He thought he could walk on water

For some reason I am having difficulty getting any photos to download this evening so I will try it again at the end of this. If it doesn't work, we'll try again tomorrow. Maybe it is like us, it needs a day off!

We took the day and got away as we had planned. The only thing we hadn't planned on was the much cooler weather (by about 20 degrees) and clouds but we had a great day anyway. We left this morning, with Scott and both of our dogs, and drove over to Dauphin Island off the coast of Alabama. It's only about 45 minutes from here and well worth the drive. I would like to see a photo of what it used to look like before the storm as it appears that about half of the houses are gone, completely wiped off the island. The sands and beaches have been shifted and some of the roads blown out. All along the beach areas the homes are built on high beams, hopefully to keep them safe from flood waters. Those beams didn't work so well with the hurricane winds. It appears that most of the homes are time shares where people do not live in them full time. We only saw a couple of FEMA trailers and they were inland.

We did enjoy getting out and walking on the beach. The sand is so fine and white and they say on clear days the water is a pretty aquamarine color. With the clouds it was hard to see today. There is also a sandbar that is now up against the large fishing pier. It didn't used to be next to it, it was out in the water quite a ways. The storm moved the entire thing inland that much. We couldn't go out to the end of the pier as you had to pay and could not take dogs.

The dogs loved the beach. Bitty is the type who could care less about birds and Samson can see one from a mile away. He flipped at the site of all the seagulls. Shortly after we got there we let them loose from their leash and let them run free. Samson immediately saw a seagull that he was determined to catch! He fixed his eyes on that bird and took off with no stopping. The gull took flight over the water and Samson had no clue it was water ahead of him. He ran full force right into the water and was quite a ways out - swimming - before he realized that something had happened! We were able to stop laughing long enough to call and coax him back to shore! Oh, if we would have only had a video camera! He didn't mind being wet and the two of them ran and ran and ran until they were covered with sand! They only thing they couldn't figure out was why the water tasted so bad and didn't quench their thirst!

After hanging out on the beach for awhile and taking a long drive throughout the island we decided to eat a late lunch. There are only 2 restaurants on the island. Well, actually there are 3 more but they are part of gas stations! We chose one of the real ones and had a really great meal! It was then time to head back. It really felt good to get away and relax and have some fun for a change. We look forward to going back when the sun is out and it gets good and hot and humid!

This evening we went back to the church down the street who has Saturday night services. It was awesome! They had a special celebration service where probably 20 plus people were baptized! What a testimony and what a celebration! God is working in so many ways and with most of these being young people it really touched out hearts! It's nice to have a service on Saturday night to go to.

For those of you who know us, and my parents----please wish my mother a Happy Birthday tomorrow!!!! I'm sad we can't be there to share it with her and maybe take her out for dinner so she doesn't have to cook, for a change! Mom, I love you and hope you have a great birthday! I thank God you are my mother!

For those of you who would like to support us in our work you can send your tax deductible gifts to: Vineyard Community Church PO Box 3277 Bloomington, IN 47402 and please note on the check "Katrina fund" as 100% of your gift comes to us. We thank God for your help and support. Without you we would not be able to do God's work!

Until tomorrow.....God Bless! Susan and Monty