Ginger Beebe, the former first lady of Arkansas, co-chairs this year’s Serving Up Solutions, the annual fundraiser for Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.
6:30 a.m.
The first one up turns on the coffee and brings in the paper. Mike drinks regular coffee, but I make my own blend of flavored coffee in my Keurig.
7:30 a.m.
After reading the paper and watching Good Morning America I prepare breakfast. I have a very, very healthy bran muffin that I make, and only my daughter and I will eat them, but for Mike it may be eggs and bacon, pancakes or French toast. During breakfast we both check our calendars to see what plans we have for the day. I check my Fit Bit to see how I slept, interesting how that little thing works. Mike may have a conference call or meeting in Little Rock or an afternoon of golf.
I check to see if today I will be keeping my 10-month-old great grandson. I try to do this two days a week so my granddaughter can work with her mother. If this is my babysitting day, most work will be done by phone or email, or wait till tomorrow. Also, look to see if this is a day I pick up my granddaughters from school and spend some time with them before going off to tennis, art, etc.
Next I look at projects I am involved with and if they need attention today. Remind Mike to make some follow-up calls for support of the Serving Up Solutions event. For eight years while he was governor he had someone telling him what his schedule was each day. Seems I have assumed the role of his official planner.
8 a.m.
My devotion and prayer time. I read from four books by different authors from different faiths. This really gets my day heading in the right direction.
8:20 a.m.
Get dressed for the day.
9 a.m.
Pick up the house, start laundry, make grocery list and check the list from the previous day to see what did not get done. I am a list maker, and some things go from list to list until they are completed. If I am making some contacts for projects I am working on, I like to do this in the morning, then run my personal errands. If I have nothing to do for the day I will probably work in my yard because for me this is a kind of therapy.
10 a.m.
If I am still at home I like to watch the first 10 minutes of The View. I enjoy the ladies and their views on life and the world we live in.
12:30 p.m.
Mike is off for golf, and I will have lunch of celery and almond butter. That has been my favorite for some time now. It is not a lot to eat, which is okay with me, but I think of those who are struggling to even have a small amount of food for their families. That is why this upcoming event is so important for those families who are facing a hard time.
1 p.m.
Check my list and see if I need to make a call or email someone. Also I check my email. So much these days can be done through email.
2:45 p.m.
Pick up grand girls at school and fix them a snack, check homework, check on plants in the yard and squeeze in reading a few chapters of “The Never Girls” series. Mike comes in and makes the girls laugh, and then we are off to activities.
6:30 p.m.
Take girls home and head to my own home. Mike and I visit over the day’s events, and I begin to make a list for tomorrow based on what was accomplished on today’s list.
7 p.m.
Dinner could be Mike’s favorite, peanut butter and jelly, pork chops, hamburger steak, etc. or my favorite, a baked sweet potato with sautéed spinach with parmesan cheese.
8 p.m.
We have a few favorite TV programs or there is always the History channel. I may watch TV or do a little workout in my sunroom.
10 p.m.
Quiet time: I check mail, look at FB and maybe pay some bills. I like to watch the late-night programs, but Mike usually heads to bed by 10:30. I may stay up till 11:30 or 12 reading or catching up on paper work for projects I am involved in.
I’m very excited to be the co-chair, with Mike, of this year’s Serving Up Solutions. I first became involved with them when I was invited to serve with the legislators for the fundraising event. There was a great crowd, but the space was small. At the time we were living in the Governor’s Mansion where there is this wonderful Grand Hall, so I suggested the event be held there. Every year we were in the mansion the Serving Up Solutions event was held there. It was a great time and truly raised money and awareness to help battle food insecurity in our state.
Serving Up Solutions will be held on June 15 at 6 p.m. at Noah’s Event Venue. For table sponsorship or tickets, contact Lynne Phillips at LPhillips@ARHungerAlliance.org or call 501.399.9999