High Jumper Meet 2

This week the varsity track meet was at Braden River High School in Bradenton. Their mascot is a pirate, so this was the Pirate Booty Invitational.

Wesley easily cleared his first three jumps: 5 flat, 5'2" and 5'4". That put him even with his best from last week. And then he set a PR and cleared 5'6".

In the next round he set another PR and cleared 5'8"!

 He was so close to clearing 5'10" but kept hitting it with his hand. We're sure he'll get that one soon. 

We're super proud of all his effort and how far he's come in just a few weeks! 

College Tour #3

The real reason for the visit to Orlando was to take Wesley on another college tour, this time at UCF. We had no idea that it is now the largest public state university in Florida. He loved the campus and all the amenities. It's definitely on his list.  

A Little Pixie Dust

Last week I went to Epcot with Amy and Parker; this Monday morning I got to go with Daryl, Wesley and Davis. We spent a couple of hours in Epcot riding Soarin, watching the Pixar Short Film Festival, and getting some snacks. 

Daryl and I have been to three of the places in the Soarin video - Great Wall, pyramids in Egypt and the Red Rocks of Arizona. The boys have been to the Great Wall and Arizona. 

We found a new dogsitter on Rover and tried her out overnight for this Orlando trip - the dogs had a great time at her house and made a new friend. 

 

Life Around the District

Last week started with me co-preaching at Trinity UMC Bradenton for their 75th Anniversary and the kickoff to their capital campaign. It was fun to co-preach with their pastor Robert, who had been our intern back in 2012! 

 

Then on Monday I headed to Cabinet meetings in Lakeland. There were some festivities this week at Florida Southern that we all attended, celebrating the inauguration of the schools next president, Dr. Jeremy Martin. Tuesday morning we participated in a prayer breakfast with other faith leaders at First UMC Lakeland. 

Our current Cabinet. 

All the Methodists with Dr. Martin. 

And my friend Dr. Chris Schmidt from our district joined me at the breakfast; he's an adjunct at FSC right now. 

Then on Wednesday afternoon some of us participated in the processional for the actual inauguration service. I was listed in the program as representing my alma mater, Garrett Theological Seminary. Robert and I got to walk in together and we got our picture with Mocsie! 

On the way home from Lakeland on Thursday I stopped by our one Polk county church in the district. They still have some hurricane damage that they are navigating at Sun Ray UMC in Frostproof. 

Then on Saturday, the boys and I went to Venice to join Daryl and Grace Venice for their first ever "Grace Loves Venice" event. Over 80 people participated in six different outreaches and our family did beach cleanup. It was a lot of fun. 

 

High Jumper

Wesley had his first official track meet on Valentine's Day at North Port High School for their Bobcat Relay. There were 20 high schools present from Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties. 

 

He cleared 5 foot even, 5' 2" and 5'4" (see videos below). He attempted 5'6" and couldn't quite clear it. 

This is really good for his first official meet. 

Baba and I were cheering him on from the stands. 

 

Board of Ordained Ministry week

I started off last Sunday morning worshipping at the First UMC of Bradenton. 

 

In the afternoon I drove up to camp for the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. 

 

It was nice to walk the labyrinth each morning. 

One of the candidates from our district was approved for provisional elder! 

It was a very good week. I loved working with my friend Latricia and people brought us snacks that we can both eat and love!

This was our whole Dream Team - Holly and me from the office along with Latricia (BOM Chair) and Susan (BOM Vice-Chair). 

 

 

And this was our hospitality team - Elizabeth our District Registrar along with the Rev. David and Nancy McEntire who are recently retired. 

 

Fruitland Park Friends

While I was at camp for the Board of Ordained Ministry, I got a chance to visit with the Landstedts for a bit and also to go to dinner with Meredith. It was super fun to hang out with all of them again.