Class Poem

Occasionally, when I'm bored and have the time, I write poetry. I normally don't ever show them to anyone, but I did share this one with Andrea, and she said that I should post it on here, so here it is. It was written shortly after we got together for the five-year class reunion.

Memories of the Class of '98

It finally arrived the first day of school,
Riding the big bus we thought we were cool.
We found our classrooms and met our teachers,
Day after day they revealed our best features.

Many of us started by making a friend,
Knowing one day we would be parted in the end.
A single friendship turned into so much more,
Than a childhood bond with a childlike core.

Year by year we continued the pace,
Inching even closer to completing the race.
Together we were strong, we faced many fears,
Friendships were tried throughout many years.

We stood together through thick and thin,
Testing the bonds built way back when.
We paired together and attended the prom,
Through everything we remained cool and calm.

Through graduation we stood as a class,
Hoping and wishing for the time to pass.
When it was over we said our goodbyes,
Separately leaving to begin our own lives.

Reunions will come many times through the years,
There will be laughter and there will be tears.
From each other we have something to gain,
Learning to build our own fortune and fame.

Thinking again of reuniting with friends,
Fighting is over we will make amends.
Something let said to the class of ninety-eight,
Thanks for the times you were absolutely great.

Written by: Amy (Orr) Conner

Amy (Orr) Conner

This is our most recent photo.


Well, let me start by saying, hello to all my former fellow classmates! I'm going to give this blogging thing a shot, but while reading, please keep in mind that I'm new to this whole thing. That being said, here we go.

For starters, I didn't waste any time. Exactly three days after our high school graduation I moved back to Southeast Kansas, the same area that I had originally came from when we moved to Missouri in the middle of my second grade year. In June of 1998, I enrolled at Fort Scott Community College, the local two-year college. At that time I began a summer work-study position in the college counseling office, and also worked part-time in the college cafeteria.


In August of 1998, I continued to work both jobs, and started my college courses. This continued for over a year, at which time I also began working part-time at a local convenience store, and was eventually promoted up to store manager. During all this, I came to the decision that I had too much going on, so I decided to keep my manager job, and dropped my college courses and work-study positions. I decided in 2000, that I would go back to college and finish my Associate's Degree, but by then I was supposedly making too much money, and no longer qualified for financial aid. Therefore, I never completed my degree, I'm one semester shy of obtaining my Associate's Degree, but I don't regret my decision, as I'm doing exactly what I always planned on doing anyway, thanks to my two years in the Graphic Arts & Printing program at the Kirksville Area Technical Center that I took my Junior & Senior year of high school.


In April of 2000, I was hired on at Ward/Kraft, Inc., a local family owned commercial printing company. I started out in their proofing department, but within two years I had been promoted to a full-time graphic artist. I love my job, it is exactly what I had always planned on doing, and I can't imagine doing anything else.


During my time at Fort Scott Community College, I met James Conner, the man I would eventually end up marrying. In June of 1998, we started out as good friends that had a lot of the same classes, and by January of 2000, we had gradually eased into dating. We eventually married on October 12, 2002. Everyone who knows me knows that I hate dressing up for any reason, therefore, we had a very casual wedding that consisted of immediate family only, and everyone wore jeans. Probably not what most people would picture as a wedding, but it suited us to perfection.


In March of 2004, we bought a house together. It is a four-bedroom manufactured home that sets on five acres. Its location moved us from being inside the Fort Scott city limits to a town by the name of Redfield. It is in the country, approximately thirteen miles from where we work. Our house tends to be the summer hangout for most of my surrounding family as we have an above ground swimming pool that is really nice during those hot summer months.


Like another classmate, we have tried for over seven years to start a family, and have never had any success. However, during a trying time in our lives (namely my seventeen year old sister's automobile accident in October, that happened outside of Lancaster), I gave up worrying about why it wasn't happening for us, obviously, I was needed for other things at that time. To my ultimate surprise, we learned about the middle of November that we were finally expecting. My mother never had any trouble with her pregnancies, so dumb me I figured I wouldn't have much trouble either. Boy was I wrong! Almost from the beginning, our troubles began: bleeding/spotting (about ten weeks worth), Rh factor issues, placenta previa, and morning sickness (boy would I like to meet the idiot that coined that term) that lasted up to the start of the fifth month, that's just what I know about to date, so hopefully, that is all the trouble we'll have. So lucky me, I got to go to the doctor every two weeks until just this last month, where I finally got on a four-five week schedule. As of the moment, we are currently twenty-two weeks along. We are due on July 13, 2009. We found out last month that we are having a little boy, and we have decided to name him Dakota James. Anyone that is interested in following our changes/progress may do so by checking out the baby's page at: www.babyhomepages.net/babyconner


That is pretty much it for me. We live a pretty dull and boring life. I try to get back up that way at least a couple times a year, just to catch up with people I haven't seen in a while and visit with my family. If I happen to see you, I'll be sure to say hello. Until next time, I sincerely wish you all the best!

Meet Miss Emma Francis

Kristie let me post this, b/c she's not so sure about the whole blogging world!

Meet Miss Emma Marie Francis!

Born January 15th, 2009

5 pounds 9 ounces

18 1/2 inches long

11:21 a.m.

Isn't she sweet?

New Momma and Daddy, Kristie (Bushnell) and Todd Francis!

Updates for Everyone

Ok here goes my blogging! I started working at the Bloomfield Care Center immediately following graduation. I got married to Cameron Miller in June of 1999. We bought our first house in January 2000, here in Lancaster. It was a very small house and we soon decided that it was too small for us. We sold it and bought an even smaller trailer house, with the intentions of moving a double wide home into its place. Before we got that accomplished, the opportunity for us to buy my Grandpa's home came up and we jumped at the chance. We bought that house in May 2003. The house had alot of sentimental value to me, but was starting to need alot of major attention. We sold that home in June 2008 and are currently renting a trailer home in Lancaster.

On August 12 2006, we were blessed with a beautiful healthy baby girl. We named her Chelsea Marie. She weighed in at 6 lbs 4 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long, with a full head of black hair. Chelsea was a very good baby, sleeping through the night (6 hours) at birth. She gave me lots of scares during my pregnancy, but everything turned out perfect. Today she is a very healthy vocal 2 year old-must get that from her daddy. HaHa. On her first birthday we got a very special surprise.

On April 4 2008 we were blessed with a second child, a handsome healthy baby boy. We named him Marcus Dean. He weighed in at 6 lbs 13 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. All though it took us 7 years to get our daughter, it didn't take long for our son. He was the surprise I was telling you about earlier. He was also born with a full head of black hair. A very good baby, sleeping 4 hours at night, he was a much bigger eater than his sister. I had contractions the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy with him, and made many trips to Columbia thinking he was ready to come out. Today he is a very healthy 11 month old, with a very short temper. HaHa.

Currently I am working at Excel in Ottumwa, Iowa. I have been there for 5 years now. Cameron works construction (laying water and sewer lines) and travels a great deal of the time. This June we will be celebrating our 10th Anniversary. We currently reside in Lancaster, with no intentions of moving away from here. We are looking to buy some land to build a new home on, soon I hope. I guess that about sums up my life after high school. Will post at a later date.