Pick a Card Date

Good Thursday morning!

The Gallery Pic is a leftover Hillbilly Sign. I know. I know. I said I was through, but it's been a slow week picture-wise over here, so I'm pulling out one more! It's either that or the picture of me wearing my lucky Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson t-shirt... or my Barry Manilow blouse. Am I the only one out there who wears "theme" clothing... all the time?

TOPIC OF THE WEEK - Answered Prayer - The Topic of the Week isn't over. I have a great story to share with you, but because of the length of today's post, we'll have this special segment beginning tomorrow. Now you have something to look forward to!

SPECIAL GUEST - Charlotte Guffin

Today I have the last part of Charlotte's interview. I was able to get her daughter, Gracie, on the phone, and I asked her the remaining questions. If Gracie didn't know the answer, she deferred to her sister, Abbie, who was in the room, also. And then, toward the end of the interview, I heard Abbie say, "I don't know."

Then I heard Gracie said, "Mom," and she repeated the question. Ah-ha! Charlotte was actually in the room with Gracie. "Gracie. Listen to me very carefully." I spoke softly and slowly because I didn't want to spook her or her mother. "Give the phone to your mother."

"Oh. Okay." Gracie passed the phone to her mother, and in a "rapid-fire-machine-gun-sort-of-way" I SHOT the rest of the questions at Charlotte. (Jack Bauer and Chuck Norris would have been so proud!)

So here is the rest of our Special Guest's interview...

6. Are you a dog lover or a cat lover?

(Answered by Gracie.) Hmmm. She denies she likes dogs, but we have a dog and she loves him. But she definitely does not like cats.

7. Are you a shoe lover or a purse lover?

(Answered by Gracie.) Hmmm. I guess a shoe lover.

8. Where is your "happy place?"

(Answered by Gracie.) Wherever her Dad is. (Charlotte later came back to this question and changed it ever so slightly... Whenever I'm in a room with all of my kids and my Dad, that is a "happy place.")

9. What is your favorite holiday, and why?

(Answered by Gracie after she asked Abbie... and then they both asked Charlotte... which let me know Charlotte was IN THE ROOM!) Thanksgiving because of the simplicity.

10. You are at home ALL day long by yourself with no car. Do you go stir crazy or thoroughly enjoy every minute of the day?

(Answered by Gracie with absolutely NO hesitation.) ENJOY!

11. Are you a movie lover or a shopping lover?

(Answered by Abbie when Gracie couldn't decide, and verified by Charlotte who was IN THE ROOM!) Movie lover.

12. What is the one food you cannot force yourself to eat?

(Answered by Charlotte ACROSS THE ROOM while Gracie held the phone up.) It's not a food, but I can't do buttermilk. (Gracie asks me, "Did you get that?")

13. If you were an animal, which animal would you be?

(Gracie defers to Abbie.) A duck. "Why would your mother be a duck?" I ask.

"Because it is white and pretty and peaceful."

"A duck is white and pretty and peaceful?" I ask trying desperately to understand.

"No. A dove is white and pretty and peaceful."

"Okay. So we'll go with the dove answer."

14. What is your most difficult daily struggle (patience, time management, organization, road rage, etc.)?

(Gracie and Abbie have a small discussion about this one, and they quickly weed out road rage. Then they ask Charlotte who is STILL IN THE ROOM!) Definitely organization.

"Gracie. Give the phone to your mother, PLEASE!" The phone is passed to Charlotte. The next three questions are asked and answered in less than ten seconds.

15. For each of your children, list at least one of your traits or characteristics they have.

Hmmm. Gracie wants everyone to be happy. Abbie is free-spirited. Zac is compassionate. And Graham is reasonable and peaceful.

16. Are you a "glass half-full" person or a "glass half-empty" person?

Definitely half-full.

17. What is your favorite book of the Bible?

I LOVE Isaiah.

"Thank you, Charlotte."

"Oh, you're welcome. This was fun."

And it was over. And Charlotte was right. After I got off the phone with Gracie, Abbie and Charlotte, I had to admit it was my most "fun" telephone call of the day... perhaps the most "fun" telephone call I will have all year.

Charlotte is a sweet, unique, passionate, spiritual, caring and fun woman. Thank you, Charlotte, for sharing a little of yourself with A Simple Life this week.

(To be honest, I don't know if Charlotte has read A Simple Life this week to even see her pictures and interview. If any of you talk to Gracie today, tell her to tell her Mom to check it out!)

Blog Linkage - I have two links for you today, both of which are very enjoyable and informative reading.

1. Click on BooMama under My Blog List and read her February 2 post entitled "Oh, Now I Understand." It is her take on the Flylady. If you haven't ever read anything written by the Flylady, she is a home-organizational whiz, and she has a website mentioned in BooMama's post. Very, very good.

2. I got this website from BooMama, also. You can go directly to www.goingbeyond.com and read this woman's post dated January 31 entitled "Cinnamon Rolls and Other Smells." She talks about deliberately creating a memorable childhood for your children, and she gives you specific ways to do so. It is a wonderful, idea-filled, thought-provoking read.

Enjoy your blog-hopping!

Pick a Card Date

Nothing is more fun than picking out the perfect Valentine's Day Cards for your classmates. Whether they are homemade or Spiderman or Princess or Transformers, the cards your child picks to give to his/her friends reflect his/her personality.

Take a little extra time and make this a date with each of your children (one-on-one) who are at that special age in preschool or elementary school.

Go to Wal-Mart or another store with a large variety of Valentine's Day Cards. Do not make this a grocery shopping trip. Specifically make it a time to spend with that child picking out the perfect cards.

After you have taken the time to choose the cards, head home to a table which has been previously set with red paper plates, Valentine's Day napkins, heart-shaped cookies and other festive snacks. Spread out the cards, and start stuffing the envelopes together.

When all the Valentine's Day Cards are completed, take a minute to pray with your child for his/her classmates and their families. You can ask your child before you begin the prayer if he/she has any prayer requests for any of the boys and girls in the classroom. Make sure you include the teacher in the prayer, also. Let your child end the prayer with anything he/she wants to add.

This isn't a fancy date. This isn't an expensive date. In fact, it can even seem like a chore some years. Plan ahead to make it festive, fun, prayerful... and definitely NOT RUSHED. Make it a memory!

Have a dry Thursday if you possibly can. We'll finish up the week with Weekend Happenings, and I'll have another story about Answered Prayer from a young family beginning a very exciting journey. You will not want to miss A Simple Life Friday.

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda