Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year!


Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21.


Welcome 2014!! This is going to be an amazing year of favor and prosperous endeavors! Braxton is off to Paris tomorrow with the French group from Walton, Anna is heading back to UGA after making the dean's list, Rachel is successful and happy, knowing her passion for fashion, Bill is succeeding with his new company, Regalworks, and I am looking forward to a proIific time of writing books and screenplays ... All for the glory of God and The Lord Jesus Christ! What a wonderful time to be part of the church of Jesus Christ, His beloved bride! 

Not looking forward to taking down the Christmas decorations since it was such an amazing Christmas this year, but looking forward to ALL the wonderful things The Lord has in store for the Fridays! 

Happy New Year to everyone! 




Wednesday, December 25, 2013

My Dad, a Modern Day Santa Claus!

Here is a picture I did of my dad as his Christmas present - him posing with his dog, Frankie, at his hunt club, Crow Hill, NC, after killing a slew of ducks. Mom cooked them up in her famous duck casserole which we feasted on for two nights. It is absolutely delicious - served with collards cooked in hammocks and apple cranberry relish - yum! Tonight we had prime rib with wine sauce, roasted brussel sprouts with balsamic vinegar and mashed potatoes. Red velvet cheesecake for dessert pushed us over the limit. Jeans feeling a little tight as I type! Time to switch from feasting to fasting!!

Anyhoo, back to dad. One of his love languages is giving big and abundantly, especially at Christmas. God has blessed him with healthy finances, so he is well able to give when his heart moves him, which is often. This year he was in an especially good mood and wanted to take the kids shopping to Sam's Club, his favorite store - by himself, without me. Well, I knew the kids wouldn't be prepared for what was about to happen, so I prompted them to get ready for a nice haul. And boy was it nice. 

Let's just say Santa Claus came to town! They came back with laptops, cameras, watches and blenders - not only that, but blue rays and Ulta gift cards. Cooleo!! That's what I call a niiiiiice Santa! The kids have already decided to make this trip to Sam's an annual event. It was a wonderful, blessed time for them.

What better way is there to enjoy the season than to give to others? Many can't take extravagant shopping trips to Sam's or the mall, but there are other ways to give. Love and time and crafty things are thoughtful and special. Hospitality and food are meaningful too. All of it points to Jesus, the most wonderful gift of all. He provides for our physical needs and desires, as well as the comfort to the soul and the spiritual food needed to survive in this evil world.  He is sooooo good!! For every one wonderful thing given by an earthly father, there are a myriad of uncountable things given by the Heavenly Father. Again, most importantly, His son, Jesus!

Merry Christmas everyone! Make it last all year!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

This Year's Gingerbread House

Lots of work but lots of fun! This year the gingerbread and icing were made from scratch-it was much easier, cheaper, and better to work with. I had fun designing while watching my favorite Christmas movies. Remember The House Without a Christmas Tree with Jason Robards? I found a copy at Big Lots a couple of years ago and it still makes me cry. Great story. Next is The Walton Homecoming. Yes, I am a lover of all things Christmas and sappy! Merry Christmas everyone!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Christmas is Here!

Christmas is here at the Friday house! Looking forward to this wonderful time of year. Time to be thankful for the Incarnation of The Lord Jesus Christ. Green trees and wreaths are for eternal life, lights are for the light of the world, red is for the power of His shed blood, gifts are for the blessings poured out In Him, food and festivities are for feasting and joyous celebration - the King has come and He is coming again! Make sure you see Jesus in everything the season offers and the trappings of commercialism will escape you! Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!


My table this year. Have a great day, everyone! So thankful for all the Lord's blessings! Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Beautiful Godmother

This is Carol, my lovely, beautiful godmother, who has been such a blessing in my life. She and my parents have been friends for many years. Bright and bubbly with a vivacious personality, she is a Doris Day lookalike but without the singing voice (never heard her sing actually). Don't you just want to be her friend?  Her home is gorgeous, full of antiques and private sitting areas loaded with collectibles and personal memorabelia - all of which tell a story about her life and that of her extended family. You just want to move in with a good book and a hot cup of coffee. She's a tough cookie who won't be pushed around by anyone - you go girl! And get this--she's the only person I know who parks her car over old oriental rugs placed in the garage - a real southern belle! Just love her!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Current Movie Review-Dead Poets Society

Read my latest review of one of my favorite classic Robin Williams flicks. A young Ethan Hawke is outstanding as well!

http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/berzerk_movies.html

This month I decided to do a classic movie review, honoring one of my favorites, Dead Poets Society, starring Robin Williams and a very young Ethan Hawke. My teenage children love this film too, probably because of its timeless story of parental oppression during the high school years when adult independence is just beginning to take root. It’s a theme that all of us are very familiar with, despite the love and support of caring parents. At some point, all of us must make the choice to follow our God-given passions and desires, even if they are very different from what our mothers or fathers had planned. And then of course, there is Robin Williams.

I would rank this film, along with Mrs. Doubtfire, and Good Will Hunting, as one of my favorite Robin Williams movies, because it provides the perfect combination of funny and serious. No one can match Williams’ quick wit and zany impressions that are enhanced by his kooky grin and unusual looks. He’s still adorable in my opinion.

Part of the timelessness of this movie is the setting. It takes place in the 50s, at an all-male New England prep school where over eighty percent of the graduates end up in Ivy League schools. It’s about as close as the US can get to English aristocracy, and the expectation of the parents who send their sons to these schools is nothing less than good, old-fashioned American royalty: attend the finest universities in the land, major in business, law, or medicine, marry the “right” girl, and settle down to a successful and lucrative life that repeats itself generation after generation. All is well and good until Robin Williams’ character, Professor Keating, a very unconventional English literature teacher, joins the faculty. Once a bit of a hell-raiser in his school-boy days, he is an accomplished teacher whose methods are a little different from the norm of a posh prep school.

Besides Ethan Hawke (who plays Todd Anderson), there are three other main characters who provide the structure for the story. All are wonderful actors, but sadly none of them have risen to great heights in the film industry. I especially liked Gale Hansen (who plays Charlie Dalton) and Josh Charles (who plays Knox Overstreet – now seen in The Good Wife on TV). Robert Sean Leonard (who plays Neil Perry) was a bit of heartthrob in his day (now seen in House MD). Only Williams and Hawke have remained on the Hollywood A-list. Regardless of their lack of movie star success, the cast is a great one, and provides a wonderful combination of bad boy, intellectual, brooding deep thinker, and emotional romantic, all of which play well against Williams’ unique humor. This nice choice of actors is another reason the film is so appealing.

The story is beautifully told, starting with Keating introducing his students on the first day of class to the art of poetry. He takes everyone out to the trophy cases where portraits of former students line the shelves, their time for glory having long past. The message Keating gives them is Carpe Diem, which is Latin for “seize the day.” He encourages them to make the most of the life given to them, to make it extraordinary. As the boys lean in to examine the faces of those who have passed through the same halls years before, Keating whispers Carpe Diem in a haunting whisper that sets the tone for the entire movie. In that one scene, the viewer knows something exciting, yet tragic is about to unfold, and these boys’ lives will be forever changed by it.

Williams’ humor is exquisite; it a wonderful blend of mimicry and witty encouragement that gives the boys the strength to step outside the school’s stiff norms and rules and think for themselves, to examine life from a place of passion and romance and not just the practicality of career and money. I loved how he had them rip out the introduction in their poetry text book and tear it with great vigor, chastising the pompous words espoused by a dry, unimaginative academic. It’s these kinds of wonderful teachers that make such an impact in our lives.

The movie picks up steam when the boys learn that Keating had once been part of the Dead Poets Society, a clandestine group that embraced this line of passionate free thinking, much to the disapproval of the school’s administration. Encouraged by the message of Carpe Diem, the boys decide to resurrect the Dead Poets Society, using Keating’s old book of poetry as inspiration. But when the boys’ newfound courage oversteps the bounds and wanders into rebellion, trouble awaits. Good intentions turn to tragedy and the pressure to conform becomes stronger than ever.

For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, be prepared for a major tear-jerker plot point that sends the boys on a downward spiral and causes Keating to lose his job. I remember being very moved by the injustice of parental oppression that dictates career choices without any consideration to individual skills, talents, or most importantly, desires. Some kids aren’t strong enough to stand up to the pressures placed on them and so they succumb to depression and suicide. We read about these sad cases every day, wondering what could have been said or done to render a different outcome. This movie suggests letting a child follow their God-given passions and let life unfold as it is supposed to. That is a very good message for every parent.

Dead Poets Society is a classic film with an uplifting ending that will endure for years to come as an excellent, quality movie with a touching message. It is a timeless tale that appeals to the hearts of all generations. It makes us laugh and cry, but most importantly, it makes us think and consider. Are we living the life God has intended for us? If not, then Carpe Diem, seize the day! Let’s be like Todd Anderson and his friends and embrace the boldness of the Professor Keatings of the world, insisting on living an extraordinary life! It’s never too late…

Friday, November 15, 2013

When Tragedy Strikes

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.

Today marks the second time this week that two of my children have truly felt the sting of death in their hearts. One was a much-loved teacher and the other a beloved father of a much-loved teammate. My children are now at the age where the injustice of precious life being so swiftly and unexpectedly snuffed out is felt in the core of one's being. How can this happen? their young minds ask. Why did this happen? How can a person be so alive one day, living life to the full, and the next day be gone to the next world without giving us the opportunity to say good-bye? These are tough questions that have plagued all of us. All of us probably remember the first time the death of a friend or family member struck us to the core. The shock rocks our world and makes all of us realize we are standing on very shaky ground by living on this earth. Evil, sickness, disease, tragedy, and death swirl around us, and we never know if or when we will become the next victim. Fear descends on us and puts us in bondage. We look to blame someone, anyone, but many times there is no person to blame. Some will blame the enemy and his demonic forces, others will blame God, questioning His goodness and mercy. Some will even go so far as to say that God brought death as a form of divine plan. All of this leaves many of us terribly confused.

The first thing I told my children is what I would tell anyone who is trying to make sense of a tragedy: God did not do this. We are in the age of the church where John 3:16 is the Lord's mandate -- 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. God is out to save people not to kill them. In Ephesians 6:10-12, the Apostle Paul tells us to not be ignorant of the demonic forces at work in this world.  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in highplaces. Many of the evil and tragic events that have occurred throughout history can be directly attributed to Satan and his demonic principalities. Right now, I'm thinking of the Holocaust and 9-11. We know demonic powers are real because the Bible talks about them in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

"Okay, if that's true, then why didn't God intervene and stop the devil?" many people ask. "God is God - He's more powerful than Satan! He must not be very loving if He could stop a terrible thing from happening but doesn't!" These questions are the toughest to answer because the answer isn't obvious. I don't even attempt to answer this line of questioning, because I don't have the answer and am sure I never will -- not unless the Lord reveals it to me. And yet, I do have a response...

We do not know why God intervenes in some cases and not others. Certainly all of us have heard testimonies of healings, deliverances, escapes, rescues, inward unctions not to go into work on 9-11, and all sorts of supernatural stories where God is attributed as having intervened to save body and soul. And then there are the horrible, freakish tragedies that make no sense at all, leaving us wondering if there really is a God. BUT as believers in Jesus Christ, we are not called to understand, we are called to have faith and believe. This position goes against our flesh and mind, but it is in line with our reborn spirits. We have to renew our minds and believe what God's Word says, not what we experience in this world. We believe that, in spite of circumstances, God is still good, He loves us, and He is for us and not against us. We believe He is blessing us and will continue to bless us. We believe He has a wonderful plan for our lives -- all because of what His son, Jesus, did on the cross 2000 years ago. We believe His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives and in the lives of others throughout the body of Christ. We believe in our savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

Where there is the darkness of death, there is the light of life in Christ Jesus. A day is coming soon and very soon, where death will be swallowed up in victory and the sting of its terrible separation will no longer be felt. We will have new, glorified bodies, and there will be a new heaven and new earth -- we who are in Him will experience an earthly peace, as well as the shalom peace in our hearts that He brings at the new birth. That will be a glorious day indeed!

But until then, keep believing! Don't try to figure everything out! Adhere to God's Word, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and believe in God's love for you. God is still good, He is still love, and Jesus still rules and reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords! Claim the promises of God in the Scriptures and stand firm in your authority In Him. Keep fighting the good fight of faith and don't shrink back in doubt and unbelief. None of us knows the future, other than what the Bible tells us in the Book of Revelation -- Satan is defeated and will one day be cast into the lake of fire. Jesus is victorious, and we who are alive In Him, will live with Him forever. That is a very good future, my friend!

Monday, November 11, 2013

Happy Veteran's Day!

Happy Veteran's Day! I have the deepest respect (and a bit of envy) for those who have served in the US military. I think it says something about one's character to devote one's entire future to this great country, sacrificing many of the worldly freedoms civilians take for granted, knowing that this decision may require giving one's life on the battlefield. For my grandfather (who was a General in the Army), the opportunity to serve was so enticing, that he actually fudged on his age in order to be admitted. For my dad (who was a Captain), service was compulsory for two years after graduating college.

Flash forward a generation later when I was growing up in the 70s, and nobody wanted to go into the military--not unless there were no other viable options for career and livelihood. That may be a terrible thing to admit, but coming from a civilian family living in a military town in eastern North Carolina, I can say that it was true. At that time (the Vietnam era), the military did not have the greatest of reputations amongst the townsfolk, even though it was the main source of business. This was always a bit confusing (and disconcerting) to me, but it is how I remember it.

Many of my schoolmates had fathers in the military, and there always seemed to be an unspoken barrier between our military and civilian parents. Perhaps it was because of the turmoil surrounding the Vietnam War and the underlying fear that these military dads/husbands may never return home. Fortunately, I can only remember one friend who lost a father in the war. Many came home very different, but a few seemed unchanged. Regardless, my heart always swelled with a mixture of fear, respect, and admiration when these dads were around. Somehow, in my little girl mind, I knew these men had done something truly great that most of us would never fully understand. Like my grandfather, they would never be able to speak of what they encountered (both good and bad), because it was (and is) too difficult. I know, because I probed my grandfather's mind for years, trying to dig out stories from WWII. I finally had to accept that some things are better left closed to the rest of the world.

As I got older, I quickly learned there was an unwritten rule regarding these young, extremely good-looking military men who dominated the single male population of my hometown: good, southern girls were to stay very far away! I was warned (either explicitly or implicitly - I can't remember) that they would either break my heart, whisk me away to some poor, industrial Yankee city, or die in Vietnam. Tattoos, cigarettes, and girlie clubs were the by-products of their life, which only bolstered parental warnings to shun them at all costs. But that notion never sat right with me. These guys had given up freedoms offered by civilian life to ensure my safety. Many of them would be shipped off to Vietnam or who-knows-where else and would never come home--and if they did, they would be forever changed.

I must confess, that while I adhered to the warning to stay away, I always felt a sense of pride that I lived in a town where these young men trained so vigorously for battle. For that reason, I didn't mind the hoots and catcalls they gave me and my high school friends as we cruised the streets on the weekends or the rowdy behavior at a an action movie that made us feel like we were watching a film in the barracks. Nevertheless, several of my school friends succumbed to temptation and broke the rule, agreeing to date servicemen--and one even had the audacity to marry one! I can proudly say they are still happily married to this day!

My, how times do change! Thankfully, I can report there is great pride in servicing the local troops in my hometown. Jet flyovers and mock artillery maneuvers are no longer considered a noisome nuisance but rather the "sound of freedom." I especially love seeing the welcome home banners strewn down the highway near the main gate of the base. I get all choked up at knowing these unrecognized, modern-day heroes are getting just a bit of recognition for the sacrifices they make on a daily basis for me and my family and for all Americans. They deserve so much more.

Veterans, you are greatly appreciated and deeply loved! A heart-felt thank you for all you have done for this great country we call home!

Friday, November 8, 2013

Senior Night!


Good times at Raider Stadium tonight! Senior night is always a special evening. Weather was good but cold, unlike two years ago when it rained cats and dogs! Proud of our senior drum major. Had grandparents here too from NC. Anna home from UGA - all good!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Chef Extraordinaire, Charlie Trotter, Remembered

Charlie Trotter: picture courtesy of http://dsc.discovery.com

I was so saddened to hear of the death of Charlie Trotter yesterday - and at such a young age of 54! Having lived in Chicago for six years in the early 90s, I remember his meteoric rise to culinary kingship, long before Food Network launched its slate of famous chefs. My husband and I rented our first apartment off Lincoln Park Avenue, at the corner of Armitage - which was just a short walk to Trotter's eponymous restaurant. Talk about a dining experience! I wasn't a Christian at that time, but I can say that my one night sitting at a coveted table in that small restaurant was as close to a religious experience as I had ever had. I remember it like it was yesterday!

At the time, I was working as a high-powered corporate attorney, doing my best to become a cultured, urban woman of the world. I had never heard of Charlie Trotter, but somehow my mother had learned of him and his unique cooking style, probably through his stint on PBS - plus she is a huge gourmet food lover, having been a worshipper of Julia Child back in the 70s. I did a bit of research and quickly learned that eating at Charlie Trotter's was not an every night occurrence. Reservations had to be made months (and I mean months) in advance and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES would you dare cancel (unless you were literally going into labor - more on that later). Mom's greatest wish was for us all to go out for an evening of fine dining (sans Dad who likes to eat, but could be satisfied with a jar of peanut butter and a handful of crackers), and so I obediently made the all-important reservation. The five of us (Mom, my husband and I, and my two sisters) took the short drive to 816 W Armitage Drive and had the experience of a lifetime!

Dégustation. That word was plastered all over the menu, and I had no idea what it meant. Basically, it is a french term that means the following (thanks to Wikipedia): a careful, appreciative tasting of various foods and focusing on the gustatory system, the senses, high culinary art and good company. Dégustation is more likely to involve sampling small portions of all of a chef's signature dishes in one sitting. Usually consisting of eight or more courses, it may be accompanied by a matching wine degustation which complements each dish.

Now, you must know that I come from the South where a gourmet meal is served family style, meaning the serving dishes are set out on the table or a buffet, and everything is heaped on one plate with the goal of eating as fast as possible through several swallows of sweet tea.Once the plate is licked clean (or sopped up with the remnants of a biscuit), the glutton crawls to the easy chair (or stretches out on the floor) where the top button of the trousers is opened for the digestion to begin - all while watching a family TV show. About an hour later dessert is served - always with ice cream or cool whip. Bedtime is preceded by much belching and a request for antacid or seltzer water. Not so at Charlie Trotter's!

First of all, there were things on the menu I had never seen and never imagined I would put in my mouth, but I took a chance and indulged. Despite the steep menu price (gulp - but Mom was paying!), we all ordered the dégustation and embarked on the most amazing culinary ride imaginable. Eight to nine courses of the most beautifully presented, exquisitely prepared, and delicious dishes that defied anything I could've dreamt of eating! Each dish was like a work of art - just a small portion - but the perfect amount to satisfy, yet leaving you wanting more. Four hours later, with much wine and dessert, all of us found that we were pleasantly full but not stuffed, relaxed but not tipsy, and elated from the climactic experience. I felt as though we had been entertained with our own private symphony conducted by Mozart himself.

When the check came, it was so large that the credit card company called my dad to make sure his card hadn't been stolen - how funny! Dad thought Mom was nuts to spend that kind of money on food when peanut butter and crackers would suffice. But he didn't understand, and still doesn't. It wasn't just the food - it was the experience, the presentation, the extended time it took to savor every gorgeous dish, the ambiance, the notion that we were eating like the kings and queens of old - better even! It is one of the most wonderful gifts my mother has ever given me!

Several years later, Mom wanted to go back - and this time, reserve the coveted table IN THE KITCHEN, where we could watch and breathe the same air as the magical Charlie Trotter! Without hesitation, I made the reservation and the date was set - but alas, our son decided to enter the world a bit early. Boo hoo! Mom always teased him that one day she would take him to Charlie Trotter's and have that celebratory meal in that famous kitchen. But it wasn't meant to be. The restaurant closed some years ago, and now Charlie Trotter is no more.

What a great gift Mr. Trotter gave us that night many years ago. I could tell he put great love and attention in the preparation of every dish and it was certainly appreciated. I will always have fond memories of him and hope that his great passion for the dégustation will be passed on to the next generation of culinary wizards, if it hasn't already.

Charlie Trotter, rest in peace! You will be greatly missed!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Goodreads Review - Life is Short, I Wish I Was Taller

Caroline Friday's Reviews > Life Is Short, I Wish I Was Taller

 
by 
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Nov 05, 13  ·  edit

Read in October, 2013

This is the cutest, funniest book that had me hee hawing under the covers in the wee hours of the night while my husband tried to sleep! Really, it is a collection of columns written by a modern-day Southern belle who gives the reader a slice of eastern North Carolina life. It wasn't that the details of the stories were necessarily hilarious, it was the voice they were written in that won me over. The author writes in a giggly, zany fashion that works on the emotions from down deep. I found that as I read, the laughter bubbled up from somewhere inside and just came spewing out. Since I am a fellow Southerner, I could appreciate many of the scenarios and life-observations and felt like I had been whisked back to my girlhood home. While I don't know the author personally, we are from the same home town, so I could relate to many of the settings. Basically, a good book for the soul!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Friday Moments


Anna is home from UGA and it is sooo nice to have all three kids under one roof! Had a great birthday party for Braxton! Nice family time - feeling very blessed!

Halloween Dress-Up at Walton High

My daughter, Rachel, and her friends came up with a cute idea for Halloween dress-up this year: a pumpkin patch. Some dressed as pumpkins and others as cute farm girls. They are adorable! The high school always has fun with this! 

Even though I am not a fan of a Halloween, I do love seeing the interesting non-scary
costumes people come up with AND the cute kids who come to the door for candy - priceless! 

Have a blessed day!






Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Latest Art

My friend's beautiful daughter. 

Monday, October 7, 2013

Parental Guidance


Read my latest movie review on Parental Guidance, an absolutely hilarious movie! At the Movies Christian Fiction Online Magazine.


Fans of Billy Crystal will be delighted with his latest flick, costarring Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei. It truly is one of the best family films I have seen in a very long time! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it, crying at some parts and howling with laughter at others. Bette Midler, especially, can be outright hilarious without using raunch and gross-out lines. Hopefully, Hollywood’s current A-list comedic actors will follow her lead and try evoking quality humor without venturing into the world of R ratings.

It always saddens me when I see some of my favorite actors getting older and playing the grandfather role. I still remember Crystal from his When Harry Met Sally days, where he was this adorable little man with a head full of curly hair and wit to match. The wit may still be there, but the hair is a little thinner, and I’m not so sure he could still be described as adorable. Bette, on the other hand, looks fabulous, getting more beautiful as she gets older. I’m amazed at how wonderful she looks and how much energy she exudes on screen.

Now for the story—basically it is about a disgruntled daughter (Marisa Tomei) who reluctantly invites her parents (Crystal and Midler) to babysit her three kids while she and her husband take a much-needed vacation. Tomei is a “helicopter parent” who doesn’t believe in meat, sugar, or discipline, whereas her father is “old school” and has no bridle on his tongue or sensitivity toward political correctness. Crystal is one of those dads who has put his dreams and ambitions above everything else, having no idea that he has figuratively missed his daughter’s childhood. He gives a great little speech, telling Tomei how heartbreaking it was for him to discover this truth only after she had already grown up and left home for good, never to return—even for Thanksgiving and Christmas. A message to all of us parents today.

Unfortunately, life lessons are sometimes hard learned, and Crystal’s character is not immune. When the movie opens, his career as the long-time radio voice of a local minor league baseball abruptly ends because of his ineptness when it comes to social media (a hilarious scene). But he is still a man of dreams, harboring a boyhood desire to one day announce for a major league team, like the Dodgers, Giants, or Yankees. Selfishly, he uses Tomei’s connections with ESPN to stage an interview for a position as a halfpipe announcer, which ends terribly (but chocked full of more laughs). When Tomei learns about it on national news, she returns home to discover mayhem abounding. The kids are wired on sugar, her anal-retentive, studious daughter (played by adorable Bailee Madison) has plans to attend her first girl-boy party, and the boys are sporting black eyes, among other things. Tomei and Crystal go head to head on how to parent children—a wonderful combination of tearful emotions and funny lines.

One of our favorite scenes was when Midler gives Tomei some words of wisdom on the importance of spending quality time with her husband. I think so many of us forget that. As our busy schedules fill up with kid-related activities, we sometimes forget to have those date nights and couples vacations that are very important to keeping a marriage thriving. We also enjoyed a wonderful family scene of the grandparents playing “kick the can” with the kids in the backyard, slipping and sliding in the rain and mud. But mostly, we enjoyed seeing reconciliation in a family that had been estranged for far too long. They all loved each other, but a break-down in communication and a culmination of unhealed hurts over the years had kept them apart.

Another message to all of us—don’t let the past rob you of the love and companionship of family and friends. It isn’t worth it. Life is precious, and we shouldn’t waste a single day! Do not be dismayed—the Lord can send His message of love and grace through a funny, secular film starring someone as crazy and zany as Billy Crystal or Bette Midler. I can attest that this movie touched my husband and me in a profound way.

Parental Guidance is definitely a movie to add to the family dvd collection. I’m sure it will see a lot of air time in the Friday family for many years to come. Make sure your give it a look-see and enjoy a great movie experience!

Friday, October 4, 2013

Friday Night Lights

It's a pink out-Walton vs Lassiter. Me and my varsity cheerleader. Loads of fun!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Beautiful Ashlyn

My latest drawing of my sister, Ashlyn, for her birthday. Happy Birthday, Ashlyn!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Remembering 9/11

courtesy of Wikipedia
Most women don't have a clear recollection of a day when they ironed their husband's trousers, but I certainly do. It was September 11, 2001, around 10:00 am. My day started with a parent seminar at the kids' elementary school, (which was interrupted by a cacophony of cell phones ringing), a frantic call from my sister, and then back home to turn on the TV and watch in horror as the unthinkable unfolded before the entire nation. I wanted to do something other than pray, but there was nothing to be done, so out came the ironing board.

I never iron. I don't like ironing, really, but that day my husband's trousers were very well pressed. After a quick call from my mother-in-law, I finally got ahold of my husband who had just landed in Paris. I was on the phone with him when the second tower fell at around 10:28 am. I'm still haunted by the image of the handsome, dark-haired young man with khaki trousers (looking like a sweet frat boy), hanging from the top of the building with nowhere to go but down. I can only imagine the horror his mother, father, wife, siblings, family felt at seeing their loved one staring into the abyss of death. I pray he knew the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Now, our country is faced with the question of whether we should or should not intervene militarily in Syria. The legislative branch is being asked by President Obama to get on board and agree to his plan to take immediate military action. After having endured conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, most Americans are weary of battles and war, and none of us want to send our sons and daughters overseas to fight, if it does come to that.

Those of us familiar with Bible prophecy are aware that these events are ushering in the millennial/Messianic age which is fast coming on the earth. In my opinion, it is no coincidence that all the issues regarding Syria has happened between Rosh Hashanah (Sept 5th - my birthday!) and Yom Kippur, two high holy days in Israel. Much is said by the Lord in OT regarding Syria and the End Times, and for those who are born again in Christ Jesus, it is an exciting, exhilarating time. Yes, there may be hardship and pressure to fear, but if we press into our faith and believe the Lord's promises in His Word, then we can rest in Him and watch the good that will ultimately manifest. He has promised us that all things work together for our good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28. Christians, believe in and trust your Lord! Nonbelievers, accept His invitation to believe and receive His goodness!

We will never forget those who lost and gave their lives on this day twelve years ago, nor will we forget that we are hated by a spiritual enemy who hates those God loves. God loves Jesus, His church, Israel, and the world. God's plans and purposes will come to pass, just as He has promised in His Word, and that is a great comfort! For those who are not well-versed in the Bible, a great scripture to read, meditate on, and claim is all of Psalms 91. It has brought great peace and comfort to me and my family over the years.

Lord bless us and this nation we call home! Bless Israel and all of your precious children scattered throughout the nations! May there be peace/shalom in Jerusalem, Syria, and all the World!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Raiders at the Dome!

My varsity cheerleader, Rachel, and her friend, Anna Grady. You don't know what coaxing it took to get this picture, since cheerleader moms are supposed to be seen and not heard! Having a great time and the Raiders are up by one point at the half. Always a lot of fun to watch a game in the Dome!.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Off to the Dome!

Walton High has its first football game tomorrow at the Georgia Dome. The Walton Marching Raider Band is ready to roll with Braxton manning one of the drum major helms. Tonight was their practice run through and they're looking great!

Trying to crack him up

Conducting 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

UGA bound - Bulldawg nation!

Today we made our annual pilgrimage to Athens, Georgia to take our oldest back to college. The East Campus Village is beautiful, reminding Bill and me of a posh hotel complex rather than a college dorm area. Looking forward to another great year as a bulldog fan!!
Uhaul packed and ready to go!

Great dorm room!

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Back to School!

On his way to senior breakfast
Today was the first day of school for Cobb County and my son, Braxton, drove himself to school! He is a senior at Walton High and Rachel is a junior. Hard to believe they're all grown up and living like independent adults (most of the time!). And our oldest, Anna, goes back to UGA tomorrow! It's back to reality for the Fridays!


A little sleepy the first day!
Looking sharp in Hawaiian shirt


Monday, July 29, 2013

Book Review - The Picture of Dorian Gray

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/674604925
I've always wanted to read this classic, and wasn't disappointed. Oscar Wilde was a talented man, to say the least! Here's my quick review on Goodreads:

At first this book seems eerie and morbid, but as I got further along into it, I realized it was a very good study on the destructive power sin has on mankind. The enemy is portrayed cleverly in the character of Lord Henry who lures and entices Dorian Gray to live for himself and the pleasures of the day, valuing the freedom of youth and earthly beauty above all things. Dorian latches hold of this temptation and spirals down into a life where a wake of innocent victims trail behind. Yes, sin has its momentary pleasure, but judgment and death are there waiting to claim what must be paid. This truth stares Dorian in the face both literally and figuratively in the portrait that reveals his awaiting fate. Actually, you could use this story as a format for a bible study to illustrate the power and preciousness of what the Savior did for us on the cross.


Varsity Cheerleading - It is a sport!

My daughter, Rachel, a Walton High
varsity competition cheerleader
When I was a cheerleader in the late 70s, cheerleading was really an activity based on popularity, beauty, and who was the most limber. What I mean by most limber, is that one needed to be able to master a cartwheel, round-off and finish it off with a split all the way to the floor with no bent knee. Then there were the jumps that followed each cheer - a spread eagle and a hurkie at the very least, following by a winning smile. Only one girl on our squad could do a back handspring and that was because she taught herself on the trampoline. The rest of us didn't have the courage to even try - it seemed almost impossible!

But now, in order to be a varsity cheerleader at many large high schools, gymnastic tumbling is obligatory. The cartwheel split is passe and the hurkie is no more (it has actually been altered to a front jump that looks a bit strange to my mind). Back handsprings are nothing to the varsity cheerleader these days, and the tuck (standing back flip) has become standard. Now, ambitious cheerleaders work toward their front-punch (running front flip), lay-out (back flip in an extended position), and full (full twist in the air).

Wow, how times have changed! "What in the world has happened?" many mothers of wannabe cheerleaders say. "It isn't fair! My child can't do those flips in the air, etc.!"

Well "hello," my child couldn't either, but with the dawn of competitive cheerleading, good coaches can teach ANYONE to tumble. My daughter isn't the most limber girl on her team and has had back issues to work through (not to mention a broken finger, sprained wrist, and sprained shoulder!), but she has worked her little behind off on her tumbling skills. Not to mention, mom and dad have driven her many times (and far away when gas prices were at their peak!) to tumbling and cheer classes where she worked on her skills week after week. It isn't easy and takes time and hard work, and then there is the financial commitment, all of which go with the territory. Why? Because cheerleading has become a sport!

Yes, there are big, flirty smiles, dance moves, pom poms, shorts skirts, ponytails and bows, and drama of course (from both moms and girls), but the athleticism required for the modern cheerleader requires much more today than when I was young. First, there is strength (lifting girls above the head!), endurance, great cardio durability, tenacity, and perseverance. Then there is the element of fear that one must get over. Falling and being dropped and having a pulled muscle, etc., are part of the game, but if a girl loves cheerleading, it will all be worth it. Personally, I have seen how the sport has built my daughter's confidence level and has brought with it great friendships and the ability to be part of an athletic team.

As a mother, and not just a former high school cheerleader, I absolutely love everything about cheerleading. In particular, I have really enjoyed seeing it develop into a full-fledged sport that is team building, fun, and entertaining for the spectator. There are some who want to bring it back down to the popularity/beauty contest/activity of the past, but I sure hope these people aren't successful. The girls who work hard and hone their skills should be rewarded for their efforts every bit as much as a quarterback or point guard is rewarded for their hard work and ability on the football field and basketball court.

So here's to cheerleading! Yay team! As we say at Walton High, "Go Raiders!"

It's All About the Music!

Summer is almost over and school looms ahead for the Friday children. The oldest goes back to UGA and the other two are at Walton High. My son, Braxton, is a senior this year and is one of four drum majors for the band.
 

Band has become this boy's life. I don't think I've ever seen another human more in love with music and marching than
Braxton Friday. A week at drum major camp in Indianapolis and then another week of band camp in Lagrange, GA, have convinced him that perhaps this is a career he might want to pursue. Just this weekend, he and some of his band geek friends went to a DCI (that's Drum Corp International) competition at the Dome and entered what he described as band heaven! Mainly because there was a band that marched to all the Les Miz tunes. 

It's a whole different world from the one I knew in high school. For me, it was
cheerleading, clothes, and boys, not necessarily in that order. But for him, it's all about music. 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Chicken Francaise with Linguini - Delicious!

Another delicious chicken dish loved by all. With butter, garlic, lemon juice, and a bit of sour cream, it wasn't hard to make this recipe a winner. Try it and let me know what you think.

Chicken Francaise with Linguini
1 regular package of linguini, cooked and drained
3-4 chicken breasts cut in half and pounded thin. (I put mine in a plastic bag and pound with the end of my rolling pin.)
1 egg beaten, placed in a small bowl
Small bowl of 1 cup each of flour and planko - add a bit of garlic salt, black pepper, and a few dashes of Cayenne. Stir together with a wire whisk
Olive oil in a large pan (about a quarter inch deep)

Heat the olive oil to sizzling and keep the heat high so the meat doesn't soak up the oil. Dip each piece of meat into the egg, then the flour mixture and cook on each side until brown and done. I sprinkle a bit of garlic salt and pepper on each side while cooking. Drain on paper towels.

To make sauce, heat over the stove:

1 stick of salted butter
2 T olive oil
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
dash of Cayenne
1 small container of sour cream
1 extra large garlic clove, crushed
Mix together well over medium heat, but make sure cream doesn't curdle. Add the garlic last and cook a bit more, adjusting salt and pepper if needed.

Mix sauce over cooked linguini, tossing well and making sure to reserve a bit to cover the meat. Slice the chicken and place over the linguini, drizzling remaining sauce on top. Add some scallions and shaved Parmesan cheese for the finishing touch. You might want to place in a hot oven for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Yummy Orange Chicken

Panda Express, watch out! I just made my own orange chicken tonight, and the entire family loved it! Tastier than take out, cheaper, and healthier too, plus it was a lot of fun. Try this recipe and enjoy!

Orange Chicken Recipe:
3 or more large chicken breasts cut in bite sized pieces
1 egg, beaten
small bowl of flour
small bowl of planko
olive oil

Salt and pepper meat then put in egg mixture and dredge through flour and planko. Fry in batches in really hot olive oil, browning on both sides. You may need to change the oil between each batch. Remove meat and drain on paper towels.

Cook the rice as you prepare the orange sauce. I made white long grain.

Cook in a sauce pan:
1 1/2 c water
1/2 c orange juice
1/2 c vinegar (I used white wine bc that's what I had)
1 c brown sugar, plus a bit more for taste
4 T soy sauce - a bit more or less for taste
1 tsp ground ginger
several shakes of garlic salt
several shakes of black pepper
Cayenne pepper to taste (I did 2 large pinches)
Several good shakes of gravy flour to thicken
2 spring onions, chopped
Cook to a consistency that is to your liking
(You can see I don't follow recipes exactly!)

Dump chicken back in and mix in with sauce. Cook for a few more minutes until it has the consistency you like. Sprinkle with a few more green onions and Serve with white rice. Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The Great Gatsby

Read my latest movie review at christianfictiononlinemagazine.com. Here is the link:
At the Movies - The Great Gatsby

Enjoy a good flick with Leo taking the helm as the doomed Jay Gatsby.

Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby is all the talk this summer, a must-see blockbuster based on the book written by the renown F. Scott Fitzgerald. Almost every American teenager has been forced to read the novel in either middle or high school, sparking a fascination for the “Roaring Twenties.” It was a decade of decadence that is still shrouded in mystery—from the excessive wealth and frenzy for strong drink and debauchery, the freedom of women from the corset, long skirts, and carefully coiffed up-dos, and of course, the introduction to the flapper gals with their short bobs, drop-waist dresses, and gyrating dance moves. And then there is Leonardo DiCaprio playing the lead role, reprising Robert Redford’s rendition of the infamous Jay Gatsby. Redford was wonderful in the 1974 version with Mia Farrow, but Leo is perfect, fantastic, wonderful. He really is one of America’s finest actors, displaying a depth of emotion and intensity unmatched by others, in my opinion. His looks are still boyish, though he has matured since his Titanic days. Youth, romance, hopefulness, believing in a world where “love conquerors all” exudes from his eyes and smile—it can’t be helped. The mother in me wants to rescue him from certain doom, while the romantic side longs to be swept off my feet. There is a fascination for the iconic Leo that surpasses explanation. He is special, unique, and extraordinarily appealing.
            Putting Leo aside, Luhrmann’s cinematic feast of stunning costumes, Newport mansions with lush gardens, exquisite food that makes the tongue salivate, and wild parties that exude a strange level of order, all adds to the allure. The entire film drips with color, depth, and texture that defy anything I have seen on screen. It’s like a ten course gourmet meal in a fine French restaurant, complete with a plethora of rich, juicy meats, savory sauces, and frothy desserts. Friends who have seen it in 3D claim the experience is worth the extra ticket price and wearing those hideous hipster glasses. Even in 2D, it is a must-see film.
            As for the story, I wasn’t as enamored as some, and to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the book, although I acknowledge its importance. I never “got” the love story between Gatsby and Daisy (played by Carey Mulligan), even though there is plenty of heat coming from DiCaprio. Even the Redford/Farrow film duo left me wanting more. I guess I realized from the beginning their romance wasn’t based on reality, but was rooted in some convoluted fantasy lodged deep in Gatsby’s mind.
            So why the attraction for this story? I believe it is because of Gatsby’s love for the American dream and his tenacity in making it his own, despite the dire consequences. He represents a generation of poor US citizens born in the twentieth century to immigrant parents, having a first shot at the excesses of American wealth. Many of them were intelligent, bright, and industrious, but were held back by their foreign roots. Like Gatsby, they changed their names, altered their speech and diction, and learned to dress and enjoy the finer things in life. Some studied and worked hard, saved, and built a solid future for their families, keeping a firm hold on their integrity. But not so for Gatsby. One look at the beautiful, wealthy Daisy, and suddenly a different set of rules was needed. What she represented is what every immigrant’s son wants—legitimacy, respect, esteem.
            Surrounded by rich, refined suitors, Daisy claimed to love Gatsby, who was just a poor soldier-boy during WWI. He believed her, hoping their love would enable her to wait for his return from the front. But practicality won the day, and she married Tom Buchanan (played by Joel Edgerton) and his vast fortune, settling for a boring life of luxury built on a bed of heartache.
            Instead of moving on, Gatsby held fast to the dream, believing Daisy still loved him. Compromising what integrity he had, he moved quickly and quietly into her sphere of influence, hoping she would wander back into his life. Bootlegging, gambling, financial fraud, and perhaps prostitution are intimated as sources of his meteoric rise from obscurity to vast wealth. Nothing was known about him—he was a man without a past, or so it seemed, which birthed a cloud of rumors, shrouding him in mystery and intrigue. His excessive, wild parties were unexplained and his notable absence made their nightly habit almost bizarre. But as the film’s narrator, Nick Carraway (played by Tobey Maguire), discovers, all of Gatsby’s excesses were for one purpose: to regain Daisy’s love.
            Ironically, Tom Buchanan has what Gatsby wants, but has no revelation of the preciousness of the prize. Men like him, born into wealth and privilege, take their lives for granted, casting off their Daisys for fleeting sexual encounters with married floozies from the opposite side of the tracks, such as Myrtle Wilson (played by Isla Fischer). It’s a reminder to us all that fallen man is never satisfied with what he has—his fascination with sin and its temporary pleasures are as destructive to him as Gatsby’s fantasies of a respectable life with Daisy. To a man like Tom Buchanan, the world of a romantic dreamer like Jay Gatsby is a fabricated house of cards, ready to fall at the first gust of a strong wind. History proved him right, and many who trusted in the quick, easy wealth of that age were destined for a mighty fall. The Great Depression followed the stock market crash in 1929, bringing that era to an end. Death and destruction were its author, as the art department so cleverly portrayed in the film. On the banister of Gatsby’s grand home were two long, fat, golden snakes twisted tightly around the railing. It makes me wonder whether the Lord has Bible scholars working behind the scenes on movie sets in order to send subtle messages to the viewer.
            If all this is true, why would Nick Carraway consider a man like Jay Gatsby, great? Carraway lives in a small, modest cottage, works hard at a job he hates, studies so he can advance in his career, all the while longing to be a writer. Carraway represents the man who plays by the world’s rules, obediently following the safe path, being careful not to be lured into the danger of the risk takers, fanatical entrepreneurs, and foolish dreamers like Gatsby. But the truth is that Carraway admires Gatsby, as so many of us do when we hear stories of great men who rose from the dregs of poverty to become lauded captains of industry. They are men who will stop at nothing to get what they want, who will never stop hoping and believing in what is in their heart, even though the reality of being exposed as a fool looms before them. Men like Gatsby have a hope that defies logic, a hope that sets aflame the hidden desires of some, while striking the fear of God in others.
            *** SPOILER ALERT ***
            Even though Gatsby was murdered in retaliation for a crime he didn’t commit, forgotten and forsaken, bankrupt, destined for obscurity, a man with no legacy other than his relentless convictions, he believed in something with all his heart and never allowed himself to give up. He believed Daisy loved him and not Tom, that she would come back to him, that she would marry him and help erase the past as easily as an eraser to a chalkboard. But it was all an elusive dream in Gatsby’s mind, like the flickering green light at the end of her dock which he had often tried to cup in his hands.
            What a sad story for many of us, but not for Jay Gatsby. As the fatal bullet entered his heart, he hears the ringing of the telephone and gazes upon that flickering green light in the distance. Daisy was calling him after all, she did love him, she was his. He sinks down into death, believing he has won, but of course he hasn’t. It was Carraway on the line, warning him of the destruction to come. Daisy’s established name and old-money wealth are like a mirage in the desert, as elusive as a lottery ticket missing that one crucial number. Gatsby’s pursuit of her and all she represented brought about his ultimate demise.
            There are so many lessons to be learned from The Great Gatsby, but perhaps the most important is the notion that there are two types of people in the world, easily separated based on how they might answer this lingering question: Is it better to have never tried because you believe the prize cannot be won, or to have tried and believed to the very end that success was yours? We know how Gatsby would answer.