Heroes Day Celebration At George Town

On Saturday, January 20th, the Premier called Dennis and told him that Heroes Day this year was honoring education and that our Staff should all be there.  He said the program started at 9:00 am, so Dennis spoke to the Staff and told them we were leaving the compound at 8:15.  That way we'd get there early enough to get a decent seat before the masses (:o) came.  There were either 15 or 16 of us crowded in one of our vans.  These were the three crazies in the front seat!

Well, when we got to where the festivities were going to be held we got our seats.  Sort of had a big choice although they it sectioned off for certain groups of people.  Here some of the Staff are looking at their programs.  After we sat down and got situated, someone noticed in the program that it didn't start until 9:30 instead of 9:00.  There were some groans as it was a holiday and nobody really wanted to even be there :o)

Under the tent on the left was a group of youth from several different schools who formed a band and played many songs while we waited for the program to begin.

Looking head on to the main platform where the events were taking place.

I just love how they wrap the trees for the occasion.  So pretty!

See all the Caymanian flags?  Down this street is where there were many activities taking place.

The lady on the right is our music director and the other is her niece who is our 1st grade teacher.  They had walked over to see and listen to the band.

This man, Stephon, has his son and daughter in our school.  He also helped to produce the commercials they made for our school and Church almost a year ago.

The next two pictures show some Veterans from Cayman.

See the elderly gentleman sitting on the left?  Not sure how old he is, but he looks like he's pretty well up in years.  He could hardly get around, but made it for Heroes Day!

This is Pastor Alson from the Church of God (Anderson) and is also the Uncle of one of our teachers.  And for those of you who have been here and met Laten, it is his brother~in~law.

The next several pictures are the Detachment of the Police, Fire Service, Prison Service, Cadet Corps, Girls Brigade, Girl Guides, Scouts, Cub Scouts and Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders.  Sorry about the people standing in the way of my pictures.

Our Governor, Mr. Duncan Taylor, who is serving here from England.

He was walking around the different Detachments inspecting them.

The group "High Tide" singing "Redemption Song"

The Honorable Premier, Mr. W. McKeeva Bush, giving an address/remarks.

If you look close enough you can see a cruise ship.  It looks like it is coming up the street :o)

See the previous post for Heroes Day celebration at our Church!

Heroes Day At Church

On Sunday, January 22nd, we celebrated Heroes Days at our Church.  There was much anticipation for this special service as there were to be quite a number of people honored.  Out of the nine honored there were four from our Church.

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

Part of the congregation

The choir singing during the congregational singing

The Premier led the singing for this special service

Dear Aunt Julia has celebrated her 103rd birthday and she was honored, too!  If I'm not mistaken that is her daughter and son holding on to her.  What a wonderful lady she is!

Here she was presented with a beautiful plaque and later they gave her a dozen of red roses.  She is one special lady!!

Mrs. Deanna Look Loy ~ a teacher

Jenny Seymour ~ from our Church

Miss Samms, a teacher from our school was honored for all of her years of service here.  She is one of our dear friends.  Her brother, who lives up near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, flew down for the weekend, so he could be here for this special occasion.  It's the first time that we got to meet any of her family.  In the picture below, Miss Samms longtime friend and fellow teacher, Miss Blake, read an email that was sent to her from Miss Samms sister in Jamaica.  It was a total surprise to Miss Samms!

Miss Blake congratulating Miss Samms

Dennis presenting the plaque

I had to hug Miss Samms after giving her the fruit basket

Mrs. Patricia Glidden who came to Cayman as a Missionary

Mrs. Alice Jackson

Mrs. Mary Ebanks who was a foster parent to many children over the years.  The young lady on the right end and the young man were two of the children she raised.  I'm not sure, but she may have adopted them.  The second girl from the right comes to our school.

Our good friend, Lorna, who comes to our Church along with her husband Randy and friends, Dawn and Pat.  She does so many things for the Church and is a wonderful lady.

I think Dennis must have been fixing his tie :o)

This lady received the plaque and fruit basket in honor of her husband who was in Education.  Unfortunately, he is in some kind of treatment in Florida.

This is Josie who also attends our Church with her husband and two children.

It was a long but good service and so nice to honor people who deserve the recognition!  Our Premier always organizes this special service.

HELP ~ SEND SOME COLD AIR

YES!!  You read right!!  Please send us some cold air!!  When I came home work today and went to the kitchen I thought it was warmer than usual even though I had meat in the oven cooking.  I checked the thermomostat and it said 78 degrees.  We usually have it set at 77!  So, without looking I told Dennis it was 78 degrees and he said he didn't touch it.  A few minutes later I looked again and it was 79.  Then I checked and it was still set at 77.  Dennis went outside and checked the air handler and it's not working.  So, he called our friend at the A/C company and he's supposed to send someone out.  Hopefully it won't take them too long as we have company visiting from Ohio!!  HELP!!  Please send some cold air from the north!!

Happy Heroes Day

Today is a National holiday here ~ Heroes Day!  The Government and all public offices, schools, etc. are closed today to celebrate people who've made a difference here on the Islands.  Dennis got a phone call last week that our School Staff are going to be honored today.  So at 8:15 this morning, the Staff are getting on the bus and going to George Town (the Capitol city) for the celebrations ~ or at least part of them!  I hope to remember to take my camera and get some pictures of the celebrations and recognition of our School Staff.  I also have a lot of pictures to post of our special "Heroes Day"Service at Church yesterday.  Not sure when I'll post again as we're getting company today for over a week who are coming from Cincinnati, Ohio and are good friends that will be here to speak in Chapel in the mornings this week during School and in the evenings at our Church.  Another busy week ahead!!  Come back soon as I'm hoping to get a little break in the busyness to update here.  Have a wonderful week!!

Just Had to Have It

In November when we went with the teacher's from our school to Charlotte, North Carolina for Educator's Convention, I saw this cute cutting board in a Bible Book Store and just had to have it!  This is something that's not getting used, but adored by this Grammy :o)

Talking In the Public Bathroom

Leaving Minnesota for Colorado, I decide to make a stop at one of those rest areas along the Interstate.  I go in the washroom.  The first stall was taken, so I went in the second stall.  I just sat down when I hear a voice from the next stall saying,

"Hi there!  How's it going?"

Okay!  I am not the type to strike up conversations with strangers in the washrooms on the side of the road.  I didn't know what to say.  So finally I say,

"Not bad."

Then the voice says:

"So what are you doing?"

I am starting to find that a bit weird, but I say:
"Well, I'm going back to Colorado..."
Then I hear the person say all flustered:
"Look, I'll call you back.  Every time I ask you a question this idiot in the next stall keeps answering me!"

Happy 2nd Anniversary

My, oh, my!!  Where has time gone?  Today we are celebrating our two year anniversary of being here in Grand Cayman!!  It just doesn't seem possible that two years ago, we boarded the plane in Tampa, Florida to come here.  And so our new life began!!  Not just at a new location, but in a foreign country!!  In our 33 ~ 34 years of being in Ministry, we've only pastored three Churches in the States.  Little did we ever think we'd be pastoring a Church out of the USA.  Never dreamed that even!!  You just never know where you'll end up when you're serving God :o)

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

The sign at the airport

We've come to know so many wonderful people here!  It's neat now, because we go into a store, restaurant or any place of business and usually we always run into someone we know.  Some people we know on a more less causal acquaintance who don't even attend our Church.  Some we (I in particular) may not know them by name, but see often enough that we always greet one another.  People in general are so much more friendly here than in the States.  Again, I said people in "general" ~ not all :o)

And little did we ever dream we'd live in Paradise!! This is one of the most beautiful places of God's creation.  I love to get up in the mornings and look out my living room window and right across the road is the Sea.  I check to see if there are cruise ships in the port!  Then there's some of the most awesome sunset's that I've ever seen here in Cayman.  And just in case you haven't figured it out yet, I love capturing them in photos!!  Then there's nothing like going to the Sea and walking way out to look down in the water and be able to see fish swimming around your feet.  Crystal clear water!! 

It's not to say that we haven't had problems or very, very low places since we're here!!  My mother~in~law used to say that as long as there were people around that there would be problems.  What a very true statement!  But we've made it through those hard places by God's help and many prayers of family and friends.  Back in November before we came to the States for Thanksgiving, the Church had it's annual meeting and the General Superintendent came from Antigua to hold that meeting.  Our Church members voted us in for two more years!  We just want to stay where God wants us to be, so while we're here we are really enjoying it.  Again, where has two years gone???



Happy 80th Birthday

Today is my father-in-law's 80th birthday.  I'd like to wish him a very special Happy Birthday.  He's not in the best of health, but tries to keep going.  We love you!!