Days With the Duerksens

It was a great weekend celebrating the newest Mr. and Mrs. McCabe! Congratulations, Cale and Emma! We enjoyed being part of the special day and it was a good excuse to see our California family again (minus Candace and Chayce, due to lots of circumstances).

While Mrs. Schmidt was away on maternity leave during the spring, Mr. Novak (from Hesston) filled in for her. Since Cambry has her first 3 class periods in the art room, she got to know him very well and he mentioned several times how he appreciated Cambry's artistic style and way of thinking. He even let her paint a little bit on his own pieces! Cambry took several pieces to the WSL art festival in April. She came home with a first place finish in the graphic design category and an honorable mention in the computer design category. We are so thankful for the instruction she has received over the last 4 years in Goessel. Now, on to Hesston College with Professor Cross!

Thank you, Aunt Kathy for piecing and sewing this beautiful quilt together for Cambry! They worked together on this over several phone calls. Cambry picked out the pattern and the material and then Kathy put it all together. I love how it showcases Cambry's color creativity and Kathy's ability to intricately sew it together. This will be cherished for many, many years!

It had been a while since we had an actual 8th grade promotion in the family since Cambry's was cancelled during Covid. Last Monday, Delaney and her classmates were promoted to high school, and it was fun (mostly) to help them plan their ceremony. That's the cool thing about the 8th grade ceremony - the kids plan the program, the video, the speeches, the music - everyting (with a little guidance from me and some other adults). I've had a front row seat watching these kids grow up over the last 3 years, and I try not to take that for granted. We are definitely looking forward to your high school years in front of you, Delaney. Congratulations!

It was a great day to celebrate a beautiful young woman on her high school graduation! Congratulations, Cambry! We are so proud of you. You have endured ups and downs, like anyone, and you have gained so much confidence along the way. We are excited to see what you can accomplish as you head to Hesston College next year! The night before graduation, she received a $500 scholarship through 4H. She also signed a letter of intent to play on Hesston College's inaugural Esports Team next year! Keep embracing those new opportunities as they come your way! Cambry, you definitely have a wide circle of support around you and we do love you so very much!

A slow winter usually leads to a very busy spring, and this year was no exception as we looked forward to quiz bowl, spring break, track season, and one last golf season! Quiz Bowl: Both the 7th grade and 8th grade teams ended the season as League Champs! Spring Break Girls' Trip to Waco, TX: Grammy, Vanessa, Delaney, and I took a little road trip down to Waco to see the Silos at Magnolia Market. We also stepped onto the Baylor University Campus (in our K-State gear, of course), toured the Dr. Pepper Museum, and enjoyed a cute little VRBO. We made our first stop at a Buccee's Gas Station as well (one of those "we might as well since we're here" kind of stops)! K-State Women's Basketball made it into the NCAA tournament, and they ended up hosting the first and second rounds in Manhattan! We jumped at the chance to go, and even though they lost that game, it was sure a fun atmosphere! Cambry's last golf season wrapped up and she felt like she had impr...