Beach Retreat Day

I spent Wednesday on Boca Grande for my 3rd annual district retreat and planning day. The island is still coming back from this year's run of hurricanes. I took a midday walk to the lighthouse, the beach and the labyrinth at the Episcopal Church. There are lots of bare places, missing sea walls and dead vegetation. And yet there are signs of life and hope around. 

 

 

Disney Christmas

Monday morning I had some meetings in Lakeland and in the afternoon I went with Amy to Disney for our annual tour of the hotel decorations. We parked at Epcot and got margaritas and nachos in the MExico pavilion before walking out the World Showcase entrance and over to the Epcot hotels. 

We started our tour in Beach Club with their Gingerbread Carousel. This year's theme was Mickey's Christmas Carol with horses depicting Scrooge, Marley and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. It was so well done!

 Then we visited the Christmas village at Yacht Club. 

Then we walked over to Boardwalk Inn. They made a gingerbread recreation of the Boardwalk. Impressive!

Then we walked back into Epcot and found the gingerbread Spaceship Earth Ball. 

Then we wandered into the Creations gift store and I found Lindsi Baugher, from Druid Hills. She's finishing up her college program at Disney.

Then we took the monorail over to the Ticket and Transportation Center and switched to the Magic Kingdom resort monorail. First stop was the Polynesian - no gingerbread houses here, but a cool tree with surfboards in the lobby.

Next hotel was the Grand Floridian - with the largest gingerbread house on property. It's so large it actually functions as the food stall that sells snacks here. And the giant Christmas tree is classic, always decorated in ornaments featuring the 12 days of Christmas song. 

Then we popped into the Magic Kingdom. We had dinner while watching the fireworks, did some shopping and rode Pirates of the Caribbean.

And we wrapped up the night by walking over to the Contemporary Hotel to see the gingerbread house there. 

Gingerbread Houses

Wesley, Davis and I went to Harvest Families party on Sunday night and part of the festivities was building gingerbread houses. We didn't win the contest. We won't tell you which ones belong to which person. But we did have fun making them.

 

Allergy Safe Cupcakes!

 My physical therapist told me this week about a place called Sarasota Bakehouse. They make gluten free and dairy free cupcakes (and cakes!) as well as other stuff. Daryl and I went this week and I picked up two cupcakes: peanut butter and chocolate and also cherry cheesecake. Both were to die for! 

Miami Life

Daryl and I got to spend a couple of days in Miami this week for the Cabinet and Spouse learning retreat. We got to visit three different churches to learn about the redevelopment efforts that they are going through: First UMC Coral Gables, First UMC Miami and Ebenezer UMC in Miami. And we had our Cabinet Christmas party on the 7th floor of the new First Miami space on their balcony overlooking Biscayne Boulevard and beyond. 

First UMC Coral Gables - and they put on a chapel service for us too. 

 

Monday night dinner at the mall.

Tuesday exploring First UMC Miami - they created a mobile of their old stained glass windows for their new building. Each of these panels is 16 feet tall.

Our Cabinet dinner on the balcony and views of the city. 

And on Wednesday morning before we headed home we visited Ebenezer UMC. 

 

I'm so glad that Daryl could join me - it was nice to be away for a few days. AND the boys stayed home by themselves and managed fine.