Tonight I went to watch my son’s game, they are in districts and have won the first three games. Tonight we played in a town about a half hours drive. It’s a bit of a fun journey on route 79 and the towns are very Mayberry RFD like, with no internet service…How do they live?

We were in a town called Elsberry and the lights were on, the team was doing great, when I noticed off in center field, a very distinct, brown cloud. I thought for sure it was a dust cloud.

The ump motioned to me and said “make sure you get that” I thought.. Uhhh sure, and ignored his request…but after a few moments the dust cloud did not go away but got bigger and bigger and it moved, in amazing shapes and patterns.

I started to click and then asked…WHAT is that? the Ump responded “mosquitos” Are you kidding me? and he said, if we don’t finish this game soon, they will move from light to light and be upon us before we know it.

He was not kidding, I ran out to get some closer shots and thanked God I had my 70-200 on, but was wishing for the 400! Tomorrow I’ll post up some shots of the game, these shots are unedited, I wanted to get them up because I teased everyone that I had some amazing shots…

Now you all see why I had to take a shower first…

Oh and the last picture, my son said and I agree “That’s niche marketing at it’s best”

It’s been more then a month I sat in a tiny office and listened to the excitement of 5 people (6 if you count me) whose mission was to make the best 4th of July float possible.

Now you have to understand the ringleader in this ordeal is Steve and he just loves, LOVES, did I say he LOVES this 4th of July task. He got the phone call in February for the theme and he was honest, it just did not excite him, but then came the idea…then he spoke with Larry who started to talk the jargon of a mad scientist, this I think secretly scared Steve, hahaha.

That is where we came in. My husband also speaks mad scientist.

Sitting in this room, listening to a sound track and then came the sounds of the unfamiliar yet familiar jargon of two men on a mission. Jim and Larry were prepared to deal with hydraulics, CO2 tanks, lifts, fog machines and more…I mean seriously I can’t even recall names of tools and parts that were mentioned. My husband is very smart, extremely brilliant when it comes to anything… honestly.. anything! I’ve seen him build a home from scratch with out a plan and I’ve seen him restructure a home to fit a desire or need. But, I’d not seen him make an Apollo Module lift off the moon!

Jim and Larry are both extremely brilliant and those two minds went to work and even when it led to a 2am finale on July 3rd, they accomplished their goals. The Lunar had lift off!

We all had a part in it, Steve and Starr are extremely organized and list writers! I love organization it really makes me smile and Barb is an amazing woman how will get the job done. Along with everyone else that participated and helped it would never have gotten done!

And then me… I take pretty pictures But I did help also and I got the pleasure of handing out candy the day of the parade AND take pictures. Then the 4th of July came…

As I rolled over in bed to shut off my alarm I heard it, I knew what it was, but I did not want to believe it. RAIN… I got out of bed and prepared to be at my destination at 5:30am. It’s going to be a pony tail day!

I started out in shorts, changed to jeans and by the time the parade started…I was soaked from head to toe. I gave up my umbrella, and just said…”it is what it is” and I just hope no one has pictures of what it was!

I had a blast…and as typical, whenever I go out I meet amazing people and I have to tell you about him. His name is Chris and I told him I was going to give him a shout out on my blog, because, Chris is amazing!

I noticed Chris on one of the days I was on location shooting, he was on top of the moon, really, he was. It was hot that day, but he did not seem to mind, he was helping his dad, Mike (another awesome smart man). As I look back, I never heard him complain one time, I was baking in the heat and he just wanted to help.

The next time I saw Chris was at the parade waiting to walk the 2 mile long hike to the end of the route. There we were…standing in the rain, and finally Chris spoke out, he spoke what ever person was thinking I don’t remember his exact words but it was like “Can we go home”, C’mon you all know you were thinking the same thing.

We were half way through the parade and I noticed Chris in the back of the route, if you know Chris you know he has a difficulty with walking, and a lot of people were asking him to “hop on for a piggy back ride”, “let me give you a lift”, “can I help you” and with each request I heard his response said in a tenacious voice “I just want to walk” and he did. I knew I had to talk to him and I told him “Hey, I don’t even know you, but I’m so proud of you” Chris had a goal, he was going to finish the race. He told me “I can see the finish line, I’m half way done” I told him, “You’re more then half way, your almost done it’s right there.

I thought of the people who signed the list to help that day who never even showed up and here was Chris drenched from head to toe, soaking wet determined to finish his race. He had a goal in mind and he set his eyes on the prize. Nothing, no one stood in his way.

So Chris, here’s your shout out I promised… You were total inspiration to me and you make me smile even now. I wish you many many more goals being met and won. Make sure you tell me about them all!

So here are a few of those images from the making of the float. Thanks to everyone who helped and participated and just had fun. It really was a blast, even in the rain!

Larry hard at work

This is barb, she was our astronaut!

Jim and Mike working on the Module

Harold!!!!

Yes, Ami is everywhere

Steve (we were hard at work and he was popping popcorn) (no not really!)

The finished model!

and this, this is Chris! An inspiration to me!

We met after a bridal show in St. Peters, Missouri and I knew Tony and Annie had a story, everyone does, but not everyone has a story of lifelong commitment and dedication with both families requiring them both to make the right calls and decisions on their lives. That was 8 years ago.

Today I was able to spend a day with their family and friends and watch two beautiful people take vows openly that they carried in their hearts from years ago.

Looking onward were their two sons Jackson and Tyler, Tony made sure to take them fishing this morning and spend special time with them before he added “husband” to his new role in life.

Tony is a man of character and honor. I was impressed as his mother took time at the reception to tell me a little bit more of his “life story”

Annie is dedicated and even talked of not minding if the kids came with them to Jamaica (no, the kids are not going, but she still would not mind!). They were announced at the reception as a family, danced as a couple then, as a family.

When I think of the character of people like this, it just makes me smile to know good people do exist.

They got married on the hottest day of the year, (so far) (108 heat index) and everyone, even their amazing bridal party sucked it up and did whatever Annie and Tony wanted for pictures to remember their special day.

The reception was at an amazing venue called “The Christy”

The night was still going strong with lots of dancing, celebrating and love!

Thank you all so much for allowing us into your lives and allowing us to capture the emotion as your two families were joined together!