Dolphin Paradise Christmas Party 2006

We had a great time at the retirement home Sunday Lot’s of good food, laughter and just plain fun! Here are some photo’s of my friends:

<< — This is Patti and Becky, two of the biggest hearts I know! They started Dolphin Paradise Assited Living for the Elderly a few years ago. Their home is decorated year around according to the holiday…inside and out….and I know that God smiles each and every day! Patti is teaching her daughter, Christi how to care for others so that when I get older…..I’ll have a room

Becky is one awesome lady! You should see her shine white bike out front (they even got a Santa on a Harly right beside hers!)

Not pictured is Patti’s mother, Irma…….I know you’re proud Irma…..we love you!

May God bless you both Patti and Becky for your loving care and happy hearts!

This is my friends Teresa and my friend Larry –>>

Larry and I go back almost 9 years (when he was 89…He’s 98 now and still wild!)

 <<– This is my friend Helen and her family. Helen’s favorits song is “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” We sing it almost every Monday!

This is my friend Eilene. She always has the sweetest smile (and warm hugs too!!) –>>

<<<<—–This beautiful couple is Doc and Amparo —–>>>>

We have a blast singing and just shootin’ the breeze

<< — This is Arlene and Mark who came to visit their father and mother, Menzi and Estelene ——>>

I love it when we play a flat-pickin’ tune and Estelene get’s up and dances…she is just the sweetest

<<– These are my friends and Larry’s, Ron and Gretchen, who came to visit and have known him over 20 years. Ron play a mean accordian. We always have allot of fun!

These are my friends and Larry’s, Kent and Pat, who also came to visit. They too have know Larry over 20 years. Just wonderful people! They just got back from amission trip in Haiti.

Isaiah: “The Lord Saves”

It’s 3 AM and Kelly and I both got up because we have been unable to sleep. We are anxiously awaiting our new addition to the family, Isaiah. You would think we were adopting a child. He is but a puppy, but loved none the less (at least I’m not completely surrounded by girls anymore at home, I have someone that understands that some things are just “Man” things…like sleeping on the sofa).

He’s here and a little grumpy (He just had his little boy operation) but otherwise is doing well! I can’t wait to go outside and fetch sticks with Isaiah!

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IT’S A BOY !!!!!!  

As most you know we have two girls. Kelly and I have always wanted a boy (it’s not always easy being the only man in the house….I’m surrounded!).

Well, through God’s grace, we have graciously been afforded the opportunity to adopt a 3 year old. It may be a bit of a shock, however, we haven’t wanted to say much until we were sure that this would all work out.

We complete the adoption papers on Thursday and he will finally be able to come to his new home. We will name him “Isaiah”.  He is as cute as a button!

I am anxious to have a boy to love and nurture, play with and make memories to last a lifetime. Please pray that he will adjust well to his new home. God bless!

NOTE: Please visit  CLICK HERE to visit Laleo Cafe where I will be posting from now on all my “spiritual” ramblings.

It’s Been a Sad Week: “Sandy”, Sep 1993-June 2006

Last week we were left with little choice but to say goodbye to our loving puppy (half beagle and half golden retriever) of almost 13 years, Sandy. As Sandy grew older she developed a neurological disorder, possibly a tumor in her brain that caused much bizarre behavior, yet she was as loving and caring as anyone could want. Sandy was born in Alabama, September of 1993.

<< —–Sandy, 2001

 Sandy “Sandra Woman” Puterbaugh 2001—–>>

I’ll never forget that rainy July morning in 1994 when our family answered a newspaper add in the Anniston Times. Sandy looked like a small greyhound (she was so skinny), was on a dog run in a backyard with no shelter and only an empty blue chewed up dog bowl for a toy. We immediately fell in love with her eagerness to please and happiness to see us. Over the  years Sandy (also known as Sandra Woman because she was often so prim and proper) became a permanent part of our family, sharing the foot of our bed every night, always eager for affection and loving to the core.She was great not only with our children as they grew from toddlers to adults, but also with all the little children that Kelly baby sits who like to play “horsey” and inspect her nose and ears and pull on her tail. Sandy lived a good life moving with us from Alabama to Colorado and then to her final home here in Florida. She was and is a part of our family.

She was the LifePoint Worship Band’s unofficial mascot, loving to be in the studio every week for practice and throughout our recording sessions. Sandy loved people and people loved her!

The last few years have been slowly tougher and tougher for Sandy. It got to the point that she would look at us with these sad “help me” eyes. Friday, June 9th, we laid her to rest at our home, thankful for the many blessings she shared with us.

<<<— Sandy 2006—>>

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Memorial Day Fun in the Sun!

We got together for memorial day and had a blast! Great food! Great company! and oh so much fun!

NOTE: Please visit  CLICK HERE to visit Laleo Cafe where I will be posting from now on all my “spiritual” ramblings

Better is One Day!

Today was a special day for me. I was asked to lead worship for our outdoor service and was blessed to be able to sing with my daughter, Jessica. This was the first time we had the opportunity to sing together other than family gatherings. Jessica works full time and is is a full time student at The University of Central Florida. Needless to say, I am one proud papa! She is an awsome girl and has an awesome voice! Additionally Greg played guitar and James played percussion. I am blessed to have opportunities to play with these folks. We have so much fun and it is so awesome to worship our great God in such a way!

This is my daughter Jessica, Greg and I —–>>

<<—- Here you get a glimps of James playing the djembe on the left.

This is Sam, Mike and Jessica —–>>

<< —–This is truly my better half, Kelly!

Mother and daughter…….what an awesome pair! ——->>

<<——- This is Sue and her grandaughter, Emma

NOTE: Please visit  CLICK HERE to visit Laleo Cafe where I will be posting from now on all my “spiritual” ramblings

A Life of Love: My friend Joe

I am blessed to have the opportunity to lead worship at an assisted living home in Altamonte Springs. We have a wonderful time each Monday evening! There are so many stories of answered prayers! When God called me to serve here I wrestled, “Lord, I’m busy”, “I don’t sing that well”, “are you sure this is what you want me to do?”.  I would have never guessed in a million years the blessings I have experienced through my obedience to God! One of those blessings is the people I have come to know and love.

This is Erma, Helen and my friend Joe —->>

I want to introduce you to a friend of mine. His name is Joe. Sadly, Joe passed away this week. Joyfully, I am able to tell you that we will see Joe again

I have known Joe now for three years or more. At 95, he was quite the character! As I would play and sing I could see him often starting to clap and stomp his feet in time with the music. Every time I arrive I first go around and talk with everyone, hug, shake hands, and talk before we start to sing and praise the Lord. Joe always had a great big smile for me, and a warm handshake.

One of the things I cherish most about what I do is hearing the stories of the lives of my friends. I knew that Joe had lived a good life. I met his daughter, Marilyn a couple of years back and could always see the love they shared when I saw them together. Marilyn told me wonderful stories about her father that I would like to share. Joe operated a grocery store that was passed down in his family from father to son, father to son in Maine. She remembered him helping people that had run into hard times like the wife of a man that had an alcohol problem to the point that he was not able to take care of his family well. Joe would let this man’s wife put food on a tab and would hire the husband to work to help pay for it. He didn’t really need any work done but would hire the man to try to help him out of his situation. Marilyn told me that her father was always doing things like this, showing his love for people.

He also loved to sing. Marilyn shared that he would drive and sing and drive and sing and had a wonderful voice. I could have guessed this because at 95, he often responded to our music and singing with smiles, clapping to keep the beat and tapping his toes!

I noticed at the viewing, an antique golf club leaning against the casket. Marilyn told me that at 52, Joe had a series of heart attacks and moved the family to Florida. He took up golf and played every day! Walking the whole way! She shared that he loved the game and only stopped when he started to have a hard time walking the distance, which I believe, was only 5 or six years ago. Joe was quite a man!

One last note, Joe was happily married over 70 years! This alone is a testament of his loving heart.

Joe, thank you for sharing your life with me. Thank you for touching so many other lives around you! We’ll see you on the other side when we assemble our choir in heaven!

NOTE: Please visit  CLICK HERE to visit Laleo Cafe where I will be posting from now on all my “spiritual” ramblings

Shannon get’s her first promotion!

Shannon Sends Greetings from Turkey :

Shannon asked me to tell everyone at LifePoint “Hello” and thank you for blessing her with cards and letters. She will respond personally also. I have included some pictures here of her visit to “Snake Castle” near Incerlik Airbase.

Shannon sent us some great Turkish coffee and “apple” tea, as well a s a few neat knick-knacks. She calls often and shares what she is doing (work on an airbase is hardly a world of excitement). But, she is happy and excited about making a life of her own and serving our country in Turkey. Soon she hopes to take a tour of “The Seven Churches” of Revelation. This will be a treat for me as I study much Biblical history and musch happened in this country. Much of the Christian faith had deep roots in Turkish lands. It is surprising.

Here is a little about “Snake Castle”:

Yilankale, or better known as Snake Castle, has a mysterious atmosphere and an evil reputation for snakes and sorcery, no doubt derived from its setting above the muddy waters of the Ceyhan River and the craggy ridge upon which it stands. This castle is rather near the American Air Base in Adana and is usually one of the first to visit.

A jewel of military architecture, Snake castle is compiled of a series of three wards on different levels and super defenses at the gates of each. The access to the lower wards is through an Armenian double arch complete with hales for rock and pitch. The gate to the upper ward is deep between two fine towers and makes two right turns, once again making it impossible to use mechanical siege equipment. The upper ward has a chapel with a fresco, subterranean cistern with steps into it, living quarters and a narrow postern gate between two towers. In fact, these seven horseshoe towers (straight sides with round fronts) are a remarkable achievement.

Nothing is known of Snake castle’s history. Although not documented as such, it was probably a royal castle at the time of the Crusades. The similarity of its architecture to neighboring Sis and Tumlu Castles leads one to venture that it was built by Leo II as well. Its demise is equally mysterious. There is no evidence of its having been besieged. Castle mentality was a strange thing…often a seemingly impregnable fortress would capitulate early in a siege anticipating a lesser fate than that which might befall them if they held out.

This is Shane and some her friends saying “Hi” to America from Turkey

She also sent me some pictures of sheep grazing to use in my sermons and for my website…….I wonder why she she sent this one…….>>

WELCOME Aniston D. Neiman!

Aniston was born at Arnold Palmer Hospital here in Orlando, Florida at 12:20 AM, Saturday, 18 Feb 2006, weighing in at 7 lbs 1 oz.

This is my best friend (and my pseudo grandkids):

Jillian (the proud, and tired, mother)
Joey (the proud father)
Airen (the proud big sister)
and Autumn (the proud little sister)

What an awesome family!

NOTE: Please visit  Laleo Cafe where I will be posting from now on all my “spiritual” ramblings