Day of Remembrance

Here I am at the beach, thinking I need to upload pictures and fill folks in on my vacation.  But being too lazy to let anything break me from enjoying a beautiful day with my family, I just sit in my beach chair.  I am adoring my children as they build sand castles, laughing internally at my mother-in-law and her sister who are bickering to my right, and gazing at my husband who - after 12 years together - is still the sexiest man I know.  My life is perfect.  I couldn't be happier and gosh - what a beautiful, Carolina blue sky.  And then I remembered..............

Today is September 11th.  My God, how could it have slipped my mind!!!  I remember that day all too well.  I was living in DC and my office was two blocks away from the White House.  I remember walking in and seeing everyone gathered in the conference room staring at the TV.  Not me - I had work to do and couldn't be bothered with whatever trash The Today Show was reporting. 

As I sat down at my desk, my phone started ringing and it was my mother.  She was frantic trying to find out how close my brother's office was to the World Trade Center (he lives and works in NYC).  I reminded her that his office moved into the World Trade Center just two weeks ago and she shrieks.  She filled me in on what was going on.  Then she shrieked again telling me a plane had just landed on 395 N (the major highway running through DC just past the Pentagon). That is when the security guards came through the office telling us to evacuate.

As I am walking out into the street, I felt like I was walking into a scene from a Tom Clancy film.  You could see the smoke billowing over the building but I still had no idea what was really going on.  Brian called and told me to just start walking and he'd come get me - well, he worked in Fairfax, VA, which wasn't exactly close.  I ran down the mall, made my way through Georgetown, crossed over the Key Bridge and got a ride to a bank near his house where he met me.  Never in all my life would I jump in  stranger's car in the middle of Washington, DC, but that is how it was that day - and the days that followed.  People were just in a total shock and greeting everyone with a "God Bless America" as you passed. 

It wasn't until 2 hours later that I finally reached Brian's house and saw the coverage.  Two planes had hit both the World Trade Center towers, they both collapsed, the plane didn't land on 395 but rather, the Pentagon and then also the flight in a Pennsylvania field.  I just couldn't process what my eyes were seeing.  THE PENTAGON!!!!  How could something penetrate the Pentagon! 

Four hours later, the cell phones that had been clogged all day were finally restored and we reached my brother.  Tears flooded my face as I learned he had a doctors appointment that morning and was not at the World Trade Center.  Then more tears flooded my heart to think about all the families that didn't get the wonderful news I received that my loved one was okay.  I look at my children and think of all the mother's who have to raise their children and one day explain the horror that took their Daddy from them.  It is still too much to comprehend.

I knew in those short days after September 11th that I would marry Brian, that we would not make DC our home and that our life would be wonderfully blessed safe in a sleepy, southern town.  I was right.  But today, of all days, I remember.  Always remember...........

Office Assistant

I have the cutest office assistant ever!  Now that my jury duty is over, I have been able to start my afternoon schedule with Harrison.  Since he gets out of school at 12:40 pm, he comes to my office with me on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon's.  I had a ball putting together his work station and it paid off because he LOVES it!!! 

I have a feeling I am going to love this year with him.  On the way to the office this afternoon, I heard his sweet voice from the backseat say, "I like going to your office and spending time with you."  Well melt my heart!  I was afraid he would be bored so I am thrilled he likes his work station and feels special - because, after all, he is.

Day 1 - finishing off the day playing on his Leap Frog

 

Day 2 - hard at work practicing his letters

 

Now, if I could only put him on payroll.........

 

xoxo,

TSS

Vacation Countdown

 

 

In three sweet days, we leave for our beach vacation.  I cannot wait!  Yes, we are that crazy family that waits until September to go to the beach.  I am not a fan of crowds (especially with wee ones) so we take advantage of the fact that the boys are still in pre-school and go in September.  My mother-in-law also foots the bill so who can argue with a free trip to the beach?!?!?!? 

 

The hubby has been traveling, I've served on Jury Duty for the last 6 days, Thing 1 started half-day daycare last week so I had to coordinate after school care for him while I was stuck in the courthouse, my mother-in-law was also out of town and could not help, I now have 2 1/2 weeks of work to complete in 2 1/2 days and I'm more stressed than ever.  Needless to say, I can't wait to get my toes in the sand!!! 

 

I just pray that our children behave.  The hardest part of family vacations is dealing with a 2 year old and 5 year old.  Hopefully, it will be easier this year but it has proven very difficult in years past.   It is very hard to saddle a house full of people, who are also on their vacation, with whining children - especially when you want to steal away a date with your hubby.  But I am determined! 

 

Oh, for the love of my sanity, give us pretty weather and well-behaved children next week!  Be sure to check in for our daily updates from the sunny beach!

 

xoxo,

TSS

 



 

Game Day

Saturday's in the South mean one thing and one thing only...........football!  As a proud alumni of Elon College (now Elon University) I missed out on the great southern tradition of a proper tailgate. While I attended Elon, our football games were played at the local high school. GASP!!! Furthermore, I ran Cross Country so my Saturday's were spent running through the woods.  Fortunately, our Coach learned not to schedule races on Homecoming so we could attend the big event with our beau's.  We now have an amazing stadium that we enjoy visiting.

I am a lifelong Georgia Bulldog fan though and have been to several games with friends over the years.  A lot of my friends in DC went to the University of Alabama and I went to several of their games as well.  So I have definitely been schooled in the ways of the proper tailgate.

Yesterday was the long awaited first Saturday of football season.  I was thrilled to see that Game Day would be the UGA vs Clemson game and snorted my tea when I saw Elon's season opener would be in my hometown of Atlanta against the ACC's mighty Georgia Tech - eeks!  We went  back and forth on whether we would go down to Atlanta for the Elon game or to Clemson for the UGA game.  After GT beat the pants off of Elon 70-0 and Clemson beat UGA, we were glad we decided to stay home.

I cooked up a yummy tailgate feast - Coca Cola Wings, coleslaw, fried okra, carrots and celery with blue cheese dipping sauce. 

 

Here's hoping the Redskins do better in Monday Night Football!

 

Long Live Elon, Go Dawgs & Hail to the Redskins!

xoxo,

TSS

Sunday Supper - Pecan Crusted Flounder

Sunday Supper #2:  Pecan Crusted Flounder with Roast Asparagus and Hush Puppies

 

 

 

As I mentioned the other day, my sweet hubby has given me yet another yummy cookbook filled with recipes I can't wait to try.  So I have to cook my way through my current favorite kitchen companion by fellow Georgian, Rebecca Lang.

 

Here is my version of her Pecan Crusted Flounder.  It is delicious but I will admit that I halved the amount of pecans it calls for in the crust.  I personally don't like the taste of pecans to overpower the fish and a little pecan goes a long way.  But that all depends on personal taste.  My rule of thumb is to always follow the recipe the first time and then tweak to taste until you get it just right for your taste buds.

 

I then roasted some asparagus - preheat the oven to 375 degrees; sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast for 20 minutes or until done.

 

Lastly, I fried up some hush puppies.  The hubs didn't think that was enough food so he whipped up some Pasta Roni noodles from the pantry and dinner was done!

 

TSS's Hush Puppies

2 cups white cornmeal

3 tablespoons flour (all purpose)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1 egg white

1 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon bacon drippings (or vegetable oil if you are serving vegetarians)

1 1/2 tablespoons minced onion

Vegetable oil for frying

 

Combine first 5 ingredients and mix well.  Beat egg and egg white, then stir in buttermilk and bacon drippings.  Add to cornmeal mixture; add onion, and stir until blended.  Heat oil to 375 degrees.  Drop the batter by the spoonful into the oil for 2 minutes on one side and flip for another minute on the other side (or until golden brown).  Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.

 

Happy Sunday Supper!

xoxo,

TSS



Church Supper

Wednesday is one of my favorite days of the week.  During the school year, we attend Church on Wednesday night.  Dinner is served in the fellowship hall at 5pm and then Bible study starts at 6pm.  The children's activities start at 6 pm too and for the last two years, Harrison has been part of the Mission and Friends group.  From 6-6:30pm they meet in a small group to sing hymns.  Then from 6:30 - 7:00pm they go into another room where they learn about missions and do a related arts and crafts project.  Harrison loves it and is always sad to miss a week (which makes this Mama very proud.)  During this time, I usually sit in the adult Bible study; but this year I have been asked to help with the pre-school Mission and Friends.  I am so excited!!!

Well, now that school is back in session, it is time to gear up for a new year of Missions and Friends.  Our Minister of Children's Education is fabulous and he throws an amazing kick-off party every year that the kids go crazy for.  So the other day we scooted down the street for our pizza party kick-off complete with water slides.

What goes up...

 

...must come down.

 

The wee one couldn't figure out the concept of slip and slide.

 

But he had no problem figuring out how to finish off the pizza.

 

Happy Labor Day Weekend, y'all!

 

xoxo,

TSS

 

 

My How Times Have Changed.............

9 years ago today I was sunning myself as a newlywed in St. Thomas, USVI.  Today, I find myself sitting in a courtroom as Juror number 8 in a case that is slated to last a week and a half.  All of this on the week that my eldest son starts half-day school, my husband is out of town and my mother-in-law is also out of town.  Thank goodness for wonderful neighbors who have saved my hide this week by caring for H during the afternoon.  To say that I have been a stress case would be like saying the Titanic had a small leak.

While all of this is stressful and inconvenient, it pales in comparison to what the poor man in my trial has had to go through.  And it has also helped reinforce in my mind an internal conflict I've been having regarding, "time well spent."  SO I am trying to keep an open mind and a servant's heart in my service.  I'm failing; but I am trying. 

There is a silver lining on the horizon; which is my weekend.  My sweet husband comes home tomorrow, we'll celebrate our anniversary and spend some quality time with the family we've created.  Before he left to go out of town, he woke me up to do what he does every day - make me feel special and lucky to be his wife.  But I'm not going to lie - the breakfast was a nice treat!!!

 

Who doesn't love waking up to breakfast in bed???

 

 

 

Another yummy southern cookbook to test. I think he likes my hobby.

 

 

Our wedding day

 

 

Take time to tell people you love them.  In the words of Ferris Bueller, "Life is fast, if you don't stop to look around once in awhile, you could miss it." 

 

Live, laugh, love.

 

xoxo,

TSS