From Patrick

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. I let Patrick in on our little plot to come up with some fun activities for us while he is here and he wanted me to post this for you all to read :) He's a funny one...

So, I heard of a legend of a young lady who strolled the beach, looking out to the GULF, waiting and hoping that the guy who would be special in her heart would appear on the horizon. Her disappointment was turned to joy when she realized he would not appear by SEA, but instead, would appear by LAND.

I look forward to meeting you all AFTER I meet the lady at the shore.

Patrick

We Shall See

So, I met someone. Actually, we were recently reaquainted. He's someone I worked with back at the Cove Camp, and he's coming from NC to see me in 16 days. It will be the first time we have seen eachother in 10 years - almost to the day. And, yes, he is coming just to see me. Come up with suggestions of fun stuff we should do while he's here, and they will be written on pieces of paper, folded and put into a hat for random selection. Please contribute to the fun. If you want to meet him you'll have to come to church on Sunday the 24th, though I'd rather keep this first visit as low-pressure as possible. We shall see...

His name is Patrick

This story is for Charis --- you never know!

PANAMA CITY BEACH - Matthew Canipe said his wife used to chide him when she saw him without his wedding ring on.
But it was no laughing matter when Canipe lost the band in the Gulf of Mexico while digging for seashells with his family Sunday.
"I started digging in the sand, and I just couldn't find it," Canipe said.
Canipe said he and his wife, Krystal, and two children searched the water for the diamond-laced, 24-carat white gold band for hours to no avail. A nearby family noticed the effort and helped, but nothing turned up.
"I thought, ‘That's it; it's gone,'" said Canipe, who feared the lost ring was a bad omen for a marriage he and his wife were trying save.
In 2007, the couple separated after nine years of marriage. Canipe said he and his wife were miserable apart and decided to renew their marriage this spring, complete with new vows and bands.
"I couldn't help but think, ‘Is this symbolic? Does this mean something?'" Canipe recalled thinking after he lost the ring.
Before leaving the beach Sunday, Canipe said he used a landmark to remember his location. The following day, he descended on the beach with a deep-fryer dipper and began sifting sand in 3-foot-deep gulf water.
Canipe said he searched for about 90 minutes before he noticed something glitter in the sand in the dipper. It was the ring.
"I cried when I found it," said Canipe, who immediately phoned his wife. She didn't believe him at first.
Canipe said the ring is valued at about $550, but both he and his wife said the ring means much more.
"I was upset when he lost it," Krystal Canipe said. "It's not just a wedding ring; it's a token of our affection and love."

28

Since everyone knows how much I like to milk my birthday for all it's worth, you'll be happy to know that I have successfully had 5 separate times to celebrate. The first was with mom and dad after church on Sunday. They took me out for sushi and then to see Mama Mia, and gave me my presents - much needed bath towels and storage baskets. Thanks!

I woke up on the 22nd determined not to be depressed about turning 28 years old. As daunting as that is, and with 30 looming two years out, my immediate reaction is to freak out! I got to read all the great birthday blogs - Thanks everyone!

At work the gang threw a little party for me with Red Velvet Cake and everything (not as good as Ma's though)! I got some sweet cards and gifts and about 30 co-workers came over to the Sales Office to help me celebrate. They are really only there for the cake, but that's okay :)

After work I met up with Shara at the beach. She just got back from Belize, so I got to hear all about her amazing and challenging mission trip. I'm so thrilled that she is being provided with so much opportunity to go minister outside of the country. God is really using her and changing her in so many wonderful ways. I didn't think there was any way he could improve upon my very best friend Shara. But he has taken everything beautiful about her character and heart and deepened it, adding a whole new dimension. I'm so proud of her and so thankful to have such an amazing friend! She had a stack of perfectly wrapped packages for me, and as always, they were filled with special little gifts that have "Chesed" written all over them. I am blessed!

Then I went to Off 98 that night to celebrate the 2 year Birthday of the group and to give Matt Walker (it's at his house) a proper send off as he moves to Memphis to start a new chapter. Attendance was up and the teaching was very relevant to everything going on right now in my life. My birthday was also celebrated, which was a surprise...

Last night for my other young adults' group in Grayton Beach, I showed up and they had a banner and gifts and ice cream cake for me, which was another great surprise! I got flowers, cards, and a pearl bracelet from Rendezvous in Seaside (I've wanted one for a while now)! We roasted hot dogs and went over to the huge pool at Sactuary at Red Fish to swim and sit in the hot tub. Though it was a late night, I was so thankful that I'm blessed with tons of people who care about me and wanted to do something to make me feel special!

28 is going to be a good year for me! I've decided!

Famous Frauds

Funny story: Last Saturday was a dreary day, so I slept in (9:00) then rode my bike into Seaside to grab a cup-o-joe at my favorite place, Amavida. From there I went to this little book/music store Sundog, selected a few magazine's, and curled up with my latte in one of the reading nooks for about an hour while it rained outside. One of the magazines I picked up was Emerald Coast Brides, thinking "I bet I'll know somebody in here." I came to an article about choosing the right photographer for your engagement pics. I started reading it. When I turned the page I saw my own face smiling back at me, along with Chad's. There was the picture of us right in the middle of a collage of random engagement photos of happy REAL couples! I laughed out loud and someone else in the book store looked over curiously. Immediately I called Chad and he was shocked that they would publish that picture without speaking with us first, but still he thought it was pretty funny. He called Ryan and pretended that I was really mad about it. So, on Sunday when I saw him at church he covered his face with his hands and apologized profusely. I quickly let him know that I think it's hilarious!
So this weekend, not a whole lot is going on. I'm going to see Fuddy Meers, a play at the Seaside Repertory Theater and checking out England night at Redfish Village. Last night I played tennis with Brooke, Matt, Jimmy and Chad and I must say, I'm not so great anymore. I need alot of practice!!! Chad thinks he's Rafael Nadal, of course. My goad this weekend is huge - To Get a Tan! I'm so pasty white from the rainy weekends!

Deep Creek

Home from Deep Creek and I'm missing the mountain air already! Even with those really cold nights in the tent, I love the weather in the Smokey Mountains. Even though we missed Ma & Papa it was a nice time with the family. The babies were a little bit of a challenge to keep up with, but I think that they all had a large time!

Mountain top on the Nolan Divide Trail

Mario tried out the tube and loved it!

Summer, Me and Karin at Indian Falls

Riding in the Ducky was a nice change on the rafting trip. Luke let me slack off a little bit too.

All the hikers. We thought it was important to have a recent picture of us all together so that if we went missing or got attacked by bears, they would have a photo of us for the paper.

Good times



Thanks Ma & Papa for the jackets! We wore them every night :)

Now I'm back at work and in my own bed! As much as I love it there, I'm content where I am and looking forward to the rest of the summer in Florida.

Aunt Chesed's House

I may or may not have had a successful night Friday babysitting all 6 of the Kelley kids. I can proudly announce that they are all still living and breathing, which I consider to be a huge accomplishment. The evening started out pretty great. They were having a large time in the pool and the cold hot tub, playing Marco Polo and having splash contests. Madison was content to explore the pool deck and sit in my lap a bit. Brady was "pushing" the older kids into the deep end, and no one was crying. "This isn't so bad," I thought to myself.

With McKinley's help I got everyone changed into dry clothes, diapers, and pull-ups before corralling them into my tiny living room. Everyone got a glass (no, I don't have any plastic cups) of either water, cranberry juice, or gatorade and they had chips and salsa (not spicy) to snack on until I had their lasagna heated up.

The question was asked, "Where are we going to sit?" In hindsight, I should have let them eat on the porch. Note to self. Instead they sat at the table and on the kitchen floor. Let me tell you, those kids can eat. I think they all wanted seconds and even Sunny ate as much as I would. Granted, half of that ended up on my floor, but she ate alot of that too. Good thing I swept before they came over.

For dessert they had sugar-free peanut butter wafers - Go Aunt Chesed!

High School Musical was on the Disney Channel, so they were mostly entertained for about an hour. Mauri was doing her part to annoy McKinley, and Brady and Sunny were a little restless, but not fussy. I did have to put Brady in Time-Out in my room for afew minutes for biting Marui Hannah (yes, she cried). Eventually he was willing to say he was sorry and was allowed to come back out. Still, I felt that things were going well.

Once the show was over, I pulled out the icing on the cake - Sparklers!!! All was well until still-glowing sparkler wires found a foot and then a finger and another finger and foot. Copious Screaming commenced. Tears poured as Mauri and Brady cradled their burned appendages. I do not have a working icemaker, so we pulled out the frozen berries and greenbeans. "It Burns!!!" "Ow Ow It's too Cold!!!" "OOOOOOOOoh it Burns!" For the next 20 minutes I did what I could to console them.

Needless to say, I was greately relieved when I saw Tony peeking into my window on his way up the stairs. The kids were thrilled to see their parents. Brady practically begged to get in the car and GO HOME! I think he needed to know that he was going to get leave my house.

The funny thing is that Sunday I had the wonderful discovery that I was Brady's new favorite. Hmmm.... I guess I did something right!