Jan and I were given an opportunity to visit Grand Cayman Island this past week. It's just south of Cuba and west of Jamaica. The island covers about 75 square miles. We stayed in a two bedroom apartment with another couple.
On the day we arrived we were given a rental car to drive. The steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car and you drive on the wrong side of the road. Parking lots and roundabouts are the hardest things to remember to do backwards. While taking pictures the first day I accidentally dropped my phone in the ocean. Oops. A local fellow helped me find it. It's been misbehaving since.
We spent most afternoons on the beach. There were dozens of different places to try all kinds of food. I read 5 books. We met lots of new friends. About a half a dozen of us were early birds and had coffee together every morning. My phone didn't work and never rang once.
Last Sunday nine of us decided we were going to experience a local church service. Most times there is a reward for taking a risk and this was no exception. The congregation had to postpone a scheduled baptism in the ocean due to windy conditions.
As we were leaving the service I noticed a three foot long lizard sunning himself above the church door.
Some years ago Hurricane Ivan turned loose dozens of chickens. Today the towns are full of free range roosters, hens, and chicks.
Jan loves plants and is good at growing and taking care of them so we went to see this 65 acre Botanical garden at the far end of the island planted in honor of the Queen of England. She enjoyed all the different varieties of trees, plants, and flowers however she was not impressed with the multiple snakes that came out to check on visitors.
Guess who we ran into? I swore he was our outgoing president. There was little we agreed on, even in Cayman. Jan was more outspoken than I was and we finally agreed to disagree with him. For those of you who have been to our shop office, don't worry, I don't think this picture is going up anytime soon. Well, maybe it would be fun for conversation sake.
Whoops. Wrong turn. We found a community called Hell with a post office and everything. The community has a black iron shore jagged beach. I would not want to live there.
Jan has always loved gardening so we went to the Farmers market at Camana Bay. This gentleman is a local farmer and has 16 acres which is large for a small island. He grows just about everything including coconuts. His hired help are folks from the Philippines.
Yep. If there is a fabric store we will find it. Jan brought home some colorful material.
These are the couples we went with. They are all either farmers or farm related. We didn't know any of them the first day and were friends with most of them by our last day.
Between my parents, siblings, spouse, kids, and grandkids, there are over 40 birthdays to remember and I could use some improvement on remembering. Mark and Stacy's Allison had her 5th birthday on the 5th.
Wow. What a surprise. While we were gone Becky, Brian, and his parents installed the stained glass window we had ordered. Brian's parents, Lauren and Barb from Maurice, Iowa are stained glass window artist.
The kids are enjoying racing on the pond ice again. Their motorcycle tire lugs have hundreds of screws in them for traction on the ice.
A little over 6 years ago Brent and Judy were married at our cabin. Yesterday they were back for a baby shower for Josh and Carrie who are expecting. Last summer we asked you to pray for Judy's son, Justin and Denise, from Kansas City. Justin has been fighting cancer. Well it was awesome and an answer to prayer to see Justin (in the white coat) doing well.
About twice a year I collect all the leftover jackets and sweatshirts left in the office. I wash them, fold them, and then lay them out for the girls to claim when they come.
While all the places we go and all the faces we meet we are leaving a lifetime of footprints. Our directions not only affect this life but also the next. Be intentional and ask God for directions. I'd like to close with last week Sunday's special music at the local Cayman church service. "Face to face I shall behold Him. Far beyond the starry sky. Face to face in all His glory. I shall see Him by and by.
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