It's a Croc!

No, it’s not a typo – it IS a croc-o-dile – swimming along the beach at Punta Gorda!Makes you really want to go swimming in the ocean, doesn’t it? We couldn’t believe our eyes, either. We were driving back to TCA from Punta Gorda after I had sent the blog for the day and checked our emails, when Miles made the sighting. We jumped out of the van and tried to get pictures before the croc submerged, and were able to get a shot of his head

and the top of his body just as he was slipping beneath the surface.

It was truly frightening from the perspective that we see people swimming there every day. Miles alerted the local officials, and they will try to find and catch the crocodile and return him to his natural river habitat; they estimated him to be about 8 feet long. Adrenaline is just now subsiding!

Pomp and Circumstance – the Sequel! It was graduation day for the 8th graders, and what a celebration it was.

Even Jesse the dog came to graduation and adopted Landan.

The Magnificent Seven students graduated with many honors.

One of the students posted the highest grade for the region on the achievement tests taken last week. The youngest son of groundskeeper Santiago Choc was the valedictorian of the class.In this picture are Ben and Shara along with Santiago at his son's graduation.

Each student stood out in some remarkable way, and the thrill of the recognition was painted in their expressions.

Standing tall in caps and gowns pressed by Shara and the staff,

they will remember this proud moment in time. Here is teacher Isabella and her family after the graduation.

We are waiting on additional building materials for the gates to be added to the fence – so we found a few other things to occupy us today. Ben and Shari will be presenting the chapel time for the 1st through the 5th graders this morning. Isn't this a precious little face?!

The children help to clean rooms in these pictures.

Miles will be taking care of the chapel time for the 6th through the 8th graders. Landan will be filling 300 water balloons between now and 11:30 when we do the closing fun day activity we selected – water balloon events! Juliana and teacher Isabella will be adding their skills to the filling process so Landan will not be entirely ballooned out!

After playday time, we will have lunch with the staff and teachers for a time of sharing. Afterward, Shara will be leading a team building exercise for the teachers for a couple of hours in the afternoon. The rest of us will be available to assist her as needed during that time. The teachers are very excited about the learning opportunity; Shari’s experience will have a positive impact on them for sure. Then…enchiladas in the evening. Wow – good thing the building materials aren’t here yet!

Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for us daily – we feel it!

Patricia and the Team