Rigo carries more belongings to his moving truck The last 2 weeks were eventful for us and for the church. We said goodbye to Don and Bobbi, who were finally able to head home to NJ after months of surgeries and recovery. We also said goodbye to Pastor Rigo and his family who were starting a new chapter in their lives at a church in West Palm Beach. In the middle of it all, we welcomed a visit from Bonnie and Troy and the kids, who traveled from Virginia to spend some time with us. In between, Cathy started her radiation treatments and we continued to keep busy around the church.
Blackboard in World Relief Classroom Summer Activities
It’s been a busy start to summer on the Faith UMC campus. World Relief has begun its summer camp, which lasts for 4 weeks and brings almost 50 children to the church for morning classes before they head to the Y in the afternoon. In the afternoon and evening, Kim’s Open Door works with groups of children with music, art and dance. While Cathy’s schedule prevents us from helping much with the meals or with the kids, we are there to help in other ways. For example, when they needed internet in the classrooms. We ran a new ethernet cable and installed an access point to provide wifi.
It’s been a busy start to summer on the Faith UMC campus. World Relief has begun its summer camp, which lasts for 4 weeks and brings almost 50 children to the church for morning classes before they head to the Y in the afternoon. In the afternoon and evening, Kim’s Open Door works with groups of children with music, art and dance. While Cathy’s schedule prevents us from helping much with the meals or with the kids, we are there to help in other ways. For example, when they needed internet in the classrooms. We ran a new ethernet cable and installed an access point to provide wifi.
Shirley and Don work on guestroom in Peeler And we continued to make progress on the new guestroom in the Peeler building. Taking advantage of Don’s expertise before he and Bobbi headed north, we framed in the wall that would create the bathroom area and hung a new door. Bob and Shirley volunteered to help as well, and they assisted with hanging and mudding the dry wall on the new wall and then scraping and painting part of the main room. With all the sanding of the spackle finished, Ervin cleaned the carpet, which made an amazing difference in the room. And just before they were all gone, we managed to snag a great deal on a mattress and box springs at Habijax Restore. (Thanks to Troy for helping Dave haul it back to the room.)
Shirley power-washing shower Not everything went according to plan. As Dave converted the fluorescent light fixtures to use LED bulbs, his attempt to move one fixture was complicated by the irregular spacing of the ceiling beams. And despite Shirley’s hard work power-washing and cleaning a shower stall for the bathroom, we realized too late that it was about 6” too big to fit into the room. Oops.
Still progress is being made, and that’s a good thing.
Still progress is being made, and that’s a good thing.
Grandma with Troy and Taylor at Neptune Beach Comings . . .
Bonnie and Troy and the kids arrived late one Wednesday afternoon for a 3-day visit. We enjoyed their company and managed to take in a few sites with them – some of which were new to us. We took a candy tour at Sweet Pete’s, taking the Skyway over the river to get there, and getting to design our own candy bar. Before and after, we stopped at the Cancer Center, where the kids marveled at the view of the river and got to color in a flower for a few of us they knew who were battling cancer. Then they put a wish on the wishing tree.
Bonnie and Troy and the kids arrived late one Wednesday afternoon for a 3-day visit. We enjoyed their company and managed to take in a few sites with them – some of which were new to us. We took a candy tour at Sweet Pete’s, taking the Skyway over the river to get there, and getting to design our own candy bar. Before and after, we stopped at the Cancer Center, where the kids marveled at the view of the river and got to color in a flower for a few of us they knew who were battling cancer. Then they put a wish on the wishing tree.
Papa Dave and Taylor catch some rays inside West Marine We enjoyed some Singleton’s seafood, watching the big ships go by while we waited; took in some waves at the beach, and tried our hand at “Top Golf”. (Let’s just say we need a lot more practice at that last one.) And in between, we enjoyed some ice cream and milk shakes.
Bobbi celebrates her birthday at La Nopalero to Don's delight. And Goings . . .
Bobbi didn’t have an easy time of it after her last surgery. With her heart set on heading north on June 26th, it was just over a week before that she found herself back in the hospital with an infection. She had to have a drain inserted and stayed the week until it was no longer needed. And sure enough, five days later, she and Don headed out for NJ. The trip was not without its problems. A wheel came off, and there were 2 flat tires, but we were glad they made it home safely. Before they left, we managed to squeeze in a trip to visit Morris and Karen at their lovely new home in Daytona. And Bobbi treated us to thank you meal along with Pastor Barry and Evalyn, the night before they left.
Two days later, we were saying goodbye to Rigo, Saine, Magdiel and Jahaziel. Dave had helped them some with the arrangements for the move, securing a deal on the U-haul truck, and hauling out our ample supply of ratchet straps, but they had an efficient crew to get the truck loaded. Pulling out before dawn on Saturday, they were unloaded into their new home in West Palm Beach by noon that day. We send lots of good wishes their way as they begin to serve at this new church.
Bobbi didn’t have an easy time of it after her last surgery. With her heart set on heading north on June 26th, it was just over a week before that she found herself back in the hospital with an infection. She had to have a drain inserted and stayed the week until it was no longer needed. And sure enough, five days later, she and Don headed out for NJ. The trip was not without its problems. A wheel came off, and there were 2 flat tires, but we were glad they made it home safely. Before they left, we managed to squeeze in a trip to visit Morris and Karen at their lovely new home in Daytona. And Bobbi treated us to thank you meal along with Pastor Barry and Evalyn, the night before they left.
Two days later, we were saying goodbye to Rigo, Saine, Magdiel and Jahaziel. Dave had helped them some with the arrangements for the move, securing a deal on the U-haul truck, and hauling out our ample supply of ratchet straps, but they had an efficient crew to get the truck loaded. Pulling out before dawn on Saturday, they were unloaded into their new home in West Palm Beach by noon that day. We send lots of good wishes their way as they begin to serve at this new church.
Hemingway is just exhausted. So, it’s a lot quieter around here. We have picked up some fill in duties while we wait for Rigo’s replacement to arrive – feeding cats, locking gates, and the odd trash pick-up or door unlocking. But the list of helpers is getting shorter.
Feel the Burn - Not
Cathy’s radiation treatments began on the 21st, ironically the first day of summer. Barring any problems, she would be done on the 19th of July. With plans to take a cruise one week after the last treatment, we have few contingency days to work with. Asking about this up front, we were told that this should work.
However, on the day of the 3rd treatment, we ran into our first problem. Cathy’s treatment machine went down. Despite a delay and then cancellation, we didn’t take no for an answer and managed to get a treatment in that day and the next two days that the machine was down. Although one day, we did have to travel to a different location several miles south to have the treatment done. By Friday, the machine was working again. So far, so good. It’s still early, but Cathy is handling the treatments well.
One more good thing was that the end of the Taxol chemo drug meant that Cathy was able to eat out again for the first time in 3 months. We celebrated with a trip to a Mexican restaurant after church with several friends.
Feel the Burn - Not
Cathy’s radiation treatments began on the 21st, ironically the first day of summer. Barring any problems, she would be done on the 19th of July. With plans to take a cruise one week after the last treatment, we have few contingency days to work with. Asking about this up front, we were told that this should work.
However, on the day of the 3rd treatment, we ran into our first problem. Cathy’s treatment machine went down. Despite a delay and then cancellation, we didn’t take no for an answer and managed to get a treatment in that day and the next two days that the machine was down. Although one day, we did have to travel to a different location several miles south to have the treatment done. By Friday, the machine was working again. So far, so good. It’s still early, but Cathy is handling the treatments well.
One more good thing was that the end of the Taxol chemo drug meant that Cathy was able to eat out again for the first time in 3 months. We celebrated with a trip to a Mexican restaurant after church with several friends.
