It Never Rains in Southern California

Why isn't there a song that says "It Never Rains in Southern Florida?We've only waited 7 months for this trip. It's supposed to be sunny, and beautiful, and glorious, and all those other words that describe Florida.

Instead we've looked at the weather forecast and it's going to be anywhere from 35 degrees in Jacksonville to 78 degress in Miami.

I didn't even know how to pack for this trip when I thought it was going to be warm. I'm totally lost on how to pack when there is a 40 degree swing in temperature over a ten day period.

Anyway, enough whining...

I got a new camera for Christmas that will let us make self portraits. Gary, specifically, got me the camera so that we could blog every day on the trip....and...

We're EXCITED!

Job 37:5-7 God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth, and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor.

Is This A Dream?????

I was reading back over this blog that began months ago, and I am amazed at the changes in our life since I began posting.

Well, this post is certainly no different.

Is this crazy? In April of this year, before Carpe Diem was even a thought, we had another thought....Since there are so many foreclosures going on in our world today, let's look for some "cheap" property in the Keys. (It doesn't exist, by the way)

Okay, let's take our "dream" out a little further and look for a really cool boat.

And,while we're at it, let's just be CRAZY and look at businesses for sale in Florida.

Oh look, there is a saltwater import/export business for sale and the seller is looking for a partner.

I know it's crazy, but let's just send in for information about it.

Wow! This looks interesting. Let's go down and check this business out. At minimum, it's a good excuse for a vacation in Florida.

Hmmm....we might like this. Let's keep talking.

A N D..... (drumroll)

Six months later, WE OWN A BUSINESS IN MIAMI!

How do we explain it?

In hindsight, it feels like it happened to us verses us really "doing anything". It feels like it was "meant to be". How could one night of dreaming on a laptap have turned into owning a boat and a business in Florida if it wasn't "meant to be."

Gary begins work with the new business on December 7. We'll take the boat down the Intercoastal around the first of the year.

Looks like things are ramping up....

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

How Can You Break a Boat When You Haven't Touched It?

Another "hurry up and wait" with the boat!

We have been preparing, getting ready, anticipating, and planning to take off over Thanksgiving and take the boat down the Intercoastal for our, much anticipated, first trip.

SO being the responsible people we are, we thought we would have the boat picked up and taken to have the oil changed and tuned up before we took off for our first grand adventure.

And...then...it...happened....

We got the dreaded call!

Our boat has some problems.

Yes, it has become a very sick boat and needs to be in the boat hospital about a month before it will be well.

A month?????

Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!

We were ready; we were excited; we had plans; we had time off!

But, once again, we have learned that "flexibility" is the NAME OF THE GAME!

So, we are being flexible.

Our boat is getting well and we are waiting...and waiting...and waiting...

I know we will, soon, be able to take off a week and take our new boat on the trip we've been waiting for.

I know it! I just know it!

Matthew 6:34 So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful Boys

Since boats are named after girls, and not boys, we haven't really had an opportunity to blog about the grandsons. So, here they are......Evan and Cale!

Evan is two years and nine months (almost) and full of life. He is SOOOOO smart and talks, talks, talks. He loves his "Ge" and they hang out together as much as possible.

Introducting....Evan!



Cale is two years and seven months old and one of the sweetest things on this earth. We call him a "lover, not a fighter." His smile melts our heart.

Here's Cale...


The whole gang....well, except for Catalina, who wasn't born yet!




Psalm 127:3 Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.

L.A.G.

My friend, Tina, informed me last night that people who blog are supposed to blog...."like everyday". She had some frustration with me because, obviously, my blogging schedule doesn't meet her reading needs.

So in honor of my lifer-friend, I'm sharing a cute story about the hubby and the closing of his business.

Gary is working in North Carolina finishing up his LAST JOB before it's REALLY over. He has been there two weeks, and we are both SO READY for the next phase of our life to begin.

However, Gary's just there working, working, working away and he keeps hearing about this committee called the LAG committee. He keeps hearing about these "so called" LAG meetings.

One day, recently, he is working with an employee who says: "I have to go to my LAG meeting. I'll be back."

Finally, Gary's curiosity gets the best of him and he asks "What is a LAG meeting?"

The employee looks at him very matter-of-factly and says:

LIFE AFTER GARY!

Yes, they, actually, have a committe and weekly meetings about......

LIFE AFTER GARY!

It was very honoring and very funny....Happy reading, Tina!

Ecc 3:22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Signs and Wonders

If you've read my previous posts, you know my husband has made the decision to close his business - the business that he opened 19 years ago. The business that has been such a HUGE part of his life, fulfilling and difficult, at the same time.

I, of course, am happy that he has made the decision to make this change because it will give us more time together, and I feel safe in saying that we, both, like that. I didn't, however, realize just how "torn" Gary was about his decision. While he is excited for what's next, he has been very sad and grieving this loss.

Hence, the blog-worthy story.

First let me explain something about Gary. He has a VERY scientific mind, and logic and problem solving are big parts of how he has been successful for so many years.

So, a few days ago, he is driving home from his office reflecting on his years with the business. He is feeling melancholy and questioning whether his decision is the right decision.

"Should I close the business? Should we spend more time in Florida? Should we have purchased the boat?"

At that moment, he looks up at the sky and he sees, very clearly......

a cloud in the shape of a ship's bow and a prow.

WOW! Learning to trust more than logic and science, he believes the sign is truly a sign and that he is doing the right thing.

From where I sit....................................it's a peaceful place:

I love being able to trust that Gary is trusting.

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. Daniel 4:2

A New Face to Go With the New Boat

SHE'S HERE!

The boat now has an official face to go with it's official name.....

The Layla JoLee

Catalina JoLee Leftwich was born Thursday, July 23rd, weighing

6 lbs. 15 ozs. She was 20 inches long and is beautiful and healthy.

Mom and Dad are doing great too!

Can't wait until she's old enough to take a ride!

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.

The Trickle Down Effect

We're learning quickly that boating plans change and change and, uh, change.....

Our plans were to take off the first ten days of August and take the boat from the Palm Coast to it's first resting place in Key Largo. Things haven't gone, exactly, as planned and we're learning that "flexibility" is the name of the game in the boating world.

Admittedly, we started this adventure with ALOT on our plate.

Gary is closing his business after 19 years of working VERY hard, VERY long, and VERY dedicatedly to provide for our family. In the midst of this, he, also, VERY unexpectedly had to have surgery and the trickle down effect began.....

Because of the surgery, the closing of the business is delayed.

Because the closing of the business is delayed, picking up the boat is delayed.

Because picking up the boat is delayed, we are now in hurricane season.

Because we are in hurricane season, we're reconsidering where to put the boat.

Hence, the trickle down effect...

And now, we just found out that Gary is going to have to have a second surgery, so here we go again.

Our plans, at this point, are to have the business closed by the end of August and to start down the Intercoastal around Labor Day.

I chuckle at God's timing....Leaving behind the "labors" of a long time business to start a "new life" on Labor Day.

Ecc. 2:10 I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

What Do We Name The Boat??????

After much dialogue and discussion, after sleeping on it and getting others' opinions, after much debate and torment....we've named the boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and...the...name...is...

The Layla JoLee

I'm just kidding about all the other stuff. It wasn't a hard decision at all. Layla is our five year old granddaughter and JoLee is our soon-to-be granddaugher (due date 7/31/09). Her full name will be Catalina JoLee, but JoLee is the name that was chosen, in part, as a namesake to my hubby (and we really like that name alot), therefore, tada, The Layla JoLee.

The ONLY dilemma we had about the naming of the boat is that we have another PRECIOUS granddaughter and we couldn't figure out how to fit her name into the naming of the boat. We discussed MANY options on how to make it work. After much discussion (really this time), we decided that she is such a unique and beautiful gift that she deserved her own unique and beautiful boat. Hence, when we buy our dingy, the dingy's name will be Brynn.

I don't know what we'll do when we have more granddaughters. I guess we'll have to cross that bridge when we get there - no pun intended :)

So, to help you get to know our boat and to get to know us, meet the ladies behind the name...In honor of The Layla JoLee and the soon-to-be Brynn.....

Meet Layla

Meet JoLee

(pictures coming soon)

Meet Brynn

Meet

The Layla JoLee....

We have precious grandsons, too. Meeting them will be for another blog....

Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Out With the Old...In With the New

We've done it!

We have a "new boat". I say "new boat" for a few reasons. One, is that it's not, technically new. It's a new, used boat. Two, is because we have an "old boat" in the garage.

We, hardly, remember that boat because it has been what my husband calls a "big litter box" for the last ten years. Because we had cats that lived in our garage...oh, well, I digress. I want to talk about our "new boat."

We've been talking about, looking at, traveling to see, working with lenders, and doing all kinds of time consuming things regarding the "new boat" for the past couple of months. However, we, officially, purchased it about two weeks ago. But, since it is sitting in Palm Coast, Florida, and we can't see it or touch it on a daily basis, it really hasn't seemed real.

However, reality set in pretty quickly when I opened the mail this morning and we had an invoice from a company that I have never heard of. Immediatley, I told hubby that I was going to call that company TODAY and tell them we didn't owe them money, that I didn't know what they were sending me a bill for...you know, REALLY let them HAVE IT!

As hubby does so often, to keep me from getting out of control, he looked at me very gently and said...

"Ba, that is the bill for the boat payment."

We both stood still, gazing into each other's eyes for a moment, and then the reality set in...

WE HAVE A "NEW BOAT"!

Our plans are simple, at this point. The "new boat" will sit at the previous owner's house for the next two months. Then, in August, we will take ten days off to take OUR NEW BOAT down the Intercoastal Waterway from the Palm Coast to Key Largo.

From there, I'm not sure, but I know that a new adventure begins....and I know that a new adventure is better than having an "old boat" that is disguised as the "cat's litter box."

It can only be UP from here!

Lam 3:23 His mercies are new every morning.