We started working today....Willie spent the day demo'ing, and then rebuilding doors, while I spent my working hours steam-cleaning pews....UGH! Actually, it's not bad, just a little hard on the back and shoulders...guess I'll have some biceps to brag on when our three weeks of work are done. Yes, I'll be doing pews the whole time we are here.....there are LOTS of 'em! But we are here to do whatever needs to be done, and since that is what needs to be done....that's what I'll do!

We are enjoying getting to know the folks we are working with here....feel like we are already making new friends.

Pray for us as our tentative plans for January and February are kinda' out the window, so to speak. We are waiting to see what the Lord reveals.

We are now in Hudson, FL at Word of Life Conference Center and Bible Institute....and just about settled in. There are eight SOWERs couples here....as always a wide variety of ages and experiences....always something to learn from everyone. This Word of Life Campus has been in existence since the '90s and has over 100 students in residence, training for a variety of Christian service opportunities. There is an RV park for volunteers - some who come and stay for months at a time to support the students in numerous ways. We are looking forward to doing whatever work is put before us and also to enjoying some of the locales around here (Willie is looking forward to metal detecting on some of the nearby beaches).

Several of you are very heavy on my heart today....know that you are in our thoughts and prayers....

UPDATE! Last night when we were reviewing our recent postings, we (Willie and/or I) noticed that we had forgotten to 1)include a photo of the infamous toilet bowl races, 2) mention our early morning wake-up call, and 3) share with you the after effects of eating Blue Bell "Super Hero" ice cream! So here goes.... These racers ARE motorized and can really scoot, even doing wheelies!

Our wake-up call came at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning....the warning siren about 100 feet outside our rig went off...first with the traditional "WOOH, WOOOH, WOOOOH" that went on for what seemed like forever. Then we heard "PLEASE EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A TORNADO WARNING. TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY....DO NOT DELAY." That will definitely wake you up....with an adrenaline rush, to boot! So we were obedient and left our rigs to go to the designated shelter. After about fifteen minutes it was all clear, so we returned to our rigs none the worse for wear....unless you count elevated blood pressure! We were blessed to have no damage in our immediate area, but the tornado did touch down about ten miles from Shocco Springs and did some minor damage. As for the after effects of "Super Hero" ice cream....Willie had been warned that his tongue would turn blue. It did. Along with his teeth, his gums, and his lips. All short-lived, thank goodness. What they didn't warn him about was the AFTER after effects.....like the next morning....also bright blue!!! Need I say more?!!!

On that note, have a wonderful and blessed day!

On Monday Willie had the chance to go to the Motorsports Hall of Fame - he seemed to enjoy meeting and talking with the research librarian most, tho' he did enjoy meeting "Red" Farmer, a race car driver who is a member of the Hall of Fame. He also liked several special cars, including this one driven AND wrecked

by Michael Waltrip, who walked away!

Of course, he had to get a picture of the hood of this car - wonder why?

Wednesday we left Shocco Springs, headed for Word of Life Youth Camp and Conference Center in Hudson, FL. We caravaned (can you call two rigs a caravan?) with Lee and Esther Smith and spent the first night at Teen Challenge Boys Ranch in Bonifay, FL, where Gary and Stephanie Conrad who worked with us at the Shocco Springs project are now working. The next morning we headed out....with the rear end of Smith's rig a constant in our sights! We parted ways when we reached the Hudson area, looking for overnight parking. We ended up in this WalMart parking lot, where we witnessed our own version of "Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha' gonna' do" when we pulled in....someone had robbed a woman inside WalMart and their undercover guys had chased him down and held him until the cops arrived. The rest of the night was a little tamer, but we were glad to see dawn arrive!

We are now set up at Word of Life, and will find out tomorrow what we will be doing while we are here.

We continue to remember each one of you in prayer as God brings you to mind.

Saturday was field trip day! We took the roundabout way (does Willie know any other way when it comes to field trips?), and had loads of beautiful scenery to look at during the drive. We made it up to highest point in Alabama - Cheaha Mountain State Park. What a gorgeous little park! The climb up to the top of the lookout tower was not very taxing (NOT a very tall tower), but the view was beautiful. What we enjoyed even more was eating our lunch on the pool deck for the hotel that overlooks the valley....I think we might learn to relax after all?!!! We will definitely have to make plans to eat at the restaurant there next time we are in this area (maybe in March). As we were leaving the park we started talking to a gentleman who was getting ready to do some mountain biking. Turns out he used to manage the Picadilly cafeteria at Greenbrier Mall and now owns his own restaurant/catering business in Oxford, AL! As it turns out, he is also next door neighbors with a Nazarene pastor....talk about a small world! As we were making our way back to Shocco Springs, we spotted the "Hopeful Baptist Church" - now, granted, it is located in an area called Hopeful, but it got me to thinking.....about how thankful I am that I'm not just hopeful, I am certain where my salvation lies!

'Til next time....

Our project here at Shocco Springs Conference Center has concluded, (tho' we will be parked here for a few more days), but not before a lot of work was accomplished (seven hotel rooms remodeled, four decks torn down and rebuilt, lots of painting, LOADS of laundry, office work, housekeeping, etc.). We also found time to partake in some fun activities....like a match play putt-putt tournament, a tour of the Blind Institute, a tour of the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory (with delicious samples), a pizza party and last, but definitely not least, toilet bowl racing! Yup....you read it right! It was a riot to see all of us "more mature" folks racing around the gym floor and it really got chaotic when we added "flag football" to the mix!

While we were here, we also had the chance to spend a weekend with our friends Dot and Arky Beal (met while working in Gulfport, MS after Katrina) over in West Point, MS. We took in a Sorghum Festival and spent lots of time playing games, chatting, relaxing and just enjoying being together. I think when we left, they are going to miss Miss Daisy more than they will miss us!

It will be nice to have a few days to just relax and get some things done. I'm going to be doing one of my periodic "cullings" of all the stuff we carry with us....just seem to keep accumulating it, until we have no room left! My scrapbooking is also getting some time and attention, and Willie may even get some more work done on his wooden tugbook model (about two feet long).