Pride and Joy Competition 2008 - THE ENTRIES

STEVEHOLMES'S ENTRY

I have thought long and hard about this competition, and I've struggled with coming up with only one story to share. There are so many people for whom i have to thank...from one of the very first true rockhounders that I ever met..Cam Grow, one of the most generous, friendly guys you'd ever meet, to those who I've met here on the RTH Board...Tim, (Gaetzchamp), Tony (catmandewe), Jamie, and Pete (rallyrocks), and to those who I've only met through PMs or rock exchange boxes.
And then theres' those who have enriched my life through their unslefish acts of kindness;
tony (nephrite) for sending me the most amazing polished piece of Jade that i will always treasure



to Sands, Ed, Stefan, KD and Tony for sharing some of your beautiful cabs



for Stoner and his Fish Bowl idea which has driven me to doing more than tumbling



and to Roger (fairburned) for trading me some Teepee Canyon agate and one particular piece which is my all time fav



I decided on sharing a story that will always be a part of my life...something that really got me intersted in this hobby, and which has given me the bond and friendship of a brother that will never be broken!
I grew up in a small town in Utah; Willard Utah. The small town of Willard has the most amazing mountains around and the view from where I grew up was amazing.



The mountains had always intrigued us, especially my oldest brother and myself. But with 10 years age difference, there was always something that had gotten in the way to do any serious hiking; family, friends, work, school....
Fortunately, in 1992, it just so happened we were able to do our first initial hike into one of those rugged canyons. We had always heard of the mines, the equipment, the structures that were around, but little did we know that over the next 15+ years we would explore, photograph, hike out hundreds of pounds of rocks, reasearch that mountain like nobody else ever had.


We spent as many weekend as possible hiking those hills, and when winter came, we spent many weeknights researching the special collections in various universities. We wanted to find out as much as possible about the mines, miners and what exactly happened to them and what they were doing and finding. A few years ago, a gentleman asked us if we ever had a plan on doing a book. We never had thought about it, and thought it would be a good thing; just because there's such an amazingly rich history, and it's all but been forgotten. Well, last March...a dream came true. We published the book...Sierra Madre West!



This is something that I will always treasure...something that I can pass down to my Grandkids. The bond that my brother and I share will never be broken. He will always hold a special place in my heart! All the hking in those mountains also made us build a common interest...ROCKS!
We have taken many trips together..exploring and hiking and rockhounding.
topaz mountain


Geode Beds


Green River, Utah


Royal Peacock, Nevada


and many others! I became more interested in the lapidary part of the hobby. My first tumbler was bought about 6 years ago. Since then I've accumulated a few more tools of the trade as well as a supply of rocks I've collected, traded for and bought. All these things are good and fun....but the most important thing that rockhounding has given and taught me; is a deeper appreciation for Family, Friends, and Life! There's something about being out in the middle of nowwhere, by yourself, finding really cool rocks...and it just lets you realize what is important in life! The good Lord has blessed us all!


There isn't a rockhound that I've never met that I don't like, and I think it would be hard to find one that I don't!
Thats' basically how it all started. I am blessed to belong to such a terrific bunch of folks...my RTH Family!
Steve

Miracle Gifts


This may look like a simple workforce to you but to me it was one of the greatest gifts I ever received and came at a time in my life when things were looking very poorly to say the least.

My rock related story is all about the kindest most generous group of people I have ever met in my life and how they helped me through the toughest time in my life. Something for which I will be forever grateful to all of you.

2005 was a very bad year for me. Beginning with my husband becoming disabled and not being able to work anymore. Followed by my daughter moving away, which broke my heart. She was my rock hounding buddy, we would go out at least once a week. It was the end of my rockhounding trips. This would be followed by even more devastating news before the year was out.

Everyone here was so kind and understanding, doing everything they could to cheer me up. A very special person here contacted a bunch of other very special people and asked if they would send me rocks. Before I knew it, boxes started appearing at my door, sometimes two or three each day. My poor mailgal couldn't believe all the boxes. ;D Packages even came from over the pond, I was amazed and cried over each one.

In November, came the package pictured above from Kim, my very own workforce. I was sure I had died and gone to heaven, little did I know at the time how close I was. Less than a month later, I was diagnosed with non-hodkins lymphoma. The love and friendship of everyone here that helped me win my battle against cancer.

Each and everyone of you will be forever in my heart and forever in my prayers. God Bless You All!

More "Miracle Gifts" will be added as I locate the pictures though I'm afraid I don't have pictures of all the gifts. I lost some when my computer crashed last spring.

This was a very special gif from KD, she called it Mojo Working. It went with me to chemo to get my "mojo working" and let me tell you, more than once did I feel a stab of pain from the point on it. ;D KD, I still don't know how you ever got it so sharp.


Another very special gift was this prayer shawl from Jan and Warren (warrena).


Roses from Stoner and Nephrite

















That's all I can find so I'm sorry if I've missed anyone's. I'm still looking though so will edit if I find more. Some are just a part of what arrived, like the blue sapphires, those were in a FRB that was full of different green stones.

Cher

hey steve i love that pic of you climbin outta the crack in the wall haha too cool

i gotta get back on my feet i been broke big time but i got a few things workin --i gotta get some cash stashed away --- id love to see the inside of that cave what kinda rock is in there