Mountain Day is a phenomena that happens at Berry College every October. It celebrates the birthday of Martha Berry who founded the Berry Schools in 1902. It is one of my favorite days of the year. Randy & I graduated from Berry, we participated nominally in Mountain Day: the Olympics, the Grand March...there was no Marthapoolza, just a wild field party that we didn't attend.
Honestly we don't see a lot of our fellow graduates at Mtn. Day, and if we do they always look so old! Well, not all of them...but we don't look as old as they do. We go to Mtn. Day to see our kids. Alyssa is a currently at student, and Carrie plans to attend Berry in a few years, but we go to see the grads that spent hours in our home. The ones who mentored our kids, who babysat and loved our kids. The ones who worshipped with us and ate with us. The ones that made our days brighter because of their contagious laughter and love of life. Most of these are just pictures and captions, but this first one is unique.
Christy & TJ Dixon (she was Swafford) graduated in 2000. I've blogged about them previously (see Surprises in July 2010). Christy was my student worker in Kindermusik for several years. She was the best one I've ever had. She could handle anything. She babysat for the Nobles kids...but more than babysat she loved them, played with them, encouraged them, disciplined them, fed them, she sets the standard! Christy was there to hug me when I found out I was pregnant with Kate, and I was grateful for all her help during those years with four young children. TJ was part of the package because he dated Christy. TJ was a baseball player...he spent lots of time playing with Aaron and the girls. TJ was a history education major. TJ student taught with Randy. My older girls sang at their wedding.
When we took this picture at Mountain Day, we noticed all the similarities between our families and Christy pointed them out to Trey (their oldest).
- Both families have four children, a boy and three younger girls
- Both dads are history/social study teachers in public school in the state of Georgia.
- Both dads are/were coaches
- Both moms are Kindermusik teachers
- Both families are involved in their church and love God and their family.
When we visit with Christy & TJ we can just pick up where we left off the last time. We would love for TJ to take Randy's position when he retires....that would bring them back to Rome! The Dixon's haven't counted that out, but for now they live in the Atlanta suburbs.
Another fun story here....John Carter & his wife Jessica were students in my piano class many years ago. They also graduated in 2000. John was one of my favorite people, but one of the worst students I had. He failed my class at least once. He was smart, funny, talented...but immature. He was a Winshaper minus the Winshape values! I'm surprised he didn't get kicked out of Berry & Winshape. Jessica & John flirted a lot in class, but they both married other people. Both marriages ended in divorce and I played for THEIR wedding a few years ago. John has matured and is a great middle school band director. Jessica teaches elementary music in Cherokee County and does some Kindermusik on the side. I love it when they grow up!
Mountain Day it's about the tradition of the march. It's not something you can explain to your friends who didn't go to Berry. It's a homecoming, but the Grand March is the main event...even if you aren't participating or watching!
It's about friends...Friendship girls, who eventually would become Pilgrim girls. Strange things happened because of the large freshman class this fall....they switched genders at the Winshape dorms.
The Bragg family...Chris & Heather. They now have three in their sweet family. Chris & Heather were in my piano class, but separate classes as Chris is a few years older. I learned a lot from Chris & Heather. They were genuine in their faith and lived it. Chris was one of those students who was serious in his pursuit of God, and truly believed in His sovereignty. My first memory of Chris was his college audition, which I played for. He was in a suit, said yes m'am, and was so handsome with those dimples. I remember going home and telling Randy that I wanted Aaron to grow up as polite as this young man (still working on that!) Who knew he would become a regular at the Sunday lunch table. When Chris comes make sure you have plenty of sweet tea!
Frequent flyers at the Nobles home. The Van Sants, Fernandez family and Drew. This is from a few years ago...but we still love to see these favorite folks. In fact, Randy, Carrie & Kate were visiting relatives in NC and made the trip to visit Joe & Abby in Raleigh/Durham last week. They didn't make it to Mountain Day this year, so they caught up with them at their house. It was their turn to feed my crew!
Grace & Ryan Powell came for Mountain Day 2009 with Samuel. Randy enjoys catching up with Grace...she was another one of his student teachers. Berry puts out top notch grads!
Joe & Drew...friends from home, friends at Berry, friends of the Nobles!
Kelli & Kate. Kelli is one of those students who can always make you laugh. It's always fun to see Kelli and her co-horts from the class of 2007. That was a great freshman group...the 2nd East girls always filled the Nobles home with loud laughter!
Mountain Day is even for those we see a lot. Tracey & Robbie Batchelor are our neighbors and attend church with us. We really didn't know them until after the graduated. Michael, we see him a lot too! Blessed to have these folks serving alongside us at Calvary.
Mountain Day is for old friends....Michael, Josh & Golden. We miss these guys!
Carrie with one of her favorite Berry grads and middle school band director, Wade Williams. John Carter student taught with Wade...it's a small world.
Stacee & Jason are some we rarely see at Mountain Day anymore, but some friends we will always remember. (BTW, unlike other photos...this couple is not a couple, just a couple of friends with my girls when they were younger!)
This takes me back. What a great group of gals. Jessica, Hailey & Diana poured their lives into my girls when they were middle schoolers. Jessica tutored Aaron in biology. Hailey still influences my kids today and is a dear friend. Diana ....well, Kate still prays for her every night!
(Jessica's husband is on the left and Hailey's roomie, Nicole on the right)
Some of those girls from 2nd East...Helen, Rachel, Lauren and Courtney! Where is Katharine?
Mountain Day couldn't happen without the band providing the music for the March. Alyssa is not exactly happy about playing in the band, but realizes it helps provide some scholarship money for her, so she does it. She plans to march her senior year, which is NEXT year...yikes, where has the time gone?
Mountain Day is for really old friends. On the left is Roger, on the far right is Gary. These guys graduated from Berry in 1984, and ran cross country for my brother. They were often found at the Nobles home too...our ministry to college students goes WAY back.
Mountain Day is for seeing old friends and catching up on what is going on in their Berry afterlife!
We look forward to seeing you next year at Mountain Day.
