Most Outstanding Student

I am so proud of David's academic achievements. He was presented with an award for Most Outstanding Microeconomics Student today. Highest average campus wide!!! Go David!!!

Published

Back in November I opened a Flickr account to store photos in case my computer every crashed. I didn't go to the trouble of making any of the pictures private. At the end of December I received the following email on my flickr account. . .

I am writing to let you know that one of your photos has been short-listed for inclusion in the tenth edition of our Schmap Fort Myers Guide, to be published late January 2010.
Clicking this link will take you to a page where you can:
i) See which of your photos has been short-listed.
ii) Submit or withdraw your photo from our final selection phase.
iii) Learn how we credit photos in our Schmap Guides.
iv) Browse online or download the ninth edition of our Schmap Fort Myers Guide.
While we offer no payment for publication, many photographers are pleased to submit their photos, as Schmap Guides give their work recognition and wide exposure, and are free of charge to readers. Photos are published at a maximum width of 150 pixels, are clearly attributed, and link to high-resolution originals at Flickr.
Our submission deadline is Friday, January 8. If you happen to be reading this message after this date, please still click on the link above (our Schmap Guides are updated frequently - photos submitted after this deadline will be considered for later releases).
Best regards,
Emma Williams,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides

I responded giving them the permission and was in awe that it might be used for their guide. I haven't heard back from Emma, but this afternoon on a whim I decided to google the Schmap Guides for Ft. Myers just to see if they had actually used the photo. To my delight it was there. I am still in awe that one of my photos is actually being used for promotion of one of the places I visited.

You can check out the photo at Schmap Guides. Then click on Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. In the upper right hand corner of the page is a slide show of photos of the Preserve. Click the right arrow and it is about the 16th picture.

National Day of Prayer

Today is National Day of Prayer. Millions will unite in prayer from coast to coast. This year's theme is Prayer. . . America's Hope based on Psalm 33:22 which says, "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." If you are not planning on attending a National Day of Prayer event in your area, take time today to lift up our government, our military, the media, businesses, education, churches, and families before the throne of God.

Arrangements

Here are the arrangements for Brian's Memorial Service:

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 29th from 4pm-6pm at Akin-Davis Funeral Home.
The funeral service will be Wednesday, April 29th at 7pm at First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made for a college fund for Nathan & Luke. Donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Clewiston.

Please Pray

Please pray! Our Senior Pastor, Brian Hamrick, has won the ultimate victory in Christ- the realization of his eternal life and hope. The Lord called Brian home last night. Brian is survived by his wife and two sons, his mother,father, and brother along with his church family.

Aunt Ginnie

I'm going to be an aunt again!!! Okay, so it's not blood relative but who cares. My ex-sister-in-law found out this past week that she and her husband, Ron, are expecting. I'm looking forward to meeting this precious little one that God has created.

Lets Say Thanks

I received an email today from a friend about something cool that Xerox is doing. If you go to this website, www.LetsSayThanks.com You can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. It's FREE and it only takes a second. The site has suggested messages or you can write your own message.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and girls over there need to know we are thinking of them. They are fighting for us and so often we take our freedom for granted.

Phi Theta Kappa

David was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa this week. Phi Theta Kappa's mission is two-fold: 1) recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and (2) provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming. The American Association of Community Colleges recognized Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges in 1929. Being a member of the Phi Theta Kappa will give him the opportunity of scholarships when he transfers to a 4 year college.

I am so proud of his accomplishments throughout his college education. He has proven to be very diligent in his studies and is very determined to get his AA by December 2009. He has shown the ability to stay on top of his studies while working 4 days a week (at times more than that if they need him).

Keep up the excellent work David! We are so proud of you and all your accomplishments.

Pink for October

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.

But there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.

Ladies call today and schedule your mammogram. . . it makes a difference.

Angela and Sports

Since her first Cross Country meet in Lake Placid on September 17, Angela has been diligently trying to improve her running time. At times she grows frustrated that her times are not what she would like them to be. However, at today's meet in Lemon Bay she was pleased with her time of 28 minutes in the 5k (3.1 miles). Her times thus far have been:
Lake Placid: 31:22
Optimist: 32:48
Spanish River: 31:22
Lemon Bay:28:00
She continues to love running and is enjoying the season. They will be going to Disney World to run at the invitational there on October 10.

She tried out this week for the Lady Tigers Soccer team. When we asked how try outs went she replied that she did lousy with her drills and shooting, but went ahead and tried out for goalie as well. The second day of tryouts they had to run a mile while being timed. Her time was 7 minutes. Last night the coaches posted the names of those who made the team, but we were in Palm Beach at the movies. Our friend, Phyllis, subs at the school and had talked to the coach yesterday afternoon to find out if she made the team. As we were leaving the movie Phyllis casually told her, "Hey Angela, guess what you made the soccer team!" Angela jumped up and down yelling, "Yes, Yes, I made it!" So once again I'm a Soccer Mom!

Great Job David

David just completed his Spring semester at Palm Beach Community College. His first year of college has gone well and he has done a marvelous job of staying on top of his studies. He completed the Spring semester with a grade point average of 3.8! Great job David, I am proud of you!

Proposals

If you know me, you know that I am intrigued by relationships. If I've known you for any length of time and you are married I eventually ask "how did the two of you meet?" I'm clueless as to why stuff like that intrigues me, but it does. The only thing I can think of is that I'm a romantic at heart. Over the years I have heard many different stories about how my friends met their spouses.

For example, one couple I know both turned down scholarships at different universities and ended up going to the same universities where they met each other and ended up falling in love and getting married. No doubt, it was God's providence that they ended up at that particular university. Another couple I know had grown up together, but the guy married her best friend (she was in their wedding). Later, her (now) husband divorced and they are now married. The list could go on and on, but these things just intrigue me.

All that to tell you how a girl who used to babysit David and Angela came to be engaged. Her finance proposed to her on Christmas Eve. I thought it was so cute I just had to share their proposal story. Here is their story in her words. . .

We were spending Christmas Eve Day together, and decided that before going to his family's house for dinner; we would open one of each other's presents. I gave Andrew a hat that he’s liked for a while now (which looks great on him, by the way) and he gave me this really creative puzzle that’s actually a collage of pictures of the two of us! It has smaller pictures all around the border, and then in the middle it has a larger picture of us and it says Merry Christmas 2007 down at the bottom. We started putting the puzzle together, but ended up leaving part of the way through to spend the evening with his family.

The night was perfect. It was my first Christmas away from my family, and that night his relatives made me feel so at home. I had no idea that he was planning on proposing later that evening, but his parents and brother knew the entire time! His dad actually wanted to tell everyone the news before Andrew actually proposed, but Andrew forbade him to do so. =) As we were leaving his Cousin David’s house, he told me that he really wanted to go home and finish the puzzle, so we did. He made hot apple cider, and we just sat there talking and putting the puzzle pieces together. Near the end of our ‘completion,’ I realized that we were missing quite a few pieces to this puzzle. I told Andrew that it didn’t look like we had enough, and he quickly assured me that he put the puzzle together a few days before when he got it in the mail just to make sure that everything was a-okay. Lo and behold, we finished the puzzle and it was missing about 15 pieces, right where the Merry Christmas 2007 was supposed to be. I was a little concerned that they might have accidentally been vacuumed up, but he said they might just be in his room and that we could look for them later.

We sat on the couch talking for a little while, and then I asked him if he wanted to open his second present. Well, he did, and he loved the customized Steelers gift that I had bought for him (yes, it has his name on it and everything, very nifty). After that, he asked me if I wanted MY second gift, and I said something along the lines of ‘absolutely!’ He went over to the tree and after a minute or so of the ‘Oh no, I think I lost your present’ game, he brought me over a box that said To: Dani From: Santa (it even had a life-like stick figure drawing of the jolly ole’ fellow!). When I opened the box, all I saw was bubble wrap. As much as I love popping bubbles (who doesn’t?!?), at that point I was beginning to get a little suspicious, but of course didn’t say anything… And then I saw it.

At the bottom of the box were the missing puzzle pieces, all put together perfectly, and in place of the Merry Christmas 2007 were the words “Dani, Will You Marry Me?” =) I looked up at him (and just about knocked him over I hugged him so hard) as he told me that he wants to spend all of his Christmases with me and told me that he loves me. Well OF COURSE I said yes and in a few months I’m marrying the love of my life! We’re so incredibly happy and can’t wait to share this amazing time with all of you.

I pray God will bless Dani and Andrew as they begin this journey of marriage.

Our Newest Family Member

As of yesterday we have a new family member. Angela is now the proud momma of Bay-Leigh. She's a Ratshi Terrier (that's a rat terrier and shih-tzu mixed). She is adorable and has been a good girl since we brought her home.

By His Wounds

A beautiful song by Mac Powell, Steven Curtis Chapman, Brian Littrrell, and Mark Hall. The song is taken from Isaiah 53:5. You can hear the entire CD here.


He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

He was pierced for our transgressions
And crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
And by His wounds, by His wounds

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Six Month Follow Up

Angela went today for her 6 month follow up for her ACL reconstruction. The appointment bore good news and she was pleased to hear what Dr. Shannon had to say.

Her knee has improved since we were there in November. He released her to go back to physical education at school, with a brace for any contact sports. He wrote a prescription for an ACL brace which she will wear when running or participating in contact sports. She is to continue therapy once a week with the supplemental therapy at home. Her gave her permission to play softball in the spring if she desires and feels comfortable doing so provided she wears the ACL brace. She and I talked on the way home and she wants to wait until he releases her in July to play sports again. She doesn't feel her knee is ready for the intensity of playing and practicing every day. However, with the brace she thinks she will become more comfortable and plans to start jogging to help strengthen her muscles in her leg. We go back in July for her one year follow-up.

She knew several of our friends were praying for her and her appointment today and expressed her thankfulness for everyone's prayers today as we met with the doctor.

Straight A's

We got David's grades tonight. He made straight A's his first semester. I am so proud of how hard he worked. He is registered for spring classes and currently enrolled for 3 classes. He's waiting to talk to an advisor regarding the next math class he needs to take. Once he talks to the advisor he will be taking 4 classes. Currently he will be taking College Comp, Microcomputer applications, and Earth Science.

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.

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.

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!

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.