There Goes Connie

A Season of Receiving

09/01/2017 By: CCPearson1 Comment

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35b

I learned those words as a child and know them to be absolutely true. We ARE very blessed when we have the privilege of giving, and I hope I will always be a giver. But, in recent days, Steve and I have been the receivers of acts of kindness that have blessed us, encouraged us and lifted our spirits.

A few days ago, a long-time friend showed up at our door with this casserole.

We learned that First Baptist of Hartselle has a Casserole Ministry. Yes, a Casserole Ministry. Several ladies in the church keep a freezer filled with a variety of casseroles in disposable pans ready to be delivered to couples with a new baby, someone who has been sick, someone who has experienced a crisis, or NEWCOMERS. Yay!!! Some do the cooking, others do the delivering, and yet others get to do the eating. What a great idea!! I was particularly grateful for this casserole because I was facing a day of writing deadlines, yet suddenly I had the main part of our supper thawing on the counter. It was comfort food in every sense of the term.

The day that all of our furniture was moved out of our house in Athens, our good friends and neighbors across the street said, “Come over for supper when everything is loaded. We’ll have something simple to eat before you leave the neighborhood.” How nice to not have to go searching for food when we were bone-tired and looking very bedraggled. It was thoughtful, helpful and extremely kind.

A few nights before that, our great Sunday School class surprised us with a barbecue and all the trimmings. We thought we were just going to our neighbors’ for a casual meal but arrived to find a dozen smiling faces. Not only did they feed us (and send us home with leftovers), they also gave us cards which we realized later contained gift cards to restaurants and to Lowe’s. A perfect gesture to help us during the stressful transition days.

My beloved fellow choir members gave me a grand piano music box as a going-away gift. It is carefully packed away in a safe place awaiting a spot of honor when the new house is finished. I know I will always look at it and smile.

Such thoughtful actions. Each one special and perfectly-timed. So many examples of God supplying the needs of our bodies and of our hearts through His servants. All of the givers in these cases, were indeed “cheerful givers.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

As you might expect, these acts of kindness have caused me to think about what my response should be, and I have realized there are two take-aways:

Be (and STAY) grateful. Grateful to the person or people who carried out the kindnesses and grateful to God for putting us on their hearts and giving them the desire to minister to us.
Pay it forward. I pray that as a result of all we’ve felt and experienced in the past month, I will be more keenly aware of what others are needing. I believe the best thank-you I can give to those who have blessed us will be to bless others in the future.

Amelia Earhart said, “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”

Scott Adams said, “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”

So, thank you, friends for giving to us. We will do our best to minister to others following your examples.

Grille 29 at the Village of Providence: Perfect for Lunch with a Friend

08/28/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

I have enjoyed several wonderful dinners at Grille 29 — some with friends, some with Steve, all special. I even wrote a full review of the restaurant here after a visit last spring. Take a few minutes to read it before you go. You might get some ideas and information that will make your time there even more enjoyable. And, be sure to read the section about talented Chef Cara Thompson, a Huntsville, AL native.

Last week, though, I finally had an opportunity to spend a couple of delicious, relaxing hours with a friend enjoying the food and atmosphere of Grille 29 at lunchtime. I loved the jazz playing when I entered (piped in, not live). It set the stage for an upscale experience to come. I especially like it when you can hear the music in a restaurant and still be able to carry on a conversation without having to raise your voice or lean in close. Whatever the volume level was last week was perfect.

My friend chose the Cajun Shrimp Pasta, consisting of sauteed shrimp, alfredo sauce and fettucine. She laughingly ate every bite and joked that she wouldn’t have turned down some bread to soak up the remaining sauce. Ha! It was THAT good.

Cajun Shrimp Pasta

I ordered Filet Tips Chimichurri, which the menu described as char-grilled marinated tenderloin tips over herbed rice pilaf with roasted mushrooms. That sent me to my culinary dictionary for a definition of chimichurri. I learned that it is “a savory Argentinean sauce or marinade often used on grilled meat and typically made with finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, oregano, vinegar and olive oil.” I can attest that the meat was very tender and the sauce was full of flavor without being spicy.

Filet Tips Chimichurri

Each entree was only $13. Not outrageous and worth every penny, in my opinion.

Two girlfriends are bound to want dessert — if they are totally honest with each other. And, by sharing one, the calories are halved and the fun is doubled, don’t you think? We chose Raspberry Truffle Cake — a rich chocolate cake on the bottom with raspberry mousse on top covered with chocolate ganache and served with a raspberry coulis. Aha! Another word to define. A coulis is “a thin fruit or vegetable puree used as a sauce” and is pronounced “koo-lee.” My friend ate from one side, I ate from the other, and we still had some to take home to Steve. Win- win-win. And, don’t you appreciate beautiful desserts and the time it takes to make them? This one was picture-worthy, for sure.

Raspberry Truffle Cake

Now, go back and memorize the definitions for chimichurri and coulis, so you won’t be afraid of them when you see the words on menus in the future. Dig right in. I promise they both add another layer of deliciousness.

Pick out a friend. Look at your calendar. Plan a lunch date at Grille 29 soon. Life’s too short to eat yucky food, and friendships are worth the investment of your time. Amen?

Putting Down My List. Picking Up a Desire to Encounter God.

08/25/2017 By: CCPearson6 Comments

I confess. I was in big-time list-making mode.

We just moved back to Hartselle after living in other places for 15 years, and it’s time to start finding the church where God wants us at this stage of our lives.

My preference list included such items as: 1) Dynamic worship with a great choir, skilled instrumentalists and a blend of hymns and contemporary praise and worship music. Up-tempo when appropriate, of course. 2) Evidence of growth in the congregation, such as young families and plenty of youth. 3) An expository preacher who would teach me something new from God’s Word every week. 4) A great Sunday School class for further spiritual growth and more intimate fellowship. 5) Comfortable, attractive facilities. 6) Convenience to our home. You get the idea. It was all about MY wants, MY personal preferences, MY comfort level.

THEN, God used my preacher son, Matt, and the powerful passage in His Word found in Isaiah 6:1-8 to turn my thinking in a completely different direction. If you have 28 minutes, you can hear all of Matt’s message here. But, if you’re in a hurry and need the bullet points from my perspective, I’d like to share them.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord” — Matt spent several minutes rehashing the background of Uzziah and his significance. Uzziah reigned as king over Judah for 52 years. During the early years of his reign, he “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,” and the Lord greatly blessed him. He was smart and innovative. He built up the armies and the land, and other nations noticed and admired him. But then his pride caused him to make a grave mistake. He went into the temple and burned incense, which was something only the priests were allowed to do. God struck him with leprosy, and he was not allowed to enter the temple for the rest of his life. When he died, the whole nation was holding its breath, so to speak, to see what would happen next. Isaiah sincerely wanted to hear from God. He had no agenda of his own. He went into the temple that day desiring to encounter God. Matt asked his congregation, “Why are you here today? In your mind, is it “all about you” or did you come to have an encounter with God?” Uh oh. A little unease came into my heart.
“I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. ²Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

⁴At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

Isaiah saw an amazing spectacle when he went into the temple that day. The Lord himself with his immense train, flying seraphim with six wings proclaiming “Holy, holy, holy,” shaking doorposts and thresholds and smoke. Yet, his thoughts (unlike mine have often been) were not focused on the great “show” happening in church. Nor was his mind on criticizing the Lord’s apparel or the atmosphere/special effects inside the temple. But isn’t that what I’ve done WAY too many times? “Why did the music have to be so loud?” “Surely the preacher has something better than that to wear in the pulpit on Sunday mornings?” “I’m not a big fan of angels or long robes or smoke machines.” No. Isaiah went into the temple to find God. And Matt asked again, “Why did YOU come to church this morning?” Okay. Now I’m really having to rethink some things. I have spent far too much time focusing on the “trappings” of worship rather than on the preparation of my heart for worship.
“⁵Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah’s immediate reaction to the display of God’s grandeur and power was complete humility and a feeling of unworthiness. He knew that in comparison to God, he was ruined without help from God Almighty. He recognized that his own mouth was wicked and so were the mouths of the people he lived around. Matt asked, “Is that why so many people stay home on Sunday? Isn’t it easier to try to prevent God or anyone else from seeing inside our hearts and souls? Do we avoid a chance to encounter God because we don’t want to be made aware of our sin?” I couldn’t help but think of the number of times when my heart was full of sin, and I did not want to be in a place or a situation where I knew I’d be convicted about that sinfulness. But, wasn’t that the very place I most needed to be so that I could ask for forgiveness and receive it?
^“6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” “Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” What awesome words! We have to remember that in these verses, Isaiah did nothing but stand there. God did it all. The passage does not mention that the live coal caused Isaiah excruciating pain. We know that Jesus is the one who took on the pain of our sins and became the atonement for each of us. We don’t work for atonement/forgiveness. We can’t earn atonement/forgiveness. God provided a way for Isaiah before He sent Jesus, and He has provided a way for us. So, what is Isaiah’s response?
“⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah did NOT say, “Here I am. Send him. . . or her . . . or them.” Matt’s conclusion was that “when it hits you that God loves you to your core, you’ll eagerly want to tell others about that kind of God.” In this passage, in Ephesians 2 and throughout the Book of Romans, the theme is the same: God is holy. We are broken. God provides a way to fix our brokenness. Thank you, Jesus!

So, what about my list of preferences? I believe God wants me to lay those aside and desire with all my heart to have an encounter with Him. I know that can happen even with an out-of-tune guitar, uneducated preaching, hard benches, flies buzzing and perspiration rolling down my back. I can picture a room in Cojitambo, Ecuador with that exact scene where I had a very clear and profound time with the Father. It’s not about me. It’s not about me. It’s not about me. It’s ALL about HIM.

The Culinary Trifecta of Chef James Boyce in Huntsville, AL

08/21/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

I love it when I get to experience the efforts of someone who has years of training in a skill and runs a business with excellence. Chef James Boyce is doing just that with three diverse, but equally exceptional, restaurants in the Rocket City.

My husband and I have dined at Cotton Row Restaurant twice now and loved it both times. Its location at 100 South Side Square in downtown Huntsville is perfect for folks who work in the area. But with a parking garage a block away and a fair amount of street parking, it is accessible for diners coming from all directions. As a matter of fact, it is well worth the effort to make your way there for any kind of special occasion or upscale event.

Cotton Row at 100 South Side Square.

We purposefully made our reservations for lunch on Friday, August 18, because it was the last weekday of Huntsville’s Restaurant Week. All three of Chef Boyce’s restaurants were participating, but we especially liked the sound (and the price) of the special three-course lunch being served for this promotional event.

The meal started with Southern Seafood Chowder, which was thick, rich and loaded with flavor. The ingredients included clams, snapper, shrimp, bacon and smoked tomatoes. I believe the smoked tomatoes put it over the top. So good.

Southern Seafood Chowder.

The entree was Grilled Chicken and Potato Paillard (“paillard” is basically a preparation method that involves pounding thin and then cooking on a grill). The chicken and potatoes were surrounded with blistered cherry tomatoes, chargrilled red onions and topped with a perfectly poached egg. The combination was delicious, and the portion size was just right.

Chicken and Potatoes Paillard topped with a perfectly poached egg.

The meal was topped off with a small Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee, garnished with fresh strawberries and a small cookie. All of the items on the Restaurant Week special lunch appear on the regular menu, as well — likely in large portions.

Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee

Cotton Row is small, so reservations are recommended. When the weather permits, there is a nice outdoor seating area.

Outdoor dining area of Cotton Row.

The website lists 11 farms which provide the restaurant with fresh quality produce. All are very near the Huntsville area.

Cotton Row serves brunch on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., lunch Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and dinner Monday through Saturday from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Chef Boyce’s second downtown restaurant is on the opposite end of the same block at 300 Franklin Street. Commerce Kitchen is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., on Saturday from 4:00-10:00 p.m. and is closed on Sundays. The menu is slightly more casual, and the prices are a little more moderate than at Cotton Row. I have not had a chance to try it out yet, but knowing the quality of Chef Boyce’s other restaurants, it is on my Restaurant Bucket List to sample in the near future. If you’ve been, I’d love to read your thoughts and hear your recommendations from the menu.

Commerce Kitchen at 300 Franklin St. S.E.

Pane e Vino has yet another distinct location and identity. This Italian-themed restaurant is on the ground floor of the Huntsville Museum of Art and overlooks Big Spring Park. It is open everyday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and is wonderful for a pre-event meal with its proximity to the Von Braun Center. Salads, paninis, pizzas, pastas and calzones dominate the menu, and the prices are very reasonable.

Fresh salads at Pane e Vino.

Panini at Pane e Vino.

Outdoor dining at Pane e Vino overlooking Big Spring Park.

There is a small dining area inside with the advantage of smelling all of the tantalizing aromas, but if the weather is nice, I highly recommend the outdoor patio. In addition to people-watching, wildlife and nature are on constant display.

Chef Boyce offers cooking classes throughout the year. A current series is entitled “Eat Simply. Eat Smart. Eat Well.” Details are on the website. Who wants to go with me?

Congratulations, Chef Boyce, on your success in Huntsville. All of us who dine in your restaurants enjoy the tremendous benefits of your hard work.

Chaos. Order. More Chaos. More Order.

08/18/2017 By: CCPearson6 Comments

After MUCH sweat, agonizing and gnashing of teeth, we made it through several weeks of packing, 2 days of loading our worldly goods onto a truck (no, we don’t have that much stuff, and don’t ask me to name the moving company), a day of closings in attorneys’ offices and then 2 more days of unloading (again, don’t ask). We are making a nest in our new, but yet very familiar, surroundings. We moved away from Hartselle almost exactly 15 years ago. Since we lived in this town for 30 years, reared our children here, owned a business on the main highway and taught in the public schools, we know the shortcuts and basically where everything is. Some things have changed, but happily many things are still the same. Whew. At this stage of our lives, “FAMILIAR” is a welcome word.

It is a relief to be in a place we understand when we get in our car and drive out of the driveway, but it’s the chaos INSIDE that has been a challenge to my senses this past week. Poorly-labeled boxes and boxes of need-it-now items that are buried somewhere in the garage have frustrated me. My body and my psyche crave order. Yes, I CAN live amidst turmoil and messiness, but not for long.

Multiply this pile of boxes by 100, and you get a more accurate picture.

At least, I was able to find some sheets for these beds, right?

All of this, as you might suspect, has sent my mind on another spiritual journey. I needed to be reminded that God is a God of order and not chaos. He created order from complete chaos back in Genesis chapter 1.

Genesis 1:2 “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” And then God started speaking and order was set in place — light, heavens and earth, day and night, seas and dry lands, plants, animals, etc. etc. Just by saying the words, the earth started to take shape and make perfect sense.

In another place in Scripture, a storm was raging, and the disciples were terrified.

Matthew 8:23-27 “Now when He (Jesus) got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. ²⁴And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. ²⁵Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

²⁶But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ²⁷So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Again, just by speaking Jesus brought order out of chaos.

1 Corinthians 14:33a-40 — “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace . . . .but everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”

With hard work and determination, we can eventually bring order to our living spaces and our physical environment.

Who knows where my Tupperware is buried, but at least this Pearson grandmomma has a kitchen back up and running.

Ahhhh. As long as there’s a place for grandchildren to come and visit, life seems much better.

But only God can bring order to the emotional and spiritual chaos of our lives. I love these verses. They are speaking to me this morning.

Matthew 11:28-30 — “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Do you need “rest for your soul” this morning?

Are you looking for spiritual order in the middle of your inner chaos?

5 “Indescribably Good” Reasons to Visit Your Nearest Zaxby’s

08/14/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

Along with other bloggers and media folks, I recently had a fun and delicious invitation to visit the new Zaxby’s in Hartselle and sample many of their great menu items. Who could possibly say no to that? The occasion fell on our first official day back as Hartselle residents. What a great way to celebrate! The restaurant has only been open a couple of weeks, so everything is shiny and new, and the atmosphere is exciting for Hartselle folks as well as for all of the employees.

Zaxby’s was launched in 1990 by Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley in Statesboro, GA, right outside Athens, GA. Those men obviously had some great recipes and marketing strategies, because now, 27 years later, there are 700 Zaxby’s locations scattered across 17 states. 86 of those are in Alabama with another scheduled to open soon in Huntsville.

Zaxby’s restaurants are family friendly and are strongly committed to giving back to the communities where they are located. In Hartselle, they are planning fundraiser nights, kids’ nights and a focus on the sports which are so important in this town.

During my visit, I saw (and tasted) 5 good reasons in particular to try Zaxby’s and to return for visits again and again. Zaxby’s uses the slogan “indescribably good,” so I’ll use it, too.

SALADS. Well, they call them Zalads, but you get the idea. Steve and I have ordered the House Grilled Zalads for years and always love them. They are filled with lots of fresh veggies and hot, tender strips of chicken. I learned last week that Zalads are the most popular menu items in our area, so that means we’re not the only ones who have discovered them. In addition to The House, The Cobb, The Caesar and The Blue are also available, plus seasonal creations often placed on the menu in the spring and summer.
The Caesar Zalad, small size with Caesar dressing.
SAUCES. My goodness! Zaxby’s has a vast array of sauces, some for tossing and some for dipping. There are enough choices to please even the finickiest eaters (a.k.a.grandchildren). Listen to the names of some of the tossing sauces: “Wimpy,” “Nuclear,” “Tongue Torch,” “Insane.” But, of course, you can also find normal ones, such as Sweet and Spicy, Barbecue and Teriyaki. My new favorite is a dip called Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip. Oh my! With all of the chicken pieces mixed in, it is fabulous with their Tater Chips, and I’m sure it would go great with all kinds of raw veggies. Check out these appetizers. Don’t they just scream “Game Day?”
Spicy Fried Mushrooms with Zestable Dip.
SUPER WAYS TO FIX CHICKEN. Zaxby’s has an array of sandwiches, wings and chicken fingers. Their boneless wings positively DRIP with flavor. Yummo!!
SHAKES. We were treated to samples of all their premium shakes — Chocolate Cookie, Banana Pudding and Birthday Cake. All 3 were creamy and special, but my new favorite is Banana Pudding. How nice that it also has the fewest calories! Well, it’s all relative when it comes to shakes, right?
Banana pudding, Birthday cake and Chocolate Cookie shakes. These are sample sizes.

5. SERVICE. Steve and I have been impressed during many visits to Zaxby’s with the attention the staff has given to our order and to our needs while inside their restaurant. They are very polite and go the extra mile to be sure you have what you need. After meeting members of the corporate staff, I understand more about the commitment they are making to the training of their employees. They want happy customers, and they know that their employees (and their chicken) are both key components in making that happen.

From left to right, David Disharoon, Sandy Dean, myself, Leslie Walker (on the staff of the Huntsville/Madison Co. Convention and Visitors Bureau), Laura McKenna and Greg Perry.

Zaxby’s describes itself as a high-end, fast-casual restaurant. I believe you’ll enjoy your food and the atmosphere. If you are a subscriber to my blog, you will have a chance to win a $25 gift card to Zaxby’s. On August 30th — just in time for the start of football season — I will randomly choose 2 winners from my list of subscribers. Good luck!!

P.S. There is one other tip I learned during my visit. You can go to the register at your nearest Zaxby’s and sign up with a code on your phone. Each store has their own specific code. You will get a free Nibbler just for signing up, then you will receive messages when your location runs special offers for free or discounted menu items. Sounds like a winner to me.

Do Unto Others

08/11/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

Matthew 7:12 (Words of Jesus) “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

“Do unto others. . . .” “Do unto others. . . .” Over and over these words have been playing in a loop in my head in recent days and months. And I have been realizing that following this command of Jesus’ is often costly, financially and in terms of hard work.

A week ago, while the packers were busy in other parts of the house, I was wiping out cabinets and drawers, cleaning the microwave, polishing countertops, sweeping and mopping because I want to leave the house for the new owners like I hope someone is leaving the house that Steve and I will be moving into. If they don’t, I’ll just clean it, too. After all, I’m not accountable for THEIR actions, but as a Christ follower, I am accountable to Him for my actions. Somehow it mattered to me to have the house better than just move-in-ready. When the neighbors come around and mention “the Pearsons who used to live here,” I want so much for the new owners to already have a positive impression of us based on the condition of the house and yard. It’s well worth the sweat and energy expended.

The new owners submitted a list of repairs that they wanted us to make. We have checked everything off of that list, but we knew of a few others things that deserved attention. Most of these items have cost money. Let me just say it — moving isn’t cheap. But again, wouldn’t we want the owners where we’re moving to have the appliances, plumbing, electrical wiring and air conditioning in good working order? Well then, that’s what we want for the people moving into our present house.

Jesus told us to treat people the way we want to be treated. His words go WAY beyond the condition of our homes. I believe He was also talking about respect, honesty, courtesy and kindness. When I listen to the nightly news, I’m afraid I don’t see much evidence of people living by Jesus’ words. But wouldn’t we ALL be better off if we did?

Anyway, that’s just something I was convicted about recently. I’d love to hear how God has been pricking your heart.

3 New Suggestions for Grandparents and Grandchildren

08/07/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

The 10th Annual Pearson Cousins Camp ended last week, and once again, memories were made, lots of food was consumed, and more inside jokes were created. It gets a little bit challenging to come up with activities that add a hint of surprise AND are appropriate for ages 4-16. Fortunately, our youngest campers and our oldest are very flexible and willing to participate with the group in whatever adventure we undertake.

You can read about past suggestions here. But while the week is still fresh on my mind, allow me to mention three that were new to us this year and turned out to be big hits.

1. Eating German food. Our theme for the week was “Around the World,” and besides having a world map on display and talking about the language and religions in various countries, we also sampled Mexican, Italian, Chinese and Japanese cuisines in area restaurants. The wild card was Ol’ Heidelberg Cafe in Huntsville. Steve and I really wanted to expose them to some new foods, but we half expected to pay for a lot of wasted food. Happily, that did NOT happen. The kids LOVED it! And, Ol’ Heidelberg allowed us to share entrees and even divided up the portions onto separate plates before they served the food. Hurray! The warm German bread appeared first on the table and was gobbled up quickly. Several ordered chicken schnitzel, some chose a ham and cheese sandwich which was piled high with cold cuts, and yet another had German sausage and kraut. All had a chance to sample the amazing potatoes and slaw. Before we even left the restaurant, they were saying, “Let’s come back here next year.” Sounds like a “win” to me.

Oh, that warm German bread!!

Chicken schnitzel, anyone?

2. Cathedral Caverns. Like the German food, this was another gamble on our part. How would they react to the cold, dark, damp cave with lots of rather strenuous walking? Again, they were super troopers! Several had never been inside a cave. None had ever been to this particular cave. They listened respectfully to our tour guide and learned lots of new vocabulary words. The 4- and 6-year-olds didn’t even flinch when we got to the deepest part of the caverns and the guide turned off the lights. A true God-thing happened. One of our oldest campers WAS very apprehensive about the dark, but in God’s divine providence, her t-shirt actually glowed when the lights went out, so she wasn’t completely in the dark after all. It became a great example of how God cares about all of the concerns of our lives.

By the way, it worked well to combine Ol’ Heidelberg with Cathedral Caverns, because the Caverns were about 45 minutes southeast of Huntsville.

Right before we started our tour at Cathedral Caverns.

3. Jesse Owens Memorial Park and Museum. Every year, we try to find a place, a person or an event that inspires our grandchildren to think about great things that others have achieved and start imagining their own great accomplishments. Last year we visited Tom’s Wall near Florence. Tom Hendrix spent over 30 years constructing a stone wall in memory of his great-great-grandmother who was forced from her home during the Trail of Tears and then spent FIVE YEARS walking back to Alabama.

A portion of Tom’s Wall near Florence, AL.

This year we drove to the Jesse Owens Memorial near Danville. The guided tour was excellent, as was the 40-minute film narrated by Jesse himself showing film clips from the 1936 Olympics in Germany. On the grounds is a replica of the house he grew up in with his sharecropper parents and his 9 siblings, and a sandy long jump pit where youngsters can see how close they can come to Jesse’s winning jump. It rained before we got there, so we chose to look but not jump to keep from tracking in a ton of sand, but they were still impressed with the distance. The visit prompted lots of questions about Hitler and about the hardships that Jesse Owens endured.

Ready to be inspired.

Listening to our guide at the Jesse Owens Memorial.

Wow! How in the world did Jesse Owens jump that far?

If you go, let me also recommend Caddo Cafeteria, which is about 15 minutes away. All 13 of us had a great lunch (meat and vegetables) for less than $60, and that price included unlimited refills on drinks and ice cream. What a deal!!

A great lunch place near the Jesse Owens Memorial.

Be sure to check on the websites I’ve linked for hours of operation, prices and directions. And, please share your own North Alabama multi-generational discoveries by commenting on this post.

Last Thoughts, Last Words, Last Actions

08/04/2017 By: CCPearson10 Comments

Several days ago, I was driving east on Highway 72 near Athens, AL and stopped for a red light at Lucas Ferry Road. Three weeks earlier, another woman stopped at that same red light, and a few seconds later her life ended suddenly and without warning.

The lady was in her mid-40’s and on her way to work in Huntsville. She had two children and two grandchildren. She had no idea that a tractor-trailer truck would be going at full speed and hit her from behind causing her car to burst into flames. She was innocent. She was merely sitting still, going about her normal daily routine. But, I have thought again and again about what she might have thought, said or done in the moments before that fatal crash.

What was she thinking as she sat at that light? Was she looking forward to her workday or dreading it? Was she anticipating what would happen after she got off work? Did she have supper going in the crockpot? Did she have a list of errands beside her on the seat? Was she listening to the radio and humming along to some tunes or chuckling with Rick and Bubba or lamenting the latest news? Was she worried about anything? Was she happy about the relationships in her life?

What were her last words? What were the last conversations she had with her husband, children, grandchildren and close friends? Had she spoken to anyone on the phone that morning?

Besides getting up and getting dressed for work, what else had she done? Did she straighten the house, go out and pick a few vegetables from her garden, watch TV, feed the dog, read her Bible? Did she look in her rearview mirror a split second before the truck hit? Did she even have time to scream? Did she feel any pain? Oh, how I hope not.

I have no idea about the spiritual condition of that woman or what her relationship with Christ was, but I do know that woman could have been me. The same kind of accident could happen to any of us. But, rather than dwell on the actual moment of our deaths — and for those of us who are in Christ that moment will be glorious — the lesson for me has been to be more intentional with my thoughts, words and actions. To live in such a way that the last remembrances anyone might have of me would be positive, uplifting, encouraging, happy, edifying and Christ-honoring. This accident has caused me to reexamine the relationships in my life, to try to make improvements, to say the things to friends that I’ve been thinking and know they would enjoy hearing. To say “I love you” more often. I pray for that woman’s family and for the driver of the truck who hit her. Those few seconds have forever changed a lot of lives.

Acts 20:22-24 “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

7 Alaska Amazements

07/31/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

I expected to be impressed by the State of Alaska, dazzled even. But, in spite of the research I did, seven things still caught me off guard and shook my senses — in a very positive way.

THE AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. My goodness!! We arrived at our hotel after 9:00 p.m. You can see the sun streaming through the windows in this photo. We went downstairs, had dinner, and the sun was STILL shining when we got back. Yes, SHINING. For the next 10 days, we didn’t actually see the sun set or rise. Both happened so closely together, and thankfully, we were asleep.
Our hotel room at 9 p.m.
THE SIZE OF THE FLOWERS. After thinking about #1 a little more, it makes sense. During the growing season, albeit short as it is, the plants get almost constant sunlight. The size and colors of the flowers I saw were impressive.
Such a special variety and size.

Look at the size and color of these blossoms.

Huge flowers!
THE UNSPOILED VASTNESS OF THIS HUGE STATE. According to statistics, there are only 741,000 people living within its 586,412 square miles. That is 1/5 the size of the lower 48 states!!! No wonder a person could drive for hours and hours without seeing another person, only trees, lakes, mountains and wildlife. But, actually, there are only 1500 miles of paved roads in the states, so you’d have to see most of it by floatplane.
Miles and miles of unspoiled wilderness.
THE TOP OF DENALI MOUNTAIN. Formerly known as Mt. McKinley, only a few very lucky tourists get a chance to see Denali come out of the clouds and show off its grand peak. Steve and I were some of those lucky ones. One afternoon while touring Denali National Park, “the mountain came out” for about 25 minutes. We were awestruck!
The top of Denali in all her grandeur.
THE COLOR OF GLACIER-FED RIVERS AND STREAMS. I don’t know why exactly, but my mind just assumed that melted ice would be clear. That is not the case. Rivers, streams and lakes formed by melted glaciers are a steel gray color, and very few fish live in those waters — not enough nutrients, we were told.
Steel gray glacier waters.
THE COLOR OF THE GLACIERS. Such a striking blue!!
Look at all the different blues in the photo — especially the blue of the glacier.
THE SOUND OF GLACIERS CALVING. “Calving” is the term used when chunks of ice fall off a glacier into the water. It sounds like a crack of lightning followed by thunder. I didn’t capture one with my camera, but I loved the sound and sight of all we got to see.
Imagine the sound when a large piece breaks off and falls into the sea.

I hope you decide to visit Alaska some day. It is worth the money, the time and the long flight. I promise.

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