50 Dates

Good Wednesday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from Zac's 12th birthday party held last Sunday (a little early). His birthday celebrations are always fun because he still gets "wrapped" gifts instead of a pile of cards with money. I LOVE wrapped gifts. And truthfully, so does everyone else because even the adults wanted to play with his remote control helicopter and other cool toys. (Money is highly overrated. That being said, never buy me a remote control ANYTHING... I'll take the cash.)

My weekly date with Mikie was fun, yet simple. I am convinced the best time to celebrate Mother's Day is the weekend AFTER Mother's Day (absolutely NO lines anywhere), and the best time to celebrate Valentine's Day is in the middle of the week a few days AFTER February 14. We walked into our movie and sat down with six other people. We ate dinner after the movie at Waffle House. (I know. How romantic!) But it was romantic... and we had fun... and I had a BLT which I had been craving for quite some time. So there!

Roxie attended the Heart to Heart Banquet our church held for the 6th to 11th grade girls. The Senior girls served. Roxie absolutely loved this banquet. On the way to school this morning, she was still talking about the speaker (Denise), the message and all the fun the girls had together. It was a huge hit!

TOPIC OF THE WEEK - The Mikie and Belinda Story - Part Two

Let's see. Where did I leave off? Oh, yes. I was in the balcony of Shades Mountain Baptist Church with my friend, Kelley. She had just pointed out Mike, as well as her friend, Alesia, who we were to meet after the service.

Alesia turned out to be very established in the Singles Department at the church, and we met literally dozens of people our first two Sundays visiting there. Kelley, Alesia, and another girl, Celeste, and I became close friends, and it wasn't long until we were doing EVERYTHING together. Beach trips, shopping, movies, more shopping, out to eat, and even more shopping. Many of our activities were "group" activities, and along with Kelley, Alesia and Celeste we had many other friends (male and female) in our core group. Mikie was one of our guy friends.

Mike and I hit it off immediately. He was incredibly easy to talk to, and he was fun to be around. He was considerate and sweet. He was a good listener... and I was a good talker.

Over our next three years together at Shades Mountain, he became my best male friend. Also, during our next three years together at Shades Mountain, it became obvious Mike's one and only goal was to date as many nice, Christian women as possible. And this was a goal he met!

It honestly did not bother me. Many times after a date, Mike would call and we would talk about anything and everything. I knew his story from beginning to present, and he knew mine. Because we were going on trips and retreats with the Singles Department, he had definitely seen me with no make-up, little sleep, and very grumpy, and I could say the same of him. Well, except the no make-up part. As far as I know, Mike has never worn make-up. (That would have been a deal breaker.) It didn't matter. We were friends.

I can remember the first time it bothered me when he called after a date. The girl he was dating at the time was wonderful, and she was a friend of mine. (Not close, but a friend.) Mike really enjoyed dating this particular girl, and she obviously, enjoyed his company, too.

At the time, I wouldn't have said I was jealous, but looking back, I'm sure I was. I was not livid or pouty or incredibly sad, but it definitely DID bother me... and up to this point, who Mike chose to date had never bothered me at all.

He, of course, was oblivious, and when he asked me my opinion of whether they should continue to date, I found myself hesitant to answer honestly... because I had to admit, the honest answer would have been, "NO! Are you insane? Open your eyes, man!"

Instead, I deferred and asked him what he thought. HUGE mistake. Having to listen to him go on and on and on for an hour or so about how this girl was SO wonderful and SO sweet and SO funny and SO cute was pure torture. And it was only made worse because she was definitely all of those things and more. I even thought so!

It was probably the first time I was happy when he said, "Well, good-bye," and we were able to end that very one-sided conversation.

Tomorrow, things turn around a little, but only because I took matters into my own hands (which, by the way, I do NOT recommend).

Wednesday Wisdom - Of course, today's quotes will be about first dates. There aren't too many good ones to choose from, so I guess you all know what I'll be working on the rest of today... First Date Quotes!

"If you think there are no new frontiers, watch a boy ring the front doorbell on his first date." Olin Miller. (I only know how it felt from the other side of the door.)

"I can't imagine dating a boy, meeting him only outside the home. What's a home and family for if it's not the center of one's life?" Loretta Young. (Being a mother of boys, I love this quote. I know many would consider it "old-fashioned," but I also am a lover of all things "old-fashioned.")

50 Dates

Since Mikie and I are trying to date weekly (and I emphasize the word "trying"), I thought today AND tomorrow I'd share 50 Dates to keep it interesting AND fun AND affordable. Below are the first 25 Dates...

1. Pick a good TV show, get a whole season on DVD and set a time to watch it (ALONE) together each week.

2. How about dinner and then stargazing at the planetarium's evening show?

3. Try brunch and a matinee. Fancy restaurants are more affordable in the morning.

4. Pick up an order of your favorite fast food and head for the drive-in.

5. Museums usually have one free night a week.

6. Hit the local arcade. (I know I'm considered older than dirt by the "arcade crowd," but Mikie and I both love pinball! I would definitely do this.)

7. Head to the highest point in town. Spend an early evening watching the twinkling lights turn on. (Take a picnic basket of sandwiches, drinks and snacks.)

8. Leisurely walk through your local botanical garden.

9. Sign up for a one-night class at your local college (TOGETHER). (Mikie would LOVE this. Me... not so much.)

10. Hit a farmers' market and look for dinner you can cook together.

11. Hit a flea market.

12. Take a tour of garage sales in the ritziest neighborhoods.

13. Don't you just drive each other up the wall sometimes? Prove it... at an indoor climbing gym.

14. Head to an ice skating rink and strap on skates for some icy fun.

15. Poke around an antique shop.

16. Stop at a fancy bakery and pick out a tasty treat for each other.

17. Feed the ducks at the pond.

18. Frisbee. Try throwing it around in a park.

19. Rent a tandem bike and go for a ride.

20. Get up early, fix a pot of coffee and watch the sunrise.

21. Head to a batting cage and swing at some balls.

22. Hit the bowling alley.

23. Get in the saddle for a horseback-riding lesson or a trail ride.

24. Map out a long bike ride through a local park.

25. Go play paintball.

Mike and I have done most of these things with the kids, but only 11 out of 25 ALONE as a date (since the kids arrived). We need to get busy! There will be more ideas for dating fun tomorrow.

Have an exceptionally good Wednesday. I cannot believe it is already the middle of the week. Friday will be here before we know it. Come back tomorrow for Blog Linkage and 25 more fun date ideas. Oh, and I'll be telling a little more of The Mikie and Belinda Story. (It was on the New York Times' Best Seller List for over four weeks, you know.)

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

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda