Let me tell you all a story of which most of you have heard.

This story is:

The Little Engine that Could

to fit the life of David Shamo

Some of you know that I may not be a little engine,

but for the past few months I have had many boxcars attached to me, as I have been starting my own business with Primerica. Now one of the many things that have been weighing me down has been my Life/Health insurance test. I studied and studied, and felt okay about what I knew, so I took my test hoping I knew just enough to pass my test. As the day came the feeling of the hill came upon me as I thought I could. I took my test and to no avail I received a 60%. I could not believe how hard it was to climb this one hill. I rescheduled my test and once again I studied hard, and found myself stressing to find the strength to go on, the day came once more as I huffed and puffed and blew my little horn and started up that hill, I felt like I knew more and was more focused on my goal. There it was I could see the top of my hill I tried so hard to get to, I took my test and when done I was waiting in wonder - did I make it to the top? I received my score 65%. I was hurt. I saw the top but could not huff or puff or blow my horn enough to get to the top. As I returned home with my head drooped down low, I took a few days to get up the courage to try again, I scheduled my test and started to study day and night, at work and at home. I did the best I could and as the day was near I did my last minute cramming (as if that would help), I went to take my test and up the hill I went chugging and a chooing, chugga chugga choo choo, and there it was the dreaded top of the hill. I will make it, I will. As I finished my test and clicked the button to see my score I was insistent that I pass for sure, and than it was up and it hit me like a wall that I could not get over or move, I received a 65% again.

Here I was at my favorite store buying a whole lot of crap food

to indulge in, because nothing else made any sense to me at the time. I took a lot longer to try the hill again this time, my time was running short, the year was almost up, and then I would be stuck doing this test in 2010, in my mind I told myself this would not happen, I will pass this test before the year has ended. I lucked out as I went to schedule my test again, Dec. 30th was one of the last open days left in this year. I thought for sure I could get over the hill on this day. I scheduled to take the life insurance test only this time as I knew more about that subject than I did about the health side of the test. So I studied and studied and took a day off so I could spend what little time I had on Christmas Day with my beautiful wife Shelena, and then back to the online test I went. I found more confidence each practice quiz I took as I saw the scores of 80% more and more, and then without any time at all, it was the night before my test, and of course I had to work, I did more quiz's and then took a practice exam at around 0300 and passed with a 71%, and my heart dropped, I could not believe that I only passed with 1% to spare, so I looked at two of the areas that were my weakest and took one more practice quiz hoping that this last minute cramming would work just long enough. I once again took a practice (bonus questions) exam, and I passed with a 73%, and again I felt like it was not enough as time had run out and it was time to head up the hill. I focused and started the chant, I think I can, I think I can, (come on help me out here, say it with me, and maybe together I can get up the hill), I think I can, I think I can, as I started to take my test, chugga chugga choo choo, I saw the top of the hill (are you still helping me?) I think I can I think I can as the words came faster and faster to my head, I found that I could see the top getting closer and closer, come on help me now, I think I can I think I can I think I can, and there it is I see it. As I finished my test I was just about to see my scores, and I just did not want to see it, at the same time I knew that I needed to see it all the way through, as the score came up and I saw it 77%, YES I loudly exclaimed, as other test takers were taking their test, once again I exclaimed YES under my breath this time. I knew I could as I (with your help) started going down the other side of the hill I once could not get to the top of. I Passed My TEST, YES!!!

Milwaukee ~ My Vacation "Other Pictures I Like"

Here are some of the Pictures I did not get to show you in the light I wanted to show them in.

The Pumpkin Patch near the Apple Orchard

Here is Jordan on a ladder in the Apple Orchard.

Now just think a little more about how he is looking back.

Here is what I see: Jordan going towards the light and suddenly,

He Looks back to see who is calling for him to come back, come back to his love ones.

Wow, what a man to look up to, a man who knows where he needs to be and how to get there. May God be with you and those you touch, on your way. Thank you.

Once again, as I saw the picture I took all I could say is "Yes" it turned out right.

Red flower found in the Domes, It was cool colors.

Carter, what a cute kid, just waiting for me to count to three.

"he didn't know I take the picture on Two"

The Sniper painting this one had me looking back at my dream of going into the Army

Shelena in the Apple Orchard

One of the only ones I could get of My Love of my Life.

Cynthia in the Apple Orchard "When I saw this I thought 1st place at the fair for Photography"

Milwaukee ~ My Vacation "Hedgecock Family"

Hedgecock family November 2009

Family; We all have some and no matter what we love them. We started our vacation kind of scared due to the time that has passed since we have seen their family. It did not take long to warm-up and be ourselves around them. This family is unique in that when you go into their home you notice a difference.

You will find peace, and love that fills the souls, as if you where to go into a hidden valley with a moon lit waterfall into the mystic pool of water. While you are enjoying the peaceful home you will enjoy the competitive nature of game play as they will teach you many games that will most likely get you addicted as soon as you play them. To top it all off both Cynthia & Peter know how to cook, which means you will be spoiled, with amazing food that is hard to top. I want to give a special thanks to Cynthia & Peter and their family for welcoming Shelena and I into their home, and letting us share their life for one short week. Thank you. hope all is well. God be with you.

Milwaukee ~ My Vacation 8th Night

8^th Day Tues. Nov 10^th

Well today was a little change of pace. I was doing a lot of calling this morning to get my test rescheduled and Shelena got up early (with my help) to check us in for our flight home. Once all of this was done I came out from the bedroom and everyone was quiet so much that I had to ask what was going on. Peter answered telling me that he just lost his job. My heart dropped and I was unable to find any words to say. Soon after the news we went to “Holy Hill”. Holy Hill is one of the highest spots near Milwaukee and on top of it stands a Catholic church. I must say it was amazing to go in and look around. There was a lot of beautiful craftsmanship and yet I could not help to think if this place is so sacred, why was it possible for a handful of non-Catholics to come in and start taking pictures of everything we wanted.

I know that if there is someone truly seeking for help, God will be there to help. As for Holy Hill I am glad that we got to go and see the site. We returned home and started to pack so that we could focus on playing games and enjoying our last night here. Shelena went to take a nap and I played a game with Peter and Cynthia.

Later on Peter left to go to a meeting and when he got back there was a noticeable change in his countenance. It was a moment that only those there could see. Wow! We finished out the night playing games. I did get to stay up a while and talk with Cynthia like the old days, it was life changing.

Milwaukee ~ My Vacation 7th Night

7^th Day Mon. Nov 9^th

Today we decided to just hang out and play games so we went to a park where we fed the ducks and then played a few games while the kids played on the jungle gym. Afterward we stopped by Walmart and Shelena and I stayed in the car and talked which was nice. Later that night Cynthia, Peter, and Shelena surprised me with a small but nice birthday song and my favorite cake (pumpkin cake roll). It was nice to be around family for my birthday celebration. What a good night. Thank you Cynthia & Peter, Jordan & Carter.

Milwaukee ~ My Vacation 6th Night

6^th Day Sun. Nov 8^th

This was a relaxing day. I slept most of the day and the rest of the family went to stake conference and watched a church movie. Later that night we played games and talked. Shelena has been reading all week and today has been reading a lot.

She is reading the Twilight series for the second time before the new movie (New Moon) comes out. I shall remain silent on this matter in fear for my life. Today, we also had an early Turkey-day and Wow, what a dinner. one of the things that stood out was the turkey. "Hint: The cooking tool is bought at Home-Depot."

Milwaukee ~ My Vacation 5th Night

5^th Day Sat. Nov 7^th

Today was very interesting. We headed out for the day a little before noon and we went to “the Safe House”. This is a bar and restaurant for spies. Yes, that is right you must have a password to get into the place as well as knowledge of where the door to get in is. Unfortunately when we went they weren’t doing the password, however, there as a lot of cool things in there to discover. Some of those are the fake restrooms, a huge puzzle and other things. While most of the places you would go for the entertainment, the food is normally not as good. Not this place. The food was as good as the entertainment. One last cool thing, how we got out. There is a normal way to get out, but why go that way when you can put a quarter in a pay phone, get a code to enter in (as you do this, upon the last number you enter) the wall opens to a hidden passageway out. Wow!! What a place it is, a must go to. This Car was on the way to the safe house, and we just had to take some pictures of it. if nothing else I was able to make those in the car laugh as we were driving by slowly to take pictures I opened the side door while driving to take better pictures of this once in a life time car. After ward we went to pick up the kids and went home to experience yet another new game we have never played.