It’s time for another round of Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond. I look forward to this post every week… both the writing of it and the reading of everyone else’s answers. It’s always so fun to see how differently (or sometimes how similarly!) we all answer the same set of questions. As always with these posts, I tend to just write the first thing that comes to mind, so here we go…
1. Are you more life of the party or more party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle which side of the middle do you lean towards more?
Honestly, it really depends on the party and who’s there. If it’s a room full of people I don’t know, I definitely lean toward being more quiet and reserved. I have to take a little time to “feel people out” and get a sense of the vibes before I can really relax. And if I’m being completely transparent, if I’m meeting new people without Nate by my side, it gives me anxiety. He’s my security blanket for sure. He’s the ultimate people person… he can talk to anyone about anything, and I admire that about him. I’m much more comfortable stepping into those situations with him next to me.
But on the flip side, if I meet you and we’re vibin’… well, you’re basically my new best friend! I love making connections and building friendships once that initial layer of nerves melts away.
If it’s a gathering with people I already know well, I fall more in the middle. I wouldn’t call myself the “life of the party,” but I’m definitely not the party pooper either. I genuinely enjoy being around people, having good conversations, and laughing together… I just don’t feel the need to be the loudest one in the room.
As for types of parties… from Joyce’s list, I’d have to pick birthday parties, beach parties, dinner parties, surprise parties (as long as I’m not the one being surprised — I do not like that kind of attention, ha!), Christmas parties, and reunions. Holiday parties are probably my favorite… I love the themed food, the décor, the festive drinks… it just feels extra special.
2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list?
Friendships. The longer they last, the sweeter and richer they become. There’s nothing quite like the comfort of a friend who has walked through years of life with you… someone who knows your history, shares your inside jokes, and understands your heart without you even having to explain it.
Faith. The longer we walk with the Lord, the deeper and more beautiful it becomes. Seasons of trial, seasons of joy, seasons of waiting… they all shape our faith into something tested and true.
And my husband, Nate. He truly gets better with age… not just in looks (though I’d say yes to that too!) but in wisdom, kindness, and character. We’ve grown up together...we’ve been “us” since we were 14 and 15...and it’s been such a gift to watch him grow and mature through every stage of life.
3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don’t you?
I don’t mind my birthday itself… but I don’t love celebrating it in a big way. Mainly because I do not like being the center of attention. And I really don’t like the thought of people feeling obligated to buy me something just because it’s my birthday. I’d so much rather spend the day with just Nate and Mason, doing something simple and sweet together.
It’s kind of funny, though, because I love celebrating other people’s birthdays. Gift-giving is one of my love languages, so I find so much joy in picking out things I know will make someone else feel loved. But when it comes to me? Keep it small and quiet, please.
4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month?
My birthday is January 18th, and I had to look this one up because nothing jumped to mind right away. I found out that in 1958, Willie O’Ree became the first Black player in the National Hockey League when he made his debut with the Boston Bruins. And since we are a big hockey family, I think that’s a pretty awesome one to share!
It’s also Kevin Costner’s birthday, which I thought was a fun little tidbit.
5. Share two good things about your life right now.
First of all, I love this question. The world has felt so heavy lately and we could all use the reminder to pause and look for the good.
One… I am loved deeply by a God who knows me, sees me, and pursues me. That truth is so comforting, especially when the world feels broken. This world is temporary, and I am thankful every single day for the hope of eternity with Him. This is the good!
Two… my family. Nate and Mason are my greatest blessings on this side of Heaven. We’ve had such sweet time together lately, and with hockey season about to pick back up, I’m grateful for the quiet moments we’ve had. They make even the most ordinary days feel special. This is also the good stuff!
Bonus...Praise God for new friends. Amen? I've met a couple of new moms through hockey recently and we have all hit it off so well. New friendships are so sweet and so refreshing. This is also some good in my life.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I never thought I would say this, but I am absolutely loving TikTok lately. Somehow I’ve landed on the “good side” of the app, and my feed has been filled with the most encouraging videos… people buying new Bibles, dusting off old ones they haven’t opened in years, walking into church for the first time, or returning after a long season away. It’s honestly so refreshing in a world where social media can so often feel heavy or negative.
Every time I scroll and see someone opening the Word or stepping back into their faith, my heart just swells. It feels like a little glimpse of revival happening right there in the palm of my hand. I can’t help but pray that this movement continues to grow… that more and more people find themselves curious about God, hungry for His truth, and on fire for the Lord. What a beautiful reminder that He can use any platform...even a social media app...to draw people closer to Him. And that makes my heart so happy.
And that wraps up this week’s Wednesday Hodgepodge! Thank you, Joyce, for always hosting such thoughtful and fun questions. I love sitting down to answer them and then hopping around to read what everyone else had to say. It’s such a sweet little midweek tradition.
How would you answer some of these? Are you the life of the party or somewhere in between? What’s something that’s gotten better with age in your life?
No comments
Thanks for the comments! Hope you are having an amazing day!!