Marching into March Hodgepodge

 

1. What do you love most about March? Let's see . . .I love the time change because I love more daylight.  I wish I didn't have allergies and could be outside more. I'm terribly allergic to tree pollen and all of the trees are doing their thing -- they all look so beautiful!! I love those first green leaves on the trees. I love seeing all of the living things as they "wake up" after their winter slumber. We also have a couple of family birthdays in March that are fun to celebrate -- two granddaughters will celebrate this month -- our oldest will be 9 and our youngest will be 1.

2. Hey! Did you know March is National Celery Month? Do you like celery? What's something you make (or like to order out) that calls for celery? I had no idea that celery was important enough to have a whole month dedicated to it!! I like celery "stuffed" with cream cheese and olives or pimento cheese and I like "ants on a log" (celery with peanut butter and raisins). Celery is also good on a crudite tray served with ranch dressing for dipping.

3. _______________ is the soundtrack to my life right now. I don't know. I actually googled, "what would be a good soundtrack for a life where people keep dying and bad things keep happening."  Seriously. I didn't like any of the answers!! I guess I need to play the song from #4. Our family is ready for a reprieve from death. We actually have a really good life and feel very blessed - we've just had lots of family members die in 9 months and are waiting on Bill to take his last breath. When people ask, "how are you?" I've begun saying "upright"! We are still standing and we know that we are loved by God and by many people and we have so many blessings in our lives.

4. Share a favorite motivational quote for overcoming challenges. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13; And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. . .Romans 8:28. I also love the following lyrics from Overcomer by Mandisa and I've been known to play the song on repeat.

You're an overcomer
Stay in the fight 'til the final round
You're not going under
'Cause God is holding you right now
You might be down for a moment
Feeling like it's hopeless
That's when he reminds you
That you're an overcomer
You're an overcomer

5. The Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday this year. Do you participate in Lent in some way? If so tell us more. We do. I didn't grow up participating in Lent - didn't even know what it was. I love Lent - it makes Easter so much more special. I need to be reminded that the cross was costly - it is not cheap grace. Some years I give up something -- that is actually why I don't eat sweets. I gave them up for Lent in 2017 and started to eat them again at Easter and quickly figured out that sweets were making me sick. Some years I have given up criticizing others or one year at work, all of the office ladies gave up gossip. I'm chuckling about that one because we would say, "I'm not gossiping - this is a fact." I have also "taken on" something -- one year, I took a meal every week to an older widowed man in our congregation. One year I wrote encouraging notes to people each week. I try to look at my life and think what things are in the way of spiritual growth or what things I need to take on for spiritual growth. During Holy Week, we will have noon day sermons followed by lunch on Monday through Wednesday. We will have Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. All of those worship services prepare my heart for the glory of Easter Sunday morning.

6. Insert your own random thought here.