Faith, Family and Friends

A Mini GetAway!

We are here!

And I knew I would love it when my first view of the home

was when I walked through the front door!

Ken and Dale Smith are two I could live beside. Forever.

There are home-baked goodies in the sitting area of our room!

Sodas, juices, and wine in the kitchen for us!

and I cannot wait for breakfast in the morning!

It's at 8 am! Georgia time. Which means,

I have to set that alarm clock I brought.

I just know it's going to be awesome. I mean,

look at the setting?! We're having fun ~

and I've got pics to share when we get home!

We started to 'bud' in our blouses at 9 or 10 years old only to find that anything that came in contact with those tender, blooming buds hurt so bad it brought us to tears. So into our lives came the ridiculously uncomfortable training bra contraption that the boys in school would snap until we had calluses on our backs!

Next, we get our periods in early to mid-teens. Along with those budding boobs, we bloated, we cramped, we got the hormone crankies, and had to wear little mattresses between our legs or insert tubular, packed cotton rods in places we didn't even know we had!

Our next little rite of passage was having sex for the first time which was about as much fun as having a ramrod push your uterus through your nostrils, leaving us to wonder what all the fuss was about!

Then it was off to Motherhood, where we learned to live on dry crackers & water for a few months so we didn't spend the entire day leaning over the toilet! Of course, amazing creatures that we are, we learned to live with the growing little angels steadily kicking our innards night and day, making us wonder if we were preparing to have Rosemary's Baby.

Our once flat bellies looked like we swallowed a whole watermelon, and we pee in our pants every time we sneezed. When the big moment arrived, the dam in our blessed Nether Regions invariably burst right and we had to waddle, with our big cartoon feet, moaning in pain all the way to the hospital. Then it was huff and puff and beg to die while the OB says, "Please stop screaming. Calm down and push. Just one more good push", warranting a strong, well-deserved impulse to punch the hubby and doctor square in the nose for making us cram a wiggling, mushroom-headed 8 pound bowling ball through a keyhole.

After that, it was time to raise those angels only to find that when all that 'cute' wears off, the beautiful little darlings morphed into walking, jabbering, wet, gooey, snot-blowing, life-sucking little poop machines. Then come their 'Teen Years.' Need I say more?

When the kids are almost grown, we women hit our voracious sexual prime in our early 40's - while hubby had his somewhere around his 18th birthday.

So we progress into the grand finale: 'The Menopause,' the Grandmother of all womanhood. It's either take HRT and chance cancer in those now seasoned 'buds' or the aforementioned Nether Regions, or sweat like a hog in July, wash your sheets and pillowcases daily and bite the head off anything that moves.

So, while I love being a woman, 'Womanhood' would make the Great Gandhi a tad crabby. You think women are the 'weaker sex?' Yeah right.

O'Charley's At Their Best ~

{this was written Sunday evening}

A few weeks ago, I told you of a difficult time at our local O'Charley's. One of my readers, Jennifer, suggested contacting corporate headquarters. I emailed a nice, but disappointing, note of the service. Or lack of, actually. A couple of days ago, Mark Taylor, head honcho of our franchise here, left a message wanting to make things right. Today, we had the meal we are accustomed to at O'Charley's!! Thank you, Mark, for caring and for being so nice about it.

He also told us that on Mondays, from 5:30 - 9:30 pm they have a clown that passes out balloons to children! You can get two adult entrees for $14.99 Monday - Wednesday. Mark also mentioned that beginning July 26th there will be brand new entrees & dishes to try! One is cheese grits! and I think the 2/$14.99 is going to be extended a couple of days! So, if you are not happy with something, tell someone. Be nice, but be straightforward.And if you're in Prattville, stop in to eat at O'Charley's. Tell them you heard they have a manager that cares. Mark, we appreciate that extra mile & we will be back ~

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UPDATE ~ John and I went to dinner tonight (Monday!) at O'Charley's! Love their 2 adult entrees for $14.99. Although Logan's has a larger menu to choose from, it is definitely quieter and seating is nicer at O'Charley's. We both had the cedar plank tilapia with salad and veggies for sides. Jenny had the key lime pie Sunday afternoon and said it's awesome. We passed on desserts tonight, but I intend to have that pie next time we go!

We saw Mr. Taylor again tonight; in fact, he was cleaning tables and chatting with the hostesses, guests, and servers. I like his smile. John was the Southeast District Supervisor for Maintenance with UPS when I met him (yeah, how about THAT for a title!) and he commented that it's management examples like Mark that make companies work "like a well greased piece of machinery". O'Charley's is really working toward helping us during this economic slowdown. When you go, come back here and leave me a comment. Tell me what you chose from the menu, and if you liked it!

The Economy Is So Bad . . .

I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

People in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.

The most highly-paid job is now jury duty.

Motel Six won't leave the light on.

YOUR TURN! What have you heard that makes fun of the sad state of the economy?! Leave me your comment and finish this "The economy is so bad . . ."

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"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."

~ e.e. cummings

In the last two weeks I've been asked two separate times

if I had ever seen an angel and/or if I felt their presence ~

the answer was easy, I have ~ to both.

And I'd love to share this with you soon.

And if you have, I would love to hear from you, too.

But it's been a busy, long week and I'm tired tonight.

We will be arising at 4 am to take my brother and his wife

to the airport, as they plan to travel to Arizona

to see their new grandaughter! So ~

I shall tell you of my encounters with angels

a bit later this weekend, and just maybe

Jenny will share with us her memories on this.

Obamopoly ~

The object of the game is to destroy American capitalism

by having the government take over everything!

Tokens include a bus, a teleprompter,

a sprig of arugula and a waffle iron.

Wanna play? No???

Too bad, you're already playing.

And quite frankly, in this game, nobody wins!

For all of my blogging friends that are presently at the beach

or are considering going in the near future ~ you must

remember to get a snapshot like Susie Harris at Bienvenue .

Isn't this too cute?! Wonder how I can do this in Gatlinburg?

Wait until it snows?! Or, line up leaves in Cades Cove?!

If you haven't added Susie's blog to those you follow, you should.

It's one of those "it's a good thing" kind of blog ~ a happy place.

Out of the Mouths of Babes ~

A few tidbits heard during our time with Ian and Noah today ~

{Noah is potty training and doing well, but it's NOT something I am used to.} "Nan! I gotta go potty!" and he takes off. I get back there just as he throwing his undies on the floor and I hear "Daddy has big boy underwear like me, Nan!"

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Watching the two of them interact with their trucks and play pretending, Ian says in a gruff voice, "You better watch out, I'll get you, red truck." Noah, in an even deeper voice, "I'll just get you back and go tell Nan."

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Me: "Noah, do you want your tacos?"

Noah: "No sir, I'm ready for my emmies." {translation, M&M's} {Noah says 'sir' to everyone}

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We walked out on the Juliet balcony to see John off to work. Noah wanted Ian to go down "so I can wave at you." Ian said he didn't want to go. Noah's response? "Are you scared, Ian?" That did NOT go over well with a big brother.

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Huckleberry Hound came on Boomerang and I was trying to remember what his name was. Knew the voice, knew the dawg, just couldn't remember the name! Ian reached over, patted my arm, and said, "It's okay, Nan, his name is Blue Dog." {Yes, Huckleberry Hound is blue, Google it.}

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Me: "Ian, do you want chicken or shrimp tonight?"

Ian: "Shrimp, Nan"

Me, to the girl on the phone: "Make that one child chicken and one popcorn shrimp."

Ian: "NOOOOOOOO, you don't cook shrimp with popcorn! It's nasty!"

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About two hours after Jen left, Noah paused while playing with his trucks and had this 'look' on his face. "Nan, I think my mommy's on the couch watching TV. Nan? I think I need to be on my couch watching TV."

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"Nan, want to play with me?" {This was repeated by Noah at least three dozen times. In the space of about one hour.}

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While Brandon was buckling Noah into the car seat this evening, there were a stack of orange cones in the back. Noah took two and held them up to his head. "Nan, horns!"

Ah Brandon, I hope the dinner was good, the boys went to bed early, and you got some time with your feet up!

And as you drove away, I thanked God once more for you, for Jenny, and the beautiful children you share with us.

Snuggles & Giggles ~

Jenny came over to bring the boys for a visit today.

She needed some quiet time and we needed some snuggles!

John got a quick snapshot of the three of us ~ yes,

that's Elle Elizabeth waiting patiently for her time~

before she left to go home and get on the couch.

And for a bit I got some loving as we played on the floor,

then he realized how much fun pouncing was! (You can tell by John's demeanor that Noah never got out of hand. These boys mind very well.) Noah has begun talking up a storm, even when no one is talking to him. His 'trucks' talk, his 'animals' talk, and he wants you to talk as well.

This one? He's quieter, most of the time, and can sit enchanted while building with his blocks, Legos, or watching something on PBS. Here he is playing with a set John got last year at Bass Pro, complete with big truck, trailor and two 4-wheelers. (I think there's little people, tents, and some plastic animals somewhere. I'll probably step on them tonight in the dark.)

They both love coming here, but not nearly as much as we love having them. One can just never get enough snuggles, kisses, hugs, and "Nan, I love you's". And I can't wait for them to return.

Jen, you can click on a snapshot and see the rest of the ones I took today ~

A Few Good Men ~

These snapshots came from Jen's blog ~

and they just stirred something in my heart.

Of course, who doesn't get goosebumps seeing

men in blue carrying Old Glory. Does it every time.

(And the fact that the background is a revitalized area of downtown!)

Noah loves loves loves his mum and dad,

and never gets too far from either of them. Today it was his dad.

Don't you just love that 'Mr. Cool' get up? I do.

Can't wait to get my hands on him tomorrow when they come over.

And my other favorite photo? This one ~

It's my baby girl with her baby girl ~ got goosebumps again.

A Funny From Lisa ~

If you love something, set it free.

If it comes back, it will always be yours.

If it doesn't, it was never yours to begin with.

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But, if it just sits in your living room, messes up your stuff,

eats your food, uses your telephone, takes your money,

and doesn't appear to realize that you had set it free ~

you either married it or gave birth to it.

I had to laugh at this email from a girlfriend and thought it might bring a smile to you this Monday morning ~ have a great week filled with laughter-filled moments!

Where Do You Go To, My Lovely?

I have always been intrigued by this haunting melody, so naturally I Googled it ~ me and Google get along famously. Peter Sarstedt wrote it for a model he knew, and that later died in a hotel fire. A re-recording of it by an English group left off the final verse. I prefer the original and hope you enjoy listening to it tonight~

Field of Dreams ~

To roughly quote IMDb "Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella hears a voice in his corn field,

"If you build it, he will come." He interprets this message as an instruction to build a baseball field on his farm, upon which the ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other seven Chicago White Sox players banned from the game for throwing the 1919 World Series. When the voices continue, Ray seeks out a reclusive author to help him understand the meaning of the messages and the purpose for his field." Shoeless Joe is the main baseball character in this film but there are others that prompted me to Google this story, just to learn more about these men ~ their lives, their dreams.

I have always loved this movie, but it stirred something different within me today as I watched a rerun on CMT. Shoeless Joe is the main character on the field, but the one that captured my heart this afternoon was Archibald 'Moonlight' Graham. Moonlight Graham played in minor leagues for years, and only played in one major league game. The batter ahead of him struck out, ending the game. Moonlight never got the chance to bat. He became a physician and faithfully served the people of Chisholm, Minnesota for fifty years. The part of the movie where he steps across the field line is one of the most dramatic scenes in the story.

Several players ask, "Is this Heaven?" and Costner always responds, "No, it's Iowa." Toward the end of the film, Costner asks one of the players, "Is there a Heaven?" and the answer? "Oh yeah, it's the place dreams come true." When those words were said today, I literally got goosebumps, and a lump in my throat. It triggered what I saw, what I felt, what I know to be true. Heaven, Paradise is the place where dreams come true. It is far greater than we can understand. So when you watch this movie ~ and do get it soon and refresh it upon your heart ~ remember, for His children there is a Place where dreams do come true. And it waits for us. Moonlight Graham and Shoeless Joe had their dreams materialize on a baseball field in Iowa. My dreams will materialize on a far greater plane and will truly be out of this world.