The Big Orange in the Orange State.

I can only hope that Tennessee will be going to a bowl game down here in Florida. The rumor mill is that they might go to the Outback Bowl in Tampa or the Capital One Bowl here in Orlando. Either one sounds good to me! If they do indeed come down here, I think tickets would be an awesome Christmas present, don't you?*

*This is a feeble attempt for wife of blogger to happen upon this blog and get a "hint." If you found this hint in error, please delete this blog from your browsor's history immediately. If you are, in fact, wife of said blogger, then please check http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/tenn-m-footbl-body.html for regular updates.

A three hour tour...

I got to visit the Disney Wonder the other day and it is awesome. I'm going to be writing the newsletter that goes out to all of the people that have sailed on it before or something. And since I have never set foot on a cruise, they wanted me to at least go check out the boat. Whoo-hoo. It was cool, and surprisingly un-Disney. I mean, you can always find a Mickey or something, but it's also very sophisticated. I enjoyed the tour and really enjoyed the food. That alone is enough to make me want to book a trip.

The Happiest Time on Earth

How good was it to see Danny, Jan and Mary LIra? I nearly passed out at the toll booth near the airport! We were all so excited and I just can't tell you how awesome the four days were!
It was truly a special Thanksgiving, since our dear friends were here and Andy and Tammy Windon invited us all to their home. We played for several days in the parks (Danny got a little sick on Everest) and we just about got to every theme park. But the highlight, for me was just sitting around and talking. Oh yeah, and watching Diary of a Mad, Black Woman! Medea has nothing on Danny!
They came at the perefect time and, for a few days, they truly made Orlando, Florida the happiest place on earth.


Danny took on Buzz. Danny won.


Right after Danny beat up Buzz, the kids got to meet him. Jan got to see it and was one of the highlights of her trip!


Grady got to meet another one of his heroes... Woody! Later, Grady poked Woody in the eye.

Wiley is okay!!!

The pic above is our first glimpse of Wiley Daniel McCall (OR at least that's the name we're going with right now). Before we left for Orlando, our doctor told us that it looked like Wiley had a spot on his heart, but that he didn't see any reason for concern. Our doctor here in Orlando wanted to make sure and Holly went and got another ultrasound. Turns out our littlest boy is good to go and is growing great. Whew. I wasn't really worried, but it's nice to know for sure. The nurse was worried that he had some sort of defect, but later found that the humongous growth she was seeing was actually, well, what makes him a boy. He's making his Dad proud already!

My Old Kentucky Home

Puffy clouds. Warm breeze. Sun on your face. There's a lot of great things that Florida has going for it. And we've honestly been very blessed to be where we are. But we're all going through something that I knew would hit us pretty hard, but nothing like we're actually experiencing: homesickness.
Anniston's school is great. The church is great. The people have been great about reaching out ot us and making us feel more at home than I ever imagined. But the fact of the matter is that we're not home. Home is in the Bluegrass State with our friends. Home is going over to Maria's house and getting a haircut and hearing her laugh (and eating supper with them if you're lucky). It's getting to spend "Star Wars Night" with Dr. Brent Baldwin and his wonderful children. It's Adley Mayes singing, "Momma He's Crazy," and listening to Autumn, Kearsten and Anniston giggling like, well, little girls and having a wonderful time. It's seeing that big grin on Brian and Dana McNeals' faces when they see you. It's being rejuvenated by hearing Arnis speak every Sunday. It's knowing that the Monday Night Football Ministry will be there every Monday, along with the Funyuns. Home is knowing that the prayers of some of the most wonderful people that walk this earth are always a request away. It's the infectious spirit of Jan Lira. It's my brother Danny yelling, "Hola Pepsicola!" when he walks through the front door, and seeing the big "T" on the back of his truck. It's hearing Doug Lalli laugh. It's Holly and "Her Girls." It's everything that has made us US over the 4.5 years, and it leaves an enormous hole in our hearts. It's more than the house we used to live in. It's the people that help us make our home, more than any amount of drywall or concrete ever could.
I know that God wanted this, and I trust his every move. And I know that God will be with us through this, and that he is much bigger than any homesickness I may ever have. But for right now, it's not an illness that's easily treated, and I know that Louisville and our home at Westport Road is something that can never be replaced. I miss all of my friends dearly, and I say a special prayer for them all tonight.

I need to get better at this blogging thing.

I know. I know. I know. It seems a few days have passed and that I have forgotten completely about posting to this site. Not so. I still can't find my camera cord so I can download all of the pictures I've been taking, but I figured that excuse won't hold up for long. Soooooo, I'm posting again! There's much to catch up on, so I'll post a lot tonight and try to catch up. Sorry again for everyone keeping up with this. JMc