Random Dozen

Questions from Linda at 2nd Cup once more. Either I'm more tired today or these are harder than before!

1. What was the last song you listened to? Yesterday evening I was at a meeting at our Rec Center. Outside the meeting room our community Chorale members were rehearsing for a Christmas concert. This full-voiced, professional chorus delighted us with "Hark of the Bells", "White Christmas" and others. I could have sat there all night.

2. Have you ever had “buyer’s remorse” over anything? Yes, which is why I keep receipts.

3. What is something in your life that you are thankful for now that you didn’t think you would be at the time of the event? (Something that seemed ill-timed, inconvenient or hurtful which turned out to be a good thing) When my son had an anaphylatic reaction to nuts at age 3. It was scary and presaged what I thought would be a huge burden on his life. Yet, now I am thankful because it keeps a lot of junk food out of our home and thus, our lives.

4. Do you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year? If so, do you have a favorite float or balloon? No.

5. Share a quote, scripture, poem or lyric which has been an inspiration to you lately. Rev 22:17

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."

We're working on an advent devotion tentatively titled, "Come, Lord Jesus"...

6. This is meant to be a fun question, and this is a G-rated blog, but please share a “guilty pleasure,” something that you enjoy that’s probably not the most edifying, time-worthy or healthy thing you could be indulging in. Did I mention this blog is rated G? Researching genealogy. I mean, it doesn't really matter because these people are dead. But it's a puzzle and I like to put puzzles together.

7. What Thanksgiving food are you looking forward to? Brined turkey.

8. What is your favorite book to read to children, or what was your favorite childhood book? We read "The Chronicles of Narnia" aloud as a family when our children were very small. Although they started out a bit squirmy, by the time we really got going in the story, they were captivated. They will always have those memories and the story deep inside them.

9. Do you collect anything? (Feel free to post a photo.) I have a collection of nativity scenes that has grown over the years. They're from all over, and made of all kinds of stuff. I don't buy them -- people have given them to me. But, lest I start treating them like idols, I was reminded by loss. I had one that was handed down in my husband's family that was an original Hummel set. It was stolen in our last move and we didn't figure it out until the following December when we went to put up the Christmas decorations. (We moved in January). So, oh well and lesson learned.

10. Gift bags or wrapping paper? Some things just don't lend themselves to neat wrapping -- for them, gift bags. Others are satisfying to fold into some lovely paper -- books, DVDs, etc.

11. Share an after-school memory from when you were younger. What was your routine like on an average day? When we lived in Japan my best friend's mom was Japanese so they lived off base way out in the country. As often as I could after school I went home with Pam and we roamed the small villages and towns around her house. It was the 'real' Japan rather than the area around the military base and I loved it. My regular routine was to get home, have a snack, and go out to play. I rarely had homework and we didn't have American TV so there was no point in staying inside.

12. True story: Once, in a job interview, I was asked this question and told there would be no clarifying; I simply had to answer the question: “When you’re fishing, do you feel for the fish?” So what about you? Do you feel for the fish?? A little. Same with all food-animals. But I can practice stewardship and live with it.