Didn't want to miss out on Hodgepodge today since there won't be one next week. Hey, if you'd like to join in, all you need to do is answer the questions on your own blog and link up. Just click on the button and it will take you right where you need to go.
1. February 17th is National Acts of Kindness Week. It lands on the calendar one day after National Do Something for a Grouch Day (Feb. 16th), which somehow feels related. Tell about a time when you performed a random act of kindness or were the recipient of one. Will you make an effort to perform a random act of kindness on the 17th? Share details, if you're so inclined and if you have something specific in mind. I love sending cards to people for no reason. I like to let them know I'm thinking of them, praying for them, etc. I was the recipient of a random act of kindness last year when Abby was living with Austin and his family. It, in fact, came from one of my blog friends (she knows who she is!). She sent me a beautiful package containing all sorts of goodies, such as a candle, candies, tote bag, stationary, etc. I was beyond touched that she did something like that for me to brighten my day during a very difficult time. I'll always remember her kindness and generosity. I think it would be fun to go through a drive-through (Chick Fil-A, Sonic, etc.) and pay for the car behind me. Who knows...today just might be the day!
2. What's the most encouraging or uplifting thing you see happening in the world right now? You may have to dig deep for this one. We can all agree that there is a lot of division going on in the world right now, especially here in our own country. Race and politics are at the core of the rising dissension. That said, I do still believe that there are many people who truly care about their fellow men and women, regardless of their race or political affliliation. I have one example of something very encouraging that happened locally, but its impact is far-reaching. Our pastor recently donated a kidney to one of our church members who was in kidney failure. I think that it such a remarkable and selfless act to do for another human being and I know that what he did not only saved a life, but it has shown others a living example of agape love.
3. Black olive, black currants, black grapes, black beans, blackberries, Oreos...your favorite food the color of night? Your list favorite on the list? My favorite would be black beans and my least favorite would be black currants.
4. A while back, I read (here) a list of twelve things you should do before turning 50. They were: travel when you have the chance, take care of your skin, learn a foreign language, make exercise a habit, leave a toxic situation, stop caring what others think about you, stop worrying, volunteer, spend time with your grandparents, pledge to work less, learn to cook an amazing dish, and seize an opportunity as it arises. What do you think of the list? What would you add or remove and why? If you're over 50, have you done all twelve? What's on the list that you haven't done, but would like to do? I'd say the list provides good advice for those who have yet to turn 50. I'm not too sure the benefit of learning a foreign language, so I'd likely remove that from the list and I'd add to laugh A LOT. Laughter helps keep me sane. I turned 51 in August and I've done/do most everything on the list. One thing I've yet to do, but have plans to pursue once the weather gets warmer is sign-up to become a volunteer at our new local hospital that opened about a year ago. It's something I've wanted to do for awhile. If I can't become a nurse, I figure it's the next best thing. I love helping people.
5. Besides the classic Christmas flicks, what's your favorite film where winter plays a part in the setting? The one that pops into my head is 'The Shining' with Jack Nicholson. Still gives me the heebie-jeebies!
(Photo Courtesy of Google)
1. February 17th is National Acts of Kindness Week. It lands on the calendar one day after National Do Something for a Grouch Day (Feb. 16th), which somehow feels related. Tell about a time when you performed a random act of kindness or were the recipient of one. Will you make an effort to perform a random act of kindness on the 17th? Share details, if you're so inclined and if you have something specific in mind. I love sending cards to people for no reason. I like to let them know I'm thinking of them, praying for them, etc. I was the recipient of a random act of kindness last year when Abby was living with Austin and his family. It, in fact, came from one of my blog friends (she knows who she is!). She sent me a beautiful package containing all sorts of goodies, such as a candle, candies, tote bag, stationary, etc. I was beyond touched that she did something like that for me to brighten my day during a very difficult time. I'll always remember her kindness and generosity. I think it would be fun to go through a drive-through (Chick Fil-A, Sonic, etc.) and pay for the car behind me. Who knows...today just might be the day!
2. What's the most encouraging or uplifting thing you see happening in the world right now? You may have to dig deep for this one. We can all agree that there is a lot of division going on in the world right now, especially here in our own country. Race and politics are at the core of the rising dissension. That said, I do still believe that there are many people who truly care about their fellow men and women, regardless of their race or political affliliation. I have one example of something very encouraging that happened locally, but its impact is far-reaching. Our pastor recently donated a kidney to one of our church members who was in kidney failure. I think that it such a remarkable and selfless act to do for another human being and I know that what he did not only saved a life, but it has shown others a living example of agape love.
3. Black olive, black currants, black grapes, black beans, blackberries, Oreos...your favorite food the color of night? Your list favorite on the list? My favorite would be black beans and my least favorite would be black currants.
4. A while back, I read (here) a list of twelve things you should do before turning 50. They were: travel when you have the chance, take care of your skin, learn a foreign language, make exercise a habit, leave a toxic situation, stop caring what others think about you, stop worrying, volunteer, spend time with your grandparents, pledge to work less, learn to cook an amazing dish, and seize an opportunity as it arises. What do you think of the list? What would you add or remove and why? If you're over 50, have you done all twelve? What's on the list that you haven't done, but would like to do? I'd say the list provides good advice for those who have yet to turn 50. I'm not too sure the benefit of learning a foreign language, so I'd likely remove that from the list and I'd add to laugh A LOT. Laughter helps keep me sane. I turned 51 in August and I've done/do most everything on the list. One thing I've yet to do, but have plans to pursue once the weather gets warmer is sign-up to become a volunteer at our new local hospital that opened about a year ago. It's something I've wanted to do for awhile. If I can't become a nurse, I figure it's the next best thing. I love helping people.
5. Besides the classic Christmas flicks, what's your favorite film where winter plays a part in the setting? The one that pops into my head is 'The Shining' with Jack Nicholson. Still gives me the heebie-jeebies!
6. When did you last feel helpless, and what did you do about it? Our family room TV kept turning off by itself the other day. I was home alone as Chris is in Houston for meetings and Abby was at school. As soon as it would turn off, I'd turn it back on. This must have happened 15 times in a row in about an hour. I found the company online and I was able to chat with a tech specialist who gave me some things to try. For the time-being, they seemed to have helped. It never fails, whenever Chris goes out of town, something goes wrong.
7. Share a favorite proverb. 'If you think you're too small to make a difference, you haven't spent the night with a mosquito.'~African proverb. Makes you think, doesn't it? Of course, one of my favorite verses from Proverbs 22:6 is 'Train up a child in the way he should go and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.' I fully believe that if you raise your children to love the Lord, they will learn to depend on Him through all of life's ups and downs, even though they may veer off the 'straight and narrow path'.
8. Insert your own random thought here. I spent four hours and fifteen minutes, to be exact, on the phone yesterday with my dear friend, Kris, from Alabama. We've known each other for almost twenty years. We call our chat sessions 'friend therapy' and I always feel renewed when we get off the phone. We vent, laugh, cry, reminisce...whatever our hearts need in the moment. She and her husband are building a beautiful cabin in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and she lovingly calls one of their guest rooms 'April's room' because she wants me to come visit once they get moved in and settled. I keep telling her that she better be careful what she wishes for as I may never leave!
Do you have a friend with whom you can chat on the phone for hours on end?
