Unique August Dates

Good Thursday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from last night's service in our new sanctuary. The official FIRST service will be held this Sunday, August 8. It was a very exciting evening.

RANDOMNESS - I'm in a reflective mood once again, and I'm going to dedicate this little piece of Randomness to a few of the many memories I have of the church (building) we'll be leaving in a few days. I added the word "building," but it has been so much more than that to so many people in our community. It is God's house, and will continue to be God's house in the new location... Just down the road.

MEMORY - I remember our first Sunday visiting this huge church after moving from Cullman the week before. Joshua was due any second (literally), and Austin was only two years-old. We didn't go to Sunday School that day. (I was way too uncomfortable.) However, after Josh was born, Mike and Austin attended every service until it was time for Josh to make his first appearance in the nursery. Austin had already made friends in his new Sunday School class. I placed Josh in a baby bed next to Sarah Brewis. She and her mother, Vicki, were the first people I really talked to those first few weeks. Sarah was Josh's first little friend at the new, huge church we were attending.

MEMORY - I remember Austin's three year-old choir performance at Christmas wearing the white robe and the gigantic red bow. He knew all of his words and he picked his nose the entire time he sang... all three songs. I was sitting next to Bro. Steve on the second row... experiencing severe flop sweat... wishing he was sitting somewhere else while I filmed this highly embarrassing moment. During the third song, when it was evident Austin was NOT going to stop picking his nose, he leaned over and said, "He hasn't missed a single word. You must be really proud." (His voice is on the video. My voice is not on the video because I was too overwhelmed to speak.)

I wanted to say, "There's nothing in his nose. He doesn't have a cold. He just needs something to do with his hands... obviously." Or, "He gets that from his Daddy's side of the family." I remember it was one of the few times I was totally speechless.

MEMORY - I remember holding Roxie in a long, white dress in front of the whole church... with my elbow resting on Austin's head to keep him still... and Mike's foot on Josh's foot to keep him still... and having flop sweat once again.

I remember Donna leaning over and whispering in my ear before they took the official Baby Dedication Picture telling me I should have a family photo taken of the boys in their little suits and bow ties, and Roxie in her white dress, and Mikie and I in our matching navy blue grown-up clothes. I remember thinking, "Are you nuts?"

MEMORY - I remember three sweet baptisms of three little Faulkners who had accepted Christ as their Savior, and they wanted the whole world to know.

MEMORY - I remember making sweet friends in our Sunday School class.

MEMORY - I remember many, many babies being born... and holding them and kissing their little mouths when their mommies turned their heads.

MEMORY - I remember the Candle and Carol Service EVERY Christmas Eve. I remember nervously helping little boys hold lit candles and the whole sanctuary of that huge church lighting up as we sang Silent Night. I remember hugging people and saying "Merry Christmas" over and over again as we made our way to the parking lot.

MEMORY - I remember the day Bro. Steve said he and his family were leaving. I remember feeling unbelievably sad.

MEMORY - I remember sitting on the front pew of that huge church the night the Pastor Search Committee introduced our new pastor. I remember feeling very excited and relieved God had given us a new pastor so quickly.

MEMORY - I remember Pastor Kevin's first service in our huge church. I remember his energy and his Top Ten List. I remember liking him very much.

MEMORY - I remember the first time Mikie and I walked to the balcony to get to "our" seats, and Pastor Kevin was standing there giving announcements. I remember wanting him to go to the stage and give announcements.

MEMORY - I remember the day I looked around the huge church, and it didn't seem huge any longer. Yes, there were some people I didn't recognize. But after 16 years, there were so many more people I did know. I remember realizing it was a good place to have raised my three kids. I remember being thankful God led us there as a young family.

MEMORY - I will always remember Wednesday, August 4, 2010. It was the night we moved into our new sanctuary.

Different building... same God... new memories to be made.

Blog Linkage - I have three links for you today. Nothing too heavy, but enjoyable reading just the same.

1. Go to www.manhattanmom.blogspot.com and read "Piece by Peace" dated August 1. Short, sweet and oh, so true.

2. Click on Big Mama under My Blog List and read "The Leftover Cupcakes Have Sustained Me" dated August 5. If you have ever had a little girl sleep-over you will be able to relate.

3. Click on Coal Creek Farm under My Blog List and watch "Spazmodic Spazmo." I think I could be real-life friends with this woman. She just seems FUN!

Unique August Dates

Except for Enchanting Belinda Day, August doesn't have an official "holiday." However, there are plenty of ways to celebrate some of the crazy National Days recognized during the month of August with a date or two.

Since it is National Catfish Month, take your date to a local seafood restaurant and enjoy catfish and fried dill pickles...

Or, if you are a golfer, it is National Golf Month so take your date golfing (putt-putt or real)...

Or, since the second week of August is National Elvis Week, enjoy grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches with your date, and then find a television for the two of you to watch an old Elvis classic...

Or, since the second week of August is ALSO National Apple Week, go to a Farmer's Market with your special date, pick out about eight Granny Smith's and make a pie together...

Or, since August 7 is National Mustard Day, share a hot dog with your date at a local Sneaky Pete's restaurant, or give your date a grilling lesson and make dinner together for your family...

Or, since August 8 is Dollar Day, head to the Dollar Tree and take a little time to spend two or three bills with your little one. Then you could head to McDonald's and order a treat (or lunch) off the Dollar Menu.

What are you waiting for? Get busy and date, date, date!

Have a beautiful Thursday. Friday's post will be a little essay about where I was this time last year and where I am today regarding The Boy leaving for college (again). I'll also have some Weekend Happenings to share.

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda