Hurry Up and Wait: The Weekly Hodgepodge



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What's surprised you most about your life or life in general?

I started to say that how well things are going was surprising, but that would be a lie.  It should be this good, and better.  I've prayed.  My friends have prayed.  God continually reminds me of His Word and asks me to trust Him.  His plan is good.  I'm the one who's been screwing it up.

Any of you who've read my blog for any significant length of time knows that God has brought me through many hard times (some self-inflicted) and helped me overcome so much crap that should have killed me, or at least made me stark raving crazy (again, some self-inflicted).

God's word says in Romans 8:28 that He works all things together for my good because I love Him and am called according to His purpose.  I've been calling that one in.  It's my time.  It's time for me to do Him more good than harm.  It's time for me to work and have something to show for it.  It's time for me to fulfill God's purpose in my life, rather than just sit and dream about it.

Sweet potato fries, sweet potato casserole, a baked sweet potato, a bowl of butternut squash soup, a caramel apple or a slice of pumpkin pie...you have to order one thing on this list right now. Which one do you go for? 

Wait, no sweet potato pie?  The wheel is rigged!

What's a famous book set in your home state? Have you read it? On a scale of 1-5 (5 is fantastic) how many stars does it rate?

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in Alabama.  I was forced to read it in high school and I give it a one out of five.  Just as I said when the sequel came out and everyone was peeing themselves over it:

My friends are beside themselves absolutely drooling because they want another book like To Kill a Mockingbird.  Why?  Why would people want more of a story like that? For those who've never read the book or viewed the movie: It's the story of a country lawyer who defends a black man falsely accused of rape.  The man was convicted, sent to prison, and was killed in prison for trying to escape.  Oh yeah, we need more literature like that.  No thank you; one forced reading in high school was enough.

 There are 60 days until Christmas...have you started your shopping? How do you stay organized for the holidays?

Are you kidding me?  My goal is to get approved for an apartment, get moved, and have something in my new place besides an air mattress and a box of light bulbs.  I'll deal with Christmas later...like NEXT Christmas.

October 26th is National Tennessee Day. Have you ever lived or spent any time in Tennessee? Is this a state you'd like to visit one day? The top rated tourist attractions in Tennessee are-The Great Smoky Mountain National Park (Gatlinburg area), Elvis's Graceland (Memphis), Birth of the Music Biz (Memphis and Nashville), Dollywood (Pigeon Forge), Tennessee's Military Heritage (many battlefields), The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home), The Parthenon (Nashville), Oak Ridge American Museum of Science and Energy, Chattagnooa and the Tennessee Valley Railroad, Downtown Knoxville, Lookout Mountain, The Titanic Museum (Pigeon Forge), The Museum of Appalachia (Clinton), and The Lost Sea Adventure (Sweetwater).  How many on this list have you seen? Which one on the list would you most like to see?

When I was in Girl Scouts, we went to the now defunct Opryland in Nashville.  When I go back to my neck of the woods to visit, I'd like to go to the Tennessee Aquarium and go to Gatlinburg to play in the artist shops.  It's only a few hours from my hometown.

Insert your own random thought here.

Well, the first apartment I applied for fell through.  Well, fell through isn't really the right term for what happened.  I'll tell the story of what happened later--after I'm for sure settled somewhere.  I found a larger place even closer to work, and I jumped on it like duck on a Junebug.  I'm just waiting for my paperwork to be approved.  When that happens, the place is mine (I paid to hold it).  I'm believing for God's favor and that the process runs smoothly and quickly to get me moved in.  Keep praying, y'all.

Which Way Did He Go, George?: The Weekly Hodgepodge




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Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your sense of direction? 1=can't find my way out of a paper bag and 10=if I've been somewhere once I can find it blindfolded ten years later.

When was the last time you looked at/used a map you could hold in your hand? (phones don't count!) 

Back east, down south, out west, up north

Choose one of these directional expressions and tell us why you chose it.

OK, this is the three questions in one.  Isn't that cheating, Mrs. Joyce?

Anyway...

Part 1:  Since I'm finding my away around a new town, I'd say I'm around a 7 on the scale.  Once I have a good base of directions, I can find things relative to the base.

Part 2:  The last time I used an actual map was when I worked for a moving company.  That was only because the computers were down.  Honestly, I'm much better with a GPS and an online map site.  For me, those maps are easier to understand.  I wouldn't have made it across the country without them.

Part 3:  "Out west."  Well, it's where I am.

Did you do more talking or listening yesterday? Is that typical? Describe your yesterday in one word.

Listening.  I endeavor for listening more to be typical of my behavior.  Yesterday in one word?  Exhausting.

Time, money, water-power-resources, opportunity...which one on the list are you most guilty of wasting? What might you do to change that?

When I was younger, I wasted a lot of money with debt and stupid decisions based on a poverty mindset.  Now, I'd say I struggle with wasting time.  At present my biggest time waster is my commute to work.  Hopefully, a solution is soon coming.

Did your family take regular vacations when you were a kid? Tell us something you remember about a family roadtrip from your own childhood.

Like I said here, our family couldn't afford vacations, so I don't have a good answer for you.

If you could grow anything you wanted, what would you grow? Why?

If I could grow something that is impossible to grow, I would grow a money tree because I'm ready to be out of debt and I'm ready to be a better giver.  If I could grow something that's possible to grow, I'd like to grow some of the fussy plants I've not had any success with.  I have a green thumb, but if a plant is too complicated to maintain, I kill it.  Things like African violets, poinsettias, orchids, and geraniums.  I guess I just learn to paint them in order to enjoy them.



Insert your own random thought here.

Well, Saturday, I go to view an apartment to possibly rent.  If it the right place for me (and I hope and pray it is), I'll be moving the first week of November.  I'll keep y'all posted.  I'm ready to move closer to my work.  We had our first snow Monday and my long commute was not pleasant.  Pretty, but not pleasant.  Plus, I'm ready to be settled into my own place.

Loud Love: The Weekly Hodgepodge




Join the fun! 

Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

Have you ever spent time on a farm? Tell us a little bit about it. Have you ever grown your own pumpkin? Been on a hayride? Driven a tractor? Milked a cow?

The last summer I thought preschool full time, our class visited a farm.  For many of the children, it was the first time they'd seen a live chicken or cow.  Part of the fun was taking a hayride around the property.  Personally, I've not grown my own pumpkin, driven a tractor, or milked a cow.

My Thunderbabies' trip to the farm in 2007

What's something younger you would like about you now?

I'm much healthier than I when I was younger.  Spiritually, I know much more about the Lord and His Word.  Mentally, I experience much more joy.  Physically, I enjoy exercise and experience far less health problems than when I was younger. 

What are three things you'd like to do more often? Three things you'd like to do less often?

More often:

• Get outside
• Pray
• Listen to more music

Less often:

• Worry
• Ignore my own needs
• Squint

What's on your nachos?

Cheese, salsa, sour cream, chicken, sliced black olives, and avocado.

What's the most random thing in your purse or wallet? Does it need to stay there?

A set of earplugs.  My church gives them out in case the music is too loud.  It isn't, so I need to return them.  Their sound people do a great job.  I've been sitting on the front row, and the music is excellent, but not overwhelming.

Insert your own random thought here.

We sang this at church last week and I can't (and won't) get it out of my head.