Family Fun





My cousin Elizabeth and her daughter Hana have been here for a visit the past week. It’s been wonderful to spend time with them and to visit. She and I took the girls to Longboat Key for two nights last week and had a great time relaxing by a pool and playing in the sand.










The beach was beautiful and for the most part, the weather was great, albeit hot. Florida thunderstorms gathered in the afternoons, and the lightning was spectacular at times.


Meals were fun at the hotel, as the local birds have found that if they stand close enough to diners they can grab scraps if they fall. Signs were posted all around not to feed the birds, and after just a few minutes, one could easily see why.

A Little Summer Fun

Summer break has been wonderful—I’ve managed to stay busy between the church and teaching private voice, and have even squeezed in some serious closet cleaning and a yard sale. Marla and I got away for a girl trip for two days earlier this month when we visited with Lynette at her in-law’s home on the St. John’s River in St. Augustine. It was fun to put together a cd of driving songs and sing and laugh in the car together on the way up and back. Marla had a great time swimming with Molly and TJ and we enjoyed the hospitality of the Snell family. Watching Marla swim made me wish we had a pool—she truly loves the water.


Last week, Don and I decided to put a one-night end to our spending moratorium and went out to dinner. I searched the Internet for a new place to dine that might be nice and we hit the jackpot when we landed on Nonna Trattoria ed Enoteca on Edgewater. It is now our new all-time favorite restaurant. Often, when I think of Italian, I envision plates of pasta and pretty predictable fare, but this was so much more. The food was authentic Italian with a slight Mediterranean flare. Don ordered the Roast Pork Tenderloin, which was probably the most delicious pork I’ve ever tasted, and I had the Grouper with eggplant and artichokes in a fantastic sauce. We spent most of the meal talking about how great the food was and plotting how we might possibly return soon. Our meal was moderately priced, with entrees between $18 and $24. The restaurant is a bit cramped and noisy, but there’s a large porch that wraps around the front and on a nice evening it would be great to dine there. The interior is Tuscan in décor—simple and elegant. When we left we walked around back to see the herb garden the chef uses to cook such flavorful meals, and were impressed by its lush greenery.We will definitely go back! Reservations are a must—call a day ahead.

Has anyone ever sent you an anonymous gift? Well, yesterday, someone sent one to me. A box arrived UPS from Amazon and inside was this beautiful windchime. I’ve wandered around the past day wondering who might have sent it, but there are no clues for me to follow.

So, I would like to thank my anonymous benefactor for the beautiful gift that truly touches where my heart lives. It’s lovely. Every time I hear its chimes I will think of the blessings of friends, and the gifts of God that make this life so sweet in the midst of pain.

Thank you.