Adventures in Ole Blue: the Chocolate Edition - Thursday April 2nd, 2026

I was asked recently, “It all seems so wonderful, doesn't anything go wrong?”

And honestly—it is wonderful. When you choose to focus on the blessings of the Lord instead of the aggravations the enemy tosses your way, the whole road looks different. That’s usually where I keep my eyes.

But just to prove it’s not all sunshine and church, let me give you a little peek into the other kind of stories I don't usually post.

We went to Olive Garden for dinner Wednesday night before church. At the end of the meal, the waitress brought out those fabulous mint chocolates—my weakness. And bless her, she gave us a handful. The best part? Joey and Lyndi are fasting chocolate right now, which means they were all mine. A true miracle. I ate a few and tossed the rest into my purse for later.

Thursday morning we packed up the car for another seven‑hour drive. It was a gorgeous day—sun shining, ranch country stretching out around us, sheep and goats and cows dotting the fields. Traffic was light, the scenery was glorious, and as we headed west the land slowly shifted into those rugged mountains we love so much.

But spring in Texas sits at a steady 85 degrees, and while we love and bless Ole Blue, we realize that in his old age he believes air conditioning is a luxury the younger generation invented, and not a necessity. So “air conditioning” becomes a matter of how much wind you can handle at 75 MPH. How loud does the music need to be to compete with the wind tunnel? And wondering how on earth is Lyndi still under a blanket?

Halfway through the drive, I reached into my purse for chapstick—and immediately remembered those glorious mint chocolates. They had transformed into a full‑blown puddle. After a moment of panic, I decided on the only reasonable course of action: zipped the purse shut and pretended it wasn’t happening.

When we reached the hotel that evening, inspiration struck. I put my purse in the mini‑fridge. And praise the Lord, it worked. By morning the chocolate had hardened, and I was able to clean everything out with minimal trauma. The purse is currently inside‑out, drying alongside its contents. Crisis mostly averted.

Is there a Bible verse about the trials of chocolate melting in purses? I’m not sure. But I am sure I’m looking forward to some of the northern stops on our itinerary. Texas has been glorious—but I’m ready for a climate that’s a little kinder to my belongings… or at least my purse.

She's all fixed and ready to hit the road again!