Hey, my dearest, most darling Siestas!
I’m writing you once again from the shot gun seat of my man’s blue Ford truck via the wonders of my nifty internet card. Keith and I are high-tailing it down I-10 to the cactus ranch with Star and Geli in the back seat so that I can write like a maniac for four days. I am working on a project that I am very close to telling you about. You won’t waste a prayer on me but, far more importantly, you won’t waste a prayer on Melissa!
I finally heard from her a couple of hours ago and, after departing Atlanta Friday afternoon, she’d just made it to her hotel in Calcutta!
Oops. Keith just pulled us into a random convenience store in a town of 200 outside San Antonio because I’ve been whining about wanting a treat. We tried to stop at the infamous Buccee’s right there on the feeder in Luling (yes, the mascot is a huge, buck-toothed beaver) but, as usual, there were ten jillion people there. I was so ticked. What on earth can I hope for here? I’ll find out. Be back in a sec.
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away and giveth again! You’ll never believe that God secured ten – count them – TEN Moon Pies for my man right there on the shelf in that very store. I have never heard Keith say “the favor of the Lord” more times in my entire life. Needless to say, he’s already called Amanda and left a message.
As for me, I was hoping to find one of those rare popcorn balls (not the normal caramel kind but the ones made with karo syrup) that you can happen on occasionally at off-the-wall gas stations where a good God-fearing woman makes them, wraps them in saran, and puts them on the shelf to make an extra few bucks. I’d pay her five. No luck. Apparently Keith is the one with the favor today. I got peanut brittle. I’ll probably break a tooth and have to have a root canal and, where our ranch land is located, they’ll probably use a roto-rooter.
Anyway, stay with me here. I’m trying to talk about Melissa. She’s safe and sound and totally exhausted but thankful to be part of this incredibly important venture with Compassion. She’ll have so much to tell us soon. Until then, keep praying for her and her wonderful team. For those of you who follow Angie Smith’s wonderful blog, I’m sure you know she’s part of this team, too. Shaun has really taken a stellar group with him to India to cast some much needed light on poverty-stricken children living in conditions we can’t imagine. I’m chomping at the bit to adopt me some but I’m going to wait for Melissa to tell us a little bit about them. As you picture this team of Americans over there, picture them dealing with 120 degree heat! Even a young woman from Houston, Texas isn’t used to that! They are undoubtedly in for an adventure and we’ll get to tag along through Melissa’s posts.
OK, well, I can’t type and eat my peanut brittle and I’m feeling cranky for sugar so I’ll sign off now. You know I love you like crazy.
Oh, my word. Keith just realized his Moon Pies are double-decker. He nearly drove this rig off the road. He’s beside himself. Is there no end to what God will do for a man whose wife and daughter stole his pies?
ttyl!
God bless and lots of prayers!
Thanks for letting us know Melissa has safely arrived. I was sitting on the beach this afternoon reading a book about Pakistan and thought about Melissa in a far away land and stopped to pray for her.
Friday night I made a quick dash into Bloom (our grocery store in VA)and saw boxes and boxes of moon pies. I’ll never look at another moon pie without thinking about Keith Moore again!!!
Tina Harrell
Chesapeake, VA
Laughing about the double-decker moon pies! God bless, Keith! God bless you, too, Mama Beth. LOVE YOU!!!
Blessings,
Sharon
Been praying! I had checked on the Compassion site earlier today. I was anxious to hear about Melissa and the team. I will add your writing to my prayers and you and Keith and the pups have a good time, too! In Jesus’ Love Kathy Knoblock
Beth – you are just too funny. We love you so!
Know that Melissa is being covered in prayer! What an awesome journey she and her companions are taking.
Praying for your writing project too!
blessings in abundance!
Sister Lynn
You are so funny to listen to! You are a delight (o:
Praying for Melissa and her team and for you as well – can’t wait to hear about what you are working on!
Maybe moon pies are a southern thing? Pray tell this northeasterner what one is! Might it be like our whoopie pies (chocolate cake-like cookies with frosting in the middle)?
mama beth! i had my very first Buccee’s experience with the lovely Texas native, Lindsee Lou, (and my roommate nikki) on our way to the siesta fiesta in San Antonio last fall!! 🙂 we affectionately called it “beau-ceees” from the moment we saw it…
…and believe it or not, we walked around that whole store (including the bathroom) yelling “SIESTAS?!” (with cameras ready) hoping to encounter our first bloggy run-in. our yells were not returned by any siestas until we got to the hotel and saw jenny hope from afar, but it still made for a great memory (i think one of us actually got peanut brittle as well…or maybe it was a chocolate chip cooke…but it was GOOD whatever it was. 🙂 )
i am loving the Lord’s favor on your man this week. amazing. proof that He is involved with each of us on a personal level 🙂
love ya’ll so much
Beth,
First and foremost, very thankful Melissa made it. She has truly been on my mind and I have been praying for her and the group for days. I do not say that unless it’s true. I will continue to pray for them and every aspect of the trip.
Second, is Keith on Lipitor or any other medicine to keep his arteries from getting clogged? I’m just saying, and believe you me, I have a plank in my eye as I ask.
I’m telling you, and this is like a sin in West Virginia, but, I am not crazy about moon pies. I’m a rebel like that. I mean I’ll get one or more if I’m really hungry and feel like stuffing my face silly. For company, it’s expected. More importantly, I would periodically eat some just to keep up with tradition and remain accepted in my home state. I’m telling you, I think we could all talk about Moon Pies for days! I hate banana Moon Pies (gasp), but, I really don’t like bananas unless they are in a split, foster or PB sandwich. The only thing marshmallows are good for in my opinion are lemon meringue pies, hot chocolate, cream straight out of the jar or Hawiian blizzards. The very best way to eat marshmallows is over the fire on a real stick (not one of those store bought sticks), just a little brown on the outside. Okay, enough of that.
Me and my husband, Greg, took our first trip to San Antonio a little over two weeks ago. It’s funny, I did see Buccee’s and the mascot (how could you miss it). We thought about stopping, but we were on a mission and anxious to pick our puppy up. We ended up stopping at some big truck stop and had pizza from Pizza Hut and a few other goodies. I love to stop at convinience stores for Corn Nuts and such.
We are sooo happy with our baby, Riley. He has brought so much joy into our house, I’m like “Where have you been all my life?” That precious little 12 pounds of fur. The vet firmly told me that he needs Puppy Preschool. One ear up and one ear down. How can you get anymore precious than that????
I’m sorry you did not find your popcorn balls with karo syrup. They are the best made like that. Peanut Brittle is really good though. You know, I’ve never seen dried shrimp in a bag (while innocently looking for treats like Bit-O-Honey or whatever) until I moved here. I had to do a double take. Like, “I’m not in WV anymore.” I mean I absolutely consider myself a shrimp addict, but no thanks on the dried shrimp, with eyeballs, in the bag! I am still going to go into that store across the street from my subdivsion and take a picture to send to my friends and family back home. They have all heard about it and I promised a picture. I’m so weird. I really don’t get embarrassed doing stuff like that. There is something wrong with me.
Don’t worry about getting off subject. If I’m talking to someone, we will start on a specific subject and not continue it until 30 minutes to an hour later b/c we get off subject. Kind of like my post right now. I’ve never been tested or diagnosed, but I’m convinced I have adult ADD. Plus, I’m half-crazy. I tell everyone I have adult ADD. In my family, we think a little crazy is good. You have to be in this world.
When I went to San Antonio, there were sooo many places I wanted to check out and we plan to go back. The Alamo–HELLO!!!! I have to go to the fudge place too and also get the “world’s best BBQ.” I think of “Elf” with that one. I want to run in and scream “Congratulations!” Of course, I still want to try Miss Helen’s onion rings with camera in hand. If you want to go somewhere closer, Orleans Seafood Kitchen in the Westgreen Village in Katy has some mean onion rings and chicken-fried-chicken. Not to mention their chocolate cake with sqares of cream cheese in the middle. I don’t even like chocolate that much, but that cake is awesome. The owner made a comment to my husband about how much food I ate the first time we went. It’s our Friday night tradition, so he doesn’t say anything anymore.
Okay, I’ve blabbed enough. I’m just making up for my computer being down, courtesy of a virus for nearly 2 weeks! I would say keep us updated on sweet Melissa, but that is a no-brainer, I know you will.
Much Love,
Barbara Shrewsbury
Katy, Texas
HALLELUJAH for the moon pies. I tell ya…gas stations have the BEST junk food around. We walk out of there with $20 of nothing but sugar.
Praying like crazy for melissa and the team. Those Nashville folks that went are my favorite folks right now.
God will do something amazing on this trip. I just know it.
Love you all,
Fran
Beth,
You are a riot! Praying you have a productive four days of writing.
Glad Melissa arrived safely. I’ll be lifting her and the entire team up in prayer this week.
I appreciate the link to Compassion. Three year old Lily grabbed a hold of my heart in a huge way when I saw her picture and I signed up to be her sponsor. Thanks for sharing this wonderful opportunity with us!
Love ya,
Kim
Doswell, VA
Have had the compassion team on my heart since 4:00 Friday! Will continue to pray!
Excited about the Moon Pies! : )
Okay- I’m seriously sending you all some Moon Pies- I had no idea it was that serious!
I’ll have you know that we almost stopped at Buccee’s on our way home from San Antonio today right around the same time that you did! It was crazy!!! So we kept going! That was the place to be apparently! So glad to hear that Melissa made it safe and praying for a God filled week in India and His blessings lavished on their group and those sweet little children!
Praying for Melissa. So glad they made it safely.
BTW, saw today that Cracker Barrel sells Moon Pies!
Love you – can’t wait to hear about your new project.
i love ya’ll but I don’t like this interim design…the wording in the artwork hurts my eyes and makes me feel like i need to put another pair of glasses on.
sorry for the critique…saying it in love…
prayers for Melissa as she’s on mission 🙂
Yes, praying for the Compassion bloggers and your sweet Melissa to have an encounter with Jesus like none she’s ever known.
We love peanut brittle in this house too and one time I tried to make it for my man in the microwave and ending up somehow burning a hole in our old house’s linoleum floor! What in the world? Now, we just play it safe and buy some at Braum’s!
I am laughin’ out loud about those moon pies. 🙂 I love when my man gets all excited about God showin’ him love in funny ways like that. The Lord really is so personal. And double deckers? hee hee
So glad your Melissa arrived safely!
And I so enjoyed hearing you on Focus on the Family this week! Can’t wait to hear what you are writing now.
Blessings,
K
I think these types of blogs are my favorite from you Mama! It shows me that you are real…loving God and keeping it real. I love you! Praying for you and Melisa too!
Beth I’m so excited about the Compassion trip and will be following the bloggers with anticipation. I love your enthusiasm! Remember in talking about the children that you sponsor that they are just that and not really “adopted”. Those of us who have been blessed by adopting children are pretty picky (in love, of course *smile*) of how the term is used. And the Compassion children aren’t orphans…so, thus the term sponsor. My prayer is that many children are sponsored through the bloggers opening our eyes to the circumstances of many of India’s
children. Enjoy the Moon Pies and peanut brittle!!!
Cynthia
YEAH for Moon Pies!
Can’t wait to find out what you’re writing about. I will be on the edge of my seat!
So glad to hear she’s there and safe and sound. God has been putting her on my mind at the weirdest times (must be the time change!) and I’ve been praying.
And praising God for Keith’s moon pies.
BTW, listened to your marriage thing on FOTF this afternoon. We wanted to come in person, but it just didn’t work.
Of course, then we got in a fight. But I thought of you talking about a good fight. And it was.
And yes, good is good is good. And realizing that turns it all to great.
Love you!
Joanne
P.S. So excited for Laramie–you are the light at the end of my semester of seminary tunnel!
I was cranky for sugar on the way home from church. I stopped by Jack In The Box and got some hot french toast sticks. YUM!!
Enjoy your snacks. 🙂
Hilarious about the dd moon pies!! Glad Melissa arrived safely.
Thanks for trusting us with your daughter, Beth. Melissa’s doing great…and her hair looks fabulous in 120 degree heat. I’m having a hard time liking her for that, to be honest. (Is that a spiritual gift?)
We’re heading out to visit our first Compassion “project” in a couple hours. Lots of playing with kids, visiting their families in their homes, meeting their pastors and teachers and learning about how Compassion works exactly. It’s full day. Prayers are appreciated.
-Somewhere far from moon pies,
Shaun
>CompassionBloggers.com/India
Happy to hear that Melissa made it safely… I know that God will bless her and she will have lots of stories to tell.
I am so happy that the Lord brought keith to a convenience store where they had Moon Pies. Too funny!
Oh my greacious – the Moon Pie Chapter Two was almost as funny as Moon Pie Chapter One. Have fun writing and trying not to break a tooth (my husband is a dentist and if he were anywhere near the area he’d happily zip over and tend to any ailing teeth – esp. if you paid him in Moon Pies!)
Warm in Alaska.
praying and LOL on the moon pie favor!!!
Siesta Mama,
Can I just tell ya that this whole Moon-Pie incident has just about sent me over the preverbial comedy moon, and I have so needed to be there lately. Thank you for such fun ~~ it has not been wasted on me let me tell ya!! Love it!!!
I’ll be praying for Melissa, Angie and the team, can’t wait to hear what God does.
Have a Blessed week and happy writing,
Petrii
Glad Keith is feeling the love!
I so hope that you are writing something to do with the “Lit” bible study. I have been praying for this. Something to help others get ignited!
As for me and my house we are starting our high school baseball playoffs tomorrow night. This is huge in our house full of baseball crazy boys. As much as I at times would love for it not to be such a big deal I am learning to embrace the purpose that He has put in our hands! We can use some of that favor too!
Praying for your baby girl.
Can’t wait to read her blog posts.
Have a great time at the ranch and may God bless you with a karo popcorn ball on the way home. A treat after keeping your head down for four days!
Enjoy!
Theresa
Pace, Florida
When I laughed out loud, my husband wanted to know why. He is chuckling because he, too, appreciates a good moon pie. He would like for Keith to know that Wal-Mart (at least here in KY) carries BOXES of Moon Pies in the aisle by the snack crackers. His eyes lit up and he demanded I post right now. 😉
Beth you make me laugh my head off. You and Keith are quite the duo. Be blessed writing-be praying!!!!
Love and Blessings
Beth, I totally thought of you yesterday…well actually, Keith. I saw Moon Pies at Walgreens!
Hi Beth!
I just knew you’d probably be heading for your place in the West. And so glad that Melissa made it. I can’t wait to hear her reports. Oh, I found this site about MOON PIES. They look exactly like the ones you showed (they are double decked) but don’t know how fresh they will be once arrived but what the heck. I was so glad to see you sitting in church early! Lots of love, Allison
LOVE the new look! Cannot wait to hear about everything. Have a great time together. Praying for Melissa and the others!!! You both too.
Much love,
Angela
Go to Cracker Barrell! I just saw boxes of the Moon Pies!!!
Well praise the Lord for Moon Pies! He does have the favor of the Lord! :))
I have been praying for Melissa and the rest of the team since they left. Yesterday, God brought them to my mind most of the day! I will continue praying for them!
Also, ya’ll have a blast at the ranch and may God bless your writing and I cannot wait to hear about it!!!
Love you,
Patty
praying for Melissa and for your writing project. I am honored to lift you up in prayer.
And I’m thrilled to know that Bass Pro carries Moon Pies if my local grocery decides to stop carrying them. Good thing to know. And that my dearest, is why I blog –for all this wonderful information and lots of FUN!!
The Journey Continues ~
Laughing Out Loud !!!
After returning from a busy week with funerals, meetings and my darling nephew's 7th birthday party ~
My husband and I decided to celebrate our Sunday with a 5 mile hike and ended up near a nucleur power plant!!!
Yes!! a power plant! We passed cows,lizards,quail and butterflies & then there it was!!
On our return, Dave pulled into Ralphs market and we got 76.00 worth of goodies. I am back at our beach house, fire going, sitting here blogging you and my honey is watching some MAN MOVIE.
Perfect day !!
A moon pie = scooter pie ( we call it that in Cali) would hit the spot with my cup of tea & goodies. 🙂
PRAYING for you to cuddle up with your man & doggies and let the LORD guide & speak to you as you write. PRAYING for Melissa every single day!!
You've got to check out my man and my weekend photos at our nephew's 7th bday childrens party.
Dynamic Dudes = Catwoman takes on the Riddler!! My nephew was in hog heaven when he saw what we did! the children were ecstatic!
Your NUTTY CATWOMAN SIESTA!!
With "Heaven Bound" blessings and daily prayers,
Kim Safina
http://www.kimsafinathejourneycontinues.blogspot.com
Hey if you have a Sam’s Club in Houston run, don’t walk there. I saw Moon Pies in a case. I can see the smile on Keith’s face already, with the cookie and chocolate all over his teeth. It is funny how you notice things when you know someone has a craving. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that case of Moon Pies during my shopping at Sam’s but there they were YELLING hey tell Keith where to find us.
Beth,
Thank you for sharing…the whole moon pie ordeal just makes me laugh; had to share it with my hubby and children!
Will be praying for your writing and Melissa’s mission. You mentioned adoption…we are going through the process now. We have 5blessings (1 through adoption, 4 through birth…and yes, we homeschool…LOL) Anyway, would appreciate your prayers for our present adoption journey. It is a God-thing, praise and honor to Him.
In our Lord,
Lori in SC
Beth, I absolutely cracked up. Thanks so much for your post. “The favor of the Lord…”
Also, you answered a question for me that you didn’t even know I had. In FLORIDA, shortly after exit 130 heading west on I-10, there is a billboard that says BUCCEE’S – 767 miles (or some crazy number like that). That’s it. No further information. Just the picture of the bucktoothed beaver. I have always been curious about what on earth Buccee’s is…and now I know!
PS My family is from the San Antonio area originally, and my dad loves Luling sausage. I wonder if you and Keith have ever tried it?
Love ya, Siesta Mama.:)
I am glad that Melissa got there safely! Anxious to hear what God is going to show them while they are over there. I love Buccee’s! There is one in Giddings that we stop at all the time. They have very clean restrooms. Good Luck with your writing!
You have me rolling! We had a BIG discussion about the Moon Pies before leaving for Fredericksburg yesterday morning–laughed for a couple of hours on Fri. evening. We stopped at Cracker Barrel in Austin for a ‘break’ and my brother-in-law bought a box of banana Moon Pies! We had more fun passing them out to anyone we met. Trust me, that little town was full of Praise singin’ women and Harley Davidson riders! It was a hoot and we loved every smiling face we saw on the sidewalk.
Praying for you while you’re writing on your surprise project. I know God’s preparing a blessing for all of us.
I hope Star and Geli are having a ball! BTW, have they gotten a Moon Pie yet?!!
If you’re near Llano on your way home you should stop at Cooper’s BBQ–it’s great. Just put all the food on Keith’s plate and eat from it, no calories for you!
Lovin’ y’all, Bobbie
Dear Beth,
I know this doesn’t relate to Moon Pies or Melissa’s trip to Calcutta, but I just had to share this with you:
Last night as I was reviewing my memory work (from the Siesta Memory Challenge – I try to say all of the verses I’ve memorized so far before I fall asleep each night) and all of a sudden the Lord revealed how all of the verses I’ve memorized show who He is to me:
Titus 2:11,12 – He is my teacher
Col. 1:13,14 – He is my rescuer and deliverer
Psa. 71:5 – He is my hope and my confidence
Heb. 13:5 – He is my security
Rom. 6:6 – He is my Savior
I Pet. 2:9 – He is my deliverer
Psa. 42:5 – He is my hope
Psa. 62:1,2 – He is my comfort, my Savior, my rock, my fortress, my security
I didn’t pick these verses – the Lord gave them to me. I’m just marveling at how they all relate!
Wonderful news about Melissa’s safe arrival, AND the Moon pies! Answered prayers, both of them!
Have a great time at the ranch. I hope you get lots of great writing time, and I’m sure Keith and the dogs will have a blast too.
Love,
Adrienne
Proverbs 25:16
When you’re given “10 moon pies”, don’t gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate and you’ll make yourself sick; from the Message with a bit of liberty – you bless me so!
Looking forward to learning about your latest writing project – I was praying for you the other day as it relates to your writing gift…so there you go – perhaps it helped you get over a hump! Enjoy your man and time under the Texas sky to express what only God can give you.
I’ll be pryaing for Melissa – it is going to be good – and with much purpose!
~ Malinda / Oregon
I found moon pies at Walgreens yesterday and laughed out loud right there in the aisle. I have never had them before and passed them up then, but might have to try one now that they have earned a second blog post! Too funny!
Prayers for you, Beth and your darling Melissa. Can’t wait to hear more from both of you about your current ventures. Go God!
Yes, I read the moon pie story to Chris and he began to says, “Oh what tangled webs we weave when we start to trick our men out of their moon pies…”
Praying for Melissa and the team…praying for your writing, too.
“run in such a way to get the prize,” sweet Beth! (1 Cor 9:24)
Praise The Lord! I had been wondering about her and I’m so glad that she is safe and sound. I suffer from migraines also so I’ve been talking to the Father that he would touch her body and keep her healthy and free from those dreadful things.while she’s there. Don’t worry Colin, I’ve been lifting you up as well. As for our beloved Keith, I think he may need to read the handwriting on the wall and I think it may be saying “My, My,My No MORE MOON PIES!” Please Beth, help him be a Daniel. I glad to see your family is as crazy as mine! Love you all, Carla Leereatiol