Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

I have had a ton of pictures in the Gallery recently, so I'll finish the week by just adding one. This is my MamMa's cupcake cake from Wal-Mart. Roxie, Josh and I took it to her house last night, and if she has any drop-ins today (her actual birthday), she'll be able to share her cake. I am loving the Wal-Mart cupcake cake. They are affordable, cute and everyone can serve themselves.

RANDOMNESS #1 - I'll share a few random things with you today. It's been a week of "re-living the past" on A Simple Life, and there have been a few "present day" things going on, also. For instance, I had not one, but two, doctor appointments this week. I'd like to give a shout out to Miss Sheila, the mammogram tech. She was excellent, and it was one of the least painful procedures I've had out of the 30 or so I've endured. I highly recommend her if it is "that" time of the year for you. I got her cell number off of her phone when she left me in the room to check my film, so I can call her any time to schedule! We're like best buds now... if you take away the rummaging through her purse to get her cell number part!

I was also very excited about going to the cardiologist to have my bi-yearly stress test... and I was extremely disappointed when he said WE could wait two more years. "WE" don't have panic attacks. "WE" don't need the reassurance of a bi-yearly stress test to make our life bearable. "WE" are about to be replaced! So I'll be shopping around for a new cardiologist. And when I find one, I'll probably be getting his/her cell number off his/her cell phone when he/she leaves the room for something. (I like having cell numbers of health care professionals on my speed dial. It's a comfort.)

Since this past week was already destined to be riddled with pain (physical and emotional), I tried to get my final appointment to have my temporary crown replaced with a permanent one. My thought process was to get everything over with in one five-day period. The dentist office wouldn't cooperate... even when I explained I needed them to bump someone else's cleaning so I could get this done. "But this is 'Pain Week,' and if I have to wait another week or more to get my crown it will be 'Pain Two Weeks,' and that just doesn't make sense."

Needless to say, none of it made sense to her. I go next week.

RANDOMNESS #2 - I am LOVING all of my shows. Two on Sunday (Amazing Race and Celebrity Apprentice), one on Monday (24), one on Tuesday (LOST) and one on Thursday (Survivor). I try not to think about the months of nothingness which will happen when all five of my shows end the same week. But it's hard. I really have to focus on the here and now.

Special Guest Hints - The last hint for my Special Guest is very descriptive of this woman and her walk with God. She is such a dedicated and faithful Christian, wife and mother. She is a joy to be around.

10. This is her motto... "If GOD says so, I can do it!!"

And she does, too.

Mikie and Belinda - The Engagement

As I told you a few days ago, Mike and I began dating in March of 1987, and we were engaged by August of that same year. It seems fast, doesn't it?

When we met with Dr. Carter for counseling two months into our "courtship," his advice to us was to date and be together for four seasons (an entire year) before becoming engaged. And he believed in a fairly long engagement, too. I think those were extremely wise words. It was his way of saying we needed to know each other, to become best friends, to see not only the good, but the bad as well.

Mike and I didn't dismiss his words, but we had already put in three years of being best friends. (That's 12 seasons!) We had seen each other's "ugly" side several times. We had both been in relationships with the wrong people, and we had no doubt we were with the person God wanted us to marry. No doubt at all.

That being said, Mike went ahead and spoke with my Dad in early August. I knew he had talked to him, and I knew Dad had given his blessing. Now, I just needed my ring.

Little birdies told me Mike had decided to forgo the jewelry store engagement ring. Instead, he designed my ring himself. Little birdies also told me when the ring was ready, and that he had it in his possession. (Aren't girlfriends wonderful?)

Did I mention my birthday is in August. August 26. Considering it was only 22 days from the day he spoke to my Dad, it was a no-brainer. I should have gotten my ring on my birthday. But that was not how Mikie's mind worked. Birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day... too obvious. He wanted the surprise.

Every day for two weeks when he stopped by the apartment coming home from work, I was dressed to the nines. Make-up... totally redone. Hair... totally redone. Outfit... totally different from the one I had worn to work that day. Deodorant... totally reapplied. (I was a little nervous, and was having some flop sweat problems.)

Every day I would greet him at the door looking for ring box bulges. Nothing. Nada. Let's just say I was getting a little frustrated.

One night, he came in and I just pinned him to the door. "I want my ring. I have all the bridal magazines. I want to start making plans. I want to try on dresses. I want to pick out cakes. I want to register for china. AND I CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE RING!" I had totally lost it.

"I wouldn't give you the ring tonight if I did have it," he responded. "You're going to have to settle down a little." He smiled, gave me a peck and slipped out the door. (He had just seen a new "ugly" I had never revealed before. He had just seen a new "ugly" I didn't even know I had!)

After that night, I stopped dressing up every day. In fact, when I got home from work, I put on t-shirts and jeans, and didn't even brush my teeth or comb my hair before he arrived. I had lost the will to groom.

"How about coming over for dinner Saturday night before we go to the Sunday School party? I'll fix everything." I knew he was just trying to soften the blow that I wasn't going to get my ring until some time after my birthday... you know, for the surprise factor.

"Okay," I agreed half-heartedly.

I arrived wearing a T-shirt and jeans, minimal make-up and combed hair. I was clean. "Hey. I ran out of milk, and I need it for the mac and cheese. Do you mind running to the corner store and getting half a gallon for me?" Okay. This was a sure sign the ring wasn't in the picture. Mac and cheese? I had to get the milk?

"Okay," I agreed again half-heartedly.

When I returned, the table was set nicely, but not with candles. We sat down to eat, and I took the napkin off the center of the plate (which for some reason had a napkin ring around it), and in one swift movement slipped the napkin ring off and snapped my napkin and put it in my lap.

"NOOOOO!" Mike screamed.

"AHHHHH!" I screamed back, terrified. And then I heard it. A little ping, ping, ping sound. Mikie was on his knees covering the air conditioning vent on the floor beside the table. I was on my feet. "What's wrong? What's wrong?"

"You shot the ring out of the napkin. It kept ricocheting off of things, and I don't know if it went down the vent or not."

"AHHHHH!" I screamed again. By now, we were both on the floor looking for the ring and praying the last ping we had heard was not the ring bouncing it's way down the vent.

"I FOUND IT!" he yelled.

"LET ME HAVE IT!" I yelled back.

He wasn't actually on one knee as much as collapsed in a heap at my feet sweating profusely. "Belinda, will you please marry me? Just say 'Yes.' I can't take much more of this."

And that, my friends, is my ultra-romantic engagement story. The ring was (and is) beautiful, and I was thrilled. Mikie done good! (I know that's grammatically incorrect, by the way.)

And I never eat macaroni and cheese without smiling to myself and remembering that night a little over 22 years ago when I yelled, "Yes!"

Books - I wanted to share a book with the parents out there with children still at home. It is called Faith Training, Raising Kids Who Love the Lord by Dr. Joe White. It is one of the best books I ever read because it gives you step-by-step ways to actually DO what the title suggests. It has resources, devotions and so much more. It even has a list of 365 Ways to Tell Your Child "I Love You," and I'll be sharing ten a day next week.

It is an "easy" read, and it will literally open your eyes to dozens of ways to teach your children (at any age) how to truly love the Lord.

Weekend Happenings

Our weekend has all the makings of a fun two days. Tonight, Mike and I are going on our date. So far, we haven't missed, but it is inevitable, isn't it? I mean with three teenagers and everything that goes on between August and January in our home, we may just be Spring and Summer weekly daters. We'll have to see if it continues.

Our date tonight is a no-money date. We're going to eat pizza at home with the guys, and then head over to the Galleria to window shop. (Because I'm a member of the Godiva Chocolate Club, I get a free piece of Godiva Chocolate each month. I'm thinking of giving Mikie my piece tonight. I'm not going to commit, because if today turns into a stinker, I may need that piece of Godiva!)

Tomorrow, we're taking Josh (and nine others) to Fort Red Rock for his 16th birthday celebration. I know his birthday was in October, but so was football, band and volleyball. I think we're going to have the perfect weather, and I'll have all the pictures and information about Fort Red Rock (located in Bessemer) for you on the blog Monday morning. The boys have been once before, and they LOVE that place.

Roxie has plans with a friend Friday night, so she is happy. She and Mike are still going on their date Saturday, and she's looking forward to getting all dolled up and eating steak at Bonefish Grill. (Who could blame her?)

Sunday we're having the traditional pot roast and fixins' for lunch. And I'm seriously thinking about writing NAP TIME in pen on my Sunday afternoon calendar. In fact, I just did!

Have a lovely weekend... the last in February. March is definitely here... and with this month we start concentrating on Spring Things on A Simple Life. Monday I will reveal our Special Guest, and the first three days of March will be spent getting to know her and her family a little better. I have a fun party to share on Monday, too.

Continue to check out Project 365 this weekend.

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda