Beautiful Vero Morning

I am sitting here listening to the birds sing and the whizzing of fishing line as Danny is repeatedly casting. The sun is just beginning to peek over our neighbor to the east's rooftop. There is an ever so slight mist, and the lake is like glass, except for the ripples from the lure striking the surface and the occasional fish hitting the top.

Danny and Daniel have caught a few bass already. They claimed they caught a BIG one last night, but I didn't get to see it, so who knows;I could be gett'n told a fish story.(haha) There are two snake birds searching for their breakfast (Someone said they are loons. All that shows above the water are their long slender necks and beaks.) and an elegant looking great snowy egret wading in the reeds nearby.

I tried to upload the pictures I took with my phone, but there were no menu's for inserting pictures or files. We have not moved our computer up here yet, so I did this update via my new Blackberry Pearl.

Now for what's going on with us. Our blinds have all been delivered except for the family room and breakfast nook. Our phone should be turned on today and the painters are coming Tuesday, so the house is shaping up. We will move the furniture after the painters are finished. We are still running back and forth between the houses. We have had three acceptable offers for the Sunrise house recently, but none of them could get financed. We keep praying our buyer is out there.

Steph is leaving for college tomorrow. It will be very different without her here with us. Her absence will leave a giant void. She is terrific with her little sister and brother, who simply adore her. Her leaving will be hardest on KeLee, since they are so close. Plus KeLee is starting to realize more and more what Steph's leaving means. Joe left in January and hasn't returned except for those few days after graduation. KeLee actually asked me last week when he was coming home because she misses him so much. I think she is just starting to fully grasp that he lives in NY and will only be coming for brief vacations.

When you think about it, Daniel & KeLee are really getting a triple whammy with their brother and sister both moving forward and out on their own, and also moving away from their friends at the same time. It is difficult for all of us, but most of all for them.

We've all gotten a taste of what its going to be like when Steph leaves this past week or so. Steph has been dedicating all her time to the good friends she is leaving behind. Needless to say we have been feeling a bit like "chopped liver." Our only consolation is that she will only be an hour & 1/2 away, so we can visit her when we want.

Steph, we all LOVE YOU and will miss you more than you will ever know...

well that is until the time Way, WAY in the future when you send your little girl off to school.

You will no longer need to go into her room at night to shut her TV off, or be able to take that brief moment to gaze upon her beautiful face as she sleeps, to know she is safe.

The time for snuggling up on the couch as a family, whenever you want, will have passed, and as tough as some of the times were; you will miss having those girl talks, like when the men in our lives aren't being... well ... the princes we always envisioned.

Most of all, you will miss that occasional hug, your daughter's beautiful smile, and the sound of her laughter, mingled with your other children's, echoing down the hall.

No... you will never know...

Until then.

WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

Now go show the world WHAT YOU GOT!!!