Today was a day where I could rest and get organized yet I didn’t want to stay inside all day. I went by a local produce place that is NEVER open and has no signs of their hours of operations. I thought 2pm on a Saturday would be a good time to swing by…apparently not. I then made my way to the Antique store where my employer has a booth. I ended up spending nearly an hour talking with one of the sweet ladies that owns the shop. I’ve known her daughter from my trips here before. She has the sweetest spirit and great testimonies of God’s love and faithfulness. It encouraged my heart. I’d hoped to find some antique skeleton keys, but I will have to just settle for a Hobby Lobby kind (Lord willing I’ll find one in Birmingham tomorrow). I then decided that since it was nearly 3:45 that I should just grab lunch while I was out. I have been cooking almost every lunch and dinner and am a little tired of it (and all the moms groan because I don’t know what’s in store! haha). I went to the first place on my mind and walked right on it, just to see that there were no lights on and the chairs were all up on the tables. I quickly backed out of the entrance and out the door hoping to leave unseen. There were only a few cars out front, but I’d assumed that was normal given the time of day. Apparently this proves my theory that most people in the south leave their doors open…even when their business is closed. I have yet to really try this theory out because my other theory is that most people in the south also have guns! So for now, I’ll stick with knocking on doors. Speaking of, I went to take my next-door neighbor some food I had made earlier and knocked on her door. There were two cooked hamburger patties on a plate sitting on a chair outside her door, so I just knew she was somewhere near. I hesitated after two knocks and went back to my apartment. I heard her come back so I went over again. She laughed at my previous attempt and said next time I should just come on in and yell for her. She and I had a great conversation of how Jesus set her free from meth, cocaine, and cigarettes. She is a single mom right now and one who is SO in love with Jesus! It’s beautiful to see and I rejoiced with her. Back to my lunch…I did end up getting some “to-go” food from a restaurant here. I’ve learned that many buildings here have tin roofs and my cell phone doesn’t work in those places (not that it strongly works anywhere here).

The good news is that due to my trip to Buttahatchee last night, I now know of a GREAT CLEAN Texaco gas station. I filled up on gas that was $3.69/gallon verses the $3.79 in Hamilton. When I bought my car three years ago this month, gas was $1.89/gallon in Colorado Springs. I’m just saying!!

Tomorrow I am really excited about going to Birmingham. I am hoping to attend David Platt’s church who is the author of “Radical”. I always look forward to visiting new churches to see more expressions of the Body of Christ. I know this church is doing a lot for the kingdom, so I’m anticipating good things in worshipping with them. I then will be doing a variety of errands but ending with a run to WHOLE FOODS!!!! My body is kicking me for the food I’ve eaten the past three weeks!

Pray that I don’t have too much of a culture shock in the big city and that I don’t apply my country driving skills to Birmingham. Joking.