gatorcast from paul smith

Today was a wonderful day.  I was blessed to be the God Father for my new niece Madeline Hoel.   It was a beautiful ceremony at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Miami.   The priest spoke about the heart, love and the importance of family.  He said that the heart was only 1 inch from the umbilical cord and that the heart was at the center and that everything revolves around it.   He asked us to consider the idea that the heart, with Love,  gives balance to life .

Today I felt so much love from my family and wondered how people survived without it.   I hope one day to share with my Goddaughter how wonderful it was to be there with her and all of our family.

The family baptism dress.  This was the 24th baby in the family baptized starting with my mom.

Today was a wonderful day. The boys had two Christmas’s today, one at my sister’s house in Lakes by the Bay and the second at my mom’s house in Cutler Ridge.

It was the 1st time in 21 years that I spent Christmas at home with my family in Miami.  A special thanks to my mom and sister for making everything so wonderful for the boys and I.   My entire family has been great and I truly love each and every one of them.

This afternoon everyone gathered in Homestead at my aunt Roberta’s house for Christmas dinner.

Here we are posing in the front living room.

Here we are playing Family Feud on the Wii

And of course the star of the day, Madeline.  It is her 1st Christmas.

Lila, Mary, Mary, Madeline and Rosemary

Yesturday I went down to Miami to be with my sister Rosemary and her husband Rob as they welcomed their daughter Madeline Juliana Hoel into the world.  Here are some pictures at the hospital.  She is just so beautiful!

Today Cameron, Evan, Bobby, Rosemary, Rob and I went to Black Point Marina in Cutler Bay.  It is within a bicycle ride from my sister’s house.   I used to fish here as a kid, way before they built these facilities.

Here is Cam and Evan fishing off the main canal coming off Biscayne Bay.  We waited until the end of the day to have better luck with the fish.  We used frozen shrimp because the tackle store was all out of live bait.  Apparently they went through 4,000 shrimps between 6am and 11 am.

See Mt. Trashmore in the background.

Evan caught the first fish. 

 I think it was a snapper, but not sure. It had light blue lines under it’s eyes, like warpaint.

 Bobby helped dad fish.