March - Madness, palms, and hope.

Sometimes time just flies by!  I can't believe this coming Sunday is Palm Sunday already!   Some of Joyce's Hodgepodge questions are about the day, and palms. And of course, the wedding countdown continues in this household, as the days tick by we continue to prepare.  I continue to ask for prayers for a beautiful day.  I hope God listens...

But, for now, here are this week's Hodgepodge questions and my answers. As always, feel free to play along.   If you want to join the group go to Joyce's blog page at www.fromthissideofthepond.com. 

1.  This coming weekend is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week.  Do you celebrate Easter in your home? What's your favorite Easter tradition in your home as a child? 

Yes, we celebrate Easter!  And, we do our best to prepare for the celebration by observing lent, and the days of Holy Week.   My favorite tradition that I remember is dying the eggs on the day before Easter.   My sister, brother, and I all participated in it.  We did not have plastic eggs with candy.  We always used hardboiled eggs and dyed them ourselves.  We each had an Easter Basket too.

I have mentioned this before, but I am a pastor's kid - so Easter was a busy time! Holy Week with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services, then 2 or 3 Easter services.  We never made big plans outside of church because by the time Easter services finished I think we all just chilled.  We had a big meal at home and then Dad needed a nap (lol) !

2.  George Weinburg is quoted as saying "Hope never abandons you, you abandon it."   Agree or disagree? Share your thoughts on the word hope. 

I agree with Mr. Weinburg.  Hope is not a thing, or a person, or something that gives up... that runs out of time and rings a bell, or that says "enough is enough."  Hope is inside a person, and it's a desire to keep believing, to keep positive, to look forward with anticipation.  It's up to the individual to keep hope alive.    Thinking back,  President Obama ran for office using the word "hope" - one simple word on his campaign posters.   It was a very wise "ad campaign" because everyone wants to believe in something, and to have hope...even if it's for different things.   The word alone conjures up a better world.

3.  Weigh in a yay or nay on the traditional Easter candies. A solid milk chocolate bunny?  Cadberry creme Eggs?  Peeps?  Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs?  Jellybeans?  Coconut Cream Eggs?  Of the candies listed, which one would you most like to find in your Easter basket? 

Well, lately I can take or leave chocolate.  I do not crave chocolate - and I suppose I have a mindset of it being empty calories and unnecessary.  I'm trying to be healthy!!    I know Peeps and Jellybeans are not chocolate but they just seem to gross to me.   But, if I would want one of the above candies in my basket, I would pick the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs.  I love peanut butter, and PB and chocolate is a pretty good combination! 

4.   When did you last feel "like a kid in a candy store?" 

I love music experiences, and I have written about this event before, but I truly feel like a kid in a candy store when I go to the CMA Festival in Nashville.  It is the epitome of experiencing live country music by MOST of the national artists, morning to night, and being surrounded by like-minded people, there for the music and the experience.   It's sweet - 4 days of "music love" for me.  In fact, so much goes on, I have to pick and choose where to go and who to see.    5 stages at one time!  Other events and appearances!  It's like a kid on candy overload!!

5.  What's something you know you do differently than most people?  Does that bother you?  Does it bother other people? 

Why am I having a tough time coming up with an answer?  I know I have my quirks, and I am sure that some are quite bothersome to others!  

Let me think...I am a morning person which is annoying to those who are not.  And, I suppose I get annoyed with them because I wake up early, rarin' to go.  I am a punctual person, and others are not.  So, I get annoyed when someone wanders in late without a good reason - and they most likely think I am too exact and unbending.

The tricky part of this question is the word "most."  In today's world is there any one think that "most" people do - by choice?    I guess I'll just have to wait and read my blogger friends answers on this one!

6. Palm Springs CA, Palm Beach FL, or the PALMetto state (SC)... of the 3 mentioned, which sunny spot would you most like to visit right now?  Which have you visited at one time or another? 

Is this a trick question??  Ha!! I live IN the Palmetto state, and as I type this it is not sunny here.  ) :  But, it's been an usual season so far.  More cooler temps and cloudy days than we usually have here.   So, since I live here (and love living here by the way), I will say I would like to VISIT  Palm Beach, Florida.  I'm not a desert person (Palm Springs, CA) and prefer to be near water.... and it's a shorter trip to get to Palm Beach, FL. 

7.  My random thought.

Are you watching the NCAA play-offs?  Did you fill out a bracket?  I am not a big basketball fan during the schools' regular seasons, but when it comes to March Madness I do get involved and fill out a bracket.  It connects me with what is going on, and I tune into the games and root for those who I put winning - and get to move on to the sweet sixteen...then 8, then final four....and finally the Championship Game.  I took Kentucky to win it all - that's not a surprise. I think millions of others did too.  But, we have already seen some upsets, so maybe another team can play hard, play tough - and take down Kentucky.       Your thoughts? 

Another kind of March Madness is the weather!  Here's to a spring-like week ahead everyone!