There Goes Connie

When God Chooses to Use Your Children

11/30/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Can there possibly be a more profound blessing on a parent than to watch as God uses the unique giftings and abilities of your children for His honor and glory? I can’t imagine anything better.

3 John 4 — “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

And, when you are extra-fortunate, you get to SEE the evidences of your children walking in truth in addition to hearing about it.

Steve and I have had these blessings recently, and I just want to take time in the middle of all the holiday chaos to thank HIM and to encourage my children.

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, two of our children were actively involved in ministry in the towns where they live and in the churches they attend. Laura was called on to play the keyboard for two morning services at West Rome Baptist in Rome, Georgia. She has remarkable piano talent. She is not their “regular” person but is always happy to fill in as needed. I love knowing she’s still putting into practice the many years of piano lessons and times of accompanying high school and college groups on her resume. She’s also teaching her son piano lessons now, and I’m hoping for a private Nathan concert during Christmas. Mostly, I love that she and her family are active in their church. She also teaches a Tuesday morning Bible study for ladies where she uses her spiritual gift of teaching. I praise God for allowing her to “bloom where she’s been planted.”

Matt is the pastor of The Church at West Franklin in Franklin, Tennessee, which is a campus of Brentwood Baptist in Brentwood, TN. He preaches twice every Sunday morning on a weekly basis, but from time to time, the various campus pastors are asked to fill in at Brentwood — a very LARGE congregation of several thousand. On November 25th, he preached for FOUR services at Brentwood, and Steve and I decided to go hear him in person during his second sermon that morning. That boy is absolutely in his element when he is preaching God’s Word. It’s an amazing experience to watch him connect the Scripture and the congregation. I praise God for choosing to use Matt in this way.

Our Julie is the mother of 8 children. She has been on a journey recently for truth, but even more so for deep spiritual connection. She wants to be exactly what God wants her to be, and she craves to understand His Word and to impart it clearly to her children. As you might expect, it’s not an easy task to get that many people ready to go anywhere, let alone to Sunday School bright and early every Sunday morning. But, she and Brian do a consistent job of having them there. Steve and I love watching the children in the choir programs at church. It is a special joy whenever they visit OUR church, and their teachers report that they behaved beautifully and KNEW ALL THE ANSWERS! That comes from consistent training on the part of their Momma. I praise God for using her in her own mission field, her kitchen table with her Bible open and the kids gathered around.

These photos don’t show Julie, rather this is one taken when we were on the way out the door when Steve and I had her children one weekend recently.

Thank you, God, for allowing me to be the mother of these three. And thank you, God, even more for choosing to use them to honor You and serve You.

Christmas at the Falls: Now Happening in Gadsden, Alabama

11/26/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Every evening from now until December 27 (well, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas night), Noccalula Falls Park, a short drive from historic downtown Gadsden, is hosting its annual Christmas at the Falls event. Steve and I got a behind-the-scenes look at the decorating and preparations that were underway a couple of weeks ago, and we could tell it will be very special indeed.

Pioneer Village at Noccalula Falls

For a $6.00 admission fee, you may walk the paths through the park or ride one of two trains that will be operating. Click here to read about the various attractions you’ll find inside. Several that caught my attention were the various food vendors that you’ll find (think hot chocolate and funnel cakes), the cookie-decorating station, Santa, a petting zoo and the Pioneer Village with buildings that were found, donated and brought in dating back to the early 1800’s. The Falls themselves will be dressed all in lights — a spectacular sight worth the price of admission. We visited right after some heavy rains, so the falls were roaring and magnificent. The park official who guided us said, “Please tell your readers that we have no control over how much water comes over the falls. It is completely dependent on the amount of rainfall. We don’t want anyone to be disappointed (or blame US) if they visit in the summertime and there’s only a trickle.” But, if you visit during this holiday season, my guess is that you’ll be rewarded with lots of water.

Roaring Noccalula Falls, the star of the show.

Insiders shared that the best times to visit are during the week rather than on the weekends in order to avoid huge crowds. But, if you decide to visit on Saturday December 12th, between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., kids will be delighted to see Ronald McDonald, the Grinch, some Minions and other popular characters roaming around. Otherwise, gates open at 5:00 each evening.

If you want to go to Gadsden earlier in the day, I strongly suggest that you explore the shops and restaurants along Broad Street. Choose among Tre Ragazzi’s Italian Cafe, Jefferson’s, The Choice, Rock n Roll Sushi, Blackstone Pizza or Lizzie’s Barbecue or go around the corner to Locust Street for Sugar Moon. A perk we particularly appreciated was the absence of parking meters. Sometimes the little things can make a huge difference.

Beautifully-decorated store on Broad Stree.

A little further out of town, Top of the River serves up some mighty fine cornbread, slaw, onions and greens, along with catfish and shrimp. Or, what about sharing the World’s Largest Seafood Platter? Trust me. It’s enough for several hungry eaters.

Cornbread, slaw and onions at Top of the River.

Another event to consider is happening on December 7th. The large Christmas tree will be lighted in downtown — Santa will do the honors — followed by the Coosa Boat Parade which can be viewed from the 759 bridge to City Hall. Also, be sure to treat yourself to a visit to the Cultural Arts Center to look at the Christmas trees decorated by area school children. Each one features a different First Lady of the United States, and they are extremely well-done.

Christmas trees at the Cultural Arts Center

Oh, and one other suggestion before I close. Sean Dietrich, author of the “Sean of the South” blog and numerous books, will be at the Mary G Harden Center for Cultural Arts on Broad Street on Friday night, January 18, 2019, and tickets are still available. Click here for more information. A pair of those tickets will be in Steve’s Christmas stocking this year, and I’m counting on being his date. 🙂

Have fun exploring Gadsden!

The Gospel is Simple and Profound, No Add-ons Needed

11/23/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV) WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM

“. . . Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . .” (Acts 16:31 KJV) LORD. JESUS. CHRIST.

Believe. What exactly does that mean?

Billy Graham gave the best answer I’ve heard:

The word “believe” in the Bible means more than simply agreeing in our minds that something might be true. It means “trust”—that we believe so strongly in God that we are willing to commit our lives to Him and live the way we know He wants us to live.

Suppose you were walking along a path and you came to a bridge which crossed a deep canyon. You might look at it and believe that it would hold you, and you might even see other people walking across it so you know it would hold your weight. But so far, your “belief” in the bridge is only in your head. When do you really believe the bridge will hold you? You only really believe it when you are willing to commit your life to it and actually walk across it.

It is the same way with Christ. Yes, we can believe that God exists, but God wants us to come to know Him personally. And He has bridged the gap between us by sending His Son to remove the barrier of sin and become that “bridge.” To believe in Christ is to commit our lives by faith to Christ—to trust Him personally as our Lord and Savior.

You might wonder why I’m bringing this up on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Let’s just say that the subject is very fresh on my mind for two reasons: 1) We’ve been going through the book of Galatians in Sunday School recently. 2) I’ve seen the results of denominations who add and add and add to the requirements of accepting the Gospel. It is sad. The exact opposite of having freedom in Christ.

Our preacher son Matt often approaches a passage by talking about what a text does NOT say. Let’s do that for a minute here. John 3:16 does NOT say “whoever believes in Him, goes to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night while wearing a long skirt, long hair and no jewelry if you’re a lady and long pants, a shirt and tie and no beard if you’re a man, shall not perish.” Acts 16:31 does NOT say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and never dance, put up a Christmas tree, swim in a swimming pool with members of the opposite sex, kiss before your wedding day, watch television or play a game of pool, and you shall be saved.” I’ve searched and searched and those add-ons are just not there.

In Galatians, Paul is particularly displeased with the Jewish Christians who are continually trying to insist that the Gentile Christians follow their Jewish requirements — circumcision, not eating meat that was offered to idols, observing all the Jewish feast days, etc. — that ones they had adhered to before they accepted Christ. Over and over again, Paul said no. Don’t add to the requirements of the Gospel.

Galatians 4:8-11 – “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.” (NIV)

Galatians 6:14-15 – “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.” (NIV)

Read the whole book when you have time. It’s very convicting for all denominations to be careful about making the Gospel and the requirements of salvation something they were never intended to be.

Granted, there are plenty of actions mentioned in the Bible that are ultimately harmful and oftentimes cause our relationship with God and others to suffer — getting drunk, never reading our Bible, being difficult to live with or work with, lying, cheating, stealing, etc. etc. etc. But, the fact remains that according to God’s Word, we are saved when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord . . . . above all else.

Jesus . . . God’s only Son.

Christ . . . the promised Messiah.

This Thanksgiving I am eternally grateful for my salvation.

When Travel Writers Have Dinner Together: Lockkeepers in Cleveland, OH

11/19/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

One of the bonuses of my job as a travel writer is going on press trips with fellow travel writers. We “get” each other. We’re a curious group, with a shared desire to have our heads filled with intriguing new information, to taste something delicious prepared in ways we’ve never had before, to ask a boatload of questions and to take photos galore. We often have the opportunity to eat in the finest restaurants in town, and we’re very generous about sharing bites and giving opinions about who ordered best. We usually get to sample several of the house specialties in terms of appetizers and desserts, and we each order our own entrees — almost always offering our tablemates a sample. After all, the restaurants want us to try their signature items and then spread the word to our readers about ones we particularly enjoyed. It’s most definitely a win-win proposition. The owners get feedback and publicity, and we get a fabulous meal. What’s not to love?

A recent dinner near Cleveland stands out in my mind. My fellow diners and I had spent a couple of days together and developed a great camaraderie, even though we were all from vastly different parts of the country. The last thing on our trip agenda was to be an outdoor performance of the Cleveland Symphony, but on the way we headed to Lockkeepers for dinner.

First of all, the location was unique — along the banks of the Cuyahoga River in a stunning architectural building surrounded by trees. Lush. Elegant.

And it was visually pleasing inside as well. To add to the extraordinary nature of the occasion, we had the whole upstairs Sommelier Room to ourselves which overlooked the main dining room through glass partitions.

Our uniformed servers were eager to answer our questions about the items on the menu and were happy to point out their favorite choices in every category.

We sampled fresh salads and appetizers, served artistically.

Calamari rings.

The entrees came in abundant portions. If only I’d had a way to take my leftovers home! Lasagna with layers of pasta made inhouse. The biggest scallops I’ve ever seen. A salmon filet surrounded by veggies. A pork chop that made all of us gasp at its size and thickness. Each dish was exceptional.

Lasagna.

Pasta dish for our vegetarian colleague.

Tomahawk pork chop.

Salmon.

Just when we thought we had used all possible superlatives, out came the desserts! A cannoli, tiramisu, housemade gelatos, and the pastry chef’s specialty — A Campfire Brownie. Listen to this description: “Salted Valrona Fudge Brownie, Pecan Blondie, Caramel, Graham Cracker Crust, Housemade Marshmallow.” Yes, we EACH had a bit of all of these. My goodness, what a smashing finale!

Cannoli.

3 flavors of gelato.

Campfire brownie.

Maintaining a healthy weight is quite a challenge for a travel writer, but it can be done. As I mentioned earlier, with many of these dishes, we each just took a small sample. Also, between meals, we are in constant motion. The calories in vs. calories out ratio manages to balance itself fairly well.

You can read my review of Lockkeepers in TheYums.com here. Have I convinced you to make Lockkeepers part of your itinerary when you visit Cleveland? Be aware that the menu changes seasonally. If you go in the fall or spring, you are likely to find many other great dishes.

And, even more so, have I made you start thinking about becoming a travel writer? Feel free to ask me questions. I love talking about it.

Parents. Children. Passions.

11/16/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

During the last few months, I’ve had a chance to interview Chef James Boyce from Huntsville a couple of times. He is the owner of Cotton Row, Commerce Kitchen and Pane e Vino, plus Galley and Garden in Birmingham. He’s very engaging and personable, and, of course, the food coming out of his kitchens is amazing.

During one of our discussions, he shared with me a passion he and wife Suzan share. She, too, is a trained chef, it should be noted. They are diligent about training their children (approximately 11 and 13 years of age) in table manners. He even called it a “Number 1 Priority” in their house. Those children know what each utensil is and how it is used. These parents have carefully educated them about all kinds of food and preparations from their early days. When they sit down for meals, they always have at least two courses, usually after an appetizer. The result is that they can take those children all over the world and enjoy a fine meal together. France and Greece were two of their recent destinations. The Boyce’s daughter has Celiac disease, so she has to completely avoid gluten. That, however, hasn’t slowed them down a bit. In fact, Boyce shared that 95% of the dishes served in his restaurants are gluten-free. Even at Pane e Vino — which is an Italian eatery on the ground floor of the Huntsville Museum of Art — pizza and pasta are readily available in gluten-free varieties. Lucky children, wouldn’t you say?

After that particular conversation, I was a little bit discouraged. I felt badly that Steve and I don’t insist as much as we could on proper table manners when the grands come to visit. We “might” just let a few elbows on the table slide from time to time, and we have been known to ignore the fact that someone is excitedly talking when they should be still chewing. We do gentle reminders, you understand. Perhaps we should be a little more focused. And the cuisine? Well, chicken fingers, fries dipped in catsup, pizza, spaghetti, mac and cheese and pancakes are Cousins Camp staples. I confess. We often default to what is easiest and what will actually be eaten. And, I’ll also confess to a smidgeon of bribery from time to time with such words as, “Let’s see how many compliments we can get from the servers” when we start to enter a restaurant. One time we even rewarded them with a dollar each to spend at Dollar Tree for every compliment, and they ended up with $3 to spend after that meal. I know. I know. But, it worked. You understand?

So, no, table manners and a highly developed culinary palate were not the top priorities in our home, nor are they now. But, what WERE our passions/priorities/emphases when our children were growing up? I believe they would tell you that we strongly emphasized getting a good education, which meant making good grades, attending school daily “unless you were bleeding or throwing up,” and sometimes those weren’t even adequate excuses. 🙂 We were in church every Sunday, and we passionately discussed God’s Word, sermons we’d heard, music that was sung. We stressed having dinner together at night WITHOUT the television on. And, yes, there were no pesky electronics to deal with “back in the olden days.” We encouraged them to develop friendships, and we OFTEN had their friends and ours at our house. We encouraged them to get part-time jobs as soon as they were old enough, figuring those would be strong motivators for going to college and staying to finish their degrees. Those were some of the things we (hopefully) instilled in our children.

Now, when we peek inside the homes our children have established with their spouses, we see OTHER passions being shared. In one, it’s sports, reading, math and kayaking. In another, it’s being outside, being involved in extracurricular activities and eating healthy. In yet another, it’s animals, farm life, daily chores, having lots of people over for meals and tea parties. In all of the homes, God is honored and church is a priority.

So, even though I completely admire Chef Boyce and the passions he and his wife have, I feel okay about the Pearson passions, too. There are, after all, many different giftings and talents to pass along in this world. How boring it would be if we were all the same. Right?

What about you? What passions did you instill in your children? What were/are the results?

Ephesians 6:4 — “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Hebrews 12:11 — “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

And, of course:

Proverbs 22:6 — “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

3 Fun Reasons to Spend a Few Hours in South Pittsburg, Tennessee

11/12/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

South Pittsburg, Tennessee is only about a 2-hour drive from Hartselle, AL and is an easy destination to reach via Highway 72 East. Coming from other directions, you can find it just to the west of Chattanooga. If you have time, I’d like to suggest 3 reasons why you might want to make a special stop.

LODGE CAST IRON FACTORY STORE

Any good cook worth her apron knows and loves her black skillets, especially when it’s time to make cornbread. We’ve been carefully taught not to put them in the dishwasher or any kind of soapy water, for that matter, but instead to keep them well-seasoned. If you’re lucky, you have cast iron pieces in all sizes and are still healthy enough to wrestle these heavy pans. They are not for those who only pass through the kitchen to microwave a frozen dinner. 🙂

South Pittsburg is the headquarters for Lodge manufacturing and has been in business since 1896. Yes, you can order pieces of Lodge Cast Iron online, but the beauty of the factory store in South Pittsburg is 1) you get to see and feel many products other than the basics, 2) you can ask the knowledgeable clerks all kinds of questions about their use, 3) you can find factory seconds that are slightly blemished but cook the very same way and are priced lower, and 4) you can see the other temptations lurking on the shelves. In my case, I found a couple of grill pans for my gas cooktop, special tools, popcorn oil and Mexican vanilla, just in time for holiday baking.

The South Pittsburg store is only a block off of Hwy. 72 at 220 East 3rd Street, and it is open Monday-Saturday from 8:00-6:00 and on Sunday from 9:00 to 5:00.

STEVARINO’S ITALIAN EATERY AND PUB

After browsing all of the cookware at Lodge, you’ll work up an appetite. Keep going straight up the East 3rd Street, and you’ll see Stevarino’s on the corner. Find a parking place on the street in front or alongside. Stevarino’s is closed on Sundays but open for lunch and dinner the other 6 days a week.

Be sure to start your meal with an order of Beach Bread. According to the owner, he first tried a similar concoction when he was at the beach and decided to make his own version when he got back home. A fresh baguette is sliced open and stuffed with bleu cheese, fresh tomatoes and bacon, then covered with mozzarella cheese, toasted and served with marinara sauce. So, so good.

Beach Bread at Stevarino’s.

Steve and I also shared their Mediterranean chicken with green beans and pasta. It was very satisfying. Beware that the pepperoncini peppers have quite a kick. 🙂

Mediterranean Chicken at Stevarino’s.

Don’t worry. There are plenty of pizza, pasta dishes and other choices on the menu.

The atmosphere was relaxed, and the service was attentive. You could make your grocery list while you wait, if you want, since crayons are provided to use with the white butcher paper covering the tables.

It made sense that Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia were represented in the wall decor. After all, South Pittsburg sits right where those three states converge. However, when I mentioned to the server that I kept looking for some sign of Auburn, he said, “You won’t get much love for Auburn in South Pittsburg. You’ll have to drive back into Alabama for that.” Oh well. At least, he was honest. 🙂

RUSSELL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT

Just a few miles west of South Pittsburg, look for signs pointing to Russell Cave National Monument. If you’re not in a hurry, this detour is well worth your time. Russell Cave is not a place you walk THROUGH, instead you walk TO it. It is actually an archaeological site where more than 100,000 Native American artifacts were excavated, representing four separate culture time period. Interesting displays are in the welcome center, and a 7-minute film can be shown if you have time.

The walk to the cave opening was my favorite part. Exquisitely peaceful, an easy trail, and nature galore.

Pathway toward Russell Cave.

Opening to Russell Cave.

Fall at Russell Cave.

There is no admission charge. Always a plus.

So now you have my suggestions if you decide to make a day trip to South Pittsburg. Have fun!

What the World Needs Now are More Tuas . . . and Tebows . . . and Chettes.

11/09/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

All of you know that I am a die-hard Auburn fan and a proud graduate of Auburn University. I avoid crimson and hounds tooth. I have orange and blue t-shirts, sweatshirts and jewelry. I can play the Auburn fight song hymn-style with an “Amen” at the end. BUT, and this is a Big BUT — after last year’s National Championship game, I did NOT suddenly become an Alabama fan, but I did INSTANTLY become a Tua fan. When he led that team to a dramatic comeback and had microphones stuck in his face afterwards, he didn’t take any praise for himself. He pointed people to Jesus.

Read more details about Tua Tagovailoa in this link. How he came to have such a strong faith, what his family background is like, the habits that keep him grounded are all described in depth in this article.

Tim Tebow’s story is very similar. Priorities of faith, family and THEN football. Humility. Pointing people to Jesus. In several of his high-profile games, John 3:16 and other Scripture references were prominent in the black painted under his eyes. Thousands dusted off their Bibles or did Google searches to find out what those verses said. As a result of the financial gains he received from sports, he formed the Tim Tebow Foundation, whose stated goal is to “bring Faith, Hope and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.” That organization’s Night to Shine events have brought untold joy to thousands with special needs.

Chette Williams is the chaplain for Auburn University’s football program. He is facing a lawsuit — as are many Christian chaplains for sports teams — brought by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) wanting his job to be dissolved and his privilege of leading players in prayer to cease. He’s not backing down. He’s still praying.

What would happen if EVERY Christian recognized the opportunities for impacting the world by living lives according to the Bible and giving glory and honor to Jesus at every opportunity?

What if our lives were characterized by humility rather than by pride, desires for recognition and constant self-promotion?

What if our work ethic spurred us to practice harder, to seek to improve, to stay late and arrive early with the ultimate goal of giving any credit for success to our Savior?

What if our families were strong morally and close emotionally because of love, respect, exemplary examples of the older members and devotion to one another?

It’s so much more than church attendance.

It’s so much more than giving a tithe or donations to charity.

It’s so much more than not saying bad words in public and staying away from R-rated movies.

Tua, Tebow and Chette have bone-deep belief in and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. They know God’s Word. They pray. They practice humility and purity. They are not Christians in name only. They are what followers of Christ can look like.

Do we really want to change the world?

What if we all put faith and family before football (or whatever our personal passion might be)?

Can you just imagine with me what an impact we could have?

1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect”

Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness . . . “

Matthew 5:13-16 – “You are the salt of the earth . . . let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

1 Peter 2:12 – “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

All verses in the English Standard Version.

Public Art in Canton, Ohio

11/05/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

By all means, plan a trip to Canton, Ohio, to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It is an amazing facility . . . . and still growing.

While you’re there, take one of their awesome food tours. Enjoy a great progressive meal (i.e. different courses in different restaurants) while hearing stories of the town’s history and famous people. I wrote about it here.

Visit the lush, gorgeous 55 acres of the Gervasi Vineyard and enjoy a superb meal. I described it here.

But, before you leave Canton, do yourself a huge favor and spend an hour or two strolling through downtown admiring the great displays of public art.

You’ll see painted murals — even in the parking garages.

3 Stooges

The back side of Basil restaurant.

You’ll see vinyl installations of famous photographs.

Football is a prevalent theme.

You’ll see a wide variety of sculptures.

Birth of the NFL

“Shattered Expressions”

And you’ll be impressed that even the trash receptacles have been “art-enhanced.” Eighteen local artists are featured.

From my perspective, all of these efforts tell me that the people of Canton care greatly about the impression their town makes on visitors and how much pride they want their townspeople to have in their city. Good for them. I wish more cities would follow their example.

Our Firstborn is 45!!

11/02/2018 By: CCPearson4 Comments

Yesterday our tiny bundle of joy who came into the world weighing 5 lbs. 14 oz. turned 45 years old, a fact that is astounding to her daddy and me. How in the world have this many years passed since that life-changing event occurred and this beautiful person came into our lives??

We brought Laura Katherine home to Moss Chapel Road in early November of 1973. She attended Carol Jane White’s preschool class, Burleson kindergarten, Crestline for grades 1-5, Hartselle Junior High for 6th-8th, and Hartselle High School for 9th-12th, graduating 4th in her class in 1992. She was dedicated, saved and baptized at First Baptist Hartselle with too many Sunday School teachers, GA leaders, choir teachers, VBS leaders, Bible drill coaches and preachers to name. She had 2 piano teachers in her life — her mother and Mrs. Janet Varner.

Suffice it to say, that Laura is a product of Hartselle, AL and proudly calls it her home town, but she has lived, gotten driver’s licenses and become a registered voter in the states of Washington, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia, in addition to Alabama.

Laura was offered scholarships to several colleges, notably Mississippi State and Vandy, but accepted the President’s Scholarship to Auburn — for which we were immensely grateful. She got a bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) in mathematics from Auburn, then went on to Georgia Tech for her master’s. She is now an adjunct teacher of mathematics for Purdue University Global, their online degree program. Although she is happy when Tech or Purdue have success, she is an Auburn Tiger win, lose or tie. Thank heavens!!

Laura now lives in Rome, Georgia with her husband David Baggett, who is certified in prosthetics and orthotics, and is the homeschooling mom to their children, Nathan (12) and Megan (10). They met at Auburn when they both signed up to take a course at Lakeview Baptist Church designed to help them know how to share the Gospel. She teaches a Tuesday morning Bible study at their church (West Rome Baptist) and fills in at the keyboard when she’s invited to do so.

Laura, David, Nathan and Megan

Throughout Laura’s years in Hartselle, she was known for 3 things in particular: making very high grades, behaving herself (praise the Lord!) and playing the piano.

Here are some things you might not know about Laura:

The summer after she graduated from HHS she spent 10 weeks touring with the Celebrant Singers — from the Pacific to the Atlantic, across the Atlantic to Bulgaria, and then back across the country to California. She slept in 72 different beds that summer and logged a zillion miles in a bus seat.
During one of her college summers, she participated in an extended mission project working with Asian students in Seattle.
Laura is the only one, so far, to have been a member of the HHS Performers for all 4 years of high school.
Laura is an amazing analyzer of people and situations. She can make a spreadsheet or a pros/cons list with the best of them.
Laura is fascinated by Enneagrams — a way of assessing personality types — and has every member of her family “pegged to a T.” She has studied this in such depth that she now teaches classes on the subject.
Laura has written a book, “Making Room for Jesus,” which is available on Amazon, and we’re hoping she has a few more in the works.
When Laura turned 40, she started experimenting with various hair colors. So far, we’ve enjoyed pink, red, purple, and blue. For a few months, it was back to its highlighted blonde default setting, but just in time for this birthday, a fresh pink streak was added. If this is as rebellious as she ever gets, we’ll be extremely grateful.
She may be quiet, but she is ALWAYS thinking. And, if she gets the opportunity and wants to share a thought or two, it will be worth hearing. In that way, she is very much like her daddy.
She has a gift for selecting greeting cards. When you receive one from her, you know that she has deliberated and chosen one that is perfectly suited.

Here are some things Laura probably doesn’t know (deeply enough) about herself:

How funny she is. Her humor may be less flamboyant than her brother’s, but it’s quick and hysterical.
How valuable she is to her family and her friends. She enriches our lives immeasurably.
How much she is admired by those who know her.
How much I smile inwardly (and outwardly) when someone says she’s my “clone.” For most of her life, people have said she was “the spitten image of Steve Pearson,” but as she’s grown into adulthood, she looks more like me — a fact that probably causes her some consternation but makes me happy.
Laura and me during our most recent visit
How proud her daddy and I have ALWAYS been of her. She is our daughter “in whom we are well-pleased.”
Laura all dressed up.

6. The Bible describes a woman named Abigail like this in 1 Samuel 25:3: “Abigail, who was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” I think those words apply to our Laura, as well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FIRSTBORN!! We love you and pray you’ll have many, many more great years to impact the world.

Mason-Dixon Bakery and Bistro in Huntsville, AL: 100% Gluten Free

10/29/2018 By: CCPearson1 Comment

Not only is Mason-Dixon Bakery and Bistro the first 100% gluten free bakery in Alabama, it also ranks among the top 15 in the entire United States. Is your first thought: “How can anything that is completely gluten free actually taste good?” Let me assure you that at Mason-Dixon, they have learned the secrets to tasty success.

We have a precocious granddaughter Penelope who once proclaimed when asked to name her favorite food: “GLUTEN!” At the time, she was having stomach issues, and her parents were trying to steer her away from products containing gluten in an attempt to identify the cause of her problems. She associated gluten with all of her former delicious favorites and was sorely missing them. Well, lucky for Penelope and the thousands of others who either MUST avoid gluten or who choose to do so, Huntsville has a wonderful place to enjoy a guilt-free lunch or a baked treat.

Located at 2358 Whitesburg Drive, Mason-Dixon is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is a smallish place, but the flavors produced by Chef Matthew Streeter are richly-layered, healthy and allergen-free in addition to being gluten free. My friend and I went in recently for dessert, but take note that Chef Streeter’s Chicken Apple Brie Sandwich with housemade fig jam was named one of the Top 10 Sandwiches in the state a few years ago. I MUST get back over there to try one.

Very enticing menu offerings are available for both breakfast and lunch. Take note that Mason-Dixon is only a few minutes away from Huntsville Hospital, in case you are visiting a friend who is a patient and maybe want to carry them something that will help them forget hospital food.

The Death by Chocolate cupcake is described as “rich, moist cake topped with creamy Paleo frosting and a drizzle of housemade Paleo ganache.

The Carrot Cake Cupcake is made of carrots, cinnamon and walnuts topped with cream cheese frosting. Do I have your mouth watering?

Kids menus include a sandwich, drink and side and range from $5-7.

The drink menu provides a variety of coffees and teas along with lemonade and organic sodas. The Snickerdoodle Latte sounds particularly appealing.

Mason-Dixon offers a selection of carry-out meals that can be ordered in advance and picked up on Monday-Wednesday-Friday. Check the website for details. They also do extensive catering for weddings and events of all kinds.

Mason-Dixon Bakery and Bistro is clean, attractive and cozy. It has a feel-good atmosphere and the staff is helpful and friendly.

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