One By Land, Two by Sea

This week is a mixture of land and ocean. Or another way of saying it would be Caribbean and United States. (last time for this year for both areas)

We’ve had some amazing dives on the island and have met some wonderful people over the years in Grand Cayman. Gareth, or Captain Gareth has been a part of our diving expeditions for almost four years. Giving him a good motherly hug each time we come is always necessary. I feel like he could be one of our kids. He is the guy that gave Jay his divemaster certification a few years ago. So Jay does not get away with forgetting stuff when the captain is on board.

Another captain-of-his-ship we look forward to visiting on the island is Rommel. Rommel is the guard on duty at the Villas of the Galleon on Seven Mile Beach. Even though we are not staying there, we like to make time to say hi. I can’t remember how long we’ve known Rommel. Time just goes by when you are having fun, right? Great place to stay and this is the guy who will be watching over your place.

It was shark week on TV this week and also underwater as well. We swam with this guy, a caribbean reef shark, and his little friend as well as a few others just like him. There were nurse sharks and a couple hammerhead swimming in the same waters this week.

There were some other fun and interesting creatures to observe such as lobsters, rays, and turtles.

And one of my top favorites, the juvenile spotted drum. Why are they called spotted when they have stripes? As they get older they can develop spots with their stripes. These tiny creatures just swim in circles most of their little lives. I think I could elaborate on that subject for this week’s discussion, however I think I will just let you enjoy the pictures for now. By the way, they swim in circles or figure eights to attrack the bigger fish. They are cleaner fish, is what I’ve read, so they like for the bigger fish to come so they can clean them. (No wonder I like them so much! My OCD is showing again)

A couple interesting creatures I’ve heard of, but never seen until now. One is the slipper lobster. No, it’s not an African tribal mask sitting at the bottom of the ocean, it’s really a lobster.

The other is a blue spine starfish. He is tucked up and hanging on in a crevass of this beautiful sponge.

This ends our quick fix, I mean quick trip back to the sea. So, what is the land piece to this week, Atlanta,Georgia. (Get it – Land and Sea) Or some call it Hotlanta, because, yes, it’s hot! However, our sweet family who has graciously put us up for the week has completed their pool and was ready for us to jump in. Thank you!

Unplugging with the Miller’s is just what we did. Jay called the box, “cellphone jail”. There were so many things to do while we were there, who needs a phone except for pictures.

The Atlanta United Soccer team played the New York Team. Great seats and a gorgeous new stadium. Deb’s favorite guy, Josef Martinez, scooooored the goooooooals and they won.

Before we leave USA again, there’s not a better way to be sent off than with an all-American Baseball game. Braves -v- Mets. A gorgeous night under the lights and a full-moon. Final score – Braves 5, Mets 3.

Flat Mark and Flat Vicki joined us for the game as well.

We attended Passion City Church while in Atlanta. I have enjoyed Louie Giglio’s teachings for so long. So I was very excited to hear him in person. His teaching did not disappoint. I really do think the Lord was speaking through Louie to Jay and me personally. The analogy he used to describe how we are already seated in the heavenly realm next to God and how we are living today on earth was the difference between seats 3C and 42J on an international flight. Our seat in heaven is like those first class 3C seats that are amazing with the ramekins of hot nuts being served. However, we might be living as though we are seated in the back of the plane, those cramped up 42J seats. God wants us living knowing, when we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, who did all the work on the cross for us, we are sitting with Him in 3C seats.

How are you living, 3C or 42J? Something I’ll be thinking about as we hop around from one country to another on the airplanes.

Miller’s, thank you for this week and all you did to help us prepare for our journey. Before we end, we can’t forget Molly.

Blessings, until next time from another country.