Looking Back And Springing Forward

With spring officially on the calendar it's time to re-visit my winter list, then come up with something fresh for spring. I know I don't have to make a list, but it helps

Especially if you look at it once in a while, which I need to be better about. I'll put that on my list teehee. Here's what my winter list looked like-

Read the first quarter of Grudem's Systematic Theology-Ive read not quite a quarter. The book is meaty and I don't want to rush. I've given myself the entire year to get through it which means reading approximately 89 pages each month. I'm enjoying it, savoring it really, and feel good about my progress even though I am not on page 267. Yet! 

Try a new recipe ✅...more than one actually and they were keepers. 

Try a new restaurant ✅ 

Celebrate Sugar's 2nd birthday ✅

Visit my mama ✅

Celebrate Valentine's Day ✅

Book hotel and details for wedding travel this summer ✅ so happy to have this one settled and off my brain. We're tying wedding travel in with a few days at the beach and now that it's all booked we can get excited. 

organize laundry room cabinets, bedding, and linens-question for you...how many times can you put something on a to-do list, then not do it, then move it to a new to-do list, but still not get to it ? Asking for a friend. 

shop for new bedding-I've been looking but haven't purchased 

clean out vanity, nightstand, and kitchen drawer (I know the one)-giving myself a C on this one as I did clean out my vanity, but still haven't tackled that kitchen drawer. 

hike a trail new to us ✅

see/hear live music ✅

Now to spring forward. There are some fun things to celebrate this spring and I've kept my list simple which is how I like it. No pressure. 

Except for maybe that attic and laundry room. Feeling some pressure not to add those to my summer list too. 

Do you have a seasonal-monthly-yearly-lifetime bucket list? What's something on your to-do or your want to-do list in these next three months? 

Linking today with Joanne for Talking About It Tuesdays 

Pop! Clink! Fizz! It's The Hodgepodge

Hello Hodgepodgers and happy new year! I look forward to more random fun here on Wednesdays in 2026, but for now let's close out the year that was. If you've answered today's questions, add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Cheers! 

1. Did you make resolutions or set goals for the year we're waving goodbye? How did that work out for you? Will you set any goals for this new year, new season, or new month? Share one or two if you'd like to share. 

My personal self-improvement (for lack of a better word) goals for this year were more in my head than written on a piece of paper or a blog. 

I also made seasonal bucket lists which always have a few tasks on them along with some fun things too. I did okay with those,  but there were many things I didn't get to and I'm fine with that. Mostly fine. I use the bucket lists more as a guide or reminder as opposed to a 'MUST DO!!' kind of thing. 

I need to review my fall list and make one for winter still, and hope to get to that this week. 

2. When did you have the most fun this year? 

It's hard to choose just one thing, but some of the most fun I had would definitely include time spent with grandkids (and their mommas) at the lake. 

We also took a beach trip all together and that ranks high on the fun list too. 

College friends here for a weekend was another highlight. 

3. What's a song or song lyric you'll associate with 2025? Tell us why. 

If you read my post yesterday (linked here-Anchored) then you already know my answer, but it's this one-

Cornerstone...'

 '...when darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace

  In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil...Christ alone, Cornerstone, 

    weak made strong, in the Saviour's love, Through the storm He is Lord, Lord of all...' 

I also love this one by Christy Nockels and it's another that goes along with my word of the year. I've seen her perform live and she's so good. 

My Anchor   ...

'My anchor, forever, My shelter within the storm, 

You're my deliverer, You never falter, 

You're the rock I stand on...'

4. Best (or a favorite) bite of something delicious you tasted this year? 

 Again, it's nearly impossible to choose just one, but most recently this crab and cucumber appetizer with the coconut lime vinaigrette over all was so scrumptious and something I want to recreate at home. 

5. What do you want to do more of in the new year? Less of? 

More of? 

more time spent in creative pursuits, more movement, more prayer, more filling my mind with 'whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy..' I want to think on those things.  

The world screams the opposite so swimming against the tide has to be intentional. 

Less of? 

less spending, less couch time aka no broken bones, there's probably more but nothing is coming to mind

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, 

with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." ~Hal Borland 

Thanks for joining in here each week. It's such a wonderful group of bloggers of every age, stage, geography, and background, yet we come together easily to encourage, laugh, share, discuss, and support. 

The world needs more of this. 

Wishing you peace in this next new year xo Joyce 

Anchored

Before the year comes to a close I want to revisit my 2025 WOTY (Word Of The Year)-anchored. 

The dictionary defines anchored like this- "to make something or someone stay in one position by fastening him, her or it firmly.'' The Bible dictionary adds to the definition with this- 'held by an anchor, moored, fixed in safety', and in the Bible itself the word anchor is an emblem of hope. 

So how did that word play out in my life this year? 

Blogging is a funny thing in that we're writing about life, but of course not all of life. There are always things happening behind the scenes that don't get talked about here, but that nonetheless add meaning and mystery, heartache and blessing to our daily lives.  

That has certainly been true here in 2025. While our immediate family is doing well there have been a lot of hard, confusing, disappointing, and just plain sad things going on with people we love and care about. I suppose that's always true to some degree, but this year it feels especially so. 

Plus, the world. Ugh. I know I'm not the only who's feeling exhausted by the all the conflict, the complaining, the hate that's so prevalent today. It would be easy to feel adrift...completely unmoored...in this world and in this year marked by upheaval and just plain ugliness if I had no anchor to 'fix me in safety'. 

On January 1 of this year hubs and I committed to reading through the Bible together every day. We followed the chronological plan available from The Bible Recap, and we also listened to the brief daily podcast where the host, Tara Leigh Cobble, adds clarity to the day's reading. She does an excellent job of staying on point, while providing links to deeper dives into various topics if you want or need to know more. 

Being anchored to God's word this year has been such a gift. When life feels confusing or sad Scripture remains a solid steady place to stand. Returning every day to the promises found in God's word provided not only comfort but direction, reminding me the world may tilt and change but He never does. 

In 2025 God's word has truly been an anchor for my soul. 

We recently sang an old song in church called Cornerstone (linked here),  and the words really struck a chord with me. They brought my word to mind...

    '...when darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace

    In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil...Christ alone, Cornerstone, 

    weak made strong, in the Saviour's love, Through the storm He is Lord, Lord of all...' 

I have the good intention every year to memorize scripture, but I'm just going to be honest and say things don't stick the way they did even a decade ago. Makes me so grateful for the many verses I learned while growing up because those adhered like glue, but adding a lot of new memory work is hard. If you're reading this and you're under 50 do it now!

I did memorize this simple verse though, and I say it to myself often, including several times on Monday because Monday ended up being a day and as a result Tuesday will probably be the same.  

He is my hope. My cornerstone. My anchor...and I will carry that with me into this new year. Today too. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 634

Hello friends. Here are the questions to the last weekly Hodgepodge in 2025. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (December 31st) to share answers with the rest of the world wide webbers. See you there! 

 

1. Did you make resolutions or set goals for the year we're waving goodbye? How did that work out for you? Will you set any goals for this new year, new season, or new month? Share one or two if you'd like to share. 

2. When did you have the most fun this year? 

3. What's a song or song lyric you'll associate with 2025? Tell us why. 

4. Best (or a favorite) bite of something delicious you tasted this year? 

5. What do you want to do more of in the new year? Less of? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Monthly Musings-December

Hello friends and happy Thursday. Joining Holly (Pink Lady) and Patty (Good Better Best)  for their Monthly Musings link up today, and mixing in some of our holiday home decor just because. Here are the prompts-

1. What holidays do you celebrate? 

In December-Advent, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. I'm not sure Advent counts as a holiday, but it is an important part of the season for me.

2. Scale of 1-10, how into the holidays are you this year? Be honest. 

I'm an eight. I'm excited to have my girls and their families all together this weekend. It's the 'in-law' year so we're having a little family Christmas here on Saturday. When your kids are grown and married and have children of their own, and those in-law children are also close to their families, well...some flexing and adjustment of your expectations as to how Christmas looks absolutely needs to happen. 

Not gonna lie-it may not happen year one, but we're ten years in now and it's all good. Different can still be wonderful. 

Firstly, I love that my girls have in-laws who love them and their children. That is no small thing. Plus hubs and I have spent our entire married life alternating Christmas between our two families due to geography, so we know the drill. I've told my girls if we can manage a get together sometime in December on the 'off' years then we'll make that happen. Personally I don't want to celebrate in January. My mindset shifts to quiet, low-key, and hey let's not eat cookies every night in January, so if we're going to celebrate Christmas together it needs to be December. 

3. Favorite things to make/bake during the holidays? 

I love to bake cookies, but haven't done very many this year. Both my girls bake and will bring their creations here so we'll have plenty. I always make cranberry bread too, and chex mix both the sweet and savory.  

4. Favorite holiday movies? 

I'm not big on the Hallmark movies, but I like most of what we think of as the traditional holiday films. White Christmas, The Holiday, Elf,  Love Actually, and The Christmas Story are all watched here. 

5. Most random holiday tradition?

A picture on the steps first thing Christmas morning, before coming in to the room where stockings have been filled and more presents added under the tree. It was torture when I was a kid, and I think my girls will say the same. Now their children have a picture taken on the stairs so yay for tradition! 

6. Are you hosting for the holidays? New Year's Eve or New Year's Day? 

We're hosting our kids and grandkids this weekend, and then will be with my extended family on Christmas Day which I'm also looking forward to. We haven't thought about the New Year celebration at all. We may have friends in impromptu, or it might just be us? We're okay with low key on the last day of the year. 

7. Favorite way to ring in the New Year? 

I'm not a night owl, but I do try to be awake when the clock strikes twelve to mark the start of a new year. #goals lol. 

Is just being awake considered ringing in the new year? 

Some years we're with friends, some years friends are here, some years it's just me and the hubs and I'm good with any of those. I don't like to be on the road on New Year's Eve. 

8. Any new year's resolutions or word of the year? 

There will be some goals set and many years I do have a word. This year mine was anchor and I'll write more about how that looks in hindsight after Christmas. I haven't given a lot of thought to the new year/new word yet and honestly I typically don't get it in gear in this department until about January 7th so stay tuned. 

9. Favorite holiday songs? 

The traditional hymns and carols from my childhood are still my favorite...

                '...a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices...' 

                '...God is not dead nor doth he sleep...'

                '...the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonite...' 

10. Favorite holiday memory? 

I could never choose just one. What I treasure most from my own childhood is the warmth and love I felt from my family and for my family on Christmas day. Those feelings bubble up every year and I feel so much gratitude for the people who grew me up. My momma made it all pure magic. 

Obsessed With The Hodgepodge

Happy new year Hodgepodgers and welcome to the first link up of 2024! If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse or just general uselessness (go here to read more about how the words were chosen). Here are the words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2024-

hack, impact, at the end of the day, rizz, slay, iconic, cringe worthy, obsessed, side hustle, wait for it

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Are any of these a regular part of your speech? Is there a word not on the list that you'd like to add? 

I've asked this question several years in a row now, and most years I haven't heard of more than half on the list. This year's list feels a bit more familiar, although I've still never heard anyone utter the word rizz. If I have to choose one from the list to banish I guess I'll go with side hustle. I'm not opposed to people having a 'side hustle' but for some reason the phrase itself grates. 

Perhaps if so much of what goes on in the world today weren't legitimately 'cringe worthy' we could quit saying it. 

I don't know that I use any of these words/phrases very often, but I think obsessed is probably sprinkled into my speech here and there. 

2. What do you wish you'd done more of last year? Less of? 

more of-writing

less of-overthinking 

3. A place you'd like to visit in this new year? Do you think you will? 

England. Do I think we will? Absolutely. 

4.What are three words to sum up or describe your 2023? 

busy, joyful, 'grand' 

5. What advice would you like to give yourself as we begin a new year? 

"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Nine years ago today my first born baby girl married her sweetheart...

...what a lovely life they've made.  

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 532

Happy new year! And welcome to the first Hodgepodge of 2024! Answer on your own blog, then jump back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse or just general uselessness (go here to read more about how the words were chosen). Here are the words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2024-

hack, impact, at the end of the day, rizz, slay, iconic, cringe worthy, obsessed, side hustle, wait for it

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Are any of these a regular part of your speech? Is there a word not on the list that you'd like to add? 

2. What do you wish you'd done more of last year? Less of? 

3. A place you'd like to visit in this new year? Do you think you will? 

4.What are three words to sum up or describe your 2023? 

5. What advice would you like to give yourself as we begin a new year? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Cheers To The Hodgepodge

Here we are with a new year on the horizon and one more Hodgepodge to close out the year that was. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. Did you set any goals for the new year this time last year? Did you meet them or miss the mark? Tell us more if you're comfortable sharing. 

I didn't have a long list of things to accomplish/change/improve in 2022, other than write more. Honestly life came at us full throttle this year and I spent a lot more time living it than writing about it. That's okay too. 

Maybe 2023 will be my year. 

2. What are three words that might describe the kind of person you were this past year or describe in some way how your life looked? 

Nana~road tripper~shotgun rider

3. What's something new you ate, saw, heard, or experienced in 2022? What did you think? 

A granddaughter joined our family in 2022-

What did I think? I thought she was perfectly precious.

She still is! 

In a different vein, hubs and I traveled up the coast of California in late September, driving from San Diego to Half Moon Bay just outside of San Francisco. 

Lots of new-to-me sights were seen there, which I wrote about it in excessive great detail beginning with this post-The Golden State. 

4.  Oxford Dictionary has announced it's word of the year for 2022, and it's this-goblin mode. Huh? Have you ever heard this phrase? Used this phrase? 

I hadn't heard the phrase until I read about the choice online and can't imagine I'll ever use it. Still kind of scratching my head, but I'm not trendy in so many ways and I guess this is one I've missed. Most people I asked hadn't heard of it either so I have to wonder how it can possibly be the word of the year? 

It's defined as "a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations." 

This year they allowed the public to choose amongst three finalists. You can read more about that here. 

Who is the public I wonder?

If you were in charge, what word would you declare word of the year for 2022? 

Wordle. Thanks hubs! I surveyed my family because I've had a houseful and still have a houseful and my brain is currently a bit mush. The Wordle trend is definitely more me than goblin mode. 

5. Any special plans for an end of year celebration in your house or town? The travel channel says the world's best New Year's Eve celebrations will happen in Copacabana Beach-Rio de Janerio, the Orlando theme parks in Florida,  London, Sydney, New York's Time Square, Edinburgh Scotland, and Paris. If you could attend any one of these which would you choose? Tell us why? 

No special plans this year, but if I could transport myself to one of the cities listed it would most definitely be London. 

Here's me with my girls in a London black cab, New Years Eve 2008. We were on our way to dinner and then to meet up with friends after. 

Auld lang syne man. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Sometimes I post things here around the holidays so I can look back the next year and recreate a decoration, recipe, craft or in this case...charcuterie tray. 

I made this for a neighborhood get together earlier this month and loved the way it turned out. I got the idea from one of my favorite Insta accounts, Ain't Too Proud To Meg. She does all sorts of beautiful and creative boards.  

Happy new year everyone! Cheers to more kindness, more grace, and more Hodgepodging in 2023!

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Got 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. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger linking before you because we all know comments make the blog world go 'round. Here we go- 

 

1. What do you wish you'd done more of last year? Less of?

More travel, less careless eating. 

2. What's the tallest building you've ever been in? Do you have a fear of heights? 

Hmmm... I've been in my share of tall buildings around the world. I think the tallest I've been in is Taipei 101 located in Taiwan. I wrote about our visit in a post linked here-Look It's A Bird, It's A Plane...' 

Taipei 101 was at one time the tallest in the world, but when the Burj Khalifa was completed in Dubai it dropped a notch. And now it's down several notches but is still in the top 20 (currently #11). 

Am I afraid of heights? Not really. I'm not however, a fan of small enclosed spaces, and that's often how you have to travel to reach a height. Cable cars and teeny tiny too crowded elevators. Shudder. That hasn't kept me from mountaintops and buildings 101 stories up in the sky though. I think happy thoughts and grab the family member closest to me, or sometimes even perfect strangers, and I go. 

3. Do you have a word for the year? Elaborate if you'd like to elaborate. 

Not so far, but I don't think it's too late to claim one. 

4. January 11th is National Milk Day...are you a milk drinker? What kind? Your favorite recipe that calls for milk (cereal doesn't count)? 

I rarely drink a glass of milk, but I do like it. As a child I drank a lot of milk, that was the 'kids beverage' served at every meal. As an adult it's pretty much limited to my cereal if I'm having cereal, and I also add a splash of milk to my tea. I buy non-fat milk, but often when I'm cooking I'll use 2% or sometimes even whole milk if the dish I'm preparing calls for it. My favorite recipe that calls for milk? Mashed potatoes. 

5. What excites you most about the future? What do you miss about the past? 

This feels like it could be a whole big blog post, but for today I'll keep it simple. What excites me most? Watching my daughters parent their own children, and watching those children, my grandchildren, grow and become the people God created them to be. 

What do I miss...I don't know why, but a picture of my family sitting at the kitchen table having dinner is the first thing that popped into my head. My seat was on the side of the table beside my brother. He was always on that corner because he's a lefty. My dad at one end, my mom at the other, and my two sisters on the side next to the windows. Something about that memory makes me feel all cozy inside. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm still a little discombobulated here in terms of 2022 organization. That's what happens when you have home improvement happening at the start of a new year. Painters have been here all week painting the shiplap we added to my office wall and staining the wood we added to the stairwell. It's icy cold outside but we have all the windows open because it smells a little bit like a factory in here. Looks beautiful though, and I will show pictures when everything is done. The mattress for the Murphy bed arrived today so we're getting close.  Have a great week everyone!

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 446

Hello and happy new year Hodgepodgers! After a brief holiday pause we're back with our regularly scheduled random. Here are the questions to the first hodgepodge of 2022. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there!

1. Share one happy moment/memory from the holiday season. 

2. Let's be reasonable with our expectations going into this new year, k? What is one thing you'd like to accomplish/improve/complete/do in 2022? 

3. Every January 1st (since 1976) Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse or just general uselessness (go here to read more about how the words are chosen). Here are the words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2022-

wait, what?-no worries-at the end of the day-that being said-asking for a friend-circle back-deep dive-a new normal-you're on mute-supply chain

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly? Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word/phrase not on the list you'd like to add? 

4. Best thing you ate in the month of December? 

5. January 5th is National Bird Day. Are you a bird lover? What's your favorite bird to see in the wild? Choose a phrase from the list that follows and tell us how it relates to your life currently...eat like a bird, bird's eye view, early bird, bird-brained, free as a bird, a little bird told me, or kill two birds with one stone.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Ho-Ho-Hodgepodge

Hi Friends! And strangers lurking here too. A reminder this will be our last Hodgepodge of the year. We'll return to the regularly scheduled random on Wednesday January 5th, so mark your brand new calendars and plan to be here. 

If you've answered today's questions add your link at the bottom of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you because 'tis the season. Here we go-

 

1. How young is young? In the past, according to various organizations who decide these things, age 60 was the 'border age' to old. The World Health Organization has done new research recently and divided up the categories as-0-17 (underage), 18-65 (youth or young people), 66-79 (middle-aged), 80-99 (elderly senior), 100+ (long-lived elderly). Your thoughts on this particular breakdown, and also your thoughts as to where you land?

Well I for one am loving where I land-ha! Is it accurate? Hmmm...depends on the day I suppose. According to this chart I'm young. Or youthful which sounds even better. I feel more middle aged than young but I like that our 60's and early 70's  are still considered middle age. That definitely feels accurate. 

2. TIME magazine has declared Elon Musk person of the year in 2021. What say you? If you want to know more about how they choose you'll find that info in the link here. If you were choosing, who would be your person of the year? 

I've asked this question several years in a row now in the Wednesday Hodgepodge, so I know the criteria is essentially the person who most influenced the news and our lives, for better or worse. I don't often agree with the magazine's choice, but I think this year Elon Musk is not a bad selection. He has for sure made a lot of news. 

As far as who I would choose if given the chance...I can think of thirteen soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan who are certainly worthy of the title. Remember Afghanistan? 

3. I read here ten habits of extremely likeable people which include-they greet the world with a smile on their face, they ask questions, they're consistent, they put the phone away, they remember names and use them, they keep an open mind and don't pass judgement, they're authentic, they're kind and generous, accountable for their mistakes, and they send thank you notes.  

So, are you likeable-lol? Which one of these habits could use some further developing in your own life? What is one habit/quality you'd add to the list? 

Am I likeable? Don't we need someone else to answer that question for us? I think I'm pretty likeable. 

I'm an optimist and if I were adding something to the list it would be 'likeable people see life's glass as more than half full'. 

4. One non-holiday related task/job/goal/dream on your to-do list that you hope/plan to make happen before the new year rolls in? 

I'd love to say my office reno, but it's unlikely to be completed before the calendar turns. It's underway though so I'll take it! I've been reading through the Bible this year and I got a little behind but am catching up now. My goal is to finish before the clock strikes 2022.

5. Share with us some of your holiday plans.

I will not have my daughters or my grandsons here on Christmas Day, which was not at all the plan but is now the plan. I'm not on board in case you're wondering. 

Sometimes we have to work to see the glass half full, don't we? 

Daughter2 and her Mr. will be here a few days before Christmas and we're going to have my mother-in-law with us for about ten days which will be nice. Hubs recognizes I am struggling to find my holiday spirit this year, so he's putting things on the calendar, inviting friends here, accepting invitations, all to help make the season feel more merry. He's a keeper. 

Hubs and I are lighting our church advent wreath on Christmas Eve at the 9 PM candlelight service. The Christmas Eve service is almost always the thing that really and truly reminds me all is calm, and all is bright. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

~Merry Christmas to you all~

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 445

Hi Hodgepodgers and everyone else too! This will be the last Wednesday Hodgepodge of the year. We'll be back on track Wednesday January 5th, so plan to ring in Hodgepodge 2022 with us then. 

We are here this week though, so don't forget to join the party. Answer on your own blog then sled back here tomorrow to share answers with all of Santa's elves. See you there-

1. How young is young? In the past, according to various organizations who decide these things, age 60 was the 'border age' to old. The World Health Organization has done new research recently and divided up the categories as-0-17 (underage), 18-65 (youth or young people), 66-79 (middle-aged), 80-99 (elderly senior), 100+ (long-lived elderly). Your thoughts on this particular breakdown, and also your thoughts as to where you land?

2. TIME magazine has declared Elon Musk person of the year in 2021. What say you? If you want to know more about how they choose you'll find that info in the link here. If you were choosing, who would be your person of the year? 

3. I read here ten habits of extremely likable people which include-they greet the world with a smile on their face, they ask questions, they're consistent, they put the phone away, they remember names and use them, they keep an open mind and don't pass judgement, they're authentic, they're kind and generous, accountable for their mistakes, and they send thank you notes.  

So, are you likable-lol? Which one of these habits could use some further developing in your own life? What is one habit/quality you'd add to the list? 

4. One non-holiday related task/job/goal/dream on your to-do list that you hope/plan to make happen before the new year rolls in? 

5. Share with us some of your holiday plans. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hodgepodge Bells Are Gonna Chime

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Bet you can't guess what's filling my time, thoughts, and calendar right now-ha! If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post then leave a comment for your neighbor. Here we go-

1. When were you last a guest at an event or in someone's home? Tell us about it. Do you enjoy having guests in your own home? 

We made a weekend visit to see friends  back in September, and I think that was the last time I was a guest in someone's home. We laughed til our sides hurt, had a spontaneous dance party, and were so grateful to be together in person. 

Hubs and I gave everyone a hat that matched something about their personality...here's ours-

Accurate. 

I think my daughter's bridal shower in October was the last event I attended. It was a lovely, special day which I wrote about here. Both of these 'events' were a lot of fun, and felt as safe as anything can feel with a virus still lurking. 

We love having guests in our home and look forward to doing that again. Normally my house is a revolving door, at least in the summer months, and I'm hoping we have at least a few houseguests this year. 

2. What has you 'tied up in knots' currently or recently? Are you any good at tying actual knots? 

Planning a wedding during a pandemic opens the door to a whole lot of knot tying if you let it. We have worked hard to keep that door shut. I've had many people praying about some very specific requests, and I take great comfort in that support. I will not say there haven't been any disappointments because we've had some of those on a fairly grand scale, but I am trusting God for a day that is beautiful in every way. 

As far as real knots go...I feel like I do more untangling than I do tying. 

3. What's something you've been wanting to do and have decided 2021 will be the year you 'take the plunge'? 

Re-do my office. I don't just mean in terms of organization either. I want to put some shiplap on the walls, get rid of my big desk and add a small table instead, have a murphy bed made for the corner, and purchase a new computer. 

4. Something in your home that's old? Something new? Something borrowed? Something blue?

old-me? nope...we do have an old classic car here so let's go with that. 

new-I have a dress just waiting to be worn. Soon. eek! 

borrowed-a portable crib a friend loaned me when the mancub was born. We're still using it from time to time and she'll let me know when she needs it back. 

blue-I have quite a few navy blue accents in my home, and my bedroom has a comfy chair and ottoman in a seaglass shade that I love. That particular shade of blue is in the rug and window treatments too. It's restful. 

5. Share a favorite quote, a verse of scripture, and/or a bit of wisdom for couples getting married in this challenging and seemingly unpredictable season we're currently/still experiencing. 

I wrote a whole series of posts on marriage when my oldest was engaged. It was the theme of my April A-Z challenge that year (2014) and you'll find the first one linked here. Times change, but my feelings about marriage remain pretty much the same...

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 

"Great marriages don't happen by luck or by accident. They are the result of a consistent investment of time, thoughtfulness, forgiveness, affection, prayer, mutual respect, and a rock-solid commitment between a husband and a wife." Dave Willis

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Here comes the bride...

Happy New Hodgepodge

Here we are...rolling in to a brand new year. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. Then hop over and leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. Let's start the year off right!

1. What advice would you give yourself as we begin this new year? 

This Proverb (3:5-6) feels exactly right for me...'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.' 

2. If you could throw a themed party for yourself what would the theme be? 

How about an English tea? In England please. Once it's open I mean. And let's invite all the friends I used to have real English tea with to join the party, k? 

3. Tell us where you were and something about what life was like when you were 20- 21.

At ages 20-21 I was a college student in love with the beauty of East Tennessee and a mischievous boy who called the place home. I started dating hubs when I was 20, and that worked out well-ha! I also had a part time job as a waitress in a charming eatery in the town of Jonesborough Tennessee. Jonesborough has since become fairly famous for the huge storytelling festival held there each year, but back when I was 20 it was still a sleepy little town. 

4. What's on the menu at your house this week? 

A ginger-teriyaki salmon on the grill tonight,  a honey garlic chicken bowl tomorrow night, and that's as far as I've planned since I'm headed to the market tomorrow. I'll figure out another week's worth of meals before I shop. I know for sure there won't be pasta or anything heavy, fried, or swimming in cream because we have a wedding coming up fast and someone sampled a few too many Christmas cookies last year, ahem. 

5. What should you do more of this year? Less of? 

More exploring the history and natural beauty that's all around us 

Less scrolling

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

At the suggestion of my daughter I subscribed to Home Chef back when the pandemic started. She had tried several of the home meal services and this was her favorite. She sent me her code so I could try it, and I have to say hubs and I have both really enjoyed their meals. Normally we eat out at least once a week but with everyone staying home and not a lot of great take out options nearby the cooking (and I love to cook!) was wearing a bit thin. And maybe not so much the cooking as all that meal planning. 

Here are what I see as the pros...the packaging is wonderful, the produce super fresh, and the meat/fish high quality. No complaints. You're sent crystal clear step by step instructions and all ingredients are pre-measured. There's a wide variety of meals to choose from each week and you can substitute proteins easily if you prefer. We have not had a bad meal, and I save the recipe cards so we can recreate the ones we love. It's nice to know there are a couple of meals in the rotation that I don't have to plan or shop for, and you can skip weeks as needed. 

The cons...it's not inexpensive, but we're not eating out these days and it is definitely less than we spend eating out. There are minimums but we usually order two meals for two people and do that a couple of weeks each month. Some months I order more than that but there is flexibility. You do have to look at the calories as some are quite high, but I always find meals that work with the calories I want to spend.

If you are interested in giving it a try message me and I can send you a code to to try a box at a discounted rate. Also, this is not an ad...I just like Home Chef.  

Auld Lang Hodgepodge ala 2020

When I dusted off the Hodgepodge and brought back this little Wednesday link up back in March, I thought it might last six or eight weeks at best. Yet here we are, nine months later and still at home, still masked up, sanitized, and missing a lot of things we didn't think we'd still be missing. I'm so glad you've joined (or rejoined!) the Wednesday Hodgepodge this year, and am truly grateful for the connections made here. 

If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. And before you say Cheers! to the new year, drop by the blogger linking before you and leave a comment to help usher out the old on a high note. Here we go-

1. Tell us about your favorite moment or share one of the bright spots from the year we're leaving behind. 

That's easy...this one-

2. What do you wish you'd known at the start of 2020? Elaborate. 

This is a hard question. I'm someone who is glad we don't know what's coming down the pike. I think it would have just added anxiety to what is already an unhappy situation, and I'm so glad God gives us grace for the day, one day at a time. Exactly what we need. 

If I have to answer I guess I might have gone up to New Jersey and collected my momma early on. Brought her here so we wouldn't have spent all these months apart. She's in good hands, staying with my sister so not alone, and my brother is nearby too, but we surely do miss her. I will make a trip north once the wedding is behind us. 

3. Best book you read this year? If you did not read any books this year, what's the best thing you ate all year? We've all eaten, right? 

Always hard for me to pick a favorite book, but two I especially loved were American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. 

4. The Pantone Colors of the year for 2021 are ultimate gray and illuminating yellow (a bright shade)...are you a fan? Would we find either of these colors in your home or wardrobe? 

I like gray in small doses and more as a backdrop to color so that wouldn't be my favorite. But I do love a sunny shade of yellow and yes I have some in my wardrobe. 

5. If you were/are making a list of 21 things to do/accomplish in 2021 what is one thing that would be on it? 

I think I'm going to make a list, but haven't thought through the content just yet. One glance at the desk I'm currently using inspires me to say organize the office. Between Christmas and a wedding and a late fall house re-fi this desk and the room in general need a lift. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Wishing each one of you reading here love, joy, peace and good health in this new year...

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 401

Well, here we are. The last Hodgepodge in the year that has been 2020. Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there- 

1. Tell us about your favorite moment or share one of the bright spots from the year we're leaving behind. 

2. What do you wish you'd known at the start of 2020? Elaborate. 

3. Best book you read this year? If you did not read any books this year, what's the best thing you ate all year? We've all eaten, right? 

4. The Pantone Colors of the year for 2021 are ultimate gray and illuminating yellow (a bright shade)...are you a fan? Would we find either of these colors in your home or wardrobe? 

5. If you were/are making a list of 21 things to do/accomplish in 2021 what is one thing that would be on it? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Alphabet Soup

If you're looking for the Wednesday Hodgepodge scroll on down to the next post. 

So here we are, Day 1 in the April A-Z Blog Challenge. If you don't know what I'm talking about, or you'd like to sign up too, visit the A-Z Challenge website using this link. 

I wrote all about my theme in yesterday's post, so if you need to know more you can read that here.  Essentially I've made it a group project and given 26 friends and family members a letter of the alphabet asking each one to send me back a word. I told them any word in the universe was fine, so I've received an interesting collection of a little bit of everything. Let's get going-

Day 1-A is for Achieve

A college friend I've known for 40 years sent me this word and I like it, because it's something I've been thinking a lot about lately. Did I tell you I have a birthday coming up? In five months? Ha! Well it's a big birthday so I'm allowed to talk about it.

Big birthdays are a good time for a bit of self-reflection. Not too much, but a glance back at where you've been, a look forward to what might lie ahead, and maybe a peek in the mirror as to where you are now, is not a bad exercise to engage in every once in a while.

I've been asking myself what it is I've achieved over the course of several decades of living? Am I satisfied with where I've landed and what I've accomplished or is there more to be done, and if so what? How?

It feels like there is great emphasis in today's world on finding our purpose and running head long into it. Make things happen! Change the world in a BIG way! Do all the things!

But what if achievement is measured in an entirely different manner?

I love what Oswald Chambers says about purpose. He says that what we see as the process of reaching a particular end, God sees as the goal itself. That God is not working toward a particular finish, but that His purpose is the process.

Time feels frozen in this strange season we're walking through, yet it marches on. Is remaining faithful and obedient no matter the chaos or serenity of my circumstances what I'm aiming to achieve?

Do I measure my achievements in all the seasons of my life against this standard?

Happy New You!

We're only halfway through January so not too late, right? It never feels like a brand new year to me until somewhere around January 5th or 6th anyway. This year I'm still waiting. Still sipping tea, reading books, and finishing a jigsaw puzzle instead of tackling my 30 day home organization plan I was going to start two weeks ago. Not feeling guilty about it either.

Not too guilty anyway.

My grandson likes to wish us a happy new year when we Facetime, only he says Happy New You!  and it's completely adorable. Will there be a new me this year? I always have high hopes as January 1 approaches that there will indeed be a 'new me' in the coming year. An improved version of the old me, someone with grand plans to do all the things who then actually does them, but I think this year I'll be content with doing a few small things well.

Last year I made a list of 19 things to accomplish in 2019 (read it here) and it was a little depressing to look back and see I only managed to complete six of the nineteen. To be honest number one not happening threw us all for a loop in a hundred different ways and while I may not have done all nineteen I did a number of things that didn't make the list.

Giving myself a high five and leaving 2019 in 2019.

Have I mentioned my birthday? Hubs would say not so far today but the day's not over. Ha! I have a big birthday this year (months from now, but whatever) and I'm feeling some imaginary added sense of pressure to make every minute count. I read the most fabulous thing a gentleman shared online recently about how his 64 year old mother in law revealed to the family at Christmas that she'd spent the past year learning to play the fiddle and then she played (beautifully) a dozen songs without looking at the sheet music.

No one had any idea and they all were completely gobsmacked, it was something she'd always wanted to do so she did it. Keeping it a secret made it all the more special and while I don't want to play the fiddle I do want to think about what it is I've always wanted to do and then do it.

Let's go ahead and make a new list. I'm not going to get bogged down right now in the 'how to make it all happen', but we're sixteen days into the new year and I gotta start somewhere. Here we go-

20 in 20-

chase a dream
pray more
go somewhere I've never been
exercise
write letters
read books
be good to my skin
listen more than I talk
help somebody every chance I get
laugh a lot
clean up my phone
my closet
my desk
see waterfalls
our state capital
nearby historic sites
make some homemade gifts
try some new recipes
write stuff here
leave it in His hands

Happy New You everyone...may 2020 you be the best you yet!

19 in 19

Hey remember how I was going to blog more? Ha! Actually I think what I said was I was going to write more, and I have. Just not here. There's only so many hours in the day people!

Anyway, here we are nearing the end of January so before the year gets away from me (hey, we all know it's going to be Christmas in a hot minute) I want to share my list. There's something someone started called 19 in 2019 where you make a list of 19 things you want to do in the year 2019. Coincidentally we were given a writing prompt earlier in the 31 Day Challenge to write a list, so a great fit. And easy, right?

We shall see.

Also, this list is more or less my 'practical list'. Not digging too deeply into my personal list on the blog today although #2 feels pretty personal. For now let's write some things down and then check some things off. Here we go-

1. Host a wedding. Some might say including this on my list is cheating because I'm hosting a wedding whether I write it down here or not. Still we're hosting a wedding and there are at least seven hundred and forty three things that need doing between now and then.  Let's go ahead and write it down.

2. Delight. My word for this year. I imagine I will write more about it at some point, but for now I'm still figuring out what that word means in my everyday life.

3. Read at least 32 books.

4. Deal with the office. My office. Which is relatively new, but was a room we didn't actively decorate and instead used mostly things that fit the space figuring we'd zhuhh it up later.

The office space is fine and completely usable, but uninspiring. I have a plan I'd like to see come to life and that plan includes shiplap, murphy beds, an inspiration board, a new computer, and the physical files purged and sorted.

5. Make a handmade gift for my grandson. I have something specific in mind, but I don't want to put details here because he reads my blog. Well maybe he doesn't read it, but his mama reads it and she might spill the beans.

6. Publish something. This 31 day writing challenge has been good for me and some of what I've been working on away from my blog is aimed at meeting this goal. Which I've had since 5th grade I started this blog all the way back in 2009.

7. Organize one project per month. Tops on the list? My closet, my photos, and my giftwrap.

8. Attend a professional ballet and a baseball game. I enjoy both and have done neither in the last twenty-four months.

9. See the SC State Capital. I have an unwritten accidental goal to see all the state capitals, because it occurred to me one day a while back that I'd seen quite a few. I'd for sure like to see our own.

10. See the 'Top Ten Most Spectacular Falls in South Carolina'. I think we've seen several on the list, but I want to see them all. None are too far from here so we just need to take the time to go and see and make the trek up or down a thousand steps or steep path viewing falls generally requires.

11. Frame stuff. Re-frame stuff. Print pics and frame pics. Investigate mixed tiles for the hallway. Has anyone tried them? I've seen them on a couple of blogs I follow and their walls look great. I do wonder if this will be one of those things that looks good in my head but in real life is just eh? Also they stick? Like 3M sticks and is easily removed or like glue?

12. Make a book about our Oregon trip. I know!! It's way overdue.

13. Go somewhere I've never been before.

14. Learn calligraphy or hand lettering. They're different and I'm not sure which one is the best fit for me, but I have an online course downloaded my girls got for me last year that I haven't even tried. One of my goals in re-decorating my office is to make room for some creative endeavors like this one.

A shop in my tiny town recently offered a class in hand lettering but I didn't find out about it until after registration had closed. I'm on their list for the next one though, so feel like I can make this happen.

15. Take a southern road trip. I have a whole list of ideas and itineraries and hope/plan/will check one off my list this year.

16. Less screen time. Doesn't everybody have this as their goal for 2019?

17. Get some really good sneakers. I know this sounds like a silly thing to put on a list, but my feet y'all. Ugh. I have almost no arch so I need good sneakers and I need to invest a little time in figuring out which ones are the right ones. You would think this would be something I'd just go ahead and do, but in reality it's something I'm always saying I need to do, but then I never actually do it.

Everyone has some little something that nags at them, right? What's your annoying something?

18. Investigate making a change to my pots and pans cabinet. Actually our cabinetmaker was at the house last week to drop something off for our builder and hubs (who does not need a list to get things done) had him measure the space. The cabinetmaker has already sent me designs, options, and pricing, so balls in my court now I guess.

But first! I need to host a wedding.

19. Delight. On here twice so I don't forget somewhere along the way.

Starting The Year Off Write

On a whim I've signed up for a 31 Day writing challenge because that's how I seem to fly here. By the seat of my pants. I also tend to overthink absolutely everything, but new year new me. Maybe? Actually what happened was I was busy yesterday and didn't have a lot of time for overthinking so I just quickly said yes to the email invitation and also to joining the accompanying writers support group.

I'm supposed to write 500 words a day for the next 31 days. Blogging counts but I rarely do a word count there. Pretty sure there's never a deficit-ha! When I put yesterday's post into a counter I was at 757 words so on track. If I complete the challenge I'll have written over 15, 000 words this month which is a lot even for me.

In staying on point here I don't have any real idea what I'm going to write about. Well maybe a small idea for something that's been pinging around my brain for a while, but really I'm pretty much in free fall.

How many words is this?

188.

See, this is why I can't overthink.

One other requirement of the challenge is to tell people you're participating and to share your writing somewhere somehow. Consider yourselves told. And since I already overshare on my blog I think I can check that second item off the list too.

Now will I share what I'm writing outside of my blog?  I hope so. I'm a bit chicken and also a bit lazy but new year new me, right?

How many words is it now?

273.

Whew, today is hard.
I think maybe I shouldn't count words and I should just write.

I used to get up really early and write. Hubs would leave for work and I'd settle in at the computer and that worked for me. Once he retired I let that early morning commitment slide, and while it frustrated me I did nothing to make myself get back to it. You know what? Teachers also leave for work at the crack of dawn and my teacher daughter is in the process of moving home until her wedding. Having her here up early every single work day has allowed me to get reaquainted with my early morning self and I'm really liking that.

I know I don't have to get up with her, I mean she's in her late 20's and has worked and lived on her own for several years now, but I recognize this season as fleeting and I want to get up with her. I like to make her lunch or a hot drink for the longer commute she has now and I give her a hug and tell her to have a great day. She's not a morning person but she likes me being up with her in the pre-dawn hour, and I'm remembering how much I love the early darkness.

The gentle quiet, the space to think and write and plan.

How everything feels possible and the world is full of hope.