Regiment in Uniform

The Timber Creek Regiment got into uniform for the first time, at the football game at Oviedo HS (we lost the game 35-0. 'Nuff said about that).

The kids wear these bib jumper things on the bus and in the stands, and then get into uniform right before they go onto the field for the halftime show. The outfits have lots of little extra pieces, and Eric was having trouble with his. Good thing big sis Katie was right there to lend him a hand.

All the kids look great in their uniforms, and it's really a thrill to watch them march out onto the field and do the show. What can I say - I'm just a proud papa. And since I'm the official band photographer, I've dubbed myself the "Papa-razzi."

Meant4More Story

We've continued to counsel and minister to people, mostly teens, who visit our evangelistic web site, meant4more.com. Pat especially has written to quite a few girls, some who are in pretty extreme situations. You can definitely pray for her as she tries to speak truth to these gals, and that they will come to embrace The Way, Truth and Life.

Meanwhile, here's a post from a girl who wrote in to another SV Staff gal:

I've been so depressed for so long. I found your web page as an advertisement on another site... I asked Jesus to be a part of my life and to help me become the person he wants me to be. I prayed with all my heart, I really really meant it. I can already feel Jesus making changes in myself. It feels wonderful. But, where do I go from here? I haven't been to church many times in my life. What church do I go to? What part of the Bible should I read. I really feel like Jesus wants me to go to church, to meet Christians and learn more about the Bible but I don't know which one to go to. I hope you have some advice. Thanks so much for you help and your site. This is what I have needed for soooooo long!

And thank YOU so much for being our partners in this. We love and appreciate you!

Eric Behind the Wheel - Katie Cropped - Kids Marching

Wednesday the 17th, Pat took Eric to the Driver's License place to get his permit (he turned 15 on August 7th).

That evening after his flute lesson, we went to the mall parking lot for his first lesson. He did fine, except for the one time we ventured into a slightly populated area. On his right turn he didn't come out of the turn fast enough and was threatening several parked cars. "LEFT! LEFT!" I shouted, and thankfully he pulled out and we made it through the lesson with no damage.

Oh, and I found out later that he's not supposed to drive at night until he's had his permit 3 months. Oops.


That same evening, Katie and Pat were nearby at the mall getting 14 inches of her hair cut off and donated to Locks of Love. Pat had been bugging her for a while, but Katie finally decided the waist-length hair was too much trouble, especially with marching season coming up. It's always a bit sad for me when she's cut her hair. I always recall her bald days on chemotherapy, and see her long, beautiful hair as a sign of healing and restoration (she'll be 8 years in remission on November 1).


Friday was the first football game, at home. Because of the heat, the director had them march in band t-shirts and shorts instead of the uniforms. They've gotten about the first 2-1/2 minutes of the routine down. I was so proud watching Eric march, although because I was busy taking pictures, I did not get to watch him exclusively.

I was taking pictures because I'm the Historian for this year's band. That means taking lots of pictures and video, gathering same from others, and distributing those to our web site, publications, and especially the big show at the end-of-year band banquet. I was reluctant to take this job, since the people before me have been producing a pretty fancy show with video as well as stills. But some good people have pledged to help me, so I feel pretty good about it.

To see my band photos, click the "Timber Creek HS Bands" link on the right. Click on the Photos button, then click on "2005-2006 TCHS Bands," then on one of the albums below that. Each album has a shot or two of my kids (Historian's privilege!).

Can't wait to see Eric and Katie in uniform this weekend at the away game. It will be a great and proud moment, and you can be sure I'll have pictures up soon after.

Mad Music Stand Attack; School Schedules

Eric came home about the 2nd day of school with a cut between his nose and his upper lip. He said, "some kid was messing around with a music stand and hit me in the face."

Of course, we were aghast and asked for more details.

"I was putting my books on my music stand in the band room, and the stand started to tip over away from me. I had my flute in my other hand and had no hands free, so I quickly stepped on the base of the music stand to keep it from falling. It sprang back toward me, and WHAM! hit me in the face!"

So Eric was the attacker AND the victim. We're happy to report that his face has healed up nicely.


In other news, Eric turned 15 on August 7th, and is scheduled on Wednesday the 17th to go get his Learner's Permit. Our baby will be learning how to drive.

This has seemed to motivate Katie, who's had her permit for over 2 years but never has been very excited about learning to drive. But she's eager now, and has even driven on the freeway a couple of times.


Katie has worked SO hard her first three years of high school, she's earned a slightly more relaxed senior year. Along with AP English Lit, AP Environmental Science, and Economics/Government, she's taking band, chorus, and AP Music Theory. Half her classes are music! Pretty cool.

Along with band, Eric's taking World History, English Lit, Science, Geometry, and Latin (see photo). Yep, he's gonna be one cultured kid.


The school day has been lengthened slightly, so that the kids have to catch the school bus at 6:35 a.m. Yow! Glad I never had to leave so early for school.

Hurricane Charley - One Year Later

On August 13th, 2004, after having lived in Florida 11 years, we experienced our first-ever hurricane, and it was a doozy. Charley was unexpected and fast - we found out in the early afternoon that it was headed our way, and it hit our neighborhood at 8:30 that night. We had pulled in all the patio furniture, boarded up the big sliding glass door, and watched and listened as Charley tore through our neighborhood, downing trees and ripping shingles off roofs. We lost power about that same time but got it back at 5:30 the next day.


Fortunately, our damage was minor. We lost one of our two front yard trees, and enough shingles off the roof to warrant full replacing the roof eventually (it got done 6 months later).


Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne eventually visited our area (Ivan was the strongest but missed the Central Florida area). All told, the kids missed 12 days of school and 35 hours of marching band practice.

For more insights and photos, go to http://www.svlinc.com/homepages/danlee/hurricane/index.htm.

Band Camp - Birthday Craziness - Bleary Children

Timber Creek High School kicked off its fall 2005 marching band season with 2 weeks of “band camp,” covering marching basics (especially for the new kids) and starting to learn the marching and music for this year’s show.

This is our kids’ first and only year to be together in high school and in the band, since Katie is a senior (!). It has been pretty grueling, marching out on the concrete practice pad in the heat and humidity (over 90 most days). Pat helped treat many kids who came off due to dehydration or heat exhaustion, and Eric actually had to come off the field to throw up once.

Both kids have turned a very dark brown from being out in the sun.


Eric will turn 15 on Sunday the 7th. His birthday party on Friday consisted of 8 friends (including some of the gentler gender) coming over for pizza and assorted other junk food, ping-pong, Dance Dance Revolution, and a major rubber band fight. They all had a great time and injuries were minor.


Eric is eager to get his driver’s permit. Seems pretty crazy that our “baby” can be driving soon, but hopefully that will light a fire under Katie, who has had her permit for 2 years but still has not driven enough to get her license. With the cost of insurance nowadays, we don’t mind waiting a bit.


They’ve extended the school day, and Eric and Katie’s bus will be at 6:38 in the morning! That means Dad will get up pretty early to fix their breakfasts. But I’ll be glad to do it, especially if I get in the practice of getting to sleep on time!