Blah, Blah, Blah

Who wants to know about us anyway?

Before you start your coffee or even kiss your groggy, bleary-eyed spouse in the morning, I know you all hop out of bed and eagerly run to your desk and computer to check your e-mail for an update on Mike & Elana. Alas, I am sorry to disappoint you all with our lack of enthusiasm to write an update of our lives. Not like our lives aren't exciting and full of mystery, we just don't want to exploit the fact that we are on a year long vacation living on the beach.
Please excuse all my sarcasm; my brain cells swell with too much information forcing me to communicate in the form of sarcasm to cover my high intelligence. I was born with it (the intelligence); the doctors didn't even know how to deal with this phenomenon that is called Elana. (boy I sound just like my brother, Jeremiah)

On the lighter side, Mike and I have been in Panama City since October missing most of the hurricane season. We are renting a beautiful home approximately 15 minutes from Tyndall AFB and 30 minutes from the beach. Living here has been like an extended vacation. Although Mike has class every day until 5pm, I still get to have lunch with him and have most evenings free. Winter has only shown her face by means of cloaking us in darkness at 4:30 in the afternoon and making us freeze our batooties off with temperatures in the 60's during daylight hours and the 30's during the evening/overnight hours. We had our first frost last night (Dec. 7).
Before it started getting dark early, Mike and I would spend most of our afternoons walking on the beach or sitting and reading till the sun went down. I have attached a few pictures from a few of those walks/sittings.

I have looked and interviewed for several jobs to no avail. I even talked about taking flying lessons and earning my private pilots license, this also to no avail. Mike and I have been discussing my going back to school to get my Bachelor's in whatever major I so desire, this meaning I haven't really chosen one yet. Since all else failed, we decided school was most likely what the Lord had in mind for me. I don't know why, I hate school, but need it nonetheless.
Plus, it will be valuable time for me instead of me sitting at home reading Martha Grime mystery novels all day, every day.
I have also volunteered for the Red Cross and am currently working at the Pharmacy on base every Tuesday afternoon. I am enjoying this immensly as it gives me an outlet to meet new people and to get out of the house at least once a week.

Mike and I have experienced several churches in the area. Yes, I said experienced rather than visited. I won't go into detail what I mean. We finally visited the church on the base and have really enjoyed it. The worship service uses a lot of the more contemporary ones like "As the Deer Pants" etc. We miss the old hymns. The teaching has been great too. There are two chaplains who run the service; one from a presbyterian backround and one from a baptist backround. They take turns speaking every other Sunday and both speak directly from the Bible. Neither are fluffy or over done. Mike and I really enjoy it.

I have attached a few other pictures from Thanksiving. I hope you enjoy!
We will see all of you over Christmas hopefully.