Wednesday Hodgepodge

I'm participating in this week's Hodgepodge.  Head here to jump in. I liked the questions this week and am waiting for someone to call me back before I jump in the shower so here goes.....

1. Big week in the US of A...do you do your own taxes? What's something you've found 'taxing' lately? 

Yes we do our own.....meaning, Dave does them via Turbo Tax online. He's wicked smart and money savvy so it's always worked for us. Now that the mortgage is paid off and the girls made us empty nesters...and I'm officially retired from teaching...it's even easier and quicker! In fact, this was the first year we got a significant chunk back from both the fed and state! 

Something I've found "taxing" lately:  Listening to the complaints of a friend vs her trying to find the good in a situation.  Also the ridiculous A-Z Challenge I thought I'd finally do this year. Not sure I'd do this again. 

2. When it comes to travel are you a last minute packer or a lay it all out a week in advance type? Do you struggle to pack light? Share a packing tip that has worked for you. 

I tend to start packing 4-5 days before the actual leave time/day.  

I have learned (mainly from traveling to Europe and a plethora of camping trips from 1990-2008) and then packing to live in a cottage for 10 days from (2009-2021) to pack layers. I roll everything into sets.  Examples:  black jeans...lay them out on the bed with both legs together and place a rolled dress tee/shirt in middle with underwear inside the shirt.  Roll up Place in bottom of suitcase. I have a multi-layered suitcase so lighter things/pjs go in the zippered pouch and the middle gets the outfits. The bottom gets the shoes, jacket (usually a denim one and a hiking raincoat).  Roll everything!  You can fit a week's worth of clothing and toiletries into one large suitcase if you roll your stuff. 

3. April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Hmmm...who knew it got its own month? Do you like a grilled cheese sandwich? What ingredient do you add to take yours to the next level? 

I used to make grilled cheese for the family for lunches almost every Saturday in the winter months.  Now, Dave and I will occasionally have one on a weekend or sometimes in the winter, on a Friday evening when I've made a pot of homemade tomato basil soup.  If I make grilled cheese in the summer months, I tend to put a slice of tomato and fresh basil leaves on it while cooking.  We really don't eat them that often anymore as I only eat hummus and fruit usually for lunch. 

4. There's a well known quote that says-

'A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." John A. Shedd  

Is constant growth necessary or do you think it's more important to prioritize stability and peace in your life? 

I think it depends on the season you are in.  Example: my 20s were a season of continued growth personally, with education (MS in EdPysch/Special Ed which is one heck of a rigourous year as I had a fellowship with an internship), starting the teaching career, beginning to date seriously, getting engaged, etc etc.   Constant growth emotionally and spiritually for sure. 

Then a period of wonderful honeymoon bliss but again personal growth and spiritual growth. 

During the parenting years, more  growth as a parent working full time, managing the home, etc etc. Learning what works what doesn't. 

Now I'm in a season of more spiritual growth (Because no Christ follower has fully "arrived" ...we are constantly learning and growing through Scripture study, prayer, meditation, church ministries, etc) ...this is a good thing! 

But as for marital growth...we are at such a good place.....Peace, stability, and yes we remain best friends 😊

5. Let's wrap this up with a fun spring this or that-

• Daffodils or tulips:  tulips! I mean come on, I live outside Albany NY....we have Tulip Fest soon! Plus mine are finally coming up!
• lemonade or iced tea: decaf, unsweetened sun tea (I love peach) but lemonade is good too and I make my dad's recipe.  Store bought is just SO MUCH sugar!!
• gardening or hiking :  Um. Do you really need to ask? hahah  for those of you who don't come here often: I founded and operate a hiking group for adults ages 21 and older and for a select few families with children, called SoulSteps. We hike from mid-March to mid-December.  I often 1-2 hikes per week June-October and weekly March-May; Nov/Dec. This year, for the first time I'm trying my hand at deck gardening (containers).  I have buttercrunch lettuce coming up!! and I'm growing a type of short sunflowers that do best in pots. We shall see if I'm successful. I'm really not a gardner. 
• ladybugs or butterflies :  Dragonflies.  So butterflies but I like ladybugs, too! 
• umbrella or raincoat: it's NY. Both. but  when hiking, I pack a rolled up very lightweight hiking raincoat. not an umbrella. 😂
• floral patterns or polka dots : floral, but more on the bohemian side. I own several Natural Life pieces of clothing.  Link is here. Highly recommend their stuff if you're into the artsy/1970s/bohemian look like I prefer for spring and summer. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It finally feels like spring here in NYS! 

M is for Mighty

 

Today is the letter M in the A-Z Challenge.  I'm writing on the Attributes of God and so for today, I chose the word MIGHTY.

God is MIGHTY. 

Probably the most "famous", most recognized Scripture about God being Mighty is the prophecy of Isaiah when he talks about Jesus coming to earth (years later!) as being "Mighty God".  It reads like this:  (and yes, Messiah by Handel has a song with this Scripture...you know it as The Hallelujah Chorus). 

Here's a song we sometimes sing in my church: 

God is all powerful and Mighty!!

L is for Love

 

Today's letter is L for the A-Z April Writing Challenge.   Head to this blog to learn more. 

The theme I chose for this challenge, is "The Attributes of God".  

God is Love. 

His love is everlasting and unconditional.  

He loves ALL people and He created us in His image. 

There is nothing you can do to make God stop loving you!

And God wants us  to share His love with others.  He wants us to love our neighbor (anyone who is different from us) as we want to be loved. 

Why is that so hard for people to understand??

And He sent us Jesus, His Son, to experience life as a human here on earth. 

It's because of this, that we celebrate Christmas!

And because of this, that we recognize Good Friday....

....He loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son Jesus on a cross to take away our sins and pay the penalty of that sin.  

And He loves us so much that He made it possible for Jesus to rise from the  dead and live forever!

This is why we have Easter.

And He loves us oh so very much, that He will one day return to this Earth and make all things right and new.  A new heaven and a new earth will happen and for those of us who have a relationship with Him...who know Him by confessing our sins and following His ways, we too will live forever. 

K is for King of Kings

 

Ok...it's Sunday morning, my coffee is fresh and I think I'm finally caught on on the A-Z Writing Challenge. 

I chose the Attributes of God as my theme and today I had originally thought "Kind" but I've already written on Compassionate which is basically the same so I'm going with King of Kings. 

Depending on your political leanings, we have someone in the top spot of our nation who would most likely love to be a king.  (in my opinion and based on what I've seen in the news) Personally, this scares me. 

 On another level, although I cannot abide that man (yes I voted for KH) .....I know one day, he will have to kneel before the Almighty King of Kings and wow would I love to see that. 

We all will bow before the King of Kings. God is Sovereign and He will one day come back in all His glory.  Every knee will bow and every tongue confess......

There are many words to describe God/Jesus and to me, one of the most powerful is as King of Kings!!