We have had a great beginning to this summer! The trip to Gatlinburg with the whole family was just wonderful. Great weather, beautiful mountains and precious memories made.
Katelyn is finishing her week at Georgia Camp today. I know this is a very difficult night for her because she just looks forward to this week more than anything else all year long. I am so very thankful that she has the opportunity to make such great friends who love the Lord. I can't wait to hear all about it!
I am trying to get some yard work done. Trimming, planting, washing, moving dirt, just stuff. It's a bit overwhelming, but I like doing something outside that will not get undone immediatly! I'm pretty good at cutting stuff down, but its the making stuff grow that I have a little problem with! We'll see how it goes. Gary tends to plant the stuff that will actually grow. So, I guess I'll have to wait for him!
Do you still work as a camp counselor? I am thinking about it for next year when Benjamin is old enough to go. I am looking at a camp in North Florida where my cousin's children go. It is run by Christians, but not affiliated with FC. It costs a bit less than the FC camps.
We have made it! That wonderful time of year when shcool is over and my children are now my children again. This is the last week before summer officially begins but the girls are already giddy with anticipation of the summer activities.
Katelyn finished her last preformance for the year tonight and only goes parts of 2 days for tests.
Kelli has a couple of tests and misc. things this week and will be surprised Thursday when they award her the "Kids with Character" award for the 6th grade!
David, with the guidance of our neighbor, has started a pressure spraying business for the summer. He is very excited about it and has his first 2 customers lined up.
We had our end of the year program with my little pre-schoolers today. I did fine emotionally until I saw them all up on that stage singing and just being precious. The tears came to quickly to stop them. I was able to get a hold of my emotions by not thinking about anything sweet. And repeating in my head things that had made me mad! By the end of the program I was ok. Then I had to lead them out of the auditorium and go past all of the wonderful sweet parents who have just encouraged me more than I have ever been encouraged and that just did it to me again. When we got outside I was a gonner. The kids were just wide eyed asking why I was crying and I couldn't tell them it was because I would miss them so much, so I just kept crying and found someone to take them back to the room while I got myself together. Somehow I was able to dry those tears and puffy eyes and go back into the reception. What a day!!
Next week is Gatlinburg with our family,my parents and brother. We are really looking forward to that!
Hey! I can totally relate to the emotions of the preschool goodbye. I have felt especially close to one particular class this semester. I felt a bit sad to say goodbye to the seniors today. We teachers pour out our heart to our students. They almost become family. Have fun in Gatlinburg! I sent John a birthday card, but I didn't call him. Please tell him hello from me!
I can SO understand all the emotion, Mary! I can also remember that wonderful feeling of having my kids back! I have truly enjoyed having Laura at home with me, though. We spend many, many hours together and have gotten so close! I still want to get together for lunch so we can catch up! Have a wonderful time in Gatlinburg! Love you!!
Another Birthday. Another number. Another year has past. I've been thinking about what a wonderful year this has been and thought I would just jot down a few to share.
*-David began dating a girl, Aimee who would open our hearts in wonderful ways.
*We began construction on the additon to our house.
*Transitions with my children were enormous. David getting ready to go to college, (where would he go,is this the right place,what will he do, WILL HE NEED ME) Katelyn wanting to go, go, go, go,....which is good but made me weary. Kelli leaving the little girl stage right before my eyes. She was headed to Middle School-- how can I protect her?
*I got my own little class at the pre-school teaching 4 year olds. I have had the most wonderful time with these 13 little ones. To say that they have filled my heart and my arms is only the beginning of what these precious children and their sweet mamas have done for me. They have filled an emptiness that I didn't realize was so great.
*A new "heart friend" has been made. Aimee's Mom has amazed me with the openness of her heart to God's word like I have never seen before. She has a true hunger and thirst for righteousness that is what I long to have. We have had wonderful discussions on faith and beliefs and they have all been done with a gentleness that had been a pleasure, rather than scarry. She has helped me to grow in my knowledge and I pray we will continue to help each other.
*The construction is finished-It was very hard. It was not fun. It was very stressful. I wanted to yell at people I didn't know. I wanted to hit some that I did know. However, it was worth it! And no one was injured.
*And I think the best part of this year is right now. Because right now, I know that David went to the right college and I can see him maturing both Spiritually and in responsibility. I see Katelyn making wise decisions about her friends. Hard, painful ones, but the right ones. She wants to be a Faithful Christian woman with her whole heart and is committed to that. She has the sweetest disposiion in all that she does and is just a pleasure to be with. And our little Kelli is still our little Kelli. She is growing up but with that her personality is just abounding. She has a sense of compassion for people that is so beautiful to see. Her sense of humor helps to make people at ease and to bridge the gap in ages.
I love these children. To think that God loves me even more than this is so incredibly humbling. I think I will thank him right now!
What a wonderful update. Katelyn sounds like your mom!
Gald you surivived the addition and didn't kill anyone and still feel it was worth it. WE((Me really, since Allen is in Indonesia) are in the of an addition the other day. The poor builder last Thursday, I looked at something--then looked at him at started crying. Needless to say we are changing that something! Oh, for Allen to return.
What a wonderful update! And, SURELY you jest about Kelli being in MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!!! NOOOOO!! Tell me I'm not this old!! PLEASE TELL ME!! :) LOVE YOU!!
Loved your newest post! I hope I can meet your family one of these days. And, yes, Lacey is a good friend of ours from church. Her brother is my son's age and they are big buds. Lacey is wonderful! Do you know her from camp? Several members of the church sing at a nursing home once a month. I am not entirely in my "comfort zone" with a lot of the patients, but Lacey can work the room! She is hugging and chatting with absolutely everyone with no fear. I really admire that about her. She will be a tremendous worker for the Lord.
Well, I actually wrote a very long update in September, but when I pressed enter, it vanished. So... I just haven't gotten back around to writing another one!
David has had a good start at UAB. The classes and teachers have been encouraging and I think he has even enjoyed going! Not at all as frightning as my imagination had me thinking!
Katelyn is having a great 10th grade year. She enjoyed marching in the band at football games, but is now ready for band to be over. She is in a play next week: Annie Get Your Gun. She has a solo!!! She screams. Very loudly. We, or course, are very proud!
Kelli has made the transition to middle school triumphatly! The first day in the classes she tried to meet everyone. One boy wouldn't tell her his name so she said ,"I'll just call you Bob" And introduced everyone to "Bob". At the end of the class, he walked by and said "It's Austin." She just keeps us laughing every day!!
I'm teaching 4 year olds at a pre-school in our area. I have 13 students and just love it! Every day I come home with a funny quote from one of the children. I really didn't think I would enjoy the whole teaching thing again, but I have enjoyed everything about it.
Gary is working hard at ATT. Keeps him busy busy busy!!
Maybe my next entry will be a bit more interesting!
Your kids aound wonderful! I hope to meet them sometime. Teaching preschool has always been appealing to me. Our little girl is also 4 and loves preschool. I teach high school math part-time. High school kids aren't quite as cute and sweet as 4 year olds, although I do have a particularly nice bunch of students this semester.
What congregation do you go to? My mother-in-law worships at Sun Valley. We either go there when we visit her or go to Clay, where my husband's cousin goes.
Hi Mary...I still hope to get together when I'm in B'ham!! I miss you! Hey, go see if you can get the new video on my blog to play..It is SO cute! (a little guy at our songleading class)
HEY mrs mary !!! how are ya??? man i didnt know you were on pleo :) thanks and i have had a good day :P hows life treating you ? i miss all of yall ! were all going spring break to look at state and the church my parents went to for lindsey ! ahh time goes by way to fast !
Mike comes home after every Bible class telling a story about Kelli...always good of course! He really enjoys teaching that class. The Bob story cracks me up.
June has been the busiest month of the year for about 18 years. This is no exception! With all three of the kids birthdays, Gary's birthday, our anniversary and Fathers day-all within 10 days, it gets a little tricky to keep up the addrenalin! Now add Georgia camp for David and Katelyn, RYC for Kelli and Alabama camp for the girls and I and there you have a full June! Oh yea--VBS too. But now, we are on the last of the celebrations, and it has been very good. (An extra trip for Katelyn to six flags tomorrow to meet her Georgia people will help to seal her wonderful June) The excitement that comes with the kids getting to know others and renewing and making stronger the friendships that they already had is just priceless. They have to make enough memories in these few weeks to carry them through the school year- and I do believe they are making an extra effort in this assignment this June!! I am tired! But Katelyn told me today that I'm a good Mom and "Thanks for taking me so many places" You can imagine how much that did for my heart!!
Camp for me was just as uplifting as it was for the kids. New friends were made and the girls that were mine for week were just wonderful. I went into it hopeful, but apprehensive. I left uplifted and feeling pretty good that I only said two really dumb things! Well, maybe three, but that one not as obvious.
Wow a lot has gone on in JUne for y'all! Thank you so much mom! It really would mean a lot since I haven't gotten him to come with me! I will be sure to find out their address and give you the phone number! I love y'all! When are you all coming to visit?
Hi. This is Marshall Reid from the Edwards Lake congregation. I met your daughter at camp and wanted to say she is an extremely sweet girl. Also, my brother (Chris Reid), told me that your brother is John Wood. He was my very first counselor at FC camp 25 years ago! I would love to catch up with him and was hoping for some contact info. Would you mind letting me know where he is these days and how I can get in touch with him? Thanks!
Didn't realize you were at camp too. I suppose I saw you at some point but considering how long it's been since I've seen you or anyone else in your family, I don't think I would have recognized you.
Yeah, Becca's pretty sweet. Glad you had fun with her. She just turned 11 on Wednesday.
Btw, can you please set me straight on who's who in your family? Katelyn told me, but I forgot. Which Huggins are you married to? I remember the names Lynn and Derek I think but don't know how they fit into the picture. One of them preached in Thomasville which is where my dad grew up, so every time we went to visit my grandparents when I was younger, we'd see him at church. Also, wasn't there an Abbie(sp?) Huggins at camp? Where does she fit in?
Thanks for straigtening me out. I guess there's no Derek, then, huh? Don't know where that came from. One more question about the Huggins'. Who preached in Lincoln, NE after Larry Rouse left? Was that Horace or Lynn? Or is that someone else?
Thanks for telling John I said hello. Many fond memories of camp with him.
Hey. It's been so long since communicating with you that I had to review old posts to remember our connection. You said, I believe, that my cousin Suzanne Hartsell was in your wedding? Do you know what's become of her? Also, did you say Julie Whisenhunt Findley was one of your roomies at FC? Now, why, are you called Butterflymama?
Thanks for answering. I'm sorry to hear she's not faithful. I didn't even know she had any children, much less 4! Did you know that Beejay is my cousin too? You still haven't explained why you're called Butterflymamma.
Mary! I stumbled upon you! This is Jeannie (Cannon) Balentine. How are you????? Your brother keeps me updated somewhat about you, but you can fill me in. How old are your kids? What are they doing, etc. Do you work at the Alabama camp every year? My oldest, Benjamin, will be able to go in 2009, I think. I hope to be a counselor then when he goes. Update me when you can!
