The Global Effects on North Dakota

This has been on my mind for a while now...just as it has been to many others as well. My birthday is the 15th of October. I remember when there was enough snow at that time, to dig snow tunnels on the side of the house! We were able to line up our snowmen and they were also able to last for a very long time!
Look outside!! It's bare!! Where's all the snow and how can we get it back?! I couldn't tell you, because I haven't got the slightest clue. I mean, this is NORTH DAKOTA!!! This place is notorious for winter activities!! What the heck are we gonna do now?! Can't go ice fishing yet, because the lakes aren't frozen...Maybe we can invent some kind of "heli-fishing" you know, get in a chopper and fly above the middle of a lake (or whats left of one)...and maybe throw a few spears?! Call me Zeus if ya want, it may sound nuts, but this whole world has gone nuts so I have earned my right. Ha! Ha!
Seriously though, it is scary. We're pretty close to DECEMBER!!! What is Christmas gonna be like?! Well, I'm glad Santa gears up because he's gonna need it when he takes a plunge after seeing our world gone array. HAHA. Well, thats my jibber-jabbering for now. Time to get ready & go.

My Beautiful Daughter Keisha & Puppy Pinky

N-A-T-I-V-E

You dont need to point out my weaknesses I am fully aware

This ethnicity is more than a coat that I am proud to bare.

Its not because of where I come from don't you see

Whats all the commotion or statistic that you've shown to me?

A negative part of history I wish I could replace

The part where it says a native is likely not to succeed.

For me to check "yes" into that "voluntary" space

It shouldnt matter...our color is the same in which we bleed.

My Life.

My life is fairly simple. I strive to keep my family and friends happy. My daughter comes before anyone. I was lucky enough to grow up and into a very wonderful family. They have taught and continue to teach me so many things.

When I was younger, my parents did their best with what they had. To me, no dollar amount mattered, what mattered was my brother and I were happy. We always got what we needed and wanted, and we never had to worry about anything. Growing up in my household has taught me so much.

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  It has given me humor...I still laugh at some crazy situations I remember. My family is very musically talented, and those moments of getting together are irreplaceable.


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  It has given me hope...if you work hard enough, you will get what you work for. My parents are true monuments in my eyes!


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  It has shown me true love...nobody can teach love, but they can show it and from that I have a natural love for people in my life. Everyone holds a place in my heart. The key to it is maintaining lasting friendships.


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  It has given me an open-mind...not all things are ridiculous.


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  It has given me compassion...I have an innate love for all things living, and if it's something I am scared of (bugs) than well..I love when they're away from me!! Ha!!


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  It has installed into me a gift to socialize...I am not a shallow person and I don't laugh at another person's ideas or opinions. I secretly compare their thoughts with my own and go from there.


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  It has also shown me how to deal with grief. The falling apart of so many in my family, was tested recently, but we continue to keep ourselves together. We reunited in song, prayer, and rosary, as we celebrated the life of my Godfather, which was also my mom's twin. He died tragically in front of me at a burn center in St.Paul, but my family stuck together and celebrated his life, just the way he'd like us to.

I realize that with every encounter we all have in our lives, whether its dealing with that rude lady behind you that can't stand the fact that she has to wait a minute longer, or whether it's that kind, thankful person you just helped by holding the door open for her..either way it gives us balance in life..a lesson to be learned.

I am now 25 yrs old and I really don't know when the years decided to fly right on by, I just know they did. Ha! Ha! I recently made my move to GF and am enjoying my time here. I basically came here at the spur of the moment. I had been working for almost 3 yrs at a local nursing home.

I absolutely LOVE the people I have worked with/for as a CNA. I have witnessed death closer than most other people I know..but it taught me to go home and hug my family and tell them I love them. I have been able to be the walking legs for those who could no longer do so on their own. I was blessed to be the person to wipe away their tears even when I couldn't do so for myself. I have taught many of the residents I cared for, how to laugh again. This one lady in particular was suffering from alzheimers disease. Although she couldn't always remember my face, she knew that song we would sing every morning as I would wake her for breakfast as we'd burst out in tunes. It went like this, "Good Morning Beautiful...how was your night? Mine was WONDERFUL with you by my side.." And it was literally true because I worked full-time Night Shifts! haha..The smile on her face is still etched in my mind. That lady in particular was also extra special to me for a few reasons that I can't begin to tell about, because I'd totally be leaving this blog's subject if I started!!

I have met new people in this town and have seen new things that interest me. There's a great array of diversity in this town. Diversity is good and this place surely has it's melting pot. Where I come from its mostly Native's, mainly because its a reservation *there are no teepee's, they really do have homes* (you'd be surprised how many ppl think differently).

I have a strong sense of who I want to be, and my spirituality will continue to help me through all the doors that are yet unopened in my life.

As for now, its after 3am and this girl's night of babysitting and relaxing has taken it's toll. A blog for later sounds good to me. The jumping around I have done already in this blog is validation enough for me to say Good Night.. ;-)

All is well that ends well.

Veteran's Day 2008

Back when I was younger, I never understood the importance of Veterans Day. I was just glad to get the day off from school! A Holiday is all I knew, but it means so much more to me now.

My Papa Bennie, served in WWII, recieving 2 purple hearts. He is the statue of our Sims family. My dad also served... 22 years and is US Army Retired. He was shot twice in the Vietnam war, still bearing the scars. Most of his friends are now gone, but he never stops talking about them all.My mom met my dad while she was in the Army, stationed in Germany, where they were married & John was born. My dad was a First Sargeant and mom was a radio control operator.
My brothers, Tony Jr(Chip)(US Army), and John(US Marines, later in the Army Reserve), both served, Chip is still active duty and has served twice in Iraq and also in the Gulf War.
Also, many more of my uncles have served, including my mom's twin brother, Carl Dean. He's not with us this year to celebrate this day, but he's watching over the family every step we take. He was buried on Sept. 11, 2008, the day before their birthday. Although it was a day before their birthday, it was also a day that brought America closer together just a few years ago. So in a way, it was suitable.

On Nov. 4th, 2008, my dad's election day, something happened that made me SO proud of my dad. There was this material that was thrown on a chair that was seated in the County Courthouse. A guy (there to support his friend, running against my dad), picked this material up so he could sit down. Noone knew it was the American Flag. The guy says something like, "What?! They don't know how to fold a flag?!" Dad quickly looked and said, "Who's in charge of the taking down of this flag every evening?!" Some other guy replied that he didn't know, but apologized to dad because he knew how dad felt about it. It was not this guys fault at all, he had nothing to do with it, but he knew the disrespect it showed.Meanwhile, that guy who discovered it was the flag, tried to fold it, but couldn't do it on his own, so dad came up and took over, with that guys help. It was like a light lit up in that guys face, as he stared at my dad with astonishment. The guy who was trying to fold the flag, wore this coat that had all kinds of patches showing he was possibly a veteran himself. It made me proud to see my dad's respect and to be respected back without a word needing to be said at all. I realized this was an occasion I'll possibly never witness again, its not every day dad folds a US Flag.

Another story happened on Sept. 11, 2008 when our family layed my Uncle to rest. The Army was so orderly with their proceedings. After they handed Derick(who also served) his dad's flag...he turned around quickly to my mom and handed it to her. It literally took my breath away! I covered my mouth in awe, and my heart sank into the very ground we were standing on. The highest respect was shown for the love my mother has for her twin brother, that died so tragically. She stood there with her US Army leather jacket on, next to his gravesite, holding her brothers flag. This was a moment above all. It amazed me! How lovely the moment was, to have shared it with the 5 Eagles that circled above us...and the many more that led Uncle Dean home.
Now that I understand this day better than ever before, I hope to tell my daughter how important it is so she knows to pay her respects to everyone who has served.

Happy Veteran's Day!