The Newmans challenge couples to live with no regrets and enjoy romance on this journey; share a beautiful poem; share a tasty recipe for your New Year's Eve celebration; share quotes for living without regrets; spotlight a beautiful love song; encourage a date night to see Holiday lights for those still in the Christmas spirit; provide options for those planning for New Year's Eve; offer date ideas for those staying in and those going out; share resources for redecorating your space; and, end with a prayer to begin 2021 ready to stay the course! |
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Living with No Regrets: Enjoying the Romance |
Happy New Year!
We pray that you’ve enjoyed a very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to the new year with new hope, new joy, plans for new beginnings, and plans for a more intense romance!
As we assess and reassess our safety and the status of our lives during this Coronovirus pandemic, we're reminded of our desire to live life with no regrets.... well....minimal regrets and a firey romance. I woke up this morning thinking about our ancestors and the fact that they didn't have the same opportunities we have to express love and romance (even though author, Beverly Jenkins, tells us differently). I thought about the over 1.75 million people in the world who've lost their lives to COVID-19, in 2020. The incurable romantic in me hopes that all the adults who’ve transitioned, had the opportunity to experience romantic love at some time during their life. What do I mean by romantic love?
…an evening with their spouse that was cooked especially for them, with candles lit, and soft music playing (Anthony Hamilton, I Know What Love's All About);
…dinner at their favorite restaurant (Joe's Stone Crab in Washington, DC or Fleming's in Raleigh, NC);
…the opportunity to lie down at the end of a long hard day and have their loved one come into the room to take off their shoes and massage their feet;
…taking a walk through the woods (Umstead Park in Raleigh, NC; Eno State Park in Durham, NC; Hanging Rock State Park, NC) in the Fall when the leaves have changed, holding hands, occasionally stopping for a kiss;
…relaxing in a hot tub at home or at their favorite hotel (Fairmont Sonoma in Sonoma, CA or The Palms in Miami Beach, FL);
…laying on the couch together under a blanket watching their favorite movie (What Dreams May Come, where Robin Williams' wife commits suicide after losing their son and he takes a journey to hell to get her);
…Slow dancing to their favorite song in their living room (Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On; The Stylistics' You Are Everything);
…a shower together after a long walk in their neighborhood;
…an evening horse and carriage ride (Wilmington, NC; Jekyll Island, GA);
…a private boat ride with a picnic lunch (pontoon boat rental at Crosswinds Boating Center or Lake Time Boat Rentals at Jordan Lake, NC; Yacht Rental Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL);
…a kiss on the forehead followed by an "I love you";
…the look of appreciation received when their love said, "Honey, I cleaned your car for you for you" or "Babe, I took your shirts to the dry cleaners for you";
…the smile that they hopefully shared when they gave the one they loved, a surprise gift....jewelry, shoes, cologne, tickets to an event;
We are thankful that we have had the opportunity to do all the things above and pray for many more opportunities in the future. I heard someone say that when people reach the end of their lives, people think they are afraid to die, but people are usually not afraid to die, they are afraid they didn't live.
It's been an extremely tough year for some of us, and the bumpy ride is not over. But, we want to encourage you to hold fast to God's unchanging hand and hold on tight to one another, live life to the fullest, and be intentional about creating a life that includes a timeless romance! We love spending time with our children, our parents, our siblings, our beautiful nieces and nephews, but nothing compares to the time that we spend together that is just ours.
John 10:10 says, The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Having life more abundantly means….
· Enjoying life on the weekdays, too; don't wait for weekends, date nights, vacations to have a good time on the weekdays, too.
· Enjoying great food…together! We know we’re trying not to gain the Quarantine 15 (pounds), but make time to eat either breakfast, lunch, or dinner together every day. If you can't make time for a full meal, a cup of coffee in the morning or a bowl of ice cream in the evening will work. If you are not comfortable going out to eat, eat in (fix a meal at home together) or order in. Try different foods or try different recipes with the same foods.
· Enjoying the flow of the seasons- we've spent the summer outside walking, running, hiking, and going on picnics; now, it's time to hunker down indoors in front of the fireplace with a cup of cocoa or lay under some blankets in front of the TV….just go with the flow and enjoy every season. My sister-in-law and I recently laughed about people saying, "I like the summer better" or "I like the Winter, better". We agreed that we like every season and every day that we get to be here…let's enjoy it all!
· Enjoying the small things- the world has slowed down a little bit while we've been safer at home; hopefully, we've slowed down enough to understand that when we can't do the big things we are used to doing or have the big things that we are used to enjoying, there are so many small things to enjoy. I enjoy making the bed with Sherman every morning, reading our Couple's devotional together before leaving for work, deciding what to eat for dinner, etc. Let’s be intentional about enjoying and being grateful for the small things.
· Creating a more structured, disciplined lifestyle, that includes fun, so you're not constantly tired, irritable, and overwhelmed- we cannot have life more abundantly if we don't get enough rest/sleep; if we don't make time to play; and, if we don't stay on top of our daily responsibilities. Let’s try to establish a time to go to bed and a time to get up each day and make sure we're getting at least 6 hours sleep per night; stay on top of our daily chores (set a day of the week for washing clothes, cleaning the bathrooms, changing the linen); and make time for play. I recently purchased a PS4 'Carnival' game so that on occasion, I can come home from work and play ring toss, batting cage, or one of the carnival games for about 30 minutes to relax and my guy plays with me sometimes (instead of playing his sports games)…it's fun and relaxing.
Let's take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy life and enjoy romance!
With Love,
Paula and Sherman Newman
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If you are not feeling romantic and you are experiencing marital stress and strain due to COVID-19, please see the June 2020 edition of the LoveNote2 for tips for combating stress, improving communication, and resolving conflict, https://conta.cc/2Mi7lcM
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The Passionate Shepherd to His Love |
In the 1990’s, I loss a beloved friend; her husband shared the following poem in her obituary as a reflection of their love…
Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove,
That Valleys, groves, hills, and fields,
Woods, or steepy mountain yields.
And we will sit upon the Rocks,
Seeing the Shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow Rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing Madrigals.
And I will make thee beds of Roses
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of Myrtle;
A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty Lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;
A belt of straw and Ivy buds,
With Coral clasps and Amber studs:
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be my love.
The Shepherds’ Swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me, and be my love.
by Christopher Marlowe
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Tex-Mex Taco Beef Sliders
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Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 2 hours 25 minutes
Total: 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean chuck roast
- 1 envelope of taco seasoning
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup beef stock (unsalted or low sodium)
- 1 package connected rolls (such as King's Hawaiian)
- 1 cup of cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup sour cream
- Optional: 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 6 tablespoons taco sauce (divided)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup pickled jalapeno pepper rings (or mild pickled pepper rings)
- 2 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
Slow Cooker or Stovetop Shredded Beef
- Put the chuck roast in a slow cooker with the taco seasoning, chopped onion, and beef stock. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, or until the beef is very tender. Or, cook the beef in a large Dutch oven or saucepan on the stovetop (you might need extra liquid) over low heat until very tender (about 2 hours).
- Remove the beef from the pot and chop or shred. Refrigerate until you are ready to assemble the sliders and bake.
Baking Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Spray a large sheet of heavy-duty foil with nonstick cooking spray (large enough to wrap the rolls).
- Slice the rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom rolls in the center of the prepared foil. Separate the bottoms but keep them close together.
- Spread sour cream over the bottoms and then sprinkle with cilantro, if you decide to use cilantro.
- Top the sour cream layer with the cooked chopped/shredded beef.
- Drizzle 4 to 5 tablespoons of taco sauce over the beef layer and then top with the chopped red onion.
- Top with sliced pickled chile pepper rings.
- Put the cheese slices over the chile pepper layer.
- Place the top of the rolls over the cheese. If you’d like, separate the tops slightly or wait until they come out of the oven.
- Combine the melted butter with the remaining 1 tablespoon of taco sauce, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder. Brush the mixture over the tops of the rolls.
- Wrap the foil over the top; seal the top and ends. Place the foil package on a baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Uncover the tops and bake for 5 minutes longer to brown slightly.
- Remove from the oven and carefully cut and separate to make individual sliders.
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Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can’t build on it; it’s only good for wallowing in.
Katherine Mansfield
Life is too short, time is too precious, and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been.
Hilary Clinton
In history as in human life, regret does not bring back a lost moment and a thousand years will not recover something lost in a single hour.
Stefan Zweig
When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
Alexander Graham Bell
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love.
Mary Anne Radmacher
Don’t waste your time in anger, regrets, worries, and grudges. Life is too short to be unhappy.
Roy T. Bennett
Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially on their children than the unlived life of the parent.
C.G. Jung
The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Life is short, break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret ANYTHING that made you smile.
Mark Twain
Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so.
Ray Stannard Baker
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Queen Naija's, Butterflies Pt. 2
See the lyrics video...the clothing or lack there of, may be too much, in the official video:)….
...I still get butterflies; crazy how we vibe, even when we fight.....I still get butterflies...
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Despite the pandemic, love is still very much alive in our house and in our circle!
Going to Get Married….
On August 30, 2020, Mr. John Perkins asked our beloved daughter, Cydney Newman to be his wife! The Newman family is super excited!
Just Got Married….
Sherman and I provided pre-marital counseling for Latoria Felder and Jason Mitchell and on October 16, 2020, they became Mr. and Mrs. Jason Mitchell! We love this couple! Congratulations, Mitchells!
Still Enjoying Marriage….
On November 30, 2020, my writing (book publishing) coach, Dr. Nicole Swiner, shared that she and her husband, Ric Swiner renewed their vows at the Orpheum in Oxford, NC! Congratulations! #blackloverocks
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Still in the Christmas Holiday Spirit?
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ENJOY HOLIDAY LIGHTS:
Hill Ridge Farms, 703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville, NC 27596. Daily from 5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. through January 2, 2021. $20 per vehicle.
Fieldstream Farm Christmas Light Festival, 8008 Old Stage Road, Raleigh, NC 27603. There are a few tickets left for December 30th and December 31st, 5:30 p.m.- 9:45 p.m., $20 per vehicle. You must purchase the ticket online to reserve a date and time.
Holidays in the Hills at Shakori Hills Community Arts Center, 1439 Henderson Tanyard Rd, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Tickets are $30 per vehicle. You must purchase tickets for a time slot for times between 6:30 p.m. -9:15 p.m. through January 3, 2021.
Lake Myra Christmas Light Show, 10 S. Cypress Street, Wendell, NC 27591. Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. through December 31, 2020. Free. Tune your car radio to FM 103.3. Check their Facebook page for details , facebook.com/LakeMyraChristmasLights.
Christmas Plugged — 4109 Guess Road, Durham, NC 27712. For the seventh year in a row, the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church in Durham is putting on a holiday light display featuring about 40,000 LED lights synchronized to music (tune your car radio to 90.1 FM). This happens nightly from dusk until midnight through January 8, 2021. Get more info at rosbc.org.
FREE NEIGHBORHOOD LIGHT DISPLAYS
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Piper Lights (drive through light display), 5725 Fixit Shop Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587. Daily from 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. through January 1, 2021. Free; however, per car donations are accepted. The Piper family has been lighting up Wake Forest for 30 years now. For safety reasons, the 7-acre display will be drive-through only this year (the candy store and train are on hiatus). This one is hugely popular, so expect heavy traffic, especially if you go on busy nights. Get more info from their Facebook page, facebook.com/piperlights.
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Rogers Family Christmas Lights — 700 Bay Bouquet Lane, Apex, NC 27523. Tune your car radio to 93.5 FM to hear the music. The show runs every night through December 31, 2020. Free, but the family appreciates donations to help find a cure for SMA; make a donation at curesma.com. Learn more about Rogers Family Christmas Lights on their Facebook page, facebook.com/rogersfamilylights.
LET'S CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR!
New Year’s Eve will be different this year. With the modified stay-at-home order in place in North Carolina, we will need to be home by 10:00 p.m.
Most of the popular New Year’s events aren’t taking place this year, but here are a few options for things to do:
"PJ in your PJ's" by JB Duke Hotel, 230 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708- Welcome 2021 in your PJs with a chef-prepared meal and a bottle of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut! Pickup available 12/30/20 & 12/31/20 from 1pm-5pm! Whether you choose to welcome 2021 with a pajama party or black tie affair, this 2020 New Year’s Eve Celebration is an indulgence worthy of your socially distanced, masked or unmasked gathering! No hustle, no bustle, no fuss- haute cuisine created with your ease in mind and designed to be shared by two. $140, see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pj-in-your-pjs-tickets-130057015033?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
NYE Chef-Curated Dining Celebration- The Honeysuckle at Lakewood, 1920 Chapel Hill Road
First Night Raleigh At WRAL Nights of Lights- Nights of Lights is a festive experience for families and friends to safely celebrate the season, operating nightly from Wednesday, Dec. 16, through Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. On Wednesday, Dec. 30, and Thursday, Dec. 31, get ready for an extra dose of New Year’s Eve sparkle during the First Night Celebration Nights, courtesy of Artsplosure. See https://firstnightraleigh.com/event-info/ to purchase tickets.
New Year’s Day Hike at Wilkerson Nature Preserve in Raleigh- Friday, January 1st, 2021, from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. - start the New Year on the right foot with this hike at Wilkerson Nature Preserve, 5229 Awls Haven Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614. Free; but, registration is required. To register, go to RecLink and search for barcode 266877. If it’s filled, get on the waitlist. The group will be hiking all three Wilkerson Nature Preserve Trails to reflect on the year that has passed and face the one ahead. While guided by a naturalist, the group will periodically stop to take in some of the Preserve’s winter wonders. Dress for winter hiking. Meet at Park Office.
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We Are Not Going Anywhere....We Are Staying In! |
Please see the first round of Quarantine/Stay-At-Home Couples’ Date Ideas in the June 2020 LoveNote2, https://conta.cc/2Mi7lcM
A few additional ideas are:
Watch a comedy show via Chicago’s legendary improv theater, The Second City, puts on a virtual show every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Central Time; while @comedyquarantine hosts a stand-up livestream every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time. See https://www.secondcity.com/chicago-shows/
Play tourist in your own city- use Google to find local landmarks, historic sites, museums, and attractions.
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We Just Can’t Stay In… But, We'll Be Safe... |
Eyes on Main Street, Historic Downtown Wilson. Now through May 16, 2021. Outdoor photography festival spans nine city blocks featuring work of 100 photographers from 45 countries displayed on storefront windows and buildings. See www.eyesonmainstreetwilson.com for more information.
Birds & Bears! Largest Black Bears on the planet and highest Black Bear densities; the world’s largest concentration of Tundra Swans are in Plymouth, NC! Take a wildlife excursion at Plymouth, Bear-Olina. See www.gowildnc.com for more information.
Enjoy a Drive-In Movie!
Raleigh Road Outdoor Theater- 3336 Raleigh Road, Henderson, NC 27537. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings at 4:00 p.m. $8.00 per person; Double Feature nightly (you may stay for one or both movies). Wonder Woman 1984 playing December 26, 2020- January 3, 2021. For more information, see http://www.raleighroaddrivein.com/
Other Things to Do
Check out Groupon for deals, such as:
Other Things to Do
Try a new Winter activities, at Sugar Mountain! Visit Sugar Mountain, NC, http://www.skisugar.com/ ; go tubing, ice skating, or snowshoeing.
Or, check out Grandfather Mountain, NC. Drive through Grandfather Mountain State Park and stop along the way to enjoy a variety of activities such as native wildlife exhibits and the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge that connects two peaks at one mile above sea level. The primary allure is the exhilarating feeling of being on top of the world while looking out across views of mountain ridge after mountain ridge cascading to the horizon, made easily accessible via a paved road to the 5300-foot elevation on Grandfather’s peaks. See www.grandfather.com for more information.
Or, relax at the Chetola Resort and Spa, a mountain retreat in Blowing Rock, NC, 185 Chetola Lake Drive, Blowing Rock, NC 28605. See https://chetola.com/accommodations/ for more information.
If you decide to go to Blowing Rock, NC, check out Tweetsie Railroad, while you’re there. See www.Tweetsie.com
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We are excited to have a Bride-to-be! Please share this information with Brides-to-be in your circle....
2021 Raleigh Union Station Wedding Showcase- Sunday, March 7, 2021, Raleigh Union Station
510 West Martin Street, Raleigh, NC 27601; 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
North Carolina Bridal & Wedding Expo- June 6, 2021; Sunday 12 pm - 5 pm; N.C. State Fairgrounds
The Newest Wedding Destination on the Southern Outer Banks, Call 252-728-3000 to book your wedding at the Beaufort Hotel, 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort, NC, www.BeaufortHotelNC.com
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NEED A CHANGE OF SCENERY? REDECORATE! |
You may have to sit and look at the same four walls, but you don’t have to look at the same ole’ furniture/décor….REDECORATE! Change things up in your home.
Check out the Factory Direct Furniture Outlets in Granite Falls, NC.
Bernhardt, 4916 Hickory Boulevard, Granite Falls, NC 28630, Tuesdays- Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
·Kincaid, 4930 Hickory Boulevard, Granite Falls, NC 28630, Tuesdays- Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Or, Pigfish Lane Antiques and Interiors, showcasing 50 fine dealers, 5425 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC, www.pigfishlane.com
Or, Transit Damaged Freight, a unique one- of- a- kind furniture store selling new and transit damaged furniture and new bedding at affordable prices (Liberty Furniture Industries, Inc.). There are five (5) locations in North Carolina, two (2) in Lexington, NC. See www.transitdamagedfreightnconline.com for more information.
1. 1604 South Main Street, Lexington, NC, 336-248-2646
2. Clearance Center, 8397 Old Salisbury Road, Lexington, NC, 336-853-8112
3. 7917 Moores Chapel Road, Charlotte, NC 704-392-8661
4. 5766 Highway 421 West, Wilkesboro, NC, 336-973-4124
5. 1639 College Avenue, Spindale, NC, 828-287-2268
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LET'S END AND START WITH PRAYER.... |
Dear Lord, O God, how excellent is your name in all the earth. We know you to be Jehovah- our Lord God; Jehovah Jireh- our provider; Jehovah Nissi- our banner; Jehovah Rophe- our healer; Jehovah Shalom- our peace; Jehovah Rohi- our shepherd; Adonai- our master; El Shaddai- our supplier; Elohim- our creator. Thank you for being all these things and more to us. You are our everything Father God.
We ask that you forgive us for every sin we’ve committed as individuals and as a couple; we ask that you forgive us for sins committed through thoughts, words, and deeds; sins we are aware of and those we are not. Forgive us for our disobedience, our lack of faith, our failure to give everything you give us, back to you.
Thank you for your presence in our lives, thank you for being our God. Thank you for your Son, Jesus, who came and died that we might have a right to everlasting life. Thank you for a roof over our head, food to eat, clothes on our backs, jobs to go to, cars to drive, the love of family and friends. Thank you for keeping us from dangers seen and unseen. Thank you for our spouses-our life partners, thank you for our children, thank you for our parents, thank you for all our extended family and friends. Thank you for a reasonable portion of our health and strength and for the health and wellbeing of those in our circle. Thank you, Father, for the assurance that you’ve got the whole world in your hand and that you will never leave us or forsake us.
Dear Lord, we ask that you continue to cover us and protect us as individuals and as a couple; help us to have a marriage that is an example of your love for the church. Help us to be more disciplined in all areas of our lives; help us to be better stewards of all that you give us; give us clean hearts that we might serve thee; Lord, fix our hearts so that we may be used by you. We are not worthy of all these blessings, please give us a clean heart so that we will follow thee. Lord, we ask for courage and strength to continue to run this race; we ask for hope and joy on this journey; we ask that you get the glory from our lives as we serve you together. We pray that everyone who reads this prayer will experience passion for love, passion for their marriage. We pray that they experience joy in their marriage in 2021; that they will become more spiritually, emotionally, and physically intimate. We pray that they will be intentionally gentle, patient, kind, and loving to one another; that they will remember daily, to love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins…covers all wrongs. We pray that they seek to learn the things they don’t know…how to love….how to respect….so that they might live in peace and experience joy that surpasses all understanding.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15: 12.
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