This year has been challenging for our household. I had to work through some injuries and illness. Mrs. Patty recently had a heart attack also and it just seemed that making the event this year wasn't going to be. I told Patty that even though I had doctors appointments the week of Crankfest I was going to try to attend the event and she encouraged me to attend. John, Don, and my Kentucky buddies all said just to come and hangout.
I arrived on Saturday and helped on some of the cooking. John and Don both instructed me not to bring anything to cook, just show up and enjoy. But it seems that I managed to pack an oven and a cherry cobbler was soon cooking on the coals beside Dons beans and cobblers. Hey, just cooking one thing is taking it easy. lol. John and Don didn't think so.
While enjoying the fellowship and taking a few pictures it soon became apparent that we are an aging crowd. The bodies are keeping all of us busy on maintenance plans of pills, physical therapy, and regular doctors visits. Loved ones are being tended to and driven to doctors appointments. Church families, and their obligations, are filling up time and then the old work schedule is daily demanding too.
In spite of all of this each of us decided to come together for fun, food, and fellowship. The reward for our efforts is priceless. The joy, laughter, and attentive listening is the best medicine for our souls. The edification for our fellowship brings fresh breaths of life into our hearts.
In spite of our short comings we decided not to let life get us down or prevent us from the day the Lord has made. Each of us decided to "Toe the Mark" and embrace a few days of lake life, fishing, and re-charging our batteries. So I want to thank each of you that attended this event. I appreciate all the prayers, thoughts, and smiles given and I hoped returned them with interest. I want to thank my Kentucky brothers for letting me bunk with them Saturday night and for Don letting me spend a few additional days with him camping and fishing. I want to thank John and Tammy for the wonderful event and for John taking me fishing Sunday. Between him and Don i had plenty of opportunities to reel in those Mississippi slabs.
. Don picked up after John and produced some great days on the lake. We both took coolers of nice fish back home.
I also want to thank Slab and G for all they do and for Slab starting Crappie.com. All of the above had made positive impacts on my, and Pattys, lives. The people here are awesome and are willing to help in any way. With the world full of negative, this community is a positive.
In closing, I want to thank each of you that attended for "Toeing the Mark". Hope to see all of you next year. Until then my prayers for blessings on each of you will be uplifted and know you make Patty and my life special.