March to the Hodgepodge

Wednesday is here, and that means the Hodgepodge. Thanks to Joyce who hosts the party each week. Just answer the questions on your own blog, then link up to share the fun. Be sure to hop around and visit the others!

Here are her questions and my answers:
1. American Idol is back for a 14th season. Are you watching? Have you ever watched? If you were to audition for the show (or were made to audition), what song would you sing?

I don't really watch any shows on a regular basis. (Except football, and that, sadly, is almost over for the year.) I'll watch Idol if I happen upon it, because it's happy and fun. (I avoid the shows that begin with ominous music and a dead body.)

As for the second part of the question, I am reminded of junior high and high school music contest in which I participated many, many years ago. Our choir director helped us prepare a solo or small ensemble piece which we would practice for a few months. On contest day, we loaded into buses and traveled to a university campus to perform our piece in small rooms in front of a judge. We checked the schedule when we arrived, located our assigned practice and performance rooms, and nervously waited our turn to sing or play for the judge. In eighth grade, I had prepared a vocal and a piano solo. I received first place medals for both solos that day, with perfect scores. It was the peak of my musical career. :) The song I sang was Bless This House, so if I had to audition for AI today, I think I would have to attempt a reprise (with no hope for a golden ticket).

2.  Mark Twain is quoted as saying, "If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first." 

So when did you last have to 'eat a frog'? Or two? How'd that work out?

I can't remember having to 'eat a frog' recently, although I will admit to being a procrastinator of unpleasant tasks. Like going to the dentist. Or the doctor. :) I'm happy to leave that frog on the table.

3. If you were going on safari, what is the number one animal you'd want to see?

I have always loved the elephant march scene from The Jungle Book, so I'll choose elephants. Especially the babies. :)

4. January 21st is National Granola Bar Day. I know. Do you like granola bars? Chewy or crunchy? Your favorite flavor? How about regular granola? Let's exhaust this topic in honor of the holiday okay?

I like granola bars, chewy please, and these are my favorites. Yum! I usually have one for breakfast along with peppermint tea or vanilla coke zero. :) Regular granola is okay too, but I don't eat it often.

And although these bars aren't technically granola, I'll eat them too. Because, Drew Brees. :)

5. If only__the world could live in peace__. 

6. You can add one item to your bedroom. What will it be? Keep it family friendly please.

I have been working on our bedroom makeover for a year. I have added new pieces, and I finally ordered curtains. That being said, what I could really use is a better closet. Or maybe I just need a Jill Martin Today Show closet cleanse. In fact, I could use her help all over the house. If only...

7. What is one thing you've enjoyed about winter thus far? If it's not winter in your corner of the globe, what season is it, and what is something you've enjoyed about whatever season it happens to be?

While we have had some bitter cold, and a little snow, the winter here, so far, has been relatively mild. That I like. :)

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Yesterday was Haleigh's actual birthday, and though we had our big celebration on Saturday, we still marked her day with a few presents and dinner out.

I'm not sure this was her mother's favorite gift, but Haleigh seemed to like the Magical Mermaid who swims in her special light-up tank.

Hopefully, the mermaid will behave herself, and the water will stay safely inside the tank. :)

She posed with her mermaid and her birthday crown from her preschool celebration. (One can never have too many birthday parties!)

We finished up the evening at our favorite, El Reparo, where she got to wear the birthday sombrero while the waiters sang to her.

Happy birthday, dear Haleigh...

happy birthday to you!

We love you! #fun2b5

The Birthday Bowl

Continuing with a recap of our fun weekend, after the shower for Courtney on Saturday, I headed straight to the next event, a bowling party for two sweet grandchildren. Haleigh's birthday is actually TODAY (Happy Birthday Haleigh!), and Matthew's is the first week of February. We celebrated them both on Saturday with bowling and pizza and family, oh my!

Haleigh was so excited for the fun and the bowling and the people and the cool shoes and her sparkle sweater and her tutu and just. every. thing! It's great to be (almost) 5!

Ella got a little help with the bowling from her daddy.

Matthew sends one down the lane.

Jonathan got the only pair they had in his size (15), and they were even velcro. And fluorescent.

The little ones found it easier to use the dinosaur ramp. Ella takes aim.

Haleigh got some help from Grandpa Charley.

Jon, trying to prove his statement that, "I am an exceptional bowler." 

(Written on the inside of our graffiti-covered closet, dated 2-13-04.)

Carter, Matthew, and Riley had lots of fun together.

And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, the bowling went COSMIC.

Haleigh thought it was awesome.

Harper and Jim were wearing matching outfits. Boiler Up!

Ella and Haleigh, looking like our very own Anna and Elsa. Let it go…!

Darci made her famous cupcakes, of course, and Matthew's had light saber illuminated candles marking 11 years old. They even changed colors. Very cool!

The handsome (almost) birthday boy, who will be 11 in a couple weeks.

Make a wish!

Our sweet little 5 year old Haleigh.

Happy birthday to you!

There were balloons and presents, of course.

And we even managed to get all the kids in one photo.

In front: Arden, Emmy, Haleigh, Ella, Harper, and Shayne.

Back: Carter, Matthew, Noah, Riley.

Big Jon and Ella Kate say, "Happy Birthday to all, and to all a good night!"

Wishes and Dishes for our Miss to Mrs.

We are just two months away from the wedding of Adam and Courtney, and it will be a busy season of fun and festivities. We got started on the fun with a shower on Saturday with Courtney's side of the family. As the mother of the groom, it was nice to meet some of the special folks who will be Adam's extended family. I look forward to seeing them again on the wedding day.

One of Courtney's bridesmaids made this adorable towel cake they used for a centerpiece. Erin is a teacher, like Courtney. Those teachers have some skills in creativity! Isn't it cute?

Speaking of cute, Darci made the cookies, which were a big hit with the guests.

The cookies included the wedding hashtag #stewpartyof2.

Here is Courtney, ready to open her gifts. Two of her bridesmaids made the cute banner, and her sister Britney made the framed monogram.

It's so exciting to be a bride and to be showered by friends and family with thoughtful gifts and good wishes. Believe it or not, I can remember that time (just barely, of course), and the thrill of receiving all those clean and shiny new gifts we would use in our new home as husband and wife. Those gifts, like a marriage, will no doubt experience some chips and stains along life's way. A little patience, a sense of humor, and a lotta prayer is a good start to keeping love strong through times of wear and tear. And forgiveness. Lots of forgiveness. :)

Courtney got tickled and a little emotional over the gifts from her girls.

The CMC roomies have parted, and C&A will be joined. So sweet.

Courtney (and Adam) spent a lot of time as house guests of her Aunt Lisa and family. The Rooneys were gracious hosts, and Courtney and Adam like to joke about the 'Roon Way' of doing things that they learned there, and which prompted their selection of many of their registry items. Including these dishes. :)

I know they will enjoy using this cooler filled with fun game-night supplies.

We took time for a few photos with some of the special ladies in Courtney's life who were in attendance.  This is just part of her lovely group of bridesmaids. (The others will be with her next week, when the Stewart side of the family gathers to shower her.)

Erin (the maker of the towel cake), Chellsey (maid of honor), Courtney, Megan, Emily, and Britney (Courtney's sister).

Courtney with her mom, Wendy, and her sister, Britney.

Mom, Grandma (Maw), Courtney, and Britney.

Oh! How did that get in there? Mother-in-law to-be and Courtney.

Courtney and her mama.

Aunt Lisa, Courtney, and Aunt Brenda.

Courtney with her mom, grandma, and aunts.

Courtney's grandma with her three daughters.

Emily and Chellsey with the bride-to-be and the cute banner they made for the Miss who will soon be a Mrs.!! #stewpartyof2

Five Years

Five years ago, I was a day away from celebrating a big birthday when I heard that there had been an earthquake in Haiti. This was significant to me since I had recently taken my third trip to the beautiful mountain community of Fondwa, Haiti, which is located about 45 miles west and south of Port au Prince. More importantly, my pastor sister friend, Jamalyn was, at that very moment, in Haiti leading another mission team.

I was home alone that night, and stayed up 'til morning praying, watching CNN, and texting Jamalyn's mom as we tried to piece together what had happened in Haiti. I sent some texts to Jamalyn, too, hoping that she would somehow text me back. The images on the news reported the devastation in Port au Prince, but we learned that the epicenter was actually located to the west, near Fondwa.

It would be several long days before we heard from our team in Haiti. The group was safe, but 'our' little community had been rocked. Literally. The school and the guest house were destroyed. The orphanage was damaged beyond repair. Many homes were reduced to piles of rubble in a matter of seconds. There were lives lost.

Today, five years later, I'm remembering the day by sharing some photos of the recovery that has occurred since the earth shook on that January day. I returned to Haiti in the fall of 2012, and again this past November. It has taken five long years, and progress has been made.

We stayed in a new guesthouse, pictured below. This building stood next to the old guest house on my first trip, in 2007, but wasn't finished or used. The children liked to play soccer on the roof at that time. Now, the building has been renovated, with glass and screens in the windows, a nice entry porch, 2 inside bathrooms with (cold) showers and flush toilets, 5 sleeping rooms, and a kitchen space.

 The beautiful new school is being used by 500+ students.

 A new orphanage houses around 50 children.

 A kitchen/dining area is currently being built at the orphanage.

On my first trip to Fondwa, we left the mountain at the end of our week on foot in a driving rainstorm (a hurricane, really). The 'roads' were blocked by mud, and we climbed through terraced fields as we made our way to the main road. Thankfully, we had Haitian friends with us to carry our bags and assist us as we climbed through the mud. I was helped by Cine (Seen-ay), who literally pulled me up the mountain. Cine lost his leg in the earthquake.

Last November, on our trip to the beach with the kids from the orphanage, Cine got up on his prosthetic leg and danced. He was joined by Jamalyn, and we were all tapping our feet to the music of the band, the joy of dancing, and our hope for Haiti. Bondye beni ou. Amen.

Say Uncle

Happy 2015! I hope you are staying warm today. The sun is currently out here in the 'burg, and I think that has brought the temperature up a few degrees, but it's a cold one, sun or not. 

I'm praying for those who have to be out in the cold, like my hard working son, Andrew, who takes care of the cattle no matter the weather. I think he has had around 10 new baby calves born in the last couple sub-zero days. Brrrr….

There are a few birthdays we will be celebrating in January (ahem), and today was the birthday of my Uncle Bill. He died in 2001, and was a fun, funny, clever, talented, thoughtful man. In his later years, he remembered birthdays by sending hand-drawn cards, cleverly designed for his friends and family.

I wrote about Uncle Bill in a 2012 Hodgepodge blog post which asked about a favorite adult besides our parents. He was definitely a favorite of mine, and this is what I wrote about him:

Uncle Bill was in college when I was born. I was the first grandchild, and, of course, the cutest and smartest thing ever. Lol. Of course, I'm pretty sure I was his favorite as well.

He called me Sue-bo, and he started a tradition of giving me boxes of Cracker Jack to match my age for each birthday. He wrapped them up in clever ways, to disguise what was inside. Now Cracker Jack may not seem too exciting to most, but I looked forward to that special gift each year.

He played the guitar, and our song was "Froggie Went A-Courtin'." He would change the line that says, "I'll have to ask my Uncle Rat" to "I'll have to ask my Uncle Bill" when the froggie asks Miss Mouse to marry him. I didn't know for a long time that the song wasn't really written like that. :)

He taught me to play the guitar, and I still have the 12-string he gave me. He is playing it in the picture below, with Jonathan, age 3, who got a toy guitar for Christmas that year. When my kids were born, Uncle Bill became a great uncle. But I told him he had always been a great uncle. I miss him.

I found another photo that wasn't included in the first post, of Uncle Bill reading to Adam at Christmas, 1995. 

A great-uncle. A great uncle. I still miss you Uncle Bill. Happy Birthday in heaven.