A lesson on forgiveness

Amazing.

Oct. ‘08 Trip to Subiaco Abbey and Academy

Check out these pictures!

An October 2008 trip by Ms. Rebecca Moll’s 9th grade History class from Haas Hall Academy in Farmington Arkansas to Subiaco Abbey and Academy. http://www.subi.org/

I thought the pics from my daughters field trip were gone forever, but I found them on another flash memory card!

Cool…

If I would have graduated in 1956 instead of 1982, this is what I would have looked like. :o)

Free trade with Colombian now!

Colombia Tariff Ticker
Your browser does not support iframes. Please visit <a href=”http://trade.gov/cfta/smallerticker.html”> Trade.gov</a> to view the Colombia Tariff Ticker.The Commerce Department has launched the above “Colombia Tariff Ticker” to highlight just how much money American businesses are losing in tariffs paid to the Colombian government. Tariffs that would be reduced to zero if only our labor union controlled Congress would pass the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. According to the Department of Commerce: Since the Colombia FTA was signed, nearly $1 billion in tariffs have been assessed to U.S. products being exported to Colombia. If Congress were to pass the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, tariffs on more than 70 percent of U.S. agricultural products destined to Colombia would be eliminated immediately.

American Idol Star Melinda Doolittle

A co-worker, Carla, won a contest and as a result she got to invite some folks over to her house for a mini-concert by Melinda Doolittle. Melinda was absolutely amazing. A great voice, but also a very kind person who accomodated every request for autographs and pictures. We all got American Idol t-shirts, ice cream bowls (the sweepstakes my co-worker won was by an ice cream company) and autographed and personalized pictures of Melinda. Carla also won a Nintendo Wii and the new, yet to be released, American Idol video game. Below are some pictures as well as a video of Melinda singing Woman. She also sang it on Idol. A fun time was had by all!

daughter Katherine, wife Mary, Melinda Doolittle and myself

daughter Katherine and Melinda Doolittle

Melinda Doolittle

Chief of the Cherokees…

Yesterday (on April Fool’s Day of all days!) my family (minus me) got to meet Chad “Corntassle” Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. The meeting took place because my wife Mary wanted to promote swimming as a sport that the Nation could support for the health of it’s children. Katherine, my 13 year old, is on the far right and has been a competitive swimmer for years now. You can see the Chief along side my wife Mary. My son Joseph is on the far left (he’s also a swimmer), our youngest (Aidan) is in front of Mary and Ruby (she’s now a swimmer too, but not yet competitive) is in front of Chief Smith. Mary, and hence my children, are Cherokee and are very proud of their heritage.

And now for something completely different…

Piano Recital!

Saturday was a big day, music-wise, for the Pendergraft family. We braved the bitter cold and threat of snow to go to Mrs. Lewis’s piano recital. It was held at a retirment home in Tahlequah to help bring some Christmas cheer to the residents. First up was 5 year old Ruby. It was her first recital. She did a great job. I like the way she didn’t miss a note. She takes the time to stare at her hands, then the music and back to her hands to make sure she hit the right note every time. Naturally, she plays it even better at home. Take a look:

Next was 9 year old Joseph. He plays with some authority! I love watching him play. So handsome.

Last was beautiful 13 year old Katherine. She plays so well and we are so proud of her! We need to work on her bow and remind her that it’s OK to SMILE!