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posted by Daniel on 01/4/10

I don’t think our family has ever had a more exciting New Years celebration! Nearing the end of our Florida trip, December 31 found us at the Neely household – experienced hosts indeed! You should have been there. We fit everything you can think of into that all-too-short two-night stay: Dutch Blitz, Settlers of Catan, Kings and Peasants, Occupations, pruning trees, transplanting blueberries, jumping on the trampoline, singing and making music together, and taking the infamous ride down their front hill in the “Red Mule.” Even Duck Duck Goose! We also had a great time laughing around their dinner table, sharing life’s most embarrassing moments , and enjoying their constant supply of delectable food.

Perhaps the most memorable event of all was blowing up their gingerbread house. Wild? Maybe. But a blast none the less! The pyrotechnicians in the family had discovered that you could create quite an explosion by combining balls  of foil with a special cleaning agent in a plastic bottle. All we had to do was take the experiment one step farther – why not place the bottle inside the gingerbread house! (It was no longer edible anyway. Otherwise it probably would have met a different fate… ) I personally was rather skeptical, thinking it would probably give a little pop and roll over. No way! It shot gingerbread, icing, and candy over 10 feet away!

Needless to say, we thoroughly enjoyed every moment of our visit. Thank you Neely Team for opening up your home and taking the time out of your full schedule to  encourage us with your gracious southern hospitality! You launched 2010 off to a thrilling beginning!

10 Comments » | posted in The Bright Side

posted by Esther on 01/4/10

Tuesday, Dec.29, we pulled up to the Hicks and were warmly greeted and invited on a hike around their property which felt good after the 8 hour trip from Sanibel. Out by the pond we ate oranges fresh off the tree. Before this trip I’d never even seen oranges on a tree! It wasn’t long before Mr. Hicks fired up the four    wheelers and we started an exciting ride through the woods. This was also a first for several of us and we were thrilled.

That evening we toured their remodeled farm house, played Dutch blitz, bowled in the living room and ate lots and lots of ice cream!

The next morning delicious aromas of freshly baked cinnamon rolls filled the air. They were so good and many of us lost count of how many we ate! Before packing up we enjoyed watching Picture Proverbs that brought   the wisdom of Solomon to life. After our group picture, we were off. I look back and would say that the highlight of this visit was the meaningful, uplifting conversation that were a tremendous reminder that our God is trustworthy and we can depend on him. The  oneness of Christian fellowship has been such an encouragement on this incredible vacation!

5 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Donald on 01/2/10

To say that this Christmas season was full of surprises would be an understatement, but I definitely wasn’t expecting the one that came on Christmas morning.

We rose early to catch the sunrise on the eastern shore of Sanibel Island. Seashells are abundant there so we were busy picking them up both before and after sunrise. It was also great to wish a merry Christmas to the passersbys, including a family from Holland. The weather was cool, the sky was mixed with sun and clouds,  and the sea breeze blew steadily.  Despite the cooler temperatures–or possibly because of them–many of Sanibel’s  wintering birds were present on the island. The day before, we had taken Wildlife Drive and seen the White Pelican, Reddish Egret and a Little Blue Heron which, because of it’s young age, was actually all white. Most of all I was glad to set my sights on a Yellow-crowned Night-heron. It was the only North American heron I hadn’t seen yet! Many more sightings of this exquisitely-patterned species were to follow during our expedition in the kayaks but the first sighting was memorable for us.

Now about Christmas morning. Even in the hour following sunrise it remained cool, almost cold. The only reason I didn’t notice the temperature was because of how interesting the terns were. Both Sandwich Terns and Royal Terns performed their aerobatic stunts not far out at sea and, even though I couldn’t see their beaks very well with the way they faced away from me into the wind, a positive identification was possible later thanks to James’ photos.

Then, once, as I was attempting to follow the zigzagging terns through the scope I saw that, in the distance, were many birds I hadn’t seen because they were so far out to sea. Amidst the other birds that looked like common cormorants and pelicans was one very different kind. Overall it was white. In the wings it had some black, distinct inky black. As I followed it I could tell that the black was restricted to the ends of each wing, not spread along the entire trailing edge as in the Wood Stork or White Pelican. That was strange. “Northern Gannet?” I thought. Hmm. Before it disappeared I saw that behind it, whether feet or tail, something projected longer than usual and the neck and head seemed neither long nor short.

When I consulted Peterson’s guide however, everything made sense. It was none other than the Northern Gannet, wintering in the south, a true seabird and my first one at that. It was great to have a positive sighting—right from the beach! I must give God the credit for one more wonderful Christmas present.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. … Your Father which is in heaven [shall] give good things to them that ask Him” (Matthew 7:7–11).

1 Comment » | posted in Family News