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.

          My name is Jennifer Joy Campbell and I would like to tell you about my life. 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-fifth birthday on January 2, 2007. Over the past twenty-five 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. I have 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 parents and I are very close and we enjoy being together as a family. My mom and I enjoy making crafts, baking, cooking, and especially shopping together. When I was younger, we also enjoyed playing with Barbie dolls, stuffed animals, Play-Dough, and so much more. Still, we enjoy playing games, laughing, and being in each other’s company. 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 playing Foosball (Although my mom plays, too!), riding his new Harley Davidson, and working on the farm. I am his “assistant” when it comes time to vaccinate our livestock. Many years ago now, my parents bought me a go-cart that I still love to ride. I will never forget when my dad tried to keep it a secret, but I ended up “test-driving” it prior to Christmas Eve. It is an incredible feeling for a child to ride a bright red go-cart that is technically still “under wraps.” My mom and dad are truly 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.

          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.

          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!

          Although Papa Sig is not with us anymore, we are blessed to have Grandma Lu with us. Since she lived in Clearwater, she has moved to 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 is a difficult time for our family, we know that he is not suffering anymore.  Grandma is still pressing on and we are looking forward to many special times together, even though we are missing one very special part of our lives.  I love them both very much and I always will.

          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 am having a wonderful time 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," "Have Faith," and "Which Way Are You Going?" One of the songs that I recently 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:

          Speaking of writing, I am the Feature Editor for SGN Scoops Magazine, a nationally distributed Gospel Music Magazine based in Cadet, Missouri. I write nearly all of the cover stories throughout the year featuring top groups from across the country. I have written several poems that have been published in a variety of books. 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 also have other interests. One of the most prevalent areas of interest would have to be computers 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 have since taken a Basic Web Page Programming course at Lake City Community College to further my knowledge in this field. I currently maintain twelve Web sites.  If you are interested in having your own presence on the World Wide Web, please contact me at jennifercampbell.net/websitedesign.

          Aside from technology, I still have other interests. 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!

          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.

          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 last year from a different vantage point as the leader of my own 4-H Swine Club. I truly enjoyed this new 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 Sawdust, one Beagle named Ginger, two parakeets name Magen Lucaya and Marigot, and nine pygmy goats named Sydney Joy, Rosetta Rose, Miracle Faith, Savannah, Snowball, Mary Allie, Dusty, Rickey, and Little Joey. My family 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 seem 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 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!

          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 Teaching 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!

          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 park our 23’ Coachman Catalina Lite Camper directly across from a magnificently beautiful 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. 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. One of our favorite things to do in Western North Carolina is to ride the rails of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Though we have taken many of the excursions, we always return for another look at 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.’ My mom, dad, and I also enjoy browsing antique malls and gift shops for unique items to add to our “souvenirs from summer vacation” collection. In 2003, we also visited Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Although we have 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 in the Walt Disney World MGM Studios and a second day in the Magic Kingdom. The best part of the trip was watching the magnificent new 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 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 the the United States. I can hardly wait until our next cruise! Three days after we returned home from the Bahamas, we traveled to Cherokee, North Carolina with our camper 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. The photo at right is one taken of me 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.

          This past summer was absolutely amazing!  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 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.  Click here for pictures from our visit to Roatan, Honduras. To be continued....

          Since this cruise, we have been on three more Caribbean cruises!  In July 2005, we sailed on the Carnival Glory to the Eastern Caribbean for seven days of relaxation.  This was definitely the best 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...

Click here for pictures from our cruise on the Carnival Liberty in March of 2006.

          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.

          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. Presently, my family and I put together an Old Tyme Gospel Sing at this event every year. This is an incredible event, and we enjoy doing this very much.

          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.  Presently, I am simultaneously working on a Master in Science degree in English Education, Florida Reading Endorsement, and Educational Specialist degree in English Education and Reading through Nova Southeastern University.  Currently, I have a 4.0 GPA.  In addition, I teach 7th grade Language Arts at Suwannee Middle School in Live Oak, Florida.  Additionally, I was recently installed as the Recording Secretary for the Florida Council of Teachers of English Executive Board.  I am very honored to hold this position.  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.  Needless to say, I am excited to see the things that God has in store for my future.