PAPA & GRANDMA ARE HERE

I love this shot above. I took it earlier today over on the docks by the marina. My Dad and Cathy arrived yesterday and had promised Brennen that they'd take him fishing while here. Dad and Cath have some friends that have a place here (Hi Rhonda and Ronnie). Therefore, we went over today and raided their place for the fishing poles and such. Ronnie keeps his boat at this marina when he is back home in Indy so the marina staff were nice enough to let us fish off the wall because of our "Homer" connections. (a.k.a. - Ronnie) We also call him Captain Ron too. Hee hee! Anyhow, Papa and Grandma taught Brennen the ins and outs of fishing before a storm rolled into Ft. Myers Beach. I was able to capture some pretty good shots due to the overcast today. To say it was gorgeous over the marina with the boats and the clouds rolling in before the storm would be a true understatement. The ocean takes on a whole new look and a totally different feel before a storm. I love it!
ABOVE: Papa hanging on tight to Kenidi around the dock area today.
ABOVE: The kids with Grandma Cathy in the pool yesterday.
ABOVE: I took this first photo when I noticed the name on the back of the boat. "GRACE!" It is Kenidi's middle name and the one word that reminds me of Jesus Christ the most. This particular shot reminds me of a postcard. It couldn't be any more perfect. Now take a look at the photo below....
ABOVE: After realizing the one boat said "GRACE" across the back, I then realized the neighboring boat had the name "LIVE FREE" across the back of it. At that moment, cold chills came over me. What a picture. All I could think was "GRACE-LIVING FREE!" We are "living for free" on this earth because of God's "Grace" each and every day. Those two boats - parked side by side - were such a word picture to me. The photo itself turned out just gorgeous...one that I'd blow up to poster size and put in my home even.
ABOVE: "My" Daddy fishing...
I'm so blessed to have had moments like these shared with my parents over the past month while down here.
ABOVE & BELOW: Brennen fishing
BELOW: These next few pictures really intrigued me. I told my Dad that I didn't know why it intrigued me to watch this process but it did. Maybe it is because I failed the parallel parking test when I went for my drivers license at 16 and still cannot parallel park to this day. However, the staff at Moss Marina can use a fork lift to pull a huge boat in from out of the water and then strategically place it back in the dry dock inside the warehouse where it is then stored until its owner returns.
ABOVE: Lifting the boat up and out of the water from the dock....
ABOVE: Backing it up on the fork lift. I wonder if they've ever dropped one??? Notice the little car underneath it? S-C-A-R-Y! ABOVE: This fork lift driver has got skillzzzzzzzzz.
ABOVE: Lastly, he lowers it in and fits it in the dry dock slip like a hand in a glove. Amazing!
ABOVE: Brennen holding a baby shrimp-his live bait.
ABOVE: Grandma Cathy teaching Brennen how to cast out....
ABOVE: Brennen looking so very big here...
ABOVE: Brennen feeling the tug...it's the big one...
ABOVE: Papa helping with the fight to reel him in...
ABOVE & BELOW: And he's in - an estimated 2-3 lb. catfish. YAY! Go Brennen!

ABOVE: Papa removing the hook so we could release him back in the water. ABOVE & BELOW: A sweet baby bird and a pelican I spotted while near the docks. Love them Florida birds!

So...as you can see...we are having a "FAB" time. I had vivid and fond memories today of fishing with my Grandpa (my Mom's Dad) down on the White River when I was a young girl. For all of you Indiana Hoosiers, you'll know what the White River is. My Grandfather was big into fishing and even made me my own fishing pole when I was a youngin'. My Dad has that fishing pole to this day is his garage. Memories. I wish there could have been more. Unfortunately, my Grandfather passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack two months before Brent and I's wedding day back in 1994. After watching Brennen fish with my Dad and Cathy this afternoon, I know without a shadow of a doubt that he and his Great Grandpa would have shared many memories on the banks of many rivers had Grandpa still been here. I am thankful I have my Dad here to share those memories with Brennen and to teach him the things that my Grandpa once tried teaching me. I remember my Grandpa Ernie always carrying around hundreds and hundreds of Polaroids that he would pull out of his pocket that were of the catfish he'd caught. Today Brennen has his 1st photo to start his collection now. His great grandpa would be so proud! ;) Hugs, Angie

PS...Lou...(LouAnne), Brennen says beat that! This one was for you! HA HA!