Crabby's Seafood Bar and Grill Review

For some reason, "comments" link on my blog is not working. But you can still e-mail me at lisa4given@gmail.com

Crabby's Seafood Bar and Grill is where Jon and I went on a date the other night. We had gone there before when they were fairly new, so it was not as crowded. Even though it was crowded that night, the food made the noise worth it. We actually walked out of one restaurant, Bone Fish Grill, before deciding on Crabby's because the music was so blaringly loud and it seemed like there were a lot of drunk people; Plus, Jon and I actually wanted to have a conversation.
Crabby's is definitely a date-night restaurant, but perhaps go early in the evening so you don't hit the crowd. It was so crowded that we had to sit at the bar tables, which is not really Jon and I. But the waitress was excellent!!! Very sweet gal, that, in spite of the busyness in the restaurant, kept up great service with a smile.
For some reason, the bread restaurants serve stands out to me. If they serve yucky bread, it typically sets me up for a meal that I will be disappointed in. Crabby's bread was very good and the proceeding meal was 5 star!
I actually ordered an appetizer and salad for my whole meal because I was not that hungry. Jon ordered a full entree.

So what did I order?
Southwestern Fried Soft Shell Crab
Mind you, I grew up in the summers crab fishing in the Louisiana Bayou with my grandparents, so soft shell crab was fresh cooking within hours of catching it. For those who do not know what that is, it is when the crab sheds its hard exoskeleton and has an edible soft shell for about 3 to 4 days after. It is considered a seafood delicacy. Since I grew up with it, it doesn't bother me, but some may think they are fixing to eat a battered and fried over-sized spider. To me, it was delicious and reminded me of my childhood. I could tell it was fresh. It was served with a roasted corn and blackbean pico with roasted tomatoes, along with a corn Polenta in a tasty cajun cream sauce. It cost $10.
Autumn Harvest Salad
Let me just say that this was one of the best salads I have ever had. WOW!!! And they have a very nice salad selection. The waitress recommended this one and I was not disappointed. It consisted of fresh field greens, perfectly ripe blueberries, pears, feta and a savory honey vinaigrette. It was supposed to have raspberries in it, but it was still delicious even though they were not included for some reason. Perhaps it was a chef call where he thought they were not good enough or maybe they ran out. Anyway, the cost for that salad was $6 and the portion was perfect.

What did Jon have?
Shrimp Alfredo
The shrimp was sauteed in spinach, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and creamy Alfredo sauce with noodles. It came out very hot, well seasoned and YUMMY! The shrimp was perfectly cooked and so were the noodles. The cost was $15.

Dessert?
Ginger Pear and Currant Creme Brulee
I am a big creme brulee fan and have had this dessert in every restaurant that serves it that Jon and I have ever gone to. This was not just good, it was truly the best I have had so far. From the fresh pears and currants to the hint of mint and ginger and the perfect not-too-thin, not-too-thick crunchy-charred brown sugar layer. The cost was $6

"How Can I Keep From Singing"

...here are the lyrics to the song I have been singing all morning:

I go to the neurologist today to discuss why I am out of remission with the multiple sclerosis. I would sincerely appreciate your prayers. Amazingly, my 6 children have been so awesome through this time. So kind and loving. Pulling together to help out around the house and allowing their daddy and I to go on a date last night to Crabby's. Truly... how can I keep from singing God's praise?

because this is where i'm at right now...

A dear friend that I consider a gift from God sent the following videos to me on facebook. I wanted to share them here. (she is the mother of the singer of my boy's band)
The first one is one of my favorite songs and is where I am at in regards to the MS challenges.

This second one, I have honestly never heard before, but I found it to also speak my heart regarding living what I beleive and standing for what is right even if it costs me everything.

Neil Greenhaw, the man that instructs my children's band on Monday's in our home, sent the following 2 videos to me when he found out about the challenges with the MS. Neil's prayer before they started lessons today included asking God to heal my body of the MS, proclaiming God's always perfect will and timing, and in accordance to His Divine purpose. Jon and I deeply appreciate the witness Neil is to the band.

The first one he sent is the story behind the song:

The second is the song:

I have gotten some of sweetest, encouraging e-mails and phone calls, and drop-ins, and facebook wall-to-wall comments, and videos, scripture, written prayers... wow. humbling. God has so abundantly blessed me with not only His abundant grace and mercy, but with a godly husband, amazing kids, incredible friends.

Praising Him in the storm, by His grace alone.

...God the Son took my punishment. The punishment I deserve. He made me whole. He gave me life and He gave it to me abundantly, even in the trials. He is with me in this valley. I trust Him. He is my Healer, my Redeemer and He is all I need... and I will walk through this valley if that is His will because He really is all I need.

So, Obama... ???

Leslie sent this to me. It is powerful.

Blocking Annoying and Vulgar Facebook Ads

My oldest 2 sons were told by my husband that they would no longer be able o use facebook because of the vulgar ads that pop up. The one that especially bothered him was a pic of some girls with their chest hanging out with an ad that said "Meet HOT Christian girls here"

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They understood and so did I. However, Josh figured out how to block all of those vulgar pics and ads by typing in adblock in Google and downloading it for the server we use. It works. Also, if anything offensive to you ends up on your computer screen while on the internet, you can immediately right click and block it and it will never show again. I like that, because there seems to be various levels of offense to people. For example, some would find it inappropriate to look at African tribal pics where they are scantily dressed in string offensive. Others who are perhaps missionaries to that tribe, would be more focused on sharing the Gospel with that tribe, than adding more string layers to their clothing.

There are a bunch of groups on Facebook you can join that are against all those vulgar ads. And yes, I joined some of them; but for now, I am thrilled that we have learned how to block them.

I would rather be sick and have righteousness, than enjoy good health and be unrighteous...

I read through the book of Nehemiah this morning while on my back deck, off my master bedroom. I was only going to read a few chapters, but found I could not stop and ended up reading all 13. It was a beautiful morning. Birds chirping, slight breeze, and not too hot... yet.

The chapter that keeps coming to mind is 6. Especially:

...6 In it was written, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel; therefore you are rebuilding the wall. And you are to be their king, according to these reports.

7 "You have also appointed prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, 'A king is in Judah!' And now it will be reported to the king according to these reports. So come now, let us take counsel together."

8 Then I sent a message to him saying, "Such things as you are saying have not been done, but you are inventing them in your own mind."

9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, thinking, "They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

10 When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night."

11 But I said, "Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in."

12 Then I perceived that surely God had not sent him, but he uttered his prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

13 He was hired for this reason, that I might become frightened and act accordingly and sin, so that they might have an evil report in order that they could reproach me.

14 Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.

15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.

16 When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God....

C.H. Spurgeon-- When the [hungry and thirsty one] hears of righteousness by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he leaps at it, and lays hold upon it, for it exactly meets his case...
The hunger now takes another form. The pardoned and justified man now desires to be right in his conduct, and language, and thought: he pines to be righteous in his whole life. He would be marked by integrity, kindness, mercifulness, love, and everything else which goes to make up a right condition of things toward his fellow-creatures. He ardently desires to be correct in his feelings and conduct towards God: he craves rightly to know, obey, pray, praise, and love his God. He cannot rest till he stands towards God and man as he ought to stand. His longing is not only to be treated as righteous by God, which comes through the atoning blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ; but that he may be actually righteous before the heart-searching God. Nor will this suffice him: not only must his conduct be right but he pants to be himself right. He finds within himself irregular desires, and he would have these utterly destroyed. He finds tendencies towards unrighteousness; and although he resists these, and overcomes them, yet the tendencies themselves are abhorrent to him. ... He longs to have the fountain of his being cleansed. He hungers to, "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." He thirsts to be "renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him." ... The godly man hungers and thirsts to see righteousness in others. At times, when he sees the conduct of those around him, he cries, "My soul is among lions; and I lie even among them that are set on fire." ...He hungers for godly company; he thirsts to see the unholy made holy; and there he cries out in his daily prayers, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." With hunger and thirst he cries, "Lord, end the reign of sin! Lord cast down idols! Lord, chase error from the earth! Lord, turn men from lust, and avarice, and cruelty, and drunkenness."

...The man does not long for twenty things, but only for one thing, and for that one thing by itself. The hunger and the thirst are "after righteousness." The man does not hunger for wealth: he would rather be poor and be righteous, than be rich through evil. He does not hunger after health; though he would wish to have that great blessing, yet he would rather be sick and have righteousness, than enjoy good health and be unrighteous.

He does not even set before himself, as his great object, the rewards of righteousness. These are very desirable: the respect of one's fellows, peace of mind, and communion with God, are by no means little things; but he does not make these the chief objects of his desire ... His hunger and thirst are after honesty, purity, rectitude, and holiness: he hungers and he thirsts to be what God would have him to be....

Oh, to be holy, whether that should mean sorrow! Oh, to be pure in heart, whether that would bring me honour or contempt! This—this is the blessed thirst.

...True, I have to cry with the leper, "Unclean, unclean"; and yet, as a believer in the Lord Jesus, I am justified in him, accepted in him, and in him complete. God looks on me, not as I am, but as Christ is. He sees me through the perfect obedience of the Well-beloved, and I stand before him without condemnation, nay, with full acceptance and favour. The more you think of the righteousness of Christ, the more it will fill you with grateful satisfaction, for his righteousness is far greater than your unrighteousness. ... "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."... "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. --Ps. 19

Facebook and Stuff

Yep... started a facebook. I have actually had a lot of fun getting in touch with people I have meant to get in touch with; getting to know people I already know in person... in a different way (e.g. like my older 2 boys); poking people and sending cupcakes, etc.

My dad even started one just before he left for Dallas. He and Carol, his wife of 25 years that is very dear to me, spent last week with us. They live in an RV, so they could go "home" when we wore them out. :-D

My kids have been teaching me how to use facebook, so if it seems like I have a slight clue about what I am doing... it is their fault. I learned from Lauren, the singer of their band, that I am not supposed to write on my own wall. Oopsy. One of those unwritten rules of many that I am learning as I go.

I was also excited to get a visit from our nanny from Oklahoma for the weekend. She stayed in our upstairs bonus room and had a "sleepover" with my 4 youngest. They built a cool tent and had a blast. It was her first weekend off in a long time and she decided to take a vacation. I told her that only sweet, joyful, kid-at-heart people like her would consider coming to my house to hang with me and my 6 kids a vacation. WE MISS HER SO BAD!!!! She is almost 21 and I have known her since she was 14. *blink*

I have been e-mailed by several people asking how I am doing in regards to the MS exacerbation. I was put on IV steroids for 3 days and then caught pneumonia. My energy level is a tad low, but I HAVE THE BEST KIDS!!!! They keep me laughing.

For example, yesterday I went outside with my cane to throw a football with Brandon, my 13 year old. After about 5 minutes of throwing and me trying to catch it :-/ ... he said with a sweet smile, "Mom, this is like playing fetch with myself."
I could throw it to Brandon, but me... catching it with one hand... proved to be an opportunity for Brandon to get more exercise because, for some reason, the ball bounced off my hand and he would go fetch it. I need that sticky spray.
So I'd throw,
he'd catch,
he'd throw,
I'd not catch it....and he'd fetch and hand it to me
...over and over.
One time he said, "I dare you to bend down and see if you can get it yourself."
That was a site.
At that point, we couldn't stop laughing. I am so glad my kids have a sense of humor.

Anyway, that is what has been happening this week. We have Dave the painter in our home painting walls because we just can't do it anymore. He's great! He was talking to our younger kids about King David. I learned about him on the NWACHEA homeschool loop. We HIGHLY recommend him if you live in NW Arkansas! We also have The Boone Brother's landsaping our front yard. We can only do so much DIY. Those who have been in our home understand ... or just think we are insane.

On that note, let me show you a picture of my husband digging a trench in our backyard for securing our tall retaining wall. He accidentally bashed the digger thingy into the back of our 15 passenger van. Glad it was him, and not me. :-D I call it "character" and, hey, the door still opens and shuts. Don't have a pic of the van, but I am sure you can picture it on your own.

Dr. J's Macro-surgery... not for the faint-hearted!

It's funny, but when people meet us they never gues that my husband is a doctor. For some reason they think he is a pastor. I said to my husband, "It must be that we are so ministry-minded."
His response: "It is more likely because we drive a 15 passenger van and have 6 kids."

See... Jon balances me. I am deluded... he is practical. But then, I make him laugh and he helps me be serious. Thankfully we are on the same page doctrinally.

By the way, if you are struggling with longing for more of Him and less of you today, but you just can't get your mind off of you, than let me help you out. Go read this. For that matter, read it regardless. Trust me.

The Comfort of God... Praising Him in the Storm

The vine clings to the oak during the fiercest of storms. Though the violence of nature may uproot the oak, twining tendrils still cling to it. If the vine is on the side of the tree opposite the wind, the great oak is its protection; if it is on the exposed side, the tempest only presses it closer to the trunk.

In some of the storms of life, God intervenes and shelters us. In others, He allows us to be exposed so that we will be pressed more closely to Him--B. M. Launderville

Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

2 Cor. 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Yes, right now I am in a bit of a storm. At first, I did seek my own devices for deliverance and chose to hide myself. I did not want anyone to know I was struggling with the MS again. But God in His goodness, in spite of the fact that I should have known better, helped me to see the futility of leaning upon myself and granted me the urgent desire and pursuit of seeking refuge in Him alone.

Behold, my God reigns and in HIM I will trust as I praise Him in the storm!

Now, please earnestly pray for Jim.

Slideshow of Josh's Baptism

If you move your mouse over the slide show, it will display the option of being able to stop the slide show and go through each pic slower. It is kind of fast, but I had no idea how to slow it down.

Sweet Sister in Christ...

Jen has written a post I really want you all to read called When Languor and Disease Invade.

It includes a hymn that SO ministered to my heart this morning before heading off to worship with my local church family. May the Lord bless you all this morning and please lift up Jen in your prayers.

...I pray that the Lord will graciously grant us, Jen, a time to fellowship face-to-face this side of heaven.