Connection May 2021

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MAY 2021

LOVE HER forever

Paths to Motherhood

Overcoming Obstacles

Open Homes and Hearts

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURIANS ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 1

2 | May 2021

the Monett Family

Grant Sheelah & Children

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GOLD for donation over $1,000 BLUE for donation over $500 White plaques will be used to list donors that did not wish the amount of their donation be made public and all donations of less than $500. Every single donation makes a difference!

HELP BRINGING THIS TO OUR COMMUNITY Fundraising is continuing until we reach our goal. To learn more about it, go to blrLibrary.com/Monett or contact the Library; phone 417-235-6646 or email Greg@BLRLibrary.org

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 3

Editorial

The role of a mother is a blessing

T

here is a line of work out there available for women, but it is becoming extinct.

Extinct because you work 24/7 and don’t receive a paycheck. Extinct because you don’t receive insurance benefits. Extinct because you rarely receive days off. Extinct because you usely don’t receive sick days. But believe it or not, a lot of women want this job and they would gladly take it even though it did not give them a paycheck, benefits, days off, vacation days or sick days. It is the job and role of being a stay-at-home mother.

Extinct because so many women that want to become mothers want the job full-time but can’t afford to do it.

And because they cannot afford to do it, they become mothers but have to pay others to take care of their little one to do what they wanted to do. Ironic isn’t it?

This month we honor the women that became mothers whether they stayed home full-time or had to get an outside job to help support the family and then come home and do their full-time job at home. So in essence, doing two full-time jobs in one day. Yes, most of you could say, “well it is coming from a woman’s mouth” that has always had to work, and that is true, which means I speak from experience.

I had three children, worked a full-time job and for a short time worked a part-time job on top of trying to take care of my kiddos at home. I was much younger and had a lot more energy, but I loved my kids and had to make sure they were taken care of.

So let’s face it, on top of everything else, we are: chefs, teachers, nannies, house cleaners, chauffeurs, counselors, disciplinarians, entertainers, during different times of the year we switch our role to Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, and the Easter Bunny. We do our best to become party planners for the birthdays once a year. And in the meantime there are the menial items that have to get done like: laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping, soothing the fever riddin’ flu bug child, being a dentist every so often and so much more. We go to bed only to be woke up in the middle of the night either with one that is sick or one that

4 | May 2021

is scared because they watched that movie that you told them not to because you knew that it would scare them.

I can remember watching “Leave it To Beaver” growing up, and I never understood why she always wore a dress. June Cleaver never had a hair out of place, and always had supper waiting when Ward got home. I don’t remember seeing anything out of place in the house, let alone a spec of dust in the house. Can you imagine cleaning in high-heels? I think not. Ok, I know it was all in the script, but seriously, I really thought it would be awesome to have it that way. But I was a kid and really did not know what it took to be a mom. Oh June, you were such a fake!

I loved being a mother but I will say it went by way too fast. So for those that are mothers today, do what you can to make it last. Make those times with your children special, make them memorable and make them stand out, so hopefully they will remember them for the rest of their lives.

You only have this one shot and if you are blessed enough to be a stay-at-home mother, that is absolutely awesome! It is probably an answer to a mother’s prayer!

If you are a working mother, do your best to make the most of the time you have with your kiddos. You love them and they love you. They will be so excited to have the time they get with you! And never think less of yourself because you have to work. Your kids will be proud of you as long as you are there for them.

To all of the mothers out there—we wish you Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Connection Magazine!

We honor you during the month of May.

Lisa Craft

General Manager, Connection Magazine Lisa Craft is General Manager of Connection Magazine, The Monett Times and Cassville Democrat.

She can be reached at monettcommunity@gmail.com or connection@monett-times.com

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURIANS

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DISTRIBUTION Greg Gilliam Kevin Funcannon TO ADVERTISE 417-847-2610 - Cassville 417-235-3135 - Monett Send email inquiries to connection@monett-times.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 40, Monett, MO 65708 Connection is published monthly and distributed free in Cassville, Monett, Exeter, Washburn, Pierce City, Mt. Vernon, Aurora, Verona, Roaring River, Eagle Rock, Shell Knob, Purdy, Wheaton, Freistatt, Marionville, Seligman, Golden and other surrounding areas.

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CONNECTIONMO.COM

MAY 2021

LOVE HER forever

Paths to Motherhood

Overcoming Obstacles

Open Homes and Hearts

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURIANS ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 1

Experience outweighs uncertainty.

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6 | May 2021

ON THE COVER:

Lindsey (right) and Lydia Cross share a mother-daughter moment.

Read more on page 22.

CONTENTS 17 Parenting Column: Celebrate May 19 Cutest Kid

21 Mental Health: We All Need It

33 Healthy Connection: Are Energy Drinks Safe?

37 Date Night: A Day in the Dogwoods

39 Rescued, My Favorite Breed 41 Cutest Pet

48 Familiar Faces 50 Parting Shot

Have an idea for a story you would like to see in Connection Magazine?

Email it to connection@monett-times.com Facebook.com/MyConnectionMo Twitter.com/MyConnection_Mo

F

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9 | BUDDY POPPIES

Little red flowers popping up on lapels over Memorial Day extend a deeper meaning

43 | MOST MEMORABLE

The Class of 2021 shares their peer reviews of memorable students full of talent and promise

mothers 14 | JOURNEY OF MOTHERHOOD

A little eastern medicine and extra attention helped Annie Lisenby-Smith on her path to expecting

22 | OBSTACLES DON’T

STOP MOMS

Lindsey Cross of Cassville responds to the call of mommy to a preemie with flying colors

27 | THE HOST MOM

M AY 2021

Going on 10 years, Judy Miller opens her heart and home as a host mom to foreign exchange students

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 7

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Buddy Poppies

In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae In Flanders Fields the poppies grow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place. While in the Sky The larks still bravely singing, fly Unheard, amid the guns below.

We are the dead, Short days ago We lived, felt dawns, saw sunsets glow; Loved and were loved – but now we lie In Flanders Field

This display of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, adorned with VFW Buddy Poppies, is on display at the Monett Tom Wolfe Memorial VFW Post 4207. It was made by a past Monett VFW Auxiliary member Danetta Wakefield in May 2000.

Take up our quarrel with the foe!

To you from falling hands we throw The torch, Be yours to bear it high!

If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep tho’ poppies blow In Flanders Field.

Brianna Michelle Allen was Monett’s Buddy Poppy Girl in 2005. Monett’s VFW Post has not selected a Buddy Poppy Girl in a number of years but are hoping to bring the tradition back in the near future.

Be a buddy, wear a poppy VFW member Brian Walker assembles poppies for the 2021 sale. The poppies are made by disabled or in-need veterans working for VFW National, then sold to local VFW posts, who in turn sell them for a donation, using those funds to support local veterans.

10 | May 2021

W

hat are those little red flowers people wear on and around Memorial Day? The VFW’s Buddy Poppies are much more than a fashion statement: they are a symbol of the sacrifices

made by so many men and women of the Armed Forces who have served this country; they are a reminder of the observance of Memorial Day; they are a means of financial security for many veterans; and they are a way for VFW posts across the country to take care of veterans in need.

The VFW’s motto is “To honor the dead by helping the living,” and, in short, Buddy Poppies are one way to do just that.

Concerned that World War I veterans who had made the ultimate sacrifice were being forgotten too soon, Madame E. Guerin, of France, took inspiration from Colonel John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Fields,” which spoke of poppies growing in an Allied graveyard “between the crosses, row on row,” and began a push to have veterans’ organization sport red silk poppies in memory of World War I veterans.

The Buddy Poppy idea caught on in the U.S. in May 1922, when the VFW conducted the first nationwide distribution of poppies in the United States.

Story by Mike Gervais

VFW Department of Iowa Commander Paul Arnold (left) and national VFW Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Tim Borland assemble poppies ahead of the 2021 poppy sale.

Later that year, at its National Encampment in Seattle in August 1922, the VFW adopted the poppy as its official memorial flower.

However, Guerin’s American and French Children’s League, which supplied the poppies, had been dissolved shortly before the VFW’s 1922 poppy sale, making the silk flowers hard to come by for the upcoming 1923 sale.

From adversity blooms inspiration, and the VFW formed an elegant solution that would simultaneously keep the flowers circulating as a reminder of the sacrifices so many veterans made in the name of freedom, and help living veterans who were in need, a tradition that continues to this day.

During its 1923 encampment, the VFW decided that its Buddy Poppies would be assembled by disabled veterans and veterans in need, who would, in turn, be paid for their work to provide them with financial assistance.

The next year, disabled veterans at the Buddy Poppy factory in Pittsburgh, Penn., assembled VFW Buddy Poppies. The designation “Buddy Poppy” was adopted at that time.

In February 1924, the VFW registered the name Buddy Poppy with the U.S. Patent Office that allows it to guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans. No other organization, firm, or individual can legally use the name Buddy Poppy.

Today, Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals.

VFW posts throughout the country order Buddy Poppies from the national VFW organization, then distribute them throughout their individual communities leading up to Memorial Day in exchange for donations. Those donations are used by individual VFW posts to take care of local veterans in need.

With that business model, the VFW is able to raise money for various veteran programs on a local and a

national level.

The Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs, partially supports the VFW National Home for Children and allows the local posts to support veterans at the local level.

Over the years, Tom Wolfe VFW Post 4207 has continued the tradition, selecting “Poppy Girls” to represent the post and its poppy sales for many years.

VFW Post No. 4207 Auxiliary Buddy Poppy Coordinator Linda Adams and VFW Post No. 4207 Quartermaster Randall Adams said the local post celebrated Memorial Day and the Buddy Poppy distribution by selecting a Poppy Girl each May for decades.

That tradition ended several years ago, when the local auxiliary disbanded.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 11

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Monett’s Buddy Poppy Girl in 1984 was Trish Michael (center), shown here with past Post Commander Taylor Hopkins and Auxiliary Chairwoman Maxine Jagears.

However, the auxiliary has been reformed and the post and auxiliary are hoping to bring the tradition back.

But that’s not all that’s changed. Linda said the post traditionally collected donations and distributed poppies at the intersection of U.S. 60 and Highway 37 until a few years ago, when safety concerns changed the location.

Since then, with the exception of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the post has distributed at Walmart.

As long as COVID-19 restrictions allow, Randall said the plan this year is to distribute poppies at Walmart, Price Cutter and Lowe’s.

Randall said the post hopes to raise about $1,000 each year through poppy donations to support local veterans.

While the use of poppy funds are strictly regulated, Randall said the Monett Post typically has a single use for the money – to support local veterans in need.

“We use it to help the people who need it,” Randall said. “The vets come to us and tell us what they need, and we try to help them out however we can.”

He added that veterans who are in need do not need to be members of the VFW to seek help. He said the organization is there to help any veteran in need, any way it can. n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 13

Eastern Adventure

My Journey to Motherhood

ACROSS TWO CONTINENTS

T

During the Chinese Spring Festival, we visited the Chengdu Panda Base, a world-famous panda research center, where Junia joined the baby pandas in taking a nap.

(Look closely to see three baby pandas sleeping in the tree.)

14 | May 2021

he first year my husband, Brian, and I lived in China had been full of surprises, both pleasant and disturbing. While we often didn’t understand the world around us, we found a calm in the classrooms where we taught. We came to adore all our university students as we taught them English and American culture.

We left for China in August 2009 with our luggage bursting at the seams.

Our new home, Yinchuan, was on the Yellow River in northern China. It’s a high desert, which means very dry air and lots of sand storms.

While we experienced all the culture shock one would expect living in Asia, we also had an unexpected challenge.

We had always wanted to start a family, and for us it was not happening. It broke my heart to sit through announcements of yet another expat family expecting another child. What was worse was the day we celebrated Mother’s Day in our foreign community.

By Annie Lisenby Smith

We’d gather regularly filling a small apartment with those of us from the United States and others from England, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

It was a beautiful community to be a part of, which is why I was so emotional when they began the Mother’s Day recognitions.

They asked for the different mothers to stand to be recognized: the oldest, the youngest, the mother with the most children. My heart raced and pounded in my ears. I stared at a spot on the floor as I tried to keep my tears from bursting forth. Take slow breaths, I told myself as I waited for it to be over. After the flowers had been given to all the women, my tears escaped.

Curious children peer through the window of a primary school where we helped with a book donation delivery. There were times when I would look at these children and wonder if I’d ever have my own child.

Junia with her “Auntie Wang.” After Junia’s birth, we returned to China to continue teaching. Auntie Wang helped us care for Junia and treated Junia like her own child.

I smiled at everyone as we said our goodbyes that day. We all talked about how much work we had to do before we went our different ways for the summer. We only had seven weeks until we would go home. Home was such a vague term then. I’m from Missouri.

My husband was raised in New Mexico. We met living in California. I knew that the summer would be busy visiting all the people in our different “homes,” but also would be a time of rest and a time for some answers. My mom had scheduled an appointment for me, and Brian, to see a fertility doctor when we were staying with her in Missouri.

I was apprehensive not knowing what the doctor would discover, but I was also hopeful for answers.

The answers we received made my heart ache. I had a hormonal imbalance that was keeping me from having a child. The doctor said it was a simple issue. I only needed to take a pill for a few days at just the right time. Of course, that’s easy to do in the U.S. We

only had about ten days until we headed back to China. So along with all our new clothes and shoes, favorite snacks and other treasures from America, we also packed our instructions from the fertility doctor.

We landed in Beijing at 5:00 a.m. to stay there for a few days of training with our company. By 10:00 a.m., I was sitting in a doctor’s office at the international hospital in the most affluent area of Beijing. There the doctors used Western medicine and all spoke English. My doctor, a Chinese man educated in America, looked over my chart and nodded his head as I told him of our plans to leave Beijing in just two days. Dr. Wang decided to do one more test before he prescribed the medicine recommended by my American doctor. It would consist of using an irradiated, a somewhat simple procedure.

After looking at the schedule he got in a rush and said, “We can do it at 12:30. Why don’t you go across the

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 15

Brian and I surrounded by children at a primary school in a rural mountain area in our Chinese province.

We have always loved children and looked forward to starting our family one day. street and get some lunch? Then come back here and check in for the procedure—oh, and are you allergic to shell fish?” he asked me.

“No,” I replied with hesitation. This was quickly becoming another moment of cultural confusion, I thought.

“Oh, good!” He said ushering us out the door. I later found out that the irradiated dye they would use for the procedure contained some seafood element. If I was allergic, he couldn’t use that particular dye.

Once lunch and the procedure were finished, the doctor handed me a film copy of my irradiated uterus and sent us out into the streets of Beijing with a set of pills for the next two months. Three days later we were settled in to our apartment again in Yinchuan with the information we had craved and some little blue pills that would shape our future.

The first month I took the pills we followed all the steps, even braving the local Chinese hospital for regular ultrasounds to check progress.

My Romanian friend, Doini, helped me through each step in the process including translating. Her many years 16 | May 2021

in China had sharpened her Mandarin speaking skills and gave her an understanding of how the local hospitals functioned. We had fun together and shared cups of hot milk tea after each appointment.

But it didn’t work.

Brokenhearted, Brian and I went into the next month having made the choice that if it didn’t work this time, we would take a break. The pills were taking a toll on me physically, and emotionally I couldn’t take any more hopeful thoughts being dashed.

Stepping around the stray drops of blood on the hospital floors and plugging our noses as we passed the overflowing squat toilets, we went faithfully to the ultrasounds the next month. I had taken the pills as I had the month before, and all the scans showed progress. Now we just had to wait.

It was a challenge waiting over those last two weeks. I frequently had moments when I would look at my stomach and wonder. Many elements of our future were hanging on the pregnancy test that was to come. And, finally, it was time.

With the test in my hands, I took a deep breath. I’d waited until Brian was working and wasn’t home. I couldn’t bear to have him see me fall apart if the test was negative. We had come so far: two doctors on two continents, multiple tests, adventurous trips to the local Chinese hospital, and one failed attempt.

But it was time. My heart began to thump in my chest as I set a timer and walked away from the test.

One minute.

It might be a false negative.

Two minutes.

Not being able to have children doesn’t make me less of a woman.

Three minutes.

It’s time to finally know how my story goes.

I looked at the stick. Then I took two more tests. They all said the same thing. Our path was determined. Brian came home, and I showed him all three tests. He hugged me tight… and we laughed together. Later the next year, our biggest surprise arrived. We named her Junia. And she has continued to surprise and amaze us every day since. n

Parenting Column

By Meagan Ruffing

Meagan Ruffing is a parenting journalist living in northwest Arkansas. She and her three children are counting down the days until summer begins.

They have lots of things to celebrate!

Celebrate May he month of May is always one of the busiest months of the year for so many people. May 4th is Teacher Appreciation Day and just around the corner on May 9th is my favorite day of the year…

Mother’s Day. May is also the last month of school before summer begins. Kids and their parents are getting excited about fun upcoming vacation plans and the thought of not having to set an early morning alarm is something everyone can celebrate. I wanted to wrap-up these three important dates in May and help you with planning for these special occasions.

T

As a paraprofessional in a special education classroom, I can tell you firsthand, what kinds of things help make us feel appreciated in the school. Showing your appreciation for the educators who watch your kids all day, doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. In fact, some of the most special things I have received, have been hand written notes from parents telling me how much they trust me with their kids. I love knowing that these families acknowledge and appreciate the dedication that goes in to working with their kids each day.

A few must-have appreciation ideas you might use for your child’s teacher on May 4th:

1. Flowers 2. Gift cards (Sonic, Starbucks, Chic-fil-A, nail salon, restaurant) 3. Box of chocolates 4. Framed class picture

Now on to Mother’s Day. As a single mom, I never felt more appreciated than I did on last year’s Mother’s Day. I had an outpouring of friends, family, and complete strangers who loved on me and told me how much I meant to them. Talk about a day I will never forget.

Thinking back on some of the special things that were said to me and done for me, I promised myself I would pay it forward in some way. I wanted other single moms to be appreciated like I had been and I wanted them to know that even though they may be alone at home raising their kids, they have a fellow mom in northwest Arkansas who is cheering them on.

Encourage the moms in your life: 1. A card in the mail. Getting mail (not bills) is one of the most fun things to come home too. Pop a card in the mail to a mom you know and put some extra special words in there to let her know how much you admire her. If it’s a single mom, throw in a gift card for coffee and tell her you’d love to have coffee with her but until then, use the enclosed gift card to treat herself. For a 3D card that adds an extra punch (with confetti) to your day, visit

www.boomf.com 2. Mailed cookies. There are lots of cookie delivery options out there and there is even one that prints fun sayings on the wrappers. Two cookies plus free shipping will set you back about $8. I sent some to my mom last year and she loved them. Check out C. Krueger’s Finest Baked Goods:

www.ckruegers.com

ConnectionMO.com/ParentingColumn | Connection Magazine | 17

3. Pictures. One year, one of my dear friends took my kids out shopping for a few hours and when they came back, I had goodies to open and a framed picture with each one of my kids.

This friend of mine had taken the kids all over town and taken candid shots of each of them having fun. The result was a beautifully assembled collage and it’s become one of my favorite gifts.

Get ready for summer Personal Weigh-In NoW oNe oN oNe!

4. Gift Card for Dinner. A friend of mine sent me a gift card to Panera one year and said, “Use this gift card to let your kids take you out to dinner!” I thought it was the cutest thing ever. My kids and I headed to the restaurant and when it was time to pay, I handed the gift card to my son, who then handed it over to the cashier. It made him feel special for being able to ‘pay’ for dinner and it made me feel special that my friend had thought to include my kids in a such a thoughtful way.

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For an end of the year celebration, I like to put together little baskets for my kids full of summer goodies. It’s quickly become one of our traditions to kick-off the last day of school. I fill it with things like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, money for the ice cream truck, goggles for the swimming pool, a new bathing suit, and flip-flops.

Celebrating special days can be a nice break from the daily grind. Use these simple ideas for the upcoming holidays and start your own special traditions with your kids. If there are other holidays you celebrate, add those to this list.

Happy celebrating!

Cutest Kid Dwayne Wilson Patty, 9-month-old son of Chase Patty and Billie Belt, of Exeter.

Email your child’s photo to:

connection@monett-times.com Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible.

Remember to include your child’s name, parent’s name, age, city and your contact information. The contest is open to children ages 10 and younger. The photos submitted will be used for the sole purpose of this contest.

Congratulations

Dwayne ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 19

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Mental Health Column

By Brad Ridenour

CEO of Clark Community Mental Health Center and a Licensed Professional Counselor

Everyone Has Mental Health ay is Mental Health Awareness Month, so everyone should observe it. Why, you ask?

Because everyone has mental health. Some are reading this and immediately becoming defensive, thinking I’m OK, I have no issues. Great! I didn’t say this is Mental Health Problems Awareness Month, and I didn’t say that everyone has mental health problems. I said everyone has mental health, and if you are the reader that says “I’m OK” good for you; it simply means the mental health you have currently is better than the mental health others may now possess.

M

It strikes me curiously how some recoil and begin to question its existence or importance when the phrase “mental health” is mentioned. No one questions if one has physical health. We simply understand some individuals’ physical health is better than others. Some can run a mile in five minutes, while others huff and puff a mile in 30 minutes.

Some have asthma, arthritis, and

diabetes while others do not have physical ailments or infirmities. Like physical health, everyone has mental health, and as it is with physical health, some have better or worse mental health fitness.

Now that we can all agree we have mental health, why this May (and every other month of the year) should we be concerned about it? The past 365 days have been quite stressful. Even many of the most mentally fit have been stretched, stressed and strained. Secondly, mental health problems can affect anyone at any time.

The strongest, most fit specimen may develop cancer, just as one with great mental health may develop a bout of depression.

Problems associated with mental health including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance misuse and psychosis affect nearly one in five living in the United States each year. These problems impact young and old, rich and poor, and individuals of all faiths and of all races.

The month of May serves as a reminder to do a neck-up checkup to self-evaluate one’s mental well-being. Instead of needing to shed a few pounds, you may need to shed some worries.

Instead of restricting calories, you may need to start restricting negative thinking. An honest self-evaluation might reveal that mental health problems are negatively impacting your relationships and/or your work/school performance.

Consider how you visit a primary care physician whenever you are physically ill; likewise, you may need to see a professional who specializes in mental health treatment when you are feeling mentally unwell.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 21

Obstacles Make You Stronger

S

ome pregnancies are more difficult than others, but that makes the joys of motherhood all the more precious to those whose lives — or the lives of their children — were on the line. Lindsey Cross, 38, of Cassville, is one of those moms. Her blessing, Lydia Michele Cross, is now 3.

Lindsey and her little one were featured in our Mother’s Day Connection magazine when Lydia was just shy of 3-months-old and approximately three months short of her actual due date of May 23.

Lindsey Cross holds her daughter, Lydia, for the first time after giving birth. Lydia was a week old and weighed barely one pound.

22 | May 2021

Story by Melonie Roberts

Lydia is pictured sporting a crown on the day she went home from the hospital.

“It was a rough pregnancy,” Lindsey said. “I was sick every day and my blood pressure was through the roof.

Other than that everything with the baby was fine. The doctor did discuss the possibility of delivering a few weeks early due to my blood pressure being high.”

But that early delivery came much sooner than expected.

“I started having shortness of breath at 24 weeks,” Cross said. “The OBGYN said that it was probably because the baby was getting bigger and pressing against my diaphragm. It just kept getting worse so we went to the emergency room. They ran some tests and realized I had preeclampsia. I was sent to Springfield. Once there they intended on keeping me there until I could safely deliver. Then they discovered I had fluid on my lungs. I was told that

I would be having a c-section the next day. Lydia Michele was born at 12:52 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2018.”

That was the beginning of a long, difficult road for the young mother.

“I was terrified,” she said. “I have never been through surgery before. I was only 25 weeks along, she didn’t even weigh 1 pound. I was so scared for my baby and for myself. I was nervous about her being so little and so early.”

The doctors were very reassuring.

“They were completely honest with us about how things would go,” Lindsey said. “They said that we would probably be in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) until her due date.

They told us it would be an emotional roller coaster. They were not lying, it was definitely a roller coaster of emotions.”

Through Lydia’s three-and-a-half months in the hospital, Lindsey was able to stay close at hand.

“We were lucky enough to get a room at the Ronald McDonald House,” she said. “What a blessing that was! They provided dinner every evening and I had my own private room to call home so I could be close to Lydia.”

Parenting a premature infant brings its own special challenges.

“We came home with her still being on oxygen, so that took some getting used to but we managed,” She said.

“She was only on oxygen for a couple of months before we were able to get rid of it. We were so cautious of taking her around people because of her being so early and tiny. That was tough, but it has definitely helped with her staying healthy.”

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 23

Three years later, Lydia is doing great.

“She is just flourishing,” Lindsey said. “She has reached every development goal. She was just a little bit behind where other kids were at the same age. The only things we are still working on with her are speech and potty training.”

Today, one would never know Lydia had gotten off to such a perilous start.

“Lydia is a ball of energy,” Lindsey said. “She loves Mickey Mouse and Paw Patrol. She is hilarious, constantly cracking all of us up. She repeats everything we say, which is good and bad. She loves to play outside, play with her many toys, swing on her tree swing that her uncle made just for her, play with hot wheels, and insists on running everywhere she goes.”

As with all growing children, advancing from one phase to the next brings new challenges to parents.

“While some things as a mom get easier, other challenges start to arise,” She said. “Some early challenges we went through were her being colicky in the evenings, teething, the occasional sickness or allergies. All things that every child goes through. A new challenge for us is convincing Lydia that potty training is much better than wearing diapers. As a mom, I’m recently learning to be a single mom and dealing with challenges that come along with that. Thankfully, I have had lots of help from family and friends.”

It looks like Lydia will be ready to attend school with her peers without any issues.

“She is definitely on track,” Cross said. “ She was involved in the First Steps program when we came home from the NICU until she turned 3 and aged out of the program. She was assessed to see if she would need assistance once she started school. They determined that she would not need 24 | May 2021

Lydia was overjoyed to receive a stuffed animal on this last Christmas.

any assistance and that she’s caught up in development.”

Like any mother, Lindsey is amazed, at times, over Lydia’s accomplishments and development.

“Being a mom has been the hardest, most rewarding experience,” she said.

“I’ve enjoyed watching Lydia meet every milestone. It’s really an amazing journey to embark on with her. Just watching her develop into an incredi-

ble human being, is the most amazing experience.”

There is no question in her mind that the rewards far outweigh the challenges of being a parent to a premature child.

“I would do it all over again,” she said. “I could have done without the complications, but I can’t imagine my life without her in it. So, I would definitely go through it all again for her.” n

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Opening her heart and her home ‘IT IS JUST LIKE HAVING AN EXTRA FAMILY MEMBER’

A

mother may come in all shapes and sizes, but their hearts are always open and their love is always felt.

One local woman gives an interesting account of what being a host mother to foreign exchange students is like.

Judy Miller has been opening her home, family, and heart to foreign exchange students for 10 years.

Being a foster mother, Judy was familiar with the feeling of being a “temporary” mother when needed, although her motherly love is never temporary.

“When we first decided to be a host family for a foreign exchange student, it was to help our community and our children see other cultures to expand their knowledge,” she said. “We hosted a girl, Sey Oung, for a full school year.

We had two young girls and a young son at the time, they were about four

Story by Jordan Troutman

The Miller family became a host family for foreign exchange students 10 years ago. Most recently Jai, from Thailand stayed with them. The family embraced its new family member, and continue to stay in communication. or five, so we thought it would be like having a big sister.”

The family and Sey stayed in contact for a while after her stay.

“She stayed in contact with her parents while she was here,” Judy said.

“But, in the end, she got homesick.”

Judy said the experience was wonderful and she enjoyed seeing Sey start to feel comfortable in American culture.

“It takes some getting used to because sometimes we use slang or terms that don’t make sense and they look confused,” Judy said. “The students all speak fluent English before they come here, but still things can get puzzling at times.”

Over the last 10 years, Judy and her family have hosted four students.

“Sey was the first,” she said. “At one point we tried to host two students at once. That wasn’t a good fit, so they

didn’t stay the whole time. The last, and most recent, was Jai.” Judy said she didn’t have too many concerns when she started her journey as a host mother because she had experience with housing children as a foster mother.

“We were used to the idea of opening up to children,” she said. “As far as the students’ parents’ concerns, we never heard of any. The parent knew what would happen and they spoke with others in the same situation, their parents were all very excited for their children to come stay with us.”

Sey’s family would often send her care packages from home, and occasionally send gifts for Judy and her family, as well.

“They would send her snacks mostly,” Judy said. “I think her mom wanted to keep her from getting too homesick.”

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 27

Communication between Sey and the Miller family continued for many years.

“Eventually, she graduated and moved on,” Judy said. “She went to, university, she called it. But, we still see each other on Facebook and say hi occasionally.”

Communication with Jai is still very regular.

“It has only been a few months since he was here,” she said. “Our children in the home are older now, teens, so it was a different experience than the first time.”

Judy said Jai and her son bonded really well during his stay.

“It is just like having an extra family member, especially around the holidays,” she said. “They celebrated American holidays with us. Thanksgiving is great because there is just a ton of food for them to try. Christmas was a bit different, just because they aren’t used to celebrating it, but we include them when it comes to gift, just like our own children.”

Easter and the Fourth of July are other big American holidays that are fun to experience with the students.

“It is wonderful to love and to open up, even if it is for a temporary time,” Judy said. “With Jai, we got close. I would drive him to school each day, so we had a lot of one on one time to talk and get to know each other.”

Jai cracked his elbow when he first got here, to the point Judy thought he may go back home.

“But, he rested and got better here,” she said. “I am a quilter, and I had a customer come in one day while he was resting on the couch. She kind of looked at him and I said, ‘He is my son from another country.’”

One of those times that Jai and Judy spent time together and got close was

28 | May 2021

Jai stayed with the Miller family during his stay in 2019. One thing Judy Miller cherished was shopping for his prom suit. when they went prom shopping.

“He looked so handsome,” Judy said. “My husband took him to tour the University of Arkansas and he thought it was the best.

“He says he may come back to the states for college.”

Judy said Jai originally wanted to be hosted in a big city because that is what he was used to but ended up in a small town in the midwest.

“He enjoyed it here and when he was getting ready to leave he said, ‘It

will be loud at home, it is so quiet here,’” Judy said. “He noticed all the trees we have, we didn’t think about what we see in our everyday life versus what he is used to.”

When choosing students they will reach out to be a host family for, Judy says they look at things that will help make the relationship easy for everyone.

“One thing is meals, we eat as a family, one meal,” she said. “So, it would be more difficult to have to make ac-

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Kevin and Judy Miller, a local family hosted an international student Jai, from Thailand back in 2019. commodations every day for meals for things like food allergies, because none of us deal with that.”

However, meals were a place where the Miller family could experience some of their students’ culture, as well.

“Jai is from Thailand, so we attempted to make a couple of Thai dishes while he was here,” she said. “One of them turned out great, but not the other. When Sey was here we took her to an ethnic market in Rogers and she bought all the stuff to make us sushi.

She was from Korea.”

Judy said she helped Sey prep the dish, and the family enjoyed the sushi dinner.

“I made her kimchi once,” Judy said. “She told me it tasted authentic.

“Jai liked food in general, a typical teenage boy. He liked to go to the grocery store with me and look at stuff.”

Judy said as a mother, you learn to look at children and see their needs.

“When you see those needs or wants, you have to learn to communicate with them,” she said. “Each child is different, if they are your biological

30 | May 2021

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information on how to become a host family, people may contact Heike Erwin at 417-342-6475.

Email at herwin@flag-intl.org

children, foster children, or foreign exchange students, they all have a different personality, you just have to earn it.”

Judy said when the students come over, they expect to be involved with things like chores and family activities.

“We would do things together, as a family, like go camping, go to Silver Dollar City, and even roller-skating,” she said. “Jai even enjoyed traveling with the family to visit family in Iowa.

It is natural to open your home and your heart to include them in your

family.”

Judy said she doesn’t know what the future holds or if they will welcome more students to stay in their home, but all in all, it has been an experience that will stay with her for a lifetime.

“I have encouraged others to be host families as well,” she said. “I have enjoyed it, my oldest child has even said they may become a host family.”

Since 1989, Foreign Links Around the Globe (FLAG) has placed exchange students with more than 5,000 host families. n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 31

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Healthy Connection

By Faith Herron

Faith Herron is a dietetic intern at Cox College who has found a way to capitalize on her love for food by pursuing a career that centers around it. She intends to become a Registered Dietitian and is passionate about preventive health care and using food as medicine. In her free time, Faith enjoys experimenting with new recipes, playing tennis, and reading classic literature.

Are Energy Drinks Safe? onsumer demand for energy drinks is massive.

There are currently over 500 of these beverages on the market targeting consumers who want to boost concentration, enhance physical performance, and fight fatigue. Grocery stores, gas stations, and bars alike have all taken advantage of the popularity of the beverages. Even vending machines offer energy drink options. The accessibility and perceived benefits of the beverages are extremely appealing to consumers, especially younger ones. However, the safety and efficacy of energy drinks have often been questioned.

THE INGREDIENTS Caffeine: Caffeine is a stimulant found in several beverages. Energy drinks typically contain high amounts of caffeine. Guarana, a caffeine-containing substance, is also often added to energy drinks. This increases the drink’s total caffeine content. Energy drinks usually contain somewhere between 17 and 250 mg caffeine per serving, and there is often more than one serving per can.

Drinking these beverages regularly can lead to a caffeine addiction and increase nervousness.

chones | AdobeStock.com

C

Sugar:

Sugar is the main nutrient in energy drinks, which contributes nearly all of the drink’s calories. Some energy drinks have as much as 15 teaspoons of sugar in one 16-oz container. The sugar content of energy drinks may contribute to the development of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Sodium: Several varieties

of energy drinks contain around 200 mg of sodium, which is much more than the sodium contained in soft drinks.

B vitamins:

These vitamins are essential for your health.

Some energy drinks contain extremely high amounts of B vitamins and claim that the B vitamins improve energy levels. Vitamins are not stimulants or energy sources. Energy is only provided by carbohydrates, fat, and protein found in food. While excessive B vitamin consumption is not necessarily dangerous, there is no benefit from consuming them in such amounts. Excess B vitamins are not used by the body. Instead, they are excreted in the urine since they are water soluble.

ConnectionMO.com/HealthyConnection | Connection Magazine | 33

K

Other ingredients:

Other common ingredients found in energy drinks include taurine, glucuronolactone, guarana, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, l-carnitine, artificial sugars, antioxidants, and trace minerals. Intolerances and even allergic reactions may occur due to the many ingredients in energy drinks.

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SAFETY CONCERNS Although energy drinks have been found to increase alertness and decrease fatigue, they are not without their dangers. Energy drinks have a wide appeal among youth. However, the safe limit of caffeine for children and adolescents is 100 mg, and the high amounts of caffeine in energy drinks have no place in their diet.

The amount of sugar is also a concern for children and adolescents.

In fact, some countries have banned the sale of energy drinks to children under the age of 16.

Energy drinks can also cause heart dysrhythmias, dehydration, and an increase in blood pressure in adults due to high caffeine content. The sugar content of energy drinks also encourages numerous health problems.

Additionally, the ability of energy drinks to keep you awake can go too far and lead to insomnia. This actually impairs concentration levels due to lack of sleep, which can encourage more energy drink consumption and results in a vicious circle.

Overall, energy drinks have no nutritional value and should never be consumed by children and adolescents. The drinks are safest for adults with no caffeine sensitivities.

Moderation is recommended when consuming energy drinks. n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 35

Date Night

A Day in the Dogwoods or April, our traditional date night turned into a day trip.

F

While we have enjoyed our subscription to the date box service that has given us some great memories and good laughs over the past few months, Kat and I decided to switch things up and try a new service that would have us selecting a random page from an “Adventure Book.” The way this works is the book is like a lotto scratcher ticket. Each page has an estimated cost and time commitment for the activity, but the rest of the page looks like a lotto scratcher. You don’t know exactly what you’re getting into until you start scratching.

Sound like fun? We think so.

But the book hasn’t arrived in the mail yet.

Luckily, our previous date box subscription’s January offering set us up with a 12-month plan of date ideas. So, I’ve got a couple options to talk about this month.

One date night we put on the calendar was a game night scheduled for March. This date idea may have left a little too much room for interpretation.

36 | May 2021

A meandering creek, tall trees and high hills make for a great backdrop for a day trip.

By Mike Gervais

I am a product of my generation, and I still enjoy video games. While Kat may have had her sights set on an evening of Scrabble or Pinochle or GoFish, I grabbed my video game controller and started browsing two-player video games I thought I could rope her into.

I found one. Kat likes to knit.

“Unravel 2” is a co-operative style puzzle-platform that allows you and a partner to take control of sentient balls of yarn that have to work together to navigate the world.

The game is a unique concept that has you literally tied to your partner. You work together, using the string of yarn that binds you to swing from platform-to-platform, or tie tightropes to walk across, or rappel down chasms.

There’s also a feature that allows one character to hop on another character’s back for a piggy-back-ride.

What I had expected to be a fun-filled night of solving puzzles together turned out to be me literally carrying Kat from one challenge to the next until I realized video games are not

great date night material when I’m the only gamer in the house.

To her credit, she had a lot more fun than I would have if she had decided our date night would be a knitting lesson.

Our next adventure on the calendar was a spring day trip scheduled for April.

Since announcing our engagement, we’ve heard from a number of people that Dogwood Canyon is a must-see destination with a beautiful wedding venue. So, one Saturday morning with redbud trees blooming and a high temperature in the mid 70s, we decided to head to the canyon to get some fresh air, take in the sights and scout a possible wedding location.

Dogwood Canyon is famous for its waterfalls, large and small. And when you’re a couple of feet taller than your fiancee, you might have to limber up to capture a selfie that includes the beautiful girl and beautiful waterfall.

One of my favorite parts of any trip with Kat is the drive. She plays DJ, we talk and enjoy the countryside. During this particular drive, we began wedding planning. We set a date.

We discussed what venues we should see after we look at Dogwood’s offerings. We talked about guest lists. Do you know how hard it is to plan a small wedding when you have a large family?

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 37

We arrived at Dogwood expecting to see some natural beauty and had heard about the amazing waterfalls. What we didn’t expect was a heard of buffalo or a chance to feed trophy-sized trout in the clear bluegreen waters of the creek.

We weren’t disappointed.

We were booked for a 10 a.m. guided tram tour up the canyon, with stops at the chapel, the “Glory Hole” fish pond and the buffalo and elk pasture.

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However, I have one kind of luck, and it’s not the kind you want.

It just so happened that a wedding was scheduled during our trip, so our tram scooted right past the chapel we had come to see.

Our tour guide let us know that the wedding was scheduled to move locations from the chapel ceremony to the restaurant for the reception at 2 p.m., which gave us some time to check out the museum and gift shop, as well as enjoy lunch on the restaurant patio.

Once we saw the bride and the wedding party head into the restaurant, we strolled over to the chapel to see the venue, backed by another of the park’s beautiful waterfalls. It’s the kind of place where we could both see ourselves getting married.

We haven’t made a decision yet, but Dogwood is definitely on the list.

Even if we decide to go another route for our wedding venue, a daytrip date to Dogwood Canyon is a win. And after a long, cold winter, I think having the opportunity to get outdoors and stretch our legs was needed. And we couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. n

Rescued, My Favorite Breed

By Christa Stout

REMINDER

C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue

The ticks are out in full force, please use flea and tick preventive for all of your pets. Please remember the preventive for dogs is deadly for cats!

A SAFE PLACE TO RECUPERATE y trip this month led me to C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue (Castaways Animal Rescue Effort). I knew they had a facility outside of Verona but it turns out, their adoption center is actually in Springfield, so that is where I met with Rob, who gave me a tour of the facility, introduced me to the animals up for adoption and gave me lots of information about their organization and the animals there.

M

Thank you Rob! The first thing I saw when I walked in, was the tail end of a 60s Ford, which had been converted to a pet couch. It is the perfect place to introduce a pet to a prospective adopter. On your next trip to Springfield, take a few minutes and check out the pets at the C.A.R.E. Adoption Center.

I had a great time talking to Rob, because C.A.R.E. is so different

from any other shelter or pound.

For one thing they have two facilities, the Sanctuary outside of Verona where the animals spend most of their time, and the Adoption Center in Springfield, where they spend some time in hopes of getting adopted.

The Sanctuary is truly that, a place for the animals to get well.

If they come in sick, as many do, they get some training if they have some behavior issue, and of course they get lots of loving.

Once they are ready to be adopted, they are transported to the Adoption Center each Wednesday and stay there until they are returned to the sanctuary the following Saturday evening.

The second reason that makes the Sanctuary a necessity, is that C.A.R.E. takes in all kinds of animals, the only exception, according to Rob are animals who eat other animals, like snakes. The list of pets they had in their Sanctuary at one time is rather long: dogs, cats, gerbils, hedgehogs, birds, mice, rats, ferrets, iguanas, hamsters and anything else you can imagine.

And finally, what makes C.A.R.E. really special is that they take in at risk animals that no other shelter can take, maybe due to medical reasons, behavioral issues, sick and injured strays, or those requiring quarantine. At the Sanctuary, they have a cabin solely for cats

ConnectionMO.com/RescuedMyFavoriteBreed | Connection Magazine | 39

C.A.R.E.

Here is how you can contact and/or donate: facebook.com/careanimalrescue | carerescue.org In addition, they aid city pounds with abuse and neglect cases. Currently they take in between 800 and 1,000 animals a year, and since 1992, they have rescued more than 25,000 animals, which is quite a record to be proud of.

Another record they are proud of is the fact that Springfield Animal Control has not had to euthanize an animal since C.A.R.E. has become a partner in managing the pet population.

MELLIE is a pretty 1-year-old Lab/Beagle mix who was one of three dogs rescued from a case of animal neglect, but those days are a distant memory! She is such a little sweetheart and has really shown her lovable side. She is very playful but also loves taking naps on the couch between playtime. Mellie is house-trained, vaccinated, microchipped and would be most comfortable with an active family that can help her continue working on socialization.

And Mellie just told us she is very excited to meet her new family, so stop by and see her. with feline leukemia, since they must be kept separate to prevent further spread.

They are also able to take in senior animals, whose owners are unable or unwilling to care for their pet, or where the owner has passed away and that included a recent rescue of an 18-year-old beagle.

40 | May 2021

DONATE NOW

Rob tells of an iguana they received recently, he was deathly ill.

He was so hungry, he had eaten a blanket and required surgery to remove it. Thankfully, he says, the iguana survived, was adopted out of state, and is living the life of a well, a healthy iguana!

He also says that the C.A.R.E. director, Melissa, is such an animal lover that she recently scraped a ton of spiders into a dog bowl to relocate them. Now that takes lots of love in my opinion!

I asked Rob what his greatest need is at this time and he replied that due to the pandemic they have not been able to do any fundraising (like most shelters) and therefore donations, whether one time or recurring, are their biggest request.

Of course, they also have a smile. amazon list and a wish list on their website. And they publish a newsletter that contains some awesome animal stories. n

LANCELOT (front) and HANK (back) Lancelot came from Animal Control in 2019 and was practically feral when he arrived. He needed extra vet care to get him healthy enough for adoption. He figured out people weren’t so bad as well.

He met Hank at the adoption center and bonded very closely to him. Lancelot will not be adopted without Hank.

Cutest Pet

Kicko

Email your pet’s photo to connection@monett-times.com

Kicko is a 5-month-old Bichon Frise. He is the fur baby of Sabrina Rueda of Purdy.

If you think your furry or feathered friend is the cutest in the area, let us know! We invite you to share a photo of your pet to be featured in Connection’s Cutest Pet contest. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your pet’s name, city of residence and your contact information.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 41

“Most Likely To” of the

S

enior classes are remembered in a million different ways, sports glory, prom photos, graduation speeches, and friendships made, to name just a few.

All of this is then brought back to life in the pages put together by the school’s yearbook staff.

Each year, peers, classmates, and teachers vote and discuss some version of the Best Of, Who’s Who, or

Most Likely To categories. These titles are then handed to each senior class like a badge of honor or a joyful joke for those nominated for class clowns.

The senior classes of 2021 throughout Barry and Lawerence counties are no different, they have looked back on the last 13 years and decided, out of their classmates who have earned the title of “Most Likely To” in 2021.

A look into a Yearbook

Senior class 2021 42 | May 2021

Story by Jordan Troutman

Exeter

Most Likely to Be President

Wheaton

Best Personality

Lian Mang, Wheaton senior, Best Personality “I feel honored that my classmates chose me for this,” Lian said. “It means they think of my personality in a positive way.

Lian said he has great relationships with teachers and students alike. “This will help me after high school because it will help me to not take everything too seriously,” he said.

“I want to accomplish things with an open heart and mind.”

Lian said he would like to shout out to his teachers, Leverich, Bolton, and Dale Forgey for helping to shape his personality and keeping things interesting.

Aubrie Graham, Exeter senior, Most Likely to Be President “My classmates think that I am a responsible and honest leader,” Aubrie said. “They also think that I am scary and bossy.

“I was president of our class for three years. Now I am vice president of our class, vice president of FBLA, and president of NHS.” Aubrie plans to go to college and further her education to possibly make this a reality.

Clayton Rose, Exeter senior, Most Likely to Be President “I like to have a say when it comes to making any decisions,” Clayton said. “But, I ask for help and talk to my classmates before making final decisions on things.

“I have been in FFA, and FBLA. I play baseball and basketball. I also work on a job for a construction company, working with metal and concrete. I will work to be my best in all I do in the work field. I also plan to be as much involved with my country as I civically can. “

Liliana Ortega, Wheaton senior, Best Personality “I think they chose me because I am respectful and funny,” Liliana said. “I try to be kind to everyone, make jokes and be playful.”

“I think this will help how people react to me after high school,” she said. “I am exciting, and I hope my personality helps me to get a job in the future.”

Liliana would like to shout out to her teachers: Leverich, Harris, and Dale Forgey, as well. “I got my humor from Dale, or he got it from me, we don’t know,” she said.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 43

Southwest

Most Likely to Have a Reality T.V. Show

CASSVILLE

Most Creative

Kellan Jack, Cassville senior, Most Creative Harleigh Jester, Southwest senior, Most Likely to Have a Reality T.V. Show

Kellan said most creative doesn’t necessarily have to revolve around drawing ability.

“I think that my peers picked me for this title because of how chaotic my life constantly is and how open I am with everyone,” Harleigh said. “I show this trait in my personality because I love people and being a people person in general.

“I believe that the phrase ‘Most Creative’ would generally apply to an exuberant imagination, and more importantly, have a great story and feeling to share with the world,” he said. “It is not guaranteed that you are required to be a master Leonardo da Vinci and get every single little detail of an art piece correct.

“It has to be my biggest strength in my life and has shined through over the years.” Haleigh said a drama show would best suit her personality.

“In my honest opinion, the quality that would best describe a person as a true artist is simply being the person they were meant to be.”

Isaac Starr, Southwest senior, Most Likely to Have a Reality T.V. Show

Adrienne Qurios, Cassville senior, Most Creative

“My guess would be my peers picked me for this, not only because I’m the star in all the drama plays, but I’m told I have a main character personality,” Isaac said.

“I’m always trying to make jokes, even if no one laughs, so my life resembles a sitcom with no laugh track.”

“During senior year, I finished a charcoal drawing of a woman that looked almost identical to the picture,” she said. “I think to be creative is to push yourself past your boundaries; it’s a lot easier to think of how to improve for yourself than to improve for the approval of others.

Isaac said a show like Survivor, but with comedy would best suit his personality.

“Being humble and looking back at how far you’ve progressed is a great feeling.”

44 | May 2021

Adrienne plans to attend a college for graphic design.

Pierce city

Most Likely to Take Over the Family Business/Farm

Purdy

Most School Spirit

Jake Brown, Purdy senior, Most School Spirit Cole Salsman, Pierce City senior, Double S Animal Health LLC “We raise alfalfa hay and sell it to customers all across the four states,” Cole said. “We also raise, advertise, and sell butcher weight steers to private buyers.

“There are always valuable lessons to be learned while working on livestock and farm equipment. I have worked on my family farm from the time I was old enough to walk and drive a tractor.”

Jake said school spirit is an important thing, and he shows his school spirit by being loud and proud.

“As an athlete the more support there and the louder it is the better,” he said. “When the crowd is involved the games are very fun to be a part of, so I give the most energy and excitement I can when I am at games.

“I have a passion for competitive sports and I enjoy the energy of the game” However, Jake not only shows his school spirit for sports but in the classroom as well.

Sydney Rea, Purdy senior, Most School Spirit Rebecka Reber, Pierce City senior, Reber Mowing “It’s a mowing business that we started when I started freshman year,” Rebecka said. “In 2017, my dad decided to start the business to help with school expenses. I try my hardest at it and do my best at what I am able to do.”

Those tasks include weed-eating around fence lines and objects that can’t be moved for the mower.

“What I enjoy the most about it is that I get to spend time with my family and I have a chance to get stronger from holding the weed eater up and down hills.”

“I was chosen for this category because I make sure to involve myself in every spirit week possible to show support for whatever club is putting it on,” Sydney said. “I show school spirit by being involved in Purdy High School cheer squad, all four years of high school, and also being co-president of the student council.

“After I graduate I will continue to be thankful for the memories I made in high school by being very involved with school spirit.”

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 45

MONETT

Most Likely to Become Internet Famous

Verona

Most Athletic

Paige Bauer, Verona senior, Most Athletic Abby McCaffery, Monett senior, Most Likely to Become Internet Famous Abby said she feels like if she were to ever get Internet famous, it would be from the social media app TikTok. “I post a lot of funny and relatable videos about myself and my life,” she said. “Knowing my luck, my most embarrassing video would likely go viral.”

Even so, Abby thinks it would be super cool to be Internet famous or be a social media influencer.

Keith Fields, Monett senior, Most Likely to Become Internet Famous “I do music and sing on the side, after school, and plan to continue this path throughout the years and through college to see where it takes me,” Keith said.

Keith said he may become Internet famous by continuing to write songs and post them to various social media platforms in hopes to continue to grow the traction he has already received.

46 | May 2021

“I was chosen as most athletic because I play three different sports and I have started varsity on all three since I was a freshman,” Paige said. “I will also be going to play collegiate basketball. I play basketball, softball, volleyball, and I am also involved in FFA, FBLA, NHS, FCA, and student council.”

Paige scored over 1500 points in her high school basketball career.

“Being involved in so many things has definitely given me time management skills and leadership skills,” she said. “I have learned what hard work is through sports and I plan to keep using that mentality in the future.

Sam Rees, Verona senior, Most Athletic “[I was chosen for this category] because I play any sport offered at Verona during its season,” Sam said.

“Sports is the primary thing I do at Verona.”

Sam plays fall baseball and basketball, as well as, spring baseball. “[Playing sports] builds a strong work ethic and toughens you mentally and physically,” he said. “I am hoping to play baseball at the collegiate level.”

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 47

Purdy prom 2021 1.

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Coach and Kaylee Webb.

Robyn Schad, Raeley Henderson and Ann-Kena Propps.

Stephanie Webb, Jordan Muntz and Jasmine Holloway Sierra Hutchens and Nick Schied.

Zack Brewer, Brad Hutson and Jake Brown

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Monett Easter Egg Hunt It was a beautiful day for hunting Easter Eggs.

The event, sponsored by the Monett Young Professionals Network, took place Saturday, March 27, at the soccer fields at Monett’s South Park.

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Colson and Kaitlin Jirik Zeke, Sarah and Jacob Smith Ruby and Vivie Williams Ainsley and Faye Cotherman

48 | May 2021

Familiar Faces

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VERONA Easter Egg Hunt 1.

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Andy Just, Vanessa Stone, Christal Lauderdale, Wayde Lauderdale and Lyle Lauderdale, 4.

Edwin Lacy, 2, Journey Cox, 2, Corbin Lacy, 4 and Thea Lacy. 4.

Lily Holloway, 11, Elixis Army, 11, James Powell, 12, Slade Framton, 10, Wesley Witmore 4 and Lisa Army.

Kathy, Sam and Melody Vice, 4.

Angelique Camacho, 2, Joceline Camacho, 10, Camila Salas, 2 and Bianca Salas.

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Parting Shot

50 | May 2021

Photo by Christel Vore

Advertiser Index A Beautiful Image..............................47 Aire Serv..............................................31 Barry Lawrence Regional Library..... 3 Bill Vance Marine..............................29 Brigatta Vance....................................34 Bruner Pharmacy...............................13 Cappy Harries Realtor......................35 Carey’s Cassville Florist...................32 Clark Community Mental Health....... ........................................................20 Coldwell Banker................................32 CoxHealth Medical Centers............52 Diet Center.........................................18 Doug’s Pro Lube................................25 Edward Jones....................................... 5 Factory Direct Mattress..................... 2 First State Bank of Purdy................29 Fohn Funeral Home..........................26 Four Seasons Real Estate................31 Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri. ........................................................13 Hooked Lake Cabin..........................32 J&J Floor Covering...........................31 Ken’s Collision Center......................34 Kiddie City..........................................25 Lackey Body Works..........................38 Lil Boom Town Event Center..........12 Michael’s Hardware..........................29 Missouri Farm Bureau......................26 My Best Friends Closet....................35 Oak Hill Court....................................34 Ozark Methodist Manor..................12 Peppers and Co.................................47 Race Brothers...................................... 8 Roaring River Health & Rehab........26 Rusty Gate Flea Market...................12 Security Bank of Southwest Missouri ........................................................51 Shelter Insurance................................ 8 Straight’s Lawn & Garden................12 The Coffee Café................................25 The Farmer’s Daughter....................38 Tisha Trotter......................................... 6 Tomblin’s Jewelry..............................13 Trogdon Marshall..............................51 VisionHealth Eye Center.................18 White’s Insurance.............................38 Whitley Pharmacy.............................47

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 51