Florida Fun - a special pleasure

 We took a tour of NASA space center with our dear friends Mick and Gayle.


These two were the prettiest 'birds' - and birders- we saw on a nature walk as we drove to Cape Canaveral. It was like the years dropped away as we talked and laughed together.









Here
is
Mick
doing
his
part
to
keep
our
Space
Program
up.










It was so good to see these two together -















Good Friends make life better.

Florida Fun - two festivals

 We celebrated Thanksgiving all day long - and a highlight was Reed acting out Cassidy's Indians and Pilgrims first Feast.  She wrote it, built the props, narrated the story, sketched out the screenplay, and then had to take whatever the lead actor would give her - which was a smash hit for both of them!







This was the Thanksgiving group at its peak -- some had to leave about dark, some stayed until the last whistle sounded on the last football game, I think.  Of course no one left able to hold one more bite of food!








While Reed was away on a Webelos Scout campout, Ava and I took Cassidy to a Celtic festival in nearby Dunedin (pronounced, I learned, as "dun-eee-din") - about an hour's drive to the North.  It was better than expected with great bagpipe bands. This is their High School marching band which features bagpipes, drums and Irish dance, something Cassidy is learning.



Even the city has its own Pipe Band that competes in Scotland regularly - and wins awards.  Haven't heard such good playing since Tatoo in Scotland!

Florida fun - Universal 2

 Where's a Super Hero when Gram
Ava needs one??


I didn't include the pic of Gram and Captain America-he was just too buff.










Some team members plan - some go along for the ride.















And then there's those who never miss a chance to rest up (or is it down?)















Gram got the team together - no mean feat - for one more picture.  I didn't know Reed had any shirts that color!

Can you tell which two are sisters?

Florida Fun-Universal Studios and Harry Potter!

 Here we are in Hogsmeade after the g-kids have earned their wands. It was a great holiday trip and we were glad that those in school - Reed and Cass as well as Becky and Katie - were able to do it.

Ava took  some great pics, as always, but there was really too much to see.















These girls know everything about Harry Potter - and couldn't quit grinning the whole day!













Hogwarts!

It is huge and really well done.  There's a super ride inside as well as outside rides like the one on the right that Ava really enjoyed.










She (and Arwen) never even gave a thought about getting on this one, though.  Some of those feet may be those of the rest of us who rode as many, and often, as our stomachs would allow.

Florida fun - 1

Grandkids, like Cassidy, are a big attraction in south Florida, duh! 
Here she is receiving her Student of the Month award. She and Reed attend a great school.











We are staying close to their house and our park sits on the Braden River. Here we are setting out some lines to see what fish we might catch.  Randy and Reed ran the lines the next morning - Hardhead catfish was all :(










Arwen has created an amazing native garden for butterflys and here she is showing the kids how the catepillars are still around in early November.  Must be in Florida, eh?











Florida, indeed. Ahoy, Maties! There be pirates in these waters! 

This is the hardy group that went snorkeling in November! You recognize the Old Pirate and his daughter but the comely brunette is Becky's young friend Katie from San Antone.

Of course, the captives are some how related to Captain Stache.

Camp Bee 2012 Finale

 This year Ava and I were in charge of the "Hospitality" tables at the workshop main meetings.  Everyone contributes finger foods and we make the coffee, tea, and put it all out.  That meant getting up early, being there about 6:30am and executing the plan.

You think teenagers can eat?  You oughta see a bunch of hungry senior Sojourners!





The key is getting a great 'co-chairman' couple - like Karen and John Wells!  They were great - Karen and Ava got it done and received some well-deserved 'attaboys' from the Workshop Director.







John and I had lots of help - every day a couple of men thought they could teach us how to make coffee.  Little did they know we had years of experience from Wednesday Nite meals back in Harlingen@!







Workshop always end with a hug - a Sojourner Hug.  Hurry up, John and Karen, or you'll miss getting hugged and squeezed 'til your eyes pop!

One of the blessings of Sojourning is that we know we will see each other again - somewhere, sometime; this side or the other :)

Camp Bee - October 2012

 You do feel like a kid again when we get together at "camp" with Sojourner friends with your stories to tell from the past year and a whole year of possibilities ahead!











150 rigs on about 8 "blocks" get together in individual Block Parties to have some fun, food and get better acquainted.  Here we can find out about many different Sojourns and help us decide what, and where, to work next year.










We meet together for two weeks,  Monday-Thursday (a Sojourner 'work' week :) for Bible study, Gospel singing, workshop classes -and, did I mention - to have fun.











Part of that 'fun' is rising early on the first Thursday morning and getting a place in line to sign up for your desired Sojourn.  First come -first served!  Unless, like that guy in the burnt orange shirt lounging on the side, you signed up early to be a Leader or Co-Leader!

Friendship Retreat 2012

Our 32nd (?) Annual retreat at Camp Bandina was well represented.  The five core families were all  there and got a chance to 'catch up' the year of happenings since the last time we had a good, long  talk. Every year has its share of joys and sorrows but we  know that to get to share these with those who have known you all your life and love you in the Lord is a true blessing.






there's no shortage of good cooks in this family gathering


















A trip to Medina to the Fall farm festival was a treat - and we got to meet the newest Blankinship!












Looks like we have some water nymphs in the family. This Medina River has given us lots of good times and happy memories.

See you next year, God Willing.

MSCH - final scenes of our Colorado summer

We stayed an extra four days to get one last trip to the high country and see Rocky Mtn NP in late September.  The aspens had started to turn in the high country and the elk were in full rut.  It was a glorious weekend and the perfect end to a blessed and super summer.











Here in RMNP this bull was working hard to keep his harem of about 28 cows in tow.  We watched them for a while as he lost one to another suitor only to get her running back to him and the suitor ambling off!









More high country color and the video clip below (if it sends) shows the last scene we had of the mountains - two bulls and an Elk jam on the road out.  This bull had already lost a fight (we were told, wish we could have seen it) but had not given up on bugling a cow out of the harem.  We did see the dominant bull approach him, bugle a challenge and watched as this 'little fellow' decided he was not really interested, after all.

MSCH 9/12 - team fun

 This is as clean and together as we ever looked!
















Every moring we had a devo and here is Johnny leading singing and Karen keeping him on key.















We had a Fun Night with the kids and staff and here is Remington enjoying Polish Horseshoes.













Others of us taught the kids - young and old - the value of a steady hand at Jinga.