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
Monday, January 4, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
During the 1990’s I remember how thinking about how “old” I would be at the change of the century…and now the first decade of the new century is already over! Some days I do feel old, but when I look back at how our family is growing up, how my faith has become more and more important to me, and the changes in my own life, I feel blessed.
The first day of 2010 was a nice one. I worked at my nursing job this morning, then had lunch with a long-time friend. I got home, pleasantly surprised to see Tim and Morgan had cleaned the kitchen and living room and one of our favorite cattle-showing families was there. We caught up on each other’s lives, made plans for the Denver Stock Show, and at a delicious steak dinner.
May God bless you and your families and businesses in 2010!
The first day of 2010 was a nice one. I worked at my nursing job this morning, then had lunch with a long-time friend. I got home, pleasantly surprised to see Tim and Morgan had cleaned the kitchen and living room and one of our favorite cattle-showing families was there. We caught up on each other’s lives, made plans for the Denver Stock Show, and at a delicious steak dinner.
May God bless you and your families and businesses in 2010!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Happy Birthday Morgan!
Sixteen years ago today, we were blessed with the birth of our dear daughter, Morgan. At the time I never could have imagined what a fine young lady she would become. We celebrated with lunch out with gramma, and supper later with the whole family.
Because of the snow, today is the first day we’ve been anywhere but between our house and the ranch, for 5 days. The snow drifts are amazing!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all Nebraska Family Times subscribers, sponsors, advertisers, and readers! We are snowed in so will be celebrating the birth of Jesus at home. I think a lot of others are doing the same thing.
May God bless you and your families!
May God bless you and your families!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
"The Revolution" Perfrms Dramatization in Florida
"The Revolution” Performs Dramatization in Florida
by Shelly Burke, Editor
(this article appeared in the December issue of the Nebraska Family Times)
A Columbus group from the Center of Survivors recently had the opportunity to share their ideas for preventing teen dating violence to a group of adults from around the nation.
Abbie Tessendorf and Erin Nahorny are leaders of The Revolution group, which works to inform teens about dating violence and sexual assault. They, along with seven teenagers, (Aaron Adams, Lauren Wright, Omar Rodriguez, Elizabeth Bartels, Bryanna Hammons, Katie Rodriguez, and Tayler Bock), recently attended the National Conference on Sexual Assault in our School in Orlando, Florida. While they were at the conference they performed a dramatization called “Boiling Point.”
The 20 minute dramatizations in “Boiling Point” show unhealthy teen relationships. After the dramas the kids stayed in character and answered audience questions from their character’s point of view. They also stayed in character to educate the audience about teen sexual assault and violence. Tayler Bock then presented a slide show that he had created, set to music and also relating to the topics of teen dating violence.
According to Tessendorf, the purpose of the trip to Florida was to ”Show other leaders what we do—peer education to prevent dating violence--so they can take the idea back to their organization. Many people asked for more information about developing their own program. Kids listen so much better to other kids, so when kids educate through a dramatization, slide show, and questions and answers, it really makes an impact on those kids who are watching.”
“Boiling Point” is one of the only programs depicting teen violence that goes into high schools, and has been presented at many area schools. The audience is informed that the dramatization is realistic and contains simulated violence and profanity.
The “Boiling Point” script is now retired, and a new one is being written. Tessendorf said the script is re-written every few years to keep it fresh for area audiences. ”We have made many referrals after presenting the dramatization in area schools. Kids come up to us after the dramatization, crying, because they, or a friend or sibling have been affected by dating violence. We help the kids in the audience—whether they’re perpetrators of violence, victims, or friends—know what they can and should do. We make an impact.”
Presentations are free to schools in the Center for Survivor’s service area. If you are interested in a presentation at your school or for your group, call Abbie Tessendorf at (402) 564-2155. The Center for Survivors is located at: 3103 13th StreetColumbus, NE 68602. Call toll-free 800-658-4482 or e-mail centerforsurvivors@citlink.net for more information.
by Shelly Burke, Editor
(this article appeared in the December issue of the Nebraska Family Times)
A Columbus group from the Center of Survivors recently had the opportunity to share their ideas for preventing teen dating violence to a group of adults from around the nation.
Abbie Tessendorf and Erin Nahorny are leaders of The Revolution group, which works to inform teens about dating violence and sexual assault. They, along with seven teenagers, (Aaron Adams, Lauren Wright, Omar Rodriguez, Elizabeth Bartels, Bryanna Hammons, Katie Rodriguez, and Tayler Bock), recently attended the National Conference on Sexual Assault in our School in Orlando, Florida. While they were at the conference they performed a dramatization called “Boiling Point.”
The 20 minute dramatizations in “Boiling Point” show unhealthy teen relationships. After the dramas the kids stayed in character and answered audience questions from their character’s point of view. They also stayed in character to educate the audience about teen sexual assault and violence. Tayler Bock then presented a slide show that he had created, set to music and also relating to the topics of teen dating violence.
According to Tessendorf, the purpose of the trip to Florida was to ”Show other leaders what we do—peer education to prevent dating violence--so they can take the idea back to their organization. Many people asked for more information about developing their own program. Kids listen so much better to other kids, so when kids educate through a dramatization, slide show, and questions and answers, it really makes an impact on those kids who are watching.”
“Boiling Point” is one of the only programs depicting teen violence that goes into high schools, and has been presented at many area schools. The audience is informed that the dramatization is realistic and contains simulated violence and profanity.
The “Boiling Point” script is now retired, and a new one is being written. Tessendorf said the script is re-written every few years to keep it fresh for area audiences. ”We have made many referrals after presenting the dramatization in area schools. Kids come up to us after the dramatization, crying, because they, or a friend or sibling have been affected by dating violence. We help the kids in the audience—whether they’re perpetrators of violence, victims, or friends—know what they can and should do. We make an impact.”
Presentations are free to schools in the Center for Survivor’s service area. If you are interested in a presentation at your school or for your group, call Abbie Tessendorf at (402) 564-2155. The Center for Survivors is located at: 3103 13th StreetColumbus, NE 68602. Call toll-free 800-658-4482 or e-mail centerforsurvivors@citlink.net for more information.
Nebraska Family Times Website
The Nebraska Family Times website has been up and running…but I’m finding it hard to find the time to get it updated. My priorities are God, family, and then business…and unfortunately, although “update website” has been on my list of to-do’s, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.
Until I am able to regularly update the website, I will be reprinted selected articles on this blog. It won’t be quite as easy to find the articles, and they won’t be as easily accessible, but it will give you access to at least some of the articles in the newspaper.
And meanwhile…if you’ve found a way to add several hours to each day, please let me know! J
Until I am able to regularly update the website, I will be reprinted selected articles on this blog. It won’t be quite as easy to find the articles, and they won’t be as easily accessible, but it will give you access to at least some of the articles in the newspaper.
And meanwhile…if you’ve found a way to add several hours to each day, please let me know! J
Monday, November 30, 2009
December Issue
As I did research to find the “perfect” article for the front page of the paper, I found an article by Alan Sears, titled “It’s OK to say ‘Merry Christmas,’ Charlie Brown." It was interesting to read how the producer of the feature “A Charlie Brown Christmas” warned Charles Schultz that if he left the scene featuring Linus reading the Christmas story, Charlie Brown would be ruined. Schultz, however, stuck to his beliefs and today “A Charlie Brown Christmas” remains one of the highest rated programs on network television when it airs.
Do you think you know a lot about Christmas? Take the “Christmas IQ Quiz” and find out. You’ll also find several articles about starting new Christmas traditions, and questions to ask at Christmas gatherings, to stimulate conversation and gain a deeper understanding of how others see Christmas.
If you missed the December issue of the Nebraska Family Times but would like to receive a copy, call and inquire. A limited number of copies are available at no charge.
Do you think you know a lot about Christmas? Take the “Christmas IQ Quiz” and find out. You’ll also find several articles about starting new Christmas traditions, and questions to ask at Christmas gatherings, to stimulate conversation and gain a deeper understanding of how others see Christmas.
If you missed the December issue of the Nebraska Family Times but would like to receive a copy, call and inquire. A limited number of copies are available at no charge.
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