Mimi and Meme in Maui!

The Mimi of the title is yours truly.

The Meme is my friend Becky Leffler.

We were widowed within 3 months of each other,

7 years ago,

and our husbands were friends and business associates.

Becky had been to Maui several times before.

I had only been once--for a one day excursion from

a cruise ship which stopped at 3 Hawaiian islands

on our way from Los Angeles to Tokyo.

We took a taxi from the airport...getting close.

And this is where we stayed...The Westin Ka'anapali!

Here I am on my balcony...just dig that background...

and

Becky at our first meal at Pailolo on the beach!

So...Linda Jane Lynn Stovall, sunset photographer,

had a different view tonight!

We had breakfast each morning at "Auntie's Kitchen."

(Becky and I wanted to rename it--something

more islandy and exotic.)

But the food was wonderful!

Then we were off to the beach!

Here are my toes feeling Hawaiian sand

for the very first time!

Becky knew to rent an umbrella and chaises!

Our beautiful view...to the left...

and to our right!

Our first dining experience, if we had to choose,

would be our favorite!

We took the shuttle to Lahaina to

I bought myself the most beautiful lei!

We had calamari strips and coconut shrimp

for appetizers,

then 2 lobster tails each!

I have never tasted anything better in my long life!

I guess I should be proud of myself that I didn't

take any pictures--you know, too sophisticated or

whatever, but that's not it.

I was so busy eating I forgot!

Besides, Becky's family would call it

"Griswoldy!"

(Mine, too, probably!)

Back at the Westin...

Sunset view from the lobby:

But of course there are flowers everywhere!

"Are you girls waiting for a bus?"

"Well, yes, as a matter of fact we are!"

And here's where we are going,
thanks to advice from my friend Beth Blacklock!

This was so much fun!

We "just" had appetizers!

 Fabulous appetizers!

The "magic" piano was played by Annabelle,

the resident ghost.

Then we saw two amazing sleight-of-hand artists.

If you go to Maui, don't miss Warren and Annabelle's!

Okay, I'm afraid you're yawning by now.

But just a brief glance at our luau--

the Feast at Lele.

It was fun, and contrary to the empty look of

Becky's appetizer plate, it was a true feast!

Again, the elegant Ms. Stovall did not take pics
of the FIVE (5) courses. 

(Darn!)

WOW, did we have a WOW ending to our WOW trip.

We went to see 'Ulalena, a cirque/broadway type show.

It was very good, but...

 Do you see that sign to the right of this photo?

Following 'Ulalena, there is an Elvis impersonator.

Now I'm not a big Elvis fan, but Becky is!

So we're waiting for our Uber outside the theatre,

and I see this guy going in.

So I ask, "Are you Elvis?"

He said he was, called us lovely ladies, and conversed 

with us to the point of

inviting us to stay for his show as his guests!
We stood the Uber up!

We were seated front row center! 

(At this point I'm considerably more an Elvis fan.)

His show was a major production--wonderful 

musicians, several costume changes, spectacular!

He sang to us.

And threw Becky a teddy bear when he sang...

Teddy Bear!

And as our parting shot we shared a 

Maui version of a banana split!

We are two very grateful girls.

To God be all the Glory for us being able to see

one of the most beautiful spots He created

on this earth.

And we are also always thankful for our husbands,

who were taken too soon but who

provided for us.

Serving Pope Elementary

Yesterday Fielder Church spread out to serve

the city of Arlington.

We didn't "inhale" the gospel as usual in our comfy 

air-conditioned buildings.

Instead, our many small groups "exhaled" the gospel

 to 23 schools in very practical ways.

I heard my choir mate/friend Brenda Caruthers

say that her group was going to Pope Elementary.

Now a year ago, I had not even heard of Pope,

but it is close to my heart now!  Why?

Because that's where I mentor my precious

ten-year-old boy as part of Kids Hope USA.

So I asked Brenda if I might tag along with them--

and so did our fellow second soprano, Julie Harris!

What I want to tell you about is what was waiting

for us in the hall at Pope.
Those we were serving served us!

There was the most beautiful table of food--

lots of food!

There was fruit, there were sausage rolls, doughnuts,

Danishes, more fruit, and...hot dogs!

I thought that the leaders of our small groups had

brought this, but they did not.

The food was provided by the teachers and staff

of Pope and set up by

David LeMond, Sue Wilhide, and Deana Peterman!

They had put so much effort into welcoming us!
And, I didn't take a picture. 
Does anybody in the sound of my voice have a picture?

In addition to failing in the picture taking department,

 I wasn't that much physical help.

But wow!  Others certainly were.

The principal's office was repainted.

Safety zones were repainted.

The bike rack was painted and looked so much better!

Bags and bags of leaves and trash were filled.

Mulch was spread.

My group did clean out a room, boxing 

and marking extra books.

I know the atrium was cleaned and

many more things about which I am unaware.

I gotta tell you about something else I observed

while at Pope Sunday morning.

THIS....

Deana Peterman and Tracy Gordon McKee were

making their hall look so exciting for the

very un-exciting Staar testing which started today.

Is this not fabulous looking?

(Tracy's parents, Don and Joy Gordon, are 

"bus buddies" of mine on many Sunday mornings!)

I know so many teachers go above and beyond

for our children, but I had never witnessed anything

quite like this.

Deana and Tracy were there when we got there,

and they were still there when we left.

(Oh--and I mustn't forget the third member of

their team: precious Maddie McKee!)


There was so much gratitude expressed for
the service of Fielder folks this Sunday morning.
But, even if it sounds corny...
We were the ones who were most blessed.

We do this twice a year.
If you don't have a church home,
please come join with us in inhaling 
AND EXHALING
Jesus.
You will experience life change.

 

A Cautionary Tale

I had an experience yesterday.

It was unusual--and painful.

You do not want to have this experience.

This seems very random and, as I said, unusual,

but here goes.

My refrigerator has a red light that comes on when

the water filter is in need of changing.

It had been on for a few days weeks when I

finally got around to getting a new one.

It is "so easy to change--just snap out snap in."

Here's what the filter looks like:

and

 Here's what it looks like installed.

Well, I punched that button bottom right and

removed the old one.

Then I pushed the new one in and had a bit

of trouble getting it to click in place.

I just wasn't sure it was secure,

soooo...I pressed the button bottom right again, and...

That thing shot out of there like a bullet and 

hit me squarely in the nose!

Oh, for a hidden camera.

It must have been one of the funniest sights ever.

Of course, I WAS NOT LAUGHING.

I was pretty sure my nose was broken and

 I knew I would have two black eyes.

I thought the crazy filter must weigh 5 pounds,

(that's how it felt)

but it only weighs 1-1/2!

(I weighed it on my diet scale.)

I am so disappointed.

There are no visible signs of my great injury.

Therefore, I guess I cannot sue.

I will just warn you that changing this filter

is not for the faint of heart.

(Or faint of nose.)

One Policeman Has Heard Everything!

This story is not about my interaction with a policeman,

although I have had a couple.

It is about my friend Jan McCarson's.

She is a cute little lady who, because of her

stature, is always on the front row of our 
"small group" (aka Sunday School) photos!

Like I, Jan has been a grandmother for a good many

years and has hair shaded similar to mine.
Here's my sweet friend:

Several years ago Jan felt led to be a volunteer with the
Arlington Pregnancy Center,
now called the Metroplex Women's Clinic.
There were certain classes to be taken 
 to be qualified, ending with a written exam.
Now, people of our age group have not taken tests
in many a year, so she was a bit nervous.


Driving to the center that morning to take the test,
 Jan had to pass through...dum da dum dum..
P a n t e g o!
Ohhh nooo. And...she was going a leetle bit fast.
Sure enough, a policeman pulled her over.
After checking her license, he asked her,
"Are you in a hurry to get somewhere this morning?"
Jan answered,
"Yes.  I am going to take a pregnancy test at 9 o'clock."


I don't know what else was said, but
he took her picture!!!
Can't you hear him back at the station,
"You guys are NEVER going to believe the excuse
this lady gave me today!"



DON'T SPEED IN PANTEGO!
The heartless bum still gave her a ticket!
No mercy for anyone!

An Uproarious Lunch With Rory

One of our lunches on our recent trip was at 
The Landing in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

I mentioned it in passing in my last blog,

but it was such a hoot that I want to tell you more.



I was on a mission--to have a lobster roll!
What better place...these were the stacks of traps
as seen from our table.

Even though it was a bit chilly, one must dine

al fresco in Marblehead!

So Britton and Rob went back to the car to

get their jackets.

We didn't really notice that our server, Rory,

asked us a lot of questions about them

while they were gone.

When they got back, he began calling them

by name and throwing out a fact or two about them.

Shirley (Nanny) ordered a Bloody Mary, and

Rory served it to her with about a 2' straw.

See, it extends over Madeline's head!

Maddie undertakes having a sip!

I (Mimi), on the other hand, ordered a root beer,

and when I attempted to suck the water out of

the accompanying glass of ice,

I found my straw to be woefully short.

It didn't even reach the bottom of the glass!

By this time, Rory was asking Madeline about 

New York and her show, and

he was calling me "Mrs. Stovall."

What we didn't realize was that he pumped the guys

 for information about us, too, when they came back in

with their jackets!

Here is my beautiful lobster roll:

The fries were out of this world--soaked and battered--

like nothing I had ever tasted!

And here was my ketchup:

Portioned by Rory, of course.

When we were all finished, Rory asked if anyone

was interested in dessert.

We all chorused that we were too full, etc. 

So he asked me if I would be interested in

knowing what I passed up.

I was kicking myself because I just knew he

would have given me some free key lime pie or 

free something else wonderful!

He then handed me the menu folder which was...

completely empty!

If you're ever in Marblehead, go to

The Landing and ask for Rory!

He did pose for the picture for free!