Emilie and Friends

Emilie has lost six teeth since her birthday last August.

The two bottom teeth are her new permanent teeth.

Friday, our friends the Friends came over to play. Here they had just finished lunch and were watching "Pistachio" the latest Veggie Tale adventure.

Little Johnny

Julie Mae

Emilie really loves having her friends over.

Welcoming a Wounded Soldier Home

Patrick came home Thursday afternoon and told us that on Friday a wounded soldier was returning home to Avon Park and he wanted to do something to welcome him home. He had purchased a poster board and some flags and asked that the kids and I make a sign. Friday morning Patrick and his manager, John, had an appointment together. We had already made plans for John's wife and children to come over to play while the men were working together. I knew that Sasha was talented in the craft department (of which I am sadly lacking). I asked her if she would be willing to help and she enthusiastically agreed. What a providential blessing :~)

Sasha is very creative and talented and the task was not daunting at all for her. She and Sadie basically came up with the whole design and I helped color in the the stripes.

The final product.

Daniel, me, Sasha Friend & Sadie
Daniel was a big help keeping the little ones occupied while we worked on the sign.

Patrick & John Friend

Modern Woodmen of America is all about community service and involvement. I am very proud that we are a part of this fine society.

No, Daniel is not hiding :~)

We went downtown and tied yellow ribbons on trees to welcome Cpl. Lyons home.

Patrick heard about Cpl. Lyons return because he had been up to the Chamber of Commerce that day. Then shortly before his arrival we got a memo that the motorcade escorting him home would drive through downtown. We ran to the store and purchased several rolls of yellow ribbon and quickly adorned as many trees as we could.

Emilie helping her daddy.

Because of the last minute change in route, most people welcoming him home were only on Hwy 27. We ended up being the only people downtown as he was driven past escorted by police cars and a veteran motorcycle club. It wasn't easy standing there so conspicuously, but when that motorcade came down the street, sirens wailing... and then when we saw him it made my heart swell with pride. Cpl. Lyons returned the smart salute that Patrick offered him and all of us choked up.

I'm submitting the following article to Modern Woodmen Magazine. I hope you like it.

Cpl. Corey Lyons (24) returned to his hometown of Avon Park, Florida on Friday, May 14, 2010. He was seriously injured on February 5, 2008, while serving his country in Iraq. State side surgery still could not save his right leg, which was ultimately amputated below the knee. Lyons has spent the past twenty-seven months in rehab at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Learning of Cpl. Lyons' return less than a day before his arrival, representatives from two Modern Woodmen Camps (16046 of Wauchula and 16072 of Bartow) came together to welcome Highlands County's youngest veteran to become a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart back home. Camp members worked together to create a beautiful welcome home and thank you sign, tied yellow ribbons on trees throughout Main Street, proudly waved American flags and saluted Lyons motorcade when he passed by.

Camp Secretary Patrick Franklin said, "It is an honor and a privilege to welcome home this brave soldier. He offered his life, sacrificed his leg, served his country with honor, and this, well, this is the least that we could do. We just want Cpl. Lyons and his family to know our gratitude. We can't take away the horrors of war. We can't replace what has been lost, but we can, and we will honor our brave men and women for their selfless courage and sacrifice."

Cpl. Lyons is home and has plans for college in order to provide a future for his wife Danielle and their two children Corey Jr. and Decorian.

A Visit from the Harris Family

I first met Karalee Cosper while working in Manitou Springs, CO at Summit Ministries back in 1991. She took me to Tse Bonita, NM when I interviewed to work as a teacher for Hilltop Christian School there. Her grandaddy was born on property his family homesteaded on near Gallup, NM called McGaffey (not sure if McGaffey is the name of the property or the area of NM where the property is) and Karalee's family still lived on and worked the land. They took me in like family and helped me get settled while I lived out west.


In 1994, I sent them a Christmas letter telling about my marriage the year before and that I had had a baby girl. Karalee wrote back and updated me as well. She had good news and bad news. She had also gotten married, she was now Karalee Harris, and had a baby boy, but her mother, who had battled with Leukemia for years had gone home to be with the Lord.


One year (2000 or 2001), Karalee, her husband, John and their three children came to Florida on vacation and stopped by to see us for a few hours. It was a wonderful, although short, visit. They admired Patrick's tile work and when they decided to tile their master bathroom, they invited us out for a working vacation to their home in Albuquerque, NM. Of course, we took them up on the offer. That was the spring of 2002.


Spring 2004, brought the Harris family back to Florida for another vacation and another visit with us. This time they had four children and we had three. They were in the process of moving to Payson, AZ and somehow we lost track of each other for a while after that. We did all of our moving around and I thought we may have lost them forever, but thanks to Facebook, John found us :~) They now have six children and are living in Texas.


Fortunately, we are back here in Florida in time for another Harris family vacation. Well, I have told this long history to explain the pictures I have below. We will travel back in time beginning with our visit this week, then their visit here in 2004 and finally our visit out west. I wish I had done it in proper order, but didn't and I'm not going to upload these pictures again to get them in the proper order. Sorry :~}

This picture is out of sequence, but too good to leave out.

I had uploaded it, but somehow it didn't come through the first time.

Daniel with Andrew, Nathan & Matthew Harris

Karalee, Matthew (behind her), Rachel, and John

visiting and catching up

Apparently, I'm saying something very interesting because all eyes are on me :~)

Daniel & Andrew

The newest addition, 11 month old Makayla
(Please forgive me if I misspelled her name. I'll correct it if you'll let me know.)

Makayla, Karalee & Matthew

Sarah & Emilie

The little girls really hit it off.

John & Patrick

Keeping Makayla occupied .

Cutie pie :~)

"While they're busy talking, I'll make my escape."

"Freedom!!!"

Such is Life :~)

We went out for pizza at Zeno's in Sebring. Great food! We'll be going back again. Although, next time, I'll try to remember that my glasses are hanging around my neck and not squint my eyes to look at the menu.

The garlic rolls were yummy!

Rachel inspecting her garlic roll

The pizzas were DELICIOUS!

Rachel & Sadie

me, Karalee (holding Makayla), Emilie & Sarah

"Was that you?!"

The dads

Last breath of freedom before getting locked back in her car seat.

It was wonderful, as always, seeing the Harris family.

I'm so glad they always include a stop by our house when they're down here.

My only regret is that our visits are too short.

Matthew, Nathan, me, Karalee, Makayla, John

Rachel, Emilie, Sarah, Andrew, Daniel & Sadie

2004

Daniel playing with Matthew & Andrew

Back then we had one of those small above ground pools. So the kids had enjoyed a swim just before these pictures were taken.

Karalee holding Emilie (about 9 months old)

John & Patrick

Sadie & Nathan

Rachel holding baby Emilie


2002

We went to McGaffey, NM for Easter weekend.

Here Karalee is helping Matthew & Nathan decorate their eggs.

Karalee's uncle had built a dude ranch with a restaurant and cabins on the family property. The little girl in this picture with Sadie is Shania. Her mom worked there.

Rachel, Shania & Sadie

They were so cute and little.

Seven year old Sadie, man time sure flies.

Daniel & Rachel waiting patiently.

Matthew & Nathan

I think Daniel must have just had a nap

Waiting...

"I'm ready!"

Daniel turned four soon after this trip. Wow!

Cutie pie Rachel

Our Easter service was very private and informal.

Matthew, Nathan, Shania, Sadie, Daniel & Rachel
getting ready for a hay ride.

Thanks for coming along on this journey back in time.