HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

It is time for Hodgepodge Wednesday.  To join the other's click HERE, and ENJOY...


1. It's that most wonderful time of the year...tax season! Do you complete your own returns or farm that job out to the professionals?  Oh we farm that job out.  Hubby has done somewhat of a side business for years as well as his regular job, and it is just easier this way.  However, I can see this maybe changing in the future.  Do we have to think of taxes already?  sigh

2.  Which do you think has changed you more-love or pain?  Oh I guess I am not really sure.  Haven't given this much thought.  Both of them can certainly be very life changing, and have been for me for sure.  Falling in love and getting married sure changed my life.  As did the birth of each one of my children and grandchildren.  However, the pain of death has left it's mark too.  The death of my dad, my first dil, and my beloved grandmothers and Aunt.   The pain of my journey (even though it was brief) with breast cancer had a profound effect on my life too.  I believe if we let them the trials (usually with resulting pain of some sort) in our lives (which I believe are allowed in our lives for very specific purposes), can  sharpen and strengthen us and our relationships with God.  I am not going to pretend I have got that all down, as sometimes I think we all swim in our questions and wanderings of why.  But I do trust in His Word which tells us that...

James 2 - 4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

3. Tangerine Tango has been named color of the year for 2012. Your thoughts? Would I find this color anywhere in your house? How about in your closet? If not, will you be adding this color to your life in some way in 2012?  While I do REALLY like this color, you would never find it in my closet (any shade of orange doesn't do anything for me) or "most likely" never in my house.  Not going to say "for sure"  never though as IF I had the right room or circumstance, it could happen, haha.

I actually really like the purse!

4. Are you a collector? What do you collect and does it get admired, used, and/or dusted regularly?  Years ago I collected Gone with the Wind memorabilia (which you can see all of my things HERE if you are interested) and though I no longer live in this house or display it quite this way, I still have it all, display it all, and YES dust it all regularly.  However, I am DEFINITELY done collecting anything.  I am in the season of life that I am "de-cluttering"  : )

5. February is National Heart Month...besides a green salad what is one tasty heart healthy dish you like to prepare?  I LOVE Salmon and we have it at least once a week.  

Doesn't this look yummy?  We usually grill our Salmon

6. When was the last time you had car trouble?  Seriously I guess I have been REALLY fortunate for the last several years, as I can't honestly even remember.  When we were married and our family was young though, we had a Volvo wagon.  It had a diesel engine.  The car was really just a complete nightmare that broke down every other minute.  And every repair was UNBELIEVABLY expensive.  I will never forget once we had a tail light out and it was 750.00 dollars to replace it.  And I kid you not!  AND!  nothing but Volvo parts worked on it so you really never had any choice.  A NIGHTMARE!!  

7. Have you been more demanding on yourself lately or less? Is that a good trend?  I have definitely been MORE demanding, and for me that is a good trend.  I have come to a point in my life where there is not alot of responsibilities that fall on me anymore.  My husband spoils me.  And while that can be nice, it is also a recipe at times for laziness.  Sooo I have been requiring more of myself in every area.  Or trying to anyway. I am feeling good about it.  

8. Insert your own random thought here...I have more random thoughts than most people I am afraid.  I could fill an entire post with totally random thoughts, haha.    But don't worry, I will just share a couple.  First, I went looking today for a tea warmer.  Not really sure what I was even looking for as I have never owned one.  A few years ago I had to give up coffee.  Well caffeine really.  It was NOT an easy thing to do let me tell you.  Anyway, I tried drinking herbal teas, but honestly I could never find one that I really liked all that well.  They tasted (to me) like hot water.  Anyway, a few weeks back I discovered one I REALLY like.  It is called Apple Cinnamon Spice by Celestial tea.  So I began brewing a cup every morning and it has been just wonderful.  Well as usually is the case with me with almost anything, one cup was never enough.  Not wanting to get up from my devotional time (which is when I like to have the tea) to go to the kitchen to brew a second cup, I decided to just make a pot of it and then I could enjoy a second or even third cup.  it seemed like a wonderful idea and I already had a few REALLY pretty tea pots.   The problem?  The tea just didn't stay warm enough to suit me.  I thought I would just have to throw in the towel on the whole plan when I read somewhere on someone's Facebook that they had gotten a "tea warmer".  Now I thought they were little sweater like things that you put around your pot.  But this was actually like a little hot plate that was lit with a little tea light.  Perfect....I decided to try Bed, Bath & Beyond.  When I asked the gal at the story if they carried such an item, she looked at me like I had two heads.  Not giving up I explained more what I was looking for.  She told me that while they didn't have tea warmers, they did have mug warmers.  Basically a little hot plate that plugs in to keep a mug of coffee/tea/coco warm.  Now I never drink a mug slow enough to ever have that be a problem, but when I looked at the little plate it looked as if it would work perfectly for my pot.  And it did!  So I guess I will try it out tomorrow morning.  It only cost ten dollars so that didn't seem too bad if it actually works.  Oh, the things we are willing to do.  This random thought is soo long I guess I will save my others for later.  Hope you are all having a GOOD week.  

Guess I just had to post one more "random" thought.  37 years ago today I married the love of my life and began our journey through life together.  I could never express the gratitude I feel that God blessed me with such a man.  We have certainly shared our moments of triumph together, our times of great joy and sorrow, and all the laughter and tears are hearts have held.  Last Saturday night we celebrated with my sister and her husband and went to a dinner theater to see Fiddler on the Roof.  It was soooooooooo good...the food, the play, and the company!  I pray the Lord blesses us many more years together.

37 YEARS LATER WITH "MOST" OF OUR GRANDKIDS!