Celebrating 25 with Bistro Aix {MMoG #12)

Number six on our 25 Ways to Celebrate 25 Years Palooza is “Dinner at Bistro Aix (we like French restaurants).” We checked that one off our list last night, thanks to my brother and my sister-in-law’s very generous thank you gift! I have been tutoring my niece for the past few months since my sister-in-law was having some difficulty getting Emily to do her school work. Believing in “the ministry of the outsider,” I offered for her to come over on Mondays to do her school work at my house where she has my undivided attention and is not distracted by her twin two-year-old sisters. It’s been working out great and she has improved her reading in the few times that we’ve met. I also taught writing to her brother this year and his writing has blossomed. So as a thank you, the family wrote me sweet notes and gave us a generous gift certificate to one of our favorite restaurants: Bistro Aix.

We both had a full weekend where we hardly saw each other, and I leave again for work this week so we had already planned on going on a date on Sunday (also as a celebration for completing my first Whole30!) but we had planned on a restaurant that was less fancy. We quickly changed plans. After Michael returned from moving our first son out of his fraternity house and into his sublet for the summer, he jumped into the shower and quickly got ready to go out. (Doesn’t he look spiffy here?)

We had reservations for 7:00 but the restaurant was not crowded. I ordered the Tiki Disco cocktail while Michael had a Kronenburg beer. After much consideration, he ordered the burger and fries while I quickly settled on the petite filet. It was cooked to perfection. I subbed out the au gratin potatoes for the roasted fingerling potatoes and also helped Michael with his herbed fries.

Over dinner, we reflected on other times we had been to Bistro Aix and we agreed that it’s still on our top 10 list of favorite restaurants in Jacksonville. The atmosphere is elegant. The food is delicious and the cocktails are creative. Although we’ve checked it off our list for this year, we will definitely be back. The gift certificate has more on it! (I told you it was generous!)

I love living in community where we help one another out. I do not take it for granted that we live one door down from each other so that we can be in and out of each other’s homes and lives. We lend a hand when needed. I realize that it may not always be like this, as we found out when Michael’s sister’s family moved away. We will appreciate this time we’ve been given and make the most of it as often as we can.

I’m thankful to the Couches for such a thoughtful gift. We enjoyed it very much last night!

Linking up with Simply Shaunacey for Monday Moments of Gratitude.