Karl’s IBM Rep gave us two tickets to Friday night’s SEC Tournament games. We decided to make the trip to Atlanta a mini-vacation for all of us.

• Even though they knew Bama wouldn’t be likely to win, Karl and Benjamin were so excited about getting to see our team play in the SEC Tournament! Give God some praise for putting Riley’s 3-point shot in the basket at the end of the game so that they went into overtime. Otherwise, Karl and Benjamin, along with thousands of other basketball fans, would have been outside when that F2 tornado hit downtown Atlanta. Instead, He saw fit to make sure the streets were virtually free of people. He really does long to be gracious and show His compassion to us.

• Karl and Benjamin left for the game while the other three kids and I walked across the street to partake of tasty Mexican food. I learned my first lesson regarding eating out in a big city: NEVER leave your table to wash hands because those who bus tables will clean your table thinking you’ve left the restaurant.

• Oblivious of the weather outside, the kids and I had a blast swimming in the indoor pool.

• We spent Saturday afternoon at the Georgia Aquarium. I think most everyone who was turned away from the basketball games decided to visit the aquarium, too.

• Why aren’t any politicians decrying the price-gouging at the aquarium and its cafe? $1.75 for a small bag of chips?!

• I was surprised at the security measures taken at the aquarium. My bag was searched, we were all (even the kids) subjected to the wand, and Karl had to turn in his little pocket-knife. The “bouncer” said, “It may be a little problem.” All I thought was, “What are we going to do if the drinking straws are too tall for the kids?”

• I could watch the big fish swim around all day long.

• Most people we met in Atlanta were skittish about the weather on Saturday.

• I sat next to a woman who didn’t look anything like me. I wondered if we had anything in common. I started reading a book as a child came running and jumped in her lap. A few minutes later, they started to sing “I’ve Got the Joy” in Spanish. She may have had purple streaks in her hair, but we had a lot in common.

• Karl and I discussed all the good reasons to live in a big city. Then we discussed all the good reasons to stay right where we are.

• I finished reading Vintage Jesus. In it, the authors point out that Heaven is going to be one huge city. I got a tiny taste of it this past weekend. We rubbed shoulders with people from every corner of the earth. We walked past people who spoke German, some who spoke Spanish, and some who spoke French (those were just the ones I recognized). Why do so many think Heaven will be boring?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!