Gratitude and Joy

I’m on the Golden Valley Women in Ag committee and each year we host “Wheat, Women & Wine” for the local farm and ranch wives, as well as, our ag community lady friends.  This past week challenged our committee to convert our event from being an in-person event to a virtual event.  It just about crushed me to have to do that, but it’s the reality with COVID 19 today.  Our upcoming virtual event is going to feature my dear friend Annie Carlson talking about “Gratitude and Joy”.  I have decided that each day between now and Nov 7th that I’m going to express my “gratitude and joy” for the people and things in life that bring me gratitude and joy. 

“Mini Bob” the snowman

Taylor wanted to show her gratitude and joy for the snow.

To start off, today I am grateful for family.  Today was a fun day spent as a family and with family.  Donnie, the girls and I went up to help my parents, sister and brother-in-law ship calves and help my nephew Chet pick his first 4-H steer, as well as, help my niece Paige and Harley and Taylor pick out their 4-H steers.  We spent our day working as a family for a common goal. 

The second reason to show my gratitude and joy for today is because of the youth in our community.  When we got home after lunch, we decided to make a trip to Golva to get feed for the 4-H steers.  On our way to Golva, we decided to stop for a coffee at Badlands Barista.  Kennady Myers was working as the barista.  She was super busy, but made a point to say “hello”, acknowledge Harley and I and said she would be with us in a minute.  She is always so friendly and courteous and makes each drink with the most care and thoughtfulness.  Dusty and Justin, you should be very proud of the daughter you have raised.

I’m a very nostalgic person and love anything and everything that reminds me of growing up as a kid (i.e. the small-town grocery stores, horse drawn wagon rides, taking the back roads on a trip, buying a glass bottle of pop).  After picking up feed, we decided to stop at Golva Grocery (the small-town grocery store) to pick a few things up before we headed home.  To my surprise, it was not the owner working today.  It was a young man by the name of Emery Noll.  Harley and I grabbed the items on our list and went to check out.  Emery was friendly, congenial and made a point to ask me if I found everything that I needed.  We visited about 4-H steers and school.  Danny and JessiKay, you should be very proud of the young man that you are raising.

I am grateful that our community is raising a group of young people that still know how to carry on a conversation with adults, have respect for their elders and are contributing to the community we live in by working at a local business.

Be sure to show your “Gratitude and Joy” for the things and people in your life.

Gratitude and Joy for my girls!

Feeding horses hay in the middle of the snowstorm. Another reason to show my gratitude and joy.