“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” By William Arthur Ward
The recent “annual reception” is now a month behind us and we continue to feel the warm glow of the event. Emails have been received expressing appreciation for the wonderful time the our students from Copey and our time together as “Friends.” Both Guadalupe and Ruben returned home safely and very excited. They have been busy sharing many stories about their experiences.
We all returned home with a suitcase full of wonderful memories and the satisfaction knowing we all experienced something extraordinary.
Here are a few of the photos we have.
Ed and Edeltraut enjoying the 11th anniversary of “Friends.”
Photo shows the Smyth County representatives of “Friends” attended the reception. Left to right includes George, Monica, Teresa, Beth, John and Pat.
Teresa, John, and I were Senior High Classmates 1965-1966. Teresa and I were college mates from 1966-1970. This accounts for 59 years of friendships.
We enjoyed the rare opportunity to eat, drink, socialize, and celebrate our unity as Friends of Copey.
Nowhere else in the world do we gather as “Friends” in one place each year.
Several attendees have not missed a reception such as Jane shown with Monica, Ruben, and Guadalupe. Jane has attended all receptions and personally knows many of the students having spent several years as a volunteer Copey Learning Center teacher.
We also had several first timers joining us as we welcomed Camden Jones (E&H student who volunteered in Copey) along with her brother, mother and father. The Boltwoods and Li Xiaoxue also joined in on the fun. 
We still have more photos to share and will get these all placed in the gallery soon.
We owe so many a great deal of thanks and appreciation. This just would not and could not have happened without the extraordinary devotion of time and resources.
We now eagerly look forward to our next reception being planned for June 2025.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” By Melody Beattie
Arthur, this post is giving me a warm glow even now. Thanks for being so persistent in your commitment!