BBQ etiquette

I am a big fan of the girls over at the GirlTalk blog. Each Friday they post a Friday Funny and the one from last week was really good. The first image that popped into my head was one of my in-laws. I love my father-in-laws grilling by the way. The story below rings true for them and I think you’ll probably know some others who can relate as well.

After the long months of cold and winter, we will soon be coming up to summer and BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking as it's the only type of cooking a real man will do, probably because there is an element of danger involved.
When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:

Routine...

1) The woman buys the food.
2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and makes dessert.
3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill.

Here comes the important part:

4) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.

More routine....

5) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
6) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. He thanks her and asks if she will bring him something to drink while he deals with the situation.

Important again:

7) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.

More routine...

8) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces and brings them to the table.
9) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

And most important of all:

10) Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.
11) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off." And, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing women..."

By the way… So far this is not true at our house this year. Due to pregnancy and sensitivity to smell Freddy grilled and took care of most of the dinner details the other night and it was wonderful! Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Name The Babies!

Help us name the babies! Calm down. We do not know how many we are having. However, during the weeks we were unaware if we would be able to have kids at all, I prayed that the Lord would give us three (at a time), and Susan agreed. And well, we conceived while Susan was on chlomid which increases your chances of multiples 10-20%. So, until the doctor tells us we are only having one, I am playfully counting on three.

We already have a few names in mind, but we are wide open to suggestions.

So, lets have fun with this! Let's assume Sus and I are having three. You decide if you think we are having 2 boys and a girl, all girls, 2 girls and a boy...etc. And then give each of them a first and middle name. This will be fun...everybody take a stab!

If you know the names we already have in mind...do not include them on here. ;-) [the baby photos were found at www.babyslittletreasures.com and www.smith-photography.com ]

We Are Pregnant!

I am humbly thrilled to share the great news...Susan and I are pregnant! Okay it may be more appropriate to say that she is pregnant considering she will be the super-mom that carries and births our baby. It just took the two of us. Nuff said there. Many people have been praying for us. A big Thank you to all of you. God has been gracious! We are so excited...I have been singing around the house and we've been laughing for joy. Susan has already begun to feel a little nauseous. Pray for her. We only pray it passes after her first tri-mester. Either way, it is a joyful sickness. Maybe I should let her speak for herself on that one. We are still in those very fragile stages as we are about 7 weeks along, but determined not to live in fear, we chose to enjoy the good news to the fullest, and share it with others. Obviously only 7 weeks along, this is not a picture of Susan's belly. While our joy is overflowing, our hearts grieve with many of our friends who yet to have children yet deeply long for them.

New Tunes - Alex Nifong

My good world travelin buddy Alex has arrived in the worldwide web with his new music. Alex and I go way back. I wonder if any of you Clarksville folks remember Alex. If you think you do...take a stab in the comments. For everyone else, Alex has been sleeping with his guitar (not really) as long as I've known him. I've had the opportunity to speak a couple of deals he's led at in the past. He loves leading worship and often plays with guys like Redman and Fee not to mention rockin it most weeks at 7:22. I'm really excited he has cut his own cd. You can purchase and listen to a couple of his songs at his website.

Exam Update

Exams are done. I finished yesterday. American Church History was the most difficult. While it has been my most difficult class this semester, it has also been my most enjoyable. Dr. Wills is a brilliant, passionate man. I still have one paper I'm finishing up that I received a gracious extension on, but I am breathing now and back to bloggin. Any shout outs for the "Laughing and Learning" blog will be greatly apprecieated as we enjoy building our small reading community. There is a new map down on the left side of the blog that you can click on and soom in to see where all folks are visiting the blog from. Right now I have it set to clear the map once a week.

New Tunes - Chad Lewis

His voice is not the only thing that is deep. His lyrics possess an enriching depth that are not found everyday. I've had the privlege of doing a retreat with Chad a year or so ago and then got to be on his basketball team last semester over at the seminary. He's the real deal, with honest ballads that search the heart. You can find links to listen to and purchace his music at his website.

Hero Highlight - Brother Don

Brother Don Zuberer (1932-2006) will forever be a hero of mine. Tuesday morning, he went to be with the One he reminded me of. His tender spirit, humble wisdom, and bold preaching reminded me of Jesus Christ. The first time I met Brother Don was after a sermon I preached on Isaiah 6 one Sunday night at FBC Clarksville. After that message, Brother Don introduced himself to me (he was the new Sr. Adult Minister at FBC) and told me that he was going to pray for me every day from then on. He didn't do it to be showy, he humbly meant it. I then had the privlege of working on staff with Brother Don at FBC when I served as the Interim Middle School Minister. When my time was wrapping up at FBC Brother Don gave me a set of A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament. These books are great resources, and I love seeing Brother Don's markings in these books. I'll never forget the only sermon I got to hear him preach. It was a powerful word from James 4:13-17 on the brevity of life. My heart is so sad to see this hero of mine go to be with our ultimate Hero. If you know Brother Don, pray for for his wife Carol with me in the coming days.

quick note...

2 papers to down, 1 to go, exams next week...

be sure to check back in a couple of weeks...becaue i have not been able post much...i've got a lot of fresh stuff to share with you all...new blogs, new music, good stuff...

blog with you then...