Day 18 -Loss

Day 18- Today's picture is of St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.  I spent most of the last 24 hours here.  This is where my father was flown after suffering a massive stroke.  I got the call that he was on the way to the hospital in his hometown, and began to prepare myself for the worst while hoping for the best.  My dad turned 80 last September and he has been a big part of my life all of my 51 years. He has always been there to cheer me up, give a hug, and help me see the lighter side of life.  

As he laid in the hospital bed in a coma surrounded by all three of us kids, my brother in law and my  stepmother, who has taken such good care of him over the years, not to mention the fact that she spoiled him rotten as well.  Also in the room were some near and dear friends of my dads from the many years he spent as a fireman and my sister's in laws.  Various friends stopped in to share a memory and let us know they cared.The love in that room was amazing, I am sure he felt it as well.

We were so lucky to have had two of the best ER nurses anyone in our situation could ask for.  Although it was explained to us that there was no hope for survival they also told us that his hearing would be the last to go and encouraged us to talk to him, not just about him.  In the following hours we, as a family, shared some of our fondest memories with one another and with Dad.  They kept him very comfortable as the hours passed.  When we said our final goodbyes this morning I hurt in so many ways, but I also felt so at peace that Dad was able to pass with us there with him and knowing how loved he was.

I do realize I am not the first to lose a loved one, I know that so many know this pain all too well. I also know that I came away from the hospital with an even bigger respect of the Danville Fire Dept and Dad's dearest friends.  The love and support they showed us all at this time was wonderful.  I now know why Dad considered them not only friends but also family. 

Lots of people walk through the doors of this hospitals and others like it.  Some have better outcomes than we did this time, but I can't imagine dealing with it all without having people around to help you through it.  

None of us know when our time here is going to end.  Show love, show support and make the best of every moment.

Day 17 - On Track

Day 17 - Todd and I carpool in the mornings and after I dropped him off this morning and headed to work I saw the familiar flashing red light at the track I normally cross.  As I approached to estimate how long the train was going to be I stopped and decided to take a picture of it.  If you lived in Effingham back before the overpasses and underpasses were built this was a very common sight.  I remember being late for school, work, and many times meeting friends because of this very scene. Now days you simply find the nearest overpass or underpass and the train is a minor inconvenience.

When my ex-husband was injured in a terrible accident at work the ambulance couldn't reach him very fast because there was a train on the tracks.  Recently a family from Greenville suffered a terrible loss because of the collision of a family's vehicle with a train.  When I was in high school I lost someone very dear to me along with his brother due to an accident involving their car and a train.  So in many ways trains have not always been a good thing in my life.

I know that trains are very vital to our economy, and if you ever have time to sit while one passes it is actually kind of relaxing as you listen to the sound the wheels on the track make.  I read that the size of the space on the wheel of the train that actually touches the track is only about the size of a silver dollar.  I also learned that about 40% of the worlds freight is hauled by rail.  One thing I usually enjoy when waiting on a train is the artwork that has been painted on many of the cars.  As I pulled up to the stopped train I was very disappointed that there wasn't any cars decorated to photograph, maybe a morning in the future there will be.

Trains are interesting because they almost always go where they are intended to go.  Life is so different than a train.  Each night I plan in my head how my day and week are going to go.  Then when I hear that first alarm go off, you know, the one that is set so I can get up and work out, and I hit snooze things start derailing early.  If only there were a Tara track that I could set my cars of life on and follow it to a tee things would probably work out better for me.  But then again, how much fun would that be.  Sometimes the extra twists and turns in life are what make life interesting and worth hanging around for.  Some of the best friends I have met and some of my most memorable moments have come when I was way off track.

Today is a new beginning.  Does it mean that I will get on and stay on track?  Probably not, but every improvement I make with my life is a step closer.  I will never be perfect, I have come to terms with the fact that the only way I am gonna be skinny in my casket is if I die after a long bout of something.  I am okay with that, my reason for trying to be more like a conductor is to be able to ride this rail of life a little longer and be able to enjoy it a little more than if I continue to let the train constantly derail.

As we start a new week and we are getting closer and closer to spring I want to wish everyone the chance to make your own path and follow it to your best life.

Day 16 - Influence

Day 16 - My day 16 picture is of a guy that changed my world.  Number 22 in the picture above is my first grandson.  Kaden came into the world over nine years ago, I was lucky enough to witness his birth.  I can't imagine life without him or his two brothers.  Being a grandma is one of the best parts of life.

In the picture above they are getting ready to start a game in the Upward basketball program.  The Effingham program has grown over the years and requires a number of volunteers.  From the coaches to the officials to the ones working the concession stands, there are a lot of people that give a lot of time to make the program what it is.

If you haven't ever attended an Upward basketball game let me tell you just a little about it.  Upward is not just about basketball.  It is a Christian based program that gives kids a little bit of religion while also teaching them about teamwork and the basics of basketball.  Before the games there is a is a screen set up. With pump up music playing in the background each player's name is announced  as they run through the screen and out onto the court and the crowd cheers.  During half time of the games there is a small presentation that either discusses a mission trip or gives a life lesson followed by a quick prayer.  After the kid's games they meet with their coach and team in a room along with their families so the weekly stars can be handed out.  The kids are given a star based on that week's game.  They may receive the offensive star, defensive star, Christlike star or one of the others.  The entire program is very impressive and Kaden has enjoyed playing in it for the past few years.

When I look at the group of boys above, there are some that are there because Mom or Dad wants them to play in hopes that they will someday love the game, there are others that love the game and all about it.  My grandson is of the latter group.  He loves about all sports and any chance he gets to play is a bonus for him.  I always look forward to his games, be it basketball, baseball and even soccer.  I just enjoy being able to watch him play and do what he loves.  I am a little biased but he is pretty athletic, so it is fun to watch him play.

I have the utmost respect for those that help with any of the kids programs.  I know that Todd coached American Legion baseball for a number of years.  He gave up a lot of summer times with our family so he could coach a group of boys, some that wanted to be there and some that didn't.  He considers those summers some of his favorites.  He still enjoys seeing how those boys have turned out.  When he runs into one of them or when he hears about one of them having success in life it always makes him happy.  I am proud of him and the good influence he had on the boys he coached over the years.

Todd's sister has mentored a few kids over the years.  I know that the influence she has had on those kids very well may make the difference in the types of adults they will be.  She showed them love, and compassion.  She has taken them to church with her and just been there for them.  She has given them gifts and really cares about them.  I am proud of her and the time she takes for others.

If you have a chance to help a child, either by coaching or just intervening if there is a need, please do so if you can.  Even if it is just to be involved in a kids's life.  A child in need that is helped will be forever grateful for the help they receive.

Have a great day and try to be the person that is a good influence on the world.

Day 15 - Laughter

Day 15 - My picture today isn't the best quality but the subjects in it are nothing but quality in my opinion.  Yes, the tall one is my youngest child and only son, Josh.  The other guy here is Dean Schardan.  I hadn't had a chance to listen to his comedy before last night but I will make the effort to see him anytime I get the chance.  These two, along with Amber Klear, (who I think is one of the best around), Bruce Veach and Andrew Hagan (as the Crumbs of Cheezits) had the near sold out crowd at Hey Guys Comedy Club in Fairview Heights cracking up.  

Dean mentioned, and I have always believed that if you can laugh at it you can get through it.  He brought up his wife's battle with cancer and how in the midst of it all humor helped them through it.  Our family is also proof that laughter is the best medicine.  If we are faced with any adversity we normally make some kind of inappropriate joke about it.  That is what we do.  Many around us don't get us, but it is a coping mechanism that has brought me through a lot in my life.  I know leaving Hey Guys last night I felt more alive than I did when I went in the club.  I laughed a lot and got to see the people around me having fun as well.  How can that not make a person feel better?

I was very happy as I sat in the back of the crowd last night as Josh hosted the show.  During his set it was a lot of fun to listen to people who don't know us laugh at Josh's jokes.  Sure, I think he is hilarious but to hear others who don't know him laugh so hard it made this mom very proud.   

As your kids grow up, you continue to worry, I don't think that will ever change.  As a mom of a theater performance major senior college student you hope that he will be able to go out into the world and make a living at what he loves.  As Josh's mom I believe in him.  I believe that he is doing what he loves and what he is meant to do.  He is most comfortable when he is on stage and/or in front of a crowd, acting or doing stand up.

As I look at the picture that I took with my cell phone (not my camera), I wish I had gotten a photo of all the comedians from last night because they were a great group and they should be proud of the show they put on.  I look at Josh on stage, where he is happiest and hoping he has many more chances to perform for others and make them laugh and God willing that I am able to be there to see it as well.  

I hope Hey Guys and clubs like it everywhere can continue to draw in crowds so aspiring and veteran comedians have somewhere to go to entertain people.  I give them all a lot of credit for putting themselves out there.  The world needs more laughter and I am glad that Josh is doing his part in bringing it.  

Day 14 - Enjoy the View

Day 14 - I read a post that one of my facebook friends and one of Todd's classmates, John Uptmor, shared today and it helped me decide what I was going to make my picture of the day.  This person graduated with Todd and then joined the military.  He has served our country with honor and recently retired from the Army.  I want to thank him for his service, and I hope everyone appreciates the sacrifices he and his family have made for our country.  I have been a facebook friend of his for quite a while and always enjoy his posts.  John is married to a friend and classmate of mine from school.  They have an awesome family.  Stephanie is a real photographer.  Her pictures always amaze me , I always look forward to new posts showing her work, it is some of the best I have ever seen.  Those lucky enough to have her photograph their weddings will forever have works of art to remember their day.  Anyway, I saw a post on John's page this morning and I liked it, so I saved it and decided to take a picture of a tree.

It reads:  Advice from a Tree - Stand Tall and Proud - Go Out on a Limb - Remember Your Roots - Drink Plenty of Water - Be Content with Your Natural Beauty - and Enjoy the View

Pretty good advice, although we aren't perfect, we were brought into this world by people who weren't perfect, but that doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't be proud of who we are.  If you aren't proud then do something about it so that you can be.  Going out on a limb can be a little daunting sometimes.  I know that there have been many occasions in my life that I was pushed to do something I didn't want to and it turned out to be a great experience.  Remember your roots.  No matter where you go, or what you do, don't forget where you came from and really appreciate those that were there for you.  Drink plenty of water.  That is something you hear all the time, but is also easy to forget to do.  Be content with your natural beauty.  We all have imperfections, but embrace them and make the best with what you have.  And last but not least - Enjoy the View.  Life is short, when I think that mine is more than half over and I have went through a good part of my life not enjoying the view, actually not even noticing it I kick myself for it.  Every day stop and notice at least one thing that you have overlooked in the past.  Appreciate one person that you have taken for granted, and let them know that you appreciate them.

Enjoy the day, make the most of it you can and try your best to make someone else smile today.

Day 13 - Together

Day 13 - I decided to take a picture of the phrase I have on my living room wall.  I have always felt whoever coined this phrase must have known me and my family.  We are some of the most not put together bunch of people that I know but I really feel that together we can take on the world.

Todd was 22 when I met him and I was almost 21.  We were introduced by a mutual friend and he made me laugh.  Our first meeting I didn't ever picture myself spending the rest of my life with him, but he made me laugh.  As we spent more time together in our group of friends he started to grow on me and you might be able to guess, he made me laugh.  It wasn't long and we were living together and I fell in love with his quirky ways, and I felt loved and appreciated in a way I had never known.  When Mom first met him, she liked him, probably because he made her laugh.  Dad on the other hand was not so quick with the love of him.  I will tell of their first meeting with a future picture.

Through the years Todd and I have become a little more organized... note the little.  Friends will tell you we normally don't act our age, and we hope to never act it.  We laugh loud and probably inappropriately, we see the warped humor in things, and now that our kids are adults they are some of our best friends.

To do it all over again, sure I would change a thing or two, but overall I can't imagine my life any differently.  I really do believe without Todd and I coming into one another's lives when we did we would neither one know true happiness.  I know sometimes I frustrate him and he frustrates me from time to time too. I think that is normal (at least for us).  But together, I truly believe, that we have it all.

As you go out today, appreciate other's quirkiness, This wonderful world wouldn't be wonderful if we were all the same and we were all organized and perfect.  It is because of families like mine that the ones who really do have it all together look so good.

Day 12 - A Way of Life

Day 12 - This is a picture I took while a passenger on our way to Tennessee over the weekend.  I  wanted a picture of a semi and decided on this one.  I grew up in a truck driving family.  My dad was always a truck driver, at least as long as I can remember.  He drove a lot of over the road runs where he would leave on Monday and not be back home until Thursday or Friday.  It was hard on him to be away from the family like that but it paid the bills.  I have some great memories of Dad picking us up in his truck that had a sleeper in it.  I would get to ride in  the sleeper from Effingham all the way to Indianapolis.  As a little girl I thought it was the coolest thing ever.  I have always loved and adored my dad and I think this gives me a respect for truck drivers that many I know don't share with me.

After Mom and Dad divorced Mom married my step-father who was also a truck driver.  He would leave on Monday get home on Tuesday, leave on Wednesday, etc.  He drove for Yellow Freight from before we met him until the day he retired. My brother became a truck driver after the factory that he worked in closed down.   So, yes, I believe that trucking is a way of life.

Many people I know are either afraid of truck drivers or just don't respect them.  When I see a truck I see a person who is working for their living and dealing with traffic, weather and other drivers not just on their way to work, but all the time.  When the roads are slick they can't call in because they can't make it to work.  They are the ones out there regardless of the conditions, because if they aren't driving they aren't earning.

Without the truck driving industry we wouldn't be able to buy things in the store or online.  The items in the store have to be delivered somehow and most times it is via a semi.

When you are on the road and you encounter an eighteen wheeler, imagine yourself in their position, give them space, when you pass do so quickly and most of all give them respect.

Thanks for all the truck drivers out there, I am glad you do what you do.

Day 11 - Reflections

Day 11 - I decided to take a picture from our back deck.  The treeline is ours but the pond belongs to a neighbor.  As I looked out the window I noticed the sunrise and how it reflected in the pond.  My picture doesn't do it justice, hopefully as I learn my camera and more about photography a future picture will.

I love the colors of the sky.  I realize that different weather conditions and different seasons affect the colors.  I don't understand it all, and I am sure that many could explain it to me but I just know that the sky is pretty and it makes me realize that there is so much more going on than just what is in my little part of the world.

As I am watching the sunrise, on a very brisk morning, I realize that somewhere else in the world another person is closing their eyes as their day has ended.  Someone is dealing with a terrible day where they have received news of a new illness or a death of a loved one as another is celebrating a new birth, a last day of chemo, or maybe a wedding.  As I deal with issues of my day or problems in my world I think of those who are dealing with so much more and surviving and maybe thriving in spite of those issues.

I have quite a few people that have been a part of my life that are such inspirations.  They have endured so much and continue to stay positive and go the extra mile to help others.  They are the first there with an encouraging word, bringing the meal, sending the card and there just listening.  Those of you who fit this description, you know who you are, thanks for all you do.  For the rest of us we can only hope to be more like you.

Growing up my mom always taught that us that we should live our life so that at the end of the day we could look into a mirror and like the person we would see there.  Although I have added a lot of pounds from those days and I may not be satisfied with the physical person there right now, (this is something I am working on too) I strive hard to be the person that my mom would have been proud of.  I have a lot of improvements to be made, kind of like my photo of the reflection of the sunrise in the pond, but like that morning reflection I believe it is still something that I feel is worth working on.

Have a great week everyone.  Make your reflection one of color and beauty.

Day 10 - Mississippi Zev

Day 10 - Today's picture of the day is our newest family member.  This is Winston Richard Donaldson Zev.  To most it is only a white dog standing in a field.  To my husband, Todd, and to some in his family this dog is much, much more.

Todd was raised in a family where bird hunting was a way of life.  They hunted quail and pheasants and they hunted them every single weekend from opening day until the last day of the season.  You fed and took care of the dogs all year long in hopes of a successful hunting season.  Sometimes before or after the season is over there would also be a bird dog trial or two to compete in as well to hang out with other bird hunters and see what your dog could do.

If you have been around the family much you have heard about the dog's of the Funneman history. There  were many, including Ralph, Bart, Missy KT, Boob, and Copper but probably most famous was a dog called Babe.  I don't know the stories near as well as those who grew up with them but I am aware of the tradition and the memories that Todd has of hunting and being home when his dad and uncle would come home after a day of hunting.  I grew up in a family that hunted, but I don't remember stories from them like the Funnemans have.  I learned a long time ago that in the Funneman family, when it comes to bird dogs, bloodline is a big thing.  They believe that a bloodline in a dog helps determine natural talent.  Todd's family's valued bloodline was Mississippi Zev.  Back in 2009 we had the last of the dogs around here with that bloodline and he passed without ever having sired any puppies.  Since then we have looked for the bloodline with no luck.  This past week I found a breeder in Tennessee with puppies that have this bloodline on both sides and we made a trip to Tennessee to get him.

I have enjoyed seeing Todd's excitement about having the bloodline back, not to mention seeing his mom even more pumped up about it.  Will this dog be something special?  Only time will tell.  I do know that as of now there is hope and promise of future bird hunts, field trials and memories to be made.  I hope that our grandsons grow to love hunting with Grandpa.  I hope someday they can share stories with their kids and grand kids about those trips.  I know that this white dog has brought a new attitude in our house and he is a lovable thing.  The trip to Lewisburg, Tennessee to  Middlin' Farm English Setters was a memory all in itself.  With Todd driving and me following waze on my phone to help guide him made for a good time.

Family memories should be treasured, and they should be shared with those you love.  When we have any family get together the stories are my favorite parts.  Cherish the memories and take any chance you get to make more.  Each day we get here on Earth is a gift and if you get a chance to share that gift with others you have to take advantage of it.

Day 9 - Off Season

Day 9 - This morning I decided to drive through the Effingham Park District, like I do a lot of days during my lunch hour.  It is a great place to go and eat lunch, relax, read or take a nap all from my van.  I love going there because in the colder months it is very peaceful, not a lot of things going on there and in the spring and summer to watch the excitement of all the kids participating in the activities they offer. 

This morning this particular ball field caught my eye.  The sun was coming up and I just liked the shadows in the background, the frost was on the brown grass and the dirt is as solid as concrete.  It just sits and waits for it's time.  In a short time the groundskeepers will start fertilizing the grass and working the dirt and before we know it this field and the others at the park will be buzzing with excitement.  Someone's first game of their life, another will get their first hit, or strike someone out for the first time.  Every player dreams of hitting that grand slam.  The grass will soon be green and this and all of the fields will be full of life.

I have never been a fan of winter, I think anyone that has ever met me probably knows this about me.  But without winter I am not sure that I would appreciate spring and summer as much as I do.  I guess, too, this field reminds me of the promise of being renewed.  We all have seasons in our lives that aren't our brightest moments.  We all have things that if we could redo them we would happily do so.  Maybe those times in our life are like this field through the winter, they are our off season.  I believe that without those off seasons I wouldn't be the person I am.  If I hadn't made some of the mistakes I have made I wouldn't have met the people in my life that I needed to meet.  I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, that if we don't experience life and allow ourselves to learn and broaden our horizons life will end and we will have even more regrets. 

I remember a friend and very good coach used to say sometimes with his players you would have to tear them down so you could rebuild them better.  I am sure in the off season this has happened to this field many times.  I also believe in some of my off seasons that was what was happening to me.  I sometimes thing that things that tear us down spiritually help us rebuild to be better and stronger. 

If you are in your off season now, use this time like the baseball field to rest, rebuild and renew so that when it is your Spring you are in game condition. 

Happy Friday - Share your smile, so many times, that can make or break another person's day.

Day 8 - A Home

Day 8 - This morning as I was leaving for work I happened to notice this old bird house.  It is something that we hung probably fifteen or more years ago.  I always hoped to get a family of bluebirds in it and hung it like my mom had told me to make it more attractive to them.  We did have bluebirds make their home in it more than once over the years.  We have also had some sparrows, a robin or two and after the squirrels chewed the opening to be a little bigger we have had a number of different ones move in and out.

This morning I realized that I haven't noticed the bird house for a long time.  I walk past it and and drive past it every morning and every evening but haven't really even paid attention to it.  This morning as I look at it I wonder if a family will take up residence there, and if so which type of bird will it be.  I enjoy birds, another sign that I really am turning into my mom.  I have fed the birds for a number of years.  A few years ago I had flocks of finches.  I really enjoyed watching them but I haven't seen any around my feeders for the last couple of years.  Not sure why, maybe a neighboring cat made my feeders less attractive when I wasn't around.  Last year I had at least six or seven families of cardinals.  This year I only have one pair and they aren't around much.

As I look at that old bird house it makes me think of the old Funneman family farmhouse.  When it was built it was from what I have heard considered a mansion by some, but the years have taken such a toll on it.  The many stories I have been told about the get togethers and wedding receptions, not to mention the every Sunday meals there.  The family time with the aunts and uncles and grandparents that Todd's siblings and cousins have shared with me.  It was a simpler time, family was the most important thing back then.  A lot of Sunday afternoons the men of the family could be found sitting around the radio or TV rooting for the Cardinals.  Uncle Allie and Eddy were busy keeping the kids out of all the places around the farm that they didn't need to be.  Without growing up Funneman there are so many stories that I try to picture by using what I do know about the family.  I was lucky enough to meet but not lucky enough to really get to really know some of the family, like Uncle Allie, Jim, Bob, and Norbert.  I didn't even get the chance to meet some of the ones that I hear so many stories of, like Donnie, and Stevie, Eddy and Grandma and Grandpa Funneman.  I am so glad I got the chance to know Carol, Tom and Ralph, my father in law. There were days when he frustrated me (kinda like his son), but overall I loved that man (just like his son) and I would love to have more time with him.  Ralph's two living siblings are both really great people.  His Uncle Bill can build anything and if you want a story, he is the one to tell it.  He has lived through a lot and with a twinkle in his eye he will tell you all about it.  I could sit and listen for hours to his stories and really enjoy when he gets to laughing so hard that it is hard to him to finish.  I really hope that someone has the chance to record him telling the stories because there is no way anyone else could ever do them justice.  Then there is Aunt Mary Ann.  The first time I met her I was very intimidated by her, As I got to know her she has become one of my favorites.  I love her wit, her humor and her laugh.  I think she hands a lot of that on down to her kids because they are a fun bunch as well.  I always enjoy seeing Mary Ann and ribbing back and forth with her.

My family is small, so joining a family like the Funneman family can be a little overwhelming, but in a wonderful way.  As I looked at that birdhouse in my yard and thought about that Funneman family farm, I really hate seeing the shape they are both in.  Sometimes I wish things could go back to the Sunday dinners at the home place where  unless you had something really important after church it was something you just did.  I can picture Grandma Funneman frying chicken - a lot of it and the uncles talking about the price of gas and what the crops were gonna do and the kids getting into trouble for being in all the places they knew they weren't supposed to be.

Life is fast, family is something that I think we all sometimes take for granted.  I know I didn't really appreciate mom as much as I wish I had until that first time I picked up the phone to call her about something and realized that she wasn't going to answer.  Home, regardless if it is a mansion or an apartment, is a place that should be a place of safety and love.  Take the time to appreciate those that you value in your life because it is short guys, too short.

Have a wonderful Friday's Eve!

Day 7 - Coach Koester and Wooden Shoes

Day 7 - I went to Teutopolis High School today to pick up my Sportsbacker sticker for my car and before I left I decided to take a quick snapshot of the side of the school that shows our team logo. The T-Town Wooden Shoes - yes it makes a lot of the lists of "strange team mascots" and it gets a few snickers from some of the fans of the teams we have played over the years.  I am a "transplanted" Wooden Shoe, because I graduated from Effingham High School where we were the Flaming Hearts.  Not sure which one gets the most comments but today I will be happy to let anyone know that I am proud to be a Teutopolis Wooden Shoe fan.  

When I see the Wooden Shoe logo it brings a sense of pride.  My two youngest kids both graduated from T-Town.  I am proud to be able to say that my daughter ran track and cross country and she played basketball all four years here.  The Lady Shoes of Teutopolis have a history of honor and class. When I see the Wooden Shoe logo I think of Dennis Koester.  Although Dennis Koester wasn't the first coach of the Lady Shoes, he will in my and many hearts and minds go down in history as the best coach the program has or will ever see.  

Dennis Koester taught Jr.high when Todd was there and he was Todd's high school cross country coach and he became the girls basketball coach in 1982.  His first year of coaching wasn't all that great but over his years at Teutopolis he accumulated  654 victories and only 87 losses. He took his teams to the Elite Eight 12 times winning five state championships in 1985-86, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1994-95. His teams also claimed second place four years and finished in the Elite Eight three other times.  These accomplishments are quite a legacy, but those numbers are only a very small part of the legacy of Dennis Koester. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend, and he positively affected the lives of every player that came through his program, his friendship will be forever cherished by those close to him.  As my daughter Jill's last game of her senior year ended she felt such a sense of loss, she knew that she wouldn't get to wear the Lady Shoes uniform again and that she had played her last game for Coach Koester.  She is proud to have been the last senior girl that played for Coach Koester.  She was the last one to have him give her a senior letter, the last one that can say that she played four years under the Dennis Koester program because his life and legacy ended way too soon.  She holds the four years she played for him near and dear. 

It is hard, if not impossible to explain the Wooden Shoe thing to those who haven't experienced it. At Teutopolis students are held to the highest of standards.  Not only do we expect it from our athletes but we also expect it from the non athletes as well.  A large majority of our student athletes are also honor students.  

I am proud to be a Wooden Shoe, because I am proud to be from Teutopolis.  It kind of goes with the saying of grow where you are planted.  I am glad to have been replanted in Teutopolis, Illinois.

Day 6 - Mary's View

Day 6 - This is the camera where my love of taking pictures began.  It was Mom's camera.  I didn't get to use it very often, it was hers and she was very protective of it.  She took it with her everywhere. Friends and family of Mom knew they didn't have to worry about bringing a camera to an event if she was going to be there because Mary would have hers and she would take a lot of pictures.  She took pictures of birthdays, get togethers, weddings, showers, parties, and she loved to take pictures of her flowers.  I remember a few pictures she took that won awards.  She was proud of her camera and the photos she took with it.  I can't begin to count the number of rolls of film she purchased over the years.  She always developed the roll as soon as it was full, and of course she got doubles so she could share them with those who would enjoy them.

As this camera aged she took it in a few times to have it repaired.  I remember so clearly when she found out that they couldn't find the part needed to fix it the last time she took it in.  She contemplated getting a new film camera and I talked her into a digital one.  I told her she would be able to take hundreds of pictures on one single memory card, that she could print only the ones she wanted to print.  She bought a digital camera, she read all about it but she took less than a dozen pictures on the camera before she passed.

As I looked through all the many hundreds if not thousands of pictures in Mom's collection I realize that in some ways it isn't all bad to have had to develop those pictures.  There were some gems in there that had they not been printed I probably would never have noticed this person or that person in the background.  Later in her life I found it was a little easier to get her in front of the camera, because most years, like me, she was most comfortable behind the lens.  She wanted to take the pictures, not be in them.

This camera, although it doesn't work anymore, has inspired me to start taking pictures again.  It sits on a tri-pod in my living room surrounded by vintage cameras that I have received as gifts from my kids and have bought for myself and a canvas photo of a camera that reads Life is like a camera, Focus on what's important, Capture the good times, Develop from the negatives and if things don't work out Take another shot.

As we go out into the world, if you haven't been the person you want to be, take another shot at it.  I know that there are many things in my life that I need to focus on, and I am happy to have family and friends to help me make even more good times to capture.

Day 5 - What's in a name?

Day 5 - I decided to take a picture of one of the walls in my living room.  Last Christmas Josh's girlfriend, Shelby, bought the Funneman wall hanging made from horseshoes.  I loved it and started thinking of where to hang it.  After we redecorated I found this spot and really like it there.  I accented it with pictures, one of Josh and one of Kaden.  I can't take credit for taking either of those pictures.  Josh's was taken during one of his SIUE plays called The 39 Steps.  The picture of Kaden was taken by my daughter, Heather, at the Effingham County fairgrounds.

When I look at that wall hanging I think what really is in a name?  I know when I moved to the area all the names that are popular here were unfamiliar to me.  I came from an area where Winchester, Elliott, Gum, Knutt, Goodin, and Nordike were some of the common names.  When I first started dating Todd thirty plus years ago everyone would ask, which Funneman is he?  Who does he belong to? There are a lot of Funnemans in the area, and a lot of descendants of Funnemans.  In fact I was lucky enough to help plan a very large Funneman get together a few years back where we brought together over 1,000 people together for a three day reunion.  Throughout the planning of and during the celebration I was lucky enough to meet and become friends with many who come from the Funneman bloodline.  There were so many that are good hearted, hard working, very caring people, and trust me they are a fun loving bunch as well.

A name is something that is handed down over generations and should be something that is held to the highest of standards, it should be something that a person makes sure it is associated with honor when it is handed down to their offspring.  Some are happy with the name given them, some want to change it and some set out to make it something to be remembered.  If a person has a name that hasn't been one of honor, it should be their goal in life to change it to a name to be proud of.

It is my hope that after my time on Earth that I have in some small way made the Goodwin and Funneman names just a little better in the eyes of those that know me.  I know I am proud to have been given the Goodwin name and very proud to have the opportunity to be called a Funneman.

Do your best to make someone's day a little better with a kind word or even just a genuine smile.

Day 4 - Cowboy Fans for Life

My day 4 picture is of two very important guys in my life.  Todd and Josh have bonded over Cowboys football over the past couple of years.  Back before that Josh didn't care about football, or any sport but when he got his first fantasy football team he decided to learn about the game and he became a hard core Dallas Cowboy fan.  He studied up on players and actually learned a lot about the game and now he and Todd can talk football with the best of them.  As a mom it is great watching them bond, as a Cowboy fan it is nice to see them rooting for the same team that I cheer for.

As we played the Packers today it was an exciting game.  It didn't end the way we wanted, but it was a good game all the same.  There were some calls, one in particular that will have to be talked about for a while, but then again there were some last week too.  It is what it is and as a Cowboy fan I am proud of the team this year.

As for the two in this picture, I see a lot of Todd's dad, Ralph in him and the older Josh gets I see more and more of Todd in him.  I love them both dearly.  The two of them make me smile so many times, even when all I want to do is be angry with them.  There are times I am successful at being angry, but most of the time they have a way of making me shake my head and still smile.

If you don't know Todd, when he does something, he does it all or nothing.  Balls to the wall as he calls it.  He doesn't know how to speak in a soft voice, walk at a slow pace, cheer halfheartedly, nothing is small.  It is go big or go home.  When he works, he gives 110%, when he hunts he goes for hours in any weather, when he goes to a game, he isn't just there to sit and watch, he has to participate, that is who he is.  This is especially true when watching his Cowboys, Cardinals or Illini. Before each Cowboy game the hats are brought out.... nearly 20 of them, all the shirts that aren't being worn by someone are placed on various chairs, tailgating begins before the game, pork chops are usually the "lucky" food, beer is chilled, and everyone is in their correct place.  Josh & Todd are in front of the television, as seen above.

As the Cowboys lost today, he was upset, but he handled it much better than I expected.  He put his hats away, hung the shirts that had been strategically placed throughout the living room before the game, and calmly put on his Fighting Illini hat in preparation of tonight's game.  

Yeah, it is only a game, but no matter what anyone says, post season anything is fun... it is just more fun when your team wins.

Bring on Monday, let this week's game of life be a win for all of us.

Day 3 - Early Morning with Keaton

Today began with getting up a little earlier than most of the others in the house and feeling blessed to hear Keaton moving around and cooing to himself.  I went in to check on him and was rewarded with a huge smile.  He started kicking and getting all excited.  I can't remember anyone being that happy to see me in a long time.  When I picked him up he gave me his infamous ahhhs..  which consists of him licking my face.  Those are the best ahhhs anyone could ask for.  As he and I hung out for a while before anyone else started stirring I enjoyed a few snuggles, getting to feed him and just noticing his small features, his chubby cheeks and his wonderful personality.

I have been blessed to have raised three wonderful kids.  Each with their own distinct personalities, all of which I embrace and enjoy, and each with their own special place in my heart.  Now as I get the opportunity to enjoy being Grandma I can't soak up enough of it.  Each minute I get with each of my three grandsons is special.  Trust me the other two will be shown in one of my near future days, but today is Keaton's day.

Keaton was my grandson that wasn't ever gonna happen.  He was the one that after having two boys his parents had said no more.  They were happy with the two boys they had and thought their family was complete.  Boy am I ever glad that wasn't the way it worked out.  This little one is a smiley, easy going little man.  I hope that some day my house is one of his favorite places to be.

When I was growing up I had Grandma Francie.  She was a fun grandma that planned fun things for us to do.  We would go places and Grandma would make us laugh, even if others stared and didn't get her.  She didn't care, she soaked up life and the joys of it.  She traveled a lot in her lifetime and had lots of stories to tell.  I always hope that my grand kids grow up and have fond memories of their time with me like I do of my grandma.  I also had Grandma Bessie in my life.  She was my mom's mother.  She passed when I was twelve but I do have memories of her and her house.  She lived in Salem and didn't have running water in her house.  I remember times when we stayed with her we would have to use the outhouse, and go out to bring in pans of water to wash up.  She loved us but she was completely different from Grandma Francie.  Grandma Bessie didn't like to be noticed, she was more quiet and to herself.  I loved them both a lot, but to be completely honest I hope to be more of a Grandma Francie kind of grandma.

As everyone woke my quiet time with Keaton ended but not before I got the chance to enjoy him at this age, enjoy the baby smell, the soft skin, the trusting eyes and the toothless grin.  It won't be long and he will be walking and talking and trying to keep up with his older brothers, but for now he is just such a sweet little man.

If you have kids in your life, take the time to be that person... the one that they always remember took the time to know them, I know I remember those in my life that did.

Enjoy the day, we don't know how many we get!

Day 2 - Country and Faith

This morning after I dropped Todd off at work I decided to take a drive to the Cross at the Crossroads.  I took a few pictures of the cross but when I was pulling out of the drive I looked back and saw the flag in front of the cross.  I decided that was gonna be my picture of the day.  As I looked at the flag waving in the cold January air in front of the huge cross it reminds me of how lucky I am to live in a place where we are free.  I think of every service man and service woman that has by choice or by draft defended our country.  I watch war movies (those are Todd's favorites) and I always think and usually say out loud - how did anyone survive after going through that. And then, I think for many, the answer is behind the flag in the picture.  I believe that many of those people who survived and thrived after those circumstances wouldn't have been able to if not for their faith.  Those of you that know me well know that I grew up in a God loving and God fearing family.  We didn't have a church that we really belonged to.  I wasn't even baptized until after I met Todd.  We believed in God and we were raised to know right from wrong but I was always uncomfortable in church, because I didn't really understand religion.

When I met Todd I also met his family.  Two people in that family helped make my decision that I wanted to turn Catholic.  First was my Mother-In-Law, Babe.  She was raised by her father, her mother died in childbirth when Babe was only very young, (That is why she was nicknamed Babe).  She was raised Catholic because that is what religion her "mamma" was.  Babe is one of the most true to her faith women I have met.  She can tell you anything you want to know about the Catholic religion and she stands firm on her beliefs.  When I chose to join the Catholic Church I knew immediately that she would be my Godmother.  The other person that I have always and will always hold near and dear was Todd's uncle, Tom Funneman.  This man taught me more about unconditional love, the Catholic faith and just pure human spirit than anyone ever has.  From the day I met him his laughter, his wisdom, the sparkle in his eye when he smiled, so many things about him that would just draw people in. We could sit and listen to Tom for hours.  He never had a bad thing to say about anyone, and did I mention his laugh.. it was the most sincere and heartfelt laugh I have ever heard.  I can't wait to someday hear that laugh again and get a hug from the man I chose as my Godfather.  I will be the first to admit, I am not the best Catholic, I have a lot of flaws but I do believe that there is a Heaven and I hope that at the end of my time here on Earth I am welcomed there to be joined with so many that I love that are already there.  I like to believe they are having all the fun there and someday I will get invited to that party and I will get the opportunity to see and be with all those I miss so much.

Anyway As I wrap this up.  Today I am taking the time to be thankful that I am allowed to have my faith.  I give everyone that right as long as it doesn't take my right away.  If you are good to me and my family and friends you can believe or not believe in God.  You can believe you own beliefs because that is your right.  It was fought for and lives were lost fighting for your right to believe what you want, but I hope you respect the right of others to have their own beliefs.  I feel that too many times our country has become so "politically correct" and so worried about offending others that we forget that we have rights too.

Happy Day 2 of my 365.  Smile and if you can make someone else's day better by being a part of it, take the challenge.  

Day 1 - Bahrns Equipment

As I begin my 365 adventure - my first picture is fittingly the morning sky as I go in to work.  I have worked at this company for over 25 years and have parked in this exact spot for the majority of them.  Each morning I notice the morning sky.  Each morning I have a short conversation (one sided of course) with my mom.  She always enjoyed sunrises and sunsets and took many pictures of them over the years.  I have come to appreciate those same morning and evening skies more now that she has passed.  As I notice the sky, I also count my blessings.  I am blessed to have a job that 99/9% of the time I enjoy.  I have a boss that is without question one of the best ever.  I have been blessed with the health to come to work, a healthy family that allows me to work, and being raised in a family to understand the concept of work.

As I begin this project I hope that I learn more about my camera and the techniques used to better my photography, but I also hope that it teaches me to notice..... really notice life around me.  In the past few years I feel I haven't really enjoyed life.  Oh don't get me wrong - we have fun and laugh a lot.  But in so many ways at the end of each day, each week, month and year I end each day without really noticing all the wonderful sights, sounds and people around me.  My goal is after the next 365 days I will have learned to stop and take the time to notice.  And so this journey begins.