Special Guest and MORE!

Good Monday morning!

The Showcase Pic is of our May Special Guest... Donnie Rhodes! That's right. A MAN on A Simple Life! A very nice, accommodating, agreeable man. If I needed something (like hints, pics, answers), BAM! He had everything to me in mere minutes. You can begin learning more about Donnie below. He'll be with us the next four days!

The Gallery Pics today are a little of this and a little of that from our quiet little weekend. The words "tennis" and "trampoline" sum up Friday and Saturday for Roxie and Ragan.

You'll notice a couple of pictures of Rhubarb Pie AND a Rhubarb Tart! My friend, Jennifer, found rhubarb, baked a pie AND a tart, and sent them home with Mikie just for me. And I must say, rhubarb is a fine pie ingredient. It is indeed tart, but it is still in the same category as lemon icebox pie (the way Mikie fixes it) and key lime pie. It is also very lovely to look upon. I like the red color.

After tasting Jennifer's pie (and devouring the little tart), I would have to say I am no longer afraid of rhubarb. I might even be a fan! Thank you, Jennifer. (Now I am going to try the cake recipe using the uncooked rhubarb she also sent. But I am NOT using the poisonous leaves. I'm staying far away from those!)

RANDOMNESS #1 - Another friend, we'll call her "J," notified me she had found canned rhubarb at her Publix. She was going to send it to me via my sister this past Sunday. However, when she went back to Publix, she couldn't find another can of rhubarb anywhere. When she asked someone, she was told the store rarely carried rhubarb. They did however carry rutabagas... which is what she had accidentally bought.

She was very apologetic, but I thought it was pretty funny. And I guess you know by now, I'm going to be researching recipes for rutabagas and making some poor member of the Faulkner Five try a bite... just for the photo op. Thank you for trying, "J." I appreciate it, and I'll be getting that rutabaga recipe to you in the very near future.

RANDOMNESS #2 - I would usually save this for Thursday's Blog Linkage, but Sherri (from Sherri's Blog under My Blog List) is in India this week on a mission trip. She'll be blogging throughout her trip, and I wanted you to read them as soon as she posts.

NOTICE! NOTICE! NOTICE! - Because of length, I'll be posting the Party/Event section of A Simple Life on Tuesday this week. The next four Party/Event posts will be devotions to use in your own neighborhood Backyard Club, so be sure to watch for all four. (I'll be back on schedule next week.)

Q & A - I'll be answering four or five questions in short little sections throughout the week (as best I can). One of my friends asked the following:

QUESTION - What does your family budget look like? I'm not asking how much Mikie makes, how much does Austin spends in gas money, etc. I'm looking more for percentages. What percent goes to family fun, retirement, food, etc.?

ANSWER - Mikie will laugh out loud when he sees this question. I am not a budget person. Mikie is a CPA, and I am the total opposite. However, I am in charge of several family "envelopes," and I will now answer this question to the best of my ability!

Each paycheck (twice a month), Mike pulls $100 and gives it to me. I have five envelopes, and each envelope receives $20 twice a month. (After we have a certain amount in each envelope, we deposit it in a separate account at the bank so we don't have a lot of cash around the house.)

1. Dates
2. Vacation
3. Josh's Senior Trip
4. Unexpected Car Expenses
5. Extra Car/House Payment

1. The Date Envelope is for one-on-one dates within the family OR family dates. This envelope rarely gets above $60. If Mike is taking the boys to a movie, or I'm taking Roxie out to eat, or Mike and I go on a breakfast date, we use this money to either pay for the entire date or a portion thereof.

2. The Vacation Envelope is strictly for a family trip once every year to 18 months. Whether it pays for a short City Adventure or a longer trip to the beach, it comes directly from this envelope.

NOTE - To stretch this money, we like to stay at Homewood Suites whenever possible Monday through Thursday. (They serve breakfast AND dinner. We only have to eat out at lunch.)

We also find ten things to do which cost money and five free things to do wherever we are. Once we have that list, we narrow it down to two or three PAY activities and two or three FREE activities. (Example: In Memphis, we ate at Corky's Barbecue, visited Graceland, and went on a tour at The Gibson Guitar Factory as our PAY activities. We walked down Beale Street, saw the ducks at the Peabody, had a picnic beside the Mississippi River and visited Elvis' birthplace in Tupelo on our way home for our FREE activities.) We also swam in the pool, enjoyed the hot tub and stayed up late watching movies at the hotel.

3. Josh's Senior Trip Envelope began the summer after he finished 8th grade and continues until he graduates high school.

We did this for Austin. We gave him a folder with three different vacation destinations. Because he is a history person, we picked his trips accordingly. His options included Mt. Rushmore, Washington, D.C. and San Antonio, Texas. He and Mike spent eight days in Washington, D.C., and they had a ball. (And all the money came from the Senior Trip Envelope.)

Josh and Roxie will have three entirely different folders depending on their interests at that time.

4. The Unexpected Car Expense Envelope is a must with four people driving in the family. Since this is a pretty new Envelope, we'll be using the money to help pay for tires, batteries, etc.

5. The Extra Car/House Payment does exactly what the name implies. When I have enough money in the Envelope to cover a car or house payment, we make two payments that month.

I'll answer a little bit more of this question tomorrow. (We'll talk percentages!) This is not a fast way to save money, but it does grow and it does help. If we waited until summer and tried to go on a trip, we would end up using a credit card. It's a lot more enjoyable to pay cash (and look for some of the FREE activities), and come home without owing anything on the trip.

SPECIAL GUEST - DONNIE RHODES - PART ONE - Donnie is the husband of Aprille and the dad of Payton. He has a God-given passion for kids (of all ages). As you see him out and about, you can clearly see he loves God... he loves his family... and he loves others. He's the whole package.

1. Name three places in the U.S. you've never been, but have always wanted to go... and why?

Boston because of my favorite TV show, Boston Legal, and the Red Sox. Hawaii... need I say more? Phoenix because since I was a child I wanted to visit the hot, non-humid air. (Hawaii is pretty much a given when I ask someone this question, but I think this is the first time someone has said Boston or Phoenix. I, too, would love to see Boston, but I can skip Phoenix and the hot, non-humid air. I'm a "cold weather" person.)

2. If your life was made into a movie, would it be considered (mainly) a comedy, drama, action/adventure or a romantic chick flick?

All of the above leaning mainly on comedy... especially in the romantic area.

3. What was your worst dating experience?

Never had one. (I'm going to give him a couple of mine.)

4. How many siblings do you have, and where do you fall in the mix?

I have six siblings, and I'm the baby.

5. In as few words as possible, what is the most important lesson you want your children to know before leaving your home?

They are loved unconditionally by their parents and the Lord... and not to drink Kool-Aid from strangers.

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

Dramatic!

7. If you could have one physical attribute changed, what would it be?

My love handles. (Get in line, Donnie!)

8. Dog lover or cat lover?

Neither.

9. Breakfast, lunch or dinner... favorite meal?

Dinner.

10. If you could be any age (prior or later than now), what age would you pick?

Thirteen again, of course. (Thirteen must be different for boys than it is for girls. You couldn't pay me to be 13 again!)

11. What is your favorite old hymn?

Old Rugged Cross. (Excellent choice!)

We'll have Part Two of Donnie's interview tomorrow, so come back and be ready to learn a little more about Mr. Rhodes.

Have a lovely Monday. There is still time to send in questions. There is still time to enter the Mystery Bag Party Contest. There is still time to make a date with your spouse and/or one of your kiddos this week! Today is just the beginning! Tomorrow's recipe is a good one. I'll have Part Two of Donnie's Interview. I'll answer another question. I'll have the first of FOUR Backyard Club Devotions you can use in your own neighborhood. And the rest... Well, you just never know.

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda