Riverbend Ramblings

Blessed Beyond Measure

A Mid-May Hodgepodge

*Thank you to Joyce for hosting the weekly Hodgepodge. She provides the questions, and the participants share their answers.
1. May 17th is National Pack Rat Day. Sidebar-should we be celebrating this? Hmmm…Are you a pack rat? Even if you’re not a full fledged pack rat, most people have one thing or another they struggle to part with. Tell us what’s yours.

Oh, my goodness, where do I begin? I am definitely a hoarder pack rat. I have a hard time getting rid of emails, digital photos, clothes, and shoes. I’m sure my husband could add several more things to the list if you were to ask his opinion.

2. What are two things you know you should know how to do, but you don’t?

I don’t know how to change the oil on a vehicle or how to replace a leaky faucet. I should learn how to do both (but I probably won’t).

3. Do you crave sugar? Do you add sugar to your coffee and/or tea? Do you use artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes? When dining out is dessert a given? Are you someone who has slain the sugar dragon, and if so tell us how you did it.

I have always had a bit of a sweet tooth. Chocolate is my weakness. In recent years, I’ve cut back and sometimes eliminated sugar altogether from my diet. I am usually a water drinker, but I do put French vanilla creamer in my coffee. I’m usually too full from my meal to eat dessert at a restaurant, but sometimes Steven and I split any type of brownie sundae. The only way for me to really lessen my sugar intake is to cut it out completely, cold-turkey. After two or three days, the cravings are gone.

4. What’s a trend it took a while for you to come round to, but now you can’t imagine living without?

I wasn’t an early jumper onto the essential oil train, but I’ve been using oils from Edens Garden for a while and have definitely seen the benefits. I now have an oil for just about any ailment.

5. What’s a song that reminds you of a specific incident in your life? Please elaborate.

My answer isn’t very original, but every time I hear “Pomp and Circumstance” my mind goes back to my high school graduation. It’s hard to believe that next week will mark twenty-three years since I received my diploma.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

After contemplating question #1 for a while, I deleted 1,480 photos from my iPhone. I had over 4,000 on there, so I’m making some progress. Baby steps!

 

Friday’s Fave Five ~ 4.28.17

Happy Friday! Another week has zoomed by, and a brand new month will be here on Monday. I just can’t believe it! In an effort to savor the “little things” in life, I’m linking up today with Susanne to share some good things from my week.

1. The weather has been amazing. I have been longing for sunshine, and it is here at last. I was able to get outside a little bit every day this week, even on the days when we had rain.

2. Steven and I were able to take a long hike through the woods together. We were hunting morels, but we didn’t find any. A couple of friends who have found some passed them along to us. I cooked up a batch, and then Steven did another. His were dredged and seasoned better than mine and tasted amazing.


3. The concert choir that Shay is a part of at her college had its final performance of the semester. The girls and I, along with their grandma who was here visiting, were able to attend. I am so amazed with the talent these young people have! After the concert, we enjoyed a meal at a Mexican restaurant with one of Shay’s friends and his family. We had a great time.

4. I tackled one of my least favorite springtime jobs: weeding the flower beds. I still need to put down some new mulch and replace a couple of dead plants, but the beds are looking much better already. It won’t be long until the butterflies show up.


5. A hummingbird was spotted flitting around the front porch this week, so I got the hummingbird feeder filled and hung. I’m still waiting to catch the birds in action at the feeder.

A Hodgepodge of April Showers

*Thank you to Joyce for hosting the weekly Hodgepodge. She provides the questions, and the participants share their answers.

1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Has your April been filled with showers? Do you carry an umbrella, wear a slicker, or make a run for it? Besides rain, what else has filled your April?

The month of April has flown by. During my time in Florida, it didn’t rain at all. In fact, Florida has recently been plagued with wildfires. The evening I flew home, our landing was delayed by a rainstorm. We have had rain here and there throughout the month. I keep at least one umbrella in my vehicle all the time, but I often wear a rain jacket if I’m going to be running errands in town because it’s too much of a hassle to deal with the umbrella when constantly getting in and out of the truck.

2. What’s something you could you give a 30-minute presentation on at a moment’s notice and with zero preparation?

I could do an impromptu presentation on education, vintage Pyrex, HTML & CSS, my favorite books, home organization, the life of a pastor’s wife, or motherhood. I’m definitely not an expert on any of these topics, so I guess that means I’m just capable of babbling incessantly.

3. Share with us a favorite food memory from childhood.

For my 5th birthday, my mom took me and my cousin to Disney World. I don’t remember much about that day at the most magical place on Earth, but I do remember going through the McDonald’s drive thru on the way home and getting a Happy Meal. Do you remember how McDonald’s used to be really creative with their Happy Meal containers? Well, that particular day the Happy Meal came in a plastic UFO container. Mine was red. It included a sheet of little stickers to decorate the UFO with. It was my all-time favorite meal from Mickey D’s.

4. What’s a song you thought you knew the lyrics to, but later discovered you were wrong?

Growing up, we often sang the hymn “Just As I Am” during the closing invitation. We sang it so often, hardly anyone actually used the hymnal. When I finally looked at the lyrics, I realized that I had been messing up a couple of the verses. I felt silly and wondered if anyone else had noticed.

5. According to one travel website, the most overrated tourist attractions in America are- Niagara Falls (NY), Hollywood Walk of Fame (California), Times Square (NYC), Epcot (FL), Seattle Space Needle (WA), and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (Boston). How many of these have you seen in person? Did you feel like a tourist? Did you care? Tell us about a place (not on the list) you’ve visited that might be considered a tourist trap, but you love it anyway.

I am not a well-traveled girl. The only place from the list I’ve visited is Epcot, and that was probably because I lived in Central Florida for most of my life. My favorite tourist trap is the city of Savannah, Georgia. Steven and I spent our anniversary there a few years ago. I felt like a tourist, but it seemed like most of the other people there were as well. I also love visiting Washington, D.C. There’s just so much history there. My hubby has been to Niagara Falls, Times Square, and Quincy Market. One touristy place we would like to visit together is Fenway Park in Boston.

6. Your signature clothing item?

Shoes. Cute shoes. Always.

7. What’s an experience you’ve had you think everyone should experience at least once? Why?

I’ve been blessed to stand on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico many times and watch the sun set on the horizon. I always get goose bumps. God’s glorious creation is breathtaking and is a reflection of His greatness.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

A quote from my husband (not original to him):

April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring PILGRIMS!!

Friday’s Fave Five ~ 04.21.17

Happy Friday! I’m linking up with Susanne to share some good things from my week. It’s a great exercise that forces me to slow down for a few minutes and think about the blessings in my life that I might otherwise take for granted.

1. Last weekend I returned home after spending ten days in Florida. I was there for a couple of weeks  back in February when my mom had a health scare, and this was a follow-up visit to check on her. I am happy to report that her health is almost back to 100%. After suffering from an undiagnosed condition for several years, she finally found a doctor who identified the problem and offered a solution that worked. My mom is now able to eat anything she wants to eat and has the energy needed to continue her active lifestyle. We had a great time together doing whatever we wanted to do each day: shopping, relaxing by the pool, eating out, or just hanging around the house. Her improved health is a huge answer to prayer!

2. Resurrection Sunday is always one of my favorite days of the year. There’s nothing more uplifting to me than remembering that Christ’s victory over death means that we have the promise of eternal life with Him. Hallelujah! Our day started out early with a sunrise service at the county park. This was the first sunrise service since we’ve lived in the North that it wasn’t freezing outside; the weather was perfect! After the short sunrise service, we all went back to the church fellowship hall for a delicious breakfast followed by Sunday school and preaching service. That evening, our choir presented an Easter cantata. It was a very long day, but also a very blessed day.

3. Shay’s college had a four-day Easter break, so she was able to come home for the long weekend. We were able to get a family picture on Sunday before she headed back to school. Notice that I am now the shortest one in the family. 🙂
4. My in-laws arrived on Monday and are spending a few days with us. We always enjoy having them visit.

5. Spring has finally arrived! When we first moved to West Virginia, fall was my favorite season. After making it through a few cold, gray winters, spring is now my favorite time of the year. When I left for my trip to Florida, the trees were still pretty bare. It’s amazing how quickly things can change in just a couple of weeks. I’m looking forward to taking a hike with my camera this weekend and enjoying God’s creation.

A Flying Hodgepodge

1. Tell us about a time you felt like you were ‘flying by the seat of your pants’.

When I got my first teaching job, I was hired three days before school started. I had no idea where to begin when it came to decorating my classroom, preparing lesson plans, or getting a presentation together for orientation night. In fact, that entire first school year I felt like I was winging it. Had it not been for another teacher who took me under her wing and helped me along, what turned out to be a great year could have been a disaster.

2.  When or where would you most like to be ‘a fly on the wall’?

I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall of each of the candidate’s headquarters during election night this past Presidential election. There would have been some shock and awe on both sides, I think.

3. ‘Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.’-Henry David Thoreau     Would you agree? Why or why not?

I believe that there is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is temporary and is dependent upon circumstances. True joy fills from within and comes from the Lord.

4. Share a favorite movie, book, or song with flying in it’s title, lyrics, or theme somewhere.

Here are the lyrics to “Let’s Go Fly A Kite”, the closing song from one of my favorite movies, Mary Poppins.

Lyrics from Mary Poppins
Composed by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman

With tuppence for paper and strings
You can have your own set of wings
With your feet on the ground
You’re a bird in flight
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite

Oh, oh, oh
Let’s go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let’s go fly a kite
And send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let’s go fly a kite

Let’s go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let’s go fly a kite
And send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let’s go fly a kite

When you send it flying up there
All at once you’re lighter than air
You can dance on the breeze over houses and trees
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite

Oh, oh, oh
Let’s go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let’s go fly a kite
And send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let’s go fly a kite

5. What is one task or chore you tend to do ‘on the fly’? Is this something that really needs to be done another way?

I’m a person who likes to do things in a routine way, so most of my chores have a method to them. I’m sure I don’t do them all the correct or most efficient way, but my system works for me.

6. What was happening the last time you thought to yourself or said aloud, ‘Wow, time flies when you’re having fun’, and you meant it.

Just last week I finished up a ten day trip to visit my mom. The night before I flew home, I couldn’t believe how quickly our time together had flown by. We had such a good time together.

7. This Thursday is National Garlic Day. Will you add garlic to your menu on Thursday? Do you like garlic? What’s your favorite dish made with garlic?

Pot roast is on the supper menu for Thursday night, and I will probably add a few cloves of garlic to it. I add garlic to a lot of dishes I make. My favorite garlicky recipe would probably be Asian Green Beans.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I had a window seat on the plane ride home from Florida. It was an evening flight, and I was able to get some pictures of the clouds as we began our decent.

A March Hodgepodge

 

1. Setting aside the real March Madness (NCAA Basketball) describe something happening at your house this month that might earn the title ‘March Madness’.

Although it seems like things are never slow around our house, March hasn’t been too chaotic of a month. We’ve actually had time to watch some of the college games on television.

2. What’s a favorite made up word from your childhood or a favorite from your children’s childhood? Does your family still use the word today? If there’s a story behind the origin please share.

I wish I had done a better job of writing down the funny things my children said when they were little. A couple always come to mind. Our Curly Girl was famous for saying “ingradulashins” instead of “congratulations,” and our son had a gift for butchering famous people’s last names, like Arnold “Switchenswagger.”

3. Will you be doing any spring cleaning now that the season is upon us? I read here a list of 15 quick (under one hour) spring cleaning tasks. They were- clean out a drawer, vacuum furniture, whiten tile grout, dust the nooks and crannies you don’t get to year round, degrease kitchen cabinets, wipe down walls, go behind furniture, wipe down ceiling fans, vacuum the mattress, clean the range hood, wash baseboards, shine the stainless steel, clean out vents, tackle the windows, and wipe down gadgets.

It seems like I’m always cleaning something! I will do a deep clean after our spring break is over. Washing window treatments and windows, spraying down the back deck and deck furniture, and switching out our seasonal clothes are the main tasks to accomplish. If you are a list maker like I am, you might like these free printable spring cleaning checklists I found here.

Of the fifteen ‘quick’ tasks listed which two most need doing at your house? Will you do them?

I will definitely do some detailed dusting, especially the hard-to-reach places and baseboards, and tackle the windows.

4. A favorite movie set in Paris or New York?

You’ve Got Mail (NY)

5. What’s put a spring in your step this month?

Now that basketball season is over, we have more time at home together as a family in the evenings. I’ve enjoyed eating meals together, talking about everyone’s day, and laughing more as a family. The extra daylight at the end of the day gives me a little extra pep, too.

6. Did you ever want to be a teacher? Why or why not?

When I was growing up, I did not have a desire to be a teacher. I remember saying that I would never want to be a teacher, that I just didn’t have enough patience to deal with kids all day long. I wanted to be a lawyer instead. Ironically, God ended up leading me to become a teacher. I taught in a school for several years, homeschooled my children, and was an elementary school principal.

7.  What’s your favorite floral scent? Do you have this somewhere in your home or maybe in a perfume? How do you feel about florals in food? How about wines with floral notes-yay or nay?

I am not a huge fan of floral scents, but I do like orange blossoms and jasmine. Growing up in central Florida, I got used to smelling all the orange blossoms on the trees twice a year. When we lived in Georgia, we had jasmine trailing around the lattice of our front porch, and I loved it! I used to think that jasmine rice must have a floral essence in it, but then I did some research and found that it is named jasmine due to its color, which is as white as a jasmine flower.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The kids will be on spring break next week, and I think that I am looking forward to it as much as they are!

Welcome, Spring

Pyrex Chip and Dip Set “Ivy” (1964)

Hooray for the first day of spring! I have really been looking forward to spring’s arrival this year. We didn’t have a lot of snow this winter, but the gray sky and bare trees make the days seem dull and dreary.

We had some snow last week along with temperatures in the teens. Hopefully the cold weather is behind us, and sunny days are just around the corner, but I’ve learned not to get my hopes up before Easter.

Friday’s Fave Five ~ 3.17.17


I’m linking up with Susanne to share my favorite happenings from this past week, which seem to all revolve around a road trip I took with my oldest daughter. We spent a few days of her spring break visiting the Pittsburg area and had a fabulous time together.

1. Traffic wasn’t bad at all, and we enjoyed chatting on the drive. It was my first time visiting Pittsburg. I had Shay take some pictures as we crossed the state line and then again as we entered the city. It was pretty neat to travel through the Pitt Tunnel and then see the Pittsburg skyline on the other side. 

2. We enjoyed some delicious food. For supper on our first night, we used some gift cards that I had been saving. I ate too much and just about made myself miserable. On our second night, we ate at restaurant called Burgatory with the family of one of Shay’s college friends. Burgatory specializes in–you guessed it–burgers. It’s a really neat place. You can choose from the menu or fill out a create-your-own order form with your choice of meat (everything from elk to buffalo), seasoning rub, bread, and toppings. There are all types of combinations to choose from, including meatless ones. I chose a bunless bison burger. Shay also ordered bison but added a bun to hers.

3. We stayed at a new-to-me hotel chain. For the price, I was super impressed with the room and its amenities. I’m always a little bit leary about germs and cleanliness in hotel rooms, so you can imagine how delighted I was to see this next to the television when we arrived. 

We woke up one morning to find the car covered in five inches of snow. Since we keep the car in the garage all the time at home, I don’t always remember to carry a snow brush/scraper in it. Unfortunately, I didn’t have one on this trip. I asked the hotel desk attendant if they had one I could borrow. She said the hotel keeps complimentary ones on hand and that I could keep it. What a blessing! It made clearing off the car much easier, and now I have one to keep in my car at all times. Lesson learned.

4. We attended a production of Les Miserables at Shay’s friend’s old high school. I was blown away by the talent of both the actors and musicians. They might have all been teenagers, but they were so composed and professional. It was the best high school musical production I’ve ever had the pleasure to attend.

5. We spent most of our free time shopping. Since we live so far away from malls and major retailers, we are giddy with excitement when we are in a “big” mall. It was a little strange seeing spring and summer clothes and bathing suits on the racks with all the snow outside. I searched online for all of the antique stores in the area, and we visited as many of those as we could. I didn’t purchase anything, but I always enjoy the hunt!

If I could have afforded it, I would have bought this amazing pink Royal typewriter from the 1950s. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to use one of these?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am so thankful that Shay and I had the opportunity to take this trip together. It was actually the first time we’ve ever gone on a “girl trip” together that didn’t involve a piano competition or some other special event. I will treasure the memories we made.

A Perfect Hodgepodge

From this Side of the Pond

1. What is one area of your life where you’re a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

I am super picky about how the dishwasher gets loaded. There is a method to the madness. If everything is going to fit, the machine must be loaded correctly. I’ve been known to take all of the dirty dishes out and reload them the right way. It’s not necessarily the best obsession to have. Instead of being grateful that my family helps with the loading, I sometimes fuss at them for not doing it the “right” way.

2. What’s something you find perfectly ridiculous?

The childish behavior displayed by adults when life doesn’t go their way is perfectly ridiculous.

3. What’s a skill you’ve developed by way of that old fashioned saying, ‘practice makes perfect’?

I don’t think that I do anything perfectly, but over the years I’ve sharpened my formal writing skills through a lot of practice. When I was an elementary school principal, I had a tremendous amount of correspondence to deal with on a daily basis. Often I had to handle problems or situations via email or letter. I learned how to concisely, yet politely, address the issue at hand. I would read and re-read what I had written to ensure that it wouldn’t come back to haunt me.

4. What’s your idea of a perfect breakfast?

My dream breakfast would include a hot cup of coffee with creamer, a small vegetable omelette, a couple of pieces of stuffed French toast, and a bowl of pink grapefruit sections. Having someone else do the cooking and cleaning up would make it a perfect meal.

5. What’s a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you’ve taken that you’d rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

Steven and I took a trip to Savannah, Georgia, a few years ago to celebrate our anniversary. Savannah is such a romantic city! We stayed in a classy hotel, ate at very fancy restaurants, took a sight-seeing tour, and did some shopping. We enjoyed every moment of our time together. I have many great memories from that trip. It was perfect.

6. What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can’t do perfect, how about one that comes close?

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

I’ve been meditating on this Bible verse from Joshua 26:3 on a daily basis recently. When I focus on my circumstances, I feel anxious and filled with worry and doubt. When I keep my mind centered on God’s goodness and greatness, my mind is at peace.

7. How would you spend $300 today?

In a perfect world, I would definitely buy some cute spring shoes instead of paying bills.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am super excited about an upcoming trip I’ll be taking with my oldest daughter. We’re traveling to a place I’ve never been before. I’ll share details when we return!