Our first visitors have come and gone.

Hi,
Our first visitors have left the state. The Miller's stopped in for a visit with us over the last week. We dropped them off at the airport this morning - so as far as I know they are no longer here.

It was great to finally see some more familiar faces. People who actually have been in the Pacific Northwest, and can tell us about adventures from home. So... in a way it was great to have them here, but it's also been bittersweet to see them go.

Unfortunately, I am a little leary of spending our money (since I'm a lazy bum and not working yet) so I had to squash a few big outting plans we had.

Thank goodness we at least did a few fun things while they were here.

Maybe most impressive was right here next to the apartments...

A big gator just hanging out.

Here it is from the far side of the lake. You can get an idea of the size with the car and other bird on the electric post there on the left.



And here it is from a little closer up. It still doesn't give you too great of an indication of the size of this one, but I think Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin would have been proud to wrestle this one around. It was definitely more intimidating than some of the other little things we've seen. This one could do some serious damage even to an adult.



Love you guys,
Al

My first NFL football game - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hi all,

Here's a birthday gift from my wife.

This is my very first - EVER - live NFL football game.

The cool thing is... it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They just happen to be my favorite football team. I can't say I'm a HUGE fan, but I definitely like to watch whenever I get the chance.

Right across from the football field is the N.Y. Yankees spring training field... 'Legends Field'.


Christy came with me, which was absolutely killer. Getting to watch my first game with my wife. I think she was checking out all the drunken Buccaneer fans - she likes people watching - but I still liked having her there.



The game was great. They played the Arizona Cardinals -- AND WON! Yeah!

Here's a few shots - for posterity.
These first ones were all pre-game stuff.




This is my favorite action photo. Unfortunately it's of Warner, passing for the Cardinals. We did get a few other pics of the action that came out pretty good, but I liked this one best.


In the 3rd quarter, we wandered down to the concession area. It was a LOT closer to the action, and we got this shot. Unfortunately, it seems almost everyone at the game was pretty intoxicated - especially near the vending area - so we didn't hang out down there near the action too long. I'm not really into seeing people act like that.


All-in-all it was totally cool. I'm not sure I'll go back too often. But I loved going once, and I will go with any of you who want to check it out when you come down... Josh? Dad? Andy? Don? Mark? Taku? Rob? Just let me know, and we'll see what we can do.

All the best,
Al

Finally, a neighbor I can appreciate

Hi guys,
Here's a quick one. Last week, we had the pleasure of rescuing (at least it felt like a rescue) this turtle from the road here by the apartments.

He's a pretty good sized turtle. The girls had a great time checking him out.

That's the road in the background. Cars come through there about 20-30 mph, and he could have easily been squashed.




So it felt good to help out a neighbor. At least we can appreciate this one - since our other neighbor seems to be possessed by some sort of nastiness.


Al

P.S. the girls washed their hands afterwards. Christy tells me turtles can carry salmonella, so I made sure they cleaned up.

Always a Dreamer

Hello,

It's strange for me to write this.

Have you ever had a lifelong dream, or goal, you wanted to achieve?
One that you laid aside as impossible?

Maybe touring Europe?
Maybe hiking across the Himalayas?
Maybe owning a Harley?
Or how about graduating from college?

Who knows...

Some dreams seem too big. Too improbable.

Maybe you have one inside of you?


I have been out of work for almost 6 months - Nov. 15 or so will be 6 months. Like so many people across America, we could be in a completely painful place. To be honest... it does hurt.

But - there is one thing this move has done for me.


It has birthed a dream I once had, that was totally and completely dead.


When I was a junior in high school, I took a class from Ms. Stribling. In that class, an idea was born inside of me to become a teacher. After college, I tried to take more classes and get back into teaching, but the timing and life circumstances just laid that idea to the side.

I thought... forever.


Amazingly...

NO

Miraculously...

About the only positive experience that has come out of Florida, for me, is a rebirth of that dream. I am saying this now, on the front side of teaching. I am NOT a teacher yet. I may not become one. But, I can truthfully say, if I am able to become a teacher through all of this -- that alone could be the entire reason we feel God has sent us here.

Strange? Yes! Miraculous? Maybe - depending on who you ask.

I can tell you one thing... if I become a teacher, it will be through absolutely ZERO planning and forethought by me coming here. It will come through purely outer circumstances that I had no idea were there.

I leave you with this...

My good friend - Rob Goodwin - wrote a song that embraces everything I've just said. I'm listening to it right now. I love it!

The song says it like this...

But unless the dream you're holding falls to the ground,
and it dies.
And gets buried up, just like a seed...
and you walk away forever.
You'll never know the wonder that this new life can be...

Listen to this song here:

Say You Will

I've travelled all over the U.S. now, and I've been to hundreds of churches. BUT I've still never met anyone who captures the spirit of worship, in music, like Rob does. Live performance - no one can touch him compared to what I've experienced during Rob's worship time.

Learn more about Rob here.


More to come...

Halloween

We took the girls to our first outdoor Harvest Party. The first time that we have ever been able to go to a Harvest party outdoors and it was great! It has been warm but cloudy here for the last several days but yesterday was finally sunny.
Kaitlyn decided to be a Cowgirl.


And Keeley was a Snow Princess. Kinda crazy considering we moved to Florida!

Here are a few shots of the action. Kait taking aim...
The girls getting their faces painted...



And last but not least picking out the loot!

This Sunday Al And I are going out on a date. For his Birthday I got tickets to a Buccaneers game here in Tampa. So we get to spend the day together at a football game! My first and I think Al's too. I am really looking forward to going and checking it all out. And as always taking photos!! So be on the look out for them!
Have a good day all and don't let yourselves get too cold!

A New Neighbor Checks Out.

We were out running around town the other day, and came home around noon. Coming up to the apartment... people are standing around - freaked out about a new neighbor:


A Water Moccasin.

This is right outside our apartment - right at the foot of our stairs.

This is only the second snake we've seen since we've been here.
Unfortunately, this snake greets the same treatment as the first snake we saw... which is now flattened on Florida Avenue up near Memorial right here in town.

Here is how this water moccasin snake checked out of the apartment complex.



Not exactly the most humane way to go. Considering there's a huge natural habitat right behind the apartments that probably houses tens or hundreds more of these snakes, I would figure they could just relocate it back over there...

But I guess folks around here don't really like that idea?

Al

It has been a while

It has been a long time since we updated this blog. There really has not been much going on. In the last few days the Humidity has finally gone down so we are starting to dream about playing outside again. We got the chance to do that yesterday. Al had an interview in Tampa. The girls adn I went with him so that we could spend the rest of the day at the beach. We went to Clearwater. It seems to be out favorite beach so far.It was an overcast day but still plenty warm to go swimming and play!There were thousands and thousands of jellyfish in the water. They had lost thier tenticals so they did could not sting. We were told by the on duty lifeguard that there was no problem and we could swim all we wanted to. He also told ud that they would only be there for a couple of days because of the tides. It was a very strange feeling to have all these jellyfish brushing up against you in the water. Infact it was so yucky that I only stood in the water and did not ever swim because I could not get past the feeling of the jelly fish hitting my hand and feet. The girls had so much fun picking them up and collecting them. Here are some of the ones that Kait collected.Pirate Jellyfish!
And here are Keeley's. After collecting Jellyfish the girls decided that they would try and catch the Seagulls! Here is Kait giving it her best try.
In other news Al had his Birthday on the 15th. So a couple of days before we met up with our friends and went to Chuckie Cheese. Al and Dan went for a head to head compitition with the dancing game! How could I resist getting photos of that!?!


I need to go get started on school with the girls. Later this week, On Friday, We will be going to Cypress Gardens for the homeschool day!! We are all really excited to spend the day there and go on all the rides! So I will post next time with photos from there!!