Wow! How remiss can I get? We have benefited from everyone's hard work at their blogging and have totally neglected our own. For that I apologize. Things here are well, albeit busy. Beth continues her teaching at a fevered pace and works diligently to keep up with all that is going on in our lives. She keeps herself occupied with watching after Mike, Shelby, Lilly (the stupid new cat that adopted us) and me, Kathy. She also tries to help out as much as possible with Mike's parents, Jack and Sali as they need her. And of course, she still has time for handbells, singing in the choir, and working with the youth group and anywhere else they need her. It is exhausting to watch her...
Mike has been busy at the church wrestling with church budgets and much needed repairs at the church, the fellowship building and the parsonage. He has been working hard to raise money for the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans next summer. Right now he's out delivering pink flamingos and a pink potty to some unsuspecting soul. The idea is that someone pays to have these hideous things delivered to someone's home and they then have to pay to have them removed. Or you can pay $100 for flock insurance and have your name taken off the list. So far the youth group has raised over a thousand dollars with this project. This along with other fund raisers have kept him occupied shall we say. Regular church work, teaching Sunday school, visiting the sick, writing sermons, etc. keep him hopping. He has also started riding his bike again and, once he catches his breath, seems to almost enjoy it...sort of.
The joy of Mike and Beth's life continues to be family. They are anxiously awaiting the birth of Finn, Derek and Katie's newest. Simon's soon-to-be-born new brother. They also talk to Simon and Katie and sometimes Derek on Skype. It is a wonderful invention that allows them the opportunity to see and speak to each other in real time. What a gift to watch Simon grow up each day, even though he lives in Washington state. Sometimes, Shelby and I get in on the act too. Simon will see us and say, "Doggie, Doggie." How cute is that! Annie and Crash are doing good I think. I can't see high enough on the screen to actually see them, but Simon tells me they are swell. And if Simon says it, I believe it.
Josh and Arden, and Abbie of course are doing well in Cherryville. I don't see them as often as I like but everybody's lives are so busy... Arden is still teaching, selling and making Jewelry, and Josh lives at the YMCA or on a ball field somewhere.
Zach and Hannah are enjoying Knoxville. Zach is on internship at Messiah Lutheran Church and working with campus ministry at UT. Hannah is working on her Masters in Library Science at UT as well. Mr Wilson, I think likes it OK. He was here for the weekend, not too long ago, but the whole time he was here he moped around because his mom and dad went to a Clemson game without him.
Jack and Sali face daily challenges, but Mike and Beth so enjoy having them close. This is the first time in their adult lives that they've been able to spend time with each other. Even trips to the Dr. or working around the house are opportunities to socialize, chill out a little, and just be together. What a wonderful gift that is.
Macon and Gin are just up the road a piece, as well. And Mike and Beth get up there as often as they can. They are in relatively good health and have Beth's sister Ginny and her husband Terry around to help out as needed. Beth and Mike too love to visit them in the mountains, to feel the crisp air, and see first hand how everybody is doing.
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