Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Wednesday Hodgepodge


1. When did you last 'swim against the tide'? Explain. I'm pretty sure my entire life might be able to be summed up in that little phrase. As a believer in Jesus, I'm committed to "swim against the tide" in order to follow Him. 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
~Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

2. What's the last self-help or self-improvement book you read? No idea. I don't read a lot of this type of book.

3. "Tolerance is a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness." (Sir James Goldsmith) Agree or disagree? Discuss. With civility please, because I think we have a good thing going in our very diverse (in geography, age, religion, political persuasion, ethnicity, marital status, upbringing, and cooking abilities) neighborhood here on This Side of the Pond.

The problem with this word - "tolerance" - is that the meaning has been lost. It's too much of a catchphrase these days which I find highly annoying. 

Here is how dictionary.com defines it: a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those who opinions, beliefs, practices, racial or ethnic origins, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry. 

My issue is that while everyone seems to be crying out for "tolerance," few seem willing and able to give it back

4. What is one of your most vivid memories of the kitchen from your childhood? My mom making bread. She had an old hand crank mixer she used. When the bread was rising, she would set it on the side of the wood cookstove that sat front in center of our kitchen. I have so many memories tied up in both of those things.


My Mom's actual bread mixer. 
There are holes in the bottom of it so I don't use it but sits in a place of honor on my kitchen counter.

5. How did/do your own children's summers compare with your summers as a child? If you're not a parent, answer as it relates to what you've observed about the current generation of children vs. your own childhood.

From the time I was about two years old until I was about eight years old I would spend my summers with relatives. My mom had five children in ten years - she stayed home. By the time summer rolled around, she was tired! Her sister (my wonderful aunt) was a schoolteacher so she had summers off and only one child. She would take me and my three older siblings for most of the summer. I loved it. I still spend time in the summer with her as often as I can.

My children have never been away from me that long. I usually take them to visit my aunt in the summer though! We are looking forward to spending a week with her soon.

I spent a few summers going to sleep-away camp as well. This year will be the first year any of my children have done this. The camp is only about twenty minutes away and many of the families we attend church with go here as well so my kiddo will have some friends there. 

Overall though summer just seems to busy.

6. Tell us what body of water you would most like to be on or near today, and why? The Atlantic Ocean! I love the ocean - the waves. I'm not a huge fan of swimming in it (or swimming at all actually), but I do love walking on the beach and watching my kids play in it!

7. Share a favorite song about water, or a favorite song with the word water in it's title, or a favorite song to listen to as you sit beside the water.


8. Insert your own random thought here. I'm glad I'm making time to blog again. That's all.

5 comments:

  1. Great answers, especially #3, the hard question this week. That bread maker, awesome! Holding it in honor, a cool thing to do. Enjoyed your answers tremondously.

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  2. Enjoyed your answers. I have several items from both my grandmas that I keep in my kitchen also. It is nice to look at them and have the happy memories that are attached to them.

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  3. We picked the same song! lol

    Colletta

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  4. Sounds like your summers were fun then and now. Nice answers.

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  5. Very good answers! I like the bread mixer place of honor. I have some of my mom's things in places where I can see every day. Makes me smile.

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