Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

NOTE TO LEANNA - Thank you, LeAnna. I hope you weren't under any undue pressure to enter. HA! I love you, too, LeAnna. Have a great weekend. (By the way... Where is Tonya?)

NOTE TO TONYA - Tonya, have you entered the contest? Where are you? Again, just like your sister-in-law, no pressure intended. (I expect a comment from you by the time I get back Monday. Don't make me get Mitchell and the boys involved!)

Weekend Happenings

Well, this weekend is actually somewhat exciting for the Faulkner Five. We're going to the BEACH! That's right. Mikie has a conference. Normally, we would have left together Wednesday morning, but because of Josh's football obligations, Mike left Wednesday and the remaining Faulkner Four are leaving today around 11:30. Mike's meetings will be over around noon, so we have all day Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the surf, sand and sun (not to mention crab claws).

No surprise here, but next week's pics will probably be a bunch of beach photos.

Because we won't be coming in until late Monday afternoon, there will be NO new post this coming Monday. But don't worry, Tuesday's post will have a Party/Event, AND a Recipe, AND the contest winner, AND wonderfully entertaining stories from our weekend at the beach (I am certain).

I read a few tips on how to have a picture taken at the beach in your bathing suit that is actually "flattering" for all ages and body types. I'm going to try a couple of the tips, and if they work you may see a bathing suit pic of me next week... or not. (They're really going to have to be good pics... and the timing is going to have to be perfect... with the waves crashing down around me in all the appropriate "problem areas." We'll see. We'll see.)

Tongue Update

Hundreds of you have been asking about my tongue. (Well, actually just two, but I appreciate the concern.) I received my "results" yesterday over the phone, and they told me I had a (PUT A HUGE WORD HERE). "Say what?" I asked.

"It's a little discoloration from being pricked from one of the instruments from your last dental cleaning. It's nothing."

I was happy with that answer. You can never be too careful with overly cheerful nurses who call about Sharpie marks on the bottom of your tongue that require MAJOR SURGERY to remove... Oh, and don't forget the stitch!

Mandatory Meetings

I actually made myself go to the MANDATORY football meeting last night, and as far as MANDATORY meetings go, it wasn't half bad. I think the biggest reason was because I whispered to my friend, Joan, throughout one-third of the festivities about things of interest to ME. (She's going to the beach today, too, so I was getting her itinerary and sharing ours.) With my luck, I was glad one of the coaches didn't rebuke me in front of the children and other parents, but they chose to overlook me instead. (In all honesty, I was half hoping they would rebuke me AND ban me from any other MANDATORY meetings. Didn't happen.)

The Gallery Pic for today is my handsome Josh in some of his football garb in front of the house. The boy is really looking forward to playing football. Even if it's just sideline standing this year, he is excited. I hope and pray it's everything he's always dreamed it would be.

Oh, and just for the record, there's a meeting every Tuesday between now and the beginning of school. However, I didn't hear the word "MANDATORY," (but I was humming to myself at the time). Anyway, I think Mikie may have to attend those solo. (That's the plan, and I'm sticking to it!)

200th Post Contest

I know you are ready for this to be over, but I'm posting the 200th Post Contest rules ONE MORE TIME! You have until midnight Monday, July 27, and I'll reveal the winner at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, July 28.

1. For every person you share my blog address with (www.belindafaulkner.blogspot.com), your name will be put in a bowl one time. (If you tell ten people about A Simple Life, your name will be put in the drawing bowl TEN times.) It's that easy.

2. If you have a blog of your own, and you mention A Simple Life in your blog, your name automatically goes in the drawing bowl TEN times.

3. If you don't tell anyone about the blog, you can still have your name put in the drawing bowl by leaving me an e-mail OR comment with the word "contest" somewhere in the text. (It doesn't even have to be in a sentence.)

4. You need to let me know how many people you have shared the info with by midnight, Monday, July 27. The drawing will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 28.

5. I hope it goes without saying you need to share the website with people who actually use a computer. (Two year-olds and great-grandmothers who have never heard the term "blog" do not count!)

The prize is a $15 gift certificate to Wal-Mart OR Chick-Fil-A OR the scrapbook store of your choice. FREE, FREE, FREE!

Book

This week I have a Guest Book Reviewer. Taylor Grubbs (one of Roxie's buddies) was very excited about a new devotion book she's been reading, and when I called to ask her to comment on the book she was more than willing. Here are some of her thoughts on A Young Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George.

"I like this book because it is very easy to read, and it connects you to your Bible. It shows you how to become a better person in God. It gives you examples in the Bible to relate to whatever the subject is (you are learning about). After the main thought, it gives you ideas on how to improve your walk with God and learn more.

"This book has many great ideas and quotes. 'Good, better best. Never let it rest, until your good is better, and better is best.' That's one of my favorite quotes. That really stuck out to me.

"Even though I haven't finished the book yet, I believe every girl 12 to 16 should read it."

Isn't that an excellent review? Doesn't it make you want to buy this book for your daughter... TODAY! Thank you very much, Taylor. I may have to call on you again in the future.

Have the best weekend EVER! (As you can tell, I'm in CAPITALIZATION MODE again!) I've noticed I'm using a lot of exclamation points, too! I'm not shouting! I'm just excited about our mini-vacation! Make the most of every day you have with your family! Make wonderful memories! And while you're making memories, take tons of pictures! (You'll enjoy them when you're old and gray... or 47 years-old!)

Take care, and I'll talk to you TUESDAY!