Thursday, December 31, 2020

Hindsight About 2020: The Weekly Hodgepodge

Join the fun! 
Come on over to 
for the Hodgepodge link-up!

Tell us about your favorite moment or share one of the bright spots from the year we're leaving behind. 

Despite this being such a difficult year, God has been faithful.  One of the best surprises of the year was the paying off a debt that had hung around so long--as Dave Ramsey says--that I thought it was a pet; only this pet was Kujo!  I can't take credit for it--God was so creative in surprising me with unexpected funds.

What do you wish you'd known at the start of 2020? Elaborate. 

I wish I'd known that the rapid negative changes in the year were going to send me into a prolonged depression.  If I had known, I would have been able to take more of an offensive stance and squelched it before it became so overwhelming.  Instead, I've been fighting it defensively for the past couple of months and it's been extremely difficult.  Fighting the effects of prolonged isolation is bad enough, but add to that grief from my mom and niece's deaths, stress from work and class, plus Seasonal Affective Disorder mixed with flushing my healthy eating and exercise habits down the toilet for several months.  It's a wonder I didn't just go to bed, pull the covers over my head and stay there.  Again, God has been faithful; He has sent me who and what I needed when I needed it.
 
Best book you read this year? If you did not read any books this year, what's the best thing you ate all year? We've all eaten, right? 

Man, that's a difficult one.  I've read a lot of good books this year.  Maybe I should start with the worst book I read this year; As A Man Thinketh by James Allen.  The idea of the book (positive thinking) was a good one.  However, Allen's execution wasn't just lacking, it was nonexistent.  This book was full of platitudes and flowery language with no practical application.  It's a good thing I read it on audio, so my time wasn't a total waste since I listened to it on my commute to and from church.

So out of the really good books I read this year, the best fiction read was C. S. Lewis's The Great Divorce and one of the best nonfiction reads was Conspiracy of Kindness by Steve Sjogren.  
 
The Pantone Colors of the year for 2021 are ultimate gray and illuminating yellow (a bright shade)...are you a fan? Would we find either of these colors in your home or wardrobe? 

I really like those colors and they look good together.  I could see a kitchen or bedroom painted in that yellow with a grey accent wall (or the other way around).  As far as my own uses of the colors:  I was given a grey sweater for Christmas that I like.  However, I don't look good in yellow since my skin has yellow undertones. I do have some ideas for using these colors in paintings. 
 
If you were/are making a list of 21 things to do/accomplish in 2021 what is one thing that would be on it? 
 
I can't narrow it down to just one thing; there's so much to do.  I'm not doing 21 things in 2021, but I've been working on a 50 for fifty list of 50 things I want to accomplish before I turn 50 in 2022.
 
Insert your own random thought here.

In case you're interested:
* My completed 2020 It's the Hardback Life Reading Challenge is here.
* My new 2021 Flip and Sip Reading Challenge introduction is here.
* My latest Simple Woman's Daybook post is here.

2021 Flip and Sip Reading Challenge: Introduction

Artwork by Shannon Maddox, aka "Auntie."
 

The It's the Hardback Life Reading Challenge has come to a close.  I exceeded my 40 book reading goal by completing 51 volumes.  Time for a whole new reading challenge.  I'm well aware that I didn't review very many volumes last year.  Hopefully, I'll have more time for reviews this time around.

Like my other reading challenges, this one doesn't have any specific instructions or types of required books.  However, some books may be part of various categories.  Examples include:

  • Kiddie Lit - This year, I want to enjoy more children's books.  As a "retired" preschool teacher, I miss reading good books to children.  Plus, there are books from my childhood and teen years I'd like to revisit.
  • Recommended Reads - books recommended by what I hope are trustworthy sources.
  • Glorious rereads - books I enjoyed so much that I'm reading them again.
  • Everybody's Reading It - books that everybody and their grandma read that I'm just now getting to.
  • Nobody Admits to Reading It - books that others have said to stay away from (whether they've read it or not).
  • Impulse Reads - Books I bought, borrowed, or checked out of the library for no other reason than "hey, this looks interesting." 
My rating systems is as follows:

✮✮✮ = Outstanding
✮✮✮ = Pretty good
✮✮ = Could have been better / could have been worse.
= Not so great
 

Ain't nobody got time for that = DNF (did not/would not/could not finish)

Since I have exceeded by reading goal for the past couple of years, I'm going to increase my yearly goal to 50 books this year.  If you'd like to follow my reading progress, see my Goodreads page.

Whether you read one book or 100 this year, I would enjoy some company.  Drop in a comment once and a while to let me know how it's going. Yes, I know I say this every year...I mean it every year.

So, what are your reading goals for 2021?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Books Read and Reviewed:

Completed books will be marked as a link to the review or Goodreads comments.

Book 01 - A glorious reread     Book 06
Book 02                                   
Book 03                                   
Book 04                                   
Book 05                                   

Read, but not Reviewed:

  1. God With Us by Charles Spurgeon
  2. On Prayer and the Contemplative Life by Thomas Aquinas
  3. The Shorter Catechism With Scriptural Proofs by the Westminster Assembly
  4. C. S. Lewis:  A Life by Alister McGrath
  5. Introducing Theological Method by Mary M. Veeneman
  6. No Greater Love by Mother Teresa
  7. Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
  8. A Commonsense Guide to Fasting by Kenneth E. Hagin
  9. The Confessions of Saint Augustine by Augustine of Hippo
  10. Walk With Jesus:  Stations of the Cross by Henri Nouwn
  11. Martin Luther in His Own Words by Martin Luther
  12. Pauses for Lent by Tervor Hudson
  13. The Heart of the Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
  14. Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
  15. Interior Castle by Saint Teresa of Avila 
  16. A Little Book on the Christian Life by John Calvin.
  17. Of Prayer and the Christian Life by John Calvin.
  18. Partners in Prayer by John Maxwell
  19. As You Wish:  Inconceivable Tales From the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
  20. Be a People Person by John C. Maxwell
  21. Be All You Can Be by John C. Maxwell
  22. The Ministry of Intercession by Andrew Murray
  23. Depression is Contagious by Dr. Michael Yapko -- a recommended read
  24. Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn for Kids by John C. Maxwell - Kiddie Lit
  25. Soul Feast by Marjorie J. Thompson
  26. A Diary of Private Prayer by John Bailie
  27. The Rule of Saint Benedict by Benedict of Nursia
  28. Till He Come by Charles Spurgeon
  29. Atomic Habits by James Clear -- a recommended read
  30. All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum
  31. The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola by Ignatius of Loyola
  32. Sit Walk Stand by Watchman Nee
  33. Follow the Leader by John C. Maxwell
  34. The Autobiography of Saint Ignatius by Ignatius of Loyola
  35. Breaking the Patterns of Depression by Dr. Michael Yapko 
  36. Prevailing Prayer by Dwight L. Moody
  37. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
  38. Moody's Great Sermons by D. L. Moody
  39. A Life for Christ by D. L. Moody
  40. Daniel: Man of God by D. L. Moody
  41. The Overcoming Life by D. L. Moody
  42. Sowing and Reaping by D. L. Moody 
  43. 8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder by Carolyn Costin, et al.
  44. Introduction to a Devout Life by Saint Francis De Sales
  45. With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray
  46. A Gathering of Hearts by Lori Wick
  47. It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It by Robert Fulghum
  48. Uh-Oh by Robert Fulghum
  49. Maybe, Maybe Not by Robert Fulghum
  50. Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon
  51. The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott
  52. Pauses for Advent by Trevor Hudson
Ain't Nobody Got Time for That!:
  • Fifteen Minutes Alone With God by Emilie Barnes. I tried reading this book a long time ago (like decades ago) and couldn't remember why I never finished it.  Now I remember.  This is a good devotional if you are a wife and mom.  For someone not attached, it doesn't give much spiritual insight and really comes off as a "bougie mommy blog."  Seems like her message is that God wouldn't want to spend even 15 minutes with you if you're not married or have children.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Four Hundred Cinnamon Sticks: The Weekly Hodgepodge

Join the fun! 
Come on over to 
for the Hodgepodge link-up!

Congratulations to Miss Joyce--this is the 400th Hodgepodge!

I feel like episode 400 cannot go without comment. That's a whole lot of Hodgepodging folks. 2000 questions if my math is right. So, what's something you feel like you do 400 times a week? 

Smile.  I don't always smile because of something that's all about me.  Just bringing a smile to someone else makes me smile.  I also try to watch, listen to, and read things that, for the most part, are uplifting.  Those things make me smile.


Tell us where you were and something about what your life looked like in the year 2000? 

In the year 2000, I was finishing up my Master's Degree at Jacksonville State and starting my more than a decade's long stint as a preschool teacher.  The photo below is from my teaching days.

Do you like cinnamon? What's something you make and enjoy that calls for cinnamon? Of the cinnamon 'foods' listed which is your favorite-red hot cinnamon candies, cinnamon toast, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon toast crunch cereal, apple cinnamon oatmeal, churros, an Indian curry?

Yes, I like cinnamon.  I like to put it in oatmeal.  Two of my favorite recipes--wassail and granola--call for cinnamon. When I made French toast, I would use cinnamon, but I don't think I've had true cinnamon toast. I'm trying to think if I've had a genuine homemade cinnamon roll.  I don't think I have.  Hmm...I may have to learn to make these.

Um, I need to find a recipe that's less complicated...and metric..and expensive.

Does Christmas 2020 (or Hanukkah) look much like it has in years past, or is this year vastly different for you and your family? How so? How are you feeling about it all? 

I hadn't been posting to the Hodgepodge lately because the holiday questions carried my mind towards depression.  BTW--that's not Miss Joyce's fault; that's on me.  I've taken a lot of prayer time to get myself into the right frame of mind for this season.  With all the good that's happened to me this year, the extended isolation, plus losing my mom and my niece were just hard blows to take.  However, I feel like I'm in a good place not.  Not a perfect one, but a good one.

Yes, this year will look different. In a bad way because of the aforementioned losses.  In a good way because God opened up doors for me to provide joy to others, and in return He's given His gift of joy to me.  

Another good change is I'm fully celebrating Advent.  Yes, we celebrate at the church, but I mean in my daily devotional time, the meaning of Advent is in the center.  I'm burning the candles, saying the prayers, and reading the readings for myself and it has been so rich.  I'm so thankful for this season.

I finally got to the point that I didn't care if I was alone on Christmas day (I would enjoy it nonetheless), yet God has provided me friends to share part of the day with.

What's one thing you need or want to do before this year ends? 

I like to do my spring cleaning at the beginning of the year.  I want to get that done before my vacation is over. I have a few books I started this year that I hope to finish. I also want to take some time to pray and prepare for the new year.

I know Joyce said one thing, but hey, it's been a few weeks since I posted one of these. 

Insert your own random thought here.  

A couple of my favorite Christmas songs--one serious, one not even trying to be serious.  Enjoy!

 

In case you're interested:

* My latest Five Minute Friday post is here.
* My latest Simple Woman's Daybook post is here.
* My latest Auntie's Workshop post is here.


Monday, December 21, 2020

More Blessed to Give: The Simple Woman's Daybook

 If you would like to join in and post your own Daybook, please head on over to visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

 
For Today: Monday, December 21, 2020

Looking Out My Window ... 
 
I was greeted by this spectacular sunrise on my drive to church Sunday morning.  One day I will have a camera that captures the rainbow of hues that are in these fabulous skies.  For now, my phone camera will have to do.
 
I am Thinking...
  • About how to relax, yet get things done during my two week break from work and class.  I plan to accomplish a lot, however, I don't want to be run so ragged that I need a vacation as soon as I go back to work.
  • About the new year.  What shall my goals be?  Will the restrictions start to ease so that I can enjoy more time with people, or will we have another year of solitary confinement?  Either way, how do I make a better go of it in the coming year?
I am Thankful for...

The generosity of our church.  We have a nursing home very close to the church and the opportunity came to bring a Christmas blessing to them.  We have a contact there who can safely deliver everything to the residents since they are, of course, still on lockdown.  We were asked to bring signed cards, individually wrapped store bought snack cakes, and puzzle books.  As you can see, our congregation went above and beyond...and this was just the pile from the first service.  Who knows what the Saturday night and 10:45 Sunday service brought.  I was so glad I got to participate.  My only regret is that I can't help deliver the gifts.  My mom and I used to be on the church nursing home visitation team back home.  The residents were always appreciative of anything we brought them.  It's a lot like bringing kids Christmas who thought they wouldn't get anything.  So fun!

From the Workshop...  

I have a friend/co-worker I make something "Grinch" for every year.  I know I probably should have offered these for sale, but the idea didn't hit me until last week.

I tried my hand at making paper cut Christmas cards (I don't know what I'm supposed to call them, but they're not made from paintings like my other cards).






From Auntie's Test Kitchen... Nothing new at the moment. However, I'm gearing up for a Christmas and New Year's feast and preparing to try new recipes in the coming year.

I am Reading...  
 
On Prayer and the Contemplative Life by Thomas Aquinas
God With Us:  Reflections on the Incarnation by Charles Spurgeon
Faith Outside the Lines by Rebecca List-Bergeron
Christian Apologetics by Douglas R. Groothus

Completed volumes since my last Daybook:
 
1.    Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis
2.    The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis
3.    The Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis

Favorite Quote(s) of the Week ...

"What's the opposite of homemade sin? Storebought sin? Do they sell it on Black Friday? If so, somebody bring me some. I'm fresh out." - Auntie's Musings 11/28/14

"When you have to be told a word's offensive, and nobody knew it beforehand, that means it wasn't offensive. Don't know if y'all know that." - Greg Burgess

Now For Something Totally Different ...

Five Minute Friday word of the week:  Cancel.


 
 

 



A friend posted this on Facebook:
 



THIS was my answer:

Yeah, I know it's crude, but dang it was funny. 😈



 

Monday, December 7, 2020

Tidings of Comfort and Angst: The Simple Woman's Daybook

If you would like to join in and post your own Daybook, please head on over to visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

 
For Today: Monday, December 7, 2020

Looking Out My Window ... I've been working for the past few weeks on decorations for my apartment.  For this Christmas season, I am done decorating.  As time and budget allow, I'll try to add something new each year. My neighbors are already enjoying them.









 
I am Thinking...
  • About what to do about Christmas.  Since everyone is scared to pee without a permit from the government, even a small gathering seems out of the question.  How do you spread Christmas cheer like this?  Like I said here, I'm done with trying to find any joy for myself in this season of government mandated solitary confinement and media-perpetuated fear, but I'll be hanged if I'm going to be stopped from bringing a smile to someone else's face.
I am Thankful... I may not get everything listed in this post, but I have been overwhelmed with thankfulness.  It's not necessarily big things, but a lot of small blessings from God that have overflowed in my life.
  • For Colorado Community Church's lovely Thanksgiving Eve service
  • For a lovely Thanksgiving day with a family from work.
  • For a co-worker's negative test results for cancer.
  • For an amicable solution to a problem that had been plaguing me for weeks.
  • For some wonderful times of prayer and fellowship with God.
  • For my nephew, George's completion of truck driving school and the obtaining of his CDL license.  I'm a proud Auntie.

From the Workshop...  

The latest "Get 'er Done Art Challenge" post is here.  

#5 in the Dollar Tree challenge is here.

Since moving to Colorado, every year, I try to find an ornament that kind of represents the year.  The other day, I went over to Diana's to make some creations with her Cricut.  I decided to make a set of Advent ornaments for my tree (plus a bonus ornament.  Each one represents the focus of each week of Advent--all of which we need a truckload supply of right now. 


I got a pack of wooden ornaments and some holiday-themed scrapbook paper from hobby-lobby (I'm temporarily off restriction, remember?).  I glued the paper to the ornaments, then glued the cut out letters and shapes to the paper.  After they dried, I coated the paper with homemade Mod-Podge.  I took my gold paint pen and colored the top of the ornament, added a ribbon, and there you go.

From Auntie's Test Kitchen... Nothing new at the moment.

I am Reading...  

Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis
The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis
On Prayer and the Contemplative Life by Thomas Aquinas
God With Us:  Reflections on the Incarnation by Charles Spurgeon
Faith Outside the Lines by Rebecca List-Bergeron

Completed volumes since my last Daybook:

  1. The Message:  The Bible in Contemporary Language translated by Eugene Peterson.
  2. Thirsty for God by Bradley P. Holt.
  3. As a Man Thinketh by James Allen.
  4. The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal
  5. An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis
  6. The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis
  7. Conspiracy of Kindness by Steve Sjogren
  8.  A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis
  9. God is in the Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Favorite Quote(s) of the Week ...

"What's the opposite of homemade sin? Storebought sin? Do they sell it on Black Friday? If so, somebody bring me some. I'm fresh out." - Auntie's Musings 11/28/14

"When you have to be told a word's offensive, and nobody knew it beforehand, that means it wasn't offensive. Don't know if y'all know that." - Greg Burgess

Now For Something Totally Different ...

Five Minute Friday word of the week:  Cancel.