Hodge Podge Wednesday 11/30/11

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1. Do you send Christmas cards? If so about how many will you send this year? How do you display the cards you receive? Or don't you? (gasp!)

I have and I haven't sent Christmas cards this year I will. Going to work on them today, and this weekend. Since I started using the computer for everything I stopped sending the cards but it is nice to receive them.  That is why I am going to send them and get in that habit again.



2. When do kids become adults?

I think kids become adults when they are 18. With that being said I also think they need to show the mental age as well as the physical age. At 18 my daughter was in the army and pretty much taking care of herself. Adult, yes. My son was in college doing the same. I considered them adults. I will always be their mom and fight for them no matter what and fight anyone who hurts them but they are now 28 and very much adults taking care of their families.

3. Does your 'beauty regimen' change with the seasons?  

I haven't while in South Carolina but I did not have to the weather was not that bad. I can already feel the difference here my skin is dryer so I need moisturizer every day and a good face scrub.

4. What's something you like to eat that might cause another person to turn up their nose?

My husband always turned his nose up when we ate artichokes at my grandmother's at the  holidays. Maybe others would too.

5. Gloves or mittens? 

 

I like gloves but like I said above have not had very much change in my winter. This is a new year and a new experience for me. Actually I experienced it when growing up but spending 15 years in a warmer place sure can change you.

 

 6. What's the longest queue you've ever been in? Was it worth it? Queue=line but doesn't queue sound nicer?

 

On Black Friday this year my husband and I went to Kohl's at midnight to just because. The store was so busy once you got in the store and got your purchases it took hours to check out. We left with nothing. Did not want to wait in another line.

7. Besides Christmas, what is one thing you are looking forward to in the month of December?

 

Getting into my new house and out of this small apartment!!!!!!!!!!! With my furniture and ALL MY STUFF!!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

 

My 6 year old grandson is having some trouble with behaving right now. He is causing trouble at school. He told us in the beginning of the year the boys were picking on him. Well now he is always in defend mode and it is getting to the point where he is acting out even when he is told no by anyone.  This is suck a role change for him. He has had his fits in the past don't get me wrong, he is a little boy after all. But this is so very different and it breaks my heart. Please pray for him if you can. Please.

Week Two A Confident Heart questions

1.Think back to your childhood and your first memory of God. Describe your image of Him growing up.
I grew up in Catholic church and school so God was all about following rules and trying to be good enough for God to answer my prayers.

2. How does your childhood perception of of God compare to what you see in Christ through His interaction with Sam? List similarities and differences.
My childhood perception of God is very much like Sam's she thinks that is somewhere out there and she can not get close because of what she has done. Sounds very much like the god of my childhood. I also thought I was not good enough to get to God. But I did know God was God of all.

3. Do you ever feel like you are the only one who struggles with insecurities or doubt? Why or why not?
I do sometimes trick my self into thinking I am the only one with these doubts. Sometimes I can not comprehend the magnitude of God I think to myself this can not be true because it is not logical. Then in the next instant I realize God is not logical He is God!

4. Jesus wants to create a safe place for you to be transparent with Him where you can ask questions and be real about your desires, doubts, disappointments, and dreams. He knows you and wants you to really know Him. Is thought of this relationship with God comforting or uncomfortable and why?


It is very comforting to me that the God of the universe, the God who is everywhere at once, the God who created the earth wants to be in a relationship with me. It makes me feel special and I know that I am when I realize God sent his son to die for me. Me, who is right/left challenged. Me, who is fat. Me, who is so not perfect although I try to be. It is very comforting to me.

5. Has anything ever happened that caused you to distance yourself from God or other people? How does it make you feel to know Jesus understands, and He is still there with you for every moment of every day? When do you need His assurance and presence most?


When I was 19 years old my grandfather died. I had not seen him for a while. He went into the hospital on Christmas day and died on January 5, 1980. I prayed and prayed for him to get better. I cried and prayed and went to the hospital and prayed. He did not get better he died. I was mad at God for not answering my prayers. I was mad at him for taking my grandfather. I did distance myself from God then.I felt so lonely at that time. Even when I was in a crowd of people or with my family and friends I still felt lonely and could not understand it. Later after accepting Jesus as my savior I understood that I had shut Him out of my life and that is why I felt so lonely. Now I realize that God's spirit is with me always and it is very comforting to me to know that I can be myself with all my warts and God still loves me.
I need His assurance most when I am anxious or worried. I know I should not worry because God is in control but I do and I need Him then.

6. Reread Sam's story (the woman at the well)in John 4, asking Jesus to meet you there and show you things in your heart that need repair. Is there a part of my story or Sam's story that you relate to most. 
I can kind of relate to Sam's story because you can tell by reading she is feeling lonely and not good enough. She comes to the well in the afternoon sun and not in the morning like the other women because she does not want them to see her. I can relate to that and sometimes feel that way also. My younger sister was always prettier or smarter or tougher than me and it sometimes made me feel invisible.

7. What lesson from this chapter will you walk away with and hold on to so that you can live in the security of God's approval and acceptance?
 I am good enough for God to send his son even on my worst day to die for me. I am accepted by God the Creator of the universe so why should I worry about what a mere person thinks of me.

Happy Thanks giving

Today is Thanksgiving and I have much to be thankful for! Thank you Lord for the many blessings in my life.
I start with your son Jesus Christ I thank you for him and for his sacrifice. Without Him I would truly be lost.
I thank you for the family you gave me in answer to a prayer from a little girl who thought she would never have a family again. You gave me my husband, daughter , son, son in law, daughter in law and 4 wonderful grandsons! Thank you for them!
I thank you for the family I never thought I would have again my mom, dad, step-mom, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. We sometimes fight but we all love each other and I thank you for that.
I thank you for moving us closer to home, taking care of us in the move, and now as we wait for a house. I thank you for being there for us.
I thank you for helping us find a church here in our new home. You knew the old church would be hard to leave so you gave us a similar church.
Thank you for our jobs. Both of us.
I thank you for my life Lord and everything in it. For with out you I am nothing.

To all Happy Thanksgiving may your life be filled with wonderful blessings from our Lord Jesus Christ!

Hodge Podge Wednesday

Its Hodge Podge time!!!!

1. Let's start with something controversial...dressing or stuffing? What's it called in your house and what's included in your recipe? cornbread? oysters? sausage? chestnuts?

Its stuffing where I come from in Western Pennsylvinia in a little town called Pittsburgh. No crazy stuff in the stuffing just the original stuff, bread, celery, eggs, onions and seasoning, I add broth for flavering and mushrooms just because.

2. Who do you sometimes compare yourself to?

Wow this is a hard question. I really do not compare myself to anyone. I would like to think I had a body like Cindy Crawford; but that was just a dream, just a dream......



3. When was the last time you were in an airport?

This summer to pick up my daughter, and grandsons. We had a great time and I am hoping I can get all the home stuff settled so I can go to visit them soon!

4. What is the one dish that must absolutely be included in a turkey dinner?

Mashed potatoes and gravy!



5. What Christmas song do you dread hearing?

Gramma got run over by a reindeer! Gosh I can not stand that song! It makes me crazy!!

6. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money in a 'tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support at the holidays and/or year round?

I do not always give money to people who ask, but sometimes I do. I am fickle but have a tender heart; a good sob story can make me cry. (It is why I can never win the lottery.) I do give to a specific charity besides my church it is http://www.ifmissions.org/Welcome.html right now they are looking for sponsors to donate a one time donation of $30 to get the kids a coat and shoes for the winter. The children are from a remote part of China. Friends of ours from church are on the board and are in China for a few years with their family.

7. Share a favorite Thanksgiving memory.

Thanksgiving at my grandmothers house was always a bounty of food. She was italian so along with a full course Thanksgiving meal we always had a full Italian meal also. I remember sitting in the basement at the children's table. I also remember moving up stairs to the adult table. We always had a great time.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am so excited we will close on our new home on December 9!!!! We are allowing the sellers a week after to move out then our stuff will be delivered from South Carolina!! The first thing I am going to do is get a Christmas tree!!!!