A Slice of the Hodgepodge

Hello friends. In case you can't tell, that's a nod to the better-late-than-never and oh so different just-completed Masters tournament. But everything in 2020 seems to be different, am I right?

I'm here for the Hodgepodge today, and thankful to Joyce for continuing to offer the opportunity to think and to blog as we are able. (Some days I'm more able than others!)

Here are her questions and my answers for your reading pleasure. Ha! Be sure to click over to her blog and see what everyone else has to say.

1. It's Mickey Mouse's birthday (November 18)...happy birthday Mickey! He reads here, right? Have you ever been to Disney, any of the parks at all? Are you a Disney superfan or something less than that? They're open right now so tell us, would you go if you had the time/money/a free trip?

I have been to Disney World in Florida a few times - a couple times as a child, once with our kids, and most recently this past January (which seems like about 10 years ago!) with 2 of my daughters-in-law and 2 grandkids.

This fuzzy photo is my parents, my 2 brothers, and me, circa 1970 or so.

Fast forward to 1993, with Jim and our 5. Matching shirts weren't as easy to come by back then, so I painted their sweatshirts. Matching was our thing. And it also allowed us to keep track of everyone more easily.

And finally, this past January, with Darci and Haleigh celebrating our January birthdays. Haleigh turned 10, and Darci and I a bit older. Ha!

Courtney and little S came along on the trip as well, even though it wasn't their birthday month. S was not so sure about an unexpected encounter with a Stormtrooper! If you look closely though, you can see that S is wearing the same sweatshirt that his daddy wore. Yes, I save everything.

I would not call me a superfan of the Disney parks, although I have kids and grandkids who definitely fall into that category, and seeing it with them is a treat. It is a magical place, full of fantasy, fun, and fatigued feet (at least for this granny)!

2. Your favorite place to go when you want to be quiet as a church mouse? Would those who know you well describe you as more churchmouse or perhaps more like mighty mouse? 

This is the place I go to be quiet. Of course, I also love it when it is filled with the laughter and shouts of grandchildren. I'm more of a churchmouse. Or maybe mighty mouse incognito?

3. The day before Mickey's birthday happens to be National Homemade Bread Day. Did/will you celebrate? Do you bake your own bread? Last time you had hot out-of-the-oven homemade bread? What's your favorite kind of bread? 

I love bread. All kinds. I do not make my own bread because, well, it would make it way too easy to eat bread all day every day. My mother-in-law had a bread machine and shared bread far and wide. One of our favorite stories is when she gave us a fresh loaf to take home, but said it was still too warm for her to slice (she had a slicer that she used for perfect slicing). A loaf of warm bread, 5 kids, 1 mom... let's just say the bread did not make it home with us that day, but was happily consumed in chunks in the car.

My favorite bread might have to be bread pudding souffle from Commander's Palace in New Orleans. That counts, right?

4. What's something you might say is 'the greatest thing since sliced bread'? 

Our local food pantry is called 'Bread of Life', and I have been volunteering there for a few years now. They have t-shirts with this on the back, so the first thing I thought of was the importance of seeing a need and taking care of our neighbors. 

Jeremiah 29:7 says:

"And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare."

And loving our neighbors is the greatest thing since sliced bread. For sure.

5. Let's keep the gratitude theme we started last week rolling on through November. Share with us five little things you're grateful for today. Small blessings. One catch-they all must start with the letter T. Gotta keep us thinking, right? 

Hot tea on a chilly morning 

Tires on my car 

Teachers

A Thanksgiving trivia game 

Beef tenderloin for Thanksgiving

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

These two are engaged! After a few years of dating, they made it official in August, and are planning a wedding for next fall. So happy for Jonathan and Abby, and we will love having her as an 'official' member of the family.

Happy Wednesday all!