Sherry & April

Okay, Sherry, since you mentioned in your comment that you remember when you first met April, I thought I would provide a picture from my archives to document the memory. This is Sherry Bethune and April Noble at the Pleasant Grove 4th of July Picnic, 1980. April, you'll have to provide the story of your injury that day . . . .

Happy Birthday, April and Hailey!

She's my first cousin (our mothers are sisters) and my second cousin (our fathers are first cousins), but she's more like a sister to me. She's a confidante, defender, fashion icon, spiritual advisor, comedienne, and best friend all rolled into one. She's wise, intuitive, and knock-down gorgeous. There's no one like her in the world. She loves me deeply, and I don't know what I would do without her. My regular readers know who she is, and today is her special day.

Let's make it all about you today, April! You know I love you, girl!


April's daughter, Hailey, celebrates her birthday on Saturday. Happy birthday, Pussycat!





Okay, I confess, beauty runs in our family . . . .

Nathan and Hailey

August 2007

When the Hoods came through Florida on their way back to Jamaica last August, I took this picture of Nathan and his cousin Hailey, April's youngest daughter, by the aquarium at Joto's. It reminded me of some pictures I had taken of them six years earlier.

July 2001

Earlier, when I was planning what I would write in this post and thinking about these pictures, something triggered my memory. When I checked out the pictures, I was right. Some things never change.

Halloween 2006

If you still don't know what I'm talking about, check out Hailey's head in the last two pictures. Once a Pussycat, always a Pussycat.

Here's another shot I found of Nathan and Hailey at his first birthday party at Alderman's Ford.

July 2002

First Day of School for My Little Jamaican

Nathan started first grade Monday at Montego Bay Christian Academy. I talked to him Monday afternoon and he seems happy to be back in the classroom, or at least with children his own age. Of course Nathan has always loved school.


Uncle Howie was concerned at first when he saw the cubicle, but after a chat with Carla, I think it's going to be okay. Carla said they call the cubicles offices, and the children turn their chairs around during instruction. I just didn't want Nathan to be stuck in a box writing in workbooks and raising a flag when he needed help.

I was also concerned about Nathan being prepared for FCAT when Todd and Carla return to Florida on furlough. Nathan will be in third grade. Carla assured me that she will teach him the Sunshine State Standards so he won't be behind. I'm sure Nathan will have many wonderful experiences in a Jamaican school that American kids will miss, and those experiences won't be tested on the almighty FCAT!

Carla and I were reminiscing a bit about our days at Asuncion Christian Academy when we were missionary kids in Paraguay. I hope Nathan grows to love MBCA like we loved ACA.

Check out my nephew in that cute uniform! I wish students at Tomlin wore uniforms.

Do good, Nathan!

Year 28

Today I start my twenty-eighth year of teaching, minus two years of leave. It's hard to believe. I taught nine years at McDonald Elementary in Seffner, Florida, then six years at Lincoln Sixth Grade Center in Plant City, and I have been at Tomlin Middle School since 1995.

Tomlin is a great place to work. We have hard-working administrators, and although I don't agree with every decision they make, I know that they truly care about our school. I respect the load they carry and the work they do, and I'm really glad I don't have to do it. My colleagues are the best people in the world to work with, especially the teachers on my team. They are dedicated to their profession and have a heart for teaching kids. And of course our students past and present make our vocation the most rewarding in the world. Don't believe what you hear on the news and through the rumor mill. Most of our children are truly angels in disguise.

Teaching is one of the great joys of my life. It is my gifting and calling. It is what I do and who I am. I love kids, and the best part of the school day is when I'm standing at the board or seated in my rocker in the the reading corner with my students gathered around. I want my students to become passionate readers of whatever genre they enjoy and lifelong learners and lovers of knowledge. I want them to learn about grace, and empathy, and diversity, and acceptance so they will become contributing citizens of the world.

Everything in public education is not wonderful. I don't love bureaucracy, No Child Left Behind legislation, added work days and hours, educational "reform," the ever-increasing paperwork, grouping and tracking students, and of course the FCAT and the multitude of tests and assessments that nebulous committees dream up for us to administer. But the negative issues in education are for another post. Today I remember why I do what I do, and that's what really matters.

I'm going to get up, shower, and get dressed. Then I'll grab my backpack and throw it in the car. And on the way to school I'll call Mama and Daddy for our traditional first day of school prayer. I'll enter my classroom feeling blessed to be a member of the greatest profession in the world, and I'll confidently await my new crop of angels.

How can one man be so blessed?

Nathan and Family Are Safe

A word of thanks to all the people who are concerned about Todd, Carla, and Nathan being in Jamaica with Hurricane Dean headed right toward them. They are not in Jamaica. They are safe and sound in Plant City. If you read the previous post, you will remember that they came home last weekend for a missions retreat in Texas. They returned to Florida last Friday night. They were scheduled to return to Jamaica on Monday, but of course the airports are shut down. Their return flight has been rescheduled for Wednesday, but Carla doubts the airports will be open even then. I'm not complaining. It has been great to have the Hoods home for a while. We've been eating out a lot, and Nathan and I went to see Underdog yesterday. He has also been enjoying time to play with his cousin Jacob and friend Seth. Carla plans to bring him out to visit me at school one day this week like she used to do two years ago before Nathan started school himself.

Thanks again to everyone who has been concerned for my family's safety. And yes, Rhoda, I am still painting.

Short, But Sweet!

To make a long story short, the Hoods missed their connection to Tampa in Miami because they had to go through customs. This type of thing is typical with air travel today. So they did not arrive in Tampa at 7:00 PM; they arrived at midnight. DeeDee, Grandaddy, and I went to Outback without them, then met four hours later to head for the airport. It must have been karma from when Carla and Todd picked me up at midnight in Orlando last summer when the Holocaust trip was aborted due to the Israeli conflict with Lebanon.

We parked and met them in the terminal. Airport parking is free for the first hour. Todd was carrying Nathan when they got off the shuttle, and I thought Nathan was asleep, but then he turned around and got down. I was the first one to get a great big hug and kiss! I told him I wasn't gonna let him go. It was great to have him back in my arms again. Todd and Carla took DeeDee and Grandaddy's car to get some things from their barn, so they and Nathan rode with me back to their house. I gave Nathan the picture of us in a frame that he wanted, a Bridge to Terabithia book (because he loved the movie), a Buzz Lightyear DVD, and some cross pendants from Israel for his jewelry collection. I didn't get home and in bed until almost 2:00 AM.

I met Todd, Carla, Nathan, and Todd's parents for breakfast at Fred's Market Restaurant. Nathan was there in body, but he didn't want to be. He did not eat breakfast and was lying down on three seats the whole time. But it was good to see him again.

I had to report to school, and April took my whole family to the airport. They flew to Dallas for a missions conference this week. I called Daddy as I was walking to my car after school, and they had just arrived at the resort where the conference is held. They return this Friday night, and we will have Saturday and Sunday together before the Hoods fly back to Jamaica on Monday. Nathan and I have already made some plans to be together.