Hodgepodge

I'm excited today to link up with Joyce for her weekly Hodgepodge!  

Rebuilding a blog isn't easy, so I'm thankful for writing prompts and linky parties such as this to give me some inspiration and work on my terrible writers block!

 

1. Big week in the US of A...do you do your own taxes? What's something you've found 'taxing' lately?
   Clergy taxes are terrible.  We actually had some of the regular tax companies that messed them up for more than once year in the past.  Thankfully when we came to this church we already had an accountant, and we are so thankful or him!  His company makes something that used to be incredibly stressful so easy for us.  We honestly don't even think about it very much!  

   Something I've found 'taxing' is just fatigue.  I've felt so tired lately.  I feel like I'm really struggling to find some energy.  Through my studies of brain rewiring I've found that a lot of time fatigue can be a natural response to a dysregulated nervous system, which makes me all the more ready to put in the work to put the work in- but I also feel like I don't have time.  I feel very much in survival mode right now, and I'm so ready to get out of it.  


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.
   Although we have really slowed down over the years in our traveling, near the end of the year we always travel a lot.  None of our biological family live within three hours of our house, so we are always traveling during the holidays.  They tend to travel to us during the summer since we are only a couple of hours from the coast, but we have had a lot of travel in our lifetime!

   I'm a last minute packer.  I won't say we have it down to an art, but we do.  Packing comes together easily and I usually keep travel items such as shampoo and body was in a 'go bag' so its a lot simpler than it was!  Plus, all of my kiddos are above the age of 12 so that helps a lot as well!

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?
   We do love grilled cheese!  It's actually on the menu tonight with some Croc Pot three cheese tortellini tomato basil soup!  We love them just the way they are, sometimes with provolone if we want to feel all fancy lol

   I saw a graphic on pinterest the other day that said "How about a grilled cheese on a grandma plate for comfort" lol, that made me lol!  My Grandma made plenty of grilled cheese!

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

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

  I have never heard that but I do love it!  I feel like I'm in a place where I do focus on growth a lot, but its funny that this was here because we have thought and talked a lot lately about settling down.  We have moved a LOT in ministry, and we honestly feel in our hearts that we are here for the long haul.  We have a great church and we are very settled in.  We have been doing  lot of home projects and it really feels like settling in, which is something we have prayed for years for!  

   But, its a change and a challenge.  I'm really in a season where I feel like we are stabilizing.   Its new for me, and I'm learning what its like to stay put.     

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


   

• daffodils or tulips Tulips!  Although I can never get them to last very long :(  
• lemonade or iced tea   Iced tea, half sweet half unsweet!
• gardening or hiking  Gardening, we are working on that now, just got our little setup and ready to plant next week!
• ladybugs or butterflies Butterflies
• umbrella or raincoat Umbrella, I haven't had a raincoat in years
• floral patterns or polka dots Floral, I used to love polka dots, but floral lately :)

6. Insert your own random thought here.

   I'm excited to read over everyones Hodge podge for today!  My son has RSV so we are all kind of staying close to home for a few days, so its nice to have something to do to occupy my time.  Praying he gets better soon, he's never too down and out so he's easy to be around even when he's sick.