Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Chocolate Ice Cream June Hodgepodge




1. On Saturday July 4th America celebrates her Independence. (If you're not American,  feel free to answer in terms of a national holiday in your own country) What is your favorite thing about the day? Your favorite food on the 4th? Do you fly a flag at your house? Fireworks-yay or nay? Any special plans this year?

My favorite thing about the 4th of July : the feelings--pride, joy, gratitude
Favorite food: theatre candy we buy just before watching fireworks
Fly a flag? Yes, very often!
Fireworks--see above
Special plans--yes, getting together with extended family

2. What's something you recently got for free?  

Today I got my tire patched for free. The guy thought maybe the tiny hole from a screw was something he missed two weeks ago when I took it in for a leak.

A week ago I got a new pair of glasses  for free (just the frames). I had paid a handsome price for wire rimmed ones just a year ago, and they got badly scratched up in no time (cheap, made in China, no doubt). The owner of the vision center found some frames that my lenses would fit and didn't charge me. That's great customer service!

3.  The Statue of Liberty, The Liberty Bell, The Washington Monument, or Mount Rushmore...how many on the list have you seen? What is your favorite historical American monument, and why? 

I've seen all but Rushmore.  The Statue of Liberty is my favorite for two reasons: 
-The first time I saw it from the air when returning from a trip to Russia, I welled up with tears. It made me think, "I'm home. This is MY home, the best country in the world!"
-When our son was in sixth grade, we accompanied his small class on an overnight field trip to NYC.  Fond memories of the kids' pleasure in being there. 



4. When it comes to the news are you more ostrich (stick my head in the sand) or hog (they have room to take a whole lot in)? How much attention have you given the recent news reports regarding ISIS and the acts of terror they've perpetrated against those who do not share their beliefs or support their cause?

I think I'm somewhere in the middle. (A hostrich?) I don't bury my head, but I can't take an overload of terror-centered news, either. It's almost more than I can bear to think of how quickly our country has changed just in the last five years. 

5. We're talking plain ice cream...vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry? Choose one.

Plain? It depends on my mood. If I'm in a good mood, vanilla. If I'm in a bad mood, chocolate. If I've had mood swings, strawberry.  My guess is you'd rather be around me on a vanilla day. 

6. Share a song you love containing the word 'stars' in the lyrics or title?

I honestly do love The Star-Spangled Banner.  I get a lump in my throat every single time I hear it. 

7. Describe and/or say goodbye to June with an acrostic

Between the weather, remodeling a kitchen, and buying a house (that STILL hasn't gone to settlement after two extensions), June has been STRESSFUL. As in, many times I was in  "chocolate ice cream" mood. 

Sloppy
Torrential
Rainy
Expensive
Stormy
Scary
Frustrating
Unnerving
Long

 8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I'm so thrilled that my friend Renee's cancer is in remission and she is growing her hair back, feeling energetic, and celebrating a lot of things just one year after her diagnosis.  One son graduated from college, another from high school. Here we are at the party she hosted for her homeschooled high school graduate.  I had to tease her about being an overachiever--graduating two kids and beating cancer in the same year. I'm beyond thankful to God for His healing mercy. 


13 comments:

April said...

Such wonderful news about your friend, Zoanna...God is so GOOD! What a sweet photo. I completely forgot about "The Star Spangled Banner"! Awesome pick!

D&S said...

Hi friend! I was wondering if you would Hodgepodge this week with all of the crazy-cray going on around you right now! Goodness girlfriend, do you deserve your vacation or WHAT?! And oh, I got happy chills hearing about your sweet Renee... And for the record, I'm glad you are my friend, no matter what ice cream mood you are in! :-)

Theresa said...

Praise God for the good news about your friend! I feel the same way when traveling and returning home. I love your answer about ice cream :)

Wendy said...

Hope you're in a vanilla mood today. Good news about your friend. Happy 4th July.

Elizabeth "Libby" Day said...

"Thank you Father for your healing mercy and grace in Zoanna's friends body."

The first time I saw the Statue of Liberty was also from the air. It was such a moving experience. We flew out of the clouds covering the city in time to see it right out the window. Amazing!

Enjoy your 4th!

Zoanna said...

Been vanilla all morning, but the next email could make me switch to strawberry or chocolate!

Zoanna said...

The HP is a spit if routine that I crave right now. Not that I have time for it...

Paige McDaniel said...

Hostrich = Hilarious! Totally agree! Have a great fourth!

Joyce said...

I'm a hostrich too..is a group of hostrich a herd or a flock? Enjoy the 4th and time with your family! Sounds like you need a break. June has been a little insane here and I think it's going to be September before things settle into a routine. Sigh.

Joyce said...

I forgot to mention your friend's wonderful news-so happy for her!

A Joyful Chaos said...

So happy for your friend!

Happy 4th.

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Well, sounds like you need some R & R with some vanilla ice cream to me. Maybe July will not be near as stressful. Wishing you a happy 4th!

Preeti said...

Many hugs and best wishes to Renee. Please let her know that she is in my thoughts and I am sending her good vibes!!!