Tour of Missouri - 2009

This past weekend affirms what I have been considering for a while....Missouri is the greatest state in the Union. We are in the heart of America, I believe we have the most shoreline of any state, we touch more states than any other state, we get all the seasons and we have a very nice balance of urban and rural, and we can grow good tomatoes! But all those things don't make us the greatest state, it is the people of Missouri.

Our family made a big circle going counterclockwise around the state over a four day weekend, visiting friends and family along the way, state parks and KC and Stl. If we missed anything it would probably be that we didn't get that far south, but we'll save that for another time. Here are a few pics from the trip (with commentary, naturally!)

We spent the first night with friends on a farm northeast of St. Joseph, MO. Boys with Luke and Allie McCrea.


Visiting cousins at Uncle Keith and Aunt Emma's house in Harrisonville, MO. Isaac, Kate, Ethan, Daniel, Carson and Benjamin. (Dan and Kate are named after their beloved great grandparents, Dan and Katie Kauffman)

The two above shots were taken at Ha Ha Tonka State Park. Visiting the old castle ruins and behind us in the family pic is a 300 foot drop off and one of the largest springs in the State of Missouri-feeding a branch of the Ozarks.

Boys will be boys - Osage Beach, MO

A city park at St. James, MO (In addition to nice parks, St. James boasts four wineries-come by 308 Duff for a sampling!)

A little spelunking? Why not. Meramec State Park, MO

7:00am, Oct 19th- 42 degrees F. We came, we saw, we camped. Toasty warm in the North Face sleeping bags!!
It was a good trip.

1973 NCAA Wrestling Championship

Iowa State's Chris Taylor (right) looks over Jim Hagen of Oregon State in the heavyweight class of the 1973 NCAA college wrestling championships.
(Associated Press File Photo)

As it probably goes with many proud fathers, I look at my three boys and wonder what sports they might excel in in the future. It kind of runs in the blood on both sides of our family, skipping myself of course ;) , (my grandfather played tailback for the UCLA Bruins and Jamie's dad, uncle and brother were all NCAA wrestlers) so we have high hopes for little Isaac, Daniel and Benjamin. Although I plan to be very cautious with too many organized sports at too young of an age, kids need to have their freedom, and with that freedom comes creativity. It is still exciting nonetheless to dream.

We found this pearl a few months back in the Des Moines Register. It is a picture of the "gentle giant," Chris Taylor of Iowa State wrestling none other than Jim Hagen (Jamie's uncle) in the 1973 NCAA Championship. As you can see from the photo Jim was not a small individual, but he didn't look too big compared to the 425lb Taylor.

Jim Hagen lost the championship match. It is my understanding that after this match the NCAA limited the heavy weight wrestlers to no more than 275 lbs as compared to previously which was unlimited.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19930718/SPORTS11/50710012

Davy Crockett

Sing it with me now... "Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee, Greenest State in the Land of the Free....Davey, Davey Crockett..., King of the Wild Frontier." Or actually if you take the tail off the cap is he the youngest member of the Russian mafia?!

This is a pic of Benjamin, our youngest son. Last Christmas my sister Jean gave two coonskin caps to Isaac and Daniel. During the winter when the nights are long Jamie and I would play "coonhunting" with the boys.

It is played by hiding stuffed animals all over the house on the first floor while the boys are not looking. Then all the lights go out with the exception of one mag light. The boys go around and shoot an animal with the mag light and it's powerful beam. You then "bag it". It is a great game.

"In the fear of Jehovah there is strong confidence, And to His sons there is a refuge." Proverbs 14:26