McGaughey Family: Update August 2009

Dear everyone:

Just a note to let everybody know how things are going with us. Megan continues to heal from her broken neck. You can read the previous post to catch up about this, but we are all so glad that her neck seems to be healing fine and she didn't have to be put in the "halo."

We went to see Neal for his birthday July 22nd and while there in North Carolina, my aunt Johnnie passed away (Cathy's aunt). She battled a brain tumor for 18 months - she was a tough fighter, but God allowed her to enter heaven peacefully.

Before leaving Neal's, Mark and Neal were able to do a little fishing/kayaking around Neal's home. Amy, London and I spent time together too...it was a good visit. Amy will be moving into a town home sometime this month as Neal prepares to leave Jacksonville, NC for Washington DC. We are still praying that the military will change their minds at some point and allow Amy to go with Neal. Washington DC will be their home for the next 3 years.

We left Neal's on Saturday, flew out to Texas on Sunday so that Mark could speak at my aunt's funeral on Monday - then Tuesday we came back to Jacksonville, FL. We were both able to share fun stories and celebrate my aunt Johnnie's life. It was good to see my family too. My dad is hanging in there...still home waiting on a room at Texas Veteran's Home. My parents have had family visit this year - cousins, sisters, brothers and he really enjoys that alot. They are an amazing couple - my mom is so strong and my dad is just the best too! Mark's grandmother, our only living grandparent now, is 91 years old and was just put in the nursing home. Alta has had an incredible life and just until recently has been able to function completely on her own while living with Peggy and Bobby - Mark's aunt and uncle. It's sad to see your loved ones age...but it is part of the process and makes us realize so much more that death is not our FINAL destination...for us, Heaven is!

Cody Rapp and April Brinkley were married this last weekend here in Jax so we had a house full of company and got to participate in all the festivities of the wedding. Lots of fun catching up with friends, sharing meals together and laughing...lots of laughing. Randy, Mark and Larry (a close friend here in Jax) all went fishing on the kayaks one day and Randy caught his first fish ever....so we have it all documented on Facebook if you want to see it. All the girls...well, we spent out time at the beach in the sun.

Our church is growing and it keeps us working smart! We have almost 200 involved in discipleship - when we came here 16 months ago, it was just 14 so this was a big growth. Our attendance is up and thankfully, we are making it through the tough financially crisis.

We are now working on plans to break down the membership so that everyone gets good care and no one falls through the cracks. We really want to be responsible to help people grow in their spiritual walk and we want to grow in ours too. We'd love to have you visit us anytime and experience our worship with us.

Mark and I have a trip planned to KC in September. I'll celebrate my 50th birthday there with my girlfriends and we'll also celebrate Kennedy's 4th birthday. This Saturday is Mark's birthday, he'll be 53 years old. We are going to meet Neal and Amy halfway and pick up London and we get to keep him until September 1st. What a great b-day present for Poppy!! He looks like a little Marlon Brando doesn't he?!!!

Hope you guys are all well and enjoying the last of the summer. We think of you often and try to stay in touch the best we can. Of course we long for the day to see many of you face to face!

Oh, and Mark wanted me to send this - the Dolphin has now been mounted and so far, we think it may be a state record for this year!! We mounted it on our back porch wall but here it is with Mark and Mike holding it. It was 70 inches and 69 lbs - took him 45 minutes to reel it in and he was beat after that but the catch was worth it!!