That’s the number of days we have left here at West Florida Teen Challenge. I don’t want you to think we’re ‘counting down the days’ or anything, but really we’re just trying to get ourselves organized for our departure. While we’re definitely ready to hit the road and see some new territory (which won’t actually happen until July!), we also are sad to be saying goodbye to the dear friends we have made here over the winter. And to say goodbye to “our boys” – now that is something I’m not looking forward to.
We came here with a job to do. As an official “Sower On Assignment”, Gary’s task was to head up the installation of the heating and air conditioning systems on their new 30,000 sq. Family Life Worship Center. Here it is –

Unfortunately, this is as far as Gary was able to get -

But even though our “official” task wasn’t accomplished just the way WE thought it would be, we still feel that this is where we were supposed to be this past winter. Gary was able to work extensively with the building engineers to reduce the amount of A/C needed, and thus significantly reduce the total cost of the job. He was able to get all but two of the units and most of the duct board at cost – a huge savings for Teen Challenge. He was also the “go-to” guy for the many volunteers that came and went over the course of the winter (not to mention the major parts runner!) And we were both able step in and fill an unexpected, but very real need in the kitchen! We were blessed by working not only with an incredible staff, but with a steady stream of SOWER volunteers – 24 couples in all along with more than a dozen other volunteer couples. And then there are the boys. We will take these young men with us in our hearts and prayers. Some of them absolutely drove us crazy with their teenage-ness , but to see firsthand what the Lord is doing in their lives has touched us beyond measure. Whether they are new in the Lord or growing strong spiritually and getting ready to graduate (or are still in orientation like the 8 that arrived last week), they all need our prayers. They will not soon be forgotten.

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Last week all the staff and volunteers gathered in that new building and spent time praying over the various areas and writing scripture on the walls. Gary got there early and wrote on the beam over that pile of A/C equipment –

The LORD said to him:
“I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
1 Kings 9:3

A very good winter indeed.

We’re in countdown mode here – anticipating our departure from Teen Challenge in six days after being here for 7 months! One of the first things I tackled was getting my sewing machine put away. Needless to say, that lovable beast really ties up the “dining room” in our little house! But before I put it away, I wanted to catch up on making my memory stars. When we set out, (almost four years ago!!!!) I wanted to figure out some way to make a remembrance quilt to, well, remember this trip. So for the last four years I’ve been stopping at little quilt shops along the way and gathering fabric to make into little 6 inch stars that will remind me of that particular area (corn for Iowa, fireworks for where we were for the 4th of July, seashells for our time at the beach, stuff like that!). Sometimes it was easy (like the corn in Iowa), and sometimes it was harder – like trying to find fabric that would remind me of geocaching in Tennessee. Anyway, I kept collecting and kept sewing. I need almost 200 of those little stars, and that’s a lot of trips to those fabric stores! Here’s the batch I just finished up before I got the machine put away –
which include memories of Christmas projects, baby quilts, my niece Abby’s wedding, working in the kitchen here at TC…you get my drift?
Here is a close up of one I made of Abby’s wedding. Her colors were black and red and I thought the delicate white background had a wedding feel to it. (Plus she wouldn’t let me cut out a piece of her dress! )

I’m down to my last 15 stars! Whoohoo!
But in other preparations for our departure – we (and I use the term loosely) washed Lizzie today with a little (?) help from some willing volunteers from second platoon. (Probably the promise of an off-campus BBQ lunch after the chore helped spur them on!). Also, it was hot and sunny and involved water and a pressure washer, so I think they really had a pretty good time!

It will be a busy week, I’m sure!

I know you’re busy – and some of you are well into the morning – but I just returned from our morning devotions where I watched to following video with tears streaming down my face. If you have about 4 minutes I encourage you to watch –

My tears fell not because I admired the great passion of the father (which I did) but because I knew that that’s me in the wheelchair – helpless but for the love and grace of my precious Savior who is strong and mighty indeed!
Have a blessed day, dear friends.

OK, we’ve been in the south long enough!
Those were Gary’s words this morning as we enjoyed breakfast out (it’s really hard to get breakfast without grits down here). I’m afraid. Very afraid.

However, it was the start of a very fun Saturday for us (and it was a very good breakfast, btw). We had made arrangements with our new nephew Jon (who married niece Abby last November and was up in Ft. Benning, GA doing some Army training this month) to meet in Dothan and check out the Smokin’ in the Wiregrass BBQ Festival. We beat the crowds by getting there when the gates opened and had a great morning wandering by the vendors and checking out all the amazing BBQ cooking contraptions that were being used.

Forget the funnel cakes and the roasted corn, what we were really waiting for was the People’s Choice BBQ tasting. Here’s the plan – wait in line, get your ballot, pick up ten little cups full of BBQ pork, taste them all
and choose the one you like best. Here they are all ready for the judging!
After you finally decide which one you like the best, you fill out your ballot and then leave the tent. Did I mention there were 4 tables that needed to be judged . Back in line, on to the next table, more sampling (I mean, these things needed to be judged. After all, it was the People’s Choice Award). We made it through the line three times before we had OD’d on BBQ. But I felt we did our part. (And it was really harder than it looks!)
Along with the live entertainment that was going on at the other end of the midway, there was also live music right by that People’s Choice Award tent (that’s really why we spent so much time in line, right?) Here is the most unusual Steel Drum Band I think we will ever see….Heaven’s Island Steel Drum Band -

Whaddya think?

So after one more loop around the fairgrounds (with a little stop to enjoy The Jimmy Hope Band performing on the “Main Stage”), we left the festival to introduce Jon to geocaching. Since he’s in the Army now, he caught on pretty quick!
We started right in town – in someone’s front yard it seemed!
So it’s hidden right in the tree? Yep!
From there we moved to just outside of town – here are the guys trekking toward that storm drain. (We had tried to get to it from the other side,, and believe me this was the better plan!).

So, they started looking all around and finally – yes, there it is, isn’t it?

Yep, that’s it! Good Find! (and thanks for being the one to brave all the prickers!)

We checked out the goodies in the cache and decided to just sign the log and let it go at that. (Really, who needs another Happy Meal toy!)

And then to add just a random bit of nonsense to the day, after that last geocache we stopped at a couple of sample houses to check them out. I was just curious about how much they were, but we decide to go in (well, the guy came out and asked us to, and it seemed rude to say no!). Like I said – random!

We finished off our day of fun with Jon with a stop at the DQ – always a good way to end an adventure! We sent Jon on his way home, and we pressed on to do our regular “Saturday In Dothan” errands. Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Walmart. Called the kids and a couple of our friends. (Only actually spoke to 2 people, but it was worth the shot! I just love seeing 5 bars on my cell phone!)

So, we had a great Saturday. Thank you, Jon, for driving to Dothan to spend the day with family you hardly know. And now that you DO know us better – well, all the more reason to offer thanks!

It’s past time for bed. All this fun is exhausting!

I recently put together our Dwinell Family 2008 Directory (Dwinell being my maiden name). As I was gathering photos, addresses, emails, birthdays, anniversaries, websites and other pertinent information, I was struck again at how blessed I am to be part of this family. We’re spread from coast to coast – but we stay pretty well connected and more than that, we’re all good friends. How sweet is that!
Here we all are – in order from oldest sibling (Elna) and her clan, to Joie and hers, to mine and then to baby brother Dewey with his family.

I love these guys!