A to Z Blogging Challenge -- R is for Refuge

Refuge

“But for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of Your works.”

Psalm 73:28

God has been my refuge in the midst of the most difficult time in my life, during the summer of 2012 when my marriage was breaking up and I was starting over. It was more than good to be near Him; it was the greatest blessing I could have at that time.  I knew that He understood, that He had a plan for me, that He would never, ever leave me. When I could not concentrate to read or comprehend anything else in His Word, I could read the Psalms, including Psalm 73.

Have you made God your refuge today? Was He your first choice, or did you only turn to Him after texting your best friend or calling your sister or posting on FaceBook? Turn to Him first; as wonderful as your friends and family are, He offers even more comfort.

What works of His will you tell others of, to strengthen their faith?

I will share this and I hope it encourages readers. I needed a job after I moved out, and asked God for a job that met the following guidelines; in the town in which I was living (I hate driving in bad weather), relatively non-stressful (I had enough stress in my “real” life!), decent paying, and part-time so that I could continue publishing the Nebraska Family Times and writing if that was His will.

Several weeks later I read a want-ad and when I called the number I found that it fit every single one of my requests. After a few months I realized that it was a little too “part time” for me to meet my expenses…and then I found out about another part-time job that, as well as fitting the above requirements, would also fit perfectly into my life. The two jobs are the best jobs I’ve had in my nursing career!

But it gets even better...

A few months ago, I realized that God gave me something in both jobs that I hadn’t even thought to ask for: Christian friends who offered me the support and encouragement I needed during that very hard time. He knew what I needed and blessed me with it, even though I didn’t think to ask.

God truly is my refuge; it is so good to be near Him!

What works has God done in your life, that you can share to encourage others?

 If you’d like, comment below.

(I’m also blogging the A to Z Challenge at Home is Where the Mom Is. Check it out!)

Wild Week! And Chance to Win a Gift Basket Extended!

Yes, I know it's not the day for "W" yet...

Please accept my sincere apologies at falling behind on the "A to Z Challenge"! On Sunday I was invited to go with a friend to a little town in western Nebraska; she gave her "Chocolate" talk there. After, as she was talking with people who attended, we started hearing that the Interstate was closed...because of snow! We did NOT expect that but after checking with family and friends realized that we'd be spending the night in North Platte (where there was no snow, by the way...). After a trip to WalMart for pajamas and a few other necessities, we treated ourselves to a nice supper out and talked until almost 2 AM, discussing everything from our kids to the theology of heaven to our future writing plans and goals to the kind of toothpaste we used...

Needless to say I didn't get any blogging done that day or Monday...we left mid-morning to come home and within 5 or 6 miles saw the first semi jack-knifed in the median. We saw numerous other cars and semis on their sides or completely overturned as we made our way home. We were very thankful to get home safely!

The rest of my week was spent putting the May issue of the "Nebraska Family Times" together; if you'd like a FREE copy of the June issue e-mail me at shelly@shellyburke.net with your mailing address), working, going to church, welcoming Morgan, my daughter, home, seeing the movie "Heaven is for Real", planning and shopping for Easter dinner...and basically, well, not blogging.

I have my posts planned out and WILL catch up within the next few days.

To make it up to my readers I will be giving away 4 gift baskets instead of just one (see this post ) and have decided to extend it until Easter Monday; everyone who comments between now and then will be in the drawing for one of the gift baskets.

May God bless you and your family this Easter!

"He is risen!"

"He is risen indeed!"

"Alleluia!" 

A to Z Blogging -- B is for Beautiful

Beautiful

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Some things in life aren't beautiful at all. A health battle. A child going down the wrong path. The loss of a job.

When my marriage broke up it was definitely not beautiful. It was ugly. It was sad. It was – and is –the most UN-beautiful thing, the biggest disappointment and failure in my life.

Many days are still very hard, but after time I am seeing some beautiful things come out of the pain.

A much deeper faith and dependence on the Lord.

Wonderful new friends.

Jobs I love.

Most of all, the absolute knowledge that I am forgiven by the Lord, for every single sin. I am forgiven and free from the weight, the guilt, the ugliness of those sins.  

What could be more beautiful?

How have you seen God make a dark time in your life beautiful? 

Are you in a dark time in your life? Take a few minutes today to pray to God to show you even a glimpse of what is beautiful. And if you know a friend going through a hard time, show her a glimpse of beauty in sharing His love; send a card with His encouraging words, pray for her, send a grocery store gift card anonymously, share a hug.  

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(I’m also blogging the A to Z Challenge at Home is Where the Mom Is

Check it out!)

A to Z Blogging: T is for...Thoughts

By Shelly Burke, Editor

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” 2 Corin. 10:5

My thoughts, especially in the middle of the night, can take me to scary places. “What if I lose my jobs—both of them…can’t get another nursing job of any kind anywhere in the whole state (or country!)… and I eat alllllllllll of the food in my cupboards….still don’t have a job so get evicted…and my Envoy breaks down….so I have to have it towed down by the river so I can live in an Envoy, down by the river…?(Like whatever that song is, about “ living in a van, down by the river”).

Or, even darker…”What if I can’t get insurance when our COBRA runs out…and then I get cancer (I’ve had two friends diagnosed with breast cancer in the last few weeks)…and I’m all alone…and NONE of my friends will take me to ANY appointments…and anyway I’m living in my broken-down Envoy, down by the river…”

OK, in the bright light of day, and even during the night, I realize how ridiculous these thoughts are. For one thing I am blessed with many wonderful friends who would help me out, just as I would help them.  But I think everyone has had those dark and racing thoughts at some point—especially during a time of transition and in the dark of night.

I think the devil likes us to have these thoughts—he wants us to live in fear, both to take away our joy of living, and to make us doubt what we know about God, and the promises that God has given us.

What Paul is telling us here is that we have more than just ourselves—our flesh—to fight these thoughts. We do not have to do it alone! We have the divine power of the Holy Spirit, working through God’s Word, the Holy Bible, on our side, to dispute these thoughts. We can look to His word and destroy the thoughts that are contrary to what we know of God.  

And what does God’s word say about His character and His promises to us?

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified…for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

     Deuteronomy 31:6

“And He will give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”

Psalm 91:11

“Cast all your anxiety upon the Lord because He cares for you!”

1 Peter 5:7

Pray to be discerning, to be able to tell when your thoughts are going into those dark places. When dark thoughts enter your mind, take them captive. Compare them to what you know about God and about His Word. Claim His promises. Accept His peace.

For FREE verse cards of the above verses, e-mail your request to shelly@shellyburke.net. I’ll get the verse cards in the mail to you, to encourage you when those dark thoughts intrude on the peace that God wants you to have, in Him.  

Would you like to read articles to “encourage, inspire and motivate you in your Christian walk”  every month? Subscribe to the Nebraska Family Times and you’ll find local, Nebraska

and national news from a Christian point of view, as well as devotions, columns by

Nebraska and nationally-known Christian authors, and much more, in your mailbox every month!

A one-year, 12-issue subscription is only $20! See the

right sidebar on this page to order, or e-mail shelly@shellyburke.net for details.

Shelly is also the author of the book “Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom’s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home. Click to find out more!

A to Z Blogging: Catching up: L, M, N, O, P, Q, R and S

by Shelly Burke, Editor

What’s that line about the “best laid plans of mice and men”? (After looking it up to make sure I got the quote right I realized the tragic ending of the book it came from, “Of Mice and Men.” Why do so many “classic” novels have sad/disturbing plotlines and endings? Guess that’s for another post.)

Anyway, I knew last week would be busy; it’s the week of the month that I gather all of the articles and other information needed to put out the next issue of the “Nebraska Family Times” newspaper (if you would like a FREE sample copy of the paper, please e-mail your request, along with your mailing address, to shelly@shellyburke.net. I promise I won’t put you on any other mailing lists! My goal with the articles in the “Nebraska Family Times” is to “inspire, encourage, and motivate you on your Christian walk.” We cover local as well as state and national news from a Christian point of view.)

The previous Saturday, when I usually get a start on the paper, I spent shooting guns—as a part of the Citizen’s Police Academy. The CPA is a 14 week class for civilians. During the time we learned about many of the different things that the police force as a whole, does. I’m planning to write an article about the Citizen’s Police Academy in the June issue of the “Nebraska Family Times.” It was a nice day to be outside—we haven’t had many “spring” days in Nebraska yet—and I learned a lot about firearms.

On Saturday afternoon we began setting up for a book signing for my friend Deb Burma’s new book “Stepping Out: to a Life on the Edge.” You can read more about her book on her blog, Fragrant Offerings and an excerpt a Stepping Out  . The book signing was Sunday afternoon and we had a great turnout! A lot of people put a lot of work into arranging the signing and it was nice to see things come together. Deb’s talk left people encouraged and her book will too. (I already read it when I did some editing and proofreading back in September, before she sent it to the publisher).

As well as putting the paper together and working on the book signing event I worked at my nursing job on Monday and Wednesday morning. I work at Columbus Surgery Center and we do cataract and other eye surgeries (OK, “we” don’t do the surgeries, the doctor does, but “we” –the nurses--get patients ready for surgery and care for them during and after surgery). I only started at the end of January but I really feel like I’m learning my jobs—and loving my jobs—and all of the people I work with (on Mondays I’m the circulating nurse in the operating room; I make sure patients are ready for surgery, take them to the operating room, help as needed with medications and supplies during surgery, and take them to the post-op area after surgery, and on Wednesdays I’m one of the pre-op nurses who gets patients ready for surgery).

On Tuesday I spent the entire morning in a police car! It was fun to post that as my status on FaceBook—I try to be a “good girl” so I think it shocked some people! I spent the morning in a police car as part of the CPA.

Being busy is not an excuse for getting behind on the A to Z Blogging—but as we all are, I’m doing the best I can! Here are my thoughts on the letters I missed:

L – I am loving my new job and thanking God for it!

M-Morals.  I had a great devotion, about morals, planned for the A to Z Challenge. It’s based on 1 Corinthians 15:33, which says, “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.” This is a good lesson for our kids—and for adults too. (I’m still planning to write the devotion!)

N-names in the Bible. It struck me last night how many are so strange—like Aristarchus, Agrippa, Lycia and Cauda (the last two are locations)—and how many are still used today, thousands of years later—like Paul, Rachel, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and right here in Nebraska—Syracuse!

O-Opportunities. I’m so thankful God has given me so many, with the “Nebraska Family Times,” writing, friends, job, etc. What opportunities are you thankful for today?

P-Citizens Police Academy—one of the most interesting, most fun things I’ve done in a very long time. Many cities hold their own Citizen’s Police Academy—check it out in your city!

Q-I am so thankful for the quietness of the last few days…after some really busy days, and having a cold, I needed them!

R-I was going to blog on Resisting Sin for the blogging challenge. I’ll still write the devotion, but for now I’m going to share the verse it was going to be based on—James 4:7b “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Thankfully James also gives us some suggestions as to how we can do this—with God’s help. Immediately before this verse he says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God…” and right after he tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

S-is for the stuffy nose and cold I picked up last week! Thankfully it’s going away…but slowly…

Ecclesiastes tells us that “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Eccles. 3:1). Last week, my time didn’t go as I had planned…so today is time for catch-up. Come back tomorrow when the letter for the day is “T”. On the “Nebraska Family Times” blog the devotion will be based on “thought” and on the “Home is Where the Mom Is” blog I’ll give you my thoughts about teaching your kids about “temptation” and what they can do about temptations in their lives.

God’s blessings to you today! 

Whiny Wednesday

By Shelly Burke, Editor

I was feeling very whiny by Wednesday of this week.  It just had not been my week (all three days of it). I was frustrated by a sore back (which prevented me from going to Wayne on Tuesday to pick up the Nebraska Family Times and getting it delivered and mailed, AND kept  me from attending Bible study on Tuesday), my vehicle being in the shop, the dead battery on the vehicle I had borrowed, and my e-mail not sending OR receiving mail. Of course once I began listing my complaints the list went on and on…

I do not like to get in that “pity-party” state of mind; I try to start counting blessings rather than complaining, but on this Whiney Wednesday that just was not working. And the more I complained to myself, the more “bad” things I thought of. And the more things I thought of, the more exhausted and discouraged I felt.

Finally, determined to get out of that negative spiral, I opened my Bible. It was in my mind to turn to Psalm 71 and when I saw the title of the Psalm, Forsake Me Not When My Strength is Spent, it was very clear Who put that thought into my head.

I read through the whole Psalm and immediately underlined these words:

My praise is continually of You. (v. 6b)

My mouth is filled with Your praise, and with Your glory all the day. (v. 8)

My mouth will tell of Your righteous acts…for their number is past my knowledge. (v. 15)

I will also praise You with the harp…I will sing praises to You with the lyre. (v. 22)

My lips will shout with joy…(v. 23a)

And my tongue will talk of Your righteous help all day long. (v. 24)

I realized how much I had to praise the Lord for when I started writing things down:

·              Morgan is home on spring break so I got to see her every day this week—and she went with me yesterday to mail and deliver papers. We had a great day together! I think sometimes God allows glitches in our schedules to keep us flexible and show us that life goes on, despite those glitches.

·              My sore back was almost all the way better and I was able to work on Wednesday (at my new job, which I love—another thing to praise the Lord for!)

·              I have always dreaded vehicle problems. I don’t understand vehicles AT ALL and have often worried, “What will I do if my car won’t start and I have to get to work?” God forced me to confront that fear on Wednesday morning at 5:10 AM when the car I was borrowing wouldn’t start. I remembered reading about a new cab company here in Columbus, and immediately called them. The dispatcher said that normally they didn’t start until 6:00 AM…but she heard the desperation in my voice (I’m supposed to be at work at 5:30) and said she’d call to see if anyone was up. The very nice man who picked me up a few minutes later said he usually didn’t turn his pager on while he was getting his car ready for the day…but he had on Wednesday. I got to work in time to prepare for my first patient! (And the car started easily after a jump start…the nice man who did that said it had probably been weak because of the unseasonably cold weather.)

·              My vehicle is FINALLY back—YAY!

·              I am so very, very blessed with friends who encourage me, pray for me, make me laugh, sympathize when I’m having a bad day…THANK YOU, friends!

·              The April issue of the Nebraska Family Times looks great! I’m blessed to get to do something I so enjoy.

·              Despite indications to the contrary, the calendar says it is spring and the snow we’re getting will not last long.

Once I started, I realized that the number of things I can praise God for is truly “past my knowledge.”  Rather than complain I will “tell of Your righteous acts,” “sing praises,” and “shout with joy!” 

And next time I start counting complaints rather than being thankful, I know right where I’ll turn. 

Catch Up Post about a New Job, Blogging Challenge, and Cadbury Mini-Eggs

by Shelly Burke, Editor and Publisher

·         What I’m doing: I got a job! I’d been struggling with the decision of getting a job. I have really missed nursing since my private duty patients died several years ago. However, I didn’t want to give up publishing the Nebraska Family Time; continuing with the paper would be almost impossible if I had a full-time job. I left it up to God. “If You want me to continue with the Nebraska Family Times, Lord, I need a job that is part-time, in town (I hate to drive on bad roads), and something I can do after being out of hospital nursing for many years.” He answered me very clearly with a 2-morning a week job at Columbus Surgery Center! The nurses are fantastic, the doctor is wonderful, the patients are fun and I am blessed! I prepare patients for eye surgery and next week will start learning how to take care of them when they’re in the operating room.

·         What I’m bookmarking: I love editing and publishing the Nebraska Family Times, and one of the things I enjoy the most is researching websites to suggest to readers. This month I attended a video Bible Study titled Your Strong Suit, by author and speaker Donna Pyle. I learned so much from the first video that I checked out Donna’s websites (Artesian Ministries) and blog  Hydrated Living ). I liked her writing so much that I asked her permission to reprint her blog post, Hope for When Darkness Threatens  in the March issue of the Nebraska Family Times—and she said yes! Thanks, Donna! (To receive a FREE sample issue of the Nebraska Family Times, e-mail shelly@shellyburke.net with your mailing address.)

·         What I’m blogging: I will be taking part in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge in April, as I did last year! The challenge is to blog every day in April (except Sundays), with each day’s topic beginning with the letter of that day. The theme of the Nebraska Family Times blog entries will be devotions that will “inspire, encourage and motivate you on your Christian walk.” I’ll also be blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom's Guide , where the theme is “Teach Your Children Well.”  If you would like to receive the blog posts in your in-box, sign up in the right-hand column of both blogs!

·         What I’m reading: To prepare for the A to Z Blogging Challenge and improve my blogs I’m reading Platform; Get Noticed in a Noisy World. For fun I’m reading Because I Said So; The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales& Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids, by Ken Jennings, the Jeopardy champion. The book investigates Dad-isms and Mom-isms like, “Stay away from windows during thunderstorms!” and “Coffee will stunt your growth!”

·         What I’m eating: Cadbury Mini-Eggs. What can I say besides YUUMMMM!

What are you doing? What are you bookmarking? What are you blogging about? What are you reading? Are you eating too many Cadbury Mini-Eggs like I am? Share your suggestions in the comments section of this blog!

His Kids Camp Part 2

By Shelly Burke, Editor

(Read His Kids Camp Part 1 here.)

(Editor’s Note: I was a volunteer camp nurse at Camp Luther’s His Kids Camp in June.)

Campers enjoying afternoon snack time

The morning medication pass is the biggest one all day, but the campers and their buddies were patient while I double-checked names and medications. As I was getting things put away Josh Rausch, the Program Director, invited me to chapel.

It was heart-warming to walk down the hill and hear the campers and their buddies chatting about the hot weather and what was scheduled for the day. Buddies cautioned their campers to watch their step on the rough ground, and helped them find a seat in the beautiful old building.

A camper and his buddy signing
The Lord's Prayer

From the outside I couldn’t imagine how the 50+ campers, buddies, and volunteers would fit into the chapel—but we did! And when we started singing—just WOW! I’m quite sure God heard our voices raised to Him! The campers who had been there before enthusiastically did all of the actions and those of us who hadn’t heard the songs quickly caught on. Campers and buddies listened intently as Josh taught how our hearts became dirty with sin, but God washed those sins away when Jesus died for us on the cross and then rose again. The simple lesson—the basis of Christianity--was presented in a way everyone understood and took joy in hearing.

The talent show on the final evening of camp was clearly a high point for campers and their buddies—as well as everyone who attended. Buddies worked with their camper to find a talent they wanted to share, and from the medication room I could see and hear some of the campers practicing their talent. Despite getting hints about the talent show, nothing could have prepared me for the actual event.  

As everyone found seats in Gerwick Hall, Josh, and Christina Hansen, another director, finalized the order of appearance of campers and prepared music and other props. As campers began showing their talents, I was amazed and touched at the response of everyone in the audience.

Campers and their buddies performing
a song for the talent show

Campers shared a wide variety of talents; one camper sang Our God is an Awesome God, and another invited all of us to stand, put our hands over our hearts, and join him as he sang and played drums to the National Anthem. A deaf camper and his buddy signed the Lord’s Prayer. Another camper demonstrated his ability to put together a puzzle. A camper I’d barely heard say a word smiled shyly as she was cheered and encouraged to sing a song.

Josh was quick to join a camper who had a bit of stage fright; he held her hand as they skipped across the stage. Another camper invited most of the audience to be characters in a play she had written. Laughter swept through the hall as she designated her buddy, a very sweet young lady, to be her “evil stepsister.” (I was glad the play ended on a happy note, with the “sisters” hugging each other.)

Every talent was applauded with cheers and shouts and whistles from the audience, and every camper was valued and lifted up for his or her talent and courage at performing in front of others. God’s love for every single one of us, regardless of our abilities, was poured out through everyone in the building that evening; I have tears in my eyes now, almost three months later, remembering.

I plan to make His Kids Camp a part of my summer every year! You can take part too. Volunteers are needed as buddies and helpers. (Buddies are given thorough training so they are comfortable with the needs of their campers.)  Nurses are needed to distribute medications and give treatments.

The camper in the middle wrote the play in which her
"evil step sister" (right) played a role. You can see that
they were friends again!

Supplies and financial donations are always appreciated. If you’d like you can donate specifically to sponsor a camper and his or her buddy; a full sponsorships is $400 and partial sponsorships are needed as well. And of course, special needs campers are needed! Please spread the word about His Kids Camp and Respite Weekends (see upcoming dates on the back page of this issue of The Nebraska Family Times). For more information go to www.campluther.org or www.hiskidscamp.org or contact Leila Rehbein, His Kids Camp Director, at (402) 981-5732. Camp Luther and His Kids Camp are also on Facebook.

Camp Luther also offers a variety of camps and retreats for kids and adults of all ages.

(For His Kids Camp Part 1, see the August issue of the Nebraska Family Times or e-mail shelly@shellyburke.net or call (402) 993-2467 to request a free copy.)

Fair Week!

The Platte County Fair is going on this week and that brings back a lot of fun memories.

When I was "4-H age" (age 8-18 as of January 1st of that year) my sisters and I were very active in 4-H. We sewed, cooked, learned how to garden, and gave demonstrations. I remember trying to find 4 or 5 IDENTICAL beans or beets or tomatoes to take to the fair--they had to be the same size, shape, and color to qualify for a blue or purple ribbon. I remember sewing that last button on my dress (one year my very elaborate dress had about 10 buttons on each cuff, and another 15 or 20 buttons down the front!) on the way to the fair. I remember seeing friends I hadn't seen all summer, and eagerly looking to see how we'd done on our projects.

I remember mom teaching us how to measure ingredients accurately and helping us sew perfect seams and teaching us how to make buttonholes. Looking back, I know that I didn't appreciate her endless patience as she taught us—thanks mom! Through 4-H we learned not only the practical lessons of how to make muffins or sew a hem, but lessons about following directions and working hard to make our entries perfect. We also learned life-lessons of confidence and talking to adults as we modeled our clothes and talked to judges about our other entries.

Early morning sheep washing 2009

Until Cody and Morgan were 4-H age and showed at the fair I didn’t realize how much parents looked forward to the too. We share secret smiles with other parents in the early morning hours as we rush between animal pens or back to the truck to get a forgotten item. It's the tears of pride we try to hide (but other parents always understand) when our kids do well...the swelling of our hearts when we see siblings helping each other or other kids when an animal gets loose or someone needs a word of encouragement.

It's why we put the (seemingly) endless dollars and hours into projects, why we wake our kids up early (even when they're crabby) to take care of an animal or work on a project, why we practice patience as we teach (sometimes over and over!) our kids a new skill.

We know it's not just the ribbons they'll get during the fair, it's the life-long lessons the kids will take with them (like going back into the ring for dog agility after your dog took a detour out of the ring and around the whole building), and hopefully pass on to their kids someday.

This is the first year since the new millennium that neither Cody nor Morgan is showing an animal at the fair. It’s bittersweet for me because there were so many wonderful family moments at the fair.

2010

One of my favorite memories is the year both Cody and Morgan were in the same class of showmanship during the cattle show. After several rounds, they were the only two left, competing against each other for the championship. For more than 20 minutes they were the only ones in the ring, leading and setting up their animals, watching the judge, and doing everything “just right.” Neither of them made a mistake. Finally the judge asked them to switch places in the ring…and Morgan turned her calf counterclockwise instead of clockwise. And that was it; Cody was the champion. But it was a friendly competition and both were happy at how they’d done!

2010

Another great memory is the year my parents and grandfather came to the fair. It was so neat to share the experience with them; although we’d exhibited at many fairs as kids, my sisters and I never showed animals. It was a very hot year, but mom and dad and grandpa sat patiently through the sheep show and the cattle show. Cody and Morgan were so proud and happy to have them there and answered all of their questions about showing.

For two memorable (and very tiring) years in a row, Morgan showed sheep, cattle, and dogs. That meant three days in a row of being to the fair before 6:00 AM and showing for much of the day. Morgan did a great job and won several trophies…but agreed that showing three different species was just too much.

Today and tomorrow Morgan will be cheering on several friends as they show their sheep and pigs for the last time at the county fair. Tomorrow she and Cody will be helping our neighbor’s kids show their cattle for the very first time.

Good luck at your county fair, everyone! Cherish those memories!

Fair Time!

For the first time in 12 years, neither Cody or Morgan will be showing any type of animal at the fair!

For two memorable (and very tiring!) years, Morgan showed sheep, cattle AND dogs at the fair, and for many years they both showed cattle.

I love fair time and was feeling a little sad about not being actively involved this year...until I heard about the "Nebraska Made--Nebraska Grown" event and People's Choice Contest that will take place at the fair on Saturday, July 14th, from NOON-8:00PM in the Exhibit Hall.

The Nebraska Family Times will be taking part--if you're a subscriber or just want to see what we're all about, please stop by! FREE sample copies of the paper will be available, and everyone who purchases a subscription to the Nebraska Family Times on Saturday will receive a FREE copy of my book Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom's Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home. (Click here for more information about  Home is Where the Mom Is) If you already have a subscription you can extend it, or give a gift subscription, and receive the free book! 

I know some of the other exhibitors who will be taking part in the event, and there will be some really yummy samples there, too!

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

(To see one of my very favorite pictures of Morgan at the fair, go to Home is Where the Mom Is)

His Kids Camp Part 1

By Shelly Burke, RN

I’m having a hard time finding the words to describe my experience at His Kids Camp at Camp Luther last week. I volunteered as the Camp Nurse (I love that title!)  from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning.

His Kids Camp is a camp for special needs children and adults. The group that I was there for was made up mostly of teens and young adults with a variety of diagnosis, including Down Syndrome, autism, and so on. Each camper was paired with at least one “buddy,” who assisted that camper as needed with activities, meals, getting dressed, and so on.

I arrived before the campers did so I could get the medication area organized, and I was more than a little nervous about meeting the campers. I hadn’t been to camp for many years (and if I remember right I got so homesick my parents had to come and get me after just a day) and had never worked with special needs kids or adults. Would they take their medications for me? Would I remember their names? Would I be asked to handle difficult behaviors? Would they like me (do we ever stop asking that question)?

These thoughts were swirling around in my mind as the first campers and their parents and caregivers came in. Most of my nervousness went away and I quickly got into “nurse” mode when the parents brought their child’s medications to me. They gave hints for getting their child to take medications and described in detail treatments and other cares needed. When two campers came in with CPAP machines (the machine forces air through a mask into the mouth and nose of people who suffer from sleep apnea) I wasn’t sure if the buddies would know how to use them, but a buddy quickly came and reassured the father that we’d make sure the machines were used correctly.

When a mom handed me her daughter’s g-tube and liquid medications and told me about her g-button (a device used to give nutrition and medications directly into the stomach) I assured her I’d worked with a g-button many times and it would be no problem to take care of her daughter’s.  

Giving medications at supper time was hectic; I hadn’t figured out a routine yet and didn’t know any of the campers. However, they all came up with their buddies, who told me their names, and everyone took their medications without complaint. I began to breathe a little bit easier.

After supper I went to work double checking the medications and figuring out a routine for giving them. I looked up several unfamiliar medications on the computer and got everything in order. The little girl with the g-button came in for her medications, and while she didn’t speak, her smile spoke volumes. When she circled her fist in front of her chest and then pointed at me, I wasn’t sure what she meant. Her buddies were eager to tell me that it meant “I like you!” and I quickly signed the same back to her. After I was done she gave me the tightest hug I think I’d ever received! At that point I knew the rest of camp was going to be great!

The campers joined in the big hall before bedtime and sang several songs. When I heard the director ask everyone to join hands for the Lord’s prayer, I peeked out the window of the med room so I could say it with them. All had joined hands…except for a camper and his buddy across the room from me. They seemed to be talking to each other and I was wondering if the camper was having trouble…and then I realized, with tears in my eyes, that the camper was deaf and he and his buddy were signing The Lord’s Prayer to each other.

(Check back for part two of my account of His Kids Camp. It just gets better!)

(For more information about His Kids Camp, go to http://www.campluther.org/his-kids-camp/)

I’m also blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is

Click to read the first articles in the “Teach Your Children Well” series.

Camp Nurse and Favorite Links

I am having a wonderful time at camp this week! I’m volunteering as the camp nurse at His Kids Camp, a camp for special needs kids at Camp Luther. I haven’t even been her for 24 hours and have already been touched by the kids, their buddies (each camper is paired with a buddy or two to help with activities, meals, etc.) and the other volunteers and staff members.

I’ll write a full post about His Kids Camp next week but for today I’m going to list some of my favorite websites. It’s a diverse group, and I hope you’ll enjoy them as I do. When I update my blogs I’ll be suggesting new links, so please let me know what your favorite links are, either in the comments or in an e-mail to shelly@shellyburke.net.

First of all, His Kids Camp. Click here for more information about the camp. If you know a special needs camper, or would like to be a buddy or volunteer, please contact Josh or Christina—contact information is on the website.

If you’re like me and you really don’t like to do housework, check out the Fly Lady at www.flylady.net. You’ll find hundreds of tips on clearing the clutter, organizing your home, and keeping it clean. She also discusses the emotional aspects of clutter and getting rid of clutter. On one page she says, “ Our FlyLady system is all about establishing little habits that string together into simple routines to help your day run on automatic pilot.” I don’t use every single part of her system, but I’ve found enough great information to make it worthwhile.

I am so thankful for the pastors that have been a part of my life. We don’t see the many, many hours they devote to shepherding their flocks of church members; they’re part of some of our happiest and saddest moments on earth. Today I came across a great article that reminded me to thank our pastors (priests and other church leaders). Read “WhatOur Pastors Wish we Knew” and encourage your pastor today!

For pro-life news that you probably won’t get elsewhere, go to www.lifenews.com. LifeNews covers the topics of abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia, bioethic issues like human cloning and stem cell research, and campaigns and elections and legal and legislative issues.

One of the best books I’ve read recently is “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin. The book documents her year of “Test driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons of popular culture about how to be happier.”

I’m happy in my life—don’t get me wrong! And Gretchen was happy in her life, too. She wanted to make sure she felt grateful every single day, in the ordinary things. She wanted to look past the little things that bugged her, to the bigger picture. She wanted to set a higher standard for herself in all of her roles—as mother, daughter, writer, and so on.

“The Happiness Project” will inspire and motivate you to consider what you can do to make your life a little happier. The website is full of great information to help you design your own happiness project. I have used many of Rubin’s hints and tips and some of her downloads. I also get her monthly newsletter. This is a book and site like The Flylady; you probably won’t use everything you read, but you’ll find enough useful information to make it worthwhile!

Please let me know what you think of my suggestions, and don’t forget to share your own favorite links! 

“And He will give His Angels Charge Over You”…in a Burning Tractor

by Shelly Burke

from Google Images

I ask God to protect my loved ones every morning. Unless they are traveling, it’s usually a general prayer, something along the lines of, “Please keep them safe in everything they do today.”

I said that prayer, as always, one morning last week.

A few hours later, Tim sent me the picture below. He had been driving the tractor to fill in a hole in the road and noticed it was overheating. He drove it off the road (thankfully not near any grass as it’s VERY dry here), got out to open the hood and see if he could tell what was wrong, and saw smoke, and then flames.

Thankfully he’d grabbed his cell phone when he got out, so was able to call 911 immediately. It took the fire trucks about 20 minutes to arrive, and by that time the tractor was a complete loss.

Tim sent the picture to my cell phone, and I didn’t realize how serious the situation was until I sent it to my e-mail (I still have a non-smart phone with a tiny screen!). When I saw how completely the tractor was destroyed, I sat down and took a deep breath. The situation could have been tragic had Tim not gotten out when he did…had he not parked the tractor away from anything flammable…had not God’s angels been watching over him.

I said a heartfelt prayer of thanks—thanks that God protected my husband, and thanks that I don’t have to list every possible situation in which my family might need protection.  .  

“And He will give His angels charge over thee, to keep the in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thee dash thy foot against a stone” (or burning tractor).

Psalm 91: 11-12

Thank You, Lord, for protecting my family, and especially for protecting Tim last week.  THANK YOU for giving your angels charge over those I love. Please guard everyone I love from every danger of body, mind or soul. Amen. 

Words of Wisdom for Thursday

Just do it! 

The piece from Cody

Yep, what the Nike ad says. Sometimes when you've had something on your to-do list for weeks, something you've been dreading doing...the best thing is to just do it!

I started the week with a pile of papers to file, a bunch of computer files to get organized and cleaned up. I keep a Word document of all the articles that go into the paper (I'll admit I'm a little compulsive about keeping the documents "just in case...)  and this comes to 40 or 50 documents a month...and it's hard to find a particular one when they're in no particular order in my documents.

I also had some catch-up things to do for the paper; I keep a list of articles I use every month to be sure I cover a variety of topics, and I also keep a list of writers who have given me permission to reprint their articles.

The one from Morgan

It's easy to put off these tasks; I don't "need" to do them, but when they're done and caught up it makes the process of getting the paper ready a lot easier. On Monday I was ready to tackle these tasks, planning to spend all day Monday and most of Tuesday to complete them.

My (fairly) neat desk...with
the art pieces above the
bulletin board where I see
them all the time. 

Imagine my surprise when they were all done by late Monday afternoon...and I'd even had time to clear off my bulletin board and hang up the really neat art pieces Cody and Morgan had given me for Mother's Day! I'm sure putting the paper together next week will go MUCH faster...and I've renewed my resolve to "just do it" when faced with those nagging tasks.

What nagging task are YOU going to do today or tomorrow?

"You'll never regret doing a workout"

These words of wisdom are from my sister Becky (Happy Birthday, Becky!) who has inspired me with her commitment to working out. I really didn't feel like running today and could have found plenty of reasons not to...but I remembered Becky's words and did go for a (very slow!) run. I don't know if I feel better now...but I do have the satisfaction of knowing that even if I don't accomplish much today, I did work out! 

And most importantly, words from our Father: 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 

What words of wisdom would you like to share today? 

We do not Lose Heart!

By Shelly Burke, Editor, Nebraska Family Times

(from Google Images)

Several months ago in a post titled "Lifting Up in Prayer"  how my prayer list just seemed to grow longer and longer. Since that time God has answered several of those prayers; several people had follow-up tests to see if cancers had spread and they had not, and one very specialized scan found absolutely no tumors, when the symptoms indicated the worst. There were many prayers of thanksgiving on the days of those positive results!  

However, since that day more people have been added to my prayer list and the lists of  many others. Friends and acquaintances continue to experience medical problems, financial problems, and personal problems. It is difficult to see others suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and it’s very discouraging to realize life isn’t turning out as we had planned, especially when we can’t see how things are going to work out.    

I know that I am not the only one to grow disheartened by a growing prayer list and circumstances that affect friends and family members. As Paul told the Corinthians (and therefore, us), “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (1 Corinthians 4:8-9 and 16)

Life is unpredictable. But these words tell us that we do not need to despair; we won’t be crushed, we won’t be abandoned, we won’t be destroyed…we do not lose heart, because we are sure of our faith. We can be absolutely positive that our Father in heaven will never, ever leave us!

(from Google Images)

Although we may be wasting away—literally or figuratively—inside, our heart and soul and mind are being renewed every day (2 Corin. 4:16) through our Bible study, prayer, and worshiping with other believers. The things we are facing today are “momentary”—lasting only while we are here on earth. When we believe that Jesus died and rose to forgive our sins, we know that through His grace, we will experience “the eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corin. 4:17).

                                                                                                      

Renew yourself today. Read a few chapters in your Bible. Pour your heart out to the Lord in prayer. Know that He is with you and hears your words. Feel joy that you will experience eternal glory beyond all comparison.

“Give ear to my words, o Lord;

consider my groaning.

Give attention to the sound of my cry,

my king and my God,

for to You do I pray.”

Psalm 5:1-2

Lord, You know what we each are experiencing today. You know our troubles and our worries. Thank you for your promise of eternal life! Amen.

I’m also blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is.

Check out today’s post, titled “Teach Your Children Well.”