Catch Up Post about a New Job, Blogging Challenge, and Cadbury Mini-Eggs

by Shelly Burke, Editor and Publisher

·         What I’m doing: I got a job! I’d been struggling with the decision of getting a job. I have really missed nursing since my private duty patients died several years ago. However, I didn’t want to give up publishing the Nebraska Family Time; continuing with the paper would be almost impossible if I had a full-time job. I left it up to God. “If You want me to continue with the Nebraska Family Times, Lord, I need a job that is part-time, in town (I hate to drive on bad roads), and something I can do after being out of hospital nursing for many years.” He answered me very clearly with a 2-morning a week job at Columbus Surgery Center! The nurses are fantastic, the doctor is wonderful, the patients are fun and I am blessed! I prepare patients for eye surgery and next week will start learning how to take care of them when they’re in the operating room.

·         What I’m bookmarking: I love editing and publishing the Nebraska Family Times, and one of the things I enjoy the most is researching websites to suggest to readers. This month I attended a video Bible Study titled Your Strong Suit, by author and speaker Donna Pyle. I learned so much from the first video that I checked out Donna’s websites (Artesian Ministries) and blog  Hydrated Living ). I liked her writing so much that I asked her permission to reprint her blog post, Hope for When Darkness Threatens  in the March issue of the Nebraska Family Times—and she said yes! Thanks, Donna! (To receive a FREE sample issue of the Nebraska Family Times, e-mail shelly@shellyburke.net with your mailing address.)

·         What I’m blogging: I will be taking part in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge in April, as I did last year! The challenge is to blog every day in April (except Sundays), with each day’s topic beginning with the letter of that day. The theme of the Nebraska Family Times blog entries will be devotions that will “inspire, encourage and motivate you on your Christian walk.” I’ll also be blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom's Guide , where the theme is “Teach Your Children Well.”  If you would like to receive the blog posts in your in-box, sign up in the right-hand column of both blogs! 

·         What I’m reading: To prepare for the A to Z Blogging Challenge and improve my blogs I’m reading Platform; Get Noticed in a Noisy World. For fun I’m reading Because I Said So; The Truth Behind the Myths, Tales& Warnings Every Generation Passes Down to Its Kids, by Ken Jennings, the Jeopardy champion. The book investigates Dad-isms and Mom-isms like, “Stay away from windows during thunderstorms!” and “Coffee will stunt your growth!”

·         What I’m eating: Cadbury Mini-Eggs. What can I say besides YUUMMMM!

What are you doing? What are you bookmarking? What are you blogging about? What are you reading? Are you eating too many Cadbury Mini-Eggs like I am? Share your suggestions in the comments section of this blog!

Christmas in Heaven

Several of my friends are grieving the death of a loved one this past year. Friends and readers, I pray that this poem will bring you some peace and joy, knowing that your father, mother, son, daughter, friend and/or loved one has just celebrated his or her first Christmas in Heaven.
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Christmas in Heaven

I’ve had my first Christmas in Heaven,
A glorious, wonderful day.
I stood with the saints of the ages
Who found Christ, the Truth and the Way.

I sang with the heavenly choir,
Just think, I joined in to sing
And, oh, what celestial music
We brought to our Savior and King!

We sang the glad songs of redemption,
How Jesus to Bethlehem came.
And how they called His name -- Jesus --
That all might be saved through His Name.

We sang once again with the angels
The message they sang that blest morn,
When shepherds first heard the glad story,
That Jesus, the Savior, was born.

0 dear ones, I wish you had been there.
No Christmas on earth could compare
With all of the rapture and glory
We witnessed in Heaven so fair.

You know how I always loved Christmas.
It seemed such a wonderful day,
With all of my loved ones around me
The children so happy that day.

Yes, now I can see why I love it,
And, oh, what a joy it will be
When you and my loved ones are with me
To share in the glories I see.

So, dear ones on earth, here’s my greeting.
Look up till the day dawn appears.
Oh, what a Christmas awaits us
Beyond our parting tears!!

Author Unknown

May We be Light in This Dark World

by Shelly Burke, Editor

May God bless and comfort the victims of the shooting in Connecticut. It's almost more heartbreaking than I can bear, thousands of miles away and knowing no one involved...when I think of my kids, their friends and parents, and teachers I know and love, I cannot imagine the heartbreak of those in Connecticut. 

Here's what I've been studying this week: Jesus said, "You are the light of the world...let your light shine before others..." Matt. 5:14, 16. May we let our lights shine God's love to help the hurting and grieving whether in different states or right next door. And as my brother-in-law says, "God bless us all. It's our only chance."

Christmas Cheer!

I LOVE Christmas music!

This year I started listening even before Thanksgiving! If I'm in my vehicle I'll switch radio stations so there's almost non-stop Christmas music and at home I either listen to CDs or the music stations on TV.

The beginning strains of "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" immediately take me to Christmas Eve service at our church, as do the sounds of "Silent Night, Holy Night." In our church during this song all of the lights are turned down and the only light is from candles. I can't describe

The Perfect Gift for the Moms on Your List!

Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom's Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home is the perfect gift for any mom on your list!

This comprehensive guide begins with an extensive guide to encourage the reader to care for herself,, spirit, mind, and body, first, so she can then care for her family and her home. As well as encouraging moms to consider information from experts and "real life" moms, Home is Where the Mom Is shows readers how to make decisions based upon Christian principles and what they know about their one-of-a-kind family. 

Other topics covered include: 

• Renewing and maintaining mom's relationship with her husband
• Dealing with the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of extended-family relationships
• Bringing money into the home while keeping family top priority
• Learning how to set and work toward goals so you can evaluate your hard work as a wife, mom, and home manager

Click on the tab above to view the full table of contents. 

With its unique approach, Home is Where the Mom Is will help you improve all areas of your life as a mom, especially if you are an at-home mom! 

Shelly Burke is a Nebraska author and will write a personal note

 to the recipient, per your request! 

Only $15 with FREE shipping and handling! Purchase several copies for an additional discount! Click "Buy it Now" on the side bar and order today! 

Medical Mission Team Returning to Nicaragua; Spaghetti Feed Sunday!

Medical Mission Team Returning to Nicaragua; Spaghetti Feed Sunday!

Mark your calendars for the Columbus Medical Mission Team Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser this Sunday, Dec. 9th, at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus, from 12:00-2:00 PM, and silent auction and Christmas Bake Sale.

The Medical Mission Team will be returning to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua in February for their fourth trip. Read about the team and a previous trip at Medical Mission Team Traveling to Nicaragua. 

Enjoying the “Little” Things

By Shelly Burke, Editor

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” Robert Brault

I read this quote this morning and have been thinking about it all day! I scrapbooked with several college friends this weekend and of course we talked and laughed about college life and our lives since we’ve been together-- 20+ years! (We also talked about things that 20 years ago I’m sure we never even THOUGHT about—like facial wrinkles, house payments, and our kids who are now in college!)

Shelly, Mary, and Linda--college
friends and scrapbooking buddies

As we reminisced, we didn’t talk about the “big” things (classes, careers, or world events); the memories that made us laugh the most were the “little” things—pranks that made us laugh, silly comments and phrases and inside jokes we remembered.

I usually scrapbook specific events, and most often make pages for Cody and Morgan’s scrapbooks. This time I decided to make an album just for me, including pictures that make me smile and remind me of the good times with family and friends.  

I can't remember why my
sisters and I are doing "jazz
hands" behind my mom...but we
obviously thought it was very funny. 

Today, after I read this quote, I paged through the album I completed over the weekend. I quickly realized that even when the pictures were taken at an important event--Confirmation, a winning cattle show, an anniversary or holiday--it was the little things that made those pictures so precious--that millisecond in time that caught the perfect smiles, goofy faces and funny poses and precious moments that I am thankful I was a part of.

I hope that you will take the time every day to enjoy and thank God for the “little” things in life!

Thank you God, for the "little" things. Please help me to always recognize and enjoy them!

(I’m also blogging at www.nebraskafamilytimes.blogspot.com.

Click to read my thoughts, and, more importantly, God’s encouragement directions as for us, regarding the election.)