ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book started out so well, but Rick and I ended up with a monster of a year. We’d like to gratefully thank the fine folks at North Light Books who were so gracious when we needed it most. Thank you, Pam Wissman, for your wisdom in getting our book proposal through the proposal committee. Thanks to Bethe Ferguson for your support and encouragement. Thank you, Layne Vanover, for the most difficult work of initial editing. A very special thanks and a bottle of something to Stef Laufersweiler, who gave up a portion of her life to bring in this book and edit it so very well.

The people featured in the book deserve a hug and thanks: my brother Scott Stuart, Ethan Stuart, and Pastor Ashley Day and his lovely wife, Edna.

A big frog sticker goes to our students who so generously contributed their work: John Hinds, Sheila Tajima-Shadle, Greg Bean, Ken MacMillian and Matt Tucker. If you are interested in their work or prints, contact us through our Web site at www.stuartparks.com.

We had so many people who were with us in heart, body and spirit this year that it would take the rest of the book to thank them. We’d like to single out a few and give them a special note of gratitude: my Art Camp ladies, Mary Ellen, Brenda, Toni, Marilyn, Judy, Pat, Elvie, Debby and, of course, Miss Penny; hugs and thanks to Evelyn, Ron and Gina Prindle, Lori Bishop and Debs Laird; lunch and a hug to Shane and Merlin Berger, Frame of Mind Gallery.

Rick would personally like to thank Dan Fleshman, his high school art teacher who told him that he could make art a career if he tried when others said he couldn’t. Thanks to Horace Heafner who, as his mentor, provided Rick with the ultimate example of a professional artist and a Christian gentleman. Many thanks to Bill Emerson, who allowed one of his biggest fans to grace his musical endeavors with his art. Love and thanks to Don Parks, who for nearly fifty years has continued to teach him the meaning of strength, determination and hard work: “You’re my hero, Dad.”

As always, eternal thanks, a world of love and a big noogie to Frank and Barbara Peretti. Finally, and most importantly, thank you to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.