Tropical Storm Fay

Rain, Rain, go Away!
Wind Gusts up to 50 mph
We'll have some clean up to do

Fay just will not go away! Today the storm is moving about 6mph, so it looks like she will not leave until tomorrow. We have lost power a couple of times but not for too long each time, maybe an hour or two. Kids are getting a little bit of cabin fever, but we're doing okay. City of Jax just telling everyone to stay put, stay inside, so that is what we are doing.

This is our last week before we start to homeschool. I am making final preparations. I have been working on the "classroom". Sydney helped me paint, and Dan helped hang things and Ash and Zach helped clean and clear.

Our Summer Vacation...

My new niece Natalie Grace- she is a little peanut.
Syd swimming in the lake at Papa and Grandma's Michigan house
Cousin Grace with Syd at the 4th of July parade in Ohio
Zachary snapping the ball in the boy vs. girls backyard game w/ all the cousins.
Zach on the boat in Michigan
Ashley and cousin Michaela at the parade
Ashley and Dan caught the biggest fish at the lake
The kids with best buds Jyoti and Sully in Charlotte
Dan and Kel at the lake

Girl team huddle

Well we have been home from our two and half week vacation now for about a month and I think we are still trying to get it together. It felt like we were gone for a month! As always though it was such a good time. We got to meet baby Natalie for the first time and is she a cutie. My brother and his wife Erin became proud parents on Mother's Day. Natalie in this pic is two months old (believe it or not). She is a tiny peanut but so good. She was definitely growing- She began to look so big to me by the time we left Ohio.

We wasted no time hanging out with family from the moment we pulled in on July 3rd. We had family pull in from Chicago and Nashville too, so right away our family gatherings were gathered. We went to the 4th of July parade- which is the same parade I use to watch as a kid- that is the really the only reason we still go... the parade is not all that exciting. the kids get tons of candy- I think even more than at Halloween. Our family alone I think had like 40 people there. So we made it fun. There was the first annual backyard football game- boy vs. girls- and technically it wasn't boy vs. girls the whole time. Ashley ended up being traded to the boys and I think they really knocked the girls socks off. Zachary was named MVP- he has learned a thing or two from our friend Mr. Joe. It was so fun to watch all of them- Syd was the pro when it came to what play to run- she loved to huddle. The kids swam a lot- so much that there skin had some kind of crazy reaction that stayed with us for the rest of our journey. Syd really had it the worst- poor thing- it was not fun. But they think it was worth it! We roasted marsh mellows, fired up sparklers, ate at all our favorite places and even tried some new ones, visited with old friends, and loved driving around on our old stomping ground. After Ohio we headed up to Sandusky (for the second time for Dan and I- we were able to meet our friends from Jax- the Zelenkas- at Cedar Point Amusement park for a day- we rode 13 roller coasters and Rebekah and I rode some crazy swinging thing that was probably the craziest ride I have ever rode) So we went up to Lake Erie to spend a couple nights on the boat with Dan's dad and step mom, it was cut short due to weather so we headed for Michigan. We were there for the week. We got to spend some time with friends there as well. Spent most of our time in the lake they live on and got to relax. Then from Michigan we stopped in Charlotte North Carolina to help break up our drive and to see our friends the O'Neils. It is always great to spend time with them- the kids have a blast- as if a day hasn't gone by. They really have a special friendship.

Since we have been home we have been busy. Dan is back to work, I have been able to paint, the kids have started soccer, we pretty much go to the YMCA every day, and we are getting ready for Homeschooling! Oh----it will be an interesting year! School has just started and it is funny for us not to be going back. Looking forward to getting into a routine again, but it will be our routine!

Also Syd just got her tonsils and adenoids taken out. She is recovering really well! She was a trooper. They were impressed with how mature she was about it all. She was a little nervous and scared but she handled herself great. We are really proud of her. we hope that this will make a huge difference in how she sleeps and in turn how that will affect everything else.

Summer is here!

Everyone is griping about an update so here it is!

We have had lots going on- that is my excuse for the lack of a blog update :) Anyway-
School is finished! The kids are done, have been out since mid May. A lot of things have come to a close, I am finished with teaching Bible study at our church and I will not be returning next year, also my Creative Memories business is done. After eight years as a consultant it was time to move on. Dan and I each year really try to re-evaluate the things we are doing, why we do them and ask if they are still a priority. We are beginning a new journey into homeschooling next fall and feel that God wants us to simplify! I am looking forward to the school year and so are the kids. I went to a big convention down in Orlando to look at curriculum and listen to speakers. It was great. I went with a good friend and some others that I will be joining in with next year for support. It was a great time to learn some things, see what I am really getting into and hang with the ladies I will be around for the most part. Then the week I came back form that I was on my way to the beach! It was a wonderful way for me to end one chapter and kick off the beginning of a new one. This was the 2nd annual trip to Stuart Florida. It is something that began as a conversation around the kitchen table and has come alive now for the second year. We decided the first year that we would do this trip no matter where life takes us and two of the five ladies within the past year have moved from Jacksonville. So they traveled from New York and Tampa. It was great time of fellowship, reunion, and time with God.
So what was everyone else in my family doing all this time- having fun without me! Dan was a busy man, but they all loved every minute of it. I came home to a clean house, and flowers planted on my porch- what a homecoming!
We have celebrated some birthdays- Sydney turned 7 and Zachary turned 5! No more babies in this house. We had fun painting pottery with Syd and Zach had a blast with buddies in our back yard palying with water guns and all kinds of stuff. Dan celebrates a birthday this month and then we have a break until Ashley's in September. Ashley did decide to get her ears pierced. We told her when she was eight she could. She was not ready on her birthday but had the opportunity in May, so she went for it! So today actually she can change her earings for the first time. She wants to get american flag earrings for the 4th... that is a big deal for her.
We will be heading to Ohio for the 4th! The kids are about to burst. We didn't get to go last summer, so we are way over due for the trip. We always have fun being in our home town with family, friends, and old hangouts.
Well I think that about does it for now, I will be sure to get plenty of pics of us at the beach this summer- we are so blessed to have a beach!

the starting line

Jackson de Ville
the finish line inside Jags stadium
Kel and Lauren headed toward the Finish!!!!

The Big Race!

Well we did! 13 weeks of training put to good use. What an accomplishment- I never in a million years thought I'd ever run 9.3 miles in my life!!! It was very intimidating going into it all the way up til race day. The most we had run was 7 miles- so I was a bit nervous. I went in with the attitude that "it's just another LONG run day". I was in a bit of a panic right before the race because I got separated from my running partners- boy, did I pray that God would help me find them and He did! The race began at 8:30. We got downtown around an hour before. There were so many people- people everywhere, like 15,000-no lie! It really was the coolest thing I have ever done, not because I ran the whole thing- that is cool, but just to be involved in something so big. The community really comes together. Runners, walkers, neighbors. There were people lining the streets the entire time. There were local bands every mile or so, there were people who had water, smoothies, Gatorade, strawberries- you name it they had it, there was even a house that made homemade waffles- A Waffle Station. I didn't have one but wanted one when we were done. Little kids stood in their yards and you could high five them as you passed- it was so cool- did I tell you how cool it was yet?? It was a great way to see the beautiful city of Jacksonville.
The hardest part of the race are the two bridges we had to cross. The first one not so bad- that was at the beginning, the second, that is a different story. They call it the "Green Monster". It is at the point of the race when you have about a mile and a half left and the bridge itself is about a mile long---at a 6% grade!!!!! See what I am saying, well to top that the weather man predicted 20 to 50 miles per hour wind gusts- I would say they were more like 60+. It was crazy!!! I thought I was going to blow right off. I kept kicking my right ankle with my left foot in my stride. You couldn't run straight if you tried. I am pretty sure that the snot that was in my nose was leaving it horizontally. I kid not. I had to hold my hat and my number- that was a difficult thing to do as I ran- but was it worth it??? Yes it was. Am I going to do it again next year? You bet!

Life in the Abel house after the race changed quite a bit. Dan had to have surgery the Wednesday after the race. He was suffering from a double hernia. It is believed that it was caused by the surgery had done in July. I am proud to say that things went really well- the patient is fine. He actually is doing much better than the last surgery. He is on his way to a speedy recovery. Please Pray that Dan's incision heals quickly and there won't be any complications with it. God has truly answered our prayers through this all. Friends have been great help with the kids and with food- really with anything that I or Dan have needed. Thank you so much! The kids have been great. My mom and niece just arrived today to hangout, help, and celebrate Easter with us. The girls are on spring break so- the timing of everything has been wonderful. I also got to quit my job, so I can be more available for the Fam. It has been so nice. I was able to spend time with Dan when he was in the hospital, and be involved in some school activities. Again God has been blessing us.


We just finished another round of Upward. Ashley played Basketball for the first time and impressed us with her moves. Sydney made the perfect cheerleader! It is so fun watching them try new things and of course see them succeed. Upward is a great thing!

I wish everyone a wonderful Easter! Miss and love all those who we can't be with.

Philippians 3:10

"that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, "