I hope y'all have had a good week.
Let's get to it!
MISCELLANEOUS #1 - A Semi-Short, Semi-Funny Make-Up Story - Roxie wears all kinds of different make-up. Some from the drug store. Some from various and sundry cosmetic counters located around town.
The other day, she asked me to pick up a specific cosmetic item from a specific store while she was at work, and I agreed.
I'm really good that way. (Most chicks would love to have me for a Mom.)
When I arrived at the counter, a very attractive woman who appeared to be several years older than me (perhaps 60ish to my 50ish), helped me with the purchase.
She kept looking at me, back and forth, back and forth, and it made me uncomfortable.
Did I have something unseemly on my face?
Had I only put make-up on one eye?
Did I have lipstick on my teeth?
It turned out, none of the above.
"Is there anything else I can get you?" she asked, sweetly.
"Nope. That's it," I replied.
"Are you sure?" she asked slowly.
"Uh, yes. This is for my daughter. She's working today and she asked me to pick it up for her," I over-explained.
I do that a lot when I get nervous.
She put the item in the bag, handed me my receipt, and I turned my back on her to walk out the door.
"Wait!" she exclaimed.
Actually, she didn't so much "exclaim" as "said."
"Yes, ma'am," I responded.
"At least take this sample of neck cream, please. You know, as we age, our neck has special needs."
Okay.
Let's get one thing straight, shall we?
I, like a number of other women in their 50s, 60s and so on and so on have a collagen problem.
Or should I say a "lack of" collagen problem.
Or perhaps I should use astronaut lingo.
Gravity is not my friend at this time of my life.
"Houston, we have a problem."
I looked into her imploring, sympathetic eyes and took the neck cream and quietly left the counter.
I climbed into the Big Gold Van, drove home and took a look at what I now considered my newest enemy, my neck.
I decided then and there to not take the "I bet I know how old you are, poor thing" stuff any longer.
That's right!
I am a vibrant, funny, tall-drink-of-water, 53 year-old (almost 54) woman, and although I am NOT winning the gravity battle right now, do NOT hand me special neck cream, Madam!
Just point me in the direction of the summer turtlenecks, and we'll call it a day!
MISCELLANEOUS #2 - Roxie returned from Guatemala exhausted... mentally, physically and emotionally.
And immediately started talking about "the next trip."
Here are a few of her pics from Guatemala 2015.
Hunter went on this particular mission trip. Roxie was thrilled to be able to share this experience with him.
This is Roxie's favorite little man from last year. All she wanted to do this trip was see him, hold him, laugh with him...
You get the picture.
Imagine her disappointment when she found out he was not there. He was in another town in another hospital recovering from surgery on his hips and legs. (He's going to be able to walk!)
The staff told her he was due home the end of the week, and she just held her breath.
And prayed.
And he came home on Wednesday before she had to leave Saturday morning.
It was a very sweet reunion.
MISCELLANEOUS #3 - My great-niece, Mackenzie, turned two in May.
Amber and Mackenzie.
Mackenzie loves Minnie Mouse, so it was a no-brainer when it came time for Amber to "pick a theme."
Cousin Lauren was present to show her how it's done.
Favorite gift from the party...
And Matthew and Lauren giving her much-needed driving tips.
MISCELLANEOUS #4 - Mike had a birthday recently.
He turned 54.
Or as I like to say...
He is now 50ish.
He and I will continue to be 50ish together for the next six or so years.
And then we will be 60ish...
But I don't want to go there right now.
Roxie and Mike.
Grandmother, Mike, Brad and Stephanie.
Mike, Austin and Melia.
Mike's only request for this birthday was a Jurassic Blast Dairy Queen Cake.
We ordered it together the Friday night before his party on Saturday.
We watched them take down the order.
We watched them take our money and put it in the cash register.
And we watched them shake their head and tell us NO ONE had prepared the cake for us when we arrived Sunday to pick it up at the appointed time.
Gloom.
Despair.
And agony on me!
Other than that, he had a very, very good party.
MISCELLANEOUS #5 - My newest great-nephew, Micah, was born May 5. He is Mackenzie's little brother.
Here are a few pictures of him in all of his newborn glory.
Grandpa and Grandma now have FOUR great-grandchildren, and they seem to love it.
MISCELLANEOUS #6 - As has been our practice the last few years, the kids give Mikie a "gift of time" on Father's Day.
And as has also been the practice the last few years, we take him to eat at Dreamland after visiting Grandpa in Oxford.
Below are some of my favorite Father's Day pics.
Ahhhh...
Mackenzie and Roxie reading at Grandma and Grandpa's.
Roxie loving on Micah...
Who appears to be the opposite of happy.
Roxie and Mike trying to get a good ENO/GoPro pic. (I haven't seen it yet, but I hope it is a good one.)
Little Judith waiting on her half slab of ribs at Dreamland.
Roxie, Mike, Judith, Melia, Courtney, Austin and Josh.
Restaurant Review - MELT - I have found a new favorite thing in Birmingham. MELT is a funky little restaurant in the Avondale area (close to Post Office Pies), and guess what their specialty is? Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.
I do not lie.
This place is good.
Of course, they have a lot of "other" stuff, too, but the people know their way around the grilled cheese sandwich.
I took Bev out for her birthday Tuesday, and I ordered the Macaroni and Cheese Melt...
And to combat all the cheesy carb goodness, I also ordered a bowl of fruit.
So, so good.
Roxie and her friends went there last night and they all ordered the same thing I did, except for Roxie. She tried The Classic (three different kinds of cheese), and declared it to be delicious, too.
Bev and I also ordered the fried pickles with mild jalapeno ranch sauce, and a finer pickle has never been tasted, I tell you.
The retaurant used to be a gas station, and it is cute and urban and hipster.
It also has a cornhole game outside in case you have to wait a few minutes for a table.
I'll be going back again (and again and again).
And Roxie and friends will be doing the same.
Pinterest Stuff
I love object lessons.
I especially love fun, easy and gets-the-message-across-well object lessons.
I found this on Pinterest and copied it. It comes from a blog called www.antidotesformoms.blogspot.com.
Jesus Gets Excited When You Pray!
I used 1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NLT). I wanted to stress that Jesus hears all prayers, not just prayers from adults, and we should pray for everyone!
Also, I wanted the children to understand what praying actually meant. I looked up and printed out the definition and some easy words to help describe what it means to pray.
After we took turns reading and discussing what prayer means and how it applies to the verses, I showed the kids what happens when we pray.
I used two glasses and filled them with some regular tap water, and for extra fizz, some sparkling water.
I went to a local store and bought generic Alka Seltzer tablets.
I allowed the children to pick the color for their water. My children at home chose orange.
I had them gather around. I said, "Tell me how this makes you feel." I dropped a tablet into the water and it immediately began to fizz.
The excitement on their faces was evident.
I asked them if it was exciting to watch the fizz, and they all said, "Yes!"
I told them, every time we pray to Jesus, that's how He feels. He feels excited because we're building a relationship with Him. We're talking to Him. We're including Him in our lives. Jesus loves us so much, and He wants to be a part of our lives.
I handed each kid two tablets and said each one of us could pray for someone or about something in our lives. I also gave them personal discretion if they didn't feel comfortable praying out loud, we would just pray in agreement silently with them.
To watch the kids pray with excitement was amazing! I know it partly had to do with the fizzy tablets they got to play with, but I also got to watch them gain the understanding praying is a good thing.
Praying can be fun!
If it's fun to go to the movies, shouldn't it be fun to spend time praying to God, too? I think so!
Also, I told the kids after we had gotten into a few prayers, we needed to be quiet and listen. They could hear the fizzing noise in action. I said sometimes that's how God works. He answers our prayers, but sometimes we have to be quiet and listen.
At the end of the class, I allowed the kids to save up their fizzes and they all dropped their remaining ones in together to see if they could overflow the water.
Just for fun!
Two Two Easy Peach Cobbler
I found this jewel on Pinterest...
And I've made it four times in the past two weeks.
You will need the following:
1 large (29 ounce) can sliced peaches - drained
2 sticks or 1 cup of butter - melted
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Pour drained can of peaches into skillet or 9" x 13" baking dish. (I haven't used the skillet yet.)
3. Pour melted butter over the peaches.
4. Mix sugar, flour, milk and baking powder together to form batter.
5. Pour batter over peaches and butter.
6. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes until top is golden brown and edges are crispy.
7. May take longer in a cast iron skillet.
Weekend Happenings
1. Friday night...
I got nothin'.
2. On Saturday, Mike and I are going on a Day Trip.
It is going to be a surprise.
For both of us.
Right now, I cannot decide where to go, but I have it narrowed down to four...
Which is better than the 16 I had earlier today.
3. On Sunday, we'll be attending church, Bible Study and possibly, recuperating from our SUPER FUN Day Trip.
At least one hopes.
Okay. That's it for this week. I'll be back next week with pics and stories from Bev's 50th Birthday Celebration, our Mystery Day Trip and some 4th of July stuff that will be happening.
Take care, and I'll talk to you next Friday, July 3!
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
