2006 McInturff Family News
Greetings, once again, from our house to yours! We so enjoyed all of your cards, letters and pictures! Here are some of the highlights of our year!
January - Klint (our only kid left at home!) started his last semester of his senior year. He took Math 150 and Spanish 202 classes at Mesa Community College and continued his drum and guitar lessons. He also did some reading of classical literature at home attended a weekly Bible study, and worked at In-N-Out Burger. He miraculously played EVAC varsity basketball in spite of tearing his meniscus during football season. After visiting several doctors and having x-rays it appeared he would need surgery, but somehow he was able to avoid it – icing his knee after every game, taking Ibuprofen, and wearing a brace in between! At least he wasn’t alone – his teammate, Tyler, did the exact same thing!
My sister, Debbie, who is a missionary in Mexico, spoke at a Missions conference at the church I grew up in - Scottsdale Baptist. My other “out of town” sister, Linda, was here at the same time, so all five sisters and Mom were able to attend together! We also enjoyed a dinner outing to catch up.
A longtime friend, Josette Kruge, passed away from cancer. What an impact she made and continues to make on so many lives! She was such an inspiration! We miss her dearly!
February - Several members of my family and friends began working on a campaign for Governor of Arizona for a friend of our family who also attended Scottsdale Baptist – Len Munsil. It was a huge time commitment, but a lot of fun, and we got quite an education!
Klint’s basketball team came over to watch the opening ceremonies of the winter Olympics. I made five olympic dessert pizzas representing the five “O’s”. Each one had a different colored ring around it – green kiwi, yellow pineapple, blue blueberries, red strawberries, and orange orange segments. We put flaming torches in the middle with sugar cubes doused with lemon extract. I know they must think I’m a nut! I got the idea from my sister, Sara, so we’re both crazy!
I worked on a committee to plan my 30-year high school reunion. It was such a treat to reconnect with “old” friends!
March - We attended a family night for my nephew, Jeremy, becoming a firefighter. It was so funny when they were demonstrating putting out a staged car fire. The hose got out of control and completely doused the crowd in the stands! As I tried to jump off the back of the bleachers to avoid the gusher like everyone else, my flip flops slipped on the wet cement under me and I fell flat on my back and broke my camera. I was fine, but covered with soot and water! :O It stained my brand new t-shirt I had just purchased! Greg and I looked and smelled like “chimney sweeps” when we got home!
We went to Disneyland for 3 days with most of our kids (Clay and Hayley couldn’t make it). We hadn’t been there in years and enjoyed the 50th anniversary celebration.
I threw two 50th surprise birthday parties a week apart. Both times some of my girlfriends helped me decorate my Tahoe with glass chalk saying “Honk I’m 50!” to go kidnap the birthday girls. After doing it 2 weeks in a row and a 3rd time in May I realized my neighbors must be thinking (Alright already – you’re 50!) Even the mailman told me “Happy Birthday”. I had to explain to him it wasn’t me! I learned by the 4th time (all my friends are turning 50!) to wash the windows before the sun came up!
Klint played drumset in a band competition for Red Mountain High School with less than 24 hours notice to fill in for the drummer who was disqualified. The band got the highest rating for their performance. He had a blast, and it was a good challenge for him.
Greg and I helped organize and participated in two weekly 6-week long “Can You Hear Me Now” communication courses. We recruited several couples to join us. We learn something new every time we go through it.
Klint played in the annual basketball tournament with his EVAC team in California. For the first time ever they took 1st place! Greg and I drove one of the three vehicles to help transport the team. After the tournament we visited Knott’s Berry Farm. On the way home half the team decided to get the stomach flu within minutes of each other! It wasn’t food poisoning because they all ate different things and several people had the flu at the tournament. Fortunately the guys held off until after the last game or the outcome may have been different! Too bad we had no barf bags and no cleaning supplies! Needless to say the smell was enough to make anyone sick especially when one of the guys sprayed his cologne to help make it more tolerable! We had to get our car detailed when we got home! It was sad, but comical to watch the domino effect with no place to stop in the middle of the desert at night with phone conversations going back and forth between vehicles. We finally found a Walmart to ask for a stack of plastic bags to help with our dilemma. On top of all of that, our tailgate door broke when we opened it to try to find some changes of clothes for the guys who couldn’t get the windows down in time! We had to tie it down to keep it from beeping, flying open, and losing our luggage! What an adventure!
April - Greg and I attended my 30-year McClintock High School reunion. It was so fun to see a lot of my classmates (some even from elementary school). A few had never been to a reunion so the last time I saw them was at our graduation! I especially enjoyed seeing my choir director, Mr. Dennis. He looks the same! I also had breakfast with a small group of girlfriends who attended Grace Community Church way back when.
May - We hosted an18th birthday party/graduation reception for Klint in the green belt area next to our home for 75 people. We set up chairs and tables outside and put together (with Clay and Rachel’s help) a PowerPoint presentation of Klint’s life. His family, friends, and mentors shared some fun memories and words of encouragement. At our request, Klint did a mini guitar and drum recital for all of us. At the end we recognized all of his fellow grads and gathered around Klint to pray for his future. Afterwards we had snacks and birthday cupcakes topped with chocolate-covered cherry/Hershey kiss mice wearing plastic graduation hats. I should mention that 15 minutes before the program was ready to start, we discovered ants crawling all over the chairs we set up. We had to quickly exterminate them (which added a lovely fragrance) and wipe down all 75 chairs! Ugh!
Rachel (Clay’s wife) graduated from ASU with a degree in history and a minor in French. Her mom, Sandy, and I put on a family reception at a nearby park after the ceremony. We made subs, potato salad, and strawberry cheesecake desserts with little plastic graduates on top. Our niece and nephew (Kiki and Jake) graduated the same day and time from ASU nursing school so we attended their reception that night.
All of the girls in the family attended a mother-daughter brunch at Mesa Baptist Church. My mom was on a panel representing the seasons of life. My kids surprised me after church on Mother’s Day at one of my favorite restaurants – Sweet Tomatoes! It was sweet!!!
Klint took his Grampa and Grandma McInturff out for breakfast for selling him their old car for $1! It didn’t have much life left in it, but he drove it for months and called it “The Beast”!
Our home school graduation committee of 10 ladies met to finalize plans for the ceremony. My friend, Dawn Brown and I planned the music. Dawn agreed to serve even though she retired from home schooling 4 years before. Klint played guitar and his buddy, Aaron Lumpkin, played viola for both the prelude and processional along with their guitar teacher, Randy Tucker to make a trio. A good friend, Peggy Coots and I were in charge of decorating for the ceremony and the reception and preparing the drinks and tableware for 2500 people. Even after 14 years of experience, nothing can prepare you for feeding cake and punch to that many! I am so thankful for the many friends who were willing to serve that evening so we could enjoy being with our graduates. Another friend, Mitzi Wisely, did an incredible job as chairperson of the event. The ceremony was wonderful with gubernatorial candidate, Len Munsil as our commencement speaker, special music and speeches from graduates, and a video montage featuring each graduate with both a baby picture and senior picture. The reception was a zoo, as usual, but went as smoothly as possible. I truly miss the wonderful group of women I have worked alongside for so many wonderful years! After 18 years I retired from home schooling!
June – Klint was invited to play his guitar on a regular basis in a church worship band that his cousin, Brad, leads at 1st Southern Baptist Church of Scottsdale. He was thrilled to say the least!
Klint flew to Summit, again, in Colorado Springs with 2 buddies for a 2-week Biblical worldview camp. Greg and I left the following week to visit his sister’s family, the Stewarts, near Denver. We went out to dinner to celebrate Gary Stewart’s 50th birthday, then headed down to Summit. We stayed in one of the cabins there, attended the camp graduation, and drove the guys home the next day.
July – Klint attended his last summer percussion workshop.
I worked one last time at the AFHE home school convention after all these years. Klint came along and helped me.
August – Greg, Klint, and I went with the Coots family to California to join our friends, the Plzaks at a beach house they rented. The guys surfed while we read, soaked up the sun, and took walks along the ocean shore. The last day we had a cook-out on the beach. Greg drifted out too far in the ocean and had to get rescued! He first tried to get help from two kids swimming nearby, but they didn’t know how to help him. Next thing we knew, a lifeguard went running past us and jumped in to help. We didn’t even know he was in trouble! Thank the Lord he was okay!
We went camping with four couples and their sons (Klint’s buds) to Pinetop. The parents stayed in a condo owned by some of our extended family, and the guys camped out in the rain for 2 nights! The night before heading home our Tahoe broke down when Klint was driving to the campsite with the guys. The police came and stayed with the vehicle until the dads arrived because they informed the guys that they broke down in the worst possible place crime-wise! :O The next morning Greg borrowed Connor (one of the guys and a handy mechanic) to try to fix it, but it needed a major part which wasn’t going to be available until Monday morning! So we sent Klint home with the rest of the families and Greg and I enjoyed celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary in the condo. We took a long walk through the gorgeous neighborhood and around the golf course and played cards. We had a wonderful relaxing unplanned vacation! The next morning a tow truck picked us up and pulled the Tahoe to the dealership in town. $1000 later, we were on our way home! That turned out to be an expensive camping trip! :O
September – My mom and I hosted a ladies’ Labor Day Tea in my parents’ home for Tracy Munsil – the wife of Len (candidate for Governor). Both Len and Tracy spoke to the women about family issues and their desire to make positive changes in our state.
Mom, my sister Sara, and I went to a ladies church camp in Prescott for a weekend. While there, we visited a friend of Sara’s, went shopping, and had a wonderful girl’s time together.
October – Greg and Klint left to go hunting with Clay Richardson. He shot a deer and the guys had quite a hike to go retrieve it. Our longtime friend, Pat Fogarty, who lives nearby and owns a game processing shop butchered and packaged it for him.
November – My sister, Sara and I went to make phone calls for the state election, and who should show up but “Gonzo” (Louis Gonzolas) – our own Arizona Diamondbacks hero! We got his autograph and a picture together with him.
For Mom McInturff’s birthday, I took her to the Women of Faith weekend. We had an awesome time together!
Greg’s sister, Teresa, and her family came down for Thanksgiving. I hosted it in my home for the first time ever.
We took the boys (and Rachel) to the Transiberian Orchestra for a Christmas gift. It was incredible!
Baby Austin Thompson was born – our 3rd great nephew! Another cute redhead in the fam!
December – My sister, Linda, was in town again, so she joined me, my mom and sisters, and a group of about 15 women to go hear Beth Moore speak in downtown Phoenix. We stayed overnight at a hotel and attended the rest of the conference the next day.
We hosted a Crazy Bridge party here with 20 incredible friends!
I helped my friend, Terry Lynn, make favors and food for a Scottsdale Baptist high school youth group reunion/New Year’s party at her home. It was a wonderful time to reminisce and see 26 of our longtime friends again.
As far as our married kids go, Mindi and Rey moved into a beautiful new home in Queen Creek about 4 minutes away from Hayley and Clay R. Clay R. started working for Cardon Development after getting his real estate license. Hayley got a job as an interpreter for a hearing impaired student at Scottsdale’s Chapparal High School. Months later we discovered the student was the daughter/granddaughter of the Maynard family we have known for over 30 years! Clay M. started a new job at Boeing Corp. as a contracts and pricing analyst. Rachel taught History and French classes in their apartment to home schooled high school students.
Life sure has changed a lot since 3 of our kids have left the nest and we are done home-schooling! It was quite an adjustment to quickly go from a house of constant activity and noise to a quiet one. I have especially had to remind myself that my true identity is not a “home schooling mom”, but a daughter of the King. My value is not determined by accomplishments or relationships, but by who God says I am – His child. My job of mom and teacher went away for the most part, but I am in a new season of life and the Lord has given me new assignments and opportunities. We really miss having the kids around, but we are enjoying taking a breather and having more time to smell the roses. We even took ballroom dance lessons together! I have had more time to spend in God’s Word and to cultivate our marriage relationship. Greg has been so patient and sacrificial all these years with all of my antics! Life is full of changes, but one thing for sure is God never changes! That we can bank on! It is a comfort to know that we can have full confidence in Him when things around us are constantly changing. The Bible says in Malachi 3:6 “For I the LORD do not change;” and Heb. 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” May the Lord be our point of reference this season and always!
Much love, The McInturffs
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