What a week!

I went to Greenville last weekend. I don't think I've even had time to post about that experience, but it was GREAT.
* I flew into St. Louis on Friday morning around 9:30 (that meant I had to leave Waco around 5 in the morning - yikes! it was a good drive, but a little scary - dark and a lot of fog!). I got to the airport about 45 minutes before my flight was to depart, but made it to the gate without injury and thankfully caught my flight.
* Sue Groves picked me up and we spent a few glorious hours together chatting and getting caught up. I am always encouraged by her.
* I spent the early afternoon in Jo's Java on campus. I chatted with some friends and worked on some homework in between people (ok, mostly I chatted...)
* Maura came up from Edwardsville around 2:30 and we enjoyed an hour-long stroll around Greenville, really getting a good visit in and talking about graduate school, loving our neighbor and creating environments which honor all people. She is such a mature young woman and I was glad we had time to visit!
* Maura dropped me off at Liz's house and Liz and I visited until it was time to head to the Sr. dinner. Matthew woke up while I was there and he is a HOOT!
* The Senior Football dinner was a surprise for the players. They arrived at Durley camp and all of their families were there, the coaches and their families, and Kess and I, too! It was so wonderful to see the parents again! These parents are the ones who started the Parent's Booster Club - which quickly became "EPAPP: Every Parent a Panther Parent." It was a vision of mine and Scotty's to see this group form and begin to support the program in an organized way, and these parents, with the help of a few others whose sons were upperclassmen at the time, jumped right in and did it better than I ever could have imagined. At the same time, they were like parents away from home for me. And when I think of hugs from Doug Dahnke, and the happiness on his face when he sees me, I still get emotional. I'm grateful for all those parents and the love they have for the players and staff!
* I'll post a pic of me and the seniors (minus one, who had to leave for a short time) later. It was especially neat for me to see these men - who were Sophomores when I left Greenville and who I only saw one day last year - as Seniors. They are so grown up in their appearance and in their character.
* Scotty and I both shared our thoughts at the Sr. Dinner and it was a treat to be able to do so. I only hope I blessed them enough. Eric spoke, too and both Scotty and Eric recounted the ways that the program has turned around. It was an emotional festival and it was great!
* Later I traveled to "Pokey" (the Powhatan in Pocohantas) with Heather, Amber, Erin O'Hara and Julie Murphy and we just enjoyed each other's company for a couple hours over various foods - dessert and otherwise. They are great women and I was glad to see how the Lord is working in their lives! I am blessed to have been a part of their lives for a short time!

~~~ That is all I have time for. I am leaving to go do a presentation on unity and spirtual development. I will post more about last weekend and this week, soon!
Love, Tiffani