Category Archives: Jaxon

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 188 – RELIGION

A very solid week of submissions for RELIGION. We hit double digits and maybe if the weather stays nice, we can stay in that rarefied air!

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submssions:


WEEK 188 - RELIGION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - JODIE CUE
Jodie Cue

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - JAXON SCHOFF
Jaxon Schoff

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - ANDY SHARP
Andy Sharp

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - CHRISTOPER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 188 - RELIGION - ANGIE DEWAARD
Angie DeWaard

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 189 - DESSERT
DESSERT

DESSERT! What an incredibly tasty theme! It should also put to rest any of the chatter on conspiracy nutbag YouTube channels that I rig the themes in some way, shape or form. Because if I did, and since today is Earth Day, if I rigged themes, this week’s theme would be GREEN.

But what is a DESSERT photo? It is any photo of a DESSERT or somebody enjoying a DESSERT. Personally, I think I’ll be heading down to The Filling Station in Madrid this weekend for a little hardcore DESSERT action.

This theme was suggested by Andy Sharp. See, suggesting themes does bear fruit!

I look forward to your interpretations.

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very sweet Monday.

Boone FUMC Church Directory: Chapter 5

I think this is the final collection of pictures I took for the Boone First United Methodist Church Directory.

I think these pictures were taken on Graduation Sunday. However, that isn’t the reason for the red balloons. I just can’t remember the reason for the red balloons. Might have been the church’s birthday. That seems vaguely familiar.

I know at least a couple of these ended up in the Directory:


Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

This process gave me some ideas for the next Directory. I might have to take a more active role in crafting it.

Boone FUMC Church Directory: Chapter 3

Seems like another good time to release a collection of photos that I tooke for the Boone First United Methodist Church’s Church Directory.

In this collection are pictures I took of a particular stained glass window that the committee wanted, a communion set that the committee wanted, some Youth Group pictures the committee wanted and a choir picture the committee wanted.

You will see no pictures of Kio, which I believe is what the committee wanted. Too soon? Love you Kio!


Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

Boone FUMC Directory

There is still at least one, possibly two more sets of pictures from the Boone FUMC Church Directory Photo Shoots still out there to publish!

Boone FUMC Church Directory: Chapter 1

One of the photo projects I worked on in early 2018 was grabbing miscellaneous pictures for the Boone First United Methodist Church Directory.

The person in charge of putting the directory together wanted some pictures of the Bell Choir and some pictures of Doug sermonizing. That is why these pictures below exist:


Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

Boone First United Methodist Church Directory

The Sharp Farm

The Sharp Farm

After church I went to the Sharp farm. I believe to take a picture of an unpictured outhouse.

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 171 – PHOTOJOURNALISM

The holiday season definitely hurt the amount of PHOTOJOURNALISM submissions for this week’s WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 171 - PHOTOJOURNALISM - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 171 - PHOTOJOURNALISM - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 171 - PHOTOJOURNALISM - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt

WEEK 171 - PHOTOJOURNALISM - MICHELLE HAUPT
Michelle Haupt


Christopher D. Bennett

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:



FRIENDS

FRIENDS! What a great theme! I hope everybody has at least a few FRIENDS. If you don’t, I’m willing to be your FRIEND(S). For a small sitting fee. I don’t think it will be necessary though, because I believe what Clarence the Angel said about FRIENDS. I don’t know any failures.

Now that has been established, what is a FRIENDS photo? A FRIENDS photo is a photo that is a picture of FRIENDS. They can be your FRIENDS or it can be people that are FRIENDS that aren’t necessarily your FRIENDS. It could be a photo of a product of having FRIENDS. For example, all the Christmas cards I get, I tape to my entrance window. Now I don’t get as many as I used to get, I could take a picture of that display and it would be a FRIENDS photo.

Remember that next Monday is New Year’s Eve. While many businesses and government offices will be closed (even if the Trump shutdown is still going on), Photography 139 doesn’t take holidays. Plan accordingly!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very friendly Monday.

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 159 – ARCHITECTURE

Before we get into the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, here is my plea to help the Boone First United Methodist Church’s Youth Group fund their annual mission trip:


Pizza Ranch Fundraiser

Download and print that flyer. Cut it into 4 coupons. Then, come to the Boone Pizza Ranch this Wednesday night and have supper. Between 5-9.

Where: Boone Pizza Ranch
Date: Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Time: 5-9
What: Mission Trip Fundraiser

The Boone First United Methodist Church will be going to Rapid City, South Dakota for a mission trip the last week of June. Help us get the kids there!

Thank you!!!

+++++++

It was a good rebound week. More people were moved by the ARCHITECTURE theme than the previous week.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:


WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT
Christopher D. Bennett

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE - JAXON SCHOFF
Jaxon Schoff

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE - SHANNON BARDOLE-FOLEY
Shannon Bardole-Foley

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE - KIM BARKER
Kim Barker

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE - TAMARA PETERSON
Tamara Peterson

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE  - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE  - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE  - CARLA STENSLAND
Carla Stensland

WEEK 159 - ARCHITECTURE - MICKY AUGUSTIN
Micky Augustin

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:


WEEK 160 - MOUTH
Mouth

MOUTH! What a great theme! But what is a MOUTH photo? A MOUTH photo would be any photo that involves a MOUTH. Or things that go in a MOUTH or is used by a MOUTH. Of course, there is more than one definition of MOUTH.

I look forward to seeing your interpretations!

HOUSEKEEPING

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 RULES DIVISION

1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week. I will point out that I have let that slide some in the past. I will not in the future. Since it is literally about the only rule.

2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by 11 AM on the Monday of the challenge due date. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nobody showed class, taste, and sophistication this week by signing up for a Photography 139 email subscription. I’ll try and do better next week.

+++++++

That’s all I got for today, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will commune right here again next Monday. Hopefully it will be a very mouthy Monday.

Houston (Vidor) Mission Trip – Day 8

This is my telling of my experience on the Boone First United Methodist Church Youth Group’s Mission Trip to Houston (Vidor). There were 18 people on the mission trip and all of them experienced the mission trip in a completely different way than I did.

Therefore, you should pull your tired bones out of bed on Sunday, July 8 and drag yourself to the basement of the Boone First United Methodist Church (703 Arden Street) between worship services (approximately 10 AM) and listen to the other 17 people give their testimony about the mission trip. I’ll probably run my yap as well. There will also be a video. Also, there will be refreshments.

+++++++

The last day of the Mission Trip was the shortest as it is only a quick 8 hours from Tulsa to Boone. I spent most of the day driving and we stopped for lunch at an IHOB in Liberty, Kansas for lunch. Jordan’s choosing. We stopped at the Junction Creamery in Osceola for ice cream to celebrate Summer’s Gotcha Day. Other than that, the day was just bathroom stops.

I drove almost the entire day, so there aren’t many photos.

But here is my day in photos:


Houston Mission Trip - 2018
#wafflelife Always stay in a hotel with free breakfast. Hotels that charge for breakfast are bull(expletive deleted)!!!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
As the kids were packing up the van, I took a few quick shots around downtown Tulsa.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Bathroom break and gas stop.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
This is a stupid rule.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Stopping in Osceola for ice cream!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Watch out Anna, that lady behind you is eyeing your Cookie Monster!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
This is how Summer smiles!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
This is how Summer shows joy.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Emily and officially the last picture of the mission trip.

We got home a little after 6. Sadly, when we got home we found out that Megan’s car had been towed. Nobody had paid attention to where she parked and the city towed her.

After that was sorted out, I somehow got out of returning the vans to Ankeny, so I went home. Saw Naima and tried to re-orient myself back to normal life.

It was an amazing trip on just about every level. I really can’t recommend going on a mission trip enough. Especially with a youth group. It is rewarding beyond your imagination.

Houston (Vidor) Mission Trip – Day 7

This is my telling of my experience on the Boone First United Methodist Church Youth Group’s Mission Trip to Houston (Vidor). There were 18 people on the mission trip and all of them experienced the mission trip in a completely different way than I did.

Therefore, you should pull your tired bones out of bed on Sunday, July 8 and drag yourself to the basement of the Boone First United Methodist Church (703 Arden Street) between worship services (approximately 10 AM) and listen to the other 17 people give their testimony about the mission trip. I’ll probably run my yap as well. There will also be a video. Also, there will be refreshments.

+++++++

Friday morning everybody works on cleaning the building. Then you have a quick breakfast (usually this is a packed breakfast), everybody says goodbye and then you hit the road for the long, long, long trip back to the Cyclone State.

After cleaning the building, the kids got to put a pie in the face of each of the YouthWorks employees as a reward for buying so many shirts.

My day in pictures:


Houston Mission Trip - 2018
YouthWorks!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Jaxon packed up and ready for the road!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Our toilets for the last 18 hours.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Breakfast!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Megan got one of the honors.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Pie in the face!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
This was Talia. I think she was literally in pain.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Ashley was next. She was the Site Director.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Last was Brogen.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Our super caring kids did lead blinded Talia to the water.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Group photo!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Before we headed back we stopped by the Texans’ practice field. Megan’s “hot” older brother is the turf manager for the Texans.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
He oversees their 3 grass practice fields.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
He also see the turf on their indoor practice field.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
The guy is like 26 and he already has his dream job. Thanks to a degree from Iowa State University.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Group photo on the Texans logo.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
A closer photo.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Overturning a practice tire.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Kyle sized tire.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
The Schoff Bros.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
I was shocked to see that the Astrodome is still standing. They are turning it into a parking garage.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Inside NRG Stadium. He is also in charge of the turf in the stadium.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
We also got a tour of the stadium where Houston’s professional soccer teams play.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Also managed by somebody from Boone County. This time from Ogden. Also an Iowa State graduate. Seeing a trend?

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Most the tour was of the concourse, we weren’t able to go down onto the field because the Houston Dash had a game that night.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Celebrating in the pool at the hotel in Tulsa. (Photo cred: Tiffany)

Not pictured:

Most of the day. After we left Houston, most of the rest of the day was spent on the road with one mission. To get to the hotel in Tulsa before the pool closed at 11. We ate lunch at a Chick-Fil-A. Then we drove with only bathroom stops all the way to Tulsa. We got there a little before 10.

Andy was a swell guy and ordered up a bunch of pizzas from a local pizza place in Tulsa. I think the place was called Mazzio’s. It was delicious.

The kids got to swim in the pool until almost midnight, before the hotel employees realized they were still in there and kicked them out.

For the first time in over a week, I got to sleep in a bed. It was glorious! It was everything I remembered that sleeping could be!

Houston (Vidor) Mission Trip – Day 4

This is my telling of my experience on the Boone First United Methodist Church Youth Group’s Mission Trip to Houston (Vidor). There were 18 people on the mission trip and all of them experienced the mission trip in a completely different way than I did.

Therefore, you should pull your tired bones out of bed on Sunday, July 8 and drag yourself to the basement of the Boone First United Methodist Church (703 Arden Street) between worship services (approximately 10 AM) and listen to the other 17 people give their testimony about the mission trip. I’ll probably run my yap as well. There will also be a video. Also, there will be refreshments.

+++++++

The Heat Waves had breakfast prep on Tuesday morning. I believe they served burnt waffles. #wafflelife

Here is my day in pictures:


Houston Mission Trip - 2018
The Heat Waves thinking, “Waffles, so much better burnt.”

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Emily doing lunch prep.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Emily learning how to slam lettuce.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
All Heat Waves on deck!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Jentry making sure everything is in the right place.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Andy and Kyle organizing the lunch meat.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Don’t tell the Baptists, but we were dancing in their building.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Some of these kids have moves!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Hands in!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Mosher Painting Service!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Also sent this picture of Kolbe rocking NASA swag to Flat Earth Joe. He did not respond.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Clean up.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Megan!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Anna!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Maci cleaning up the floor.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Tiffany!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Kolbe painting the living room ceiling.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
I believe this is called mean mugging. I don’t know. I’m old.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Paint central.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Vidor started to flood, so they called us back to the church for safety. We were actually working in a town called Rose Acres. So we had a long drive back in the flooded streets.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
But luckily, when we got back to the church they found us a new job! Filling sandbags!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
We emptied the church’s sandpile.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
A kid from another church estimated we filled “like 20 sandbags!” The actual number was closer to 1,000.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
When we were done sandbagging, we loaded 3 trailers full of sandbags.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
When they were loaded, the Baptist Minister wanted us to load our kids up into the trucks and put the sandbags into place. We told him that we were not putting our kids in flood water. He was not a happy camper.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
The next day we talked to a guy that went with them to put the sandbags in place. He told us that there were water moccasins in the water with them.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
A bonus of the sandbagging was the ground was filled with angry ants that came out of the ground and lit quite a few of us up!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
You were in store for a world of hurt if you got on top of that dirt mound.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
But at least after the sandbagging, we got to hit the showers!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
The Cowboys had dinner cleanup. I wouldn’t be talking out of turn if I told you that they rocked it!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
MacKenzie – Master dish stacker!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
That night, the Ukeladies helped lead the worship service.

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
This is what happens when you destroy your only pair of shoes sandbagging!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Hailey!

Houston Mission Trip - 2018
Some version of volleyball!

The cultural activity on Tuesday night was supposed to be a free night. Do whatever you want. We were going to try to go down to the Gulf, even though it was about an hour away. However, since Vidor started to flood, we weren’t able to go more than a couple of blocks away. So our cultural event was going to Baskin Robbins and Whataburger.

If you want to see what I mean by how The Cowboys rocked the dish situation, watch the videos below:


These videos suffer from Vertical Video Syndrome because they were originally posted to Instagram Stories. That is also why they are regrettably short in length.

However, that rocking would not come without a cost. That cost I will cover in tomorrow’s post on Day 5.

Not Pictured: I got to meet up with Joe Duff on Tuesday for about 5 minutes. He came to the place where we were staying, but then had to get home because of the flooding. I was hoping he would make it back for the Community Dinner on Thursday, but he has a little baby to look after, so there is that.