Fun at the Fair

The Platte County Fair is always a high point of our summer. It’s great to see friends, and the kids are proud of the accomplishments from their hard work on projects.

This year, for the first year since Cody began showing 10 years ago, neither Cody or Morgan showed in the cattle show! Morgan showed sheep, and Cody, for the first time in the history of the Burkes showing at the fair, showed a pig! The kids both did great with their animals, and enjoyed spending time with friends.

Catching Up

After nine straight days of working my nursing job (eight of those nine days being shifts of 12 hours or more), and then being gone for four days to Missouri to visit my grandpa, I feel more than a little behind at home!

Tim, Cody, and {especially} Morgan kept things under control at home, and no one starved! I was happily surprised at how nice the house looked when I returned. My office, however, is another matter! Between being gone for work, and to Missouri, and putting the paper together, it’s a disaster, to put it mildly. And the cooking, cleaning, and laundry never ends . . . and my list of things to do for the paper just keeps getting longer and longer.

I am trying to keep what is most important . . . most important. I have the tendency to rush thru the day hurrying to get “things” done . . . and at the end of the day realize I have not taken time for Bible study, exercise, or even family. I’m trying to break that habit and take time for what is most important. My day always goes better when I start it with God. And my family is the most important thing in my life . . . I do not like to think about Cody and Morgan leaving for college in a few short years; they (and I!) will remember time spent with them more than dirty dishes (I hope).

And today I took a walk with Jenny, down to the barn where Morgan was shearing her sheep. It was fun to see her pride and excitement in getting them ready for the fair (check-in is tomorrow!) When I got back home I talked with Cody and his girlfriend. It wasn’t a “deep” conversation, but it’s always nice to just chat with them. When I get back home after a walk, my mind is always clearer, and my spirit is renewed from the fresh air and physical activity.

I’m making a resolution to make the most important things in my life . . . the most important. Or, as a wise man once said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing.”

Grassroots: Celebrating Northeast Nebraska Authors and Artists

The Abbey Christian bookstore in Norfolk is featuring an event that will showcase Nebraska authors and artists. On July 15th, from 6PM-9PM, area authors and musicians will be at the Abbey. Authors will give brief presentations and have their books available, and musicians will be playing outside, in front of the Abbey.

The Nebraska Family Times will attend the event, and as well as sample papers, I will have my books available. Books I have written include, “How to Find Your Perfect Job in Nursing,” “Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom’s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home,” and “What Should I Say? The Right (and Wrong!) Words and Deeds for Life’s Sticky, Tricky, Uncomfortable Situations.” During my presentation I will talk about how I came to write each book, and give suggestions to aspiring writers (I think everyone has a book in them!)

During the event, we will also be drawing for the July Summer Fun Giveaway, which features tickets to the Pawnee Plunge Waterpark in Columbus. We hope to see you at the Abbey July 15th!

Sign up for the Summer Fun Giveaway any time by sending me an e-mail with your name, address, and phone number, or calling me at (402) 750-3496.

July Paper

The July paper is here! And thanks to Marci and Lori, is being delivered in Norfolk. The mailing will be several days late as I’ll do it when I get home; no one else has the database of address labels! THANKS so much to Lori and Marcie for coordinating the pick up and deliveries. Thanks also to Lori’s daughter Rachel, who helped deliver in Norfolk.

I hope you enjoy the July issue of the paper! There are some neat features about local events and people in the paper. The front page features a local man who joined the Army and has had some huge accomplishments. Daniel Micek is from Silver Creek, NE. The front page also features a Norfolk project. A group of people are planning to make a Christian movie. “Fireproof,” a surprise hit in 2008, is a Christian movie made by a church, also.

July 16-18 CIKcrew (Christ is King) is planning a film school; The Art of Movie Making. The school is targeted toward members of the community who would like to learn more about what film production involves. For more information, visit CIKcrew.com.

As always, I look forward to your comments, suggestions, and ideas for the paper! You can e-mail me at shelly@shellyburke.net or call (402) 750-3496.

Grandpa

Thanks for all of your prayers for my grandpa! He had surgery in Springfield, MO, on June 28th. I arrived that night and spent the night with him; he was very restless and in some pain. I spent part of Monday and Tuesday with him at the hospital and he’s doing much better.

I also got to spend some time with my parents, and it was nice to have some time to talk with them. Grandpa will be in the hospital for at least another few days, then go to a rehabilitation facility. We continue to pray for him to heal and gain strength.

July Paper

WOW—another month has gone by already! The paper is on someone’s computer at the Wayne Herald, waiting to be printed on Monday.

A new columnist is featured on The Playroom pages this month; Morgan Burke! Morgan is 15 years old, loves to read, and wrote several book reviews for teenagers this month. She will be writing occasional teen book reviews for the paper. Marcie Sextro’s column also contains recommended reading to put on your summer reading list, so I hope you'll find some time to enjoy a Christian book this month.

The paper will be mailed and delivered sometime next week. I’m not sure of the day right now; my grandfather fell and broke his hip yesterday, in Bolivar, MO. He’ll be having surgery either tomorrow or Monday, and I feel like I should be there for him as well as for my mom and dad.

Please remember him in your prayers and pray for a fast and uneventful recovery. He has some underlying health problems but is cheerful and positive. He’s a very special man in our lives and we hate to think of him in pain. He has a strong belief in God and that gives us all a sense of peace. Marcie and Lori might be taking over the mailing and delivery for me this week but never fear, you’ll get your paper!

Christian Cross Festival

Top: Roger Miller and part of his family, winners of the June Summer Fun Giveaway

Middle: Macy and Morgan helping set up

Bottom: Lori Clausen and Shelly, taking a break

We had a wonderful time at the Christian Cross Festival in Norfolk! Morgan and I picked up her friend Macy at about 9:30, and we picked up Lori about 10:00.

The skies were threatening rain, and by the time we got to the park in Norfolk, it was pouring! None of us wanted to get out and find someone to tell us where to set up, so we sat in the vehicle for 45 minutes waiting for it to ease up. It didn’t. Finally an official at the event told us that because of the rain they were going to have to change the location of the event to the Divot’s Event Center . . . but that it wouldn’t start until 5 PM, giving the bands time to move and set up their equipment.

We took advantage of the time and went shopping! None of us had a long list, but it was fun to wander through the mall without being in a hurry.

We arrived at the Events Center and set up our table, and soon people began to arrive. Since the drawing for the Summer Fun Giveaway was at the event, we encouraged people to sign up for that and for the hourly giveaways. The hourly giveaways consisted of Winter Jam bags with CD’s and one of my books, “Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom’s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home.”

The June Summer Fun Giveaway included 10 tickets to the College World Series, a gas card, a cooler full of snacks to enjoy on the way to the game, and money for snacks at the game. After several hours of listening to Christian music by area bands, we drew for the Summer Fun Giveaway. Congratulations to winner Roger Miller and family of Battle Creek!

I lived in Battle Creek until I was 12 years old, and Roger said he remembered being a neighbor of ours! He and his family were thrilled to win the tickets and other goodies. Thanks to sponsors Preferred Insurance Agency, Battle Creek; Norfolk Transmission and Muffler Service, Norfolk; and Dr. Roger Curry, DDS, Omaha. These sponsors made the Summer Fun Giveaway possible!