Hodge to the Podge

 It's Wednesday Hodgepodge time again!
Joyce writes the question, and everyone is invited to link up and answer them.

1. The season of Lent begins on March 9th this year...do you participate and if so, in what way?

I haven't given anything up for Lent in the past. The practice was never a part of the church denominations in which I grew up.

I can see that it could be a useful act to focus your mind and heart on the wonder of Easter. 

I also think that it could be done in a way that is not beneficial at all. For instance, "I'm going to give up carbs for lent, so I can look sexy on Easter Sunday in this new dress I just bought."

Bottom line, like true Christianity-- it's all about the heart. 

There are many wonderful traditions of the church, but I always like to make the point that Biblical salvation has nothing to do with any act that we may or may not do. Not baptism, not church attendance, not observing traditions. 

It has everything to do with what Jesus did for us on the cross, and requires only that we have faith. 

And that faith? It's a gift too. 

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Ahh, my cup runneth over. 

2. Traditionally pancakes are eaten on the day known as Shrove Tuesday which is the last day before Lent (March 8th this year). So....butter and syrup? Blueberry? Chocolate chip? ewww, no thanks!! What's your pleasure when it comes to eating pancakes?

My pancake pleasure is that someone else makes them for me. I'm fairly certain we've covered this topic on the 'ol blog, but I tend to burn and destroy pancakes with alarming regularity.

3. Spring is coming. (It is coming, right?) What's your favorite springtime flower and do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Two questions I know, but they're lightweights.

Spring is most definitely coming! Our ten day forecast calls for highs in the 60's almost every day.

If I were ever a contestant on Jeopardy (you know, if they were casting disheveled homemakers who recently remembered that they once had a brain) and the category was Botany, I would just take a seat and let Mr Trebek know that I was giving up.

I know nothing of plant life.
This should make my vegetable garden a very interesting undertaking, no?

Joyce, I like the purty ones.

Seasonal allergies? None for me.
But this guy?

For sure.

4. "Our opinion of people depends less upon what we see in them than upon what they make us see in ourselves." Author unknown. Agree or Disagree? Why?

My answer is C.

5. Since it's "March" and also the season of Mardi Gras....have you ever been in a parade? What's the best parade you've seen? 

 I've been in a few community parades during our last assignment in Idaho. They have a military appreciation day parade, and our squadron would walk in it and throw candy to the observers. 

I think my favorite parade is the one in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. I haven't actually watched it myself, but I watched Alex watch it. Her reaction was enough to make it my favorite.

6. You would jump up and down and shout for joy right now if someone told you___________?

I'd look like a Mexican jumping bean if you told me that our house in Idaho had sold. 

Also, if I was told that chubby was back in style. 

7. How clean is your car on the outside? Inside? Is there junk in your trunk?

Joyce. You're killing me here. Are you trying to out me?

Fine, here you go:
I have the world's messiest van, inside and out. But mostly in. 

If you need a jacket, flat-rate mailing box, any number of half-empty water bottles, or enough coins to start a collection you've come to the right van. 

Stranded on the side of the road? No worries-- you could survive on the crumbs that live inside my children's car seats.

My literal trunk (or the back of my van, as it were) is actually clean. 

But my figurative trunk, as in Whatcha gonna do wit all dat junk, all dat junk that's in your trunk, is as full as ever.

I'm bootylicious. 

I blame genetics, and not my ice cream obsession. 

You see, even when I was a young skinny thing (circa 1989), baby still had back. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I think the slogan for Las Vegas tourism "What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas" is asinine.
If you sleep with a prostitute and contract an STD, that's not staying in Vegas.
If you commit a crime, that's not staying in Vegas.
The only thing staying in Vegas? Your money.

Anywho, this message was brought to you in honor of my wonderful husband who just happens to be, in Vegas.

Good news! I have no concerns that he will be bringing anything back from Vegas, or leaving any money there. Because he's honorable, smart, and he loves me.

And because I'm bootylicious.