Stay Connected... Send a Card a Month

Good Wednesday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from yesterday's LAST Junior Varsity basketball game of the season. I am happy to report we were victorious! Roxie and teammates were awesome, and it was a fun way to end the year.

RANDOMNESS #1 - I don't usually give you Blog Linkage on a Wednesday. In fact, I don't know if I have ever done this before. It is unprecedented!

Please go to www.kellehampton.com and read her post entitled "extra(ordinary)" from yesterday. So, so good.

If you have little ones (or even if you have big ones), spend some time today making the ordinary "extraordinary."

Here are a few things I did when the kids were smaller.

1. After it rained, there were always two huge, clear puddles at the end of our driveway. I would take our large plastic box of dinosaurs and a lawn chair to the edge of the driveway, and the boys would play as long as I would let them.

2. If it was a warm day (and thunder and lightning were not an issue), we would head outside for a "rain walk." Umbrella optional. Puddle jumping... Well, that was NOT optional. It was a must.

3. In the winter, I would clean off the bathroom counter top, set a large plastic box full of jungle animals on the floor, fill the bathroom sink with colored water (blue) and give the boys brown and green towels (for landscape purposes). Standing on two stools, they would have a fun, wet jungle adventure.

4. When Roxie had a friend over, they would inevitably dress-up in Disney Princess garb. After we had finished make-up and placed the crown upon each head, I would take them to McDonald's dressed in all their Princess glory. Several times, the employees escorted them to a table and served them so the royalty wouldn't have to wait in line.

5. I would "tape" Bonanza and once a week, we would all put on cowboy hats, boots and take toy rifles to the family room to enjoy a good, old-fashioned Western. Dinner would include things like Hoss Hamburgers and Little Joy Jelly Beans for dessert.

Ah... Good times! Good times!

Why don't we all try to do something extraordinary today? I think it would be well worth our time. Don't you?

NOTE - While you are there, go ahead and scroll down to "A Tea Party" dated February 6. I have a strong urge to have a tea party tomorrow... in the woods... with good china and a silver teapot.

RANDOMNESS #2 - I am now the owner of a new dryer! That's right. I didn't mention it before, but right after Thanksgiving our heating unit went out... and right after that, our dryer died.

Heat won, and we had that fixed right away.

Because we've had such a warm winter, many days I would just hang our clothes out to dry. I love stiff, sun-dried towels and rags. They smell wonderful. On other days, I would make a quick trip to a nearby Laundromat. I met a lot of nice people, and we talked and compared laundry tips.

But all good things must end... and I now have a dryer.

In Enchanting Belinda's perfect world, it would be a matching red washer/dryer set... but at Faulkner Farms (circa 1842), it is a fine white drying machine.

Wednesday Wisdom - Since we celebrate President's Day this month, I decided Abraham Lincoln would make an excellent choice as our Wednesday Wisdom Guest.

"Whatever you are, be a good one." Abraham Lincoln (Excellent advice!)

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln

"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." Abraham Lincoln

"Common looking people are the best in the world. That is the reason the Lord makes so many of them." Abraham Lincoln

Stay Connected... Send a Card a Month

If you've known me two minutes, you know I have a great-nephew, Matthew, and a great-niece, Lauren. Matthew turned four this past January, and because he lives about 90 minutes away, we don't get to see him on a daily basis. However, we always get together for family events... birthdays, holidays, baby dedications, etc.

Because of the way birthdays and holidays fall on Mikie's side of the family, October (Lauren's birthday), November (Thanksgiving), December (Christmas), January (Matthew's birthday) and February (Mr. Faulkner's birthday) are all covered! Yes, sir! I LOVE October through February because I get some great-nephew and great-niece lovin'.

But even once a month isn't quite enough, if you know what I mean.

So, since Matthew turned four, I've decided to do the following:

I checked with Brandi (Mother Extraordinaire of Matthew and Lauren) to see if he is currently receiving a specific Disney magazine subscription for preschoolers. (He is not.)

I subscribed to the magazine and it will be sent to my house. As soon as I receive it, I will put it in a big manila envelope (decorated with stickers) and mail it to Matthew with a card and a piece of sugar-free gum.

It's a little way to stay connected when I don't get to see him on a daily or weekly basis.

And it's fun and educational, too.

It's Enchanting Aunt Belinda in his mailbox once a month. How cool would that be? (You don't have to answer that question!)

Have a fabulous Wednesday. I know I will. I will be drying, drying, drying! I'll be back in the morning with FANTASTIC Valentine's Day Blog Linkage, a fun Date (or two or three) and more, more, more.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda