Timmy Comes To Miami

Meeting Tim

Tim reading Jia's letter

Tim shaking my hand

I think this is Tim reading Jia-s letter again
The back of my head-formally known as Miami hair, just keeps getting
bigger and bigger!

Okay, he's handsome too!

The autograph, which now goes to Gainesville so Anna
can get some strategic poses

We waited in a 1,000 person line in the horrible humidity of Miami's trendiest bookstore (Books and Books) to meet and have books signed by Tim Tebow. Everyone inline was either Gatored-out or Broncoized (made up my own words) way more Gators. It was an EXTREME struggle for me as it was like waiting in line for a Disney World line. Twice my legs went out, thank goodness for my wonderful (and strong) husband.

Ok, so we all know this post is going to be soooo biased. I just love this boy, such great values, the fact that he is a phenomenal athlete only touches the surface of this boy. He is devout Christian that is not ashamed to let the world know, his Father and Mother are missionaries in the Philippines and Tim was actually born there. he goes there in the summer for mission trips.

When we did meet him Jia had written him a letter "Dear Tim Tebow: I was born in China, but I am home now. I am going to Alligator College, I love you, Ji-Lia Parnham. He stopped to read her letter, tell her it was awesome and did the "Gator Chomp" with her, then he complemented me on my t-shirt which said "Gators for Broncos" He said "I've never seen that one yet". He stopped to take pictures of everyone, unfortunately Katie didn't really have a great camera spot, but it was worth it all.

Said it before, I'll say it again, read this book! It is called "Through my Eyes" and no, I don't get any profit from this endorsement...

TAKING MY BABY GATOR TO UF

Anna and Mom in front of the Bull Gator
which is right outside of the football field

New monument to Florida's three Heisman trophy winners
Tim Tebow, Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerffel
How Many colleges can say that???)

Can you tell I love Timmy Tebow?

Okay, so I really do

Florida Field also known as "The Swamp"
or
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Silly picture of Anna in the Student Union

Anna and her Daddy in the Student Union

Look how much taller Anna is than me,
she is still my baby girl though....

On June 18th Drew and I took Anna to her Journalism Institute at the University of Florida in Gainesville. (318 miles away) We went and came back in one day which took about 10 hours because we didn't want to leave Katie and Jia home alone.

You'll remember she went to this Institute last year on scholarship, she was not eligible for a scholarship two years in a row, so thank you Nona and Grandpa. This was a wonderful educational experience for Anna.

I am going to post some pictures that I took before we left, then of course the Tim Tebow meeting in Miami, then the pictures Anna took while she was there. It looks as though our life revolves around football, but that is truly not the case. Tim Tebow is a legend in Florida, and University of Florida is THE college to go to with a huge football program....

What a Week!

I have so many things, and so many pictures to share that it is a little overwhelming to me, especially as the time frame was all kind of lumped together...as for now, in is 4:15 a.m. (can't sleep) and we will be going to bring home our little Gator Girl in a few hours(5 hours there and 5 hours back...yuck) Anna really wanted me to come both ways, so I grinned and bared it, with the help of some calming medicine. I missed her so much, I don't know what I'll do when she goes for good...Be back with all the news and all the pics soon.

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY JIA! XOXOXO

Jia making all her wishes come true

Sponge Bob Cake

Jia and Katie at the Museum of Science and Discovery

Pretty Presents from Nona and Grandpa

Jia at the museum of Science and Discovery

Jia fixing her puppy in her new Vet station
She also got a Build a Bear credit card
so she can have more animals to take care of.
She also has her Dr. scrubs Halloween costume
(she found that and put it on later)

Our three miracle children
In Jesus' name we thank YOU

GOD

Random picture: You may think this is a rainy day in South Florida
Instead it is the Everglades burning 5 miles from our home, complete with choking burning
taste and ash flying around our heads...

Jia's birthday was assigned to her by the government of China-June 18. (tucked right in there with Fathers Day insuring that I will never have an Anniversary again-June 20 we are at 18 years!!)
Drew and I will be traveling to Gainesville (Go Gators!) on the actual day, so we celebrated yesterday. Here are some pictures of her perfect day!

JIA'S BIRTHDAY PT. 1 NONA & GRANDPA'S BOX

WELL, the festivities have begun-Jia wants a 4 day dream birthday. I think we may have two days. Today the exciting box from Nona and Grandpa arrived. I don't know who was more excited, Jia or Drew (because of the candy).

Jia's actual birthday is June 18th, but since Drew and I are taking Anna to U of F on that day, so our celebration is tomorrow. (I think I may have mentioned this before.)

Jia has high expectations for the day, here they are: Imax Theater: Born to Be Wild, Science Museum, Subway sandwiches and then straight to dinner, at that point we will be coming home, were she needs a minimum of 18 presents, a white cake and ice cream for Dad (because he doesn't like cake). So she has a busy day planned out, I hope we meet her expectations. Coming up: Jia's birthday pt. 2.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

"SUMMER'S HERE, I'M FOR THAT, GOT MY RUBBER SANDALS, GOT MY STRAW HAT!"
-JAMES TAYLOR

NOT ONE BIT OF SADNESS FOR THE PASSING SCHOOL YEAR FROM ANY OF MY GIRLS. I SHED SOME TEARS, MAINLY BECAUSE MY TWO BIG GIRLS WILL BE SENIORS NEXT YEAR.

BUT I AM THRILLED BEYOND BELIEF THAT THEY WILL BE HOME WITH ME ALL SUMMER. I CAN DO SO MANY MORE THINGS IF ONE OF THEM ARE WITH ME. THE SUMMER IS FULL OF PLANS,

NEXT WEEK ALONE: JIA'S BIRTHDAY (HER PLAN: THE IMAX THEATER AND THE SCIENCE MUSEUM, AFTER WHICH SHE WANTS LUNCH AT THE ATTACHED SUBWAY.)

THEN THE TRIP TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TO DROP ANNA OFF AT HER JOURNALISM INSTITUTE, WE WILL GO UP AND BACK IN ONE DAY (ABOUT 10 HOURS, ANNA WILL STAY FOR 6 DAYS.) KATIE DOES NOT WANT TO GO AND SHE WILL BE STAYING HERE WITH JIA AND THE NEIGHBORS) AND I DO NOT LIKE TO BE OVERNIGHT ANYWHERE BUT HOME, HENCE, A LONG DAY OF DRIVING.

KATIE AND ANNA WILL START THEIR VOLUNTEER WORK AT THE DAN MARINO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL SUMMER CAMP. THIS LASTS ALL SUMMER, THEY WILL BE WORKING WITH A TEACHER AND AUTISTIC, DOWN'S SYNDROME AND ASPERGER'S CHILDREN.

ANNA IS STILL A LITTLE NERVOUS THAT THIS MAY NOT BE THE THING FOR HER, IF SHE IS UNCOMFORTABLE, SHE WILL HELP HER DAD WITH HIS DRIVERS ED CLASSES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.

WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS ON THE CALENDAR FOR NEXT WEEK....

WHITE HOT!

WE ARE FEELIN' THE HEAT!