Random Dozen - The Return

I've been M.I.A. from the Random Dozen for a while. Preparing for English group isn't taking as long this week so I'm ready to spread the randomness again!

1. Please share one memory of your high school graduation. Pics would be great!

Umm, I never actually graduated from high school. Up until that year (1976-77) those who had sufficient credit were allowed to finish in December. We had some serious snow storms that year and the schools were closed, causing us to miss the last week or more of the fall semester. But knowing I had enough credits, and a decent GPA, I went ahead with plans and left for college in January. Only to receive a letter in March from my high school saying they would not allow me to graduate unless I returned to high school for the remainder of the spring semester. I decided to forgo high school graduation and continue with college. I went on to graduate with my bachelor's degree some years later and no one has ever asked for proof of high school graduation. So no memories, no photos. Sorry.

2. What is one "emergency use" item you keep in your vehicle at all times?

A large plastic potato chip bag clip. Not for chips, silly. We have one of those seat belts that keeps getting tighter and tighter and tighter so once I'm buckled in, I put the clip on the belt so it can't strangle me to death before we reach our destination.

3. In your region, do you celebrate graduation open houses? Addendum: (If so,) how many open houses/bridal showers/weddings are on your upcoming events calendar?
Having lived in the Midwest for a good portion of my life, yes, graduation open houses are de rigueur. And since my husband was a youth pastor for some years, we have been to a LOT of them. There were weekends that felt more like open house marathons as we sprinted from one to the next to the next. Since I am fond of food (surprise!) I am fond of open houses. Love those little meatballs! Sad to be missing them (open houses and meatballs) once again. Especially my daughter's college open house this coming Sunday. Several women in our home church are putting it together (food, decorations, the works) so Tina can celebrate with her Michigan "family". 
 
4. Tell me one truth you believe about motherhood.

Although we do the best we can, how our kids turn out depends more on grace than anything we do.

5. What was the last thing you broke?

A ceramic tile floor in the kitchen insures maximum breakage of anything and everything I drop, and since I tend toward the klutzy, let's just say there's "a whole lotta breakin' goin on"!

6. On average, how many pieces of junk mail do you receive daily?

Thankfully the Argentines have not discovered the joy of junk mail yet and we receive very little. Plus, it normally does not come in the mail but is hand delivered door-to-door, so we'll occasionally find fliers rolled up and stuck in the fence. But that's usually only for new businesses that are opening.

7. Do you like to shop by catalog?

No, since I don't get catalogs any more. But even when I did, I didn't. (Make sense?) But I am a HUGE fan of online shopping! From my perch 6,000 miles away I can order fabric on eBay, books on amazon and sheets from Overstock. Luuuuuuurve the internet!

8. Is lawn maintenance at your house a "his job," a "her job" or "his/her job" or "that's why we have teenagers" job?

Definitely his! My outdoor "job" is to recline in the hammock and make sure he doesn't miss a spot :-)

9. Which room would you like to redecorate in your home?

Our bedroom. It's so blah right now. I have material but haven't made curtains yet. No pictures on the wall. Never finished the decorative pillows I started OVER A YEAR AGO. Sense a little procrastination? It's a room no one but us generally sees, so it's last on the list for our time and energy. 

10. Do you read a newspaper regularly, or do you read most of your news on line?

Part of my Spanish homework is to read newspaper articles but I do it all online. In class yesterday I read about a 70-year-old man, his wife and 36-year-old daughter (mentally impaired? article didn't say) who were homeless and had spent the last two years "living" in a posh mall in Buenos Aires. They have enough to pay for their meals -- and even leave a tip -- but spend their nights on the street or sleeping in McDonald's on weekends when it's open 24 hours. They are always neat and clean. The wife spends her days reading books while he reads the newspaper, which he buys. I, on the other hand, haven't bought a print newspaper in months.

11. Do you believe everything happens for a reason?

Yep. Firm believer in the sovereignty of God.

12. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

Both? Seriously, I want to do the right thing AND I WANT TO DO IT RIGHT.

It's great to be back! I enjoyed the questions, even if I didn't have good answers for all of them. And it's always fun to see how similar or different answers are by other RD participants!