September Editor's Letter

Getting Back into a Routine


Since Cody and Morgan are both back to school, I guess that means summer is over! While I love the more un-scheduled days of summer, it is nice to get back into a routine. Cody started his sophomore year at Kansas State this week and seems to be enjoying his classes. Morgan started her college class (Spanish) on Monday, and her high-school senior year on Tuesday. It was bittersweet to take the last “first-day-of-school” picture, but she’s excited about her senior year and college next year, and we are glad about that (see Morgan's first, first-day-of-school and last, first-day-of-school photos, below).

We are also looking forward to the State Fair and AKSARBEN in September, and Tim is also holding a pasture sale mid-September. The month will fly by!

I accomplished a business goal this summer in creating a blog and Face Book page for my book Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom’s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home. You’ll find excerpts from the book and posts by moms of kids of all ages on the blog at http://www.achristianmomsguide.blogspot.com/. You can also “like” the Nebraska Family Times Face Book page and, between regular issues of the paper, receive links to articles that will “inspire, encourage, and motivate you in your Christian walk.”

September brings the 10th anniversary of September 11th, 2001. Like everyone, I clearly remember what I was doing that day. I had walked Cody and Morgan to school and came home to the news that the planes had crashed into the Twin Towers. I had been busy raising Cody and Morgan so hadn’t paid much attention to international news, and the concept of “terrorism” was pretty new to me. I remember thinking that I was glad we lived in the middle of the United States, where nothing was likely to happen…and then I heard on the radio that a “large distinctive airplane” (which of course turned out to be Air Force One, carrying President Bush) had just landed at Sac Air Force Base.

As I watched the events of the day unfold, I was sad to think that Cody and Morgan (who .were in 4th and 2nd grade) and their classmates would not remember a world in which “terrorism” was not an everyday term. The world changes were very evident in November of 2001 when our family flew to northern Wisconsin to celebrate Thanksgiving. We were greeted at the airport by BIG dogs, men with guns…and several security guards converging on us when the x-ray of Morgan’s backpack revealed a fork that I’d forgotten to remove with the rest of her lunch items.

In the days and weeks after 9/11 Tim and I had the task of explaining what had happened, and what could happen, to Cody and Morgan. Although it was very unlikely that any of us would ever be affected directly by terrorism, we have no guarantees on the number of our days. We were thankful that we could reassure our kids (and ourselves!) that if the worst happened—from terrorism, an accident, an illness, or any other cause—we could be absolutely certain that we would go to heaven and see each other again someday.

Our country is blessed to have men and women willing to serve in the military. Please remember them and their families in your prayers. And also remember those who lost loved ones and were directly involved in and impacted by September 11th, 2001.

Although there are wars and rumors of war and strife both within our country and throughout the world, we can be assured that God will not change. He is in charge, He knows what is happening, and He has promised us eternal life. And although I don’t think we’ll ever see world peace, we can have the peace that passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7).

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

God’s blessings and peace to you!
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Morgan's first, first-day-of-school. She's pictured with her first dog, Hershey.

Morgan's last, first-dayof-school. Morgan is pictured with her dog, Jenny.
She's also sitting on the SAME swing that's in the first picture!

May Editor's Letter

April showers (and snow showers!) bring May flowers!

Another month has flown by and I’m so glad to see the trees and grass getting green—even if the sky is gray today. The last few mornings and evenings I’ve seen deer grazing in the pasture across from our home, and wild turkeys in the shelterbelt. Yesterday I even heard the frogs in our pond—spring is here!

May will be a busy month for us! Cody will go on a 10-day trip to China on an Agricultural tour at the end of the month. He’s going with about 15 other students from Kansas State University and is excited to see a new part of the world.

The last month of Morgan’s junior year will be filled with the FFA and FBLA banquets, prom, finals, and signing up for summer classes through the college. She’s planning to be a counselor at a camp near our home right after school is out, and is excited to be home for the summer spending more time riding her horse and working with her cattle.

Tim and I are looking forward to both kids being home more for the summer. He will be glad to have the extra help at the ranch and I’ll be glad to have my family close.

At the end of the month I’m going to Seward for a few days to attend The Women’s Leadership Institute School for Writers. I’m excited to learn more about writing; some of the classes are taught by Concordia Publishing House Editor so I’ll be learning from the best! I’m not sure what direction God has for me with my writing, but I look forward to finding out.

May also brings Mother’s Day. I am very thankful for my kids and my very special mother and mother-in-law! I am so blessed with a wonderful family.

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The Nebraska Family Times is now on FaceBook! Check us out and “like” the page; when enough people “like” the page I’ll have access to statistics about how many people viewed the site, clicked through on the links, etc. In other words I’ll know what to do to make it better! Also check out the Nebraska Family Times blog at www.nebraskafamilytimes.blogspot.com. I will have links to some of my favorite sites and other Christian information you’ll be interested in.

One of my main goals for the paper this year is to increase distribution throughout Nebraska. Would you like to help? Just tell your friends and family about the paper. Consider showing it to owners of businesses you patronize (I’ll send you free extra copies upon request.) If anyone purchases a sponsorship or advertises because you introduced them to the paper, you’ll receive commission for doing so! If you’d like to talk about promoting the paper, e-mail me at shelly@shellyburke.net or call (402) 993-2467 and we will talk and you can decide if this is something you’d like to do. There are NO start-up costs—all supplies are provided—and no minimum selling requirements.

Have a fantastic month!

April Editor's Letter

The last few weeks have been filled with sadness and joy for me, after my two private duty patients died. I cared for Lisa several times a week for more than 5 years, and I supervised Josh’s care for several years as well. Private duty nursing is unique in that these nurses develop a close relationship not only with the patient, but with their families as well.

Lisa and Josh were both disabled for many years, and required high levels of care from their parents, nurses, and other caregivers. I was blessed to get to know both of them and their families…they and their families taught me so much about life and difficult circumstances. Some of the neatest moments I have experienced as a nurse were when Lisa and Josh recognized me and smiled at me. We are sad, because they are no longer here with us...yet we are so happy knowing they are in heaven, healthy and whole.

On March 13th our niece, Leighton, was baptized. Several weeks ago my sister asked Tim and I to be sponsors, and we immediately said "yes." What a joy to be asked to be part of her spiritual life!

During the service, as Tim and I, the other sponsors, and my sister's family were going up to the front of the church for the baptism, Tim pulled a piece of paper out of his suit jacket pocket. He looked a little startled and then showed it to me. My eyes immediately filled with tears; it was the funeral service folder for my grandfather, who died almost exactly a year ago. His picture is on the front of the service folder, and seeing his face reminded me that he, too, had been baptized many years ago...and because of that baptism and his faith, he was in heaven. And now as we brought Leighton to baptism, she, too, would enter God's kingdom when she left this earth, just as Josh and Lisa had both been brought for baptism and now were in heaven.

I do not believe in coincidences...I believe that when things like this happen they are "God-incidences." I'm so thankful that God reminded me of His promise to my patients, to grandpa, to Leighton, to Tim and I and our children...to my friend who lost her daughter in a car accident...to another friend whose grandson died...to everyone who believes in Him...because of His love for us, and His sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, we will ALL have that promise of heaven…if we only believe.
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Tim has been busy with the usual activities of early spring months—calving! We’ve had more than 100 calves so far. There are a lot of mother cows and their babies in “my” pasture—the pasture I can see from almost every window in our house—and I just love watching the calves run and jump and play in the morning when their moms are eating.

Tim and I went to a weather spotter’s training class last week. It was very interesting to learn more about the clouds and storm systems that product tornadoes. While we definitely hope NOT to see any tornadoes, we’ll know a lot more about the storms that produce them.

Morgan stays busy with her school activities and friends, and she’s thinking more about her college options. We’re going to visit several Nebraska colleges this spring. She’s even considering going to Midland College—my alma mater!

Cody is on his way home right now, to spend a few days of his spring break with us. He is eagerly looking forward to a trip to China this spring. He’ll be seeing the great sights of China and also studying some of the agriculture of the area.
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I hope you enjoy this issue of the Nebraska Family Times! In looking over the articles I’ve chosen and written, a wide range of topics is covered. Please let me know if there are any topics you would like to see covered! It’s been fun to print more articles from local authors. If you are interested in writing a book, CD, or movie review, or article for the paper, please e-mail me with your review, or your ideas. I appreciate hearing from readers, whether it’s about something you enjoy about the paper, or something I could do better.
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And I close with a verse from Lisa’s funeral, and two verses from a song at Josh’s funeral, both of which I hope remind you of the hope we have in Jesus.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4

He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same;
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives;
I know that my Redeemer lives!

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

March Editor's Letter

NFT Editor’s Letter March 2011

Spring is in the air! Yesterday I saw a robin AND a bluebird, and the temperature is supposed to get up to 70 today! I’m enjoying every moment of it. We’ve been having baby calves and last weekend Morgan rode her horse, Maggie, for the first time this year. The trees are still bare and the ground is brown, but I know soon there will be green everywhere.

I love to watch Nebraska sunrises this time of year. The clouds and colors change constantly during the half hour or so before the sun rises. It’s amazing to see the beauty that God has given us to enjoy!

I have always been awed by how I can use the wise words of the Bible, written thousands of years ago, to guide my life today. I’ve been studying United States history and I’ve been amazed at how the words of the Founding Fathers also apply to our lives, and issues in our country, today. To that end there will be a new feature in the paper, called “Wise Words then and Now,” which will feature quotes from the Founding Fathers. I think you’ll enjoy what they had to say—the more I learn about United States history the more I want to learn!

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Nebraska Family Times. Every month I pray that the articles will “inspire, encourage, and motivate” readers on their Christian walk. I’ve been printing articles from some new authors and sources, and I hope you enjoy them. If you have any comments about or suggestions for articles or issues to cover, please let me know! Several readers have sent me links that have led to articles I would not have otherwise known about—THANK YOU!

If you enjoy the Nebraska Family Times, please share it with others. You can request up to 5 free copies to share; just e-mail me at shelly@shellyburke.net or call (402) 993-2467. My goal this year is to spread the word about the Nebraska Family Times to people throughout the state of Nebraska.

God bless you and your family as you enjoy spring!

February Editor's Letter

BRRRR! I’m looking outside at snow and I’m glad I am inside right now. Thankfully we haven’t had as severe a winter as last year, but winter is definitely hitting our part of Nebraska.

Our year is off to a great start!

Cody had a great first semester at college! It was nice to have him home for a few weeks for Christmas vacation. He’s excited to start his second semester, and looking forward to a trip to China in May. Morgan also had a great first semester and is also looking forward to the second semester and continuing to work on the yearbook and school newspaper. Soon she and Tim will be up during the night when the cows start calving (I have not “learned” how to do night checks).

We’re celebrating the birth of a new niece/cousin, Leighton Lynn Edwards. I got to meet Leighton when she was just a few days old. A new baby is truly a miracle! To think that just a few days before I met her, she was in her mother’s womb, totally dependent on Becky…and immediately upon being born her body had to change so she could eat and breathe on her own…Mom and dad were visiting Leighton (and her big sister Logan and their mom and dad) when I was there and it was nice to see them, too.

In the Editor’s Letter last month I told you how I would use the Bible verses of Philippians 4:6-9 as my guide for the year. The verse is on the bulletin board in my office above my desk, so I see it every day as I work. The verse is printed in the paper again this month so you can cut it out if you missed the opportunity to do so last month.

I hope you enjoy several new features in the Nebraska Family Times.

Share the fun events in your family by taking out a Happy Ad! See sample Happy Ads, and information about taking out your own Happy Ad, in this issue of the paper.

I have always been awed by how I can use the wise words of the Bible, written thousands of years ago, to guide my life today. I’ve been studying United States history and I’ve been amazed at how the words of the Founding Fathers also apply to our lives, and issues in our country, today. To that end I’ll be choosing several Wise Words then and Now and printing them every month. I think you’ll enjoy what the Founding Fathers had to say—the more I learn about United States history the more I want to learn!

Recent events led me to publish the Focus on Youth section, with information about cyberbullying and youth violence. By learning about these issues, you can make a difference. Please share the articles with friends, parents, teachers, and anyone else you think could learn from them.

What would YOU like to see covered in the Nebraska Family Times? I’m continually trying to improve the paper so that it “inspires, encourages, and motivates you in your Christian walk.” Please share your ideas with me at shelly@shellyburke.net, by mail at Nebraska Family Times, 42887 G. G. Road, Genoa, NE, 68640. You can also call and talk to me personally at (402) 993-2467.

God bless you and your family this February! Keep warm!

January Editor's Letter

I love the feeling of starting a new year. Even though it’s just the day after the last day of the previous year, it’s still an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to improve all of those things I want to improve in myself—exercise more, cook healthier meals, keep the house cleaner, save more money—the same things I’ve been trying to improve (with various levels of success) for years.

This year I’m going to do something a little different. I’ll still have my other goals, of course, but I’m going to add something to give me overall guidance in everything I do in 2011. I’m going to have a “Bible Verse of the Year.”

The idea was inspired in part by what I think was my favorite book this year, “The Happiness Project,” by Gretchen Rubin. The author says she was not unhappy, but wanted to focus on the things that really mattered to her.

As part of that quest, she created a theme, with associated goals, for every month. One of my overall themes will be using my time more wisely. (I’m still deciding what my monthly themes will be; I’m writing this December 22 so I have over a week to decide).

I have been praying about how I spend my time, and asking God to help me make the best use of my time. At this point He is not leading me to cut out any activities in my life. Until and unless I get the guidance to do so, I’m going to focus on making the best possible use of the time I have.

Then I received an e-mail devotion which turned out to be one of the front page articles of this issue of the Nebraska Family Times. “Don’t Overthink It” really spoke to me because I’ve always had the tendency to worry about things—which is a way of overthinking them. The Bible verses that author Rachel Olsen refers to in the devotion have always been some of my favorite.

All of these things—thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2012, trying to figure out how to better manage my time, and reading “Don’t Overthink It”--inspired me to decide to have a Bible Verse of the Year, which will help me to accomplish all of these things.

I’ve chosen Philippians 4:6-9, the same verse that Rachel Olsen used in her article. The verse is printed in a box on this page so that if you’d like, you can cut it out and hang it on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror and refer to it daily, too.

The verses will remind me to turn to God rather than worrying. And during the day I will ask myself if I am focusing on the right things, doing the right things, and thinking about the right things—things that are pure, lovely, excellent, praiseworthy, commendable, worthy of praise, true, and right. (These descriptions are given in different versions of the Bible). If not, I should be doing or thinking about something else. Analyzing what I’m doing will help me to cut out activities that are not helping me achieve my goals.

I plan to write or type the verses several times so I can have a copy in my office, kitchen, bathroom, purse, etc., and read them throughout the day. Consider finding a favorite verse and using it for your “verse of the year”!


Remember Christmas last year? We had one of the biggest blizzards in years the week before Christmas, and another on Christmas Eve. Many, many families didn’t get to spend Christmas the way they usually did. We missed Christmas Eve church for the first time in many years. It doesn’t sound like we’ll have to worry about snow this year!

I’m excited to have my family all together again for at least a few days! God and weather willing we will all go to church together this Christmas Eve, and celebrate the birth of Christ with our church family and friends. I hope you will do the same. And I hope all of us will remember not to just celebrate His birth and life on Christmas, but every single day of 2011. With Him, every day can be a new start, no matter what the calendar says.


I hope to hear from readers in 2011! God bless you and your family in 2011!

December Editor's Letter

Merry Christmas!

And Happy 19th Birthday Cody! He was born today, November 18th, at just about the time I’m writing this letter. What a joy it has been to be a parent to both Cody and Morgan!

Cody is in Louisville, KY today, with Tim. He won the steer show at the Livestock Exposition last weekend, and his steer Crash sells this evening. It was Cody’s last cattle show so was a great end to his showing career. Morgan and I were unable to go to the show, but it was broadcast over the Internet so we were able to watch from home. Cody, Morgan, and Tim worked many, many hours to get Crash ready for the show, and it was nice to see their hard work pay off.

For the most part it’s been fun to be a parent, but there are scary times too, and we had a scary time about three weeks ago when Morgan was diagnosed with viral meningitis. Viral meningitis is much less serious than bacterial meningitis, but Morgan was in a lot of pain and very sick for a few days. Thankfully our prayers were answered and she is recovering. She is attending her first full day of school since she got sick, today.

I really enjoyed putting this issue of the Nebraska Family Times together. Tracy Buzynski, who helps with promotion and publication (and great ideas!) compiled the Human Services Awareness list. I hope you will consider helping out one or more of these organizations if you are able to.

Several people commented on how they enjoyed the Christmas Quiz in the December issue of the paper last year, so I included a quiz in this issue as well! I hope you enjoy it.

Teen “pharming” is an issue that has, unfortunately, come to the Columbus area. Educate yourself on “pharming” by reading “Dangers of Pharming,” by Pharmacist Linda Myers-Bock, in this issue.

I hope you enjoy the variety of articles in this issue of the paper! If you have any suggestions or comments on articles in this issue, or issues you’d like to see covered in a future edition of the paper, please let me know! I appreciate your comments, suggestions, and yes, even complaints. My mission is to “encourage, inspire, and motivate you on your Christian walk,” and I pray that I do that every month.

May God bless you and your family this Christmas season!



This is a picture of my computer screen which shows Cody showing Crash.

November Editor's Letter

Giving Thanks

Give thanks, with a grateful heart,
Give thanks, to the Holy One,
Give thanks, because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son…
And now, let the weak say “I am strong”,
Let the poor say “I am rich,” because of what the Lord has done for us,
Give thanks.

This is one of my favorite “thanksgiving” songs. I definitely have a grateful heart this month, first of all because God did give Jesus Christ, His Son, for me and for all believers.

I am also thankful to God for my family and the wonderful times we have together with each other, and with our friends. Cody’s steer, Otter, was the Grand Champion at the AK-SAR-BEN cattle show last month! It was a great way for Cody to end his years showing at AK-SAR-BEN (he will be too old next year). Cody’s good friend Nathan had the Champion Market Hog; we got a unique and fun picture of Cody and Nathan with their champion animals. No one was quite sure if the calf and pig would get along, but they behaved just fine, as you can see from the picture.

Morgan’s heifer Sadie was the Reserve Champion Chianina heifer at AKSARBEN, and Morgan was in the showmanship finals as well. It was a very good show for us and for many of our friends.

Morgan is keeping very busy with school activities; she recently joined the speech team. I am thankful that I’ve already learned about Avogadro’s Number and figuring out the atomic mass of a compound (I might have learned it, but I can’t say I remember it, although Morgan tried to explain it to me…).

Tim is thankful for the nice weather we’ve had recently. We are getting ready for the annual cattle sale in November (“we” as in Tim does all the hard work and I take phone messages when necessary!).

I’m thankful that I love my work—my work as a nurse as well as my work as the Editor and Publisher of the Nebraska Family Times,

By this time last year, we’d already had a snow storm! Remember how long and cold the winter was? I’m thankful that I can already say that ”This winter is shorter than last winter.”

I’m thankful for everyone who reads the Nebraska Family Times, especially when they take the time to tell me when they’ve enjoyed an article, and even when they have a suggestion for something I could do differently. Thanks also for spreading the word about the paper; it’s my prayer that it will get into the hands of everyone who needs encouragement, inspiration, and motivation on their Christian walk (don’t we all?).

Thank you to the Nebraska Family Times advertisers and sponsors, as well! Without you the paper could not be published. I enjoy delivering the paper every month and meeting the people who work in the businesses that sponsor and support the paper.

I hope you enjoy the Thanksgiving edition of the Nebraska Family Times! Thanks to everyone who sent in their contribution for “Keeping Christ in Christmas.” You will see some of their ideas in the Play Room section of the paper. More ideas will appear in the December issue of the paper; please send your input to shelly@shellyburke.net.

I know that while I might not be rich by the standards of the world, I am definitely rich in what the Lord has done for me and for my family. I pray that the Lord will bless you richly, as well.

Editor's Letter October

Last month I was “challenged” by computer problems. Ultimately the experts found that I’d used up all the memory on my old computer, and that’s why it was giving me problems. Thankfully, they had a refurbished computer, with four times the memory, that was within my budget. I was very happy that they (“they” being Chopper’s Computers in Columbus) were able to transfer everything from my old computer, to the new (new to me) computer. The only thing I was unable to access was all of my accounting records, meaning I had to re-enter them all. I’d printed out all of the records just a few months ago so was able to get them all re-entered in just a few days. And my new computer works great!

Ecclesiastes tells us that ”There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). September seems to have been my time for breaking things. I was surprised to walk into our laundry room a few weeks ago into several inches of water…thankfully the washing machine just needed a minor part replaced.

Almost as soon as the washing machine was back in working order, the microwave made a scary “BZZZZT” noise and stopped working. We got by for several weeks…until the stove made a similar noise, followed by a “POP” and a little whisp of smoke…unfortunately the repair man said that there is no “repair” for the stove. I briefly considered challenging myself to cook for my family using only the George Foreman grill, griddle, and crock pot…but I think my family would quickly grow tired of that. We got a new microwave yesterday, and will be getting a new stove soon. (If you have any recommendations as to what brand to get, please let me know!)

One friend suggested that maybe the appliances breaking was my sign that I was supposed to take a break from laundry and cooking. Another friend, who was on a trip when all of this happened, texted me that she was glad that I wasn’t on the airplane with her as she was returning home!

I don’t know if there is a message in all of the things that have broken…but I do know that every time something works as it’s supposed to, I’m thankful!

Cody came home from college last weekend and we were all happy to see him. I’m not sure if he was happier to see us, or his cattle! He’s enjoying college life. Morgan has been very busy with her school activities and taking care of Cody’s cattle. The AK-SAR-BEN cattle show is this weekend, and we are all looking forward to it!

I really enjoyed putting together this issue of the Nebraska Family Times! The article Chocolate Covered Grace shows us all how God’s grace can cover all of our mess-ups and sins. Loving and Lumping reminds us that our actions can influence what others think of Christians.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. Neither of these topics are uplifting, but they are issues that are relevant to us all. I hope the articles in this issue of the Nebraska Family Times will increase your awareness and encourage action when needed.

Please continue to share your ideas for “Keeping Christ in Christmas”! I will share your ideas in the next two issues of the paper, so you can consider including some of them in your Christmas celebration.

May God bless you this fall!

It will be with relief that I click “Send” and get this last item of the paper sent in…and I hope that nothing else breaks for at least a few months!

August Editor's Letter

We have had a great summer so far! Morgan was the Grand Champion Intermediate Showman at the Charolais Jr. National Show in South Dakota, and Cody had the Grand Champion Steer at the Platte County Fair! It was a great way for him to end his county fair career—he will be too old to show at the fair next year. Tim and I really enjoyed watching both kids compete; the competition was tough in both events. And we also watched them enjoy time with their friends before and after the shows.

Big changes are ahead for our family; Cody will leave for college (he’s going to Kansas State University) in August. He’s excited to start this new stage in his life. We will miss him but we’re also excited for him. Morgan has been busy with FFA and FBLA meetings and she’s getting excited to start her junior year. She’s ridden her horse, Maggie, several times this summer. It’s fun to watch them ride across the pasture.

Tim is busy preparing for the club calf internet sale Sept. 12th. All the cattle will have pictures and a short video on the internet. This technology makes it easy for people from anywhere in the country to view the cattle and bid.

August is a big “anniversary” month for our family. Tim and I will celebrate our 21st anniversary on August 5th; my mom and dad will be married 45 years on August 21st, and my Grandma and Grandpa Christian will celebrate 68 years together on August 19th. Our family is blessed to have examples of enduring marriages.

I really enjoyed putting together this issue of the Nebraska Family Times! You’ll find a wide variety of articles about both local and national events.

I would like to encourage every mom of pre-school aged children to consider joining a MOPS group (you’ll find an article about MOPS in the paper this month). I was a member of the first MOPS group in the Columbus area, when Morgan was in pre-school. I so enjoyed meeting other Christian moms and sharing both joys and challenges with them. It was reassuring to talk with the other moms at MOPS and realize that no matter what I’d done, or what one of my kids had done, someone else had had the same experience. Many friends I made in MOPS are still friends today.

This is the final month the Reader Questionnaire will appear in the paper; please fill it out so I can produce a paper that you will enjoy, and that will “encourage, inspire, and motivate you” in your Christian walk. Thanks to all who have already filled out and returned their questionnaire.

If you would like an extra copy of the Nebraska Family Times to share with a friend, call or e-mail. I’ll be happy to send up to 5 copies (at no charge) for you to share.

Enjoy the rest of summer, and God’s blessings to everyone who reads the Nebraska Family Times!

Editor's Letter July 2010

I hope you are enjoying your summer!

It’s been a busy month for our family. I’m so happy that Cody and Morgan are home from school for the summer! I don’t get to see them a lot, as they’re very busy with their cattle and helping Tim at the ranch, but it’s still nice to know they’re close by.

We’ve been to several cattle shows this month and next month is the Platte County Fair. Morgan will also be showing at the National Chianina show in Springfield, IL. As well as showing her heifers Sadie and Unforgettable, Morgan will be taking part in several contests, including Salesmanship, Team Fitting, Livestock Judging, and Public Speaking.

Cody went to Manhattan, KS, for college orientation several weeks ago. He became more familiar with the college and enjoyed getting to know some of his soon-to-be classmates and choosing his classes. I think he is excited to start college.


I hope you enjoy this issue of the Nebraska Family Times!

Please fill out the Reader Questionnaire and return it to me. By reading your answers and suggestions, I can make sure I’m printing and writing articles that are of interest to you and will “Inspire, encourage, and motivate you in your Christian walk.”

I had the pleasure of attending the first Nebraska Christian Music Festival in Hastings, NE, last week. Rain threatened all day, but did not interfere with the fun of meeting and hearing performers. I enjoyed meeting several people who planned the event, and I’m happy to report they are planning to hold the Festival again next year! You’ll see a report of the Festival in the paper this month.

If you are planning, or aware of, any Christian events, please let me know! I enjoy writing about and promoting those events, and readers enjoy knowing about and attending them. You can reach me at (402) 993-2467, (402) 750-3496, or shelly@shellyburke.net.

May God bless you and your family this month!

Editor's Letter June 2010

CONGRATULATIONS to all graduates, especially our son Cody, who graduated from Lakeview High School on May 16th. It was a wonderful day filled with family, fun, and pride in Cody’s accomplishments. He will be attending Kansas State University in the fall. What a milestone!

When I belonged to a MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) group years ago, one of our mentors said, “The days with your children may seem long…but the years will seem short.” Those were very wise words, and I pass them on to every mother of young children.

Most of May was filled with preparing for Cody’s graduation party and the graduation itself. We were blessed with good weather and the presence of many friends and family members to celebrate with us.

School is out now and Cody and Morgan are getting ready for summer cattle shows. I’m sure the summer will go fast! It’s my favorite season of the year—I even like the heat.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers! I am blessed to have a father who always encourages and supports me in whatever I want to do, and he’s always quick to encourage my family in their endeavors, as well. And he always, always can make me laugh, no matter what kind of mood I’m in. THANKS, dad!

I’m also blessed to have a husband who is a wonderful father. He never hesitates to spend time with and help Cody and Morgan, no matter how tired he is or how long his to-do list is. Tim is a huge factor in the happy, productive children Cody and Morgan are. THANKS, Tim!

In the paper you’ll find an article about parable of The Prodigal Son, but with the focus on the father, rather than the son. You’ll see how the father’s actions are like our heavenly Father’s actions as well.

As I was shopping for graduation gifts, I found a book called College 101; Campus Life for Christians. I highly recommend it as a gift; you’ll find a review of the book in the Playroom pages of this issue of the Nebraska Family Times.

I’ve also included a reader survey in the paper. Please fill it out to let me know how I’m doing as editor, and what you’d like to continue to see, see more of, or maybe see less of, in the paper. My prayer is to produce a paper that will encourage, inspire, and motivate you in your Christian walk, and I need your help and suggestions to do that.

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Nebraska Family Times! May God bless you this summer!

Shelly

Editor's Letter May 2010

Another month has flown by!

It’s good to see the trees and pastures getting green again! It seems like they were white or brown for a very long time. The ducks are back on our pond, the wild turkeys are wandering around, and I’ve even seen a few deer. I am so thankful for the blessings and beauty of nature.

We have another new baby donkey! That brings our “donkey herd” size to nine. I’ve been asked where we got all the donkeys, and what we do with them. Some of them we own, and some belong to other people and are just visiting for now. We used the donkeys last year to protect the sheep, and this year to protect the baby calves; donkeys keep away coyotes that will kill sheep and calves. The donkeys will actually kill coyotes if they come too close. We also use the donkeys to train calves to show, if they’re too difficult for Tim and Cody and Morgan to train. A difficult-to-train calf is tied to a donkey (it does not hurt either animal) and the donkey will not let the calf buck, run, etc. After a few hours or days, the calf is tame enough for kids to lead.

We are busy getting ready for Cody’s graduation! He will graduate from Lakeview High School on May 16th. We approach this milestone with bittersweet feelings; we are so happy that he is excited about this next stage in his life (he will be attending Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS next year) but in a way sad that he will not be around our home as much come next fall. We know that kids growing up and leaving home is part of God’s plan, and we trust that He will continue to keep watch over Cody.

Morgan is excited to serve as Secretary for the Lakeview FBLA next year; she is also applying for Secretary of the FFA chapter. She’s looking forward to going to several national and regional cattle shows this summer.

Happy Mother’s Day! I am so thankful for my own mother, Mary Geil, who has taught me so much and has shown me love, encouragement, and support in everything I do. I love you mom! I’m also thankful for my mother-in-law Anne; I’m so glad you live so close and are always supportive and willing to help me and my family.

I pray for God’s comfort for mothers who face Mother’s Day without a child this year (due to death) and children of any age who face Mother’s Day without their mothers.

We also celebrate Memorial Day at the end of May. Please remember our servicemen and servicewomen and their families in your prayers, and thank them when you see them. Our country is so blessed to have men and women willing to protect our country.

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Nebraska Family Times! As always, my prayer is that you will find inspiration, encouragement, and motivation in the articles. I appreciate your comments and suggestions, so if there’s something you’d like to see in the paper, please let me know. You can reach me by email at shelly@shellyburke.net or by phone at (402) 993-2467.

May God bless your May!

Editor's Letter, February

Happy February!

Here is the February Editor’s Letter from the NFT.

Editor’s Letter—Feb. 2010

I hope your year is off to a great start!

How do we comprehend a tragedy like the earthquake in Haiti? The news of the earthquake was sad, but seemed very far away—until I read on Facebook that two of my cousins were requesting prayers for another cousin, who was in Haiti with her husband on a mission trip. That news hit very close to home as a network of relatives and friends prayed for Joy and Joel’s safety. Thankfully, in a matter of hours we heard that they were safe. Despite the destruction they were able to communicate via the Internet.

As they waited for a way out of the country, they and their medical team (they are both Physician Assistants) worked at a hospital or makeshift clinic at a soccer stadium. They finally returned to the United States on Tuesday. We thank God that they are safe, and continue to pray for the country of Haiti and the people providing relief. The article “Live with Haiti in Your Heart,” in this issue of the paper, gives further insight to the lessons of Haiti and how we can help.

As always, the high point of our month was our trip to the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO. Morgan’s heifer, Sadie, was named Reserve Grand Champion Prospect Breeding Heifer, and Cody was named Champion Senior Showman. We enjoyed spending time with friends of ours who show cattle and sheep, and enjoyed the warm and sunny weather in Denver.

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Nebraska Family Times! As always, I pray that I’ve selected and written articles that will “inspire, encourage, and motivate you” on your Christian walk.

Since we celebrate Valentine’s Day in February, I’ve printed several articles about marriage, taken from my book Home is Where the Mom Is. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and we work to make our marriage a good one and hope you celebrate your love on Valentine’s Day and throughout the month.

I’m not a sports fan, but enjoyed reading about Tim Tebow, a quarterback who is open about his faith and will appear in a pro-life commercial that will air during the Super Bowl. I hope you will enjoy the article also (even if you aren’t a sports fan either).

Please let me know how I’m doing! I like to hear what articles and features you enjoy, and what you’d like to see in the paper. Thank you for your comments, suggestions, and encouragement.

May God bless you and your family this month!

Shelly

Editor's Letter, January

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it…Enough Already!

I keep hearing that the “Christmas Snow Storm” was a record snowfall in one storm, in one day, and the record for Christmas Day. I also heard that this month has been the snowiest December on record. As I drive around and see all the drifts and piles of snow, I believe it! I think Tim, Cody, and Morgan, who have been busy scooping out the cattle feed bunks and making sure they have water and are bedded, would agree that we’ve had enough snow.

As Christmas Eve grew closer, I became disappointed with the realization that we probably wouldn’t make it to church that night. I’ve attended the same church since I was 16 years old, and Tim, Cody, Morgan and I all attend now. The Christmas Eve service, with the beautiful flowers and music, inspiring message, and candlelight singing of “Silent Night,” has always been one of our favorites. Celebrating that evening with family and church friends was a high point of the Christmas season.

As I thought about it more, however, this came to mind; Christmas is not about decorations, or songs, or even friends and family. It is about…a Baby…a Baby who would grow up to die for us in the ultimate expression of love. It is about …love. It is about Someone loving us enough to send His Son to earth, in the most unassuming way, with no flowers, no music (for the Baby in the manger), and probably, no family or friends present other than Mary and Joseph.

Perhaps, with the storm that kept so many of us at home, God was sending us a message to remember that the decorations, music, message, family, friends, and food are all part of the celebration…but even without those things (some of my friends were even out of electricity for a time), the main reason for the celebration--the Christ Child—was still present. And He will always be there, not just on Christmas, but every day, every hour, every minute, forever. And that is the best gift we will ever be given.

Thankfully, snow didn’t interfere with celebrating Morgan’s 16th birthday on December 28th! We all had fun thinking back to her birth. The baby (we didn’t know if we were having a girl or a boy) wasn’t due until the end of January, and we had (we thought) a good plan. Cody’s Gramma Burke would be on call to babysit Cody when the baby was born. My sister would fly in to stay with us for a few weeks after she was born, to help with both kids. Tim would be back from his annual trip to the Denver Stock Show before the birth.

Well, we had a plan…but God had His own plan. Morgan was born almost a month early. Gramma Burke was in Minnesota celebrating her own mother’s 90th birthday. Tim called her to announce the birth during the birthday party, and he could hear them all cheering at the news that there was another girl in the family. Aunt Becky’s plane was due that day…but came in hours after she’d been born (I was sure glad to have her help as I learned to manage two kids!). And Cody had to stay (very unhappily) with a brand new babysitter (she was the sister of a babysitter we’d had many times, so we knew she could handle it). And Morgan was born and baptized before Tim left for Denver!

Those years have flown, and Tim and I (and Cody) are blessed every day to have such a wonderful daughter (and sister, although he is sometimes reluctant to admit it). Happy Birthday, Morgan! And many more.

As I begin a new year (and a new decade!) I always wonder what it will bring. I have my own plans and goals, but I know God has His plans for me, too. As I go into 2010, I will be encouraged and guided by the following verses:

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

I pray for God’s guidance and blessings for you and your families in 2010!

Shelly