Tag Archives: Inspiration

The Annual Hunt for Perfection

by nebraskawheatie

img_2435If you guessed Cabela’s – you were correct!

Yesterday afternoon, we made our annual trek through the pasture looking for the perfect tree. The actual job of finding THE one is an adventure in itself! Once you find one that might work, you just automatically think maybe you’ll find one better just over the ridge.  The temperature was in the upper 50’s when we left home but the sun was going down. That’s what you get for trying to squeeze too many things in at the same time! But, as it worked out, we had plenty of time to find three trees that would fit the bill for what they were meant to be – a Christmas tree.

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An Update on the Wreck

by nebraskawheatie

Taylor inside the truck looking for Jim’s glasses.

Everything about this accident could have and should have been so much worse than it was! It’s been a little more than three days ago that I received a call from Jim’s phone which wasn’t really Jim. Instead of hearing Jim’s voice, I heard the voice of a stranger telling me he was with Jim and they were taking him to the hospital.

This is the update that I’m sure many of you who follow my blog are waiting for.

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July 27, 1945 Thank You

by nebraskawheatie

Jim and I were able to visit the WWII memorial while in Washington DC last December. He always wished he could have gotten his dad there to view the memorial erected to honor him and his fellow war heroes.

I had a different idea for a post than the one you are about to read. I intended on sharing our weekend of camping. This will have to wait for a few days.

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Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones…

by nebraskawheatie

About 9:45 last night, Taylor and Callie remembered they were supposed to create Anti-Bullying posters for their school hallways because October is Anti-Bullying Month. They were fortunate the “broom closet” held a few pieces of poster board! Living 25 miles from the big city and it being that late at night were two strikes against their last-minute options. Through all the anxious moments of trying to figure out what they were going to do and what was going to be written on the posters, I had to ask the question, “What is the Anti-Bullying movement all about?” Taylor says, “Look it up. You’ll find all kinds of stuff about it”. So I did.

” Bullying is the most common form of violence in schools(verbally and physically) – One incident of bullying every seven minutes; – It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school everyday due to the fear of attack or intimidation by other students – 2 out of 3 teens are verbally or physically harassed every year. – 58% of teens have had hurtful things said to them online and over 40% say it’s happened more than once.” (DoSomething.org)

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Cowboy Church

by nebraskawheatie

Today began by attending “Cowboy Church” held at a local horse ranch. Thank you, Dave and Dolly, for organizing this “alternative” Sunday worship which brought us together in a humble setting – a horse barn.

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Happy Father’s Day!

by nebraskawheatie

Father’s Day has come and gone for another year. It was yet another day of nothing happening in camp. Taylor insisted she wanted to make supper for her dad so that’s what she did. She decided it was going to be BBQ meatballs, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. This would have to be one of Jim’s favorite meals – except for roast beef.

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When Community Comes Together

by nebraskawheatie

Last night was THE social event of our area and was due to the love of one person by so many!

On November 19, 2011, Jim and I attended Marcy and Eric’s wedding. It was a beautiful evening and attended by many of their family and friends. Exactly two months to the day, Marcy found out she was about to begin a battle with stage 4 cancer. Tests revealed malignant masses in her colon and a spot on her liver.  Marcy will celebrate her 36th birthday on April 2. Through all that she’s been through, Marcy has remained positive and her outlook on life is simply amazing and something we could all learn from.  Marcy’s journey has been recorded through her Caringbridge.org website (marcyjamesonplautz) which allows the reader to keep up with her progress.

Last night, I was honored to be a part of an event that was organized by Mark and Candi Rathe  and several  of Marcy’s and Eric’s friends. The many hours they lovingly poured into this fundraiser paid off! The Weeping Water and surrounding communities came together to help support one of their own and I was blown away by the number of attendees! There were more members of our surrounding communities together in one place than I have ever experienced – EVER! (The pictures will tell the story) The food was amazing, the bands outstanding (and local), and the raffle, silent auction and live auction were eagerly participated by all. The result? Approximately $50,000 was donated to Marcy and Eric to help cover some of the huge medical expenses they’ll be staring at before Marcy WINS this battle! This example of small town living and community is THE BEST reason to live in the Midwest!

If you are a part of my community and weren’t able to participate in last night’s event or would simply like to help with Marcy’s expenses, please email me at jz45239@windstream.net   I’ll make sure you’re pointed in the right direction as to how to make it happen.  With that, I will leave you with a few pictures of the evening:

Some of the many donated desserts.

The Roger Roberts’ Three Piece Blue Grass band. LOVED them!!

 Hours of usage for a brand new New Holland tractor was auctioned during the live auction.

Selling raffle tickets.

The food lines.

The busy workers in the kitchen!

 

Jillian helping draw numbers for the raffle.

Taylor and Evan.

Dave and Dolly Crandall during the live auction.

 Nick & Taylor.

Callie, Jamie and Curt.

Brooklyn and her friend dancing the night away to the music of “The Legends” – the same band that played at Curt and Jamie’s party in October. Gee it’s nice having great local music!

Being a mom to many at #D2S2012

by nebraskawheatie

“Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.   They will hear about everything he has done.” (Psalm 22:30, 31 NLT)

This was the fifth year I’ve been to the Dare2Share event in Lincoln, NE.  The first year I went, Cindy and I took approximately ten kids. The year before, she only took three. This year…we took nearly 30 kids and 6 adult sponsors. OUTSTANDING! Especially if you knew how small our church is. However, the kids of the community are HUNGRY for what Greg Stier and the people of Dare2Share are offering them – the GOSPEL. It’s pretty straight forward and blunt but it’s the TRUTH spoken with a great amount of passion and love for the next generation.

I’ve seen it before in years past…the ones who have never participated in the event will hold back and take it all in with some hesitation and quite a bit of intimidation. By the time Saturday night rolls around, these same kids are on fire! They are on fire for the Lord and are ready to take Him into their world. Don’t you dare tell them they CAN’T do something! It does my heart good to see them pumped and ready to take THE cause (to multiply disciples globally) to their mission field – their schools. According to what I learned from Greg, Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have found that when just 10 percent of the population holds an unshakeable belief, their belief will always be adopted by the majority of society. – Science Daily, July 26, 2011.  The auditorium held 5,000+ jr. and sr. high students ready to fight the good fight. These kids come from all parts of the midwest and from different churches to worship the ONE true God. They learned it’s not about a religion…it’s about a relationship. Know what’s interesting? The kids that went this year represents 10% of the number of kids in our jr./sr. high school. God is good!

Can I just say…these kids got it! Thank you, Greg Stier, and all the others that make this event work.  They teach and equip our children with the tools they need to fight as they head into a world waiting to gobble them up! My one prayer for all the kids who attended would be they could remain on that mountain top long enough to make the difference in their world.  “God will gain a maximum of armies by using NOBODYS.” Greg Stier

When the end came on Saturday night, I was the one who was blessed! It’s one thing to be a youth leader and talk and talk and talk. It’s another when you get to witness something so powerful and so good. I was able to see the fire that was lit in each of those kids in our group. I would be willing to bet they will take what they learned and will share it with SOMEONE in their school this week. They’ll surely suffer rejection and be made fun of, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12  My prayer for them is they do not quit…not now…not ever!

I feel like such a proud mamma!

What’s this? I. Am. Honored!

by nebraskawheatie

So, I sat down this afternoon to share with you the picture that I have been so anxious to share (and I still will). However, when I logged into my WordPress account, I realized that I’d been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award.

We have Versatile Blogger Award rules to follow:

  1. In a post on your, blog, nominate 15 fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award.

  2. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.

  3. In the same post, share seven completely random pieces of information about yourself.

  4. In the same post, include this set of rules.

  5. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs. (Or post to Twitter.)

6.  Copy this picture to your blog.

I’m a little unsure what this exactly means BUT it’s always fun to be nominated for any kind of award…right?  I’m not athletic and I wasn’t much involved in anything in High School – except FBLA. As I grew up and got married and started having babies, being awarded for anything other than “the worstest mommy I’ve ever had” award was never imagined. So I’m honored to think that I’ve “met” enough other wonderful bloggers out there who would even CONSIDER me for this award. I have been nominated by my new friend, Joy. The very first posting I read from her blog “My Universe is Still Coming Together” was “My Universe Came Together, While It Was Falling Apart” .  See, I’m still so new at this blogging thing, I don’t even know how to change the font color for my links (maybe someone can fill me in).  I related to how she felt with the death of her Grandma. My “harvest” Grandma meant the world to me and my universe fell apart when she died. I also relate to her desire to write and be a published writer. Thus began my newfound friendship with Joy. THANK YOU, JOY! for nominating me for this award! 🙂

Now, as part of the rules for the nomination, I’m supposed to nominate 15 more bloggers. So, here goes:

  1. My daughter, Jenna’s blog – Yensyphotos

  • The Wheat Harvest Movie

    • 3. Kuntz Harvesting

    1. icanseealotoflifeinyou

    5. farmchiclogic

    1. Lady of Ag

  • The Farmer’s Life

  • Small Nebraska Farming

  • Common Sense Agriculture

  • Agriculture Proud

  • Simple Gifts

  • Confessions of A Farm Wife

  • TALINORFALI

    • 14. suehealy

    15. My story uncensored

    The final part of the rules is to give you seven random facts about me:

    1. I procrastinate. I work better under the pressure of a deadline.

  • When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut.

  • My two least enjoyed household chores are folding clothes and dusting. I think that’s because those were the two chores my mom hated…someone had to do them.

  • Some day I want to visit Alaska. Mostly because that’s a trip my grandma always wanted to take and never did.

  • New things scare me. As soon as they become familiar and I know what I’m doing – watch out!

  • Once I set my mind on doing something, it takes a lot to get me to quit. I’m very persistent.

  • The word IMPOSSIBLE does not fit in my vocabulary.

  • I know I’m only supposed to do seven but I wanted to throw #8 in because I wanted you to know (unless you’ve already got it figured out) that God is important to me. I constantly look and listen for Him each day. When you watch for Him, you can see how He fits each piece of your life puzzle together creating a beautiful picture! I hope the people I come in contact with can see Him through me.

    • And finally, the pictures I wanted to share with you (you know what this means)

    And finally, Callie made a cake for me – complete with homemade fondant frosting – while I was gone Sunday afternoon watching Taylor’s UNO honor choir. What a kid!

    “I have a dream”

    by nebraskawheatie

    Today we remember one of the best speeches spoken in my lifetime and the man who delivered the words: