Fishy Fish, Hi De Hi and One Beautiful Ocean.

Just a quick one this morning - we are staying at the Days Inn, and I REALLY have to check out already! But just to let you know, we should be reaching Cocoa Beach tonight, Zach's doing a long one today, it is Saturday after all! We are so excited to be here, we used to live in the Orlando area, and are going to travel back to our old town to go to church tomorrow, and see all of our friends in the Longwood Ward. We cannot wait!!

Working in the Primary there with some of the most amazing children I have ever met was a really incredible experience, and even I think helped me really to be more on board for this project - knowing that it was children just like that who now needed help in Haiti. I know if it was THOSE children who needed a medical center, I wouldn't stop until they had everything they could want, so just because these children are on foreign shores, it really shouldn't make a difference to me. I think of my first week in primary when we did a question and answer time about where I was from - and after me showing them where it was on the map and explaining what my country was called, a little hand poked up, and said as boldly as possible "Well, that's great, but have you ever actually SEEN a whale?" You have to love it!

We are back to the sweltering heat - but it only matches the warmth of the people (awww), but I really mean that, we love the people here, and hope that things will only get better and better from this point on. I finally bought a pair of shorts yesterday, very much a necessity - from Motherhood Maternity- in my condition, sadly you just cant get things anywhere... and it was lovely to wear them in the evening and not feel like I had thermals on in August. You will also be pleased to know that my hands and feet are only a tiny bit swollen, which I am told is excellent considering the heat, and the fact that I spend 70% of my life these days in the car! But its for an excellent cause. I am so proud of Zach for his effort and vision. He is an incredible man (and I can say that without being embarrassed, he's always way too tired to read my blog... lol).

We spent an hour on Daytona Beach yesterday, we were hoping to meet with a journalist who had to reschedule in the end. However, Zach was on the Ormond Beach Radio on Thursday too, which was really exciting, any press is good press as they say.

Ocean Crest Motel

We stayed in Ormond Beach on Thursday night at the Ocean Crest Motel. It was an interesting experience... it was the least expensive, only motel with Internet for 30 miles, and was kind of like going back in time - I half expected someone with a clipboard to knock on the door at 6am and shout HI - DE - HI NEIGHBOUR.., but what was really spectacular about it was the view. True, it was from the parking lot and not from the window.. lol but it was spectacular none the less. The beach in Ormond was so beautiful - only a shame Zach barely got to paddle, and then it was off again. We did, on the way out to find something to eat, have a crazy idea that he was going to go full on swimming, just for ten minutes, and called me a wimp all the way down to the beach because I said I didn't want to get wet passed my knees. When he got down the beach however, it was a different story - being from Britain, I know what its like to swim in the Atlantic... lets just say, so does Zach now... Sorry babe, but air temperature and sea temperature on this side of the US are two VERY different things.... He is so adorable!

Colder than it looks...

I ate flounder for the first time last night - it was the cheapest, healthiest thing on the menu... and I didn't really like it, because I said it was a bit "fishy". Zach thought that was hilarious... "well, it is FISH, you know" was his response. I also found it hard to enjoy... after all, it was Ariel's child hood friend...
(it didn't quite look like that on the plate...)


Right well, I have to run, check out is rapidly approaching - but before I forget, thank you so much to all of you that have donated so far, and to those of you who are still considering it - please, please do it, even five dollars will make so much difference.

p.s. - Zach did point out to me that my blog is ALWAYS full of typos... so if you find any feel free to comment, and I am sorry, but I am almost ALWAYS in a rush... :)

CLICK THE DONATE BUTTON NOW - http://www.lengthenyourstride.org/

500 Miles, Sandy Gnats, Pinching, Golf and a really lovely Weather man.

Ahhhhh its been so long since I last updated this thing - I wish I could just connect the blog to my brain and be done with it. Come on Mr Gates, work your magic.

In the mean time I shall type my ideas... WOW so 2 weeks left to go - we are almost at 600 miles. Zach's out there right now being eaten alive by the bugs here in Georgia, I think it will do him good - should toughen him up a bit. The critter that's eating him for lunch is none other than the illustrious Georgian "Sand Gnat" - they look something similar to this:

(though the Gnat is brown in real-life color - Zach tells me this picture is to scale...)

Well I wrote that 2 days ago and promptly fell asleep. So I apologise for taking so long. Since I last made an entry, Zach has been a very busy bee indeed. We went through Pinehurst, which for those of you non Golfers is where the World Golf Hall of Fame was originally situated, and has since been moved to St. Augustine, but was founded by Zach's Grandpa, Don C. Collett - who might I add, we love very, very much.

Any who, Zach had some old photos, and memorabilia for them, so we went and presented it to the Club's president, Don Sweeting. It was an AWESOME place, and a really fun experience, sadly, I was not well at all and we didn't stay too long. Just as well, I think Zach would have liked to played just the one round... :)

 

Zach and Don at the Putter Boy Statue

Zach also reached his 500 mile mark in Savannah, Georgia. A momentous occasion for him I think. So proud of him, he's a real trooper (DONATE NOW.. :))

ALSO - as many of you know, Duke Basketball team have so kindly donated a Ball and Shirt signed by Coach K and the team for us to auction off to raise more money - so check out Zach's blog for more info - or email us at jzcollett@gmail.com.

Gorgeous ay? Be the best dad ever this Christmas...lol.

Zach had a great time going to see the Duke's Center court too, not a small space. I have to say, it was a little scary standing on a table in my condition trying to take a photograph of him... lol. So donate a dollar, just for my bravery.

I am only 5'2 on a good day.

Well things have been going great so far, last night we stayed at the Holiday Inn, in Jacksonville, Fl (I know - Florida already!?) and it s a seriously lovely hotel. Not only was the room one of the nicest so far but the breakfast was actually so wonderful... after the Quality Inn, in Darien yesterday (not a bad hotel, quite nice really except to them for some reason a continental Breakfast is tinned Pineapple and Bagels - not sure if any one who works there has ever actually been "on the continent...") The holiday Inn had hot biscuits, sausage, scrambled eggs, great yogurt selection, cereal, and just every good complimentary thing you could think of. So thanks Holiday Inn - you're the best - Oh and your towels are lovely and soft too.. mmmm.

Really excited to be back in Florida now though, we are going to our old Ward in Longwood on Sunday which should be a blast from the past - lots of lovely people to miss there, it will be so good to see them. 

Oh my goodness I almost forgot to tell you! Zach was on the news!!! Ok well technically it was the six o'clock weather, but for a first timer he did so good! It was wonderful how it happened, we were at the Georgia State capital, in Columbia taking photographs for Zachary's blog, and we noticed that across the street there was an ABC Columbia studio.. what the heck we thought, so we went and knocked on the door. We asked if they were interested in a story - and they were like, actually, we are doing the weather live from here today, so if you like, you can hang around, and at six you can go on live with the lovely Reg Taylor, the weather guy! IT WAS SO AWESOME!!!  

Here he is with Reg!

Ok well down to the serious aspect now, I know that most of you know exactly what this is for, but until this week, I have to say, I really didn't understand what this money would really mean, and to who it would really mean something.

I came across this picture yesterday, and I guess because I am having my own baby, it really touched my heart, there are so many little babies and children that need our help, they cannot help themselves. 80% of the amputees in Haiti are the age of our Youth and Primary children, under 18 years old.

They are just kids. I guess I this trip has really made me realise that I have so, so much, and my baby will be so blessed, even as far as the land its born in, and the medical and general care that will be available to it. We are so blessed.

Ok well I really have to run, I was supposed to check out half an hour ago! More to come... something with the Magic Orlando team in the pipeline, and Zach will be updating his blog tonight.

Keep in touch with me on facebook - Sarah Louise Elliott Collett, and if you have any questions or any comments or ideas, you can always email me at s.elliott.collett@gmail.com!

And remember - I believe it was Spencer W. Kimball who said (and I paraphrase... alot) It really isnt charity if you dont feel the pinch.

See some of you very soon!

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