day parade, donate flowers for a soldier's grave, put together a care package for a soldier, and take a moment of silence at 3 PM (the National Moment of Remembrance)....of the ideas mentioned are there any you will try?

We will fly a flag and talk about why the day is important.  Sometimes we watch a parade in town.  

2. What's something recently that made you 'come to attention'? 

We've been going through a season of discipline and trials and waiting...As we've started to come out the other side, many things have caused me to "come to attention" regarding my priorities at home, in marriage, in parenting, in ministry, etc.  Hard is not bad, it's just hard and sometimes it gives you better perspective.

3. In what area of your life do you need to 'soldier on'? 

I think whenever you're in a time of waiting...just plugging along and being faithful...'soldier on.'  Makes me think of a song "The Warrior is a Child"...

4. As a long weekend approaches and summer draws near, what's a favorite food from your childhood you think about adding to the menu? 

This time of year I always think of my Mom's potato salad.  It's the best.  I generally make firecrackers...mini saltines soaked in oil, ranch powder and red pepper flakes...yum.

5. Your favorite patriotic movie? 

I love the movie Iron Eagle...

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It was fun to join in today. I am always inspired by the Hodgepodge...and had time today.  I want to make commitments and plans to be more consistent in blogging but maybe I'll be more likely to write if I don't put those pressures on it.  I miss you lovelies.