Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. February 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. It lands on the calendar one day after National Do Something for a Grouch Day (February 16) which somehow feels related. Perhaps the 16th inspired the 17th?

Tell about a time you performed a random act of kindness or were the recipient of one. Will you make an effort to perform a random act of kindness on the 17th? Share details if you're so inclined, and if you have something specific in mind.

A time when I performed a random act of kindness was one day when we were behind a woman at a grocery checkout. She was frantically pawing through her purse looking for money to buy a gallon of milk. We paid it for her.

I'll be at home all day so any random acts of kindness will be focused on LV and the children.

2.What's the most uplifting or encouraging thing you see happening in the world right now? You may have to dig deep for this one.

I find it encouraging, that even amid all the junk that is going on in the world, there are people still serving God, and desiring to have Him as their focus for their life.

3. Black olives, black currants, black grapes, black beans, blackberries, Oreos...your favorite food the color of night? Your least favorite on the list?

My favorite is a tie between black olives, black grapes, and black beans. My least favorite would be blackberries. I can't get past all those seeds.

4. A while back I read (here) a list of twelve things you should do before you turn 50. They were-

travel when you have the chance, take care of your skin, learn a foreign language, make exercise a habit, leave a toxic situation, stop caring what others think about you, stop worrying, volunteer, spend time with your grandparents, pledge to work less, learn to cook an amazing dish, and seize an opportunity as it arises

What do you think of the list? What would you add or remove and why? If you're over 50, have you done all 12? If you're not yet 50, have you done any at all? What's on the list that you haven't done, but would like to do?

I think the list is interesting.

The chance to travel doesn't come around very often for us, but we have taken it when the rare opportunity presented itself.
I take care of my skin. I've never wanted to resemble a worn out leather bag once I'm old.
I'm fluent in two languages, and not too bad at a third.
I have left a toxic situation.
I have come a long way in not caring what others think about me.
I don't struggle with worrying.
I have volunteered.
I spent an hour or two with my grandparents everyday until I got married, and once a week afterwards until my Grandpa passed away three months later. So glad for that time and all the memories.
I have learned to cook some pretty amazing dishes.
I have seized an opportunity when it rose.

I still have some years before I'm 50, but it looks like adding two more things and I'll have completed the list.

5. Besides the classic Christmas flicks, what's your favorite film where winter plays a part in the setting?

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It's not a favorite, but it's the only one I could think of.

6.When did you last feel helpless, and what did you do about it?

I can't think of anything that made me feel helpless recently. Having a child in the hospital makes you feel pretty helpless, but that was almost seven years ago.

7. Share a favorite proverb.

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Freezing rain is my least favorite thing about winter. But look how pretty!