Hodge Podge Time!!!

1.  In the USA this coming Sunday millions will be watching as the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49's in the Superbowl. Whats the last event  you attended that could be described as super?

The last event I attended that could be described as super????? The first thing that came to mind was my nephew's graduation. He is my God son and I always tease my sister that he is mine and not hers! When she talks about him to me she calls him OUR son!

2.  Share something your a fan of these days? 

Hodge Podge, I am a HUGE FAN!!

3. How do you feel about wings? In case anyone is confused I'm talking the edible kind.  What's your preferred seasoning on a wing-hot, mild, teryiaki, sweet and sour, other?  Do you make your own or is there a favorite place you like to go for wings?   

I love wings. In SC we went to Wild Wings to get our wings. Here we go to Buffalo Wild Wings (B-Dubs is what they call it here). I love South Carolina mustard barbecue, I also love the garlic wings!! 

4.  As long as we're talking sports today...have you followed the Lance Armstrong story?  Did you watch his interview with Oprah and if so what was your reaction to his confession and subsequent remarks?  

I did not watch lance in his interviews. I think if this causes the organization Live Strong to loose money and not be able to do its work it is a shame! It is a good organization. As for Lance, himself, I think it is a shame that he lied to gain popularity and fame!

Now where is he alone and defeated! But he is human after all and who is to say we would not do something others would think is shocking to get the money he got from it.

5.  What's a question you hate to be asked?  

In my career I have had to ask people about their sexual practices and if they do recreational drugs. Those are hard questions to ask.

6. The coaches in this Sunday's big game happen to be real life brothers.  Jim Harbaugh coaches the 49er's and his older brother John Harbaugh coaches the Baltimore Ravens.  Were you and your sibling(s) competitive?  In what way? Are you still?  If you're an only child how did you handle competition growing up?  

My sister right below me in age have always been competitive. Not now though. When we were younger she was the pretty one. I was the fat one. she was the tom-boy fighting with everyone. I was the peace-maker. She married her high school sweetheart who happened to be one of the most eligible guys in the senior class when I was a freshman. All my friends were in love with him. I did meet my hubby in the senior year of high school too. Both of them are great guys! we have both been married now for a long time me over 30 years her almost 30. We are both nurses. Both in a master's program in different areas. we really do not compete any more I think we did because we were so much a like Here we are a few years back. (Like 20 something)

This is at my niece's wedding in September. Mother of the bride my sister Norma in blue strapless, I am in red on the end. The others are the rest of my sisters and the lady with the glasses is mom. Beside her in black is my cousin who has been adopted as our sister!

7.  What's your favorite game involving a ball and when did you last play?  

I am not very good with sports. Not good at all. I tried to play soft ball and almost broke MY NOSE!!  I was trying to catch a ball coming down at me! It was a long time ago since then I stay away from most sports. But if bowling is considered a ball sport. I will play just not very good at that either.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

God is GREAT and HE is in CONTROL!!! Not me!! I am a mess!! He is God!!

Adoption story

My son and daughter in law's very dear friends are in the process of adopting a young boy who will be born in March. They have gone through some trials and  tribulations along the way but see a light at the end of the tunnel. I am posting Leah's (mom to be) blog here so you can follow, pray or help somehow if you want. These are good people who will make wonderful parents.

Thank you for looking at the blog
Becky

http://theroadhometoyou.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/our-little-boy/

I am a HUGE fa of adoption I have a two nephews and a niece who were adopted into our family. Love   is no different for an adopted child or a born child. Love is love! And a loving parent is a loving parent! read the story and give this little boy a chance at the love of  loving parents.

Hodge Podge Time!!!

1. The popular saying, 'All is fair in love and war' is originally credited to English writer John Lyly.  Is he right? 

I am not sure all is fair in love and war. Do we really want to rank love with war? I war is brutal and definitely unfair on both sides no matter what. Is love like that? I would hope not.

2. Are you a cereal eater?  What's your favorite kind?

At one time in  my life I was a cereal eater when I had kids at home but now not so much.

3. A five year old in Pennsylvania was recently given a ten day school suspension for talking with a friend about shooting one another with a Hello Kitty Bubble gun (the gun blows bubbles).  She did not have the gun with her at school.

A psychological evaluation was also ordered and the incident was recorded on her permanent record.  The suspension was later reduced to two days and her parents are suing to have the incident removed from her file. Your thoughts?  (If you missed the story click here for details). 

This is absolutely ridiculous I mean if it is illegal to for children to talk about the toys they have and how they are going to play with them what is next. Should Matel be arrested for making Barbie with body parts after all many girls suffer body image issues because of Barbie!! This is a five year old!!! talking about playing with a pink bubble blowing gun!!! it was said the child (5 year old) was making terroristic threats!!!! Seriously!!! Ridiculous!!!!

4. Whatever happened to_____________________________?

I am probally going to show my age and really I was only a year old when this movie came out but my very first thought was what ever happened to Baby Jane a Betty Davis Joan Crawford movie. About a child star turned psycho taking care of her crippled sister.


5.  January 23rd is National Handwriting Day, billed as a day to reacquaint yourself with a pen and pencil.  Do you like your handwriting? Do you prefer to print or write in cursive?  This date was chosen because its the birth date of John Hancock. What's the last thing you signed your name to?

I sign my name all the time as a nurse but lately I have been signing papers for the house to go for short sale in SC. The paper work is a nightmare and everything we send needs to be signed!
 

6. Speaking of John Hancock...ever been to Philadelphia? Do you have any desire to visit the city of Brotherly Love? 

Have never been there and not one of the top spots on my list.

7.  Share something funny you've heard a child say.  

I often talk to my daughter and her boys while driving from here to there. I have blue tooth in my car and it is not always clear. I was talking to my 7 year old grandson about a week or so ago. He was having trouble hearing what I was saying because of the connection. After a a few huhs; he said really slow "Me Maw E-N-U-N-C-I-A-T-E!! I bust out laughing!! When my daughter got back on the phone we had a good laugh!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I went to visit a local Crisis Pregnancy Center. I am very excited about it and am going to start training to volunteer next week!! Who knows maybe this is an open door for a new direction the Lord is leading me!!!

Bitter Cold!

It is 10 degrees with the wind chill it is -2. This is a bit crazy to a girl who spent the last 15 years in the south in South Carolina. Last winter was cold for me but it never got below 30 degrees. This is cold!! We have a cat that lives in the garage. She
Is not quite sure about this.she is a little confused right now.
But she will be much warmer. The garage temp is about 5 degrees more than outside!

I elect to sit in the house by the fire. Sadie will like it too!

Money the route to all evil???

Money, we love it! I love it! It seems no matter what you do you need money an never get enough of it. Is that why it is the route to all evil? I do not know I just know I do have a true love/hate relationship with money. I need it because I want to have a good life, but what is a good life really? Is a good life chalked full of things? I think that too is a balance. We shouldn't be so needy that we look for handouts every day and expect people to give us this and that; but then again if we have all the money and things in the world will that really be better? I do not think so.
I want a good life too. I dream of winning the lottery and getting millions of dollars but I think there is a price with also. The Bible says to whom much is given much is expected. There is also the story of the rich man who was told to give up all he had and follow Christ. He just walked away. I often wondered why he walked away, did he love his money so much he was willing to go to hell just to keep it? Then I think of myself. Since we moved here it has been a real adjustment for me. I am a nurse so I should be able to get any job I want right? Not so. I have been fighting with being unemployed off and on since we got here. It is very frustrating when trying to get all the bills paid and have a little bit of a life.
When I do have a job and get paid most times I am not even sure where all the money has gone before I know it, and its all gone again. How do I balance?

Then again being here has been such a blessing. I have seen my family( dad, step-mom, brother, sisters nieces and nephews) more in this past year and half, than I have in the whole time I lived in South Carolina. That is truly a blessing to me! I am and always been a daddy's girl so spending time with him now is wonderful. I can drive over for a weekend or even for a meal if I want it is three hours away now. I know your thinking 3 hours! But for the past 15 years I have been 12 hours away so 3 is a breeze. I sometimes just go over to escape my craziness and sleep in my old room, and hang with dad and step mom. It is truly wonderful to be able to do that.
So I know moving here was in God's plan for us. But the money and the house still for sale in SC now trying to sell as a short sale or go into foreclosure is a nightmare sometimes that makes me want to cry and sit in the corner and pull out my hair is part of all this too.

I have been thinking what is it I am supposed to learn from all this Lord? Is it that money truly is the route of all evil?  Is it to learn how to manage money better? Is it just to learn to trust God in ALL things? I thought I did that, but after all I am human so maybe I just think I do that.

All I know is there is a lesson to be learned here and the Lord is growing me in knowledge and wisdom through all of this I just have to TRUST HIM.

It's Wednesday again. Hodge Podge gives me a chance to not think about the things going on in my life and answer just some random questions that may be of interest to someone some where. I LOVE IT!!!!! 

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English...here's the list for 2013-

fiscal cliff, kick the can down the road, double down, job creators/creation, passion/passionate, yolo (an acronym for you only live once), spoiler alert, bucket list, trending, superfood, boneless wings, and guru

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why. Go here to read more about how the words were chosen.

I am so absolutely tired of hearing about the fiscal cliff! I do not want to hear it ever again!! 

2.  When was the last time you rode a train?  Where did you go?

The last time I rode on a train was in Washington DC. I went to DC in 2000. My daughter's high school band was doing concerts around town for the Millenium Celebration. Does that count??

Other wise it was about 27 years ago I packed up my twins then about 2 and took the train to Boston Mass to visit my mother in Maine.


3. Bagels-yay or nay?  Favorite 'flavor'?  Favorite topping?

I LOVE BAGELS!! My favorite flavor is onion. and I top with cream cheese.

4.  'Tis the season of awards shows...if you could star in a movie already made which one would you choose?

Les Miserable!! I loved that movie!!

5. The move towards single gender classrooms has been making the news in recent months....what say you?  Do you think kids perform better if separated by gender and are taught differently or is that discrimination?  If you're a parent, is this something you'd support in regard to your own children? 

I think it is ridiculous. The move towards everything is making me want to puke. I am sorry to be so descriptive. But we have done so much to FIX things and it seems to me things get worse and worse. Are these things really making things better?? 

6. What's your favorite thing about staying in a hotel?

some one comes in and cleans m room each day!

7. Do you have a 'word' for 2013?  What's the story behind your choice? 

Hopeful would be my word. We are waiting for a few things to happen. We still have a house for sale in SC that is now trying to get a short sale on (which is a nightmare!!! I have done and found more paperwork than I ever have! Even when we ought houses this is worse.) I just want it to be over! I am hopeful I will get a real full time job, not be community faculty so I am have no stability to my work.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I am really trying to keep my head up and be positive this year. I found a church and will be going to a woman's Bible Study Sunday mornings. Day to day is rough sometimes, I am now checking my blood sugars four times a day and counting everything I eat to keep my sugars in tact.
Sometimes I feel like I just want to run away but I know  can not run from myself! I do not want to be Eeyore and mope through my life.

Hodge Podge Time!!

1. What is ONE thing or area in your home or life you hope to report is completely organized when 2013 draws to a close?  Do you  have a plan to make it happen? 

I would like to be more organized my self in work and home. I can get organized at work without a problem. I am kinda anal about that. I so-so with school, but manage to get all my work done and keep my GPA above 3.5. But at home I am not so good. I often miss things like bills needing paid and avoiding clutter. I really do not have a plan. I would like one if you all have suggestions. I tend to get buried in paper. That is my biggest issue.

2. What's the worst uniform you've ever had to wear for a job?

Since I have been a nurse for a long time I have worn scrubs for most of my career unless working in an office setting in that case I wear regular clothes and a white lab type jacket. The worst uniform I ever wore was my student nurse uniform, I tried to search the internet for it but could not find an accurate picture so the top looked the top of this dress made into a shirt that cam e to 
waist length then white pants. 

3. What was your last kitchen 'mishap'?  This question comes to you courtesy ofBetty who blogs over at A Glimpse Into Midlife...everyone go say hi to Betty!

I was making dinner that called for tomato soup in the mix. I had just gotten home from the store and started putting the mix in the pot to cook. I reached in my bag to get the tomato soup. One can, two cans, three cans....oops that third can was chicken noodle soup! Luckily I caught this before pouring into my dinner!!

4. How do you protect yourself from other people's negativity?

I try to stay away from it. Negativity can really pull me down. So I listen to up lifting music or steer away from it.

5. Who in your family do you most resemble (physically)? If you have children, who do people say they favor? Do you agree? 

I look like my dad. I thing my children are kind of a mixture between hubby and my families. Some people say they look like hubby some me. Depends on who you are talking to.

6. January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day...will you be celebrating?

No I did not celebrate but Jan 8 is also my grandson Asher's birthday. He turned 5.

Grandson Asher. Looks very much like his dad my son!

7.  Some of the 'world's best winter festivals' are - Mardi Gras (New Orleans),Quebec Winter Festival (Canada), Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah),  Rio Carnivale (Brazil), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), VeniceCarnival (Italy) and the Harbin Ice Festival (Northern China).  Of those listed (and if cost were not a factor) which would you most like to attend and why?

I think it would be Venice Carnival because I have always wanted and some do do want to go to Italy.


8.  Insert random thought.

God is Great!!!

When God speaks

I have been going to a church 40 minutes from home for the past 7-8 months. It is easy for me to talk myself out of going to church, Bible study and helping out because of this. I decided with the new year I should make some changes and let God be the one to lead me. So..... There are several churches around here both 15 minutes each way. I decided to try Cornerstone Alliance Church. I went this morning.

I had read the website and checked out beliefs and mission statements. I liked what I read. The web site said church was at 11 am so I got there at 9:40. Church had already started; so I walked in and picked a seat towards the front like I always do. The music was good, not as contemporary as the church I had been attending but it was contemporary and good. The preacher was also good. The message was timely and good. Communion was given today. Good, so far.
During the invocation at the end of the service I said a small prayer. "Lord, please let me know if this is the one."

The song for the invocation was a loved a song I knew and loved. After the service as I turned around I was immediately greeted by a woman who said she saw me come in all alone and wanted to introduce herself to me. She invited me to sit with her when I came back, and invited me to Bible Study. We talked for a while and parted ways. I thought I would check in at the visitors desk to see what the church had to offer. They are very much connected in the community and even partner with a crisis pregnancy center, a cause near and dear to me. The woman introduced herself and we began to talk. I was then introduced to someone who works with the crisis pregnancy center. We talked for a while also; I told her where my husband works and she told me I had to meet Charlie who also worked there.
I was then introduced to Charlie's wife and we talked a bit. Her husband came over and she introduced me. As soon as I said my name he said my husbands name turns out he knows him too!

All I have to say is WOW!!
When God speaks! He really does!
Needless to say I will be going back..........

2013 no more whine

Hello all!

I spent the majority of last year whining! I am sorry for that. I have been feeling sorry for my self and I will not go over the list of reasons I think I had for whining. I refuse to be negative! I want to be positive this year.

SO this year (taking a Que from another blog I follow) I plan to:

Be happy where I am. Right here in central Oho.
Find a church close to home; so I can make new friends and get involved.
Make new friends
Get involved in a ladies bible study
Be positive ( not very easy with emotional roller coaster of menopause, I cry now for the silliest things)
Trust God more with my life; not only in the big stuff but small stuff too
Read my Bible more

Just a few things I plan to do make this year great. Do you have any things you want do different this year?

First Hodge Podge of 2013

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Its a whole new year and I wanted to start the year off with Hodge Podge again!! I want to make sure I have time for some fun things along with all the crazy hecktic things that rule my life.



1. How did you ring in the new year?

At home with hubby. Quiet night. He was sleeping when 2013 came in. I was sleeping shortly after.

2. What is one thing you are looking forward to in 2013?

Getting healthy. I am a diabetic and it has been out of control. I went to the doctor yesterday and a class to learn to count the carbs I eat to regulate my blood sugars. I need to do this. I know I do.

3. Steven Spielberg is quoted as saying, "All of us every single year, we're a different person. I don't think we're the same person all our lives." What say you?
I think that is crazy talk! I am the same person I was last year and the same person I was the year before.

4. The Pantone color of the year for 2013 is emerald green. Like or dislike? Do you already own something this color? Will you add something in this shade to your home or wardrobe in 2013?

I love emerald green; it is my birthstone. I already own some green, I will probally add more.

5. Speaking of emerald...what's your favorite gemstone?

Of course I like diamonds!!! But I am very partial to emeralds too

6. Share a favorite book or movie from 2012.

Since most of the books I have read are for some kind of schooling I am going to pick a movie and I liked the Disney movie Brave. I watched it this summer with my grandson Ethan when he came here.

7. What is something you want to tell yourself at the start of this brand new year?

You can do anything through CHrist who strengthens you!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am still looking for a job. I am working at a local college recently but it is as a community faculty which is not a permanent position so no benefits, no vacation, actually no security.
I have applied for a few cancer nurse jobs. One of which I would really really realy like.