Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 432

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to add your link and share your answers. See you there!

1. As we begin this brand new month tell us, on a scale of 1-10, where does your life fall in terms of being in 'apple pie order'? Please elaborate. (1=nowhere near it, 10=practically perfect in every way)

2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away...are you doing your part? Red or green? Sweet or tart? Ever played the game Apples to Apples? Do you like apple pie? If so, ala mode or just gimme the pie? 

3. Tell us about a time recently where you 'upset the apple cart' or the last time someone 'upset your apple cart'? 

4. What are three words that come to mind when you think of September? 

5. What are you most looking forward to this month? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The Dog Days Of Summer

Wow. There's a whole lot going on in the world and it's all kind of depressing isn't it? We have to work at staying positive amid all the negative and that's wearing us out too. I know not everyone who reads here shares my beliefs, but when life feels overwhelming I quiet the noise in my head and my social media feed and on the television screen and I read the Psalms. 

Even when circumstances feel hopeless they are not hopeless. God is still on His throne and none of what is happening with wars and pandemics and hurricanes is a surprise to Him. I hope each one of you reading here knows He is for you. Psalm 91 is especially comforting right now... 

'I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 
"He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Not precisely where I intended to go today, but how can I not? How can I talk about ordinary life when the world around us feels anything but? 

Let's talk about my dog. The one we didn't want but who is now hubs best buddy and the one he doesn't want to be without. He's puny. Very very puny. A week ago he had emergency surgery on his belly and to be honest it is still a mess. 

The day we left the lake to drive over to TN we noticed the pup was eating grass. If you have dogs you know this is what they do when their stomach isn't right and they need to throw up. He never did throw up and was good as gold on the three hour car ride to Tennessee but wasn't really himself either. We chalked it up to too much attention from the grandboys, too many people doing too many things, and most of all not enough time with the hubs. 

My sister-in-law loves this dog as if he were her own, and in fact regularly threatens to kidnap him. We  love leaving him there when we travel because he is spoiled and cared for as if he were at home. The night before we were to leave their house to drive another three hours to my daughter's house he got sick. Nothing crazy but right away hubs said he thought maybe he ate something he shouldn't have. 

He knows this dog well. 

The pup had just spent more than  a week in the middle of tinker toys and Lincoln logs and tiny little magnetic pieces and all sorts of other tempting treats, and while we hadn't seen him snatch anything, we did consider the possibility. Still he was eating and doing all the things dogs do so we also thought it might be a case of the nerves/motion sickness/too many treats. 

He was sick as a dog, no pun intended, the four days we were away, but still trying to eat and do all the things dogs do so we called our vet who said let it run it's course unless certain symptoms appear. Monday my sister-in-law called and said they were taking him over to the emergency vet they had used a few years prior, and he was immediately admitted. They gave him fluids and did an ultrasound but could not see any blockage so diagnosed it as severe gastroenteritis. 

Is this tmi? Perhaps, but I'll continue anyway. 

They kept him overnight and did another x-ray in the morning, and sure enough there was definitely a blockage of some kind which meant surgery. They were unable to identify precisely what he had ingested, but it appeared to be some sort of foam something. He spent another couple of nights in the hospital and then we picked him up on Wednesday and made the drive back to SC. 

The incision looks awful, but after another trip to our own vet here, then several calls over the weekend (why is it always a weekend??!!) with our retired vet (thanks to our neighbors who are personal friends of his!!) we've kept him home, kept him as still as we can which basically means we don't take our  eyes off of him for one single second, kept his meds current, and then hubs sends photos to the vet to see if we need to come in before our recheck on Thursday. 

It's pitiful y'all. So so pitiful. Also messy, expensive, and painful. 

While it's most certainly not the worst thing on a list of worst things in the world right now, it's our thing and it's one more thing, and I think of everyone out there right now dealing with their own things on top of the world things and and and...deep breath everyone....

'I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 
"He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

About Last Week And Also Today

What a sad day. My heart breaks for the many families getting that horrible phone call, and also for our nation, which seems to spin a little more out of control every day. In this season of turmoil I want to keep my eyes on the God of the universe. He is good and He is sovereign, even when our TV screens tell us to believe otherwise. 

Blogging feels out of place on a day like today, but that is the thing about life. It's beautiful and terrible all at the same time and I write to remember both. 

A little over a week ago we made the trek with Daughter1 and her boys to Tennessee, stopping for two nights with hubs brother and sister-in-law so they could meet 'Max' and catch up with the mancub. My mother-in-law also lives in that same town so she was able to have time with her great grandsons too.  

The sun shone and these little men slept in yet another new place (their 8th since May!) without batting an eye and we had a wonderful time together. 

My son-in-law had gone on to the new house in another part of the state so he could get the keys to the house they rented sight unseen, meet the utility guys for water and electric connections, and tell the movers bringing their air shipment and their storage unit where things should go. Their household goods arriving by sea were to be delivered today, and the in-laws made the trip over yesterday to help with that. 

Moving is never a simple thing, particularly when you've been living abroad and the air conditioner goes out the second day you're there and the house is basically the temperature of the sun until it's repaired. We survived though, and I would say we even thrived in this lovely new space with a ginormous play room and an honest to goodness back yard. 

Hubs made one thousand trips to Lowes and unpacked their garage while they went to buy a car to park there. We ate ice cream with sprinkles...

And squeezed in a walk at a nearby park with its cool dark cave and a pond filled with turtles and blooming things. 

The mancub started preschool because resilience is his middle name...

We read a million books and laughed a lot because these little boys are the absolute best, most entertaining people we know. We went to bed ridiculously early every single night because we were all completely worn out by sunset. 

I have been thinking a lot today about this big little town where they will live these next two years. A 'military town' where everywhere you look you see the US flag flying and guys in baseball caps that read US Army. Lots of tattooed arms and crew cuts. Friendly people who knock on your new front door and say welcome to the neighborhood with a box of donuts because they've been where you've been and they get it. 

A town where most everyone has some sort of tie to one branch of service or another, and my heart aches for them today. So many armchair pundits and even many of our politicians have no clue what day to day life is like for active duty military families, which makes days like today extra hard and frustrating. 

Those who live it though? They understand and support one another in ways that truly matter. They will feel today right down to their marrow and will resolve to keep being brave and proud and true. 

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."  John 16:33 

Getting Schooled In The Hodgepodge

Note: I somehow set the link list to open on a separate page today. It's there! Just click the link...

To say there has been a lot going on here would be an understatement. So much to blog about, but for now let's just go with the Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post then kindly leave a comment for the blogger before you. The world needs more kindness right about now, don't you think? Here we go- 

1. Is school back in session where you live? Is everyone in person or does your system still offer a virtual option? Are kids wearing masks? 

Schools are in session and in person where we live. Masks are optional, encouraged but not required. I think the system here does have some additional precautions in place including no field trips and limiting building access to anyone considered non-essential. I'm glad students have returned to school. 

2. Something you still do 'old school'? 

Keep a paper calendar. I do add appointments to my phone calendar when I make them, but day to day I operate from the pretty planner on my desk. 

3. One lesson you've learned in the 'school of life'?

Travel broadens your horizons, your perspective, your sense of gratitude and wonder. 

4. When you were in school did you pack a lunch or buy a lunch? Your favorite thing to see on the lunch menu or inside your lunchbox back in the day? 

In elementary school I walked home for lunch, but in Junior High and High School I generally brought my lunch from home. My favorite thing to see when I opened my brown bag was an egg salad sandwich and a Drakes Ring Ding. 

 

5. August is National Family Fun Month. Tell me something fun you’ve done this month. 

Y'all. This will take more than a sentence. It has been a fun full month of family comings-goings-doings but for the sake of brevity and an answer to this question here's a snapshot-

6. Insert your own random thought here.

My favorite teacher met her new students today-

And for students everywhere, taken from The Book of Common Prayer-

"God,

you see your children growing up

in an unsteady and confusing world;

Show them that your ways

give more life than the ways of the world,

and that following you is better

than chasing after selfish goals.

Help them to take failure, 

not as a measure of their worth, 

but as a chance for a new start.

Give them strength to hold their faith in you,

and to keep alive their joy in your creation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen."

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 431

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there! 

1. Is school back in session where you live? Is everyone in person or does your system still offer a virtual option? Are kids wearing masks? 

2. Something you still do 'old school'? 

3. One lesson you've learned in the 'school of life'? 

4. When you were in school did you pack a lunch or buy a lunch? Your favorite thing to see on the lunch menu or inside your lunchbox back in the day? 

 

5. August is National Family Fun Month. Tell me something fun you’ve done this month. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Coasting Into The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions, add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. Monday, August 16th was National Roller Coaster Day. Are you a fan? Did you celebrate? Last place/time you rode a roller coaster?

Not a fan and did not celebrate. Honestly I'm okay with never riding another roller coaster ever. It's just not something I enjoy, and it's been a long time since I was coerced into riding one. I think it was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland Paris in 2007.

2. Tell us about a time in your life where it felt like you were figuratively riding a roller coaster. 

Maybe planning a wedding during a pandemic? The rules seemed to change on a daily basis in terms of what was and was not permitted or even wise, and the guest list was in a constant state of flux up until the day of. But it all worked out in the end and was a beautiful day and event. 

3. Favorite treat to eat at an amusement park or state fair? 

cotton candy

4. Are you easy to get along with? Elaborate. 

I think so. I suppose hubs might disagree ha!, but overall I am easy to get along with. I'm pretty low maintenance and dislike conflict so am generally happy to go along with things that are minor in terms of life's big picture. 

5. Something on your calendar to see-do-read-accomplish or just enjoy before month's end? 

I'm looking forward to seeing my daughter's new house. They are mid-move and we are helping in whatever way we can. Excited to see them settled and making a home in a nearby state. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed with all that is going on in the wider world right now, are struggling with how to pray, you might find this site helpful-5 Prayers to lift up for Afghanistan. 

"This is my Father's world:
O let me n'er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, 
God is the Ruler yet."

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 430

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

1. Monday, August 16th was National Roller Coaster Day. Are you a fan? Did you celebrate? Last place/time you rode a roller coaster? 

2. Tell us about a time in your life where it felt like you were figuratively riding a roller coaster. 

3. Favorite treat to eat at an amusement park or state fair? 

4. Are you easy to get along with? Elaborate. 

5. Something on your calendar to see-do-read-accomplish or just enjoy before month's end? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Love Actually

Love is in the air this month in all kinds of wonderful ways. Last Sunday family and friends gathered to shower my niece with love and housewares, as you do when someone is preparing to marry. There was brunch and there was beauty in being together and there were bridesmaids who are cousins, pictured here with their grandmother-

But who in our minds eye sometimes still look like this-

In other love-ly news Daughter1 and her family shifted their suitcases to the in-laws house last Monday. All grandparents need to experience the excitement of waking up to little boys who are into everything as soon as their feet hit the floor, plus someone might be needing a nap on the couch so they're ready for round two. 

And by someone I mean us, not the toddlers-ha!

We did our best to snap a photo with my mom and her great-grandsons before they headed across town, resorting to a cup of popcorn bribe if everyone would sit on the bench for a minute. And it sorta kinda worked. Toddler boys are not big on sitting for pictures in case anyone wondered, but these are keepsakes for me nonetheless. 

So so special.

My mom stayed on at the lake for a few days and we had the best time sipping coffee on the porch, watching our very busy hummingbirds overeat, playing lots and lots of cards, and even doing a little bit of shopping. 

We are never to old to appreciate our mother's love. 

Friday night was golden. Hubs and I were invited to attend a 50th wedding anniversary party given in honor of one of my Bible Study friends and her husband. Their children planned the loveliest celebration and I have been thinking about it ever since. 

All of the couple's children, their children's spouses, their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren were present which is a gift in itself. On top of that though, it was truly special to hear children and grandchildren and even in-law grandchildren all speak about the loving and Godly example the 'bride and groom' have been to their family. 

According to the US Census Bureau fewer than 5% of marriages make it to the 50 year mark, which is a rather sad and sobering number, and why it feels so very right to acknowledge God's faithfulness along the way. I think it's good to hear wedding vows spoken aloud from time to time. 

A reminder to those of us who are married what it was we committed to 50 years ago or thirty-seven years ago or even just a few months ago. What we are committed to still. 

I left thinking about my own legacy and hoping my girls and my grandchildren, my future grandchildren, and my future great grands speak of me and the hubs with the same sort of love and gratitude we witnessed Friday night. 

It doesn't just happen though...it takes a lifetime of pushing through the hard things, celebrating the bright moments, of trusting God and seeking His wisdom day by day. 

"Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:14

The Family Hodgepodge

Welcome back to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then go say howdy to your neighbor. Here we go-

1. What's something you would say 'runs in your family'?

Blue eyes sounds so much nicer than a stubborn streak so let's go with blue eyes. 

2. A book, song, tv show, or movie you love that is centered around family. 

I'm never very good at choosing just one. How does anyone choose one book or one song related to anything? Here are a few favorites, but maybe not my only favorites-

Book-Anne of Green Gables (by L.M. Montgomery)

Song-The House That Built Me (by Miranda Lambert)

TV show-Parenthood

Movie- Father Of The Bride

3. Family matters, family ties, family tree, family man, family fortune, black sheep of the family, family values, one big happy family...choose a 'family phrase' that applies to your life currently and explain. 

I'm going with family tree today. We have a large extended family and my grandson wants to know how everyone is connected...'Nana who's your Mommy?' 'Who is Pawpaw's brother? 'Who is Mommy's Daddy?' and on and on it goes. Most of these questions he already knows the answer to, but there's something comforting in hearing it all said aloud. 

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." Mother Teresa

4. Last thing you fixed for a big family dinner? If you're not the cook, last thing you were served at a big family dinner? 

The last big family dinner we had was on Sunday when my mom, sister, brother-in-law, niece, niece's fiance, niece's fiance's mom, niece's good friend, my daughter2, and my daughter1 and her family were all here for a BBQ after my niece's bridal shower. 

If you're new here you need to know we don't do anything by halves. 

Anyway, hubs worked his magic on the Big Green Egg and smoked two pork butts with a little help from his sous chefs. It was out of this world good. I did all the sides but it was mostly about the BBQ. 

5. What are three words you would use to describe your family. 

loud, loving, warm

6. Insert your own random thought here.

You might be surprised to know today's random thought has nothing to do with grandbabies in the house. A couple of weekends ago hubs and I were enjoying our early morning coffee on the deck when this guy lumbered into the yard-

He checked out the bluebird house (and let it go without incident), admired my limelight hydrangeas, and strolled along the shoreline contemplating a swim. He's young but not a cub, and no mama bear in sight. It was a lot of excitement for 6 AM on a Saturday. 

I Haven't Run A Marathon But...

I have spent the last week with a just turned four-year-old and an almost two-year-old while they navigated the time change from Asia to America which, is pretty much the same thing as running a marathon. Or two. I have about a million pictures on my phone and a million special moments marked in my heart and I want to dump them all here but I guess I won't. 

Well I am going to dump a few because what good is a blog if not to overload anyone who might still be reading blogs with a bunch of family photos? 

Also maybe more than a few. 

Y'all know I have to go all the way back to Day 1 here because I don't know any other way. The 'kids' (yes they are full grown adults who've been raising children of their own while living out of the country for two years but your kids are your kids no matter their age) and an-y-way... the 'kids' bid farewell to the Land of Morning Calm and landed in crazy town USA (that would be the Atlanta Airport) last Sunday night. 

Their flight was on time, but then there was that pesky three hour wait in a completely ridunculous passport control queue with two toddlers who'd just spent fourteen hours on a plane, and I am here to tell you these 'kids' are absolute rock stars.  

Small rant...what is the point of travelers masking on an airplane when you're going to stand them shoulder to shoulder in a s-l-o-w moving three hour queue with a bajillion people upon arrival? 

On the other side of the gate we grandparents were waiting waiting waiting not so patiently to welcome them home. Yes of course all four grandparents made the two hour trek to the airport. We have not had an in person hug in almost two years, plus we needed two vehicles to haul their umpteen bags and assorted baby gear back to the lake.

Finally there were hugs and tears and then a too long car ride to South Carolina but we made it with everyone's remarkably good moods in tact. Their pup (you know him now as our pup) plus Daughter2 were there waiting when we opened the front door and I cannot explain to you how wonderful it feels to have everyone on the very same terra firma. 

Sleep. It's all relative when you're upside down on time and these little men were such troopers. There were some middle of the night calls for momma but by about day four everyone was pretty much in the sleep groove. And nobody was cranky. They jumped right in to lake life, both figuratively and literally...

...and we have had the best time doing all the things, many many things, with the cutest tiny humans on the planet. There was fishing with Pawpaw-

Celebrating a special someone's 4th birthday with all  his favorite people-

Boating-

In case you're wondering they like to go fast!!...or as the mancub says, 'When are we going to kick it into gear?

There were bubbles-

These bubble guns my neighbor recommended (Amazon link here) were a huge hit and so much better than the tiny little wand in a bottle we grew up with-

My popcorn popper was a hit too-

This little guy had his very first taste of Chick-fil-A-

Summertime in South Carolina definitely calls for popsicles dripping down your chin-

There was bird feeding-

And bird watching-

Homemade waffles with Nana-

Pool fun-

Auntie hijinks-

This aunt is the absolute best at doing whatever needs doing to keep our proverbial train on the track. Don't know how we'd manage without her. For real. 

Also, sisters reunited might be my favorite thing about the whole happy-exhausting-glorious week we've had together. 

God bless America and the service men and women still far from home, still far from their siblings and their children's grandparents and extra hands to help with busy toddlers. Far from their momma's home cooking and in-person time with their people. The sacrifices are both large and small and we are so grateful for each and every one. 

Welcome home! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 429

It has been a fun, full, busy, good-kind-of-tired month so far, and I'm not sure why I thought I could manage the Hodgepodge this week. Here we are though so let's give it a go. Answer the questions on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the world wide webbers. See you there!

1. What's something you would say 'runs in your family'?

2. A book, song, tv show, or movie you love that is centered around family. 

3. Family matters, family ties, family tree, family man, family fortune, black sheep of the family, family values, one big happy family...choose a 'family phrase' that applies to your life currently and explain. 

4. Last thing you fixed for a big family dinner? If you're not the cook, last thing you were served at a big family dinner? 

5. What are three words you would use to describe your family. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.