Wednesday, April 08, 2020

Wednesday Hodgepodge for April 8


It's Wednesday again, and our lovely hostess Joyce, at  From This Side of the Pond,  is hosting the Hodgepodge for our blogging and reading pleasure!  If you'd like to jump in too, head on over to  From This Side of the Pond and get the questions, then answer them on your own blog.  It's a wonderful diversion in these crazy times.  Here are Joyce's questions for this week:

1. How will you celebrate Easter this year?

Still up in the air with plans.  It will look very different from previous years, of course; that is absolutely a given.  One thing we are definitely planning to do is to "attend" (virtually) an Easter service in Elko, Nevada, at the church where our Western daughter and family go.  The wonderful pastors there have been going to an empty church on Sunday and doing a live-streamed service.   It's different, but they make it as interactive as they can with singing and a time of corporate prayer.  We've really been enjoying this, and I'm sure Easter Sunday will be a blessing too.
Above you see some lovely colored eggs made with natural dying materials like spinach, beets, red cabbage, and brown onion skins.  My granddaughters and I did this as a project some years ago.

Usually we have an early outdoor service and a lovely Easter breakfast at church.  That won't be  happening this year, sadly.  Mr. T and I will plan to have something special for Easter brunch or dinner, but not sure yet just what we'll do or at which mealtime.  It's just so different, but our reason for celebration has not changed!

2. Is it easier for you to receive grace offered or extend grace to another? Explain. 

Hmm ... it so depends on the situation.  But I think in general I find it easier to extend grace to another.  Sometimes I have difficulty giving myself grace.
Delightful graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings</a>
3. Do you say grace before meals? If so do you have a standard dinnertime grace or is it more 'off the cuff' ? Do you say grace when dining out? Do you have a favorite grace? Any special memory associated with 'saying grace'?

Yes, we do say grace before meals.  No standard or favorite grace; it's definitely off the cuff as the Spirit moves.  We do say grace when dining out, though if the atmosphere is very noisy or chaotic, we will just bow our heads and pray silently.  (However, noisy and chaotic places have not been our usual choice of restaurants.)


I have a couple of memories associated with "saying grace".  One is that as kids, whenever we got together with one particular aunt and uncle's family, we always, always said the "God is great, God is good" grace.  It's so odd to realize it, but of the eleven people who gathered around that table all those years ago, only my cousin Sandy and I are left.

 But the funniest and most memorable "saying grace" memory probably took place 30 years ago or more in our own kitchen.  We were at the table,  just about to pray and eat, when the phone rang.  (Remember, this was before the day of caller ID, and there weren't many telemarketers either.)  One of our daughters ran to answer it and greeted the caller in this way: "Dear Heavenly Father ..."!  Even today I cannot think of this incident without laughter bubbling up.

4. What are some challenges you think the next generation will face? (Generation Alpha -- born between 2011 and 2025)

Good question! Given the challenges we are facing right now, I think maybe their generation could face a lot more challenges regarding health and safety.  Likely many more global challenges as well.

5. Share a favorite quote or lyric featuring the word faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  (Hebrews 11:6)

Free graphic from Holley Gerth
6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

I hope to write a post about this later, but the past 2 days my hubby and I have enjoyed a picnic and hike at a nearby state park -- our governor is encouraging people to get out into nature and walk or hike, and the state parks up here are open.  Only a few other people have been at the park, and all of them distant from us.  We saw 6 people yesterday and only 3 people today.  We opted to go there two days in a row simply because the weather was beautiful (the rest of the week is predicted to be cold and rainy, maybe even snowy), and after leaving there we went directly to my childhood home to work on that project.
And there is the Easter week Hodgepodge!  Happy Wednesday, all!

11 comments:

  1. Wonderful post. Yes, Easter is a bit different for all of us this year. I pray that it will help us all to quietly reflect on the true meaning of Easter and what it means to us that Christ is Risen!! That certainly does change everything! So glad that you are able to get out and go to the park, etc. We try to take a good walk every day and get some fresh air in a secluded area where no one else is. I also go out and walk about our property and sit by the pond as often as I can every day, listening to the birds and watching for the geese. Love your "table grace" story. That is cute. My MIL told a story once that after a busy day in her beauty shop where she was answering the phone quite often, when she bowed her head to say grace, she said, "Hello?" I wonder what the Lord said to that! LOL. Have a blessed and Holy Easter. Christ is Risen! Hallelujah!

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  2. That was a funny story about your daughter's answering the phone. No wonder you're still chuckling all these years later. ;)

    Now I know that you didn't choose the restaurant, but I can well remember the one I chose for you and Mr. T and myself that did not go as it always had before and always has since. Good grief! (I wasn't very good at extending grace to that dude. Whenever I think of him, I grimace. Perhaps I need to pray for him...what a thought!)

    No matter what is happening this Easter in homes across the country, I pray that The Lord will be glorified. Our circumstances do not, as you say, change Who He is.

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  3. That is a funny story about saying the blessing and answering the phone.
    I have enjoyed out services online but I will gladly get back to the congregation when possible. Jeff and I are going to get up and watch the sunrise Easter on the back deck. We will have FaceTime calls with the kids and I will miss not hunting some eggs later that afternoon with Tucker. I think he will enjoy it this year. I am going to do my best to love Easter and what it means despite the difference.

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  4. I don't even know where to start, because I enjoyed this entire post. One of my favorite 'posters' is the 'Tune My Heart to Sing Thy Grace.' How I love that hymn! Blessings on your day.

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  5. Hello, I'm stopping by from The Hodgepodge! I love your dyed eggs! The colors are beautiful.
    It's wonderful that you and your husband have been able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather without running into many people. We like out in the country and have been able to do the same. I know our Easter will look very different, but you are right--the reason we're celebrating will remain the same. (Kathy from Reflections by Kathy)

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  6. Hello,
    Regarding question #2.. I can be hard on myself too.
    We are going to visit a Wisconsin State Park tomorrow. I am excited to go for a ride and explore.
    Happy Easter,
    Carla

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  7. Easter will be very different this year but it will remind us in the future of how we enjoy celebrating with our church family. Happy Easter to you and Mr T!!

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  8. Dear Heavenly Father would be a shocking start to a phone call. :) Glad you could get out and enjoy a picnic. Our state parks are closed by the governor. sigh. Happy Resurrection Sunday to you!!

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  9. I enjoyed my visit here. I agree, future generations will have to be more concerned with bio welfare. I hope the Lord calls us home before then. Happy Easter!

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  10. Oh, Mrs T...I had to smile over the sweet story of your daughter answering the phone with, "Dear Heavenly Father." That is too precious!! How wonderful that you are being encouraged to be out of doors and spend time in nature. If there is one thing I am struggling with during lockdown, it is not being allowed to set a foot out our own door, save for buying groceries or other essential items. Keeping busy making our little garden pretty and focusing on all the good gifts God has given us definitely helps!
    May Easter be a special time for you and your husband, even though it will be so different to previous years. I am pondering the peace we have in Christ - what an incredible gift of grace!
    Thinking of you and sending hugs across the many miles!

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  11. I laughed out loud at the story of the phone call during the prayer time...how funny! Yes, Easter will be different than it ever has been for most of us but that's OK...God already knew it would be and I He knows the reason why we are celebrating, no matter what it may look like. I do hope you have a beautiful Resurrection Sunday!

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