Americans Helping Americans

It was the beginning of October 2013 when a harsh blizzard killed thousands of cattle in South Dakota. Farmers aren’t rolling in the dough just because they own their own businesses. In fact most farmers struggle month to month to pay bills and provide for their families, borrowing money from banks and other sources of loans. They are one of the last groups to receive any help from government aid, if they are helped, and most are forgotten by the general public as long as grocery stores have what people need farmers aren’t even considered. They are working before the sun rises, even in the longest days of the year, and don’t come in from work until long after the sun goes down. Vacation is a foreign thought for the majority of farming families and hard work is the norm. They don’t receive paid holidays, employer paid health insurance, pensions, or sick days. I would have to say they are the hardest working citizens of this country and the least appreciated.

So when this blizzard struck in early October and killed off their herds there went the income they were depending on to put food in their children’s bellies, mortgage payments, car payments and money for machinery repairs leaving nothing in their pockets to help rebuild their herds. Government assistance was nowhere to be seen from Washington D.C. as they were battling each other over where to spend our money and not to mention the shutdown. Another oversight was the expiration of the Livestock Indemnity Program, another government assisted letdown to our country’s farmers.

So who steps in wearing the super hero cape for these suffering farmers? Other farmers! Ordinary people are able to donate funds to a group called Heifers for South Dakota and they purchase cattle and pay transportation costs to get them all the way out to the farmers of South Dakota. Other farmers, or ranchers, from around the U.S. are also donating heifers to the families of South Dakota. In one January 18th post on Heifers for S. Dakota’s Facebook page they write, “Value of the cattle we have gotten into the hands of those who are hurting is in excess of $1.25 million.” I would say that is a far better job than any government official could have done for these hard working Americans.

Hats off to these Americans helping Americans! To the farmers and ranchers who have stepped up, living with their own financial struggles and strains, to assist those in greater need them themselves at this time. To the non-farming Americans who have stood up and taken notice of the devastation on these South Dakota families and have offered their own hard earned dollars to get them back on their feet again. This is the America I am proud to belong to!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pledgeheifer

Change or Complain, Which is it?

Another election has come and gone. Thankfully, in some regards, it was an off year election. One of minimal consequences to most but to states like Virginia and New Jersey it was of gubernatorial importance. It seems that today 'moderate' is the key word a majority of voters are looking for while 'conservative' is the plague of suffering.

Americans complain of being taxed beyond fairness, however they continually vote in the party that is known for establishing new and raising old taxes. They complain of illegal aliens coming in to the country yet they cast their vote for the party which supports amnesty for those who have already shown they do not respect our laws. They complain of healthcare costs, they 'get what they asked for' in the Affordable Health Care Act and it isn't all that it was promised to be so now they complain about what is there on the table. They complain about their guns being taken away yet they don't exercise the power invested in them by the Constitution to vote in supporters of the 'Right to Bare Arms.'

Finicky, finicky Americans! Miserable and handicapped to see the bigger picture! Change comes in stages not in one election and not by allowing the same party to reek havoc throughout our current government. You may not be satisfied with a two party system but in order to stop the bleeding we must quell the hemorrhaging of today so that we can work towards change tomorrow. I find it amusing that those who cried the loudest for change in our political setup during the Presidential election of 2012 have been silent since November 7th, 2012. Is it really change you want or just the right to complain? As I look at the picture before me I would say it is the latter.

A Vacation Full of Lessons

A week of vacation in South Carolina, ahhhhh, to a point. I have learned a few lessons on this week of no responsibilities, the freedom to nap at will and more sunshine in a week than I've seen all winter in Ohio!

Lesson 1: Do my words and my actions portray the same me? I don't want to be someone who is easily angered, selfishly driven and in need of constant control. I want to be level headed in the face of change, thoughtful of others and their desires and willing to allow others to lead so that all can enjoy time spent together. Temper tantrums do not equate level headedness, or selflessness, or a willingness to give up control. Seeing this in others makes me take a step back and view my own actions. How do I respond to others when the heat is on and when I may be tempted to slip into a foul mood?

Lesson 2: Communication + personal responsibility = a happy vacation!! If something in the plans remains an unknown communicate with everyone else either by phone or in person. Don't assume and don't sit back and wait for someone to do the contacting, be the one who initiates the communication so that there are no unknowns in the schedule. If I fail to communicate with someone else and plans get jumbled I should take personal responsibility for not acting on communicating, don't blame the other person! Sure it would have been nice for the other person to call or ask but if I didn't do either then how can I blame the other person(s).

Lesson 3: Have a plan laid out within the first day of vacation and share it with the group. Work in multiple plans if there are several things you want to do together. Don't wait until the last minute to schedule a big event because it will never come about as planned if you do. This goes back to number 2, communicate! No one person should be in charge of vacation plans or event scheduling during vacation. Prior to making those reservations or big plans bring it before the group so that everyone is on the same page or cancellations will become the name of the game.

Lesson 4: Small, family vacations are the best!! The less people along the fewer the complications.

When the lessons have been acknowledged and appreciated I can say we enjoyed our time here with family! Cousins have enjoyed their time together, brothers have laughed together and great-grandchildren have left their imprint on their great-grandparents hearts. All is right in the world once again.