Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Hodgpodging The Week Before Christmas


'The Kitty was nestled all snug in her bed...'


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She writes the questions,
We write the answers.
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1. What's your biggest 'first world' problem?

"I cried because I had no shoes, 
until I met a man who had no feet."  

Right now I actually can't think of one of those silly things I concern myself with from time to time, but I know that I do, and my daughter and I laugh about the ridiculous things we think we need, or the 'problems' we have, contrasted with how MOST OF THE WORLD lives. Anyway, there seems to be some question of the origin of that poem, whose line I quoted above. Some say it's a Persian thing. Since no one knows for sure, I'll vote for G.K. Chesterton. Yes, I am just kidding, BUT, he said so many clever things, that it could easily have been him. :-) To read my blog post on Chesterton's piece entitled, 'A Piece of Chalk,' click HERE. How could anyone not like that man.


A Piece of Chalk

2.  Each year Time Magazine names a 'Person of the Year', someone who has 'for better or worse...done the most to influence the events of the year.' It was recently announced they've named Angela Merkel Person of the Year for 2015. You can read more about this year's selection here. Your thoughts? If you were in charge, who would you declare Person of the Year?

I read about Angela Merkel being chosen Person of the Year. And what do I think about it? Well, she's a woman with many dire problems facing her country...many of which they created themselves. So I'm not sure why we're celebrating her, then again, I guess the choice isn't made on who deserves celebration, but who, for whatever reason, is most notable that year, in their opinion. I don't know why they never ask me.



3. Do you have a nativity set in your home? If so share it's history and how you display the pieces.

YES! We have had a Nativity set in our home for as long as I can remember. My cousin Bobby gave us many of the pieces and I added pieces each year until there was quite a crowd gathered at the manger. I make sure that our kings come from the East, but since they didn't actually arrive to give King Jesus his gifts until he was a bit under 2 years old, I'm considering building a little house and putting it at the west end of the piano and moving the kings along little by little toward the house, having them arrive on January 6, the date we celebrate Epiphany.  That's when we used to have our kids 'open' their Christmas stockings. Don't ask me how stockings relate to that, but...

I heard someone on the radio say that it is a tradition in their family that they give the children each THREE gifts each Christmas because that's how many gifts Jesus received.

 Glory to God in the Highest!

At one point, I was considering getting rid of our old upright piano, created for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, and I'm thinking that General Longstreet attended that huge event.......... (because it's not fixable and doesn't play in tune, but it is a beautiful piece of furniture). Our daughter was horrified. 'You can't get rid of that piano, Mom. Where would you put the Nativity set??!'    Yes, that's true. Our other piano, the good one, has other things living on it.




4.  Do you make an extra effort to give back in some way during the holiday season? How do you encourage those who need encouragement this time of year?

I don't get the 'giving back' bit, except to say that what Christmas is all about is God giving His Son to come into this world and rescue us from sin, about Christ's obedience unto death, about God raising him from the dead and about the SURE HOPE that we, who trust in him, have of resurrection ourselves because of Him. There's no way I can give back to God...but I can try to share the hope that is within me, the joy that is always present, even in the midst of trouble. What I CAN do in giving, is not to 'give back,' but to give to those who are less fortunate, those other God-image bearers who live on this planet, to share a bit of God's love with them. That is what I try to do. There is no encouragement outside of the message of HOPE that God gives us in his son. As a matter of fact, there is no HOPE apart from God.

5. Who is your favorite person to shop for? Why?

If money were raining from the sky, then anyone who wanted a German Shepherd puppy for Christmas would be my favorite person to shop for. I would, of course, have to hold every single darling GSD puppy I could find before choosing.  Other than that, you're asking the wrong person. I am not a shopper.


'Pick me!'


6. What's the last delicious thing you ate?

Some people go to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN to get help with a physical problem. I would go to Mayo Clinic to buy those amazing dark chocolate truffles sold on the below-ground floor of the clinic. Good grief. It's times like that, however, that Mr. C. annoys me by taking a tiny bite and declaring that it's too rich. He is definitely an alien sometimes. 

 Mr. C. in his Gene Hackman glasses.
(Did you see the old movie, 'Enemy of the State'?)
I see that someone has taken my place.

7. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is________________.

Show God's love to others.
Be happy. Make eye contact. Smile.
Play Christmas carols from King's College, Cambridge! 


8. Insert your own random thought here.

Our son's family had a new arrival, for which the boys had eagerly been waiting:

 Snow?
'Bring it on!!!'
The grandsons, eager to use their new snowblower!
It may be a few more days, guys.

 The little brother
with his sword.
These photos sent to me by our son.


 This one was labeled,
'Chicken Whisperer.'
He's going to come stay a week with us in January.
Can't wait! He's such a fun kid.



This post is linked to
Eileen's Saturday's Critters


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Have a great Wednesday, everyone!


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38 comments:

  1. What a lovely uplifting post. I'm glad you explained what the new delivery was. Not something we need over here that often and certainly not at domestic level.

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  2. Too rich? Huh? What's that?? Judy - hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  3. Your piano has quite a history. I didn't know chocolate could be too rich : ) Merry Christmas!

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  4. Hello, your navitity scene is lovely. I would love to hold all those puppies too! Great answers! Your grandkids are cute! Happy Wednesday, enjoy your day!

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  5. I LOVE your nativity -- I think we may have the same one. Surprisingly, I've never thought about setting mine up with the wise men coming from the east -- did it this year by accident! I'll do it from now on and think of you each time. Merry Christmas!

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  6. Well Judy, I agree with you about Person of the Year...I was waiting to hear my name called as well.lol But at least it was not Bruce Jenner. I refuse to call him Caitlin. I have hear about enough of that this year. And if you need help with Chocolate Truffles, I am your girl!! I am making a decadent chocolate dessert for my luncheon with the girls tomorrow.

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  7. loved all your comments and answers and ALL the grand kids pics, with a special love to the chicken whisper... hope it snows soon for them. i would love to use that contraption to. my favorite part of todays post is that cozy comfy kitten in the bed of blankies.
    about the first world problems, there are so many.. for myself i have not one single need, I have a list of wants though and that is one of the many problems of our first world country. there are so many going into debt and losing their cars and homes because of buying the wants on charge cards, and the big houses. to me People need to live within their pay checks. my boys were raised in 980 sq foot 3 br 1 bath. with no problems. it was what we could afford. i do know there are many who can not pay excessive rent and food now, but i do know those same people will have cable and cell phones and computers.... credit cards and credit have ruined our nation.

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  8. I always enjoy your hodge-podge. I love the nativity scene that you have lovingly collected over the years. Deb

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  9. I just read another hodge podge and remembered i did not comment on your wonderful Nativity scene, it is really beautiful and so is the piano. made me smile at the comment about where you would put the set. and i love the glasses and the other you sleeping with him... my mother had a set similar to yours and it lived on the mantle of a fake fireplace.

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  10. Judy, so enjoyed your thoughts on the hodge podge today. Love that angel in the nativity, as we just heard a sermon on the heavenly hosts. And those GS puppies are sooooo cute. Just have to stick with a little dog.

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  11. Hi Judy,
    Oh, I just love your nativity set. It is beautiful. I love that idea of putting the Kings arriving from the East. You are so smart.

    Another visit is in store for you and your grandson in January. :-))
    Carla

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  12. such cute boys. :) loved the gene hackman glasses, too. and cute nativity scene holder. :)

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  13. Morning, great hodge podge, always enjoy. Love the boys, And fur baby's, sweet pictures.Blessings Francine.

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  14. What great answers (and photos) you had on your blog today! Your nativity set is awesome!
    I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas.

    Kathy (from Reflections by Kathy)

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  15. It is my prayer that people would discover and celebrate the birth of Christ more and focus less on purchasing gifts: the perfect gift is that of a child born in a manger.

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  16. I love the picture with the cat. Looks so comfy!!

    Merry Christmas!!

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  17. What a great answer to #4, Judy...you said it well! You have such cute grandkids! What a blessing, huh? May you and yours have a wonderful Christmas!

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  18. Judy, I sure enjoyed your photos and answers to the Hodgepodge today! Fun seeing the grandkids, especially! Your Nativity is lovely and I can see how keeping the upright piano just for Nativity display purposes is the right thing to do! On to Christmas....

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  19. This is such a wonderful post. Your Manger is wonderful and I really like the angel who is praising God to the highest. You cat and tree photo are wonderful. Lots of good reading here. This think you do turns you into a author. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. I would like to hold all those puppies too, but I'd never be able to give them away - unless I could visit them anytime. Wishing you, and yours a Merry Christmas.

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  21. Your Nativity is gorgeous.
    That piano is amazing. What a treasure.

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  22. Judy, your hodgepodge answers always give me something to ponder. Your tree and Nativity is just lovely. I had to chuckle about your daughter's comment about the piano. My children say similar things when I'm ready to retire something that has always been in our home. Merry Christmas, Judy! xo ♥

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  23. It is always good to know you better and I love reading your answers and seeing your photos. I love your nativity scene. Hey and that story about the chocolate - my hubs would do the same thing.

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  24. I always think you have a lot of good common sense when I read your answers. And a kind heart! Enjoy your week! Hugs!

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  25. Dark chocolate truffles. Say no more. ((drooling...))

    Love your answer for #4. That's what it's all about.

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  26. Enjoyed! Beautiful piano. And I love your nativity set perched on top of the old piano. Lovely cat photo. A napper?

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  27. Your daughter's response to the thought of releasing the piano is priceless and reminds me of the response my daughter gave to one of those test questions for placement in kindergarten...do not allow your daughter to read this as I feel her logic is spot on and I am not making fun. = D My daughter was asked what a refrigerator was for and she said that it was for hanging up all her pictures.

    Oh to have a German Shepard puppy. I had one as a six year old. How I loved that dog and how he loved me. I was thrilled a few weeks ago when I finally remembered his name after all these years—Scout.

    A grand visit in January...always good to have wonderful things to look forward to.

    Your response to "giving back" was so good.

    Sparkle on, Judy!

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  28. Judy "too rich"? *That* is rich! Silly man. Those puppies are adorable, I must admit, but they aren't nearly as cute as Tuppence! Our neighbor's latest addition to the family is a black and white cat (about 6 months old) named Otis. He tries to sneak into our house, and his eager little face makes him hard to resist. He's so friendly he jumped into the car with a friend who was leaving here the other day!

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  29. What an awesome nativity. It is beautiful. The puppies were so cute. Have a Merry Christmas!

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  30. Cute puppies..pretty kitty..Happy day

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  31. I love your beautiful nativity set. I am ready for snow, but with this unseasonably warm temps we are having-I do not think we will have a white Christmas this year.
    Merry Christmas!

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  32. Such fun to have your grandson stay with you in January! Always love seeing photos of your sweet grands. I love your beautiful nativity. I do agree with your definition of 'giving back'. I think it is a good time of year to be generous with those less fortunate. The food banks, especially, use this time to stock up for the year. Hope you have a blessed week. Hugs xo Karen

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  33. Such a precious photo of Tuppence. I enjoyed seeing your grands. I know they bring so much joy and happiness to you both. Thank you for your blog friendship throughout the year. I wish you all a blessed Christmas.

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  34. I thoroughly enjoyed this post ! Your nativity scene is gorgeous and yes, where WOULD you put it if you sold the piano ?!?

    I wanted to shout "Amen Sister ! " when I read answer #4 and throughout this post I fond your sense of humor delightful. I am thinking the grandson going to spend a few days with you must be very much like you.

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  35. Your creche is beautiful. I gave mine to my daughter and really do miss it. I enjoyed reading the questions and your answers. Your posts are always such a pleasure to read

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  36. Always a fun read for me....I like the 'chicken whisperer.'

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  37. Hello, cute post and images. We had our first snow (dusting) today. I am glad it does not need to be cleaned up. LOve the cute kitty and sweet puppies. Your grandchildren are adorable. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  38. Love the kitty all snuggle in and other great shots ~ handsome children!

    Wishing you the magic and love of the season,
    artmusedog and carol

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