May 21 – “Day eighteen – Throwed Rolls”

Yesterday we drove into Gulf Shores to unite with the rest of the gang.  We made it through the gate easily enough.  How?  We had the guard almost as confused about our situation as we were.  He finally just asked what unit we were staying in and for how long.  He filled out our car parking tag and waved us through. 

 

We couldn’t find the condo room at first.  We knew which set of buildings it was in; we just couldn’t find their specific number.  So I texted for some help.  Josh and the gang were out at the beach.  Josh came back in to help us get oriented/situated.  We dropped our stuff off in the room and followed him toward the beach, but by that time Christi and the kids were on their way back in.  Seems the gale force winds were a little too severe for them.  Luke told us it felt like thousands of needles were stabbing him every time the wind blew up the sand.  We opted for a trip to the indoor heated pool instead. 

 

After a time of getting good and wet and watching the kids take some individualized swimming lessons from Daddy, we were all pretty hungry.  Christi and Chris had been scouring the internet for restaurant options, and the choice of the day was a place called Lambert’s Café, known as the Home of the Throwed Rolls.  I know … terrible grammar.  But I gotta say, it was amazing.  The food was down-home comfort style, kind of like Cracker Barrel on steroids.  I ordered fried chicken livers.  And boy, did I ever get a plate full of them.  They were piled high.  They came with two sides as well.  And that didn’t include the fare offered by servers who were constantly walking around the room.  All you could eat fried okra, black eyed peas, cooked cabbage, macaroni and tomato sauce, potatoes and onions, and best of all … big ol’ rolls that they rolled out hot and fresh and literally tossed to you from across the room.  And following the roll cart was another server with a jug of their home-made apple butter.  Chris had a huge pile of chicken salad plus her two sides.  That salad was enough for two more meals – for both of us.  I had my leftover livers for supper last night.  Once again … I was stuffed.  That place was amazing.  So amazing that Josh and I agreed to give it highest honors among the vacation annals … a check.

 

From there we went to WalMart to get some fruit for breakfast and walk off some of that belly-filling goodness.  Then it was back to the hotel to recuperate. Last night I got a phone call from my cousin Jer, who is going to lead us onto a naval base to see a museum there.  We still have a few details to work out how we will get eight extra people onto the base, but he thinks it will all work out.  He also shared a page full of suggestions for things to do in the area. 

 

Psalms 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

 

Father, thank you for the connection with Josh and the gang, and for that amazing throwed roll experience.  Amen.