Wednesday, January 27, 2016

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY!

How can it possibly be Wednesday again already?  And yet time for the HODGEPODGE which is always fun.  Join the others by clicking on the picture.




1. Share a winter memory from your childhood.  On Tues morning when I was visiting one of my favorite blogs...Cheryl @ Thinking about home....she asked about one of our favorite snow memories and I shared briefly with her one of mine.  It was such a wonderful moment in time that I was glad she had brought it to my mind, so I might as well share it here too.  Growing up in So California snow was really not part of our everyday life by any means.  But my parents owned a cabin in Big 
Bear when we were growing up and we spent MANY a week-end in the winter months playing in the snow.  Several times we spent the week between Christmas and New Years there as well.  One night as dusk was falling it started to snow.  When our parents suggested we go out IN THE SNOW, IN THE DARK, and SLED DOWN OUR STREET, I could scarcely believe it.  But they turned on the flood lights on our front porch and we did just that.  It was actually a very magical time.  Kind of un real in a way.  One of the funnest things I was ever on. But honestly what I remember most about that night was my parents.  They were having as much fun as we were, and were laughing and smiling and joking around.  My parents had a rough marriage at times, which eventually ended in divorce, but that night they were happy and obviously in love.  I like to remember them that way...


2.  What was on your blog last year at this time?  [besides the HODGEPODGE of course!] If you weren't blogging, what in the world were you doing with all that free time?  I was knee deep in making clothes for the coming of little Claire.  Seriously almost every one of my blog posts described some project or another.  Not a whole lot different this year [in fact the babies due dates are only 2 weeks apart.] as I am AGAIN knee deep in baby preparations for another coming grandbaby.  Notice any patter here? 
3.   Ellen Goodman is quoted as saying, "We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...not looking for flaws, but potential.  Do you see more flaws or potential in your life at the start of a new year?  I TRY to dwell on the possibilities then the failures or flaws.  Have you done anything specific this month to address either one?  I guess in the respect that I have concentrated MUCH more on my own devotional time with the Lord.  Does the new year truly begin for you on January 1, or is there some other month of the year that feels like a fresh start and new beginning?  I think January is when I usually think of the new year and new possibilities, but when I was younger September and the new school year often felt that way too.

4.  Who's an athlete you admire or respect and why? I honestly think it is very wrong the way 
American's have athlete's as hero's and put them on pedestals they don't deserve.  But I also think that there are athlete's out there we CAN admire and one of them is Tim Tebow.  He had the courage to speak out against such things and for his faith in Jesus Christ.  I think he is a wonderful role model in MANY ways for young people.  There are others I know who have used their fame and fortunes to benefit the less fortunate, but they don't get much media coverage now do they?

5.   Do you like cream in your coffee?  Yes please!  Whipped cream on your pumpkin pie?  Always! and lots of it!  Cream cheese on a bagel?  Oh yes... Sour cream on a baked potato? Adore it!  Cream of wheat for breakfast?  Love it, but haven't had it in years..  Have you ever had a scone with clotted cream?  Yes, once, at a bridal shower for Melody.  Of all the creamy foods mentioned, which one sounds most appealing to you right this very minute?  Hmm considering it is VERY early in the morning here I guess I'd go for cream cheese on a bagel.  But as a general rule it would be the pumpkin pie.  My all time favorite period!

6.  Where were you last kept waiting for "hours on end" Or for what felt like hours on end?  How well did you cope?  Honestly I haven't been anywhere recently where that has happened, though of course it has been the case MANY times over the course of my life.  Probably one of the most frustrating times when was when I took my mom to see a specialist once and we honestly waited in the office for over two hours!  I mean I know you can easily get behind if you are a doctor, but at what point do you just re-schedule?  I will admit coping was difficult as my mom was NOT a happy camper, was in a wheel chair at the time which was difficult for me to maneuver what with my arthritis and I had to take her twice down on a long hall to the restroom, and TRY and keep her happy while we waited.  I hid my feelings from my mother as it would NOT have helped the situation, but I inside I was NOT coping well, lol.

7.  Believe it or not, when next week's Hodgepodge rolls around it will be February...huh?!  Bid adieu here to January in seven words or less.  Goodby!  Not sad to see you go!

8.  Insert your own random thought here...Heard a frustrating, somewhat annoying fact last night as my hubby attended a social security information meeting last night as he prepares to get ready in the next year or so to file.  We had heard that those who turn sixty two in 2016, which is me, are eligible still to receive half of their husbands social security IF they do not have more of their own, [i have none!]and they have been married over ten years...ME ME!  Well, come to find out you must BE 62 by May first! NOT ME! My birthday is not until late September.  Soo unfair in my opinion to let half of those born in the year receive it, and the other half not to.  It will make a HUGE difference for us!  My hubby has paid in the maximum amount for years and years and sooo much over the years it is just ridiculous.  There is NO WAY he will ever get it all back.  And it is afterall his money. Sooo I guess that's that...sigh.  I do believe the Lord will provide and take care of us in our old age, but it was VERY disappointing nonetheless.

Well that's it for now...Hope you all have a good day and look for the joy all around us!  Oh, btw, for those of you who are interested my hair came out OK...LOL..  She did shape it up a little better, and the color is GOOD, but growing out is growing out.  I am sure most of you have been there, lol.  In another maybe 3 or 4 months it will be long enough to look alright, so I guess that's not long to go, and in the meantime I am grateful that this particular issue is not a big one in the scheme of life.



12 comments:

  1. I'm working on more devotional time, as well...so far, so good! I'm sorry to hear about the issues with SS...you have every right to feel frustrated. Seems so unfair.

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  2. Ugh about the SS information...think I had better get going on finding out more.

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  3. It took me to my own blogger dashboard, but I've edited it in Linky so you're good to go. When you enter your link on the form it needs to be in this format http://debsdailydribble.blogspot.com/2016/01/hodgepodge-wednesday_27.html Just copy and paste from the bar at the top of your blog. It's fine now, so no worries!

    That was a sweet tale you describe in your first answer. I'm sorry for the SS frustrations. Who knows what will even be there when I hit age. Retirement is not for sissies, that's for sure! More grandbabies to love are a bright spot though : )

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  4. I loved hearing about your winter snow memory. It sounds like such a wonderful time.

    Sorry about the SS issues. But you are right, God will take care of you.

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  5. Fun post. I love the snow story and your parents, what a treasure to hide in your heart. I soooooooooooooooooooo agree on athletes, yet I also agree on Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy. I am glad God puts his people in every arena. Oh your sewing...just awesome. Have a great week.

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  6. Enjoyed reading your snow story. Yes, Tim Tebow is a great role model. Hate to hear about the social security problem :( I would be slightly P-----!

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  7. oh, just hate that about your SS, doesn't seem fair at all. Thankfully Hubby put me on his payroll many years ago so I have paid in a bunch but do not plan to draw any of mine until I'm 70. Hope there's still some to draw from by then. :o))

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  8. How wonderful that you can and do make clothes for your grandchildren. What a special gift! I can barely sew a button on, and even that I can't say I do well.
    Your snow story was the best one I've read. It sounds like a magical night.

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  9. Debbie, I loved reading about your winter memory at my blog, and I loved reading it again right here at "The Way We Are"! It brings tears to my eyes. What a treasured memory for you, remembering the love that was shared and demonstrated between your parents. I am glad that the Lord allowed you to see it, to feel it, and to remember it...it is a gift!

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  10. Debbie, your winter memory is such a sweet one. I'm so glad you had a chance to recall it and share it with us. The fact that SS is considered an entitlement when we have invested the maximum amount for 50 years is very disturbing to me. Also, in our state a spouse who is drawing a state retirement (I am drawing from two different systems) is not eligible to draw SS from the other spouse and can receive but only a small portion of a deceased spouse's amount. It is so not fair and right and penalizes so many wives whose husbands paid into the system for years. Sorry, but that is my big grip today.

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  11. How awesome to be able to enjoy the snow in Big Bear. Your definitely a cream lover like I am!
    No way they are changing that benefit in S.S. I can't believe it. I'm already collecting, we are a few years older than you. That is not fair!!! I am really shocked and I am so sorry. Thank you Obama.....

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!