I just got back from camping. It was alright. It could of been better. We went to Yogi Bear Jellystone National Park in Goodfield. We stayed Saterday and Sunday night. Saterday we stayed in a cabin. Sunday it was the tents. The bed in the cabin felt like you were sleeping on the floor and in the tents....We were sleeping on the grounds....I ended up sleeping in a 6 person tent by myself....my mom ended up sleeping in the car, cause the ground was too hard for her back. It was Me, my mom, my uncle jeff, Joe, april, lydia, and lily that all went. Saterday night there was a live band that played...It was awesome. I think they were pretty good. The best part about it, was I got to drive the car....My mom and Joe both say I did better then Blair did on her first time driving. The speed limit through the place was only 5 miles per hour. But I backed up, went up and down hills, turns, Parked, and everything. It was exciting....Everytime someone had to go to the bathroom or something and we didnt want to walk I would go with and be like...Can I drive!?! i was excited about it. But yea...Im kinda sun burnt on the shoulders....I have a huge blidter of the top of my foot from my shoes. But yea...it was kinda fun...we are going back in a couple weeks. This time I think it will be more fun, cause I can take a friend with me...But yea....it was alright....

Poem Semi-Finalist

OK...I got a letter in the mail today. A couple months ago I went to Poetry.com and submited a poem that I had wrote. Her is what the letter had said.


Dear Contessa,

After carefully reading and discussing your poem, our Selection Committee has certified you poem as a semi-finalist in our International Open Poetry Contest. Your poem will automatically be entered into the final competition held in July 2006. As a semi-finalist, you now have an excellent chance of winning one of the 104 cash and gift prizes--Including the $1,000.00 Grand Prize. You nay even win the $10,000.00 Annual Grand Prize! We wish you the best of luck as you compete for these prizes in the coming weeks (a list of prizes is encolsed)

And thats not all......


Contessa....Imagine Your Poem Featured on a Page by itself in a Beautiful Coffee-Table Edition!

In celebration of the unique talent that you have displayed, we also wish to publish your poem in its own page in what promises to be one of the most highly regarded collections of poetry we have ever published....

Immortal Verses

Immortal verses, scheduled for publication in Fall 2006, will be a classic, coffee-table quality hardbound volume--printed in two colors on fine-milled paper specifically selected to last for generations. It will make a handsome addition to any library, a treasured family keepsake, or a highly valued personal gift.

No Obligation Whatsoever

Before going any further, Contessa, let me make one thing clear...Your poem was selected for publication, and as a contest semi-finalist, on the basis of your unique talent and artistic vision, In the regard, you are under no obligation whatsoever to submit any entry fee, any subsidy payment, or to make any purchases of any kind. Of course, many people do wish to acquire a book that features their poetic artistry. If this is the case, we welcome your order--and guarantee your satisfaction. Please see the enclosed material for special discount infomration if you would like to order or reserve a copy of Immortal Verses, with a small deposit.

So What Happens Now?

As I mentioned, your poem has automatically been advanced to the final competition--so you fo not need to take further action on the contest at this time. However, regarding the publication of your poetry, you must proofread your poem, which appears on the enclosed Artist's Proff. Please carefully review for typographical errors and make any necessary changes. The Artists Proff also verifies that ""is you original work of art. And Contessa, let me assure you, your poem remains your prperty--Immortal Verses is copyrighted as a complilation. The copyright notice is in your name. This means that you retain the copyright to your own work of art.

Tou must also decide if you would like to have some personal information about yourself and you poetry included in this elegant edition. You are welcome to include you motications, the meaning poetry has in your life, the story behind your poem, or your personal philosophical point of view. Your biography will be printed on a page by itself, directly across from your poem--you will have two full pages in the book devoted exclusively to you and your artistry. And although we much not charge a nominal typesetting fee for this service, you are under no obligation to include this information. Your poem can be published without it if you wish. Please see the enclosed Artist Profile for further information.

In the meantime, our design department has already begun working on the distinctive layout for the page that will be devoted to your poem. But remember, you must complete the enclosed Artists Proof and return ir to use as soon as possible. And, if you wish to order and reserve a copy of Immortal Verses at a special pre-publication discount, please return the enclosed Pre-publication Discount Reservation.

Again, Congradulations, Contessa. We feel you have special talent and look forward to the publication of your poem in Immortal Verses.

Sincerly

Howard Ely

Managing Editor

P.S. Contessa, you should be genuinley proud of your accomplishment. Of the thousands of poems we read year, only a fraction can be published. We are pleased that "" will be featured on a page by itself in this classic publication. And, if you order Immortal Verses, we are so confident that you will love both the quality and the edition and the way your poem is presented, we can proudly offer an unconditional maney-back guarantee. If for any reason you are dissatisfied, your money will be promptly refunded.

P.P.S As a poet chosen for publication, you will also be eligiable to attend The Internationla Society of Poets Summer Convention and Symposium, to be held at the legendary Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV, July 20-23, 2006. Keep the date, a formal invitation will be sent to you soon.

Well that is the letter if you were wondering about how a couple times there was a "" that is because I dont have a title for my poem yet. It is still to be named. Now Im guessing you all would like to read the poem...

My mistakes never cease to rot my heart

Theres nothing left in this world

It becomes so familiar to be torn apart

The agony has taken over

I'm slipping, but theres no one to break my fall.

You use to be my everything

But now I've lost it all

My bleeding heart is set on fire

Darkness, my hatred

Yet love and desire

I let myself trust in

The betrayals setting in.

That is my poem that has made it to the semi finalist of this contest. I didnt even think it would make it that far. Here are the list of prizes:

First Prize of $1,000.00,

24 Second Prizes of Limited Edition solid Silver medals (retail value $50.00)

79 third Third Prizes of limited Edition broze medals(retail value$25.00)

An annual Grand Prize of $10,000.00 in cash is also awarded each year.

Eligibilty: This contest is open to all poets wheter published or not, and regardless of expericance. Current and former employees of poetry.co, the International Library of Poetry, or the International Society of Poets, and their relitives are not eligible. All poems must be 24 lines or fewer. Only one entry per contest. We cannot return entries.

Decisions: Judges are members of the International Library of Poetry Selection Commettee. Entries are judged on the basis of originality, creativity, imagination, characterization, artistic quality, and the adherence to line limits. All judges decisions are final.

Yea, So I will keep you all updated on what goes on. It says all winners will be notified my mail, So I guess I just have to wait and see.

I like just got home from church. Today seemed to be kinda good.

It started out on the bus, when we picked up Shalyn, Niki, and Damein. Shalyn was the first of the three to get on. She sees me and run to me and gives me the biggest hug EVER! Then Niki. She did the same thing. I put them in the seat with me. Damein comes next. He sees me and reaches right for me. Its amazing to see how much they have grown up. I dont get to see them much now, so I am always excited for Sundays when I do get to see them. Damein never really talks much in the mornings though. It awesome though to hear the girls singing along with the songs now. They are loud you can actually hear them even if you are a couple seats away from them.

When Sunday School rolled around, we was all talking about how Hobby Lobby is boring, and fake flowers smell like old people, and how WalMart has its own smell. It took me a little to notice but once I did...I looked over at Leah and said "Oh my Gosh, the girls are out numbered by boys for once!" Both Leah and I look at the people sitting around the table. We had the boys from the class next to us in there....Thats the only reason why. We had:Me, Leah, and Andrea for the girls, and Charles, Aaron, John, James, Ben, Joshua and antoher boy there....I dont remember his name....John, Ben, and James were visitors that were there with the Huletts. Joshua is a regualr just from the next class...

Morning service comes around...Just like all the others. Shalyn and Niki are now starting to sing some of the songs we sing alot. Its just amazing to see how much they have changed since the very first time that they came out of the nursery and into the services.

The ride home, Damein really started talking. Wasnt really saying anything, just babbling. He is so adorable. Morgan calls him mullet man. Its only because of the way his hair is cut...its not a mullet, just kinda like one in a way..... But anyways, Damein is a really good listener. He stands up and you tell him to sit down, and he does. He does just about everything you ask him to do. Its amazing, he isnt even 2 years old yet, but he listens really well. He can say a few words. He can say Hey, No, Bye, Love you, Yea, and a few others. Those are just the ones I have herd him say. He is a really happy kid. He always has a smile on his face. He even shares his bus snack with me. He will hold it toward me to have me take a bit. He use to be really shy towards people at the church, but now he will let others hold him. Well mainly the ones that work in the nursery, like Sis. Karen, and Mrs. Renee. Those are the main two he will go to. He still cry s a little when you put him in the nursery though. Not nearly as much as he use to. They kids are just growing up so darn fast!

Well Blair is now officially gone until Augest. Kinda Strange knowing I wont see her for like 3 months. Sunday night we had a fellowship downstairs for her. I only got one picture...Its a pretty good one though.


You cant really see it, But after everyone left, Bro. Farlin being the pest he is, decided to run after Blair with Sour Cream and Onion Dip....he got her....Blairs words "I never knew an old person could run so fast." You can kinda see a little in her hair there.

Monday afternoon, Blair wanted to get together with some friends and do something. Brian, Andrea, Kayla Lemons, and myself all went to the Pekin Park with Blair to just hang out and spend some time together. I got some pictures, but they are not the best, cause it was kinda bright out, and I didnt have my digital camera with me so I had to use my picture phone.


This was taken next to the Lagoon. We were all sitting on a bench talking. Brian was messing around with Kayla's cell phone.

Andrea was digging in the dirt with a stick. She says she was digging a hole to China. Blair being the positive person that see is says "Well look at the bright side, at least you are halfway there!" She was only maybe about an inch into the ground......

Brian decided he wanted to dig too, so he started his own little hole. It turned out kinda into a flicking dirt war. Brian would flick some towards Andreas hole, then Andrea would flick it right back into Brians hole.

After Brian and Andrea got done digging their holes to China, we walked over to the swings. We all swang for awhile, but Andrea stopped and she went and sat on the ground, I shortly joined her. Here is Kayla and Blair swinging.

Shortly after that, Kayla had to leave. The rest of us sat and talked for awhile. Well mainly Blair and Brian. Then Andrea had to go, and so did Brian, cause he had work. Brian gave Andrea a ride home, Then Blair and I walked to Jerrys where we waited for Miss Naomi to come and pick us up for bowling with all the girls.

Bowling was pretty fun. I have no pictures from that, cause my phone died, and I forgot my camera in the car. We had Miss Naomi, Mrs. Renee, Morgan, Leah, Candace, Andrea, me, and Stephanie. Stephanie wasnt from the teen groupl, but it wasnt a teen activity. Stephanie is a friend of Blairs from School, and Andrea's too I think. I know Andrea knows her from,I think, Averyville. Im not 100% sure on that. I have met her once before at a youth conference.


So yea....These were the last moments anyone got to spend with Blair before she left to work out at camp.

Ok,well these past couple of days have been pretty wicked! Sunday Night, Morgan and Candace came and stayed with me and Blair. That night we had a total of 13 people staying in this 2 bedroom house. We had Joe, April, Lydia, Lily, mom, Blair, Me, Morgan, Candace, Melissa, Shalyn, Niki, and Damein. It was crazy! It was crazy! Me and Morgan stayed up to about 2:00 in the morning. Candace went to bed about 1:00. Blair...Went to bed....umm...not sure the time, but it was kinda early. Thats usual for her though. Blair slept on the couch, Me, Morgan, and Candace slept on my bed, Melissa and the kids slept on the floor in the living room. My mom...well, she didnt go to sleep. She stayed on the computer all night. Joe, April,Lydia, and Lily all slept in there own beds.

Candace pushed Morgan off the bed some how through out the night. Since we were in the basement, the floor must not of been to soft. According to Candace, me and Morgan squished her in the middle of the bed. It was all crazy.

The next day, Morgan, Candace, and I went to the movies. We saw "See No Evil". It was my second time going. The first time Blair was with me and she like ruined the whole thing. So this time was much better. If you like gory movies, you should definetly go see this movie. It was WICKED! After the movie we all went home.

Note: For those of you who dont really know me that well, when I say wicked, it mean cool, awesome, or some other form of those two words.

Well yesterday, Shalyn, Niki, Damein, and Melissa stayed again. My mom took us all...Lydia, Lily, Shalyn, Niki, Damein, Blair, Me, Melissa, and April...All down to the new river front they have in Pekin. There is this water fountain thing that the kids can play in. Its really cool. The kids had a blast. I had fun too, cause I was going through it with Damein and the rest of the crew. They played at the park by the river too. After they played for a little while we went back home.

At home the kids all ran around and played outside and on the porch. They watched a couple movies too. When it became bedtime, April put Lydia and Lily to bed, then Shalyn and Niki decided that they wanted to sleep downatairs with me. Well Since they wanted to watch a movie downstairs, (thats how they get to sleep) I had to go back upstairs. Damein picked out the movie. He picked Barbies The Nutcracker. He wanted to watch it too. So I took him down and sat him on the bed in between Shalyn and Niki. He kept wanting to get up but then he eventually stayed down. He was the first to sleep. Then it was Niki. After it was over Shalyn decides to Sleep upstairs with Blair. Blair let Shalyn pick out a DVD to watch. She started to watch Charlie and the Choclate Factory, but it started skiping. Then they put in Sharkboy and Lava girl. She still wasnt asleep. She decided to watch Barbies Swan Lake. If you are wondering where the parents are, they were out grocery shopping. The time about now is around 12:00. I went back downstairs to check on Niki and Damein. Shortly after I went back upstairs, Niki was there too. She wanted to watch another movie. So we got one of her all time favorite movie, The Little Mermaid. She watched about half of it before she was asleep again. I went back downstairs on the computer. I decided to go to bed around 2:30. When I did, I had to move Niki and Damein around. Damein was at the top of the bed, Niki was at the bottom. The bed is a qlueen size bed.... ABout 3:00 Damein moved around a little. His diaper was majorly soaked. I changed it. He didnt really wake up until I went to put his pj shorts back on him. He then decides he doesnt want to go back to sleep. I rewind the Little Mermaid, fill his cup back up with milk, and laid with him. he decided he wanted to fight, so I played with him a little. He finally stopped. I rolled over to where my back was facing him and he rolled over to where we was back to back. He kept moving around and everything. The next thing I know, I look over my shoulder Niki is pracically on top of Damein. I moved her, he laughed a bit then started drinking his milk. I figured since he was drinking it, he would be going to bed shortly. As I start to doze off, the next thing I know, Dameins feet are in my back. He was laying horizontal on the bed pressing his feet against my back. I get him to stop and he lays and watches the movie. It was about 85:00 AM by the time he decides he is going to go to sleep.

He woke up about 6:30-7:00 wanting a drink because his milk was all gone. I went up stairs and got him some more. When I got back, Niki was Over on my side of the bed sleeping. So, I had Niki at my feet and Damein right behind me. I was all the way on the edge of the bed, Damein had the whole other side for him,I still had his feet in my back. It was kind of painful. Those two kids are the biggest bed hogs I have ever known . It was crazy.

So this morning my mom yells down the stairs at about 11 to wake me up. Niki and Damein already made their way upstaris. I didnt get up, well I was I was just sitting there, trying to get my earring unstuck from my shirt. I have no idea how I managed to do that. April comes running down the stairs shortly after my mom yelled for me to get up. She tunrs the light on, which blinds me, and tells me to hurry up and get dressed, because we all were going out to eat. So I got up and got ready. Then we left. After we ate we stopped by this hug garage sale thing. My mom got alot of stuff for Damein because he is out growing all his cloths, and we had to get Niki a new pair of sandles because the ones she had were too small...Her toes were hanging off the front of the ones she had. We were sucessful on finding that. We still need to find Damein some sandles to fit him, he only has one pair of tennis shoe that fits him not. My mom also got the girls a whole bunch of cloths for church. They are out growing all their dresses.

So here I am now, updating this, after my excitng couple of days that i shared with you. Now I have to go and help clean the kitchen....Right after I check my myspace....