I live in Nokomis, which is near the center of Illinois about 50 miles southwest of Springfield. It is a small town of about 2700 people (which as a teenager I absolutely hated, but as a parent I see it as the ideal place to raise my own family.) My husband, Dan, and I have been married 26 years (GASP!), and have four children.
Laurie is 29 and has two beautiful (of course) children, Jordan who is now 12, and Kelcie who is 7.
Kasi is 24 and attended Bradley University in Peoria where she took classes to become an actuary. She now works at State Farm in Bloomington and was married in August of 2004 to Eric, her long time boyfriend who just returned from Iraq.
Shannon is 21 now, an accomplised artist and just recently had signs erected in her honor on Rt. 16 east and west. The sign states "Home of Shanonn Long, 2001 ISAA Best of Graphics, Best of Show, State Champion" The picture is one she did of her cousin Bret and is posted on my Nokomis page under Shannon's sign. They have since removed them and one is at home on my front porch waiting to be attached on the garage and one is in the art room at the high school. She now is a senior at Southern Illinos University in Edwardsville where she is an art major. She is majoring in graphic design with a minor in drawing (I think). She was married in February to Justin Lankford. He is in Germany in the service right now. Shannon spent the summer over there, but returned to finish her last year of college.
Ashley is 17 and a senior at Nokomis High School. She is basically taking it easy this year, doing a little babysitting and some freelance painting for local people. She paints graphics on walls. Now I wonder where she got that talent?? Ha!
Besides raising my family, I work full time as a secretary at the new junior high, work part time (feels like full time) as a cashier at Kroger, try to maintain this web site and bowl (love it). I finally got my associates degree in education, and started to pursue my bachelors but have become too busy to take classes. I enjoy art, photography, working out and computing in my spare time.