May 13, 2008
Oh, wow! School will be out for the summer next week!!! Where has this year gone? Looks like we'll have a busy summer. Youth trips, working in Vacation Bible School, putting new floor coverings in our house, finishing construction of the bath house at our property in Attala County, not to mention keeping up with our own house, yard, and the business -- they boys had better not say they're bored! And construction of the water feature in our own back yard is coming along. The holes are dug, the liner is laid out, the rain has it almost filled, and we've bought and laid out the first pallet of rock--Well, Roy and Joseph have. My guys even have already bought a koi for the larger pond.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! January 1, 2008
I decided to create a "blog" page to update friends and family on our family. Since today is New Year's Day, I thought I'd update you all on the past year in our lives. Check back periodically to see what's happening with us!
As you can see, we have started a business with an online presence. Thanks to this website, our business really took off in 2007. In 2006, Roy and I bought a townhouse to furnish and rent short-term. We had such success that we decided to add a second property in 2007. Added to that were people asking me to manage short-term rentals of their properties, and I became a very busy lady very quickly!
2007 brought much personal sadness for our family. My Mother, who had lived with us off and on since 2005, became ill on Christmas Eve, 2006. She was hospitalized twice in early 2007, once with congestive heart failure, and again with a stroke. In May, she became quite ill with an intestinal blockage. Our prayers for additional time with her were answered when she survived surgery, but she just never recovered. She died at the end of June. Roy's Mama, who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005 and had done remarkably well, suffered a recurrence and was hospitalized in early September. We lost her in October.
Through all the difficulties of 2007, we felt God's hand upholding us and giving us peace. We are so grateful for the additional time we had with our moms. 2007 also brought some restoration of several relationships we felt might never be recovered. I am so often reminded of the saying, "Life is hard, but God is good." Never has that been more meaningful to me than in 2007.
Joseph is in 8th grade and Samuel in 7th grade, both at Oxford Middle School. Joseph has been taking tennis lessons for several years and has been chosen for the Junior Varsity Oxford High School tennis team. Samuel has become quite the football fanatic, and loves all things Ole Miss.
Roy continues in his job as a Quality Engineer with BorgWarner. We also are still staying young by being in and helping teach a Young Married Sunday School class at First Baptist. As both of the boys are now in Youth, we also anticipate participating in many Youth activities and trips over the next few years.
My prayer is that we will all find 2008 to be a year of recognized blessings,
Until next time,
Kay