Here it is again... the Drury Family Update -- it's the one blog you can keep up with since it only has one post a year! Here are updates from the five of us, written by each of us in our own words.
This year was unsurprisingly very important for my life. First, there was graduation from high school in June. While finishing high school was a huge relief, I began my transition to Indiana Wesleyan in August. With a Bible-Theology major, I've finally started to enjoy my classes, even when they're difficult. Now, as Christmas has given me a break after my first semester, I've been able to sit back and get to writing again!
Karina, 16
2019 was a year of growth and maturity for me. I spent most of it being 16 years old and learning the ins and outs of turning something bad into something bearable and good. I have been fainting several times a day. Most of the year has been spent trying to treat and diagnose me. I had a big Sweet Sixteen party with 20 girl friends for my birthday in March and in the summer I continued my Summer Camp job that I run from my house and had many new kids join me. I babysit these new families often too. In July I went to Fairmount Camp as well. In September I was voted into homecoming court. I spent a lot of time with my boyfriend, Luke, and in December I had a visit day for the major "Design for Social Impact" at IWU. In January I plan to publish the book I have written this year!
This year was a rollercoaster! In January I was cast as "Babette" in HIJH’s production on Beauty and the Beast Jr. It was my favorite show I’ve ever done and I made a lot of good friends from it. During spring break with my family, we went to New York. Seeing all of the cool places there really made me want to go again. We went to NYC, The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Chinatown, and even saw Frozen on Broadway! (Later in the year I was in a performance of Frozen Jr. in a local drama club as well.) In April I went with my school’s choir and orchestra to Kings Island. I got closer with a lot of my friends from it and was happy I got to preform with such wonderful people and go on such fun rides. In June, I was in Aladdin Kids at Mount Vernon High School and in the Fall I played the Bishop in Frozen. It was the last year I got to do it so I made sure to make it my best. It was! I made really good friends and got closer with the counselors there. It was one of my favorite shows. In July, it was my Golden Birthday and I turned 14! I celebrated with my best friends and it was so much fun. Later that month, I went to London, United Kingdom with my grandma for about a week. We went to all of the fun places and it was an experience I will never forget. Eighth grade started in August and so far it’s been pretty stressful. But I have gotten closer with my group of friends and am in a lot of fun music classes. I've been able to sing in several choirs, ensembles, duets, and solo performances. In October, my family went to Daytona Beach, Florida. We hadn’t gone to a beach in a while so it was a super fun trip and I definitely want to go again. In December, I was cast as "Mayzie LaBird" in HIJH’s production of Suessical Jr. I am so excited to preform with such talented people and start rehearsals in January 2020. It has been a busy year!
2019 was a very different year for me in many ways. It began early January with The Wesleyan Church Gathering event in Orlando that happens every four years which is always enjoyable seeing friends and family from around the globe. As soon as we got home, I was hired to take over producing the last stages of the "Legends of Pittsburgh" cruise for Steelers fans and players. It was a wild 8 weeks, including also going on the "Faithful" cruise from LA for 49ers fans and players.
I’m in my third year teaching MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) for the 4 and 5 year olds twice a month. A huge highlight for me this year was beginning volunteering at the Fishers library this fall every Wednesday morning for the English as a new language class. Our class has participants come from 18 different countries so far! I was also elected this summer to my second year on the Crossroads District district board.
This fall primarily I adjusted to Max being at college and getting used to our new daily family life with him away, running Lauren to play practices and shows and taking Karina to several medical appointments. We did squeeze in a few IWU football games too!
Dave
2019 included a big emphasis on more strategic planning work in my role with The Wesleyan Church where I continue to serve as chief of staff (now for almost 8 years). I also had key events like The Gathering and Superintendent Institute in January. Late in the year I also had a key Executive Cabinet, XYZ leadership team, and Marketplace Multiplier retreats.
I enjoyed a few vacations with family and speaking at other events and churches around the country. This summer my Dad and I did a nice day kayak trip. It was also nice to be back with my extended family over Thanksgiving in particular this year as I was out of the country last year. I felt led to end my two year writing hiatus and launched back into some projects that have me busy in some free time. I continue to enjoy my bonsai trees as well as board and video games (over Christmas break the three kids and I have been competing in Mariokart!
Closing Note:
We love our trips as a family and this year we used our last spring break together to visit NYC for the first time. A highlight was seeing Frozen on Broadway. We also saw the World Trade Center museum and on the way home we went to Shanksville, PA to see the Flight 93 memorial. Kathy and Max took a mother son trip to Charleston, SC in August, and the girls went with their parents to Daytona Beach for our first ocean trip during fall break. We are ending the year in Cincinnati for the FOLLOW youth conference that happens every four years or so. Thanks for checking out our Drury Family Update this year!
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