April A- Z Challenge...Letter 'C'

 

                                                                              

                                    C

                                          Choices

Everyday we are confronted with choices.  Some have minimal consequences while others are life threanening.

I read somewhere that the average person makes thousands of choices daily...what time do I set my alarm?, what am I going to wear to school?, what shall I pack for my lunch?, should I look at social media or not? and the list goes on and on and on.  I never realized how many choices I make daily.

Around the age of 12, I chose to follow Christ.  Graduating from high school, graduating from college, getting married, moving, starting a family, and I still claimed I was following Jesus.  But was I? My family and I went to church and even taught children's program. I cant' remember being angry at God...EVER  Until...

Grief happened.  Grief is hard.  I get angry at people and say a few choice words (words I never said before grief entered my life and I am so ashamed of myself afterwards), hold on to grudges, and forgiveness was not in my vocabulary.

No one has a choice to survive grief, it isn't optional (I read this somewhere).  But I do have a choice in how I handle situations and how I live.  I don't have to get angry or bitter and forgiving someone frees me. 

Two choices I will make everyday in this new beginning me:

1.  To truly follow Christ not just go through the motions...God is a forgiving person and I am human. Take Christ with me as walk out my door.

2.  Today is going to be better than the day before...repeat, repeat, and repeat this to myself every morning.

I get to choose!!!   

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. '"  (John 8:12) The Good News: As long as you walk with Jesus, you will always know where you're meant to be going.

ABC Challenge... B is for Beginning Again

                                   

              

                                         B                        

                                            Beginning Again

      

                             

I give myself permission to begin again.  I am not starting over, to me this is different from beginning again.  All my experiences have made me who I am today.

Begin again to embrace all life has to offer.  Open my eyes to the light of a new day. I made a pact with  myself that no matter how I feel (anger, sadness, bitterness) or what I think (choose not to believe all my mind says to me) that I commit myself to enjoy life.

Some days will be more difficult than others, but each day I will choose to being again.

I read this somewhere...just understand that I get sad sometimes.  Sometimes I shut the world out and when I feel better I'll let it back in.  I just won't keep the world shut out too long.

April ABC Challenge....A...A New Beginning

 

"Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars.  You have to let go at some point in order to move forward."  (C.S. Lewis)

My theme for the 2021 ABC Challenge is A brand new beginning....a rebirth. 

                                    A

                                                  A New Beginning

Most people begin the New Year with new beginnings, but I am not most people.

My life has not been all dreary and bleak.  I have experienced much happiness and joy more than I ever thought possible or deserved.

With the good life, comes the bad.  I have experienced the loss of my husband.  Watching my dear husband struggle; he was in the fight of his life against cancer.  I also have experienced the loss of a child.  One year after my husband passed away, my precious daughter, Amanda, was only 32 when she passed away from heart complications.  The hardest thing I have EVER done and CONTINUE to do is living everyday without my child.  This experience violates the rules of life.

How do I begin a new beginning?  Life goes on.  I am moving forward and bringing my daughter and husband with me.  I am making a commitment to a brand new me.  Moving forward and not moving on. But trying to enjoy life and all it has to offer. 

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

                                                           

  

Wednesday Hodgepodge

The older I get, the faster the months go by.

 1. The Hodgepodge lands on the last day of March...in ten words or lest bid the month adieu. 

Goodbye windy March; Hello to April's allergies.

2. March 31st is National Tater Day...your favorite way to have a potato? Given a choice would you opt for sweet, white, or red? How often are potatoes on your menu in one form or another? Ever been to Idaho? If not, is that a state you'd like to visit someday?

Baked potato with no butter but A1 Sauce and a little Himalayan Pink Salt.  I like red potatoes with olive oil and seasoning.  Potatoes are very little on my menu; I don't know why . Never been to Idaho.  I have read an article about McDonald's potatoes being from Idaho and that the farm where grown uses a pesticide that doesn't allow anyone in the farm for 5 days after spraying the pesticide on the potatoes.  (geez)

3. Last time someone or something 'rained on your parade'? Explain. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was in a happy mood and BAM....one phone call ruined it.  I am waiting on the phone call again...I have a response....I will not allow Satan to still my joy, Thank you for calling and hang up.  Probably won't ever get the phone call again. But I am ready with my response.

4. Put all your eggs in one basket, get cracking, nest egg, bad egg, good egg, egg on, have egg on your face, or walk on eggshells...choose a phrase from the list that applies to something in your life currently and tell us how or why.

Walk on eggshells....I volunteer my opinion without being asked so when I am around this person, I constantly walk on eggshells not wanting to say anything.

5. If I visited your home would I find a lot of baskets there? Something you like to keep in a basket? 

Plenty of Longaberger Baskets.  In the kitchen find them full of notepads, pads, and utensils.  In the den full of books and books, staplers, pens, paperclips, and in the Sunroom full of books!

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Our weather is going to be a rollercoaster ride!  Yesterday, it was sunny 71 degrees, today cool 50s and rainy, Thursday and Friday high in the 30s with snow!   

Wishing all a Happy Easter!

Wednesday Hodgepodge...Stepping Into Spring

 1. "Hope springs eternal"...discuss. 

This past 2020, I think we all had hope, at least I did.   Hope springs eternal helps me to face challenges and boy have we all had to face challenges in more ways than we could ever imagine.  BUT we are surviving and we are seeing the light!

2. Last time you needed to 'spring into action' or 'spring to someone's defense'...explain. 

Sunday, I received a phone call and had to quickly spring into action and stand firm.

3. Tulips or daffodils? baby birds or baby bunnies? The cherry tree or the dogwood tree? Jelly beans or peeps? March madness or spring training? Peas or carrots? 

Tulips, baby birds, dogwood tree, jelly beans, March madness, and carrots.  The house where hub and I lived had the most beautiful dogwood trees and tulips were planted around the base of the tree.  I miss that scene. I went looking for a bag of jelly beans and I can't find them.

4. I read an article here on the South's best cities on the rise. They are-Baton Rouge Louisiana, Fayetteville Arkansas, Greenville South Carolina, Huntsville Alabama, Lexington Kentucky, Norfolk Virginia, Tulsa Oklahoma, Waco Texas, Wilmington North Carolina, and Winston-Salem North Carolina. Of the cities listed how many have you seen in person? Which one on the list would you most like to see? Have you spent much time in the southern states (USA)? Any spring road trips on your calendar? 

I have seen 6 of these cities...some were when the girls were in school and related to school trips.  Most of my trips have been to the southern states; wishing for trips to the New England states.  No trips on my calendar at the moment.

5. Tell us how your outdoor space needs sprucing up this spring? Which do you enjoy more (or hate the least-ha!) yard work or house work?

I have a huge tree in the back yard.  It provides great shade.  The winds have been fierce and so many little twigs are scattered all across the yard.  Couple of weeks ago, I began picking them up and the yard was looking pretty good. That didn't last long with the wind; the yard is covered again with these limp skinny twigs. 

Last fall, I tore up my mower because I ran over a tree root (I knew it was there and had been so careful mowing).  I tore up my lawn. I should have left the mower where it died but no I had to move it and the blade did a number on my lawn.  When the weather stays warm, lawn repair to the rescue.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I saw an ad that if you show your card when you are fully vaccinate Krispy Kreme is giving away doughnuts!  

Giving the writing Standards of Learning Test to the students who are not attending in person ....Shew!  Wednesdays are scheduled for deep cleaning, meetings, etc. but with the state mandating state tests this was the only day available for virtual learners to come in the building.

I did enjoy my Bible Study last Wednesday evening and looking forward to tonight.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Happy St Patrick's Day

May the luck of the Irish be with us all.

 1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on St. Patrick's Day. Will you wear green? Eat corned beef and cabbage? Drink green beer? Have you ever been to Ireland? Is it on your travel 'bucket list'? 

Probably will put some shade of green on today.  I think I will have me some corned beef and cabbage this evening.

Green beer...that is a 'No', I have school tomorrow and don't know if I can stop with just one.

I have never been to Ireland...yes, would love to go but not currently on my bucket list.

2. Something you think is 'worth its weight in gold'? 

I can't think of a something....how about a someone?  My aunt is definitely worth gold to me.  She is only one year older than me, but with all I have been through she is the ONLY one I can count on....just to hear me rant, cry, or whatever.   

3. Something that makes you 'green around the gills'? 

When someone lies, but I know the truth.  This just makes me so sick to my stomach I could vomit!!

4. What puts a 'spring in your step' these days? 

The sunshine!!

5. Write a limerick using one of the following as your theme....March, St. Patrick's Day, Covid, 2020 and/or 2021, the color green, or life lately. Yes, you can do it. 

COVID...Travel

There once was travel everyday

No one thought twice of traveling

Suddenly it stopped 

Now I'm stuck  at home

Praying it will just go away soon!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hitting 70s today!!  Yay!!  and very little chance of rain. 

Starting a new Bible Study tonight for Women only.  Should be interesting and looking forward to it.  The title of the study...Knowing Him. 

Have a great rest of the week and Enjoy Life!

Hello March....Wednesday Hodgepodge

Hello March!!  So far, I am enjoying this month with the extra daylight hours and the warmer temps.

 1. Is March coming in like a lion where you live? Aslan, Simba, Elsa, The Cowardly Lion...your favorite 'famous' lion? 

March coming in pretty nice. Monday mild temps with some drizzle, yesterday sunny skies in the high 40s and today it is supposed to be sunny and in the 50s.  Can't complain here.                                                                                                     My favorite would be the Cowardly Lion...I just love his big heart.

2. In what way do you 'march to the beat of your own drum'? 

I have stopped watching a lot of the news...I know people say I need to be informed but just can't handle much of it anymore.  My gracious...think of changing Mr. Potato Head's name and Dr. Seuss books wanting to ban these....for Heaven's Sake give me a break!  Also, have quit looking at FB.  There is too much bragging going on...look at me attitude.  I do look at some of the pictures of friends and listen to my Bible Study but I have cut a lot of screen time out.  

3. What item that you don't have already, would you most like to own? Any chance of that happening soon? 

Drawing a total blank on this....maybe I am just too content with what I have.

4. March is National Flour Month...are you a baker? Cookies-cakes-or pies...your favorite sweet treat to bake? What's the last non-sweet thing you made that called for flour? 

I am not a baker, but I do like to bake cookies when I get the urge for that something sweet that isn't store bought. The last thing I made that called for flour was cornbread.

5. There are 31 days in the month of March...where were you and what were you doing when you were 31? If you haven't hit that milestone yet, then tell us where you were and what you were doing 31 months ago? (if math is not your thing, that would be August 3, 2018)

When I was 31, I was juggling a career with a 2yr old and a 6 month old.  I was teaching at an intermediate school and living in the same town I was living in then.  Wish I could go back to those days!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am meeting a friend today for lunch.  She and I use to teach together and then life happened.  So excited for this get together. She has 3 children...a son who runs track at UT, another son in high school, and her daughter is in middle school...time flies by.