AWOL

Yes..

This week we were...

ABSENT WITH OFFICIAL LEAVE!

At the MTC we were told that Grandchildren are our...

1st

responsibility.

That is what we did this week

Although...

Elder Campbell was seen on many occasions....

Visiting with 'strangers'

passing out...

Pass Along Cards...

AND

Offering copies of...

The Book of Mormon

Another Testament of Christ

He just went about being with the family...

Yet always remembering that he is still a missionary.

What a wonderful example for our family!

We could have tried to plan  the perfect week...

BUT

We were not in charge.

It is beautiful to see how our lives...

are orchestrated...

by a much...

Higher Being...

Our Loving Heavenly Father...

Monday...

SEA WORLD...

 A wonderful magical world of water and all things that live there in...

Dani Dylan Ross Olivia Sydney and Jordan

(The patch on Ross's head is covering an owie that came from hitting his head on a curb in the  temple parking lot the day before)

The real reason grandparents are invited to theme parks.

End of the day and he was tired...

I think a little of the shock from his bump and the time change etc. etc etc.

Tuesday  

was a drizzly kind of day. 

We headed out to Deseret Ranch but decided to get lunch at Fire House Subs...

Then see the Atlantic Ocean before the farm...

which was a treat.

Stan asked for these pictures to be taken...

He doesn't ask for much so yah...

While keeping dry...

Ben and Elder Campbell had a captive audience in this biker...

Missionary opportunities are everywhere...

A Bevard county beach...

Paradise Beach...

It was a rough beach with a quick drop off.

The wind was blowing and the waves high...

But that didn't stop the kids.

This little guy was spotted...

Larry was the only one brave enough to chase him down...

With the help of grass as a 'tool' and his sleeve over his hand he captured him...

Becky got a video of me holding him...

I did it like we used to do it with the smaller crabs when we went to Whidbey Island

where there was a family cabin we would stay at in the summer.

BUT...

He was bigger and longer pinchers...

Ow...Ow...Ow...

is all I could say till it was pinching my cuticle instead of the nail and finger.

Then I flipped him off...
(Becky has a video of it)
 

The kids wanted to take him home...

We encouraged them to leave him in the grass where his family was.

Melissa found what she thought might be a rock...

On closer examination we found it was a cocoa nut. 

Cocoa Nut?

 Yep...

Good Ol' Larry once again had to see what was inside the water logged cocoa nut!

 It wasn't easy...

It took several tries...

of smashing from great heights...

to make a crack big enough to get the nut out of the hairy outer shell.

 

When he finally got it open and the nut out...

Then he had to crack the nut....

YUCK...

What a terrible rotten smell...

Obviously it had been in the water a very long time.

A grand Juniper salute and we were off to the Deseret Ranch...

We didn't have reservations...

But this sweet sister took us on a tour in their little tour bus...

It was fascinating to hear the history and see some of the fun things you don't see when you just drive through the farm.

We even had an exciting moment when the van we were riding in was locked with the keys on the inside.

That is a story for another day...

Maybe Dylan will tell the family at another time...

It caused us a good laugh in the end.

The vacation Home we were renting had a swimming pool...

The kids were always excited to get 'home' from where ever we were to swim...

They got up in the morning and swam as well.

That was the biggest attraction for them I am sure...

Wednesday we went back to the beach prepared to swim.

We found a beautiful little park with a nice beach.

It was over cast but warm...

The waves were high and fun...

The highlight of my whole week was helping Ross conquer the waves...

The fact that the waves came at him and were roaring was a very scary thing...

First we got our feet wet...

Then the waves got our legs...

then they got our waist...

Finally they got up to his neck and got his face a little bit wet!

By the time we left he was yelling...

'amma om on and un'

(Grandma come on and run)

Then he would pull my hand and run out into the waves...

What a treat to see him enjoy the ocean! 

From there we went to the Wild Florida Air boat attraction

Dani Olivia Sydney and Ross and Jordan

This is Daniel Munns our tour guide and owner.

He and his brothers (Members of the church)

Operate a very successful personable business...

Becky's family came with us here last February...

There was grass and picnic tables clear out to the water...

This time because of the Tropical storm the week before...

The lake water level was up to the large platform porch that is off the main building...

Front row: Olivia Sydney Grandpa and Dylan

Middle Row: Dani Ross Grandma and Jordan

Back row: Ben Melissa Becky and Larry

Daniel Munns our tour guide...

We didn't see many alligators because of the high waters...

Windy afternoon...

And overcast...

BUT

They got to hold an alligator...

Thursday...

My favorite park 

Epcot...

(picture taken at sunset through the trees...Wish I had Tawny's camera at times like this)

First thing we found...
Daisy Duck....

...and Stitch

Dylan Dani Ross Olivia Daisy Sydney and Jordan...

The test track is always a thrill...

Afterwards there are beautiful cars you can get in and feel how nice...

Ross just opened the car door and got in...

Grandpa always seemed to have a girl on each arm...

 Friday...

Magic Kingdom...

The kids with Walt Disney and Micky...

Of course we have to have a picture with the castle...

Dylan Jordan Sydney Dani Olivia and Ross

At the Haunted house was a tome stone...

Ben's guns...

One of my favorite things at Magic Kingdom is the stage play in front of the castle...

Where Dreams come true.....

Jordan took me on a drive at Fast Track...

He is a good driver...

Saturday...

Larry Becky and kids left early in the morning for their flight...

Ben and Melissa's family had several hours to wait for their flight...

So Gatorland here we come...

Feeding the Tortoises. 

Our kids didn't do this but it was fascinating....

They stood right up to grab the food.

Gatorland has a new everglade boardwalk...

It was educational...

Dylan Dani and Ross Melissa and Olivia Ben

There was so much to see but not enough time...
Shucks...
All to soon...
They too had to leave...


Then it was back to the trenches...
It is amazing how the Lord took us back so quickly...
To what we are all about here in Florida...
We miss our children...
BUT
That void is filled with what we need to do...
And that is the Lords work....

We are all in motion.

Always.

Those who are not climbing toward something..

are descending toward nothing.

( from the book Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans)