My Valentine

It's been a super busy few days, hence the not posting in a while. We spent the weekend working on our camp house, Sunday was church and the annual Biscuit Cookoff and Monday was an early Valentine's date for Preacher and me.


First, the camp. We have been working hard to spruce up our camp house. It's been 10 years since we built it and it was in need of a refresher. The kids, amazingly, were lots of help. They didn't argue too much and pitched in on the painting. We painted the living area, which has some really high ceilings and we also put a coat of paint on our new bunk beds that Preacher and the PKs built a few weeks ago. It's really coming together quite nicely. I can't wait to get it finished so that our trips can be restful and not full of work.


Preacher had a great sermon on Sunday. He is continuing in the book of Mark with verses 9:38-42 this week. It talks of not being jealous of others in their work in the kingdom. God used people of different abilities in different ways even if they are not followers of us. Jesus has come to build a kingdom. He uses things even as simple as giving someone a glass of water in the name of Christ to do his work or work as great as being an apostle and casting out demons. We all have a task that will be rewarded in the last day. The only work that was forbidden was the work of those who cause the faith of others to be hindered.


Sunday night we enjoyed a short devotion prior to a time of worship in music. We may be a somewhat small church, but boy do we have some talented folks. We are blessed with a gifted pianist who faithfully serves and we have several teenagers who are using their gifts of vocal and instrumental music to worship Christ. They all performed beautifully! My PK1 played his trumpet and it was beautiful if I do say so myself. I hope all our kids will continue to use their gifts in church.  We need to really provide encouragement for them!


After that we had the Biscuit Cook-off. I believe this tradition began long before we arrived here, but I'm sure glad it is still going. A few of the men cook biscuits and other breakfast foods and then we vote on who's is the best. Everything I had was delicious! A few of the women pitched in and made sausage gravy and tomato gravy. Yummy! It was all so good. I told them I just couldn't decide who's was the best and that we just needed to have another cook-off in a few weeks! I love it when the men cook and clean! 


Monday night, Mimama and Grandaddy (my parents) picked the kids up from school and stayed with them for several hours while Preacher took me out for an early Valentine's dinner. He even let me shop a few hours before our dinner reservation! We went to one of our favorite places: Walker's Drive-In. It's not really a drive-in these days, but an old drive-in turned fine-dining restaurant. It's always delicious!


I had the grilled grouper over cheese grits topped with black bean and corn salsa. Oh my goodness it was good! Preacher had the Redfish Anna, which is served over smashed potatoes topped with cream sauce and served with green beans. It's probably my favorite thing on the menu, but I always have to try something new it seems because everything they have is so good!!! We also had crab claws as an appetizer and the bread pudding for dessert. Yes, we are still on our diet and had saved up lots of calories so we could enjoy this meal.


Preacher is the best valentine ever and I enjoyed spending the afternoon with just the two of us! We had always rather have a night out together than flowers and candy. It was nice having a quiet dinner with my special guy. He proposed the week before Valentine's almost 15 years ago. I immediately said yes and have never regretted it for one minute. He shows me the kind of love spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13. He is patient and kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. His love never fails.  He is truly a man of God and loves like he is taught in the Word. I praise God for blessing me with him!


Preacher, if you are reading this, I love you more than anything and thank you for being my Valentine!


I have two other Valentines. The PKs are the greatest kids ever and I love them very much! I'm so thankful God blessed us with two wonderful boys!


Happy Valentine's Day y'all!