Wednesday Hodgepodge

1.What's something you wish you knew how to do, but feel like it's too late to learn?
I'd love to be able to play some more instruments, like a steel guitar and mandolin.  While it's really probably not to late to learn, I'm just not sure I'd be willing to spend the time it would take to learn.  

2. Your least favorite thing to shop for? Why?
A vehicle, because I hate dealing with car salesmen or any salesman for that matter.

3. How has the celebration of Thanksgiving today changed from when you were growing up?
When still at home, we went to mom's parent's home and all the aunts and uncles and cousins were there and we had an awesome time together.  Then it became, going to my parent's home and just the brothers and sisters and spouses and kids and that was always a lot of fun.  This year is completely different with mom and my brother both gone and dad in a senior center with dementia.  Hubby and I decided to stay out of town and just go to a restaurant with his parents.  It's definitely different.  I'm not sure what our future Thanksgivings will be like.  But I know no matter what, I plan to keep on being thankful for all God does and just for who He is.

4. What's something that when other people see it, reminds them of you? Explain.
Probably about anything Disney related makes my friends and family think of me.  Maybe it's cause I'm a bit of a Disney freak and can talk about it non-stop if asked a question about Disney World.  I'd say Dory from Nemo, makes my girls think about me because she's one of my favorite Disney character.

 


5. If you could guest star in a TV show, what would it be and why?
Maybe one of the home makeover shows on HGTV, like "Love It or List It".  So then I could get a house makeover which we could really use.  In fact, we plan to do some makeovers in 2016, but we're really slow and it would be nice to have a whole team come in and do it in a week or so.  lol

6. Have you ever farmed or spent any time on a farm? Are there farm stands in your little corner of the world and do you make it a point to shop there? If so, what item do you particularly like to buy from a roadside stand or farm shop?
No, I have not personally farmed, however when I was a freshman in high school my parents bought about a 20-25 acre farm and I lived there until I was around 24-25.  We had all kinds of animals (cows, pigs, chickens, horses, sheep, rabbits, turkeys, bees) and I helped feed and water them some of the time.  We also baled hay a couple of times and one year dad grew field corn for the animals and we picked the entire field by hand.  It was probably 6-8 acres of corn.  Not a particularly fun task.  But I'm glad I had a chance to learn about a farm first hand.  But no, I never want to do it again.  Yes, there are farm stands and we do use them from time to time.

7. What's something you've experienced recently that made you feel a sense of awe or wonder?
The beautiful scenery from our balcony this past month.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The Last Monday

It's Monday morning and the last Monday morning of our trip.  I'm trying not to be sad that it's coming close to the end.  I mean, how can I complain?  This is the longest vacation we've ever had and it has been so wonderful.  It's been the most relaxing and joyful vacation hubby and I have had.  Now don't get me wrong.  I have loved all the trips we have taken over the years with our girls.  But relaxing?  I don't think so. Especially not those Disney World Vacations.  Hopefully, we'll get back to that some day.  But this has been just exactly what we needed right now.

We have pretty much done what we want, when we want and it has been really nice.  Some may think it boring, but not us.  We have read, watched the sunrise many mornings, and talked and just enjoyed our time together.  We've also been privileged to spend extra time with hubby's parents.

This is Tracy's mom and dad taken at Christmas last year.

Here is his mom and I the other night at the Pirate Voyage Show

I thought I'd post a few more pictures from our trip.  Hope you enjoy them.

Getting close to sunset last night

2 shrimp boats right outside our room.  My camera makes them look so far away, but they were really close

Pirate Voyage fun!

Hubby and I during the pre-show at the Pirate Voyage

From our balcony

The Lazy Gator Gift Shop.  This is a really cool gift shop that I love to go to

Sunset skies

Another view of the sunset skies

I

Little birds having lunch on our balcony.  Now we have to leave our door closed, because they have started coming inside trying to find food. lol

Walking down the beach

And this is where I enjoyed spending some of my afternoons

Sunrise

Thankful Thursday

Please click the button above, if you'd like to join in with Thankful Thursday. The place where we are intentionally thankful.

Things I'm thankful for today:

**  Another morning of devotions on the balcony.  And then breakfast on the balcony with my hubby.  It started raining about the time I was finishing eating.  But even in the rain, God's majesty is so evident.  Between the ocean and the sky, I'm not sure which shows God's greatness more to me.  To think, He made all this just for us.

It is absolutely pouring the rain now.  So we are sitting inside and enjoying looking out the window.  The door is open enough so we can still hear the surf.

**  My mother-in-law and I went and saw Chonda Pierce's movie, "Laughing in the Dark" Tuesday night.  It was so good and really spoke to my heart in so many ways.  I love movies that do that.  I'd recommend going to see the movie, but I don't know if they will be showing it again.  But if they do show it again, and you have the opportunity, please go.  You won't regret it.

**  Good books.  I just finished another really good book on our vacation.  This was by Rachelle Dekker (Ted Dekker's daughter) and it is called "The Choosing" and is the first in a new series called The Seer Series.  Oh my!  This was very good.  My oldest told me back in the summer when she read it, that she thought I'd like it.  So I went online at the library and got on the waiting list  for the Kindle version.  I got the email last week that said it was available for me.  I checked it out and started reading.  It was well worth the wait and now I can't wait for the 2nd in the series.  It comes out in the Spring of 2016.  So I guess, I will have to wait.

**  I still have one more week to enjoy this time God has given to hubby and me to spend with each other and also with his parents.  God has just been so good to us.

So what are you thankful for?  Why not write a post on your blog and then link up with Rebecca Jo by hitting the button at the top of this page?

Thankful Thursday

It's time for Thankful Thursday.  Click the button above to join in with Rebecca for Thankful Thursday.  I know you won't regret it.

I am so thankful for the opportunity that God has given us to relax and recharge our batteries here in Myrtle Beach.  We have been thoroughly enjoying ourselves.  We spend some days with his mom and dad and then some days with just the two of us.  We have been going out and exploring some and have seen some really cool things.  We've also done a lot of relaxing on our balcony.  Reading, napping, watching people and dolphins.  The crashing of the waves in the background is a constant reminder that God made all of this for his people because he loves us.

Thank you Jesus for this time you've given us.

Sunrise

Hubby and I on our balcony.  If you look closely, you can see the ocean in the background.  For some reason the camera kept lightening up the background.

Out walking and I took this the other day.  I love waling on the beach.

Me relaxing and reading on the balcony

Thank you Jesus for your glorious sunshine!

Hope you have a great day.  It's time to go take a walk!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Besides Thanksgiving, something you're looking forward to on your November calendar?
The Beach...and we are here now.  The first day has been rainy, but it has been wonderful.  I got up early, but it was too overcast to see the sunrise.  It was surprisingly warm, so I sat out on the balcony and read my devotions and just enjoyed the sound of the crashing waves.  I've done some reading and some napping and recuperating from the long drive yesterday.  Heading out to dinner soon with hubby's parents.  All in all, it's been a perfect first day.

2. If I gave you a thank you card right now who would you send it to and why?
I need 3 of them.  I'd send them to my brother and two sisters, thanking them for all they do for our dad and all they did for our mom. In fact, thanks for the reminder.  I need to go pick up some cards tomorrow.

3. Of the breads listed, which one's your favorite...bagel, cinnamon, sourdough, garlic, banana, biscuit, pita, Naan, or plain old fashioned white bread?
Sourdough, unless the cinnamon is cinnamon toast with lots of butter and sugar.

4. What's something you have in abundance? Is that a good thing?
Yarn.  Yes, it's a good thing, except most of what I have isn't the kind I want for the projects I'm currently wanting to make.  But that's okay.  I'll use the other sooner or later, or I'll pass it on to someone else.  A lot of it was yarn that was given to me, so I'll find something to do with it or give it away.

5. November 5th is National Love Your Red Hair Day. Are there any redheads in your family? Who's your favorite redhead?
Nope, no redheads in my family.  Well, for goodness sakes, who is everyone's favorite redhead?  Lucille Ball, of course!!

picture from internet

 

6. The travel website Busbud recently calculated the most Instagrammed spot in every state. Go here to see what made the list where you live. Are you happy with your state's #1? If not what do you think should be the most photographed spot in your state? Have you snapped a photo there? If you live outside the USA answer as it relates to your state, city or province.
According to the site it is the polar bears at the Cincinnati Zoo.  I know I've seen the polar bears there and I'm sure I probably did take a picture, but it's been several years since I've been there, so I know I didn't instagram them.   However, they are pretty cool and I'm happy with the choice.  

7. I'm going to try to have something related to gratitude in this spot each week during the month of November. Here's this week's question-

What's something you've learned about yourself this year that you're grateful for?
That I'm learning to lean on the Lord more and with Him I can survive things I couldn't or wouldn't even imagine before...such as the loss of my brother and my mom and watching my dad more and more being lost inside the world of dementia.  

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm grateful for this time of rest and relaxation with my husband and also time to spend with his mom and dad.  Life is good.