Red Lobster: A Special Place for Major Changes in Our Lives

Over the years I remember eating at Red Lobster in Springfield, Missouri.  Delicious food is served with a great atmosphere and friendly people.  The Red Lobster Restaurant holds a few life changing events for Steve and I:  the beginning of the birth of our first born daughter and the meeting of Bill and Michelle Albert,

In December of 1987, I was expecting our first child, Stephanie.  Steve was working at Consumer’s Pharmacy on Sunshine Street in Springfield, MO and I was to meet him there.  I was sitting in the waiting chairs when Steve came out to sit with me.  He, excitedly, said, “Let’s go eat supper at Red Lobster.  I am hungry for fish and it will be fun!”  I replied, “Really?”  I did not share in the excitement because I was two weeks past the due date for Stephanie to arrive.  I had been in labor all day; it was nothing too intense, but just was not sure I should eat.  I shared all this information with Steve.  He was surprised!  I said, “You need to eat so let’s go and I will eat something light.”  We discussed the situation and decided that it is no telling how long the labor would last and it could be false labor at that. 

Off to Red Lobster we went.  The hilarious part was our waiter.  He showed us to our table.  Then he asked me, “When is the baby going to arrive?”  I said, “Anytime!”  Meaning anytime in the next few days since the doctor had said he would induce in a couple of days.  The waiter’s mouth dropped open and said, “Well, I hope the baby won’t be born here!”  I laughed and said not to worry.  I with held the rest of the information.  I didn’t want to stress the waiter.  Later, Steve and I went home and 7 hours later our first daughter was born at Cox Hospital. 

The next life changing event was meeting our waitress, Michelle Albert.  In August of 2009, Steve and I were debating where to eat:  Mexican Villa or Red Lobster?  I convinced Steve to take me to Red Lobster again.  There we met Michelle.  Steve asked her a magic question, “What does your husband do to make a living?  The reply was that he helps people save and earn money without selling a product.  We later met her husband, Bill, and saw an amazing company!  This company has changed our lives in so many ways.

We have saved thousands of dollars just using the membership on everyday items my family needs such as: home owner and car insurance, gasoline, grocery items, cleaning products, cat food and dog food, laptop computers, books, and more.  We have earned thousands as well.  As we continually grow and learn, we see our dream coming true.  Our dream is to retire Steve in the next couple years, build a residual income, and leave a legacy for our three children.  We have met great friends and business partners and the opportunity for personal growth has changed my life.  I am becoming a stronger person everyday; a better servant to my Savior.  I have always wanted to help people; this company is allowing me to help many, many people.

Most of all an amazing couple has come into our lives that are like family to us.  In fact, today, August 28^th is our anniversary!  We are enjoying an amazing journey to the top in this company; we have a bright future ahead of us.  We are so grateful to Bill and Michelle for sharing this awesome company and we thank God for bringing them into our lives.

Barbie Dolls and GI Joes

I remember having many exciting and fun days playing with my younger brother, Buddy.  Board games, baseball, football, Barbie Dolls, and GI Joe Action Figures added to the richness of our life!  We were 9 and 7 years old.  My dolls were Barbie, Midge, Ken, Allen, Skipper, Skooter, and Ricky.  Buddy’s action figures were 3 GI Joes: an army soldier, a navy soldier, and a marine.  The GI Joe’s were cool; I loved all the gear they came with.

For hours we pretended the Barbie Dolls and GI Joe Action Figures were families.  We acted out many family situations such as: school days, birthday parties, courtships, weddings, funerals, adoptions of dogs and cats, vacations, sickness, etc…  Every family situation was almost like a soap opera, because there was so much drama.  We used our creative energies all the time.

For example, one of my Barbie Dolls, Ken, had an arm that was broken.  The arm would be placed in the socket and sooner or later the arm would fall out of the socket.  We were both a little frustrated for awhile; however, we did not want to retire the doll. 

We began brainstorming.  Our idea was to pretend Ken was being drafted into the army and going to the Vietnam.  The dolls acted out all the tears in parting for months and months, the excitement in receiving a letter from their soldier, the madness of not hearing from their soldier for weeks and weeks, the anticipation of seeing their soldier at Christmas, and the anxiety of learning their soldier was hurt and not knowing if their soldier was alive or dead.   

Then one day Ken was coming home.  Ken lost his arm in the war!  We acted out his anguish and healing.  We acted out the excitement of the family in seeing their loved one.  We went so far to act out one scenario where Ken felt like only half a man without an arm.  And the life scenarios continue.

I am glad my brother and I decided not to retire the doll and brainstormed ideas in how to play with a doll with a defective arm.  We were using our creativity.  We could have whined around about the doll, but because we decided to turn our frustration around.  We had so much fun.  Thinking back on my life, my brother and I were leaders.  Leaders handle frustration or obstacles and turn them into blessings. 

Lastly, I might add that my Brother would be so embarrassed for friends and relatives to know that he played with Barbie Dolls.  Why be embarrassed?  Who cares what people think!  He was just being a great brother!  And for that, I love him very much. 

 

Wayne's World

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”  I have found this to be true in my life experiences.  You must understand that each of us go through our life everyday greeting and being greeted by people. 

We come in contact with people who are either griping and complaining or stealing dreams.  Some people rarely have a smile they are so depressed, skeptical, and unresponsive and others have a robot smile just going through the motions of everyday life.  However, there are people who dramatically stand out among the crowd.  They seem to breathe hope and life into people.  I am sure you have been introduced to an inspirational person like this at some time in your life. I have a few friends who inspire me.  One of them is Wayne Starnes.

I first met Wayne at Christian Health Care South.  My church, Bethel Missionary Baptist, sings and shares with the residents at the health care facility once each month.  Wayne in his wheel chair would sing with us and smile.  He was happy to be in the service.  One service I weakly played backup guitar with my son, Chris.  Wayne was thrilled and encouraged me to keep playing.  The guitar is not my favorite instrument to play; I just do not feel comfortable with the instrument.  But each month Wayne says, “Are you going to play the guitar this time?”  And I feel guilty for not playing.  He just smiles and says, “How about next time?”

Another month while my church was singing Wayne asked if we new a particular song.  It is titled, “Had It Not Been”, but we refer to it as “Wayne’s Song”, since it so touched our hearts.  Our piano player knew the song and played it while Wayne sang.  Here are the words to the song. 

Just suppose God searched through Heaven

He couldn’t find one willing to be

The supreme sacrifice that was needed

Oh, I’m so glad He didn’t call Heaven’s angels

That would buy eternal life for you and me.

But I’m so glad He was willing to drink His bitter cup

Although He prayed “Father, let it pass from Me,”

Oh, I’m so glad He didn’t call Heaven’s angels,

“From my hands pull the nails that torment me.”

Had it not been for a place called Mount Calvary

Had it not been for the old rugged cross

Had it not been for a Man called Jesus

Then forever my soul would be lost.

Another time I saw Wayne was on a Saturday morning.  A few of my friends and I were attending a meeting at the health care facility.  As I walked through I saw Wayne seated with other residents.  Some of them were half asleep and sad looking.  But not Wayne!  What was he doing?  He was sitting there singing a hymn and praising God!  It was beautiful and very touching!  I waved to him and he smiled.  “Hi there!” he exclaimed.   I thought, “Wow!  He is awesome!”  I thought about how Wayne had every right to be frustrated with his life condition.  He cannot be in his own home to take care of himself, does not have his freedoms, and just waits for people to come to him!  And he can sing and be cheerful through all of that?  I felt ashamed of myself.  There are times I allow myself to be sad and down.  Why?  I am healthy, I can come and go as I please, and many, many other blessings!

Another significant meeting was this past Wednesday Night.  Our church sang again while I played the piano.  At the end of the service Wayne raised his hand and said, “You did a great job!”  I waved back and said thank you.  When my children and I prepared to walk down the hall and out the front door, I felt compelled to turn around and go to Wayne.  He was sitting with all the residents in the main room.  As I approached Wayne, he looked up and I took his hand and expressed what was in my heart with teary eyes.  I said, “Wayne, I just want you to know that you are an inspiration and blessing to me.  I love your cheerful heart.  Thank you!”  He looked at me and shared, “I try to be cheerful everyday.  I work on it everyday!  Just be yourself in life.  That is all.”

What surprised and intrigued me was the fact that Wayne made cheerfulness look so easy.  I never expected him to say that he works at it everyday.  Happiness is a choice all of us make everyday.  Happiness is not determined by our circumstances or by the people in our life.  We choose to be happy.  In fact the Bible says to be happy.  One verse that comes to mind is in James 1:2.  It says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptation; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”   Another one is found in Psalms 118:24 states, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” 

You know I go to bless the residents in the care center.  But what I find is that I am the one being blessed!  My goal everyday is to have a joyful heart!

I Saw Jesus in 2009

Have you ever heard the saying, “When it rains, it pours?”  Well, Monday was a rainy day for me.  It began with outpatient surgery, counseling one of our children, an eventful late night, and strange noises in the house.  All these events took their toll on me emotionally and physically, however, comfort in an awesome experience was waiting at the close of the day.

On Monday morning I am fervently praying to the Lord to guide the surgeon’s hands to effectively remove the many polyps from my husband’s left and right sinuses.  I am, also, asking the Lord to hold my husband in His arms of protection to safely bring him through this surgery and for less sinus infections in the future.  Not that this is a dangerous procedure, but after one hears all the things that could go wrong it can be frightening.  Also, that all polyps are noncancerous.

“Mrs. Stewart, you may come to the recovery room, now.”  I follow the nurse to a holding room to speak to the doctor first.  He informs me that Steve held up through the surgery just fine.  He hopes to learn the cause of the polyps from the pathology report.  It perhaps could be an inverted papalonoma that has been growing for years.  Wow!

I, then, travel to the recovery room where I saw my husband reclining in a chair harassing the nurses.  A good sign; harassment is a favorite pass time of his.  After this we bought refreshing Dr. Peppers at Sonic and scooted on down I44 to our home on Pike lane in Lebanon.

Steve was to rest and sleep through the night on the recliner, since his head needed to be elevated and I was going to sleep on the couch next to him to be nearby in case he needed anything.  I tried to obtain much needed rest, but I was up and down for various reasons until 3 a.m.  One reason was to figure out what the clanging noise was around the fireplace, the hallway?  Where? Our son could not find it either.  My husband said, “It is probably the Devil?”  I replied, “Well, that doesn’t make me feel any better.”  All that was left to do was to lie down.  I fell asleep silently praying for protection and much needed rest.

The most amazing dream occurred.  I saw myself walking through our home to the garage.  I opened the door to see beautiful white curtains.  I heard myself say what pretty curtains, but that is not what I am looking for.  I turned to the back glass door.  There appeared a swirl of white smoke or white fog forming a shape in the backyard.  I immediately recognized the shape as Jesus, my Savior.  His hands were outstretched to me.  I thought, “He is what I need!”  And I, without hesitation, went to him, lifted my arms to Him, and said, “Jesus, please help me.”

Steve heard me and shook my foot to wake me; he thought I was having a nightmare.  Oh contraire.  When I awoke I just laid there remembering the sweet peace that overflowed in my heart just remembering the moment.  Steve said, “You had a dream didn’t you?  What was it about?”  I answered that I saw Jesus just as a matter of fact.  Surprised, Steve chuckled and replied, “Wow!  What did he look like?!  I explained that I did not see any details in facial features.  There was a person in a white robe with his hands outstretched, but I knew in the depths of my heart it was Jesus.

My husband regretted waking me up.  Regardless, I just basked in the sweet peace I felt.  Nothing compares to the great love, care, and protections I felt.  I know Jesus loves and cares for us, but I have a visual story that is just my own now.  I couldn't wait to tell my children, friends, and church family.  I am truly thankful for this awesome dream experience the Lord gave me.  I hope to remember it when trials occur.  Jesus is always there to help;  we are to just go to Him. t