Riverbend Ramblings

Blessed Beyond Measure

A Mid-June Hodgepodge


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

1. The Hodgepodge lands on June 14th this week, Flag Day in the US of A. Do you fly your country’s flag at home? Sometimes, often, or every single day? Have you ever visited the city of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia)? Did you make a point of seeing The Betsy Ross House? Have you ever made a trip to Baltimore? If so, was Fort McHenry on your itinerary? (where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner)

I hang an American on my front porch on special holidays, but I don’t have one displayed on a pole in my yard all the time because I do not have a means of keeping the flag lit at night. I think if the flag is going to be displayed at night, it should have a light shining on it, according to flag etiquette. I haven’t been fortunate enough to visit historic landmarks in Philadelphia or Baltimore, although my state borders both Pennsylvania and Maryland.

2. Red flag or white flag? Which have you encountered most recently? Explain.

I guess I have encountered a few red flags recently. My kids have finished up another year of school, and our church wrapped up a week of Vacation Bible School. I’m also having to wait for answers on a couple of things, and that’s hard for me to do.

3. Are you a stay-in-the-car listen-to-the-end-of-a-song kind of person? What kind of person is that?

If a favorite song is playing, and I don’t get to hear it very often, I will turn off the engine (or leave it running if it’s super hot or cold outside) but still sit there listening to the song. Music seems to bring out my nostalgic side, especially songs from when I was a teenager. I love satellite radio!

4. What are some of the traits or qualities you think a good dad possesses? In other words, what makes a good dad?

There are too many important qualities to name here, but I will list a few that my husband possesses. He’s not a perfect dad, but he is the best one I could ever have dreamed of having for our kids.

A good dad shows unconditional love and support to his children and their mother. He has a good sense of humor, is dependable and trustworthy, and is a good provider. He’s a man of good character and integrity. I think the most important quality would be that of having a personal relationship with Christ and having a desire to see his children come to know Christ and serve Him.

5. What’s one rule you always disagreed with while growing up? Is that rule somehow still part of your adult life? Is that a good or bad thing?

When I was growing up, I wasn’t allowed to spend the night at my friends’ houses. I can count on one hand the number of times I went to a sleepover. It used to make me so mad! In hindsight, I’m glad that my mom had this rule. It definitely kept me from being exposed to things that would not have been good for me. Ironically, I’ve carried this rule over into my parenting. My four teenagers can also probably count the times they’ve spent the night with a friend. They don’t like it any more than I did.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I mentioned that our church hosted VBS last week. Because we schedule VBS during the evening, a team of ladies prepares supper for all of the VBS attendees each night. This year’s decorations had an “Under the Sea” theme. One of our talented ladies created these watermelon sea creatures. I thought they were so cute!

My Morning Walk

One of my favorite things about summertime is that life seems to move at a slightly slower pace. I’ve been able to adjust my morning schedule so that I’m getting in a trail walk/jog before it gets too hot. These moments outdoors help me decompress; I can feel the stress roll off my shoulders.

Sometimes I listen to music while I run, and sometimes I listen to the chorus of the songbirds perched in the treetops. I mentally go over my prayer list and especially focus on praying for my family. My heart always feels lighter after this time outdoors.

My thoughts can’t help but go to the beauty that surrounds me. I thank the Creator for allowing me these moments to enjoy His creation.

Weekly Photo Challenge ~ Evanescent

Weekly Photo Challenge: Evanescent

Butterflies are little things that bring me joy. When I see one flutter by, my heart skips a beat. Maybe that’s because they appear seemingly out of nowhere and are evanescent, quickly vanishing.

Usually I don’t have my camera handy when I spot a butterfly, but today I did. I had been outside taking some photos of my flower beds when I saw this beauty land on one of my flip-flops that I had kicked off near the front steps. It’s a Limenitis arthemis astyanax, aka Red-spotted Purple. The name confuses me a little bit because the wings look blue, not purple. I read that the top flight speed for a Red-spotted Purple is 12 mph. They are commonly found in the Eastern United States.

Little things, like pretty butterflies, are easy to take for granted, but they have a purpose in God’s creation.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. ~Revelation 4:11

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.