Carole and I moved to Florida in 2003 after my older brother Dale passed away. My younger brother Ed has lived in Ft Walton Beach for years. I hoped that with both brothers living in Florida, we would be able to move our mother Alice down with us. We were able to do that and enjoyed having the family together until my mother passed in 2005.
We began to attend First United Methodist Church in 2004. After our first visit, we knew that this was going to be our church family. To make it a church family, you have to get involved and that is what we did. Carole and I became greeters at the 8:00 AM service. I became an usher at that service also. I began to work with the youth in the fall of 2004 and have been working with them ever since.
While Carole was in the hospital, she was visited by three clowns from the clown ministry from the church. That sparked another interest in me and I began to work with the Clowns for Christ. I became “Pockets”. I have enjoyed developing the character and working with the group.
Jessica, our daughter, moved to Florida in 2005. She graduated from college in 2003 as a sonographer. She worked at a hospital in the DC area before moving to Florida. She worked at Bay Medical Center in Panama City before moving to North Okaloosa regional in Crestview. She is truly a special young woman. Not only because she is willing to give a kidney to prolong her father’s life but because she was a gift from God when we adopted her.
