School has begun!!! Blake started his homeschool classes yesterday and also began his new class at the automotive technology program.. He does his classes at home from 8-10:45 then leaves for school from 11:15 to 2. I have switched my hours at work and am staying home with him in the morning then I am leaving when he does and am working until 4 in the afternoon...

We had a birthday party for Blake and Michael (the exchange student from Germany) on Saturday evening. I had planned the party, made the reservations at the restaurant, bought the cake and ice cream, etc... and come to find out my family surprised me and celebrated my birthday also... They bought me a chocolate cake so we had two cakes that night!!  We went to Linger Lodge Restaurant... voted one of the 5 Weardest Restaurants in the US!! We wanted Michael to be able to eat the different kinds of seafood he had never eaten... He enjoyed the alligator and frog legs as you can see below....

Michael eating alligator                                        The family... Blake doesn't want his pic taken :)       

Maria eating alligator....                                                        Rob and Maria

       The girls helping me blow out candles....                  Michael and Blake....celebrating 17 years......

Tomorrow is another big change...Dustin and I are moving his things up to Tampa... He begins classes at USF on Monday... Will be so different at home to only have one child living with us!  I am so excited for Dustin and so happy how he has matured into a wonderful adult!! It just amazes me how fast the children have grown up!! For all you moms out there that still have little ones... enjoy them while you can!!

I spent the afternoon in court yesterday.. I was subpoenaed for a case that I do book keeping for. They never made it to my testimony so it will have to be rescheduled sometime in the next week... Was very educational and interesting!

This devotional really blessed me yesterday....thought I'd share it with you

Content to be Weak

What weakness are you feeling today? The inability to manage circumstances that cry out to be changed? Helplessness in the face of another's deep need, or of evil you have to watch perpetrated on others you love? A sense of inadequacy for some task laid upon you? Physical weakness or pain? The need for power to forgive an injury or keep silence about unjust accusations against you?

Christ has been there before you. Every form of human limitation He knew, and out of that utter poverty we have been made strong. Yet, again and again, in the life of each disciple, comes the experience of weakness in order that we may live His life for others.

"We who share His weakness shall by the power of God live with Him in your service" (2 Cor 13:4 NEB).

This sharing of His weakness is one aspect of the death of the cross, one of the conditions of our discipleship, and hence cause for joy rather than bitterness. For we walk the road, not alone, but with Christ, "well content to be weak at any time if only you are strong" (2 Cor 13:9 NEB). The mystery is constantly being worked out--strength out of weakness, life out of death.

Hope all is well with all my xanga-land friends.... Blessings to you all...

Wow! It's been a month since I've updated my site. We just arrived home on Saturday from a week's vacation on a houseboat on the St. John's River. We parked our houseboat in a springs off of Lake George for three days... it was awesome!! The water was crystal clear, we had to walk in knee to waist high water wherever we wanted to go. The guys all fished and fished and snorkeled and scuba dived!! The fish were amazing.. Blake took some underwater pics at the springs which you can see below. We also visited another springs on the river one day and just drove the river on the other 2 days. Was a very relaxing, lazy week.

Houseboat                                                                     Inside view

Dustin snorkeling                                                                             Blake                                                            

Blue Gil at Springs                                                         Dustin in the cave of the spring

Isn't he beautiful?                                                          Striped bass at spring

One of the thousands of schools of fish                          Blake diving in springs

On the way home we spent some time at Daytona Beach and the Daytona 500. That was also a cool experience... even tho there was no noise at the race track.

Welcome to Daytona Beach!!                                        Blake Dustin and Rob

Dustin, Vonnie and Blake in the stands                           Jeff Gordon 2005 Winner!

Last night we had a picnic at Myakka Park in the evening. My parents have an exchange student from Germany; his name is Michael. He is here for the month of August and he had never seen gators or fished so we wanted to share those experiences with him.

Blake, Michael, And Rob                                                 Gators!!!

Maria enjoying her food!!!                                            

Now tomorrow it's back to the daily grind of packing lunches, going to work, and all that good stuff! Hope all is going well with all my xanga friends.... Have a blessed week!   Vonnie

  It's a hot Florida day.. the humidity at 93%.... I'm not sure if I'm having hot flashes today or just plain sweating from the heat!!

We had a slow paced day yesterday on the 4th.  Dustin and Blake both went out to our farm during the day and went 4-wheeling and swimming in the pond. We then had a cookout at my parent's house last night with the family. Yasmine and Maria enjoyed the playing with sparklers then Rob shot off some big mortars?! Our street we live on has this tradition that pretty much all the old timers stay at home on July 4th and we all buy fireworks and have our own celebration on the street. It's fun to see what happens every year... They seem to get bigger and better. We started at 9 then all of a sudden it just poured until about 9:30 so we went in and watched fireworks on TV then we went back out after the rain and finished the show!! 

I am recuperating well from my surgery that I had on June 21st. They did a lot more then originally planned so I am off work until July 9th. I have read many books, taken naps, and just been lazy!! It actually has not been to bad, I thought I would get really bored, but I've managed to stay content here at home. My mom and sister have helped me so much, Mom cooking and cleaning for my household along with hers! Blake made tea one day and said, "Mom, Grandma has the fridge so full of food I can't even get the tea pitcher in the fridge!" I'm thankful for the wonderful family I have who has helped me in so many ways!!

Hope everyone has a Blessed week!!

Hi from beautiful, sunny Florida......The weather the last few days has just been gorgeous. Low humidity, nice breezes flowing in from the water... Want to come join us????

 USF MOM.......

It's now official!!! I am a USF mom with a son enrolled as a USF (University of South Florida) student. Dustin, Kyle Beachey and I spent the day in Tampa on Wed. going through orientation and all that good stuff!! I spent a few hours on my own roaming the campus and discovering where and what they will be calling home these next years. It made me want to go back to school again!! What an exciting time... Dustin will be living in an apartment on campus...He has made contact with two of his roomates already. There are a total of 5 boys from this area going together..  So I'm going through lists, trying to get everything ready for him to go.....

Life is so busy since school is out!! I have to pack 4 lunches every morning... no sleeping in for the weary! The boys are still both working for my dad. A few weeks ago my family went on a picnic out at City Island. Here is a picture of my dad fishing as the sun was going down!! It was such a peaceful evening with a beatiful view of the city of Sarasota.  I have hung this picture by my computer... somehow it just represents the life of my dad. Quiet, peaceful, enjoying the beauty of nature in a serene setting... Thanks dad for all you have taught me in my life and how you still being a Godly example to my boys!! Love you.....and Happy Father's Day!!

We were blessed to have Rob's two brothers here over Memorial Day weekend. On Saturday morning, we had a birthday celebration breakfast for his youngest brother, Tim. It was such beautiful weather- we ate outside that morning. Here are a few pictures of the morning.. seems like everyone was enjoying eating!!

 Lewis and Karen from Plain City, Ohio

Tim and Michelle from Indiana

Along with Rob, Dustin and Blake... 

 I am home from work a little early today.. My goal is to clean and fill my freezer with food this weekend. I am having surgery next Thursday and will be off work for two weeks... so I'm trying to get everything prepared for my guys. I have testing to do the first part of the week, a Journal club dinner meeting to pull off for 40 doctors, staff photos at work, getting all my book work caught up for the 6 business' that I take care of, along with getting my computer repaired... It literally blew up a few weeks ago,,, smoke was rolling out of the monitor!!  I think I'll be ready to rest for two weeks.... The boys and I want to take Rob out to dinner this weekend for Father's Day to a Japanese Restaurant where they cook the meals at tableside... I'm getting hunger pangs just thinking about it...

This little devotional has blessed me in the past few days... I'm so grateful that I have heavenly Father who takes care of my every need.... Hope you know Him too.......... Vonnie

Responsible to Praise

We cannot always or even often control events, but we can control how we respond to them. When things happen which dismay or appall, we ought to look to God for his meaning, remembering that He is not taken by surprise nor can his purposes be thwarted in the end. What God looks for is those who will worship Him. Our look of inquiring trust glorifies Him.

One of the witnesses to the crucifixion was a military officer to whom the scene was surely not a novelty. He had seen plenty of criminals nailed up. But the response of this Man who hung there was of such an utterly different nature than that of the others that the centurion knew at once that He was innocent. His own response then, rather than one of despair that such a terrible injustice should take place, or of anger at God who might have prevented it, was praise (Lk 23:47 NEB).

This is our first responsibility: to glorify God. In the face of life's worst reversals and tragedies, the response of a faithful Christian is praise--not for the wrong itself certainly, but for who God is and for the ultimate assurance that there is a pattern being worked out for those who love Him.

A quiet Sunday afternoon, Blake is fishing with a friend, Dustin has a ball game with his church team, Rob is meeting with an old employee from years ago who came to Sarasota from Miami today and I am at home trying to decide whether I have time to take a nap or do I keep going?

School is now officially over!! Blake finished 10th grade at Sarasota Christian School and Dustin graduated with AA Degree from MCC. Blake will be going to SCTI in the fall- we have him enrolled in the automotive repair course and I will homeschool him for the 3 core classes he needs to take this year. He is excited!! Dustin will leave in August and move to Tampa at the University of South Florida and continue his degree- becoming an accountant. We have been going to graduation parties all weekend- a time of celebration for many kids. I just had to think how blessed we as a community are... We have good kids who study hard and try to live a Godly life! That is what it's all about- raising our children to love the Lord and and make a difference in the world. I have to deal with my "mom's heart"- I know its great to be able to see them mature and be adults- it's also hard to see them getting ready to leave home and know it will never be like it was when we were all together!!  Blake will work with my dad and Dustin for a few weeks then work for Rob the rest of the summer- potting plants out at our tree farm. He needs a good paying job since we purchased him a new vehicle this weekend!! I have posted the pics of his new truck and also his new haircut-getting ready for the summer heat!!

Rob's brother Tim and family from Indiana are coming to our house this weekend. We are looking forward to spending time with them... The Sunnyside School has their reunion this weekend.

We had some sad news this morning at church... Ted and Lee Theatreworks were at our church and gave a  program a few months ago. Lee ended his life this week after a long bout of depression. The funeral is tomorrow in VA. My heart aches for that family and also Ted. Let's remember them in our prayers! They have blessed so many people with their performances!!  Depression is such a hard thing to get a grip on at times. I am so thankful we have our awesome God to lean on..!! I have been blessed by the thoughts in this devotional this week..

Title: Can Thine Heart Endure

Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert
Scripture Reference: Romans 8:26 

"We know not what we should pray for as we ought" (Rom. 8:26).

Much that perplexes us in our Christian experience is but the answer to our prayers. We pray for patience, and our Father sends those who tax us to the utmost; for "tribulation worketh patience."

We pray for submission, and God sends sufferings; for "we learn obedience by the things we suffer."

We pray for unselfishness, and God gives us opportunities to sacrifice ourselves by thinking on the things of others, and by laying down our lives for the brethren.

We pray for strength and humility, and some messenger of Satan torments us until we lie in the dust crying for its removal.

We pray, "Lord, increase our faith," and money takes wings; or the children are alarmingly ill; or a servant comes who is careless, extravagant, untidy or slow, or some hitherto unknown trial calls for an increase of faith along a line where we have not needed to exercise much faith before.

We pray for the Lamb-life, and are given a portion of lowly service, or we are injured and must seek no redress; for "he was led as a lamb to the slaughter and…opened not his mouth."

We pray for gentleness, and there comes a perfect storm of temptation to harshness and irritability. We pray for quietness, and every nerve is strung to the utmost tension, so that looking to Him we may learn that when He giveth quietness, no one can make trouble.

We pray for love, and God sends peculiar suffering and puts us with apparently unlovely people, and lets them say things which rasp the nerves and lacerate the heart; for love suffereth long and is kind, love is not impolite, love is not provoked. LOVE BEARETH ALL THINGS, believeth, hopeth and endureth, love never faileth. We pray for likeness to Jesus, and the answer is, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." "Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong?" "Are ye able?"

The way to peace and victory is to accept every circumstance, every trial, straight from the hand of a loving Father; and to live up in the heavenly places, above the clouds, in the very presence of the Throne, and to look down from the Glory upon our environment as lovingly and divinely appointed. --Selected

Have a great week- Vonnie