Holley and I drive down narrow roads in a Southern town by the sea looking for West Congress Street. We find it and after parking the car, we walk in search of the Lady and Sons.
We find it up ahead on the left and clap like 5 year olds when the hostess seats us right away.
Eating at Paula Deen’s restaurant has sat on my bucket list a long time. I enjoy Paula’s feisty personality and hug-on-a-plate recipes, and experiencing the duet of these two things in her restaurant makes me giddy. So after Matt brings us our food, I gobble my fill of fried green tomatoes, chicken pot pie, collard greens, and the best half-sweet-half-unsweet tea I’ve ever had.
{I like to think my kitchen in heaven will serve Paula Deen food. I also like to think heaven won’t count calories or fat content.}
As lovely and filling and just plain fun all that was, what I’ll always remember about the Lady and Sons was how one beautiful lady wasn’t afraid to look into my eyes and listen beyond the “un-fine answers,” as Lisa-Jo calls them. So I share my struggle with feeling smaller than small.
I know my identity is in Christ, but I’m not gonna lie: My heart forgets. It’s hard, out-loud work to ignore the press of this empty world and remember I have been given fullness in Christ. Sometimes I hear God whisper it to me, but sometimes God uses people like Holley and others to remind me. It’s a special person who can make others see themselves as Jesus does.
I take one last bite of chicken pot pie and stand up to go while chugging the last of my sweet-ish tea. I follow Holley outside into bright Savannah sunshine with more than a full stomach and another check off my bucket list. I leave with more space on that list for people who don’t mind wading through the mess to find the magnificent, who fill my bucket with Truth that spills over onto everything.
May I hunt down ways to be that person to others.
And maybe squeeze in another trip to Paula’s place, too.
What kinds of things are on your own bucket list?
Oh girl! You are beautiful inside and out. And this is exactly the reminder I needed this morning … thank you! Love you!
Love you too, Teri Lynne!
OK, I’m just plain jealous. As green as those collards. Paula Dean’s place is on MY bucket list now! Here’s another one, and I’ll bet you haven’t heard it from anyone else: I would like to apprentice with a shepherd.
I saw a white-bearded fellow demonstrating sheep herding with his amazing border collies and I thought, “I want to learn that!” Being a dog lover is half my fascination, the other half is experiencing Psalm 23 first hand.
Now I said it. Think I’m a little crazy?
You said it beautifully, as always, Kristen.
I think you’re creative and lovely, Shannon. Love that.
Thank you, beautiful friend!! You are a JOY and I loved being with you. You’re soul-food for my soul. Even better than Paula Deen. Yes’ ma’am. And you know that’s sayin’ something. 🙂
Right backatcha times a million. Love you!
Hubby and I ate there last year. Yum-o! I ate both of our desserts. 😉 Glad you had a good time. On my bucket list: travel to a few more countries.
I’m so glad we’re roomies…
Taking a tour of Southern mansions with my sister!!!!
YES!! I’m so in.
I can relate to that struggle. I think I’ll add add a Paula Dean restaurant to my bucket list – it sounds lovely 🙂