Yesterday (Dec 7th), Grace competed in a Lincoln-Douglas debate practice tournament. Lincoln Douglas is a one on one debate and the students are debating values. This year's resolution is "The restriction of civil rights for the sake of national security is justified." Each debater is to prepare to argue both an affirmative and negative case.
It was a family affair:
Grace did great for her first time debating
Katie video taped a number of rounds
Michael was a timer
I was a judge
Dan was sleeping after working 3 nights (7pm-7am) in a row.

Grace is a member of the southwest FL "Fusion" Speech and Debate Club and has been welcomed in by the wonderful group of young people.
One of the benefits of participating in speech and debate is to become a more effective communicator. In 2 Timothy chapter 2 it states, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." What a wonderful training ground for our children.
Of course, I am now completing this post 2 weeks after the fact but it is an important post. I will keep you posted about other tournaments and happenings within this group. CM

Floridian Christmas and random thoughts
This is our second Floridian Christmas without my sister-in-law, Kelly. For a number of years we had talked about going to Florida for Christmas. Well, Kel if you are reading I am 2 up on you now and I miss you. We have had a wonderful week of getting together with friends and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It has been a great week. Our little Christmas at home happened a little earlier than we expected as Dan managed to get out of work at 4 instead of 730pm today. All of us were very grateful.
Random
"Pounding" My friend Chelo was given her daughter-in-law a "pounding" for her new home. I said, "A POUNDING?! Are you going to beat her up? I am confused. Chelo laughed so hard. A pounding is when you usually give a new bride a lb. of this and a lb. of that.....flour, sugar, butter, bananas, oranges, carrots, potatoes, etc.

There was something else but it has randomly left my memory bank. Good night one and all. May peace, joy and love fill your hearts.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." St. Augustine
Grace found this quote through my favorite puzzle in the Boston Herald. (Cryptoquote: letters which represent other letters and you have to figure it out.) My Mum sent Grace all the Heralds from the Yankees/RedSox ACLS series and the World series. This week is RedSox week in Ft. Myers. Dan and Grace did go down to City of Palms Park but did not have 3 or 4 hours to kill that day to wait in line for tickets or a picture with the World Champion Trophy.
Please don't take this quote the wrong way. We are fairly new pilgrims and we were settlers for many years. Now as we journey on we are in a way dependent upon the settlers of whatever community we find ourselves. In Virginia, The Coons, the Merkles, and Ms. Emily Smith; in Tilghman Md. The Cummings, in Florida, The Dalis', McGuires, Wheatherheads, Southwicks have blessed us and met our needs as travelers.
Our journey from Virginia was uneventful and for that we are grateful. To all the settlers who welcome us pilgrims we can not thank you enough for your gracious hospitality and friendship.