Yesterday a really nice dude delivered the most beautiful red box to my door (looked like new shoes, was hoping it was new shoes) with the words “Edible Arrangements” on the outside of the card. The inside had a fun note from Travis and Angela saying how happy they were that I was coming to the taping of his new worship CD this weekend. I can hardly wait. I am so anxious to get back with my team and I also get to see my baby girl – and, by the way, Georgia Jan! I opened the box to behold the most beautiful array of big, fat strawberries and quarters of green apples you’ve ever seen and each dipped (maybe even double-dipped) in dark chocolate.
It’s sort of a joke between us. You see, I hate fruit. I don’t know why. I just never developed a taste for it. For one thing, it was expensive to buy for a family of eight and my family growing up not only didn’t have an extra dime. We could have used somebody else’s. We mostly ate Twinkies and Ding Dongs because they came in a family pack. I think I started the chocolate-covered fruit thing with the Cottrells several years ago when I sent a package for Travis’s birthday. I thought it kinda cleverly described our two families. They love fruit. We love chocolate.
Anyway, the only reason Travis Cottrell eats remotely healthy is because of his wife. I have long said that the greatest proof of God’s love for Travis beyond his salvation is Angela Cottrell. She is Wonder Woman. Years ago when she may have been at the summit of her culinary health-consciousness, I got to stay in their very sanguine home. Jackson, their oldest (middle schooler now, and, yes, where we came to love that name), was really young. Maybe five. Levi wasn’t even a twinkle in his parents’ eye yet. Jack and I were sitting in our pj’s at their breakfast table and Angela announced, “Beth, since we have company this morning, I’ll fix pancakes!” I was elated. I adore Angela Cottrell and would eat anything just to sit at the same table with her. She is one of my favorite women in the world to muse over God’s Word with. But, we weren’t having Bible study that morning. We were having breakfast. And, to be honest, I’d anticipated that we might have something like granola and soy milk and we’d chug it down with barley green. (I’ve witnessed this very phenomenon at their house a number of times.) I think I’ve told you somewhere along the way that I was raised on Jimmy Dean sausage, burned to a crisp, and cheap canned biscuits for breakfast. (Still love it. Had that very fare within last 48 hours.) Pancakes. I couldn’t have been happier. Then out came the whole wheat flour from the cupboard. Hope deferred.
Oh, but the company was good. Jack and I talked a million miles an hour. When he was little, he thought my first name was “Bethmoore.” He called me the whole thing like it was just one word. It was terribly endearing and made me smile every time he said it. (I still love Jack. He was my handsome, very polite and engaging date to a wedding in Nashville not very long ago.) We talked it up while Angela flipped whole wheat pancakes and I got hungrier and hungrier. Finally, she put a plate down right in front of me, stacked three-high. They looked a little odd. Kinda like someone had spilled the Quaker Oats in the frying pan and she forgot to wash it before she poured the batter. I was raised with too many manners not to eat what my host set in front of me and, anyway, my stomach was growling so loud that their wiener dog was practically growling back. I took my first bite.
And they were incredible. I couldn’t believe it. Listen, this is a woman who feels pious when she eats wheat bread and if I drink a bottle of water, I tell everyone all day long that I did. They don’t care but I tell them anyway. I mean, stinking incredible. My plate was empty long before Jack’s pancakes were even on the table. I looked at him while I was eating them and said, “Jack, these pancakes will change your life.”
“No, they won’t.”
“Yes, Jack, they really will. I’ve never tasted a pancake this good. Your mother is the best cook in the whole wide world. I’m serious. These pancakes will change your life.”
“No, they won’t, Bethmoore.”
“Yes, Jack Cottrell, they really will. They will change your life.”
About the time I swallowed my last bite, Travis hollered at me from the other room and told me that if I didn’t get with it, we were going to be late. (Don’t even remember now where we were going. I think I had a flight home.) I hopped up, thanked Angela, probably kissed Jackson on the head and shot upstairs before he even got his pancakes. Angela said the kitchen was silent for a couple of seconds. Then that precocious boy said, “Bethmoore makes me hungry.” We’ve howled about it ever since.
I know that’s random. I don’t even know why I wrote it. I think because I have HONESTLY eaten more fruit in the last 12 hours than I have ever eaten in my life. And I feel high. Do you think it was the fruit?
Or the chocolate?
Gotta go. Sausage and biscuits almost done.
I love y’all today.
I so love random stories. My 7 yr old tells me everything that happens from sunrise to sunset and the 20 questions in between.
As for fruit, it all is better with dark (the only way) chocolate and even caramel!
I agree with the others about your teachings, love of God, your personality, etc; it does make me hungry for more of God’s Word.
Bethmoore.
You crack me up.
One of the happiest days of my husband’s life was when he found precut, prepackaged Jimmy Dean sausage at Sam’s.
We have enough sausage for all of the Siesta’s to come for breakfast.
Jill s
I agree … “Bethmoore makes me hungry!”
…for the word of God of course.
Mind you those biscuits and sausage sound mighty good too ;0)
My family is a biscuit and gravy type of crowd…I have to leave the house with the very smell! They would like to run when they see anything whole wheat coming out, but they are learning to appreciate God’s WHOLEsomeness…grew up very protected and never had a ding dong…why would you eat that???
Oh Beth, there are so many reasons I love you, but the fact that you’d rather eat a ding dong than fruit is way near the top of the list now!! I don’t know what it is. Given the choice of a piece of fruit or a chocolate bar with nuts and there is absolutely no contest. I can even invision the plaque forming on my arteries, but it doesn’t help. I always go for the candy bar.
Bethmoore’s got the love, joy, chocolate dipped strawberry, peace, patience, kindness, chocolate dipped green apple, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and, um, ….. self-control ?! 🙂
Seriously…you are the funniest woman ever! From someone who seriously loves to laugh my head off and have a great time to another….you are so stinken funny! I just love when you blog about the everyday stuff. Thanks for sharing and making me laugh. Pancakes…sounds sooo good!
Bethmoore you make me hungry to know Him more!
What’s in my cupboard
today I say?
I’ll whip out a story
from my recipe book.
I’ll prepare the
enthusiastic story
by marinating the
words in the sauce of
God’s Holy Spirit.
I’ll bake the idea for
an hour or so and
keep basting the enthusiasm
in the sauce until it’s
tender to the taste.
Then, I’ll cook up some
sqrumptous signficant points
and sprinkle them
with colorful words of wisdom.
And serve the story
on a beautiful blogging
table, decorated to delight
the eyes and fill the hungry
soul with joy….
(to me this is how I see you beth!
As an artist is to paint
A chef is to food
so you are to words
love always…)
Thanks that was a fun story!
That was a really sweet story! It reminds me of visiting with my sister in law. God Bless!
Charlotte
Beth, I am a white bread girl all the way (raised in health-conscious California) and I REFUSE to eat wheat anything! A few years ago, my best friend made a loaf of homemade wheat bread and insisted I eat a piece with butter. She has known me since we were 6 years old (we are now 40) and knows my white-bread ways. I ate it and LOVED it. It was delicious! She has the distinction of being the only one to convince me to eat wheat bread. I have not turned from my white bread ways, however, but I sometimes crave that delicious wheat bread! God bless, love, Amy W
Thanks for the laughter Bethmoore you are so very funny. Thanks for helping us to know you in such cool random ways. Love you girlfriend. Fruit rocks…so glad you are able to share with everyone today the obvious joy you are having eating it. You really can’t have too much dark chocolate either. I’m sure Jackson is a blessed boy in knowing you. God bless you Beth for the love you give to people.
I’m not a fruit person either and it just kills me. But I am into pancakes! I loved that story and I sure do love my siesta mama! Yesterday my friends 2 yr old told me she ate green eggs and “hausage” for breakfast. It was sooooooo cute!
Kelly Jo
Albany, Ky
Let’s see, last night’s dinner was a bottled sausage and gravy product, home made hashbrowns, Jimmy Dean Sausage ( wasn’t enough in the gravy jar), and biscuits.
Would have been canned, but bought the Pillsbury frozen.
Now I want pancakes………
and chocolate.
From another non-fruit eater.
If you have to peel it, it’s too much work.
Hi Beth and Siestas!
Although I love fruit, chocolate, sausage, biscuits, twinkies, Ho Ho’s…. (you get the picture- what I couldn’t stop thinking about was the thought of Siesta Mama Beth in her PJ’s in my kitchen while I was fixing breakfast for her!! Oh my gosh!! I just know that heaven is going to allow me time/access to sit down and discuss spiritual (or any things) for that matter with her. Oh, the thought……!!!
Blessings to all!
Bethmoore,
You are so stinkin’ cute I can hardly stand it!!!
LOVE YOU!
Kristen
We went camping once with some friends and the one mom (Jen) made buckwheat pancakes. She’s the healthy one of the group. As we sat down to indulge, everyone took one bite and kind of waited. Jen’s used to us ribbing her about her health kicks. But, we all laughed out loud after one of the guys,Lance, who is from Mississippi, piped up in his thick, v e r y s l o w southern drawl and announced, “Now, that there is a ‘texture violation’. It’s still a running joke and favorite saying to this day!! Thought you’d get a kick out of that one. And I’m sure Angela’s cakes were tons better….
Chocolate covered strawberries and Jesus. Can’t get enough of em!!
Donnie Frank
Stillwater, OK
I have to tell you I’m just cracking up! I was talking to Emily (who you met in Atlanta with some other momma’s who have babies in Heaven) and she can’t even understand me from the laughter!! Thank you so much for the giggles!!!!!
Beth,
I wonder if fruit dipped in Chocolate was part of Esther’s beauty treatments?
I know it’s now going to be part of mine this weekend!
Love you too!
Laura Beth
Loved the story about Jackson. Maybe sometime you could have the Siestas tell some of their favorite kid’s stories. I know I have a few from my niece and nephew who are the loves of my life.
I too grew up on BURNED sausage (the only way I like it) and canned biscuits. Still love ’em tody.
One of my favorite treats, besides chocolate, is a bowl of Icedream (Chick Filet) with potato chips crushed up and mixed in. Have any of you tried that? It’s fantastic.
Thanks for all you do, Beth.
Love ya!
Gail from Georgia
Can you imagine a lemon merinque pie made with whole wheat and demura brown sugar? The colour was definitely NOT the yellow i was anticipating !! My sister was into the new health kick thing in late seventies, early 80’s ! She knew lemon meringue was my favourite pie , and she makes everything from scratch!! It just didn;t taste the same !!! I still tease her to this day! – She is now in Africa and her creativity in cooking with different ingredients has been a lifesaver for them.
So jealous of the chocolate dipped strawberries – I just started the South Beach Diet – maybe I can have 1 at the end of the month – I can hardly wait!!
p.s. My husband is lovin his newly found health tip – 8 dark chocolate covered almonds a day !!!
Thanks Bethie – needed a fun story! Barley Green —– YUCK! So remember those days – memories for sure (or nightmares???) —— now, so proud of you for eating so much fruit the last 12 hours – you healthy woman you – I am sure that you can save these fruit points and use them for at least the next week!!!!!
Have a good weekend Siestas!!!!!!
That’s a hoot!!!
And I believe, “Pork fat rules!”
Pat from Kansas
Bethmoore: Nobody can tell a story like Bethmoore.
You may not like fruit, but girlfriend, the fruit of the Spirit of God is ALL OVER YOU! Can’t wait to see you and hug your sweet neck in Atlanta! Georgia will never be the same!
You crack me slap up!
Much Love,
Georgia Jan
i love your random stories. and love that God blesses us with friends so close that they’re like family. He is so good to us!
Oh please, oh please will Angela share her recipe? You are making me hungry too!
And I agree with other posts, you make me hungry for God so much. I am so thankful to our God for your teaching.
Our merry band of Siestas is looking so forward to worshipping with all of you this weekend!
And YAY Georgia Jan!! I don’t know why she didn’t invite all of us to stay where she’s stayin’! ;))
Thank you, sweetie- for sharing-for some reason you blessed me-maybe a reminder that it’s not what we do but just who we are or something like that-Kathy
I think it was a chocolate and strawberries high. I think a chocolate high is all I have ever had. But boy, is it good. I bought a fundue thingy last summer to use at our NOG’s study with my sisters. Chocolate covered oranges and strawberries are the absolute best!!!
Love you back, Bethmoore!
Bethmoore,
So funny and enjoyed every minute. A long with the fudgecicle I was eating as I read. I love chocolate and fruit. Was very tempted the other day when I was a huge chocolate covered apple in the produce section at Walmart. Had my accountability partner (Troy) with me so I could get it.
Lots of laughs and Love
Becky
Attalla
Alabama
Well, Bethmoore, I actually took a picture of a “tuxedo strawberry” that I had for breakfast every morning in Disneyland a couple years ago. A gigantic stawberry dipped in white chocolate (for the “shirt”) and then dipped to the sides in dark chocolate with little chocolate “buttons” (for the “jacket”). It was worth the many $$ is cost!!
You enjoy those fruits and chocolate. And you have a blast this weekend!!!
Melana in Wyoming
Loved the story Beth totally loved it. We started Esther last night…Love the promise of what is ahead.
I am afraid I do love fruit, but fruit doesn’t even like me. So Twinkies and sausages, so just how many hours do you work out in the run of a week…..
Be Blessed dearest Beth. Thanks for the post.
I smiled a huge smile.
p.s. did I tell you I loved the post already….(lol)
What a great story!
On a side note I wanted to tell you that I started your Bible study, “A woman’s heart” and it’s FABULOUS! I LOVE IT! So refreshing! I did Daniel last summer and it was equally amazing. It’s so awesome what you can learn from the same Bible you’ve read through before. Especially if you’ve grown up in church and heard all the stories and still never had an inkling of some of the depth of the Bible! God is truly good!
Bethmoore,
You are an absolute hoot! I’m right there with you on not having a taste for fruit and my hubby adores Ding Dongs. The house I lived in growing up was just down the street from Noldees Bakery. We always enjoyed the wonderful smell of bread baking! In the summer my brothers and I used to love riding our bikes to the bakery thrift store to buy Dolly Madison Zingers with the allowance we had earned from helping our Grandfather in the yard. They were the best! Love you bunches Bethmoore!
Kim
Doswell, VA
I have to say that I even called you “Bethmoore” up until I got to meet you at the taping of Stepping Up…. then I just started calling you “MamaBeth”. Surprisingly, EVERYONE in my family, (even those who aren’t in church) knew EXACTLY who I was talking about. Because, you talk about people that are part of your life…. their names just pop up in everyday conversation and of course you have been a very daily part of my life for about 6 and a half years now. Thank you, MamaBeth. I love you, too.
PS… I am facilitating the Bible Study “Anointed, Transformed, and Redeemed” for my church ladies starting in Feb. I am SOOOO looking forward to it. Please pray for us if you think about it…
I echo others sentiments that “Bethmoore” makes me hungry as well. She inspires me to fill myself with the Word … even when I crunched my nose up at the idea of being able to memorize it! Thank you for sharing your life with us … butm ore so … thank you for sharing your love of God with us!
Oh Girl If you like Chocolate you gotta try the deep fried oreo (does it get any better deep fried and a oreo HELLO) It will change your change your life!!
These pancakes will change your life….
Such a sweet sweet thought.
Thank you!!
Michelle in VT
I’m resisting the urge to say that title is a metaphor.
Whoops. Guess I didn’t resist strongly enough.
My mom always made biscuits, but I raised by daughter on cheap biscuits on a can. She called them “plop biscuits” (I guess from the sound it made when I banged them on the counter to open them). Anyway, if I ever got the idea to make them from scratch, she would turn her nose up and whine “I want plop biscuits!”
Crisp sausage and biscuits….sounds good to me…
That is hilarious!
I am also a whole grain cook – not just flour, but rice, pasta, you name it. I make bread that looks like birdseed stuck together with glue! And I am quite self-righteous about the fact that my kids have not yet had a meal at McD's (they're 5 & 3) and they actually love their veggies! 🙂
But my daughter has a little friend across the street who has a different diet – involves more sugar and less brown stuff! She was over one day and I offered the girls a cookie (healthy ones of course). She was momentarily excited and then when I handed it to her she looked at it and said "well, that's not exactly a cookie."
My husband and I think it's hilarious and even more so because my daughter just doesn't get the joke. She's so junk-deprived she doesn't even know what she's missing! She thought those healthy cookies were just fine!
I guess that revelation blows any chance that Bethmoore will be coming to my house for tea! 🙂
I had a good day…..I had my doctor appointment for him to tell me whether I had cancer or not. during the day, a coworker coached me on questions to ask given the two scenerios, but then I was sooooo nervous that I forgot them on my desk and I had to call our secretary to read them to me as I drove partly crying. I get to the doc’s office and my husband is already there waiting and the front desk said they had me down for a physical, the nurse calls us in and asked if I was ready for my physical, I stood my ground, and said I was there to find out if I had cancer or not and I wanted to know, I did not need a physical to hear the news good or bad…..so they decided to take my blood pressure and pulse and they were through the roof and she was all worried. I reminded her that my husband and I were there to hear whether or not I have cancer…she went to fetch the doc and after he double checked a few things he stated I do not have cancer but all my tests show I have a faulty heart valve…..so I truly have a broken heart and my husband was saying he was surprised they found a heart at all….I smiled because we had already rehearsed that and I was fine with his attempt at humor. I was thankful he came since we are currently separated and it has taken him a good year to be not angry toward me even for stuff that is not my fault. So, THANK YOU LORD FOR GOOD NEWS!!! the cancer they were initially predicting was the one my mom died from, so I am thankful for a broken heart not a potential death sentence…..
Love ya Beth
Ha!!
You love me today…
…I love you tomorrow!!!
There! We balance out nicely! Ha!
Love ya ma’am!
Have fun in Georgia!!!! That’s where I’m from!!!!!
Funny thing – I always just call you “Beth”. So when I’m going to Tuesday night bible study my family all just say, “Mom’s gone to Beth tonight”! Not hear Beth or see Beth, but just “going to Beth”. And I always tell my husband when I get home – “Beth said to tell you hey”!! Always. And most times they holler to me when when I’m walking out the door or during the day on the phone, “Tell Beth I said Hey!”
Now I’ve already told you how my granddaughter tells everyone that Beth is Mammy’s best friend. Just because I told her I was going to see my best friend, Beth – one night as I was leaving for bible study!
You are my best friend, aren’t you Beth???!!!
Love you so very much!
Mammy
Oh Bethmoore! This was such a funny post. You should write a humor book someday. BTW – I’m not a huge fan of fruit either!!
It was the chocolate girl, does is to us women every time!