The day started with a before 6 roll out for me and my usual routines of a few quiet moments, the posting of this daily ramble and my morning cup of green tea with some herbs and spices. I grabbed a Fuji apple for my breakfast and headed outside to check on the gardens. I think I will have to bait the trap again as some critter is once again digging some rather deep holes in the back yard and gardens. Luckily they missed the new lettuces but what they are looking for is beyond my imagination. The squirrels dig holes but nothing to this depth. It has to be a critter that can climb the fence so I know its not an armadillo. I piddled around outside until I worked up a healthy sweat.
Amy picked up Nancy and they headed out for the mall. Little Eliza and I were pals and we enjoyed each other as she wanted to play with the dolls with a movie on in the back ground. We had a fun time and watched parts of the movie together. I was able to read a little as well at times as she laid on the couch. We had the oven pre-heated an a couple frozen pizzas baking by the time girls got home for lunch around 12:30. They left around 2:30 to run GG home and then pick up Ava and Sam from school so I vegetated watching the movie about the Cambodian massacre that was taking place during the Vietnam era. I had actually been on a couple secret missions to Cambodia as we carried cargo into that country and from what I observed it was much like Vietnam. Little did I know what was taking place politically and militarily within the country.
We had an hour and half ride to Sarasota to the parents home of our team leaders with Amway. This beautiful home is right out of the movie Gone with the Wind. It's just absolutely beautiful and so decorated for Christmas. Our son Bobby cooks for this occasion as well as Melody and her family are close friend and she is his editor for his book series THE EPIC OF HAVEN. They are very generous folks and are strong Believers as well. Melody and her family drive from Sarasota every Sunday to Tampa as they are the glue that keeps Element Church together since Bobby has left. She even teaches or preaches occasionally as the church is still using elders since Bobby voluntarily stepped down as the pastor and has now moved on to another church.
The food was fabulous and the many gifts given to all were awesome as well. We have made this occasion for the past two years and always have such a great time meeting others who are involved in this enterprise. I would say 99% of the participants are strong Believers and many are former pastors, teachers and community leaders that we have had the pleasure to get to know during this occasion. It was going on 10'ish when we headed out for the long ride home. It had been a year since I had crossed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and 11 years since I last patrolled that area. I shared some of the most memorable moments from my days while working that area with folks who did jump to their death and those who I managed to control and get them help at a mental health facility as well as the many fatal crashes I investigated. I had lots of intriguing occasions where many died on that strip of land, the bridge itself and the water that lies between the three different counties and jurisdictions which we as State Troopers handled.
Well that was about it as it was after 11 before we got back to the house. This morning we head out to watch grandson Sam's program at Keswick, LATER
Here are a few pictures from Ava's program at Keswick Christian.
