Thank you, as always to Joyce for hosting the Hodgepodge each week!
1. I saw a meme on Instagram that went like this-‘The movie Dirty Dancing came out in 1987 and was set in 1963, so if remade in 2026 it would be set in 2002. Now I need a little lie down in a dark room for a while.”
Time is crazy isn’t it? So…what were you up to in the year 2002?
In 2002, I was 11 years old and would have been in 5th grade. That was my last year of homeschooling before I started to attend boarding school in 6th grade!
I’m not sure exactly when these pictures were taken, but it was probably sometime around 2002. If you are new here- my parents were missionaries in West Africa. We lived in a very remote village from the time I was 1 until I was about 16, then we moved to the capital city until I turned 18 and came back to the States for college. Hence, the unique landscape and the boarding school references! I could talk for days about being a missionary kid and boarding school and all the ins and outs of that, but the short version is that it was a very good experience for me 🙂
2. “Me? I’m scared of everything…” What’s something that scares you that you’d like to try anyway?
I think just stepping out of my comfort zone, and the fear of letting people down or not pleasing everyone. I’m really working on balancing a heart of Christian service with also being willing to step on some toes or let people down if it is what needs to be done. Stepping away from teaching was one of those decisions for me! It was weird walking into “my” old classroom and knowing I’m not going to be a part of that this year! It was scary, but I’m trying it!
3. Watermelon-yay or nay? Which melon is your favorite-watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew. Of the watermelon food/beverages listed which would you say yes to…
watermelon salsa~watermelon feta salad~watermelon sorbet~
a watermelon Jolly Rancher~a watermelon margarita
I love watermelon, but sometimes it’s a beast to cut and clean up! My favorite is probably cantaloupe, but I also really like watermelon. I would try any of the watermelon food or beverages- those all sound yummy!
One thing is for sure- kids sure do look cute when they eat watermelon! In order, we have Tera, Kiah, Ezra and Orion all eating watermelon!
4. August 12th is National Middle Child Day. Are you a middle child? If not, where do you fall in the birth order in your family of origin? Do you think this has influenced your personality? Elaborate.
I find birth order so fascinating, and even wrote a blog post about it one time! I am the youngest of two, but I don’t really act like a youngest- I actually have much more oldest tendencies! Theo is also a youngest- he is #6 out of 7 kids, but he also doesn’t have a lot of youngest tendencies! Our kids do seem to have a lot of birth order tendencies so far, though!
5. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time, or have a significant conversation with two people? Explain.
Um, I would rather have a significant conversation with two people AT a crowded party! Haha! A significant conversation with two people would fill my cup so much more, but the FOMO of missing out on a large party to have a quiet conversation with two people sounds really difficult for me! Haha.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
These storms have been crazy here lately! The forecast has had rain daily for what feels like the last two weeks. Of course, it hasn’t actually rained daily, but it has rained enough to cancel plans and be stuck inside! Yesterday some wild storms rolled through, although we didn’t get any significant weather events at our house. Then this morning I woke up at 5:40 to the LOUDEST clap of thunder with simultaneous lightning, and it has been pouring all morning! Check out this shelf cloud- I took this picture from our mailbox!
I love the Africa snapshots. Your little ones are so cute and so blonde! I’m not good at stepping on toes and sometimes it’s necessary. Something I’m working on too. Hope you have a great day!
Oh that does sound some like some crazy weather. We had lightening hit a tree just a few feet from our house a couple of years ago and it was amazing how loud that was. What a neat experience to have grown up in such a different land with your parents as missionaries. It’s wonderful to read that it was such a great experience for you.
This weather is nuts! The rain!! I can’t believe it’s rained all day and we got a lot yesterday, too. I’m sure you have some wonderful and amazing stories from being a MK.
I find the birth order traits, etc. fascinating too. I took a bit of a detour after I read this week’s question. So much I read was spot on! I was really excited to read your first question answer. I’ve always said, “I love missions and I love missionaries.” MKs are pretty amazing, too!! It would so fun to hear more of your stories. Like, what was boarding school like…for a middle schooler?? just for starters!:) Those kiddos are super cute eating their watermelon! Happy Wednesday to you –
In my “real” life outside of the internet, I talk about it a lot! But I never know what to say on the internet because it can be such a nuanced topic and not all missionary kids had the same sort of experience that I had. Going to boarding school in middle school was hard! I missed my parents a lot. But living with all my friends on the school campus was so fun- I never missed an event and we played sports every single night and I literally lived with my best friend!
I didn’t know about your childhood as a missionary family. What a unique experience!
It was a great experience for all of us, I think!
Oh wow! Your younger years must have been so interesting being a missionary kid and going to boarding school.
Aww! The kids eating the watermelon is very cute!
We’re in the middle of another mini heatwave and I can’t remember the last time it rained here. Your storms do sound crazy. Eek!
I wish I could send some of our rain to you!
We had visitors here from San Diego and they don’t often have storms there. We had the loudest thunder when they were here!
Sometimes traveling within the United States is a whole cross cultural (or cross-weather) experience!
That is such an interesting childhood!
Yes, the weather is so odd for August. My sister lives in Columbus, OH and was driving home from the grocery when some of the crazy started on Wednesday.
It has been wild! Normally it’s hot and dry in August!