Classic Movie Night

Good Wednesday morning!

Well, last night was really something. Over 1,000 women came to Chit Chat and Chocolate, and I think a good time was had by all. I was very fortunate in my break-out session. I was blessed with many smiling, nodding moms which is so encouraging. We had a good time, and then we made our way to the sanctuary to hear Sherri Burgess' testimony. She is a wonderful speaker, and while her talk was different than what I expected, she was so sweet and humble, and so eloquent. The scripture she used throughout her testimony, and the pictures she verbally painted, and her obvious desire to be with her little boy again in Heaven was overwhelming. It is so evident God is using her in such a mighty way. I cannot begin to imagine being able to do what she has done this past year since Bronner went to Heaven. If you ever get a chance to hear her or Rick speak, please do so. And take an unsaved friend or family member with you if you can. It was a very powerful evening.

On another note, if you've ever read Confessions of a Pioneer Woman on my Blog List, you know how entertaining and fun and excellent her writing is. She has been nominated for several "Bloggie" awards. If you get a chance, click on her website and look at Monday's post. There will be a place for you to click to vote for her blog in several categories. It's really easy, and I think she's very deserving. Reading her blog is just like watching a really fun documentary on the Travel Channel about living on a farm in the country in the middle of the United States. She has four children (all cowgirls and cowboys), she is a wonderful cook (check out her Cooking section), she is a fantastic photographer (beautiful pictures of landscapes, animals and people)... the list goes on and on. (She is also crazy about her family (kids AND hubby), homeschools, and loves her dogs... especially a little basset hound named Charlie.) It's not a hard read at all. It's quick, easy and very enjoyable. I like it because there are usually pictures with every little story. Anyway, if you couldn't tell, I think she should win. You have until February 7 to vote.

I thought I would share something I spoke about in class tonight. I was talking about the importance of "dating" your children, and I went back in time to when Austin was ten years-old. At the old Alabama Theater in downtown Birmingham, they were going to be showing the Elvis Presley movie, Blue Hawaii. If you don't know this about me, know it now... I am a big Elvis fan. I was at his last concert in Birmingham when I was only 14 before he passed away. Anyway, I think it's important to share the things you love with your kids, so I asked Austin and he eagerly agreed to accompany me to the movie.

When we arrived, it was wonderful. There was going to be an Elvis impersonator (which as everyone knows, is just about as good as the real thing), and the organ was going to come up out of the floor and we were going to sing Elvis songs before the actual movie. Can you say FUN!

The first thing we spotted as we walked through the door was a counter with a large turquoise blue drink in a large fancy glass sitting in the middle. Austin noticed it at once and asked if he could have one. "Of course," I replied.

I was feeling very generous, so we walked over to the counter and Austin slapped his hand down and said, "I'll have one of those!"

"I'm sorry," the lady replied. "You can't have one, but your mom can."

I totally understood. We were in the beautiful Alabama Theater and they didn't want a ten year-old boy walking down the aisle carrying a bright turquoise blue drink in a large glass spilling here and there as he walked. I would have been the same way at home. "That's fine. I'll have one."

Well, at that moment, I started to look in my purse for my money, but thankfully looked up in time to see not one, but two, large bottles of some kind of alcohol being poured into a large glass with some other liquid that was a bright turquoise blue. "Wait a minute! Is that alcohol?" I asked shocked and amazed.

"Yes, it is," she replied.

"On a Sunday? At the Alabama Theater? At the Blue Hawaii movie starring Elvis Presley? You serve alcohol? Really?" The questions just kept flowing.

"Yes, ma'am. It's legal to serve alcoholic beverages on Sunday in Birmingham."

"Two cokes and chocolate covered raisins, please," I requested changing my order.

"Well, that was a little disappointing," Austin said as we settled into our seats. All I could think about was if I hadn't looked up at the right time or had been distracted in any other way, Austin would be drinking a large alcoholic turquoise blue drink at that moment. I shuddered. I had just taken my ten year-old son on a date where I had somehow become "The Designated Driver."

I have never had a drink before, much less one called a Blue Hawaii, so I will forever plead ignorance. As for Austin walking up to the counter and ordering said alcoholic beverage, I had to give him the benefit of the doubt, too. After all... like mother, like son!

Speaking of Elvis and classic movies, here's your Seasonal Tradition for today!

Classic Movie Night

For something fun on a cold winter's night, rent some movie classics (Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, Three Stooges, etc., etc.), get out your fluffiest blankets and pillows and snuggle up. During intermission make some indoor snowballs to eat.

Indoor Snowballs

Quickly roll scoops of hard ice cream in mounds of shredded coconut. Serve snowballs on a chilled platter with chocolate sauce, nuts and sprinkles on the side.

This idea was taken from 101 Ideas for Making Family Memories.

Fun Variation #1 - Check your TV listings for old shows like Bonanza, That Girl, Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family (my favorite -- LOVED David Cassidy), I Love Lucy, Gilligan's Island, Get Smart, etc. When you find an old show you like, tape several episodes for an evening like the one described above.

Fun Variation #2 - For dinner before you start your Classic Movie/TV night, make it a fun "themed" meal. For instance, if you are watching I Love Lucy episodes, you could make Ethel Eggs, Fred French Fries, Ricky Rice, and Lucy Lemon Ice Box Pie. (The idea isn't really to have a "balanced meal" this one night, but a fun one.) Use your imagination.

We did this watching old Bonanza episodes. We had Hoss Hamburgers, Hop Sing Hot Dogs, Adam Apples and Lil' Joe Jello for dessert. (Be careful watching Bonanza reruns... it starts getting hard to explain why every time they get engaged to a girl, an Indian kills her or something else tragic happens. We finally named it the "Cartright Curse," and whenever an episode came on with a romantic interest for one of the boys, we watched to see if she got killed off in the first half or the last half of the episode.)

Of course, I like this one because it is dinner together AND and a Seasonal Tradition. Nothing heavy. Nothing hard to prepare. Just fun and memorable.

Tomorrow's date is fun, too (and educational). I hope you have the best Wednesday ever, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.