A "THANK YOU, GOD" BLOG!

     Good morning everyone. I have been remiss in making time to write more. My life, as I suppose other people's life, is busy. I know that that's not a valid excuse. Well today I have made time.

      Recently, my mind has been mulling over the myriad of things that God has done for people. Those of you who believe in God and have experienced His love, know what I mean.  Those of you who do not believe in God, have no idea about what I am talking about.
     
      One thing for which I am particularly grateful for is God's Creation, the universe. I love to stand on a mountain top and survey the surrounding areas. I am astounded at the natural beauty and diversity.

      I love gazing into a crystal clear, star filled sky. I love viewing the constellations, seeing comets and meteors and sometimes viewing the International Space Station (ISS) passing over head. (To view the ISS you need a good pair of binoculars or telescope.) I also love when the moon is full and illuminates the earth in its soft yellow light.

     I love being at, and sometimes on, the ocean. The amazing power if the ocean tides and the beauty of the seascapes is healing to the spirit. Also, witnessing the behemoths of the deep, AKA whales, in their natural habitat is a great experience.

     Another thing that I love, particularly at this time of year, is the changing colors of the foliage. People come from all over the world to view our leaves. There is nothing that compares to the beauty of a New England foliage tour.

     Another thing for which my gratitude to God knows no bounds is my relationship with Him. I am a sinner. I am incapable of living a sinless life. God, being perfectly Holy and sinless cannot, and will not, have any fellowship with sin. Therefore, God, in His infinite love and mercy has paid the debt for my sin. He died for my sin in the form of Jesus, the Christ, His Messiah, and has thereby provided a way of reconciliation. 
     Just think about it. The God who created all that has been created, who is the Supreme Being and is all powerful, desires to have a relationship with me AND has gone to extraordinary lengths to make it happen. If you knew me as well as I know me, you'd me amazed as well. God has adopted me into His family...mind blown! By the way, He also wants a relationship with you too, AND He would love to adopt you into his family as well. 

     I am feeling gratitude towards Almighty God for these things and oh, so much more. Do you know Him? I urge you to get to know Him if you don't. If you do know Him, I urge you to get to know Him better. This is a life long process. Think about it as you go through your day. 

     Until next time!
       

BELIEF IN TIME OF DOUBT!

      Good morning everyone. I hope that this Tuesday morning finds you all to be well. It has been a while since I posted a blog entry.  I hope to remedy that today and going forward.
I think it helpful to remind my readers that when I began this blog it was called “LifeSPW.” The name was derived from my purpose in writing, that is, to share three aspects of my life, namely my Spiritual Life, my Personal Life and my Work Life.
Well, in August of 2011 I retired after a 30 year career in law enforcement. My retirement led me to amend the name of this blog to “LifeSPR.”  The focus changed from writing about my Work life to now write about my Retired life. I will still write about Spiritual matters and my Personal life. So here we are!

I am a Christian, that is, I am a disciple of Jesus, the Christ.  I believe that the Bible is the Word of God and is therefore without error. Are you a believer too? Have you ever had any doubts about your faith? If your answer is “Yes” you are in some very good company.

Consider John, the Baptist. He was six months older than his cousin, Jesus. He was called by God to be the forerunner of the Messiah that was prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah hundreds of years earlier.
    In the early chapters of the four Gospels we find John baptizing people in the Jordan River. One day he saw Jesus come down to the river where he was baptizing people. He said “Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John recognized Jesus to be the Messiah. John witnesses the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, alight upon Jesus and he also hears God, the Father, say from Heaven, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” John testifies that Jesus was the Son of God.
Later on, John, the Baptist, is in jail upon orders of King Herod. John sends two of his disciples to Jesus to ask Him if He was the one or should they be looking for someone else. The point being John had doubts notwithstanding that he bore witness a short time prior to this time that Jesus is the Messiah, the very Son of God.

Consider also the Apostle Peter. He followed Jesus and personally witnessed the miracles that Jesus performed. On one occasion Jesus asked His disciples who people say that He was. Some said that He was John the Baptist returned from the dead, the prophet Elijah or the prophet Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.  Jesus then asked the Apostles who they say He is. Peter spoke up and said “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)
On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus told His Apostles that He was going to be arrested and that all of them would scatter. Peter spoke up and said that even though everyone else would fall away he would not. Jesus told him that before the rooster crowed he would deny Him three times. Peter said that he would die with Jesus before ever denying Him. We all know that Peter did in fact deny knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. (Matthew 26:69-75)

So you see, two men who saw Jesus, touched Jesus, who bore testimony that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God, came to doubt what they at one time fervently believed. Therefore, it is not unusual for us who are living some two thousand plus years later, who have never seen, physically touched, or witnessed the Son of the living God in person to have doubts from time to time. We do, however, have something upon which we may resolve any doubts…the written accounts of the many witnesses who were there. Think about it….

A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

    Good morning, everyone! Welcome back Joyce and the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Our beloved Nation is a precocious 242 years old. That is fairly young as the age of nations go.  A belated Happy Birthday America!
    I hope that you all are enjoying your Summer. I hope that you had a pleasant Fourth of July Holiday. My beloved SWMBO and I had a lovely time. We spent part of the day with friends and shared some traditional foods. We capped the day with our usual mid-week Devotional and Bible Study.
    Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. What's something in your house you'd like to get rid of but can't?
    What a great question! We have a couple of broken recliner chairs, a riding lawn mower with a blown engine, and a wood stove that we don't/can't use anymore. Those are three things that I would like to get rid of but cannot seem to for one reason or another.

2. When is the last time you experienced a sense of nostalgia? Elaborate.
    Recently, I took SWMBO on a trip down memory lane. I spoke about my childhood, some of the people who I grew up with, some of the activities that we engaged in, etc. I must say that I had a pretty decent childhood.

3. You're only allowed three apps on your smart phone or tablet...which three do you keep?
    I think that I would keep a Bible app, Mail and YouTube. If you ask me tomorrow it is possible I would keep different apps.

4. July 11th is National Blueberry Muffin Day. Who knew? Do you like blueberry muffins? If you were going to have a muffin would blueberry be your choice? What's the last thing you baked?
    Yes, I do like Blueberry muffins. Blueberry bushes are practically everywhere in New Hampshire and Maine. How can you not like Blueberries?

5. What's the biggest way you've changed since you were a child? In what way are you still the same?
    How have I changed since childhood? Well, I am now 6' 3" tall and weigh over 250 pounds. I now have a full beard and I now need reading glasses. Also, I am keenly aware of the existence of God in my life and the attendant responsibilities of having that knowledge. Last, but by no means least, I am happily married to the greatest woman on the planet...but you knew that!

    How am I the same? I am endearingly impish and a faithful Red Sox fan.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

     I have a couple of random thoughts this morning. First, kudos to the Thai government and their Navy Seals for the rescue of the boys soccer team from the cave. All eleven boys and their coach were safely extracted from the cave after two weeks of being trapped and all are in good condition considering their ordeal. Thank you God for your grace and for the safe return of the team and their rescuers.

    Second, the left side of the aisle in this country have lost their collective minds. They have been protesting President Trump's nominee to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, which is to say that they were protesting.....NOBODY, that is, until last night when President Trump announced that he was nominating Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the D.C. Federal Court of Appeals.  

     The left has recycled the same old diatribes that they have been using against every Republican court nominee since the Reagan Administration, namely, that the nominee will curtail abortion rights, LGBT Rights, access to Medical Care rights, and every other perceived rights, whether they actually exist or not. So far none of the aforementioned curtailments have occurred. One can plausibly conclude that the left is consistently wrong and/or hysterical! Therefore, let the Kabuki Theater, that Supreme Court confirmations have become, begin! 

LATE NIGHT & BASEBALL!

     
     A very pleasant Wednesday to all of you. I hope that this 74th anniversary of the Allied Forces storming the beaches of Normandy finds you to be well. 
     Can you believe that it has been just about three quarters of a century since the events of D-Day? I recommend that you watch Darryl F. Zanucks epic movie "The Longest Day." This movie tells the story of the invasion from the perspective of the Allies and the Nazis. 
     Well, enough history for today. We have a Wednesday Hodgepodge to get to. Thank you Joyce Daley for another challenging set of questions. I urge you budding writers out there to join in on the fun. Go to "From This Side of the Pond" to learn how you can participate. And now...the Hodgepodge!  
      1.Describe your 30's in one sentence. If you're not yet 30 tell us one thing you hope to accomplish once you hit that particular decade.
     My 30's was a great time of my life. SWMBO and I were still young. Our kids were young, but old enough to do things with that all of us could enjoy. The 30's had its hard times but I remember it as a mostly joyful time.

2. Is it harder for you to exercise or eat healthy?
     Yes! It is hard for me to exercise and eat healthy.
 
3. June 7th is National VCR Day. Huh? Anyway this reminded me of something I saw on Facebook listing household items we no longer have and the VCR was on it. I couldn't put my hands on that list, but found another list here of 21 items we all had ten years ago, but which are now obsolete-

bookshelves (WHAT!!???), drip coffee makers, alarm clocks, file cabinets, desktop computers, printers, printed phone books, answering machines, fax machines, paper shredders, a Rolodex, CD racks, CD burners, china cabinets, home phones, entertainment consoles, DVD players, calculators, takeout menus, incandescent light bulbs, and cable TV

Your thoughts? How many on the list do you still have? Still use?
     What do you mean, no longer have. SWMBO and I still have, AND use...bookshelves, alarm clocks, file cabinets, desktop computers, printers, answering machines, paper shredders, CD racks, china cabinets, a home phone, DVD Players, calculators, takeout menus, incandescent light bulbs, and cable tv. 
     Does that mean that we're Luddites?

4. What's something you see disappearing in the next ten years?
        My mind! The only thing is, however, I do not think that it will take ten years for that to occur.
 
5. How did you celebrate your birthday this past year? Is that typical?
      SWMBO gave me a nice greeting card with an additional personal message that she composed. We then went out to eat and one of our favorite restaurant. It is what we typically do.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
     I am a baseball fan. My favorite team is of course the Boston Red Sox and whoever is playing the Yankees. 
    This month SWMBO and I were able to take in a game of our local Double A baseball team, the NH Fisher Cats, a farm team of the Toronto Blue Jays. (They beat the Red Sox Double A team, The Portland, Maine, Sea Dogs...in case you were wondering who won.)
     On Monday, I returned home from a church business meeting at around 8:45 p.m. I noticed that a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks was being televised on ESPN beginning at 10:00 p.m. I decided to watch and score the game. I do so enjoy scoring a baseball game. The game ended after 1:00 a.m. The Giants won, in case you were wondering.
    On Tuesday morning I was very, very, very tired. I seem to have forgotten that I'm getting too old for this stuff. But I do love baseball! Enjoy your week.

IT CAME TO A CLOSE, FINALLY, HODGEPODGE!

     Greetings from the Granite State on this magnificent Wednesday. I hope that all is well in your world. Things are beginning to turn around in my world. We just completed a major undertaking which will be further explained in my Random Thought below.
     Since it is Wednesday and since Joyce has gone to the trouble to come up with another set of probing questions, we might as well answer them. Please join in on the fun. You will not be disappointed. And now...(Inner drums roll here)...the Hodgepodge.

1. What would you say is your biggest day to day challenge?
     The biggest challenge for me day to day is getting out of bed early in the morning. There are two reasons why. One is that I am not an early riser. My circadian rhythm makes me sharpest at late afternoon through late evening. The second reason is my knees make me walk like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz before they used the oil can on him. Eventually they kind of self lubricate and I can walk fairly pain free. 

2. May 16th is National Biographers Day. What's a biography you really enjoyed reading? Is this a genre you read regularly?
     One biography that I really enjoyed was "Bonhoeffer" by Eric Metaxas. It is the life of one of Christianity's greatest apologist, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a Lutheran minister who lived during the rise of Nazi Germany. He opposed the Third Reich which cost him his life just weeks before the Nazis surrendered to the allies. It is a great read and I highly recommend it to you.

3. How important is keeping a clean house? Do you need to de-clutter your life?
     Keeping a clean house is more important to my beloved SWMBO than it is to me. To be honest, I do need to de-clutter my life...beginning with my office. Actually I need to continue in my office. I did begin to de-clutter a couple of months ago and I found a desk in there which is now usable again. I seem to recall that there is a second desk in my office. I need to find that one too...but I'm in no hurry.

4. You're the 8th dwarf. What's your name?
     My dwarf name would be "Joker." I do have a nice sense of humor.

5. What's surprised you the most about your life or life in general?
     I have been surprised by a number of things. One of them is I never thought that I would have a devout relationship with God. Growing up I thought that I would have been playing for the other team. However, by His grace I have come to know Him and love Him. 
     Another thing that surprises me is that I have a love filled marriage that poets write love poems about and that songwriters write love songs about. I did not know it then but I know it now that I hit the lottery when SWMBO said yes and married me. We will be celebrating 46 years of wedded bliss this July.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
     SWMBO and I have been blessed to be able to have bought two houses in our lifetime. We bought the house that SWMBO and I now share way back in May of 2000.
     We recently decided to refinance our mortgage so that we could access some of the equity and offload some debt and change from a variable interest rate to a fixed interest rate mortgage. 
     Going through the mortgage process is a long and tedious process. There is mounds of repetitive paperwork. When you think that you have everything to complete the process there always seems to be one more thing to get or do. It's always just one more thing.
     Well, I am happy to report that SWMBO and I closed on the refinance loan this afternoon. I think, I hope, that this is probably the last time we will have to go through this. Hallelujah!

GOOD VERSUS EVIL HODGEPODGE!

     A pleasant good morning, world! I hope all is well in your little piece of the planet today. The forces of good and virtue (Red Sox) are making a foray into the home environs of the Evil Empire (Yankees) for three games beginning tonight, well last night, since you're reading this on Wednesday. GO SOX!
     As I type this it is a beautiful day in the Granite State. The sky is cobalt blue and the temps are just right, that is, not too cold and not too warm. 
     If you are reading this, then it must be Wednesday and you already know there is a new Hodgepodge. I hope that you enjoy your day and I hope that you enjoy the Hodgepodge. Thank you, Joyce, for another edition.

1. What are your ingredients for a perfect Saturday?

      A perfect Saturday consists of: (1) Sleep in late; (2) Go out for breakfast or brunch; (3) Read the newspaper; (4) Watch and score a Red Sox game; (5) Go to a nearby lake with SWMBO and the Littles to fish a little, walk around a little and have a picnic lunch. 

2. What skill do you wish more people took the time to learn?
     The one skill I would like for people to learn is how to communicate effectively! Learn to read and comprehend what they read. Learn to write coherent sentences that are grammatically correct. Learn to speak in whole and coherent sentences.
     Should the forgoing be too unrealistic then LEARN TO DRIVE, PEOPLE! That is all!

3. What's something you ate as a child you can't stand now as an adult?
     That is easy...Liver & Onions. You cannot force me at gunpoint to eat Liver & Onions today! They pretty much had to force me to eat it at gunpoint when I was a child.

4. Something parenting has taught you? If you're not a parent tell us one important lesson you learned from your own parents.
     Patience and perseverance are two things being a parent has taught me. I am not saying that I learned, only that I was taught.

5. Share a favorite quote or saying about mothers or motherhood.
     "Mother's love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible."—Marion C. Garretty. Full disclosure, I searched the internet and found this quote but that doesn't make it less true.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 
     I am troubled by the rising tide of assaults on our right of free speech. Our colleges and universities were at one time places where there was unfettered expression of ideas, no matter how inane, obnoxious or offensive they may be.
    However, today colleges and universities have safe spaces, trigger warnings, speech codes, violent and destructive protests against certain types of speech.
     What happened? When did we as a nation go from "I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it" to "You can't say that because it is offensive, racist, sexist, xenophobic, etc." We must return to the former and soundly reject the latter. 
     Remember Patrick Henry and the clarion call of his rousing speech in support of the secesstion from Great Britain "I know not what course others may take but as for me GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH!" 
     Where do you stand on this issue?
     

MAY DAY PARADE HODGEPODGE!

    Good morning world! Yesterday having been "May Day" I remember that during the late 20th century the communist nations would have a parade with all their military might on display, showing all the world the great achievements of communism and putting the world on notice that they are not to be trifled with.
     Another May Day is in the history books for another year. That brings me to today, Wednesday, May 2nd, the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce Daley for another bunch of questions. So, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen...the Hodgepodge!
      
1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Is there a flower you associate with a particular memory? Explain.
     I am a flower person by marriage. Otherwise, I have no interest. My beloved SWMBO loves carnations so, I guess, I do too. I do not have any memories associated with flowers.

2. Last time you helped someone? Tell us how.
     The last time I helped someone was a couple of  Sundays ago. Our preacher had to go out of town and needed someone to teach his Bible class and fillthe pulpit. I covered both things for him so he could take care of his personal business without worrying about things here.

3. It's National Salsa Month (the food, not the dance) so tell us, do you like salsa? Hot, medium, or mild? Homemade, store bought, or from your favorite restaurant only?
     I do like salsa. My preference is for medium hot salsa. I prefer store bought salsa and my favorite brand is Newman's Own.

4. When I was twelve years old...
     ...I think that I was in the sixth grade. Lyndon Johnson was president of the United States.  The Vietnam War was in full swing. My best friend was Roger. I played first base and center field for my Little League baseball team. My affection for the Red Sox was in its infancy. They continued to get our hopes raised that this was the year that they break the curse of the Bambino only to dash them upon the rocks of reality. It was a more innocent time.

5. It's the first of May so let's run with it-first things first, don't know the first thing about it, first dibs on something, first impression, first rate, first cousin, first string, first come first served, at first light-which phrase can best be applied to something in your life currently or even recently?

     First thing first for us. SWMBO and I are in the process of refinancing our home. It is a step by step process and nothing is easy. We will hopefully get through the process soon and close on the new loan.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
     On Monday we had the water line from our artesian well to the house replaced. The old water line had become brittle with age and was cracked in a few places. You may recall we discovered a water leak in February which had to be dug up and spliced to get us through the rest of the Winter months.  
     This time they dug a fifty foot trench from the well to the house using a small excavator. The whole job took about four and a half hours.  The new water line should last forty to fifty years which is thirty to forty years past normal life expectancy.
     Now we have our water back on. The pump pressure is within design parameters. Hopefully nothing else breaks. 
     Water is like electricity in that you don't really appreciate its value until you lose it. 
     Have a great week everyone!

SPRING HAS APPARENTLY SPRUNG HODGEPODGE!

     Good morning fellow bloggers and blog followers. I hope that you are all well on this Spring day. Thank you, Joyce Daley,  for another set of probing questions. 
     The Major League Baseball Season begins in earnest tomorrow. My beloved Red Sox had a very good Spring training and are ready to go. Traditionally, Red Sox fan are optimistic but history has shown us that optimism, AKA hope, often gets dashed on the rocks of reality. All the same....GO SOX!
     Since Joyce has gone to the trouble of posing a few questions, I might as well answer them. Here is this weeks Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. What's a word that describes your life? A word you wish described your life?
     Anxious is a word that is a pretty close description. I wish the word that described my life was "Relaxed." Perhaps, Lord willing, things will begin trading towards becoming relaxed.

2. Back in my day we___________________________________?
     ...actually had to get up to change the television channel and we only had three channels to choose from AND all three channels signed off the air at midnight and came back on the air at six in the morning.

3. When it comes to takeout are you more likely to opt for Italian, Mexican, or Chinese food? Does a typical week at your house include takeout?
     Our takeout usually consists of either pizza or Chinese food.

4. Think about the people you most respect. What is it about them that earned your respect?
     The things that earn my respect are people who treat people, regardless of their station in life, with respect and dignity. My life has been blessed with people who are prodigiously talented and accomplished and yet remain humble and respectful. 

5. What's something your friends might see and say is 'so you'?
     SWMBO and I sitting together at the back of the church auditorium and my arm is around her shoulders. My beloved wife and I still love cuddling and holding hands. She so seldom has to open a door for herself that she may have forgotten how. What can I say? I am still so madly in love with her.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
     Yesterday we celebrated the 35th anniversary of SWMBO's 29th birthday. The day started with a tasteful card in her favorite color, purple. We then went out to breakfast after we dropped the dogs off at daycare. This evening we went out to dinner at the Outback Restaurant. It is one of her favorite places to dine out. All in all it was a pretty fine day. Oh, she also received a small birthday cake, also in her favorite color. 
     It has been my distinct honor and pleasure to have been by her side for the vast majority of her life. Just in case you missed it in the previous question, I am so madly in love with my beloved SWMBO, even after all these years together. 

A SNOWY NEW ENGLAND HODGEPODGE!

     Well, it is official! The house interior has been decorated for Christmas! The Christmas tree is up and decorated. The garland has been strategically strung. The army of snowmen and nutcrackers have been deployed for duty.  Christmas stockings have been lovingly hung from the fireplace mantel. We are ready for Santa Claus' visit.
     Being Wednesday it is time for another Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you Joyce Daley for another fine series of questions.  

1. 'Hurry less, worry less'...what's your strategy for making that happen this holiday season? How's it going so far?
     My strategy is to employ a philosophy I call "Constructive Apathy." I choose to not get amped up over minor issues that can take on monumental proportions during the holidays if you let them. It is kind of like that "Don't sweat the small stuff" cliche and remembering that it is all small stuff. 

2. Do you have a list of to-dos that need accomplishing in order to prepare your home and/or property for the winter season? What are some of the jobs on your list? Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone to accomplish these tasks?
     There are a number of tasks that need to be done to prepare for the winter season. Just to name a few, turn off and insulate the outside water faucets. Order and then stack a pallet of wood pellets (seventy five 45-pound bags). Order our heating oil (500 gallons). Remove the window and door screens and install the glass panes. Clear off the rear deck and store the furniture for the winter. I do most of it myself.

3. According to dietitians surveyed, the most popular health foods for 2018 will be -turmeric, sprouted foods (bean sprouts, breads with sprouted grains, etc), veggies in place of grains, dairy free milk, and pulses (lentils, chickpeas, etc).  What's the first thought that ran through your head when you read this list? Of the foods listed which one might you add to your regular diet? Also, can milk really be dairy free? Is it still milk?
     The list sounds like fad diet stuff. I get the vegetables. I love vegetables both raw and cooked. I am not sure about the other things on the list.

4. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet. According to the Pantone site 'Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking pointing us to the future.' What say you? Do you like the color purple? Did you see the movie or read the book-ha!?  Is purple a color you wear often? Describe for us one purple item in your home without using the word purple.  If you were in charge of such things what color would you select for 2018?
     I am okay with the color purple. I have never seen the movie. I do not wear the color often. One of our artificial Christmas trees is the color that shall not be mentioned. Nobody in their right mind would ever put me in charge of selecting colors.

5. Favorite book read this year?
"From Angel to Man" by Barric Kent. It is the first book in a trilogy. I know the author and have spoken with him at length about his novel. It is a quick read.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
      What do you see when you look at your Christmas tree? When I look at our Christmas tree I see the history of our life. 
     We shared our first Christmas together as man and wife in 1972. We were in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in New Mexico. We were poor as church mice. We bought a paint by number wooden Christmas ornament kit. Those ornaments still adorn our tree. 
     We still have a crumpled brown construction paper deer that our son made in grammar school.
     We have a hand painted glass Christmas ornament that we obtained in the United Kingdom while we were stationed there. 
     Every ornament on our tree evokes a memory of the time when we obtained the ornament. Our Christmas tree is a nostalgic walk through history, our history. SWMBO and I have been lavishly blessed. Have a wonderful week. 

A POST THANKSGIVING DAY HODGEPODGE!

     Good morning to all and to all a good morning. I hope that you all had a blessed and memorable Thanksgiving holiday. Are you sick and tired of turkey leftovers yet? SWMBO and I spent the dat with some dear friends who live close by. Thank you Doug and Linda for your hospitality and great food.
     Thank you Joyce Daley for your weekly series of questions. Thank you for your Wednesday Hodgepodge and for granting us fellow Hodgepodgers the privilege of participating. Here is this week's episode. I hope you enjoy you visit.

  
1.  What's something blogging has taught you about yourself?
     I have learned that I write better than I speak. I think the reason why is that with my writing I can revise and extend my remarks. I can think and evaluate more fully what I commit to paper. When I speak I only have one shot to get it right. Once it is spoken, it is out there, unpolished and often times flawed. Blogging has clearly taught me this truth.

2.  Leftovers...are you in the 'reheat and eat' camp or the 'put them in the fridge until they spoil and then toss them' camp? What's your favorite thing to have leftover? What can you not abide as a leftover?
     I am in the heat and reheat camp. I also sometimes eat leftovers such as Turkey or meat cold. Another thing that I like eating cold is my meat stuffing. It makes a wonderful tasting sandwich.
     That said, I have left things in the fridge so long that they turned into an awful, moldy, space alien like substance. EWWW! 
     My favorite leftover is chinese/shepherd's pie. I don't know about what I cannot abide as a leftover.

3. 'Me time'...your thoughts?
     I love being with people. I am also one of those people who are comfortable in their own company. Many years ago I was told that boredom is self inflicted. I believe that is true. We have all manner of things to stimulate us when we are flying solo. I like to read, play music, and watch TV to name a few. I also like to sit alone and just observe nature and get lost in my thoughts or spend time in prayer. Boredom is indeed self inflicted.

4. When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?
     The reasons why people come to me for help are as varied a the people. Sometimes it for advice for a personal problem. Some times it is a question about a teaching in Scripture or my opinion on something they heard or read about a teaching in Scripture. 
     I seldom get consulted on home repair or automotive issues due to my lack of skill in those disciplines.

5. If your childhood had a smell what would it be? Tell us why.

     My childhood would smell like onions frying in a cast iron pan. Our house often smelled of onions cooking. My grandmother, who did most of the cooking, almost always began by peeling, slicing and cooking onions.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

     I can hardly believe that the year 2017 is almost done, but a quick glance at the calendar confirms that it is. It is at this time of year that I look back and think about my year. I think about goals that I have achieved and the goals I have fallen short of achieving. I think about the New Year and what goals that I want to achieve. Some goals will be carry overs from this year. Other goals will be new.

     Being a seriously flawed individual I have a lot of room for improvement. I am not perfect and let me add as an aside that those of you who seem to be perfect who seem to have everything together are particularly annoying to those of us who aren't and don't.

     How about you? Have you achieved all of your goals for 2017? Are you thinking about your goals for 2018?  

     I urge you to set reasonable, achievable goals and to work towards them. Do not spend your life wandering through it aimlessly. Set at least one goal and take steps to achieve it and then set another goal.

    Have a great week!

A THANKSGIVING DAY GOBBLE! GOBBLE! HODGEPODGE!

     HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone! I sincerely hope that your holiday will be a blessed and memorable one. This is a special time of reflection and expressions of gratitude for the blessings all of us have received in life. I believe that everyone has been blessed to some extent so everyone has something for which to be thankful.
    Also, with the arrival of this holiday and the ensuing shopping orgy, the annual meeting of the Ebenezer Scrooge Admiration Society is called to order. BAH! HUMBUG! Come on, say it with me, BAH! HUMBUG! (See question #6 for more info on the Society)
     Thank you Joyce for another Wednesday Hodgepodge. So now, let us begin...
     
1. Tradition...how tightly do you cling to tradition when it comes to holiday gatherings and celebrations? For instance do you always do the cooking, never eat at home, always go to grandma's, never miss the parade, always watch football, never change the menu, always eat at 2 PM, etc.? Have you ever celebrated Christmas or Thanksgiving away from hearth, home, and family? How did that feel?
     It has been my experience that tradition, like life, is fraught with change. SWMBO and my holiday tradition(s) are different now that we are empty nesters than what they were when we had children growing up. Some things have not changed. We always have meat stuffing and turkey with all the trimmings. We watch the parades, football or binge watch a series of movies or a television show. We always find time for a nap, to name a few.
     We have celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas away from home at one time or another. It felt different, unusual and awkward. 

2. Help...is it easy for you to ask for help or are you a do-it-yourselfer? How is that a good/bad thing?
     It is not easy for me to ask for help. I have swallowed my pride from time to time and was forced to admit to myself that I was not capable to deal with the situation at hand and have asked for help. This usually involved a repair or other task where my skills were lacking. 
     I also tend to carry my own water on most personal issues. However, I have consulted with those more wise than me from time to time. 
    
3. Abundance...what is there an abundance of in your kitchen?
     The color red. SWMBO loves a dark shade of red and painted the kitchen counters and cabinets red a few years ago. 

4. Name...the smallest thing you're thankful for? the biggest?
     Here is the little thing that I am thankful for. A few years ago SWMBO gave me a flashlight on a lanyard. At the time I laughed and told her that I would never use it. I was wrong. This light has come in handy more times that I can mention. I am thankful for that little light. 
     The biggest thing that I am thankful for is my relationship with the God of the Bible and for my beloved SWMBO.

5. Key...What do you think is the key to living a more grateful life?
     The key to living a more grateful life is understanding that you have been the recipient of grace. There have been times when you did not receive what you deserved, but were given grace instead. 
     This is the essence of the Gospel. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. While we were sinners God sent his Son to die for us and pay our penalty for our sins. He died, was buried and was raised. Now, because He lives, we likewise live.
     My gratitude for this grace from God, and the grace that I have received from others compels me to live a grateful life.

6. State your own random thought here.
     Several years ago I founded the Ebenezer Scrooge Admiration Society. It is born of the attitude Ebenezer Scrooge had about Christmas. He clearly articulated his views in the classic story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Scrooge said Christmas was a Humbug! He opined that it was a false and commercial holiday. A cursory look at the way Christmas is celebrated today would seem to confirm old Scrooge had a point.
     The so called Christmas shopping season seems to expand every year. All you see on from mid November to New Years Day are ads for all manner of material stuff. The true purpose of the holiday is often missed or ignored in all the commercial hubbub. 
     I urge all of us to return to and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas. Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards all. The gift of Immanuel, God with us and the salvation that He extends to whosoever will!
     Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

A SPOOKY HALLOWEEN HODGEPODGE!

     Happy Halloween to all you fellow Wednesday Hodgepodgers. We are an eclectic and interesting group of people. Happy Halloween to all you visitors as well. You too can become a part of our eclectic and interesting group. I promise you you will be glad that you did. Simply, start a blog and link it to Joyce's blog. Just like that you have become eclectic and interesting.
   The weather here in the Granite State continues to experience some wild mood swings. The rain and wind on Sunday and Monday did some major damage to  the state. A couple hundred thousand people are without power as I write this. Some roads have been damaged or washed away. Flash flooding was the order of the day. 
     So, by way of distraction and without further ado...here's the Hodgepodge!
     
1. What does/did Halloween look like at your house this year? Did you decorate? Pick pumpkins? Carve pumpkins? Expect trick or treaters? Wear a costume to a party or event? Make a costume? Feel glad you didn't have to come up with a costume? Cook a Halloween themed treat? Eat all the leftover candy?
     This year we did not decorate, we generally do not decorate. We don't get any Trick or Treaters here because the road we live on makes it unsafe. 
     Our two Chinese Cresteds dressed up in Scottish kilts that SWMBO made for them. We made Trick or Treat bags of candy for our grand girls and SWMBO's co-workers.  
     No pumpkins at all. No costumes for us. A little leftover candy to munch on. Our church did have a Trunk or Treat at the church parking lot.

2. What are you waiting for? Elaborate
     I am waiting and praying for a cure for Multiple Myeloma, SWMBO's cancer.  Fighting this disease is incessant. The battle ebbs and flows. There are good days and there are bad days. However, cancer does not last forever...it will come to an end. SWMBO and I long for that day for us and everyone else who are engaged in a similar battle.
     I am also waiting for the Lord's promised return. A sincere faith in God really helps me put things in perspective. Nothing I have in life, material goods, power, or wealth will last forever! All the stuff that drives the news coverage of the day will likewise not last forever. 
     However God's love is forever. Our promised home in Heaven with God is forever. We often sing a song at church that says "This world is not my home I'm just passing through," and "O Lord you know I have no friend like you," and " I can't feel at home in this world anymore." Jesus taught that our treasures should be stored up in heaven where they will last forever. That's what I'm waiting for.

3. Do you wish you were friendlier, braver, more creative, more athletic, or something else? Explain.
     I suppose, like most people, there is room for improvement in all the listed areas. I think I could particularly use some improvement in being more productive. That is, becoming more task oriented and more diligent at getting needed tasks done.

4. When it comes time to paint are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone? What was the last paint job completed at your house? What room most needs painting now? How do you feel about wallpaper?
    I suppose most rooms in our not so palatial estate could do with some sprucing up. We prefer paint rather than wall paper. 

5. What is one specific thing you felt gratitude for in the month of October?
     See my Random Thought.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.
     From time to time up here in the Granite State we experience loss of electric power for various reasons. Most of the time it is weather related. Sometimes it is because a graduate of the Helen Keller School of Driving crashes into a utility pole. Some of these power outages can last for days, if not weeks. A lot of homeowners use gas powered emergency generators to power their homes during such times. SWMBO and I bought our generator years ago after an ice storm knocked out power for weeks.
     Recently, a friend upgraded his transfer switch from six to ten circuits so he gave me his old six circuit transfer switch. The transfer switch is directly connected to the breaker box to power the most essential circuits in the house.
     Another friend is a licensed electrician and was kind enough to install the transfer switch for us. 
     For us, our priority circuits are our well pump, our furnace, our pellet stove, our refrigerator and a few outlets to power our fish tank, freezer chest and a lamp or two.
     When power goes out, now all we have to do is start the generator and connect a power cable from the generator to the transfer switch to power those circuits. We simply flip six switches to go off the grid and onto the generator. So now we will have heat, water and hot water for the duration of any outage. It is quite the upgrade. Thank you Lord!
     As I have shared before, SWMBO and I are lavishly blessed of God. Enjoy your week.