New years resolution

Where Did New Years Resolutions Come From?
On the 1st of January, millions of people around the globe start working on New Years resolutions. Chances are you have tried them yourself in one way or another. They are one of the fun things about the New Year. But have you ever wondered where they came from?
Who first started setting New Years Resolutions?
Well, here is a brief history of the origins of the New Years resolution for you:
The Babylonians
The first recorded New Years resolutions were made by the Babylonians around 4000 years ago. Most commonly, it revolved around returning any borrowed farm equipment, as their New Year coincided with the start of their farming season.
The Romans
Not long after, the Romans would start the new year by counting the stock of the previous year and setting a goal to accomplish more in the coming year.
It was not just western countries that set resolutions either.
The Chinese
The Chinese set a special New Years resolution - house cleaning. Most people nowadays would relate this to Spring-Cleaning. At the coming of the New Year, the Chinese would clean their house from top to bottom. What a great way to start the year, with a beautiful clean house!
The Modern World
Today we still set New Years resolutions, and try to achieve them. They are almost always based around self-improvement resolutions and goals. They are a way to mark the beginning of changes in our habits and lifestyle. The most common resolutions include losing weight, quitting smoking and/or drinking, and improving your finances.
As mentioned earlier, millions of people make these resolutions but unfortunately only 10% ever manage to achieve them. It is a sad fact, but many of these resolutions do not even last longer than a few weeks. By July, most have been completely forgotten and no real progress against the resolution has been made.
It is amazing what such a long history the New Years resolution has had. You may be thinking of creating one yourself this coming New Year. And why not? It is a tradition practiced around the entire globe. Above all though, we should remember that the most important aspect of a New Years resolution is to take action and stick to it.

snow

I had just plowed, snow blew and shoveled the day before, but during the night we got over an inch of snow.  I have seen others use the leaf blower to remove the snow, so I gave it a whirl.  It was a easy as plugging it in and turning it on.  Wow.  I will surely do this method again on my little jobs. 

gratitude

 

 

 

 I am thinking this could be my New Year resolution. In case I forget to mention it in a later post here is wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year. Let is hope that the legislators don't drop us off that fiscal cliff.

My Christmas

 

This is Natalie's and Jamon's tree.  They can't take it down as Jax thinks it is the best thing ever.  Maybe the bottle and boob milk ranks above it.    He looks at it for such a long time.  I had so much fun with him and of course my kids too.  I was asked what he is like. 
Words like wonderful, entertaining, demanding, scheduled, and very much at peace with himself as he is such an easy baby.  I got him to imitate my face.  He would copy my making an oh sound. He would stick out his tongue, and smile when ever I laughed.  As you see I spent time with him.    Natalie does a work out routine with him everyday. It was hard to go home.  I was gone 5 days which is the longest I have left here since I moved to Bemidji.  We made plans to meet in Fargo so the kids could shop and I could have Jax.  How a grandson can capture ones heart. 

Jax

 

 

There are no words necessary for this post.

trip to Jamestown

 

Jamestown Reservoir, Spiritwood Lake and Pipestem reservoir were all on our tour around Jamestown when we went for a ride on Saturday.  Of course they are all ice fishing haunts of Jamon.  Jax slept in the car and we got to see where Jamon likes to fish the best.  All three of these are very deep and spring fed.  Jamon and I are going out again because he did not get to show me the West side of the Reservoir.  He is a true fisherman through and through.  Poor Jax he had better get used to fish, scales, and guts. From Jamestown,  Happy Holidays.

bloopers

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

This is not written by me but it is priceless.

 

 

Here are the top nine comments made by NBC sports comments

during the Summer Olympics that they would like to take back:

1. Weightlifting commentator: "This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria . I saw

her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing."

2. Dressage commentator: "This is really a lovely horse and I speak

from personal experience since I once mounted her mother."

3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: "I owe a lot to my parents, especially

my mother and father."

4. Boxing Analyst: "Sure there have been injuries, and even some

deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious."

5. Softball announcer: "If history repeats itself, I should think we

can expect the same thing again."

6. Basketball analyst: "He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't

like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces."

7. At the rowing medal ceremony: "Ah, isn't that nice, the wife

of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew."

8. Soccer commentator: "Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like

they've got eleven Dicks on the field."

9. Tennis commentator: "One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is

that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them...

Oh my God, what have I just said?"

country living

 

 

The fashion of the day is warmth.  I have a number of equally warm but ugly hats  I can be Paul Bunyan, a bomber pilot, a ski bum or an over sized wool holly hobby girl.   Being able to shovel, snow blow, and plow is what allows me to live in the great Minnesota North woods.  I am thankful for each day that I am able to deal with what the weather throws at me. 

Lowe's family Christmas

 

 

The 55 connection bank trip was fun.  We traveled to Grand Rapids in a huge bus.  The seats were comfortable, but no room for legs.  Our first stop was the Forrest Lake Restaurant.  We had a huge choice of entrees. My choice was the sirloin.  The food was excellent.  Then back on the bus to Reif  Center.  The show was excellent.  The Lowe Family has had a show in Branson for 10 years and now they have moved to Nashville and have been there for two years with their show.  It was excellent.  What a musical family.  They sang a variety of music, danced, and played every instrument.  Wow.  Worth every minute of this bank trip. 

Coffee

The four of us have bee having coffee together taking turns at each others homes.  We have know each other for years, but you cannot pry out of me how many.  It is fun to catchup and share our lives.  Our next time together will be at my house with a fish fry and spouses. 

fifth lesson

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts... Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away". Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. Most importantly.... "Live with no regrets, Treat people the way you want to be treated, Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, and Dance like you do when nobody's watching." You never know how or when you'll be paid!

Fourth Lesson

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a

Roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if

Anyone would remove the huge rock Some of the

King's' wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by

And simply walked around it.. Many loudly blamed the

King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did

Anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of

Vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the

peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the

stone to the side of the road. After much pushing

and straining, he finally succeeded. After the

peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed

a purse lying in the road where the boulder had

been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note

from the King indicating that the gold was for the

person who removed the boulder from the roadway.. The

peasant learned what many of us never understand!



Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve

our condition.

Third lesson

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those

Who serve.


In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,

A 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and

Sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in

Front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and

Studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the

Waitress was growing impatient..

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on

The table and walked away The boy finished the ice

Cream, paid the cashier and left.. When the waitress

Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the

Table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,

Were two nickels and five pennies...



You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had

To have enough left to leave her a tip.

Second lesson

2.. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain



One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American

Woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway

Trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had

Broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally

Unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man

Took her to safety, helped her get assistance and

Put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his

Address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a

Knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a

Giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A

Special note was attached.

It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway

The other night. The rain drenched not only my

Clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.

Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying

Husband's' bedside just before he passed away.... God

Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving

Others."

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

First lesson

Not only do we have road rage we have people rage in our country. We treat people rudely. Please continue reading..................

The first of Five (5) lessons about the way we treat people . I will post one a day

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor

Gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student And had  breezed through the questions until I read

The last one:  

 "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the

Cleaning woman several times. She was tall,

Dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question

blank.  Just before class ended, one student asked if


The last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely, " said the professor.. "In your careers,

You will meet many people. All are significant.. They

Deserve your attention and care, even if all you do

Is smile and say "hello..."



I've never forgotten that lesson.. I also learned her

Name was Dorothy.

 

code red

I just got my call from the sheriff's office to sign up for code red. I was wrapping presents so I stopped to take care of this request.   I went to cobeltrami.mn.us to registrar.  I text Jamon to let him know that I signed up for emergencies of fire,ambulance, and police calls to my residence.  But it struck me that this reminded me another time long ago when a young couple had to go to their city of birth to registrar.  How different it is now.  We don't have to ride a donkey, follow a star, or find that there is no room in the inn.   Get real I don't think at these temperature I am ready to sleep in a barn.  Just a little typing and and a couple of clicks and I was registered right from the comfort of my living room.   Then a text to Jamon to inform him and I was back to wrapping presents.

Saturday I got my first call.  I was told it was extremely dangerous to drive and to stay home.  They reported that there were numerous cars in the ditch.  Also that from Wilton to Bemidji highway 2 was closed.  Alsoyhat the by pass was closed. 

bullying

All those gifts I opened and didn't have to............I wish I had known.
Always good to remind ourselves.....
A wonderful story attributed to Buddha:
Buddha was travelling in the company of several other people. One of the travellers begins to test Buddha by responding to anything he has to say with disparaging, insulting, hurtful remarks. Every day for the next three days, this traveller just verbally abuses Buddha, calling him a fool, arrogantly ridiculing him in any way he can.
Finally, after three days of this, the rude traveller can stand it no longer! He asks Buddha, "How can you continue to be so kind and loving when all I've done for the last three days is dishonour, offend and try to find ways to hurt you? Each time I try to hurt you, you respond in a kind manner? How can this be?!"
...

The Buddha responded with a question for his fellow traveller, "If someone offers you a gift, and you do not accept that gift, to whom does the gift belong ?"
So when somebody offers us a "gift" of their insults or hurtful remarks, we can choose whether or not to accept these "gifts". If we don't accept them, those "gifts" still belong to whoever was trying to "give" them. So we don't have to be upset or angry about something that belongs to someone else…….

** You simply don't need to accept the gift (of bullying, anger, hate, insult etc) - it then still belongs to the other person.....**

Try it - IT WORKS !!

—.

knitter and treats

My church knitting group decided that treats were in order as we close this year.  We will not meet again until January.  We feel truly blessed and know we have blessed many people that were needy with our knitted afghans.  We donated 11 afghans to local institutions.  But our ministry with prayer shawls is wonderful.  Anyone who knows of anyone that is in need of a shawl can pick one out and deliver it.  All we ask is that you remember to write it down so we have some type of record.  As you see in the food pictures we also know how to "rock it" with food. 

first one made.  Hope I get better at it.

 

Homemakers Christmas party

 

 Becida Mothers Homemakers group had our annual Christmas party for the elderly from the area. I love that party. It is a turkey dinner with all the trimmings including pie. Well, I said that because I bring the pie.  After we eat we usually sing Christmas Carols and then someone reads the Christmas story from the Bible.  Someone forgot to tell this pocket of people that this is politically incorrect.  Anyway I love it.  It is our little secret.  They we present our guests a plate of cookies and candies that we make for them.  After all that is said.  We get to also party.  We have had secret pals all year and it has been really fun sneaking around looking for opportunities to give our pal something.  We have three that it is suggested.  Their birthday, Valentine's Day and the Final one at Christmas.   Pictured above is what I got from my secret pal.  What fun.  I gave my secret pal a table runner.  This year the program leader got a two piece band from her church to play for us.  They were great.  Then we had the surprise one of our guest asked to sing for us.  He sang without music  a thank you song thanking god for his many blessings. I know the word for singing without music but I was just too lazy to look up the spelling.