Yeh, in a few hours this speech thingie will all be over! Jill Smith and I were asked to share our families testimony as to how we became involved in prison ministry, at the Ladies Benefit Tea for GEMS. It's not like I am having to preach a sermon, so why am I so nervous? LOL...say a prayer for me if you think about it around lunch time!!

 Had a great time in Panama City yesterday taking this young ladies graduation pics...



Ok, my reason for getting up so early was to put the final touches on my speech, so I better skidaddle!! Later~

 Finally time to post...I uploaded the pics on Sunday, then I didn't have time for a few days, and then our internet service was worse than dial up...I think they got it fixed today! YAY!
 So, here are the promised pics from last weekend... the motel that we stayed at (and where the meetings were) had an indoor pool, which was very nice since it would have been too cool to swim outside. We got there Thursday night and of course had to make good use of it before bed!
 My fish....

Back swimming...
The next evening Tamara swam all the way across the pool and back without floaties on her arms...I am proud of her!

Friday the kids and I went to the Zoo of Northwest Florida. The drive down was interesting...I have pics farther down of the big bridge we got to cross...
 The Zoo was not real big but it was nice. I'll let the pics do the talking...

This is a face I would not like to meet in the wild!!

Isn't this coon so cute??

We took a train ride through an open range area....

This alpaca's name was Carmen! (took this for my niece and Tamara's friend! )

This ape was hilarious....he was on an island so he couldn't get to us, but when the train got near, he came barreling towards us beating on his chest...it was so loud!!

Salad for lunch...

There were alot of azaleas in bloom...so beautiful!

We saw quite a few white peacocks...they look majestic!

On the way home, Tamara fell asleep, but we stopped at a rest area before we crossed back over the long bridge.

There's the bridge...

That evening we went to Logan's Roadhouse for supper....yum! I'd go back! We also shopped in the mall for a little then came back and went swimming again. A fun time...

 This week has been busy and it doesn't look to slow down anytime soon! We had meetings at church with Mervin Wengard from Sun. -Wed. We had them over for supper Tuesday night. Thought they might enjoy re-visiting their old house! Mervin was a volunteer chaplain here about 12 years ago and they were the ones who lived here first...after the house got moved here from town.
 Wed. I had Yolie and her kids here for lunch and play time. It was good to reconnect...seems our lives have been so busy!
 This afternoon the kids and I are going on a big shopping trip to Walmart! We have so much stuff we need! And some Tupperware to deliver....

 If you think about it, say a prayer for me...I have to share about how Dan & I got involved in prison ministry on Saturday at a Benefit Ladies Tea for Gospel Express. I do not enjoy talking in front of a crowd, but I know it'll be over by this time next week! LOL! Thanks!~

 I feel so burdened tonight....today was not a good day! I found out about 2 friends who have cancer, another local lady who has had cancer for awhile and now it has spread to her brain, little Ayla needs surgery and my sister has too much amniotic fluid and is on the verge of pre-eclampsia....    Why God??

Please pray....
 for Darlene ~a dear friend I met when she started dating a guy from our church in PA. Her and her husband sing with Good News, who Dan was a part of before we moved south. They have four young daughters. She was just diagnosed with breast cancer after having a lump removed that they were pretty sure was just a benign tumor. Darlene is so young...only 28...

 for Becky ~heard she has cancer in her kidneys. Her husband is on the board for Gospel Express Ministries South and we got to work together at the bake stand at the annual GEMS auction for the last 3 years! (in the blue dress, white apron)

 for Ayla ~her little body is fighting pneumonia and they have to do surgery to drain her lung...she kept getting worse even on antibiotics and oxygen. Pray for her momma, too as she sits by her daughters side each day!!

 for Gina ~my sweet younger sister.... ya Gina!! (striped one ) We are praying for the safety of your little one...

...and for Doris Ebersole, the lady in town whose cancer has spread....her and her family lived near Dan's family when he was about 8 years old. The Ebersoles also served in Canada for quite a few years!

 I feel so blessed tonight...my little ailments seem so small in the light of all this...
  God, give each one your peace and comfort tonight....

 Our life has been so busy the past week, that last night was the first open night to have our Valentines supper. The kids were looking forward to it so much that I didn't want to disappoint them and skip it. So, here it is...
 ...the table.

The table with my family around it!
 (I wanna tickle Danny's toes!!)

The food....Shrimp cooked in Lemon Pepper and Garlic, Salad, and Mozarella Cheese Sticks....dessert came later~

 Some friends told us about an event coming to the BHS auditorium...the Strength Team, so we surprised the kids and took them there....these guys are amazing!! They are so strong, but also use the show time to share their testimonies and tell people about God's saving grace! A bunch of area churches sponsored them coming for a 5 night session. We are hoping to go back Saturday evening.
 The 4 man team...Mike Hagen, Clarence Lee (C-Train), Andy Gavin and Kevin Suter.

I think this was Kevin....ready to break a pile of bricks with his head and a pile with each arm!!

And there they go....

C-train, on the left is blowing up a hot water bottle.

Soon after this, it burst! (Looks like a giant peach!!)

Andy breaking a Louisville Slugger behind his leg! He also broke one over his leg and one behind his back.

C-Train bending a 1" piece of metal in half...

And here Mike was ripping fat phone books in half....he ripped 6 in half in like 29 seconds!!

Kevin tearing a license plate in half.

The most dangerous feat of the evening....breaking 2 x 4's by running through them....I caught this on video..

 We bought both the kids a tee shirt and along with that, they got souvenirs to bring home....Tamara got the guys to autograph a half of one of the ripped phone books...we even found our phone number in it...just not Dan's name! Danny got them to autograph part of one of the bats they broke...you could also ask for the license plate or the water bottle!
 The kids couldn't get done thanking us for taking them....Tamara said, "I'm gonna be talking about this for a long time!!"

 I had coffee set up to be brewed by the time we got home, so we sat around and discussed the evening, drank coffee and had our dessert....

...chocolate eclair pudding... YUM!

I had a great evening with the most special people in the world!!

 Today we are off on a field trip to the Bristol Courthouse and Sheriffs Office...then tonight the Bontrager Family is going to be singing at church.
 ~TTYL~

 Last evening was time for our annual Secret Sister Banquet. Last year I was JoAnn's helper and this year I was in charge and had Nancy Redmond as my helper. I really wanted to do a coffee theme and Nancy was a very good assistant since she loves coffee too! We had fun planning, shopping and then decorating. The tearing down was not as fun. I think next year they should "hire" a few people to help!
 So here's the pics.....

 We set up most everything on Tuesday evening.
   Danny helped set up the tables and chairs.

Set up....

Just adding table covers made it look a bit better! Nancy had the idea to use lamp light instead of the bright fluorescent lights. She had so many pretty ones....

 
 Yesterday we got to church early in the afternoon and finished the decorating, putting food together and making sure everything was ready! We even got to sit and visit for a good half hour!

 Making coffee.... How many scoops do you use to make 35 cups, when 25 cups take 18 scoops???

Nancy filling croissants with her yummy chicken salad!

The dessert table waiting for the yummy desserts! We had pumpkin roll, peanut butter pie, cran-apple pie, cinnamon rolls and chocolate biscotti!

The coffee table...complete with flavored syrups, cool whip spray, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate and caramel syrup. And of course cream and sugar. There was also tea for those who don't like coffee.

Some of the decor....

     

Carol painted this beautiful coffee shop for us...thanks to the idea from my friend Julia!

Set up and ready for the ladies to come! They were calling for nasty weather and while we did have some rain, it wasn't too bad.

What you saw as you walked in the front door...

Chow time....

Nancy made the croissant chicken salad sandwiches, and I made BLT wraps and Dijon Chicken tomato wraps. We also had chips and then the desserts I mentioned before! All so yummy!!

Sharon, Sherita and Ruth Ann filling up! ...while Sarah waits as patiently as possible....

Conversation around the desserts....
 Alma, Amy C., Carol and Heidi

The gifts...

Carol Yoder was my secret sister this year! What a special lady!

Thanks Nancy!! It was so much fun working with you!!

Sarah and her dear little Logan

 For some reason I could NOT sleep after I got home.  I brought in my van load of stuff and then got ready for bed. Dan was in bed already so I sat at the computer and checked up on my friends and watched to see what was happening in the outside world. Soon after I got home the weather alert went off stating that there was a tornado warning a county north of here. It was moving east though, so I soon went to bed only to be woke up around 2 with some serious rain and wind. For some reason I was wide awake.... Went back to bed about 30 minutes later and slept in a little this morning.
 It is a beautiful day! I have the windows open and am getting some cleaning done. Tonight we are having a late Valentine's supper. The kids can hardly wait!!
 Have a blessed day~

Thanks to Sarah for the CD I am currently listening to! I love it!! Sarah had my name this past year! She also gave me a book of humorous stories and a bag of Resses PB cups!! 

  We were invited to celebrate Sean's 5th birthday on Valentine's evening. Dan took the kids and I out for an early supper to Ruby Tuesday's (yum, yum!!), we did a little shopping, and then went to the party.
 
 The Birthday Boy....it's hard to believe he was only 1 when we moved down here!!

Time to open the gifts!!

Robin was decorating me with ribbons and beads....

My Love & I ...together for 15 Valentine Days!!

Rocky & Heidi

Hannah!!

Jesse had fun tying up Danny & Luke with ribbon from the gifts...they were pretty strong, and broke out each time!!
 The last time Jesse tied up Danny, he blindfolded him.....

...tied his legs together...and his hands, behind his back!! The boys loved it.

Yesterday we had a Valentines' Party with our homeschool group at Bristol Church of God. Thanks to Jill for doing the planning and setting up!!
 When we left in the morning, the sky was so pretty with fluffy cotton ball clouds!!

Leah-the greeter....always a cheerful smile!
 The children signed up for a door prize drawing ...

Coloring papers....

Decorating their boxes....

Danny's finished box...

They had a relay race with chopsticks and candy hearts....whoever got
the most candy hearts on their plate without using two hands was the
winner.

The younger group getting ready for the relay....

Sweet Lydia

Jill, the planner and MC

Aimee and her daughter Kirsten

Then came the time to eat....all that yummy food!!

  

The three Musketeers waiting in line...

Brothers....

Mrs. Michelle serving drinks....

And here are all us mom's!!
 Kay, Jill, Me, Patty, Aimee, Emily, Amy and Michelle....

Putting Valentines in all the kids boxes....

All the children present.....

I thought it'd be neat to compare this picture to the one from last year...so here is last years group. If you know these kids, it's amazing to see how much some of them have changed! We've also lost a few and gained some new ones!!

  Tuesday night the kids and I went to Walmart for groceries and other things. Tamara has been asking me to get her a knitting loom so we checked them out. I did not feel informed enough to know what to get her, so we settled for Latch Hook kits. That brought back memories from my childhood!! I used to love doing these!!
 The children picked up on it very quickly and I think Tamara is ready for row 8 on her horse mat, and Danny is ready for row 6 on his puppy mat. I kind of wish I had got one for myself, too, but then what would I do with it when I am done?? The instruction paper says you can make pillows with them....anyone ever tried that?? I'd say that would be the most useful of the suggestions it gave!





Before Dan left for work this morning, he told me I might get a package in the mail...that I should pay attention to the front door! Around 4:15, Tamara came running with a package from the UPS man....
   ...............



Beautiful flowers from my hubby!!



 The note was sweet...we are celebrating our 15th Valentines Day this year!!



     

My kitchen table looks so much cheerier today!!



  This evening was a ministry team meeting for church. We met at Rocky & Heidi's and us ladies had a good time visiting while the men discussed business! Thanks for the enjoyable evening, Heidi!! Now I gotta get my sore muscles in bed so I am ready for a day of shopping with another special lady!! I am excited!! Yeh, I don't get out much!   ~Goodnight~