Hello family! It is rare that I send an update, but I thought I would take a few moments while the house is empty and before the rush of school gets in full force. I'm not much for brevity so pardon the length.
All is well in Columbia right now. Here's what each of us are doing:
Becca (14, rising freshman)
*running cross-country
*taking tennis lessons
*enjoying lots of social time with various friends! (Talking and texting ALL the time!)
*Becca and Mark are currently on a "Road Trip Mission Trip" with some of our youth. They have been traveling all over SC doing different service projects each day in a different city around the state. They spend their nights in churches and hit the road each morning. It's given them a taste of the local needs whether it be working in soup kitchens, helping at food banks, doing yard work, or ministering in nursing homes. Everyone is having a great time!
Thomas (15, rising sophomore)
*running cross-country
*finished #1 in his freshman class out of 416! (Proud moment!)
*has daytime driver's license
*Just got back a week ago from Nicaragua last week. He and a group of our youth went on a mission trip with Chosen Children Ministries and had the privilege of working with the people the people there. It was a wonderful experience for all of them and gave many of them a vision for the world beyond themselves.
Mark
*continuing to work for Shelby Systems software company
*trying to get out of jury duty in a couple of weeks
*working with middle school youth
*having front 2 teeth removed next week to prepare for implants! (moral: don't get your teeth knocked out playing baseball as a teenager 'cause when they put them back in they won't last!)
Paige
*officially started work on Wednesday (preparing to teach first grade)
*making the switch from public school to a private school called Ben Lippen (Scottish for "Mountain of Trust") along with Thomas and Becca (We'll all be together on the same campus allowing me to be much more involved)
*working with middle school youth
*trying to manage life! :0)
Well...that's about it for us! Below is a picture of "the cousins" taken at the beach during the 4th of July.
Love "y'all"!
Paige
