Sunday, November 25, 2012

True Love

I do not know the circumstances behind this couples death but the romantic in me is choosing to believe they just couldn't live without each other. This appeared (some things deleted) in our local newspaper.

Ramona Stevenson, 81, died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in Blair and Feris Stevenson, 88,  died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Blair.
A combined memorial service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home. There is no visitation. A private interment is planned.
Ramona Wilson was born July 19 in Elliott.
Feris Stevenson was born Sept. 19 in Hamburg.
He served in World War II.
The couple married on August 28, 1978.
Mr. Stevenson lived on and loved the Missouri River for approximately 25 years. 
The couple shared a love of fishing and camping and loved to fish at Summit Lake.
The couple is survived by children and their spouses.
Memorials may be directed to the family.


I want this to be how myself and my husband go to the great beyond.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

This makes no sense at all!

I believe and agree that in business, drug testing should occur. It keeps everyone safer.  That being said, it needs to be administered in a manner that also makes sense.  The following does NOT make sense to me at all.

So at said company, hubby got called for a random breathalyzer test. No big deal right?  Just go to said location, puff into machine and go on with your day.

Here is where the nonsense comes into play. Said company has you drive your personal car down to the testing facility which is over 8 miles away. Re-read prior sentence again. I google mapped it so the distance is accurate.

Yes, you read that right -
Drive your car to take a breathalyzer test.

Hello??? Is anyone home in the department that supervises this activity? If it truly is a "random" drug test than chances are you won't be intoxicated but also on the random side should the company take the chance in case the person IS intoxicated?  Wouldn't the company be liable if said person was in a crash because they were directed to go to this location to take the test? The whole thing is so ridiculous just to save a few bucks. I think the better investment would be to pay the extra and have the testing company show up at the office, administer tests as needed and move on.

No one asked me for input. If I get called for such a random drug test, I think I will voice my opinion on such nonsense....I will keep you posted if I become unemployed - not from failing the drug test but rather from speaking my mind. :-)

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Proud Mom Moment

I have to share a proud mom moment. My daughter is growing into an amazing young woman and she wrote the following for her confirmation class. I had to share because it shows me she does listen to God. I am very proud of her!



The Right Paths
 
Proverbs 22:6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave.
 
     Sometimes I feel lost. I feel like I don't know where the right path is. That's when my mom comes in. She tells me go to church and listen and hopefully God will lead you to where you need to go and how to be successful in life. Then God talks to me and tells me where to go and not to be afraid. Sometimes the right path is not always easy. Sometimes it is hard to understand. Once you find that path you will not want to leave. You will want to keep coming back.
 
Dear God, help me find the path I need. Help me understand your teachings, forgive me when I am wrong. I will love you as you always do to me. Protect me and keep me safe. In your name I pray. Amen.
 
Ali
9th Grade Confirmation Class

Thursday, November 1, 2012

With age and experience...

It is one of those memories you never forget. Grandparents are great for that, giving you memories to cherish and last a life time. These  memories you can go back to years later with a new understanding and appreciation for the grandparent that gave you that precious memory in the first place.  Next I will be sharing once such memory.

Long ago I would go to visit my grandma and granddad on their farm. Now their farm was only about 30 miles from the farm I lived on but as a kid it seemed a LONG way away. We would spend a week there in the summer plus have other visits throughout the year. My grandmother always had me in awe.  This particular memory is of her baking. It is why I love to bake today. Baking shows LOVE. Our family was never big on saying I Love Yous and mushiness but boy could we eat and my grandmother was a fabulous cook. Every day she would cook a huge lunch for her husband, son, brother-in-law and anyone else helping on the farm. Her rule was be in the house and ready to eat at noon on the dot or else! Those men were always on time.

When I was there she would find some time during the day to let me "help" with her baking. Some days it would be cookies. Others her famous cinnamon rolls or hot butter rolls and on special occasions - PIE.  Grandma was a dumper/pourer. I always wondered how she could just pull ingredients out of the cubboard, mix this and that, once in a great while peek at a recipe and WA LA. Delicious food every single time! I was amazed. Of course she would let me stir this or flour that and taste all I wanted. (No wonder I'm fat...) On those days she made pie, she would always make extra crust and the left over pieces she would sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake on a cookie sheet. Now if you have never had this it is to die for...and it was made even better because Grandma's love went into this special treat for her granddaughters.  Still I would often just look at her in amazement on how she did it.  I even remember asking her a time or two, "How do you know how to make this stuff?" "She would just smile and say I've made this a thousand times. It gets easier."  Of course as a kid this made no sense to me and I just stuffed more into my mouth.

My grandmother has been gone almost 15 years now. I still miss her smiles, naughtiness, laughter, and home of love.

The other day I was making apple crisp. As I was getting the ingredients out and mixing the "crisp" part I thought..."Gee I'd better check the recipe to see if I happened to forget anything." BAM
It hit me. I was only peeking at the recipe myself! My grandmother and this memory I have came flooding back and almost made me cry. Her words now make perfect sense to me now as an adult who has cooked and baked for more years than I care to remember. I have even mastered pie baking in honor of my grandmother. My crusts are just as amazing as hers according to my parents. (insert big smile here)

Thanks grandma Betty for instilling in me the love of baking, dumping and pouring, being naughty while smiling with flour on my nose, cackling at funny things with no abandon, and showing my love through the food I make.