Freedom!!!

Happy Memorial Day!!!

"and our flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away." I love the song God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood. It just makes me so proud to be an American when I hear that song. My mind drifts to all the men and women throughout our time who have died defending this country. The sacrifice made by thousands so that we might have freedom. Thank you to all our military who fight for us and to those who have died for us.

I have made a request that my husband has found unusually and laughable. When I die, I want a flag on my casket. Don't spend $600 on those stupid flowers. He told me that I didn't serve in the military, so I couldn't have one. I told him that I was an American, and I wanted a flag. I know that sounds crazy, but that is really how I feel. It's not like I want a 21 gun salute, just a flag.

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day. We are having a cookout at our house later today with my parents. I have cantaloupe, watermelon, hamburgers, hotdogs, bratwurst, corn on the cob and baked beans. It sounds more like 4th of July. I also want to celebrate my freedom today as well as remember those who sacrificed their lives for it.

"And I'm proud to be an American. Where at least I know I'm free, and I won't forget the men (women) who died who gave that right to me. And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today. Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land GOD BLESS THE USA."

Happy Day!!!

We had a great day at church this morning. Rev. Herchenhahn's sermon was great this morning. We went to the early service. Afterwards we were going to the grocery store, but we soon found ourselves riding toward Carolina Beach. The beach was so crowded. We looked for some new eye catching place to eat, but nothing down that way appealed to us. I also realized that if you have so much fat hanging that you can't see what the bottom of your bikini looks like...maybe you need to wear a one piece. We eventually found ourselves at Midtown Seafood on Oleander Dr. Calamari and crab legs were on my menu. The one thing that I loved about today is that we didn't have a stop watch on us. We didn't have to rush back, nor felt torn for taking our time. I especially love it when Mark and I go riding around. We do our best talking in the car. It was just a nice carefree day. I think that everyone should have a day like that now and again.

Summer Reading

Let me help you out with some great summer reading this year. Lately I have fell in love with the writings of Debbie Macomber. First, let me say that if you are interesting in something intellectual stimulating, then this will not be the blog for you. Debbie Macomber and the others that I have read are just for pure enjoyment. These literary titles will not be on Jeopardy. These are great books to read at the beach, beside the pool or wherever you enjoy reading. I know that the Burgaw library has all of these books in their library. The Vass library in Moore County will have to order the Dakota series for you from the Carthage branch. Some of the Cedar Cove books are in the honor books at the Vass library. The honor books work like this...you take all the books you want to read on the honor shelves and bring them back when you want to. I love this system. I took 16 books 2 weeks ago and I have only 2 more to read. These are all paperback books. Amanda, they have a huge selection of the love inspired Christian books in the honor book shelves. I love to read, and just want to share some books that I have just loved this month.



First is the Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber. These are books that have the address' for titles such as, 16 Lighthouse Rd, 204 Rosewood Lane and 6 Rainier Dr. These books take place in Cedar Cove, Washington just across the Pugent Sound from Seattle. You will meet a variety of citizens that live in Cedar Cove. You will be immersed in the world of Cedar Cove and the ups and downs of their citizen's everyday lives. There are currently 9 books in the series with book number 10, 1022 Evergreen Place, to come out in September of this year. The best way to know in what order to read them is to go by the address in the book title....16 Lighthouse Rd is book one, 204 Rosewood Lane is book 2 and so on...they are in numerical order by the first number of the address. Also there is a Cedar Cove Christmas, which should be read between book 8 and 9. There is also a Cedar Cove Cookbook, as they talk alot about recipes in these books. I just bought this off Ebay and it shipped today. I can't wait to get it.



Promise Texas trilogy set by Debbie Macomber is another great series. There is a follow up book called Return to Promise. These are simply title Promise Texas Vol 1, Vol 2 and Vol 3. Visit the great ranchers of Promise Texas as they see their town welcome new towns people and as old conformed bachelors find love. Ranching isn't always easy, but the citizens of Promise make it work.



Dakota series by Debbie Macomber is another great set. Be whisked away to Buffalo Valley, ND...a dying town that tries it best to stay alive. They finally see new business' and new towns people settle in their town despite the harsh Dakota winters. You will meet a colorful cast of towns people in this series. Get mesmerized as this small Dakota town get revitalized as new people open their hearts to Buffalo Valley. The books in this series are Buffalo Valley, Always Dakota and Dakota Home.



Montana is another book by Debbie Macomber. It is a stand alone novel that takes place in...well, Montana. Molly brings her 2 boys to her grandpa's ranch in Montana. There have been lots of strange things happening on the ranch. Secret offers to buy the ranch and a militia group in the area is rearing their ugly heads. Lose yourself in the lives of Molly and the ranch foreman, Sam Dakota, as they try to find out who is behind the vandalism on the ranch while holding on to the only heritage that Molly has left.



The last book I have read is also by Debbie Macomber and it is called Changing Habits. In this book you will follow 3 women who enter the convent to become nuns. You will experience the circumstances that brought them to leave their lives behind and the courage they found to leave the Church and the convent. It is based on Debbie's aunt Shirely's life, who had this very experience and some of the nuns that served with her; who also decided to leave. One of the best books I have read in a long time.



Hope everyone has a great summer with some great reading. I just love to read and get whisked away to another world. When I find an author I like, I devour every book they have written. Also Lavyrle Spencer and Mary Higgins Clark have found their way into my stack of books. Worm your way into a good book!!!

Love/Hate???

For someone who grew up on the coast of NC, I would have never expected in a million years that I would be writing a blog about this topic. In my not so younger years now, I have developed a love/hate relationship with the sun. I spat at those words as they leave my mouth. How could I, a Wilmingtonian hate the sun. I practically lived for the days that I could steal away to the beach with my friend, Beth. I have tried every known product to man to help enhance my golden goddess tan. I have tried butter, crisco, baby oil and afro sheen. You read all those correctly. Let me just say that crisco will bubble up white on you, butter attracts bees, baby oil makes sand stick to you like glue and afro sheen...well, it gives you a great tan plus moisturizes your skin. That was my secret in high school. I lived to achieve the best tan ever. Now in my not so younger years, I am paying $50 a bottle for some skin corrector from Clinque to help me get rid of these spots from years of sun worshipping. I did read in a book that brown fat looks better than white fat. If you don't believe me look at a pork chop. The fat is white and unattractive before it is cooked, but fry it up golden brown and it becomes some eye candy. This week I went out to catch a few rays (I am not totally reformed), but I lathered down my face with 50 sunblock. I just can't go cold turkey without some tan, but maybe not on the face. At least not while I am using that high dollar cream to take those spots away.

Tidbits!!!

~I am totally amazed over the oddest things in life. Like watching a turtle for over 30 minutes just so I could see his neck stretch out real long. Crazy I know.

~Knocked over 2 bags of birdseed at the farm supply. I rubbed a kitty that I thought was stuffed...you guessed it, it was real. Scared me to death.

~Reading makes me so happy. I can't imagine why anyone doesn't like to read (my mom). It emerges you into another world.

~Liking to watch Wonder Woman must have been a childhood thing. Bought the first season, and it really doesn't make any sense. I must have just liked to watch her twirl around and turn into Wonder Woman???

~I love to wake up early. The only problem is that I usually want to go somewhere, and nothing good is open early in the morning.

~I love getting cards in the mail. I call it "Happy Mail".

~Ebay in my opinion is the best thing to happen on the internet.

~I absolutely love popcorn. I could eat it everyday, but no butter please!!

~I get a warm fuzzy feeling when my husband tells me that he loves me. It fills my love tank up up up up!!!

Just a few odd facts and tidbits about me, that I thought that someone might find interesting. I feel like no one reads this blog, but I have almost 4,000 hits in 9 months. Someone besides my daddy must find me my life a little interesting. LOL I do like doing a blog. It is a creative outlet, but somewhat a journal and scrapbook of things I do and like. Now I am off to read the last book of the Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber. I have really enjoyed these, and hate to wait until September when book 10 will come out.

Pik N Pig

Every little town seems to have a best kept secret of some kind. Carthage, NC has one of the best I believe. It is called the Pik N Pig. Great NC barbecue and some unusual entertainment as well. The Pik N Pig is a restaurant that serves great barbecue that happens to be beside the Gilliam/McConnell Airfield. The airstrip runs right beside the restaurant and it's open outdoor dining patio. You can eat and watch the planes come in at a really close view. I looked at their guest book and they have had pilots from Rhode Island and Kansas (to name a few) to fly in and eat there. I loved it, and their prices are very reasonable. I decided that it has to be near the airfield because it is off the beaten path and only an airplane could find it. LOL They offer pulled pork, chicken and pork chops plus a variety of deli sandwiches. Oh, did I forget to mention desserts...they have a bundle of them as well.

The Pik N Pig

I got the pulled pork with potato salad, baked beans and a roll. It was yummy, and just a little over $6 for the small plate. I would hate to see the large.

Mark got the pulled pork with potato salad, slaw and hush puppies. Oh, and they have the best sweet tea that I have ever tasted.

We never order desserts, but we couldn't resist when our waitress started naming everything they offered. This strawberry shortcake was the best.

A piece of Coke Cola coke for Mark to bring home.

The restaurant!! Look at those clouds...a storm was brewing!!

The outdoor dining area.

The airstrip. Notice the storm that is approaching...it rained so hard that afternoon.

An old airplane that sits there at the restaurant.

We had eaten here before, but just carry out. The food is great, but you need to go and eat there to get the whole dining experience. Just wanted to let you in on one of Moore County's little secrets.

Things Learned!!

1. If I come close to a fire ant hill, I am going to get bit.
2. Some people are scared acting when you show kindness. 3. God's blessings àre better than anything we can imagine.
4. Some parents are uneffected when their children act up in public places. The public is usually the ones effective by their lack of disicipline.
5. Love from your spouse can make all things and all situations better...instantly. 6. Your dog is always your friend.
7. Life isn't always easy.
8. Where you will spend eternity is the biggest decision of your life.
9. Laughing will automatically make you feel better...try it!!
10. Good friends are really hard to find. Fair weather friends are a dime a dozen.
11. Worrying is your enemy not your friend. (I know this, just don't practice it enough) 12. People's opinions don't matter. God knows your heart.
13. You will never please everyone, so stop trying.
14. Always love yourself, because you can always count on yourself.
15. Smile!! It increases your face value.

Negative!!!

I got the results of my biopsy this past week, and it was negative. The first time in 4 years that I have tested negative. What a difference time makes. I remember that horrible phone call 4 years ago with the word Cancer bouncing around in my mind. I was so upset that I hung up on the doctor, and immediately called Mark at the church office. The doctor called back and told us to come to her office so we could talk. I was then sent to the head of Oncology at Chapel Hill. Dr. Fowler turned out not to be just any oncologist, but an OB/GYN oncologist. Who knew there was such. For over a year, I saw him monthly and sometimes more than that. Meds were adjusted to keep me safe from over dose and enough to fight the cancer. Biopsies became routine and medical jargon became part of our everyday vocabulary. I felt like I was in medical school, only I wouldn't be getting a degree in the end. My biggest fear was chemo and losing my hair...my reaction was that I had just let it grow long. Chemo wasn't used to treat my uterine cancer, its cousin Megestrol is used. No hair falling out...only weight gain. This med also treats anorexic patients. Bald or fat are the two choices. They took the fat path with me, although I didn't need any help in that department to begin with. So many times over the years I would so sure the biopsy would be negative only to be told that it wasn't. I really had no feelings whatsoever this time. This has just become routine and a part of my life for so long now. I can say that I was honestly surprised when she said negative. My first reaction was, "Thank you Jesus." Negative can be a good thing!!!

Junked Up!!!

This past week while at home, I accomplished one thing I had wanted to do for sometime. I cleaned out my night stand drawer. There were scrunchies, a bulletin, old letters, pictures and a host of other things that didn't belong there. In other words...it was junked up. That is the way our lives get at times. The small things in life weigh us down and junk our lives up. We get busy with busy work and crowd our lives with unimportant things or unnecessary things. This is true in many ministers lives. We get caught up in programs and busy work in the church that we lose sight of our calling. How can your pastor be effective in the pulpit if the church expects him to be at every little function that goes on at the church plus do his visiting. The pastor has to have some time to study and pray in order to prepare for his time in the pulpit. Don't be guilty of junking up your pastor's life. Don't crowd his life with demands that don't amount to anything in eternity. Give him study time and time with his family. Allow him time to prepare for what he is really called to do...preach the Word to a lost and dying world. What is junking your life up today???

Home Sweet Home!!

For the past two weeks I have had the joy to be at my home in Pender Co. It has been a joy to be home for so long. I miss my little house when I am away, and I have been away a month. There were so many things that I wanted to do while home. Most of those things were accomplished. I scrubbed my kitchen floor, made a new flower bed and planted more flowers. Mom, dad and myself went shopping one day along with stopping at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. It was a great day. I have got to spend lots of time with mom and dad. Lilly has been so happy to be home as well. She has run around and played like a young pup. Ebay has been busy these past two weeks. Thankfully we sell something portable, and it was no trouble to bring everything with us. I have read my little heart out. I am in the process of reading Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series. There are 10 books in the series and I am on book 5 (I think). A great series. I have enjoyed this down time so much. Our new windows look so good. Our new doors will be installed the first week in June. We still have lots to do around here, and it is slowly getting done. I am performing this Saturday in Moore Co. for a Relay For Life event. I am looking forward to that day. I am off to mow grass today and to do a little yard work. All I can say is, "Home sweet home".

Dreaded Day

This past Friday I found myself face to face with my most dreaded appointment of the year. I was at the OB/GYN's office for my yearly biopsy. Only this is my second one this year. I was there to see if my treatments need to increase or decrease. The needle to administer the numbing medicine is 6 to 7 inches long. It is a catch 22 position on the numbing meds. The shot hurts but the biopsy hurts if there is no numbing meds. I endured the procedure and acted half way like a big girl, except when almost breaking the nurses hand as I experienced unbelievable pain. I was given more pain meds after the biopsy and told to lie there for 15 minutes. Next comes the waiting part to hear about the results. I am hoping for a decrease as long as I can stay safe with the lower dosage. Then the next bad part was riding home from Raleigh on the bumpy I40. That road is not a friend to anyone who just had any kind of precedure. I came home to a nice comfortable bed to rest up for a bit. I hope we don't start making this a habit. One time a year is enough for me.

Sit or Stand???

Well, one of the worst days of the year has come and gone. Mother's Day. While I love my mother and want that day to be special for her, I don't know where I belong on that day. I am confussed to a degree on my role on that day. In 1994, Mark and I had twin girls (Hannah & Faith), but their date of birth would also be their date of death as well. It is nothing that I really like to talk about, just write about it. Some when they find out just give me the pity nod with I'm sorry, while others want to know every sordid detail of their death. Either way, I try to avoid the subject, but some won't let it go. Why do people fill compelled to ask you if you have children?? I get this a lot while doing my comedy act. You send a bio profile that doesn't mention children, so that must mean that I don't have any; so why ask? Then I am not sure what to say...yes or no??? Either could be true. No, I don't have any living children or yes, I have children but they are dead. There is never an easy answer. The same rule applies at church on Mother's Day. When asked if all Mothers would please stand...do I sit or stand?? I usually sit...it avoids answering questions from those who don't know. It is usually me and the teenage girls left sitting. I thought I had avoided it this year, but that question was posed to us during the sermon. Every woman stood while me and a few young girls remained sitted and politely clapped. This day is more dreaded than their birthday or Christmas. So I still wonder every year...should I sit or stand??

Looking Forward!!

Well, I have been here in Moore County for almost a month without going back home. It is really my fault, because I booked my comedy routine up this way for several weekends in a row. Let me just say that I am looking forward to going home tomorrow. I miss my little house and all the places that I like to go in Wilmington. I can't wait to see my new windows that Chip has put in for us. I have just missed being at home down there so much. I have been packing up my things to go home for two days now. I have done a lot of shopping, so I have been trying to decided what to take and what to leave. The best part about going home is that I am staying a whole week when I go. YAY!!! I want to do lots of things while I am down there, but I don't know if I will have the time or not to do everything. Mom and I plan to go shopping and go to the beach. I am so excited. Dragging all my Ebay inventory with me is not that much fun, but is very portable. I have been going over in my head some things that I want to accomplish next week. I am going to buy a gas grill this weekend, and I plan to grill my little heart out over the weekend. I love grilled food, especially vegetables on the grill. I haven't decided exactly all the places I want to eat, but Hibachi Bistro might be one place...we haven't eaten there in forever. Never the less, I am looking forward to spending a little time in good old Pender County.

Laughing With Old Friends

On Saturday, I was scheduled to perform at Ellerbe Fellowship Baptist Church where our friends Kevin and Kelly Thompson are serving. It was their Mother and Daughter Banquet. I just had a ball there, and it was great to see Kelly and her daughter Faith.

Kelly and Faith Thompson

I had to laugh as Kelly introduced me, as she told everyone that she didn't think that Mark and I were married when we first went to Exway. I told her that of course we were married, they let us stay in the parsonage; and we sure weren't shacking up. LOL She actually meant when Mark first started filling in there as the interim in the summer before we were married. Kelly was 14 when we started Exway. As you pastor churches, there are people that are special and you know that you will always stay in touch with them over the years. That is the way Kelly and her family has been. Kelly was 14, Austin was 4 and Justin was 3 when we started Exway. I have so many fond memories of them. Kelly use to come and spend the night with me at the parsonage and we would stay in the guest room and talk and sing the hits of the 80's all night. I have cut her hair and done her nails over the years, and been out to help her feed her pot bellied pig, Lulu. I colored a many of pictures and mailed to Austin and Justin when they were young. Kids love to get mail, and I made sure those boys got lots of mail. I use to play H-O-R-S-E basketball with them and played with the Fisher Price Pirate Ship. Oh, what great memories we have of the Dunn family.

Ellerbe Fellowship Baptist Church

It was great to come and perform there for them, but it was also exciting seeing Kelly in action as the Pastor's wife. Mark married her and Kevin back in 1997 on the 27th of September (the day after our anniversary). In a way we have felt like Kelly has been ours over the years. I am so proud of her as she serves next to Kevin. They have a wonderful family that includes Faith and Garrett. I wasn't sure that I was going to get through my performance on Saturday, as Kelly stood up there and led things....I beamed with pride. She has always been so special to us. I pray that she always loves and follows the Lord. It was wonderful to see her Saturday....I was disappointed that Ieshia didn't make an appearance though. LOL