Happy Fathers Day, Daddy!

Anyone who knows my daddy knows that you could never describe him fully in a blog post. He is truly an amazing man who has accomplished so much in his life. He overcame blindness to fulfill his calling, and recently celebrated fifty years as an ordained minister of the gospel. He is a talented musician, singer, and carpenter, but his best role to me has always been as a father. I know he is not perfect, because no one is, but he has always, as an example, lived what he believes in front of me. He is the wisest and most intelligent person I know, and although we don't always agree, I always consider his view and highly value his advice. What a blessing it is to have such a man to call when I need someone to talk to and know he will always care for me as a son with love and prayer!

Daddy, I love you! Happy Fathers Day!

Howie

Mothers Day Brunch

Daddy & Mama

For Mothers Day, April, Doyle, and I took our mothers to brunch at the Ramada Red Rose Ballroom in Plant City. We were sad Carla, Todd, and Nathan couldn't be there!

Aunt Mary Lou & Uncle Olan

John & April

Layna & Hailey

April & Aunt Sharon

Doyle & Aunt Mary Lou

Mama & Me

Sunday Dinner

It was a big eating weekend! Layna's birthday Friday, Kelsey's birthday on Saturday, and on Sunday Mama cooked dinner to thank Jerry for painting her wheel covers and to thank John for the many times he has helped them with their car. Jerry made it, but John had to work, so April willingly took his place. The menu included tater-baked chicken, chicken & dumplings, potato salad, Fordhook limas, sweet potato casserole, and Mama's delicious oil & vinegar salad. For dessert Mama tried out Holli's layered chocolate caramel ice cream sandwich recipe.

Thanks, Mama!

Mama & Daddy's Wheel Covers

A "Before" picture for April and Rhoda.

April said I needed to write a new post, but nothing that eventful has happened lately. I've been busy with my National Boards, and I really have nothing good to say about that ongoing experience. The only thing I have any pictures of are Mama & Daddy's wheel covers. A few weeks ago Mama told me the paint on her wheel covers was flaking off, and when she showed them to me I had to agree that they didn't look that good. I told her Jerry might be willing to spray paint them like he did the panels on my car. Being the nice guy he is, Jerry said sure, so I went by Advance Auto Parts and got a can of wheel cover spray paint. Daddy took the wheel covers off the car, and I carried them to my house. Jerry came over, and we spent a Sunday afternoon sanding and spraying. Well, Jerry did most of the work. I sanded, then he re-sanded my wheel covers because the edges weren't "feathered" smooth enough, and of course he is THE Spraymaster. We delivered the wheel covers later that afternoon, and Daddy put them back on the car the next day. Jerry and I are looking forward to the meal Mama promised.

Jerry acting like Jerry.

Jerry re-sanding my work.

Sanding all done.

My chain-link fence was the perfect wheel cover holder.

Good as new, or should I say the "After" picture.

Note: Check out the orbs in Mama & Daddy's garage.

New Year's Eve at Kendra's House

Kelsey, Emily & Nathan

My cousin Kendra and her sweet girls, Kelsey and Emily, invited our family over for New Year's Eve. She prepared a wonderful meal of roast beef and vegetables, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, and apple dumplings a la mode. After we stuffed ourselves we watched the kids play Nintendo Wii. Nathan, my favorite video gamehead, played hard, but I think Emily was the best-all-around player of all the games including bowling and boxing. I think she may have even beat Todd at golf!

Nathan boxing.

Later in the evening we went outside so the kids could light sparklers. I think it was Nathan's first time. By midnight, I believe we were all home in bed. Thanks for a wonderful evening, DeeDah!

Christmas Morning 2007

To me, the best part of Christmas is Jesus.

The second best part of Christmas is Nathan. He has been my best gift for six years now, and watching him open his presents and give his personally selected gifts to us was almost more than I could contain. Last year we were amazed at how he hand-picked our gifts from Santa's Workshop at school. I had no idea a 5-year old could select such individually appropriate gifts. He gave me a tiger figurine for my desk at school, the home of the Tomlin Tigers. This year DeeDee took him to the dollar store and let him pick out his gifts for us. My gift was a hugging teddy bear. I keep it at school attached to one of Nathan's pictures for the times I need a hug from Bubby.

I think this was the best Christmas morning so far. Carla made a breakfast casserole, the coffee was perking, and then Nathan started handing out gifts and opening presents of his own. He was so excited and so grateful for his presents. We got hugs and kisses for every gift he opened. I hope we are not spoiling him, but he's the only one we have to spend our money on right now. Hint! Hint!

You know you are truly blessed when your family asks for your Christmas list and you can't think of one thing you need. Okay, at least any affordable thing you need. If I wrote a Christmas list it would go like this:

1. a new roof
2. my house tented and fumigated
3. new ball joints on my car
4. new carpet
5. new blinds

and most of all . . .

6. an iPhone!

No one in my family wanted to spend that big, so I settled for some DVDs and a nice cash gift from Mama and Daddy that has already been put in iPhone savings.

Here are a few snapshots from our wonderful Christmas morning . . . .

Carla & Todd

Nathan gives his daddy golf balls.

"It rhymes with Winnie the Pooh."

It IS Winnie the Pooh!

Nathan gives Uncle Howie a huggable teddy bear and a hug.

DeeDee gets a digital camera.

Mommy opens her scented candle.

A bit of drama induced by a Nintendo DS Mario Kart game from Uncle Howie.

Pokémon chapter books

Pokémon drawing books

After we finished opening presents, Nathan volunteered (can you believe it?) to do the sign language performance he gave at his school program in Jamaica. The song was "Living Word" by Fred Hammond. This anointed song, plus Nathan's sign language brought us to tears. We are such cry-babies!

Bread of Life, sent down from Glory,
Many things You were on Earth,
A Holy King, a carpenter,
You are the Living Word

Bread of Heaven, sent down from Glory
Many things You were on Earth,
A Holy King, a carpenter,
You are the Living Word

Awesome Ruler, Gentle Redeemer,
God With Us, the Living Truth,
And what a Friend we have in You,
You are the Living Word

Jesus, Jesus, that's what we call You,
Manger born, but on a tree,
You died to save humanity
You are the Living Word

And now a first for Nathan's Uncle. Not a YouTube link, but my own uploaded video. I give you my nephew, Nathan . . . .

Part 1 - The Jamaica Surprise!

I figured when I came home early from my annual autumn trip to the mountains that I was saving my personal days for something. Although I had some ideas, I wasn't sure exactly what it was for. But by Friday of that same week I found out.

If you read my earlier post then you know that my parents' celebrated their golden anniversary in Jamaica on Saturday. Based on Rhoda's comment to that post about them being with the Hoods, I don't think she knew that I was with them too.

It had been in my mind for several weeks, and Carla and I had discussed the possibility of me flying down to Montego Bay for the golden anniversary weekend. For several reasons, I just didn't see it coming together. Then, last Friday night I thought I would see if there were any tickets still available. I found a flight on Air Jamaica from Orlando to MoBay for a decent price, then called Carla. We made a plan, and I booked it. This past long weekend we pulled off our plan perfectly, and here's how it all came together . . . .

Last Thursday, April drove me to Orlando International (God bless her!). The actual air flight time was only an hour and a half. I didn't check any luggage, so when I arrived I breezed straight through immigration and customs. Todd and Carla had gone by Nathan's school to pick him up from football (soccer) practice. When he asked why they were going to the airport, Todd told him they were going to pick up a "package." He had no idea that Uncle Howie was about to walk out the door. I think I surprised him so much he was speechless, and for a "talkie-mouth" like Nathan, that was a rare event.


When we left Sangster Airport I got my first taste of Jamaican driving, but more about that later. Upon arrival at the Hoods' residence, Nathan went inside and told DeeDee and Granddaddy that they had a surprise. He instructed DeeDee to close her eyes, then I walked into the room. When she opened her eyes, there I was. They had no clue that I was coming and were completely surprised to see me there.

We ate dinner at the Yacht Club that night, and of course the Spiderman 3 DVD I brought Nathan could not wait. I ended the evening with a cup of Mama's café con leche and my nephew sitting on my lap reading to me. What could be better? I'm not jealous of Granddaddy anymore.

NOTE: All pictures in this post are courtesy of Todd & Carla.

A Golden Couple Celebrate 50 Years Together!

Fifty years ago today . . .

. . . a sharecropper's daughter

and a farmer's blind son . . .

. . . became man and wife.

Rev. and Mrs. Roland Blount
Pleasant Grove Assembly of God

Durant, Florida

November 3, 1957

The Blounts became missionaries and traveled to many foreign lands. They celebrated their silver anniversary in Latin America . . .

Rev. and Mrs. Roland Blount
Asuncion, Paraguay
November 3, 1982

. . . and today they celebrate their golden anniversary in the Caribbean.

Rev. and Mrs. Roland Blount
Montego Bay, Jamaica
November 3, 2007


Happy Golden Anniversary, Mama & Daddy!

I love you, Howie