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.