A Smashing Success

Well, it's May and the year is almost over.

We are into parade season, alumni weekend, the Military ball and of course the end of school.

Wil and Maggie had a great time at the ball. Maggie's friend Kelsy had a good time with Miles and he's even planning on visiting her over Mother's Day weekend (his parents are stationed in Japan, so his mom won't be left out . . .).

All the parades during parade season are different and very well done. On Mother's day we were allowed to go to the field and wave to our sons and get up close and personal photos as they marched by. Very special.

Wil has exceeded everyones expectations academically and made the honor roll all five terms.
It has been a hard year on all of us, but very fruitful.

We have given Wil the choice this time as to whether he will return to FUMA or not. His deadline for a decision was Mother's day weekend.
He told us that there's really very little that he likes abut FUMA. The rules are stupid, the food is incredibly awful, the shoes and uniforms are ridiculously uncomfortable and most of the cadets are stupid and spoiled. But, he also said he liked football and LaCrosse and knows that he can't get these kind of grades any where else.
He has asked us to go ahead and send in the deposit for year two at FUMA.

He is such a good kid.

The Hope of Spring

Ah, pretty girls, Military Balls and LaCrosse. What could be finer.

That dreadful winter is now past and Wil gets to train and run around outside and play LaCrosse. The team has a pretty poor record but Wil loves the game and loves being out doors (finally) and we can go and see him play occasionally so the universe is righting itself again.

The yippee dogs have been severely chastised and Wil is breathing a little easier and not looking over his shoulder all the time.

Then, there's the Military Ball.
Fancy uniforms and fancy girls! Wil has asked a good friend, Maggie Burke, to attend the Ball with him this year. He is very excited. He has asked another friend Cadet Miles to go with him so Maggie can bring a friend and share the fun and attention.

I will post pictures eventually.

The Discontent of Winter

This has been an incredibly difficult winter.

Wil signed on for wrestling because everyone said he would love it. Well, wrestling was fun but . . . he got injured early on and couldn't train/wrestle. Then, when he could train, you had to win a wrestle off in order to compete - and he never won a wrestle off - therefore he never got to compete. He was always in doors and the yippee dogs continued to get under Wil's skin compounding the frustration and difficulties.

You add to that, that there was no leave in February and you have one pretty tired, sad cadet.

The redeeming moment came as he yet again made the honor roll. Yea Wil!

Academic Leave

FUMA rewards cadets who make The Honor Roll (B's) or The Dean's List (A's) for two terms in a row, with a special "Academic Leave weekend". Wil stands in the photo with Dennis Engel, a 17 year old Junior, who came home with Wil for the weekend.


We're very proud of Wil for his achievements and this weekend was about rewarding him for his hard work. The boys had fun shooting their new air rifles, playing video games, eating, sleeping in and hanging out.









Wil got to watch his movies, eat his favorite foods, play his favorite video games, all weekend, all in recognition of the hard work done well, in the middle of FUMA's austere environment.

Please pray for Wil - he's in the middle of Western Civ this term ... and the classes keep getting harder.

Whoosh!

Yep, Whoosh! Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's - Whoosh!

It all went by so fast. Thanksgiving came and went in a blur. Even though it was Wil's first Major Leave home, I blinked and he was back at school. I picked him up on 18 Nov, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Robert was in Calif., Maggie was on a retreat and Charlie was out scouting so, Wil spent the weekend with his friend Joey. Monday and Tuesday was good "get reaquainted time" and then whoosh! Gianna came down from Cornell for a visit starting Wednesday (the girls went to see The Nutcracker at The Kennedy Center that night), Thanksgiving was Thursday, Gingerbread Houses was Friday, Astronomy Night with the Scouts for the boys was Saturday and the girls baked and baked and baked . . . Sunday we had church and then Gianna went back to school and WIL TURNED FIFTEEN!! Monday, Wil went back to school and the next thing you know it's the end of the term and...Wil made the Honor Roll, AGAIN!!! Yea Mr. Wil!

Did I mention that it's Christmas Leave . . . I picked Wil up on16 Dec and it was sooo good to see/hug on Mr. Wil. We had planned to go away for Christmas week so his first week home Wil spent a lot of time doing dinner and visiting with his friends. On 23 Dec, we headed out for Satellite Beach, Florida. It was a great drive down (18 hours) and a fantastic visit with our good friends the Wests. We swam in the ocean, went to the Kennedy Space center, played games and really enjoyed our Christmas Vacation.















On the way home (12 hour detour) we went to Decatur, Ga and met the kids' cousin Abigail Elizabeth Collins or as we like to call her - Abilizzie. On Saturday we spent some great time visiting with Ma in her new home and the Sr. Turners in theirs. On Sunday we stopped by the cemetary to see Papa's grave site and then we headed home.

12 hours later we arrived in Stafford, Va. Just in time for a New Years Eve Party with the neighbors and then sleeping in on 1 Jan. Tues. Robert went back to work and of course Mr. Wil went back to school. The routine always includes a haircut, snack shopping, laundry and then the long drive back to Fork Union. Although, now that I've driven down and up a great part of the Eastern seaboard, what's 4.5 hours round trip? Whoosh.