Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

Theodore Roosevelt

Flag Counter started April 3, 2008

I received second place on my ephoto taken yesterday! I’m a little worried though, since there isn’t a 3rd place award, whether only two people submitted photos in the adult category? Jessica’s going to check on the actual exhibit and see. Click here to see the results.

Two years ago I entered 10 photos in the Ozark Empire Fair, and I didn’t win anything. This year I entered 10 photos, and I got one 2nd place and two 3rd place awards! I had to turn my exhibits in last Saturday and, as usual, I had procrastinated, thinking I would do them the week before they were due. Well, I was little busy with planning a funeral, and so I didn’t even get started on them! My “plan B,” after seeing how short my time was to work on them, was to just enter the Crater Lake shot (which won 3rd place). But then I woke with insomnia Saturday morning about 3 am, so I got up and worked on my exhibits! I knew pretty much which photos I was going to use, but I didn’t know what text or layout I was going to use for the text items. That just flowed that morning! Richard helped me quickly matt them, and we dashed to town to check them in!

Click on the small photo below to see it larger.

This year they had a new photography event which I also entered. Contestants were to wander the fair today (day one of the fair) taking photos and submit their best via email by 8 am tomorrow morning. This is the photo I am submitting. I’ll let you know how it did! I took about 325 photos! Richard said for me to get it down to about ten, and he’d help me from there. We both picked this one.Click here to see the rest of the “better” photos I took today.

Garland and I babysat the kids this morning and played at the park.

Richard, Garland, Jennifer and I spent the day in Silver Dollar City and had a super time! We’d planned this trip for a month and decided we needed to go ahead and go. It was Jennifer’s first visit there, and I hadn’t been there since Justin (age 21 now) was a baby. Boy, had it changed a lot! I didn’t take my camera, so no photos, but I just wanted to make note of the trip and how much fun we had!

My kids and Delilah were a little slow to figure out that they could EAT their first birthday cake. Bryce dove right into it with no hesitation! I think he would have eaten the entire thing if we hadn’t taken it away from him. I can’t believe it, but I forgot to take a group photo! We had a great time though! Click here for more photos.

The memorial service was so wonderful I just can’t write the words tonight. Pastor’s message (click here to read it) was the most wonderful and inspiring I have ever heard. I think I can count about 62 people in this photo and about 10-15 escaped before we took it. I did get some odd looks, though many people came up after and said it was such a great idea! You know me, I have to have a group photo! Thanks to Marlene for getting us all stacked right!

And, here’s the “immediate family” as we unwound after the service. L-R: Robert and Loagie Sheldon (John’s uncle and aunt from Alaska), Justin, Calie, Jennifer, Laura, Delilah, Garland, Jessica, Bryce, Richard, Andy, and me.

And me and my kids! Really, Laura is the only pregnant one of us all!

This morning I had a bad spell where I wondered how I could find the strength to get through the day. But, the hugs, prayers, best wishes, and Pastor’s wonderful sermon shifted me over into gladness for our friends, family, etc. and also the fact that, finally, after 5 weeks, we have closure. I believe John is in a better place.

I have more photos and some wonderful stories. Will get them posted as soon as I can!

In order to find some “good” to come of this really bad situation, we’ve asked that people wishing to might contribute either time or money to a local alcohol or drug rehabilitation program or to our local Intervention Ministries.

Click here for a photo gallery of more photos before and after the Memorial.

Many of you reading this know that my oldest son, John, disappeared on June 10th after calling our Pastor and his ex-girlfriend and telling them that he was going to commit suicide. As time went on and we didn’t hear anything or find his body, we hoped he had just taken a bus out of town to “find himself.” However, this afternoon about 1:15, the Bolivar police called and said they needed to meet with me. During the time it took them to drive out to the farm, I was pretty sure what they would say. And, it was so. They had found John’s body near the edge of Bolivar. It’s been on our minds that this result was possible, though every day that passed and his body wasn’t found seemed to point to a better ending. Most of all I’m sorry for the great loss of potential. A life cut short not due to accident or illness, but due to choice. The memorial service will be Friday, July 21, at 2 pm, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Bolivar. All are welcome.