A special time for all of us on stage for the first ever South Dakota Rock & Roll Hall of Fame awards. Nostalgic music for sure and lots of fun!!! Out here on the Great American Desert we don't have enough opportunities for fun this time of the year. Our first snowfall came on November 19th. Not much snow and it is already melting, but for sure it is a reminder of what is to come. Snooki & Snickers(our Mexican healers-chiuauas)are not happy. They'd be even less happy to know that I have forgotten how to spell their breed. All in all winter is getting off to a slow start and I can certainly wait for the weather to get really bad. It's coming. It always does and this year may be a little different than last, but still WINTER! God bless, Preacher.

Birthdays

Birthdays come every year and the length of celebration is often determined by one's own spirit. Mine has always leaned on celebrating my birthday on the 5th, 6th, 7th, of November, and as many days following as possible. Daughter Tosha surprised the bejeebers out of me by bringing the grands to the house a week after the main event.
Out here on the Great American Desert the weather is sometimes uncooperative this time of year so plans have to be rather spontaneous. The 5th is my eldest sons B'day, the 6th my eldest daughters, and the 7th is mine! Very cool year with many shared blessings. It took a week for everyone to catch up on greetings and I'm certain there will be more in the snail mail, but facebook was great & Gmail ran a very close second not to mention the visits and phone calls. Truly warmed an old man's heart and brought unexpected joy in many ways. I haven't been blogging as much for a long time it seems. That slack time may be over now that I am no longer gainfully employed baking donuts every day(I had to be up by 2 am every morning and managed to stay with it for 3 years). Since then I have formally signed my retirement papers and begun to search for more of a part time position with tolerable hours. At my age that would be nice. One of the best things about getting to go to bed later is not missing sunsets, although I'm still up for the sunrise each day. What a truly wonderful time of life! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Yearly Journey

This was not my year to ride. Poor health and a recurring affliction to the lower legs brought about my first four wheel journey to Stugis in 17 years. That time we had a van large enough to accomodate our smallest HD a 1981 Roadster, so that was how we got around. Being on two wheels is soooo much different than four. The very first thing I noticed was being able to really relax in the seat of my wife's new car and kick back for the enjoyment of scenery. I see most of this stuff every year, but not in the same way. We visited places we usually don't go because it just isn't included when we're on the big hog. This year was really different in another way. We took the Snickers dog with us. All two and a half pounds of him traveled over 1500 miles with us and was soooo gooood that he was only kept from entering restaurants a few times. It is truly a way different world during the rally out here on the Great American Desert. The camera did a great job of preserving memories until the final day in Sturgis when I inadvertently sat on it and the screen went dead. That's alright, it still works with a television to monitor pics indoors due to the cord length, and it was time to update anyway. One of the stops along the way was at Wall Drug where we spent the night. When in Wall I always visit the Travelers Chapel. This time I was greeted by a young man reading scripture. My being there and praying for all who travel our world may be likened to a cool sip of water on a very hot day. It quenches an inner thirst for peace. The young man did very well with his reading and as he left I thanked him for his devotion. He almost seemed embarrassed. But then I can't say for sure because he did not stick around to visit. Our journey was a great success! Perhaps it is sometimes good for us to do the same old things in a new and different way. Our world keeps on changing every day! There was a time when I did not care too much for change. Maybe I've gotten over a lot of that these past five years or so. Life for us continues in a positive way. Not everything is exactly as we would like it to be, but we trust that God knows what God is doing and that one day we will understand fully. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

I Don't Know

I have remained silent for a very long time as I attempt to put some sense into what is taking place in our country. It does not seem that we are moving forward. My life as I take pleasure in a new house, new garden, and other stuff is cool, but what is most disconcerting is the problems that confront the "America" I was raised to be a part of!
My new residence and the people that surround it are part and parcel of America's dilemma. How can a man and his wife with their three children and one in the oven(at least 6 months)work here and not be reported to immigration? None of them have a smattering of English, and yet here they are. I love people, always have, but there is a point at which we all have to say, "STOP IT" and stand to traditional values. God bless, Preacher.

Spring! (400 Mile Marathon)

Spring is here, spring is there, spring is everywhere!!! What a spring it has started out to be on the Great American Desert. We are not living on an island, yet, here in Volga but may well be in the near future. I have been informed that this city since it began has never flooded. 400 miles east the city of BelFouche is under snow. 400 miles north water is besieging the landscape on all sides. 400 miles south the wind tore up homes and property. 400 miles east Wisconsin is getting soaked(much needed after the last few years of drought). What we have at the center of our circle of friends and family is mud up to our-----elbows! The landscaping on our property was nearing completion when the first snows came last October 5th. That left us with living through the winter and surviving for the spring. I thought we had it made on Sunday as I removed the Christmas decorations from our future lawn. Then it hit! Whoosh!!! Wind and rain with a severe tornado warning. Needless to say it was not a good day in donut city where I bake the stuff folks love to eat. We didn't really have a clue about what was going on around us until a local television station called in to see if we had any idea where the flooding was and how bad. We didn't realize until a few hours after opening that the roads were not being traveled as they usually are. Coffee and donuts were not moving. Roads were out to the north, south and west of us here in Volga. You would think someone would have come for the donuts and coffee, but no.....they could not get here. Life is like that sometimes. No matter how badly one desires something ya just can't get to where it's at. We're alright for now, and the new basement is remaining dry. I give thanks to God for allowing us time to get the foundation backfill done before winter hit. And all this rain has provided further confirmation that my choices for runoff areas on the new place were very good. Water is shedding as I had intended and prayed. Sometimes we dismiss the power of prayer concerning the smaller things in our lives. No prayer is too great or too small our loving Creator hears them all and responds in His timing with the answers that we need. I pray your day is a dry one and that God is hearing you pray for life's needs. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Duck Heaven

Titles are sometimes difficult to visualize. This one was not. Duck Heaven is the first thing that entered my mind when I looked back through the pictures we have taken of the ducks in our care these past years. They became very real pets for my wife, Cheryl. In some respects they may have been pets for me as well, although I must admit in my heart of hearts I always wanted to have them in a roasting pan. I did not get to eat them! Some critter out here on the Great American Desert bested me on this one. They passed a week apart. First the white(she was a gimp)was taken, and then the big Mallard. I really did not think he would be killed. He had a nasty disposition and beat up anything that came near him except for my honey. I'm sure he put up a valiant struggle. The tracks left by the predator appeared to me to be fox. The fox is like that! The manner in which the meat was torn from the carcass indicates to me that it was carried away. More than likely she has some young not too far removed from where we live. One day the hide will adorn my loft office as do several others I have. This one will be a killing of revenge and remorse. Remorse for our loss and my wife's many tears. Revenge(only after the pups are grown)for an unwanted set of circumstances. The fox has to live, too. It is very much like that with all of our lives. At the present time our country appears to be feeding on itself from all directions. As the jobless rate continues to rise I can only give thanks that we are both employed and that God has continued to bless our lives in so many wonderful ways. I pray often for our country and it's leaders. I also pray that there is a duck haven somewhere in the eternal scheme of things so that we can once again enjoy the company of the pets that "quacked" us up for so many years. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Valentine's Day

Nine degrees outside, and I'm considering getting back to work on the outdoor end of our "project" this morning. When I write "end" that does not mean to imply that it will come soon but I believe that it is in sight. The outdoor decorations have to be put away(Cheryl reminded me when we got home from town yesterday)in the loft of the garage. I'm way behind and if I did manage to catch up I wouldn't be able to keep up! For instance, I just got the pics of Christmas 2007 started uploading to "My Space" and that was at the old house. I can't really complain too loudly though, I've had an interesting beginning for the new year. Cheryl suffered a broken foot and has been out of work for six weeks. I began a new career with Casey's here in Volga. So I reflect, "Time just seems to slip away when you're having fun." Out here on the Great American Desert I have begun plans for the planting of trees to provide adequate wind breaks for the new home. I hadn't really resided on the plains since leaving the farm 40 odd years ago. The winds are unrelenting on the prairie. All things considered I do have to admit we are getting through the toughest winter we will probably ever experience(from my keyboard to your ear dear Lord)from a strictly survival standpoint. We've almost made it to spring. The Christmas decor will all get stashed away and I will be back in the process of completing this project we began a year and a half ago. Every once in awhile I need to step back and really look at what has been accomplished thus far. When I moved the first of many computers into this home I was sitting in a virtual hole in the ground with an old house sitting on top of it. Back then the stairway led nowhere and the steps down into my hole were not complete. Whoosh! God has been so good to us that it is only in really looking back that we can recognize how far we have come. Perhaps this is true of each of us concerning life. We need to look at where we have come from to truly appreciate and give thanks for where we are today! Then again, maybe I'm just rambling as I am so want to do. I think not when it comes to our personal histories. When we take the time to assess our past and ponder our future it should all be in the context of good!
It does not hurt from time to time to pat yourself on the back and say, "job well done!" For our lives I would pray that none of us ever runs out of time for those we love, tasks that face us, or wisdom to understand our limitations. "Lord, let me continue to accomplish in Your time the designs You have laid before me." That's a short prayer I can keep in my heart. None of us truly takes any portion of this world with us when we depart. Therefore we are simply caregivers of things while we are here. Me in my impatience won't always see it this way(all about me & mine & wants)but it must be true because I've never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul! I pray your Valentine's day is filled with love to, for, and from those you care about. In Christ's Love, Preacher.