"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

HodgePodge Wednesday

Today is Hodgepodge Wednesday.  Joyce From From This Side of the Pond runs this meme every Wednesday. You should stop by and join her.



1. Share one fun thing you did last week, while the Hodgepodge was on 'spring break'.

Well while you were on your break - hope you had a nice break - I chaperoned the middle school - going to the zoo. No matter what age some one is - you're never too old to enjoy the zoo!

2.  April 10th is National Sibling Day...do you have siblings, and if so are you close? Share a favorite story featuring one or all of your siblings. If you don't have siblings, did you ever wish you did?

I am glad you told me - I did not know.  My brother died in 1997.  Now I have a half sister - that means the world to me.  We are 25 years a part!  She is the same age as my daughter - 5 months older.

Funny thing is she thinks almost just like me (poor thing) - yet we were not raised together and we aren't near each other either.  We are extremely close now and I thank God for her.  

3. Is it important to you to 'buy American'? Why or why not? How much of an effort do you make to 'buy American'? If you're not American, insert your own country in the blank.

I do try to buy USA if I can.  The one thing is - that once you retire - and your income is lower - you are more temped to buy items from other countries because they are a lot cheaper unfortunately.

4. Besides The Bible, what book has impacted your spirituality in some way?

I read lots of spiritual books.   I just finished reading a book about Billy Graham.  When he was in Atlanta back in 1968 I came down to the front and dedicated my life to the Lord - I was a baby Christian then.  He came to Atlanta again around 1996 and I took my brother and again I went down to to the front and dedicated my life to the Lord - so did my brother - and I was still a Christian struggling to grow.  My brother died the year later.  I am still trying to grow in my faith.  Anyway - Billy Graham is the real deal.  He dedicated his life to the Lord - and lived his life - his whole life - as a strong Christian.  He says what he means - means what it says - and it is a simple message.   

5. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes.  Do you find rainy days calming or depressing?  When were you last caught in a rainstorm? What's blooming in your neck of the woods today?

I find one or two rainy days calming - more then that - I miss the sun.  I have to admit.  When was I last caught in a rainstorm - last week - it has been raining a lot in Georgia this past winter - but at least it is not snow. And right now  everything is blooming here in Atlanta - azaleas - pink cherry trees - white pear trees - dogwoods - everything!  Springtime here is not a season - it is a blessing (that is what my mom used to say.)

6. What's your favorite yellow food?  

LEMONS!

7. April is National Poetry Month...what's a poem that holds special meaning for you, and why is it special?

I am not much of a poet.  Hmmm - I have about six I could name that mean a lot to me.  And I have lots of quotes.  My favorite poem is Letting Go Takes Love - Author Unknown.  Why - because I have a hard time letting go of people.  You can't fix and make them love/like you.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.    



My daughter is a teacher and my grandson is in middle school - they live here - and it's spring break - so they have been home all week - it makes the days and nights much more exciting and busy!



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The Laugh:  




                                       
          Insert the word grandma for mom and then go back to question number 8.




The Lift:



44 comments:

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I guess I need to wish my brothers happy sibling day!

I bet the trip to the zoo was fun.

MadSnapper said...

i enjoyed all of the questions/answers and it helps us know you better. i love lemons to, I have one brother, last time i saw him was in 07. i always wanted a sister.
rain depresses me and all i want to do if it is raining is read or watch TV. for some reason i can't do housework when it is raining.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

my bro is freakin' awesome. love him so. i will meet my sister in heaven one day i pray. i wish i had known her here on earth. but one day.

fun post. love lemons too. need one in my water & tea. so tasty.

have a warm day. ( :

Granny Annie said...

That looks like a neat meme. I might try it once our medical surgically down.

Shelly said...

That trip to the zoo sounds like so much fun, and how good you are to be a chaperon! SO many won't volunteer-

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Your favorite yellow food is lemons. Mine is lemon squares! LOL

I love Billy, too.

XO,

Sheila

The Quintessential Magpie said...

P.S. I think my most influential book next to the Bible is THE HIDING PLACE about Corrie Ten Boom's life. What a message that was in forgiveness.

Then there was a book by an Episcopal priest named Dennis Bennett that had a great effect on me and one by Francis MacNutt on healing that was equally powerful. I'm sure there are others if I were to sit down and think about it.

Love you,

Sheila

barbara l. hale said...

Nice to get to know more about you!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Always fun to read your thoughts! I am grateful for my brother today! Praying for him. hugs, Linda

Eat To Live said...

Have a great day ...Sandie!! I went to my Granddaughters 21 Birthday last week..

mail4rosey said...

I like Billy Graham too, and how wonderful you saw him in person twice. Even more wonderful that your brother went up and was saved with you. I'm sorry to hear that he passed.

LOL at the comic, my kids do things like that all of the time. :)

TexWisGirl said...

laughing at the 'blankie' and your comment about it. :)

so glad you have your half-sis. love the lemons, too.

Sandee said...

My sister and I talk every day via email. My brother I want nothing to do with and never will. He dangerous and very angry. Scary and we don't need that in our lives.

Have a terrific day honey. ☺

Donna said...

Enjoyed the post! I like lemons as well!!
hughugs

TARYTERRE said...

Thanks for the heads up about it being National Siblings Day.

Charlotte Wilson said...

I love the questions and your answers. Very good post.

char

Debbie said...

I love snooping into people's heads on HodgePodge Wednesday.

You took middle schoolers to the ZOO? I have done it. All I can say is bless your heart. LOL

I'm so glad your daughter's spring break coincided with your grandson's break. That doesn't always happen, and it is so great when the schools stay in sinc like that.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I had no idea that it was National Sibling Day. I am gonna call my sister!!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I'm hoping to visit the San Diego Zoo next week! Yes I think the cost of many things applies to my purchases. I would agree the Billy Graham is inspirational. I use lemons daily yet I forgot to say it along with some other great yellow foods that I've read today. Enjoy having your family around this week.

cube said...

I once magic-markered moustaches on my sisters on the first day of school... turns out it was a Sharpie.
All the kids kept asking them why they had black moustaches on their faces... all they said was, "MY SISTER!"

I should call my sisters today and thank them for not disowning me for being such a brat.

Dee said...

I seem to miss all the national .... days. I can relate to the blankie and I can not reach it LOL. I like rainy days...it is raining her today with Thunder and some lightening.I also like fog...I probably could live very well in London...I do need some sun to balance it out. To bad we do not have our own weather button LOL I enjoy your meme's keep them coming. :)

Savannah Granny said...

I enjoyed getting to know you better. Billy Graham is my favorite evangelist. Everything you said about him is spot on. He IS the real deal.
I have several of his books and enjoy all of them. I really enjoyed his book about Angels.
Have a great week, Blessings, Ginger

Unknown said...

I enjoyed reading more about you. Yellow food?? Mine would also be lemons too. Sometimes, I just love eating one with a little sprinkle of salt.

Ginny Hartzler said...

My wish for you is that you can go away all by yourself for a week, even a day! To have quiet and do what you want.

Miss Debbie said...

That is wonderful about you and your sister. Guess you've got some strong genes!! :-)

barbara woods said...

i have one brother did have two but one died in 2004 and one sis, have a great brother and sister.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I've always loved Billy Graham. I can remember watching his crusades on television when I was young.
Hodgepodge Wednesday is fun, I'll have to join in sometime.
Have a good evening...it's raining here, too much.

Gail Dixon said...

I have no siblings, so no celebrating for me. :( Today I went out to buy something for my daughter's new home, something from Louisiana, so I went to a special (pricey) home decor place here that's locally owned. Guess what? Everything in there was Made in China and the prices were outrageous. Grrrr.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

I came to wish you happy Wednesday.
We are getting attacked by spamers... so we have been busy deleting stupid nasty stuff.
love
tweedles

Paula said...

Yes I think competing with someone does make you bitter. When I talk to one lady on the phone she always tries to get me in a health match. She has more ailments then I, takes more medicine then I etc. etc. If I don't watch myself I will get caught up in her game and compete.

Susan said...

That was a nice post, Sandie. Loved reading all about YOU. Susan

Terri D said...

I really enjoyed your post! Looking forward to meeting you next month!!

Jim said...

Hi Sandie ~~ This is a nice post and a nice meme. I like your number four the best. Do you know what the name of the book is?

Grandmothers can enjoy spring break too. The little guy on the couch wants attention. I am glad you would give him some.
..

Catherine said...

Dear Sandie, I am so glad you came by. I am trying so hard to catch up with everyone. I have missed you all very much. I am getting things back in order one day at a time. It is a slow but sure process. My son had words of wisdom for me that makes me feel better. He said, "mom each day is a little better than yesterday" and that is very true. Leave it to our children to help us along the way.
I am very grateful for your visits and for your encouraging words. I am so grateful for all of my blogging friends.
I enjoyed reading your answers to these questions.
I am happy to say that by coincidence I spoke to both of my brothers today, though I don't think they know that today is sibling day.
I hope that all is well with you Sandie and with your family.
Thank you for being there.
Blessings dear. Catherine xoxo

Merlesworld said...

1&2 I visited my sister a couple of weeks ago, we live many miles apart.
3 I buy Australian whenever I can.
4 Not much of a reader these days.
5 I like rainy days when it's one or two days but not endless days of rain.
6 I like lemons too I often put lemon juice on my vegs to give them a bit of zing.
7 I like "My Country'"
I love a sunburnt country a land of sweeping plains
Of ruggard mountain rangers of droughts and flooding rains
I love love her far horizions
I love her jewel sea
Her beauty and her terror the wide brown land for me.
Their are more verses but you get the idea please excuse all spelling mistakes.
Merle........

BlueShell said...

Oh... lemons...I like those!

...I mean that there are some people that have many "faces"...They want to seam humble but they are the opposite, they are not what they seam to be.... So, we can not trust those kind of people, can we? They are fake.
Love and miss you. (my fault, i know)

The Boston Lady said...

I miss those large Billy Graham rallies. I grew up watching them and admiring that man. Ann

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Never heard of sibling day......that is a new one for me......

Micupoftea said...

Natl Sibling Day, eh? Fun to read some things about you...I've never heard of that poem and will have to look it up. LOVE the bottom quote- perfect! I sent you an email, but don't know if it went through. You mentioned wanting my address= you mean email addy?
S

Lynn said...

I pulled up facebook this morning and found a Happy Siblings Day from my sis - had no idea about that up until then. :)

I like lemons, too, but would have put saffron rice. Happy Thursday!

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

I just loved reading all about you. Isn't that special about you and you half sister. I bet you miss your mum, I still have mine but I miss not seeing her enough. She lives in another state. We are going to visit her next week..can you imagine, she is 95 now.. She phones and asks me about heaven all the time. She says she wishes the good Lord would take her home.. I hate letting go of people also. I often look on Facebook hoping to find an old friend. One from NC found me a couple of weeks ago. Love sent to you. xx

Theresa said...

I have FIVE siblings, guess I better get on the phone! Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

Betty Manousos said...

i've never heard of simbling day before.
loved reading your thoughts.

i too love lemons:)

Joyce said...

I agree-you're never too old for the zoo! I also admire Billy Graham, a man of the highest integrity who has never let any hint of scandal tarnish his testimony. Such a faithful servant!