Hodgepodge on a Stick

It's almost 1 a.m. and I have a sore throat, so this is going to have to be brief before bed. (Try not to clap too vigorously.) 





 

1. What is something you'll never forget about the age you are right now?

Well, considering I'm forgetting things quite often at this age, I'm not sure I'll "never forget" anything later.  Is that clear as mud?   

One thing I hope I never forget is how good it feels to finally, finally, finally, be starting to feel free of legalism in its many and varied forms.  My whole life I've struggled with looking a certain way, acting a certain way, trying to measure up to what I perceive (or was flat-out told) was expected of  "a good Christian."  And when legalism is forged into your being through people who are not free themselves, it is bondage.  

Our pastor (new church as of about 8 months ago) just preached Galatians 5:12 which I've never ever heard preached.   I've heard verse 11 and 13 preached, but 12 ? No. I'm sure preachers everywhere have been afraid to be fired for preaching certain verses, but not our pastor. It is absolutely the best feeling to be being set free in ways I've never experienced. 

I don't have to worry whether God thinks jeans are inappropriate in church. Certain people think they're taboo; God is not like us.  I don't have to admit that I'm not reading certain books that are going around the church.  I don't have to serve in multiple ways in order not to feel like a slacker. I am free. "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free!"
     

2. What's a household chore you've never done? How have you managed that???

I have done them all. Seriously.   Frankly, I'm curious to see how spoiled some people might answer this, because I am stumped.  Although, I have a friend whose mother had a housekeeper, so my friend didn't know how to clean a house when she got married.  In my opinion, that is a disservice to children and their future families. 

3. Does nature shape our personalities more than nurture? Explain? 

I have much to say on this topic, but am too tired to be erudite.  My short answer is this: we are born with a certain personality that, for the most part, wouldn't change much, regardless of how we were nurtured.  But I do think that nurturing influences the degree of expression of a certain personality.  Nurturing isn't necessarily limited to home life, either.  For example, a mother may let her child be dramatic and manipulative, but sooner or later, a teacher, classmate, coach, spouse, or boss will put a stop to it. So the personality is still there, but the expression is hampered. 

4. Friday (February 28th) is 'Something on a Stick Day'...funny because Zoanna over at A Penchant for Pens recently sent me an idea for a question relating to this topic. What's your favorite food eaten on a stick? 

Really? There is a" Something on Stick Day"? Who comes up with these things, and what do they do in real life?   I was only trying to come up with a theme for my son's birthday party --how about a stick theme?-- and was thinking of food to serve on a stick:  kebabs? corn dogs? Chinese?    (In the end, we had nothing on a stick because he thought 'sticks" was a dumb theme.)

Anyway, cotton candy is my favorite food on a stick!  I can't say "cotton candy" without remembering how I was pranked by my son and his wife (then girlfriend) at the beach one time. 
They tricked me into thinking that the machine I saw at the flea market was a cotton candy maker, so I got all excited and sort of ran ahead of them. Got there and asked how much was the cotton candy. The lady just put her arm around me and said said in a sicky sweet Southern accent, "Oh, honey, this iddn't cotton candy. This machine is making the stuffing for teddy bears."  I turned as red as the machine itself, while Steve and Ambrey just doubled over laughing. 

5. Which of your five senses do you treasure most, and why?

My sight.  I think I could imagine sounds, and I could survive without taste and smell, but would be very fearful and sad without the ability to see.  Wow, but if I couldn't touch or be touched ? Gosh, what a loss. 

6. What's the best music, theatre, or sporting venue you've been to? What made it great?



Best theatre--local college near here because of the memories I have of playing Amaryllis in "The Music Man." My dad was a River City Volunteer fireman, and my older sister was a Wa Tan Ye girl.  It was one of the best summers of my life, having my dramatic side nurtured!

 

7. It's the last week of the month...in five words or less bid adieu to your February. 

Goodbye, you pasty white boy. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

So much for being brief...

Then Sings My Quilter's Soul

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I bought  a huge bin of fabric from a widower who had the painful task of selling the contents of his late wife's quilting studio.  She'd been sewing for 25 years and had accumulated quite the stash--and excellent taste in quality, I might add.

I assured the man I would use the fabric to make things of beauty and love that would bless people, particularly children. My plan is to make things for my baby niece, and also doll quilts (7 this year, for starters) for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

After paying my $75 for this motherlode of happiness, I came home and immediately sorted it  by color. The line of an old hymn sprang from my voice: "Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee..." I'm sure my grandmother, who used to make dolls and quilts, would sing that while she sewed.

I get such a craving for oranges every time I see this citrus fabric!

Blue with red hearts Fabric-- I made little treat bags for 26 first graders and their wonderful teacher and her co-worker and of course, for my Valentine birthday boy.

 My favorite in the entire lot was this purple and yellow floral one below.  I have already started a purple pinwheel doll quilt from this assortment.

My younger sister loves grey wolves; I think I'll make a pillow for her. Of course I'll turn it rightside up.

  I started another doll quilt from this pink stack, as well as a car seat quilt for my baby niece.

Duckies and butterflies, how cute!

This fabric excites me--so much movement!

Of course the sunflowers always make me think of my Kansas friends and family.

My mind is spinning with project ideas. If only life didn't get in the way of sewing all day!

But at least my soul is singing just thinking about it!

Diplomas, Retrievers. and Girly Bags

Our third child, Stephen, graduated  from college with a degree in Computer Science---a whole two months ago!  But I am just now recapping the day?



Life goes by in a blur.















In some ways, postponing the writing of a major life event has its advantages. The main one is that you've filtered out the trivia and retained the moments that got sealed in your brain or impressed on your heart.

Little snippets of memories that may or may not have been captured by the camera.

Memories such as:

-purposely leaving the big camera at home because your daughter-in-law is by far the better photographer and is certain to have hers with her

-deciding that a Big Deal Day like Your Son's College Graduation is the ideal time to learn how to take pictures on your new phone,

pictures so good (or so bad)  that could ostensibly last forever in cyberspace.

-realizing that, without your daughter-in-law or sixth grade son to alert you, you might accidentally be   taking a video of a couple's back and draining your battery

-loving the man who has worked so hard, sacrificed so many of his own wants, lived frugally but generously, and saved so diligently to put his kids through college so that they could graduate debt-free


-and noticing that the boy is wearing a hand-me-down shirt from the older brother who is taking the stage soon

-asking yourself for the 998000th  time, "Where did the last 22 years go?  Wasn't I just holding a baby in a pink and blue striped knit cap while I wore a hospital gown?  And now he's wearing a  cap and gown of a whole different sort."

-wondering if any other parents are as proud of their kid as you are of yours, if anyone else could love the way you love, and conclude the answer is "yes," and it moves you to tears that God fills millions of people at the same time with crazy love for one, two, three, four, ten, or twenty kids they call their children.

You scan the gymnasium full of distinguished black and gold stripage, and enjoy watching the interpreter through sign language.

And you watch as he awaits his turn to take hold of the very thing he has worked five long years for:
his college diploma.

You remember all the nights when you wake at 3:18 a.m. and he is still working on a computer programming assignment in his room. 

And during finals, when he humbly asks you to drive him to school so he can sleep an extra hour in the car, you are glad you are still a stay-at-home mom who can say "Sure!"

You stay at home to raise another goofball 

who tells you he's gonna make a lot of money as a gamer someday if he practices enough.

Ahem. Good one, son.

 You are grateful that your graduate is willing to pose patiently for Mom who doesn't know the meaning of taking "just a quick shot right here."

He suggests that group photos be done a little ways off because of the all people wanting shots here.

He gladly carries her heavy purple bag with the pink laptop cover, as long as it's closer to her.  He is secure in his manhood, but has his limits.  You look at the bag and think, "granddaugher's diaper bag someday?"

 Well, you might actually have let the thought slip out your mouth, and the couple giggle nervously.
Gee, Mom, one thing at a time already!

They love that the school mascot is the retriever. Each of them had a beloved golden retriever that 

they would take on walks in the park as they fell more deeply in love.

(His eyes were closed, but the family was rushing me to move along, so I didn't shoot twice...

that he knew of.)

  You snap pictures of him because he is just so darn cute.  And did I mention the pride?

I  think this should be a two-part series.


After all, it  shouldn't take as long to read a blog post as it does to earn a bachelors degree, right?

12 Word Hodgepodge

My baby just turned 12 on Valentine's Day; hence, 12-word answers today.. 

1. What's the biggest change since your childhood in the way people think or act?

Entitlement thinking, leading  to entitlement actions. Someone owes me  because I'm awesome. 

2. The Olympic Biathlon involves cross country skiing broken up with either two or four rounds of target shooting. Which part of that would stress you out more? Or would you love them both equally?

Cross country skiing would stress me out. Shooting's a blast (quite literally)!

3. February is National Canned Food Month...what is your most often purchased canned food item?  What was in the last can you opened?

Tomatoes are what I most often buy. Last opened? White albacore tuna.
4. What river (anywhere in the world) would you most like to cruise?

I think this question was asked before. I'll say "Beautiful Blue Danube."

5. It's the middle of the night and you can't sleep...what do you do? Count sheep? Toss and turn? Watch television? Or do you get up and do something productive?
Complain to self, then pray. If still awake, I'll read or write.


6. How important is keeping your cool?

"A fool vents all his feelings; a wise man restrains them."   (*Proverbs 29:11)



7. I've got white stuff on the brain so why not run with it? White lie, wave the white flag, white knuckle it, white wash a situation, or white as a sheet...which phrase could most recently apply to your own life in some way? 

How about white glove? Monday I cleaned inside AND behind my oven!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I went to Walmart for the first time in 3 years yesterday.