Days With the Duerksens

May 24, 2025 - sald day! I don't know how many hours were spent cleaning up, sorting household items, sorting machines/tools, and making sure tractors run at Agatha's homeplace, but it was many (more than many)! So many memories were recalled and shared, providing just a glimpse into how Chelan's mom and siblings grew up. Sale day came with threats of rain, but we lucked out with just a few showers overnight. While the yard was muddy, the sale went off without a hitch. I'm not sure anyone even got stuck! 419 numbers were sold, and the auctioneer estimated that around 600 people were there - some came from as far as Alabama! Our role in getting ready was so minimal, but we enjoyed helping out on the day of the sale, and it served as a family reunion of sorts. It was great to see family that we don't see very often - providing genealogical and history lessons for our kids!

One of the perks for Cambry at college was her nearly-full access to the art building. She found a love for ceramics this year and came home with boxes of new pieces that she created. We've even been able to use some of the dishes she created. In early May, Hesston College hosted their annual art show, and Cambry had several pieces to show off! She thrives in the 3D art world - anything she can manipulate with her hands. We are thankful for her instructors, and especially for her advisor, Josh Cross, who have given her new insights, new techniques, and helped her hone her skills this year. We are hoping year 2 will be equally as inspiring for her!

We took advantage of the first and second rounds of the NCAA basketball tournament being played in Wichita and went to check it out on the first night! It's definitely easier to watch at home, but it was sure fun experiencing the atmosphere that the "Big Dance" provides! We were able to watch Texas Tech and Missouri play - lots of fun and our seats were literally right next to some fellow Goessel fans. Delaney was excited to be able to sit next to Mackenzie all evening!

Here we are, almost at the end of the basketball season, and I haven't updated a thing since fall! We have enjoyed watching Delaney play this year, and it was a big surprise to see her starting the first game of the season. . . and every game after! Their season has had some ups and downs, but one highlight for sure was earning 3rd place at the mid-season Centre tournament! Keep up the good work, Delaney! During Christmas break, I took very few pictures, but we enjoyed a very low-key break at home. At the end of it, we had a giant ice/snowstorm that actually delayed us going back to school for a couple of days! It was Kenya's first snow and it was sure fun to watch her figure it all out! In January, Delaney got her first piece of actual mail from a Division 2 school, inviting her to a volleyball showcase. This felt like a pretty big deal! Cambry has been busy in the art building at Hesston College. She has created several ceramics pieces and enjoyed showing us the other d...

The Fall Semester zoomed by as usual with lots of activities - mostly volleyball. However, there were some other events we enjoyed, too. Volleyball-wise, Delaney had a great first season! The team placed first at their home tournament, at the Olpe tournament, they were regional champions and sub-state runners-up (losing to Little River...again), and they finished 2nd in the league. Individually, Delaney made it onto the all-league first team and was a state stat leader (top 25) in serving! Our community continued to celebrate the 150th anniversary of our ancestors coming to the area. We toured the site of the first immigrant houses while Delaney helped to park cars with the youth group. Delaney was a care bear with her friends for Halloween. She was also in her first musical: The Little Mermaid. She played the roles of a princess and a maid. Overall, she enjoyed it, despite lots of practices! We thoroughly enjoyed the performance and I still marvel at what can be accomplished at a ...