Monday, September 30, 2013

Thank offering Sunday



The Women of the ELCA conduct the service during Thank Offering Sunday.  In the past I have volunteered to be part of the service.  I hope there is a spot for me on Sunday as I forgot to sign up during the Fall Meeting.  There will be more written on this event in November as we also cover the pews with the quilts that we have made for Lutheran World Relief. 

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Wednesday Crusie







Our Wednesday cruise was out to Cattails for dinner.  It was Taco Tuesday.  Yum.  One of my fellow motorcycle enthusiast used to own the Bemidji Black Top.  When I told him I just got new black top, he immediately told me he wanted to see it.  Since he and his wife live in Wilton it was easy for them to follow me home.  He inspected the job and thought I got a good deal.  I was so excited about the blacktop that I truly forgot all about photos.     

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Driveway






What a miracle. I got my driveway tarred. It is my birthday today and this is my present.   I thought since it was so late in the season I may  have to wait until next summer.  But that is not what happened.  Since we are having such great weather the company was able to fit me in.  It really sets off my house nicely.  It adds  to the value of my home.  And it will help me control the amount of sand that it brought into my garage.   I could not be happier.  As you see I am trying to keep the 4 wheelers off the end of the driveway until the tar cures.  So far it has worked, but the weekend is approaching.  The mailman turns around in my driveway also, but not until Monday he isn't.  The dirt work that I will have to do will have to wait until next summer.  I just could not be happier. 

Friday, September 27, 2013

Fall meeting








Our Fall Meeting was held on Wednesday.  The theme was Shine like a Diamond.  The hostesses were Mary, Naomi and Ruth Circles.  Mary, my circle, made the dessert.  It was a cranberry pie.  It was simply delicious.  The speaker presentation was from her book Diamonds in the Garbage.  She did a nice job.  In this world of many hurts and negative comments, it was refreshing to here an upbeat message.  The devotion was given by one of our women.  She showed us a raw gem that when cut and polished would shine like a diamond.  Great message for all to hear. 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

written by Caroline Holley

Written by a Pre-School Teacher – It says it all!
I was on a parenting bulletin board recently and read a post by a mother who was worried that her 4 1/2 year old did not know enough. “What should a 4 year old know?” she asked.
Most of the answers left me not only saddened but pretty soundly annoyed. One mom posted a laundry list of all of the things her son knew. Counting to 100, planets, how to write his first and last name, and on and on. Others chimed in with how much more their children already knew, some who were only three. A few posted URL’s to lists of what each age should know. The fewest yet said that each child develops at his own pace and not to worry.
It bothered me greatly to see these mothers responding to a worried mom by adding to her concern, with lists of all the things their children could do that hers couldn’t. We are such a competitive culture that even our pre-schoolers have become trophies and bragging rights. Childhood shouldn’t be a race.
So here, I offer my list of what a 4 year old should know.
She should know that she is loved wholly and unconditionally, all of the time.
He should know that he is safe and he should know how to keep himself safe in public, with others, and in varied situations. He should know that he can trust his instincts about people and that he never has to do something that doesn’t feel right, no matter who is asking. He should know his personal rights and that his family will back them up.
She should know how to laugh, act silly, be goofy and use her imagination. She should know that it is always okay to paint the sky orange and give cats 6 legs.
He should know his own interests and be encouraged to follow them. If he could care less about learning his numbers, his parents should realize he’ll learn them accidentally soon enough and let him immerse himself instead in rocket ships, drawing, dinosaurs or playing in the mud.
She should know that the world is magical and that so is she. She should know that she’s wonderful, brilliant, creative, compassionate and marvellous. She should know that it’s just as worthy to spend the day outside making daisy chains, mud pies and fairy houses as it is to practice phonics. Scratch that– way more worthy.
But more important, here’s what parents need to know.
That every child learns to walk, talk, read and do algebra at his own pace and that it will have no bearing on how well he walks, talks, reads or does algebra.
That the single biggest predictor of high academic achievement and high ACT scores is reading to children. Not flash cards, not workbooks, not fancy preschools, not blinking toys or computers, but mom or dad taking the time every day or night (or both!) to sit and read them wonderful books.
That being the smartest or most accomplished kid in class has never had any bearing on being the happiest. We are so caught up in trying to give our children “advantages” that we’re giving them lives as multi-tasked and stressful as ours. One of the biggest advantages we can give our children is a simple, carefree childhood.
That our children deserve to be surrounded by books, nature, art supplies and the freedom to explore them. Most of us could get rid of 90% of our children’s toys and they wouldn’t be missed, but some things are important– building toys like lego and blocks, creative toys like all types of art materials (good stuff), musical instruments (real ones and multicultural ones), dress up clothes and books, books, books. (Incidentally, much of this can be picked up quite cheaply at thrift shops.) They need to have the freedom to explore with these things too– to play with scoops of dried beans in the high chair (supervised, of course), to knead bread and make messes, to use paint and play dough and glitter at the kitchen table while we make supper even though it gets everywhere, to have a spot in the yard where it’s absolutely fine to dig up all the grass and make a mud pit.
That our children need more of us. We have become so good at saying that we need to take care of ourselves that some of us have used it as an excuse to have the rest of the world take care of our kids. Yes, we all need undisturbed baths, time with friends, sanity breaks and an occasional life outside of parenthood. But we live in a time when parenting magazines recommend trying to commit to 10 minutes a day with each child and scheduling one Saturday a month as family day. That’s not okay! Our children don’t need Nintendos, computers, after school activities, ballet lessons, play groups and soccer practice nearly as much as they need US. They need fathers who sit and listen to their days, mothers who join in and make crafts with them, parents who take the time to read them stories and act like idiots with them. They need us to take walks with them and not mind the .1 MPH pace of a toddler on a spring night. They deserve to help us make supper even though it takes twice as long and makes it twice as much work. They deserve to know that they’re a priority for us and that we truly love to be with them.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

gulls

Rats with wings.  This one is so unafraid that I was right next to him and he was not about to fly.  I am sure that the parking lot is full of great tidbits for him to eat. Some of the parking lots have gulls in flocks.   I always wonder if they are also on the lake cleaning up the dead fish.  Maybe that is too hard for them when the food is so plentiful at Walmart. 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Ride for Cancer

nephew and girlfriend

My old bike
 





I rode 167 miles for a cancer benefit.  Chuck a forty year old has terminal cancer and started this project.  I am sure it will be an annual ride.  I haven't heard what money was made.  There was a registration for each bike and one for any extra riders.  There was a poker run in which I came in second. My nephew won with his 3 10"s.  There were door prizes which I won one.  I got a pepsi shirt and hat. I gave the hat to one of my neighbor kids.   Next was a hog roast with all the fixings.  The smoked cheesy potatoes were a hit with me.  The pork had cooked all day from 6:00 to 6:00 when it was served.  Then I went home, but they had a dance in the parking lot.  The reason I went home is I was tired and I must be home by deer time (dark).

Monday, September 23, 2013

circle

Since I forgot to take any pictures I will tell you about Mary Circle's meeting. We had a short meeting about up coming events.  Then we had a treat which is the dessert that we are making for our Fall meeting next week.  We thought that we should try it out.  Our bible study on Hannah was next which I lead.  This year we are studying the women of the bible.  I can't wait to hear about Rachael at our next circle meeting.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

knitting begins



We met for our first meeting in the youth room. They were taking pictures in the Fellowship Hall for our  directory so we could not meet there.    Conversation was lively as we comfortably knitted away.  We have gained three new members which is wonderful.  We had 6 of our regulars that were absent.  I really love the time spent with these wonderful women. 

Saturday, September 21, 2013

cruise



 

 
Car Club met at Cameron Park before we cruised to one of our members homes.  We had a quick update on up coming cruises and car shows.  It is such a fun group.  I just had to mention that I got my headliner replaced  and they lined up to get a peek.  They all agreed that it made a big difference in  the Green Bean.  Now I only have four more things that I needed to fix on the car.  I am sure that list will get longer.  I will always to puttering with something. But everything can now wait until next summer.  

Friday, September 20, 2013

wednesday cruise

 
 
Wednesday was a short cruise for me -- Wilton Bar.  I was happy as it was going to rain, but it only sprinkled while we were in the Bar.  Wilton has one of the best hamburgers in the area, equaled only by 209 club and Slims.  There was 12 of us and it was quiet enough to hear the conversations.  There probably won't be many more rides this year.  I think I will put mine away for the winter the first of October.  I am so lucky to have found this group.   

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Rose

An 87 Year Old College Student Named Rose
The first day of school our professor introduced... himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know.
I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me
with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, “Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?”
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze.
“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked.
She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids…”
“No seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
“I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the
next three months, we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this “time machine”
as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was
introduced and stepped up to the podium.
As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, “I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell
you what I know.”
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, “We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop
playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day.
You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
We have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it!There is a huge difference between growing
older and growing up.
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old.
If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.
Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change.
Have no regrets.
The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those
with regrets.”
She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The Rose.”
She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
At the year’s end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died
peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s
never too late to be all you can possibly be .When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they’ll really enjoy it!
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS
OPTIONAL.
We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give."

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Being a Christian

When I say that " I am a Christian,"  I am not shouting that "I am clean living."  I'm whispering " I was lost, but now I'm am found and forgiven."  When I say " I am a Christian,"  I don't speak of this with pride.   I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.  When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong.  I am professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.  When I say "I am a Christian,"  I'm not bragging of success.  I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean up my mess. When I  say "I am a Christian,"  I am not claiming to be perfect.  My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.   When I say " I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain.  I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon  His name.  When I say  "I am a Christian," I'm  not holier that thou.  I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace somehow!!!!!




Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Desserts by Design










Two friends




 

This was the 5th year of Desserts by Design.  It is a fund raiser for the Bemidji Symphony  Orchestra.  There were 28  tables this year.  There are multiple ways for them to earn money.  Sponsorship of the tables, ticket sales, silent auction and a live auction for three big prizes.  While we eat the fabulous desserts prepared by the hosts at each table, we listen to groups from the orchestra.  The best part is listening to DR. Beverly Everett speak on the up coming year of performances.  I enjoyed looking at all the tables and talking with friends. 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Busy Hands






Our quilting group has started.  These are pictures that I took on Wednesday.  My all time favorite is the one of the busy hands..  Everything is up and running. We have enough people for one table of gals to tie the quilts.  We have two gals that make backs and bind the quilts.  So the only job left is making tops.  They all are beautiful, but some are more beautiful then others.  I really love the bottom picture that features a quilt made of all circles in the fabric. It is a great ministry.