Trophy Nite

Sorry I haven't been on for a couple days. This weekend was the 12th Annual ND State Trophy Night at the Eagles club. As a former employee I get called each year to do a cameo appearance as a barmaid. I don't mind. Usually it is pretty good money and since Kent is a committee member I would be there in one capacity or another. I have attached several pictures of the festivities.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Among the fun is a 250 gun raffle, general raffle, .22 raffles, and door prizes. My parents came up from Wyoming hoping this would improve their chances of winning...it did not.

Kent's uncle Don won a .223/.20 gauge single shot interchangeable barrel Rossi, Kent's mom won a .22 off of ONE raffle ticket, my dad got a tree stand, I got a vest and binoculars, and others of the family got some small raffle prizes. Not a complete skunking but we had hoped for a little more...like a gun for each of us!

Kent and I spent Sunday with my parents. Dad and Mom and I watched the Cardinals game and then Kent brought steaks in (we ate at Grandma's house because she has cable tv) and we watched the Steelers game. It was nice just to have a relaxing evening with my parents. Usually when they are here we run or have a project or something.

We had friends up this weekend too so Kent and I spent our time running the whole weekend.

Sunday we sent a kitten to Bismarck to a new home. This makes me sad and happy at the same time. He needed to move off the farm...we didn't need a tomcat related to almost everything, but Chunk and I had been through a lot...including supergluing his rear end shut! Chunk is going to a great home by the sounds of it and will be pampered and spoiled so I can't complain too much. Love you Chunkers!

I do have to turn serious here for a minute and comment on two events that have made me pause and reflect on the beauty of life. This weekend I lost two of my circle. Friday my coworker Bob Brower lost his battle with Cancer and won a better life in Heaven. His funeral was today and the service was geared to being confident in Christ and appreciating the love of family and friends around you. He has battled Cancer for two years or better and never was down, never was rude, never was mean spirited. His recessional song was Spirit in the Sky...a fitting end to a man who didn't seem to take life too seriously and always brightened everyone's life he touched. Bob - if you are looking down...it's always morning for you and you can kiss this Angel anytime!

Friday night after Trophy Night a long time customer, Kenny Johnson, was in a fatal car crash. He was one of two men we called the Fessenden Boys. I'd had a chance to talk with him that evening and had the opportunity to tell him how special he was to me and how much I missed seeing him every Saturday (I don't work there anymore). I gave him a big hug and told him he was appreciated. If only we could do that for every person in our lives.

Both of these have made me pause and think about what is important in life. It wasn't so important that I serve a hundred customers, but that I had that chance to let that one person know he mattered. It doesn't matter what we go through our attitude can touch someone else's life deeply even if they aren't someone we see everyday.

To both of you I send my love and know that you are in a better place.