Happy Holidays
2011 from the Meek Family
Greetings
to our dear friends and family,
2011
was another busy year with new phases, BIG changes and transition.
Our
family survived Joseph’s case of senioritis and we all enjoyed his achievement
as he graduated from Mars Hill Bible School in May. We were glad to have several family members
come be a part of his graduation. His
senior year of high school was a busy one with the same cast of characters Soccer, Show
Choir and Chorus. His class also made a
spring break trip to New York, NY. He had
a very busy social calendar this past summer.
He spent many nights with friends; we think to prepare us for being
empty nesters. He began his first year of studies at Harding University in
Searcy, Arkansas. We wish him well as he
starts his college experience and pursuing future dreams.
Judy
has increased her work to full-time for Leigh, King & Associates. College expenses are now a reality so we hope
to survive physically and financially the next 3/12 years. Hint…Joseph we want
you to graduate on time! She continues
to enjoy part-time searching for antiques.
In addition to Facebook, Judy has entered her second year as a blogger. You now can catch up on our family, farm, and
news at http://ameekperspective.blogspot.com. Judy finally convinced Charlie to spend a
little time on our farm instead of traipsing over AL, NE MS and TN shearing
critters so we planted a small garden this year. While the planting was later than desired our
efforts yielded a pleasant harvest of radishes, corn, okra, tomatoes, field
peas, and lima beans. The rabbits enjoyed the green beans so next year we will
have to add a fence to curtail their appetite.
Well…the
possible budget cuts that we always mentioned to our close friends each year,
as concerns, became a reality this year.
Congress cut the RC&D Program on April 15th for which Charlie
had served since Sept of 1996. So with
only a 24 hour notice the run with RC&D was over and Charlie had to work
other programs. The Agency offered early
retirement due to the cuts and Charlie felt it was time to say goodbye to USDA
and try something else. August 31 was
his last day and he turned the page to new dreams. In July Charlie celebrated 30 years with
SCS/NRCS so it was a good run. Post
retirement Charlie is VERY thankful that he is able to work part-time for the Northwest
AL RC&D Council. 2011 continued his
6th year of service as the minister of the Hawk Pride church of Christ in Colbert
County; it is Charlie’s desire to assist this congregation and community in an
expanded capacity. The work at Hawk
Pride has been a JOY with new additions and restorations in 2011. Hawk Pride
has a Facebook page so please visit them via social media to see how the work
is doing. As Charlie has struggled with some nagging health issues (Epstein Barr
Virus and two oral surgery events,) the brethren at Hawk Pride have gone the
extra mile in helping us in our time of need including driving Charlie to doctor
appointments, house cleaning, feeding the sheep, delivering loads of hay for
the sheep not to mention encouragement and prayers. At the time of this letter Charlie is
recovering from oral surgery and some side effects of the medications he was
taking for the surgery. The shearing side-business
continued in 2011 (5th year) facing the similar dilemma of
scheduling appointments for too many clients (sheep, llamas and alpacas) and
driving lots of miles. Thanks to having
the assistance of another shearer (Bret, that we mentioned last year) the miles
were less than past years and production has been more efficient with two
people shearing on most sites.
We
wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!
May God Bless each and everyone!
Merry
Christmas,
Charlie,
Judy and Joseph Meek
~~
Merry Christmas, everyone!!
Judy :)
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Judy :)