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.  

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 402

Happy New Year Hodgepodgers! Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday link up. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the world wide webbers. See you there! 

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

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

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

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

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

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A Post For The New Year

Hello 2021. We're all so glad to see you. We think? 

Do you make resolutions? Set goals? Create a list of things to do in the year that lies ahead? Does that exercise feel a little riskier than in year's past? We all want to peek around the corner, but we want someone else to go first and tell us it's going to be okay. 

Alrighty then. 

Me first.

It's going to be okay.

While this past year has felt different, harder, and more exhausting than most, the truth is we've never known what a brand new year would bring. We've never been able to see what's lurking beyond the bend or on the other side of a calendar page.

We make assumptions that the good in any particular year will far outweigh the bad and that sure, problems will arise but we know how to solve problems. No need to think too long or too hard about things we can't control because we can control things, right? 

Except last year. Whew. She was something, wasn't she? 

The hits just kept coming and the word 2020 became a synonym for anything awful, unexpected, or just plain ridiculous that occurred. And collectively I think we were a little bit shocked to discover we don't have a better handle on all the things. That we humans really don't know what might happen next, and it's possible for something to come out of left field and leave us reeling. 

Is the takeaway from 2020 that nothing can be known for sure? Counted on full stop? Be absolutely true?  

I'm going to say no. 
Let's not make that our takeaway. 

While the world, and our country in particular, continues to be in turmoil, while the virus continues to rage,  and while so much of what we've always counted on still feels just a little out of reach, this much I know is true-

God is still on His throne. 

There is never a day He is not in charge of the world He created. 

He has not changed or moved or lost His extraordinary interest in our lives, our heartaches, our disappointments, and our grief. 

He has not been surprised by one single solitary thing that transpired in the year 2020, and 2021 will bring Him no surprises either. 

He makes a way where we cannot see a way. 

And brings beauty to every season of our lives.  

I think we've given 2020 too much credit. Let's accept the gift of a brand new year with eyes wide open and hope in our hearts. Let's keep looking for the good and learning from the hard because never is a year just one or the other...

...not even 2020. 

'Teach us to number our days so we may have a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

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.

Let's Review

Not the whole year, just Christmas. 

Because Christmas memories need to be recorded somewhere and a blog about the everyday ordinary is a good place to do just that. 

Also, there's nothing ordinary about Christmas. 

So how was your holiday in this strange year that feels like it might never end? Ours was smaller than originally planned, quieter than originally planned, and almost as sweet as originally planned. 

Holding plans loosely is the key to success in the year that was. 

Daughter2 and her groom arrived late afternoon on Christmas Eve Eve. We snacked on a delicious cheese ball my neighbor had dropped off earlier and hubs grilled salmon for dinner. We played a little pool too, before calling it a night. 

She takes her game playing seriously, but what can I say... she's got my DNA. 

It rained hard all day long on Christmas Eve and I have to say it felt quite cozy. We bundled up for a walk after breakfast, then spent the rest of the day in front of the fire, chatting, playing games, and prepping our dinner. I'd ordered a Prime Rib from Kansas City Steaks and it was perfect. They offer an assortment but this one was seasoned and tied so all we had to do was cook. 

And trust the probe we have in our oven when it says it's done approximately 42 minutes before we thought it should be. But it was and I would order again from them. 

Of course there were pjs to open. Not sure how my sons-in-law feel about matching pjs, but I buy them anyway and they humor me by wearing them on Christmas Eve. fyi-the pjs are still wrapped in this picture. Not sure how he feels about a photo in his pjs on my blog. teehee. 

Does he read here? 

I didn't take a lot of pictures this year. There were just the four of us so most of my photos are of the soon-to-be marrieds. We kind of just soaked up the moments and the company. 

Speaking of...my favorite moment of all the moments was this one-

I had my wedding dress made into a robe for my daughter2 and surprised her with it on Christmas morning. To be honest, this was one of those gifts I'd built up in my head and I worried a little bit that her reaction might disappoint me. 

It did not. Oh my word. Best thing ever. 

I'd written her a note to go with the robe and also had a picture of me in the actual dress and her in the actual dress (she tried it on once a long time ago) in the envelope in case she didn't recognize it, but it only took a few seconds before she said, "Wait...is this your wedding dress?"  

Cue the water works. It was so precious and so special and I'm not sure I'll ever give another gift that felt as personal and as perfect and as joyous as this one. 

I used a company called Unbox the Dress and they were so nice to work with. I had some pieces left over after they made the robe so the seamstress also made a pocket square for hubs to wear at the wedding and two angel Christmas tree ornaments, one for each of my girls. 

In other gift giving news, hubs asked for a few suggestions of things to buy for me and I jotted down some of the usual... makeup, socks, etc...but also said I wanted something not on the list-surprise me. 

And he absolutely did. We had fun guessing what was in this package. It looked a lot like the armoire in Beauty and the Beast, but I was fairly certain that wasn't it-

Even better! A popcorn machine! The super deluxe kind. The kind I cannot wait to show my grandsons. Popcorn is my snack of choice so this will be fun. 

The day passed at a leisurely pace. We had our go-to Christmas dinner of ham with a side of pineapple stuffing followed by too many Christmas cookies (again!) and more game playing and really just a very relaxing holiday. 

Of course we were missing family, nobody more so than the South Korean contingent, but we Facetimed with our grandsons, and saw all their new goodies and felt all the excitement and joy little boys bring to this very special holiday. 

We ended our day the way every Christmas Day is meant to end... 

...grateful for family near and far, for all the love between us, and for a Savior born this day. 

Merry Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge, Volume 400. 400!! How many of you have been here since the beginning? I think there's a few. 

And since we've all got lists we need to be checkin' let's roll right on in to episode 400. If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post. Then go say hi to your neighbor and have yourself a merry little Christmas Day. 

1. I feel like episode 400 cannot go without comment. That is a lot of Hodgepodging folks. 2000 questions if my math is right. So, what's something you feel like you do 400 times a week? 

Rearrange my refrigerator and freezer? They both get a workout this time of year and I feel like I'm constantly moving things around to make room for more things. 

2. Tell us where you were and something about what your life looked like in the year 2000? 

Twenty years sure goes fast, doesn't it? I feel like maybe this question needs to be it's own blog post. Let's see if that can happen before the calendar page turns.  

In the year 2000 we were living by the Bay (the Chesapeake of course), I was working as the Director of a church preschool (a job I loved), hubs was working and traveling quite a bit for work too, and together we were parenting girls in grades 5 and 7. 

I think I've made my feelings about 7th grade pretty clear on the blog, but in case you don't know-NOT my favorite. My girls know-ha!  

It looks like we spent Christmas in the Smokies that year. It used to be an every other year tradition, one year with hubs family in the Smokies and the next year with mine in New Jersey, but then in the blink of an eye your children grow up and get married and you realize you need to start some new traditions. See question #4. 

3. Do you like cinnamon? What's something you make and enjoy that calls for cinnamon? Of the cinnamon 'foods' listed which is your favorite-red hot cinnamon candies, cinnamon toast, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon toast crunch cereal, apple cinnamon oatmeal, churros, an Indian curry?

I love cinnamon, and I especially love the scent of cinnamon. I love the Yankee Candle Christmas scent called sparkling cinnamon. I use cinnamon a lot in cooking, but one dish I make that everyone in my household loves is my overnight French Toast. I like all the foods listed but will confess I probably love red hot cinnamon candies the most, particularly hot tamales. 

4. Does Christmas 2020 (or Hanukkah) look much like it has in years past, or is this year vastly different for you and your family? How so? How are you feeling about it all? 

It's going to look a little different than most years in that it's a smaller group, but then our last few Christmases have been smaller so maybe that's our new normal? I'll have the soon-to-be marrieds here and that makes me happy. Daughter2 spent last Christmas in South Korea with her sister and I can't tell you how often we all say we're so glad she went when she did. She had considered waiting to go until her school spring break (she's a teacher), but opted for Christmas because it gave her more time. And of course we all know what happened in the spring. 

How do I feel about what this year's Christmas looks like?  I'm learning (and it's a process) that when traditions change, when I have to let go of some of what I love most about the holidays, that it helps to turn my eyes on the real meaning of the day, the birth of Jesus.  To do what I can to amp up the Christmas spirit in my own home and heart. 

5. What's one thing you need or want to do before this year ends? 

Write that blog post I mentioned above? 

We have a wedding coming up in the new year so there's a fairly long list of things to do before the new year rolls in. Fun stuff though so not complaining. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Merry Christmas Hodgepodgers! May the love born this day find room in your heart this holiday season.