We’re closer than sisters. My best friend on the planet, Stacy…I call her Duckie as you know…and to describe her is like trying to tell a blind man what a sunrise looks like. It’s a little difficult. When I first met Stacy, we were very young…somewhere between kindergarten and Northwood Elementary…we don’t remember the exact date. But I do remember thinking…she’s nuts and I like that. There is no one on the planet that can make me laugh like my Duckie. When this picture was taken by my Daddy back in the early 80’s…somewhere along a hiking trail in the NC mountains…I don’t think either of us realized how strong a bond we would have.  We’ve weathered many storms…divorces, children, step-children, death. She has been my conscience, my confidant…my friend through it all. When Mama was dying…she was right beside me.  Considering she is like a 2nd daughter to my parents, and she was grieving too..she instead, held me up so I wouldn’t fall.  I told her recently…she has been such a better friend to me, than I have ever been to her.   How do you thank someone for being your sunrise all these many years?

Without Stacy, my life would be less colorful…less fun..less meaningful.  I believe one reason we have remained so close…is that we both truly believe God brought us together. It doesn’t hurt that we have a lot of fun together and that we enjoy each other’s company, even if it’s just venting about the day’s unfair events…but it goes much deeper than that. We feel like soulmates. We joke around about one day, when all the kids have left the nest, and we have outlived our husbands (ok, I am still searching for hubby #3, third time’s a charm) and we’re old and gray…there we will be together in rocking chairs, sipping coffee together on a front porch somewhere watching the sunrise.

I hope we make it to that point…and that we will still be laughing about something.  

I’ve been doing a lot of praying lately. Here’s a quote I saw on a friend’s email signature the other day…”We never know that Jesus is enough, until Jesus is all we have left.”  True, for many of us don’t you think? I really don’t advertise my religious preference all that much, and the reason is, I have so much respect for all people and all religions….I never want to sound like I’m preachin’, ya know!  But I had to write about this, because I don’t think I have ever heard of an event like this before anywhere…it’s called Pray for Greenville, from The Hinge 2008…it’s Saturday, August 9th from 9-6 at the Dow Brands Amphitheater downtown, behind the Peace Center.

It’s to unite the Church of Greenville for the purpose of crying out to Jesus to send revival to the city.  What is the Church of Greenville? I was asking myself the same question…it’s every believer in the city and/or county of Greenville I was told. Folks will unite to pray for the 7 spheres or mountains of Greenville…which are education, church, media, arts/entertainment, family, business and government.

Interesting I thought. To come together like this should be pretty powerful. If you are a “believer” then by all means please try to come.  Thanks for letting me share this with you..and God bless : )

Hey guys..Miss Monnie is taking a little time off this week. Daddy, my nephews Dylan and Jesse, and I traveled to Charleston this past weekend for a little R&R…what, climbing up and down the USS Yorktown for 4 hours straight is rest and relaxation??? You gotta do this though…go to Patriot’s Point next time you are in Mt. Pleasant…it is awesome! And, the Medal of Honor Museum was incredible…Daddy and I left with tears streaming down our faces….he said “these are the true heroes honey…”  I agreed with him, but in the back of my mind I was saying…no Daddy…you are mine.

Another highlight of the weekend, taking a carriage ride through the commercial district of Charleston. Man, I thought I knew everything about Charleston…but no. See the picture of our family, and Indigo, a 2000 pound horse, with some exotic heritage, I forget…anyhoo…what a lovely experience. Of course my nephews were mortified that they had to do this in public : )  But they went along with it, and I believe actually had fun. You know how teenagers are..they don’t want to look “stupid!”

For me, the most beautiful part of the trip, was just hanging out with my Daddy, who received not so good news last week concerning his health.  We know it’s in God’s hands now..but I am terribly worried and sad. So, our weekend in Charleston was much more than just a quick beach trip…it was another opportunity to know who my Daddy is.  What a smart man…and a good man. He has such courage and amazing faith. I couldn’t help but think….Mama..we wish you were here. And of course she was…she was with me on Folly Beach..since the guys didn’t want to lie out in the sun with me…imagine that! She was with us as we drove through Shem Creek, deciding on which water front restaurant should have our money…she was with us on Sullivan’s Island when we discovered the very cool Edgar Allan Poe Library, which used to be some military installation…she was with us…Daddy and me, as we sat out on the back patio of our friend’s beautiful condo…listening to us figure out what to do next with the time we have left.

Wish you were here Mama…well, she was. And still is. 

Today is my Daddy’s 71st birthday..and the tradition is not a birthday cake with enough candles to burn down the house…it’s Lemon Meringue. He loves Lemon Meringue, and I finally have it down to about 2 hours preparation time. It is one of the most difficult things to make…but the look on his face is priceless. It’s worth it…

But instead of sharing this recipe, which I found in a magazine (don’t tell him) I want to share my Mama’s Buttermilk Pie recipe..I’ll put it under the Magic Recipe Club found on the home page. She loved making this pie, and it is sooo easy. And sweet, honey!  Someone at the church made it for the reception after her memorial service last month. I thought, wow…now THAT is sweet. For someone to remember her like that…to honor her by making her favorite pie.

Cooking conjures up so many wonderful, yet bittersweet memories. And food, it seems, revolves around everything we do.   A few years before Mama died, and she could no longer cook, especially for the people she loved, it broke my heart. The look on her face as she watched me cooking in her kitchen..I could tell she was devastated. And I felt like I was betraying her…but what do you do…we have to keep on cooking, and eating…and making memories. I’m sure she’s okay with me cooking in her kitchen now : ) and I can only imagine if Heaven had a taste, it would be her Buttermilk Pie.

Please share some of your favorite recipes too…comment here on what you love to make, and why…..and then post it on our Magic Recipe Club.  

Photo courtesy of Paul Bentley, UK 

As promised..here is a picture of some art I purchased for $20!!! The artist, Ernest Lee, out of Columbia, affectionately known as the “Chicken Man.”  I love these chickens…she’s got a big booty too, and it reminds me of…me : )  Ernest runs his art gallery out of an RV..so most days you can find him on a corner near Five Points. The next time you go to Columbia…look for him.  He’s a character too..but first and foremost, a very talented artist.