Hodgepodging Again...

I am so excited, this is my first Hodgepodge in forever.  It is good to be back!
So here we go...

1. What's your best piece of advice for a newly married couple? I'm asking for a friend.
Never quit talking, always always talk to each other.  Never get to busy to talk to each other, tell your partner how you are feeling, good and bad. Be honest!

2. Before we're too far into the new year I wanted to post a question Teresa submitted during the December giveaway. Teresa blogs over at Being Refined As Silver, so everyone go say hi.

Teresa asks, "What were you doing on December 31st, 1999?"and "Did you or your family make preparations for Y2K?"
I believe we were at a Lock-in at our church with a bunch of teenagers.  We were Youth Leaders at the time.  It was a fun time!  We did not make any preparation for Y2K except being at church was the perfect place to be if the world was going to end.

3. According to Global Language Monitor, the most used word of 2014 isn't a word. It's the heart emoji. Huh? How can something that's not a word be the most used word, but I digress. What do you think was your most used word in 2014?
Probably "lol"

4. Speaking of words, it's that time again. Time for Lake Superior University to present a list of words they'd like to see banished (for over-use, mis-use, and general uselessness) in 2015. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year's top vote getters are-bae (before anyone else), polar vortex, hack, skill set, swag, foodie, curate/curated, friend-raising, enhanced interrogation, cra-cra (as in crazy), takeaway, and -nation (a suffering sports suffix).

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add?
I think "hack" it drives me crazy.  For some crazy reason every time I hear it I think of the word gag. And it has nothing to do with it.  I know crazy.  But I do hate that word~

5.  January is National Hot Tea month? Are you a fan? Do you like flavored teas? How do you take your tea? Have a favorite cup or teapot? How many cups of tea do you consume in a given day? 
I am not a fan of hot tea.  Sweet Ice Tea is the only way it should be drank in my book.

6. Whatever happened to________________________________?
Salerno Butter Cookies.  I used to love these, we always had them when I was growing up.  It may be a Chicago thing. Here is the jingle that went with them.
Mommy 
What is it dear?
I want a Salerno Butter Cookie, mommy
I heard you dear
Salerno cookie coming right up
You can lookie, lookie, lookie
But you'll never find a cookie
With a better butter batter than Salerno
Salerno Butter Cookie!

7. What is one book on your must-read list this winter? 
The Holy Bible - reading God's Word every day.  Just feel like the Lord has been dealing with me about this - that I was not reading as much as I should.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 
Life is good.  We have so many advantages over other countries and we still take so much for granted.  Thank you Jesus!

until next time...nel

Sad But Joyous Couple Days...

I don't know about you but I love Facebook, it is a great way to keep in contact with friends and family who live out of state, and a great way to make new friends.  But most of all I love that I can post a prayer request and within minutes there are several people who are praying with me.

Last week I requested prayer for a sweet friend of mine.  She and her husband were charter members at our church in Springfield.  Shirley has had a time of it the last two years.  You see she had polio when she was a kid and was in one of those iron lungs.  She recovered with no lingering effects or so they thought. From what I have read 25 - 50% of patients later in life will be effected by a condition known as Post Polio Syndrome or PPS.  Unfortunately Shirley fell in that category.  She went from an active woman to wheel chair bound almost overnight.  But she never complained to any of us around her, maybe her close family was different but I never heard anything.  And up until she broke her hip a few months ago, she was at church every Sunday morning.  At times you could see she was so sick she didn't feel like being there but there she was with a smile on her face and love in her eyes.  See she was where she wanted to be, with her fellow brothers and sisters in Christ worshiping the one and true God.  

A week ago she collapsed at the nursing home.  They did CPR on her and brought her back but she never regained consciousness. Over the next few days she Coded twice but never responded to anyone.  After several tests and many discussions they decided to take her off life support.  That was on Tuesday and Wednesday she made her Heavenly flight.  There is no doubt in my mind this lady is worshiping at Jesus' feet and no longer needs a wheelchair.  Yes it is hard on family and friends and is sad for us left behind, but what joy knowing where she is.  And knowing we too can see her again if we have Jesus in our hearts.

How bout you... Are you Heaven Bound?

I am sure if she could Sis Shirley would be singing this song...

'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'                                                       Romans 10:9-10

until next time...nel

Changes In My Life...

I do not think I have shared this in a post, if I have I am sorry.  

Have you ever made a major change in your life, something you never could see yourself doing.  I have, and to some of you it will probably not be a big deal but to me it was enormous.

See I was addicted to Diet Coke.  I feel like I need to start by saying my name and admitting my addiction...lol.  You know there are so many things in our life we can become addicted to. But Diet Coke was mine.  I mean we are talking, me by myself, drank at least 5 or 6 - 2 litre bottles of Diet Coke a week.  We would find it on sale and load the car down at times.  That is so sad people, and what is really sad is I didn't even realize it. 

I knew my health was deteriorating but did not realize what was causing it.  Then articles started popping up about aspartame and how bad it was for you.  And I decided I needed to do something if I wanted to see my grand kids grow up.  So me and the Lord had a heart to heart talk and I gave it to Him.  I knew without His help I would never make it. I lived and breathed Diet Coke, I had one by my bed at night and started the morning with one, along with one by my side during the day. If I did not have one of a morning I would have a headache within an hour of waking up, until I would drink a glass.  I prayed that He would make them taste terrible to me and that I would never want another one as long as I lived.  

" And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."   Matthew 21:22

Not only was the desire taken away from me but the fondness of the taste is gone.  I cannot stand the taste, we were in town and Stan had a fountain Coke and I took a taste of it and wanted to gag.  I went back to my water, which is funny because I never drank water before, hated the taste of it.  It is amazing what our God can do if we just ask and turn it over to Him.

My blood pressure medicine has been cut in half.  I have so much more energy than I had before.  I no longer am having issues with my right leg feeling numb.  I have not had any more issues with losing the sight in my right eye, it would get blurry and black at times, not very often but enough it scared me.  I do not get winded when I walk across the parking lot or up and down stairs anymore.  I do not feel bloated anymore or swollen. I am not seeing a lot of change in what I weigh but clothes are fitting better and I am able to wear some things that I could not before.  A few of my jeans I have to wear a belt with them now.  I feel so much better than I did!  Life is Good!  And I give all the credit to God!  Thank you Jesus!

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"  Ephesians 5:20

until next time...nel