GHC 2018 TX: Did you win one of 2(!) unclaimed Gold Rush Packages?

A  wise man once said that everything is bigger in Texas, and the GHC 2018 in Fort Worth did not disappoint!  I had the pleasure of introducing my darling daughter Abigail to Whataburgers and Texas-shaped waffles, morsels I had not enjoyed since an expedition to Lubbock some years ago.  More than that, the old-fashioned welcome you’ns bestowed upon us warmed our hearts and left us feeling humbled and blessed.

Speaking of the bigness of Texas, the children here amazed us with their dreams!  Mitchell, a young man aiming to earn the rank of General in the Armed Forces; Katie, a young lady aspiring to evangelize the world for Christ; and that well-mannered, attentive girl Hazel, who did not name her chief definite aim in life, but judging from the steadiness of her eyes, promises to blaze some mighty trails when all is said and done!

We’d also like to recognize Azeliah as the winner of Thursday night’s raffle!  She walked away with a Gold Rush Package, including a paperback of The Lost and Found Journal of a Miner 49er, Vol. 1, a digital copy of the book from Amazon, angel-wings T-shirt, poster and more.  As excited as we are for her, we can’t help but feel great excitement for the rest of you’ns, too.  You see, the winners of the Friday and Saturday night raffles never stepped forward to claim their prizes!  While we do not know the lucky owners of those tickets, we do know you are receiving this e-mail.  So, everyone get out your tickets (drum roll, please):  The winning numbers are…

Ticket #6961165 (Friday night), and
Ticket #6961191 (Saturday night)

If you’re holding one of those tickets in your hot little hands, snap us a picture and send it to [email protected], along with your address, so we can mail you out a Gold Rush Package!

Thanks so much to all y'all in Fort Worth for your hospitality and support.  We enjoyed sharing the forgotten history of Clementine and her father, the Miner 49er, with you.  One of my fondest memories is of singing Oh, My Darling, Clementine to a young lad named Aiden, who said he'd never heard the song.  But, after hearing my melodious voice (which resembles birdsong on a sunny spring morning), he said, “I feel like it rings a bell... but it’s a small one.”

To that, Aiden, I say Bless Your Heart!  And to everyone who attended the workshop session Written in the Stars: The Oral Tradition of Storytelling, or stopped by the booth at GHC TX… Up the Adventure!

Jack