This past weekend, we were blessed at Little Union to be able to host the Florida Fellowship Meeting. We had a blessing in just being the host Church. Over the last several months we've had a few work days to prepare for the meeting. We've repainted the building, pressure washed everything within sight, taken apart and fixed our sign, poured additional concrete for handicap parking pads and sidewalks, and worked on flower beds. The Saturday and Sunday before the meeting we all came together to put up the tent, the outside kitchen, lights, roll silverware, and cook. In the midst of all this work we had a great time visiting and enjoying one another's company. As a result of the hard work of so many the meeting went very smoothly and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. All in all we had a wonderful time of fellowship with so many that came to be with us, whether it was preparing food, over the meals, singing between services, or just sitting around talking. The Lord truely blessed us. If you came thank you for coming to support the meeting, and if you didn't shame on you, make plans to come next year!Note pardon the spelling. Ministers in attendance - Thursday night: Elder Charles Broadway, Elder Jeff Winfrey, Friday morning: Elder David Montgomery, Elder Charles Kitchens, Friday afternoon: Elder Doff Painerd, Elder Tim Montgomery, Friday night: Elder Michael Green, Elder J.C. Stanland, Saturday morning: Elder Clayton Knolle, Elder Ronald Lawrence, Saturday afternoon: Elder Bufford Dean, Elder Gus Harter, Saturday night: Elder Daniel Woods, Elder Tim Montgomery, Sunday morning: Elder Paul Blair, Elder Charles Kitchens, Elder Mike Roberts.

Gary is getting an awefully early start here...

Baby Nate Ferrel has been diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease. This is a progressive degenerative disease with no known cure at this time. However, Nathan is doing well and even if this disease remains with him, he can live a full life, it won't necessarily get worse. However, we can pray for better than that. We are able to trust in a Great Physician who isn't limited by our medical knowledge.

Baby Hailey Gowens is believed to have the same problems as Nathan. She is improving as well. She is gaining weigh and they hope to have heart surgery around her first birthday.

Bro. Buddy Abernathy is doing better and has been able to preach well and enjoyed the meeting this weekend.

Bro. Obey has typhoid fever and malaria. Even worse, he is currently in a hospital in Kenya away from his family.

Erich Wouters is recovering from Chemo.

Florida Fellowship Meeting was greatly blessed this past weekend. There will be a separate post about this soon.

Heather Cunningham still has no further news on their little girl. Their doctor is in no hurry to make her appointment for an echogram for the baby. Please pray for peace of mind for her as she waits as well as good news on the baby.

Melissa Green is starting her chemo treatments on Wednesday for breast cancer.

Parker Allen is communicating more and more and growing stronger each day. His family has seen alot of improvement lately. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

Remember about this time last year when I said that we were moving into a new apartment. Remember how I said that we weren't moving again until we bought a house, or were headed back to Alabama. Remember how we painted and stuff because we were going to be here awhile at least for a couple of years.

Well, we are moving again, 10 months later. Don't get me wrong. I am super excited to be moving into a house. We will have a yard, and it has a grapefruit tree and a cherry tree. We will have more space, and it's all nice and neat and stuff. We will have a big front porch just begging to be sat on in the evening in a rocking chair. We will be closer to Church and out of town. However, I am dreading the idea of actually putting all of our stuff in boxes, moving it to a new location, and unpacking said boxes. All while working around Britt's feeding and naps. To say the least it should be exciting.

We do have a game plan to make this easier. We are going to move one room at a time. Gary is going to bring home some boxes and I'm going to pack one room tomorrow day, then we are going to move that room's furniture and stuff tomorrow evening, and then on Wednesday I'll get to unpack and put all that stuff away. That way should be more managable.

Any volunteers... ha :D

Grandmother and Granddaddy made it here on Wednesday and just left this morning. As Granddaddy said he came to "See and Hear, and I saw Britt and now I'm ready to hear good preaching." This weekend was the Florida Fellowship Meeting so they had two good reasons to visit, but more about the FFM later.Both of them were tickled to get to see him, but Grandmother especially so. She held him an aweful lot of the time, and everytime Granddaddy would tell her, "You're spoiling that boy!" Granddaddy didn't hold him as much because he said that he was too fragile that he would be more fun in a month or two when he could "wool him" or play rough.Grandmother was so much help with Britt. She held him while I got ready and changed diapers and rocked him when he was a little fussy. She helped with the dishes after we ate so that I could get him washed and dressed for Church. But there were a few times when we were both getting ready for Church, so Granddaddy held him and talked to him. Thursday evening before Church Britt was a little fussy, but we had to get ready. Granddaddy sat there and talked to him and he got quiet. Grandmother came out and wanted to know what he had done, and he just replied, "I charmed him." ha! We spent most of the time sitting around talking, with Granddaddy laid out in the recliner or on the couch and Grandmother holding him, but not all the time. Britt spent some time in his swing. Infact he slept in there most of last night, because he was super fussy, but that's a whole nother story.

Gary was alway amusing, but he is especially amusing with Britt. Before Britt ever got here, Gary would talk to him and sing to him at night. He would put his head on my belly and talk to him, and tell him that his mother was an evesdropper because I was listening to "their" conversations.

Now Gary just does stranger things with Britt.

He is constantly offering him food like steak and strawberries because "your mother doesn't feed you enough." He picks him up when he is crying and gets real stern and says you can do that any time except when I'm home. He is sings lots of Church songs to him, currently he is singing the verse, "When I was sinking down, sinking down..." Nothing abnormal except when he is walking with Britt and gets to the word sinking, they are dropping to the floor. Earlier tonight was the strangest thing I have seen him do yet. I came out of the bedroom from getting together clothes for the meeting this weekend, and find my son in his carseat sitting on the stove "helping" Gary cook. Even with the stove off, I'm not thinking this is a great idea. Gary then acted very put out with him after they were done, when Britt wouldn't high five him.

They are adorable to watch together. Britt gets real quiet and stares at him whenever he sings. Gary is much better at burping him so he does that after I feed him alot, and then they take naps together. I've even caught Gary running off with one of Britt's socks so that they can be alike even in that area of weirdness. (He claims that Britt did that on his own, but we all know better.) I love to watch and listen to them.

So I already have Britt spoiled, not all by myself mind you - Gary and grandparents and others have helped. He wants to be held all day, and who could blame him. He thinks life revolves around him, and it's easy to see why - we hold him entirely too much, but hey, you would too, cause he's just too cute. I had to inform little man yesterday that life doesn't revolve around him and when he wants to eat and sleep, but who am I fooling - certainly not him.

The bouncer and swing are a life saver though. The bouncer is only good as long as the vibrating part is turned on. When it kicks off, he immediately wakes up and it's no fun anymore. I suspect it'll be better when he's actually big enough and coordinated enough to bounce it himself. The swing on the other hand is pretty much a hit all the way around, except in the middle of the night, when the only rocking that will suffice is Momma or Daddy.

Daddy and Benjamin made it down very early on Friday morning and stayed until today. They loaded up and left here with Mother just a little while ago.

A few new prayer request...

Elder Guy Hunt passed away today. He is finally at rest after a long struggle with cancer, but his family would crave your prayers.

Elder Buddy Abernathy was really under the weather last week. They are trying him on a new medicine.

Melissa Green has recently been diagonised with a rare form of breast cancer. It was a miracle that they even found it. They have put a port in for her and plan to start chemo very soon.

Heather and James Cunningham are having a baby girl. Today they had their 20 week ultrasound and saw a shiney place on the baby's heart. They aren't sure if it's something minor such as the heart isn't quite finished developing, or if it's a major problem for the baby. It could possibly even be a cyst or some form of cancer for Heather, they just don't know much yet. They will be doing a echogram in 2 weeks to get more information.

Continual Prayer list...

Baby Hailey Gowens is improving. She is up to 11 lbs now, and to the best of my knowledge they are hoping to be able to do heart surgery around her first birthday.

Baby Nate Ferrel is doing well. They still haven't gotten their test results back, but Nathan is nearly walking now.

Erich Wouters had his last Chemo treatment and they are optomistic that he is cancer free.

Florida Fellowship Meeting (Coming up Feb 12-15 and Little Union PBC)

For spiritual growth in our Churches.

Our President, our Armed Forces, and this Great country in which we live.

Parker Allen continues to show improvement. He is able to respond to questions, but still has a limited ablity to communicate.

Sis. Liz York had her baby, Charlotte Noel on 1/20. Everything went well; however, after they came home her mother was holding the baby and had a fall. Charlotte seems to be ok, but her mother was a little banged up.

Of course we had Britt last Thursday and all is well here. We appreciate everyone's prayers.

Mother flew down on Monday to meet her first grandbaby. Ever since "Ahna" has been rocking, singing, and spoiling Britt, not that I wasn't already well on the way to having him spoiled rotten before she got here. I wish she was nearby and I'm trying to convince her that she should stay for two weeks, but she's told me that I don't really need her another week, that I'm doing well. That may be but I do want her here. Grumps and Uncle Benji will be here tomorrow, so that should be exciting.

We've been enjoying having company and I am doing well. Hopefully we will be able to make it to Church Wednesday night.

For anyone who hasn't heard, Liz went back to the doctor and was still having alot of trouble with her blood preasure, so they scheduled an induction for this morning. It was a hard decision for them, because they really just wanted the Lord to take control and for their little girl to arrive on her own. Hopefully they will be parents by the end of the day! Liz and George would both appreciate your prayers.

It's been a while since I updated this, so here goes...

Baby Hailey Gowens - Perhaps Amber can give some more information on her, but last I heard she was gaining weight and strength. Hopefully they will be able to perform the heart surgery soon, and will have more answers for Ashley.

Baby Nate Ferrel - They have not received his test results back, but he is doing better and looking great. He hasn't been sleeping through the night consistantly and has had trouble lately with his reflux, I'm sure they would appreciate prayers that would let them get a good nights sleep.

Elder Buddy Abernathy - I'm happy to report to everyone that he has been doing much better over the last month or so. He seems to be off the medicine completely now and feeling better too.

Erich Wouters - My best understanding is that he is still on chemo, and is very weak. If either of the Kitchens girls has more news, please let us know...

I want to thank everyone for the prayers for my brother, Matthew. He seems to be doing some better these days.

Parker Allen - I've received a few updates on Parker, and while he still has a long way to go, he seems to have more control over his body, and understands what you are saying to him. His family is still trusting in the Lord for healing and would appreciate your continued prayers.

Sis. Liz York is expecting a baby on 1/26, and of course we are still waiting on Britt to make an appearance.

I would add that James and Heather are pregnant again. Heather had some difficulties with Brystal, and has had even more problems with this pregnancy, so I would ask you to remember them.

Also, the Florida Fellowship Meeting is coming up in just a month. We would love to have you all here, feel free to email me any questions, and if you are unable to attend please be in prayer for us.

Since the doctor's office seems to think that my wife will have Britt by Friday, and since everyone knows how much I love the Gators, and what I plan to be doing at 8 pm on Thursday; I have come up with a few ideas on what to do or say if my wife goes into labor before/during the big game...

Thursday she isn't allowed to have: Mexican food, chocolate, supreme pizza, or Castor oil. She also can't walk anywhere, must stay in bed.

Thursday morning, "How can you have the baby if I'm on my way to Miami?"

At 8:05 pm, "Honey I don't think that you are dilated enough/having close enough contractions/or whatever to go to the hospital yet."

"I was a Gator fan before I was a father. This game comes first." If she goes into active labor before halftime.

If we have to go to the hospital during the game, "Thank goodness there are TVs in the delivery room."

In case she makes me turn off said tv, "Honey, I'll be right back, I'm just going to get you some ice chips..."

For during the game after I turn the tv back on and take away her remote, "Honey, you can push during the commericals."

In case he really comes during the game, "But, I don't want to mess up my good Gator shirt!"

Just a couple of questions for our readers: Is it wrong to get more excited about a game, than Britt getting here? If he's born right after the game can we name him Gator Britt, instead of Gary Britt Jr. the III?