ARE YOU READY? <THIS IS MY MOMENT.> READY FOR A HALF HOUR OF - JOY? <THAT'S MY BAG. YOU ATE ALL YOUR COOKIES.> EVEN IN LIFE'S CHALLENGES? HOLD ON. <WE GONNA BUST OUTTA HERE.> WE'RE SPREADING SMILES IN A WAGON AND RUNNING THE COURT-- <GO GO GO.> WITH CONFIDENCE. <GET A GOOD ONE? YEAH. THAT'S A GOOD ONE, THOMAS.> YOU CAN FIND IT AFTER A LOSS-- <5088 RICK AND MINOO SPELLERBERG 59:04-14 "THIS IS WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE LOVED."> AND THERE'S EVEN WORLD RECORD-SETTING JOY-- <LOUD CHEWING IN CAM.> IN AN IOWA MOVIE THEATER. <HORN.> WE'RE FOCUSED ON JOY IN THE FACE OF LIFE'S CHALLENGES. THIS IS IOWA. LIFE'S CHALLENGES ARE INEVITABLE. FROM A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS TO MONEY PROBLEMS OR THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, LIFE THROWS A LOT OF CURVEBALLS. BUT PLENTY OF IOWANS ARE LIVING PROOF YOU CAN FIND JOY, EVEN IN THE FACE OF THOSE CHALLENGES. LIKE IN NEWTON WHERE WE FOUND A BIG GAME AND EVEN BIGGER HEARTS. ANY ATHLETE WILL TELL YOU - <LET'S GO GET OUR UNIFORMS ON.> NERVES FLUTTER ON GAME DAY. <THE CARDINAL IS ON ITS WAY.> ESPECIALLY WHEN NEW SHOES ARE READY FOR THEIR DEBUT-- <(RED SHOES, PAN UP TO MAYNARD SHAKING HEAD YES) YOU ARE SET FOR THE BIG GAME.> AND FIRST-TIME STARS SPOT THEMSELVES ON THE TEAM POSTER. <33. 33. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S YOU. BIG GAME? YEAH. TODAY.> HIGH SCHOOL GYMS GET PLENTY OF ACTION. BUT NOTHING--- áá <MUMBLING. WHAT'S OUR TEAM NAME? THE BLACK JAGUARS. OH, JAGUARS.> LIKE THIS. <ALRIGHT, GUYS. HERE WE GO.> <OH, I'M SO NERVOUS!> BECAUSE THIS-- <ALRIGHT. HERE WE GO.> IS THE - BIG - GAME. <HEY, BUDDY.> AND SAM - CAN'T - WAIT. <THIS IS MY MOMENT. MY BIG MOMENT.> THE NEWTON SENIOR HAS BEEN PRACTICING FOR WEEKS. (DRIBBLING) <WHEW, BOING. BOING BOING, GRR. GRR.> PREPARING FOR THE CROWDS NOW FILING IN. TO SEE HIM-- <I HAVE DOWN SYNDROME THAT HAS AN EXTRA CHROMOSOME.> AND ALL OF HIS CLASSMATES WHO DON'T NORMALLY GET THIS KIND OF DAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT. <YOU KNOW, SCHOOL DOESN'T COME EASY FOR THEM. LIFE DOESN'T COME EASY FOR THEM.> EXACTLY WHY MOMS IN THE STANDS ARE ALREADY EMOTIONAL - DURING WARMUPS. <IT'S EVERYTHING YOU WOULD SEE ON A TYPICAL FRIDAY NIGHT IN OUR GYM. IT'S. IT'S JUST ELECTRIC.> FUELED BY THE PEP BAND-- <PEP BAND.> NEWTON'S CHEERLEADERS-- <LET'S GET FIRED UP!> AND A PACKED STUDENT SECTION-- <STUDENT BODY SCREAM. "WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY? WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY?> SCREAMING IN UNISON. <WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY?> FOR THEIR CLASSMATES-- <GO GO GO GO> RUNNING OUT OF THE SAME INFLATABLE CARDINAL VARSITY TEAMS DO. <1, 2, 3, GO CARDS!> ONLY HERE, THE VOLUME IS LOUDER. <SHOE STOMPING.> <1, 2, 3.> FIVE SECONDS AFTER THOMAS GRABBED THE OPENING TIP, EVERYONE KNEW THE REFEREES WERE GOING TO BE LENIENT. AND NOT EVERY FAST BREAK WOULD FALL. BUT THEN? <MADE BASKET CHEERING.> SEAANA BANKED ONE IN, DRAWING HIGH FIVES, CHEERS AND FUEL FOR SAM - WHO DRIBBLED UNDER HIS LEG-- <UNDER LEG DRIBBLE AND BLEW THE ROOF OFF THE GYM. FREE THROW LENGTH SHOT SAM'S - BIG - MOMENT. STRUT.> AND BUCKETS KEPT DROPPING. <MADE 2 POINTER.> EVERYONE IN THE PACKED GYM COULD SEE THE CONFIDENCE GROW WITH EACH TRIP DOWN THE COURT. <MADE 2 POINTER.> BUT WHEN ALEX'S UNDERHANDED THREE FELL? <MADE 3 POINTER UNDERHANDED.> PURE JOY FLOWED FROM THE STUDENT SECTION'S HANDMADE SIGNS TO THE SECOND GRADERS PACKED INTO THE CORNER. AND EVERY ADULT WHO'D LEFT WORK AT NOON TO SUPPORT THESE STUDENTS. <BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR MOMENT JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER STUDENT DOES.> WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY NEWTON TEACHERS STARTED THE BIG GAME 15 YEARS AGO. A LESSON IN LOVE FOR EVERYONE. <THE CROWD IS PROBABLY JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE BASKETS THAT THE KIDS MAKE.> <TAKE IT. GO GO GO.> (CONTINUE SHOT TO :33) BY THE TIME THOMAS BROKE DOWN THE COURT, WITH THE CROWD SENSING WHAT WAS COMING NEXT -- (CHEER) CONFIDENCE WAS FLOWING. AND HIS PEER PARTNER MADE SURE THOMAS UNDERSTOOD - IT WAS ALL FOR HIM. <I TOLD YOU YOU WERE GOING TO GET ANOTHER ONE. GET A GOOD ONE? YEAH. THAT'S A GOOD ONE, THOMAS. HEY!> EVEN PLAYERS WHO RARELY SPEAK FELT IT. AFTER A TIMEOUT, CAMERON GRABBED AHOLD OF HIS CLASSMATE'S HAND, WALKED ONTO THE COURT AND JUST DRIBBLED. TO HIS MOM, THAT WAS A MASSIVE VICTORY. <TEN, 11 YEARS AGO WHEN CAMERON WAS FOUR OR FIVE, WHEN HE STARTED KINDERGARTEN, HE COULDN'T EVEN WALK PAST A GYM BECAUSE THE NOISES WERE TOO MUCH FOR HIM. AND TODAY HE WAS SMILING AT ALL THE KIDS YELLING FOR HIM AND I'M JUST SITTING IN THE STANDS, CRYING.> JUST LIKE EVERYONE WAS WHEN, LATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, SEANNA DRIBBLED BEYOND THE THREE POINT LINE, TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND - HOISTED IT. áá <MADE 3 POINTER, WHIP TO BIG CHEER.> <JOY NATS UNTIL MOM GRABS HER FACE.> (COVER?) <YOU CRY. THE AMOUNT OF PRIDE YOU HAVE FOR WHAT THEY JUST ACCOMPLISHED IT. YOU CAN'T DESCRIBE IT. YOU CAN'T DESCRIBE IT.> BUT PARENTS SAY EVEN BETTER? <BUZZER-AUDIO ONLY.> CLASSMATES RUSHED THE COURT. <THESE TYPICAL KIDS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL. THEY SEE THESE KIDS.> MAKING SURE HER BOY - THE ONE WHO RARELY SPEAKS - FEELS THE LOVE. <IT'S JUST AMAZING TO SEE AS A PARENT, TO SEE ALL OF THESE KIDS COME TOGETHER AND WATCH THESE KIDS THAT SOMETIMES AREN'T SEEN.> <IT'S INDESCRIBABLE. WHAT YOU FEEL AS A PARENT WHEN YOU SEE THE COMMUNITY COME AROUND THE KIDS LIKE THEY DO.> THOMAS' BREAKAWAY BUCKET WASN'T AARON RUSSELL'S HIGHLIGHT. IT WAS THE LOOK ON HIS BOY'S FACE. <HIS EYES JUST LIGHT UP, AND HE LOVES IT.> AND HOW HIS CLASSMATES WERE TRULY CELEBRATING -- HIM. <BELL. GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB. HUG.> <VICTORY BELL RINGING.> <CROWD SCREAMING "GO CARDS!> <WE HAD AN AMAZING DAY.> OTHER DIAGNOSES CAN BE HEAVY. <5070 MICHELE BOLTON AND GARY STUBBLEFIELD 47:07- 11"INITIALLY, THEY SAID 6 TO 18 MONTHS."> BUT SOME IOWANS ARE SPREADING JOY EVEN AFTER LOSING A LOVED ONE. <55:31-34"I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE MOVIE IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME."> VISIT THE LIVING MEMORIAL HELPING OTHER FAMILIES NEEDING A DEEP BREATH. AND - HOLD ON. <AND WE'RE OFF.> YOUR SUMMER ROAD TRIP'S A PIECE OF CAKE COMPARED TO THE PILGRIMAGE TOM AND HIS MULES ARE ON. THIS IS IOWA. IT'S EASY TO SET YOUR CRUISE CONTROL AND HEAD OUT OF STATE AT 70 MILES AN HOUR. BUT SOMETIMES, LIFE'S CHALLENGES SLOW EVERYTHING DOWN. LIKE THE JOURNEY THAT STARTED IN SOUTHERN IOWA BACK ON MOTHER'S DAY. AND STILL HASN'T REACHED ITS DESTINATION. BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO MIND. <WIND.> EVEN IN THE CORNERS OF OUR STATE, HOURS FROM THE NEAREST METRO-- <TRUCK.> HIGHWAYS STAY BUSY. WITH TRUCKS-- <HONK HONK.> TRAFFIC AND TRACTORS. <JOHN DEERE TRACTOR AND WAGON.> WHICH IS WHY, WHEN SOMETHING ELSE TAKES OVER THE SHOULDER-- <CLIP CLOP.> IOWANS ON THEIR WAY TO WORK WILL STOP, STARE AND SNAP PICTURES OF THE TWO DRIVERS-- <THAT'S MY BAG. YOU ATE ALL YOUR COOKIES.> CHIT CHATTING ABOUT SNACKS - CRISS-CROSSING THIS STATE THEY'VE NOW BEEN IN FOR TWO WEEKS. <IT'S SO CLEAN. THE DITCHES. THEY'RE CLEAN. YOU GO THROUGH SOME STATES AND THERE'S TRASH EVERYWHERE. EVERYWHERE. YOU LOOK HERE AND YOU DON'T SEE ANY PAPER> THAT'S TOM NASS TALKING-- <SOMETIMES IF YOU WANT TO GET A WORD IN, YOU'VE GOT TO WAIT TILL I TAKE A BREATH.> BESIDE THE GUY HOLDING THE REIGNS, CARLOS FORD-- <THEY WANT TO GO EVERY MORNING.> A SOUTHERNER WHO HAD NO PLANS TO SPEND TODAY IN POCAHONTAS COUNTY. OR ANYWHERE ELSE THEY'VE BEEN SEEING-- <SOMETHING SHOWING SLOW PACE.> AT 3 AND A HALF MILES AN HOUR. <HE TOLD ME HE WANTED TO GO ON THIS RIDE AND HE SAID, "HEY, YOU WANNA GO WITH ME?' AND I SAID, 'WHY NOT?' LAUGH.> (SWEEPING DRONE SHOT) THE BETTER QUESTION MIGHT ACTUALLY BE - WHY? BECAUSE CROSSING OUR STATE IN A WAGON FROM LAMONI NEAR THE MISSOURI BORDER ALL THE WAY TO MINNESOTA AND BEYOND TAKES WEEKS WHEN YOU TRAVEL ONLY 20 MILES A DAY. THE ANSWER IS UP THERE OVER THE HORIZON. TOM'S MOM, ANN STRAND. <THEY HAD NO IDEA WHERE THEY WERE GOING, EXCEPT THEY WERE GOING NORTH.> 90 YEARS AGO, SHE MADE THIS SAME TRIP, ALONG THIS SAME ROUTE, WITH HER PARENTS. WHEN SHE WAS ONLY THREE. <COVERED WAGON, THREE CHILDREN. DIRT ROAD.> LAMONI WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THEIR FAMILY. THEY NEEDED CHEAP LAND. <SO MY GRANDFATHER HAD A 1927 MODEL T. AND HE TRADED IT FOR TWO MULES AND A WAGON. HE HAD $66 WHEN THEY GOT READY TO LEAVE.> ON A SIX WEEK TREK TO A BUILD A NEW LIFE. TOM'S HEARD STORIES IT WASN'T EASY. < I MEAN, THEY ENDURED STORMS, TORNADO, MULES GOT AWAY.> BUT FAMILY LEGENDS SINK IN DIFFERENTLY-- <POURING RAIN OUT. WE'RE IN THE TENT. JUST BARELY GOT IN HERE BEFORE IT STARTED POURING.> WHEN YOU'RE THE ONE STUCK IN A DOWNPOUR-- <HERE WE ARE. GOING DOWNTOWN LAMONI, IOWA.> CRUISING MAIN STREET BEHIND MULES-- <WE'RE NOT QUITE USED TO SITTING ON THE GROUND, OR SLEEPING ON THE GROUND. A LITTLE STIFF THIS MORNING.> OR RISING WITH THE SUN - TO HITCH UP THE TEAM -- <THIS ONE IS GYPSY, THIS ONE IS FANCY. THAT ONE IS DOLLY.> JUST LIKE THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE DID RIGHT HERE, WITH MULES-- <AND THEY GET EXCITED.> 90 YEARS AGO. SO EVERY MORNING, FROM MOTHER'S DAY TO FOURTH OF JULY, <(COVERED) WE'RE ALL CLEANED UP AND READY TO GO.> THEY'VE STARTED IN A FARMYARD OR A PARK-- <WE GONNA BUST OUTTA HERE.> AND HELD ON. <YOU BETTER GET IN. WE FIXIN' TO GO! STEP OFF. QUIT. ALRIGHT. LET'S GO> BECAUSE GYPSY, FANCY AND DOLLY WANT TO GO NORTH -- <AND WE'RE OFF.> AS BADLY AS TOM DOES. <HERE WE GO ON OUR 11TH DAY OUT.> BECAUSE THE GUY WHO JUST RETIRED HAS A MOM WHO TURNS 93 IN A FEW WEEKS. AND HE'S DETERMINED TO PULL INTO THE BIRTHDAY PARTY UP IN MINNESOTA THE SAME WAY SHE FIRST GOT THERE. IN A COVERED WAGON. <AND I'M AT THE POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I'VE JUST PUT THE BRAKES ON. SO WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS. IF THIS IF THIS IF WE'RE BROKE DOWN SOMEPLACE. FOR TWO WEEKS, SO BE IT. WE'RE NOT ON NO SCHEDULE. (44) IF I DON'T GET THERE BY HER BIRTHDAY, SHE'S JUST GOING TO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND. (48) > AND IT COULD TAKE A WHILE. BECAUSE TOM DOESN'T KNOW ANY STRANGERS. <YOU KNOW IF SOMEONE WANTS TO STOP AND TALK, I JUST STOP.> <WE'RE IN KELLERTON IOWA AND WE FOUND THIS WOMAN TO GIVE US SOME WATER.> ALONG THE WAY-- <HERE WE ARE. WE'RE WITH THE SHERIFF OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.> THEY'VE MET IOWANS-- <I'M CHRIS BLOSS AND I FARM A MILE WEST OF HERE.> SOAKED IN THEIR FAMILY STORIES-- <MY GRANDPARENTS OWNED A SECTION OF LAND THERE.> AND EXPERIENCED OUR STATE. <WE'RE WITH CHUCK THE LOCAL PASTOR OF THE CHURCH.> <I'VE MET SO MANY NICE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE. FROM THE TIME WE GOT INTO THIS STATE, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW NICE THE PEOPLE ARE.> <I MEAN, EVERYBODY HAS A STORY.> INCLUDING HIM - THE GUY WHO'S SPENDING SEVEN WEEKS IN A WAGON WITH HIS DOG AND A BUDDY, BEHIND THREE MULES, TO BETTER APPRECIATE HIS MOM. <YEAH, I THINK ABOUT HER EVERYDAY.> THREE AND A HALF MILES AN HOUR IS SLOW ENOUGH TO MEET HUNDREDS OF LOCALS-- <I NEED TO CALL THE... SHERIFF.> AND SHARE THOUSANDS OF STORIES. <GOOD LAUGH.> WHILE LETTING IT SINK IN. THE NEARLY 93 YEAR OLD WAITING OVER THAT HORIZON WASN'T JUST TELLING STORIES. SHE LIVED THEM. <OH YEAH. WHAT A JOURNEY THEY WENT THROUGH. I MEAN NOT EVEN KNOWING WHERE THEY'RE GOING. THEY NEVER BEEN THERE.> AND NOW HER BOY HAS TOO. <I JUST LOVE IT. I JUST LOVE IT.> WE ALL NEED A RECHARGE. BUT MICHELLE AND GARY? <5076 58:47- 51"GARY:NOTHING BUT BIRDS AND FARM MACHINERY. MICHELE: MHMM."> THEY'RE UNPLUGGING BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY OF A FAMILY WHO WAS IN THEIR SHOES. (MAYBE CONDENSE?) <5088 RICK AND MINOO SPELLERBERG 01:17- 26"IF THIS PLACE IN ANYWAY CAN HELP ANYBODY.. IN THE TINIEST LITTLE.. WE'RE ALL IN."> BEAU BOWMAN'S SHARING THE JOY FOUND IN THE QUIET OF A SANCTUARY, NEXT. THIS IS IOWA. TIMES: BETH JOHNSTON ÷ JESSE'S MOTHER 0:54- 1:00 MINOO SPELLERBERG ÷ JESSE'S MOTHER-IN- LAW 1:30-1:36 RICK SPELLERBERG ÷ 3:46 TRT: 4:16 <5080 8:25-27"GOOD LITTLE EXERCISE HERE."> A TRANQUIL STROLL THROUGH NATURE <QUICK BIRD CHIRP NAT> IS SOMETHING MICHELE BOLTON AND HER FIANCE GARY TREASURE. <5083 13:05- 08"MICHELE:I LOVE THE WARM TEMPERATURES. GARY: YEP."> AND IN THEIR CASE... <5081 9:49 DEEP BREATH IN> A BREATH OF FRESH AIR... <5081 9:50 DEEP BREATH OUT> IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. <5070 MICHELE BOLTON AND GARY STUBBLEFIELD 47:07- 11"INITIALLY, THEY SAID 6 TO 18 MONTHS."> LIVING WITH STAGE 4 LUNG CANCER MEANS TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON THEIR WALKS THROUGH THIS WARREN COUNTY FIELD. BUT THIS WIDE OPEN LANDSCAPE IS WHERE THEY FIND PEACE. <5085 BETH JOHNSTON 29:19-21"SHE WAS SO POSITIVE THOUGH.."> IT'S THE SAME LAND WHERE BETH JOHNSTON'S DAUGHTER JESSE FOUND HER STRENGTH TOO. DIAGNOSED WITH GLIOBLASTOMA IN 2019- - JESSE MOVED IN WITH HER HUSBAND'S FAMILY AND ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO LIVE IN THE HOUSE THEY WERE BUILDING NEXT TO HER IN-LAWS. BUT JESSE NEVER SAW HER DREAM HOME. <5085 BETH JOHNSTON 31:05-10"IT WAS DECEMBER WHEN SHE PASSED AND I THINK JUST THE FOUNDATION WAS DONE AT THAT TIME."> <LEAVE SOME AMBIENT NATS HERE MAYBE? I'M TRYING TO GET PICTURES OF THE HOUSE WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.> THE HOUSE WAS LEFT UNFINISHED. JESSE'S HUSBAND NO LONGER HAD THE DESIRE TO MOVE THEIR FAMILY INTO THE HOME THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THEIRS. <5085 BETH JOHNSTON 33:09-14"THERE WAS NOTHING SHE COULDN'T TACKLE. EXCEPT CANCER."> JESSE'S IN-LAWS RICK AND CRY THOSE SAME TEARS. <5088 RICK AND MINOO SPELLERBERG 53:42- 44"THEY POURED THE FOUNDATION..."> A PAINFUL HOLE LEFT ON THEIR ACREAGE... CEMENTED IN GRIEF. <5088 RICK AND MINOO SPELLERBERG 53:50- 51"THEN NOTHING HAPPENED."> LAND WITHOUT PURPOSE. <5088 MINOO SPELLERBERG 54:31- 35"AT ONE POINT WE TALKED ABOUT BURYING THE FOUNDATION AND PUTTING FLOWERS ON IT."> BUT MINOO AND RICK SPELLERBERG BUILT THE HOUSE ANYWAYS. <55:31-34"I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE MOVIE IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME."> AND WHEN THE WALLS WENT UP.. HOPE BLOSSOMED AGAIN... PROVIDING NEW STRENGTH FOR NEW LIFE... IN JESSE'S NAME. ( <5088 RICK AND MINOO SPELLERBERG 01:17- 26"IF THIS PLACE IN ANYWAY CAN HELP ANYBODY.. IN THE TINIEST LITTLE.. WE'RE ALL IN."> THE JESSE J SANCTUARY WAS FINALLY COMPLETE. MINOO AND RICK TAKING THE HOME THAT WOULD HAVE HOUSED THEIR SON, DAUGHTER- IN-LAW AND GRANDSONS AND OFFERING IT TO OTHER FAMILIES ALSO BATTLING CANCER. <5088 RICK AND MINOO SPELLERBERG 57:17- 27"THEY CAN COME DOWN HERE FOR A FEW DAYS, HAVE FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, ENJOY THE SCENERY AND NATURE AND YOU KNOW GAIN STRENGTH FROM IT.."> TAKING IN THE BEAUTY OF THE IOWA HORIZON. ROLLING HILLS SEEDED WITH TALL WAVING GRASS. AN UNTOUCHED PRAIRIE FULL OF HOPE. <5088 RICK AND MINOO SPELLERBERG 59:04- 14"I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY, I MEAN EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON HERE KINDA SCREAMS THIS IS JESSE. THIS IS WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE LOVED, IF SHE WAS STILL ALIVE THIS IS WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE A PART OF."> MINOO AND RICK DON'T ACCEPT A PENNY. <5:20-28"IT'S FOR KIDS IT'S FOR FAMILIES IT'S IT'S NOT JUST FOR IOWA.. ANYBODY WHO MAY NEED A PLACE"> NEW MEMORIES IN THESE ROOMS IS ALL THE PAYMENT THEY NEED. THAT, AND THE HOPE THAT IT MAY HELP OTHERS THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TIME THEY ENDURED. <5085 BETH JOHNSTON32:38-42"WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THERE'S A NICHE FOR PEOPLE TO DO THIS. AND WHAT A GREAT SPOT."> JESSE'S SOUL IS NEVER FAR. REACHING HER ARMS ACROSS THE FIELDS.. SMOTHERING THOSE LIKE MICHELE AND GARY WITH SUPPORT. AND OPENING HER HOME TO COMPLETE STRANGERS. <5069 MICHELE BOLTON AND GARY STUBBLEFIELD 43:38- 41"I GREIVE THE LOSS THAT THEY HAVE."> <5069 MICHELE BOLTON AND GARY STUBBLEFIELD 46:13- 32"IT'S A PLACE TO JUST KIND OF RELAX AND JUST KIND OF FORGET ABOUT THINGS FOR A FEW DAYS. ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT I HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE, AND MY JOB, AND JUST CONCENTRATE ON MICHELE."> THOSE LITTLE WALKS ALONG THE TRAILS OFFER THE MUCH-NEEDED RESPITE FOR THOSE WHOSE JOURNEY IS CLOSER TO THE END THAN IT IS THE BEGINNING. <5073 56:06-07 SLIDING DOOR OPEN NAT> INSPIRED BY THE BEAUTY <5076 58:47- 51"GARY:NOTHING BUT BIRDS AND FARM MACHINERY. MICHELE: MHMM."> TOUCHED BY THE GENEROSITY. MICHELE AND GARY SAY THEY WON'T SOON FORGET THE SUPPORT FROM RICK, MINOO AND BETH. AND NO ONE WHO STAYS AT THE SANCTUARY WILL FORGET JESSE J. <5085 BETH JOHNSTON 32:57-58"SHE WOULD'VE LOVED IT."> THAT WAS BEAU BOWMAN. OUR LAST STOP FINDING JOY IN UNUSUAL PLACES TAKES US BACK TO NEWTON FOR A FITTING THIS IS IOWA FOLLOW UP. <HORN.> HOW THE PIG ON THE SQUARE IS NOW A WORLD RECORD HOLDER IN THE ACTUAL BOOK. THIS IS IOWA. SINCE WE'RE FOCUSING ON JOY ACROSS OUR STATE, WE THOUGHT IT'D BE FITTING TO UPDATE A THIS IS IOWA STORY FROM FIVE YEARS AGO WHERE WE FOUND A DIFFERENT JOY MOVING IN TO THE TOWN SQUARE. <ON NEWTON'S TOWN SQUARE, THERE'S DRAMA UNDER THE DILAPIDATED AWNING. <BANG.> CONSTRUCTION CREWS HAVE BEEN RIPPING APART THE CENTURY-OLD TOWN THEATER FOR MONTHS - <PART OF THE DISCOVERY WAS THESE MOLDINGS.> BLENDING ORNATE HISTORY WITH LEATHERED COMFORT. <THERE ISN'T A BAD SEAT IN THE HOUSE.> BUT ONE DAY BEFORE OPENING? <IT'S INCREDIBLE. I AM SO EXCITED.> EVERYONE WAS ON EDGE. BECAUSE THE THEATER'S DRAMA QUEEN? <IT'S JOY.> HAD JUST PULLED UP - <TODAY'S YOUR DAY. YES IT IS. SHOULD WE GET YOUR DRESS ON?> READY TO INSPECT áHER SILVER- SCREENED PALACE- <OINK.> AFTER A QUICK POTTY BREAK AT THE TREE OUT FRONT. <SOMEBODY HAS A PICTURE OF ME HOLDING UP HER DRESS AS SHE GOES POTTY. (LAUGH)> JOY MINIPIG HAS BEEN A FIXTURE AT NEWTON'S THEATER SINCE THE BLEEKER'S BOUGHT IT SIX YEARS AGO - AND DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THEIR PET AT HOME ALL DAY. <ALRIGHT, JOY. WHAT DO YOU THINK? C'MON.> BUT JOY HADN'T STEPPED HOOF INSIDE- <THIS IS YOUR NEW PLACE.> SINCE RENOVATIONS STARTED. HER NEW OFFICE OVERLOOKING THE SQUARE? <SNIFF> PASSED THE SMELL TEST. AND WITHIN MINUTES-- <PLAY YOUR HORN. HONK. AGAIN. HONK. GOOD GIRL.> JOY WAS POSING FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS-- <HOW ABOUT MORE OF THE PIANO? CHINK.> PERFORMING THE ACT NEWTON MOVIEGOERS DROOL OVER - <GET THE GREEN ONE. THERE YOU GO.> AND SPRAWLING OUT ON HER NEW, PURPLE DAYBED-- <SHE'S VERY MUCH A DIVA. VERY MUCH. YES YOU ARE, AREN'T YOU?> SATISFIED THE NEW STUFFED ANIMALS FOR SALE NEXT TO THE TWIZZLERS LOOKED ENOUGH LIKE HER. BECAUSE THIS PIG- - <SHE HAS BECOME A LOCAL CELEBRITY.> PUT THIS THEATER ON THE MAP. <THEY WERE COMING FROM CHICAGO, NORTH CAROLINA. MINNESOTA.> EVEN BACK WHEN THE THEATER WAS ROUGH. <I SAID WE HAD 4D BECAUSE WE HAD WATER COMING FROM - IT WAS RIDICULOUS.>> ================= ========= BUT THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO. <SHE'S 11 YEARS OLD NOW.> JOY'S CAPITOL 2 THEATER JUST GOT ITS SECOND UPGRADE. AND THE STAR? <LOUD CHEWING IN CAM.> <WELL, SHE'S STILL A DIVA. SHE WILL STILL GIVE ME ATTITUDE.> AND NOW IT'S EARNED. BECAUSE LIKE HER WINDOW TO THE SQUARE NOW READS, SHE'S A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TITLE OWNER. <SHE HAS THE MOST TRICKS IN A MINUTE BY A PIG.> <CAN YOU TAKE IT OFF?> A FEW YEARS AGO SHE SHOWED OFF HER GROWING LIST OF TALENTS. <PUT IT BACK ON. THANK YOU. CLICK. THANK YOU.> <TWO MEN FROM LONDON FLEW OVER AND THEY HAD TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM CHICAGO COME OVER AND THEY SPENT 10 HOURS WITH US DOING A PHOTO SHOOT.> CAPTURING NEWTON'S DIVA IN HER ELEMENT AND HER TUTU. WHILE EVERYONE ELSE WORE - A SMILE. <I'LL CATCH MYSELF SMILING BEHIND THE CONCESSION STAND BECAUSE IT DOES WARM MY HEART. SEEING HOW MUCH SHE TOUCHED PEOPLE'S LIVES.> AND PROVING EVEN OUR STATE'S MOST UNLIKELY CHARACTERS CAN SPREAD - <HORN.> JOY. NEWTON'S TUTU- WEARING PIG HAS A LOT OF COMPANY SPREADING JOY. FROM THE BIG GAME ACROSS TOWN TO THE SANCTUARY PROVIDING RELIEF TO IOWANS WHO NEED IT. AND THE WAGON RIDE STILL UNDERWAY, MAKING PEOPLE SMILE IN EVERY TOWN THEY ROLL THROUGH, OUR STATE