Month nine

      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 270 posts.

#2 While Pupperville Ponderings has been purposely on hold this past month I'm ready to post again come the beginning of October which of course is tomorrow.

#3 As for my puppets, Well, I got some glue sticks but haven't finished any puppets yet. I'm currently trying to figure out a day when I can sit down and finish them all at once along with repairing a few of the older ones.

#4 My study on revelation has started back up, somewhat. I have been able to sit at the computer and catch up typing in my notes and have crept my study forward a little bit. I now have only 4 chapters or 11 sections left to outline and things look promising to get a bunch of it done in October

      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

Swim Meets

     Today is the second swim meet my daughter has this week. While I am not a big fan of swimming or being in the water - My daughter loves it and has enjoyed being on the swim teem this year. She has spent many hours practicing and she has been making improvements on her times. The swim team and the competition at the swim meets gas been a great experience for her.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the swim team and the swim meats

Tools

      Maybe its a guy thing but I do like tools but I never seem to have the tool I need when I need it. When I'm at work it's a different story. Of the various jobs I do at work, the one where I use the most tools is repair. It is in this job that I use the most tools and I always seem to be able to find a tool to help me along. In reality, every different job I do has the tools readily available and when they're not to be found or new tools become available they are gotten to be used.

      Many times I've wished I had one of the tools I use at work around the house but than it would probably end up lost as I don't have any good place to keep them that and I have boys that like to use them too.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For tools

Insurance

      How many of you have some kind of insurance? To my knowledge, I have medical insurance, dental insurance, optical insurance, life insurance, short and long term disability insurance, car insurance, house insurance and people who want to sell me more insurance. Some insurance you have to have and some you have by choice.

      While I'd rather never have to use insurance, it is nice to have when things go wrong or in some cases to help keep things from going wrong.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For insurance

Wages

     If you don't think you got payed enough do you say thank you? If you don't think you're getting paid enough do you say thank you? I often here people complaining about their wages and how they don't make enough and how they're not going to work as hard because they didn't get the raise they wanted or thought they should have got.. What I don't here are people being thankful for the wages they earn.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the wages I earn

Winning

     If you're like me you like to win. If your like me you don't always win. If you're like me, their are times when you could win but choose not to so someone else can have the chance to win - Why? Because it feels great to win.

      This past week the soccer team I coach won their first game after tie-ing 1 and losing 2. More important than winning or losing in soccer, I want my kids to learn to put forth their best effort and to work together as a team. Will we win again? I don't know but I'm thankful for the win we did get. and I think we should all be thankful for any win that comes our way.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the times when we win

Ability to help

      I know we are often thankful when someone helps us but are we ever thankful when we help someone else? The other day I had just such an opportunity. My Father-in-law bought a used 6x6 close to were I live and needed away to get it home - 2 1/2 hours away. Having bought a trailer earlier in the year - of which I am thankful for - I was able to let him use it to pick up his toy and bring it home.

      This is just one example of many where someone in our house has been able to help another in some way or another. I'm sure you've helped others too.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For being able to help others

Fall Begins

      According to my calendar, today is the first day of fall or autumn if you prefer. Fall is one of my favorite seasons as the air drys out and the temps cool down, the leaves turn colors and the bugs disappear. I have lots of great memories from this time of year from raking up big piles of leaves to play in to canoeing down a river with ice forming on the paddles. Hikes through the woods and bonfires to stand around.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For fall

Pre-posting

     Over the course of the past year, I've found that I'm not always around when I need to be posting to my blog. Since I set a goal to post daily on this particular blog, Ive found the ability to pre-post very handy. Several times this past year I've saved posts so that they will show up on the day I need them to with out me being around, without having to worry about finding a computer on the internet to do my posting.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the ability to pre-post

AWANA

     Tonight is the first night of the AWANA Club in Warroad. While I do not agree with all their theology / teachings I enjoy the fact that they do lots of Bible memorization. That is one of the areas I will be helping in again this year. Not only do I listen to the kids say their verses but it gives me a chance to help them understand the verses they're learning.

      On top of this I am a back up game leader and tonight I get to make the kids run. One game I found the kids liked was taking their leader around the loop inside a hula hoop. I might try it tonight.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Awana's goal of memorizing Bible verses

Overtime

      Opposite time off is overtime. while the building business is slow in today's economy, we still have the opportunity once in awhile to work overtime. While some may grumble at having to work extra hours, many people I know jump at the chance to work overtime and increase their paycheck. In years gone by I used to do lots of overtime but now - not as much is available and my wonderful wife likes having me around the house more.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For overtime

Time Off

     If you work - one of the things you may enjoy is a day off. Where I work we get around 8 holidays off a year plus we also get vacation time. While holidays are set as to which day the plant is closed vacation time can be taken anytime during the year and it can be taken in 1 hour increments. It can even be taken the same day that it is put in as long as production needs are being met and not too many people are already gone.

      Having time off can help to recharge one's "batteries" to help make one more useful at work.

      Dear Lord, thank you

• For holidays and vacations

Jack Pine Retreat

      This weekend is the 41st Jack Pine Retreat - I think. The retreat started back in 1971 South of Williams Minnesota and has been going ever since. This years retreat started on Friday and end this afternoon. Over the years people from around the world have enjoyed the weekend of fellowship, music, uplifting messages, food unpredictable weather, recreation, relaxation and the list goes on.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For those who started the Jack Pine Retreat
• For those who come to it every year
• For being able to keep it going.

Hunting Season

      For many people that enjoy hunting and being outdoors walking through the woods, this time of year is great. Now I know that not everybody is into hunting but tomorrow is the beginning of the hunting season in Minnesota - at least for small game and archery. Other game will open later. As of so far, I haven't decided if I'll do any hunting or not but it's nice to know it's an option.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For hunting season

Meetings

      Long and boring or short and boring - sometimes meetings are boring. Something we have every morning at work is a quick update meeting. Than after lunch we have another quick update meeting. On Tuesdays I have more meetings and coming up soon we have a another meeting to go over results of a survey. Some people have just a handful of meetings and some people seem to have meeting all day long. What ever the meeting - We can be thankful for them and the info gleaned from each one.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For meetings

Breaks

      Can you take a break to break a brake? Well, maybe you can but I don't want you to break anything.

      One of the things we can enjoy at work is not working - that is taking a break, a break in which we can eat, sleep, read, talk, etc Where I work, 10 hour days are the norm and we get three breaks throughout the day and some days you just can't wait to have one because your hot, busy or bored.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For breaks

Batteries

      I'm not sure what made me think of batteries the other day as we use batteries all the time at our house. We use them in flashlights, games, toys, clocks, smoke detectors, mice, keyboards, lawnmowers, cars, the list goes on. Whatever it was I'm thankful we have batteries. Most of the time you can find a box of AA and AAA batteries on my desk ready to go. I try to get them in bulk and on sale as we use so many.

      Can you imagine life without batteries?

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Batteries

Coworkers

      The people we work with everyday, our coworkers are a group of people that we can be thankful for. Do we always see eye to eye with them? Do we always get along? Not always, but think of all the times you have been helped by one. They cover for you when you need to do something else, they may cheer you up with a smile or some thoughtful words, they may help you when you don't know what you're doing, and the list could go on.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For coworkers

Bosses

      You know you love them - the people at work that tell you what to do. They may be called the boss or a manager a supervisor, a lead, or something like that. Well, maybe they are not the person you love, yet they are there for us and they have a job to do just like the rest of us, a job they may not always like to do. Let's be thankful for these people today

      Dear Lord, Thank you,

• For the bosses we have

9-11

      Today marks the tenth anniversary of the bombing of the twin towers in NY. On that day many people lost their lives, on that day many people came together to help. Today people will remember those who lost their lives that day and those who helped. in the days that followed.

      Today let us be thankful for all the people that stepped up to help on that day and for all the people that step up and help when ever tragedy occurs.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For those who help during tragic times

Streiff's Day

      Today is the kids day at our local sporting goods store. It is a day when kids from 8 to 18 can come learn about various topics related to the outdoors and hunting along with having a chance to do some shooting - BB's for the younger kids and for the older kids who have their gun safety training - the big guns at the shooting range.

     When it is all done they than give away lots of prizes, including guns, decoys, fishing tackle, etc. It's a wonderful time for all. I've been helping chaperone kids the last couple years and am looking forward to doing it again today.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Streiff's day for the kids

Princess and the Pop Star

      Veggie Takes has recently released there newest DVD called Princess and the Pop Star. It seems to be geared more towards girls and my girls are loving it - it has been watched many, many times already. The movie itself, puts a twist on the prince and the pauper theme to help teach kids that God made us to be who we are and not someone else, a good lesson for all of us to remember. 

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• Princess and the Pop Star

Safety

      When it comes to work, how many people actually stop and think about safety? At Marvin Windows, where I work, safety is a big thing. Every area has safety committees- I served on one for three years, and we are constantly having safety meeting and reminders along with safety inspections. When it comes to safety Marvin's has even won awards from OCHA for being a safe place to work.

      Being safe at work is something to be thankful for.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For safety

Work

     Staying with the work place not only can we be thankful for the job we may have but for the work we have as well. A big reason a lot of people do not have jobs is because there is no work or not enough work. It seem like there are many days as of late that work is light and I spend time looking for work to do. Other times, work is over flowing and it's hard to keep up.

      What ever the work load - I'm thankful that there is work to do.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For work

Job

      Have you ever been told to get a real job? I can tell you what you already know - not all jobs are the same - some are boring while others are exciting, some are easy some are hard, some pay lots, some pay little, some leave you satisfied, some don't, some jobs you may want to avoid, while others you wish you could do.

     Whatever the job you may have, are you thankful for it?

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For my job

Labor Day

      Today is Labor Day in the United States. To many Americans, Labor Day signals the end of summer vacations and the start of a new school year. Many families observe Labor Day by gathering for the last picnic of summer or the season’s final trip to the beach but that's not what Labor Day was set aside for.

      Peter J. McGuire, a carpenter and union leader, generally receives credit for suggesting a holiday to honor workers in 1882. McGuire chose the September date to give workers a holiday midway through the long stretch between Independence Day (July 4) and Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November).

      In 1887 Oregon became the first state to make Labor Day a legal holiday and in 1894 the United States Congress passed legislation that made Labor Day a federal holiday, and President Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law.

Let's take today and be thankful for all those who work hard.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For Labor Day

Donuts

     Have you ever been thankful for donuts? I'm one who really like donuts. I used to like going to "Mister Donuts" and "Duncan Donuts" but neither place is close by any more. While I like to eat them anytime of the day I like them best for breakfast with a tall glass of cold milk.

     Yes, I know they are not considered healthy but they taste good and as long as I don't eat them too often they make for a nice treat.

     Dear Lord, Thank you

• For donuts

Clipboard

      If you're on a computer than you more than likely know about the clipboard and how you can copy things to it to paste somewhere else but that's not what I'm thinking of today.

     It's soccer season at our house and I coach the younger team. To help me stay organized I use a see through clipboard. While they don't block soccer balls very well (they break in half) they are great for helping me place me team on the field. To do that, I take a layout of a soccer field and place it face down on the clipboard so I can see it from the back. I than take and print out all the kids names on card stock, cut them out and seal them with clear packing tape. Add some sticky tac or adhesive putty and I can place the names over the board, moving them around at will making it much easier to manage 26 kids.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For see through clipboards

Corn Maze

      Shall I amaze you with a maze of maize? Some local friends of our family have been running a corn maze and this year is their third year. It's a lot of fun for the kids, with live farm animals on display, a sand pile to play in, a mountain of hay bales to climb, camp fires, hay rides, a giant slingshot, concessions and an amazing maze in the maize.

      We ware there opening weekend for a party and hope to get back before it closes.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the corn maze

The Work Place

     Hi ho, Hi ho, it's off to work we go for the month of September - which includes Labor Day. I keep hearing on the radio about the unemployment numbers and how millions of people are without work but there are still more people at work than not. This month I'd like to turn our thought of thankfulness to the work place.

      While we can pray for those with out work, that they may find some and their need may be taken care of, we need to be thankful when we do have work.

      Dear Lord, Thank you

• For the work place