Thankful Thursday

~ my husband sharing his thoughts with me on the government shutdown that started this week. I'm glad he told me how he was feeling.  

~ when our oldest brought us a sample of the supper he'd fixed.

~ being able to share books with our DIL for her work/classes.

~ that our youngest had a day off on Monday!  It was great to have him home and see him relax and do stuff he doesn't have time to do on school days.  And cook supper!  

~ finding out I won a prize from a giveaway from a local company. It is fun to win something unexpectedly.

~ holding a sweet baby in the church nursery on Wednesday nights.  She's 3 months old.  

~ that we have people to help us with the goats.  One acted sick on Sunday, I'm thankful for the people that helped us know what to do! And that the goat is okay.

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Happy October! It's time for the hodgepodge!

1. What's your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now? 

Campfire makes me think of fall because we have fires when we go to the deer lease.  I don't have that scent around my house now!  

2. October is Country Music Month...are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle are you more country mouse or city mouse? I do like country music, probably not current country music but more stuff from the 80s/90s.  
George Strait is a favorite. We passed through Nashville on vacation one year.  My lifestyle is more country mouse

3. How about 'country cooking'? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)? 

chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-'barbecue'-gumbo-banana pudding 

Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you haven't tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered? 

I love chicken and dumplings!  It is what I get at Cracker Barrel.  I do love deviled eggs at Easter.  Oh and banana pudding is wonderful anytime!!  
I haven't tried collard or turnip greens.  Mac and cheese is good if it's made right.  

4. What's something that always has a positive impact on your mood? 
turning on music or singing/humming praise songs

5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells us something about how that month looked for you. 

noun--school and goats
verb--learning 
adjective--new 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My husband works for the government so this shutdown will impact our family.  

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

This week we had the first day of fall.  Hopefully the temperatures will start feeling like fall soon!!

I am thankful for...

~  my husband getting a plumber to come look at a problem we've had since we've moved and getting some answers on fixing it.

~ moments I see our oldest, even if it's just a brief moment.  

~ that our daughter in love can come over to borrow things.  

~ our youngest finding hiding places in the new house.  He's so funny.  

~ getting to have a little trip to see our nieces perform in the band and dance team at their school. And celebrate one niece's 16th birthday! 

~ fun surprising the teachers/staff with a snack from the PTO.

~ a new quilt hanging rack for my quilts!  

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)...what's your favorite thing about fall? 
The colors of the season and the temperatures theoretically....but it's been 100 degrees here lately.  Eventually it will feel like fall.

2. What's one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list? 
I like to get pumpkins to set out and hope to get a mum too.

3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don't eat? Which one have you had most recently? 

I love sweet potatoes now.  I'm having one for lunch with a little butter and brown sugar.  
Apples are another favorite this time of year sliced and dipped in caramel.  I have a really good recipe for a cranberry salad that my former neighbor made and shared with us one time, then she gave us the recipe.  
I don't eat much pumpkin.  I will eat a little slice of pie and do like pumpkin bread or muffins.  

4. 'Fall is proof that change is beautiful' is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate. 
Change is hard, change is part of life. Some changes are beautiful, probably not all of them though.  Many times you can't even imagine what it will be like with the change, and then it is better than you expected.  

5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping...of those listed which would you most like to visit? 

Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas

I love to see the leaves changing colors.  It always makes me smile when I'm driving around town or through our old neighborhood and notice the colors.  I would like to go on this trip in the future to the east coast in the fall.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

After many hot days it was nice to get a good rain shower yesterday evening and storm in the night. There have been several fires lately with these hot conditions.  Now the yard is quite muddy!

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  Colossians 4:2

The week went by quickly.  I can't believe it's already been a week since we had a lockdown at school.  We are thankful for the law enforcement and the staff for how they took care of the children.

This week I am thankful for.

~ my husband making new bread for us this week.

~ our oldest giving tips for the goats, like his help when one looked bloated.  

~ being able to take our DIL's cookies to the fair for her.  She got 4th place.  

~ when our youngest tells us about his day at school and upcoming tests he has.  

~ sweet basket from a friend with cards and a new address stamp.  

~ being able to go to ladies Bible class and to give a ride to one of the ladies.  We talked about serving in part of our lesson.

~ sweet card in the mail from a friend 

Have a day of blessings!

Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Today is one of those days when it is hard to post a Thankful Thursday because the world feels so heavy.  There have been so many tragedies lately and we are all remembering 9-11-01.  

This week I am thankful for...

~ my husband entering his breads at the fair and placing.  He had a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.  One of them got Best of Show!  

~ when our oldest comes over and talks to me when he's getting something at the house.  

~ our DIL bringing us a cookie she made this week.  Yummy!

~ getting to listen to audio books on the way to schol with my boy.  

~ our school and police keeping our children safe today during a lockdown.  

~  having parent participation in doing treat days at high school and helping with PTO. 

~ enjoying holding a little baby at church this week.  

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What gives you energy? What takes it away? 

gives me energy: alone time or being with husband and our kids.....Also doing something for others.

takes it away:  being with too many people constantly all day  (Titus told me one day..."I figure you are peopled out."  He's heard me say this before.)

2. How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear? 

I don't like shopping for clothes for myself and rarely do it unless I have a coupon or special event I want something new to wear.

I always wear my wedding ring and on my right hand two James Avery birthstone rings on my third finger of the boys' birthstones.  I have a necklace I like to wear and small earrings. 

3. What's something free that you feel grateful for? 

clean air to breathe

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner...which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What's your go-to comfort food?

I don't like to eat breakfast.  I never have.  Dinner probably is my favorite because we can sit around the table together  or Sunday lunch.

Something sweet is probably a "comfort food" for me.  

5. This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges? 

We typically put out our flag.  One year I think we took treats to the fire station.  I'll always remember where I was that day....teaching 2nd grade in a portable building.  Pretty sure it was a lesson on plants.  

Historical events change my perspective on my own challenges in that I realize the world is so big and scary,  and it makes me feel small.  I still know God cares about me and my struggles even though there is a great big world out there.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The school year is going well.  We had a surprise day out last week when the city water line was broken and no water.  We have 2 goats now.  Titus will be showing this year for the first time.  He is doing good with them.  

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany