My Russian heritage borsch.

Chinese Egg Drop Soup

Mexican Chicken and Corn soup

French Onion Soup

Is anyone hungry?

Hello Wednesday Hodgepodge. Joyce has a new set of questions for us. Thank you, Joyce!

1. At the end of every year (or at least since the mid-1970’s) Lake Superior State University posts a list of words they think should be banished from the Queen’s English for misuse, overuse, and/or general uselessness. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year’s list includes-

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly or even just every now and then? How many did you have to look up? Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word/phrase not on the list you’d like to add? If so do share, then tell us why. 

2. Your favorite soup? Do you make this one yourself or is it from a can? 

Sirloin Soup

Soup in general is a favorite of mine and not from a can. When we are on our way home from a shopping/doctor day in Spokane we stop at a restaurant in Deer Park that always has a soup of the day and I’ve enjoyed every one. When we are sick with a cough or sore throat we love to order Hot and Sour soup to go from a Chinese restaurant. Greg makes a famously good Tomato Rice Soup. I really can’t pick a favorite favorite. While in Scotland I added a new favorite with Cullen Skink!

3. How do you feel about winter? What’s one winter activity you look forward to? 

At my age winter activities are not high on the list. If anything it would be snowshoeing if I can get in and out of the snowshoes without getting a cramp! It is fun to walk through deeper snow!

4. The Pantone color of the year for 2025 is mocha mousse (sample pictured here). What say you? The website describes it as ‘a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nourishes us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort’. Is this a color I might find in your home or wardrobe? Is it one you might add in some big or small way in the year ahead? 

We have a variety of mocha mousse on many of our walls here at our country bungalow. As far as wardrobe goes I have a couple items that would fit in that category. No additions in this year.

In a similar, but not really vein…if I were to offer you a choice right now of either a cup mocha or a cup of mousse which would you say yes to? 

If I have to choose I’ll go with a cup of mocha but I’m a black cup of coffee kind of gal.

5. Which of the following winter related idioms can best be applied to your life in some way right now? Choose one, then tell us why you chose it.  

snowed under, on thin ice, tip of the iceberg, chill out, break the ice, snowball effect, not a snowball’s chance in hell, get cold feet, the cold shoulder 

Right now I’m hoping for a snowball effect with my goals to be more comfortable in my clothing come Spring and Summer. Between eliminating, adding movement, starting on a plan and some encouragement I hope to achieve my goal of comfort.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My Bible reading program for 2025 will be connected to this devotional.

“In Everyday Gospel, Paul David Tripp, ….encourages you from God’s word through 365 brief readings. Exploring Genesis to Revelation in a year, these practical reflections connect the transforming power of Scripture to everything you will experience in your Christian life.”

There is a suggested daily Bible reading and then a devotional to go with what you read. Asking for grace to accomplish my goals and that these goals keep me reverent and teachable.

Here are some thoughts from John Piper on reading the Bible through in a year.

Pray for your heart to be inclined, for your blindness to be removed, for focus instead of distraction and for excitement instead of boredom. Pray for illumination…don’t get bogged down. Expect your Faith to be deepened and strengthened, hope and joy more unshakeable and expect to meet God and see the glory of Christ in God’s Word!

One more tip for your 2025 goals from our pastor, “Ask for grace to accomplish your goals.”