A Weekend in Tally!

Hello and happy Sunday everyone! I hope this finds you healthy, happy, and rested. I sure am, after a nice relaxing weekend visiting my daughter in Tallahassee. I left Friday afternoon after the local Homecoming parade....I just had to watch the parade first! My niece and nephew were in it as well as my best friends son, and I can't remember a time when I didn't go to the parade. It's tradition!

I enjoyed my drive up to Tally and only stopped one time on the way. Every now and then I stop by Walker's Pecan House to buy some sinfully delicious pecan treats. Unfortunately, they were out of my favorite chocolate amaretto pecans, but I did get some regular milk chocolate covered pecans as well as some pecan brittle. I do not like peanut brittle at all, but this stuff is delish!

I love the porch furniture...so inviting!

They have so many homemade goodies...it's hard not to buy one of each! I should have taken some pictures inside...maybe next time!

I proceeded on my way and had to take a few pictures of this magnificent sight. The sun was hiding behind the clouds making them appear to be lit up and then it peeked through...so beautiful! I don't know why, but cloud watching always makes my heart smile.

So, I got to Randa's place just after 6 and we enjoyed a nice evening in. She made us some yummy soup and we watched a few shows before hitting the sack!

The next morning, we woke up early but lazed around for a while before getting ready to go out for a bit. We left around 11 and went to BJ's for lunch. It's Tallahassee's newest restaurant and Miranda hadn't been yet. We have one in Gainesville that we have been to often and love their food. We shared a mini bruschetta for an appetizer...one of my all time favorite foods!

I had the french dip sandwich.....

and Randa had the shrimp tacos....both of which were very tasty!

We went to a few stores after lunch....Target, Dollar Tree, Wal Mart,  JoAnne's, & Tuesday Morning. I was mainly looking for odds and ends for my classroom. No thrift stores for me this weekend, which was fine since I really have no room to keep dragging stuff home! I always manage to find so many things I can't live without..lol! While we were in Tuesday Morning, I found my way to the clearance rack in the back of the store and I spotted something made out of  burlap on the top shelf. I stretched up on my tiptoes to pull it down and immediately burst out laughing! I showed it to Randa and she did the same....but we had to take a picture of it. I believe it's supposed to be a poodle...or maybe a deranged horse...lol! 

And....in case you're wondering,  no....I didn't buy the pitiful looking thing! I did buy an I Spy game and a 

3-D puzzle on clearance for my classroom though!

I love the new phone case I got at Wal Mart for $4.88! So cute and blingy!

After we shopped, we went back to Randa's place for a couple hours and baked some cookies to take over to her boyfriend, John's house. He was home for the weekend and his dad was out of town, so Randa and I picked up some pizza and headed over to hang out with him and his mom, Christine for the evening. It was so nice eating dinner and talking with them. I thank God all the time for placing John in Miranda's life. He is such a great guy.....very responsible and driven and the best thing is, he's a christian. He is a wonderful young man and his mom is such a sweet, beautiful lady. I enjoy getting to visit with her every now and then. She's a teacher too so we have lots in common! Christine....if you're reading this, thank you so much for having us over. I enjoyed it so very much! After we ate, we watched a couple episodes of John and Miranda's favorite show, Chuck and then we drove back to Randa's place, where she updated my iPhone for me! 

Yay for a techy daughter...:) New case and new look....feels like a new phone!

This morning, we got up and got ready for church. Miranda has recently joined the praise team at her church and I was thrilled that she was going to be leading one of the songs this morning. I haven't heard her sing in so long...so I was really looking forward to this. She lead the congregation in Hosanna and did a beautiful job. I choked up singing along more than once....hearing my beautiful daughter up there worshipping and praising our awesome God just brought tears to this mama's eyes. 

She is such a light in my life....I am blessed to call her mine.

A little blurry, but here she is belting it out. I love you Randa and you couldn't make me any more proud!

I wish I had thought to record it, but sadly, I didn't until it was too late! You can listen to Hillsong sing it below if you would like.....:) It's totally worth the 6 minutes of your life that it takes to listen...:) I love powerful praise and worship songs like this one....brings tears to my eyes every time.

After church, we chatted with a few folks and then headed back to her apartment to order in some lunch before I had to head back home. I finally had a chance to try her favorite sub place....Jimmy John's. It was super quick delivery and quite tasty too! 

I had the Beach Club which was turkey, provolone, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, avocado spread, and mayo. I don't eat mayo, so I had them leave that off and add onion since I love onions! It was very yummy! So fresh and the bread was especially tasty!

We finished our lunch, visited for a little while longer, and then I talked myself into getting ready to head back home. Randa helped me load all my stuff, I hugged her by and hit the road. I stopped on the way out of Tally to get a cherry icee....it's become a tradition. I think I have stopped every time I head home from her place and get one. I love these things....a favorite from childhood...and since I can't get them locally, I always splurge and get one on my way home from Randa's! 

I enjoyed my ride home....reflecting on the fun times from the weekend and thinking about things to come in the week ahead. I did a lot of thanking God for the many blessings in my life. I might have a simple life, but it's mine and I wouldn't change it. I am blessed and I thank God every day for the many blessings he had bestowed upon me. I also thought a lot about whether or not I can fit it in the budget to take a very quick trip to the mountains next weekend to see the leaves changing for fall. I have always wanted to do this....maybe this is the year! We'll see!

 And.....I always enjoy rounding the bend and seeing this....Willie Mae Lane.

Home Sweet Home!

Thanks for reading, have a beautiful week, and as always