Shhh! Do y’all hear that?

 So for a while now, the Youngest Princess has been saying, “Shhh!  Do y’all hear that?”  We would stop and listen, and hear…nothing.  Usually she would say, “Well, it has stopped now!”  

I would ask her to explain what she was hearing.  She said it was coming from the wall by the window.  That it sounded like a buzzing bug in the window.  We would move the curtains and look for a bug.  There would be no bug in sight.

There is an outlet under the window.  I would feel it.  It would not be hot.  I would unplug the cords plugged into the outlet.  They would not hot either.

There is a vent on the floor directly under the window and the outlet.  I would turn on my flashlight and look down the vent to see if something had fallen down in the vent and was rattling.  Nope.  That was not the problem either.

We have done this same song and dance several times over the last couple of months.  Every time ending with the Youngest Princess saying that she could not believe we could not hear what she was hearing.  

So about a week ago, I finally heard it!  Same song and dance trying to diagnose the problem.  Same results.

Tonight, the Youngest Princess, my Prince and I were sitting in the living room watching TV when the Youngest Princess said, “Do y’all hear it?  It’s getting louder!”  

I looked at the wall and fire is coming out of the outlet.  The lamp plugged into the outlet went out.  The television went off.  Things were popping and cracking.  I’m trying to think how to get the cords unplugged and put the fire out while panicking that the curtains are going to catch fire.  It was obviously an electrical fire, and I knew water was not the answer.  All the while, I was visualizing our 100+ year old home going up in flames.  I don’t remember doing it but the Youngest Princess says I yelled, “Fire!”  Yes.  Thank you, Captain Obvious.  

 It is amazing how fast something can happen yet it seems to be moving in slow motion while your brain thinks a million thoughts.  And apparently in a crises my brain and my mouth have a disconnect.

Meanwhile, my Prince has jumped up and is standing there staring at the flames leaping from the outlet.  Probably like me trying to process it all and figure out how to put the fire out.  

The Youngest Princess has jumped up from her chair and let out a blood curdling scream, and run toward the kitchen.  

The scream has summoned the dog from his nap on the rug in the dining room and he comes padding into the living room.  I grab him to keep him from getting closer to the fire.  My Prince has grabbed the curtain to keep it from the flames.

Meanwhile, the cords plugged into the outlet have fallen out of the outlet, and the fire has gone out (with no help from the shocked, dumbfounded, pitiful lot of us).  

There is a nasty burnt rubber smell permeating the air.  

I come to my senses and tell my Prince to feel the wall around the outlet to see if it is hot.  The Youngest Princess goes outside to feel the other side of the wall to see if it is hot.   All is well on the inside and outside.  

We  all sit in the dark and stare at the outlet.  I have the Youngest Princess turn her phone flashlight on so that I can take pictures to send to the Oldest Princess and the Young Prince.

I wanted to be sure that everything was okay, so I asked my Prince to call a friend of ours who is a fire chief.  Bless his heart, after a long day, he came over and checked it out for us.  He told us he felt that all was well, and we were good to stay in the house.  He is a saint.

After things settled down, and we knew we were okay, we talked about how we all reacted differently.  I asked the Youngest Princess why she ran into the kitchen.  She said, “I don’t know…for water I guess.  To put the…Oh no!!  It was an electrical fire!  I know better than that!  What was I thinking?!?”  Apparently, she gets crises brain disconnect from me.  She knew better, but panicked in the middle of everything.  I told her I would have stopped her before she could put water on it.  That is, if she was cognizant enough to hear me through her panic.  But thankfully things did not get that far.

So, we prayed and thanked the Lord for His hand of protection on us.  It could have been so much worse.  It could have happened when we were not home.  The wall could have caught on fire.  The cords could have caught on fire.  The curtains a mere 4 to 5 inches above the plug could have caught on fire.  The 100 year old pine floors could have caught on fire.  The Youngest Princess could have fanned the flames by throwing water on them in her panic. 

But God.

He was watching out for us.  

It certainly wasn’t anything any of us did.

 I have no doubt it was His hand of protection on our home and our family.  So tonight, as we lay snug in our comfortable beds, we are grateful, and we give God all the praise.  He is good!

On the Road…AGAIN

And, because I have not had enough time on the road lately, I packed my bags Sunday night and Monday morning and hit the road again with my Prince this time.  He had been waffling back and forth about wether or not to attend the SBC conference in Nashville, and had finally decided that there were things of great importance happening, and that he needed to be there.  So, I tagged along, with the plus of getting to see the Young Prince.  Woo hoo!

We left mid-morning on Monday after dropping C off with Grammy.  He gets so excited when he goes to Grammy’s house. I love that he loves being there.  We left him standing at the glass door, wagging his tail.

We had an uneventful trip, with a stop at Jack in the Box - more tacos - for lunch on the way.  

We got to our hotel a little earlier than we had thought, so we took some time to stroll through a few antique stores in the antique district.  Neither of us found anything that we could not live without. Then we made a quick Target run, because we still had time before we needed to meet everyone for dinner.

Then we made our way to Cracker Barrel where we met the Young Prince and his Fair Maiden, as well as her parents and her sister.  It was nice to see her again and to meet her parents.  They have been so good to our Young Prince.  We enjoyed our quick time with them and hope to be able to get to know them better in the future.

After dinner, the Fair Maiden’s family was off to play in a volleyball game.  The Young Prince and the Fair Maiden wanted to go to a used bookstore.  We went with them.  I was able to find a reader for one of the students that I tutor, and a children’s book that I have been looking for. Everyone else found a few things as well.  It was a fun time.

We said goodnight to the Young Prince and his Fair Maiden, and then went to our hotel.  It took me about 15 seconds to fall asleep.  I was exhausted.

The next morning we took our time getting up and getting ready.  My Prince and I went to lunch, and stopped by a couple of stores.  Then my Prince took me back to the hotel.  I relaxed, did my Bible study, read, and just enjoyed the quiet.  My Prince went to the conference for the afternoon.

When my Prince got back, we left to go to the mid-week young adult service with the Young Prince.  It was wonderful to be there and worship with him and the young adults that he works with and serves.  It was really cool that several of them told us what an inspiration the Young Prince was to them, or how much he was an encouragement to them.  One told us how he had been in a small group with the YP, and how evident it was that the YP loves the Lord and loves us.  It may have made my eyes water a little bit.

Before the service the Young Prince took me in a quick tour through the church’s children’s area.  I can dream…My Prince told me not to covet.  I didn’t covet, but I can dream…

After the service, we went to dinner with the Young Prince and his Fair Maiden.  The place they wanted to go turned out to be closed.  They were bummed, but we went with plan “B”.  Our waitress turned out to be a lady who attends the church where the Young Prince goes.  It was a God thing, and she was glad to meet the Young Prince and very encouraging to him.  He told her he would be back.  I think we were an encouragement to her last night, and I hope he really will go back and be an encouragement to her in the future.

After dinner, we went back to the hotel.  I think it took me about 10 seconds to fall asleep.  

This morning, we got up and got ready to go back to the convention.  We had hoped to see the Young Prince again, but his plans changed and that did not work out.  We did however get to see our brother-in-law’s sister, and a young man who was in our very first ever youth group.

It was great to see them and catch up with everything that is going on with them.

After that we decided to walk around and explore a little of downtown Nashville and find something to eat before heading home.  We got in line for a chicken place.  The couple in line in front of us shared their menu with us.  Our husbands started talking, and about two and a half hours later, we said goodbye to our new best friends.  No, seriously, we shared a table with them because the place was packed, and we talked ministry and teaching and kids and you name it.  It really was a divine appointment, and hopefully we will be able to keep up with them and keep in touch through the future.  

But as all good things must, it had to come to an end.  The lunch, and the trip.  And now we are on our way home to rescue the Youngest Princess from Grammy’s House of Manual Labor.  Although if I know Grammy, she pays well for said manual labor.

And tomorrow, aside from being our 26th wedding anniversary, everything goes back to normal.  No more road trips for me for a little while.  If you need me, I’ll be at home.  

But first, a few random pictures.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Wedding Crashers - Part 2

 Both the Youngest Princess and the Oldest Princess dreamed.  I did not sleep long enough to dream, as I woke every time the air conditioner came on or cut off. 

Getting ready in a hotel always proves to be somewhat of  a challenge as we have three ladies all vying for outlets and mirrors. 

I got up first and got mostly ready - just dried my hair and got dressed - put on sandals from the day before because they were more comfortable than my matching shoes.  No makeup.  I was out of town, so I did not care.  

I grabbed a few dollars and went in search of a Coca-Cola (we got in really late and slept right on through that free continental breakfast), and began the walk of shame to the front desk to ask for a complementary toothbrush.  I packed the small tube of toothpaste that I had received in my little goody bag from the dentist at my last cleaning, but left the big tube at home for my Prince to use.  Yet somehow in that thought process, instead of putting my toothbrush in my bag, I put it back in its proper place. So I was at the mercy of the front desk for a toothbrush.  I stopped by the ice and vending room hoping to find a vending machine, but instead found only an ice machine and a worker restocking a linen closet.  I said a quick ”Good morning” to him and turned around to make a hasty retreat lest he have time to register my Sunday dress, casual sandals that did not match, undone hair and no makeup face presentation.

 I got to the elevator and pushed the button.  And waited.  And waited. And waited.  Finally, giving up on the elevator, I found the stairs - at the opposite end of the hallway from out other end of the hallway room, and made my way to the lobby.  I waited my turn and asked the lady at the desk for a toothbrush.  She said, “Just one?”  I don’t make a habit of collecting hotel quality toothbrushes, nor do I make a habit of using more than one toothbrush at a time, and since I was the only one standing there, I found her question a little baffling, but answered her kindly nonetheless, “Yes ma’am, just one please.”  Then I asked her where I could get a water, seeing only Pepsi products in the cooler.  She reached under the counter and gave me a bottled water.  No charge. Yay!  Happy day!

Back upstairs, in our room at the end of the hall, I tried to find the best place to do my hair and makeup as the girls were taking turns in the bathroom.  Did I mention that the little entry hall light did not work?  When we turned it on, the bulbs barely glowed.  The only other light in the room was a small lamp at the desk, and a small bedside light.  Y’all.  It was like trying to get ready in a cave!  I even used my phone flashlight to get a little more light.  All to pretty much no avail.

Meanwhile…the Youngest Princess comes out of the bathroom proclaiming that the shower about blew all the skin off of her body.  See, at home, we don’t have the greatest water pressure.  In fact, if someone is showering and anyone anywhere else in the house uses any water, chances are high that the shower will cut off due to lack of water pressure.  The Youngest Princess has taken to proclaiming when she is about to take a shower and reminding all of us not to use the water while she does.  Not even a drop.  I’m serious.  She’s serious. We call her the water police.  No lie.  So for her to come out complaining about the water pressure was not surprising, but the fact that she was complaining about it being too strong definitely was a surprise.  But in her defense, I too, had found it quite strong.  I had even attempted to change the setting on the shower head but could not get it to budge.  So I just resigned myself to the fact that it was more of a pressure wash than a shower and carried on.

The Youngest Princess also used the in-room hair dryer.  Her comment after that experience was that it blew with about as much power as a butterfly flapping its wings.  

Meanwhile the Oldest Princess made no comments.  She is not a morning person.

We had to check out of the hotel a couple of hours before the wedding, so we had some time to make another Target run.  I know.  I know.  You all are shocked.  I was able to find a dress that I had been keeping an eye on, and it was on sale.  Woo hoo!!

We stopped at another little store that we don’t have where we live, and found a few little things.  We had to buy some toys for C, because according to my Prince, he was really missing us.  He loves his beaver by the way, and I think the stingray is growing on him.

Then it was time to go to the wedding.  It was a beautiful wedding.  Complete with a violinist (I always wanted one of my children to learn to play the violin).  The Groom was handsome.  The Bride was gorgeous.  They both love the Lord and are seeking to honor and serve Him with their lives.  A beautiful beginning for a sweet, young, godly couple.  Congratulations to CJ and MB!  The new Mr. and Mrs. MB!

We went to the gym for the reception.  We knew no one, except the bride and a couple of the bridesmaids, and they were all still taking pictures.  The oldest Princess found some college friends and chatted and the Youngest Princess and I aka “the Wedding Crashers” awkwardly waited this part out.  The introvert in me had to fight the urge to go wait in the car.  But I really did want to congratulate the Bride and Groom and see one of the bridesmaids that we had gotten to know well as she was one of the Oldest Princess’s college buddies.

The wedding party arrived, and we had a good time catching up with the bridesmaid that we knew.  She gave us the inside scoop on some of the things that went awry…bridesmaids forgetting their sashes, some getting there with mismatched shoes etc.  Things the average wedding attendee would have known nothing about without the inside scoop.  Honestly.  We never would have known.  Except that I did notice that the Groom’s ring slid on his finger very easily. But that is not my story to tell.  And no matter what little things did not go exactly as planned, they are just as married as if everything had gone off without a hitch.

The Bride greeted the Oldest Princess with a hearty, “Freshman!” A tribute to the humorous way they met.  The Bride has a thing for nicknames.  In fact the bridesmaid’s  gifts were bracelets with the Bride’s special nickname for each one on theirs.

We visited for a few more minutes, and let the Oldest Princess catch up with the girls, and then we decided it was time to head back home.  As much as we all hated getting back in the car.

We did some “between the acts” quick changing, from wedding attire to travel attire.  We made an uneventful Chick-fil-a drive thorough stop and then got on our way.  Did you notice how we managed to get Target and Chick-fil-a in both days during our adventure?  Didn’t want you to miss that.

On our way home we were able to get a better picture of our sister water tower.  We would have stopped and taken pictures at the water tower, but it was raining.

The girls were able to get a Starbucks as well.  The Youngest Princess had been asking for one since we left the day before.

Praise and Worship music was the soundtrack for the trip home.  I finished the book I was reading and started a new one.  At one point the Oldest Princess made reference to a Boa Constrictor, and we laughed as we remembered Shel Silverstein’s poem about being eaten by a Boa Constrictor.  If my Prince had been there he would have made up his own lines…”Oh hankle, It’s up to my ankle!  Oh flip, it’s up to my hip!”  But for the most part, the ride home was calm and uneventful.  

We got to the Oldest Princess’s apartment, where my Peince was meeting us to switch cars, and when the Oldest Princess parked she parked next to a tree.  The Youngest Princess was attacked (whopped in the forehead) by said tree as she was in a mad dash to get out of the car.  

We helped the Oldest Princess get her stuff in and had a potty break before going the last hour home.  I was ready to go home and get in bed, knowing Sunday was going to be a busy day.  But my sweet Prince was watching Tennessee baseball, and they were about to win the game.  So we had to wait until the last pitch, swing, strike!  And then we could go home.  

It was a long, short trip, but I enjoyed my time with my girls. May this not be the first and last trip of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Wedding Crashers.  And congratulations again to the new Mr. and Mrs. MB!  Thank you for letting us crash your wedding!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Wedding Crashers - Part 1

 The Oldest Princess’s college friend was getting married, and she obviously wanted to go to the wedding.  Only there was a small problem.  The wedding was 460ish miles away.  I volunteered to go with her, so she did not have to go that far alone.  The OP was okay with that, and when she told her friend that she could come to the wedding and that her mom was coming too, her friend graciously told her to bring her little sister as well.  Upon hearing that, there was no stopping the Youngest Princess, and the show was on.

We got online and booked a hotel, and on Friday after the Youngest Princess finished her riding lessons, we hit the road.  Our first stop was Target.  I know that is a total surprise to those of you who know us well (said in my sarcastic voice).  Our second stop was Chick-fil-a.  Again, I know you all are in shock.  

While we were following the awesome Chick-fil-a employee’s instructions on which car to follow through the drive through to the window, a lady in the car behind us got tad bit impatient.  My guess is that she was one of the kids who cut in line at the water fountain after long hot recesses in elementary school.  She honked her horn at us, and zipped around us and cut in line a couple of cars before us.  The Youngest Princess was all in a dither worried that Ms. Haszeropatience was going to mess up the intricate workings of the Chick-fil-a drive through.  None of us had eaten, and we were hungry too. In true Chick-fil-a style, our orders were filled correctly, despite the line bull.  We ate going down the road so as not to lose more time.

The OP may have been so excited to eat her chicken nuggets that she dropped one on the floorboard.  That my friends is a sad day when you drop a chicken nugget on the floorboard.  It may rank right up there with breaking your arm the first week of summer.

We didn’t get too far down the road before we hit traffic.  It was the opportunity the YP was looking for.  She took advantage of the practically stand still traffic to…do her nails for the wedding of course!  

We got a picture of the guy in front of us who had an interesting way of seeing what the holdup was.

Nails done and traffic passed, we made our way down the road.  Eventually we needed a pit stop and figured we would get something to eat and top off the glass tank as well and hopefully not have to stop again until we heard, “You have arrived at your destination” in the Youngest Princess’s sweet little voice as recorded on my Waze app several years ago.

We decided on a McDonalds that was right next to a gas station.  We were sitting in the drive through and the Youngest Princess and I were watching a robin out our windows when I noticed a dead rodent laying about 3 feet from the car.  It was a small rat/large mouse?  Not really sure.  But suddenly, I was no longer hungry.  Nothing like a dead rodent to ruin your appetite.  And nothing says eat here like a dead rodent on the premises.  We ate as much as our ruined appetites would allow.  We topped  off the gas, and then hit the road again.

We listened to some random Disney playlists, and the girls traveled down memory lane.  It amazes me how much they remember about certain episodes of old Disney shows.  The OP said if her college courses had been put to music, she would have remembered so much more.  So, if any of you want to make some money and help some college students out, look into putting college courses to music.

Thinking that we had made our last stop, and were in it for the long haul, we settled in to make the last leg of the trip.  I had not been watching the little food signs on the exit signs, but I happened to look at one and cue the “Hallelujah Chorus” music, lo and behold, there was a Jack in the Box sign.  If you know me, you know that means a stop.  And tacos.  Glorious Jack in the Box deep fried tacos.  The third time was the charm, and thankfully we had no crazy experiences with impatient people or dead rodents in the drive through. And one more reason to be happy about this drive through experience, theYP thought the drive through worker was good looking.

There were other things that happened, but I am not at liberty to share ALL of the funny/silly things that we experienced in order to preserve some sense of our dignity.  But I will say that I will never think of Clemson, or Scrooge the same, and I won’t have to use google to find out how to open my gas tank.

We finished the trip listening to old 80’s songs - “I twirled to that” - to stay awake.

We made it safely to the hotel and got our room key.  Our room was all the way at the end of the hall.  If you know my Prince and I, this fact does not surprise you.  It did not take us long at all to get in and get settled.  After we found a light switch that worked that is.  We. Were. Tired.

And, that my friends is Part 1 of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Wedding Crashers.