Keep Calm and Hodgepodge On-Vol 49

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge...so glad you joined us for another week of random. If this is your first time here feel free to play along. Here are my answers to this week's questions-

1. How do you typically react in a sudden, extreme, pressure-filled crisis? Would we want you nearby in an emergency?

If I'm the adult or designated person in charge then I'm generally good in a crisis or emergency. Once the heat of the moment has passed I might dissolve into a puddle, but in the moment I'm good. I have no real medical training so I'm not that useful from a first aid standpoint, but I can organize, bring the calm and/or bark orders, and rally the troops for evacuation if need be.

2. Caramel apple-caramel sundae-caramel corn-caramel macchiato...of the four, which caramel treat would you choose?

Another food choice question, another dilemma. Sigh. I will make my decision by process of elimination. I haven't eaten a caramel apple in years mostly because my teeth are not as tough as they used to be and its not worth a trip to the dentist. In general, I'm not a fan of flavored coffees so I'll pass on the macchiato. I'm going with the caramel corn. Popcorn makes my top ten list of favorite foods and adding sugary syrupy goodness to it is never a bad thing.

3. Is there such a thing as destiny? Explain.

If we're defining destiny as the predetermined or inevitable course of events in a life, then I'd probably say no. I mean we're all destined to die one day but I think in any given day or moment we can change the way we live and thus alter the course of our future. We were created as complex beings with hearts and souls and brains, and while I believe God is sovereign over all things I also believe He gave us a free will to accept or reject Him, to choose what path we walk in this world. Is this question controversial because that is most definitely not my aim. I think I will enjoy reading what others say here. Maybe the problem is that I'm not quite sure how to define the word destiny. I like to skip merrily thru life wearing my rose colored glasses.

4. What's your favorite piece of furniture? I'm referring to something currently in your possession as opposed to something on your wish list.

Probably one of my couches as they both make for excellent napping.

5. Wednesday night marks the start of the 2011 Baseball World Series. Did you know? Do you care? Will you be watching? Ever been to a professional baseball game? If you're not an American do you find the title 'World Series' annoying or amusing?

Oh America, I do love you so. This question makes me smile though, because a Dutch friend recently posted something on facebook about her team winning the Baseball World Championships and I am reminded once again that this world is a great big beautiful place.

I like baseball and I've been to a number of professional games. I always root for the Phillies, but sadly the Phils are not in the World Series this year. I have no real ties to either team playing so Go Cardinals. I always choose a team to root for and my hubs is a bit of a Cardinal fan so Cardinals it is.

6. One sound that takes me back to my childhood is ____________.

a lawn mower cutting grass

If I hear that sound thru an open window so much the better...something about it whisks me right back to the carefree barefoot days of long ago childhood summers.

7. On average, once you've linked your hodgepodge post to mine how many other participant blogs do you visit? Do you ever come back to the Hodgepodge later in the day or even the day after to read posts?

Most weeks I make an attempt to read all the HP posts. I figure since I'm the hostess it's only polite. It may take me most of the week to get to them, but I try.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

You will be happy/disappointed/relieved/indifferent to learn that I did not have to report for jury duty this week. I was instructed to call in or check their online site both Sunday and Monday evenings. On Sunday evening the instructions said-'No need to report.' Monday evening the instructions again said-'No need to report' and then added-'Your service is concluded.' My service? I never left my house.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

If you're looking for this week's Wed. Hodgepodge questions you'll find them here.

Resolution: a firm decision to do or not do something.

After daughter2 and I had finished at the mall on Friday afternoon, we decided to stop at our local Christian book store so I could pick up some cards. As we stood in the check out line waiting to pay, a display just behind us caught our attention. Sitting on the table was an ordinary water bottle.

Or maybe not so ordinary.

The water inside was dirty. Daughter2 picked up the bottle for a closer look. "Is this what they drink, Mom?" "Is it?"

There in a display rack, placed neatly beside the dirty water, were the faces. You know the ones I mean.

Faces of children who live in communities where life's most basic and essential ingredient, clean water, may not exist. Children who are hungry. Children whose mothers somehow eke out a living but not enough of one to properly feed or clothe their babies. Children who live in villages and countries and continents ravaged by disease half a world away. Children whose eyes stare back at you from their picture on a sponsor card. Children who live in poverty so extreme it cannot be fully imagined from the comfort of a suburban shopping center on a sunny autumn afternoon.

Can we walk away from this display?

Can we leave them sitting on a shelf in a bookstore?

I can't.

And I know for certain my idealistic, compassionate, full of hope, 21 year old daughter can't either. I could almost hear the wheels turning as she calculated the cost. She has a weekly babysitting job in college town and as we stood in front of that store display on Friday afternoon she made a resolution. She would sponsor a child.

Hubs and I already sponsor a child...this is not something new in our home, but as I stand in this store I am suddenly weighed down by the sheer number of children who need help. And hope.

I resolve too. Hubs isn't there in the store with us but he gets this. He has a heart for children and we are able. But how do we choose? How do you say, this one and not that one. My heart hurts. I glance over at my daughter who in that moment, seems wiser than her years. A picture of her happy laughing baby self dances through my head. She lifts her face to mine and we share a look. We are thinking the same thought...how we would like to snatch up all the cards in the store and make them ours.

We go back to the faces. The store manager tells us we can also look thru a data base if we have a particular country in mind. We say no thank you....we want one from the table with the dirty water. World Vision has partnered with this particular chain of stores in an attempt to find sponsors for children who may be rotated out of the program unless someone steps forward. We want one of those.

Daughter2 finally makes her selection. A little girl with big dark eyes from a village in Lesotho. Can we even find Lesotho on a map? We'll learn.

I break with tradition. Hubs and I have supported children thru World Vision for many years. Always girls until today. Today an eight year old boy whose eyes look into mine from across the page is the one I choose. His home is a village in India, a country whose poverty my husband has seen first hand. I choose him.

We turn our backs to the display as we complete our paperwork. It's easier not to look at the faces left waiting beside the dirty water.

Saturday evening we trek back to the store. Daughter1 is now in town and she's heard from her sister about the children in the store. My tender hearted first born girl needs to see the pictures and the dirty water too. She is full of resolve. She selects a boy from Kenya whose biography tells us that he has no parents. He has a sponsor now.

We cannot take them all I tell my daughters with the teary eyes and the aching hearts. But we can take these three.

Resolution. A firm decision to do or not do something.

For more information or to sponsor a child please visit World Vision online. This post is part of today's One Word blog carnival...visit Peter Pollack's blog to read more posts on this week's word-resolution.

Questions for the Wednesday Hodgepodge-Vol 49

Here ya go...the questions for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Come back tomorrow to link answers and see what your friends and neighbors have to say. Enjoy your day!

1. How do you typically react in a sudden, extreme, pressure-filled crisis? Would we want you nearby in an emergency?

2. Caramel apple-caramel sundae-caramel corn-caramel macchiato...of the four, which carmel treat would you choose?

3. Is there such a thing as destiny? Explain.

4. What's your favorite piece of furniture? I'm referring to something currently in your possession as opposed to something on your wish list.

5. Wednesday night marks the start of the 2011 Baseball World Series. Did you know? Do you care? Will you be watching? Ever been to a professional baseball game? If you're not an American do you find the title 'World Series' annoying or amusing?

6. A sound that takes me back to my childhood is____________.

7. On average, once you've linked your hodgepodge post to mine how many other participant blogs do you visit? Do you ever come back to the Hodgepodge later in the day or even the day after to read posts?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Happiness is a warm puppy

It seems like every Monday I sit down to write a recap of our weekend and I'm struck by the same thought...."its over? already?" Both girls were home this past weekend and while there was much to-ing and fro-ing from the airport and train station and more airport and then back again to the train station, we did manage to squeeze in lots of fun.

Any weekend where I get to see these two faces at the breakfast counter is a good one. Where I can call up the stairs and say, "Girls, shake a leg, we're ready to go." Where I can hear them giggling together as they get ready in front of the bathroom mirror. All good.

Daughter2 arrived home Thursday afternoon (I guess I won't mention the delay, ahem) and we made a little side trek to my favorite mall on the way to the house. We were going right by so it only made sense. I'm pretty sure this child was born talking and we talked our way thru a lovely lunch at Legal Seafood and then afterwards, all the way thru Nordstroms shoe department because mama needs a new pair of wellies. I love all the patterns and funky colors but in the end I went with tried and true navy blue because they go with everything and have I told you how much it has rained here this year? I wear my wellies a.lot.

We had our traditional 'Daughter2 is in the house welcome home dinner' which is always chicken divan, her favorite. The three of us spent the evening playing cards and watching TV all curled up on the couch together which is my favorite. Friday
morning afternoon daughter2 and I wandered thru our nearby mall and she bought some jeans and a super cute hat for colder days.

Wish I looked this adorable in a hat.

We wanted to have a fire out back Friday night but the pesky weather forced us to go to Plan B which meant we all trekked out to the train station to collect Daughter1 followed by a stop at The Cheesecake Factory for a late dinner. Plan B was not without its merits....red velvet cheesecake anyone? The four of us having dinner all together makes my heart so happy.

Saturday dawned with sunshine and blue skies and trees of golden gold. This is my favorite corner of our back hillside which I photograph almost daily in the autumn. The leaves are not quite as vibrant this year as they have been in the past I'm sure due to all the rain, but they're pretty nonetheless.

We drove out to a nearby apple orchard and spent the day playing under the ever changing October sky. The farmer carts you out to the top of the tree line in a wagon and then you pick your way down through the orchard at your leisure.

You're given a grabber tool when you set out and it sure comes in handy. The best apples are always up high, right.

There may be other ways to grab the red ones out of reach.

She is her father's daughter. Just sayin'.

Speaking of the hubs-

He gave us a lesson in juggling.

He is a man of many talents.

We took our time, stretched the minutes into hours, squeezed every ounce of goodness that we could, out of the day.

Of course an outing with Daughter2 is never complete until there is an 'it could only happen to her' injury. She came out of the trees and we all said, 'You're bleeding-what happened?" No idea.

That tiny little scratch turned into a golf ball sized knot on her head by early evening. We think it was a tree branch but honestly incidents like this one happened to her on a regular basis when she was a
teenager child toddler and I kinda thought by the time she was 21 I would no longer be worrying about freak mishaps. Silly me. I warned her there would be a close up on the blog today.

It's a good thing she's so irresistible because I do hold her mostly responsible for any gray hair I may have. She is also her father's daughter. I thought about inserting a bad pun here...you know, something like-'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree'...but I won't.

There is something about a fall day spent out of doors that stirs up all sorts of feelings in me. Its a little bit of sadness mixed with a little bit of hope. Does anyone know what I mean?

When we'd had our fill of apples-

(yes, of course we had to taste them) we headed home where hubs grilled hotdogs for a late lunch.

Daughter2 and I had made our favorite blue cheese slaw the day before to go with and we relaxed on the patio til it was time for this-

Hubs ride to the airport arrived around 6 and he was off to Delhi. And of course on Sunday both girls had to be returned to their respective states so I did the airport-train station loop once more and may I just say dropping off daughters is not nearly as much fun as picking them up.

Do you remember the old Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy would push his nose up against Lucy's cheek and the caption below said Happiness is a warm puppy?

Well I for one am thankful for mine, underbite and all. She greets me when I walk into a house sans hubs and children. In those moments happiness really is a warm puppy.

Thirteen Things aka Brain Dump

Two numbered posts in a row. Its not how I like to do things here on the ole blog but sometimes it just works out that way. When I was a little girl, and especially when I was a teenager, I would sometimes lie in bed at night and worry about things. I know, I know-'pray don't worry' is what we are told, and I would try to follow that advice but sometimes I would still just fill up with worry. My mom would come and sit on my bed and say, "Tell me everything you are worrying about and then it won't feel so heavy." I would tell her all my troubles, which I'm sure were mostly lots of teenage girl angst, but with each worry said aloud and shared I would feel lighter and could eventually drift off to sleep. When I think about this I am so grateful for my mother.

Not sure exactly how I got off on that tangent but I think lately my head has been so full of 'stuff' I feel like I need to put it down somewhere. Hello blog.

I don't know how I pictured this season of life playing out but I'm pretty sure I never imagined going ninety miles an hour week after week. I think I pictured more leisurely conversations over a glass of wine in the backyard, more sitting around pondering what we should do to pass the time. Yeah. That has not been the case around here since early Spring.

Here's some stuff-

1. I'm headed to the airport this morning and cannot wait to see this girl's smiling face-

Daughter2 will be home for her university's October break, really just a long weekend but as you know we take what we can get when it comes to time with our sweet daughters.

2. Tomorrow evening I will trek back to the same general vicinity as the airport, only detour over to the train station where this girl, Daughter1, will be greeted by my smiling face-

The sisters do not get nearly enough time together these days so they are both excited about hanging out together at home.

Home. Daughter2 has not been in the house to sleep in her own bed since May. May! Yes, May. Five months. We have seen her several times since May but we've traveled to her as opposed to her coming here. Daughter1 has been home two or three times more than that but still, this is the reality of the empty nest. I mostly do okay with the separations necessitated by college and working life and growing up girls stepping into the world of adulthood, but every now and then I just need to have my whole little family at home snuggled up on the couch watching The Little Mermaid. The daughters indulge me and the hubs. Truth be told, they need it too.

3. Saturday night the hubs himself will trek out to the airport to catch a long haul flight to Delhi. A long haul flight is... um, long. If you told me I had to make that trip just now I would likely curl up in a ball and suck my thumb. Hubs on the other hand, is a rock star when it comes to traveling. He's made this trip a few times so he knows the drill but I suspect this go round will be a little bit harder. Normally when he travels the girls are not in the house but on Saturday night he'll have to peel himself away from the loves of his life. These girls love their Daddy and he is the best father I know. This picture is one of his favorites and seeing it here today will make him smile. Sometimes it's the little things...

4. Friday night the girls have requested a fire in the firepit so weather permitting we'll roast hotdogs and marshmallows (not together silly) and we'll hang out under blankets and stars sitting right here-

5. We'll make the most of our Saturday and I'm hoping it's a pretty fall day for heading out into the leaves somewhere...maybe an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch or just a walk in the woods with our pup.

She looks raring to go here doesn't she?

6. Saturday night is gonna be a long overdue girls night around here. Although we're sorry hubs has to cut out early I am super excited about a whole evening with my daughters. Giddy might be the word I'm looking for. We may go out to dinner and a movie or we may decide to all cook something together at home and rent movies. We may talk. Ahem.

7. A friend in our little town phoned me mid September in order to try and set a date for a little end of summer backyard cookout she wanted to organize. She is also in the empty nest phase of life and keeps a calendar much like ours. That little end of summer backyard cookout? It has been marked into our calendars as a Christmas party in early December. Crazy!

8. I spent the entire day yesterday in my sweats. I dusted and vacuumed and cleaned every bathroom in the house. It was time. Past time actually and it felt really good.

9. I know I keep talking about the calendar but we have lots of comings and goings happening between now and Christmas that need a little more tweaking. Loose ends. Flights to be booked and hotels in some cases and the kennel. Thank heaven for the kennel...they absolutely love our pup and are so good to her. I think they've seen her almost as much as we have this past month. These loose ends are one of the things I think about when I lie in bed at night.

10. Is my list stressing you out? Actually writing all this down makes it somehow feel more manageable to me. Hey, did I tell you I have both my girls home for the weekend?

11. The holidays. I'm hosting this year. I need to have a game plan because see #9. On the bright side, I thought ahead and we took our Christmas card photo in September. These things need to be planned when you are living in three different states. I'm really happy with the picture and although its a summery photo I got a little creative (thanks Pinterest!) and added a splash of Christmas to the shot.

12. I cannot end this list without mentioning my niece. She is ever and always on our minds and hearts as she deals with leukemia. Cancer is a horrible disease whenever it strikes, but in a child it is truly awful. She is such a brave girl and her wonderful sense of humor remains intact for which we are grateful. She is waiting for a bone marrow donor match to be identified and if you are a person who prays I would be grateful if you would add her to your prayers today.

A few years ago I was in a Beth Moore Bible Study on the Book of Daniel. I keep going back to that study when I think of my niece, particularly the story of the men in the fiery furnace and how God brought the men through the fire. Beth Moore talked alot about how God sometimes stops us before we reach the fire and other times God brings us around the fire. Then there are those times when we must walk through the fire.

A sweet seventeen year old girl with cancer.

There is no way around... only through.

And thankfully, never alone.

13. I saw this when I opened my front door the other day-

A visible reminder that God is good and never fails to keep His promises.

Wednesday Hodgepodge in D Major Vol 48

It's Wednesday which means its time for the weekly Hodgepodge. Everyone is welcome to play along...answer the questions on your own blog or fb page and add your link at the bottom of my post for all the world to see. Here are my answers to this week's questions-

1. Have you ever been 'asked' to report for jury duty? Were you chosen to serve? If not, were you happy or disappointed?

Funny you should ask. I should ask? I recently received my very first summons to report for duty in the not too distant future. It's our local court which is better than one of the bigger courts but you still have to be 'on call' for two days. You may or may not have to report and even if you do report you may or may not be asked to serve. I would normally not mind serving but that particular week my hubs will be out of town and I was hoping to spend a few days with my mom. Criminals. They are always putting a damper on the fun aren't they? Oh wait, innocent until proven guilty. I bet they don't pick me.

2. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being very) how mechanically inclined are you? Give an example to back up your answer.

I'm going with a 2. I don't think I'm very mechanically inclined. I can change a battery in a smoke detector but not in a car. Pretty sure this is one of the reasons I got married. Just sayin'.

3. Beets-cabbage-cauliflower-butternut squash...of the four, which is your favorite fall vegetable?

I love them all. Isn't that what I say every time we have a question involving food choices? If I can only have one I'm going with cauliflower. But really, I love them all.

4. What do you recommend to overcome self-pity?

Do something for someone else. Lending a hand or an ear or a meal to someone in need always takes me outside of myself and that's a good thing.

5. Do you enjoy classical music?

Yes. I don't listen to it every day but I do like it and have some on my ipod. My favorites are Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers (really anything from The Nutcracker), Beethoven's Ode to Joy (especially when played on the piano by my darling daughter2 ), Vivaldi's Four Seasons -Spring- because it's beautiful, and Pachelbels Canon in D Major which was played at our wedding.

6. October is National Book Month...what's on your reading list this month?

I just finished Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and I highly recommend...an amazing story about the triumph of the human spirit. Next on my list are Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and Bloodroot by Amy Greene. I could go on. And on and on. My reading list only gets longer.

7. What is your idea of 'cute' ?

babies, shoes, puppies...the very definition of cute

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Is anyone following the mess on Wall Street which has now spread to cities around the country? We watched a recap on the local news the other night and I can only imagine what this is costing the tax payers of NYC in rubbish collection and police overtime.

I realize there are people with legitimate gripes but seriously is shooting heroin, using the street or even parked cars as your toilet, and 'procreating' in public really helping make your point? One gentleman, when asked what he was protesting, shouted triumphantly-'CAPITALISM!' When the interviewer asked what he would like to see in its place he was completely stumped.

I appreciate the right to protest our very free nation affords its citizens but in my opinion this has gone beyond protest and looks mostly like an excuse for bad behavior. What exactly are they hoping to accomplish? Mob mentality is rarely a good thing. It makes individuals forget they have a brain and can think for themselves.

Whew. Sorry for the rant. I best go listen to some calming classical music now.

Hodgepodge Questions-Vol 48

Here are the questions for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge....be sure to come back tomorrow and link your answers with the rest of the world.

1. Have you ever been 'asked' to report for jury duty? Were you chosen to serve? If not, were you happy or disappointed?

2. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being very), how mechanically inclined are you? Give an example to back up your answer.

3. Beets-cabbage-cauliflower-butternut squash....of the four, which is your favorite fall vegetable?

4. What do you recommend to overcome self-pity?

5. Do you enjoy classical music?

6. October is National Book Month...what's on your reading list this month?

7. What is your idea of 'cute'?

8. Insert your own random thought here.