Joy to the Hodgepodge!

Hello Wednesday. Here we are again, gathering at the Hodgepodge, thanks to our friend Joyce. Be sure to click on the button to pay her a visit and join in the fun!
Before we get the the Hodgepodge, I want to wish you all a time to relax, reflect, and enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. We will be kicking off lake season, so there will be a bit of prep work to do before the relaxing begins. :) Thankfully, there are many hands, and there is nothing better than having family and friends gathered at the lake.
Now, to the Hodgepodge!

Here are Joyce's questions and my answers:

1.  Did you make someone laugh yesterday? Was it intentional?
I visited Ruthann, who is home from the hospital following her surgery, and we laughed together about her texts and Instagram posts while under the influence of painkillers. And laughter is good medicine.

2. What's a simple question with a complicated answer?
For me? Anything math related.

3. Rhododendrons or azaleas...you have to choose. Are either currently blooming in your yard?
Azaleas. They are not blooming in my yard.
They were blooming in April, and every April, at Augusta National during The Masters. "A Tradition Unlike Any Other." Wish I had been there to see them in person. Someday...

Rory McIlroy hitting out of the azaleas at Augusta National.

(Photo credit Mike Blake/Reuters)

4. May 21st is National Waitstaff Day. Have you ever worked as a waiter/waitress? How would you rate the experience? What was the best/worst part of the job?
I have not ever worked as a waitress. I don't think I would have been very good at it. Our daughter-in-law, Shylah was a waitress, and a good one. 

5. What fashion trend for women should be outlawed? How about one for men?
I'm so old and out of it that I had to look up fashion trends so I could decide which one(s) should be outlawed. Ha! I'm not a fan of ripped jeans on women or men, and find it hard to understand why someone would pay good money for pants with holes in them. Our son, Andrew, wears ripped jeans sometimes, because he has worn or torn a hole in them. He wears them to work on the farm. Not for a night on the town.

6. Name a writer who inspires you....now tell us why.
A group of us attended Women of Joy in Louisville last weekend. The trip was all arranged by Ruthann, and she was planning to attend, until her surgery was moved up to sooner rather than later. A good thing, since she will have more time to recover before her son's wedding, but a disappointment that she couldn't join us for Women of Joy. She was with us in spirit, and we thought (too late) that we should have ordered one of those Spirit Head Ruthanns to take along with us. And yes, I'm getting to the part about a writer who inspires me. :)
Angie Smith.

Angie (or as we call her, 'our friend Angie') was on the Sandi Patty cruise with us in 2014. She is an author, mother of four beautiful girls here on earth, and wife of Todd Smith, who sings with the group Selah (love them!). I started reading her blog seven years ago when she wrote about saying goodbye to their precious daughter, Audrey. They had learned, early in the pregnancy, that the baby would live only a few minutes. They were blessed by the two hours they spent with her, and they continue to bless others by sharing their faith and her story. The blog led to the writing of her book, I Will Carry You. She has written several other books, including Audrey Bunny, for children, and her most recent, a Bible study called Seamless. She is adorable, and she inspires me.

7. What well known quote or saying sums up your plans for today or this week?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

As mentioned in #6, a group of us attended Women of Joy in Louisville last weekend. We missed Ruthann, and wished she could have been with us for the fun and fellowship. (And to see our friend Angie and the other speakers.)

Just a few photos to share from our weekend…
Barb, her daughter Katie (Ruthann's future daughter-in-law), and Emily (Ruthann's niece.)

Jennifer, Courtney, Darci, and I, ready for the show. And baby Piper, our littlest Woman of Joy.

Our little group with Angie Smith.

 Baby Piper, snug as a bug back at the hotel.

We left the Saturday morning session in the rain…
as Courtney said, "Soaking wet and full of joy!"

We finished our afternoon with lunch, shopping, pedicures, and a trip to our favorite, The Comfy Cow. There's always joy in ice cream!

It was fun to have a weekend with special women, for a time of worship, teaching, and fellowship. We missed Ruthann, and wish Shylah could have also joined us! We will remember our time together, and try to focus on the theme of STRONGER Philippians 4:13 to guide us each day. Amen!