Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 206

We're having a bit of a snow event here on the East Coast. ahem. It's possible the weather may have influenced this week's Hodgepodge questions. Answer on your own blog, then skate back here tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors.  See you there!  

1. When did someone last suggest you 'chill out'? Or, when did you last tell someone (or want to tell someone) to 'chill out'? Or, when did you last tell yourself to 'chill out'?

2. What most recently caused your heart to melt?

3.  "An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." G.K. Chesterton  

Your thoughts? When did you last experience either an adventure or an inconvenience? How did you see it at first, as an adventure or an inconvenience?  Does it feel the same in hindsight?

4.  A Wendy's Frosty, root beer in a frosty mug, or a frosted chocolate cupcake...of these three, which one is your favorite 'frosty' treat?

5. Would you say your life so far this year has been more like a circus or a symphony? Explain why.

6. Since it's a 'snow day' here, what's your favorite song containing the word 'white'?

7. If you had to leave the city you currently live in, what would you find the hardest to leave behind?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Best Day Ever-Wedding Post 5

So it's been awhile since we last spoke. To recap-this little darlin'...

...grew up and got married. Some stuff happened in between, but for now let's focus on the best day ever, which happened three whole entire weeks ago.

The Wedding Day.
I feel that needs to be capitalized, don't you?

I wrote a little bit about the day in Wedding Post 1, which you'll find by clicking here. That post was kind of all about me, so I thought I'd try to put the focus back where it belongs here today.

Or it might still be a little bit about me.

Also, I'm still operating from iPhone pics and friend's cameras, so until we get our professional shots back these will have to suffice. I'm going to save the reception for another post (yes, really!) and will concentrate on the ceremony here.

The bride texted me this picture first thing in the morning on her big day.
She was a little bit excited.

Me too. Sisters are special every day, but never more so than on your wedding day.

Something else every bride needs-

Simply because seeing it in writing makes it all just a teensy bit more real.

Let's discuss the weather, because if you're a regular reader here, you know weather is in my blog wheelhouse. It rained pretty much the entire weekend, some of the time nothing more than a soft mist, and other times real honest to goodness rain.

If it were possible to schedule your wedding weather ahead of time most brides would say no thank you to the rain. While it created a couple of minor hiccups, I'm here to say I think the morning fog and off and on rain added to the romance of the day. It helped that temperatures were in the mid-40's so nobody froze, and our wedding and reception were indoors regardless of the weather.  Looking back, if I were given the choice, I wouldn't even pass on the rain.

The only thing it interrupted were outdoor photos, but our photographer had a plan B that worked beautifully.The hotel was situated directly across the street from The Peace Center, so the bride and her girls dashed in there for some before the ceremony shots.

The lobby in the Peace Center is quite modern and all glass, so while we were tucked safely inside, the outside was also fully present. Did I mention I'm anxious to see photos?

Here's a shot of the bridesmaids taken just prior to leaving the hotel suite-

I absolutely loved the bridesmaid gowns. The dresses were from J Crew, and while each girl wore the same basic dress (floor length silk chiffon in dusty shale), they all chose a neckline that best suited their body type and figure. I love this trend in wedding design! There were four necklines to choose from, and without trying we had a perfect mix.

The bride looks beautiful and serene doesn't she? Keep in mind she'd just scooped her mother off the floor not ten minutes earlier. Pretty sure my little mishap helped her find her inner reserves. You're welcome sweet girl.

The hubs! Or the F.O.B. as we called him all weekend long. He hadn't seen the wedding dress at all, so Daughter1 worked with the photographer to capture his 'first look'. The groom's first look was when the bride stepped into the sanctuary, but we all knew Dad needed a minute too.

It was important for him to see his girl before he walked her down the aisle, so our photographer set him up just outside the hotel. All the bridesmaids and I lined up along the windows inside to watch and it was something, y'all. We had two videographers with us starting early in the day, so they also captured this super sweet scene for the wedding film, which we'll get in a few months. Even the photographer's assistant was teary eyed.

Little girls who grow up under the guidance, encouragement, and protection of their father's love are the luckiest little girls in the world.

The wedding party and the groom boarded a trolley for their ride to the church and our little family of four climbed into a waiting limo soon after. Daughter1 wanted all four of us in the car together, and I loved that.

The groom and his men were ushered into one side of the church, and the bride and her girls to the other.  We waited in one of the church nurseries, as evidenced by the miniature chair I'm sitting on.

I think my breathing had almost returned to normal here, but the bride might be making sure.

The groom's mama came into the room, and immediately became teary eyed. I mean look at the bride-how could you not?  The grandmas were there too, and they got hugs and beautiful wrist corsages to mark them as most important people. The bridesmaids then gathered around the bride, and prayed the most lovely prayer over her and her groom and their future life together, and then we all checked our mascara for the walk to the sanctuary.

The groom's mom and I were to light candles before we sat down, and thankfully she went first, because just as she and I predicted the night before, the lighter wouldn't light. Conveniently my brother in law had a lighter in his pocket, which he casually tossed to the groomsmen who escorted the groom's mama. The groomsman caught it one handed without flinching, and everybody clapped. I feel there's always a bit of tension prior to a wedding ceremony getting started, and this gave the whole room an excuse to exhale and relax.

And there she was. The bride. On the arm of her father. Beaming. Looking confident and serene and supremely happy.

I want to always and forever remember the groom's face as he saw my daughter coming down the aisle to join her life with his.

Dear Girls Everywhere....choose wisely. When you choose the right groom, the joy that fills the church on your wedding day will be palpably felt by everyone present. Your own heart will be too full to contain all the happiness you feel inside, so much so that it will spill out and over and all around. It will touch all your friends and family and perfect strangers too. It will be the biggest thing guests take away from your special day, and it will fill your mama's heart with peace. 

The ceremony was so lovely. Music was provided by a local cello and guitar duet known as Wirewood, and they were absolutely wonderful. A friend of Daughter1 read scripture in a sure and confident voice, and the congregation joined in to recite The Lord's Prayer and in singing a hymn-Be Thou My Vision. The officiant shared wise words regarding marriage and in the end, surrounded by so many who love them so very much, the bride and groom were pronounced husband and wife.

Best day ever.

Starry Starry Hodgepodge

Welcome to your weekly mid-week happy, also known as The Wednesday Hodgepodge. Newcomers are always welcome to play along. Answer the questions on your own blog (or Facebook page), then add your link at the end of my post (Hodgepodge answers only please!!).

1. American Idol is back for it's 14th season. Are you watching? Have you ever watched? If you were to audition for the show (or were made to audition), what song would you sing?

I stopped watching AI on a weekly basis a few years ago. I might pop in every once in a while, but for the most part I no longer watch. As to the second part of this question, aiyiyi! I would never voluntarily audition, because singing is not my gift. Not even close. 

And I know this, unlike many who go ahead and audition anyway. If I were made to audition I'd sing something simple and familiar like Amazing Grace. 

2. Mark Twain is quoted as saying, "If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first." 

So when did you last have to 'eat a frog?' Or two? How'd that work out?

I know myself, so anytime I have an unpleasant task glaring at me from the top of my to-do list I know to tick that off straightaway. Otherwise it will probably be procrastinated into tomorrow. Or infinity and beyond. 

Most recently would be some tax 'stuff' that required my attention. Anything tax related feels like eating ten frogs. Ten big frogs, however I took care of submitting all the necessary paperwork, and everything worked out in our favor. It paid to eat the big frog early. 

3. If you were going on safari, what's the number one animal you'd want to see?

That's a tough one. I love the idea of seeing something powerful and majestic like a lion or cheetah, but I think my number one would be a giraffe. Especially a baby giraffe, because there are few things cuter than a baby giraffe. 

Lion cubs are awfully adorable too. 

Here's hubs up close and personal with one about four years ago, on a trip to South Africa. 

I was only a teensy bit jealous.

4. January 21st is National Granola Bar Day. I know. Do you like granola bars? Chewy or crunchy? Your favorite flavor? How about regular granola? Let's exhaust this topic in honor of the 'holiday', okay?

I like them okay. Granola bars can be deceptively high in calories and fat, so I normally save them for snacks while hiking. I like chewy and crunchy both, but my favorite is probably the Nature Maid Oats and Honey-crunchy.  I prefer regular granola to a granola bar, and sprinkle some on my yogurt many mornings. I make my own, and it's delish. 

5. If only__________________________________.

The housekeeping fairy would turn up here...

6. You can add one item to your bedroom. What will it be? Keep it family friendly please.

A closet makeover. My closet is not bad, plenty of room and shelving, but still I'd love to have a custom re-do. 

7. What is one thing you've enjoyed about winter thus far? If it's not winter in your corner of the globe, what season is it, and what is something you've enjoyed about whatever season it happens to be?

Without a doubt, it's the sky. We seem to have more watercolored skies this time of year, sunrise and sunset both. Also, it feels like the moon has been pretty incredible here lately, and maybe that's true every winter, but for some reason I've noticed it more this year.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of incredible...have you seen this? The largest picture ever taken was released by NASA earlier this month. Captured by the Hubble Telescope, all 1.5 billion pixels. If you haven't seen this it's worth 3 minutes of your time. Be sure and watch all the way to the end. 

"When I consider your  heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor." 

Psalm 8:3-5

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 205

Here are this week's questions to the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the rest of the Internets. Happy Tuesday!

1. American Idol is back for a 14th season. Are you watching? Have you ever watched? If you were to audition for the show (or were made to audition), what song would you sing?

2.  Mark Twain is quoted as saying, "If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first." 

So when did you last have to 'eat a frog'? Or two? How'd that work out? 

3. If you were going on safari, what is the number one animal you'd want to see?

4. January 21st is National Granola Bar Day. I know. Do you like granola bars? Chewy or crunchy? Your favorite flavor? How about regular granola? Let's exhaust this topic in honor of the holiday okay?

5. If only__________________________________________.

6. You can add one item to your bedroom. What will it be? Keep it family friendly please.

7. What is one thing you've enjoyed about winter thus far? If it's not winter in your corner of the globe, what season is it, and what is something you've enjoyed about whatever season it happens to be?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

The Best Day Ever Eve-Wedding Post 4

Continuing a slow meander through my daughter's wedding weekend.  I'll probably finish sometime.

Not today though.

I haven't even gotten to the actual wedding or reception yet but the thing is, I really want to have photos, and our photographer uses actual film so we wait. Patiently for the most part because he's amazing.

But also not so patiently because we're impatient when it comes to pictures. Let's talk about the rehearsal.

Daughter1 and her brand new husband! were married in a church that sits on the edge of Greenville. Daughter2 is a member of said church, and they were kind and helpful in allowing her sister to marry in their beautiful building. As I mentioned above, we don't have our photos back yet, but I did snap this one back in August. The bride and I met her wedding planner and also the floral designer there to see what we wanted in the way of set up and decor.

The church building itself was pretty on the outside, and beautiful on the inside with it's soaring wood ceiling-

...heavy wooden doors-

...and a great big wooden table in the foyer, just the right spot for propping their wedding verse on a chalkboard made and written on by the bride herself. We love us some chalkboards here, and you should know it wasn't smudgy at the church. I think that happened later, when we loaded it into our car at the end of the night and a soft rain was falling.

The walls and altar area in the sanctuary were essentially a blank canvas, and we were free to rearrange the staging anyway we liked. The woman who showed us around the church happened to mention a wedding that had taken place the week before our visit. She said the bride's father had built a pallet wall that fit across the entire front of the sanctuary, and they'd given it to the church for any future brides to use, so we leapt on that! It was absolutely gorgeous, and made the perfect backdrop for the ceremony.

Plus our floral designer worked her magic and added a vine that looked as if it grew there, along with candles in glass jars. She was amazing, but of course you'll have to wait until I have the pictures to prove it. In the meantime here's an off-centered photo I snapped at the rehearsal, which gives you some idea of what I'm struggling to describe.

Aren't they just the cutest?
You can positively feel the love when you're around them.

Hubs got a little emotional at the rehearsal, but was a star when it came to the actual handing over on the day. It helps tremendously when you already adore, and have absolutely no reservations about, your future son-in-law.

Following the rehearsal we headed back downtown for a really fun dinner.  The groom's family hosted and it was such a great evening. They graciously included our whole-entire-great big family, the very large wedding party (16 plus dates or spouses), plus the officiant, his wife and their three sweet daughters, so not small. They rented the Upcountry History Museum as the venue, and had a real Southern feast catered as the meal. It was delicious, and the first time a few of the guests had tasted shrimp and grits, pretty much hubs favorite meal.

We had the museum to ourselves and could browse as much or as little as we liked. The Upcountry Museum tells the stories and history of the Upcountry (the northwest corner of SC, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains), and you actually eat amongst the museum displays.

It was the perfect space for mingling and introducing friends and family on both sides to one another...everybody loved it. The venue lent itself so well to the talking and moving around you want to do at a rehearsal dinner.

In a restaurant you're typically confined to your table, but this was roomy, relaxed, and a friendly, sociable kind of space. A perfect way to kick off the wedding weekend celebrations.

After dinner the maid of honor, aka Daughter2, made a super sweet, highly emotional speech, chunks of which she forgot to say because she was feeling every bit of sister love her heart could hold, and it might have spilled out in the way of tears.

One of the groomsmen had to follow that, and he managed to make us all laugh.

At the end of the event the bride and groom went up the grand staircase in the foyer and they kissed, and we cheered. It was a happy night, the beginning of a whole weekend of happy.

A whole lifetime of happy.

Let's Do Lunch-Wedding Post 3

Hubs and I arrived in SC on the first day of the brand new year. We only had a bazillion little things to do, but still managed to squeeze in dinner out at my sister's house, where my mom and uncle were staying. The bride and groom came too, so that was fun.

I did not take a single picture, because ya'll...I was ti.red. My sister cooked a turkey tenderloin and it felt good to let her wait on me. I know that sounds awful, but I was gearing up for the weekend ahead, and my adrenaline was on overdrive, and my head was spinning.

Sisters are just what you need when emotions threaten to run amok.

There are a lot of us, so we introduced the groom to family members in stages over the course of a few months. We talk a lot, and hug and kiss, and we think we're hilarious. We don't mean to overwhelm, but sometimes we can't help ourselves. I feel certain he'll get used to us.

Pretty certain.

Friday morning the bride had planned a sweet little luncheon for all her girls, plus her mama and mother-in-law. Unfortunately her mother-in-law couldn't be there, because that was the same window of time the rehearsal venue gave her for set up on the opposite end of downtown. So sad. She would have enjoyed this I know. 

Lunch was lovely. We dined at Brick Street Cafe for those of you who know downtown Greenville, and these girls are just so precious.

Smart and precious. 

Also truly adorable. 

After we finished eating, Daughter1 doled out her gifts. I mentioned in a previous post she gave everyone a robe and fuzzy socks, but there were a few more fun surprises too. She also gave each girl a pretty cream colored pashmina so they would have something to wear over their dresses as they were stepping in and out of the hotel, trolley, church, and reception venue.  

In hindsight an umbrella would have made a nice gift, but what's a little rain? Daughter1 ordered the Pashminas from an Etsy shop called, Sweet Pea Sunday. They were packaged so beautifully, with each girl's name on the wrapper. 

You should know we fully embraced the brown kraft paper in our wedding design. 

There was more. The bride bought each of her bridesmaids a necklace to wear on the day. She had designed a cute little graphic/logo for nearly all of the wedding print work, and a pine cone was heavily featured. A pinecone and an evergreen, because hello Washington State. 

When she saw these necklaces she knew we had to have them. They came from L Rose Design (another Etsy find), and each delicate gold chain held a small smoky quartz gemstone, a gold disc with engraved initial, and a gold pinecone. They were sweet and a little bit different, and looked beautiful with the mint green gowns. L Rose Design has some really lovely jewelry on her website, and we were so pleased with the final product, the turnaround time, and the packaging. 

After Daughter1 handed out her gifts she made a little speech. There may have been some happy tears shed as she went around the table and said something about each and every girl including the one who birthed her. There were sorority sisters, a real life sister, a cousin who is like a sister, and a brand new sister-in-law.

These girls are part of so many happy memories and moments in Daughter1's life, not to mention representative of all the many homes away from home she has claimed as her own since graduating from high school. They are bright, funny, optimistic, and beautiful. They care for one another in a way that makes you feel good about the future of the world, and I pray they remain close always.

Daughter1 was funny and tender in telling what it was she specifically loved and appreciated about  them, what they meant to her, a little bit of humor and a lot of heart. I so admire the way she put her feelings into words. Too often we let those moments pass us by, with our good intentions remaining just that, but not this day.  Oh my word. Made my insides ache in that most wonderful way. 

Being the mother of the bride is almost as much fun as being the bride.  

A Wordy Hodgepodge

Welcome to the first Hodgepodge in this brand new year! So happy to have you play along each week, and newcomers are always welcome. It's hard to visit everyone who links up here on Wednesdays, but do try to at least visit the blogger who linked before you because everybody needs somebody.  Okay, here we go-

1. What's your best piece of advice for a newly married couple? I'm asking for a friend.

Back in April I wrote a whole series of posts on the topic of marriage as part of the A-Z challenge. You can read your way through my alphabet if you're so inclined, by clicking here, but for now I'm going to paraphrase something I said back then which was this-

Love is an action word. Yes it's important to talk the talk, but it's more important to walk the walk. Married life isn't just about the big stuff. In fact, I think more than the big stuff, it's the small acts of kindness, self-sacrifice, and generosity, done regularly and without a whole lot of fanfare, that help us create a deep and lasting affection for our mate.  

Small kindnesses, in the grand scheme of things, are really not so small. They fill up the well of good will you'll need to dip from on occasion, in seasons you find challenging and on those days your spouse is maybe something less than completely lovable.

2. Before we're too far into the new year I wanted to post a question Teresa submitted during the December giveaway. Teresa blogs over at Being Refined as Silver, so everyone go say hi.

Teresa asks, "What were you doing on December 31st, 1999?" and " Did you or your family make preparations for Y2K?"

Wow. Doesn't that sound like ages and ages ago? Fifteen years so technically I guess it was. We were living in Maryland, Daughter1 age 11 and Daughter2 age 9. Sweet sweet days. We took a trip to Disney World in November of '99, and the ball at Epcot was all decked out for the big change. And for some reason I was wearing overall shorts. Moving on...

I kind of remember hubs checking our computer for some little something or other-ha! That's pretty much what I knew about computers back in 1999. In the months leading up to Y2K everyone was in a tizzy as to whether or not computers would recognize a new century. I recall getting cash out of the bank in case they didn't, and we also stocked up on groceries, powdered milk, and bottled water in case of ?. 

3. According to Global Language Monitor, the most used word of 2014 isn't a word. It's the heart emoji. Huh? How can something that's not a word be the most used word, but I digress. What do you think was your most used word in 2014?

Wedding. Insert heart emoji here. 

4. Speaking of words, it's that time again. Time for Lake Superior University to present a list of words they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, and general uselessness) in 2015. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year's top vote getters are-

bae (before anyone else), polar vortex, hack, skill set, swag, foodie, curate/curated, friend-raising, enhanced interrogation, cra-cra (as in crazy), takeaway, and -nation (a suffering sports suffix)

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

Polar vortex. Ugh. Can't we just call it winter? I don't understand the 24/7 news events relating to snow and cold weather. Not blizzards, but just regular old winter. The same season that's been rolling around since the dawn of time. 

Do we honestly need to be told to 'make preparations' for cold weather? Also, while I'm on a mini-rant...we're naming snowstorms now? Not just storms either, but plain ole snow, the kind we should expect to fall in January. In the middle of winter. 

Also, friend-raising should not be a word. Or a thing. Just sayin'. 

5. January is National Hot Tea Month? Are you a fan? Do you like flavored teas? How do you take your tea? Have a favorite cup or teapot? How many cups of tea do you consume in a given day?

Oh, definitely a fan. I have a cup of tea pretty much every afternoon about 3 o'clock. I blame England. I'm not a big fan of flavored teas. Give me a steaming cup of Earl Gray with just a splash of milk and I'm good to go. I believe my love affair with beautiful pottery has been well established here, so I'll just share one or two favorites. This mug-

...and my Polish pottery with matching cups and warmer to keep the water hot-

6. Whatever happened to__________________________________?

...whip n' chill, Supertramp, and Little Kiddles? Sort of lame, but those were the first very random thoughts that rolled through my head as I wrote the question. 

7. What is one book on your must-read list this winter?

I have a long list, but The Martian by Andy Weir is near the top. I'm normally not a sci-fi fan, but this book has received stellar reviews from readers who would say they don't love sci-fi either. My niece told me she didn't really want to read it, but then absolutely loved it. It's been described as Apollo 13 meets Castaway, and Hollywood scooped it up pretty quickly. The movie version will be out in November, starring Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain.  

On my non-fiction list, first up is Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Tim Keller. I like his writing, and this is a topic always on my heart and mind. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We won't have pictures back from our photographer for a while yet, but I feel like I should post a photo in my random thought space today. I've been 'borrowing' pics from friends and family who've posted online, and I do hope that's okay. The bride posted this one on her blog earlier this week, captured by my sister-in-law and I love it-

First dance.
Dreamy.