Friday's Feast

Appetizer: Imagine that you are deaf, dumb and insensitive to touch.What other image of happiness could you have? I would have my eyesight so I would be able to see the beauty God has created and

Soup: Do you collect anything? Yes, dust in my house.


Salad: When do you start your Christmas? As far as the worlds view of Christmas, I normally start decorating either the first or second week of December. However, as a Christian I celebrate the birth of Christ all year long just as I do his death and resurrection.


Main Course: What would you do if you were in a corner and a snake was staring you down? Scream at the top of my lungs and more than likely wet my pants.

Dessert: If you were in the library and had gas I would excuse myself to the restroom.

Small Groups

We are now into our third week of the Women's Small Group Bible Studies. God is at work among these women that are participating in the studies. I have had many opportunities to talk with the ladies (even those outside my group) about how the studies are going and I have received numerous reports that they are learning, growing together and thankful to be a part of these groups. They not alone, I have so encouraged each week as we meet at my house. These ladies are beautiful and I look forward each week as we come together to study God's word and discuss the book (Holiness: The Heart God Purifies) we are reading together. As we have studied holiness each week we have seen where we each fall short of the glory of God and just how totally dependent on our Lord to redeem us and sanctify us so that when we appear before him, we will be free from all defilement, clothed is His righteousness, to be His holy bride forever.

Over the past three weeks we have discussed the following:

1. What a radicial pursuit of holiness looks like.
2. How holiness and joy are inseparable companions.
3. Biblical motivations for holiness.

There have been many quotes throughout the book thus far, but my favorite is by J.C. Ryle that says:

Without holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven. Heaven is a holy place. The Lord of heaven is a holy Being. The angels are holy creatures. Holiness is written on everything in heaven. . . How shall we ever be at home and happy in heaven if we die unholy?

A Biblical Look at Marriage

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Friday's Feast

Appetizer: What was your first “real” job? When I was sixteen I worked during the summer at a pickle plant (Roddenberry's). I was in the packing house for a week and then moved to the grading yard.

Soup: Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity? I'm not real creative so I have no clue.

Salad: Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when… I put my foot in my mouth. Which happens quite often.

Main Course: What values did your parents instill in you? Honesty, love for others, to protect my reputation, and to be on time.

Dessert:Name 3 fads from your teenage years. Feathered hair, leg warmers, Rubik cube.

Good Company

Now that David is 18, I have the opportunity to visit friends without having to worry about the plans that he and Angela have for the weekend. This weekend was one of those occasions. My best friend, Tom, asked me to go down to his house on Friday to spend time with him. As much as David and Angela enjoy going to his house, they had a concert they were going to on Saturday so I left on Friday when I got off work to go down. When I arrived, Tom cooked a wonderful meal of steaks, steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. He made gravy but was not happy with the result (it looked better than any gravy I've attempted to make). After enjoying the meal he prepared we enjoyed just talking and watching television. It always amazes me how we can talk about anything and never run out of things to talk about it. He's better than any girlfriend I've ever had. On Saturday morning, we enjoyed his famous scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. Then read the morning paper and more conservation. Later in the day we enjoyed some shrimp while watching the movie "The Fisher King". It was a good movie and I don't know how I managed to miss this movie over the years. Tom had planned on cooking me chicken wings for dinner, but after eating shrimp and breakfast I didn't have an appetite. And as usual it was time for me to make the hour and half drive home. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to experience his chicken wings another time.

Appetizer: Which snack do you like to get when you go to the movies? I used to love getting Sweet Tarts at the movie, but for some reason they don't sell them now. Now I opt for the buttered popcorn.

Soup: What year did you start using the internet? 1996

Salad: What is your first name in Pig Latin? inniegay

Main Course: Name something you are picky about. The cleanliness of my home.

Dessert: Fill in the blanks: I ____ ____ yesterday and I ____ ____ today. I longed for today yesterday and I am waiting to see my best friend tonight (so I didn't use today).

Women's Small Groups

Over the past six months I have been praying for a Women's Bible Study to be started at our church. After much prayer, I approached our pastors about starting a Bible study in my home for the ladies of the church. Within a week of discussing my ideas with them, they asked me to make an announcement on a Wednesday night about it and invite the ladies of our church to participate. I was amazed to see that within one week we had well over 20 names on the list that were interested. It was an encouragement to see that the women of our church have a desire to study God's word and to grow spiritually together. Due to the response, we have split the group into 3 group. I had no idea that we would have such a response, but God knew and he prepared two other godly women to lead a study in their home.

We are reading Holiness: The Heart God Purifies by Nancy Leigh De Moss and discussing a chapter each week for the next 9 weeks. Each week we will not only discuss the book, but look to scripture as well. The groups begin meeting this week and tonight was the first night (we meet on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon). Tonight's group met in my home and what a joy it was to sit with 10 other ladies and study God's word and have discussion. It was an encouragement to me as I heard these ladies talk of spiritual things. I'm already looking forward to next week when we come together again. Please be praying for all of us as we study God's word and encourage each other in our walk.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: How much money do you plan to spend this upcoming holiday season? I have no idea. Certainly not as much as last year.

Soup: What was the last television show you watched, and was it good? CSI - I always enjoy the show.

Salad: If you had to paint the walls of your living room tomorrow, what color would you choose? An off white. In fact, Angela has been trying to convince me to paint the walls in living room.

Main Course: Name something clever or practical you have thought of that should be invented, but hasn’t yet. I'm not clever enough to think of anything to invent.

Dessert: List 3 things you would like to receive as gifts this upcoming holiday season. The only thing I can think of is to spend Christmas with my parents this year.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: Name a great website you would recommend to others. Solo Femininity.

Soup: On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how often do you dream at night? A five. I can't always remember what I dream.

Salad: Did you have a pet as a child? If so, what kind and what was its name? We had cats and dogs. The cat that I remember was Tut (named after King Tut) and the two dogs I remember were a German shepherd (I don't remember his name) and a little mixed dog (Shorty). Now that I'm typing this I do recall family members talking about a dog we had when I was diapers. They say that when I was still in diapers my sister's boyfriend (now her husband) came over to take her out on a date and while he waiting for her that the dog wet on his lap. My brother-in-law however tells it differently in that he accuses me of wetting his lap. He loved to tell this to my friends and the few boyfriends I had when I was younger.

Main Course: If you had the chance to star in a commercial, what would you choose to advertise? First of all I would never have a chance to star in a commercial, but someone needs to advertise purity in our teenagers.

Dessert: What is your favorite kind of hard candy? Sweet tarts hands down.

Grace Alone

Earlier this week our dear friend, Jessica Wilkinson, passed from this life into eternity. We have grieved over our loss and rejoiced in knowing that she is home with her Lord. Jessica was diagnosed 3 months ago with Sacrcoma.


Jessica would have been married on December 8,2007. In fact, we had to postpone her bridal shower because she was in the hospital. As I have thought of Jessica's death this week I have thought often that although she did not make it to her wedding here on earth, she had the wedding of her life on Sunday morning. I have many fond memories of times spent with her and I am thankful that God placed her in my life to love as a friend and as a sister in Christ.Today as we celebrated her life at her memorial service I rejoiced in knowing that she has seen God's glory, she is free from pain, suffering, tears, and that she has entered into God's kingdom hearing her savior say, "well done thy good and faithful servant."

Pray for her parents, her brother, and her finacee as they trust in God's mercy and grace to strengthen them in the days, months and years to come.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: If you were a dog, what breed would you be, and why? A Yorkshire Terrier. People seem to love them.

Soup: What does the color purple make you think of? Barney

Salad: Approximately how long does it take you to get ready each morning? About 45 minutes to an hour.

Main Course: How many cousins do you have, and are you close to them? I have no clue. From that response you can tell I'm not close to them.

Dessert: Take your initials (first, middle, last) and come up with something else those letters could stand for. (Example: SFO = Sweet Funny Otter) RVF (Really Vain Female)

Appetizer: When was the last time you were surprised? Just today when I was asked out on a date for tonight.

Soup: Fill in the blanks: My eyes are ________, but I wish they were __________. My eyes are hazel, but I wish they were blue.

Salad: If you were a Beanie Baby, what would you look like and what would your name be? I would be a soft cuddly teddy bear and my name would be cuddles.

Main Course: Name two things you consistently do that you consider to be healthy habits. Brush my teeth and shower.

Dessert: What brand of toothpaste are you using these days? Do you like it? Why or why not? Crest Cinnamon Expressions. I love it. It makes my mouth feel fresh.

Happy Birthday Hannah

Happy Birthday Hannah! Although you are miles away from us, you are being thought of today as we celebrate your birthday. We hope your day is filled with joy and you will know how much we love you!

Surprise After Surprise

Saturday was a day filled with surprise birthday parties. The first birthday surprise was for our associate pastor's wife, Cari. Her birthday is actually this coming Sunday, but some of her family have to be out of town this coming weekend, so Joshua planned her party for this past Saturday instead. The party was held at their home and we had a great time of fellowship and left with our stomachs filled.

The second birthday surprise was for our friend Tracy Bethea. He turned the big 50. His wife, Cindy, surprised him with family and friends gathering at the Clewiston Inn for dinner. He was caught totally off guard when he walked in the dining room and saw all of us there. We enjoyed celebrating with him and Cindy.

BubbleShare: Share photos - Share your baby pictures

Appetizer: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday? It's just another day, so I'd say a 5. Each day is a gift.

Soup: What is one word you don’t like the sound, spelling, or meaning of? The word hate.

Salad: Do you wear sunglasses when you’re outside? If so, what does your current pair look like? I don't wear them constantly. My current pair are just a cheap brand I don't even remember the name of them.

Main Course: If you were to write a book, to whom would you dedicate it? My kids.

Dessert: Name a beverage that you enjoy. Sweet Iced Tea.

New Associate Pastor

God is faithful to give his churches pastors to lead them, care for them and teach them. Joshua, Cari, and Benjamin moved to Clewiston last week in obedience to Christ's leading in their life. Joshua will be our Associate Pastor and his leadership, encouragement, and other gifts God has blessed him with will be add a tremendous amount to First Baptist Church of Clewiston. The Vincent family has already shown us as a family their love and hospitality. On Tuesday night, we were honored to have dinner with them. Cari prepared a wonderful meal for us and we were blessed being in their home and beginning to develop a relationship with them. Please pray for them as they begin their ministry here.

Friday's Feast on Sunday

Appetizer: How are you today? Reflective and appreciative after hearing a wonderful sermon this morning from 1 John 2:1-6. The appreciative is two fold. . . praising God that I truly know Christ and have a relationship with Him. The second is for my neighbor who has weed wacked around my mobile home and is now pressure washing it as well.

Soup: Name 3 television shows you watch on a regular basis. Not much of a television watcher. I generally watch CSI on Thursday night and college football on Saturday when it's on.

Salad: What’s the scariest weather situation you’ve experienced? Hurricane Wilma hands down.

Main Course: If you could wake up tomorrow morning in another country, where would you want to be? England

Dessert: What do you usually wear to sleep? Pajamas. That was a weird question.

Have We Met?

I just began reading a new book and as I read the first six pages I couldn't help but wonder if Stasi Eldredge has met me somewhere. Seriously, I know we have never had the privilege to meet. However, this section I just finished reading led me to believe we have.

UNSEEN, UNSOUGHT, AND UNCERTAIN

I know I am not alone in this nagging sense of failing to measure up, a feeling of not being good enough as a woman. Every woman I've met feels it - something deeper than just the sense of failing at what she does. An underlying, gut feeling of failing at who she is. I am not old enough, and, I am too much at the same time. Not pretty enough, not thin enough, not kind enough, not gracious enough, not disciplined enough. But too emotional, too needy, too sensitive, too strong, too opinionated, too messy. The result is Shame, the unviersal companion of women. It haunts us, nipping at our heels, feeding on our deepest fear that we will end up abandoned and alone.

After all, if we were better women - whatever that means - life wouldn't be so hard. Right? We wouldn't have so many struggles; there would be less sorrow in our hearts. Why is it so hard to create meaningful friendships and sustain them? Why do our days seem so unimportant, filled not with romance and adventure but with duties and demands? We feel unseen, even by those who are closet to us. We feel unsought - that no one has the passion or the courage to pursue us, to get past our messiness to find the woman deep inside. And we feel uncertain - uncertain what it even means to be a woman; uncertain what it truly means to be feminine; uncertain if we are or ever will be.

Aware of our deep failings, we pour contempt on our own hearts for wanting more. Oh, we long for intimacy and for adventure; we long to be the Beauty of some great story. But the desires set deep in our hearts seem like a luxury, granted only to those women who get their acts together. The message to the rest of us - whether from a driven culture or a driven church - is try harder.

Does this sound like how any of you ladies have felt in the past? I'd love to hear from you.

Chicken Noodle Soup & Lap Quilt

Tonight after work I came home to try out a new recipe. Tonight was the perfect night since David is at school and Angela is at Evangel Assembly Youth group. Both of them were eating away from home and this gave me the opportunity to prepare the new recipe without being distracted and also have a meal prepared in advance for tomorrow night. I knew by looking at the recipe that David would not want to try it, so I made him chicken and rice to have tomorrow night.

The recipe was very simple and it turned out well. I was pleased when I tried some tonight and think Angela will like it as well. Here's the recipe in case someone wants to try it for themselves.

Ingredients

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped celery

1 garlic clove, minced

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

4 cups cubed peeled potatoes

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast

2 cups uncooked yolk-free wide noodles

1 cup fat-free evaporated milk

In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, saute the onion, carrots, celery and garlic in oil for 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in the flour, oregano, thyme and poultry seasoning until blended; saute 1 minute longer. Gradually add broth, potatoes and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Stir in the chicken and noodles; simmer for 10 minutes or until noodles are tender. Reduce heat. Stir in the milk; heat through (do not boil). Yield: 8 servings.

As I was cooking the soup, I thought of a single friend of mine from church and decided that if she was at home I wanted to take her a bowl for her dinner. After calling to make sure she was home and if it was a good time to drop by with a bowl soup, I served her up a bowl of the soup and dropped it off. We chatted for just a few minutes and before I left she told me she had something for me. She is an excellent seamstress and loves using the talent God has given her to make things for others. Before leaving she gave me a beautiful handmade lap quilt with the instructions to go home, put my feet up and wrap up. I love it! I am sitting on the couch as I type this wrapped in the quilt. God is so good! I went tonight to minister to a friend and yet I was the one that walked away with the blessing. I treasure this ladies heart for God and for others that serves daily.

For some unknown reason I can't blogger to load pictures so I made a slide show in Bubbleshare of the soup and lap quilt.

X-Ray Results

After twenty eight hours I finally heard back from the doctor concerning the x-ray. The report showed that my foot is sprained. I am supposed to stay off of it as much as possible, evaluate it, and ice it. If it is still giving me problems next week I am supposed to call and he will do a MRI.

My patience had worn thin by the time I finally got an answer. But at least now I have my answer.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: What is your favorite type of art? Music it is hands down.

Soup: When was the last time you got a free lunch (or breakfast or dinner)? Who paid for it? This past Tuesday. A friend from church that lives in north Georgia was in town and we had lunch together. She refused to let me pay for my meal.

Salad: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how emotional are you? I'm pretty emotional. I cry when reading greeting cards unless I go to the humor section. I cry at movies, I have a temper (although I've learned to control it more as I get older), and I laugh easily. I'm just one big bag of emotions.

Main Course: Approximately how long do you spend each day responding to emails? An hour, but not at once. I don't get many emails as I once did.

Dessert: To what temperature do you usually set your home’s thermostat? It stays at 73 unless David lowers it when I'm gone or asleep.

Foot Injury

Yesterday morning I injured my foot at the office. I always sit at the computer with one leg under my rear end and this is the way I was sitting yesterday prior to getting up from my desk. When I got up, my leg buckled and I turned my left foot completely over on it's side. When I realized that I was falling I grabbed the desk but the glass on the top started sliding so I turned loose of the desk and landed on top of my foot. I was thankful that no one was standing in my office at the time of the accident because I know I looked foolish.

After falling my foot began to swell and ache. Pastor Brian tried to get me to go to the doctor to have it x-rayed, but I put it off until today. This morning I went to the doctor and he ordered a x-ray after examining my foot, my ears, eyes, nose and throat. I still don't understand why he felt it was necessary to do a complete examination since I went in strictly to get an order for x-rays, but I'm satisfied that he wanted to be thorough. On top of having me go for x-ray's I have to go back tomorrow for a complete blood work up because I haven't had one done in over a year. I still haven't heard what the x-ray showed but am hoping that when I go for the blood work in the morning he will have the results.

The kids have been awesome waiting on me and helping out around the house. They have tried to get me to use the crutches but I am afraid I'll injure more than my foot if I use them. I tried them last night at church and I was very uncomfortable on them. I'll just be relieved to have my foot return to normal or at least know if it's fractured or sprained.

Fourteen and Still Amazing

Today is Angela's 14th birthday. My how time has flown, it seems like yesterday you were so tiny and needed me for everything. My heart is overflowing with love and joy that you have brought into my life. As I think back on the last fourteen years I feel so blessed to be the one that God picked to be your mother. You are a beautiful young lady with a heart for everyone you meet. You are always encouraging others, sharing the material possessions that you have, and lending a helping hand. You speak your mind and love to make others smile. I pray that as you continue to grow into the woman God desires you to be, you will seek after God's heart and stand firm in his truths. Happy Birthday!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: When was the last time you visited a hospital? When Angela had her ACL surgery in July.

Soup: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you? I'm pretty average so I'll go with a five.

Salad : Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.) Leg - Let's eat granola.

Main Course: If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it? A club for parents to be encouraged to teach their children the importance of being committed to Christ and his church. I have no clue what I would name it.

Dessert : What color is the carpet/flooring in your home? The carpet is a light green and the tile is white.

Dinner with Girlfriends

Two of Angela's friends (Jena & Cheyenne) threw planned a dinner at Sonny's with her friends in honor of her 14th birthday tomorrow, since everyone will be at the Tiger game tomorrow night. I wasn't allowed to eat with them, but I stayed in the main dining area and enjoyed dinner with Kathy while they partied. Cheyenne and Jena brought a Hello Kitty cake for all them to enjoy for dessert. In all there were 13 girls, so you can imagine the laughter coming from the back room. It was sweet of the girls to come out on a school night to be with her. She enjoyed it and I managed not to embarrass her too much. Only when the Sonny's crew sang the "Happy Birthday" song to her. I couldn't resist getting in the line with them as they sang and clapped.

Here are some snapshots from the night.
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Changes

Every now and then change is good. So today, I made some changes to my blog. I love autumn and wanted something to reflect that. I love the new header since I can change it to fit with the different seasons. Let me know what you think.

Our Weekend

Angela and I spent the weekend at home while David was in Orlando at Rock the Universe. He and Tommy left Friday at 1:30 p.m. for a weekend at Universal Studios for a weekend of Christian rock. Angela and I would have went, however, we it was time to purchase tickets we weren't sure if she would be able to walk around Universal all night.

On Friday night we drove to LaBelle for the Tiger football game. Sadly the Tigers lost the game in a shut out (28-0). We enjoyed it in spite of the loss. Next week we will be traveling to Belle Glade as they take on the Glades Day Gators.

On Saturday I woke up early to meet a group of ladies from church to clean the staff house in preparation of our new associate pastor and family moving in the week of September 17. Although we were cleaning it was a wonderful time with this group of ladies. I tried to convince them that they could come to my house afterwards to clean it, but they just wouldn't go for it. Later in the evening I met up with Kathy & Skip at Beef O'Brady's for dinner and watched the 2nd half of the FSU game and the 2nd half of the Georgia game. At least the weekend wasn't a total loss for the teams I like. Florida State won, but I was hoping Georgia would win against South Carolina. Maybe next year.

Today we went to church and we were back in our Sanctuary for the first time since June. George and Grace Thall graciously opened their home to us for lunch after church. The meal was delicious and the fellowship sweet. Then it was off to the monthly meetings at church. Grace and I had the opportunity to share ideas about small groups, women's Bible studies, and other ways to get together with the women of our church. Now to figure out how to implement some of the ideas we talked about. It was refreshing to hear another woman share her desire to see the women of our church come together for time spent in God's Word.

Appetizer: Using only one word, how does grocery shopping make you feel? Frustrated.

Soup: What is your favorite part about the season of Autumn? Football!

Salad: Have you ever had any bad experiences online? Just not being able to get online.

Main Course: Name three things that make you happy daily. My children, my job, and my salvation.

Dessert:What one household cleansing or organizing item would you not want to be without? A broom.

The Newest Member of Our Church Family

We are blessed to have Luke as an addition to our church family. We praise God that we have the opportunity to love, encourage, and pray for this little one as he grows up.



Luke Andrew Hamrick is doing well. Mom and Luke will be coming home tomorrow morning. I can't wait to hold him.

Big brother, Nathan, Dad, and Luke.

I wanted to post a picture of Katherine with Luke and Nathan, however that will have to wait. I'm not sure how Katherine would feel about a picture of her in a hospital gown appearing on my blog. So here's one of Katherine and Nathan at a Tiger Football game.

College Football

So this weekend was the kickoff for college football. No, I didn't sit in front of the television all weekend watching the games. In fact the only game I watched was the Florida State - Clemson game while babysitting our pastor's son, Nathan. Around 9:30 p.m. Nathan was ready for bed but he enjoyed the first hour and half of the game with me. He was so cute talking about the game. He has been to the high school games and he kept asking where the blue uniforms were. The Noles didn't win the game however it was great to see them try to come back in the 2nd half of the game. It's gonna to be a tough season, but as always I'll be there cheering them on win or lose. But at least one of the teams I like won this weekend. Go Dogs!

I'm sure going to enjoy watching the games with David this year!

Luke Andrew Hamrick

Congratulations to Brian, Katherine and Nathan Hamrick on the birth of their son and brother, Luke Andrew Hamrick. Luke was born this morning weighing in at 8 lbs 8 oz. and measuring 21 inches long.

I will try to post pictures of Luke as soon as his daddy email's them to me.

What We Have Been Up To

We have been busy getting back into the routine of school, homework and such for the past two weeks. It's been a couple of weeks since I took the time to post anything regarding our lives, so I thought it would be nice to give an update of what has happened in our lives in the past few weeks.

Angela started school on August 19. She has all male teachers except for two (reading and typing). She actually likes having men as teachers, although at first she wasn't sure how she would like it.

Her latest doctor's appointment for her 1 month check up after the ACL surgery went really well on Friday. Dr. Shannon released her from crutches and the wheel chair use at school. He increased her therapy to include working with weights and told her to begin to increase her activity but not to be running just yet. He was impressed with her progress thus far. He told us around the 12 week point we should notice that the fluid (swelling) on the knee will decrease and return to normal. He also advised us that it's typical for patients to become over confident around the 12 week point and that she needs to beware that it is still healing and not overdo it.

We have also hired an associate pastor, Joshua and his wife, Cari, and son, Benjamin, and our church is trying to get the house ready for them to move into in mid September. I am in charge of getting a group of ladies to clean on next Saturday.

Football season started Friday night for our high school. We went to the game on Friday night to watch the Tigers take on American Heritage Plantation. Although we lost 14-3 we enjoyed the game. The Tigers have a young team this year however they have potential. Over twenty of the players graduated in May so this will be a building season. Win or lose we will be there to support the Tigers. Also with the high school football season starting Clewiston Middle School has a football team and we went to watch them play on Thursday night of this week. They won their game 50 - 14. I love fall with high school football on Friday night and college football on Saturday's. Florida State will play Clemson on Monday. Go Noles!

Today we drove to the east coast to look for David a new car. We spent 7 hours driving from one used car dealership to another. I was amazed at how well David handled talking to the salesman and asking questions about the vehicles. He even talked two of the salesmen down to the price he was willing to pay. He's a man that knows what he wants and will walk away before letting someone convince him otherwise. When all was said and done today he drove away in a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer ES for the price he said he was willing to pay when we left home. Below is a few pictures of his new car.

Friday Feast

Appetizer: Who is the easiest person for you to talk to? I can talk to almost anybody, but when it comes to a heart to heart conversation I find that I'm more open with Tom.

Soup: If you could live in any ancient city during the height of the quality of its society and culture, which one would you choose? I have never had the desire to live in an ancient city. I'm spoiled by the luxuries we have now such as electricity, indoor plumbing, etc.

Salad: What is the most exciting event you have ever witnessed? The birth of my children.

Main Course: If you were a celebrity, what would you do for a publicity stunt? I can't imagine being a celebrity and if I were I wouldn't want a bunch of publicity.

Dessert: What do you consider the ideal age to have a first child? I'm not sure I think there is an ideal age to have your first child. For each married couple it is different.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: Say there’s a book written about your life. Who would you want to narrate the audio version? Meg Ryan, I love her voice.

Soup:Take the letters from your favorite kind of nut and write a sentence. (Example: Perhaps every avenue needs understanding today.) Okay I'm not good at this kind of stuff, but since Peanuts are my favorite. . . Put every anxious thought under the son.

Salad: If you could go back in time and spend one week in another decade, which decade would you choose? I'd want to spend more than a week and I would want to be in a different state, but I'd like to go back to the 70's.

Main Course: Name a song that brings back memories for you. "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You." by Elvis Presley

Dessert: Do you prefer to wash your hands in cold water or warm water? Warm water.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: Describe your laundry routine. Do you have a certain day when you do it all, or do you just wash whatever you need for the next day? My laundry routine consists of washing a load every night and drying them. Sometimes they get folded the same night. Laundry is the one chore that seems never ending.

Soup: In your opinion, what age will you be when you’ll consider yourself to truly be old? At 41 I certainly don't think of myself as old. When I was in my teens that seemed really old, but the older I get the less age matters. I'm not real sure what I would consider old.

Salad: What is one of your goals? Is it short-term, long-term, or both? One of my goals is to be debt free. It's a long-term goal.

Main Course:Name something unbelievable you’ve seen or read lately. It amazes me to read or watch the news concerning people leaving their young children in their cars and not realizing for hours that they left them there. I don't understand how someone doesn't notice they left their young child somewhere.

Dessert: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how happy are you today? I'd say a 5. It could be worse but it could be better.

This & That

God has been good to us this past week. Even though I've struggled this week with issues I have seen God's hand at work and have so much to be thankful for. I haven't done an update concerning Angela's therapy nor concerning David's car. So here goes!

Angela is progressing very well with her therapy. She is diligent in doing the exercises at home on the days she doesn't go for therapy and the therapist says she is moving ahead of her protocol. The therapist added an exercise this week and will continue to add them as she progresses. One of the concerns Angela and her therapist have is regarding her return to school. Although she is very mobile with her crutches there is concern that someone could bump into her at school and that her left leg would not be stable enough to keep from falling if that were to happen. Another concern was that she is not sitting long periods of time with her leg hanging down. She still sits with it extended to some degree, although she is bending it more every week. The therapist shared her concerns with me and I contacted the doctor's office about them. Dr. Shannon then wrote a prescription for wheelchair rental and a doctor's excuse for school for the next month. The school has assured us that they will assign someone to push her from class to class and that they do what is necessary to accommodate her in the classroom. Angela is much more at ease with returning to school in a wheelchair instead of the crutches so that is a praise that things worked out for her to be able to return to school and be comfortable while in the classrooms. So tomorrow we will be going uniform shopping.

The insurance company has contacted us regarding the status of David's car. I expected a much longer wait, but as the slogan says "Your in good hands with Allstate." The adjuster made the decision to total the Sable since damages were more than the value of the car. This was not surprising to us, but the surprise came when we were told how much they would be giving us for the car. I had researched the blue book value when we purchased the car, so I knew what it was valued at. I guess I just didn't look at the same book the adjuster was looking at. The title has been mailed to Allstate and we should be receiving the settlement check in a week to 10 days. So we are now in the process of looking for another used car for David. Neither of us wants to be in a rush.

David also registered for classes this week at PBCC. He isn't taking a full schedule because he wants to be able to work some as well as attend classes at least for the 1st semester. He will have classes on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. With us being down to the one car that is also a praise.

He has been busy with looking for a job but hasn't had much luck. Most places are waiting until the high school students return to school before they hire anybody. Eventually he will find something. In the meantime, our custodian is going on a mission trip next week to Nicaragua and he will be working while he's out of the country.

That is all the news from the Fountain household for this week.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: What is your favorite kind of pie? Apple Pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

Soup:Name something that made you smile this week. A conversation I had with Tom earlier in the week.

Salad:What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid? Sit inside with the A/C kicking and a glass of sweet iced tea.

Main Course:You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up? The two bathrooms. I'd re-paint them a pale yellow, put tile in my bathroom and then buy all new towels, wash cloths, and shower curtains.

Dessert: Fill in the blank: My _________ says __________, but I __________. My heart says be patient, but I rush it.

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." ~ Ephesians 6:4

This is a verse that keeps coming to mind this week. I have struggled immensley to keep from snapping or in general having a bad attitude in when dealing with my children this week. Don't get me wrong we aren't screaming at each other constantly, but I find myself being short with them or snapping at them more than usual. Granted it may be justified, but I am the adult and I shouldn't be responding in this manner. I found a quote that speaks of this and it speaks to my heart.

"Children don't make you who you are, they REVEAL who you are"

Friday's Feast

Appetizer: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how polite are you? I would give myself a 5. Sadly, there are times when I have been downright rude.

Soup: What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud? Since putting in the projection system at the church, David has been the one that runs it. If he is out of town we have one of the other youth, Josh, that runs it or I run it. On Wednesday night, I offered to run the projection system and give David a break. I got lost during one the songs, so David came over to me and said, "Alright, you stick to driving and I'll stick to running the projection system." It was good to see that he was laughing at himself concerning his accident.

Salad: Who is your favorite cartoon character? Winnie the Pooh or Tigger.

Main Course: Tell about the funniest teacher you ever had. Most of my teachers were pretty serious, except for my 9th grade literature teacher, Mrs. Brown. At the time I thought she was funny, but now realize she had a drinking problem. She would bring a thermos to school each day with coffee laced with brandy. I had her class the last period of the day, so to say the least she was drunk by the time our class started. I remember her reading Romeo and Juliet and acting the characters out. She was of course let go, but it sure made literature fun.

Dessert: Complete this sentence: I strongly believe that ______________________. I strongly believe that God is sovereign in all things.

It's Just a Car

The inevitable has happened. At some point in our lives if we are driving we will have an accident. Today just happened to be David's time. On his way home from Orlando he wrecked his car. David is fine, however his car didn't come away from the wreck in as good of shape as he did.

I was on my way out of the office this afternoon at 2:30 when my cell phone rang and it was David on the other end saying, "I'm so sorry, I couldn't stop, are you alright?" I then could hear a man saying, "Yes, I'm fine are you okay?" The entire time I'm saying, "David, David, David are you okay?, David?" I never could get an answer from him so I hung up and immediately called him back. This time we could hear each other and I began to ask if he was okay and if his car was damaged really bad. His reply was, "I'm fine, but how did you know I was in a wreck?" I told him he had just called me but he wouldn't answer me and how I had heard his conversation and knew that he'd been in a wreck. He assured me he and the others were okay so I then began asking if anyone had notified law enforcement of the accident. He told me he was trying to call them when I called. We got off the phone, I made arrangements for someone to be at the house with Angela while I went to get him. While on my way to get him I talked to the officer on the scene and he assured me that David was fine but would be issued a citation and the car would be towed. Honestly all I was concerned with at that point was that he was not injured nor the others involved in the accident. I even offered to sign the title over to him now that he is 18, but he's not interested.

Dundee is a two hour drive from Clewiston and I couldn't get there fast enough. David chose to wait for me at a Hardees on the corner of the intersection where the accident occurred. He waited with his suitcase, laptop and a trash bag of dirty clothes. After seeing that he was okay I couldn't help but think that people walking in must have thought he was homeless or a runaway. I had to find some humor in the situation.

David explained that as he came to the intersection the light had just turned green so he pressed down on the brake to slow down as traffic in his lane was stopped but as he pressed the brake he noticed he wasn't slowing down. He then just pumped the brakes but still nothing happened. So he let completely off the brakes and gas thinking it would slow down more. When he realized he wasn't stopping soon enough he tried to turn the steering wheel into the left lane because nothing was in that lane, but his steering wheel turned without the wheels turning. He said at that point he pressed harder on the brakes but still nothing happened. He braced himself because he knew he was about to hit the Chevy truck ahead of him. The truck then hit a van in front of him. He said he was doing 50 in a 45 but he was issued a citation for careless driving.

We won't know for a while if his car will be totaled, but we are praising God tonight that he protected David from injury and the others involved. A damaged car and a ticket to pay are the least of worries. It's all nothing compared to David being able to walk away from the wreck with only a burn from the airbag and a few sore muscles from the impact.

David's Car in May

David's car on July 30

Another Shot from the Side

Friday's Feast

Appetizer - Describe a toy you remember from your childhood.
It would have to be Barbie Dolls. I remember playing with Barbie and Ken one day with my little brother and when I went to change Barbie's dress he covered his eyes.

Soup - On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how observant are you?
An eight. I'm basically a nosy person.
Salad- Where would you rather be at this very moment?
With David celebrating his birthday.

Main Course - When was the last time you learned something new?
Just this weekend when I was cooking hamburgers. I've always wondered why the oven door has a catch on it. Now I know. When broiling in the oven if you open the door to that catch and turn on the exhaust fan the smoke goes up into the exhaust and doesn't set the smoke detector off. Thanks Tom, for that cooking lesson.

Dessert - Fill in the blank: I have ____________ but I haven’t ____________.
I have a to clean out my closet but I haven't gotten around to doing it yet. Did I mention I am a procastinator?

Happy Birthday David

Today is David's 18th birthday. As I reflect on the past 18 years my heart is filled with joy and pride. David, I had no idea what joy you would bring into my life the day the doctor told me I was pregnant. All I knew then was that I was scared and nervous about being a mommy.

The pregnancy was an experience to say the least. During my seventh month I woke up one night with a terrible pain in my back. At first I thought it was contractions but soon realized that wasn't the cause of the pain. Your dad and I finally decided we better go to the hospital so the doctor's could figure out where the pain was coming from. Much to our surprise, my appendix was on the verge of rupturing. After the doctor explained that I would have to have surgery immediately our first thought was how are they going to put me under to do surgery, well as it turned out they didn't. I received an epidural and the appendix was removed. I went to sleep in the operating room while the surgeon removed the appendix and the obstetrician stood by in case you decided to make your entrance into the world. Thankfully you stayed put. Upon waking up my first words were, "Is the baby okay?" (We opted not to be told whether you were a boy or girl). Once the appendix was removed and a few days in the hospital we returned home with you still in my womb. However, the stay at home was short lived because somehow I got food poisioning within a week and had to return the hospital. Due to the food poisioning I began having contractions and the doctors had to give me medications to stop the labor. We returned home once again.

I returned to work and worked right up until the 26th of July. As I was sitting at work that morning I began to have contractions, but I didn't leave immediately. Finally at noon a co-worker suggested that I call the doctor's office since my contractions had been 9 minutes apart for the last 2 hours. Upon calling the doctor's office they told me to go home immediately and to go to the hospital when the contractions were 7 minutes apart. I guess you just didn't want to be at work that day because once I got home the contractions stopped but only after your daddy and your Granny Grace had left work. Granny Grace made me walk up and down the road for hours after dinner that night and your daddy mowed our yard. At 9:30 that night we headed to the hospital because the contractions were 7 minutes apart and had been that way for a few hours. All that walking helped I guess.

You remained stubborn though and refused to come into the world until 11:00 a.m on the 27th. My labor was long however I wasn't in much pain thanks to the epidural I requested earlier that morning. But Dr. Robinson (that's the OB) said you would have been born sooner if I had not had the epidural. I had never experienced such joy and love before until they placed you in my arms. My heart melted at the sight of you. And it still does to this day.

You have brought such joy into my life. I am so proud of the man you have grown up to be. God has taught me so much through these past 18 years of your life. You are a man who loves and fears the Lord and lives out his faith with boldness. Your laughter, jokes, tender heart and love for others is wonderful to see. As you continue this journey into adulthood I pray that you continue to trust and look to God to lead the way. Words cannot describe how thankful I am that God has allowed me to be your Mother. Happy Birthday!

"You sure Smell Better,"

that was the remark Cheyenne made tonight after Angela took her first shower in 6 days. Actually she has had sponge baths but tonight was the first night she braved taking a shower. After church tonight our friend and registered nurse, Mary, came over and removed her bandages. I attempted to remove it last night but almost passed out while trying to do it so we decided we'd wait and let someone with a stronger stomach do it for us. Her knee looked much better than we expected it to look.After removing the bandages we put the stabalizer brace back on until she was in the shower, at which point it came off and the water came on. Taking a shower doesn't seem like much work to most of us, but for someone that has had surgery it is very tiring.

We are so thankful that as each day goes by she is one day closer to being back on her feet. We are also thankful for friends that are willing to help out in so many ways.

Recovery

Angela's recovery is going well. Each day is a little better. She has been blessed to have family and friends calling to check on her daily. On Friday afternoon Kathy came to see her and brought her a gift card from Movie Gallery, her friends Breanna and Brittany came by to see her and brought homemade chocolate cupcakes and some books to read while she's recovering. Our friend, Tom, drove up after work to spend the weekend with us and brought her a pretty bouquet of flowers (and he even brought mom a rose). After Tom arrived, the two of us went to Movie Gallery to pick her out a couple of movies to watch after I cooked dinner. Once we were done eating, her friend Steven came over to watch movies with her and Cheyenne. Later in the evening when she got tired she began hurting pretty bad. She chose to sleep on the couch instead of my bed or her bed. After taking a pain pill, she finally got some sleep.

On Saturday, Phyllis and Jim brought her some banana pudding to enjoy. She spent most of the day relaxing without friends and even took a sponge bath. The bandage can be taken off today but she isn't comfortable yet with the idea of getting in the shower because she has to take the stabilizer brace off to do so. Tom and I talked her into going to Beef O'Bradys last night for dinner just to get her out of the house for a little while. She seemed to enjoy it. Last night she slept in her bed and didn't need any medication during the night.

She is taking fewer pain meds and is learning to fight the pain. She opted to take Advil this morning instead so I think the pain isn't as severe as it has been. Her spirits remain positive and I can tell she is getting restless just sitting or laying around. Later today I will take her to Movie Gallery to get a few more movies and to get her out for a while.

ACL Reconstruction

Angela had her ACL Reconstruction surgery yesterday morning at 7:30. At 9:10 Dr. Shannon came out to tell me the surgery went well and that there were no surprises. He took a graft of one of her hamstrings and made a new ACL by attaching the graft into the tibia and femur with drill guides. Once the graft is pulled through the drill hole and into the knee it is in the same position as the original ACL and it is then held in place with bioabsorbale screws or metallic screws. They did a femur block to help with the pain while she was still under. I was able to go into recovery to help her get dressed for the ride home. She had no problem waking up and was not sick this time. She has on stabilizer brace over the bandage for 3 - 4 days. She is allowed to bear weight on her leg when she is comfortable during so, until then she will use her crutches. I'm going to attempt to get her to start bearing weight on it at least by Sunday. On Friday we will travel to Fort Myers to have her stitches removed and watch the video of the surgery. Dr. Shannon will set up therapy on Friday as well. Thankfully we will be able to do therapy in Clewiston!

We got home around 11:30 on Thursday and she slept most of the afternoon. Around 6:00 p.m. the block began to wear off and she started on her pain meds. By 10:00 p.m. last night she was in intense pain even with the pain meds. Finally around midnight she fell asleep and didn't wake up again until around 2:00 a.m. for more meds. She has done better today but is still taking the pain medication as needed.

Her spirits are great and she is appreciative of everyone that has visited or called. Her best friend, Cheyenne, has been right by her side since she woke up yesterday afternoon. Continue to pray that she will not be in much pain and that her recovery goes well.

Napping once we got home.

Pictures from Surgery that we were given after surgery.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer -On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how much do enjoy watching sports on television? Depending on what the sport is. . . if it is college football or baseball I would give it a 10.

Soup-If you could completely memorize any one work of fiction, which one would you pick? I have no idea.

Salad-What is your favorite breakfast food? Eggs, bacon or sausage.

Main Course-Name something fun you can do for less than $10.00. Rent a movie. Watch little league baseball or go to a soccer game here in town. Things I can do that doesn't cost anything. . . spend time with my friends in their homes or my home.

Dessert-How long does it usually take you to fall asleep? Most nights in less than 10 minutes.

Waiting

Have you ever stopped to think how our society is a "I want it now" society? I admit that patience is something I struggle with daily. I notice it when I'm driving (and Clewiston isn't a metropolitan area by any means), when I'm standing in line at Wal-Mart checking out, when I'm at the drive thru of a fast food chain, or any given moment. I am part of that society that wants things "now" and waiting is not something I enjoy doing. However, it is clear in God's Word that he desires us to wait. There are around 135 references regarding waiting in scripture. I don't know about you, but when I see that many references to a word in scripture it tells me this is important subject matter. As I've thought about this today I found this quote:

Wait on God and He will work, but don't wait in spiritual sulks because you
cannot see an inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own
spiritual hysterics to wait on God? To wait is not to sit with folded hands, but
to learn to do what we are told." ~ Oswald Chambers

So I leave you with this thought: Since patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit, time must be a special quality of the character of God himself. I find that remarkable - - even God must wait patiently for the fulfillment of his own plan for Redemption. So who are we to grumble when we are told to wait? My prayer is that I would wait, and find joy in the waiting. Too many times I've had to learn over and over the lesson of patience only after I've spent all my energies and manipulations trying to do things in my time instead of God's time and God telling me yet again,"It's not going to happen the way or the moment you want it to. You must wait."

Not So Quiet Anymore

I spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this past week alone. David left on Sunday afternoon to visit friends in Orlando and Angela left on Wednesday afternoon to spend a few days at Ft. Myers Beach with girlfriends. Everybody knows I don't cherish time away from them and how miserable I am when they are away. The house is eerily quiet without them. I counted the days until they returned and called them daily to see how they were doing. I know I'm pathetic, but they are my life.

With them gone I found things to do with girlfriends that kept me from being alone. On Thursday night, I had the opportunity to help prepare a meal along with my friend, Kristene, for a member of our church that recently was hospitalized. We took the meal we had prepared to them and visited with them for a while. After ministering to their need we returned to Kristene's apartment for dinner and wonderful conversation. Kristene was a gracious hostess and sent me home with a full stomach and several books that I look forward to reading.

On Friday night, I picked up Phyllis and Jessica after work. The three of us drove to Palm Beach to have dinner and watch a movie. We had dinner at Olive Garden and went window shopping at the Wellington Mall before going to see License to Wed. The movie was a great comedy and just what I needed!

David got back yesterday and Angela got home today. Everything is as it should be again. I enjoyed cooking for them today and just hanging out with them. It's great to have them home.

Welcome to the World Phoebe Grace Stowe

Congratulations to Sean, Diana & Hannah Stowe on the birth of their daughter and sister Phoebe Grace Stowe. She weighs 8 lbs 7 oz. and is 21 1/2 inches long with blue eyes. We can't wait to meet this precious little girl!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer-What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon.

Soup-Who is someone you consider as a great role model? My parents. The taught me so much about life and how to raise a family.

Salad-If you were to spend one night anywhere within an hour of your home, where would you choose? It's actually an hour and a half, but I'd spend the night in Miami Shores. It's one of my favorite places to go.

Main Course -Name something you do too often. Talk. . . I should listen more.

Dessert-Fill in the blank: I really like ___________ because ____________. I really like it when my kids are at home because I'm lonely without them.

College Update

After much pray and trying to figure out the financing of college there has been a change of plans concerning David's college education. He will not be enrolling at Full Sail, however he will be attending Palm Beach Community College. David and I have realized that at this time it just isn't in God's plans for him to attend Full Sail. Yes, he was disappointed at first but has come to understand that sometimes things just don't go the way we would desire them to go, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't pursue our goals. So, he is just going about those goals in a different way.

He received several scholarships but even with those scholarships and the loans that he was eligilbe for we still had to come up with a significant amount of money to finish paying for the tuition not to mention living expenses. That in and of itself played a major factor into deciding to attend Palm Beach Community College. His Bright Futures Scholarship will pay 100% for his two years at the Community College whereas it would have only paid 25% at Full Sail. The scholarship he received from the Lion's Club he can use once he enrolls at a University. We are still in the process of checking on the other scholarships he has received to see if he can use them at a later date.

He is up in Orlando spending a week with Debbie and Hope who moved there a few weeks ago as well as visiting Abi for her birthday. He drove up on Sunday afternoon and needless to say I was on edge until he called to say he arrived safely. He will return home on Saturday. Next week he will talk with the advisor at Palm Beach Community College and enroll for classes.

Although I know how much he wanted to go to Full Sail and move out from home, I am happy that he will be living at home and going to school. I just wasn't eager about him moving 3 hours away. He will still obtain the goals he has set for himself and I pray that he continue sees God's hand at work in his life.

Mile Marker O

On Thursday morning David, Angela and I headed out for our family vacation. They both invited a friend to go with us (Tommy and Cheyenne) and we were thrilled they were able to go. We drove to the Florida Keys to spend 2 nights and 3 days. David and Angela had been to Key Largo when they were Elementary School, however I had never been. We had a safe trip down although a frustrating one. Some where along the way I got lost and we ended up in downtown Miami lost. Being a female I was smart enough to stop and ask for directions. Once we were back on the road headed in the right direction the trip was more enjoyable. But like Tommy and David tried to make me feel better by asking, "What is a road trip without getting lost?" Personally I could have done without that part of our trip.

We arrived at our beachside resort in Grassy Key around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. After checking in we were all starving so we drove 15 minutes into Marathon to eat and pick up snacks and drinks. Once back to the room we changed into our swimming suits. David, Angela, Cheyenne and Tommy went out in the kayaks while I laid in the hammock reading a book. Later that evening a friend of Tommy's (Gracie) from college that lives in Plantation Key came by the room to visit with us and we all drove to Islamorada for dinner at Outback Steak House.

The following morning we drove to Key West for the day. Driving over the bridges that connect all the different islands (there are actually 39 islands connected by 43 bridges) was breath taking. One of the bridges is actually 7 miles long and the water is beautiful on both sides of the bridge. While driving through Key Deer the kids saw a Key Deer but I missed it because I was driving. Once we arrived in Key West we purchased tickets for the Conch Train Tour where we toured the island while hearing the history of Key West. After the train tour we had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. From there we went to Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum. The kids enjoyed the museum however I wasn't thrilled with this attraction. Once we left the museum we walked along the famous Duval Street until time to board the Discovery Glass Bottom Boat. Once aboard the Discovery we arrived on a reef where we got to see the colorful coral, exotic tropical fish, and a variety of marine life. The glass bottom boat took 2 hours round trip but was well worth the time. Back on shore we walked around the island just people watching and browsing the shops until we all were ready to eat again. For dinner we choose Guy Harvey's Island Grill. After dinner we went to Mallory Square for the Sunset Celebration. Each night prior to sunset people gather at Mallory Square to watch the sunset as well as various performers and arts and crafts show. On this particular night we saw an escape artist, a fire juggler and a dog performing tricks. Once the sun set we traveled back to our room for the night.

On Saturday morning, Angela and I watched the sunrise on the beach while everyone else slept. We then made everyone get up and we packed the van before heading back to Key West before driving home. We went to the Ship Wreck Museum and then went to the Key West Aquarium. At the Aquarium the demonstrator tried to get Angela to put her finger in a hermit crab's mouth and amazingly she was afraid to do it. So I hesitantly took her place. By the time we finished the two attractions we were hot and hunger so we went to Dante's for lunch. Dantes has a pool that is open to the public as long as you order drinks or food. Needless to say we changed into our swim suits and enjoyed relaxing in the pool before heading to the Pirates Museum. Tommy wanted to see the Pirates Museum so we headed out and I was actually amazed at how interesting it turned out to be. Once we exited the museum it was time to head home. Before leaving the island we drove down to the Southern Most Point in the United States to snap a photo of all of us.

The drive home didn't take as long as the drive to the Keys because I actually took the right highways home instead of taking detours and getting us lost. However, 20 minutes from home I was pulled over by a Palm Beach Sheriff along with another blue van with a Hendry County tag. I knew the other van was the one speeding but as the officer explained he had to pull us both since we were side by side when he clocked us on radar. Thankfully, the other driver was honest and told the officer he was the guilty one.

We enjoyed our time in the Keys but as with all trips we were glad to be home. Here are some pictures from our vacation:
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Friday Feast Courtesy of Mike

Appetizer - What was the first job you ever had?

I worked at Hardees for one night.

Soup - (Taken from Bravo’s Inside the Actor’s Studio) - Name a profession you have always wanted to try. Social Worker

Salad (also from the Actor’s Studio) - Name a profession you would NEVER want to try. Anything in the medical field. I'm too squeamish.

Entree - (also from the Actor’s Studio) - What is your favorite sound in the world?
First my children's voices, then it would have to be the sound of waves breaking at the shore.

Dessert - (and from the Actor’s Studio) - If there is a Heaven, what would you like to hear from God when you arrive? "Well done thy good and faithful servant"

We're Back

We're back from our mini vacation. We arrived home tonight around 9:30. I'll post later about our adventure. Until then check out the Friday Feast courtesy of Mike.

On Friday evening I got together with a friend from church, Kristene Petersen and her friend, Anna Jo Springfield, for a girl's night out. We drove over to West Palm Beach to see the movie "Evening" with Meryl Streep and Glen Close. The best thing I can say about the movie was the scenery was beautiful. After being very disappointed in the movie we ate at Olive Garden in Wellington and enjoyed wonderful conversation with each other.

On Saturday afternoon the kids and I drove to Miami to see the Marlins vs the Braves. Thankfully the rain stopped in time for the game and stayed away throughout the game. As we got onto 595 in Ft. Lauderdale we encountered a downpour. David had planned on arriving at the stadium in time to watch batting practice, however due to the heavy rain we opted to eat instead. Following the game, which the Braves won 6-5, we stayed to watch the fireworks display and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in concert. Even though it made for a late (we got home around 1:15 a.m.) it was worth enduring the drive in the rain and the lack of sleep. I love watching David at a baseball game. There is nothing he likes better than watching a game.