Valentine's Day Weekend Treat

There's nothing in the world nicer than having great friends! We have known Brent and Decie (Denise) Rowlands for more than twenty-five years. In the beginning Brent worked for my husband while he was going through law school. Later, I worked for a while in his law office. We lost track of them for many years....they had three little ones the last time we had seen them. Then about ten months ago, Brent saw Russell on the highway and followed and caught up to him and flagged him down! Of course, we had been back east for about three years then but had been living in Elizabeth City, NC and now were back in the Hampton Roads area again where we used to know them. They now have ten children! And Decie is just as beautiful as she was all those years ago. They are good Christian people, and we just picked up where we left off. Long story short, they helped us out with a place to stay right now while we are still in transition (God puts people in your path sometimes!!!!) They own a restaurant now, Riverside Restaurant in Winton, NC as well as Brent's law practice and another business. Friday night, we got a call--come on out with us to the restaurant, our treat! Here are the pictures of our lovely night out with old and dear friends! The restaurant is wonderful and we had a ball!!!! They had a DJ for Valentine's Day weekend, and there was lots of great music and dancing, and the food was wonderful. The restaurant is located right on the Chowan River, but I didn't get a shot of the outside because it was dark...will get one later. It's a great place to go! Check it out if you are ever in the area!



My husband with Decie...she was dressed in red for Valentine's Day, and I was wearing pink. :-)

Ooops, forgot to remove my reading glasses!

Brent and my husband.

A view of the bar where we got fresh shucked oysters.


Brent and Decie on the dance floor.

Other patrons dancing.


Brent dancing with his twelve-year-old. It was, as I said, a lovely evening.....

My Latest Painting

For those of you who never go over to my other blogs, I thought I would post this here. I'll also be posting it on my painting blog, and if you want to see some of my other work, check it out by clicking on the link on my sidebar. This is my most recent oil painting. It was done from a photograph taken at the 4-H Center near Wakefield, Va.

Skywatch Friday--Crazy Contrails!

This is Skywatch Friday (I'm here at Mom's on Thursday eve--yeah!!!! :-)) For more fabulous Skywatch photos from all over the world check out the website by clicking on the link! And join us by posting your own Skywatch views, too. I looked out the window one day last week where we are staying in Suffolk, Va. and this is what I saw--boy, at the air traffic that day! :-)

The Shack

A few weeks ago I read an amazing book by William P. Young....The Shack. It is a novel, but has a way of getting to you like only a true account can. You may or may not have heard about it. It's been on the best-seller list for weeks. All I can say is, it moved me in such a profound way that I felt like I would be floating from then on....for the FIRST time I actually read something that made me feel like God was talking to me, in a down-to-earth way, and giving me truths that I basically already knew, but with such depth and joy that reading the book became a celebration! I was sorry when it was over! WOW! If you have heard anything about it being odd, don't worry--it is odd, but in a good way....and if you read the book to the end, then you will understand about the odd parts. Just relax, and let the book take you where it will, and you won't be sorry!!!!!

I believe with all my heart that EVERYONE should read this book! For Christians, you will find yourself being touched by the Holy Spirit in a beautiful way....for the non-committed, it will answer some questions that are nagging at you and keeping you skeptical and, well, non-committed (smile). And I recommend this book with the highest praise! It isn't great literature. It isn't going to win an award, but the way it moves and touches everyone will be what matters.

So, read it....and let me know what you think. I'll be so happy to hear from all of you who take this challenge, and see if it moved you as much as it did me. I will almost bet everything that it will....Look it up on TheShackBook.com.

Curious?