25 Days and New Mexico

The 1st began the 25 days to make a difference. We were in New Mexico with Cooper and Kelly and Archer. These are 3 wonderful people. Muffin the wonder dog was there too. All in all a wonderful time. My first act of the 25 days was to help push a woman who had her car stuck in the icy slush of a parking lot at a local deli. She thanked Lavonne and I and then the manager of the store handed us a gift card for the Deli. I will give the gift card to a family at the shelter so that the kindness keeps going forward. My second is to get involved with the Nutrition for Life Foundation. They are working on World Hunger. So, I am off and running. I do think the biggest difference I can make in the world is to be a good gt. aunt to Archer and Jesus Marcos. I will keep working on that well beyond the 25 days.

25 days to make a difference

A young lady out there in the blog-o-sphere began a project to honor her Grandfather called "25 days to make a difference". I just ran across it and was really impacted by her idea.
So, here is mine. I have been missing my Mom this Christmas. She was an amazing lady. So, I am going to do my 25 days starting January 1st. I am really good in Dec. about remembering other folks. But in January I focus on my taxes, my health, my next project. SO...I am focusing on others.
Here are a few ideas I am kicking around:
Volunteer a day at the shelter
Collect neghbor's (and my own) stuff for the food pantry (they always need it)
Go to school and give one of my old colleagues a break (not subbing just giving an extra hour of prep time)
shovel walks for neighbors (Lavonne is really good at this and I am usually inside working)
take an elderly neighbor out to lunch (someone who usually does not go)
go to the local nursing home and volunteer to read to a resident
Visit a local hospital and volunteer some time
Bake cookies and take them to the neighbors (especially those with kids)
Clean out my closet and donate clothes to the shelter
Write an encouraging letter to a friend or former student
Take some fresh fruit to a neighor

OK, so anyone who is in with me on this is welcome to post their own make a difference stories.

Snow Cold and Omaha

Nice Christmas photo from the summer in Alaska (warmer than Omaha probably right now). The last is the walking bridge in our most recent snow. Now the middle photo is a bit different. The middle one is of Sharon and Judy doing what we now know is tradition with the Piersons...demolition. Since we have no trees to fell or buildings to demolish on the property they decided to begin the refinishing of the dining room table by removing the old center venier right after the turkey platter was removed. I thought it a bit odd...but then lots of what they do is. However, it was a great way to work off the extra gravy and potatoes. I highly recommend it but not for any tables that do not already need this high tech treatment. The finished product will be posted too. They will be using tile on the middle so, that will involve some more construction. They have to finish it before we need it for card playing.

The Cat Rules the house!

Buffy the cat rules the house. She decides when I can work and when I have to be furniture. Mostly I am overstuffed furniture. I went to college for this.

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

Happy Haloween from the heartland

Things in Iowa are a bit odd this time of year.

What would Jesus Marcos do?

Wonderful visit with Aunt Betty, Tiffany, Robert, Jesus Marcos, Mark, Grant and the Northern CA Oller contingent (Rico was hunting). Robert came home from work and every time Jesus Marcos would squeal with delight. Both were partial to Tiffany who Jesus liked to keep in his line of sight. LAvonne taught the new little one some hand jive and Mark is considering a second job as a hand model.