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Updates For You

Well, it’s definitely been a while since I have written a story. In fact, the last story I posted was on my birthday in April. I decided it was time to catch everyone up on what’s been going on.

I would like to start by letting you know that the final knee replacement surgery went very well, and the recovery is going fine, but slow. This has been a difficult process to go through, but like so many other things in life it has been a learning experience. I was very bitter about having to have the second and third surgery due to the infection, but I also realize that there are so many other people going through much harder dilemmas. I understand the difficulties with my knee will get better, while others are not as fortunate with their circumstances. I want to thank everyone who kept me in their thoughts and prayers, and for reaching out to let me know they wanted to help in any way.

The Crusade Against Cancer was another huge success this year. I came as Star Lord of course, and Kristi came as Mrs. Incredible. Which is quite fitting because she IS quite Incredible. We had five families that were nominated by the local High Schools, and we had the students give the checks to them at the event. This is the best part of the event, and we are so lucky to have so many amazing young adults in our community. I know they will be tremendous leaders of tomorrow. I was particularly honored when the students from Bonneville High School asked me if I would be in a group picture with them.

We started our Fourth of July celebration by taking my sister Patty to the Stadium of Fire at LaVell Edwards Stadium on July 1st to see Journey. I really enjoyed the way they started the event with a fly over by F35 jets from Hill Air Force base. I will admit I was a little concerned about how Journey would sound without their legendary singer Steve Perry, but his replacement Arnel Pineda did a great job. They finished the show with a magnificent display of Fireworks. Kristi and I were so glad we were able to enjoy this remarkable show with Patty. She is a great sister and friend, and I am so grateful to have her in my life. (Don’t tell her I said this. It will ruin my brother street cred!)

My biggest news is I have started my new job as the Dealer Development Manager for the North American Equipment Dealers Association. I will be working with the Agriculture, Construction, and Outdoor Power Equipment dealers in the Pacific and Far West regions of the country. I am so excited to get back to working with the dealers. I enjoy helping them find solutions and answers to there problems and issues. I have already connected with some of the dealers, and they are looking forward to working with me. I am very excited about this opportunity!

I will end this story by thanking all of you for your friendship and support. I am so lucky to have such great friends and want everyone to know how much I appreciate you. I am especially thankful for Kristi and all the love and support she gives to me. I am extremely blessed to have her in my life.

P.S. I am going to start writing these stories on a more frequent basis. You have been warned!

Happy Birthday Jayci

Posted by on October 29, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

Happy Birthday Jayci Thursday was our sweet little Jayci’s 6th birthday. It’s hard to believe she is six years old already. It’s incredible how fast time flies. This week’s story is about the birthday fun we had last weekend with Jayci and her friends. It all started with Brittney coordinating a completely fun filled day. The day started with all of the girls going to Austin Kade to get their hair and nails done. The next step was probably the most important of all. Brittney had arranged to surprise the girls by getting picked up from Austin...

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FIRA-USA Event

Posted by on October 22, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

FIRA-USA Event Before I tell you about the exciting event I was able to take part in this week, I want to send a very special thank you to Amanda Wade, and the Hillcrest Student Council for arranging a breast cancer awareness night for the Shannon Wilker Foundation at the Hillcrest High School football game Friday night. We were able to present a check to Larry Belnap and his family in memory of his wife Terry who passed away from breast cancer on October 11th. The student council also went around the bleachers collecting money from the...

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More Fundraisers

Posted by on October 16, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

More Fundraisers Yesterday was a very good day for the Foundation. It began with the Snake River BMX organization holding a special breast cancer awareness day for the Foundation. They have been doing this for the last few years now, and it gets bigger every year. This year, it was at their new location out by Sandy Downs. They let me set up a booth right by the registration office. I had everything set up ready to go, and they asked me if I would say a few words to the crowd. I always enjoy a chance to tell people about the Foundation, and...

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The Blessings of Community

Posted by on October 8, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

The Blessings of Community Before I begin to talk about our amazing community, I want to thank Berna Deanne’s family, and her community for the sweet, and beautiful tribute to her on Wednesday. It was so very heartwarming. I especially want to thank her daughter Melanie for the life sketch. She did an amazing job and it brought so many smiles and thoughts of love to everyone. It filled my heart with the blessings only family bonds can give you. I want to thank my family for the love, compassion, and strength they have given me in my life. To...

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A Very Special Lady

Posted by on October 1, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

A Very Special Lady The reason I did not post a story last weekend was due to my Mother-In-Law Berna Deanne getting Covid earlier in the week, and then she came down with a case of pneumonia. This caused her to get admitted to Portneuf Regional Medical Center in Pocatello. I drove down to see her on Thursday, and she said she was feeling a little better. She told me she just wanted to go home and be with her cats. When I called her on Friday, she told me the doctor had released her to go home, but the nurses in Rehab wanted to send her to...

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A Very Special Limo Ride

Posted by on September 18, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

A Very Special Limo Ride This week’s story is a follow-up to the story I posted three weeks ago titled “An Inspirational Young Man.” It was about a seventeen your old young man that was diagnosed with terminal cancer. When Kristi and I took the first check over to his grandmother, she told us that one of the events the young man really wanted to attend was prom. I told the grandmother I wanted to take him to prom in a limousine. When the grandmother asked me if I was sure, I explained the owners of the limo company love to do things like that...

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Eastern Idaho State Fair 2022

Posted by on September 11, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

Eastern Idaho State Fair 2022 Well, the Fair has come and gone for another year, and it had another great turnout. Kristi and I decided we would go down early on Monday, before the crowd got too big and it got too hot. I usually park across from the stockyards because it’s still pretty close and it’s free. We arrived a little after 10:00 and the parking across from the stockyards was already full. We drove past every place that was free and there wasn’t any place that wasn’t already full. I knew we were going to do a lot of walking, and I...

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Happy Labor Day 2022

Posted by on September 3, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

Happy Labor Day 2022 For this week’s story, I just wanted to do a short little story about how Labor Day started and it’s importance in our lives. Labor Day is an annual celebration of the economic achievements of American workers. The holiday started in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in...

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An Inspirational Young Man

Posted by on August 27, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

An Inspirational Young Man This week Kristi learned that one of her friends found out their 17 year-old Grandson has a rare form of terminal cancer, and the doctors told them his life expectancy would be less than one year. They were given the options of aggressive treatment that might extend the young man’s life by a few months, or they could go a little less invasive and give him a better quality of life. The Grandma called Kristi and told her she had heard about the Foundation. She asked if the Foundation would be able to put her in touch...

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Fun with Jayci

Posted by on August 21, 2022 in Journal | 0 comments

Fun with Jayci Let me start this week’s story by sharing an old Rodney Dangerfield joke. “I asked my Dad to take me to the zoo. He said, If they want you, they’ll come and get you.” That is the lead into our day with Jayci. Kristi and I had told Jayci, the next time we had her, we would take her to the zoo. It had been a long time since Kristi and I had been to the zoo, so we were both looking forward to taking her. When we arrived at the zoo, Jayci told us she would lead the way. She headed straight for the penguins, and then we made our way...

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