This is a busy week. Not only is our congregation hosting a visiting group of fourteen from North Carolina who have come to work unassigned territory in Tennessee, but we also have our CO this week. So when I say it's busy, it's
good busy! :)
Sunday afternoon we had a little get-together for the group from NC at Holcut. (We've decided we really like that spot!) We had a great turnout. I'm not sure what the count was there, but we had several. We even had some from other nearby congregations. There was tons of food, lots of music, and lots of games going on. Bogart got to go this time since I took Duchess last time. He didn't know what to do with himself with all the attention he got - the kids loved him! Unfortunately, Brandon had to work again, so he couldn't go. :(
Monday when I got off work, Brandon and I took our old clunker car for one final drive. Since we have a good car now, we could laugh when I couldn't get the thing to go in reverse and he had to push me until I hit the downward slope on our driveway so I could turn around. I drove it to Tupelo, with him following me in our new car. Needless to say, there were no tears shed when we drove off and left it in the Nissan dealer's lot!
When we left the car lot, we went to Applebee's for supper. I was starving! Even though I was hungry, I didn't want anything heavy, so I decided on one of their entree salads. Every time I've gotten an entree salad, it's more than I can eat. Well, when this one arrived and I started putting my salad dressing on it, I realized what a shallow plate it was in and that there was hardly anything there. When the server came to check on us, I asked her if she had given me the 1/2 portion, to which her response was, "yes" and then she promptly left before I could tell her that's not what I wanted.
I went ahead and ate my tiny little salad, thinking maybe I wasn't as hungry as I thought I was, but when I finished (and Brandon still had half of his burger & fries left), I was still famished. So the server came back again and asked if I wanted dessert. I told her very nicely that no, I did not want dessert...what I wanted was a full-sized salad and not the 1/2 portion. One would think in a place with good service - which we have always gotten there - the server would apologize for assuming that you wanted a half-portioned salad when that was ALL you were ordering for dinner and go ahead and bring you the other "half". Nope. Her response went something like, "OH, you wanted the bigger one. OK!" And she smiled and LEFT. The next time we saw her was with our bill. SO, I left hungry. And yes, I filled out a comment form on their website. And no, it wasn't positive. :op
Anyway, so after dinner, we ran over to Sears to pick up a gift, and then to Hobby Lobby for another gift, and then Brandon dropped me off at Kroger while he went to Lowe's for yet another gift. (It was Mike & Jeannie's anniversary yesterday, plus we got something for someone else who shall remain unnamed until we give it to him/her.) I did pretty good with our grocery shopping, if I do say so myself. And after the cashier ran my coupons, the total came down by $25. Go me!
Last night we had our first meeting with the CO. This time we've got a sub from another congregation in our circuit. I didn't really know him and his wife, but I've always seen them at assemblies and heard his talks, which are always great. Last night was no different. He gave an awesome talk and really connected with our congregation. He's very warm and friendly and gave us a lot of commendations. I can't wait for Thursday night now! Brandon and I both had parts last night, too. He read a chapter in Exodus, and I had a short demo with Kim. I was nervous being on stage with all the visitors there, but I made it! Here's a picture of Madilyn and I after the meeting. It will be my picture of the day for yesterday. :)
When we got home last night around 10:00, against my better judgment, I stayed up to watch American Idol instead of going to bed. I really paid for it when my alarm went off at 4:30 this morning! Anyway, I was glad I watched. It's really going to be a close results show tonight, I think. While I'm pulling for Kris all the way, I thought Adam did really well last night too. He was smart to sing "Mad World" again for his first song, especially after all the commotion over that song being cut off when he originally sang it. I wish Kris had sang "Heartless" again or at least something else with his guitar, but I still think he did great with "Ain't No Sunshine." I'm anxious for tonight's show to see who wins!
Thursday I was able to take off work at lunch. Brandon and I changed and drove up to a park in Tennessee to meet with the group from North Carolina (as well as several from our congregation). They were breaking for lunch, and we wanted to get in someone's car group for the afternoon. We were excited when the CO and his wife wanted to work with us. They're great, and we really enjoyed spending the afternoon with them! (Photo courtesy of our friend Kaitlyn. Thanks, girl!)
That night after our meeting, we had refreshments for our new friends from North Carolina. It was time for them to go back home. We really enjoyed having them all week and wanted one last chance to visit with them before they left. Maybe one day we can do what they did and spend our vacation helping where we can. All the groups we've hosted have just been so encouraging. I'd really like to be a part of that!
Saturday morning, I picked up Kim's study's son and we met with the group at the KH. I worked in the car group with Carol & her kids. We had a good time. That afternoon, I went with Jeannie & Mike to Florence. (Brandon had to work.) We dropped Mike off at the theater to watch a movie while we went to the mall for some shopping. I didn't need to spend the money, but I found some really great deals! Among other things, I got this adorable green purse, some jewelry, a dress for the cruise & convention, and some makeup. Spent way to much but had a great time! :) After the mall, we hit Target, Petco so I could return some recalled catfood (Eek!), and Aldi for groceries. We were all wore out by the time we were done and drove through Zaxby's for supper. Yum!
Monday when I got off work, Brandon and I took our old clunker car for one final drive. Since we have a good car now, we could laugh when I couldn't get the thing to go in reverse and he had to push me until I hit the downward slope on our driveway so I could turn around. I drove it to Tupelo, with him following me in our new car. Needless to say, there were no tears shed when we drove off and left it in the Nissan dealer's lot!
Last night we had our first meeting with the CO. This time we've got a sub from another congregation in our circuit. I didn't really know him and his wife, but I've always seen them at assemblies and heard his talks, which are always great. Last night was no different. He gave an awesome talk and really connected with our congregation. He's very warm and friendly and gave us a lot of commendations. I can't wait for Thursday night now! Brandon and I both had parts last night, too. He read a chapter in Exodus, and I had a short demo with Kim. I was nervous being on stage with all the visitors there, but I made it! Here's a picture of Madilyn and I after the meeting. It will be my picture of the day for yesterday. :)
After a day spent in Tupelo with my dad, looking at and test-driving cars, Brandon & I are now the proud owners of a 2006 Nissan Altima. WOO HOO!!!!
Yesterday Brandon & I did something totally spur-of-the-moment - we booked a cruise! For next month! Originally we had planned to take our vacation in September with some friends, however Thursday they decided they wanted to do something different than we had planned, which was fine... :) Since some of Brandon's family had just booked a cruise earlier this week, we decided to go along with them. It's next month! I can't wait!!!
The day I bought our new Bunn coffee maker, I also picked up something Brandon & I have wanted for a long time: a contact grill. The same store had them at a fraction of the price of the department stores, so I got one. Unfortunately, the one I picked up had something wrong with it. The plates wouldn't stay in place when you shut it. Anyway, we finally got around to taking it back Saturday, and we were able to swap it for another one.
Last night we used our new grill for the first time. One of the recipes in the booklet that came with it was for portobello blue cheese burgers. We picked up a package of portobellos at Sam's Saturday night, as well as some crumbled blue cheese. We already had some hamburger patties made up in the freezer. Everything cooked up in no time, and the burgers were great!
It's been such a yucky, rainy weekend! We had actually planned to go to Memphis with Mike & Jeannie, but with the weather being what it was, we stayed home. Instead, we decided to out Saturday evening and see the new X-Men movie. Apparently everyone else had the same idea, because the lines to get into the theater were insane. We finally got in though and watched the movie. It was great!!!
Today it's still raining. After the meeting, there was a slight break in the rain, so I went out and took some pictures of my irises, all covered in raindrops. I thought this one turned out pretty good. Click to see it bigger! :)