One Fall after Another in this Hodgepodge

The temperatures, they are a changin', but the Hodgepodge remains a predictable pleasure every week, thanks to our faithful hostess, Joyce, whose blog you simply must delight yourself in today, which is the day after her birthday.  It would be super lovely to stop by and wish her a happy happy day-after-birthday day!

1. What's the best and worst thing thing about growing older? 

What a thought-provoking question! Wow.  I would say that the best thing about growing older  is that I've reached a point in my life when I can see the fruits of my labor as a Christian mother.  My three adult children (now in their early twenties) are serious about their relationship with the Lord, they have close friendships that draw them closer to God, they have found their niche in the work world doing meaningful work, they enjoy each other's company and are just a lot of fun to hang out with. I can look back without regrets that I chose to stay home with them and watch them mature 24/7.   I can't think of anything else that would give me this much pleasure, knowing that my efforts were not in vain. 

Here the three olders are on one of our fall homeschooling days, circa 1994-5. I just adore this picture, despite the lighting. I had a cheapo camera with REAL FILM back then. 


The worst thing about growing older--besides the aches and pains which are many--is having more dreams than energy to make them come true. 

2.   Autumn arrives this week in the Northern Hemisphere...what one thing do you love most about the fall season? 

The colorful trees.  Living on the East Coast brings endless landscapes of golds, reds, browns, greens, and oranges. 

3.  Speaking of fall...pumpkin seems to be flavoring everything these days-are you a fan?   What's your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage? 

Yes, I'm indeed a fan.

Favorite drink--Dunkin Donuts' Pumpkin Spice coffee. 
Favorite food--pumpkin pie, with a runner-up fave of pumpkin roll

4.  Since we're on the subject of fall...what's the worst fall you've ever taken?

When I was seven, I was riding my bike too fast in front of a boy who was chasing me on his bike.  The front fender of his bike tangled with the back fender of mine, and down I went, face first on concrete. Lots of blood, let me tell ya. 

I immediately got a big knot on my forehead and my mom thought for sure I would have a concussion. She wanted to take me to the ER, but I was full of faith that God would heal me if my parents prayed for me, no doctors necessary.   And that's what happened.  I don't think my mom got a minute of sleep, though, staying up to wake me every couple hours to check me for signs of concussion. 

I fear falling. Things don't get up and go again real quick like they used to after a fall. 

5.  If you could own a prop from any film what would you choose? 

The table from the Walton family's kitchen.

 
We watched that show every Thursday for years when I was a kid, and I always dreamed of growing up to be the next Olivia Walton, her table filled with children and in-laws, having both fun and serious talks. There's something about an old wood, 10-foot table that just speaks to me of bonding.  To this day, one of the best feelings I get is setting the table for a whole bunch of people I love. 

6. What's the most interesting word you've read or learned in the past week? 

Strumsticks.  I  had never heard of them until last night when I was talking our school's music teacher.  Check it out. Sort of a ukulele, guitar, dulcimer type instrument. 

 
7. When was the last time you locked yourself out of your house, car, or office?  Was it a big deal?

In the week before school started,  I locked myself out of the van. I was on my way to a faculty meeting, when I stopped for gas. My debit card wasn't working, at the pump, so I had to go inside to pay. In my haste, I locked the door, purse inside, keys inside purse.  Thankfully my phone was in my pocket, so I called GEICO to come unlock it.  As many times as I've locked my keys in the car over the years, it's been well worth the three bucks a month to have lockout service 
added to our auto insurance policy. 

It was not a big deal, because the convenience store there has booths to sit in, plenty of coffee, and food. I sat down and planned some lessons and texted a friend who would've rescued me except she was at the orthodontist. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Please pray for four people from our school who were in a car accident on the way home yesterday.  Apparently another car lost control while in motion at an intersection, hit the median,  and spun into the van which was sitting at a red light. The impact flipped the van onto its side.   One of the passenger seats dislodged and landed on the other girl's seat and the van also caught fire. 

Our principal rushed to the scene and said it was a miracle that all four passengers ( a mom, two teens who are my art students, and a fifth grade girl in my son's class) were not seriously injured.  The mom broke her clavicle and the girls were cut and bruised and shaken, but they were all treated and released from the hospital shortly after our school chaplain visited them.  My son said everyone in class made get well cards for their friend.