Hometown Pixie Dust

The lights are dimming as Savannah climbs into my lap for a better view. We watch the sparkling pixie dust drift over Cinderella’s castle as the famous notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star” fill the air around us. The notes themselves act like pixie dust enchanting the viewers, even before the show begins. Savannah’s grip tightens around my hand and she let’s out a squeal of excitement. She has no idea what is coming next but she knows it will be good!

This wasn’t a scene from Disney World. It happened right here in our small town this past weekend. Savannah experienced the magic of the movie theatre for the first time.
Disney’s signature opening got her adrenaline flowing and the movie that followed kept it running…for about 3/4th of the movie anyway! Once the popcorn ran out and WALL E dove deeper into the plot, she began to play with the lady’s hair in front of us. Although she lost interest at the very end, Mark and I laughed all the way through. Ok, sometimes I was laughing at Savannah playing with the lady’s hair in front of us but the movie was funny too. None the less, the theatre left a big impression on Savannah and since they showed the castle at the beginning of the movie, she is asking to go to Disney World to visit WALL E and Eve. Disney is so smart…

This is my favorite summer salad! When I first read this recipe in Southern Living I thought it sounded weird but I knew I liked every ingredient in the recipe. Once I tried it I realized it encompasses everything I want in a summer treat: juicy, fresh, cold, sweet, salty, with a tangy finish.




Tomato and Watermelon Salad

5 cups seeded watermelon, cubed
1 ½ pounds ripe tomatoes, cubed
3 teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Cracked pepper to taste

Combine watermelon and tomatoes in a large bowl; sprinkle with sugar and salt, tossing to coat. Let stand 15 minutes.
Stir in onion, vinegar, and oil. Cover and chill 2 hours. Serve chilled with cracked black pepper.

First Fish

It was Memorial Day Weekend and we had nothing to do

So we grabbed some hot dogs, for fishing of course, and a pole too

To the farm we went with Savannah in anticipation

“I will catch a big one!” she yelled in proclamation







Down on the dock Daddy baited the hook

And we stared at the water with an intense look







After a pull on the pole we reeled him in

Then Savannah shouted “Let’s eat him!” with a mischievous grin















But the thrill didn’t last and tears filled her eyes

“But Daddy, I don’t want to throw him back. I don’t want to say good-bye”








“Oh Savannah, we’ll catch more. And before he leaves you can give him a kiss.”

Then a kiss was given and soon this fish she did not miss









We caught 10 more and to them too freedom was given

But a day like today we’d never give back, ‘cause this is livin’!

More from last weekend

Key:

Savannah on the 4 wheeler

James' sweet smile (Jason and Mandy's)

Olivia's pinchable checks (Rana's)

Savannah looking angelic but secretly devising her next plan of attack on the 4 wheeler

Gavin, not sure what he is doing (Rana's)

Dealey, AKA "Little Rachel"

The Next Generation

Last weekend “the girls” got together for our regular quarterly dinner date. Our group began years ago when Rachel moved to our home town at the age of three. Mandy joined the club the following year and still complains that Rach and I wouldn’t play kitchen with her at first in our old HRBC Sunday school room. Do you know I can still picture that room in my head? I can tell you where the blocks were, the tables, and that infamous kitchen. Anyway, the elementary years brought Carly and Rana into the picture completing our lifelong ex-Roadie club (Our church was Hampton Road Baptist Church, therefore church goers were called “roadies,” kind of a funny name for church goers!).

Our quarterly dinner date this past weekend took me back into time to our preschool Sunday school days. During dinner I saw a little Rachel running around looking up at me with big blue eyes, a mini Mandy smiling at me around every corner, a feisty Rana ready for a chase, and a little stringy blond haired girl acting a bit like me. It wasn’t déjà vu. For the first time we had all of our kids together for a big blowout family cookout.



Although I love seeing all our children’s personalities and getting to know each other’s spouses a little better, my favorite part is still us. “The girls.” I can’t say it any better than Rana already has. We are all so different but we come together and complete each other. Just like a puzzle where no piece is alike, each person brings something unique to the table. God gave me all the “pieces” I need when he gave me “the girls.” He has given me other “pieces” I need outside of “the girls.” But that’s a different story. We create our own complete picture.

I watch our new little generation with wonder. Will they connect to each other after simmering together year after year, enduring numerous cookouts the next 18 years? Will the miles that separate them be no match for the bond they will create when they make fun of their moms who use to be called “Roadies?” I’ll enjoy the view while waiting to see.