Saturday 9: As Time Goes By

Saturday 9: As Time Goes By (1958)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song begins with, "You must remember this." Do you often write things down to help you remember?  Well...I keep a journal, but as far as jotting down lists or notes, no, not really. Appointments on the calendar are about it for me.

 

2) The lyrics tell us that moonlight and love songs are never out of date. Tell us about something else that seems timeless.  I don't know. I'm wracking my brain. I can think of tons of things that should be timeless, but in our rapidly changing culture it sometimes feels as if all the old things are going out the window.

3) Originally written in 1931, "As Time Goes By" is best known as the love theme from the 1942 film, Casablanca. According to the American Film Institute, there's only one song from a movie soundtrack that's more expressly identified with the film: "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz. What song reminds you of your favorite movie?

4) This version is from The George Sanders Touch, an LP recorded by an Oscar-winning character actor. There is scant evidence that it sold well. Tell us about something you thought was a good idea at the time, but looking back, would have done differently.  Leaving college to get married and move to Florida seemed like a good idea at the time, but in hindsight, it would have been better to finish school first.

 

5) This album was really something of a consolation prize for George. He worked with a vocal coach, hoping to win the romantic lead in the film version of South Pacific, but alas, the role went to a younger man. He had fun making this record instead. Have you recently taken lemons and made lemonade?  I can't think of anything I'd call lemons lately. 

6) He usually played suave but unsympathetic characters. That's why he gave his autobiography the self-aware title, Memoirs of a Professional Cad. What would you call your life story?  Those Are My Monkeys, This Is My Circus

 

7) The night he won his Oscar, George Sanders accepted the statuette, bowed deeply and then, safely behind the curtain and away from cameras, surprised onlookers by crying. Have you ever cried tears of joy?  I don't think so. It's rare that I cry tears of any kind let alone those of joy.

 

8) George Sanders wed perennial talk show guest and occasional actress Zsa Zsa Gabor in 1949. Sixteen years after their divorce, he married Zsa Zsa's less famous but also glamorous sister, Magda. After a month, George and Magda thought better of it and had the union annulled. Sam thinks this is one of the oddest romantic tales she's ever stumbled upon while researching Saturday 9. Have you ever known anyone who divorced one sibling and then married another? (Hallmark movies don't count.)  I can't say that I have.

9) Random question: You're in a line of 25 people at the post office. How many of those other 24 are more patient at waiting than you are?  Probably at least 21 or 22. Patience isn't always one of my virtues, but I blame it on ADD. I get so BOOOORED waiting in line.

Thanks as always to Sam @ the Saturday 9 for the music and questions. Feel free to join in the fun!

Likes & Dislikes, #11

Things I like...

• a yard full of sunny, yellow dandelions
• Brussels sprouts
• disco balls, strobe lights, infinity lights...I had all the lights from Spencer Gifts but the disco ball in my teenage bedroom
• strawberry-rhubarb pie (my mommy made me one yesterday)
• pretty china tea cups
• fresh popped popcorn
• spending the day with my grandchildren
• playing games on the computer
• watching Daisy (my Poodle) perk up and zip around "her" neighborhood now that the weather is nice...her neighborhood being our yard, my mom's yard and down the alley to our daughter's yard. Lots of other pups and some chickens to visit along the way.
• auctions

And things I don't... 

• peeling after a sunburn
• ordering clothes or shoes and when they arrive, they don't fit
• hearing "it's nothing" at the doctor's office, but also "but we should keep an eye on it"
• when someone in front of you drives very slow and then hits the gas when you go to pull around them
• being sweaty
• an invasion of carpenter bees
• my hair
• confrontation
• not being able to wear high heels

Thankful Thursday

I'm linking up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand on this chilly, but gloriously sunny day for Thankful Thursday.

This week I am thankful...

** I've been bitten by the organizing bug and have been slowly but surely organizing different spots around the house. It's so nice to open a cabinet or pull out a drawer and not be staring at a jumble of junk...or hit by an avalanche of falling Tupperware!

** Tim finally called the doctor to find out about the results of the CT-scan he had done weeks ago. The urologist had told him she couldn't do anything for him and he needed to see his regular doctor. He also got a letter from the imaging department saying his results needed further reviewing. Uh, I don't know about you, but that causes me a bit of worry. It didn't seem to bother him and I've pretty much nagged him to call. He finally did and he has an appointment on May 6th and hopefully the other doctor will be able to do a conference call with him and his regular physician. That they want to do that sounds a bit foreboding to me so I am glad he finally called and we can get moving on this...whatever it is.

** I'm seeing one of my former clients tomorrow. Her family is going to pay me themselves to see her a couple of times a month since there has been no response from my former employer (I'm pretty sure they can't get anyone to take the job right now because while the hourly rate is good, they don't reimburse you for mileage or expenses and as I came to find out, you can't deduct anything at all on your federal taxes and only mileage on state taxes (unless they specifically spell out in a contract what is required as far as expenses...and they are VERY careful not to do that). Even if the agency eventually comes through with someone, I will still see this particular client without pay. We have made her a family friend and her family is happy about that.

** My daughter comes over and clips the cat's claws. He is not the best about it and I would be terrified of clipping too short.

** I have a whole table full of people lined up to go to the women's tea/brunch at church on May 7.

** Megan and the kids (maybe Cody, too) are going to go with me to a missions event at the church this Saturday evening. It's geared toward the kiddos with stories, sensory activities, and we get to taste Indonesian foods. I think there is something for adults, too, while the kids are hearing their story. It be a fun evening and I'm so glad they are going. Pastor Kirt officiating at Cody's brother's funeral made a big impact.

** For God who is my strength and my courage when I am called to do the hard things.

** The sunburn I acquired last Saturday hasn't hurt much beyond the first night. I am looking rather freakish today, though, as my face is peeling. I didn't even realize I was burnt up into my hair or on my top lip, but I'm peeling in both places so I guess I did!

** Colton is back to school after missing a few days (again) being sick. This time with an ear infection. The poor kid has missed a lot of days this year either being sick or because of the school's over caution due to Covid.

** I get to spend all day with Leah tomorrow. She knows my client and they get along so she will help me work. Megan has to go with Colton on a field trip to the local state park.

** We have an Aldi's store 5 minutes away. It's nice to have one place to shop that is a bit more affordable with all this inflation going on. Even Walmart is not all that inexpensive these days.

** Lots of sunshine and the gradual return of warmer weather...though not last night. We had a freeze warning last night and our niece reported it was snowing in Erie yesterday morning!

** So much more I could list here, but just to keep it realistic I'll end it here with saying, as I always do, that I am thankful for each one of YOU!

 

Tuesday 4: Blast from the Past

Linking up with Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 today! 

1. If you had one million dollars to spend only on yourself, what would you spend it on?  I would hire someone to plan and cook healthy meals and exercise with me and then because I'd have lost a lot of weight I'd need a whole new wardrobe.

2. You can do it again. What decade are you going back to and why? What's the attraction?  Maybe the 70's? Most of my childhood was during that decade and it was great. I feel like my generation was the last one to have a great childhood where we had freedom to roam the neighborhood, played in great herds of kids, and we were always outside...not tied to video games, computers, or cell phones. We also didn't have to worry about every stupid thing we did being recorded and shared with the world on YouTube.

3. What was the last song that got stuck in your head? Alternatively, what's your current favorite song?  Thanks to the Saturday 9 it was Dancing in the Moonlight. It's a seriously catchy song! I don't really have a favorite song these days. I've mostly been listening to Christian songs and oldies.

4. What items do you miss from the past and wish they were still around?  Jukeboxes. When I was a kid and went out to dinner with my parents it was such fun to plug a dollar into the machine and then get to choose something like 10 or 12 songs.

Saturday 9: Dancing in the Moonlight

I am very, very late posting this today...so late it's nearly Sunday...but since I'm the one who suggested today's song I thought I'd post anyway. Thanks Sam for picking my song!

Anyone can play along or read more posts here.

Saturday 9: Dancing in the Moonlight (1972)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 

1) The lyrics tell us the moon is big and bright. Do you often take the time to watch the sun set or look at the moon?  I look at the sunset from time to time, but I'm more of a moon girl. I briefly considered majoring in astronomy.

2) The lead singer of King Harvest, Dave "Doc" Robinson, tells us that everyone feels "warm and right." How would you describe your mood as you answer these 9 questions?  Definitely warm, but not right. Tim and I went to an all-day auction with my mom today. We thought it was inside, but it was outside. There was a breeze, but it was sunny and 82...and we were on blacktop the whole time. Since we thought it was inside we were unprepared and I am absolutely FRIED everywhere my skin was exposed. It's a little better now since I just discovered that roll-on Aspercreme with Lidocaine works on sunburn.

3) He sings that his friends don't bark or bite. What about you? Is your bark worse than your bite?  No. I don't usually bark. If I react it's because it is bad or I've bit my tongue for so long that I have to deal with whatever it is. That said, I don't usually bite, either.

 

4) He believes you be unhappy when you dance. Do you agree?  I think you're asking if I think we can't be unhappy when we dance. If that's the question, I mostly agree. I could be unhappy during a slow dance, but if you're rocking out then yeah, it's hard to be unhappy. It's just like exercise and releases all those feel good chemicals in your brain.

 

5) King Harvest was not the only name the band used. They once performed as E. Rodney Jones and the Prairie Dogs. If you ever played in a band, tell us what it was called. If you haven't, make up a band name.  I haven't been in a band. No musical talent, remember? But if I did have any talent I think "Copacetic" would be a cool band name.

6) Even though this was a major hit, King Harvest's record label, Perception, went bankrupt in 1974. This decade has been hard on many businesses -- especially restaurants -- and many closed their doors due to covid. Tell us about a shop or restaurant that closed recently, and that you miss.  I honestly can't think of any I frequented that have closed. Most places I can think of found a way to keep going. Plus, I have to say that other than restuarants, most places stayed open other than for the first couple of months of the pandemic. I know businesses closed...just none I was a customer of.

7) This very upbeat song came from pain. While vacationing in St. Croix, songwriter Sherman Kelly was the victim of vicious gang attack and was left for dead. He wrote this song during his long recuperation and it helped him envision joy. Is there a song that reliably lifts your mood? (Yes, you can say this song. Mr. Kelly is right, it IS joyful!)  Well, yes, this one, that's why I suggested it...but also Walking on Sunshine, Uptown Funk, and Can't Stop the Feeling.

 

8) In 1972, when this song topped the charts, Wrangler jeans were America's best-selling blue jeans. Do you often wear denim?  I pretty much live in either jeans or leggings.

9) Random question: Which of these is completely, 100% UNTRUE of you: Greedy, lazy, or jealous?  It's definitely not lazy, because isn't procrastination really a form of laziness? I'd like to say I'm not greedy or jealous, but in the end I am human and those both probably raise their heads in at least a mild form from time to time. I don't think most people can be totally 100 percent free of any of those.

Likes & Dislikes #10

Things I like...

• the doctor saying your test results, which the online chart made sound bad, are really nothing to worry about.
• having lunch with a friend
• deep, theological discussions
• when my cat's "zippy" phases end (zippy phase is a nice way of saying spider monkey on crack phase).
• reading blogs
• sitting on the porch swing
• this song 

And things I don't...

• when they see something in the mammogram that is probably a cyst but requires having a sonogram done.
• my husband's unwillingness to keep on top of medical appointments and follow medical advice.
• being out somewhere and having to hear someone who can't seem to speak without constant swearing, especially the f-bomb....especially if I have the grandkids with me.
• no-see-ums, those tiny, little gnats that fly in clouds right in your face.
• sleeping in...throws my whole day off.
• our culture's state of terminal offendedness.
• running errands in the rain.

 

Thankful Thursday

It's Thankful Thursday so you know I'm linking up with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand to share the good things I've been blessed by this week. 

And those things are...

** My feet haven't been hurting that much lately. If you suffer from foot pain you know this is huge.

** I picked up another tea cup at Goodwill today. I've been collecting them for over a year. My friend, Fran, and I want to have a tea party for our friends and I thought having one of a kind cups and saucers at each place that the guests can take home would be a fun idea. Here are a few of them.

Today's Sweet Find

That's Jasper in the background checking out
the tea cups. Do you think he'd
enjoy a tea party?

** The grass needs mowed! Hey, it's a sign that warm weather will soon be here to stay.

** My hubby's sweet thoughtfulness in all the little things he does for me.

** Lunch with a friend today. I haven't seen her in a while.

** A wonderful Easter with family. The kids got way too much between their parents, two sets of grandparents, great-grandma's, and even Sarah's mother's family brought baskets for Colton and Leah!

And, as usual, we cooked like we were feeding the army. We had ham, corn spoonbread, the funeral potatoes Megan insists we always have, potato salad, coleslaw, pickled beets and pickled eggs, deviled eggs, taco salad and cupcakes, apricot and poppyseed rolls for dessert.

** Really stupid jokes and puns that play on words that make me laugh ridiculously hard.

Q. What generation does Forrest Gump belong to? Gen X, Gen Y...

A. None of those. He belongs to Gen E (Jenny). 

** Everything is working out well for Sarah so far. Mom is moving back to the area this weekend and will be taking over as the main caregiver with help from Megan and Cody, Cody's parents, and her dad. Sarah's father's family will still get to see her. That's what they were concerned about more than anything. In return they are willing to help out with babysitting and getting Sarah places. Cody's mom took the money Nick had in the bank, the checks from the Seneca tribe, and money that people have donated and started a bank account that only she (and Sarah when she's an adult) can access so there's no chance the mom can touch it. Pray Mom keeps up her end of the deal, gets a job, and steps up as a full-time parent, but so far, so good.

** All of you and your friendship, your prayers and support, your advice, and your stories, photos and comments that make me smile and laugh or think or cry.  

Currently...

The Weather

Sunny and cold, but temps are predicted to warm up to 55*.

It's a big improvement over yesterday's snow and sleet.

Listening

To my annoying cat swat things off the kitchen island.

Reading

Kingdom of Bones, James Rollins' book that came out yesterday.

Thankful

That, so far, it seems little Sarah's mother and her mother's 

father are going to step up and take care of her as they should 

have been all along. They are being nice and they are making 

sure her late father's family gets to see her. That's a 

good thing. She needs stability and our daughter 

and son-in-law don't need the stress of trying to raise her.

Thinking

About the results of yesterday's bloodwork. It wasn't pretty. 

While myoverall cholesterol was good, my good cholesterol 

was down and my triglycerides were up. There was also 

something off in what they look for to see how the kidneys are 

doing. Yikes! Alrighty, then... must eat healthier, must get moving, 

must (at the least) cut waaaay back on Diet Coke and drink 

more water. Off to a good start this morning with exercise, 

a bottle of water, and a decent breakfast...and NO COKE.

It's only 9:00, though, so keep me in your prayers. LOL

Feeling

Happy. It's amazing what a good night's sleep and some sunshine

will do for a person's outlook on life.

Celebrating

Today is my stepdad's birthday. He is 81.

Tomorrow is his and Mom's anniversary.

We had cupcakes on Easter to celebrate so today I will deliver

cards and gift cards for both occasions as I have a busy day tomorrow.

A Quote

Yes, there is. Make it your mission to find it today!

Cooking Up the Tuesday 4

Hi.. welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

1. When did you learn to cook?  I'm sure I did some cooking during my jr. high years, but things got serious when I was in high school. Like most teens, I hated washing dishes and complained about it mightily. One day I asked my dad why I had to do them every day and he said Mom made dinner every night so I had to do the dishes. I took that to mean that whoever did the cooking didn't have to do the dishes and after confirming it with my dad I took over the lion's share of the cooking until I left for college. I used magazines, cookbooks, family recipes...and taught myself.

2.  How often in the week do you cook? Order in? Go out?  When I was working we probably ate out or got take-out 4 times a week, sometimes more. Now that I'm not working I'm trying to get away from doing that. When we do get something we usually get take-out because Tim's tired after work and doesn't feel like getting cleaned up and going out...and also because I don't really enjoy going out to dinner with him because he has a very hard time hearing when there is a lot of background noise so conversation is difficult.

3.  Which foods are absolutely necessary at a cookout?  Watermelon, potato salad, pasta salad, hotdogs...other than that I'm pretty flexible. 

4.  Do you have a meal you are especially good at making? or that people often request for you to make?  People love my meatloaf, which is basically the recipe from an old Betty Crocker cookbook (newer editions do not have the same recipe), but I make a lot of stuff the family likes. I am the most adventurous cook in the family and I've been called the best. I got the highest compliment ever from my dad. He never, ever told my mom anything she made was good. She'd ask and all he ever said was, "I ate it didn't I?" The only person I ever heard him compliment was my mother's mother (and that was saying something because he didn't like her). I hosted the family Christmas the year we got married and made the whole dinner myself and I went all out and I heard Dad telling someone "the girl can cook." High praise, indeed!

Saturday 9: This Is the Way the Bunny Hops

Saturday 9: This Is the Way the Bunny Hops

(From the archives)
 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

Thanks to Sam at Saturday 9 for providing the music and questions each week.

1) Why do you suppose there are so many songs about Santa Claus, yet very few about the Easter Bunny?  I'm guessing people are more inspired by Santa Claus because he brings the presents. The Bunny's offerings are meager by comparison. It's too bad we don't have a whole lot more songs about Jesus on both holidays.

2) This song was written by The Kiboomers, two early education teachers who are passionate about the power of music to help kids learn. Tell us about a teacher who had an impact on your life.  Dr. Feather was  a total character, but a very smart man who taught earth science and astronomy at my high school. He wrote a text book (and used my class as his guinea pigs) and went on to teach at the college level. He inspired my love of astronomy, but he also showed me I was capable of understanding and using complicated math (calculus) when it served a real purpose rather than being the awful made up problems in a book. I did so well using calculus to find the distance to stars that I tutored others. That was a first.

3) Legend has it that the Easter Bunny was introduced to America in the 1700s by German immigrants. These children waited for a magic creature who left colored eggs. Today's kids dye Easter eggs themselves. When did you most recently color eggs?  I don't know for sure, but I think a few years ago with the grandchildren.

4) The Easter Bunny is usually shown carrying a wicker basket filled with eggs, toys and candy. Is there any wicker in the room you're in right now?  Just the basket the dog toys are in.

5) While marshmallow Peeps are manufactured all year around, they are most popular at Easter. Do you prefer the chicks or the bunnies?  I prefer not to be subjected to either one...nasty, sticky things.

6) A little time in the microwave can do ugly things to a Peep. Have you ever nuked a Peep?  No, because I never have Peeps in the house.
 

7) Would you prefer a hollow or a solid chocolate bunny?  Solid. Hollow bunnies are a cruel joke...and while I like chocolate bunnies, I prefer my bunnies to be white chocolate.

8) A traditional American Easter dinner usually includes glazed ham or roast lamb. Which would you rather have as your main course?  I'd rather have ham. Actually, I wanted to make manicotti this year, but my daughter's family would rather have the ham so we will keep the troops happy.

 

9) Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What makes you feel refreshed or rejuvenated?  A good night's sleep, exercise, my favorite music, or spending some time in prayer and Bible study.

Likes & Dislikes #9

Things I like...

...warm razzleberry pie with vanilla bean ice cream...

...Allstate commercials featuring Mayhem...

...sleeping with the fan on...

...Lindt chocolate truffle Easter eggs...

...being home for my family...

...the 70's & 80's...

...funny "scary" movies (think Beetlejuice, Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy, and Scooby-Doo).

And things I don't...

...endless spam calls on my cell phone...

...when people are just mean all the time out of habit...

...getting blisters from shoes...

...mental illness and what it steals...

...when an otherwise good show or movie suddenly throws in something inappropriate...

...how many wonderful entertainers we've lost in the last couple of years...

...waiting, doesn't matter what for.

I had the experience of going with my daughter to her late brother-in-law's house yesterday. There were just a few more things they needed to get out before they walk away and let the bank have it all.

All along she has been telling us tales of how bad it was inside. I believed her, as I have sadly had a few clients who live in homes that would be perfect candidates for the show Hoarders. And yet, I was not prepared for his house. 

As soon as you entered it...through the garage, screened porch, or right into the house, it didn't matter...you were slammed by an overwhelming, relentless stench. It was a combination of months (maybe years) of garbage, dampness, mold, mildew, old dirty diapers, dog urine and feces, and groceries that had been carried in, sat down, still in the bags and left to rot.

I was seeing the house after they had removed a lot of stuff the family wanted to keep. But there was still so much there. Things that belonged to the man's ex's other children, clothes, everything in the kitchen, movies, video game systems and games, records, multiple stereos, huge fish tanks...left because no one wants to deal with it or the mess or try to clean it to make it useable.

Part of the kitchen ceiling had fallen a long time ago and was never repaired so all that dampness and mold coming in. The living room floor is buckled and humped up in several places under the carpet...water damage? Old food and dirty dishes were piled as high as the bed in the bedroom where he had spent the last few months and dirty diapers were piled the length of the dresser and 2 feet high. The food that was carried in was all rotting, some to a complete liquid state, gallons of milk had sat for so long they exploded. They found the dog dead in the basement of neglect...bags and cans of dog food were everywhere. I did not see the bathroom. The door was closed and my daughter said no one ever needed to see in there so I can only imagine.

I am so sorry this young man was obviously so mentally ill along with physically ill, but what truly breaks my heart is thinking about Sarah running around in that house. Ugh. I can't even imagine being ill enough to think that was okay for my kid. I can't comprehend that her mother did visit from time to time and knew what the house was like, actually stayed there, and left Sarah there when she left.

Yet, I watch shows like Hoarders and know that this happens more often than we realize in this world of ours. I supposed it is just another sign of the times and that we are growing ever nearer to when the Lord comes back.

Thankful Thursday

I'm joining in with Rebecca Jo @ Knit By God's Hand to share some of the things I've been blessed by this week. All thanks and praise goes to the Lord and if anything encourages you that's an awesome bonus!

 This week I am thankful...

** for all the ways God's love and goodness were apparent throughout the ordeal of dealing with the death of our son-in-law's brother.

** for Pastor Kirt, who willingly stepped in to officiate the funeral of someone he didn't know and minister to a family who doesn't know God and needs Him desperately.

** for the opportunities I had to reach out to our son-in-law's mother and show her love and compassion.

** for my church family who prayed and brought food...so much food! I had more than enough to keep the kids fed, us fed, our daughter and son-in-law fed, and send food to our s-i-l's parents. The whole mess stretched out a week and I still have a lot of food.

** little Sarah's mother has been surprising everyone and being quite nice and agreeable concerning Sarah. There had been a real fear that she would take her away...even though she had walked away 2 years ago. At this time, it appears that she is going to do some type of shared custody with our daughter and s-i-l. She will have the girl with her most of the time (hopefully) and our daughter and s-i-l will be there to help out with babysitting, getting her to school and appointments, etc. In return, they will have a guarantee of being able to see their niece with few restrictions and not have to fear losing her.

** that for the most part our grands welcome Sarah into the family and accept her as their (sort of) sister. There are some bumps as there will be with any bunch of kids put together and Sarah comes with some special needs, but mostly they are a happy crew.

My little country girls.

** for my crazy grandson who keeps us laughing with his VERY expressive face.

** for warmer weather and some days without rain that allowed the kids to get outside and burn off some energy and inspired me to get some potting soil and get my hands dirty repotting some of my houseplants...and maybe potting a couple of new ones. (Now all I have to do is convince Jasper to stay out of them.)

** that Jasper has a mellow personality. Otherwise, I'm sure he would have slice and diced Leah by now.

** for our son-in-law who has grown into a wonderful husband and father and kept our daughter and his parents anchored through the past week while stoically dealing with his own grief...and his birthday.

** our taxes are done and even though we discovered my former employer lied when they hired me (Since 2017 you can't deduct employee expenses on federal taxes unless they are required and in a contract and only the mileage could be claimed on the state taxes.) we ended up okay and with refunds on federal, state, and local taxes!

** as I always am, for your friendship, love, support, encouragement, and prayers. Love you all!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's been ages since I've joined in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge, but felt like jumping in today. Thanks goes to Joyce @ From This Side of the Pond for the questions.

1. Do you celebrate Easter? I do. It's the most important holiday in the Christian faith. If so what are your plans this year? I had been looking forward to celebrating in church for the first time in several years, but that won't be happening due to circumstances beyond my control. We will be having dinner with our daughter's family and my mom and stepdad. There will be baskets and an egg hunt for the grands. Did you have egg hunts as a kid?  My parents always did a small one for me. Always inside, because it was done before church and we always went to sunrise services on Easter. 

2. What's your favorite bread to find in a bread basket?  I'm not a big bread eater, but when I do eat it I like simple homemade bread and rolls...all light, fluffy, yeasty and warm. 

3. Your favorite chick flick?  Dirty Dancing with While You Were Sleeping as a close second.

4.Tax day is rapidly approaching in the US of A...what's something you currently find 'taxing'?  Actually, a situation I found quite taxing has just ended so I'm not feeling taxed at the moment.

5. Have you ever ridden in a taxi? Just once. Do you have a funny-scary-crazy-interesting taxi story to share?  My daughter had a major meltdown in a store when she was three. I took her to the van to let it play out and was so stressed by the time she wound down I ended up locking the keys in the van. No family members were available to come to the rescue. The dealership I bought the van from and provided roadside assistance said they were too busy to come. They told me to go to a dealership nearer to my location and have a key made. I had to take a taxi to that dealership. The "taxi" turned out to be a mini bus so my daughter and aunt got to ride along and it was a "grand adventure." Did I mention it was pouring absolute buckets of rain the whole time?  Do you use any of the newer taxi-like services such as Uber?  No. I don't have any need, nor do I think they are all that safe. (Don't tell my husband's cousin...he is pretty high up in Uber's security department in Pittsburgh.)

6. Insert your own random thought here.  The funeral for my son-in-law's brother was yesterday so after a week of watching the grands plus the brother's daughter, life is beginning to return to normal. I won't rehash details here, but if you aren't a regular and really want to know of the horrible circumstances surrounding the death you can read my last few posts. 

What I will say is that concerning his daughter, the news is as good as could have been hoped for. The mother of the daughter turned up and has been very agreeable. She says she saw an attorney and set up a shared custody agreement between her and my daughter and son-in-law. They are waiting for the paperwork to come in the mail so they can have their attorney review it. The mother had to return to another state for a couple of weeks to finish up some classes, but will be returning after that. The girl is with my daughter and s-i-l until she returns. Then the hope is that she will have the girl the majority of the time, but my daughter and s-i-l will be able to see her whenever they want and they will have a say in decisions about her well-being. I am praying the mother doesn't take advantage.

Currently

I am...

Listening to... rain splattering against the windows and a neighbor mowing grass in said rain.

Thankful... for the overwhelming support and love of my small group from church. Since learning of the death of our son-in-law's brother they have blessed us abundantly with meals, things I can make up in a pinch, crafts for the kids... It has been so humbling. One family alone brought a dozen grocery bags filled with kid-friendly foods and drinks! I've had more than enough to feed the kids, us, Megan and Cody, and share with Cody's family, who is somewhat reclusive and shut off so they haven't received any kindnesses. 

I don't know if that's what inspired them, but they have asked my pastor to officiate the funeral.I am so very thankful for that because if there is anyone who might speak peace and truth in a way that might reach their hearts, it is Pastor Kirt.

Thinking... about how different life may be going forward. Megan and Cody have talked with Sarah's mother and she has Sarah today. So far she is being nice and agreeable, but based on past experience, she isn't one to trust. For now, the agreement is that Megan and Cody will keep Sarah for the next two weeks while the mother goes back to Indiana and finishes up her classes. After that, she plans to move back home and live with her father and Sarah will go live with her. She refuses any kind of custody agreement, but has said she'd be willing to sign papers saying Megan and Cody can take her to the doctor and school and things like that. She is also saying, already, that she's going to have to get a job and she'll need help taking care of Sarah to do that. 

Our prayers are that she doesn't take advantage of the situation and pawn Sarah off on Megan and Cody all the time (she did it with Nick's parents), but keep the Social Security money and not offer to help.

Feeling... peaceful today. I don't have the kids at all today so I am enjoying the quiet and relaxing since I will have all three again tomorrow while the funeral takes place.

Celebrating... our son-in-law's birthday today (well...celebrating may be too strong a term ), my stepdad's birthday next Monday, Mom and John's anniversary the following day, and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus during this holiest of weeks.

The weather... low 60's, gray, and rainy...a forecast that will hold true for much of the week. Except for Wednesday. Wednesday it's supposed to be 80*. Then back to 50 and rain by Easter.

A quote to share...

A song to leave you with...

Sunday Stealing: Thought Provoking Questions

Thanks to Bev of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing.  Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

Stolen from Thought Provoking Questions

 

 

 

1. Do you own your things or do your things own you?  I value my things and I surround myself with things that I enjoy or that have meaning to me, but I would not be crushed if they all went away tomorrow. None of it came into the world with me and none of it is going out with me, either. This photo popped up in my memories on Facebook the other day. Willie says it pretty well.

2. Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make new ones?  That's a hard one. I hate the thought of losing the memories of people who have meant a lot to me, but are gone or of wonderful events and times, but...I think I'd hate to not be able to make new memories with my grandchildren even more.

3. When you are 80-years-old, what will matter to you the most?  My family, being able to do things I enjoy, my health, and having my mind intact.

4. What do you have that you cannot live without?  My faith in God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. After that, only my family comes close to that kind of value.

5. When you close your eyes what do you see?  Something akin to colorful static.

6. What sustains you on a daily basis?  My faith, my husband's support, my family, and having things to do that I enjoy.

7. What are your top five personal values?

• Put God first.
• Love everyone (which encompasses kindness, respect, and manners).
• Be honest (with God, others, and myself).
• Don't take more than your share (of money, belongings, praise, food, or anything).
• Admit it when you are wrong or have done wrong, be remorseful about it and say so.

8. What personal prisons have you built out of fears?  Shyness has kept me from making a lot of friends and speaking up publicly about things in the past. I'm learning the older I get the less I worry about what others think. Fear of sharks keeps me from swimming in the ocean and that fear isn't going anywhere.

9. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  Lose weight.

10. If you haven’t achieved it yet what do you have to lose?  Ha!  If we are talking about  question 9, a lot of pounds!

11. What three words would you use to describe the last three months of your life?  Difficult, blessed, changed.

12. Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?  Is it ever wrong to do the right thing?  That would, for the most part, depend on whose standard of right and wrong you are going by. Personally, I don't believe it's ever "right" to do the wrong thing...except if it is going against the laws of man because they are in opposition to God's laws. We are told in the Bible to obey our leaders because they are in place only because God has allowed them to be there.

13. How would you describe ‘freedom’ in your own words?  Being able to hold and express my own beliefs and pursue what matters to me without infringement or interference by any government, entity, or person.

14. What is the most important thing you could do right now in your personal life?  Change my diet, exercise, and get healthier. Winning the lottery would be good too. It would make retirement a lot less scary.

15. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?  Dealing in used, old, and rare books and/or antiques.