Todays Menu: A bit of Hodgepodge

1. When did you last have canceled plans? Were you happy about that or disappointed? 

Something we were to go to was canceled, and I was overjoyed! 

2. On a scale of 1-10, how much of a planner are you?

I'm a 4 -  Years ago, I used to be someone who planned everything in advance. However, I found that this approach didn't alleviate my stress levels. Instead, it made me feel anxious and nervous. As I have grown older, I have become much more spontaneous and prefer not to plan everything out in advance and just enjoy the adventure.  For anything that requires major planning, my husband and I share the responsibility. 

3. Do you have a menu plan for the week? If so tell us one or two things that are on it. If not, what's your plan for not having a plan lol? 

See Above: I used to plan my weekly and monthly meals, but I lost my mojo. However, I still have a flexible mental list of what I want to cook. This week I plan to make Carne Asada and Grilled Chicken. I usually go grocery shopping on Friday.

 

4. The Hodgepodge lands on National Bucket List Day. Do you have a bucket list? Is it written down or just in your head? What is one thing on your bucket list? If you don't have a list, what is one thing you'd add to a list if you did? Yes, I'm going to make you think about it. 

I don't have a bucket list, although being on a jury is something I would like to experience at some point. However, if I don't get the chance, I won't be disappointed. I prefer to live my life without a checklist of things to do. Lists and reminders can take away from living in the present moment.

 

5. Rain buckets, a drop in the bucket, couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, sweat buckets, cry buckets...which 'bucket' idiom applies to your life in some way currently? 

None of these idioms apply to my life at the moment.

 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Great news! My son has returned safely 

from his backpacking adventure. 

I have to admit that my resolve to not worry was tested, but everything turned out well. Over the years, I have worked hard to give my worries to God, and thankfully, my worries have been minimal. I have learned to trust God with my worries over my adult children, especially after having lost one adult son to death. However, as a mother, I still have a natural urge to worry, and I have to fight against it. That's when I remind myself to hand them over to the care of a loving God who loves them even more than I do. It's up to me to trust. 

Yesterday, I became even more anxious as I knew my son would be checking in for the first time. In my darkest moments, I imagined what I would do if he didn't check in. I kept asking the Holy Spirit to give me peace, and I felt as if Jesus was asking me, 

Do you trust me? 

Do you really trust me? 

Do you trust me more than anything?

Finally, I felt the peace that I had been seeking from the beginning, but my mind wasn't cooperating. I feel like a failure as a Christian because I know that I am supposed to trust God fully, without excuses. After all that He has done for me, I had gone back to the pit of worry, like a dog to its vomit.

I don't want to control my worry; I want to trust God fully with my mind, body, and spirit.  By not fully trusting Him, I am telling Him that the work He did for me was not enough.

Because of Jesus,

I am Debby

And We're Off...to a New Week!

I hope you all had a great weekend and are ready to tackle this new week with renewed enthusiasm!

Today, I went to the grocery store for last-minute items, had a session with my Christian counselor, and have an interview for BSF leadership later this afternoon with the administrator.

My husband went to urgent care at the VA this morning with some ear pain. Apparently, he was a bit too aggressive in removing ear wax - OUCH!

On Friday evening, we went to the college to watch a jazz concert. The performance was outstanding, with alumni returning to showcase their talent. I am always amazed by the level of skill exhibited by these young performers. We sat with some friends from church and enjoyed the show. The concert ended at 9:30 pm, which is usually my bedtime. Despite living only 7 minutes away from the college, we were both so wired that we couldn't go to bed until almost midnight. I am not used to staying up so late, and as a result, I was dragging all day on Saturday. I took 2 naps to recover! 

What a lightweight I have become!

I spent most of Saturday reading my new book on the Civil War. I highlighted it in yellow every time it mentioned one of my ancestors. It also cleared up some brick walls in my family tree. My dad's family were amazing! 

This week on my A-Z blog posts:

One Family's Sacrifice

The Story of a Thief

Uncle Jay

Salem Witch Trials

So far, I have NOTHING for X and Y.  

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these blog posts on my other blog because it improves my brain function. I'm finding it easier to formulate somewhat intelligent sentences. Use it or Lose it! I enjoy the research and always dig deeper for the whole story. I would have made a good Detective. I'm grateful that I joined the challenge this year, as it helped me rediscover my passion for writing.  I thought I had lost the skill, but the A-Z challenge has reignited my love for it. Now, I'm excited to keep writing and improving my skills. 

Uh Oh - There goes the budget!

We indulged ourselves this past weekend by eating out twice. We used to eat out more often, but recently we haven't due to the high prices. It was a nice change of pace for us. On Saturday, we visited our favorite Taqueria, and last night we went to In-N-Out. Both meals were enjoyable, and it was nice not to cook!

Foodie will be back tomorrow. Excited to hear about his trip and see photos!

Until Next Time,

Debby

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed” 

(Isaiah 53:5).

 

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Backpacking But Were Afraid To Ask...

Thanks to Pamela, I had no idea that a few of you may not be familiar with backpacking, especially if you do not live in a mountainous area or if it is not a pastime among your children or grandkids. 

Backpacking is an adventure-filled hobby or sport, that requires pricey specialized equipment. It isn't camping!  To start with, you need a sturdy backpack that you can carry on your back. Think of yourself as a pack animal. I'm not referring to a regular backpack. This should be a lightweight, but durable backpack with a frame, as you will be carrying essentials such as a tent, sleeping bag, bedrolls, food, water, extra clothing, a first aid kit, and whatever else is necessary for survival. The weight on your back usually ranges from 30-40 pounds.

An excellent pair of hiking boots is a must-have, and sometimes it's advisable to carry two pairs if you plan to be away for an extended period, like hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Extra socks too. A tent, which is different from the kind you use when camping, will weigh less than 6 lbs and I believe his tent is 3 lbs. The sleeping bag will be around 2 lbs. Plus there is a liner that offers extra insulation from the cold. There's a lightweight camp stove that weighs approximately 2 lbs, and special canisters of fuel that are also lightweight. 

Foodie carried the extra weight of snow shoes on his trip, but they don't count towards the weight if he wears them. However, if he is packing them, they are 6 lbs. He has a water purifier to ensure safe drinking water, and he also carries a GPS to navigate. 

He is very experienced and has been backpacking/hiking since he was around 12. My dad was an adventurer, backpacker, and mountain climber, so both sons inherited those genes -  I guess. I have them to a degree—a very small one as I get older.  My husband in his younger days, also backpacked and mountain climbed. 

I usually am cool with it, but because this is the first time he is snowshoeing or backpacking in the snow, yeah, it has me on alert. On his behalf, he has been researching this for months, so he doesn't go in blindly. Of course, anything can happen. I try not to worry about this because 9.99 times out of 10, I just wasted my time. I'll deal with whatever happens when it happens, God forbid. That's just how I choose to roll. 

So there you have it - 

Take Care

Debby

This and That on a Friday

These white Irises are blooming, and there will be more to come. 

On my hill, these bushes bloom with pretty white flowers. I looked them up, and they are called Rosa Multiflora. They are also known as Seven-Sisters Rose, Rosa Rugosa, or Japanese Rose. Once again, this is one of the many plants my dad planted on the hill. They only bloom once a year—in the Spring. The rest of the year, they are just a green bush. 

Foodie and I went out yesterday - he was picking up last minute things for his backpacking/snowshoeing adventure. While we were out, I had said, I liked this water bottle and he bought it for me. It's a pretty coral color. 

He's on his way...He takes the bus just outside this mountain town - then there is a road he gets off at, and then he will proceed to his hike. I believe he said it is at the 5000-foot elevation. He is organized and tries to think of every scenario. His pack with everything weighs 30 lbs. The snow pack will be from 3-4 feet to 16 feet. So that would mean he will be sleeping on the snow. I couldn't/wouldn't do that, but he has these sleeping pads that should protect him from the cold. We'll see. This is a first for him - to be hiking in the mountains in early spring with snow on the ground. He returns on Tuesday. 

What can I say? He is an adventurous guy - who loves these types of challenges and has always said, he felt he was born in the wrong century. 

 Mommy, Mommy my feet are growing faster than I am!!

 Kool April Nites is today - but the husband wanted to check it out this morning. They actually don't kick it off until 4pm downtown. We won't be going as we have tickets to a Jazz Concert. 

One of my favorites -

What "car song" is your favorite? 

This morning, downtown was sparse - no cars yet and only vendors setting up. 

On our way back to the car I wanted to take a look at the new Bike Depot 

that has not fully opened yet - 

Some bikes are there to rent 

It seems that there will be lockers available inside the depot, as well as trail maps to help navigate the area. Additionally, there will be a coffee and snack shop, as well as a quick repair area for minor bike repairs such as changing a tire. For more intensive work, there are bike shops located nearby the depot.

This is one of the gates - to the courtyard.

 I thought this was creative. 

This is what it will look like when completed. 

Pretty flowers on the side of the Bike Depot. 

The brick is from the old police station that was demolished to construct the current building. 

Before the police department, the building was a fire station which is evident from the shape of its doors that were designed to accommodate the old-fashioned water pump trucks that were used in the 1880s. There were several of these doors, but the photo does not show all of them.

Many people were upset about the demolition of the building and some suggested that it be turned into a fire truck museum. However, the building was plagued with problems such as leaks and sewer issues that were deemed too expensive to repair. The city ended up selling it for scrap at a price of $600,000.

My book came yesterday! I haven't been able to dig in just yet. I plan to read it with a highlighter pen and highlight every one of my ancestors. 

Now, this is FUN!

_______________

The A-Z is winding down. 

For your weekend reading...The latest posts...

San Quentin 

A few Famous People in my Tree

Ohio

Native American Ancestry

Grand Mikey

Clan Lamont

varoom varoom