Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What is one good thing you often take for granted? 

running water in my home
We've had a "boil notice" a couple times lately.

2. What's the boldest piece of clothing in your wardrobe? 

I can't think of anything I'd consider bold! I don't wear much variation in my wardrobe.  

3. Do you think common interests or common values are the key to people getting along? Elaborate. 

I think you get to know people through common interests but it is common values that help you get along.  If you have similar values, you will probably have some of the same goals to work towards in life and towards others.  

4. November 6 is National Nacho Day...do you like nachos? How do you like yours? Do you make them at home or only order out? 

Yes I like nachos.  We have them at home in the oven when we have some taco meat left from another meal. If I'm in a restaraunt I like mine with some refried beans, ground beef or chicken fajita meat, diced tomatoes, a little onion and cilantro, queso over the top, and a little dab of sour cream.  

5. Have you spent any time in Washington D.C.?  If so what did you think? If not, is that a place you'd like to visit? What do you think about politics as a career choice? 

Yes we went a few years ago and I'd like to go back.  Arlington National Cemetery was my favorite.  There was so much walking.  I would have liked to see more of the museums.  It is hard to see it all.  

I am not interested in politics as a career choice.  After I was elected to the school board my Dad said maybe I'd be governor someday.  haha! 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We got to go to the deer lease for the weekend.  It was relaxing and great memories were made.  Titus shot his first wild hog.  It was a big one.  He enjoyed the time with his brother (and Dad and Pawpaw).  We all had a good time.  

Have a day of blessings! Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Here's my thankful list for this week.  I always start a Daily thankful challenge on November 1 so I'll begin that tomorrow.  

~ my husband's support and love and how we make a good team.

~ meaningful conversations and hugs from my oldest boy.  

~ my sweet DIL doing the shark trunk at Trunk or Treat with Titus.  

~ my little boy dressing up during Red Ribbon Week and also the fun he had at the church trunk or treat.  

~ being able to get a massage scheduled and use a gift card I've had for a long while.  

~ our Tuesday ladies class and the new faces that have joined.

~ trying a quilt block challenge and being pleased with the results so far!

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

Definitely taking care of my family and home.  I've been focused on cleaning out/decluttering since school started.  I see what my limits are and that it's okay to say no.  I debated going to a new Bible study on Wednesdays.  I already go to one on Tuesdays.  The more I thought and prayed about it, I knew I didn't need an extra committment in my week, and I've seen multiple times that was the right choice for this season.  Sometimes I have to say no to something even though it's a good thing to have space and room for other things.  

2. What's one thing you wish you had more of? 

I can't think of an answer.

3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year? 

I don't know that we "celebrate" Halloween, I like fall more.  I don't do Halloween decorations but do pumpkins and leaves.  We have trunk or treat at our church and help with that.  I've taken Titus to trick or treat at the fire station to see his brother in the past.  Usually we get a "Jack o lantern" pizza from Papa Murphy's and carve our pumpkin if we haven't.  Titus asked for Daddy to make the pizza dough this year with his freshly milled flour.  I'm not sure the timing of that with my husband's work schedule this week so we'll see!  We may get one from Papa Murphy's again.

Here is the trunk Titus and Sydney made.  He made the little teeth and added red paint for blood.  They had a blue table cloth in front on the ground with a plank and shark fins sticking up out of the blue "water."  He was so excited to do this with her!  She's such a wonderful sister in law to him!

4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate? 

Candy out of Titus' Trunk or Treat bucket!  

I make a chocolate chip bundt cake that has chocolate chips and chocolate pudding.  This is the recipe (or similar).

5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it? 

I like laid back weekends.  

Last weekend was laid back for us....we were home and I did some quilting.  We were dog sitting as well.  Sunday was Trunk or Treat so that wasn't laid back but Saturday was!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Here is Titus' shoebox he made for the homecoming week shoebox float parade.  I saw a video of the kids with their floats going through the halls of the school.  They were cute to see! 

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

We have had a good week.  Last weekend was busy with homecoming activities.

This week I am thankful for...

~ my husband getting up for breakfast with our oldest and that they have that time together.  They started this in high school, I'm glad they both still want to do this!  

~ my oldest being able to go talk to the elementary kids with the fire truck for fire safety and another event at intermediate.

~ working on encouragement cards with my DIL at church Sunday and having her come over to help Titus with their decorations for their trunk for "trunk or treat"

~ going to the city park after school last week one day with our youngest and how enjoyable that was.

~ being able to pick up orders for our church's trunk or treat event.  It was a lot of stuff, and we were going to deliver it.  But they had a limit on the delivery amount so my husband helped me pick it up. 

~  delicious pulled pork recipe I made in the crock pot this week and the homemade buns.  My husband started them in the bread machine before he went to work, then I made the buns.

~ fun weekend with homecoming activities for high school and alma mater.  

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Children's book: To Mimi's House We Go

About the book:

Join bestselling author Susan Meissner and other "Mimis" in this Christmas-season poem inspired by the traditional holiday traveling song "Over the River and Through the Woods." Modern families find their way to grandmother's house using a variety of vehicles to celebrate with Mimis, Omas, Gigis, and Nanas.

This sweet Christmas story

• is for boys and girls 4 to 8 years old and grandmothers of all names and types;
• explores the different modern modes of transport used to take Christmas journeys;
• features rhyming text resembling traditional carols and folksongs; and
• celebrates the unique ways families celebrate Christmas while showing the common threads of food, family, and love in them all.

To Mimi's House We Go combines the magic of Christmastime with sweet memories of time with Grandma in an adventurous romp through country and city, from coast to coast.

My thoughts:

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I do like Christmas books during the holidays. I think this is a great book to read with your child or grandchild and add to your holiday library.

This is a rhyming book sharing many different places that Mimi's live and the various ways we can get to Mimi's house.  Some of these include "down dusty roads," "down the steps and to the subway,"or "step aboard the motorboat" to her deck.  

I'd also like to point out there is a list of other grandmother names as part of the book.  

The illustrations are beautiful and children will enjoy looking at the various scenes.  

The teacher in me saw many opportunities for learning with this book....transportation, family, homes, and travel to name a few.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Have a day of blessings! Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

~ my husband being off Monday and that he came and met to today at the vet to help with the dog.  

~ our oldest came to help at a school volunteer time this week

~  our DIL coming to Wendesday meal before church and getting to talk to her.

~ fun with our youngest this week working on his float for the shoebox parade for homecoming.  It was fun to do together!

~ sweet card in the mail from my aunt that made my day!

~  finishing an audio book this book that I was listening to for continuing education credit.  I was glad to get it done before it was due so I didn't have to renew it.

~ crisp fall mornings and sunny afternoons!

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. How did you meet your significant other? If you don't have a significant other, tell us how you met your best friend.  

We met our freshmen year at ACU (Abilene Christian University).  We ate meals in The Bean with a group of friends and that's how we met.  He asked me to be his Valentine on February 13, 1998.

2. It's Department Store Day (October 16)...do you still shop in department stores? If not do you miss that kind of shopping experience? Do you have a favorite department store? Any fun memories of department store shopping when you were a child? 

 do go in Kohl's occasiaonly.   I remember as a child when we would travel out of town to Abilene and go to Sears.  I thought the escalator was so fun.  

3. Something you're currently nuts about? 

Getting in time for more movement/exercise.  This has been my goal for a while.  I have a different schedule everday so it's been hard to be consistent.  I walk our neighborhood sometimes.  But I have found online videos on YouTube I enjoy as well.  It has become enjoyable to me which surprises me because it is not something I've ever enjoyed or made a priority.    

4. What's your favorite nut and is there a favorite recipe where this nut is used? 

I like to eat cashews plain.  I don't have a recipe with that nut.  

5. On Wednesday we officially reach the '70 days until Christmas' mark. Have you purchased any gifts? If you don't celebrate Christmas then how about Hanukkah presents? 
Yes I have some gifts purchased.  I hide them in my closet.  I'm thinking what to get our son/DIL this year as they don't have a lot of space and have so many new things from wedding gifts they are using.  So I've been pondering that.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

There was a chill in the air this morning and the high is supposed to be 69 today. 
My son's school is having a homecoming shoe box float parade.  He has been working on his.  It's been a fun project to do together.  I'll have to post a picture when he is done.  I've never heard of this before but searched online and found several ideas.  Have you ever had a shoe box float parade?    

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany