Looking back at 2023

 As 2023 comes to an end, I am taking the time to reflect on what has happened in our family.  

As usual, let's start with Dave!  He continues to make strides at his job.  He received the Teacher of the Year award from the MUSC pharmacy class of 2026.

Dave and Amy heading to the MUSC Pharmacy Spring Banquet

He also received the Ken Couch Distinguished Mentor award from the SC Pharmacy Association.

  

Dave and Amy at the SCPHA awards banquet

In addition to his day job, he continues to enjoy fishing and hunting.  He also has been working hard at maintaining our house!  He has been painting the outside of the house and repairing the bathroom floor.  This not only involved the floor but renovating the whole bathroom.

Dave and Amy went to Southport, NC in January for Dave's late birthday present.  He really likes the lobster bisque at a restaurant called Oliver's on The Cape Fear.  It is really good!  And the town is a fun place to explore! 

Dave and Amy were able to spend several days at Smith Mountain Lake while Camden was in cross country camp at Liberty University.  They had a good time exploring old haunts in Lynchburg and visiting the church where they were married.  

The church where they were married.

And on New Year's Eve 2023, they will finish the ABC eating out challenge.  Basically, they went with friends to restaurants with names beginning with the different letters of the alphabet.  The Z restaurant will be on New Year's Eve!  That is a lot of eating out, but it was very fun trying new places.  

Amy has had a year of continuing to work on her goal of running a half or full marathon in all states.  She was able to knock out Arkansas and Oklahoma in one weekend while hanging out with her sister!

She and Camden drove to Ohio during Spring Break to run in Coshocton.  Amy ran the half and Camden ran the 10K.    

And then she, Camden and Nathan went to Maryland for Amy and Camden to run a half in August.  Nathan was their support crew and bought yummy bagels for them to eat when they were finished.

  

In October, Amy and Camden went to DC for Amy to run the Marine Corps Marathon and Camden to run the 10K.

And to finish out the year, she and Camden both ran the Rocket City Half Marathon in Huntsville, AL.

But more important than all of her races, Amy was able to go to Ecuador and serve at the Dunamis Foundation with her church.  The Dunamis Foundation works with girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking.  She helped with the team that was teaching the girls to quilt.  It was a life changing experience, and she hopes to go back in the future to serve again. 

For all of Amy's trips, if you are interested, you can read about each in their own blog post.

Nathan has officially flown the coop!  He lives in Columbia right now but is actively trying to move west to Colorado or Utah.  He's still young and unattached and wants some adventure!  We are able to visit with him and were happy that he could go to MD with us!

Nathan took Amy to Halls for her birthday!

Nathan and Camden in DC

Celebrating Nathan's birthday 

Camden continues to do well in school and with his running.  He runs track and cross country, in addition to running 10Ks and half marathons with Amy on her trips.  He is a good travel partner!  

Camden with his Coshocton 10K medal

Camden at Fort McHenry

Camden on top of Sharp Top Mountain

Camden at Liberty's cross-country camp

Camden is a junior at West Ashley High School.  He was inducted into the National Honor Society this year in addition to receiving his high school class ring.  He also works at Chick-fil-a, volunteers at church and is part of a podcast with his friends from church.  The name is Through the Thorns, and it is on Spotify.  He ended the year with another 24-hour running challenge.  This involved running one mile every hour for 24 hours.  After doing this last year h=by himself, this ear he had two friends join in the craziness!   

Camden and his CCS friend at the National Honor Society Induction

Camden refereeing at CORE basketball at CBC

Camden and his teacher who presented him with his ring

The beginning of the running challenge

As you can tell, we stayed busy this year! It was a year of fun and serving.  And lots of running for two of us!  2024 will definitely bring more running and more change as our boys grow and make life decisions.  We look forward to seeing what God has in store for them because God has plans for them.  Plans to prosper them and not to harm them.  Plans to give them hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!