Month Eight

      Sometimes keeping to one's New Years resolutions, their goals for the years,can be difficult Here is a quick recap of my 4 goals for 2011.

#1 Start a blog called Everyday Thankfulness to encouraging thankfulness.

#2 Start a blog called Pupperville Ponderings where I can post all my puppet stories with some added    thoughts to ponder.

#3 Finish making the rest of my unfinished puppets.

#4 Finish studying out the book of Revelation

      This month has been a struggle in some areas to work on my goals.

#1 I've continued posting daily to the Everyday Thankfulness and now have over 240 posts.

#2 I finished up a series on Jonah in Pupperville Ponderings which has been a challenge as I stated each story and lesson from scratch. This project is going to go on hold now until October as time for working on it will be just about nil as we have started the soccer season at our house and I'm the coach for one of the teams. Lord willing I'll start posting again in October.

#3 As for my puppets, they're still waiting to have their eyes, ears, noses, hair and whatever else applied. I've got four months left to finish them but only a days work once I get some hot glue and some round tuits :)

#4 My study on revelation has taken a nose dive. Since I do most of this study on Sundays, and our Sundays in August have been full of traveling, I haven't done anything with it. Maybe September will be better.

      How have you been doing on your goals...

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the ability to set goals to work towards
• For making progress towards fulfilling them

Teacher

      While I can't remember all of my teachers, I can still remember my teachers names from kindergarten to sixth grade. Of course it's that time of year. Some have already started back to school and many are getting ready to go back, some, it seems like, never quit. An important person in the neighborhood this time of year is the teacher. Whether the teacher is a professional or a parent, teachers are an important part of our lives and our children's lives too.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For teachers

Road Maintainer

      I'm not sure if road maintainer is the proper name to use for them or not, but there is a group of people that we rely on to take care of the roads we drive every day. These people are the ones who grade the gravel roads we drive taking out the pot holes and smoothing out the wash board. They keep the grass cut down a long the highways and patch the cracks and holes in the paved roads.

      In the winter they're out cleaning off the snow and salting and sanding the roads to help make them travelable and safer.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For those who maintain our roads

Bible Bee

      Yesterday my oldest Daughter participated in her third Bible Bee. An event that challenges young kids to memorize scripture and study different areas of the Bible and than has them compete for prizes in how well they are able to recite word for word and how much they have learned.

      This year my daughter is competing close to home - about 30 miles away. Last year it I think it was over 200 miles away. Seeing how it is a nation wide event, It will be awhile before we know how well she did nationally. There are three age groups and the top 100 from the nation in each group gather for another round later in the year. Some of our friends have made it in the top 100.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the Bible Bee

Linemen

      If you're reading this you are more than likely somewhere where there is electricity. Where I'm typing this at home, we have electricity. While there are many people involved in getting that electricity to our home, today I'd like to say thank you for the linemen, the one's who string the wire to the house and take care of them when problems arise.

      Being that we live in the state forest, there are many trees around and more than once we've had to call the electric company to tell them there were trees hanging on the electric wires and they have sent out the linemen to remove the trees before further problems arise. Once in awhile the power goes out do to high winds, etc. and again the linemen are out fixing the problems so we can continue to enjoy electricity in our home.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the linemen

Doctors And Nurses

      I have friends that are in a medical profession, I have relation in the same. From Doctors to nurses and everywhere in between these people in the neighborhood are quite helpful. I know they may not always be at the top of the list of people you want to visit, especially when they turn your arms into pin cushions, but with their experience and knowledge, they can help to solve health problems, and fix us up.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For those in the medical profession.

Vet

      If you have a pet or raise animals you may have at one time or another used the services of a vet - the animal doctor. We have a dog at our house and from time to time he has needed to get shots so off to the vet he would go. I remember my mom's cat getting in fights and also ending up at a vet.

     The vet is another person in the neighborhood to be thankful for if you have animals that you want to take care of.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For vets

Banker

      When I was born, my grandparents on my mom's side started a savings account with $50 in it in my name. They did this for each of their grandchildren. Years later I started my own savings account and eventually I started my first checking account. When I got married I started a new checking and closed out my old and when we bought our house we did the same thing. Over time we have started up savings accounts for each of our kids to use.

      Besides savings accounts and checking accounts, we've also taken a few loans out at the banks and each time we've payed them off early We also have at our local bank a safe deposit box.

      The banker and all the others that work at the bank are more people in the neighborhood that help us on a regular basis.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For those who work at the bank

Firemen

      Another person in the neighborhood is another person you hope you never need. I've known a few firemen over the years and they're there ready to risk there lives putting out fires and doing other rescue work.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For firemen

Dentists

     Several times a year our kids take a trip to the dentist - mostly as a preventative measure to keep their teeth healthy. But, even than, teeth can go bad and than the trips aren't so fun. Our youngest three have all had to have dental work when they were really young like 1 or 2 years old.

      No, I don't like dentist but they are there for our teeth to help keep them healthy and to fix them when they're not.. Just one more person in the neighborhood to be thankful for.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Dentists

Free Meal

      Yesterday afternoon / evening, the Warroad businesses held their yearly appreciation meal at the city park. Consisting of hamburgers, hotdogs, brats, chips, potato salad, beans, pickles, pop, coffee and ice cream, the meal is great. Music from a local band is also provided and since it's at the park the kids have a blast playing on the play ground equipment. We also get to meet and talk with friends.

      What a great day.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For those who put on the meal

Soccer Field

      In the past, our junior soccer team has practiced at the elementary school but this year things have changed, The school is being closed down so our practice area has had to move to the high school and I must say, I like the move.

      There is still places to park, there is play ground equipment for the younger siblings and soon to be more, and more field area to practice soccer. And while it doesn't have a net, there is even a full size soccer goal I'll be able to use for practicing my goalies.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For places to play soccer

Soccer

      Last night the fun began - Soccer Practice. I had fun running the kids and running the kids and running the kids - And than encouraged them to run some more at home. I'm not sure how many years now I've been working with the junior home school soccer team but the last couple years has really been enjoyable with a winning team and I think this years team will be just as good if not better yet.

     Soccer has been a great time for the kids and families involved. It helps keep the kids active and teaches team work. And while we may not always win the kids have fun.

     Dear Lord, Thank you

• For soccer

Ambulance Crew

     Here's some people in the neighborhood you more than likely hope you never need. The ambulance crew. I've had family relation and friends that have been part of an ambulance crew and their services have and are often put to use.

     In our area it is volunteers that do a lot of the work with the ambulance and while we've had to use their services a couple times as a precautionary thing, we are thankful they are there and willing to help out in times of need.

     Dear Lord, Thank you

• For ambulance crews

Sleepovers

      I don't ever remember doing one as a kid but about every other week my older two boys are involved in a sleepover with two other boys that are about the same age. Some weeks they are at our house and some weeks at their house. As I'm writing this they are at our house.

     I see the kid's sleepovers as wonderful things to help the develop friendships that have potential for life. My girls are also involved in sleepovers from time to time as well.

     Now, if they only remember to go to bed at a descent hour of the morning.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For sleepovers

Life Guard

      Here's another person in the neighbor hood - one that our little kids have used . Most of the time they appear to be just standing around doing nothing but.....

     Life Guards are workers that you hope to never need but are there to rescue swimmers or should I say non-swimmers who get in trouble. They are there to keep people from drowning and because they are there my family is able to enjoy both an indoor pool and an outdoor pool.

     Dear Lord, Thank you

• For life guards

Ratchet Straps

      When we bought our trailer earlier this year we bought with it some ratchet straps - a package of 4. Shortly after several were ruined or partially ruined while using them as tow straps to get a van unstuck so we bought 4 more.

      Since they were bought they have been used on a regular basis in conjunction with our trailer hauling mowers, bikes, camping equipment, a shed, a grill, and other things and I'm sure they will be used for more before the year is over. These straps sure are handy.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For ratchet straps

Southern Raised

      One of my favorite groups at last weekend's music festival was the group called Southern Raised - 3 sisters and a brother. They played four different times during the festival and sounded great each time

Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Southern Raised and their music

Police

     I suppose, if you've been in trouble with the law you may not be thankful for them but the police force is a group of men and women for which we can be thankful for. In a perfect world we wouldn't need them but as you may have noticed, we don't live in that perfect world and there are many times when we need the service of the police, directly of indirectly.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the police force

Volunteers

      I'm sure you've heard it - "Does anybody want to volunteer?" - or "I need some volunteers." or maybe "Will you volunteer?" Last weekend at the bluegrass festival there were many people who volunteered. People who volunteered for trash pick up, bathroom checks, parking lot work, ticket booth work, snack shack work, set up and tear down, etc. Volunteers help to make such a festival happen.

     Of course the festival is not the only place for volunteers. People are always volunteering. Soon it will be soccer season for our area homeschoolers and several of us will be volunteering to coach the kids. And than AWANA club will start and again many people volunteer. I'm sure you could think of many other places where people volunteer, where you have volunteered.

     Dear Lord, Thank you

• For volunteers

Garbage Man

     About 25 years ago I was on a bowling team called P & D Sanitation. It was a team of guys from a couple different churches and our sponsor was our team name - the garbage man.

      In our modern society we seem to produce a lot of garbage. Even though we try to recycle and compost at our house, garbage still manages to pile up. Thankfully there is a garbage man to take our garbage away to the dump.

      As a kid I can remember being fascinated with the workings of a garbage truck but I alos remember how much they would smell - I do not envy the garbage man but I am thankful for their work.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the garbage man

Parent's Anniversary

     I think there's a television show called "How My Parents Met." or something like that and as for my parents I've been told they met at a ballgame. Today marks my Parents wedding anniversary. Now I'm not sure exactly how many years it's been but I know it's closing in on 50. I've only known them for 46 years though.

      So, today I want to sat thanks for my parents and there great example to me.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For my parents

Grocers

      Yesterday we talked about the farmer - today we talk about the grocer - the ones who run the grocery stores where we buy the food the farmer grow for us. I don't know how many of us have the time to run to all the different farmers to gather all the different foods we eat from day to day or if we would even be able to find all the foods we want but thankfully we have those who take care of gathering the foods in one place for our convenience.

     We may not always realize it be we depend on those at the grocery stores to help us out when it comes to getting the foods we like to eat.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For grocers

Farmers

      Another person around the neighborhood may not be around your neighborhood but in the country. Unless you're from another planet there's a pretty good chance you're human and as a human you need to eat from time to time - unless you're my teenage son who has to eat all the time. And chances are that if you need to eat you're going to eat food and that food more than likely came from someones farm.

      The farmer is a person that we rely on daily to supply us with the food we eat.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For farmers

Preacher

      Here's one you may not hear on Sesame Street but you should be able to hear him on Sunday behind a pulpit. One more person in the neighborhood that we often enjoy is the preacher. Not only on Sundays but we can hear them everyday of the weak and from all over the world with modern technologies. We can even here them after they've left this Earth for their heavenly home.

      One Preacher I enjoy listening too did just that not too long ago but by way of the internet I can continue to listen and be encouraged by his thoughts. Let's not forget to say thanks to these people and to God for them

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Preachers

Air Mattress

      As we camp this weekend one of the things we added to are stash of camping gear several years ago is an air mattress. Actually we've added several to are stash over the years as our family has grown in numbers.

      To pump them up we had for many years a bellow type pump that we had to step on to make work so we kept taking turns. Than we bought a battery powered pump but it never worked very well so last year we bought an electric and now we can blow our mattresses up quickly without getting tired out in the process.

      Having the mattress pumped up makes sleeping on the ground a lot more comfortable.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For air mattresses

Blue Grass Festival

     Today is the day - the day we head to the 6th annual Family Bluegrass Festival near Itasca state park. Last year our family went for the first time and I must say it was very enjoyable. For a $10 fee for camping for two nights and $65 for the entire family to have a chance to listen to three days of music, you can't go wrong.

      The time at the festival also gives us time to go to Itasca State Park and enjoy the beach.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the Bluegrass Festival

Mailman

      Growing up in Brainerd I remember the mailman that walked down the street pushing a cart and delivering mail. Than years later it was a little mail jeep. Now that we live in the country the mail is delivered by way of a car. I'm also told of family members that used to deliver mail in the country in years gone by.

      With today's modern convinces of texting and e-mailing sending a letter or message can be easy and quick but I've not yet figured out how to send or receive a package by way of the internet. Many days I've anxiously awaited for the mailman (another person in the neighborhood) to come and drop off the mail I've been waiting for. And just for the record - the mailman isn't always a man.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For mailmen

Lemonade

      On a hot summer day - we've had plenty lately - A glass of cold lemonade tastes great I just need to convince David of that. He sees me get a drink and decides he wants some too but it doesn't stay in his mouth long once he finds out its lemonade.

      I like it best when its made from a frozen concentrate. The middle kids like to make it once in awhile with lemon juice. On rare occasions we might make it from a powder but to me it's not the same.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Lemonade

Baker

      Patty cake, patty cake, bakers men, bake me a cake as fast as you can or a pie or a cinnamon roll or some donuts....

      One of my uncles used to work in a bakery. A few years ago when he came up to my folks house for my Grand Mother's memorial service he brought with him two BIG boxes full of rolls from where he worked (s). I've always loved those kind of baked goods

      The baker is just one of many people in the neighborhood we rely on - not just for sweets - but for our bread, buns, etc

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For bakers and all the good things they make

Around The Neighborhood

      A new month has begun and so has a new theme. For the month of August I'm going to use the people around the neighborhood for something or someone to be thankful for.

      Everyday, if we stay at home or head out into the world, we rely on various people around our neighborhoods to take care of us or the things we use. Sesame Street was good at introducing us to some of those people weather they be a carpenter, trash collector, Doctor, etc. we should be thankful for them and what they do for us.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For all the people in the neighborhood