An Evening with Aubie (and The Chick), Grand-Totting at the Cracker Barrel, Blog Linkage, Quotable Quotes, Restaurant Review (Big Bad Breakfast) AND Pinterest Stuff (8 Steps for Overcoming Bitterness)

Good Saturday afternoon!

I'm doing the "backward" thing again this week. Just trying to keep you on your toes...

Pics at the bottom!

Blog Linkage - Go to Confessions of a Pioneer Woman under My Blog List and read her post entitled "The Boarding House is Open."

Yes!

This is on my bucket list, and I will also go so far as to say I want to stay in The Green Room.

Oh... my!

Most definitely The Green Room.

Quotable Quotes

"A husband can love his wife best when he loves God first." Anonymous

I think the same is true of a wife!

Restaurant Review

Big Bad Breakfast

Mike and I went to Homewood to try brunch at this new-to-us restaurant this past Saturday.

There was about a 30-minute wait, but we were okay with that. I went across the street and bought a few cake bites from Pastry Arts for later, and Mike and I spent the rest of our waiting time people watching.

There were many young families there, as well as couples similar to me and Mikie. In other words, lots of really good-looking people to watch.

When they called us, we were seated in the upstairs dining area. It has that urban/warehouse feel. High ceilings, lots of wood, lots of light, not crowded...

And babies, babies everywhere. I thoroughly enjoyed my table.

Everything on the menu is very fresh and local, so I had the fresh-squeezed orange juice (delicious) and Mikie had the fresh-brewed coffee (equally delicious). Between the two of us, Mike and I ordered pretty ordinary breakfast fare (scrambled eggs, bacon, wheat toast, sausage and pancakes)...

And then we waited.

If there was a negative to this restaurant, this was the only one we found. We had a longer than usual wait for our food.

However, once the food arrived, everything from the scrambled eggs (really, really great eggs) to the spicy/sweet bacon (just right) to the homemade peach and blackberry jams on the table (oh... my... goodness) made us happy about our brunch choice.

We will definitely go again, because sometimes things happen on the way to the kitchen (or in the kitchen) and there is an unusually long pause between ordering and eating. We get that. We're both very hip and with it that way.

The coffee and ALL of the food were worth it though...

And something tells me we won't have to wait that long next time.

I'll let you know when we try it again in a week or two!

Pinterest Stuff

8 Steps for Overcoming Bitterness

1. Trust God to use bad for good. (Romans 8:28)

2. Put your hope in God alone. (Psalm 62)

3. Focus on the good in your life. (Philippians 4:8)

4. Pray for your offender. (Romans 12:14)

5. Don't let Satan condemn you. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

6. Listen to God's conviction. (1 John 1:9)

7. Depend on God's power. (Philippians 4:13)

8. Do it for Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Bitterness is one of those things I really have to work on overcoming. It doesn't come naturally for me.

That being said, the above is a good list to keep in the front of the Bible for whenever bitterness rears it's ugly head!

Am I right?

RANDOMNESS #1 - An Evening with Aubie (and The Chick) - This past Sunday night, Mike and I headed to Auburn to surprise The Chick.

It seems she tried out for (and was accepted into) an Honor Society. She told us about it over the phone, and we told her congratulations and asked her a few questions (but not too many).

Why?

Because we had received a letter a week or so prior to her being notified. The letter invited us to a dinner at The Hotel at Auburn University AFTER the induction, and when all of the students walked into the Ballroom they would be surprised because the parents would be there.

So much fun!

We arrived almost an hour before the dinner, and walked around a little before we were seated at our table in the front of the room. We were super delighted when some friends of ours from Shades Mountain Singles (30+ years ago) were also seated at our table. Kellett and David's daughter, Julianna, was also inducted into the organization.

When it came time for the students to arrive, we were told to be a little quieter, and within five minutes the doors at the back of the Ballroom opened. Forty-nine students came pouring into the Ballroom, squealing and hugging their parents and having their pictures taken.

But no Roxie.

Fun fact for you... We knew Roxie attended the induction, but we weren't quite as sure she would attend the dinner. There have been situations in which Roxie hasn't necessarily felt the need to attend ALL of the festivities planned. It could be because of homework OR shoes that hurt OR exhaustion from a busy weekend. Whatever the reason, we were anxious she might not show...

And for a few moments, it looked like we were correct. Forty-nine students entered, and then Mike and I were looking at an empty doorway.

I whispered to Mike, "I am not believing this," but in actuality, I did. I did believe.

We looked at each other, and that is when we heard it.

The sound of The Chick laughing and saying, "It was so good to see you, too," coming from the lobby just beyond the back doors of the Ballroom.

YES!

The 50th student walked through those doors, looked around and started beaming when she saw her Dad at the front of the room.



I relaxed because I was going to get to enjoy a very nice dinner with my daughter sitting beside me on a Sunday evening...

And that's good stuff.




Mikie was beaming a little bit, too.


Roxie and Julianna.


Me, Roxie and Mikie.


I wanted to mention we had entertainment while we waited for the kids to arrive. Aubie came into the Ballroom, visited and had pics taken. This particular photo was taken AFTER his initial interaction with me and Mike. He noticed the empty chair beside me and settled in for a more lengthy stay.

What can I say?

Kids and tigers adore me!

RANDOMNESS #2 - Grand-Totting at the Cracker Barrel - Mike had to go out of town this week, so in order for him to get to spend a little time with both Judith and RT, we met Melia and RT (Austin had to work). I had picked Judith up earlier in the day, so it was two Grand-Tots and three adults. Those odds are pretty good.




Aunt Mia bought Judith a unicorn purse and RT a lift-the-flap book, and they were ready to enjoy their time at Cracker Barrel.


Such sweet little Tots.

I kinda love them.

I hope you and yours have a marvelous April weekend. I will try to do my best to do the same.

Talk to you soon!

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

I'm Still Musing About the Enormous Fall of 2017, My 56th Birthday Celebration at Niki's West, DIY, Tuesdays with Judith, Spending Time with RT AND Pinterest Stuff (Five Ways to Know if Something is From God)

Good Tuesday evening!

RANDOMNESS #1 - I Was Wrong! I'm Still Having Musings Regarding the Enormous Fall of 2017 - Actually, they aren't so much musings as another little story...

A spin-off, if you will.

Two weeks before I fell in the middle of the street in front of Gardendale's First Baptist Church, I inadvertently dropped a can of baked beans on my toe.

Specifically, the little toe on my left foot closest to the smallest piggy.

A day or two after it happened, I had a pedicure, and sure enough, my toenail was black.

My solution...

THREE coats of bright orange nail polish, and I was good to go.

Now flash forward to one week AFTER the Enormous Fall.

Three weeks had gone by since the can incident, and I was sitting in the pedicure chair once again...

But this time, I also had the scraped knee, elbows, ankle, wrists, etc., etc.

And I was sore.

Really, really sore.

I wouldn't have gone to the nail place at all except I wanted to do something fun with Roxie before she moved to Auburn.

Roxie was getting her manicure when they called me to a pedi-chair directly behind her.

When the pedicurist sat down to start, he couldn't help but notice all of my bandages.

"I can't have a normal pedicure today. No lotion. No scrubbing. No exfoliating. Just removal of old polish and addition of new polish," I told him.

He just stared at me.

"And I can't have the massage chair turned on for my relaxing pleasure," I added. "I'm pretty sure it would kill me."

Then I told him the entire story of the Enormous Fall of 2017.

When I finished, he looked down, picked up my left foot in both hands and ever-so-gently placed it on the stand. He started removing the old toenail polish, and then I remembered the black toenail.

"Oh, yes! And I dropped a can on the toe you're about to start working on. It is very black and very sore and very loose. What we're trying to do with that is just keep the black toenail, but I'll need three heavy coats of the bright orange nail polish... just like the last time I was here," I explained.

He sat back and just looked at my bandaged knees, ankles and yucky feet.

I was overcome with pity for him, and I decided to give him a way out.

"If I am just too gross to even be here, just say the word and I'll go home now."

That's when I heard a dull thud, thud, thud coming from the direction of Roxie's manicure chair. She had put her head down on the manicure table and was quietly and methodically beating her head against it.

One might have thought she had had enough of The Enchanting Belinda for one day.

It's hard to imagine, but Mike assures me it is possible.

The pedicurist didn't answer verbally, but he lowered his head and went to work.

He finished my toes and stood up. "Hot towels?" he asked.

Ahhh. Hot towels. I love the hot towels. I thought for a minute trying to figure out if the hot towels were indeed doable, and much to my pleasure, I could think of no reason they would harm me in any way, shape or form.

"Yes! Hot towels would be lovely!"

And they were.

My little black toenail fell off yesterday. It just gave up, and I don't blame it.

Not even a little bit.

I'm going to get a pedicure sometime this week, and while I am missing a toenail and I have seven big scars here and there, I don't feel as gross as I did three weeks ago.

Hey...

I might even let him turn the massage chair on HIGH because that's how good I'm feeling about my 56 year-old self right now.

That's right!

I said HIGH!

RANDOMNESS #2 - My 56th Birthday Family Celebration at Niki's West - I was very fortunate. Everyone was able to come and celebrate little ol' me.

I got my birthday wish!


Josh and Zac.


This is how Judith looks when she is working on sticker sheets at the restaurant.


And this is the smile you get when you ask her to smile before she is finished working on sticker sheets at the restaurant.


I bet you can guess this one.

This is the look you get when you interrupt Sawyer mid-meal.

I will try not to do that again.


Brad and Stephanie.


Melia and Austin.


Happy Little Man.


T.J., Katie and Bev.




I wasn't paying attention (even though people were trying to tell me), but Roxie took this picture and she is the only one NOT in the picture.

Everyone in our little family was present.

Everyone.


So I am just "super-imposing" one of The Chick.

She came all the way home from Auburn to take a picture?

I think NOT!


Pop with Little Man and Sawyer.

RANDOMNESS #3 - DIY - Part Two of my Birthday Celebration included going to DIY in Homewood to paint pottery with Courtney, Melia and Roxie.






I think the girls could do this once a month...

Easily.

RANDOMNESS #4 - Tuesdays with Judith - Tuesday has quickly become my most favorite day of the week.

Up until Judith, my favorite day of the week was Thursday. I can't really remember the "why" of that choice, but for as long as I can remember, I have loved Thursdays.

(It is going to bother me until I remember why I once loved Thursdays.)


We started this particular Tuesday with breakfast. Blueberries, peaches, peanut butter tortillas AND chocolate milk.

Judith wanted breakfast right away, so there wasn't much time to do anything with the curls. I put this bandana on her mid-bite, and it worked very well.


After breakfast, she decided to forego the bandana while we made Play-Doh Princess Cupcakes.


Two year-olds LOVE Play-Doh AND princesses, so this activity was a win-win for everyone.


Since our Splash Pad days are numbered (we have until September 30), we decided to have our Chick-Fil-A picnic there...

Again!

As you can see, the decision was made spur of the moment, and we played in the water without our bathing suit...




And it didn't slow us down even a little bit!


Daddy had some Birmingham business to take care of, so he showed up after Judith's nap just in time to help with her flower arranging skills.

(Please note Eunice in the background. Judith put her in time-out for some reason or other, and she stayed in the middle of the floor most of the day. I just wanted to make sure you knew that isn't her usual spot.)


It was a busy day, but an ever-so-fun day, too.

Tuesdays are like that now.

RANDOMNESS #5 - Spending Time with RT - This Little Man changes a little bit every single day, but two things stay the same...

That smile...








And those big blue eyes!

Pinterest Stuff

Five Ways to Know if Something is From God

1. PRAY - Begin with prayer. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It is.

Start by asking God to show you His specific will for you in this situation.

Pray that the Lord your God will show you what to do and where to go. Jeremiah 42:3

2. GLORIFY GOD - Ask yourself, "Does this glorify God?"

God will never guide you to do something that will not give Him glory.

Ask yourself, “Does this bless my relationship with my family? Does it make it possible for me to serve others? What will my attitude be if I do this?” Give yourself completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. Use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Romans 6:13

3. AGREE WITH SCRIPTURE - Does it agree with Scripture? God gave us His Word to show us His will. You and I can trust the counsel of the Bible.

You never have to ask God if it’s His will for you to embezzle from your employer or dish the latest dirty detail about your neighbor.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16

4. BE WILLING TO WAIT - Be patient. God’s will is worth the wait. Trust His timing. If something is God’s will, He will guide you while you wait and bring it to pass. Don’t rush it. When the timing is right, God will let you know.

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

5. TRUST GOD TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL IN YOUR LIFE - God will fulfill His promises and accomplish His will for you. I’ll admit, I’ve gotten impatient at times. I want a clear answer, and I want it now! But I’ve learned I can watch and wait...

God will do what He says He will do, and He will accomplish His will.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

Not everything in life is clear. There will be times when you will do all the above and still be uncertain about God’s direction for you.

That’s okay.

You can trust that if God wants something specific in your life, He will guide you to it.

If you’ve gone through the 5-step process and still have no clear answer, just keep moving. Make a choice. The good news is if you are trusting and glorifying God with your life, you can move ahead confidently.

NOTE FROM ENCHANTING BELINDA - Pinterest can be so much more than Slime Recipes and DIY Projects.

Don't get me wrong.

I love Slime Recipes and DIY Projects...

But those things do not compare to the wisdom shared in the above five steps.

Have a great Tuesday.

I hear it's the best day of the week.

Take care, and I will talk to you soon.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

5th Annual Lake Vacation (Lake Martin), My Favorite Things RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE, Blog Linkage AND Pinterest Stuff (Writing the Word)

Good Thursday afternoon!

RANDOMNESS - I didn't post we would be going on vacation these last few days, but we did and we are back now!

This is our fifth year to rent a house on a lake in Alabama with our immediate family.

The first year, we rented a house in Guntersville, and we decided it was a "go" as far as an annual thing was concerned, but we wanted to try a different house the next time. Just between you and me, if VRBO doesn't have pics of any of the bathrooms in a particular rental, there is usually a very good reason... and I don't want to talk about it any more.

The second year, we rented a beautiful new-to-us house in Guntersville, but two days before our vacation was to begin, we received a call from the owners telling us bed bugs were a leftover problem from the previous renters, and although they were going to "bug bomb" the house and the "bug man" assured them we would be "good to go," he didn't feel right about renting to us.

We greatly appreciated the head's up, and I found an available house the next day at Lake Guntersville.

There's a reason you book vacation rentals a year in advance... and I don't want to talk about it any more.

The next two years found us at Lake Logan Martin in a beautiful home that fit almost all of our needs. In fact, I was hoping we could go on renting this house year after year after year.

Last year when we pulled into the driveway, there was a For Sale sign in the yard... and I don't want to talk about it any more.

This year, I found a great house on Lake Martin, and I think it fit each and every need we had as a family of nine... and I do want to talk about it a little more!






Josh, Courtney and Judith rode down with us Thursday afternoon, and we unpacked and settled into our new digs.

The house was very unique...

Filled with antiques...

Collectibles of all kinds...

Beautiful inside and out.

I absolutely, positively loved it.


We even found a collection of old VHS tapes... AND a way to actually watch them!


We went on a boat ride as soon as we settled in, and Judith drove the boat for the second year in a row.


She was very "passenger aware" and kept looking to the back of the boat...

And that is why it is always good to have a co-captain when a two year-old takes the wheel.


We found a level place to set up the dishwashing/baby pool/bubble station, and Judith was good to go.






Lake hair aspirations.


Fish lip aspirations.


Roxie was finishing up her nine-week stint as a camp counselor at Camp Crestridge in North Carolina, and she was unable to join us this year.

Yeah.

I don't want to talk about it anymore.

Heavy sigh.






RT and his family showed up on Friday...


And he brought a Splash Pad to add to the Baby Pool Park.


The perfect addition.




We did some cookin'...




And some fishin'.


Oh...

And we did some smilin'.








Lots and lots of smilin'.


And then it was time for RT's first boat ride.


He was very, very safe...


And maybe a little unimpressed.

DISCLAIMER - Boat is tied to the dock and not moving at all.

Also, six adults were standing in a semi-circle around him.




No words.


Judith loved feeding the geese...

Or as she called them, "The big ducks."




DISCLAIMER - No life jacket at that particular moment, but water is clear and about three feet deep.

Also, not counting Courtney, three adults standing right there watching, watching, watching.






This was one of my favorite things at the house. You could wash dishes and look out this giant window into a hummingbird garden. At any give time, you could see one, two...

Up to six hummingbirds flitting about and having fun.

You could also watch them and NOT do dishes. Just depended on your mood.

It was a very good trip. I would be lying if I told you it was perfect in every way, because it was not. (See tiny picture of Roxie on phone calling from North Carolina above!)

However, there were some very sweet moments, and some good memories made.

And I did not post the not-so-perfect pictures.

That will be for another time!

My Favorite Things RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE - I am starting a new heading today. It will pop up from time to time because my favorite things tend to change pretty often.

1. I love McDonald's Sugar Free French Vanilla Iced Coffee... like once a day... like five or six days a week. Depending on which McDonald's I purchase my cup of "iced joe" from on any particular day (Fultondale, Trussville, Gardendale, Cullman, North Birmingham, Homewood or Hayden), it costs between $2.08 and $2.41.

I'm starting a Go Fund Me page soon. Feel free to contribute often and much when that happens.

2. I love audio books. I spend a good deal of time in the car two or three times a week, and when that happens, I listen to audio books. All kinds of audio books.

In fact, I am so in love with audio books, I am replacing my I-pad at the gym (I watch Jimmy Fallon clips and old Johnny Carson shows, etc.) with a hand-held CD player as of tomorrow morning.

Hopefully, I will soon be one of those "well-read" people I so envy...

Or I may end up going back to Jimmy Fallon clips and old Johnny Carson shows.

We'll see how long this "favorite thing" lasts.

Blog Linkage - Go to www.creativehomekeeper.com and read this woman's blog. You will find an excerpt from it below under Pinterest Stuff. She loves being intentional about the important, eternal things and she has some wonderful ideas to share.

Pinterest Stuff

Writing the Word

(Excerpt from Creative Home Keeper Blog - Intentional Living for the Grace-Filled Life)

Sometimes I write just a verse or two, other times I am transposing whole passages of Scripture in my journal. Depending on the words or what God is revealing to me, I write them word for word, or I might paraphrase them into a prayer from deep within.

It doesn’t matter how I write, it’s the simple discipline of writing out the Word that is rapidly transforming my faith.

When God’s Word is flowing through my pen and spilling out onto my paper, it is no longer just a passive discipline to read the Word. I am fully immersed in it. Writing is slower than reading so I am able to marinade on each word longer. Truths I may miss from a read through are being highlighted in my brain and written out to completely grasp the mystery of the Gospel.

Some days I write a lot whereas other days I write a little, but there is no day when none of God’s Word is being written down. It’s a daily spiritual discipline that has drawn me closer to God.

Writing the Word is bringing my heart and mind closer to the throne of God.

This season, He has drawn me closer to Him through written words.

Do you write the Word on a consistent basis?

If not, may I suggest you start? You don’t have to write out whole or long passages, but just a verse or two to help you capture the main idea of what He is teaching you in your daily reading.

NOTE FROM THE ENCHANTING BELINDA - On Pinterest, I found a monthly scripture writing plan. Just SEARCH "Monthly Scripture Writing." Many, many options will appear since most months have not only general scripture references you can write each day, but some also have a topic for the month. For example, "Grace" or "Kindness," etc.

Have a fantastic rest of the week. I'll be back very soon with more!

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda