Saturday before I left to go home, Gary took me out for my early Christmas present. He really planned the whole thing out and I was very impressed. First he took me out to dinner over in Clearwater at Bellaire. Then we went to see Phantom on stage at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The view up and down the baywalk was beautiful.

I spent some time with my mother out at good old East Lawrence today. I got to see several teachers at the middle school and high school. Mother is not just teaching the kids of students anymore, but she has nieces, nephews, cousins, and younger siblings to people I knew in school, and even the grandchild of one of my teachers. I had forgotten just how talkative and fidgety 4th graders are. While they can be so annoying (read no one disciplines several of them at home), they can also be amusing too.

Female Student: Mrs. Mallard?

Mother: Yes?

Female Student: If hermit means to live alone, does that mean that hermit crabs live alone?

Mother: (trying not to laugh) Well, they do live alone in their shell.

As usual, most of them were amazed to see one of her kids show up in class. I suppose with all of us grown up and out of school, they don't see one of us in her room very often anymore. They then started guessing at her age.

Class: Who are you?

Me: Mrs. Mallard's daughter.

Class: (Lots of chatter) You are not! Yes, she is she talks just like her. How old are you?

Me: I'm 23.

Class: How old is your mother?

Me: I'll let you ask her that.

Female Student: She's 33.

Male Student: No, she's 100.

Me: My grandmother isn't even that old.

Male Student: Ok, she's 80

Mother: (walking back in to the room) No, I'm 95. Now get back to work.

Some were amazed that their teacher was almost a hundred. Others a little brighter, decided that she was definately 40 maybe 42. Like I said it was an amusing day.

Today we had our 4-D ultrasound appointment. The place that does these really encourages you to bring the entire family, so Gary and I had invited Mom and Dad to go along with us, and two special friends Kelly and Sara. Mom and Dad had to work and couldn't come, and Kelly was obviously elsewhere; so Sara, Gary, and I treked over to Lakeland today to catch our first glimpse of Britt. When we got to the place, there were tons of people. After a slight problem with paperwork, and a relatively short delay we were able to go back and oh what we saw! I can't tell you how amazing and clear it was. The best part, we paid for 20 minutes but got to see him for 45 (the hour package was twice what we paid), and while I have lots of pictures on a cd, my cd drive isn't working so 3 will have to do you for now.

Above, a little further out a view of the left side of the mural. Below, his crib. Pardon if these are a little bit fuzzy, I was having trouble getting clear pictures with the poor lighting.

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams, on October 11, 1798

I was still incredibly optomistic Tuesday, that McCain could pull out a win in Florida, and that surely Ohio and Pennsylvania wouldn't go for the man who promised to "bankrupt the coal industry." However, I am sad to see how wrong I was.

First the first time in my life I am seriously disappointed with my countrymen. I have always believed that this great country is great because we believe that though we may not all begin at the same place, we all have the oppertunities in life to go anywhere we want. In early America this was termed rugged individualism. The idea was that government is there to ensure equality before the law, and as long as government stayed out of our way we could do anything, we could become anything with enough hard work. The secondary principle, which I believed was still alive as of Tuesday, that was important to our founding fathers was that of the Republican Ideal or Virtuous Republicanism. This is the concept that we are not only willing to serve something greater than ourselves, but that we desire to put the good of our country and fellow man ahead of our own good.

I count our Constitution as the document that is second only to the Bible, in an example to us how to live and work together. It's a noble piece that lays out in the best of cases, among the best of peoples how to make a better world. It holds a very high position in my mind indeed. However, I feel that this document isn't viewed as highly by others as I do. Certainly the history that led to it isn't valued because we have turned so far away from it in this election.

I see two possiblities when looking down through history for our country now. We either over the next four years, realize our mistake and the Republican Party regroups as a truely conservative party both fiscally and morally. Or the Republican Party decides that they aren't centrist enough, and leaves behind all vestiages of conservativism. The last time the first happened, we had Regan elected after Carter. The last time the second happened after FDR took the presidency we didn't see a true Republican (I'm not counting Eisenhower) for 36 years.

I suppose the question becomes have we as a people laid aside Christianity, have we left morals and virtue in the past, do we merely want those who mirror ourselves or are we seeking good and Godly men who will put God's laws and the good of the country before self?

"It is apprehended that Jews, Mahometans (Muslims), pagans, etc., may be elected to high offices under the government of the United States. Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President or other high office, [unless] first the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves." - Governor Samuel Johnston, July 30, 1788 at the North Carolina Ratifying Convention for the Constitution

This morning I was in line at the Plant City Church of God on Mud Creek Road at 7:34 to cast my vote. It was a wonderful day: cloudy, overcast, cool almost chilly even. It felt like Election Day to me. Since turning 18 I've only missed one primary, I take my right, my privilege, my duty to vote very seriously.

This is my first presidential election in Florida. It was nice to have Election weather here, made it feel more like home. I had to wait in line for an hour, a new experience for me, but it was all worth it. That warm fuzzy feeling of making my voice heard, of casting my vote, of making a difference is unlike any other feeling.

I found myself in the car explaining to Britt as we drove around town running errands afterward why it is so important to vote, and what it means. Our country is great, and I can't wait to teach him all about it. Remember to pray for our country and leaders.

First, make sure you get out and vote today!

Second, I received an email from Jay last night about Nate, please remember them...

"Dear All,

As many of you know, our youngest son (Nathan 8 months) has been suffering from an undiagnosed illness since he was 2 weeks old. We have seen virtually every specialist at the University of Florida and reached essentially no firm conclusions. Currently, we are in Atlanta to see a metabolic specialist. He is supposed to be one of the best in the world. On Wednesday he is planning to run numerous tests. I am sure it will be a long and stressful day. So I am writing to request that each of you pray in a specific way for Nathan. Please pray that he will be strong and able to cheerfully endure all that is before him. To be such a little guy, he has gone through a lot. They have taken so much blood that he almost doesn't cry anymore.

It may take several weeks or months for all the test results to return. They are looking for illnesses that range from life threatening to relatively mild. Please join us in praying that if an illness if found, it is non-progressive. Many of these diseases worsen with time, so we are specifically praying that Nate has a form that is manageable.

To date, doctors have given us numerous diagnoses - ranging from mental handicaps, to muscular dystrophies, to other eminently fatal diseases. So far God has seen fit to prove all these untrue. Each time we have been buffeted by bad news, He has lifted us up. We have felt the prayers of the saints on our behalf and His goodness has always exceeded our needs.

Please pray for Nathan and ask God's continued Mercy to be upon him. God Bless, Jay

Baby Nate Ferrel has been doing well. He is having a muscle biopsy among other things in Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Likewise remember his new little cousin Haley who appears to have the same condition that Nathan has.

Elder Buddy Abernathy is doing much better than he was, but continue to pray for him as he adjusts to no longer being on this medicine.

I have no new update on Erich Wouters. My understanding is that he was to begin treatment for lymphomia. If anyone else has news, please let me know.

For spiritual growth in our Churches. I know that this is one that has been on the list since we started it, but I feel impressed to encourage you to not forget this when we pray or for it to become routine. Numbers make us feel better, but it's the quality of our walk of how our members work together that makes us strong in Christ. Let us strive to personally better serve Him by serving each other.

Matthew, my favorite red-headed sibling, has had a hard time this year with school and various things. I would appreciate any prayers on his behalf.

Parker Allen has continued to show improvement. He is still very limited in how much he can communicate with his parents and brother, and I know that though they see this is a labor of love and a priveledge to care for him, that they do feel the physical and emotional strain at times. Please continue to keep the family in your prayers.

Sis. Kelly Spezzano is expecting to meet Joshua in 15 days. Though she's hoping sooner. Please continue to keep my BFPF (Best Florida Pregnant Friend) and her son in your prayers as they near delievery day.

Sis. Liz York is expecting a baby on 1/26. Unfortunitely he/she isn't being very cooperative and they don't yet know what they are having.

The upcoming Election: our President, our Armed Forces, and this Great country in which we live. I won't preach to you about who to elect come Tuesday, but I would encourage you to pray about it and look in God's word for guidance on the sort of man and the sort of stances that He would be pleased to have as President and in offices around the country.

Gary, me, and Britt are doing well, and we appreciate all the prayers, gifts, and thoughtfulness of everyone. Things are going good with us and Britt is happy and healthy.