FFA Hog Roast

Last weekend was the annual FFA Hog Roast. Lots of good food and good times. The highlight of the evening is the annual "Slave Auction" where certain juniors and seniors are "sold" to work for 4 hours to raise money for the FFA.




Cole was auctioned off for $105 per hour! Of course, he was the cutest one there! Thank you Eldon Country Club for "buying" Cole!

Way to go, Cole! We sure are proud of you! But don't think WE'RE gonna start paying you $105 per hour, or anything even close to that. Or, that we're gonna start paying you anything at all, now that you mention it!

Alex is Student of the Month

A couple of weeks ago we were told by the Principal at Eldon Middle School that Alex had been selected as "Student of the Month." The Student of the Month is voted on by the teachers and administration.




The Elks Lodge at the Lake sponsors Student of the Month, and we were invited to attend a ceremony where Alex received a Certificate of Recognition, and, a $100 savings bond! A student was selected from Eldon, Tuscumbia and Osage.

Congratulations, Alex! We are SO PROUD OF YOU!!!! We love you!

RAIN

It started raining Wednesday night. It rained Thursday morning. It rained Thursday afternoon. It rained Thursday night. It rained Friday morning . . . . . AND IT'S STILL RAINING. The creeks are flooded, the rivers are overflowing, and its a muddy mess Down On The Farm. Please, can the rain just stop already.

Volleyball

Alex's 8th grade volleyball team is having a fantastic season. They went into last night's game undefeated 4-0. They have been playing extremely well, and really coming together as a team. Last night they lost to Camdenton. We won the first match, came VERY close on the second set, but just couldn't hold on and lost the third set. The girls really shouldn't be too disappointed. Because, while winning is more fun than losing (come on, you know it is), a Class 3 school losing to a Class 5 school is nothing to be ashamed of. The girls are back in play Thursday night at Osage. We beat Osage last week, and I expect a victory Thursday night. Come on girls. SHAKE off the loss and move on to the next game. There are a lot of volleyball games left to play!

PBR

Last weekend we went to Springfield with friends. We had a great time. We went to PFI Western Wear. I just LOVE the smell of leather, and all those boots, baby!!


Then we headed on over to Bass Pro. My other favorite place to hang out in Springfield. If you want it, they've got it, and if they don't have it . . . . well . . . . ya don't need it!!

But wait, you say. Who are all these tough guys in cowboy hats, you say. This next guy, this is Kody Lostroh. What, you've never HEARD of Kody Lostroh.

Kody Lostroh is in first place in the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough series. Get it, PBR, Professional Bull Riders??? Oh yeah. We LOVE the PBR. We watch it on TV, but there's nothing like seeing those guys in action.

They don't call it "THE TOUGHEST SPORT ON EARTH" for nothin'!!!!

We're going back next year. Come join us . . . if you can HANDLE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cloggin'

Well there she is, at it again. That crazy Caragan.




She sure looks pretty in her clogging dress, doesn't she???

And man can she dance. "Hold Your Horses," "Cotton-Eyed Joe," "Rocky Top." She can do 'em all. You've never seen legs move so darn fast.

Isn't she just beautiful. I mean, I know she's my niece but still, I know pretty when I see it.
And this, this is her brother Cade. He doesn't clog. He was trying to PRETEND he's bashful, but he's not. He sure is cute too!

Tawnya Lynn Albertson 1971-2009

I took this picture of my cousin, Tawnya Lynn Albertson, just a couple of months ago, on the 4th of July. Tawnya went in the hospital just a few days after this picture was taken. Tawnya went home to be with Jesus last Friday afternoon, September 11th. She didn't feel good the day I took this picture, but she smiled for me anyway, and that SMILE sums up her life.

Tawnya had Muscular Dystrophy. She walked as a toddler, but the disease weakened her muscles and by the time she was 3 she was in a wheelchair. As the years went by, the disease also took from her the use of her arms, and, eventually, she could only move her fingers just enough to guide her wheelchair. But it couldn't take her spirit, or her determination, or her will to live.

Tawnya was the most truly GOOD person I have ever had the privilege of knowing. In spite of unbelievable physical challenges, and almost constant pain these last few months, Tawnya ALWAYS had a smile on her face. She laughed, she joked, she made everyone feel special. Tawnya never focused on what she couldn't do, she focused on what she could do. Tawnya never wanted sympathy, she wanted to be loved, so she could give love in return.

Tawnya loved music and had met nearly every star in country music. Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Alabama, Vince Gill, Tawnya had her picture taken with all of them. Tawnya was a poster child for the Muscular Dystrophy Association because she wanted to help others.

But most of all, Tawnya loved her mother, my Aunt Kathy, with a love that is beyond description.

Tawnya WILLED herself to live longer than the doctors ever expected because she worried what would happen to her mother when she was gone. My Aunt Kathy lost her son, Troy, who also had MD just a few weeks after his 18th birthday in 1987. Kathy lost her husband, Bill, in 2003. So, you see, Tawnya and Kathy depended on each other, they leaned on each other. Kathy was Tawnya's legs and arms, and Tawnya was Kathy's strength.

My heart is broken, and I will miss Tawnya every single day. But because Tawnya had accepted Jesus as her Savior, and I have accepted Jesus as my Savior, I KNOW that I will see her again in heaven, for eternity. Today, Tawnya is perfect, healed in Jesus name. My life is richer for having had the privilege of being a part of her life.

I miss you Tawnya Lynn, and I love you, and I will see you again.