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.

Do you love this country? Do you long to see us return to our roots? To be a more moral, accountable people?

Then please considering looking into and supporting this site, and Jeremy Sarber for President in 2020.

One of the things we did while the family was here, was to head out to Anna Marie Island to watch the sunset. After the baby shower, after getting lost, and find ourselves again, we managed to get to the beach. We spent a few hours there, watched the sunset, and then went and ate dinner at the Sandbar (a resturant on the beach). I didn't get pictures at the resturant, but I did get alot of great pictures at the beach.
I'm so glad that Mother and Daddy, and Benji got to come down for the weekend. I was really missing home.

If you haven't already heard I'm writing some for Jeremy Saber on his website. Most of what I write over there, probably won't be cross posted over here. Please check out Jeremy's site if you haven't already. I posted my first article this morning, so go check it out as well...

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I’ve learned alot from my father, over the years. It took me along time to realize that he is undoubtably the wisest man that I know. I went through a time, like alot of teenagers do, where he was crazy, outdated, and hopeless. But the older I get the wiser he gets, or perhaps I just understand more about what was already there.

One of the best things that Daddy did for the four of us kids was to teach us a good work ethic. I can’t recall long lectures growing up about how we were suppose to work, or when, or even that the reason to work hard is because ultimately our master is Christ. I do remember long Saturday afternoons working in the yard dragging tree limbs out to the street after we had over 60 pines cut out of our 1 acre lot.

To read the rest click here...

Once again Little Union has amazed us with their craftiness and their generosity.

The sisters out did themselves with the amazing decorations and yummy cake and punch. I do believe this was Bobbie Jo's best diaper cake yet, but then again I might be a little biased. Brooke loaned us all of her toy horses for decorations. Sis. Kerry decorated our cake and Sis. Paula made great punch. It was simply beautiful due to all the hard work by so many.

Then the gifts. We are continually suprised at how good Little Union is to us. They have given us so much encouragement and fellowship, not to mention that at times like this all the gifts. I had enough clothes for two loads when I got home, and it took until last night to get everything else sorted and put away. I just don't know how to thank everyone enough.

Here are the pictures from the day...

Does anyone see anything wrong with the pictures?
Here let me fill you in. Out of all the people here on the corner in Plant City supporting Obama, 3/4 of them are not old enough to vote. The remaining 25% don't pay taxes. Just an observation for you.

If you care anything about this country and if you don't and instead only care about your pocketbook, the only intelligent choice is McCain. Please go out and vote on Nov. 4th.

So our little ticker up there tells me that we have made it to 25 weeks. That means Britt is about 14 inches long and the weight of an average rutabaga (somewhere between a pound and a half to two). He's putting on some baby fat and all those wrinkles in his skin are beginning to smooth out into that ever so soft baby skin. His hair now has color coming in (it actually grows in white first), and is taking on texture. He already has coarse hair like me and Matthew, or soft hair like Gary. He's making his kicks felt more and more each day.

On one hand I don't feel like we've been pregnant all that long and we are still three months away from his due date. Plenty of time right? Well that's until I realized that we are 15 weeks away, I'm practically in my 3rd trimester, and my belly button is completely seriously popped out. When did all of this happen?

Gary has been very interested to watch my belly button go from cavern to mountain. For a while it looked like a hill with a little moat around it, but sometime over the last two weeks it has made it to full fledged outie. Gary says it's like the button in the turkey, when it pops Britt is done. Let's hope he's not right on that one. Amazing how much things change so quickly.

He had an excellent sermon as well, trying to convey alot of encouragement and exhortation to us. I don't know that I could quickly or easily tell you all that he told us, but he reminded us that the Church was to be a light in the community and how we should be overjoyed to share the greatest story we know with others, the story of how Jesus took care of everything just for us. He talked about how to avoid getting discouraged by others actions, words, or non-attendance, but to always focus on what the Lord does for us on a daily basis. He exhorted us to study and not leave the truth, because for as long as he's been around they've been preaching the death of the Primitive Baptist and as long as we stick with God given truth we will be fine. After his sermon we had a great time of fellowship in the lunchroom (not to mention all the good food) and then had a sing afterward. We were so blessed to be able to spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ several hours away on the East coast, and hope to see them again soon.

After the meeting at Antioch, Gary and I headed the short distance down to Vero Beach. This was my second time to see the Atlantic Ocean, but if you will recall last time I forgot my camera.

"I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a disgrace, two are called a law firm, and three or more become a congress!" - John Adams in the musical 1776

Whether you want the bailout passed or not, we can all agree that Congress isn't the most efficiant group. However, before we hear folks start calling for the military generals to oversee this money and cries to redesign our government, let me tell you that this has always been the case.

From the first legistlative body on this grand continent, the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1619, this has been a problem. Even in attempts to declare independence this was a problem. If you don't believe me watch the following clip. To set things up, John Adams once again has asked for the topic of American Independency to be discussed, and every excuse is give from 1) too hot, it's 90 degrees, 2) John is a bore (also obnixious and disliked), to 3) just flat out no. John comes outside to vent and talk to God...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM9KcAS5_K4

(and yes, John Adams is a much younger Mr. Feany.)

Several people have asked what it is that Gary and I are doing up at work late at night. So I thought, since I've not had a great deal to blog about lately that I might blog on this. Gary works for a company that sells chemicals and fertilizer to local farmers. Their biggest season is Strawberry Season, which starts the day after labor day when the farmers start laying plastic and continues until California berries start coming in, either in late March or early April. He is an incredibly busy bee this time of year, he has to be at work at 7:30 and works until 5:30 or 6 without a lunch break most days. In another week or two they will start working half a day on Saturday as well as the regular work week. During this time other than the days right around Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, he can't take time off. (Obviously though they will be letting him leave when I call and say Britt is on his way now.)

If you are going to play the game of Parking Wars there are a few things to keep in mind...

1) It's a game, the rules allow anyone parked illegally to be ticketed. This means you must be extra good and sneaky to avoid tickets OR have really good alliances with a few key people.

2) If you are jealous of someone else's super cool new car, for example a tow truck, then by all means you should save up some money and buy one. Have a tow truck is alot of fun, but it would be even more fun if there were other people vi-ing for towing each other and all the illegal cars.

3) Just because you have an alliance with someone doesn't mean that we have to honor it. For example, the Kimberly Kyle duo has threatened us with in an inch of our lives several times if we keep ticketing the others, as has a few others. If you aren't going to make money off of them, there's no reason why I shouldn't. :)

Parking Wars is alot of fun, and we have enjoyed seeing how clever that some of you can get in avoiding tow trucks. So please more of you should join and ticket and get ticketed. Afterall, I just bought an icecream truck, I need some more money.