Weblog
Monday, 07 December 2009
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'Tis the season...
Usually harvest is over by now and Rick's hours are getting back to normal and we get to have supper together and shop and decorate and put up the tree together...not this year! Megan and I started hanging lights outside a couple weeks ago and then moved on to Christmas shopping, including picking up the trees for each of our houses, putting them up and decorating them. Last Saturday while the hubbies were still busy with harvest we got together at my house and made a bunch of Christmas goodies. Rick was still working on Sunday so after church I decorated another room. He does come home at night to sleep...I make his lunch in the morning and he's gone again. He says it's winding down but I don't see it. Even when harvest is over the elevator guys stay busy drying and hauling and shipping. His birthday is December 12th, on a Saturday this year, but I think he'll be at work so it will be a quiet birthday. By this time of year I can usually look forward to a night out, maybe even a Christmas party or two...his work party has been postponed until mid-January and I'm not going anywhere else without him. The following Sunday (Dec. 20) the boys are coming home for almost two weeks---then the house will be busy with comings and goings and friends and food and fun. We've been very blessed this year! Have a great week!
Thursday, 26 November 2009
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Happy Thanksgiving!
George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.God bless America! I know I've been blessed and am very thankful!
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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The following note is by Olivia---a family friend whose life turned a corner when she started helping rescue dogs---she's a great kid who's doing good things with her life...
Hello Everyone!
A couple weeks ago I had to put my love of my life Gracie of 12 years to sleep, I had her since I was 7 years old, so we grew up together. In her honor, I am going to start a rescue, something I have always wanted to do. Right now I can't do an incredible lot on my own but I know everthing starts out small. And am starting with a group of stray/feral cats in my town, as well their is also another group I would like to help if I can get some donations, and get this group taken care of vetted, and rehome those that are tame able. I havent been able to get any donations, which I understand, so a nice lady Nancy Johnson who wrote a book about her foster dogs, has offered to help me and let me fundraise with her book to raise money so I can help the cats. If you want more info on the cats you can read my last note I posted it explains everything, as far as the book goes, its called Recycled Love.
This book is a celebration of dogs
in foster care written by Nancy
Johnson, who has volunteered for
years to care for dogs as they
wait for their forever homes.
Nancy has gathered a collection
of stories and photos of the dogs
that she and other dog-loving
volunteers have cared for.
You will find reflections written by
the families about what life has
been like since these dogs were
adopted into their homes.
This book is $19.95 including shipping anywhere in the U.S. and Nancy has generously offered to donate $8.00 of each book sold for my fundraiser to go to helping the cats. I currently am fostering and working with one cat that I already got vetted, while trying to place her in a more experienced home to work with her, she's already been vetted, and when I find a place for her to go will trap and vet the next cat. So when I give Nancy the go ahead and let her know I am ready to trap another cat she will donate all funds raised to the vet clinic to help with the vetting costs of these cats. If you would like to verify any of this with me further you can message me and I can discuss vet info, references, ect.
To purchase this book for my fundraiser here's what you need to do:
1. Go to: http://www.recycledlove.us/index.html
2. Click on Order Book
3. Fill out the info containing your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, AND IN THE COMMENT BOX PUT: THAT YOU ARE PURCHASING THIS FOR THE SAVING GOD'S GRACE FUNDRAISER WITH OLIVIA BURRIS.
4. After filling this out alls you have to do is click submit and your done! Thank you!
5. Also please let me know if you purchase one for my fundraiser so I can have a general idea of where I am at with my fundraiser! Thanks again!
This is a really easy way to help out, and make a difference in the lives of someone less fortunate, and I am also told this book is a very popular gift for the holidays, so please keep that in mind when your doing your holiday shopping this year!
Thanks!! Please feel free to share this with anyone else!
Also if anyone is interested in helping out in any other way food donations, volunteering, ect. Please feel free to let me know.
Olivia
Thursday, 12 November 2009
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It's a mild, overcast, November day in North Dakota. Harvest is still ongoing (being late this year) and hunting season has started. Plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas are being made, wish lists and goodie recipes are being passed around. It's a thoughtful time of year, remembering our military, counting our blessings, looking forward to family gatherings. This is especially true this year because I now have a son in the military, alive and well, but far from home. (He's still in the States and will be home for Christmas, as will my sister and her military husband, for which I'm very thankful.) Not everybody has the wonderful family I have in my husband, three children and one son-in-law---I feel especially blessed to be surrounded by a family that loves me. Doesn't matter if they are here, the other end of the state, or all the way to the southern border of the US...they keep in touch and I love them beyond words. As November turns to winter and the sun falls out of the sky and plunges us into darkness at 5pm, I begin the battle with seasonal affective disorder...each year a little more prepared and more determined not to let it get the best of me...not to let it turn me into a hibernating slug surrounded by fear monsters. So I have some goals for this winter, a few things to keep me upbeat...I've decided to become a trophy wife (I'm 6 months younger than Rick and he makes enough money for both of us to live on - simply), mostly because I want hott shoes...I may have to lose a few pounds and dye my hair a lighter shade of blonde. We've been married almost 25 years, only halfway to 50, so it's about time I lighten up. I'm going to start redecorating the house---we did the outside this summer, top to bottom, so it's time to make some changes inside...nothing major, a little paint here and there, some new curtains, definitely rearranging the furniture (good exercise!). I'm going to read a good book every week...I read a lot when I was a kid but had to give it up while I was raising my own children since I read by walking into the book and not coming out until "The End"---none of this 15 minutes here and there and a chapter before falling asleep...I have to set aside a day for each book. My biggest project is going through boxes of photos---sorting and organizing. It's much easier now when I can post photos on facebook for my family to see the same day I take them and they can download copies of the ones they want. But I have years of fuzzy photos that I really don't need and a few of my adorable children that I need to dig up for pure entertainment purposes (they were so cute!) and put into albums for them. There are other things to keep me busy...Bible Study and Church once a week, daily feeding of the animals and visiting the turkeys, answering my phone when the kids call, and cleaning up after two cats and a dog in the house. I'm thankful to live in North Dakota where life is simple (but not easy) and winter builds character. Have a great day!
Friday, 06 November 2009
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I like lists...I borrowed this one from Meg and added my own color.
The colored items, I've accomplished.
1. Started your own blog (s)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (does a volcano count?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (Do adopted pets count?)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (36 hours from ND to VT-we didn't have a sleeper compartment though)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (helped deliver a lamb)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied? (sometimes)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (five gallons so far!)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (if not the entire, then pretty close to it)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (several types)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
I should make a "Bucket List" but I've accomplished so many things I wanted to do in life...#1 being married and raising a family. My goal now is to live to be 100 and bug my kids for the rest of my life...Ha!
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MaryVerina
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- Member Since: 6/11/2005











