by Dear Family and Friends:
2008 is winding down and to the delight of many and the horror of a few, the annual Moore family recap has now been compiled. The days of wonder and apprehension have ended. Now let both the cheering and gnashing of teeth that accompanies each such publication begin!
Collectively speaking, everything is well and good with us here in Iola. We all continue to pursue God’s truth, both on our own and at Iola Missionary Baptist Church where we attend faithfully. Some minor changes have occurred on the home front, most notably in that the Wonder Twins are now bunking out in the garage, each in his own room. David also has his own room and the game room is nearing completion as well, which means I will soon have a desk of my own to work at again. The guys did well to make it through 3 years in cramped quarters; the comparative freedom of one’s own space must be a relief to them, much as it is to us, the parents, now that their messes have been disbursed into 3 separate areas rather than gravitating into a single Pit of Doom.
Lately it seems that Mitch and Jake have caught Buck Fever and are filled with a burning desire to hunt for their supper. They were given 12-gauge shotguns as a reward for graduating Junior High last year and are veritably itching to try them out on some game animals. To this end we’re planning a trip to Jim Griffith’s cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan next fall to stalk Bambi. David too is desirous of owning a firearm, a wish that will undoubtedly be granted in the fullness of time, circa 2010.
Sadly, the internal combustion engine remains as much a mystery to me as ever. The result is that both four-wheelers are down and off the premises, under repair. In a way that’s just as well. Recreation was at a minimum this summer because the garage construction project was in full swing. Now that it’s nearly done, I’m hopeful that this year will allow for less work and more R&R.
Monica is completing her 2nd full year of teaching at Iola ISD and – in what has to be a mild surprise to those who know her well – she has not yet given in to the desire to throttle any of the little ne’er-do-wells who grace her classroom with their runny-nosed presences! More seriously, Iola Elementary was recently nominated for a Texas Blue Ribbon school award, which undoubtedly means that excellent work is being done there and I know that she’s been a big part of that success.
In health news, Monica had her gall taken out (gall bladder, that is) and is as a result now said to be even more of a kind, loving, and gentle spirit. She’s recovered nicely, in other words, and is back to her old self again. Among her out-of-work activities she has been leading the Wednesday night women’s group at IMBC and has read every one of J.D. Robb’s paperbacks in print during the last few months. She’s also prepared enough meals and done enough laundry to outfit a squad of Marines, as might be imagined.
Mitch is a percussionist in the Iola band, a crack outfit that is quite good, particularly when ones considers that the secondary school enrollment is only approximately 225, grades 7-12 inclusive. Last spring he won 1st place in the Jr. High area track meet in the mile and 2-mile events (without a great deal of coaching either – football being all-consuming here, you understand). This fall he pulled double duty playing Junior Varsity football as a cornerback and receiver and drums in the band.
Jake plays trombone in the band and placed 4th in the state jazz competition in the spring. He also had a lot of success in 8th grade basketball despite, as he puts it, “fouling out of every gameâ€. This, of course, isn’t true, although his aggressiveness did get him booted once or twice. In track he won the 400m area race and was on the mile relay team that also placed first. Like Mitch he’s in both band and football, in which he plays offensive guard and outside linebacker. Fall is a very busy time for them both.
The Wonder Twins are both regulars in the IMBC youth group and are real-life examples to others of what young men should be. Now, if only they’d wash their own clothes! Other activities they shared this year were the trips to Fort Worth with my step-father Tom Woodfin and to youth camp with IMBC. They’re both in the honors course program at Iola High School.
The three of us spent a wild night together last month, driving to Austin to see a Christian concert with Thousand Foot Krutch and Kutless, then to Bryan for the Great All-Nighter lock-in at TAMU with the IMBC youth, then to San Marcos to see the Iola girls play in the state volleyball championship match, and then back to Iola to crash. 24 hours, 120 decibels, 500 miles, and not much sleep. awesome!
David is in 6th grade this year, his last year of elementary school. He started playing in the band last year and is now getting pretty good with his French Horn. He really enjoys band a lot and I understand that the instructor has high hopes for him in that area. Dave is a straight-A student and this fall he placed 2nd in the area UIL Social Studies competition. He’s also playing basketball in the local Upwards program and I’m coaching his team with Jake’s help. In fact, this team represents the end of an era – with David moving up into Junior High there won’t be any more opportunities for me to coach him directly. He’s growing up on me! Not surprisingly, Dave is eagerly awaiting this summer when he can move up out of the children’s group at church and into the youth where the real actions is. First, though, he’s got to survive this year’s pre-teen camp with me! (Is it really hazing if it’s your own son who is on the laughing end of the pranks?? Hhhmmm…) Be afraid, Dave, be very afraid!
As for me, Marc, I’m nearing the end of my 4th year with the Texas A&M System, meaning that in March I will have held this position longer than any other in my career save one – the dreaded Job That Shall Not Be Named. I have a good position with the System that enables us to live the life we want – and need – here in Iola. We’ve been very blessed to have come here and we couldn’t have done it without TAMUS. Last week I was given the Employee of the Year award there. This was a nice honor that Monica was able to take off from work to receive with me.
I spend most of my free time finishing up the garage construction project, blogging about politics (ne saving the world), and participating in my own activities at IMBC. Unfortunately, fiction writing has largely been on hold this year due to these other commitments; still, I hope to ramp that back up again in 2009, time permitting. I have also largely eschewed running this year in favor of lifting weights with a friend from church and playing basketball with the youth group. This results of this new program? Sore knees, increased strength, and expanded girth! Bummer.
I’ve also been leading the Wednesday night pre-teen group at IMBC, something that’s been a lot of fun for me and, I think, for the kids too (although if I’m going to be totally honest I’m beginning to suspect that a few of them are less than thrilled at the opportunity I’m granting them to learn much-needed, basic self-discipline skills!). It’s also given me a certain perspective on what it means for Monica to be locked in a room with 20 children whom she can’t paddle, despite their desperate need for it! Empathy, it seems, must be learned, at least in my case.
2008 was a year filled with blessings for our family. Many of them have been temporarily forgotten as of this writing, but the residual effect of the goodness of the year’s events and memories linger on in our hearts as we try to move ahead in – and for – God’s world. We pray that this letter finds you and your family in good physical and spiritual health and that you’ll be similarly blessed in 2009.
Marc, Monica, Mitch, Jake, and David Moore
