What an amazing Will to Survive and GO COAST GUARD

A father and son who tread water for more than 12 hours in the Atlantic Ocean before being rescued spent much of the time in the dark seas not knowing if the other was alive, authorities said Monday.

Walter Marino, 46, and his son Chris Marino, who has autism, were swimming in the Ponce Inlet, south of Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday when currents pulled the 12-year-old boy out to sea.
His father jumped in to try to save Chris but was also pulled out to sea.
Family members called 911, but by the time rescue units arrived, the father and son could no longer be seen, officials said.
The U.S. Coast Guard, the Volusia County Beach Patrol and the sheriff's office immediately launched a search-and-rescue mission using helicopters, boats and personal watercraft to try to find the Winter Park, Florida, father and son.
"[We were] floating," Walter Marino told CNN affiliate WKMG-TV after the rescue. "We were floating and just waiting for help to come." Watch the father thank rescuers »
Hoping to find the pair alive, the Coast Guard searched from Saturday night until early Sunday morning before suspending the search because of darkness, Coast Guard officials told CNN.
Coast Guard officials told Lt. j.g. David Birky that he would be part of a backup crew to relieve the team from the night before. Birky told CNN the crew was set to do a search when the sun came up, but received a call while they were en route that a good Samaritan boat found Walter Marino about 7:30 a.m.
Birky, the co-pilot of the crew, told CNN that after the father was found, they began searching that area for his son. Chris Marino was found two hours later, three miles from where his father was rescued.
The Coast Guard lifted the boy into a helicopter, and both father and son were taken to Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where they were in good condition. Both were treated for dehydration, according to WKMG-TV.
"The Coast Guard rocks," Walter Marino said as he was being transported to the hospital, according to WKMG-TV. "God bless the Coast Guard."
While Walter Marino praised the Coast Guard for its rescue efforts, Birky said the true praise goes to the father and his young son.
"That kid is an amazing kid," Birky said. "To tread water for almost 14 hours, I don't know about you, but I don't think I could do that. They have amazing willpower to be able to do it."

Hurricane Ike Recap

Wow that hurricane sure did play around with us, but Corpus Christi really did get luckily that the cold front blew through and turned the hurricane away from us. We did board up the houses, make hotel reservations, make puppy care reservations, packed bags, food, water, gas and memories in the car just in case! Luckily we didn't have to go anywhere but we had planned on going to some good friends wedding up in Salado Texas, so it was a great little get away :) We went with some amazing couples from our hometeam and had a group getaway. The wedding was simply gorgeous and the bride got her wish for an outdoor wedding of her dreams. The reception was perfect and we had a great time overall, I even got spun around the floor a couple of times wahhoo! So the weekend was great, followed up by a little outlet shopping didn't hurt, too bad we had to get back to the real world on Sunday evening, oh well at least it was a weekend to remember!

Oh and thank you to all those that called and offered places for us to evac to. We were torn between Dallas, South Carolina, DC, Alaska (don't worry we are saving that one for next summer) and California thank goodness we didn't have to choose :)

Pictures

Okay Okay, so you have been asking for a few photos so here are a few :)

Us on a jetski at a staff retreat with the church :) Wheeee

Us playing around after the Geis wedding, isn't he a cutie!

And that's it because our camera hates me and didn't copy the photos from JT's bday and other events, so all we have are our memories, sorry all!!!

Sunshine in Sept

What a great day, started off with a slow start, I got to sleep in for awhile and then woke up and did a little community work :) Yes I was crocheting this morning but I was making Stoma covers for little children at the hospital. They are the cutest colors and I love to make them so it made me feel really good today! Then I took some time for myself... me and my best guy :) Sebastian got in the car and took off to the beach with Amy. We enjoyed running in the ocean, jumping over waves, playing with the water frisbie and just spending time with a great friend :) Later on my real best guy, got back from a guys fishing morning, wahoo for guy time, and changed into some swim shorts and joined us in the water. Unfortunetly the Texas heat got a little too warm so we decided to head home. Tonight I am working at the church and he went to a concert at the park with some friends, followed up with dinner with some more friends and then watching the fight somewhere :) What a great day, when you can take the time to do some things for others, take some time for yourself and then end the day by spending it with people you love and then going home with the one you love. What a day :)

Wedding Bliss

On August 23rd, Jonathan and I got the honor to stand by two of our great friends as they joined their lives together as one. As Jonathan was the best man, he was with Eddie most of the day, even through the flat tire, errands, whataburger etc. As a bridesmaid I met up with Barbie at lunch and then hung out with her for the rest of the day until the wedding. She looked amazing and the look on Eddie's face when he saw her was priceless. The wedding was beautiful and the reception was amazing. We had a wonderful time visiting with old friends and hanging out with new ones. We wish them the best as they join their hearts together and start off on an amazing adventure. Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Geis