Trans Siberian Orchestra

On the way into the concert a wine-o waylayed us and insisted on hugging me. I backed away saying I did not do that. Then he bear hugged Wil. Wil's didn't want to hurt him. I quickly grabbed Wil's sleeve and said that we needed to hurry so we weren't late to the concert. Thankfully Wil took my arm and moved us quickly. The wine-o walked in front of us all the way saying loudly with his arms outspread that he was the king! Wil and I both checked to make sure we had not been pick pocketed.
After enduring the Kansas City night life, the concert was (insert teenage positive adjective here) and was three hours of visual and aural delight. (this is now wilson talking) The first thing that happened in the show was three ovular metal riggings flashed on and rose above the stage. Then they played a song and then the violinist, guitarist, and bassist came down from thos riggings on mini stages that had LED screens on the bottom flashing trippy images. The whole show proceeded to have crazy flashing lights, AWESOME pyrotechnics, and wailing guitars...a recipe for delicious.

I love my small town

One afternoon I saw a family ride into town to the local Subway Sandwich. They sat right down on the sidewalk and enjoyed their meal. Only in my town could I get this candid shot

Lord prop me up on my leanin side.

You see it is like this...There is an old shed out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years. It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit. Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old shed. I've been around a long time. I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop me up on my leaning side. Sometimes I get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward a lot of things that I shouldn't. So I pray to stand straight and tall again.

Playing with the big boys

I went to Maryville to watch the NWMSU homecoming parade because Wil was marching in the band. Here he is, the high school Junior marching with a University band! Suse and Ruth followed Millie and me so she didn't get lost. We met up with Mark and Amber and their kids to cheer and catch candy.
The NWMSU marching band was first, so after they got to the end of the route, Wil walked back and stood with us to wait for the Penny High band, because Karen was marching and playing her flute. The Penny High band was the last band in the whole parade!

How to not serve the wedding cake

My life has a crescendo. It all was leading up to Shiloh's wedding in Nauvoo and reception in my backyard. There was Wil's eagle project of painting 81 fire hydrants in Hamilton. McKay having a baby, and stress over the car, reroofing the house, outfitting Wil for the Missouri Academy for science, mathmatics, and computing and then suddenly the children were gone.

Mr. & Mrs. Stradley

My seventh and last daughter is now married.

Those who tell their own story, you know, must be listened to with caution. Jane Austen

The much acclaimed gazebo on reception evening