Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from yesterday's Honor Society Tapping. It was a very good morning as you can see from all the big smiles.

RANDOMNESS #1 - One blog reader left a very good idea in the Comment Section for a Mother's Day activity. (I would mention his/her name, but it appeared as "Anonymous.") The play, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, will be performed by our very own high school students in the new school tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. There will also be a Sunday matinee at 2:00 p.m. The cost is $10 per ticket. I've been to several of the high school plays in the past, and they have all been fun and very enjoyable.

RANDOMNESS #2 - In honor of Mother's Day, I'm going to re-post an old story. Many of you have already heard this story... many, many times. Feel free to skip ahead!

My very first Mother's Day. I remember it like it was yesterday... not 1991. Mike was determined to do everything the "right way" to make it a very special day indeed.

He knew I was supposed to have a corsage. However, when I was growing up, you wore a red corsage if your mother was living, and a white corsage if your mother had passed away. I don't know if that is a Southern tradition... or just practiced in my little part of the world. That being said, Mikie didn't know the rules.

He called our local florist in Cullman and asked for a corsage for a "first time mother." (Code for BIG!) The florist asked him, "Is the mother living or deceased?" This totally threw Mike.

He thought she was kidding, so he responded, "Now, why would I buy a deceased mother a corsage?" The florist was not amused.

"I'll take care of it," was all she said.

When Mikie went to pick up my Mother's Day corsage the afternoon before Mother's Day, he picked up the biggest orchid corsage (with matching ribbons) I had ever seen. I shouldn't have been surprised thinking back on my giant homecoming mum, but I was.

"Wow. That's quite a corsage," I said weakly.

"Yeah. The florist was a nut though. She kept asking me if you were dead or alive. But in the end, she did a great job, don't you think?" he asked, pleased. (To Mikie, bigger is always better in the corsage department.)

I didn't even ask what he was talking about because I had started wondering what to wear with the giant purple orchid. What I had originally picked out was a floral dress which would have looked wonderful with a small red corsage, but not with a giant purple one.

I finally settled on a celery green dress (solid), and while it might not have been the BEST color choice, Austin was only three months old. (Code for I DIDN'T FIT INTO ALL MY OLD CLOTHES YET, SO IT WAS THE ONLY OTHER CHOICE!)

The flower was so large, I couldn't hold Austin on my left hip because his face and head kept getting buried in the flower. Plus, he kept grabbing for the ribbons. (The only thing worse than a giant purple corsage is a dead giant purple corsage.) I balanced him on my right hip for most of the day.

A few days later, I explained the tradition to Mike. "When they were asking if the mother was alive or deceased, they meant MY mother," I explained.

"Oh," he said. He paused, thinking. "I liked that you were the only one wearing an orchid though. It made it more special." (Code for I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A PURPLE ORCHID EVERY YEAR FOR MOTHER'S DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!) And he has.

In the year 2009, I can count on one hand the corsages I see on Sunday mornings... even on the older women. But you can always spot me. I'm the very proud Mom wearing the slightly smaller (NOW) orchid corsage in the upper right balcony.

It's fun. It's tradition. It's a story to tell. And I love it!

REMINDER - It is not too late to enter the Mystery Bag Party Contest. The drawing will be held Wednesday, May 12. I will be drawing six names out of the BOWL. I'll announce the winners and immediately send invitations to them giving them a few details (time, place to meet, etc.). We will then spend almost four hours visiting three hand-picked destinations... and we will have FUN, FUN, FUN! No, really. We will.

To enter, just send me your name beside the word "Contest" via e-mail, Facebook OR the Comment Section. (I'll even accept them personally and on the phone.) What are you waiting for? Enter today!

Weekend Happenings

This weekend HAD all the makings of two and a half days of non-stop family fun. But wait! Mr. Stomach Virus is still visiting. Roxie is fine, but Josh is most definitely NOT. As happens with a stomach virus, some members of the family suffer more than others. While Roxie did not feel well, her virus experience was a "picnic" compared to poor Josh.

While we had planned on going out to eat with Mike's parents tonight to celebrate Mother's Day, we're trying to reschedule for dinner Sunday night (depending on their church services). As it stands now, Mike, Austin and Roxie would be the only three Faulkners attending the celebration.

My brother-in-law, Tommy, will be celebrating his birthday Saturday evening with as many Faulkners as possible at Bev's house. Again, we're making sure Mr. Stomach Virus stays in the Faulkner household and does not make an appearance at the Martin household.

And, of course, Sunday I will be wearing my big purple orchid corsage in the Mother's Day Service (my favorite, by the way), and then hosting lunch for my Mom, MamMa, Bev and her family. (AGAIN, all depending on Mr. Stomach Virus!)

That is the plan. The very shaky, unstable, "could change in a heartbeat" plan.

Who knows? We may all be in the bed with Mr. Stomach Virus. (That's the "glass half-empty Belinda" talking. Remember. I've told you about her.)

As is our custom now (or should I say "tradition"), I will be celebrating my own personal Mother's Day next Sunday with the Faulkner Five. I LOVE waiting a week. The restaurants aren't crowded. We don't feel so rushed visiting all the mothers in our lives the week before. We can spend more time with each part of the family. It is much more relaxing.

Have a fantastic weekend! Remember... School is almost over for the year! I may not care for summer weather, but I certainly like the pace of life. Spend tons of time with family and friends this weekend. Go ahead and plan for next weekend with an ink pen in your hand standing beside the calendar. Next week, we'll have another short devotion for the Backyard Bible Club, a rutabaga recipe (which has the word "delicious" in the title), another Seasonal Tradition, a fun date AND the winners of the Mystery Bag Contest will be announced. It's going to be a great week on A Simple Life.

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

Sincerely,

The Powerful AND Enchanting Belinda