Kelly Burt, 41, wanted to be a teacher when she grew up. The wife of Phillip Burt and mother of three, ages 17, 12 and 7, is a publications illustrator for Track Mobile.

She also is a soccer coach/ referee for Troup County Parks and Recreation. And that is something Burt never expected she would do it all.

“I got into it strictly by accident,” she recalled. “My son wasn’t old enough to play, and they told me I could coach if I wanted too. So I went and bought the ‘Idiots Guide to Soccer.’ That was six years ago, and I am still in it.

“I was not in anyway sports-oriented at all, so this was a first for me.”

She said she has learned “tolerance most of all, of myself and in dealing with others, like the players, the other coaches, and parents, and how to work with the players - the players come from such diverse backgrounds.”

Being a novice, Burt said, “I know that players are going to mess up on the field, but I do really try to encourage sportsmanship - no matter if we win or lose. Like last week, my son was a part of another player getting hurt on the field. He didn’t mean to. After the game, I made him go to the other people, shake his hand and tell him he was sorry he got hurt. I want them to make an effort to show sportsmanship.”

That attitude continues with her own children, especially at Christmas.

Burt focuses on “traditions. I love the traditions at Christmas and the stories that are told. I love the chance to share traditions with my kids.”

She and her husband value family time at Christmas, including taking their children to Callaway Gardens to see the Festival of Lights.

One of the most important traditions to Burt is that “my kids go to church, and that they get focused on the real meaning of Christmas. There will be no Christmas in the house until we are all focused in on the reason for the holiday in the first place.”

Her children take part in “elf training as they get older. It is a silly tradition, but it is something to teach them some important skills. It gives them a chance to help keep the magic alive. My oldest has the job of moving the elf on the shelf around, and then he goes shopping with me and he helps me keep the magic alive.”

Burt said, “People tell me that I always see the silver lining in things. That is important. I tell my kids, you may have fallen and scuffed your knee, but you know, did you find a friend when someone came over and helped you?

“There is a silver lining everywhere … you just have to look for it.”

— “Neighbors” is a feature of LaGrange Daily News which spotlights people who are in the news, have unusual hobbies or are otherwise interesting. To suggest a person who could be profiled, contact Becky Holland at bholland@ lagrangenews or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 229.