howeenterprise.com
Monday, October 19, 2015
Page #13
The Back of the Boat boat instead of the boat with the young ladies from the University of Colorado.
By Chris Campbell As I type this I’m on a flight to Boston. Some days it’s harder to leave than others. On those especially difficult days I like to scroll through some pictures I keep on my phone – pictures that remind me people are waiting for me at home. My most favorite picture is from a family vacation two summers ago. It’s an action shot of the Campbell’s white water rafting in New Mexico. It’s my favorite because it perfectly depicts our family. In the front is our youngest, Jacob. A big smile is plastered on his face. He no longer has a paddle in his hand, because having fun is his goal. To his left is Noah…with the oar positioned across his shoulders. He’s posing because he knows there’s a camera pointed at him. On the other side is Elijah, the rule follower. His smile shows he’s Photo Loretta havingby fun, but hisAnderson paddle is in the water because he knows he’s supposed to be working, too. Mom and Dad are in the back – content to let their kids be at the center of attention.
Travis began our time teaching us the basics – detailing what we’d need to know for our trip down the Rio Grande. He let us know the dangers and the excitement that lay before us. He also made it clear this was WORK…and he was not shy about “encouraging” our children to work harder. He even took the opportunity to rearrange our seating to make the most of our strengths. When the water was calm Travis pointed out the beauty around us and shared some things about himself in order for us to know him better. When the water became rough Travis was all business, preparing us for what we were going to encounter. As we entered the rapids he shouted instructions like a Drill Seargent. Robin and I would pass these instructions along to the boys. On one occasion our boat got stuck in the rocks, so Travis hopped into the water (into some scary rapids) and pried us free. At the end of the day our family had a blast…and we owed it all to Travis.
Life is full of rapids and rocks – illness, death, job-loss, unexpected life circumstances, etc. – and without the right Guide it is impossible to navigate the river. Sometimes we get stuck in those rocks, and no matter what we do we can’t break free. Without the right Guide, there is no one to risk their life to push us down the river again. Sometimes we’re not A family of five paddling down the pulling our weight…and it’s at river…a river that metaphorically those times we need a Guide to portrays life’s journey. both admonish and encourage us. And then there are those times There’s a sixth person in the boat. when the river runs slowly…and That’s Travis – our 24-year old our Guide implores us to look guide. Travis was a simple guy – he around and see all that there is to liked beer and girls (probably in behold. that order) but was not especially fond of kids. Travis felt he got the Who’s in the back of your family’s short end of the stick guiding our boat?
Vintage Glass Serving Bowl. Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Bill French. Quart of Junk Gypsy Chalk Paint and Furniture Painting Class. Donated by Salvage Junky. Tea and Bulldogs T-shirt, plus Retro Bulldog Country T-shirt. Donated by Salvage Junky. Basket of North Texas Fair & Rodeo Goodies. Donated by North Texas Fair & Rodeo, Denton.
IN KIND DONORS Walmart, 20 briskets, Bill Smith, Howe Mini Storage, $300, Metal Masters, $1,000, Great Days of Service, labor and supplies, Keep Howe Beautiful, labor and supplies, The Siding Man, Inc., $2,800, AAA Guardian Foundation Repair, $2,500, Boyd Dunn, services, construction supervisor for Church Restoration, City of Howe, services, Monte Walker, posters and flyers, Howe High School, banner design and creation, GCEC, ladder trucks, Boy Scouts, painting of Mame Roberts gazebo, volunteer services, Matt, Mayo, electrical services, Howe Middle School Student Council, volunteer services, David Wortham, services, Brice Harvey, bbq cook, Dick Smithwick, bbq cook, Janie Finney, banners and signs, Don Anderson, auctioneer, Howe Enterprise, advertising, Van Alstyne Leader, advertising, Herald Democrat, advertising, Donna Wormsbaker, beans for BBQ dinner, Bev Martin, bread for BBQ dinner, Mary Jo Wrenn, bread for BBQ dinner, Georgia Caraway, tea for BBQ dinner, Jean Norman, coleslaw for BBQ dinner, Mama Suzy’s Sweets and Eats, 8 doz. sugar cookies for dinner, Mary Stonebarger, 8 doz. chocolate chip cookies for dinner, Sheri Folkes,, potato salad for BBQ dinner, Sunny Delight, 200 drinks, Dr Pepper, 5 cases Dr Pepper, Grayson County Blood Bank, radio ads, Howe Fire Department, use of building for BBQ dinner, Loretta Anderson, Texas Farm Bureau, 125 iced tea glasses, Darren Foster, Texas Farm Bureau, 125 iced tea glasses, Ronnie Morris, painting benches, Sonic, ice, Linda Wall, barbeque sauce FINANCIAL DONORS: Collins Memorial, $24,350 Howe Historical Society, $14,500 Georgia Caraway, $2,880 Oscar Blankemeyer, $1,420 Nortex Field Services, $1,000 Jerry and Patsy Kelsoe, $600 Garage Sales, $357.50 Advantage Business Machines, $200 Anonymous, $200 Scott Frantz, $200 TLD Design Consulting, $200 Norman Farms, $125, Bounce House Janie Finney, $100, banners Waldo Funeral Home, $100 Scoggins Funeral Home, $100 M.E. Curtis, $100 Monty Ulmer, $100 Anonymous, $50 City Drug of Van Alstyne, $50 Carolyn Monroe, $40 Children and citizens of Howe, $75 Ray Selby, $20
