Friday Faves 5 & Saturday 9

Another week has passed and I am joining Susanne at Living to tell the Story for the

Friday Faves 5 and Sam for the Saturday 9. The links are at the left.

I am thankful that I have a cell phone that lets me take pictures so I can remember what I have done each week. Pictures have date stamps and that is a great thing along with the calendar feature.

1. Thankful we were able to watch our younger grands Friday-Sunday while their parents were celebrating their 20th anniversary weekend away near the beach. I was happy we could Bible journal. Also that I could greet for 3rd service since she had to sing for all 3 services.  Hubby to her to church at 6:30. He stayed with Eljah and the doggies while we were gone.

2. Thankful to be able to see our granddaughter perform the National Anthem at our cities Memorial Day ceremony on Monday. She sang acapella and then sang again with two of her friends. It was a nice ceremony and we got to meet a couple of Korean veterans there. I have one uncle that served in Korea that is still alive. The rest of the day I worked on the final additions of the Bible Journaling packs.

3. Thankful for another Bible journaling day with my group. Now we will break until August. I will work on the next project over the next few weeks. I look for graphics and put them together with the verse I am covering. We covered two names of Jesus, Name above all names and The Anointed One. We also talked about Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit came to the disciples and friends while they were gathering for the feast of Shavuot, the feast of weeks and celebration of the Torah. There are 50 days from Passover to Shavuot and Pentecost is Greek for 50. Here is Audrina's page she had done with me.

4. Thankful to be able to go to breakfast with our marriage life group. We won't have any more formal meeting until September. We will continue to volunteer at the food panty prep day.

5.Thankful to be able to go with Eddie for his orientation meeting at the local hospital. Out of over 100 applicants. he was part of the 24 selected and one of two boys. The average GPA is 4.2! Eddie was missing a day at an amusement park with his ASB friends because he had to be at this meeting. Mom was at work, so I went. He has to have a physical and TB test that the Hospital pays for. Eddie will also have to leave ASB camp early to be at the 10-4 training day on June 12. The last day of his camp was a day at Disneyland. I feel bad for him, but he realizes that his future in medicine starts here. The kids that start this program and continue in the school year will get a letter of recommendation to the colleges they apply for. All the students are doing into the medical field. Eddie wants to be as surgeon. 

Prior to this appointment, we took our Minnie to the vet and she has to have some dental work and a surgery to remove a lipoma on her chest. I am not thankful for the cost. But she needs it.

Saturday 9: Too Shy (1983)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song laments vulnerability and self-consciousness in a social settings. Are you often "too shy?" Or are social gatherings easy for you? I am an extrovert and can talk to most anyone in a small group. I would rather not have to get up in front of a large group now, but I have in the past. I think the biggest group I spoke in front of was near 200 women.

 

2) In the lyrics, a girl self-censors, telling herself, "hush hush." Have you more recently shushed someone, or were you shushed? I shushed my husband in a nice way when we were watching a movie and he was trying to share an experience.

 

3) Band member Nick Beggs recalls that they called themselves Kajagoogoo because it sounded like something that would make a baby laugh. It is fun to say. Can you think of another word that you just enjoy saying? "your so shilly" along with a tickle.

 

4) This was the only US hit for the British band, earning Kajagoogoo the title "One Hit Wonder." Can you think of another artist or band who had one really popular song and then just kind of disappeared?

One of my favorite songs back when I was a teen. 

5) Though fame was fleeting here, Kajagoogoo remained popular in England. Lead singer Limahl recalls the adulation as "overwhelming," and he was shocked when he stepped on stage in Cornwall to see row after row of fans wearing their hair like he did. Have you ever handed a photo to a stylist and said, "Make my hair look like this?" Yes, back in January before the cruise.

 

6) In 1983, when this song was popular, the Lotus 1-2-3 program made it easier for PC users to make spreadsheets. Are you answering these questions on a Mac or PC? Laptop, phone or tablet? on a laptop.

7) 1983 saw Abbey Road Studios open their doors for the first time for public tours. During the first two months, 22,000 tickets were sold to fans who wanted to see where the Beatles made their magic. What's the last ticket you purchased? I bought the tickets in Nov, 2024 to hear Cece Winans at her concert in our town in February. 

 

8) Also in 1983, McDonald's introduced Chicken McNuggets. When was chicken most recently on the menu at your home? How was it prepared? Chicken soft taco.

 

9) Random question: Have you ever forgotten where you left your car in a parking lot? Yes!

Tuesday 4 & Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you have a favorite kind of book that you like in the summertime? What kind is it? Mystery? Bio?... I like historical Christian fiction.  

2. Is there a book you return to again and again and if so, why? 

I am always in the Bible. I am doing an online Bible through the year with the Bible Recap Girl. I listen and read on my phone. I do a lot of studying for my Bible journaling group and use the Bible and books to learn more.  AD Chronicles and The Left Behind series. Our church has started studying the verse by verse of Revelation. I read all the Left Behind last year and I might read it again. It chronicles the life of a few people who are left behind when the church is raptured up to heaven. It is all based on the Bible and this time I plan to take notes.

The authors are Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins.  Dallas Jenkins, son of Jerry is the director /Producer /Writer of The Chosen. He studies the Bible and World history to make the scenes more true to life. One of my favorite authors died this past week. Kay Arthur, a bible teacher of Precepts wrote Israel My Beloved.  It was not a study book. It was a love story of Israel and I have read it a few times. I plan to read it again this summer.

Kay signing my book at a Women of Faith Conference back in the 1990's.

3.  What book is better than the movie and what movie is better than the book?? 

Gone with the Wind Book has more details, but the movie is just as good without the missing part. Otherwise, the movie would be 6 hours long! The Ten Commandments with Charleston Heston has always been a favorite of mine. I would say I enjoy it more than reading it from the Bible though I have read it many times.

4. Do you have a list of books you are looking forward to reading this summer? 

I am reading The Conclave now and so far, I like the movie better. I found a series of 6 books at the used bookstore at the library that I plan to read. It is called The Zion Covenant by Bodie Thoene. She and her husband are one of my favorite authors. I have read all the AD Chronicles and may read them again. I am starting a woman's group and we will be reading a book called 12 Daring Women of the Bible.

1. What's your favorite room in your house and why? 

My bedroom. I like to sit at the desk while I bible journal and look out the window and see the birds at the fountain or the palms sway with the breeze.

2. What's something that will instantly annoy you? A loud cricket. 

3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day...will you celebrate? How do you like yours? If you're not cooking at home is there a favorite place you like to go for a burger? Did you ever work in a fast-food restaurant? I like In and Our Burger for a quick burger and Chilis burgers. I have never worked in any food place.

4. What are three scents you like? Bacon, Coffee and Lavender.

5. What do you miss most about being a kid? Riding my bike everywhere without a care in the world.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am looking forward to staring Camp Acts with Illustrated Faith. I like to set my craft corner up with camp things, even a little fake pine tree. 

So proud of my granddaughter for singing the national anthem for our city's Memorial Day ceremony. After she sang her solo acapella, her friends joined, and they sang America the Beautiful.

Thanks to Anne and Joyce or the memes which are linked on the left.

Friday's Fave 5 & Saturday 9

Thankful for another great week! Linking to Living to Tell the Story and Saturday 9. 

1.Thankful to be able to see my grands perform at the recital Worship at out church. I wrote about it at my previous post and included pictures. Elijah and Audrina both sang, and Audrina played the guitar and keyboards. The best past was Audrina sang the song she wrote, and it really touched my heart. Thankful how they are already serving the Lord with the gifts He has given them.

2. Thankful for air conditioning for the heat wave we had over the past couple of days. Thankfully it will go back down to normal in the mid 70's. 

3. Thankful that my succulent and plumeria cuttings are doing well and I have 2 tomatoes on my plant.

My roses are blooming too, though most have been cut to bring in the house or give as gifts. This is a picture of the succulents growing in a birdbath that we planted last year.

4. So thankful my new printer. I got an Epson that that pour into tanks instead of replacing a cartridge. I am almost finished with my journaling kits for next week. Lots of good verses that I will share later.

5. Thankful to be getting things done in the garage. Hubby has a big pile of things to take to the Goodwill. Thankful to have more strength to do things. My Audrina and Elijah are coming for the weekend and I will see if they want to help me decorate with my patriotic decor.  Eddie and Jazzy go home Friday Evening and don't return until Tuesday evening. I do miss doing things will all them when they were younger.

 

Saturday 9: American Soldier (2003)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here

Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors men and women who served and died in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not lost this weekend.

1) Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? Do you know anyone who is active military? We are grateful and want to hear about it. 

I don't know anyone that is in the service at the moment. My dad and his service served in the Navy.

2) In this song, Toby Keith reminds us soldiers "work straight through holidays," even this one, and we are grateful for that, too. Have you ever had to work on a federal holiday? If yes, did it make you sad to be on the job when everyone else was celebrating? I worked for the postal service and had most federal holidays off. I also worked on Christmas Eve until 11 pm many years. 

3) The video for this song was filmed at Edwards Air Force Base. This site was chosen to make it easier for off-duty soldiers, reservists and their families to appear. Have you ever visited a military base? 

Yes, when I was a child. I went with my friend and her family to El Toro Marine base. I have visited the USS Midway in San Diego and Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri.

4) Toby Keith never served in the military but often performed for the USO. While the USO is best known for providing entertainment to our troops, they also have a "Canine Comfort Crew." Local USO centers make dogs available to troops who long to see a wagging tail. Are you a dog lover? 

Yes, and we have a long hair black and tan Dachshund named Minnie. She is our third and last dog. 

 

5) Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? 

BBQ steak and chicken or grilled fish, fresh sweet corn, salad and veggies and fruits.

6) Let's welcome summer with ice cream. What's your favorite flavor? Cone or cup? Cup

Strawberry and Rocky Road. I also had Lilikoi(Passion fruit) ice-cream when we were in Hawaii.

7) This marks the weekend when Americans step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the winter months. For example, when is the last time you applied mosquito repellent?  Last fall

8) Or swam? Last fall. 

9) As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or fan on? 

Yes, I have my ceiling fan on as I write this.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Linking with Joyce for the

1. May 20th is World Bee Day...what's something that's kept you 'busy as a bee' lately? 

I have been going through boxes in the garage and sorting for give away, trash and shredding.

I have also been preparing the kits for my Bible Journaling group that meets next Tuesday.

2. Do you like honey? What's something you make or enjoy that calls for honey? 

Yes, I love honey but I have to limit it because it is so high in sugar. I buy it at our local farmers market. I need to go back and buy some honey soap. I like the Buckwheat and Black sage.

I like it in my tea. Sometimes I like a peanut butter and honey sandwich.

3. "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." Proverbs 16:24

What's a proverb you love, or one that speaks to you or has helped you in some way?  

There are so many good ones! Proverbs 16:31: gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their father's.

                   Proverbs 12:10 Good people are kind to their animals, but a mean person is cruel.

The Bible is full of Proverbs, a whole book in fact, if that helps with your answer. The word proverb is defined as 'a short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice'. 

4. Tell us about a 'sweet' moment in your life recently that filled you with joy, gratitude, or peace. 

My grandkids performed worship music this past Saturday at their voice recital. Elijah had a few solos, and Audrina led a few songs. But she performed a song she wrote and it has me crying. She also played keyboard and guitar for other students.

5. When you were a child, what did you want to 'be' when you grew up? How close did you come to that? I wanted to be everything as a child. A scientist, an astronomer, a doctor and a nurse and psychologist.  Because of my fear of math, I changed my major to Social Ecology that includes psychology, biology, human development and social science. My last year of college I worked for the department of Social Services while still working part time at the postal service. Social work was so sad! After I graduated, I stayed at the post office so I could be home with my kids during the day. I eventually did counseling at my church.

6. Insert your own random thought here. I am so happy to be retired!

1.Daylight is getting longer... what do you do with the extra daylight?  Is it useful, productive or not?

It is light until 8:00 now. I can drive when there is light but find it hard to see at night because of my cataracts. So now I can drive myself to Tuesday evening Bible study and we just started Revelation.

 

2.  If you live where its more moderate do you spend more time outdoors?  If you live in the tropical climate does it keep you inside? We have crazy up and down weather this month. 60's-90's in the day. But that is better that 100's that we will get in July-Sept. Does the extra day light cause more heat and more use of utilizes for you? It has more to do with the months. 

3. How do you cool your home?  How do you cool yourself off in the heat of the day? 

We use fans and the air conditioner when we have to and that is when the weather is 85 or higher. We have solar and that helps to keep the cost down. In the summer, we have mostly sunny days so that is good for the solar. I will take a quick shower if I get to hot in the summer and that is not counting morning or evening showers. I do have a spa that I enjoy in the summer. 

 

4. Do you enjoy a good barbeque outside in the warmer months or do you cook outside and eat inside?

What foods do you enjoy on the barbeque?   If you don't barbeque, what foods and drinks do you enjoy in the warmer months? My husband will barbeque along with our grandson. He usually does it earlier in the day because it is too hot at dinner time. We eat more salad. Hubby bought sweet corn, and it was so good! I added some of it to my salad along with chicken, broccoli, and broken tortilla chips. It was so good!

Friday Faves 5 & Saturday 9

Hello! Life has been busy but good and I seem to be a once a week blogger at the moment. 

1.Thankful for a nice lunch with my son and my grands on Saturday. We ate at Chilis and then went shopping at Daiso, a Japanese based store, similar to the Dollar Tree, but nicer. Then I went to a few stores to look for something to wear but end up wearing something I already had.

2.Thankful to go to our church for first service. They gave all the woman a long stem rose and a light weight canvas bag. my granddaughter was one of several people that went up to read a thankful letter to their mom. Afterwards, Audrina came back to sit with us. After first service, the rest of her family got to church and we were able to take some pictures. Then hubby and I left to my daughter's church. It is a much bigger church with more upbeat music and we enjoyed the message. They gave all the women a lip gloss after service we got in line to take pictures. After that we went out to lunch at Olive Garden.

3.We were able to go to the cemetery on Monday and then we went to the antique store. I found a bookcase for $25.00 because the space was closing out. Then we went to one of our favorite restaurants for lunch. It once was a church. The weather was so nice in the low 70's after having been at 102 on Saturday. We had plenty of leftovers to eat for dinner. We caught up on tv shows and Hubby and I watched American Idol. 

4. Thankful to be able to go to my women's lifegroup, physical therapy and Bible study on Tuesday. It was a busy day, but I new I could rest a bit on Wednesday. Pastor Jim started Revelation, and I did not want to miss the first night. I hope to go to this as long as we have light. Then I will go back to watching it on YouTube.

5.Thankful to be able to go to the lunch with my other son at Sizzler. He had to work on Mother's Day and so I got to eat out 4 times this week!

After we got home, I was able to set up my new printer.

6.Today I will be going to Walmart to get a new crockpot with the money I got for Mother's Day. I will get a few other things. I plan to get extra printer paper before the prices go up again. Maybe a few other things since Walmart said they were raising prices because of the tariffs. Thankful that I am still getting my retirement income on a regular basis.

Saturday 9: Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (1987)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Gracie Slick challenges, "Let them say we're crazy!" Tell us about something you're glad you did, even though your friends or family may have advised you against it. 

I got a tattoo in Maui in 2012. I thought about it for a few years. You can find the story here.

 

2) Slick is the lead singer of Jefferson Starship. This band got its start in 1965 as Jefferson Airplane but updated their name in 1974. Part of their reasoning was that by the 1970s, airplane travel was commonplace. In 2023, an estimated 820 million Americans flew domestically. When was your most recent flight? When is your next one? 

I flew to Oregon back in August 2023. If things work out, we will fly to Hawaii in the spring

 

3) Songwriter Albert Hammond said the song was inspired by his divorce. After years of legal wrangling, he was finally free to marry his long-time, long-suffering girlfriend. They're still married today. What is something you waited a long time for? Was it worth the wait? Having a child. We were married 6 1/2 years before we had a baby.

4) Albert Hammond is perhaps best known as the one-hit wonder who sang, "It Never Rains in Southern California." Is rain expected where you are today? There is a 20% chance.

 

5) He co-wrote the song with Diane Warren. In January, she lost her home to the Los Angeles fires. When a friend is confronted by heartache or tragedy, what can you say or do for them? What shouldn't you say or do? I am not pressing her to do anything.  I just send her texts to say I love her and inspirational things. Grief is very personal and it can't be rushed.

6) "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" was the love theme to the romantic fantasy Mannequin. In that movie, a department store mannequin comes to life and falls for a struggling artist. While it was a moderate success at the box office, the gritty Vietnam drama Platoon was a much bigger hit. When you sit down to watch a movie, what genre would you prefer (fantasy, romance, comedy, drama, etc.)? 

I did see Platoon and never hear of Mannequin. I can only see a war movie once because of the sadness. I like fantasy like Star Wars, romance and drama, I love historical movies. Comedy is usually the last on my list and nothing scarry!

 

7) In 1987, when this song was popular, Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Aretha was proud of her Detroit roots. Have you been to Michigan? If yes, where did you go? I have not been to Michigan.

  

8) In 1987, the Chevy Corvette made news by adding a low tire pressure light to its dashboard. When you're driving and a yellow warning light comes on, do you handle the issue promptly? Or is it something you'll get to when you get around to it? Depends on how close I am to the intersection and if it is safe to go through.

9) Random question: A magic mirror reflects your appearance five years from today. Would you look at it? More wrinkles, thinner and maybe gray if I stop coloring my hair. I am working hard to stay fit and healthy, but I could eat better.

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the memes and the links are on the left.

Friday Fave 5 & Saturday 9

Hello! Another week has flown bye. Life has been busy and I am thankful for that.

Last weekend was nice though cold and cloudy. We went to a family baby shower at a park and they had a taco man. The food was so good! Church was good on Sunday and I was a greeter again. We met up with our son and granddaughter for lunch at In and Out Burger. I was really tired on Monday and thankful to sleep in. Monday evening I went to the Women's Bible study, and they provided burritos, chips and salsa since it was Cinco de Mayo. 

Once I got home I found out that my grandson got into the volunteer program at the local hospital. Over 100 kids applied and only 20 made it. He was really happy because last year he missed it by one day. He wants to be a doctor and this is a good way to start getting experience in the medical field. His volleyball team has made the playoffs too!

Tuesday morning, I went to my lifegroup and took sandwiches. There is always lots of food. Our last meeting is June 10th and then we break until mid-August. It is really nice to fellowship. Later I went to my PT and the massage on my back really felt good after all the exercises they put me through.  I am always thankful to have good insurance to cover it, and they have approved my back therapy again for a 3rd time. I plan to make my other appointments next week. 

Thankful for a good night sleep and I woke up refreshed on Wednesday. Then we went to our grandkids school to see the science experiment my grandson did along with other classmates. I am thankful that we could go see him and show our support. Later hubby dropped me off at Staples so I could look at printers. My printer died and I need another one. I hope to go back and get one this weekend. 

Thursday our married lifegroup drove to San Juan Capistrano for lunch. We were a block from the mission but did not go. We ate at a place called the Adobe restaurant and is a historical building. One part being build in 1797 and the other part in 1812. The bottom of one building once held the jail. It was converted to a wine cellar and not it is a private dining room. Another underground place was a stop off for the stagecoach, until 1888 when the trains started coming through. I love the local history. While on our way to the place which is an hour away, we heard that new Pope was selected and is American. I am not Catholic, but I was happy about it. We took a long way back home through the hills and it was a really nice drive. 

Happy Mother's Day in Heaven to my beautiful mom!

Saturday 9: Mama Liked the Roses (1970)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Elvis tells us his mother loved tending the roses in the garden. Do you have a green thumb?  A little bit. I do grow roses and plumerias. I have also been taking cuttings from succulents and make new little pots to give to my BJ group.

2) Mama would put the roses in a vase in the living room. Do you have cut flowers in your home right now? Yes, my roses are blooming.

 

3) Elvis sings that he found Mama's rose petals pressed in the family Bible.  Have you ever pressed petals in a book? If yes, what occasion were you commemorating? Yes I have. My grandmothers and parents.

4) OK, so now we know Mama liked roses. What about you? Would you prefer white, pink, yellow or red roses? I love them all. My favorite is the double delight because it smells so good!

5) Elvis' own mother, Gladys Presley, had a major impact on pop culture. When her son was 11, he asked for either a rifle or a bicycle for his birthday. She deemed the rifle too dangerous and the bike too expensive, and so he chose a guitar instead. The rest is history. Tell us about a special birthday gift from your youth. Getting a big girls 2 speed bike for my 10th birthday and a big surprise party.

 

6) Abraham Lincoln credited his stepmother, Sarah, for her lasting influence on his life, saying she ignited his love of reading and learning. Tell us about a woman -- mother, stepmother, grandmother, aunt, Godmother, teacher, neighbor -- who changed your life for the better. I was lucky to have many woman that had a positive influence in my life. My mom, my grandmother's and aunts. Also my youth counselor from church and later a supervisor at my work. 

7) Mother's Day is almost upon us. According to the National Restaurant Association, we like to eat out on this holiday, with revenue up more than 80% on Mother's Day weekend. When did you last dine at a restaurant? Was it a special occasion? We went out to El Adobe restaurant in San Juan Capistrano, a block from the mission. We were with friend from our married group celebrating 4 birthdays.

8) Candles are a big seller for Mother's Day, too. What's your favorite candle scent? I don't burn candles because of my allergies. I diffuse essential oils. I like lavender and peppermint.

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almonds? Dark chocolate with almonds.

I loved playing Farmville and designing my farm with lots of flowers!  I sure miss the game.

 

Thanks to Susanne and Sam for the memes. Links are on the left.