Mike and Vickie have been a great testimony to our Lord.  I had the priveledge of spending the day in Orlando with Mike and Vickie when he was able to get around fairly well and think clearly.  Mike talked to me about a lot of things that day, but I remember the tenderness and care with which he treated my sister.  She was like his princess.  It was very touching.  I almost felt like an intruder that day as they spent their special week together.  I have a great deal of respect for both of them as they have made God and family their priority in principal and practice.  Mike made me realize some things very gently that will stay with me forever. I have had a wonderful example put before me through my parents, my sisters and their families and my brother and his wonderful wife and boys.  I realize I am blessed.  I am proud to be a part of such a wonderful family.  It is a bittersweet time.  I will selfishly miss Mike, but am glad he is out of pain and with the God he loved so much.  Words are just not enough....I love you sis.

P.S.  My arm is much better.  I think I may get by with 1st degree burns.  It has not blistered yet!

A typical Monday for me.  The dogs had me up at 6:30 (on my day off).  I loaded them up and brought them home with me so I could get some stuff done to prepare for my faculty training tonight from 4-9for the university.  Some kind of new electronic portfolio for the state.  I was making oatmeal for breakfast and when I was taking the boiling bowl of water out of the microwave...it slipped and scalded me from my inner wrist to nearly my elbow.  I yanked  my shirt off, but not before it got a little on my side.  I called BCBS med coach to see what to do...she said get to the doctor.  It was hurting pretty bad by then.  So, a tetnus shot, lortab, burn ointment and a wrap later, I think I am taking off tomorrow too.  The doctor suggested I stay out until Wednesday when I go back for a re-check.  I hate to miss work because I haven't been there in a week and a half.  When I was hurting, I thought about Mike, and I realized my pain is nothing.  Maybe while I am left handed, I will develop some kind of artistic quality....NOT.  Will update later.

Love to all

Some of these may be repeats, but this is for you sis.  Love ya!

The birthday girl!

Love ya!!!

Safely home...dead tired.  Will post pics later, if there are any that aren't repeats.  My prayers are with Mike and Vickie and the travelers.  Anxious to hear from the Guatamala travelers returning.

Beekah trying to diaper her doll....after Eli (under supervision) changed her diaper by herself.  She did a great job!

This baby doll is for real!  Her very helpful sister changed her with supervision. 

Loving on her Aunt Linda Jane

What a beautiful smile to wake up to!

They spent the day with Aunt Linda Jane and Aunt Nancy.  They miss their Nana and Pops.

This one is for Hal.  I love my birdfeeer.   I just had to find a place the squirrels couldn't reach!

I have been MIA, and had to come up for air.  During the summer we work 4 ten hour days.  Two of my classes made, and instead of 15 weeks, we had 8 week, 5 hour long classes.  I had 18 in one class.  Lots of grading and one week turn around time.  Research papers and projects, test s to write and grade.  House sitting and finishing up an online course I was teaching.  I think they call it "burning the candle at both ends".  But I just have one more week of class, one week of grading papers after that and then...whew.  I have been reading subscriptions, but no time to reply as I have to be at work at 7, don't get home on classs nights untill 10 or 11.  The other nights spent preparing and grading.  Other than church, that has been my last seven weeks.  I am looking forward to being done! 

Dallas turned 3 yesterday....can you believe it?!  I think he likes Spiderman!!

Welcomed with bubbles by Spider Man!!!

Horseshoes, bouncing fun, swimming and hot dogs and hamburgers and lots of lil ones......

He was too busy playing, swimming, sliding, jumping and eating to care about all those presents!  He had fun!

Did I mention slip n slide?  Candace didn't want to do that?

Talking wedding?

Good morning.  I changed my site so my mother wouldn't have to strain to see the white writing.  (It was hard.)  Nothing much to report.  A Saturday at home.  A chance to do some housework and school work.  Sounds like a complaint, but it is not.  My busy life sometimes leaves my house taken over by dust, and things I can't name!  I downloaded some cool stuff to listen to on my IPod while I work through my list, so I am actually looking forward to getting something done! 

I will not have a life for 8 weeks.  They changed summer classes from 15 weeks to 8, which means class starts at 5:30 and lasts until 10:30 PM.  And the second class I was supposed to teach only had 4 students so they told me not to worry about writing a syllabus.  I had prayed about it, a little worried about that much planning and grading in 8 weeks, and if He led me to it, He would get me through it.  Well, Friday they called and asked me to do it as a direct study.  I spent last Sunday writing a syllabus. I still have to show up each week, but only for about an hour.  The text books are new and I am reading them trying to stay a day ahead of my students!  I have 18 in my other class.  18 research paers, 18 projects, (Cheri knows what I'm talking about!).  I will be busy, but I will get through it. 

I am getting to go to the beach for four days next week and stay in a condo with three of my teacher friends.  I have tocome back to town to teach for one hour....but I'm not complaing.  It was a friends condo and it is only a hundred a person for four nights.  I better enjoy before the papers start coming due.

Well....the quest is on.  Find the perfect Mother-of-the-bride dress.  The right dress, wrong size, wrong color, three malls later and still no dress.  More malls to be conquered!  I went to Jacksonville yesterday to start looking for my dress and Angela treated me to a hot rock pedicure.  Oh my!  She knew it was not something I would splurge on for myself, so it really was a treat.  They massage your feet and legs with warm smooth stones.  Now I have pretty toes!  We had a nice lunch together and shopped, shopped, shopped.  Hope everyone in Hope had a great re-union.  I thought of everyone!

Love you

 I always get so excited when I get letters from Dioni.  I got another picture today.

This was from when I sponsored her in 2004.

I believe this one is from 2007.

Dioni Juliana Londono Arenas, from Columbia, South America. 

This was from today.  I have watched her grow up from struggling to write her name to writing the sweetest little letters of thanks and gratitude.  I am the one that is blessed.  She writes four of five times a year and sends me pictures she has drawn.  She is maturing into a young lady that speaks of her love for the Lord.

   I spent a lot of time in revrent thought and prayer for our loved ones lost.  I treasure seeing our flag.

I had the privelege of being invited on a sunset cruise in St. Augustine in a real sail boat.  Our host was celebrating his wife's 50th bithday.

She and her husband are anxiously waiting to claim their baby they are adopting from China.

Her friend from Lakeland that is also waiting to get her baby from China.  She met her on a blog about adoption.  They have a lot of love to give

.

One of our sailors....... she was a student from Flagler College majoring in psychology.  Her Dad was a psychologist that worked with children of missionaries before re-entering society.  He would actually go to the counrty where they were serving and work with the families for a couple of months before their return.  She was interesting to talk to.

A variety of family, friends and supporters.

We were mesmerized by the beauty, the lovely evening and the sea breeze.

It was the perfect day...

St. Augustine in the background...

The lighthouse.....

The cross is near the School for the Deaf and Blind.

The sunset......was so beautiful

Going.....

Going....

Gone.

A final prayer request.  This is Angie.  She is my friend Cathy's little sister, Angie.  She has a young son in elementary school.  Last year she had a stroke that left her with a permanent limp.  A month ago she either had another stroke or fell because of her leg and fell hard on her face, leaving her optic nerve shattered.  She probably won't regain vision in that eye.  I taught with her when I was teaching special education.  I pray for healing and acceptance.

I had a very special sunset cruise followed by a horse and buggy tour of  St. Augustine by moonlight.  The party ended at a restuarant called the Tappist Room, where we were served food and birthday cake.  Allie is very excited about being a Mom.  It was a special celebration.

The cart I was on.

Oh, and nothing happened when I was house sitting!