On the brink of a new generation

About 9 years ago, we moved back to Batesville. Kelly was 17 and Lacey was 14. That is when our world as we know it today, came into existence. We lived in a house with a big back room, just perfect for teenage entertaining. The first of our regulars were Kyle Barnhill, Clint Crain, and on occasion Kevin Combs along with Cindy and Amy Woolf, Emily Baker, and Haley Butler. Scores of others began appearing regularly. Tim Meitzen and his girlfriend Carma would show up sometimes, along with Daren Neely - First Baptist's youth director, and Landon Wehrung with Bethany Klonowski. There were random homecoming and prom dates such as Ryan Scoggins, Ryan Reveley, Alex Jeffrey, Robert Garrison, Joel Goodin, Eric Long and Jonathan Bunch who made appearances (taking one of the five girls). During Kelly's Senior year at Batesville David Manning and Matt Middlecamp surfaced to join the already long established Leah Cooper and John Redmond. At some point, Lacey brought home, her now long time friend, Tim Byers. There were several other soccer players and foreign exchange students who graced our home, too. Mark Davis and TJ Stroud attended a few open parties and some chicken spaghetti dinners during those days. Ozlem became a vital part of our lives during her stay in America, and remains much like a daughter, even today. Life long church friends, Angie Appleget and Gloria Gatlin were there for church parties and special events. In her Sophomore year, Lacey met and introduced us to Brandon Smart, Stephen Settles, and Micah Dailey who brought along Joe Young. Patty Gordon and Brian Hirschey were two more who were seen around our house during Lacey's Senior year in High School. Some time in there, probably during the time we hosted a Senior High Bible Study in our home, Holly Moody, Jennifer Hawkins, Jessica Middleton and Pam Nuckolls, showed up. We also became aquainted with the other Klonowski girls, Alexis and Jesse. Chris McIlravy and Sam Nuckolls, who were a little older, became connections that we made mostly through associational meetings and camps. Then of course there was always Jackie Martin, my niece, who truly belongs to us and spent an amazing amount of time with us. Julie Whitener, Jon David and Kristy Parker, and Jacob Martin didn't spend as much time at our house, but were still important to our family. I am sure that I have left someone, probably very important, off the list as I am thinking back over the years. At any rate, we have seen a lot of young people grow up and been blessed to be a part of their lives. Many of these named here are now married, some with children of their own, or graduated from college and starting new careers. We don't see them as much as we used to. Some, we don't see at all any more. Some of the ones that we really spent a lot of time with, still come around when they are in Batesville. What a joy to hear about their successes and even their failures that have caused them to grow. Most of them are successful adults now. Even as I write this, and have a bitter sweet nostalgic feeling, I am excited about the next wave - the next generation. From our tiny little apartment last night, I locked the door at midnight as I watched five new graduates - college bound students - leave my house.