Valentine's Day Cards... Who Will Be Your Special Valentine?

Good Wednesday morning!

The Showcase Pic has changed! I actually "bumped" into Charlotte last night (Code for I SAW HER, AND I TACKLED HER AT THE DOOR OF THE RESTAURANT). Just kidding. Charlotte is fine. And I got not one, but TWO new pics of her along with her beautiful daughter, Gracie. (See the Gallery Pics, too.) It was a good night!

SPECIAL GUEST - Charlotte Guffin

I'm still having a few technical difficulties with the interview process, BUT when I saw Charlotte at the restaurant last night, I was able to get three more answers from her. YES!

3. Name two places in the United States you want to visit, and why?

I want to go to Chicago to visit the Wootens, and I want to go to Wisconsin to visit my sister. (Charlotte, if you make it to Wisconsin, I want a Big Cheese Hat. I'll pay for it, but I want one... really, really badly. And if I find out you went to Wisconsin and didn't buy me a Big Cheese Hat after I featured you as my Special Guest and everything... Well, I might be pouty for a week or so.)

4. What is one thing that instantly puts a smile on your face?

That one is easy. That one over there (she pointed toward her Gracie), and my other three (Abbie, Graham and Zac).

5. What is one surprising thing people do NOT know about you?

WARNING - If you haven't eaten breakfast yet, do not read this answer.

I like to go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and order an omelet and turnip greens. (I had breakfast an hour ago, but just typing this is starting to bother me a little.)

Yes, Charlotte is a fascinating guest. And thankfully, her Gracie has agreed to be the "ghost writer" for the remainder of this interview. So tomorrow, we will have more questions, more answers (and if I happen to "bump" into Charlotte again... more pictures)!

TOPIC OF THE WEEK - Answered Prayer

Where did we leave off yesterday? Oh, yes. We had one flying squirrel, a very good interview under our belt.. and Keith's severance pay was about to run out. Great and mighty things were about to happen.

This part of the story is interesting, but it really doesn't have anything to do with the next answered prayer in Kim and Keith's life. They found another flying squirrel. They think there may even be a third. That remains to be seen, and I will let you know if and when the herd of flying squirrels is totally rounded up!

Now, on to the rest of the story. Keith and Adam left last Tuesday morning on an outing. Five minutes (or less) after they left, Kim received a slightly strange phone call from Keith. "Do you mind going to the bedroom and setting the alarm clock for 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning?"

"No. I'll do it now. Why on earth do you need to get up at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning?" she asked. (With all the squirrels flying around their house at night, I imagine they had not been getting a large amount sleep in the nights prior to this request.)

"I just got a call from the temp agency, and they want me to start work... tomorrow morning." Get this. The day before his severance pay was to end. Oh, and get some more. Keith had previously worked at this particular place years earlier, so he was more than a little prepared for this temporary job.

"Unbelievable," I murmured as she finished her story. And then I was ashamed. Why was it unbelievable? God answers prayers ALL the time in ALL kinds of ways. Why had I not just EXPECTED this outcome? It comes down to faith... and remembering... and praying with confidence... and not taking for granted the many, many, many times He has answered my own simple, sometimes childlike, requests with a big, fat "YES!"

I told Kim I hoped they caught flying squirrel number two. And then I hoped they caught flying squirrel number three. Because when there are three little flying squirrels sitting side by side in their comfy little "flying squirrel homes," I want the first one to be named "Manna," the second to be named "From," and the third to be named "Heaven." Get it? Manna From Heaven!

Fine! Rascal it shall remain. But "Rascal From Heaven" doesn't have the same catchy ending I had originally wanted for this story. But I guess it will have to do.

Wednesday Wisdom - This week I thought I would share some quotes on prayer.

"All prayers are answered if we are willing to admit that sometimes the answer is no." Anonymous.

"I have had prayers answered - most strangely so sometimes - but I think our heavenly Father's loving-kindness has been even more evident in what He has refused me." Lewis Carroll. (I love this quote because it shows the parent-child relationship so clearly. Because I love my children, I do not give them everything they request. Due to concern for their well-being and wisdom I've gained from life experiences, I know everything they ask for is not good for them. At 48 years of age, God, MY heavenly Father, knows everything I ask for is NOT what I need even though I may disagree at the time. I think this little bit of wisdom is very eloquently stated.)

"As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools." Anonymous. (And all the students said, "Amen!")

Valentine's Day Cards... Who Will Be Your Special Valentine?

Today I'm going to urge you to take a few minutes to think about your neighbors. Are there any elderly men or women who live alone on your street?

If so, why not spend a little time and a little money on Sunday, February 14, and deliver a homemade or store-bought Valentine's Day Card to those neighbors. A carnation or a small box of candy are inexpensive gifts which can go along with the card and the visit. As always, include your children in the making, shopping and delivery of these cards. They will learn to be compassionate much more effectively by example than by words alone.

Remember, your neighbor was once someone's Valentine, too.

Have a lovely Wednesday. The rain is coming! The rain is coming! Enjoy some sunshine today. Tomorrow I have wonderful Blog Linkage to share with you, and a very fun date. I'll also have more answers to questions answered by Gracie about her Mom! It could be a very interesting day on A Simple Life.

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda