Happy Valentines! When it comes to creating a romantic vibe and conjuring up feelings of “amor,” the best options are either a Barry White CD or the Cortese family update letter, so here goes…
Tony and Ashley continue to make their home in Tallahassee. Tony works in the Majority office of the Florida State Senate with particular responsibility for redistricting and education issues. Ashley does development work for the FSU Foundation –raising support for their film and arts schools. Tony coaches basketball at Leon High School and Ashley has a killer blog (www.smittendesign.blogspot.com) that even I’m addicted to.
Nobody in our family had a more eventful 2010 than Kristen. In April, she graduated from FSU Nursing School magna summa cumma laude something or other. Then, on June 12, she wed the wonderful Eric Stites. Eric is a talented musician and is a student at Reformed Seminary preparing to do ministry among the urban poor. They live in an awesome, old neighborhood (Delaney Park) and Kristen is a pediatric nurse at Florida Hospital in Orlando.
Amy and Bibb remain in Tallahassee for now. Bibb graduated from FSU, does auto restoration, customizes motorcycles, renovates homes and breaks bones – usually due to motorcycle mishaps. Amy works for Healthy Start – a state program to aid indigent pregnant women and in her spare time takes Bibb to the emergency room.
Left to right— Kristen, Eric, Tucker, Amy, Bibb, Tony, Ashley
Tucker is a sophomore at FSU – an intramural football champion, an avid fan of all things Seminole, the manager of a vast social network, an academic survivor and the object of the yearnings and dreams of a virtual plethora of heartsick coeds. Tuck hopes to work at a church or camp this summer with high school students – an area in which he has obvious giftedness.
If the preceding litany makes the Corteses sound like an amazingly accomplished and wholesome bunch – think again. We are the same collection of self-absorbed, insecure, bickering, excessively flatulent (males only) and spiritually lukewarm messes that your family is. Our evident dysfunction is, however, leading us to love the grace of our Lord Jesus even more. We love being His beloved and hope you do, too. Happy Valentines 2011!
Love,
The Corteses
