Wednesday hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm joining in with Joyce's Wednesday hodgepodge this week, since this was one thing we talked about this weekend at our little blogger's retreat that I was a part of this weekend. If you missed that short recap post, here's a link for you. Here are this week's questions with my answers in italics. 

1. What's a skill you think everyone should have? 

I think an important life skill is being able to speak in public. I wish I'd taken public speaking when I was in high school, but honestly, the thought of doing that terrified me. As an adult, I realize the value of knowing how to do this, and it's something I've become better at when addressing a crowd of people. I now know not to say certain words over and over again, I know to speak loudly and clearly, and I know to look people in the eye as I speak. I know that this is something I could have benefitted greatly from. I'm not a huge public speaker, but I sang in church for years and knew to implement these same things when I did that. 

2. Do you have a special place or organizational system for gift wrapping? Do you still buy 'real' cards to send for birthdays, anniversaries, get-well, etc.? 

I wish I was the  type of person who sent birthday cards, but truth be told, I'm not. I love that when my kids were little, my mom-in-love sent them each a card for every holiday, loaded with stickers on the envelope. I hope to continue that tradition someday, but for now, I rarely even buy my own sons cards! It's sad, I know, but I partially blame Venmo for this. We just electronically send them money for birthdays now. 🙄 I have no system for gift wrapping, but I keep it all in one closet downstairs for the everyday stuff. For Christmas, I have a container that it stays in, in the attic. 

3. It's National Banana Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite thing to make with bananas or, if you're not a cook, your favorite thing to eat that contains banana? 

It's funny that I was talking with my friends about this very thing this weekend. I do love bananas, and I do also love them in recipes like banana nut bread, banana pudding, and the homemade banana ice cream that my grandmother used to make. I will say though, I have trust issues with bananas in pies; one time I was eating dessert after dinner and I took a big bite of what I thought was lemon ice box pie, only to find out it was banana cream pie. I remember making a terrible face and the people at the table laughing over me. I think that out of what I've mentioned, my favorite thing to make or eat is either banana nut bread or banana pudding. 

4. Do you believe in second chances? Elaborate. 

I do believe in second chances! And third, and fourth, and infinity...in the Bible there's a passage of Scripture that talks about forgiving someone seventy times seven times, and while it doesn't mean that literally, it does mean to forgive or extend chances to again and again. I think that the point of that passage is that as the Lord has forgiven us so much, we are to extend that same thing to others. That being said, I do also think that in certain cases, a line has to be drawn for emotional and mental wellbeing sometimes, and if the same old thing happens, it might be best to part ways, if this is the case of a friend or an emotionally harmful relationship. 

5. What is your idea of fun? 

My idea of fun is to be with the people I love! I love nothing more than enjoying their company over dinner and then being together afterward. I love road trips and think they're fun, especially when they're with my husband, or a friend (or friends). I love to travel alone somewhere! Even if it's going to a place where my sisters are or where they live, I think that is so much fun. I think swimming is fun, and I always look forward to summer days when I can float around or swim laps in a pool. I also think reading is fun and it's something I really enjoy doing to relax. And not to sound redundant or cheesy, but I really love my job and have fun while I'm there. (In case you're reading my blog for the first time, I run the bookstore and cafe inside my church, and have been doing so for almost eight months now. I am living my dream job!) 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I have so many things to do inside my house right now, so much so that it's overwhelming. I need to just start small and go on from each area. I need to work on some cabinets and our bedroom. I need to clean out kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, and in our room I need to put some things into a bin to be tucked up into the attic. None of those are big things, but I never have a full day to myself lately, and that's when I am at my best. Basically what I just said was that I need for my family to NOT be here so that they don't see all the junk that I throw away or donate. Does anyone else feel this? Please tell me I'm not alone! 

Also, one last thing. Why have I never really read Joyce's blog before and participated in this link up? I can't answer that, but I am so glad that I found her and I'll be participating from now on. Joyce, if you're reading this, you have a lovely blog; thank you for hosting this! 

Thanks for reading my blog, friends. Love to all!