The Saturday Six

One.

Even though we seem to be living in a hang-onto-your-hat season of suddenly right now, I really adored this article about planting gardens of the soul, tending them, and waiting for harvest. So beautifully expressed. 

Two.

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I don't even know the full back story yet, and I love this so much, I have to share it with you. My friend Chelsea, whose parents were my youth pastors back in the day, got married on Good Friday. I haven't yet heard the whole story of how she met her husband and how they knew so quickly that this was it, but their love story seems to have sped along as quickly as Ryan's and mine. What I adore about these two is that their highest goal is to show the love of Jesus through their love of each other. They fill their lives with worship, and their wedding was no different. It was even featured in the newspaper {here} - and my favorite part of the brief write-up was that everyone was welcome at the wedding. Even the homeless. Pretty sure that's how Jesus would have encouraged a wedding. But right here you can find more pictures of their beautiful {even if cold and snowy} day. Their photographer captured the spirit of the day very well.

Three.

My printer wasn't hooked up, so I couldn't do an actual Pinteresty printable, but it doesn't have to be Pinterest exact to be fun, now, does it? This was a quick gift I gave our friends Nate and Jenna this week. They are serious Mountain Dew fans, and we wanted to thank them for pitching in to watch Spencer, the Great Dane we dog-sat for earlier this month, so we could begin working on the house after we got possession early! It was not nearly enough to compensate them for what they did for us, but it was something to at least let them know we were grateful! 

Four.

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I always love Carmella Rayone's blog posts, and her series on contentment with what you have is especially poignant, I think. This is her most recent in that series - a good reminder to shop the house for what you have and make it work, even if it's not the most trendy according to Pinterest. {And yes, I know my third point was entirely based on Pinterest.}  

Five. 

You know of my undying love for Little House on the Prairie. I'd never seen this before: Melissa Gilbert's screen test with Michael Landon. Guess you can't deny the chemistry! This is sweet. 

Six.

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I made time this week to read a book! I have missed time to read while we moved, and it was good to have my nose back in some pages!

This week I picked up Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering. This is not her first book, but it was my first time to read anything written by her. This is actually the fourth book in the Drew Farthering Mystery series, and it was unlike any mystery book I've read before.

I confess the beginning left me a bit confused, and in all fairness, perhaps if I'd read the first three books, I might not have been quite as perplexed. The first couple of chapters introduced a large handful of characters, and I had trouble keeping them all straight, especially when some had multiple nicknames in addition to their given names. If I'd been more familiar with them going in, that might not have been the case.

Another big confusion for me was that the book was set in the 1930's {and set overseas} so there was a bit of an adjustment in mentally seeing the time and place. {And the tone of this book was most decidedly NOT Downton Abbey-like, so I had to create everything in my mind.} But the premise of the book added a twist that took me a while to embrace. Drew Farthering and his new bride, Madeline have just arrived at Winteroak House, a massive estate owned by the parents of Drew's college friend, Talbot Cummins. Mr. and Mrs. Cummins are hosting a multi-day party themed in an even earlier era, so all the clothing, games, cars, food, beverages, etc. were required to fit into that time period. While I actually love that idea {let's do that in real life!!}, it made it a bit confusing for me to figure out what was related to the party and what was present-day for the book, especially when I was still wrestling to figure out the characters.

The party has barely gotten underway when Talbot's fiancee, Alice, falls ill and dies suddenly. The authorities called to the home quickly determine that she has died from a cocaine overdose, but no one can believe for a single moment that Alice would use drugs. Drew and his buddy Nick begin to investigate what's happened, and as the story continues, more people wind up mysteriously dead. Drew and Nick know they're all somehow intertwined, but they can't figure out how - and more importantly who is behind it all.

I found the plot more interesting as the book went along, but the tone of the story didn't cause me to catch my breath and my heart to quicken like many crime/mysteries I read. One of the reviews on the back of the book called it "Agatha Christie-esque" and while I've not read Agatha Christie, I think that description might best explain the difference in tone. It felt more like an old movie, which  made it no less interesting, but it just felt different {and in some ways, a bit awkward for me}.

There was a faith element in this book, but I confess {and I feel guilty saying so} that it didn't quite feel like it fit naturally for me. I am always thrilled with a faith line in a novel, but this felt a bit forced in - like there was this whole murder whodunnit happening, and now and then, one of the characters would quote Scripture.

While this may not have been my favorite book because of the unusual genre, it was still an interesting story, and if you like a mystery that doesn't scare you half to death so you can't sleep, this would be a good one to pick up. And I'd recommend maybe starting at the beginning of the series so you can meet the characters in order!

* Thanks, Bethany House, for sending a copy of this book my way in exchange for a review! *

The Saturday Six

One.

My friend Natasha sent me this video last week {it is on a Facebook page, so I couldn't embed it - or at least I couldn't figure out how. My skills are minimal} - and it is SO GREAT! The woman had a chance to shoot a basketball from half court in hopes of winning half price tuition at her daughter's school the next year...

Two.

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I don't think I need to explain to you my delight over EVERYTHING about this adorable hot cocoa bar, do I??

Three.

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For my fellow Little House fanatics, I found this post all about the first season of the TV show and it included some fun trivia that I didn't know. {Some of them I had heard, but some were new to me.} TV trivia always fascinates me, so I thought I'd pass it along! :)  

Four.

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I know we all say we just want to be loved - and I believe we do! - but for some, it takes such courage to ALLOW love into a hurting and/or hardened heart. This post by Bonnie Gray is powerful. And even if you don't struggle to receive love, this is a good read to understand those who do!

Five.

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With 2016 lurking just a week away, I thought I'd share this 2016 Bible reading plan. If you're looking for a layout for your reading for next year, this might help! 

Six.

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I spent another day immersed in the life of a small town this week - and I loved every minute of it. This time my book travels took me back to the 1830's in little Trinity, Pennsylvania, to read about the adventures of a midwife! Having been to four births myself, I was excited to read about the ways and practices of a midwife in that time.

The Midwife's Choice by Delia Parr is the second in a series {based on the "other books" page in the front of the book, I imagine it will be a trilogy} called "At Home in Trinity." I hadn't read the first book but did not feel that I was behind in any way because I picked up with book two.

The book captures the story of widow Martha Cade, the much-loved and respected midwife in the little community of Trinity. While the book does let readers peek into the practices of childbirth in that day, Martha's story is so much bigger than her profession. She's struggling to rebuild a relationship with her runaway teenage daughter, she helps at a bakery run by two sisters who also let Martha live with them, and she is part of a deeply rooted sisterhood community made up of all the women of the town.

While I wouldn't classify the book as suspenseful, particularly, it certainly never lacks for action. Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger, so putting it down was quite difficult! The author masterfully weaves many storylines together, which is something I so admire since I don't have that kind of writing skill in me.

Because the book was set in such a different period in history, I found it interesting to read how the people in that time handled their relationships and  difficult issues, such as infant loss and domestic violence. Those kinds of issues were prevalent then just as they are now, but they were not talked about as openly. It was fascinating to read how they were perceived and dealt with so long ago.

Delia's characters were charming and endearing, and despite the presence of many people in the book, I felt their stories were well told and developed - and I didn't feel confused or frustrated in trying to keep them straight.

In fact, the only thing that did confuse me in reading was keeping Martha's age straight in my head. Though she was in her early 40's, I kept feeling she was much older. Part of that, I'm sure, was her name and the fact that she was a widow, and also her deep level of influence within the community. Plus, her daughter seemed older than 17 years, so that made me think Martha should be more in her 60's than her 40's.

Really enjoyed this read - which was set in winter and brought a bit of cheer to our extraordinarily warm winter without any of the actual hassle of winter itself!

* Thanks, Bethany House, for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. *

The Saturday Six

One.

You all know my undying love for all things Little House...so you'll understand why this post, featuring a Little House inspired photo shoot, made me absolutely swoon. {Sorry there isn't a teaser picture for you - her images can't be copied. I have a rule about not featuring something on the Six if I can't use a photo, but it's too good not to share, so go see!}

Two.

Wow - watch this!!!! 

 Three.

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It's not very often that I link to something on this actual blog on the Six, but since we're breaking ALL the rules this week, let's do that! Earlier this week, someone asked me about the counter tops Ryan and I overhauled a couple of years ago, and she wanted to know how we did it. Since some of you might be new here since then, I thought I'd send you back to that post, in case making over your kitchen is on your 2016 list, and you don't have money for all new counter tops! So here you go!

Four.

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One of my Facebook friends linked to this blog this week, and I had SO MUCH FUN looking through all her posts! So many great ideas - especially for those of you who move often or rent and have limitations on your decorating. Loved it!!

Five.

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Maria asked if Ryan could make a list of good gift ideas for guys, and we somehow lost track of that project and will have to table it for next year. But in the meantime...I found this idea list! I know a few of them would get nods from Ryan, so I think it's a good list!! 

Six.

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And one more gift list for you!! I have tried several of the things on this list and agree with her suggestions. The only one that did not work for me was the nail polish she recommends. I don't think you'll ever be able to separate me from my Shellac. But if it works for you - great!! But these are fun! {And those Wood Wick candles - SWOON!!!}  

The Saturday Six

One.

Ryan and I have struggled this week with the waiting game. While we were on our getaway for our anniversary, we heard that the people that looked at our Marion house last weekend are not going to buy it. Then we learned that the sale on the Greentown house was still in question. It was so discouraging!!! We took an evening at our hotel and just prayed for help and wisdom. Later that evening - my brother-in-law shared this blog post on waiting - so timely. Choosing to trust.

Two.

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Don't know how many of you are Sound of Music fans {I sure am!!!}, but one of my friends posted this list of random trivia from the original movie...FASCINATING. Check it out!! 

Three.

For my sister, as promised, the book Mom gave us for our anniversary. It's called  Devotions for the Beach...and Days You Wish You Were There. We started reading it on our anniversary trip and have really enjoyed it so far! Great pictures inside, too!!

Four.

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You all know I'm a HUGE Little House fan...and I've visited {as a child} a fair number of the actual locations of Laura Ingalls Wilder's homes...but I loved this list that puts them all in one place. So if you need a Little House inspired vacation...here you go!

Five.

 In case you've missed random videos from Shafferland...here's a little montage from our recent trip. Hope you ENJOY!!!!

Six.

I'm not even going to put this picture here because it will spoil the joy of you opening it here. FAVORITE Instagram picture of the week, HANDS DOWN. Still laughing over this one.  

The Saturday Six

One.

This week I finished Wil Mara's novel Frame 232. It was SUCH a good book. I don't normally read historical suspense novels - and by that, I mean never before had I read one - but it was so good, I couldn't put it down! It's fiction based around the assassination of JFK. Lynne interviewed him on our show a couple of weeks ago, and his interview so intrigued me that I just HAD to read it. It's a big book, but so worth the read.



Two.

I'm always thankful for God's protection on my commutes, but this accident this week gave me a fresh reminder of just HOW thankful I should be. I was driving home when I happened upon this. I don't know if the driver of the semi fell asleep or what happened but he had been traveling north, crossed the median {and judging from the ruts in the median, he was moving pretty quickly} - crossed the southbound lanes, and ended up way out in the field on his side. I never could find anything about it on the news, so I hope he was okay! I found it to be quite miraculous that no other cars were involved.

Three.

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I read on Twitter this week that it's been 8 years since the accident that happened on the same stretch of road as the one I just mentioned above...the accident that killed five people from Taylor University and ended up in the case of mistaken identity. I so clearly remember that day. Can't believe it's been 8 years ago. I still can't wrap my mind around the details of that story. {And if you've not read that book, you should. Gripping story!}

Four.

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One of my friends sent this one to me this week...and I SO LOVED IT!! I have a Little House...ahem...problem. I was so addicted to that show growing up and still have such fond, fond love for it. Some of the cast members reunited this week on the Today show, including the crush OF MY LIFE from my teen years - Matthew Labyorteaux. He has largely disappeared from the public eye in the last several years, so I was pleasantly surprised to see him included. Ryan, we may have to own the recently remastered seasons...just sayin'. (There are two video segments, so you have to scroll down for the second one.)

Five.

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Be still, my beating heart. THIS. Hey, Sonic! Come back to the building you left in Marion. It's never been home without you.

Six.

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I know my faith isn't to this level, and there's a part of me that is too scared to add the word yet {if I'm being honest} because I am not sure what the yet would cost. A cowardly statement, but a true one. But oh my goodness. The beauty of faith right here.

The Saturday Six

One.

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So it's no secret I'm a HUGE Little House fan. So I was really sad to read this week that Richard Bull, who played Nels Oleson on the TV series, passed away. Loved Mr. Oleson.

Two.

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Really proud of one of our hometown friends, Marissa Shrock! Ryan and I went to high school with her, and she's a writer too...something I didn't know until I ran into her at a writer's conference a few years ago. Her first novel is due out this fall, and she just got to see the cover for the first time. SO EXCITED for her!!

Three.

Facebook turned 10 this week, and I - along with the masses - did the whole "look back" video thing. Thought you might want to see the Bekah of the first ever profile picture. :) 

Four.

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Um. This. Drool. And can I visit please?  That is all.

Five.

One of my work buddies brought in this package of Cookie Dough Oreos this week. I felt it only necessary that I try them for the good of the office, you know. My thoughts: if you'd put the cookie in front of me without the package and asked me to tell you what the flavor was, I never would have come up with cookie dough. The texture is like regular Oreo cream and not cookie dough and the flavor was more like maple than dough. But that aside - YUM!!!!!!! You cannot go wrong with a chocolate chip filled cookie. Period.  

Six.

And finally...THE OLYMPICS ARE HERE!!!! We love the Olympics and are so excited to spend way too many hours in front of the TV in the next couple of weeks - being completely amazed. Anyone else excited about the Olympics???

Our Very Last Day

Friday was our last day in Florida. Sadness indeed. Ronda took this picture for my friend Katy. Originally we thought we would have to take our own beach towels on vacation, and that stressed me out. Those suckers take up some prime real estate in a suitcase! Katy (who after about three flights, deemed herself a packing expert) said to me, "Oh just wear it on your head. No problem!" So for Katy.... ...and on the other side of the couch....

MeeDonald!!

Friday was a SPECTACULAR day. The sky was nearly cloudless, the sun beat down...and it wasn't even seventy stinkin' degrees. I could not bear to stay inside another day....

...so I was the super cool tourist laying out in my capris and hoodie. LOL!!! Ronda did the same - out on the beach. She took pictures of these water sport people - c.o.l.d.

By the time she came back....um...I'd added a layer. I'm an embarrassment to my own self.

In the afternoon, I decided to make one last trip to the Lighthouse Donut Shop. Before I left to buy the donuts, I said to Jonathan and Megan, Can you think of ANY reason why I would need a photo ID to buy donuts?

Maple and chocolate. Yes please.

A hint of a tan, anyway.

That evening, Jonathan had to be back with Chorale for the next leg of the tour. With him in the car, there was no room for me unless one of the kids wasn't buckled in. I couldn't have that, so I stayed home to pack and relax while everyone else went to hear Jonathan.

Watched some Little House on the Prairie. Smile.

One last sunset...oh man I miss these.

And I spent my last night in Florida reading, dunking Oreos in milk, and watching TV. It was a good run. Why again did I think going home was a good idea?

30 Days of You and Me: Day Three

Been a while since I did one of these, too! The list I found on someone's blog...says day three is favorite television program!

I really don't have time to sit and watch TV these days. My TV is almost always on when I'm home, because I like the background noise. I usually park it on the Food Network or TLC or HGTV - and sort of glance over at the shows but I don't really watch much.

Here are the shows I do like to sit and watch.

The Biggest Loser. I have had a hard time connecting with this season's contestants. I really don't know why. Maybe because I'm always doing chores while I watch this one so I haven't paid as much attention. But I do still like the show. I like watching the true people emerge as the pounds melt away. Inspiring.

Undercover Boss. It's my good-cry show every Sunday night. I love watching the bosses be humbled by the employees (is that wrong?) and I love love love watching their reward at the end. That is definitely my favorite part. When they find out they've been seen and they're finally given what they deserve.

Grey's Anatomy. Don't love this show as much as I did when it first came on the air, because some of the story lines have just gone too far. But this is a show I get to watch with Rachel (from my office) every week and I love spending that time with her. And I will admit out loud that McDreamy...still is. :)


I don't own any seasons of shows on DVD, but if I did, these would be the ones I'd get.

Little House on the Prairie. It was one of the few shows I was allowed to watch growing up and I adored it. I've probably said this on here before, and Phats is totally going to make fun of me for it, but I was such an addict in junior high and high school that I knew all the episodes (and I do mean all of them) by heart and I could tell you the title of the show after watching just the first two to three SECONDS of the show. It's true. In college, my roommates used to send me out of the room when the show came on, call me back after the title displayed, and time me to see how fast I could name the show. Instantly. And yes, I was in love with Albert. And Adam.

Dharma and Greg. I don't know why I love this show so much. It's so quirky. Do you even remember it? Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson? It used to play right after I came home from work and I think I've seen every episode - multiple times. I have read that in real life, Dharma and Greg did not get along well but they had amazing chemistry on set. I loved it! And I loved their parents. Great, great cast.

Mad About You. Hands down, probably my favorite sitcom ever. I loved the chemistry between Paul and Jaime, and I loved the story line. Never got boring for me. I remember the season when they finally had that baby - and I cried and cried when she was born! It used to be on TV about midnight every night and I'd watch it when I went to bed but it's been probably a couple of years now since I've seen this one!

The Cosby Show. Cliff and Clair. Who wouldn't want to be them - at least as parents? They were totally put together, even when they weren't. So much fun. Love it. Still watch it every chance I get.

Friends. I got hooked on this one right after college and watched it through to the finale (great finale, I thought) and of course I see it often in syndication. I'm such a Monica. :) Except I don't clean nearly as often. But I am that loud.

So what about you - favorite shows?

Time Off...Too Much of a Good Thing?

I'm LOVING my time off work. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to the decision makers at work who extended our holiday time this year an extra 3 days beyond what we would have had under the old policy. I'm thankful! Love the sleeping in, love the doing whatever I want, love the staying up late - LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!

And then comes the question of...what to do with all this time?

I started scrapping and made some serious progress in Cassie's high school book - but even scrapping can only last so long before other shiny objects attract my attention. And now said objects are starting to turn into $$$$ (at least mentally), so I think it will be high time I returned to work when the appointed day arrives.

Yesterday, because I could, I decided to hop in the car (a sight to behold) and drive down to the Gaither store because I just "needed" their two newest Homecoming videos. While driving, I contemplated how a girl who just received multiple Christmas gifts could "need" to spend money of her own...but I just did.

Then I came home and read a book - a whole book - just because I could. It was not my first read-through of the book, but it seemed an appropriate time to re-read it.

And then I started playing online. I don't know if I've mentioned this on a blog before...but I'm a SERIOUS Little House fan. Once upon a time I could really give the best of the best a run for his/her money on Little House trivia. So just for fun, I thought I'd see if I could find online trivia games. I did. I took 19 quizzes (I know - ridiculous waste of time - but I'm on VACATION!) and scored a 246 out of 310 overall possible points. And truly, if I'd read better on a few, I bet I could have had a 260. I got in a hurry and made stupid mistakes sometimes. Still, for not having earnestly watched this show in about the last 7 years, I thought that was the display of a PRETTY good memory.

One peril of this much home-time has been an overbonding experience with HGTV. By 10 pm last night I'd been all over the Lowe's website and had completely redesigned my bathroom. I don't have the money to do it - at least not yet. But I know what I want when the time comes! Upon staring at my wish list, I thought it in the best interest of my wallet to CHANGE THE CHANNEL. But I gotta tell you - when I do the bathroom - it's going to be cuh-ute! Pretty much everything goes except the toilet. It's in good enough shape to stay.

Fortunately, one of my former college roommates drove up for a visit today, so spending time with her kept me from taking quizzes and remodeling more of my house.

If I were smart, I'd start taking down the Christmas decor. I'm guessing I am not about to be smart.

Christmas - Days 16 and 17

Well I certainly had plenty of time for Christmas yesterday, given that I was snowed in! I caught up on a number of TV specials - including the good old Little House on the Prairie Christmas special where Rose was kidnapped. Amazing how times have changed. Today her dad would have been tossed into jail for leaving her unattended (not to mention out of a seat belt) in the wagon while he went for food. Today adoption is so much more complicated then "Want this kid? Okay, here you go. I'll let the orphanage know he won't be coming back." Or so I hear, anyway. But even so, good episode. Add to it a couple of Hallmark mushy movies and it was a great Christmas celebration.

And today I had my gift exchange with my good buddy Jenny. She was my supervisor when I first hired on at my job oh so many years ago - and even though she works elsewhere now, we still go to lunch all the time and she puts up with all my craziness. For that, she deserves a gold medal. Not quite what I gave her, you understand, but it's what she deserves. My first gift exchange of the season - a great start to the week!

As a bonus to the day, I survived yet another pre-holiday trip to Wal-Mart, despite the lack of a SINGLE CART at either entrance to the store and the lack of a SINGLE EXPRESS LANE for me to use in purchasing my armload of stuff. Okay I'm willing to accept that it's a busier time of year, but they put a commercial on TV saying they'd open more lanes! Where are said lanes? In what city? I will go there!

Whew. I'm okay now.

Bits for Sunday, September 16, 2007

There’s a line in a Little House on the Prairie episode that always bothered me – because I thought it was really bad theology. Not that I base my theology on the lines of television programs, of course, but I’m sure there are those who do, so such lines always make me cringe. Anyway, this line was from the episode titled The Lord is my Shepherd (threw that in there just for those who still like to pick on me for my over-knowledge of Little House episode titles). That was the episode – a two-parter, actually – where Laura’s baby brother dies, and she thinks it’s her fault. This is where the irritating theology comes in. Laura goes to the church to talk to Reverend Alden and he says to her “the closer you are to God, the more likely He is to listen.” She takes that literally and climbs a mountain (which just mysteriously appeared the prairie, you understand) and tries to get God to send back the baby and take her instead.

Yesterday that line came back to me while I sat on a pier, indulging in the sights and sounds that come only from being on the water. While I still find that statement untrue, I think perhaps the reverse of it might just have something. At least for me. The closer I am to God, the more likely I am to listen.
For the last two years, I’ve gone to this particular lake in September with the ladies’ group of a friend's church. This year, the group did another activity in lieu of the lake retreat, and by mid-August, I found myself already missing the God-connection I always get when I go away to that place. So this year, she and I went without her church group. We just picked a Saturday, loaded up my car with all sorts of random “connect with God” tools and headed for the lake.

Each year, I really try to go with an open heart, ready to hear whatever it is God wants to say to me. But this year, I didn’t even have the guidance of the speaker, the music, and the workshops. It was a wide open day, and I had no idea what God might want to do or say. But I did go ready to listen. And somehow, being out in the beauty of creation like that makes it easier for me to do so.

Yesterday was a beautiful day – the perfect blend of sun and clouds. But we’ve not gone quite this late in September before, and it was just a little bit chilly. In fact, toward the end of the day, we received some strange looks from people who walked by and saw us stretched out on lawn chairs, wearing jackets and bundled up under blankets. I suppose it did look strange. But we weren’t there for a tan. We were there to hear water lapping against the pier and hear the strange calls of birds that don’t live in our town, because we don’t have water. We were there to admire the beautiful lake homes and watch the leisurely drifting of the fishing boats, occasionally interrupted by the hurry of a speedboat.


I didn’t have an agenda other than enjoying the day. Part of the time, I just sat on a bench on the pier, wrapped up in my trusty kitten blanket, drinking coffee, eating peanut butter M&Ms and thinking that life doesn’t get much more perfect. I felt the breeze (which sometime bordered on a chilly wind) blowing across the water toward shore and I thought of the verses in Genesis when God was busy creating and the Spirit of God moved upon the waters…and I wondered if it felt anything like that. I squinted in the sun and reflected on the year that had passed since I last sat on that same bench – and realized again that God is good. In the good and the bad, He is good.


I pulled out my rather massive God-journal, and wrote, because no day is complete for me unless it includes some writing. And I love nothing more than to write in a new place – to create a memory of a day when I put pen to paper in a spot besides my desk or my bed or my couch.


Later in the day, I spread out under a tree and read verses, studying a portion of Scripture that I never remember reading before. I put the first words in a brand new journal reserved for a special occasion that I’ve decided has officially arrived, and enjoyed uninterrupted moments alone with God.

God wasn’t any more present at that lake than He would have been on my own property, but for me, there’s something special about going away with the intent of meeting with Him. There’s something wonderful about having a particular place that has never failed to bring about a special meeting with God. There’s something comforting about driving away to a remote location knowing that I will come back refreshed. Because the closer I am to God, the more likely I am to listen.

Charles Dickens Day

I told you I was going to try to do a better job at the holiday informing...and since I wasn't at work Sunday, I missed Create A Vacuum Day. I thought I better not miss another holiday in the same week!!!

Today is Charles Dickens Day. Wasn't sure exactly what that meant, so I did a little research - turns out today is his birthday. (Don't you know I'll be informing you of Bekah Day when it arrives, then!)

So for you Charles Dickens fans - today is a day of celebration. Have some cake and ice cream - and an extra helping for him, since I'm fairly sure that he can't have any.

IN my research, the particular site I was on said today was also Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthday. Phats is laughing already - I can tell. I know, I know, the Little House on the Prairie obsession has gone on too long. Really I'm not nearly as obsessed with it as I used to be. In fact, I never see it anymore. I think it's only aired when I'm at work. And I can't rattle off the titles like I used to be able to do. AND - you should be so proud - I still haven't purchased a season of it to own.

But anyway, you can celebrate Charles' birthday if you want. I'll have some cake for Laura.

And I'll report back next week for the next big holiday. Hint - that one is a major one, so let this be a reminder to those of you who have chocolate/flower purchasing obligations! You have one week!

Sunday, August 20, 2006

It has been a Bekah-land sort of weekend. Need I say more? You might be wishing I wouldn’t – but you know me better than that.

Thursday night I stopped by the little gas station around the corner to pick up some chocolate milk for the next day. Friday was a vacation day for me and all good vacation days include chocolate milk at the start. So I wandered in – kind of late that evening – and one of the guys who works there waved at me. He used to work the morning shift – when I used to go in every morning before work for a pop – so I saw him every day. But now he works the overnight hours and goodness knows I have no need for caffeine then.

When I got up to the front of the line to pay for my milk, he said to me, “Where’d you go to high school?” I told him, and he said, “I know more about you than you think I know!” My eyebrows shot straight up on that one. It turns out that he discovered his wife and I were in the same class in high school – and given the odd spelling of my name, he made the connection that I was the same one she talked about when she took trips down memory lane. So we caught up – and he told me that she worked at another station across town.

So…the next morning, I got up and on my way out of town for my small road triplet, I stopped where she works. Now he’d told me that he was going to relay the message to her that I would be coming to visit. Don’t you know that he forgot? So over the exchange of money for my Krispy Kreme, I asked the cashier if Heather was around, and she called her out to the front. Heather said to me, “May I help you?” I said, “Hey!!” As she gave me a totally blank stare, I realized she had no idea a.) who I was, or b.) that I was coming to see her.

But she recovered quickly, figured out who I was, and we had the nicest little catch up session there in the back room of the gas station. But here’s the part that killed me. She told me I became the matter of discussion that led her husband to realize he knew me when her daughter developed a fascination with watching Little House on the Prairie. Now, if you don’t know me well, I’ll have to make a slight confession here.

Back in the day, I was a huge Little House fan. Mom had to schedule dinner around channel 23’s late afternoon showing of Little House. I pitched a fit of gargantuan proportion when I had to miss any episode. And for a while (I so cannot believe I’m divulging this information) I even kept my own running episode guide in a pink notebook. Complete with show titles. I know. I know. GET A LIFE. And Heather knew of this obsession because one week when I was on vacation, I knew there were some episodes coming up that I didn’t have titles for, and I requested that she watch the first five minutes of Little House every day to grab the titles for me.

Other people get pet sitters or mail gatherers when they go on vacation. I assign someone to watch a syndicated TV show to get the title for me. I need therapy. However, I will say that it provided a rather amusing pastime for my college roommates. During my freshman year, Little House aired at 8 or 9 in the morning, and they would make me leave the room (where I was getting ready for class) when it first came on until the title would pass – and then they would call me back in. They proceeded to time me to see how long it took me to guess the title. My average was under five seconds – and I rarely missed even a single word of the title. And for as pathetic as that is, I think it’s pretty good.

It all gave brand new meaning to “I know more about you than you think,” though. Frightens me to know that my neighborhood gas station buddy knows this about me.

So anyway. So many other things happened this weekend that made it the sordid conglomeration of events that it was – but allow me to share just one more.

My small road triplet took me about 2 ½ hours away to the home of one of my college roommates, her husband, and their daughter. Christina, Emily and I spent Friday together, and we had a great time catching up. When Andrew came home from work, the three of us spent the evening hanging out, playing a game, and watching TV. When it was time to go to sleep, I joked with Christina, “I’ll try not to sleep in until 11 like I do at home.”

I curled up in the guest room and kept one eye on the clock all night – forcing myself to wake up every hour or so just to make sure I didn’t sleep too late. Around 8:40 in the morning, I decided to get up – I’d heard them all stirring and it just seemed like a good medium time to get up – not too early, not too late. I went into the bathroom, took my shower, did my hair and makeup, came out, strolled into the bedroom, grabbed my cell phone to put it in my pocket, and glanced at the time while I did. 12:40. WHAT?? I yanked my watch out of my suitcase. 12:40. I looked up at the bedroom clock. Flashing 9:23. Flashing, I say!!!! Apparently the power went out…and I failed to notice that tiny detail.

I was so mortified. But I had to get down the stairs to get out the door. Christina was putting away dishes, Emily was chasing Andrew around, and I said, “Uh, hi.” Christina just said, “Would you like a donut or do you want lunch?”

MAMA!!!!!