The Drury Family in the Last Year

Welcome to our family update site – we post here annually on what happened the previous year in each of our lives. Scroll down to see the pics and the details. Be sure to leave a comment here to let us know you stopped by!

General Family Updates from January 1, 2008 through January 1, 2009:
>We moved into our new house on March 8th
>We all attended the Wesleyan General >Conference in Orlando, Florida in June
>While there we also took a vacation to Disney World
>We drove up to Michigan a few times to stay at Kathy’s parent’s cottage
>We spent some time at our district Family Camp in Fairmount, IN
>We met Dave’s new nephew Sam and spent a week with him and his parents (John & Mandy) during their visit in May
>Our kid’s new favorite hobby – to sing along to funny songs on the family iPod (see Kathy’s Facebook profile for videos)

Lauren in 2008 Highlights:
>Turned 3 in July with a “Dora Beach” Party
>Likes to do “hair salon” with her mommy & sister
>Plays dress up constantly (changes clothes multiple times a day)
>Enjoys MOPS group, moms group & Sunday school because she can be with her friends.
>Likes “reading” her preschooler books
>Does not really enjoy coloring (except on the walls apparently)
>She was the first Drury kid to be potty trained – before she was 3
>Lauren rode her first roller coaster this year!

Karina in 2008 Highlights:
>Karina turned 5 on Easter with a “Madeline” party
>Took Tennis lessons in the fall and learned a ton
>Baked cookies and sold them to everyone she knew to help build a well in Zambia
>Took swimming lessons in the winter
>Loves to draw and color for HOURS each day
>Now wears skirts or dresses only 300 days a year (down from 330 last year) – she’s branching out into pants from time to time

>Loves singing and being in the kids choir at church: http://www.facebook.com/video/?id=744746310&s=30&hash=4b64a4b27478849217551df27c511e90#/video/video.php?v=48402346310849217551df27c511e90#/video/video.php?v=48402346310
>Loves to laugh http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=39833511310

Max in 2008 Highlights:
>Had a Lego Party for when he turned 8 in June
>Took Tennis lessons in fall
>Loves school and joined the “program challenge” because he’s good with computers
>Was a part of Upward Basketball (January and February)
>Joined Kids Choir at church (see video above)
>Had a fun “Colts Day” at Lucas Oil Stadium on the field where Peyton Manning plays.
>Mastered Mario Cart on the Wii – no one seems to be able to beat him consistently
>Will have a singing part in the school program this year
>Likes Star Wars again (memorizing the 4 minute “Moosebutter” song about it this year)… see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4&feature=related)

Kathy in 2008 Highlights:
>Moved into new house after picking out all the details for it.
>Landscaped the house shortly after move in.
>Got two other moms together and they now do a Supper Swap each week
>Loves her Mom’s Group on Tuesday mornings
>Joined MOPS leadership this year—doing the publicity & newsletter
>Went to the MOPS conference in Dallas with the local MOPS steering team
>Loved watching the Olympics with the family (including making our closing ceremony meal we do every other year – themed around the ethnic food of the host country)
>And she’s indoctrinating the kids in Olympic Love: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=35947271310
>Known as the “queen of Facebook” by her friends

Dave in 2008 Highlights:

>Went on a marriage retreat with Kathy in September
>Went to the “All Pro Dad” event in Indy on the Colts Field with Max
>Has led the church through a strategic planning and realignment process this year
>Hired two new wonderful pastors at College Church: Thad Spring & Charlie Alcock
>Loves having a great time with the staff and leaders at CWC – the role and environment has been a great fit.
>On the side he taught the IWU Christian Ministry Capstone class for Seniors about to go into the ministry or to seminary.
>Continued working on vacation days with research assistance for Max Lucado and his forthcoming book on fear (included a trip to San Antonio for planning.)
>His grandfather died in August, which resulted in a trip to Arizona for the funeral—good to see his grandmother, aunts, uncles, extended family.
>He surprised brother John in New Jersey for his birthday party in November – showing up by train after already being in Washington DC for a speaking trip
>Plays cards each week in Marion with a bunch of new friends.

Christmas Update -- December 25, 2007

It has been quite the year of transition for us as a family, moving from West Michigan back to David's hometown... Marion, Indiana. We're now living in a rental home next to Indiana Wesleyan University near College Wesleyan Church where David works now as the Executive Pastor. We're building a home in nearby Gas City and expect to move in around February. Thanks for stopping by to see this once-a-year update on our family. Feel free to leave a comment to let us know you came by.

-The Drury Family

Lauren 2007 Update

• Went from not talking at all to talking all the time
• Went from serious to goof ball
• Started to love all things Mickey Mouse and Disney
• Wear play high heals around the house every moment of the day
• Loves her Dora blankie
• Hugs and kisses her brother and sister every day when they come home from school
• Thinks her mother is the queen of the universe
• Thinks her father exists to wrestle her daily

Karina 2007 Update

• Loved going to "Art-itude" -- her amazing art school in Michigan.
• Started pre-school at Lakeview, her Dad's old school in Indiana.
• Had a 4-Year Old "Princess Party" in March. Loved it!
• Draws and does amazing crafts on her own every day.
• Started Ballet classes in Marion from 2 IWU students.
• Had her first Ballet recital in November.
• Getting pretty good at "Finding People" game on the family Wii (the "Druii")
• LOVED going to the cottage in July.
• Has worn a dress on 330 of 365 days in 2007.

Maxim 2007 Update

• In two Spring Lake chess clubs: large one at school and smaller one at the library
• Finished Soccer season in Tri-Cities.
• Fun Star Wars Birthday party in June.
• Started at Northview school in Gas City after moving--loves school.
• Made a great new best friend: Silas Vermilya
• Increases his Wii Tennis ranking every week.
• Loves the new CWC building--like a little Samuel

Kathy 2007 Update

• Sold her house in Michigan in less than 4 months. (Her 3rd success at selling by owner)
• Made plans for a house with Jim D and began building in Indiana.
• A great Tulip Time with all three kids in the street scrubbing parade
• Colts win the Super Bowl... family featured as Tri-Cities Colts Fans in paper!
• Joined MOPS at CWC... an amazing group!
• Helped lead the women's ministry at SLWC
• Her friend Shelly took her on an amazing trip to Disney celebrating her 35th birthday.
• Fun family trip to parents cottage over 4th of July.
• Trip to New York City with Mandy (Sister-in-Law) & Sharon (Mother-in-Law)
• Two sad deaths in the family in January & February: Grandfather Henry & longtime family friend Hazel.

David 2007 Update

Things Dave remembers that were great from 2007:

• The Colts Win! NFL Champs!
• Feeling more and more strongly led to search for an Executive Pastor role in the spring.
• The really special way the staff and people of SLWC sent us off as we were leaving that church. Amazing people there!
• Steve DeNeff hiring me on to join the team at CWC as Executive Pastor--great fit!
• Trip to Turkey with Dad & brother John.
• Six week summer break with tons of family time.
• Researching on the doctrine of Heaven for Max Lucado's message series and book.
• Going to an all-expenses paid night watching the 2007 Colts Season opener--including the unveiling of the Super Bowl Banner!!!
• Excitement of first Sunday in our new CWC building--and enjoying the amazing facilities since then.

Things Dave is blocking out of his mind from 2007:

• The amount of boxes he packed
• The number of times he has moved major appliances around
• The endless trips between Indiana & Michigan in moving trucks
• The times he lost in Settlers of Catan to Rob P & Steve T
• The 4 weeks of transition between our old CWC building and the new CWC building
• Trying to project when a 10 million dollar church building will be completed
• Being sick so much--like never before in his life this year