Virtual Reality - Honoring our Heroes!

April 12, 2016 ~ Today would be a very special trip to Macon, MO to take 8 veterans, that have served in World War II and Korea, on a VR (Virtual Reality) experience to see their memorials in Washington, D.C.  With the help of several volunteers coordinating this event and Chariton Valley Communication for providing the perfect location to host this event we were able to enjoy the wonderful conversations while they experienced Honor Everywhere.

http://honoreverywhere.com/

I did a blog post about Honor Everywhere and you can read it here:

 http://thelongdirtroad10.blogspot.com/2016/02/honor-everywhere-360-virtual-reality.html

The reason we would be going to Macon, MO today is because this wonderful World War II hero has terminal cancer and would not be able to go on an upcoming Central Missouri Honor Flight. As you know, the entire Honor Flight Network was created in an effort to get our World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. to see their memorial therefore it was very important to us that he have the ability to see it via Honor Everywhere. 

He told a few other friends of his that were in a nursing home and they graciously put these wonderful heroes on their shuttle bus and brought them to Chariton Valley Communication so they could participate in this Virtual Reality experience. 

*Please Note: We highly encourage any World War II, Korean or Vietnam War veteran to sign up to go on a real Honor Flight in/around your city. In the event that they are unable to go this is the next best option to see their memorials. To find an Honor Flight hub near you please click on the link:

https://www.honorflight.org/regional-honor-flight-hubs/

Photo Credit: Sarah Hill

The best part about Virtual Reality is that as soon as you slip on the headgear or hold up the Google Cardboard to view the story you are taken from where ever you are currently located and immediately submerged inside the story. You are not watching the story but rather seeing the entire thing surrounding you as if you were there the entire time! Truly incredible. 

Thank you to every single person that made this day possible. It truly warms your heart to spend time with these true American Heroes.... my heart is full!  

Anyone that has a smart phone can help be our "boots on the ground" and getting this video in the hands of our veterans that are too sick or frail to go on Honor Flights. To find out more visit the following website and help us help them... 

http://honoreverywhere.com/

Happy 64th Birthday Momma!

April 9, 2016 ~ Operation "Surprise Yo Momma" was in full effect today as it was our Momma's 64th birthday! She thought we were going to cook dinner at Ashley's house to celebrate this big day but little did she know that her girls and Pops were up to something else!

You see us girls had everything planned out and under control... we just told Pops to make sure to keep Momma away from the barn (she likes to ride her golf cart over there to see what's going on) and away from Ashley's house. A simple job yet she would give him a run for his money! 

Greg smoked the pulled pork and Ashley and I made the sides. Ashley had a wonderful lemon cake made by a local baker (Columbia Cupcakes) and we had surprised her with a few special guests. A very small but important party!

We told them that Brandon and I would come pick them up - something Momma thought was silly because they were perfectly able to drive up to Ashley's. (She how difficult she can be!) We get them in the truck and I text my sister to prompt her to call...

(phone rings)

Me: Hello Ashley....

Ashley: Hey I need a punch bowl and cups

Me: Ok we can bring those.... gotta stop by the barn then we will be there

(hang up phone)

Mom: Why does she need a punch bowl? Just put the stuff in a bowl and call it good...

Me: {insert the look} Because it's your birthday and she wants a punch bowl

Mom: Well that's silly... I'm hungry

We get to the barn and Pops and Brandon start looking at our new flag pole.... Momma doesn't know if she should sit in the truck or not so I tell her to come look at my new signs. (You can tell that she doesn't really care about the signs and she is ready to go to Ashley's) We walk inside and she is looking at some pictures laying up against the wall...

Everyone: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

Mom: {insert bad language here} 

She was so surprised and yet so happy! 

We managed to get her sisters to this special party and she totally called them out on lying to her when she talked to them earlier! Her oldest sister, Carolyn isn't in the best health and had turned 80 years old but when she knew what we were doing she wasn't going to miss this party! Momma loves spending time with her sisters and thank you Aunt Carolyn, Aunt Janie and Aunt Darleen for coming down to help us celebrate! 

(Of course my sister loves to aggravate the crap outta Bubba!)

It was certainly a birthday to remember and I am so glad we could surprise her! We had great food, really good cake, she got lots of great gifts and we laughed until we cried!

Happy 64th Birthday Momma! 

We love you!

2016 ATHENA & ATHENA Young Professional Awards Banquet

April 7, 2016 ~ Tonight was the ATHENA Leadership and the ATHENA Young Professional Awards Banquet. This would be held at the Kimball Ballroom on Stephens College Campus in Columbia, MO. I was one of the three finalists for the ATHENA Young Professional Award and honestly didn't think I had a chance of receiving this honor because I was up against 2 amazing rock star ladies. 

Please see a previous blog post on this award and who were announced as finalists:

http://www.thelongdirtroad10.blogspot.com/2016/03/2016-athena-leadership-athena-young.html

As many of you know I lost a really good friend almost a month ago. I've been working very hard to get things together with his wife in planning for his Celebration of Life and I guess he knew I had been thinking about him often because as I got to my momma and daddy's house it began pouring down rain. As we left her house it began spitting down little hail stones. By the time we got to our shop it had stopped raining and there was the most beautiful double rainbow over our building. Luckily I stopped to take a quick picture because by the time I got to my sisters house, nearly 3 minutes away, it was gone. It was as if Chuck was saying "You got this kid!" and I couldn't help but smile that he was sending me a message.

The first award given was the 2016 ATHENA Young Professional Award....

              

I was very surprised to see my name on the big screen but so honored to see my Golden Girl, Lindsay Lopez speaking about me on the video. I was really happy that my best friend, mom, sister and close friends could be here tonight to share in this very special evening. 

 The glass award in my right hand is the 2016 ATHENA Young Professional Finalist Award that we all three received. The really cool diamond looking award in my left hand is the 2016 ATHENA Young Professional Award!

A huge congratulations to Dr. Tonia Compton and Erica Pefferman on being named a finalist for this award... what an honor to have my name thrown in the hat along with you rock star ladies! These ladies have accomplished some really great things and I can't wait to see what the future holds for both of them!


The main award given tonight was the 2016 ATHENA Leadership Award.....



What an honor to see such a deserving woman from our community receive this prestigious award! A huge congratulations to Dianne Lynch of Stephens College! You have certainly done an amazing job and what a well deserved honor! 

A huge congratulations to Jan Grossman and Nancy Fay on being a finalist for this award! You both are incredible women who do so much for our community and I am proud to call you both friends.

What a night! Such and honor and it was a wonderful surprise to receive this award. I am grateful for the friendships and opportunities that I have because of my involvement in the Chamber of Commerce and Women's Network.

 Thank you to Women's Network for being engaged in this wonderful ATHENA program. You encourage, inspire and empower women in our community while being a huge support system for us. Y'all ROCK!

Thank you to Heather Stewart and Shelly DeVore for taking the time to nominate me and put together the nomination form. It's not an easy task yet you took time from your day to make sure it was perfect. I am so lucky to have wonderful friends like you!

Photo Credit: Daniel Brenner / Columbia Daily Tribune

Thank you to the Columbia Daily Tribune for a great article on these awards:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/lynch-spry-recognized-as-athena-winners/article_dd2ed270-160a-549e-9842-eaef0b8dcd57.html