Still 2020

Hello. It's Monday, and the world is still a bit too loud. A bit too 2020. What's a blogger to do? I like my quiet cozy space here, but a part of me would love to throw down some words too. Literally throw.them.down. because everything feels pretty ugly online and words are thrown now instead of thoughtfully set in place.

We have a couple of big fat crows that swoop into the tall trees at the edge of our property now and then and they make so much racket you cannot possibly ignore them. When I hear them I step outside and clap my hands as loud as I can and yell shoo! shoo! because their CAW-CAW-CAWing makes my ears bleed. 

That's what the world sounds like right now. 

A bunch of crows. 

And I hear all the noise and I think of my beautiful grandboys living half a world away with their innocent eyes and their curious minds and I pray for healing and peace, for a return to common courtesy, and a kinder, more gentle world. 

Dear Mancub and Darling Baby Brother, 

It's 2020 and I wonder what you'll be told about this year one day. I wonder what your history books will record or if you'll even have a history book? Will there be any words on a page or any visible reminders of all this country has gone through to get to whatever year it is now? 

There are some things I want to tell you that might not make it into your 'history book'. 

I want you to know that God is God. That nothing we humans do in the year 2020 or since the dawn of time has ever surprisd Him. I'm sure we've caused Him sorrow the likes of which we cannot fathom, yet still He created and loves every single person on planet Earth. 

I used to sing a song to your mama and your aunt when they were young, one my mama (your great grandmother Mema) used to sing to me...'Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.'...and He does.

He loves the big ones too

I want you to know little men, that you're smart. That God gives us brains so we can think for ourselves, and while jumping on bandwagons is a very popular thing to do in 2020 I hope you'll always use your brain before deciding which side of a line you want to plant your words and actions on. 

I hope you know it's okay to have opinions and it's also okay not to share all of them with everybody everywhere. 

It's not okay not to vote, but it is okay not to tell people how you voted. 

It's never okay to be disrespectful. I want to go on a little rant here but then I remembered I don't want to be a crow so will leave it at that. 

Nobody likes a whiner and in 2020 people whine like it's their job. Judgey judgeyness is off the charts but what people need now and what they will always need are grace, compassion, and second chances. Be the one who gives that. 

Be kind in word and deed. 

One of my most referred to verses in all of the Bible is found in Proverbs 10:19 "When words are many transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent." 

When I'm tempted to rant at the universe I try to remember this verse. It's something I'm still working on, but I'm telling you now so you'll have a head start. 

Kindness and compassion are what change hearts and minds, not sanctimonious Facebook postings, burning down cities you have to work and live in, or hurling insults and slapping labels on people you know next to nothing about. Pretty sure this will always be true. 

In 2020 it feels like we're expected to be serious every minute of every day, but the world is heavy and we all need relief. It's good to find humor where humor can be found, to have an honest to goodness belly laugh now and then, to smile and discover people smile back. Or not, but smile anyway.  

Keep your hearts merry and know you are not living in this time and this place by happenstance. 

Know too that in 2020 your Nana loves you as deep as the ocean and as big as the sky.

Five Minutes of How

I have lots of thoughts about lots of things, but the world is so loud and so angry and so completely bonkers right now that I decided instead of launching into a rant I might regret I'd hop on the Five Minute Friday bandwagon. Happy Friday! Let's keep it that way, k? 

For those who are unfamiliar with how FMF works, here's the deal-

Tell your inner critic to hush then write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word. Then hop over to our hostesss with the mostest (Kate Motaung), and add your link to the party. Be sure and leave a comment for the writer who linked before you, because a little bit of kindness goes a long way. 

Today's prompt-how

When I saw today's prompt my first thought was something like how do I love thee...let me count the ways. For real. Let me count the ways. 

Hubs and I will celebrate another year of wedded mostly bliss on Tuesday, so one for every year feels about right. Also we've been married a long time so it's a long list and took more than five minutes to create. 

And now in no particular order here's the how-

  1. You're still funny, still make me laugh even when I don't want to laugh. 
  2. Especially when I don't want to laugh
  3. You vacuum. Should this have been in the #1 spot? Perhaps. 
  4. You grill a steak just the way I like it

  5. You read what I write and love it because I wrote it

  6. Still the best D.J. I know
  7. Still grab me for a dance around the kitchen 

  8. Still waterski like you're 25-ish
  9. Look at me like I'm 25-ish
10. Know a lot of useless but interesting random trivia

11. You love your girls
12. your grandboys
13. are the best Pawpaw I know
14. You push encourage me to try new things
15. Make friends everywhere you go
16. Love people
17. Love the great outdoors
18. Pull the covers back and stack my pillows just the way I like them every single night. 

19. Share my love of porch sittin'
20. Sunday naps
21. sunset cruises
22. You always have a to-do list
23. Actually check things off your to-do list 

24. Ask what's on my to-do list 
25. You love American history
26. all things space-sky-star related
27. your MG
28. a good haircut
29. me by your side
30. A dog is still your best friend
31. You obsess over every single blade of grass in the yard or a single stray leaf on the driveway
32. You cook a mean omelette

33, Are on board with a good road trip
34. Make sure there's chocolate-raspberry cake on my birthday
35. Let me sleep with the fan on in the dead of winter 

36. Are still the one

Happy Anniversary hubs...oh how the years roll by...

Saying Yes To The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. When I resurrected this mid-week random twelve weeks ago I wasn't sure how it would feel. It's been fun reconnecting with so many familar faces, and I also enjoy having something I can count on for Wednesday content. Thanks for playing along!

Also, twelve weeks?!? I guess that old saying is true-'Time flies when you're home all day every day for months on end.' Something like that. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger linking before you. Here we go-

1. Last thing you said yes to? Did you regret it?

'Do you still live at xyz?' A question asked by the poll worker when we voted on Tuesday. Everyone was masked and gloved and appropriately distanced so voting in person was easy peasy. It was primary day in SC and they always verify your address when you sign in. Do I regret it? No.

For the record she didn't say xyz.

2. No big deal, no contest, no dice, no hard feelings, no ifs ands or buts, no kidding, no offense, no pain no gain, no way...choose one and tell us how it applies to your life currently.

This world needs Jesus. No kidding. 

3. Thursday June 11th is National Making Life Beautiful Day...in this strange season how are you adding beauty to your days/life?

I'm spending a lot of time on the covered porch. I watch the birds, marvel at the way sunlight dances on the water, and count the stars in the starry night sky. It's also my most favorite place to nap and I would argue there is great beauty in a good nap. 

4. According to an article found here, these six foods taste better in June than at any other time of the year-strawberries, asparagus, peas, peaches, beets, and garlic. How many of these have you tasted so far this month? Anything on the list you'd say 'no thank you' to trying? Rearrange the list starting with your favorite (1) to your least favorite (6).

I like everything on the list, so none requiring a no thank you. It's a tough list to rank (didn't I say last week food questions are the hardest?), but if I'm pressed I'd go with-

1. Peaches
2. garlic
3. strawberries
4. beets
5. peas
6.asparagus

I've had peaches, garlic, strawberries, and peas so far this month. 

5. Describe your current mood in three words.

full (after dinner Hodgepodging), tired (long day) confused (what to do or not do in this weird season)

6. Insert your own random thought here.

My mother-in-law has been with us for a bit and we took a sunset cruise Sunday evening. 

Talk about adding beauty to your life. 

I highly recommend. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 372

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

1. Last thing you said yes to? Did you regret it?

2. No big deal, no contest, no dice, no hard feelings, no ifs ands or buts, no kidding, no offense, no pain no gain, no way...choose one and tell us how it applies to your life currently.

3. Thursday June 11th is National Making Life Beautiful Day...in this strange season how are you adding beauty to your days/life?

4. According to an article found here, these six foods taste better in June than at any other time of the year-strawberries, asparagus, peas, peaches, beets, and garlic. How many of these have you tasted so far this month? Anything on the list you'd say 'no thank you' to trying? Rearrange the list starting with your favorite (1) to your least favorite (6).

5. Describe your current mood in three words.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Love In The Time Of Corona

For a season where everyone is mostly home and not a lot is happening a lot has been happening. On Saturday this happened-

Can't you just feel the happy?

Daughter2 and her mister met through mutual friends a couple of years ago and I always think friends is a good place to begin. They started dating last fall and now here we are celebrating love and life and the future with the soon-to-be marrieds.

Y'all know we don't do simple here so of course there are logistics and a pandemic and a sister in S. Korea so things to figure out, but God has been so good to our sweet girl and this lucky boy and we cannot wait to walk beside them as they join their lives together.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." 

Psalm 126:3

Hodgepodge Happiness

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge, a tiny corner of happy in the midst of a noisy world. Grab your cuppa and stay a while. If you've answered this week's questions, add your link at the end of my post then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Kind comments make the blog world go round.

1. What's something you could do today to feel more peaceful?

Stay off social media. 

I could elaborate but then people would weigh in and there would be disagreement and opinions spewed and conflict of one sort or another, basically the polar opposite of peace, so just going to keep calm and carry on. 

2. June 2nd is National Rotisserie Chicken day. Who knew? Are you a fan of rotisserie chicken? You've purchased one at your local market for tonite's dinner. Will you serve as is or make something else using the chicken?

I've been asking these questions for years now, and am not surprised that everything under the sun and then some has a 'national day' to celebrate its existence. I do like rotisserie chicken but rarely serve as is. I buy it most often when I want to make chicken salad or chicken pot pie. 

3. I read a list recently (go here to read more) of 20 of the most beautiful places in America. How many of these have you seen up close and in person?

Antelope Canyon Arizona, Kenai Fjords Alaska, White Mountains New Hampshire, Crater Lake Oregon, The Palouse Washington and Idaho, Grand Prismatic Spring Wyoming, Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Oregon, Horsehoe Bend Arizona, Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii, Antelope Valley California, Lake Tahoe California, The Berkshires Massachussets, Maroon Bells Colorado, Angel Oak South Carolina, Acadia National Park Maine, Grand Teton National Park Wyoming, Turnip Rock Michigan, Central Park New York City, Niagara Falls New York, and Skagit Valley Tulip Fields Washington

Of the sites on this list that you haven't seen, which would you most like to see?

Wow I need to get busy. There are quite a few on this list I haven't seen or even heard of, case in point-what's a Palouse? I googled it and you should too, because it's really pretty. I've only seen 5 of the 20 sites listed so lots to choose from. The Grand Tetons have been near the top of my 'must see' list for a long long time, so I'm going with that as my number one. 

4. What's one pretty spot you'd add to the list in question #3? Are there travel plans of any kind on your calendar right now? Does that make you happy, anxious, excited, sad, or relieved?

Redwood National Park along the Northern California coast ranks pretty high on my list of most beautiful places in America. Pictures do not do this place justice. (I wrote about our visit there in two posts linked here and here) 

There are currently no travel plans on my calendar and I feel a mixture of sadness and relief.  I'm hoping to be able to visit my mom in July, but that is a big giant question mark right now. I don't necessarily feel the need to go anywhere, but would love for travelers to feel like they can safely move around because I need to see my grandbabies and the only way that can happen is via air travel. Their plans all along were not to come until sometime this fall but again, it's another giant question mark right now. 

5. Tell us one un-COVID related thing you're looking forward to in the month of June.

Hubs and I celebrate our wedding anniversary in June, and while this year it might be a champagne toast on the back porch, we will for sure say cheers to another year of life together. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This cutie potootie is a whole entire seven months old. He is a happy chillaxed little fella who grins big now when he sees 'the man and lady in the phone'. Somehow he knows we love him in a way only your grandparents can. 

We haven't seen him in person in 196 days, not that I'm counting, but if I were it would add up to 196 days. We do what we must, and are grateful every day for his wonderful parents, his darling big brother, their good health, and the miracle of video calls.

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 371

Whew. It has been an exhausting-hard-sad week here in the land I love so going to try to keep this week's questions on the lighter side. Answer on your own blog then pop back here tomorrow to share answers with the world wide webbers. See you there!

1. What's something you could do today to feel more peaceful?

2. June 2nd is National Rotisserie Chicken day. Who knew? Are you a fan of rotisserie chicken? You've purchased one at your local market for tonite's dinner. Will you serve as is or make something else using the chicken?

3. I read a list recently (go here to read more) of 20 of the most beautiful places in America. How many of these have you seen up close and in person? Of the sites on this list that you haven't seen, which would you most like to see?

Antelope Canyon Arizona, Kenai Fjords Alaska, White Mountains New Hampshire, Crater Lake Oregon, The Palouse Washington and Idaho, Grand Prismatic Spring Wyoming, Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Oregon, Horsehoe Bend Arizona, Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii, Antelope Valley California, Lake Tahoe California, The Berkshires Massachussets, Maroon Bells Colorado, Angel Oak South Carolina, Acadia National Park Maine, Grand Teton National Park Wyoming, Turnip Rock Michigan, Central Park New York City, Niagara Falls New York, and Skagit Valley Tulip Fields Washington

4. What's one pretty spot you'd add to the list in question #3? Are there travel plans of any kind on your calendar right now? Does that make you happy, anxious, excited, sad, or relieved?

5. Tell us one un-COVID related thing you're looking forward to in the month of June.

6. Insert your own random thought here.