Memories and a Hodgepodge.

 

Happy First week of December.

It's our first Hodgepodge for this 12th month of the year.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Join the Fun Here

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

 I think for a Christian, Holiday Spirit has a very deep spiritual meaning.  Peace comes to my mind...and then there is Renewed Hope, Generosity, and Worship.  The true meaning of what this season is about ...for me....it simply echos Emmanuel.  God with us.... A reminder that light steps into darkness and that hope rises in weary places.  The message of Christ has found a warm place within my heart for sure.   

I also lean into nostalgia during this time of the year, reflecting on the memories of my childhood Christmases.  This brings me much joy.  

On a scale of 1-10.......Mine is totally a 10 +.  I Iove the season and ALL that it brings.  I struggled a bit at first, not wanting to allow myself to enjoy the season (simply because I loss my brother on Christmas day last year). BUT I asked God to help me and I know everything is going to be okay.  

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why. 

I do love Buddy the Elf .....from the Classic illustrated Storybook!!    I mean, his childlike, unfiltered joy is what we all need to feel.  Buddy sees life through a lens that we all lose with age. The message I took away from the movie is that Buddy shows what it looks like to live with a wholehearted presence.  Today, many of us struggle to slow down and we struggle to even look up from our phones.  We are too busy to offer unhurried kindness or to even find love for the simple things in life.  Buddy shows that what is missing in the world is WONDER, sincerity, and LOVE.

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

You know....at one time in my life, I really did like gingerbread, but my taste buds must have changed.  I do not care for it any longer. 

My family bakes and decorates Christmas cookies together, but we don't include the gingerbread houses in our holiday traditions. 

I love seeing them, but not making them. 

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

I say.... there is a lot of truth here. 

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero?. freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

Around here...we say sprinkles with a southern accent.  We say lightning bugs and we say coke.  For us, it's tennis shoes.  We also say "do you want to get a SUB sandwich?"  Highways are where we drive and icing is what we put on cakes.  Last but not least, we serve Gravy with our meals.  

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

Oh goodness...which favorite memory will I share.  For one, our family always loaded up in the car a few weeks before Christmas and we would head out.... down the back country roads in search of the perfect Christmas tree. I'm pretty sure that my dad had already been in search of one, because we always ended up with the most beautiful trees ever.  They were big and stood tall enough to touch the living room ceiling.  These were special times.  We sang Christmas songs on the way to find the tree as well as on our way back home.  A day full of happiness and love.

#two...my grandfather was a huge farmer, and when Christmas time came around, we would go to his house and he always had boxes of apples, oranges, and all kinds of nuts for all of us to fill up a stocking.  This was so fun and way better than a toy or gift could ever be.  I most likely would not be remembering a gift given to me so long ago, but I do remember his delight in making sure we all had fruit and nuts to eat. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

Appreciate every moment you are "in" because it will become a memory!!

It's crazy how ordinary moments turn into the memories we ache for later on.  The car rides, the kitchen chatter.....laughter drifting through the house, holiday seasons.....many of these things slip away and we never think of them as being BIG....  but, one day we will look back and realize those were the things that held us all together.  I'm thinking that the secret is to treat RIGHT NOW like something so very precious, before it does slip away. 

It's a nice day to read hodgepodge answers...

Shug....