A Thinker's Hodgepodge

Another fun Hodgepodge post today, courtesy of my friend Joyce at From this Side of the Pond (see link in my favorites).  Feel free to start participating -- and let me know if you do!

1. Way back when several of you submitted questions as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I went back to that list for inspiration today and found a question  submitted by Marla, who blogs over at Marla's Musings. Thanks Marla!   She asks-At what age did you feel like a 'grown-up'? What keeps you young now?   

I guess I felt most like a grown up when I got my first home back in college.  I don't mean the dorm -- I mean the first time I moved out of the dorm (Junior Year).  I still feel that way.  Having a home of your own is such a grown-up thing.

What keeps me young now is working with a lot of young women -- they make me join Instrgram, step up the fashion, etc.  Plus, they are just fun!

2. When did you last buy a vehicle? Was this by design or because you had no other option? Was the car/truck purchased for your own personal use or was it bought for someone else to drive? On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being delightful and 1 being 'pass the Excedrin') how would you rate the experience?

Since I am single, I only buy cars for me.  I get a new one every couple of years because I love having a new one and I hate having a car break down.  Nothing makes me madder than a car that won't work.  I should also admit that I really don't care what color I get -- someone else could even pick it out.  I do only buy the same car now.  I've had a small Lexus SUV for about 10 years, I think.  My buying experience is a 10+, as I always use Jeff Hazelwood at Sewell Lexus.  Jeff is the best!

3. Corn bread, corn chips, corn pudding, corn on the cob, cornflakes, corn chowder-your favorite of the corn-y foods listed? What needs to be served alongside your selection?

Corn Chowder for sure.  Al Bernat's has the best -- they add a little crab to it too.  Delish.  I order it with the wedge salad and a slice of coconut cream pie.  It's a lunch to remember!

4. What's something in your life that regularly requires you to 'put your thinking cap on'?

Lately, it's been working on our capital campaign for Community Partners of Dallas.  This campaign is something I've never done before, so it's fun to research and get some of the best minds in Dallas helping me.  Just asking friends and donors for advice is wonderful and very thought-provoking!

5. Share a favorite movie set in a school or classroom, or whose theme relates to school days in some way.

Bring It On is one of my favorites.  Also Clueless.

6. Reading, writing, and 'rithmatic' are commonly referred to as the three R's. What are the three R's in your life right now?

Mine have to be Resting (not enough), Ridiculing (myself -- I love self-deprecating humor) and Refrigerating (gotta have AC in Big D).

7. What's something you've learned or tried recently you can say was as 'easy as ABC'?

Water aerobics.  Loved it.  Now I just need to make myself do it.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My favorite quote lately:

The Prodigal Son

I spoke in the pulpit this past Sunday.  Now before you go thinking I’m making a move to a new field, it was as a spokesperson for the committee I’m on at Highland Park United Methodist Church.  The committee is called the Violence Intervention and Prevention Committee, also known as VIP.

Anyway, VIP is doing a drive to collect diapers and snacks for our kids at Community Partners of Dallas for the next few weeks, so I got to do the pulpit announcement in the sanctuary.  At all three services.  So I enjoyed the service – several times.

Now speaking from the pulpit is another blog altogether – yes, you do notice who is asleep and who is picking their nose – but that is not what this post is about. 

The scripture verse for the day was from Luke 15: 11-24 – the Prodigal Son story.  I imagine that most of us know the story:  Boy asks dad for his inheritance, gets it, spends it all on riotous living, returns home broke, and dad takes him back.  Just like God does for all of our sins, the father in the story forgives his son.  My favorite line is when the son is filled with shame and walking to home his father sees him:

But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

The father tells everyone to prepare a big party and kill “the fatted calf” (aka Al Biernat’s prime NY cut meat – yum) and says:

…let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”

Of course Mark Craig did a great sermon on grace from this – I’m sure you can listen to it by visiting www.hpumc.org – and I promise that I was not day dreaming during your sermon, Mark – but it did get me thinking about how much most parents love their kids.  They can forgive anything, sacrifice their own happiness, toil all day to make a living, etc. – all for their kids.

But of course, there are parents who don’t do this for their kids.  They do the opposite.  Why do some kids get dads like the one the Prodigal Son has and some get the opposite?

I don’t know the answer, but I do pray that the kids who don’t have those dads find someone else to emulate or the cycle will continue.  We live what we learned.