Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Growing Up Hodgepodge Style

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you're visiting from the A-Z challenge today, you'll find my post for Letter G by scrolling down to #8. Also, this post is long and for that I apologize. That's what happens when you aim too high-ha!

You're welcome to join the Hodgepodge here on Wednesdays, but I do ask you not link unless you've answered today's questions. Thanks for that! Now here we go-


1. Besides left over Easter goodies, what's something currently kept in a basket at your house?

Plastic bags. I have my grocery bags in a big basket inside my pantry. Works for me Wednesday. Is that still a thing on the Internets? 

2. 'The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.' ~Michelangelo Buonarroti 

So which one are you...the one who aims too high, or the one who aims too low? Have you ever seen The Sistine Chapel? Did you know Michelangelo's surname prior to answering this question?

I can go either way depending what it is we're talking about. In general I think it's good to aim high. If I miss the mark I can always re-aim. 

I've been to the Sistine Chapel. It was chock-a-block full of people, but still amazing to see. My lucky duck of a hubs once had a private after hours tour with a small group of work colleagues where he could snap pictures like this one-


I wasn't with him on this trip. I was at home doing something equally fun I'm sure. 
Probably eating popcorn for dinner wishing I was in Italy. 

3. April 7th is National Beer Day. Hmmm...wonder how that's celebrated? Do you like beer? Have a favorite? If you're not a beer drinker do you have any recipes you enjoy cooking that call for beer?

I'm not a beer drinker. I know there are all sorts of recipes out there calling for beer, but I can't recall ever trying one at home. 

4. When did you last travel somewhere new? Tell us where? How'd it go?

We went to a wonderful wedding in the Texas hill country on Pi Day. That date definitely makes it easy to remember an anniversary! We spent one night in Austin, and two nights out in the country in a little town called Dripping Springs. It was fabulous! You can read what I wrote in far too much detail by clicking here

5. The value of _________________________is greatly overrated.

Rap music?...sorry fans. 

6. What's a pet peeve of yours when it comes to restaurant dining?

Parents who allow their children to run amok. Sorry parents. I know it's a tough job, I've been there myself. I also get that some little tushes were not made for sitting, but allowing them to run around, especially to wander far from their own table is just inconsiderate.  

Last summer hubs and I were dining outdoors at a local spot. A couple of moms with their primary school aged girls were on the far side of the patio from our table, yet their girls spent most of the evening doing gymnastics just beside us. At one point they walked up to three or four tables and asked for $1, I think to perform a trick. They collected some $1s and eventually wandered back to their parents who never said a word.  

7. It's Poetry Month...share a favorite poem, either the title, a few lines you find meaningful, or the whole kit and caboodle.

The Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe. 

Makes me think of my dad who had it memorized and would recite it when asked. He couldn't say no to my niece who was completely enamored of this poem and my dad's rendition of it. 

"It was many and many a year ago, 
In a kingdom by the sea, 
That a maiden there lived whom you may know 
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought 
Than to love and be loved by me...."

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Using this space again today for my A-Z Challenge post, brought to you today by the letter G. 

G is for God Made Girls

I was thinking recently about having grown up children. 
Is the term 'grown up children' an oxymoron? 

Regardless, they're my children and they're grown, and having grown up children is far more interesting than I imagined it would be back when they were small.  

I also imagined having grown up children would be a piece of cake compared to negotiating with pint sized people, but it's really not...it's just a different kind of hard and wonderful. You learn as you grow that every season takes faith, guts, and a sense of humor.  

I can't explain how much I enjoy having real conversations with people I birthed, people who are so much like me, yet who are uniquely themselves. 

Daughter2 phoned me Tuesday afternoon and we caught up on all manner of topics, and then I said I needed to go because we had to pick up my car from the dealer before they closed and she said, quite casually-'Call me back because I need to tell you something.'  

Now. For those of you still in the trenches. There is something about hearing those six little words on the lips of your 20-something that cause your heart to momentarily skip a beat.  And in that space where a beat should be you very quickly do a mental review of your child checklist-

mature-check 
responsible-check
completely fabulous-check

Still...those words... 'I need to tell you something'. It's hard not to flash back to your mischievous toddler as you exhale and ask what most moms of 20-somethings would ask..'Is it something good?' 

Ha! Of course. Daughter2 is a second year teacher, which means she's in the middle of an official evaluation year. She wanted to share with me the results of her review which were exemplary. 

I could have told them that. 

My precocious, passionate, strong-willed beautiful girl, the one who spoke early and laughed much, the one who at age two from the confines of the naughty step would pull her pacifier from her mouth and say to her mama with every ounce of righteous indignation her tiny self could muster, 'You're not the boss of me'....that little girl is exemplary. 

Growth happens in each one of us, not so much by accident as by design. We moms are given the awesome privilege and responsibility of noticing our child's particular strengths and inclinations so we can nurture, guide, and re-direct when re-direction is needed. 

I remember the way my small children could exhaust and energize me in the same day.

My heart spills over when I acknowledge all I've learned about unconditional love by loving them. 

I smile at how they grew me up when I thought it was the other way around. 

I'm so grateful for the the many ways they continue to shape and change how I see myself and the world around me. 

Are we ever all grown up?





28 comments:

  1. Hi.
    I missed Wednesday Hodgepodge for several months, and I'm glad I'm taking part in it today.
    Thank you for hosting this blog hop.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Grateful is a wonderful G word and I too have much to be grateful for. Count your blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh yes, that is another pet peeve at a restaurant, good grief!
    Lovely story about grown children :)
    Ditto on the rap music.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The picture of the Sistine Chapel is amazing! How lucky for your husband that he got to tour it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Joyce... Loved your "G" for grown up. My #1 calls me every day on her way home from work and sometimes at lunch time. My #2 calls me at least twice a day. I look forward to those calls every day. No matter what kind of day I'm having, they always bring me a smile.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The heart still skips a beat when your almost 40-year-old tells you those same 6 words, let me tell you. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, I have to agree with you on letting children run free in restaurants. It's the whole trend of letting children be free, without boundaries. Dang. What are they going to be like as adults?!?!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your answers to #5 and 6 are 'spot on', and I totally agree!
    Your post for 'G' was touching and sweet. Daughters are the best, even when they're grown and have lives of their own :) I've always thought there should be a special term to call our children once they're grown. Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What an amazing opportunity your hubby had! I just might get to Italy someday, for our daughter loves it there and goes regularly. She keeps showing me her photos. I don't know why I'm stuck in England. lol

    ReplyDelete
  10. I hope we never get 'completely' grown up. Living and learning along the way is too much fun!!

    Your grandpa's poem and performances must have been fun! Much nicer than my ornery dad's r-rated ditties! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am not a fan of rap music either, certainly not my cup of tea.
    I hope you guys had a happy Easter weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes, bigger kids, bigger problems. My girls always say " do you have time to talk?" when they need to tell me something. But, I love being their sounding board and listener still to this day :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well, your random thought was right on for sure! Yes, the grown up years do bring challenges of their own, and hard and wonderful is a great description. As my Mom once told me, "once a Mom, always a Mom." How true!

    A delightful post! And, so agree about rap music!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I agree, agree, agree with you about rap music. I didn't like it when I was younger, I still don't like it. I don't get it. It just sounds like angry noise to me.

    Ah, pictures of the Sistine Chapel make me happy. I remember studying about his work, how he did it, and the trials and struggles he faced as he painted it. Art speaks to me in such a personal way. I see the beauty even in pieces I don't like. Oh, don't get me wrong. I like the gorgeous work in the Sistine Chapel.

    ReplyDelete
  15. OH, my WORD! I laughed out loud picturing the sassy-with-the-paci saying "You're not the boss of me!" coming from your toddler. Bet it was one of those many times as a mom you were torn between swatting and giggling. And, tell me, how many eons has that very phrase been around? :)

    I love having grown-up children in a way I never could have imagined. But my daughter gave us "I have something to tell you" news lately that I'm wallowing about. The kind that I've always expected but never wanted to actually deal with.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nope...not a fan of rap music, either. I'll stick with country, classic rock and contemp. Christian music, thank you very much. Huge congrats to your girl for getting an exemplary evaluation! I know you're so proud of her! I love when Brittany calls me every day and shares how her workday went...just wish Abby would do the same.

    ReplyDelete
  17. "I need to talk to you" is ominous especially coming from your kids grown or not. Glad it was good news.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the poem, I remember reading it many years ago, and love the rhyme and rhythm.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Those girls at the restaurant would have drove me nuts, well actually their moms! Congrats on your daughter's exemplary evaluation. She must be so happy :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks, Joyce...and reading your answers, I thought of another pet peeve about people and restaurants and that is: No matter how expensive or classy the place, there is always someone there is sweat pants....
    Mama Bear

    ReplyDelete
  21. Well you hubby was very lucky for that tour. Had to laugh about you being home eating popcorn for dinner. I can relate to that. Mark is in Brazil this week. That is a beautiful poem and how sweet that your dad would recite it. Love your letter G story. Can't believe at two that she said those words....too cute!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hello. I hate rap music. I don't know how some people can listen to that kind of stuff. Pictures were beautiful. Hope you have a wonderful day.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love this! I'll definitely be joining you next week.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I posted a photo of the birthday cake just a few minutes ago if you want to check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  25. The picture from the Sistene Chapel is wonderful. Loved that.

    The gymnastics performance by your outdoor restaurant table was outrageously rude.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I almost forgot the Hodgepodge this week. How's your A to Z Challenge going? I find I'm having a bit more fun this year than last year. I'm not sure why! Thanks for another fine set of questions. Blog on sister, Blog on!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Rap music! Great answer :-)
    Wow-the gymnastics performance is just ridiculous.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you for sharing The Annabelle Lee....I love that one but it's been ages since I've thought of it.

    ReplyDelete