Wow – it’s been quite a week here at Teen Challenge!
PEAS, PEAS, PEAS
Remember those Snow Peas that were growing in the garden? Well, it’s been harvest time this week. The boys have been out picking and processing all week. And trust me, some of these kids had never even seen a snow pea, let alone know what to do with them! Normally afternoons are spent in PSNC (Personal Study for New Christians). Due to the “Pea Crisis”, we now have the PeaSNC…..
(do you think they might be looking for the small print?)
After the sorting and cleaning came the washing…. (I’ll tell you, get a camera out, and the boys become quite the hams!)…Then to the blanching and freezing (sorry, no pictures – I was too busy blanching!). And much to the boy’s delight, next week it’s back to the fields! Ah, Spring!

MARCH MADNESS – THE FINAL FOUR
 
Teen Challenge fields a pretty fine basketball team. Gary and I went to their semi-final game on Thursday down the road at Baptist College of Florida. I have no idea when (or where – the gymnasium is under construction) they actually practice, but they were amazing. The rest of second platoon came, so along with a couple of other staff members, there was a pretty fine cheering section too! After the game we all went out to CiCi’s for dinner (all the pizza, salad, and pasta you can eat for $4.49!). Good thing we warned them ahead of time, ’cause the kids certainly enjoyed the treat!
OH – did I mention WE WON!!!!! On to the finals on Monday! Here is just one of the winning shots! (we’re in blue!)

PAWN SHOP EDUCATION
 
I guess I’ve led a pretty sheltered life, but I had never been in a pawn shop until yesterday. Gary and I have both been checking eBay for a couple of things – he’s been looking for a biscuit joiner ( that’s a tool, not a southern kitchen item) and I’ve been looking for a narrow wedding ban to replace my wide one. I don’t know what made him think of it, but Gary decided we should check out the local pawn shops in Dothan (we found 6 – I’m sure there are more!). I was amazed at all the stuff they had – tools, toys, TV, movies, and jewelry. LOTS of jewelry. It was fun shopping, and at the last shop we stopped at I found just what I was looking for! Poor Gary was not quite so lucky (but he is still the high bidder on eBay!). And so our world enlarges!

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Lots of new volunteers will be arriving this weekend for a final month of construction/maintenance until the SnowBirds head north to home and us Full-timers just head north to escape the heat! (It was 89 here on Wednesday!). Yippee – new friends!

I figured it was about time we actually saw some of the beautiful area that is all around us and get these toes into the Gulf of Mexico , so armed with the Reader’s Digest The Most Scenic Drives in America , bookmarked to Drive 116 (Gulf Coast Drive) we started out early Saturday and headed toward Tallahassee. Our first destination was the Apalachee Savannahs Scenic Byway. It was a beautiful drive toward the coast through “longleaf pine flats, cypress bogs and grassy savannahs”. But before we had traveled too far we took a little side trip to the “The Garden of Eden Walk – Apalachiola Bluff and Ravine Preserve“. It seemed like a do-able hike (3 miles round trip), and after all, this is Florida right? How hard could this be? So off we set, me in my slip-on sandals and Gary in his docksides.
It started out nice and flat….

Then the terrain started to change (you know you’re in trouble when the trail guide says -”Do you notice the change in temperature?”)

We did finally make it to the top – and the view was very fine indeed -
…the only problem was the 1.5 mile hike back to the car! It really was nice hike – though a bench or two along the way would have been nice for us out of shape (and badly shod) adventurers. A good start to the day, though.
Back to the Scenic Byway , until we came to Fort Gadsden Historic Site. A small but interesting site of Florida history (of which I know very little) and a nice little side trip.

OK – enough of the pines and live oaks with beautiful spanish moss. On to the BEACH! There were several choices, but we opted for St. Georges Island State Park – and it was a very good choice.

Need I say more.

After our beach fix we headed to Panama City where we joined friends for dinner and then headed back home to Bonifay. It was a full day – and a very very good one.
You can see the rest of the day’s photos here, if you’d like! Lots of Flora, but no Fauna – and lots of Blue Sky!

Several of you have asked for Josiah and Abigail’s new address. (BTW- they had a wonderful time on their cruise-honeymoon. Josiah said they were completely addicted to the cruise vacation. All I could say was – start saving!!)
So here it is –
Mr. & Mrs. Josiah Conrad
45 N. Market St. Apt 409
Lancaster, PA 17603

Mr. and Mrs.
Wow!

I know, I know – many of you are still recovering from the nasty Nor’easter that hit the Northeast (duh!) last weekend. But down here…well, spring is moving right along! The trees are budding, the grass is greening up and the wisteria is going crazy! Of course, the allergies are also kicking in, but all in all, we’re delighted. Here are some of my favorite spring shots
First, the wisteria…. so pretty!

And one of the first crops is the Snow Pea….yummmmm

And if the peas are ready, there must be some pea pickers around…..

And, if the flowers are bloomin’ then the farmyard must be bustin’….
Baby Chicks….

And yes, there is even a new batch of piggies…

Oh, and did I mention it’s going to be 80 tomorrow?

I’ve been having a hard time trying to put into words the wonderful weekend that centered around the wedding of our youngest son Josiah to his sweetheart Abigail. It was full of family and friends (both old and new), had a little dose of stress (what wedding doesn’t!), contained both laughter and tears, and at the end of the day Mr. & Mrs. Josiah Conrad left to begin their new life together. Our accommodations were great , the rehearsal dinner worked out just fine, and we had a wonderfully peaceful Saturday to just hang around with family.
Since pictures are ALWAYS worth a thousand words (or at least a couple of paragraphs!) – here is a selection of some taken with my camera. Remember, I was pretty distracted being the Mother Of The Groom!

The (steal the show) Flower Girls…..

The Family….

The BIG FAMILY…

The Wedding Quilt…..

There are a couple more pictures here, and as I get more from different sources, I’ll get them posted!
And as soon as I confirm their new address, I’ll post that too! What kind of mother am I!