Family News

Our family has had a very busy month. We’re preparing for our annual cattle sale, which will be the week before Thanksgiving. We also attended AKSARBEN, the livestock show in Omaha. Although I don’t help get the cattle ready to show (my “job” is taking pictures), I have many “show mom” friends and it was great to see and talk with them throughout the weekend.

Cody and Morgan and their friend McKinzie took part in the fitting contest at AKSAREBEN. In this contest, each team (which is required to include at least one girl, and one member 13 years old or under) has 30 minutes to get a calf ready to go into the show ring. It’s a contest of teamwork, as well as skill and know-how. The kids did great—their team won the contest for the second year in a row!

We enjoyed watching all of the teams compete—most of them included kids we knew. One of the neatest parts about showing cattle is that while the kids compete against each other, they help each other get ready for the show, and congratulate each other after the show, no matter who wins.

Stop the Presses!

"STOP THE PRESSES!"

Not really, I've just wanted to say that ever since I took over the paper.

I'm so happy to say that "my" first issue of the paper has been printed! I haven't picked it up yet; I'll do that tomorrow. But I've seen the first issue; the lady who lays the paper out sent a copy of it to me via computer. It was really neat to see the articles I'd picked out all together in their appropriate place in the paper. I'm sure it will be even more of a thrill to hold the actual paper in my hot little hands!

My goal was to find a wide variety of articles--for information, for fun, for inspiration--about a variety of topics relevant to Christian Nebraska families. And I think I did! Some of the articles will give you an insight into current American culture, and this is information you probably won't find in any mainstream news source. Several articles will provide you with information you can put to use immediately! And some articles are just plain fun--we all need more of that in our days. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments! Please email me at shelly@shellyburke.net.

Speaking of news . . . there is plenty of "bad" news these days. I would like to remind all of my readers that it is the motivation of most news sources is to get the most viewers; the best way to do that is to present the "news" in the worst possible light. Choose your news carefully . . . and in small doses.

Realistically, there is very little that we, as individuals, can do to change the financial situation or what's going on in the world. Please consider using your time and energy to make sure your personal or family financial situation is the best it can be.

To ultimately affect national and world events, take advantage of a privilege we have in this country and VOTE! Become an informed voter. We know that no candidate is perfect, but vote for the one who is the closest to your ideal, whether it be for president, senator, governor, school board member, mayor of your town.