Iowa Newspaper Foundation Banquet 2013: Awards for my Mom!

On the 8th of February, Trent and I along with Kellsey and Jared went to Des Moines to the Iowa Newspaper Foundation Banquet because The Observer and Manilla Times, the two papers that my mom owns, were up for 10 awards and my mom, in honor of my dad, was going to be receiving the Heritage Club Award during the banquet.

The papers were up for 10 awards in the Better Newspaper Contest, and they walked away with five first-place awards (4 for The Observer and 1 for The Manilla Times), one second-place award, and four third-place awards. In addition to the individual awards in all the categories, she also received second place in the Weekly Class I category in the "General Excellence" competition.

With these awards, The Observer has won a total of 67 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards since 2005. I'd say my mom (and her staff) are pretty darn awesome!! :)

Us kids and our mom with her first place plaques and the Heritage Club plaque.

One of her many awards!

Below is a video of them awarding the Heritage Club photo plaque to my mom, which signifies a $5,000 contribution made to the Iowa Newspaper Foundation in memory of my dad.

I have put the transcript of what he is saying is below the video as well.

Dave and Janine Kock purchased their hometown newspaper, The Observer, in Westside, in 2003. They purchased a second newspaper, The Manilla Times, in 2011. While Dave also worked in the hog industry and was a successful girls' basketball coach during their past nine years in the newspaper industry, Janine has been active in various INA committees and on the Iowa Newspaper Foundation Board, serving as its president in 2011.

The Kocks took seriously their commitment to producing a vibrant community newspaper, and their newspapers have won 67 INF awards. The couple have also been active volunteers in their community and believe it is very important for residents to dedicate their time, energy, talent and financial resources toward community projects.

Janine began a Heritage Builders program in support of the Iowa Newspaper Foundation in 2010 and, after Davey's untimely death at the age of 53 in September of 2012 due to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, she decided to honor his memory by completing the Heritage Club pledge in his honor.

She is accompanied tonight by her daughters, Kellsey Morrison and Kendra Fredericksen, and her son Jared Kock.

The Manilla Times staff with their first ever INF award.
A first place award, too!

Trent and at the banquet

After the banquet, we all made our way to The Exchange. The newest bar owned by our cousins, Teddy and Petey. It was a blast. I love that we finally got to see their new bar and got to see Teddy's office and maybe had a little too much fun!

Cousins!

Sisters!

 It was a great weekend in Des Moines, celebrating my mom and dad's well deserved success with their newspapers and honoring them and the staff with with many awards! I'm so happy that Trent and I got to be there!

Wedding Cake - 1 year, 3 month, 1 week, and 4 day Anniversary

On September 9, the day after Alex and Lauren's wedding, Trent and I made a trip back to Westside to see my parents. My dad had had a pretty bad week and I really wanted to see him. My dad was pretty tired while we were there, so we visited with him while he was up out of the chair and then just hung out in the next room when he needed to rest in the recliner.

After our wedding, Nick and Doreen were kind enough to keep our wedding cake in their freezer because we were a little short on freezer space in our apartment. We meant to eat our cake on our 1 year anniversary, but we didn't think to get it to our house at the time and forgot to get it over and over and over again... So FINALLY they remembered and brought it to us when we were in town. 

So even though it wasn't our 1 year anniversary, but our 1 year, 3 month, 1 week and 4 day anniversary, we decided to eat some of our cake! We even had photographers there to capture every moment!!

After Trent was kind at our wedding and didn't smash cake in my face, I thought I was in the clear... Little did I know he was going to not be so kind this time...

 

Attractive, huh?!? 

My attempt to get back at him

I'm glad that we got to eat our cake (which was still pretty good) even though it was a little late. It was nice despite all the cake in my face!

And after things calmed down, I got a good picture of family members!

And through that all, Uncle Dan and my Dad slept!

This was the last day that I saw my dad out of a hospital or nursing home. Just 16 short days later he was gone. I very much wish I knew what was to come when I left there that day. That recliner was where he was sitting when I hugged him good bye and told him I loved him. He was having trouble controlling his arms and when I went in to hug him, I startled him a bit, but he hugged me back and told me he loved me as best he could. The tears in his eyes showed me how much he meant those words and how scared he was even though he wasn't able to get many clear words out. I admire him for always trying his best and fighting that stupid disease that was taking over his body the best he could. I love him and miss him so much. 

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened by death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." Romans 8: 35, 37

Lauren and Alex's Wedding

WAAYYY back in September, I had the pleasure of standing by my best friend's side as she became Mrs. Williams. The day was absolutely beautiful, but she was even more stunning!! The sun was shining and it was just awesome.

The festivities started on Friday night with the rehearsal at Heartland of America park where the ceremony was going to be and dinner at Johnny's Cafe in Omaha. The food was great and it was just a fun time to be able to hang out and celebrate the upcoming event with everyone.

  

Lauren and some of the girls stayed at the DoubleTree with her on Friday night and woke up bright and early on Saturday morning to begin getting ready for the big day. It started off with the hair dressers coming to the room followed by the videographers and the photographer. It was a busy room!

The hotel was nice enough to let us up to the Executive Meeting floor where we could take some nice pictures of Lauren with her dress on that weren't in the regular hotel room.

Before we knew it, it was time to head to the park where Lauren and Alex would see each other for the first time.

We spent a few hours taking pictures and getting everything ready until it was time for people to start showing up and for the big event to begin.

Well, would you look at that handsome man :)

.

The ceremony was beautiful. (In my opinion) Everything went perfect. It was great to see so many people there to celebrate with Alex and Lauren. (I obviously don't have any pictures from during the ceremony because I was up there in front of everyone too!)

After the ceremony the wedding party headed off on Ollie the Trolly. We took a trip up to the 24 Hour Fitness where Alex and Lauren met for the first time. Who would have thought they would be married after meeting each other in the wee hours of the morning at the gym?!? When Lauren told me that next day that she had met this guy while she was working out, I sure didn't think that it would end up this way! But, as time went on, I can't say I didn't see it coming! I just love how unique and special their story is! I am so happy that she is happy. Lauren deserves nothing but the best!

.

After we got some pictures at 24 Hour, we got some pictures at Memorial Park before we headed to the reception for the night. The reception was a great time, too. Again, the food was great and the dancing and celebrating was so much fun.

It was an awesome day and I'm so happy that my best friend is happy!! I can't believe that it's almost been 6 months since the wedding already but I still wish them the best! 

Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Alex and Lauren Williams!!