The “Drury Five” 2012 Year in Review

Arizona hiking trip

2012 was a year when a few things changed in a big way for our family and a lot of things were the same, or, one might observe, a year in when we kept on changing in the same old ways. We went to Arizona to celebrate Great-Grandma Wilma Bailey’s 90th birthday (David’s only living grandparent) along with the extended family out west who are a blast to be with. We vacationed at the summer cottage with Kathy’s family in Michigan. We invented a few new silly games to play with the kids in the car, and noticed the kids coming up with some innovative ways to play that the adults would never have thought up. We were glued to one of the most important quadrennial spiritual experiences in the life of the “Drury Five”: the Olympics in London. Oh, and another quadrennial event, General Conference, came along in Lexington that changed David’s work life quite a bit (more on that below. We will live in the same house and the kids all go to the same schools. We attend the same Church that we love. The girls still love watching baking shows and the guys still love playing computer games together. And every member of the Drury Five still loves the other four as much as ever—even if a certain preteen boy is growing more and more annoyed by the sisters who outnumber him.

Here below, is a recap on each of us this year:

Lauren's Olympic Birthday

Lauren is now seven years old and we find her singing alone when she thinks no one is watching all the time. Her singing is quite a skill considering how many times the tooth fairy had to show up this year. After years of battling with the willpower of her bicycle (and her trainers) she finally allowed them both to carry her on wheels—and she’s now off to the races. She loves playing school and playing with friends. She loves to make art and make people laugh. All of which she is very good at.

Halloween costume (a well-travelled suitcase)

Karina is now nine years old and helps lead worship for SPLASH at church, one of her favorite things. She finds worship songs on the internet to help her practice. She was involved in all kinds of art classes after school, at Taylor, and also with an art tutor/teacher she has sessions with (along with Lauren). There are no secrets much kept from Karina, as she quietly observes all that’s happening around her. We often “share news” with her that she’s somehow surmised long ago. She really should be recruited by the CIA. Perhaps she already has been.

Just chillin

Maxim is now 12 years old and attending the youth group at church. He went to camp this summer and he attends the R. J. Baskett middle school in our town. He continues to love playing computer games, drawing some amazing sketches freehand, listening to music, and some computer animation on the side. He has turned out to be quite the hilarious comic, making jokes about everything from politics to his parents. Due to contractual obligations negotiated by Max, all social media postings concerning him or quoting him by his parents must now be approved, including this one. [#ImMaxDruryAndIApprovedThisMessage]

Hiking in Luddington, MI

Dave & Kathy are now older than they would like to admit. Jo Anne Lyon appointed Dave as her Chief of Staff in June. He commutes to Indianapolis each weekday. Dave returned to online writing this year and has authored two books with a 2012 release, and others on the way in draft stages. He continues to edit other people’s work, and help with the research of some other books that have released this year and others that are coming out soon. Kathy is deeply involved in the marketing and arrangements for Dave’s writing and speaking, including usually travelling with him on speaking engagements to run the book table process. Kathy loves gardening in our back yard and staying connected to other people on her iPad or in person with friends at Starbucks, two of the few things she can’t do at the same time—since she’s the consummate multi-tasker. Dave has enjoyed reconnecting with many old friends in his new line of work, usually making phone calls to pastors for one hour each day, many of whom he already knows. Kathy volunteered with Kids Hope and also chips in where needed in the community and at Church. They are getting used to their new lives where they are not a “Pastor and wife.” They miss that greatly--roles to be treasured and honored. But duty called (more importantly, Jo Anne Lyon called, and she’s got a way about her!)

Thank you, friends, for stopping by this once-a-year update on the Drury family. We are the most infrequent but consistent blogging family on the planet. And you are a good friend for stopping by here to stay up on our lives! So, how are you doing?