Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Prioritizing the Hodgepodge

Welcome to the last Hodgepodge in the merry month of May. Answer the questions on your own blog, then add your link at the end of my post. I understand how tempting it is to add links here for other wonderful things you've written, but please link only if you're joining the Hodgepodge. Thank you! And be sure to leave a comment for your neighbor, because that's how we roll round here.


1. What news story are you following right now?

Several, but particularly the story of the kidnapped Nigerian school girls, and also the story of the  Sudanese doctor (married to an American citizen) imprisoned and sentenced to death, charged with apostasy. She gave birth this week and has her newborn and her 20 month old son with her in prison. We Americans are pretty casual about our many liberties. These stories have faces and names and remind me that not everyone in this world lives with the same sense of freedom we enjoy in our country. 

2. What's the last thing you wanted but didn't get?

Well for about five minutes last fall we thought we might be moving. It didn't happen so here we are. We've had a few 'near misses' when it comes to relocation in the course of our married life, and I know God always has us right where He wants us to be. 

3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day...when did you last have a hamburger? Other than your own kitchen or BBQ grill, where is your favorite place to go for a hamburger? And for all you non-meat eaters out there...when you're invited to a cookout what is one side dish you hope is on the menu?

We had hamburgers Monday evening, hot off the backyard grill which is pretty much the only way I eat a burger. I like mine with lettuce and tomato, no cheese. I'm not particular when it comes to sides, but if it's a backyard BBQ I'd be hoping for some baked beans. If I were ordering a burger out somewhere I guess I'd choose Red Robin. I like theirs, but a hamburger isn't what I normally order when dining out.

4. How have your priorities changed over time?

I don't really think my priorities have changed a whole lot over time. They've pretty much always been faith and family, and that remains true today. The way those things play out in my daily life however, does look different. My children have grown up, and I've also matured and learned things about myself that cause me to interact with the world differently. Still faith and family take the top two spots on my list of what I prioritize, and I don't think that will ever change. 

5. What's a favorite memory with your grandparents?

I wrote about both sets of grandparents on my blog a while back (here and here), so I'm going to mention something I didn't mention there.  My maternal grandfather had a shop, and once when we were visiting he let us four kids ride over there in the back of his pick up truck. I know! Hey, it was 1969ish, and the laws of transportation safety were a lot looser back then. 

He drove slow as molasses, but we thought it was awesome. To top it off, once we got to the shop he got us each a Dr. Pepper in a glass bottle from the vending machine. Whoohoo! That was such a treat to my nine year old self.  

Do nine year olds still get excited about a Dr. Pepper from a vending machine? 
The times they are a changin'. Have changed. Sigh. 

6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being fantastic!), how good are you at multitasking? Share an example.

I used to be, but I think this is one of those skills that gets rusty if it's not used a lot. When my girls were young I could multitask with the best of them. These days life no longer demands I do four things at once, so I don't. 

7. How would you summarize your highs and lows for the month of May?

May is always a bit of a mixed bag around here. Two years ago we lost our precious niece in the month of May, and when that date shows itself on the calendar we all feel so much. We do get to finally welcome springtime here in May, and that's a blessing. A visual reminder that God makes all things new.  

We celebrated much this month too, Mother's Day and a big graduation. Hubs and I thoroughly enjoyed spending a long weekend in beautiful Charleston. And I think my girls and I just might manage to squeeze in a day of wedding dress shopping before the calendar tumbles into June, so sending May out on a high note for sure!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Last spring a mama robin made her nest in the plum tree just outside my living room window. I watched and waited and fretted right along with her, anxious to see her baby birds. Upon returning home from a weekend away, I found a broken blue egg on the driveway, and knew those babies were lost. So sad.   


Like most mothers I know mama robin is nothing if not persistent, and we were so happy to see her rebuild that nest in the very same spot this year. Guess what??? 


She's got babies! And they are too adorable for words.

It's super hard to get a photo, given the way the nest sits in relation to our vantage point inside. There's a pesky branch in front of the nest, and the camera wants to focus on that instead of their wide open mouths and fuzzy little heads. Hubs stood on a chair and tried to aim the camera in towards the nest as he awkwardly hung over the top half of the window sash, but still was only slightly successful. 


I snapped this one yesterday, and have been walking around the house ever since saying, "Out came a baby bird".  It must be said in the same sweet voice my own baby girl used when she was just a tiny tot. Daughter1 was obsessed with the P.D. Eastman book, Are You My Mother, and when she 'read' the story herself she emphasized every single syllable of that phrase. 



Also too adorable for words! 







30 comments:

  1. LOVE the baby Robin shots!!! And the story of having a Dr Pepper was great. Did you know that there is NO period behind the Dr part?

    Always enjoy this meme...it's my favorite.

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  2. Great minds think alike-- promise I wrote before I read! ;)

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  3. That pickup ride with your grandpa brought back fond memories for me too, back in the day when kids would ride in the back of the pickup or hang out the car windows. Wow.

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  4. Oh, that video clip! Soooo sweet! Your story about your grandfather reminded me of my great uncle Pete, who owned a candy truck. We only saw him every other year, so this is a pretty vivid memory: it was a real treat to get to go into his "truck" (which was a van, really) and pick something out. Before we left to go home, he would let mom pick out several things for the trip home, even though mom resisted (or tried to), she always came out with several boxes!

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  5. Grilled hamburgers for me, too. Great pics of the baby Robin. Can't remember when I saw a Dr Pepper in a glass bottle!

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  6. I have never been to a Red Robin. Speaking of…I'm glad your baby robins are alive & hungry! Faith & family: yep. That's what it's all about. Speaking of… my daughter and I have started exchanging emails as I start the search for a reception spot here. Decisions are being made. I'm so glad they have decided to marry here - in our church. Then a "rustic" reception somewhere nearby. I'm checking out plantations that allow them. I have an appt tomorrow!

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  7. Oh my, that video clip is beyond adorable!! How great that you caught her on video, saying that. Great Hodgepodge, Joyce. Thanks!!

    What a shame that 9-year olds don't know the same joys and pleasures we did, at that same age. A cold bottle of "pop", from the vending machine or right out of the ice chest - ahhhhhhh!!

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  8. You are so right with #1.
    What a precious girl!
    I think we were a lot easier to impress back in the day!

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  9. Yes, grilled hamburgers are the best. I'm not a fan of Dr Pepper, but I remember having a bottle of Sprite (when it was first out) at the elevator while waiting in a long line of trucks and wagson to unload our soybeans. After a hot, dusty morning, it was heavenly! Absolutely LOVED the video. Nothing cuter than that!

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  10. I love those little baby robin pictures! And just swooned at D1's enunciation of "bird" in the video.

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  11. I am concerned about the Nigerian school girls, too.

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  12. Awww..thanks for sharing. Blessings

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  13. I love grandparent memories. So fun to read everyone's & go back in time.

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  14. "Out came da baby biiiiiiird!" Oh how cute! Those luttle open baby robin mouths are the perfect symbol for babies everywhere!

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  15. What sweet little birdies! =) Loved your post. What a beautiful memory of your grandpa. Blessings and Sunshine, Valerie

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  16. Oh, my heart - that clip of your sweet D1 is too precious!! We had the same thing happen last year with a hummingbird nest - but this year had baby hummingbirds! Nature is amazing...

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  17. Oh, shopping for the dress, what fun!!! My daughter and I just had a blast picking hers out and it wasn't difficult at all. Hope all goes smooth!

    The days of pop in a bottle...........kids today are missing out for sure.

    Those precious birds, what fun to watch them grow and then flee the nest, just like our little ones do. All a part of God's great plan.

    Happy rest of the week!!!

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  18. I had burgers on Monday evening too! I understand the moving thing, it sounds good but it can be a real big hassle. Take care!

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  19. Wow, Joyce! You have so much crammed in your Hodgepodge today, I don't know what to comment on :)

    First of all, I loved your 'grandparent memory', and I used to get quite excited over one of those bottled vending machine drinks, too! My grandpa bought them for his field hands sometimes, and I'd get one, too :)

    We get thrilled over baby birds here, too! In my mind, I could picture your hubby stretching to get the perfect picture :)

    The video at the end is precious! Those moments go by entirely too quickly. It's good that you were able to capture it on film. It's also good that you will be able to relive some of those moments through your grandchildren, one of these days :)

    Thanks for hosting!

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  20. Well, how much more precious can anything be than that video snippet! What a treasure! We have had baby House Finch above one of our front porch columns and we have delighted in watching the parents teach their babies to sip nectar from the hummingbird feeders on the back patio. I can also relate to the riding in the back of a truck. That was the only way many families had to go from point A to B, C, or D back in the "olden" days, as my kids used to say.

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  21. Sweet little video...Love the bird pictures too.

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  22. I'm impressed with the pictures of the birds nest...it's hard to get pictures of nature in action. Loved the video!!!

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  23. Hard for me to believe it's been two years already since your niece passed away...((HUGS)) I love the pictures of the baby birds....so sweet! The video is so precious.

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  24. Great pictures! What a wonderful memory of your grandfather.!

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  25. I always enjoy reading your answers on Wed. I agree with the news story. That poor woman. It's horrible what she's going through. We've taken our freedoms for granted here and that's not right.
    I love your pictures with the baby birds. In spite of the focus problems, you got some good shots. Thank you for sharing.

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  26. We rode in the back of a pick up truck routinely. We rode bikes without helmets. We drank water out of a garden hose. We shared a water bottle. How is it possible we are still alive? Thanks for the Hodgepodge!

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  27. love your answers this week, dr pepper is a favorite of mine as well.
    funny you asked about grandparents...I was just thinking of mine yesterday. Happy week!!!

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  28. Great pictures! Love the video!!! Wasn't it awesome to ride in the back of a pick-up truck?! We did it a few years ago on the section of beach on the Outer Banks (north) where you could 4 wheel!! We all lived :-) All your answers are spot on and I wish I had thought of some of them when I wrote my answers - but I was a good girl and did them on TUESDAY night; then forgot to post them yesterday! *sigh*

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  29. Love the video. She is absolutely precious.

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