Courtney Turns 11

I apologize to those of you who still look for updates on this site, but we have been extremely busy lately and I just have not found the time to logon and update. So here goes. :-)

We had a great time visiting with Jennifer's extended family on Sunday, May 4th. Everyone thought Courtney looked great and I gave an update on her progress and all the things going on in Kelsey's life these days. We are very proud of both of our girls. Kelsey was asked if she would provide some musical entertainment next year so that everyone can hear her beautiful voice.

We spent a lot of time the next week planning Courtney's 11th birthday party. It is hard to believe that she is now 11. We had her party at Hermitage Lanes and everyone had a great time. We got her a bowling ball so that we can start practicing more to get her ready for her Special Olympics events. She used bumpers this time, but didn't need them very much, and bowled her best game ever. She bowled a 99 with an 8 lb ball. We are going to help her work on strengthening her arm so that she can bowl more traditionally and without bumpers.

A couple of Courtney's teachers and Suzanne from school and a former teacher from church came with their kids, as well as, the Dodd family, our parents, my aunt Charlotte and niece Madison, Jenn's sister and her family, and Taylor. After bowling, the kids played in the arcade for awhile. Since it was Mother's Day and there were several mothers taking time away from their family to celebrate Courtney's birthday, we gave each Mother a single red rose to thank them and let them know how special they are also.

Courtney Goes on School Field Trip to LBL

Courtney took her first overnight field trip with the 4th grade class at her school. They left for Land Between the Lakes (Lake Barkley - Kentucky) on Wednesday morning by bus and returned Friday afternoon.

She did not have any family with her or a private nurse. Ms. Suzanne, her EA at school and Jessica's mom, went as her chaperone/aide. She had a great time fishing, roasting marshmallows, holding crawfish, seeing snakes, and playing with all her friends. Ms. Suzanne took pictures for us and I will post them once I get some of them.

We are headed to a family dinner tomorrow afternoon and then finish planning Courtney's 11th birthday party next weekend. She will celebrate her birthday again this year on Mother's Day (this year it actually is the same day again). We are having a High School Musical theme party at a local bowling alley. Courtney loves to bowl, in fact she has competed the last 2 years in a Special Olympics event for bowling. She got invited to the state competition last year, but her score didn't qualify because her lane had bumpers. We are going to work on bowling without the bumpers this year to see if we can get her qualified.

Continue to keep us in your prayers, as well as my friend Daniel and his family. I mentioned him in one of my previous blogs concerning his 4th child having complications at Vanderbilt. Well, Georgie passed away Wednesday morning and they had a memorial service for him today. They don't have a lot of family close by, so I am sure they would appreciate your prayers. Thank you.

Thoroughly Modern Millie was a big success

The DCA High School Spring Musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie" was wonderful. There were 50 cast members and 30 stage crew (@ 25% of the high school student body) who helped pull off this performance. It is amazing to see the amount of talent that is in such a small school and they keep doing it year after year.


DCA should be very proud of their Fine Arts students, teachers, and everyone else who participated in any way.

Kelsey really enjoyed the whole experience and did an excellent job (if I must say so myself). She is already looking forward to the next production she is involved with.

She has gotten numerous compliments on her performance and everyone really enjoyed the play. Now that the play is over, she will be able to get back to her voice lessons and start working on a duet with Carly (DCA Sr. who was also in the play) to sing at our church.

She has 2 more weeks of school before finals. This past week at the High School Awards Day, Kelsey received an All-Year Distinguished Scholar (President's List) award for making all A's her Freshman year. The Drama/Choir Banquet is Saturday night followed by a cast party at one of the seniors house. They are going to have a bonfire and watch a movie on a screen or sheet outside.

Kelsey also recently got an invitation to attend the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference in Washington DC next January. She got the invitation due to being an alumnus of the National Young Leaders Conference that met here in Nashville last year. With the DCA trip to DC earlier this year and the trip to London, we had to really think about this, but decided this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. She will actually get to be at the inauguration, watch the parade, go to one of the balls, meet some of the candidates, & be part of some political debates. She has already started lining up babysitting jobs to help raise money for the trip.

She is growing up way too fast, but really is a mature young lady who I know will make a big impact someday in whatever she chooses to do.