Country Boy

I am watching the market and I find myself singing the Hank Williams Jr. song "A country boy can survive..."

We're from North California (Indiana) and South Alabam'
and little towns all around this land.
We can skin a buck, and run a trout line
and a country boy can survive,
country folks can survive...

Dad made sure I could. He said it might come in handy some day.

Let's hope not anytime soon.

Stuck in my Head

This song has been stuck in my head all day. A great illustration about the ability for the brain to commit to memory something that is put to music. I think I was six or seven when this aired. In this episode Elroy's secret boy scout code is accidentally sent to Jet Screamer (a teen heartthrob) when it is mixed up with Judy's entry to a song-writing contest. Jet used it to create a new hit. Apparently the singer is the guy who played Ernest T. Bass on the Andy Griffith show. You can clearly hear that in the song. Obviously it has been a weird day for me.

MEALS FOR A MONTH!

Several people posted comments on the previous blog in regards to Debbi's suggestion that people join one day and make a bunch of dinners to put in the freezer. She thought that before she made final preparations, that she should make one last curtain call. So, here she is:

Hey everyone! I had just mentioned in the previous post that in the past, I have gotten together with a few friends on a day when no kids are around, and made up a bunch of dinners and parts for dinners and put them in the freezer. We got so much accomplished and had fun and fellowship in the process. If you are interested, please post here and I will contact everyone after a few days with more specific instructions and make a plan! So far, those that are interested are Amy C, Jenni D, Jenny M, Amanda L, and Hillary D.

Looking forward to having fun with you while we take care of our families!

Debbi

Dinner Anyone?

Debbi had a strange encounter with the baggers and checkers at Publix last night. She has developed a following of sorts when she checks out because of her legendary use of coupons. The baggers and checkers, mostly teenagers stop what they are doing and come over to see how she did ($70 savings on a $130 grocery bill). One of the young men said to her, "You are a real mom aren't you? You know, you cook and you all eat together right...and I bet you drive a mini-van and have more than two kids and one of them must play soccer. You are a real mom aren't you?" Debbi said, "Yes, I am a 'real' mom" and showed him her monthly menu from which she shops. He just shook his head and said, "I can't even pronounce some of the stuff you are cooking!"

This encounter made me wonder if the family meal is dying. We eat together every night but Wednesday and Sunday (When we are at church) but I don't really have a sense of what other families do. Here is a good article I found about family dinners. I would be curious to see what others are doing and what your traditions are. I think home-cooked is not as important as the fact that folks are sitting down together, even if it is around a Dominoes pizza.

Say What?

Conversation:

Sam: Hey dad, I was thinking about maybe playing soccer.
Me: Say what?
Sam: Soccer.
Me: Really? Why?! (Thinking to myself how I had failed as a father that my son wanted to play a sport where you use a ball, but you don't touch it with your hands)
Sam: Well, my friends play.
Me: And?
Sam: I think I would like it.
Me: Uh, OK then (This is gonna be a disaster)

We signed up...late. Yesterday we attended our first game. Sam had been to one scrimmage where he didn't play, he only watched. We prepped him to ONLY do what the coach said if he got in the game since our complete knowledge of soccer could fit in a thimble.

He played a lot.

He had great instincts for the game.

He was good.

Crow tastes a little like chicken.

Gulf Coast Friends

A couple years ago now we took a group of youth and adults to Pearlington Mississippi to assist with Hurricane relief. We spent a lot of time and effort on some homes there to get them back in a livable condition. We were all struck by the kindness and generosity of folks there who laid down pride and accepted our help. Our youth learned a lot there...how to drywall, mud and sand in particular, but they also learned that it is OK to ask for and receive help when you have a need.

Well, our friends (including Racquel mentioned in this story) who have worked so hard to get back in their homes and who had finally moved out of their FEMA trailers are back in the same situation. Gustav brought flood waters and many of the houses we worked on flooded again. The residents are discouraged and feel trapped by the inability to move and yet they are struggling to find reasons to stay. My heart breaks for these folks as I picture them stripping drywall and beginning again.

I write this to ask for your prayers. Please join me in lifting up the discouraged folks in Pearlington.

Thanks.