Wednesday, November 23, 2022

A Thankful Hodgepodge

Well, miracles never cease.  I have not participated in the HP since August 24th.  What!!!! I have been a real blog slacker this year except for participation in Prime Purchases.  Perhaps 2023 will bring me renewed interest in blogging.  We shall see.  For now, I'm excited about answering Joyce's questions this week.............


1. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so where did you go and how did you like it? If not, do you have any desire to take a cruise someday?  

Hubby and I have been on two cruises.  Our first was in August 2008 to Alaska and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  We went with 4 other couples.  We did some really fun excursions and I don't think either one of us would mind going again.

Our second cruise was a St. Lawrence Seaway cruise in 2011.  Again, we really enjoyed it and when we disembarked in Boston, we stayed 2-3 days touring around.  This cruise was with a much smaller cruise line, Holland America and our first was with Celebrity.  We much preferred the smaller ship because that meant fewer people and  more enjoyable in our estimation.

2. Tell us about your Thanksgiving plans...are you hosting? cooking? eating out? turkey or some other main? is it stuffing or dressing in your house? homemade cranberries or cranberries in a can? are pies on the dessert menu? what kind? what are your 'must have' sides? Tell us one thing you're especially grateful for this year.

We will be eating at our country club.  They will have any and everything that one could possibly want on the buffet and it is generally very good.  We show up, enjoy and leave the clean up and left overs to them.  They will be serving dressing and so would I if I were doing the meal and it would be cranberry sauce.  I will be making two desserts today to have, our family favorite, Almond Pound Cake and a Pumpkin Crunch.  

And, hands down, what I am most thankful for this year is this younger brother of mine.   Joel has enjoyed  perfect health all 57 of his years.  This year found him facing two very serious health conditions.  He faced a Melanoma surgery on his Achilles Tendon and then immediately afterwards he faced having to have his Aortic Valve replaced.  There is so much to both of these but, I'll spare all the details and just say, God led him every step of the way down to the best of doctors and complete recovery.  It was such a huge shock to all of us and I spent some very anxious days with much concern. He and his wife will arrive around noon today and it will be our first time seeing him since the heart surgery in August.  I've got a really big hug waiting on him. 

3. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

 I can't remember the last time someone approached me asking for money but I have certainly passed a lot of folks on on street corners or outside a business.  I have a big giving heart when there is a REAL need and I generally will give, even if I am not sure if it is a genuine need.  I feel I have been abundantly blessed and it is the right thing for me to do. 

Hubby and I have dear friends that do incredible mission work all over the world and we support them year around.  Their ministry has led literally thousands of people to the Lord.  I can't think of a better return on the dollar.

4. Have you started decorating for Christmas? Is your tree up? Shopping done? Wrapped? 

I generally do not put any Christmas decor until after Thanksgiving but I did put out the front porch decor last weekend.  Our tree will go up next week and a few other touches but nothing like I use to do.

Yes, my shopping is done and everything boxed and ready to wrap.  I hope to get started on that next week.  90% of my shopping was done online, the Grans mothers send me the links to what the Grans want, I click on it, pay for it and boom, it's done.  Wayyyy to easy!

5. Create your own acrostic using the word THANKS. 

Just so you know, this stressed my poor brain. ~smile~ 

 T - trust (in God)

H - hope (in God)

A - answers (to prayer)

N - nice (what we all should be)

K - kind (what we all should be)

S - sincere (what we all should be)


6.  Insert your own random thought here. 


Most of you likely know that I went to Israel Nov 2nd - 12th.  I have always wanted to go to the land that Jesus walked and I can now say that I have been.  It was an all ladies trip and my "bestie" and I enjoyed being a part of the group.  There were 34 in our tour and it was a mix of ages and personalities and I'm not sure a mixed group could have as much fun as an all ladies group.  

I wasn't looking forward to the flights, and while they were very long, they were not unbearable.  I did take an air cushion for my back and the absolute best neck pillow collar on the market.  Both of these made for more comfort.

Our first 4 days were probably my favorite because they were a bit slower and calmer.  We visited many places but did not fight crowds.  The last 4 days we spent in Jerusalem and I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that everyone on earth would be there.  Oh, my goodness, it was so crowded! I suppose I thought we would be the only tourists there. ~chuckle~  


This is Darya, our awesome tour guide.  I would put Darya up against any tour guide around and she would win the award I'm quite sure.  She is a Christian Jew that knows the Bible inside out and backwards, knows Israel inside out and backwards and before becoming a tour guide she was a Pediatric Nurse.  Oh, and she speaks 3 languages.  One amazing woman!  A lot of tears were shed when we told her good-bye. 

It will take me months to process all that we saw, did and learned. I have no doubt that I will carry memories of this trip the rest of my life.  I am thankful for the opportunity.




Lea @ CiCis Corner
Lea @ CiCis Corner

Hi there! My name is Lea. I've been wife to the best Hubby for 44 years....Mom to a son and daughter....CiCi to 4 precious Grans....lover of family and friends....enjoy laughter and a good time....shopper....picture taking maniac....maker of delicious fudge....organizational enthusiast....memory maker....Southern Belle...and most importantly.....a Child of the King! Welcome to my little corner!

12 comments:

  1. I'm so glad your brother is ok. I've never heard of Melanoma on the achilles! That sounds rare.
    Please share about your wonderful neck pillow!! What brand? Did you purchase on Amazon?
    You've finished your shopping? That is truly amazing. I have only bought one gift.

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  2. So glad Joel is doing better and able to be with you for Thanksgiving. Have a very Happy Day.

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  3. Nice to visit you today! Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

    I'm glad you could visit Israel, Sounds like a wonderful trip!

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  4. I would love to know the recipe for Pumpkin Crunch!

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  5. Hello Lea, nice to see you back at the Hodgepodge. Happy to read about your dear brother's recovery from his health scares. My dear hubby suffered a stroke on November 5th so our Thanksgiving is extra thankful this year. God has covered us with so much peace these past few weeks and we are so grateful. Enjoy that big hug that you will be able to give your brother! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

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  6. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and when you can, I would love to hear more about your trip and see some more photos!! xo

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  7. I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip! I enjoyed the pictures and it's definitely on my list of places I'd like to see in person. I'm so glad your brother is doing well and I know you'll enjoy spending this Thanksgiving together. My daughter is cooking. I made cranberry sauce, will make the sweet potatoes, and help with the dressing but the rest is all her and it's a nice change.

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  8. I enjoyed your answers this. week. The country club meal sounds wonderful. I'm glad you had a good trip. I'm not a fan of flying but love being at my destinationsl

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  9. Happy Thanksgiving to you! I have appreciated and been so very thankful for all you have done to be an encouragement to me during the years of our friendship, and most especially these last 2 years. As for your trip, I'm so glad you got to go and enjoyed it so much. I'm also thankful your younger brother survived his health challenges this year. What a shock all that must have been.

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  10. I am so glad Joel is better. We went to the Holy Land in 2011, it was a fabulous trip. We also had a Christian Jew as our guide. The country club Thanksgiving meal looks delightful and no cleanup is a win! Merry December!

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  11. So glad that your brother is okay now. However, I am also a educational consultant and I had a friend back in highschool I always appreciated her.

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So glad you stopped by and hope you enjoyed your visit. I love your comments and read each and every one of them and I always try to reply to them. Blessings to you this day!