Another winter storm is brewing. This one is coming in from the West and is bringing bitter cold weather, rain, ice, and eventually snow. We have been blessed with warm weather this past two days and it has been bliss. It has allowed us to prepare for the storm and we are ready. So for the next two to three days we will cuddle up in our home and stay as warm as possible. I walked around the outside of the property this afternoon, while it was raining, sounds dumb I know but I just wanted to get one last glimpse of it before it gets buried in the snow. I wanted to hear the sound of the pavement under my feet and not have to worry about slipping on snow pack or ice. It was time to say good- night to mother earth and let her rest for a season.
I feel sorry for those people that are without a place to call home; a place where they can go to weather out the storms in life, both the natural and the man- made. How blessed we are to have called this place home for the past 25 years. I have dreams and hopes for this place. Things that I would like to do with it. As I walked around the property, I thought of how I would still like to put up fence lines and have sheep, goats and steers out here. I want to fix up the barn and the shed. Will it all remain a dream or will there come hope in the spring? I love this land but it does not belong to me, it is only on loan from Heavenly Father. For now we wait to see what His plans are for us.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
A Second Chance at Life
I have so much to be thankful for this year! I was given a second chance at life with the remission of cancer. I had the opportunity to spend another year with my father and celebrate thanksgiving with him. I have a wonderful family and six of the best grandchildren ever. Brian and I still have a roof over our heads despite financial setbacks. I am now healthy enough to go back to work. I am going to be able to spend time with my family out West for Christmas. I have had an outpouring of love, care and concern from my family, neighbors and the community and church families.
How blessed my life has been this year.
Thank you Heavenly Father for taking such good care of me. For sending angels to my door in times of need, for being there to lift me up when I was down and for hearing and answering the prayers of many. Help me always to be thankful for the many rich blessings in my life. Help me to always live worthy of such great blessings. I am thankful for the gift of thy Beloved Son, even Jesus Christ, who has blessed my life and walked by my side through times of great trouble and has lifted the burdens from my shoulders. Help me to always live my life to be worthy of His great gift of Salvation.
In Jesus Holy Name,
AMen
How blessed my life has been this year.
Thank you Heavenly Father for taking such good care of me. For sending angels to my door in times of need, for being there to lift me up when I was down and for hearing and answering the prayers of many. Help me always to be thankful for the many rich blessings in my life. Help me to always live worthy of such great blessings. I am thankful for the gift of thy Beloved Son, even Jesus Christ, who has blessed my life and walked by my side through times of great trouble and has lifted the burdens from my shoulders. Help me to always live my life to be worthy of His great gift of Salvation.
In Jesus Holy Name,
AMen
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Ditched
Last night on the news we were told that we could have freezing rain during the night but that by 9 AM it would turn over to rain. Brian went out to get the car ready to go to church and found out that we did indeed have freezing rain and that it had in fact turned over to rain. So we decided to try to go to church. No one had called to cancel so we assumed it was still on.
We set out and the roads were indeed icy! We got down to the entrance of Deer Haven and when Brian turned to go left the car just kept going right. It was a sea of ice with absolutely no traction.
We slid off the edge of the road and right into the ditch.
Thankfully, the car didn't go down into the bottom of the ditch and the left, front tire was either in the grass or perhaps somewhat still on the edge of the road but we were able to get out on our own and turn around to go back home.
We will not be going anywhere either today and perhaps tomorrow also. We have some" Work and Glory" video's to watch and I have been working on family history since we got home. My brains are fried right now so I'm going to call it quits for now.
Talk to you all later!
We set out and the roads were indeed icy! We got down to the entrance of Deer Haven and when Brian turned to go left the car just kept going right. It was a sea of ice with absolutely no traction.
We slid off the edge of the road and right into the ditch.
Thankfully, the car didn't go down into the bottom of the ditch and the left, front tire was either in the grass or perhaps somewhat still on the edge of the road but we were able to get out on our own and turn around to go back home.
We will not be going anywhere either today and perhaps tomorrow also. We have some" Work and Glory" video's to watch and I have been working on family history since we got home. My brains are fried right now so I'm going to call it quits for now.
Talk to you all later!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Things that Matter Most
I have been reading President Uchtdorf's message from general conference entitled," Of Things That Matter Most" It is so true! There IS so much in this world that clamors for our time and keeps leading us away from what matters most. I have been caught up in that trap but have been trying hard to refocus my attention on what matters most. President Uchtdorf said that the fourth key relationship is with ourselves. As I have pondered my life, i have realized that perhaps my focus has been too much on things around me and I have not paid enough attention to myself.
Self- improvement, self-mastery, self-confidence, self-worth- I feel like a lump of clay that is without form and needs to be molded. It is excellent clay to work with because it is moldable but if I do not do something with it it will remain just a lump of clay.
So I need to get going and work on it. I hope that when I am done it will be a pleasing work of art that Heavenly Father will find joy in.
Self- improvement, self-mastery, self-confidence, self-worth- I feel like a lump of clay that is without form and needs to be molded. It is excellent clay to work with because it is moldable but if I do not do something with it it will remain just a lump of clay.
So I need to get going and work on it. I hope that when I am done it will be a pleasing work of art that Heavenly Father will find joy in.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Gratitude
This past week there have been many things to be thankful about.
On Monday Brain and I went down to Arlington ( about an hour away) to help split and stack wood for a couple that was in need of help. His company sent him to China for two weeks and so the job landed on his wife's shoulders. Splitting and stacking wood can be a huge job and very tiring, especially when the wood is in big chunks and wet. About 1/3 of the way through the job we ran into a large piece of wood that was very wet and unyielding. Debbie went to the shed and brought back a fence post driver to see if she and dad could get that log to split. After taking several whacks at it she realized that that wasn't going to work and went and found the axe. Debbie went to take the fence post driver back into the shed and must have leaned it up against something the wrong way because it came back down and hit her right across the Achilles tendon and down the side if the heel. When she came out of the shed the blood was spurting from her sock. I motioned to Dad to kill the splitter and told him to call 911. I ran into the house and got a clean towel to wrap Debbie's ankle in and told her that she needed to lie down. She wasn't keen on doing it but she eventually did lie down and I elevated her foot and ankle while applying direct pressure. The ambulance got there and transported her to the hospital but eventually sent her to the cities for further evaluation. To make a long story short- she is home and is taking it easy. From my perspective- I am glad that I had first responder training so that I knew exactly what needed to be done. I am grateful for the Gospel and that Brian was able to give her a blessing to comfort her in her time of great need.
Wednesday morning I went to visit my Dad in the nursing home. He loves to attend the devotionals that they have there and listen to the message being taught. How grateful I am to have the whole truth. The message that the minister gave was complete and good as far as he has knowledge but I wanted to tell them all that the puzzle wasn't complete and that I had the missing pieces. I held my tongue because I didn't want to confront the minister and cause problems in the room. I am grateful that the Gospel has been restored. Some how I need to get that message out there.
Wednesday was just a good day all around and any way you sliced it.
Brian and I have been working hard this week to get our farm cleaned up in case we have to leave the area to find work. Both of us have had a gut level feeling that tells us that that will likely be the case, however we did not want to have to try to clean out the barn and the shed over snow banks this winter so we have been getting rid of junk and moving other stuff into the big shed to sort and separate it where it is warm and more accessible. That task is almost complete. Not the sorting and separating , but getting the barn and the small shed cleaned is almost done. It hasn't cost us a fortune either and that is the best part of the whole thing. I am grateful that Brian and I are able to work together on a common goal. That makes life that much better.
Getting the news that another one of our children ( Christopher this time) has graduated with his Master's Degree is another big blessing. I am so grateful that the church has stressed the importance of education. I grew up in a home that the only thing to be stressed was getting a job and working hard. Education has made a huge difference in the lives of our children compared to the lives of some of the other children in our extended families who have not had the importance of education stressed in their homes. How grateful I am that I could raise our children in this church, where guidance is given for a life time and not just until confirmation. I am so grateful that God saw fit to introduce me to a man that could bring the Gospel into my life. What a great blessing that has been to me!
On Monday Brain and I went down to Arlington ( about an hour away) to help split and stack wood for a couple that was in need of help. His company sent him to China for two weeks and so the job landed on his wife's shoulders. Splitting and stacking wood can be a huge job and very tiring, especially when the wood is in big chunks and wet. About 1/3 of the way through the job we ran into a large piece of wood that was very wet and unyielding. Debbie went to the shed and brought back a fence post driver to see if she and dad could get that log to split. After taking several whacks at it she realized that that wasn't going to work and went and found the axe. Debbie went to take the fence post driver back into the shed and must have leaned it up against something the wrong way because it came back down and hit her right across the Achilles tendon and down the side if the heel. When she came out of the shed the blood was spurting from her sock. I motioned to Dad to kill the splitter and told him to call 911. I ran into the house and got a clean towel to wrap Debbie's ankle in and told her that she needed to lie down. She wasn't keen on doing it but she eventually did lie down and I elevated her foot and ankle while applying direct pressure. The ambulance got there and transported her to the hospital but eventually sent her to the cities for further evaluation. To make a long story short- she is home and is taking it easy. From my perspective- I am glad that I had first responder training so that I knew exactly what needed to be done. I am grateful for the Gospel and that Brian was able to give her a blessing to comfort her in her time of great need.
Wednesday morning I went to visit my Dad in the nursing home. He loves to attend the devotionals that they have there and listen to the message being taught. How grateful I am to have the whole truth. The message that the minister gave was complete and good as far as he has knowledge but I wanted to tell them all that the puzzle wasn't complete and that I had the missing pieces. I held my tongue because I didn't want to confront the minister and cause problems in the room. I am grateful that the Gospel has been restored. Some how I need to get that message out there.
Wednesday was just a good day all around and any way you sliced it.
Brian and I have been working hard this week to get our farm cleaned up in case we have to leave the area to find work. Both of us have had a gut level feeling that tells us that that will likely be the case, however we did not want to have to try to clean out the barn and the shed over snow banks this winter so we have been getting rid of junk and moving other stuff into the big shed to sort and separate it where it is warm and more accessible. That task is almost complete. Not the sorting and separating , but getting the barn and the small shed cleaned is almost done. It hasn't cost us a fortune either and that is the best part of the whole thing. I am grateful that Brian and I are able to work together on a common goal. That makes life that much better.
Getting the news that another one of our children ( Christopher this time) has graduated with his Master's Degree is another big blessing. I am so grateful that the church has stressed the importance of education. I grew up in a home that the only thing to be stressed was getting a job and working hard. Education has made a huge difference in the lives of our children compared to the lives of some of the other children in our extended families who have not had the importance of education stressed in their homes. How grateful I am that I could raise our children in this church, where guidance is given for a life time and not just until confirmation. I am so grateful that God saw fit to introduce me to a man that could bring the Gospel into my life. What a great blessing that has been to me!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Veteran's Day Celebration at the Nursing Home
Today the nursing home recognized the veteran's for their service to the country. My Dad was the first one that they honored. The Veteran's were asked if they would like to say something and when no one offered to say something I stood up behind my father and shared where he had served during WWII. After I shared that Dad opened up and told everyone that he felt bad for the Japanese as they were husbands, fathers, and sons and the US Army came in and mowed them all down. Dad was on the clean-up crew and I know that it bothers him that these men were just dumped into massive graves and buried. Their families will never know where they are buried, or if they suffered alot before they died. There will never be any closure.
After the ceremony was over the minister came up and shook Dad's hand and told him how grateful he was that Dad could show compassion and forgiveness to these soldiers. The service was followed by the American legion Bugler playing the TAPS. It was a good time!
After the ceremony was over the minister came up and shook Dad's hand and told him how grateful he was that Dad could show compassion and forgiveness to these soldiers. The service was followed by the American legion Bugler playing the TAPS. It was a good time!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Butterscotch 1994 - 2010
This past week has been really tough to see Butterscotch going down hill. I had secretly hoped that some how he would pull through yet another trauma in his life but I guess his "9 lives" were used up. This morning I got up early to go and check on him. He had not moved since last night and I found him lying by the side of the litter pan. He had urinated on the floor and I knew it was because he was too weak to get into the pan. His little belly had become enormous with the collection of fluid inside his abdomen. I noticed on Saturday that he had stopped eating and yesterday he would only take a few sips of water. Dad and I decided it was time to let him go. We took him to the vet this morning and had him euthanized. We brought him home and buried him next to Jasper and Leper.
I was surprised when Dad said a prayer as we stood by the side of his grave. Fred came along. I had noticed that he had been looking for Butterscotch in all the places that he use to go. I called him to the hole where we had placed Butterscotch and opened up the bag so that he could see him.
He leaned over the side of the hole and tried to remove the bag. Dad didn't think that cats understood the loss of another cat but I know they do. I have seen cats literally cry over the loss of a friend or family member of theirs. After Fred had said his good- bye I tied up the plastic bag again and Dad filled in the hole. We will all miss Butterscotch. He was a fantastic hunter and taught Fred to hunt last year. Butterscotch pretty much retired from hunting this year and for the first time in his life became a " lap cat". He would rotate between Brian's and my lap throughout the evening and would always try to run and hide when he knew it was bedtime. The key is when the sports would come on during the 10PM news broadcast. A number of years ago I wrote a story about how Butterscotch became a big game hunter. I will have to see if I kept a copy of it or if I just posted it on "blog-it.com".
If I have a copy of that I will post it. You will fall in love with him too.
I was surprised when Dad said a prayer as we stood by the side of his grave. Fred came along. I had noticed that he had been looking for Butterscotch in all the places that he use to go. I called him to the hole where we had placed Butterscotch and opened up the bag so that he could see him.
He leaned over the side of the hole and tried to remove the bag. Dad didn't think that cats understood the loss of another cat but I know they do. I have seen cats literally cry over the loss of a friend or family member of theirs. After Fred had said his good- bye I tied up the plastic bag again and Dad filled in the hole. We will all miss Butterscotch. He was a fantastic hunter and taught Fred to hunt last year. Butterscotch pretty much retired from hunting this year and for the first time in his life became a " lap cat". He would rotate between Brian's and my lap throughout the evening and would always try to run and hide when he knew it was bedtime. The key is when the sports would come on during the 10PM news broadcast. A number of years ago I wrote a story about how Butterscotch became a big game hunter. I will have to see if I kept a copy of it or if I just posted it on "blog-it.com".
If I have a copy of that I will post it. You will fall in love with him too.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
FIP
What is FIP you might be wondering? It is Feline Infectious Peritonitis. That is more than likely what Butterscotch has. It is a rare viral infection that strikes about one in every five thousand cats.
There is a vaccine but most vets do not have it on hand because the disease is so rare. There is no cure for it , only comfort care and it is fatal. Butterscotch has been hanging on for about one week now and I have been giving him comfort cares but my heart is breaking this afternoon as I watch it taking its final toll on him. I wish with all my heart that there was something I could do for him to relieve the pressure in his very bloated and inflamed abdomen. He is filling up with fluid rapidly and you would think that he would burst. If he is still living by morning I will take him for his last ride to the vet. I will bury him next to my two other special cats who had become like family to me over the years.
There is a vaccine but most vets do not have it on hand because the disease is so rare. There is no cure for it , only comfort care and it is fatal. Butterscotch has been hanging on for about one week now and I have been giving him comfort cares but my heart is breaking this afternoon as I watch it taking its final toll on him. I wish with all my heart that there was something I could do for him to relieve the pressure in his very bloated and inflamed abdomen. He is filling up with fluid rapidly and you would think that he would burst. If he is still living by morning I will take him for his last ride to the vet. I will bury him next to my two other special cats who had become like family to me over the years.
Stake Conference
It is Stake Conference this weekend and so Brian and I went to the adult session in St. Cloud last night. The theme was on reactivating the inactive and they had a few people speak who had been inactive and are now active. They spoke about what brought them back into activity. In most cases they had a physical aliment that sent them crashing to the bottom and in all cases there was someone from the ward or branch that was right there to help them. These were home teachers / friends that had not given up on them even though they had gone inactive. They were there for them during good times and bad and it made these people realize that they really needed to be back in church. So back they came! The one guy from Willmar has only been active for 8 months but is now the Elder's Quorum president. He understands service from both sides of the fence now and I have an idea that he is going to make a very good EQ president.
Brian is up preparing to go to conference. We will be meeting at the ST. Cloud University Campus.
I need to get moving too! Off to another good day. Sunshine and Stake Conference!
Brian is up preparing to go to conference. We will be meeting at the ST. Cloud University Campus.
I need to get moving too! Off to another good day. Sunshine and Stake Conference!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Stress Factors and Health
Every now and then it is a good idea to mill over how thing are going in life so that you can try to eliminate as much stress from your life as possible. Yesterday, Brian asked me why I was snacking on pretzels just after finishing with breakfast. We were on our way out the door with Butterscotch.
He is our 16+ year cat who has become like family to us and he is not doing very well. We were on our way to the vet. I recognized then that it was stress that was making me eat those pretzels.
I was worried about what I might hear from the vet. I knew it was not likely to be a good report but I was hoping that they might be able to do something for him. He spent the night at the clinic and the vet is running some tests on him but I am afraid that his days are nearly up. I wish that I didn't get so attached to animals but I do and then it hurts to have to let them go. It hurts to watch them suffer and it hurts to have to put them down. Stress Factor 1
Brian lost his job about two weeks ago and although he has had some interviews there have been no job offers. With the loss of his job came the end of our health and dental insurance. Not a good time for this to be happening since my health has been in the trash this year and Brian's has been slipping. Winter is once again upon us and the utility bills will be going way up. I am suppose to go see the woc nurse and the oncology nurse this week and have my blood checked but without insurance the cost will be prohibitive. Stress Factor 2
Stress is not good for the body and neither is eating while under stress so I need to stay away from the kitchen. That will eliminate another stress factor- weight gain. Stress Factor 3
My weight is down, which is a good thing since I am too heavy and I need to continue to drop weight so that I can hopefully improve my health. Being over weight is a risk factor for many diseases and right now I do not need anymore problems.
He is our 16+ year cat who has become like family to us and he is not doing very well. We were on our way to the vet. I recognized then that it was stress that was making me eat those pretzels.
I was worried about what I might hear from the vet. I knew it was not likely to be a good report but I was hoping that they might be able to do something for him. He spent the night at the clinic and the vet is running some tests on him but I am afraid that his days are nearly up. I wish that I didn't get so attached to animals but I do and then it hurts to have to let them go. It hurts to watch them suffer and it hurts to have to put them down. Stress Factor 1
Brian lost his job about two weeks ago and although he has had some interviews there have been no job offers. With the loss of his job came the end of our health and dental insurance. Not a good time for this to be happening since my health has been in the trash this year and Brian's has been slipping. Winter is once again upon us and the utility bills will be going way up. I am suppose to go see the woc nurse and the oncology nurse this week and have my blood checked but without insurance the cost will be prohibitive. Stress Factor 2
Stress is not good for the body and neither is eating while under stress so I need to stay away from the kitchen. That will eliminate another stress factor- weight gain. Stress Factor 3
My weight is down, which is a good thing since I am too heavy and I need to continue to drop weight so that I can hopefully improve my health. Being over weight is a risk factor for many diseases and right now I do not need anymore problems.
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