Wheel-ing and Hodgepode-ing

WHEEL-ING AND HODGEPODGE-ING

KIND OF DAY...

JOINING JOYCE FOR HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

Here

 1. Big week in the US of A...do you do your own taxes? What's something you've found 'taxing' lately   

We have used the same accountant for the past 48 years, so I honestly don't keep up with all the changes in taxes anymore...and I am perfectly fine with that! 🙂

Something I have found to be very "taxing" lately? Just the busyness of life. Some weeks feel like they come at your from every direction.

2. When it comes to travel are you a last minute packer or a lay it all out a week in advance type? Do you struggle to pack light? Share a packing tip that has worked for you.

I'm definitely a "pack a week in advance" kind of girl.  I try my best to pack light...but let's just say I haven't quite mastered that yet!  I'll post a picture of my spare bedroom two weeks before I actually put my clothes in the suitcase on my Ireland trip...

One tip that helps me is laying everything out ahead of time and then putting a few things back.  I don't always listen to myself...but it's a good idea anyway!  I would also suggest purchasing vacuum packing items that will not wrinkle.  

3.  April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Hmmm...who knew it got its own month? Do you like a grilled cheese sandwich? What ingredient do you add to take yours to the next level?

I had no idea grilled cheese had its own month, but I'm certainly not made about it. 

I do love a good grilled cheese sandwich, and I like to add slices of tomato while it's grilling.  It gives it just a little extra something...simple but so good.   Oh yesss...lots of black pepper on the tomato.  

4. There's a well known quote that says-

'A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." John A. Shedd

This quote really makes you think. While growth is important, I believe peace and stability matter just as much..maybe even more in some seasons of life. 

Is constant growth necessary or do you think it's more important to prioritize stability and peace in your life?

I prefer to be content, resting in where I am, and trusting that not every moment has to be about striving.  

5. Let's wrap this up with a fun spring this or that-

•   daffodils or tulips.     Tulips 🌷
•   lemonade or iced tea.  Iced Tea 🧊
•   gardening or hiking.   Gardening 🌻
•   ladybugs or butterflies.   Butterflies 🦋
•   umbrella or raincoat.  Umbrella  ☔️ 
•   floral patterns or polka dots  Polka dots.  🔵 🔴

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Is my number ever going to get picked on WHEEL OF FORTUNE?

We sit down and watch it just about every evening, calling out letters like we've been invited contestants...which we haven't.... we solve puzzles from the comfort of our recliners, and yet night after night....I'm still not a winner.  

My number never gets called. I've bout decided that they have lost my number.    But, I guess that's part of the fun, isn't it? Hoping .... guessing... and just enjoying the show. 

WHO KNOWS...MAYBE TOMORROW NIGHT WILL BE MY NIGHT. 

Shug....💛

Senior Night

 Last Thursday night was "Senior Night" on the Softball field.  Just one of the several events that will be happening until the end of the school year.  

Our granddaughter (Mylee Jo) stood proudly among the six seniors being recognized.  These girls are not just teammates -- they've been playing side by side since their freshman year.  Through early practices, long bus rides, tough losses, and sweet victories....they have shared so very much! One of the highlights of their journey together was winning state their sophomore year.  

Each senior had a table set up, filled with snapshots of their softball journey.  Photos from younger days, action shots on the field, medals, an all kind of mementos that told a story of years of dedication and their love for the game.  More than just a display, their boards were a timeline of hard work and some really great friendships.  

I was so proud of each of them as they stood out there on the field...(with their parents)... and them knowing that this chapter of their lives is about to close.  A new season of life will begin soon, but their love for the game will remain always.  

It was a beautiful ceremony and it was exciting just to see how much they have grown and how far they have come.  

Memories have certainly been made for each of them, and for their families as well.   

💛💛💛

 Keep shining....you make this corner of the internet brighter for me...

Shug....💛

It Felt Like Christmas

 It Might Not Be Christmas… But It Felt Like It

It might not be Christmas, but this past week I received a gift that felt every bit like it.

Several years ago, my mother-in-law had the most beautiful ceramic Christmas tree. It was solid white, standing about two feet tall, with tiny colored lights. It wasn’t just a decoration—it was a memory, a feeling, a piece of her home. Our daughters always admired that tree. I'm sure it was the simplicity, maybe the way it lit up a room, or maybe the love attached to it that attracted them to it. 

After she passed away, that tree was never found. It simply disappeared somewhere along the way, leaving behind only the memory of its glow.

A couple of weeks ago, Sam was scrolling through antique websites and came across a tree that looked so similar—only this one was green and not as tall. It wasn't one of the newer versions you can find in stores today, but a true antique, full of character and history. It was located in Oklahoma, and without hesitation, he bought it.

It arrived on Friday.

But instead of opening a box filled with nostalgia and joy, we were met with heartbreak. The tree had been shattered. The bottom was in what felt like a hundred tiny pieces, and the top was broken into larger fragments. Something so carefully chosen… so full of meaning… reduced to pieces in a cardboard box.

The seller was very kind and the good thing is...she had insurance, so she is refunding the money. And yes, I suppose these kinds of things happen, don’t they?

But oh… it still stings.

Because it wasn’t just about the tree.

It was about the thought behind it. The remembering and the searching.  It was about the hope of holding something again that felt connected to the past… to family… to moments that can never be replaced.

Maybe that’s where the real gift was all along.

Not in the ceramic.

Not in the lights.

Not even in the perfect condition of something fragile.

But in the heart behind it.

In a husband who remembered.

In the effort he made.

In the love wrapped up in that unexpected surprise.

Sometimes gifts don’t arrive the way we imagine. Sometimes they come broken, or delayed, or not at all. But if we look closely, we may find that the truest gift is still there—quietly tucked inside the intention.

It might not be Christmas…

…but love still showed up like it was.

Thank you Sam for your genuine love.

Shug...💛

Bottle Brush Plant

 Flowers don't question where they're planted.

They don't worry if the soil is too hard....or if the season will be too dry...or if they're growing in the "right" place.  They simply reach for the light. 

Out in our yard, the bottlebrush plant is one of those reminders... 

It's bright red blooms are showing up with a bold color of red and it is full of life right now.  

It's not one of those delicate  flowers....but it is strong, vibrant, and full of purpose.  

One thing that I love about this plant is that it "brings life in." 

Bees gather and the butterflies linger on it.  Hummingbirds come close, finding exactly what they need.  

It simply blooms and in doing so, it blesses everything around it. 

This is the kind of life that God calls us to. 

Not one spent comparing or questioning, but one rooted and trusting.  

Some season are quiet.

Some are Bold.

Some feel hidden.

Some are full and vibrant.  

ALL OF THEM MATTER!!

In our own lives, we need to just keep reaching for light.

When the time comes, we won't just bloom, we will bring life to others along the way.  

💛💛💛💛💛

About this plant....

1. This plant is named for it's shape. The blooms look like bottle brushes. 

2. It is native to Australia and it thrives in warm climates. 

3. This is a drought-tolerant.

4. Many of the varieties stay green year round. 

5. They bloom in Spring and sometimes in the Fall.  

6. They are loved by pollinators since it's blooms are filled with nectar. 

Hoping something beautiful finds each of you today...

Shug....💛