Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Hodgepodging for Takeoff. Please Fasten Your Seatbelts.

We took a roadtrip
1600 miles
This is a big country!



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we write the answers.
Plug them into your own blog post
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THANK YOU, JOYCE!


1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?


This is an easy one:  a roadtrip with Mr. C., our oldest son, and his youngest son, traveling in an RV from Minnesota to near the Mexican border in Arizona. It was a long, long drive, about the same distance as driving from London to Moscow, just in case you were considering doing that. Be sure to take enough bottled water, pretzels, almonds, entertaining games, books, and a little chocolate.




Most of the photos in this post were taken in Bisbee, AZ.

And all of this was also possible because our middle son stayed at our house in Wisconsin and took care of Tommy and Smokey!


Tommy doesn't look like he was suffering too much, does he!
I got this reassuring photo in a text message.
But I think Rob could have turned up the heat. LOL



2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

My favorite type of holiday gathering is when the entire family rents a [very large] holiday cottage for a week (or two or three) somewhere in northern or southern England. It wouldn't really matter which, because they're so close together! Wouldn't that be fun?!! But actually, any time the family is gathered at our home is my favorite type of gathering.




3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment)  'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?

I wholeheartedly agree, it's about time, and I hope it continues -  although there seems to be precious little genuine repentance among the perpetrators. It's mostly apologizing for getting caught, and I'm also a bit skeptical of those who, when the 'situation' has been consensual, now come back at a later date purporting to be a victim. I think it's high time to clean house with a major vacuum cleaner, but only God can and does change hearts, and maybe that will also happen to some of those involved as a result of introspection and genuine repentance. By God's grace, it happens many times a day in many places across the globe, with people far less interesting to the media.

Merry Christmas from Bisbee, AZ


4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate.

Reading, studying, thinking, praying, healing, learning, traveling, praying, visiting family, occasionally blogging, Instagramming, etc. Am I happy about that? I guess so, although it leaves me with other problems. He that hath ears to hear...



5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.

Twenty eighteen will be seeing more and better changes, 2017.

My favorite photo from the trip to Arizona:
our son and grandson.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I had to put this video on YouTube just so I could share it with you. It was our seven year old grandson's first flight, and it was such a delight to watch his excitement! He was told to be sure to chew gum on takeoff and landing, so you can see he is really working it! I will cherish this trip and the time spent with this sweet kid. We played so many games of Rock, Paper, Scissors; Tic Tac Toe; Spot It; and read the book Babe and got about five chapters into Mr. Popper's Penguins, etc.  

Just before takeoff, I glanced over at him. He was sitting very still, his eyes closed, his hands folded. I waited a minute and then asked him if he had been praying. Yes, he said. I quietly made the sign of the Cross on his forehead, just as an Amen and a thank you to God for the faith of this little child. God bless him.



Well into the 3 hour flight from Phoenix to Minneapolis
'Bad Piggies,' pretzels, and apple juice

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 How much is that piggy in the window??

We'll be back next year, friends.
See you then!

Have a blessed and merry Christmas, 
as we celebrate the birth of
King Jesus, Lord of all.


Source: various places online.
I wanted to find a painting where Jesus and Mary and Joseph
looked slightly more Jewish, rather than Dutch or Scandinavian.



Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning

Judy

37 comments:

  1. Aww, Mr Poppers Penguins. I read that aloud to my own girls long ago snd your mention of it took me right back there. Looks like a wonderful road trip! We’ve never done an RV but I’d like to try one on a trip west. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  2. What a darling video. Such joy and awe in his eyes! I agree wholeheartedly with your answer to the Person of the Year question. Such little remorse. Have a very Christmas, dear Judy. Love your favorite picture too!

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  3. I love this post, all of it. the photos of all the buildings in AZ are just wonderful, bright sun just like here. if i moved to another state it would be AZ and i have never been there. your grandson first flight made me smile out loud. as for magical moments for me?
    about the magical moments. i have one every morning at 5:22 Monday through Friday, nothing to do with holidays. when i get out of my truck at the YMCA the truck next to me has a 90 pound blue tick hound in it waiting for his daddy who swims with us. his name is OhSo... as in Oh So Beautiful. he loves me and i love him and i get kisses and licks and hugs 5 days a week. MAGICAL
    to say goodbye to 2107 i say..... Thank you, Lord Jesus my husband survived 2017.

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  4. Thanks for sharing Bizbee. My great uncle, Reese, went to live there after WW2 where he found work in the mines there. He married and had two daughters who still live in AZ. Thanks to Facebook we stay in touch. I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2018.

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  5. I loved seeing the photos of your trip! I love the southwest and hope to get to travel there in another year or two. Your grandson is a cutie and I loved reading about him praying on the plane. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

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  6. I enjoyed your photos very much, and your road trip sounded awesome! That's a LOT of miles! I especially enjoyed the little video of your grandson's reaction to flying for the first time :) Merry Christmas to you and yours...
    Kathy (Reflections)

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  7. What a delightful post, so much to read and look at. Hope you will come to Southern England!

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  8. That is a very sweet photo of your son with his son. Special. How nice to have this extended time with them. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  9. Oh, my goodness! I loved your gorgeous photos! But that little video was amazing! The icing on the cake! Thank you for sharing that moment. It was priceless....

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  10. How wonderful to take that trip. The pictures are wonderful. That gathering would be a fun gathering for sure. Love the video. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  11. What a great trip!! It really is wonderful watching the kiddos enjoy the first time experiences and the wonder there! You are a blessed group to be able to gather together like that!I liked your list of how you spent the year and also your thoughts about the Person of the Year. My feelings are mixed on all those issues. Merry Christmas to you and thank you for all your nice comments to my simple Hodgepodge.

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  12. My husband and I just got back from a week in Mexico and I react that same way during take off, "Ahhh! We're in the air!!" Glad you had a wonderful time!

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  13. Bisbee is an interesting town. I have not been in some years, but if it were not so far from everything, I would love to fix up something. xoxo Su

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  14. Your grandson is beyond adorable! I love seeing things through the eyes of a child. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas!!!!!

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  15. Hello, I love road trips! I hope to make a cross country trip in the next few years. Cute photos of your grandson and family. Family gatherings are always the best. Wonderful photos from your trip, I like the piggie at the window.
    Thanks always for your visits and comments this past year. Have a happy day and week ahead. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  16. Gosh how was I so far out of touch - you went on that trip and I didn't know - it was gorgeous. I want to go there - it looked like such a gorgeous place to visit.

    MERRY CHRISTMAS! sandie

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  17. Making memories with grandchildren is so important. I think you all had a very wonderful time. Merry Christmas1

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  18. Bisbee, AZ looks like a fun place to visit. Certainly different than Wisconsin this time of year! Merry Christmas!

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  19. Well, Bisbee sure looks like a quaint little town. What a fun trip that must have been, making memories all the while. I have never been anywhere like that...eastern Texas has been as far west as I have gotten. What a precious moment you captured with that sweet prayer. My prayers for a wonderful Christmas and that 2018 is your best year yet!

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  20. Love the video of the genuine excitement of your grandson on take off. Precious!
    Sounds like a trip filled with good memories!
    Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  21. I sure enjoyed those photos and the video! It was a good Hodgepodge for our last of 2017. Merry Christmas to you and yours and I wish you many blessings in 2018!

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  22. The whole post has been fun to visit and read. Merry Christmas to you and all your family.

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  23. What a fabulous trip! I've missed making those long road trips but maybe this next year we will! Love your photos! Merry Christmas!

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  24. What a fun trip to Arizona. I must say the video of your grandson is just pure joy! Love it!
    Wishing you and your family a wonderful Merry Christmas, Judy. xo ♥

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  25. Yes, at my house, alas, some children see Him lily white...

    That was quite the journey. I think I missed why you were on it, but that doesn’t matter. It was an adventure. Next time you visit, I hope it will include The Grand Canyon, which is the only site I have seen that lives up to its hype.

    Merry on...

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  26. Forgot to check out the take-off. So much fun to see your adorable grandson’s excitement!

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  27. Oh my, he is a real cutie! So much fun to see things through the eyes of a child! You had quite the road trip! Happy that it was so special for you all. Merry Christmas to you. Looking forward to more beautiful photos in 2018. xo Deborah

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  28. Judy, love that video! What a little cutie - and, yes, he was really working that gum! Now I'm going to have to look up Bisbee. Wishing you a wonderful 2018.

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  29. Love seeing the teddy bear on the flight. Prayer and teddy bears are a wonderful comfort.

    I was fascinated how you put the landscape of Arizona through your camera lens to make it look so appealing.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  30. That little video was so sweet. So enjoyable to see his delight. And such a blessing to know that he was praying. Quite a trip you had! So you drove out in the RV and flew back? It's such a long trip, that was probably the only way to go.

    Enjoyed reading your Hodgepodge. Have a blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy 2018!

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  31. Merry Christmas, Judy! Now that you've visited Bisbee, AZ, you might enjoy JA Jance's mysteries that take place there if you haven't already read them. Have a grand holiday.

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  32. Judy, What a fun time. I love the photo of your son and grandson too. Blessings to all of you this wonderful time of year. Hope your Christmas is merry and your new Year filled with good health and happiness. xoxo, Susie

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  33. Oh how sweet- to see his delight during take-off. I wish I had that delight...I just get airsick. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  34. Oh how I wish it was Arizona warm here. - Wishing you & your family a very Merry Christmas.

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  35. I am just getting around to visiting. What a great hodgepodge and your grandson is just precious. I love that he prayed before take-off...oh--the faith of a child to ask for protection and KNOW that it will happen.

    I hope you have a blessed, wonderful and Merry Christmas with your family. xo Diana

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  37. Hope you had a Happy Christmas, the scenery looks a million miles away from where you live. We were out at Mrs C's relatives for Christmas day as we are awaiting a New Year dining room extension following a new larger kitchen installation in November. Today we have a family buffet at our house but potential in-laws have to share the family as well during the Christmas season. Have a safe journey wherever you are.

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