Well folks, I have epically failed in getting this thing out. I’m giving myself one more chance to get my act together with this thing then I will have to fire myself and give the publishing duties to someone far more disciplined than me. Anyway, qucik update before you get to read what everyone was doing in June. Brittany and I loved St Lucia, it really is a ridiculous place. We climbed the Gros Piton (the tallest peak on the island) and we snorkled around some beautiful reefs. Now we are just crushing it (life as a whole) in Atlanta. Brittany has now started at Chrildens of Atlanta and is really enjoying it. So she is saving lives and I am trying to get steel from Canada to Atlanta.
I love you all and seeing ya’ll at the wedding was really special,
Justin
Kate
Well the last time we wrote an article was in February (ahem, Justin?). SO there is much to be said. Well sort of. I, obviously, am living the teacher’s dream of summer vacay. Brian is working as hard as ever in anticipation of proposing his dissertation this summer. WOOHOO! I polished off another year of teaching first grade and it ended decently. We made gains, but didn’t see the achievement I would have liked. That is common with Title I schools, though. I also have to remember I took on 3 students in the middle of the year from other classrooms, two of which were moved to me due to behavior, the other for academic reasons. That was a BIG added challenge. I will be in first grade one more year and then we’ll be off to wherever the job takes us! So, yay for summer! We took a trip to visit Brian’s Dad in Texas over Memorial Day weekend. It was great to see him, but we had some really big discussion on life plans that weren’t as fun. He has improved slightly since Brian saw him in January, but it was very sad and evident to me that he had had strokes. Pray for him that he would continue to see healing and that he would stay out of harms way while his roommate is at work and he is home alone. Pray that he wouldn’t have anymore strokes, too. Back in Knoxville, we are doing just dandy. I have taken on the Ryan Dunne Weight Loss Program(from here on referred to as the RDWLP) and it is miserable. I have conned Jennifer into doing the RDWLP with me. We work out hard and eat way too healthy. Brian runs marathons.. so we will leave that there. Brian is already looking for job openings as they come in. In October there will be a big conference and that is when it gets serious (it’s in Oralndo.. wink wink to Mike and Lucy). Pray for him as he works on his dissertation and the perfect jobs to open up! Last Call: This is you last year to come visit and be an hour away from THE Great Smoky Mountains with a free place to stay!! Shout out to April and Joe who we recently lunched with in downtown Knoxville. We had a fab time. (we also saw Lucy and Mike in the fall.. holla) Can’t wait to party with you peeps on the lake! Besos
Uncle Merritt
Its been a busy spring and start of summer.I have been working in Nashville Tn for the last couple of months and it has been very nice. It is close to Birmingham and its an area I have worked in often over the years. We have been to Orlando to visit the Aitcheson’s once and I have been by myself once when I was in Valdosta. Riding bicycles with Leah brings back a lot of memories of riding in Carrollton and Calloway Gardens with you guys . We also met the Aitcheson’s in Destin for a couple of weekends at the start and end of their vacation. We had a blast eating chocolate angels at the doughnut hole and seafood at Dewey Destines. We had an interesting trip to Atlanta to take Lynne and her children to the airport. they had to be there at 4:30 am central time. The alternator quit working on her car about 8 miles into Georgia, by God’s grace we made it to the airport running on the battery and they made the plane. I dropped them off at the terminal and made it around to the parking deck but not into a parking place when the van died. Pedro and I had to install a new battery and alternator in an the auto parts parking lot. Lynne and the kids made it to Pedro’s house in Mexico before we got the alternator on. I have spent Father’s Day weekend in New Orleans with the Nabors. Annette and Helen had a gymnastics conference and Cory, Will, Luke and I have enjoyed riding the trolley, eating beignets and candy and walking trough the French Quarter listening to the street musicians. I am so thankful for my father for he taught me so much about life and how to live. He talked about it some, however, he lived it so well. When I was a teenager working for Dad I went to Crane co. often to pick up things we needed and someone would tell me about how blessed I was to have a father like my dad. They would say there are not many men like him, I must agree. I love all of yall and can’t wait to see you at the wedding.
Helen
Hey guys! So I am finally sitting down to write my article… First let me apologize to Justin for first not sending an article on time and then not just once, but twice tell him I was going to send one and not do it. Please forgive me Justin! Where to start… I am not sure where I last left off the last article I wrote. To start with, I am so thankful for the husband God has given me. He’s an amazing father to our boys and an amazing husband – I am forever grateful! I am also so thankful for the father God gave me – I’m so thankful that I had an earthly father that is an example of our heavenly father! Each year I realize more and more how blessed I am – I took for granted the fact that I had a father that showed me a picture of what my heavenly father was like. I am also so very thankful for my two grandfathers – both also showed a love for family and for Jesus in a way that depicts our heavenly father – to be surrounded by the hands and feet of Jesus… Happy Father’s Day to ALL!!! So what has been going on in the Nabors’ house lately…. Let’s see, I’ll start from Ryan’s wedding on. As you all know, I was unable to make it to Ryan’s wedding. Thankfully, Cory and the boys made it 🙂 I was sad to miss out, but I am excited about the progress our girls are making and really our team as a whole (staff, gymnast, etc). So since Ryan’s wedding, I’ve also been in Kissimee for level 9 Eastern’s – that was mother’s day weekend and thankfully all 3 of my boys got to make that trip with me! Will, Luke and I left on a Wednesday (we drove) and Cory met us there Friday night (he flew). I had girls that had practice on Thursday and competed on Friday and Sunday. That left Saturday for us to spend together. We were about 30 minutes from Lucy and she was able to bring her girls over to the house we had rented (cheaper than a hotel) and we spend the day together. The best part is we had no where to go and we were on no schedule – so we just let the kids play in the pool and we got to catch up. Thankfully her kids enjoy the water, so it helped my boys see how much fun the pool was. We headed home on Sunday after our last session. Then that following Wednesday I headed out to Iowa for level 10 nationals. I was there until Sunday – our senior qualified for nationals. It was sad thinking it was her last meet with us, but I am excited for her future at Mizzou! Then the following Friday (Friday before memorial day), we headed to Sanibel – that Friday was also our 5th anniversary so it was fun to go back to the place where we spent our first week together as husband and wife. The boys loved the beach and I’m looking forward to having a week with my family at the beach. We spent the entire week in Sanibel and didn’t come home until Sunday, May 31st. It was much needed family time! Then summer started… the first weekend of summer we had a workshop at our gym on Friday – 8-5, then Saturday was our annual state awards banquet. Then Saturday night we celebrated my birthday and got to go to church on Sunday 🙂 yay! Then the following Thursday I left for Las Vegas for a gymnastics camp – it was the best one I have ever attended. We have some gymnast that would like to become an elite one day so it was a camp that helped you learn how to become an elite. I took 3 gymnast and two other coaches with me. It was a weekend full of information but so motivating and exciting! But I missed my boys like crazy! So this weekend (Father’s day) which was the weekend following my birthday that I spent in Vegas, was regional congress in New Orleans and my mom and I brought my dad, Cory, Will and Luke with us. They have had a blast!! Riding trolley’s has been a highlight. It’s 10:00 in New Orleans and Will is telling me how he wants to go ride trolley now. Luke has crashed but Will is waiting for me to go to bed with him 🙂 But I promised Justin an article and an explanation of why I have not sent one in yet… As for Cory, his work has been super crazy as well! He’s working his tail off and I am so thankful to have a husband that wants to not be a boss that yells orders, but to be one that is down doing the dirty work with everyone. One that is being the hands and feet of Christ even at the job site – I am so blessed! Will and Luke are obviously growing so fast 🙂 as all parents say. Will loves to sing and he uses our tripod as a microphone. He also loves riding his bike, going to the park, finding any type of mighty machines, and copying his daddy 🙂 Will puts on gloves and goes to cut the yard and weed eat and blow the leaves…. Luke loves to sing as well, but he also seems to love balls. He wants to be with Will do everything and anything Will is doing. He has learned to ride his balance bike and wants so badly to keep up with Will. I have to apologize to Lucy and Lynne for being so ugly when they wanted to do things “like” me. It’s so precious and sometimes Will is so kind and other times he is so ugly about Luke. But I know I was as well, so Lucy and Lynne – I am sorry! I am blessed to have two happy boys – they smile most often 🙂 and they give the best hugs! Of course they are my boys so I could go on and on about them – all 3 🙂 And I have my wonderful family to thank for all the prayers you’ve prayed for me and all the times you stood by me, even when I didn’t deserve it. Thanks for loving on me and giving me grace and believing in me! I look forward to Justin and Brittney’s wedding! And then our Burgin family is heading to the beach! I am reading the book the Circle Maker by Mark Batterson – if you have never read it, it is a must read! He also wrote With a Lion in a pit on a snowy day – another must read! Ok, so my article has gotten lengthy. I have many stories to share but that is for another day. LOVE TO ALL!!!!!!!!!
Jennifer
Hello family,
Well I hope everyone is having a great summer. I miss everyone and hope to see all of yall soon(maybe 4th of July? If not, then Justin’s wedding!) Basically all I have been up too lately this summer is going to the lake and sitting at home. Aka being lazy but it’s been fun hanging out with my mom and bugging her all day. But for the rest of the summer I am doing an internship at UAB medical center doing healthcare design! I start on June 11 and I’m excited to start it! I am not sure yet what I’ll be doing exactly but I will update yall on that later! Well that’s about all I have so love yall and can’t wait to see yall soon!
-Jennifer Terch
Tricia
Summer is in full swing in the Duff household! Bryan is thrilled to be finished with school and be home for the summer, and the girls are equally excited to have him to play with each day. It’s going to be a typical summer around here…the beach, VBS, and lots of time at the pool (maybe at least one of the kids will learn to swim this summer). Also, Tim and I will finally be in our foster care/adoption class! After our first one was postponed and eventually cancelled and the second one being at a times we couldn’t attend, we are praying that the third times the charm. Once we complete our class and turn in all of our paperwork, we will be able to begin the home study process. We are very excited to be moving forward on this journey and are always appreciative of your prayers as we know that this can be messy and difficult at times but also joyous. Looking forward to seeing you all in July as we celebrate Justin and Brittany! Love you! The Duffs
Aunt Madee
To All:
I write this article today with mixed emotions. After many months of turmoil, I have made the decision to stay in Tallahassee. Grandy has so generously and graciously offered me a room with her,too. So, I will be moving some bedroom furnishings April 11th to Birmingham. I look forward to being able to visit with you when you visit Grandy. I will be there for Justin’s wedding in July; but unfortunately, I will have to miss Ryan’s in April.
I sold my house to the “first lookers” for asking price. Actually, I sold it before it went on the market!!
I will move to a continuing care community here in Tallahassee. The community consists of about 700 people. The name is Westminster Oaks – WMO for short. It is affiliated with Florida State University, and Tallahassee Community College. This being the case, both FSU and TCC offer courses on WMO campus- FREE of charge- with NO grades assigned – doesn’t that sound like an ideal arrangement!!! Also, FSU and TCC provide entertainment for/and on the grounds of the WMO community – such as, plays, operas, lectures, etc. – the same as offered on their campuses – buses are available for other events.
My apartment is only 1100 sq.ft. on the second floor. The bay window looks out on a wooded area full of azalea and wisteria and trees. (And, of course, squirrels!!). I have been busy trying to downsize!! This has been very difficult to make decisions on what I need – and can FIT- in exactly half as much space as I have now!
As, I am sure you have learned – making decisions about the direction of one’s life does not come easily.– and particularly, when one must weigh the minuses and plusses of doing so. The big minus for me is: I will be farther away from dear Grandy and from being with each of you more often. This comfort and enjoyment are immeasurable.
The plus side for me is that I will be here with all my doctors and friends I have actively made over these 39 years of living in Tallahassee. Our dear,dear Tricia and family are here also. I will not have the driving issue of living in Birmingham. Also, by moving to WMO, I have insured the care I might need as I grow “older” – I will be 90 my next birthday – but I still feel young – and do not often think of this as “a plus”!!
Please keep me in your prayers as I make this major move, and start my new life without Uncle Abe – I love you all very much and look forward with much joy to staying with Grandy on longer visits and seeing you more often. I have scheduled my move to WMO for April 27th.
I love you each and all,
Aunt Madee
burginfamilynewsletter 