back to the relatives

i drove across florida once again back to merritt island.   it was more time with my relatives!  uncle jerry, aunt debbie, cousin jaime, chris, trinity, tanner, topher...  but this time it was without my sisters.  : (

i stayed for almost a week and really enjoyed it!  for the most part, i just hung around the house with whomever was home throughout the day.   my energy was still low from the two weeks in tampa.  i felt like i was coming out of hibernation...

there was plenty of time to play with trinity, my 9-year old first cousin once removed.  one day we were playing tag in the back yard and by the end of it i had a splinter in each hand and she had a splinter in her thumb from the trees we used as base.   we think we got them out... mostly.  while we played, trinity pointed out a manatee in the water.

on another day my cousin elijah and his son carson pulled up in the back with his boat.

trinity and i hopped in and we went for a gentle ride up sikes creek and full speed cruise down banana river.   carson and trinity enjoyed riding the front,

i was in center, and eli was getting pretty wet at the motor.

we were cutting it close on time as the sun was setting,

but we made it back before dark.

on another day i visited my uncles nursery!

we did a little work with joe while at the nursery.  i used a forklift for the first time to move some trees around.  thanks to trinity for taking the photos. : )

on sunday at church we watched a really well done 'play' with a live choir and orchestra depicting the last supper, garden of gethsemane, and the crucifixion.  the second half of the presentation where jesus rises from the dead was to be the next sunday - easter sunday!  so, it's too bad i left the state before easter : (

my relatives always make really good food, so i ate well while i was with them.  debbie introduced me to a quick snack/lunch made from mashed avocado, sauerkraut, and paprika on toasted whole grain bread!  you should really try it!   jerry made several meals that were always delicious.  jaime made lasagna which is a long standing favorite of mine.  mmm, so good.

jaime and chris were about to move to new orleans.  on my last day with them, chris and i moved the heavy furniture into their moving truck.  it was a good workout.

jerry chris jamie and i had properly prepared ourselves for the hard working day by playing beer pong the night before.  haha, yeah right.  jerry had never played before, but got the hang of it pretty quickly.  : )

so, yeah, it was good times and i felt loved.   i felt like..  family!  : )