Allen-O'Donnell Crew in Florida

To the right is a recent picture of our whole crew in Cocoa Beach, Florida. On the left is the Eric Allen family (Carrie's brother) and to the right is the O'Donnell crew and Grandma and Grandpa Allen on the back-right.

The Allens have been travelling to Las Olas Beach Club in Cocoa Beach for almost 20 years. It is a small family-owned resort that holds RCI's "Gold Crown" designation. Cocoa Beach is just south of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. Pictured right behind us is the Cocoa Beach Pier. I first went down to Cocoa Beach with them in 1995, just before Carrie and I were married. On that trip we got to watch a Delta rocket launch from Kennedy. It was LOUD!

I L-O-V-E the Atlantic side, as I love to watch the sun rise on the ocean. During this trip we got to watch the newest member of the family grow steadily more comfortable on the sand and begin to enjoy the wonders of the ocean. There's no way to adequately thank Grandma and Grandpa Allen for providing us such a magnificent and affordable vacation site, and I say that with renewed appreciation this year. We didn't make the trip to Cocoa Beach the previous two years because we were saving our pennies for the adoption, and in the middle of the winter it is truly delightful to hear the ocean and feel the sand in your feet.

So, here's my thanks to God for my in-law's good stewardship that makes all this possible, and for the hospitality of the good people at Las Olas. This is a trip for which I am now more thankful than ever.