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On January 2, 1982, Kenneth Lee Campbell and Pamela Suzanne Campbell became the proud parents of a little baby girl. Sadly, Jennifer Joy Campbell was born lifeless. Nevertheless, Kenneth and Pamela did not lose hope. They simply prayed, “Jesus help.” After the doctors had given up all hope for her survival, baby Jennifer began to cough like a little kitten. Though there were many difficult times in the weeks that followed, God performed a miracle and Jennifer survived.
I am Jennifer Joy Campbell. And this is my story. I look at life this way. If I can overcome death through the grace of God, nothing can stand in my way! I celebrated my twenty-eighth birthday on January 2, 2010. Over the past twenty-eight years, God has given me the knowledge and ability to accomplish many things at my young age. In spite of these accomplishments, the most important aspects of my life would be God first and my family second. God blessed me with two of the greatest parents that anyone could ever ask for. They are the rock that my foundation is built upon and they have instilled in me the desire to be successful in everything I do. More importantly, they have encouraged me to be my best, not the best. Their love, support, and the special relationship that we have as a family is truly priceless.
Speaking of family, I would
like to tell you more about my parents as well as my grandparents. My
My dad and I have always been real close as well. Many children are considered to be either a Daddy’s Girl/Boy or a Mommy’s Girl/Boy, but I have always been a little of both. Anyway, we enjoy everything from Alaskan adventures and red-eye flights across country, to playing Foosball and riding his Harley Davidson. I am his “assistant” when it comes time to vaccinate our livestock or take care of other farm responsibilities. I will never forget when my dad tried to keep a bright red go-cart a secret, but I ended up “test-driving” it prior to Christmas Eve. It is an incredible feeling for a child to ride a shiny new go-cart that is technically still “under wraps.” My mom and dad will always be my best friends.
Now that I have told you about my parents, I believe that it would be fitting to tell you about my grandparents as well. On my dad’s side, my Grandparents were Joseph Taylor and Ethel Mae Campbell. Although they have passed away, I have many wonderful memories of them. You see, they lived across the field from my house, so I had the opportunity to see them most every day. Many times I would be over there visiting and they would ask me to stay for supper. Well, what granddaughter would refuse a delicious home cooked meal prepared by her loving Grandma? Especially when the meal included Grandma Ethel’s scrumptious Chocolate Pound Cake or Papa Joe’s Homemade Ice Cream for dessert. As a matter of fact, I have carried on the tradition of Grandma’s Chocolate Pound Cake, much to the delight of my family and friends who had once sunk their teeth into this soft, moist, chocolate lover‘s dream. Now then, once I had eaten at Grandma and Papa’s house, I usually went home. But, the interesting part is that they usually ate a little earlier than we did. So, I often went home and ate a second meal that had been prepared by my mom or dad. Now before you jump to conclusions, let me simply state that I did eat smaller portions than I would normally eat if eating a single meal. When I was five years old, I piled on an enormous amount of dress-up clothes and applied my own make-up and ran all the way to Grandma and Papa’s house. Needless to say, I was extremely hot when I got there so I began shedding each layer right on their front porch until I was down to a t-shirt and shorts. I also used to take some of my pets next door to visit in my little red wagon or in the basket of Grandma’s three-wheel tricycle.
Papa Joe, as I affectionately called him, was a wonderful Grandpa. One of the fondest memories I have of him was when we would go to town in his blue and white pick-up truck with the windows rolled down singing “In The Good ‘Ole Summertime.” Grandma Ethel and I went to town quite frequent in her small blue car. On one particular occasion, we went to the grocery store with a next-door neighbor. Obviously, I didn’t need to buy groceries, but I rarely missed an opportunity to go to town with Grandma or Papa. Anyway, I had a large collection of “cow” collectibles at home and she saw this stuffed cow complete with overalls, a flowered shirt, and a straw hat adorned with a sunflower. It was a sight! Though I had hardly even noticed it, she picked it up and asked me if I liked it. Well, that question had a definite answer, but I was not one to beg for things or whine if I didn’t get what I wanted. Now, the most unbelievable part of this was the fact that I had (and still have) an extremely large collection of stuffed animals given to me by family and friends over the years. As a matter of fact, she had previously said on other occasions that I did not need any more stuffed animals. Yet on this day, she bought me a cow. It wasn’t a holiday and there was no particular occasion approaching, but she bought it anyway. I still have that stuffed cow and I will always remember her when I see it on the shelf in my room.
Grandma Lu, Papa Sig, and I had a wonderful time together. Many times Papa Sig and I would dance around the room to the music of “It’s a Small World” as we pulled little toys behind us. My toy was a little wooden dog with wheels and his was a little turtle that bobbed up and down. I also used to go in Papa Sig’s study when no one was around and write notes to my mom, dad, Grandma, and Papa. Then, I would sneak around and place them in various areas including the bathrooms, living room, and even inside the refrigerator and freezer! Each time we visited them we would all sit down and play games together like UNO, Skip-bo, Spider, and Yahtzee. What a great time we had together!
Throughout my entire life I have continuously developed a strong appreciation for all aspects of music. I sang my first song in public at a revival service when I was two years old. Although it wasn’t the Metropolitan Opera, the song “He’s Still Working On Me” written by Joel Hemphill truly blessed that congregation of people in Atlanta, Georgia. God is still working in my life. Currently, my dad and I sing as a duet at various churches, concerts, and community events during the year. When we perform as The Campbells, we also include live music in our programs to accompany our vocals. My dad plays the keyboard while I play the drums. We have been in concert with many nationally known Gospel music artists such as, Karen Peck and New River, The Steeles, Joel and LaBreeska Hemphill, Dixie Echoes, Florida Boys, Darrell Luster, and many others.
Since I began my musical journey, I have not only developed an ear for singing, but I have also learned to play various instruments. The first instrument that I learned to play was the piano. My dad bought me a piano, I completed several beginners’ books, and then I decided it was time to advance my abilities. Since then, I have acquired the knowledge needed to learn the chord structure and musical notations involved in playing the piano. Additionally, I have learned the basics of rhythm and beat that has enabled me to become quite proficient on the drums. In addition to playing for my own enjoyment, I have played for recording sessions in our recording studio and in various churches as well. Additionally, I am gradually learning to play the violin, mandolin, bass guitar, and electric guitar. Also, my parents gave me a flute for my 23rd birthday, and I love learning to play this beautiful instrument!
One day as I was playing a song on the piano, God honored my efforts and gave me the lyrics and melody to an original song called “Keep Looking Up.” Since that day in 1997, I have composed numerous songs including the title cut of my own recording, “He Will Stand By You.” My latest songs are titled, "Follow Hope," "Homesick for Heaven," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Peace Anew," and "I Often Wonder." One song that I wrote is a song that was inspired by viewing the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana. The first verse and chorus have a strong message that portrays the scene in New Orleans:
A woman sits beside, Her loved one who is gone. A tragedy so great, How can she carry on? Somewhere across a town, A child cries out in fear. This is what I'd tell them, If they were all right here.
Have faith, God will see you through. Have faith, God still cares for you. So, remember friend, It's not the end, no matter how it seems. Have faith, God still cares for you.
Speaking of writing, I am the Feature Editor for SGN Scoops Magazine, a nationally distributed Gospel Music Magazine based in Cadet, Missouri. I have written several poems that have been published in a variety of books and the Florida English Journal. The Famous Poets Society also named me Famous Poet of the Year in 1999. During the Summer of 2003, I interned as a writer for the Lake City Reporter. I even wrote a few freelance articles for them as well. Now I freelance for the Suwannee Democrat occasionally. Writing is one of my favorite things to do and I thank God for giving me this talent.
Besides music, I have many other interests. One of the most prevalent areas of interest would have to be technology and especially web site design. As a matter of fact, I presently run Jennifer’s Website Design, a web site design business that I began in 1998. Although I initially taught myself to build web sites, I also had the opportunity to take a Basic Web Page Programming course with my mom at Lake City Community College to further my knowledge in this field. If you are interested in having your own website, please visit jennifercampbell.net/websitedesign.
Undoubtedly, the 4-H Swine Program was my overall favorite 4-H activity. I began my hog-raising journey by showing at the Suwannee Valley Youth Livestock Show and Sale that is held every year at the Suwannee County Fair. In addition, I seized the opportunity to participate in the North Florida Livestock Show and Sale held in Madison County shortly after my first experience in this event. The first year that I showed in Madison, I was completely unfamiliar with the facilities and the majority of the people. However, it wasn’t long until I became a part of the North Florida Livestock Show and Sale family. As a matter of fact, the same business bought my hog for all seven consecutive years. Since then, the family of C.F. Webb & Sons Logging has become very special to my family and I. When I sold my final 4-H Swine Project in February 2001, I won my fifth trophy for Best Senior Swine 4-H Record Book! I will treasure all of the memories that I have from those days at the Madison County Agricultural Center and the Suwannee County Fair as well.
In 2005, we celebrated my birthday once again at the "Happiest Celebration on Earth" at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom! The whole day was fascinating! Then, we also had a huge party at home with a "Christmas Movie Party" theme. We even had a commercial popcorn popper and giant movie posters! Let's face it, we are one family that likes to plan themed parties! :o)
In the fall of 1998, I experienced one of the greatest trials of my life. With my mom in the hospital, my dad and I were getting ready to go to Gainesville, Florida to visit her in the evening. As I was getting dressed, I suddenly felt this excruciating pain in my side that resembled the feeling of being stabbed. With my mom having a history of a perforated colon, my dad decided to take me as quickly as possible to the emergency room at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. This was the same hospital where my mom was already admitted for digestive tract problems. When we reached the emergency room, they conducted an assessment that showed dangerously high fever and blood pressure and an extremely fast heart rate. The situation was so serious; they called in one of the best pediatric surgeons by the name of Dr. David Kays. As they were taking me to the emergency room, I told my dad not to worry because everything would be all right. During my hospital stay, many of the nurses told my parents that I was a model patient because I never complained or prevented them from assisting my recovery. After many weeks in the hospital, I had made a miraculous recovery. One of the most memorable times related to my hospital stay was having Dr. Kays take out my stitches on Christmas Eve Day. What a wonderful Christmas gift!
On
May 29, 2005, our summer kicked off with a 7-day cruise on the
Carnival Valor out of Miami. First, we sailed to Belize City,
Belize. All I can say is, wow! We booked a shore excursion through
Carnival Cruise Lines called the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Site. This
tour took you by bus all the way through the entire country of Belize
to the Belize-Guatemala border to Xunantunich. We had the opportunity
to explore all of the Mayan ruins in Xunantunich, including El
Castillo, a 130-foot tall pyramid. Many of the ruins are still
undergoing excavation, so this was a very unique experience! In
addition, getting to the actual ruins is an
A few years later, I found
myself dressing up as a Cherokee Indian for a Historical Character
Party. Then, I began volunteering at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music
Park’s Old Tyme Farm Days. In the beginning, we started with a small
display. Over the years, that small display has become an entire Old
Tyme Village complete with people dressed in old-fashioned clothing.
Everyone acted out various tasks of the 1800’s such as, working the
farm, knitting in the living room, spinning wool and whittling on the
front porch, and working at the general store. My personal favorites
were singing and playing an instrument at the Old Tyme Church or
teaching at the one room schoolhouse. Additionally,
In June 2008, I graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a 4.0 GPA, earning a Master of Science degree in English Education. I have earned the State of Florida's Professional Teaching Certificate, the Florida Reading Endorsement, and ESOL Endorsement. Presently, I teach 7th grade Language Arts and 7th/8th grade Journalism at Suwannee Middle School in Live Oak, Florida. I also serve as acting Language Arts Department Chair, maintain the SMS website, and serve as a member of the Leadership Team. I serve as co-chair for the K-12 Language Arts Curriculum Committee for the Suwannee County School District.
I have considered many different occupations, but I know that I have a strong desire to teach. By doing so, I can truly make a difference. ANd of course, SMS is definitely the best place to be a teacher. I have wonderful students this year, and I am blessed to be able to work alongside some of my closest and dearest friends. God definitely had an awesome plan in guiding my footsteps to SMS.
On the state and national levels, I am serving my second term as Recording Secretary for the Florida Council of Teachers of English Executive Board. I am also the FCTE liaison for Standards & State Requirements Affecting Classroom Instruction Commission. I previously served as Secretary for the Secondary Reading Council of Florida. In November 2009, I was honored to receive the NCTE Leadership Development Award at the National Council of Teachers of English Convention in Philadelphia, PA. I have also enjoyed the opportunity to speak at many state conventions, including FCTE, SRC, FCTM, and FRA.
Needless to say, the road of life I travel on has had its share of curving, winding roads. There are times when the burden is too heavy. There are times when my burden is light. There are times when I feel that I can't stand on my own. But in these times of desperation, I am comforted to know that God will carry my burdens. And when I cannot stand, He will pick me up if I fall. He never promised that life would be easy, but He did promise to be with us always, in good times or bad, in joy or sorrow, in victory or defeat. If you are struggling with some aspect of your life, remember the words of Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Give God your problems and He will give you peace.
Personally, I adhere to this scripture every day. As a Christian, I struggle day to day. I miss my mom so much. But God does not want me to dwell on the past. Instead, He wants me to look for that day not so far away when all Christians will rise up to meet Him in the air. The present may look dim, but I can rest assured that a brighter future is ahead. And because of God's promises, I am excited to see the things that God has in store for my future. For sorrow is part of the journey, but I am living a journey of joy. |
dad and I are very close and we enjoy being together as father and
daughter. Sadly, life has been quite difficult since August 2008. My
mom went home to be with the Lord unexpectedly on August 2, 2008. She
was only 52 years old. My mom and I did everything together, from
making crafts and baking, to cooking and shopping. When I was younger, we also enjoyed playing with
Barbie dolls, stuffed animals, Play-Dough, and so much more. Even as
an adult, I
enjoyed playing games with her, laughing with her, and just being with
her. The hardest day of my life was August 2, 2008. I am glad I can
take comfort in the fact that we will see her again one day in Heaven.
Even with this reassurance, I am so thankful for the sweet peace that
only God can give.
On my mom’s side of the family, my grandparents were Kolbjorn “Sig”
Sigurd and Lucille Normay Eeg. Although they lived in Clearwater,
Florida, we still had the opportunity to see them pretty often when we
drove down to visit them or they came up to our house. One of the most
enjoyable times with Grandma Lu and Papa Sig was when my mom, dad, and
I joined them at their condominium at Seawatch in Fort Myers Beach,
Florida. During these vacations we had a great time walking along the
beach, swimming in the pool, and playing games in the room. I even
learned to swim here! In addition, we would always go grocery shopping
and buy more than enough food than we needed for our stay there. As a
result, the last day of our trip would consist of a grand finale. In a
hurried rush, someone would say something like, “If everyone drinks
one glass of orange juice and a glass of milk along with two ice cream
bars, a Popsicle, and a grapefruit, we’ll have all of the cold food
taken care of.” One year, my dad had just begun a new teaching
position, so we had decided to decline Grandma and Papa’s invitation
to join them at Seawatch. Nevertheless, my dad decided at the last
minute that he should take some time off and join them anyway. Since
it was a last minute decision, we decided to surprise them by showing
up at the door. Well, we arrived quite early in the morning. In fact,
Papa Sig was still asleep. When he heard someone knock at the door, he
thought that the voices he heard were a dream because he missed not
having us there with them. But, he came out to find Grandma Lu talking
to us and they were definitely surprised. I am very glad that we
decided to join them that year, because Papa Sig passed away shortly
after and we haven’t been back since. I will never forget the
wonderful times that we had at Seawatch.
Although Papa Sig is not with us anymore, we are blessed to have
Grandma Lu with us. She now lives in Lake City, Florida. When she moved up here, I stayed overnight with
her the first night in her new house. Although everything was not
situated and there were boxes lining the walls, we had a great time.
My Grandma, mom, and I have always loved to make crafts and go
shopping together. We could literally go to the mall and spend the
day. Of course, I know that there are many women who feel this way. We
also enjoy having lunch at Taco Bell as a “girls-only” outing. Nearly
ten years ago, Grandma married a wonderful man named Embert “Tom”
Wedding. Although we were surprised at first, we grew to love Tom in a
very special way. I even had the privilege of singing at my Grandma’s
wedding! We had the opportunity to see them most every week and we
really enjoyed visiting with them. One of our favorite things to do
together was to play a card name called Nickel Nickel. Needless to
say, Grandma and Tom taught me well. We also had the opportunity to go
on a cruise to the Bahamas with them on December 19, 2004. We also
went on another cruise with them to the Virgin Islands in July of
2006. All five of us had a wonderful time. Sadly, Tom went home to
be with the Lord on November 12, 2006. Although it was very
difficult for all of us, Grandma is still pressing on and we enjoy many
special times together. I love her very much and I always will.
For ten years, I
was very involved with the Suwannee County 4-H Program. During the
2000-2001 4-H year I served as the Suwannee County 4-H Council
Secretary, President of the Suwannee Schoolers 4-H Club, and Secretary
of the Country Kids 4-H Club. In August of 2001, I was named as
Outstanding Senior Girl. I also competed for the first time at State
4-H Congress at the University of Florida during this year. My
presentation on "Website Design Made Simple" received 2nd place! I had
a great time at Congress and I will always remember this unique
experience. For several years, I competed in the State 4-H Dairy
Poster Contest and I won 1st place in 2001!
I was also active in Public Speaking, Livestock Judging, Vegetable
Identification and Judging, Poultry Judging, County and District
Events, and many other 4-H activities. During the time that I was a
member of the Livestock Judging team, I had the opportunity to
participate in the State Judging Contest at the Florida State Fair in
Tampa, Florida. During my second or third year of 4-H, I sewed a
western skirt, accessorized with a handbag, western boots, and cowboy
hat. Then, I had the privilege of modeling it in the County Events
Fashion Show. Now that I have graduated from high school, my time as a
4-H member ended in February 2001. However, I was still involved in
the Suwannee County 4-H Program an additional year as the leader of my own 4-H Swine Club. I truly enjoyed this endeavor and I am sure that I will embark on yet another 4-H adventure
at some point in the future.
As
someone who spent ten years in 4-H and someone who lives in a rural
area, I definitely enjoy having animals to care for and enjoy.
Currently, I have three cats named Morris, Socks, and Monkey, one
Beagle named Ginger, one miniature long-haired Dachshund named Lucy,
one parakeet named Marigot, and
two pygmy goats named Savannah and Sydney. My
dad and I live on a small farm where we also have a small herd of
cattle. In my spare time, although quite rare, I enjoy swimming,
flower gardening, reading, baking, cooking, interior decorating, and
traveling.
There are so many wonderful memories of family and friends coming
together for celebrations and parties. One of the most memorable was
my Sixteenth Birthday Party and All-Day Singing and Dinner on the
Grounds. Talk about a fun, entertaining, and enjoyable way to
celebrate ‘Sweet Sixteen!’ My parents and I seemed to always come up
with a wonderful theme for birthday celebrations. My twentieth
birthday was celebrated with an International Food Festival where we
had international food complete with multicultural decorations. It was
wonderful to be able to taste food from other countries that I had
never tried before, and to learn about different aspects of other
cultures. Additionally, my mom and dad took me to Walt Disney World. I
especially enjoyed having a large group of people sing “Happy
Birthday” to me at the Country Bear Jamboree. We enjoyed our visit so
much; we visited once again for my twenty-first birthday! Also, my dad
made a delicious Mexican meal for a special birthday dinner. Mexican
is undoubtedly my favorite food in the world. From enchiladas to
quesadillas, I could most likely eat Mexican food
365 days a year. On January 25, 2003, we celebrated once more with a
birthday celebration and Mexican Fiesta! I truly enjoyed this Mexican
extravaganza!
In 2004, we celebrated my birthday
in Florida's capital city: Tallahassee. Following a delicious dinner
at On The Border Mexican Restaurant, we went shopping at the
Tallahassee Mall. Then, it was time for the main attraction: the
Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus performing the 133rd
Greatest Show on Earth! I had attended this circus once before for my
eighth birthday, and it was still absolutely amazing! We were even blessed
to have the opportunity to have front-row seats and not one, but two
backstage mini-tours, and we entered the arena through the entrance
that the circus performers entered. Needless to say, it was a
one-of-a-kind birthday that I enjoyed very, very
much!
In addition, we had a family birthday party featuring my favorite
childhood character and my favorite collector's item today, Strawberry
Shortcake. Then, we celebrated once more with a bigger birthday
celebration like no other...a Christmas Winter Wonderland! Now
that was a blast!
Aside from the Christmas holidays, summer vacations are one of the
greatest times of the year. When I was only two years old, my parents
and I visited Charleston, South Carolina. Because of a mistake made by
Holiday Inn, we had the privilege of staying at The Mills House, a
luxurious inn with beautiful antique furnishings in every room. We
toured historical sites and other locations in the Carolinas. Since my
dad is a high school teacher, my family and I always set aside a few
weeks of the summer for a nice relaxing vacation. In addition to
visiting many of our relatives in Lee County, Virginia and Knoxville,
Tennessee, we also spend a couple of weeks at River Valley Campground
in Cherokee, North Carolina. Each year we enjoy our permanent campsite
that is situated directly across from a magnificent waterfall that plunges into Raven’s Fork Branch situated in the midst
of the Great Smoky Mountains. I really enjoy reading a good book while
sitting outside, listening to the birds sing, the water flow, and
taking in all of the sights and sounds of nature. This is what a
summer vacation is meant to be. Relaxation. Since we began vacationing
in Cherokee, we have toured the Oconoluftee Indian Village and
Cherokee Indian Museum. In addition, we even had the opportunity to
witness a Cherokee Indian Wedding Ceremony. This was a unique
experience that was very interesting. I also had the privilege of
experiencing my first flight with my mom and dad in Cherokee. We went for a ride
in a sightseeing helicopter that took us over the Tuckaseegee River
and many other breathtaking views. In addition, I had the opportunity
to ride in the
cockpit right beside the pilot! It was most definitely the highlight
of that summer vacation. We have ridden the rails of the Great Smoky
Mountain Railroad many times, enjoying the beautiful scenery and the sounds of the
train rolling down the tracks. We have also seen the outdoor drama,
“Unto These Hills,” a professional production that portrays the ‘Trail
of Tears.’ I also enjoy browsing antique malls and
gift shops for unique items to add to our “souvenirs from summer
vacation” collection. In 2003, we visited Stone Mountain Park in
Stone Mountain, Georgia. Although we had visited Stone Mountain in
the past, they had added several new attractions since our last visit
including Crossroads, a fictional mining town complete with a 4-D
theater, blacksmith shop, Stone Mountain Railroad, numerous gift
shops, and much more! They had also opened a new restaurant called
Miss Katie’s Sideboard Restaurant, where we enjoyed a delicious meal
complete with dinner music played by a Southern Belle on a harp.
The
summer of 2004 was undoubtedly the one of the most incredible summers
that we have ever experienced. We began the summer by going to
Orlando, Florida for an overnight stay and an entire day at Walt
Disney World's Hollywood Studios and a second day in the Magic
Kingdom. The best part of the trip was watching the incredible fireworks
display, "Wishes." Then we stayed in College Park, Georgia, a suburb
of Atlanta, for a week. This was a great week with my dad attending a
Summer Statistics Institute at Woodward Academy for mathematics
teachers, visiting with my Uncle and his family, and having dinner
with some close family friends. When we returned home from this trip,
we had exactly one day home until we drove to Port Canaveral, Florida.
This is where my parents and I boarded our first cruise ship, the
Carnival Fantasy. This unique vacation was in celebration of my
community college graduation. From the moment we stepped on the ship to the
moment we stepped off, we felt like royalty.
The decor was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the entire
experience was exquisite. Some of the highlights of our cruise were
having my picture taken with the captain, having my hair braided by a
10-year-old bohemian girl, purchasing straw purses, t-shirts, and
other souvenirs, and the most unique, snorkeling at Pearl Island. This
was my first time on a cruise and my first time out of the the United
States. We definitely caught the "cruise bug." Since this first cruise
vacation, I have been on more than 20 cruises! Three days after we
returned home from the
Bahamas, we traveled to Cherokee, North
Carolina for two weeks at River Valley Campground.
Sitting across from the waterfall is one of the most relaxing places
in the entire world to be. We enjoyed a trip on the Great Smoky
Mountain Railroad, meals at Granny's Kitchen as well as Indian Tacos
at Granny's Grill, a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and much more.
My Grandma and her husband, Tom, and our cousins Joan and Lowell even
met us up there! It was great! When we came home from this trip, the
summer fun wasn't over for us yet! One day later, my dad attended a
mathematics conference. But this was no ordinary conference location.
We had the opportunity to stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin
Resort. My dad decided to add on several days, so we actually were
able to stay there for 8 days! We enjoyed the sights, toured all of
the other Disney resorts, went swimming in the Dolphin's huge grotto
pool, visited Downtown Disney multiple times, and spent a day at
Epcot. We also had the most amazing meal that I have ever
experienced. My dad took my mom and I to the Walt Disney World
Polynesian Resort's restaurant named Ohana. The food was
extraordinary. The meal is an all-you-can-eat buffet, but the best
part is that it is served at your table. The meal starts off with Hawaiian
rolls and a lazy susan full of appetizers including stir-fry green
beans, fried rice, mixed salad with honey lime dressing, and roasted
chicken wings. Then the waiter brings skewers full of turkey, beef,
pork, and shrimp that is grilled right before your eyes on a huge open
fire pit inside the restaurant. When you feel like you cannot possibly
eat another bite, they bring you deliciously ripe pineapple chunks
with a delightful caramel dipping sauce. Of course, my mom and I also
split a chocolate mousse. Mmmm! But the best part of the meal was all
of the entertainment. There are coconut races with adorable little
children pushing coconuts with little brooms around the perimeter of
the restaurant. Additionally, there are hula hoop contests with a
gentleman playing the ukulele and singing Hawaiian songs. Still, the
most exciting part of the evening was when the lights began to dim and
we were able to watch "Wishes," the fireworks display at the Magic
Kingdom from our table,
complete with the choreographed music. This photo was taken when the
music first came on. You see, I had just said, "The only thing
that could make this night any better is if they piped the music into
the restaurant and dimmed the lights!" And at that
moment...well, I suppose you can guess what happened. Even
though I have only scratched the surface of our summer expeditions, I
hope that you have enjoyed reading about some of my experiences in
summers past.
adventure
in itself! Once you get off of the bus, then you walk onto a
hand-cranked ferry to cross the river. After you cross the river,
then you get in a large van to climb to the top of the small
mountain. Finally, you walk up a rock-covered hill into the plaza.
Then, you can see a picturesque view of most of the Mayan buildings.
Then, after purchasing a few handmade crafts from some tent vendors
outside the Mayan ruins, we boarded the bus and headed to the Windy
Hills Resort for lunch. Now, we did not know what type of lunch to
expect. Nevertheless, we were pleasantly surprised. We ate in an
open-air hut that serves as the dining room for this resort. As my
dad says, the atmosphere was so thick you could have cut it with a
knife! To top it all off, there were two men playing the marimba for
us, too! The food was soooo delicious! They served us the National
Belizean dish of bamboo chicken, beans and rice, coleslaw, fried
plantain, and mango punch. To be
continued....
Since this cruise, we have been on many more Caribbean cruises and
even an Alaskan cruise! In
July 2005, we sailed on the Carnival Glory to the Eastern Caribbean
for seven days of relaxation. This was definitely the most
relaxing cruise
that we have been on, by far. Our first port of call was Nassau,
Bahamas. We stop here so often that many of the Bahamian people are
beginning to recognize us when we return! Then, we went to St.
Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. This island is absolutely gorgeous!
Just imagine: two of my favorite geological features, the ocean and
the mountains, all in one location! Instead of booking an excursion
with the cruise line, we decided to rent a car and tour the island on
our own. Wow! This was definitely the way to go. First, we drove to
the other side of the island to Magen's Bay. National Geographic
rates Magen's Bay as one of the Top 10 Beaches in the World. Now
that I have seen it
with my own eyes, I wholeheartedly agree. The water was so clear and
refreshing, and the scenery was like a picture postcard. Driving
around the island was a wonderful treat as well, since there is so
much to see in St. Thomas. My favorite part was stopping on top of
one of the mountains where we were able to take photographs of the
breathtaking aerial views of surrounding islands and even our ship.
After touring the entire island and determining to return to this
island one day, we returned the rental car to Avis, and began our
shopping spree! The prices here are so reasonable, and their
souvenirs are such great quality items. Needless to say, I know we
bought way too much stuff, but it is so nice to have these things to
remember this wonderful vacation. Our next (and last) port of call
was St. Maarten, British Virgin Islands. This island was equally as
beautiful. Since we enjoyed renting a car so much in St. Thomas, we
decided to do the exact same thing in St. Maarten. Once we took a look
at a map, we decided to take the coastal road that runs around the
entire island, through both the French and Dutch sides.
To be continued...
Now, moving on to academics. When I was only two years old, my parents
taught me to read. Then when I was three years old, my mom taught me
how to count using M&M’s. Then, of course, I was allowed to eat all of
the M&M’s that I counted correctly. As you can see from the
photograph, I also enjoyed my share of Oreo's! Since then, I have been
a straight “A” student and have come to enjoy learning new things
every day. In third grade, I joined some of my school friends in an
after-school ballet class. Though I wasn’t necessarily interested in
the dance itself, I enjoyed the friendships that were formed during
this time. I also enjoyed performing in two dance recitals where I
received a trophy for my participation. I was also very active in
drama throughout my elementary and secondary school years. One of the
most memorable plays was when I played the lead role of a mother in an
elementary Christmas production. Along with the “grown-up” attire, the
best part of the play was the fact that my mom was the director. We
had a great time rehearsing and finally, performing the play in front
of the whole school. There were many other plays, too, including
another Christmas play where I played the part of a porcelain doll.
Now that was fun! There are so many memories of my early school years.
For instance, the time that I was voted “Best Dressed” or the years
that I participated in gymnastics as a physical education course in
third and fourth grade. 
my family and I enjoyed putting together an Old Tyme Gospel Sing at this event
for eight years. This was such an anointed event, and we miss having
this special concert each Friday night after Thanksgiving. I
hope the Lord opens up the door for us to resume a similar event in
the near future.
I graduated from high school
on June 2, 2001. Then, I graduated from Lake City Community College on
May 8, 2004, with an Associate in Arts degree. I am blessed to be
able to tell you that I earned an 'A' in all of my classes at LCCC.
The Graduation ceremony was absolutely wonderful. I had the distinct
honor to be a member of the President's Party, and I was also given
the opportunity to be one of four student speakers to speak at
graduation. I encouraged my fellow graduates to "value life and live
a life of value." In addition, I was one of twelve graduates to
graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors.
On May 6, 2006, I graduated from the University of Florida with
honors. I was also blessed to be able to wear honor cords for
University honors, as well as honor cords and an honor stole for
recognition by the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor
Society and the Golden Key International Honor Society. Following the
ceremony, my parents gave me a wonderful reception to celebrate my
accomplishments with family and friends.