So begins...

...a new series of entries in Greenbeans, featuring some of my favorite pictures of dear friends. Today I salute George and Jennifer. Thanks for your friendship! The Greenbeans.

Recently...

...Leslie and I had a fireplace and patio installed in our backyard. While the project took two months, the company that did the work did a great job and took pride in their work. While there are some final touches that need to be made, such as landscaping, I thought it was interesting to watch the work being done. Here, you will see much of the work being completed from the vantage point of my upstairs office.

What Has Chris Lost in Afghanistan?

About 50 pounds and counting, that's what! Come home soon my man and we'll do what we can to fatten you up again. We miss you!

A Kids Story...

...surfaces in my mind from time to time.  When Meredith was 3 or 4 we were visiting Leslie's mom out of town.  Now if you know my mother-in-law you will also know that she taught her daughters to cook.  And to cook well!  I think my muffin top hanging over my shorts proves that.  When I take my shirt off it looks as if a can of biscuits exploded.

Anyway, during a visit with the ma-in-law, Leslie and her sister Jane made a beautiful, fluffy, snow-white coconut cake.  This thing was art, and tasted better than it looked.  Flaky, shaved coconut heavily sprinkled on light and fluffy icing- covering a perfectly moist triple layer yellow-cake.  Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island would hang her head in shame if she'd seen this.  While passing slices of heaven around the table, Meredith looked on with a discerning eye, a look on her face as if we were trying to sell her Amway. 

"Try it Meredith, you'll love it," we urged.  She hesitantly took the cake and after studying it decided to try a small bite.  Now I suppose that in the thrill of the moment, as that cake hit her mouth, she gasped in delighted surprise or something.  Because she promptly began to choke on the coconut cake.  Her face turned beet-red and it took several moments of wild confusion to get her calm and stop the coughing and gagging.

When she had finally pulled it all together, she looked around the room and exclaimed, "I'm allergic to coconut!" To this day she has never been able to shake her childhood "allergy" and will refuse most things with coconut.

What's an "allergy" from your childhood?

This SC Heat...

...as tough as it is, is so easily forgotten. Oh, you don't think so? Well I moved away for a short 6 years and had completely forgotten how miserable it can be in July and August. But just as it was slowly forgotten, it very quickly is remembered.  I just don't hold up very well in the sun any longer.

Within the past couple of years Columbia has adopted a rather telling slogan. "Famously Hot" is a fitting phrase for a city in a bowl which benefits from neither an ocean breeze or an elevated climate. I thought it might be fun to come up with a few more slogans for our capital city. How about:

1. Columbia- Almost to Charleston
2. Columbia-  Hotter than a roofers armpit
3. Columbia-  We knew global warming before it was cool
4. Columbia- Let's go to Arizona for some relief
5. Columbia- It won't be iced tea for long

What's your slogan?

Thanks...

...for all of the prayers and support this week.  My mother went home (in the literal sense, not figuratively!) from the hospital late in the week.  She experienced her best day yet on Saturday I am certain because of your prayers and support.  She has some weeks to go in her healing process but we are so grateful for how well she is doing and for all the love shown from family and friends.

I've Got A Fever...

...For more cowbell!
What was your favorite SNL skit?

My Mother...

...has been through more in her life than most. She has fought a tough battle with multiple sclerosis for over 30 years and raised 3 kids throughout the process. She is totally confined to her wheelchair most of the day. She can't feed herself, wash herself or pick her napkin up off the floor. She stopped jogging in the 70s and driving in the 80s. In many respects she has been totally stripped of her freedom. There are few choices for those who totally rely on others.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support over the past couple of days. As many of you already know, Mom fell from her wheelchair earlier this week resulting in two broken legs. Both femur (the largest bone in your leg) were broken requiring surgery Tuesday morning. While in pain, all signs are good and her attitude remains unfazed- faithful and positive. The healing process begins now and we are careful to watch for signs of infection, blood clots or pneumonia.

I'm left with many questions about why some people deal with lifelong hardships while others skate right through. Despite any questions I may have, one fact remains: My mother is a fighter of the best kind. A soldier who has never wavered from her faith in God and has always acted in love towards others. As for me, I remain rolling on my skates for now, a bit stronger because of the endurance of a hero- my Mom!

Yesterday...

...Leslie, from the window of her car, offered a homeless man a pack of crackers . Without getting up from behind his cardboard sign he yelled, "I'm allergic to peanut butter". So goes life.