4am comes really early, but it was especially early this morning. I drank a whole tumbler full of Dunk’n Doughnuts coffee and it didn’t touch the dramamine funk I was in. I was doped up to go on our fishing trip to Panama City, FL. We went out 28 miles on a cabin cruiser (with air conditioning), and we were fishing by 8am. We traveled from spot to spot seeking red snapper and anything else that we could bring up. I did get a little sea sick (it was kinda rough), but is was fun watching my dad stumble all over the place trying to get his footing (I was stumbling too). Far more got away, than we put in the cooler, but at the end of the day we did ok, and we had some snapper and a king mackeral to show for our hunt. Our captain and first mate were great and while I am exhauseted it was a lot of fun. We left the beach house at 5am and got back at 9pm.

The plan was for the family to leave right when the boys got off the bus. But an hour and half later we really did pull out for vacation. After one trip around the block and going back for something, a trip to the bank, library, and gas station we were finally on our way. We stopped in Roanoke, VA for some dinner and fun times with family, a quick stop at starbucks (we were driving through the night you know), we begane the decent into exhaustion and madening drive into the night. We arrived in Alabama at 6am and it took all of us a couple of days to recover.
We were able to visit a horse stable that raises, feeds, takes care of feeding and shoeing, transports, trains, and shows “show horses.” These horses are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. (It was hot, but pretty cool). Hannah-Grace wants to be a cowgirl now.
We celebrated the boys birthday by having relatives come over for hamburgers and a pool party. It was a blast and with all the adults over I was able to slip in a nap in one of the chairs around the pool. I was able to visit my dad’s shooting range and fire off some rounds. My aim is not what it used to be. I need to practice more.
We drove down to Florida and are staying in my parents beach house. It has been over 95 degrees everyday and little relief in the evenings. The beach is perfect, and we were able to cool down in the ocean. Today we went to FBC Port St. Joe and spent the afternoon and evening napping and eating dinner – mainly we were just trying to stay cool.
Tommorow, the plan is to going fishing or go to the beach – whichever the weather allows.

Yes, Hannah-Grace is FIVE YEARS OLD — wow, I really can’t believe it. Time seems to have flow by so fast. Every day she gets a little taller, and more and more beautiful. She brings joy to me and is truly my little princess. I love the times when I tuck her in, pray with her, and now (thanks to Pam G.) I have to sing a song to her every night. We have a routine where we turn on the cd player (Ms. Patty Cake of course), pray, sing, and read a devotion from a Gi Gi book. She follows me around in the yard when I do yard work, and she always wants to give me a kiss and a hug. My little princess just turned five, and I know time will be a blur, and 10, 15, 20, 25, will fly by like telephone poles on the highway. God help me to seize every day and enjoy every moment.