Dates From Weekend Family Fun

Good Thursday morning!

NOTE TO JENNIFER - I love the "parent orientation" notes. For those of you who didn't read yesterday's comments, Jennifer leaves notes in her children's pencil boxes on orientation night and in her older child's locker at open house. In middle school world, nothing is more exciting than opening your locker and having a note waiting for you in between classes from a friend (or so I am told). I can't wait until Roxie's Open House.

AUSTIN UPDATE - GOTCHA! I'm just kidding. No update today. You can relax!

But I did want to tell a little story that doesn't really have a purpose except I thought about it today. (Sometimes that's all it takes. A stray thought wandering through my head.)

When I was very pregnant with Josh, I met six girlfriends for dinner at Ruby Tuesday's in the Galleria. Three of us were great with child. We were enjoying our meals (some of us more than others, if you know what I mean), when at the table directly across from me, a woman started choking.

Within seconds, it became apparent she wasn't just strangled. She was really, really choking. Now, I had taken not one, but two, courses of CPR in my lifetime. I had not one, but two, certificates saying I was not only capable, but obligated to do something to help this woman. So I did what every double certified, extremely pregnant woman would do in the same situation... I stood in my chair and started yelling "Paramedic! Paramedic!" at the top of my lungs. (I personally do not recall doing this, but my friends insisted they witnessed it... and they were pretty appalled.)

By this time, the woman was in the floor and literally turning blue. People were running, some idiot was screaming "Paramedic! Paramedic!" in my ear (oh, that might have been me), and the woman's two year-old child was sitting in her booster seat watching everything.

From my perch high above the other people in the restaurant, I noticed a man dressed in a suit come up behind the baby and try to lift her out of her seat. I'm sure his intentions were good... He didn't want her to witness what was happening to her mother and be traumatized for life (like I was going to be). However, she was strapped into her seat and his repeated jerking trying to get her out was only making matters worse.

Again, I have no recollection of this, but my friends say I climbed down from my chair, walked over to the man, physically pushed him aside and bellowed, "MOVE! I'M A MOTHER!"

At that point, I do remember unbuckling the straps, slipping the crying baby out of her seat and holding her with her face turned away from the commotion.

Paramedics arrived... I'm assuming they heard me yelling. They performed CPR on the woman and dislodged a piece of meat the size of a softball, and then all was good with the world again. The restaurant settled down. I handed the crying baby off to a family member, and the woman sat up and her table proceeded to finish their meal.

My table also sat back down, but we had lost our appetites... I'm assuming from seeing the softball-size wad of meat being projected from the woman a few seconds earlier.

A few moments passed in complete silence, and one of my friends said, "I'm surprised when you yelled 'MOVE! I'M A MOTHER!' you didn't tear your shirt open to reveal your blue spandex T-shirt with the giant 'M' emblazoned on the front," she said.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You know. When you climbed down from the chair and pushed that man and yelled," she repeated.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said again, weakly.

"It was pretty impressive," one of the other girls chimed in.

By now, I was feeling more than a little embarrassed. "Did I really push the man?" I asked, because I had no memory whatsoever of doing so.

"I guess I should go apologize to him," I mumbled.

However, it was the general consensus of the table to leave a bad situation "bad," and not make it "worse."

All things considered, and with all my extensive CPR training, I think I handled everything pretty well. I mean, out of the entire restaurant, I was the only one with the presence of mind to stand in my chair and summon the paramedics.

I'm great in emergency situations. (I've even got another story tomorrow that proves the point even further. Bet you can't wait, can you?)

Topic of the Week - Passing Down the Formula for a Virtuous Wife

Here's some more good "stuff" from Vicki Courtney for all the "boy moms" out there.

"'She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers... . She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.' Proverbs 31:13-19, 24.

"This woman is no slacker. She is hardworking and devoted to her work. She is assertive and decisive, and her confidence shines through in all she does. She is strong, yet it does not diminish her femininity.

"Key questions for your son: Does this young lady have a princess attitude and expect others to serve her? Is she lazy and demotivated in life, or is she devoted to the task at hand and committed to hard work?"

All very good questions. There are eight more "sections" with questions in this chapter... all of them relevant and thought-provoking. I'll add one more section tomorrow, and then you absolutely must buy this book! (No pressure... I'll call this weekend to make sure everyone bought a copy!)

Weekend Family Fun

The first two activities were on http://blog.al.com/bargain-mom/.

IHOP - Available for a limited time at participating locations, IHOP's "Kids Eat Free" dinner promotion is from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each night. The free meal is with the purchase of one adult entree. Children 12 and under qualify.

There is a "Just for Kids" menu. (Drinks are not included unless otherwise specified on the "Just for Kids" menu).

Calling All Kids Chef Class - Calling All Kids Chef Class lets children create a unique edible masterpiece each month.

It only lasts about 25 minutes and it is free. It's in the Bruno's Riverchase Community Room. Parents can get a free cup of coffee, then watch or assist the children.

Here's the location information... 3780 Riverchase Village in Hoover. The phone numbers are (205)987-2523 or (205)985-2294.

Here's what you need to know:

Each child must be accompanied by an adult.

An adult will need to sign a Kids Circle form to allow participation.

Kids should wear play clothes.

Those with food allergies or who are lactose intolerant should notify the Kid's Circle Leader.

The classes are once a month and the following is the schedule:

September 12 - Krabby Patty Cooking School
October 31 - Halloween Party Edible Decoration and Trick or Treat in the Store
November 21 - Holiday Decorating Class
December 12 - Brunch with Santa

Sounds fun, doesn't it? Another one of those great "things to do" I wish had been available when my kids were small. (I sound bitter, don't I? I am just a little.)

Dollar Movies in Hoover - There are several good family films still showing this weekend at the Dollar Movie. Check their website (www.carmike.com) for showtimes. (Don't forget it is the Carmike 10 in Hoover.)

Dates from Weekend Family Fun

I'm not trying to cheat or be lazy or anything, but may I suggest planning a date with one of your kiddos doing one of the activities listed above in Weekend Family Fun. There are three very good possibilities just staring you in the face.

If you have multiple kids, the Chef Classes would be a great way to take each one to a different FREE class. If you go to Hoover to see the Dollar Theater, a FREE IHOP dinner would be an excellent way to end the evening. Well, that or Krispy Kreme. You can't go wrong with a Krispy Kreme stop... EVER!

Get to planning, and have a great time with your date.

Have a terrific Thursday... my favorite day of the week. Tomorrow I'll share a favorite book, and our Weekend Happenings, and one more excerpt from Your Boy by Vicki Courtney. And maybe, just maybe, I'll tell another little story about how calm, cool and collected I am in an emergency. (I'm afraid I come off sounding too good on the blog sometimes, and I don't want to do that... because it just ain't so! And this story should help prove that beyond a shadow of doubt.)

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

First Day of School Letters

Good Wednesday morning!

NOTE NEWBIES - If you are Newbie, you can find out more about A Simple Life by reading my August 8 post. It will "show you the ropes!"

I have a couple of new sections I'm adding to A Simple Life. Beginning today, we will have a small section entitled "Wednesday Wisdom." This will just be a little quote of the week which may be funny, uplifting, life-changing, etc. Oh... and VERY rarely will it be a quote from me (if ever). Today's quote is from Mark Twain as a matter of fact. It's just a fun "little" thing to make you think.

Also, beginning August 26, there will be a new blog under My Blog List entitled "Belinda's Project 365." I will be attempting to take one picture a day for 365 days chronicling my 48th year of life. This concept began with Becky Higgins (see Becky's Blog under My Blog List) who is an amazing scrapbook page designer, mother of three, etc., etc., etc. Another blogger I admire (see Carol of Crazy for Crafting fame under My Blog List) has been doing a wonderful job of keeping up with her Project 365. We'll see how it goes, but as I said, it will just be one picture a day and it can be anything that represents my life at THAT MOMENT! Good or bad. Pretty or ugly. There will be one line of journaling under each picture... unlike A Simple Life which usually has 1,000,000 lines of journaling each day.

Wednesday Wisdom - Mark Twain - Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

AUSTIN UPDATE - I think ONE of the hardest things for me (in this new phase of my life) is that although I speak to Austin every day now, eventually that will change. That is the reason I got on Facebook (and to shamelessly plug my blog everyday). But really, I wanted to have yet another way to stay connected to Austin (and Josh and Roxie). I don't want there to be a "disconnect," although I very much want them to have their own lives. (No... really, I do!)

I also love to write letters. I just like the freedom of talking to someone in a letter, and fortunately, I'm not someone who has to have someone responding all the time.

I'm going to share a Facebook letter I sent Austin today because I don't want to have painted the perfect, rosy picture of his adjustment to living "in the real world." He has had to deal with A LOT of "stuff" in a very short amount of time, and today I sent him a note letting him know we don't take this struggle for granted.

Dear Austin:

I just wanted to say how proud I am of you and your stand with some of the guys about the excessive profanity they are using, and saying no to some of the parties you've been invited to recently. I talked to Josh about it this morning. You left a very sheltered, Christian environment with a very strong Christian testimony, and the second you stepped out of the car at JSU and we drove away, Satan came at you with both arms swinging.

Yes, he'll attack the other guys, too. But if they are already following the wrong people and "trying to fit in" worldly situations, he won't be spending as much time fighting them as he will fighting you.

I wish I could say because of the life you've chosen to live things will be much, much easier. In reality, the opposite is true. Satan will be there at every turn trying to make you fail... and not just fail in private, but in the presence of everyone around you. That's his plan.

Now that we are clear as to what Satan's plan for your life is, let's go back to what we know about God's PERFECT plan for your life. Seek His will. Seek His plan. Seek His wisdom.

Continue to read your Bible every day. Missing one day is exactly what Satan wants... because if you miss one day then it will be easier to miss two... and so on and so on and so on.

Fight the fight, Austin. I know you're going to win!

I love you lots.

Mom

DISCLAIMER - I'm not with Austin on a daily basis any longer. All I have to go by is what he is telling me and Mike over the phone, and at home on the weekends. He could very well be giving into temptations we know nothing about. This is just another reason Mike and I will continue to "hover" a while longer. It's all about teaching endurance. And while we've talked about this in the safety and comfort of our home, he's now having to apply it in his daily life (away from the safety and comfort)... and it's hard.

Throwing him into the middle of a dessert and telling him to run for miles and miles and miles without any relief in sight isn't a plan to help him succeed. It's a plan designed to make him fail. It's the world's plan.

God's plan for His children has more to do with going the distance. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." Hebrews 12:1-2.

Good plan... good plan.

Topic of the Week - Passing Down the Formula For a Virtuous Woman

Let's see what Ms. Courtney has to say to our boys today, shall we?

"'Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.' (Proverbs 31:11-12).

"This woman is every man's dream come true. She is not a whiner, nor does she bite back with attitude and sarcasm. I am reminded of Proverbs 27:15, 'A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day.' We all know women like this who make life miserable for all in their household. A virtuous woman is not a nagger; she puts the needs of her husband before her own.

Key questions for your son: Does this young lady have a temper? Is she in the habit of complaining and nagging? Does she easily hold grudges and struggle to forgive others?

Brilliant, I tell you... BRILLIANT!

I'm just glad this book wasn't around when Mikie and I were dating!

First Day of School Letters

I know the first day of school has come and gone, but you can write a letter now, AND FROM NOW ON, write it the first day of school. Be a little flexible (like me)... Okay?

This is more than just a note on a napkin in their lunchbox (although I LOVE those, too).

This is a full-blown letter of love, encouragement and scripture. This letter should include everything you want and pray for your child this coming school year. It should begin and end with declarations of love, and everything in the middle should be uplifting and confidence building. This letter should be the most wonderful thing they read all year long! And it should come from Mom and/or Dad.

Leave it on their pillow, taped to the mirror in the bathroom, or under their placemat at breakfast. Keep things simple. Do not put it in an elaborate scrapbook to save. You can use a plain manila envelope or a pocket folder. They can keep it in their room to read any time they want (or need), and you can add another letter each year.

It's a great way for your child to start the school year... knowing they are precious and special and loved.

Have the best Wednesday ever. Do something special and unexpected for another person today (husband, child, friend, neighbor). It could be something as simple as making a batch of muffins and taking it to them for their breakfast the next morning. It's not hard, and wouldn't that be such a treat. Tomorrow I have a date for you to consider and Weekend Family Fun. (I've been a little weak in this area the last two weeks. I'll kick it up a notch for Thursday's post.)

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

(Only one more week of the title... I promise!)