Paper Delivery and Mailing Week

It was a busy week, but I feel that I accomplished a lot! We got the papers packed (for sponsors who receive 10 copies or more every month to display in their waiting room or reading material area), addressed (for individual subscribers), and mailed at the Bulk Mail Unit in Norfolk, and delivered to businesses and churches in Norfolk and Columbus.

Lori is out of town this week, so Morgan helped me with deliveries. It was fun to spend the time with her, and we even had some time to do school shopping after we made deliveries in Norfolk.

I always wonder what people think when they receive their papers. I hope they look forward to reading the issue that they receive, and get something out of the articles in the paper.

I had several people tell me, today when I delivered papers, that they were happy to see me with the new issue! That made my day!

Letting Others Know about the Nebraska Family Times

Today I met with a friend, Cheryl, who is considering working with me on the paper! I’m interested in finding someone who will help me do research in areas in which I’d like to market the paper. I would like the paper to be sponsored in churches and hospitals, so church members/patients/visitors could read a paper and take it home if they wanted to.

Cheryl will work on making calls to determine who, in hospitals, we should send a sample paper, letter, and information to. Lori, my Assistant, is going to work on compiling a database of churches, so we can send them the same information.

When I tell people about the Nebraska Family Times, I find that few of them have heard of the paper! I think the Nebraska Family Times is a very important Christian resource, so am trying to spread the word.

I hope readers of the paper will also spread the word. Just ask people you know if they’ve heard of the paper. If you’re willing to part with your copy, offer to let them borrow it. They can also request a free sample copy from me and I’ll be glad to send it out!

August Newspaper

The August issue of the paper is full of articles for all readers!

There are several articles I think will touch many readers. On the front page you’ll find an article about The Big D; Divorce Through the Eyes of a Teen. The class, for kids age 14-18 whose parents are divorced, begins September 2 in Columbus. The class will help kids learn to balance two lives when custody is shared, and will also help kids establish their own set of values when living in households with different sets of values. For more information call Linda Meyers-Bock at (402) 276-2208.

The article Straight Talk About Casual Sex separates truth from what the media portrays as the “joys” of casual sex. Parents—read the article and talk with your kids about the issues addressed within, or ask your kids to read the article and discuss it with them later.

Pray God’s Promises for Your Kids’ Lives gives guidelines for praying for your kids now and in the future.

The August issue should arrive in your mailbox, or at the business/church where you pick it up, by July 31st. As always, I look forward to your comments and suggestions!

{If you read this after the August issue has been distributed, call and request a copy; I usually have a few issues left over and will be happy to send you one at no charge if they are available!}

Starting the Week

I work at my nursing job almost every Monday. I enjoy working Mondays; it gives me a good start to the week. While I’m at work, I have a chance to think about what I want and need to accomplish during the week.

I usually do errands after work, since I’m on the way to Columbus anyway. It’s a good feeling to get home and have the groceries and supplies I’ll need for the week.

Today I also worked on the paper; I need to have all the articles to Jennifer by Wednesday so she can get the paper set up. My mission is to find articles that will inspire, encourage, and motivate readers in their Christian walk, and sometimes it’s hard to find articles that I think will benefit readers. This was one of those months; I searched my usual good sources, but the articles just weren’t “good enough.” I will work on the paper again tomorrow, and pray that I’ll find articles that you’ll enjoy.

Back to work!

Grassroots Event at The Abbey

It was fun to meet new authors and hear the music at The Abbey tonight!

All of the authors were asked to give a brief presentation, and I talked about my writing career. I enjoyed hearing the other authors talk about how they’d come to be writers.

Thanks to Kay Marshall at The Abbey for arranging the event!

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.