When Love Looks Like Potatoes

Two Tuesdays a month, our church has a potluck lunch for senior citizens and anyone else who feels like showing up for a good meal. Most people who attend contribute to the meal and this week I was asked to bring mashed potatoes.

While I don’t feel like I am the world’s greatest masher of potatoes I am fairly capable of turning out a respectably edible batch of them when need be. The only thing? I don’t like peeling them.

And so on Monday night I informed my slave labor husband and daughter that if each of us would peel five potatoes that evening, I would have everything I needed for my (make ahead) mashed potato contribution.

Well, as soon as dinner was done on Monday, Steve left for the monthly church board meeting. Sarah and I got right to work on our potatoes and got ten of them peeled. And then I thought, “Well, Steve’s got a lot on his mind. He has important stuff to deal with as a pastor of a church and I really can’t imagine that he’s going to remember my brief speech about the need for communal potato peeling.

And so I went ahead and peeled the five extra and made up my potato dish and put it in the fridge.

On Tuesday morning when I came downstairs, this was waiting for me. A bowl of peeled potatoes. Peeled by my husband. Placed in a bowl of cold water so they wouldn’t get brown before I got ready to cook them. Peeled by a fella who actually did (amazingly) remember my plaintive potato plea and got up early enough to get them done.

Although my mashed potato dish was already compiled and ready for the oven, I took the husbandly peeled potatoes, added some meat and made a scalloped potato dish for our family dinner that night.

Potatoes peeled with love. The best kind.

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A Few Recent Questions and Comments . . .

Steve’s Post on Marriage

Mary H said, “Now, about the numbers, Steve...how about Roman numerals? - I love them - they are not used frequently, anywhere now - I don't even know if they are taught but I love Roman numerals - they make you think, add and subtract and they just look cool.

Mary, Steve actually does use Roman numerals in the sermon notes and service orders he prepares each week. And since I work from those sermon notes to make slides to show on the overhead screen, I am exposed to his Roman numerals on a frequent basis.

And I hate to say it, but Roman numerals actually bug me because they require extra thinking to figure out what’s being communicated. However, as you said, they do look sorta cool. And of course, what would an official outline be without them?

Anna wrote, “Thanks Steve, very well written. I agree with them all except maybe the making bed thing. I am an early riser and my hubby has always enjoyed his sleep. Our bed would never get made until late in the day...our rule, last one out makes the bed. Hope to hear from you again in the near future.”

Anna, Steve forgot to mention that we only make the bed together on days we get up at the same time. Other than that, whoever is last out of the bed makes the bed!

Thanks to all of you for your encouraging words about Steve’s writing and also for sharing some of your own marriage stories and experiences. We love to hear from you!

Post on Healthy Eating

Mrs. Pam said, “Does Steve still get to eat his daily popcorn snack?”

Mrs.. Pam, yes, he sure does. Every evening the lovely aroma of popcorn continues to fill our home.

Lighthouse and Aliens Post

Judy said, “Loved the pics of your little adventure. It sure looked like you had a good time. Would you please share the name of the restaurant where you had lunch. Is the little post office open and functioning?”

The name of the restaurant was “The Captain’s Table. I meant to post this picture and then forgot it.

The decor was pretty basic and simple, but the prices were reasonable (we shared a sandwich and got out for $14) and the food was quite good. We got a seafood wrap and an order of fries.

No, the Post Office is no longer in active use. Although wouldn’t it be so much fun if it was?

Bobspixe said, “When I looked at the "posed" picture of you and Steve, I thought that the "aliens" in the title of your post referred to the two people standing behind you in dark glasses. Then I saw the "space ship" and realized that was the "aliens". Or am I the only one who saw two people standing behind you in the picture?????!!!! (Cue theme from "Twilight Zone".)”

Yes, I noticed those people, too. I am certainly glad they didn’t turn out to be aliens!

And on that subject, I don’t think I made it clear in my earlier post that the “alien ship” was not at all connected with the Cape Hatteras lighthouse; it was a few miles up the road. (The Cape Hatteras lighthouse is far too classy to be associated with little green men!)

Steve Smith wrote, “Hey Beck, in several posts lately you have had unflattering pictures of my ‘back 40.’ What gives?”

Well, let me just say, Mister Smith, that I would much rather people see YOUR back 40 than mine. (I’m not entirely certain of this point, but it could very well be that mine would require a wide angle lens!)