Spaghetti Feed

Taylor accompanied me to the annual Social Work Club Spaghetti feed where she became the assistant table decorator and face paint model for the day. 

 She did a fabulous job at arranging flowers and evergreen boughs on the tables after smoothing the wrinkles out of the tableclothes.  The tables were then adorned with table top letters that explained the importance of social work, what we do, and quotes from famous individuals relating to social work or social change.  They were beautiful!

I was chef for a day and think I cooked enough spaghetti for 150 people.  Cheri was a fabulous Sous Chef, Steve was the chief organizer and the professors were there in action as well.  We made a great team!  Others showed up during the serving time and stayed to clean up so it was a great success.  Here is the "hot buns" team!

Overall, it was a successful day!  We served approximately 60 people, raised around $600 which is enough combined with other funding to pay for our trip to "Day at the Capital".  Since I am a co-chair to organize that, I guess I better get on the ball now...  ;~)  Taylor had a blast, and we ended the day by stopping in for Landon's first Birthday party!  Family, food, cuddly and happy baby... Very fun! Needless to say, I had a fabulous night's sleep!

Cowboys and Butterflies

Cowboys and butterflies invaded the barn last night during chores, which also happened to be DHIA testing which means another body in the small parlor and skittish cows.  Taylor created a beautiful play and she was a dancing butterfly who bobbed her head up and down like a bobblehead, flapped her arms crazily and wobbled her legs back and forth like a duck with a giant grin on her face.  Adorable right!  Then, the cowboys invaded and Brady came charging through the milkhouse in his cowboy boots with his pants riding at the top of them since he hasn't learned to pull his jeans over them yet, yelling "Bam Bam Bam Bam!!!   That butterfly is dead."  With a flourescent green pistol from the dollar store he looked pretty scary.   Then the cowboy attacked the butterfly with all his might, they both tumbled to the floor laughing, lifted their legs in the air as they laid on their backs and said, "Look at my butt mom!"   
This is the end of the Cowboy and the Butterfly

Non-profits and assumptions

Chaos has officially taken over and my mind is finding its way back to sanity by doing some catching up today...  Housing options: check, possible intern sites: check, family violence papers: check, childrens roomed cleaned: check, spaghetti feed fund raiser info.: check, Day at the Capital presentations: check    And now a sigh of relief:   Aaaaahhhhhh......

I've learned a lot in the past week so my mind is officially on the move.  Did you know that people assume way to many things.  Note to self: as a future social worker assume NOTHING!  By accident we found that there are homeless housing programs that are offered if you have been kicked out of housing more than 4 times in 3 years.  I was exstatic and I made the worker we happened to be with call the agency back, who had assumed that my young friend didn't qualify and I talked to them about the program.  Even though they do not have any openings currently, she is on a waiting list, so until then we are hanging in there. 

Possible intern sites were on the agenda for today and I've decided to explore the non-profit world!  With the strengths I have, the tasks that I enjoy doing, and the connections I've made it just seems to fit.  Met with a fabulous agency from Mahnomen, but too far of a drive.  Darnit....   So now I am exploring other options in the area.  I am really looking forward to this next step in my life, very anxious, very intrigued with possibilities, but excited!  Even though the non-profit world suffers from lack of funding, lack of benefits, lack of resources in general, I feel up to the challege.  I really want to make a difference and believe I would be an asset.  So possible intern sites: Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, Headwaters Intervention Agency, Lakes Crisis Center, Mahube or Community Action and more... 

Maybe I will be doing 20 interviews instead of 5, you never know. 

My Crazy Life

I must be nuts, or maybe something is malfiring in my brain at times... I'm not sure yet.  I don't run around naked looking for squirrels or anything, so there is some hope. 

I was asked to explain myself- life, projects in action, work, extra curriculars etc. to a friend last night who I haven't talked to in years.  As I am hearing myself rambling on about the 80 million things I am doing I started to think, "What is wrong with me?  Am I crazy?  I need some chocolate..."   So after eating a girl scout thin mint, which was delicious, I got off the phone and thought about how to simplify things.    This left me with two words: self care.   I have been really overwhelmed with everything I am trying to do and I need to just remember to take some time for myself.  So today I am going to get a little homework done, I have to do some, and then I am going to spend the afternoon with my husband.  Just the two of us, doing nothing other than whatever it is we want to do.  This evening my best friend invited me to a Mary Kay party, I think she knows I'm a little stressed, and I appreciate a little time for me.  I am blessed and appreciate her friendship so much! 

This morning I laid on the couch with my youngest son for a while, loving him up, and it felt wonderful.  As I was hugging and kissing on him he was practicing shooting bad guys with his pistol while watching an old western movie.  Boys...   My daughter and I cuddled up on the couch last night for a while and she read a book to me called, "A Tiny Fairy".  I only had to help with one word.  She is amazing!  Sounds like Roger is doing well and all set to graduate which makes me happy.  Lars is doing great and tells me all about his battle ground stories from a game that I don't understand but pretend to anyways.  "Yep, WOW!  That's fantastic!" 

My step-daughter, as Eric refers to her now, is doing well also.  She's been in school all week, has made numerous phone calls, is still attending her child birth classes and is taking one step at a time.  We took a break yesterday and will today as well from it all, but tomorrow will get back to the phone to look for options.  Had a couple suggestions this week about local help which is the direction that we are looking at.  The jist of it is that the state has cut funding, so counties have no funding for housing.   Did you know that 45% of homeless people in Minnesota are children, youth and those under 21? 

For more information on Minnesota homelessness the Homeless Coalition of Minnesota has a fantastic website with lots of information.  The executive director is also a friend of mine who has been there for any advice or information that I may need.  She's fantastic too! 

Anyway, I am going to rock out a couple papers so I can enjoy the rest of the day with some long overdue husband time.  Hope you all have a great day, and feel blessed that you have a home to sleep in, a bed to lay in, and a pillow to rest your head on at night. 

Pregnant, Homeless and in High School

A young woman I've known for 5 years called on Saturday from a homeless shelter for women in Fargo.  At 7 months pregnant, and 3 months from graduating from high school she was homeless and needed help.  I picked her up at 9:30 this morning and welcomed her into our 2 bedroom home with 4 people living in it which she was ecstatic about.  We came up with a plan together of how to go about the situation.  To the school to meet with the social worker, call the bus garage to line up transportation, call the local housing agency, visit the county services agency to see what's available etc.  Let me tell you, this sounds much simpler than it turned out to be. 

The school counselor was excellent!  Positive attitude, extremely helpful and passionate about her job.  I couldn't have been more impressed.  Local housing agency was okay, but they can't do much because they have little funding which is in serious jeapordy of being cut further by the state right now.  If I evict her and she can find low income housing, and she can find a job to show that she will be able to pay rent, they could possibly get her down payment and first months rent paid but then she's on her own.

County was severely frustrating...  Because I am letting her stay with me, even though her home place was in Ottertail County, we had to go all the way back to Becker County to do paperwork.  If I just left her there or told her she couldn't stay with me, then she could do paperwork in Ottertail.  Ugh... So back to D.L. we went. 

On the way I had a conversation with the bus garage which was frustrating also.  I understand that we are a couple miles past their district, however, there is a federal law that states that the school must provide transportation for homeless children to attend their home school within reason, which I had to explain to the bus garage.  Result:  I have to drive her 3 miles to meet the bus which comes 8 minutes before Taylor is supposed to get on her bus.  Fun, fun, fun!  Being cordial and nice can be difficult at times when you know you can't pick up a child at 4 pm when you're not home and it's too far to walk.  After some discussion and making a couple phone calls myself, I at least can look forward to our conversation tomorrow after they talk to the Superintendent and others about the situation.   All I have to say is thank you for all the resources and AMAZING women such as Liz Kuoppela of the Homeless Coalition of Minnesota for taking the time to talk to me today!

After getting to the other county frustration set in as the first worker we were matched with was less than happy to be working with us.  I let my young friend do the talking today for the most part, however, at this point I had to intervene and reiterate the situation.  "She is 7 months pregnant, a senior in high school, and currently homeless!"  This must have got the point across and she paired us with another person who was WONDERFUL!  Thank goodness for positive social workers in this world! 

The result is that the counties have no money for housing either.  So we are still working on the situation... more phone calls, appointments and advocating to do in order to get this girl through school and in some kind of housing that is stable for her and the soon to be newborn.  Thinking about going to a local church to see if maybe they would do some kind of sponsorship.  I just don't know and am running out of options... if anyone has any suggestions let me know.  Till then...

An Addition to the Family

We may have a temporary new addition to the family!  Yesterday a young, very pregnant, and very alone girl I know called from a womans shelter in Fargo.  Long story but the jist is that her family is a mess and struggling to deal with their own issues, they thought it would be best to leave her there to "grow up" and she's a senior in high school that is almost 7 months pregnant.  I will NEVER understand some decisions that people make... 

 I talked to Eric and am giving him some time to think about it as I know this would be an adjustment. So I told him he needs to tell me by noon today. :~)   However, I don't think I would be able to live with myself knowing I could have helped and didn't.  Even though our house is small, we have a couch she can sleep on, she knows us and the kids very well, she'll have a place to do homework and I know that I can help her get her life in order.  After talking with her, I believe she is ready to make some changes, which don't involve her family.  

Frustrating part:  Because she is a senior she feels like in order to get her own place to live because she has no one and is expecting a baby that she is going to have to drop out of school.  She thinks she could finish later, but she is so close to graduating!  The effects of being 18, no high school diploma, and having a baby are devastating in the long and short run.  We discussed some options and I think that if we can get enough help lined up this week that she can stay in school.  The bus would come out here and get here due to the McKinney Vento Act- something I learned in school- which is great!  Will go see a man about a horse, or housing I mean, and see what is available from the state I guess.  As she is still in high school this might be more complicated than I think, hopefully not.  I am thinking it will take about a month or so to get her on her own two feet, which would be great as then she would have 1 month to settle in before the baby would arrive. 

Overall, it might be "inconvenient" for us, but I truly believe that this would be the most beneficial for her.  Now to finish convincing my husband... :~)

I don't know...

I usually do my blogging in the morning and lately have been reading more and more of other people's blogs which I have really come to enjoy.  However, it leaves me thinking about what I could possibly write about that's fascinating?  I don't know...  Then I thought about how busy my life is and how there must be something... but nope, still blank.  Maybe I should start drinking fancy tea, isn't that what smart people do?? ;~)   I shortly realized after waking up further that I don't have to write something that could be on the front page of the news for it to be somewhat interesting.  So here's what I got...

Lately my family has been discussing careers and strengths and dreams.  This is inspiring.  I remember when I decided to return to school, all the fears, worries, "what am I going to do", "where will I get a job" etc.  Now I will be graduating with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Social Work in May.  I don't have an official plan yet, but I know it's going to be okay.   Yesterday I had a discussion with one of my professors who has a vision for me I think...  Led to great conversation, but what she is thinking about would be a 1 hour drive from here.  That's a haul for an unpaid internship.  It would be challenging, out of my zone, would expand my horizons and I believe would be an incredible experience.  But I just don't know what I want.... 

I take that back, I do know I want to make the world a better place, specifically Minnesota.  Narrowing it down a little, I want to work with adults more than children.  That's where I get lost.  I feel like the more I learn, the more I realize that I really don't know anything.  I want to step outside of my comfort zone and experience so many things, yet it is kind of a scary thought.  I've worked in the medical field for 10 years with elderly and I know I love that, but I don't know much else, and maybe I would love something else just as much, or more.  Since most places around here are very open to having interns I feel that I have so many choices and am being pulled 6 directions.    So, after writing this out I think my plan is to do multiple interviews to feel out the agencies and what might be the best fit for me.  I guess I'll start there and hopefully the rest will fall into place. 

IVI.TV = Great Deal!

So I've been looking into cable options as Eric really misses the news from cable TV and we both miss football games.  Found something that looks excitingly promising called ivi.tv.  It is an program that streams TV online for only $4.99 per month!  Isn't that fabulous!?!   However, due to the overwhelming demand you have to wait for them to email you to hook you up.  I think it's worth the wait myself if it's all it's cracked up to be.   Here is a website that reviews each aspect of it for those interested.  I will give you my final report once we officially have service.  But yay once again for technology!

Preparations

Down to the Capital and back is all in a days work when preparing for "Day at the Capital".   Spending the day with my best friend in a training/brainstorming session in St. Paul was fun, minus the travel.  As Liaison's for the National Association of Social Worker it is our job to promote the NASW to students, to bring feedback to the board, to organize our school field trip to "Day at the Capital" and to work there doing registration, leadership and guidance. 

"Day at the Capital" is a day where social workers, specifically students, gather together at the Capital.  We begin at the Historical Center by attending a keynote speaker and can choose one educational session.  These are relevent to what is happening on the legislative agenda.  A march to the Capital building accompanied by chanting and posters follows.  Once in the Capital building we circulate around the rotunda area.  Various legislators are invited to come and give short speeches as they are cheered on.  Governor Dayton is invited to speak as well so I am hoping to not only see him, but possibly get a chance to meet him. 

Following the roudyness and noise, we split off with all of our beautified fact sheets to meet our own legislators from our districts.  Each person can choose whatever topic they want and are expected to do their own research to prepare a fact sheet.  If the legislators are in session they can ask to pull them out to speak to them which is where the term "lobbying" comes from, as you speak to them in the lobby area.  For those who are not interested in lobbying, they are encouraged to sit in a committee session or watch a floor session which are also quite interesting.  I am tentatively planning on attending the Health and Human Service Committee meeting as a representative from my district serves on the committee and we don't exactly see eye to eye.   I would like to know what happens in there.   Then I will do my lobbying afterwards... :~)

And that's the jist of it!  Last year we made so much noise in the rotunda that we interupted some sessions.  Governor Pawlenty was invited but of course a "no show".   However we saw Senator John Marty, Representative Margaret Anderson- Kelliher, and a few others.  Great experience overall, helps in establishing some type of relationship with your legislators, and is fun!   So for any social workers out there, come and join us on April 5th in making a difference!

Questions in the morning....

Every morning life consists of Taylor not wanting to get up for school and Brady asking if he can have ice cream or oreos.  Each day I assist in the "waking of the child" routine hoping that she's getting up on the right side of the bed.  Not fun when she isn't...  However, this morning my alarm hadn't even gone off and she was up, dressed and ready to go!  So now I sit and wonder, "What was so different about this morning and how do we do this every day?"   If you know the answer, let me know... 

I then proceed to explain to Brady for the 80 millionth time that we don't eat treats for breakfast which leads to the next routine question, "Well after I eat supper this morning then can I have ice cream?"   At least he's persistant...  

I could use some advice though.  For all those parents out there who had, or have, a child that always has to be the best or better at everything which has made them almost a bully to other kids, how have you handled it?  Brady is very competitive and he thinks he has to be the best, have the most, be the first etc. in school and I have tried talking to him about this and playing some non-competetive games.  Doesn't seem to be helping much...  Teachers offered behavioral health as an option, but I am hoping we can deal with this and don't have to go that route.  So, for anyone that has any suggestions, I am all ears.  In the meantime I better go make some supper this morning.  

Happy Cow

Just recieved an email that Eric and I are recieving an award from Bongards, the company we sell milk to, for producing high quality milk this year.  An engraved plaque will be hanging on the wall of the barn soon!  I can't even say how proud I am.  Eric and I always try to do our best and I am so proud of him, he has worked very hard for this.  Pretty amazing since we operate with equipment from the 70's, have a very plain barn, and have only been milking for 2 years.  Maybe our cows came from California so they were "happy cows".  Lol  

No matter where they are from, which is not California, I know they are happy and spoiled.  Either way, I have to give my husband the credit.  We work together as a team, but he is the brains behind the operation.  His dedication and hard work have paid off, and  I am very proud.  (I know I haven't said that enough)  I can just see the shit eating grin on his face as he hangs it up on the wall!  He'll look just like this happy cow. ;~)

MS, Milk, Scheduling and Special Moments

What a week!  Some good, some bad, some ugly....  Learned yesterday that a family member was diagnosed with progressive MS.  All I could think is, "That can't be, she's not very old, what about her and her family, they have kids, no family is close by to help, what will they do?!?"  I worry about Eric too, he had a very difficult day with this.  I just thank God for all that he has given me and ask for prayers for this family. 

Yesterday Eric treated a cow with penicillin in the morning for mastitis.  When you treat a cow you must milk her in a separate bucket and dump the milk for 36 hours and then have it tested before putting it in the bulk tank.  With everything on Eric's mind yesterday he milked a treated cow in the tank.  Ooops...  This equaled a 8:30 pm trip to Perham for a milk test which was positive.  Bad deal.   Came home and ran 2700 lbs. of milk out into the drain, this picture is pretty accurate to what that looks like.  Good news = Bongards will reimburse us for half of the milk dumped.  Bad news is we still lost money and didn't get done with chores till 10:30.  Life could be much worse, and this gave me an opportunity to tease my husband somewhat so I guess it's all okay. 

This morning I was supposed to have coffee with someone in DL.  I completely forgot about the whole ordeal.  After getting a text I called to appologize as I felt absolutely horrible.  Funny thing is that I wanted to have coffee to get to know her better, maybe make a better friend, communicate a little more etc.  and what I heard on the phone was anything but helpful.  I think instead of improving a relationship I just made it worse.  Appologizing profusely didn't seem to help one bit, so I guess I just need to let it go.  It just sucks because I hate it when people are upset with me.  Harmony, right?!? 

Overall though, life is good.  I can wake up in the morning next to my husband, tell my kids I love them, and we are all healthy and happy.  Eric and I sat in the driveway in our NEW old truck we bought for 3 hours talking after the kids were in bed the other evening.  It was fantastic!  We talked about the first time we met, how we fell in love, how wonderful our children are, our dreams for them, how we want to be better people, what our future has in store and much more.  One of those moments that even as unspecial as sitting in a running vehicle is, it was special that night and I will never forget it.  I suppose, I better get back to the homework now, I've procrastinated long enough! ;~)