Do You Know What Sunday Is?

Stayed tuned for the news!!

Just a few more days until Easter Sunday!!

That's all I can say!!I was shopping today :o)

What A Happy Birthday It Was

Wow! What an awesome birthday I had today!! It started out by Dennis waking me up at 5:48 am to wish me a Happy Birthday! Yes, I fell right back to sleep:o) (He did, too!!) I went off to work and what a busy day it was. When I arrived in my office this morning, there were several cards stacked up on my desk. As I was working away and trying to keep up with all that was happening, I actually forgot it was my birthday until I heard the outside door open. I looked up and a florist was coming in with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. When she brought it to the counter I quickly remembered it was MY birthday as my name was on it! There are pretty smelling flowers, fruit and a Happy Birthday balloon. When I opened the card to see who it was from I was really touched. It was from one of my good friends and her husband. You may remember a few weeks ago on one of my posts when I wrote about going to the hospital with Dennis and he baptized a man by the name of Gideon. Well, he passed away just a few days ago and that was my friend, Josie's brother. Here she is being so thoughtful with the sorrow she is going through right now. That did something to me!! After school today, Dennis had to go to a Staff meeting, but when he came home we went out for a very special dinner to..... Here we are at Tim Buc Tuu with Dr. Alan Brown who happens to be speaking at our Church this week for our Easter Convention
Dennis stopped by the restaurant this morning and told our friend it was my birthday. He wanted Ahmid to make a special dinner for me. Did he ever?? How about Surf n Turf with mixed veggies and mashed potatoes with gravy!! He made it himself not one of his cooks. Talk about being wined and dined!

After he served us the main course, he brought a plate with two pieces of cheesecake ~ turtle and strawberry. I was kind and shared :o) Was it ever delicious!!

This little restaurant is down the road from our house. Ahmid is Indian and he has become our friend. He has been talking to Dennis about religious things and has promised to come to Church tomorrow evening for our special service!! He is a great guy!!! I thought it was cute when we got there for dinner. He walked up to me and said Happy Birthday and hugged me then kissed me on the cheek. He with Dennis planned a very special dinner for my special day!! One I won't forget.

Here's a picture of my flowers/fruit basket and balloon.

I'd like to thank everyone (and you know who you are) that called me sometime or the other today. Most of you I didn't even get to talk to which saddened me, but you were kind enough to leave me a message. I'll try to call you back soon, I promise. Also, thanks to those of you who emailed me birthday wishes. I greatly appreciate that, too!! Yes, I had a great day!! Thanks everyone!!

I'm Very Sad

This morning very early (a little after 5:00 am) Dennis and I had to make an unhappy trip to the airport! My sister, Charlotte and her husband, Richard, are flying back to Chicago and then driving back to their home in Wisconsin. We've had one very exciting week and I knew way before they arrived that our time together would go wayyyyyyyyyyy to fast ~ AND IT DID!! We had such a wonderful time together along with many laughs and exciting times!! Char had my camera after something happened to hers (:o) but she was so kind to share many of her pictures with me so I could post them. So, over the next several days I hope to do just that.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Charlotte & Richard,

Thanks so much for coming to visit "our" great and beautiful adopted country and Island. I hope you enjoyed yourselves (which I know you did) and will come back sometime to visit us again when you can stay longer ~ like maybe for a month :o) We still have a lot to do and see!! Thanks again for everything and for coming to the Caribbean just to see us!

We love you!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I made a "Bread Pie" just for Charlotte. Here she is on the way to the airport early this morning eating a bite of it :o) She took a couple rather large pieces home with her. I hope they don't get confiscated from her, because she wouldn't be a happy camper!! Unloading the van at the airport
One last picture together before they take off for colder/cooler country

Good~bye 'ya all!! Come again soon!!

Happy Birthday to My Big Bro, Jim

I'd like to wish my big brother a very Happy Birthday!! I can't believe you're still 29!! Wow!! That means that you're younger than me :o)) I wish you were here, Jim, because I'd share dinner with you. I just had someone knock on my door and deliver our dinner which is Seafood Alfredo Pasta and Alfredo w/Pasta! It smells awful good. Maybe next time! But I'm sure that you'll be celebrating with your family tonight or in the next couple of days.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I'm soooooooo glad that you're my big brother!! You've impressed me by your hard work, caring about others and just being there for people. You're one great guy ~ the best!! You've been an example to me as I was growing up. Thanks for lending a listening ear and a shoulder to literally cry on more than one time. I sure miss visiting with you and seeing you. Hope it won't be too long that I get to see you!! Wish I were there to celebrate your special day with you. I'm there in thoughts and spirit!

I love you!!

Your Baby Sis, Dorcas Jim in deep thought about something apparently important!!

Making a really hard decision on which kind of fudge to buy! How about some more orange cream? I could eat some of that right now. Boy, is that stuff yummy or what? Of course, there's no calories in it either :o) I will miss our trips to Ohio's Amish Country with you!!
Again, Happy Birthday, Jim! Your the bestest of the best!!

Blow Holes

What a beautiful sight!!

Almost to the Blow Holes. Hahaha!!
Making their way down to the Blow Holes
It is so hard to walk on that coral, but they made it safely :o)

This is just awesome to see!!!

Going Around the Island

These two are on the wrong side of the car!

Wait. . . . . They're driving on the wrong side of the road (that is in the US!).
A place we pulled off at.

What a pretty view even though it was cloudy & rainy!!

Smile and Say "Cheese"

On Monday & Tuesday, Dennis was in my office in the afternoon's so I could spend time with Charlotte and Richard. We drove out through George Town and stopped to take some pictures. It was very hazy and rainy thus the cloudy look! But it still turned out so good of them!!!

Pre~ Fall In

Just dabbing her feet in the water Getting a little braver as she walks along the edge. Of course, notice how dry she still is :o)
And Richard just so happy to be in Cayman!!

Just In Time

When Charlotte & Richard got here on Sunday night, Church was still going strong. A lot of things were going on and so the service went a little longer. Dennis didn't preach. But at the very end he had the ladies and gentleman who play the tambourine's to go up front on the platform and play while we sang. I can't remember what the songs were but they were upbeat. They say they can't play to a SLOW song :o) Dennis did this for Charlotte and Richard to hear the Caribbean style of music we soooooooooooo enjoy here! These people performed awesomely as always. They've got Dennis even playing now. Unfortunately, on Sunday evening they didn't have enough tambourine's to go around and he wanted our friends to all have one. He still stood up there with them. The people here say he's got the rhythm for it (and moves:o) There's just something about having those tambourine's playing to Praise God and those people love doing it!! I think they could sing all night.

What A Way To Start Your Vacation

You may want to read my post titled "My Company Is Coming In A Few Hours" about where I said Charlotte might jump into the Sea instead of the bathtub. I did NOT literally mean that. I got up and went to work this morning & she was still resting. A short time later her & Richard walked into my office. I kind of thought she was walking a little funny! The school principal was standing near my office doorway and I heard him say to them, "Is it raining out there?" And they answered no. Charlotte was all wet BUT Richard was totally dry :o) They had decided to walk down our road to the dock. I had told them it's one of the best places to go on the Island to see the beautiful water. Well, no it was not raining at that point of the day. As they were walking along the beach and the sand apparently shifted under Char's feet while she was wading in the water and down she went right in the Sea. When they told me that I burst out laughing all the while apologizing for the outburst :o) Somehow she bruised her hand! But the worst thing about it is that she had her camera when she went in the water and it is now history. I said they could use mine the rest of the time they are here as long as she stays away from the water! She also had her cell phone but it appears to be okay! I'm sorry, but if you would've seen her you'd still be laughing, too. When she came into the school she still had sand all over her feet! What some people won't do. We told her tonight that someone probably got her on video and now she's all over You Tube! haha!! I think I'd pay to see that. Dennis stayed in the office for me today after lunch, so I could spend sometime with Charlotte & Richard. That was so kind of him. AND he's doing it again tomorrow!! Thanks Dennis!! We drove around quite a bit of the Island today. I don't care how often you see it ~ it's always beautiful and breathtaking at some places. Well, I must go as everyone else is in bed and I myself must get there, so I can work in the morning. Oh, yes! Char told me before she went to bed that I need to wake her up as one of our teachers told her this afternoon some of his students will catch some Iguana's before school starts tomorrow for her to see. That should be exciting!! I'll try to capture some pictures of the action on my loaned out camera :o) We're having fun, fun, fun!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy

Today ~ March 22nd ~ is my Daddy's birthday! Although he's not here to celebrate it with him, I'm sure I'll have many thoughts about his previous birthday's throughout the day!! I sure miss going "home" to PA to visit with my parents on their special days. But today he's once again celebrating another birthday in Heaven. I miss you, Daddy, and I know that you're having the time of your life!!

I love you and miss you so much!!

Your "little" girl,

Dorcas

They're Here

My sister & brother~in~law had a good flight from Chicago and arrived in Cayman safely!! We were in Church and I kept looking for them to walk in the door. Finally, there they were!! After we came home from Church, we ate a little snack and everyone is going to get some rest. It's a new day tomorrow with lots of adventures to happen!! I'll try to update as often as I can. It's so good to have family visiting with us!!

My Company Is Coming In A Few Hours

I'm sooooooooooooo excited!!! This afternoon around 5:30 pm, my sister and brother~in~law are coming to visit for a week. We're all looking forward to being together. I've already been told that there are going to be some late night talks!! We're going to have a blast this week. There's soooo much to do and soooo much to see here in Cayman including taking her to a store in George Town that has a big display of bathtubs, etc.! That may be a bad idea to take her there after what she did in the store below where she posed for me:o) The temperatures are to be in the lower 80's, but the humidity is higher than it's been since we came here. It is to be over 100%!! So, for those coming from the extreme north to this heat and humidity will be a HUGH change!! She said she can handle it for one week. She may just jump in the Sea instead of a bathtub to cool off. I'll try to take pictures to post this coming week IF I don't get too busy with my company!!

I May Never March In The Infantry

No words needed :o)

Our First Caymanian Wedding

Well, today was another first for us. Maybe I should clarify that and say a "couple" new firsts!! An invitation was given to Dennis a few weeks ago to be part of a wedding ceremony here at our Church. So, earlier this week the bride~to~be called and asked if they could have the rehearsal on Thursday evening which was a lot better than on Friday. That went off without a hitch (no pun intended). The time on the invitation said 4:00 pm for the wedding, but Dennis said it would probably be 5:00 pm until it started. I'm like, "No, way!" He went to the Church about 3:40 ~ 3:45. I waited until almost 4:00. When I went over there were maybe 10 or 12 cars in the Church parking lot. I had already decided I was going up in the balcony to view the wedding. When I arrived, my friend, Teresa, was already playing the prelude on the piano. We sat there and waited and then waited some more and waited a whole lot more! In the meantime, the florists who deliver our large bouquet of flowers every Saturday for our services on Sunday came and pounded on the front side door. Since the wedding hadn't started, a younger boy went over to open it. After while, the Mother of this boy walked back the center aisle of the Church calling up to me to let me know the florists were there and looking for me :o) So, I went downstairs and out the main door of the Church. Here the florist had already found Dennis and put the flowers in Dennis' office. After speaking to him a short while, I went back up to the entrance of the Church where the brides sister, brother~in~law and Uncle were standing. We got to talking and I asked what was happening that the wedding wasn't starting. They said the bride was stuck in traffic here where the International Volleyball Games were going on. Well, that may have been partly true, but like someone else said, if she would have left to get to the Church at a decent time they wouldn't have been wasting everyone else's time!! Anyway, the wedding started one hour and fifteen minutes late!!!!! It was pretty ridiculous that it was so late :o(( It was a nice wedding. Right when the other minister was getting ready for the couple to do their vows, the bride got real sick and I thought she might faint. They ended up getting a chair for her to sit on. Once she regained her composure the ceremony continued. Below are some photos I captured. Remember I was up in the balcony and it's a loooooong way to that platform. Some of the pictures are blurry from zooming in so far but hopefully you can see them okay! Enjoy!!

This Is Wonderful Good News For Us

Late yesterday afternoon, we found out that we were accepted for health insurance here. That was wonderful news for us. See, Dennis is diabetic and we were concerned that he wouldn't be accepted on the same insurance as I, BUT he was!!!! This insurance also includes vision and dental which is just wonderful, wonderful good news. We thought he may have to go on a special insurance that wouldn't cover the extras BUT he was excepted!! Yippee!! In the States he had to be on a different insurance than I but not here. God is so good to us!! If you can't tell I'm excited you just can't feel my excitement by reading this :o)

What Cheap Health Care Costs

Dennis and I both had to go to the doctor for a physical today. After filling out so much paperwork, I went back to the nurse first. She was from Texas!! YEAH!! Someone from the States :o) Then I was sent back to the waiting room until the doctor called for me. He asked me a "very" few questions and took me to another room where I sat up on an exam table for him to listen to my lungs and my heart. Just possibly I saw him for a total of 2 minutes and not much more!! Then it was Dennis' turn. The nurse pricked his finger (for $25) to check his diabetes. Apparently it was high! No wonder as he hasn't had a day off in the two months that we've been here!! Then he was off to see the doctor which by the way was very nice and from the great city of New York. Our total bill there was only $175!!! Next, we were off to a Med Lab where we both had to have blood work to check for HIV and a chest X~ray. I had the chest X~ray first and had to have the second one done, because I didn't take a deep enough breath to inflate my lungs the lady told me. That's because today I'm experiencing quite a bit of pain in my chest from the arthritis acting up between my ribs and it was hard to take a deep breath. Boy, is that painful!! Here the X~ray tech is from Tennesse. Next, I had blood work done, but me, Dorcas, had veins in my arms that were playing hide and seek with the nurse :o) So, she ended up taking the blood from the top of my right hand. Of course, it didn't feel too good and at first I felt a hot flash searing through me, BUT I didn't get sick!! YEAH FOR ME!! Well, when we went to pay for the X~rays and blood work it was only $175 total (again :o) I don't you can go anywhere in the States and have a physical, chest X~ray and blood work done for $175 per person. Maybe the President needs to come to Cayman for some lessons on Health Care Costs!!! Our insurance hasn't gone through yet but they will more than likely reimburse the Church for these bills when it does go through!! Then after all the testing was finished we stopped at good 'ole KFC for lunch! It was really nice getting out of the office today for a change in the middle of the day. The first time in two months of working that's happened and I saw the outside world and all the wonderful tourists strolling around "our" beautiful country here in Cayman! Wow! Was George Town ever booming. Dennis said he heard there were six cruise ships in town today. We could only see three from our house while the other three were at South Sound which is about 2~3 miles on down the coast. What a sight to see!!