I see a lot of goat hooves.  It is my experience that most people don’t know how to properly trim hooves.  Most just kind of trim the long stuff off, some don’t do anything until show day and a few try to do corrective trimming without knowing what they are doing.

     Hooves on show goats need attention every 4-6 weeks.  This allows enough time for some growth, but also a short enough time span to not allow anything to get out of hand.  Hooves grow according to climate, soil surface and genetics.  If it is wet outside, hooves will be softer and grow faster.  Likewise, if it is really dry, hooves will be harder.  If the pen surface is hard (concrete), the hooves will stay worn down more.  The worst pen surface is sand.  A really soft, unstable surface allows hooves to grow faster and be softer.  This can lead to their pasterns becoming soft, also.  The soft surface allows their toes to spread to give a more stable platform which can lead to some really funky hoof growth, almost webbed toes.  I like pens that have a gyp rock pack to it.  This allows water to move through it, but is also a hard, stable surface for wethers or does.  

     Genetics also play a part in hoof care.  Freaky throws a distinctive hoof.  Colt has a different hoof pattern.  This is no different in cattle.  Heat Wave throws a very distinctive hoof pad.  

     Corrective hoof trimming takes experience.  Some hooves just need the toe taken short, some need the heel taken down, some need the outside toe taken short while leaving most of the inside toe.  Some need a combination of all of the above.  I look at the wear on a hoof and watch the goat walk, then I know what needs done.  It usually takes 2 or 3 hoof trimming to correct a structure problem.  And some can’t be corrected, only managed.  That is where leg hair comes into play.  I try to grow as much leg hair as possible on bad legged goats.  That way I can clip the hair to shape the leg to hide some flaws.  

     I remember back in the day of a commercial that said “Why ask Why”.  Everybody needs to ask themselves “Why?” from time to time.  Why do I mess with these animals?  Why do I spend the money on this stuff?  Why in the heck do we do this?

     Sometimes, you have a good day and it makes it all worthwhile.  It was dark when I got home last night and Duke had a friend over for the night.  Duke had taken care of his stock, so I headed out to take care of mine, check water, critters, feed & water.  I noticed there was some small square alfalfa bales stacked near a barn.  It had a blue care package sitting on top of it.  It looks like my buddy Bob had been here to bring some does to meet Rumour.  Oh, and I got to read an OSU magazine article written by Kela Kelln.

     Tammy and I had to take some crap to my sister-in-law at Shattuck.  We dropped it off and ordered a pizza from the Hut.  While at the drive in, I conned the lady to get me a Pizza Hut hat.  This is a habit that I developed from watching Ritsun Urban years ago.  He always got free stuff from every place he went.  Big Bill has the same habit.  Rumour Has It that he has three hut hats.  But he doesn’t have a 2013 model–serial #1.

     We actually didn’t have to go anywhere today which is wierd for our family.  Tammy and the boys slept in.  I watched three Law & Order episodes before I headed out.  I got chores done and headed to Gage and then Shattuck.  I went to look at Britt’s pigs and Tyke’s baby goats because I knew that nobody was around to cloud my judgement.  This was the same way I like to look at projects when I was teaching.  Schoovy called and gave me some orders of what I needed to get done tomorrow.  I  stopped in and checked on my parents, permanetly borrowed some stuff and then came home.  

     Duke and Braylen came to the barn to work with animals.  Then we cleaned pens, did some metal work, added some features to the gator and spread crap.  A member of the Kartel showed up bearing gifts–some hay that he wanted me to try.  Brandon, Tammy and I stood in the barn, out of the wind, for an hour or more discussing stock show fund raisers.  Dad showed up, looked at his tractor, petted the dog, bitched about OSU basketball getting beat by ou and then left to feed cattle.  

     It was now 4 pm and I realized that I hadn’t had lunch.  So I heated up something that was growing in the back of the fridge.  Watched some of the Bronco’s game, then bundled up and headed out into the wind and snow to do evening chores.  I came back in and checked email.  I was already having a good day, but there was a killer message from a fellow stock show addict in Indiana that I have yet to meet.  

     He mentioned that he enjoys reading this “useful” blog.  He helps his nieces and nephews with their show projects.  It was a well written message, but the part that I really enjoyed was the sign off–he used the Paul Harvey “Good Day” and used his full name along with the title of “Indiana Uncle Project”.   I love it.  

     I didn’t accomplish anything of record today–no sales, didn’t win a show, etc.  But I had a phenomenal day.  These are the kind of days that build a program.  Duke worked his animals.  I had mine well prepared for crappy weather.  And I loved reading that email and talking to the people that I talked to on this day.  This is why we do it.  It isn’t about raising a great one.  It’s about building kids and building a social network.  The people that we deal with in the livestock industry are top notch.  The news media would never understand it.  Other hobby/addictions aren’t the same.  We all LOVE our animals (except the does in my case) but we really LOVE the people that we deal with and what it teaches our kids.  It doesn’t matter if you are in Texas, Oklahoma, KansAss or Indiana, that is why we do what we do.  

     The question is WHY?  The answer is WHY NOT.  If you aren’t a part of it, then you are missing out.  

      I was always a Paul Harvey fan.  I loved the “Rest of the Story” segments.  If you don’t remember these, google it.  It was quality news reporting.  Here is my 10 cents.  And I literally mean 10 cents, not a penny more, not a penny less–10 cents.  There isn’t even a cents sign on this keyboard–$0.10 is ten cents.

I decided that I was sick of making vehicle payments.  It was right at the end of the year so I called Ally financial to see what the payoff amount was for my gray pickup and Kela’s jeep.  The nice lady gave me the amount and I thought “Hey, that isn’t bad, I think that I will pay those things off”.  The lady gave me a payoff amount for each vehicle good until Dec. 29th.  I sent the checks.  It was kind of a good feeling.  Last checks for those things.  Paid off.  By the way, there is not a worse investment than buying a brand new vehicle.  Can you say depreciation?

     This past week I got a check from Ally for $1.32.  Yes, that is ONE dollar and 32 cents.  I was like, “Are you kidding me?”  They should have just kept the money.  I wouldn’t have known and wouldn’t have cared.  However, I cashed the check.  I needed to deposit several other checks, so what the heck.  It could still buy a burger off the McDonald’s dollar menu.

    On Monday evening, I got another check from Ally.  This time the amount was for…..you guessed it…TEN CENTS!!!  

     Are you shitting me?  They wrote a check for $0.10.  Ten cents.  I would have been more impressed if somebody would have taped ten pennies to a sheet of paper and mailed them to me, just like I used to do back in the early eighties.  Have the pre-requisite UPC symbols, some change taped to a piece of cardboard for shipping & handling and 6 to 8 weeks later I had a Cobra Comander GI Joe figure or some damn obscure Star Wars figure that Jake would later melt.  But NO, they cut a corporate check that is backed by Wells Fargo for 10 cents.  

     Let us think about this for a minute.  It cost $0.45 cents for the postage to mail this thing to me.  They had already mailed one shitty check.  Couldn’t they have put both checks in the same envelope and saved postage?  I know that the US postal service is dang neart broke, but come on.  Factor in labor to do the accounting that they owed me 10 cents, print the paperwork to send to payroll in order to process the check, printer ink, paper, a damn envelope, somebody to authorize this transaction, somebody to put the check in the envelope, etc.  Somebody, somewhere made the decision to have this check made out for $0.10.  I mean a 10 second phone call to me would have stopped all of this.  They could have called and said “Mr. Kelln, we owe you 10 cents.  We would make a donation to a charity in your name for ten DOLLARS and we will be money ahead if we don’t have to write & mail you a check.  Is this okay with you?”  Or they could have said, “We owe you 10 cents.  Do you need it?  Okay, I’m not going to waste my time or yours with this transaction.  Thank you for your business. Have a good day.”  And we wonder what is wrong this country.  

     Now for the rest of the story, the check is made out to Chris & TAMMY Kelln.  I only get half of this paper document.  A nickel.  I’m keeping it all.  Like Gollum on the Lord of the Rings, it is my precious.  I’m not sharing.  I think I will spend some more money & have this thing laminated.  It doesn’t say that it must be cashed within a certain time. That means some accountants, somewhere, will be trying to balance not only Ally’s books but Wells Fargo’s books but they will be $0.10 off.  But, just think how many of these crappy little checks that they have sent out that won’t get cashed.  Hmmm?  They might be money ahead when numerous people don’t cash these penny-anty little checks.  Makes you think.  Some of you are wondering why you just read this crap and if it is was worth ten cents of your time, while others are thinking, “Wow, that was really good.  I wonder if he will spend more money and get the TEN CENT check framed.”

GOOD DAY!      

     You can’t win ’em all!  Just ask Notre Dame, there is always somebody waiting to beat you.  Every successful show program needs to have a goal–is it just a project, make the sale at district, at a major, win the county, district or a major.  There has to be a set of goals to work towards.  Before I agree to help a family, I need to know their goals.  I cringe every time I hear “We want to win ’em all.”  It can’t be done.  Why?

      In order to win a major, it takes KNOWLEDGE, WORK ETHIC, MONEY and LUCK.  The showman and somebody helping them (parent, ag teacher, breeder, etc) must have knowledge of genetics, nutrition, showmanship and what kind of animal the judge prefers.  Work ethic is a huge priority.  It takes some money in order to buy a good one, travel expenses, provide workable facilities, equipment, feed, etc.  And sometimes it just takes some luck.  

     There is an outstanding retired show family in Oklahoma that tried to win them all.  They did win OYE (twice), Tulsa, Denver, Kansas City, State Fair, Lone Star Elite.  They had the best goat show career in OK and won all of the big ones, but they didn’t do it all in a row.  Why?  1–It can’t be done.  They had plenty of knowledge, tons of work ethic and spent money where it was needed.  And 2– there was other people with the same goals,knowledge, money, work ethic and 3–sometimes a judge has a bad day or just plain old had his head up his rear and couldn’t judge properly.  And there is always a chance for politics.  Which brings in the luck factor.  

     Sometimes, an animal gets sick, gets hurt or just flat out doesn’t turn out.  Sometimes, Lady Luck came to the tables with someone else.  

Take last year for example,  Duke had a Gallagher goat named Spasm.  This goat was reserve grand at the state fair, Bronze wether at OYE, Grand at Enid District, and Grand at Major county.  This was a pretty nice run for one goat and a 5th grade boy.  He was shown one other time and he was 4th out of 4 at the local.  It doesn’t matter how good they are, if you want them beat, then take them to a local show.  I’m not saying the judge was wrong, our family was fine with it.  Sometimes, it just isn’t going to happen.

     Set realistic goals.  Goals that are attainable for your family, your pocketbook and the time you have to spend with the animals.  Work towards those goals.  If you attain them, then set higher goals the next year.  

     One of the biggest fears of humans is public speaking.  Very few people like to get up in front of any number of people and talk.  I don’t know why it doesn’t bother me, but I don’t mind being in front of a crowd.  Which is weird as I have a lot of anti-social tendencies.  My mom made me do the reading at church when I was a kid.  This was the only form of public speaking that I really had growing up.

     Once I began my teaching career, I discover FFA and Ok Farmers Union speech contests.  I loved these.  I encouraged, pushed and flat out made kids give some form of public speaking.  Tammy and I will agree that our family’s biggest win was Kela winning a state FFA speech title.  She was not a natural speaker.  But hard work, perserverance and determination paid off.  Now, the dang kid is on tv.  I don’t care who you are, at some point in your life, you will need to present something to a group of people.  Whether it be in front of a school board, church function, business meeting, community event, etc, etc, etc.  My point is that everybody needs public speaking skills.  You don’t have to be a state champion, but everybody needs the skills.  There isn’t an argument because I am right.

     Now, a lot (most) of the show kids that I help also give speeches.  It is part of the deal.  Tammy and I enjoy helping kids with speeches.  I love writing speeches and she loves fine tuning their delivery.  I always bring it up to kids that they need to be giving a speech.  Usually, once the seed is planted, the kids will ask for help.  That is the scary part–What topic do they give the speech over?

     I believe the kid must have an interest in the topic.  Not just some memorized deal.  If they have an interest in it, then they will learn it easier, will research it better, will deliver it with more confidence and will answer questions better.  This all makes for a less painful ordeal and possibly a future speech champion.  The topic must be current, interesting and it really needs to be different.  Judging a speech contest where all of the speeches sound the same is brutal.   The Ag policy division can be hard to judge as most of the speeches will cover the farm bill.  It is like a fresh breeze when somebody comes in and delivers a speech over anything that doesn’t have to do with the farm bill.  

      I am often asked if I miss teaching.  Yes and no.  I don’t miss the useless paperwork and petty crap that goes on.  I do miss working on speeches, ag mechanics and the kids.  However, I still get my fix by working with our show kids.  Showing livestock is NOT about winning shows.  It is about building kids–building their knowledge, work ethic, confidence, social networks (with real people not some facebook crap) and building character.  All of our kartel also believes as I do.  Therefore, a pile of our kids are involved in public speaking and other character building events.  And a by product of this is that our kids can talk to people, are confident in their abilities all which in turn makes for better showmen which helps win shows.  Hhmm?  It all kind of ties together.  

     I hope everybody has a lovely week.  We are finishing a busy, but laid back kind of weekend.  

     What a screwed up week.  Crazy busy at work on Monday.  Off on Tuesday.  It doesn’t feel like a Friday.  Our resident scholar is glad that it is a short school work week.  It has been a weird week.  

     Last saturday, Duke wrestled in Tonkawa.  On our way home, we decided to stop and see a former student who lives north of Cleo Springs.

     Brady Thomas showed pigs for us at Fairview.  He and his family are a true FFA family.  They worked hard, but always helped everybody else.  Pig shows, cattle shows, come watch a goat show, fund raisers, didn’t matter.  The Thomas family loves to help others. I don’t get to see Brady very often, but he calls me several times a month to check on Tammy, Kela and Duke.  And to give me crap about OSU.  Like everybody else, Brady isn’t perfect.  He has one terrible drawback–he is a HUGE ou fan.  I mean HUGE.  When we got to his house, the first thing he wanted to show us was his newly redone bedroom.  The room has been done in complete ou.  The bedspread is ou.  Pillows–sooners.  I shit you not, the carpet is crimson and the walls are cream.  90% of this room is ou.  The only things not ou are some family/friend pictures, FFA pictures, pig show pictures and plaques and a calendar.  His grandpa Marvin had gotten Brady a calendar for 2013.  Nothing but attractive girls in bikinis.  All very tastefully photoed.  Brady showed me each picture for 2013.  He definetily liked some better than others.  If you all think our crew has a large time showing goats now, be glad Brady and his parents aren’t there.  Always a large time to be had when the Thomas’ are involved.  These are the kind of people that show Fred, Poe, myself and others how to have a large time.  One thing about it, you will always be in a good mood after talking to Brady.  Unless he gets excited and then you may not understand what the hell he said.

     Tuesday, we had a wine tasting at my parents house.  Uncle Jim wanted to share his wine and knoweldge, therefore a wine tasting.  Nine different varieties from California, France, Italy, South Africa, Australia and then throw in a home-made vintage.  Meats, cheeses, small tasting wine glasses–it was borderline professional.  We have culture here in NW Oklahoma.  

     As far as the goat world goes, nothing but keeping wethers warm, hay in front of does, ice broke and looking at gates that have been beat to hell by over destructive does.  In other words, not the fun time of year when raising goats.

     I have been on strike the past month.  I got done with the Champion’s Choice jackpot on Dec. 1 and I hadn’t looked at, handled, clipped or trimmed hooves on anybody’s show goats since then.  I did try to help Duke get Red Tuxedo’s mind right, but all I accomplished was hurting myself.  Sometimes, a person just has to get away from all of it in order to stay focused.  So I went on strike.  When people called, I simply said, “Nope, can’t do it right now.”

     By not seeing any of these goats for a while, I can see which ones are cranking, which ones are in a growth spurt, some will be stalling out and maturity will be starting to kick in on some of these.  What happens if somebody screws one up during that past month? If they did, they will learn not to do it again.  Because if they are still running them, setting them up, feeding as last instructed and keeping them warm, then they most likely don’t have a screw up.  If they changed something on their own, they probably screwed up.  But, we can most likely fix it.

     One of Duke’s wethers needs some corrective hoof trimming, but I have touched his hooves since the first of November.  I need some growth in order to have something to work with.  Two months should do it and it also gives me almost three months before OYE.  

     I officially came off strike on New Years Day.  Duke brought all three of his wethers into the barn (heater) and weighed them and set them up.  I handled them and he put them up.  On a warmer day, I will trim hooves and Kelly clip them.  Probably along with 40 other wethers on the same day. When a strike is over, you have to go back to work.

     Last night, I recieved word that Tom Lamle’s father had passed away.  I talked to Tom this morning and he and the family were fine.  Keep his family in your prayers.  Tom was in Okeene helping to take care of his father’s stuff and still managed to make it to Jared Bedwell’s memorial service.  Jeff Bedwell and Tom grew up together.  

     It is kind of neat to look at the successful livestock people and who/where they grew up and see the ties that they have with other successful livestock people.  Sometimes, it is an ag teacher/ county agent that is the common link, other times a judging team, sometimes a breeder and sometimes it is nothing more than geopgraphy and a stiff competition.  Whatever the driving force, no matter how big of competitors, when there is a loss in the livestock show world, people come together.  They give comfort, time, money, whatever is needed.  Although, we all want to win, we appreciate our competitors.  

     Today’s memorial service was impressive on numerous levels.  First and foremost, was the composure of the family in a time of great loss.  Jennifer, the little sister, gave remarks about her brother.  She is in high school and this is the 2nd time for her to do this–this fall.  She shouldn’t be a pro at it, but she now is.  The shear number of people was huge and it was a who’s who of the livestock world.  You would have had a hard time finding somebody to clip a calf today. Or teach ag or be in the county agents offices of most of OK or OSU for that matter.  It was also impressive to see the lives he had touched.  Young, old, it didn’t matter.  There were numerous young kids that had been influenced and they were missing their mentor.  There is a bovine or two that will be heard from come March.  

     I enjoyed seeing former students, but would have liked it to be on better terms.  One in particular.  He was an outstanding student that excelled in ag mechanics.  He showed sheep with success, but he should have been a cattle showman.  He was very good friends with the family.  He was never a good public speaker, but he stood in front of hundreds and talked about his friend without wavering.  Public speaking will always come in handy, even when you don’t want it to.  I watched him deliver his words and I chuckled.  Not because of what he was saying, but because of a thought of him and Jared.  Those two boys “might” have made a stencil that they used to spray paint a set of gonads on the deer on deer crossing road signs.  It was quite funny, to me anyways, to see these signs with the anatomically correct buck deer on the yellow & black road signs.  I am real sure that those boys still knew where the stencil was for that stunt.  

     I’m ready for sunnier days, happier thoughts, and well, some competitive action in the show ring.  

     The year 2013 is here.  Somehow, we managed to avoid the fiscal cliff.  I’m happy we avoided this clliff, mainly, so we don’t have to hear the mainstream media talk about it anymore.  It’s amazing how our media comes up with new terms and then sensationalizes it to the point that we are just numb to the crap they are talking about.  Maybe milk needs to cost $8 a gallon so that the dairy farmers can actually make some money for their long hours and days dedicated to the cows.  I hope that someday soon the general public realizes how important the U.S. agriculture sector is to providing them the cheapest, safest and best food in the world.  

     The year 2013 will signify new beginnings for some people.  To others it’s just a matter of hanging a new calendar, or scrolling on their phone to a different month.  Some will be glad that 2012 is over.  A bunch of people are making a bunch of new year’s resolutions that they won’t keep.  Why don’t they just go to church and make some resolutions that could actually pay off?  I know I need to more often.

     The year 2013 is the year of the black snake on the Chinese calendar.  That seems appropriate given who your president is.  And I don’t mean that racially.  

     I didn’t stay up long enough to see the ball drop.  I watched a marathon of pawn stars until I fell asleep on the couch.  I was awoken sometime around 10 p.m. when Kela’s house guest came barreling up onto the couch and put her shit-zu face right into mine.  Just how everybody needs to be awakend.  I don’t get too revved up about partying on New Year’s Eve.  I kind of consider it as an amateur night.  I don’t need an excuse to get wound up and I dang sure don’t need to be out and about with a bunch of amateurs getting sideways.  

     Hopefully, the year 2013 will bring normal or better levels of moisture to our part of the world.  I look forward to animals growing out, kids showing them well and then starting over again.  Kela will graduate and move into the “real” world this year.  Duke may get to redo the 6th grade this year.  

      To me, a new year is like OK State football, this year will always be better.  I can always sound pessimistic, but I am actually an optimist.  Almost all people in agriculture are optimistic.  Otherwise, why raise livestock for next year or plant crops?  All stock show people know that this is their year.  We do it because this year is going to be the one. Like a gambling addict down to their last dollar headed back into the casino.  We are going to throw the dice again.

     I know that this year is going to be fun.  One, because I always find a way to have fun.  Two, I want it to be fun.  Three, we will have some rumour babies this year.  Four, we are going to work hard to make it fun.  Five, I’m not moving this year.  Even if the Dragon Lady kicks me to the curb, I’m not moving.  I’ve got plenty of barn space.   

      Good luck to everybody, have fun, GOD bless you and may 2013 be better for you than last year.

      I don’t know even know where to begin.   Do I write this as an ex-ag teacher, a parent, a stock show addict, what?  My gut is in a knot and my head is upside down & sideways….and I feel lucky.  Some of you that read this are interested in goats, some interested in the stock show industry and some look at it to see what kind of crap I can come up with.  

       Anybody that knows me understands that I love kids, animals and competitions (stock shows, speech contests, judging contests, etc).  I love to win, but it isn’t about the win, it is about the journey to get there.  The things that I love about stock shows is that you have to have a goal, the work ethic to achieve that goal, the fact that you have to have help and that you can do it as a family.  That family may include blood relatives as well as friends.  

     I feel lucky because I spent time with Kela and Duke today.  We have friends that have not been that fortunate today.  Thus, the prayers.  

     The Bedwell name is known nationwide for high quality cattle.  They have also shown some dang good goats, pigs, sheep and whatever else you want to show.  Jeff Bedwell is as good a livestock judge as there is.  His wife, Dianne, comes from a well known sheep showing family.  Their kids have been highly succesfull showmen.  

     I was fortunate enough to be an ag teacher at Fairview with Jared and Justin in class.  Jennifer was in 4-H and showing goats and cattle.  As she has gotten older, she has since won numerous public speaking contests.  Jared has been around cattle shows FOREVER.  He knew how to judge, read, feed and clip cattle like his dad, which means as good as anybody.  These kids know livestock and know people.

     Justin was the middle child, and therefore, carved his own path.  He excelled with plant sciences and won state and national awards to prove it.  Justin graduated high school with Kela and they were goods friends.  Justin always had a good time and if you were in the vicinity of him, then you should to.  If you didn’t it was your fault, not his.  He wasn’t a model student as far as grades go, but he was a fun student.  I liked Justin, but he had an exceptional bond with my teaching partner Mindi Clark.  Through the greenhouse, she was able to motivate him.  As the elder teacher, I had the experience of watching her grow as a teacher and he as a student become a motivated young adult.  This is the heroin that still goes through my veins and makes me want to teach again.  You can try your best with every student, but it only clicks with a few.  But it is way worth it when it does.

      Jared dreamed of becoming a cattle jock.  I am talking buying/selling calves but with extensive customer service.  Win the big shows, but do it right.  Grow hair, trim hooves and clip hair to immaculate perfection.  He was doing it.  He was living his dream.  How many of us actually get to do that?  He was.  He already had wins at major shows and a was building a huge clientele base.  But, he had family help–from all of them.  Justin helped groom cattle, Jennifer showed them, mom was always there and Dad trimmed hooves, helped clip, gave nutrition/selection/financial advice, etc.  They have always done it as a family.

      In October, Justin was killed in a car accident on his way to the Tulsa State Fair to help get cattle ready.  It was an accident, but he was gone at too early an age, full of goals, promise and a bright future.  Taken way too early.  Why?  Only GOD knows.

     This morning, Jared was killed in a car accident.  I cannot understand why.  I don’t know what to say to the parents.  I’m real good at offering opinions and dishing out BS, but to try to console/help parents that have lost two sons in less than 3 months, I’m at a loss.  I feel selfish/lucky because my kids are here with Tammy and I.  

        I realize that Justin was working towards goals–HIS goals.  Jared was choking a dream into submission so well that it was rapidly becoming a reality.  Both boys were using their skills that they learned from their parents and doing it as a family.  A sister lost her two older brothers/heroes/role models.  A mother should never lose a child, much less two.  And a father didn’t lose his sons, but his best friends and co-workers.  This family has a huge friend/family base that will help.  But it can’t replace the loss.  

     I have no explanation.  I’m not good at consolation.  The smart-ass/simple-minded part of me would like to think that there was a damn important cattle show somewhere that these boys were needed to get a good one ready.  Anyways, I hope, otherwise I’m at a loss.  All I do know is that any prayers for the Bedwell family are needed and appreciated.  While you are praying, don’t forget to think GOD for how lucky each one of us are.  I know that I lose track at times.