Par-tay In The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a comment for the blogger there before you. Here we go-

1.  Are you more life of the party or more party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle which side of the middle do you lean towards more? 

Birthday party, beach party, cocktail party, dinner party, charity fundraiser, surprise party, costume party, garden party, Christmas party, reunion...what's your favorite kind of party? 

I'm married to the life of the party and there can't be two. I'm not a party pooper though, and would say I land somewhere in the middle. If I'm in the mood for a party then I lean more toward the fun side. If we've had too much socializing and not enough at home time, then I'm going to lean the other way. I prefer smaller gatherings to huge parties. My favorite is probably a dinner party...table for 8 please. 

2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list? 

perspective, wisdom, and blue jeans

3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don't you? 

I love my birthday. I want to always embrace the gift of a new year. There's not any special way it needs to be celebrated...mostly I want to feel like the people I love took some time to think about me and to tell me so. It might be just a phone call, text, or a card in the mail. I don't need big splashy gifts, but something small that says 'me' to them means a lot. 

4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily your same birth year, just the same date/month. 

In 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol building. I read something interesting George is quoted as saying -

'...however, political parties may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion." 

Words to ponder, yes? 

5. Share two good things about your life right now. 

• grandchildren 
• my sister and brother-in-law taking such good care of my mom is an honest to goodness answer to prayer...I don't write about it a lot, but my mom lives with them and that is such a blessing. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The world is a lot right now, isn't it? 

I want to point to Jesus, the light of the world, and say He's the answer to every question we're asking in our efforts to make sense of something so senseless. 

Maybe you don't know Him and this latest tragedy has done you in and you're seeking relief. If that's the case feel free to reach out. Maybe you knew Him as a child, but have drifted away because life has come at you hard and now, in the midst of these troubling times, you want to find your way back. Do that. Open a Bible. Talk to God in your own words, and with sincerity. He will hear you. He can handle our anger, confusion, and sadness. His love for you and me is enormous...bottomless...sure. 

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Monday, Monday

Good Monday morning friends. We've had a fun and busy weekend, really the whole week was full and here's how that looked. 

Hubs and I drove over to Daughter2's house in Tennessee on Wednesday. Her hubs planned a special getaway for the two of them for her birthday and we were in charge of their littles. We arrived just as Sugar did a face plant onto the concrete patio so lots of commotion. She was fine, but for the rest of the weekend looked like she'd been in a street fight. 

She's both beautiful and fearless. 

I baked a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing for my girl's birthday, and toted it all the way to Tennessee, but alas the birthday girl didn't get a piece before leaving town. 

Instead she was in the pediatric Urgent Care having Sugar's wrist x-rayed. Not from the face plant. This was incident number two. 

Sugar is her mother's daughter is all I'm gonna say. I made three trips to the ER with her momma before she turned three so I can relate. Thankfully her little wrist wasn't broken but they did send her home in the teeniest tiniest splint you've ever seen. Once they confirmed no break the splint came off and everyone eventually went to bed. We were all ready. 

The parents left before the sun rose on Thursday and after breakfast we took the kids to a nearby playground to play, followed by a stop at Publix where we grandparent-ed like a boss. We bought two kinds of cookies and some strawberry milk. Hubs happened to spy the milk and it made him nostalgic for his childhood so we threw it in the cart. In our defense the strawberry milk was white not pink, so at least no artificial colors?

Hubs brother and sister-in-law drove over from Knoxville to hang out and they arrived about 2. It was so nice to have some extra hands and laps in the house and we always enjoy time spent together. My son-in-law put the bounce house out in the yard before they left town, and we inflated it and let them play in that for the rest of the afternoon. The weather was fabulous. 

My daughter and her hubs bought the bounce house before sweet baby J's 2nd birthday and have used it for three parties and as extra entertainment whenever grandparents are left in charge. It's a nice distraction. 

We ordered Chinese food for dinner and had it Door Dashed. We don't have Door Dash at the lake so this was a treat. After baths and getting the kids to bed we sat on the porch and chatted. It was a heavy week and it was good to decompress with family. I will likely have more to say about the tragic events of the past week once we're back home and I have space to find my words. 

Friday morning I actually ducked out for a couple of hours for something fun...breakfast with another blogger. It's always so nice to put an actual person with the online version, and Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) is as sweet in real life as she seems online. 

She has a daughter who lives very near my daughter2, and she happened to be spending Thursday evening with her, so we made Friday morning work. 

She's adorable and exactly as I thought she would be. While it would have been nice to have more time, the morning we had together was really nice. We could have talked a lot longer, but I left hubs manning the fort and didn't want to push it. Hopefully we can make another meet up happen one day in the future. 

I went back to the house and all was well. We took the kids to the park to play and enjoy the sunshine (did I mention the fabulous weather?!) and then home for lunch and naps. We decided to order pizza for dinner because the dinner hour can be a minefield of emotion and exhaustion and pizza seemed easy. 

Saturday morning we were up and out early for a visit to the zoo. This anteater was especially fascinating and we happened to stop by his area while the zookeeper was there to give him his morning guacamole. Technically it was pureed avocado, but still it was interesting watching him chow down. 

We try to get out with the kids in the morning and then make it home for lunch without anyone falling asleep in the car (that's a trick), so we don't miss that afternoon nap window. We watched our Vols lose to Georgia in overtime (sob) while the kids played in the yard and bounce house. That bounce house was a good purchase!

I'd made spaghetti and meatballs at my house before heading over to Tennessee, so we heated that up for dinner, and then of course there were baths because toddlers can't eat spaghetti without wearing it too.  

We did not attempt church on Sunday since I wasn't sure if the little ones would happily go in to their normal nursery class,  but we'll listen to our pastor's sermon later on. I know he will have some wisdom to share this week especially. 

Instead we went to the Riverwalk Park and played on yet another playground and ran around the field beside it. We got Firehouse subs for lunch then it was home for more of the usual napping and outdoor play.  

The parents got home just after we'd put the kids to bed. They had a really enjoyable getaway and I'm glad my girl was celebrated in a big way for her birthday. I think it's good for parents of young children to have some time to reconnect, away from the busy-ness of parenting, and we get to spend time with our grands. That's always a win-win kind of weekend. 

Linking today with Holly and Sarah for their Hello Monday weekend recap hop. If you'd like to join the fun visit Pink Lady Blog or Sunshine and Books and add your own weekend happenings there. Have a nic week everyone! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 620

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here on Wednesday (9/17) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1.  Are you more life of the party or more party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle which side of the middle do you lean towards more? 

Birthday party, beach party, cocktail party, dinner party, charity fundraiser, surprise party, costume party, garden party, Christmas party, reunion...what's your favorite kind of party? 

2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list? 

3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don't you? 

4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily your same birth year, just the same date/month. 

5. Share two good things about your life right now. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Energized By The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a comment for your neighbor there. That's how the blog world rolls. Here we go-

1. What gives you energy? What takes it away? 

What gives me energy? Sunshine. Ticking to-do's off a list. A good night's sleep. Time spent in nature. 

What takes it away? Complainers and negativity in general.  

2. How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear? 

We live in a small town, so I mainly shop online these days. It can be done at my leisure, and most places have made returns easy. I will shop for specific events I know are on the calendar, and I generally add a few things each season as needed too. I just did a pass through my closet last week and have three bags to donate. I didn't get to the drawers but that's coming. 

Accessories I always wear? My wedding and engagement rings on my left hand and a ring hubs gave me for our 15th anniversary on my right. I wear earrings every day, and my iWatch too. And glasses. Are glasses an accessory?  

3. What's something free that you feel grateful for? 

God's grace if we're going deep. Something less deep? the sunrise, music, a starry night sky, and library books. 

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner...which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What's your go-to comfort food?

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I mean a real breakfast, not a grab and go meal. I love to have breakfast out, love brunch which is always breakfast for me, love sharing it with someone, love lingering over coffee, love the beginning of a new day and the meal that marks it.  

My go-to comfort food? Homemade chicken soup... it's good for what ails you, mind and body both. 

5. This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges?

It seems like it shouldn't still feel fresh, yet somehow it does. I don't know if it's because we lived outside D.C. on the day and knew people whose lives were directly impacted, or because we've lived outside NYC a couple of times and the city is a part of the landscape of our lives. 

Sometimes I think it's just that bright blue September sky, so achingly beautiful, that gives me pause. We will remember the day. We'll listen to the names read and will say a prayer for the families who lost so much, for the bravery of so many on that awful day, and for our nation which has been in turmoil of one kind or another ever since. 

I think if you're of a certain age you remember where you were on the day,  and you can't help but think about it when the date comes around each year. 

As far as how historical events shape my perspective when I face personal challenges? Well I suppose they make so many of my own problems feel small in comparison. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Happy birthday today to this little sweetheart...

This picture y'all! 

She was a baby and so was I. She's a momma now, but still and always my baby girl. 

Time is a thief but also a gift. 

I wrote a post yesterday in honor of her special day because that's what I do every year on her birthday. (you can read it here if you're so inclined-The Carousel of Time)

Happy birthday Daughter2...what an absolute joy and privilege it is to be your momma xo 

The Carousel of Time

It's a birthday palooza round here in September, and tomorrow is my Daughter2's special day. Years ago she told me reading my blog on her birthday was one of her favorite parts of the day, so I keep on keeping on. 

Because I host the Hodgepodge on Wednesdays I'm posting a day early this year.  I feel all the feels this whole week anyway, so the day before is definitely allowed. 

Sixteen years of blogging for her birthday means one has to get a little bit creative, so here we go. 

Hey moms still in the trenches...

I want you to know that one of the quiet joys of later life is discovering the unexpected gifts grown daughters bring. These once-tiny beauties who held my hand have become women of real wisdom.

Like so much in parenting, the shift happens gradually—so naturally you don’t notice it, until one day you do. The ones you once nurtured, taught and guided begin offering guidance in return. They grow into thoughtful companions, and surprise you with insights that catch you off guard. Suddenly, you're seeking their opinion.

They see the world through a different lens—not just because they're of another generation, but also because they've built a perspective in life that's all their own. It's remarkable how much of yourself you recognize in them still… and even more remarkable how far beyond you they've grown. Still their mother’s daughter, yet wholly their own. 

There's a quote I read (author unknown) that says this-

'Raising them was the work of my heart...knowing them now is the reward.' 

Happy birthday Daughter2! One day I hope you read these words as you write your own birthday message to your now tiny beauty who will have grown into a woman you adore and learn from too.

I love my front row seat to the extraordinary woman you've become, and pray you're blessed beyond measure in the year ahead, and all the ones after too. 

xoxo Momma 

Linking today with Joanne and her Talking About It Tuesday blog hop. 

Hey It's Monday

Good Monday morning friends. How was your weekend? Ours was pretty good, the weather was wacky, our Vols won, our Tigers eked out a win too, and we spent time with friends, family, and at home which is my favorite place to be. I didn't take a lot of photos this weekend, but c'est la vie. 

Friday hubs golfed with some guys and I trekked into the nearby city for my mammogram followed by a Costco run. Good times, right? Costco was an absolute zoo which is why I try never to be there on a Friday afternoon. Since I was in the neighborhood it made sense to brave it this week. 

I didn't get home until after 5 PM and was glad I'd made dinner before I left home that morning. We had chicken pot pie and watched a movie, then called it a night pretty early. 

Saturday morning hubs popped over to the baseball field to watch the mancub practice and to hang out with the grands for a little while too. Daughter1's inlaws had come out to the lake for the weekend and brought us an assorted pepper haul from their garden. I'm going to pickle the jalapenos and probably the tabasco peppers too. 

We had a party to go to later that afternoon so I spent the morning making something to add to the meal. I'd kind of forgotten about this recipe which I used to make a lot a couple of decades ago, but it popped up online recently and I decided to bring it back. Veggie pizzas. A crescent roll crust topped with an herbed cream cheese-sour cream 'sauce' then whatever veggies you like. So pretty and really tasty too.

We left around 3 to go to a friend's house for an oyster roast. They were also grilling brats and burgers for the non-oyster eaters, and it was a big group so lots of delicious sides. 

Right around the time our host was going to light the grill, the sky grew black and then opened up with the craziest wind and rain. 

The local college football game had started and they had to stop play due to lightning. Not really a bad thing as they were taking a beating, and that break seemed to help a little.  

There was plenty of room for everyone inside and eventually the rain moved out and it turned into a pretty night. 

Sunday we went to church, then out to breakfast-lunch with daughter1 and her kiddos. Her hubs was on call this weekend so didn't make it to church, but managed to meet us for lunch which was nice.

I spent the afternoon blogging, dozing, and reading as I had five books on hold at the library and they all came in on Friday. I was number 18 in the queue for one of them, so not sure how I moved up on the list so quickly, but of course this is not a bad problem to have. 

So how did you spend your weekend? 

If you'd like to share, hop over to add your own link with Holly (Pink Lady Blog) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) today. Have a nice week! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 619

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (Sept 10) to add your link to the party. See you there!

1. What gives you energy? What takes it away? 

2. How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear? 

3. What's something free that you feel grateful for? 

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner...which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What's your go-to comfort food? 

5. This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.