A “Happy 25” to Brian! No, that’s not his age, that’s how long this long-suffering man has been married to me. I know other women think they have great husbands, but that’s just because they don’t know mine. He truly is the greatest! I feel honored that he puts up with me, really. Through physical drama, emotional drama, and family drama, he is always there, loving and supporting me, even when the going is rough. He truly is the love of my life, and I’m so grateful God brought us together!
To celebrate our big day, we decided to take a trip. We’ve been planning on it forever, it seems, having toyed with ideas like Ireland, Scotland, or the Bahamas. When it came right down to it, though, there was nowhere we wanted to be more than Kansas City, spending time in the IHOP-KC Prayer Room and with our kids. The schedule worked out great. With both Amanda and Adam on the Night Watch, we were free to spend hours and hours in the Prayer Room during the early part of the day, and then spend time with them once they got up later in the day. We tried to be in the Prayer Room for some of their sets, but the fact that the “earliest” ones start at midnight made that not work so well!
We had some fun family times, some awesome God times, and some out-right silly moments on our trip. I’ll probably share some of the God-stuff later, but for today I thought I’d share some of the silly stuff. First, here’s a photo that shows what the Beatties get up to behind closed doors; although, this time it was actually in public. That Amanda! She’s so tricky!
Who knew she had such hidden talents?
Next, we come to some airport fun in Chicago. We had a little over an hour to wait for our next plane, so decided we had to get a Chicago dog for lunch. I had the wimpy one, with just ketchup, mustard and onions on it. Brian, however, decided to get the all-out “Chicago Style” dog. Basically, that means a really good weiner, a bun, and every condiment you could possibly imagine being even slightly edible on a hot dog. At this particular hot dog stand, these condiments included some kind of jalapeno relish. Brian likes hot food. He goes out of his way to eat hot food. This, however, proved to be too much for even him. Being the loving wife I am, I found this very funny, and pulled out my camera. Here was my view of Brian’s Great Chicago Dog Adventure:
His first reaction, just as the heat begins to build...
The heat is in all-out attack mode...
He's trying to be strong...
...And he breaks! Having reached his limit, he grabs for relief.
Ah, good times, good times… Wouldn’t you like to be a Beattie, too?
Talking to Myself 
I want my clown nose.
Oops, already have it on.
No, wait…
Brian, you’re so cute!
I just realized I left out the color of the offending relish. While it sounds like a so-what sort of thing to care about, it truly was amazing. It was what can only be described as cryptonite green. Think of the color of a marachino cherry, and then imagine that same effect in green, and that’s it. It really wasn’t a color any food has any business being!
Happy 25th Brian & Dorean!
I am a hot head too. About this time every year, someone will bring me loads of peppers and I will make up some potent concoction trying to out do my friends that make hot sauce as well. I personally love the expression on people’s faces when they try my sauce. Looks alot like Brian’s when he ate some of that krypton jalapeno relish in Chicago.
Thanks for the belly laugh Beatties!
BTW, I couldn’t have thought of a better trip than spending time with my kids at the house of prayer either.
It’s great that you got to see your children in K.C. and spend time in the PR. I agree. What better way to celebrate your 25th?
I hope to be going at the end of Oct. or beginning of Nov. I haven’t been there since May, 2007. That is WAY TOO LONG a time!!! Thankfully, the kids have been home a time or 2 or I wouldn’t have been able to stand it!!
Happy belated 25th Anniversay!!!! May the Lord bless you with many, many more happy, healthy, love-filled years!!!