On the water

We had to run the boat to the marina today for some maintenance and repair.  That is what you do with boats.  You store them, maintain them, and repair them, so we headed down to the coast loaded up and headed out.

Maggie and Sailor are In their seats getting ready for take off

under way with their ears flying in the wind

It was a beautiful day on the Gulf and the water was slick...

.....sooo we let her rip.  44 mph, not too shabby

Young Life Capernaum

Tonight was the first Capernaum club for kids with special needs.  The whole family went for some great fun and fellowship and made some new friends.  It was an amazing night and the result of lots of prayer and faithfulness by so many.  We played some games, sang and danced and played toilet paper volley ball!!  It was awesome!!  My takeaways?  We are all superstars to God!!!  Thanks Jason, great club bro.

Just seeing this sign get me fired up!

Toilet Paper Volley Ball.  It's all fun until someone get pegged by one of these things!!  (Yes, I caught one in the face!!  I will be OK)

An epic game of TPV

Jason can really play, he gets the MVP award tonight (Most Veiled Player).

My man Eric showing some dance moves.  Looking good!

Eric with his buddy Michael

We played hot potato (with a frisbee) and if you got stuck with the frisbee you had to put on a costume .  Heron doing his Nacho Libre imitation!

Katy the reindeer 

Nice shirts guys!! 

What a wild group photo!!

Getting ready to watch some worm spitting!

....and this is worm spitting.  You never know when you are going to eat a bad worm!

A boy among men

I looked out the window today at work and what did I see?  My buddy Larry had come by the shop and parked his big TJ one space over from my JK and in between was a stock JK.  Kind of looked like a boy among men or bringing a knife to a gunfight or something like that.  Kind of funny.

Tigger

We attended the girls basketball banquet tonight.  Each player got a cartoon character with their award that exemplified a character trait of the player.  The coach actually spent the time and money and effort to buy a different cartoon figure for all 18 players.  It was really creative, thoughtful and lots of fun.  The bug was awarded Tigger, for always bouncing back from injury and having such a positive attitude.  Way to go Bug!!!!!!!  You had a great season and I am so proud of you!

Welcome to Peru

I swung by KK's class this morning and got to see his Peru display for the Latin America festival.  One word....AWESOME!!!!  Great job buddy!

Take the long way home

Today was one of those days that I needed to get away from the phone and interruptions to just think thru things so I left work a few minutes early and took the long way home thru the forest.  It rained most of the day today and the woods were beautiful.  The pine and palmetto remind me of being at home in the woods.  These are the type of woods I have spent most of my time in.  Don't get me wrong, I love the mountains but these woods have a familiar feel.

 I was struck by the contrast of the charred tree trunks and the green ,new growth, palmetto.  I love the symbolism of death and new life of forest fires.  Following the death caused by the fire, new growth occurs almost immediately.    

Tonight we had vanishing spinach with our dinner.  Amazing!!!

Now you see it

Now you don't

Red Sky

Lake Overstreet

We had Blast practice tonight so while the team was going thru their drills I got Jake out and took him for a spin around the lake.  I tried riding Red Bug from the fields and soon found out that a Cyclo Cross bike is not made for rooty Red Bug trail.  I made my way to the fire road and down to the lake and this was my reward.  Not a soul in sight and total peace with the sun creating a glow that reflected perfectly off the water....and my camera wouldn't work!!  I had to take this with my cell phone camera.  Not a bad shot.  What it really means is that if it looks this good in a photo taken from a phone, it was a beautiful moment.  And that it was.  The wood duck were coming in and I could hear their conversations as they paddled around just out of site around the bend in the shore from where I was.  I enjoyed some time in quiet prayer and let the sun play out its show then fired up the light on the bike and made it back in time for the scrimmage.  It is what I needed at the end of a tough day.  Thank you Lord!!

Blimp

I was in the house this afternoon getting ready for some football when I heard a droning sound overhead. It really sounded like something was landing on the roof.  By the time I got outside with the camera this blimp had moved on by but I got a shot of it before it was too late.  Pretty exciting, huh!?

All in all it was a good day of rest and family time.  I had a good lesson in leadership during my daily reading this morning from Moses' father-in-law, and KK and I got in a 5K run before church (KK's first 5K).  We had a good service at church followed by a great time with friends over lunch.  Then it was off to a school open house then home for an afternoon and evening of football.  It's funny, the football is what I was looking forward to most in the day and it turned out to be the least fulfilling.  I am learning everyday more about what brings fulfillment.  Time with the Lord and fellowship is so filling.

Meet Jake

A couple of weeks ago I took stock of all the old bicycle parts I had in the garage and discovered I just about had everything to build a cross bike.  I searched the good old web for a cheap frame and viola--Jake the Snake is alive and well.  Besides the frame and new handlebar tape it was all in boxes in the garage.  I took it on its maiden voyage this morning for an awesome 3 hour ride while KK was taking the ACT.  I snapped this shot on Old Centerville Rd heading north toward Georgia.  I rode up into the cracker state and cruised down a road that led into Borderline Plantation where there was a group quail hunting and snapped a pic of Jake by the lake.

This was the turnaround point of the ride and I retraced my route back.  As I was on the last leg of the ride about 6 miles from the end, I was on a dirt road that had some very deep ditches on the sides.  I noticed something out of place out of the corner of my eye.  It turned out to be a dog that had died.  I could tell that it hadn't been gone long and I went down and got the collar off the dog.  Fortunately it had a rabies tag so I called the vet and told them the # and location of the dog so that it owners could be notified.  It was a beautiful chocolate lab named Cocoa.  Very sad.

Chili morning for a ride!  I waited as long as could for it to warm up but it never did!

 We closed out the day at FSU vs Boston College.  We saw the Cottons and Perrier families at the game and got a shot of Tam taking my picture.  She is a great photographer!

Gotcha!

Broken Window....

Well, this looks like a textbook "baseball thru the window" broken window.  Unfortunately that is not the case.  KK got a little over zealous knocking on the back door and this is what we have to show for it!!  He is fine, the window.....well, you get the picture (pun intended).

 Not only do we have a piece of foam board taped over the window pane, it is going to be 24 degrees tonight!!!

Dawn Patrol

 Today was an early rise to get in a nice MTB ride.  With the weather and business of late, when I have a chance to get a ride in I have taken it.  The forecast for today was chilly but no rain so this morning I layered up and hit the road from home at 6:30 with the lights on and met up with TP at the power lines.  We rode the Power lines to the Overstreet Trails to Red Bug, back to Overstreet to Cambodia and finally back to the Power lines and then home.   All in all I got a good 2 + hour ride in. These are the only two pictures I took all day.  The first one is on the Overstreet trail while I was waiting on TP.  He zigged when I zagged and we got separated.  I kept thinking he was going to be coming around the bend (he had stopped to unzip a layer as it was warming up) so I had the camera out to catch a shot of him.  When he didn't show I snapped one of my bike as it is better looking than his anyway :)

This was on the way home and is the only thing I do not like about Single Speeding--a long flat road.  With the gearing I am running I spin out at a whopping 14 MPH!!!  I can live with it though, as when I am on the trail it is silent and super fun.   Speaking of silent, we did run into a flock of wild turkey this morning, at least 10, maybe more.  I was not quick enough to get a shot of them with the camera.  Once I got home I had a good time with a cup of coffee and my Bible doing my daily reading.  I am on track and this morning picked up on something new in a very familiar passage from the story of Moses and Pharaoh.  Even Pharaoh's own advisors were convinced of who God really is and begged him to let the Israelites go but he hardens his heart again and suffers greater loss than before.  

Training run #1 and Cookie Cake

Well, KK and I went on our first raining run tonight.  We aren't sure what we are training for yet but we know we want to run a race at some point, plus it will be good conditioning work for Blast games.   Tonight we did a 2.34 mile run and worked in some nearby trail on the route.  We had a great run and talked a lot about what KK wants to be when he grows up.  Working on a pretty sweet top 3 list, but we will elaborate on that more some other time.

Trail run!!

As I mentioned over the weekend, the bug had a terrible fall off of Jake the horse and has a broken right shoulder to show for it.  The crew from CCHD, in a sweet show of love and care, sent a get well soon Cookie Cake to her today.  It was awesome, and the bug was nice enough to share with the entire family.  Delicious!!

Get well soon bug a boo!!!!

Lazy Susan

Todays photo is of a Lazy Susan, you know the round "spinny" thing in the middle of the table.  Tonight we had dinner prior to Young Life committee meeting at our neighbors house and they have a Lazy Susan.  It was a great meal made better by the love and fellowship we all shared around the table (not to mention the Tabasco Sauce).  I know the Lazy Susan doesn't contribute in any real way to making a meal better or worse, but the old school rarity of them seems to add something to gathering around a table.  It makes it feel like family time, and tonight, as I was with my family and Young Life staff and committee friends around the table it was a really rich time!  Thank you God for my family and friends and for Lazy Susan.

Training buddy

My training buddy needed some new kicks as his old ones were deemed ready for the garbage by his mother due to a combination of having a foul odor and the fact they were falling apart, sooooooo, I took him to a new running shop in town that does gait analysis and got him checked out.  As I suspected, he's a pronator.  We got him set up with some new size 9's and are now ready to begin training for a race.  We picked up a couple of flyers on upcoming events and will be putting one on the calender soon.  We are thinking of a 5k to start out with and go from there.  Who knows, if all goes well, we could be talking River Run 15k by this time next year!!!  I am just looking forward to all the training we will do together!!!

The screen over his head is projecting the image of  his gait that is being filmed by a small camera behind his feet.  After he ran for about a minute they stop and replay the film at very slow motion and determine what shoes are best for his stride.

Sky

We had to make an un-scheduled trip over to Lake City this afternoon to pick up the Bug.  The kids were staying with Mimi and Poppi and their cousins after the Blast game  on Saturday and the Bug had an accident while horse back riding and broke her shoulder!  We picked up the kids and on the way back home the sky came alive with color.  I thanked God for reminding me of His presence, graciousness, omnipotence and love.

BLAST

Big Blast game today!!  It was a beautiful morning for soccer and my Blast were out early for their game.  I was so proud of my man as he was captain of the team today for his hustle and hard play last week.  Our team came up short today, but they all played hard and except for the 2nd quarter were right there with a much older and bigger team.

High intensity pre-game 

GREAT Defense!!

Star Trek

Meet Obi Wahn Kenobie..... (man did I butcher the spelling on that one).  For ease and simplicity I will simply refer to him as Obi.  Santa brought him for Christmas this year, much to my wife's dismay but Obi has warmed all of our hearts, now he is working on extended family.  Here he is with my father in law having a great time.

Today was another winter day and temps are low.  So was my supply of firewood so the JK brought a load of wood home.  As I have been told, firewood is mans work.

Picture-palooza

What a day!  There was lots going on today so there will definitely be more than one picture posted today.  This morning was awesome with some great prayer with the love of my life and some time with the Lord. I looked down at one point after everyone headed to school and saw my favorite coffee cup and thought of my bud Travis.  Miss seeing him!

 Today at the shop we received our first shipment of bikes using the Mo Co's new track system.  New tractor trailers too!!  Sweet looking!

 New System=more work for the driver;  the bikes are no longer crated and are double stacked inside on....you guessed it, "tracks!"  The driver must slide them to the back of the truck so we can fork them out.

 CCHD service manager unloading our first bike from the new truck.  The bike is covered with a giant "shower cap" to keep drips etc.. off the paint.  This first bike had a scratch on the front fender!

speaking of shower caps!  My man Hound Dog modeling some new headgear.

 After close inspection outside we roll the bikes in for the rest of the prep process.

sweet new "48"

 Today was TP's big four O, so what better way to celebrate getting old and decrepit than to get out with your buddies for an afternoon MTB ride.  Tom was able to convince Brecht, Bradley and myself to sneak out with him on a great afternoon.  We rode the Magnolia Trail to Cadillac, to the Allford Greenway and back.  Great ride, great fellowship!

Brecht showing no ill effects from a long time off the bike coming off Cadillac

Yours truly eating up some single track on the Allford Greenway

(l-r) Brecht, TP, Bradley and myself near Lake Lafayette

Inches from going over the edge!