Finally, I was able to get my act together and participate in today’s Hodgepodge! Thank you, Joyce, for this brief distraction from all of the craziness that’s going on in our country, today!
1. What’s happening where you live in terms of schools opening? How do you feel about it?
Our teachers have already gone back to work. Our schools will officially open on Monday, August 10. There is a choice of attending “in person” or attending “virtually”.
I feel apprehensive for both teachers and students. Covid 19 is still spreading all over Georgia. I’m thankful I no longer work in education and I’m thankful all four of our grandchildren are home-schooled. If I had a school aged child, I don’t think I would send them back to school “in person” at this particular time.
2. What’s something you still do ‘old school’?
Math. I prefer to use pencil and paper, instead of using a calculator. I also like to figure sale prices in my head.
3. August 4th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. Will you/did you celebrate by baking a batch? Eating a batch? Nuts or no nuts? Homemade or store bought? Soft and chewy or do you prefer your cookie to snap when you bite into it?
No, I didn’t celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day at all. However, I do enjoy baking and eating cookies whenever possible! I don’t usually put nuts in my chocolate chip cookies, but I don’t mind if somebody else does! Of course, I prefer for my chocolate chip cookies to be homemade, soft and chewy. However, since there are just two of us, I’ll often buy the “break and bake” kind of cookies instead of baking a huge batch of homemade ones.
4. What are you starved for?
I was starved for my daughter’s homemade spaghetti and her Coca Cola cake, but she cooked both on Monday night and invited us over for supper. Both were delicious, and I went home stuffed! (Thanks, Brandy!)
5. Anything new and interesting on your August calendar? What is one thing you’re looking forward to this month?
New and interesting: For the first time in two months, Ed and I were able to “physically” attend church last Sunday. Our church has been having services since the end of May, but they choose not to wear masks or practice much social distancing (which we don’t understand). As a result, Ed and I chose not to attend the services (along with a few others). We’ve been watching services via Facebook for a total of five months. Finally, the church decided to add an extra [early] service, on Sunday morning, where masks are required and social distancing is enforced.
Looking forward to: Our oldest son, Brett’s, ordination service on August 7th. Brett’s been serving a very small church for the past seven months, and on this Friday, he is officially being ordained. It’s been a long time coming… (see below)
Random:
When our oldest son, Brett, was about two and a half years old, he used to sit in the shopping cart and sing “Amazing Grace” while I did my shopping! As you might imagine, he garnered a lot of attention. Brett loved wearing his little suit and tie to church on Sundays, and used to tell me, “When I grow up, I’m going to be a preacher!” I filed away his words in the back of my mind, and surely didn’t think much about them when we were living through Brett’s very rebellious teenage years!
In looking back over our son’s life, now, I can easily see God’s protection and gentle guidance, through those turbulent teen years and beyond, but it was difficult to see back then! Brett used to be very a self-centered young man, hell bent on doing whatever made him happy, no matter what the cost to himself or others. He’ll tell you that himself, today.
However, God had another plan for our son, and He made things happen. Of course, we couldn’t see it at the time, but in hindsight, we can easily see God’s hand on Brett’s life. Slowly maturing him…protecting him from harm…sending the right people into his life, at the right times…changing his heart and his mind…and eventually, molding him into the man God always intended him to be–a preacher. Amen!
Reflections...by Kathy 
Congratulations to your son and to you as parents. May God bless him and keep him! How nice to enjoy a meal at your daughter’s home.
I usually use a calculator. Awesome that you had the things you were starved for! That is beautiful news on Brett. I know how proud you are of him. Take care and stay well.
Congratulations to your son (and you too)! How wonderful for him and how proud you must be. Our church has not gone back to in person anything, mask or no mask. I’m glad you have the option to attend with a mask. I struggle to understand why it’s such a big deal to wear one in a group, but apparently it is for a lot of folks.