This is the latest puzzle I completed just in time for Easter week. It was a gift from Josh and Laura.
Another Wednesday Hodgepodge in the middle of this very special week.
1. Do you complete your own taxes?
No we let someone else complete the forms and shuffle through the details.
Besides actual taxes, what’s something you’ve found taxing lately?
Taxes don’t tax us at this time of life. Something that has been taxing me is my Plantar Fasciitis. It makes walking and standing a pain.
2. What are three values you treasure most in a friendship?
The kind of love that bears up with the good and bad, forgives and stays connected.
Love~Forgiveness~Loyalty
3. Do you meal plan or do you mostly wing it?
These days if there is any planning it happens the morning of and winging it is a fair description. There is planning if we are having company.
Share your dinner menus for this week.
We just had a big family weekend celebrating JJ’s 6th birthday and Andrew’s 36th birthday. We had Greg’s famous Tomato Rice Soup with Fresh Bread for a meal on Thursday evening which turned into lunch the next day. Swedish pancakes for breakfast on Friday morning. Hamburgers on Friday evening. Egg Scramble Saturday morning. Pizza fresh vegetables and fruit for JJ’s birthday party. Steak and Roasted Veggies plus salad for Andrew’s birthday dinner. Birthday Cake at JJ’s party. Birthday Pecan Pie for Andrew. Butterscotch Peanut butter Rice Krispy bars for snacks. Oatmeal Sunday morning before church.
After all of that this last weekend, there is nothing specific planned for this week.
4. Thomas Sowell is credited as saying, ‘‘There are no solutions, only trade-offs.’ Agree or disagree? Discuss.
Since this is the middle of Easter Week, I choose to respond to this question with this prayer from The Valley of Vision showing the amazing transfer (trade-offs) from God to me…
Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy, cast off that I might be brought in, trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend, surrendered to hell’s worst that I might attain heaven’s best, stripped that I might be clothed, wounded that I might be healed, athirst that I might drink, tormented that I might be comforted, made a shame that I might inherit glory, entered darkness that I might have eternal life.
My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes, groaned that I might have endless song, endured all pain that I might have unfading health, bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem, bowed his head that I might uplift min, experienced reproach that I might receive welcome, closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness, expired that I might for ever live.
O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me, All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished; Help me to adore thee by lips and life.
5. What’s the best perk you’ve enjoyed at a job?
The jobs I had over the years never really had built in perks. I liked the fact that I had summers off and Easter and Christmas breaks when I was a teacher. I suppose you could count that as being a perk.
When it comes to Greg’s jobs, I enjoyed traveling with him on his conference trips to enjoy a free hotel room. Of course we had to pay for my flights and all the other expenses but a free room motivated me to travel with him on some great trips to Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., San Diego, and Milan, Italy.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
For April I’m challenging myself to an A-Z photo a day excluding Sundays and in addition to any regular posts that come to be.
Today we are on the letter N and since JJ’s birthday is today and I’ve published his Birthday post besides this hodgepodge post, I’ll just add the letter N photo for my random thought here.
N is for Nature, specifically nature right here in my neighborhood in the here and now and very near.
The daffodils right now and…
…this neighborhood visitor craning it’s neck and then hopping up on the deck to nose around.
Happy Easter to all my Hodgepodge friends!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Enjoyed reading your responses! I agree with your trade off and almost went in that direction, too, with my answer. The problem is sin and the solution is turning to Christ. The trade off is dying to self and living for Christ. That is neat that you’ve been able to travel some with your husband when he’s had to travel for work. Butterscotch peanut butter Rice Krispie bars sound so good right now!
I should have mentioned the perks to my hubs job because there were a few nice ones there. Some of my favorite trips were tag alongs with him for work or reward trips. I don’t think corporate America has as many travel perks as they did a few years ago. The birthday party looks great and that fruit display is so clever! I love it! Happy birthday to your little man!
…Ellen, I wish you peace for this Holy Week.
Happy Easter! I like the puzzle you completed.
Sorry about your PF… I struggled with that in the past. My friend Angie is struggling with it now.
I enjoy nature and thank you for the fun photos of your visitor.
Carla
That puzzle is so pretty! I was starting to get hungry reading your menu for the week – looks delicious! Hope you’re having a great week and have a blessed Resurrection Day!
So sorry about your plantar fasciitis. Can you possibly get a steroid shot for that? Those are 3 good values for a friendship. Your meal planning sounds like ours. We may take a meat out of the freezer a day before. You have definitely had some yummy things lately with the birthday’s. Like your answer for #4. Yes, that was nice traveling with Greg. Mark went to Europe for three weeks and I got to go with and it was the best trip ever. I did most of the sight seeing alone. Love the photos from nature in your random thought.