Who am I? A wife for almost 40 years. A mom for over 36 years. A sister and a friend, of course. Each of these help describe me. But, even more, I have been a Christian since accepting Him as my Savior when I was 12 years old and, this truth defines each area of my life. I have enjoyed some mountain top experiences but have been through some very deep valleys as well. Valleys of incredible grief and even pits of depression. However, most of my days are ordinary, routine kind of days. But in every one of my days, God has been faithful. He has walked with me whatever the day. He strengthens, comforts, encourages and blesses me with life "most abundant."

A favorite life verse: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Why do I write? Though not quite as private as my dad, I am definitely my father's daughter. I find it difficult to share. And to let others in. But I do love to write. I love to put words into sentences and sentences in paragraphs that help express my thoughts. I hope my words help me share my heart. Share the life that God has given me and all that He has done for me and through me. I write with the hope of giving Him at least a bit of the glory He is due.

A verse to guide my writing: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:7

A Honey of a Hodge Podge

Posted on By jennifer

Hello and raise your hand if you knew yesterday was World Bee Day?  Better yet, do you even know what World Bee Day is?  Um, a day to acknowledge the role of bees in our ecosystem.  Well, of course it is!!  How have I missed this all my life?  Never the less, Joyce has us thinking about honey at this week’s Hodge Podge.  Honey? Count me in.

1. May 20th is World Bee Day…what’s something that’s kept you ‘busy as a bee’ lately?  Planning Junior Church curriculum for the summer.  We typically take a break from our regular curriculum and have fun with a theme.  Extra games.  Theme-centered snacks and what not.  I thought I had an idea but, just this week, I changed my mind and have been scrambling to get my ducks in a row.  Or my bees organized.  Interestingly, we need to finish up the series of lessons we are working on just now…which are 9 lessons on the BEEattitudes!:)  We have just been buzzing with all kinds of BEE fun!!  Sunday mornings as full but I love it.  Those kiddos are sweeter than…um, honey!:)

2. Do you like honey? What’s something you make or enjoy that calls for honey?  Yes, I like honey.  A lot.  Honey in my tea is a must.  Honey on my oatmeal is just the perfect something extra in the morning.  Honey over melted butter on fresh biscuits is too delicious for words!!

3. “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Proverbs 16:24  What’s a proverb you love, or one that speaks to you or has helped you in some way?  The Bible is full of Proverbs, a whole book in fact, if that helps with your answer.  Proverbs 22:1  “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”  Or, Proverbs 31:30  “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

4. Tell us about a ‘sweet’ moment in your life recently that filled you with joy, gratitude, or peace.  I’m not a huge sharer of my feelings.  My bestie is not either (maybe less than I am).  However at the women’s conference we attended together last weekend, there was an exercise/challenge to spend a few minutes with someone next to you and speak grace over them.  Truthfully, I wanted to stay in my seat.  Let the moment pass.  But she and I pressed on.  We stood there face to face in an auditorium filled with a thousand women and she reminded me of God’s love and His promises.  And she claimed those promises for me.  I was overcome with gratitude, encouragment and, yes, even some real peace.

5. When you were a child, what did you want to ‘be’ when you grew up? How close did you come to that?  I was told repeatedly while I was in school that I was “born to be a teacher” or that I should become a teacher.  For some reason, I thought going to college in order to become a teacher seemed so predictable.  I wanted something “cool” and was determined to be a journalist.  I wanted to be a print reporter.  To do the interviews and write the headlines.  And I didn’t even come close.  Thank you, Lord.  I can truthfully say that I would have not only been miserable but I would have been a lousy reporter.  I did not get a formal degree to teach, however, despite myself, the Lord has opened many opportunities throughout the years for me to teach.  To teach ladies.  To teach children.  And in many different ways.  I am so grateful every time I find myself teaching.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  I’m not a fan of the “do it yourself” order kiosks in (fast food) restaurants.  I don’t mind checking out my own groceries.  Sometimes, I prefer it.  In my secret life, I am a profesional bagger and it often hurts me to watch some clerks bag my groceries.  But I don’t like to order my own lunch.  At Panera, for instance.  I want to be able to ask questions and I don’t want to risk getting my order done incorrectly because I don’t know what I am doing.  But this scenario is becoming more and more popular.  A new ShakeShack opened near us this week.  Or maybe last week.  We decided to give it a try yesterday.  We were surprised to find the line out the door and down the sidewalk when we arrived.  And the line moved really slowly.  The problem?  There were plenty of people working but there was only one register (with a live clerk). One.  Not like there were other registers simply without help.  No, that was not even an option.  There was one and the employee was trying.  But slow. There were two other screens along the wall for self-service but no one wanted to use them.  Customers had questions.  Duh.  Why would you do that in a brand new restaurant?  Just my random thought.  I will say, though, long lines and slow service aside, my veggie burger was delicious!!

Well friends.  Thanks for reading along.  I hope you have a great Wednesday.  Leave a comment.  Please tell me you love honey!:)

Hodge Podge

Comments (29)

  2. Hi, laughing about the bagging groceries. I too am very picky about bagging groceries. It can hurt me watching those bagging. Hee Hee!
    And for the self service … I am not a big fan. I like to be sure I did it right with ordering. Culver’s is one of my favorites because they repeat back your order to you. 😉
    Have a great day!

    1. Carla, I don’t think I have ever been to a Culver’s (maybe I did in NC??) but hooray for repeating my order. I need all the help I can get:)

  3. That’s really nice how involved you are in church. I need to try the honey on my oatmeal. That sounds like a lovely moment at the Women’s Conference. Love your answer for what you wanted to be when you up. Sounds like it turned out very nice for you. I’m with you on bagging, I love doing it. Interesting random thought. I like to be waited on, I never use a screen to order things. Question: Do you know why I have to fill in my information each time I visit with you?

    1. To answer your question, Deborah, I have no idea?? But I am looking into it so I can correct it, if possible. Thanks for the heads up.

  4. Your sweet moment with a friend sounds amazing. I had a similar one last week when the hospital chaplain came to say a prayer over our hands and bless them for Hospital Week. It gave me so much peace for the rest of the day!

    1. What a special things for the chaplain to do!! You know how special last weekend was for me:)

  6. I’m with Karen! Unless check out lines with people working them are super long and I only have one item, I will go through the line with a person who scans my items. We had a Shake shack open fairly near us. We heard it was super busy and the prices were pretty high for what you got (or didn’t get) so we have not patronized it yet. And may not ever. Love your answer to question 1 and all of its Bee goodness. You have a knack for words!

    1. Thanks Maria! Oh yes, all the Bee goodness. I could have kept the puns coming but I stopped myself:)

  7. I can’t say I like to do all those checks out and ordering on my own. I feel sorry for all the people who are losing their jobs.
    What is going to happen eventually?

  8. I haven’t been inside a fast food place in 5 years when they started those kiosks I just go to the drive- thur’s. I will go in In and Out because they don’t have those kiosks.

    Enjoyable Hodgepodge.

    1. We tried our new Sheetz. One time. I had never really been to one. But there was a screen (without personal assitance) at the drive-thru!?! Really?? We never went again.

  9. The church curriculum for the summer sounds like fantastic fun.
    What a sweet moment with your friend at the women’s conference.
    I like the self service kiosks, it means that I don’t have to speak to people. hehehe

  10. I do not like the self-service ordering either. But your post reminded me I always wanted to work the register in a grocery store. Sometimes I’ll see a help wanted sign in our local market and I’m tempted. I’m glad you had a nice weekend retreat and were blessed by your friend’s words. Have a nice weekend!

  12. We love honey around here. At one time we had over a hundred hives and would lease them out in the spring to the different orchards in the area where we lived at the time.

  13. It sounds like you were always destined to teach; it seems to bring you joy, and that’s what is most important.
    That’s a lovely moment you had with your friend. Sometimes it can be uncomfortable to open up, but it is often worth it.
    Wishing you a lovely weekend.

  14. I am not a fan of the self-serve checkouts, nor will I pay a kiosk with my current card. Since I don’t get paid to scan and bag my groceries nor do I see a lower price in my total bill when using this service, I will stand in line with a cashier. They are paying them to monitor those self-serve checkouts, so have them man the register. Honey is a well-used condiment in this household.

  15. What a good moment at the conference for you. I do like honey but probably don’t use it as much as some others have commented today. I’m actually ok with using self-service ordering and check outs. (Unless I have a lot of shopping.) I haven’t used the scan as you go option yet which is now available in most of our supermarkets.

    1. I have not trid the scan as you go options either. For some reason, I feel like I am shoplifting!?!

  17. I do love honey on toast or crumpets or in cakes. I also like it with lemon as a hot drink remedy for a sore throat. I think my list could get quite long for this answer.
    I wanted to ‘be’ a teacher but God had other plans that led me in a different direction and ultimately to meeting my husband. After I had my children I did work in school supporting children with their learning . So in a round about way I was a teacher just not in the way I imagined.

    1. I definitely have been a teacher in many “round about way” Beverly. And that is a good thing. I feel blessed to do so!:)

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