Merry Christmas From Florida!

This year we thought that we would send our greetings in a more high tech fashion, even though both of us are more on the "low techie" scale.

We were inspired to start a blog to better keep in touch with Amber, our youngest...more on that in a minute.

This has been a year of change; but then aren't they all? Our church moved last December to its new location, after being a down town church for over 100 years. We are now located on the eastern edge of Clearwater, in a new campus; happily a four minute commute from our home. While Ron still works at FMS Purchasing, and Cindy at Calvary Christian High School, the school relocated along with the church, so she enjoys new facilities AND her own office!

Amber graduated from UF in December, giving us three days notice. She learned that an arrangement to study spring semester didn't work out, so she "had" to graduate. We scurried and celebrated her graduation amidst Cindy's school move and the holidays. She received her BA in Political Science.

Cindy's mom and dad came down for the winter, renting a house in a nearby city. Unfortunately after being here a week, Mommy fell and broke her hip. After physical therapy and some rehab she was able to move back "home." The rest of the winter was a bit slower paced for them, but still enjoyable to be out of the cold Michigan weather.

In March we packed Amber up and sent her off for a two month training. She is currently in the North Africa Middle East Region for a two-year mission commitment.

After being a family member for 13 years, Jingle, our dog, died in April. Sometimes we didn't realize how much we were used to his sedentary ways until after he was gone. Once we thought we saw him in the kitchen, and it turned out to be a grocery sack on the floor! No one comes scurrying to eat stuff we drop on the floor...Now that's sad!

We had a nice family reunion in July, though not all the grand kids were able to come, many did. Sarah and Gina even came unannounced and surprised their mom and dad. Cindy's dad had been recently diagnosed with cancer, and referred to University of Michigan for testing and treatment. We were able to help with some of the transportation and "waiting."

After many tests and biopsies, Daddy was started on an experimental treatment in late August. Early in September he became dehydrated, and developed an allergic type reaction to the chemotherapy. He quickly declined, and passed away late in September.

Cindy and Ron each made two extra trips to Michigan this year, and it was a bonus to see Robyn! She is in Bowling Green, Ohio working on her dissertation in Philosophy at Bowling Green State University. In a year or so, there may well be a "Dr. Peabody" in the family!

It was a difficult autumn, but in the "storms" there were good times, when the family was together. Many tears, and much laughter. We are looking forward to being with family again at Christmas - though it will be a different assembly - Daddy won't be there, and Amber will be inabsentia. Life changes, and life goes on.

While there have been many changes for us this year, God's love is a constant. We rejoice in celebrating Jesus' birthday!

Merry Christmas!

JOY ZONE IV
I want my joy to be like my disposal! Why? Well this week I was cleaning up after supper and ran the disposal, and after several seconds I flipped the switch to turn it off, and it kept running. Switch, switch, switch, switch, switch, switch, switch...it kept running. Finally, I had to go to the circuit breaker and turn it off. My Joy comes from the Lord, and is not turned of by my defective switch. It continues to run. Let's not take the analogy too far...what happens next week when the electritian gets it fixed? The POWER is still there!

JOY ZONE III
Keep your heart occupied with gladness. Based on Ecc. 5:20, God gives us JOY! He can erase those things that keep you from seeing it...Like taking away the sour notes when I sing, so I hear Taylor, or removing the klutziness of my feet, so I dance like Benji? Not exactyly, but helping me see personally the blessings that come my way, and giving me opportunity to ponder, to act and to keep my heart occupied with the gladness that results.

JOY ZONE II

Today I was trying to upload a picture of make up. My message was to be about how we can spend more time creating beauty on the outside, and neglect the attention needed to foster beauty from the inside, through our relationship with the Creator of beauty in both places. But I got an error uploading the picture. So that got me thinking about images. What happens when people can't see the image we are uploading? It's there, but hidden. What about Joy? Can they see it? Is it "uploaded" in our persona? Or is it buried? Nurture the relationship and uploading will be error free!

Joy Zone I

Make me hear JOY and GLADNESS; let the bones which thou hast broken REJOICE! Psalm 51:8

I read this verse today, and was able to share it with a friend that has recently broken her arm. Also shared it with my office buddy and we laughed joyously! Three times today this verse brought me joy. No, four again as I recount the story.

Foot Souls and Heart Souls need to have the right fit. Both need to be protected from blisters!

Who needs a tattoo?

Fun at a tea house - bridal shower of a friend. No, Amber, her house isn't built yet, but now I think of not only her but you when I drive by.

Wednesday, June 7, 2006 11:15 am. The "Happy-Sads" and the "Good-Hard." So many emotions. This is the picture that best depicts that poignent moment.

The night before...after a nice supper at the Whistle Stop, we went to Safety Harbor Pier, and saw the manatees playing. What fun. 

T. Well, who could know that hysterics could happen over a "T." Actually, it was the absence of a "T." In the word lettuce. Only, on my list, it was "letuce." A new vegetable. We laughed so hard over having to make a salad with "letuce" (pronounced le-too-ce). It got me thinking about a missing "T." Well either in Spanish or Portuguese, I can't remember which, "Ti" is the familiar word for "you." So then, a missing ti, took on a whole new meaning. And, this "Ti" is applied to two kids. Both related closely to ME! Love ya both! And, if any of my newly adopted kids read this the "Ti" applies to you to...Mama P.

The wire. We're down to the wire. What was out of reach is near - almost in hand. Part of me is asking, "Do I want to touch it?" and the other is reaching and stretching, grasping, eager for the experience. What a dichotomy. Emotions are ebbing and flowing. The treasure is the next 5 days.

Graduation and Retirement. Today we celebrated both events. We went to a high school graduation party honoring two of my "kids." We then rushed to a retirement party and celebrated 32 years of service. Both events had similar phrases used. Integrity. Character. Reputation. Honesty. I am in the middle; neither graduating nor retiring, yet find myself longing for those words to be spoken of me. Can those words applied to my life? I want the transparency of character to wrap me. Lord, make me the same to all I meet. Let my testimony glorify you.

Oh, Yeah...and I got a new outfit; picked out with my "What Not to Wear" consultant, Amber!Anxious to hear from the JKids.

Spring 2006 Peabody Girl FUN!
We girls had fun at the bead shop Wednesday making necklaces. True to the Peabody way, there were "rules." Each had to pick out a bead secretly that would be used on each necklace. We closed our eyes, and received our beads. Amber picked an amber colored stone (duh), Robyn a blue "robin egg," and Cindy a purple amythist looking one..."royalty," of course

Today we spent the day at Busch Gardens. The best is being with family!