Unpacking the Wednesday Hodgepodge
1. What was the best (or one of the best) summers of your life? Tell us why.
2. When you have a trip coming up, do you make a list and check it twice to ensure you don't forget anything?
Of course and it is one of the reasons I detest packing.
Or are you a 'throw whatever you can think of into the suitcase at the last minute' kind of packer?
I may have addressed this similar topic before here on a previous Hodgepodge. I prefer to pack lightly when I travel.
Of course there are the essentials - that will always need to be packed; the rest is just fluff. I'd instead pack the bare necessities and have fun buying what we need - or do without! There is nothing wrong with that. That's the real adventure. ☺
When returning from a trip do you unpack immediately or leave the suitcase right where it lands?
I don't mind living out of my suitcase for a day or so when I return home. My husband will start unpacking his things, and eventually, I will as well.
Overall, I have a strong aversion to anything related to suitcases.
Did you know, there is an actual name for those fearful of suitcases? I'm not afraid of them. I just don't like packing and unpacking. The fear is called Valitsaphobia.
3. What's your favorite food or beverage made with lemons? Is that a flavor you enjoy?
One of my favorite desserts is lemon meringue pie. I'm having strawberry lemonade as I write this—I added strawberries to it.
4. When was the last time you had to make lemonade out of lemons, figuratively speaking I mean?
During the period when I was singlehandedly raising my boys, there were many instances when finances were a real struggle. I became incredibly adept at stretching every last dollar as far as it could possibly go and still was able to send my son to college.
Of course, it wasn't anything I did! God had His hand in it all.
Yet I look back and see that those were REALLY, the best times of my life. Go figure!
5. Did you like school growing up? Why or why not?
I enjoyed school as a child.
from the yearbook
Then came high school...
I found high school to be particularly difficult. From my sophomore year to graduation, it felt like I was living in a three-year nightmare. My freshmen year looked promising. I was popular, and at the end of the school year, I started dating a popular senior, and that is when things took a turn for the worse. The green-eyed monster invaded the bodies and minds of friends. Suddenly, they became very hostile and started spreading hurtful rumors about me. They were so jealous they couldn't see straight. It was particularly hard because the cheerleading squad—the very group I once felt close to—turned against me. Feeling ostracized, I found myself spending more time with a different crowd. I started cutting school and hanging out with them to escape the toxic environment at school. All in all, it did build character in me.
I tend to connect better with individuals who are a bit rough around the edges. I used to have many platonic male friends. I found them to be less catty - they don't tolerate gossip and were just more fun.
Did I mention that God gave me three sons?
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Mt Shasta in the Distance
In the midst of life's chaos (and there is a lot of that) I find myself becoming more attuned to the Holy Spirit's presence in my daily experiences. When I encounter disruptive noise, I view it as an opportunity to seek out deeper truths.
Digging into the pages of the Bible and reconnecting with my faith has truly been enlightening. Shifting my focus from the distractions of the world to the teachings of the Bible has reinvigorated my spirit and brought a new sense of purpose to my life.
There has never been a better time to reacquaint yourself with God.
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for Thee, O God
Psalm 42;1
There is also a beautiful hymn about your quote from Psalms "As The Deer". Kids can be so cruel in high school. The older I get, the more time I need to pack up and leave the house. I need to triple check everything.
ReplyDeleteYes, they can, but in this case, it wasn't the boys. It was the girls.
DeleteI wish there were professional packers. That's how much I dread that chore.
I imagine many girls can relate to your high school experience. I had a really close knit youth group at my church, various highschools, and I think that helped me stay grounded. I so agree with your thoughts on family travel building life long bonds.
ReplyDeleteI regret that my parents didn't bring me to church when I was younger, but unfortunately, that wasn't part of my upbringing. I'm just thankful I made it out of high school alive!
DeleteWhat a sweet photo for a wonderful verse. I pray my soul pants more for the Lord than it did yesterday! You were stinkin cute in that elementary photo....all the curls:) I've read several Hodge Podge answers today and you are the first to mention lemon meringue pie. Funny...I thought that dessert would be very popular! Hope you are having a good day!
ReplyDeleteI really like lemon meringue pie, and yes, that surprised me as well.
Deletethe psalm is perfect with those sweet deer. I loved 1st through 6th grade, after that each year i despised it more. my parents never took a vacation, we had no money. i did get to come here to Florida where my mother was born and once a year during summer she drove us down here from Savannah for a week, a few years we came twice. my summers were spent picking the garden stuff and helping mother can and lots and lots of reading books....
ReplyDeleteWhen my parents were young, they, too, never went on summer vacations as children. And if they did, it was to visit family. I used to love to go back and visit my grandma and grandpa in Tennessee - and helping them in their very large vegetable patch. Those are good memories.
DeleteI often had more male friends than female as well; I found they were much more likely to just accept me as I am and not be phased by much of anything. I actually enjoy packing; though I always want to take more than I need and have to reign myself in so I still have room for the things I'll want to buy while out and about.
ReplyDeleteYou’re right about the male friends plus they don’t care for all the drama.
DeleteYour answer to #1 made me think about how much I enjoyed summer as a child. I do have essentials that are always ready to go. However, I do overpack. Good for you making ends meet when you had to do it alone. So sorry about your high school years. I do find myself talking to God everyday. I need him more than ever.
ReplyDeleteOh I miss those carefree summer vacations with my family as a child.
DeleteThanks for the peek into your growing up years. I could relate to much of it.
ReplyDeleteAs we get older and look back, those experiences, both good and bad shaped who we are today.
DeleteUgh. So sorry about your high school experience. That is rough. It's encouraging to read that you are digging into God's Word and reconnecting to Him. No one beats God. :)
ReplyDeleteWe made the trip from Washington State to Southern California many times in the late 80's and early 90's. It was always nice to see Shasta and to know we were halfway to our destination. Happy Hodgepodge!
I went to the 10 year reunion hoping that things had changed and I was wrong. The “girls” still were together and gossipy. I felt then and there, they did me a favor. I didn’t want to be like them.
DeleteI liked your answer, I really didn't like high school but I rarely missed a day, you can find my answers over at my random stuff blog.https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2024/08/my-first-hodgepodge.html
ReplyDeleteYep I went over to read it. Glad you joined in.
DeleteIn high school I gravitated to having boy friends. We played cards during lunch. The girls were too busybodies for me. I also hung out with my boy cousins, so I was a rough tomboy. Never knew there was a word for fear of suitcases. Guess there must be a phobia for most things. Janice
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a rough tomboy but I did enjoy the boys. I remember wrestling with the
Deleteboys in the front yard and my dad didn't like it one bit. He told me, he used to be a boy and he knows how they think. Lol.
Debby... Thank you for sharing Psalm 42:1. I love singing the song to this verse. "As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after thee. You alone are my strength my shield, to you alone will my spirit yield." Beautiful song. I was talking with my neighbor just this morning about how bad bullying is in schools. I am truly sorry that you experienced this form of bullying from these girls. I did not enjoy my early years of school in elementary...I was a momma's baby. I did enjoy High School, but I had a big issue with my thyroid at a young age, and thyroid issues bring about many problems. My mind was always foggy and I was very tired. Anyways, that's my take on school.
ReplyDeleteI don't like bullies at all. Fortunately my boys were never bullied.
DeleteI enjoyed reading your answers especially your own thought (#6). Great reminders and much wisdom in your words. How wonderful that your son went to college with you being a single mom. All of my siblings and I graduated from college. Mom was widowed when most of us were teenagers (and my dad no life insurance). She helped where she could and we all got by. I am sure your son appreciated his education... and you!!
ReplyDeleteLooking back, those were actually some good times, even though I might not have realized it then.
DeleteWow your Mom was a Hero!
I love the Lord has brought you near to Him and saw you through the rough years of high school. That is tough. I have never heard of the fear of suitcases! The stawberry lemonade sounds delicious and I may make some soon.
ReplyDeleteI know isn't that crazy. Sad really.
DeleteI'm a list maker too and am not a fan of packing for a trip. I think unpacking is even worse because then the trip is done. So I do it as soon as we get home!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your high school years. Kids, and I think especially girls can be so mean. But look how good you turned out!
Living well is the best revenge!
DeleteYou are so right, there's never been a time that we needed the Lord more than RIGHT NOW! Thanks for stopping by, it's always such fun to read everyone's answers.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun to read how others answer these questions.
DeleteI can remember times when we made lemonade out of the lemons when finances were tight, and I agree - those do turn out to be times with such good memories. Perhaps because we focus on what's truly important? I especially loved your random thought and photos. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim. Yes times of struggle are hard but once we look back we can recognize the strength it took to get through it. And as a Christian I see God’s hand through it all.
DeleteDebby, it was good to write memories of your life. I remember going to a few vacations with my family. Not too far in Oregon and no flying on airplanes. I liked what you shared about God and the scripture verse. Mt. Shasta is lovely 😍 I might have seen it when I flew to CA years ago. I enjoyed seeing mountains when I was going to/from Bend, Oregon this summer ☀️. Thanks for the hodge podge post. ~~blessings, Becky
ReplyDeleteGood to see you Becky. Yes once you cross the border into California it doesn’t take long before you get that first glimpse of Mt Shasta in the horizon.
DeleteI remember family vacations when I was a kid - we always rented a small house at the beach for a week. We only ate out one time and it was special. The house was about a block away from the beach. The smell of Coppertone with #4 sunscreen makes me think about the Coppertone my mother slathered all over us. Yes, of course I wear a stronger sunscreen now :-). I'm impressed that you were a single parent and were able to put your son through college. You deserve a round of applause - seriously!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that.
DeleteTo this day I flashback to summers when Coppertone filled the air!
I'm so sorry to hear that high school was such a bummer for you. However, you certainly must have learned some valuable lessons along the way, being able to raise your sons up in a responsible and loving way. God will give us His strength when we ask Him.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I’m a better person because of it and yes and many valuable lessons. I know I have great compassion to those who are being bullied, mistreated, misunderstood. I want to offer my attention to them if others ignore them.
DeleteSadly I doubt your experience of high school is uncommon. Girls can be cruel. I stress less about packing these day - we tend to go to places where, like you, I know that if I've forgotten anything I'll be able to purchase a replacement.
ReplyDeleteAs we get older we don’t care as much about the things we used to. It’s not the end of the world if I forget something. So why stress about!
DeleteHello friend, I had an awful time in High School as well. I got into the wrong crowd in my Senior year and really took a dive. My family did not go to church, in fact I did not learn about Jesus until I was 23!!! God had a plan, my husband and I both found a church, got baptized together later on, and we were blessed with two boys.
ReplyDeleteLove, Carla
But you did find Jesus and that’s a blessing! I was 33 when I accepted Christ. But my heart was searching for 10 years before.
DeleteTravel is no longer in our wheelhouse, but should the opportunity arise, I need to take a page from you. Always I over-packed, fearing someone might see me in the same outfit or (*gasp*) judge.
ReplyDeleteI agree, men can often be better friends than (some) women.
That’s the thing - you go on vacation to relax - distress from everyday life yet many get all stressed out and frazzled before they’ve even closed the suitcase. I used to be that way - overpacking and eventually figuring out I didn’t actually need all that I packed.
DeleteBoth my female best friends have passed and while I still have friends and making new ones, I don’t feel I need a BFF. Yeah guy friends are more mellow and drama free. No gossip and we usually agree on most things.
Like you I had more male friends then female friends during high school. I did have 2 close female friends though. We were the "3 Musketeer's". I moved in grade 12 to a totally different province, thousands of miles away. That year was terrible.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I can see how that would be hard in your senior year. At those ages, we needed our friends as support.
Delete