A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about some amazing people who came to snowblow my driveway and sidewalks. Since that time, we have seen at least three significant snow events, each depositing at least inches of the white stuff on the City of Mandan.
Being a relatively new home owner, I am still trying to get the hang of this snow removal game. You set the alarm a little bit earlier, get dressed into enough gear to climb Mount Everest and brave the cold to shovel yet another couple inches of snow off your sidewalks. Being a member of the Rheumatoid Arthritis club, I have to weight each swing of the shovel against how much torture I can wage on my joints before I can't hold a fork or tie my own shoes.
Last week, we got a terrific amount of snow overnight. I was on my way to suit up when my doorbell rang. At the door was a wonderful man that manages the apartments next door to my home. He had hired a bobcat to do snow removal, but had no where to pile the snow. He was asking permission to pile snow in my yard. He had also instructed the bobcat operator to remove my snow as well. The thought of another 30 minutes in my warm house brought tears to my eyes. He has no idea how close I came to kissing his feet! I gladly gave my blessing to pile the snow anywhere he wanted to, including my bathtub if necessary.
All of this brings me to my point -- I know, you were wondering if I actually had one! Yesterday a letter to the editor was printed in the local paper. The gentleman was one of those rare people who actually enjoys moving snow and has the equipment to do it effectively and quickly. He was called on the carpet by local law enforcement who had received a complaint from one of his neighbors regarding a small ridge of snow left in their cleared driveway. He had spent many winters clearing snow for his elderly neighbors, but was told to stop doing so.
Many people in my community are recipients of Random Acts of Kindness during the winter season. Snowblowing angels come to their rescue and save them hours of back breaking labor. To them I say "thank you"!
The response to this letter in the local paper has been enormous! While there are some that recommend he mind his own business, the overwhelming majority are supportive of his kindness to those unable to do their own snow removal. I hope that the complaining neighbor realizes that they have ruined it for those who truly needed this man's help. Who will dare to pick up a shovel to move some snow without wondering if they will be law enforcement soon? These officers are just doing their jobs, but I'm guessing they have better things to do than handle complaints of this nature.
Dare to care! Step up and help out those who can't help themselves. When you stand before the Lord at the end of this age, you will be able to say you were looking out for "the least of these." Happy shoveling!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Life with Lucy
I am going to risk sounding like a spinster aunt that lives in the guest room for 15 years, but one of my best friends has four legs, 2 beautiful brown eyes and a tongue six feet long. Like with Lucy began about this time last year.
My beautiful brown-eyed girl and Golden Retriever, Taffy, died very suddenly at the vet on December 20, 2007 from a brain tumor or aneurysm that we weren't aware she had. I was heartbroken. No more excited greeting at the end of the day. No guardian and protector from the noises you hear when you live alone. No sympathetic ear to listen to my trouble and take my side every time.
I had told everyone I had no desire or stamina for a puppy. Puppies are a lot of work -- housebreaking, chewing, getting up at night to taken them out. I just couldn't fill up this hole in my heart with another animal. It doesn't work that way ~ until.....
My father has a connection with a breeder near their home in South Dakota. They had a 10 week old Golden Retriever puppy that they needed a home for. The breeder sent pictures. I was in love!
Taffy always had a habit of putting her chin into my hand and would look up at me with her beautiful eyes. Well, you can imagine my reaction when the first picture I opened of the puppy had her chin in the breeders hand, trying hard to avoid getting her picture taken.
I made the trip down to South Dakota to pick up the puppy. After waiting impatiently, a huge pick-up pulled into the driveway, a big man got out and took a little puppy from the back and walked to the door. She was dirty from playing, scared and very sad. She was beautiful. I signed some paperwork and she was all mine.
We made the trek into the big city of Watertown to get puppy necessities - collar, leash, food, bowls, toys. Let's just say it was probably one of the most expensive Christmas gifts my parents have ever given me.
We discovered she gets carsick and she got her first bath in a utility sink that night. We spent many hours outside trying to get the hang of this concept "outside - good, inside - bad". I tried to kennel her that first night, but she cried and I caved. She likes to sleep with her muzzle across my neck and cuddling close as possible.
Big dogs are much easier to housebreak than smaller dogs, or so they say. January, 2008 was super cold. She was so confused as to why this crazy lady was dragging her around the backyard in the freezing cold. I couldn't understand why she never got a clue why we were outside in the middle of the night!
After about 3 days without a formal title except "no no, puppy", we named her Lucy. Those first nine months were tough - accidents, chewing of shoes, chasing of kitties. There were times when I would call my friend, Deb, and ask if she needed another dog. Through those nine months, we learned to read each other pretty well. Lucy has beautiful brown eyes and is a very good listener. I look forward to coming home at the end of the day to a hero's welcome every night.
Last night, we reached 25 below zero. I could hear the wind blowing outside. Lucy jumped onto the bed, all 90 pounds of her. She takes her side of the bed out of the middle. Laying with a huge puppy across your chest is not too relaxing, but soon she finds just the right spot with her muzzle on my neck. We settle in and I thank God for this gentle beast -- one of the best gifts I have ever received.
My beautiful brown-eyed girl and Golden Retriever, Taffy, died very suddenly at the vet on December 20, 2007 from a brain tumor or aneurysm that we weren't aware she had. I was heartbroken. No more excited greeting at the end of the day. No guardian and protector from the noises you hear when you live alone. No sympathetic ear to listen to my trouble and take my side every time.
I had told everyone I had no desire or stamina for a puppy. Puppies are a lot of work -- housebreaking, chewing, getting up at night to taken them out. I just couldn't fill up this hole in my heart with another animal. It doesn't work that way ~ until.....
My father has a connection with a breeder near their home in South Dakota. They had a 10 week old Golden Retriever puppy that they needed a home for. The breeder sent pictures. I was in love!
Taffy always had a habit of putting her chin into my hand and would look up at me with her beautiful eyes. Well, you can imagine my reaction when the first picture I opened of the puppy had her chin in the breeders hand, trying hard to avoid getting her picture taken.
I made the trip down to South Dakota to pick up the puppy. After waiting impatiently, a huge pick-up pulled into the driveway, a big man got out and took a little puppy from the back and walked to the door. She was dirty from playing, scared and very sad. She was beautiful. I signed some paperwork and she was all mine.
We made the trek into the big city of Watertown to get puppy necessities - collar, leash, food, bowls, toys. Let's just say it was probably one of the most expensive Christmas gifts my parents have ever given me.
We discovered she gets carsick and she got her first bath in a utility sink that night. We spent many hours outside trying to get the hang of this concept "outside - good, inside - bad". I tried to kennel her that first night, but she cried and I caved. She likes to sleep with her muzzle across my neck and cuddling close as possible.
Big dogs are much easier to housebreak than smaller dogs, or so they say. January, 2008 was super cold. She was so confused as to why this crazy lady was dragging her around the backyard in the freezing cold. I couldn't understand why she never got a clue why we were outside in the middle of the night!
After about 3 days without a formal title except "no no, puppy", we named her Lucy. Those first nine months were tough - accidents, chewing of shoes, chasing of kitties. There were times when I would call my friend, Deb, and ask if she needed another dog. Through those nine months, we learned to read each other pretty well. Lucy has beautiful brown eyes and is a very good listener. I look forward to coming home at the end of the day to a hero's welcome every night.
Last night, we reached 25 below zero. I could hear the wind blowing outside. Lucy jumped onto the bed, all 90 pounds of her. She takes her side of the bed out of the middle. Laying with a huge puppy across your chest is not too relaxing, but soon she finds just the right spot with her muzzle on my neck. We settle in and I thank God for this gentle beast -- one of the best gifts I have ever received.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Let It Snow -- OK, That's enough!
After enduring several winters in a row that gave us very little snow, Mother Nature has once again given us snow. Not just one winter storm, but two. The last one left quite a mess in its wake. We got about a foot of the white stuff with wind and a wind chill that makes even the most prim person say Wow!.
The storm moved in Saturday night and by 6 a.m. Sunday morning had dropped enough snow that I couldn't open my front door or get my car out of the garage. My puppy, Lucy, is a 90 pound puppy that stands about 3 feet at the head. She jumped out into the snow and sank up to her armpits. Looking at me pitifully, her eyes shouted, "Come get me!" Now I haven't been able to carry my "puppy" in quite some time. I had to coax her back inside the garage or she would be out there until Spring!
The powers that be advised no travel as there was zero visibility and a dangerous wind chill. By 7 a.m. we had cancelled our worship services that included our Christmas Program. After waking up several people to give them the good news, I settled in to enjoy my snow day.
This only worked until about 9 a.m. when I once again returned to reality and tried to figure out how long it would take me to remove all of this beautiful snow from my driveway, sidewalks and car pad. If my calculations were correct, it added up to 2 years, 3 months and 14 days.
Wait -- do you here the trumpet as the calvary comes up over the hill?
Angels of mercy appeared with a snowblower and three shovels and whisked the snow away faster than you can say "Wow that's amazing that you would come to my house and remove the snow! You are my favorite people in the whole world. Merry Christmas to you, your children and your grandchildren!"
Accepting not so much as a cup of cocoa, they were off to rescue others trapped in their houses and I was free once again to enjoy my snow day. Lucy and I watched Christmas movies and napped. With windchills at 30 below, it was a wise decision.
Monday came soon enough with frozen cars, frozen people and icy exchanges as people inpatiently waited for tow trucks to arrive. But for one beautiful day, I enjoyed the snow.
The storm moved in Saturday night and by 6 a.m. Sunday morning had dropped enough snow that I couldn't open my front door or get my car out of the garage. My puppy, Lucy, is a 90 pound puppy that stands about 3 feet at the head. She jumped out into the snow and sank up to her armpits. Looking at me pitifully, her eyes shouted, "Come get me!" Now I haven't been able to carry my "puppy" in quite some time. I had to coax her back inside the garage or she would be out there until Spring!
The powers that be advised no travel as there was zero visibility and a dangerous wind chill. By 7 a.m. we had cancelled our worship services that included our Christmas Program. After waking up several people to give them the good news, I settled in to enjoy my snow day.
This only worked until about 9 a.m. when I once again returned to reality and tried to figure out how long it would take me to remove all of this beautiful snow from my driveway, sidewalks and car pad. If my calculations were correct, it added up to 2 years, 3 months and 14 days.
Wait -- do you here the trumpet as the calvary comes up over the hill?
Angels of mercy appeared with a snowblower and three shovels and whisked the snow away faster than you can say "Wow that's amazing that you would come to my house and remove the snow! You are my favorite people in the whole world. Merry Christmas to you, your children and your grandchildren!"
Accepting not so much as a cup of cocoa, they were off to rescue others trapped in their houses and I was free once again to enjoy my snow day. Lucy and I watched Christmas movies and napped. With windchills at 30 below, it was a wise decision.
Monday came soon enough with frozen cars, frozen people and icy exchanges as people inpatiently waited for tow trucks to arrive. But for one beautiful day, I enjoyed the snow.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Hey, Unto You a Child is Born!
A very talented, committed and fearless group of people at my church are preparing our children and youth for one of the biggest productions known to man - the Christmas Program. These words can strike fear in the heart of many of Sunday School teacher. It's not that we don't love to prepare for this worship time. Nothing is better than hearing the words of the ancient story of the birth of Christ being recited by children. It is so sweet seeing the little ones doing their verses and actions. Beautiful. You can almost imagine God smiling as they raise their voices to heaven as they sing "Away in a Manger".
The fear comes in when you understand that anything can happen in that Christmas Progam hour. Dresses are lifted over preschool childrens' heads as they grow impatient for the last "Amen". Stage fright comes with the territory as children confident in their parts at the last rehearsal look out over a congregation of big people they don't know and their parts just disappear. They are left to stare blankly at the video cameras rolling.
One of my favorite movies is "Simon Birch". It's a bittersweet tale of how a 12 year old boy comes to faith. One of the best scenes of the movie is the Christmas program. Everything that could go wrong does. Jesus, played by Simon Birch because he's the only one small enough to fit in the manger, pulls Mary into the manger in a fever of adolescent hormones, the shepherds and the Three Kings get into a fight and knock off the head of one of the turtle doves and the angel of the Lord vomits on the first three rows of spectators. The first full contact Christmas program.
I've been helping with Christmas programs for about 17 years and have devised some rules that I stick to when directing the programs.
Rule #1: Never try to suspend any child or youth from the ceiling with a pulley system or rope. No good can come from this!
Rule #2: Avoid real barnyard animals. Not only can they be unpredictable when encountering a crowd, but the carpet cleaning fees will be coming out of your checkbook.
Rule #3: Make it fun for the kids. The practices can be tedious as we block the program and work on speaking parts. You get much more help from the kids if you bring a little silliness into the process.
Rule #4: Pray, pray, pray. It's really God's story to tell. We are privileged to be picked by Him to tell it!
An old movie, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", tells the story of a Christmas Program that was taken over by a motley group of children that came for self-benefitting reasons. They took over every part in the nativity. On the day of the program, the Magi brought the gift of a ham for Baby Jesus. The Angel proclaimed the arrival of the newborn king, "Hey, Unto You a Child is Born. Get going." In the end, we see Mary, played be the meanest, cigar-smoking girl of the family, truly being touched by the miracle of the Messiah and crying at the end of the program. God had spoken to her heart as she pondered the Christmas story.
I pray that God would touch your heart as you watch the little children and youth tell of the story of that long ago night when God was born as a man, a Savior. Keep the kleenex handy and get going -- go to the manger to praise the King!
The fear comes in when you understand that anything can happen in that Christmas Progam hour. Dresses are lifted over preschool childrens' heads as they grow impatient for the last "Amen". Stage fright comes with the territory as children confident in their parts at the last rehearsal look out over a congregation of big people they don't know and their parts just disappear. They are left to stare blankly at the video cameras rolling.
One of my favorite movies is "Simon Birch". It's a bittersweet tale of how a 12 year old boy comes to faith. One of the best scenes of the movie is the Christmas program. Everything that could go wrong does. Jesus, played by Simon Birch because he's the only one small enough to fit in the manger, pulls Mary into the manger in a fever of adolescent hormones, the shepherds and the Three Kings get into a fight and knock off the head of one of the turtle doves and the angel of the Lord vomits on the first three rows of spectators. The first full contact Christmas program.
I've been helping with Christmas programs for about 17 years and have devised some rules that I stick to when directing the programs.
Rule #1: Never try to suspend any child or youth from the ceiling with a pulley system or rope. No good can come from this!
Rule #2: Avoid real barnyard animals. Not only can they be unpredictable when encountering a crowd, but the carpet cleaning fees will be coming out of your checkbook.
Rule #3: Make it fun for the kids. The practices can be tedious as we block the program and work on speaking parts. You get much more help from the kids if you bring a little silliness into the process.
Rule #4: Pray, pray, pray. It's really God's story to tell. We are privileged to be picked by Him to tell it!
An old movie, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", tells the story of a Christmas Program that was taken over by a motley group of children that came for self-benefitting reasons. They took over every part in the nativity. On the day of the program, the Magi brought the gift of a ham for Baby Jesus. The Angel proclaimed the arrival of the newborn king, "Hey, Unto You a Child is Born. Get going." In the end, we see Mary, played be the meanest, cigar-smoking girl of the family, truly being touched by the miracle of the Messiah and crying at the end of the program. God had spoken to her heart as she pondered the Christmas story.
I pray that God would touch your heart as you watch the little children and youth tell of the story of that long ago night when God was born as a man, a Savior. Keep the kleenex handy and get going -- go to the manger to praise the King!
Monday, December 1, 2008
I Survived Black Friday!
As I reached over to shut the alarm off at 3:30 a.m. last Friday morning, I thought about my company upstairs slumbering in my nice comfy bed. I stumbled out into the cold, dark morning to take my dog, Lucy, out before leaving for the big box store. She looked up at me as if to say, "why am I out here in the middle of the night, you weird person?!?". After tucking her back into bed with my cat, Monster, I headed off to pick up two members of our youth who had wanted to experience Black Friday for themselves. We picked up my sister-in-law and were off!
We reached our first destination and saw that they were letting people in to the store to stand by the merchandise that they wanted. A little disappointed that we wouldn't get to stand outside in the cold night, I shrugged off one of my layers and headed inside. The crowd was jovial and the store was providing fresh, free Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Now that 's worth a 3:30 a.m. wake-up call!
As my watch hit 5 a.m., I looked over to be sure that my two teenage companions were doing okay. I followed their terrified glances as they saw people running to the front of the store from electronics clutching their great buys in their arms. It was like watching the people run from Godzilla! Pulling them out of harm's way, we proceeded to collect great deals dujour.
Seven stores and five hours later, we met my brother and nephews for brunch. Nothing like shopping on five hours to work up an appetite. I got most of my Christmas shopping done on Friday and saved more money than I spent.
It was later on Friday that I heard on the news that a man had been trampled to death as people knocked him over on their way to snatch up the discounted merchandise. Coworkers who came to his aid where also knocked down as they tried to rescue him. Police said that the shoppers were angry at being asked to leave the store so they could secure the crime scene. Now that has gone too far.
One of the big reasons I shop on Friday is that I have more time than money. I can give special gifts to my family and friends that I couldn't afford otherwise. I also enjoy the company of the family and friends that join us to shop. I have encountered those fellow shoppers who obviously are NOT morning people and are best left alone until they have had enough caffeine to be civil.
Being a Christian person who enjoys celebrating Christmas to share the news of a promised Messiah, I am not saying that the gifts are the most important part of the season. I am the first person to be disgusted as I see Christmas displays go up in October. I think that maybe I can infuse a little goodwill and kindness into the Black Friday environment as I wish my first "Merry Christmas" to a frazzled checkout person.
Mission Accomplished!
We reached our first destination and saw that they were letting people in to the store to stand by the merchandise that they wanted. A little disappointed that we wouldn't get to stand outside in the cold night, I shrugged off one of my layers and headed inside. The crowd was jovial and the store was providing fresh, free Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Now that 's worth a 3:30 a.m. wake-up call!
As my watch hit 5 a.m., I looked over to be sure that my two teenage companions were doing okay. I followed their terrified glances as they saw people running to the front of the store from electronics clutching their great buys in their arms. It was like watching the people run from Godzilla! Pulling them out of harm's way, we proceeded to collect great deals dujour.
Seven stores and five hours later, we met my brother and nephews for brunch. Nothing like shopping on five hours to work up an appetite. I got most of my Christmas shopping done on Friday and saved more money than I spent.
It was later on Friday that I heard on the news that a man had been trampled to death as people knocked him over on their way to snatch up the discounted merchandise. Coworkers who came to his aid where also knocked down as they tried to rescue him. Police said that the shoppers were angry at being asked to leave the store so they could secure the crime scene. Now that has gone too far.
One of the big reasons I shop on Friday is that I have more time than money. I can give special gifts to my family and friends that I couldn't afford otherwise. I also enjoy the company of the family and friends that join us to shop. I have encountered those fellow shoppers who obviously are NOT morning people and are best left alone until they have had enough caffeine to be civil.
Being a Christian person who enjoys celebrating Christmas to share the news of a promised Messiah, I am not saying that the gifts are the most important part of the season. I am the first person to be disgusted as I see Christmas displays go up in October. I think that maybe I can infuse a little goodwill and kindness into the Black Friday environment as I wish my first "Merry Christmas" to a frazzled checkout person.
Mission Accomplished!
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