Homecoming at Lee

To admit that I believe that it's been 10 years since I graduated from Lee University is to admit to my age. Thus, I choose to deny both and suggest that the reason Shawn and I took the family to visit Lee at this year's Homecoming was simply to catch up with old friends. Actually, that's not a lie. We really did want to see old friends, but Claire and Ben (though Ben could have cared less) had never been to Lee, and we were eager to show them where we went to school. Claire is still pretty certain that she is going to college next year instead of kindergarten, so, most of the time, I think she was scoping out where she was planning on living. :-)

In front of Shawn's old dorm - Hughes Hall. Oh the memories.

These two pictures were taken on Friday night at the DZT alumni reception. Andrea, I totally apologize for the second one, but it makes me laugh every time I see it.

Several members of Shawn's extended family live in the Cleveland area, including his cousin (actually first cousin once removed) Jacqueline. She was at Lee the same time we were and is now married with a little girl just a bit older than Claire. Jaylee and Claire were the best of buddies in about 5 minutes, and they all had fun playing together.

As far as I was concerned, the most important reason for traveling to Cleveland was to see my three college roommates who all happen to live there (no fair, no fair, no fair). Life has really changed for all of us since those college days, including the addition of no less than 11 children, all but two of whom are boys. We were all able to get together for dinner on Saturday night at Andrea and Will's house. Amazingly, at the end of the night, the house was still standing, no bones had been broken, and I think everyone actually ate some dinner.

We were determined to get a picture of the four roommates and all the kids. It was a squeeze and mass chaos - the noise was deafening.

Back Row Left to Right: Tucker on Andrea's lap, Harper on Rachel's lap, Ben on my lap, Merica holding Dosen.

Sitting on floor Left to Right: Brett Campbell, Winston Hicks, Claire, Blake Campbell, Fletcher Hicks, and peeking behind Fletcher is the other Campbell twin, Graham.

And sporting the supermodel pose across the front is Luke Stum - definitely Merica's child.

Attempt number 2

It was so good to see these faces. I love these girls dearly, and I wish we had more time together.