Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun

Happy Friday!  Here's my challenging post for the week, the Friday four fill-ins hosted by Hilary at Feeling Beachie.  They appear simple at first glance, but they can get pretty complicated!  Here we go:


1. I have always dreamed of ____
I have always dreamed of traveling and seeing new places and cultures.

2. My ___ is my ____
My home is my haven that I get to share with those I love.

3. I love to ____ when I ____
I love to scrapbook when I get the chance.  I wish I'd get the chance more often.

4. I will never forget ____ with ____
I will never forget labor and delivery with my three kids.  I don't think any mom ever does.

Five Question Friday

Welcome to Five Question Friday, the blog hop that asks 5 questions every Friday, and I answer them.  Simple, right?  Then hop on over to My Little Life and join in.


1. What do you give teachers for gifts?
If it's lady teachers I might get a scented candle or gift basket, but typically a good gift is a gift certificate to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.

2. Do you text? One finger texter or total pro?
I do text, quite frequently since it seems to be the only way to communicate with kids nowadays.  I use my thumbs for texting.  Both of them.

3. Do you give back during the holidays? If so, in what way/which is your favorite charity?
Yes, I do make an effort to give during the holidays (and the rest of the year, because needy people are needy all year long).  I like giving through Samaritan's Purse.  This worthy organization is run by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham.  They help people all over the world who are in need.  Check them out.

4. If you would've been the sole winner of the 575+ million dollar Powerball jackpot, what would you have done with all that money?
I'd give most of it to a worthy charity.  See question #3.

5. Will you please take just a moment to spread the word and pray about my friend's missing family members? There still is no news, and I can't imagine their pain and worry. Facebook prayer page: Prayers for Trista, Shy and Matt.
You got it.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Okay, I'm late.  It's Thursday.  But in my defense, I've been crazy busy decorating the house for Christmas.  I haven't even taken pics to post because I've been running around till I run out of energy (I'm no pink bunny).  I'll try to get back on schedule by getting my Hodgepodge post up, even if it's late.  You can too, if you hop on over to Joyce's, From This Side of the Pond.


Four hodgepodges til Christmas in case you were wondering.

1.  With that being said I think I need to dive right in to some Christmas related questions, don't you? Which do you prefer-pretty gift wrap with a bow or a pretty gift bag with/without a bow?  What percentage of your holiday gifts are currently (as in right this very minute) wrapped in some form or fashion?
I like gifts that are wrapped and topped with a bow.  Bags are nice too, but there's just something about stacking boxes under the tree that makes me smile.

All my gifts are wrapped.  They are all purchased too.  I have some books on order that haven't shipped, but otherwise I'm done.

2.  What is one item on your Christmas list this year?
The new Tim Hawkin's DVD, Push Pull Point Pow.  Tim Hawkins in the funniest comedian I've ever heard/watched.  He's a Christian, so none of his comedy contains foul language or sexual innuendos so common with today's comedians.  And yet he's hilarious.  I told my kids if they don't get me this DVD I will disown the three of them.

3.  What makes a home?
The people.  I can be at home in a dump so long as my babies are near.

4.  Motown founder Berry Gordy celebrates his birthday on Hodgepodge Day-November 28th. Are you a fan of the Motown sound?  If so, who's your favorite Motown artist and/or song? Here's a list in case you're stuck.
I was a fan back in the day, when I was a kid.  Not as much now.  I prefer rock music.

5.  Red or green-which one is more prevalent in your closet?
Green, definitely.  It's my favorite color.  I like pretty much all shades of green.  Well, except neon.  That's a bit loud.

6.  True or false-bacon makes it better? If you answered true, what's your favorite dish made with bacon?
True!  I like bacon with my breakfast, bacon on my burgers, bacon wrapped around pork tenderloin.  The flavor is like no other.

7.  Share a favorite holiday memory.
When my two older kids were little, we'd go to grandma's house for Thanksgiving and come home late enough that both were asleep or almost asleep.  Once they were in bed, I'd get to work decorating the house.  The tree would go up and get decorated, all kinds of decor would appear, and the stockings would get hung with a surprise inside.  I loved hearing them get up in the morning, hearing their oohs and aahs as they went through the house, then cheer as they found a special something (usually a cassette tape of Christmas music) in their stocking.  I can't do this anymore, since the tree is much bigger and it takes me a couple of days to decorate the house instead of a few hours, but it's a memory my kids and I still treasure.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
December is almost upon us, and so are birthdays.  My sweet brother-in-law has a birthday on the 13th, then mine is on the 14th.  My nephew's birthday is on the 19th.  We'll celebrate Jesus' birthday on the 25th, then my daughter and youngest son will have their birthdays on the 27th.  No, they aren't twins.  My daughter A turns 23 and my son E will be 13.  They are exactly 10 years apart.  For us, December is an especially special month.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today, November 27, 2012...

Outside my window...it's a little warmer today.  Or rather, the humidity is up so it feels warmer.  The temps have been steady these last few weeks.

I am thinking...of my friend whose son just got back into the States after spending 9 grueling months in Afganistan.  Praise God he is back safe!  I'm thankful to God for His protection, and to this young man for putting himself on the line to protect my freedom.

I am thankful...that my youngest son's science project got chosen for the science fair!  We worked hard to get it done and turned in on time, and his teacher said it was solid and great.  I'm so proud of my little boy!

I am going...to do my hair in a little while.

I am wearing...a blue paisley top, jean capris and flip flops.  It's 77 degrees but the humidity and dew point are in the 60% range which makes it feel warmer and stickier.  Plus I was putting up Christmas lights so I needed something comfortable to wear.

I am noticing...a pain in my neck.  No, literally.  My neck muscles are sore from all the Christmas decorating.  I could really use a massage.

In the kitchen...we have leftovers.  It's leftover day.  My son, however, doesn't want leftovers.  He feels he deserves to dine out because of his science project going to the science fair.

I am creating...a warm and cozy home.

I am reading...very little lately other than my devotions.  I've been real busy decorating.

I am hoping...the lights look nice.  It took a couple of hours to get them strung around the roof line.

I am looking forward to...a friend's baby shower this weekend.

I am hearing...my son singing.

Around the house...I've got my tree all set up and lit, the little village on the table next to it, everything looking festive and Christmas-y.

A favorite quote of the day..."Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued above all." - Augustine.

One of my favorite things...hearing my children sing.

A few plans for the rest of the week...Awana starts up tomorrow again.  Saturday is the baby shower, and church on Sunday.

Wanna join in the fun?  Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook.  God bless.

Monday Quiz About Me

Welcome to my Monday Quiz post.  Hilary at Acting Balanced provides 4 questions, then allows me the option of adding a 5th question.  You can link up at her blog to join in.


1. Do you decorate outdoors for the holidays?
Yes!  It's a lot of work but worth the effort.  I love seeing houses decorated with lights.

2. What is the best thing about office Christmas parties?
Not having to work and actually getting to know your co-workers.

3. Gloves or Mittens?
Wow, I can't remember the last time I used either ones other than for gardening, and of course those would be gloves.  Ah, the benefits of living in South Florida!

4. What do you think of Secret Santas?
They can be fun, as long as the people involved are mature about it.  We had a secret Santa at work once and one of the employees insisted on writing up a list of what he wanted because he didn't want to get cheated out of a good present.  It was downright ridiculous.

And now for my question:

5. Did you or a guest bake your Thanksgiving dessert, or was it store bought?
I baked an apple crumb pie that was to die for!  Honestly, even my picky kids enjoyed it.  We also had a store bought gingerbread train kit for my kiddos to put together.

Move It Mondays

Happy last Monday in November!  The month is almost gone, Thanksgiving is but a memory, and Christmas decorating is in full swing.  I've decorated the inside of the home, but I still have the outside to go.  It won't happen today, though; today was shopping day.  Grocery shopping.  I usually go on Fridays, but there was no way I'd be caught in the madness of Black Friday.  So I got caught up with food shopping and I also gassed up the car at $3.39/gallon.  It's cheaper than it's been, but it still takes $50 to fill up the tank.

So after a trip to Winn-Dixie, Walmart, and Costco, I came home and put everything away just to start lunch.  We had fried chicken, stuffing, corn on the cob and salad.  Yum!  I have a happy tummy :).  I'm gonna clean up in the kitchen, then I'll be leaving to pick up my son from school in an hour.

I got a call from a dear friend today, which made me smile.  She was out of town visiting family and just got back, so we got interrupted twice.  It's still nice to get calls from old friends.

Hmm, maybe I can start putting up those lights this afternoon.  Let's see how much homework my little boy gets.  My sons and I can go out and do this together.  Have a blessed Monday, wherever you are.

Observing My Senses

For Today, November 24, 2012...

I am seeing...the sunlight as it streams in through the window all over the kitchen counter.  I see a half decorated Christmas tree in the living room.  I see decorations that bring good memories and bittersweet ones.

I am feeling...the cool breeze coming in through the kitchen window.  The stickiness of my fingers that got syrup on them.  The joy of seeing my house decorated for the holidays.

I am hearing...the coffee maker do its job.  Birds chirping in the trees.  And silence, because my offspring are still asleep.

I am tasting...bacon, waffles, coffee, syrup.  In that order.

I am smelling...very little.  The boxes that came down from the attic were covered in dust, causing my allergies to spring to life.  Thank goodness for Benadryl.  I would have had a sleepless night otherwise.

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?